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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


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THE 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL 


HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION 


THE  UNITED  STATES. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  DECEASED  OFFICERS. 


BY 

W.  J.  TENNEY* 

EDITOR    OF    THE    "AMERICAN    ANNUAL    CYCLOPEDIA." 


NEW  YORK: 

D.  APPLETOJS"  &  COMPANY,  443  &  445  BKOADWAY. 

1866. 


ENTERED,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1865,  by 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY, 

IE  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern  District 

of  New  York. 


BANCROFT 
UBRARY 


O 

THE  design  of  this  work  is  to  present  in  one  volume  the  military 
and  naval  scenes  of  the  great  contest  recently  closed.  It  contains  not 
only  all  the  principal  battles  by  land  and  sea,  but  every  important 
skirmish.  The  plans  and  objects  of  the  various  campaigns  are 
clearly  stated,  and  the  progress  of  the  armies,  step  by  step,  in  their 
execution,  is  described  and  illustrated  with  distinct  topographical 
maps,  chiefly  obtained  from  official  sources.  The  important  naval 
conflicts  are  described  and  illustrated  in  a  similar  manner.  For- 
^  tions  of  the  work  have  been  submitted  to  the  inspection  of  distin- 
guished military  officers,  relating  to  operations  by  armies  under 
their  command,  and  received  their  approval  for  its  completeness  and 
accuracy.  By  a  reference  to  the  Index  at  the  end  of  the  volume,  the 
military  or  naval  career  of  General  or  Commanding  officers  can  be 
traced. 

But  it  is  not  merely  a  work  of  skirmishes  and  battles.  The  man- 
ner of  raising,  organizing,  and  equipping  the  armies  and  fleets  is 
stated  in  detail;  also  the  sanitary  measures  for  their  preservation, 
including  hospitals  and  charitable  organizations;  the  improvements 
in  the  weapons  and  forts  and  floating  batteries  of  military  and  naval 


iv  PREFACE. 

warfare ;  the  treatment  of  prisoners,  and  the  action  relative  to  those 
military  questions  arising  between  combatants. 

It  also  embraces  a  statement  of  the  civil  and  political  proceedings 
incidental  to  the  war,  which  took  place  previous  to  its  commencement 
or  during  its  progress ;  such  as  the  secession  of  the  Southern  States, 
and  the  organization  of  their  Confederacy ;  the  political  issues  of  the 
war  and  the  triumph  of  emancipation,  with  the  treatment  of  colored 
men,  whether  soldiers  or  freedmen,  and  all  other  subjects  properly  a 
portion  of  its  direct  history.  It  concludes  with  biographical  tributes 
to  the  principal  military  and  naval  officers  who  have  fallen  in  the 
contest. 


CONTENTS. 


MM 

INTRODUCTION,          ...  ...  •.          .          .  .  ..1 

CHAPTER  I. 
Secession  Movements  in  South  Carolina,  Florida,  Mississippi,  Alabama,  Georgia,  and  Louisiana,       ....  8 

CHAPTER  II. 

Preparations  for  a  Southern  Confederacy — Meeting  of  Congress  at  Montgomery— Members  and  Organization— Inau- 
guration of  a  President — His  Addresses — Cabinet — Proceedings  of  the  Congress — New  Constituti9n. — Its  Features,  18 

CHAPTER  III. 

Inauguration  of  President  Lincoln — Southern  Commissioners  sent  to  Europe  and  Washington — Time  for  War  had  come 
— Despatches  from  Montgomery  to  Gen.  Beauregard  at  Charleston — Condition  of  Fort  Sumter — Occupied  by  Major 
Anderson — Excitement — Surrender  demanded  by  Gov.  Pickens — Negotiations  at  Washington — Preparations  for 
attack  on  the  Fort — Women  and  Children  removed — Evacuation  demanded  by  Gen.  Beauregard — Correspondence 
— Attack  on  the  Fort — Its  Surrender— Action  of  the  Federal  Government  to  relieve  it, 19 

CHAPTER  IV. 

State  of  Affairs — Action  of  the  Union  States — Proclamation  of  the  President  calling  for  men  on  the  surrender  of 
Fort  Sumter — Kesponse  of  the  Northern  and  Central  States — Attack  on  Massachusetts  troops  in  Baltimore,  .  .  26 

CHAPTER  V. 

Proceedings  in  Texas  to  effect  Secession,  and  Military  Movements— Action  in  Virginia  and  Military  Movements- 
Action  in  Arkansas  and  Military  Movements— Acti^  in  North  Carolina  and  Military  Movements— Action  in  Ten- 
nessee and  Military  Movements, 88 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Effects  of  the  President's  Proclamation — Assembling  of  Troops  at  Washington — Destruction  at  Harper's  Ferry — De- 
struction and  abandonment  of  the  Norfolk  Navy  Yard — Capture  of  the  Star  of  the  West — Other  Events — Capture 
of  Camp  Jackson,  St.  Louis— Other  Events— Attack  on  Sewell's  Point— Seizure  of  Ship  Island— Occupation  of 
Harper's  Ferry  by  Southern  Troops — Movement  of  Troops  from  Washington  into  Virginia — Occupation  of  Alex- 
andria-^BIockade  of  the  Mississippi— Attack  on  the  Batteries  at  Aquia  Creek— Dash  into  Fairfax  Court  House,  .  48 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Southern  Congress  adjourns  to  meet  at  Richmond— Speeches  of  Howell  Cobb  and  Vice-President  Stephens— The 
Federal  Army— Skirmish  at  Philippi— Attack  on  Pig's  Point— Great  Bethel— Movements  in  West  Tennessee— 
Komney— Advance  of  Gen.  Lyon  to  Jefferson  City— Vienna— Locomotives  Destroyed— Mathias  Point— Other 
Events— Southern  Privateers, 54 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

March  of  Gen.  McClellan  into  Western  Virginia— His  Address  to  the  Inhabitants— Surprise  at  Philippi— Battle  at 
Laurel  Hill — Defeat  and  Surrender  of  the  Enemy — Manassas— Position  of  the  Northern  and  Southern  Armies- 
Forces  of  Gen.  McDowell— Advance  to  Centreville— Battle  of  Bull  Run— Retreat. 64 


vi  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

PAO« 

Extra  Session  of  Congress— Its  Action— Strength  of  the  Army— Southern  troops  organized— Skirmishes  in  Mis- 
souri—At Monroe  Station,  Millville,  and  Fulton— Movements  of  Gen.  Lyon— Battle  of  "Wilson's  Creek— Sur- 
render of  Major  Lynch  in  New  Mexico — Skirmishes — Attack  on  Galveston — Expedition  against  the  forts  at 
Hatteras  Inlet,  79 

CHAPTER  X. 

Campaign  of  Gens.  Wise,  Floyd,  and  Lee,  in  "Western  Virginia — The  Campaign  of  Gen.  Fremont  in  Missouri — Affairs 
In  Kentucky— Neutrality  abandoned— Occupation  of  the  State  by  troops— Military  Operations,  .  SB 

CHAPTER  XI.  i 

Attack  on  Wilson's  Regiment — Bombardment  of  Fort  Pickens — Burning  of  "Warrenton — Attack  on  the  Federal  fleet  at 
the  mouths  of  the  Mississippi — Eepulse  at  Ball's  Bluff— Expedition  against  Port  Eoyal :  its  success — Resignation 
of  Lieut-Gen.  Scott — Battle  at  Belmont — Capture  of  Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell — Occupation  of  Accomac  and 
Northampton  Counties,  Va. — The  Stone  Blockade  of  Charleston — Affair  at  Drainesville — Treatment  of  Slaves — 
Exchange  of  Prisoners — Plans  of  the  Government, n 99 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Views  of  the  Combatants — Condition  of  the  Federal  Navy— Its  Increase— Iron-Clads — Western  Fleet — Numbers  and 
position  of  the  hostile  Armies — Campaign  in  Eastern  Kentucky — Battle  of  Mill  Springs — Death  of  Zollicoffcr — 
Campaign  in  Western  Kentucky  and  Tennessee — Federal  Troops  engaged — Capture  of  Fort  Henry — Surrender  of 
Fort  Donelson— Advance  of  Gen.  Buell— Surrender  of  Nashville,  .% 116 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Gen.  Burnside's  Expedition  sails — Th«-  Fleet  and  Transports  in  a  Storm— Advance  up  Pamlico  Sound — Capture  of 
Roanoke  Island — Other  Operations — Provisional  Government  set  up  in  North  Carolina— Operations  in  South  Caro- 
lina—Bombardment and  surrender  ol|  Fort  Pulaski— Operations  in  Florida — Capture  of  Fernandina,  Jacksonville, 
and  St.  Augustine — Other  Naval  Operations — Treatment  of  Slaves  by  the  Federal  Government— Organized  as 
Troops  at  Hilton  Head, 135 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Military  Operations  in  Missouri  and  Arkansas — Advance  of  Gen.  Curtis — His  Address  to  the  People  of  the  Southwest- 
Battle  of  Pea  Ridge — Retreat  of  Gen.  Price — Further  Operations — Advance  of  the  Fleet  against  Columbus,  Ky. — 
Evacuated — Further  progress  down  the  Mississippi— Island  No.  10 :  its  Bombardment — Gunboats  pass  the  Bat- 
teries in  the  night — Evacuation  of  the  Island— Advance  of  the  Fleet  toward  Memphis — Naval  Battle  before  the 
City— Its  Surrender— Occupied  by  Federal  Troops— Proceedings  during  the  Tear, • .  155 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Advance  of  Gen.  Grant  up  the  Tennessee  River — Position  of  the^outhern  Forces — Movements  of  Gen.  Buell — Ad- 
vance of  Gen.  Johnston  to  attack  Gen.  Grant — Commencement  of  the  Battle  at  Shiloh — Arrival  of  Gen.  Buell — 
Second  day  of  Battle— Retreat  of  Southern  Troops— Message  of  Mr.  Davis  to  Congress  at  Richmond— Arrival 
of  Gen.  Halleck — March  on  Corinth— Its  Evacuation — Movements  of  Gen.  Mitchel— Provisional  Government  in 
Tennessee — Its  Proceedings, 172 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Preparations  for  the  capture  of  New  Orleans— Occupation  of  Ship  Island— The  Mortar  Fleet— Arrival  of  Captain 

Farragut— Bombardment  of  the  Forts  on  the  Mississippi— Preparation  to  run  past  the  Forts — The>  Scenes  which 

ensued— Arrival  of  the  Fleet  before  New  Orleans — Surrender  of  the  City — Advance  up  the  River — Surrender 

>     of  the  Forts  to  Commodore  Porter — Gen.  Butler  occupies  New  Orleans — His  Administration — Superseded  by 

Gen.  Banks, 190 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Position  of  the  forces  near  Washington— Movements  of  Gen.  Lander — Fortifications  at  Manassas — Plans  of  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan— Evacuation  of  Manassas — Commanders  appointed  by  the  President — Advance  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  by  water— Delay  of  Gen.  McDowell— Safety  of  Washington— New  Departments  created— Advance  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  on  Torktown— Its  Siege— Evacuation— Pursuit  by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac— Evac- 
uation of  Williamsburg— Naval  Battle  and  destruction  of  the  Iron-clad  Merrimac— Capture  of  Norfolk— Attack  on 
Drury's  Bluff— Advance  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  up  the  Peninsula— Position  on  the  Chickahomlny— With- 
drawal of  Gen.  McDowell,  ....  .  206 


CONTENTS.  vii 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

MM 

Junction  of  Gen.  Shields  with  Gen.  McDowell— Both  ordered  to  the  Shenandoah  Valley— March  of  Gen.  Fremont  to 
the  same  point— Previous  advance  of  Gen.  Banks  up  the  Sbenandoah — Position  of  the  Forces— Advance  of  Gen.' 
Jackson  down  the  Valley — Attack  at  Front  Eoyal — Eetreat  of  Gen.  Banks — Excitement  in  the  Northern  States — 
Gen.  Jackson  falls  back — Pursuit  by  Gens.  Fremont  and  Shields — Battle  at  Cross  Keys — Battle  at  Port  Be- 
public— Advance  of  Gen.  Heath, •. 228 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

General  McClellan  crosses  the  Chickahominy— Battle  of  Fair  Oaks — Eetreat  of  the  Enemy — March  in  the  rear  of 
Gen.  McClellan — Bridges  over  the  Chickahominy  completed— Battle  at  Mechanicsville — Gen.  McClellan  moves 
toward  the  James — Battles  at  Savage  Station,  White  Oak  Swamp,  and  Charles  City  Cross  Eoads — Confusion  of 
the  Enemy— Attack  at  Malvern  Hill— Army  at  Harrison's  Landing— Arrival  of  Gen.  Halleck— His  Views— Army 
of  the  Potomac  withdrawn  from  the  Peninsula, 341 

« 

CHAPTER  XX. 

General  Pope  takes  command  of  the  Army  of  Virginia— Call  of  the  President  for  more  Men — Advance  of  Gen.  Lee— 
Battle  of  Cedar  Mountain — Capture  of  Louisa  Court  House — Gen.  Pope  falls  back— Dash  on  Catlett's  Station — 
Further  advance  of  the  Enemy — Attack  at  Manassas— Attack  at  Bristow's  Station — Battle  near  Manassas — Battle 
at  Gainesville — Battle  near  Bull  Enn — Excitement  in  the  Northern  States — Eetreat  of  Gen.  Banks — Battle  at 

Chantilly— Eetreat  of  Gen.  Pope  to  the  fortifications  at  "Washington, 254 

•  • 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Advance  of  Gen.  Lee  into  Maryland — His  Address  to  the  People — Gen.  McClellan  ordered  to  take  command  at 
"Washington — His  Orders — Advances  into  Maryland  to  meet  Gen.  Lee— Confidential  Order  of  Gen.  Lee — Battle 
of  South  Mountain — Attack  of  the  Enemy  on  Harper's  Ferry — Its  Surrender — Battle  of  Antietam— Eetreat  of 
Gen.  Lee, 265 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Message  of  the  President  recommending  Emancipation  with  Compensation— His  Conference  with  Members  of  Con- 
gress— Proclamation  threatening  Emancipation — Finances  of  the  Federal  Government — Increase  of  the  Armies — 
Efforts  of  the  South  to  raise  Armies — Conscription— Officers  of  the  Southern  Government — Its  Finances — Its 
Navy  Department — Cruisers— The  Oreto — The  Alabama:  vessels  destroyed  by  her — Other  Operations — Diplo- 
matic Correspondence  with  the  British  Government, 2T2 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Guerrillas  in  Kentucky— Invasion  of  the  State  by  Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith— Gen.  Buell  falls  back  from  Tennessee  as  Gen. 
Bragg  advances  toward  Kentucky — Movements  in  Kentucky — Battle  at  Perryville — Eetreat  of  Gen.  Bragg — Cum- 
berland Gap— Invasion  of  "West  Virginia— Operations  in  Mississippi — Battle  of  luka— Battle  at  Corinth — Eetreat 
of  the  Enemy — Expedition  of  Gen.  Hovey— Gen.  Eosecrans  takes  command  in  Tennessee — Position  of  Gen.  Bragg's 
Forces— Battle  of  Stone  Elver, 283 

CHAPTER  ixiV. 

Conclusion  of  the  Campaign  In  Virginia— Gen.  McClellan  crosses  the  Potomac— Causes  of  his  Delay— Presses  Gen. 
Lee— Gen.  Burnside  ordered  to  take  Command — His  Orders— Gen.  Lee  falls  back — Advance  of  Gen.  Bnmside 
toward  Fredericksburg— Its  Surrender  Demanded— Occupied  by  Gen.  Lee — Battle  of  Fredericksburg — "Withdrawal 
of  Gen.  Burnside's  Forces— Losses, 299 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Attempt  to  capture  "Washington,  North  Carolina— Expedition  from  Port  Eoyal— Attack  on  Baton  Bouge— Con- 
test near  Donaldsonville— Attack  on  Vicksburg— Surrender  of  Natchez— Capture  of  Galveston— Attack  on 
the  Federal  Fleet  and  capture  of  several  Vessels— Military  Operations  in  New  Mexico— Expedition  to  the 
Indian  Territory— Operations  In  Arkansas  and  Missouri— Campaign  against  the  Northwestern  Indians— Eesults 
of  the  Year, ^  gjp 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

The  Emancipation  Proclamation — Action  of  Congress — Oath  of  Office  required— Organization  of  "West  Virginia  as  a 
State— Proceedings  relative  to  the  exchange  of  Prisoners— The  Cartel  agreed  upon— Difficulties— Officers  in  the 
Insurrectionary  Service — Condition  of  Gen.  Lee's  Army  in  the  Autumn  of  1862 — Appeal  to  the  Southern  Peo- 
ple— Condition  tf  the  Federal  Army— Organization  of  a  Provost-Marshal's  Department 818 


viii  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

FA6B 

The  Campaign  against  Vicksburg — The  Plan  of  Gen.  Grant— The  loss  of  Holly  Springs :  its  consequences — Movement 
of  Gen.  Sherman  toward  Vieksburg— Haines1  Bluffs — Attack  of  Gen.  Sherman  on  Chickasaw  Bluffs — Failure — 
Address  to  his  Troops— Movement  up  the  Arkansas  Eiver— Capture  of  Arkansas  Post— Eetires  to  Young's 
Point— Arrival  of  Gen  Grant — Work  on  the  Canal  opposite  Vieksburg — Floods — Queen  of  the  "West  runs  the  Bat- 
teries at  Vicksburg— Her  Expedition  dow^the  Mississippi— Captures— Loss  of  the  Queen  of  the  West^-Scenes 
up  the  Ked  River — Approach  of  the  Enemy's  Gunboats—The  Indianola  runs  the  Batteries — Her  Destruction- 
Attempt  of  Gen.  Grant  to  cut  a  Channel  to  Lake  Providence :  also  one  to  Moon  Lake — Expedition  of  Admiral 
Porter— Its  Failure, 380 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Object  of  Gen.  Grant  to  reach  the  rear  of  Vicksburg — His  Movements — Transports  and  Gunboats  run  the  Batteries — 
Attack  on  Grand  Gulf— Crossing  the  Mississippi  by  the  Army— Change  of  base  by  Gen.  Grant — Raid  of  Col. 
Grierson  through  Mississippi— Advance  of  Gen.  Grant  to  the  Big  Black  River— Battles — Occupation  of  Jackson — 
March  on  Vicksburg— Battles — March  of  Gen.  Sherman  to  the  Yazoo — Investment  of  Vicksburg — Siege — Surren- 
der—Results,   345 

m  CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Campaign  of  Gen.  Banks — The  Naval  Force — Action  with  the  Batteries  at  Port  Hudson — March  of  Gen.  Banks  west  of 
the  Mississippi— Action  at  Brashear— Advance  upon  Alexandria— Its  Capture — March  to  Semmesport— Crossing 
the  Mississippi — Attack  on  Port  Hudson — Its  Investment— Siege — Surrender, 365 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

Movement  of  Gen.  Burnside  to  cross  the  Rappahannock— Storm— The  Army  returns  to  Camp — Gen.  Hooker  takes 
command — Movement  of  Gen.  Hooker  across  the  Rappahannock— The  Battle  of  Chancellorsville — Losses— The 
death  of  Gen.  "  Stonewall "  Jackson, 372 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Position  of  the  hostile  Armies  on  the  Rappahannock— The  Military  Departments — Advance  of  Gen.  Lee  toward  the 
Shenandoah  Valley — Capture  of  Winchester  and  Martinsbnrg — Invasion  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania — Calls 
for  Troops  from  the  Northern  States — March  of  Gen.  Hooker's  Army — Plans  of  Gen.  Lee — The  Enemy  in  Penr- 
sylvania, 334 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Position  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac — Gen.  Hooker  relieved  by  Gen.  Meade — Concentration  of  the  Enemy  near 
Gettysburg — Opening  of  the  Battle — The  Battle— Retreat  of  Gen.  Lee — Pursued  by  Gen.  Meade — Cooperating 
Movements  elsewhere — Advance  of  Gen.  Rosecrans  in  Tennessee  against  Gen.  Bragg — Raid  of  Gen.  John  Morgan 
in  Ohio, 898 

t 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Measures  taken  in  the  Insurrectionary  States  to  recruit  their  Armies — The  Army  of  the  United  States — Con- 
scription— The  Draft:  how  made — Riots  in  New  York,  Boston,  and  elsewhere — Employment  of  Colored 
Troops — Proceedings  relative  thereto  —  Organization  of  Hospitals — Expenditures — Materials— Ordnance  and 
Small  Arms, 412 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Operations  of  the  Florida  and  Alabama — The  bark  Tacony — Capture  of  the  Chesapeake— Damage  to  Federal 
Commerce— Increase  of  the  Federal  Navy— Operations  of  the  North  Atlantic  Squadron— Operations  of  the 
Sonth  Atlantic  Squadron— Attack  on  Fort  McAllister— Attack  on  Charleston— Capture  of  the  Atlanta— Other 
Naval  Operations, 489 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Situation  of  Gen.  Rosecrans— Attack  on  Fort  Donelson— Expeditions  of  Colburn,  Sheridan,  Hall,  and  Col.  Streight^- 
Advance  of  Gen.  Rosecrans — Retreat  of  Gen.  Bragg — Movement  of  Gen.  Burnside — Other  Movements — Occu- 
pation of  Chattanooga— Further  advance  of  Gen.  Rosecrans— Battle  of  Chickamauga— Firmness  of  Gen.  Thomas- 
Army  concentrates  at  Chattaneoga,  ....  .  .  ...  452 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


INTRODUCTION. 


THE  recent  war  in  the  United  States  broke 
out  under  circumstances  so  unusual,  and  dis- 
played such  a  grandeur  of  military  scenes,  such 
perfection  in  implements  of  destruction,  and 
such  vastness  of  operations,  as  to  deserve  some 
preliminary  notice.  "Within  less  than  the  lim- 
its of  a  century  is  comprised  the  existence  of 
the  nation.  During  that  period,  its  previous 
great  war  had  been  known  among  the  people  as 
that  of  the  Revolution.  On  its  scenes  their 
minds  have  ever  loved  to  dwell ;  its  conflicts 
have  been  unceasingly  rehearsed  as  illustrations 
of  American  bravery  and  fortitude ;  and  the  few 
lingering  survivors  have  been  cheered  by  a  ven- 
eration due  only  to  a  superior  class  of  men. 
The  population  of  the  country  at  the  time  of 
that  war  is  unknown,  no  census  having  been 
taken  until  1790.  But  the  number  of  soldiers 
furnished  by  each  State,  and  the  population  at 
the  first  census,  were  about  as  follows : 


STATES. 

Soldiers. 

Population  la 
1790. 

New  Hampshire  .... 

12,497 

141  899 

'Massachusetts  (including  Maine).  . 
Ehode  Island  .. 

67,907 
5908 

475,257 

Con  nectlcut  

81,959 

238141 

New  York  

17781 

340  120 

New  Jersey  

10726 

184  139 

Pennsylvania  

25678 

434,373 

Delaware  ;  

2386 

Maryland  

13912 

SI  9  728 

Virginia  

26678 

North  Carolina  

7263 

393  751 

South  Carolina  

6417 

249  073 

Georgia  

2589 

82  548 

Territories. 
Vermont  

85416 

Tennessee  

85791 

Kentucky.  . 

73'o77 

231,701 

8,929,827 

The  territories  were  then  without  any  dis- 
tinct civil  organization,  and  as  such  furnished 
no  soldiers.  Their  recruits  were  doubtless  in- 
cluded among  those  of  the  adjoining  States. 

The  battles  of  this  war,  together  with  the 
place  and  commander  of  each,  and  the  losses, 
were  as  follows : 


Where  fought. 

American  commanders 
and  loss. 

British  commanders 
and  loss. 

Lexington  

..     84 

245 

Bunker  Hill... 
Flatbush  

"Warren  
Putnam  

..    453 
..2,000 

Howe  

..1,054 

400 

White  Plains.. 
Trenton  

Washington..  . 
Washington... 
Washington... 
Stark  
Washington... 
Gates  
Washington  .  .  . 
Sullivan  

..   800 
..       9 
..    100 
..    100 
.  .1,200 
..    850 
..    230 
.  .    211 

Howe  

..    800 

Eahl 

1000 

Princeton  
Bennington.... 
Brandy  wine  .  .  . 
*Saratoga  
Monmouth  
Ehode  Island.. 
Briar  Creek  
Stony  Point  
Camden  
Cowpens.  
Guilford  

Mawhood  .... 

...400 

Baum  

..    600 

Howe  

...    600 

Burgoyne  .... 

...    600 

Clinton  

..    400 

Pigott 

260 

Ash  :.. 
Wayne  

..   800 
.   100 

Prevost  

...     16 

000 

Gates  
Morgan  

..    720 
.     72 

Cornwallis..  . 
Carleton  

..    875 

..    800 

Greene  

.    400 

Cornwallis... 
Stewart  

..    523 
..1,000 

Eu  taw  Springy. 

Greene  

665 

1 

*  The  figures  do  not  truly  represent  the  aid  given  by  the 
respective  States.    Thus  the  number  of  soldiers  furnished 
1 
.     S 


The  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown, 
October  19, 1781,  closed  the  war.  The  number 
surrendered  was  7.073. 

by  Pennsylvania  is  set  down  at  22,678 ;  but  to  Massachu- 
setts there  is  set  down  67,507,  although  the  population  of  the 
two  States  was  then  about  the  same  in  numbers.  In  one 
sense  this  is  correct.  Pennsylvania  did  furnish  but  25,000 
'recruits,  while  Massachusetts  sent  67,000.  But  there  was 
this  difference  between  the  recruits:  those  from  Pennsyl- 
vania were  mostly  enlisted  for  three  years,  or  for  the  war; 
while  those  of  Massachusetts  generally  entered  the  army 
for  nine  months.  Thus,  the  Pennsylvania  line  was  renewed 
only  once  every  three  years,  while,  during  this  interval,  the 
Massachusetts  line  was  renewed  four  times,  or  once  every 
nine  months.  In  this  manner  the  latter  nominally  fur- 
nished four  men,  while  the  former  furnished  one,  and  this 
while  having  only  the  same  number  in  the  field. 
*  5,752  British  prisoners  taken. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


On  the  sea  there  was  no  organized  navy. 
A  few  ships,  as  national  vessels,  had  a  brief, 
though  bold  and  destructive  career. 

Perhaps  it  may  be  interesting  to  add,  that  the 
amount  of  currency,  known  as  "  Continental 
money,"  issued,  was  as  follows : 

Amount  issued  in  1TT5. $2,000,000 

"  "       in  1777. 20,000,000 

Total  amount  issued  to  July,  1779 858,000,000 

The  whole  expenses  of  the  war,  estimated  in 
specie,  amounted  to  $135,193,703. 

In  the  next  war,  known  as  that  of  1812,  be- 
tween the  same  combatants,  General  Brown 
crossed  the  Niagara  River  for  the  invasion  of 
Canada  with  about  3,500  men.  Three  weeks 
afterwards,  on  July  25th,  1814,  the  battle  of 
Lundy's  Lane  was  fought  between  3,000  Amer- 
icans and  4,500  British  troops.  The  loss  of  the 
former  was  753  in  killed  and  wounded,  and 
that  of  the  latter  878.  The  most  celebrated 
battle  of  this  war  was  that  fought  at  New  Or- 
leans. The  entire  force  of  the  Britiih  army 
landed  above  the  mouths  of  the  Mississippi  for 
the  capture  of  that  city,  was  12,000  men.  On 
January  1st,  1815,  an  artillery  duel  took  place, 
in  which  the  British  had  thirty  heavy  guns 
behind  a  breastwork  of  hogsheads  of  sugar, 
which,  it  was  supposed,  would  be  as  protective 
as  sand-bags ;  and  the  Americans  ten  guns  be- 
hind cotton  bales.  The  sugar  hogsheads  were 
demolished,  and  the  cotton  bales  set  on  fire. 
After  a  loss  of  seventy  men,  the  British  force 
drew  off.  The  American  loss  was  thirty-four. 
On  January  8th  the  decisive  battle  was  fought. 
The  British  advanced  with  10,000  men  against 
6,000  under  Gen.  Jackspn,  of  whom  3,500  were 
defended  by  breastworks.  The  British  were  re- 
pulsed with  a  loss  of  more  than  2,000  men, 
while  that  of  the  Americans  was  but  27  in 
killed  and  wounded.  In  this  war  the  United 
States  had  an  organized  navy  of  comparatively 
small  wooden  ships,  the  exploits  of  which  were 
very  brilliant  and  successful. 

Peace  now  existed  for  thirty  years,  when  the 
war  with  Mexico  took  place.  On  May  8th, 
1846,  Gen.  Taylor,  marching  with  2,288  men 
from  Point  Isabel  to  Tort  Brown,  opposite 
Matamoras,  on  the  Rio  Grande,  was  attacked 
at  Palo  Alto  by  a  Mexican  force  estimated 
at  6,000  men.  The  most  celebrated  battle 
in  northern  Mexico,  that  of  Buena  Vista, 
was  fought  by  Gen.  Taylor  with  about  6,000 
men  against  14,000,  partially  exhausted  by 


crossing  a  desert  previous  to  the  action.  The 
march  from  Puebla  to  the  city  of  Mexico 
was  made  by  Gen.  Scott,  with  a  force  consist- 
ing of  10,738  men,  rank  and  file.  He  fought 
the  battles  of  Contreras,  Churubusco,  &c., 
August  20th,  1847,  with  8,497  men.  At  Mo- 
lina del  Rey  there  were  only  three  brigades, 
with  some  cavalry  and  artillery,  making  in  all 
3,251.  The  operating  force  in  the  battles  of 
Sept.  12  and  13,  was  7,180  men,  and  the  city 
of  Mexico  was  entered  with  less  than  6,000. 
The  opposing  force  in  these  battles  is  stated  by 
Gen.  Scott,  "upon  accumulated  and  unques- 
tionable evidence,"  to  have  been  not  less  than 
three  and  a  half  times  greater  in  numbers  thau 
his  own.  The  total  losses  of  Gen.  Scott  in  all 
these  battles,  including  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing,  amounted  to  2,703,  of  whom  383  were 
officers. 

The  amount  of  the  public  debt  on  June  21st, 
1848,  after  peace  had  been  concluded,  was 
$48,196,321 ;  of  which  $31,868,762  had  been 
incurred  subsequent  to  July  1st,  1846.  The 
first  battle  of  the  war  was  on  May  8th,  1846. 
The  Union  consisted,  in  1847,  of  thirty  States, 
and  by  an  estimate  of  the  Government  made  at 
that  time,  the  number  of  the  militia  of  all  the 
States  was  1,821,093. 

A  period  of  profound  peace  now  ensued. 
The  standing  military  force  of  the  Govern- 
ment was  reduced  to  the  smallest  number 
practicable,  being,  in  1860,  about  16,000  men, 
most  of  whom  were  required  on  the  "Western 
frontier  to  preserve  the  peace  with  the  Indians. 
Officers  of  the  army,  after  the  close  of  the  Mex- 
ican war,  resigned  their  commissions,  and  de- 
voted then:  talents  to  the  pursuits  of  private 
life.  Inventors  of  implements  of  war  found 
their  ingenuity  to  be  unappreciated,  and  their 
manufactures  profitless.  The  national  Mili- 
tary School  at  West  Point  was  regarded  by  the 
mass  of  the  people  as  an  expensive  and  use- 
less establishment,  and  motions  to  suspend  or 
refuse  appropriations  for  its  support  were  often 
made  in  Congress.  Militia  service  in  the  sev- 
eral States  had  become  almost  disreputable. 
If  laws  existed  to  promote  an  efficient  organ- 
ization, they  were  not  enforced.  Private  es- 
tablishments for  the  manufacture  of  arms  had, 
with  one  or  two  exceptions,  ceased  to  exist,  and 
the  Federal  armories  at  Springfield  and  Harper's 
Ferry  were  inactive.  Meanwhile  the  warnings 
of  another  and  more  terrible  conflict,  given  by 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


gathering  clouds,  were  unheeded,  except  in 
Massachusetts,  where  Governor  Banks  secured 
the  adoption  of  legislative  measures  for  a  re- 
organization of  the  militia  of  the  State,  and  in 
South  Carolina,  where  the  authorities,  in  1860, 
secretly  procured  a  considerable  importation  of 
muskets,  which  were  at  an  early  period  of  in- 


valuable service  to  the  cause  she  had  espoused. 
Thus  unprepared,  and  amid  the  most  overflow- 
ing prosperity  which  the  pursuits  of  peace  ever 
yielded  to  an  industrious  people,  the  nation  was 
alarmed  by  the  sounds  of  an  internal  war  that 
called  every  man  to  the  field,  and  brought  to 
pass  the  scenes  described  in  the  following  pages. 


CHAPTEK  I. 

Secession  Movements  in  South  Carolina,  Florida,  Mississippi,  Alabama,  Georgia,  and  Louisiana. 


THE  Legislature  of  South  Carolina  assembled 
on  the  4th  of  November,  1860,  and  having 
chosen  the  Presidential  electors,  adjourned. 

The  election  for  President  was  held  on  the 
6th  of  November,  1860.  On  that  day  the  vote 
of  the  State  was  given  by  the  electors  to  John 
0.  Breckinridge  for  President.  On  the  next 
.day  the  Legislature  again  assembled,  and  the 
subject  of  withdrawal  from  the  United  States 
was  taken  up,  and  an  act  passed  calling  a  State 
Convention  to  meet  at  Columbia  on  the  17th 
of  December.  Other  measures  were  then  in- 
troduced and  adopted,  the  object  of  which  was 
to  place  the  State  in  a  suitable  position  to  meet 
the  crisis  about  to  be  inaugurated. 

On  the  10th  of  December  Francis'W.  Pickens 
was  chosen  Governor  by  the  Legislature.  He 
was  inaugurated  immediately  after  his  election, 
and  improved  the  occasion  to  declare  the  cause 
of  the  movement  on  the  part  of  South  Carolina 
to  separate  from  the  Union.  In  his  view  it  was 
as  follows : 

For  seventy-three  years  this  State  has  been  con- 
nected by  a  Federal  compact  with  co-States,  under  a 
bond  of  union  for  great  national  objects  common  to 
all.  In  recent  years  there  has  been  a  powerful  party, 
organized  upon  principles  of  ambition  and  fanaticism, 
whose  undisguised  purpose  is  to  divert  the  Federal 
Government  from  external  and  turn  its  power  upon 
the  internal  interests  and  domestic  institutions  of 
these  States.  They  have  thus  combined  a  party  ex- 
clusively in  the  Northern  States,  whose  avowed  ob- 
jects not  only  endanger  the  peace,  but  the  very  exist- 
ence of  nearly  one-half  of  the  States  of  this  Confed- 
eracy. And  in  the  recent  election  for  President  and 
Vice-President  of  these  States,  they  have  carried  the 
election  upon  principles  that  make  it  no  longer  safe 
for  us  to  rely  upon  the  powers  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment, or  the  guarantees  of  the  Federal* 'compact. 
This  is  the  great  overt  act  of  the  people  in  the  North- 
ern States  at  the  ballot-box,  in  the  exercise  of  their 
sovereign  power  at  the  polls,  from  which  there  is  no 
higher  appeal  recognized  under  our  system  of  Gov- 
ernment in  its  ordinary  and  habitual  operations. 
They  thus  propose  to  inaugurate  a  Chief  Magistrate, 
at  the  head  of  the  army  and  navy,  with  vast  powers, 
not  to  preside  over  the  common  interests  and  desti- 
nies of  all  the  States  alike,  but  upon  issues  of  malig- 
nant hostility  and  uncompromising  war,  to  be  waged 
upon  the  rights,  the  interests,  and  the  peace  of  half 
the  States  of  this  Union. 

In  the  Southern  States  there  are  two  entirely  dis- 
tinct and  separate  races,  and  one  has  been  held  in 
subjection  to  the  other  by  peaceful  inheritance  from 


worthy  and  patriotic  ancestors,  and  all  who  know  the 
races  well  know  that  it  is  the  only  form  of  government 
that  can  preserve  both,  and  administer  the  blessings 
of  civililization  with  order  and  in  harmony.  Any 
thing  tending  to  change  and  weaken  the  Government 
and  the  subordination  between  the  races,  not  only 
endangers  the  peace,  but  the  very  existence  of  our 
society  itself.  We  have  for  years  warned  the  North- 
ern people  of  the  dangers  they  were  producing  by 
their  wanton  and  lawless  course.  We  have  often  ap- 
pealed to  our  sister  States  of  the  South  to  act  with 
us  in  concert  upon  some  firm  and  moderate  system 
by  which  we  might  be  able  to  save  the  Federal  Con- 
stitution, and  yet  feel  safe  under  the  general  com- 
pact of  Union ;  but  we  could  obtain  no  fair  warning 
from  the  North,  nor  could  we  see  any  concerted  plan 
proposed  by  any  of  our  co-States  of  the  South  calcu- 
lated to  make  us  feel  safe  and  secure. 

Under  all  these  circumstances  we  now  have  no  al- 
ternative left  but  to  interpose  our  sovereign  power 
as  an  independent  State  to  protect  the  rights  and  an- 
cient privileges  of  the  people  of  South  Carolina. 
This  State  was  one  of  the  original  parties  to  the  Fed- 
eral compact  of  union.  We  agreed  to  it,  as  a  State, 
under  peculiar  circumstances,  when  we  were  sur- 
rounded with  great  external  pressure,  for  purposes 
of  national  protection,  and  to  advance  the  interests 
and  general  welfare  of  all  the  States  equally  and 
alike.  And  when  it  ceases  to  do  this,  it  is  no  longer 
a  perpetual  U,nion.  It  would  be  an  absurdity  to  sup- 
pose it  was  a  perpetual  Union  for  our  ruin. 

After  a  few  days  the  Legislature  took  a  recess 
until  the  17th  of  December,  the  day  on  which 
the  State  Convention  was  to  assemble.  Prep- 
arations for  the  Convention  were  commenced 
immediately  after  the  bill  was  passed  by  the 
Legislature.  Candidates  for  membership  were 
nominated.  All  were  in  favor  of  secession,  and 
the  only  important  distinction  to  be  seen  among 
them  consisted  in  the  personal  character  of  in- 
dividuals. Those  who  were  known  to  be  men 
of  moderate  and  conservative  views  were  gen- 
erally successful  over  individuals  of  a  radical 
and  ultra  stamp. 

The  Convention  assembled  in  the  Baptist 
church  at  Columbia,  the  capital  of  the  State, 
at  noon,  on  the  17th  of  December.    Unlike  the 
conventions  of  the  other  States,  its  sessions  wero 
at  first  held  with  open  doors,  and  its  proceed 
ings  published  to  the  country.    When  the  Con 
vention  was  called  to  order,  David  F.  Jamison 
was  requested  to  act  as  president  pro  tern. 

The  names  were  called,  but  an  oath  was  not 
administered  to  the  delegates.  For  president 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


of  the  Convention,  on  the  fourth  ballot,  David 
F.  Jamison  received  118  votes,  J.  L.  Orr  30, 
and  James  Chesnut,  jr.,  3.  Mr.  Jamison  was 
elected. 

A  motion  was  next  made  that  the  Conven- 
tion adjourn,  to  meet  in  Charleston  on  the  af- 
ternoon of  the  next  day,  owing  to  the  preva- 
lence of  small-pox  in  Columbia.  This  motion 
was  opposed  by  W.  Porcher  Miles,  who  said : 

"  We  would  be  sneered  at.  It  would  be  asked 
on  all  sides,  Is  this  the  chivalry  of  South  Caro- 
lina ?  They  are  prepared  to  face  the  world,  but 
they  run  away  from  the  small-pox.  Sir,  if  eve- 
ry day  my  prospects  of  life  were  diminished  by 
my  being  here,  and  if  I  felt  the  certain  convic- 
tion that  I  must  take  this  disease,  I  would  do 
so,  and  die,  if  necessary.  I  am  just  from  Wash- 
ington, where  I  have  been  in  constant,  close, 
continual  conference  with  our  friends.  Their 
unanimous,  urgent  request  to  us  is.  not  to  delay 
at  all.  The  last  thing  urged  on  me,  .by  our 
friends  from  Georgia,  Mississippi,  Florida, 
North  Carolina,  Alabama,  Texas,  and  Louisi- 
ana, and  every  State  that  is  with  us  in  this 
great  movement,  was,  take  out  South  Carolina 
the  instant  you  can.  Now,  sir,  when  the  news 
reaches  Washington  that  we  met  here,  that  a 
panic  arose  about  a  few  cases  of  small-pox  in 
the  city,  and  that  we  forthwith  scampered  off 
to  Charleston,  the  effect  would  be  a  little  lu- 
dicrous, if  I  might  be  excused  for  that  expres- 
sion." 

The  motion  was  adopted,  and  the  Convention 
assembled  on  the  next  day  at  Charleston. 

The  following  committee  was  then  appointed 
to  draft  an  ordinance  of  secession :  Messrs.  In- 
glis,  Rhett,  sen.,  Chesnut,  On-,  Maxcy  Gregg, 
B.  F.  Dunkin,  and  Hutson,  and  another  com- 
mittee, as  follows,  to  prepare  an  address  to  the 
people  of  the  Southern  States,  viz. :  Messrs. 
Rhett,  sen.,  Calhoun,  Finley,  J.  D.  Wilson,  W. 
F.  De  Saussure,  Cheves,  and  Carn. 

The  following  committees  were  also  appoint- 
ed, each  to  consist  of  thirteen  members : 

A  Committee  on  Relations  with  the  Slave- 
holding  States  of  North  America ;  a  Committee 
on  Foreign  Relations ;  a  Committee  on  Com- 
mercial Relations  and  Postal  Arrangements ; 
and  a  Committee  on  the  Constitution  of  the 
State. 

On  the  same  day  Mr.  Magrath,  of  Charleston, 
offered  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  so  much  of  the  Message  of  the  Presi- 
den$  of  the  United  States  as  relates  to  what  he  desig- 
nates^'the  property  of  the  United  States  in  South  Car- 
olina," be  referred  to  a  committee  of  thirteen,  to  report 
of  what  such  property  consists,  how  acquired,  and 
whether  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  so.acquired  can 
be  enjoyed  by  the  United  States  after  the  State  of 
South  Carolina  shall  have  seceded,  consistently  with 
the  dignity  and  safety  of  the  State.  And  that  said 
committee  further  report  the  value  of  the  property  of 
the  United  States  not  in  South  Carolina ;  and  the  value 
of  the  share  thereof  to  which  South  Carolina  would  be 
entitled  upon  an  equitable  division  thereof  among  the 
United  States. 

Upon  offering  the  resolution,  he  said : 

"  As  I  understand  the  Message  of  the  Presi- 


dent of  the  United  States,  he  affirms  it  as  his 
right  and  constituted  duty  and  high  obligation 
to  protect  the  property  of  the  United  States 
within  the  limits  of  South  Carolina,  and  to  en- 
force the  laws  of  the  Union  within  the  limits  of 
South  Carolina.  He  says  he  has  no  constitu- 
tional power  to  coerce  South  Carolina,  while, 
at  the  same  time,  be  denies  to  her  the  right  of 
secession.  It  may  be,  and  I  apprehend  it  will 
be,  Mr.  President,  that  the  attempt  to  coerce 
South  Carolina  will  be  made  under  the  pre- 
tence of  protecting  the  property  of  the  United 
States  within  the  limits  of  South  Carolina.  I 
am  disposed,  therefore,  at  the  very  threshold, 
to  test  the  accuracy  of  this  logic,  and  test  the 
conclusions  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States.  There  never  has  been  a  day — no,  not 
one  hour — in  which  the  right  of  property  with- 
in the  limits  of  South  Carolina,  whether  it 
belongs  to  individuals,  corporations,  political 
community,  or  nation,  has  not  been  as  safe  un- 
der the  Constitution  and  laws  of  South  Caro- 
lina as  when  that  right  is  claimed  by  one  of  our 
own  citizens ;  and  if  there  be  property  of  the 
United  States  within  the  limits  of  South  Caro- 
lina, that  property,  consistently  with  the  dig-* 
nity  and  honor  of  the  State,  can,  after  the 
secession  of  South  Carolina,  receive  only  that 
protection  which  it  received  before." 

Mr.  Miles,  who  had  just  returned  from 
Washington,  stated  the  position  of  affairs  to  be 
as  follows : 

"  I  will  confine  myself  simply  to  the  matter 
of  the  forts  in  the  harbor  of  Charleston,  and  I 
will  state  what  I  conceive  to  be  the  real  condi- 
tion of  things.  I  have  not  the  remotest  idea 
that  the  President  of  the  United  States  will 
send  any  reenforcement  whatsoever  into  these 
forts.  I  desire  no  concealment — there  should 
be  no  concealment — but  perfect  frankness.  I 
will  state  here  that  I,  with  some  of  my  col- 
leagues, in  a  conversation  with  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  and  subsequently  in-  a 
written  communication,  to  which  our  names 
were  signed,  after  speaking  of  the  great  excite- 
ment about  the  forts,  said  thus  to  him  : 

Mr.  President,  it  is  our  solemn  conviction  that,  if 
you  attempt  to  send  a  solitary  soldier  to  these  forts, 
the  instant  the  intelligence  reaches  our  people,  (and 
we  shall  take  care  that  it  does  reach  them,  for  we  have 
sources  of  information  in  Washington,  so  that  no  or- 
ders for  troops  can  be  issued  without  our  getting  in- 
formation,) these  forts  will  be  forcibly  and  immediately 
stormed. 

"  We  all  assured  him  that,  if  an  attempt  was 
made  to  transport  reinforcements,  our  people 
would  take  these  forts,  and  that  we  would  go 
home  and  help  them  to  do  it ;  for  it  would  be 
suicidal  folly  for  us  to  allow  the  forts  to  be 
manned.  And  we  further  said  to  him  that  a 
bloody  result  would  follow  the  sending  of 
troops  to  those  forts,  and  that  we  did  not  be- 
lieve that  the  authorities  of  South  Carolina 
would  do  any  thing  prior  to  the  meeting  of  this 
convention,  and  that  we  hoped  and  believed 
that  nothing  would  be  done  after  this  body  met 
until  we  had  demanded  of  the  General  Govern- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ment  the  recession  of  these  forts.  This  was  the 
substance  of  what  we  said.  Now,  sir,  it  is  my 
most  solemn  conviction  that  there  is  no  attempt 
going  to  be  made  to  reenforce  these  forts." 

Resolutions  were  offered  and  referred,  .which 
proposed  a  provisional  government  for  the 
Southern  States  on  the  basis  of  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States;  also  to  send  commis- 
sioners to  Washington  to  negotiate  for  the  ces- 
sion of  Federal  property  within  the  State,  &c.  ; 
also,  the  election  of  five  persons  to  meet  dele- 
•  gates  from  other  States,  for  the  purpose  of 
forming  a  Confederacy,  &c. 

On  the  20th  the  committee  appointed  to  draft 
an  ordinance  of  secession  made  the  following 
report  : 

The  committee  appointed  to  prepare  the  draught 
of  an  Ordinance  proper  to  be  adopted  by  the  Con- 
vention in  order  to  effect  the  secession  of  South  Car- 
olina from  the  Federal  Union,  respectfully  report  : 

That  they  have  had  the  matter  referred  to  under 
consideration,  and  believing  that  they  would  best 
meet  the  exigencies  of  the  great  occasion,  and  the 
just  expectations  of  the  Convention  by  presenting  in 
the  fewest  and  simplest  words  possible  to  be  used, 
consistent  with  perspicuity  and  all  that  is  necessary 
-to  effect  the  end  proposed  and  no  more,  and  so  ex- 
cluding every  thing  which,  however  proper  in  itself 
for  the  action  of  the  Convention,  is  not  a  necessary 
part  of  the  great  solemn  act  of  secession,  and  may  at 
least  be  effected  by  a  distinct  ordinance  or  resolution, 
they  submit  for  the  consideration  of  the  Convention 
the  following  proposed  draught  : 


RDINANCE  to  dissolve  the  Union  between  (Tie  State  of 
South  Carolina  and  other  States  united  with  her  un- 
der the  compact  entitled  "  The  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  of  America.'''' 

We,  the  people  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  in 
Convention  assembled,  do  declare  and  ordain,  and  it 
is  hereby  declared  and  ordained,  that  the  ordinance 
adopted  by  us  in  Convention  on  the  twenty-third  day 
of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  -Lord  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  eighty-eight,  whereby  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States  was  ratified,  and  also  all  acts 
and  parts  of  acts  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State 
ratifying  amendments  of  the  said  Constitution,  are 
hereby  repealed,  and  the  Union  now  subsisting  be- 
tween South  Carolina  and  other  States,  under  the 
name  of  "The  United  States  of  America,"  is  hereby 
dissolved. 

The  ordinance  was  then  taken  up  and  imme- 
diately passed  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the 
Convention.  After  its  passage,  the  following 
ordinance  was  passed  to  preserve  the  order  of 
affairs  under  the  altered  political  relations  of 
the  State  : 

Be  it  ordained,  ly  t/ie  People  of  South  Carolina,  ly 
their  Delegates  in  Convention  assembled,  That,  until 
otherwise  provided  by  the  Legislature,  the  Governor 
shall  be  authorized  to  appoint  collectors  and  other 
officers  connected  with  the  customs,  for  the  ports 
within  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  and  also  all  the 
postmasters  within  the  said  State  ;  and  that  until 
such  appointments  shall  have  been  made,  the  persons 
now  charged  with  the  duties  of  the  said  several  offices 
shall  continue  to  discharge  the  same,  keeping  an  ac- 
count of  what  moneys  are  received  and  disbursed  by 
them  respectively. 

The  Convention  adjourned  to  meet  at  Insti- 
tute Hall,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  Governor, 
and  both  branches  of  the  State  Legislature,  to 
sign  the  ordinance  of  secession.  • 

At  the  close  of  the  ceremonies  the  president 


of  the  Convention  announced  the  secession  of 
the  State  in  these  words :  "  The  ordinance  of 
secession  has  been  signed  and  ratified,  and  I 
proclaim  the  State  of  South  Carolina  an  inde- 
pendent Commonwealth."  The  ratified  ordi- 
nance was  then  given  to  the  Secretary  of  State 
to  be  preserved  among  its  archives,  and  the  as- 
sembly dissolved. 

On  the  21st  the  committee  to  prepare  an  ad- 
dress to  the  Southern  States  made  a  report,  re- 
viewing the  injuries  to  South  Carolina  imputed 
to  her  connection  with  the  Federal  Union.  An 
ordinance  was  then  adopted  which  prescribed 
the  following  oath,  to  be  taken  by  all  persons 
elected  and  appointed  to  any  office  : 

I  do  solemnly  swear,  (or  affirm,)  that  I  will  be 
faithful  and  true  allegiance  bear  to  the  Constitution 
of  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  so  long  as  I  may  con- 
tinue a  citizen  of  the  same ;  and  that  I  am  duly  quali- 
ified  under  the  laws  of  South  Carolina,  and  will  dis- 
charge the  duties  thereof  to  the  best  of  my  ability, 
and  will  preserve,  protect,  and  defend  the  Consti- 
tution of  this  State.  So  help  me  God. 

In  secret  session,  Messrs.  Robert  "W.  Barn- 
well,  J.  H.  Adams,  and  James  L.  Orr,  were  ap- 
pointed commissioners  to  proceed  to  Washing- 
ton, to  treat  for  the  delivery  of  the  forts,  maga- 
zines, light-houses,  &c.,  within  the  limits  of  the 
State,  also  the  apportionment  of  the  public 
debts  and  a  division  of  all  other  property  held 
by  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  as 
agent  of  the  confederation  of  States,  of  which 
South  Carolina  was  recently  a  member,  and  to 
negotiate  all  other  arrangements  proper  to  be 
adopted  in  the  existing  relations  of  the  parties. 

Active  movements  immediately  commenced 
for  resisting  any  attempt  on  the  part  of  the 
United  States  to  exercise  Federal  powers  with- 
in the  limits  of  the  State.  Rumors  that  vessels 
of  war  had  started  for  Charleston  harbor,  and 
that  the  commissioners  to  Washington  were  on 
their  way  home,  created  great  excitement  in 
the  State,  and  all  thought  of  peaceable  seces- 
sion was  abandoned.  A  collector  for  the  port 
of  Charleston  was  nominated  to  the  Senate  by 
President  Buchanan,  but  that  body  failed  to 
confirm  the  nomination. 

Meantime,  Governor  Pickens  organized  his 
Cabinet,  as  follows :  Secretary  of  State,.  A.  G. 
Magrath ;  Secretary  of  War,  D.  F.  Jamison ; 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  C.  G.  Memminger ; 
Postmaster- General,  W.  H.  Harlee;  Secretary 
of  the  Interior,  A.  C.  Gurlington. 

On  the  31st  of  December,  the  State  troops, 
which  had  been  for  some  time  acting  as  a  guard 
to  the  arsenal,  under  orders  from  the  Governor, 
took  full  possession,  and  relieved  the  United 
States  officer  who  had  been  in  charge.  At  half- 
past  one  o'clock  on  Sunday,  the  Federal  flag 
w^s  lowered  after  a  salute  of  thirty-two  guns. 
The  State  troops  were  drawn  up  in  order  and 
presented  arms.  The  Palmetto  flag  was  then 
run  tip,  with  a  salute  of  one  gun  for  South 
Carolina. 

The  arsenal  contained  at  the  tune  a  large 
amount  of  arms  and  other  stores.  Meanwhile 
military  preparations  were  actively  pushed  for- 


6 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ward,  and  several  volunteer  companies  from 
other  Southern  States  tendered  their  services. 
Notice  was  given  by  the  collector  at  Charleston 
that  the  masters  of  all  vessels  from  ports  out- 
side of  South  Carolina  must  enter  and  clear  at 
Charleston.  Bank  bills  were  also  made  receiv- 
able for  duties. 

The  flag  of  the  State,  adopted  by  the  Legis- 
lature, to  whom  the  subject  had  been  referred 
by  the  State  Convention,  consisted  of  a  plain 
white  ground  with  a  green  Palmetto  tree  in 
the  centre,  and  a  white  crescent  in  the  left 
upper  corner  on  a  square  blue  field. 

On  the  14th  of  January  the  Legislature  unan- 
imously passed  a  resolution  declaring  that  any 
attempt  by  the  Federal  Government  to  reen- 
force  Fort  Sumter  would  be  considered  as  an 
act  of  open  hostility,  'and  as  a  declaration  of 
war.  At  the  same  time  they  adopted  another 
resolution,  approving  the  act  of  the  troops  who 
fired  on  the  Star  of  the  West,  and  also  resolved 
to  sustain  the  Governor  in  all  measures  neces- 
sary for  defence. 

The  forts  in  Charleston  harbor,  occupied  by  a 
small  garrison  of  regular  troops  of  the  United 
States,  afforded  a  standing  denial  of  the  sover- 
eignty and  independence  of  South  Carolina. 
The  first  object  to  b£  accomplished  by  the  State 
authorities  to  secure  that  respect  due  to  an  in- 
dependent nation,  was  to  obtain  possession  of 
these  forts.  For  this  object  the  following  cor- 
respondence took  place: 

STATE  OP  SOUTH  CAROLINA,  I 
ExECTrrrvE  OFFICE,  CHARLESTON,  Jan.  11.  1861.  j 
To  Major  Robert  Anderson,  commanding  Fort  Sumter. 
SIB:  I  have  thought  proper,  under  all  the  Circum- 
stances of  the  peculiar  state  of  public  affairs  in  the 
country  at  present,  to  appoint  the  Hon.  A.  G.  Magrath 
and  Gen.  D  F.  Jamison,  both  members  of  the  Execu- 
tive Council,  and  of  the  highest  position  in  the  State, 
to  present  to  you  considerations  of  the  gravest  public 
character,  and  of  the  deepest  interest  to  all  who  dep- 
recate the  improper  waste  of  life,  to  induce  the  de- 
livery of  Fort  Sumter  to  the  constituted  authorities  of 
the  State  of  South  Carolina,  with  a  pledge,  on  its  part, 
to  account  for  such  public  property  as  is  under  your 
charge.  Your  obedient  servant, 

F.  W.  PICKENS. 

HAJOB  ANDERSON  TO   GOV.    PICKENS. 

HEADQUARTERS  FOBTSTTMTER,  8.  C.,  January  11, 1861. 
ffi»  £xc"y  F.  W.  Pickens,  Governor  of  8.  Carolina. 

SIB:  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  demand  for  the  surrender  of  this  fort  to  the 
authorities  of  South  Carolina,  and  to  say,  in  reply, 
that  the  demand  is  one  with  which  I  cannot  comply. 

Your  Excellency  knows  that  I  have  recently  sent  a 
messenger  to  Washington,  and  that  it  will  be  impos- 
sible for  me  to  receive  an  answer  to  my  despatches, 
forwarded  by  him,  at  an  earlier  date  than  next  Mon- 
day. What  the  character  of  my  instructions  may  be 
I  cannot  foresee.  Should  your  Excellency  deem  fit, 
prior  to  a  resort  to  arms,  to  refer  this  matter  to  Wash- 
ington, it  would  afford  me  the  sincerest  pleasure  to 
depute  one  of  my  officers  to  accompany  any  messenger 
you  may  deem  proper  to  be  the  bearer  of  your  demand. 

Hoping  to  God  that  in  this,  and  all  other  matters, 
m  which  the  honor,  welfare,  and  lives  of  our  fellow- 
countrymen  are  concerned,  we  shall  so  act  as  to  meet 
His  approval,  and  deeply  regretting  that  you  have 
made  a  demand  of  me  with  which  I  cannot  comply  I 
have  the  honor  to  be,  with  the  highest  regard  your 
obedient  servant,  ROBERT  ANDERSON, 

Major  U.  S.  Army,  commanding. 


Other  States  soon  followed  the  example  of 
South  Carolina.  Of  these  Florida  was  foremost. 
Her  Senators  in  Congress  assembled,  in  secret 
caucus,  with  those  from  other  States  to  devise 
the  plan  of  action.  Prompt  measures  were  also 
taken  by  the  State  authorities  to  secure  success. 
At  an  early  day  a  State  Convention  was  called  to 
meet  on  the  5th  of  January,  to  which  dele- 
gates were  at  once  elected.  The  Convention 
assembled  at  Tallahassee  on  the  day  appointed. 
It  consisted  of  sixty-seven  members,  one-third 
of  whom  were  regarded  as  in  favor  of  coopera- 
tion. On  the  Vth,  a  resolution  declaring  the 
right  and  duty  of  Florida  to  secede  was  passed 
— ayes,  62;  noes,  5. 

On  the  same  day  the  ordinance  of  Recession 
was  passed  by  a  vote  of  62  ayes  to  7  noes.  The 
following  is  the  ordinance  : 

Whereas,  All  hope  of  preserving  the  Union  upon 
terms  consistent  with  the  safety  and  honor  of  the 
slaveholding  States,  has  been  fully  dissipated  by  the 
recent  indications  of  the  strength  of  the  anti-slavery 
sentiment  of  the  free  States ;  therefore, 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  Florida,  in  convention 
assembled,  That  it  is  undoubtedly  the  right  of  the  sev- 
eral States  of  the  Union,  at  such  time  and  for  such 
cause  as  in  the  opinion  of  the  people  of  such  States, 
acting  in  their  sovereign  capacity,  may  be  just  and 
proper,  to  withdraw  from  the  Union,  and,  in  the  opin- 
ion of  this  Convention,  the  existing  causes  are  such 
as  to  compel  Florida  to  proceed  to  exercise  this  right. 

We,  the  people  of  the  State  of  Florida,  in  Conven- 
tion assembled,  do  solemnly  ordain,  publish,  a"nd  de- 
clare that  the  State  of  Florida  hereby  withdraws  her- 
self from  the  Confederacy  of  States  existing  under  the 
name  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  from  the 
existing  Government  of  the  said  States ;  and  that  all 
political  connection  between  her  and  the  Government 
of  said  States  ought  to  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby 
totally  annulled,  and  said  Union  of  States  dissolved ; 
and  the  State  of  Florida  is  hereby  declared  a  sover- 
eign and  independent  nation ;  and  that  all  ordinances 
heretofore  adopted,  in  so  far  as  they  create  or  recog- 
nize said  Union,  are  rescinded  ;  ano:  all  laws,  or  parts 
of  laws,  in  force  in  this  State,  in  so  far  as  they  recog- 
nize or  assent  to  said  Union,  be  and  they  are  hereby 
repealed.  t 

The  Convention,  at  a  subsequent  date,  was 
addressed  by  the  Commissioner  from  South 
Carolina,  L.  W.  Spratt.  In  his  address  he  ad- 
mits that,  if  the  Southern  people  had  been  left 
to  consult  their  own  interests  in  the  matter, 
apart  from  the  complications  superinduced  by 
the  action  of  South  Carolina,  they  would  never 
have  felt  it  their  duty  to  initiate  the  movement 
in  which,  for  reasons  partly  long  conceived  and 
partly  fortuitous,  she  had  now,  as  she  thinks, 
succeeded  in  involving  them. 

The  other  acts  of  the  Convention  completed 
the  work  cpmmenced  by  the  ordinance  of  se- 
cession. Delegates  were  appointed  to  a  Con- 
federate Congress,  with  instructions  to  cooper- 
ate with  those  from  other  States  in  the  forma- 
tion of  a  Government  independent  of  the  United 
States.  A  session  of  the  Legislature  was  held  at 
the  same  time,  in  order  to  pass  such  measures 
as  would  give  strength  to  the  executive  officers 
in  their  new  position. 

The  forts  and  arsenals  of  the  United  States 
and  the  U.  S.  schooner  Dana  were  seized,  un- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


der  instructions  from  the  Governor,  at  the 
same  time  those  in  Alabama  were  occupied  by 
the  troops  of  that  State.  At  the  most  im- 
portant forts,  as  Pickens,  Jefferson,  and  Taylor, 
there  were  such  garrisons  as  were  able  to  de- 
fend them.  The  investment  of  the  former  was 
immediately  made  by  the  troops  from  Florida, 
with  reinforcements  from  Georgia,  Alabama, 
and  Mississippi.  The  navy  yard  and  forts  on 
the  mainland  at  Pensacola  were  thus  occupied, 
but  Pickens  defied  all  the  efforts  of  the  besiegers. 

Mississippi  moved  next.  A  session  of  her 
Legislature  was  held  at  Jackson  early  in  No- 
vember, 1860,  for  making  the  preliminary  ar- 
rangements for  a  State  Convention.  It  passed 
an  act  calling  such  Convention  on  the  7th  of 
January,  and  fixed  the  20th  of  December  as  the 
day  upon  which  an  election  should  be  held  for 
members.  The  measures  were  passed  unani- 
mously. The  following  resolutions  were  also 
adopted  unanimously : 

Resolved,  That  the  Governor  be  requested  to  ap- 
point as  many  Commissioners  as  in  his  judgment  may 
be  necessary  to  visit  each  of  the  slaveholding  States, 
and  designate  the  State  or  States  to  which  each  Com- 
missioner shall  be  commissioned,  whose  duty  it  shall 
be  to  inform  them  that  this  Legislature  has  passed  an 
act  calling  a  Convention  of  the  people  of  this  State  to 
consider  the  present  threatening  relations  of  the 
Northern  and  Southern  sections  of  the  Confederacy, 
aggravated  by  the  recent  election  of  a  President  upon 
principles  of  hostility  to  the  States  of  the  South,  and 
to  express  the  earnest  hope  of  Mississippi  that  those 
States  will  cooperate  with  her  in  the  adoption  of  effi- 
cient measures  for  their  common  defence  and  safety. 

Resolved,  That,  should  any  Southern  State  not 
have  convened  its  Legislature,  the  Commissioner  to 
such  State  shall  appeal  to  the,  Governor  thereof  to 
call  the  Legislature  together,  in  order  that  its  co-- 
operation be  immediately  secured. 

One  of  the  members,  Mr.  Lamar,  advocated 
separate  secession  of  the  State,  and  recom- 
mended that  the  Senators  and  Representatives  in 
the  Federal  Congress  from  the  Southern  State^ 
should  withdraw  and  form  a  Congress  of  a  new 
republic,  and  appoint  electors  for  President  of 
a  Southern  Confederacy.  The  Legislature  ad- 
journed on  the  30th  of  November,  1860. 

The  people  of  the  State  were  divided  on  the 
question  of  secession.  The  election  of  members 
of  the  State  Convention  took  place  on  the  20th 
of  December.  The  number  of  members  to  be 
elected  was  ninety-nine.  Of  these  more  than 
one-third  were  cooperationists.  This  distinction 
into  cooperationists  and  secessionists  only  refer- 
red to  the  manner  of  proceeding  which  the 
State  should  adopt.  The  latter  advocated  im- 
mediate and  separate  secession,  the  former  pre- 
ferred consultation  and  cooperation  with  the 
other  slaveholding  States.  The  ultimate  object 
of  each  was  the  same,  as  expressed  in  the  fol- 
lowing language  by  one  of  the  citizens :  "  These 
are  household  quarrels.  As  against  Northern 
combination  and  aggression  we  are  united.  We 
are  all  for  resistance.  We  differ  as  to  the  mode ; 
but  the  fell  spirit  of  abolitionism  has  no  dead- 
lier and  we  believe  no  more  practical  foes  than 
the  cooperationists  of  the  South.  We  are  will- 
ing to  give  the  North  a  chance  to  say  whether 


it  will  accept  or  reject  the  terms  that  a  united 
South  will  agree  upon.  If  accepted,  well  and 
good ;  if  rejected,  a  united  South  can  win  all 
its  rights  in  or  out  of  the  Union." 

The  State  Convention  organized  on  the  7th 
of  January,  and  immediately  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  prepare  and  report  an  ordinance  of 
secession  with  a  view  of  establishing  a  new  con- 
federacy to  be  comprised  of  the  seceded  States. 
The  Committee  duly  reported  the  following 
ordinance,  and  it  was  adopted  on  the  9th — 
ayes,  84;  noes,  15: 

The  people  of  Mississippi,  in  Convention  assembled, 
do  ordain  and  declare,  and  it  is  hereby  ordained  and 
declared,  as  follows,  to  wit : 

SEC.  1.  That  all  the  laws  and  ordinances  by  which 
the  said  State  of  Mississippi  became  a  member  of  the 
Federal  Union  of  the  United  States  of  America  be, 
and  the  same  are  hereby  repealed,  and  that  all  obliga- 
tions on  the  part  of  the  said  State,  or  the  people 
thereof,  be  withdrawn,  and  that  the  said  State  does 
hereby  resume  all  the  rights,  functions,  and  powers 
which  by  any  of  the  said  laws  and  ordinances  were 
conveyed  to  the  Government  of  the  said  United  States, 
and  is  absolved  from  all  the  obligations,  restraints, 
and  duties  incurred  to  the  said  Federal  Union,  and 
shall  henceforth  be  a  free,  sovereign,  and  independent 
State. 

SEC.  2.  That  so  much  of  the  first  section  of  the  sev- 
enth article  of  the  Constitution  of  this  State,  as  re- 
quires members  of  the  Legislature  and  all  officers, 
both  legislative  and  judicial,  to  take  an  oath  to  sup- 
port the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  be,  and  the 
same  is  hereby  abrogated  and  annulled. 

SEC.  3.  That  all  rights  acquired  and  vested  under 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  or  under  any 
act  of  Congress  passed  in  pursuance  thereof,  or  any 
law  of  this  State,  and  not  incompatible  with  this  ordi- 
nance, shall  remain  in  force,  and  have  the  same  effect 
as  if  the  ordinance  had  not  been  passed. 

SEC.  4.  That  the  people  of  the  State  of  Mississippi 
hereby  consent  to  form  a  Federal  Union  with  such  of 
the  States  as  have  seceded  or  may  secede  from  the 
Union  of  the  United  States  of  America,  upon  the 
basis  of  the  present  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
except  such  parts  thereof  as  embrace  other  portions 
than  such  seceding  States. 

Delegations  from  South  Carolina  and  Ala- 
bama were  invited  to  seats  in  the  Convention, 
and  were  greeted  with  much  applause.  Efforts 
were  made  to  postpone  action,  but  these  were 
voted  down,  and  only  fifteen  voted  nay  on  the 
final  passage  of  the  measure.  The  vote  was 
subsequently  made  unanimous.  The  first  ag- 
gressive movement  was  made  by  Governor  Pet- 
tus  on  the  12th  of  January,  when  he  ordered  a 
pifece  of  artillery  to  Vicksburg  to  be  used  in 
stopping  for  examination  boats  passing  on  the 
Mississippi.  Movements  were  at  the  same  time 
commenced  to  complete  the  organization  of  the 
militia  of  the  State.  -Judge  Gholson,  of  the 
United  States  Court,  resigned.  South  Carolina 
was  recognized  by  the  Convention  as  sovereign 
and  independent,  and  steps  were  taken  to  cut 
asunder  every  tie  to  the  United  States,  except- 
ing the  postal  arrangements.  The  subsequent 
movements  were  reported  to  the  Legislature 
by  the  Governor  in  a  Message  on  the  15th  of 
January.  He  says : 

"As  soon  as  I  was  informed  that  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Louisiana  had  taken  the  arsenal  at 
Baton  Rouge,  I  sent  Col.  C.  G.  Armstead  with 


8 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


a  letter  to  Gov.  Moore,  requesting  him  to  fur- 
nish Mississippi  with  ten  thousand  stand  of 
arms  on  such  terms  as  he  might  deem  just. 
Col.  Armstead  informs  me  that  his  Excellency 
has  responded  to  my  request  by  ordering  eight 
thousand  muskets,  one  thousand  rifles,  and  six 
twenty-four  pound  guns,  with  carriages,  and  a 
considerable  amount  of  ammunition,  to  be  de- 
livered to  him,  which  will  be  shipped  to  Mis- 
sissippi as  soon  as  possible." 

Alabama  soon  followed.  The  southern  por- 
tion of  the  State  was  strongly  in  favor  of  seces- 
sion. Early  in  December,  1860,  commissioners 
were  sent  to  the  authorities  and  people  of  the 
other  slaveholding  States,  to  urge  forward  a 
movement  in  favor  of  secession,  and  a  union  of 
these  States  in  a  separate  Confederacy.  All 
represented  that  the  purpose  of  Alabama  was 
fixed  to  secede,  even  if  no  other  State  did.  The 
announcement  of  the  secession  of  South  Car- 
olina was  hailed  with  great  joy  in  Mobile.  One 
hundred  guns  were  fired.  Bells  were  rung. 
The  streets  were  crowded  by  hundreds  express- 
ing their  joy,  and  many  impromptu  speeches 
were  made.  A  military  parade  ensued. 

The  first  official  movement  in  Alabama  tow- 
ard secession  was  the  announcement  by  Gov- 
ernor Moore  of  his  intention  to  order  an  elec- 
tion of  Delegates  to  a  State  Convention.  He 
advised  the  people  to  prepare  for  secession. 
This  election  was  held  on  the  24th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1860,  and  the  Convention  subsequently 
assembled  on  January  Yth.  At  the  election,  the 
counties  in  North  Alabama  selected  "  coopera- 
tion "  members.  The  members  throughout  the 
State  were  classed  as  immediate  secessionists, 
and  cooperationists.  The  cooperationists  were 
divided  into  those  who  were  for  secession  in 
cooperation  with  other  cotton  States,  those 
who  required  the  cooperation  of  a  majority, 
and  those  who  required  the  cooperation  of  all 
the  slave  States.  Montgomery  County,  which 
polled  2,719  votes  on  the  Presidential  election, 
now  gave  less  than  1,200  votes.  The  inference 
drawn  from  this  at  the  tune  was,  that  the 
county  was  largely  in  favor  of  conservative 
action.  The  vote  reported  from  all  but  ten 
counties  of  the  State  was;  for  secession,  24,- 
445 ;  for  cooperation,  33,685.  Of  the  ten  coun- 
ties, some  were  for  secession,  others  for  cooper- 
ation. * 
The  Convention  met  at  Montgomery  on  the 
7th  of  January.  All  the  counties  of  the  State 
were  represented.  "Wm.  M.  Brooks  was  chosen 
President.  A  strong  Union  sentiment  WAS  soon 
found  to  exist  in  the  Convention.  On  the  day 
on  which  it  assembled,  the  Representatives 
from  the  State  in  Washington  met,  and  re- 
solved to  telegraph  to  the  Convention,  advising 
immediate  secession,  stating  that  in  their  opin- 
ion there  was  no  prospect  of  a  satisfactory  ad- 
justment 

On  the  9th  the  following  resolutions  were 
offered  and  referred  to  a  committee  of  thirteen : 

Resolved,  That  separate  State  action  would  be  un- 
wise and  impolitic. 


Resolved,  That  Alabama  should  invite  the  Southern 
States  to  hold  a  Convention  as  early  as  practicable, 
to  consider  and  agree  upon  a  statement  of  grievances 
and  the  manner  of  obtaining  redress,  whether  in  the 
Union  or  in  independence,  out  of  it. 

Mr.  Baker,  of  Russell,  offered  a  resolution  re- 
questing the  Governor  to  furnish  information, 
of  the  number  of  arms,  their  character  and  de- 
scription, and  the  number  of  military  compa- 
nies, etc.,  in  the  State,  which  was  adopted. 
Also  the  following  was  offered  and  discussed : 

Resolved,  by  the  people  of  Alabama,  That  all  the 
powers  of  this  State  are  hereby  pledged  to  resist  any 
attempt  on  the  part  of  the  Federal  Government  to 
coerce  any  seceding  State. 

After  a  lively  discussion  of  some  days,  a  brief 
preamble  and  resolution  refusing  to  submit  to 
the  Republican  Administration,  were  proposed 
in  such  a  form  as  to  command  the  unanimous 
vote  of  the  Convention.  It  was  in  these  words : 

Whereas  the  only  bond  of  union  between  the  several 
States  is  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States ;  and 
whereas  that  Constitution  has  been  violated  by  a  ma- ' 
jority  of  the  Northern  States  in  their  separate  legis- 
lative action,  denying  to  the  people  of  the  Southern 
States  their  constitutional  rights ;  and  whereas  a  sec- 
tional party,  known  as  the  Republican  party,  has,  in  a 
recent  election,  elected  Abraham  Lincoln  for  Presi- 
dent and  Hannibal  Hamlin  for  Vice-President  of  these 
United  States,  upon  the  avowed  principle  that  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  does  not  recognize 
property  in  slaves,  and  that  the  Government  should 
prevent  its  extension  into  the  common  territories  of 
the  United  States,  and  that  the  power  of  the  Govern- 
ment should  be  so  exercised  that  slavery  should  in 
time  be  extinguished :  Therefore  be  it 

Resolved  by  the  people  of  Alabama  in  Convention  as- 
sembled, That  the  State  o'f  Alabama  will  not  submit  to 
the  Administration  of  Lincoln  and  Hamlin,  as  Presi- 
dent and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  upon 
the  principles  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  preamble. 

On  the  10th,  the  ordinance  of  secession  was 
reported,  and  on  the  llth  it  was  adopted  in 
secret  session  by  a  vote  of  ayes,  61 ;  noes,  39. 
It  was  as  follows : 

AN  ORDINANCE  to  dissolve  the  Union  between  the  Statefof 
Alabama  and  other  States  united  under  the  com- 
pact styled  "  The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  of 
America.'1'' 

Whereas  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  and  Han- 
nibal Hamlin  to  the  offices  of  President  and  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  by  a  sec- 
tional partv,  avowedly  hostile  to  the  domestic  insti- 
tutions anci  to  the  peace  and  security  of  the  people  of 
the  State  of  Alabama,  preceded  by  many  and  danger- 
ous infractions  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  by  many  of  the  States  and  people  of  the  North- 
ern section,  is  a  political  wrong  of  so  insulting  and 
menacing  a  character  as  to  justify  the  people  of  the 
State  of  Alabama  in  the  adoption  of  prompt  and  de- 
cided measures  for  their  future  peace  and  security : 
Therefore, 

Be  it  declared  and  ordained  by  the  people  of  the  btatt 
of  Alabama  in  convention  assembled,  That  the  btate  ot 
Alabama  now  withdraws,  and  is  hereby  withdrawn, 
from  the  Union  known  as  "  the  United  States  of 
America,"  and  henceforth  ceases  to  be  one  of  said 
United  States,  and  is,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  a 
sovereign  and  independent  State. 

SEC  2.  Be  it  further  declared  and  ordained  bytfo 
people  of  the  State  of  Alabama  in  convention  assembled, 
^hit  all  the  powers  over  the  territory  of  said  State 
and  over  the  people  thereof,  heretofore  delegated  to 
the  Government  of  the  United  States  of  America,  be 
and  they  are  hereby  withdrawn  frcm  said  Govern- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ment,  and  are  hereby  resumed  and  vested  in  the  peo- 
ple of  the  State  of  Alabama. 

And  as  it  is  the  desire  and  purpose  of  the  State  of 
Alabama  to  meet  the  slaveholding  States  of  the  South 
who  may  approve  such  purpose,  in  order  to  frame  a 
provisional  as  well  as  permanent  government,  upon 
the  principles  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 

Ait  resolved  by  the  people  of  Alabama  in  convention 
assembled,  That  the  people  of  the  States  of  Delaware, 
Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina, 
Florida,  Georgia,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Texas,  Ar- 
kansas, Tennessee,  Kentucky,  and  Missouri,  be,  and 
are  hereby,  invited  to  meet  the  people  of  the  State  of 
Alabama,  by  their  delegates,  in  convention,  on  the  4th 
day  of  February,  A.  D.  1861,  at  the  city  of  Montgom- 
ery, in  the  State  of  Alabama,  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
sulting with  each  other  as  to  the  most  effectual  mode 
of  securing  concerted  and  harmonious  action  in  what- 
ever measures  may  be  deemed  most  desirable  for  our 
common  peace  and  security. 

And  be  it  further  resolved,  That  the  president  of  this 
Convention  be,  and  is  hereby,  instructed  to  transmit 
forthwith  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  preamble,  ordi- 
nance, and  resolutions,  to  the  Governors  of  the  sev- 
eral States  named  in  said  resolutions. 

Done  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Alabama  in  Con- 
vention assembled,  at  Montgomery,  on  this,  the  llth 
day  of  January,  A.  D.  1861. 

WM.  M.  BROOKS,  President  of  the  Convention. 

A  majority  and  minority  report  were  pre- 
sented on  the  ordinance  of  secession.  Trouble 
arose  in  the  Convention,  because  a  portion  Af 
the  members  desired  that  the  ordinance  should 
not  take  effect  until  the  4th  of  March.  A  num- 
ber refused  to  sign  it  for  this  reason ;  and  as  late 
as  the  17th  of  January,  a  despatch  was  sent  to 
the  Senators  and  Representatives  of  the  State 
in  Congress  at  "Washington,  to  retain  their  seats 
until  further  advised. 

A  proposition  was  also  made  in  the  Conven- 
tion to  submit  their  action  to  the  people,  for 
ratification  or  rejection.  This  was  refused,  and 
an  exciting  scene  ensued. 

Nicholas  Davis,  of  Huntsville,  declared  his 
belief  that  the  people  of  North  Alabama  would 
never  abide  the  action  of  that  Convention,  if 
denied  the  right  of  voting  upon  it.  Mr.  Yan- 
cey  thereupon  denounced  the  people  of  North 
Alabama  as  tories,  traitors,  and  rebels,  and  said 
they  ought  to  be  coerced  into  a  submission  to 
the  decree  of  the  Convention.  Mr.  Davis  re- 
plied that  they  might  attempt  coercion,  but 
North  Alabama  would  meet  them  upon  the 
line  and  decide  the  issue  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet. 

The  ordinance  was  adopted  about  two  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon.  Subsequently  in  the  after- 
noon an  immense  mass  meeting  was  held  in 
front  of  the  Capitol,  and  many  cooperation 
delegates  pledged  their  constituents  to  sustain 
secession.  A  flag  which  had  been  presented 
by  the  ladies  of  the  city  to  the  Convention, 
was  then  raised  over  the  building,  amid  the 
ringing  of  bells  and  firing  of  cannon. 

In  Mobile  the  news  was  received  at  once, 
and  the  day  became  one  of  the  wildest  excite- 
ment. The  people  were  at  the  highest  point 
of  enthusiasm  until  a  late  hour  at  night.  To 
add  to  the  excitement,  news  was  received  that 
the  State  of  Florida  had  passed  a  secession  or- 
dinance. 


Immediately  on  the  receipt  of  the  news,  an 
immense  crowd  assembled  at  the  "secession 
pole  "  at  the  foot  of  Government  Street,  to  wit- 
ness the  spreading  of  the  Southern  flag,  and 
it  was  run  up  amid  the  shouts  of  the  multitude 
and  thunders  of  cannon.  One  hundred  and  one 
guns  for  Alabama  and  fifteen  for  Florida  were 
fired,  and  after  remarks  from  gentlemen,  the 
crowd  repaired  to  the  Custom-House,  walking 
in  procession  with  a  band  of  music  at  the  head, 
playing  the  warlike  notes  of  the  "Southern 
Marseillaise." 

Arrived  at  the  Custom-House,  a  lone  star 
flag  was  waved  from  its  walls  amid  enthusiastic 
shouts.  The  balcony  of  the  Battle  House,  op- 
posite, was  thronged  with  ladies  and  gentlemen, 
and  the  street  was  crowded  with  excited  cit- 
izens. Standing  upon  the  steps  of  the  Gustom- 
House,  brief  and  stirring  addresses  were  de- 
livered by  several  speakers. 

The  military  paraded  the  streets.  The  Cadets 
were  out  in  force,  bearing  a  splendid  flag  which 
had  been  presented  to  them  a  day  previous,  and, 
with  the  Independent  Rifles,  marched  to  the 
public  square,  and  fired  salvos  of  artillery.  The 
demonstration  at  night  was  designed  to  corre- 
spond to  the  importance  attached  by  the  people 
to  the  event  celebrated.  An  eye-witness  de- 
clares the  display  to  have  been  of  the  most 
brilliant  description.  When  night  fell,  the  city 
emerged  from  darkness  into  a  blaze  of  such 
glory  as  could  only  be  achieved  by  the  most 
recklessly  extravagant  consumption  of  tar  and 
tallow.  The  broad  boulevard  of  Government 
street  was  an  avenue  of  light,  bonfires  of  tar 
barrels  being  kindled  at  intervals  of  a  square  in 
distance  along  its  length,  and  many  houses  were 
illuminated.  Royal  Street  shone  with  light,  the 
great  front  of  the  buildings  presenting  a  perfect 
illumination.  Rockets  blazed,  crackers  pop- 
ped, and  the  people  hurrahed  and  shouted  as 
they  never  did  before.  The  "  Southern  Cross 
was  the  most  favored  emblematic  design  in  the 
illumination,  and  competed  with  the  oft-repeat- 
ed 'Lone  Star'  for  admiration  and  applause 
from  the  multitude." 

By  previous  concert  with  the  Governors  of 
Georgia  and  Louisiana,  "  all  the  positions  in 
these  three  States  which  might  be  made  to  fol- 
low the  fashion  set  by  Fort  Sumter"  were 
seized.  The  arsenal  at  Mt.  Vernon,  forty-five 
miles  above  Mobile,  was  seized  at  daylight  on 
the  morning  of  January  14th ;  Fort  Morgan  was 
taken  on  the  same  day,  without  opposition. 
Previously,  however,  and  on  the  9th  of  Janu- 
ary, five  companies  of  volunteers,  at  the  request 
of  the  Governor  of  Florida,  left  Montgomery 
for  Pensacola.  They  were  sent  to  assist  in  cap- 
taring  the  forts  and  other  property  there  be- 
longing to  the  United  States.  In  order  to  place 
the  city  of  Mobile  in  a  better  state  of  defence, 
the  Mayor  issued  a  call  to  the  people  for  a 
thousand  laborers.  These  were  at  once  sup- 
plied, and  also  money  sufficient  to  meet  all 
demands.  The  Common  Council  of  the  city 
passed  an  ordinance  changing  the  names  of 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


various  streets.  The  name  of  Maine  Street  was 
changed  to  Palmetto  Street ;  Massachusetts  was 
changed  to  Charleston  Street ;  New  Hampshire 
was  changed  to  Augusta  Street ;  Rhode  Island 
was  changed  to  Savannah  Street ;  Connecticut 
was  changed  to  Louisiana  Street ;  New  York 
was  changed  to  Elmira  Street ;  Vermont  was 
changed  to  Texas  Street;  Pennsylvania. was 
changed  to  Montgomery  Street. 

The  Union  feeling  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
State  continued  very  strong.  Many  delegates 
from  that  region  refused  at  first  to  sign  the  or- 
dinance of  secession  which  passed  the  State 
Convention,  unless  the  time  for  it  to  take  effect 
was  postponed  to  the  4th  of  March.  Some  of 
them  withheld  their  signatures  entirely.  The 
sessions  of  the  Convention  were  conducted 
wholly  in  secret,  and  only  such  measures  were 
made  known  to  the  public  as  were  of  such  a 
character  as  to  prevent  secrecy. 

Upon  the  adjournment  of  the  Convention  the 
President  made  an  address,  expressing  the  most 
decided  views  upon  the  permanency  of  the  se- 
cession of  the  State.  He  said : 

"  We  are  free,  and  shall  any  of  us  cherish  any 
idea  of  a  reconstruction  of  the  old  Government, 
whereby  Alabama  will  again  link  her  rights, 
her  fortunes,  and  her  destiny,  in  a  Union  with 
the  Northern  States  ?  If  any  one  of  you  hold 
to  such  a  fatal  opinion,  let  me  entreat  you,  as 
you  value  the  blessings  of  equality  and  freedom, 
dismiss  it  at  once.  There  is  not,  there  cannot 
be,  any  security  or  peace  for  us  in  a  recon- 
structed Government  of  the  old  material.  I 
must  believe  that  there  is  not  a  friend  or  advo- 
cate of  reconstruction  in  this  large  body.  The 
people  of  Alabama  are  now  independent ;  sink 
or  swim,  live  or  die,  they  will  continue  free,  sov- 
ereign, and  independent.  Dismiss  the  idea  of  a  re- 
construction of  the  old  Union  now  and  forever." 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  Convention,  a 
Commissioner,  Thomas  J.  Judge,  was  sent  by 
the  State  authorities  to  negotiate  with  the  Fed- 
eral Government  for  the  surrender  of  the  forts, 
arsenals,  and  custom-houses  within  the  limits 
of  the  State.  It  appears  that  the  President  de- 
clined to  receive  him  in  any  other  character 
than  as  a  distinguished  citizen  of  Alabama.  In 
this  capacity  he  declined  to  be  received,  and  re- 
turned home. 

At  this  time,  previous  to  the  surrender  of 
Fort  Sumter,  a  considerable  Confederate  force 
was,  in  a  manner,  besieging  Fort  Pickens  at 
Pensacola,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Bragg. 
Meanwhile,  the  Federal  fleet  lay  off"  at  anchor. 
Supplies  having  been  taken  to  the  fleet  by  the 
sloop  Isabella,  Capt.  Jones,  of  Mobile,  the  vessel 
was  seized  and  turned  over  to  the  military  au- 
thorities, and  the  captain  arrested.  The  charge 
was  that  he  had  attempted  to  convey  supplies 
on  his  own  private  account,  or  that  of  his  own- 
ers, to  the  United  States  vessels.  On  a  writ  of 
Labeus  corpus  Jones  was  irregularly  discharged. 
The  reputed  owners  of  the  sloop  refused  to  re- 
ceive her,  intending  to  hold  the  captors  re- 
sponsible for  all  loss. 


Georgia  was  one  of  the  latest  of  the  first  group 
of  States  to  secede.  The  session  of  the  Legisla- 
ture commenced  in  November,  and  its  attention 
was  early  attracted  to  the  movement.  Various 
propositions  were  offered  and  discussed,  and  on 
the  7th  of  December  the  following  preamble  and 
resolutions  were  adopted  in  the  Assembly — yeas 
101,  nays  27 : 

The  grievances  now  affecting  the  Southern  States 
must  be  effectively  resisted. 

The  interests  and  destiny  of  the  slaveholding  States 
of  this  Union  are  and  must  remain  common. 

The  secession  of  one  from  the  Union  must,  more  or 
less,  involve  or  affect  all;  therefore 

Resolved  by  the  General  Assembly  of  Georgia,  That 
in  the  judgment  of  this  General  Assembly,  any  State  in 
this  Union  has  the  sovereign  right  to  secede  from  the 
Union,  whenever  she  deems  it  necessary  and  proper 
for  her  safety,  honor,  or  happiness ;  and  that  when  a 
State  exercises  this  right  of  secession,  the  Federal 
Government  has  no  right  to  coerceor  make  war  upon 
her  because  of  the  exercise  of  such  right  to  secede ; 
and  should  any  Southern  State  secede  from  the  Amer- 
can  Union,  and  the  Federal  Government  make  war 
upon  her  therefor,  Georgia  will  give  to  the  seceding 
Southern  State  the  aid,  encouragement,  and  assistance 
of  her  entire  people.  And  should  the  State  of  Geor- 
gia secede  from  the  Union  by  the  action  of  the  Con- 
vention of  her  people  on  the  16th  of  January  next, 
sh$  asks  the  like  sympathy  and  assistance  from  her 
Southern  sisters  which  she  hereby  offers  to  them. 

This  resolution  was  subsequently,  under  the- 
indications  of  the  strength  of  the  popular  feel- 
ing against  separate  State  secession,  rescinded 
by  a  vote  of  yeas  50,  nays  47. 

The  Senate  had  previously  indefinitely  post- 
poned all  the  resolutions  on  this  subject  which 
had  been  pending  in  that  body,  for  the  reason 
that  a  large  majority  of  its  members  were  in- 
disposed to  interfere  with  a  matter  upon  which 
they  had  called  a  Convention  of  the  People  to  act. 

Numerous  public  meetings  were  at  this  time 
held  in  many  counties  of  the  State,  at  which 
resolutions  were  adopted  expressing  apprehen- 
sions of  the  consequences  of  the  "election  of 
Lincoln  and  Hamlin,"  but  manifesting  a  disin- 
clination to  proceed  to  acts  of  immediate  se- 
cession, .until  other  measures  had  been  tried. 
They  were  dignified  and  conservative  in  lan- 
guage, and  clearly  indicated  that  hostility  to 
the  Union  was  neither  deep-seated  nor  bitter. 

The  election  for  delegates  to  the  State  Con- 
vention took  place  on  the  4th  of  January.  The 
vot%  on  that  occasion  was  thus  spoken  of  soon 
after : 

"  "We  know  as  well  as  any  one  living  that  the 
whole  movement  for  secession,  and  the  forma- 
tion of  a  new  Government,  so  far  at  least  as 
Georgia  is  concerned,  proceeded  on  only  a  quasi 
consent  of  the  people,  and  was  pushed  through, 
under  circumstances  of  great  excitement  and 
frenzy,  by  a  fictitious  majority.  With  all  the 
appliances  brought  to  bear,  with  all  the  fierce 
rushing,  maddening  events  of  the  hour,  the  elec- 
tion of  the  4th  of  January  showed  a  falling  off 
in  the  popular  vote  of  25,000  or  30,000,  and  on 
the  night  of  that  election  the  cooperationists 
had  a  majority,  notwithstanding  the  falling  oft; 
of  nearly  3,000,  and  an  absolute  majority  of 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


11 


elected  delegates  of  29.  But,  upon  assembling, 
by  coaxing,  bullying,  and  all  other  arts,  the  ma- 
jority was  changed." 

This  Convention  assembled  at  Milledgeville 
on  the  16th  of  January.  General  W.  Crawford 
was  elected  President.  Commissioners  Orr, 
from  South  Carolina,  and  Shorter,  from  Ala- 
bama, were  invited  to  seats  in  that  body.  On 
the  18th,  a  resolution  declaring  it  to  be  the 
right  and  duty  of  Georgia  to  secede,  and  ap- 
pointing a  committee  to  draft  an  ordinance  of 
secession,  was  offered  and  put  to  vote.  On  a 
division,  the  vote  was — ayes,  165 ;  noes,  130. 
The  ordinance  was  as  follows  : 

AN  ORDINANCE  to  dissolve  the  union  teticeen  the  State  of 
Georgia  and  other  States  united  with  her  -under  the  com- 
pact of  Government  entitled  "  The  Constitution  of  the 
United  States." 

We,  the  people  of  the  State  of  Georgia,  in  Conven- 
tion assembled,  do  declare  and  ordain,  and  it  is  hereby 
declared  and  ordained,  that  the  ordinance  adopted  by 
the  people  of  Georgia  in  Convention  in  the  year  1788, 
whereby  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  was 
assented  to,  ratified,  and  adopted,  and  also  all  acts  and 
parts  of  acts  of  the  General  Assembly  ratifying  and 
adopting  the  amendments  to  ine  said  Constitution,  are 
hereby  repealed,  rescinded,  and  abrogated ;  and  we 
do  further  declare  and  ordain,  that  the  Union  now 
subsisting  between  the  State  of  Georgia  and  other 
States,  under  the  name  of  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ico,  is  hereby  dissolved ;  and  that  the  State  of-  Geor- 
gia is  in  full  possession  and  exercise  of  all  those  rights 
of  sovereignty  which  belong  and  appertain  to  a  free 
and  independent  State. 

The  vote  on  its  adoption  was. — ayes,  208 ; 
noes,  89. 

On  the  night  after  its  passage,  great  demon- 
strations of  joy  were  made  at  the  Capital,  in- 
cluding the  firing  of  cannon,  torch-light  pro- 
cessions, sky-rockets,  music,  speeches,  &c.  In 
Augusta  there  was  an  illumination  with  fire- 
works, ringing  of  bells,  and  firing  of  cannon. 

A  substitute  was  introduced  for  the  ordi- 
nance of  secession,  but  was  lost.  It  was  also 
moved  to  postpone  the  operation  of  the  ordi- 
nance to  March  3d.  Thisfnotipn  failed.  Subse- 
quently a  preamble  and  resolution  were  adopted, 
the  object  of  which  was  to  remove  the  unfavor- 
able impression  created  by  the  large  vote  given 
in  opposition  to  the  ordinance  of  secession.  The 
preamble  was  in  these  words : 

Whereas,  as  a  lack  of  unanimity  in  this  Convention 
on  the  passage  of  the  ordinance  of  secession  indicates 
a  difference  of  opinion  amongst  the  members  of  the 
Convention,  not  so  much  as  to  the  right  which  Georgia 
claims  or  the  wrongs  of  which  she  complains,  as  to  a 
remedy  and  its  application  before  a  resort  to  other 
means  for  redress ;  and  whereas,  it  is  desirable  to  give 
expression  to  that  intention  which  really  exists  among 
all  the  members  of  the  Convention  to  sustain  the  State 
in  the  course  of  action  which  she  has  pronounced  to 
be  proper  for  the  occasion ;  therefore,  &c. 

The  resolution  required  every  member  to 
sign  the  ordinance.  This  was  adopted  unan- 
imously. 

Before  the  Convention  proceeded  to  sign  the 
ordinance,  a  resolution  was  offered,  proposing 
to  submit  it  to  a  yote  of  the  people,  through  the 
proclamation  of  the  Governor,  and  that  the 
question  should  be  "secession"  or  "no  seces- 


sion" at  the  ballot-box.  If  a  majority  of  votes 
were  for  secession,  then  the  ordinance  was  to 
take  effect,  and  not  otherwise.  The  resolution 
was  rejected  by  a  large  majority. 

Representatives  to  the  Montgomery  Congress 
were  appointed  on  the  24th.  Before  voting,  an 
assurance  was  given  to  the  Convention,  that 
none  of  the  candidates  were  in  favor  of  form- 
ing a  Government  having  in  view  an  imme- 
diate or  ultimate  union  with  the  Northern 
States.  No  such  idea  could  be  entertained. 
All  were  for  the  establishment  of  a  Southern 
Confederacy  on  the  basis  of  the  old  Constitu- 
tion, and  never,  under  any  circumstances,  to 
connect  themselves  with  the  Northern  States. 
Notwithstanding  this  unanimity  in  the  Con- 
vention, there  was  a  great  reaction  in  some 
parts  of  the  State,  and  the  flag  of  the  United 
States  was  kept  flying  without  regard  to  the 
ordinance  of  the  Convention.  This  was  done 
also  in  North  Alabama,  and  in  portions  of  Mis- 
sissippi and  Louisiana.  Fears  were  expressed 
by  former  members  of  Congress  from  Georgia, 
that  the  reaction  might  be  greatly  increased  in 
the  popular  mind  in  the  Gulf  States,  if  a  com- 
promise was  effected  satisfactory  to  the  Border 
States. 

Two  regiments  were  ordered  by  the  Conven- 
tion to  be  organized  as  the  army  for  the  Re- 
public of  Georgia,  over  w.hich  a  number  of  offi- 
cers were  appointed  by  the  Governor,  chiefly 
those  who  had  resigned  from  the  army  of  the 
•  "United  States. 

In  Louisiana  the  authorities  were  undoubted- 
ly early  enlisted  in  the  plans  for  the  secession 
of  the  Southern  States  from  the  Union,  and 
ready  to  use  all  their  efforts  to  secure  success. 
In  November,  1860,  Governor  Moore  issued  a 
proclamation  for  an  extra  session  of  the  Legis- 
lature on  the  10th  of  December.  The  reason 
requiring  this  session  was  thus  stated  : 

Whereas  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  to  the 
office  of  President  of  the  United  States  by  a  sectional 
and  aggressive  anti-slavery  party,  whose  hostility  to 
the  people  and  the  institutions  of  the  South  has  been 
evinced  by  repeated  and  long-continued  violations  of 
constitutional  obligations  and  fraternal  amity,  now 
consummated  by  this  last  insult  and  outrage  per- 
petrated at  and  through  the  ballot-box,  does,  in  my 
opinion,  as  well  as  that  of  a  large  number  of  citizens 
of  all  parties  and  pursuits,  furnish  an  occasion  such 
as  is  contemplated  by  the  Constitution  ;  and  whereas 
some  of  our  sister  States,  aggrieved  like  ours,  are 
preparing  measures  for  their  future  security,  and  for 
the  safety  of  their  institutions  and  their  people,  and 
both  patriotism  and  the  necessity  of  self-preserva,tion 
require  us  to  deliberate  upon  our  own  course  of  ac- 
tion ;  now,  therefore,  I,  Thomas  0.  Moore,  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Louisiana,  do  hereby  convene  the  Le- 
gislature of  this  State  in  extra  session,  and  do  ap- 
point Monday,  the  10th  day  of  December  next. 

On  the  day  appointed  this  body  met  at 
Baton  Rouge,  and  caused  to  be  prepared  an  act 
providing  for  a  State  Convention,  to  be  held 
on  the  23d  of  January,  and  for  the  election  of 
delegates.  On  the  next  day  the  act  was  passed 
by  the  Senate  and  House.  In  the  Senate  it  was 
eloquently  opposed  by  Randall  Hunt.  In  the 
House  a  strong  effort  was  made  to  cause  the 


12 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


question  "  Convention  or  no  Convention  "  to  be 
submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people.  It,  how- 
ever, failed  of  success.  At  the  same  time  an 
act  passed  both  Houses,  which  appropriated 
$500,000  for  military  purposes,  and  provided  for 
the  appointment  of  a  military  commission,  the 
organization  and  arming  of  volunteer  companies, 
and  for  the  establishment  of  military  depote. 
On  the  12th,  Wirt  Adams,  commissioner  from 
Mississippi,  was  introduced  to  the  Legislature 
in  joint  session,  and  made  au  address,  announc- 
ing the  action  of  Mississippi,  and  asking  the  co- 
operation of  Louisiana.  The  speech  was  eager- 
ly listened  to  by  a  crowded  audience.  On  the 
next  day  the  Legislature  adjourned  to  January 
21st. 

Friends  of  secession  became  active  in  "New 
Orleans,  the  great  city  of  the  State,  as  soon  as 
the  movement  commenced  in  South  Carolina, 
and  the  sentiment  had  gathered  so  much  volume 
that  as  early  as  December  21st  a  general  dem- 
onstration of  joy  was  made  over  the  secession 
of  that  State.  One  hundred  guns  were  fired, 
and  the  Pelican  flag  was,  unfurled.  Speeches 
in  favor  of  secession  were  made  by  distinguished 
citizens,  and  the  Marseillaise  hymn  and  polkas 
.  were  the  only  airs  played. 

The  movement  had  now  commenced  in  ear- 
nest. The  influence  and  efforts  of  New  Or- 
leans were  expected  to  carry  the  rest  of  the 
State.  Only  four  days  later  a  mass  meeting 
was  held  to  ratify  the  nomination  of  the 
"Southern  Rights"  candidates,  as  they  were 
called,  for  the  Convention.  It  was  the  largest 
assemblage  of  all  parties  ever  held  in  the  city. 
Speeches  were  made  by  prominent  citizens  ad- 
vocating immediate  secession  amid  unbounded 
enthusiasm.  The  Southern  Marseillaise  was 
again  sung  as  the  banner  of  the  State  was- 
raised,  with  reiterated  and  prolonged  cheers 
for  South  Carolina  and  Louisiana.  A  citizen 
of  eminence  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State, 
writing  upon  the  condition  of  affairs  at  this' 
time,  thus  says:  "In  our  section  the  excite- 
ment is  confined  to  the  politicians,  the  people 
generally  being  borne  along  with  the  current, 
and  feeling  the  natural  disposition  of  sustaining 
their  section.  I  think  that  ninety-nine  out  of 
every  hundred  of  the  people  sincerely  hope  that 
some  plan  will  yet  be, devised  to  heal  up  the 
dissensions,  and  to  settle  our  difficulties  to  the 
satisfaction  of  both  the  North  and  the  South; 

1  a  combined  effort  will  be  made  to  bring 
about  such  a  result,  even  after  the  States  with- 
draw from  the  Union." 

A  State  Convention  was  early  called,  and  the 
vote  in  New  Orleans  for  members  was  close 
enough  to  defeat  a  portion  of  the  secession  can- 
didates. The  city  was  entitled  to  twenty  "rep- 
resentative delegates"  and  five  "senatorial 
delegates."  The  "immediate  secessionists" 
succeeded  in  electing  all  of  the  latter  class  and 
Sfteen  of  the  former,  whilst  the  "  coOperation- 
ists"  obtained  five  of  the  "representative  del- 
egates. The  majority  of  the  secessionists  for 
the  senatorial  delegates  was  about  350.  The 


number  of  votes  polled  was  little  upwards  of 
8,000,  being  less  than  one-half  the  voters  regis- 
tered in  the  city.  Their  success,  however,  was 
regarded  as  sufficient  to  be  made  the  occasion 
of  great  rejoicing.  This  election  took  place  on 
the  8th  of  January.  On  the  next  day  three 
separate  military  organizations  departed  to  take 
possession  of  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Phillip  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  and  also  the  ar- 
senal at  Baton  Rouge. 

On  the  13th  the  United  States  revenue  cutter, 
Lewis  Cass,  was  seized  by  a  military  company 
at  Algiers,  opposite  New  Orleans.  The  vessel 
war  laid  up  and  undergoing  repairs.  Her  arma- 
ment, consisting  of  one  long  24-pounder  and  six 
8-pounder  carronades,  with  a  large  quantity  of 
cannon-balls,  powder,  and  other  military  stores, 
had  been  placed  in  the  Belleville  Iron  Works, 
an  extensive  and  unoccupied  brick  building. 
About  the  same  time  the  barracks  below  the 
city,  which  had  been  for  several  months  oc- 
cupied as  a  marine  hospital,  were  taken  pos- 
session of  in  the  name  of  the  State  of  Louisiana. 
They  contained  at  the  time  216  invalids  and 
convalescent  patients.  The  collector  at  New 
Orleans  was  required  to  remove  the  convales- 
cents immediately,  and  the  sick  as  soon  as 
practicable.  The  reason  assigned  for  this  act 
by  the  State  authorities  was  that  they  wanted 
the  buildings  for  quarters  for  their  own  troops. 

On  the  24th  the  State  Convention  met  at  the 
same  place  and  organized.  A  committee  of  15 
was  ordered  to  report  an  ordinance  of  secession. 
Over  the  capital  waved  a  flag  with  15  stars. 

On  the  26th  the  ordinance  of  secession  was 
adopted  by  a  vote  of  ayes  113,  noes  17.  The 
following  is  the  ordinance : 

AN  ORDINANCE  to  dissolve  the  union  between  the  State  of 
Louisiana  and  other  States  united  with  her  under  the 
compact  entitled  "  The  Constitution  of  the  United  States 
of  America." 

We,  the  people  of  the  State  of  Louisiana,  in  Con- 
vention assembled,  do  declare  and  ordain,  and  it  is 
hereby  declared  and  ordained,  that  the  ordinance 
passed  by  us  in  Convention  on  the  22d  day  of  Novem- 
ber, in  the  year  1811,  whereby  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  the  amendments  of  said 
Constitution,  were  adopted,  and  all  laws  and  ordi- 
nances by  which  the  State  of  Louisiana  became  a 
member  of  the  Federal  Union,  be,  and  the  same  are 
hereby,  repealed  and  abrogated ;  and  that  the  union 
now  subsisting  between  Louisiana  and  other  States. 
under  the  name  of  the  "  United  States  of  America, 
is  hereby  dissolved. 

We  do  further  declare  and  ordain,  that  the  State  ot 
Louisiana  hereby  resumes  all  rights  and  powers  here- 
tofore delegated  to  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  of  America ;  that  her  citizens  are  absolved  from 
all  allegiance  to  said  Government ;  and  that  she  is  in 
full  possession  and  exercise  of  all  those  rights  of  sov- 
ereignty which  appertain  to  a  free  and  independent 
State. 

•We  do  further  declare  and  ordain,  that  all  rights 
acquired  and  vested  under  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  or  any  act  of  Congress  or  treaty,  or 
under  any  law  of  this  State  and  not  incompatible  with 
thia  ordinance,  shall  remain  in  force,  and  have  the 
same  effect  as  if  this  ordinance  had  not  been  passed. 

The  undersigned  hereby  certifies  that  the  above 
ordinance  is  a  true  copy  of  the  original  ordinance 
adopted  this  day  by  the  Convention  of  the  State  of 
Louisiana. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Given  under  my  hand  and  the  great  seal  of  Loui- 
siana, at  Baton  Rouge,  this  26th  day  of  the  month  of 
January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1861. 

FL.  s.]       A.  MOUTON,  Pres.  of  the  Convention. 
J.  THOMAS  WHEAT,  Secretary  of  the  Convention. 

The  aspect  of  New  Orleans  at  the  time  of  the 
passage  of  this  ordinance  is  thus  reported : 

Every  thing  in  this  city  appears  to  be  in  rapid  pro- 
gress  toward  a  war  establishment.  Trade  is  at  a 
stand  still ;  the  importation  of  merchandise  has  al- 
most entirely  ceased  ;  the  warehouses  of  the  Federal 
Government  are  everywhere  literally  glutted  with 
bonded  goods ;  the  banks  are  remorselessly  curtailing 
their  discounts ;  ordinary  creditors  are  endeavoring 
by  all  means  short  of  legal  pressure  to  lessen  the  lia- 
bilities of  their  debtors ;  stores  and  ^nanufactories, 
traders  and  mechanics,  are  diminishing  their  expenses 
by  the  discharge  of  hands,  and,  save  the  office-hold- 
ers, an  influential,  wealthy,  and  important  body, 
electorially  considered,  everybody  looks  dubious 
and  bewildered,  not  knowing  what  to  expect  or  what 
may  happen.  The  proceedings  at  Baton  Rouge  will 
take  no  one  by  surprise.  The  Legislature  is  engaged 


in  spending  money  profusely,  and  the  Convention  is 
engaged  in  laying  down  a  broad  foundation  for  the 
erection  of  a  monstrous  superstructure  of  debt. 

In  the  Convention  on  the  31st,  a  resolution 
was  offered  to  instruct  the  delegates  to  the 
Montgomery  Convention,  who  had  been  pre- 
viously appointed,  to  resist  any  attempt  to  re- 
open the  African  slave  trade.  This  was  laid  on 
the  table  by  a  vote  of  83  to  28. 

On  the  same  day  the  United  States  Mint  and 
Custom-House  at  New  Orleans  were  quietly 
taken  possession  of  by  the  State  authorities,  and 
the  oath  was  subsequently  administered  to  the 
officials  under  the  ordinance.  In  the  mint  was 
$118,311,  and  in  the  sub-Treasury  $483,984. 
A  draft  of  the  United  States  for  $300,000  was 
presented  soon  after,  which  the  sub-Treasurer 
refused  to  pay,  saying  that  "the  money  in  his 
custody  was  no  longer  the  property  of  the  United 
States,  but  of  the  Republic  of  Louisiana." 


CHAPTEK  II. 


Preparations  for  a  Southern  Confederacy — Meeting  of  Congress  at  Montgomery — Members  and  Organization — Inauguration 
of  a  President — His  Addresses — Cabinet — Proceedings  of  the  Congress — New  Constitution. — Its  Features. 


No  sooner  was  secession  an  organized  fact  in 
South  Carolina,  with  a  certainty  that  other 
States  would  soon  reach  the  same  result,  than 
suggestions  _  were  made  for  a  Southern  Confed- 
eracy. A  committee  in  the  Legislature  of  Mis- 
sissippi, on  Jan.  19,  reported  resolutions  to 
provide  for  a  Confederacy  and  establish  a  Pro- 
visional Government.  Florida,  Alabama,  and 
Georgia  at  once  approved  of  this  general  object, 
and  delegates  were  appointed  to  a  Congress  to 
be  held  at  Montgomery.  The  design  of  this 
Congress,  as  then  understood,  was  to  organize 
a  new  Confederacy  of  the  seceding  slaveholding 
States,  and  such  other  slaveholding  States  as 
should  secede  and  join  them  ;  and  to  establish 
first,  a  Provisional  Government,  intended  to 
prepare  for  the  general  defence  of  those  States 
which  were  linked  together  by  a  common  in- 
terest in  the  peculiar  institution,  and  which 
were  opposed  to  the  Federal  Union ;  second, 
make  treaties  with  the  United  States  and  "  other 
foreign"  countries ;  third,  obtain  decisive  legis- 
lation in  regard  to  the  negro ;  and  fourthly, 
determine  what  States  should  constitute  the 
Confederacy. 

On  the  4th  of  February  this  Congress  met  at 
Montgomery,  in  a  hall,  on  the  walls  of  which, 
portraits  of  Marion,  Clay,  Andrew  Jackson,  and 
several  of  "Washington,  were  hanging.  It  was 
composed  of  the  following  members,  except 
those  from  Texas,  who  were  not  appointed  until 
Feb.  14: 

South  Carolina. — R.  B.  Rhett,  James  Chesnut,  jr., 
W.  P.  Miles,  T.  J.  Withers,  R.  W.  Barnwell,  C.  G. 
Memminger,  L.  M.  Keitt,  and  W.  W.  Boyce. 

Georgia.—  Robert  Toombs,  Howell  Cobb,  Benjamin 


H.  Hill,  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  Francis  Bartow, 
Martin  J.  Crawford,  E.  A.  Nisbett,  Aug's  B.  Wright, 
Thomas  R.  R.  Cobb,  and  Augustus  Keenan. 

Alabama. — Richard  W.  Walker,  Robert  H.  Smith, 
Colin  J.  McRae,  John  Gill  Shorter,  S.  F.  Hale,  David 
P.  Lewis,  Thomas  Fearn,  J.  L.  M.  Curry,  and  W.  P. 
Chilton. 

Mississippi. — Willie  P.  Harris,  Walker  Brooke,  A. 
M.  Clayton,  W.  S.  Barry,  J.  T.  Harrison,  J.  A.  P. 
Campbell,  and  W.  S.  Wilson, 

Louisiana. — John  Perkins,  jr.,  Duncan  F.  Kenfier, 
C.  M.  Conrad,  E.  Spencer,  and  Henry  Marshall. 

Florida. — Jackson  Morton,  James  Powers,  and  J. 
P.  Amterson. 

Texm.—L.  T.  Wigfall,  J.  H.  Reagan,  J.  Hemphill, 
T.  N.  Waul,  Judge  Gregg,  Judge  Oldham,  and  Judge 
W.  B.  Ochiltree. 

All  the  members  were  present  except  Mr. 
Morton,  of  Florida,  and  the  members  from 
Texas.  A  permanent  organization  was  made 
by  the  election  of  Howell  Cobb,  of  Georgia,  as 
Chairman,  and  J.  J.  Hooper,  of  Montgomery, 
Alabama,  Secretary. 

Mr.  Cobb,  on  taking  the  chair,  made  an  ad- 
dress, saying: 

"Accept,  gentlemen  of  the  Convention,  my 
sincere  thanks  for  the  honor  you  have  confer- 
red upon  me.  I  shall  endeavor,  by  a  faithful 
and  impartial  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the 
Chair,  to  merit,  in  some  degree  at  least,  the 
confidence  you  have  reposed  in  me. 

"  The  occasion  which  assembles  us  together 
is  one  of  no  ordinary  character.  We  meet  as 
representatives  of  sovereign  and  independent 
States,  who,  by  their  solemn  judgment,  have 
dissolved  the  political  association  which  con- 
nected them  with  the  Government  of  the 
United  States.  Of  the  causes  which  have  led 


14 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


to  this  decision  it  is  unnecessary  now  to  speak. 
It  is  sufficient  to  announce  that  by  the  judg- 
ment of  our  constituents  they  have  been  pro- 
nounced ample  and  sufficient.  It  is  now  a  fixed 
and  irrevocable  fact.  The  separation  is  perfect, 
complete,  and  perpetual. 

"  The  great  duty  is  now  imposed  upon  ns  of 
providing  for  these  States  a  Government  for 
their  future  security  and  protection.  We  can 
and  should  extend  to  our  sister  States — our 
late  sister  States — who  are  identified  with  us 
in  interest,  feeling,  and  institutions,  a  cordial 
welcome  to  unite  with  us  in  a  common  destiny 
— desirous  at  the  same  time  of  maintaining 
with  our  former  confederates,  as  with  the 
world,  the  most  peaceful  and  friendly  relations, 
both  political  and  commercial. 

"Our  responsibilities,  gentlemen,  are  great, 
and  I  doubt  not  we  shall  prove  equal  to  the 
occasion.  Let  us  assume  all  the  responsibility 
which  may  be  necessary  for  the  successful  com- 
pletion of  the  great  work  committed  to  our 
care,  placing  before  our  countrymen  and  the 
world  our  acts  and  their  results,  as  the  justifi- 
cation for  the  course  we  may  pursue,  and  the 
policy  we  may  adopt.  "With  a  consciousness 
of  the  justice  of  our  cause,  and  with  confidence 
in  the  guidance  and  blessings  of  a  kind  Provi- 
dence, we  will  this  day  inaugurate  for  the 
South  a  new  era  of  peace,  security,  and  pros- 
perity." 

The  rules  of  the  Convention  were  drawn  on 
the  principle  that  it  was  a  Congress  of  sov- 
ereign and  independent  States,  and  the  mem- 
bers should  therefore  vote  by  States. 

On  the  7th  of  February,  the  Committee  on  a 
Provisional  Government  reported  a  plan  which 
was  discussed  in  secret  session.  On  the  8th, 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  was 
adopted  with  some  amendments,  as  follows : 

Alterations. — 1st.  The  Provisional  Constitution  dif- 
fers from  the  Constitution  of  the  United  S^tes  in 
this :  That  the  legislative  powers  of  the  Provisional 
Government  are  vested  in  the  Congress  now  assem- 
bled, and  this  body  exercises  all  the  functions  that 
are  exercised  by  either  or  both  branches  of  the  United 
States  Government. 

2d.  The  Provisional  President  holds  his  office  for  one 
year,  unless  sooner  superseded  by  the  establishment 
of  a  permanent  government. 

3d.  Each  State  is  erected  into  a  distinct  judicial  dis- 
trict, the  judge  having  all  the  powers  heretofore  vested 
in  the  district  and  circuit  courts  :  and  the  several  dis- 
trict judges  together  compose  the  supreme  bench — a 
majority  of  them  constituting  a  quorum. 

4th.  Wherever  the  word  "Union"  occurs  in  the 
United  States  Constitution  the  word  "  Confederacy  " 
is  substituted. 

Additions.— 1st.  The  President  may  veto  any  sep- 
arate appropriation  without  vetoing  the  whole  bill  in 
which  it  is  contained. 

2d.  The  African  slave  trade  is  prohibited. 

Sd.  Congress  is  empowered  to  prohibit  the  intro- 
duction of  slaves  from  any  State  not  a  member  of  this 
Confederacy. 

4th.  All  appropriations  must  be  upon  the  demand 
ot  the  President  or  beads  of  departments. 

Oinissiom.— 1st.  There  is  no  prohibition  against 
members  of  Congress  holding  other  offices  of  honor 
and  emolument  under  the  Provisional  Government. 

2d.  There  is  no  provision  for  a  neutral  spot  for  the 


location  of  a  seat  of  government,  or  for  sites  for  forts, 
arsenals,  and  dock-yards ;  consequently  there  is  no 
reference  made  to  the  territorial  powers  of  the  Pro- 
visional Government. 

Sd.  The  section  in  the  old  Constitution  in  reference 
to  capitation  and  other  direct  tax  is  omitted ;  also  the 
section  providing  that  no  tax  or  duty  shall  be  laid  on 
any  exports. 

4th.  The  prohibition  against  States  keeping  troops 
or  ships  of  war  in  time  of  peace  is  omitted. 

5th.  The  Constitution  being  provisional  merely,  no 
provision  is  made  for  its  ratification. 

Amendments. — 1st.  The  fugitive  slave  clause  of  the 
old  Constitution  is  so  amended  as  to  contain  the  word 
"  slave,"  and  to  provide  for  full  compensation  in  cases 
of  abduction  or  forcible  rescue  on  the  part  of  the 
State  in  whichsuch  abduction  or  rescue  may  take  place. 

2d.  Congress,  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds,  may  at  any 
time  alter  or  amend  the  Constitution. 

Temporary  Provisions.— 1st.  The  Provisional  Gov- 
ernment is  required  to  take  immediate  steps  for  the 
settlement  of  all  matters  between  the  States  forming 
it  and  their  late  confederates  of  the  United  States 
in  relation  to  the  public  property  and  the  public  debt. 

2d.  Montgomery  is  made  the  temporary  seat  of  gov- 
ernment. 

3d.  This  Constitution  is  to  continue  one  year,  unless 
altered  by  a  two-thirds  vote  or  superseded  by  a  per- 
manent government. 

The  tariff  clause  provided  that  "  Congress 
shall  have  power  to  lay  and  collect  taxes,  du- 
ties, imposts,  and  excises  for  revenue  necessary 
to  pay  the  debts  and  carry  on  the  Government 
of  the  Confederacy,  and  all  duties,  imposts,  and 
excises  shall  be  uniform  throughout  the  Con- 
federacy." 

The  first  section  of  Article  I.  is  as  follows : 

"All  legislative  powers  herein  delegated  shall  be 
vested  in  this  Congress,  now  assembled,  until  otherwise 
ordained." 

The  fifth  article  is  as  follows  : 

"  The  Congress,  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds,  may,  at  any 
time,  alter  or  amend  this  Constitution." 

The  other  portions  of  the  Constitution  are 
nearly  identical  with  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States. 

On  the  next  day  after  the  adoption  of  the 
Provisional  Constitution,  at  the  opening  of 
Congress,  the  President  of  the  body  was  sworn 
by  R.  "W.  "Walker  to  support  the  new  Constitu- 
tion, and  the  oath  was  then  administered  in 
turn  by  the  President  to  all  the  members,  in 
the  order  in  which  they  were  called  by  States. 

At  a  quarter  past  twelve  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon the  Congress  threw  open  its  doors,  after 
having  previously  gone,  into  secret  session,  and 
proceeded  to  elect  a  President.  The  ballots 
were  taken  by  States,  each  State  being  allowed 
one  vote.  On  counting,  it  was  found  that  Jef- 
ferson Davis,  of  Mississippi,  had  received  six 
votes,  the  whole  number  cast.  The  same  for- 
mality was  gone  through  in  the  election  of 
Vice-President,  resulting  likewise  in  the  unani- 
mous election  of  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  of 
Georgia. 

An  immense  crowd  had  gathered  on  the 
floor  and  in  the  galleries  to  witness  the  elec- 
tion of  the  first  President  of  "  the  Confederate 
States  of  America."  The  election  of  Davis  and 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


15 


Stephens  was  greeted  with  loud  cheers  and 
applause  from  the  spectators. 

The  President  of  the  Convention  was  di- 
rected to  appoint  Committees  on  Foreign  Af- 
fairs, Finance,  Military  and  Naval  Affairs,  the 
Judiciary,  Postal  Affairs,  Commerce,  Patents, 
and  Printing. 

A  bill  was  passed  continuing  in  force,  until 
repealed  or  altered  by  Congress,  all  the  laws  of 
the  United  States  which  were  in  force  on  the 
1st  of  November,  1860,  not  inconsistent  with 
the  Constitution  of  the  Provisional  Govern- 
ment. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  instructing  the  Fi- 
nance Committee  to  report  promptly  a  tariff 
bill  for  raising  a  revenue  for  the  support  of  the 
Provisional  Government. 

A  resolution  was  also  adopted  authorizing 
the  appointment  of  a  Committee  to  report  a 
Constitution  for  a  permanent  Government  of 
the  Confederacy. 

The  name  "Confederate  States  of  North 
America  "  was  also  adopted  for  the  Union  rep- 
resented at  Montgomery. 

At  the  session  on  the  next  day,  Mr.  Stephens 
appeared  and  announced  his  acceptance  of  the 
office  of  Vice-President,  and  said : 

"  I  have  been  notified  by  the  committee  of 
my  election  as  Vice-President  of  the  Provis- 
ional Government  of  the  Confederate  States  of 
America.  The  committee  requested  that  I 
should  make  known  to  this  body,  in  a  verbal 
response,  my  acceptance  of  the  high  position  I 
have  been  called  upon  to  assume,  and  this  I 
now  do  in  this  august  presence — before  you, 
Mr.  President,  before  this  Congress,  and  this 
large  concourse  of  people,  under  the  bright  sun 
and  brilliant  skies  which  now  smile  so  felici- 
tously upon  us. 

"  I  take  occasion  to  return  my  most  profound 
acknowledgments  for  this  expression  of  confi- 
dence on  the  part  of  this  Congress.  There  are 
especial  reasons  why  I  place  an  unusually  high 
estimate  on  it.  The  considerations  which  in- 
duced me  to  accept  it,  I  need  not  state.  It  is 
sufficient  for  me  to  say  that  it  may  be  deemed 
questionable  if  any  good  citizens  can  refuse  to 
discharge  any  duty  which  may  be  assigned 
them  by  their  country  in  her  hour  of  need. 

"  It  might  be  expected  that  I  should  indulge 
in  remarks  on  the  state  of  our  public  affairs — 
the  gangers  which  threaten  us,  and  the  most 
advisable  measures  to  be  adopted  to  meet  our 
pressing  exigencies ;  but  allow  me  to  say,  in 
the  absence  of  the  distinguished  gentleman 
called  to  the  Chief  Executive  Chair,  I  think  it 
best  that  I  should  refrain  from  saying  any 
thing  on  such  matters.  "We  may  expect  him 
here  in  a  few  days — possibly  by  "Wednesday — 
If  he  is  not  providentially  detained.  "When  he 
comes  you  will  hear  from  him  on  these  difficult 
questions ;  and  I  doubt  not  we  shall  cordially 
and  harmoniously  concur  in  any  line  of  policy 
his  superior  wisdom  and  statesmanship  may 
indicate. 

"In  the  mean  time,  we  may  be  profitably 


employed  in  directing  attention  to  such  mat- 
ters as  providing  the  necessary  postal  arrange- 
ments, making  provision  for  the  transfer  of  the 
custom-houses  from  the  separate  States  to  \;he 
Confederacy,  and  the  imposition  of  such  duties 
as  are  necessary  to  meet  the  present  expected 
exigencies  in  the  exercise  of  power,  and  raise  a 
revenue.  "We  are  limited  in  the  latter  object 
to  a  small  duty,  not  exceeding  ten  per  centum 
upon  importations.  "We  can  also  be  devoting 
attention  to  the  Constitution  of  a  permanent 
Government,  stable  and  durable,  which  is  one 
of  the  leading  objects  of  our  assembling. 

"  I  am  now  ready  to  take  the  oath." 

The  oath  was  accordingly  administered. 

A  committee  of  two  from  each  State  was 
appointed  to  form  a  permanent  Constitution  for 
the  Confederacy. 

On  the  12th  resolutions  were  offered  to  con- 
tinue in  office  the  revenue  officers  of  the  re- 
spective States. 

It  was  also  resolved  "  That  this  Government 
takes  under  its  charge  all  questions  and  difficul- 
ties now  existing  between  the  sovereign  States 
of  this  Confederacy  and  the  Government  of  the 
United  States  relating  to  the  occupation  of 
forts,  arsenals,  navy -yards,  custom-houses,  and 
all  other  public  establishments,  and  the  Pres- 
ident of  this  Congress  is  directed  to  communi- 
cate this  resolution  to  the  Governors  of  the  re- 
spective States  of  the  Confederacy." 

On  the  13th  of  February,  the  Committee  on 
Naval  Affairs,  and  also  the  Committee  on  Mili- 
tary Affairs,  were  instructed  to  include  in  any 
plans  they  might  propose  for  the  army  and 
navy,  provisions  for  such  officers  as  might  ten- 
der their  resignations. 

A  resolution  was  also  adopted  instructing  the 
Committee  on  Commercial  Affairs  to  inquire 
and  report  upon  the  expediency  of  repealing 
the  navigation  laws. 

A  debate  took  place  on  the  subject  of  a  Na- 
tional flag,  proposing  to  make  only  such  changes 
as  might  be  necessary  to  distinguish  it  easily 
from  that  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Brooks,  in  the  course  of  his  remarks, 
said  the  flag  of  stars  and  stripes  is  the  idol  of 
the  heart,  around  which  cluster  memories  of 
the  past  which  time  cannot  efface,  or  cause  to 
grow  dim. 

Mr.  Miles,  in  reply,  said  he  had  regarded 
from  his  youth  the  stars  and  stripes  as  the  em- 
blem of  oppression  and  tyranny. 

The  Committee  to  whom  the  subject  was 
referred  made  a  report,  which  was  unanimous- 
ly adopted.  It  recommended  that  the  flaaof 
the  Confederate  States  should  consist  of  three 
bars  of  red  and  white — the  upper  red,  middle 
white,  lower  red.  The  lower  bar  should  ex- 
tend the  whole  width  of  the  flag,  and  just  above 
it,  next  to  the  staff  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner 
of  the  flag,  should  be  a  blue  Union  with  seven 
stars  in  a  circle. 

The  form  of  Government  adopted  by  the  Con- 
gress was  chiefly  objected  to,  so  far  as  it  held 
out  any  encouragement  for  reconstruction,  or 


16 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


any  inducement  to  the  Border  Slave  States  to 
remain  in  the  Union  with  the  North. 

On  the  15th,  Congress  made  arrangements 
for  the  reception  and  inauguration  of  Jefferson 
Davis.  An  official  copy  of  the  Texas  secession 
ordinance  was  presented,  and  the  deputy  present 
invited  to  a  seat,  although  the  ordinance  had 
not  been  ratified. 

There  was  then  a  secret  session,  during  which 
a  resolution  was  passed  removing  the  injunction 
of  secrecy  from  an  act  continuing  in  office  the 
officers  connected  with  the  collection  of  cus- 
toms at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  insurrectionary  States,  with  the  sal- 
aries and  powers  as  heretofore  provided;  the 
compensation  not  to  exceed  five  thousand  dol- 
lars. The  collectors  were  required,  within  two 
weeks,  to  execute  the  same  bonds  as  heretofore, 
and  the  subordinates  to  give  bond.  One  week 
after  the  collectors  were  required  to  take  the 
oath  to  discharge  their  duties  and  support  the 
Constitution  of  the  Provisional  Government. 
The  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  had  been  in- 
structed to  report  a  plan,  to  go  into  effect  on 
the  first  of  April,  diminishing  the  expenses  of 
collecting  the  revenue  at  each  custom-house  at 
least  fifty  per  cent. 

On  the  16th  of  February  Mr.  Davis  arrived 
at  Montgomery,  to  be  inaugurated  and  to  enter 
upon  the  duties  of  his  office.  He  was  greeted 
with  an  ovation,  to  which  he  responded  in  an 
address  reviewing  the  position  of  the  South. 
He  said:  "The  time  for  compromise  has  now 
passed,  and  the  South  is  determined  to  main- 
tain her  position,  and  make  all  who  oppose  her 
smell  Southern  powder  and  feel  Southern  steel 
if  coercion  is  persisted  in.  He  had  no  doubts  as 
to  the  result.  He  said  we  will  maintain  our 
rights  and  government  at  all  hazards.  We  ask 
nothing,  we  want  nothing;  we  will  have  no 
complications.,  If  the  other  States  join  our 
Confederation  they  can  freely  come  in  on  our 
terms.  Our  separation  from  the  old  Union  is 
now  complete.  No  compromise,  no  recon- 
struction is  now  to  be  entertained." 

After  reaching  the  Exchange  Hotel  he  again 
addressed  the  crowd  from  the  balcony  as  fol- 
lows: "Fellow-citizens  and  brethren  of  the 
Confederated  States  of  America — for  now  we 
are  brethren,  not  in  name  merely,  but  in  fact — 
men  of  one  flesh,  one  bone,  one  interest,  one 
purpose  of  identity  of  domestic  institutions — 
we  have  henceforth,  I  trust,  a  prospect  of  living 
together  in  peace,  with  our  institutions  subject 
to  protection  and  not  to  defamation.  It  may 
botfhat  our  career  will  be  ushered  in  in  the 
midst  of  a  storm;  it  may  be  that,  as  this  morn- 
ing opened  with  clouds,  rain,  and  mist,  we  shall 
have  to  encounter  inconveniences  at  the  begin- 
ning; but  as  the  sun  rose  and  lifted  the  mist, 
it  dispersed  the  clouds  and  left  us  the  pure  sun- 
light of  heaven.  So  will  progress  the  Southern 
Confederacy,  and  carry  us  safe  into  the  harbor 
of  constitutional  liberty  and  political  equality. 
We  shall  fear  nothing,  because  of  homogeneity 
at  home  and  nothing  abroad  to  awe  us;  be- 


cause, if  war  should  come,  if  we  must  again 
baptize  in  blood  the  principles  for  which  our 
fathers  bled  in  the  Revolution,  we  shall  show 
that  we  are  not  degenerate  sons,  but  will  re- 
deem the  pledges  they  gave,  preserve  the  rights 
'  they  transmitted  to  us,  and  prove  that  Southern 
valor  still  shines  as  bright  as  in  1776,  in  1812, 
and  in  every  other  conflict." 

In  concluding  his  speech,  Mr.  Davis  said: 
"  I  thank  you,  my  friends,  for  the  kind  mani- 
festations of  favor  and  approbation  you  exhibit 
on  this  occasion.  Throughout  my  entire  pro- 
gress to  this  city  I  have  received  the  same  flat- 
tering demonstrations  of  support.  I  did  not 
regard  them  as  personal  to  myself,  but  tendered 
to  me  as  the  humble  representative  of  the  prin- 
ciples and  policy  of  the  Confederate  States.  I 
will  devote  to  the  duties  of  the  high  office  to 
which  I  have  been  called  all  I  have  of  heart, 
of  head,  and  of  hand.  If,  in  the  progress  of 
events,  it  shall  become  necessary  that  my  ser- 
vices be  needed  in  another  position — if,  to  be 
plain,  necessity  require  that  I  shall  again  enter 
the  ranks  of  soldiers — I  hope  you  will  welcome 
me  there.  And  now,  my  friends,  again  thank- 
ing you  for  this  manifestation  of  your  approba- 
tion, allow  me  to  bid  you  good  night." 

The  inauguration  took  place  at  Montgomery, 
on  the  18th  of  February.  The  hill  on  which 
the  Capitol  is  situated,  was  crowded  with  the 
wealth  and  beauty,  the  soldiers  and  citizens 
from  the  different  States.  In  the  evening  the 
city  was  gorgeously  illuminated.  The  Presi- 
dent held  a  levee  at  Estelle  Hall — bands  of  mu- 
sic played,  fireworks  were  displayed,  and  a 
grand  and  general  demonstration  was  made. 

The  cabinet  officers  of  this  new  Government 
were  as  follows:  Secretary  of  State,  Robert 
Toombs ;  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  Chas.  G. 
Memminger ;  Secretary  of  War,  L.  Pope  Walker. 

On  the  19th,  measures  were  adopted  to  ad- 
mit, duty  free,  all  breadstuff's,  provisions,  mu- 
nitions of  war,  or  materials  therefor,  living  ani- 
mals, and  agricultural  products  in  their  natural 
state ;  also  goods,  wares,  and  merchandise  from 
the  United  States  purchased  before  the  1st  of 
March,  and  imported  before  the  14th  of  March. 
Texas  was  excepted  from  the  operation  of  the 
tariff  laws. 

On  the  next  day  the  Departments  of  War, 
Navy,  Justice,  Postal  Affairs,  State  and  Treas- 
ury, were  organized. 

On  the  22d  an  act  was  unanimously  passed 
declaring  the  free  navigation  of  the  Mississippi 
River  to  be  established. 

Subsequently  the  nomination  of  Gustavo  T. 
Beauregard,  of  Louisiana,  as  Brigadier-General 
of  the  Provisional  Army,  was  confirmed. 

An  act  to  raise  provisional  forces  for  the 
Confederate  States  and  for  other  purposes  was 
passed.  It  directed,  among  other  provisions, 
that  the  President  should  take  charge  of  all  the 
military  operations  between  the  Confederacy 
and  other  Powers. 

An  act  was  also  passed  to  raise  money  to 
support  the  Government.  It  authorized  the 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


17 


President  to  borrow  $15,000,000,  payable  in 
ten  years,  at  an  interest  of  eight  per  cent.  The 
last  section  directed  an  export  duty  of  one- 
eighth  per  cent,  on  each  pound  of  cotton  ex- 
ported after  the  1st  of  August  following,  to 
create  a  fund  to  liquidate  principal  and  interest 
of  the  loan. 

The  postal  system  of  the  Confederate  States 
was  adopted  on  the  report  of  the  Committee  of 
Congress,  made  on  the  25th  of  February. 

On  Monday,  Vth  March,  an  act  was  passed 
authorizing  a  military  force  of  100,000  men  to 
be  raised.  The  first  section  was  in  these  words : 

SEC.  1.  The  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States  of 
America  do  enact,  That  in  order  to  provide  speedily 
forces  to  repel  invasion,  maintain  the  rightful  posses- 
sion of  the  Confederate  States  of  America  in  every 
portion  of  territory  belonging  to  each  State,  and  to 
secure  the  public  tranquillity  and  independence 
against  threatened  assault,  the  President  be,,  and  he  is 
hereby,  authorized  to  employ  the  militia,  military, 
and  naval  forces  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America, 
and  ask  for  and  accept  the  services  of  any  number  of 
volunteers,  not  excee_ding  one  hundred  thousand,  who 
may  offer  their  services,  either  as  cavalry,  mounted 
rifle,  artillery,  or  infantry,  in  such  proportion  of  these 
several  arms  as  he  may  deem  expedient,  to  serve 
for  twelve  months  after  they  shall  be  mustered  into 
service,  unless  sooner  discharged. 

On  the  llth  of  March  the  permanent  Consti- 
tution was  adopted  by  Congress.  In  nearly  all 
its  parts  it  adopts  the  precise  language,  and  fol- 
lows in  its  articles  and  sections  the  order  of  ar- 
rangement of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States.  The  parts  in  which  it  differs  from  the 
latter,  either  by  variations  from,  or  additions 
thereto,  are  herewith  presented.  It  begins  with 
the  following  preamble : 

We,  the  people  of  the  Confederate  States,  each 
State  acting  in  its  sovereign  and  independent  char- 
acter, in  order  to  form  a  permanent  Federal  Govern- 
ment, establish  justice,  insure  domestic  tranquillity, 
and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  ourselves  and 
to  our  posterity — invoking  the  favor  and  guidance  of 
Almighty  God — do  ordain  and  establish  this  Consti- 
tution for  the  Confederate  States  of  America. 

The  second  section  of  the  first  article  imposed 
the  following  restriction  on  the  rights  of  suf- 
frage in  order  to  correct  an  abuse  which  had 
sprung  from  the  action  of  certain  States  in  the 
Union  which  have  granted  the  right  of  voting 
to  unnaturalized  aliens : 

The  House  of  Representatives  shall  be  composed 
of  members  chosen  every  second  year  by  the  people 
of  the  several  States ;  and  the  electors  in  each  State 
shall  bo  citizens  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  have 
the  qualifications  requisite  for  electors  of  the  most 
numerous  branch 'of  the  State  Legislature:  but  no 
person  of  foreign  birth  not  a  citizen  of  the  Confeder- 
ate States,  shall  be  allowed  to  vote  for  any  officer, 
civil  or  political,  State  or  Federal. 

In  adjusting  the  basis  of  representation  and 
direct  taxation,  "  three-fifths  of  all  slaves  "  were 
enumerated,  as  in  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  which  substitutes  for  the  word  "  slaves  " 
the  term  "other  persons."  The  number  of 
Representatives  given  prior  to  an  actual  enu- 
meration of  the  population,  appointed  to  take 
place  within  three  years  after  the  first  meeting 
of  the  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States,  and 
2 


within  every  subsequent  term  of  ten  years,  was 
as  follows  : 

The  State  of  South  Carolina  shall  be  entitled  to 
choose  six,  the  State  of  Georgia  ten,  the  State  of  Ala- 
bama nine,  the  State  of  Florida  two,  the  State  of  Mis- 
sissippi seven,  the  State  of  Louisiana  six,  and  the 
State  of  Texas  six. 

On  the  subject  of  impeachments,  the  follow- 
ing provision  was  made : 

The  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose  their 
Speaker  and  other  officers,  and  shall  have  the  sole 
power  of  impeachment,  except  that  any  judicial  or 
other  Confederate  officer,,  resident  and  acting  solely 
within  the  limits  of  any  State,  may  be  impeached  by 
a  vote  of  two-thirds  ot  both  branches  of  the  Legisla- 
ture thereof. 


It  was  provided  that  the  Senators  of  the  Con- 
federate States  should  be  chosen  by  the  State 
Legislatures  "  at  the  regular  session  next  im- 
mediately preceding  the  commencement  of  the 
term  of  service." 

It  was  provided  that  the  concurrence  of 
"two-thirds  of  the  whole  number"  of  each 
House  should  be  necessary  to  the  expulsion  of 
a  member. 

Congress  was  authorized  to  make  the  follow- 
ing provision  in  reference  to  heads  of  the 
Executive  Departments : 

Congress  may  by  law  grant  to  the  principal  officer 
in  each  of  the  Executive  Departments  a  seat  upon 
the  floor  of  either  House,  with  the  privilege  of  discuss- 
ing any  measures  appertaining  to  his  Department. 

The  President  was  authorized  to  make  the 
following  discrimination  in  giving  his  assent 
to  appropriation  bills : 

The  President  may  approve  any  appropriation  and 
disapprove  any  other  appropriation  in  the  same  bill. 
In  such  case  he  shall,  in  signing  the  bill,  designate 
the  appropriations  disapproved,  and  shall  return  a 
copy  of  such  appropriations  with  Ms  objections  to  the 
House  in  which  the  bill  shall  have  originated,  and  the 
same  proceeding  shall  then  be  had  as  in  case  of  other 
bills  disapproved  by  the  President. 

The  following  prohibition  of  the  "  protective 
policy"  was  engrafted  in  the  Constitution  in 
enumerating  the  powers  of  Congress : 

Ho  bounties  shall  be  granted  from  the  Treasury, 
nor  shall  any  duties  or  taxes  on  importations  from 
foreign  nations  be  laid  to  promote  or  foster  any 
branch  of  industry. 

Internal  improvements  by  the  Confederate 
Government  were  also  prohibited : 

Congress  shall  have  power  to  regulate  commerce 
with  foreign  nations  and  among  the  several  States, 
and  with  the  Indian  tribes ;  but  neither  this  nor.  any 
other  clause  contained  in  the  Constitution  shall  ever 
be  construed  to  delegate  the  power  to  Congress  to 
appropriate  money  for  any  internal  improvement  in- 
tended to  facilitate  commerce ;  except  for  the  pur- 
pose of  furnishing  lights,  beacons,  and  buoys,  and 
other  aids  to  navigation  upon  the  coasts,  and  the  im- 
provement of  harbors  and  the  removing  of  obstruc- 
tions in  river  navigation,  in  all  of  which  cases  such 
duties  shall  be  laid  on  the  navigation  facilitated  there- 
by as  may  be  necessary  to  pay  the  costs  and  expenses 
thereof. 

The  Post-Office  Department  must  pay  its  ex- 
penses from  its  own  resources  "  after  the  first 
day  of  March,  1863." 


18 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION". 


In  relation  to  the  slave  trade,  the  following 
provision  was  made : 

The  importation  of  negroes  of  the  African  race 
from  any  foreign  country  other  than  the  slaveholding 
States  or  Territories  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
is  hereby  forbidden ;  and  Congress  is  required  to 
pass  such  laws  as  shall  effectually  prevent  the  same. 
Congress  shall  also  have  power  to  prohibit  the  intro- 
duction of  slaves  from  any  State  not  a  member  of  or 
Territory  not  belonging  to  this  Confederacy. 

The  imposition  of  export  duties  was  restricted 
by  the  following  provision : 

No  tax  or  duty  shall  be  laid  on  articles  exported 
from  any  State,  except  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  both 
Houses. 

The  appropriation  of  money  for  other  ob- 
jects than  those  indicated  and  estimated  for  by 
the  several  Executive  Departments  is  thus  re- 
strained : 

Congress'  shall  appropriate  no  money  from  the 
Treasury  except  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  both 
Houses,  taken  by  yeas  and  nays,  unless  it  be  asked 
and  estimated  for  by  some  one  of  the  Heads  of  De- 
partment, and  submitted  to  Congress  by  the  Pres- 
ident, or  for  the  purpose  of  paying  its  own  expenses 
and  contingencies,  or  for  the  payment  of  claims 
against  the  Confederate  States,  the  justice  of  which 
shall  have  been  judicially  declared  by  a  tribunal  for 
the  investigation  of  claims  against  the  Government, 
which  it  is  nereby  made  the  duty  of  Congress  to  es- 
tablish. 

All  bills  appropriating  money  shall  specify  in  Fed- 
eral currency  the  exact  amount  of  each  appropria- 
tion, and  the  purposes  for  which  it  is  made;  and 
Congress  shall  grant  no  extra  compensation  to  any 
public  contractor,  officer,  agent,  or  servant,  after 
such  contract  shall  have  been  made  or  such  service 
rendered. 

Akin  to  these  regulations  was  the  following 
provision : 

Every  law  or  resolution  having  the  force  of  law 
shall  relate  to  but  one  subject,  and  that  shall  be  ex- 
pressed in  the  title. 

Tonnage  duties  when  levied  by  the  several 
States  were  thus  regulated : 

No  State  shall,  without  the  consent  of  Congress, 
lay  any  duty  of  tonnage,  except  on  sea-going  vessels, 
for  the  improvement  of  its  rivers  and  harbors  navi- 
gated by  the  said  vessels ;  but  such  duties  shall  not 
conflict  with  any  treaties  of  the  Confederate  States 
with  foreign  nations ;  and  any  surplus  of  revenue  thus 
derived,  shall,  after  making  such  improvement,  be 
paid  into  the  common  treasury ;  nor  shall  any  State 
keep  troops  or  ships  of  war  in  time  of  peace,  enter 
into  any  agreement  or  compact  with  another  State,  or 
with  a  foreign  Power,  or  engage  in  war,  unless  actu- 
ally invaded,  or  in  such  imminent  danger  as  will  not 
admit  of  delay.  But  when  any  river  divides  or  flows 
through  two  or  more  States,  they  may  enter  into 
compacts  with  each  other  to  improve  the  navigation 
thereof. 

The  President  and  Vice-President  of  the  in- 
surrectionary States  hold  office  for  the  term  of 
six  years,  the  President  not  being  reeligible. 
The  qualifications  of  eligibility  were  as  follows : 

No  person  except  a  natural  born  citizen  of  the 
Confederate  States,  or  a  citizen  thereof  at  the  time  of 
the  adoption  of  this  Constitution,  or  a  citizen  thereof 
born  in  the  United  States  prior  to  the  20th  of  Decem- 
ber, I860,  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  President ; 
neither  shall  any  person  be  eligible  to  that  office  who 
shall  not  have  attained  the  age  of  thirty -five  years 
md  been  fourteen  years  a  resident  within  the  limits 


of  the  Confederate  States,  as  they  may  exist  at  the 
time  of  his  election. 

Appointments  and  removals  were  regulated 
as  follows : 

The  principal  officer  in  each  of  the  Executive  De- 
partments, and  all  persons  connected  with  the  di- 
plomatic service,  may  be  removed  from  office  at  the 
pleasure  of  the  President.  All  other  civil  officers  of 
the  Executive  Department  may  be  removed  at  any 
time  by  the  President,  or  other  appointing  power, 
when  their  services  are  unnecessary,  or  for  dishon- 
esty, incapacity,  inefficiency,  misconduct,  or  neglect 
of  duty ;  and  when  so  removed,  the  removal  shall  be 
reported  to  the  Senate,  together  with  the  reasons 
therefor. 

_  The  President  shall  have  power  to  fill  all  vacan- 
cies that  may  happen  during  the  recess  of  the  Senate, 
by  granting  commissions  which  shall  expire  at  the 
end  of  their  next  session ;  but  no  person  rejected  by 
the  Senate  shall  be  reappointed  to  the  same  office 
during  their  ensuing  recess. 

The  following  provisions  were  made  in  refer- 
ence to  the  rights  of  transit  and  sojourn  with 
slave  property,  recovery  of  fugitive  slaves,  &c. 

The  citizens  of  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to  all 
the  privileges  and  immunities  of  citizens  in  the  several 
States,  and  shall  have  the  right  of  transit  and  sojourn 
in  any  State  of  this  Confederacy,  with  their  slaves  and 
other  property;  and  the  right  of  property  in  said 
slaves  shall  not  be  thereby  impaired. 

A  person  charged  in  any  State  with  treason,  felo- 
ny, or  other  crime  against  the  laws  of  such  State,  who 
shall  flee  from  justice,  and  be  found  in  another  State, 
shall,  on  demand  of  the  Executive  authority  of  the 
State  from  which  he  fled,  be  delivered  up  to  be  re- 
moved to  the  State  having  jurisdiction  of  the  crime. 

No  slave  or  other  person  held  to  service  or  labor 
in  any  State  or  Territory  of  the  Confederate  States, 
under  the  laws  thereof,  escaping  or  lawfully  carried 
into  another,  shall,  in  consequence  of  any  law  or  regu- 
lation therein,  be  discharged  from  such  service  or 
labor,  but  shall  be  delivered  up  on  claim  of  the  party 
to  whom  such  slave  belongs,  or  to  whom  such  service 
or  labor  may  be  due. 

The  following  was  the  provision  in  reference 
to  the  admission  of  States  into  the  new;  Con- 
federacy : 

Other  States  may  be  admitted  into  this  Confederacy 
by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  whole  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives and  two-thirds  of  the  Senate,  the  Senate 
voting  by  States ;  but  no  new  State  shall  be  formed 
or  erected  within  the  jurisdiction  of  any  other  State, 
nor  any  State  be  formed  by  the  junction  of  two  or 
more  States,  or  parts  of  States,  without  the  consent 
of  the  Legislatures  of  the  States  concerned  as  well  as 
of  the  Congress. 

The  "  Territorial  question"  was  thus  disposed 
of: 

The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  dispose  of  and 
make  all  needful  rules  and  regulations  concerning  the 
property  of  the  Confederate  States,  including  the 
lands  thereof. 

The  Confederate  States  may  acquire  new  territory ; 
and  Congress  shall  have  power  to  legislate  and  pro- 
vide governments  for  the  inhabitants  of  all  territory 
belonging  to  the  Confederate  States  lying  without  the 
limits  of  the  several  States;  and  may  permit  them,  at 
such  times  and  in  such  manner  as  it  may  by  law  pro- 
vide, to  form  States  to  be  admitted  into  the  Confed- 
eracy. In  all  such  territory  the  institution  of  negro 
slavery,  as  it  now  exists  in  the  Confederate  States, 
shall  be  recognized  and  protected  by  Congress  and  by 
the  Territorial  government;  and  the  inhabitants  of 
the  several  Confederate  States  and  Territories  shall 
have  the  right  to  take  to  such  Territory  any  slaves 


MILITARY  AND  NAYAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


19 


lawfully  held  by  them  in  any  of  the  States  or  Terri- 
tories of  the  Confederate  States. 

Amendments  to  the  Constitution  were  to  be 
thus  initiated  and  consummated ; 

Upon  the  demand  of  any  three  States,  legally  as- 
sembled in  their  several  Conventions,  the  Congress 
shall  summon  a  Convention  of  all  the  States  to  take 
into  consideration  such  amendments  to  the  Constitu- 
tion as  the  said  States  shall  concur  in  suggesting  at 
the  time  when  the  said  demand  is  made ;  and  should 
any  of  the  proposed  amendments  to  the  Constitution 
be  agreed  on  by  the  said  Convention — voting  by 
States — and  the  same  be  ratified  by  the  Legislatures 
of  two-thirds  of  the  several  States,  or  by  Conventions 
in  two-thirds  thereof — as  the  one  or  the  other  mode 
of  ratification  may  be  proposed  by  the  General  Con- 
vention— they  shall  thenceforward  form  a  part  of  this 
Constitution. 

The  following  temporary  provisions  were  enu- 
merated : 

The  Government  established  by  this  Constitution 
is  the  successor  of  the  Provisional  Government  of  the 
Confederate  States  of  America,  and  all  the  laws  pass- 
ed by  the  latter  shall  continue  in  force  until  the  same 
shall  be  repealed  or  modified ;  and  all  the  officers  ap- 
pointed by  the  same  shall  remain  in  office  until  their 
successors  are  appointed  and  qualified,  or  the  offices 
abolished. 


All  debts  contracted  and  engagements  entered  into 
before  the  adoption  of  this  Constitution  shall  be  as 
valid  against  the  Confederate  States  under  this  Con- 
stitution as  under  the  Provisional  Government. 

The  mode  of  ratification  and  the  number  of 
States  necessary  to  put  the  Constitution  in  force 
were  thus  designated : 

The  ratification  of  the  Conventions  of  five  States 
shall  be  sufficient  for  the  establishment  of  this  Con- 
stitution between  the  States  so  ratifying  the  same. 

When  five  States  shall  have  ratified  this  Constitu- 
tion, in  the  manner  before  specified,  the  Congress 
under  the  Provisional  Constitution  shall  prescribe  the 
time  for  holding  the  election  of  President  and  Vice- 
President,  and  Tor  the  meeting  of  the  Electoral  Col- 
lege, and  for  counting  the  votes,  and  inaugurating  the 
President.  They  shall  also  prescribe  the  time  for 
holding  the  first  election  of  members  of  Congress 
under  this  Constitution,  and  the  time  for  assembling 
the  same.  Until  the  assembling  of  such  Congress, 
the  Congress  under  the  Provisional  Constitution  shall 
continue  to  exercise  the  legislative  powers  granted 
them ;  not  extending  beyond  the  time  limited  by  the 
Constitution  of  the  Provisional  Government. 

An  act  was  also  passed  authorizing  the  issue 
of  one  million  dollars  hi  Treasury  notes,  and  an 
appropriation  bill  to  meet  current  expenses. 


CHAPTEK   III. 


Inauguration  of  President  Lincoln— Commissioners  sent  to  Europe  and  Washington— Time  for  War  had  come— Despatches 
from  Montgomery  to  Gen.  Beauregard  at  Charleston — Condition  of  Fort  Sumter — Occupied  by  Major  Anderson— Ex- 
citement— Surrender  demanded  by  Gov.  Pickens — Negotiations  at  Washington — Preparations  for  attack  on  the  Fort — 
Women  and  Children  removed — Evacuation  demanded  by  Gen.  Beauregard — Correspondence — Attack  on  the  Fort — Its 
Surrender — Action  of  the  Federal  Government  to  relieve  it 


THE  ceremonies  at  the  inauguration  of  Mr. 
Lincoln  were  in  some  respects  the  most  bril- 
liant and  imposing  ever  witnessed  at  Washing- 
ton. Nearly  twenty  well-drilled  military  com- 
panies of  the  district,  comprising  a  force  of 
more  than  two  thousand  men,  were  on  parade. 
Georgetown  sent  companies  of  cavalry,  infan- 
try, and  artillery  of  fine  appearance.  The  troops 
stationed  at  the  City  Hall  and  Willard's  Hotel 
became  objects  of  attraction  to  vast  numbers  of 
both  sexes.  At  noon  the  Senate  Committee 
called  upon  President  Buchanan,  who  proceed- 
ed with  them  to  Willard's  Hotel  to  receive  the 
President-elect.  The  party  thus  composed, 
joined  by  other  distinguished  citizens,  then  pro- 
ceeded, in  open  carriages,  along  the  avenue  at 
a  moderate  pace,  with  military  in  front  and 
rear,  and  thousands  of  private  citizens,  in  car- 
riages, on  horseback,  and  on  foot,  crowding  the 
broad  street.  The  capitol  was  reached  by  pass- 
ing up  on  the  north  side  of  the  grounds,  and  the 
party  entered  the  building  by  the  northern 
door  over  a  temporary  planked  walk.  During 
the  hour  and  a  half  previous  to  the  arrival  of 
President  Buchanan  and  the  President-elect  in 
the  Senate  chamber,  that  hall  presented  a  gayer 
spectacle  than  ever  before.  The  usual  desks  of 
the  senators  had  been  removed,  and  concentric 


lines  of  ornamental  chairs  set  for  the  dignitaries 
of  this  and  other  lands  with  which  this  country 
was  in  bonds  of  amity  and  friendship.  The  in- 
ner half-circle  on  the  .right  was  occupied  by  the 
judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  by  senators. 
The  corresponding  half-circle  on  the  extreme 
left  was  occupied  by  the  members  of  the  cabi- 
nets of  Mr.  Buchanan  and  Mr.  Lincoln,  mingled 
together,  and  further  on  by  senators.  The  con- 
centric circle  further  back  was  filled  by  sena- 
tors. The  next  half-circle  on  the  right  by  the 
members  of  the  diplomatic  corps,  all  in  the  full 
court  dress  of  their  respective  countries.  In 
the  half-circle  immediately  in  the  rear  of  that 
occupied  by  the  ministers  were  the  secretaries 
and  attaches.  The  half-circles  on  the  left,  cor- 
responding to  those  occupied  by  the  corps  di- 
plomatique, furnished  places  for  senators  and 
governors  of  States  and  Territories.  Outside 
of  all,  on  both  sides,  stood — for  there  was  no 
further  room  for  seats — the  members  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  and  chief  officers  of 
the  executive  bureaus.  The  galleries  all  round 
the  Senate  were  occupied  by  ladies. 

At  a  quarter-past  one  o'clock  the  President 
of  the  United  States  and  the  President-elect  en- 
tered the  Senate  chamber,  preceded  by  Sena- 
tor Foot  of  Vermont,  and  the  marshal  of  the 


20 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


District  of  Columbia,  and  followed  by  Senators 
Baker  and  Pearce.  They  took  seats  immedi- 
ately in  front  of  the  clerk's  desk,  facing  out- 
ward ;  President  Buchanan  having  the  Presi- 
dent-elect on  his  right,  and  the  senators  equally 
distributed  right  and  left. 

In  a  few  minutes  Vice-President  Hamlin, 
who  had  been  previously  installed,  ordered  the 
reading  of  the  order  of  procession  to  the  plat- 
form on  the  east  of  the  capitol,  and  the  line 
was  formed,  the  marshal  of  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia leading.  Then  followed  Chief  Justice 
Taney  and  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
the  sergeant-at-arms  of  the  Senate,  the  Com- 
mittee of  Arrangements  of  the  Senate,  the  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States  and  President-elect, 
Vice-President  of  the  United  States  and  Senate, 
the  members  of  the  diplomatic  corps,  governors 
of  States  and  Territories,  and  members  of  the 
House  of  Representatives.  In  this  order  the 
procession  marched  to  the  platform  erected  in 
the  usual  position  over  the  main  steps  on  the 
east  front  of  the  capitol,  where  a  temporary 
covering  had  been  placed  to  protect  the  Presi- 
dent-elect from  possible  rain  during  the  reading 
of  his  inaugural  address.  The  greater  part  of 
an  hour  was  occupied  in  seating  the  procession 
on  the  platform,  and  in  the  delivery  of  the  ad- 
dress of  Mr.  Lincoln,  which  he  read  with  a 
clear,  loud,  and  distinct  voice,  quite  intelligible 
to  at  least  ten  thousand  persons  below  him. 
At  close  of  the  address  Mr.  Lincoln  took  the 
oath  of  office  from  the  venerable  chief  justice 
of  the  Supreme  Court.  After  the  ceremony  of 
inauguration  had  been  completed  the  President 
and  ex-President  retired  by  the  same  avenue, 
and  the  procession,  or  the  military  part  of  it, 
marched  to  the  executive  mansion.  On  ar- 
riving at  the  President's  house  Mr.  Lincoln  met 
Gen.  Scott,  by  whom  he  was  warmly  greeted, 
and  then  the  doors  of  the  house  were  opened, 
and  thousands  of  persons  rapidly  passed  through, 
shaking  hands  with  the  President,  who  stood 
in  the  reception-room  for  that  purpose.  In  this 
simple  and  quiet  manner  was  the  change  of 
rulers  made. 

^  At  Montgomery,  on  the  other  hand,  commis- 
sioners were  now  appointed  to  the  courts  of 
Europe  and  to  the  Federal  Government.  The 
latter  arrived  at  Washington  on  the  6th  of 
March.  They  were  John  Forsyth,  Martin  J. 
Crawford,  and  A.  B.  Roman,  appointed  ainder 
a  resolution  of  Congress  requesting  it,  and  for 
the  purpose  of  making  a  settlement  of  all  ques- 
tions of  disagreement  between^  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  United  States  and  that  of  the  Con- 
federate States  "upon  principles  of  right,  jus- 
tice, equity,  and  good  faith."  Upon  the  arrival 
of  the  commissioners  at  "Washington,  an  in- 
formal notice  was  given  to  the  Secretary  of 
State,  and  the  explanation  of  the  object  of 
their  mission  was  postponed  to  the  12th  of 
March.  On  that  day  they  addressed  Secretary 
Seward,  informing  him  of  the  purpose  of  their 
arrival,  and  stating  their  wish  to  make  to  the 
Government  of  the  United  States  overtures  for 


the  opening  of  negotiations,  and  assuring  that 
Government  that  the  President,  Congress,  and 
people  of  the  Confederate  States  desired  a  peace- 
ful solution  of  the  questions  of  disagreement 
between  them;  and  that  it  was  neither  their 
interest  nor  their  wish  to  make  any  demand 
which  was  not  founded  on  the  strictest  princi- 
ples of  justice,  nor  to  do  any  act  of  injury  to 
their  late  sister  States. 

A  memorandum,  bearing  date  March  15th, 
was  delivered,  as  the  reply  to  this  communica- 
tion, on  the  8th  of  April,  and  then  upon  the  re- 
quest of  the  secretary  of  the  commissioners,  for 
an  answer  to  their  note.  This  length  of  time 
was  permitted  to  elapse  by  the  commissioners, 
who  waived  all  questions  of  form  with  the  de- 
sign of  avoiding  war  if  possible.  All  negoti- 
ation, upon  the  basis  on  which  the  commission- 
ers desired  to  place  it,  failed.  Official  inter- 
CQurse  with  them  was  declined  by  Secretary 
Seward. 

Meanwhile  the  United  States  Government 
had  prepared  to  send  supplies  to  the  handful 
of  troops  besieged  in  Fort  Sumter.  Notice  of 
this  intention  was  giveti  to  the  Governor  of 
South  Carolina,  and  if  the  Confederate  Govern- 
ment was  in  earnest  in  what  had  been  done,  the 
hour  had  come  when  the  sword  must  be  drawn. 

On  the  8th  of  April,  the  following  telegraphic 
correspondence  commenced  between  the  Sec- 
retary of  War  for  the  insurrectionary  States 
and  the  commander  of  their  forces  at  Charles- 
ton harbor :  , 

CHABLESTON,  April  8th. 
L.  P.  Walker,  Secretary  of  War  : 

An  authorized  messenger  from  President  Lincoln 
just  informed  Governor  Pickens  and  myself  that  pro- 
visions will  be  sent  to  Fort  Sumter  jpeaceably,  or 
otherwise  by  force.  G.  T.  BEAUREGARD. 

MONTGOMEBT,  10th. 

Gen.  G.  T.  Beaureqard,  Charleston : 

If  you  have  no  doubt  of  the  authorized  character 
of  the  agent  who  communicated  to  you  the  intention 
of  the  Washington  Government  to  supply  Fort  Sumter 
by  force,  you  will  at  once  demand  its  evacuation ;  and 
if  this  is  refused,  proceed  in  such  a  manner  as  you  may 
determine,  to  reduce  it.  Answer. 

L.  P.  WALKER,  Secretary  of  War. 

CHABLESTON,  April  10. 
L.  P.  Walker,  Secretary  of  War  : 

The  demand  will  be  made  to-morrow  at  twelve 
o'clock.  G.  T.  BEAUREGARD. 

MONTGOMEBT,  April  10. 
General  Beauregard,  Charleston  :    - 

Unless  there  are  especial  reasons  connected  with 
your  own  condition,  it  is  considered  proper  that  you 
should  make  the  demand  at  an  early  hour, 

L.  P.  WALKER,  Secretary  of  War. 

CHARLESTON,  April  10. 
L.  P.  Waller,  Secretary  of  War  : 
The  reasons  are  special  for  twelve  o'clock. 

G.  T.  BEAUREGARD. 

CHARLESTON,  April  11, 1861. 
To  Hon.  L.  P.  Walker  : 

The  demand  was  sent  at  2  P.  M.,  and  until  G  was 
allowed  for  the  answer.        G.  T.  BEAUREGARD. 
MONTGOMEBT,  April  11, 1861. 
General  Beauregard,  Charleston  ; 
Telegraph  the  reply  of  Major  Anderson. 

L.  P.  WALKER. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


21 


CHARLESTON,  April  11, 1861. 
To  Hon.  L.  P.  Walker  : 

Major  Anderson  replies :  "  I  have  the  ho'nor  to  ac- 
knowledge the  receipt  of  your  communication  de- 
manding the  evacuation  of  this  fort,  and  to  say  in 
reply  thereto  that  it  is  a  demand  with  which  I  regret 
that  my  sense  of  honor  and  of  my  obligations  to  my 
Government  prevent  my  compliance.  He  adds 
verbally,  "I  will  await  the  first  shot,  and,  if  you  do 
not  batter  us  to  pieces,  we  will  be  starved  out  in  a 
few  days."  G.  T.  BEAUREGARD. 

MONTGOMERY,  April  11, 1861. 
To  General  Beauregard  : 

Do  not  desire  needlessly  to  bombard  Fort  Sumter. 
If  Major  Anderson  will  state  the  time  at  which,  as  in- 
dicated by  himself,  he  will  evacuate,  and  agree  that  in 
the  mean  time  he  will  not  use  his  guns  against  us  un- 
less ours  should  be  employed  against  Fort  Sumter, 
you  are  authorized  thus  to  avoid  the  effusion  of  blood. 
If  this  or  its  equivalent  be  refused,  reduce  the  fort,  as 
your  judgment  decides  to  be  the  most  practicable. 

L.  P.  WALKER. 


session.     The  garrison  now  consisted  of  eighty 
men,  as  follows : 


To  Hon.  L.  P.  Walker; 
He  would  not  consent. 


To  Hon.  L.  P.  Walker  : 
We  opened  fire  at  4:30. 


CHARLESTON,  April  12, 1861. 

I  write  to-day. 
G.,T.  BEAUREGARD. 

CHARLESTON,  April  12, 1861. 


G.  T.  BEAUREGARD. 

Vigorous  operations  had  been  commenced  on 
Fort  Sumter,  which  is  one  of  the  defences  of 
Charleston,  in  the  month  of  August,  1860,  with 
a  view  of  placing  it  in  a  good  defensive  position 
as  soon  as  possible.  The  casemate  arches  sup- 
porting the  second  tier  of  guns  were  all  turned ; 
the  granite  flagging  for  the  second  tier  was  laid, 
on  the  right  face  of  the  work ;  the  floors  laid, 
and  the  iron  stairways  put  up  in  the  east  bar- 
rack ;  the  traverse  circle  of  the  first  tier  of  guns 
reset;  the  blue-stone  flagging  laid  in  ah1  the 
gun-rooms  of  the  right  and  left  faces  of  the  first 
tier ;  and  the  construction  of  the  embrasure  of 
the  second  tier  commenced,  at  the  time  that 
the  fort  was  occupied  by  Major  Anderson. 
Then  the  fears  of  an  immediate  attack  and  dis- 
loyal feelings  induced  the  greater  portion  of 
the  engineer  corps  to  leave.  But  those  that 
remained  of  this  corps,  fifty-five  in  number, 
reduced  toward  the  end  of  the  investment  to 
thirty-five,  were  made  very  effective  in  pre- 
paring for  a  vigorous  defence. 

This  fort  was  occupied  by  Major  Anderson 
on  the  night  of  the  26th  of  December.  It  is 
the  largest  of  the  forts  in  Charleston  harbor.  It 
is  a  work  of  solid  masonry,  octagonal  in  form, 
and  pierced  on  the  north,  east,  and  west  sides 
with  a  double  row  of  port-holes  for  the  heaviest 
guns,  and  on  the  south,  or  land  side,  in  addition 
to  openings  for  guns,  loop-holes  for  musketry. 
It  stands  in  the  middle  of  the  harbor,  like  a 
monster  on  the  bosom  of  the  waters,  and  near 
the  edge  of  the  ship  channel.  The  armament 
consists  of  one  hundred  and  forty  guns,  many 
of  them  being  the  formidable  ten-inch  colum- 
biads.  The  wharf,  or  landing,  is  on  the  south 
side,  and  exposed  to  a  cross-fire  from  all  the 
openings  on  that  side.  At  twelve  o'clock  on 
the  27th,  the  stars  and  stripes  were  hoisted 
over  the  fort,  and  Charleston  knew  for  the  first 
time  that  Major  Anderson  was  in  full  pos- 


NAMES. 

Rank. 

Regiment 
Corps. 

Original 
Entry  into 
Service. 

Whers 
Born. 

IJ.  Anderson  .... 
8.  Vf.  Crawford. 
A.  Doubleday    . 
T.Seymour..     . 
Theo.  Talbot.     . 
Jeff.  C.  Davis    . 
J.  N.  HalL...     . 
J.  G.  Foster..     . 
G.  W.  Snyder    . 
E.  K.  Meade.     . 

Major  
As'tSurgeon 
Captain.  .  . 
Captain.  .  . 
1st  Lieut. 
1st  Lieut. 
2d  Lieut. 
Captain  .  . 
1st  Lieut. 
2d  Lieut. 

1st  Artil'y 
Med.  Staff 
1st  Artil'y 
1st  Artil'y 
1st  Artil'y 
1st  Artil'y 
1st  Artil'y 
Engineers 
Engineers 
Engineers 

July  1,  '25 
M'h  10,  '51 
July  1,  '42 
July  1,  '46 
M'y22,  '47 
J'e  17,  '48 
July  1,  '59 
July  1,  '46 
July  1,  '56 
July  1,  '57 

Ky. 
Penn. 
N.  Y. 
Vt 
B.C. 
Ind. 
N.  Y. 
N.  H. 
N.  Y. 
Va. 

Officers,  10;  Band,  15;  Artillerists,  55.    Total,  80. 

There  were  in  addition  fifty-five  of  the  engi- 
neer corps,  which  was  subsequently  reduced, 
as  before  mentioned,  to  thirty-five.  This  move- 
ment on  the  part  of  Major  Anderson  created 
great  excitement  in  Charleston.  The  State 
authorities  immediately  commenced  the  prep- 
aration of  batteries  to  reduce  the  fort,  and 
also  opened  negotiations  for  its  surrender.  An 
effort  had  been  made  by  the  Government  to  send 
provisions  to  the  garrison  in  the  fort.  The 
Star  of  the  West  arrived  off  Charleston  on  Jan. 
9th,  and  attempted  to  enter  the  harbor,  but 
being  fired  on  she  withdrew. 

Governor  Pickens  first  demanded  a  surrender 
of  the  fort  from  Major  Anderson.  He  replied, 
on  the  llth  of  January,  that  he  had  "no  power 
to  comply  with  such  a  demand."  On  the  same 
day  a  demand  on  the  President  for  the  fort  was 
despatched  to  Washington  by  J.  W.  Hayne, 
envoy  of  South  Carolina.  On  his  arrival,  he 
was  addressed  by  several  Senators  from  the 
other  seceded  States,  under  date  of  January 
15th.  They  desired  him  to  postpone  for  a  time 
the  delivery  of  the  letter  with  which  he  was 
charged  to  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
and  urged  their  community  of  interest,  of  des- 
tiny, and  of  position,  as  a  reason  why  he  should 
postpone  action,  and  allow  time  for  consulta- 
tion. He  agreed  to  do  this,  upon  the  condition 
that,  "  until  he  can  hear  from  his  Government, 
no  reinforcements  shall  be  sent  to  Fort  Sumter, 
pledging  himself  that,  in  the  mean  time,  no  at- 
tack shall  be  made  upon  that  fort." 

The  Senators,  through  Messrs.  Fitzpatrick, 
Mallory,  and  Slidel],  transmitted  the  corre- 
spondence between  them  and  Mr.  Hayne  to 
the  President,  asking  him  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  substance  of  the  said  correspond- 
ence. The  reply  came  through  Mr.  Holt,  who 
gave  no  pledge  that  he  would  not  attempt  to 
reenforce  Fort  Sumter.  The  only  remark  was, 
that  it  was  not  at  present  deemed  necessary  to 
reenforce  Fort  Sumter,  but,  if  deemed  necessary, 
every  effort  would  be  made  to  reenforce  it. 

The  Senators  to  whom  this  was  addressed 
did  not  regard  it  as  satisfactory,  but  told  Mr. 
Hayne  that  they  felt  certain  that  at  present  no 
attempt  would  be  made  to  reenforce  Sumter, 
and  upon  their  judgment  he  postponed  the 
deli  ery  of  his  letter  to  the  President.  On  the 
24th,  he  stated  to  the  Senators,  that  he  had, 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


the  day  before,  forwarded  the  correspondence 
to  Charleston.  The  reply  of  the  State  Govern- 
ment was  lengthy,  and  bore  down  heavily  upon 
the  tone  of  Mr.  Holt's  answer  to  the  letter  of 
the  Senators. 

Col.  Hayne  was  instructed  to  deliver  his 
letter  conveying  the  demand  for  the  surrender 
of  Fort  Sumter ;  also,  to  ask  if  the  President  was 
to  be  understood  as  asserting  the  right  to  send 
reenforcements  to  Fort  Sumter,  stating  that  the 
assertion  of  such  right,  with  the  attempt  to  ex- 
ercise it,  would  be  regarded  by  South  Carolina 
as  an  act  of  war.  If  the  President  refused  to 
deliver  the  fort,  then  €ol.  Hayne  was  to  com- 
municate that  fact  immediately.  The  Presi- 
dent's answer  could  be  transmitted  within  a 
reasonable  time  to  the  Government  at  Charles- 
ton, and  Col.  Hayne  was  not  instructed  to  wait 
for  it. 

The  final  reply  of  the  President,  through  Mr. 
Holt,  the  Secretary  of  War,  was  made  on  the 
6th  of  February.  That  reply  closes  with  these 
words:  "If,  with  all  the  multiplied  proofs 
which  exist  of  the  President's  anxiety  for  peace, 
and  of  the  earnestness  with  which  he  has  pur- 
sued it,  the  authorities  of  that  State  shall  as- 
sault Fort  Sumter,  and  peril  the  lives  of  the 
handful  of  brave  and  loyal  men  shut  up  within 
its  walls,  and  thus  plunge  our  common  country 
into  the  horrors  of  civil  war,  then  upon  them 
and  those  they  represent  must  rest  the  respon- 
sibility." 

The  question  of  attacking  the  fort  was  finally 
referred  to  the  Confederate  Congress  at  Mont- 
gomery. By  that  body  all  military  matters 
were  placed  under  the  charge  of  the  President 
of  the  Confederate  States. 

As  it  had  been  resolved  to  remove  the  wo- 
men and  children  from  the  fort,  they  were,  by 
the  permission  of  the  South  Carolina  authorities, 
taken  to  Charleston  and  placed  on  board  the 
steamer  Marion,  bound  to  New  York.  She  left 
on  Sunday,  February  3d ;  and  as  she  proceeded 
down  the  harbor,  having  among  the  passengers 
the  wives — twenty  in  number — and  the  children 
of  the  soldiers  stationed  in  the  fort,  quite  an 
exciting  scene  occurred,  which  an  eye-witness 
thus  described :  "  On  nearing  the  fort,  the 
whole  garrison  was  seen  mounted  on  the  top 
of  the  ramparts,  and  when  the  ship  was  passing, 
fired  a  gun  and  gave  three  heart-thrilling  cheers 
as  a  parting  farewell  to  the  dear  loved  ones  on 
board,  -whom  they  may  possibly  never  meet 
again  this  side  the  grave.  The  response  was 
weeping  and  'waving  adieus'  to  husbands  and 
fathers — a  small  band  pent  up  in  an  isolated 
fort,  and  completely  surrounded  by  instruments 
of  death,  as  five  forts  could  be  seen  from  the 
steamer's  deck  with  their  guns  pointing  towards 
Sumter." 

Major  Anderson,  writing  to  the  "War  Depart- 
ment, about  March  1st,  expressed  his  convic- 
tion that  Fort  Sumter  would  soon  be  attacked. 
He  could  then  clearly  discern  with  the  naked 
eye  the  arrangements  for  the  assault,  which  he 
believed  would  be  of  the  most  determined  char- 


acter. The  fortification  was  only  then  entirely 
completed.  The  utmost  ingenuity  of  himself  and 
brother  officers  had  been  employed  to  strengthen 
every  part,  and  to  provide  means  for  resisting 
the  attack,  which  was  certain  to  come. 

Preparations  were  made  under  the  direction 
of  the  Confederate  Government  to  capture  the 
fort,  until  the  llth  of  April,  when  the  follow- 
ing correspondence  took  place  between  the  com- 
mander of  the  Confederate  forces,  Gen.  Beaure- 
gard,  and  the  commander  of  the  fort,  Major 
Anderson : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  PROVISIONAL  ARMY  C.  8.  A., ) 
CHARLESTON,  8.  C.,  April  11, 1861—2  p.  M.    f 

SIR  :  The  Government  of  the  Confederate  States 
has  hitherto  forborne  from  any  hostile  demonstration 
against  Fort  Sumter,  in  the  hope  that  the  Government 
of  the  United  States,  with  a  view  to  the  amicable  ad- 
justment of  all  questions  between  the  two  Govern- 
ments, and  to  avert  the  calamities  of  war,  would  vol- 
untarily evacuate  it.  There  was  reason  at  one  time  to 
believe  that  such  would  be  the  course  pursued  by  the 
Government  of  the  United  States ;  and  tinder  that  im- 
pression my  Government  has  refrained  from  making 
any  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the  fort. 

But  the  Confederate  States  can  no  longer  delay  as- 
suming actual  possession  of  a  fortification  commanding 
the  entrance  of  one  of  their  harbors,  and  necessary  to 
its  defence  and  security. 

I  am  ordered  by  the  Government  of  the  Confederate 
States  to  demand  the  evacuation  of  Fort  Sumter.  My 
aides,  Colonel  Chesnut  and  Captain  Lee,  are  authorized 
to  make  such  demand  of  you.  All  proper  facilities 
will  be  afforded  for  the  removal  of  yourself  and  com- 
mand, together  with  company  arms  and  property, 
and  all  private  property,  to  any  post  in  the  United 
States  which  you  may  elect.  The  nag  which  you  have 
upheld  so  long  and  with  so  much  fortitude  under  the 
most  trying  circumstances,  may  be  saluted  by  you  on 
taking  it  down. 

Colonel  Chesnut  and  Captain  Lee  will,  for  a  reason- 
able time,  await  your  answer. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 
Your  ooedient  servant, 

G.  T.  BEAUREGARD, 
Brigadier-General  Commanding. 
Major  ROBERT  ANDERSON,  Commanding  at  Fort  Sumter, 

Charleston  Harbor,  S.  C. 

HKAD-QUABTERS,  FOKT  STTMTEB,  8.  C.,  I 
April  llth,  1€61.      ) 

GENERAL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  re- 
ceipt of  your  communication  demanding  the  evacuation 
of  this  fort,  and  to  say  in  reply  thereto  that  it  is  a  de- 
mand with  which  I  regret  that  my  sense  of  honor  and 
of  my  obligations  to  my  Government  prevent  my  com- 
pliance. 

Thanking  you  for  the  fair,  manly,  and  courteous 
terms  proposed,  and  for  the  high  compliment  paid  me, 
I  am,  General,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

ROBERT  ANDERSON, 
Major  U.  S.  Army,  Commanding. 
To  Brig.-Gen.  G.  T.  BEADEEGAKD,  Commanding  Pro- 
visional Army  C.  S.  A. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  PROVISIONAL  ARMY  C.  8.  A., ) 
CHARLESTON,  April  11, 1801—11  P.M.     $ 

MAJOR  :  In  consequence  of  the  verbal  observations 
made  by  you  to  my  aides,  Messrs.  Chesnut  and  Lee,  in 
relation  to  the  condition  of  your  supplies,  and  that 
you  would  in  a  few  days  be  starved  out  if  our  guas  did 
not  batter  you  to  pieces— or  words  to  that  effect ;— and 
desiring  no  useless  effusion  of  blood,  I  communicated 
both  the  verbal  observation  and  your  written  answer 
to  my  communication  to  my  Government. 

If  you  will  state  the  time  at  which  you  will  evacuate 
Fort  Sumter,  and  agree  that  in  the  mean  time  you  will 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


23 


not  use  your  guns  against  us,  unless  ours  shall  be  em- 
ployed against  Fort  Sumter,  we  will  abstain  from  open- 
ing fire  upon  you.  Colonel  Chesnut  and  Captain  Lee 
are  authorized  by  me  to  enter  into  such  an  agreement 
with  you.  You  are  therefore  requested  to  commu- 
nicate to  them  an  open  answer. 

I  remain,  Major,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

G.  T.  BEAUREGARD, 
Brigadier-General  Commanding. 
Major  ROBERT  ANDERSON,  Commanding  at  Fort  Sum- 
ter, Charleston  Harbor,  S.  C. 

HEAD-QUARTERS,  FORT  SITMTER,  8.  C.,  I 
2.30  A.  M.,  April  12, 1861.      f 

GENERAL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  re- 
ceipt of  your  second  communication  of  the  llth  inst., 
by  Col.  Chesnut,  and  to  state,  in  reply,  that  cordially 
uniting  with  you  in  the  desire  to  avoid  the  useless 
effusion  of  blood,  I  will,  if  provided  with  the  proper 
and  necessary  means  of  transportation,  evacuate  Fort 
Sumter  by  noon  on  the  15th  instant,  should  I  not  re- 
ceive, prior  to  that  time,  controlling  instructions  from 
my  Government,  or  additional  supplies ;  and  that  I 
will  not,  ia  the  tnean  time,  open  my  fire  upon  your 
forces,  unless  compelled  to  do  so  by  some  hostile  act 
against  this  fort,  or  the  flag  of  my  Government,  by  the 
forces  under  your  command,  or  by  some  portion  of 
them,  or  by  the  perpetration  of  some  act  showing  a 
hostile  intention  on  your  part  against  this  fort,  or  the 
flag  it  bears. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  General, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

ROBERT  ANDERSON, 
Major  U.  S.  Army  Commanding. 
To  Brig.-Gen.  G.  T.  BEATJREGAED,  Commanding  Pro- 
visional Army  C.  S.  A. 

FORT  SUMTER,  8.  C.,     I 
April  12,  1861—8.20  A.  M.  } 

SIR  :  By  authority  of  Brigadier-General  Beauregard, 
commanding  the  provisional  forces  of  the  Confederate 
States,  we  have  the  honor  to  notify  you  that  he  will 
open  the  fire  of  his  batteries  on  Fort  Sumter  in  one 
hour  from  this  time. 

We  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 
Your  obedient  servants, 

JAMES  CHESNUT,  JR.,  Aide-de-Camp. 
STEPH.  D.  LEE,  Capt.  S.  C.  A.,  and  Aide-de-Camp. 
Major  ROBERT  ANDERSON,  U.  S.  Army,  Commanding 
Fort  Sumter. 


At  thirty  minutes  past  4  o'clock  on  the  morn- 
ing of  Friday,  April  12,  the  first  gun  of  civil 
war  was  fired,  discharging  a  shell  from  the 
howitzer  battery  on  James'  Island.  The  send- 
ing of  this  deadly  messenger  to  Major  Anderson 
was  followed  by  a  deafening  explosion,  caused 
by  the  blowing  up  of  a  building  that  stood  in 
front  of  the  battery. 

While  the  white  smoke  was  melting  away  into 
the  air  another  shell  pursued  its  swift  way 
towards  the  silent  fortification.  The  missive 
described  its  beautiful  curve  through  the  balmy 
air,  and  falling  within  the  hostile  fortress,  scat- 
tered its  deadly  contents  in  all  directions. 

Fort  Moultrie  then  took  up  the  assault,  and 
in  a  moment  the  guns  from  the  Gun  Battery  on 
Cummings'  Point,  from  Captain  McCready's 
Battery,  from  Captain  James  Hamilton's  Float- 
ing Battery,  the  Enfilade  Battery,  and  other  for- 
tifications, sent  forth  their  wrath  at  the  grim 
fortress  rising  so  defiantly  out  of  the  sea. 


Major  Anderson  received  the  shot  and  shell 
in  silence.  But  the  deepening  twilight  revealed 
the  stars  and  stripes  floating  proudly  in  the 
breeze.  The  batteries  continued  at  regular  in- 
tervals to  belch  forth  iron  shells,  and  still  no 
answer  was  returned  by  the  besieged.  About 
an  hour  after  the  firing  began,  two  balls  rushed 
hissing  through  the  air  and  glanced  harmless 
from  the  stuccoed  bricks  of  Fort  Moultrie.  The 
embrasures  of  the  besieged  fortress  gave  forth 
no  sound  again  till  between  six  and  seven 
o'clock,  when,  as  if  wrathful  from  enforced  de- 
lay, from  casemate  and  parapet  there  poured  a 
storm  of  iron  hail  upon  Fort  Moultrie,  Stevens' 
Iron  Battery,  and  the  Floating  Battery.  The 
broadside  was  returned  with  spirit  by  the  gun- 
ners at  those  posts. 

The  firing  now  began  in  good  earnest.  The 
curling  white  smoke  hung  above  the  angry 
pieces  of  hostile  brothers,  and  the  jarring  boom 
rolled  at  regular  intervals  on  the  anxious  ear. 
The  atmosphere  was  charged  with  the  smell  of 
foul  saltpetre,  and,  as  if  in  sympathy  with  the. 
melancholy  scene,  the  sky  was  covered  with 
heavy  clouds,  and  every  thing  wore  a  sombre 
aspect. 

A  brisk  fire  was  kept  up  by  all  the  batteries 
until  about  7  o'clock  in  the  evening,  after  which 
hour  the  guns  fired  at  regular  intervals. 

The  eflfect  during  the  night  was  grand  and 
terrific.  The  firing  reached  its  climax  at  about 
ten  o'clock.  The  heavens  were  obscured  by 
rain-clouds,  and  the  horizon  was  as  dark  as 
Erebus.  The  guns  were  worked  with  vigor, 
and  their  booming  was  heard  with  astonishing 
distinctness,  because  the  wind  was  blowing 
in-shore.  At  each  discharge,  a  lurid  sheet  of 
flame  was  belched  forth,  and  then  another  and 
another  was  seen  before  the  report  reached  the 
ears.  Sometimes  a  shell  would  burst  in  mid- 
air, directly  over  the  doomed  fortress,  and  at  all 
times  the  missiles  of  this  character  could  be 
distinguished  in  their  course  by  the  trail  of  fire 
left  momentarily  behind  them. 

The  fire  from  all  the  forts,  Sumter  included, 
and  from  the  batteries  of  the  Confederate  States, 
was  kept  xip  with  vigor  till  early  dawn.  Then 
the  rapidity  of  the  discharges  gradually  di- 
minished. 

Such  was  the  appearance  of  the  contest  dur- 
ing the  first  day  and  night. 

The  batteries  firing  upon  Snmter  were,  as 
nearly  as  could  be  ascertained,  armed  as  fol- 
lows : 

On  Moms'  Island. — Breaching  battery  No.  1,  2 
42-pounders  ;  1  12-pounder,  Blakely  rifled  gun. 

Mortar  battery,  (next  to  No.  1,)  4  10-inch  mortars. 

Breaching  battery  No.  2,  (iron-clad  battery,)  3  8-inch 
columbiads. 

Mortar  battery,  (next  to  No.  2,)  3  10-inch  mortars. 

On  James'  Island. — Battery  at  Fort  Johnson,  3  24- 
pounders,  (only  one  of  them  bearing  on  Fort  Sumter.) 

Mortar  battery,  south  of  Fort  Johnson,  4  10-inch 
mortars. 

Sullivan's  Island. — Iron-clad  (floating)  battery,  4 
42-pounders. 

Columbiad  battery  No.  1, 1  9-inch  Dahlgren  gun. 

Columbiad  battery  No.  2,  4  8-inch  columbiads. 


24 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Mortar  battery,  west  of  Fort  Moultrie,  3  10-inch 
mortars. 

Mortar  battery,  on  parade,  in  rear  of  Fort  Moultrie, 
2  10-inch  mortars. 

Fort  Moultrie. — 3  8-inch  columbiads ;  2  8-inch  S.  C. 
howitzers ;  5  32-pounders ;  4  24-pounders. 

At  Mount  Pleasant. — 1  10-inch  mortar. 

Total,  firing  on  Fort  Sumter,  30  guns,  17  mortars. 

Of  the  43  workmen  constituting  the  engineer 
force  in  Fort  Sumter,  nearly  all  volunteered  to 
serve  as  cannoniers,  or  to  carry  shot  and  cart- 
ridges to  the  guns. 

The  armament  of  the  fort  was  as  follows : 

Barbette  Tier.— Right  flank— 1  10-inch  columbiad; 
4  8-inch  columbiads ;  4  42-pounders. 

Bight  face. — None. 

Left  face. — 3  8-inch  sea-coast  howitzers ;  1  32- 
pounder. 

Left  flank.— 1  10-inch  columbiad;  2  8-inch  colum- 
biads ;  2  42-pounders. 

Gorge.— 1  8-inch  sea-coast  howitzer;  2  32-pounders ; 
6  24-pounders. 

Total  in  barbette,  27  guns. 

Casemate  Tier.— Right  flank.— 1  42-pounder;  4  32- 
pounders. 

Right  face. — 3  42-pounders. 

Left  face. — 10  32-pounders. 

Left  flank. — 5  32-pounders.' 

Gorge. — 2  32-pounders. 

Total  in  casemate,  21  guns.  Total  available  in  both 
tiers,  48  guns. 

Besides  the  above,  there  were  arranged  on 
the  parade,  to  serve  as  mortars,  1  10-inch  co- 
lumbiad to  throw  shells  into  Charleston,  and  4 
8-inch  columbiads  to  throw  shells  into  the  bat- 
teries on  Cummings'  Point.  The  casemate  guns 
were  the  only  ones  used.  Of  these,  those  that 
bore  on  Oummings'  Point  were  the  42-pounder 
in  the  pan-coupe  of  the  right  gorge  angle ;  the 
32-pounder  next  4o  it  on  the  gorge,  which,  by 
cutting  into  the  brick  wall,  had  been  made  to 
traverse  sufficiently ;  and  the  32-pounder  next 
the  angle  on  the  right  flank,  which,  by  cutting 
away  the  side  of  the  embfasure,  had  been  made 
to  bear  on  a  portion  of  the  point,  although  not 
on  the  breaching  batteries. 

The  guns  of  the  first  tier,  that  bore  on  Fort 
Johnson,  were  4  32-pounders,  on  the  left  flank ; 
of  these  one  embrasure  had  been,  by  order, 
bricked  up. 

The  guns  that  bore  on  the  three  batteries  on 
the  west  end  of  "Sullivan's  Island"  were  10 
32-pounders,  situated  on  the  left  face,  and  one 
at  the  pan-coupe  of  the  salient  angle,  (four  em- 
brasures being  bricked  up.) 

The  guns  bearing  on  Fort  Moultrie  were  2 
42-ponnders,  situated  on  the  right  face,  and 
one  at  the  pan-coupe  of  the  right  shoulder 


The  supply  of  cartridges,  seven  hundred  in 
number,  with  which  the  engagement  com- 
menced, became  so  much  reduced  by  the  middle 
of  the  day,  although  the  six  needles  in  the  fort 
were  kept  steadily  employed,  that  the  firing 
was  forced  to  slacken,  and  to  be  confined  to  six 
guns,  two  firing  towards  Morris'  Island,  two 
towards  Fort  Mor.ltrie,  and  two  towards  the 
oatteries  on  the  west  end  of  Sullivan's  Island. 

At  1  o'clock  on  the  12th,  two  United  States 


men-of-war  were  seen  off  the  bar,  and  soon 
after,  a  third  appeared. 

The  effect  of  the  fire  was  not  very  good, 
owing  to  the  insufficient  calibre  of  the  guns  for 
the  long  range,  and  not  much  damage  appeared 
to  be  done  to  any  of  the  batteries  except  those 
of  Fort  Moultrie,  where  the  two  42-pounders 
appeared  to  have  silenced  the  gun  for  a  time, 
to  have  injured  the  embrasures  considerably, 
riddled  the  barracks  and  quarters,  and  torn 
three  holes  through  the  flag.  The  so-called 
"  floating  battery  "  was  struck  very  frequently 
by  shot,  one  of  them  penetrating  at  the  angle 
between  the  front  and  roof,  entirely  through 
the  iron  covering  and  wood  work  beneath,  and 
wounding  one  man.  The  rest  of  the  32-pounder 
balls  failed  to  penetrate  the  front  or  the  roof, 
but  were  deflected  from  their  surfaces,  which 
were  arranged  at  a  suitable  angle  for  this  pur- 
pose. 

The  columbiad  battery  and  l)ahlgren  bat- 
tery, near  the  floating  battery,  did  not  appear 
to  be  much  injured  by  the  few  shots  that  were 
fired  at  them.  Only  one  or  two  shots  were 
fired  at  Fort  Johnson,  and  none  at  Castle 
Pinckney  or  the  city. 

The  fire  towards  Morris'  Island  was  mainly 
directed  at  the  iron-clad  battery,  but  the  small 
calibre  of  the  shot  failed  to  penetrate  the  cov- 
ering when  struck  fairly.  The  aim  was  there- 
fore taken  at  the  embrasures,  which  were  struck 
at  least  twice,  disabling  the  guns  for  a  time. 
One  or  two  shots  were  thrown  at  the  reverse  of 
batteries  "  3  "  and  "  4,"  scattering  some  groups 
of  officers  and  men  on  the  lookout,  and  cutting 
down  a  small  flagstaff  on  one  of  the  batteries. 

The  barracks  caught  fire  three  times  during 
the  day,  from  shells  apparently,  but  each  time 
the  flames,  being  in  the  first  or  second  stories, 
were  extinguished  by  a  pump  and  application 
of  the  means  at  hand. 

The  effect  of  the  Confederate  fire  upon  Fort 
Sumter  during  the  day  was  very  marked  in  re- 
spect to  the  vertical  fire.  This  was  so  well  di- 
rected and  so  well  sustained,  that  from  the  sev- 
enteen mortars  engaged  in  firing  10-inch  shells, 
one-half  the  shells  came  within  or  exploded 
above  the  parapet  of  the  fort,  and  only  about 
ten  buried  themselves  in  the  soft  earth  of  the 
parade,  without  exploding.  In  consequence  of 
this  precision  of  vertical  fire,  Major  Anderson 
decided  not  to  man  the  upper  tier  of  guns. 

Saturday  dawned  a  bright  and  lovely  day, 
but  the  flags  of  each  of  the  combatants  were 
still  flying  in  stately  defiance,  and  the  cannon 
continued  to  send  forth  their  fiery  thunder. 
Within  Fort  Sumter,  the  last  of  the  rice  was 
cooked  that  morning,  and  served  with  the  pork, 
the  only  other  article  of  food  left  in  the  mess- 
room.  After  this  the  fire  was  reopened,  and 
continued  very  briskly  as  long  as  the  increased 
supply  of  cartridges  lasted.  The  surrounding 
batteries  had  reopened  fire  at  daylight,  and  con- 
tinued it  with  rapidity.  The  aim  of  their  guns 
was  better  than  on  the  previous  day. 

It  soon  became  evident  that  they  were  firing 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


25 


hot  shot  from  a  large  number  of  their  guns, 
especially  from  those  in  Fort  Moultrie  ;  and  at 
nine  o'clock  volumes  of  smoke  issued  from  the 
roof  of  the  officers'  quarters,  where  a  shot  had 
just  penetrated.  From  the  exposed  position,  it 
was  utterly  impossible  to  extinguish  the  flames, 
and  permission  was  given  to  remove  as  much 
powder  from  the  magazine  as  was  possible,  be- 
fore the  flames,  which  were  only  one  set  of  quar- 
ters distant,  should  encircle  the  magazine  and 
make  it  necessary  to  close  it.  All  the  men  and 
officers  not  engaged  at  the  guns  worked  rapidly 
and  zealously  at  this ;  but  so  rapid  was  the 
spread  of  the  flames  that  only  fifty  barrels  of 
powder  could  be  taken  out  and  distributed 
around  in  the  casemates  before  the  fire  and 
heat  made  it  necessary  to  close  the  magazine 
doors  and  pack  earth  against  them.  The  men 
then  withdrew  to  the  casemates  on  the  faces  of 
the  fort.  As  soon  as  the  flames  and  smoke 
.  burst  from  the  roof  of  the  quarters,  the  sur- 
rounding batteries  redoubled  the  rapidity  of 
their  fire,  firing  red-hot  shot  from  most  of  their 
guns.  The  whole  range  of  officers'  quarters 
was  soon  in  flames.  The  wind,  being  from  the 
southward,  communicated  fire  to  the  roof  of 
the  barracks,  and  this,  being  aided  by  the  hot 
shot  constantly  lodging  there,  spread  to  the  en- 
tire roofs  of  both  barracks,  so  that  by  twelve 
o'clock  all  the  wood  work  of  quarters  and  of 
upper  story  of  barracks  was  in  flames.  Although 
the  floors  of  the  barracks  were  fire-proof,  the 
utmost  exertions  of  the  officers  and  men  were 
often  required  to  prevent  the  fire  communi- 
cating dowa  the  stairways,  and  from  the  exte- 
rior to  the  doors,  window-frames,  and  other 
wood  work  of  the  east  barrack,  in  which  the 
officers  and  men  had  taken  their  quarters. 

The  clouds  of  smoke  and  cinders  which  were 
sent  into  the  casemates  by  the  wind,  set  on  fire 
many  boxes,  beds,  and  other  articles  belonging 
to  the  men,  and  made  it  dangerous  to  retain 
the  powder  which  had  been  saved  from  the 
magazine.  Orders  were  accordingly  given  that 
all  but  five  barrels  should  be  thrown  out  of  the 
embrasures  into  the  water,  which  was  done. 

The  small  stock  of  cartridges  now  only  al- 
lowed a  gun  to  be  fired  at  intervals  of  ten 
minutes. 

As  the  fire  reached  the  magazines  of  grenades 
that  were  arranged  in  the  stair  towers  and  im- 
plement rooms  on  the  gorge,  they  exploded, 
completely  destroying  the  stair  towers  at  the 
west  gorge  angle. 

About  this  time  information  was  brought  to 
the  commanding  officer  that  Mr.  Wigfall,  bear- 
ing a  white  flag,  was  on  the  outside  and  wished 
to  see  him.  He  accordingly  went  out  to  meet 
Mr.  Wigfall,  passing  through  the  blazing  gate- 
way, accompanied  by  Lieutenant  Snyder.  In 
the  mean  time,  however,  Mr.  Wigfall  had  passed 
to  an  embrasure  on  the  left  flank,  where,  upon 
showing  the  white  flag  upon  his  sword,  he  was 
permitted  to  enter ;  and  Lieutenant  Snyder,  en- 
tering immediately  after,  accompanied  him 
down  the  batteries  to  where  some  other  officers 


were  posted,  to  whom  Mr.  Wigfall  commenced 
to  address  himself  to  the  effect  that  he  came 
from  General  Beauregard  to  desire  that,  inas- 
much as  the  flag  of  the  fort  was  shot  down,  a 
fire  raging  in  the  quarters,  and  the  garrison  in 
a  great  strait,  hostilities  be  suspended,  and  the 
white  flag  raised  for  this  object.  He  was  re- 
plied to  that  the  flag  was  again  hoisted  on  the 
parapet;  that  the  white  flag  would  not  be 
hoisted,  except  by  order  of  the  commanding 
officer ;  and  that  his  own  batteries  should  set 
the  example  of  suspending  fire.  He  then  refer- 
red to  the  fact  of  the  batteries  on  Cummings' 
Point,  from  which  he  came,  having  stopped  fir- 
ing, and  asked  that  his  own  white  flag  might 
be  waved  to  indicate  to  the  batteries  on  Sulli- 
van's Island  to  cease  also.  This  was  refused ; 
but  he  was  permitted  to  wave  the  white  flag 
himself,  getting  into  an  embrasure  for  this  pur- 
pose. Having  done  this  for  a  few  'moments, 
Lieutenant  Davis,  First  Artillery,  permitted  a 
corporal  to  relieve  him.  Very  soon,  however, 
a  shot  striking  very  near  to  the  embrasure,  the 
corporal  jumped  inside  and  declared  to  Mr. 
Wigfall  that  "  he  would  not  hold  his  flag,  for  it 
was  not  respected." 

At  this  moment,  the  commanding  officer, 
having  reentered  through  an  embrasure,  came 
up.  To  him  Mr.  Wigfall  addressed  nearly  the 
same  remarks  that  he  had  used  on  entering, 
adding  some  complimentary  things  about  the 
manner  in  which  the  defence  had  been  made, 
and  ending  by  renewing  the  request  to  suspend 
hostilities  in  order  to  arrange  terms  of  evacua- 
tion. The  commanding  officer  desiring  to  know 
what  terms  he  came  to  offer,  Mr.  Wigfall  re- 
plied: "  Any  terms  that  you  may  desire ;  your 
own  terms — the  precise  nature  of  which  Gen- 
eral Beauregard  will  arrange  with  you." 

The  commanding  officer  then  accepted  the 
conditions,  saying  that  the  terms  he  accepted 
were  those  proposed  by  General  Beauregard  on 
the  llth;  namely,  to  evacuate  the  fort  with 
his  command,  taking  arms  and  all  private  and 
company  property,  saluting  the  United  States 
flag  as  it  was  lowered,  and  being  conveyed,  if 
he  desired  it,  to  any  Northern  port. 

With  this  understanding  Mr.  Wigfall  left, 
and  the  white  flag  was  raised  and  the  United 
States  flag  lowered  by  order  of  the  command- 
ing officer. 

Very  soon  after,  a  boat  arrived  from  the  city, 
containing  three  aides  of  General  Beauregard, 
with  a  message  to  the  effect  that,  observing  the 
white  flag  hoisted,.  General  Beauregard  sent  to 
inquire  what  aid  he  could  lend  in  extinguishing 
the  flames,  &c.  Being  made  acquainted  with 
the  condition  of  affairs  and  Mr.  Wigfall's  visit, 
they  stated  that  the  latter,  although  an  aide  of 
General  Beauregard,  had  not  seen  him  for  two 


The  commanding  officer  then  stated  that  the 
United  States  flag  would  be  raised  again  ;  but 
yielded  to  the  request  of  the  aides  for  time 
to  report  to  their  chief  and  obtain  his  instruc- 
tions. 


26 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


They  soon  returned  with  the  approval  of  all 
the  conditions  desired,  except  the  saluting  the 
flag  as  it  was  lowered ;  and  this  exception  was 
subsequently  removed  after  correspondence. 

The  evacuation  was  completed  after  saluting 
the  flag ;  in  doing  which,  one  man  was  instant- 
ly killed,  one  mortally  and  four  severely  wound- 
ed, by  the  premature  discharge  of  a  gun  and 
explosion  of  a  pile  of  cartridges. 

After  the  cessation  of  fire,  about  600  shot 
marks  on  the  face  of  the  scarp  wall  were  count- 
ed, but  they  were  so  scattered  that  no  breached 
effect  could  have  been  expected  from  such  fire, 
and  probably  none  was  attempted  except  at  the 
right  gorge  angle.  The  only  effect  of  the  direct 
fire  during  the  two  days  was  to  disable  three 
barbette  guns,  knock  off  large  portions  of  the 
chimneys  and  brick  walls  projecting  above  the 
parapet,  and  to  set  the  quarters  on  fire  with 
hot  shot.  *  The  vertical  fire  produced  more  ef- 
fect, as  it  prevented  the  working  of  the  upper 
tier  of  guns,  which  were  the  only  really  effec- 
tive guns  in  the  fort,  being  columbiads,  8-inch 
sea-coast  howitzers,  and  42-pounders  princi- 
pally, and  also  prevented  the  use  of  the  colum- 
biads arranged  in  the  parade  to  be  used  as 
mortars  against  Cummings'  Point. 

The  weakness  of  the  defence  principally  lay 
La  the  lack  of  cartridge  bags,  and  of  the  mate- 
rials to  make  them}  by  which  the  fire  of  the 
fort  was  all  the  time  rendered  slow,  and  toward 
tte  last  was  nearly  suspended. 

The  contest  continued  thirty-two  hours,  and 
the  weapons  used  were  of  the  most  destructive 
character,  and  in  skilful  hands,  but  no  life  ap- 
pears to  have  been  lost  on  either  side. 

The  garrison  was  taken  by  the  steamer  Isabel 
to  the  Baltic,  which  lay  off  the  harbor,  and 
thence  transported  to  New  York.  The  naval 
force  and  supplies  which  had  been  sent  to  the 
relief  of  the  fort  by  the  Government,  arrived 


off  Charleston  harbor  previous  to  the  com- 
mencement of  the  assault,  but  were  prevented 
from  entering  the  harbor  by  a  gale  of  wind, 
until  after  the  attack  began.  The  vessels,  how- 
ever, continued  outside,  and  there  was  no  com- 
munication between  them,  and  the  fort. 

The  force  and  supplies  thus  sent  by  the  Gov 
eminent  were  composed  as  follows: 

Vessels.  (inns.       Men. 

Sloop-of-war  Pawnee,  10         200 

81oop-of-war  Powhatan, 11         275 

Cutter  Harriet  Lane,  5          96 

Steam  transport  Atlantic, —         853 

Steam  transport  Baltic, —         160 

Steam  transport  Illinois, —         300 

Steamtug  Yankee, Ordinary  crew. 

Steamtng  Uncle  Ben,  Ordinary  crew. 

Total  number  of  vessels, 8 

Total  number  of  guns  (for  marine  service), 26 

Total  number  of  men  and  troops, 1,880 

Nearly  thirty  launches,  whose  services  are 
useful  in  effecting  a  landing  of  troops  over 
shoal  water,  and  for  attacking  a  discharging 
battery  when  covered  with  sand  and  gunny 
bags,  were  taken  out  by  the  Powhatan,  and 
by  the  steam  transports  Atlantic,  Baltic,  and 
Illinois.  The  official  notification  of  the  sur- 
render of  the  fort,  sent  by  Major  Anderson  to 
the  War  Department,  was  as  follows : 

STEAMSHIP  BALTIC,  off  Sandy  Hook,     ) 
April  18, 1861—10:30  A.  M.,  via  New  York.  ) 

Having  defended  Fort  Sumter  for  thirty-four  hours, 
until  the  quarters  were  entirely  burnt,  the  main  gates 
destroyed  by  fire,  the  gorge  walls  seriously  injured, 
the  magazine  surrounded  by  flames,  and  its  door 
closed  from  the  efiects  of  heat ;  four  barrels  and  three 
cartridges  of  powder  only  being  available,  and  no 
provisions  remaining  but  pork,  I  accepted  terms  of 
evacuation  offered  oy  General  Beauregard — being 
the  same  offered  by  him  on  the  1 1th  instant,  prior  to 
the  commencement  of  hostilities — and  marched  out 
of  the  fort  on  Sunday  afternopn,  the  14th  instant, 
with  colors  flying  and  drums  beating,  bringing  away 
company  and  private  property,  and  saluting  my  flag 
with  fifty  guns.  ROBERT  ANDERSON, 

Major  First  Artillery  Commanding. 

Hon.  SIMON  CAMERON,  Sec'y  of  War,  Washington. 


CHAPTEE   IV. 


WHAT  was  the  posture  of  affairs  at  the  time 
of  President  Lincoln's  inauguration,  especially 
as  compared  with  their  situation  on  the  day 
of  election  in  November?  Seven  Southern 
States  had  voted  themselves  out  of  the  Union, 
the  officers  of  the  Federal  Government  had 
resigned,  and  there  were  no  persons  to  repre- 
sent its  powers  or  execute  its  duties  within 
their  limits,  excepting  in  the  Post-Office  Depart- 
ment Within  these  Slates,  also,  all  the  forts, 
arsenals,  dockyards,  custom-houses,  revenue 
cutters,  etc.,  embracing  all  the  movable  and 
stationary  articles  connected  therewith,  had 
been  taken  possession  of  by  the  authority  of 


these  States  individually,  and  were  held  by  per- 
sons and  officers  denying  any  allegiance  to  the 
Federal  Government,  and  avowing  it  to  be  duo 
by  them  only  to  a  Government  created  by  the 
united  action  of  these  seven  States.  Only  Forts 
Pickens,  Taylor,  and  Jefferson,  near  the  Florida 
coast,  and  Sumter,  in  Charleston  harbor,  con- 
tinued under  the  flag  of  the  Union. 

The  other  forts  thus  seized  were  put  in  an 
improved  condition,  new  ones  built,  and  armed 
forces  had  been  organized,  and  were  organiz- 
ing, avowedly  to  protect  this  property  from 
recapture,  and  to  capture  those  not  yet  seized. 
Around  Fort  Sumter  batteries  had  been  erected, 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


27 


•with  guns  equal  or  heavier  in  calibre  than  hers, 
aud  in  far  greater  number.  Officers  of  the 
army  and  navy  of  the  Union  from  these  States, 
had  chiefly  resigned,  and  had  been  reappointed 
in  the  service  of  the  latter.  A  complete  Gov- 
ernment for  a  nation  was  in  operation  in  these 
States,  and  the  property  thus  seized  was  held, 
as  the  new  Government  avowed,  to  be  ac- 
counted for  in  a  peaceful  settlement  with  the 
Federal  Union,  or  to  be  used  for  the  defence  of 
those  States,  if  assaulted  by  the  same  Union. 
They  asked  for  peace,  and  to  be  "  let  alone," 
but  were  determined  to  hazard  a  war  sooner 
than  return  to  their  former  allegiance. 

Among  the  other  States,  Kentucky  made  an 
application  to  Congress  to  call  a  National  Con- 
vention to  amend  the  Constitution  of  the  Unit- 
ed States,  and  requested  the  Legislatures  of  all 
the  other  States  to  make  similar  applications, 
and  appointed  commissioners  to  a  conference 
of  the  Border  States  to  consider  and,  if  practi- 
cable, agree  upon  some  suitable  adjustment  of 
the  present  unhappy  controversies.  Some  of 
•  the  States  of  the  North  appointed  commission- 
ers to  this  conference,  which  agreed  upon  terms 
for  an  adjustment,  but  no  State  action  followed. 
Not  a  single  slaveholding  State  complied  with 
the  request  of  Kentucky  to  apply  to  Congress 
to  call  a  National  Convention,  Avhilst  three  non- 
slaveholding  States  so  complied,  and  several 
others  prepared  to  follow. 

A  Peace  Conference  was  called  by  Virginia, 
in  which  twenty  States  were  represented.  Such 
measures  would  have  been  recommended  as 
were  desired  by  the  seceding  States  if  they  had 
been  present  by  their  votes  to  secure  their  adop- 
tion. Three  territorial  bills  were  passed  by 
Congress,  in  no  one  of  which  was  inserted  the 
prohibition  of  slavery  as  insisted  upon  hitherto 
by  the  Republicans.  The  North  condemned 
the  personal  liberty  bills  of  the  States,  declared 
in  favor  of  a  faithful  execution  of  the  fugitive 
slave  law,  and  concurred  in  proposing,  by  the 
requisite  constitutional  majority,  an  amend- 
ment of  the  Constitution  guaranteeing  positively 
and  forever  the  exemption  of  slavery  in  the 
States  from  the  interference  of  Congress.  This 
was  one  of  the  guarantees  embraced  in  the 
scheme  of  Mr.  Crittenden,  and  also  in  the 
scheme  of  the  Peace  Conference. 

Rhode  Island  repealed  its  personal  liberty 
law  outright,  whilst  Vermont,  Maine,  Massa- 
chusetts, Pennsylvania,  and  Wisconsin  had 
under  consideration  the  repeal  or  essential  mod- 
ification of  their  respective  laws  of  this  descrip- 
tion. Not  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  million  of 
the  people  of  the  North,  besides  societies  and 
representative  bodies  without  number,  peti- 
tioned Congress  for  the  adoption  of  any  adjust- 
ment satisfactory  to  the  States  of  the  Southern 
border. 

The  attack  on  Fort  Sumter  began  on  the 
12tb.  The  fort  surrendered  on  the  afternoon 
of  the  13th,  and  was  evacuated  on  Sunday,  the 
14th.  As  the  news  flashed  over  the  country 
by  the  telegraph  it  was  instantly  followed  by 


the  summons  of  the  President,  "  to  arms ;  to 
arms."  His  proclamation,  ordering  seventy-five 
thousand  men  into  the  field,  was  issued  on  the 
night  of  the  14th,  as  follows : 

By  tTie  President  of  the  United  States. 

A  PROCLAMATION. 

Whereas  the  laws  of  the  United  States  have  been 
for  some  time  past  and  now  are  opposed,  and  the  ex- 
ecution thereof  obstructed,  in  the  States  of  South 
Carolina,  Georgia,  Alabama,  Florida,  Mississippi, 
Louisiana,  and  Texas,  by  combinations  too  powerful 
to  be  suppressed  by  the  ordinary  course  of  judicial 
proceedings,  or  by  the  powers  vested  in  the  marshals 
by  law : 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of 
the  United  States,  in  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested 
by  the  Constitution  and  the  laws,  have  thought  fit  to 
call  forth,  and  hereby  do  call  forth,  the  militia  of  the 
several  States  of  the  Union,  to  the  aggregate  number 
of  seventy-five  thousand,  in  order  to  suppress  said 
combinations,  and  to  cause  the  laws  to  be  duly  ex- 
ecuted. 

The  details  for  this  object  will  be  immediately  com- 
municated to  the  State  authorities  through  the  War 
Department.  ... 

I  appeal  to  all  loyal  citizens  to  favor,  facilitate,  and 
aid  this  effort  to  maintain  the  honor,  the  integrity, 
and  the  existence  of  our  National  Union,  and  the 
perpetuity  of  popular  Government,  and  to  redress 
wrongs  already  long  enough  endured. 

I  deem  it  proper  to  say  that  the  first  service  as- 
signed to  the  forces  called  forth  will  probably  be  to 
repossess  the  forts,  places,  and  property  which  have 
been  seized  from  the  Union  ;  and  in  every  event  the 
utmost  care  will  be  observed,  consistently  with  the 
objects  aforesaid,  to  avoid  any  devastation,  any  de- 
struction of  or  interference  with  property,  or  any  dis- 
turbance of  peaceful  citizens  in  any  part  o"f  the 
country. 

And  I  hereby  command  the  persons  composing  the 
combinations  aforesaid  to  disperse  and  retire  peacea- 
bly to  their  respective  abodes  within  twenty  days 
from  this  date. 

Deeming  that  the  present  condition  of  public  affairs 
presents  an  extraordinary  occasion,  I  do  hereby,  in 
virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested  by  the  Constitution, 
convene  both  Houses  of  Congress. 

Senators  and  Representatives  are  therefore  sum- 
moned to  assemble  at  their  respective  Chambers,  at 
12  o'clock,  noon,  on  Thursday,  the  fourth  day  of 
July  next,  then  and  there  to  consider  and  determine 
such  measures  as,  in  their  wisdom,  the  public  safety 
and  interest  may  seem  to  demand. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  af- 
fixed. 

Done  at  the  city  of  Washington,  this  fifteenth  day 
of  April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
[L.  s.]  eight  hundred  and  sixty-one,  and  of  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  United  States  the  eighty-fifth. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 
By  the  President : 

WILLIAM  H.  SEWARD,  Secretary  of  State. 

A  call  for  troops  was  issued  by  the  Secretary 
of  War,  Mr.  Cameron,  in  accordance  with  this 
proclamation,  and  sent  to  the  Governors  of  the 
respective  States,  giving  the  quotas  allotted  to 
each,  as  follows : 

DEPARTMENT  OB  WAR,  WASHINGTON,  April  15, 1S61. 

To  His  Excellency  the  Governor  of .• 

SIR  :  Under  the  act  of  Congress  for  calling  for  the 
_"  Militia  to  execute  the  laws  of  the  Union,  suppress 
insurrections,  repel  invasions,"  etc.,  approved  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1795,  I  have  the  honor  to  request  your  Ex- 
cellency to  cause  to  be  immediately  detached  from 
the  militia  of  your  State  the  quota  designated  in  the 


28 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


table  below,  to  serve  as  infantry  or  riflemen,  for  the 
period  of  three  months,  unless  sooner  discharged. 

Your  Excellency  will  please  communicate  to  me 
the  time  at  or  about  which  your,  quota  will  be  ex- 
pected at  its  rendezvous,  as  it  will  be  met  as  soon  as 
practicable  by  an  officer  or  officers  to  muster  it  into 
the  service  and  pay  of  the  United  States. 

These  documents  were  spread  through  the 
country  on  Monday,  and  on  Wednesday  the  6th 
regiment  of  Massachusetts,  completely  equipped, 
passed  through  New  York  for  Washington,  so 
prepared  was  that  State  as  to  be  the  first  in  the 
field. 

A  most  uncontrollable  excitement  now  ex- 
isted in  the  country.  Both  North  and  South 
rushed  to  arms — the  former  to  maintain  the 
Government  and  to  preserve  the  Union,  the 
latter  to  secure  the  independence  of  the  Con- 
federate States  and  the  dissolution  of  the 
Union. 

The  national  city  of  Washington  became  the 
most  conspicuous  object  before  the  country. 
Northern  troops  hastened  thither  to  secure  its 
possession  in  the  hands  of  the  Government,  and 
Southern  troops  gathered  on  its  outskirts  to 
seize  it  as  their  first  prize. 

The  manner  in  which  the  requisition  of  the 
Secretary  of  War  for  troops  was  received  by 
the  authorities  of  the  respective  States,  indi- 
cates the  controlling  sentiment  of  the  people  in 
those  States  at  this  time.  The  Governor  of 
Kentucky  replied  on  the  same  day :  "  Kentucky 
will  furnish  no  troops  for  the  wicked  purpose 
of  subduing  her  sister  Southern  States."  The 
Governor  of  North  Carolina  answered  :  "  You 
can  get  no  troops  from  North  Carolina."  The 
Governor  of  Virginia  wrote  on  the  next  day  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  saying :  "  The  militia  of 
Virginia  will  not  be  furnished  to  the  powers  at 
"Washington  for  any  such  use  or  purpose  as 
they  have  in  view."  The  Governor  of  Tennes- 
see replied:  "Tennessee  will  not  furnish  a 
single  man  for  coercion,  but  fifty  thousand,  if 
necessary,  for  defence  of  our  rights,  or  those  of 
our  Southern  brothers."  The  Governor  of 
Missouri  answered  that  "  the  requisition  is  ille- 
gal, unconstitutional,  revolutionary,  inhuman, 
diabolical,  and  cannot  be  complied  with." 

The  Governor  of  Rhode  Island  replied  by 
tendering  the  services  of  a  thousand  infantry 
and  a  battalion  of  artillery. 

The  Governor  of  Massachusetts  immediately 
ordered  out  troops,  and  in  fifty  hours  three 
regiments  had  been  gathered,  equipped,  and 
had  left  for  Washington. 

The  Governor  of  Connecticut  also  issued  his 
proclamation  at  once,  calling  for  troops. 

The  Legislature  of  New  York  adjourned  on 
the  16th ;  but  previously  to  adjournment  ap- 
propriated three  millions  of  dollars  to  defend 
the  Federal  Government. 

Orders  for  four  regiments  were  issued  by  the 
Governor  of  New  Jersey  on  the  17th. 

A  detachment  of  five  hundred  men  left  Phil- 
adelphia on  the  night  of  the  17th  for  Washing- 
ton. 
The  first  regiment  from    Indiana  left    for 


Washington  on  the  18th.  The  Legislature  also 
resolved,  "  That  the  faith,  credit,  and  resources 
of  the  State  in  both  men  and  money  are  hereby 
pledged  in  any  amount  and  to  every  extent 
which  the  Federal  Government  may  demand  to 
subdue  rebellion ;  "  etc.  At  the  same  time,  the 
State  Bank  tendered  to  the  Governor  a  loan  for 
the  State  of  all  the  money  necessary  to  fit  out 
the  required  quota. 

In  New  York,  the  great  city  of  the  Union,  all 
shades  of  opinion  seemed  to  vanish  before  the 
one  great  fact,  that  the  country  was  in  danger 
and  must  be  saved.  Citizens  of  all  classes 
breathed  but  one  spirit  of  patriotism,  and  the 
Mayor  of  the  city  issued  the  following : 

MAYOR'S  OFFICE,  NEW  YORK,  April  15, 1861. 
To  the  People,  of  the  City  of  New  York. 

As  Chief  Magistrate,  representing  the  whole  peo- 
ple, I  feel  compelled  at  this  crisis  to  call  upon  them 
to  avoid  excitement  and  turbulence.  Whatever  may 
be  or  may  have  been  individual  positions  or  opinions 
on  questions  of  public  policy,  let  us  remember  that 
our  country  now  trembles  upon  the  brink  of  a  preci- 
pice, and  that  it  requires  a  patriotic  and  honest  effort 
to  prevent  its  final  destruction.  Let  us  ignore  the  past, 
rising  superior  to  partisan  considerations,  and  rally 
to  the  restoration  of  the  Constitution  and  the  Union, 
as  they  existed  in  the  days  and  in  the  spirit  of  our 
fathers.  Whether  this  is  to  be  accomplished  by  fra- 
tricidal warfare,  or  by  concession,  conciliation,  and 
sacrifice,  men  may  differ ;  but  all  will  admit  that  here 
at  least  harmony  and  peace  should  prevail.  Thus 
may  we,  under  the  guidance  of  Divine  Providence, 
set  an  example  of  peace  and  good  will  throughout 
our  extended  country.  In  this  spirit  and  with  this 
view,  I  call  upon  the  people  of  New  York,  irrespec- 
tive of  all  other  considerations  or  prejudices,  to  unite 
in  obedience  to  the  laws,  in  support  of  the  public 
peace,  in  the  preservation  of  order,  and  in  the  pro- 
tection of  property. 

FERNANDO  WOOD,  Mayor. 

All  citizens  were  now  decorated  with  the 
national  emblem  in  every  variety  of  form,  while 
from  store,  dwelling,  church,  and  public  build- 
ings, signs,  and  lamp-posts,  fluttered  the  Stars 
and  Stripes  in  every  variety  of  form  and  in  the 
greatest  profusion. 

Instantly  the  military  were  in  motion ;  every 
drill-room  and  armory  was  alive  with  active 
officers  calling  for  and  enrolling  men.  On  the 
16th  several  regiments  were  already  partly 
equipped.  The  1st  National  Guard,  Col.  Allen, 
the  7th  Regiment,  79th  Highlanders,  the  71st, 
the  Fire  Zouaves  of  Ellsworth,,  the  70th,  the 
55th,  the  12th,  and  others,  were  rapidly  organ- 
izing to  march.  On  the  17th  the  6th  Massa- 
chusetts, Colonel  E.  J.  Jones,  arrived  in  New 
York  on  its  way  to  Washington,  and  met  the 
most  enthusiastic  reception.  It  made  a  tri- 
umphal march  through  the  city  on  the  17th  of 
April. 

The  intelligence  that  the  favorite  New  York 
regiment,  the  7th,  would  leave  for  Washington 
on  the  19th,  created  an  immense  excitement. 
Although  it  was  announced  that  the  departure 
would  not  be  before  8  p.  if.,  the  streets  were 
thronged  at  an  early  hour  of  that  day.  Lafay- 
ette Place,  where  the  regiment  was  to  form 
previous  to  marching,  was  very  attractively 
dressed — a  huge  flag  being  displayed  from  the 


•     MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


29 


Astor  Library,  with  many  others  from  private 
buildings.  The  aspect  of  Broadway  was  very 
gay.  The  Stars  and  Stripes  were  floating 
everywhere,  from  the  costliest  silk,  20,  30,  40 
feet  in  length,  down  to  the  homelier  hunting, 
and  the  few  inches  of  painted  calico.  But  the 
gayest  and,  in  this  respect,  the  most  remarkable 
thoroughfare,  was  Cortlandt  Street,  which  show- 
ed a  gathering  of  flags,  a  perfect  army  of  them. 
They  were  not,  in  that  comparatively  brief 
space,  from  Broadway  to  the  Jersey  City  Ferry, 
to  be  numbered  by  dozens  or  by  scores ;  every 
building  seemed  like  "  Captains  of  Fifties,"  flag 
over  flag  waving.  From  every  window,  from 
the  first  floor  to  the  roof,  from  every  doorway, 
they  waved  responsive  to  the  fluttering  banners 
that  were  held  in  every  hand. 

Through  this  gay  and  expectant  throng 
marched  the  8th  Massachusetts,  Col.  Timothy 
Monroe,  accompanied  by  Gen.  B.  F.  Butler,  who 
had  been  the  Breckinridge  candidate  for  Gov- 
ernor at  the  election  in  November,  and  was 
now  leading  the  Massachusetts  troops.  The 
regiment  was  presented  with  colors  on  the  way. 
This,  which  would  have  been  an  absorbing 
ceremony  at  another  time,  merely  filled  a  por- 
tion of  the  time  till  the  7th  came. 

They  formed  in  Lafayette  Place  about  4  p.  M., 
in  the  presence  of  an  immense  crowd,  each 
window  of  each  building  being  filled  with  ap- 
plauders.  Before  moving,  the  excitement  of 
the  crowd  was  made  wild  by  the  news  of  the 
attack  upon  the  6th  Massachusetts  in  Baltimore, 
and  there  were  served  out  to  the  7th  forty-eight 
rounds  of  ball  cartridge.  Once  in  line,  they 
proceeded  through  Fourth  street  to  Broadway, 
down  that  great  throroughfare  to  Cortlandt 
Street,  and  across  the  ferry,  in  boats  provided 
for  the  purpose,  to  Jersey  City.  The  line  of 
march  was  a  perfect  ovation.  Thousands  upon 
thousands  stood  on  the  sidewalks.  The  regi- 
ment was  escorted  by  a  band  of  Zouaves,  who 
volunteered  for  the  occasion.  Their  gay  uni- 
form and  peculiar  step  revived  the  excitement 
that  had  begun  somewhat  to  droop  among  the 
crowd  that  had  waited  for  hours,  as  the  regi- 
ment did  not  reach  the  Park  till  half-past  five. 
After  the  Zouaves  came  a  strong  body  of  police, 
and  after  the  police  the  regiment.  The  officers 
were  Col.  M.  Lefferts,  Lieut.-Col.  W.  A.  Pond, 
Major  A.  Shaler. 

The  public  bodies  at  once  began  to  adopt 
measures  to  supply  and  move  the  troops.  An 
immense  mass  meeting,  without  distinction  of 
party,  was  called  for,  April  20,  in  Union  Square. 
It  proved  one  of  the  largest  and  most  enthusi- 
astic ever  held.  It  was  addressed  by  J.  A.  Dix, 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury  under  Mr.  Buchanan, 
D.  S.  Dickinson,  Senator  Baker  of  Oregon, 
Robert  J.  Walker,  formerly  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  Mayor  Wood,  Ex-Gov.  Hunt,  James 
T.  Brady,  John  Cochrane,  Hiram  Ketchum,  D. 
S.  Coddington,  Esq.,  and  a  number  of  Irish  and 
German  citizens,  all  breathing  the  -one  unani- 
mous sentiment  of  ignoring  the  political  opin- 
ions of  the  past,  and  standing  by  the  Govern- 


ment with  their  whole  heart,  regardless  of  who 
might  administer  it  for  the  time.  The  fortunes 
and  lives  of  the  citizens  were  pledged  to  that 
end. 

A  meeting  of  the  merchants  of  New'York 
City  was  held  at  the  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
April  19th.  The  proceedings  were  character- 
ized by  the  utmost  harmony  and  unanimity. 
Resolutions  upholding  the  Federal  Government, 
and  urging  a  strict  blockade  of  all  ports  in  the 
secession  States,  were  unanimously  adopted.  It 
being  announced  that  several  of  the  regiments 
needed  assistance  to  enable  them  to  leave — on 
motion,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  receive 
donations,  and  in  ten  minutes  the  subscription 
had  reached  over  $21,000.  What  was  still 
mo.re  important  ~w  as  the  appointment  of  a  large 
committee  of  tho  most  influential  capitalists,  to 
use  their  exertions  to  secure  an  immediate  tak- 
ing of  the  $9,000,000  remaining  of  the  Govern- 
ment loan. 

On  Monday,  April  22,  the  Mayor  of  the  city 
of  New  Ycrk  recommended,  and  the  Board  of 
Aldermen  voted,  $1,000,000  to  aid  in  the  de- 
fence of  the  Government. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  whole  New  York  Bar  on 
the  same  afternoon,  the  announcement  was  re- 
ceived with  enthusiastic  cheers,  and  the  Bar 
raised  $25,000  on  the  spot. 

The  city  appropriated  the  Park  to  the  erec- 
tion of  extensive  barracks  for  the  entertainment 
of  the  troops,  which  from  North  and  East  made 
New  York  their  halting-place  en  route  for  the 
capital.  The  Worcester  Rules,  the  1  st  Regiment 
of  Rhode  Island,  per  steamer  Osceola,  passed 
through  on  Sunday  the  21st,  and  on  the  same 
day  departed  the  6th,  12th,  and  7lst  New  York 
State  Militia. 

The  people  were  early  astir  on  that  day,  and 
by  ten  o'clock  every  available  spot  where  a  hu- 
man being  could  stand,  was  occupied,  through 
the  entire  length  of  Broadway ;  and  from  near 
Cdnal  street  to  Grace  Church,  not  only  the  side- 
walks, but  the  whole  of  the  street,  was  densely 
thronged.  Every  window,  door,  stoop,  balcony, 
and  housetop  was  alive  with  human  beings,  of 
every  age,  sex,  and  condition,  in  expectation  of 
this  most  novel  and  exciting  scene.  From  al- 
most every  housetop  and  store,  from  the  win- 
dows of  almost  every  private  dwelling,  from  the 
masthead  of  every  ship,  from  the  flagstaff  of 
every  manufactory,  from  all  the  public  build- 
ings, from  the  Roman  Catholic  cathedral,  from 
the  lofty  spire  of  Trinity  Church,  from  St. 
Paul's  Church,  the  national  ensign  was  flying 
The  other  streets  were  thronged  as  on  a  gala 
day.  On  all  coats  were  pinned  the  red,  white, 
and  blue  cockade,  and  in  every  lady's  bonnet 
ribbons  of  the  same  colors  were  tastefully  tied. 
In  the  Park,  cannons  were  booming  at  different 
times  during  the  day.  At  the  arsenal,  regi- 
ments, just  raised,  were  formally  organized  and 
equipped. 

At  the  armories  of  the  6th,  12th,  and  7lst, 
from  early  dawn  all  was  bustle  and  animation, 
ireparing  for  the  afternoon  departure.  At  tho 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


rendezvous  of  the  several  regiments,  the  char- 
acter of  the  day  was  ignored,  and  the  maxim 
realized  that  in  war  times  there  are  no 
Sundays. 

At  the  wharves  great  steamers  were  alive 
with  the  bustle  of  preparation  for  conveying 
large  numbers  of  troops.  In  the  stream  at  an- 
chor was  the  steamer  Osceola,  with  troops  from 
Rhode  Island.  At  the  railroad  depot  in  Jersey 
City  the  greatest  activity  prevailed,  and  means 
of  transportation  were  being  got  in  readiness 
for  moving  as  many  regiments  as  might  present 
themselves. 

Young  men  in  uniforms,  with  knapsacks 
strapped,  were  seen  leaving  luxurious  homes  in 
aristocratic  parts  of  the  town,  prepared  to 
rough  it  with  the  roughs  in  defence  of  the 
country.  Firemen  were  gathered  at  their  en- 
gine-houses, and  busy  in  doing  what  they  could 
to  help  off  companions  who  had  enrolled  them- 
selves in  Ellsworth's  regiment  of  Firemen 
Zouaves. 

At  noon,  the  6th,  12th,  and  71st  regiments, 
comprising  three  thousand  men,  marched  down 
Broadway,  fully  armed  and  equipped.  The  oc- 
casion was  without  hardly  a  parallel,  and  the 
march  a  complete  Ovation.  The  6th  embarked 
in  the  steamer  Columbia,  the  12th  in  the  steam- 
er Baltic,  and  the  71st  in  the  steamer  R.  R. 
Schuyler.  A  Massachusetts  battalion  and  some 
regulars  went  on  board  the  Ariel.  As  the  fleet 
left,  the  harbor  was  a  scene  of  great  excitement. 
The  piers,  landings,  and  housetops  of  the  city, 
Jersey  City,  Hoboken,  and  Brooklyn,  were 
crowded.  The  Battery  was  covered  with 
people,  and  thousands  of  boats  saluted  the 
steamers  crowded  with  the  troops.  Flags  were 
dipped,  cannons  roared,  bells  rang,  steam- whis- 
tles shrilly  saluted,  and  thousands  upon  thou- 
sands of  people  sent  up  cheers  of  parting. 

On  the  same  Sunday  many  congregations 
mingled  practical  patriotism  with  piety,  and 
took  occasion  to  make  contributions  for  the 
outfit  of  volunteers,  or  for  the  support  of  their 
families.  In  a  church  in  Brooklyn  a  letter  was 
read  from  the  13th  Regiment  N.  Y.  S.  if.,  ask- 
ing for  uniforms  for  recruits,  and  the  response 
was  a  collection  of  about  $1,100  for  that  patri- 
otic purpose.  In  the  Broadway  Tabernacle, 
the  pastor  preached  a  sermon  in  the  evening  on 
"  God's  Time  of  Threshing."  The  choir  per- 
formed "  The  Marseillaise  "  to  a  hymn  composed 
for  the  occasion  by  the  pastor.  A  collection 
was  taken  for  the  Volunteers'  Home  Fund, 
amounting  to  $450,  to  which  a  member  of  the 
congregation  afterwards  added  $100.  Dr.  Beth- 
une's  sermon  was  from  the  text :  "  In  the  name 
of  our  God  we  will  set  up  our  banners."  In 
Dr.  Bellows'  church  the  choir  sang  "  The  Star- 
Spangled  Banner,"  which  was  vigorously  ap- 
plauded by  the  whole  house.  At  Grace  Church 
(Episcopal),  Dr.  Taylor  began  by  saying,  "  The 
Star-Spangled  Banner  has  been  insulted."  At 
Dr.  McLane's  Presbyterian  church,  Williams- 
burgh,  "  The  Star-Spangled  Banner  "  was  sung. 
Dr.  T.  D.  Wells  (Old  School  Presbyterian) 


preached  from  the  words  :  "  He  that  hath  no 
sword,  let  him  buy  one."  Dr.  Osgood's  text 
was :  u  Lift  up  a  standard  to  the  people." 

On  Monday,  the  march  of  troops  continued 
through  the  city,  and  on  the  23d  again  New 
York  was  alive  with  excitement  to  witness  the 
departure  of  the  8th,  13th,  and  69th  regiments. 
The  8th,  one  thousand  strong.  Col.  Geo.  Lyon, 
formed  in  Sixteenth  Street,  and  at  foiir  o'clock 
proceeded,  amidst  the  cheering  citizens,  to  pier 
No.  36,  North  River,  where  they  embarked  on 
board  the  steamer  Alabama.  The  69th  Irish, 
Col.  Corcoran,  assembled  at  their  armory,  No. 
42  Prince  Street,  at  three  o'clock.  They  re- 
ceived the  order  to  march,  and  they  proceeded 
down  Broadway  amidst  such  greetings  as  the 
excited  Irish  citizens  alone  could  demonstrate. 
At  half-past  six  they  left  in  the  James  Adger. 
The  13th,  Col.  Abel  Smith,  left  on  board  the 
Marion.  Thus  through  more  than  two  months 
the  living  stream  of  troops  went  out  of  New 
York  to  support  the  Government. 

During  that  period  of  time  New  York  con- 
tinued to  pour  out  an  average,  in  round  num- 
bers, of  1,000  men  per  day  at  the  call  of  the 
Government,  not  only  supplying  and  equip- 
ping the  men,  but  furnishing  the  money,  and 
lending  large  sums  to  the  Government  in  ad- 
dition. 

All  the  Northern  or  free  States  responded 
alike  and  instantly  to  the  summons  from 
Washington.  The  defence  of  the  Government 
was  proclaimed  to  be  a  most  sacred  cause,  more 
especially  such  a  Government  as  this  of  the 
United  States  had  been.  Arms,  money,  men, 
railroads,  and  all  other  "  sinews  of  war,"  were 
freely  offered.  Men  of  wealth,  influence,  .ind 
position,  without  regard  to  party,  stepped  forth 
patriotically  at  this  call. 

Some  apprehensions  existed  relative  to  the 
manner  in  which  Northern  troops  would  be 
received  in  Mai'yland  on  their  way  to  Wash- 
ington. On  the  19th  a  body  of  them  wero 
expected  to  arrive  at  Baltimore  by  the  Phila- 
delphia and  Baltimore  Railroad.  At  the  de- 
pot a  crowd  of  two  or  three  thousand  persons 
gathered.  Soon  after  11  o'clock  in  the  fore- 
noon, the  train  from  Philadelphia,  comprising 
twenty-nine  cars,  arrived.  Without  disembark- 
ing the  soldiers  from  the  train,  horses  were  at- 
tached to  the  several  cars,  which  were  drawn 
along  Pratt  Street  to  the  Camden  station.  Six 
cars  were  permitted  to  pass  without  any  par- 
ticular disturbance  except  hooting  and  yelling. 
The  horses  attached  to  the  seventh  car  becom- 
ing restive,  were  detached,  and  the  car  moved 
without  their  aid  nearly  to  Gay  Street,  where  a 
body  of  laborers  were  engaged  in  repairing  the 
bed  of  the  street,  and  for  this  purpose  removing 
the  cobble  stones. 

Some  thirty  or  forty  men  assembled  at  this 
point,  having  followed  the  car  from  the  depot, 
and  with  cheers  for  President  Davis  and  the 
Southern  Confederacy,  hurled  bitter  taunts  at 
the  Northern  Black  Republicans,  as  they  termed 
them.  The  troops  remained  in  perfect  silence. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


31 


This  continued  for  several  minutes,  when,  4s 
the  horses  were  again  attached  and  the  car 
moved  off,  it  was  proposed  to  stone  it.  Before 
the  car  had  gone  twenty  yards,  almost  every 
window  therein  was  broken  to  pieces,  and 
a  portion  of  the  crowd  followed  a  considerable 
distance  hurling  paving-stones.  The  eighth  car 
was  treated  in  the  same  manner,  hut  the 
ninth  car,  apparently  being  empty,  or  at  least 
no  person  being  visible  except  the  driver  of  the 
team,  escaped  with  only  one  stone  thrown. 

The  tenth  car  was  observed  approaching  from 
Pratt  street  bridge,  when  a  number  of  persons, 
seizing  the  picks  in  the  hands  of  the  laborers, 
made  an  ineffectual  effort  to  tear  up  the  track. 
Finding  that  they  could  not  succeed,  as  a  last 
resort  they  took  up  the  paving-stones,  and  threw 
them  on  the  track,  almost  covering  it  from  ob- 
servation. They  also  dumped  a  cart-load  of 
sand  on  the  bed  of  the  track,  placing  also  four 
or  five  large  anchors  thereon,  having  bodily 
removed  them  from  the  sidewalk.  This  being 
accomplished,  they,  with  loud  hurrahs,  dared 
the  troops  to  come  on ;  but  the  latter,  observ- 
ing the  posture  of  affairs,  deemed  it  more  pru- 
dent to  turn  back  to  the  President  street  depot. 

Mayor  Brown  hastened  to  the  President 
street  depot,  and  endeavored  to  prevent  any 
disturbance.  At  this  point  there  still  remained 
upwards  of  twenty  cars  filled  with  the  troops, 
and  five  or  six  cars  which  had  been  used  for  the 
reception  of  ammunition,  baggage,  &c. 

After  the  lapse  of  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  the 
command  was  given  for  the  troops  to  disembark 
and  form  on  the  outside.  "While  forming,  they 
were  surrounded  by  a  dense  mass  of  people, 
who  impeded  their  march,  up  President  street 
by  every  possible  means.  Stones  were  thrown 
in  great  numbers.  At  Fawn  street  two  of  the 
soldiers  were  knocked  down  by  stones  and 
greatly  iniured. 

After  the  cars  had  been  checked  and  return- 
ed to  the  depot,  as  above  stated,  the  military 
formed  and  prepared  to  march  through  the  city. 

From  the  President  street  depot  to  Pratt 
street  bridge  they  were  pursued  by  the  excited 
crowd,  who  continued  to  hurl  stones,  and,  it 
is  stated,  fired  at  them  with  muskets,  &c. 
Mayor  Brown  had  put  himself  at  the  head  of 
the  column,  with  a  strong  body  of  police.  The 
soldiers  continued  on  up  Pratt  street  over  the 
bridge,  where  several  more  were  badly  injured 
by  the  stones  thrown  at  the  rear  ranks.  They 
came  along  at  a  brisk  pace,  and  'when  they 
reached  Market  Space,  an  immense  concourse 
of  people  closed  in  behind  them  and  commenced 
stoning  them. 

When  they  reached  Gay  street,  where  the 
track  had  been  torn  up,  a  large  crowd  of  men 
armed  with  paving-stones  showered  them  on 
their  heads  with  such  force  that  several  of  them 
were  knocked  down  in  the  ranks.  These, 
after  lying  a  few  moments  crawled  on  their 
hands  and  knees  into  some  of  the  stores  on 
Pratt  street.  After  they  fell  there  was  no  fur- 
ther attack  made  on  them,  and  those  thus 


wounded  were  taken  to  apothecary  stores  for 
medical  attendance. 

At  the  corner  of  South  and  Pratt  streets  a 
man  fired  a  pistol  into  the  ranks  of  the  military, 
.when  those  in  the  rear  ranks  immediately 
wheeled  and  fired  upon  their  assailants,  and 
several  were  wounded.  The  guns  of  the  sol- 
diers that  had  fallen  wounded  were  seized,  and 
fired  upon  the  ranks  with  fatal  effect  in  two  in- 
stances. 

After  they  reached  Calvert  street  they  suc- 
ceeded in  checking  their  pursuers  by  a  rapid  fire, 
which  brought  down  two  or  three,  and  they 
were  not  much  molested  until  they  reached 
Howard  street,  where  another  large  crowd  waa 
assembled.  Some  stones  were  thrown  at  them, 
but  their  guns  were  not  loaded,  and  they  passed 
on  through  the  dense  crowd  down  Howard 
street  towards  the  depot. 

The  scene  on  Pratt  street,  as  stated,  was  of 
a  startling  character.  The  wounded  soldiers, 
three  in  number,  were  taken  up  carefully  and 
carried  to  -places  of  safety  *by  the  citizens  along 
the  street. 

The  rear  portion  of  the  troops  received  the 
brunt  of  the  attack  of  the  assailants.  The  pav- 
ing-stones were  dashed  with  great  force  against 
their  backs  and  heads,  and  marching  thus  in 
close  ranks,  they  were  unable  to  effectually  de- 
fend themselves.  When  they  did  turn  and  fire, 
it  was  without  halt,  and  being  thus  massed  to- 
gether, their  shots  took  effect  mostly  on  inno- 
cent spectators  who  were  standing  on  the  pave- 
ment/ They  stood  the  assault  with  stones  with- 
out resistance,  the  entire  distance  from  the 
President  street  depot  until  they  reached  the 
vicinity  of  South  street,  and  then  fired  obliquely 
on  to  the  pavements,  rather  than  turning  on 
their  assailants.  The  police  did  their  utmost 
to  protect  the  troops  from  assault,  and  partially 
succeeded  until  they  reached  Gay  street,  where 
the  crowd,  armed  with  paving-stones,  were  col- 
lected. They  rushed  in  between  the  police  and 
the  rear  ranks,  driving  them  back,  and  sepa- 
rating them  from  the  military.  After  the  tiring 
commenced,  the  assaulting  party  dispersed,  and 
for  the  balance  of  the  route  there  was  no  attack 
upon  them.  The  four  soldiers  who  fell  wounded 
in  the  street,  were  struck  down  between  Gay 
and  Calvert  streets,  where  the  fiercest  of  the 
attack  was  made  on  them.  The  troops  com- 
posed the  Sixth  regiment  of  Massachusetts  In- 
fantry, commanded  by  Colonel  E.  F.  Jones,  in 
all  eleven  companies,  with  an  aggregate  of  eight 
hundred  and  sixty  men,  rank  and  file. 

It  was  about  half-past  twelve  o'clock  when 
the  train  left  the  Camden  station.  A  few 
minutes  afterwards,  a  discharge  of  firearms  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  the  crowd  to  the  cor- 
ner of  Pratt  and  Howard  streets,  where  a  body 
of  infantry  from  one  of  the  Northern  States, 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  strong,  were  seen 
rapidly  approaching  the  depot,  and  no  doubt 
anxious  to  reach  the  cars. 

The  excitement  now  was  beyond  description, 
and  a  man  displaying  the  flag  of  the  Confeder- 


32 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ate  States  seemed  to  be  the  rallying  point  of 
the  disaffected  people.  Some  of  these  assaulted 
the  command  with  stones,  when  a  number  of 
the  latter  discharged  their  muskets.  At  least 
twenty  shots  were  fired,  but  it  happily  proved 
that  no  person  was  injured.  There  seemed  to 
be  but  little  discipline  among  the  troops,  espe- 
cially as  they  rushed  along  pell-mell.  Whilst 
they  were  entering  the  cars  a  crowd  of  young 
men  gave  them  several  volleys  of  bricks  and 
stones,  some  of  which  demolished  the  windows 
of  the  cars,  whereupon  three  or  four  of  the 
privates  pointed  their  muskets  through  the  car 
windows  and  fired,  but  no  one  was  injured. 

The  baggage  and  munitions,  in  two  cars, 
were  seized  by  the  crowd,  but  rescued  by  the 
police.  Other  troops  were  sent  back  to  the 
borders  of  the  State  by  orders  of  Gov.  Hicks. 
The  military  of  the  city  were  called  out,  and 
quiet  was  restored  at  evening.  Among  the 
killed  was  Robert  "W.  Davis,  a  member  of  a 
mercantile  firm,  and  a  person  held  in  high  es- 
teem by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances. Nine  citizens  of  Baltimore  were  killed, 
and  many  wounded.  Twenty-five  of  the  wound- 
ed Massachusetts  troops  were  sent  to  the  Wash- 
ington hospital. 

During  the  night  following  a  report  prevailed 
that  more  Northern  troops  were  approaching 
by  the  Northern  Central  Railway.  It  was  im- 
mediately resolved  to  destroy  the  bridges  near- 
est the  city,  on  both  the  Northern  roads  ending 
in  Baltimore.  The  bridge  at  Canton  was  thus 
destroyed,  and  two  bridges  between  Cockey sville 
and  Ashland ;  also  the  bridges  over  Little  Gun- 
powder and  Bush  rivers.  This  was  ordered  to 
be  done  by  the  authorities  of  Baltimore.  Upon 
a  representation  of  the  events  to  President  Lin- 
coln, he  ordered  that  "  no  more  troops  should  be 
brought  through  Baltimore,  if,  in  a  military  point 
of  view,  and  without  interruption  or  opposition, 
they  can  be  marched  around  Baltimore." 

The  public  mind  continued  in  a  feverish  state 
from  the  excitement  of  Friday,  when  unfound- 
ed reports  that  Northern  troops  were  approach- 
ing the  city,  aroused  a  most  indescribable  tu- 
mult, like  ten  thousand  people  bereft  of  reason. 
The  error  of  the  rumors  becoming  finally 
known,  peace  and  order  were  restored. 

The  transmission  of  the  mails,  and  the  removal 
of  provisions  from  the  city,  however,  were  sus- 
pended by  the  orders  of  the  Mayor  and  Board 
of  Police.  Four  car  loads  of  military  stores, 
clothing,  tents,  and  other  army  equipments, 
sufficient  for  the  accommodation  of  a  thou- 
sand men,  and  the  property  of  the  Government, 
were  thus  detained.  On  the  24th,  the  city  pre- 
sented much  the  appearance  of  a  military  camp. 
The  number  of  volunteers  there  enlisted,  was 
put  as  high  as  25,000.  Large  quantities  of  pro- 
isions  were  seized,  and  its  departure  from  the 
city  stopped.  About  four  hundred  picked  men 
left  the  city  for  the  Relay  House,  on  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Railroad,  for  the  purpose  of 
seizing  and  holding  that  important  strategic 
point.  They  were  followed  by  a  force  of  about 


two  hundred  men,  having  with  them  four  field- 
pieces  and  an  abundance  of  ammunition.  It 
was  the  intention  of  the  military  authorities  to 
concentrate  there  about  1,200  men.  The  ob- 
ject of  the  seizure  was  to  cut  oft'  the  commu- 
nication of  the  Pennsylvanians  with  Washington 
by  that  route. 

The  troops  at  Cockeysville  were  removed  to 
York,  Pennsylvania. 

Immediately  upon  the  departure  of  the  train, 
the  authorities  of  Baltimore  County  despatched 
a  body  of  armed  men  to  follow  in  the  rear,  and 
destroy  the  bridges,  which  they  did ;  burning 
all  the  bridges,  large  and  small,  from  Ashland 
to  the  Maryland  line,  with  one  exception,  the 
"Big  Gunpowder  Bridge." 

The  turnpike  from  Ashland  to  York  was  lit- 
erally black  with'vehicles  of  every  description, 
.containing  whole  families  from  Baltimore,  who 
were  hurrying  to  the  country.  A  great  many 
strangers  were  also  proceeding  to  Pennsylva- 
nia, for  the  purpose  of  getting  into  the  more 
Northern  States. 

Unparalleled  as  was  the  excitement  in  Balti- 
more, after  one  week  quiet  was  not  only  re- 
stored, but  a  counter-revolution  took  place, 
which  by  its  mere  moral  force  reestablished 
the  control  of  reason  and  judgment. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  the  volunteer  militia 
were  dismissed  by  the  authorities. 

On  the  10th  of  May,  thirteen  hundred  troops 
landed  near  Fort  McHenry  from  transports,  and 
were  thence  transferred  by  trains  to  Washington. 

The  Board  of  Police  Commissioners  had  at 
noon  detailed  a  large  police  force,  who  were  pres- 
ent at  Locust  Point,  and  acted  with  great  efficien- 
cy, under  the  direction  of  Marshal  Kane.  The 
Board  of  Commissioners  were  present  in  person, 
as  also  the  Mayor.  Few  spectators  were  present 
at  Locust  Point,  but  the  wharves  on  the  city 
side  were  filled  with  persons,  who  quietly  look- 
ed on  the  scene  of  the  disembarkation,  which 
was  very  tedious,  and  was  not  concluded  until 
between  six  and  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening. 

The  troops  were  Sherman's  Battery,  five  com- 
panies of  the  Third  Infantry  from  Texas,  and  a 
Pennsylvania  Regiment. 

On  the  6th  of  May,  the  United  States  Volun- 
teers under  the  command  of  General  Butler, 
had  taken  possession  of  the  Relay  House  on  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  proceeded  to 
fortify  their  position.  Subsequently,  on  the 
13th,  he  moved  a  portion  of  his  troops  to  Balti- 
more. It  soon  became  known  in  the  city,  and 
a  number  of  people  went  to  the  Camden  sta- 
tion to  witness  the  arrival. 

About  half-past  seven  o'clock  a  long  train 
came,  containing  a  portion  of  the  troops.  They 
disembarked  in  good  order,  and  marched  from 
the  depot  down  Lee  street  and  other  streets 
to  Federal  Hill,  and,  moving  to  the  high  ground 
surrounding  the  Observatory,  stacked  arms,  and 
made  preparations  for  a  long  rest. 

The  force  under  command  of  General  Butler 
was  composed  of  a  portion  of  the  Boston  Light 
Artillery,  Major  Cook;  a  strong  detachment 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


33 


of  the  6th  Massachusetts  regiment,  Col.  Jones, 
and  about  five  hundred  of  the  8th  New  York 
regiment,  Lieut.-Col.  Waltenburg. 

On  the  route  to  the  Hill  the  streets  were 
thronged  with  people,  who  greeted  the  military 
with  cheers  at  every  step,  the  ladies  at  the  win- 
dows and  the  doors  joining  in  the  applause  by 
•waving  their  handkerchiefs. 

Thus  quietly  was  military  possession  taken 


of  the  city  of  Baltimore.     On  the  next  day  con- 
siderable reinforcements  arrived. 

On  the  16th  of  May,  the  regular  passenger 
trains  between  Baltimore  and  Washington  re- 
sumed their  usual  trips.  Baltimore  subsided 
into  one  of  the  most  quiet  cities  of  the  Union, 
The  military  encampment  was,  however,  main- 
tained. Meantime  the  action  of  States  to  secede 
from  the  Union  was  renewed. 


CHAPTEE  Y. 


Proceedings  in  Texas  to  effect  Secession,  and  Military  Movements — Action  in  Virginia  and  Military  Movements — Action 
in  Arkansas  and  Military  Movements — Action  in  North  Carolina  and  Military  Movements — Action  in  Tennessee  and 
Military  Movements. 


THE  secession  of  more  Southern  States  now 
commenced.  Of  these  Texas  was  foremost. 
The  call  for  her  Convention  was  revolutionary. 
It  was  signed  by  sixty-one  individuals.  Upon 
this  call  delegates  were  elected. 

About  the  same  time  one  of  the  members  of 
the  Legislature  took  the  responsibility  of  issuing 
a  call  for  the  meeting  of  that  body  in  extra  ses- 
sion. To  avoid  a  conflict  between  the  State 
authorities  and  the  revolutionists,  Governor 
Houston  conveaed  the  Legislature  in  extra  ses- 
sion at  Austin  on  January  22d. 

The  following  is  the  proclamation  issued  by 
the  Governor : 

Whereas,  there  has  been  and  yet  is  great  excitement 
existing  in  the  public  mind,  arising  from  various 
causes,  touching  our  relations  with  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment and  many  of  the  States,  and  a  portion  of  the 
people  have  expressed  a  desire  that  the  Legislature 
should  be  convened  in  extra  session ;  and  whereas 
the  Executive  desires  that  such  measures  should  be 
adopted  as  will  secure  a  free  expression  of  the  popular 
will  through  the  ballot-box  upon  the  question  at  issue, 
involving  their  peace,  security,  and  happiness,  and 
the  action  of  the  whole  people  made  known  in  relation 
to  the  course  which  it  may  be  proper  and  necessary 
for  Texas,  as  one  of  the  States  of  the  Union,  to  pursue, 
in  order  to  maintain,  if  possible,  her  rights  in  the 
Union  as  guaranteed  by  the  Federal  Constitution ; 
and  whereas  our  frontier  is  now  invaded  by  Indians, 
and  the  lives  of  our  citizens  taken  and  their  property 
destroyed ;  and  whereas  the  treasury  is  without  means 
either  to  defend  the  frontier  or  meet  ordinary  expenses 
of  Government; 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Sam  Houston,  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Texas,  for  the  reasons  herein  set  forth,  do 
hereby  issue  this  my  proclamation,  ordering  the  Leg- 
islature of  the  State  of  Texas  to  convene  in  extra  ses- 
sion at  the  Capitol,  in  the  City  of  Austin,  on  Monday 
the  21st  day  of  January,  A.  D.  1861. 

When  the  Legislature  assembled,  he  addressed 
a  message  to  them,  in  which  he  favored  delay  as 
long  as  possible  in  holding  a  State  Convention. 
He  was  himself  opposed  to  calling  one,  and  be- 
lieved that  the  Union  could  be  preserved. 

The  Legislature  sanctioned  the  election  of 
delegates  to  the  State  Convention,  which  as- 
sembled one  week  later,  by  the  adoption  of  the 
following 

3 


JOINT  RESOLUTION  concerning  the  Convention  of  the  people 
of  Texas,  called  in  pursuance  of  the  Bill  of  Rights. 

Whereas  the  people  of  Texas,  being  much  concerned 
for  the  preservation  of  the  rights,  liberties,  and  powers 
of  the  State  and  its  inhabitants,  endangered  by  the 
political  action  of  a  majority  of  the  States,  and  the 
people  of  the  same  have,  in  the  exercise  of  powers 
reserved  to  themselves  in  the  Bill  of  Rights,  called  a 
Convention,  composed  of  two  members  for  each  rep- 
resentative in  the  Legislature,  from  the  various  dis- 
tricts established  by  the  apportionment  law  of  1860,  to 
assemble  on  the  28th  day  of  January,  1861,  at  the  city 
of  Austin  ;  which  Convention,  by  the  terms  of  the  call, 
made  by  numerous  assemblages  of  citizens  in  various 
parts  of  the  State,  was,  when  elected  and  assembled, 
to  have 'power  to  consider  the  condition  of  public 
affairs ;  to  determine  what  shall  be  the  future  relations 
of  this  State  to  the  Union,  and  such  other  matters  as 
are  necessarily  and  properly  incident  thereto ;  and  in 
case  it  should  be  determined  by  said  Convention  that 
it  is  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  the  rights  and 
liberties  aforesaid  that  the  sovereignty  of  Texas  should 
resume  the  powers  delegated  to  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and 
by  the  articles  of  annexation,  then  the  ordinance  of 
said  Convention  resuming  said  delegated  powers,  and 
repealing  the  ratification  by  the  people  of  Texas  of 
said  articles  of  annexation,  should  be  submitted  to  a 
vote  of  the  qualified  electors  of  this  State  for  their 
ratification  or  rejection.  Therefore 

Be  it  resolved  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Texas, 
That  the  Government  of  the  State  of  Texas  hereby 
gives  its  assent  to  and  approves  of  the  Convention 
aforesaid. 

SEC.  2.  That  this  resolution  take  effect  and  be  in 
force  from  and  after  its  passage. 

With  a  protest  against  the  assumption  of  any 
powers  on  the  part  of  said  Convention  beyond  th« 
reference  of  the  question  of  a  longer  connection  of 
Texas  with  the  Union  to  the  people,  approved  4th 
February,  1861.  .  SAM  HOUSTON. 

Resolutions  had  been  offered  for  delaying 
the  secession  movement,  but  these  were  twice 
laid  on  the  table.  A  resolution  was  also  passed 
repudiating  the  idea  of  using  forcible  means 
for  coercing  any  seceding  State,  and  declaring 
that  any  such  attempt  would  be  resisted  to  the 
last  extremity.  A  bill  was  passed  requiring 
the  ordinance  of  secession,  if  adopted  by  the 
State  Convention,  to  be  submitted  to  the  people. 

On  the  28th  of  January,  the  State  Conven- 
tion assembled.  The  93!!  having  been  irregu- 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


lar,  the  vote  for  members  was  very  light. 
There  are  122  counties  in  the  State,  of  which 
nearly  half  held  no  election,  and  were  not 
represented  in  the  Convention.  Some  of  these 
were :  Old  Nacogdoches,  with  1,023  legal  vo- 
ters; Lamar,  with  1,123  voters;  Blanco,  with 
1,139  voters;  Cherokee,  with  1,644  voters; 
Fannin,  with  1,183  voters. 

The  vote  in  some  of  the  counties  was  as  fol- 
lows: Anderson,  with  1,093  voters,  only  387 
voted ;  Bastrop,  769  voters,  153  voted ;  Collin, 
1,119  voters,  211  voted;  Grayson,  1,217  voters, 
280  voted ;  Hays,  296  voters,  67  voted ;  Jack- 
son, 296  voters,  40  voted;  Lampasas,  285 
voters,  50  voted;  Red  River,  879  voters,  60 
voted;  Travis,  1,011  voters,  342  voted.  This 
county  has  Austin  within  its  limits. 

On  the  5th  of  February  an  ordinance  of 
secession  was  passed  in  the  Convention  by  a 
vote  of  ayes  166,  nays  7.  The  following  is  the 
ordinance : 

Aw  ORDINANCE  to  dissolve  th»  Union  between  the  State 
of  Texas  and  the  other  States  under  the  compact  styled 
41  The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  of  America." 

SEC.  1.  Whereas  the  Federal  Government  has  failed 
to  accomplish  the  purposes  of  the  compact  of  union 
between  these  States,  in  giving  protection  either  to  the 
persons  of  our  people  upon  an  exposed  frontier,  or  to 
the  property  or  our  citizens ;  and  whereas  the  action 
of  the  Northern  States  is  violative  of  the  compact  be- 
tween the  States  and  the  guarantees  of  the  Consti- 
tution •  and  whereas  the  recent  developments  in  Fed- 
eral affairs  make  it  evident  that  the  power  of  the 
Federal  Government  is  sought  to  be  made  a  weapon 
with  which  to  strike  down  the  interests  and  property 
of  the  people  of  Texas  and  her  sister  slaveholding 
States,  instead  of  permitting  it  to  be,  as  was  intended 
— our  shield  against  outrage  and  aggression  ;  there- 
fore, 'I  We,  the  people  of  the  State  oFTexas,  by  dele- 
gates in  the  Convention  assembled,  do  declare  and 
ordain  that  the  ordinance  adopted  by  our  Convention 
of  delegates  on  the  fourth  (4th)  day  of  July,  A.  D.  1845, 
and  afterwards  ratified  by  us,  under  which  the  Repub- 
lic of  Texas  was  admitted  into  the  Union  with  other 
States,  and  became  a  party  to  the  compact  styled 
'  The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  of  America,' 
be,  and  is  hereby  repealed  and  annulled." 

That  all  the  powers  which,  by  the  said  compact, 
were  delegated  by  Texas  to  the  Federal  Government 
are  resumed.  That  Texas  is  of  right  absolved  from 
all  restraints  and  obligations  incurred  by  said  com- 
pact, and  is  a  separate  sovereign  State,  and  that  her 
citizens  and  people  are  absolved  from  all  allegiance 
to  the  United  States  or  the  Government  thereof. 

SEC.  2.  The  ordinance  shall  be  submitted  to  the 
people  of  Texas  for  their  ratification  or  rejection,  by 
the  qualified  voters,  on  the  23d  day  of  February,  1861 ; 
a°d i  unless  rejected  by  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast, 
shall  take  effect  and  be  in  force  on  and  after  the  2d 
day  of  March,  A.  D.  1861.  Provided  that  in  the  rep- 
resentative district  of  El  Paso  said  election  may  be 
held  on  the  18th  day  of  February,  1861. 

Done  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Texas,  in  con- 
vention assembled,  at  Austin,  the  1st  dav  of  February, 
A.  D.  1861. 

Public  sentiment  was  in  favor  of  joining  a 
Southern  Confederacy,  and  on  the  llth  an  or- 
dinance was  passed  favoring  the  formation  of 
such  a  Confederacy,  and  electing  seven  dele- 
gates to  a  Southern  Congress. 

On  the  14th  the  Convention  adjourned  to 
the  20th  of  February. 

The  vote  to  refer  the  ordinance  of  secession 


to  the  people  was  quite  as  unanimous  hi  the 
Convention  as  was  that  on  the  adoption  of  the 
ordinance.  The  election  of  delegates  being  to 
some  extent  informal,  and  scarcely  half  of  the 
vote  of  the  State  having  been  cast,  it  was 
thought  best  that  the  ordinance  of  secession 
should  receive  the  sanction  of  the  people  before 
it  should  be  declared  final.  It  was  submitted  to 
the  voters  of  the  State  on  the  23d  of  February, 
which  election  was  legalized  by  the  Legislature, 
and  approved  by  the  Governor  under  a  protest 
against  the  shortness  of  time  intervening  be- 
tween the  passage  of  the  ordinance  and  the 
day  of  election.  The  vote  in  eighty  counties 
of  the  State  was :  For  secession,  34,794 ;  against 
secession,  11,235.  Majority  for  secession,  23,559. 
The  vote  at  the  Presidential  election  in  Novem- 
ber previous  was:  Lincoln, ;  Douglas, 

;  Breckinridge,  47,548;  Bell,  15,438. 

On  the  2d  of  March  the  Convention  reas- 
sembled without  a  quorum,  and  on  the  4th  the 
vote  was  counted.  When  the  result  was  an- 
nounced in  the  Convention,  and  the  President 
declared  that  Texas  was  a  free  and  indepepdent 
State,  there  immediately  ensued  a  tremendous 
burst  of  cheers  and  enthusiastic  applause. 

On  the  5th  the  Convention  passed  an  ordi- 
nance instructing  the  delegates,  whom  it  had 
previously  appointed  to  the  Southern  Con- 
gress, to  apply  for  the  admission  of  Texas  into 
the  Southern  Confederacy,  and  to  that  end  to 
give  the  adhesion  of  Texas  to°the  Provisional 
Constitution  of  the  said  Confederacy. 

The  numerical  strength  of  the  United  States 
army  in  Texas  was  about  2,500  men,  divided 
into  thirty-seven  companies — twenty-two  in- 
fantry, five  artillery,  and  ten  cavalry.  Twenty 
companies  were  on  the  Rio  Grande — fifteen 
infantry,  and  five  artillery.  The  other  seven- 
teen companies  were  stationed  in  the  interior, 
from  Camp  Cooper,  Phantom  Hill,  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  State,  south  as  far  as  San 
Antonio  and  Fort  Inge,  near  Fort  Duncan,  on 
the  Rio  Grande. 

On  the  withdrawal  of  these  troops,  their 
places  on  the  Rio  Grande. were  supplied  by 
State  militia  from  Galveston  and  the  neighbor- 
ing counties. 

Previous  to  this  time,  the  surrender  of  Major- 
General  Twiggs,  the  United  States  commander 
in  that  Department,  to  the  authorities  in  Texas, 
took  place.  This  caused  great  astonishment  at 
Washington,  where  it  was  hardly  anticipated. 
The  secession  of  the  State  was  not  then,  in  fact, 
concluded.  There  had  been  no  vote  of  the 
people  upon  the  ordinance.  The  United  States 
army  was  allowed  to  march  to  the  coast  by 
the  articles  of  agreement,  and  to  take  with 
them  their  side-arms,  facilities  for  transporta- 
tion and  subsistence,  as  well  as  two  batteries 
of  flying  artiUery  of  four  guns  each.  The  means 
of  transportation  were  to  be  surrendered,  and 
left  upon  arrival  at  the  coast.  By  this  treaty, 
without  one  drop  of  bloodshed,  and  "without 
sullying  in  the  least  the  honor  of  the  United 
States  army,"  Texas  came  into  possession  of 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


35 


over  thirteen  hundred  thousand  dollars'  worth 
of  property,  principally  consisting  of  munitions 
of  war. 

The  seizure  of  all  the  property  of  the  United 
States  was  complete.  The  revenue  cutter  was 
surrendered,  and  the  lighthouse  supply-vessel 
for  the  coast  was  captured.  This  vessel,  the 
Guthrie,  sailed  from  New  Bedford,  Massachu- 
setts, November  8,  1860,  with  a  full  cargo  of 
supplies  for  one  year  for  all  the  lighthouses  and 
light  vessels  between  Amelia  Island,  Georgia, 
and  the  Rio  Grande,  Texas.  The  master  in 
charge  reached  the  bay  at  Galveston  on  the  5th 
of  March,  for  the  purpose  of  delivering  the  year's 
supply  of  oil,  &c.,  to  the  Bolivar  Point  and  other 
lighthouses  in  that  vicinity.  While  he  was  ab- 
sent from  the  vessel-,  attending  to  the  delivery 
of  the  supplies,  the  Guthrie  was  boarded  by 
several  men,  accompanied  by  an  individual  call- 
ing himself  General  Sherman,  claiming  to  act 
by  authority,  and  under  the  orders  of  the  "  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  at  Galveston."  These  men  got 
the  vessel  under  weigh,  and  proceeded  with  her 
nearer  the  cutter,  where  she  was  detained. 

Some  detachments  of  United  States  troops 
still  remained  in  the  State,  and  these  were  made 
prisoners,  and  released  upon  parole.  On  the 
24th  of  April,  Colonel  Van  Dorn,  with  a  Texan 
force  on  steamers,  came  down  from  Indianola 
to  Saluria,  and  anchored  near  the  schooners 
having  on  board  the  United  States  troops  un- 
der Major  Sibley,  numbering  450.  An  inter- 
view took  place  during  the  next  day  between 
the  commanding  officers,  which  ended  in  the 
surrender  of  the  entire  Federal  force  as  prison- 
ers of  war.  The  officers  were  to  be  released 
on  parole,  and  the  men  on  their  oaths  that  they 
would  not  take  up  arms  against  the  Southern 
Confederacy,  after  surrendering  their  arms  and 
all  the  property  of  the  companies ;  such  of  the 
men  and  officers  as  desired  were  to  be  received 
into  the  Confederate  army.  Private  property 
was  not  to  be  molested,  and  the  soldiers  were 
not  permitted  to  leave  the  State  except  by  way 
of  Galveston  and  the  Mississippi  River. 

On  the  9th  of  May,  six  companies  of  the  8th 
United  States  infantry,  under  command  of 
Lieut-Colonel  Reeve,  surrendered  to  a  Con- 
federate force  under  Colonel  Van  Dorn,  near 
San  Lucas  Springs,  about  twenty-two  miles 
west  of  San  Antonio,  and  on  the  Castroville 
road.  Colonel  Reeve's  command  consisted  of 
366  rank  and  file,  with  their  appropriate  officers, 
together  with  Colonel  Bumford  and  several 
other  officers  who  were  on  leave,  or  under 
orders  to  report  at  other  points,  and  who,  taking 
advantage  of  the  troops  coming  to  San  Antonio, 
sought  and  obtained  the  escort  of  the  same. 

Colonel  Van  Dorn  left  his  camp  on  the  Leon 
at  four  o'clock  on  Thursday  morning,  the  8th, 
and  took  a  position  previously  selected,  about 
two  miles  to  the  westward  on  the  road  leading 
to  Castroville,  where  he  formed  his  command 
into  line  of  battle.  Shortly  after  daylight  the 
pickets  and  spies  reported  Colonel  Reeve  as 
Laving  left  his  camp  at  two  o'clock  A.  M.,  as 


had  been  his  custom  on  this  march,  and  having 
reached  the  high  ridge  of  land  ne*ar  San  Lucas 
Springs,  and  at  the  ranche  of  Mr.  Adams,  where 
he  had  halted  his  command,  taken  possession 
of  the  large  stone  house,  barricaded  the  road 
with  his  wagons,  and  placed  his  troops  in  posi- 
tion behind  the  strong  corral  fences  and  in  the 
stone  house,  apparently  to  await  the  assault. 

Upon  this  being  announced  to  the  colonel 
commanding  the  Confederate  troops,  he  ordered 
a  forward  movement  of  the  whole  command, 
and  gave  directions  for  the  forming  of  the  h'ne 
of  battle.  The  infantry,  under  the  command 
of  Lieut.-Col.  Duff,  were  placed  on  the  right ; 
the  battery  of  flying  artillery — six  pieces,  12- 
pounders — under  Capt.  Edgar,  in  the  centre, 
with  the  cavalry  and  mounted  troops  under  Col. 
H.  E.  McCulloch  on  the  left ;  the  whole  com- 
mand, numbering  some  1,500  troops  of  all  arms, 
presenting  a  very  fine  appearance,  with  banners 
flying,  drums  beating,  sabres  and  bayonets  glit- 
tering in  the  meridian  sun,  horses  pawing  and 
neighing,  the  field  officers  flying  from  one  end 
of  the  field  to  another,  carrying  the  commands 
of  their  chief. 

Under  a  flag  of  truce,  borne  by  Capts.  Wil- 
cox  and  Majors,  a  demand  was  made  of  an  un- 
conditional surrender  of  the  United  States 
troops  as  prisoners  of  war,  and  five  minutes 
given  to  answer  it.  Col.  Reeve  would  not  agree 
to  the  terms  unless  Col.  Van  Dorn  would  con- 
vince him  that  he  had  sufficient  strength  to  en- 
force them,  by  permitting  an  officer  of  his  com- 
mand, whom  he  would  designate,  to  see  the 
troops  and  report  to  him ;  the  prompt  answer 
returned  was,  that  he  should  have  that  oppor- 
tunity to  see  the  troops,  and  the  more  he  saw 
of  them  the  less  he  would  like  it.  The  officer 
designated  by  Col.  Reeve  was  Lieut.  Bliss, 
a  young  officer  of  distinguished  bravery,  well 
known  in  the  United  States  army,  who  mount- 
ed a  horse,  rode  down  the  line  of  Confederate 
troops,  and  was  repeatedly  cheered.  Suffice  it 
to  say,  on  his  report  Col.  Reeve  surrendered 
with  his  command,  together  with  all  the  public 
property  in  his  possession,  unconditionally,  as 
prisoners  of  war,  giving  his  word  of  honor  that 
he  would  report  himself  and  command  at  Col. 
Van  Dorn's  camp  on  the  Leon  that  evening  at 
6  o'clock. 

The  Confederates  then  retired  to  camp,  where 
they  arrived  about  3  o'clock  p.  M.  At  5 
o'clock  P.  M.  Col.  Reeve's  command  arrived  in 
camp,  and  their  ground  being  designated  by 
the  proper  officer,  they  pitched  their'  tents  as 
orderly,  and  stacked  their  arms  with  as  much 
precision,  as  if  on  inspection  parade.  Next 
morning  at  5  o'clock  the  infantry  and  cavalry 
struck  their  tents  and  marched  into  San  Anto- 
nio, where  they  arrived  in  good  condition  at  6 
o'clock.  Col.  Reeve's  command  marched  to 
the  San  Pedro  Springs,  two  miles  above  San 
Antonio,  to  a  camp  designated  by  a  proper  offi- 
cer, where  all  the  arms  and  Government  prop- 
erty were  given  up.  Other  States  now  rapidly 
followed  in  the  secession  movement. 


36 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


The  State  Convention  of  Virginia  met  at 
Richmond  oh  the  13th  of  February.  John 
Janney,  of  London,  was  elected  President  of 
the  Convention,  and  upon  taking  the  chair  ho 
made  an  address  friendly  to  the  Union,  but  said 
that  Virginia  would  insist  on  her  own  construc- 
tion of  her  rights  as  a  condition  of  her  remain- 
ing in  the  present  Union.  The  next  day  was 
devoted  to  perfecting  the  organization. 

The  object  of  the  people  of  Virginia,  as  ex- 
pressed by  their  Legislature,  and  by  their  vote 
at  the  election  for  delegates  to  the  Convention, 
was,  if  it  could  be  done,  honorably  "  to  restore 
the  Union  of  the  States,  and  preserve  that 
Union  for  all  time  to  come." 

On  the  16th  numerous  resolutions  were  of- 
fered, which,  while  expressing  a  hope  that  the 
difficulties  then  existing  might  be  reconciled 
and  the  Union  perpetuated,  yet  denounced  the 
idea  of  coercing  in  any  way  the  seceding  States. 

Mr.  "Wise,  of  Princess  Anne,  reiterated  his 
policy  of  fighting  in  the  Union,  and  counselled 
speedy  action. 

Mr.  Moore,  of  Rockingham,  opposed  haste. 
He  would  not  be  driven  by  the  North,  nor 
dragged  by  the  cotton  States,  who  had  acted 
without  consulting  Virginia. 

Addresses  were  also  made  to  the  Convention 
by  the  Commissioners  from  other  States  who 
were  present.  Mr.  Preston,  from  South  Caro- 
lina, in  his  remarks,  said  that  the  Union  could 
never  be  reconstructed  "  unless  power  should 
unfix  the  economy  of  good.  No  sanctity  of 
human  touch  could  reunite  the  people  of  the 
North  and  South." 

On  the  20th  of  February,  numerous  resolu- 
tions were  offered  and  referred.  They  gen- 
erally expressed  an  attachment  to  the  Union 
and  the  desire  for  an  equitable  settlement,  but 
denounced  coercion,  and  declared  a  purpose  to 
resist  it.  Others  maintained  that  the  union 
of  the  South  was  the  safety  of  the  South,  and 
that  each  State  should  speedily  resume  the 
powers  delegated  to  the  General  Government. 
A  resolution  was  offered  to  raise  a  cominittee 
to  inquire  whether  any  movement  of  arms  or 
men  had  been  made  by  the  General  Govern- 
ment toward  strengthening  any  fort  or  arsenal 
in  or  bordering  on  Virginia,  indicating  prepa- 
rations for  an  attack  or  coercion.  It  was  laid 
on  the  table  without  further  action,  but  taken 
up  the  next  day  and  adopted.  The  report  of 
the  committee  on  the  election  of  members 
stated  that  all  the  counties  except  sixteen  had 
sent  in  returns  thus  far,  and  the  majority  for 
referring  the  action  of  the  Convention  to  the 
people  was  52,857. 

The  Convention  was  occupied  with  debates 
on  general  subjects  until  April  13th.  On  that 
day  the  debate  turned  exclusively  upon  the 
surrender  of  Fort  Sumter.  Messrs.  Carlile  and 
Early  deprecated  the  action  of  South  Carolina 
in  firing  upon  the  fort,  and  expressed  devotion 
to  the  flag  of  their  country.  Others  applauded 
the  gallantry  of  South  Carolina,  and  main- 
tained that  whatever  the  Convention  might 


do,  the  people  would  take  Virginia  out  of  the 
Union. 

A  communication  was  received  from  the  Gov- 
ernor, submitting  a  despatch  from  Gov.  Pickens, 
giving  an  account  of  Friday's  bombardment. 
He  said  :  "  There  was  not  a  man  at  our  batteries 
hurt.  The  fort  fired  furiously  upon  us.  Our 
iron  battery  did  great  damage  to  the  south  wall 
of  the  fort ;  the  shells  fell  freely  into  the  fort, 
and  the  effect  is  supposed  to  be  serious,  as  they 
are  not  firing  this  morning.  Our '  Enfield '  bat- 
tery dismounted  three  of  Anderson's  largest 
columbiads.  We  will  take  the  fort,  and  can 
sink  the  ships  if  they  attempt  to  pass  the  chan- 
nel. If  they  land  elsewhere  we  can  whip  them. 
"We  have  now  7,000  of  the  best  troops  in  the 
world,  and  a  reserve  of  10,000  on  the  routes  to 
the  harbor.  The  war  has  commenced,  and  we 
will  triumph  or  perish.  Please  let  me  know 
what  your  State  intends  to  do." 

Governor  Letcher  replied :  "  The  Convention 
will  determine." 

On  the  15th  the  reply  of  the  President  was 
presented  by  the  Commissioners.  A  resolution 
was  offered  to  go  into  secret  session  to  consider 
this  report.  A  debate  followed.  The  procla- 
mation of  President  Lincoln,  calling  for  sev- 
enty-five thousand  men,  constituted  the  prin- 
cipal theme.  Messrs.  Scott  and  Preston  (Union- 
ists) declared,  that  if  the  President  meant  sub- 
jugation of  the  South,  Virginia  had  but  one 
course  to  pursue.  A  difference  of  opinion  ex- 
isted as  to  whether  it  would  be  best  to  secede 
immediately,  or  await  the  cooperation  of  the 
Border  States,  and  it  was  believed  the  alter- 
native propositions  would  be  submitted  to  the 
people.  Some  delegates  doubted  the  authen- 
ticity of  the  proclamation,  and,  in  deference  to 
their  wishes,  the  Convention  adjourned. 

The  reply  of  the  Governor  to  the  requisition 
of  the  Secretary  of  War  was  made  on  the  16th, 
as  follows : 

EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT,  EICHMOND.  VA.,  April  16, 1861. 
Eon.  Simon  Cameron,  Secretary  of  War. 

SIR  :  I  received  vour  telegram  of  the  15th,  the  gen- 
uineness of  which  1  doubted.  Since  that  time  I  have 
received  your  communication,  mailed  the  same  day, 
in  which  I  am  requested  to  detach  from  the  militia 
of  the  State  of  Virginia  "the  quota  designated  in  a 
table,"  which  you  append,  "to  serve  as  infantry  or 
riflemen  for  the  period  of  three  months,  unless  soon- 
er discharged." 

In  reply  to  this  communication,  I  have  only  to  say 
that  the  militia  of  Virginia  will  not  be  furnished  to 
the  powers  at  Washington  for  any  such  use  or  pur- 
pose as  they  have  in  view.  Your  object  is  to  subju- 
gate the  Southern  States,  and  a  requisition  made 
upon  me  for  such  an  object — an  object,  in  my  judg- 
ment, not  within  the  purview  of  the  Constitution  or 
the  act  of  1795— Will  not  be  complied  with.  You  have 
chosen  to  inaugurate  civil  war,  and,  having  done  so, 
we  will  meet  U  in  a  spirit  as  determined  as  the  ad- 
ministration has  exhibited  toward  the  South. 

Respectfully,  JOHN  LETCHER. 

On  the  16th  the  Convention  assembled  in 
secret  session.  This  was  immediately  after  the 
surrender  of  Fort  Sumter. 

On  the  17th  an  ordinance  of  secession  was 
passed  by  the  Convention.  The  vote  was  88  in 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


37 


its  favor  and  55  against  it.  Only  91  delegates 
had  signed  it  at  the  expiration  of  the  first  month 
after  its  passage.  It  is  stated  by  a  member  that 
when  the  Convention  assembled,  a  clear  ma- 
jority was  for  the  Union,  at  which  a  mob  ex- 
citement existed  in  Richmond.  It  was  then 
calculated  that  if  ten  Union  men  could  be  kept 
away,  there  would  be  a  majority  for  secession. 
Accordingly,  ten  members  were  waited  upon 
and  informed  that  they  were  given  the  choice 
of  doing  one  of  three  things:  either* to  vote 
for  the  secession  ordinance,  to  absent  them- 
selves, or  to  be  hanged.  Resistance  was  found 
to  be  useless,  and  the  t§n  yielded  and  were 
absent.  The  report  of  the  vote,  however, 
shows  that  at  the  final  moment  the  majority 
in  favor  of  the  ordinance  was  large. 

The  following  is  the  Ordinance  of  Secession : 

An  Ordinance  to  repeal  the-  ratification  of  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  United,  States  of  America,  by  the  State 
of  Virginia,  and  to  resume  all  the  rights  and  powers 
granted  under  said  Constitution. 
The  people  of  Virginia,  in  the  ratification   of  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  of  America,  adopted 
by  them  in  Convention,  on  the  25th  day  of  June,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven   hundred  and 
eighty-eight,  having  declared  that  the  powers  granted 
under  the  said  Constitution  were  derived  from  the  peo- 
ple of  the  United  States,  and  might  be  resumed  whenso- 
ever the  same  should  be  perverted  to  their  injury  and 
oppression,  and  the  Federal  Government  having  per- 
verted said  powers,  not  only  to  the  injury  of  the  people 
of  Virginia,  but  to  the  oppression  of  the  Southern 
slaveholding  States ; 

Now,  therefore,  we,  the  people  of  Virginia,  do 
declare  and  ordain,  that  the  Ordinance  adopted  by  the 
people  of  this  State  in  Convention  on  the  twenty-fifth 
day  of  June,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eighty-eight,  whereby  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States  of  America  was  ratified, 
and  all  acts  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State  rati- 
fying or  adopting  amendments  to  said  Constitution, 
are  hereby  repealed  and  abrogated ;  that  the  union 
between  th|  State  of  Virginia  and  the  other  States 
under  the  Constitution  aforesaid  is  hereby  dissolved, 
and  that  the  State  of  Virginia  is  in  the  full  possession 
and  exercise  of  all  the  rights  of  sovereignty  which  be- 
long and  appertain  to  a  free  and  independent  State. 
And  they  do  further  declare  that  said  Constitution  of 
the  United  States  of  America  is  no  longer  binding  on 
any  of  the  citizens  of  this  State. 

This  Ordinance  shall  take  effect  and  be  an  act  of  this 
day,  when  ratified  by  a  majority  of  the  votes  of  the 
people  of  this  State,  cast  at  a  poll  to  be  taken  thereon, 
on  the  fourth  Thursday  in  May  next,  in  pursuance  of 
a  schedule  hereafter  to  be  enacted. 

Done  in  Convention  in  the  city  of  Richmond,  on  the 
seventeenth  day  of  April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand   eight  hundred  and  sixty-one,  and  in  the 
eighty-fifth  year  of  the  commonwealth  of  Virginia. 
A  true  copy,  JNO.  L.  EUBANK, 

Secretary  of  Convention. 

At  the  same  time  the  Convention  passed  an 
ordinance  requiring  the  Governor  to  call  out  as 
many  volunteers  as  might  be  necessary  to  repel 
invasion,  and  to  protect  the  citizens  of  the 
State.  The  following  is  the  Governor's  Procla- 
mation : 

Whereas  seven  of  the  States  formerly  composing  a 
part  of  the  United  States  have,  by  authority  of  their 
people,  solemnly  resumed  the  powers  granted  by  them 
to  the  United  States,  and  have  framed  a  Constitution  and 
organized  a  Government  for  themselves,  to  which  the 


people  of  those  States  are  yielding  willing  obedience, 
and  have  so  notified  the  President  of  the  United  States 
by  all  the  formalities  incident  to  such  action,  and 
thereby  become  to  the  United  States  a  separate,  inde- 
pendent, and  foreign  Power ;  and  whereas  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States  has  invested  Congress  with 
the  sole  power  "  to  declare  war,"  and  until  such  decla- 
ration is  made  the  President  has  no  authority  to  call 
for  an  extraordinary  force  to  wage  offensive  war 
against  any  foreign  Power;  and  whereas  on  the  15th 
instant  the  President  of  the  United  States,  in  plain 
violation  of  the  Constitution,  issued  a  proclamation 
calling  for  a  force  of  seventy-five  thousand  men,  to 
cause  the  laws  of  the  United  States  to  be  duly  executed 
over  a  people  who  are  no  longer  a  part  of  the  Union, 
and  in  said  proclamation  threatens  to  exert  this  un- 
usual force  to  compel  obedience  to  his  mandates ;  and 
whereas  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia,  by  a  ma- 
jority approaching  to  entire  unanimity,  declared  at  its 
last  session  that  the  State  of  Virginia  would  consider 
such  an  exertion  of  force  as  a  virtual  declaration  of 
war,  to  be  resisted  by  all  the  power  at  the  command 
of  Virginia;  and  subsequently,  the  Convention  now 
in  session,  representing  the  sovereignty  of  this  State, 
has  re-affirmed  in  substance  the  same  policy,  with 
almost  equal  unanimity ;  and  whereas  the  State  of 
Virginia  deeply  sympathizes  with  the  Southern  States 
in  tne  wrongs  they  have  suffered  and  in  the  position 
they  have  assumed,  and  having  made  earnest  efforts 
peaceably  to  compose  the  differences  which  have 
severed  the  Union,  and  having  failed  in  that  attempt 
through  this  unwarranted  act  on  the  part  of  the  Presi- 
dent ;  and  it  is  believed  that  the  influences  which  op- 
erate to  produce  this  proclamation  against  the  Seceded 
States  will  be  brought  to  bear  upon  this  Common- 
wealth if  she  should  exercise  her  undoubted  rights  to 
resume  the  powers  granted  by  her  people,  and  it  is 
due  to  the  honor  of  Virginia  that  an  improper  exercise 
of  force  against  her  people  should  be  repelled  : 

Therefore  I,  John  Letcher,  Governor  of  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Virginia,  have  thought  proper  to  order 
all  armed  volunteer  regiments  or  companies  within 
this  State  forthwith  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness 
for  immediate  orders,  and  upon  the  reception  of  this 
proclamation  to  report  to  the  Adjutant-General  of  the 
State  their  organization  and  numbers,  and  prepare 
themselves  for  efficient  service.  Such  companies  as 
are  not  armed  and  equipped  will  report  that  fact  that 
they  may  be  properly  supplied. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my 
hand,  and  caused  the  seal  of  the  Common- 
[L.  s.]      wealth  to  be  affixed,  this  17th  day  of  April, 
1861,  and  in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  the  Com- 
monwealth. JOHN  LETCHER. 

During  the  next  day,  it  was  announced  from 
the  hall  of  the  Convention,  that  an  ordinance 
of  secession  had  been  passed,  to  take  effect  as 
an  act  of  that  day,  should  the  same  be  ratified 
by  the  people  on  a  vote  to  be  taken  thereon  on 
the  fourth  Thursday  of  May.  The  intelligence 
spread  throughout  Richmond  and  produced 
immense  excitement.  Loud  and  prolonged 
cheering  proceeded  from  the  assembled  crowds. 
In  a  very  short  time  a  rush  was  made  by  a 
party  of  citizens  to  the  custom-house,  for  the 
purpose  of  signalizing  the  act  of  secession  in  a 
more  demonstrative  manner.  The  gilt  letter 
sign,  "  United  States  Court,"  over  the  portico 
was  speedily  displaced  and  taken  down,  and 
the  occupants  of  the  building  notified  that  the 
United  States  jurisdiction  over  the  property  had 
ceased.  The  next  act  was  to  raise  a  Southern 
Confederacy  flag,  with  eight  stars,  over  the 
capitol,  in  which  the  Convention  held  ita 
sessions. 


38 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


The  Confederate  flag  was  displayed  on  the 
same  day  from  the  custom-house,  hotels,  and 
private  residences,  eight  stars  being  generally 
the  number  on  the  flag — one  having  been  added 
for  Virginia.  The  custom-house  was  also  taken 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  United  States  officials, 
and  placed  under  a  guard  of  State  troops.  The 
steamships  Yorktown  and  Jamestown  (belong- 
ing to  the  Virginia  and  New  York  Steamship 
Company)  were  both  seized  and  put  in  charge 
of  Virginia  State  troops.  Many  other  seizures 
were  also  made. 

The  Traders'  Bank  at  Richmond  tendered  the 
State  a  loan  of  $50,000. 

A  proclamation  was  issued  by  the  Gov- 
ernor, prohibiting  the  exportation  of  flour, 
grain,  and  provisions  from  Virginia,  and  an- 
other was  issued  ordering  all  private  vessels 
and  property  recently  seized  or  detained,  with 
the  exception  of  the  steamers  Jamestown  and 
Yorktown,  to  be  released  and  delivered  up  to 
their  masters  or  owners.  For  this  purpose 
proper  officers  of  the  State  were  assigned  to 
each  of  the  rivers  Rappahannock,  York,  Po- 
tomac, and  James,  with  orders  to  release  such 
vessels  and  property,  and  give  certificates  for 
damages  incurred  by  their  seizure  or  detention. 

The  supply  of  troops,  under  the  call  of  the 
Governor  authorized  by  tire  State  Convention, 
was  so  great  that  further  orders  were  issued 
directing  no  more  troops  to  proceed  to  Rich- 
mond until  called  for.  About  6,000  had  as- 
sembled there,  and  4,000  at  Harper's  Ferry. 

An  intelligent  citizen  of  Richmond  thus  de- 
scribes the  military  spirit  existing  there  on  the 
25th  of  April :  "  Our  beautiful  city  presents  the 
appearance  of  an  armed  camp.  Where  all  these 
soldiers  come  from,  in  such  a  state  of  preparation, 
I  cannot  imagine.  Every  train  pours  in  its  mul- 
titude of  volunteers,  but  I  am  not  as  much  sur- 
prised at  the  number  as  at  the  apparent  disci- 
pline of  the  country  companies.  Some  of  them 
really  march  like  regulars,  and  with  their  stal- 
wart forms,  dark,  fierce  countenances,  and  the 
red-coated  negro  fifers  and  drummers  in  front, 
present  quite  a  picturesque  as  well  as  most 
warlike  aspect. 

"  General  R.  E.  Lee,  late  of  the  United  States 
Army,  has  been  appointed  by  the  Governor  to 
the  chief  command  of  the  Virginia  forces. 
Colonel  Walter  Gwynn,  formerly  of  the  United 
States  Army,  received  a  commission  of  Major- 
General. 

"  Yesterday  evening,  in  addition  to  the  large 
force  pouring  in  from  all  parts  of  the  country, 
five  hunded  troops  arrived  from  South  Carolina, 
under  command  of  Brigadier-General  M.  D. 
Bonham.  About  the  same  number  from  the 
same  State  will  arrive  to-day. 

"  The  Cadets  of  the  Virginia  Military  Insti- 
tute, under  the  Superintendent  and  officers,  are 
here  drilling  and  disciplining  the  various  com- 
panies of  military  who  require  such  aid.  But 
I  can  give  you  no  idea  of  the  military  spirit  of 
the  State.  Augusta  County,  a  strong  Whig 
Union  county  in  Western  Virginia,  and  Rock- 


ingham,  an  equally  strong  Democratic  Union 
county,  lying  side  by  side  with  Augusta,  each 
contribute  1,500  men  to  the  war.  These  are 
like  all  our  volunteer  companies,  farmers,  me- 
chanics, professional  men,  the  bone  and  sinew 
of  the  country.  It  was  of  Augusta  that  Wash- 
ington said  in  the  darkest  hour  of  the  Revolu- 
tion that,  if  defeated  everywhere  else,  he 
would  unfurl  a  banner  on  the  mountains  of 
Augusta,  and  raise  the  prostrate  form  of  Liberty 
from  th§  dust.  Amherst  County,  with  a  voting 
population  of  only  1,500,  contributes  1,000  vol- 
unteers. 

"  But  the  war  spirit  is  not  confined  to  the  men 
nor  to  the  white  population.  The  ladies  are 
not  only  preparing  comforts  for  the  soldiers, 
but  arming  and  practising  themselves.  Com- 
panies of  boys,  also,  from  ten  to  fourteen  years 
of  age,  fully  armed  and  well  drilled,  are  pre- 
paring for  the  fray.  In  Petersburg  300  free 
negroes  offered  their  services,  either  to  fight 
under  white  officers,  or  to  ditch  and  dig,  or  any 
kind  of  labor.  An  equal  number  in  this  city 
and  across  the  river  in  Chesterfield  have  volun- 
teered in  like  manner." 

The  lights  on  the  Virginia  shore  of  Chesa- 
peake Bay  were  removed  or  extinguished,  by 
order  of  the  authorities  of  the  State. 

The  accession  of  Virginia  to  the  Southern 
Confederacy  was  announced  by  the  Governor 
in  the  following  proclamation : 

Whereas  the  Convention  of  this  Commonwealth 
has,  on  this,  the  25th  day  of  April,  1861,  adopted  an 
ordinance  "  for  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the 
Provisional  Government  of  the  Confederate  States  of 
America ;"  and  has  agreed  to  a  "  Convention  between 
the  Commonwealth  ofvirsinifl  and  the  Confederated 
States  of  America,  which  it  is  proper  should  be  made 
known  to  the  people  of  this  Commonwealth  and  to  the 
world : 

Therefore,  I,  John  Letcher,  Governor  of  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Virginia,  do  hereby  publish  and  proclaim 
that  the  following  are  authentic  copies  of  tue  Ordinance 
and  Convention  aforesaid. 

Given  under  my  hand  as  Governor,  and  under 

the  seal  of  the  Commonwealth  at  Richmond, 

[L.  ».]     this  twenty-fifth  of  April,  one  thousand  eight 

hundred  and  sixty-one,  and  in  the  eighty-fifth 

year  of  the  Commonwealth. 

JOHN  LETCHER. 
By  the  Governor. 
GEO.  W.  MUNFORD,  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth. 


An  Ordinance  for  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of 
the  Provisional  Government  of  the  Confederate 
States  of  America. 

We,  the  delegates  of  the  people  of  Virginia,  in  Con- 
vention assembled,  solemnly  impressed  by  the  perils 
which  surround  the  Commonwealth,  and  appealing  to 
the  Searcher  of  hearts  for  the  rectitude  of  our  inten- 
tions in  assuming  the  grave  responsibility  of  this  act, 
do  by  this  Ordinance  adopt  and  ratify  the  Constitution 
of  the  Provisional  Government  of  the  Confederate 
States  of  America,  ordained  and  established  at  Mont- 
gomery, Alabama,  on  the  eighth  day  of  February, 
eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-one ;  provided  that  this 
Ordinance  shall  cease  to  have  any  legal  operation  or 
effect  if  the  people  of  this  Commonwealth,  upon  the 
vote  directed  to  be  taken  on  the  Ordinance  of  Secession 
passed  by  this  Convention,  on  the  seventeenth  day  of 
April,  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-one,  shall  reject  the 
same.  A  true  copy. 

'    JNO.  L.  EUBANK,  Secretary. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


39 


Convention  'between  the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia  and 
the  Confederate  States  of  America. 

The  Commonwealth  of  Virginia,  looking  to  a  speedy 
union  of  said  Commonwealth  and  the  other  slave 
States  with  th|i  Confederate  States  of  America,  ac- 
cording to  the"^ovisions  of  the  Constitution  for  the 
Provisional  Government  of  said  States,  enters  into 
the  following  temporary  Convention  and  agreement 
with  said  States,  for  the  purpose  of  meeting  pressing 
exigencies  affecting  the  common  rights,  interests,  and 
safety  of  said  Commonwealth  and  said  Confederacy : 

1st.  Until  the  union  of  said  Commonwealth  with 
said  Confederacy  shall  be  perfected,  and  said  Com- 
monwealth shall  become  a  member  of  said  Confed- 
eracy, according  to  the  Constitutions  of  both  powers, 
the  whole  military  force  and  military  operations,  of- 
fensive and  defensive,  of  said  Commonwealth,  in  the 
impending  conflict  with  the  United  States,  shall  be 
under  the  chief  control  and  direction  of  the  President 
of  said  Confederate  States,  upon  the  same  principles, 
basis,  and  footing  as  if  said  Commonwealth  were 
now,  and  during  the  interval,  a  member  of  said  Con- 
federacy. 

2d.  The  Commonwealth  of  Virginia  will,  after  the 
consummation  of  the  union  contemplated  in  this  Con- 
vention, and  her  adoption  of  the  Constitution  for  a 
permanent  Government  of  said  Confederate  States, 
and  she  shall  become  a  member  of  said  Confederacy 
under  said  permanent  Constitution,  if  the  same  oc- 
cur, turn  over  to  said  Confederate  States  all  the  pub- 
lic property,  naval  stores,  and  munitions  of  war,  etc., 
she  may  then  be  in  possession  of,  acquired  from  the 
United  States,  on  the  same  terms  and  in  like  manner 
as  the  other  States  of  said  Confederacy  have  done  in 
like  cases. 

3d.  Whatever  expenditures  of  money,  if  any,  said, 
Commonwealth  of  Virginia  shall  make  before  the 
union  under  the  Provisional  Government,  as  above 
contemplated,  shall  be  consummated,  shall  be  met 
and  p_rovided  for  by  said  Confederate  States. 

This  Convention  entered  into  and  agreed  to  in  the 
city  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  on  the  twenty-fourth  day 
of  April,  1861,  by  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  the  duly 
authorized  commissioner  to  act  in  the  matter  for  the 
suid  Confederate  States,  and  John  Tvler,  William 
Ballard  Preston,  Samuel  McD.  Moore,  James  P.  Hoi- 
combe,  James  C.  Bruce,  and  Lewis  E.  Harvie,  parties 
duly  authorized  to  act  in  like  manner  for  said  Com- 
monwealth>of  Virginia ;  the  whole  subject  to  the  ap- 
proval and"'  ratification  of  the  proper  authorities  of 
both  Governments  respectively. 

Iii  testimony  whereof  the  parties  aforesaid  have 
hereto  set  their  hands  and  seals,  the  day  and  year 
aforesaid  and  at  the  place  aforesaid,  in  duplicate 
originals. 

j>.  s.]  ALEXANDER  H.  STEPHENS, 

Commissioner  for  Confederate  States. 
JOHN  TYLER,  WM.  BALLARD  PRESTON,  S. 

[!~  s  1  McD.  MOORE,  JAMES  P.  HOLCOMBE,  JAMES 
C.  BRUCE,  LEWIS  E.  HARVIE,  Commis- 
missioners  for  Virginia. 

Approved  and  ratified  by  the  Convention  of  Vir- 
ginia, on  the  25th  day  of  April,  1861. 

JOHN  JANNEY,  President. 

JNO.  L.  EUBANK,  Secretary. 

In  Western  Virginia,  on  the  23d  of  April,  at 
a  public  meeting  held  in  Clarksburg,  Harrison 
County,  eleven  delegates  were  appointed  to 
meet  delegates  from  other  northwestern  coun- 
ties at  Wheeling  on  May  13th,  to  determine 
what  course  should  be  pursued  in  the  present 
emergency.  This  movement  resulted  in  the 
separation  of  Western  from  Eastern  Virginia. 

The  State  Convention  adjourned  from  the 
first  of  May  to  the  eleventh  of  June.  The  in- 
junction of  secrecy  was  still  retained  as  to  their 
proceedings  relative  to  the  secession  ordinance. 


The  acts  of  violence  which  had  been  committed 
thus  far,  such  as  the  march  upon  Harper's  Fer- 
ry, and  the  sinking  of  vessels  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Elizabeth  River,  were  done  in  opposition  to 
the  authority  of  the  State.  The  Governor  re- 
fused to  consent  that  troops  should  he  ordered 
to  the  Ferry.  It  was  his  purpose  to  preserve 
the  State  in  an  uncommitted  position  until  after 
the  vote"  on  the  Ordinance  of  Secession.  The 
seizure  at  Harper's  Ferry  was,  however,  after- 
wards approved  by  him,  and  his  thanks  given 
to  the  party  who  made  it.  He  also  issued  his 
proclamation  calling  out  troops,  in  accordance 
with  the  requisition  of  the  Confederate  Govern- 
ment. Whatever  might  have  been  his  previous 
purposes,  he  seems  now  to  have  had  only  one 
object  in  view,  which  was,  to  secure  Virginia 
to  the  Southern  Confederacy.  The  vote  on  the 
Ordinance  of  Secession  in  the  Convention  was 
not  published  by  that  body.  It  was  rumored 
to  have  been — ayes  88,  nays  55.  Many  of  the 
negatives  were  subsequently  induced  to  acqui- 
esce with  the  majority. 

The  popular  vote  on  the  Ordinance  was 
almost  unanimously  against  it  in  Western 
Virginia",  while  with  equal  unanimity  Eastern 
Virginia  voted  in  favor  of  it.  It  was  carried 
by  a  large  majority  of  the  votes  cast.  The 
vote  in  the  city  of  Richmond  was  2,400  in 
favor  to  24  against  it,  being  less  than  half  the 
vote  (5,400)  polled  at  the  Presidential  election 
in  November  previous. 

Great  activity  took  place  in  Eastern  and 
Southwestern  Virginia  in  the  organization  and 
equipment  of  troops.  It  was  claimed  as  early 
as  the  20th  of  May,  that  the  whole  number 
volunteered  was  85,000,  and  that  48,000  of  these 
were  under  arms,  and  distributed  at  Richmond, 
Norfolk,  Petersburg,  Lynchburg,  Fredericks- 
burg,  Alexandria,  Staunton,  and  Harper's  Fer- 
ry. These  points  were  nearly  all  connected  by 
railroad.  There  were  said  to  be,  in  addition, 
about  8,000  from  other  States. 

As  the  troops  arrived  from  the  South,  Rich- 
mond became  the  general  rendezvous  whence, 
as  soon  as  inspected  and  properly  outfitted  for 
active  duty,  they  were  distributed  wherever 
most  needed.  By  another  estimate  there 
were,  by  the  5th  of  June,  in  active  service 
in  Virginia,  about  fifty  thousand  Confederate 
troops,  namely:  about  eight  thousand  at  or 
near  Manassas  Junction ;  about  five  thousand 
at  Fredericksburg  and  Aquia  Creek;  about 
twelve  thousand  at  Norfolk  and  its  neighbor- 
hood ;  about  five  thousand  at  Yorktown  and 
Williamsburg ;  and  about  fourteen  thousand  at 
Harper's  Ferry.  Of  this  aggregate,  nearly  all, 
exclusive  of  the  force  at  Harper's  Ferry,  were 
so  posted  that  they  could  be  concentrated  by 
railroad  at  any  point  between  Norfolk  and 
Alexandria  within  twenty-four  hours.  About 
forty  thousand,  it  was  calculated  at  Richmond, 
could  be  thrown  almost  at  once  upon  the  Union 
troops  whenever  they  might  present  themselves 
along  the  line.  Such  a  movement,  however, 
had  a  certain  degree  of  hazard  connected  with 


40 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


it,  as  any  concentration  by  which  they  with- 
drew their  troops  from  the  seaboard,  exposed 
them  to  invasion  by  forces  from  the  fleet. 

Arkansas  also  had  become  ripe  for  the  move- 
ment. On  the  16th  of  January  her  Legislature 
unanimously  passed  a  bill  submitting  the  Con- 
vention question  to  the  people  on  the  18th  of 
February.  If  a  majority  were  in  favor  of  a 
Convention,  the  Governor  should  appoint  the 
time  for  the  election  of  its  members. 

On  the  day  appointed  an  election  was  held 
throughout  the  State,  and  the  vote  in  favor  of 
holding  a  Convention  was  27,412 ;  against  it, 
15,826  ;  majority  for  a  Convention,  11,586. 
The  vote  of  the  State  at  the  Presidential  elec- 
tion in  November  was,  for  Douglas,  5,227; 
Breckinridge,  28,732 ;  Bell,  20,094. 

At  the  election  of  delegates  to  the  Conven- 
tion, the  Union  vote  was  23,626;  Secession, 
17,927;  Union  majority,  5,699. 

The  Convention  assembled  on  the  4th  of 
March,  and  organized  by  the  election  of  Union 
officers,  by  a  majority  of  six.  On  the  6th,  the 
inaugural  of  President  Lincoln  was  received, 
and  produced  an  unfavorable  impression  on  the 
minds  of  the  people.  Secession  was 'strongly 
urged  upon  the  Convention,  which  had  been 
regarded  as  containing  forty  members  opposed 
to  it,  and  thirty-five  in  favor  of  it. 

Various  resolutions  were  offered  and  referred 
to  appropriate  committees,  looking  to  an  en- 
dorsement, on  the  one  hand,  of  the  doctrine  of 
secession,  and  the  right  and  duty  of  Arkansas 
to  secede,  and  on  the  other  to  a  clear  definition 
of  the  position  Arkansas  should  take,  stopping 
short  of  secession,  with  a  view  to  the  security 
of  her  rights  in  the  Union. 

A  conditional  ordinance  of  secession  was 
debated,  with  a  clause  referring  it  back  to  the 
people  for  ratification  or  rejection.  This  was 
defeated  by  a  vote  of  ayes,  35 ;  noes,  39.  The 
Convention  was  disposed  to  pass  resolutions 
approving  the  propositions  of  Missouri  and  Vir- 
rjinia  for  a  conference  of  the  border  slave  States, 
and  providing  for  sending  five  delegates  to  said 
Conference  or  Convention,  and  agreeing  with 
Virginia  to  hold  said  Conference  at  Frankfort, 
Kentucky,  on  the  27th  of  May. 

At  Van  Buren  a  salute  of  thirty-nine  guns 
was  fired  in  honor  of  the  thirty-nine  members 
of  the  Convention  who  voted  against  the  seces- 
sion ordinance.  The  same  number  of  guns 
were  fired  at  Fort  Smith. 

On  the  17th,  an  ordinance  was  reported  by  a 
self-constituted  committee  composed  of  seven 
secessionists  and  seven  cooperationists,  as  a 
compromise  measure  between  the  two  parties. 
It  was  adopted  as  reported,  unanimously,  in  the 
Convention.  It  provided  for  an  election  to  be 
held  on  the  first  Monday  of  August,  at  which 
the  legal  voters  of  the  State  were  to  cast  their 
ballots  for  ''secession,"  or  for  "cooperation." 
If  on  that  day  a  majority  of  the  votes  were  cast 
for  secession,  that  fact  was  to  be  considered  in 
the  light  of  instructions  to  the  Convention  to 
pass  an  ordinance  severing  the  connection  of 


Arkansas  with  the  Union.  If,  on  the  other 
hand,  a  majority  of  the  votes  of  the  State  were 
cast  for  cooperation,  that  fact  would  be  an  in- 
struction to  the  Convention  immediately  to  take 
all  necessary  steps  for  cooperation  with  the 
border  or  unseceded  slave  States,  to  secure  a 
satisfactory  adjustment  of  all  sectional  contro- 
versies disturbing  the  country. 

The  next  session  of  the  Convention  was  to  be 
held  on  the  17th  of  August;  and  to  secure  the 
return  of  all  the  votes  of  each  county,  each 
delegate  was  made  a  special  returning  officer 
of  the  Convention  to  bring  the  vote  of  his 
county  to  the  Capitol. 

Besides  this  ordinance  submitting  the  propo- 
sition of  "secession"  or  "cooperation"  to  the 
vote  of  the  people,  resolutions  were  passed  pro- 
viding for  the  election  of  five  delegates  to  the 
border  slave  State  Convention,  proposed  by  the 
States  of  Virginia  and  Missouri,  to  be  held  some 
time  during  the  month  of  May.  Thus  the  pro- 
ceedings of  that  Convention  would  be  before 
the  people,  amply  canvassed  and  understood, 
when  the  vote  of  the  State  was  cast  on  the  first 
Monday  of  August. 

The  result  of  the  labors  of  the  Convention, 
although  not  exactly  what  either  party  desired, 
was  regarded  as  probably  more  nearly  satisfac- 
tory to  the  public  than  any  other  action  which 
could  have  been  taken  by  that  body.  Time 
was  given  for  investigation  and  deliberation  as 
to  consequences. 

Affairs  remained  quiet;  the  friends  of  the 
Union  were  hopeful ;  those  who  sympathized 
with  the  seceded  States  were  sanguine  that 
Arkansas  would  be  one  of  them.  The  capture 
of  Fort  Sumter,  and  the  subsequent  events, 
roused  Arkansas  to  take  a  stand  either  with  the 
North  or  with  the  South.  Together  with  the 
news  of  the  fall  of  the  fort,  there  came  also  the 
President's  Proclamation,  and  the  requisition  of 
the  Secretary  of  War  for  a  quota  of  troops  from 
Arkansas.  The  reply  of  the  Governor  to  this 
requisition  was  dated  the  22d  of  April.  It 
proved  him  to  be  decided  in  his  friendship  to 
the  secession  movement.  He  wrote  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  War  thus :  "  In  answer  to  your  requi- 
sition for  troops  from  Arkansas,  to  subjugate 
the  Southern  States,  I  have  to  say  that  none 
will  be  furnished.  The  demand  is  only  adding  in- 
sult to  injury.  The  people  of  this  Commonwealth 
are  freemen,  not  slaves,  and  will  defend  to  the 
last  extremity  their  honor,  lives,  and  property, 
against  Northern  mendacity  and  usurpation." 

The  President  of  the  State  Convention,  enter- 
taining similar  views,  immediately  issued  a  call 
requiring  it  to  reassemble  on  the  6th  of  May. 
The  call  was  dated  on  the  20th  of  April. 

On  the  6th  of  May  the  State  Convention 
met,  and  immediately  took  the  necessary  steps 
to  prepare  an  ordinance  to  sever  the  relations 
existing  between  the  State  and  the  other  States 
united  with  her  under  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States.  The  ordinance  was  prepared 
and  reported  to  the  Convention  at  three  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  and  was  passed  immediately, 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


41 


•with  only  one  dissenting  vote.  There  were 
sixty-nine  votes  in  the  affirmative,  and  one 
in  the  negative.  An  eye-witness  describes  the 
passage  of  the  ordinance  as  "  a  solemn  scene." 
Every  member  seemed  impressed  with  the  im- 
portance of  the  vote  he  was  giving.  The  hall 
of  the  House  of  Representatives  was  crowded 
almost  to  suffocation.  The  lobby,  the  gallery, 
and  the  floor  of  the  chamber  were  full,  and  the 
vast  crowd  seemed  excited  to  the  highest  pitch. 
A  profound  stillness  prevailed  all  the  time  as 
vote  after  vote  was  taken  and  recorded,  except 
occasionally,  when  some  well-known  Union 
member  would  rise  and  preface  his  vote  with 
expressions  of  stirring  patriotic  Southern  sen- 
timents, the  crowd  would  give  token  of  its 
approbation ;  but  the  announcement  of  the 
adoption  of  the  ordinance  was  the  signal  for 
one  general  acclamation  that  shook  the  build- 
ing. 

A  weight  seemed  suddenly  to  have  been 
lifted  off  the  hearts  of  all  present,  and  mani- 
festations of  the  most  intense  satisfaction  pre- 
vailed on  all  sides.  Immediate  steps  were  taken 
by  the  Convention  to  unite  with  the  Confeder- 
ation of  States.  The  ordinance  was  as  follows : 

Whereas,  in  addition  to  the  well-founded  causes 
of  complaint  set  forth  by  this  Convention,  in  resolu- 
tions adopted  on  the  llth  March,  A.  D.  1861,  against 
the  sectional  party  now  in  power  at  Washington 
City,  headed  by  Abraham  Lincoln,  he  has,  in  the 
face  of  resolutions  passed  by  this  Convention,  pledg- 
ing the  State  of  Arkansas  to  resist  to  the  last  ex- 
tremity any  attempt  on  the  part  of  such  power  to 
coerce  any  State  that  seceded  from  the  old  Union, 
proclaimed  to  the  world  that  war  should  be  waged 
against  such  States  until  they  should  be  compelled 
to  submit  to  their  rule,  and  large  forces  to  accom- 
plish this  have  by  this  same  power  been  called  out, 
and  are  now  being  marshalled  to  carry  out  this  in- 
human design,  and  to  longer  submit  to  such  rule 
or  remain  in  the  old  Union  of  the  United  States 
would  be  disgraceful  and  ruinous  to  the  State  of  Ar- 
kansas ; 

Therefore,  we,  the  people  of  Jhe  State  of  Arkansas, 
in  Convention  assembled,  do  hereby  declare  and  or- 
dain, and  it  is  hereby  declared  and  ordained,  that  the 
"ordinance  and  acceptance  of  compact,"  passed  and 
approved  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Arkansas,  on  the  18th  day  of  October,  A.  D.  1836, 
whereby  it  was  by  said  General  Assembly  ordained 
that,  by  virtue  of  the  authority  vested  in  said  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  by  the  provisions  of  the  ordinance 
adopted  by  the  convention  of  delegates  assembled  at 
Little  Rock,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  constitu- 
tion and  system  of  government  for  said  State,  the 
propositions  set  forth  in  "an  act  supplementary  to 
an  act  entitled  an  act  for  the  admission  of  the  State 
of  Arkansas  into  the  Union,  and  to  provide  for  the 
due  execution  of  the  laws  of  the  United  States  within 
the  same,  and  for  other  purposes,  were  freely  ac- 
cepted, ratified,  and  irrevocably  confirmed  articles  of 
compact  and  union  between  the  State  of  Arkansas 
and  the  United  States,"  and  all  other  laws  and  every 
other  law  and  ordinance,  whereby  the  State  of  Ar- 
kansas became  a  member  of  the  Federal  Union,  be 
and  the  same  are  hereby  in  all  respects  and  for  every 
purpose  herewith  consistent  repealed,  abrogated, 
and  fully  set  aside ;  and*  the  Union  now  subsisting 
between  the  State  of  Arkansas  and  the  other  States, 
under  the  name  of  the  United  States  of  America,  is 
hereby  forever  dissolved. 

And  we  do  further  hereby  declare  and  ordain,  that 
the  State  of  Arkansas  hereby  resumes  to  herself  all 


rights  and  powers  heretofore  delegated  to  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States  of  America — that  her 
citizens  are  absolved  from  all  allegiance  to  said  Gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States,  and  that  she  is  in  full 
possession  and  exercise  of  all  the  rights  and  sov- 
ereignty which  appertain  to  a  free  and  independent 
State. 

We  do  further  ordain  and  declare,  that  all  rights 
acquired  and  vested  under  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  or  of  any  act  or  acts  of 
Congress,  or  treaty,  or  under  any  law  of  this  State, 
and  not  incompatible  with  this  ordinance,  shall  re- 
main in  full  force  and  effect,  in  nowise  altered  or  im- 
paired, and  have  the  same  effect  as  if  this  ordinance 
had  not  beeu  passed. 

The  Convention  also  passed  a  resolution  au- 
thorizing the  Governor  to  call  out  60,000  men, 
if  necessary.  The  State  was  divided  into  two 
grand  divisions,  eastern  and  western,  and  one 
brigadier-general  from  each  appointed.  Gen. 
Bradley  was  elected  to  the  command  of  the 
eastern,  and  Gen.  Pearce,  late  of  the  U.  S. 
Army,  to  the  western. 

The  Governor  was  authorized  to  call  out  the 
military  force,  and  two  millions  of  dollars  in 
bonds  were  ordered  to  be  issued  in  sums  of  five 
dollars  and  upwards. 

The  first  movement  after  the  secession  of  the 
State,  was  to  get  possession  of  the  property  of 
the  United  States.  The  United  States  arsenal^ 
located  at  Little  Rock,  became  the  first  object 
for  seizure.  On  the  morning  of  February  5th 
that  city  was  thrown  into  high  excitement  by 
the  unexpected  arrival  of  a  steamboat  with  a 
body  of  troops  from  Helena,  with  the  avowed 
purpose  of  taking  the  arsenal.  In  a  few  hours 
another  boat  arrived  with  more  troops,  and  on 
the  next  day  others  arrived,  until  a  force  of  four 
hundred  men  was  collected.  The  City  Council 
was  assembled,  and  on  application  to  the  Gov- 
ernor, it  was  informed  that  the  troops  were 
not  there  by  his  orders.  The  troops  themselves 
were  of  a  different  opinion,  and  came  there,  as 
they  thought,  at  his  command ;  but  whether 
so  or  not,  they  were  there  to  take  the  arsenal, 
and  they  determined  to  accomplish  that  object 
before  leaving.  The  Governor  was  then  re- 
quested to  assume  the  responsibility  of  the 
movement,  and  in  the  name  of  the  State  to 
demand  the  arsenal  of  the  officer  in  command 
of  it.  It  was  believed  that  Captain  Totten 
would  surrender  to  the  authorities  of  the  State 
rather  than  have  a  collision,  but  would  not  to  a 
body  of  men  disavowed  by  the  Governor  and 
acting  in  violation  of  law;  and  that  as  the 
troops  were  determined  on  taking  the  arsenal 
at  all  hazards,  there  would  of  course  be  a  col- 
lision, and  probably  much  sacrifice  of  life. 
Consequently,  the  Governor  consented  to  act, 
and  immediately  made  a  formal  demand  upon 
Captain  Totten. 

To  the  Governor's  demand  for  the  surrender 
of  the  arsenal,  Captain  Totten  asked  until  three 
o'clock  the  next  day  to  consider  the  matter, 
which  was  agreed  to.  At  the  time  appointed 
Captain  Totten  made  known  his  readiness  to 
evacuate  the  arsenal,  and,  after  the  details  were 
finally  agreed  upon,  it  was  arranged  that,  at 


42 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


twelve  o'clock  the  next  day,  the  arsenal  should 
be  delivered  to  the  authorities  of  the  State, 
which  was  done. 

About  the  same  time  the  public  property  at 
Fort  Smith  was  seized  in  behalf  of  the  State. 

On  the  18th  of  May  Arkansas  was  admitted 
as  one  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  her  dele- 
gates took  their  seats  in  Congress.  They-were 
E.  W.  Johnson,  A.  Eust,  A.  W.  Garland,  W.  H. 
Watkins,  and  W.  F.  Thomason. 

Equally  prompt  was  North  Carolina  in  her 
movement.  The  Legislature  being  in  session 
in  December,  1860,  previous  to  the  meet- 
ing of  the  State  Convention  in  South  Caro- 
lina, a  series  of  resolutions  were  offered  pro- 
posing to  appoint  Commissioners  to  the  South 
Carolina  Convention  for  the  purpose  of  urging 
that  body  to  await  a  general  consultation  of  the 
slaveholding  States,  and  to  provide  also  that 
the  Commissioners  should  attend  the  Conven- 
tions in  other  States.  They  were  made  a  spe- 
cial order,  but  did  not  pass. 

A  strong  Union  sentiment  was  shown  in  the 
State  during  the  session  of  the  Legislature,  but 
it  was  in  favor  of  requiring  additional  guarantees. 
The  public  sentiment  at  this  time,  being  the  first 
of  January,  has  been  described  in  these  words : 

"The  general  feeling  of  North  Carolina  is 
conservative.  She  would  respond  to  any  fair 
proposition  for  an  equitable  adjustment  of  pres- 
ent national  difficulties,  but  will  insist  on  her 
rights  at  all  hazards." 

On  the  8th  of  January  Forts  Caswell  and 
Johnson  were  occupied  by  unauthorized  per- 
sons, who  presented  themselves  with  some 
show  of  force  ffhd  demanded  their  surrender. 
Governor  Ellis  ordered  them  to  be  immediately 
restored  to  the  proper  authority.  In  a  letter 
to  President  Buchanan,  on  the  12th  of  January, 
he  thus  describes  his  action : 

SIR  :  Reliable  information  has  reached  this  Depart- 
ment, that,  on  the  8th  instant,  Forts  Johnson  and 
Caswell  were  taken  possession  of  by  State  troops 
and  persons  resident  in  that  vicinity,  in  an  irregular 
manner.  . 

Upon  receipt  of  this  information,  I  immediately 
issued  a  military  order  requesting  the  forts  to  be 
restored  to  the  authorities  of  the  United  States, 
which  order  will  be  executed  this  day. 

My  information  satisfies  me  that  this  popular  out- 
break was  caused  by  a  report,  very  generally  credited, 
but  which,  for  the  sake  of  humanity,  I  hope  is  not  true, 
that  it  was  the  purpose  of  the  Administration  to 
coerce  the  Southern  States,  and  that  troops  were  on 
their  way  to  garrison  the  Southern  ports  and  to  be- 
gin the  work  of  subjugation.  This  impression  is  not 
yet  erased  from  the  public  mind,  which  is  deeply  ag- 
itated at  the  bare  contemplation  of  so  great  an  indig- 
nity and  wrong ;  and  I  would  most  earnestly  appeal 
to  your  Excellency  to  strengthen  my  hands  in  my 
efforts  to  preserve  the  public  order  here,  by  placing 
it  in  my  power  to  give  public  assurance  that  no 
measures  of  force  are  contemplated  toward  us. 

Your  Excellency  will  pardon  me,  therefore,  for 
asking  whether  the  United  States  forts  will  be  garri- 
soned with  United  States  troops  during  your  Admin- 
istration. 

This  question  I  ask  in  perfect  respect,  and  with  an 
earnest  desire  to  prevent  consequences  which  I  know 
would  be  regretted  by  your  Excellency  as  much  as 
myself. 


Should  I  receive  assurance  that  no  troops  will  be 
sent  to  this  State  prior  to  the  4th  of  March  next, 
then  all  will  be  peace  and  quiet  here,  and  the  prop- 
erty of  the  United  States  will  be  fully  protected  as 
heretofore.  If,  however,  I  am  unable  to  get  such 
assurances,  I  will  not  undertake  to  answer  for  the 
consequences. 

The  forts  in  this  State  have  long  been  unoccupied, 
and  their  being  garrisoned  at  this  time  will  unques- 
tionably be  looked  upon  as  a  hostile  demonstration, 
and  will  in  my  opinion  certainly  be  resisted. 

To  this  communication  the  Secretary  of  War 
replied  on  the  15th,  as  follows : 

Your  letter  of  the  12th  instant,  addressed  to  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  has  by  him  been  re- 
ferred to  this  Department,  and  he  instructs  me  to 
express  his  gratification  at  the  promptitude  with 
which  you  have  ordered  the  expulsion  01  the  lawless 
men  who  recently  occupied  Forts  Johnson  and  Cas- 
well. He  regards  this  action  on  the  part  of  your 
Excellency  as  in  complete  harmony  with  the  honor 
and  patriotic  character  of  the  people  of  North  Caro- 
lina, whom  you  so  worthily  represent. 

In 'reply  to  your  inquiry,  whether  it  is  the  purposo 
of  the  President  to  garrison  the  forts  of  North  Caro- 
lina during  his  administration,  I  am  directed  to  say 
that  they,  in  common  with  the  other  forts,  arsenals, 
and  other  property  of  the  United  States,  are  in  charge 
of  the  President,  and  that  if  assailed,  no  matter  from 
what  quarter  or  under  what  pretext,  it  is  his  duty  to 
protect  them  by  all  the  means  which  the  law  has 
placed  at  his  disposal.  It  is  not  his  purpose  to  gar- 
rison the  forts  to  which  you  refer  at  present,  because 
he  considers  them  entirely  safe,  as  heretofore,  under 
the  shelter  of  that  law-abiding  sentiment  for  which 
the  people  of  North  Carolina  have  ever  been  distin- 
guished. Should  they,  however,  be  attacked  or  me- 
naced with  danger  of  being  seized  or  taken  from  the 
Eossession  of  the  United  States,  he  could  not  escape 
•om  his  constitutional  obligation  to  defend  and  pre- 
serve them.  The  very  satisfactory  and  patriotic  as- 
surance given  by  your  Excellency  justifies  him,  how- 
ever, in  entertaining  the  confident  expectation  that 
no  such  contingency  will  arise. 

The  hill  for  calling  a  State  Convention  was 
under  debate  a  number  of  days;  so,  also,  was 
the  resolution  proposing  the  appointment,  on 
the  part  of  North  Carolina,  of  Commissioners 
to  a  Peace  Conference  at  "Washington,  as  pro- 
posed by  Virginia.  The  Convention  bill  finally 
passed  on  the  24th  of  January. 

Ultimately,  the  Legislature  seconded  the 
movement  of  Virginia,  by  appointing  several 
eminent  men,  of  both  parties,  to  represent  tho 
State  in  the  National  Conference  at  Washing- 
ton. Commissioners  were  also  appointed  to 
represent  the  State  in  the  Southern  meetii  g 
at  Montgomery,  Alabama,  the  avowed  purposo 
of  which  was  to  establish  a  Provisional  Gov- 
ernment .over  a  Southern  Confederacy,  but  with 
instructions,  adopted  by  a  vote  of  69  to  38  in 
the  Commons,  that  they  were  "to  act  only  as 
mediators  to  endeavor  to  bring  about  a  recon- 
ciliation." This  vote  was  hailed  as  an  unmis- 
takable sign  that  North  Carolina  was  not  pre- 
pared for  disunion  and  a  Southern  Confederacy. 

The  Convention  bill,  as  it  finally  passed  the 
Legislature,  provided  for  putting  the  question 
to  the  people  at  the  time  of  electing  delegates; 
Convention  or  no  Convention. 

It  further  provided  that  the  election  should 
be  held  on  the  28th  of  January,  and  that  ten 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


days  should  be  allowed  the  sheriffs  to  make 
their  returns.  If  a  majority  of  the  people  voted 
for  the  Convention,  the  Governor  should  issuo 
his  proclamation  fixing  the  day  for  the  meet- 
ing. If  Ihe  Convention  was  called,  its  action 
should  be  submitted  to  the  people  for  ratifica- 
tion or  rejection.  If  a  majority  of  the  people 
voted  against  the  Convention,  the  Governor 
should  make  known  the  fact  by  proclamation. 
The  action  of  the  Convention  was  required  to 
be  confined  to  Federal  matters,  and  the  mem- 
bers would  be  sworn  to  that  effect. 

A  more  guarded  and  restricted  form  could 
hardly  have  been  adopted  and  permit  any  liberty 
of  action  to  the  Convention. 

On  the  4th  of  February  a  resolution  was 
passed  unanimously  in  the  House,  declaring 
that,  in  case  reconciliatioa  fails,  North  Carolina 
goes  with  the  slave  States.  The  military  bill 
passed  in  the  House,  authorized  the  arming  of 
ten  thousand  volunteers,  and  provided  for  the 
entire  reorganization  of  the  militia. 

The  election  for  members  of  the  State  Con- 
vention resulted  in  the  choice  of  a  considerable 
majority  who  were  in  favor  of  the  Union,  and 
opposed  to  secession.  As  expressed  at  the  time, 
"  They,  as  Unionists,  would  not  submit  to  the 
administration  of  the  Government  on  sectional 
principles,  but  they  were  anxious  to  preserve 
the  Union  on  a  constitutional  basis,  and  to  ob- 
tain such  guarantees  as  would  lead  to  a  perma- 
nent reconstruction  of  it." 

The  official  vote  of  the  State  on  the  question 
of  Convention  or  no  Convention,  including  the 
vote  of  Davie  and  Heywood  counties,  which 
were  reported,  was:  for  Convention,  46,672; 
against  a  Convention,  47,323.  Majority  against 
a  Convention,  651.  The  vote  of  the  State  was 
smaller  by  about  twenty  thousand  than  at  the 
election  in  August  previous. 

Of  the  whole  number  of  delegates,  eighty- 
two  were  constitutional  Union  men,  and  thir- 
ty-eight secessionists.  The  Union  majority, 
therefore,  was  rather  more  than  two  to  one. 

After  this  election,  the  Governor  determined 
not  to  call  the  Legislature  of  the  State  together 
in  extra  session  unless  something  more  urgent 
than  was  known  should  occur. 

No  events  of  unusual  interest  occurred  until 
the  attack  upon  Fort  Sumter  and  the  call  by 
the  President  for  troops.  To  the  requisition  of 
the  Secretary  of  War,  the  Governor  immedi- 
ately replied  by  telegraph  as  follows : 

EALEIGH,  April  15, 1861. 

Your  despatch  is  received,  and,  if  genuine— which 

its   extraordinary  character  leads  me  to   doubt I 

have  to  say,  in  reply,  that  I  regard  the  levy  of  troops 
made  by  the  Administration,  for  the  purpose  of  sub- 
jugating the  States  of  the  South,  as  in  violation  of 
the  Constitution  and  a  usurpation  of  power.  I  can 
be  no  party  to  this  wicked  violation  of  the  laws  of 
the  country,  and  to  this  war  upon  the  liberties  of  a 
free  people.  You  can  get  no  troops  from  North  Car- 
olina. I  will  reply  more  in  detail  when  your  call  is 
received  by  mail.  JOHN  W.  ELLIS, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 

Hon.  SIMON  CAMERON,  Secretary  of  War. 

The  forts  in  the  State  which  had  been  once 


seized  on  a  popular  outbreak  and  restored  by 
the  Governor,  were  once  more  seized,  and  at 
this  time  by  his  orders.  Guns  and  ammunition 
were  obtained  in  Charleston  for  use  at  Fort 
Macon  and  Fort  Caswell.  An  extra  session  of 
the  Legislature  was  immediately  summoned  to 
assemble  on  the  1st  of  May.  The  proclamation 
of  Gov.  Ellis  convening  that  body  was  as  follows : 

Whereas,  by  proclamation  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
President  of  the  United  States,  followed  by  a  requi- 
sition of  Simon  Cameron,  Secretary  of  War,  I  am 
informed  that  the  said  Abraham  Lincoln  has  made  a 
call  for  seventy-five  thousand  men,  to  be  employed 
for  the  invasion  of  the  peaceful  homes  of  the  South, 
and  the  violent  subversion  of  the  liberties  of  a  free 
people,  constituting  a  large  part  of  the  whole  popula- 
tion of  the  late  United  States ;  and  whereas  this  high- 
handed act  of  tyrannical  outrage  is  not  only  a  viola- 
tion of  all  constitutional  law,  utter  disregard  of  every 
sentiment  of  humanity  and  Christian  civilization,  and 
conceived  in  a  spirit  of  aggression  unparalleled  by 
any  act  of  recorded  history,  but  is  a  direct  step  to- 
ward  the  subjugation  of  the  entire  South,  and  the 
conversion  of  a  free  Republic  inherited  from  our 
fathers,  into  a  military  despotism  to  be  established 
by  worse  than  foreign  enemies,  on  the  ruins  of  the 
once  glorious  Constitution  of  equal  rights; 

Now,  therefore,  I,  John  W.  Ellis,  Governor  of  the 
State  of  North  Carolina,  for  these  extraordinary 
causes,  do  hereby  issue  this  my  proclamation,  notify- 
ing and  requesting  the  Senators  and  Members  of  the 
House  of  Commons  of  the  General  Assembly  of  North 
Carolina,  to  meet  in  special  session  at  the  capital  in 
the  city  of  Kaleigh,  on  Wednesday,  the  1st  day  of 
May.  And  I  furthermore  exhort  all  good  citizens 
throughout  the  State  to  be  mindful  that  their  first 
allegiance  is  due  to  the  sovereignty  which  protects 
their  homes  and  dearest  interests,  as  their  first  ser- 
vice is  due  for  the  sacred  defence  of  their  hearths, 
and  of  the  soil  which  holda  the  graves  of  our  glorious 
dead. 

United  action  in  defence  of  the  sovereignty  of  North 
Carolina,  and  of  the  rights  of  the  South,  becomes 
now  the  duty  of  all. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  attested  by  the  great  seal 
of  the  State.  Done  at  the  city  of  Raleigh,  the  17th 
day  of  April,  A.  D.  1861,  and  in  the  eighty-fifth  year 
of  independence.  JOHN  W.  ELLIS. 

A  call  was  also  issued  by  the  Governor,  for 
the  enrolment  of  thirty  thousand  men,  to  be 
held  in  readiness  to  march  at  a  day's  notice. 

On  the  1st  of  May  the  Legislature  convened 
in  special  session.  In  his  Message,  the  Gov- 
ernor recommended  that,  in  view  of  the  seces- 
sion of  North  Carolina  from  the  Northern  Gov- 
ernment, and  her  union  with  the  Confederate 
States  at  as  early  a  period  as  practicable,  a 
Convention  of  the  people  be  called  with  full 
and  final  powers.  The  powers  of  the  Conven- 
tion should  be  full  because  the  sovereignty  of 
the  people  must  be  frequently  resorted  to  dur- 
ing the  war,  and  it  therefore  became  necessary 
that  it  should  be  temporarily  reposed  in  the 
Convention.  The  action  of  the  Convention 
should  be  final,  because  of  the  importance  of 
a  speedy  separation  from  the  Northern  Gov- 
ernment, and  the  well-known  fact  that  upon 
this  point  the  people  were  as  a  unit. 

He  also  recommended  "the  raising  and  or- 
ganization of  ten  regiments,  to  serve  during  the 
war,  and  that  appropriate  bounties  be  offered 
to  all  persons  thus  enlisting." 


44 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  HEBELLION. 


The  Governor  farther  said  that  the  North 
ern  Government  was  concentrating  a  large 
force  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  ostensibly  to 
protect  the  seat  of  Government.  But  such  a 
force  cannot  be  allowed  to  remain  within  the 
limits  of  Maryland  and  on  the  borders  of  Vir- 
ginia without  seriously  endangering  the  liber- 
ties of  the  people  of  those  States.  If  they  be 
conquered  and  overrun,  North  Carolina  would 
become  the  next  prey  for  the  invaders.  Policy, 
then,  as  well  as  sympathy,  and  a  feeling  of 
brotherhood,  engendered  by  a  common  interest, 
required  them  to  exert  their  energies  in  the 
defence  of  Maryland  and  Virginia.  Every  bat- 
tle fought  there  would  be  a  battle  in  behalf  of 
North  Carolina.  The  Legislature  met  at  12 
o'clock  M.,  and  at  1  p.  M.  both  Houses  had 
unanimously  passed  a  bill  calling  an  unrestrict- 
ed Convention,  whose  action  was  to  be  final. 
The  election  of  delegates  took  place  on  the  13th 
of  May,  and  the  Convention  met  on  the  20th. 

The  Legislature  unanimously  repealed  the 
section  of  the  Revised  Code,  which  required  all 
officers  in  the  State  to  take  an  oath  to  support 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  before  en- 
tering upon  their  duties.  The  act  further  pro- 
vided that  it  should  not  be  lawful  to  administer 
any  such  oath  or  affirmation  to  any  officer,  civil 
or  military. 

After  a  session  of  eleven  days,  the  Legisla- 
ture adjourned,  to  meet  again  on  the  25th  of 
June.  Among  other  measures,  it  passed  a  stay 
law,  to  take  effect  immediately,  and  authorized 
the  Governor  to  raise  ten  thousand  men,  to 
serve  during  the  war,  and  also  appropriated 
$5,000,000  for  tfie  use  of  the  State,  giving  the 
Treasurer  power  to  issue  Treasury  notes  to  the 
amount  of  $500,000,  in  bills  ranging  from  five 
cents  to  two  dollars,  and  with  a  conditional 
clause,  authorizing  the  issue  of  a  larger  amount 
if  necessary. 

The  forces  of  the  State,  under  orders  of  the 
Governor,  seized  the  Federal  forts  on  the  coast, 
and  took  possession  of  the  mint  at  Charlotte 
and  the  arsenal  at  Fayetteville,  gaining,  by  the 
seizure  of  the  latter,  37,000  stand  of  arms,  3,000 
kegs  of  powder,  and  an  immense  supply  of 
shells  and  shot.  Of  course,  these  acts  placed 
the  State  in  the  same  category  with  the  seceded 
States,  and  the  ports  of  North  Carolina  were, 
therefore,  included  in  the  blockade  ordered  by 
the  Government. 

The  State  Convention  assembled  on  the  20th 
of  May,  the  eighty-sixth  anniversary  of  the 
Mecklenberg  Declaration  of  Independence. 

On  the  21st  the  ordinance  of  secession  was 
passed  by  the  State  Convention,  as  follows : 

We,  the  people  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  in 
Convention  assembled,  do  declare  and  ordain,  and  it 
is  hereby  declared  and  ordained,  that  the  ordinance 
adopted  by  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  in  the  Con- 
vention of  1789,  whereby  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  was  ratified  and  adopted,  and  also  all 
aots  and  parts  of  acts  of  the  General  Assembly,  rati- 
fying and  adopting  amendments  to  the  said  Constitu- 
tion, are  hereby  repealed,  rescinded,  and  abrogated. 

We  do  further  declare  and  ordain  that  the  Union 


now  subsisting  between  the  State  of  North  Carolina 
and  the  other  States,  under  the  title  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  is  hereby  dissolved,  and  that  the 
State  of  North  Carolina  is  in  the  full  possession  and 
exercise  of  all  those  rights  of  sovereignty  which  be- 
long and  appertain  to  a  free  and  independent  State. 

Done  at  Raleigh,  20th  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  1861. 

The  following  ordinance  was  also  passed : 
We,  the  people  of  North  Carolina,  in  Convention 
assembled,  do  declare  and  ordain,  and  it  is  hereby  de- 
clared and  ordained,  that  the  State  of  North  Carolina 
does  hereby  assent  to  and  ratify  the  Constitution  for 
the  Provisional  Government  of  the  Confederate  States 
of  America,  adopted  at  Montgomery,  in  the  State  of 
Alabama,  on  the  8th  of  February,  1861,  by  the  Con- 
vention of  Delegates  from  the  States  of  South  Caro- 
lina, Georgia,  Florida,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and 
Louisiana,  and  that  North  Carolina  will  enter  into  the 
federal  association  of  States  upon  the  terms  therein 
proposed,  when  admitted  by  the  Congress  or  any 
competent  authority  of  the  Confederate  States. 

Done  at  Raleigh,  20th  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  1861. 

Military  preparations  were  immediately  com- 
menced, and  as  early  as  the  15th  of  June  the 
State  had  raised  a  force  of  twenty  thousand 
volunteers. 

The  following  delegates  to  the  Confederate 
Congress  were  elected  by  the  Convention  :  For 
the  State  at  large,  "W.  W.  Avery  and  Georgo 
Davis;  1st  district,  W.  N.  H.  Smith;  2d, 
Thomas  Ruffin ;  3d,  T.  D.  McDowell ;  4th,  A. 
"W.  Venable ;  5th,  John  M.  Morehead ;  6th,  R. 
C.  Puryear;  7th,  Burton  Craige ;  8tb,  A.  D. 
Davidson. 

The  flag  agreed  upon  for  the  State  was  said 
to  be  handsome.  The  ground  was  a  red  field, 
with  a  single  star  in  the  centre.  On  the  upper 
extreme  was  the  inscription,  "May  20,  1775," 
and  at  the  lower,  "May  20,  1861."  There 
were  two  bars,  one  of  blue  and  the  other  of 
white. 

The  Governor  now  set  to  work  to  place  tho 
coast  defence  in  a  satisfactory  condition.  At 
the  same  time  troops  were  sent  forward  to  the 
Confederate  army  as  fast  as  they  could  be 
equipped.  No  notice  was  taken  by  the  Secre- 
tary of  War  of  the  request  for  a  few  well- 
drilled  regiments  for  the  coast  defence,  although 
the  Governor  offered  fresh  levies  in  their  place. 
The  State,  like  South  Carolina  and  others,  was 
expected  to  defend  herself.  The  subsequent 
capture  of  the  forts  at  Hatteras  Inlet  occasioned 
intense  excitement;  and  although  the  work  of 
the  expedition  extended  no  further  than  to 
"  take  and  hold  "  those  positions,  it  revealed 
such  a  degree  of  weakness  to  resist  any  naval 
attack,  that  it  awakened  the  first  serious  appre- 
hensions among  the  people  for  the  cause  of  the 
Confederacy. 

In  Tennessee,  in  particular,  of  all  the  States 
attempting  to  secede,  a  controlling  conservative 
sentiment  manifested  itself  in  the  Legislature, 
which,  while  it  endorsed  the  position  that  the 
grant  of  additional  guarantees  to  the  South 
should  be  made  a  condition  of  Tennessee's  re- 
maining in  the  Union,  determined  that  the  State 
should  not  be  precipitated  into  secession.  The 


MILITARY  AND  NATAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION". 


bill  calling  for  a  convention  of  the  people  of  the 
State,  provided  that  any  ordinance  or  resolution 
which  might  be  adopted  by  said  Convention  hav- 
ing for  its  object  a  change  of  the  position  or  rela- 
tion of  the  State  to  the  National  Union,  or  her 
sister  Southern  States,  should  be  of  no  binding 
force  or  effect  until  it  was  submitted  to  or  rat- 
ified by  the  people,  and  required  a  vote  equal 
to  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast  in  the  last  elec- 
tion for  Governor  to  ratify  it.  Thus  the  people 
had  an  opportunity,  in  voting  for  delegates,  to 
declare  for  or  against  secession;  and  should 
the  action  of  the  Convention  contemplate  any 
change  in  the  Federal  relations  of  the  State, 
they  had  still  the  opportunity  of  endorsing  or 
overruling  alike  their  former  decision  and  the 
action  of  the  Convention.  The  election  for 
members  of  the  Convention  was  to  be  held  on 
the  9th  of  February,  the  Convention1  to  assem- 
ble on  the  25th. 

The  result  of  the  election  was  highly  success- 
ful to  the  friends  of  the  Union.  Even  West 
Tennessee  gave  a  Union  majority.  The  follow- 
ing returns,  except  a  few  counties,  show  the 
relative  strength  of  union  and  disunion  in  the 
State : 

Union.  Disunion. 

East  Tennessee 80,903  5,577 

Middle  Tennessee 36,809  9,828 

West  Tennessee 24,091  9,344 

Total 91,803          24,749 

Union  majority 67,054 

The  returns  from  all  the  counties  made  the 
actual  majority  64,114.  The  question  of  hold- 
ing a  convention  was  determined  in  the  nega-  • 
tive  by  a  large  majority,  thus  declaring  that 
there  was  no  need  for  a  convention  at  all  to 
determine  where  Tennessee  should  stand.  The 
Union  delegates  at  Memphis  were  elected  by  a 
majority  of  400.  The  vote  of  the  State  on  the 
Convention  question  was  as  follows : 

East  Tennessee  voted  no  convention  by 
25,611  majority,  or  four  and  a  quarter  to  one. 
Middle  Tennessee  1,382  majority;  but  West 
Tennessee  gave  for  a  Convention  15,118  ma- 
jority. The  vote  for  no  Convention  was  69,673. 
The  total  vote  for  and  against  Convention  was 
127,471,  with  a  majority  against  the  meeting 
of  a  Convention  of  11,875. 

The  people  decided  that  no  Convention  should 
be  held,  chiefly  because  they  had  seen  that  all 
the  conventions  which  had  been  held  in  the 
Southern  States  had  withdrawn  their  States 
from  the  Union,  and  then  had  proceeded  to  sit 
on  their  own  adjournments,  as  if  they  con- 
ceived they  possessed  the  right  to  continue 
their  own  existence  indefinitely.  The  loyal 
people  of  Tennessee  now  flattered  themselves 
that  they  had  thus  put  an  effectual  stop  to  the 
secession  movement  in  the  State,  and  so  the 
secessionists  thought  as  well;  and  even  the 
Governor  seemed,  for  a  time,  to  have  aban- 
doned the  scheme. 

The  proclamation  of  the  President  on  the  15th 
of  April,  however,  produced  an  intense  feeling 
throughout  the  State.  The  Governor  imme- 


diately called  an  extra  session  of  the  Legislature, 
to  be  convened  on  the  25th  of  April.  He  re- 
fused the  requisition  of  the  President  for  troops, 
saying : 

Hon.  Simon  Cameron  : 

SIR  :  Your  despatch  of  the  15th  inst.,  informing  me 
that  Tennessee  is  called  upon  for  two  regiments  of 
militia  for  immediate  service,  is  received. 

Tennessee  will  not  furnish  a  man  for  purposes  of 
coercion,  but  50,000,  if  necessary,  for  the  defence  of 
our  rights,  and  those  of  our  Southern  brothers. 
ISHAM  G.  HAKRIS,  Governor  of  Tennessee. 

On  the  25th  of  April  the  Legislature  assem- 
bled for  the  third  time,  although  the  members 
had  been  elected  without  any  reference  to  the 
momentous  questions  now  about  to  be  consid- 
ered. In  the  Assembly,  on  the  same  day,  the 
following  resolution  was  offered. 

Resolved,  That  upon  the  grave  and  solemn  matters 
for  our  consideration,  submitted  by  the  Governor's 
Message,  with  a  view  to  the  public  safety,  the  two 
Houses  of  this  Legislature  hold  their  sessions  with 
closed  doors  whenever  a  secret  session  in  either  House 
may  be  called  for  by  five  members  of  said  House,  and 
that  the  oath  of  secrecy  be  administered  to  the  offi- 
cers and  members  of  said  House. 

The  resolution  was  adopted — ayes  42 ;  noes  8. 
The  Message  of  the  Governor  was  very  strong 
and  decided  in  urging  immediate  secession. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  Henry  W.  Hilliard, 
commissioner  from  the  Confederate  States,  ap- 
peared before  the  Legislature  and  made  an  ad- 
dress. He  said  his  object  was  to  establish  a 
temporary  alliance  between  Tennessee  and  the 
Confederate  States,  to  continue  until  Tennessee 
>  should  decide  for  or  against  adopting  the  Con- 
stitution of  that  Government,  and  becoming 
one  of  the  Confederate  States.  He  regarded 
the  issue  now  pending  between  the.  North  and 
the  South  something  more  than  a.  mere  right  to 
hold  slaves.  It  was  a  question  of  constitutional 
liberty,  involving  the  right  of  the  people  of  the 
South  to  govern  themselves.  "  We  have  said 
that  we  will  not  be  governed  by  the  abolition 
North,  the  abolition  North  says  we  shall,"  and 
he  would  not  hesitate  to  say  there  was  not  a 
true-hearted  man  in  the  South  but  would 
rather  die  than  submit.  He  repudiated  the 
idea  of  settling  the  pending  questions  between 
the  North  and  South  by  reconstruction  "by 
going  back  to  our  enemies."  He  regarded  the 
Southern  system  of  government  established  at 
Montgomery,  and  based  upon  slavery,  as  the 
only  •  permanent  form  which  could  be  estab- 
lished in  this  country. 

On  the  29th  of  April  Governor  Harris  had 
ordered  to  be  seized  sixty-six  thousand  dollars' 
worth  of  Tennessee  bonds  and  five  thousand 
dollars  in  cash,  belonging  to  the  United  States, 
which  were  in  possession  of  the  collector  at 
Nashville.  He  said : 

"  This  seizure  was  conditional ;  the  property 
was  to  be  held  in  trust  until  the  Government 
restored  the  property  of  the  State  and  its  cit- 
izens involved  in  the  seizure  of  the  steamer 
Hillman  by  troops  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment." 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


The  steamer  Hillmaii  was  seized  at  Cairo  by 
the  Illinois  troops,  because  she  was  laden  with 
munitions  and  other  articles  contraband  of 
war.  The  boat,  and  property  not  contraband, 
was  subsequently  surrendered  to  the  owners. 

The  Legislature  in  secret  session,  immediately, 
on  the  1st  of  May,  passed  a  joint  resolution  di- 
recting the  Governor  to  enter  into  a  military 
league  with  the  Confederate  States,  subjecting 
"  the  whole  military  force  of  the  State  "  to  the 
control  of  the  Confederate  States.  Acting  upon 
this  authority,  the  Governor  immediately  ap- 
pointed Gustavus  A.  Henry,  Archibald  O.  W. 
Totten,  and  "Washington  Barrow,  as  commis- 
sioners for  that  purpose.  On  the  7th  of  May 
he  sent  a  Message  to  the  Legislature,  stating 
that  he  had  appointed  the  said  commissioners 
on  the  part  of  Tennessee,  etc.,  as  follows : 

To  enter  into  a  military  league  with  the  authorities 
of  the  Confederate  States,  and  with  the  authorities 
of  such  other  slaveholding  States  as  may  wish  to 
enter  into  it ;  having  in  view  the  protection  and  de- 
fence of  the  entire  South  against  the  war  that  is  now 
being  carried  on  against  it. 

The  said  commissioners  met  the  Hon.  Henry  W. 
Hilliard,  the  accredited  representative  of  the  Confeder- 
ate States,  at  Nashville  on  this  day,  and  have  agreed 
upon  and  executed  a  military  league  between  the . 
State  of  Tennessee  and  the  Confederate  States  of 
America,  subject,  however,  to  the  ratification  of  the 
two  Governments,  one  of  the  duplicate  originals  of 
which  I  herewith  transmit  for  your  ratification  or  re- 
jection. For  many  cogent  and  obvious  reasons,  un- 
necessary to  be  rehearsed  to  you,  I  respectfully 
recojnmend  the  ratification  of  this  league  at  the  earli- 
est practical  moment. 

The  Convention  was  as  follows : 

Convention  between  the  State  of  Tennessee  and  the  Confed- 
erate States  of  America. 

The  State  of  Tennessee,  looking  to  a  speedy  admis- 
sion into  the  Confederacy  established  by  the  Confed- 
erate States  Of  America,  in  accordance  with  the  con- 
stitution for  the  provisional  government  of  said  States, 
enters  into  the  following  temporary  convention, 
agreement,  and  military  league  with  the  Confederate 
States,  for  the  purpose  of  meeting  pressing  exigen- 
cies affecting  the  common  rights,  interests,  and  saTety 
of  said  States,  and  said  Confederacy : 

1st.  Until  the  said  State  shall  become  a  member  of 
said  Confederacy,  according  to  the  constitutions  of 
both  powers,  the  whole  military  force  and  military 
operations,  oflen"?Te  and  defensive,  of  said  State,  in 
the  impending  conflict  with,  the  United  States,  shall 
be  under  the  chief  control  and  direction  of  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Confederate  States,  upon  the  same  basis, 
principles,  and  footing,  as  if  said  State  were  now  and 
during  the  interval  a  member  of  the  said  Confed- 
eracy— said  forces,  together  with  those  of  the  Con- 
federate States,  to  be  employed  for  the  common  de- 
fence. • 

2d.  The  State  of  Tennessee  will,  upon  becoming  a 
member  of  said  Confederacy,  under  the  permanent 
Constitution  of  said  Confederate  States,  if  the  same 
shall  occur,  turn  over  to  said  Confederate  States  all 
the  public  property,  naval  stores,  and  munitions  of 
war,  of  which  she  may  then  be  in  possession,  ac- 
quired from  the  United  States,  on  the  same  terms 
and  in  the  same  manner  as  the  other  States  of  said 
Confederacy  have  done  in  like  cases. 

3d.  Whatever  expenditures  of  money,  if  any,  the 
said  State  of  Tennessee  shall  make  before  she  be- 
comes1 a  member  of  said  Confederacy,  shall  be  met 
and  provided  for  by  the  Confederate  States. 

The  vote  in  the  Senate,  en  the  adoption  of 
this  treaty,  was  14  to  6 — absent 'or  not  voting, 


4 ;  in  the  House,  42  to  15 — absent  or  not  vot- 
ing, 18. 

Meanwhile,  the  Legislature  had  not  been  idle. 
On  the  6th  of  May  it  passed  an  ordinance  en- 
titled, "  An  Act  to  submit  to  a  vote  of  the  peo- 
ple a  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  for 
other  purposes."  The  first  section  provided 
that  the  Governor  should,  by  proclamation,  re- 
quire the  respective  officers  in  each  county  to 
hold  the  polls  open  in  their  several  precincts 
on  the  8th  day  of  June  ensuing.  The  second 
section  provided  that  the  following  declaration 
should  be  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  qualified 
voters  for  their  ratification  or  rejection: 

Declaration  of  Independence  and  Ordinance  dissolving 
the  Federal  relations  between  the  State  of  Tennessee 

.  and  the  United  States  of  America. 

1st.  We,  the  people  of  the  State  of  Tennessee, 
waiving  an  expression  of  opinion  as  to  the  abstract 
doctrine  of  secession,  but  asserting  the  right  as  a 
free  and  independent  people  to  alter,  reform,  or 
abolish  our  form  of  Government  in  such  manner  as 
we  think  proper,  do  ordain  and  declare  that  all  the 
laws  and  ordinances  by  which  the  State  of  Tennes- 
see became  a  member  of  the  Federal  Union  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  are  hereby  abrogated  and 
annulled,  and  that  all  obligations  on  our  part  be 
withdrawn  therefrom  ;  and  we  do  hereby  resume  all 
the  rights,  functions,  and  powers  which  by  any  of 
said  laws  and  ordinances  were  conveyed  to  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States,  and  absolve  ourselves 
from  all  the  obligations,  restraints,  and  duties  incur- 
red thereto ;  and  do  hereby  henceforth  become  a 
free,  sovereign,  and  independent  State. 

2d.  We  furthermore  declare  and  ordain,  that  Article 
10,  Sections  1  and  2  of  the  Constitution  of  the  State 
of  Tennessee,  which  requires  members  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  and  all  officers,  civil  and  military,  to 
take  an  oath  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  be  and  the  same  are  hereby  abrogated  and 
annulled,  and  all  parts  of  the  Constitution  of  the 
State  of  Tennessee,  making  citizenship  of  the  United 
States  a  qualification  for  office,  and  recognizing  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  as  the  supreme 
law  of  this  State,  are  in  like  manner  abrogated  and 
annulled. 

3d.  We  furthermore  ordain  and  declare  that  all 
rights  acquired  and  vested  under  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  or  under  any  act  of  Congress 
passed  in  pursuance  thereof,  or  under  any  laws  of 
this  State,  and  not  incompatible  with  this  ordinance, 
shall  remain  in  force  and  have  the  same  effect  as  if 
this  ordinance  had  not  been  passed. 

The  third  section  provided  that  the  election 
should  be  by  ballot,  and  that  those  voting  for 
the  declaration  and  ordinance  should  have  on 
their  ballots  the  word  "  Separation,"  and  those 
voting-  against  it  should  have  on  their  ballots 
the  words  "  No  separation ;  "  the  returns  should 
be  made  to  the  Secretary  of  State  by  the  24th 
of  June,  and  if  a  majority  of  votes  were  given 
for  separation,  the  Governor  was  required  im- 
mediately to  issue  his  proclamation  declaring 
"all  connection  by  the  State  of  Tennessee  with 
the  Federal  Union  dissolved,  and  that  Tennessee 
is  a  free,  independent  Government,  free  from  all 
obligations  to,  or  connection  with  the  Federal 
Government." 

The  fourth  section  authorized  all  volunteers 
to  vote,  wherever  they,  may  be  in  active  ser- 
vice. By  the  fifth  section  it  was  provided 
that  under  the  rules  and  regulations  prescribed 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


47 


for  the  election  above  ordered,  the  following 
ordinance  should  be  submitted  to  the  popular 
vote: 

AN  ORDINANCE  for  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the 
Provisional  Government  of  the  Confederate  States  of 
America. 

We,  the  people  of  Tennessee,  solemnly  impressed 
by  the  perils  which  surround  us,  do  hereby  adopt 
and  ratify  the  Constitution  of  the  Provisional  Govern- 
ment  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America,  ordained 
and  established  at  Montgomery,  Alabama,  on  the  8th 
of  February,  1861,  to  be  in  force  during  the  existence 
thereof,  or  until  such  time  as  we  may  supersede  it 
by  the  adoption  of  a  permanent  Constitution. 

The  sixth  section  provided  that  all  voters  in 
favor  of  adopting  the  Provisional  Constitution, 
and  thereby  securing  to  Tennessee  equal  repre- 
sentation in  the  deliberations  and  councils  of 
the  Confederate  States,  should  have  written  or 
printed  on  their  ballots  the  word  "  Represen- 
tation ;  "  opposed,  the  words  "  No  Representa- 
tion." 

The  seventh  section  provides  for  an  election 
of  delegates  to  the  Confederate  Congress  in  case 
the  Provisional  Constitution  was  adopted.  The 
vote  on  the  Declaration  of  Independence  in  the 
Senate  was — yeas  20,  nays  4;  in  the  House, 
yeas  46,  nays  21. 

By  this  act,  provision  was  made  to  submit  to 
the  vote  of  the  people  of  the  State,  the  adoption 
or  rejection  of  a  "Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence," whereby  they  were  to  separate  them- 
selves from  the  Union,  and  adopt  the  insurrec- 
tionary States'  Constitution,  and  abrogate  that 
part  of  their  own  Constitution  which  required 
every  person  chosen  or  appointed  to  any  office 
of  trust  or  profit  under  it,  or  any  law  made  in 
pursuance  of  it,  before  entering  on  the  duties 
thereof,  to  take  an  oath  to  support  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  State  and  of  the  UnitejJ  States ; 
and  requiring  each  member  of  the  Senate  and 
House  of  Representatives,  before  proceeding  to 
business,  to  take  an  oath  to  support  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  State  and  of  the  United  States. 
(Constitution  of  Tennessee,  art.  x.,  sections  1,  2.) 

By  another  act  the  Governor  was  required 
to  raise,  organize,  and  equip,  a  provisional  force 
of  volunteers  for  the  defence  of  the  State,  to 
consist  of  55,000  men ;  25,000  of  whom,  or  any 
less  number  demanded  by  the  wants  of  the  ser- 
vice, were  to  be  fitted  for  the  field,  at  the  ear- 
liest practicable  moment,  and  the  remainder  to 
be  held  in  reserve,  ready  to  march  at  short  no- 
tice. It  authorized  the  Governor,  should  it  be- 
come necessary  for  the  safety  of  the  State,  to 
"  call  out  the  whole  available  military  strength 
.  of  the  State,"  and  to  determine  when  this  force 
should  serve,  and  direct  it  accordingly.  To 
defray  the  expenses  of  this  military  organiza- 
tion, the  Governor  was  authorized  "to  issue 
and  dispose  of  $5,000,000  of  the  bonds  of  the 
State,"  in  denominations  of  not  less  than  $100, 
or  greater  than  $1,000,  to  run  ten  years,  and 
bear  interest  at  the  rate  of  8  per  cent. 

Thus  provided  with  a  semblance  of  author- 
ity, the  Governor  hastened  the  organization  of 
the  provisional  force  of  25,000  men,  and  before 


the  day  of  the  election,  June  8,  1861,  he  had 
most  of  it  on  foot,  and  distributed  in  camps 
around  Nashville  and  elsewhere,  armed  and 
equipped,  so  far  as  it  could  be,  with  the  muni- 
tions of  the  United  States  in  possession  of  the 
State,  and  with  such  as  could  be  obtained  from 
the  arsenal  at  Augusta,  Georgia,  from  which 
they  were  brought  by  Gen.  ZollicofFer.  Thus, 
on  the  morning  of  the  election,  the  people  of 
Tennessee,  for  the  first  time  in  their  lives,  went 
to  the  polls  conscious  that  they  were  no  longer 
a  free  people ;  knowing  that  the  Executive  and 
Legislative  Departments  of  the  State,  with  its 
Treasury  in  their  hands,  and  with  all  the  arms 
of  the  State  in  their  possession,  and  with  a  for- 
midable army  in  their  pay,  had  joined  a  con- 
spiracy to  overthrow  their  Government,  and 
that  nothing  remained  for  them  but  to  reverse 
their  vote  of  the  9th  of  February,  and  to  ratify 
what  their  self-constituted  masters  had  already 
accomplished.  Even  by  voting  against  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  and  by  refusing 
to  absolve  their  officers  from  the  oath  to  sup- 
port the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and 
declining  to  accept  the  Constitution  of  the  insur- 
rectionary States,  they  could  not  free  themselves 
from  the  military  incubus  which  had  been  im- 
posed upon  them.  In  these  circumstances  it  is 
not  to  be  wondered  at  that  the  election  showed 
an  apparent  majority  of  57, 667  for  secession.  It 
must  not  be  concluded,  however,  that  this  ma- 
jority was  real ;  for  the  men  who  could  so 
wantonly  contemn  the  obligations  of  the  law 
as  to  resort  to  the  measures  above  detailed, 
could  not  escape  from  the  suspicion  of  having 
filled  the  ballot-box  with  spurious  votes. 

By  such  means  was  Tennessee  carried  over 
to  the  insurrectionary  States,  and  in  the  employ- 
ment of  these  means  there  does  not  appear  to 
have  been  any  semblance  of  regard,  among  the 
actors,  for  oaths  or  for  the  observance  of  the 
most  solemn  obligations  of  legal  and  constitu- 
tional duty. 

The  aggregate  votes  in  the  several  divisions 
of  the  State  were  announced  to  be  as  follows  on 
the  ordinance  of  separation : 

For   Serration.         No  Separation. 

East  Tennessee 14,780  32,923 

Middle  Tennessee 58,265  8,198 

West  Tennessee 29,127  6,117 

Military  Camps 2,741  


104,913 
47,288 


47,238 


Majority 57,675 

The  Governor  made  an  agreement  with  the 
Governor  of  Kentucky  at  this  time,  that  no 
troops  should  cross  the  Tennessee  line  for  any 
purpose,  unless  upon  the  invitation  or  permis- 
sion of  the  latter.  This  proved  worthless  when 
the  Confederate  Government  deemed  it  neces- 
sary to  move.a  force  into  Kentucky.  The  rights 
of  the  State  of  Tennessee  as  a  sovereign  were 
not  taken  into  account. 

Confederate  troops  were  sent  at  the  earliest 
moment  to  take  possession  of  the  three  gaps  in 
the  mountains  of  East  Tennessee,  known  as  the 


48 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Fentress,  "Wheeler,  and  Cumberland.  Cleveland 
was  also  declared  a  military  station.  The  mails 
of  the  United  States  were,  by  order  of  the 
proper  department,  continued  in  twenty-six  of 
the  counties  of  East  Tennessee  at  this  time,  in 
consequence  of  the  Union  feeling  which  was 
manifested.  They  were  as  follows :  Anderson, 
Bledsoe,  Blount,  Bradley,  Campbell,  Carter, 
Claiborne,  Cocke,  Grainger,  Green,  Hamilton, 
Hancock,  Hawkins,  Johnson,  Knox,  Marion, 
McMuir,  Meigs,  Monroe,  Morgan,  Polk,  Rhea, 
Sevier,  Sullivan,  and  "Washington. 

On  the  other  side  every  effort  was  made  to 
procure  arms.  The  Governor  sent  instructions 
to  the  clerks  of  all  the  county  courts,  request- 
ing them  to  issue  to  each  constable  in  their  re- 
spective counties  an  order  requiring  him  to 
make  diligent  inquiry  at  each  house  in  his  civil 
district  for  all  muskets,  bayonets,  rifles,  swords, 
and  pistols  belonging  to  the  State  of  Tennessee, 
to  take  them  into  possession,  and  deliver  them 
to  the  clerks.  A  reward  of  one  dollar  was  to 
be  paid  to  the  constable  for  each  musket  and 
bayonet  or  rifle,  and  of  fifty  cents  for  each 


sword  or  pistol  thus  reclaimed.  The  arms  thus 
obtained  were  to  be  forwarded,  at  public  ex- 
pense, to  the  military  authorities  at  Nashville, 
Knoxville,  and  Memphis,  as  might  be  most  con- 
venient, and  information  sent  to  the  military 
and  financial  board  at  Nashville,  of  the  result. 

Stringent  measures  were  adopted  with  the 
Union  people  of  East  Tennessee.  Many,  upon 
bare  suspicion,  were  arrested  and  taken  prisoners, 
insulted,  abused,  and  carried  into  camps,  there 
to  be  disposed  of  as  the  insurrectionary  mob 
thought  proper.  Squads  of  cavalry  and  infantry 
were  semiring  over  the  country,  offering  the 
people,  male  and  female,  every  indignity  that 
ruffian  bands  are  capable  of;  destroying  crops 
and  substance  without  regard  to  the  condition 
or  circumstances  of  the  persons ;  pasturing  their 
horses  in  corn-fields ;  wasting  hay-stacks,  taking 
provisions  of  every  description  without  regard 
to  quantity,  not  even  asking  the  price  or  ten- 
dering an  equivalent  therefor  in  any  shape  what- 
ever. Nashville  was  put  under  martial  law,  pass- 
ports were  required,  and  all  baggage  was  exam- 
ined under  directions  of  the  Committee  of  Safety. 


CHAPTEE  YI. 


Effects  of  tho  President's  Proclamation— Assembling  of  Troops  at  Washington— Destruction  at  Harper's  Ferry— Destruc- 
tion and  abandonment  of  the  Norfolk  Navy  Yard — Capture  of  the  Star  of  the  "West — Other  Events — Capture  of  Camp 
Jackson,  St  Louis — Other  Events — Attack  on  Sewell's  Point — Seizure  of  Ship  Island— Occupation  of  Harper's  Ferry 
by  Southern  Troops — Movement  of  Troops  from  Washington  into  Virginia — Occupation  of  Alexandria— Blockade  of  the 
Mississippi— Attack  on  the  Batteries  at  Aqflia  Creek— Dash  into  Fairfax  Court  House. 


THE  appearance  of  the  proclamation  of  the 
President,  calling  for  seventy-five  thousand  men, 
caused  the  most  active  efforts  both  at  the  North 
and  South  to  raise  and  equip  troops.  This  was 
immediately  followed  by  hostile  movements  of 
Southern  forces  upon  the  most  important  posi- 
tions. At  the  North  it  was  feared  that  "Wash- 
ington would  be  captured  at  once,  unless  it  was 
quickly  garrisoned.  Thither,  therefore,  the 
troops  from  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  and  Mas- 
sachusetts immediately  moved.  The  advance 
of  the  6th  Massachusetts  regiment  through  Balti- 
more on  April  19th,  has  already  been  described. 

At  Washington,  in  the  'meanwhile,  prepara- 
tion for  defence  was  commenced  with  the  small 
military  and  naval  force  on  hand.  But  on  the 
18th,  three  days  after  the  appearance  of  the 
proclamation,  several  car  loads  of  troops,  num- 
bering about  600  men,  arrived  from  Harrisburg 
via  Baltimore,  and  were  quartered  in  rooms  in 
the  Capitol.  Other  troops  were  also  expected 
soon  to  arrive,  and  the  Massachusetts  regiment 
was  the  next  which  reached  there. 

During  the  whole  day  and  night  of  the  18th, 
the  avenues  of  the  city  were^  guarded  and 
closely  watched.  Cannon  were  planted  hi  com- 
manding positions  so  as  to  sweep  the  river 
along  that  front,  and  these  were  supported  by 


infantry.,  A  proclamation  was  also  issued  by 
Mayor  Berret,  exhorting  "  all  good  citizens 
and  sojourners  to  be  careful  so  to  conduct 
themselves  as  neither  by  word  or  deed  to  give 
occasion  for  any  breach  of  the  peace."  After 
the  outbreak  at  Baltimore  on  the  19th,  no 
mail  was  received  at  "Washington,  either  from 
the  North  or  South,  except  from  Alexandria 
on  the  one  side  and  Baltimore  on  the  other, 
until  the  25th.  On  the  27th  the  New  York 
7th  regiment  arrived,  having  left  New  York  on 
the  18th.  A  delay  took  place  between  Annap- 
olis and  Washington,  in  consequence  of  the 
damage  done  to  the  railroad  track.  The  news 
brought  to  Washington  by  the  7th  was  that 
four  New  York  regiments  were  at  Annapolis, 
with  a  part  of  a  Massachusetts  regiment,  the 
remainder  of  which  was  at  the  Junction.  The 
7th,  therefore,  as  they  marched  up  Pennsylvania 
Avenue,  preceded  by  their  band,  and  making  a 
fine  appearance,  were  received  with  the  wildest 
demonstrations  of  pleasure  on  the  part  of  the 
citizens.  On  the  next  day  another  body  of 
troops  arrived.  They  consisted  of  one-half  of 
the  Rhode  Island  regiment,  1,200  strong,  com- 
manded and  headed  by  Gov.  Sprague ;  and  tho 
Butler  brigade,  under  Brig.-Gen.  Butler,  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, numbering  nearly  1,400  men.  They 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


49 


were  met  at  the  depot  by  the  6th  Massachusetts 
regiment,  stationed  in  the  Capitol,  who  greeted 
their  friends  with  the  heartiest  cheers.  These 
men,  though  severely  worked  hy  the  toilsome 
labor  requisite  to  repair  the  bridges  and  road 
track  from  Annapolis  to  the  Junction,  presented 
a  fine  appearance  as  their  long  and  serpent-like 
lines  wound  through  the  streets.  Troops  now 
began  to  arrive  daily,  and  "Washington  soon 
became  the  most  military  city  on  the  continent. 

Meantime,  hostile  movements  were  com- 
menced at  Harper's  Ferry,  where  a  United 
States  Armory  and  a  National  Arsenal  were 
located.  The  situation  of  this  town  is  at  the 
confluence  of  the  Shehandoah  River  with  the 
Potomac,  in  Jefferson  County,  Virginia,  on  the 
line  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad.  At 
the  armory  10,000  muskets  were  made  annu- 
ally, and  the  arsenal  often  contained  80,000  to 
90,000  stand  of  arms.  On  the  2d  of  January, 
orders  were  received  from  Washington  for  the 
Armory  Guard,  Flag  Guard,  and  Rifles  to  go 
on  duty,  as  a  precautionary  measure.  A  few 
days  afterwards  a  detachment  of  unmounted 
United  States  Dragoons,  numbering  sixty-four, 
under  command  of  Lieut.  Jones,  arrived  there. 
Affairs  remained  in  a  quiet  condition  until  the 
excitement  created  through  the  country  by  the 
capture  of  Fort  Sumter,  and  the  issue  of  the 
first  proclamation  by  the  President  calling  out 
troops.  A  movement  was  immediately  made 
by  friends  of  the  rebellion  in  Northern  Vir- 
ginia, to  take  possession  of  Harper's  Ferry 
Arsenal.  As  early  as  the  18th  of  April,  Lieut. 
Jones  was  informed  that  between  2,500  and 
3,000  State  troops  would  reach  the  ferry  in 
two  hours.  Deeming  the  information  positive 
and  reliable,  he  gave  orders  to  apply  the  torch 
to  the  buildings.  In  ten  minutes  or  less  both 
the  arsenal  buildings,  containing  nearly  15,000 
stand  of  arms,  together  with  the  carpenter's 
shop,  which  was  at  the  upper  end  of  a  long 
and  connected  series  of  workshops  of  the  ar- 
mory proper,  were  in  a  complete  blaze.  Lieut. 
Jones  ^  then  withdrew  his  small  force,  and 
marching  all  night,  arrived  at  Carlisle  barracks 
at  half-past  2  o'clock  the  next  afternoon.  This 
was  done  by  orders  of  the  Government.  The 
place  was  then  taken  possession  of  by  the  Vir- 
ginian troops.  Most  of  the  machinery  which 
was  not  destroyed  was  removed  to  Richmond. 
About  six  hundred  arms  were  recovered. 

But  the  severest  blow  at  this  time  was  given 
near  Norfolk,  a  city  in  Norfolk  County,  Va., 
situated  on  the  right  or  north  bank  of  Elizabeth 
River,  eight  miles  from  Hampton  Roads.  A 
navy-yard  was  located  at  Gosport,  a  suburb  of 
Portsmouth,  on  the  side  of  the  river  opposite, 
accessible  to  the  largest  ships.  A  naval  hos- 
pital and  a  large  dry-dock  were  also  prepared 
there. 

At  the  time  of  the  secession  of  Virginia, 
April  18th,  the  marines  and  Government  forces 
at  the  yard  numbered  nearly  eight  hundred 
men.  The  vessels  of  war  there  at  that  tune 
were  as  follows ; 


Ships  of  the  Line. — Pennsylvania,  120  guns ; 
Columbus,  80 ;  Delaware,  84 ;  New  York  (on 
stocks),  84.  Frigates. — United  States,  50  guns ; 
Columbus,  50 ;  Raritan,  50.  Sloops-of-  War. — 
Plymouth,  22  guns ;  Germantown,  22.  Brig. — 
Dolphin,  4  guns.  Steam  frigate — Merrimac, 
40  guns. 

As  to  their  condition,  there  was  the  liner 
Columbus,  useless  ;  liner  Delaware,  useless ; 
liner  New  York,  never  launched ;  frigate  Co- 
lumbus, out  of  order;  frigate  Raritan,  out  of 
order ;  steam-frigate  Merrimac,  needing  full  re- 
pairs ;  corvette  Germantcrwn,  almost  ready  for 
sea.  The  force  of  the  Government  was  dis- 
tributed as  follows :  The  flag-ship  Cumberland, 
300  men ;  receiving-ship  Pennsylvania,  350 ; 
marines  at  the  barracks,  70 ;  steamer  Poca- 
hontas,  60 ;  total,  780. 

Upon  the  first  excitement,  a  party  of  men, 
without  any  authority,  had  seized  the  light- 
boats,  and  floating  them  to  the  shallowest  point 
at  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  had  sunk  them,  to 
prevent  the  removal  of  the  vessels  of  war  from 
the  navy-yard. 

On  the  19th  Gen.  Taliaferro  and  staff  arrived 
at  Norfolk.  He  had  command  of  all  the  Vir- 
ginia troops  in  that  section,  and  was  waited  on 
shortly  after  his  arrival  by  the  captains  of  the 
several  military  companies  of  the  city  and 
vicinity  for  the  purpose  of  reporting  their 
Strength,  condition,  &c.,  and  receiving  orders. 

On  Saturday,  the  20th,  the  greatest  excite- 
ment prevailed  in  the  city.  It  was  reported 
that  the  Cumberland  was  about  to  sail  from  the 
navy-yard,  and  preparations  were  made  to  pre- 
vent her.  At  twelve  o'clock  an  officer  came 
from  the  yard  bearing  a  flag  of  truce,  and  was 
conducted  to  Gen.  Taliaferro's  headquarters, 
where  a  consultation  was  held,  which  resulted 
in  a  promise  from  Com.  Macauley,  the  com- 
mandant of  the  yard,  that  none  of  the  vessels 
should  be  removed,  nor  a  shot  fired  except  in 
self-defence. 

This  quieted  the  excitement ;  but  it  was  re- 
newed at  a  later  hour,  when  it  was  ascertained 
that  the  Germantown  and  Merrimac  had  been 
scuttled,  and  that  the  heavy  shears  on  the 
wharf  at  which  the  Germantown  was  lying  had 
been  cut  away  and  allowed  to  fall  midships 
across  her  decks,  carrying  away  the  main  top- 
mast and  yards.  It  was  also  perceived  that 
the  men  were  busily  engaged  in  destroying  and 
throVing  overboard  side  and  small  arms,  and 
other  property,  and  boats  were  constantly  pass- 
ing between  the  Pennsylvania,  Cumberland,  and 
other  vessels. 

About  midnight  a  fire  was  started  in  the 
yard.  This  continued  to  increase,  and  before 
daylight  the  work  of  destruction  extended  to 
the  immense  ship-houses  known  as  A  and  B 
(the  former  containing  the  entire  frame  of  the 
New  York,  74,  which  had  been  on  the  stocks, 
unfinished,  for  some  thirty-eight  years),  and 
also  to  the  long  ranges  of  two-story  offices  and 
stores  on  each  side  of  the  main  gate  of  the  yard. 
The  flames  and  heat  from  this  tremendous  mass 


50 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


of  burning  material  were  set  by  a  southwest 
wind  directly  toward  the  line  of  vessels  moored 
on  the  edge  of  the  channel  opposite  the  yard, 
and  nearly  all  of  these,  too,  were  speedily  en- 
veloped in  flames. 

The  scene,  at  this  time,  was  grand  and  terrific 
beyond  description.  The  roar  of  the  conflagra- 
tion was  loud  enough  to  be  heard  at  a  distance 
of  miles ;  and  to  this  were  added  occasional 
discharges  from  the  heavy  guns  of  the  old  Penn- 
sylvania, ship-of-the-line,  as  they  became  suc- 
cessively heated. 

When  the  destruction  of  the  ship-houses  was 
certain,  the  Pawnee,  which  arrived  on  Satur- 
day, and  had  been  kept  under  steam,  was  put 
in  motion,  and,  taking  the  Cumberland  in  tow, 
retired  down  the  harbor,  out  of  the  reach  of 
danger,  freighted  with  a  great  portion  of  valu- 
able munitions  from  the  yard,  and  the  commo- 
dore and  other  officers.  The  ships  proceeded  as 
far  down  as  the  barricades  at  the  narrows, 
where  the  Cumberland  was  left  at  anchor,  and 
the  Pawnee  continued  on  to  Fortress  Monroe. 
The  Cumberland  subsequently  passed  out. 

It  afterwards  appeared  that  the  ship  Penn- 
sylvania was  burnt,  and  the  Merrimac,  Colum- 
bus, Delaware,  and  Raritan,  Plymouth,  and 
Germantown  were  scuttled  and  sunk,  and  a 
vast  amount  of  the  machinery,  valuable  en- 
gines, small  arms,  chronometers,  &c.,  had  been 
broken  up  and  rendered  entirely  useless.  Be* 
sides  the  ship-houses  and  their  contents,  the 
range  of  buildings  on  the  north  line  of  the  yard 
(except  the  Commodore's  and  Commander's 
houses),  the  old  marine  barracks,  and  some 
workshops  were  burnt.  Much  of  value,  how- 
ever, was  not  destroyed.  The  great  dry-dock 
was  uninjured.  The  large  number  of  two  thou- 
sand five  hundred  cannon,  of  all  kinds  and 
sizes,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  State  of  Vir- 
ginia; also  shot,  shell,  and  other  warlike  mis- 
siles to  a  very  large  amount.  Besides  these, 
the  machinery  of  the  yard  was  generally  unin- 
jured. A  collection  of  ship-building  and  out- 
fitting material,  large  and  valuable,  including  a 
number  of  steel  plates  and  iron  castings,  was 
found  ready  for  use,  and  capable  of  being  turned 
to  account. 

Old  Fort  Norfolk,  used  as  a  magazine,  was 
taken  by  the  Virginia  authorities  without  re- 
sistance. Within  were  three  thousand  barrels 
of  powder,  containing  three  hundred  thousand 
pounds ;  also,  a  large  number  of  shells  and  other 
missiles,  loaded,  and  for  that  reason  necessary 
to  be  kept  in  magazines. 

The  value  of  the  property  destroyed  was 
estimated  at  several  millions.  The  cost  of  the 
immense  and  magnificent  ship-houses  and  their 
contents  formed  a  considerable  item  in  the  ac- 
count, and  so  did  that  of  the  Pennsylvania. 
"  It  brings  tears  into  our  eyes,"  said  a  citizen 
of  Norfolk,  "  when  we  realize  the  destruction 
of  this  noble  ship,  so  long  the  ornament  of  our 
harbor,  and  the  admiration  of  thousands  from 
all  parts  of  the  country  who  visited  our  waters." 
That  splendid  specimen  of  naval  architecture, 


the  new  and  beautiful  frigate  Merrimac,  and 
four  or  five  other  vessels,  were  given  to  the 
flames,  or  with  their  valuable  armament  sank 
in  the  deep  water. 

On  the  same  day  an  order  was  issued  by  Gen. 
Taliaferro,  prohibiting  the  collector  of  the  port 
from  accepting  any  draft  from  the  United  States 
Government,  or  allowing  the  removal  of  depos- 
its, or  any  thing  else,  from  the  custom-house. 
The  collector,  being  informed  that  on  his  re- 
fusal to  obey  the  order  a  file  of  men  would  be 
sent  down  to  occupy  the  premises,  acquiesced. 

On  the  20th  the  Richmond  Grays,  a  fine  com- 
pany numbering  one  hundred  rifle  muskets, 
arrived.  They  brought  with  them  fourteen 
pieces  of  rifle  cannon  of  large  size,  one  of  the 
pieces  weighing  ten  thousand  pounds,  and  three 
box  cars  filled  with  ammunition  of  various 
kinds,  to  be  distributed  to  the  patriotic  compa- 
nies by  the  wayside. 

On  the  night  previous,  four  companies  of 
Petersburg  riflemen  and  infantry,  numbering  in 
all  four  hundred  men,  reached  Norfolk.  They 
were  followed  by  two  additional  companies  of 
one  hundred  each. 

On  the  22d,  three  companies  of  troops  ffbm 
Georgia  arrived  in  the  express  train  from  Wei- 
don  ;  the  Light  Guards,  from  Columbus,  num- 
bering eighty  men;  the  Macon  Volunteers, 
eighty  men ;  and  the  Floyd  Rifles,  from  Macon, 
eighty  men.  The  first  and  last  commands 
marched  immediately  to  the  naval  hospital. 

About  the  same  time  the  hull  of  the  old  ship 
United  States,  in  which  Com.  Decatur  captured 
the  Macedonian,  was  taken  possession  of  at  the 
navy-yard  by  an  efficient  crew,  and  towed  down 
to  the  narrow  part  of  the  channel,  a  mile  below 
Fort  Norfolk,  where  she  was  moored  across  the 
channel  and  sunk.  Only  a  few  feet  brought 
her  in  contact  with  the  bottom.  Any  naval 
force  that  might  attempt  to  pass  up  the  harbor 
must  remove  the  hulk,  while,  in  the  mean  time, 
the  shot  and  shells  from  the  two  forts  above — 
one  on  the  right  and  the  other  on  the  left — 
would  be  poured  into  them.  Norfolk  thus  was 
occupied  by  Confederate  troops,  who  remained 
in  undisturbed  possession  through  the  year. 

Excitement  both  at  the  North  and  the  South 
now  ran  high.  Events  daily  occurred  which 
added  fuel  to  the  flame.  Besides  those  already 
narrated  in  connection  with  the  secession  of 
the  several  States,  space  will  permit  hero 
merely  a  summary  of  other  isolated  incidents 
in  the  order  of  time  in  which  they  took  place. 
On  April  19th,  the  steamer  Star  of  the  West 
was  boarded  off  Indianola,  by  a  party  of  volun- 
teers from  Galveston,  and  captured  without  re- 
sistance. She  had  been  sent  out  to  convey  to 
New  York  the  force  of  regular  troops  to  be 
withdrawn  from  that  State.  On  the  same  day 
the  President  issued  another  proclamation  de- 
claring a  blockade  of  the  Southern  ports. 

On  the  21st,  Senator  Andrew  Johnson,  of 
Tennessee,  was  mobbed  at  Lynchburg,  Va.,  and 
narrowly  escaped. 

On  the  22d,   the  arsenal    at  Fayetteville, 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


51 


North  Carolina,  was  surrendered  to  a  force  of 
about  eight  hundred  men,  with  thirty -five  thou- 
sand stand  of  arms  and  some  cannon,  and  con- 
siderable quantities  of  ball  and  powder. 

On  the  25th,  the  Legislature  of  Vermont, 
being  in  session,  appropriated  $1,000,000  to 
equip  her  volunteers. 

At  this  time  a  large  number  of  the  officers 
of  the  army  and  navy  who  were  natives  of 
Southern  States,  sent  in  their  resignation. 

On  the  26th,  twenty-one  thousand  stand  of 
arms  were  removed,  by  order  of  the  Federal 
Government,  from  the  arsenal  at  St.  Louis,  and 
taken  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  for  safety. 

On  the  29th,  the  Legislature  of  Indiana  being 
in  session,  appropriated  five  hundred  thousand 
dollars  to  equip  her  volunteers.  On  the  same 
day  a  number  of  Northern  steamers  at  New 
Orleans  were  seized  and  appropriated. 

On  the  30th,  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey 
assembled  in  extra  session,  and  authorized  a 
loan  of  two  millions  of  dollars  to  fit  out  her 
troops.  The  command  of  her  force  was  given 
to  Gen.  Theodore  Runyon.  It  immediately 
started  from  Trenton  for  Annapolis,  in  fourteen 
propellers,  by  canal  to  Bordentown,  thence 
down  the  Delaware  River.  The  whole  brigade 
was  armed  with  Mini6  rifles,  and  took  also 
four  pieces  of  artillery.  It  was  stated  that  "  the 
fleet  of  transports  with  a  strong  convoy  made  a 
novel  and  splendid  appearance  steaming  in  two 
lines  up  the  Chesapeake  Bay." 

On  May  3d,  the  Connecticut  Legislature  ap- 
propriated two  millions  of  dollars  for  the  pub- 
lic defence.  These  appropriations  continued  to 
be  made  in  the  first  months  of  the  war,  by 
States,  cities,  and  towns,  until  the  amount  ex- 
ceeded thirty-seven  millions  of  dollars. 

On  the  same  day,  May  3d,  Gov.  Letcher,  of 
Virginia,  called  out  the  State  militia  to  defend 
Virginia  from  invasion  by  Northern  troops. 

On  the  9th,  a  resolution  was  adopted  by  the 
Congress  at  Montgomery,  authorizing  their 
Government  to  accept  all  the  volunteers  who 
might  offer. 

On  the  13th,  a  Convention  assembled  at 
Wheeling,  in  Western  Virginia,  for  the  purpose 
of  separating  the  counties  represented  from 
being  a  part  of  Virginia,  and  forming  a  Union 
State  Government.  On  this  same  day  the  proc- 
lamation of  Victoria,  Queen  of  England,  was 
issued,  recognizing  the  insurrectionary  States 
as  belligerents. 

On  the  14th,  a  schooner  at  Baltimore  found 
to  be  loaded  with  arms  was  seized  by  the  Fed- 
eral authorities. 

On  the  16th,  the  first  injury  was  done  to  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  by  the-  destruc- 
tion of  several  bridges  and  portions  of  the 
track. 

On  the  same  day,  the  brigade  of  State  militia 
under  Gen.  Frost  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  sur- 
rendered to  Gen.  Lyon,  an  officer  in  the  United 
States  service.  A  camp  of  instruction  had  been 
formed  under  Gen.  Frost  in  the  western  sub- 
urbs of  the  city,  in  pursuance  of  orders  from 


the  Governor  of  the  State.  He  had  directed 
the  other  militia  districts  also  to  go  into  en- 
campments with  a  view  of  acquiring  a  greater 
proficiency  in  military  drill.  It  had  been  re- 
ported to  Gen.  Frost  that  Gen.  Lyon  intended 
to  attack  him,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  it  had 
been  reported  to  Gen.  Lyon  that  it  was  the  in- 
tention of  Gen.  Frost  to  attack  the  arsenal  and 
United  States  troops.  On  the  16th,  Gen.  Frost 
addressed  a  note  to  Gen.  Lyon  alluding  to  these 
reports. 

About  the  same  time  Gen.  Lyon's  troops 
were  put  in  motion,  to  the  number,  as  was 
represented,  of  four  or  five  thousand,  and  pro- 
ceeded through  the  city  to  the  camp  of  Gen. 
Frost,  and  surrounded  it,  planting  batteries  on 
all  the  heights  overlooking  the  camp.  Long 
files  of  men  were  stationed  in  platoons  at  va- 
rious points  on  every  side,  and  a  picket  guard 
established,  covering  an  area  of  two  hundred 
yards.  The  guards,  with  fixed  bayonets  and 
muskets  at  half  cock,  were  instructed  to  allow 
none  to  pass  or  repass  within  the  limits  thus 
taken  up. 

By  this  time  an  immense  crowd  of  people  had 
assembled  in  the  vicinity,  having  gone  thither 
in  carriages,  buggies,  rail  cars,  baggage  wagons, 
on  horseback,  and  on  foot.  Numbers  of  men 
seized  rifles,  shot-guns,  or  whatever  other 
weapons  they  could  lay  hands  on,  and  rushed 
to  the  assistance  of  the  State  troops,  but  were, 
of  course,  obstructed  in  their  design.  The 
hills,  of  which  there  are  a  number  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, were  literally  black  with  people — hun- 
dreds of  ladies  and  children  stationing  them- 
selves with  the  throng,  but  as  they  thought  out 
of  harm's  way.  Having  arrived  in  this  posi- 
tion, Gen.  Lyon  addressed  a  letter  to  Gen.  Frost 
demanding  an  immediate  surrender. 

Immediately  on  the  receipt  of  the  foregoing, 
Gen.  Frost  called  a  hasty  consultation  of  the 
officers  of  his  staff.  The  conclusion  arrived 
at  was  that  the  brigade  was  in  no  condition  to 
make  resistance  to  a  force  so  numerically  supe- 
rior, and  that  only  one  course  could  be  pursued 
— a  surrender. 

The  State  troops  were  therefore  made  pris- 
oners, but  an  offer  was  made  to  release  them 
on  condition  they  would  take  an  oath  to  sup- 
port the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and 
not  to  take  up  arms  against  the  Government. 
These  terms  they  declined  on  the  ground  that 
they  had  already  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance, 
and  to  repeat  it  would  be  to  admit  that  they- 
had  been  in  rebellion. 

About  half-past  five  the  prisoners  left  the 
grove  and  entered  the  road,  the  United  States 
soldiers  enclosing  them  by  a  single  file  stretched 
along  each  side  of  the  line.  A  halt  was  ordered, 
and  the  troops  remained  standing  in  the  posi- 
tion they  had  deployed  into  the  road.  The 
head  of  the  column  at  the  time  rested  opposite 
a  small  hill  on  the  left  as  one  approaches  the 
city,  and  the  rear  was  on  a  line  with  the  en- 
trance to  the  grove.  Vast  crowds  of  people 
covered  the  surrounding  grounds  and  every 


MIL1TAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


fence  and  house  top  in  the  vicinity.  Suddenly 
the  sharp  reports  of  several  fire-arms  were 
heard  from  the  front  of  the  column,  and  the 
spectators  that  lined  the  adjacent  hill  were  seen 
fleeing  in  the  greatest  dismay  and  terror.  It 
appeared  that  several  memhers  of  one  of  the 
German  companies,  on  being  pressed  hy  the 
crowd  and  receiving  some  blows  from  them, 
turned  and  discharged  their  pieces.  Fortu- 
nately no  one  was  injured,  and  the  soldiers 
who  had  done  the  act  were  at  once  placed 
under  arrest.  Hardly,  however,  had  tranquil- 
lity been  restored  when  volley  after  volley  of 
rifle  reports  was  suddenly  heard  from  the  ex- 
treme rear  ranks,  and  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren were  beheld  running  wildly  and  frantically 
away  from  the  scene.  Many,  while  running, 
were  suddenly  struck  to  the  sod,  and  the 
wounded  and  dying  made  the  late  beautiful 
field  look  like  a  battle-ground.  The  total  num- 
ber killed  and  wounded  was  twenty-five.  It 
was  said  that  the  arsenal  troops  were  attacked 
with  stones,  and  two  shots  discharged  at  them 
by  the  crowd  before  they  fired.  Most  of  the 
people  exposed  to  the  fire  were  citizens  with 
their  wives  and  children,  who  were  merely 
spectators.  It  was  now  night,  and  the  excite- 
ment in  the  city  was  indescribable.  On  the 
next  afternoon  a  large  body  of  the  German 
Home  Guard  entered  the  city  from  the  arsenal, 
where  they  had  been  enlisted  during  the  day, 
and  furnished  with  arms.  They  passed  unmo- 
lested until  they  turned  up  "Walnut  Street,  and 
proceeded  westward.  Large  crowds  were  col- 
lected on  the  corners,  who  hooted  and  hissed 
as  the  companies  passed,  and  one  man  standing 
on  the  steps  of  a  church  fired  a  revolver  into 
the  ranks.  A  soldier  fell  dead,  when  two  more 
shots  were  fired  from  the  windows  of  a  house 
near  by.  At  this  time  the  head  of  the  column, 
which  had  reached  as  far  as  Seventh  Street,  sud- 
denly turned,  and  levelling  their  rifles,  fired 
down  the  street,  and  promiscuously  among  the 
spectators,  who  lined  the  pavements.  Shoot- 
ing, as  they  did,  directly  toward  their  rear 
ranks,  they  killed  some  of  their  men  as  well  as 
those  composing  the  crowd.  The  shower  of 
bullets  was  for  a  moment  terrible,  and  the  only 
wonder  was  that  more  lives  were  not  lost. 
The  missiles  of  lead  entered  the  windows  and 
perforated  the  doors  of  private  residences,  tear- 
ing the  ceilings,  and  throwing  splinters  in  every 
direction.  On  the  street  the  scene  presented, 
as  the  soldiers  moved  off,  was  sad  indeed.  Six 
men  lay  dead  at  different  points,  and  several 
were  wounded  and  shrieking  with  pain  upon  the 
pavements.  Four  of  the  men  killed  were  mem- 
bers of  the  regiment,  and  two  were  citizens. 
Immense  crowds  of  people  filled  the  streets 
after  the  occurrence,  and  the  whole  city  pre- 
sented a  scene  of  excitement  seldom  witnessed. 
Among  the  arms  taken  at  Camp%Jackson  were 
three  thirty-two  pounders,  a  large  quantity  of 
balls  and  bombs,  several  pieces  of  artillery, 
twelve  hundred  rifles,  of  the  late  model,  six 
brass  field-pieces,  six  brass  six-inch  mortars, 


one  ten-inch  iron  mortar,  three  six-inch  iron 
cannon,  several  chests  of  new  muskets,  five 
boxes  canister  shot,  ninety-six  ten-inch  and 
three  hundred  six-inch  shells,  twenty-five  kegs 
of  powder,  and  a  large  number  of  musket  stocks 
and  barrels,  between  thirty  and  forty  horses, 
and  a  considerable  quantity  of  camp  tools. 

The  number  of  prisoners  taken  to  the  arsenal 
was  six  hundred  and  thirty-nine  privates  and 
fifty  officers.  On  the  same  day  a  body  of  seces- 
sionists were  dispersed  at  Liberty,  Missouri. 

On  the  lYth  a  number  of  persons  were  ar- 
rested at  Washington,  on  the  charge  of  being 
spies  from  the  insurrectionary  States.  The 
transportation  of  any  articles  by  express,  to  any 
point  further  south  than  Washington,  was  also 
forbidden.  Some  fortifications  were  com- 
menced by  Southern  troops  at  Harper's  Ferry. 
The  yacht  Wanderer,  formerly  noted  as  having 
brought  a  cargo  of  slaves  from  Africa  into  the 
State  of  Georgia,  was  at  the  same  time  seized 
off  Key  West  by  the  Federal  steamer  Crusader. 

On  the  19th  the  light  ship  in  the  Potomac 
River  was  seized  by  a  body  of  Virginians,  but 
they  were  pursued  and  the  vessel  recaptured. 

On  the  19th  a  collision  took  place  at  Sewell's 
Point,  which  is  the  projection  of  land  on  the 
right  shore,  where  the  Elizabeth  River  turns 
from  a  north  to  an  easterly  course,  becoming 
then  what  is  called  Hampton  Roads.  It  is  on 
this  river  that  Norfolk  in  Virginia  is  situated. 
The  point  was  fortified  immediately  after  the 
secession  of  Virginia.  The  battery  placed  there 
by  her  troops  was  the  exterior  of  the  line  of  bat- 
teries intended  to  guard  the  Elizabeth  River, 
through  which  Norfolk  is  approached.  This 
line  of  batteries  consisted  of  seven,  the  heaviest 
of  which  was  at  Craney  Island,  mounting  about 
thirty  guns.  Two  batteries  further  inland 
mounted  about  twelve  and  fifteen  guns  respec- 
tively. The  other  batteries  mounted  from  seven 
to  ten  guns.  The  battery  at  Sewell's  Point 
commanded  the  vessels  blockading  James  River, 
and  if  the  guns  were  sufficiently  heavy  and 
effective,  it  could  cause  them  to  remove.  A 
party  being  observed  perfecting  the  earthworks, 
the  gunboat  Star  opened  fire  upon  them  with 
two  ten-inch  guns  and  shell.  Subsequently  the 
Freeborn,  Capt.  Ward,  arrived,  and  taking  a 
position  near  the  shore,  drove  the  defenders  out 
of  the  works,  and  disabled  the  battery. 

The  Star  was  struck  by  five  shots  of  small 
calibre,  all  of  which  took  effect.  One  ball,  a 
six-pounder,  penetrated  the  hull  on  the  lar- 
board bow,  a  few  inches  above  the  water  line. 
Two  of  her  crew  were  injured,  and  one  of  them, 
a  boy,  seriously.  This  was  the  first  skirmish 
between  the  floating  batteries  of  the  North  and 
land  batteries  of  the  South.  On  the  other  side, 
Vice-President  Stephens,  in  an  address  at  At- 
lanta, Ga.,  on  the  23d  of  May,  spoke  of  the  af- 
fair as  resulting  in  "  the  vessel  being  repulsed 
and  disabled." 

Southern  troops  now  marched  for  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  on  the  20th  of  May  there  were 
on  the  spot  8,000,  made  up  from  Kentucky, 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


53 


Alabama,  South  Carolina,  and  Virginia.  They 
occupied  all  the  neighboring  heights  on  both 
sides  of  the  Potomac  and  Shenandoah  Rivers, 
and  claimed  to  hold  a  position  impregnable 
to  40,000  men,  so  eligible  were  the  points 
of  defence.  They  expected  accessions  to  their 
number,  under  the  belief  that  the  United  States 
Government  intended  to  make  an  effort  to  re- 
plant the  national  flag  wherever  it  had  been 
displaced. 

A  small  force  was  thrown  over  the  river  to 
the  heights  on  the  Maryland  shore,  thus  occu- 
pying a  position  important  to  the  security  of 
Harper's  Ferry.  The  invasion  of  Maryland  by 
Virginia  caused  a  remonstrance  from  Governor 
Hicks,  addressed  to  Governor  Letcher,  of  Vir- 
ginia. The  latter  replied  that  the  movement 
was  unauthorized  and  should  be  countermand- 
ed. On  the  14th  of  June  the  ferry  was  evacu- 
ated by  the  troops.  Their  total  force  on  that 
day  in  and  around  the  place  was  about  10,000. 

On  the  day  when  the  evacuation  commenced 
the  bridge  over  the  Potomac  was  destroyed, 
having  been  partly  blown  up  and  then  set  on 
fire  by  the  retiring  force.  It  was  a  long  and 
costly  structure.  This  retreat  of  the  Southern 
troops  was  made  in  consequence  of  the  move- 
ment of  Union  troops  up  the  Potomac,  from 
"Washington,  and  from  Ohambersburg,  in  Penn- 
sylvania, toward  Harper's  Ferry.  At  a  later 
day,  a  small  force  of  Confederate  troops  re- 
turned and  burned  the  bridge  over  the  Shenan- 
doah and  other  property.  After  the  passage 
of  the  Union  troops  across  the  Potomac  at  Wil- 
liamsport,  under  General  Patterson,  the  Con- 
federate forces  retired,  and  the  ferry  remained 
in  possession  of  the  former  permanently. 

On  the  22d  a  body  of  men  from  the  mainland 
reoceupied  Ship  Island,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi,  on  which  the  construction  of  an  ex- 
tensive fort  had  been  commenced  by  the  Federal 
Government,  and  destroyed  the  wooden  work 
and  the  lighthouse  structure. 

On  the  night  of  the  23d  of  May  troops  from 
Washington  proceeded  to  occupy  the  heights  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  Potomac  in  Virginia. 
The  large  camps  of  southern  troops  formed  in 
such  places  in  Virginia,  that  a  rapid  concentration 
by  railroad  could  be  made,  rendered  it  prudent 
for  the  Government  to  occupy  these  positions, 
which,  in  consequence  of  the  railroad  connec- 
tions between  Alexandria  and  Richmond,  were 
of  great  importance  to  the  security  of  Wash- 
ington. The  night  of  the  23d  was  beautiful  on 
the  Potomac.  A  full  moon  looked  peacefully 
down,  and  perfect  quietness  prevailed  over  all 
the  shores  in  the  neighborhood  of  Washington. 
Companies  of  infantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery, 
were  stationed  near  and  on  the  Long  Bridge. 
About  midnight  two  companies  of  rifles  were 
advanced  across  the  bridge  to  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Roach's  Spring.  Scouts  were  sent  out 
in  all  directions,  who  managed  to  get  past  the 
line  of  Virginia  pickets.  Somewhat  later  the 
latter,  getting  the  alarm,  set  spurs  to  their 
horses,  and  made  off  in  haste  down  the  road 


toward  Alexandria.  Volunteers  of  the  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia  were  also  advanced  toward 
Alexandria.  At  Georgetown,  above,  a  move- 
ment was  made  about  half-past  eleven  over 
the  aqueduct  by  the  Georgetown  battalion. 
They  drove  off  the  two  or  three  pickets  on  the 
Virginia  side  of  the  river,  and  soon  established 
themselves  in  position.  Next  followed  the 
5th  Massachusetts  regiment,  28th  Brooklyn 
regiment,  Company  B  of  the  U.  S.  cavalry,  and 
the  69th  regiment.  The  last-named  regiment 
scoured  Alexandria  County,  and  went  back  as 
far  as  the  London  and  Hampshire  Railroad.  The 
sight  of  the  troops  crossing  the  aqueduct,  with 
their  burnished  weapons  gleaming  in  the  bright 
moonlight,  was  strikingly  beautiful.  About  2 
o'clock  in  the  morning  another  large  body  of 
troops  passed  over  from  Washington  and  the 
neighborhood.  The  Vth  New  York  regiment 
halted  under  orders  at  the  Virginia  end  of  the 
Long  Bridge  ;  the  2d  New  Jersey  regiment 
went  to  Roach's  Spring,  half  a  mile  from  the 
end  of  the  bridge ;  the  New  York  25th  and  one 
cavalry  company,  and  the  New  York  12th  and 
the  3d  and  4th  New  Jersey  regiments,  proceed- 
ed to  the  right,  after  crossing  the  bridge,  for 
the  occupation  of  the  heights  of  Arlington. 
They  were  joined  by  the  other  troops,  which 
crossed  at  the  Georgetown  aqueduct. 

Ellsworth's  Zouaves,  in  two  steamers,  with 
the  steamer  James  Guy  as  tender,  left  their 
camp  on  the  East  Branch,  directly  for  Alexan- 
dria by  water.  The  Michigan  regiment,  under 
Col.  Wilcox,  accompanied  by  a  detachment  of 
United  States  cavalry  and  two  pieces  of  Sher- 
man's battery,  also  proceeded  by  way  of  the 
Long  Bridge  to  Alexandria.  At  4  o'clock 
A.  M.  the  Zouaves  landed  at  Alexandria  from  the 
steamers,  and  the  troops,  who  proceeded  by  the 
bridge,  also  reached  that  town.  As  the  steam- 
ers drew  up  near  the  wharf,  armed  boats  left 
the  Pawnee,  whose  crews  leaped  ashore  just 
before  the  Ellsworth  Zouaves  reached  it.  The 
crews  of  the  Pawnee's  boats  were  fired  upon 
by  a  few  Virginia  sentries  as  the  boats  left 
the  steamship,  by  way  of  giving  the  alarm,  but 
these  sentries  instantly  fled  into  the  town. 
Their  fire  was  answered  by  scattering  shots 
from  some  of  the  Zouaves  on  the  decks  of  the 
steamers.  Immediately  on  landing,  the  Zouavea 
marched  up  into  the  centre  of  the  town,  no  re- 
sistance whatever  to  their  progress  being  of- 
fered. Thus  quiet  possession  was  taken  of  that 
part  of  Alexandria,  in  the  name  of  the  United 
States,  by  that  portion  of  the  troops  imme- 
diately commanded  by  Col.  Ellsworth.  The 
Michigan  regiment,  at  the  same  time,  inarched 
into  the  town  by  the  extension  of  the  Washing- 
ton turnpike,  and  the  cavalry  and  artillery  came 
in  two  or  three  streets  below.  The  destination 
of  both  these  detachments  was  the  depot  of 
the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad,  which 
they  instantly  seized.  They  also  found  there 
a  disunion  company  of  cavalry,  of  thirty-five 
men,  and  as  many  horses,  who  were  made  pris- 
oners, not  having  heard  the  alarm  made  by  the 


54 


•MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


firing  of  the  sentries  below.  A  portion  of  the 
Virginia  force  escaped  in  cars.  Thus  was 
possession  taken  of  the  Virginia  shore.  In- 
trenching tools  were  conveyed  over  from  Wash- 
ington ;  the  next  day  intrenchments  were 
thrown  up,  and  about  noon  a  large  national 
flag  was  raised  within  them,  and  thrown  out  to 
the  winds.  Great  numbers  of  spectators,  of 
both  sexes,  lined  the  heights  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  Potomac,  watching  the  movements  of 
the  troops  with  eager  interest.  The  only  dis- 
astrous event  occurring  was  the  death  of  Col. 
Ellsworth,  commander  of  the  Fire  Zouave  regi- 
ment of  New  York.  The  intrenchments  thus 
commenced  subsequently  became  of  immense 
extent,  and,  with  those  on  the  other  sides  of 
Washington,  consisted  of  forty-eight  works', 
mounting  300  guns.  The  whole  defence  peri- 
meter occupied  was  about  thirty-five  miles. 

During  the  next  day  after  the  occupation  of 
Alexandria,  the  bridges  on  the  railroad  from 
that  city  to  Leesburg  were  destroyed.  Martial 
law  was  at  once  declared  in  Alexandria,  and 
the  command  of  the  troops  in  the  vicinity  of 
Washington  was  given  to  Brig.-Gen.  Irvin 
McDowell.  From  Fortress  Monroe  Gen.  But- 
ler advanced  his  forces  and  formed  an  intrench- 
ed camp  at  Newport  News  on  the  27th.  His 
object  was  to  command  Sand  Island,  which  is 
about  midway  in,  and  completely  guards  the 
entrance  of  the  James  River. 

A  blockade  of  the  Mississippi  was  commenced 
at  this  time  by  the  Southern  troops,  and  also  a 
regular  blockade  of  the  ports  of  Savannah  and 
Mobile  by  the  Federal  fleet. 

On  the  30th,  Grafton,  in  Western  Virginia, 
was  occupied  by  Col.  Kelly.  A  small  force 
of  the  enemy  retired  on  his  approach.  In 
Missouri  Gen.  Lyon  superseded  Gen.  Harney, 
and  at  Washington  commissions  were  issued  to 
Gens.  Fremont  and  Banks. 

On  the  31st  an  attack  was  made  on  the  bat- 
teries erected  by  the  Virginia  troops  at  Aquia 
Creek,  below  Washington,  by  Commander  H. 
J.  Ward  in  the  gunboat  Freeborn,  supported  by 
the  Anacostia  and  Resolute.  He  thus  reported 
the  affair : 


"  After  an  incessant  discharge,  kept  up  for  two 
hours  by  both  our  32-pounders,  and  the  ex- 
penditure of  all  the  ammunition  suitable  for 
distant  firing,  and  silencing  completely  the 
three  batteries  at  the  railroad  terminus,  the 
firing  from  shore  having  been  rapidly  kept  up 
by  them  until  so  silenced,  and  having  been  re- 
commenced from  the  new  batteries  on  the 
heights  back,  which  reached  us  in  volleys,  drop- 
ping the  shot  on  board  and  about  us  like  hail 
for  nearly  an  hour,  but  fortunately  wounding 
but  one  man,  I  hauled  the  vessel  off,  as  the 
heights  proved  wholly  above  the  reach  of  our 
elevation.  Judging  from  the  explosion  of  our 
ten-second  shells  in  the  sand-batteries,  two  of 
which  were  thrown  by  the  Anacostia,  it  is  hardly 
possible  the  enemy  can  have  escaped  consider- 
able loss.  Several  others  of  the  Anacostia's 
shells. dropped  in  the  vicinity  of  the  battery." 

Another  attack  was  made  on  the  batteries  on 
.the  1st  of  June,  by  the  Freeborn  and  Pawnee 
gunboats.  Just  as  the  firing  opened  the  men  at 
the  batteries  burned  the  depot  houses  at  the  end 
of  the  wharf,  probably  to  prevent  them  from 
being  in  the  way  of  their  shot.  They  continued 
burning  throughout  the  whole  engagement,  as 
it  was  not  safe  for  any  one  to  leave  the  batteries 
to  extinguish  the  fire.  The  entire  wharf  to  the 
water's  edge  was  Mso  burned. 

A  slight  affair  had  taken  place  on  the  29th  of 
May,  previous  to  these  two  attacks,  which  was 
the  first  hostile  collision  on  the  waters  of  the 
Potomac. 

On  June  1st  the  first  collision  took  place  be- 
tween the  hostile  forces  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Washington.  Lieut.  Tompkins,  with  a  company 
of  regular  cavalry,  consisting  of  forty-seven  men, 
made  a  dash  upon  the  village  of  Fairfax  Court- 
House.  A  body  of  Southern  troops  were  in 
possession  of  the  village,  who  made  a  vigorous 
and  determined  resistance.  The  cavalry  charged 
through  the  principal  street,  and  upon  their  re- 
turn were  met  by  two  detachments  of  the  ene- 
my. Again  wheeling,  they  encountered  another 
detachment,  through  which  they  forced  their 
way  and  escaped,  bringing  with  them  five  prison- 
ers. They  lost  nine  horses  in  the  skirmish. 


CHAPTEE  YII. 


Southern  Congress  adjourns  to  meet  at  Kichmond—  Speeches  of  Howell  Cobb  and  Vice-President  Stephens—  The  Federal 
Army—  Skirmish  at  Philippi—  Attack  on  Pig's  Point^Grcat  Bethel—  Movements  in  West  Tennessee—  Komncy—  Ad- 
vance of  Gen.  Lyon  to  Jefferson  City  —  Vienna  —  Locomotives  Destroyed  —  Mathias  Point  —  Other  Events  —  Southern' 
Privateers. 


BLOODY  conflicts  soon  began  to  occur  in  va- 
nous  quarters,  which  renders  it  necessary 
to  notice  more  fully  the  preparations  each 
side  had  -been  making.  On  April  29th  the  in- 
surrectionary  Congress  had  assembled  at  Mont- 
gomery,  in  compliance  with  a  proclamation  from 
th.eir  President.  At  the  opening  of  the  session 


he  delivered  a  message  recommending  such 
measures  as  were  necessary  to  conduct  a  vigor- 
ous  defensive  war.  They  were  promptly  pass- 
ed,  and  on  the  21st  of  May  Congress  adjourned 
to  meet  at  Richmond,  in  Virginia,  on  July  20th. 
The  reasons  for  this  change  of  capital  are 
given  by  the  President  of  the  Congress,  Howell 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


55 


Cobb,  in  a  speech  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  on  the  22d 
of  May: 

"I  presume  that  a  curiosity  to  know  what 
we  have  been  doing  in  the  Congress  recently 
assembled  at  Montgomery,  has  induced  you  to 
make  this  call  upon  me.  "We  have  made  all  the 
necessary  arrangements  to  meet  the  present 
crisis.  Last  night  we  adjourned  to  meet  in 
Richmond  on  the  20th  of  July.  I  will  tell  you 
why  we  did  this.  The  '  Old  Dominion,'  as  you 
know,  has  at  last  shaken  off  the  bonds  of  Lin- 
coln, and  joined  her  noble  Southern  sisters. 
Her  soil  is  to  be  the  battle-ground,  and  her 
streams  are  to  be  dyed  with  Southern  blood. 
We  felt  that  her  cause  was  our  cause,  and  that 
if  she  fell  we  wanted  to  die  by  her.  We  have 
cent  our  soldiers  on  to  the  posts  of  danger,  and 
we  wanted  to  be  there  to  aid  and  counsel  our 
brave  '  boys.'  In  the  progress  of  the  war  fur- 
ther legislation  may  be  necessary,  and  we  will 
be  there,  that  when  the  hour  of  danger  comes, 
we  may  lay  aside  the  robes  of  legislation,  buckle 
on  the  armor  of  the  soldier,  and  do  battle  be- 
side the  brave  ones  who  have  volunteered  for 
the  defence  of  our  beloved  South. 

"  The  people  are  coming  up  gallantly  to  the 
work.  When  the  call  was  made  for  twelve- 
months' volunteers,  thousands  were  offered ;  but 
when  it  was  changed  to  the  full  term  of  the  war, 
the  numbers  increased!  The  anxiety  among 
our  citizens  is  not  as  to  who  shall  go  to  the  wars, 
but  who  shall  stay  at  home.  No  man  in  the 
whole  Confederate  States — the  gray-haired  sire 
down  to  the  beardless  youth — in  whose  veins 
was  one  drop  of  Southern  blood,  feared  to  plant 
liis  foot  upon  Virginia's  soil,  and  die  fighting  for 
our  rights." 

On  the  next  evening  the  Vice-President,  Mr. 
Stephens,  being  at  Atlanta,  also  made  an  ad- 
dress, in  which  the  plan  of  the  Government  was 
more  fully  unfolded:  "The  tune  for  speech- 
making  has  passed.  The  people  have  heard  all 
that  can  be  said.  The  time  for  prompt,  vigor- 
ous, and  decisive  action  is  upon  us,  and  we  must 
do  our  duty.  Upon  the  surface  affairs  appear 
to  be  quiet,  and  I  can  give  you  no  satisfaction 
as  to  their  real  condition.  *It  is  true  that  threats 
of  an  attack  on  Pensacola  have  been  made,  but 
it  is  uncertain  whether  any  attack  will  be  made. 
As  you  know,  an  attack  was  made  at  Sewall's 
Point,  near  Norfolk,  but  the  vessel  making  it 
was  repulsed  and  disabled.  But  the  general 
opinion  and  indications  are  that  the  first  demon- 
stration will  be  at  Harper's  Ferry,  and  that 
there,  where  John  Brown  inaugurated  his  work 
of  slaughter,  will  be  fought  a  fierce  and  bloody 
battle.  As  for  myself,  I  believe  that  there  the 
war  will  begin,  and  that  the  first  boom  of  can- 
non that  breaks  upon  our  ears  will  come  from 
that  point.  But  let  it  begin  where  it  will,  and 
be  as  bloody  and  prolonged  as  it  may,  we  are 
prepared  for  the  issue !  Some  think  there  will 
be  no  war ;  as  to  that  I  know  not.  But  what- 
ever others  wanted,  the  object  of  the  Con- 
federate Government  is  peace.  Come  peace  or 
war,  however,  it  is  determined  to  maintain  our 


position  at  every  hazard  and  at  every  cost,  and 
to  brive  back  the  myrmidons  of  Abolitionism. 
We  prefer  and  desire  peace  if  we  can  have  it ; 
but  if  we  cannot,  we  must  meet  the  issue  forced 
upon  us." 

Richmond  was  promptly  occupied  by  tho 
Southern  authorities,  and  was  made  the  capital 
of  the  new  Confederacy. 

Meanwhile  President  Lincoln  had  issued 
another  call  for  troops.  On  the  4th  of  May 
a  second*  proclamation  appeared  calling  for 
volunteers  to  serve  during  the  war.  So  pa- 
triotic and  enthusiastic  were  the  people  in 
favor  of  preserving  the  Union,  that,  under 
this  call,  two  hundred  and  eight  regiments 
had  been  accepted  by  July  1st.  A  number' 
of  other  regiments  were  also  accepted,  on 
condition  of  being  ready  to  be  mustered  into 
service  within  a  specified  time.  All  of  those 
regiments  accepted  under  this  call  were  infantry 
and  riflemen,  with  the  exception  of  two  bat- 
talions of  artillery  and  four  regiments  of  cav- 
alry. Many  regiments,  mustered  as  infantry, 
had  attached  to  them  one  or  more  artillery 
companies ;  and  there  were  also  some  regiments 
partly  made  up  of  companies  of  cavalry.  Of 
the  two  hundred  and  eight  regiments  above 
mentioned,  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  were  in 
active  service  on  the  1st  of  July,  and  the  re- 
maining fifty-five  within  twenty  days  after- 
wards. The  total  force  in  the  field  on  July  1st, 
was  computed  as  follows : 

Regulars  and  volunteers  for  three  months  and  for 

the  war .' 232,875 

Add  to  this  55  regiments  of  volunteers  for 

the  war,  accepted  and  not  then  In  service.    50,000 

Add  new  regiments  of  regular  army 25,000 

;  75,000 

Total  force  at  command  of  Government 807,875 

Deduct  the  three-months'  volunteers 77,875 

Force  for  service  after  the  withdrawal  of  the  three-     

months1  men 28Q,000 

Of  this  force,  188,000  men  were  volunteers, 
and  42,000  men  computed  for  the  regular  army. 

The  proclamation  of  the  President  of  May 
4th  also  called  for  an  increase  of  the  regular 
army.  This  increase  consisted  of  one  regiment 
of  cavalry  of  twelve  companies,  numbering,  in 
the  maximum  aggregate,  1,189,  officers  and 
men ;  one  regiment  of  artillery,  of  twelve  bat- 
teries, of  six  pieces  each, 'numbering,  in  the 
maximum  aggregate,  1,909,  officers  and  men; 
nine  regiments  of  infantry,  each  regiment  con- 
taining three  battalions  of  eight  companies  each, 
numbering,  in  the  maximum  aggregate,  2,452, 
officers  and  men,  ma'king  a  maximum  increase 
of  infantry  of  22,068,  officers  and  men. 

The  system  adopted  for  the  organization  of 
the  volunteers  was  different  from  the  one  which 
had  existed  in  the  regular  army.  The  French 
regimental  system  of  three  battalions  to  a  regi- 
ment was  adopted. 

Such  gatherings  of  forces  along  an  irregular 
and  disputed  line  from  east  to  west,  soon  led 
to  collisions  before  the  earnest  work  of  war 
could  commence.  A  camp  of  insurrectionary 
troops  in  the  neighborhood  of  Philippi,  Barbour 
County,  Western  Virginia,  were  completely  sur- 


56 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION'. 


prised  by  Union  troops,  consisting  of  "Western 
Virginia  and  Indiana  volunteers,  under  Cols. 
Kelly  and  Dumont,  bothsmder  the  command  of 
Brig.-Gen.  Morris.  On  the  morning  of  the  2d 
of  June,  five  regiments,  formed  in  two  divisions, 
left  Grafton,  Virginia,  for  an  attack  on  the 
forces  of  the  insurrectionists.  The  first  division 
consisted  of  the  1st  Virginia,  part  of  the  16th 
Ohio,  and  the  Indiana  Tth,  under  Col.  Kelly ; 
the  other  consisted  of  the  Indiana  9th  and  the 
Ohio  14th,  accompanied  by  Col.  Lander,  for- 
merly engaged  against  the  Western  Indians. 
The  division  under  Col.  Kelly  moved  eastward 
by  railroad  to  Thornton,  five  miles  from  Graf- 
ton,  and  thence  marched  to  Philip'pi,  a  distance 
of  twenty-two  miles.  The  Indiana  9th,  uniting 
at  Webster  with  the  14th  Ohio,  forming  the 
second  division,  pushed  on  to  Philippi,  twelve 
miles  distant,  on  foot.  The  march  of  both  di- 
visions was  performed  on  the  night  of  the  2d, 
through  rain  and  mud.  The  division  under  Col. 
Dumont  arrived  on  the  hill  across  the  river 
from  and  below  Philippi  early  on  the  morning 
of  the  3d.  They  at  once  planted  two  pieces  of 
artillery  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  and  prepared 
to  open  on  the  enemy  as  soon  as  four  o'clock 
should  arrive.  This  division  was  to  attack  the 
enemy  in  front,  while  the  other,  under  Col. 
Kelly,  made  an  attack  in  the  rear;  but  the 
darkness  of  the  night  and  the  violence  of  the 
rain  so  impeded  the  march  as  to  render  it  im- 
possible for  the  division  to  arrive  before  Philip- 
pi  at  the  appointed  hour.  The  artillery  of  the 
division  under  Col.  Lander,  opened  fire  sdfcn  after 
four  o'clock,  when  the  enemy  began  to  retire 
at  once,  leaving  their  camp  behind.  At  this 
moment  Col.  Kelly,  with  the  division,  came  up 
across  the  river  and  below  the  camp.  At  the 
same  time  Col.  Dumont's  force  rushing  down 
the  hill  and  over  the  bridge  to  unite  in  the  at- 
tack, the  retreat  of  the  enemy  became  a  com- 
plete rout,  and  he  fled,  leaving  seven  hundred 
stand  of  arms,  a  number  of  horses,  and  all  his 
camp  equipage  and  provision.  The  loss  on  both 
sides  was  small.  Among  the  badly  wounded 
was  Col.  Kelly ;  he,  however,  subsequently  re- 
covered from  the  wound.  The  town  was  oc- 
cupied by  the  Federal  force. 

On  the  5th  of  June  an  attack  was  made  by 
the  steam-cutter  Harriet  Lane,  upon  a  battery 
located  at  Pig's  Point  nearly  opposite  Newport 
News,  to  guard  the  entrance  of  James  Kiver. 
The  cutter  was  proceeding  up  the  river  to  re- 
connoitre and  look  out  for  batteries.  She  soon 
observed  a  large  and  ieavy  one  planted  upon 
the  point,  and  about  five  miles  distant  from 
Newport  News,  and  opened  fire,  which  was 
briskly  returned  by  the  batteries,  for  nearly  a 
half  hour.  It  was  found  that  but  one  gun  of 
the  cutter  could  reach  the  battery,  the  guns  of 
which  being  heavier,  easily  reached  the  former, 
and  several  shot  struck  her.  These  were  sup- 
posed to  come  from  a  rifled  32-pounder.  Sev- 
eral shells  were  thrown  into  the  battery  by  tha 
gun  from  the  cutter.  There  were  five  injured 
on  the  Harriet  Lane. 


On  the  9th  of  June  a  movement  of  troops  up 
the  Potomac  took  place  from  Washington.  The 
Rhode  Island  battery,  under  Col.  Burnside,  was 
sent  to  join  the  force  under  Gen.  Patterson  at 
Cbambersburg,  and  on  the  next  day  three 
bodies  of  District  of  Columbia  volunteers, 
numbering  1,000  men,  moved  up  the  Rockville 
road  along  the  Potomac  toward  Edwards' 
Ferry.  This  point  is  about  thirty  miles  from 
Georgetown,  and  equidistant  from  Washington 
and  Harper's  Ferry.  It  is  the  only  crossing  for 
teams  between  the  Point  of  Rocks  and  the 
District.  The  road  passed  from  Frederick,  Md., 
across  a  bridge  over  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio 
Canal,  to  the  established  ferry  across  the  Poto- 
mac, and  terminated  in  Leesburg,  Va.,  which 
is  only  four  miles  distant  from  the  crossing.  At 
the  same  time  Gen.  Patterson  advanced  from 
Chambersburg  toward  Harper's  Ferry. 

Meanwhile  the  most  important,  movement 
which  had  yet  taken  place  was  ordered  by  Gen. 
Butler  against  Great  Bethel.  This  place  is  about 
twelve,  miles  from  Fortress  Monroe,  on  the  road 
from  Hampton  to  Yorktown,  and  between  two 
and  four  miles  beyond  Little  Bethel  on  the  same 
road.  This  latter  spot,  consisting  chiefly  of  a 
small  church,  is  about  ten  miles  from  Hampton 
and  the  same  distance  from  Newport  News,  in 
Elizabeth  City  County,  Virginia.  At  Little 
Bethel  a  Confederate  outpost  of  some  strength 
was  established,  the  main  army  being  in  the 
vicinity  of  Yorktown.  From  Little  Bethel  the 
Virginia  troops  were  accustomed  to  advance, 
both  on  Newport  News  and  the  picket  guards 
of  Hampton,  to  annoy  them.  They  had  also 
come  down  in  small  squads  of  cavalry  and  taken 
a  number  of  Union  men,  and  forced  them  to 
serve  in  their  ranks,  besides  gathering  up  the 
slaves  of  citizens  who  had  moved  away  and  left 
their  farms  in  charge  of  their  negroes,  and  sent 
them  to  work  on  the  intrenchments  at  Williams- 
burg  and  Yorktown.  Gen.  Butler,  being  in 
command  at  Fortress  Monroe,  determined  to 
drive  out  the  enemy  and  destroy  his  camp.  At 
Great  Bethel,  which  is  a  large  church  near  the 
head  of  Back  River,  there  w'as  another  outpost, 
and  a  considerable  rendezvous  with  works  of 
some  strength  in  process  of  erection.  Brig.- 
Gen.  E.  W.  Pierce  was  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  expedition,  and  issued  the  follow- 
ing orders : 

HEADQUARTERS  CAMP  HAMILTON,  June  9, 18EL 
General  Order  2fo.  12. — A  plan  of  attack  to-night 
is  herewith  enclosed  and  forwarded  to  Col.  Duryea, 
commanding  5th  Regiment  New  York  State  troops, 
who  will  act  accordingly.  Col.  Townsend,  command- 
ing 3d  Regiment  New  York  State  troops,  will  march 
his  command  in  support  of  Col.  Duryea;  Col.  Carr, 
commanding  2d  Regiment  New  York  volunteers, 
will  detach  the  artillery  company  of  his  regiment,  with 
their  field-pieces,  caissons,  and  a  suitable  supply  of 
ammunition,  and  take  their  position  at  the  burnt 
bridge,  near  Hampton.  Cols.  Allen,  Carr,  and  McChes- 
ney  will  hold  their  entire  commands  in  readiness,  fully 
prepared  to  march  at  a  moment's  notice.  All  the 
troops  will  be  supplied  with  one  day's  rations,  and  each 
man  with  twenty  rounds  of  ball  cartridges.  That  no 
mistake  may  be  made,  all  the  troops  as  they  charge  the 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


57 


enemy,  will  shout  "Boston."  Cols.  Allen,  Carr, 
Tovvnsend,  Duryea,  and  McChesney  will  take  notice, 
and  act  accordingly.  By  command  of 

Brigadier-General  E.  W.  PIERCE. 

Some  notes  were  added  to  this. order,  the 
principal  points  of  which  were  as  follows : 

A  regiment  or  battalion  to  march  from  Newport 
News.  A  regiment  or  battalion  to  march  from  Camp 
Hamilton,  Duryea's;  each  to  be  supported  by  suffi- 
cient reserves  under  arms  in  camp,  and  with  advance- 
guard  out  on  the  line  of  march.  Duryea  to  push  put 
two  pickets  at  10  P.  M.  ;  one  also  two  and  a  half  miles 
beyond  Hampton,  on  the  county  road,  but  not  so  far 
as  to  alarm  the  enemy.  This  is  important.  Second 
picket  half  so  far  as  the  first.  Both  pickets  to  keep  as 
much  out  of  sight  as  possible.  No  one  whosoever  to 
be  allowed  to  pass  through  their  lines.  Persons  to  be 
allowed  to  pass  inward  towards  Hampton,  unless  it 
appear  they  intend  to  go  around  about  and  dodge 
through  the  front.  At  12  M.,  (midnight,)  Col.  Duryea 
will  march  his  regiment,  with  twenty  rounds  of  car- 
tridges, on  the  county  road  towards  Little  Bethel. 
Scows  will  be  provided  to  ferry  them  across  Hampton 
Creek.  March  to  be  rapid  but  not  hurried.  A  how- 
itzer with  canister  and  shrapnell  to  go,  and  a  wagon 
with  planks  and  materials  to  repair  the  New  Market 
bridge.  Duryea  to  have  the  two  hundred  rifles.  He 
will  pick  the  men  to  whom  they  are  to  be  intrusted. 
Newport  News  movement  to  be  made  somewhat  later, 
as  the  distance  is  less.  If  we  find  the  enemy  and  sur- 
prise them,  we  will  fire  a  volley  if  desirable,  not  reload, 
and  go  ahead  with  the  bayonet.  As  the  attack  is  to 
be  made  by  night,  or  gray  of  morning,  and  in  two 
detachments,  our  people  should  have  some  token,  say 
a  white  rag,  or  nearest  approach  to  white  attainable, 
on  left  arm. 

Accordingly,  on  that  night,  the  regiment  of 
New  York  Zouaves,  under  Col.  Duryea,  and 
the  Albany  (N.  Y.)  regiment,  under  Col.  Town- 
send,  were  despatched  from  Fortress  Monroe, 
while  the  New  York  Steuben  (German)  regi- 
ment, under  Col.  Bendix,  with  detachments 
from  the  First  Vermont  and  the  Third  Massa- 
chusetts, were  ordered  from  Newport  News. 
"With  the  division  from  Fortress  Monroe,  or 
Camp  Hamilton,  as  it  was  called,  there  was  a 
small  detachment  of  United  States  Artillery, 
Lieut.  Greble  commanding,  with  three  pieces 
of  light  artillery. 

The  Zouaves  were  ordered  to  proceed  over 
Hampton  Creek  at  1  o'clock  iu  the  morning, 
and  to  m?.rch  by  the  road  up  to  New  Market 
Bridge ;  thence,  after  crossing,  to  go  by  a  by- 
road, which  would  put  them  in  the  rear  of  the 
enemy,  and  between  Little  Bethel  and  Great 
Bethel*  This  was  to  be  done  for  the  purpose 
of  cutting  off  the  enemy  and  then  to  make  an 
attack  on  "Little  Bethel.  This  movement  was 
to  be  supported  by  Col.  Townsend's  regiment 
with  two  howitzers,  which  was  to  march  from 
Hampton  one  hour  later.  The  companies  of 
Massachusetts  and  Vermont  were  to  make  a 
demonstration  upon  Little  Bethel  in  front,  sup- 
ported by  Col.  Bendix's  regiment  with  two 
fieldpieces.  The  regiments  of  Cpls.  Bendix 
and  Townsend  were  to  effect  a  junction  at  a  fork 
of  the  road  leading  from  Hampton  to  Newport 
News,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Little  Bethel. 
Col.  Townsend,  in  his  report,  thus  describes  the 
manner  in  which  this  junction  was  made : 
"  In  obedience  to  these  orders,  with  the  con- 


certed sign  of  a  white  badge  upon  our  left  arm, 
(at  midnight,)  I  marched  my  regiment  to  Hamp- 
ton, where  the  general  met  the  command  and 
accompanied  it. 

"  On  approaching  a  defile  through  a  thick 
wood,  about  five  or  six  miles  from  Hampton,  a 
heavy  and  well-sustained  fire  of  canister  and 
smali-arms  was  opened  upon  the  regiment 
while  it  was  marching  in  a  narrow  road,  upon 
the  flank,  in  easy  step  and  wholly  unsuspicious 
of  any  enemy,  inasmuch  as  we  were  ordered  to 
reenforce  Col.  Duryea,  who  had  preceded  us  by 
some  two  hours,  and  who  had  been  ordered  to 
throw  out,  as  he  marched,  an  advance  guard  two 
miles  from  his  regiment,  and  a  sustaining  force 
half-way  between  the  advance  and  the  regi- 
ment ;  therefore,  had  Col.  Duryea  been  obliged 
to  retreat  upon  us  before  we  reached  his  local- 
ity, we  should  have  heard  distant  firing,  or 
some  of  his  regiment  would  have  been  seen  re- 
treating. 

"  The  force  which  fired  upon  us  was  subse- 
quently ascertained  to  be  only  the  regiment  of 
Col.  Bendix,  though  a  portion  of  the  Vermont 
and  Fourth  Massachusetts  regiments  was  with 
it,  having  come  down  with  two  6-pounder  field- 
pieces  from  Newport  News  to  join  the  column. 
These  regiments  took  up  a  masked  position  in 
the  woods  at  the  commencement  of  the  defile. 
The  result  of  the  fire  upon  us  was  two  mortally 
wounded,  (one  since  dead,)  three  dangerously, 
and  four  officers  and  twenty  privates  slightly, 
making  a  total  of  twenty -nine.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  the  fire,  the  general,  captain 
chamberlain,  his  aide-de-camp,  and  two  mount- 
ed howitzers  were  about  250  paces  in  advance 
of  the  regiment ;  the  fire  was  opened  upon  them 
first  by  a  discharge  of  small-arms,  and  imme- 
diately followed  by  a  rapidly  returned  volley 
upon  my  regiment  and  the  field-pieces ;  my 
men  then  generally  discharged  their  pieces  and 
jumped  from  the  right  to  the  left  of  the  road, 
and  recommenced  loading  and  firing.  In  a  few 
minutes,  the  regiment  was  reformed  in  the  midst 
of  this  heavy  fire,  and  by  the  general's  direc- 
tions, retired  in  a  thoroughly  military  manner, 
and  in  order  to  withdraw  his  supposed  enemy 
from  his  position.  On  ascertaining  that  the  en- 
emy were  our  friends,  and  on  providing  for  the 
wounded,  we  joined  Cols.  Duryea  and  Bendix." 

Col.  Duryea,  who  was  on  the  advance,  thus 
describes  his  movement : 

"  At  half-past  11  o'clock,  at  night,  we  com- 
menced the  march,  and  for  the  first  two  miles  to 
Hampton  Bridge,  proceeded  leisurely,  waiting 
for  the  howitzer  which  should  be  placed  at  the 
head  of  the  column.  Arriving  at  Hampton 
Creek,  much  delay  was  occasioned  by  the  non- 
arrival  of  the  surf-boats  which  were  to  convey 
the  regiment  across  the  river,  and  it  was  1 
o'clock  before  the  column  was  formed,  ready  to 
push  forward  on  the  other  side.  We  now  ad- 
vanced rapidly,  and  soon  came  up  with  our  two 
companies  of  skirmishers,  who  had  been  de- 
spatched ahead  an  hour  and  a  half  previous. 
Proceeding  steadily  on  without  resting  a  mo- 


58 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ment,  we  came  about  4  o'clock  in  the  morning 
to  Little  Bethel,  a  distance  of  ahout  ten  miles. 
At  this  point  we  discovered  and  surprised  the 
picket-guard  of  the  enemy,  and  a  mounted  offi- 
cer with  four  or  five  foot  were  taken  prisoners. 
While  pushing  forward  towards  Big  Bethel,  we 
suddenly  heard  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  and 
cannon  in  our  rear,  bespeaking  a  severe  engage- 
ment. Supposing  it  to  be  an  attempt  of  the 
enemy  to  cut  off  our  reserve,  we  immediately 
countermarched  in  quick  and  double-quick  time, 
when,  having  proceeded  about  five  miles,  we 
came  upon  two  of  our  regiments,  and  learned 
that  in  the  darkness  of  the  night  they  had  mis- 
taken each  other  for  enemies,  and  an  unfor- 
tunate engagement,  accompanied  with  some 
loss,  had  taken  place." 

Up  to  the  time  of  this  fatal  mistake,  the  plan 
had  been  vigorously,  accurately,  and  success- 
fully carried  out.  As  a  precaution,  the  com- 
manding general  had  ordered  that  no  attack 
should  be  made  until  the  watchword  had  been 
shouted  by  the  attacking  regiment.  Ten  of 
Col.  Townsend's  regiment  were  wounded,  and 
one  mortally.  All  hope  of  surprising  the  ene- 
my above  the  camp  at  Little  Bethel  was  now 
lost,  and  it  was  found,  upon  marching  upon  it, 
to  have  been  vacated,  and  the  cavalry  had 
pressed  on  towards  Great  Bethel.  Gen.  Pierce 
now  consulted  with  his  colonels,  and  it  was 
concluded  to  attempt  to  carry  the  works  of  the 
enemy  at  Great  Bethel,  and  measures  were 
taken  for  that  purpose.  The  force  proceeded 
on,  and  Great  Bethel  was  reached  about  10 
o'clock.  Over  a  small  stream  twelve  miles  from 
Hampton,  a  bridge,  called  County  Bridge,  crosses 
on  the  road  to  Yorktown.  On  the  opposite 
side,  and  to  the  right,  the  enemy  were  posted 
behind  sand  batteries.  In  front  of  their  batter- 
ies was  a  broad  open  field,  and  nearer  to  the 
bridge  than  that,  and  on  the  right  of  the  ad- 
vancing force,  was  a  wood,  and  in  front  and  to 
the  left,  a  corn-field.  Between  the  wood  and 
the  corn-field,  ran  a  road  connected  with  that 
by  which  the  advance  was  made.  Col.  Dur- 
yea's  regiment  now  advanced  over  the  fence 
and  into  the  corn-field,  and  deployed  into 
an  apple  orchard  on  the  enemy's  right  flank. 
The  Albany  regiment  took  a  supporting  posi-- 
tion  on  the  right  and  rear  of  Col.  Duryea,  while 
it  in  turn  was  supported  in  like  manner  by  Col. 
Allen's  regiment.  In  the  road  in  front  of  the 
enemy's  batteries,  Lieut.  Greble's  howitzers 
were  placed,  having  in  their  rear  Col.  Bendix's 
regiment,  which  deployed  on  the  right,  in  the 
wood,  and  on  the  enemy's  left  flank  with  three 
companies  of  the  Massachusetts  and  Vermont 
regiments.  The  fire  of  the  enemy  became  at 
once  incessant  and  galling  on  the  Federal  right. 
The  howitzers  of  Lieut.  Greble,  supported  only 
by  the  ordinary  force  of  gunners,  opened  fire 
with  great  rapidity  and  effect,  and  were  stead- 
ily advanced  to  within  200  yards  of  the  enemy's 
position.  Several  attempts  were  now  made  to 
charge  the  batteries,  but  were  unsuccessful,  ow- 
ing to  a  morass  in  their  front  and  a  deep  ditch 


or  stream  requiring  ladders  to  cross  it.  The 
troops  were,  however,  gradually  gaining  ground, 
although  the  action  had  continued  nearly  two 
hours  and  a  half,  when  the  order  was  given  by 
Gen.  Pierce  to  retreat.  The  howitzers  main- 
tained their  position  until  their  ammunition  be- 
gan to  give  out,  when  Lieut.  Greble  was  struck 
on  the  back  part  of  the  head  by  a  cannon  ball, 
killing  him  instantly.  The  gunner  having 
been  disabled,  the  pieces  were  withdrawn  by  a 
small  force  under  Col.  Washburn. 

On  the  right,  the  Vermont  companies  had 
outflanked  the  enemy,  gaining  a  position  in 
their  rear  and  pouring  such  a  hot  fire  as  to 
silence  the  battery  there.  A  statement  by  one 
of  the  Confederate  force,  says  :  "  One  company 
under  Capt.  "Winthrop  attempted  to  take  the 
redoubt  on  the  left.  The  marsh  over  which 
they  crossed  was  strewn  with  their  bodies. 
Their  captain,  a  fine-looking  man,  reached  the 
fence  and  leaping  on  a  log,  waved  his  sword, 
crying,  '  Come  on,  boys ;  one  charge  and  the 
day  is  ours.'  The  words  were  his  last,  for  a 
Carolina  rifle  ended  his  life  the  next  moment, 
and  his  men  fled."  The  force  retired  from  the 
field  in  order,  about  half-past  12  o'clock,  and 
the  enemy  on  the  same  day  fell  back  to  York- 
town.  The  number  of  Federal  troops  was  be- 
tween three  and  four  thousand,  while  that  of 
the  enemy  was  nearly  fifteen  hundred.  The 
loss  on  the  Federal  side  was  sixteen  killed, 
thirty-four  wounded,  and  five  missing.  The 
loss  on  the  Confederate  side  was  small. 

A  statement  was  made  by  an  officer  of  Col. 
Bendix's  regiment,  that  the  latter  had  not  re- 
ceived any  intimation  that  the  troops  would 
wear  white  badges  round  the  arm  for  the  pur- 
pose of  mutual  recognition,  and  if  he  had,  he 
would  not  have  been  able  to  distinguish  such 
badge  at  the  distance  and  in  the  dusk  of  the 
morning.  Col.  Bendix's  command  did  not  wear 
such  badges.  The  uniform  of  Col.  Townsend's 
regiment  was  very  similar  to  that  of  the  enemy. 
It  was  also  further  stated,  that  when  Col.  Town- 
send's troops  approached  the  junction  over  a 
slight  ridge,  they  appeared  to  be  a  troop  of 
cavalry,  because  Gen.  Pierce  and  staff  and  Col. 
Townsend  and  staff,  in  a  body,  rode  in  advance 
of  their  troops,  and  without  any  advance  guard 
thrown  out. 

The  expedition  was  originally  undertaken 
with  the  object  of  cutting  off  a  body  of  the 
enemy  supposed  to  be  near  Newport  News,  and 
it  was  undertaken  at  night  in  order  to  surprise 
their  batteries.  This  surprise  was  frustrated 
by  the  mistaken  engagement  between  the  two 
regiments.  Some  of  the  officers  were  opposed 
to  an  advance  after  this  occurrence. 

The  bravery  of  the  Federal  troops  was  ad- 
mitted even  by  the  enemy,  and  if  proper  knowl- 
edge had  been  obtained  beforehand  of  the  po- 
sition, and  no  order  for  retreat  had  been  given, 
the  attack  would  have  been  successful.  No  in- 
vestigation has  ever  been  made  of  the  affair, 
nor  has  the  generalship  displayed  ever  been 
approved. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


59 


The  progress  of  military  affairs  in  the  western 
part  of  Tennessee  had  been  such  that  at  this 
time  there  were  established  on  the  Mississippi 
River  five  or  six  batteries  of  heavy  guns,  in- 
cluding mortars,  columbiads,  and  32  and  24- 
pounders,  commanding  the  river  from  Memphis 
to  the  Kentucky  line.  About  fifteen  thousand 
troops  were  concentrated  in  West  Tennessee 
under  Maj.-Gen.  G.  J.  Pillow,  as  commandei;- 
in-chief,  with  Brig.-Gens.  Cheatham  and  Sneed. 
Eight  thousand  troops  of  all  arms  from  Missis- 
sippi had  passed  up  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Rail- 
road, at  Corinth,  and  at  Grand  Junction,  on  the 
Mississippi  Central  Railroad,  on  their  way  to  a 
rendezvous  near  the  Kentucky  line,  to  act  under 
Maj.-Gen.  Clark,  of  Mississippi,  in  concert  with 
Maj.-Gen.  Pillow,  of  Tennessee.  With  these 
troops  were  some  cavalry  and  two  light  bat- 
teries. At  least  seventy-five  or  one  hundred 
heavy  guns  had  been  placed  in  battery,  and 
other  large  guns  were  in  the  State  ready  for 
use.  A  corps  (ffarmee,  under  command  of 
Brig.-Gen.  Foster,  had  assembled  in  Camp 
Cheatham.  Gen.  William  R.  Caswell  had  as- 
sembled, and  armed  and  equipped,  a  force 
of  considerable  strength  in  East  Tennessee, 
ready  to  repel  any  attack  in  that  division  of 
the  State. 

On  June  llth  a  body  of  Virginia  troops  at 
Mill  Creek,  a  few  miles  from  Romney,  Northern 
Virginia,  were  surprised  by  an  Indiana  reg- 
iment under  Col.  Wallace.  The  Virginians  fled 
through  Romney,  on  the  road  to  Winchester, 
abandoning  their  tents  and  arms.  Some  pris- 
oners were  taken  with  a  small  loss  on  both  sides. 

Meanwhile  active  operations  commenced  in 
Missouri  by  the  movement  of  troops  from  St. 
Louis  to  Jefferson  City. 

On  the  13th  the  steamer  latan  left  St.  Louis 
with  the  second  battalion  of  the  First  Regiment 
Missouri  volunteers,  one  section  of  Totten's 
Light  Artillery,  and  two  companies  of  regulars, 
and  the  steamer  J.  C.  Swan,  with  the  first  bat- 
talion of  the  First  Regiment,  under  Col.  Blair, 
and  another  section  of  Totten's  battery,  and  a 
detachment  of  pioneers,  and  Gen.  Lyon  and 
staff,  numbering  fifteen  hundred  men.  Horses, 
wagons,  and  all  necessary  camp  equipage,  am- 
munition, and  provisions  for  a  long  march,  ac- 
companied the  expedition. 

On  the  15th  they  arrived  at  Jefferson  City. 
Five  companies  of  Missouri  volunteers,  under 
Lieut.-Col.  Andrews,  and  a  company  of  regular 
artillery  under  Capt.  Totten,  all  under  Gen. 
Lyon,  disembarked  and  occupied  the  city. 
Gov.  Jackson  and  the  officers  of  the  State  Gov- 
ernment, and  many  citizens,  had  left  on  the 
13th.  A  company  of  regulars,  under  Maj. 
Conant,  thoroughly  searched  the  country  for 
contraband  articles,  and  found  some  wheels  and 
other  parts  of  artillery  carriages.  No  violence 
was  offered,  but,  on  the  contrary,  the  boats 
containing  the  Federal  troops  were  received 
with  cheers  by  a  large  concourse  of  the  citizens. 
On  the  next  day  Gen.  Lyon  left  for  Booneville. 
Previously,  however,  he  placed  Col.  Henry 


Boernstein,  of  the  Second  Missouri  volunteers, 
in  command. 

Meantime  Gov.  Jackson,  on  leaving  Jefferson 
City,  summoned  the  State  troops  to  his  sup- 
port at  Booneville,  which  is  situated  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  Missouri  River,  and  forty- 
eight  miles  northwest  of  Jefferson  City.  Sev- 
eral companies  from  the  adjacent  counties  joined 
him,  under  Col.  Marmaduke. 

Leaving  Jefferson  City  on  the  16th,  Gen. 
Lyon  proceeded  on  the  steamers  A.  McDowell, 
latan,  and  City  of  Louisiana,  up  the  river,  and 
stopped  for  the  night  about  one  mile  below 
Providence.  Early  in  the  morning  he  started 
with  his  force,  and  reached  Rochefort  before 
six  o'clock,  when  he  learned  that  a  small  force 
of  the  State  troops  was  a  few  miles  below 
Booneville,  and  preparing  to  make  a  vigorous 
defence.  Proceeding  on,  they  discovered,  about 
six  miles  from  Booneville,  on  the  bluffs,  a  bat- 
tery, and  also  scouts  moving.  A  landing  was 
made  about  7  o'clock  two  miles  lower  down, 
on  the  south  bank  of  the  river,  and  the  troops 
began  to  move  on  the  river  road  to  Booneville. 
Following  it  about  a  mile  and  a  half  to  the  spot 
where  it  begins  to  ascend  the  bluffs,  several 
shots  announced  the  driving  in  of  the  enemy's 
pickets.  On  the  summit  of  the  bluffs  the  ene- 
my were  posted.  The  Federal  force  advanced 
and  opened  the  engagement  by  throwing  a  few 
nine-pounder  shells,  while  the  infantry  filed  to 
the  right  and  left,  and  commenced  a  fire  of 
musketry.  The  enemy  stood  their  ground  man- 
fully for  a  time,  then  began  to  retire,  and  with- 
drew in  order.  The  Federal  force  was  two 
thousand ;  only  a  small  portion  of  which  was 
engaged,  and  its  loss  was  two  killed  and  nine 
wounded.  The  number  of  the  State  troops  was 
small.  They  admitted  ten  as  killed,  and  sev- 
eral as  having  been  taken  prisoners.  Some 
shoes,  guns,  blankets,  etc.,  were  taken  by  the 
Federal  troops.  This  was  the  first  hostile  colli- 
sion in  the  State  like  a  skirmish  or  battle  be- 
tween those  representing  the  authority  of  the 
United  States  and  any  of  the  officers  of  the 
State  Government  or  forces  under  them.  Gen. 
Lyon,  therefore,  deemed  it  necessary  to  issue 
the  following  proclamation : 

BOONEYILIE,  June  IS,  1861. 
To  the  People  of  Missouri: 

Upon  leaving  St.  Louis,  in  consequence  of  war  made 
by  the  Governor  of  this  State  against  the  Government 
of  the  United  States,  because  I  would  not  assume  on 
its  behalf  to  relinquish  its  duties,  and  abdicate  its 
rights  of  protecting  loyal  citizens  from  the  oppression 
and  cruelty  of  the  secessionists  in  this  State,  I  pub- 
lished an  address  to  the  people,  in  which  I  declared 
my  intention  to  use  the  force  under  my  command  for 
no  other  purpose  than  the  maintenance  of  the  au- 
thority of  the  General  Government,  and  the  protec- 
tion of  the  rights  and  property  of  all  law-abiding 
citizens. 

The  State  authorities,  in  violation  of  an  agreement 
with  Gen.  Harney  on  the  2d  of  May  last,  had  drawn 
together  and  organized  upon  a  large  scale  the  means 
of  warfare,  and,  having  made  a  declaration  of  war, 
they  abandoned  the  capital,  issued  orders  for  the  de- 
struction of  the  railroad  and  telegraph  lines,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  this  point  to  put  into  execution  their  hos- 


60 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


tile  purposes  toward  the  General  Government.  This 
devolved  upon  me  the  necessity  of  meeting  this  issue 
to  the  best  of  my  ability,  and  accordingly  I  moved  to 
this  point  with  a  portion  of  the  force  under  my  com- 
mand, attacked  and  dispersed  the  hostile  forces 
gathered  here  by  the  Governor,  and  took  possession 
of  the  camp-equipage  left,  and  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  prisoners,  most  of  them  young  and  of  imma- 
ture age,  and  who  represent  that  they  have  been 
misled  by  frauds,  ingeniously  devised  and  industri- 
ously inculcated  by  designing  leaders,  who  seek  to 
devolve  upon  unreflecting  and  deluded  followers  the 
task  of  securing  the  object  of  their  own  false  am- 
bition. 

Out  of  compassion  for  these  misguided  youths,  and 
to  correct  the  impressions  created  by  unscrupulous 
calumniators,  I  liberated  them  upon  the  condition 
that  they  will  not  serve  in  the  impending  hostilities 
against  the  United  States  Government. 

I  have  done  this  in  spite  of  the  well-known  facts 
that  the  leaders  in  the  present  rebellion,  having  long 
experienced  the  mildness  of  the  General  Government, 
still  feel  confident  that  this  mildness  cannot  be  over- 
taxed even  by  factious  hostilities,  having  in  view  its 
overthrow ;  but  lest,  as  in  the  case  of  the  late  Camp 
Jackson  affair,  this  clemency  shall  still  be  miscon- 
strued, it  is  proper  to  give  warning  that  the  Govern- 
ment cannot  always  be  expected  to  indulge  in  it  to 
the  compromise  of  its  evident  welfare. 

Hearing  that  those  plotting  against  the  Govern- 
ment have  falsely  represented  that  the  Government 
troops  intended  a  forcible  and  violent  invasion  of 
Missouri  for  the  purposes  of  military  despotism  and 
tyranny,  I  hereby  give  notice  to  the  people  of  this 
State  that  I  shall  scrupulously  avoid  all  interference 
with  the  business,  right,  and  property  of  every  de- 
scription recognized  by  the  laws  of  the  State,  and 
belonging  to  law-abiding  citizens.  But  it  is  equally 
my  duty  to  maintain  the  paramount  authority  of  the 
United  States  with  such  force  as  I  have  at  my  com- 
mand, which  will  be  retained  only  so  long  as  oppo- 
sition makes  it  necessary,  and  that  it  is  my  wish, 
and  shall  be  my  purpose,  to  visit  any  unavoidable 
rigor  arising  in  this  issue  upon  those  only  who  pro- 
voke it.  , 

All  persons,  who,  under  the  misapprehensions 
above  mentioned,  have  taken  up  arms,  or  who  are 
preparing  to  dp  so,  are  invited  to  return  to  their 
homes  and  relinquish  their  hostilities  toward  the 
Federal  Government,  and  are  assured  that  they  may 
do  so  without  being  molested  for  past  occurrences. 
N.  LYON,  Brigadier  U.  S.  Army,  Commanding. 

On  the  18th  Gov.  Jackson  was  at  Syracuse, 
about  twenty-five  miles  south  of  Booneville, 
with  about  five  hundred  men.  Property  was 
taken  from  Union  citizens,  also  the  rolling 
stock  of  the  railroad  by  the  force,  when  they 
further  retired  to  "Warsaw,  destroying  the  La- 
moine  bridge,  a  costly  structure,  six  miles  west 
of  Syracuse.  On  the  same  day  a  skirmish  took 
place  near  the  town  of  Cole,  between  a  force 
of  Union  Home  Guards  and  State  troops  from 
Warsaw  and  that  region,  in  which  the  former 
were  put  to  flight. 

Military  affairs  now  progressed  so  rapidly 
that  the  force  concentrated  in  the  State  reached 
10,000  men,  2,500  of  whom  were  stationed  at 
Herman  and  Jefferson  City,  3,200  at  Rolla,  the 
terminus  of  the  southwest  branch  of  the  Pacific 
Railroad,  1,000  on  the  North* Missouri  Railroad, 
and  1,000  at  Bird's  Point,  opposite  Cairo.  In 
addition  to  this  there  was  a  force  of  2,500  re- 
maining at  St.  Louis,  which  could  be  increased 
to  10,000  in  a  few  hours  by  accessions  from  the 
neighboring  camps  in  Illinois.  These  troops 


held  the  entire  portion  of  the  State  north  of 
the  river,  the  southeast  quarter  lying  between 
the  Mississippi  and  a  line  drawn  southward 
from  Jefferson  City  to  the  Arkansas  border, 
thus  giving  to  the  Federal  Government  the  im- 
portant points  of  St.  Louis,  Hannibal,  St.  Jo- 
seph, and  Bird's  Point  as  a  base  of  operations, 
with  the  rivers  and  railroads  as  a  means  of 
transportation. 

On  the  24th  the  State  Treasurer,  the  Auditor, 
and  Land  Register,  who  had  retired  with  the 
Governor,  returned  to  Jefferson  City  and  took 
the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  entered  upon  their 
duties.  The  Home  Guard  of  the  capital  were 
furnished  with  arms,  and  drilled  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Col.  Boernstein,  and  intrenchments  for 
the  defence  of  the  place  against  attacks  were 
erected.  Several  expeditions  were  sent  by 
Gen.  Lyon  to  various  parts  of  the  State  where 
collections  of  secessionists  were  reported,  but 
the  latter  succeeded  in  getting  away  before  the 
arrival  of  the  Federal  troops. 

In  the  latter  part  of  June  Gen.  Fremont  was 
ordered  to  take  command  of  the  Department 
of  the  "West.  Since  Gen.  Harney  had  been 
ordered  to  another  post,  Capt.  Lyon,  who  had 
been  promoted  to  a  brigadier-generalship,  had 
been  in  command. 

The  movement  to  separate  the  Union  portion 
of  "Western  Virginia  from  the  State  was  now 
carried  through.  The  Convention  declared  its 
separation,  elected  Frank  H.  Pierpont  Govern- 
or, and  established  a  seat  of  Government  at 
Wheeling,  which  was  acknowledged  by  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  and  Senators  and  Representa- 
tives admitted  to  seats  in  Congress. 

On  June  17th,  Vienna,  a  small  village  on  the 
railroad  from  Alexandria  to  Leesburg,  was  the 
scene  of  surprise  and  disaster  to  the  1st  Ohio 
regiment,  Col.  McCook.  On  the  day  previous 
'a  train  of  cars  passing  over  this  portion  of 
the  road  had  been  fired  upon,  and  one  man 
killed.  In  consequence,  the  Government  re- 
solved to  place  pickets  along  the  road,  and 
this  regiment,  accompanied  by  Brig.-General 
Schenck,  set  out  in  a  train  of  cars,  and  the 
men  were  distributed  in  detachments  along 
the  line.  As  the  cars  approached  Vienna,  Col. 
Gregg,  with  six  hundred  South  Carolinians,  and 
a  company  of  artillery  and  two  companies  of 
cavalry,  on  a  reconnoitring  expedition,  heard 
the  whistle  of  the  locomotive.  He  immediately 
wheeled  his  column  and  marched  back  to  Vien- 
na, which  he  had  just  left.  This  force  had 
scarcely  time  to  place  two  cannon  in  position, 
when  the  train,  consisting  of  six  flats  and  a 
baggage  car,  pushed  by  the  locomotive,  came 
slowly  around  the  curve.  As  the  train  was 
about  to  stop,  the  artillery  opened  a  well-di- 
rected fire,  which  raked  the  cars  from  front 
to  rear.  At  the  same  time  the  coupling  of  the 
locomotive  became  detached  or  destroyed,  and 
the  engineer  retired,  leaving  the  cars  in  their 
exposed  position.  The  Ohio  volunteers  imme- 
diately took  to  the  woods  on  each  side,  and 
were  pursued  a  short  distance  by  the  Confeder- 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


61 


ate  infantry  and  cavalry.  The  Federal  loss  was 
five  killed,  six  wounded,  and  seven  missing.  The 
cars  were  burned,  and  a  considerable  quantity 
of  carpenters'  tools,  blankets,  and  other  baggage 
was  taken  by  the  enemy,  who  suffered  no  loss. 

At  the  same  time  the  Potomac  was  crossed 
at  Williamsport  by  the  Union  forces  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  Patterson,  and  Piedmont,  a 
village  on  the  Manassas  Gap  Railroad,  sixty-one 
miles  west  of  Alexandria,  was  occupied  by  the 
enemy.  As  an  offset  a  small  squad  of  Missouri 
troops,  numbering  thirty-five  men,  was  cap- 
tured at  Liberty  in  that  State. 

On  the  23d,  by  an  order  of  Gen.  J.  E.  John- 
ston, in  command  of  the  Southern  troops,  forty- 
six  locomotives  and  three  hundred  and  five  cars 
of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  were  gather- 
ed at  Martinsburg,  and  with  wood  from  the 
company's  supply,  piled  around  them,  set  on 
fire  and  destroyed.  The  destruction  of  prop- 
erty was  estimated  at  $400,000. 

On  the  26th  an  attack  was  made  on  a  small 
force  sent  on  shore  to  clear  the  wood  from 
Mathias  Point,  on  the  Potomac,  fifty  miles  be- 
low "Washington.  The  party  were  about  to  go 
on  board  the  gunboat  Freeborn,  when  they 
were  attacked.  They  escaped  without  loss  under 
the  cover  of  the  gun  of  the  Freeborn,  but  Oapt. 
Ward,  her  commander,  while  sighting  the  gun 
was  wounded,  and  died  a  few  hours'  afterwards. 

On  July  1st,  Gen.  Morris,  commanding  the 
3d  and  4th  Ohio  regiments,  near  Buckhannon, 
on  the  east  fork  of  the  Monongahela  River,  at- 
tacked a  body  of  Virginia  troops  under  Gen. 
Henry  A.  Wise,  and  routed  them  with  a  loss 
of  twenty-three  killed  and  a  number  taken 
prisoners.  On  the  same  day  a  skirmish  took 
place  at  Falling  Water,  Virginia,  and  on  the 
next  day  another  at  Martinsburg,  with  a  very 
small  loss  on  either  side.  On  the  next  day  an 
entire  company  of  Confederates  were  captured 
at  Nesho  in  Missouri.  This  was  followed  by 
the  seizure  of  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  Rail- 
road by  Tennesseans  on  the  4th,  and  a  battle  at 
Carthage,  Missouri,  on  the  5th,  between  some 
of  Gen.  Lyon's  troops  under  Col.  Sigel,  assisted 
by  Col.  Solomon,  and  a  body  of  State  troops 
under  Gen.  Rains  and  Col.  Parsons.  The 
Union  loss  was  thirteen  killed  and  thirty-one 
wounded.  The  movement  of  Gen.  Lyon  up  the 
Missouri  River  and  through  the  central  part  of 
the  State,  it  now  appeared,  had  the  effect  to 
restrain  the  secessionists  and  prevent  them  from 
organizing  a  formidable  force.  Two  days  later 
another  skirmish  occurred  at  Brier  Forks  near 
Carthage,  in  which  neither  party  gained  any 
special  advantage.  Meantime  a  skirmish  occur- 
red at  Middle  York  bridge,  near  Buckhannon, 
in  which  a  part  of  a  company  of  the  3d  Ohio 
regiment  encountered  a  body  of  Virginians  un- 
expectedly, and  escaped  without  serious  loss. 

On  July  8th  a  communication  was  brought 
to  President  Lincoln  from  Jefferson  Davis  by 
Col.  Taylor,  relative  to  prisoners  who  had  been 
taken  with  vessels  which  sailed  from  Southern 
ports  as  privateers.  Col.  Taylor,  in  displaying 


a  flag  of  truce  before  the  Federal  lines  in  Vir- 
ginia, opposite  Washington,  was  brought  blind- 
folded into  camp,  and  his  letter  sent  to  Lieut.- 
Gen.  Scott,  who  delivered  it  to  the  President. 
Gen.  Scott  sent  back  as  an  answer,  that  the 
President  would '  reply.  No  reply  was  ever 
made.  The'President  of  the  new  Confederacy 
had  issued  a  proclamation  as  early  as  April 
17th,  proposing  to  grant  letters  of  marque  and 
reprisal  on  certain  conditions.  '  The  announce- 
ment of  this  privateering  policy  caused  at  the 
North,  where  there  was  so  much  at  risk,  a  great 
sensation,  after  it  was  seen  that  the  insurrec- 
tionists would  be  successful  in  obtaining  ves- 
sels, and  were  determined  to  do  all  the  injury 
possible  to  Northern  commerce.  President  Lin- 
coln, in  anticipation  of  these  efforts  at  privateer- 
ing, closes  his  proclamation  of  April  19,  an- 
nouncing a  blockade  of  Southern  ports,  with  this 
threat  : 

And  I  hereby  proclaim  and  declare  that  if  any  per- 
son, under  the  pretended  authority  of  the  said  States, 
or  under  any  other  pretence,  shall  molest  a  vessel  of 
the  United  States,  or  the  persons  or  cargo  on  board 
of  her,  such  person  will  be  held  amenable  to  the  laws 
of  the  United  States  for  the  prevention  and  punish- 
ment of  piracy. 

Among  the  first  vessels  to  take  out  letters  of 
marque  at  the  South,  under  the  proclamation 
of  Jefferson  Davis,  was  the  Petrel,  formerly  the 
revenue  -cutter  Aiken,  which  had  been  surren- 
dered to  the  Confederates  in  Charleston  harbor, 
and  the  crew  of  which  had  volunteered  under 
the  new  government.  This  vessel  had  run  the 
blockade,  but  was  no  sooner  at  sea,  July  28, 
than  she  fell  in  with  the  United  States  frigate 
St.  Lawrence,  and  was  captured.  The  captain 
of  the  ^t.  Lawrence  observed  the  Southern  ves- 
sel in  the  distance,  and  immediately  hauled 
down  his  heavy  spars  and  closed  his  ports. 
Then,  with  the  men  below,  the  old  frigate 
looked  very  much  like  a  large  merchant  vessel, 
and  the  privateer  bore  down,  hoping  to  take  a 
good  prize.  The  commander  of  the  Petrel, 
William  Perry,  of  South  Carolina,  gave  the  St. 
Lawrence  a  round  ball  over  her  bows  and  some 
canister  over  the  stern,  but  the  frigate  sailed  on 
as  if  trying  to  get  away,  when  the  Petrel  gave 
chase,  and  when  in  fair  range  of  the  frigate  the 
latter  opened  her  ports  and  gave  the  Petrel  a 
compliment  of  three  guns,  two  of  grape  and  one 
of  round  shot.  The  latter  was  a  32-pounder, 
and  struck  the  Petrel  amidships,  below  the 
water  line,  and  she  sunk  in  .a  few  minutes. 
Four  of  the  crew  were  drowned,  and  the  rest, 
thirty-six  in  number,  were  rescued.  Some  of 
the  men,  when  fished  out  of  the  water,  were  at 
a  loss  to  know  what  had  happened  to  them. 
The  suddenness  of  the  St.  Lawrence's  reply, 
the  deafening  roar  of  the  guns,  and  the  splinters 
and  submerged  vesgel,  were  all  incidents  that 
happened  apparently  in  a  moment. 

The  Calhoun,  a  side-wheel  steamer  of  1,058 
tons,  was  built  in  New  York  in  1851.  She 
was  175  feet  long,  27  feet  wide,  1 1  feet  hold.  She 
was  commanded  by  George  N.  Hollins,  for- 
merly of  the  United  States  navy,  and  carried 


62 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


one  24-pounder,  and  two  18-pounder  Dahlgren 
guns.  By  the  27th  of  May  she  had  captured 
and  sent  into  New  Orleans  two  schooners,  the 
John  Adams  and  the  Mermaid,  of  Provincetown, 
and  the  hrig  Panama.  Their  united  crews  num- 
bered 63  men,  and  they  had  on  board  215  bbls. 
whale  and  sperm  oil.  She  captured  also  the 
ship  Milan,  from  Liverpool,  with  1,500  sacks  of 
salt,  worth  $20,000;  the  bark  Ocean  Eagle, 
from  Eockland,  Maine,  with  lime,  worth  $20,- 
000;  and  the  schooner  Ida,  fromTampico,  with 
fruit,  worth  $5,000.  The  Calhoun  was  com- 
mander Hollins's  flag-ship  when  the  attack  on 
the  Union  fleet  was  made  on  the  Mississippi, 
October  11. 

The  schooner  William  0.  Atwater,  Capt.  Al- 
len, belonged  to  New  Haven,  and  was  in  the 
service  of  the  Government.  The  crew  num- 
bered eight  men.  OS  Cedar  Keys,  Florida,  on 
the  10th  of  May,  she  was  captured  by  the 
steamer  Spray,  which  had  on  board  thirty-one 
men,  armed  with  bowie-knives,  revolvers,  mus- 
kets with  bayonets,  etc.  The  captors  took  her 
to  Appalachicola,  where  she  arrived  on  the  13th 
of  May. 

The  Ivy,  a  small  steamer  of  200  tons,  was 
armed  with  two  8-inch  rifled  32-pounder  guns. 
She  captured  the  ship  Marathon,  from  Mar- 
seilles, in  ballast,  worth  $35,000 ;  and  the  ship 
Albino,  from  Boston,  with  a  cargo  of  ice, 
worth  $20,000.  The  armed  steamer  Murie  cap- 
tured the  Marshall  Sprague,  of  Providence, 
from  Havre,  in  ballast,  worth  $50,000 ;  and 
the  ship  John  H.  Jarvis,  from  Liverpool,  worth 
$10,000. 

The  steamer  Wm.  H.  Webb  was  formerly  a 
tcwboat  in  New  York,  where  she  was  built 
in  1856 ;  she  was  650  tons,  draught  7  feet, 
197  feet  long,  31  feet  beam,  12  feet  hold,  and 
was  one  of  the  strongest  and  largest  boats  of 
that  class.  A  few  years  previous  she  had  been 
purchased  by  some  of  the  New  Orleans  mer- 
chants for  the  purpose  of  towing  the  heavily- 
laden  ships  to  and  from  that  city.  She  was 
converted  into  a  gunboat  and  seized  three  vqs- 
se.s  laden  with  oil,  on  the  24th  of  May. 

The  Dixie,  a  schooner  of  about  150  tons  bur- 
den, was  fitted  out  as  a  privateer  in  Charles- 
ton, from  which  place  she  ran  the  blockade  on 
the  19th  of  July,  and  on  the  23d  encountered 
the  bark  Glen,  of  Portland,  Maine,  of  which  she 
at  once  made  a  prize.  On  the  25th  she  cap- 
tured the  schooner  Mary  Alice,  of  New  York, 
with  a  cargo  of  sugar,  from  the  West  Indies, 
bound  to  New  York,  and  placed  a  prize  crew 
on  board;  she  was,  however,  retaken  by  the 
blockading  fleet  almost  immediately  after.  On 
the  evening  of  the  31st  the  Dixie  came  up  with 
the  Eowena,  a  bark  laden  with  coffee,  bound 
to  Philadelphia;  she  was  taken  possession  of, 
and  the  captain  of  the  Dixie  himself  took  the 
place  of  prize-master,  and  successfully  reached 
Charleston  on  the  27th  of  August,  after  several 
narrow  escapes  from  the  vessels  of  the  blockad- 
ing fleet.  The  following  were  the  officers  of 
the  Dixie :  captain,  Thomas  J.  Moore ;  first 


lieutenant,  George  D.  Walker ;  second  lieuten- 
ant, John  W.  Marshall ;  third  lieutenant,  L.  D. 
Benton ;  gunner,  Charles  Ware ;  boatswain, 
Geo.  O.  Gladden;  steward,  0.  Butcher.  She 
had  also  twenty-two  seamen  and  a  cook,  and 
her  armament  consisted  of  four  guns. 

The  Jeff.  Davis,  early  in  June,  appeared  on 
the  eastern  coast,  running  in  as  near  as  the 
Nantucket  Shoals,  and  making  on  her  way  prizes 
that  were  roughly  estimate^  at  $225,000.  She 
was  formerly  the  slaver  Echo,  that  was  cap- 
tured about  two  years  previous,  and  was  con- 
demned in  Charleston  harbor.  She  was  a  full- 
rigged  brig,  painted  black  on'  the  outside,  and 
had  a  rusty,  dull  appearance,  that  would  not  be 
likely  to  alarm  any  vessel  of  ordinary  sailing 
qualities;  crew  260  men.  '  Her  armament  con- 
sisted of  a  32-pounder  gun,  placed  amidships, 
mounted  on  a  pivot,  so  that  it  might  be  used  in 
all  directions,  and  on  each  side  a  32-pounder 
and  a  12-pounder,  so  as  to  equalize  the  strength 
of  the  broadside.  Captain  Coxetter  was  her 
commander.  His  first  lieutenant,  named  Pos- 
tel,  was  at  one  time  a  midshipman  in  the  United 
States  navy,  and  also  held  a  position  in  the  Sa- 
vannah custom-house. 

The  Davis  had  previously  taken  three  prizes ; 
one  of  these,  and  the  most  valuable,  was  the 
J.  G.  Waring,  captured  within  200  miles  of 
New  York.  The  captain,  mates,  and  two  sea-  • 
men,  were  taken  out,  and  five  of  the  Davis 
crew  put  on  board.  The  colored  steward,  W. 
Tillman,  was  allowed  to  remain.  The  vessel 
then  made  for  Charleston.  On  the  16th  of 
July  Tillman,  aided  by  McLeod,  a  seaman, 
killed  the  prize-captain  and  mates,  and  sailed 
for  New  York,  where  he  arrived  with  two 
prisoners  of  the  prize-crew.  Tillman  was 
awarded  salvage.  The  Jeff.  Davis  also  took 
the  ship  John  Crawford,  from  Philadelphia, 
for  Key  West,  with  arms  and  coal  for  the 
United  States.  She  drew  22  feet  water,  and 
was  burned. 

In  attempting,  August  17,  to  cross  the  bar  at 
St.  Augustine,  Fla.,  the  brig  grounded  on  the 
North  Breakers.  This  was  about  half-past  six 
o'clock,  Sunday  morning.  A  small  boat  was 
sent  ashore  with  Dr.  Babcock  and  Lieut.  Baya, 
and  the  prisoners  landed.  The  officers  and 
crew  of  the  privateer  then  went  ashore,  and 
were  greeted  with  the  most  enthusiastic  de- 
monstrations by  the  inhabitants.  About  half- 
past  nine  two  lighter-boats  went  off  to  the* 
brig  with  Capt.  Coxetter  and  other  officers. 
The  starboard  guns  were  thrown  overboard 
to  lighten  the  vessel,  in  order  to  clear  her 
decks  of  water,  and  save  as  much  as  possible 
of  the  supplies  on  board  the  brig.  Every  effort 
was  finally  made  to  change  her  position,  but 
it  was  supposed  that  the  guns  when  thrown 
overboard  stove  her  in  and  caused  her  to  bilge. 
The  lighter  boats,  however,  were  filled  with  a 
large  amount  of  provisions  and  baggage,  and 
finally  succeeded  in  saving  all  the  small-arms 
on  board.  About  two  o'clock  all  hands  left, 
and  were  conveyed  to  St.  Augustine.  The  crew 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


63 


afterwards  arrived  at  Charleston.  The  brig 
became  a  total  loss. 

The  Bonita,  a  brig  built  in  New  York,  1853, 
was  276  tons  burden  and  110  feet  long,  25 
feet  wide,  and  11  feet  deep.  She  was  previ- 
ously engaged  in  the  slave  trade,  but  was  cap- 
tured on  the  coast  of  Africa  and  was  taken  to 
Charleston,  and  afterwards  to  Savannah,  where 
she  was  seized  by  order  of  Gov.  Brown,  and 
converted  into  a  vessel  of  war.  She  had  always 
borne  the  character  of  a  fast  sailer,  and  was  in 
perfect  order. 

The  Sallie  was  a  fore-and-aft  schooner  of  one 
hundred  and  forty  tons  burden,  mounted  one 
long  gun  amidships,  and  had  a  crew  consisting 
of  forty  men.  She  was  previously  the  schooner 
Virginia,  of  Brookhaven,  and  was  built  at  Port 
Jefferson  in  1856.  Her  dimensions  were : 
length,  97  feet  6  inches;  breadth,  29  feet  4 
inches;  depth,  10  feet.  She  was  commanded 
by  Capt.  Libby.  She  ran  out  from  Charleston 
and  made  several  prizes,  among  them  the  Bet- 
sey Ames  and  the  brig  Granada;  both  these 
vessels  were  sold  in  Charleston,  under  decree 
of  Judge  Magrath,  of  the  Admiralty  Court. 

In  New  Orleans,  by  the  end  of  May,  there 
were  the  following  prizes  : 


Name. 

Abfelino 

Ariel 

American  Union. 
C.  A.  Farwell... 

Express 

J-  H.  Jarvis 

Marathon 

Marshall 

Milan 

Robert  Harding. 
State  of  Maine... 
Toulon  . 


Chester 

Ocean  Eagle . 


SHIPS. 

Master. 

.Smith 

.Delano 

.Lincoln 

.Farwell 

.Frost 

.Rich 

.Tyler 

.Sprague 

.Eustis 

.Ingraham 

.  Humphrey  . . 
.Upshur 

BARKS. 


Where  from. 
..Boston. 
. .  Bath,  Maine. 
..Bath,  Maine. 
. .  Kockland. 
..Portsmouth,  N.  H. 
..Boston. 
..New  York. 
..Providence. 
..Bath,  Maine. 
, .  Boston. 
, .  Portland. 
..New  York. 


.Luce 

BRIG. 


.Boston. 
.Thomaston. 


Panama Provincetown. 

SCHOONERS.  ' 

E.  8.  Janes Townsend 

Henry  Travers Wy att Baltimore. 

fHa   Howes Philadelphia. 

John  Adams ..Provincetown. 

Mermaid ,  Provincetown. 

The  seizure  of  vessels  made  by  the  Confed- 
erate States,  up  to  the  close  of  1861,  is  thus  enu- 
merated : 

Off  the  different  ports.  10 

Inport Y.'  \l 

Steamers  captured  on  the  Mississippi '.'.'.'.'.'.'.  ".15 


Total. 


.58 


These  prizes  were  sold  under  a  decree  of  the 
Confederate  Admiralty  Court.  In  respect  to 
some  of  them  there  were  points  raised  as  to 
the  legal  boundary  of  the  "high  seas;"  but 
this  was  decided  to  be  low-water  mark, 
^  The  following  vessels  were  formerly  United 
States  revenue-cutters,  but  were  taken  posses- 
sion of  by  the  Confederate  Government,  and 
armed  for  its  service : 

Schooners :  Lewis  Cass,  Savannah,  40  men,  one 
C8-pounder  pivot;  Washington,  New  Orleans,  42- 
pounder  pivot;  Pickens,  Pensacola,  8-in.  columbiad, 


four  24-inch  carronades;  Dodge,  100  tons,  one  long 
pivot ;  McClellan,  Breshwood,  one  pivot,  four  side- 
guns. 
Steamer :  Bradford,  formerly  Ewing. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  Navy  Depart- 
ment of  the  insurrectionary  Government  pur- 
chased or  fitted  out  the  following  vessels,  which 
acted  as  privateers :  • 

The  Gordon  was  a  small  sea  steamer  of  about 
500  tons  burden,  drawing  from  seven  to  nine 
feet  of  water,  and  making  an  average  of  twelve 
miles  an  hour.  She  was  about  ten  years  old, 
and  the  most  of  that  time  she  had  been  running 
in  and  out  of  Charleston  harbor.  In  1859  she 
was  purchased  by  the  Florida  Steamship  Com- 
pany, and  ran  on  the  line  between  Charleston 
and  Fernandina  as  consort  to  the  Carolina,  a 
steamer  of  her  own  size  and  build.  The  Gor- 
don was  fitted  out  as  a  vessel  of  war.  She  was 
employed  along  the  coast  islands  at  Hatteras, 
in  and  out  of  Pamlico  Sound  via  Hatteras  Inlet, 
when  it  was  occupied  by  Union  troops.  She 
succeeded  in  running  the  blockade  at  Charles- 
ton, with  some  vessels  which  she  had  made 
prizes.  She  was  armed  with  two  guns,  and  was 
commanded  by  Capt.  Lockwood,  who  was  for- 
merly engaged  on  the  New  York  and  Charles- 
ton line  of  steamers.  His  last  employment, 
previous  to  this  position,  was  as  commander 
of  the  Carolina,  on  the  Charleston  and  Fer- 
nandina line  of  steamers.  He  had  succeeded 
in  running  the  blockade  with  his  vessel  seven- 
teen times.  The  last  feat  of  the  Theodora,  to 
which  the  name  of  the  Gordon  had  been 
changed,  was  t»  carry  to  Cuba  the  ministers, 
Slidell  and  Mason. 

The  Coffee,  a  side-wheel  steamer  carrying  2 
guns,  the  steamer  Marion,  and  the  schooner 
York,  were  consorts  of  the  Gordon  in  Hatteras 
Inlet.  The  Coffee  was  wrecked — a  total  loss. 

The  McRea,  formerly  the  steamer  Habana, 
plying  between  the  ports  of  New  Orleans  and 
Havana,  was  a  propeller  of  500  tons  burden ; 
she  was  built  in  Philadelphia  in  1859,  and  was 
owned  in  New  Orleans  previous  to  her  being 
used  as  a  privateer.  She  carried  a  64-pounder, 
mounted  on  a  pivot,  four  8-inch  columbiads, 
and  a  rifled  24-pounder.  She  succeeded  in  run- 
ning the  blockade  at  the  mouth  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River. 

The  steamer  Lady  Davis  was  one  of  the  first 
vessels  prepared  in  Charleston,  and  was  in- 
tended for  the  harbor  defence.  She  was  pur- 
chased by  Gov.  Pickens,  at  Richmond.  She 
received  her  name  in  honor  of  the  wife  of  Jef- 
ferson Davis.  She  was  armed  with  two  24- 
pounders,  regularly  equipped,  and  commanded 
by  Capt.  T.  B.  Huger. 

The  Nina  was  a  small  steam  gunboat,  mount- 
ing one  light  gun. 

The  Jackson  was  a  steamer,  200  tons,  armed 
with  two  8-inch  columbiads.  She  was  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Gwathemy. 

The  Tuscarora,  steamer,  carried  one  8-inch 
columbiad,  and  a  32-pounder  rifled  cannon. 

The  little  steamer  George  Page,   operating 


64 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


\on  Occoquan  Eiver  and  Quantico  Creek,  was 
famous  for  her  boldness  in  running  down  to 
within  gunshot  of  the  Federal  batteries,  and 
occasionally  throwing  a  shell  into  them,  there- 
by keeping  np  continuous  alarm. 

The  Judith,  schooner,  of  250  tons,  armed 
with  a  heavy  pivot-gun,  and  four  broadside 
guns,  was  destroyed  in  Pensacola  harbor,  Sep- 
tember 13.  The  Union  loss  was  3  killed,  12 
wounded. 

The  Yorktown  was  formerly  used  in  the 
New  York  and  Virginia  line  of  steamers.  She 
was  a  side-wheel  steamer  of  1,400  tons  bur- 
den, built  in  New  York  in  1859 ;  length,  251 
feet;  breadth,  34  feet;  depth,  18  feet.  She 
had  been  completely  fitted  out  at  Norfolk,  her 
sides  having  been  plated  with  iron,  and  other 
means  taken  to  strengthen  her,  and  to  render 
her  formidable.  She  was  commanded  by  Capt. 
Parish,  her  old  commander,  and  carried  two 
pivots,  and  six  broadside  guns. 

The  Everglade  was  a  small  side- wheel  steam- 
er, purchased  by  the  State  of  Georgia  for  the 
sum  of  $34,000.  She  was  made  a  gunboat,  for 
the  purpose  of  cruising  as  a  coast-guard  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Savannah  Eiver.  Her  officers,  as 
at  first  appointed,  were  as  follows :  command- 
er, J.  Mclntosh  Kell ;  midshipmen,  E.  F.  Arm- 
strong, S.  N.  Hooper,  J.  A.  Merriweather ;  chief 
engineer,  Joshua  Smith ;  assistant  engineer,  Nor- 
val  Meeker ;  clerk,  William  J.  Bennett. 

The  North  Carolina  steamer  Winslow,  Lieut. 
Qrossman  commanding,  captured  off  Cape  Hat- 
teras  the  schooner  Transit,  Knowles  master, 
last  from  Key  West.  The  prize  was  in  ballast, 
having  sailed  from  New  York  for  Key  West 


with  provisions,  shot,  etc.,  about  the  27th  of 
May.  Having  landed  her  cargo  safely  at  Key 
West,  the  Transit  was  upon  her  return  north 
when  captured.  She  was  a  fine  schooner,  of 
195  tons  burden,  and  was  built  at  a  cost  of 
$13,000.  She  was  copper-fastened  up  to  9  feet, 
and  had  galvanized  iron  fastenings  above  that. 
She  belonged  to  New  London,  Conn.  The  prize 
was  carried  to  Newbern,  by  Lieut.  Seawell. 
Lieut.  Grossman  also  captured  off  Cape  Hat- 
teras,  the  Hannah  Balch,  a  hermaphrodite  brig, 
which  was  captured  previously  off  Savannah 
by  the  United  States  ship  Flag,  Lieut.  Sarton. 
She  was  just  from  Cardenas,  and  laden  with 
150  barrels  of  molasses. 

The  little  schooner  Savannah  was  formerly 
-pilot  boat  No.  7,  doing  duty  in  Charleston 
harbor,  54  tons  burden.  She  carried  one  18- 
pounder  amidships,  and  was  commanded  by  T. 
Harrison  Baker,  of  Charleston,  and  had  a  crew 
of  20  men.  On  the  1st  of  June  she  captured 
the  brig  Joseph,  of  Maine,  from  Cuba,  loaded 
with  sugar,  and  sent  her  into  Georgetown,  S. 
C.,  in  charge  of  eight  men.  On  the  3d  of 
June,  off  Charleston,  she  fell  in  with  the  U.  S. 
brig  Perry,  which  she  mistook  for  a  merchant- 
man, and  immediately  engaged,  but  was  soon 
taken.  Her  crew  were  placed  in  irons  on  board 
the  United  States  steamer  Minnesota,  and  she 
was  sent  to  New  York,  in  charge  of  prize-mas- 
ter McCook.  Her  appearance  created  great 
interest  among  the  people,  on  account  of  her 
being  the  first  privateer  captured,  and  crowds 
of  people  flocked  to  the  Battery,  off  which  she 
lay,  to  see  the  little  craft.  She  was  afterward 
taken  to  the  navy  yard. 


CHAPTEK  VIII. 


March  of  Gen.  McClellan  Into  Western  Virginia— His  Address  to  the  Inhabitants— Surprise  at  Philippi— Battle  at  Laurel 
Hill— Defeat  and  Surrender  of  the  Enemy— Manassas— Position  of  the  Northern  and  Southern  Armies— Forces  of  Gen. 
McDowell— Advance  to  Centreville—  Battle  of  Bull  Eun— Retreat  • 


MILITARY  operations  now  began  to  be  con- 
ducted with  more  concentrated  forces.  From 
the  first  moment  great  activity  in  raising  troops 
had  prevailed  in  the  State  of  Ohio. 

Gen.  George  B.  MClellan  was  invited  from 
his  duties  in  connection  with  the  Ohio  and  Mis- 
sissippi Eailroad  by  the  Governor  of  Ohio,  and 
appointed  to  the  chief  command  in  the  State. 
Under  his  directions  the  volunteers  were  or- 
ganized, and  preparations  for  a  campaign  made. 
Early  in  May  the  forces  were  ready  to  co- 
operate with  the  two  or  three  regiments  organ- 
ized in  Western  Virginia,  to  oppose  the  ad- 
vance of  Virginia  troops.  The  occupation  of 
Western  Virginia,  which  had  voted  against  the 
ordinance  of  secession,  and  its  control,  was 
early  an  object  with  the  Confederate  Govern- 
ment. To  oppose  them,  Gen.  McClellan  pushed 


forward,  under  the  orders  of  the  United  States   * 
Government. 

On  the  26th  of  May  he  issued  the  follow- 
ing proclamation  to  the  people  of  Western  Vir- 
ginia, from  his  headquarters  at  Cincinnati, 
Ohio : 

To  the  Union  Men  of  Western  Virginia. 

VIKGINIANS:  The  General  Government  has  long 
enough  endured  the  machinations  of  a  few  factious 
rebels  in  your  midst.  Armed  traitors  have  in  vain 
endeavored  to  deter  you  from  expressing  your  loyalty 
at  the  polls.  Having  failed  in  this  infamous  attempt 
to  deprive  you  of  the  exercise  of  your  dearest  rights, 
they  now  seek  to  inaugurate  a  reign  of  terror,  and 
thus  force  you  to  yield  to  their  schemes  and  submit 
to  the  yoke  of  traitorous  conspiracy  dignified  by  the 
name  of  the  Southern  Confederacy.  They  are  destroy- 
ing the  property  of  citizens  of  your  State  and  ruining 
your  magnificent  railways. 

The  General  Government  has  heretofore  carefully 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


65 


abstained  from  sending  troops  across  the  Ohio,  or  even 
from  posting  them  along  its  banks,  although  frequently 
urged  by  many  of  your  prominent  citizens  to  do  so. 
It  determined  to  wait  the_  result  of  the  State  election, 
desirous  that  no  one  might  be  able  to  say  that  the 
slightest  effort  had  been  made  from  this  side  to  influ- 
ence the  free  expression  of  your  opinions,  although 
the  many  agencies  brought  to  bear  upon  you  by  the 
rebels  were  well  known.  You  have  now  shown,  under 
the  most  adverse  circumstances,  that  the  great  mass 
of  the  people  of  Western  Virginia  are  true  and  loyal 
to  that  beneficent  Government  under  which  we  and 
our  fathers  lived  so  long. 

As  soon  as  the  result  of  the  election  was  known,  the 
traitors  commenced  their  work  of  destruction.  The 
General  Government  cannot  close  its  ears  to  the  de- 
mand you  have  made  for  assistance.  I  have  ordered 
troops  to  cross  the  river.  They  come  as  your  friends 
and  brothers — as  enemies  only  to  armed  rebels,  who 
are  preying  upon  you ;  your  homes,  your  families*,  and 
your  property  are  safe  under  our  protection.  All  your 
rights  shall  be  religiously  respected,  notwithstanding 
all  that  has  been  said  by  the  traitors  to  induce  you  to 
believe  our  advent  among  you  will  be  signalized  by 
an  interference  with  your  slaves.  Understand  one 
thing  clearly :  not  only  will  we  abstain  from  all  such 
interference,  but  we  will,  on,  the  contrary,  with  an 
iron  hand  crush  any  attempt  at  insurrection  on  their 
part.  Now  that  we  are  in  your  midst,  I  call  upon  you 
to  fly  to  arms  and  support  the  General  Government ; 
sever  the  connection  that  binds  you  to  traitors ;  pro- 
claim to  the  world  that  the  faith  and  loyalty  so  long 
boasted  by  the  Old  Dominion  are  still  preserved  in 
Western  Virginia,  and  that  you  remain  true  to  the 
Stars  and  Stripes.  G.  B.  McCLELLAN, 

Major-General  Commanding. 

On  the  same  day  he  issued  the  following 
proclamation  to  his  troops : 

SOLDIERS  :  You  are  ordered  to  cross  the  frontier  and 
enter  on  the  soil  of  Virginia.  Your  mission  is  to  re- 
store peace  and  confidence,  to  protect  the  majesty  of 
the  law,  and  secure  our  brethren  from  the  grasp  of 
armed  traitors.  I  place  under  the  safeguard  of  your 
honor  the  persons  and  property  of  the  Virginians.  I 
know  you  will  respect  their  feelings  and  all  their 
rights,  and  preserve  the  strictest  discipline.  Remem- 
ber, each  one  of  you  holds  in  his  keeping  the  honor 
of  Ohio  and  of  the  Union.  If  you  are  called  upon  to 
overcome  armed  opposition,  I  know  your  courage  is 
equal  to  the  task.  Remember,  that  your  only  foes  are 
armed  traitors,  and  show  mercy  even  to  them  when 
in  your  power,  for  many  of  them  are  misguided. 
When,  under  your  protection,  the  loyal  men  of  West- 
ern Virginia  shall  have  been  enabled  to  organize  and 
form  until  they  can  protect  themselves,  you  can  return 
to  your  homes  with  the  proud  satisfaction  of  having 
preserved  a  gallant  people  from  destruction. 

G.  B.  McCLELLAN, 
Major-General  Commanding. 

The  instructions  to  General  McClellan  were 
to  cross  the  Ohio,  and,  in  conjunction  with  the 
forces  of  Western  Virginia  under  Colonel  Kel- 
ly, to  drive  out  the  Confederate  force,  and 
advance  on  Harper's  Ferry.  On  the  night  of  the 
26th  of  May,  orders  were  given  to  Colonel  Kel- 
ly at  Wheeling,  to  march  on  Grafton,  which  he 
proceeded  to  execute  early  the  next  morning 
with  the  First  Virginia  Volunteers.  He  was  fol- 
lowed on  the  same  day  by  the  Sixteenth  Ohio, 
Colonel  Irvine,  which  had  been  stationed  at 
Bellair,  Ohio.  These  forces  advanced  by  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad.  At  the  same 
time,  the  Fourteenth  Ohio,  Colonel  Steadman, 
crossed  the  Ohio  at  Marietta,  and  occupied 
Parkersburg.  These,  advancing  on  the  rail- 

5 


road,  were  welcomed  by  crowds  at  every 
station.  On  the  same  night,  a  Confederate 
force  of  1,500  men  evacuated  Grafton,  and 
that  place  was  occupied,  on  the  29th,  by  the 
Virginia  and  Ohio  Volunteers.  Here  they  were 
joined  by  the  Seventh  and  Ninth  Indiana. 
The  Confederate  force,  in  the  mean  time,  had 
retired  to  Philippi,  where  they  prepared  to 
make  a  stand  with  considerable  strength.- 
Philippi  is  twenty-four  miles  from  Grafton, 
and  General  McClellan  determined  to  surprise 
the  Confederate  force.  On  the  night  of  June 
2,  two  divisions  moved  forward  to  accomplish 
this  purpose.  The  surprise  was  complete, 
and  the  Confederate  force,  under  Colonel  G.  A. 
Porterfield,  was  forced  to  retire,  abandoning 
a  large  amount  of  stores  and  arms,  with  a  loss 
of  fifteen  killed.  Owing  to  the  storm  and 
the  darkness  of  the  night,  the  first  division, 
under  Colonel  Kelly,  was  unable  to  arrive  in 
the  rear  of  the  Confederate  force  soon  enough 
to  cut  off  its  retreat.  This  force  retired  to 
Laurel  Hill,  in  the  vicinity  of  Beverly,  where  the 
enemy  was  concentrated  in  a  strongly  fortified 
position,  which  not  only  commanded  the  road 
to  the  southern  part  of  the  State,  whence  the 
Confederate  supplies  were  obtained,  but  from 
which  an  attack  upon  the  Federal  forces  was 
constantly  threatened.  Laurel  Hill  is  on  the 
western  slope  of  a  range  of  the  Alleghany 
Mountains,  which  runs  from  northeast  to  south- 
west, and  which  is  impassable  for  an  army  ex- 
cept at  certain  points.  The  Confederate  en- 
campment was  on  a  slope  which  declined  grad- 
ually to  the  valley,  and  waa  strongly  fortified 
in  front,  below  which  passed  the  only  road  to 
southern  Virginia.  The  plan  of  General  Mc- 
Clellan was  to  occupy  the  attention  of  the  ene- 
my, by  the  appearance  of  a  direct  attack,  while 
a  strong  force  marched  round  to  his  rear  to 
take  possession  of  the  road  by  which  his  supplies 
came.  The  enemy  must  then  either  come  out 
of  his  intrenchments  and  fight,  or  starve.  Tak- 
ing the  main  body  of  his  army,  composing  a 
force  of  ten  thousand  men,  General  McClellan 
moved  to  Clarksburg,  and  thence  to  Buck- 
hannon,  on  the  west  of  Laurel  Hill.  Previously 
however,  and  on  the  Vth  of  July,  he  ordered 
General  Morris  to  march  upon,  Laurel  Hill, 
to  occupy  the  enemy.  Taking  with  him 
the  Ninth  Indiana,  Colonel  Milroy,  the  Four- 
teenth Ohio,  the  First  Virginia,  the  Cleveland 
Artillery,  the  Sixth  and  Seventh  Indiana, 
and  the  Sixth  Ohio,  in  the  order  named  and 
making  a  force  of  about  4,000  men,  he  left 
early  in  the  morning,  and  reached  Bealington 
in  front  of  the  enemy  at  eight  o'clock,  with  his 
right,  having  flanking  parties  on  each  side,  and 
two  companies  of  skirmishers  ahead.  The 
Confederate  pickets  fired  and  retreated.  A 
slight  skirmish  ensued  with  a  party  of  the  ene- 
my in  f.  wood  beyond  the  town,  about  two 
miles  from  the  Confederate  camp,  which  the 
Federal  force  had  occupied.  On  the  8th,  a 
brisk  skirmishing  was  kept  up  all  the  afternoon 
with  the  Confederates,  and  some  were  killed 


66 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


on  both  sides.  On  the  9th,  the  skirmishing 
was  renewed,  and  every  outlet  of  the  Confed- 
erate camp  was  watched  except  that  hack  to 
Beverly,  where  General  McClellan  was  soon  ex- 
pected to  be.  Thus  the  enemy  was  held  in 
check  on  the  north  and  occupied,  while  General 
McClellan  was  attempting  to  get  in  his  rear. 
Meantime,  as  General  McClellan  reached  Buck- 
hannon,  he  found  that  the  rear  of  the  enemy 
was  strongly  fortified  at  a  position  called  Rich 
Mountain,  which  was  defended  by  one  to  two 
thousand  men,  under  Colonel  Pegram.  He 
now  formed  the  plan  of  capturing  this  entire 
force.  For  this  purpose,  General  Kosecrans 
with  about  three  thousand  men  was  sent  to 
attack  his  rear,  while  General  McClellan  him- 
self made  a  direct  attack  in  front.  General 
Kosecrans  with  the  Eighth,  Tenth,  Thirteenth 
Indiana,  and  Nineteenth  Ohio,  therefore  pro- 
ceeded, on  the  lltb,  along  the  line  of  hills  south- 
east of  the  enemy's  intrenched  camp  on  the 
Beverly  road,  to  make  an  attack  on  the  east 
side,  while  General  McClellan  made  it  on  the 
west  side,  as  soon  as  he  heard  from  General 
Kosecrans.  A  courier,  who  mistook  the  road 
through  the  enemy's  camp  for  the  route  of  the 
troops,  gave  the  enemy  intelligence  of  the 
movement.  Their  position  was  about  two 
miles  west  from  Beverly,  which  is  on  the  east 
side  of  what  is  called  Rich  Mountain,  a  gap  in 
the  Laurel  Hill  range,  through  which  the 
southern  road  passes.  General  Rosecrans  ar- 
rived in  the  rear  of  the  enemy  at  four  o'clock, 
and  meeting  a  small  force,  immediately  began 
the  attack,  to  which  they  made  a  vigorous  re- 
sistance, but  were  unable  to  withstand  it.  The 
effect  was  to  alarm  Colonel  Pegram,  and  upon 
finding  out  his  exposed  position  he.  silently 
moved  off  with  his  main  body,  with  the 
hope  of  being  able  to  join  the  camp  at  Laurel 
Hill.  Meanwhile  General  McClellan  was  in 
position  with  his  whole  force  during  the  after- 
noon ready  to  make  an  assault,  but  heard  noth- 
ing from  the  other  column  except  distant  firing. 
Early  in  the  morning  he  was  about  proceed- 
ing to  plant  cannon  upon  an  eminence  com- 
manding a  portion  of  the  Confederate  oamp,  and 
preparing  to  attack  the  whole  next  in  front, 
when  it  was  ascertained  that  the  enemy  Jiad 
evacuated  his  position  during  the  night,  moving 
towards  Laurel  Hill,  leaving  only  a  few  men 
in  charge  of  the  sick,  cannon,  and  camp  equi- 
page and  transportation. 

The  following  despatch  from  General  Mc- 
Clellan thus  announced  these  movements : 

RICH  MOUNTAIN,  VA.,  9  A.  u.,  July  12. 
Col.  E.  D.  Towntend,  Assistant-Adjutant  General: 

We  are  in  possession  of  all  the  enemy's  works  up 
to  a  point  in  sight  of  Beverly.  We  have  taken  all  his 
guns;  a  very  large  amount  of  wagons,  tents,  4c. ; 
every  thing  he  had  ;  and  also  a  large  number  of  pris- 
oners, many  of  whom  are  wounded,  and  amongst  wnom 
are  several  officers.  They  lost  many  killed.  We  have 
lost  in  all,  perhaps  twenty  killed  and  forty  wounded, 
of  whom  all  but  two  or  three  were  in  the  column  under 
Col.  Rosecrans,  which  turned  the  position.  The  mass 
of  the  enemy  escaped  through  the  woods  entirely  dis- 


organized.   Among  the  prisoners  is  Dr.  Taylor,  for- 
merly of  the  army.    Col.  Pegram  was  in  command. 

Col.  Rosecrans  column  left  camp  yesterday  morn- 
ing and  marched  some  eight  miles  through  the  moun- 
tains, reaching  the  turnpike  some  two  or  three  miles 
in  the  rear  of  the  enemy.  He  defeated  an  advanced 
force,  and  took  a  couple  of  guns.  I  had  a  position 
ready  for  twelve  guns  near  the  main  camp,  and  as  the 
guns  were  moving  up  I  ascertained  that  the  enemy 
had  retre.ated.  I  am  now  pushing  on  to  Beverly — a 
part  of  Colonel  Rosecrans'  troops  being  now  within 
three  miles  of  that  place.  Our  success  is  complete 
and  almost  bloodless.  I  doubt  whether  Wise  and 
Johnston  will  unite  and  overpower  me.  The  behavior 
of  our  troops  in  action  and  towards  prisoners  was 
admirable.  G.  B.  McCLELLAN, 

Major-General  Commanding. 

By  the  retreat  of  Colonel  Pegram,  the  rear 
of  the  Confederate  force  at  Laurel  Hill  was 
entirely  exposed.  On  the  llth,  General  Gar- 
nett  first  learned  that  General  McClellan  was 
in  his  rear.  He  immediately  evacuated  his 
camp,  and  retired  before  General  Morris, 
hoping  to  reach  Beverly  in  advance  of  General 
McClellan,  and  thus  be  able  to  withdraw  his 
forces  by  the  road  to  southern  Virginia.  Upon 
arriving  within  three  miles  of  Beverly,  the 
fugitives  of  Colonel  Pegram's  force  were  met, 
and  finding  escape  impossible  by  that  route, 
General  Garnett  returned  toward^  Laurel  Hill, 
and  took  the  road  branching  off  to  the  north- 
east towards  St.  George,  in  Tucker  County.  His 
aim  was  now  to  press  along  the  base  of  the  moun- 
tains down  the  Cheat  River,  with  the  hope  of 
finding  some  practicable  path  across,  the  moun- 
tains into  the  valley  of  Virginia.  The  following 
despatch  of  General  McClellan  describes  the 
precise  state  of  affairs  at  this  time  : 

BEVERLY,  VA.,  July  13, 1861. 
To  Col.  E.  D.  Towmend  : 

The  success  of  to-day  is  all  that  I  could  desire.  We 
captured  six  brass  cannon,  of  which  one  was  rifled ; 
all  their  camp  equipage  and  transportation,  even  to 
their  cups.  The  number  of  tents  will  probably  reach 
two  hundred,  and  more  than  sixty  wagons.  Their 
killed  and  wounded  will  fully  amount  to  one  hundred 
and  fifty.  We  have  at  least  one  hundred  prisoners, 
and  more  coming  in  constantly.  I  know  already  of 
ten  officers  killed  and  prisoners.  Their  retreat  is  com- 
plete. We  occupied  Beverly  by  a  rapid  march.  Gar- 
nett abandoned  nis  camp  early  this  morning,  leaving 
his  camp  equipage.  He  came  within  a  few  miks  of 
Beverly,  but  our  rapid  march  turned  him  back  in  great 
confusion,  and  he  is  now  retreatmgj  on  the  road  to  St. 
George.  I  have  ordered  Gen.  Morris  to  follow  him  up 
closely.  I  have  telegraphed  for  the  Second  Pennsyl- 
vania Regiment  at  Cumberland  to  join  Gen.  Hill  at 
Rowlesburg.  The  General  is  concentrating  all  his 
troops  at  Rowlesburg,  to  cut  off  Garnett's  retreat,  if 
possible,  to  St.  George.  I  may  say  we  have  driven 
out  some  ten  thousand  troops,  strongly  intrenched, 
with  the  loss  of  eleven  killed  and  thirty-five  wounded. 
Provision  returns  were  found  showing  Garnett's  force 
to  have  been  ten  thousand  men.  They  were  Eastern 
Virginians,  Georgians,  Tennesseans,  and,  I  think, 
Carolinians.  To-raorrow  I  can  give  full  particulars, 
Ac.  Will  move  on  Huttonsville  to-morrow  and  en- 
deavor to  seize  the  Cheat  Mountain  pass,  where  there 
are  now  but  few  troops.  I  hope  that  Gen.  Cox  has 
by  this  time  driven  Wise  out  of  the  Kanawha  valley. 
In  that  case  I  shall  have  accomplished  the  object  of 
liberating  Western  Virginia.  I  hope  the  General  wilj 
approve  my  operations.  G.  B.  McCLELLAN, 

Major-General  Commanding. 

Up    the   mountains,   through   defiles,   and 


MIITARY    AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


67 


over  rugged  ridges,  guided  by  the  tents,  camp- 
furniture,  provisions,  and  knapsacks  thrown 
away,  the  hot  pursuit  of  the  flying  enemy  was 
pressed.  Oapt.  Bonham  led  the  advance,  and 
Gen.  Morris  the  rear,  and  after  fording  Cheat 
River  four  times,  they  came  up  with  the 
enemy's  rear  guard  at  Oarrick's  Ford,  where 
the  enemy  attempted  to  make  a  stand,  but  were 
attacked  on  the  right  flank  and  forced  to  retire. 
At  another  turn  in  the  river,  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  below,  the  enemy  again  attempted  to 
stand.  Gen.  Garnett  tried  in  vain  to  rally  his 
men  and  gather  them  around  him.  While  he 
was  thus  standing  with  his  back  to  the'Federal 
forces,  he  received  a  Hinie  ball  on  the  left  of 
the  spine.  It  made  a  terrible  wound,  piercing 
the  heart  and  coming  out  at  the  right  nipple. 
He  threw  up  his  arm  and  fell  dead.  The  Con- 
federate rout 'was  now  complete.  Only  about 
two  thousand  of  the  troops  with  which  Gen. 
Garnett  left  his.  intrenchments,  escaped.  Gen. 
McClellan's  despatch  was  as  follows : 

HDTTONSVILLE,  July  14, 1861. 
To  Edw.  Townsend. 

Garnett  and  forces  routed.  His  baggage  and  one 
gun  taken.  His  army  demoralized.  Garnett  killed. 

'  We  have  annihilate'd  the  enemy  in  Western  Virginia, 
and  have  lost  thirteen  killed  and  not  more  than  forty 
wounded.  We  have  in  all  killed  at  least  two  hundred 
of  the  enemy,  and  their  prisoners  will  amount  to  at 
least  one  thousand.  Have  taken  seven  guns  in  all. 

I  still  look  for  the  capture  of  the  remnant  of  Gar- 
nett's  army  by  Gen.  HilL 

The  troops  defeated  are  the  crack  regiments  of 
Eastern  Virginia,  aided  by  Georgians,  Tennesseans, 
and  Carolinians. 

Our  success  is  complete,  and  secession  is  killed  in 
this  country.  G.  B.  McCLELLAN, 

Maj.-Gen.  Commanding. 

Meantime  Col.  Pegram,  hearing  of  the  re- 
treat of  Gen.  Garnett,  surrendered  the  remnant 
of  his  force  to  Gen.  McClellan,  who  now  issued 
the  following  address  to  his  soldiers  : 

WESTBEX  VIBGCQA,  BKVEELT,  Vx,  July  19, 186L 
Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  West : 

\  am  more  than  satisfied  with  you.  You  have  anni- 
hilated two  armies,  commanded  by  educated  and  ex- 
perienced soldiers,  intrenched  in  mountain  fastnesses 
and  fortified  at  their  leisure.  You  have  taken  five 
guns,  twelve  colors,  fifteen  hundred  stand  of  arms,  one 
thousand  prisoners,  including  more  than  forty  officers. 
One  of  the  second  commanders  of  the  rebels  is  a 
prisoner,  the  other  lost  his  life  on  the  field  of  battle. 
You  have  killed  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  of 
the  enemy,  who  has  lost  all  his  baggage  and  camp 
equipage.  All  this  has  been  accomplished  if  ith  the 
loss  of  twenty  brave  men  killed  and  sixty  wounded 
on  your  part. 

You  have  proved  that  Union  men,  fighting  for  the 
preservation  of  our  Government,  are  more  than  a 
match  for  our  misguided  and  erring  brothers.  More 
than  this,  you  have  shown  mercy  to  the  vanquished. 
You  have  made  long  and  arduous  marches,  with  in- 
sufficient food,  frequently  exposed  to  the  inclemency 
of  the  weather.  I  have  not  hesitated  to  demand  this 
of  you,  feeling  that  I  could  rely  on  your  endurance, 
patriotism,  and  courage.  In  the  future  I  may  have 
still  greater  demands  to  make  upon  you,  still  greater 
sacrifices  for  you  to  offer.  It  shall  be  my  care  to  pro- 
vide for  you  to  the  extent  of  my  ability ;  but  I  know 
now  that,  by  your  valor  and  endurance,  yqu  will  ac- 
complish all  that  is  asked. 

Soldiers !  I  have  confidence  in  you,  and  I  trust  you 


have  learned  to  confide  in  me.  Remember  that  dis- 
cipline and  subordination  are  qualities  of  equal  value 
with  courage.  I  am  proud  to  say  that  you  have  gained 
the  highest  reward  that  American  troops  can  receive 
— the  thanks  of  Congress  and  the  applause  of  your 
fellow-citizens.  GEORGE  B.  McCLELLAN, 

Major-General. 

Gen.  McClellan  was  subsequently  called  to  the 
active  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Frequent  collisions  or  skirmishes  continued  to 
take  place  between  detached  parties  or  at  small 
advanced  posts,  as  at  Bunker  Hill  in  Virginia, 
on  July  loth;  Millville,  Missouri,  on  the  16th, 
Barboursville,  Virginia,  and  Fulton,  Missouri, 
on  the  17th.  Some  loss  was  thus  inflicted  on 
each  side. 

But  movements  of  a  more  important  char- 
acter were  now  progressing  in  Virginia  near 
Washington. 

The  Southern  Government  having  inclined  to 
the  defensive  policy  as  that  upon  which  they 
should  act,  their  first  object  was  to  prevent  an 
advance  of  any  Federal  force  into  Virginia. 
Early  in  the  month  of  May  troops  were  assem- 
bled in  Richmond,  and  pushed  forward  toward 
the  northeastern  boundary  of  the  State,  to  a 
position  known  as  Maeassas  Junction.  The 
name  is  given  to  this  hilly  region,  as  it  is  here 
that  a  railroad  froin.  Alexandria,  another  from 
Staunton  up  the  valley  and  through  Manassas 
Gap,  and  another  from  Gordonsville  unite. 
At  Gordonsville  the  railroad  from  Richmond 
and  the  line  from  East  Tennessee  unite.  As  a 
point  for  concentration  none  more  eligible  ex- 
ists in  northeastern  Virginia.  The  advantages 
for  fortification  are  naturally  such  that  the  place 
can  be  rendered,  impregnable.  Here  the  centre 
of  the  northern  force  of  the  Southern  army  was 
posted,  with  the  left  wing  pushed  forward  to 
Winchester,  and  the  right  extended  to  the 
Potomac,  and  sustained  by  heavy  batteries  which 
served  to  blockade  the  river. 

The  Federal  force,  the  advance  of  which  was 
assembled  at  Washington  for  the  defence  of 
that  city  against  any  attack  by  the  Southern 
troops,  was  posted  on  the  Virginia  side  of  the 
Potomac,  on  Arlington  Heights,  whiqh  were 
strongly  fortified.  Their  right  was  pushed  some 
distance  up  the  Potomac,  and  chiefly  on  the 
Maryland  side,  while  their  left  occupied  Alex- 
andria. The  armies  of  both  sides  consisted  of 
raw  militia  hastily  brought  together,  and  of 
volunteers  who  for  the  first  time  had  put  on  the 
uniform,  and  taken  up  the  weapons  of  the  sol- 
dier. On  both  sides  the  forces  were  constantly 
accumulating.  On  the  morning  of  June  27th, 
the  consolidated  report  of  Gen.  Mansfield,  com- 
manding the  Department  of  Washingtpn,  gives 
the  number  of  troops  in  that  city  and  vicinity. 
The  privates,  including  regulars  and  volunteers 
present  for  duty,  numbered  22,846  men.  The 
grand  aggregate  of  the  force,  including  officers, 
etc.,  present  and  absent,  was  34,160  men.  The 
force  of  Gen.  Patterson,  commanding  in  Mary- 
land above  Washington,  and  also  on  the  Vir- 
ginia side  of  the  Potomac,  on  the  28th  of  June, 
was  returned,  embracing  officers  and  men  on- 


68 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


listed  and  present  for  duty,  15,923.  Of  these 
about  550  were  reported  as  sick. 

The  Confederate  force  was  largely  increased 
by  troops  from  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Missis- 
sippi, Alabama,  and  Texas.  On  the  night  after 
the  battle  Mr.  Davis  sent  a  despatch  to 
Richmond  by  telegraph,  saying :  "  The  battle 
was  mainly  fought  on  our  left.  Our  force  was 
15,000;  that  of  the  enemy  estimated  at  35,000. 

Gen.  McDowell  in  his  official  report  says: 
"We  crossed  Bull  Run  with  about  18,000  men, 
of  all  arms."  "The  numbers  opposed  to  us 
have  been  variously  estimated.  I  may  safely 
say,  and  avoid  even  the  appearance  of  exag- 
geration, that  the  enemy  brought  up  all  he 
could,  which  were  not  kept  engaged  elsewhere." 

The  force  under  Gen.  McDowell,  on  the  8th 
of  July,  was  organized  into  five  divisions.  The 
first  division,  under  Brig.-Gen.  Tyler,  consisted 
of  four  brigades.  The  regiments  in  each  bri- 

§ade  were  as  follows :  First  brigade,  under 
ol.  Keyes,  First,  Second,  Third,  Connecticut ; 
Fourth  Maine ;  Varian's  battery,  and  Company 
B,  Second  Cavalry.  In  the  second  brigade, 
under  Col.  Schenck,  the  regiments  were  as  fol- 
lows :  First,  Second,  Ohio ;  Second  New-  York, 
and  Company  E,  Second  Artillery.  In  the 
third  brigade,  under  Col.  "W.  T.  Sherman,  were 
the  Thirteenth,  Sixty-ninth,  Seventy-ninth, 
New  York ;  Second  Wisconsin  ;  and  Company 
E,  Third  Artillery.  In  the  fourth  brigade, 
under  Col.  Richardson,  Second,  Third,  Mich- 
igan ;  First  Massachusetts ;  Twelfth  New  York. 

In  the  second  division,  under  Col.  David 
Hunter,  were  two  brigades.  These  contained 
the  following  regiments :  In  the  first  brigade, 
under  Col.  Porter,  were  the  Eighth,  Fourteenth, 
New  York ;  battalion  of  regular  infantry ;  Com- 
panies G  and  L,  Second  Cavalry ;  Company  — , 
Fifth  Artillery.  In  the  second  brigade,  under 
Col.  Burnside,  were  the  First,  Second,  Rhode, 
Island ;  Seventy-first  New  York ;  Second  New 
Hampshire ;  battery  of  Light  Artillery,  R.  I. 

In  the  third  division,  under  Col.  Heintzelman, 
were  three  brigades  with  the  following  regi- 
ments :  Jn  the  first  brigade,  under  Col.  Frank- 
lin, were  the  Fourth  Pennsylvania ;  Fifth  Mas- 
sachusetts; First  Minnesota;  Company  E,  Sec- 
ond Cavalry ;  Company  I,  First  Artillery.  In 
the  second  brigade,  under  Col.  Wilcox,  were 
the  First  Michigan ;  Eleventh  New  York ;  Com- 
pany D,  Second  Artillery.  In  the  third  brigade, 
under  Col.  Howard,  were  the  Second,  Fourth, 
Fifth,  Maine ;  Second  Vermont. 

In  the  fourth  division,  under  Brig. -Gen.  Run- 
yon,  as  a  reserve,  were  the  following  regiments : 
First,  Second,  Third,  Fourth,  New  Jersey  three- 
months'  volunteers,  and  First,  Second,  Third, 
New  Jersey  three  years'  volunteers. 

In  the  fifth  division,  under  Col.  Miles,  were 
two  brigades.  In  the  first  brigade  were  the 
following  volunteers,  Col.  Blenker  command- 
ing: Eighth,  Twenty-ninth,  New  York;  Gari- 
baldi Guard,  and  Twenty-fourth  Pennsylvania. 
In  the  second  brigade  under  Col.  Davies,  were 
the  Sixteenth,  Eighteenth,  Thirty -first,  Thirty- 


second,  New  York ;  Company  G,  Second  Artil- 
lery. 

The  movement  of  troops  to  attack  the  South- 
ern army  commenced  on  the  16th  of  July.  It 
was  first  made  known  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Washington  by  their  sudden  disappearance  from 
the  opposite  or  Virginia  side  of  the  Potomac. 
The  force  comprised  jn  this  movement  consisted 
of  five  divisions,  as  above  mentioned,  but  a  few 
of  the  details  were  altered.  A  body  of  five 
hundred  mariners  was  also  added.  On  the  17th, 
the  advance  of  Gen.  McDowell's  entire  com- 
mand was  begun.  It  was  made  by  four  differ- 
ent routes.  The  right  wing,  composed  of  the 
first  division  of  four  brigades  under  Gen.  Tyler,- 
moved  by  the  Georgetown  road.  The  centre, 
composed  of  the  second  division  of  two  brigades 
under  Col.  Hunter,  advanced  by  the  Leesburg 
and  Centreville  road.  The  left  wing,  consisting 
of  the  third  division  of  three  brigades,  under 
Col.  Heintzelman,  moved  by  the  Little  River 
turnpike,  and  the  other  part  of  the  wing,  con- 
sisting of  the  fifth  division  of  two  brigades, 
under  Col.  Miles,  proceeded  by  the  old  Brad- 
dock  road.  The  reserve  consisted  of  the  fourth 
division  of  New  Jersey  troops,  under  Gen. 
Runyon. 

The  following  order,  issued  by  Gen.  Mc- 
Dowell from  his  headquarters  at  Arlington  on 
July  5th,  shows  the  condition  of  the  men  when 
ready  to  march : 

When  troops  are  paraded  in  light  marching  order, 
they  will  be  equipped  as  follows :  Their  arms,  ac- 
coutrements, and  ammunition — the  cartridge-boxes 
filled.  Their  haversacks,  with  three  days'  cooked  ra- 
tions; their  blankets  in  a  roll,  with  the  ends  tied  to 
each  other,  across  the  shoulder;  and  where  it  is  pos- 
sible, a  pair  of  stockings  inside  of  the  blanket.  Their 
canteens  and  cups ;  knapsacks  will  be  packed  and 
left  in  the  tent  under  a  guard  of  the  regiment,  con- 
sisting of  those  men  least  able  to  march,  and  to  the 
number  to  be  specially  designated  for  each  corps. 
Knapsacks  should  be  numbered  or  marked  in  such 
way  as  will  enable  them  to  be  readily  claimed  by 
their  owners.  Commanding  officers  of  brigades  will 
take  measures  to  diminish  as  quickly  as  possible  the 
baggage  of  the  regiments  under  their  commands,  by 
sending  away  every  thing  not  absolutely  necessary. 
This  will  apply  to  the  personal  effects  of  the  officers 
and  men,  as  well  as  to  military  property. 

Near  Fairfax  Court  House  obstructions  had 
been  placed  by  the  Southern  troops  upon  all 
the  roads  upon  which  the  divisions  advanced. 
The  division  of  the  centre  marched  with  the 
left  brigade  in  front.  This  placed  the  Rhode 
Island  troops,  under  Col.  Burnside,  in  advance. 
The  Second  regiment  was  employed  as  skir- 
mishers in  front  of  the  division.  Their  lines 
extended  from  half  a  mile  to  two  miles  on  each 
side  of  the  road.  The  Confederate  troops  re- 
tired as  fast  as  the  head  of  the  advancing  col- 
umn made  its  appearance.  Within  three  miles 
of  the  Court  House  the  division  encountered 
the  first  barricade,  consisting  of  trees  felled  and 
thrown  across  the  road.  The  second  was  of  a 
similar  character.  They  occasioned  only  a  few 
moments'  delay.  The  third  barricade  was 
more  formidable.  It  was  at  the  entrance  of  a 
deep  cut,  about  half  way  up  a  steep  hill,  crowned 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


69 


on  one  side  by  a  thick  wood,  and  on  the  other 
by  an  open  field.  A  road  was  made  through 
the  field,  and  the  army  passed  around.  When 
the  central  division  reached  the  village  of  Fair- 
fax Court  House,  an  order  was  sent  to  the  left 
wing  to  halt,  and  Gen.  McDowell  with  his  staff, 
escorted  by  a  squadron  of  dragoons,  proceeded 
to  Germantown,  where  the  right  wing  was 
halted.  It  was  his  desire  to  push  forward  with- 
out delay  to  Oentreville. 

Germantown  is  a  small  village  on  the  road 
from  Fan-fax  Court  House  to  Centreville,  and 
about  one-fourth  of  the  distance  beyond  the 
former. 

The  order  to  move  forward  was  first  given 
to  all  divisions  of  the  army  on  the  15th.  Gen. 
Tyler,  of  the  right  wing,  communicated  it  to 
his  troops  that  evening,  with  orders  to  be  ready 
to  move  at  2  p.  M.  on  the  16th,  provided  with 
cooked  rations  for  three  days.  Precisely  at  that 
hour  the  right  wing  began  to  move  forward, 
and  reached  Vienna,  and  encamped  for  the 
night. 

At  5  o'clock  the  next  morning,  the  onward 
march  was  renewed.  It  was  necessarily  slow, 
owing  to  the  obstructions  placed  in  the  road. 
The  enemy  during  the  day  rapidly  retreated 
upon  the  approach  of  the  Federal  array.  Ger- 
mantown was  reached  soon  after  noon.  Col. 
Miles1  division  of  the  left  wing  was  at  the 
crossing  of  the  old  Braddock  road  with  the 
road  from  Fairfax  Court  House  to  Fairfax  Sta- 
tion, on  the  railroad,  when  ordered  to  halt. 
On  the  18th  it  was  ordered  forward  to  Cen- 
treville by  the  old  Braddock  road.  The  other 
brigades  of  this  wing  halted  at  Fairfax  Sta- 
tion and  below.  Eleven  of  the  enemy's  force 
were  made  prisoners  at  this  station. 

The  right  wing,  Gen.  Tyler,  resumed  its 
march  from  Germantown  to  Centreville  at  7 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  next  day,  the 
18th.  Upon  coming  in  sight  of  Oentreville,  the 
town  proved  to  have  been  evacuated.  Part 
of  the  division  proceeded  through  the  village, 
and  turning  into  a  by-road  to  the  right,  ad- 
vanced a  short  distance  toward  Bull  Run,  a 
valley  traversed  by  a  creek  about  three  miles 
from  Centreville.  A  halt  was  then  command- 
ed, and  the  whole  division  encamped  on  both 
.  sides  of  the  road. 

About  11  o'clock,  Gen.  Tyler  proceeded  to 
make  a  reconnoissance  in  force.  He  took  the 
fourth  brigade  of  his  division,  composed  of  the 
Second  and  Third  Michigan,  First  Massachu- 
setts, and  Twelfth  New  York,  under  Col.  Rich- 
ardson, together  with  Ayres'  battery,  and  four 
companies  of  cavalry.  Advancing  south  on  the 
road  from  Centreville  to  Manassas,  which 
crosses  Bull  Run  at  Blackburn's  Ford  through 
a  long  stretch  of  timber,  for  about  two  miles, 
they  came  to  an  opening,  when  sight  was 
caught  of  a  strong  body  of  the  enemy.  Ayres' 
battery  was  ordered  to  advance  and  open  on 
them  from  a  commanding  elevation.  Hardly 
had  the  firing  well  commenced,  when  it  was 
replied  to  by  a  battery  which  had  not  been 


seen,  at  a  distance  down  the  road.  Some  of  the 
grape  shot  from  this  battery  killed  two  horses 
of  the  cavalry  drawn  up  in  a  body  on  a  hill, 
and  wounded  two  of  the  men.  A  vigorous  re- 
sponse being  kept  up  by  Ayres'  battery,  the 
enemy  soon  retired  into  the  woods,  when  the 
firing  ceased.  The  Second  Michigan  was  then 
ordered  to  deploy  as  skirmishers  on  the  left  of 
the  road,  and  advance  into  the  wood.  They 
briskly  moved  forward  and  entered  the  timber, 
and  quickly  after  their  disappearance  a  lively 
exchange  of  rifle  shots  took  place  for  a  few 
minutes.  This  was  soon  followed  by  a  succes- 
sion of  volleys,  evidently  discharged  by  large 
bodies  of  men.  The  Third  Michigan,  the  First 
Massachusetts,  and  the  Twelfth  New  York, 
composing  the  remainder  of  the  brigade,  were 
then  ordered  to  advance  toward  the  wood.  This 
was  promptly  done.  They  then  drew  up  in  bat- 
tle array  in  front  and  on  the  right  of  the  timber. 
All  this  time  the  firing  in  the  woods  went  on 
in  the  liveliest  style.  Companies  G  and  H  and 
others  of  the  First  Massachusetts,  and  some 
companies  of  the  New  York  Twelfth,  were  then 
ordered  into  the  woods  as  skirmishers,  at  the 
same  time  the  cavalry  and  two  howitzers  ad- 
vanced to  their  edge.  Meanwhile  the  firing 
within  was  kept  up.  The  howitzers  then  threw 
some  grape  shot  into  the  timber,  when  a  ter- 
rific series  of  volleys  of  musketry  was  discharged 
from  the  woods  upon  the  troops  outside.  At 
the  same  time  a  battery  opened  from  an  eleva- 
tion in  the  rear,  and  poured  a  storm  of  grape 
and  canister  at  the  Federal  troops.  Fortunately 
the  fire  was  aimed  too  high,  and  few  outside 
the  woods  were  hit.  A  retreat  was  now  or- 
dered, and  the  whole  brigade  retired,  and 
formed  behind  their  battery  on  the  hill.  In 
doing  this,  the  Twelfth  New  York  and  a  por- 
tion of  the  First  Massachusetts  broke  ranks  and 
scattered  in  different  directions  for  some  dis- 
tance on  their  retreat. 

At  this  time  the  third  brigade,  under  Col. 
Sherman,  came  up,  headed  by  the  Sixty-ninth 
New  York.  The  fire  was  now  reopened  from 
the  battery,  and  continued  about  an  hour,  to 
which  the  enemy's  battery  vigorously  replied. 
Their  shot  and  shells  struck  the  houses  in 
front  of  the  battery,  and  raked  the  woods  in 
the  rear  for  a  considerable  distance.  A  retreat 
was  then  ordered  by  Gen.  McDowell,  who 
had  come  up,  and  the  entire  force  fell  back, 
having  suffered  a  loss  of  one  hundred  killed 
and  wounded. 

This  reconnoissance  developed  a  degree  of 
strength  and  preparation  on  the  part  of  the 
enemy  greater  than  had  been  anticipated. 
During  the  day  the  centre  and  left  wings  came 
up,  and  the  whole  force  was  concentrated^at 
Centreville. 

The  next  two  days  were  passed  by  the  Fed- 
eral force  in  strengthening  its  position.  Mean- 
time^  the  Commander-in-Chief  was  occupied  in 
obtaining  more  accurate' knowedge  of  the  posi- 
tion and  strength  of  the  enemy,  and  arranging 
his  plans  for  an  attack.  The  result  of  these  re- 


70 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


connoitrings  is  shown  in  the  order  of  hattle  sub- 
sequently issued. 

Meanwhile  it  would  appear  that  an  attack 
upon  the  Federal  forces  was  contemplated  by 
the  Commander  of  the  Confederate  army. 
Probably  he  was  anticipated  by  the  attack  of 
Gen.  McDowell.  This  appears  from  documents 
found  in  the  camp  at  Manassas,  after  its  evacu- 
ation by  the  Confederate  force  early  in  1862. 
One  of  these  papers  contains  the  plan  of  battle, 
and  shows  by  the  details  that  the  Confederate 
force  was  not  inferior  to  that  of  the  Federal 
army.  It  is  as  follows : 

[OOHPIDBSTIAL.] 

Special  Order  No. — . 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  POTOMAC,  July  20, 1861. 
The  following  order  is  published  for  the  information 
of  division  and  brigade  commanders : 

1.  Brig.-Gen.  Ewell's  brigade,  supported  by  Gen. 
Holmes'  brigade,  will  march  via  Union  Mills  Ford 
and  place  itself  in  position  of  attack  upon  the  enemy. 
It  will  be  held  in  readiness  either  to  support  the  at- 
tack upon  CentreTille,  or  to  move  in  the  direction  of 
Santera   Cross  Roads,  according  to   circumstances. 
The  order  to  advance  will  be  given  by  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief. 

2.  Brig.-Gen.  Jones'  brigade,  supported  by  Col. 
Earl's  brigade,  will  march  •piaMcLane  s  Ford  to  place 
itself  in  position  of  attack  upon  the  enemy  on  or 
about  the  Union  Mills  and  Centreville  road.    It  will 
be  held  in  readiness  either  to  support  the  attack  on 
Centreville,  or  to  move  in  the  direction  of  Fairfax 
Station,  according  to  circumstances,  with  its  right 
flank  toward  the  left  of  Ewell's  command,  more  or 
less  distant,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  country 
and  attack.     The  order  to  advance  will  be  given  by 
the  Commander-in-Chief. 

3.  Brig.-Gen.  Longstreet's  brigade,  supported  by 
Brig.-Gen.  Jackson's  brigade,  will  march  via  Mc- 
Lane's  Ford  to  place  itself  in  position  of  attack  upon 
the  enemy  on  or  about  the  Union  Mills  and  Centre- 
ville roads.     It  will  be  held  in  readiness  either  to 
support  the  attack  on  Centreville  or  to  move  in  the 
direction  of  Fairfax  Court  House,  according  to  cir- 
cumstances, with  its  right  flank  toward  the  left  of 
Jones'  command,  more  or  less  distant,  according  to 
the  nature  of  the  country.    The  order  to  advance 


the  attack  or  Centreville.  The  right  wing  to  the  left 
of  the  third  division,  more  or  less  distant,  according 
to  the  nature  of  the  country  and  of  the  attack.  The 
order  to  advance  will  be  given  by  the  Commander-in- 
Chief. 

5.  Col.  Cooke's  brigade,  supported  by  Col.  Elzy's 
brigade,  will  march,  via  Stone  Bridge  and  the  fords 
on  the  right  thereof,  to  the  attack  of  Centreville. 
The  right  wing  to  the  left  of  the  fourth  division,  more 
or  less  distant,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  country 
and  of  the  attack.    The  order  to  advance  will  be 
given  by  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

6.  Bng.-Gen.   Bee's   brigade,    supported  by  Col. 
Wilcox's  brigade,  Col.  Stuart's  regiment  of  cavalry, 
and  the  whole  of  Walton's  battery,  will  form  the  re- 
serve,  and  will  march  via  Mitchell's  Ford,  to  be  used 
according  to  circumstances. 

The  light  batteries  will  be  distributed  as  follows : 

1.  To  Brig.-Gen.  Ewell's  command— Capt.  Walker, 
six  pieces. 

2.  To  Brig.-Gen.  Jones'— Captains  Albertis'  and 
Stonewood's  batteries,  eight  pieces. 

3.  To   Brig.-Gen.   Longstreet's— Col.   Pendleton's 
and  Capt.  Imboden's  batteries,  eight  pipces. 

4.  To  Brig.-Gen.   Bonham's—  Captains  Keuiper's 
and  Shields'  batteries,  eight  pieces. 


5.  To  Col.  Cooke's — Col.  Hemton's  and  Captains 
Latham's  and  Beckwith's  batteries,  twelve  pieces. 

Col.  Radford,  commanding  cavalry,  will  detail  ti 
report  immediately,  as  follows  : 

To  Brig.-Gen.  Ewell,  two  companies  cavalry. 

To  Brig.-Gen.  Jones,  two  companies  cavalry. 

To  Brig.-Gen.  Longstreet,  two  companies  cavalry. 

To  Brig.-Gen.  Bonham,  three  companies  cavalry. 

To  Col.  Cooke,  the  remaining  companies  of  cav- 
alry, except  those  in  special  service. 

7.  The  fourth  and  fifth  divisions,  after  the  fall  of 
Centreville,  will  advance  to  the   attack  of  Fairfax 
Court  House  via  the  Braddock  and  Turnpike  roads, 
to  the  north  of  the  latter.     The  first,  second,  and 
third  divisions  will,  if  necessary,  support  the  fourth 
and  fifth  divisions. 

8.  In  this  movement  the   first,  second,  and  third 
divisions  will  form  the  command  of  Brig.-Gen.  Holmes. 
The  fourth  and  fifth  divisions,  that  of  the  second  in 
command. 

The  reserve  will  move  upon  the  plains  between 
Mitchell's  Ford  and  Stone  Bridge,  and,  together  with 
the  fourth  and  fifth  divisions,  will  be  under  the  im- 
mediate direction  of  Gen.  Beauregard. 

By  command  of  Gen.  BEAUREGARD. 

THOMAS  JORDAN,  A.  A.  Adjt.-Gen. 

Special  Order  No.  — . 
HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  or  THE  POTOMAC,  ) 
July  20, 1861.     f 

The  plan  of  attack  given  by  Brisr.-Gen.  Beaure- 
gard, in  the  above  order,  is  approved,  and  will  be 
executed  accordingly. 

J.  E.  JOHNSTON,  Gen.  C.  S.  A. 

Mitchell's  Ford,  spoken  of  in  the  above  or- 
ders, is  a  short  distance  above  Blackburn's 
Ford.  McLane's  Ford  is  about  the  same  dis- 
tance below  Blackburn's  Ford.  Union.  Mills  is 
still  further  below,  near  the  crossing  of  the 
Alexandria  and  Orange  Railroad. 

The  result  of  observations  on  the  part  of 
Gen.  McDowell  convinced  him  that  the  mass 
of  the  Southern  force  had  not  been  advanced 
from  Manassas  to  the  back  of  the  creek  called 
Bull  Run.  This  tortuous  stream  runs  from 
northwest  to  southeast,  through  the  entire  field 
of  battle.  At  the  extreme  part  on  the  north- 
west, is  Sudley's  Spring,  where  it  is  fordable ; 
three  miles  lower  down  is  a  crossing  known  as 
the  Stone  Bridge,  and  still  lower  is  Blackburn's 
Ford ;  further  down  is  Union  Mills,  mentioned 
in  Gen.  Beauregard's  order.  Centreville  is  a 
village  of  a  few  houses,  mostly  on  the  west  side 
of  a  ridge  running  nearly  north  and  south. 
The  road  from  Centreville  to  Manassas  Junc- 
tion was  along  this  ridge,  and  crossed  Bull  Run 
about  three  miles  from  the  former  place. 
Through  Centreville,  running  nearly  east  and 
west,  passes  the  Warrenton  turnpike,  and 
crosses  Bull  Run  about  four  miles  distant. 

The  conviction  of  Gen.  McDowell  was  that 
the  mass  of  the  enemy's  force  was  at  Manassas. 
He  says  in  his  report :  "  On  the  evening  of  the 
20th  my  command  was  mostly  at  or  near  Cen- 
treville. The  enemy  was  at  or  near  Manassas, 
distant  from  Centreville  about  seven  miles  to 
the  southwest."  Thus  conceiving  the  mass 
of  the  Confederate  army  to  be  at  Manassas, 
the  order  of  battle  was  prepared  accordingly, 
and  issued  on  the  night  of  the  20th,  to  be  ex- 
ecuted the  next  day.  It  was  manifest  that 
the  crossing  of  Bull  Run  would  be  disput- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


71 


ed;  but  the  greatest  contest,  anticipated  the 
next  day,  was  expected  to  come  when  the  at- 
tempt should  be  made  to  destroy  the  railroad 
leading  from  Manassas  to  the  valley  of  Virginia. 
The  orders  for  the  21st  were  as  follows: 

HEADQITABTEBS  DEPARTMENT  AKMY  EASTERN  VA.,  I 
CENTREVILLE,  July  20. 1861.     f 

The  enemy  has  planted  a  battery  on  the  Warrenton 
turnpike  to  defend  the  passage  of  Bull  Run;  has 
seized  the  Stone  Bridge  and  made  a  heavy  abatis  on 
the  right  bank,  to  oppose  our  advance  in  that  direc- 
tion. The  ford  above  the  bridge  is  also  guarded, 
whether  with  artillery  or  not  is  not  positively  known, 
but  every  indication  favors  the  belief  that  he  proposes 
to  defend  the  passage  of  the  stream. 

It  is  intended  to  turn  the  position,  force  the  enemy 
from  the  road,  that  it  may  be  reopened,  and,  if  possi- 
ble, destroy  the  railroad  leading  from  Manassas  to 
the  valley  of  Virginia,  where  the  enemy  has  a  large 
force.  As  this  may  be  resisted  by  all  the  force  of  the 
enemy,  the  troop_s  will  be  disposed  as  follows : 

The  first  division  (Gen.  Tyler's),  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Richardson's  brigade,  will,  at  half-past  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning  precisely,  be  on  the  Warren- 
ton  turnpike  to  threaten  the  passage  of  the  bridge, 
but  will  not  open  fire  until  full  daybreak. 

The  second  division  (Hunter's)  will  move  from  its 
camp  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  precisely,  and, 
led  by  Capt.  Woodbury,  of  the  Engineers,  will,  after 
passing  Cnb  Run,  turn  to  the  right  and  pass  the  Bull 
Run  stream  above  the  ford  at  Sudley's  Spring,  and 
then  turning  down  to  the  left,  descend  the  stream  and 
clear  away  the  enemy  who  may  be  guarding  the 
lower  ford  and  bridge.  It  will  then  bear  off  to  the 
right  and  make  room  for  the  succeeding  division. 

The  third  division  (Heintzelman's)  will  march  at 
half-past  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  follow  the 
road  taken  by  the  second  division,  out  will  cross  at 
the  Ibwer  ford  after  it  has  been  turned  as  above,  and 
then,  going  to  the  left,  take  place  between  the  stream 
and  second  division. 

The  fifth  division  (Miles')  will  take  position  on  the 
Centreville  Heights  (Richardson's  brigade  will,  for 
the  time,  form  part  of  the  fifth  division,  and  will  con- 
tinue in  its  present  position).  One  brigade  will  be  in 
the  village,  and  one  near  the  present  station  of  Rich- 
ardson's brigade.  This  division  will  threaten  the 
Blackburn  Ford,  and  remain  in  reserve  at  Centreville. 
The  commander  will  open  fire  with  artillery  only,  and 
will  bear  in  mind  that  it  is  a  demonstration  only  he  is 
to  make.  He  will  cause  such  defensive  works,  abatis, 
earthworks,  etc.,  to  be  thrown  up  as  will  strengthen 
his  position.  Lieut.  Prime,  of  the  Engineers,  will  be 
charged  with  this  duty. 

These  movements  may  lead  to  the  gravest  results, 
and  commanders  of  divisions  and  brigades  should 
bear  in  mind  the  immense  consequences  involved. 
There  must  be  no  failure,  and  every  effort  must  be 
made  to  prevent  straggling. 

No  one  must  be  allowed  to  leave'the  ranks  without 
special  authority.  After  completing  the  movements 
ordered,  the  troops  must  be  held  in  order  of  battle, 
as  they  may  be  attacked  at  any  moment. 

By  command  of  Brig.-Gen.  McDOWELL. 

JAMES  B.  FRY,  Adjt.-Gen. 

The  position  of  the  Federal  forces  on  the 
night  previous  to  the  battle  can  be  briefly  told. 
The  first  division,  which  had  been  the  right 
wing  thus  far,  was  stationed  on  the  north  side 
of  the  "Warrenton  turnpike  and  on  the  eastern 
slope  of  the  Centreville  ridge,  two  brigades  on 
the  same  road  and  a  mile  and  a  half  in  advance, 
to  the  west  of  the  ridge,  and  one  brigade  on 
the  road  from  Centreville  to  Manassas,  where 
it  crosses  Bull  Eun  at  Blackburn's  Ford,  where 
the  engagement  on  the  18th  was.  The  second 


division  was  on  the  Warrenton  turnpike,  one 
mile  east  of  Centreville.  The  third  division  was 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  out  on  the  old  Braddock 
road,  which  comes  into  Centreville  from  the 
southeast.  The  fifth  division  was  on  the  same 
road  as  the  third  division,  and  between  it  and 
Centreville. 

The  fourth  division  (Runyon's)  had  not  been 
brought  to  the  front  further  than  to  guard  our 
communications  by  way  of  Vienna  and  the 
Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad.  His  ad- 
vanced regiment  was  about  seven  miles  in  the 
rear  of  Centreville. 

At  half-past  two,  on  the  morning  of  the  21st, 
the  division  under  Gen.  Tyler,  which  had  here- 
tofore been  the  right  wing,  moved,  with  the 
exception  of  Richardson's  brigade,  to  threaten 
the  passage  of  the  Warrenton  turnpike  bridge, 
or  Stone  Bridge,  on  Bull  Run.  After  moving  a 
short  distance  Col.  Keyes'  brigade  was  halted 
by  order  of  Gen.  McDowell,  to  watch  the  road 
coming  up  from  Manassas.  This  was  about 
two  miles  from  the  run.  The  two  remaining 
brigades  of  this  division,  being  those  of  Cols. 
Schenck  and  Sherman,  with  Ayres'  and  Car- 
lisle's batteries,  proceeded  on  and  arrived  in 
front  of  the  bridge  about  6  A.  M.  An  exam- 
ination of  the  position  was  made,  and  the  bri- 
gades and  artillery  got  into  position.  The  first 
gun,  as  a  signal  that  they  were  in  position,  was 
fired  at  half-past  six  o'clock.  As  the  design  was 
to  threaten  the  brigade,  Col.  Schenck's  brigade 
was  formed  into  a  line,  with  its  left  resting  in 
the  direction  of  the  bridge  and  the  Confederate 
battery,  which  had  been  established  to  sweep 
the  bridge  and  its  approach,  so  as  to  threaten 
both.  Col.  Sherman's  brigade  was  posted  to 
the  right  of  the  turnpike,  so  as  to  be  in  position 
to  sustain  Col.  Schenck  or  to  move  across  Bull 
Run,  in  the  direction  to  be  taken  by  Col.  Hun- 
ter's division. 

A  30-pounder  gun  attached  to  Carlisle's  bat- 
tery was  posted  on  the  turnpike,  with  Ayres' 
battery  considerably  in  its  rear,  while  Carlisle's 
battery  was  posted  on  the  left  of  Col.  Sherman's 
brigade.  In  this  position  they  were  ordered  to 
remain,  awaiting  the  appearance  of  the  divis- 
ions of  Cols.  Hunter  and  Heintzelman  on  the 
other  side,  until  such  time  that  the  approach  to 
the  bridge  could  be  carried  and  the  bridge  re- 
built by  the  engineers,  who  had  on  the  spot 
materials  for  that  purpose. 

While  this  had  been  going  on  with  the  first 
division,  the  first  brigade  of  the  second  division, 
under  Col.  Porter,  had  been  silently  paraded  in 
light  marching  order  at  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  Owing  to  frequent  delays  in  the 
march  of  troops  in  front,  it  did  not  reach  Cen- 
treville until  half-past  four.  It  proceeded  out 
on  the  Warrenton  turnpike,  and  it  was  an  hour 
after  sunrise  when  its  head  was  turned  to  the 
right  to  commence  the  flank  movement  by 
crossing  at  Sudley's  Spring.  The  second  bri- 
gade of  the  division,  which  was  now  in  ad- 
vance, made  such  slow  and  intermittent  progress 
through  the  woods,  that  it  was  four  hours  be- 


72 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


X^frr^     U  I  K  H  ^*§SXo»5  »  — •""  " 


SUSPENSION  BRIDGE 


*GEM.BEE  LtEWISl  HOUSE 

i.-  H   i  en  fro.. 


jrr\^T\i    f\ 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


73 


fore  the  head  of  the  division  reached  Bull  Run. 
This  was  about  half-past  nine  o'clock,  and  in- 
telligence was  here  received  that  the  Confed- 
erate troops  were  in  front  with  considerable 
force.  A  halt  of  half  an  hour  was  now  or- 
dered, to  obtain  a  supply  of  water,  and  to  rest 
and  refresh  the  men.  The  shade  of  the  green 
and  waving  foliage  of  the  trees,  and  the  water 
of  the  creek,  on  this  hot  summer  morning,  were 
delightful  to  the  perspiring  men.  Only  the 
gleam  of  bayonets  and  the  equipments  of  war  in 
sight  on  every  side,  indicated  the  terrific  con- 
flict so  close  at  hand. 

Not  only  was  -the  intelligence  received  that 
the  enemy  was  in  front  with  a  considerable 
force,  but  from  the  heights  where  the  troops 
rested,  a  vast  column  could  be  plainly  descried, 
at  the  distance  of  a  mile  or  more  on  the  left, 
moving  rapidly  towards  the  line  of  march  in 
front,  which  the  halting  troops  were  about  to 
resume.  Skirmishers  were  now  thrown  out 
upon  either  flank  and  in  front,  by  Col.  Slocum,  of 
the  Second  Rhode  Island.  The  column  moved 
forward,  however,  before  this  was  completed, 
and  in  about  thirty  minutes  emerged  from  the 
timber,  whence  the  rattle  of  the  musketry  and 
occasional  crash  of  round  shot  through  the 
branches  of  the  trees  indicated  the  opening  of 
the  battle.  The  Second  Rhode  Island,  of  the 
second  brigade,  under  Col.  Burnside,  was  imme- 
diately sent  forward  with  its  battery  of  artillery, 
and  the  balance  of  the  brigade  was  formed  in 
a  field  to  the  right  of  the  road.  At  the  same 
time  the  head  of  the  first  brigade  was  turned 
slightly  to  the  right,  in  order  to  gain  time  and 
room  for  deployment  on  the  right  of  the  second 
brigade.  Griffin's  battery  found  its  way  through 
the  timber  to  the  fields  beyond,  followed  prompt- 
ly by  the  marines,  while  the  Twenty-seventh 
took  a  direction  more  to  the  left,  and  the  Four- 
teenth followed  upon  the  trail  of  the  battery — 
all  moving  up  at  double-quick  step. 

Since  this  division  left  the  Warrenton  turn- 
pike by  turning  to  the  right,  it  had  moved  in 
a  semicircle,  crossing  Bull  Run  at  Sudley's 
Spring,  and  it  was  now  approaching  the  turn- 
pike again.  Along  this  turnpike  the  enemy 
now  appeared  drawn  up  in  a  long  line,  extend- 
ing from  a  house  and  haystack  upon  the  ex- 
treme right  of  the  advancing  division  to  a  house 
beyond  its  left.  Behind^  that  house  there  was 
a  heavy  battery  which,  with  three  others  along 
the  Confederate  line,  but  on  the  heights  be- 
hind it,  covered  with  all  sorts  of  projectiles 
the  ground  upon  which  the  Union  force  was 
advancing.  A  grove  in  front  of  the  enemy's 
right  wing  afforded  it  shelter  and  protection, 
while  the  shrubbery  in  the  fences  along  the 
road  screened  somewhat  his  left  wing.  The 
battery  of  Griffin  advanced  within  a  thousand 
yards,  and'  opened  an  unerring  and  deadly  fire 
upon  the  enemy's  batteries,  (on  the  right,)  which 
were  soon  silenced  or  driven  away.  The  right 
of  the  Union  force  was  now  rapidly  developed 
by  this  first  brigade  of  the  second  division — 
the  marines,  the  Twenty-seventh,  Fourteenth, 


and  Eighth,  with  the  cavalry  in  the  rear  of  the 
right.  The  enemy  retreated  in  more  precipita- 
tion than  order,  as  this  part  of  the  line  ad- 
vanced. Meanwhile,  it  appearing  that  the 
Second  Rhode  Island,  of  the  second  brigade, 
was  closely  pressed  by  the  right  of  the  en- 
emy, Col.  Burnside  ordered  the  Seventy-first 
New  York  and  Second  New  Hampshire  to 
advance,  intending  to  hold  the  First  Rhode 
Island  in  reserve ;  but,  owing  to  delay  in  the 
formation  of  the  Seventy -first  and  Second,  the 
First  Rhode  Island  was  at  once  ordered  on  the 
field.  It  performed  most  efficient  service  in 
assisting  its  comrades  to  repel  the  attack  of 
the  enemy's  forces,  which  the  Second  Rhode 
Island  had  steadily  borne,  and  had  bravely 
stood  its  ground,  even  compelling  him  to  give 
way.  Soon  the  Seventy-first  came  into  action, 
planting  the  two  howitzers  belonging  to  the 
regiment  upon  the  right  of  its  line,  and  work- 
ing them  most  effectively.  Next  came  the 
Second  New  Hampshire  into  the  field ;  and 
the  whole  of  the  second  brigade  was  engaged 
in  action  on  the  right  of  the  enemy. 

The  enemy  now  clung  with  so  much  tenacity 
to  the  protecting  wood,  and  the  Rhode  Island 
battery  became  so  much  endangered,  as  to  im- 
pel the  commander  to  call  for  the  battalion 
of  regulars.  This  battalion  was  composed  of 
two  companies  of  the  Second,  five  companies 
of  the  Third,  and  one  company  of  the  Eighth 
U.  S.  Infantry.  It  was  a  part  of  the  first  bri- 
gade, and  was  at  once  ordered  to  support  the 
second  brigade,  under  Col.  Burnside,  which 
was  now  suffering  from  a  severe  fire  in  its 
front.  The  line  of  the  battalion  was  rapidly 
formed,  opening  fire,  and  a  column  under  Col. 
Heintzelman  appearing  at  the  same  moment  on 
the  left  of  the  battalion,  the  enemy  fell  back 
to  the  rising  ground  in  his  rear. 

The  third  division,  consisting  of  three  brigades, 
under  Col.  Heintzelman,  was  under  arms,  in  light 
marching  order,  with  two  days'  cooked  rations 
in  their  haversacks,  and  commenced  the  march 
at  half-past  two  in  the  morning.  It  followed 
immediately  in  the  rear  of  the  second  division, 
Col.  Hunter,  and  with  that  division,  turning  to 
the  right  from  the  turnpike  by  a  country  road, 
and  crossing  Bull  Run  at  Sudley's  Spring.  It 
was  the  intention  that  this  division  should  turn 
to  the  left  and  cross  a  ford  about  midway  be- 
tween the  Warrenton  turnpike  and  Sudley's 
Springs.  But  the  road  was  either  missed  or 
did  not  exist.  Probably  missed,  as  there  is  a 
ford  called  "  Poplar  or  Red  Hill  Ford,"  mid- 
way between  the  Stone  Bridge  and  Sudley's. 
Before  the  third  division  reached  Sudley's  the 
battle  had  commenced.  Smoke  could  be  seen 
rising  on  their  left  from  two  points  a  mile  or 
more  apart.  Two  clouds  of  dust  were  also 
visible,  showing  the  advance  of  troops  from 
the  direction  of  Manassas.  Two  regiments 
were  at  this  time  ordered  forward,  to  prevent 
the  enemy  from  outflanking  the  second  divi- 
sion, under  Col.  Hunter.  Accordingly,  the 
Minnesota  advanced  on  the  left  of  the  road 


74 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


which  crossed  the  run,  the  Eleventh  Massachu- 
setts moved  up  it,  followed  by  the  remainder  of 
the  division,  except  Arnold's  battery,  which, 
supported  by  the  First  Michigan,  was  posted  a 
little  belo\v  the  crossing  of  the  run  as  a  reserve. 

The  advance  of  the  battalion  of  regular  in- 
fantry and  the  regiment  detached  from  Col. 
Heintzelman,  to  support  the  second  brigade, 
under  Col.  Buruside,  above  mentioned,  caused 
the  enemy  to  come  flying  from  the  woods 
towards  the  right,  and  the  Twenty-seventh 
completed  their  retreat  by  charging  directly 
upon  their  centre  in  the  face  of  a  scorching 
fire,  while  the  Fourteenth  and  Eighth  moved 
down  the  turnpike  to  cut  off  the  retiring  foe, 
and  to  support  the  Twenty-seventh,  which  was 
standing  the  brunt  of  the  action,  'with  its  ranks 
thinning  in  the  dreadful  fire.  Now  the  resist- 
ance of  the  enemy's  left  became  so  obstinate 
that  the  beaten  right  retired  in  safety.  This 
retreat  of  the  enemy's  right  afforded  an  oppor- 
tunity for  the  brigades  of  Cols.  Sherman  and 
Keyes,  belonging  to  Gen.  Tyler's  division,  to 
cross  over,  as  will  be  presently  noticed. 

The  appearance  of  the  head  of  Col.  Heintzel- 
man's  column  upon  the  field  at  the  moment  of 
the  obstinate  resistance  of  the  enemy's  left, 
enabled  the  Fifth  Massachusetts  and  Eleventh 
New  York  (Fire  Zouaves)  to  move  forward  to 
support  the  centre  of  the  first  brigade  of  Col. 
Hunter's  division,  which  had  been  on  the 
right  and  constantly  engaged.  At  this  time 
the  Eighth  New  York,  under  Col.  Lyflns,  of 
this  brigade,  had  broken.  They  were  only  par- 
tially rallied  again.  This  was  the  first  regi- 
ment to  break  ranks  and  retire  on  the  field 
that  day.  The  Fourteenth  also  broke,  but  was 
soon  rallied  in  rear  of  Griffin's  battery,  which 
soon  took  a  position  further  to  the  front  and 
right,  from  which  its  fire  was  delivered  with 
such  precision  and  rapidity  as  to  compel  the 
batteries  of  the  enemy  to  retire  far  behind  the 
brow  of  the  hill  in  front. 

At  this  time  the  first  brigade  of  Col.  Hun- 
ter's division  occupied  a  line  considerably  in 
advance  of  that  first  occupied  by  the  left  wing 
of  the  enemy.  The  battery  was  pouring  its 
withering  fire  into  the  batteries  and  columns 
of  the  enemy  wherever  exposed.  The  cavalry 
were  likewise  engaged  in  feeling  the  left  flank 
of  the  enemy's  position,  during  which  some 
captures  were  made.  Early  in  the  action  Gen. 
Hunter  had  been  wounded  and  conveyed  from 
the  field,  and  the  command  of  the  division  had 
devolved  on  Col.  A.  Porter. 

The  orders  to  Gen.  Tyler  were  to  threaten 
the  passage  of  the  Stone  Bridge.  Soon  after 
getting  into  position,  it  was  discovered  that 
the  enemy  had  a  heavy  battery  with  infantry 
in  support,  commanding  both  the  road  and 
bridge  approaches,  on  which  both  Ayres  and 
Carlisle  at  different  times  tried  the  effect  of 
their  guns  without  success.  The  banks  of  the 
run  proving  impracticable  for  the  passage  of 
artillery,  the  batteries  remained  comparatively 
useless  until  the  approach  to  the  bridge  was 


cleared.  During  this  period  of  waiting,  the  30- 
pounder  was  occasionally  used  with  consider- 
able effect  against  bodies  of  infantry  and  cav- 
alry, which  could  be  seen  from  time  to  time 
moving  in  the  direction  of  Col.  Hunter's  col- 
umn, and  out  of  the  range  of  the  ordinary 
guns.  When  it  appeared  that  the  divisions  of 
Cols.  Hunter  and  Heintzelman  were  arrested 
in  their  progress,  and  the  enemy  seemed  to  be 
moving  heavy  reinforcements  to  support  their 
troops,  the  brigade  of  Col.  Sherman  was  ordered 
by  Gen.  Tyler  to  cross  over  and  support  the  col- 
umns engaged.  The  brigade  of  Col.  Keyes  was 
also  ordered  to  follow.  This  brigade,  on  reach- 
ing the  high  ground  across  the  run,  was  or- 
dered to  form  on  the  left  of  Col.  Sherman's 
brigade,  which  was  done  with  great  steadiness 
and  regularity.  After  waiting  a  few  minutes, 
the  line  was  ordered  to  advance  and  come  into 
conflict  on  its  right  with  the  enemy's  cavalry 
and  infantry,  which,  after  some  severe  strug- 
gles, it  drove  back,  until  the  further  march  of 
Keyes'  brigade  was  arrested  by  a  severe  fire 
of  artillery  and  infantry,  sheltered  by  some 
buildings  standing  on  the  heights  above  the 
road  leading  to  Bull  Run.  A  charge  was  here 
ordered,  and  the  Second  Maine  and  Third  Con- 
necticut, which  were  opposed  to  this  part  of 
the  enemy's  line,  pressed  forward  to  the  top  of 
the  hill  until  they  reached  the  buildings  which 
were  held  by  the  enemy,  and  drove  them  out 
and  for  a  moment  held  possession.  The  gallant- 
ry of  this  charge  upon  infantry  and  artillery, 
says  Col.  Keyes,  "  was  never,  in  my  opinion, 
surpassed."  At  this  point,  finding  the  brigade 
under  the  fire  of  a  strong  force  behind  breast- 
works, it  was  ordered  to  march  by  the  left 
flank  across  an  open  field  until  the  whole  lino 
was  sheltered  by  the  right  bank  of  Bull  Run, 
along  which  the  march  was  conducted,  with  a 
view  to  turn  the  battery,  which  the  enemy  had 
placed  on  the  hill  below  the  point  at  which  the 
"Warrenton  turnpike  crosses  Bull  Run.  The 
enemy  were  forced  to  retire  for  a  considerable 
distance  below  the  Stone  Bridge,  and  an  oppor- 
tunity was  afforded  to  Capt.  Alexander  to  pass 
over  the  bridge,  cut  out  the  abatis  which  had 
been  placed  there,  and  prepare  the  way  for  Col. 
Schenck's  brigade  and  two  batteries  to  pass  over. 
Meanwhile  Col.  Sherman's  brigade,  which 
had  been  ordered  by  Gen..  Tyler  to  cross  over 
in  advance  of  Col.  Keyes,  found  no  difficulty 
in  the  movement  and  met  no  opposition  in  as- 
cending the  steep  bluff  with  the  infantry.  Ad- 
vancing slowly  and  continuously  with  the  head 
of  the  column  to  give  time  for  the  regiments  in 
succession  to  close  up  their  ranks,  the  brigade 
proceeded  with  caution  towards  the  field,  and 
soon  formed  in  rear  of  Col.  Porter's  brigade. 
Here  orders  were  given  to  Col.  Sherman  to 
join  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  who  were  falling 
back  to  the  left  of  the  road  by  which  the  army 
had  approached  from  Sudley's  Spring.  The 
brigade  moved  in  the  following  order :  Thir- 
teenth New  York  in  advance,  followed  by  the 
Second  Wisconsin,  Seventy-ninth  and  Sixty- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


75 


ninth  New  York.  The  Thirteenth  advanced 
steadily  down  the  hill  and  up  the  ridge,  from 
which  it  opened  fire  upon  the  enemy  who  had 
made  another  stand  on  ground  very  favorable 
to  him,  and  the  regiment  continued  advancing 
as  the  enemy  gave  way. 

The  position  which  the  battle  had  now  at- 
tained was  as  follows :  Early  in  the  morning 
the  force  of  the  enemy  had  been  stationed  along 
Bull  Run,  from  the  Stone  Bridge  down  to  the 
Union  Mills,  below  Blackburn's  Ford.  But 
owing  to  the  crossing  of  the  Federal  troops  at 
Sudley's  Spring,  further  up  than  the  extreme 
left  of  the  enemy  at  the  Stone  Bridge,  the  line 
of  the  latter  was  entirely  changed.  It  formed, 
as  has  been  stated,  along  the  Warrenton  turn- 
pike, which  crosses  at  the  Stone  Bridge,  and 
continues  on  in  a  due  western  course.  In  this 
position  the  enemy  was  found  by  the  first 
troops  that  crossed  over.  On  the  Federal  side, 
Col.  Richardson's  brigade,  of  the  first  division, 
was  posted  at  Blackburn  Ford,  to  prevent  the 
enemy  from  crossing,  and  also  to  make  a  feint 
to  cross  when  the  firing  of  Gen.  Tyler  at  the 
Stone  Bridge  above  should  be  heard,  which  was 
so  done.  Gen.  Hunter's  division  opened  the  at- 
tack upon  the  enemy's  line  formed  on  the  War- 
renton turnpike.  The  brigade  of  Col.  Porter 
on  the  right  had  been  strengthened  by  Col. 
Heintzelman's  division,  consisting  of  Cols.  Wil- 
cox's  and  Howard's  brigades  and  a  part  of  Col. 
Franklin's.  To  these  was  now  added  Col.  Sher- 
man's brigade,  from  Gen.  Tyler's  first  division. 
Further  on  the  left  the  attack  was  commenced 
by  Col.  Burnside,  with  the  second  brigade  of 
Col.  Hunter's  division,  and  sustained  with 
great  gallantry  and  resolution,  especially  by 
the  First  and  Second  Rhode  Island  and  the 
Rhode  Island  battery,  until  strengthened  by 
Major  Sykes'  battalion  of  regulars,  and  still* 
further  by  a  portion  of  Col.  Heintzelman's 
force  and  Keyes'  brigade,  of  Gen.  Tyler's  divi- 
sion. All  the  Federal  force  was  now  on  the 
field  of  battle,  excepting  the  division  of  Col. 
Miles,  consisting  of  Cols.  Blenker  and  Davies' 
brigades,  and  also  the  brigade  of  Col.  Richard- 
son at  Blackburn's  Ford,  and  the  brigade  of 
Col.  Schenck  at  the  Stone  Bridge,  with  the 
accompanying  batteries.  The  effect  of  this 
strong  and  tirm  attack  on  the  enemy's  line  had 
caused  it  to  yield  at  all  points.  The  Federal 
force  was  in  possession  of  the  Warrenton  turn- 
pike from  the  Stone  Bridge  westward.  On 
their  right  the  enemy  had  retreated  nearly  a 
mile  and  a  half.  On  the  left  they  had  also 
given  way  so  that  Col.  Schenck's  brigade  was 
about  to  cross  over  the  Stone  Bridge. 

The  road  taken  by  the  troops  from  Sudley's 
Spring  down  to  the  Warrenton  turnpike,  de- 
flects to  the  left  somewhat,  near  the  turnpike, 
and  crosses  it  at  about  right  angles.  On  the 
left  of  this  road,  after  it  crosses  the  turnpike,  is 
a  hill  with  a  farm-house  on  it,  where  the  enemy 
had,  early  in  the  day,  planted  some  of  his  most 
annoying  batteries.  .  Across  the  road  from  this 
hill  was  another  hill,  or  rather  elevated  ridge, 


or  table  land.  The  hottest  part  of  the  contest  was 
for  the  possession  of  this  hill,  with  the  house 
on  it. '  General  McDowell  thus  describes  it : 
"  The  force  engaged  here  was  Heintzelman's 
division  of  Wilcox's  and  Howard's  brigades  on 
the  right,  supported  by  part  of  Porter's  brigade, 
of  Hunter's  division,  and  the  cavalry  under 
Palmer,  and  Franklin's  brigade,  of  Heintzel- 
man-'s  division,  Sherman's  brigade,  of  Tyler's 
division,  in  the  centre,  and  up  the  road,  whilst 
Keyes'  brigade,  of  Tyler's  division,  was  on  the 
left  attacking  the  batteries  near  the  Stone 
Bridge.  The  Rhode  Island  battery,  of  the  Burn- 
side  brigade,  also  participated  in  this  attack,  by 
its  fire  from  the  north  of  the  turnpike.  Rick- 
etts'  battery,  together  witli  Griffins'  battery, 
was  on  the  side  of  the  hill  and  became  the  ob- 
ject of  the  special  attention  of  the  enemy,  who 
succeeded,  through  a  mistake  by  which  one  of 
his  regiments  was  thought  to  be  a  Federal  force, 
in  disabling  the  battery,  and  then  attempting 
to  take  it.  Three  times  was  he  repulsed  by 
different  corps  in  succession,  and  driven  back, 
and  the  guns  taken  by  hand,  the  horses  having 
been  killed,  and  pulled  away.  The  third  time, 
it  was  supposed  by  us  all  that  the  repulse  was 
final,  for  he  was  driven  entirely  from  the  hill, 
and  so  far  beyond  it  as  not  to  be  in  sight,  and 
all  were  certain  the  day  was  ours. 

"  The  enemy  was  evidently  disheartened  and 
broken.  But  we  had  been  fighting  since  half- 
past  10  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  it  was  after 
3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon ;  the  men  had  been  up 
since  2  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  had  made 
what  to  those  unused  to  such  things,  seemed  a 
long  march  before  coming  into  action,  though 
the  longest  distance  gone  over  was  not  more 
than  nine  and  a  half  miles ;  and  though  they  had 
three  days'  provisions  served  out  to  them  the  day 
before,  many  no  doubt  did  not  eat  them,  orthrew 
them  away  on  the  march,  or  during  the  battle, 
and  were  therefore  without  food.  They  had 
done  much  severe  fighting.  Some  of  the  regi- 
ments which  had  been  driven  from  the  hill  in 
the  first  two  attempts  of  the  enemy  to  keep 
possession  of  it,  had  become  shaken,  were  un- 
steady, and  had  many  men  out  of  the  ranks." 

Colonel  Porter,  in  command  of  Hunter's  di- 
vision after  Colonel  Hunter  was  wounded,  thus 
reports  the  same  scenes :  "  The  flags  of  eight  reg- 
iments, though  borne  somewhat  wearily,  now 
pointed  towards  the  hill,  from  which  disordered 
masses  of  the  enemy  had  been  seen  hastily  re- 
tiring. Griffin's  and  Ricketts'  batteries  were  or- 
dered By  the  Commanding  General  to  the  top  of 
the  hill  on  the  right,  as  supporting  with  the  Fire 
Zouaves  and  marines,  while  the  Fourteenth  en- 
tered the  skirt  of  wood  on  their  right,  to  protect 
that  flank  as  a  column  composed  of  the  Twenty- 
seventh  New  York,  and  Eleventh  and  Fifth  Mas- 
sachusetts, Second  Minnesota,  and  Sixty-ninth 
New  York  moved  up  towards  the  left  flank  of  the 
batteries ;  but  so  soon  as  they  were  in  position, 
and  before  the  flanking  supports  had  reached 
theirs,  a  murderous  fire  of  musketry  and  rifles 
opened  at  pistol  range,  cut  down  every  cannon- 


76 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ier  and  a  large  number  of  horses.  The  fire  came 
from  some  infantry  of  the  enemy,  which  had  been 
mistaken  for  our  own  forces ;  an  officer  in  the 
field  having  stated  that  it  was  a  regiment  sent 
by  Colonel  Heintzelman  to  support  the  batteries. 

"  The  evanescent  courage  of  the  Zouaves 
prompted  them  to  fire  perhaps  a  hundred  shots, 
when  they  broke  and  fled,  leaving  the  batteries 
open  to  a  charge  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  which 
took  place  immediately.  The  Marines,  in  spite 
of  their  gallant  officers,  gave  way  in  disorder.  The 
Fourteenth,  on  the  right,  and  the  column  on  the 
left,  hesitatingly  retired,  with  the  exception  of 
the  Sixty -ninth  and  Thirty-eighth  New  York, 
who  nobly  stood  and  returned  the  fire  of  the  ene- 
my for  fifteen  minutes.  Soon  the  slopes  behind  us 
were  swarming  with  our  retreating  and  disorgan- 
ized forces,  while  riderless  horses  and  artillery 
teams  ran  furiously  through  the  flying  crowd." 

Colonel  Sherman,  in  his  report  of  this  part 
of  the  conflict,  says :  "  At  the  point  where  the 
road  from  Sudley's  Spring  crossed  the  bridge 
to  our  left,  the  ground  was  swept  by  a  most 
severe  fire,  by  artillery,  rifle,  and  musketry,  and 
we  saw  in  succession  several  regiments  driven 
from  it,  among  them  the 'Zouaves  and  battalion 
of  marines.  Before  reaching  the  crest  of  the  hill, 
the  roadway  was  worn  deep  enough  to  afford 
shelter,  and  I  kept  the  several  regiments  in  it 
as  long  as  possible.  But  when  the  Second  Wis- 
consin was  abreast  of  the  enemy,  it  was  ordered 
to  leave  the  roadway  by  the  left  flank,  and  at- 
tack the  enemy.  This  regiment  ascended  to  the 
brow  of  the  bill  steadily,  received  the  severe 
fire  of  the  enemy,  returned  it  with  spirit,  and 
advanced,  delivering  its  fire.  It  was  repulsed, 
rallied,  and  repulsed  again.  By  this  time,  the 
Seventy-ninth  New  York  had  closed  up,  and  in 
like  manner  it  was  ordered  to  cross  the  brow  of 
the  hill,  and  drive  the  enemy  from  cover.  It 
was  impossible  to  get  a  good  view  of  the  ground. 
In  it  there  was  one  battery  of  artillery,  which 
poured  an  incessant  fire  upon  our  advancing  col- 
umn, and  the  ground  was  irregular,  with  small 
clusters  of  pines,  affording  shelter,  of  which 
the  enemy  took  good  advantage.  The  fire  of 
rifles  and  musketry  was  very  severe.  The  Sev- 
enty-ninth, headed  by  its  Colonel,  charged  across 
the  hill,  and  for  a  short  time  the  contest  was 
severe.  They  rallied  several  times  under  fire, 
but  finally  broke,  and  gained  the  cover  of  the 
hills.  This  left  the  field  open  to  the  Sixty-ninth 
New  York,  Colonel  Corcoran,  who,  in  his  turn, 
led  his  regiment  over  the  crest,  and  had  in  full 
open  view  the  ground  so  severely  contested.  The 
firing  was  very  severe,  and  the  roar  of  cannon, 
rifles,  and  musketry  incessant.  It  was  manifest 
the  enemy  was  here  in  great  force,  far  superior 
to  us  at  that  point.  The  Sixty-ninth  held  the 
ground  for  some  time,  but  finally  fell  back  in 
disorder.  At  this  time,  the  Thirteenth  New  York 
occupied  another  ridge  to  our  left,  overlooking 
the  same  field  of  action,  and  similarly  engaged. 
Here,  at  3|  p.  M.,  began  the  scene  of  disorder." 

Colonel  "Burnside  reports  from  another  part 
of  the  field : 


"  The  battery  of  the  Second  Rhode  Island 
changed  its  position  into  a  field  upon  the  right, 
and  was  brought  to  bear  upon  the  force  which 
Colonel  Porter  was  engaging.  The  enemy's  in- 
fantry having  fallen  back,  two  sections  of  Captain 
W.  H.  Reynolds'  battery  advanced,  and  succeed- 
ed in  breaking  the  charge  of  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
which  had  now  been  brought  into  the  engage- 
ment. It  was  nearly  4  o'clock  p.  M.,  and  the 
battle  had  continued  for  almost  six  hours  since 
the  time  when  the  second  brigade  had  been 
engaged,  with  every  thing  in  favor  of  our 
troops,  and  promising  decisive  victory,  when 
some  of  the  regiments  engaging  the  enemy  upon 
the  extreme  right  of  our  line  broke,  and  large 
numbers  passed  disorderly  by  my  brigade,  then 
drawn  up  in  the  position  which  they  last  held." 

The  position  of  the  battle  described  in  these 
extracts  was  its  turning  point.  The  view  taken 
of  the  contest  at  this  time,  by  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  Confederate  forces,  is  of  great 
interest.  In  his  official  report,  General  Beaure- 
gard  thus  speaks : 

"  The  topographical  features  of  the  plateau, 
now  become  the  stage  of  the  contending  armies, 
must  be  described  in  outline.  A  glance  at 
the  map  will  show  that  it  is  enclosed  on  three 
sides  by  small  water  courses,  which  empty  into 
Bull  Run  within  a  few  yards  of  each  other,  half 
a  mile  to  the  south  of  the  Stone  Bridge.  Rising 
to  an  elevation  of  quite  one  hundred  feet  above 
the  level  of  Bull  Run  at  the  bridge,  it  falls  off 
on  three  sides,  to  the  level  of  the  enclosing 
streams  in  gentle  slopes,  but  which  are  furrow- 
ed by  ravines  of  irregular  direction  and  length, 
and  studded  with  clumps  and  patches  of  young 
pines  and  oaks.  The  general  direction  of  the 
crest  of  the  plateau  is  oblique  to  the  course  of 
Bull  Run  in  that  quarter,  and  on  the  Brents- 
ville  and  turnpike  roads,  which  intersect  each 
other  at  right  angles.  Completely  surrounding 
the  two  houses  before  mentioned,  are  small 
open  fields,  of  irregular  outline,  and  exceeding 
150  acres  in  extent.  The  houses,  occupied  at 
the  time,  the  one  by  widow  Henry,  and  the 
other  by  the  free  negro,  Robinson,  are  small 
wooden  buildings,  densely  embowered  in  trees 
and  environed  by  a  double  row  of  fences  on 
two  sides.  Around  the  eastern  and  southern 
brow  of  the  plateau,  an  almost  unbroken 
fringe  of  second-growth  pines  gave  excellent 
shelter  for  our  marksmen,  who  availed  them- 
selves of  it,  with  the  most  satisfactory  skill.  To 
the  west,  adjoining  the  fields,  a  broad  belt  of 
oaks  extends  directly  across  the  crest,  on  both 
sides  of  the  Sudley  road,  in  which,  during  the 
battle,  regiments  of  both  armies  met  and  con- 
tended for  the  mastery.  From  the  open  ground 
of  this  plateau  the  view  embraces  a  wide  ex- 
panse of  t  woods  and  gently  undulating  open 
country  o'f  broad  grass  and  grain  fields  in  all 
directions,  including  the  scene  of  Evans'  and 
Bee's  recent  encounter  with  the  enemy — some 
twelve  hundred  yards  to  the  northward.  In 
reply  to  the  play  of  the  enemy's  batteries,  our 
own  artillery  had  not  been  idle  or  unskilful. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


77 


The  ground  occupied  by  our  guns,  on  a  level 
with  that  held  by  the  batteries  of  the  enemy, 
was  an  open  space  of  limited  extent,  behind  a 
low  undulation,  just  at  the  eastern  verge  of  the 
plateau,  some  500  or  600  yards  from  the  Henry 
bouse.  Here,  as  before  said,  some  thirteen 
pieces,  mostly  six-pounders,  were  maintained  in 
action.  The  several  batteries  of  Imboden,  Sta- 
nard,  Pendleton,  (Rockbridge  Artillery,)  and 
Alburtis',  of  the  Army  of  the  Shenandoah,  and 
five  guns  of  "Walton's,  and  Beaton's  section  of 
Rogers'  battery,  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
alternating  to  some  extent  with  each  other,  and 
taking  part  as  needed ;  all  from  the  outset  dis- 
playing that  marvellous  capacity  of  our  people 
as  artillerists  which  has  made  them,  it  would 
appear,  at  once  the  terror  and  the  admiration  of 
the  enemy.  As  was  soon  apparent,  the  Fede- 
ralists had  suffered  severely  from  our  artillery, 
and  from  the  fire  of  our  musketry  on  the  right, 
and  especially  from  the  left  flank,  placed  under 
cover,  within  whose  galling  range  they  had 
been  advanced.  And,  we  are  told  in  their  offi- 
cial reports,  how  regiment  after  regiment, 
thrown  forward  to  dislodge  us,  was  broken, 
never  to  recover  its  entire  organization  on  that 
field.  In  the  mean  time,  also,  two  companies 
of  Stuart's  cavalry  (Carter's  and  Hoge's)  made 
a  dashing  charge  down  the  Brentsville  and  Sud- 
ley  road  upon  the  Fire  Zouaves — then  the  ene- 
my's right  on  the  plateau — which  added  to  the 
disorder  wrought  by  our  musketry  on  that 
flank.  But  still  the  press  of  the  enemy  was 
heavy  in  that  quarter  of  the  field,  as  fresh 
troops  were  thrown  forward  there  to  outflank 
us ;  and  some  three  guns  of  a  battery,  in  an 
attempt  to  obtain  a  position  apparently  to  enfi- 
lade our  batteries,  were  thrown  so  close  to  the 
Thirty-third  Regiment,  Jackson's  brigade,  that 
that  regiment,  springing  forward,  seized  them, 
but  with  severe  loss,  and  was  subsequently 
driven  back  by  an  overpowering  force  of  Fede- 
ral musketry. 

"  Now,  full  2  o'clock  p.  M.,  I  gave  the  order 
for  the  right  of  my  line,  except  my  reserves, 
to  advance  to  recover  the  plateau.  It  was  done 
with  uncommon  resolution  and  vigor,  and  at 
the  same  time,  Jackson's  brigade  pierced  the 
enemy's  centre  with  the  determination  of  vete- 
rans, and  the  spirit  of  men  who  fight  for  a 
sacred  cause ;  but  it  suffered  seriously.  With 
equal  spirit  the  other  parts  of  the  line  made 
the  onset,  and  the  Federal  lines  were  broken 
and  swept  back,  at  all  points,  from  the  open 
ground  of  the  plateau.  Rallying  soon,  however, 
as  they  were  strongly  reinforced  by  fresh  regi- 
ments, the  Federalists  returned,  and  by  weight 
of  numbers  pressed  our  lines  back,  recovered 
their  ground  and  guns,  and  renewed  the  offen- 
sive. By  this  time,  between  half-past  2  and  3 
o'clock  p.  M.,  our  reinforcements  pushed  for- 
ward, and  directed  by  General  Johnston  to  the 
required  quarter,  were  at  hand  just  as  I  had  or- 
dered forward  to  a  second  effort  for  the  recov- 
ery of  the  disputed  plateau,  the  whole  line,  in- 
cluding my  reserves,  which,  at  this  crisis  of  the 


battle,  I  felt  called  upon  to  lead  in  person. 
This  attack  was  general,  and  was  shared  in  by 
every  regiment  then  in  the  field,  including  the 
Sixth  (Fisher's)  North  Carolina  Regiment,  which 
had  just  come  up  and  taken  position  on  the 
immediate  left  of  the  Forty-ninth  Virginia  Reg- 
iment. The  whole  open  ground  was  again 
swept  clear  of  the  enemy,  and  the  plateau 
around  the  Henry  and  Robinson  houses  re- 
mained finally  in  our  possession,  with  the 
greater  part  of  the  Ricketts  and  Griffin  batter- 
ies, and  a  flag  of  the  First  Michigan  Regiment, 
captured  by  the  Twenty-seventh  Virginia  Reg- 
iment, (Lieutenant-ColonelEcholls,)  of  Jackson's 
brigade.  This  part  of  the  day  was  rich  with 
deeds  of  individual  coolness  and  dauntless  con- 
duct, as  well  as  well-directed  embodied  resolu- 
tion and  bravery,  but  fraught  with  the  loss  to 
the  service  of  the  country,  of  lives  of  inestimable 
preciousness  at  this  juncture.  The  brave  Bee 
was  mortally  wounded,  at  the  head  of  the 
Fourth  Alabama  and  some  Mississippians,  in 
an  open  field  near  the  Henry  house ;  and  a  few 
yards  distant,  the  promising  life  of  Bartow, 
while  leading  the  Seventh  Georgia  Regiment, 
was  quenched  in  blood.  Colonel  F.  J.  Thomas, 
Acting  Chief-of-Ordnance,  of  General  John- 
ston's staff,  after  gallant  conduct,  and  most  effi- 
cient service,  was  also  slain.  Colonel  Fisher, 
Sixth  North  Carolina,  likewise  fell,  after  sol- 
dierly behavior,  at  the  head  of  his  regiment, 
with  ranks  greatly  thinned.  Withers'  Eighteenth 
Regiment,  of  Cocke's  brigade,  had  come  up  in 
time  to  follow  this  charge,  and,  in  conjunction 
with  Hampton's  Legion,  captured  several  rifle 
pieces,  which  may  have  fallen  previously  in 
possession  of  some  of  our  troops ;  but  if  so,  had 
been  recovered  by  the  enemy.  These  pieces 
were -immediately  turned,  and  effectively  served 
on  distant  masses  of  the  enemy,  by  the  hands 
of  some  of  our  officers. 

"  While  the  enemy  had  thus  been  driven  back 
on  our  right  entirely  across  the  turnpike,  and 
beyond  Young's  branch  on  our  left,  the  woods 
yet  swarmed  with  them,  when  our  reinforce- 
ments opportunely  arrived  in  quick  succession, 
and  took  position  in  that  portion  of  the  field. 
Kershaw's  Second,  and  Cash's  Eighth  South 
Carolina  regiments,  which  had  arrived  soon 
after  Withers',  were  led  through  the  oaks  just 
east  of  the  Sudley-Brentsville  road,  brushing 
some  of  the  enemy  before  them,  and,  taking  an 
advantageous  position  along  and  west  of  that 
road,  opened  with  much  skill  and  effect  on 
bodies  of  the  enemy  that  had  been  rallied 
under  cover  of  a  strong  Federal  brigade  posted 
on  a  plateau  in  the  southwest  angle,  formed 
by  intersection  of  the  turnpike  with  the  Sud- 
ley-Brentsville road.  Among  the  troops  thus 
engaged,  were  the  Federal  regular  infantry. 
At  the  'same  time,  Kemper's  battery,  passing 
northward  by  the  S.-B.  road,  took  position 
on  the  open  space — under  orders  of  Colonel 
Kershaw — near  where  an  enemy's  battery  had 
been  captured,  and  opened  with  effective  re- 
sults upon  the  Federal  right,  then  the  mark 


78 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


also  of  Kershaw's  and  Gash's  regiments.  Pres- 
ton's Twenty-eighth  Regiment,  of  Cocke's  bri- 
gade, had  by  that  time  entered  the  same  body 
of  oaks,  and  encountered  some  Michigan  troops, 
capturing  their  brigade  commander,  Colonel 
Wilcox. 

"  Another  important  accession  to  our  forces 
had  also  occurred  about  the  same  time,  at  3 
o'clock  p.  M.  Brigadier-General  E.  K.  Smith, 
with  some  1,700  infantry  of  Elzey's  brigade, 
of  the  Army  of  the  Shenandoah,  and  Beck- 
ham's  battery,  came  upon  the  field,  from  Camp 
Pickens,  Manassas,  where  they  had  arrived  by 
railroad  at  noon.  Directed  in  person  by  Gene- 
ral Johnston  to  the  left,  then  so  much  endan- 
gered, on  reaching  a  position  in  rear  of  the  oak 
woods,  south  of  the  Henry  house,  and  imme- 
diately east  of  the  Sudley  road,  General  Smith 
was  disabled  by  a  severe  wound,  and  his  valu- 
able services  were  lost  at  that  critical  juncture. 
But  the  command  devolved  upon  a  merito- 
rious officer  of  experience,  Colonel  Elzey,  who 
led  his  infantry  at  once  somewhat  further  to 
the  left,  in  the  direction  of  the  Chinn  house, 
across  the  road,  through  the  oaks  skirting  the 
west  side  of  the  road,  and  around  which  he 
sent  the  battery  under  Lieutenant  Beckham. 
This  officer  took  up  a  most  favorable  position 
near  that  house,  whence,  with  a  clear  view  of 
the  Federal  right  and  centre,  filling  the  open 
fields  to  the  west  of  the  Brentsville-Sudley  road, 
and  gently  sloping  southward,  he  opened  fire 
with  his  battery  upon  them  with  deadly  and 
damaging  effect. 

"  Colonel  Early,  who,  by  some  mischance,  did 
not  receive  orders  until  two  o'clock,  which  had 
been  sent  him  at  noon,  came  on  the  ground 
immediately  after  Elzey,  with  Kemper's  Seventh 
Virginia,  Hay's  Seventh  Louisiana,  and  Barks- 
dale's  Thirteenth  Mississippi  regiments.  This 
brigade,  by  the  personal  direction  of  General 
Johnston,  was  marched  by  the  Holkham  house, 
across  the  fields  to  the  left,  entirely  around  the 
woods  through  which  Elzey  had  passed,  and 
under  a  severe  fire,  into  a  position  in  line  of 
battle  near  Chinn's  house,  outflanking  the  ene- 
my's right.  At  this  time,  about  half-past  3  p.  M., 
the  enemy,  driven  back  on  their  left  and  cen- 
tre, and  brushed  from  the  woods  bordering  the 
Sudley  road,  south  and  west  of  the  Henry  house, 
had  formed  a  line  of  battle  of  truly  formidable 
proportions,  of  crescent  outline,  reaching  o.n 
their  left  from  the  vicinity  of  Pittsylvania,  (the 
old  Carter  mansion,)  by  Matthew's,  and  in  rear 
of  Dogan's,  across  the  turnpike  near  to  Chinn's 
house.  The  woods  and  fields  were  filled  with 
their  masses  of  infantry,  and  their  carefully  pre- 
served cavalry.  It  was  a  truly  magnificent, 
though  redoubtable  spectacle,  as  they  threw 
forward  in  fine  style,  on  the  broad,  gentle  slopes 
of  the  ridge  occupied  by  their  main  lines,  a 
cloud  of  skirmishers,  preparatory  for  another 
attack.  But  as  Early  formed  his  line,  and  Beck- 
ham's  pieces  played  upon  the  right  of  the  ene- 
my, Elzey's  brigade,  Gibbon's  Tenth  Virginia, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Stuart's  First  Maryland,  and 


Vaughn's  Third  Tennessee  regiments,  and  Cash's 
Eighth,  and  Kershaw's  Second  South  Carolina, 
Withers'  Eighteenth,  and  Preston's  Twenty- 
eighth  Virginia,  advanced  in  an  irregular  line 
almost  simultaneously,  with  great  spirit,  from 
their  several  positions  upon  the  front  and  flanks 
of  the  enemy,  in  their  quarter  of  the  field.  At 
the  same  time,  too,  Early  resolutely  assailed 
their  right  flank  and  rear.  Under  the  combined 
attack,  the  enemy  was  soon  forced,  first  over  the 
narrow  plateau  in  the  southern  angle  made  by 
the  two  roads,  so  often  mentioned,  into  a  patch 
of  woods  on  its  western  slope,  thence  back  over 
Young's  branch  and  the  turnpike,  into  the  fields 
of  the  Dugan  farm,  and  rearward,  in  extreme 
disorder,  in  all  available  directions,  towards 
Bull  Run.  The  rout  had  now  become  general 
and  complete." 

In  his  report,  General  McDowell  thus  re- 
marks on  the  position  of  the  battle : 

"  It  was  at  this  time  that  the  enemy's  rein- 
forcements came  to  his  aid,  from  the  railroad 
train,  understood  to  have  arrived  from  the  val- 
ley with  the  residue  of  Johnston's  army.  They 
threw  themselves  in  the  woods  on  our  right, 
and  opened  a  fire  of  musketry  upon  our  men, 
which  caused  them  to  break,  and  retire  down 
the  hillside.  This  soon  degenerated  into  dis- 
order, for  which  there  was  no  remedy.  Every 
effort  was  made  to  rally  them,  even  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  enemy's  fire,  but  in  vain." 

A  line  drawn  through  the  battle-field  to 
Manassas  Junction,  would  run  about  due  south. 
The  railroad  from  Winchester  to  Manassas 
Junction  comes  in  on  a  southeast  course.  Con- 
sequently, the  line  above  mentioned,  and  the 
railroad,  converge,  and  meet  at  the  Junction. 
The  Dumfries  road,  bounding  the  west  side  of 
the  battle-field,  and  running  straight  south, 
crosses  the  Winchester  railroad  about  two  miles 
from  the  Junction.  Up  this  road  came  the  last 
reinforcements  of  the  enemy,  from  General 
Johnston's  command  at  Winchester.  This  was 
nearer  than  to  proceed  to  the  Junction,  and 
caused  the  clouds  of  dust  seen. 

Colonel  Porter,  commanding  the  division  of 
Colonel  Hunter,  thus  continues  his  report : 

"  All  further  efforts  were  futile.  The  words, 
gestures,  and  threats  of  our  officers  were 
thrown  away  upon  men  who  had  lost  all  pres- 
ence of  mind,  and  only  longed  for  absence  of 
body.  Some  of  our  noblest  and  best  officers 
lost  their  lives  in  trying  to  rally  them.  Upon 
our  first  position,  the  Twenty-seventh  New 
York  was  the  first  to  rally,  under  the  command  of 
Major  Bartlett,  and  around  it  the  other  regiments 
engaged  soon  gathered  their  scattered  frag- 
ments. The  battalion  of  regulars,  in  the  mean 
time,  moved  steadily  across  the  field  from  the 
left  to  the  right,  and  took  up  a  position  where 
it  held  the  entire  forces  of  the  enemy  in  check 
until  our  forces  were  somewhat  rallied. 

"  The  Commanding  General  then  ordered  a 
retreat  upon  Centreville,  at  the  same  time 
directing  me  to  cover  it  with  the  battalion  of 
regulars,  the  cavalry,  and  a  section  of  artillery. 


MTLITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


79 


The  rear-guard  thus  organized  followed  our 
panic-stricken  troops  to  Centreville,  resisting 
the  attacks  of  the  Confederate  cavalry  and  artil- 
lery, and  saving  them  from  the  inevitable  de- 
struction which  awaited  them,  had  not  this 
body  been  interposed." 

A  prompt  retreat  of  the  fragments  of  his  ar- 
my was  resolved  upon  by  Gen.  McDowell ;  and 
while  the  stragglers  had  pushed  on  from  the 
battle-field  to  Washington  without  halting,  the 
organized  masses  commenced  leaving  about  nine 
o'clock  that  night.  By  midnight  all  but  the 
wounded  and  the  dead  of  that  well-equipped 
army  which  commenced  its  march  from  Wash- 
ington five  days  previous,  proud,  exultant,  and 
confident  of  victory,  was  panic-stricken,  grop- 
ing its  way,  under  cover  of  the  darkness  of 
night,  to  the  intrenchments  opposite  Washing- 
ton. Never  had  the  flag  of  the  Union  trailed 
so  low  in  the  dust  before ;  never  was  so  bril- 
liant a ,  career  opened  before  it  as  that  which 
commenced  on  the  day  after  that  dreadful  night. 

Fortunately  for  the  remnants  of  the  Federal 
army,  the  Southern  forces,  did  not  pursue  their 
flying  foe.  The  reasons  for  this  omission  are  thus 
stated  by  Gen.  Johnston  in  his  official  report : 

"  The  apparent  firmness  of  the  United  States 
troops  at  Centreville  who  had  not  been  en- 
gaged, which  checked  our  pursuit ;  the  strong 
forces  occupying  the  works  near  Georgetown, 
Arlington,  and  Alexandria ;  the  certainty,  too, 
that  Gen.  Patterson,  if  needed,  would  reach 
Washington,  with  his  army  of  thirty  thousand 
n:en,  sooner  than  we  could ;  and  the  condition 
and  inadequate  means  of  the  army  in  ammuni- 
tion, provisions,  and  transportation,  prevented 
any  serious  thoughts  of  advancing  against  the 
capital.  It  is  certain  that  the  fresh  troops  with- 
in the  works  were,  in  number,  quite  sufficient 
for  their  defence ;  if  not,  Gen.  Patterson's  army 
would  certainly  reenforce  them  soon  enough." 

The  loss  on  the  Federal  side,  according  to  the 
official  returns,  was  481  killed,  1,011  wounded, 
and  1,216  missing.  Among  the  killed  were 
Col.  Cameron,  of  the  New  York  79th ;  Lieut.  - 
Col.  Haggerty,  of  the  New  York  69th ;  Col. 


Slocum,  2d  Rhode  Island;  also Maj.  Ballou  and 
Capt.  Tower. 

The  artillery  lost  was  as  follows : 

Company  D,  2d  artillery,  6  rifle  guns. 

Company  I,  1st  artillery,  6  rifled  Parrott  10- 
pounders. 

Company  E,  2d  artillery,  2  rifled  guns  and  2 
howitzers. 

Company  — ,  5th  artillery,  1  rifled  gun. 

Company  G,  1st  artillery,  1  30-pounder  Par- 
rott gun. 

Rhode  Island  battery,  6  rifled  guns. 

To  this  should  be  added  180  boxes  of  small 
arm  cartridges,  87  boxes  of  rifled  cannon  am- 
munition, 30  boxes  of  old  fire-arms,  12  wagons 
loaded  with  provisions,  and  3,000  bushels  oats, 
a  large  number  of  muskets  thrown  away,  and 
an  immense  number  of  blankets  and  knapsacks. 

Gen.  Beauregard,  in  his  report,  states  the 
number  of  his  force  on  the  18th  of  July  at  17,000 
effective  men ;  and  on  the  21st  27,000,  which 
includes  6,200  sent  from  Gen.  Johnston,  and 
1,700  brought  up  by  Gen.  Holmes  from  Fred- 
ericksburg.  The  report  states  the  number 
killed  to  have  been  269,  wounded  1 483,  aggre- 
gate 1,852.  The  same  report  states  the  num- 
ber of  prisoners  taken  at  1,460. 

On  the  left  the  Southern  force  was  com- 
manded by  Brig.- Gens.  Evans,  Jackson,  and 
Cocke,  and  Col.  Bartow.  The  centre  was 
under  Gens.  Jones,  Longstreet,  and  Benham. 
On  the  extreme  right  was  Gen.  Ewell.  Early 
in  the  day  an  order  was  sent  to  him  by  Gen. 
Beauregard  to  attack  and  attempt  to  turn  the 
left  flank  of  the  Federal  force.  The  messenger 
was  killed,  and  the  orders  were  not  received. 

It  is  manifest  that  this  battle  was  well  fought. 
In  the  fore  part  of  the  afternoon  the  Southern 
troops  were  nearly  outflanked.  At  three 
o'clock  the  Federal  force  believed  they  had 
the  victory;  and  that,  indeed,  they  had,  and 
would  soon  have  reached  and  obtained  posses- 
sion of  the  railroad  leading  to  Winchester. 
But  the  arrival  of  four  fresh  regiments,  who 
entered  the  field  with  great  spirit  and  energy, 
changed  the  result. 


CHAPTER   IX. 


Extra  Session  of  Congress— Its  Action— Strength  of  the  Army— Southern  troops  organized— Skirmishes  in  Missouri— At 
Monroe  Station,  Millville,  and  Fulton— Movements  of  Gen.  Lyon— Battle  of  Wilson's  Creek— Surrender  of  Major  Lynch 
in  New  Mexico— Skirmishes— Attack  on  Galveston— Expedition  against  the  forts  at  Hatteras  Inlet 


THE  Congress  of  the  United  States  assembled 
in  extra  session  at  Washington  on  July  4th. 
The  President  in  his  message  asked  for  authority 
to  enlist  400,000  volunteers  for  three  years  or 
the  war,  and  for  an  appropriation  of  $400,000,- 
000.  The  wants  of  the  War  Department  were  es- 
timated by  Secretary  Cameron  above  $185,000,- 
000.  These  were  distributed  to  the  several 
branches  of  the  service  as  follows : 


Quartermaster's  Department $70,289,200  21 

Subsistence  Department 27,278,781  60 

Ordnance  Department 7,468,172  00 

Pay  Department 67,845,402  48 

Adjutant-General's  Department 408,000  00 

Engineer  Department 686,000  00 

Topographical  Engineer  Department 60,000  00 

Surgeon-General's  Department 1,271,841  00 

Due  States  which  have  made  advances  for 

troops 10,000,000  00 


Total , 186,299,397  19 


80 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


The,  Navy  Department  asked  for  $32,000,000 
for  immediate  use. 

Immediately  after  the  disaster  at  Bull  Run, 
Congress  authorized  the  enlistment  of  600,000 
men,  and  appropriated  $500,000,000.  An  appro-  • 
priation  for  the  navy  was  also  passed.  The  en- 
listment and  organization  of  troops  were  entered 
upon  with  great  activity  and  warm  popular  ap- 
probation during  the  ensuing  three  months,  when 
it  was  restricted.  Many  circumstances  aided  the 
enlistment.  The  cause  of  the  Union  was  approv- 
ed by  every  one ;  a  general  stagnation  or  inac- 
tivity pervaded  all  industrial  pursuits,  and  mul- 
titudes were  partially  or  wholly  unemployed, 
and  the  wages  oifered  to  the  soldier  were  then 
extremely  liberal.  The  pay  offered  to  privates 
by  the  United  States  was  $13  per  month,  and 
a  bounty  of  100  acres  of  land  at  the  close  of  the 
war.  In  addition,  many  of  the  States  gave  to 
each  married  citizen  volunteer  about  one  dollar 
per  week  for  his  wife,  and  in  proportion  for 
each  child  of  his  family  between  certain  ages. 
"Where  such  a  sum  was  not  given  to  the  family 
of  the  private  by  the  State,  it  was  in  numerous 
instances  bestowed  by  the  city  or  town  in 
which  he  lived. 

The  pay  of  officers  was  on  an  equally  liberal 
scale ;  and  civilians  in  profitable  social  posi- 
tions, as  well  as  those  in  no  position,  aspired, 
in  the  rawest  state,  to  obtain  the  rank  of  offi- 
cers. Too  many  unworthy  persons  were  suc- 
cessful. It  cost  the  Government  millions,  and 
required  the  efforts  of  all  the  military  skill  in 
the  country,  to  bring  the  accumulated  mass  up 
to  the  discipline  and  order  of  an  approved 
army. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  1861,  the  entire 
strength  of  the  army,  both  volunteers  and  reg- 
ulars, was  estimated  as  follows : 

Volunteers  for  the  War. 

California 4,608 

Connecticut 12,400 

Delaware 2,000 

Illinois 80,000 

Indiana 57,332 

Iowa 19,800 

Kentucky 15,000 

Maine 14,289 

Maryland 7,000 

Massachusetts 26,760 

Michigan 28,550 

Minnesota 4,160 

Missouri 22,180 

New  Hampshire 9,600 

New  Jersey 9,842 

New  York 100,200 

Ohio , 81,205 

Pennsylvania 94,760 

Bhode  Island 5,898 

Vermont 8,000 

Virginia 12,000 

Wisconsin 14,158 

Kansas 5^000 

Colorado 1^000 

Nebraska 2,500 

Nevada 1000 

New  Mexico 1  000 

District  of  Columbia .".'.".'.'. . ". '. '. '. '. '.  1 '. '. '. '. '. '.  \ '. '.  l',000 

640  687 

Estimated  strength  of  the  regular  army,  including 
the  new  enlistments  .nnder  act  of  Congress  of 
July  29,1861. ?. 20,834 

Total 660,971 

This  estimate,  which  was  prepared  at  the 


War  Department,  as  representing  the  force  of 
the  army,  varied  unquestionably  from  the 
amount  of  troops  in  the  field.  It  was  not  to 
be  expected  that  the  precise  force  could  be 
stated  with  strict  accuracy  while  the  enlistment 
was  not  closed.  The  quota  of  New  York  in 
the  field  was  about  the  amount  stated;  the 
same  was  the  case  with  the  force  assigned  to 
other  States.  The  several  arms  of  the  service 
were  estimated  as  follows  : 


Infantry 

Cavalry 

Artillery 

Rifles  and  Sharpshooters. .. 
Engineers... 


Volunteers.      Regulars.      Aggregate. 


557,208 
54,654 
20,880 
8,895 


640,637 


11,175 
4,744 


107 


568,383 

59,398 

24,688 

8,395 

107 


20,334     |   660,971 


The  appropriation  asked  for  to  sustain  the 
army,  by  the  Secretary  of  "War,  on  the  1st  of 
December,  was  $360,159,986. 

The  appropriation  was  computed  for  a  force 
of  500,000  men.  Some  portion  was  to  cover 
deficiencies  arising  from  an  excess  of  force  in 
the  field  over  the  estimate  for  the  previous  six 
months. 

In  the  beginning  of  July,  also,  a  session  of  the 
Southern  Congress  commenced  at  Richmond. 
The  report  of  the  Secretary  of  "War  stated  the 
number  of  regiments  of  troops  then  accepted  was 
194,  and  32  battalions,  besides  various  detach- 
ments of  artillery,  and  companies  of  cavalry. 
He  urged  the  continued  acceptance  of  troops 
until  the  number  reached  300  regiments.  The 
success  at  Bull  Run  awakened  such,  a  degree  of 
enthusiasm  and  confidence  in  the  ultimate  tri- 
umph of  the  Confederacy,  that  the  army,  in  a 
short  time,  increased  to  a  greater  number  than 
had  been  anticipated.  Forward  movements 
were  made  from  Manassas  and  Centreville,  and 
the  flag  of  the  "  Stars  and  Bars  "  was  flaunted 
from  the  summit  of  Munson's  Hill,  where  the 
inhabitants  of  the  city  of  Washington  could  see 
its  folds  proudly  waving.  For  some  time  a  di- 
vision of  opinion  existed,  even  in  the  Cabinet  of 
Mr.  Davis,  on  the  policy  of  a  forward  move- 
ment of  the  army.  It  was  apprehended  by  those 
who  were  opposed,  that  an  attack  upon  and 
destruction  of  Washington  would  thoroughly 
arouse  the  North.  Some  asserted  that  the  true 
policy  at  that  time,  was  to  await  the  action  of 
the  French  and  English  Governments,  and  thus 
the  difficulties  might  be  arranged  without  fur- 
ther effusion  of  blood.  At  the  same  time  the 
army  was  desirous  of  a  forward  mof  ement,  the 
capture  of  Washington,  the  recovery  of  Mary- 
land, and  the  possession  of  Baltimore  for  their 
winter-quarters.  The  final  decision  was  ad- 
verse to  a  forward  movement.  The  rapid  in- 
crease in  the  Federal  force,  its  improving  dis- 
cipline and  reorganization,  rendered  doubtful 
the  result.  A  change  was  also  made  in  the 
war  policy  of  the  Federal  Government,  the  de- 
sign of  which  now  was  to  attack  the  Confed- 
erate States  elsewhere  than  in  Virginia.  All 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


81 


these  circumstances  exerted  a  controlling  influ- 
ence when  united  with  others  which  existed 
within  the  Confederacy  itself.  These  consisted 
in  a  lack  of  transportation,  and  those  more  indis- 
pensable means  to  the  success  of  an  attempt  at 
invasion,  an  abundance  of  money.  Neverthe- 
less, the  military  efforts  of  the  Government 
were  on  a  most  extensive  scale.  Troops  were 
organized  and  sent  to  intrenched  camps  in 
Kentucky.  Forces  were  maintained  in  Western 
Virginia,  and  an  active  campaign  carried  on.  In 
Missouri,  although  left  in  a  manner  by  the  South- 
ern Government  to  take  care  of  herself,  the 
most  active  military  operations  took  place.  The 
talents  and  skill  of  their  Commanding  General, 
Price,  enabled  him  to  sustain  himself,  and  carry 
on  an  active  campaign  with  less  assistance  and 
encouragement  from  the  Government  than  any 
officer  in  the  army. 

At  this  time,  the  solvent  or  specie-paying 
banks  refused  to  receive  the  Confederate  Treas- 
ury notes,  and  were  calling  in  all  their  own 
circulation.  They  also  refused  to  receive  the 
bills  of  suspended  banks,  and  both  Treasury 
notes  and  suspended  bills  sunk  from  eight  to 
fifteen  per  cent.,  and  in  the  cities  of  the  Gulf 
States  were  refused  by  mechanics  and  trades- 
men. Embarrassment,  discouragement,  and 
uncertainty  settled  upon  whole  communities. 
The  valuable  paper  was  rapidly  decreasing  and 
disappearing,  while  the  other  was  as  rapidly  in- 
creasing. All  who  could,  drew  specie  from  the 
banks,  and  millions  of  dollars  were  hid  away 
or  buried. 

From  the  month  of  September,  the  favorable 
aspect  of  affairs  in  the  Confederate  States  be- 
gan to  decline,  and  before  the  close  of  the  year 
Qie  subject  of  drafting  soldiers  to  serve  in  the 
army  was  actively  discussed. 

On  July  22d  Gen.  George  B.  McClellan,  having 
left  "Western  Virginia,  took  the  command  of 
the  troops  in  and  around  "Washington.  Their 
reorganization  was  immediately  commenced. 
It  was  realized  now  by  every  one  that  the  coun- 
try was  engaged  in  a  great  war,  and  all  the  ap- 
pliances required  for  mighty  and  victorious 
armies  were  to  be  prepared. 

Meanwhile  bloody  conflicts  on  a  limited  scale 
were  constantly  occurring  in  other  parts  of  the 
country. 

_  In  the  northern  counties  of  Missouri  the  di- 
vision of  sentiment  rapidly  aroused  a  hostile 
spirit.  Squads  of  troops  from  Illinois  were 
soon  stationed  at  important  places,  while  State 
troops  gathered  to  oppose  them.  The  destruc- 
tion of  property  and  bloody  skirmishes  soon 
followed.  At  Monroe  station,  thirty  miles  west 
of  Hannibal,  an  attack  was  made  by  secession 
troops,  on  July  llth,  on  the  railroad  station- 
house,  which  was  burned  with  six  passenger 
and  eighteen  freight  cars.  A  portion  of  the 
railroad  track  was  torn  up  on  each  side  of  the 
town.  On  the  same  night  the  bridge  of  the 
Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph's  Railroad  was  burned. 
On  the  loth  Brig.-Geu.  Hurlburt,  in  command 
of  the  volunteer  force,  issued  a  lengthy  proc- 
6 


lamation  to  the  people  of  the  northeastern 
counties,  warning  them  that  the  men  or  body 
of  men.  who  ventured  to  stand  in  defiance  of 
the  supreme  authority  of  the  Union,  endangered 
their  lives. 

On  the  16th  a  skirmish  took  place  at  Mill- 
ville,  about  thirty  miles  above  St.  Charles,  on 
the  North  Missouri  Railroad.  About  eight  hun- 
dred Union  troops  had  reached  this  point,  when 
the  track  was  torn  up,  and  they  were  fired 
upon  by  a  secession  force,  and  an  engagement 
followed,  in  which  a  small  number  were  killed 
and  wounded  on  each  side. 

A  little  further  south,  near  Fulton,  in  Callo- 
way  County,  about  twenty-three  miles  north- 
east of  Jefferson  City,  a  skirmish  took  place  on 
the  IVth,  between  Col.  McNeil,  with  about  six 
hundred  men,  and  Gen.  Harris,  with  a  consider- 
able force,  in  which  the  latter  were  routed  with 
a  loss  of  several  as  prisoners.  On  the  19th 
Gen.  Pope,  who  had  been  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand in  Northern  Missouri,  issued  a  proclama- 
tion addressed  to  the  inhabitants. 

He  had  previously  proceeded  from  St.  Louis 
to  St.  Charles,  where  his  headquarters  were 
established,  in  order  to  take  charge  of  that  de- 
partment. His  command  in  North  Missouri 
was  seven  thousand  strong,  and  so  posted  that 
Jefferson  City,  Booneville,  Lexington,  and  all 
the  principal  points  in  the  northern  parts  of  the 
State,  were  within  easy  striking  distance. 

About  the  same  time  that  Gen.  Lyon  left  St. 
Louis  for  Jefferson  City,  June  15,-  other  troops, 
consisting  of  ten  companies,  left  for  RoUa, 
which  is  the  termination  of  the  southwest 
branch  of  the  Pacific  Railroad,  and  one  hundred 
and  thirteen  miles  from  St.  Louis.  This  force 
was  increased  subsequently,  and  active  opera- 
tions took  place  in  that  section  of  the  State. 

On  the  1st  of  August  Gen.  Lyon  ordered  his 
entire  command,  with  the  exception  of  a  small 
guard,  to  rendezvous  at  Crane's  Creek,  ten 
miles  south  of  Springfield.  The  command  was 
composed  as  follows :  Five  companies  1st  and 
2d  regiments  regulars,  Maj.  Sturgis.  Five 
companies  1st  regiment  Missouri  volunteers, 
Lieut.-Col.  Andrews.  Two  companies  2d  regi- 
ment Missouri  volunteers,  Maj.  Osterhaus. 
Three  companies  3d  regiment  Missouri  volun- 
teers, Col. .  5th  regiment  Missouri  volun- 
teers, Col.  Salomon.  1st  regiment  Iowa  volun- 
teers, Col.  J.  F.  Bates.  1st  regiment  Kansas 
volunteers,  Col.  Deitzler.  2d  regiment  Kansas 
volunteers,  Col.  Mitchell.  Two  companies  1st 
regular  cavalry,  Capts.  Stanley  and  Carr. 
Three  companies  1st  regular  cavalry  (recruits), 
Lieut.  Lathrop.  Capt.  I.  Totten's  battery  regu- 
lar artillery,  six  guns,  six  and  twelve-pounders. 
Lieut.  Dubois'  battery  regular  artillery,  four 
guns,  six  and  twelve-pounders.  Capt.  Shaeffer's 
battery  Missouri  volunteer  artillery,  six  guns, 
six  and  twelve-pounders.  Brig.-Gens.  Sweeny 
and  Sigel,  and  Maj.  Sturgis,  were  intrusted  with 
the  most  important  secondary  commands. 

The  march  commenced  that  afternoon,  and 
the  camp  was  reached  at  ten  o'clock  at  night. 


82 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


The  next  morning  the  march  was  resumed,  and 
about  five  o'clock  that  afternoon  a  body  of  the 
enemy  were  overtaken,  when  a  brisk  inter- 
change of  shots  between  the  skirmishers  took 
place.  Upon  this,  a  body  of  the  enemy's  in- 
fantry, about  five  hundred  in  number,  ap- 
proached, apparently  with  the  design  of  cutting 
off  an  advanced  body  of  the  Federal  infantry. 
Several  volleys  were  interchanged,  when  a 
charge  was  made  by  a  body  of  regulars.  The 
enemy's  ranks  were  thus  broken,  and  they  re- 
treated. The  place  of  this  skirmish  was  Dug 
Springs.  The  march  was  continued  as  far  as 
Curran,  twenty-six  miles  from  Springfield,  but 
the  heat  of  the  weather,  shortness  of  provisions, 
and  the  fact  that  a  strong  Confederate  force 
was  posted  in  front,  and  a  large  division  had 
also  moved  in  the  direction  of  Sarcoxie,  while 
it  was  necessary  that  communication  should  be 
kept  open  to  Springfield,  led  Gen.  Lyon  to  de- 
termine to  return  to  that  town. 

On  the  5th  Gen.  Lyon,  learning  that  Gen. 
Price,  of  the  Confederate  army  (Missouri  State 
Guards),  had  effected  a  junction  with  Gen.  Ben. 
McCulloch,  and  that  the  consolidated  force  was 
within  ten  or  twelve  miles  of  Springfield,  re- 
solved, though  aware  of  the  hazard  of  the 
movement,  as  a  last  resource,  to  attack  the 
Confederates  at  their  camp  on  Wilson's  Creek, 
nine  miles  from  Springfield.  His  entire  force 
amounted  to  5,200  men,  of  Whom  one  regiment, 
the  6th  Missouri,  were  three-months'  men, 
whose  time  had  expired  nine  days  before  the 
battle,  but  who  had  been  retained  by  the  ur- 
gency of  Col.  Sigel.  There  were  in  all  less  than 
500  cavalry,  while  the  Confederates  had  over 
6,000,  according  to  Gen.  Ben.  McCulloch's  re- 
port. He  had  also  three  batteries,  comprising 
in  all  sixteen  guns,  all  of  light  calibre.  This 
force  marched  from  Springfield  at  8  p.  M.  on 
the  9th  of  August,  intending  to  commence  the 
attack  at  daybreak  the  next  morning.  They 
were  in  two  columns,  the  larger  consisting  of 
three  small  brigades  and  not  quite  4,000  men, 
under  the  command  of  Gen.  Lyon  himself,  the 
brigades  being  severally  commanded  by  Major 
Sturgis,  Lieut. -Col.  Andrews,  and  Col.  Deitzler ; 
the  smaller  column,  of  about  1,300  men  and  one 
battery  of  six  pieces,  was  commanded  by  Col. 
(afterwards  Maj.-Gen.)  Sigel.  The  enemy's 
camp  was  situated  along  Wilson's  Creek  for  a 
distance  of  five  or  six  miles,  and  in  the  ravines, 
and  on  the  heights  west  of  the  creek ;  and  Gen. 
Lyon's  plan  of  attack  was  to  march  his  main 
column,  which  he  divided  into  two,  giving  the 
command  of  one  to  Maj.  Sturgis,  in  front  and 
to  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy,  so  as  to  enfilade 
their  position  on  the  creek;  while  Col.  Sigel 
with  his  column,  taking  another  road  from 
Springfield,  and  crossing  the  creek,  which  here 
assumes  the  form  of  an  inverted  U,  lower  down, 
should  endeavor  to  turn  their  right  flank. 
Sigel's  column  fell  into  an  ambuscade,  and  suf- 
fered severely,  losing  five  of  his  six  cannon,  and 
was  thus  unable  to  render  as  efficient  service  as 
had  been  intended.  The  fight  .was  continued 


in  front,  and  on  the  enemy's  left,  with  terrible 
effect  for  over  six  hours;  the  Confederates 
twice,  in  the  course  of  the  battle,  came  up  to 
the  Federal  lines  with  the  Union  flag  flying, 
and  thus  deceived  the  Federal  troops  till  they 
could  get  so  close  as  to  pour  a  most  destructive 
fire  upon  them,  but  they  themselves  fell  back, 
when  the  artillery,  which  was  served  by  offi- 
cers and  men  of  the  regular  army,  was  brought 
to  bear  upon  them.  Gen.  Lyon,  who  was 
thrice  wounded  early  in  the  engagement,  and 
had  had  his  horse  killed  under  him,  mounting 
another  horse,  led  the  2d  Kansas  regiment, 
which  had  lost  its  colonel,  for  a  charge  upon 
the  enemy ;  but  was  killed  instantly  by  a  rifle 
ball,  which  struck  him  in  the  breast.  His  death 
did  not,  however,  throw  the  Federal  troops  into 
confusion,  and  the  battle,  in  which  Maj.  Sturgis 
now  commanded,  was  continued  for  nearly 
three  hours  longer,  when  the  enemy  were  forced 
from  their  camp  and  the  field.  Finding  his 
force  too  much  reduced  to  hold  the  position, 
Maj.  Sturgis  gave  the  order  to  fall  back  on 
Springfield,  and  there  resigned  the  command  to 
Col.  Sigel,  who  made  a  masterly  retreat  with 
the  remnant  of  his  army,  his  baggage  trains, 
and  $250,000  in  specie,  to  Eolla.  The  loss  of 
the  Federal  force  in  this  battle  was  223  killed, 
721  wounded,  292  missing,  mostly  prisoners. 
The  enemy's  loss,  according  to  their  own 
account,  was  517  killed,  about  800  wounded, 
and  30  missing.  Three  of  their  generals  were 
wounded,  two  of  them  mortally. 

This  battle  at  Wilson's  Creek,  in  its  effects, 
proved  quite  disastrous  to  Gens.  McCulloch  and 
Price.  It  not  only  served  to  check  their  pro- 
gress, but  discouraged  many  lukewarm  sympa- 
thizers. Meanwhile  the  accumulation  and  or- 
ganization of  Union  troops  at  St.  Louis  and 
other  points  added  to  the  strength  of  Gen. 
Fremont,  who  had  been  ordered  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Department. 
•  In  New  Mexico  a  loss  was  suffered  by  the 
Union  cause  in  the  surrender  of  Maj.  Lynde, 
with  750  men,  on  August  2d,  without  resist- 
ance. Again,  on  the  7th,  the  village  of  Hamp- 
ton, two  and  a  half  miles  from  Fortress  Monroe, 
having  been  previously  evacuated  by  the  Fed- 
eral troops,  was  burned  by  a  body  of  Virginians 
under  the  orders  of  Gen.  Magruder.  This  was 
done  to  prevent  its  reoccupation  by  the  Union 
troops.  A  few  minutes  after  midnight  the 
torch  was  applied.  Most  of  the  five  hundred 
houses  composing  the  village  having  been  built 
of  wood,  and  being  very  dry,  were  soon  in 
flames,  and  a  strong  south  wind  fanned  them 
into  a  terrible  conflagration.  The  fire  raged 
during  the  remainder  of  the  night,  and  on  the 
next  day,  at  noon,  only  seven  or  eight  buildings 
remained.  Four  churches  were  among  the 
buildings  burned.  On  the  28th  the  7th  Ohio 
regiment,  under  Col.  Tyler,  was  surrounded  at 
Summersville,  Va.,  while  at  breakfast,  and  at- 
tacked on  both  flanks  and  in  front  simultane- 
ously. The  troops,  about  nine  hundred  strong, 
although  surprised,  fought  bravely,  and  forced 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION 


83 


their  way  through  the  enemy  with  considerable 
loss.  No  permanent  advantage  was  gained  by 
the  Virginians,  as  Gen.  Cox,  with  a  larger  Fed- 
eral force,  was  stationed  at  Gauley's  bridge. 

On  the  other  hand,  an  advantage  was  gained 
over  the  enemy  at  Athens,  Missouri,  on  August 
5th,  by  which  their  loss  was  between  thirty  and 
forty.  At  Potosi,  in  the  same  State,  on  the 
9th,  an  affair  occurred  in  which  the  enemy  suf- 
fered some  loss.  An  advantage  was  also  gained 
in  a  small  skirmish  at  Lovettsville,  in  Virginia, 
on  the  8th ;  and  another  at  Grafton  on  the  13th, 
at  which  the  Virginians  met  with  some  loss. 

At  Fortress  Monroe,  Gen.  Wool,  of  the  reg- 
ular army,  had  taken  command,  and  Gen.  Butler 
had  been  relieved  for  duty  elsewhere.  A  pass- 
port system  had  been  adopted  by  the  authori- 
ties at  Washington  under  a  non-intercourse 
proclamation  issued  by  the  President  on  Aug. 
,  16th,  by  which  no  person  was  permitted  to  go 
to  the  seceding  States  without  an  official  permit. 

On  the  water  some  movements  had  taken 
place.  At  Pokomoke  Sound  in  Virginia,  a  num- 
ber of  small  vessels  belonging  to  the  enemy  had 
been  destroyed,  with  some  stores,  on  Aug.  2d. 

At  Galveston  in  Texas,  on  the  3d,  a  few 
shots  were  fired  from  the  blockading  Schooner 
Dart  at  the  batteries  on  the  island.  This  was 
intended  as  a  sort  of  reconnoissance.  Again, 
on  the  5th,  the  steamer  North  Carolina  opened 
fire  upon  the  same  batteries,  and  threw  some 
sheels  into  the  city.  A  large  number  of  persons 
having  collected  on  the  sand  hills  a  little  east 
of  the  batteries,  a  shell  fell  among  them,  killing 
one,  and  wounding  three  others. 

A  protest  was  made  by  the  foreign  consuls, 
and  Capt.  Alden,  on  the  next  day,  sent  a  reply, 
stating  the  facts  to  have  been  as  follows : 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  3d,  our  gunboat  found 
herself  near  the  shore,  and  shortly  after,  as  the  result 
proved,  within  range  of  some  of  the  batteries.  The 
first  warning  she  got  was  a  shot — not  a  blank  car- 
tridge, but  a  shot — not  fired  ahead  or  astern  of  her  to 
warn  her  off,  but  straight  at  her.  She  of  course  fired 
back,  and  some  shots  were  exchanged ;  then  she  came 
back  and  reported  the  facts  to  me.  This  was  in  the 
morning.  I  waited  till  nearly  five  in  the  afternoon 
hoping  explanation,  some  disavowal,  of  the  act  would 
be  sent  off.  None  came.  I  then  got  under  way  and 
stood  in  for  the  batteries,  which,  you  are  aware,  are  in 
the  rear  and  close  to  the  town,  merely  to  see  if  they 
could,  when  they  knew  the  town  must  be  injured  by 
our  return  fire,  repeat  such  an  act  of  aggression  by 
commencing  upon  us.  We  were  no  sooner  within 
range  of  their  guns,  however,  than  they  opened  their 
fire  when  we,  after  exchanging  a  few  shots,  retired, 
preferring  that  it  should  appear  that  we  were  beaten 
off  rather  than  continue  a  contest  where,  as  the  result 
shows,  so  many  unoffending  citizens  must  necessarily 
suffer. 

Again,  you  protest  against  my  firing  a  shell  into  a 
crowd  of  unarmed  citizens — amongst  whom  were 
many  women  and  children.  Good  God !  gentlemen, 
do  you  think  such  an  act  was  premeditated?  Besides, 
was  it  not  the  duty  of  the  military  commandant,  who 
by  his  act  in  the  morning  had  invited  me  to  the  con- 
test, to  see  that  all  such  were  out  of  the  way  ?  Did  he 
not  have  all  day  to  prepare  ?  It  was  evident  to  my 
mind  they  knew  we  w.ere  coming,  or  why  was  that 
demonstration  of  the  steamer  Gen.  Rusk? 

In  conclusion,  let  me  add  that  no  one  can  regret  the 


injury  done  to  unoffending  citizens  more  than  I  do. 
Still,  I  find  no  complaints  of  my  acts  of  the  3d  instant 
coming  from  military  or  civil  authorities  of  Galveston, 
and  with  due  deference  to  your  consideration  and 
humanity,  I  must  respectfully  remark  that  it  is  the 
first  time  I  have  ever  heard  that  the  women  and  chil- 
dren and  unarmed  citizens  of  an  American  town  were 
under  the  protection  of  foreign  consuls. 

Yours,  etc.,  etc.,  JAMES  ALDEN. 

On  the  13th  of  August,  when  General  Wool 
took  command  at  Fortress  Monroe,  he  found 
that  preparations  had  already  been  made  for  an 
expedition  to  the  North  Carolina  coast.  Hat- 
teras Inlet,  the  point  of  destination,  was  a  gap 
in  the  sandy  barrier  which  lines  the  coast  of 
North  Carolina,  about  18  miles  southwest  of 
Cape  Hatteras,  and  160  miles  below  Fortress 
Monroe.  Its  channel  was  intricate,  but  acces- 
sible without  difficulty  to  those  who  were 
accustomed  to  it,  provided  the  weather  was 
good.  This  and  Ocracoke  Inlet  were  the  prin- 
cipal entrances  to  Pamlico  Sound,  a  large  body 
of  water  lying  between  this  sandy  beach  and 
the  mainland  of  North  Carolina.  Hatteras  Inlet 
would  admit  vessels  drawing  V  feet  water,  but 
its  tortuous  channel,  from  which  all  the  buoys 
had  been  removed,  made  it  difficult  to  enter 
in  rough  weather,  without  danger  of  grounding. 
On  the  sandy  beach,  commanding  the  inlet, 
the  Confederate  forces  had  erected,  during  the 
summer,  two  forts — the  larger,  named  Fort 
Hatteras,  being  intended  for  15  guns,  though 
only  10  had  been  mounted;  the  smaller  for  V 
guns,  of  which  5  had  been  mounted.  These 
forts  were  built  of  sand,  and  were  20  feet  wide 
at  top,  and  turfed.  They  had  each  a  bomb- 
proof, the  one  at  the  larger  fort  capable  of 
protecting  about  400  men  ;  that  at  the  smaller 
300.  The  guns  were  mounted  en  barbette 
(that  is,  on  the  top  of  the  earthworks).  The 
guns  on  both  forts  were  thirty-two  pounders, 
except  one  eight-inch  shell  gun  on  Fort  Hat- 
teras. Most  of  these  particulars  had  been  com- 
municated to  the  Federal  authorities  about  the 
1st  of  August  by  Mr.  Daniel  Campbell,  master 
of  the  schooner  Lydia  Frances,  which  had 
been  wrecked,  about  the  1st  of  May  on  the 
coast  near  Hatteras  Inlet,  who  had  been  de- 
tained as  a  prisoner  at  the  inlet  for  three 
months.  The  expedition  intended  for  the  cap- 
ture- of  these  forts  consisted  of  the  United 
States  steamers  Minnesota,  Capt.  Van  Brune ; 
Wabash,  Capt.  Mercer;  Monticello,  Command- 
er Gillis;  Pawnee,  Commander  Rowan,  and 
Harriet  Lane,  Capt.  Faunce;  the  U.  S.  char- 
tered steamers  Adelaide,  Commander  Stell- 
wagen,  and  George  Peabody,  Lieut.  Leroy,  and 
the  steamtug  Fanny  as  transports,  together 
with  schooners  towed  by  the  steamers  having 
surf-boats  on  them.  The  steam-frigate  Sus- 
quehanna  and  the  sailing  frigate  Cumberland 
were  ordered  also  to  join  the  expedition.  The 
naval  portion  of  the  expedition  was  under  the 
command  of  Commodore  S.  H.  Stringham, 
whose  broad  pennant  was  hoisted  on  the  Min- 
nesota. To  this  naval  force  was  added  a  body 
of  about  880  troops,  consisting  of  500  of  the 


84 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


20th  Regiment  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  under  com- 
mand of  Col.  Max  "Weber;  220  of  the  9th 
N.  Y.  Volunteers,  (Hawkins'  Zouaves,)  under 
command  of  Col.  R.  0.  Hawkins ;  100  of  the 
Union  Coast  Guard,  Capt.  Nixon  commanding, 
and  60  of  the  2d  U.  S.  Artillery,  Lieut.  Lamed 
commanding,  who  were  embarked  on  the  trans- 
ports George  Peabody  and  Adelaide,  and  were 
under  the  command  of  Maj.-General  Benj.  F. 
Butler.  The  expedition  left  Fortress  Monroe 
on  the  afternoon  of  Monday,  Aug.  26th,  and 
arrived  off  Hatteras  Inlet  about  4  o'clock  p.  M., 
Tuesday.  At  daylight  the  next  morning  arrange- 
ments were  made  for  landing  the  troops,  and 
for  an  attack  upon  the  forts  by  the  fleet.  The 
swell  upon  the  beach  was  so  heavy  that  after 
landing  315  men,  including  the  regular  troops 
and  55  marines,  with  two  guns,  one  a  12-pound 
rifled  boat  gun,  the  other  a  howitzer  of  the 
same  calibre,  the  boats  were  stove  and  swamp- 
ed, and  no  more  could  be  landed  that  day. 
Meantime  the  fleet  had  opened  fire  on  the 
smaller  fort,  which  was  nearest  the  inlet,  and 
continued  it  till  about  half-past  1  p.  M.,  when 
both  forts  hauled  down  their  flags,  and  the  gar- 
rison of  the  smaller  escaped  to  the  larger.  A 
small  detachment  of  the  troops  already  landed 
immediately  proceeded  to  take  possession  of 
Fort  Clark,  and  raised  the  Union  flag.  The 
fleet  ceased  firing,  and  the  Monticello  was  sent 
in  to  the  inlet  to  discover  what  the  hauling 
down  of  the  flags  meant.  She  entered  and 
proceeded  within  about  600  yards  of  Fort  Hat- 
teras, when  the  occupants  of  that  fort  com- 
menced firing  upon  her,  and  inflicted  serious 
injury  to  her  hull ;  whereupon  the  Wabash,  Sus- 
quehanna,  and  Minnesota  came  to  her  assist- 
ance, and  the  Confederates  took  themselves  to 
their  bomb-proof,  and  ceased  firing.  The  little 
force  which  had  landed  now  withdrew  from 
Fort  Clark  to  a  safer  position,  where  they  threw 
tip  a  slight  intrenchment,  and  mounted  their 
two  cannon  on  it,  together  with  one  they  had 
taken  from  the  enemy.  The  General  and  ;the 
force  on  board  the  fleet  felt  much  anxiety  in 
regard  to  this  little  company,  as  it  was  suppos- 
ed that  the  Confederates,  who  were  known  to 
have  a  considerable  body  of  troops  on  board 
steamers  in  the  Sound,  would  be  largely  reen- 
forced  in  the  night,  and  would  take  them  pris- 
oners. At  Y  o'clock  next  morning,  however, 
the  Union  troops  were  seen  advancing  in  good 
order  upon  Fort  Clark,  and  it  appeared  that 
Capt.  Nixon  of  the  coastguard  with  his  com- 
pany had  occupied  that  fort  during  the  night, 
and  had  hoisted  the  Stars  and  Stripes  there. 
As  a  reenforcement  from  the  fleet  approached 
the  shore,  they  heard  firing,  which  they  after- 
wards found  proceeded  from  the  temporary  bat- 
tery erected  by  the  Union  troops,  and  was 
directed  at  the  Confederate  steamer  "Winslow, 
which  had  come  down  the  sound  loaded  with 
reenforccments,  but  which,  on  meeting  with  this 
reception,  made  the  best  of  its  way  out  of 
range.  The  fleet  renewed  its  fire  upon  Fort 
Hatteras  at  a  little  past  8  o'clock,  and,  sub- 


stituting 15-second  for  10-second-fuzes,  dropped 
almost  every  shell  from  their  heavy  guns  inside 
the  fort.  At  ten  minutes  past  11,  a  white 
flag  was  displayed  from  the  fort.  Gen.  Butler 
went  at  once  on  board  the  steamtug  Fanny,  and, 
entering  the  inlet,  sent  Lieut.  Crosby  on  shore 
to  demand  the  meaning  of  the  white  flag.  He 
soon  returned  with  the  following  memorandum 
from  the  commander  of  the  fort,  who  proved  to 
be  a  former  commodore  of  the  U.  S.  Navy. 

FORT  HATTERAS,  Aug.  29ZA,  1S6L 
Flag-officer  Samuel  Barren,  C.  S.  Navy,  offers  to 
surrender  Fort  Hatteras  with  all  the  arms  and  muni- 
tions of  war.      The  officers  allowed  to  go  out  with 
side-arms,  and  the  men  without  arms  to  retire. 

S.  BARRON, 
Commanding  Naval  Division,  Ya.  and  N.  Car. 

.  Accompanying  this  was  a  verbal  commu- 
nication stating  that  he  had  in  the  fort  six 
hundred  and  fifteen  men,  and  a  thousand  more 
within  an  hour's  call,  but  that  he  was  anxious  ^ 
to  spare  the  effusion  of  blood.  Gen.  Butler  sent 
in  reply  the  following  memorandum : 

Aug.  Wth,  1861. 

Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Major-General  United  States 
Army,  commanding,  in  reply  to  the  communication  of 
Samuel  Barren,  commanding  forces  at  Fort  Hatteras, 
cannot  admit  the  terms  proposed.  The  terms  offered 
are  these :  Full  capitulation,  the  officers  and  men  to 
be  treated  as  prisoners  of  war.  No  other  terms  ad- 
missible. Commanding  officers  to  meet  on  board  flag- 
ship Minnesota  to  arrange  details. 

After  waiting  three-fourths  of  an  hour,  Lieut. 
Crosby  returned,  bringing  with  him  Capt. 
Barren,  Major  Andrews,  and  Col.  Martin,  the 
commanding  officers  of  the  Confederate  force, 
who  informed  Gen.  Butler  that  they  had  ac- 
cepted the  terms  of  capitulation  he  had  pro- 
posed, and  had  come  to  surrender  themselves 
and  their  command  prisoners  of  Avar.  General 
Butler  informed  them  that,  as  the  expedition 
was  a  combined  one  from  the  army  and  navy, 
the  surrender  mnst  be  made  on  board  the  flag- 
ship and  to  Com.  Stringham,  as  well  ns  him- 
self. The  party  then  proceeded  to  the  flagship 
Minnesota,  and  the  following  articles  of  capit- 
ulation were  there  signed : 

OFF  HATTERAS  INLET,  U.  S.  FLAGSHIP  MINNESOTA,  J 
Aug.  29th,  A.  D.  1861.      ) 

Articles  of  Capitulation  between  Flag-officer  String- 
ham,  commanding  the  Atlantic  Blockading  Squadron, 
and  Benjamin  F.  Sutler,  U.  S.  Army,  commanding  on 
behalf  of  the  Government,  and  Samuel  Barron,  com- 
manding the  naval  force  for  the  defence  of  North 
Carolina  and  Virginia,  and  Col.  Martin,  commanding 
the  forces,  and  Major  Andrews,  commanding  the  same 
forces  at  Hatteras. 

It  is  stipulated  and  agreed  between  the  contracting- 
parties,  that  the  forces  under  command  of  the  said 
Barron,  Martin,  and  Andrews,  and  all  munitions  of 
war,  arms,  men,  and  property  under  the  command  of 
said  Barron,  Martin,  and  Andrews,  be  unconditionally 
surrendered  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States  in 
terms  of  full  capitulation. 

And  it  is  stipulated  and  agreed  by  the  contracting 
parties,  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  Government, 
that  the  officers  and  men  shall  receive  the  treatment 
due  to  prisoners  of  war. 

In  witness  whereof,  we,  the  said  Stringham  and 
Butler,  on  behalf  of  the  United  States,  and  the  said 
Barron,  Martin,  and  Andrews, .rep resenting  the  forces 
at  Hatteras  Inlet,  hereunto  interchangeably  set  our 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


85 


hands,  this  twenty-ninth  day  of  August,  A.  D.  1861, 
and  of  the  independence  of  the  United  States  the 
eighty-fifth  year.  S.  H.  STRINGHAM, 

Flag-Officer  Atlantic  Blockading  Squadron. 
BENJAMIN  FT  BUTLER, 
Major-General  U.  S.  A.,  Commanding. 

S.  BARRON, 
Flag-Officer  C.  S.  N.,  Com'g  Naval  Forces  Va.  &  N.  C. 

WILLIAM  F.  MARTIN, 
Col.  Seventh  Light  Infantry  N.  C.  Volunteers. 

W.  L.  G.  ANDREWS, 
Major  Com'g  Forts  Hatteras  and  Clark. 

The  results  of  this  capitulation  were  the  cap- 
ture of  715  men,  including  the  commander, 
Com.  Barren,  who  was  at  the  time  Acting  Sec- 
retary of  the  Navy  of  the  Confederate  States, 
and  Major  Bradford,  Chief  of  the  Ordnance 
Department  of  the  Confederate  States  army, 
2  forts,  1,000  stand  of  arms,  75  kegs  of  powder, 
5  stand  of  colors,  31  pieces  of  cannon,  includ- 
ing one  10-inch  columbiad,  a  brig  loaded  with 
cotton,  a  sloop  loaded  with  provisions  and 


stores,  2  light  boats,  150  bags  of  coffee,  &c. 
The  forts  were  held  and  garrisoned  by  U.  S. 
troops,  and  the  Fanny  and  Monticello  retained 
at  the  inlet  to  keep  off  the  Confederate  gun- 
boats, and  capture  vessels  attempting  to  run 
the  blockade.  On  the  30th  Sept.  a  fortification 
called  Fort  Oregon  at  Ocracoke  Inlet,  about  15 
miles  below  Hatteras  Inlet,  was  abandoned  by 
the  Confederate  forces,  and  on  the  16th  of 
September  an  expedition  from  Hatteras  Inlet 
visited  and  destroyed  it.  On  the  7th  of  Sep- 
tember, four  Confederate  vessels,  and  on  the  8th 
a  fifth,  attempted  to  enter  Hatteras  Inlet,  and 
were  all  captured  by  the  steam-tug  Fanny.  On 
the  2d  of  October  the  Fanny  was  captured  by 
a  party  of  Confederates  in  armed  steam-tugs; 
her  two  brass  cannon  and  35  men  belonging  to 
the  9th  N.  Y.  volunteers  (Hawkins'  Zouaves) 
were  taken,  and  a  considerable  quantity  of 
stores. 


CHAPTEE  X. 


Campaign  of  Gens.  Wise,  Floyd,  and  Lee,  in  "Western  Virginia— The  Campaign  of  Gen.  Fremont  in  Missouri— Affairs  in 
Kentucky — Neutrality  abandoned — Occupation  of  the  State  ty  troops — Military  Operations. 


A  CAMPAIGN  was  now  commenced  by  the 
enemy  in  Western  Virginia.  Gen.  Henry  A. 
"Wise  was  at  Lewisburg,  the  capital  of  Green- 
brier  County,  organizing  his  brigade  for  an 
advance 'down  the  Kanawha  valley,  when  Gen. 
Floyd  (ex-Secretary  of  War)  arrived  with  three 
regiments  of  infantry  and  a  battalion  of  cavalry. 
After  a  consultation  with  Gen.  Wise,  whom  he 
outranked,  he  resumed  his  march  westward. 
At  Tyree's,  on  the  west  side  of  Sewall  Moun- 
tain, he  was  first  met  by  the  Union  pickets, 
who  were  driven  back  upon  their  command 
with  a  loss  of  four  killed  and  seven  wounded. 
At  Locust  Lane  he  was  overtaken  by  Gen. 
Wise,  and  the  two  commands  advanced  to 
Dogwood  Gap  at  the  intersection  of  the  Sum- 
merville  road  with  the  turnpike  from  Lewis- 
burg  to  Charleston.  The  main  body  of  the 
Union  force  was  stationed  at  Hawk's  Nest,  on 
New  River,  seven  miles  east  of  Gauley  bridge, 
under  Gen.  Cox,  with  outposts  at  Cross  Lanes 
and  Carnifax  ferry.  Leaving  at  Dogwood 
Gap  posted  two  pieces  of  artillery  to  keep 
open  his  line  if  a  flank  movement  should  be 
attempted  from  Carnifax  ferry,  Gen.  Floyd 
advanced  to  Pickett's  Mills.  Here  learning 
that  his  rear  was  threatened  by  the  Union 
troops  at  Carnifax  ferry  and  Cross  Lanes,  he 
left  Gen.  Wise  to  hold  the  turnpike,  and  moved 
at  once  upon  Carnifax  ferry  to  attack  the 
Federal  troops  supposed  to  be  there.  He  ar- 
rived at  noon,  but  the  Federal  troops  were  at 
Hawk's  Nest.  On  attempting  to  cross  the 
river  with  his  force,  the  boat  was  capsized  and 
drawn  over  the  rapids.  His  infantry  and  a  small 


portion  of  his  cavalry  had  crossed,  but  the 
mass  of  the  cavalry  and  four  pieces  of  artillery 
were  still  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river.  With 
great  efforts  another  boat  was  prepared  in  a  day 
and  the  transportation  completed.  Meanwhile 
Col.  Tyler  advanced  from  Hawk's  Nest,  but  ar- 
rived too  late  to  gain  an  advantage  over  Floyd, 
whose  forces  were  now  concentrated.  On  the 
contrary,  the  regiment  was  surprised  by  Gen. 
Floyd  while  at  breakfast  on  the  26th  of  August, 
and  with  difficulty  escaped  capture. 

Gen.  Floyd  then  proceeded  to  strengthen  his 
position  and  to  bring  up  supplies  for  his  men. 
Meanwhile  Gen.  Rosecrans,  on  Sept.  10th,  ad- 
vanced to  attack  the  enemy ;  and  about  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  he  sent  forward  Gen. 
Benham,  with  his  brigade,  to  make  a  recon- 
noissance  in  force.  They  were  soon  engaged 
with  the  e"nemy,  and  after  a  severe  action  were 
about  being  reenforced,  when,  from  the  great 
difficulties  of  the  position  rendering  night  fight- 
ing almost  impossible,  Gen.  Rosecrans  ordered 
his  men  to  form  in  order  of  battle  and  rest 
upon  their *arms,  intending  to  renew  the  attack 
in  the  morning.  During  the  night  Gen.  Floyd 
and  his  force  withdrew  across  the  Gauley, 
leaving  their  camp,  baggage,  small  arms,  and 
munitions  of  war,  and  burning  the  bridge  which 
he  had  constructed,  and  the  ferry  boats.  Being 
unable  to  effect  a  crossing  of  the  river,  Gen. 
Rosecrans  could  not  pursue  them,  but  took  a 
few  prisoners.  The  Federal  loss  was,  according 
to  official  report,  15  killed  and  80  wounded; 
that  of  the  Confederates  was  less,  as  they  were 
protected  by  the  forest  and^heir  fortifications. 


86 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Meanwhile  Gen.  Wise  had  marched  down  to 
Big  Creek  in  Fayette  County,  where  a  slight 
skirmish  took  place  with  some  Union  troops. 

Gen.  Floyd,  on  retreating  from  Carnifax 
ferry,  went  to  the  summit  of  Big  Sewell  Moun- 
tain, having  heen  joined  on  his  way  hy  Gen. 
"Wise.  Here  a  consultation  was  held,  and  it 
was  decided  to  retreat  to  Meadow  Bluff  as  a 
position  which  guarded  all  the  approaches  to 
Lewisburg  and  the  railroad.  Gen.  Wise,  how- 
ever, refused"  to  retreat,  and  proceeded  to  for- 
tify his  position,  which  he  called  Camp  De- 
fiance. Meanwhile  Gen.  Rosecrans  advanced 
to  Tyree's,  a  public  house  on  the  turnpike  road 
in  Fayette  County.  Such  was  the  position  of 
the  enemy's  forces  in  the  Kanawha  valley  when 
Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee  arrived  and  took  command. 

After  the  defeat  of  Garnett  and  his  forces 
on  July  14th,  by  Gen.  McClellan,  Gen.  Lee  was 
ordered  to  succeed  him,  and  with  as  little 
delay  as  possible  to  repair  to  the  scene  of  oper- 
ations. He  took  with  him  such  reenforce- 
ments  that  on  joining  the  remnant  of  Gen. 
Garnett's  command,  his  force  was  about  six- 
teen thousand  men.  His  plan  was  to  dislodge 
the  forces  of  Gen.  Rosecrans  from  Cheat  Moun- 
tain, and  thus  relieve  northwestern  Virginia. 
In  August  he  arrived  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  mountain  on  the  Staunton  and  Parkersburg 
turnpike,  and  found  Gen.  Reynolds  in  command 
of  the  forces  under  Gen.  Rosecrans,  who,  since 
the  removal  of  Gen.  McClellan  to  Washington, 
'was  in  chief  command  in  northwestern  Vir- 
ginia. 

The  aim  of  Gen.  Lee  on  perceiving  the 
strength  of  Gen.  Reynolds,  was  to  dislodge 
him  by  strategic  movements,  and  capture  his 
forces.  With  this  object  he  cautiously  moved 
along  the  road  leading  from  Huntersville  to 
Huttonsville  in  Randolph  County,  and,  reaching 
Valley  Mountain,  halted  to  arrange  his  plans 
for  attacking  a  body  of  Union  troops  stationed 
about  eight  miles  below  on  Tygert's  Valley 
River,  and  about  five  thousand  strong.  Thence 
he  moved  over  the  spurs  of  the  mountains,  and 
with  great  difficulty  succeeded  in  getting  below 
this  body  of  Union  troops,  and  at  the  same 
time  placed  a  force  east  and  west  of  them. 
Meantime  fifteen  hundred  men  of  the  forces  of 
Gen.  H.  R.  Jackson,  under  Col.  Rust,  of  Ar- 
kansas, advanced  from  Greenbrier  River  around 
another  position  of  the  Union  troops  at  Cheat 
Mountain  pass,  ten  miles  distant  from  the  former 
Union  force,  for  the  purpose  of  an  attack.  This 
attack  was  to  be  the  signal  for  G^n.  Lee  to 
attack  the  force  on  Tygert's  Valley  River. 
But  Col.  Rust  finding  the  position  so  well  pre- 
pared for  defence,  concluded  that  the  attack 
could  not  be  made  with  any  hope  of  success, 
and  ordered  a  retreat.  No  signal  was  thus 
given  to  Lee,  and  no  attack  therefore  made  by 
his  forces,  which  retreated  back  to  Valley  Moun- 
tain without  firing  a  gun.  The  attack  of  Col. 
Rust  was  designed  merely  to  hold  the  force  at 
Cheat  Mountain  Pass  while  the  contest  took 
place  on  the  Valle/ river.  Probably  the  attack 


of  Lee  would  have  been  successful  if  it  had 
been  made  without  regard  to  the  retreat  of 
Rust,  and  would  have  resulted  hi  giving  him 
control  for  a  time  of  that  portion  of  West  Vir- 
ginia. 

Lee  now  determined  to  move  to  the  Kanawha 
Valley  to  relieve  Gens.  Floyd  and  Wise.  Gen. 
Rosecrans  was  already  on  his  march  thither  to 
oppose  Floyd.  All  their  forces  were  thus  con- 
centrated under  Lee  at  Wise's  position  on  Big 
Sewell  Mountain,  amounting  nearly  to  twenty 
thousand  men.  The  position  was  strengthened 
by  a  breastwork  extending  four  miles.  Mean- 
while Gen.  Rosecrans,  who  had  approached 
within  view  of  the  enemy's  position,  where  he 
remained  some  days  prepared  to  receive  an 
attack,  concluding  that  it  was  not  likely  to  be 
made,  and  that  the  enemy's  position  was  too 
strong  for  him  to  assail  successfully,  quietly 
withdrew  to  his  former  position  on  the  Gauley 
River,  thirty-two  miles  distant.  The  reasons 
given  by  the  enemy  for  not  following,  were  the 
muddy  roads,  swollen  streams,  and  the  weak- 
ness of  his  artillery  horses. 

Meanwhile,  on  Oct.  2d,  Gen.  Reynolds,  with 
about  5,000  men,  left  his  camp  at  Cheat  Moun- 
tain to  make  an  armed  reconnoissance  of  the 
forces  of  the  enemy  encamped  on  Greenbrier 
River  and  in  the  neighborhood.  He  reached 
the  enemy's  camp  shortly  after  daylight,  drove 
in  the  pickets,  and  his  advanced  regiments 
approached  to  within  700  yards  of  the  intrench- 
ments,  and  opened  fire.  A  battle  followed,  of 
about  four  hours'  duration.  The  Confederate 
force  at  the  camp  were  driven  from  their  guns, 
three  of  which  were  disabled;  their  reserve 
came  up  after  the  action  had  continued  about 
two  hours,  and,  thus  reenforced,  they  main- 
tained their  position  behind  their  breastworks, 
but  did  not  sally  out  to  attack  the  Federal 
troops.  Gen.  Reynolds,  finding  his  ammunition 
exhausted,  and  having  accomplished  his  pur- 
pose, withdrew  in  order,  without  being  pursued, 
and  returned  the  same  night  to  his  camp.  The 
Federal  loss  was  8  killed  and  32  wounded. 
The  Confederate  loss  was  much  larger,  and  was 
estimated  by  Gen.  Reynolds  as  at  least  300. 
Gen.  Reynolds  brought  away  13  prisoners. 
The  enemy  state  that  their  loss  did  not  exceed 
fifty,  and  estimated  that  of  Gen.  Reynolds  be- 
tween two  hundred  and  fifty  and  three  hundred. 

On  the  approach  of  winter  Gen.  Lee  was 
ordered  to  take  charge  of  the  coast  defences  of 
South  Carolina  and  Georgia;  Gen.  Wise  was 
ordered  to  Richmond,  and  the  forces  were  all 
withdrawn  by  the  authorities  at  Richmond, 
except  those  under  Gen.  Floyd,  and  a  force  of 
1,200  men  on  the  Alleghany  Mountain.  On 
December  13th  this  force,  at  Camp  Alleghany, 
was  attacked  by  Gen.  Milroy. 

The  Union  troops  consisted  of  portions  of  the 
9th  and  13th  Indiana,  the  25th  and  32d  Ohio, 
and  the  2d  Virginia,  numbering  hi  all  1,750 
men.  The  Confederate  force  was  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  Johnson,  of  Georgia,  and  wa'a 
estimated  at  2,000.  The  action  commenced 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


87 


about  daylight  and  lasted  till  3  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  when  the  Confederates  set  fire  to 
their  camps  and  retreated  to  Staunton,  in  the 
valley  of  Virginia,  thus  vacating  "Western  Vir- 
ginia, at  least  that  portion  west  of  the  Kitta- 
tinny  range.  The  loss,  as  officially  reported, 
was  about  equal  on  both  sides:  the  Federal 
troops  having  20  killed  and  107  wounded ;  and 
the  enemy  25  killed,  97  wounded,  and  about  30 
of  their  men  being  taken  prisoners. 

Meantime  Gen.  Floyd,  after  the  departure  of 
the  other  Southern  troops,  moved  by  the  way 
of  Richard's  ferry,  Raleigh,  and  Fayette  Court 
House,  to  Cotton  Hill  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Kanawha  River.  Cotton  Hill  is  in  Fayette 
county,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Gauley 
River.  Gen.  Rosecrans  was  posted  on  both 
sides  of  the  Gauley  River  above  the  mouth, 
and  the  hostile  forces  were  in  full  view  of  each 
other.  To  cut  off  the  retreat  of  Gen.  Floyd,  a 
movement  was  planned  by  Gen.  Rosecrans  across 
Miller's,  Montgomery's,  and  Loop  Creek  ferries, 
concentrating  at  Fayetteville.  Floyd  detecting 
the  movement  immediately  fell  back,  barely  in 
time  to  escape  capture.  His  rear  was  attacked 
and  pursued  some  twenty  miles,  causing  con- 
siderable loss.  He  now  retired,  and  was  sub- 
sequently transferred  to  Tennessee. 

Some  skirmishes  took .  place  during  this 
period  in  West  Virginia,  attended  with  small 
loss  to  either  side,  but  without  special  im- 
portance. 

Meanwhile  military  movements  of  consid- 
erable interest  had  been  made  in  Missouri. 
After  the  battle  at  Wilson's  Creek,  the  forces 
of  Gens.  McCulloch  and  Price  retired  to  the 
frontier  of.  Arkansas.  Here  they  remained  un- 
til the  latter  part  of  August,  when  Price  with 
a  considerable  force  of  Missourians  began 
another  movement  into  the  State.  As  he  ad- 
vanced reinforcements  joined  him.  Among 
others  was  Gen.  Thos.  A.  Harris  with  about  three 
thousand  men,  who  been  engaged  in  active 
guerrilla  operations  in  northern  Missouri.  On 
September  7th  a  skirmish  took  place  between 
a  body  of  Kansas  troops  under  Gen.  Lane, 
which  encountered  the  advance  of  Price  at  a 
stream  called  Drywood,  near  Fort  Scott.  The 
Kansas  troops,  although  presenting  a  bold  front, 
were  soon  compelled  to  retire.  Fort  Scott 
was  also  evacuated.  Price  then  continued*his 
march  toward  Lexington,  where  Col.  Mulligan 
was  in  command.  Lexington,  the  capital  of 
Fayette  County,  is  in  a  high  and  healthy  sit- 
uation, on  the  right  bank  of  the  Missouri  River, 
120  miles,  by  the  road,  west  of  Jefferson  City. 
The  population  was  about  5,000. 

On  the  29th  of  August  a  body  of  Home 
Guards,  with  some  United  States  regulars 
posted  at  Lexington,  were  attacked  by  a  large 
Confederate  force.  The  Federal  force  num- 
bered 430.  and  was  intrenched.  The  assailing 
party  had  no  artillery,  and  were  repulsed  with 
a  considerable  loss,  and  subsequently  withdrew. 
This  attack  showed  the  importance  of  sending 
forward  reinforcements.  Accordingly,  on  the 


9th  of  September,  the  town  was  occupied  by  an 
Irish  Brigade  under  Col.  Mulligan,  which,  in 
addition  to  a  small  force  there,  consisting  of 
Home  Guards,  a  few  Kansas  troops,  a  portion 
of  the  Missouri  8th  regiment,  and  seven  hundred 
of  the  Illinois  cavalry,  swelled  the  number  to 
2,500  men.  Soon  after  a  Confederate  force 
under  Gen.  Price  threatened  an  attack  upon 
them.  No  time  was  lost  in  the  work  of  in- 
trenching then-  position,  chosen  about  midway 
between  the  new  and  old  towns  of  Lexington, 
which  are  about  a  mile  apart,  connected  by  a 
scattering  settlement.  Midway  stood  a  solid 
brick  edifice,  built  for  a  college,  and  about  this 
a  small  breastwork  had  been  already  begun. 
By  Col.  Mulligan's  order  this  was  extended, 
and  the  troops  commenced  the  construction  of 
an  earthwork,  ten  feet  in  height,  with  a  ditch 
eight  feet  in  width,  enclosing  a  large  area, 
capable  of  containing  a  force  of  10,000  men. 
The  army  train,  consisting  of  numerous  mule 
teams,  was  brought  within  this  area.  The  work 
was  pushed  with  great  vigor  for  three  days,  or 
until  Thursday,  the  12th,  at  which-  time  that 
portion  assigned  to  the  Irish  Brigade  was  well 
advanced,  that  of  the  Home  Guard  being  still 
weak  on  the  west  or  New  Lexington  side. 

The  college  building,  within  the  fortification, 
became  Col.  Mulligan's  headquarters.  The  mag- 
azine and  treasure  were  stored  in  the  cellar 
and  suitably  protected.  The  hospital  of  the 
troops  was  located  just  outside  of  the  intrench- 
ments,  in  a  northwesterly  direction.  The  river, 
at  that  point,  is  about  half  a  mile  wide,  and 
about  half  a  mile  distant  from  the  fortifications. 
The  bluff  there  is  high  and  abrupt,  the  steam- 
boat landing  being  at  New  Lexington. 

The  artillery  of  Col.  Mulligan  consisted  of 
five  brass  pieces  and  two  mortars,  but,  having 
no  shells,  the  latter  were  useless.  The  cavalry 
had  only  side-arms  and  pistols. 

On  the  12th,  scouts  and  advanced  pickets 
driven  in  reported  the  near  approach  of  the 
.enemy's  force.  The  attack  was  led  by  Gen. 
Rams  with  a  battery  of  nine  pieces  of  artillery 
against  the  point  least  prepared  to  resist  as- 
sault. The  Confederates  were  repulsed,  and 
the  result  warned  them  that  they  had  no  easy 
task  on  hand.  The  hospital,  containing  about 
twenty-four  patients,  was  not  spared  by  the  as- 
sailants. Some  of  the  sick  were  pierced  with 
bayonets  or  sabres  in  their  cots.  The  chaplain 
and  surgeon  of  the  brigade  were  taken  prisoners. 

Skirmishing  continued  for  several  days,  dur- 
ing which  the  enemy  brought  more  of  their  ar- 
tillery into  action.  Messengers  had  been  sent 
to  Jefferson  City  by  Col.  Mulligan  to  urge  the 
necessity  of  reinforcements,  but  they  had  been 
captured.  At  the  same  time,  sufficient  troops 
were  sent  out  by  the  enemy  to  intercept  any 
Federal  reinforcements.  Thus  a  party  of  1,500 
Iowa  troops  were  met  and  forced  to  retire  when 
they  had  arrived  within  sixteen  miles  of  the  river. 

The  situation  of  the  Federal  force  was  daily 
growing  more  desperate.  Within  their  lines 
were  picketed  about  the  wagons  and  trains  a 


88 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


large  number  of  horses  and  mules,  nearly  three 
thousand  in  all,  now  a  serious  cause  of  care  and 
anxiety ;  for,  as  shot  and  shell  plunged  among 
them,  many  of  the  animals  were  killed  or 
wounded,  and  from  the  struggles  of  the  latter 
the  danger  of  a  general  stampede  was  imminent. 
The  havoc  in  the  centre  of  the  intrenchment 
was  immense.  Wagons  were  knocked  to  pieces, 
stores  scattered  and  destroyed,  and  the  ground 
strewn  with  dead  horses  and  mules. 

On  the  17th  the  water  gave  out,  and  being  cut 
off  from  the  river,  the  Union  troops  were  re- 
duced to  great  straits.  Eations,  also,  began  to 
grow  short.  Meanwhile,  the  contest  continued 
with  little  cessation,  as  a  brilliant  moon  shone 
all  night.  Gen.  Price  had  sent  to  Col.  Mulligan  a 
summons  to  surrender,  to  which  the  latter  sent 
a  refusal,  saying,  "If  you  want  us,  you  must 
take  us."  The  Home  Guard,  however,  had 
become  discouraged  and  disheartened,  and  on 
the  21st,  while  Col.  Mulligan  was  engaged  in 
another  part  of  the  camp,  .a  white  flag  was 
raised  by  Major  Becker,  of  the  Guards,  in  the 
portion  of  the  intrenchments  assigned  to  him. 
As  soon  as  this  was  made  known  to  Col.  Mulli- 
gan, he  ordered  the  flag  to  be  taken  down,  which 
was  done.  The  severest  of  the  fighting  during 
that  day  followed  in  a  charge  made  upon  the 
enemy's  nearest  battery.  Subsequently  the 
Home  Guards  left' the  outer  work  and  retreated 
within  the  line  of  the  inner  intrenchments, 
about  the  college  building,  refusing  to  light 
longer,  and  here  again  raised  the  white  flag, 
this  time  from  the  centre  of  the  fortifications, 
when  the  fire  of  the  enemy  slackened  and 
ceased.  Under  this  state  of  affairs,  Col.  Mulli- 
gan, calling  his  officers  into  council,  decided  to 
capitulate,  and  Capt.  McDermott  went  out  to 
the  enemy's  lines,  with  a  handkerchief  tied  to 
a  ramrod,  and  a  parley  took  place.  Major 
Moore,  of  the  brigade,  was  sent  to  Gen.  Price's 
headquarters,  at  New  Lexington,  to  know  the 
terms  of  capitulation.  These  were:  that  the 
officers  were  to  be  retained  as  prisoners  of 
war,  the  men  to  be  allowed  to  depart  with 
their  personal  property,  surrendering  their 
arms  and  accoutrements.  Reluctantly  this  was 
acceded  to. 

At  4  P.  M.  on  Sept.  21st,  the  Federal  forces 
were  marched  out  of  the  intrenchments.  They 
left  behind  them  their  arms  and  accoutrements, 
reserving  only  their  clothing.  The  privates, 
numbering  some  1,500  strong,  were  first  made 
to  take  the  oath  not  to  serve  against  the  Con- 
federate States,  when  they  were  put  across  the 
river,  and,  in  charge  of  Gen.  Rains,  marched 
on  Saturday  night  to  Richmond,  sixteen  miles ; 
whence,  on  Sunday,  they  marched  to  Hamilton, 
a  station  on  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph's 
Railroad,  where  they  were  declared  free  to  go 
wherever  they  pleased.  "While  on  this  march 
they  experienced  generous  and  humane  treat- 
ment, both  from  Gen.  Rains  and  from  the  resi- 
dents. 

The  Federal  force  at  Lexington  was  com- 
posed of  the  23d  regiment  (Irish  Brigade), 


Col.  Mulligan,  800:  13th  Missouri,  Col.  Pea- 
body,  840;  1st  Illinois,  Col.  Marshall,  500; 
Home  Guards,  Col.  White,  500 ;  total,  2,640, 
with  one  4,  three  6,  and  one  12-pounders,  and 
two  4-inch  mortars.  The  Confederate  force 
had  been  increased  from  3,000  by  the  arrival 
of  reinforcements  to  a  large  number,  estimated 
at  10,000.  It  appears  by  the  official  report  of 
Gen.  Price,  who  took  command  at  the  outset, 
that,  in"  addition  to  the  large  force  he  brought 
with  him  from  the  southwest,  he  was  joined, 
before  the  battle,  by  the  forces  under  Martin 
Green,  Harris,  Boyd,  and  Patten,  all  of  whom 
participated  in  the  siege.  Green's  force,  when 
he  crossed  the  river  at  Glasgow,  was  2,500 
men  ;  Harris  had  2,700  when  he  crossed ;  and 
Patten  and  Boyd  had  a  considerable  number. 
The  force  of  the  garrison  was  only  2,640  men. 
The  loss  of  water,  and  the  inferiority  of  num- 
bers caused  the  surrender.  Gen.  Price  says 
that  the  firing  was  continued  for  fifty-two  hours. 
The  enemy  adopted  for  defence  a  breastwork 
of  hempen  bales,  which  they  rolled  before 
them  as  they  advanced..  Their  loss  they  state 
at  25  killed  and  72  wounded.  The  Federal  loss 
in  killed  and  wounded  -was  estimated  from  300 
to  500.  Gen.  Fremont,  upon  hearing  of  this 
surrender,  sent  the  following  despatch  to  Wash- 
ington : 

HEADQUARTERS  WESTERN  DEPARTMENT,  ) 
ST.  Louis,  Sept.  23, 1861.      ) 
Col.  E.  D.  Townsend,  Adjutant-General: 

I  have  a  telegram  from  Brookfield  that  Lexington 
has  fallen  into  Price's  hands,  he  having  cut  off  Mulli- 
gan's supply  of  water.  Keenforcements  4,000  strong, 
under  Sturgis,  by  the  capture  of  the  ferry  boats,  had 
no  means  oi  crossing  the  river  in  time.  Lane's  forces 
from  the  southwest,  and  Daris  from  the  southeast,  up- 
wards of  11,000  in  all,  could  also  not  get  ttiere  in  time. 
I  am  taking  the  field  myself  and  hope  to  destroy  the 
enemy  either  before  or  after  the  junction  of  the  forces 
under  McCulloch.  Please  notify  the  President  imme- 
diately. J.  C.  FREMONT,  Major-Gen.  Commanding. 

Some  remarks  appeared  in  the  St.  Louis 
"  Evening  News  "  a  few  days  after,  commenting 
upon  the  neglect  of  the  authorities  at  St.  Louis 
to  send  out  reinforcements,  when  the  paper 
was  immediately  suppressed  by  Gen.  Fremont, 
and  its  publisher  and  editor  sent  to  prison, 
from  which  they  were  subsequently  uncondi- 
tionally released. 

As  a  strategetical  point,  the  loss  of  the  town 
was  a  serious  affair  to  the  Federal  cause,  and  a 
gain  of  no  small  value  to  the  Confederates.  Its 
possession  would  tend  to  retain  that  part  of 
Missouri  on  the  Union  side,  while  its  loss  would 
expose  Kansas,  as  well  as  the  northern  and 
western  parts  of  Missouri. 

The  capture  of  Lexington,  the  most  im- 
portant affair  to  the  Confederates  which  oc- 
curred in  the  State,  doubtless  caused  Gen. 
Fremont,  on  September  27th,  to  hasten  from 
St.  Louis  to  Jefferson  City.  On  the  3d  of 
October  Gen.  Price  abandoned  Lexington,  and 
as  the  Union  force  concentrated  at  Jefferson 
City,  he  retired  to  Springfield  and  still  further 
south.  His  force  was  extravagantly  estimated 
at  this  time  at  twenty  thousand  men  and  up- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


89 


•ward.  The  original  purpose  of  Gen.  Price 
had  been  to  move  from  Lexington  northward 
and  destroy  the  railroad,  and  then  attack  the 
Federal  forces  in  Northwestern  Missouri,  hut 
the  approach  of  Fremont  prevented  its  accom- 
plishment. No  one  of  the  Confederate  generals 
sustained  his  position  so  well  as  Gen.  Price, 
with  the  slender  resources  at  his  command.  It 
was  necessarily,  therefore,  a  part  of  his  system 
of  operations  to  avoid  a  doubtful  conflict.  Re- 
tiring produced  no  discouragement  ur>on  his 
.men.  At  the  same  time,  by  retiring,  he  came 
nearer  to  Arkansas,  from  whence  he  could  ex- 
pect supplies  and  reinforcements,  whilst  the 
Federal  force,  on  advancing,  would  be  removed 
further  and  further  from  its  chief  source  of  sup- 
plies. The  advance  of  Gen,  Fremont,  in  the 
southwest,  was  made  in  five  divisions,  under 
Gens.  Hunter,  Pope,  Sigel,  Asboth,  and  McKin- 
stry.  Each  division  was  subdivided,  and  was 
composed  of  cavalry,  artillery,  and  infantry, 
ambulances,  &c.,  and  whatever  was  necessary 
to  enable  it  to  act  independently.  Gen.  Fre- 
mont accompanied  the  advance  with  Gens. 
Sigel  and  Asboth. 

On  the  14th  of  October  he  arrived  at  "War- 
saw on  the  Osage  River,  sixty-five  miles  south- 
west of  Jefferson  City,  where  he  prepared  to 
cross  by  means  of  bridges.  On  the  opposite 
bank  was  a  considerable  rebel  cavalry  force 
at  the  time  of  his  arrival,  which  wag  dispersed 
by  canister-shot.  The  bridge  was  finished 
about  the  21st,  and  on  the  26th  the  troops 
reached  Bolivar.  Gen.  Fremont  left  on  Sunday 
with  Gen.  Sigel  by  forced  marches,  for  Spring- 
field. Gen.  McKinstry  still  continued  at  "War- 
saw with  the  reserve,  and  Gen.  Pope  was  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Osage.  Gen.  Hunter  was 
with  the  right  wing  advancing,  and  Gen.  Stur- 
gis  with  the  left.  On  the  27th  Gen.  Fremont 
arrived  at  Springfield,  where  the  national  flag 
was  displayed  by  the  people  with  every  dem- 
onstration of  joy.  On  the  25th  a  dashing 
charge  was  made  by  Maj.  Zagonyi  with  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  of  Gen.  Fremont's  Body  Guard, 
armed  with  Colt's  rifles,  upon  a  force  of  the 
enemy  about  half  a  mile  west  of  the  town,  by 
which  the  latter  were  dispersed. 

The  retreat  of  Gen.  Price  had  been  steadily 
in  advance  of  the  Union  troops.  On  the  13th 
he  was  at  Clintonville,  Cedar  County,  twerfty- 
five  miles  south  of  Papinsville,  on  the  Carthage 
Road.  His  entire  army  had  passed  the  Osage. 
On  the  17th  he  was  expected  by  the  Union 
general  to  make  a  stand,  and  again  on  the  19th. 
On  the  24th  he  was  at  Nesho,  in  Newton 
County,  and  had  united  with  Gen.  McCulloch. 
The  Legislature  of  the  State  had  convened  here 
at  this  time.  Only  a  small  number  of  members 
were  present. 

In  Northwestern  Missouri,  Col.  Morgan,  on 
the  19th,  with  two  hundred  and  twenty  of  the 
18th  Missouri,  had  a  skirmish  with  a  larger 
rebel  force  at  Big  Harrison  Creek  in  Carrol 
County.  Fourteen  of  the  enemy  were  reported 
to  have  been  killed,  and  eight  were  taken 


prisoners.  The  Federal  loss  was  two  killed 
and  fourteen  wounded.  On  the  21st  the  rebel 
garrison  at  Fredericktown  was  surprised  by  a 
portion  of  the  1st  Missouri  regiment,  and  the 
town  recaptured. 

In  Southwestern  Missouri,  a  skirmish  took 
place  near  Lebanon  on  the  13th  of  October  be- 
tween two  companies  of  mounted  men  under 
Major  Wright  and  a  small  body  of  secession 
cavalry,  in  which  the  latter  were  surprised  and 
routed  with  a  small  loss.  On  the  17th  a  skir- 
mish took  place  near  Pilot  Knob,  and  on  the 
22d  another  at  Fredericktown.  Several  other 
skirmishes  of  small  importance,  otherwise  than 
as  showing  the  activity  of  both  Federal  and  se- 
cession troops,  occurred  during  the  month  of 
October. 

So  much  complaint  had  been  made  relative 
to  the  management  of  the  Western  Department 
by  Gen.  Fremont,  that  the  Secretary  of  War 
proceeded  to  St.  Louis  for  the  purpose  of  in- 
vestigation. An  interview  with  Gen.  Fremont 
took  place  at  Tipton,  and  when  about  to  return 
from  St.  Louis  to  Washington,  the  Secretary 
issued  the  following  order : 

ST.  LOTJIS,  October  14, 1861. 

GENERAL  :  The  Secretary  of  War  directs  me  to  com- 
municate the  following  as  his  instructions  for  your 
government :  • 

In  view  of  the  heavy  sums  due,  especially  in  the 
Quartermaster's  Department  in  this  city,  amounting 
to  some  $4,500,000,  it  is  important  that  the  money 
which  may  now  be  in  the  hands  of  the  disbursing  offi- 
cers, or  be  received  by  them,  be  applied  to  the  cur- 
rent expenses  9£  your  army  in  Missouri,  and  these 
debts  to  remain  unpaid  until  they  can  be  properly 
examined  and  sent  to  Washington  for  settlement; 
the  disbursing  officers  of  the  army  to  disburse  the 
funds,  and  not  transfer  them  to  irresponsible  agents ; 
in  other  wordSj  those  who  do  not  hold  commissions 
from  the  President,  and  are  not  under  bonds.  All 
contracts  necessary  to  be  made  by  the  disbursing 
officers.  The  senior  Quartermaster  here  has  been 
verbally  instructed  by  the  Secretary  as  above. 

It  is_  deemed  unnecessary  to  erect  field-works  around 
this  city,  and  you  will  direct  their  discontinuance ;  also 
those,  if  any,  in  course  of  construction  at  Jefferson 
City.  In  this  connection,  it  is  seen  that  a  number  of 
commissions  have  been  given  by  you.  No  payments 
will  be  made  to  such  officers,  except  to  those  whose 
appointments  have  been  approved  by  the  President. 
This,  of  course,  does  not  apply  to  the  officers  with 
volunteer  troops.  Col.  Andrews  has  been  verbally  so 
instructed  by  the  Secretary ;  also,  not  to  make  trans- 
fers of  funds,  except  for  the  purpose  of  paying  the 
troops. 

The  erection  of  barracks  near  your  quarters  in  this 
city  to  be  at  once  discontinued. 

The  Secretary  has  been  informed  that  the  troops 
of  Gen.  Lane's  command  are  committing  depredations 
on  our  friends  in  Western  Missouri.  Your  attention 
is  directed  to  this,  in  the  expectation  that  you  will 
^appl^  the  corrective. 

'  Maj.  Allen  desires  the  services  of  Capt.  Turnley  for 
a  short  time,  and  the  Secretary  hopes  you  may  find 
it  proper  to  accede  thereto. 

I  have  the  honorto  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obe- 
dient servant,  L.  THOMAS,  Adjutant-General. 

Major-General  J.  C.  FREMONT, 
Commanding  Department  of  the  West,  Tipton. 

On  the  1st  of  November  an  agreement  was 
entered  into  between  Gens.  Fremont  and  Price 
that  a  joint  proclamation  should  be  signed  by 


90 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


both,  and  issued,  which  should  provide  for  cer- 
tain objects  therein  specified,  as  follows : 

To  all  peaceably-disposed  Citizens  of  ike  State  of  Mis- 
souri, greeting :  Whereas,  a  solemn  agreement  has 
been  entered  into  by  and  between  Maj.-Gens.  Fre- 
mont and  Price,  respectively  commanding  antago- 
nistic forces  in  the  State  of  Missouri,  to  the  effect  that 
in  future,  arrests  or  forcible  interference  by  armed 
or  unarmed  parties  of  citizens  withto  the  limits  of 
said  State,  for  the  mere  entertainment  or  expression 
of  political  opinions,  shall  hereafter  cease ;  that  fami- 
lies, now  broken  up  for  such  causes,  maybe  reunited, 
and  that  the  war  now  progressing  shall  be  exclusively 
confined  to  armies  in  the  field.  Therefore  be  it  known 
to  all  whom  it  may  concern : 

1.  No  arrests  whatever  on  account  of  political 
opinions,  or  for  the  merely  private  expression  of 
the  same,  shall  hereafter  be  made  within  the  limits  of 
the  State  of  Missouri ;  and  all  persons  who  may  have 
been  arrested  and  are  held  to  answer  on  such-charges 
only,  shall  be  forthwith  released.    But  it  is  expressly 
declared,  that  nothing  in  this  proclamation  shall  be 
construed  to  bar,  or  interfere  with  any  of  the  usual 
and  regular  proceedings  of  the  established  courts 
under  statutes  and  orders  made  and  provided  for 
such  offences. 

2.  All  peaceably-disposed  citizens  who  may  have 
been  driven  from  their  homes  because  of  their  poli- 
tical opinions,  or  who  may  have  left  them  for  fear  of 
force  or  violence,  are  hereby  advised  and  permitted 
to  return,  upon  the  faith  of  our  positive  assurances 
that,  while  so  returning,  they  shall  receive  protec- 
tion from  both  armies  in  the  field  whenever  it  can  be 
given! 

3.  All  bodies  of  armed  men  acting  without  the  au- 
thority or  recognition  of  the  Major-Generals  before 
named,   and  not   legitimately  connected  with    the 
armies,  in  the  •field,  are  hereby  ordered  at  once  to 
disband. 

4.  Any  violation  of  either  of  the  foregoing  articles 
shall  subject  the  offender  to  the  penalty  of  military 
law,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  offence.     In  testi- 
mony whereof,  the  aforesaid  Maj.-Gen.  John  C.  Fre- 
mont,  at  Springfield,  Mo.,  on  the  1st  day  of  No- 
vember, A.  D.  1861,  and  Maj.-Gen.  Sterling  Price,  at 
Cassville,  on  this  5th  day  of  November,  A.  D.  1861, 
have  hereunto  set  their  hands,  and  hereby  mutually 
pledge  their  earnest  efforts  to  the  enforcement  of 
the  above  articles  of  agreement,  according  to  their 
full  tenor  and  effect,  to  the  best  of  their  ability. 

JOHN  C.  FREMONT, 
Major-General  Commanding  U.  S.  A. 

STERLING  PRICE, 
Maj.-General  Commanding  Missouri  State  Guards. 

On  the  2d  day  of  November,  Gen.  Fremont, 
at  Springfield,  received  the  order  for  his  remov- 
al from  the  command  of  the  Department  of  the 
West.  He  had  arrived  there  only  a  few  days 
previous  at  the  head  of  an  army,  and  was  then 
in  the  act  of  marching  on  after  a  retiring  ene- 
my. ^  Although  not  altogether  unexpected,  it 
occasioned  much  excitement  in  the  army,  and 
many  officers  were  disposed  to  resign,  declaring 
that  they  would  serve  under  no  other  com- 
mander. Gen.  Fremont,  however,  issued  a- 
patriotic  farewell  address,  urging  the  army  to 
cordially  support  his  successor,  and  expressing 
regret  to  leave  on  the  eve  of  a  battle  they  were 
sure  to  win.  The  following  is  his  address : 


HEADQUARTERS  WESTERN  DEPARTMENT.  ) 
SPBINOFIELD,  November  2, 1861.     ) 


Soldiers  of  the  Mississippi  Army:  Agreeably  to 
orders  received  this  day,  I  take  leave  of  you.  Al- 
though our  army  haa  been  of  sudden  growth  we  have 


grown  up  together,  and  I  have  become  familiar  with 
the  brave  and  generous  spirits  which  you  bring  to 
the  defence  of  your  country,  and  which  makes  me 
anticipate  for  you  a  brilliant  career.  Continue  as  you 
have  begun,  and  give  to  my  successor  the  same  cor- 
dial and  enthusiastic  support  with  which  you  have 
encouraged  me.  Emulate  the  splendid  example  which 
you  have  already  before  you,  and  let  me  remain  as  I 
am,  proud  of  the  noble  army  which  I  have  thus  far 
labored  to  bring  together. 

Soldiers,  I  regret  to  leave  you.  Most  sincerely  I 
thank  you  for  the  regard  and  confidence  you  have 
invariably  shown  me.  I  deeply  regret  that  I  shall 
not  have  the  honor  to  lead  you  to  the  victory  which 
you  are  just  about  to  win ;  but  I  shall  claim  the  right 
to  share  with  you  in  the  joy  of  every  triumph^  and 
trust  always  to  be  personallv  remembered  by  my 
companions  in  arms.  JOHN  C.  FREMONT, 

Major-General. 

Gen.  Fremont  immediately  surrendered  his 
command  to  Gen.  Hunter,  and  returned  to  St. 
Louis,  where  he  arrived  on  the  8th  of  Novem- 
ber. 

After  his  departure,  Major-Gen.  Hunter,  on 
the  7th  of  November,  addressed  a  letter  to 
Gen.  Price,  in  which  he  recapitulated  the  agree- 
ment, and  said:  "As  General  commanding  the 
forces  of  the  United  States  in  this  Department, 
I  can  in  no  manner  recognize  the  agreement 
aforesaid,  or  any  of  its  provisions,  whether  im- 
plied or  direct,  and  I  can  neither  issue,  nor 
allow  to  be  issued,  the  'joint  proclamation' 
purporting  to  have  been  signed  by  yourself  and 
Maj.-Gen.  Fremont,  on  the  1st  day  of  Novem- 
ber, A.  D.  1861." 

Some  of  the  objections  of  Gen.  Hunter  to 
this  agreement,  were  that  it  would  render  the 
enforcement  of  martial  law  impossible,  that  it 
would  practically  annul  the  confiscation  act  of 
Congress,  &c. 

The  Federal  force  in  Missouri  at  this  time  was 
estimated  at  27,000  men,  of  whom  5,000  had 
been  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Hunter,  4,000 
under  Gen.  Sigel,  4,500  under  Gen.  Asboth, 
5,500  under  Gen.  McKinstry,  4,000  under  Gen. 
Pope,  under  Gen.  Lane  2,500,  and  under  Gen. 
Sturgis  1,000. 

"When  Gen.  Fremont  left  the  army  was  in 
good  spirits,  and  no  battle  was  soon  expected. 
The  chief  command  was  held  by  Gen.  Hunter  as 
the  oldest  officer  in  the  field,  who  expected  soon 
to  be  superseded  by  Gen.  Halleck.  Gen.  Price 
fell  back  near  the  State  line,  and  remained  until 
the  Federal  army  began  to  recede,  about  the 
15th.  They  were  accompanied  by  long  trains 
of  emigrant  wagons  containing  Union  refugees. 
As  they  retired,  Gen  Price  followed  up  after 
them.  The  advance  of  Gen.  Price  was  made 
in  three  divisions,  and  with  the  intention  of 
moving  upon  Kansas,  .and  making  that  the 
field  of  future  operations.  The  opinion  in  the 
Southern  States  was  that  Gen.  Price  never  had 
any  difficulty  to  procure  men.  His  only  ob- 
stacle had  been  the  want  of  arms. 

On  the  30th  of  November  his  right  wing, 
6,000  strong,  was  at  Stockton.  The  left  wing 
held  position  near  Nevada  under  Gen.  Rains, 
4,000  strong.  The  centre,  under  Gen.  Price, 
6,000  strong,  was  near  Monticello. 


MTLITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


91 


In  Boone  County,  on  the  3d,  Gen.  Prentiss 
broke  up  a  secession  camp,  with  some  loss  on 
both  sides. 

On  the  18th  of  November  Gen.  H.  W.  Hal- 
leek  arrived  at  St.  Louis,  and  took  command 
of  the  Western  Department.  Gens.  Sturgis 
and  Wyman  arrived  on  the  same  day.  The  di- 
visions of  Gens.  Hunter  and  Pope  had  reached 
different  points  on  the  Pacific  Railroad,  there  to 
await  the  orders  of  Gen.  Halleck.  About  the 
20th  the  divisions  of  Gens.  Sigel  and  Asboth 
arrived  at  St.  Louis. 

The  plan  of  Gen.  Price  now,  was  to  approach 
the  boarders  of  Kansas,  and  supply  his  forces 
with  arras,  destroy  the  track  of  the  Northern 
Railroad,  and  thus  cut  off  the  communication 
with  St.  Louis.  This,  however,  was  defeated 
by  the  strategical  combinations  of  Gen.  Hal- 
leck, and  on  the  25th  of  December  almost  a 
clean  sweep  had  been  made  of  the  country  be- 
tween the  Missouri  and  Osage  Rivers,  and  Gen. 
Price  was  cut  off  from  all  supplies  and  recruits 
from  Northern  Missouri,  and  in  full  retreat  for 
Arkansas. 

In  the  last  two  weeks  of  December,  the  Fed- 
eral army  captured  2,500  prisoners,  including 
YO  commissioned  officers,  1,200  horses  and 
mules,  1,100  stand  of  arms,  two  tons  of  powder, 
100  wagons,  and  an  immense  amount  of  com- 
missary stores  and  camp  equipage.  Several 
skirmishes  took  place  during  these  operations. 
On  the  22d  of  November  the  town  of  Warsaw 
was  burned  by  incendiaries,  to  prevent  its  fur- 
ther occupation  by  Union  troops.  At  Salem  a 
skirmish  took  place  on  the  3d  of  December, 
between  a  small  Federal  force  and  a  body  of 
State  Guards.  Several  were  killed  and  wound- 
ed on  both  sides.  At  Shawnee  Moufld,  on  the 
18th  of  December,  Gen.  Pope  captured  150 
Confederate  prisoners,  with  wagons,  tents,  and 
baggage.  At  Milford,  on  the  18th,  a  body  of 
the  enemy  were  surrounded,  and  surrendered. 
Thirteen  hundred  prisoners  were  taken,  includ- 
ing three  colonels  and  seventeen  captains,  and 
one  thousand  stand  of  arms,  one  thousand 
horses,  sixty-five  wagons,  and  a  large  quantity 
of  tents,  baggage,  and  supplies. 

The  close  of  military  operations  in  Missouri 
at  the  approach  of  winter  left  Gen.  Halleck  free 
to  use  a  large  part  of  his  army  in  Western  Ken- 
tucky. The  struggle  in  the  State  during  the 
year  had  been  vigorous  and  active,  especially 
on  the  part  of  Gen.  Price,  under  the  contracted 
resources  at  his  command. 

It  was  stated  at  Richmond,  Va.,  that  after 
the  capture  of  Mulligan,  Gen.  Price  intended  to 
attack  Gen.  Fremont  before  he  could  concen- 
trate his  army,  but  was  prevented  by  a  lack  of 
ammunition  from  executing  his  design.  When 
Lexington  surrendered  he  had  but  2,000  per- 
cussion caps  in  his  whole  command.  He  sent 
to  Gen.  Hardee  and  to  Gen.  McCulloch  for  a 
supply,  but  for  some  reason  it  was  not  sent.  It 
was  thought  at  that  time  in  Richmond  that  if 
Gen.  Price  had  been  zealously  and  efficiently 
seconded,  he  would  soon  have  driven  the  Fed- 


eral force  from  Missouri,  and  thus  have  secured 
to  the  Confederacy  one  of  the  most  important 
Western  States.  A  consequence  of  such  an  ac* 
quisition  would  involve  the  destinies  of  Kansas, 
the  Indian  nation,  Arizona,  and  New  Mexico. 
The  possession  of  the  vast  countries  which  lie 
to  the  west  and  southwest  was  the  occasion 
of  the  contest  made  by  the  Southern  States  in 
Missouri. 

On  the  21st  of  November,  after  Gen.  Halleck 
had  taken  command,  he  issued,  at  St.  Louis,  an 
order,  setting  forth  that,  as  important  informa- 
tion respecting  the  numbers  and  condition  of 
his  forces  had  been  conveyed  to  the  enemy  by 
fugitive  slaves,  no  such  persons  should  there- 
after be  permitted  to  enter  the  lines  of.  any 
camp,  nor  of  any  forces  on  the  march.  On  the 
9th  of  December  he  issued  an  order  directing 
the  Mayor  of  St.  Louis  to  require  all  municipal 
officers  immediately  to  take  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance prescribed  by  the  State  Convention,  and 
also  directing  the  provost-marshal  to  arrest  all 
State  officers  who  had  failed  to  subscribe  the 
oath  within  the  time  fixed,  and  subsequently 
attempted  to  exercise  authority. 

On  the  night  of  December  20,  some  men  who 
had  returned  from  Gen.  Price's  army  destroyed 
about  one  hundred  miles  of  the  Missouri  Rail' 
road,  or  rendered  it  useless.  Commencing  eight 
miles  south  of  Hudson,  they  burned  the  bridge, 
wood  piles,  water  tanks,  ties,  and  tore  up  the 
rails  for  miles,  bent  'them,  and  destroyed  the 
telegraph.  It  was  a  preconcerted  and  simul- 
taneous movement  of  citizens  along  the  road. 

On  the  23d  Gen.  Halleck  issued  an  order 
fixing  the  penalty  of  death  on  all  persons  en* 
gaged  in  destroying  railroads  and  telegraphs, 
and  requiring  the  towns  and  counties  where  it 
is  done  to  repair  the  damages  and  pay  expenses, 

On  the  25th  he  issued  the  following  order, 
declaring  qualified  martial  law  : 

In  virtue  of  authority  conferred  on  me  by  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  martial  law  is  hertby  de- 
clared, and  will  be  enforced  in  and  about  all  the  rail- 
roads in  this  State. 

It  is  not  intended  by  this  declaration  to  interfere 
with  the  jurisdiction  in  any  court  which  is  loyal  to 
the  Government  of  the  United  States,  and  which  will 
aid  the  military  authorities  in  enforcing  order  and 
punishing  crimes. 

The  attack  upon  Fort  Sumter  and  the  call 
of  President  Lincoln  for  seventy-five  thousand 
men,  were  turned  to  the  utmost  advantage  by 
the  friends  of  the  seceded  States,  to  promote 
their  cause.  Kentucky,  however,  refused  to 
take  part  either  with  the  North  or  the  South. 

The  State  Union  Committee  issued  an  ad- 
dress to  the  people  on  the  condition  of  the 
country,  declaring  it  to  be  the  duty  of  the  State 
to  maintain  neutrality,  and  to  take  no  part 
either  with  the  Government  or  the  Confederates. 

The  present  duty  of  Kentucky,  they  said,  was 
to  maintain  her  present  independent  position, 
taking  sides  not  with  the  Government,  and  not 
with  the  seceding  States,  but  with  the  Union 
against  them  both ;  declaring  her  soil  to  be  sa- 
cred from  the  hostile  tread  of  either,  and,  if  ne- 


92 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


cessary,  making  the  declaration  good  with  her 
strong  right  arm.  And,  to  the  end  that  she 
might  he  fully  prepared  for  this  last  contin- 
gency, and  all  other  possible  contingencies,  they 
would  have  her  arm  herself  thoroughly  at  the 
earliest  practicable  moment. 

Subsequently,  Governor  Magoffin  issued  a 
proclamation  with  the  following  warning : 

I  hereby  notify  and  warn  all  other  States,  separate 
or  united,  especially  the  United  and  Confederate 
States,  that  I  solemnly  forbid  any  movement  upon 
Kentucky  soil,  or  occupation  of  any  post  or  place 
therein,  for  any  purposes  whatever,  until  authorized 
by  invitation  or  permission  of  the  Legislative  and 
Executive  authorities.  I  especially  forbid  all  citizens 
of  Kentucky,  whether  incorporated  in  the  State 
Guard,  or  otherwise,  from  making  any  hostile  demon- 
strations against  any  of  the  aforesaid  sovereignties, 
to  be  obedient  to  the  orders  of  lawful  authorities,  to 
remain  quietly  and  peaceably  at  home  when  off  mili- 
tary duty,  and  refrain  from  all  words  and  acts  likely 
to  provoke  a  collision,  and  so  otherwise  to  conduct 
themselves  that  the  deplorable  calamity  of  invasion 
may  be  averted;  but  in  the  meanwhile  to  make 
prompt  and  efficient  preparation  to  assume  the  para- 
mount and  supreme  law  of  self-defence,  and  strictly 
of  self-defence  alone. 

Volunteers  from  Kentucky  entered  both  the 
Northern  and  the  Southern  armies.  Those  at- 
tached to  the  former  were  ordered  to  Western 
Virginia,  and  there  entered  into  active  service. 

So  stringent  had  the  restrictions  upon  all 
intercourse  between  the  .North  and  the  South 
now  become  that  commerce  was  to  a  great 
degree  cut  off,  except  by  the  route  of  the  Louis- 
ville and  Nashville  Eailroad.  It  had  long  be- 
come manifest  that  the  blockade  of  the  South 
would  not  be  complete  unless  the  transit  of 
supplies  through  Kentucky  was  stopped.  But 
how  this  should  be  effected  while  Kentucky 
was  herself  in  so  doubtful  a  position,  was  a 
question  not  easily  determined.  The  authori- 
ties of  Tennessee  solved  it,  however,  by  placing 
a  complete  embargo  on  the  Tennessee  end  of 
the  road. 

They  forbade  the  exportation  of  cotton,  to- 
bacco, rice,  and  turpentine  to  Kentucky.  From 
their  own  point  of  view  the  act  was  one  of 
folly,  for  the  freight  sent  North  was  never  one- 
fifth  part  of  that  sent  South,  and  at  that  mo- 
ment especially  must  have  been  vastly  inferior 
in  importance  to  the  constant  supply  of  provis- 
ions flowing  into  Tennessee  from  Louisville. 
They  thought,  .however,  that  they  could  afford 
the  step,  and  therefore  forbade  all  exports  from 
Tennessee. 

This  cut  the  knot  as  to  the  enforcement  of 
the  blockade  at  Louisville.  It  put  an  end  to 
all  scruples  on  the  part  of  Kentucky,  except 
among  the  open  sympathizers  with  secession ; 
it  placed  the  secessionists  in  the  wrong  in 
"  neutral "  eyes,  and  gave  the  Government 
firm  ground  on  which  to  stand.  The  blockade 
being  undertaken  with  vigor,  those  who  were 
forwarding  supplies  to  the  secessionists  attempt- 
ed to  break  it  by  legal  proceedings.  They 
crowded  the  Louisville  freight  stations  with 
merchandise  consigned  to  Nashville,  and  sued 


the  company  as  common  carriers  for  refusing 
to  receive  and  forward  it.  The  decision  of  the 
Court  justified  the  company  in  its  course  of 
obedience  to  the  Federal  Government,  and  gave 
to  the  Government  the  authority  of  legal  ap- 
proval, as  well  as  the  sympathy  of  right-minded 
citizens.  It  still  remained,  however,  for  the 
Tennessee  secessionists,  in  then1  wisdom,  to 
conceive  one  more  plan  for  perfecting  the  work 
undertaken  by  the  Government.  This  scheme 
they  carried  out  on  the  fourth  of  July,  by  stop- 
ping the  running  of  cars  on  the  railroad  alto- 
gether, and  by  doing  this  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  seriously  injure  a  great  interest  in  Kentucky. 

Of  this  proceeding  we  have  the  following 
account : 

The  Louisville  and  Nashville  Kailway  is  286 
miles  in  length,  forty-five  miles  of  it  lying  in 
Tennessee.  These  forty-five  miles  cost  $2,025,- 
000,  of  which  Tennessee  contributed  in  all  bonds 
to  the  amount  of  $1,160,500,  the  remaining 
$864,500  being  raised  by  the  Kentucky  owners. 
On  the  first  of  July  a  Tennessee  General,  named 
Anderson,  ordered  the  company  to  keep  a  larger 
amount  of  its  rolling  stock  at  Nashville.  James 
Guthrie,  president  of  the  company,  stated,  how- 
ever, that  "  there  being  no  provision  in  the 
charter  to  the  effect  that  the  company  should 
be  subject  to  the  military  orders  of  Tennessee, 
the  order  was  not  complied  with."  On  the  4th 
of  July,  General  Anderson  seized  two  trains 
that  were  about  to  leave  Nashville,  and  one  that 
came  in,  together  with  such  machinery  as  could 
be  found  in  Tennessee,  and  then  called  for  a  fair 
division  of  the  rolling  stock  of  the  road,  and 
agreed  that  while  arrangements  were  in  pro- 
gress for  this  end  the  trains  should  be  uninter- 
rupted ;  but  to  this  Mr.  Guthrie  astutely  made 
answer  that  he  could  thus  have  no  guarantee 
against  the  interference  of  others  besides  Gen- 
eral Anderson,  who  was  supposed  to  be  acting 
under  orders.  This  brought  out  the  Governor 
of  Tennessee  as  the  real  actor  in  the  matter,  for 
he  at  once  replied  »to  Mr.  Guthrie  with  a  prop- 
osition to  continue  the  use  of  the  road  while 
a  division  of  property  was  made.  Mr.  Guthrie 
at  once  rejoined,  disproving  the  charge  made 
by  the  Tennessee  authorities,  that  their  end  of 
the  road  had  not  hitherto  had  its  share  of  the 
rolling  stock,  and  showing  the  impossibility  of 
managing  the  road  under  Governor  Harris's 
proposition. 

The  result  was  that  the  road  was  closed. 
The  Kentucky  stockholders  declared  that  their 
chartered  fights  in  Tennessee  had  been  no 
protection  to  their  property,  and  refused  to 
risk  any  more  within  the  limits  of  that  State. 
All  questions  as  to  the  blockade  upon  this 
route  were  therefore  disposed  of  by  the  break- 
ing up-  of  the  route  itself.  The  secessionists 
felt  the  extent  of  their  error,  for  they  urged 
Governor  Magoffin  to  seize  the  Kentucky  end 
of  the  road,  and  to  run  it  in  connection  with 
Governor  Harris ;  but  it  was  evident  that  such 
a  step  would  only  serve  to  remove  the  last 
scruple  on  the  part  of  Union  men  as  to  forcible 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


93 


resistance  to  the  bold  plans  of  the  secessionists 
in  Kentucky. 

The  question  as  to  the  transit  of  provisions 
to  the  South  by  this  railroad  was  thus  settled ; 
and,  although  it  did  not  close  other  routes 
through  Kentucky,  which  were  equally  im- 
portant, the  controversy  which  had  sprung  up 
took  such  a  turn  as  to  have  an  important  effect 
throughout  the  State,  stimulating  the  Union 
men  everywhere  to  a  more  active  support  of 
tho  Government.  A  small  encampment  of 
Federal  troops  was  formed  in  Garrard  County, 
which  occasioned  some  excitement,  as  it  was 
an  infringement  of  the  neutrality  assumed  by 
Kentucky.  Letters  were  addressed  to  the  com- 
manding officer,  Gen.  Nelson,  asking  the  spe- 
cial object  which  the  Government  had  in  view 
in  the  establishment  of  the  camp  called  "  Camp 
Dick  Robinson."  In  reply,  the  commanding 
officer  said:  "The  troops  assembled  here  have 
been  called  together  at -the  request  of  Union 
men  of  Kentucky.  They  are  intended  for  no 
hostile  or  aggressive  movement  against  any 
party  or  community  whatever,  but  simply  to 
defend  Kentucky  in  case  they  are  needed  for 
that  purpose,  preserve  its  tranquillity,  and  pro- 
tect the  rights  of  all  the  citizens  of  the  State 
under  the  Constitution  and  the  laws;  and  the 
object  of  myself  and  all  the  officers  in  command 
will  be,  by  all  honorable  means,  to  maintain 
that  peace  and  tranquillity."  Commissioners 
were  then  sent  by  the  Governor  to  President 
Lincoln  to  insist  on  the  neutrality  of  the  State. 

Governor  Magoffin,  in  his  letter  to  the  Presi- 
dent, said :  "  In  a  word,  an  army  is  now  being 
organized  and  quartered  in  this  State,  supplied 
with  all  the  appliances  of  war,  without  the  con- 
sent or  advice  of  the  authorities  of  the  State, 
and  without  consultation  with  those  most 
prominently  known  and  recognized  as  loyal 
citizens.  This  movement  now  imperils  that 
peace  and  tranquillity  which  from  the  begin- 
ning of  our  pending  difficulties  have  been  the 
paramount  desire  of  this  people,  and  which,  up 
to  this  time,  they  have  so  secured  to  the  State. 

"  Within  Kentucky  there  has  been,  and  is 
likely  to  be,  no  occasion  for  the  presence  of  mili- 
tary force.  The  people  are  quiet  and  tranquil, 
feeling  no  apprehension  of  any  occasion  arising 
to  invoke  protection  from  the  Federal  arm. 
They  have  asked  that  their  territory  be  left 
free  from  military  occupation,  and  the  present 
tranquillity  of  their  communication  left  unin- 
vaded  by  soldiers.  They  do  not  desire  that 
Kentucky  shall  be  required  to  supply  the  bat- 
tle-field for  the  contending  armies,  or  become 
the  theatre  of  the  war. 

'.'  Now,  therefore,  as  Governor  of  the  State 
of  Kentucky,  and  in  the  name  of  the  people  I 
have  the  honor  to  represent,  and  with  the  sin- 
gle and  earnest  desire  to  avert  from  their  peace- 
ful homes  the  horrors  of  war,  I  urge  the  re- 
moval from  the  limits  of  Kentucky  of  the  milita- 
ry force  now  organized  and  encamped  within 
the  State.  If  such  action  as  is  hereby  urged  be 
promptly  taken,  I  firmly  believe  the  peace  of 


the  people  of  Kentucky  will  be  preserved,  and 
the  horrors  of  a  bloody  war  will  be  averted 
from  a  people  now  peaceful  and  tranquil." 

To  this  the  President  replied :  "In  all  I 
have  done  in  the  premises  I  have  acted  upon 
the  urgent  solicitation  of  many  Kentuckians, 
and  in  accordance  with  what  I  believed,  and 
still  believe,  to  be  the  wish  of  a  majority  of  all 
the  Union-loving  people  of  Kentucky. 

"While  I  have  conversed  on  this  subject 
with  many  eminent  men  of  Kentucky,  includ- 
ing a  large  majority  of  her  members  of  Con- 
gress, I  do  not  remember  that  any  one  of  them, 
or  any  other  person,  except  your  Excellency 
and  the  bearers  of  your  Excellency's  letter,  has 
urged  me  to  remove  the  military  force  from 
Kentucky,  or  to  disband  it.  One  other  very 
worthy  citizen  of  Kentucky  did  solicit  me  to 
have  the  augmenting  of  the  force  suspended  for 
a  time. 

"  Taking  all  the  means  within  my  reach  to 
form  a  judgment,  I  do  not  believe  it  is  the  pop- 
ular wish  of  Kentucky  that  this  force  shall  be 
removed  beyond  her  limits ;  and,  with  this  im- 
pression, I  must  respectfully  decline  to  so  re- 
move it. 

"I  most  cordially  sympathize  with  your  Ex- 
cellency in  the  wish  to  preserve  the  peace  of 
my  own  native  State,  Kentucky.  It  is  with 
regret  I  search,  and  cannot  find,  in  your  not 
very  short  letter,  any  declaration  or  intimation 
that  you  entertain  any  desire  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  Federal  Union." 

A  similar  letter  was  addressed  by  the  Gov- 
ernor to  the  President  of  the  insurrectionary 
States.  In  the  reply,  Mr.  Davis  said :  "The 
Government  of  the  Confederate  States  of  Amer- 
ica neither  intends  nor  desires  to  disturb  the 
neutrality  of  Kentucky.  The  assemblage  of 
troops  in  Tennessee  to  which  you  refer  had  no 
other  object  than  to  repel  the  lawless  invasion 
of  that  State  by  the  forces  of  the  United  States, 
should  their  Government  approach  it  through 
Kentucky,  without  respect  for  its  position  of 
neutrality.  That  such  apprehensions  were  not 
groundless  has  been  proved  by  the  course  of 
that  Government  in  Maryland  and  Missouri, 
and  more  recently  in  Kentucky  itself,  in  which, 
as  you  inform  me,  '  a  military  force  has  been 
enlisted  and  quartered  by  the  United  States 
authorities.' 

"  The  Government  of  the  Confederate  States 
has  not  only  respected  most  scrupulously  the 
neutrality  of  Kentucky,  but  has  continued  to 
maintain  the  friendly  relations  of  trade  and  in- 
tercourse which  it  has  suspended  with  the  peo- 
ple of  the  United  States  generally. 

"In  view  of  the  history  of  the  past,  it  can 
scarcely  be  necessary  to  assure  your  Excellency 
that  the  Government  of  the  Confederate  States 
will  continue  to  respect  the  neutrality  of  Ken- 
tucky so  long  as  her  people  will  maintain  it 
themselves. 

"But  neutrality,  to  be  entitled  to  respect, 
must  be  strictly  maintained  between  both  par- 
ties ;  or  if  the  door  be  opened  on  the  one  side 


94. 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


for  the  aggressions  of  one  of  the  belligerent 
parties  upon  the  other,  it  ought  not  to  be  shut 
to  the  assailed  when  they  seek  to  enter  it  for 
the  purpose  of  self-defence. 

"I  do  not,  however,  for  a  moment  believe 
that  your  gallant  State  will  suffer  its  soil  to  be 
used  for  the  purpose  of  giving  an  advantage 
to  those  who  violate  its  neutrality  and  dis- 
regard its  rights,  over  those  who  respect  them 
both." 

It  should  be  stated  that  previous  to  this  cor- 
respondence, Kentucky  had  been  invaded  by 
Tennessee  forces,  and  six  cannons  and  a  thou- 
sand stands  of  arms  taken.  The  Richmond 
Congress,  on  August  7th,  passed  an  act  author- 
izing enlistments  in  Kentucky.  The  Legisla- 
ture assembled  on  the  2d  of  September,  and  on 
the  5th  a  large  barbecue  was  to  be  held  in 
Owens  County,  about  twelve  miles  from  the 
Beat  of  Government.  The  apprehensions  of  the 
Unionists  were  greatly  excited  on  this  occasion. 
The  State  Guard  were  invited  to  attend ;  .they 
consisted  of  an  organized  body  of  troops  about 
fifteen  thousand  strong,  under  the  control  of 
the  friends  of  secession  in  the  State.  Intimida- 
tion of  the  Legislature  was  feared.  Happily 
the  affair  passed  over  without  any  special  in- 
terest. A  Peace  Convention  was  also  to  be 
held  on  the  tenth  of  the  same  month,  which 
awakened  apprehensions  of  an  attempt- to  or- 
ganize the  secession  force.  But  these  likewise 
proved  groundless.  The  Legislature  stood  27 
Union  and  11  Southern  Rights  Senators,  and  76 
Union  and  24  Southern  Rights  Represent- 
atives. The  message  of  the  Governor  to  that 
body  on  the  5th  of  September,  asserted  that  Ken- 
tacky  had  a  right  to  assume  a  neutral  position 
in  the  war;  that  she  had  no  agency  in  fostering 
a  sectional  party  in  the  Free  States,  and  did  not 
approve  of  separate  action  and  the  secession  of 
the  Southern  States.  Lawless  raids  had  been 
suffered  on  both  sides,  private  property  seized, 
commerce  interrupted,  and  trade  destroyed. 
These  wrongs  had  been  borne  with  patience, 
but  a  military  Federal  force  had  been  organized, 
equipped,  and  encamped  in  a  central  portion  of 
Kentucky,  without  consultation  with  the  State 
authorities.  If  the  people  of  Kentucky  desired 
more  troops,  let  them  be  obtained  under  the 
Constitution  of  Kentucky.  He  recommended 
the  passage  of  a  law  to  enable  the  Military 
Board  to  borrow  a  sufficient  sum  to  purchase 
arms  and  munitions  for  the  defence  of  the  State. 
He  also  recommended  the  passage  of  resolu- 
tions requesting  the  disbanding  or  removal  of 
all  military  bodies  not  under  State  authority, 
from  the  State. 

On  the  same  day  the  Legislature  were  notified 
that  Confederate  troops  had  invaded  the  State, 
and  occupied  and  fortified  strong  positions  at 
Uickman  and  Chalk  Bluffs.  Governor  Harris, 
of  Tennessee,  replied  to  a  demand  of  the  Ken- 
tucky authorities,  that  the  troops  "that  landed 
at  Hickraan  last  night  did  so  without  rny  knowl- 
edge or  consent,  and  I  am  confident  without  the 
consent  of  the  '  President.''  I  have  telegraphed 


President  Davis  requesting  their  immediate 
withdrawal." 

Gen.  Polk,  in  command  of  the  secession 
forces,  in  reply  to  the  Governor  of  Kentucky, 
stated  that  he  had  occupied  Columbus  and 
Hickrnan,  in  Kentucky,  on  account  of  reliable 
information  that  the  Federal  forces  were  about 
to  occupy  the  said  points.  He  proposed  sub- 
stantially that  the  Federal  and  Confederate 
forces  should  be  simultaneously  withdrawn 
from  Kentucky,  and  enter  into  stipulation  to 
respect  the  neutrality  of  the  State. 

In  the  proclamation  issued  on  the  4th  of 
September,  Gen.  Polk  gives  this  reason  for 
invading  Kentucky:  "The  Federal  Govern- 
ment having,  in  defiance  of  the  wishes  of  the 
people  of  Kentucky,  disregarded  their  neutrality 
by  establishing  camp  depots  for  their  armies, 
and  by  organizing  military  companies  within 
the  territory,  and  by  constructing  military 
works  on  the  Missouri  shore  immediately  op- 
posite and  commanding  Columbus,  evidently 
intended  to  cover  the  landing  of  troops  for  the 
seizure  of  that  town,  it  has  become  a  military 
necessity  for  the  defence  of  the  territory  of  the 
Confederate  States  that  a  Confederate  force 
should  occupy  Columbus  in  advance." 

On  the  9th,  the  Governor  communicated  the 
following  to  the  Legislature:  "The  under- 
signed yesterday  received  a  verbal  message, 
through  a  messenger,  from  Gov.  Harris.  The 
message  was  that  he  £Gov.  H.)  had,  by  tele- 
graphic despatch,  requested  Gen.  Polk  to  with- 
draw the  Confederate  troops  from  Kentucky, 
and  that  Gen.  Polk  had  declined  to-  do  so ; 
that  Gov.  Harris  then  telegraphed  to  Secretary 
"Walker,  at  Richmond,  requesting  that  Gen. 
Polk  be  ordered  to  withdraw  his  troops  from 
Kentucky,  and  that  such  order  was  issued  from 
the  War  Department  of  the  Confederacy ;  that 
Gen.  Polk  replied  to  the  War  Department  that 
the  retention  of  the  post  was  a  military  neces- 
sity, and  that  the  retiring  from  it  would  be  at- 
tended by  the  loss  of  many  lives.  This  em- 
braces the  message  received." 

On  the  same  day  the  Governor  also  received 
the  following  by  telegraph  from  Gen.  Polk : 

Gov.  B.  MAGOFFIN  :  A  military  necessity  having 
required  me  to  occupy  this  town,  Columbus,  I  have 
taken  possession  of  it  by  the  forces  under  my  com- 
mand. The  circumstances  leading  to  this  act  were 
reported  promptly  to  the  President  of  the  Confed- 
erate States.  His  reply  was,  the  necessity  justified 
the  action. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  the  invasion  of  the 
State  by  the  Tennessee  troops  brought  in  a 
Federal  force  under  Gen.  Grant  from  Cairo. 
Thus  ended  the  neutrality  of  Kentucky. 

It  was  on  the  6th  of  September  that  Gen. 
Grant,  with  two  regiments  of  infantry  and  a 
company  of  light  artillery,  in  two  gunboats, 
took  possession  of  Paducah,  Kentucky.  He 
found  secession  flags  flying  in  different  parts 
of  the  town,  in  expectation  of  greeting  the 
arrival  of  the  Southern  army,  which  was  re- 
ported to  be  3,800  strong,  and  only  sixteen 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


95 


miles  distant.  The  loyal  citizens  tore  down  the 
secession  flags  on  the  arrival  of  the  Federal 
troops.  Gen.  Grant  took  possession  of  the 
telegraph  office,  railroad  depot,  and  the  marine 
hospital.  He  found  large  quantities  of  com- 
plete rations,  leather,  etc.,  for  the  Southern 
army. 

He  issued  a  proclamation  saying  that  he  came 
solely  for  the  purpose  of  defending  the  State 
from  aggression,  and  to  enable  the  State  laws 
to  be  executed. 

On  the  llth  of  September,  the  Assembly  of 
the  Legislature  adopted  a  resolution  directing 
the  Governor  to  issue  a  proclamation  ordering 
the  Confederate  troops  to  evacuate  Kentucky 
soil.  The  vote  was  seventy-one  against  twenty- 
six.  The  House  refused  to  suspend  the  rules  to 
allow  another  resolution  to  be  offered  ordering 
the  proclamation  to  be  issued  to  both  Federals 
and  Confederates. 

This  resolution  was  subsequently  passed  by 
the  Senate,  and  vetoed  by  the  Governor.  It 
was  then  passed,  notwithstanding  the  Govern- 
or's objections,  by  a  vote  in  the  House  of  68 
to  26,  and  in  the  Senate  of  25  to  9.  The  Gov- 
ernor then  issued  his  proclamation  as  follows: 

In  obedience  to  the  subjoined  resolution,  adopted 
by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Kentucky,  the  Government  of  the  Confederate  States, 
the  State  of  Tennessee,  and  all  others  concerned,  are 
hereby  informed  that  "  Kentucky  expects  the  Con- 
federate or  Tennessee  trbops  to  be  withdrawn  from 
her  soil  unconditionally." 

In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  name, 
and  caused  the  seal  of  the  Commonwealth  to  be  af- 
fixed. Done  at  Frankfort  this  the  13th  day  of  Sep- 
tember, A.  D.  1861,  and  in  the  seventieth  year  of  the 
Commonwealth.  B.  MAGOFFIN. 

By  the  Governor : 

THOS.  B.  MONROE,  Jr.,  Secretary  of  State. 

Resolved,  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  Kentucky,  That  his  excellency  Governor 
Magoffin  be,  and  he  is  hereby  instructed  to  inform 
those  concerned  that  Kentucky  expects  the  Confed- 
erate or  Tennessee  troops  to  be  withdrawn  from  her 
soil  unconditionally. 

Preparations  were  now  commenced  for  differ- 
ent military  movements. 

While  Gen.  Polk  was  thus  invading  the  State 
on  the  west,  Gen.  Zollicoffer  was  operating  on 
the  east.  "With  about  four  thousand  men  he 
came  to  Cumberland  Ford,  which  is  situated 
near  the  point  where  the  corner  of  Virginia 
runs  into  Kentucky,  and  captured  a  company 
of  Home  Guards.  On  the  17th,  the  Legislature 
received  a  message  from  Governor  Magoffin 
communicating  a  telegraphic  despatch  from 
Gen.  Zollicoffer,  announcing  that  the  safety  of 
Tennessee  demanded  the  occupation  of  Cum- 
berland, and  the  three  long  mountains  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  that  he  had  done  so,  and  should 
retain  his  position  until  the  Union  forces  were 
withdrawn,  and  the  Union  camp  broken  up. 

Col.  Crittenden,  of  Indiana,  who  was  the  first 
to  bring  a  regiment  from  another  State  into 
Western  Virginia  in  aid  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment, was  also  the  first  to  go  to  the  aid  of 
Kentucky.  His  regiment,  well  armed,  passed 


through  Louisville  on  the  20th  of  Sept.,  toward 
the  Nashville  depot,  and  were  enthusiastically 
received.  At  the  same  time  Gen.  Buckner,  once 
the  Inspector-General  of  Kentucky,  but  after- 
wards a  Brigadier  in  the  Southern  service,  ad- 
vanced on  Elizabethtown,  the  capital  of  Har- 
din  County,  and  on  the  railroad  from  Louisville 
to  Nashville.  Troops  were  now  rapidly  con- 
centrated in  the  State,  and  despatched  to  points 
invaded  by  the  Confederates. 

Gov.  Magoffin  issued  a  proclamation,  direct- 
ing Gen.  Thomas  L.  Crittenden  to  call  out  the 
State  troops  to  resist  the  invasion  of  the  State, 
and  Gen.  C.  accordingly  called  out  the  militia. 
Hamilton  Pope,  Brigadier-General  of  the  Home 
Guards,  also  called  upon  the  people  in  each 
ward  in  Louisville  to  organize  themselves  into 
companies  for  the  protection  of  the  city. 

Thus  was  Kentucky  launched  with  her  whole 
soul  into  the  bloody  contest  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  Government  and  the  preservation  of  the 
Union. 

On  the  23d  the  House  passed  a  bill  authoriz- 
ing the  Military  Board  to  borrow  one  million 
dollars,  in  addition  to  a  million  authorized  May 
24th,  on  the  State  bonds,  payable  in  ten  years, 
and  established,  a  tax  to  pay  the  bonds  and  in- 
terest. The  above  sum  was  to  be  appropriated 
to  the  defence  of  the  State. 

On  the  next  day  a  bill  was  passed  calling  out 
40,000  volunteers  for  service  from  one  to  three 
years.  The  votes  were,  in  the  House,  67  to  13, 
and  in  the  Senate  21  to  5.  The  Senate  also 
passed  a  bill  providing  that  Kentuckians  who 
voluntarily  joined  the  Confederate  force  invad- 
ing the  State,  should  be  incapable  of  taking 
estate  in  Kentucky  by  devise,  bequest,  division, 
or  distribution,  unless  they  returned  to  their 
allegiance  within  sixty  days,  or  escaped  from  the 
invaders  as  soon  as  possible. 

A  bill  was  also  passed  tendering  the  thanks 
of  the  Legislature  to  Ohio,  Illinois,  and  Indiana, 
for  having  so  promptly  forwarded  troops  to  aid 
in  repelling  the  invasion  of  the  State ;  and  the 
Governor  was  instructed  to  communicate  the 
same. 

The  Bank  of  Kentucky  promised  her  quota 
of  the  $2,000,000  for  the  defence  of  the  State. 
The  Bank  of  Louisville,  whose  quota  was  nearly 
$100,000,  promised  $200,000.  The  Northern 
Bank  promised  $25,000  more  than  her  quota ; 
and  the  Farmers'  Bank  promptly  responded  to 
her  quota. 

The  military  operations  in  the  State,  though 
marked  by  no  great  achievement  during  1861, 
were  nevertheless  the  forerunner  of  very  im- 
portant results.  Civil,  commercial,  and  agri- 
cultural pursuits  had  engrossed  the  entire  atten- 
tion of  the  people.  In  a  military  point  of  view 
the_  State,  like  nearly  all  her  sister  States,  was 
entirely  defenceless.  Men,  arms,  ammunition, 
were  abundant,  but  an  organized,  drilled,  and 
completely-equipped  force,  ready  to  take  the 
field  and  go  into  active  service  on  a  day's  notice, 
could  not  be  expected  to  exist.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  position  of  neutrality,  after  President 


96 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Lincoln's  proclamation,  imperfect  organizations 
were  formed,  under  the  name  of  Home  Guards. 
Their  object  was  to  drill  novices,  and  impart 
the  preliminary  information  needed  for  the  fu- 
ture soldiers.  These  embraced  considerable 
numbers,  and  finally  formed  the  chief  portion 
of  the  force  obtained  by  the  secessionists  in  the 
State.  Large  numbers  also  left  the  State,  and 
volunteered  in  the  Federal  and  Confederate 
armies. 

The  first  appearance  of  a  military  force  with- 
in Kentucky  was  made  under  Gen.  Polk,  com- 
mander of  Confederate  troops  from  Tennessee, 
as  has  been  previously  stated.  They  commenced 
fortifying  Hickman  and  Columbus.  The  former 
is  situated  in  the  western  part  of  the  State,  near 
the  Tennessee  line,  and  the  latter  about  twenty- 
five  miles  north.  Its  position  is  on  the  southern 
slope  of  a  high  bluff  of  the  Mississippi  bank, 
which  commands  the  stream  for  about  five  miles. 
"Wolf's  Island  is  in  the  centre  of  the  river  in  its 
immediate  vicinity.  The  place  was  occupied 
on  the  4th  of  September  by  Gen.  Folk's  troops. 
This  closed  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  to 
the  steamboats  belonging  to  the  States  above. 
The  fortifications  were  pushed  to  such  an  ex- 
tent as  to  render  it  one  of  the  strongest  points 
held  by  the  Confederate  troops.  Three  one 
hundred  and  twenty-eight  pounders  were  placed 
in  such  a  position  as  to  command  the  river  from 
the  highest  part  of  the  bluff,  being  seventy-five 
feet  above  the  water.  Above  on  the  river  was 
another  battery  of  fourteen  guns,  most  of  which 
were  rifled. 

On  the  northern  slope  of  the  bluff  were  two 
light  batteries  and  a  rifle-pit,  one  mile  in  length, 
whjcli  were  designed  specially  to  protect  the 
place  against  a  land  attack  from  the  north,  while 
on  the  summit  of  the  hills  was  a  strongly-in- 
trenched work,  commanding  all  directions,  and 
manned  by  eight  cannon. 

On  the  south  side,  and  to  protect  the  town 
from  a  rear  attack,  was  a  small  battery  of  eight 
guns.  The  whole  number  of  guns  has  been  esti- 
mated at  between  eighty  and  a  hundred.  In 
addition,  there  was  a  floating  battery  of  twenty 
guns  capable  of  being  moved  to  the  most  ex- 
posed points. 

About  the  same  time  Gen.  Grant,  as  before 
stated,  commander  of  the  Federal  force  at  Cairo, 
took  possession  of  Paducah,  on  the  Ohio  River. 
The  distance  between  the  two  positions  is  forty- 
seven  miles.  *It  is  below  the  mouth  of  the  Ten- 
nessee River,  and  340  miles  below  Louisville. 
The  town  was  occupied  about  eight  .o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  September  6.  The  9th  Illinois 
regiment,  Major  Phelps,  the  12th  Illinois,  Col. 
McArthur,  with  four  pieces  of  artillery,  left 
Cairo  for  Paducah  on  the  previous  evening. 
Upon  their  arrival  the  disembarkation  was 
quickly  performed.  Every  place  of  business 
was  closed. 

At  the  railroad  depot  it  appeared  that  all  the 
rolling  stock  had  been  sent  off.  A  large  quan- 
tity of  contraband  supplies,  marked  for  towns 
in  the  insurrectionary  States,  was  found  in  the, 


depot,  and  immediately  seized.  They  were 
marked  for  Fort  Gibson,  Memphis,  Union  City, 
and  New  Orleans.  The  whole  value  of  the 
seizure  was  over  twenty  thousand  dollars.  On 
the  next  day,  part  of  the  8th  regiment,  the  41st 
Illinois,  and  the  American  Zouaves  from  Capo 
Girardeau,  poured  in,  increasing  the  force  to 
about  5,000  effective  men.  Gen.  Polk,  it  was 
supposed,  intended  to  seize  Paducah,  but  was 
barely  anticipated  by  Gen.  Grant.  It  was  ne- 
cessary for  the  former  as,  a  defence  for  the  rear 
of  his  positions  on  the  Mississippi.  He  advanced 
as  far  as  Mayfield  two  or  three  times  with  a. 
large  force,  but  his  prudence  caused  him  to  re- 
treat. 

In  the  southeastern  part  of  the  State,  Gen. 
Zollicoffer  advanced  from  Tennessee  with  a 
considerable  force,  and  on  the  18th  of  Sep- 
tember a  slight  skirmish  took  place  at  Bar- 
boursville  between  some  of  his  men  and  a 
portion  of  Home  Guards,  but  without  any 
serious  results  on  either  side.  The  Confed- 
erate cavalry  scoured  the  country  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  their  camp,  arrested  prominent  Union 
men,  and  destroyed  their  property.  They  also 
occupied  the  small  towns  in  the  vicinity.  Sub- 
sequently, a  portion  of  the  same  force  entered 
Manchester,  in  Clay  County,  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Cumberland  Mountains.  On  the  1st  of  Oc- 
tober a  retreat  was  commenced  toward  Bar- 
boursville,  which  was  continued  to  the  Cumber- 
land Ford.  This  is  fifteen  miles  within  tho 
limits  of  Kentucky,  and  was  fortified  by  Gen. 
Zollicoffer ;  meanwhile,  his  advance  was  pushed 
to  London,  and  the  country  ravaged.  The  salt- 
works in  this  region  were  an  important  posses- 
sion to  the  Confederate  force.  In  their  rear 
was  also  the  Cumberland  Gap — a  most  impor- 
tant point — from  which  the  East  Tennessee  and 
Virginia  Railroad,  forty  miles  below,  would  bo 
accessible  to  a  Federal  force.  This  railroad  was 
one  of  the  main  lines  for  the  transportation  of 
supplies  to  the  troops  in  Virginia.  During  this 
period,  a  Federal  force  of  Ohio  and  Indiana 
troops,  with  some  Kentucky  volunteers,  were 
advancing  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check,  and, 
if  able,  to  route  them.  This  force  was  under 
the  command  of  Gen.  Schoapf.  The  first  affair 
of  any  importance  took  place  at  a  place  called 
Camp  Wildcat,  on  the  21st  of  Oct.  About 
eleven  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  a  body  of 
rebel  troops,  consisting  of  two  regiments  of 
Tennessee  volunteers,  under  Cols.  Newman  and 
Bowler,  advanced  upon  four  companies  of  the 
33d  Indiana  regiment,  Col.  Coburn,  and  a  por- 
tion of  Col.  "Woodford's  regiment  of  Kentucky 
cavalry.  The,  Confederate  force  opened  upon  tho 
33d  Indiana  on  the  left  wing  with  cannon,  and 
almost  simultaneously  their  column  appeared 
on  the  side  of  the  hill,  within  sixty  or  seventy 
yards  of  the  Indiana  troops.  A  charge  was  or- 
dered upon  the  latter,  which  was  met  with  such 
a  Calling  fire  as  brought  the  Tennesseeans  to  a 
stand,  when  a  charge  by  the  Kentucky  cavalry 
was  made  upon  them,  and  they  retired  with  se- 
vere loss.  At  one  P.  M.  another  attack  was 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


97 


made  at  another  point,  and  at  a  late  hour  a 
third  attack  made  by  Gen.  Zollicoffer.  It  was 
supposed  that  the  camp  was  defended  only  by 
a  small  force  under  Col.  Garrard.  The  attack- 
ing force  consisted  of  Mississippians,  Georgians, 
and  Tenesseeans.  The  opposing  force  was  under 
Gen.  Schoepf,  consisting  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  and 
Kentucky  troops.  The  Confederates  were  gen- 
erally armed  with  flint-lock  muskets  and  altered 
locks,  buckshot  guns,  and  navy-revolvers.  The 
Federal  force  carried  the  Minie  rifle.  Eeen- 
forcements  were  added  to  each  force  during  the 
day,  and  the  different  attacks  were  probably 
made  after  they  were  received  by  the  Confed- 
erate commander.  The  enemy  were  repulsed 
with  severe  loss,  and  retired  to  Barboursville. 

The  small  Federal  force  in  Eastern  Kentucky 
was  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Nelson,  a 
Lieutenant  in  the  Navy,  who  had  been  detach- 
ed from  his  naval  duties  and  sent  to  Kentucky, 
of  which  State  he  was  a  native,  and  well  known 
to  her  citizens.  Being  furnished  with  arms  by 
the  Federal  Government,  he  collected  and  or- 
ganized a  force  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State, 
near  Virginia.  With  these  he  advanced,  and 
on  the  2d  of  November  occupied  Prestonburg 
without  any  resistance.  The  enemy  fell  back 
about  six  miles. 

His  next  movement  was  on  Pikeville,  near 
which  a  Confederate  force  under  Gen.  Williams 
had  taken  position.  Pikeville  is  the  capital  of 
Pike  County,  on  the  west  fork  of  the  Big  Sandy 
Eiver.  On  the  forenoon  of  the  7th  he  despatch- 
ed a  force,  under  Col.  Sill,  of  one  regiment  of 
infantry  with  a  light  battalion  of  three  compa- 
nies, and  two  companies  of  Kentucky  volunteers 
mounted  from  the  teams,  and  a  section  of  artil- 
lery, to  march  by  the  way  of  John's  Creek,  and 
pass  to  the  left  of  Pikeville,  where  was  the 
enemy's  position — a  distance  of  about  forty 
miles — and  turn  or  cut  them  off".  On  the  8th, 
at  5  A.M.,  Gen.  Nelson  moved  forward  with 
three  Ohio  regiments,  a  battalion  of  Kentucky 
volunteers,  and  two  sections  of  artillery,  and 
took  the  State  road  direct  to  Pikeville,  distant 
twenty-eight  miles.  Eight  miles  from  Preston- 
burg  they  met  a  picket  of  about  forty  cavalry, 
which  escaped.  At  1  p.  M.,  the  cavalry  had 
advanced  along  the  narrow  defile  of  the  moun- 
tain that  ends  at  Ivy  Creek.  This  mountain  is 
the  highest  along  the  river,  very  precipitous, 
and  thickly  covered  with  brush  and  under- 
growth, and  the  road,  which  is  but  seven  feet 
wide,  is  cut  along  the  side  of  it,  about  twenty- 
five  feet  above  the  river,  which  is  close  under 
the  road.  The  ridge  descends  in  a  rapid  curve 
and  very  sharp  to  the  creek,  or  rather  gorge, 
where  it  makes  a  complete  elbow.  Behind  this 
ridge,  and  along  the  mountain  side,  the  enemy, 
seven  hundred  strong,  lay  in  ambush,  and  did 
not-fire  until  the  head  of  the  Kentucky  battalion, 
Col.  0.  A.  Marshall,  was  up  to  the  elbow.  Four 
were  instantly  killed  and  thirteen  wounded,  and 
the  Kentuckians  were  ordered  to  charge.  Col. 
Hanis  led  his  2d  Ohio  regiment  up  the  moun- 
tain side  with  much  gafiantry,  and  deployed 
7 


them  along  its  face.  Col.  Norton,  who  had 
just  reached  the  defile,  led  his  21st  Ohio  regi- 
ment up  the  northern  ridge  of  the  mountain, 
deployed  them  along  the  creek,  and  made  an 
attack.  Two  pieces  of  artillery  were  got  in 
position  on  the  road,  and  opened  on  the  enemy. 
In  an  hour  and  twenty  minutes  the  rebel  force 
dispersed  and  fled,  leaving  a  number  killed  and 
wounded,  of  whom  thirty  were  found  dead  on 
the  field.  The  Federal  loss  was  six  killed  and 
twenty-four  wounded.  In  their,  retreat  they 
obstructed  the  road  by  felling  trees  and  burning 
or  cutting  all  the  bridges.  • 

On  the  ntorning  of  the  10th  Gen.  Nelson 
reached  Pikeville,  where  Col.  Sill  had  arrived, 
according  to  orders,  on  the  previous  day,  hav- 
ing twice  encountered  mounted  men.  The  re- 
sult of  these  movements  was  so  effectual,  that, 
on  the  10th,  Gen.  Nelson  issued  the  following 
proclamation : 

SOLDIERS  : — I  thank  you  for  what  you  have  done. 
In  a  campaign  of  twenty  days  you  have  driven  the 
rebels  from  Eastern  Kentucky,  and  given  repose  to 
that  portion  of  the  State.  You  have  made  continual' 
forced  marches  over  wretched  roads,  deep  in  mud. 
Badly  clad,  you  have  bivouacked  on  the  wet  ground, 
in  the  November  rain,  without  a  murmur.  With 
scarcely  half  rations,  you  have  pressed  forward  with 
unfailing  perseverance.  The  only  place  that  the 
enemy  made  a  stand,  though  ambushed  and  very 
strong,  you  drove  him  from,  in  the  most  brilliant 
style.  For  your  constancy  and  courage  I  thank  you, 
and  with  the  qualities  which  you  have  shown  that 
you  possess,  I  expect  great  things  from  you  in  future. 

Thus  closed  the  campaign  in  Eastern  Ken- 
tucky. In  the  central  part  of  the  State  the 
military  movements  were  more  extensive. 
Louisville,  the  headquarters  of  the  Union  De- 
partment, is  situated  on  the  Ohio  Eiver,  on  the 
northern  boundary  of  the  State,  and  connected 
by  river  and  railroad  with  all  the  Northern 
States,  and  by  railroad  with  the  localities  of 
active  operations  near  the  borders  of  Central 
Tennessee.  The  level  land  on  which  the  city 
is  located,  extends  uninterruptedly  south  to 
Eolling  Fork  Eiver,  a  stream  two  hundred  feet 
in  width  and  three  feet  deep.  Crossing  by 
bridge  or  a  ford,  a  good  road  leads  through  a 
level  country  for  two  miles  to  a  series  of  rugged 
hills,  known  as  Muldraugh's  Hills.  The  rail- 
road follows  a  stream  called  Clear  Creek,  cross- 
ing it  about  half  way  up  the  ascent  by  a  tressel- 
work  ninety  feet  high,  and  two  miles  further 
south  enters  at  its  base  Tunnel  Hill.  It  emerges 
on  a  smooth  level  plain,  which  extends  many 
miles  south  to  Green  Eiver.  Elizabethtown  is 
four  miles  from  Tunnel  Hill  and  forty-two  miles 
from  Louisville.  Nolin  Creek  is  the  first  stream 
of  any  importance  south  of  Elizabethtown,  and 
fifty-three  miles  from  Louisville.  Munfords- 
ville  is  on  the  right  bank  of  Green  Eiver,  and 
seventy-two  miles  from  Louisville.  Green  Eiver 
empties  into  the  Ohio,  'and  is  navigable  by 
steamboats  most  of  the  year.  The  railroad 
crosses  it  by  an  extensive  bridge.  Bowling 
Green  is  on  the  railroad,  one  hundred  and  four- 
teen miles  from  Louisville  and  seventy-one 
miles  from  Nashville.  It  is  also  at  the  head 


98 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


of  navigation  on  Barren  River,  which  flows 
into  Green  River  thirty  miles  below.  A  bran<jh 
railroad  to  Memphis  commences  here ;  the  dis- 
tance by  which  to  Clarksville,  on  the  Cumber- 
land River,  is  sixty-two  miles,  and  from  thence 
to  Memphis  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven  miles. 
The  importance  of  Bowling  Green  is  manifest 
from  its  position  at  the  junction  of  two  roads 
leading  into  Tennessee,  furnishing  great  facili- 
ties for  transportation.  The  entrance  of  hostile 
forces  into  the  western  part  of  the  State,  in 
September,  produced  great  excitement  at  Louis- 
ville! Union  Home  Guards  began  to  assemble, 
and  other  Union  troops  began  to»  arrive  from 
Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois.  On  the  18th  of 
September  a  body  of  the  latter  advanced  to 
Rolling  Fork,  where  they  found  the  bridge 
had  been  destroyed  by  a  hostile  force  under 
Gen.  Buckner,  formerly  commander  of  the  State 
Guard.  This  force  was  then  five  miles  below, 
on  Muldraugh's  Hills,  but  subsequently  with- 
drew to  Elizabethtown.  At  this  time  Gen.  An- 
derson, formerly  in  command  at  Fort  Sumter, 
was  ordered  to  the  Department  of  Kentucky, 
but  was  soon  compelled  to  resign  his  command, 
in  consequence  of  ill  health,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  who  for  the  same  rea- 
son retired,  and  was  succeeded  by  Gen.  Buell. 

As  early  as  the  10th  of  October,  a  very  con- 
siderable Federal  force  was  in  Camp  Dick  Rob- 
inson, in  Garrard  County,  which  was  daily 
becoming  more  formidable.  At  the  same  time 
the  Confederate  General  Buckner,  who  had 
boasted  of  an  intention  to  spend  the  winter  in 
Louisville  with  his  troops,  began  to  retire  to 
Bowling  Green,  and  on  the  13th  a  portion  of  the 
iron  bridge  over  the  Green  River  was  blown  up. 
Friends  in  Louisville  and  throughout  the  State 
had  given  him  strong  assurances  that  if  he  would 
come  to  Louisville,  or  even  to  Bowling  Green, 
at  the  head  of  a  force  capable  of  maintaining  its 
position  for  a  short  time,  reenforcements  would 
immediately  pour  in  by  thousands,  rendering  his 
army  too  powerful  to  be  resisted.  Unquestion- 
ably he  came  with  the  full  conviction  that  these 
assurances  would  be  verified,  but  ho  found  them 
all  falsified.  There  was  reason  to  believe  that 
not  more  than  a  thousand  men  joined  him. 

Accumulations  of  Federal  troops  from  the 
States  north  of  the  Ohio  River,  with  stores  for 
a  vast  army,  were  made  during  the  month  of 
November.  On  the  part  of  the  South  the  same 
course  was  pursued.  On  the  1st  of  December, 
the  Federal  troops  in  the  State  were  estimated 
at  70,000,  of  which  there  were  9  regiments 
from  Illinois,  16  from  Indiana,  17  from  Ohio, 
3  from  Pennsylvania,  1  from  Michigan,  3  from 
Wisconsin,  and  two  from  Minnesota,  and  at 
least  25,000  of  her  own  soldiers. 

This  vast  force  was  looking  to  Nashville  and 
the  State  of  Tennessee ;  to  withstand  it,  there 
was  the  force  of  Gen  Buckner,  estimated  at 
30,000  men.  No  affair  of  importance  occurred 
between  these  hostile  troops  during  the  year, 
except  at  Munfordsville.  The  precise  position 
was  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Green  River, 


near  the  iron  bridge  of  the  Louisville  and 
Nashville  Railroad.  This  bridge  had  been 
partially  destroyed  by  the  rebel  troops,  to  pre- 
vent the  passage  of  the  Federal  force,  but  a 
temporary  structure  had  been  thrown  over  tho 
river.  Four  companies  of  the  32d  Indiana  reg- 
iment, under  command  of  the  lieut.-colonel, 
had  crossed,  and  were  advanced  as  pickets  in 
squads  of  eight  or  ten  upon  an  open  meadow  at 
the  distance  of  about  one  hundred  yards  from 
the  river  bank.  At  the  Munfordsville  depot 
there  was  a  battery  of  three  guns,  and  another 
of  an  equal  number  about  a  mile  distant,  in  a 
southerly  direction.  A  belt  of  timber  skirted 
the  position  of  the  Indiana  companies. 

Some  Confederate  soldiers  being  espied  in  the 
wood,  two  companies  were  ordered  to  advance 
and  effect  their  dislodgement.  They  retreated 
half  a  mile  to  their  main  body  without  firing  a 
shot,  and  the  two  companies  advanced  stealth- 
ily as  skirmishers.  A  body  of  cavalry,  consist- 
ing of  Texan  rangers,  then  made  a  dash  upon 
the  companies,  who  returned  the  fire  from 
their  shot-guns  with  a  galling  effect.  When 
the  batteries  opened,  the  Indianians,  who  reached 
the  wood  under  cover  of  the  trees,  did  fearful 
execution  in  the  ranks  of  the  cavalry. 

The  rangers  fled,  leaving  their  dead  upon  tho 
field,  including  the  body  of  Col.  Terry,  who 
was  killed  by  a  musket-ball.  His  body  was 
sent  back  afterwards  under  a  flag  of  truce. 

The  enemy's  loss  was  considerable.  There 
were  found  upon  the  field  sixty-three  dead 
bodies,  and  the  bodies  of  twelve  or  fourteen 
horses.  In  addition,  a  large  number  are  known 
to  have  been  wounded.  The  Federal  loss  was 
thirteen  killed  and  an  equal  number  wounded. 

Two  regiments  of  Federal  troops,  the  36th 
Indiana  and  the  16th  Ohio,  came  promptly  up 
to  the  relief  of  the  four  companies  from  the  32d 
Indiana,  but  the  fight  was  not  renewed. 

The  hopes  of  the  Richmond  Government 
that  Kentucky  would  join  the  Confederacy, 
were  extremely  sanguine.  Indeed  so  confident 
were  the  friends  of  the  Government  of  her  ulti- 
mate secession  that  a  Convention  was  called  by 
them  to  organize  the  forms  of  that  movement. 
It  met  at  Russell ville  about  the  27th  of  Novem- 
ber, and  was  in  session  during  three  days. 

It  passed  a  Declaration  of  Independence  and 
an  Ordinance  of  Secession.  A  Provisional 
Government,  consisting  of  a  Governor,  Legisla- 
tive Council  of  ten,  a  Treasurer,  and  an  Auditor, 
was  agreed  upon.  George  W.  Johnson,  of 
Scott,  was  made  Governor. 

The  Commissioners  to  Richmond  were  H.  C. 
Burnett,  W.  E.  Simms,  and  Wm.  Preston.  All 
executive  and  legislative  powers  were  vested 
in  the  Governor  and  Council.  Acts  to  be  done 
by  the  Provisional  Government  required  tho 
concurrence  of  a  majority  of  its  members;  the 
Council  were  authorized  to  fill  vacancies,  but 
no  councilman  should  be  made  Governor  to  fill 
a  vacancy.  The  old  Constitution  and  laws  of 
Kentucky  were  declared  in  force,  except  where 
inconsistent  with  the  acts  of  the  Confederate 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


99 


Government.  Bowling  Green  was  fixed  as  the  hundred  members  not  elected  by  the  people. 
new  capital.  Fifty-one  counties  were  said  to  Ex-Vice-President  Breckinridge  and  others 
be  represented  in  the  Convention  by  over  two  about  this  time  joined  the  Southern  forces. 


CHAPTEE  XI. 

Attack  on  Wilson's  Regiment— Bombardment  of  Fort  Pickens— Burning  of  Warrenton— Attack  on  the  Federal  fleet  at  the 
mouths  of  the  Mississippi — Eepulse  at  Ball's  Bluff— Expedition  against  Port  Koyal :  its  success — Resignation  of  Lieut- 
Gen.  Scott— Battle  at  Belmont — Capture  of  Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell — Occupation  of  Accomac  and  Northampton 
Counties,  Va.— The  Stone  Blockade  of  Charleston — Affair  at  Drainesville — Treatment  of  Slaves — Exchange  of  Prison- 
ers— Plans  of  the  Government 


SOME  operations,  too  important  to  be  over- 
looked, but  forming  no  part  of  a  military  plan 
of  campaign,  arose  out  of  the  general  situation 
of  the  combatants  with  respect  to  each  other. 
They  indicated  an  active  state  of  hostilities,  and 
resulted  in  advantage  or  loss  to  each  side. 

At  Pensacola  Bay,  hostile,  movements  were 
early  commenced  as  has  already  been  stated. 
This  fine  bay  is  located  in  the  northwest  corner 
of  Florida,  and  at  the  mouth  of  the  Escambia 
River.  On  the  east  side  of  the  entrance,  and 
on  the  extremity  of  Santa  Rosa  Island,  is  Fort 
Pickens.  Nearly  opposite,  being  a  little  further 
outward  or  seaward,  is  Fort  McRea.  Facing 
the  entrance,  on  the  farther  side  of  the  bay, 
is  Fort  Barrancas,  and  nearly  one  mile  to 
the  eastward,  along  the  shore,  is  the  navy 
yard.  On  the  secession  of  Florida  the  Barran- 
cas was  abandoned,  its  guns  spiked,  and  its 
munitions  removed  by  Commandant  Arm- 
strong, of  the  navy;  and  on  the  12th  of  Jan- 
uary this  fort  and  navy  yard  were  occupied 
by  Florida  and  Alabama  troops.  The  com- 
mandant had  a  force  of  about  sixty  men,  and 
the  opposing  force  consisted  of  nearly  five 
hundred  and  fifty.  Ultimately  all  the  military 
positions  came  into  the  possession  of  the  South- 
ern troops,  except  Fort  Pickens.  They  imme- 
diately mounted  at  the  navy  yard  four  Dahlgren 
long  32s,  and  at  Fort  Barrancas  twenty-five 
32s ;  at  Fort  McRea  were  four  columbiads  and 
a  large  number  of  heavy  guns.  This  work  was 
carried  on  until  the  guns  were  all  mounted, 
additional  batteries  erected  along  the  shore, 
and  every  thing  made  ready  to  attack  Fort 
Pickens,  or  to  resist  any  attack  which  might 
be  made. 

Lieut.  A.  J.  Slemmer,  who  had  been  in  com- 
mand of  the  little  Federal  force  in  charge  of 
the  forts,  took  possession  of  Fort  Pickens  on 
the  first  indication  of  any  thing  like  an  attempt 
to  seize  it.  It  was  the  strongest  and  most  im- 
portant of  all  the  fortifications  of  the  bay.  In 
this  position  he  remained  securely  until  re- 
lieved of  his  command.  When  the  Federal 
Government  determined  to  relieve  Fort  Sum- 
ter,  it  also  resolved  to  reenforce  Fort  Pickens, 
and  immediate  arrangements  were  made  for 
that  purpose. 


On  the  Yth  of  April,  the  steamer  Atlantic 
sailed  from  New  York  with  450  troops  on 
board,  including  two  companies  of  light  artil- 
lery, and  a  company  of  sappers  and  miners, 
under  command  of  Col.   Harvey  Brown,  to- 
gether with  69  horses  and  a  large  quantity  of 
munitions  of  war  and  supplies.     On  the  13th 
she  reached  Key  West,   and  took  on  board 
more  troops  and  ordnance,  etc.,  and  arrived  at 
Pensacola  on  the  16th,  in  the  afternoon.    With 
the  assistance  of  the  boats  of  the  squadron  then 
there,  the  larger  portion  of  the  officers  and 
men  were  landed,  and  entered  Fort  Pickens 
before  midnight.    Between  that  time  and  the 
23d  the  remaining  troops,  stores,  etc.,  were  all 
safely  landed.     Before  the  arrival  of  the  Atlan- 
tic, and  on  the  night  of  the  12th  of  April,  reen- 
forcements,  consisting  of  one  company  of  artil- 
lery, being  86  men  and  115  marines,  were  sent 
to  the  fort.     The  old  garrison  consisted  of  82 
men  and  with  this  addition  amounted  to  283 
men.     The  arrival  of  the  Atlantic  increased 
the  number,  and  the  steamer  Illinois  followed, 
until  the  garrison  amounted  to  about  880  men. 
Meantime,  farther  reinforcements  were  sent 
out,  and  a  large  amount  of  stores,  while  quite 
a  fleet  of  vessels  were  stationed  outside  in  the 
Gulf.   The  first  volunteer  troops  sent,  consisted 
of  a  New  York  regiment,  under  Col.  William 
Wilson.   This  regiment  encamped  on  the  island 
near  the  foi't.     No  serious  conflict,  however, 
took  place,  although  the  hostile  forces  were 
within  a  short  distance  of  each  other.     Some 
daring  exploits  were    performed  by  Federal 
troops,  one  of  which,   under  Lieut.   Russel's 
command,  is  thus  described  by  a  Confederate 
officer :  "  The  enemy  executed,  last  night,  the 
most  brilliant  and  daring  act  which  has  yet 
marked  the  history  of  the  war.    For  some  time 
past  they  have  exhibited  unmistakable  indica- 
tions of  eagerness  for  a  fight,  'and  have  grown 
more  and  more  audacious.    First  they  fired  on 
one  of  our  schooners.     Next  they  burned  the 
dry  dock,  and  last  night,  September  13th,  they 
made  a  most  daring  and  reckless  raid  upon  the 
navy  yard.     About  three  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, five  launches,  containing  about  thirty  men 
each,  pulled  across  from  Santa  Rosa  Island  to 
the  navy  yard,  a  distance  of  about  two  miles. 


100 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Each  launch  had  in  it  a  small  hrass  howitzer 
on  a  pivot.  Their  main  object  seems  to  have 
been  to  burn  the  largest  schooner  of  our  harbor 
police,  which  was  anchored  near  the  wharf. 
They  were  led  by  an  officer  with  the  courage 
of  forty  Numidian  lions,  and  their  success  was 
perfect.  Under  cover  of  the  darkness,  silently, 
with  muffled  oars,  they  approached  the  wharf, 
and  were  not  discovered  until  very  near  it. 
They  then  pulled  rapidly  to  the  schooner,  and 
grappled  to  her,  when  their  daring  leader 
shouted,  'Board  her,'  leading  the  way  himself 
with  a  cutlass  hi  one  hand,  and  a  blazing  fire- 
ball in  the  other.  He  threw  the  flambeau  into 
the  hold  of  the  schooner,  and  feeling  sure  that 
she  was  on  fire,  he  ordered  his  men  to  take  to 
their  launches  and  pull  for 'life,  as  he  said  that 
a  shower  of  grape  would  soon  be  rattling  after 
them.  They  pulled  off  a  short  distance ;  but 
before  going,  they  sent  back  a  shower  of  grape 
from  their  howitzers,  du*cted  upon  our  men 
as  they  were  forming.  The  darkness  rendered 
the  fire  uncertain,  and  only  two  of  our  men 
were  wounded.  The  schooner  burned  rapidly, 
and  we  had  to  cut  her  loose  from  the  wharf  to 
save  it  from  destruction.  She  floated  off  on  the 
tide,  emitting  a  brilliant  flood  of  light  over  the 
surrounding  darkness  of  the  scene."  Such  is 
the  brief  account  of  this  very  daring  adven- 
ture. 

Affairs  continued  quiet  until  the  night  of  the 
8th  of  October,  when  the  enemy  attempted  a 
daring  attack  upon  the  forces  on  the  island. 
They  hoped  to  break  up  the  encampment  of 
the  volunteer  regiment.  Early  in  the  evening 
Col.  Jackson  visited  the  camp  of  the  5th  Geor- 
gia regiment  at  Pensacola,  and  informed  the 
troops  that  he  required  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men  for  an  important  service,  also  twenty- 
seven  from  the  Clinch  Rifles,  and  nineteen  from 
the  Irish  Volunteers.  Every  man  who  was 
willing  to  volunteer,  was  requested  to  shoulder 
arms,  and  every  one  did  so.  The  captains  were 
then  ordered  to  select  the  men,  who  were  put 
under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Hallenquist.  The 
expedition  was  accompanied  by  Col.  Jackson. 
It  consisted  of  1,200  men,  under  the  command 
of  Gen.  Anderson.  About  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning  they  landed  on  the  island,  and 
marched  upon  the  Zouave  camp.  They  were 
first  met  by  Major  Vodges,  with  85  men,  some 
distance  above  the  camp.  The  major  was 
taken  prisoner.  The  Zouaves  were  taken  chiefly 
by  surprise,  but  as  soon  as  they  recovered, 
fought  desperately.  The  Confederates  pen- 
etrated the  camp,  which  was  almost  entirely 
destroyed.  A  number  of  prisoners  were  taken 
on  both  sides.  The  invader's  loss  was  severe. 
Of  the  Zouaves  and  regulars,  fourteen  were 
killed  and  thirty-six  wounded.  The  officers 
and  men  lost  almost  every  thing. 

In  November,  the  force  at  the  fort  and  on 
the  island  was  thirteen  hundred  men,  and  it 
was  supposed  that  upon  the  opposite  side  were 
near  eight  thousand,  when  Col.  Brown,  the 
commandant  of  Fort  Pickens,  determined  to 


open  fire  upon  the  batteries  occupied  by  the 
Southern  troops. 

Having  invited  Flag-officer  McKean  to  coop- 
erate in  the  attack,  on  the  morning  of  the  22d 
of  November,  Col.  Brown  opened  his  batteries 
en  the  enemy,  to  which,  in  the  course  of  half  an 
hour,  he  responded  from  his  numerous  forts 
and  batteries,  extending  from  the  navy  yard 
to  Fort  McRea,  a  distance  of  about  four  miles, 
the 'whole  nearly  equidistant  from  Fort  Pickens, 
and  on  which  line  he  had  two  forts — McRea 
and  Barrancas — and  fourteen  separate  batteries, 
containing  from  one  to  four  guns,  many  of 
them  being  ten-inch  columbiads,  and  some 
twelve  and  thirteen-inch  seacoast  mortars,  the 
distance  varying  from  two  thousand  one  hun- 
dred to  two  thousand  nine  hundred  yards  from 
Fort  Pickens.  At  the  same  time  Flag-officer 
McKean,  in  the  Niagara,  and  Capt.  Ellison,  in 
the  Richmond,  took  position  as  near  to  Fort 
McRea  as  the  depth  of  the  water  would  permit, 
bat  which  unfortunately  was  not  sufficiently 
deep  to  give  full  effect  to  their  powerful  batter- 
ies. They,  however,  kept  up  a  spirited  fire  on 
the  fort  and  adjacent  batteries  during  the  whole 
day.  The  fire  from  Fort  Pickens  was  incessant 
from  the  time  of  opening  until  it  was  too  dark 
to  see,  at  the  rate  of  a  shot  for  each  gun  every 
fifteen  or  twenty  minutes,  the  fire  of  the  enemy 
being  somewhat  slower.  At  noon  the  guns  of 
Fort  McRea  were  all  silenced  but  one,  and 
three  hours  before  sunset  this  fort  and  the  ad- 
joining batteries  ceased  firing.  The  guns  of 
batteries  Lincoln,  Cameron,  and  Totten  were 
directed  principally  on  the  batteries  adjacent 
to  the  navy  yard,  those  of  Battery  Scott  to 
Fort  McRea  and  the  lighthouse  batteries,  and 
those  of  Fort  Pickens  to  all.  They  reduced 
very  perceptibly  the  fire  of  Barrancas,  entirely 
silenced  that  in  the  navy  yard,  and  in  one  or 
two  of  the  other  batteries. 

The  next  morning  Col.  Brown  again  opened 
about  the  same  hour,  the  navy  unfortunately, 
owing  to  a  reduction  in  the  depth  of  water, 
caused  by  a  change  of  wind,  not  being  able  to 
get  so  near  as  on  the  day  before ;  consequently 
the  distance  was  too  great  to  be  effectual.  The 
fire  of  Fort  Pickens,  this  day,  was  less  rapid, 
and  more  efficient.  Fort  McRea  did  not  fire*. 
One  or  two  guns  of  the  enemy  were  entire- 
ly silenced,  and  one  in  Fort  Pickens  was 
disabled  by  a  shot  coming  through  the  em- 
brasure. 

About  three  o'clock  fire  was  communicated 
to  one  of  the  houses  in  Warrington,  and  shortly 
afterwards  to  the  church  steeple,  the  church  and 
the  whole  village  being  immediately  in  rear  of 
some  of  the  Confederate  batteries.  Of  the  largest 
and  most  valuable  buildings  along  the  street, 
probably  two-thirds  were  consumed.  About  the 
same  tune  fire  was  discovered  issuing  from  the 
back  part  of  the  navy  yard,  probably  in  Wolcott, 
a  village  to  the  north  and  immediately  adjoin- 
ing the  yard,  as  Warrington  does  on  the  west. 
Finally  it  penetrated  to  the  yard,  and  continued 
to  burn  brightly  all  night  Very  heavy  damage 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


101 


was  also  done  to  the  buildings  of  the  yard  by 
the  shot,  shell,  and  splinters. 

The  steamer  Tune,  which  was  at  the  wharf 
at  the  navy  yard  at  the  time,  was  abandoned  on 
the  first  day.  The  fire  was  continued  till  dark, 
and  with  mortars  occasionally  till  two  o'clock 
the  next  morning,  when  the  combat  ceased. 

Fort  Pickens,  at  its  conclusion,  though  it 
had  received  a  great  many  shot  and  shell,  was 
reported  in  every  respect,  save  the  disabling  of 
one  gun  carriage  and  the  loss  of  service  of  six 
men,  as  efficient  as  at  the  commencement  of  the 
combat.  No  serious  damage  was  done  to  the 
frigates  Niagara  or  Eichmond. 

The  only  hostile  movements  within  the  limits 
of  Louisiana  in  1861,  were  made  at  the  mouths 
of  the  Mississippi.  On  the  12th  of  October, 
near  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  as  the  Federal 
steamship  Eichmond,  under  the  command  of 
John  Pope,  was  lying  at  the  Southwest  Pass  re- 
ceiving coal  from  the  schooner  J.  H.  Toone,  a 
floating  ram,  as  it  was  called,  was  discovered 
close  upon  the  ship. 

By  the  time  the  alarm  could  be  given,  she 
had  struck  the  ship  abreast  of  the  fore  channels, 
tearing  the  schooner  from  her  fasts,  and  forcing 
a  hole  through  the  ship's  side. 

Passing  aft,  the  ram  endeavored  to  effect  a 
breach  in  the  stern,  but  failed.  Three  planks 
on  the  ship's  side  were  stove  in  about  two  feet 
below  the  water  line,  making  a  hole  about  five 
inches  in  circumference.  At  the  first  alarm  the 
crew  promptly  and  coolly  repaired  to  their 
quarters,  and  as  the  ram  passed  abreast  of  the 
ship  the  entire  port  battery  was  discharged  at 
her,  with  what  effect  it  was  impossible  to  dis- 
cover, owing  to  the  darkness. 

The  sloops  of  war  Preble  and  Vincennes, 
and  the  smaller  steamer  Water  Witch,  were 
lying  at  anchor  a  short  distance  below.  A  red 
light  was  shown  from  the  Eichmond  as  a  sig- 
nal of  danger,  and  the  vessels,  having  slipped 
their  cables,  were  under  way  in  a  few  min- 
utes. Soon,  three  large  fire  rafts  stretching 
across  the  river  were  seen  rapidly  approaching, 
while  several  large  steamers  and  a  bark-rigged 
propeller  were  astern  of  them.  The  squadron, 
however,  moved  down  the  river,  and,  under 
the  advice  of  the  pilot,  an  attempt  was  made 
to  pass  over  the  bar,  but  in  the  passage  the 
Vincennes  and  Eichmond  grounded,  while  the 
Preble  went  clear.  This  occurred  about  eight 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  fire  was  opened  on 
both  sides.  The  shot  of  the  fleet  fell  short, 
while  shells  of  the  enemy  burst  around  them, 
or  went  beyond  them.  About  half-past  nine 
o'clock  the  commander  of  the  Eichmond  made 
a  signal  to  the  ships  outside  of  the  bar  to  get 
under  way.  This  was  mistaken  by  Captain 
Hardy  of  the  Vincennes  as  a  signal  for  him  to 
abandon  his  ship.  Accordingly,  with  his  offi- 
cers and  crew  he  left  her,  after  having  lighted 
a  slow  match  at  the  magazine.  But  as  no  ex- 
plosion occurred  for  some  time,  he  was  ordered 
to  return  and  attempt  to  get  her  off  shore.  At 
ten  o'clock  the  enemy  ceased  firing.  No  one 


was  killed  or  wounded  on  the  Federal  fleet. 
No  damage  was  done  to  any  vessel  except  to 
the  Eichmond.  The  schooner  J.  H.  Toone  was 
captured,  having  about  fifteen  tons  of  coal  on 
board. 

The  ram,  as  it  was  called,  was  the  hull  of  a 
steamer,  iron-plated  with  railroad  iron,  and  hav  - 
ing  a  projection  on  her  bow  beneath  the  water 
line,  sufficient  to  punch  a  hole*n  the  hull  of 
a  wooden  vessel  when  struck  with  force.  It 
was  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Hollins,  for- 
merly of  the  United  States  navy,  the  officer 
who  was  in  command  at  the  bombardment  of 
Greytown,  Nicaragua. 

Some  events  occurred  in  Mississippi  Sound, 
east  of  the  mouths  of  the  river,  which  it  may 
not  be  out  of  place  here  to  mention.  The 
Sound  is  bounded  on  the  south  by  Ship  Island. 
On  June  28th  the  United  States  steamer  Massa- 
chusetts visited  the  island  and  found  it  unoccu- 
pied, and  captured  five  Confederate  schooners 
in  its  vicinity.  On  the  8th  of  July  she  again 
visited  the  island,  and  found  a  considerable 
force  there,  who  were  throwing  up  intrench- 
ments  and  had  mounted  some  heavy  guns.  An 
attempt  was  made  to  dislodge  them,  but  un- 
successfully, and  they  were  allowed  to  remain 
in  possession  till  the  16th  of  September,  when, 
under  the  apprehension  that  a  large  naval  ex- 
pedition was  coming  to  attack  them,  they  aban- 
doned the  island  and  escaped  to  the  shore, 
taking  most  of  their  ordnance  with  them. 
During  the  two  months  of  their  occupation 
they  had  rebuilt  the  fort,  constructing  eleven 
fine  bomb-proof  casemates  and  a  magazine, 
and  had  mounted  twenty  guns.  They  named 
it  Fort  Twiggs.  On  the  17th  September  the 
Massachusetts  landed  a  force  on  the  island, 
who  took  possession,  and  having  been  reen- 
forced,  have  continued  to  hold  it.  They  mount- 
ed cannon  on  the  fort,  and  strengthened  it  still 
further  by  the  addition  of  two  more  bomb- 
proof casemates,  and  a  formidable  armament 
of  Dahlgren  9-inch  shell  guns  and  rifled  can- 
non. They  also  erected  barracks  for  troops, 
with  brick,  left  on  the  island  by  the  Confed- 
erates, and  lumber  captured  from  them.  On 
the  19th  October,  Com.  Hollins,  in  command 
of  the  Confederate  gunboat  Florida,  appeared 
in  Mississippi  Sound,  and  challenged  the  United 
States  gunboat  Massachusetts  to  a  naval  battle. 
The  challenge  was  accepted,  and  after  a  sharp 
engagement  of  forty-five  minutes  the  Florida 
retired,  seriously  disabled,  and  put  into  Pass 
Christian,  apparently  in  a  sinking  condition. 
Four  of  her  crew  were  killed.  The  Massachu- 
setts was  injured,  but  not  seriously,  by  a  100-lb. 
shell,  which  struck  her  five  feet  above  her 
water  line,  but  was  repaired  in  a  few  days. 
None  of  her  crew  were  killed,  and  only  one 
slightly  wounded.  On  the  21st  November  the 
gunboat  New  London  arrived  in  the  Sound, 
and  in  the  course  of  a  fortnight  captured  five 
Confederate  vessels. 

In  Virginia,  a  serious  repulse  was  suffered  by 
the  Union  troops  at  Ball's  Bluff,  or  Leesburg 


102 


MILITAEY  AND  FATAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Heights.  This  is  the  name  given  to  a  part  of 
the  bank  of  the  Potomac  River,  on  the  Virginia 
side,  east  of  Leesburg  and  opposite  Harrison's 
Island.  The  height  of  the  bluff  is  variable,  in 
some  parts  being  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet. 
It  is  steep,  with  brush,  trees,  rocks,  and  logs 
on  its  front,  and  at  the  point  of  ascent  was, 
on  the  day  .of  the  battle,  rendered -soft  and 
muddy  by  the  passage  of  the  troops.  Opposite 
the  bluff  and  about  one  hundred  yards  distant 
is  Harrison's  Island,  a  long  narrow  tract  of  four 
hundred  acres,  between  which  and  the  Virginia 
shore  the  river  runs  with  a  rapid  current.  'On 
the  other  side  of  the  island,  which  is  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  yards  broad,  the  distance  to  the 
Maryland,  shore  is  two  hundred  yards,  and  the 
stream  not  quite  so  rapid.  At  the  head  of  the 
island  passes  Conrad's  Ferry  from  the  Maryland 
to  the  Virginia  shore.  Six  miles  below  is  Ed- 
wards' Ferry,  •vfhich  is  on  the  direct  road  from 
Poolesville  to  Leesburg. 

On  the  opposite  banks  of  the  Potomac  the 
hostile  forces  of  the  North  and  South  had  con- 
fronted each  other  for  many  months.  The  dis- 
tance thus  occupied  extended  from  Great  Falls 
up  the  river  beyond  Harper's  Ferry.  It  was 
here  that  the  Richmond  Government  contem- 
plated an  advance  into  the  State  of  Mary- 
land, and  an  opportunity  to  flank  the  force  on 
the  Virginia  shore  opposite  Washington,  placed 
for  the  defence  of  that  city.  The  Federal  Gov- 
ernment, anticipating  such  intentions,  had  sta- 
tioned a  strong  force  to  prevent  them.  This 
was  in  several  divisions :  the  first,  under  Gen- 
eral Banks,  was  stationed  from  Great  Falls  near- 
ly to  Edwards'  Ferry.  From  that  point  to 
Conrad's  Ferry  was  the  division  under  General 
Stone;  next  was  Colonel  Lander's  force  and 
that  of  Colonel  Geary.  The  principal  points 
occupied  by  the  Richmond  troops  on  the  Vir- 
ginia borders  of  the  Potomac  were  Dranes- 
ville,  Leesburg,  and  Charlestown.  It  became 
an  object  to  learn  with  what  strength  the  former 
of  these  positions  was  then  held.  For  .this  pur- 
pose a  reconnoissance  was  ordered  by  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief,  General  McClellan,  to  be  made 
toward  Dranesville,  and  the  duty  was  assigned 
to  General  McCall,  who  was  in  command  of  a 
division  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  force  be- 
yond the  Potomac  opposite  Washington.  These 
orders  were  successfully  executed  on  the  19th 
t)f  October,  and  on  the  forenoon  of  the  20th  he 
returned  to  his  former  position,  in  compliance 
with  orders  received  the  afternoon  previous. 
At  the  same  time  notice  was  given  to  General 
Stone  of  this  movement  on  the  part  of  General 
McCall  in  the  following  despatch : 

To  Brigadier- General  Stone,  Poolesville: 

General  McClellan  desires  me  to  inform  you  that 
General  McCall  occupied  Dranesville  yesterday,  and 
I  there.     Will  send  out  heavy  reconnoissances 
to-duy  in  all  directions  from  that  point.    The  General 
desires  that  you  keep.a  good  look-out  upon  Leesburg 
to  see  if  this  movement  has  the  effect  to  drive  them 
away.    Perhaps  a  slight  demonstration  on  your  part 
would  have  the  effect  to  move  them. 
Assistant  Adjutant-General,     A.  V.  COLBURN. 


Later  in  the  day  General  Stone  replied  to  this 
despatch  as  follows : 

OCTOBEE  20,  1861. 
To  Major- General  McClellan: 

Made  a  feint  of  crossing  at  this  place  this  afternoon, 
and  at  the  same  time  started  a  reconnoitring  party 
toward  Leesburg  from  Harrison's  Island.  The  ene- 
my's pickets  retired  to  intrenchments.  Report  of  re- 
connoitring party  not  yet  received.  I  have  means  of 
crossing  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  men  onc.e  in  ten 
minutes  at  each  of  two  points.  River  falling  slowly. 
C.  P.  STONE,  Brigadier-General. 

On  communicating  General  Stone's  report  of 
the  battle  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  General 
McClellan,  in  a  note,  said :  "  My  despatch  did 
not  contemplate  the  making  an  attack  upon 
the  enemy  or  the  crossing  of  the  river  in  force 
by  any  portion  of  General  Stone's  command." 

Immediately  upon  the  receipt  of  these  instruc- 
tions, General  Stone  went  to  Edwards'Ferry  with 
General  Gorman's  brigade,  the  Seventh  Michi- 
gan, two  troops  of  the  Van  Alen  cavalry,  and 
the  Putnam  Rangers.  This  was  at  one  o'clock  P.M. 
At  the  same  time  he  ordered  four  companies  of 
the  Fifteenth  Massachusetts  to  proceed  to  Har- 
rison's Island,  under  Colonel  Devens,  who  al- 
ready had  one  company  on  the  island.  To 
Conrad's  Ferry,  above,  which  was  in  his  depart- 
ment, he  also  ordered-  Colonel  Lee  with  a,  bat- 
talion of  the  Massachusetts  Twentieth,  a  section 
of  the  Rhode  Island  battery,  and  the  Tammany 
Regiment.  These  three  movements  of  troops 
were  ordered — one  to  Edwards'  Ferry,  one  to 
Harrison's  Island,  and  one  to  Conrad's  Ferry 
above.  General  Stone  says  that  at  this  time 
General  McCall's  movement  on  Dranesville  had 
evidently  attracted  the  attention  of  the  ene- 
my, as  a  regiment  appeared  from  the  direction 
of  Leesburg,  and  took  shelter  behind  a  hill 
about  one  mile  and  a  half  from  his  position  at 
Edwards'  Ferry.  This  day  is  Sunday,  and  at 
half-past  four  p.  M.  Van  Alen's  battery  of  two 
twelve-pound  Parrott  guns  opens  with  'shell ' 
upon  the  Confederate  force  upon  the  Vir- 
ginia side.  Their  explosion  can  be  distinctly 
heard.  Seven  are  thrown  within  ten  minutes, 
and  no  response  comes  across  the  water.  The 
'direction  given  to  the  shells  is  varied  so  as  to 
find  out  the  location  of  the  force,  which  is  sup- 
posed to  be  concealed  in  a  thick  wood  to  the 
southwest,  on  the  hill.  At  five  o'clock  p.  M. 
the  battery  in  charge  of  Lieut.  Frink,  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  from  the  ferry,  also  opens  with  shell. 
and  the  two  batteries  keep  up  the  fire  with 
rapidity.  Just  as  the  sun  is  going  down  the 
First  Minnesota  and  Second  New  York  come 
down  over  the  hill  and  take  the  road  to  the  ferry. 
The  sun  sets  gloriously,  his  rays  reflecting  from 
the  thousands  of  bayonets  which  lino  the  road. 

Gen.  Gorman  is  ordered  to  deploy  his  forces 
in  view  of  the  enemy,  making  a  feint  to  cross 
the  river  with  a  view  of  trying  what  effect  the 
movement  may  have  upon  the  enemy.  The 
troops  evince  by  their  cheering  that  they  are 
all  ready,  and  determined  to  fight  gallantly  when 
the  opportunity  is  presented.  Three  flat-boats 
are  ordered,  and  at  the  same  tune  shell  and 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


103 


spherical-case  shot  are  thrown  into  the  place 
of  the  enemy's  concealment.  Elsewhere  all 
around  the  air  is  perfectly  still,  and  the  close 
of  the  pleasant  Sabbath  is  impressively  beauti- 
ful, while  the  view  of  the  Virginia  hills  is  al- 
most enchanting.  Soon  something  resembling 
the  sound  of  a  drum  corps  is  distinctly  heard, 
and  the  shelling  and  the  launching  of  the  boats 
induces  the  quick  retirement  of  the  Confederate 
force.  Three  boat-loads  of  thirty-five  men 
each  from  the  First  Minnesota  crossed  and  re- 
crossed  the  river,  each  trip  occupying  about  six 
or  seven  minutes.  At  dusk  Gen.  Gorman's 
brigade  and  the  Seventh  Michigan  returned  to 
camp.  The  other  forces  at  Harrison's  Island 
and  Conrad's  Ferry  remained  in  position. 

Here  the  movement  should  have  stopped. 
The  orders  of  Gen.  McClellan  had  been  obeyed, 
and  their  object  had  been  accomplished.  The 
subsequent  orders  were  not  authorized  by  any 
superior  authority  to  Gen.  Stone,  and  the  re- 
sponsibility for  their  consequences  must  rest 
upon  him.  Had  a  brilliant  achievement  ensued, 
the  honor  (of  it  would  likewise  have  belonged 
to  him. 

Previous  to  one  o'clock  p.  M.  four  compa- 
nies of  the  Massachusetts  Fifteenth,  as  above 
stated,  had  been  ordered  to  Harrison's  Island, 
which  had  for  some  time  been  guarded  by  one 
company  of  the  same  regiment.  At  night  Col. 
Devens  ordered  Capt.  Philbrick  of  Company 
H,  and  Quartermaster  Howe  of  his  staff,  with 
a  detachment  of  twenty  men,  to  cross  from  Har- 
rison's Island  to  the  Virginia  shore,  and  follow 
a.  bridle  path  which  had  been  discovered,  to 
the  vicinity  of  Leesburg,  and  report  what  was 
seen.  The  party  executed  the  order  by  ap- 
proaching within  three-fourths  of  a  mile  of 
Leesburg,  and  returned  to  the  starting-point  by 
10  o'clock  at  night,  after  having  discovered,  as 
they  supposed,  a  small  Confederate  camp  one 
mile  from  Leesburg.  There  appeared  to  be 
about  thirty  tents.  No  pickets  were  out  any 
distance,  and  the  party  approached  within 
twenty -five  rods  without  being  challenged. 

Upon  receiving  this  report,  Gen.  Stone  in- 
stantly ordered  Col.  Devens  to  cross  over  with 
four  companies  to  the  Virginia  shore,  and  march 
silently  under  cover  of  night  to  the  position  of 
the  camp,  and  to  attack  and  destroy  it  at  day- 
break, pursue  the  enemy  lodged  there  as  far 
as  would  be  prudent,  and  return  immediately 
to  the  island — his  return  to  be  covered  by  a 
company  of  the  Massachusetts  Twentieth,  to 
be  posted  over  the  landing-place.  Col.  Devens 
was  ordered  to  make  close  observation  of  the 
position,  strength,  and  movements  of  the  ene- 
my, and,  in  the  event  of  there  being  no  enemy 
there  visible,  to  hold  on  in  a  secure  position 
until  he  could  be  strengthened  sufficiently  to 
make  a  valuable  reconnoissance.  At  this  time 
orders  were  sent  to  Col.  Baker  to  send  the 
First  California  Regiment  to  Conrad's  Ferry, 
to  arrive  there  at  sunrise,  and  to  have  the  re- 
mainder of  his  brigade  ready  to  move  early. 
Lieut.-CoL  'Wood,  of  the  Fifteenth  Massachu- 


setts, was  also  ordered  to  move  with  a  battalion 
to  the  river  bank  opposite  Harrison's  Island  by 
daybreak.  Two  mounted  howitzers,  in  charge 
of  Lieut.  French,  of  Ricketts'  battery,  were 
ordered  to  the  tow-path  of  the  canal  opposite 
Harrison's  Island.  • 

Col.  Devens,  in  pursuance  of  his  orders, 
crossed  the  river  and  advanced  to  the  point  in- 
dicated, while  one  company  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Twentieth,  of  one  hundred  men,  took  po- 
sition at  the  landing-place  on  the  bluff,  to  cover 
the  return  of  Col.  Devens,  as  ordered.  Upon 
arrival  at  the  point  indicated  as  the  position 
of  the  enemy's  camp,  Col.  Devens  found  that 
the  scouts  had  been  deceived  by  the  uncertain 
light,  and  had  mistaken  openings  in  the  trees 
for  a  row  of  tents.  He  found,  however,  a  wood 
in  which  he  concealed  his  force,  and  proceeded 
to  examine  the  space  between  that  and  Lees- 
burg, sending  back  at  the  same  time  a  report 
that  thus  far  he  could  see  no  enemy. 

In  order  to  distract  the  attention  of  the  ene- 
my, during  this  movement  of  Col.  Devens,  and 
also  to  make  a  reconnoissance  in  the  direction 
of  Leesburg  from  Edwards'  Ferry,  Gen.  Stone 
now  directed  Gen.  Gorman  to  throw  across 
the  river  at  Edwards'  Ferry  two  companies  of 
the  First  Minnesota,  under  cover  of  a  fire  from 
Ricketts'  battery,  and  send  out  a  party  of  thirty- 
one  Van  Alen  cavalry  under  Major  Mix,  with 
orders  to  advance  along  the  Leesburg  road 
westwardly  until  they  should  come  to  the  vicin- 
ity of  a  battery  which  was  known  to  be  on  that 
road,  and  then  turn  to  the  left  and  examine 
the  heights  between  that  and  Goose  Creek,  and 
see  if  any  of  the  enemy  were  posted  in  the 
vicinity,  find  out  their  numbers  as  nearly  as  pos- 
sible, their  disposition,  examine  the  country 
with  reference  to  the  passage  of  troops  to  the 
Leesburg  and  Georgetown  turnpike,  and  return 
rapidly  to  cover  behind  the  skirmishers  of  the 
Minnesota  First.  This  reconnoissance  was 
most  gallantly  conducted,  and  the  party  pro- 
ceeded along  the  Leesburg  road  nearly  two 
miles  from  the  ferry ;  and  when  near  the  po- 
sition of  the  hidden  battery  came  suddenly  upon 
a  Mississippi  regiment,  about  thirty-five  yards 
distant,  received  its  fire  and  returned  it  with 
their  pistols.  The  fire  of  the  enemy  killed  one 
horse,  but  Lieut.  Gourand  seized  the  dismount- 
ed man,  and,  drawing  him  on  his  horse  behind 
him,  carried  him  unhurt  from  the  field.  One 
private  of  the  Fourth  Virginia  cavalry  was 
brought  off  by  the  party  a  prisoner,  who,  being 
well  mounted  and  armed,  his  mount  replaced 
the  one  lost  by  the  fire  of  the  enemy. 

While  this  was  going  on,  Gen.  Stone  re- 
ceived the  report  of  Col.  Devens  that  no  enemy 
could  be  seen.  On  the  reception  of  this  infor- 
mation, he  immediately  ordered  a  non-commis- 
sioned officer  and  ten  cavalry  to  join  Col. 
Devens,  for  the  purpose  of  scouring  the  country 
near  him  while  he  was  engaged  in  his  recon- 
noissance, and  to  give  due  notice  of  the  ap- 
proach of  any  force.  At  the  same  time  Col. 
Ward  was  ordered,  with  his  battalion  of  the 


104 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Massachusetts  Fifteenth,  to  cross  over  and 
move  half  a  mile  to  the  right  of  the  landing- 
place  of  Col.  Devens,  and  in  a  strong  position 
to  watch  and  protect  the  flank  of  the  latter  on 
his  return,  and  secure  a  good  crossing  more 
favorable  -than  the  first  and  connected  by  a 
good  road  with  Leeshurg.  Neither  of  these 
orders  were  carried  out  to  their  full  extent,  for 
which  no  reason  has  been  given.  The  squad 
of  cavalry  crossed  over  to  the  Virginia  side, 
but  were  sent  back  without  having  left  the 
shore  to  go  inland ;  thus  Col.  Devens  was  de- 
prived of  the  means  of  obtaining  warning  of 
the  approach  of  any  hostile  force.  The  battal- 
ion under  Col.  Ward  was  detained  on  the  bluff 
instead  of  being  directed  to  the  right. 

At  an  early  hour,  Col.  Baker,  in  pursuance 
of  the  orders  sent  at  ten  o'clock  at  night,  arrived 
at  Conrad's  Ferry  with  the  First  California 
Regiment.  Leaving  his  regiment  he  went  to 
Edwards'  Ferry  below,  and  reported  to  Gen. 
Stone  that  his  regiment  was  at  Conrad's  Ferry, 
and  the  three  other  regiments  of  his  brigade 
were  ready  to  march. 

The  orders  now  given  to  Col.  Baker  are 
thus  related  in  the  words  of  Gen.  Stone :  "  I 
directed  him  to  Harrison's  Island  to  assume  the 
command,  and  in  a  full  conversation  explained 
to  him  the  position  as  it  then  stood.  I  told  him 
that  Gen.  McCall  had  advanced  his  troops  to 
Dranesville,  and  that  I  was  extremely  desirous 
of  ascertaining  the  exact  position  and  force  of 
the  enemy  in  our  front,  and  of  exploring  as  far 
as  it  was  safe  on  the  right  toward  Leesburg, 
and  on  the  left  toward  the  Leesburg  and  Gum 
Spring  road.  I  also  informed  Col.  Baker  that 
Gen.  Gorman,  opposite  Edwards'  Ferry,  should 
be  reinforced,  and  that  I  would  make  every 
effort  to  push  Gorman's  troops  carefully  for- 
ward to  discover  the  best  line  from  that  ferry 
to  the  Leesburg  and  Gum  Spring  road  already 
mentioned ;  and  the  position  of  the  breastworks 
and  hidden  battery,  which  prevented  the  move- 
ment of  troops  directly  from  the  left  to  right, 
were  also  pointed  out  to  him.  The  means  of 
transportation  across,  of  the  sufficiency  of 
which  he  (Baker)  was  to  be  judge,  was  detailed, 
and  authority  given  him  to  make  use  of  the 
guns  of  a  section  each  of  Vaughan's  and  Bunt- 
ing's batteries,  together  with  French's  moun- 
tain howitzers,  all  the  troops  of  his  Brigade  and 
the  Tammany  Regiment,  beside  the  Nineteenth 
and  part  of  the  Twentieth  Regiments  of  Massa- 
chusetts Volunteers ;  and  I  left  it  to  his  discre- 
tion, after  viewing  the  ground,  to  retire  from 
the  Virginia  shore  under  the  cover  of  his  guns 
and  the  fire  of  the  large  infantry  force,  or  to  pass 
over  reinforcements  in  case  he  found  it  practi- 
cable and  the  position  on  the  other  side  favor- 
able. I  stated  that  I  wished  no  advance  made 
unless  the  enemy  were  of  inferior  force,  and 
nuder  no  circumstance  to  pass  beyond  Lees- 
burg, or  a  strong  position  between  it  and  Goose 
Creek,  on  the  Gum  Spring,  i.  e.,  the  Manassas 
road.  Col.  Baker  was  cautioned  in  reference 
to  passing  artillery  across  the  river,  and  I  beg- 


ged if  he  did  do  so  to  see  it  well  supported  by 
good  infantry.  I  pointed  out  to  him  the  po- 
sition of  some  bluffs  on  this  side  of  the  river, 
from  which  artillery  could  act  with  effect  on 
the  other ;  and  leaving  the  matter  of  crossing 
more  troops  or  retiring  what  where  already 
over  to  his  discretion,  gave  him  entire  control 
of  operations  on  the  right.  This  gallant  and 
energetic  officer  left  me  about  nine  A.  M.,  or 
half-past  nine,  and  galloped  off  quickly  to  his 
command." 

The  following  orders  have  been  received  as  true 
copies  of  the  orders  given  to  Col.  Baker,  the 
originals  of  which  were  found  in  his  hat  after 
his  death.  The  first  is  of  such  date  as  to  have 
been  delivered  to  him  on  Sunday  night,  and  the 
second  was  delivered  to  him  on  the  battle-field 
by  Col.  Coggswell,  who,  perceiving  that  it  had 
no  bearing  upon  the  then  condition  of  affairs, 
said  so  to  Col.  Baker,  who  put  it  in  his  hat 
without  reading.  Some  other  order,  it  may 
be  presumed,  preceded  these  two. 

H.  Q.  CORPS  OF  [Here  the  bullet  struck  and  a  word  > 
is  missing.]    EDWARDS'  FERRY,  October  21, 1861.     f 
Colonel  E,  D.  Baker,  Com.  of  Brigade : 

COLONEL  :  In  case  of  heavy  firing  in  front  of  Harri- 
son's Island,  you  will  advance  the  California  Kegiment 
of  your  brigade,  or  retire  the  regiments  under  Colonels 
Lee  and  Devens,  now  on  the  [almost  rendered  illegible 
by  bloodj  Virginia  side  of  the  river,  at  your  discretion 
— assuming  command  on  arrival. 
Very  respectfully,  Colonel,  your  most  obt.  servt., 
CHAS.  P.  STONE,  Brig.-Gen.  Commanding. 

The  second  order  which  follows,  was  deliv- 
ered on  the  battle-field  by  Col.  Coggswell,  who 
said  to  Col.  Baker,  in  reply  to  a  question  what 
it  meant,  "All  right,  go  ahead."  Thereupon 
Col.  Baker  put  it  in  his  hat  without  reading. 
An  hour  afterward  he  fell : 

HEAD-QITARTERS  CORPS  or  OBSERVATION,  > 
ED-WARDS'  FERRY,  October  22 — 11.50.    $ 
E.  D.  Baker,  Commanding  Brigade : 

COLONEL  :  I  am  informed  that  the  force  of  the  enemy 
is  about  four  thousand,  all  told.  If  you  can  push  them, 
you  may  do  so  as  far  as  to  have  a  strong  position  near 
Leesburg,  if  you  can  keep  them  before  you,  avoiding 
their  batteries.  If  they  pass  Leesburg  and  take  the 
Gum  Springs  road,  you  will  not  follow  far,  but  seize 
the  first  good  position  to  cover  that  road. 

Their  design  is  to  draw  us  on,  if  they  are  obliged  to 
retreat,  as  far  as  Goose  Creek,  where  they  can  be  rein- 
forced from  Manassas,  and  have  a  strong  position. 

Report  frequently,  so  that  when  they  are  pushed, 
Gorman  can  come  up  on  their  flank. 

Yours  respectfully  and  truly, 

CHARLES  P.  STONE, 
Brigadier-General  Commanding. 

The  following  are  the  copies  said  to  have 
been  made  by  General  Beauregard's  order  and 
sent  to  General  Stone,  of  the  orders  given  to 
Devens  and  Baker  at  Ball's  Bluff  and  found  on 
the  field  by  the  Confederates. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  CORPS  OF  OBSERVATION,     ) 
POOLESVILLE,  October  20,  1861— about  11  A.  M.  f 
COLONEL  :  You  will  please  send  orders  to  the  canal  to 
have  the  two  new  flat-boats  now  there,  opposite  the 
island,  transferred  at  once  to  the  river,  and  will  at  2 
o'clock  p.  M.  have  the  island  reinforced  by  all  of  your 
regiments  now  on  duty  at  the  canal  and  at  the  New 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


105 


York  battery.    The  pickets  will  be  replaced  by  the 
companies  of  the  Nineteenth  Massachusetts  there. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES  P.  STONE,  Brigadier-General. 
Col.  CHARLES  DEVEXS,  Commanding  Fifteenth  Regi- 
ment Mass.  Vols. 
A  true  copy. 
WM.  R.  HYSLOP,  Lieut,  and  A.  D.  C. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  CORPS  OF  OBSERVATION,  ) 
•          POOLBSVII.LE,  Oct.  20, 1861— 10i  p.  M.     J 

SPECIAL  ORDERS,  No.  — .  Colonel  Devens  will  land 
opposite  Harrison's  Island  with  four  companies  of  his 
regiment,  and  proceed  to  surprise  the  camp  of  the 
enemy  discovered  by  Captain  Philbrick  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Leesburg.  The  landing  and  march  will  be 
effected  with  silence  and  rapidity. 

Colonel  Lee,  Twentieth  Massachusetts  Volunteers, 
will  immediately  after  Colonel  Devens'  departure  oc- 
cupy Harrison's  Island  with  four  companies  of  his 
regiment,  and  will  cause  the  four-oared  boat  to  be 
taken  across  the  island  to  the  point  of  departure  of 
Colonel  Devens. 

One  company  will  be  thrown  across  to  occupy  the 
heights  on  the  Virginia  shore,  after  Colonel  Devens' 
departure  to  cover  his  return. 

Two  mountain  howitzers  will  be  taken  silently  up  the 
tow-path,  and  carried  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  island, 
under  the  orders  of  Colonel  Lee. 

Colonel  Devens  will  attack  the  camp  of  the  enemy 
at  daybreak,  and  having  routed,  will  pursue  as  far  as 
he  deems  prudent,  and  will  destroy  the  camp,  if  prac- 
ticable, before  returning. 

He  will  make  all  the  observation*  possible  on  the 
country,  will  under  all  circumstances  keep  his  com- 
mand well  in  hand,  and  not  sacrifice  this  to  any  sup- 
posed advantage  of  rapid  pursuit. 

Having  accomplished  this  duty,  Colonel  Devens  will 
return  to  his  present  position,  unless  he  shall  see  one 
on  the  Virginia  side,  near  the  river,  which  he  can  un- 
doubtedly hold  until  reinforced,  and  one  which  can  be 
successfully  held  against  largely  superior  numbers. 
In  such  case  he  will  hold  on  and  report. 

CHARLES  P.  STONE,  Brigadier-General. 

Great  care  will  be  used  by  Colonel  Devens  to  pre- 
vent any  unnecessary  injury  of  private  property,  and 
any  officer  or  soldier  straggling  ironi  the  command  for 
curiosity  or  plunder  will  be  instantly  shot. 

CHARLES  P.  STONE,  Bngadier-General. 
A  true  copy. 

WM.  R.  'HrsLOP,  Lieut,  and  A.  D.  C. 

The  following  is  given  as  the  last  order  to 
Col.  Baker.  It  could  never  have  reached  him. 
It  shows  what  report  he  sent  to  Gen  Stone,  and 
indicates  under  what  orders  he  was  acting : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  CORPS  OF  OBSERVATION,  ) 
EDWARDS'  FERRY,  Oct.  21 — 3.45  p.  M.     j" 
Colonel  E.  D.  Baker,  Commanding  Sight  Wing  : 

COLONEL  :  Yours  of  2.30  is  received.  I  am  glad  you 
find  your  position  tenable.  If  satisfied  with  it,  hold 
on,  and  don't  let  the  troops  get  fatigued  or  starved 
while  waiting. 

Please  detail  plenty  of  officers  to  attend  to  the  food 
of  the  men.  Do  you  need  more  artillery  than  the 
eight  pieces  now  at  your  disposition  ? 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

CHAS.  P.  STONE,  Brig.-Gen.  Com'g. 
A  true  copy. 
WILLIAM  R.  HTSLOP,  Lieut,  and  A.  D.  C. 

In  the  morning  a  skirmish  took  place  be- 
tween the  command  of  Col.  Lee,  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Twentieth,  who  had  been  ordered  to 
cover  Col.  Devens'  retreat,  and  about  one  hun- 
dred Mississippi  riflemen.  Col.  Devens  then 
fell  back  in  good  order  on  Col.  Lee's  position. 
Presently  he  again  advanced,  his  men  behav- 
ing admirably,  fighting,  retiring,  and  advancing 


in  perfect  order,  and  exhibiting  every  proof  of 
high  courage  and  good  discipline.  Had  the  cav- 
alry scouting  party  sent  to  him  in  the  morning 
been  with  him,  then  he  could  have  had  timely 
warning  of  the  approach  of  the  superior  force 
which  afterward  overwhelmed  his  regiment. 

Between  twelve  and  one  P.  M.  the  enemy  ap- 
peared in  force  in  front  of  Col.  Devens,  and  a 
sharp  skirmish  ensued,  and  was  maintained  for 
some  time  by  the  Fifteenth  Massachusetts,  un- 
supported ;  and  finding  he  would  be  outflanked, 
Col.  Devens  retired  a  short  distance,  and  took 
up  a  position  near  the  wood,  half  a  mile  in 
front  of  Col.  Lee,  where  he  remained  until  two 
o'clock,  when  he  again  fell  back,  with  the  ap- 
proval of  Col.  Baker,  and  took  his  place  with 
the  portions  of  the  Twentieth  Massachusetts 
and  First  California  which  had  arrived. 

The  movement  of  troops  now  to  the  Virginia 
side  was  constant — until  700  of  the  Fifteenth 
and  three  companies  of  the  Twentieth  Massa- 
chusetts, the  First  California  battalion,  and 
some  companies  of  the  Tammany  Regiment 
had  crossed,  and  four  pieces  of  artillery.  • 

At  one  o'clock  the  order  had  been  given  to 
the  right  battery  detached  from  the  New  York 
Ninth  to  report  to  Gen.  Baker  at  the  Maryland 
side  of  the  Potomac,  opposite  Harrison's  Island. 
In  half  an  hour  the  four  pieces  arrived  at  the 
spot,  in  command  of  Lieut.  Bramhall.  At  this 
time  but  little  firing  was  heard  upon  the  oppo- 
site shore,  and  that  only  desultory. 

At  about  half-past  two  p.  M.,  however,  the 
firing  of  musketry  suddenly  became  very  brisk, 
accompanied  by  occasional  discharges  of  artil- 
lery. At  this  time  Col.  Baker,  who  had  been 
actively  engaged  in  superintending  the  despatch 
of  reinforcements,  crossed  himself,  accompanied 
by  but  one  officer,  Major  Young,  of  his  com- 
mand, leaving  word  to  forward  the  artillery 
with  all  despatch.  The  means  provided  for  this 
purpose  consisted  of  two  scows,  manned  by 
poles,  and  which,  owing  to  the  swiftness  of  the 
current,  consumed  a  great  deal  of  time  in  the 
trip  from  the  mainland  to  the  island. 

Lieut.  Bramhall  thus  describes  the  crossing  in 
his  report:  "  I  took  command,  and  ordered  the 
immediate  embarkation  of  the  pieces.  I  crossed 
with  the  first  piece,  (which  happened  to  be  a 
Rhode  Island  piece,)  accompanied  by  Col. 
Coggswell,  of  the  Tammany  Regiment,  arriving 
upon  the  island  after  a  half  hour's  hard  labor  to 
keep  the  boat  from  floating  down  the  stream. 
"We  ascended  the  steep  bank,  made  soft  and 
sloppy  bat  the  passage  of  the  troops,  and  at  a 
rapid  gait  crossed  the  island  to  the  second 
crossing.  At  this  point  we  found  only  a  scow, 
on  which  we  did  not  dare  to  cross  the  piece  and 
the  horses  together,  and  thus  lost  further  time 
by  being  obliged  to  make  two  crossings.  Upon 
arriving  on  the  Virginia  shore  we  were  com- 
pelled to  dismount  the  piece  and  carriage,  and 
haul  the  former  up  by  the  prolonge,  the  infantry 
assisting  in  carrying  the  parts  of  the  latter  to  a 
point  about  thirty  feet  up  a  precipitous  ascent, 
rendered  almost  impassable  with  soft  mud, 


106 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


•where  we  remounted  the  piece,  and,  hitching 
up  the  horses,  dragged  it  through  a  perfect 
thicket  up  to  the  open  ground  above,  where  the 
fighting  was  going  on. 

"  During  all  this  time  the  firing  had  continued 
with  great  briskness,  and  that  the  enemy's  fire 
was  very  effectual  was  evident  from  the  large 
number  of  wounded  and  dead  who  were  being 
borne  to  the  boats.  But  a  few  moments  pre- 
vious to  coming  into  position  the  firing  had 
ceased,  and  when  I  arrived  I  found  that  our 
men  were  resting,  many  with  arms  stacked  in 
front  of  them.  The  ground  upon  which  was 
Buch  of  the  fight  as  I  engaged  in  was  an  open 
space,  forming  a  parallelogram,  enclosed  entire- 
ly in  woods.  Our  men  were  disposed  in  a 
semicircle,  the  right  and  left  termini  of  which 
rested  Upon  the  woods,  with,  as  near  as  I  could 
discern,  skirmishers  thrown  out  upon  each 
flank,  while  the  convexity  of  our  lines  skirted 
the  cliff  overhanging  the  river.  The  ground 
sloped  from  a  point  about  forty  yards  from  the 
cliff  sufficiently  to  afford  a  very  tolerable  cover 
for  our  men." 

The  field  was  about  seventy-five  yards  in 
breadth  by  two  hundred  in  length.  At  the  dis- 
tant front  and  down  the  right  and  left,-  a  thick 
dark  forest  skirted  its  sides.  Behind,  the  bluff 
fell  steeply  off  to  the  river.  A  winding  spur  of 
the  field  extended  a  few  rods  into  the  woods 
on  the  left,  half  way  between  the  opposing 
lines.  Directly  on  the  left,  and  near  where  a 
crooked  path  led  the  Federal  force  to  the  fight, 
a  ravine  fell  slightly  off,  its  opposite  bank 
ascending  to  the  thicket  of  woods  which  thus 
totally  surrounded  the  field.  About  four  o'clock 
p.  M.,  Col.  Baker  formed  his  line  for  action. 
At  this  time  no  enemy  was  anywhere  visible 
in  rank,  but  from  the  woods  in  the  extreme 
front  a  galling  irregular  fire  poured  out  upon 
his  men.  They  were  then  ranged,  in  no  very 
exact  order,  from  right  to  left,  the  wings  par- 
tially covered  by  the  thicket — portions  of  the 
centre  lying  close  to  the  edge  of  the  hill — while 
others  boldly  stepped  forward,  delivered  their 
fire  at  the  woods,  returned  to  load,  and  advance 
again  and  again.  The  men  of  the  Fifteenth  and 
Twentieth  Massachusetts  were  placed  on  the 
right,  the  Oalifornians  on  the  left,  while  the 
artillery,  with  the  Tammany  companies,  were 
posted  in  the  centre.  A  quick  consultation  was 
held.  Intimations  of  a  large  hostile  force  near 
were  received.  No  retreat  could  be  effected  in 
safety.  The  fire  was  growing  hot.  A  retro- 
grade movement  would  only  bring  seven- 
teen hundred  men  to  the  river's  brink,  with 
two  boats,  capable  of  carrying  sixty  persons 
each,  to  transport  them  over  a  swift  channel, 
while  it  would  cause  a  rush  of  the  enemy  upon 
them.  Their  only  hope  was  in  maintaining 
their  ground  until  troops  by  the  Edwards' 
Ferry  could  force  a  way  to  their  aid.  The 
enemy  had  evidently  concentrated  here  under 
the  apprehension  that  the  principal  attack 
would  come  from  this  quarter.  The  battle 
now  commenced  in  earnest  on  the  left  and  was 


brought  on  by  pushing  two  companies  forward 
to  feel  the  enemy  in  the  wood.  They  advanced 
half  the  distance,  and  were  met  by  a  murder- 
ous fire  from  the  enemy,  which  was  followed 
by  a  terrific  volley  along  their  whole  front. 
They  still  kept  their  cover,  but  the  bullets  rat- 
tled against  the  whole  Federal  line,  which  gave 
a  quick  reply.  Instantly  both  ends  of  the  field' 
were  clouded  in  smoke,  and  the  contest  raged 
hotly  for  an  hour.  Feeling  their  strength,  the 
enemy  pressed  down  the  sides  of  the  field,  and 
the  fight  grew  close  until  Col.  Baker  fell  while 
cheering  his  men,  and  by  his  own  example  sus- 
taining them  in  the  obstinate  resistance  they 
were  making.  The  command  soon  devolved 
on  Col.  Coggswell,  who  saw  that  the  day  was 
lost,  and  that  the  time  for  retreat  had  come. 

The  enemy  pursued  to  the  edge  of  the  bluff, 
over  the  landing-place,  and  poured  in  a  heavy 
fire  as  the  Federal  force  were  endeavoring  to 
cross  to  the  island.  The  retreat  was  rapid,  but 
according  to  orders.  The  men  formed  near  the 
river,  maintaining  for  nearly  half  an  hour  the 
hopeless  contest  rather  than  surrender. 

The  smaller  boat  had  disappeared,  no  one 
knew  where.  The  larger  boat,  rapidly  and  too 
heavily  loaded,  swamped  at  fifteen  feet  from 
the  shore,  and1  nothing  was  left  to  the  soldiers 
but  to  swim,  surrender,  or  die.  With  a  devo- 
tion worthy  of  the  cause  they  were  serving, 
officers  and  men,  while  quarter  was  being 
offered  to  such  as  would  lay  down  their  amis, 
stripped  themselves  of  their  swords  and  mus- 
kets and  hurled  them  out  into  the  river  to 
prevent  them  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  foe, 
and  saved  themselves  as  they  could,  by  swim- 
ming, floating  on  logs,  and  concealing  them- 
selves in  the  bushes  of  the  forest,  and  to  make 
their  way  up  and  down  the  river  bank  to  a  place 
of  crossing. 

The  fate  of  the  piece  of  artillery  which  had 
been  so  effective,  is  thus  described  by  Lieut. 
Bramhall,  who  commanded  it : 

"  Finding  that  the  battle  was  lost  to  us,  and 
with  but  one  man  left  to  aid  me,  (Booth,  of  tho 
California  regiment,)  and  growing  weak  and 
stiff  from  my  wounds,  of  which  I  received 
three,  none  dangerous,  I  caused  the  piece  to  be 
drawn  down  to  the  edge  of  the  cliff,  whence  it 
was  afterward  thrown  down,  lodging  in  tho 
rocks  and  logs,  with  which  the  descent  was 
cumbered,  and,  assisted  by  two  privates  of  the 
Fifteenth  Massachusetts  Regiment,  made  my 
way  to  the  boat  and  over  to  the  island.  Hero 
I  found  my  own  section  and  the  other  piece  be- 
longing to  the  Rhode  Island  section,  one  of 
which  I  had  had;  and  leaving  directions  to 
command  the  ford  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
island  with  two  pieces,  and  to  hold  the  other 
in  reserve  to  act  where  circumstances  might 
require  aid  to  cover  the  retreat  of  our  own  in- 
fantry, I  crossed  to  the  mainland.  I  had  first 
despatched  a  messenger  for  Lieut.  Clark,  of  our 
battery,  who  soon  after  arrived  and  took  com- 
mand. The  only  projectile  with  which  the  am- 
munition chest  was  provided  was  the  James 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


107 


shell)  I  have  been  told  by  those  from  the  right 
and  left  who  could  correctly  observe  their  effect, 
that  they  burst,  and  with  great  effect.  The 
short  range  at  which  they  were  fired  would  of 
course  hardly  admit  of  any  very  appreciable 
deviation  from  a  direct  course,  such  as  has  been 
remarked  of  the  projectile.  The  piece,  I  have 
since  learned,  was  taken  by  the  enemy ;  with 
it  there  were  but  eight  or  ten  rounds  of  shell, 
and  about  twenty  blanks.  I  do  not  think  it 
was  possible  to  have  saved  the  piece  from  cap- 
ture, for  it  would  have  required  a  full  half  hour 
to  have  gotten  it  down  to  the  river,  when  if  it 
were  shipped  upon  the  boat  it  would  have  been 
necessarily  to  the  exclusion  of  the  wounded, 
who  were  being  conveyed  to  the  opposite  shore. 
Indeed,  I  very  much  doubt  if  it  could  have 
crossed  at  all,  for  the  scow  sunk  with  its  weight 
of  men  the  next  trip  after  I  returned  in  it.  The 
horses  belonging  to  the  piece  were  all  shot ;  and 
I  learn  from  Capt.  Vaughan,  who  has  since  been 
over  to  bury  the  dead,  that  five  of  them  lay 
dead  in  one  heap.  I  regretted  that  the  canister 
which  was  to  be  sent  over  to  us  did  not  reach 
us,  as  with  it  I  might  have  at  least  kept  the 
enemy  sufficiently  in  check  to  have  given  time 
to  many  of  the  wounded  who  were  left  on  the 
Virginia  side  to  have  escaped." 

The  report  of  the  Confederate  General  Evans 
states  his  killed  and  wounded  at  three  hundred. 
He  speaks  of  his  force  as  twenty-five  hundred 
men,  without  artillery,  engaged  against  ten 
thousand  with  five  batteries.  The  force  to 
which  he  was  opposed  was  about  twenty-one 
hundred,  with  one  piece  of  artillery  that  was 
served  effectively,  the  other  three  being  fired 
only  at  intervals.  The  Confederate  forces  en- 
gaged were  the  Eighth  Virginia,  and  Seven- 
teenth and  Eighteenth  Mississippi  Regiments. 
The  First' Mississippi  was  held  in  reserve. 

The  Massachusetts  Fifteenth  lost,  in  killed, 
•wounded,  and  missing,  three  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-two, including  a  Lieut-Colonel  and  fourteen 
out  of  twenty-eight  line  officers  who  crossed. 
The  Massachusetts  Twentieth  lost,  in  all,  one 
hundred  and  fifty-nine.  The  Tammany  com- 
panies lost  one  hundred  and  sixty-three.  The 
First  California  Regiment  lost  three  hundred, 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 

Meantime  at  Edwards'  Ferry,  where  the  fa- 
cilities for  transportation  consisted  of  two 
scows  and  a  yawl  boat,  Gen.  Stone  was  pre- 
paring to  push  forward  to  the  road  by  which 
the  enemy's  retreat  would  be  cut  off,  if  driven. 
He  says: — "The  additional  artillery  had  al- 
ready been  sent,  and  when  the  messenger,  who 
did  not  leave  the  field  until  after  three  o'clock, 
was  questioned  as.  to  Colonel  Baker's  position, 
he  informed  me  that  the  Colonel,  when  he  left, 
seemed  to  feel  perfectly  secure,  and  could  doubt- 
less hold  his  position  in  case  he  should  not 
advance.  The  same  statement  was  made  by 
another  messenger  half  an  hour  later,  and  I 
watched  anxiously  for  a  sign  of  advance  on  the 
right,  in  order  to  push  forward  Gen.  Gorman. 
It  was,  as  had  been  explained  to  Colonel  Baker, 


impracticable  to  throw  Gen.  Gorman's  brigade 
directly  to  the  right  by  reason  of  the  battery  in 
the  woods,  between  which  we  had  never  been 
able  to  "reconnoitre. 

"At  four  p.  M.,  or  thereabouts,  I  telegraphed 
to  General  Banks  for  a  brigade  of  his  division, 
intending  it  to  occupy  the  ground  on  this  side  of 
the  river  near  Harrison's  Island,  which  would  be 
abandoned  in  case  of  a  rapid  advance ;  and  short- 
ly after,  as  the  fire  slackened,  a  messenger  was 
waited  for,  on  whose  tidings  should  be  given 
orders  either  for  the  advance  of  General  Gorman 
to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  enemy,  or  for  the  dis- 
position for  the  night  in  the  position  then  held. 

"  At  five  P.  M.  Captain  Candy  arrived  from 
the  field  and  announced  the  melancholy  tidings 
of  Colonel  Baker's  death,  but  with  no  intelli- 
gence of  any  further  disaster.  I  immediately 
apprised  General  Banks  of  Col.  Baker's  death, 
and  I  rode  quickly  to  the  right  to  assume  com- 
mand. Before  arriving  opposite  the  island, 
men  who  had  crossed  the  river  plainly  gave 
evidence  of  the  disaster,  and  on  reaching  the 
same  I  was  satisfied  of  it  by  the  conduct  of  the 
men  then  landing  in  boats. 

"  Orders  were  then  given  to  hold  the  island 
and  establish  a  patrol  on  the  tow-path  from  op- 
posite the  island  to  the  line  of  pickets  near  the 
Monocacy,  and  I  returned  to  the  left  to  secure 
the  troops  there  from  disaster,  and  make  prepa- 
rations for  moving  them  as  rapidly  as  possible. 

"  Orders  arrived  from  Gen.  McClellan  to  hold 
the  island  and  Virginia  shore  at  Edwards'  Fer- 
ry at  all  risks,  indicating  at  the  same  time  that 
reinforcements  would  be  sent,  and  immediately 
additional  means  of  intrenchments  were  for- 
warded, and  Gen.  Gorman  was  furnished  with 
particular  directions  to  hold  out  against  any 
and  every  force  of  the  enemy." 

The  crossing  was  ultimately  continued,  and 
by  Tuesday  morning  four  thousand  infantry,  a 
section  of  Ricketts'  battery,  and  Van  Alen's 
cavalry  detachment  were  safely  on  the  Vir- 
ginia shore.  Five  hundi'ed  feet  of  intrench- 
ment  was  thrown  up.  At  3  A.  M.  on  Tues- 
day, Gen.  Banks  arrived  and  took  command. 

All  Tuesday  night  the  whistles  of  the  loco- 
motives bringing  Confederate  reinforcements 
to  Leesburg  were  distinctly  heard.  On  Tuesday 
morning  Gen.  McClellan  was  disposed  to  hold 
the  position  on  the  Virginia  side,  but  further 
information  caused  a  change  of  purpose.  A 
bridge  of  boats  taken  from  the  canal,  together 
with  others  passing  up  and  down  which  were 
stopped,  was  formed,  and  on  Wednesday  the 
entire  force  returned  to  the  Maryland  shore. 

The  first  cause  of  failure  consisted  in  the  lack 
of  suitable  means  of  transportation.  The  Fed- 
eral force  at  Ball's  Bluff  was  evidently  outnum- 
bered and  overpowered.  The  crossing  was  at  an 
exceedingly  unfavorable  spot ;  it  was  the  same 
as  crossing  two  ferries  at  a  point  where  the  cur- 
rent being  narrow,  becomes  swifter.  The  move- 
ment should  have  ceased  with  what  had  been 
done  on  Sunday  night.  No  suitable  preparations 
were  made  for  that  afterward  undertaken. 


108 


AND  NAYAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


The  Hatteras  expedition  having  proved  suc- 
cessful, the  Government  was  encouraged  to 
prosecute  with  all  diligence  a  much  greater 
and  more  formidable  undertaking,  which  it  had 
already  projected.  The  finest  harbor  on  the 
Southern  Atlantic  coast  was  that  of  Port  Koyal 
in  South  Carolina — a  broad  estuary,  formed  by 
the  junction  of  Broad  and  Port  Koyal  Elvers, 
and  Archer's  Creek  and  their  debouchure  into 
the  Atlantic.  The  interlacing  of  these  and 
other  rivers  in  the  vicinity  has  formed  a  large 
group  of  islands,  of  which  Hilton  Head,  Hunt- 
ing, St.  Helena,  Paris,  and  Port  Eoyal  are  the 
principal.  This  harbor  i?  situated  about  half- 
way between  Charleston  and  Savannah,  with 
both  which  cities  it  has  an  interior  water  com- 
munication. The  parish,  of  which  these  islands 
form  the  greater  part,  was  the  richest  agricul- 
tural district  in  South  Carolina.  It  was  the 
most  important  seat  of  the  production  of  the 
fine  long-stapled  Sea  Island  cotton,  and  was 
also  largely  engaged  in  the  rice  culture.  It  was 
the  largest  slaveholding  parish  in  that  State, 
having  32,000  slaves  to  less  than  7,000  whites. 
The  village  of  Beaufort  and  the  adjacent  coun- 
try on  Port  Royal  and  the  other  interior  islands 
was  the  summer  residence  of  the  wealthy  plant- 
ers of  South  Carolina. 

The  Government  at  first  seems  to  have  pur- 
posed sending  the  expedition  to  some  other 
point  (perhaps  Savannah)  on  the  coast,  but 
wisely  referred  the  final  decision  of  the  point 
to  be  first  attacked,  to  the  thorough  profes- 
sional knowledge  and  skill  of  the  flag-officer  of 
the  expedition,  Com.  S.  F.  Dupont,  who,  after 
much  deliberation  and  consultation  with  the 
Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Mr.  Fox,  fixed 
upon  Port  Royal,  as  being  the  best  spot  from 
which  to  move  either  northward  or  southward. 
The  preparations  for  the  expedition  were  on  an 
extensive  scale,  and  required  a  longer  period  for 
the  completion  of  all  its  equipments  than  was 
at  first  expected.  It  finally  set  sail  from  Hamp- 
•  ton  Roads  on  the  29th  of  October,  consisting  of 
fifty  vessels,  including  transports.  A  fleet  of 
twenty-five  coal  vessels,  to  supply  the  necessary 
fuel,  had  been  despatched  the  previous  day. 

The  naval  vessels  connected  with  the  expe- 
dition were  the  Wabash  (the  flag-ship),  the  Sus- 
quehanna,  and  the  gunboats  Mohican,  Seminole, 
Pawnee,  Unadilla,  Ottowa,  Pembina,  Isaac 
Smith,  Bienville,  Seneca,  Curlew,  Penguin, 
Augusta,  R.  B.  Forbes,  and  Pocahontas,  the 
steam-tug  Mercury,  the  frigate  Vandalia,  and 
the  little  steam-cutter  Vixen.  There  were  also 
thirty-three  transports,  many  of  them  of  the 
first  class,  such  as  the  Baltic,  Ocean  Queen, 
Yanderbilt,  Illinois,  Cahawba,  Empire  City, 
Ariel,  Daniel  Webster,  Coatzacoalcos,  Ericsson, 
Oriental,  Philadelphia,  S.R.  Spaulding,  Winfield 
Scott,  Atlantic,  &c.,  &c. ;  and  such  sailing  ves- 
sels as  the  Great  Republic,  Ocean  Express, 
Golden  Eagle,  &c.  The  naval  command  was, 
as  has  already  been  said,  assigned  to  Com.  S. 
F.  Dupont,  but  the  transports  carried  out  an 
army  of  about  15,600  troops,  under  the  com- 


mand of  Acting  Major-General  Thomas  W. 
Sherman.  This  force  was  divided  into  three 
brigades,  commanded  respectively  by  Brigadier- 
Generals  Egbert  S.  Viele,  Isaac  J.  Stevens,  and 
Horatio  G.  Wright.  The  first  brigade  consisted 
of  the  3d  New  Hampshire,  8th  Maine,  46th, 
47th,  and  48th  New  York  regiments;  the  2d 
brigade  of  the  8th  Michigan,  50th  Pennsylvania, 
Roundhead  Pennsylvania,  and  79th  New  York 
(Highlanders) ;  the  3d.  brigade  of  the  6th  and 
7th  Connecticut,  the  9th  Maine,  the  4th  New 
Hampshire,  and  the  3d  Rhode  Island,  with 
Hamilton's  (late  Sherman's)  battery  of  six  rifled 
cannon,  and  a  battalion  of  Serrell's  volunteer 
engineers. 

The  weather,  which  was  unsettled  when  the 
fleet  left  Hampton  Roads,  soon  changed  into  a 
storm  of  wind  of  great  violence,  which,  in- 
creasing on  the  31st  October,  became  on  Fri- 
day, Nov.  2,  a  hurricane  from  the  southeast, 
and  scattered  the  ships  so  widely  that,  on 
Saturday  morning,  but  one  of  the  whole  fleet 
was  in  sight  from  the  deck  of  the  Wabash.  On 
Sunday  the  wind  had  moderated,  and  the 
steamers  and  ships  began  to  reappear.  The 
Isaac  Smith  had  been  compelled  to  throw  her 
battery  overboard  to  keep  from  foundering; 
the  Governor  and  the  Peerless,  two  of  the 
transports,  sank;  but  the  soldiers  and  crews 
were  saved  except  seven  of  the  marines  on  the 
Governor,  who  were  drowned  by  their  own 
imprudence.  On  the  morning  of  the  4th,  Com. 
Dupont  anchored  off  the  bar  of  Port  Royal 
harbor,  with  twenty-five  of  his  vessels  in  com- 
pany. The  channel  of  the  harbor  was  that  day 
found,  sounded  out,  and  buoyed  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Commander  Davis,  the  fleet  captain. 
The  gunboats  and  lighter  transports  were,  be- 
fore dark  of  the  same  day,  anchored  inside  of 
the  bar,  in  the  secure  roadstead,  and  Com.  Tat- 
nall's  (Confederate)  fleet  chased  under  their 
own  batteries.  The  next  day  a  reconnoissance 
in  force  was  made  by  the  Ottawa,  Seneca,  Cur- 
lew, and  Isaac  Smith,  which  drew  the  fire  of 
the  Confederate  forts,  and  showed  which  was 
the  strongest.  On  the  5th,  the  Wabash  and 
Susquehanna,  and  the  large  transports  crossed 
the  bar,  and  the  buoys  which  marked  the  shoal 
lines  were  planted.  A  storm  postponed  the 
attack  until  the  7th,  when  it  was  commenced 
at  about  half-past  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  con- 
tinued for  four  hours,  closing  with  the  com- 
plete rout  and  flight  of  the  enemy's  force  from 
both  forts.  The  fortifications  were  Fort  Wal- 
ker, on  Hilton's  Head  Island,  at  the  right  of  the 
channel— a  strong  earthwork  mounting  twenty- 
three  guns,  all  of  the  heaviest  calibre  and  most 
approved  pattern  for  sea-coast  defence,  some 
of  them  rifled,  and  several  imported  from  Eng- 
land since  the  war  commenced.  A  small  out- 
work, mounting  a  single  rifled  gun,  had  been 
erected  near  the  fort  and  beyond  it  on  the  sea 
front.  Fort  Beauregard,  at  Bay  Point,  on  Phil- 
lips or  Hunting  Island,  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
channel,  2|  miles  from  Fort  Walker,  was  also  a 
strong  work,  though  not  as  formidable  as  Fort 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


109 


"Walker.  It  mounted  20  guns  of  the  same  gen- 
eral character  as  those  in  the  other  fort,  and  was 
supported  by  an  outwork  nearly  a  half  mile  dis- 
tant, mounting  5  guns.  Ahout  2  miles  above  the 
forts,  where  the  Port  Eoyal  or  Beaufort  Ewer 
joins  the  Broad,  Com.  Tatnall's  (Confederate) 
fleet  of  six  or  seven  gunboats  was  stationed. 

The  circumstances  thus  detailed  influenced 
Com.  Dupont  in  deciding  upon  his  plan  of 
attack.  He  first  stationed  his  transports  at 
anchor,  beyond  the  range  of  the  guns  of  the 
forts ;  then  leading  the  way  with  the  Wabash, 
followed  immediately  by  the  Susquehanna,  Mo- 
hican, Seminole,  Pawnee,  Unadilla,  Ottawa, 
Pembina,  and  Vandalia,  towed  by  the  Isaac 
Smith,  he  passed  up  the  centre  of  the  channel, 
delivering  his  fire  at  the  forts  on  each  side, 
and,  sailing  in  an  ellipse,  passed  down  within 
600  yards  of  Fort  "Walker,  firing  slowly  and  de- 
liberately, but  never  losing  the  range.  Mean- 
while the  Bienville,  Seneca,  Curlew,  Penguin, 
and  Augusta  had  passed  up  on  the  left  side  of 
the  channel,  pouring  their  broadsides  into  Fort 
Beauregard,  and  then  taking  a  station  where 
they  could  cut  off  Tatnall's  fleet  from  any  par- 
ticipation in  the  fight,  and  at  the  same  time 
maintain  a  destructive  flanking  fire  upon  the 
weak  left  flank  of  Fort  Walker.  Three  times 
the  line  of  vessels  traversed  their  elliptical  cir- 
cuit, the  last  time  aided  by  the  fire  of  the  Poca- 
hontas,  the  E.  B.  Forbes,  and  the  Mercury  tug, 
which  came  up  about  twelve  o'clock,  M.  At 
the  completion  of  the  third  circuit,  the  guns  of 
the  forts  were  mostly  disabled,  and  the  garri- 
sons, consisting  in  Fort  "Walker  of  two  South 
Carolina  regiments,  and  in  Fort  Beauregard  of 
one,  had  fled  in  a  terrible  panic,  leaving  their 
weapons,  overcoats,  and  even  their  watches  and 
papers  behind  them.  The  Federal  loss  was: 
killed,  8 ;  wounded  seriously,  6 ;  wounded 
slightly,  17.  Total  killed  and  wounded,  81. 
Confederate  loss  not  known,  but  considerably 
larger  than  this.  "With  these  forts  were  captured 
48  cannon,  43  of  them  of  excellent  quality,  and 
mostly  of  large  calibre,  and  large  quantities  of 
ammunition  and  stores.  On  the  9th  of  Novem- 
ber the  Seneca,  Lieut.  Ammen  commanding,  pro- 
ceeded to  Beaufort,  and  found  the  town  in  pos- 
session of  the  negroes,  the  whites  having  fled. 
The  other  islands  were  successively  occupied, 
and  on  the  25th  Nov.  Com.  Dupont  reported  to 
the  Navy  Department  that  he  had  taken  pos- 
session of  Tybee  Island,  commanding  the  en- 
trance of  the  Savannah  Eiver.  Meantime  the 
troops  under  Gen.  Sherman,  though  debarred 
by  the  circumstances  from  any  active  partici- 
pation in  the  capture  of  the  two  forts,  had  not 
been  idle.  Having  landed  on  Hilton  Head,  they 
occupied  and  strengthened  the  fortifications, 
and  made  that  point  the  base  of  further  opera- 
tions on  Savannah,  Charleston,  and  other  places. 
On  the  31st  of  October  Gen.  "Winfield  Scott, 
the  Lieutenant-General  of  the  army  of  the  United 
States,  or  the  executive  officer  under  the  Pres- 
ident, who  is  the  commander-in-chief,  deter- 
mined to  resign  his  position.  Age  and  its  infirm- 


ities had  imposed  this  step  upon  him.  This 
office  was  created  and  tendered  to  General  Scott 
after  the  close  of  the  Mexican  war,  in  which  he 
conducted  the  American  arms  with  so  much 
glory  into  the  very  halls  of  the  Montezumas. 

Born  near  Petersburg,  in  Virginia,  June  13, 
1785,  he  entered  the  army  as  captain  of  light 
artillery,  May  3,  1808,  and  served  his  country 
with  unvarying  success  for  more  than  half  a 
century.  In  that  time  he  proved  his  right  to 
rank  with  the  first  commanders  of  the  age. 
He  was  twice  honored  with  a  gold  medal  from 
Congress  for  distiriguished  services,  and  now 
retired  from  active  duty  with  the  reputation, 
after  fifty  years  of  command,  of  never  having 
lost  a  battle  when  he  was  present  in  person. 

To  accomplish  his  purpose,  he  addressed  the 
following  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  "War : 

HEADQTTABTEBS  OP  THE  AEMT,         ) 
WASHINGTON,  October  31, 1861. ) 
The  Hon.  S.  CAMERON,  Secretary  of  War: 

SIR  :  For  more  than  three  years  I  have  been  unable, 
from  a  hurt,  to  mount  a  horse,  or  to  walk  more  than 
a  few  paces  at  a  time,  and  that  with  much  pain.  Other 
and  new  infirmities — dropsy  and  vertigo — admonish 
me  that  repose  of  mind  and  body,  with  the  appliances 
of  surgery  and  medicine,  are  necessary  to  add  a  little 
more  to  a  life  already  protracted  much  beyond  the 
usual  span  of  man. 

It  is  under  such  circumstances — made  doubly  pain- 
ful by  the  unnatural  and  unjust  rebellion  now  raging 
in  the  Southern  States  of  our  (so  late)  prosperous  and 
happy  Union — that  I  am  compelled  to  request  that 
my  name  be  placed  on  the  list  of  army  officers  retired 
from  active  service. 

As  this  request  is  founded  on  an  absolute  right, 
granted  by  a  recent  act  of  Congress,  I  am  entirely  at 
liberty  to  say  it  is  with  deep  regret  that  I  withdraw 
myself,  in  these  momentous  times,  from  the  orders 
of  a  President  who  has  treated  me  with  distinguished 
kindness  and  courtesy ;  whom  I  know,  upon  much 
personal  intercourse,  to  be  patriotic,  without  sec- 
tional partialities  or  prejudices ;  to  be  highly  consci- 
entious in  the  performance  of  every  duty,  and  of  un- 
rivalled activity  and  perseverance. 

And  to  you,  Mr.  Secretary,  whom  I  now  officially 
address  for  the  last  time,  I  beg  to  acknowledge  my 
many  obligations  for  the  uniform  high  consideration 
I  have  received  at  your  hands ;  and  have  the  honor  _ 
to  remain,   sir,  with  high  respect,  your  obedient ' 
servant,  WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

This  letter  was  laid  before  a  Cabinet  meet- 
ing called  for  the  purpose  of  considering  it, 
and  it  was  concluded,  under  the  authority  of  a 
recent  act  of  Congress,  to  place  Gen.  Scott  on 
the  retired  list  of  the  army,  with  the  full  pay 
and  allowances  of  his  rank.  At  4  o'clock  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  the  President, 
accompanied  by  the  Cabinet,  proceeded  to  the 
residence  of  General  Scott,  and  read  to  him  the 
official  order  carrying  out  this  decision. 

The  venerable  general,  oppressed'by  infirmity 
and  emotion,  rose  with  difficulty  to  make  to 
the  President  his  acknowledgments,  which  he 
did  in  touching  terms,  concluding  with  the  dec- 
laration that  the  kindness  manifested  toward 
him  on  this  occasion  he  felt  to  be  the  crowning 
reward  of  a  long  life  spent  in  the  service  of  his 
country,  and  his  deep  conviction  of  the  ultimata 
triumph  of  the  national  arms  and  the  happy 
termination  of  the  unnatural  war. 


110 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


The  President  responded,  expressing  the 
profound  sentiment  of  regret  with  which  the 
country,  as  well  as  himself,  would  part  with  a 
public  servant  so  venerable  in  years,  and  so 
illustrious  for  the  services  he  had  rendered. 

The  following  was  the  official  order : 

On  the  first  day  of  November,  A.  D.  1861,  upon  his 
own  application  to  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
Brevet  Lieutenant-General  Winfield  Scott  is  ordered 
to  be  placed,  and  hereby  is  placed,  upon  the  list  of 
retired  officers  of  the  army  of  the  United  States, 
without  reduction  of  his  current  pay,  subsistence,  or 
allowances.  • 

The  American  people  will  hear  with  sadness  and 
deep  emotion  that  Gen.  Scott  has  withdrawn  from 
the  active  control  of  the  army,  while  the  President 
and  unanimous  Cabinet  express  their  own  and  the 
nation's  sympathy  in  his  personal  affliction,  and  their 
profound  sense  or  the  important  public  services  ren- 
dered by  him  to  his  country  during  his  long  and 
brilliant  career,  among  which  will  ever  be  gratefully 
distinguished  his  faithful  devotion  to  the  Constitution, 
the  Union,  and  the  flag,  when  assailed  by  parricidal 
rebellion.  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

On  the  same  day  an  order  was  issued  by  the 
President,  directing  Maj.-Gen.  George  B.  Mc- 
Clellan  to  assume  the  command  of  the  army  of 
the  United  States. 

It  was  stated  in  a  previous  chapter  that  Co- 
lumbus, on  the  Mississippi  River,  in  Kentucky, 
was  occupied  by  Gen.  Polk  with  Southern 
troops,  and  Paducah,  on  the  Ohio,  likewise  in 
Kentucky  by  Gen.  Grant,  with  troops  from 
Illinois.  Meantime  a  small  body  of  the  enemy 
occupied  a  position  near  Belmont,  on  the  Mis- 
souri side  of  the  Mississippi  River,  under  Col. 
Tappan.  This  force  Gen.  Grant  determined  to 
dislodge  or  capture.  Early  on  the  morning  of 
Sept.  7th,  he  therefore  landed  with  a  force  a 
few  miles  above  Belmont.  This  movement  was 
detected  by  the  enemy,  and  Gen.  Pillow  was 
ordered  to  cross  from  the  Kentucky  side  to  aid 
Col.  Tappan.  Gen.  Grant  immediately  ad- 
vanced upon  the  enemy's  position,  now  reen- 
foffced  by  Gen.  Pillow.  A  sharp  contest  ensued 
for  some  hours,  when  Gen.  Pillow  finding  it 
impossible  to  maintain  himself  without  reen- 
forcements  and  a  further  supply  of  ammunition, 
fell  back  in  some  confusion  to  the  river  bank. 
At  this  time  reinforcements  arrived,  and  a  flank 
movement  up  the  river  upon  Grant  was  made 
by  the  enemy.  Meantime  the  camp  of  Col. 
Tappan's  forces  had  fallen  into  the  possession 
of  Gen.  Grant,  and  he  had  also  planted  batteries 
to  attack  the  steamers  bringing  reinforcements 
across  the  river.  The  flank  movement  discon- 
certed the  Federal  troops,  and,  apprehending 
an  attack  in  the  rear,  they  fell  back  to  the 
transports  and  rapidly  embarked,  leaving  many 
dead  and  wounded  behind.  The  loss  of  the 
enemy  was  632  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 
That  of  Gen.  Grant  was  84  killed,  288  wounded, 
and  235  missing. 

An  event  occurred  at  this  time  in  the  capture 
of  Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell,  which  produced 
a  profound  sensation,  from  the  serious  questions 
which  it  raised. 

The  British  mail  steamer  Trent,  belonging  to 


the  line  of  English  merchant  steamers  which 
run  from  Vera  Cruz  and  Havana  to  St.  Thomas, 
carrying  the  mail  by  contract,  and  thence  con- 
necting with  a  line  to  England,  left  Havana  on 
the*  morning  of  the  7th  of  November,  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Moir,  having  on  board 
Messrs.  J.  M.  Mason  and  John  Slidell — the  for- 
mer sent  by  the  Government  of  the  insurrec- 
tionary States,  as  ambassador  to  England,  And 
the  latter  to  France.  Nothing  of  interest  oc- 
curred till  about  noon  on  the  8th,  when  in  the 
narrow  passage  of  the  old  Bahama  channel,  op- 
posite the  Panador  Grande  light,  a  steamer  was 
observed  ahead,  apparently  waiting,  and  show- 
ing no  colors. 

An  officer  of  the  IT.  S.  steamer  Sao  Jacinto  thus 
reports  the  affair :  "  About  11.40  A.  M.,  the  look- 
out at  the  masthead  reported  a  smoke  as  from 
a  steamer  from  the  westward,  and  about  11  A.  M. 
she  was  visible  from  the  deck.  We  were  all  ready 
for  her,  beat  to  quarters,  and  as  soon  as  she  was 
within  reach  of  our  guns,  every  gun  of  our  star- 
board battery  was  trained  upon  her.  A  shot  from 
our  pivot  gun  was  fired  across  her  bow.  She 
hoisted  English  colors,  and  showed  no  dispo- 
sition to  slacken  her  speed  or  heave  to.  "We 
hoisted  the  '  Star  Spangled  Banner,'  and  as 
soon  as  she  was  close  upon  us,  fired  a  shell 
across  her  bow,  which  brought  her  to.  Our  cap- 
tain hailed  her,  and  said  he  would  send  a  boat 
on  board,  and  ordered  Lieutenant  Fairfax  to 
board  her ;  he  went  in  the  second  cutter ;  at  the 
same  time  Lieutenant  Greer  was  all  ready  in  the 
third  cutter  to  shove  from  the  port  side  should 
his  assistance  be  required.  On  coming  along- 
side the  packet,  Lieutenant  Fairfax  ordered  the 
other  officers  to  remain  in  the  boat  with  the 
crew  until  force  should  become  necessary,  and 
he  went  on  board  alone.  The  captain  of  the 
mail  steamer  refused  to  show  his  papers  and 
passenger  list,  knowing  very  well  the  object 
of  our  visit  and  the  character  and  mission 
of  the  commissioners.  But  Mr.  Mason  being 
recognized,  a  part  of  the  armed  crew  was 
ordered  from  the  boat,  and  came  on  board. 
Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell  were  then  requested 
to  come  on  board  the  San  Jacinto,  but  declined, 
and  said  that  they  would  only  yield  by  force ; 
Mr.  Slidell  making  the  remark  that  '  it  would 
require  considerable  force  to  take  him  on  board 
the  San  Jacinto.'  Lieutenant  Fairfax  then  or- 
dered Mr.  Houston  to  return  to  our  ship  and 
report  that  the  Confederate  commissioners  were 
on  board  the  mail  steamer,  and  refused  to  come 
on  board  the  San  Jacinto  by  other  means  than 
force.  Lieutenant  Greer  then  shoved  off  and 
went  alongside  the  Trent,  sent  his  armed  crew 
and  marines  on  board,  and  stationed  them  at 
both  gangways,  and  then,  after  a  '  gentle  appli- 
cation '  of  force,  the  four  gentlemen  were  taken 
in  the  second  cutter  and  conveyed  on  board  of 
our  ship,  where  they  were  received  by  Captain 
Wilkes  at  the  gangway,  and  shown  into  big 
cabin,  which  they  afterwards  occupied.  Two 
other  boats  were  then  sent  on  board  to  remove 
the  luggage,  and  the  ladies  having  declined 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Ill 


the  hospitalities  offered  them,  at  3.30  we  parted 
company  from  the  Trent." 

The  commissioners  made  a  protest  to  Captain 
Wilkes  on  the  next  day,  in  which  they  say 
that  when  the  Trent  got  withing  hailing  dis- 
tance, her  captain  inquired  what  was  wanted? 
The  reply  was  understood  to  be :  "  They  would 
send  a  boat."  Both  vessels  were  then  station- 
ary, with  steam  shut  off.  A  boat  very  soon 
put  off  from  the  ship,  followed  immediately  by 
two  other  boats,  with  full  crews,  and  armed 
with  muskets  and  side-arms,  i  A  lieutenant  in 
the  uniform  of  the  United  States  navy,  and 
•with  side-arms,  boarded  the  Trent,  and,  in 
the  presence  of  most  of  the  passengers  then 
assembled  on  the  upper  deck,  said  to  Captain 
Moir  that  he  came  with  orders  to  demand  his 
passenger  list.  The  captain  refused  to  produce 
it,  and  formally  protested  against  any  right  to 
visit  his  ship  for  the  purpose  indicated.  After 
some  conversation,  implying  renewed  protests 
on  the  part  of  the  captain  against  the  alleged 
object  of  the  visit,  and  on  the  part  of  the  officer 
of  the  San  Jacinto  that  he  had  only  to  exe- 
cute his  orders,  the  latter  said  that  two  gentle- 
men, naming  Messrs.  Slidell  and  Mason,  were 
known  to  be  on  board,  as  also  two  other  gentle- 
men, naming  Messrs.  Eustis  and  McFarland,  and 
that  his  orders  were  to  take  and  carry  them  on' 
board  the  San  Jacinto.  On  first  addressing  the 
captain,  he  announced  himself  as  a  lieutenant 
of  the  United  States  steamer  San  Jacinto.  The 
four  gentleman  named  being  present,  the  lieu- 
tenant addressed  Mr.  Slidell  and  afterwards  Mr. 
Mason,  repeating  that  his  orders  were  to  take 
them,  together  with  Messrs.  Eustis  and  McFar- 
land, and  carry  them  on  board  his  ship.  Messrs. 
Slidell  and  Mason,  in  reply,  protested  in  the 
presence  of  the  captain  of  the  Trent,  his  officers 
and  passengers,  against  such  threatened  violation 
of  their  persons  and  their  rights,  and  informed 
the  lieutenant  that  they  would  not  leave  the 
ship  they  were  in  unless  compelled  by  the  em- 
ployment of  actual  force  greater  than  they 
could  resist,  and  Messrs.  Eustis  and  McFarland 
united  with  them  in  expressing  a  like  purpose. 
That  officer  stated  that  he  hoped  he  would  not 
be  compelled  to  resort  to  the  use  of  force,  but 
if  it  should  become  necessary  to  employ  it,  in 
order  to  execute  his  orders,  he  was  prepared  to 
do  so.  He  was  answered  by  the  commissioners 
that  they  would  submit  only  to  such  a  force. 
The  lieutenant  then  went  to  the  gangway 
where  his  boats  were,  the  commissioners  going 
at  the  same  time  to  their  state  rooms  on  the 
next  deck  below,  followed  by  Capt.  Moir  and 
by  the  other  passengers.  The  lieutenant  re- 
turned with  a  party  of  his  men,  a  portion  of 
whom  were  armed  with  side-arms,  and  others, 
appearing  to  be  a  squad  of  marines,  having 
muskets  and  bayonets.  Mr.  Slidell  was  in  his 
state  room  immediately  by  and  in  full  view. 
The  lieutenant  then  said  to  Mr.  Mason  that, 
having  his  force  now  present,  he  hoped  to 
be  relieved  from  the  necessity  of  calling  it 
into  actual  use.  The  gentleman  again  answered 


that  he  would  only  submit  to  actual  force 
greater  than  he  could  overcome,  when  the  lieu- 
tenant, and  several  of  his  men,  by  his  order, 
took  hold  of  him,  and  in  a  manner  and  in  num- 
bers sufficient  to  make  resistance  fruitless ;  and 
Mr.  Slidell  joining  the  group  at  the  same  time, 
one  or  more  of  the  armed  party  took  like  hold 
of  him,  and  those  gentlemen  at  once  went  into 
the  boat. 

One  account  says,  an  exciting  scene  took 
place  between  Mr.  Slidell,  his  eldest  daughter, 
a  noble  girl  devoted  to  her  father,  and  Lieut. 
Fairfax.  With  flashing  eyes  and  quivering 
lips  she  threw  herself  in  the  doorway  of  the 
cabin  where  her  father  was,  resolved  to  defend 
him  with  her  life,  till,  on  the  order  being  given 
to  the  marines  to  advance,  which  they  did 
with  bayonets  pointed  at  this  defenceless  girl, 
her  father  ended  the  painful  scene  by  escaping 
from  the  cabin  by  a  window,  when  he  was  im- 
mediately seized  by  the  marines  and  hurried 
into  the  boat.  The  commissioners  were  taken 
by  the  San  Jacinto  to  Fortress  Monroe  and 
transferred  to  Fort  "Warren,  in  Boston  harbor, 
where  they  remained  as  prisoners. 

A  most  intense  excitement  was  aroused  in 
England  upon  the  arrival  of  the  news  of  the 
transaction.  Preparations  for  war  with  the 
United  States  were  commenced,  troops  were 
sent  to  Canada,  and  a  formal  demand  was  made 
for  the  surrender  of  the  commissioners,  and  an 
apology  for  the  act  by  the  Government. 

On  the  30th  of  November,  Mr.  Seward  writes 
to  Mr.  Adams  that  Capt.  "Wilkes,  in  the  steamer 
San  Jacinto,  had  boarded  a  British  colonial 
steamer,  and  taken  from  her  deck  two  insur- 
gents who  were  proceeding  to  England  on  an 
errand  of  treason  against  their  own  country. 
He  then  proceeds : 

We  have  done  nothing  on  the  subject  to  anticipate 
the  discussion,  and  we  have  not  furnished  you  with 
any  explanations.  We  adhere  to  that  course  now,  be- 
cause we  think  it  more  prudent  that  the  ground  taken 
by  the  British  Government  should  be  first  made  known 
to  us  here,  and  that  the  discussion,  if  there  must  be 
one,  shall  be  had  here.  It  is  proper,  however,  that 
you  should  know  one  fact  in  the  case,  without  indi- 
cating that  we  attach  much  importance  to  it,  namely, 
that,  in  the  capture  of  Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell  on 
board  a  British  vessel,  Capt.  Wilkes  having  acted 
without  any  instructions  from  the  Government,  the 
subject  is  therefore  free  from  the  embarrassment 
which  might  have  resulted  if  the  act  had  been  spe- 
cially directed  by  us. 

Earl  Russell  on  the  same  day  writes  to  Lord 
Lyons,  the  British  Minister  at  Washington,  re- 
lating the  facts  of  the  case  as  he  had  received 
them  from  the  commander  of  the  colonial 
steamer  Trent,  and  thus  states  the  demands  of 
his  Government  in  relation  to  the  matter : 

Her  Majesty's  Government,  bearing  in  mind  the 
friendly  relations  which  have  long  subsisted  between 
Great  Britain  and  the  United  States,  are  willing  to 
believe  that  the  United  States  naval  officer  who  com- 
mitted the  aggression  was  not  acting  in  compliance 
with  any  authority  from  his  Government,  or  that  if 
he  conceived  himself  to  be  so  authorized  he  greatly 
misunderstood  the  instructions  which  he  had  received. 
For  the  Government  of  the  United  States  must  be 


112 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


fully  aware  that  the  British  Government  could  not 
allow  such  an  affront  to  the  national  honor  to  pass 
without  full  reparation,  and  her  Majesty's  Govern- 
ment are  unwilling  to  believe  that  it  could  be  the  de- 
liberate intention  of  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  unnecessarily  to  force  into  discussion  between 
the  two  Governments  a  question  of  so  grave  a  char- 
acter, and  with  regard  to  which  the  whole  British 
nation  would  be  sure  to  entertain  such  unanimity  of 
feeling. 

Her  Majesty's  Government,  therefore,  trust  that 
when  this  matter  shall  have  been  brought  under  the 
consideration  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States, 
that  Government  will,  of  its  own  accord,  offer  to  the 
British  Government  such  redress  as  alone  could  sat- 
isfy the  British  nation,  namely,  the  liberation  of  the 
four  gentlemen  and  their  delivery  to  your  lordship, 
in  order  that  they  may  again  be  placed  under  British 
protection,  and  a  suitable  apology  for  the  aggression 
which  has  been  committed. 

Should  these  terms  not  be  offered  by  Mr.  Seward 
you  will  propose  them  to  him. 

Later,  on  the  same  day,  Lord  John  Russell 
addressed  another  note  to  Lord  Lyons,  of  a 
private  nature,  as  follows : 

In  my  previous  despatch  of  this  date  I  have  in- 
structed you,  by  command  of  her  Majesty,  to  make 
certain  demands  of  the  Government  of  the  United 
States. 

Should  Mr.  Seward  ask  for  delay  in  order  that  this 
grave  and  painful  matter  should  be  deliberately  con- 
sidered, you  will  consent  to  a  delay  not  exceeding 
seven  days.  If,  at  the  end  of  that  time,  no  answer  is 
given,  or  if  any  other  answer  is  given  except  that  of 
a  compliance  with  the  demands  of  her  Majesty's  Gov- 
ernment, your  lordship  is  instructed  to  leave  Wash- 
ington with  all  the  members  of  your  legation,  bring- 
ing with  you  the  archives  of  the  legation,  and  to  re- 
pair immediately  to  London. 

If,  however,  you  should  be  of  opinion  that  the  re- 
quirements of  her  Majesty's  Government  are  substan- 
tially complied  with,  you  may  report  the  facts  to  her 
Majesty's  Government  for  their  consideration,  and 
remain  at  your  post  till  you  receive  further  orders. 

A  copy  of  the  first  despatch  was  sent  to  Mr. 
Seward  by  Lord  Lyons,  who  gave  him  a  reply 
on  the  26th  of  December.  After  stating  the 
facts  in  the  case,  Mr.  Seward  proceeds  thus : 

Your  lordship  will  now  perceive  that  the  case  before 
us,  instead  of  presenting  a  merely  flagrant  act  of  vio- 
lence on  the  part  of  Capt.  Wilkes,  as  might  well  be 
inferred  from  the  incomplete  statement  of  it  that  went 
up  to  the  British  Government,  was  undertaken  as  a 
simple  legal  and  customary  belligerent  proceeding  by 
Capt.  Wilkes  to  arrest  and  capture  a  neutral  vessel 
engaged  in  carrying  contraband  of  war  for  the  use 
and  benefit  of  the  insurgents. 

The  question  before  us  is,  whether  this  proceeding 
was  authorized  by,  and  conducted  according  to  the 
law  of  nations.  It  involves  the  following  inquiries : 

1st.  Were  the  persons  named  and  their  supposed 
despatches  contraband  of  war? 

2d.  Might  Capt.  Wilkes  lawfully  stop  and  search 
the  Trent  for  these  contraband  persons  and  de- 
spatches ? 

3d.  Did  he  exercise  that  right  in  a  lawful  and 
proper  manner  ? 

4th.  Having  found  the  contraband  persons  on  board 
and  in  presumed  possession  of  the  contraband  de- 
spatches, had  he  a  right  to  capture  the  persons  ? 

5th.  Did  he  exercise  that  right  of  capture  in  the 
manner  allowed  and  recognized  by  the  law  of  na- 
tions? 

If  all  these  inquiries  shall  be  resolved  in  the  affirm- 
ative, the  British  Government  will  have  no  claim  for 
reparation. 

The  first  four  questions  are  briefly  answered 


by  himself  in  the  affirmative,  and  only  the  fifth 
remained  for  consideration. 

Other  nations  besides  Great  Britain  took  a 
lively  interest  in  this  seizure  of  Messrs.  Mason 
and  Slidell.  On  the  10th  of  December,  the 
Minister  of  France  for  Foreign  Affairs  writes  to 
the  representative  of  that  court  at  Washington 
that  "  the  arrest  had  produced  in  France,  if  not 
the  same  emotion  as  in  England,  at  least  ex- 
treme astonishment  and  sensation.  Public  sen- 
timent was  at  once  engrossed  with  the  unlaw- 
fulness and  the  consequences  of  such  an  act." 
Again  he  says : 

The  desire  to  contribute  to  prevent  a  conflict,  per- 
haps imminent,  between  two  powers  for  which  the 
French  Government  is  animated  by  sentiments  equally 
friendly,  and  the  duty  to  uphold,'  for  the  purpose  of 
placing  the  right  of  its  own  flag  under  shelter  from 
any  attack,  certain  principles,  essential  to  the  security 
of  neutrals,  have,  after  mature  reflection,  convinced 
it  that  it  could  not,  under  the  circumstances,  remain 
entirely  silent. 

After  examining  the  reasons  which  might  be 
urged  to  justify  the  arrest  of  Mason  and  Slidell, 
if  the  United  States  approved  of  the  act,  he  pro- 
ceeds to  show  the  disastrous  effects  which  their 
detention  would  have  on  the  principles  govern- 
ing neutral  rights. 

There  remains,  therefore,  to  invoke,  in  explanation 
of  their  capture,  only  the  pretext  that  they  were  the 
bearers  of  official  despatches  from  the-  enemy ;  but 
this  is  the  moment  to  recall  a  circumstance  which 
governs  all  this  affair,  and  which  renders  the  conduct 
of  the  American  cruiser  unjustifiable. 

The  Trent  was  not  destined  to  a  point  belonging  to 
one  of  the  belligerents.  She  was  carrying  to  a  neutral 
country  her  cargo  and  her  passengers ;  and,  more- 
over, it  was  in  a  neutral  port  that  they  were  taken. 

The  Cabinet  of  Washington  could  not,  without 
striking  a  blow  at  the  principles  which  all  neutral 
nations  are  alike  interested  in  holding  in  respect,  nor 
without  taking  the  attitude  of  contradiction  of  its  own 
course  up  to  this  time,  give  its  approbation  to  tho 
proceedings  of  the  commander  of  the  San  Jacinto. 
In  this  state  of  things  it  evidently  should  not,  accord- 
ing to  our  views,  hesitate  about  the  determination  to 
be  taken. 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  Captain  Wilkes  passed 
the  House  of  Representatives  of  Congress,  but 
the  authorities  at  Washington  sent  instructions 
to  the  commandant  at  Fort  Warren  to  deliver 
the  Confederate  commissioners  to  the  represent- 
atives of  the  British  Government.  They  were, 
therefore,  quietly  placed  on  board  of  a  small 
steamer  and  taken  to  an  English  steam  vessel  at 
anchor  near  Provincetown,  some  distance  from 
Boston.  In  her  they  were  conveyed  to  the 
island  of  St.  Thomas,  and  thence  by  the  line  of 
steam  packets  took  passage  to  England,  where 
they  safely  arrived,  and  were  landed  without 
any  special  official  attention. 

Next  in  the  order  of  events  was  the  occupa- 
tion of  Virginia,  east  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay. 
It  is  a  peninsula,  having  the  Atlantic  Ocean  on 
the  east,  and  the  bay  above  mentioned  on  the 
west.  Tt  was  understood,  near  the  close  of  the 
year,  that  a  body  of  secessionists,  who  were 
chiefly  residents,  were  in  arms  and  exercising 
a  hostile  control  over  the  inhabitants  of  these 
two  counties.  Gen.  Dix,  then  in  command  of 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


113 


that  Department,  with  his  head-quarters  at 
Baltimore,  despatched  a  body  of  troops  to  re- 
store the  Federal  authority.  At  the  same  time 
he  issued  a  proclamation,  stating  the  objects  of 
the  expedition,  which  produced  the  happiest 
results.  The  troops  as  they  advanced  met  with 
no  opposition.  The  people  declared  their  inten- 
tion to  submit  to  the  authority  of  the  United 
States  before  the  arrival  of  the  military  force. 
On  the  night  of  November  15  a  force  of  Con- 
federate troops,  in  Accomac  County,  mostly 
drafted  militia,  disbanded.  They  gave  as  rea- 
sons that  they  were  satisfied  with  the  proc- 
lamation, and  they  believed  they  could  not 
withstand  the  military  force.  In  Northampton 
County  the  secessionists,  to  the  number  of  1,800, 
laid  down  their  arms,  and  the  Union  troops 
held  peaceful  possession  of  the  entire  county. 
The  following  was  the  proclamation  of  Gen. 
Dix: 

HEADQUAETTCRS,  BALTIMOBE,  Nov.  13, 1861. 
To  (he  People  of  Accomac  and  Northampton  Coun- 
ties, Va.  ; 

The  military  forces  of  the  United  States  are  about 
to  enter  your  counties  as  a  part  of  the  Union.  They 
will  go  among  you  as  friends,  and  with  the  earnest 
hope  that  they  may  not  by  your  own  acts  be  com- 
pelled to  become  your  enemies.  They  will  invade  no 
right  of  person  or  property.  On  the  contrary,  your 
laws,  your  institutions,  your  usages,  will  be  scrupu- 
lously respected.  There  need  be  no  fear  that  the 
quietude  of  any  firesides  will  be  disturbed,  unless 
the  disturbance  is  caused  by  yourselves.  Special 
directions  have  been  given  not  to  interfere  with  the 
condition  of  any  person  held  to  domestic  servitude ; 
and,  in  order  that  there  may  be  no  ground  for  mis- 
take or  pretext  for  misrepresentation,  commanders 
of  regiments  or  corps  have  been  instructed  not  to 
permit  such  persons  to  come  within  their  lines. 

The  command  of  the  expedition  is  intrusted  to 
Brig.-Gen.  Henry  H.  Lockwood,  of  Delaware — a  State 
identical  in  some  of  the  distinctive  features  of  its  so- 
cial organization  with  your  own.  Portions  of  his 
force  come  from  counties  in  Maryland  bordering  on 
one  of  yours.  From  him  and  from  them  you  may  bo 
assured  of  the  sympathy  of  near  neighbors,  as  well 
as  friends,  if  you  do  not  repel  it.  by  hostile  resistance 
or  attack. 

This  mission  is  to  assert  the  authority  of  the  United 
States,  to  reopen  your  intercourse  with  the  loyal 
States,  and  especially  with  Maryland,  which  has  just 
proclaimed  her  devotion  to  the  Union  by  the  most 
triumphant  vote  in  her  political  annals  to  restore  to 
commerce  its  accustomed  guides,  bj  reestablishing 
the  lights  on  your  coast ;  to  afford  you  a  free  export 
for  the  produce  of  your  labor,  a  free  ingress  for  the 
necessaries  and  comforts  of  life  which  you  require  in 
exchange,  and  in  a  word,  to  put  an  end  to  the  em- 
barrassments and  restrictions  brought  upon  you  by 
a  causeless  and  unjustifiable  rebellion. 

If  the  calamities  of  intestine  war  which  are  deso- 
lating other  districts  of  Virginia,  and  have  already 
crimsoned  her  lands  with  fraternal  blood,  fall  also 
upon  you,  it  will  not  be  the  fault  of  the  Government. 
It  asks  only  that  its  authority  may  be  recognized.  It 
sends  among  you  a  force  too  strong  to  be  success- 
fully opposed — a  force  which  cannot  be  resisted  in 
any  other  spirit  than  that  of  wantonness  and  malig- 
nity. If  there  are  any  among  you,  who,  rejecting  ail 
overtures  of  friendship,  thus  provoke  retaliation  and 
draw  down  upon  themselves  consequences  which  the ' 
Government  is  most  anxious  to  avert, to  their  account 
must  be  laid  the  blood  which  may  be  shed,  and  the 
desolation  which  may  be  brought  upon  peaceful 
homes.  On  all  who  are  thus  reckless  of  the  obliga- 
tions of  humanity  and  duty,  and  all  who  are  found 


in  arms,  the  severest  punishment  warranted  by  the 
laws  of  war  will  be  visited. 

To  those  who  remain  in  the  quiet  pursuit  of  their 
domestic  occupations,  the  public  authorities  assure 
that  they  can  give  peace,  freedom  from  annoyance, 
protection  from  foreign  and  internal  enemies,  a  guar- 
antee of  all  constitutional  and  legal  rights,  and  the 
blessings  of  a  just  and  parental  Government. 

JOHN  A.  DIX, 
Major-General  Commanding. 

The  importance  of  a  stringent  blockade  of 
the  harbor  of  Charleston  was  early  apparent. 
This  had  been  maintained  during  the  temperate 
months  of  the  year;  but  on  the  approach  of 
winter  the  Government  resorted  to  another 
method  to  stop  the  trade.  The  attempt  was 
made  to  seal  up  the  channels  with  sunken  ships. 
The  Secretary  of  the  Navy  thus  states  the  plan : 

"  One  method  of  blockading  the  ports  of  the 
insurgent  States,  and  interdicting  communica- 
tion, as  well  as  to  prevent  the  egress  of  priva- 
teers which  sought  to  depredate  on  our  com- 
merce, has  been  that  of  sinking  in  the  chancels 
vessels  laden  with  stone.  The  first  movement 
in  this  direction  was  on  the  North  Carolina 
coast,  where  there  are  numerous  inlets  to  Albe- 
marle  and  Pamlico  Sounds,  and  other  interior 
waters,  which  afforded  facilities  for  eluding  the 
blockade,  and  also  to  the  privateers.  For  this 
purpose  a  class  of  small  vessels  were  purchased 
in  Baltimore,  some  of  which  have  been  placed 
in  Ocracoke  Inlet. 

"Another  and  larger  description  of  vessels 
were  bought  in  the  eastern  market,  most  of 
them  such  as  were  formerly  employed  in  the 
whale  fisheries.  These  were  sent  to  obstruct 
the  channels  of  Charleston,  harbor  and  the  Sa- 
vannnh  Kiver;  and  this,  if  effectually  done, 
will  prove  the  most  economical  and  satisfac- 
tory method  of  interdicting  commerce  at  those 
points." 

Two  fleets  of  vessels  were  obtained  for  the 
blockade  of  Charleston  and  Savannah.  The 
first  consisted  of  twenty-five  vessels ;  the  sec- 
ond of  twenty.  The  largest  number  of  these 
vessels  had  been  used  in  the  whale  fisheries  and 
in  the  trade  to  India.  They  were  ships  and 
barks  of  a  burden  between  two  and  five  hun- 
dred tons,  which  had  become  too  old  to  encoun- 
ter any  longer  the  hazards  of  a  long  voyage  at 
sea.  They  were  purchased  by  the  Government 
at  about  ten  dollars  per  ton,  principally  in  the 
seaports  of  New  Bedford  and  New  London. 
The  vessels,  although  old,  were  substantial  and 
generally  double-deckers.  They  were  stripped 
of  their  copper  and  other  fittings  not  necessary 
for  so  Ih.ort  a  voyage,  and  loaded  with  picked 
stone  as  deeply  as  was  safe.  At  light-water 
mark  in  each  vessel  one  or  more  holes  were 
bored  through  the  sides,  into  which  a  lead  pipe 
was  carefully  inserted,  the  ends  of  which  were 
nailed  down  on  each  side  of  the  vessel,  a  plug 
was  driven  in  from  the  outside  and  another 
from  within,  and  both  secured  by  a  rod  passing 
through  them,  and  fastened  within  by  a  nut  and 
screw.  Each  fleet  carried  about  six  thousand 
tons  of  stone.  The  vessels  were  each  manned 


114 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


by  about  fourteen  men.    The  orders  given  to 
the  commander  were  as  follows : 


"To  Captain 


Sir:  The 


now  under 


your  command,  having  been  purchased  by  the  Navy 
Department  for  service  on  the  Southern  coast  of  the 
United  States,  the  following  are  your  orders  for  your 
proposed  voyage : 

"  ifou  will  proceed  from  this  port  on ,  the 

instant,  or  with  the  first  fair  wind,  and  when 

clear  of  the  land  make  a  direct  passage  to  the  port 
of ,  and  there  deliver  your  ship  to  the  com- 
manding officer  of  the  blockading  fleet  off  said  port, 
taking  his  receipt  for  her  return  to  me.  After  the 
delivery  of  your  vessel,  yourself  and  crew  will  be 
provided  with  passages  to  the  port  of  New  York,  by 
the  Navy  Department,  and  on  your  arrival  there  you 

will  call  on ,  who  will  furnish  you  with  funds 

to  return  to  this  port. 

"  On  the  voyage  down  it  would  be  well,  as  far  as 
practicable,  to  keep  in  company  of  your  consorts,  to 
exhibit  lights  by  night  and  sound  horns  or  bells  in 
case  of  fog  near  the  coast. 

"  You  will  also  examine  daily  the  pipe  in  the  quar- 
ter of  your  ship  under  water,  to  see  that  it  remains 
safe. 

"The  only  service  required  of  you  is  the  safe  de- 
livery of  your  vessel ;  and  as  she  is  old  and  heavily 
laden,  you  will  use  special  care  that  she  sustains  no 
damage  from  unskilful  seamanship  or  want  of  pru- 
dence and  care. 

"  On  a  close  approach  to  your  port  of  destination, 
begin  to  put  between-decks  cargo  into  lower  hold, 
and,  before  anchoring  permanently,  have  your  second 
anchor  and  chain  (if  you  have  one)  secured  on  deck. 
On  leaving  your  vessel,  unless  otherwise  ordered, 
you  will  bring  away  papers,  chronometer,  charts, 
compasses,  spy-glass,  and  any  other  valuable  port- 
able articles  not  required  by  the  commander  of  the 
blockading  fleet  there,  and  return  them  safely  to  me. 

"  In  case  of  disaster,  to  preclude  going  on,  you  can 
call  at  Fortress  Monroe,  Hampton  Roads,  to  repair 
damages,  reporting  to  the  flag-officer  there. 

"  Wishing  you  a  safe  and  speedy  passage, 

"I  am  yours,  respectfully, ." 

%  The  effect  of  sunken  vessels  upon  the  chan- 
nels of  a  harbor,  if  uninfluenced  by  winds  and 
currents,  is  to  stop  the  navigation.  These  old 
hulks  become  points  for  the  accumulation  of 
alluvials  which  the  rivers  bear  down,  and  of  the 
sands  which 'the  tides  carryback.  Becoming 
thoroughly  imbedded  in  the  sand,  they  cause 
the  accumulations  to  increase  with  time,  form- 
ing unconquerable  obstacles  to  reopening  the 
channels.  The  strong  westerly  winds  which 
prevail  at  Charleston  tend  to  sweep  out  the 
channels  of  its  harbor  by  the  increased  force  of 
the  ebb  tide.  Two  or  three  hulks  which  were 
sunk  by  the  State  authorities  before  the  bom- 
bardment of  Fort  Sumter  were  soon  afterwards 
swept  out  in  this  manner.  In  some  instances 
obstructions  of  this  kind  have  caused  the  water 
to  cut  out  new  chanbels.  On  the  21st  of  De- 
cember seventeen  of  these  vessels  were  sunk 
across  the  principal  entrance  to  Charleston  by 
orders  from  the  Navy  Department  at  Wash- 
ington. They  were  placed  in  three  or  four  rows 
across  the  channel,  not  in  uniform,  but  in  a 
chequered  order. 

The  occupation  of  Beaufort  by  the  Federal 
troops  with  an  immense  fleet  of  transports  ex- 
cited great  apprehensions  at  Charleston.  An 
increased  military  force  was  gathered ;  the  de- 


fences increased  and  put  in  a  complete  state  of 
readiness  to  resist  an  attack. 

On  Dec.  20th  an  affair  occurred  at  Dranes- 
ville,  in  Virginia,  near  Washington,  which  was 
so  favorable  to  the  Federal  side  that  it  was  re- 
garded with  much  gratification.  A  brigade  of 
Gen.  McCall's  division,  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  E.  0.  C.  Ord,havingbeen  ordered  to  advance 
in  the  direction  of  Dranesville,  for  the  purpose 
of  obtaining  a  quantity  of  forage  known  to  be 
in  the  possession  of  secessionists,  they  marched 
from  camp  about  six  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
Apprehending  that  they  might  be  attacked,  • 
Gen.  McCall  ordered  another  brigade,  under 
Gen.  Reynolds,  to  follow  at  eight  o'clock. 
Meantime  Gen.  Ord's  brigade,  having  advanced 
nearly  to  Dranesville,  were  assailed  by  a  Con- 
federate force  in  ambush.  A  epirited  engage- 
ment ensued,  which  lasted  nearly  an  hour,  when 
the  enemy's  force  fled  in  the  direction  of  Fair- 
fax Court  House,  abandoning  on  the  field  a 
number  of  their  killed  and  wounded,  besides 
arms,  clothing,  and  other  articles.  The  force 
under  Gen.  Reynolds  did  not  come  up  until  the 
action  was  over.  The  Union  force,  after  re- 
maining at  Dranesville  till  near  sundown,  re- 
turned to  their  camp,  which  they  reached  be- 
tween nine  and  ten  o;clock  at  night,  bringing 
with  them  fifty  wagon  loads  of  forage,  and  the 
prisoners  and  abandoned  articles. 

The  enemy's  force  was  composed  of  the  1st 
and  llth  Kentucky  regiments,  and  the  10th  . 
Alabama,  with  a  regiment  of  cavalry  and  a  bat- 
tery of  cannon,  all  under  the  command  of  Col. 
John  H.  Forney,  acting  Brigadier-General. 
They  left  on  the  field  ninety  dead  bodies  and 
ten  of  their  wounded.  Eight  of  their  number, 
unhurt,  were  taken  prisoners. 

On  the  Union  side,  about  seven  were  killed 
and  sixty-three  wounded. 

The  position  which  had  thus  far  been  taken 
by  the  Federal  Government  relative  to  the  Con- 
federate States,  was  to  regard  them  still  as  a 
part  of  the  United  States,  whose  inliabitants 
were  in  a  condition  of  insurrection  against  the 
Government.  Those  carrying  on  active  hostili- 
ties were  to  be  subdued  by  military  force..  When 
all  vestiges  of  military  power  on  the  part  of  the 
insurgents  were  destroyed,  it  was  expected  that 
the  good  sense  of  the  people  of  those  States 
would  convince  them  of  the  great  blessings  of 
the  Union,  and  induce  their  hearty  return  to  its 
support.  From  the  outset  the  Government  was 
confident  of  its  ultimate  success.  This  was 
founded  upon  the  peculiar  character  of  the  in- 
surgent people,  being  that  of  masters  rather 
than  laborers,  and  upon  their  commercial  ina- 
bility to  sustain  a  long  war.  The  policy  of  the 
Government,  therefore,-was  to  blockade  all  the 
ports,  and  thereby  shut  out  all  foreign  manufac-  ' 
tures  and  all  foreign  aid  from  a  people  exclu- 
sively devoted  to  agriculture,  and  almost  entire- 
ly dependent  upon  other  States  or  nations  for 
their  market,  and  for  all  the  comforts  and  lux- 
uries of  life.  The  military  conquest  was  ex- 
pected to  be  very  easy  and  ranid,  until  the  dis- 


MILITARY  AND  NAYAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


aster  at  Bull  Run  taught  the  Government  that 
success  would  result  only  from  the  most  exten- 
sive, careful,  and  thoroughly  organized  military 
preparations. 

On  the  other  hand  the  people  of  the  insur- 
rectionary States  had,  at  first,  looked  upon  seces- 
sion as  hopeless,  if  it  should  be  powerfully  op- 
posed by  the  Federal  Government  and  Northern 
people ;  but  within  a  short  period  they  had  be- 
come convinced  that  the  North  would  not  fight, 
and  therefore  flattered  themselves  that  certain 
success  was  within  their  grasp.  Their  amaze- 
ment at  the  valor,  bravery,  and  vigor  of  the 
Northern  troops  has  been  inexpressible,  and 
with  the  loss  of  all  hope  of  foreign  assistance, 
they  have  seen  their  prospects  of  success  fading 
away. 

The  course  of  the  Government  relative  to  the 
slave  property  in  the  Confederate  States  was 
designed  to  be  in  strict  conformity  with  its 
views  of  the  Constitution  and  laws.  But  as  the 
Southern  States  were  in  insurrection,  there  was 
no  obligation  to  return  fugitive  slaves  to  them ; 
consequently  all  slaves  who  came  within  the 
army  lines  were  treated  as  freemen. 

As  to  prisoners  captured  by  either  side  there 
was  no  recourse  but  to  exchange,  according  to 
the  laws  of  war.  This  the  Federal  Government 
hesitated  to  do,  for  the  reason  that  it  might  be 
construed  into  acknowledging  belligerent  rights 
on  the  part  of  the  Confederates.  The  necessity 
of  exchange  became  urgent,  and  the  friends  of 
prisoners  were  clamorous  that  something  should 
be  done  for  their  relief.  The  Administration 
practically  ignored  the  question,  being  impress- 
ed with  the  idea  that  it  would  derogate  from 
the  dignity  of  its  position  to  accept  any  inter- 
change of  courtesy.  By  exchanging  prisoners, 
nothing  is  conceded  or  admitted  except  what  is 
patent  to  the  world — that  actual  war  exists. 
Previous  to  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  the  number 
of  prisoners  on  either  side  was  not  large.  By 
that  disaster  the  Southerners  captured  about 
1,400  northern  troops.  They  released  num- 
bers at  different  points  on  parole,  and  the 
matter  was  compromised  in  various  ways.  In 
September  an  exchange  took  place  between 
Gen.  Pillow  and  Col.  Wallace,  of  the  Federal 
army. 

On  the  1st  of  November  Gen.  Fremont  made 
a  treaty  with  Gen.  Price,  of  Missouri,  among 
the  provisions  of  which  was  one  for  the  ex- 
change of  prisoners.  Certain  parties  named 
are  authorized,  whenever  applied  to  for  the 
purpose,  to  negotiate  for  the  exchange  of  any 
and  all  persons-  who  may  hereafter  be  taken 
prisoners  of  war  and  released  on  parole ;  such 
exchanges  to  be  made  upon  the  plan  heretofore 
approved  and  acted  upon,  to  wit :  "  grade  for 
grade,  or  two  officers  of  lower  grade,  as  an 
equivalent  in  rank  for  one  of  a  higher  grade,  as 
shall  be  thought  just  and  equitable."  This  was 
signed  by  both  parties.  Gen.  Hunter,  having 
succeeded  Gen.  Fremont  on  the  7th  of  Nov., 
repudiated  this  treaty. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  three  commissioners 


were  appointed  by  the  Federal  Government  tc 
proceed  to  the  Confederate  States  and  examine 
the  condition  of  the  Union  prisoners  there. 
They  were  refused  admission  within  the  Con- 
federate territory,  and  thus  the  fate  of  prison- 
ers was  left  to  the  discretion  of  each  command- 
er, who  exchanged  them  at  his  will.  But,  while 
such  were  the  terms  on  which  exchanges  were 
effected  for  those  taken  as  prisoners  on  either 
side  upon  land,  only  an  informal  regulation  had 
been  established  respecting  the  persons  detained 
on  a  charge  of  piracy,  because  found  waging 
war  against  Federal  commerce  on  the  high  seas, 
and  in  retaliation  for  whose  treatment  the  Con- 
federate authorities  imprisoned  in  the  common 
jail  a  corresponding  number  of  United  States 
officers. 

In  his  message  to  Congress  on  the  20th  of 
July,  Mr.  Davis  refers  to  a  despatch  sent  to 
Washington,  as  before  stated,  and  after  stating 
the  reasons  upon  which  it  was  sent,  thus  pro- 
ceeds :  "  To  this  end  I  despatched  an  officer 
under  a  flag  of  truce  to  President  Lincoln,  and 
informed  him  of  my  resolute  purpose  to  check 
all  barbarities  on  prisoners  of  war  -by  such 
severity  of  retaliation  on  prisoners  held  by  us 
as  should  secure  the  abandonment  of  the  prac- 
tice. This  communication  was  received  and 
read  by  an  officer  in  command  of  the  United 
States  forces,  and  a  message  was  brought  from 
him  by  the  bearer  of  my  communication  that  a 
reply  would  be  returned  by  President  Lincoln 
as  soon  as  possible.  I  earnestly  hope  this  prom- 
ised reply  (which  has  not  yet  been  received) 
will  convey  the  assurance  that  prisoners  of  war 
will  be  treated  in  this  unhappy  contest  with 
that  regard  for  humanity  which  has  made  such 
conspicuous  progress  in  modern  warfare.  As 
measures  of  precaution,  however,  and  until  this 
promised  reply  is  received,  I  shall  retain  in 
close  custody  some  officers  captured  from  the 
enemy,  whom  it  had  been  my  pleasure  pre- 
viously to  set  at  large  on  parole,  and  whose  fate 
must  necessarily  depend  on  that  of  prisoners 
held  by  the  enemy." 

The  foreign  policy  of  the  Government  was 
conducted  on  the  principle  that  the  troubles  of 
the  country  formed  a  domestic  affair  of  its  own, 
and  the  interference  of  foreign  nations  was 
neither  desired  nor  would  be  allowed.  The 
prompt  manner  in  which  the  Confederate  States 
were  acknowledged  as  belligerents  by  France 
and  England  is  a  proof  that  not  a  doubt  was 
entertained  by  the  Governments  of  those  na- 
tions of  the  ultimate  independence  of  the  new 
Confederacy. 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  extra  session  of 
Congress  in  July,  the  plan  of  the  Government 
was  to  make  the  most  ample  and  perfect  prep- 
arations to  recover  and  repossess  the  strong- 
holds in  the  Confederate  States.  In  its  progress 
due  regard  was  had  to  the  will  of  Congress, 
and  the  requirements  of  the  emergency.  With 
a  surprising  unanimity  among  the  people,  its 
measures  were  steadily  sustained. 

The  army  around  Washington  was  reorgan- 


116 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ized,  greatly  increased  in  numbers,  and  brought 
np  to  the  highest  state  of  discipline.  In  its 
front  the  camps  of  the  flower  of  the  Southern 
States  were  spread,  and  the  year  closed  with 
the  two  armies  watching  each  other.  The  one 


was  growing  more  formidable  and  better  pre- 
pared for  the  approaching  strife,  while  the  other 
was  growing  weaker  by  the  overstrained  effort 
to  maintain  a  position  which  it  finally  yielded 
without  a  single  blow. 


CHAPTEE  XII. 


Views  of  the  Combatants— Condition  of  the  Federal  Navy— Its  Increase— Iron -Clads— "Western  Fleet— Numbers  and  posi- 
tion of  the  hostile  Armies — Campaign  in  Eastern  Kentucky — Battle  of  Mill  Springs — Death  of  Zollicoffer—  Campaign 
in  Western  Kentucky  and  Tennessee — Federal  Troops  engaged— Capture  of  Fort  Henry — Surrender  of  Fort  Donelson — 
Advance  of  Gen.  Buell — Surrender  of  Nashville. 


WHEN  the  new  year  began,  the  anticipations 
of  the  two  antagonists  were  materially  changed. 
The  South,  rendered  exultant  and  hopeful  by 
the  successes  at  Bull  Run  and  Leesburg  or  Ball's 
Bluff,  believed  that  foreign  interference  was 
certain,  and  that  the  war  would  be  short. 
Under  these  influences  a  serious  state  of  apathy 
was  beginning  to  prevail.  The  enlistment  of 
troops  was  for  the  short  period  of  twelve  months, 
and  the  naval  preparations  for  defence  were  on 
a  limited  scale. 

Meanwhile  the  North  had  begun  to  realize 
the  gigantic  nature  of  the  contest  in  which  it 
was  engaged,  and  to  put  forth  corresponding 
efforts  of  preparation.  Besides  the  organization 
of  vast  armies,  naval  preparations  were  com- 
menced on  an  immense  scale,  and  embracing 
every  variety  of  improvement.  The  Federal  Gov- 
ernment also,  in  order  to  strengthen  itself,  had 
resorted  to  the  imprisonment  of  all  persons  who 
by  words  or  actions  manifested  'a  strong  sym- 
pathy for  the  Southern  cause.  At  the  same 
time  many  newspapers  whose  general  spirit 
was  hostile  to  the  Government,  were  suppressed, 
and  their  circulation  forbidden. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  in  Ms  report  of 
July  4th,  1861,  presented  the  following  state- 
ment of  the  vessels  at  that  tune  in  service: 

"  Of  the  69  vessels,  carrying  1,346  guns, 
mentioned  as  available  for  service  on  the  4th 
of  March  last,  the  sloop  Levant  has  been  given 
up  as  lost  in  the  Pacific ;  the  steamer  Fulton 
was  seized  at  Pensacola ;  and  one  frigate,  two 
sloops,  and  one  brig  were  burnt  at  Norfolk. 
These  vessels  carried  172  guns.  The  other 
vessels  destroyed  at  Norfolk  were  considered 
worthless,  and  are  not  included  in  the  list  of 
available  vessels. 

"  These  losses  left  at  the  disposal  of  the 
department  62  vessels,  carrying  1,174  guns,  all 
of  which  are  now,  or  soon  will  be,  in  commis- 
sion, with  the  exception  of  the 

Gum. 

Vermont,  sliip-of-line . .  84 

ISrandy  wine,  frigate .'.'.'.'.'.'.  ' '  50 

Decatur,  sloop,  at  San  Francisco.'.'.'.'.'.' '.!!'.  "  16 

John  Hancock,  steam  tender  at  San  Francisco.. ..'.'.......    8 

"  There  have  been  recently  added  to  the  navy, 
by  purchase,  12  steamers,  carrying  from  2  to  9 
guns  each,  and  3  sailing  vessels.  There  have 


been  chartered  9  steamer^  carrying  from  2  to  9 
guns  each.  By  these  additions,  the  naval  force 
in  commission  has  been  increased  to  82  vessels, 
carrying  upwards  of  1,100  guns,  and  with  a 
complement  of  about  13,000  men,  exclusive  ol 
officers  and  marines.  There  are  also  several 
steamboats  and  other  small  craft  which  are 
temporarily  in  the'  service  of  the  department. 

"  Purchases  of  sailing  ships  have  been  made 
for  transporting  coals  to  the  steamers  that  are 
performing  duty  as  sentinels  before  the  princi- 
pal harbors.  *  *  * 

"  The  squadron  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  under 
the  command  of  Flag-officer  S.  H.  Stringham, 
consists  of  22  vessels,  296  guns,  and  3,300  men. 

"  The  squadron  in  the  Gulf,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Flag-officer  William  Mervine,  consists 
of  21  vessels,  282  guns,  and  3,500  men. 

"  Additions  have  been  made  to  each  of  the 
squadrons,  of  two  or  three  small  vessels  that 
have  been  captured  and  taken  into  the  service. 
The  steamers  Pawnee  and  Pocahontas,  and  the 
flotilla  under  the  fate  Commander  Ward,  with 
several  steamboats  in  charge  of  naval  officers, 
have  been  employed  on  the  Potomac  River,  to 
prevent  communication  with  that  portion  of 
Virginia  which  is  in  insurrection.  Great  service 
has  been  rendered  by  this  armed  force,  which 
has  been  vigilant  in  intercepting  supplies,  and 
in  protecting  transports  and  supply  vessels  in 
their  passage  up  and  down  the  Potomac. 

"  The  squadron  in  the  Pacific,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Flag-officer  John  B.  Montgomery,  con- 
sists of  six  vessels,  82  guns,  and  1,000  men. 

"  The  West  India  squadron  is  under  the  com- 
mand of  Flag-officer  G.  J.  Pendergrast,who  has 
been  temporarily  on  duty,  with  his  flag-ship, 
the  Cumberland,  at  Norfolk  and  Hampton 
Roads,  since  the  23d  of  March.  He  will,  at  on 
early  day,  transfer  his  flag  to  the  steam-frigate 
Roanoke,  and  proceed  southward,  having  in 
charge  our  interests  on  the  Mexican  and  central 
American  coasts,  and  in  the  West  India  Islands. 

"  The  East  India,  Mediterranean,  Brazil,  and 
African  squadrons,  excepting  one  vessel  of  each 
of  the  two  latter,  have  been  recalled. 

"  The  return  of  these  vessels  will  add  to  the 
force  for  service  in  the  Gulf  and  on  the  Atlantic 
coast,  about  200  guns  and  2,500  men." 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  T-HE  REBELLION. 


117 


He  also  stated  in  his  report  that  259  officers 
of  the  navy  had  resigned  their  commissions,  or 
been  dismissed  from  the  service,  since  the  4th 
of  March ;  for  which  reason  many  of  the  ves- 
sels were  necessarily  sent  to  sea  without  a  full 
complement  of  officers.  Many,  however,  who 
had  retired  to  civil  pursuits,  had  promptly  come 
forward  in  this  time  of  their  country's  need, 
and  voluntarily  tendered  their  services,  while 
many  masters  and  masters'  mates  were  also 
appointed  from  the  commercial  marine.  So 
promptly  did  seamen  present  themselves  at  the 
naval  rendezvous  of  all  the  principal  seaports, 
tinder  the  authorized  increase  and  abhreviated 
term  of  enlistment,  that  only  one  or  two  ships 
experienced  any  detention  for  want  of  a  crew, 
and  none  beyond  two  or  three  days.  Never, 
as  the  Secretary  states,  has  the  naval  force  had 


so  great  and  rapid  an  increase,  and  never  have 
our  seamen  come  forward  with  more  alacrity 
and  zeal  to  serve  the  country. 

In  the  need  of  a  substantial  class  of  vessels 
suitable  for  performing  continuous  duty  off  the 
coast  in  all  weathers,  the  department  contracted 
for  the  building  of  23  steam  gunboats,  each  of 
about  500  tons  burden,  and  made  preliminary 
arrangements  for  several  larger  and  fleeter  ves- 
sels, in  addition  to  taking  measures  for  carry- 
ing out  the  order  of  Congress  of  the  preceding 
session  for  the  construction  of  seven  sloops  of 
war,  with  the  addition  of  one  more.  At  each  of 
the  Northern  navy  yards,  Portsmouth,  Boston, 
New  York,  and  Philadelphia,  two  of  this  last 
class  were  directed  to  be  built.  -The  following 
table  comprises  a  summary  of  the  vessels  pur- 
chased for  naval  service  during  the  year  1861 : 


CLASS  OF  VESSELS. 

No. 

Number  of 
guns  to 
each. 

Total 
of  gum. 

Tonnage  of  each. 

Total 
tonnage. 

Coat  of  each. 

Total  cost. 

36 

1  to  10 

160 

123  to  1,800 

26680 

$12,000  to  $200,000 

$2,418,103 

Screw  steamers  

42 

1  to  9 

170 

65  to  2,100 

19,985 

5,000  to    172,500 

2,187,587 

1 

5 

418 

27,500 

18 

1  to  8 

62 

334  to.  1,875 

9998 

7  000  to      40  000 

313,503 

Barks  

IT 

2  to  6 

78 

265  to    888 

8,136 

11,500  to      32,000 

843,400 

Barkantine  

1 

296 

16,000 

Schooners    

25 

1  to  4 

60 

63  to    849 

6,458 

6,000  to      18,000 

241,790 

Brigs  

2 

2 

4 

196  to    264 

460 

9,000  to      10,000 

19,000 

Of  side-wheel  steamers  nine  were  first-class 
steamships,  all  of  them  costing  from  $85,000  to 
$200,000  each,  except  one,  the  Alabama,  which 
vras  bought  for  $23,000.'  Among  the  steamers 
were  eighteen  ferry-boats  and  tug-boats,  the 
former  purchased  from  the  Brooklyn  and  New 
Jersey  companies. 

The  armed  vessels  were  almost  exclusively 
ordered,  on  entering  into  the  service,  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  Southern  ports,  for  the  purpose  of 
enforcing  their  blockade,  and  the  result  of  their 
operations  is  shown  in  the  following  summary 
of  vessels,  captured  and  destroyed  from  April 
23  to  November  15.  These  are  7  ships,  12 
barks,  9  brigs,  115  schooners,  8  sloops,  and  7 
miscellaneous,  the  last  including  the  steamer 
Salvor,  loaded  with  arms,  from  Havana,  and 
bound  to  Tampa  Bay.  Most  of  these  vessels 
contained  valuable  cargoes,  and  three  of  them 
were  privateers.  A  few  were  recaptured  prizes, 
and  were  restored  to  their  owners. 

The  year  1861  will  always  be  famous  in  naval 
history  for  the  material  change  then  first  fairly 
established  in  the  construction  of  vessels  of 
war,  by  rendering  them  as  nearly  impenetrable 
as  possible  to  the  heaviest  shot,  by  means  of  a 
coating  of  iron  plates.  The  superiority  of  a 
few  guns  of  the  heaviest  calibre  to  the  large 
batteries  of  the  older  ships  was  then  first  gen- 
erally appreciated,  and  the  whole  system  of 
ship -building  in  the  navies  of  France  and  Eng- 
land, as  also  of  some  of  the  minor  naval  powers 
of  Europe,  underwent  a  more  complete  change 
than  had  followed  the  introduction  of  steam. 
The  building  of  wooden  vessels  was  entirely 
abandoned,  except  in  some  special  cases  where 
they  were  to  be  covered  with  plates  of  iron, 
and  the  day  of  old  wooden  frigates  and  line- 


of-battle  ships  was  looked  upon    as    having 
passed. 

The  subject  came  before  Congress  in  1861, 
and  on  the  3d  of  August  an  act  was  approved, 
directing  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  "  to  appoint 
a  board  of  three  skilful  naval  officers  to  inves- 
tigate the  plans  and  specifications  that  may  be 
submitted  for  the  construction  and  completing 
iron-clad  steam-ships  or  steam-batteries,  and 
on  their  report,  should  it  be  favorable,  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  will  cause  one  or  more 
armored,  or  iron  or  steel-clad  steam-ships  or 
floating  steam-batteries  to  be  built ;  and  there 
is  hereby  appropriated,  out  of  any  money  in  the 
treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated,  the  sum 
of  $1,500,000."  Commodores  Joseph  Smith 
and  H.  Paulding,  with  Capt.  0.  H.  Davis,  were 
appointed  this  board,  and  their  report  was  pre- 
sented of  the  date  of  Sept.  15.  While  consider- 
ing iron-clad  ships  as  without  doubt  formidable 
adjuncts  to  coast  and  harbor  fortifications,  the 
board  questioned  their  advantages  and  ultimate 
adoption  as  cruising  vessels,  chiefly  on  account 
of  the  enormous  weight  added  to  the  vessel  by 
the  armor,  which  involved  greater  power  to 
propel  her,  and  at  the  same  time  largely  increased 
the  cost  of  construction.  To  meet  the  immediate 
demand  for  vessels  as  far  as  practicable  invul- 
nerable to  shot,  and  adapted  by  their  light 
draught  of  water  to  penetrate  our  shoal  harbors, 
rivers,  and  bayous,  the  board  recommended 
"  that  contracts  be  made  with  responsible  parties 
for  the  construction  of  one  or  more  iron-clad 
vessels  or  batteries,  of  as  light  a  draught  of 
water  as  practicable  consistent  with  their  weight 
of  armor."  They  also  advised  the  construction 
in  our  own  dock-yards,  of  one  or  more  of  these 
vessels  upon  a  largo  apd  more  perfect  scale 


118 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  DISTORT  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


119 


when  Congress  shall  see  fit  to  authorize  it. 
The  report  concludes  with  a  synopsis  of  the  prop- 
ositions and  specifications  submitted,  amount- 
ing to  17  in  number,  the  terms  of  construction 
for  the  different  vessels  ranging  from  $32,000  to 
»  $1,500,000.  Three  only  of  these  were  selected 
as  worthy  of  recommendation,  the  others  being 
put  aside,  either  owing  to  too  great  cost  or  for 
other  reasons.  The  three  proposals  recom- 
mended were  those  of  J.  Ericsson,  New  York; 
Merrick  &  Sons,  Philadelphia ;  and  0.  S.  Bush- 
nell  &  Co.,  New  Haven,  Conn.  Of  these  the 
remarks  of  the  board  are  as  follows : 

"J.  Ericsson,  New  York. — This  plan  of  a 
floating  battery  is  novel,  but  seems  to  be  based 
upon  a  plan  which  will  render  the  battery  shot 
and  shell-proof.  It  is  to  be  apprehended  that 
her  properties  for  sea  are  not  such  as  a  sea- 
going vessel  should  possess.  But  she  may  be 
moved  from'one  place  to  another  on  the  coast 
in  smooth  water.  We  recommend  that  an 
experiment  be  made  with  one  battery  of  this 
•  description  on  the  terms  proposed,  'with  a  guar- 
antee and  forfeiture  in  case  of  failure  in  any  of 
the  properties  and  points  of  the  vessel  as  pro- 
posed. Price,  $275,000;  length  of  vessel,  174 
feet ;  breadth  of  beam,  41  feet ;  depth  of  hold, 
11 J  feet;  time,  100  days;  draught  of  water,  10 
feet;  displacement,  1,245  tons;  speed  per  hour, 
9  statute  miles, 

"  Merrick  &  Sons,  Philadelphia. — Vessel  of 
wood  and  iron  combin^L  Tliis  proposition  we 
consider  the  most  practicable  one  for  heavy 
armor.  We  recommend  that  a  contract  be 
made  with  that  party,  under  a  guarantee,  with 
forfeiture  in  case  of  failure  to  comply  with  the 
specifications ;  and  that  the  contract  require  the 
plates  to  be  15  feet  long  and  36  inches  wide,  with 
a  reservation  of  some  modifications,  which  may 
occur  as  the  work  progresses,  not  to  affect  the 
cost.  Price,  $780,000 ;  length  of  vessel,  220  feet; 
breadth  of  beam,  60  feet ;  depth  of  hold,  23  feet ; 
time,  9  months;  draught  of  water,  13  feet;  dis- 
placement, 3,296  tons ;  speed  per  hour,  9J  knots. 

"  S.  0.  Bushnell  &  Co.,  New  Haven,  Conn., 
propose  a  vessel  to  be  iron-clad,  on  the  rail  and 
plate  principle,  and  to  obtain  high  speed.  The 
objection  to  this  vessel  is  the  fear  that  she  will 
not  float  her  armor  and  load  sufficiently  high, 
and  have  stability  enough  for  a  sea  vessel. 
With  a  guarantee  that  she  shall  do  these,  we 
recommend  on  that  basis  a  contract.  Price, 
$225,250;  length  of  vessel,  180  feet;  breadth 
of  beam  —  feet;  depth  of  hold,  12f  feet;  time, 
4  months;  draught  of  water,  10  feet;  displace- 
ment, —  tons;  speed  per  hour,  12  knots." 

The  recommendation  was  adopted  by  Con- 
gress, and  the  3  vessels  ordered  to  be  built. 

The  contract  made  with  Capt.  Ericsson  stipu- 
lated for  the  completion  of  his  battery  within 
100  days  from  the  signing  of  the  contract, 
which  was  October  5, 1861 ;  and  the  extraordi- 
nary provision  was  introduced,  that  the  test  of 
the  battery,  upon  which  its  acceptance  by  the 
U.  S.  Government  depended,  should  be  its  with- 
standing th6  fire  of  the  enemy's  batteries  at  the 


shortest  ranges,  the  United  States  agreeing  to 
fit  out  the  vessel  with  men,  guns,  &c.  The 
vessel  was  not  completed,  and  delivered  to  the 
U.  S.  Government  for  trial  until  March  5, 1862. 

Soon  after  taking  command  of  the  Western 
Department,  Maj.-Gen.  Fremont  became  con- 
vinced of  the  necessity  of  preparing  a  fleet  of 
gunboats  and  mortar-boats,  for  the  purpose  of 
commanding  the  Mississippi  and  other  naviga- 
ble waters  of  the  West,  and  decided  upon  the 
plans  and  ordered  the  construction  of  the  num- 
ber of  each  he  deemed  necessary.  Their  com- 
pletion, and  the  furnishing  of  them  with  their 
armament  and  crew,  and  the  collection  of  the 
requisite  land  force  to  accompany  them,  was 
not  completed  till  February,  .1862. 

The  fleet  consisted  of  twelve  gunboats,  carry- 
ing an  armament  in  all  of  126  guns,  viz. : 

Benton 16  guns. 

Essex 9 

Mound  City 13 

Cincinnati 13 

Louisville 18 

Carondelet 13 

St.  Louis 13 

Cairo 18 

Pittsburgh 13 

Lexington 9 

Couedtoga ..  .    9 

Tyler 9 

None  of  these  guns  were  less  than  32-pound- 
ers,  some  were  42-pounders,  some  64-pounders, 
and  one  (on  the  Essex)  threw  a  shell  weighing 
128  Ibs.  In  addition  to  these,  each  boat  car- 
ried a  Dahlgren  rifled  12-pounder  boat  howitzer 
on  the  upper  deck.  Several  of  the  larger  guns 
on  each  boat  were  rifled.  Naval  officers  re- 
garded the  10-inch  Dahlgren  shell  guns  as  their 
most  efficient  weapons.  The  Benton  carried 
two  of  these  guns  in  her  forward  battery ;  the 
others  carried  one  each. 

Seven  of  the  gunboats  were  iron-clad,  and 
able  to  resist  all  except  the  heaviest  solid  shot. 
These  boats  cost  on  an  average  $89,000  each. 
The  other  five  were  of  wood,  but  strongly  and 
substantially  built ;  all  were  fast  sailers. 

Besides  these,  thirty-eight  mortar-boats  were 
ordered,  each  about  sixty  feet  long  and  twenty- 
five  feet  wide,  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  iron- 
plate  bulwarks,  six  or  seven  feet  high.  The 
mortar  itself  weighed  17,200  Ibs.,  had  a  bore 
easily  admitting  a  13-inch  shell,  and  from  the 
edge  of  the  bore  to  the  outer  rim  was  seventeen 
inches.  The  mortar  bed  weighed  4,500  Ibs. 

The  mortar-boats  were  thoroughly  tested 
before  being  used  in  actual  service,  and  were 
found  to  produce  but  slight  recoil,  and  the  con- 
cussion caused  by  the  iron  bulwarks  was  reme- 
died. With  a  charge  of  11  Ibs.  of  powder  the 
mortars  threw  a  shell,  weighing  215  Ibs.  a  dis- 
tance of  2|  miles ;  and  with  a  charge  of  15  to  23 
Ibs.  the  same  shell  was  thrown  from  3  to  3£  miles. 

There  was  also  a  sufficient  number  of  steam- 
boats and  tugs  provided  for  towing  and  trans- 
port service.  The  fleet  was  placed  under  the 
command  of  Flag-officer  Andrew  H.  Foote,  an 
experienced  and  able  commander  in  the  navy ; 
and  each  boat  was  in  charge  of  a  lieutenant 
commanding,  who  had  already  seen  service. 


120 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION". 


At  the  commencement  of  the  year  1862,  the 
position  of  the  Federal  and  of  the  Confederate 
forces  were  as  follows :  At  Fortress  Monroe 
and  Newport  News,  under  the  command 
of  Gen.  Wool,  there  were  estimated  to  he 
15,000  men  in  a  good  state  of  organization 
and  discipline.  Thence  proceeding  up  the  Po- 
tomac, Gen.  Hooker's  division,  including  Gen. 
Sickles's  brigade,  was  south  of  Washington,  and 
partly  on  the  Maryland  side  of  the  Potomac. 
They  numhered  about  10,000  men.  South- 
west of  Washington,  and  in  the  neighborhood 
of  that  city,  was  the  mass  of  Gen.  Me  Clellan's 
army,  consisting  of  a  large  portion  of  the  men 
who  had  volunteered  from  the  middle  and  east- 
ern States,  for  the  war.  They  were  organized 
into  eight  divisions,  and  becoming  disciplined 
for  future  operations.  The  divisions  of  Gens. 
Keyes  and  Casey  were  in  and  around  Washing- 
ton, that  of  Gen.  Stone  was  at  and  near  Pooles- 
ville,  and  that  of  Gen.  Banks  near  Darnestown, 
with  detachments  on  the  Potomac  to  Williams- 
port.  The  entire  force  thus  organized,  was  not 
far  from  160,000  men,  which,  in  connection 
with  other  troops  on  the  line  of  railroad  to 
Baltimore,  at  that  city,  and  in  the  vicinity, 
was  something  less  than  200,000  men.  This 
force  before  Washington  was  subsequently  de- 
signated as  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  It  was 
organized  into  divisions,  each  commanded  by  a 
major-general,  or  by  a  brigadier-general  acting 
as  a  major-general ;  and  each  division  consist- 
ed of  three  brigades,  each  brigade  of  four,  a 
few  of  five,  regiments  of  infantry,  making 
twelve  infantry  regiments  in  a  division,  one 
regiment  of  cavalry,  and  three  and  sometimes 
four  batteries  of  artillery,  or  about  twenty 
pieces.  To  each  division  generally  one  regi- 
ment of  cavalry  was  assigned,  and  one  or  two 
of  them  had  four  instead  of  three  batteries. 

Further  up  the  Potomac,  was  Gen.  Kelly's 
force,  of  which  Gen.  Lander  soon  took  com- 
mand, looking  up  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah, 
toward  Winchester.  Gen.  Rosecrans  was  in 
western  Virginia,  with  a  force  somewhat  less 
than  20,000  men. 

At  Louisville,  in  Kentucky,  Gen.  Buell  had 
collected  and  combined  the  scattered  Federal 
forces,  and  was  now  organizing  and  preparing 
for  future  operations,  an  army  of  more  than 
100,000  men.  At  St.  Louis  and  Cairo,  Gen. 
Halleck  was  performing  a  similar  service,  and 
at  the  same  time  holding  in  check  the  Confed- 
erate forces  in  Missouri,  and  preparing  to  drive 
them  entirely  over  its  southern  border.  The 
force  he  was  thus  organizing,  was  nearly  equal 
to  that  under  Gen.  Buell  in  Kentucky. 

On  the  western  frontier  preparations  were 
also  making  for  an  expedition,  which  was  de- 
signed to  be  more  than  20,000  strong,  for  the 
purpose  of  penetrating  from  Kansas  to  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico.  A  naval  force  was  also  collected 
at  Cairo  and  St.  Louis,  to  cooperate,  by  gun- 
boats, with  the  military  force,  at  important 
points  on  the  western  rivers.  The  entire  Fed- 
eral force,  including  the  troops  under  Gen. 


Sherman  in  South  Carolina,  and  those  under 
Gen.  Burnside  on  their  way  to  North  Caro- 
lina, and  the  regiments  designed  for  the  expe- 
dition under  Gen.  Butler,  made  not  more  than 
450,000  to  475,000  in  the  field. 

The  position  and  force  of  the  Confederate  • 
army  at  the  commencement  of  the  year,  were 
nearly  as  follows  :  At  Norfolk  and  Yorktown 
there  was  a  considerable  force,  probably  over 
30,000  men.  The  larger  portion  of  this  force 
was  at  Yorktown.  A  small  force  also  manned 
batteries  on  the  James  and  York  rivers.  The 
army  before  Washington  was  fortified  on  a  very 
extended  line.  Its  right  wing  rested  upon  the 
Potomac,  beyond  Fredericksburg,  and  at  Staf- 
ford Court  House,  Dumfries,  &c.,  and  thus 
formed  a  support  to  the  batteries  which  block- 
aded the  Potomac  river,  and  endangered  the 
navigation  between  Washington  and  the  lower 
Potomac  into  Chesapeake  Bay.  TEe  main  body 
was  at  Centre ville  and  Manassas.  The  former 
place  was  strongly  fortified,  and  held  not  loss 
than  75,000  troops.  The  left  wing  occupied 
Aldio  and  Leesburg,  and  considerable  forces 
were  stationed  at  Winchester  and  Martinsburg. 
This  entire  force  has  been  estimated  to  have 
reached  175,000  men,  under  Gen.  Joseph  John- 
ston. A  small  force  was  in  western  Virginia. 

In  Kentucky,  the  Confederate  forces  were 
stationed  at  Prestonburg,  Hazel  Green,  Bowl- 
ing Green,  Columbus,  Hickman,  Donelson  and 
Fort  Henry,  and  amounted  to  30,000  men. 

The  points  occupied  by  the  Confederate 
forces  in  Tennessee,  were  Cumberland  Gap, 
Nashville,  Waverly,  Humboldt,  Chattanooga, 
Jonesboro,  Memphis,  and  forts' Osceola,  Wright, 
Randolph,  Rector  and  Harris.  These  troops 
amounted  to  20,000  men. 

There  were  also  Confederate  troops  stationed 
at  Vicksburg,  Natchez,  New  Orleans.  Mobile, 
Savannah,  Charleston,  and  at  various  points  in 
Missouri.  The  total  force  under  arms,  was  not 
far  from  350,000  men. 

The  Confederate  forces  at  this  time  occupied 
half  of  Missouri,  nearly  half  of  Kentucky,  in- 
cluding the  strong  positions  of  Columbus  and 
Bowling  Green,  western  Virginia,  nearly  as 
far  north,  as  the  Kanawha  river,  the  whole  of 
eastern  Virginia,  except  a  few  miles  around 
Washington  and  Fortress  Monroe  and  Newport 
News,  the  whole  of  North  Carolina,  except 
Hatteras  Inlet,  the  whole  of  Florida  except 
Key  West,  and  Santa  Rosa  Island,  and  all  the 
rest  of  the  Southern  States.  , 

The  results  of  the  previous«year  when  com- 
pared with  the  purposes  entertained  by  the  cit- 
izens of  the  North,  appear  most  insignificant. 
But  this  is  not  a  true  view  of  the  case._  If  was 
too  soon  to  expect  results,  and  nothing  was        < 
done  which  had  any  influence  upon  the  termi- 
nation of  the  war.     These  gigantic  combatants        . 
were  yet  unprepared  for  the  conflict.     Armies     J 
had  been  collected  and  hastily  equipped,  and 
the  work  of  organization    and  discipline  to 
change  raw  militia  into  men  of  war  was  pro- 
gressing on  both  sides.    So  unused,  however, 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HIS.TOKY  Or  TUB  REBELLION. 


121 


were  the  people  to  such  events,  that  a  speedy 
close  of  the  contest  had  been  anticipated  by 
them.  War,  in  their  minds,  was  to  be  begun, 
carried  on,  and  closed  up  with  the  despatch  of 
ordinary  enterprises. 

It  was  not  only  necessary  to  organize  and  dis- 
cipline armies,  but  to  provide  food,  munitions, 
and  transportation,  and  to  organize  artillery 
reserves,  the  engineer  corps,  the  pontoon  trains, 
the  telegraphs,  and  the  hospitals ;  but  also  to 
manufacture  or  import  from  other  countries 
cannon,  carriage  harness,  cavalry  equipments, 

i  small  arms,  artillery,  camp  equipage,  bridge 
trains,  &c.  The  time  required  to  secure  these 
objects,  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances, 
was  even  longer  than  had  been  assigned  for  the 
duration  of  hostilities  by  the  people  of  both  the 
Northern  and  Southern  States. 

The  Federal  Government  proposed  to  block- 
ade the  coast  to  cut  off  the  Confederate 
States  from  all  communication  with  other  na- 
tions. The  recovery  of  the  Mississippi  valley, 
by  which  the  western  States  of  the  Confed- 
eracy would  be  separated,  and  the  outlet  of 
the  Northwest  to  the  ocean  recovered,  was 
also  a  part  of  the  purpose  of  the  Government. 
The  recovery  of  the  Border  Slave  States 
by  actual  military  force,  and  their  protection 
against  invasion  by  the  Confederate  Govern- 
ment, which  claimed  them  as  a  part  of  its  Union, 
was  the  occasion  of  the  most  active  and  exten- 
sive military  operations.  It  was  anticipated  that 
the  signal  success  which  would  attend  the  exe- 
cution of  these  purposes,  would  so  emphatically 
convince  the  Southern  people  of  the  irresistible 
power  of  the  North  as  to  satisfy  them  that  the 
attainment  of  their  independence  was  hopeless. 
At  the  same  time  it  was  believed  their  efforts 
of  resistance  would  so  exhaust  their  limited  re- 
sources as  to  make  a  return  to  the  Union  on 
their  part  a  necessity.  Such  appear  to  have 
been  the  purposes  of  the  Federal  Government, 
and  such  were  the  views  of  the  people.  On 
the  opposite  side,  the  purposes  of  the  Confed- 
erate Government  were  no  less  determined,  and 
the  views  of  the  people  no  less  sanguine  and 
exalted.  A  defence  was  to  be  made  to  the  last 
extremity,  and  if  this  was  successful,  an  inva- 
sion of  the  enemy  was  to  follow,  when  the 
smoking  ruins  of  Philadelphia,  New  York,  and 
Cincinnati  would  wring  humiliating  conditions 
from  the  North.  The  years  which  passed  have 
thus  witnessed  most  stupendous  military  opera- 
tions conducted  on  a  theatre  which  was  almost 
the  size  of  a  continent,  with  a  profusion  of  ex- 
penditure and  a  waste  of  resources  sufficient  to 
engulf  most  nations.  The  actors  in  these  terri- 
fic sceues  now  stand  forth  to  receive  the  judg- 
ment of  mankind  not  only  upon  their  skill,  abili- 
ty, and  sincerity,  but  upon  those  higher  and  no- 
bler qualities  which  are  the  jewels  of  humanity. 
The  military  operations  in  the  interior  of  the 
country  have  been  conducted  chiefly  with  a 
reference  to  the  lines  of  the  railroads  and  the 
water  courses.  The  facilities  for  the  transpor- 
tation of  supplies  and  for  the  concentration  of 


men  furnished  by  these  railroads  and  the  rivers, 
in  a  country  so  covered  with  woods,  and  so 
poorly  supplied  with  common  roads,  has  result- 
ed in  making  some  of  them  the  base  of  all  im- 
portant movements. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  preparations 
were  vigorously  pushed  forward  both  at  the 
West  and  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The 
forces  of  each  side  on  the  line  between  the  Fed- 
eral and  Confederate  States  maintained  their 
respective  positions  during  the  month  of  Janu- 
ary, excepting  in  eastern  Kentucky.  There 
Col.  Humphrey  Marshall  had  a  few  months 
previous  intrenched  the  Confederate  forces 
imder  his  command,  consisting  of  a  few  regi- 
ments of  infantry,  one  battery  of  artillery,  and 
five  or  six  companies  of  cavalry  at  a  town  called 
Paintville.  It  was  expected  in  the  Confederate 
States  that  he  would  be  able  to  sweep  the  whole 
of  eastern  Kentucky,  take  possession  of  Frank- 
fort, the  seat  of  the  State  Government,  and  set 
up  the  authority  of  the  Provisional  Governor 
Johnson.  Meanwhile  Col.  John  A.  Garfield, 
commanding  a  brigade  of  Union  forces,  having 
the  42d  Ohio  and  14th  Kentucky  infantry  and  a 
squadron  of  Ohio  cavalry,  advanced  to  encounter 
the  Confederate  force.  Embarrassed  by  the  dif- 
ficulty of  moving  supplies  at  that  low  stage  of 
the  Big  Sandy  river,  -it  was  the  Yth  of  January 
when  his  advance,  consisting  of  five  companies 
of  the  42d  Ohio,  under  Lieut.-Col.  Sheldon, 
reached  Paintville.  The  Confederate  force  had 
then  evacuated  its  intrenchments  two  and  a 
half  miles  south  of  the  town,  but  a  part  of  it 
was  placed  in  ambush  at  Jennie  Creek,  two 
miles  west.  This  body  was  driven  out  imme- 
diately by  Col.  Bolles,  of  the  1st  Virginia  cav- 
alry, who  had  come  up.  At  the  same  time  Col. 
Garfield,  with  eight  companies  of  the  42d  Ohio 
and  two  companies  of  the  14th  Kentucky, 
moved  upon  the  main  position  of  the  enemy, 
who  were  found  to  have  hastily  retrea'ted.  On 
the  next  day  the  40th  Ohio,  Col.  Cranox,  and 
six  companies  of  the  1st  Kentucky  cavalry 
joined  Col.  Garfield ;  a  part  of  the  22d  Ken- 
tucky,  under  Lieut.-Col.  Munroe,  had  also  reach- 
ed him.  With  a  portion  of  this  force,  the  pur- 
suit of  the  enemy  was  immediately  commenced 
up  the  road  along  the  Big  Sandy  river. 

The  following  despatches  from  Col.  Garfield 
describe  his  movements : 

PAINTSVILLE,  January  8. 
To  Capt.  J.  B.  Fry,  Assistant  Adjutant- General: 

I  entered  this  place  yesterday  with  the  42d  Ohio,  the 
4th  Kentucky,  and  300  of  the  2a  Virginia  cavalry.  On 
hearing  of  my  approach,  the  main  rebel  force  left  their 
strongly  intrenched  camp  and  fled.  I  sent  my  cavalry 
to  the  mouth  of  Jennie  Creek,  where  they  attacked 
and  drove  the  rebel  cavalry,  which  had  been  left  as  a 
vanguard,  a  distance  of  five  miles,  killing  three  and 
wounding  a  considerable  number. 
_  Marshall's  whole  army  is  now  flying  in  utter  confu- 
sion. He  had  abandoned  and  burned  a  large  amount 
of  his  stores.  We  have  taken  fifteen  prisoners.  Our 
loss  is  two  killed  and  one  wounded.  I  start  in  pursuit 
to-morrow  morning. 

(Signed)         J.  A.  GARFIELD, 

Col.  commanding  Brigade. 


122 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


.    •  SECOND  DESPATCH. 

To  Capt.  J.  B.  Fry,  Assistant  Adjutant- General: 

I  left  Paintsville  on  Thursday  noon  with  1,100  men, 
'  and  drove  in  the  enemy's  pickets  two  miles  below 
Prestonburg.  The  men  slept  on  their  arms.  At  4 
o'clock  yesterday  morning  we  moved  toward  the  main 
body  of  the  enemy  at  the  forks  of  Middle  Creek,  under 
command  of  Marshall.  Skirmishing  with  his  outposts 
began  at  8  o'clock,  ahd  at  1  p.  M.  we  engaged  his  force 
of  2,500  men  and  3  cannon,  posted  on  tne  hill — fought 
them  until  dark,  having  been  reenforced  by  700  men 
from  Paintsville,  and  drove  the  enemy  from  all  their 
positions.  He  carried  off  the  majority  of  his  dead  and 
all  of  his  wounded. 

This  morning  we  found  twenty-seven  of  his  dead 
on  the  field.  His  killed  cannot  be  less  than  sixty. 
We  have  twenty-five  prisoners,  ten  horses,  and  a  quan- 
tity of  stores.  The  enemy  burned  most  of  his  storac, 
and  fled  precipitately.  To-day  I  have  crossed  the 
river,  and  am  now  occupying  Prestonburg.  Our  loss 
is — two  killed  and  twenty-five  wounded. 

(Signed)  J.  A.  GARFIELD, 

Col.  commanding  Brigade. 

This  was  a  rapid  and  spirited  movement  on 
the  part  of  Col.  Garfield,  and  it  resulted  in 
forcing  Col.  Humphrey  Marshall  with  his 
troops  to  retire  from  eastern  Kentucky. 

On  the  16th  of  January  Col.  Garfield  issued 
the  following  address  to  the  inhabitants : 

HEADQUARTERS  EIGHTEENTH  BRIGADE,     ) 
PAINTSVILLE  (Kv.),  January  16,  1862.  f 

Citisens  of  the  Sandy  Valley: 

I  have  come  among  you  to  restore  the  honor  of  the 
Union  and  to  bring  back  the  Old  Banner,  which  you 
all  once  loved,  but  which,  by  the  machinations  of  evil 
men  and  by  mutual  misunderstanding,  has  been  dis- 
honored among  you.  To  those  who  are  in  arms  against 
the  Federal  Government  I  offer  only  the  alternative  of 
battle  or  unconditional  surrender.  But  to  those  who 
have  taken  no  part  in  this  war,  wht>  are  in  no  way 
aiding  or  abetting  the  enemies  of  the  Union — even  to 
those  who  hold  sentiments  averse  to  the  Union,  but 
yet  give  no  aid  and  comfort  to  its  enemies — I  offer  the 
full  protection  of  the  Government,  both  in  their  per- 
sons and  property. 

Let  those  who  have  been  seduced  away  from  the 
love  of  their  country  to  follow  after  and  aid  the  de- 
stroyers of  our  peace  lay  down  their  arms,  return  to 
their  homes,  bear  true  allegiance  to  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment, and  they  shall  also  enjoy  like  protection. 
The  army  of  the  Union  wages  no  war  of  plunder,  but 
comes  to  bring  back  the  prosperity  of  peace.  Let  all 
peace-loving  citizens  who  have  fled  from  their  homes 
return  and  resume  again  the  pursuits  of  peace  and  in- 
dustry. If  citizens  nave  suffered  from  any  outrages 
by  the  soldiers  under  my  command,  I  invite  them  to 
make  known  their  complaints  to  me,  and  their  wrongs 
shall  be  redressed  and  the  offenders  punished.  I  ex- 

Eect  the  friends  of  the  Union  in  this  valley  to  banish 
•om  among  them  all  private  feuds,  and  let  a  liberal- 
minded  love  of  country  direct  their  conduct  toward 
those  who  have  been  so  sadly  estranged  and  misguided, 
hoping  that  these  days  of  turbulence  may  soon  be 
ended  and  the  days  of  the  Republic  soon  return. 
J.  A.  GARFIELD, 
Col.  commanding  Brigade. 

But  the  most  important  action  of  the  month 
was  fought  at  a  place  called  Webb's  Cross  Roads 
on  the  19th.  It  is  known  as  the  battle  of  Mill 
Springs,  although  this  place  is  about  five  miles 
istant  from  the  spot  where  the  battle  was 
fought.  For  three  months  previous  the  Fed- 
eral General  Schoepff  had  been  stationed  at 
bornerset,  a  small  town  in  south-eastern  Ken- 
tucky, with  a  force  of  about  8,000  men.  The 


object  was  to  prevent  the  advance  of  the  Con- 
federate force  any  further  north.  At  the  same 
time  the  Confederate  General  Zollicofter,  with 
nearly  the  same  force,  was  intrenched  directly 
south  on  both  banks  of  the  Cumberland  river, 
for  the  purpose  of  defending  the  approach  to 
the  Cumberland  Gap  and  the  road  into  east 
Tennessee  against  any  Federal  force.  About 
two  weeks  previous  to  the  action,  Gen.  Zolli- 
coffer  was  reenforced  by  the  division  under 
Gen.  Crittenden,  which  had  been  previously 
stationed  at  Knoxville,  Tennessee.  Gen.  Crit- 
tenden took  command,  and  issued  the  following 
proclamation : 

DIVISION  HEADQUABTEBS,  MILL  SPRINGS,  KT.,  ) 
January  6, 1862.      j 
To  the  People  of  Kentucky  : 

When  the  present  war  between  the  Confederate 
States  and  the  United  States  commenced,  the  State  of 
Kentucky  determined  to  remain  neutral.  She  regard- 
ed this  as  her  highest  interest,-and,  balancing  between 
hope  for  the  restoration  of  the  Union  and  love  for  her 
Southern  sisters,  she  declared  and  attempted  to  main- 
tain a  firm  neutrality. 

The  conduct  of  the  United  States  Government 
toward  her  has  been  marked  with  duplicity,  falsehood, 
and  wrong.  From  the  very  beginning,  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  in  his  Messages,  spoke  of  the 
chosen  attitude  of  Kentucky  with  open  denunciation, 
and  on  the  one  hand  treated  it  with  contempt  and 
derision,  while  on  the  other  hand  he  privately  prom- 
ised the  peoplu  of  Kentucky  that  it  should  be  respect- 
ed. In  violation  of  this  pledge,  but  in  keeping  with 
his  first  and  true  intention,  he  introduced  into  the 
State  arms  which  were  placed  exclusively  in  the  hands 
of  persons  known  or  believed  to  be  in  favor  of  coer- 
cion, thus  designing  to  control  the  people  of  Kentucky, 
and  to  threaten  the  Confederate  States.  Then  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  Confederate  States,  in  self  defence,  ad- 
vanced its  arms  in'to  your  midst,  and  offer  you  their 
assistance  to  protect  you  from  the  calamity  of  "Northern 
military  occupation. 

By  the  administration  ol  your  State  Government, 
Kentucky  was  being  held  to  the  United  States,  and 
bound  at  the  feet  of  Northern  tyranny.  That  Gov- 
ernment did  not  rest  upon  the  consent  of  your  people. 
And  now,  having  thrown  it  off,  a  new  Government 
has  been  established  and  Kentucky  admitted  into 
the  Southern  Confederacy.  Can  Kentuckians  doubt 
which  Government  to  sustain  ?  To  the  South  you 
are  allied  by  interest,  by  trade,  by  geography,  by 
similarity  of  institutions,  by  the  ties  of  olood,  and 
by  kindred  courage.  The  markets  of  the  North  do  not 
invite  your  products — your  State  is,  to  the  centre  of  its 
trade,  society,  and  laws,  but  a  distant  province,  de- 
spised for  its  customs  and  institutions — your  heroic  lin- 
eage forbids  association  in  arms  with  ttieir  warriors  of 
Manassas,  of  Leesburg,  and  of  Belmont ;  and  your  for- 
mer devotion  to  the  Union  must  intensify  your  hatred 
toward  that  section  which  has,  in  its  Abolition  crusade, 
broken  to  pieces  the  Constitution,  and  which  is  now 
vainly  endeavoring  to  destroy  the  liberty  of  the  South- 
ern States ! 

At  first  you  may  have  been  deceived  as  to  the  pur- 
poses of  the  North.  They  talked  of  restoring  the 
Union.  Do  you  not  see  that  it  is  hopelessly  lost  in  the 
storm  of  war,  and  that,  while  the  rotten  Government 
of  the  North  is  shaking  over  its  ruins,  the  South  has 
erected  out  of  them  a  new,  powerful,  and  free  constitu- 
tional republic  !  And  now,  indeed,  the  mask  is  thrown 
off,  and  you  find  the  North,  through  its  President,  and 
Secretary  of  War,  and  public  journals,  and  party  lead- 
ers, giving  up  the  claim  of  Ucion,  and'proclaiming  the 
extinction  of  slavery  and  the  subjugation  of  the  South. 
Can  you  join  in  this  enterprise?  The  South  would 
never  in  any  event  consent  to  a  reconstruction.  She 
is  contending  with  unconquerable  spirit,  with  great 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


123 


military  power,  with  unbroken  success,  for  constitu- 
tional freedom,  and  for  her  own  national  government. 
Where  is  your  spirit  of  other  days,  that  you  do  not 
rush  to  her  victorious  standard  ?  Shall  me  sons  of 
Tennessee,  Virginia,  Mississippi,  and  other  Southern 
States,  with  whom  you  have  gathered  the  laurels  on 
other  battle  fields,  win  them  all  in  this  war  of  inde- 
pendence, while  you  are  inactive  and  lost  in  slothful 
indolence  ?  May  the  proud  genius  of  my  native  Ken- 
tucky forbid  it. 

In  these  mountains,  where  freedom  and  patriotism 
stir  the  human  heart,  can  you  sleep  with  the  clarion 
of  a  glorious  war  ringing  in  your  ears  ?  True,  you 
have  refused  to  bear  the  arms  and  wear  the  livery  of 
Northern  despotism.  Their  base  hirelings  have  been 
among  you,  but  have  not  seduced  you  into  their  ranks. 
Will  you  stay  at  home  and  let  noble  bands  of  soldiers, 
armed  in  your  cause  as  in  their  own,  pass  on  to  battle 
fields,  on  your  own  soil,  consecrated  by  no  deed  of 
your  valor  ? 

Having  assumed  command  of  the  forces  of  the  Con- 
federate States  on  Cumberland  river,  in  south-eastern 
Kentucky,  I  make  this  appeal  to  you.  You  are  already 
assured  that  we  come  among  you  as  friends  and 
brothers,  to  protect  you  in  your  personal  liberties  and 
property,  and  only  to  make  war  against  the  invaders 
of  your  home  and  our  common  enemies.  I  invoke  you 
to  receive  us  as  brothers,  and  to  come  to  our  camp  and 
share  with  us  the  dangers  and  the  honor  of  this  strug- 
gle. Come  to  these  headquarters,  as  individuals  or  in 
companies,  and  you  will  be  at  once  accepted  and  mus- 
tered in  with  pay  and  arms  from  the  'Government  of 
the  Confederate  States.  At  first  many  Kentuckians 
entered  the  army  of  the  South  for  the  great  cause  it 
supports ;  now  this  has  become  the  cause  of  Kentucky, 
and  it  is  your  duty  to  espouse  it.  Duty  and  honor 
unite  in  this  call  upon  you.  Will  you  join  in  the  mov- 
ing columns  of  the  South,  or  is  the  spirit  of  Kentucky 
dead  ?  GEO.  B.  CRITTENDEN,  Major-General. 

Previous  to  the  junction  of  the  force  of 
Gen.  Crittenden  with  that  of  Gen.  Zollicoffer, 
Gen.  Buell,  in  command  of  the  Federal  depart- 
ment, with  his  headquarters  at  Louisville,  had 
detached  from  his  main  body  a  division  under 
Gen.  Geo.  H.  Thomas  to  attack  the  rear  of 
Gen.  Zollicoffer,  whose  position  was  a  strong 
one.  It  was  about  fifteen  miles  south-west  of 
Somerset,  forty  miles  south-east  of  Columbia, 
and  six  miles  below  the  head  of  steamboat  navi- 
gation. It  was  considered  to  be  one  of  the 
three  Confederate  strongholds  in  Kentucky — 
the  first  being  Columbus,  in  the  extreme 
"West;  the  second,  Bowling  Green  in  central 
Kentucky ;  and  the  third,  this  one  in  the  south- 
east, commanding  the  coal  mines  and  many  of 
the  salts  wells  south  of  the  Cumberland,  and 
suitable  to  check  any  Federal  advance  into 
east  Tennessee.  The  hills  on  the  immediate 
bank  of  the  river  are  between  three  and  four 
hundred  feet  in  height  and  their  summits  were 
fortified.  The  actual  situation  of  the  Con- 
federate force  has  been  variously  represented. 
It  was  nearly  destitute  of  supplies,  and  upon 
hearing  of  the  approach  of  the  Federal  force, 
the  choice  was  presented  to  Gen.  Crittenden, 
either  to  retreat  without  striking  a  blow,  or  to 
remain  in  his  position  and  be  stormed  out,  or 
to  surrender  upon  .the  approach  of  starvation, 
or  to  make  an  advance.  The  latter  measure 
was  chosen,  and  for  this  reason  the  Confederate 
general  was  found  without  his  intrenchments 
and  making  an  attack  upon  the  approaching 


force.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  the  Fed- 
eral force  was  supposed  to  be  much  smaller  than 
it  in  truth  was,  and  hence  the  Confederate 
general  was  tempted  to  advance  and  make 
an  attack.  That  day  (Sunday)  he  was  defeated, 
and  retired  to  his  intrenchments.  During  the 
night  he  abandoned  his  camp,  and  by  the  aid 
of  a  small  steamboat  crossed  the  Cumberland 
with  his  entire  force.  The  Federal  forces  most 
actively  engaged  were :  the  9th  Ohio,  Col. 
McCook ;  2d  Minnesota,  Col.  Yan  Cleve ;  4th 
Kentucky,  Col.  Fry ;  10th  Indiana,  Col.  Mun- 
son ;  with  the  batteries  of  Capts.  Stanhart  and 
Wetmore.  These  were  supported  by  the  14th 
Ohio,  Col.  Steadman;  and  the  10th  Kentucky, 
Col.  Haskin.  The  force  of  Gen.  Schcepff  came 
up  and  joined  in  the  pursuit. .  The  Confederate 
force  consisted  of  the  15th  Mississippi,  Col. 
Walthal ;  19th  Tennessee,  Col.  Cummings ; 
20th  Tennessee,  Capt.  Battle ;  25th  Tennessee, 
Capt.  Stouton ;  17th  Tennessee,  Col.  Newman ; 
28th  Tennessee,  Col.  Murray;  29th  Tennes- 
see, Col.  Powell ;  16th  Alabama,  Col.  Wood, 
with  two  batteries.  The  Federal  loss  was  38 
killed  and  194  wounded ;  the  Confederate  loss 
was  190  killed  (among  whom  was  Gen.  Zolli- 
coffer), 60  wounded,  and  89  prisoners.  The 
forces  of  Gen.  Thomas  and  Gen.  Crittenden 
were  about  equal.  The  force  of  Gen.  Schoapff, 
however,  was  equal  to  a  reserve  for  Gen.  Tho- 
mas. The  artillery  of  Gen.  Thomas  was  of 
longer  range  than  the  Confederate  guns. 

The  following  order  of  thanks  was  issued  by 
President  Lincoln  in  consequence  of  this  vic- 
tory: 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  January  22, 1862. 

The  President,  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  and 
navy,  has  received  information  of  a  brilliant  victory 
achieved  by  the  United  States  forces  over  a  large  body 
of  armed  traitors  and  rebels  at  Mill  Springs,  in  the 
State  of  Kentucky. 

He  returns  thanks  to  the  gallant  officers  and  soldiers 
who  won  that  victory ;  and  when  the  official  reports 
shall  be  received,  the  military  skill  and  personal  valor 
displayed  in  battle  will  be  acknowledged  and  reward- 
ed in  a  fitting  manner. 

The  courage  that  encountered  and  vanquished  the 
greatly  superior  numbers  of  the  rebel  force,  pursued 
and  attacked  them  in  their  intrencbments,  and  paused 
not  until  the  enemy  was  completely  routed,  merits  and 
receives  commendation. 

The  purpose  of  this  war  is  to  attack,  pursue,  and 
destroy  a  rebellious  enemy,  and  to  deliver  the  country 
from  danger  menaced  by  traitors.  Alacrity,  daring, 
courageous, spirit,  and  patriotic  zeal,  on  all  occasions 
and  under  every  circumstance,  are  expected  from  the 
army  of  the  United  States. 

In  the  prompt  and  spirited  movements  and  daring 
battle  of  Mill  Springs,  the  nation  will  realize  its  hopes, 
and  the  people  of  the  United  States  will  rejoice  to 
honor  every  soldier  and  officer  who  proves  his  courage 
by  charging  with  the  bayonet  and  storming  intrench- 
ments, or  in  the  blaze  of  the  enemy's  fire. 

By  order  of  the  President 

EDWIN  M.  ST  ANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

This  victory  opened  the  path  into  east  Ten- 
nessee, but  no  advantage  was  taken  of  it  by  tho 
Federal  Government.  It  also  produced  an 
exhilaration  in  the  North  far  above  its  im- 
portance. 


124 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Some  important  reconnoissances  were  made 
in  western  Kentucky  at  this  time,  extending 
even  to  the  Tennessee  line.  The  country 
around  Fort  Columbus  was  fully  explored,  the 
length  and  condition  of  the  roads  ascertained, 
the  number  of  bridges  and  their  strength,  the 
depth  of  the  streams  without  bridges,  and  the 
sentiments  of  the  inhabitants.  Fort  Henry 
was  twice  approached  by  the  gunboat  Lexing- 
ton, and  its  strength  estimated.  These  recon- 
noissances were  made  by  forces  from  the  Depart- 
ment of  Missouri,  then  under  the  command  of 
Maj.-Gen.  Halleck.  Early  in  January  troops 
began  to  concentrate  at  Cairo,  Paducah,  and 
Fort  Jefferson  from  different  quarters.  To  such 
an  extent  had  this  progressed  that,  in  the  public 
mind,  it  was  supposed  that  a  great  movement 
was  on  foot. 

The  plan  of  the  campaign  in  the  West  now 
began  to  be  manifest.  At  the  time  when 
Gen.  Buell  was  ordered  to  the  command  of 
the  department  of  the  Ohio,  the  views  of  the 
Government  were  favorable  to  an  expedition 
to  the  Cumberland  Gap  and  into  east  Tennes- 
see, for  the  purpose  of  seizing  the  Virginia  and 
east  Tennessee  line  of  railroad  and  affording 
aid  to  the  loyal  citizens.  The  Confederate 
line  of  defence  had  now  become  so  fully  devel- 
oped, with  its  strong  positions  of  Bowling 
Green  and  Columbus,  that  the  propriety  of  an 
expedition  by  the  forces  in  Kentucky  into  east 
Tennessee  became  a  question  for  military  in- 
vestigation. The  mountainous  character  of 
the  country  through  which  the  Gap  had  to  be 
reached,  the  roughness  of  the  roads,  rendering 
the  conveyance  of  artillery  extremely  difficult 
and  slow,  and  subjecting  an  army  at  every 
interval  to  formidable  resistance,  were  dis- 
couraging obstacles  to  an  advance  in  that  di- 
rection. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  movement  of  troops 
from  Cairo  up  the  Cumberland  river  by  trans- 
ports and  gunboats  against  Nashville,  so  as  to 
reach  the  rear  of  the  Confederate  army  under 
Gen.  Buckner,  presented  an  easy  manner  of 
breaking  the  enemy's  line  and  compelling  the 
evacuation  of  Kentucky.  Its  successful  achieve- 
ment might  be  attended  with  the  capture 
of  the  Confederate  force  at  Bowling  Green. 
These  views  finally  prevailed  and  measures 
were  taken  to  «carry  them  into  execution.  The 
original  plan  of  the  western  campaign  had  been 
for  a  military  and  naval  expedition  to  proceed 
from  St.  Louis  and  Cairo  down  the  Mississippi 
river.  For  this  purpose  the  gunboats  were 
originally  constructed.  They  were  found  to  be 
of  sufficiently  light  draft  to  navigate  the  Cum- 
berland and  Tennessee  rivers,  and  the  coopera- 
tion of  the  western  department  under  Gen. 
Halleck  was  also  secured.  Indeed  the  Missis- 
sippi river  expedition  was  thus  diverted  at  the 
outset,  and  Gen.  Halleck,  by  order  of  the  Presi- 
dent, assumed  the  entire  command  After  a 
union  of  these  two  armies,  they  were  expected 
to  control  the  whole  country  to  New  Orleans. 
The  reconnoissance  of  Fort  Henry  had  con- 


vinced Com.  Foote,  in  command  of  the  western 
fleet  of  gunboats,  that  it  could  be  easily  re- 
duced by  his  gunboats.  At  an  early  day  ho 
applied  to  Gen.  Halleck  for  permission  to  at- 
tack the  fort.  These  views  undoubtedly  had 
an  important  influence  on  the  plan  of  the 
western  campaign. 

The  States  which  contributed  chiefly  to  the 
force  organized  by  Gen.  Buell  in  Kentucky 
were :  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michi- 
gan, "Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  Pennsylvania,  and 
Tennessee,  as  follows:  Ohio,  thirty  regiments 
of  infantry,  two  and  half  regiments  of  cavalry, 
and  eight  batteries  of  artillery ;  Indiana,  twenty- 
seven  regiments  of  infantry,  one  and  half  regi- 
ments of  cavalry,  and  five  batteries  of  artillery ; 
Illinois,  three  regiments  of  infantry ;  Kentucky, 
twenty-four  regiments  of  infantry,  four  regi- 
ment, of  cavalry,  and  two  batteries  of  artillery ; 
Pennsylvania,  three  regiments  of  infantry,  two 
regiments  of  cavalry,  one  battery  of  artillery ; 
Michigan,  three  regiments  of  infantry,  one  bat- 
tery of  artillery;  Wisconsin,  three  regiments  of 
infantry ;  Minnesota,  two  regiments  of  infantry, 
and  one  battery  of  artillery;  Tennessee,  two 
regiments  of  infantry.  Besides  these  there 
were  of  regulars,  three  regiments  of  infantry, 
and  three  batteries  of  artillery.  Thus  making 
one  hundred  and  two  regiments  of  infantry, 
ten  regiments  of  cavalry,  and  twenty-one  bat- 
teries of  artillery ;  which  might  be  summed  up 
as  follows :  infantry  100,000,  cavalry  11,000, 
artillerists  3,000;  total  114,000  men,  and  126 
pieces  of  artillery.  This  army  was  divided  into 
four  grand  divisions  under  the  command  of  Gens. 
Alexander  McDowell  McCook,  Geo.  II.  Thom- 
as, Ormsby  M.  Mitchell,  Thos.  L.  Crittenden. 
Among  the  brigade  commanders,  of  whom 
there  were  twenty,  were  the  following  officers: 
Ebenezer  Dumont,  Albin  Schoepff,  Thos.  J. 
Wood,  Wm.  Nelson,  Eichard  W.  Johnson,  Jerre 
T.  Boyle,  Jas.  S.  Negley,  Wm.  T.  Ward. 

The  force  organized  by  Gen.  Halleck,  with 
his  headquarters  at  St.  Louis,  was  concentrated 
at  that  place  and  Cairo  and  Paducah,  excepting 
that  portion  which  was  in  the  field  in  the  State 
of  Missouri.  It  was  somewhat  less  in  num- 
bers than  the  army  of  Gen.  Buell.  For  opera- 
tions in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  it  was  placed 
under  the  command  of  Gen.  Grant.  It  was 
drawn  chiefly  from  the  States  adjacent  to  Mis- 
souri. 

The  naval  force  prepared  to  cooperate  with 
the  military  consisted  of  twelve  gunboats  car- 
rying an  armament  in  all  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-six  guns.  None  of  these  guns  were 
less  than  32-pounders,  some  were  42-pounders, 
and  also  9  and  10  inch  naval  columbiads.  In 
addition,  each  boat  carried  a  rifled  Dahlgren 
12-pounder  boat  howitzer  on  the  upper  deck. 
Several  of  the  larger  guns  on  each  boat  were 
rifled. 

The  boats  were  built  very  wide,  in  proportion 
to  their  length,- giving  them  almost  the  same 
steadiness  in  action  that  a  stationary  land  bat- 
tery would  possess.  They  were  constructed 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


125 


with  the  sides  sloping  upward  and  downward 
from  the  water  line,  at  an  angle  of  forty-five 
degrees.  The  bow  battery  on  each  boat  con- 
sisted of  solid  oak  timber  twenty-six  inches  in 
thickness,  plated  on  the  exterior  surface  with 
iron  two  and  a  half  inches  thick. 

The  side  and  stern  batteries  were  somewhat 
thinner,  but  had  the  same  thickness  of  iron 
over  that  portion  covering  the  machinery. 

The  boats  were  built  so  that  in  action  they 
could  be  kept  "  bow  on  ;  "  hence  the  superior 
strength  of  the  bow  battery.  Broadsides  were 
so  arranged  as  to  be  delivered  with  .terrible  ef- 
fect while  shifting  position.  To  facilitate  move- 
ments in  action,  the  engines  and  machinery  were 
of  the  most  powerful  kind.  The  boilers  were 
five  in  number,  constructed  to  work  in  connec- 
tion with  or  independent  of  each  other. 

Seven  of  these  boats  only  were  iron  clad. 


By  the  "Army  near  Munfordsville,K!entuoky," 
were  designated  the  forces  of  Gen.  Buell.  After 
the  battle  of  Mill  Springs,  movements  were  made 
by  order  of  Gen.  Buell,  as  if  with  the  purpose 
of  advancing  into  eastern  Tennessee  in  force. 
The  Cumberland  river  was  crossed  at  Waitsboro', 
and  a  column  was  pushed  toward  Cumberland 
Gap,  while  two  brigades  were  moved  from  Gen. 
Buell's  centre  toward  his  left.  The  Confeder- 
ates understood  that  east  Tennessee  was  the 
destination  of  these  troops,  and  hastily  sent  a 
large  force  by  railroad  from  Bowling  Green 
through  Nashville  to  Knoxville.  But  the  army 
of  Gen.  Thomas,  instead  of  going  to  east  Ten- 
nessee, turned  back  to  Danville  and  subse- 
quently marched  to  join  Gen.  Nelson,  at  Glas- 
gow, and  flank  Bowling  Green  on  the  left. 
Thus,  instead  of  dividing  his  forces,  Gen.  Buell 
concentrated  them  by  a  movement  from  the 


The  number  of  mortar  boats  ordered  was  thirty-    left  to  the  centre.    Meanwhile  the  centre  of 


eight.  Each  one  which  was  built,  carried  "a 
mortar  of  13-inch  calibre.  The  charge  of 
powder  for  the  mortar  was  about  twenty-three 
pounds.  Each  boat  was  manned  by  a  captain, 
lieutenant,  and  twelve  men.  Formidable  as 
this  naval  force  appears,  its  preparation  was 
very  tardily  undertaken  by  the  Government, 
and  at  the  moment  when  first  needed,  but  few 
of  the  boats  were  ready. 

On  the  27th  of  January,  the  President  of  the 
United  States  appeared  as  commander-in-chief 
of  the  army  and  navy,  and  issued  the  follow- 
ing order : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  Jan.  27, 1862. 
PRESIDENT'S  GENERAL  WAR  ORDER,  No.  1. 

Ordered,  That  the  22d  day  of  February,  1862,  be  the 
day  for  a  general  movement  of  the  land  and  naval  forces 
of  the  United  States  against  the  insurgent  forces. 
That  especially 

The  Army  at  and  about  Fortress  Monroe, 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac, 

The  Army  of  Western  Virginia, 

The  Army  near  Munfordsville,  Kentucky, 

The  Army  and  Flotilla  at  Cairo, 

And  a  Naval  Force  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
be  ready  for  a  movement  on  that  day. 

That  all  other  forces,  both  land  and  naval,  with  their 
respective  commanders,  obey  existing  orders  for  the 
time,  and  be  ready  to  obey  additional  orders  when  duly 
given. 

That  the  Heads  of  Departments,  and  especially  the 
becretanes  of  War  and  of  the  Navy,  with  all  their  sub- 
ordinates, and  the  General-in-Chief,  with  all  other  com- 
manders and  subordinates  of  land  and  naval  forces,  will 
Severally  be  held  to  their  strict  and  full  responsibilities 
for  the  prompt  execution  of  this  order 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

This  order  was  unproductive  of  direct  mili- 
tary effect,  but  was  viewed  as  an  indication  of 
the  President's  desire  that  active  measures 
should  be  taken  speedily  toward  the  initiation 
of  hostilities.  Gen.  McClellan  still  continued 
to  be  general-in-chief,  and  all  the  movements 
of  Gen.  Buell  up  to  the  occupation  of  Nash- 
ville, and  those  of  Gens.  Halleck  and  Grant, 
were  made  under  his  instructions  up  to  the 
llth  of  March,  when  the  order  of  the  Presi- 
dent was  issued,  relieving  him  "  from  the  com- 
mand of  the  other  military  departments." 


Gen.  Buell's  force,  under  Gen.  Mitchell,  had 
been  advanced  toward  Munfordsville,  on  the 
road  to  Bowling  Green. 

By  the  term  "  The  Army  and  Flotilla  at  Cai- 
ro," was  designated  the  military  force  of  Gen. 
Halleck's  department,  collected  at  Cairo,  Pa- 
ducah,  and  Fort  Jefferson,  under  Gen.  Grant, 
together  with  the  gunboats,  and  intended  «for 
the  Tennessee  river  expedition. 

A  movement  against  Fort  Henry  on  the  Ten- 
nessee river  was  at  once  undertaken.    This  fort 
is  situated  near  the  line  of  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee, on  the  east  .bank  of  the  stream.    It 
stands  on  the  low  lands  adjacent  to  the  river, 
about  the  high  water  mark,  and  being  just  be- 
low a  bend  in  the  river,  and  at  the  head  of  a 
straight  stretch  of  about  two  miles,  it  commands 
the  river  for  that  distance,  and  very  little  else. 
On  Saturday  night,  Feb.  1,  the  gunboats  St. 
Louis,  Cincinnati,  Carondolet,  Essex,  Tyler,  and 
Lexington,  in  an  incomplete  state  of  prepara- 
tion, being  the  only  ones  manned,  left  Cairo, 
and  proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  the  Tennessee 
at  Paducah.    Here  they  were  joined  by  the 
gunboat  Conestoga  and  a  fleet  of  transports, 
with  a  land  force  under  Gen.  Grant,  and  on 
Monday  afternoon  proceeded  up  the  river.    By 
Tuesday  all  were  anchored  about  eight  miles 
below  the  fort,  which  being  an  unfavorable 
place  for  the  debarkation  of  troops,  a  ?econ- 
noissance  was  made  by  the  Essex,  St.  Louis,  and 
Cincinnati.     A  suitable  place  for  the  landing, 
encampment,  and  general  rendezvous  of  the 
troops  was  found  just  below  the  range  of  the 
guns  of  the  fort.     The  troops  were  landed  dur- 
ing the  afternoon,  and  the  transports  returned 
to  Paducah  for  more  regiments.    By  Thursday 
morning,  Feb.  6,  a  large  force  was  gathered, 
and  a  body  of  troops  under  Gen.  Smith  were 
also  landed  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  where 
it  was  supposed  that  a  considerable  Confederate 
force  was  encamped.     The  troops  after  being 
landed  were  formed  into  two  divisions;  the 
first,  consisting  of  the  8th,  18th,  27th,  29th,  30th, 
and  31st,  making  one  brigade;  and  the  llth, 
20th,  45th,  and  48th  Illinois  regiments  making 


126 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


cims. 

A— 32-pounders,  barbette    10 
3 — 10-pounder       colum 

biad,  iron  carriage 

0— 24-pounder,  siege 

D-J2-pounders,  siege... 

E— 24-pounder,  rille 

Q — 42-pounders,  barbette 


Total 17 

Q— Quarters,  log  huts. 
Q-—      "        frame  huts. 
B— Stockade. 
B— Band  bags. 
H — Draw  bridge. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


127 


another  brigade,  with  one  regiment  (the  4th  Il- 
linois), and  four  independent  companies  of  cav- 
alry, and  four  batteries  of  artillery,  under  Gen. 
McClernand.  This  division  was  ordered  to 
move  across  the  country  to  a  point  on  the  road 
leading  from  the  fort  to  the  town  of  Dover,  on 
the  Cumberland  river,  for  the  purpose  of  pre- 
venting reenforcements  to  the  enemy  and  cut- 
ting of  his  retreat.  The  second  division  con- 
sisted of  the  7th,  9th,  12th,  28th,  and  41st  Il- 
linois regiments,  the  llth  Indiana,  Yth  and  12th 
Iowa,  8th  and  13th  Missouri,  with  artillery  and 
cavalry,  under  Gen.  Smith.  About  ten  o'clock 
the  land  force  commenced  the  march  over  the 
hilltops,  and  the  gunboats  began  to  move  un- 
der steam  toward  the  fort.  Passing  up  the 
narrow  passage  to  the  westward  of  the  island 
below  the  fort,  they  were  protected  from  its 
guns  until  within  a  mile,  and  emerged  in  line 
of  battle,  the  St.  Louis,  Lieut.  Paulding,  on  the 
left,  next  the  Oarondolet,  Commander  Walke, 
next  the  flag  ship  Cincinnati,  Commander 
Stembel,  and  next  upon  the  right  the  Essex, 
Commander  Porter.  The  other  boats  acted  as 
a  reserve.  Firing  upon  both  sides  soon  com- 
menced, but  the  gunboats  continued  to  approach 
until  within  six  hundred  yards  of  the  Confed- 
erate batteries.  The  action  lasted  for  one  hour 
and  a  quarter,  when  the  flag  on  the  fort  was 
hauled  down.  Meantime  the  high  water  and  , 
muddy  roads  prevented  the  arrival  of  the  land 
forces  under  Gen.  Grant,  and  the  Confederate 
troops  in  the  fort  retired,  and  escaped.  Com- 
modore Foote,  commanding  the  naval  portion 
of  the  expedition,  says :  "  The  garrison,  I  think, 
must  have  commenced  their  retreat  last  night, 
or  at  an  early  hour  this  morning.  Had  I  not 
felt  it  an  imperative  necessity  to  attack  Fort 
Henry  to-day,  I  should  have  made  the  invest- 
ment complete  and  delayed  until  to-morrow,  so 
as  to  secure  the  garrison.  I  do  not  now  believe, 
however,  the  result  would  have  been  any  more 
satisfactory." 

This  Confederate  force  was  supposed  to  num- 
ber between  four  and  five  thousand.  The  fort 
was  armed  with  twenty  guns,  32  and  34-pound- 
ers,  including  one  10-inch  Columbiad.  Before 
the  close  of  the  action  a  shot  entered  the  boiler 
of  the  Essex,  which  resulted  in  wounding  and 
scalding  twenty-nine  officers  and  men.  Eighty- 
three  prisoners  were  taken,  among  whom  was 
Brig.  Gen.  Tilghman,  and  a  large  amount  of 
stores,  and  everything  belonging  to  the  re- 
tiring force.  On  the  gunboats  two  were  killed 
and  nine  wounded  in  the  action,  and  on  the 
part  of  the  Confederates  five  killed  and  ten 
wounded. 

The  result  of  this  action  occasioned  great 
joy  in  the  Northern  States.  The  Secretary  of 
the  Navy,  Gideon  "Welles,  sent  the  following 
despatch  to  Com.  Foote : 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  February  9, 1862. 

Your  despatch  announcing  the  capture  of  Fort  Hen- 
ry, by  the  squadron  which  you  command,  has  given 
the  highest  gratification  to  the  President,  to  Congress, 
and  the  country.  It  was  received  and  read  in  both 


Houses  of  Congress  in  open  session.  The  country 
appreciates  your  gallant  deeds,  and  this  depart 
ment  desires  to  convey  to  you  and  your  brave  asso- 
ciates its  profound  thanks  for  the  service  you  have 
rendered. 

GIDEON  WELLES. 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Flag  Officer  A.  H.  FOOTE,  U.  S.  N. ,  commanding  ( 

the  United  States  naval  forces,  Cairo,  111. 

By  the  possession  of  Fort  Henry  the  Federal 
forces  were  in  the  rear  of  Columbus  on  the 
Mississippi,  and  within  ten  miles  of  the  bridge 
by  which  the  railroad  connection  was  made 
between  Columbus  and  Bowling  Green.  There 
was  now  no  obstacle  to  the  passage  of  the  gun- 
boats to  the  sources  of  the  Tennessee  river  in 
northern  Alabama. 

Immediately  after  the  surrender,  Commander 
Phelps  was  ordered  to  proceed  with  the  gun- 
boats Conestoga,  Tyler,  and  Lexington,  up  the 
river  to  the  railroad  bridge,  and  to  destroy  so 
much  as  would  prevent  its  use  by  the  enemy, 
and  thence  proceed  as  far  up  the  river  as  the 
stage'  of  water  would  permit,  and  capture  the 
gunboats  and  other  vessels  which  might  be  use- 
ful to  the  enemy. 

After  dark,  on  the  same  day,  the  expedition 
arrived  at  the  bridge  for  the  railroad  crossing 
about  twenty-five  miles  above  Fort  Henry, 
where  considerable  camp  equipage  was  destroy- 
'  ed.  Thence  the  expedition  proceeded  as  far 
up  the  river  as  Florence  in  Alabama,  at  the 
foot  of  the  Muscle  shoals.  Here  the  enemy 
burnt  six  of  their  steamers  and  two  were  cap- 
tured, beside  a  half  complete  gunboat  and  con- 
siderable lumber.  Two  hundred  stands  of 
arms,  a  quantity  of  stores  and  clothing  were 
also  seized,  and  the  encampment  of  a  regiment 
destroyed.  This  sudden  appearance  of  the  Fed- 
eral gunboats  was  like  an  unexpected  appa- 
rition to  the  inhabitants,  and  loyal  and  friendly 
feelings  were  manifested  on  every  side. 

The  next  step  of  Com.  Foote  was  to  return 
to  Cairo  to  prepare  the  mortar  boats  for  opera- 
tions against  Fort  Donelson.  He  desired  a  de- 
lay of  a  few  days  to  complete  them,  believing 
that  thereby  the  garrison,  however  extensive, 
could  be  shelled  out  without  much  loss  of  life 
to  the  Federal  force.  But  Gen.  Halleck  re- 
garded an  immediate  attack  as  a  military  ne- 
cessity, and  it  was  made  although  the  fleet 
was  reduced  to  a  crippled  state,  and  the  loss  of 
life  was  considerable.  There  is  no  question 
of  the  correctness  of  Gen.  Halleck's  views  rela- 
tive to  the  attack ;  th?  deficiency  resulted  from 
a  degree  of  precipitation  in  the  entire  move- 
ment after  the  issue  of  the  President's  procla- 
mation. 

At  this  time  Gen.  Crittenden,  in  command 
of  the  right  wing  of  Gen.  Buell's  army,  having 
advanced  to  the  left  bank  of  Green  river  near 
South  Carrollton  and  manoeuvred  in  front  of 
the  Confederate  (Gen.  Buckner's)  force,  sud- 
denly retreated  to  Calhoun  on  Green  river. 
Steamers  were  there  awaiting  him,  on  which 
his  force  was  embarked  and  taken  down  the 
Green  river  to  the  Ohio,  down  the  Ohio,  and 


128 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


op  the  Cumberland,  where  a  junction  was  ef- 
fected with  Gen.  Grant's  army. 

Troops  were  also  sent  from  St.  Louis,  Cairo, 
and  Cincinnati,  until  the  following  regiments 
and  batteries  were  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Grant,  not  including  the  force  brought  by 
Gen.  Crittenden: 

Illinois  Infantry. — 7th,  Col.  John  Cook,  act- 
ing brigadier-general ;  Lieut.-Col.  Andrew  J. 
Babcock ;  8th,  Col.  Richard  J.  Oglesby,  act- 
ing brigadier-general;  Lieut.-Col.,  Frank  L. 
Rhodes;  9th,  Col.  Augustus  Marsey;  10th, 
Col.  James  D.  Morgan;  llth,  Col.  Thomas 
E.  R.  Ransom;  12th,  Col.  John  McArthur; 
16th,  Col.  Robert  F.  Smith  ;  18th,  Col.  Michael 
K.  Lawler ;  20th,  Col.  C.  Carroll  Marsh ;  22d, 
Col.  Henry  Dougherty  (invalid) ;  Lieut.-Col.  H. 
E.  Hart ;  27th,  Col.  Napoleon  B.  Buford ;  28th, 
Col.  Amory  K.  Johnson;  29th,  Col.  James 
S.  Riordan ;  30th,  Col.  Philip  B.  Fouke,  ab- 
sent ;  Lieut.-Col.  E.  B.  Dennis ;  31st,  Col. 
John  A.  Logan ;  32d,  Col.  John  Logan ;  41st, 
Col.  Isaac  0.  Pugh ;  45th,  Col.  John  E.  Smith  ; 
46th,  Col.  John  A.  Davis ;  48th,  Col.  Isham  N. 
Haynie ;  49th,  Col.  Wm.  R.  Morrison,  wound- 
ed ;  Lieut.-Col.,  Thomas  G.  Allen ;  50th,  Col. 
Moses  M.  Bane;  52d,  Lieut.-Col.  John  S.  Wil- 
cox ;  55th,  Col.  David  Stuart ;  57th,  Col.  S. 
D.  Baldwin. 

Illinois  Artillery. — 2d  regiment,  Col.  Silas 
Noble;  3d  regiment,  Col.  Eugene  A.  Carr; 
4th  regiment,  Col.  T.  Lyle  Dickey ;  7th  regi- 
ment, Col.  William  Pitt  Kellogg. 

Illinois  Artillery  Batteries. — Schwartz's, 
Dresser's,  Taylor's,  McAllister's,  Richardson's, 
Willard's,  and  BuelPs ;  in  all,  thirty-four  guns. 

Troops  from  other  States. — 3d  Iowa,  Col.  N. 
G.  Williams ;  7th  Iowa,  Col.  John  G.  Lauman ; 
llth  Iowa,  Col.  Abraham  F.  Hare*;  12th  Iowa, 
Col.  Jackson  J.  Wood ;  13th  Iowa,  Col.  Mar- 
cellus  M.  Crocker ;  14th  Iowa,  Col.  William  T. 
Shaw ;  8th  Missouri,  Col.  Morgan  M.  Smith  ; 
13th  Missouri,  Col.  Crafts  J.  Wright ;  1st  Mis- 
souri Artillery,  Major  Cavender;  llth  Indi- 
ana, Col.  George  F.  McGinniss ;  23d  Indiana, 
Col.  Wm.  L.  Sanderson;  48th Indiana,  Col.  Nor- 
man Eddy ;  52d  Indiana,  CqJ.  James  M.  Smith. 

Gen.  Lewis  Wallace  commanded  a  thjrd  di- 
vision, in  which  were  the  following  regiments 
Who  were  engaged  in  the  battle  at  Donelson  : 
28th  Kentucky,  Col.  James  L.  Shackelford; 
.81st  Indiana,  Maj.  Fred.  Arn ;  44th  Indiana, 
Col.  Hugh  B.  Reed ;  17th  Kentucky,  Col.  John 
McHenry. 

The  force  of  Gen.  Grant  had  grown  within 
a  few  days  into  almost  gigantic  proportions. 
Its  numbers  have  been  variously  stated.  After 
the  surrender  of  Donelson,  Gen.  Halleck  sent 
the  following  despatch  to  Gen.  Hunter : ' 

HEADQTTARTEKS,  DEPARTMENT  OP  ST.  Lours,  FeVy  19. 
To  Maj.- Gen.  D.  Hunter,  Commanding 

Department  of  Kansas  at  Fort  Zeavenworth  : 
To  you  more  than  any  other  man  out  of  this  depart- 
ment, are  we  indebted  for  our  success  at  Fort  Donel- 
son. 
In  my  strait  for  troops  to  reenforce  Gen.  Grant,  I  ap- 


Elied  to  you.    You  responded  nobly,  by  placing  your 
>rces  at  my  disposal. 

This  enabled  us  to  win  the  victory.  Receive  my 
most  heartfelt  thanks. 

(Signed)  H.  W.  HALLECK,  Major-General. 

A  respectable  authority  wrote  as  follows,  on 
the  morning  of  Feb.  14 : 

At  eleven  o'clock  last  night  we  arrived  within  two 
miles  of  the  fort.  Here  we  found  the  Carondolet  at 
anchor.  She  had  been  engaging  the  enemy  during  the 
afternoon,  at  a  distance  of  a  mile,  had  fired  about  two 
hundred  shots,  and  retired  without  receiving  any  dam- 
rfge.  By  six  o'clock  this  morning,  sixteen  transports 
had  arrived  from  St.  Louis,  Cairo  and  Cincinnati,  car- 
rying in  all  about  10,000  troops,  cavalry,  artillery  and 
infantry.  The  debarkation  occupied  about  four  hours. 
The  sight  of  such  strong  reinforcements  encouraged 
all  our  men  greatly.  Knowing  already  that  the  fort 
was  surrounded  by  Gen.  Grant's  command — estimated 
at  30,000 — we  felt  that  such  a  large  addition  to  his 
numbers  would  make  assurance  doubly  sure. 

Senator  Trnmbull  thus  stated,  in  the  Senate 
of  the  United  States,  his  view  of  the  force  en- 
gaged :  "  I  think  there  is  a  disposition  to  over- 
estimate the  number  of  men  upon  both  sides 
in  the  field.  We  have  seen  a  statement  within 
a  few  days  going  the  rounds  of  the  papers,  that 
Fort  Donelson  was  invested  by  an  army  of  fifty 
thousand  men ;  I  have  seen  it  in  a  number  of 
papers ;  but  when  we  come  to  see  what  regi- 
ments were  there,  instead  of  being  fifty  thou- 
sand, there  were  not  thirty  thousand  men.  A 
gentleman  direct  from  Cairo,  well  acquainted 
with  all  the  troops  engaged  in  that  gallant  af- 
fair, informs  me  that  the  number  of  our  troops 
was  less  than  twenty-eight  thousand." 

The  Confederate  regiments  in  the  fort  were 
reported  as  follows : 

Regiments. — Tennessee,  11 ;  Mississippi,  8; 
Texas,  1 ;  Kentucky,  2 ;  Arkansas,  1 ;  Vir- 
ginia, 4 ;  Alabama,  1. 

Cavalry  battalions. — Alabama,  1 ;  Tennes- 
see, 1 ;  Mississippi,  1. 

The  location  of  the  fort  was  on  a  fine  slope, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  high,  on  a  slight 
bend  on  the  west  side  of  the  Cumberland 
river.  At  this  point  the  Cumberland  and 
Tennessee  rivers,  both  running  north,  approach 
within  about  twelve  miles  of  each  other.  Op- 
posite on  the  Tennessee  is  situated  Fort 
Henry.  There  were  two  batteries  at  Fort 
Donelson — the  first  about  twenty-five  feet 
above  the  water,  consisting  of  nine  guns,  eight 
32's  and  one  10-inch ;  the  second  having  one 
rifled  32-pounder  and  two  32-pound  carron- 
ades,  located  sixty  feet  higher  up.  The  main 
fort  was  in  the  rear  of  these  batteries,  occupy- 
ing a  high  range  cloven  by  a  deep  gorge  open- 
ing toward  the  south.  The  outworks  con- 
sisted in  the  main  of  rifle  pits.  Along  the 
front  pf  the  extension  line,  the  trees  had  been 
felled  and  the  brush  cut  and  bent  over  breast 
high,  making  a  wide  abatis  very  difficult  to 
pass  through.  The  Confederate  camp  was  be- 
hind the  hill  and  beyond  the  reach  of  shot  and 
shell  from  the  gunboats. 

At  three  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of -Feb. 
14,  Com.  Foote  began  the  conflict  with  four 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


129 


iron-clad  gunboats  and  two  wooden  ones.  It 
continued  for  an  hour  and  a  quarter,  and  the 
latter  part  of  the  time  within  four  hundred 
yards  of  the  fort,  when  the  wheel  of  one  ves- 
sel and  the  tiller  of  another  were  shot  away,  and 
both  rendered  unmanageable,  and  drifted  down 
the  river.  At  this  tune  the  Confederates  ap- 
peared to  be  deserting  their  batteries  along  the 
water.  The  other  boats  were  injured  between 
wind  and  water,  and  fifty-four  had  been  killed 
and  wounded,  when  all  retired.  Com.  Foote 
deeming  his  services  to  be  less  required  on  the 
spot  than  at  Cairo,  "until  damages  could  be  re- 
paired, and  a  competent  force  brought  up  from 
that  place  to  attack  the  fort,"  retired  to  Cairo. 
At  the  same  time  he  sent  fc,  gunboat  up  the 
Tennessee  to  render  the  railroad  bridge  above 
Fort  Henry  impassable.  This  had  not  been 
done  by  Lieut.  Phelps  who  had  gone  up  that 
river  with  three  gunboats. 

The  land  forces  under  Gen.  Grant  left  Fort 
Henry  on  the  12th  of  February,  in  two  divis- 
ions, stated  by  Gen.  Grant  as  "  about  fifteen 
thousand  strong," — six  regiments  having  been 
sent  round  on  transports.  The  head  of  the 
marching  column  arrived  within  two  miles 
of  Fort  Donelson  at  twelve  o'clock.  The 
Confederate  fortifications  were  from  this  point 
gradually  approached  and  surrounded,  with 
occasional  skirmishing  on  the  line.  The  next 
day  the  investment  was  extended  on  the  Confed- 
erate flanks,  and  drawn  closer  to  their  works, 
with  skirmishing  all  day.  That  night  the  gun- 
boats and  reinforcements  arrived.  On  the 
next  day  the  attack  of  the  gunboats  was  made, 
and  after  its  failure  Gen.  Grant  resolved  to 
make  the  investment  as  perfect  a?  possible,  and 
to  partially  fortify  and  await  the  repairs  to  the 
gunboats.  This  plan  was  frustrated  by  a  vigor- 
ous attack  upon  his  right  under  Gen.  McCler- 
nand,  by  the  enemy.  The  battle  was  closely 
contested. for  several  hours,  and  with  consid- 
erable advantage  to  the  enemy,  when  they 
were  finally  repulsed,  having  inflicted  upon  the 
Union  troops  a  loss  of  one  thousand  two  hun- 
dred in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  At  this 
time  Gen.  Grant  ordered  a  chargb  to  be  made 
on  the  left  by  Gen.  Charles  F.  Smith  with  his 
division.  This  was  brilliantly  done,  and  the 
contest  here,  which  continued  until  dark,  re- 
sulted in  giving  to  him  possession  of  part  of  the 
intrenchments.  Soon  after  this  charge  was 
commenced,  an  attack  was  ordered  by  Gen. 
Grant  to  be  made  by  Gen.  Wallace  of  the  third 
division,  and  two  regiments  of  the  second  divis- 
ion, on  the  other  Confederate  flank,  by  which  it 
was  still  further  repulsed.  At  the  points  thus 
gained,  all  the  troops  remained  for  the  night, 
feeling  that,  notwithstanding  the  brave  resist- 
ance, a  complete  victory  awaited  them  in  the 
morning. 

The  result  of  this  conflict  convinced  the 
Confederate  officers  that  without  fresh  troops 
they  would  be  unable  to  hold  their  position  on 
the  next  day.  Gens.  Pillow  and  Floyd  deter- 
mined therefore  to  withdraw  as  no  reenforce- 


ments  would  reach  them,  leaving  Gen.  Simon 
B.  Buckner  in  command.  By  means  of  two  or 
three  small  steamboats  these  officers  retired 
during  the  night  taking  about  five  thousand 
troops  with  them. 

Early  the  next  morning  a  flag  of  truce  was 
sent  to  Gen.  Grant  with  the  following  letter  : 

HEADQUARTERS,  FORT  DONELSON,  Feb.  16, 1862. 
SIR  :  In  consideration  of  all  the  circumstances  gov- 
erning the  present  situation  of  affairs  at  this  station,  I 
propose  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  Federal 
forces  the  appointment  of  commissioners  to  agree  upon 
terms  of  capitulation  of  the  forces  at  this  post  under 
my  command.  In  that  View  I  suggest  an  armistice 
until  twelve  o'clock  to  day. 

I  am.  very-  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  B.  BUCKNER. 
Brigadier- General  C.  S.  Army. 
To  Brig.-Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  Commanding 

United  States  forces  near  Fort  Donelson. 

The  reply  of  Gen.  Grant  to  this  letter  was 
as  follows : 

HEADQUARTERS,  ON  THE  FIELD,  ) 
FORT  DONELSON,  Feb.  16, 1862.       ) 

To  Gen.  S.  B.  BUCKNER  : 

SIR  :  Yours  of  this  date,  proposing  an  armistice  and 
the  appointment  of  commissioners  to  settle  on  the 
terms  of  capitulation,  is  just  received. 

No  terms,  except  unconditional  and  immediate  sur- 
render, can  be  accepted. 

I  propose  to  move  immediately  on  your  works. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant. 

U.  S.  GRANT, 
Brigadier-General  Commanding. 

The  answer  of  Gen.  Buckner  was  as  follows: 

HEADQUARTERS,  DOVER  (TENS.),  Feb.  16, 1862. 
Brig.-Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  U.  S.  Army : 

SIR  :  The  distribution  of  the  forces  under  my  com- 
mand, incident  to  an  unexpected  change  of  command- 
ers, and  the  overwhelming  force  under  your  com- 
mand, compel  me,  notwithstanding  the  brilliant  success 
of  the  Confederate  arms,  to  accept  the  ungenerous  and 
unchivalrous  terms  which  you  propose. 
I  am.  sir,  your  servant, 

S.  B.  BUCKNER. 
Brigadier-General  C.  S.  Army. 

The  fort  was  subsequently  given  up  and  oc- 
cupied by  the  Union  troops. 

In  the  action  231  were  killed  and  1,00* 
wounded  on  the  Confederate  side.  The  num- 
ber was  larger  on  the  Union  side.  About 
10,000  prisoners  were  made,  and  40  pieces  of  * 
cannon  and  extensive  magazines  of  all  kinds 
of  ordnance,  quartermasters'  and  commissary 
stores  were  captured. 

The.  following  is  a  list  of  the  regiments  which 
were  captured  at  Fort  Donelson :  49th  Tennes- 
see regiment,  Col.  Bailey ;  43d  Tennessee  regi- 
ment, Col.  Abernethy ;  27th  Alabama  regiment, 
Col.  Jackson;  42d  Tennessee  regiment,  Col. 
Quarrells;  Captain  Guy's  battery;  26th  Ten- 
nessee regiment,  Col.  Billiard ;  14th  Mississippi 
regiment,  Col.  Baldwin;  18th  Tennessee  regi- 
ment, Col.  Palmer ;  2d  Kentucky  regiment, 
Col.  Hanson ;  20th  Mississippi  regiment,  Major 
Brown ;  Captain  Milton's  company ;  15th  Virgi- 
nia regiment,  Lieut.  Haslep ;  Texas  regiment, 
Col.  Gregg ;  15th  Arkansas  regiment,  Col.  Lee ; 
Capt.  Oreston's  cavalry ;  15th  Tennessee  regi- 


130 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


A  "Water  Batteries— Lower  Battery,  8  82-pounder  guns ;   1  10-inch  Columbiad. 

Upper  Battery,  1  32-pounder  heavy  rifled  gun ;   2  32-pounder  carronades. 
B   Rifle  Pits,  carried  by  General  Smith's  division. 
0  General  Grant's  Headquarters  during  the  siege. 
D  Part  of  Confederate  Intrenchments,    carried   by  a  portion   of  General    McOlernand'a 

division. 

E   Fallen  Timber. 
F   Confederate  Tents. 
G  Confederate  Log  Huts. 
H  Woods. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


131 


ment,  Maj.  Clark ;  one  Company,  Col.  Lugg ; 
Porter's  artillery ;  3d  Tennessee  regiment,  Col. 
Brown;  8th  Kentucky  regiment,  Capt.  Lyon; 
30th  Tennessee  regiment,  Maj.  Humphrey ;  32d 
Tennessee  regiment,  Col.  Cook ;  41st  Tennes- 
see regiment,  Col.  Forquehanor;  Mississippi 
regiment,  Col.  Davidson.  A  portion  of  the 
Federal  troops  in  Gen.  McClernand's  division 
were  under  arms  two  days  and  nights,  amid 
driving  storms  of  snow  and  rain.. 

The  fall  of  the  fort  occasioned  great  rejoic- 
ing in  the  Northern  cities. 

The  commanding  general  (Grant)  thus  ad- 
dressed his  troops: 

HEADQUARTERS,  DISTRICT  OP  WEST  TENN.,  ) 
FORT  DONELSON,  Feb.  IT,  1862.        J 

The  General  commanding  takes  great  pleasure  in 
congratulating  the  troops  of  this  command  for  the 
triumph  over  rebellion  gained  by  their  valor  on  the 
13th,  14th,  and  15th  instant. 

For  four  successive  nights,  without  shelter  during 
the  most  inclement  weather  known  in  this  latitude, 
they  faced  an  enemy  in  large  force  in  a  position  chosen 
by  himself.  Though  strongly  fortified  by  nature,  all 
the  additional  safeguards  suggested  by  science  were 
added.  Without  a  murmur  this  was  borne,  prepared 
at  all  times  to  receive  an  attack,  and  with  continuous 
skirmishing  by  day,  resulting  ultimately  in  forcing  the 
enemy  to  surrender  without  conditions. 

The  victory  achieved  is  not  only  great  in  the  effect 
it  will  have  in  breaking  down  rebellion,  but  has  secured 
the  greatest  number  of  prisoners  of  war  ever  taken  in 
any  battle  on  this  continent. 

Fort  Donelson  will  hereafter  be  marked  in  capitals 
on  the  map  of  our  united  country,  and  the  men  who 
fought  the  battle  will  live  in  the  memory  of  a  grateful 
people.  By  order  U.  S.  GRANT, 

Brigadier-General  Commanding. 

The  following  is  the  order  of  Gen.  Halleck : 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  MISSOURI.  ( 
ST.  Louis,  Feb.  19, 1862.         f 

The  Major-General  commanding  the  department  con- 
gratulates Flag-Officer  Foote,  Brig. -Gen.  Grant,  and 
the  brave  officers  and  men  under  their  command  on 
the  recent  brilliant  victories  on  the  Tennessee  and 
Cumberland. 

The  war  is  not  ended.  Prepare  for  new  conflicts  and 
new  victories.  Troops  are  concentrating  from  every 
direction.  We  shall  soon  have  an  army  which  will  be 
irresistible.  The  Union  Flag  must  be  restored  every- 
where, and  the  enthralled  Union  men  in  the  South 
must  be  set  free.  The  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  Great 
West  are  ready  and  willing  to  do  this.  The  time  and 
place  have  been  determined  on.  Victory  and  glory 
await  the  brave ! 

By  command  ofMaj.  Gen.  HALLECK. 

N.  H.  MCLEAN,  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

The  Confederate  Congress  being  at  that  time 
in  session,  the  following  Message  was'  addressed 
to  that  body  by  President  Davis  • 

EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT,  Mwrch  11, 1862. 
To'tke  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  : 

I  transmit  herewith  copies  of  such  official  reports  as 
have  been  received  at  the  War  Department  of  the  de- 
fence and  fall  of  Fort  Donelson. 

They  will  be  found  incomplete  and  unsatisfactory. 
Instructions  have  been  given  to  furnish  further  in- 
formation upon  the  several  points  not  made  intelligi- 
ble by  the  reports.  It  is  not  stated  that  reinforcements 
were  at  any  time  asked  for ;  nor  is  it  demonstrated  to 
have  been  impossible  to  have  saved  the  army  by  evac- 
uating the  position ;  nor  is  it  known  by  what  means 
it  was  found  practicable  to  withdraw  a  part  of  the 


garrison,  leaving  the  remainder  to  surrender ;  nor  upon 
what  authority  or  principles  of  action  the  senior  Gen- 
erals abandoned  responsibility  by  transferring  the 
command  to  a  junior  officer. 

In  a  former  communication  to  Congress,  I  presented 
the  propriety  of  a  suspension  of  judgment  in  relation 
to  the  disaster  at  Fort  Donelson,  until  official  reports 
could  be  received:  I  regret  that  the  information  now 
furnished  is  so  defective.  In  the  mean  time,  hopeful 
that  satisfactory  explanation  may  be  made,  I  nave 
directed,  upon  the  exhibition  of  the  case  as  presented 
by  the  two  senior  Generals,  that  they  should  be  re- 
lieved from  command,  to  await  further  orders  when- 
ever a  reliable  judgment  can  be  rendered  on  the  merits 
of  the  case.  JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 

The  successful  operations  against  Fort  Donel- 
son were  followed  by  the  immediate  evacuation 
of  Bowling  Green  by  the  Confederate  troops 
under  Gen.  Johnston.  The  centre  of  Gen. 
Buell's  army  under  Gen.  Mitchell  was  advan- 
cing from  Munfordsville  upon  Bowling  Green 
on  the  14th  of  February,  and  by  a  forced  march 
reached  the  river  at  that  place  on  the  next  day. 
He  immediately  began  to  reconstruct  the 
bridge,  which  had  been  burned  some  hours 
previous  to  his  arrival,  and  took  possession  of 
the  fortifications  on  the  next  day. 

Since  the  battle  of  Mill  Springs  the  intention 
of  holding  Bowling  Green  had  been  given  up 
by  the  Confederate  commander,  and  the  troops 
were  gradually  withdrawn.  About  the  25th 
of  January  Gen.  Floyd,  with  a  command  com- 
posed of  his  brigade  and  those  of  Gens.  Wood 
and  Breckinridge,  left  Bowling  Green  and  went 
to  Nashville  and  east  Tennessee.  The  brigade 
of  Gen.  Buckner  about  the  same  time  moved 
in  the  direction  of  Hopkinsville,  near  which 
place  he  manoeuvred  in  front  of  Gen.  Critten- 
den  until  the  latter  left  to  join  Gen.  Grant, 
when  Gen.  Buckner  fell  back  and  combined  his 
forces  with  those  at  Fort  Donelson.  The  force 
then  remaining  at  Bowling  Green  consisted  of 
the  brigades  commanded  by  Gens.  Hardee 
and  Hindman,  which  were  chiefly  Arkansas 
regiments,  and  twelve  in  number.  This  force, 
being  about  8,000  men,  was  totally  inadequate 
to  defend  the  position  against  the  forces  of 
Gen.  Mitchell  and  the  reserve  of  Gen.  Buell 
commanded  by  Gen.  McCook. 

On  the  19th  of  February  Com.  Foote  left 
Fort  Donelson  with  the  gunboats  Conestoga 
and  Cairo  on  an  armed  reconnoissance.  At 
Clarksville  he  learned  that  nearly  two  thirds 
of  the  citizens  had  fled  in  alarm,  and  therefore 
issued  a  proclamation,  assuring  "all  peaceably 
disposed  persons  that  they  could  with  safety 
resume  their  business  avocations,  and  requiring 
only  the  military  stores  and  equipments  to  be 
given  up  and  holding  the  authorities  responsi- 
ble that  it  should  be  done  without  reservation." 
Clarksville  is  on  the  line  of  railroad  communi- 
cation between  Memphis  and  Nashville  and 
Memphis  and  Bowling  Green  and  Louisville. 
Below  the  town  were  two  small  forts  which 
were  taken  by  the  Federal  force  without  any 
resistance.  They  mounted  three  guns  each. 
One  span  of  the  railroad  bridge  had  also  been 
destroyed. 


132 


MILITARY  AND  NAYAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


The  fate  of  Nashville  -was  now  settled.  "With 
a  high  state  of  the  water  of  the  Cumberland 
river,  there  were  no  obstacles  to  the  immediate 
approach  of  the  gunboats  with  a  force  on 
transports.  The  centre  of  Gen.  Buell's  army 
had  already  arrived  aJ  Bowling  Green,  within 


MUNFORDSVILLE 
WdoclsonJ? 


-E^ranTclin 

\  i0 
Stations- 

-~""^         »9 

H.JTwnnc7  U 
Callatin  f. 


two  days'  march  of  Nashville.  Its  progress 
had  been  attended  with  many  difficulties,  and 
Brig.-Gen.  Mitchell  in  command  issued  the  fol- 
lowing address  to  his  soldiers : 

BOWLING  GBMN,  February  19,  1862. 

Soldiers  of  the  Third  Division  I  You  have  executed  a 

march  of  forty  miles  in  twenty -eight  hours  and  a  half. 

The  fallen  timber  and  other  obstructions  opposed  by 

the  enemy  to  your  movements,  have  been  swept  from 


your  path.  The  fire  of  your  artillery  and  the  bursting 
of  your  shells  announced  your  arrival.  Surprised  ana 
ignorant  of  the  force  that  had  thus  precipitated  itself 
upon  them,  they  fled  in  consternation. 

In  the  night  time,  over  a  frozen,  rocky,  precipitous 
pathway,  down  rude  steps  for  fifty  feet,  you  have  pass- 
ed the  advance  guard,  cavalry,  and  infantry,  and  be- 
fore the  dawn  of  day,  you  have  entered  in  triumph  a 
position  of  extraordinary  natural  strength,  and  by  your 
enemy  proudly  denominated  the  Gibraltar  of  Kentucky. 

With  your  own  hands,  through  deep  mud,  in  drench- 
ing rains,  and  up  rocky  pathways  next  to  impassable, 
and  across  a  footpath  of  your  own  construction,  built 
upon  the  ruins  of  the  railway  bridge,  destroyed  for 
their  protection,  by  a  retreating  and  panic-stricken  foe, 
you  have  transported  upon  .your  own  shoulders  your 
baggage  and  camp  equipage. 

The  General  commanding  the  department,  on  re- 
ceiving my  report  announcing  these  facts,  requests  me 
to  make  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  under  my  command 
the  following  communication : 

"  Soldiers  who  by  resolution  and  energy  overcome 
great  natural  difficulties,  have  nothing  to  fear  in  bat- 
tle, where  their  energy  and  prowess  are  taxed  to  a  far 
less  extent.  Your  command  have  exhibited  the  high 
qualities  of  resolution  and  energy,  in  a  degree  which 
leaves  no  limit  to  my  confidence  in  them  in  their  future 
movements. 

"  By  order  of  "  Brig.  Gen.  BUELL, 

"  Commanding  Department  of  the  Ohio." 

Soldiers !  I  feel  a  perfect  confidence  that  the  high 
estimate  placed  upon  your  power,  endurance,  energy, 
and  heroism,  is  just.  Your  aim  and  mine  has  been  to 
deserve  the  approbation  of  our  commanding  officer, 
and  of  our  Government  and  our  country. 

I  trust  you  feel  precisely  as  does  your  commanding 
General,  that  nothing  is  done  while  anything  remains 
to  be  done. 

By  order  of          Brig.-Gen.  0.  II.  MITCHELL, 

Commanding. 

The  certainty  of  the  capture  of  Nashville 
showed  to  the  Confederate  generals  the  danger 
in  which  Columbus,  their  strong  position  on  the 
Mississippi,  was  placed.  Even  the  occupation 
of  Clarksville  by  the  Union  forces  put  into 
their  possession  that  part  of  the  railroad  run- 
ning to  Columbus,  and  opened  the  way  to  ap- 
proach that  position  from  the  rear.  At  the 
same  time  the  river  in  front  was  under  the 
control  of  the  Federal  gunboats.  Gen.  Beaure- 
gard,  having  previously  retired  from  his  com- 
mand at  Manassas,  was  now  the  commanding 
officer  in  this  Confederate  department  with 
Gen.  Johnston.  Orders  were  accordingly  is- 
sued on  the  18th  of  February  to  destroy  a  por- 
tion of  the  track  and  bridges  of  the  Memphis 
and  Ohio  railroad  preparatory  to  a  removal  of 
the  forces  at  Columbus  to  Island  No.  Ten,  about 
forty-five  miles  below  on  the  Mississippi  river. 

At  the  same  time  preparations  were  made  to 
remove  the  Confederate  stores  and  other  pub-, 
lie  property  from  Nashville.  The  near  approach 
of  the  Federal  forces  filled  the  authorities  of  the 
State  with  great  alarm.  The  Legislature,  which 
had  just  been  convened  in  extra  session,  retired 
with  Gov.  Harris  to  Memphis,  taking  the  ar- 
chives and  treasury  of  the  State.  Extreme 
measures  and  the  destruction  of  property  were 
proposed  by  the  Governor  to  the  citizens,  but 
without  gaining  their  approval.  The  railroad 
and  the  suspension  bridges  over  the  river  were, 
however,  destroyed. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


133 


After  taking  possession  of  Clarksville,  Com. 
Foote  returned  t6  Cairo  for  the  purpose  of  ob- 
taining an  additional  gunboat  and  six  or  eight 
mortar  boats.  Meantime  the  troops  of  Gen. 
Grant,  under  Brig.-Gen.  Smith,  were  pushed 
forward  to  Clarksville,  arid  at  the  request  of 
Gen.  Smith,  Lieut.  Bryant,  of  the  gunboat  Cai- 
ro, preceded  seven  transports  with  the  brigade 
of  Gen.  Nelson  up  the  river  to  Nashville.  They 
arrived  on  the  24th.  The  troops  were  landed 
without  any  opposition,  as  there  was  not  any 
hostile  force  on  the  banks  of  the  river.  On  the 
same  day  the  advance  of  Gen.  Buell's  centre 
from  Bowling  Green  arrived  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river,  to  see  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
already  floating  in  triumph  from  the  staff  on  the 
State  capitol.  The  Confederate  force  under 
Gen.  Albert  S.  Johnston  retired  to  Murfrees- 
borough,  a  small  town  thirty-two  miles  distant 
on  the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  railroad. 
Here  they  were  soon  after  joined  by  the  force 
under  the  Confederate  General  Crittenden. 

An  invasion  having  now  been  commenced 
within  the  limits  of  the  States  attached  to  the 
Confederacy,  the  Major-General  commanding 
the  department  of  Missouri  issued  the  follow- 
ing order  for  the  regulation  of  the  troops : 

HEADQTTABTEBS,  DEPARTMENT  or  MISSOURI,  > 
ST.  Louis,  February  22.      \ 

^  The  Major-General  commanding  the  department  de- 
sires to  impress  upon  all  officers  the  importance  of  pre- 
serving good  order  and  discipline  among  their  troops  as 
the  armies  of  the  West  advance  into  Tennessee  ana  the 
Southern  States.  Let  us  show  to  our  fellow  citizens  in 
these  States  that  we  come  merely  to  crush  out  rebel- 
lion, and  to  restore  to  them  peace  and  the  benefits  of 
the  Constitution  and  the  Union,  of  which  they  have 
been  deprived  by  their  selfish  and  unprincipled  leaders. 

They  have  been  told  that  we  come  to  oppress  and 
plunder.  By  our  acts  we  will  undeceive  them ;  we  will 
prove  to  them  that  we  come  to  restore,  not  to  violate, 
the  Constitution  and  laws  in  restoring  to  them  the  flag 
of  the  Union.  We  will  assure  them  that  they  shall 
enjoy  under  its  folds  the  same  protection  of  Jjfe  and 
property  as  in  former  days. 

Soldiers,  let  no  excess  on  your  part  tarnish  the  glory 
of  our  arms.  The  orders  heretofore  issued  in  this  de- 
partment in  regard  to  pillaging,  marauding,  the  de- 
struction of  private  property  and  stealing,  and  the  con- 
cealment of  slaves,  must  be  strictly  enforced. 

It  does  not  belong  to  the  military  to  decide  upon  the 
relation  of  master  and  slave.  Such  questions  must  be 
settled  by  civil  courts.  No  fugitive  slave  will,  there- 
fore, be  admitted  within  our  Tines  or  camps  except 
when  especially  ordered  by  the  General  command- 
ing. Women,  children,  merchants,  farmers,  mechan- 
ics, and  all  persons  not  in  arms,  are  regarded  as  non- 
combatants,  and  are  not  to  be  molested  in  their  per- 
sons or  property.  If,  however,  they  aid  and  assist  the 
enemy,  they  become  belligerents,  and  will  be  treated 
as  such.  If  they  violate  the  laws  of  war,  they  will  be 
made  to  suffer  the  penalties  of  such  violation. 

Military  stores  and  public  property  must  be  surren- 
dered ,  and  any  attempt  to  conceal  such  property  by 
fraudulent  transfer  or  otherwise,  will  be  punished ;  but 
no  private  property  will  be  touched  unless  by  orders 
of  the  General  commanding. 

Whenever  it  becomes  necessary  to  levy  forced  con- 
tributions for  the  supply  and  subsistence  of  our  troops, 
such  levies  will  be  made  as  light  as  possible,  and  be  so 
distributed  as  to  produce  no  distress  among  the  peo- 
ple. All  property  so  taken  must  be  receipted  and  fully 
accounted  for,  as  heretofore  directed. 

These  orders  will  be  read  at  the  head  of  every  regi- 


ment, and  all  officers  are  commanded  to  strictly  enforce 
them. 
By  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  HALLECK. 

N.  H.  MCLEAN,  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

The  effect  of  these  military  operations  was  a 
great  excitement  in  the  neighboring  Confeder- 
ate States.  To  witness  their  strongest  positions 
for  defence  flanked  and  evacuated  without  a 
blow,  to  see  other  fortified  points  compelled  to 
a  quick  surrender  by  an  irresistible  force  of 
men  and  gunboats,  revealed  to  them  the  gigan- 
tic contest  in  which  they  were  engaged.  They 
said :  "  No  people  were  ever  engaged  in  a  more 
serious  struggle.  It  is  emphatically  a  combat 
for  life  or  death."  The  Governor  of  Mississippi 
issued  a  proclamation  calling  upon  every  citi- 
zen able  to  bear  arms  to  have  his  arms  in  readi- 
ness. Boards  of  police  in  all  the  counties  of 
the  State  were  required  to  appoint  "  enrollers" 
preparatory  to  drafting,  and  to  establish  gun 
shops  ^p  repair  arms.  The  Governor  of  Arkan- 
sas issued  a  proclamation  drafting  into  im- 
mediate service  every  man  in  the  State  sub- 
ject to  military  duty,  and  requiring  them  to 
respond  within  twenty  days.  Gov.  Harris  of 
Tennessee  issued  a  proclamation,  saying :  "  AB 
Governor  of  your  State  and  Commander  in 
Chief  of  its  army,  I  call  upon  every  able-bodied 
man  of  the  State,  without  regard  to  age,  to  en- 
list in  its  service.  I  command  him  who  can 
obtain  a  weapon  to  march  with  our  armies.  I 
ask  him  who  can  repair  or  forge"  an  arm  to 
make  it  ready  at  once  for  the  soldier.  I  call 
upon  every  citizen  to  open  his  purse  and  his 
storehouses  of  provision  to  the  brave  defenders 
of  our  soil.  I  bid  the  old  and  the  young,  wher- 
ever they  may  be,  to  stand  as  pickets  to  our 
struggling  armies."  Thus  was  set  on  foot  a 
system  of  measures  which  led  to  the  passage 
of  a  conscription  act  by  the  Confederate  Con- 
gress and  the  raising  of  an  immense  Confeder- 
ate army  during  the  ensuing  summer  months. 

Meanwhile,  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of 
March,  an  expedition  consisting  of  the  gun- 
boats Louisville,  Carondelet,  St.  Louis,  Pittsburg, 
Lexington  and  four  mortar  boats,  left  Cairo  for 
Columbus,  on  the  Mississippi.  Transports  with 
the  following  troops  formed  a  part  of  the  ex- 
pedition: 42d  and  27th  Illinois,  6  companies 
of  the  55th  Illinois,  four  companies  of  the  71st 
Ohio  and  one  company  of  the  54th  Ohio.  On 
arrival  the  fort  was  found  to  be  unoccupied, 
except  by  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  2d  Illi- 
nois regiment,  who  had  reached  it  by  a  land 
march  a  short  time  previous.  The  enemy  had 
commenced  the  evacuation  on  the  26th  nit. 
Almost  everything  difficult  to  move  had  been 
more  or  less  destroyed.  Still  a  large  amount 
of  army  material  was  obtained.  The  enemy 
had  retired  down  the  river. 

At  Nashville  order  was  speedily  restored. 
Col.  Matthews  of  the  51st  Ohio  was  appointed 
provost  marshal  and  the  troops  were  all  quar- 
tered without  the  city.  An  immense  amount 
of  military  stores  of  the  Confederate  Govern- 
ment was  found  in  the  city.  They  consisted 


134  ' 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


of  pork,  beef,  rice,  corn,  and  molasses.  Gen. 
Buell  removed  his  headquarters  to  the  city,  and 
the  reserve  of  his  army  under  Gen.  McCook 
had  arrived  and  were  in  quarters  before  the  2d 
of  March. 

This  division  in  its  progress  had  protected 
the  railroad  and  repaired  the  bridges  and  roads 
on  the  route  to  Louisville.  All  of  Gen.  Buell's 
force  was  concentrated  at  Nashville  and  en- 
camped along  the  different  turnpikes  leading 
from  the  city  in  a  southerly  direction  at  distances 
from  two  to  five  miles  from  the  city,  with  pick- 
ets extending  to  the  distance  of  ten  miles. 

Thus  the  Confederate  line  of  defence  from  the 
Mississippi  east  to  the  mountains  was  swept 
away.-  The  strongholds  wpre  evacuated  and 
the  less  impregnable  positions  captured.  There 
was  nothing  to  withstand  the  triumphant  marcli 
of  the  Federal  forces  southward  over  the  coun- 
try but  the  military  force  which  might  be 
gathered  from  the  Confederate  States.  ; 

Meanwhile  the  events  which  occurred  in 
Nashville  after  the  news  of  the  first  Southern 
defeat  reached  there,  are  too  interesting  to  be 
overlooked  Intelligence  of  the  capture  of  Fort 
Donelson  reached  the  city  on  Sunday,  February 
16th,  and  produced  the  utmost  consternation. 
The  Confederate  governor,  Harris,  immediately 
convened  the  Legislature,  but  they  speedily  ad- 
journed to  Memphis,  whither  the  public  archives 
and  money  were  also  removed.  On  the  same 
day  Gen.  A.  S.  Johnston  passed  through  the 
city  on  his  retreat  from  Bowling  Green,  and,  be- 
fore nightfall,  hundreds  of  families  were  aban- 
doning their  homes  and  making  their  way  south- 
ward. The  general  confusion  was  increased  by 
the  destruction  of  unfinished  steamers  at  the 
wharves,  and  the  free  distribution  of  the  stores  by 
the  military  authorities  to  all  who  would  take 
them.  On  Monday  the  public  stores  were 
closed,  and  an  effort  was  made  by  Gen.  Floyd, 
who  had  been  placed  in  command  of  the  city, 
to  recover  what  had  already  been  given  out ;  but 
on  Tuesday  the  distribution  began  again,  and 
continued  until  Saturday  morning.  On  Tuesday 
night  the  troops  destroyed  the  wire  bridge  and 
railroad  bridge  across  the  Cumberland  River,  in 
spite  of  the  earnest  remonstrances  of  the  leading 
citizens.  The  former  cost  $150,000,  and  the  lat- 
ter $250,000.  Governor  Harris  made  a  speech 
recommending  the  citizens  to  burn  their  private 
property,  and  calling  on  Tennesseeans  to  rally 
and  meet  him  at  Memphis ;  but  little  or  no  re- 
sponse was  made  to  his  appeal.  The  machinery 
was  removed  from  many  of  the  most  important 
workshops  and  carried  to  Chattanooga.  On  the 
23d,  the  rear  guard  of  the  Confederates  evacu- 
ated the  city,  and  the  same  day  the  advance  of 
Gen.  Buell's  colunm  occcupied  Edgefield,  a  small 
town  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  The 
next  day  Mayor  Cheatham  and  a  committee 
from  Nashville  waited  upon  the  general,  and 
agreed  to  surrender  the  city  at  a  certain  hour 
on  the  following  morning  (the  25th),  receiving 
assurances  that  the  liberty  and  property  of  all 
citizens  should  be  sacredly  respected.  Before 


the  surrender  was  effected,  however,  Gen.  Nel- 
son arrived  with  his  column  t>n  transports,  ac- 
companied by  the  gunboat  St.  Louis,  and  land- 
ed at  Nashville.  The  following  proclamation 
was  afterward  issued  by  the  mayor : 

The  committee  representing  the  city  authorities  and 
people  have  discharged  their  duty  by  calling  on  Gen. 
Buell,  at  his  headquarters,  in  Edgefield,  on  yesterday. 
The  interview  was  satisfactory  to  the  committee,  and 
there  is  every  assurance  of  safety  and  protection  to  the 
people,  both  in  their  persons  and  property.  I  there- 
fore respectfully  request  that  business  be  resumed, 
and  that  all  our  citizens  of  every  trade  and  profession 
pursue  their  regular  vocations.  The  county  elections 
will  take  place  on  the  regular  day,  and  all  civil  busi- 
ness will  be  conducted  as  heretofore.  Commanding 
Gen.  Buell  assures  me  that  I  can  rely  upon  his  aid 
in  enforcing  our  police  regulations.  One  branch  of 
business  is  entirely  prohibited,  viz.,  the  sale  or  giving 
away  of  intoxicating  liquors.  I  shall  not  hesitate  to 
invoke  the  aid  of  Gen.  Buell  in  case  the  recent  laws 
upon  the  subject  are  violated.  I  most  earnestly  call 
upon  the  people  of  the  surrounding  country,  who  are 
inside  the  Federal  lines,  to  resume  their  commerce 
with  the  city,  and  bring  in  their  marke_t  supplies,  es- 
pecially wood,  butter,  and  eggs,  assuring  them  that 
they  will  be  fully  protected  and  amply  remunerated. 
R.  B.  CHEATHAM,  Mayor. 

The  city  remained  perfectly  quiet,  and  the 
Federal  troops,  to  use  the  words  of  the  South- 
ern press,  "  conducted  themselves  with  marked 
propriety. "  The  Union  feeling  in  the  city, 
however,  was  for  many  weeks  extremely  faint. 
A  correspondent,  writing  ten  days  after  Gen. 
Buell's  arrival,  says :  "  The  disagreeable,  but 
irresistible  conviction  forces  itself  upon  the 
mind  of  even  a  superficial  observer,  that  what- 
ever the  number  and  warmness  of  Unionists 
may  have  been  at  the  time  when,  and  for  some 
time  after  Tennessee  was  juggled  out  of  the 
Union,  eight  out  of  every  ten  nave  been  made 
submissionists  by  the  protracted  secession  pres- 
sure that  was  brought  to  bear  upon  them." 
The  same  writer  adds:  "Most  of  the  stores 
continued  closed.  But  few  male  and  fewer  fe- 
male inhabitants  are  visible  upon  the  streets. 
Victorious  soldiery  alone  enliven  them.  Half 
of  the  private  residences  are  deserted,  and  add 
further  gloom  to  the  "aspect  by  their  closed 
doors  and  window  shutters  and  grave-like  still- 
ness. Hardly  less  than  a  third  of  the  popula- 
tion must  yet  be  absent." 

Senator  Andrew  Johnson,  military  governor 
of  Tennessee,  by  appointment  of  President  Lin- 
coln, arrived  at  Nashville  March  12th. 

The  newspapers  of  Nashville  had  all  sus- 
pended publication  on  the  evacuation  of  the 
city,  but  they  soon  reappeared,  and  one  of 
Governor  Johnson's  first  official  acts  was  to 
place  them  under  military  supervision. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  Governor  Johnson  re- 
quested the  municipal  officers  to  take  the  oath 
of  allegiance.  The  city  council  refused,  by  a 
vote  of  sixteen  to  one. 

On  the  29th'  the  mayor  and  several  other 
citizens  were  arrested  for  treason,  and  a  few 
days  later  Governor  Johnson  issued  a  procla- 
mation ejecting  from  office  the  mayor  and  most 
of  the  city  councilmen,  and  appointing  other 


MILITAKT  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


135 


persons  to  fill  their  places.    Numerous  arrests    also  in  continuous  session.    Business  is  begin- 
were  made  for  disunion  practices  about  the  same    ning  to  recover  and  to  wear  its  accustomed  ap- 


time.    The  condition  of  the  city  on  the  1st  of 
May  is  thus  described  by  the  "  Union  "  : 

"  Our  courts  are  proceeding  pretty  much  as 
formerly.  The  United  States  court  is  in  session, 
and  the  regular  business  pursuing  its  accustom- 
ed channels.  Process  is  being  issued  daily  from 
the  circuit  and  chancery  courts,  returnable  to 
their  next  terms.  The  magistrates'  courts  are 


pearance,  and  as  facilities  are.  being  opened 
with  the  country,  it  is  extending  in  all  direc- 
tions. Our  city  market  is  daily  improving. 
Prices  are  rapidly  moderating  to  a  reasonable 
standard,  and  custom  proportionately  increas- 
ing. The  passenger  and  freight  trains  on  the 
Louisville  and  Nashville  railroad  are  making 
daily  trips. 


CHAPTEE  XIII. 


Gen.  Burnside's  Expedition  sails — The  Fleet  and  Transports  in  a  Storm— Advance  up  Pamlico  Sound — Capture  of  Eoanoke 
Island— Other  Operations — Provisional  Government  set  up  in  North  Carolina— Operations  in  South  Carolina — Bombard- 
ment and  surrender  of  Fort  Pulaski — Operations  in  Florida — Capture  of  Fernandina,  Jacksonville,  and  St.  Augustine — 
Other  Naval  Operations — Treatment  of  Slaves  by  the  Federal  Government— Organized  as  Troops  at  Hilton  Head. 


MEANTIME  important  events  had  taken  place 
elsewhere.  The  military  and  naval  expedition 
under  Gen.  Burnside  was  making  important 
captures  in  the  most  populous  and  fertile  part 
of  the  State  of  North  Carolina.  His  force,  be- 
ing engaged  at  the  time  in  active  operations, 
was  not  included  in  the  order  of  the  President 
for  a  general  advance.  This  army  corps  com- 
prised three  brigades.  The  first,  under  the 
command  of  Brig.-Gen.  John  G.  Foster,  con- 
sisted of  the  23d,  24th,  25th  and  27th  Massa- 
chusetts, and  the  10th  Connecticut  regiments; 
the  second,  under  the  command  of  Brig.-Gen. 
Jesse  L.  Beno,  consisted  of  the  51st  New  York, 
51st  Pennsylvania,  21st  Massachusetts,  6th  New 
Hampshire,  and  9th  New  Jersey  regiments;  the 
third,  under  the  command  of  Brig.-Gen.  John 
G.  Parke,  consisted  of  the  8th  and  llth  Con- 
necticut, 53d  and  89th  New  York,  and  a  batta- 
lion of  the  5th  Ehode  Island,  together  with  bat- 
tery F  of  the  Ehode  Island  artillery.  These 
three  brigades  numbered  about  16,000  men,  and 
required  more  than  30  transports  to  take  them 
to  their  destination  —  5  vessels  to  transport  the 
horses,  8  or  10  to  ofprry  the  supplies,  a  siege 
train  and  2  pontoon  bridge  schooners,  a  division 
hospital,  and  one  for  the  signal  corps.  The  naval 
portion  of  the  expedition  was  under  the  com- 
mand of  L.  M.  Goldsborough,  subsequently 
raised  to  the  rank  of  rear  admiral. 

The  chief  of  staff  was  Commander  A.  L.  Case, 
staff  medical  officer  S.  0.  Jones,  signal  officer 
H.  G.  B.  Fisher.  The  names  of  the  steam  gun- 
boats and  of  their  commanders  were  as  follows  : 

Name.  Gum.        Commander.  Rank. 

A.  Herden  .......  Li  eu  t.  Commanding. 

J.C.Chaplin....     " 

N.  V.  Jefford..  .     "  « 

H.K.Davenport.   " 

S.  p.  Quackenbush  "  " 

T.  G.  "Woodward  .........  Act  Master. 

G.  L.  Graves  ......  ;  ......  "  " 

J.  McDiarmid  ...........  "  " 

Peter  Hays  ..............  "  " 

Charles  A.  French  .......  "  " 

F.S.Welles  .............  "  " 

S.  Reynolds  .............  u  " 

J.  E.  Giddiiigs  ...........  "  " 

E.  Boomer  ..............  ••  " 


Sta»s  and  Stripes  7 

Valley  City  .....  4 

Underwrites....  2 

Hetzel  ..........  2 

Delaware  .......  6 

Shawshene  ......  2 

Lockwood  ......  8 

Ceres  ...........  2 

Morse  ..........  2 

Whitehead  ......  1 

J.N.Seymour...  2 

Philadelppia....  2 

Henry  Brincker.  1 

Granite  .........  1 


General  Putnam.  2  McCook Lieut.  Commanding* 

Hunchback 4  E.  E.  Calhoun Act.  Lieut.  Com- 

Southfleld. 4  C.  F.  W.  Behm. .  Act.  Vol.  Lieut  Com. 

Com.  Barney 2  K.  D.  Kenshaw Act  Lieut  Com. 

Com.Perry 2  Chas.  "W.  Flusser Lieut  Com. 


Total. 


51 


To  these  may  also  be  added  the  Virginia; 
Louisiana,  Young  America,  Jenny  Lind.  These 
steamers  were  of  three  classes :  screw  and  side 
wheel  tugs,  navy  screw  gunboats,  and  armed 
ferry  boats.  Their  armaments  consisted  chiefly 
of  30-pounder  Parrotts  rifled,  and  long  smooth 
32's,  64's,  and  some  of  much  heavier  calibre. 
A  coast  division  of  gunboats,  with  the  trans- 
ports, consisted  of  the  Picket,  4  guns,  Pioneer, 
4  guns,  Hussar,  4  guns,  Vidette,  3  guns,  Ean- 
ger,  4  guns,  Chasseur,  4  guns.  The  transport 
portion  of  the  expedition  was  under  the  com- 
mand of  Samuel  F.  Hazard  of  the  U.  S.  Navy. 

Nothing  had  been  withheld  that  was  neces- 
sary to  secure  success,  and  the  accomplished 
officers,  the  disciplined  and  gallant  men,  and 
the  abundant  material,  awakened  the  most  san- 
guine expectations  on  the  part  of  the  Govern- 
ment and  the  people. 

The  expedition  sailed  from  Hampton  Eoads 
on  the  12th  of  January,  consisting  of  over  100 
vessels  of  all  classes. 

The  order  to  sail  was  issued  on  Saturday 
night  the  llth,  and  by  daylight  on  Sunday 
morning  the  largest  portion  of  the  fleet  had 
passed  outside  the  capes.  Some  vessels,  and 
especially  the  water  boats,  refused  to  leave  the 
capes.  The  first  part  of  the  day  was  pleasant, 
with  a  light  wind  from  the  southwest.  During 
the  afternoon  it  was  thick  weather,  and  the 
sailing  vessels  were  generally  obliged  to  cast 
off  from  the  steamers  and  take  care  of  them- 
selves, and  two  or  three  of  the  canal  boats,  with 
hay  and  horses  on  board,  broke  away  and  were 
blown  ashore.  The  expedition  was  bound  to 
Hatteras  Inlet,  which  is  an  entrance  from  the 
ocean  to  Pamlico  Sound.  It  is  a  narrow  pas- 
sage with  seven  feet  of  water  on  the  bar,  and 
difficult  to  enter  in  rough  weather  without  dan- 


136 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ger  of  grounding.  The  entrance  to  the  inlet 
was  commanded  by  two  forts,  which  were 
captured  by  an  expedition  under  Gen.  B.  F. 
Butler  and  Commodore  Stringham  during 
the  preceding  year.  {See  preceding  pages, 
chap  9.) 

The  wind  changed  to  the  southeast  and  contin- 
ued blowing  in  that  quarter  for  several  days  af- 
ter the  vessels  began  to  arrive.  This  brought 
in  a  considerable  sea  or  .swell,  which  made  it 
dangerous  for  all  the  vessels  drawing  much 
water  to  cross  the  bar  and  attempt  to  enter  ex- 
cept at  the  top  of  the  tide.  Those  drawing  the 
least  water  got  in  first,  the  others  anchored  out- 
side watching  an  opportunity.  In  this  perilous 
situation,  with  a  high  sea,  a  strong  wind  blow- 
ing on  shore,  and  shoal  water,  with  a  crooked 
channel,  several  day's  passed  during  which  the 
fleet  was  endeavoring  one  by  one  to  get  within 
the  inlet.  The  steamer  City  of  New  York 
grounded  on  the  bar,  and  the  sea  swept  clean 
over  her  and  quickly  reduced  her  to  a  wreck. 
The  gunboat  Zouave  sunk  in  the  inlet,  and  two  or 
three  other  small  vessels  were  equally  unfortu- 
nate. Within  the  inlet  the  anchorage  was  narrow 
and  the  change  of  the  tide  brought  the  vessels  in 
contact,  and  the  roughness  of  the  water  caused 
a  constant  chafing  of  rigging  and  spars,  and 
crashing  of  bulwarks. 

For  two  days  the  wind  and  sea  were  so  high 
as  to  prevent  all  communication  with  the  outer 
vessels,  or  with  each  other.  The  New  Jersey 
regiment  was  then  called  to  enter  upon  its  work, 
with  mourning  in  its  ranks.  Its  Colonel,  J.  W. 
Allen,-  and  its  surgeon,  F.  S.  Weller,  were 
drowned  by  the  overturning  of  a  small  boat  in 
the  breakers  at  the  inlet. 

The  gale  increased ;  dark  clouds  swept  down 
from  the  east  and  seemed  almost  to  touch  the 
vessels'  masts  as  they  swayed  to  and  fro.  A 
single  person  here  and  there  appeared  on  some 
vessel's  deck,  holding  on  by  the  rail  or  the  rig- 
ging, and  a  few  scattered  groups  of  the  soldiers 
who  had  been  landed,  were  seen  hurrying  on 
the  beach  as  if  in  search  of  shelter  from  the 
fury  of  the  blast.  The  tents  of  the  Massachu- 
setts 24th,  which  had  been  pitched  on  the  beach, 
were  swept  away,  and  the  poor  soldiers  spent 
a  fearful  night,  exposed  to  the  peltings  of  a 
pitiless  storm,  with  yet  a  more  fearful  night  to 
follow.  Even  the  brave  commander  of  the 
expedition  was  heard  to  exclaim  in  suppress- 
ed tones,  "This  is  terrible!  When  will  the 
storm  abate  ? " 

^  This  violent  storm  was  followed  by  a  high 
tide,  and  on  the  24th,  nearly  all  the  vessels 
which  had  arrived  were  within  the  entrance, 
and  by  the  26th  repairs  had  been  made  and  the 
force  was  ready  to  move.  Fortunately  the  few 
Confederate  gunboats  on  the  sound  kept  aloof 
and  made  no  attack. 

Preparations  were  now  made  for  a  speedy 
movement.  The  object  was  to  proceed  up 
Pamlico  Sound,  and  open  the  passage  into  Al- 
bemarle  Sound.  This  passage  was  called  Croa- 
tan  Sound,  and  was  bounded  on  the  one  side  by 


the  mainland  and  on  the  other  by  Roanoke  Isl- 
and, which  is  low  and  marshy.  As  this  was 
the  principal  communication  between  Pamlico 
and  Albemarle,  the  enemy  had  erected  fortifi- 
cations in  the  upper  part  of  the  passage,  on  Ro- 
anoke Island,  and  had  also  obstructed  it  by  piles 
and  sunken  vessels.  They  had  a  fleet  of  seven 
small  gunboats,  prepared  to  contest  the  passage, 
and  stationed  near  the  batteries. 

On  the  3d  of  February,  Gen.  Burnside  issued 
the  following  general  orders : 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA,  | 
PAMLICO  SOUND,  Ftbru>.try  3, 1862.  ] 

GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  5. 

Tfcis  expedition  being  about  to  land  on  the  soil  of 
North  Carolina,  the  General  Commanding  desires  hia 
soldiers  to  remember  that  they  are  here  to  support  the 
Constitution  and  the  laws,  to  put  down  rebellion,  and 
to  protect  the  persons  and  property  of  the  loyal  and 
peaceable  citizens  of  the  State.  In  the  march  of  the 
army,  all  unnecessary  injuries  to  houses,  barns,  fences, 
and  other  property  will  be  carefully  avoided,  and  in  all 
cases  the  laws  of  civilized  warfare  will  be  carefully  ob- 
served. 

Wounded  soldiers  will  be  treated  with  every  care 
and  attention,  and  neither  they  nor  prisoners  must  be 
insulted  or  annoyed  by  word  or  act. 

With  the  fullest  confidence  in  the  valor  and  the  char- 
acter of  his  troops,  the  General  Commapding  looks  for- 
ward to  a  speedy  and  successful  termination  of  the 
campaign. 

By  command  of  Brig.-Gen.  A.  E.  BUKNSIDE. 

LEWIS  RICHMOND,  Asst.  Adj. -Gen. 

Further  orders  relative  to  signals,  and  to  the 
disembarkation  of  the  troops,  were  issued  on 
the  next  day. 

Everything  being  ready,  the  forward  move- 
ment commenced  at  half  past  seven  on  the 
morning  of  the  5th  of  February.  The  naval 
squadron  following  the  flag  officer's  vessel,  head- 
ed the  fleet.  Their  course  was  at  first  southward, 
following  the  zigzag  channel,  until  it  finally 
became  north  by  west.  At  regular  and  short 
intervals  the  gunboats  filled  their  places  in  the 
line,  and  with  scarcely  perceptible  motion, 
steadily  stretched  away  to  the  horizon.  Next 
came  the  transports  and  gunboats  carrying  the 
troops,  consisting  of  sixty-five  vessels,  of  all 
classes  and  characters.  JDach  brigade  formed 
three  columns,  headed  by  the  flag  ship  of  the 
brigade.  Each  large  steamer  had  one,  two, 
and  in  some  instances,  three  schooners  in  tow. 
The  aisles  between  the  three  columns  of  vessels 
were  kept  unbroken,  through  the  whole  length, 
which  extended  almost  two  miles  over  the  sur- 
face of  the  sound,  except  by  the  two  or  three 
small  propellers  whose  duty  consisted  in  con-  * 
veying  orders. 

At  sundown  the  fleet  came  to  anchor  about 
ten  miles  from  the  southern  point  of  RoanCke 
Island.  The  next  morning,  at  eight  o'clock,  it 
was  in  motion.  The  preceding  beautiful  day 
was  followed  by  a  stormy  one,  and  anchors 
were  again  dropped  at  the  entrance  of  the  inlet 
or  strait..  This  was  the  day  on  which  Fort  Henry 
was  taken.  The  next  morning  was  clear,  and 
the  sun  rose  in  a  sky  marked  only  with  clouds 
enough  to  give  it  peculiar  beauty.  By  ten 
o'clock  all  preparations  had  been  made,  and  the 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


137 


gunboats  moved  forward,  entering  the  inlet. 
The  flag  ship  of  Gen.  Burnside  next  followed, 
but  the  remainder  of  the  transports  were  de- 
tained nearly  two  hours.  A  gun  fired  from  one 
of  the  Confederate  gunboats  announced  the  ap- 
proach of  the  Federal  squadron.  At  half  past 
eleven  the  conflict  commenced  between  the 
gunboats  at  long  range,  but  it  was  noon  before 
they  were  engaged  in  close  action.  The  Con- 
federate boats  gradually  retired,  drawing  their 
opponents  within  range  of  the  forts,  when  fire 
was  opened  by  the  latter. 

The  contest  between  the  boats  and  the  battery 
continued  with  varied  energy  during  the  nexfc 
three  hours,  in  which  time  the  barracks  within 
the  forts  were  consumed.  At  three  o'clock  the 
troops  began  to  land,  under  the  protection  of 
the  fire  of  three  of  the  gunboats.  At  this  time 
the  Confederate  gunboats  drew  near  and  re- 
commenced the  action,  which  was  continued 
until  their  ammunition  was  exhausted.  They 
then  retired  up  the  inlet  or  sound.  The  bat- 
tery continued  to  fire  until  the  Union  gunboats 
retired  for  the  night.  The  bravery  of  the  Con- 
federate defence  was  admitted  on  every  side. 
On  the  Federal .  side,  five  had  been  killed  and 
ten  wounded.  In  the  fort,  the  Confederates 
reported  one  killed  and  three  wounded,  and  in 
the  gunboats  five  wounded,  and  the  largest 
gunboat  sunk,  and  another  disabled. 

By  four  o'clock  the  transports  had  all  arrived, 
and  the  first  body  of  troops  were  landed  unob- 
structed at  five  o'clock.  In  a  short  time  six 
thousand  were  on  shore,  and  the  remainder  of 
the  force  landed  soon  after. 

The  next  morning  the  troops  started  in  three 
columns,  the  centre  under  Gen.  Foster,  com- 
posed of  the  23d,  25th,  and  27th  Massachusetts, 
and  10th  Connecticut ;  the  next,  or  left  flanking 
column,  under  Gen.  Reno,  consisted  of  the  21st 
Massachusetts,  51st  New  York,  9th  New  Jer- 
sey, and  51st  Pennsylvania ;  the  third,  or  right 
flanking  column,  under  Gen.  Parke,  consisted 
of  the  4th  Rhode  Island,  first  battalion  of  the 
5th  Rhode  Island,  and  the  9th  New  York.  The 
approach  to  the  enemy  was  by  a  road  through 
a  swamp,  on  each  side  of  which  was  a  thick 
underbrush.  An  earthwork  about  thirty-five 
yards  wide  had  been  erected  across  the  road 
for  defence.  The  attack  was  bravely  made, 
as  it  had  been  planned,  upon  the  enemy's  posi- 
tion, and  after  a  most  spirited  and  splendid  de- 
fence, as  reported  by  the  assailants,  they  were 
obliged  to  give  way  before  this  overwhelming 
force,  and  retiring  further  up  the  island  were 
overtaken,  and  Col.  Shaw,  their  commander, 
surrendered.  Thus  six  forts,  forty  guns,  over 
two  thousand  prisoners,  and  three  thousand 
stand  of  arms  were  captured.  The  Union  loss 
was  thirty-five  killed  and  two  hundred  wound- 
ed. The  Confederate  loss  in  killed  was  reported 
to  be  sixteen,  and  wounded  thirty-nine.  The 
artillery  of  each  side  consisted  of  some  heavy 
pieces,  such  as  100-pound  Parrotts,  and  a  100- 
pound  Sawyer  gun  captured  by  the  Confeder- 
ates some  time  previous.  The  contest  between 


the  battery  and  the  gunboats,  in  the  morning, 
was  unimportant,  and  the  latter  proceeded  to 
remove  the  obstructions  in  the  channel. 

On  the  reception  of  the  report  of  Gen.  Burn- 
side  at  "Washington  the  following  order  was 
issued  by  President  Lincoln : 

WASHINGTON,  Feb.  15. 

The  President,  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army  and 
Navy,  returns  thanks  to  Brigadier-General  Burnside 
and  Flag  Officer  Goldsborough,  and  to  General  Grant 
and  Flag  Officer  Foote,  and  the  land  and  naval  forces 
under  their  respective  commands,  for  their  gallant 
achievements  in  the  capture  of  Fort  Henry  and  at  Roan- 
oke  Island.  While  it  will  be  no  ordinary  pleasure  for 
him  to  acknowledge  and  reward  in  a  becoming  manner 
the  valor  of  the  living,  he  also  recognizes  his  duty  to 
pay  fitting  honor  to  the  memory  of  the  gallant  dead. 
The  charge  at  Roauoke  Island,  like  the  bayonet  charge 
at  Mill  Springs,  proves  that  the  close  grapple  and  sharp 
steel  of  loyal  and  patriotic  citizens  must  always  put  the 
rebels  and  traitors  to  flight.  The  late  achievements  of 
the  navy  show  that  the  flag  of  the  Union,  once  borne  in 
proud  glory  around  the  world  by  naval  heroes,  will 
soon  again  float  over  every  rebel  city  and  stronghold, 
and  that  it  shall  forever  be  honored  and  respected  as 
the  emblem  of  Liberty  and  Union  in  every  land  and 
upon  every  sea. 

By  order  of  the  President. 

(Signed)          EDWIN  M.  STANTON, 

Secretary  of  War. 
GIDEON  WELLES,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day  after  the 
surrender,  Commodore  Rowan,  by  order  of 
Com.  Goldsborough,  with  fourteen  steamers, 
proceeded  toward  Elizabeth  city.  It  is  the 
capital  of  Pasquotank  county,,  North  Carolina, 
situated  on  the  Pasquotank  river,  about  twenty 
miles  from  its  mouth  and  thirty  miles  from 
Roanoke  Island.  That  night  the  fleet  anchor- 
ed about  eighteen  miles  from  the  city. 
Next  morning,  the  10th,  on  approaching  the 
town,  seven  Confederate  gunboats  and  one 
schooner  were  discovered,  and  after  a  brief 
contest  they  retired  under  the  guns  of  a  small 
fort,  were  set  on  fire,  and  abandoned.  This 
fort  on  Cobb's  Point,  mounting  four  guns,  was 
also  abandoned.  At  the  same  time  the  town 
was  deserted  by  the  Confederate  forces,  after 
having  set  on  fire  some  of  the  houses,  which 
were  burned.  All  the  Confederate  gunboats 
were  destroyed  excepting  one.  Two  were 
killed  and  about  twelve  wounded  on  the  Union 
gunboats.  The  loss  on  the  other  side  is  not 
known.  Commander  Rowan  immediately  sent 
the  gunboats  Louisiana,  Underwriter,  Commo- 
dore Perry,  and  Lockwood,  under  Lieut.  A. 
Maury,  to  Edenton,  on  the  west  end  of  Albe- 
marle  Sound.  It  is  the  capital  of  Chowan  coun- 
ty and  is  at  the  head  of  Edenton  bay,  which 
opens  into  Albemarle  Sound  a  little  below  the 
mouth  of  Chowan  river.  On  the  12th  the 
town  was  taken  possession  of  by  Lieut.  Manry. 
Part  of  a  light  artillery  regiment,  from  one  to 
three  hundred  in  number,  withdrew  without 
firing  a  gun.  fNo  fortifications  existed,  nor  was 
any  opposition  made.  Eight  cannon  and  one 
schooner  on  the  stocks  were  destroyed.  Two 
schooners  with  four  thousand  bushels  of  corn 
were  captured  on  the  sound,  and  six  bales  of 
cotton  taken  from  the  custom  house  wharf. 


138 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


On  the  next  day,  the  14th,  Lieut.  Jeffers  was 
sent  by  Lieut.  Maury  with  the  gunboats  Under- 
writer, Lockwood,  Shawshene,  and  Whitehead, 
towing  a  couple  of  schooners  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Chesapeake  and  Albemarle  canal.  The 
enemy  were  found  engaged  in  placing  obstruc- 
tions in  the  mouth  of  the  canal.  These  works 
were  completed  by  sinking  the  two  schooners 
and  burning  all  that  remained  above  water. 
This  small  expedition  then  returned  to  the 
mouth  of  North  Eiver.  This  was  two  days  be- 
fore the  surrender  of  Fort  Donelson.  On  the 
18th  of  February  the  joint  commanders  of  the 
Union  forces  in  North  Carolina  issued  the  fol- 
lowing proclamation,  declaring  to  the  people  of 
that  State  the  object  of  their  mission : 

BOANOKE  ISLAND,  NORTH  CAROLINA,  ) 
February  18, 1862.     f 
To  the  People  of  North  Carolina  : 

The  mission  of  our  joint  expedition  is  not  to  invade 
any  of  your  rights,  but  to  assert  the  authority  of  the 
United  States,  and  to  close  with  you  the  desolating  war 
brought  upon  your  State  by  comparatively  a  few  bad 
men  in  your  midst. 

.  Influenced  infinitely  more  by  the  worst  passions  of 
human  nature  than  by  any  show  of  elevated  reason, 
they  are  still  urging  you  astray  to  gratify  their  unholy 
purposes. 

They  impose  upon  your  credulity  by  telling  you  of 
wicked  and  even  diabolical  intentions  on  our  part ;  of 
our  desire  to  destroy  your  freedom,  demolish  your 
property,  liberate  your  slaves,  injure  your  women,  and 
such  like  enormities — all  of  whicli,  we  assure  you,  is 
not  only  ridiculous,  but  utterly  and  wilfully  false. 

We  are  Christians  as  well  as  yourselves,  and  we  pro- 
fess to  know  full  well,  and  to  feel  profoundly,  the  sacred 
obligations  of  the  character. 

No  apprehensions  need  be  entertained  that  the  de- 
mands of  humanity  or  justice  will  be  disregarded.  We 
shall  inflict  no  injury,  unless  forced  to  do  so  by  yojir 
own  acts,  and  upon  this  you  may  confidently  rely. 

Those  men  are  your  worst  enemies.  They,  in  truth, 
have  drawn.you  into  your  present  condition,  and  are 
the  real  disturbers  of  your  peace  and  the  happiness  of 
your  firesides. 

We  invite  you,  in  the  name  of  the  Constitution,  and 
in  that  of  virtuous  loyalty  and  civilization,  to  separate 
yourselves  at  once  from  these  malign  influences,  to  re- 
turn to  your  allegiance,  and  not  compel  us  to  resort 
further  to  the  force  under  our  control. 

The  Government  asks  only  that  its  authority  may  be 
recognized ;  and  we  repeat,  in  no  manner  or  way  does 
it  desire  to  interfere  with  your  laws  constitutionally 
established,  your  institutions  of  any  kind  whatever, 
your  property  of  any  sort,  or  your  usages  in  any  re- 
spect. L.  M.  GOLDSBOROUGH,  Rag  Officer, 
Commanding  North  Carolina  Blockading  Squadron. 

A.  E.  BURNSIDE,  Brigadier-General, 
Commanding  Department  of  North  Carolina. 

It  may  be  thought  that  this  part  of  North 
Carolina  was  in  a  very  defenceless  condition. 
In  many  respects  this  was  not  so.  It  cost  the 
United  States  two  military  and  naval  expe- 
ditions before  it  was  reached.  The  first  expe- 
dition, under  the  command  of  Gen.  Benjamin  F. 
Butler  and  Commodore  S.  H.  Stringham,  con- 
sisted of  the  steam  frigates  Minnesota  and  Wa- 
bash,  and  armed  steamers  Monticello,  Pawnee, 
and  Harriet  Lane,  and  the  steam  transports 
Adelaide  and  George  Peabody,  and  the  tug 
Fanny.  The  steam  frigate  Susquehanna  also 
joined  the  expedition.  The  military  force  con- 
sisted of  880  men.  These  forces  captured  the 


forts  at  the  entrance  of  Hatteras  Inlet,  and 
made  no  further  advance.  The  result  of  the 
expedition  was  the  acquisition  of  the  forts  cap- 
tured, the  control  of  the  island  in  which  they 
were  located,  and  the  closing  of  the  inlet  against 
the  passage  of  vessels  running  the  blockade. 
The  expedition  under  Gen.  Burnside  entered 
the  inlet  and  captured  the  fortifications  on 
Eoanoke  Island  and  destroyed  the  Confederate 
navy,  when  the  country  lay  at  its  mercy.  Small 
fortifications  and  some  military  force  was  found, 
however,  at  every  town  of  any  importance.  No 
civil,  commercial,  or  political  changes  were 
made  such  as  to  indicate  that  the  inhabitants 
regarded  themselves  as  restored  to  the  Union. 
Those  in  whose  hands  was  held  the  local  civil 
and  political  power,  retired  to  safe  quarters  upon 
the  approach  of  the  Federal  force.  They  ac- 
knowledged another  allegiance  due  to  a  power 
which  they  believed  or  hoped  would  yet  be  able 
to  expel  the  Union  troops.  So  long  as  that 
power  retained  its  strength  they  either  feared 
or  declined  to  acknowledge  allegiance  else- 
where. That  invariable  follower  of  the  inva- 
sion of  hostile  armies,  the  provost  marshal,  or 
military  governor,  attended  the  footsteps  of 
the  Burnside  expedition  as  he  has  almost  every 
other  which  has  entered  within  the  limits  of  the 
Confederate  States  during  this  year. 

On  the  19th  of  February  a  reconnoitring  ex- 
pedition left  Edenton  for  Winton,  the  capital 
of  Hereford  county,  situated  near  the  head  of 
navigation  on  the  Chowan  river,  about  fifty 
miles  above  its  mouth.  It  consisted  of  the  flo- 
tilla under  the  command  of  Commander  Bowan 
and  a  company  of  Col.  Hawkins'  N.  Y.  regi- 
ment. This  force  had  been  informed  at  Eliza- 
beth City,  that  five  hundred  Union  men  at 
Winton  had  raised  "  the  Stars  and  Stripes  "  and 
desired  protection.  Upon  arriving  opposite  the 
landing  of  the  town,  which  was  a  short  distance 
in  the  rear,  a  perfect  shower  of  balls  and  buck- 
shot were  fired  upon  the  advancing  vessel.  The 
river  here  is  about  a  hundred  yards  wide  and 
the  banks  high.  The  boats  ascended  and 
brought  their  guns  to  bear  and  fired  several 
shells,  and  retired  about  eight  miles  down  the 
river  for  the  night.  The  next  morning  they 
returned  and  shelled  the  village.  The  military 
were  landed  and  found  it  deserted,  when  the 
buildings  were  set  on  fire  and  burned.' 

The  movements  of  the  Federal  forces  caused 
efforts  to  be  made  by  the  State  authorities  to 
resist  them.  On  the  22d  Governor  Clark  issued 
the  following  proclamation : 

NORTH-CAROLINIANS  !  Our  country  needs  your  aid 
for  its  protection  and  defence  against  an  invading  foe. 
The  President  of  the  Confederate  States  has  made  a 
requisition  upon  our  State  to  complete  her  quota  of 
troops  in  the  field.  Our  own  borders  are  invaded  by 
the  enemy  in  force,  now  threatening  an  advance  to 
deprive  us  of  liberty,  property,  and  all  that  we  hold 
dear  as  a  self-gpverning  and  free  people.  We  must 
resist  him  at  all  hazards  and  by  every  means  in  our 
power.  He  wages  a  war  for  our  subjugation— a  war 
forced  upon  us  in  wrong  and  prosecuted  without  right, 
and  in  a  spirit  of  vengeful  wickedness  without  a  paral- 
lel in  the  history  of  warfare  among  civilized  nations. 


MILITARY  AM)  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION". 


139 


As  you  value  your  rights  of  self-government  and  all 
the  blessings  of  freedom — the  hallowed  endearments 
of  home  and  fireside,  of  family  and  kindred — I  call 
upon  you  to  rally  to  their  defence,  and  to  sustain  the 
noble  and  sacred  cause  in  which  we  are  engaged. 
North  Carolina  has  always  proved  true,  constant  and 
brave,  in  the  hour  of  trial  and  of  danger.  Never  let  it 
be  said,  that  in  the  future  she  has  failed  to  maintain 
her  high  renown.  If  we  are  threatened  now  more 
than  heretofore,  and  upon  our  own  soil,  let  our  exer- 
tions be  equal  to  every  demand  on  our  patriotism, 
honor,  and  glory.  No  temporary  reverses  dampened 
the  ardor  of  your  ancestors,  even  though  the  enemy 
marched  jn  columns  through  the  State.  The  fires  of 
liberty  still  burned  brightly  in  their  breasts. 

They  were  moved  to  new  energy  and  resisted  by 
gallant  deeds,  with  abiding  hope  and  unflinching 
courage  and  perseverance,  bravely  contending  with 
enemies  at  home  as  well  as  the  foreign  foe,  until,  after 
a  struggle  of  seven  long  years,  our  independence  was 
achieved  and  acknowledged.  Let  us  imitate  their 
glorious  example.  The  enemy  is  redoubling  his  efforts 
and  straining  every  nerve  to  overrun  our  country  and 
subjugate  us  to  his  domination — his  avarice  and  ambi- 
tion. Already  it  is  proposed  in  their  Congress  to 
establish  a  territorial  government  in  a  portion  of  our 
State.  Now  is  the  time  to  prove  our  zeal  and  animate 
by  example.  I  call  upon  the  brave  and  patriotic  men 
of  our  State  to  volunteer,  from  the  mountains  to  the 
sea. 

You  are  wanted  both  to  fill  up  our  quota  in  the  con- 
federate army  and  for  the  special  defence  of  the  State. 
I  rely,  with  entire  confidence,  on  a  prompt  and  cheer- 
ful response  to  this  call  upon  your  patriotism  and 
valor.  Tender  yourselves  in  companies  and  squads, 
under  officers  of  your  own  selection.  You  will  be  at 
once  accepted  and  organized  into  regiments  under  the 
laws  that  are  or  may  be  made,  and  which  it  is  my  duty 
to  execute.  The  Adjutant-General  will  issue  the  neces- 
sary orders  for  this  purpose. 

Fellow  citizens !  Your  first  allegiance  is  due  to  North 
Carolina.  Rally  to  her  banners.  Let  every  man  do 
his  duty  and  our  country  will  be  safe. 

Given  under  my  hand,  and  the  seal  of  the  State,  at 
Raleigh,  this  twenty-second  .day  of  February,  1862. 
[SEAL]  HENRY  T.  CLARK. 

Preparations  were  now  made  by  Gen.  Burn- 
side  for  an  attack  upon  Newbern.  This  city  is 
situated  at  the  confluence  of  the  Neuse  and 
Trent  rivers,  about  fifty  miles  from  Pamlico' 
Sound  near  its  southern  extremity.  It  is  second 
in  commercial  importance  in  the  State,  and  is 
connected  by  railroad  with  Raleigh  the  capital. 
On  the  llth  of  March  the  troops  intended  for 
the  expedition  were  embarked  and  ordered  with 
the  naval  force  to  rendezvous  at  Hatteras  Inlet. 
The  latter  force  was  under  Commander  Rowan, 
Com.  Goldsborough  having  been  ordered  to 
Hampton  Roads.  These  forces  having  com- 
bined left  Hatteras  the  next  morning  and  ar- 
rived about  sunset  at  Slocum's  Creek,  eighteen 
miles  below  Newbern,  and  the  place  selected 
for  disembarking  the  troops.  The  landing  was 
effected  the  next  morning  with  great  enthusiasm 
under  cover  of  the  gunboats,  and  after  a  toil- 
some march  of  twelve  miles  through  the  mud, 
the  head  of  the  column  reached,  that  evening, 
within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  Confederate 
stronghold.  The  remainder  came  up  during  the 
night  with  eight  pieces  of  artillery,  chiefly  boat 
howitzers.  The  gunboats  shelled  the  road  in 
advance  of  the  march  of  the  troops,  and  cover- 
ed their  encampment  at  night.  Early  the  next 
morning  Gen.  Foster's  brigade  was  ordered  by 


Gen.  Burnside  to  proceed  up  the  main  country 
road  to  attack  the  enemy's  left,  Gen.  Reno  up 
the  railroad  to  attack  the  enemy's  right,  and 
Gen,  Parke  to  follow  Gen.  Foster  and  attack 
the  enemy  in  front,  with  instructions  to  sup- 
port either  or  both,  brigades.  The  engagement 
which  ensued  continued  for  four  hours,  and 
resulted  in  carrying  a  continuous  line  of  Con- 
federate field  work,  over  a  mile  in  length,  pro- 
tected on  the  river  flank  by  a  battery  of  thir- 
teen heavy  guns  and  on  the  opposite  flank  by 
a  line  of  redoubts  over  half  a  mile  in  length 
for  riflemen  and  field  pieces  in  the  midst  of 
swamps  and  dense  forests.  This  line  was  de- 
fended by  eight  Confederate  regiments  of 
infantry,  five  hundred  cavalry,  and  three  bat- 
teries of  field-artillery,  each  of  six  guns. 

The  position  was  finally  carried  by  a  brave 
charge,  which  enabled  the  Federal  force  to  gain 
the  rear  of  all  the  batteries  between  that  point 
and  Newbern.  This  was  done  by  a  rapid  ad- 
vance of  the  entire  force  up  the  main,  road  and 
railroad,  while  the  gunboats  proceeded  up  the 
river  throwing  their  shot  into  the  forts  and  in 
front  of  the  advancing  forces.  The  enemy  in 
retreating  destroyed  the  country  road  bridge 
and  the  draw  of  the  railroad  bridge  over  the 
river  Trent,  thus  preventing  pursuit,  and  es- 
caped by  the  railroad.  Meantime  the  gunboats 
arrived  at  the  wharves  and  commanded  the 
city,  but  it  was  not  occupied  by  the  troops  until 
Gen.  Foster's  brigade  was  brought  up  by  the 
vessels.  Thus  eight  batteries  containing  forty- 
six  heavy  guns,  three  batteries  of  light  artillery 
containing  six  guns  each,  two  steamboats,  a 
number  of  sailing  vessels,  wagons,  horses,  a 
large  quantity  of  ammunition,  commissary  and 
quartermasters'  stores,  forage,  and  two  hun- 
dred prisoners  were  captured.  The  Union 
loss  was  ninety-one  killed  and  four  hundred 
and  sixty-six  wounded.  The  Confederate  loss 
was  severe,  but  not  so  great,  as  they  were  ef- 
fectually covered  by  their  works.  They  retired 
to  Tuscarora  about  ten  miles  from  Newbern. 
Gen.  Gatlin  being  indisposed,  they  were  com- 
manded by  Gen.  O.  B.  Branch. 

On  the  next  day  Gen.  Burnside  issued  the 
following  address  to  his  force : 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPT.  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA,  f 
NEWBERN,  March  15.  ) 

General  Order,  No.  17. 

The  General  Commanding  congratulates  his  troops 
on  their  brilliant  and  hard  won  victory  of  the  14th. 
Their  courage,  their  patience,  their  endurance  of  fa- 
tigue, exposure  and  toil,  cannot  be  too  highly  praised. 

After  a  tedious  march,  drawing  their  howitzers  by 
hand  through  swamps  and  thickets,  after  a  -sleepless 
night,  in  a  drenching  rain,  they  met  the  enemy  in  his 
chosen  position,  found  him  protected  by  strong  earth- 
works, mounting  many  and  heavy  guns,  and  in  an  open 
field  themselves — they  conquered".  With  such  soldiers, 
advance  is  victory. 

The  General  Commanding  directs  with  peculiar 
pride,  that,  as  a  well-deserved  tribute  to  valor  in  this 
second  victory  of  the  expedition,  each  regiment  en- 
gaged shall  inscribe  on  its  banner  the  memorable 
name  "  Newbern." 

By  command  of  Brigadier-General 

A.  fi.  BURNSIDE. 

LEWIS  RICHMOND,  Adjutant-General. 


140 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


141 


On  the  20th  Gen.  Parke's  brigade  commenced 
to  march  from  Newbern  for  Beaufort,  and 
on  the  23d  entered  Moorhead  city,  thirty-six 
miles  from  Newbern,  and  found  it  evacuated. 
It  is  a  short  distance  from  Beaufort  and  con- 
nected by  a  steam  ferry.  A  flag  of  truce  was 
then  sent  over  to  Fort  Macon,  and  a  surrender 
demanded.  This  was  refused,  and  vigorous 
measures  were  at  once  commenced  to  reduce 
it  by  a  siege.  Beaufort  is  the  capital  of  Car- 
teret  county,  situated  at  the  mouth  of  Newport 
river,  and  a  few  miles  from  the  sea.  The 
harbor  is  the  best  in  the  State,  and  its  entrance 
is  defended  by  Fort  Macon. 

Meanwhile,  on  the  20th,  a  naval  column  con- 
sisting of  the  gunboats  Louisiana,  Delaware, 
and  Com.  Perry,  with  the  transport  Admiral, 
having  on  board  eight  companies  of  the  24th 
Massachusetts  regiment,  proceeded  to  "Washing- 
ton, a  small  town  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Tar 
river  about  forty  miles  from  Pamlico  Sound. 
On  the  25th,  the  force  arrived  before  the  town, 
and  were  received  by  the  authorities  without 
opposition.  Below  the  town  obstructions  had 
been  placed  in  the  river,  and  abandoned  for- 
tifications were  found  on  each  shore  adjacent. 
The  commander,  A.  Maury,  thus  reported  to 
his  superior  officer :  "  I  found  on  further  con- 
sultation with  the  authorities,  on  whom  I  made 
my  demand  for  the  restoration  of  the  Hatteras 
Light  property,  that  underlying  an  apparent  ac- 
quiescence of  the  people  of  the  town  and 
neighborhood,  in  permitting  the  building  of 
gunboats,  and  the  construction  of  batteries  to 
repel  the  approach  of  the  Federal  forces,  was 
a  deep-rooted  affection  for  the  old  Union,  and 
not  a  little  animosity  for  its  enemies ;  the  lat- 
ter element  not  being  diminished  by  the  im- 
portation of  troops  from  a  distant  State.  The 
result  of  this  state  of  affairs  was,  as  could  be 
anticipated,  the  abandonment  of,  its  defences 
by  the  troops,  followed  by  the  destruction  of 
what  remained  of  Confederate  property  by  the 
people.  The  launched  gunboat  had  been  tow- 
ed several  miles  up  the  river,  loaded  with  tur- 
pentine, and  fired  on  the  night  of  our  arrival. 
A  few  hundred  bushels  of  meal  and  corn  left 
in  the  commissary  store,  were  distributed  to 
the  poor  by  my  orders.  All  the  Hatteras 
Light  property  in  the  town  was  secured.  The 
woods  and  swamps  were  represented  as  being 
alive  with  refugees  from  the  draft.  Many  of 
them,  encouraged  by  our  presence,  came  in. 
They  were  bitter  and  deep  in  their  denunciations 
of  the  secession  heresy,  and  promised  a  regi- 
ment if  called  to  aid  in  the  restoration  of  the 
flag."  This  force  returned  to  NeVbern. 

The  force  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Ma- 
con, however,  was  not  idle.  A  detachment 
from  Gen.  Parke's  brigade,  consisting  of  the 
4th  Rhode  Island  and  8th  Connecticut,  on  the 
night  of  the  25th,  crossed  over  and  took  posses- 
sion of  Beaufort  without  opposition.  In  the 
day  time  this  passage  would  have  been  resisted 
by  the  fort.  No  military  force,  was  found  in 
the  town.  Preparations  were  now  made  se- 


riously to  invest  the  fort.  All  communication 
by  land  or  water  was  cut  off,  and  guns  were 
put  into  position  to  reduce  it.  The  garrison 
consisted  of  nearly  five  hundred  men  under 
command  of  Col.  White.  The  regular  siege 
operations  commenced  on  the  llth  of  April, 
when  a  reconnoissance  in  force  was  made  by 
Gen.  Parke.  The  pickets  of  the  enemy  station- 
ed on  Bogue  Beach,  two  miles  from  the  fort, 
were  driven  in  and  a  good  situation  for  the 
siege  guns  was  found.  Everything  being  in 
readiness,  on  the  morning  of  the  25th  of  April, 
fire  was  opened  upon  the  fort  from  a  breach- 
ing battery  eleven  hundred  feet  distant,  and 
flanking  mortars  planted  at  a  distance  of  about 
fourteen  hundred  yards,  and  behind  sand  banks 
which  prevented  the  garrison  from  seeing 
them  before  the  fire  was  opened.  At  the  same 
time  the  blockading  gunboats  Daylight,  Com- 
mander Lockwood ;  State  of  Georgia,  Com- 
mander Armstrong ;  Chippewp,  Lieut.  Pay- 
son  and  bark  Gemsbok,  Lieut.  Caverdy ;  ap- 
proached the  fort  and  began  to  fire.  The 
three  steamers  assisted  the  bark,  and  kept 
under  way,  steaming  round  in  a  circle  and  de- 
livering their  fire  as  they  came  within  range, 
a  mile  and  a  quarter  distant  from  the  fort. 
After  an  hour  and  a  quarter,  the  sea  became 
so  rough  and  their  fire  consequently  so  in- 
accurate, that  the  fleet  retired.  The  action 
however  continued  between  the  batteries  and 
the  fort  until  toward  evening,  when  the  lat- 
ter was  surrendered  with  the  honors  of  war. 
All  the  guns  on  the  side  of  the  fort  opposite 
that  attacked,  were  dismounted,  and  also  all 
but  three  of  those  bearing  upon  the  Federal 
force,  when  it  became  untenable.  The  firing 
of  the  fleet  did  no  injury  to  the  fort.  The 
Daylight  was  struck  by  an  8-inch  solid  shot 
which  entered  her  quarter.  Seven  of  the  gar- 
rison were  killed  and  eighteen  wounded.  One 
was  reported  killed  on  the  Federal  side. 

While  this  siege  was  pressed  forward,  Gen. 
Burnside,  in  order  to  create  the  impression  at 
Norfolk,  Va.,  that  he  was  approaching  with 
his  whole  force,  sent  Gen.  Reno  with  the  21st 
Massachusetts,  51st  Pennsylvania,  a  part  of  the 
9th  and  89th  New  York,  and  6th  New  Hamp- 
shire in  that  direction.  Proceeding  nearly  to 
Elizabeth  City,  he  disembarked  at  a  point  about 
three  miles  below,  on  the  night  of  the  19th  of 
April.  Col.  Hawkins  was  ordered  forward  with 
the  9th  and  89th  New  York  and  the  6th  New 
Hampshire  toward  South  Mills,  to  be  followed 
by  Gen.  Reno  four  hours  after,  upon  getting 
the  remaining  troops  ashore.  Col.  Hawkins 
lost  his  way  and  came  in  behind  Gen.  Reno  on 
the  march,  and  was  ordered  to  follow.  Having 
marched  about  sixteen  miles,  and  within  a 
mile  and  a  half  of  South  Mills,  a  Confederate 
force  opened  with  artillery  upon  the  advanced 
guard  before  it  was  discovered.  They  were 
found  posted  across  the  road,  with  their  in- 
fantry in  ditches,  and  their  artillery  command- 
ing all  the  direct  approaches.  Their  rear  was 
protected  by  a  dense  forest.  Gen.  Reno  or- 


J42 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


dered  the  6th  New  Hampshire  to  form  in  a  line 
on  the  left  of  the  road  and  support  the  four 
pieces  of  artillery,  while  the  51st  Pennsylvania 
and  21st  Massachusetts  filed  to  the  right  and 
passed  over  to  the  edge  of  the  wood  to  turn  the 
enemy's  flank,  and  the  New  York  regiments 
supported  them.  The  effect  of  these  move- 
ments, and  the  sharp  firing  that  ensued,  caused 
the  enemy  soon  to  retire  in  a  rapid  manner. 
The  force  rested  until  evening,  and«  then  with- 
drew to  their  hoats.  The  Federal  loss  was 
fourteen  killed  and  ninety-six  wounded,  and  two 
taken  prisoners.  The  Federal  force  remained 
on  the  field  for  seven  hours,  buried  their  dead, 
and  transported  all  the  wounded  except  four- 
teen, so  severely  wounded  that  they  could  not 
be  moved,  but  who  were  comfortably  provided 
for  and  left  in  charge  of  a  surgeon  and  chaplain. 
"In  obedience  to  orders,"  says  Gen.  Burnside, 
"  Gen.  Reno  then  returned  to  his  fleet  and  em- 
barked his  men."  Ten  or  fifteen  prisoners  were 
taken,  most  of  whom  belonged  to  the  3d  Georgia 
regiment.  The  loss  of  the  Confederate  force  was 
unknown ;  thirty  killed  and  wounded  were  left 
on  the  field.  They  reported  one  regiment  and 
three  pieces  of  artillery  as  the  entire  force  en- 


On  the  23d  of  April  a  naval  expedition,  con- 
sisting of  the  gunboats  Lockwood,  Whitehead, 
and  Putnam,  under  Lieut.  Flosser,  was  sent 
to  obstruct  the  entrance  of  the  Dismal  Swamp 
canal.  This  was  done  by  means  of  sinking  a 
schooner,  and  filling  the  canal  with  brush, 
stumps,  rails,  and  earth,  and  trunks  of  trees. 

On  the  6th  of  June  a  sharp  engagement  oc- 
curred eight  miles  from  Washington  near  Pac- 
tolus,  between  a  Confederate  force  under  Col. 
Singleterry  and  the  24th  Massachusetts  under 
Capt.  Potter.  This  latter  officer  had  been  sta- 
tioned at  Washington  with  a  small  force,  and 
hearing  of  the  gathering  of  the  enemy,  obtained 
reinforcements,  and  successfully  attacked  them. 
Seven  were  killed  and  eleven  wounded  on  the 
Federal  side. 

Some  other  military  movements,  to  be  here- 
after stated,  took  place  during  the  succeeding 
months.  This  portion  of  North  Carolina  was 
held  by  the  Union  forces  throughout  the  year. 
Its  ports  were  closed  to  imports  for -the  Con- 
federate States,  and  its  commerce  ceased  en- 
tirely. The  principal  part  of  the  forces  under 
Gen.  Burnside  were  subsequently  brought  to 
Newport  News,  where  they  remained  in  trans- 
ports until  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  returned 
to  Alexandria.  They  then  united  with  it  under 
Gen.  Pope. 

This  expedition  in  its  outfit,  vigor  of  action, 
and  complete  achievements,  showed  that  it  was 
commanded  by  an  experienced,  judicious,  and 
able  officer.  It  was  necessarily  confined  in  its 
operations  to  the  shores  of  the  country,  where 
it  could  act  in  concert  with  the  gunboats.  It 
had  not  been  in  the  field  four  months,  when 
the  Government  found  itself  entirely  without 
soldiers  who  could  be  sent  to  reenforce  him. 

At  the  approach  of  Gen.  Burnside's  com- 


mand upon  the  coast  of  North  Carolina  much 
confidence  was  felt  on  the  part  of  the  authori- 
ties that  they  would  be  able  to  make  a  success- 
ful resistance.  A  few  days  served  to  dispel 
these  delusions,  and  change  the  aspect  of  their 
situation.  The  entire  coast  was  exposed  to  the 
invasion  of  the  Federal  troops.  This  change 
quenched  a  spirit  of  dissatisfaction  with  the. 
Confederate  Government,  which  was  beginning 
to  prevail  under  grievances  that  the  State  had 
suffered.  Efforts,  however,  were  now  made  to 
prevent  the  advance  of  the  Federal  troops  into 
the  interior,  and  to  make  as  successful  opposi- 
tion to  their  movements  as  might  be  possible. 

The  election  for  State  officers  in  North 
Carolina  takes  place  on  the  second  Thursday 
in  August.  Some  months  before  this  election 
the  person  who  should  be  the  next  governor  of 
the  State  became  a  subject  of  active  discussion. 
One  party  desired  a  man  who  was  not  a  pre- 
scriptive secessionist,  and  the  other  desired  one 
who  was  radical  and  thorough  on  secession,  and 
who  would  sustain  the  Confederate  Government, 
even  at  the  expense  of  State  rights.  Both  parties 
sustained  the  war.  The  candidates  nominated 
for  the  office  were  William  Johnson,  of  Meck- 
lenberg  County,  and  Zebulon  B.  Vance,  6f  Bun- 
combe County. 

.  The  result  of  the  election  was  the  choice  of 
Col.  Vance  as  governor  by  a  large  majority. 

On  the  17th  of  November  the  Legislature 
assembled  at  Raleigh,  and  the  governor  deliv- 
ered his  message.  He  urged  a  vigorous  prose- 
cution of  the  war,  but  complained  of  the  bad 
faith  of  the  Confederate  Government  in  send- 
ing agents  into  the  State  to  obtain  clothing  and 
supplies,  after  agreeing  not  to  do  so  if  the 
State  undertook  to  clothe  her  own  troops.  He 
condemned  the  conscription  law,  and  stated  that 
the  soldiers  were  suffering  greatly  for  want  of 
shoes  and  clothing.  The  debt  of  the  State  at 
the  beginning  of  the  year  was  $2,098,361. 
Flour  and  corn  commanded  such  prices  as  to 
be  used  only  by  wealthy  persons. 

The  Legislature  adopted  the  following  reso- 
lutions on  the  27th  of  November : 

Resolved,  That  the  Confederate  States  have  the 
means  and  the  will  to  sustain  and  perpetuate  the 
Government  they  have  established,  and  that  to  that 
end  North  Carolina  is  determined  to  contribute  all 
her  power  and  resources. 

Resolved,  That  the  separation  between  the  Confed- 
erate States  and  the  United  States  is  final,  and  that 
the  people  of  North  Carolina  will  never  consent  to  a 
reunion  at  any  time  or  upon  any  terms. 

Resolved,  That  we  have  full  confidence  in  the  ability 
and  patriotism  of  his  Excellency  President  Davis,  and 
that  his  administration  is  entitled  to  the  cordial  sup- 
port of  all  patriotic  citizens. 

Resolved,  That  we  heartily  approve  of  the  policy 
for  the  conduct  of  the  war  set  forth  by  his  Excellency 
Gov.  Vance  to  the  General  Assembly,  and  that  he 
ought  to  be  unanimously  supported  in  the  manly  and 
patriotic  stand  he  has  taken  for  our  independeuce. 

The  number  of  men  obtained  in  the  State  by 
the  Confederate  conscription  law  was  stated  to 
exceed  forty  thousand,  three-fourths  of  whom 
were  reported  by  the  examining  physicians  as 
unfit  for  military  duty. 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


143 


On  the  15th  of  May,  Edward  Stanley,  for- 
merly a  distinguished  citizen  of  North  Carolina, 
arrived  at  New  York  from  California,  for  the 
purpose  of  entering  upon  the  office  of  tem- 
porary governor  of  North  Carolina,  which  had 
been  tendered  to  him  by  President  Lincoln. 
The  part  of  Carolina  placed  under  his  jurisdic- 
tion was  that  in  which  the  Federal  arms  held 
control.  The  instructions  of  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment to  Gov.  Stanley  were  similar  to  those 
given  to  Gov.  Andrew  Johnson  in  Tennessee, 
and  were  as  follows : 

WAR  DEPABTMENT,  WASHINGTOH,  D.  C.,  May  2, 1862. 
Hon.  Edward,  Stanley,  Military  Governor  of  North 
Carolina  •' 

SIR:  The  commission  you  have  received  expresses 
on  its  face  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  duties  and 
power  devolved  on  you  by  the  appointment  of  mili- 
tary governor  of  North  Carolina.  Instructions  have 
been  given  to  Maj.-Gen.  Burnside  to  aid  you  in  the 
performance  of  your  duties  and  the  exercise  of  your 
authority.  He  has  been  instructed  to  detail  an  ade- 
quate military  force  for  the  special  purpose  of  a  gov- 
ernor's guard,  and  to  act  under  your  direction.  It 
is  obvious  to  you  that  the  great  purpose  of  your  ap- 
pointment is  to  reestablish  the  authority  of  the  Fed- 
eral Government  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
and  to  provide  the  means  of  maintaining  peace  and 
security  to  the  loyal  inhabitants  of  that  State  until 
they  shall  be  able  to  establish  a  civil,  government. 
Upon  your  wisdom  and  energetic  action  much  will 
depend  in  accomplishing  that  result.  It  is  not  deem- 
ed necessary  to  give  any  specific  instructions,  but 
rather  to  confide  in  your  sound  discretion  to  adopt 
such  measures  as  circumstances  may  demand.  You 
may  rely  upon  the  perfect  confidence  and  full  support 
of  this  department  in  the  performance  of  your  duties. 

With  great  respect,  I  am  your  obedient  servant, 
EDWIN  M.  STANTON, 

Secretary  of  War. 

Jn  the  26th  of  May  he  arrived  at  Newbern, 
entered  upon  his  duties.  On  the  17th 
of  June  he  made  an  address  to  the  people  at 
Washington,  N.  C.  Permission  had  been  given 
to  the  citizens  'to  enter  the  Federal  linds  for  the 
purpose  of  hearing  this  address,  and  they  were 
present  from  seventeen  counties.  The  speech 
was  a  review  of  the  past,  an  examination  of 
present  affairs,  and  an  urgent  appeal  to  the 
citizens  to  resume  their  allegiance  to  the  Fed- 
eral Government.  The  result  showed  that  so 
long  as  the  Confederate  Government  retained 
its  organization  and  power,  the  citizens  could 
not  be  expected  to  turn  against  it;  especially 
as  the  fortune  of  war  might  soon  place  them 
under  its  control  again.  * 

At  all  the  military  posts  of  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  the  State,  the  slaves  from  the  in- 
terior who  had  run  away  collected.  This  was 
especially  the  case  at  Newbern,  where  five 
thousand  had  come  in.  When  Gov.  Stanley 
arrived  there  he  found  schools  established  for 
their  instruction,  but  expressed  the  opinion 
that  it  was  injudicious,  as  contrary  to  the  laws 
of  the  State,  and  if  upheld  by  him  it  must 
destroy  his  influence  with  the  people.  The 
schools  were  temporarily  suspended.  The 
course  pursued  by  the  governor  was  designed 
to  restore  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  the 


people,  which  bad  been  lost  by  the  belief  that 
it  was  the  purpose  of  the  Federal  Administra- 
tion to  destroy  their  institutions  and  subjugate 
the  people.  A  conference  was  proposed  by 
Gov.  Stanley  to  Gov.  Vance,  for  the  purpose  of 
restoring  peace  in  the  State.  The  latter  re- 
fused to  meet,  but  referred  the  former  to  the 
Confederate  Government  at  Richmond.  Ap- 
parently little  had  been  gained  for  the  Federal 
cause  thus  far  by*the  military  organization' on 
the  borders  of  the  State. 

The  achievements  of  the  military  and  naval 
expedition  to  the  coast  of  South  Carolina  and  % 
Georgia,  should  be  described  in  this  connection. 
For  an  account  of  its  outfit,  departure,  and 
occupation  of  Hilton  Head  see  Chapter  XL 
Undoubtedly  there  was  a  double  object  in  thi 
expedition.  On  the  one  hand  it  was  designed 
to  seize  and  hold  as  large  a  district  of  the  coast 
as  might  be  practicable,  and  on  the  other  pre- 
pare a  base  for  future  operations  against  Charles- 
ton and  Savannah,  South  Carolina,  and  the  great 
State  of  Georgia.  The  point  designed  for  its 
headquarters,  and  for  the  base  of  future  opera- 
tions, was  occupied  at  once.  The  first  labor 
was  to  prepare  Port  Royal  for  the  purposes  in 
view.  Immense  cargoes  of  commissary  stores, 
ordnance,  and  means  of  transportation  were 
landed  from  the  large  ocean  steamers  which 
accompanied  the  expedition. .  Extensive  ware- 
houses were  erected  for  the  preservation  of  the 
stores;  while  for  the  security  of  the  depot 
whence  supplies  were  to  be  drawn  for  all  por- 
tions of  the  command,  and  to  enable  as  many 
troops  as  possible  to  be  spared  for  distant  oper- 
ations, long  lines  of  defence  had  to  be  construct- 
ed. While  the  works  were  pushed  forward 
reconnoissances  were  made  in  every  direction 
to  ascertain  the  position  and  strength  of  the 
enemy,  to  learn  the  depth  of  water  in  the  nu- 
merous creeks  and  inlets,  and  remove  all  ob- 
structions that  might  have  been  placed  in  im- 
portant channels  of  communication. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  it  was  observed 
to  be  the  design  of  the  enemy  to  shut  up  the 
Federal  troops  in  Port  Royal  Island,  by  placing 
obstructions  in  Coosaw  River  and  Whale  Branch, 
by  constructing  batteries  at  Port  Royal  Ferry, 
at  Seabrook,  and  at  or  near  Boyd  Creek,  and 
by  accumulating  men  in  the  vicinity  so  as  to 
be  able  to  throw  a  force  of  twenty-five  hundred 
or  three  thousand  upon  any  of  these  points, 
at  a  sTiort  notice.  It  was  determined  to  arrest 
their  designs  peremptorily,  and  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  would  serve  a  subsequent  purpose. 
Commander  E.  R.  P.  Rodgers  had  charge  of 
the  naval  force  of  the  expedition,  consisting  of 
the  gunboats  Ottawa,  Lieut.  Stevens,  Pembina, 
Lieut.  Bankhead,  and  four  armed  boats  of  the 
Wabash,  carrying  howitzers,  and  under  the 
command  of  Lieuts.  Upsher,  Lane,  Irwin,  and 
Master  Kempff,  which  were  to  enter  the  Coo- 
saw  by  Beaufort  River ;  and  the  gunboat  Seneca, 
Lieut.  Ammen,  and  tugboat  Ellen,  Master 
Budd,  which  were  to  move  up  Beaufort  River, 
and  approach  the  batteries  at  Seabrook  and 


144 


MTLITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Port  Royal  Ferry  by  Whale  Branch.  The  tug 
boat  E.  B.  Hale,  Master  Foster,  was  added  to 
the  expedition  after  it  started.  The  part  assign- 
ed to  the  naval  force  was  to  protect  the  land- 
ing of  the  troops  at  Haywood's  plantation,  the 
first  point  of  debarkation,  to  cover  the  route  of 
the  advancing  column,  and  the  second  point  of 
debarkation,  and  to  assail  the  batteries  on  their 
front.  The  military  force  consisted  of  the  47th 
and  48th  New  York  regiments,  Cols.  Frazer  and 
Perry,  the  79th  New  York,  50th  and  100th 
Pennsylvania,  and  8th  Michigan,  with  a  naval 
howitzer  force  of  forty  men,  under  Lieut.  Ir- 
win.  After  the  forces,  landed  at  the  two  points, 
had  marched,  driving  all  of  the  enemy  who 
were  seen  before  them,  and  formed  a  junction, 
they  were  divided  into  centre,  right,  and  left 
wings,  and  ordered  forward  to  attack  the  bat- 
teries of  the  enemy.  A  sharp  skirmish  of  half 
an  hour  ensued  upon  their  approach  to  the  bat- 
tery, when  the  enemy  retired,  and  the  works 
were  completely  destroyed.  An  incomplete 
work  at  Seabrook,  two  mijes  from  Port  Royal 
Ferry,  was  destroyed  at  the  same  time.  The 
result  of  the  expedition  was  the  destruction  of 
the  two  batteries,  driving  the  enemy  five  miles 
into  the  rear,  and  rendering  the  Broad  and  Coo- 
saw  rivers  secure  for  the  gunboats.  The  land 
force  was  commanded  by  Gen.  Stevens.  Eleven 
privates  were  wounded  and  two  of  them  missing. 
Four  of  the  enemy  were  found  dead. 

"While  all  the  improvements  were  urged  for- 
ward at  Hilton  Head,  reconnoissances  were  con- 
stantly made.  The  next  movement  of  interest 


took  place  on  the  26th  of  January,  in  consequence 
of  explorations  which  had  been  previously  made, 
and  which  were  of  such  an  adventurous  nature 
as  to  entitle  to  honor  the  parties  engaged.  The 
city  of  Savannah  is  about  fifteen  miles  from  the 
mouth  of  the  river  of  that  name,  and  situated 
on  its  right  or  southern  bank.  The  approach 
to  it  by  water  is  defended  by  Fort  Pulaski 
(captured  by  the  Georgians  in  1861),  a  case- 
mated  work  on  Cockspur  Island,  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  and  Fort  Jackson,  a  barbette  work 
on  the  mainland,  only  four  miles  below  the  .city. 
The  left  bank  of  the  river  is  formed  by  a  suc- 
cession of  islands,  and  the  channel  is  also  inter- 
rupted by  large  and  numerous  ones.  The  net- 
work of  creeks  and  bays  which  surround  Hil- 
ton Head  terminates  to  the  southward  in  Cal- 
ibogue  Sound,  which  is  separated  from  Savan- 
nah river  at  its  mouth  by  Turtle  and  Jones 
Islands.  The  waters  that  bound  two  sides  of 
Jones  Island,  which  is  triangular  in  shape,  are 
called  Mud  and  "Wright  rivers ;  the  latter  is  the 
more  southern,  and  separates  Jones  from  Turtle 
Island,  which  lies  next  to  Dawfuskie  Island,  the 
western  shore  of  Calibogue  Sound.  The  water 
on  the  third  side  of  Jones  Island  is  the  Savan- 
nah river.  This  island  is  about  five  miles  long, 
and  between  two  and  three  broad.  About  half 
way  between  its  upper  and  lower  angles,  and 
fronting  on  the  Savannah,  is  Venus  Point, 
where  a  Federal  battery  was  subsequently 
placed  to  cut  off  communication  between  Savan- 
nah and  Fort  Pulaski. 

Lieut.  J.  H.  "Wilson,  of  the  topographical 


engineers,  becoming  convinced,  from  informa- 
tion obtained  of  negro  pilots  and  others,  that 
an  interior  passage  existed,  connecting  Oali- 
bogue  Sound  with  the  Savannah  river,  and 
which,  if  passable  by  gunboats,  might  lead  to 
cutting  off  Fort  Pulaski  from  communication 
with  Savannah,  was  despatched  by  Gen.  Sher- 
man on  a  reconnoissance.  Taking  with  him  two 
row  boats,  and  about  seventy  men  of  the  Rhode 
Island  regiment,  he  left  Calibogue  Sound  with 
his  negro  crew  and  pilots,  and  ventured  by  night 
through  the  intricate  passages.  At  this  time 


the  Union  troops  had  not  advanced  beyond 
Dawfuskie  Island,  and  on  some  of  these  rivers 
Confederate  pickets  were  still  stationed.  The 
oars  of  the  reconnoitring  party,  however,  were 
muffled,  and  they  passed  by  the  pickets  with- 
out discovery.  Under  cover  of  the  darkness 
they  penetrated  several  miles  up  one  of  these 
streams,  leaving  the  pickets  in  their  rear.  If 
discovered,  retreat  or  escape  would  have  been 
impossible  for  them,  as  there  was  no  opportu- 
nity of  returning  except  on  the  same  route  by 
which  they  came.  The  river  which  they  thus 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


145 


explored  led  into  no  other  channel,  but  wasted 
away  in  a  marsh.  They  got  back  into  another 
stream.  Finally  the  creeks  became  so  shallow 
as  to  be  unnavigable  for  any  but  the  smallest 
craft.  "At  one  point  an  artificial  channel  had 
been  constructed  about  two  hundred  yards  long, 
called  "Wall's  Cut.  This  led  to  the  rear  of  Jones 
Island,  and  into  both  the  Mud  and  "Wright  rivers, 
both  of  which,  as  stated  above,  empty  into  the 
Savannah,  the  former  about  six  miles,  and  the 
latter  about  two  miles  above  Fort  Pulaski. 
This  cut  had,  however,  been  obstructed  by 
three  rows  of  piles  driven  across  its  entire 
width,  and  by  a  large  brig  sunk  in  the  same  di- 
rection, across  the  channel.  At  high  tide  the 
reconnoitring  party  were  able  to  get  over  the 
piles  and  pass  the  brig.  The  reeds  on  both 
banks  were  very  high,  and  the  cut  altogether 
invisible  from  Savannah,  while  the  marshy  na- 
ture of  the  region  prevented  any  approach  by 
land.  There  was  danger  of  meeting  pickets  or 
stray  parties  of  sportsmen,  shooting  wild  ducks 
abounding  in  those  waters.  The  party  remain- 
ed concealed  by  the  reeds  during  the  day,  and 
at  night  pursued  their  explorations.  They  found 
the  channel  of  Mud  river  impassable  for  large 
vessels  by  reason  of  its  shallow  water,  but  got 
easily  through  the  Wright  river,  and  rounding 
the  point  of  Jones  Island,  entered  the  Savannah. 
There  they  remained  nearly  all  night,  moving 
at  times  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Pulaski,  near 
enough  to  hear  the  challenge  of  the  lonely  sen- 
tinels, or  the  conversation  of  the  gunners  on 
the  parapets  before  tattoo.  They  found  the 
depth  and  bearings  of  the  channel  in  all  direc- 
tions ;  went  up  the  river  beyond  Yenus  Point, 
and  even  passed  the  entrance  of  Mud  river,  and 
then  returned  into  the  Wright,  establishing  to 
their  own  satisfaction  that  gunboats  of  ten  feet 
draught  could  pass  by  that  route  into  the  Savan- 
nah, without  incurring  any  material  risk  from 
the  guns  of  Pulaski,  which  were  at  the  nearest 
point  a  mile  and  three-fourths  distant. 

Upon  this  report  Gen.  Sherman  caused  an- 
other and  fuller  reconnoissance  to  be  made. 
Major  Beard  of  the  48th  New  York  was  sent 
to  remove  the  obstructions  in  Wall's  Cut.  A 
party  of  volunteer  engineers  and  a  company 
of  the  Yth  Connecticut  accompanied  him ;  and 
while  some  kept  a  careful  watch,  others  were 
engaged  at  the  obstructions.  They  were  re- 
moved in  three  weeks  of  unremitting  night 
labor.  All  the  piles  were  sawn  off  a  foot  be- 
low the  bottom  of  the  cut,  and  the  brig  turned 
lengthwise,  leaving  a  passage  wide  enough  for 
the  gunboats.  All  this  was  accomplished 
without  awakening  the  suspicions  of  the  enemy, 
whose  pickets  had  been  withdrawn.  All 
stragglers,  white  or  black,  who  approached 
were  seized ;  of  these,  four  or  five  whites  seem- 
ed to  have  been  hunting,  for  they  were  in 
boats  loaded  with  game;  others  were  slaves 
who  had  escaped  from  Savannah.  All  were 
astonished  to  see  their  captors  there.  No 
scouts  were  ever  detected,  and  no  boats  passed 
on  the  Savannah  river  except  the  steamers 
10 


plying  to  Fort  Pulaski  from  Savannah.  On 
some  nights  the  rain  fell  furiously,  but  the 
work  proceeded.  After  the  obstructions  had 
been  removed,  a  violent  storm  that  lasted  fon 
several  days  rendered  any  further  operations 
impracticable;  still  the  pickets  kept  up  their 
watch  on  the  dismal  and  muddy  marsh,  and 
every  straggler  or  spy  was  seized. 

A.  naval  reconnoissance  was  now  made  by 
Capt.  John  Rodgers  and  Lieut.  Barnes,  in  com- 
pany with  Lieut.  Wilson.  Like  all  the  others 
it  was  made  in  the  night.  The  party  were  able 
to  pass  through  the  cut,  take  soundings  in  the 
Wright  river,  enter  the  Savannah,  and  ascer- 
tain all  that  was  necessary  to  determine  the 
practicability  of  the  passage  of  gunboats.  Capt. 
Rodgers  reported  favorably,  and  was  willing 
to  command  the  movement.  It  was  determined 
therefore  that  a  reconnoissance  in  force  should 
be  made,  and  preparations  were  commenced  for 
that  purpose. 

It  had  always  been  known  that  a  passage 
existed  on  the  right  side  of  the  Savannah,  lead- 
ing from  Warsaw  Sound  through  the  Wilming- 
ton river  until  it  narrows  into  St.  Augustine 
Creek,  and  finally  empties  into  the  Savannah 
just  below  Fort  Jackson.     This  passage  was  de- 
fended by  a  battery.    Information  was  how- 
ever obtained  from  negroes  of  another  passage 
leading  up  also  from  Warsaw,  but  much  nearer 
to  the  Savannah  and  entering  it  lower  down 
than  St.  Augustine  Creek.     This  second  pas- 
sage is  called  Wilmington  Narrows.     Several 
reconnoissances  were  made  along  its  course  and 
the  result  was  a  determination  by  Gen.  Sher- 
man and  Com.  Dupont  to  send  a  force  up 
Wilmington  Narrows,  at  the  same  time  that 
operations  should  begin  in  the  vicinity  of  Wall's 
Cut.    Accordingly  on  the  26th  of  January, 
Gen.  Wright  with  the  4th  New  Hampshire, 
Col.  Whipple,  6th  Connecticut,  Col.  Chatfield, 
and  97th  Pennsylvania,   Col.   Guess,   on  the 
transports  Cosmopolitan,  Boston,  and  Delaware 
were  convoyed  by  the  gunboats  Ottawa,,  Seneca, 
and  others  under  Capt.  0.  H.  Davis  to  Warsaw 
Sound.     The  force  then   proceeded   up    the 
Wilmington  Narrows  for  some  miles  and  in 
the  rear  of  Fort  Pulaski  until  it  arrived  at  a 
place  where  piles  had  been  placed  to  obstruct 
its  further  progress.    The  gunboats  remained 
at  this  spot  a  short  distance  from  the  Savannah 
during  the  night,  while  reconnoissances  were 
made  on  land  and  water.    In  the  morning 
Capt.  John  Rodgers  with  three  gunboats  ap- 
peared on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Savannah 
in  Wall's  Cut.    Two  of  these  vessels  passed 
into  Wright  river.    About  eleven  o'clock  in  the 
forenoon   Com.  Tatnall  and  the  five  Confed- 
erate steam  gunboats  attempted  to  pass  down 
the  river  with  scows  in  tow,  when  fire  was 
opened  upon  them  by  the  gunboats  on  each 
side.    The  country  on  each  side  is  so  flat  that 
but  little  obstruction  to  the  sight  intervened. 
In  less  than  half  an  hour  Com.  Tatnall  and  one 
of  his  vessels  were  driven  back ;  the  other 
three  escaped  injury   apparently   and   made 


146 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


good  their  passage  down  to  Fort  Pulaski. 
They  returned  at  low  water  and  escaped  unin- 
jured. The  objects  of  the  reconnoissance  be- 
ing now  attained  the  forces  returned  to  Hilton 
Head.  The  gunboats  in  Wright  river  did  not 
go  down  as  far  as  the  entrance  to  the  Savannah, 
as  they  would  be  in  reach  of  the  guns  of  Fort 
Pulaski,  and  Capt.  Eodgers  feared  that  they 
might  get  aground.  This  withdrawal  of  the 
boats  from  Wall's  Cut  was  regarded  by  the 
Confederate  commander  as  an  abandonment  of 
the  purpose  to  enter  the  Savannah  by  that 
route.  Confidence  was  thus  restored  in  the 
minds  of  the  citizens  of  Savannah,  and  the 
wisest  hoped  that  the  fort,  which  was  the  key 
of  the  city,  might  be  enabled  to  detain  their 
enemy  for  an  indefinite  length  of  time.  The 
greatest  consternation  therefore  prevailed  in 
Savannah  when  the  fort  was  ultimately  cap- 
tured. 

Gen.  Sherman  now  commenced  a  series  of 
measures  by  which  to  cut  off  all  communication 
between  the  city  and  the  fort.  This  consisted 
in  the  planting  of  batteries  on  the  river.  The 
most  important  one  was  at  Venus  Point  on  the 
river  side  of  Jones  Island.  A  road  was  made 
with  almost  herculean  labor  across  its  marshy 
surface  from  Wall's  Cut,  by  the  48th  New  York 
regiment.  Over  this  road  the  cannon  were 
brought  and  placed  in  the  battery.  An  attack 
was  made  on  this  battery  by  the  Confederate 
gunboats  on  the  14th  of  March.  After  an  en- 
gagement of  an  hour  they  were  driven  off. 
Another  battery  was  placed  on  the  extremity 
of  Long  Island,  which  was  on  the  other  side  of 
the  channel  of  the  river,  and  still  another  was 
placed  on  floats  at  the  mouth  of  Mud  river. 
Some  weeks  were  passed  before  this  work  was 
done  and  the  communication  entirely  cut  off. 
Preparations  were  next  commenced  for  the  re- 
duction of  the  fort.  This  was  to  be  done  by 
batteries  established  on  Tybee  Island  adjacent  to 
Cockspur  Island,  on  which  the  fort  is  located. 
These  were  not  completed  until  the  9th  of 
April,  when  the  following  order  for  the  bom- 
bardment of  the  fort  was  issued : 

General  Orders — No.  17. 

HEADQUARTERS  UNITED  STATES  FORCES,  ) 
TYBEE  ISLAND,  GA.,  April  9, 1862.      f 

The  batteries  established  against  Fort  Pulaski  will 
be  manned  and  ready  for  service  at  break  of  day  to- 
morrow. 

The  signal  to  begin  the  action  will  be  one  gun  from 
the  right  mortar  of  Battery  Halleck  (2,400  yards  from 
the  work),  fired  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant  Hor- 
ace Porter,  chief  of  ordnance;  charge  of  mortar  11 
Ibs.,  charge  of  shell  11  Ibs..  elevation  55°,  and  length 
of  fuse  24". 

This  battery  (two  13-inch   Mortars)  will  continue 
tmng  at  the  rate  of  fifteen  minutes  to  each  mortar  al- 
ternately varying  the  charge  of  mortars  and  length  of 
jse,  so  that  the  shells  will  drop  over  the  arches  of  the 

•rth  and  northeast  faces  of  the  work,  and  explode 
""mediately  after  striking,  but  not  before. 

The  other  batteries  will  open  as  follows,  viz  : 

Battery  Stanton  (three  13-iuch  mortars,  3,400  yards 
listant),  immediately  after  the  signal,  at  the  rate  of 
fifteen  minutes  for  each  piece,  alternately  from  the 
right ;  charge  of  mortar  14  Ibs.,  charge  of  shell  7  Ibs 


elevation  45°,  and  length  of  fuse  23",  varying  the 
charge  of  mortar  and  length  of  fuse  as  may  be  re- 
quired. The  shells  should  drop  over  the  arches  of  the 
south  face  of  the  work,  and  explode  immediately  after 
striking,  but  not  before. 

Battery  Grant  (three  13-inch  mortars,  3,200  yards 
distant),  immediately  after  the  ranges  for  Battery 
Stanton  have  been  determined,  at  the  rate  of  fifteen 
minutes  for  each^piece,  alternately  from  the  right; 
charge  of  shell  Tnbs.,  elevation  45  ,  charge  of  mortar 
and  length  of  fuse  to  be  varied  to  suit  the  range,  as 
determined  from  Battery  Stanton.  The  shells  should 
drop  over  the  arches  of  the  south  face  of  the  work,  and 
explode  immediately  after  striking,  but  not  before. 

Battery  Lyon  (three  10-inch  columbiads,  3,100  yards 
from  the  work),  with  a  curved  fire,  immediately  after 
the  signal,  allowing  ten  minutes  between  the  dis- 
charges for  each  piece,  alternating  from  the  right; 
charge  of  guns  17  Ibs.,  charge  of  shell  3  Ibs.,  elevation 
20°,  and  length  of  fuse  20" ;  the  charge  and  length  of 
fuse  to  vary  as  required.  The  shell  should  pass  over 
the  parapet  and  into  the  work,  taking  the  gorge  and 
north  face  in  reverse,  and  exploding  at  the  moment  of 
striking,  or  immediately  after. 

Battery  Lincoln  (three  8-inch  columbiads,  3,045 
yards  from  the  work),  with  a  curved  fire,  immediately 
after  the"  signal,  allowing  six  minutes  between  dis- 
charges for  each  piece,  alternating  from  the  right ; 
charge  for  gun  10  Ibs.,  charge  of  shell  li  Ibs.,  eleva- 
tion 20°,  and  length  of  fuse  20",  directed  the  same  as 
Battery  Lyon,  upon  the  north  face  and  gorge  in  re- 
verse, varying  the  charge  and  length  of  fuse  accord- 
ingly. 

Battery  Burnside  (one  13-inch  mortar,  2,750  yards 
from  the  work),  firing  every  ten  minutes,  from  Jhe 
range  as  obtained  for  Battery  Sherman ;  charge  of 
shell  7  Ibs. ;  elevation  45° ;  charge  of  mortar  and 
length  of  fuse  varying  as  required  from  those  obtained 
for  Battery  Sherman.  The  shells  should  drop  on  the 
arches  of  the  north  and  northeast  faces,  and  explode 
immediately  after  striking,  but  not  before. 

Battery  Sherman  (three  10  inch-mortars,  2,650  yards 
from  the  work),  commencing  immediately  after  the 
ranges  for  Battery  Grant  nave  been  determined, 
and  firing  at  the  rate  of  fifteen  minutes  for  each  piece, 
alternating  from  the  right ;  charge  of  shell  7  Ibs. ;  ele- 
vation 45";  charge  of  mortar  and  length  of  fuse  to  be 
fixed  to  suit  the  range  as  determined  from  Battery 
Grant.  The  shells  should  drop  over  the  arches  of  the 
north  and  northeast  faces. 

Battery  Scott  (three  10-inch  and  one  8-inch  colum- 
biads, 1,677  yards  from  the  work),  firing  solid  shot  and 
commencing  immediately  after  the  barbette  fire,  of  the 
works  has  ceased.  Charge  of  10-inch  columbiads  20 
Ibs.,  elevation  4i° ;  charge  of  8-inch  columbiad  10  Ibs., 
elevation  5°.  This  battery  should  breach  the  pan- 
coupe  between  the  south  and  southeast  faces,  and  the 
embrasure  next  to  it  in  the  southeast  face :  the  ele- 
vation to  be  varied  accordingly,  the  charge  to  remain 
the  same.  Until  the  elevation  is  accurately  deter- 
mined each  eun  should  fire  once  in  ten  minutes ;  after 
that,  every  six  or  eight  minutes. 

Battery  Sigel  (five  80-pounder  Parrotts  and  one  24- 
pounder"  James',  1,620  yards  from  the  work),  to  open 
with  4j"  fuse  on  the  barbette  guns  of  the  fort  at  the 
second  discharge  from  Battery  Sherman.  Charge  for 
30-pounders,  3?  Ibs. ;  charge  for  24-pounder,  5  Ibs. ; 
elevation,  40°  for  both  calibers. 

As  soon  as  the  barbette  fire  of  the  work  has  been 
silenced,  this  battery  will  be  directed,  with  percussion 
shells,  upon  the  walls,  to  breach  the  pancoupe  between 
the  south  and  southeast  face,  and  the  embrasure  next 
to  it  in  the  southeast  face,  the  elevation  to  be  varied 
accordingly,  the  charge  to  remain  the  same.  Until 
the  elevation  is  accurately  determined,  each  gun 
should  fire  once  in  six  or  eight  minutes ;  after  that, 
every  four  or  five  minutes. 

Battery  McClellan  (two  42  and  two  32-pounder 
James',  1,620  yards  from  the  work)  opens  fire  imme- 
diately after  Battery  Scott.  Charges  for  42-pounder, 
8  Ibs. ;  charge  for  32-pounder,  6  Ibs. ;  elevation  of  42- 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


147 


Eounder,  4i°,  and  32-pounder,  4°.  Each  piece  should 
re  once  every  five  or  six  minutes  after  the  elevation 
has  been  established,  charge  to  remain  the  same. 
This  battery  should  breach  the  works  in  the  pancoupe 
between  the  south  and  southeast  faces,  and  tha  em- 
brasure next  to  it  in  the  southeast  face.  The  steel 
scraper  for  the  grooves  should  be  used  after  every  fifth 
or  sixth  discharge. 

Battery  Totten  (four  10-inch  siege  mortars,  1,685 
yards  from  the  work)  opens  fire  immediately  after.Bat- 
tery  Sigel,  firing  each  piece  about  once  in  five  minutes ; 
charge  of  mortar,  3s  Ibs. ;  charge  of  shell,  3  Ibs. :  ele- 
vation, 45°. ;  and  length  of  fuse,  184".  The  charge 
of  mortar  and  length  of  fuse  vary,  so  as  to  explode  tne 
shell  over  the  northeast  and  southeast  faces  of  the  work. 

If  any  battery  should  be  unmasked  outside  the  work 
Battery  Totten  should  direct  its  fire  upon  it,  varying 
the  charge  of  mortars  and  length  of  fuse  accordingly. 

The  fire  from  each  battery  will  cease  at  dark,  except 
especial  directions  be  given  to  the  contrary. 

A  signal  officer  at  Battery  Scott,  to  observe  the  effects 
of  the  13-inch  shells,  will  be  in  communication  with 
other  signal  officers  stationed  near  Batteries  Stanton, 
Grant,  and  Sherman,  in  order  to  determine  the  range 
for  these  batteries  in  succession. 

By  order  of          Brig. -Gen.  Q.  A.  GILLMORE. 

Before  the  bombardment  was  commenced  on 
the  10th,  the  fort  was  summoned  to  surrender. 
The  following  is  the  correspondence : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  ov  THE  SOUTH,  ) 
TYBEB  ISLAND,  GA.,  April  10, 1862.         ) 

To  the  Commanding  Officer,  Fort  Pulaski  : 

SIR  :  I  hereby  demand  of  you  the  immediate  surren- 
der and  restoration  of  Fort  Pulaski  to  the  authority  and 
possession  of  the  United  States. 

This  demand  is  made  with  a  view  to  avoiding,  if  pos- 
sible, the  effusion  of  blood  which  must  result  from  the 
bombardment  and  attack  now  in  readiness  to  be  opened. 

The  number,  caliber,  and  completeness  of  the  bat- 
teries surrounding  you,  leave  no  doubt  as  to  what  must 
result  in  case  of  refusal :  and  as  the  defence,  however 
obstinate,  must  eventually  succumb  to  the  assailing 
force  at  my  disposal,  it  is  hoped  you  will  see  fit  to  avert 
the  useless  waste  of  life.  . 

This  communication  will  be  carried  to  you  under  a 
flag  of  truce  by  Lieut.  J.  H.  Wilson,  United  States  Ar- 
my, who  is  authorized  to  wait  any  period  not  exceeding 
thirty  minutes  from  delivery  for  your  answer. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  your  most  obedient  ser- 
vant, DAVID  HUNTER, 

Major-General  Commanding. 

Gen.  Hunter  had  been  placed  in  command 
of  the  Federal  forces,  and  Gen.  Sherman,  be- 
fore completing  the  enterprises  he  had  com- 
menced, was  recalled.  The  Confederate  com- 
mander of  the  fort  replied  to  this  demand  as 
follows: 

HEADQUABTBRS,  FOBT  PULASKI,  April  10^1882. 
Maj.~  Gen.  David  Hunter,  commanding  on  Tybee  Isl-and : 
SIB  :  I  have  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  your  commu- 
nication of  this  date,  demanding  the  unconditional  sur- 
render of  Fort  Pulaski. 

In  reply  I  can  only  say  that  I  am  here  to  defend  the 
fort,  not  to  surrender  it. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obe- 
dient servant,  CHAS.  H.  OLMSTEAD, 

Colonel  First  Volunteer  regiment  of 
Georgia,  commanding  post. 

On  this  refusal,  and  at  twenty-three  minutes 
of  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  fire  was  open- 
ed. Three  minutes  after  the  fort  replied  from  a 
10-inch  barbette  gun,  and  soon  after  the  firing 
became  general  on  both  sides.  After  eighteen 
hours  the  fort  was  breached  in  the  southeast 


angle,  and  at  the  moment  of  surrender,  2  o'clock 
p.  M.  of  the  llth,  preparations  had  been  com- 
menced for  storming.  Forty-seven  guns,  a 
great  supply  of  fixed  ammunition,  forty  thou- 
sand pounds  of  powder,  and  large  quantities 
of  commissary  stores,  and  three  hundred  and 
sixty  prisoners  were  taken. 

It  was  expected  at  Savannah  that  an  attack 
would  be  immediately  made  upon  Fort  Jackson, 
to  be  followed  by  its  surrender,  and  that  of  the 
city  also.  Nothing  of  the  kind,  however,  was 
contemplated.  The  Union  commander  was  in 
no  condition  to  underteke  such  an  enterprise, 
and  actually  was  obliged  to  content  himself 
with  holding  what  had  been  acquired.  The 
possession  of  Fort  Pulaski  prevented  any  fur- 
ther attempts  to  run  the  blockade  into  Sa- 
vannah by  the  mouth  of  the  river. 

While  these  operations  had  been  going  on 
against  Fort  Pulaski,  the  other  portion  of  the 
military  and  naval  forces  at  Hilton  Head  had 
not  been  idle.  On  the  28th  of  February  Com. 
Dupont  sailed  from  Port  Royal  in  the  steam 
frigate  Wabash,  accompanied  by  the  following 
vessels :  Ottawa,  Mohican,  Ellen,  Seminole, 
Pawnee,  Pocahontas,  Flag,  Florida,  James 
Adger,  Bienville,  Alabama,  Key  Stone  State, 
Seneca,  Huron,  Pembina,  Isaac  Smith,  Pen- 
guin, Potomska,  armed  cutter  Henrietta,  armed 
transport  McGlellan,  the  latter  having  on  board 
the  battalion  of  marines  under  the  command 
of  Maj.  Reynolds,  and  the  transports  Empire 
City,  Marion,  Star  of  the  South,  Belvidere, 
Boston,  and  George's  Creek,  conveying  a  bri- 
gade under  the  command  of  Brig.-Gen.  Wright. 

On  the  2d  of  March  the  expedition  came  to 
anchor  in  St.  Andrew's  Sound,  and  on  the  next 
morning  a  portion  of  the  gunboats  and  trans- 
ports, under  Commander  Dray  ton,  proceeded 
down  Cumberland  Sound  toward  Fernandina 
on  the  north  extremity  of  Amelia  Island.  Cum- 
berland Sound  is  the  passage  between  Cumber- 
land Island  and  the  mainland.  Amelia  Island 
is  next  in  order  below  Cumberland  Island ;  the 
north  point  of  the  former  and  the  south  point 
of  the  latter  being  nearly  opposite.  The  re- 
mainder of  the  fleet  proceeded  down  outside  to 
the  entrance  between  Cumberland  and  Amelia 
Islands.  The  object  of  sending  a  portion  of  the 
fleet  through  Cumberland  Sound  was  to  turn 
the  works  on  the  south  end  of  Cumberland 
and  the  north  end  of  Amelia  Islands.  The 
enemy  having  received  information  of  the  expe- 
dition, abandoned  their  works  on  its  approach 
and  retired.  Fort  Clinch  on  Amelia  Island  was 
taken  possession  of  and  garrisoned.  The  town 
of  Fernandina,  which  was  almost  deserted,  was 
occupied  by  the  Union  force,  and  a  small  steam 
boat  loaded  with  stores  was  overtaken  and 
captured.  The  Confederate  force  stationed  at 
Fernandina  consisted  of  the  4th  Florida,  Col. 
Hopkins,  with  a  number  of  companies  of  caval- 
ry and  light  artillery.  Reconnoitring  expedi- 
tions were  sent  out  in  different  directions  with 
successful  results.  New  Fernandina  on  Amelia 
Island,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Old  For- 


148 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


TST  MARKS 
TANZAS  SOUND  O 
NASTAS1A  ISfS 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


149 


nandina,  is  the  eastern  termination  of  the  rail- 
road across  the  peninsula.  The  western  termi- 
nation is  Cedar  Keys,  a  small  town  located  on 
one  of  a  group  of  small  islands  close  to  the  west 
coast  of  Florida.  It  was  captured  by  a  Union 
force  on  the  16th  of  January.  On  the  same 
night  that  Fernandiha  was  taken  Commander 
E.  R.  P.  Rodgers  in  the  Ottawa  ascended  the 
St.  Mary's  river,  and  took  possession  of  the 
town  of  that  name,  driving  out  a  picket  of  the 
enemy's  cavalry.  This  town  and  Fernandina 
were  uninjured.  Preparations  for  a  most  vig- 
orous defence  were  found  to  have  heen  made 
at  hoth  places,  but  the  State  troops  were 
prohably  required  for  the.  Confederate  army. 
The  difficulties  arising  from  the  indirectness  of 
the  channel  and  from  the  shoalness  of  the  bar 
would  have  added  to  the  defences  by  keeping 
approaching  vessels  a  long  time  exposed  to  fire 
under  great  disadvantages.  Having  turned  the 
property  over  to  the  military  power  the  expe- 
dition was  ready  for  further  movements. 

A  principal  and  ultimate  object  of  this  entire 
expedition  was,  in  its  first  conception,  to  take 
and  keep  under  control  the  whole  line  of  sea- 
coast,  especially  of  the  State  of  Georgia.  Hav- 
ing heard  at  Fernandina  that  the  works  at 
Brunswick  in  Georgia  had  been  abandoned, 
Cora,  Dupont  on  the  7th  of  March  despatched 
a  force,  consisting  of  the  Mohican,  Pocahontas, 
and  Potomska,  under  Commander  Gordon,  to 
hold  the  place.  It  is  a  port  of  entry  in  the  ex- 
treme southeastern  part  of  the  State  of  Georgia, 
pleasantly  situated  on  Turtle  river,  and  has  a 
spacious  harbor.  It  is  the  eastern  terminus  of 
the  Brunswick  and  Florida  railroad.  Com- 
mander Gordon  with  his  vessels  crossed  the  bar 
on  the  8th,  and  anchored  at  sundown  within 
two  miles  of  the  forts  commanding  the  channel. 
The  next  day  he  took  possession  of  the  batteries 
on  St.  Simon's  Island  and  on  Jekyl  Island. 
"When  abandoned,  all  their  guns  and  ammuni- 
jiion  had  been  removed.  The  town  also  was 
entirely  deserted,  and  nearly  all  the  property 
which  could  be  removed  had  been  taken  away. 
Proclamations  were  posted  by  Commander  Gor- 
don^ on  several  public  buildings,  urging  the  in- 
habitants to  return  to  their  homes  and  promis- 
ing protection  to  the  property  of  all  good  citi- 
zens. The  force  then  retired  to  the  vessels. 

On  the  13th  with  the  Potomska  and  Poca- 
hontas Commander  Gordon  proceeded  from  St. 
Simon's  Sound  through  the  inland  passage  to 
Darien  on  the  Altamaha  river.  Piles  had  been 
driven  in  two  places  across  the  passage,  which 
were  removed.  Darien  like  Brunswick  was 
entirely  deserted,  and  also  all  the  plantations 
on  St.  Simon's  Island.  But  one  white  man 
was  found  on  the  island,  and  one  old  negro, 
although  about  fifteen  hundred  troops  had  been 
quartered  there  a  few  months  previous.  The 
former  appeared  to  be  in  great  dread  of  the 
coming  of  the  Union  force,  and  had  been  told 
that  they  would  destroy  even  women  and 
children. 

At  the  same  time  when  this  force  was  order- 


ed to  Brunswick  on  the  7th  of  March,  Com. 
Dupont  sent  the  gunboats  Ottawa,  Seneca,  Pem- 
bina,  and  Huron,  with  the  Isaac  Smith  and  El- 
len under  Lieut.  Stevens  to  St.  John's  river  with 
instructions  to  cross  its  difficult  and  shallow 
bar,  feel  the  forts  if  still  held,  and  push  on  to 
Jacksonville  and  even  Pilatka  and  capture 
river  steamers.  St.  John's  river  empties  into 
the  Atlantic  some  twenty-five  miles  south  of 
Fernandina.  On  the  llth  Lieut.  Stevens  suc- 
ceeded in  crossing  the  bar  and  anchored  for 
the  night.  During  the  evening  large  fires  were 
seen  in  the  direction  of  Jacksonville,  which 
proved  to  have  been  made  under  the  order  of 
the  Confederate  commander,  Gen.  Trapier,  by 
the  burning  of  mills,  houses,  and  property  be- 
longing to  Northern  men  suspected  of  enter- 
taining Union  sympathies.  On  arriving  at 
Jacksonville  during  the  next  day,  the  corporate 
authorities  came  off  to  Lieut.  Stevens  and  gave 
up  the  town.  The  4th  New  Hampshire,  Col. 
"Whipple,  was  landed  and  took  possession.  The 
location  of  the  town  is  on  the  northern  bank 
of  the  St.  John's,  about  twenty-five  miles  from 
its  mouth.  It  contains  about  three  thousand 
inhabitants.  From  almost  all  the  houses  a 
white  flag  was  displayed  on  the  approach  of 
the  force,  and  men,  women,  and  children  of  all 
colors  turned  out  to  see  the  display.  A  Union 
feeling  was  aroused  and  encouraged.  A  public 
meeting  was  called  and  resolutions  adopted  in 
favor  of  organizing  a  Union  State  Government 
and  calling  a  convention  to  meet  at  Jackson- 
ville for  that  purpose  on  the  10th  of  April, 
then  approaching.  On  the  8th  of  April  the 
Union  commander,  Gen.  "Wright,  evacuated  the 
town,  and  then  sent  information  of  his  move- 
ment to  the  Confederate  commander,  Gen. 
Trapier,  inviting  him  to  come  and  re-occupy  the 
town,  and  requesting  him  to  take  care  of  the 
women  and  children  remaining.  On  the  9th 
the  Confederate  officers  stood  on  the  dock  and 
watched  the  vessels  sailing  away.  On  the  10th, 
the  Union  convention,  which  had  been  warmly 
encouraged  by  these  retiring  offic'ers  with  their 
force,  was  called  to  assemble.  Of  course  it 
was  not  held.  The  more  active  Unionists  had 
through  fear  left  with  the  fleet. 

Com.  Dupont,  immediately  after  having  de- 
spatched Commander  Gordon  to  Brunswick  and 
Lieut.  Stevens  to  Jacksonville,  as  above  stated, 
proceeded  himself  toward  St.  Augustine.  Ar- 
riving off  the  harbor  he  ordered  Commander 
Rodgers  to  approach  the  city  with  a  flag  of  truce, 
presuming  that  if  there  were  any  people  along 
the  coast  likely  to  remain  in  their  houses,  they 
would  be  found  at  St.  Augustine.  As  Com- 
mander Rodgers  approached  the  city,  a  white 
flag  was  hoisted  upon  one  of  the  bastions  of 
Fort  Marion.  As  he  landed  upon  the  wharf 
and  inquired  for  the  chief  authority,  he  was 
soon  joined  by  the  mayor  and  conducted  to 
the  city  hall,  where  the  municipal  authorities 
were  assembled.  His  report  to  Com.  Dupont 
proceeds  as  follows : 

I  informed  them  fcat,  having  come  to  restore  the 


150 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


authority  of  the  United  States,  you  had  deemed  it 
more  proper  to  send  in  an  unarmed  boat  to  inform  the 
citizens  of  your  determination,  than  to  occupy  the  town 
at  once  by  force  »f  arms ;  that  you  were  desirous  to 
calm  all  apprehensions  of  harsh  treatment,  and  that 
you  should  carefully  respect  the  persons  and  property 
of  all  citizens  who  submitted  to  the  authority  of  the 
United  States ;  that  you  had  a  single  purpose  to  restore 
the  state  of  affairs  which  existed  before  the  rebellion. 

I  informed  the  municipal  authorities  that  so  long  as 
they  respected  the  authority  of  the  Government  we 
serve,  and  acted  in  good  faith,  municipal  affairs  would 
be  left  in  their  own  hands,  so  far  as  might  be  consistent 
with  the  exigencies  of  the  times.  The  mayor  and 
council  informed  me  that  the  place  had  been  evacuated 
the  preceding  night  by  two  companies  of  Florida 
troops,  and  that  they  gladly  received  the  assurances  I 
gave  them,  and  placed  the  city  in  my  hands. 

I  recommended,  them  to  hoist  the  flag  of  the  Union 
at  once,  and  in  prompt  accordance  with  the  advice,  by 
order  of  the  mayor,  the  national  ensign  was  displayed 
from  the  flag  staff  of  the  fort.  The  mayor  proposed  to 
turn  over  to  me  the  five  cannon  mounted  at  the  fort, 
which  are  in  good  condition  and  not  spiked,  and  also 
the  few  munitions  of  war  left  by  the  retreating  enemy. 
I  desired  him  to  take  charge  of  them  for  the  present, 
to  make  careful  inventories  and  establish  a  patrol  and 
guard,  informing  him  that  he  would  be  held  respon- 
sible for  the  place  until  our  force  should  enter  the  har- 
bor. 

I  called  on  the  clergymen  of  the  city,  requesting 
them  to  re-assure  the  people,  and  to  confide  in  our 
kind  intentions  toward  them.  About  1,500  people  re- 
main in  St.  Augustine,  about  one-fifth  of  the  inhabi- 
tants having  fled.  I  believe  there  are  many  citizens 
who  are  earnestly  attached  to  the  Union,  a  large  num- 
ber who  are  silently  opposed  to  it,  and  a  still  larger 
number  who  care  very  little  about  the  matter.  There 
is  much  violent  and  pestilent  feeling  among  the 
women ;  they  have  a  theatrical  desire  to  figure  as 
heroines!  Their  minds  have  doubtless  been  filled 
with  the  falsehoods  so  industriously  circulated  in  re- 
gard to  the  lust  and  hatred  of  pur  troops. 

On  the  night  before  our  arrival  a  party  of  women 
assembled  in  front  of  the  barracks  and  cut  down  the 
flag  staff,  in  order  that  it  might  not  be  used  to  support 
the  old  flag.  The  men  seemed  anxious  to  conciliate 
in  every  way.  There  is  a  great  scarcity  of  provisions 
in  the  place.  There  seems  to  be  no  money,  except  the 
wretched  paper  currency  of  the  rebellion,  and  much 
poverty  exists. 

In  the  water  battery  at  the  fort  are  three  fine  army 
32-pounders  and  twp  8-inch  sea  coast  howitzers,  with 
shot  and  some  powder.  Several  good  guns  were  taken 
away  some  months  ago.  The  garrison  of  the  place 
left  from  St.  Augustiqe  at  midnight  on  the  18th,  for 
Smyrna,  where  are  said  to  be  about  800  troops,  a  bat- 
tery, the  steamer  Carolina,  and  a  considerable  quantity 
of  arms  and  ammunition. 
< 

The  fort  at  this  place  is  the  second  one  of 
the  old  forts  in  Florida  of  which  possession  had 
then  been  recovered.  The  other  is  Fort  Clinch 
at  Fernandina.  St.  Augustine  is  farther  south 
than  Jacksonville  and  situated  on  the  north 
shore  of  Matanzas  Sound  about  two  miles  from 
the  sea,  from  which  it  is  separated  by  the  island 
of  Anastasia.  The  population  exceeds  two 
thousand. 

The  next  object  of  Com.  Dupont  was  to  visit 
Musquito  Inlet,  fifty  miles  farther  south.  It 
had  been  reported  to  him  that  the  inlet  was 
resorted,  to  by  vessels  of  light  draft  for  the 
introduction  of  arms  transhipped  from  English 
vessels  and  steamers  at  the  English  colony  of 
Nassau.  Accordingly  the  Penguin,  Lieut.  T. 
A.  Budd,  and  the  Henry,  Anftrew  S.  W.  Mather, 


master,  were  sent  in  advance  and  ordered  to 
cross  the  bar  and  establish  an  inside  blockade 
and  guard  from  incendiarism  the  live  oak  tim- 
ber on  the  Government  lands.  On  their  ar- 
rival they  started  with  four  or  five  light  boats 
and  forty-three  men  and  moved  southward  into 
Mosquito  lagoon,  but  when  returning,  they 
were  unexpectedly  fired  on,  upon  landing,  and 
the  commanding  officers  and  three  men  wer^ 
killed,  and  several  wounded,  and  two  taken 
prisoners. 

By  these  operations  along  the  Florida  coast 
some  small  steamers  and  other  vessels  were 
captured,  and  the  blockade  was  rendered  more 
effective  by-the  actual  occupation  of  the  prin- 
cipal ports.  The  country  appeared  to  be  unde- 
fended and  entirely  unprepared  to  make  any 
resistance  against  the  overwhelming  Union 
force.  Many  fortified  positions  were  found, 
but  the  soldiers  were  not  seen.  The  white 
population  in  Florida  in  1860  was  77,778,  and 
during  the  previous  year  the  State  sent  about 
ten  thousand  men  to  the  Confederate  army. 
Her  military  strength  was  thus  reduced  to  a 
feeble  condition.  Whatever  progress  was  made 
in  restoring  the  Union  was  defeated  by  the 
sudden  evacuation  of  Jacksonville  and  the 
abandonment  of  many  Union  citizens  there.  If 
taught  the  people  of  the  State  that  so  long  as 
the  Confederate  Government  existed  in  se- 
curity, it  might  at  any  time  return  and  demand 
their  allegiance. 

Commodore  Dupont  now  returned  to  Port 
Royal,  leaving  a  small  force  at  all  the  points 
taken.  On  his  arrival  on  the  27th  of  March, 
he  learned  thajt  the  formidable  Confederate 
batteries  on  Skidaway  and  Green  islands  had 
been  abandoned,  by  which  complete  control 
was  obtained  of  Warsaw  and  Ossibaw  sounds 
and  the  mouths  of  Vernon  and  Wilmington 
rivers,  which  form  a  part  of  the  approaches 
from  the  south  to  Savannah. 

Toward  Charleston  the  only  movement  of 
importance  which  had  been  made  by  Gen. 
Sherman  was  the  occupation  of  Edisto  Island 
by  the  47th  New  York.  This  took  place  on 
the  llth  of  February.  This  island  is  about 
twelve  miles  long  and  nine  broad,  and  is  about 
ten  miles  from  the  mainland,  twenty  miles 
from  the  Charleston  and  Savannah  railroad, 
and  forty  miles  from  Charlesto^.  The  island 
was  found  to  be  entirely  deserted  except  by 
the  negroes.  Considerable  cotton  was  gathered, 
although  the  greater  portion  of  that  produced 
had  been  burned. 

On  the  31st  of  March  Maj.-Gen.  David 
Hunter  assumed  the  command  of  the  depart- 
ment of  the  South,  consisting  of  the  States  of 
South  Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Florida.  Thus 
Gen.  Sherman  was  relieved  of  the  command 
and  assigned  to  another  post.  In  aproclama- 
tion  issued  on  the  same  day,  Gen.  Hunter  ^.an- 
nounced the  division  of  his  department  into 
three  districts  as  follows : 

1.  The  first,  to  be  called  the  Northern  District,  will 
comprise  the  States  of  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  and 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


151 


all  that  part  of  Florida  north  and  east  of  a  line  ex-  work  fortifications  had  been  erected.  All  of 
tending  from  Cape  Canaveral  northwest  to  the  Gulf  these  were  abandoned  as  the  gunboats  pro- 
coast,  just  north  of  Cedar  Keys  and  its  dependencies,  ceeded-  The  distance  from  the  mouth  of  the 
^^^^(^Wp^Bo^So^  Stono  to  Wappoo  Creek  is  about  eight  miles. 
Carolina,  and  Brig.-Gen.  H.  W.  Benham*(who  will  Little  was  done  in  the  river  by  the  fleet  for 
relieve  Brig.-Gen.  Sherman)  is  appointed  to  command  many  days,  except  silencing  some  of  the  Confed- 
this  district  and  the  troops  therein,  which  troops  will  erate  batteries,  and  preventing  the  erection  of 
^^S^^S^Mo^  the  F  others  in  commanding  points  likely  to  be  need- 

ed  on  the  march  toward  Charleston,  ot  which 


of  the  Department  of  the  South. 
2.  The  second,  to  be  called  the  Southern  District, 


will  comprise  all  of  Florida  and  the  islands  adjacent,     this  was  designed  as  a  preliminary  movement. 


signs  of  the  approaching  army  appeared  for 
during  which  several  reconnois- 


south  of  the  said  line  from  Cape  Canaveral,  extending 
northwest  to  the  Gulf  coast,  just  north  of  Cedar  Keys. 

The  headquarters  of  this  district  and  the  troops  will  rrn  f  ti 

remain,  as  at  present,  under  command  of  Brig.-Gen.  f^es  were  made  by  the  fleet.     The  fire  of  the 

J.  M.  Brannan.  forts  at  the  entrance  to  Wappoo  Creek  was 

3.  The  third,  to  be  called  the  Western  District,  will  drawn  from  two  large  rifled  cannon  at  the 

comprise  that  part  of  Florida  west  of  the  line  before  iower  battery  of  seven  guns.     The  Huron  and 

££Sft"  rT?1fJ^±S^Sefe5f^5i1  Pembina  were  anchored  within  range' of  these 


Georgia  line.  The  headquarters  of  this  district  will 
remain  at  Fort  Pickens,  as  at  present,  with  Brig.-Gen. 
L.  G.  Arnold  commanding. 


jjuns  and  within  three  miles  of  Charleston. 
From  their  mastheads  could  be  seen  a  dozen 
spires,  cupolas  and  observatories,  the  top-masts 
The  preparations,  commenced  by  Gen.  Sher-  of  two  or  three  large  ships,  and  nearly  all  the 
man  for  the  capture  of  Fort  Pulaski,  were  northwestern  part  of  the  city.  Qn  the  2d  of 
pushed  forward  by  Gen.  Hunter,  until  the  fort  June  the  military  advance  with  Gens.  Hunter 
surrendered  in  April,  as  has  been  above  de-  and  Benham  arrived  and  were  landed  on  James 
scribed.  The  subsequent  movements  under  Island,  to  await  the  corning  of  Gen.  Wright  with 
Gen.  Hunter  consisted  in  reconnoissances  in  cavalry,  artillery,  and  additional  infantry  from 
force  toward  Charleston.  The  southern  boun-  the  Edisto.  An  important  fortification  which 
dary  of  the  harbor  of  Charleston  is  formed  by  had  been  vacated  was  occupied  on  James  Island. 
James  Island.  This  island  is  bounded  on  the  On  the  5th  the  additional  forces  arrived,  and  a 
north  by  the  harbor  of  Charleston  and  the  series  of  skirmishes  ensued  for  the  next  ten 
Ashley  River,  on  the  northwest  by  Wappoo  days  both  on  James  and  John's  Islands.  On 
Creek,  on  the  south  and  southwest  by  Stono  the  13th  a  sharp  contest  occurred  between  sev- 
River,  and  on  the  east  are  a  few  small  islands  eral  new  York  and  Pennsylvania  regiments 
and  the  ocean.  Wappoo  Creek  connects  with  and  the  47th  Georgia. 

the  Ashley  River  in  the  immediate  rear  of  Meanwhile  a  diversion  was  made  by  a  small 
Charleston,  and  by  entering  Stono  River  and  Southern  force  against  Hilton  Head,  which 
into  Wappoo  Creek,  gunboats  can  reach  Charles-  caused  much  consternation  there,  but  effected 
ton.  The  next  island  south  of  importance  is  nothing  further. 

John's  Island,  and  the  next  Edisto1  Island.  Be-  It  was  soon  manifest  that  the  Confederate 
tween  these  and  Hilton  Head  are  a  number  of  force  had  been  increased,  and  nothing  of  im- 
islands  of  much  less  size.  Early  in  May  Com.  portance  could  be  further  effected  by  Gen. 
Dupont  ordered  the  channel  of  Stono  River  to  Hunter  without  reinforcements.  As  the  Gov- 
be  sounded  out  and  buoys  to  be  placed.  This  erhment  had  none  at  this  time  to  send,  not 
was  completed  on  the  20th  of  May,  and  the  being  able  to  reenforce  the  more  important 
gunboats  Unadilla,  Pembina,  and  Ottawa  crossed  army  in  Virginia,  military  operations  were 
the  bar  and  entered  the  river.  Along  the  comparatively  suspended, 
river,  owing  to  its  great  importance  as  a  means  Some  operations  of  the  South  Atlantic  and 
of  access  to  the  city,  a  vast  number  of  earth-  West  Gulf  squadrons  during  the  year  are 

worthy  of  notice  in  this  place.  On  the 
first  of  January  a  combined  attack  was 
made  by  land  and  water  upon  a  Con- 
federate post  at  Port  Royal  Ferry,  S.  C., 
the  naval  forces,  consisting  of  three  gun- 
boats, two  tugs,  and  four  armed  boats 
fifoni  the  Wa'bash,  being  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Commander  C.  R.  P.  Rogers. 

On  January  27th  a  fleet  of  two  gun- 
boats, four  armed  steamers,  and  two  armed 
launches  under  Fleet  Captain  C.  H.  Davis, 
accompanied  by  2,400  men  on  transports 
commanded  by  Brig.-Gen.  Wright,  made 
a  reconnoissance  of  Little  Tybee  River  and 
the  adjacent  waters,  with  a  view  of  pre- 
paring for  the  cutting  off  communication 
between  Fort  Pulaski  and  Savannah  and 
the  ultimate  capture  of  the  fort.  While  on 


152 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


this  duty  they  were  attacked  by  five  Confed- 
erate vessels  under  Commodore  Tatnall,  which 
they  repulsed  after  a  half  hour's  fight,  two  of 
the  enemy  being  driven  back  to  Savannah,  and 
the  others  running  under  the  guns  of  the  fort. 

On  April  29th  Lieut.  Rhind,  with  the  steamer 
E.  B.  Hale,  captured  and  destroyed  a  battery 
near  the  junction  of  the  Dawho,  Pow  Pow,  and 
South  Edisto  Rivers. 

On  May  13th  the  steam-tug  planter,  an  armed 
despatch  and  transportation  steamer  attached 
to  the  engineer  department  at  Charleston,  under 
Brig.-Gen.  Ripley,  was  brought  out  by  her 
pilot,  Robert  Small,  a  very  intelligent  slave, 
and  surrendered  to  the  blockading  squadron. 
She  had  on  board  eight  men,  five  women,  and 
three  children,  all  negroes,  and  was  armed  with 
a  32-pounder  pivot  gun  and  a  24-pounder 
howitzer,  besides  which  she  had  four  large 
guns,  one  of  them  belonging  to  Fort  Sumter, 
which  she  ^ias  to  have  transported  that  morn- 
ing to  the  new  fort  on  the  middle  ground.  At 
4  o'clock  in  the  morning,  while  the  captain  was 
on  shore,  she  left  her  wharf  with  Palmetto  and 
Confederate  flags  flying,  passed  the  forts,  salut- 
ing as  usual  by  blowing  her  strain  whistle,  and 
after  getting  out  of  reach  of  the  last  gun,  hauled 
down  the  Confederate  flags  and  hoisted  a  white 
one.  The  steamer,  from  her  excellent  ma- 
chinery and  light  draught,  proved  a  valuable 
acquisition  to  the  blockaders. 

On  the  19th,  Flag-Officer  Dupont,  having 
been  led  to  believe,  chiefly  by  the  information 
given  by  Robert  Small,  that  the  Confederates 
were  erecting  batteries  on  Stono  Inlet,  caused 
a  reconnoissance  to  be  made  which  established 
the  truth  of  the  report.  The  inlet  was  imme- 
diately occupied  by  the  gunboats  and  an  im- 
portant base  thus  secured  for  future  operations 
against  Charleston. 

The  military  forces  sent  to  occupy  Jackson- 
ville, Fla.,  after  its  capture  in  March,  .were  af- 
terwards withdrawn,  and  a  battery  was  planted 
by  the  Confederates  on  St.  John's  River,  some 
distance  below  the  town,  which  caused  con- 
siderable annoyance  to  the  gunboats  employed 
on  the  inside  blockade  of  the  river.  Com- 
mander Steedman  and  Gen.  Brannan  accord- 
ingly moved  on  the  30th  of  September  with  a 
joint  naval  and  land  force,  silenced  and  occu- 
pied the  battery,  capturing  nine  guns,  and  af- 
terwards ascended  the  river  as  far  as  Lake 
Beresford,  a  distance  of  two  hundred  and  thirty 
miles,  and  captured  a  transport  steamer. 

The  East  Gulf  squadron  was  under  the  com- 
mand of  Flag-Officer  McKeon.  Early  in  Janu- 
ary he  sent  the  steamer  Hatteras,  Commander 
Emmons,  to  Cedar  Keys,  where  about  the  10th 
she  captured  or  destroyed  a  quantity  of  artil- 
lery and  military  stores,  and  several  schooners, 
the  place  being  an  important  depot  of  the  enemy. 

In  the  latter  part  of  March  Commander  Stell- 
wagen  of  the  Mercedita  arrived  off  Appadachi- 
cola  with  that  vessel  and  the  Sagamore,  and 
organized  a  boat  expedition,  the  immediate  ob- 
ject of  which  was  the  capture  of  a  number  of 


vessels  understood  to  be  at  or  above  that  city. 
The  place,  however,  had  already  been  evacuated 
by  the  enemy's  troops,  and  the  expedition  met 
with  no  resistance.  The  inhabitants  received 
the  sailors  favorably  and  raised  the  United 
States  flag.  Several  vessels  were  brought  out 
and  others  were  destroyed. 

On  the  night  of  April  6th  a  boat  expedition 
from  the  bark  Pursuit,  under  Acting  Master 
Elnathan  Lewis,  surprised  and  captured  at  St. 
Andrew's  the  rebel  steamer  Florida,  of  five  hun- 
dred tons,  with  two  hundred  bales  of  cotton  on 
board,  and  brought  her  safely  out. 

On  the  4th  of  October  a  boat  expedition  from 
the  steamer  Somerset  proceeded  to  the  main 
land  near  Cedar  Keys  for  the  purpose  of  de- 
stroying some  salt  works,  but  was  fired  upon 
from  a  house  on  which  a  white  flag  was  flying, 
and  compelled  to  return  without  thoroughly 
accomplishing  their  purpose.  On  the  5th  a 
stronger  force,  consisting  of  four  boats  from  the 
Somerset  and  four  from  the  gunboat  Tahoma, 
landed  at  the  same  place,  completing  the  de- 
struction and  dispersing  a  small  guerrilla  force. 

The  movements  already  described  brought 
the  Federal  forces  into  more  immediate  con- 
tact with  the  slaves,  hence  the  questions  rela- 
tive to  the  political,  civil,  and  social  position 
of  "colored  persons  of  African  descent,"  be- 
came more  prominent  during  1862  than  in 
any  previous  period.  An  elaborate  opinion 
was  prepared  by  the  U.  S.  Attorney-Gen- 
eral, Mr.  Bates,  on  the  question,  "  Are  colored 
men  citizens  of  the  United  States? "  The  chief 
points  of  the  opinion  were — that  the  Constitu- 
tion does  not  define  the  word  citizen,  the  At- 
torney-General therefore  examines  history  and 
the  civil  law  from  the  existence  of  the  Roman 
Empire  to  the  present  day  to  discover  its  mean- 
ing. His  conclusion  is — that  all  free  persons, 
without  distinction  of  race  or  color,  if  native 
born,  are  citizens.  A  distinction  is  made  be- 
tween the  inherent  rights  of  citizens  and  the 
political  privileges  of  certain  classes.  All  citi- 
zens have  a  right  to  protection,  but  only  certain 
classes  enjoy  the  privileges  of  voting  and  hold- 
ing office.  Hitherto  not  only  the  public  but 
jurists  have  often  confounded  the  two.  A 
child  or  a  woman  is  a  citizen,  though  not  al- 
ways privileged  to  vote  or  hold  office.  The  .  . 
Dred  Scott  opinion  is  pronounced  void  and  of 
no  authority,  since  the  province  of  the  Supreme 
Court  was  only  to  settle  the  questions  of  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  Circuit  Court.  They  are 
simply  entitled  to  the  respect  due  to  the  views 
of  eminent  gentlemen,  and  no  more. 

In  Massachusetts,  Governor  Andrew  ordered 
negroes  to  be  enrolled  as  well  as  white  persons 
for  the  purpose  of  drafting  soldiers.  The  At- 
torney-General of  the  State  justified  the  order 
on  the  ground  that — "Congress  and  the  war 
department  both  leave  out  the  word  white  from 
the  description  of  the  class  to  be  enrolled." 
He  further  adds:  "The  only  possible  question 
now  open  is  whether  colored  men  are  citizens 
of  Massachusetts,  which  no  one,  I  presume,  will 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


153 


have  the  hardihood  to  deny,  inasmuch  as  they 
are  tax-payers,  voters,  jurors,  and  eligible  to 
office,  and  there  is  no  inequality  founded  on 
distinction  of  races  known  to  our  laws." 

On  the  other  hand  the  Circuit  Court  of  Illi- 
nois sitting  in  Montgomery  County  decided  that 
negroes  were  not  citizens. 

The  operations  of  the  Federal  forces  within 
slaveholding  States  necessarily  released  many 
slaves  from  the  restraints  of  their  masters.  The 
mass  of  them  took  advantage  of  this  circum- 
stance to  escape  from  servitude.  Their  presence 
within  the  Federal  lines  led  to  the  adoption  of 
various  measures  by  the  commanding  officers 
and  by  the  Federal  Government  relative  to 
them,  all  looking  toward  their  ultimate  freedom. 

In  January  the  Marshal  of  the  District  of 
Columbia  was  instructed  by  order  of  the  Presi- 
dent "not  to  receive  into  custody  any  persons 
claimed  to  be  held  to  service^r  labor  within  the 
District,  or  elsewhere,  and  not  charged  with 
any  crime  or  misdemeanor,  unless  upon  arrest 
or  commitment,  pursuant  to  law,  as  fugitives 
from  such  service  or  labor,  and  not  to  retain 
any  such  fugitives  in  custody  beyond  a  period 
of  thirty  days  from  their  arrest  and ,  commit- 
ment, unless  by  special  order  from  the  civil 
authority."  The  effect  of  this  order  was  to 
relieve  from  any  fears-  of  apprehension  all  the 
fugitives  that  had  escaped  to  the  District  from 
Virginia.  Thousands  of  slaves  flocked  to  the 
District  and  were  sustained  throughout  the 
year  by  rations  furnished  by  the  Government. 

In  Missouri,  Gen.  Halleck  had,  previous  to 
this  time,  issued  an  order  that  fugitive  slaves 
should  not  be  permitted  to  enter  the  lines  of 
any  camp,  or  any  forces  on  the  march.  This, 
order  occasioned  much  discussion,  especially  in 
Congress,  as  it  cut  off  an  opportunity  for  escape 
to  thousands  of  slaves.  It  was  explained  by 
Gen.  Halleck  in  these  words :  "  unauthorized 
persons,  black  or  white,  free  or  slave,  must  be 
kept  out  of  our  camps,  unless  we  are  willing 
to  publish  to  the  enemy  every  thing  we  do,  or 
intend  to  do." 

In  Arkansas,  Gen.  Curtis  issued  orders  of  im- 
mediate emancipation  under  confiscation  of  a 
number  of  slaves  who  had  been  at  work  for 
the  Confederate  Government  by  the  consent  of 
their  masters. 

Similar  orders  were  issued  by  Gen.  Hunter, 
under  like  circumstances,  in  the  Department  of 
South  Carolina.  These  were  extended  until  he 
at  length  issued  an  order  confiscating  and  eman- 
cipating all  the  slaves  in  his  military  district, 
embracing  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Florida. 
This  was  countermanded  by  the  President. 

At  Baton  Kouge,  in  Louisiana,  Brig.-Gen. 
Williams  issued  an  order  that,  in  consequence 
of  the  demoralizing  and  disorganizing  tenden- 
cies to  the  troops  of  harboring  runaway  ne- 
groes, the  commanders  should  turn  all  such 
fugitives  beyond  the  limits  of  their  respective 
guards  and  sentinels.  Col.  Paine  of  this  bri- 
gade refused  obedience,  and  justified  himself  by 
the  following  act  of  Congress : 


Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  the  United  States  of  America  in  Congress  as- 
sembled, That  hereafter  the  following  shall  be  pro- 
mulgated as  an  additional  article  of  war  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  Army  of  the  United  States,  and  snail 
be  obeyed  and  observed  as  such : 

ART.  — .  All  officers  or  persons  in  the  military  or 
naval  service  of  the-  United  States  are  prohibited 
from  employing  any  of  the  forces  under  their  re- 
spective commands  for  the  purpose  of  returning 
fugitives  from  service  or  labor  who  may  have  es- 
caped from  any  person  to  whom  such  service  or 
labor  is  claimed  to  be  due,  and  any  officer  who  shall 
be  found  guilty,  by  a  court-martial,  of  violating  this 
article,  shall  be  dismissed  from  the  service. 

SEC.  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  this  act  shall 
take  effect  from  and  after  its  passage. 

The  effect  of  all  the  regulations  adopted,  ex- 
cept in  Missouri  and  Baton  Eouge,  was  to  se- 
cure freedom  to  every  slave  that  would  make 
the  effort  to  obtain  it.  Wherever  permanent 
headquarters  for  Federal  troops  were  estab- 
lished within  slaveholding  States,  they  soon 
became  crowded  with  hundreds  and  thousands 
of  fugitive  slaves.  The  Government  was  im- 
mediately obliged  to  feed  them  or  starvation 
would  ensue.  At  Washington,  at  Fortress 
Monroe,  Newbern,  and  Port  Royal  were  large 
numbers  furnished  with  quarters  and  fed  at  the 
national  expense.  Various  schemes  were  de- 
vised for  the  occupation  of  these  negroes,  par- 
ticularly in  the  department  of  South  Carolina. 

Subsequently  the  Secretary  of  War  issued 
orders,  which  developed  the  following  plan  for 
a  social  experiment  with  the  negroes : 

General  Order  No.  17. 
HEAPQ'RB  E.  C.,  HILTON  HEAD,  8.  C.,  March  3, 1862. 

1.  Mr.  Edward  L.  Pierce  having  been  appointed  by 
the  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  General  Superin- 
tendent and  Director  of  all  persons  engaged  in  the 
cultivation  of  the  land  and  the  employment  of  the 
blacks,  he  is  hereby  announced  as  such. 

2.  The  following  instructions  to  the  general  com- 
manding are  hereby  published  for  the  information 
of  all  concerned;    and  commanding  officers  of  all 
posts  and  stations  within  the  limits  of  this  command, 
will  be  governed  in  strict  conformity  thereto : 

WAB  DEPARTMENT,  February  18, 1862. 
To   Gen.    T.    W.  Sherman,    Commanding   at   Port 
Eoyal,  S.  C.  ; 

GENERAL  :  You  are  hereby  directed  to  afford  pro- 
tection, subsistence,  and  facilities,  so  far  as  may  be 
consistent  with  the  interests  of  the  service  and  the 
duties  and  objects  of  your  command,  to  all  persons 
who  may  present  to  you  written  permits,  issued  to 
them  under  the  authority  of  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  setting  forth  that  said  persons  have  pro- 
ceeded to  Port  Royal  under  the  sanction  of  the  Gov- 
ernment, for  the  collection,  safe  keeping,  and  dispo- 
sition of  cotton,  rice,  and  other  property  abandoned 
by  the  possessors  within  your  military  department, 
and  for  the  regulation  and  employment  of  persons  of 
color  lately  held  to  service  or  labor  by  enemies  of  the 
United  States,  and  now  within  the  occupying  lines 
and  under  the  military  protection  of  the  army. 

Such  permits,  signed  by  the  Collector  of  Customs 
at  New  York  City,  will  be  considered  by  you  as 
emanating  from  the  Treasury  Department. 

Under  the  head  of  subsistence  will  be  included  ra- 
tions to  such  persons  as  may  be  employed  under  the 
direction  of  the  Treasury  Department,  in  the  tem- 
porary charge  of  the  abandoned  plantations ;  or,  with 
its  sanction,  to  labor  for  the  instruction  and  improve- 
ment of  the  laboring  population. 

ED  WIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 


154 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Several  societies  undertook  to  take  charge  of 
the  matter,  and  seventy-two  persons,  farmers, 
mechanics,  physicians,  and  teachers,  were  sent 
out  by  the  Government,  receiving  each  one 
ration  a  day  from  the  commissariat,  and  paid 
salaries  by  the  affiliated  societies.  They  were 
"  to  teach  Christianity  and  civilization  to  the 
freed  men  of  the'  colored  race,  to  imbue  them 
with  notions  of  order,  industry,  and  economy, 
and  self-reliance,  and  to  elevate  them  in  the 
scale  of  humanity,  by  inspiring  them  with  self- 
respect."  The  cost  of  rations  to  the  Govern- 
ment, a  part  of  which  were  consumed  in  this 
experiment,  was  estimated  at  $100,000  per  day. 
Educational  associations  were  formed  in  Boston 
and  other  places,  by  whom  the  teachers  were 
procured.  On  the  2d  of  June  the  agent,  E.  L. 
Pierce,  made  a  report  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  Mr.  Chase,  in  which  he  stated  that 
seventy  men  and  sixteen  women  were  engaged 
in  missionary  work  among  the  negroes,  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Treasury  Department.  The 
number  of  plantations  under  the  care  of  these 
persons  was  189,  having  on  them  9,050  Africans, 
classified  as  follows :  309  mechanics  and  house 
servants,  693  old,  sickly,  and  unable  to  work, 
8,619  children,  not  useful  for  field  labor,  4,429 
field  hands,  of  whom  3,202  were  full  hands,  295 
three-quarter  hands,  597  half  hands,  and  335 
quarter  hands.  The  amount  of  labor  perform- 
ed was  as  follows : 

The  aggregate  result  makes  (adding  the  negro 
patches  to  the  cornfields  of  the  plantations)  8,314.12 
acres  of  provisions  (corn,  potatoes,  &c.)  planted, 
4,489.11  acres  of  cotton  planted — in  all,  13,795.23 
acres  of  provisions  and  cotton  planted.  Adding  to 
these  the  2,394  acres  of  late  corn,  to  a  great  extent  for 
fodder,  cowpens,  &c.,  to  be  planted,  and  the  crop  of 
this  year  presents  a  total  of  16,189.2  acres.  The  crops 
are  growing,  and  are  in  good  condition. 

The  sum  of  $5,479  has  been  distributed  among 
4,030  negroes  in  payment  for  labor  on  the  plantations. 
The  rate  is  $1  per  acre  for  cotton. 

After  the  novelty  had  passed  away  very  little 
was  accomplished  by  the  slaves.  A  report  in 
September  makes  the  effective  hands  3,817, 
non-effective  3,110;  acres  of  corn,  6,444;  pota- 
toes, 1,407;  cotton,  3,384;  which  was  consider- 
ed more  than  enough  for  their  own  support, 
but  not  sufficient  to  reimburse  the  Government. 
The  whole  experiment  finally  failed,  and  was 
abandoned  by  order  of  Gen.  Hunter,  and  the 
negroes  fell  upon  the  Government  for  support. 

The  negroes  near  Fortress  Monroe  made  a 
better  use  of  their  advantages.  The  military 
commission  to  examine  into  their  condition, 
stated  that  by  the  report  of  the  provost  mar- 
shal at  Camp  Hamilton,  it  -appears  that  for  the 
five  months  ending  1st  January,  1862,  he  had 
drawn  rations  amounting  to  about  three  hun- 
dred and  eighty-three  per  day,  which  was  issued 
to  about  six  hundred  and  fifty  women  and 
children  and  old  infirm  men,  all  of  whom  re- 
turned little  or  no  equivalent  to  the  Govern- 
ment. But  since  the  1st  of  January  the  rations 
issued  there  have  not  exceeded  seventy,  and 
for  part  of  the  time  were  less  than  forty  per 


day.  As  a  consequence  the  negroes  have  been 
thrown  very  much  upon  their  own  exertions  to 
provide  for  themselves ;  and  the  commission  of 
inquiry  do  not  find  that  any  amount  of  suffering 
has  ensued ;  but  hi  many  instances  the  effort  at 
self-support  has  been  successful  and  improving. 
.  Schools  have  been  in  successful  operation  at 
Camp  Hamilton  under  the  charge  of  clergymen, 
assisted  by  other  teachers,  black  and  white, 
where  children  and  adults  were  daily  instructed 
in  reading,  writing,  and  the  elements  of  arith- 
metic ;  also  religious  instruction,  and  meetings 
were  regularly  held  on  Sunday  and  stated  even- 
ings during  the  week. 

Another  measure  undertaken,  in  order  to  put 
the  negroes  to  a  useful  purpose,  was  to  organize 
the  able-bodied  ones  into  regiments  of  soldiers. 
The  most  conspicuous  friends  of  the  negroes, 
who  have  long  urged  the  measure,  have  doubt- 
less hoped  that  s*  much  military  spirit  might 
thereby  be  infused  into  a  considerable  number 
as  to  qualify  them  to  strike  for  the  emancipa- 
tion of  their  race. 

On  the  9th  of  June  resolutions  of  inquiry 
relative  to  the  organization  of  a  negro  regiment 
in  South  Carolina  were  offered  in  the  House  of 
Representatives  in  Congress,  and  adopted  soon 
after.  The  resolution  was  referred  to  Gen.  Hun- 
ter by  the  secretary,  who  replied  as  follows : 

HEADQTTAKTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  SOUTH,  I 
POET  KOYAL,  B.  C..  June  23,  1862.     f 
Hon.  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Se<?y  of  War,  Washington  : 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  a  communication  from  the  adjutant-general  of  the 
army,  dated  June  13,  1862,  requesting  me  to  furnish 
you  with  the  information  necessary  to  answer  certain 
resolutions  introduced  in  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives, June  9,  1862,  on  motion  ot  the  Hon.  Mr.  Wick- 
lifie,  of  Kentucky,  their  substance  being  to  inquire — 

1st.  Whether  I  had  organized  or  was  organizing  a 
regiment  of  "fugitive  slaves"  in  this  department? 

2d.  Whether  any  authority  had  been  given  to  me 
from  the  War  Department  for  such  organization  ?  and 

3d.  Whether  I  had  been  furnished  by  order  of  the 
War  Department  with  clothing,  uniforms,  arms, 
equipments,  Ac.,  for  such  a  force? 

To  the  first  question,  therefore,  I  reply  that  no  regi- 
ment of  "fugitive  slaves"  has  been  or  is  being  or- 
ganized in  this  department.  There  is,  however,  a  fine 
regiment  of  persons  whose  late  masters  are  "fugitive 
rebels" — men  who  everywhere  fly  before  the  appear- 
ance of  the  national  flag,  leaving  their  servants  be- 
hind them  to  shift  as  best  they  can  for  themselves. 
So  far,  indeed,  are  the  loyal  persons  composing  this 
regiment  from  seeking  to  avoid  the  presence  of  their 
late  owners,  that  they  are  now,  one  and  all,  working 
with  remarkable  industry  to  place  themselves  in  a 
position  to  go  in  full  and  effective  pursuit  of  their 
fugacious  and  traitorous  proprietors. 

To  the  second  question  I  have  the  honor  to  answer 
that  the  instructions  given  to  Brig. -Gen.  T.  W.  Sher- 
man, by  the  Hon.  Simon  Cameron,  late  Secretary  of 
War,  and  turned  over  to  me  by  succession  for  my 
guidance,  do  distinctly  authorize  me  to  employ  all 
loyal  persons  offering  their  services  in  defence  of  the 
Union  and  for  the  suppression  of  this  rebellion,  in  any 
manner  I  might  see  fit,  or  that  the  circumstances 
might  call  for.  There  is  no  restriction  as  to  the  char- 
acter or  color  of  the  persons  to  be  employed,  or  the 
nature  of  the  employment,  whether  civil  or  military, 
in  which  their  services  should  be  used.  I  conclude, 
therefore,  that  I  have  been  authorized  to  enlist  "  fugi- 
tive slaves ' '  as  soldiers,  could  any  such  be  found  in  this 
department.  No  such  characters,  however,  have  vet 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


155 


appeared  within  view  of  our  most  advanced  packets ; 
the  loyal  slaves  everywhere  remaining  on  their  plan- 
tations to  welcome  us,  aid  us,  and  supply  us  with 
food,  labor,  and  information.  It  is  the  masters  who 
have  in  every  instance  been  the  "fugitives,"  running 
away  from  loyal  slaves  as  well  as  loyal  soldiers,  and 
whom  we  have  only  partially  been  able  to  see — chiefly 
their  heads  over  ramparts,  or,  rifle  in  hand,  dodging 
behind  trees — in  the  extreme  distance.  In  the  ab- 
sence of  any  "fugitive  master  law,"  the  deserted 
slaves  would  be  wholly  without  remedy  had  not  the 
crime  of  treason  given  them  the  right  to  pursue,  cap- 
ture, and  bring  back  those  persons  of  whose  protec- 
tion they  have  been  suddenly  bereft. 

To  the  third  interrogatory  it  is  my  painful  duty  to 
reply  that  I  never  have  received  any  specific  authority 
for  issues  of  clothing,  uniforms,  arms,  equipments,  and 
so  forth,  to  the  troops  in  question — my  general  instruc- 
tions from  Mr.  Cameron  to  employ  them  in  any  man- 
ner I  might  find  necessary,  and  the  military  exigencies 
of  the  department  and  the  country,  being  my  only,  but, 
in  my  judgment,  sufficient  justification.  Neither  have 
I  had  any  specific  authority  for  supplying  these  per- 
sons with  shovels,  spades,  and  pickaxes  when  employ- 
ing them  as  laborers,  nor  with  boats  and  oars  when 
using  them  as  lightermen ;  but  these  are  not  points 
included  in  Mr.  Wickliife's  resolutions.  To  me  it 
seemed  that  liberty  to  employ  men  in  any  particular 
capacity  implied  with  it  liberty  also  to  supply  them 
with  the  necessary  tools ;  and  acting  upon  this  faith 
I  have  clothed,  equipped,  and  armed  the  only  loyal 
regiment  yet  raised  in  South  Carolina. 

I  must  say,  in  vindication  of  my  own  conduct,  that 
had  it  not  been  for  the  many  other  diversified' and  im- 
perative claims  on  my  time  a  much  more  satisfactory 
result  might  have  been  hoped  for ;  and  that  in  place 
of  only  one,  as  at  present,  at  least  five  or  six  well- 
drilled,  brave,  and  thoroughly  acclimated  regiments 
should  by  this  time  have  been  added  to  the  loyal  forces 
of  the  Union. 

The  experiment  of  arming  the  blacks,  so  far  as  I 
have  made  it,  has  been  a  complete  and  even  marvellous 
success.  They  are  sober,  docile,  attentive,  and  enthu- 
siastic, displaying  great  natural  capacities  for  acquir- 
ing the  duties  of  the  soldier.  They  are  eager  beyond 
all  things  to  take  the  field  and  be  led  into  action ;  and 
it  is  the  unanimous  opinion  of  the  officers  who  have 
had  charge  of  them,  that  in  the  peculiarities  of  this 
climate  and  country  they  will  prove  invaluable  aux- 
iliaries, fully  equal  to  the  similar  regiments  so  long 
and  successfully  used  by  the  British  authorities  in 
the  West  India  Islands. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  say  it  is  my  hope — there  ap- 
pearing no  possibility  of  other  reenforcements  owing 
to  the  exigencies  of  the  campaign  in  the  Peninsula — 


to  have  organized  by  the  end  of  next  fall,  and  to  be 
able  to  present  to  the  Government,  from  forty-eight 
to  fifty  thousand  of  these  hardy  and  devoted  soldiers. 
Trusting  that  this  letter  may  form  part  of  your  an- 
swer to  Mr.  -Wickliffe's  resolutions,  I  have  the  honor 
to  be,  most  respectfully,  your  very  obedient  servant, 
D.  HUNTER,  Major-General  Commanding. 

On  the  18th  of  October  Gen.  Saxton,  in  com- 
mand of  the  Department,  issued  an  order  to 
organize  the  1st  regiment  of  South  Carolina  vol- 
unteers as  soon  as  possible.  The  enlisting  of  the 
negroes  had  proceeded  very  slowly.  Thirteen 
dq^lars  a  month,  with  army  rations  and  clothing, 
was  to  be  the  pay  of  the  soldier.  By  the  close 
of  the  year  the  regiment  was  completed. 

The  attempt  was  made  in  Kansas  by  Gen. 
Lane  to  enlist  negroes,  but  it  failed  of  success. 

An  attempt  was  made  by  Gen.  Sprague,  of 
Rhode  Island,  to  raise  a  regiment  of  free  ne- 
groes, but  it  met  with  no  success.  An  attempt 
was  also  made  at  New  Orleans  to  organize, 
negro  troops,  but  at  the  close  of  the  year  it 
was  still  an  experiment. 

Another  measure  proposed  relative  to  the 
slaves  was  their  colonization  in  Chiriqui,  in 
Central  America.  For  this  purpose  Senator 
Pomroy,  of  Kansas,  who  had  been,  very  suc- 
cessful in  organizing  "Emigrant  Aid  Expedi- 
tions" from  Massachusetts  at  the  time  of  the 
Kansas  disturbances,  received  a  kind  of  general 
permission  from  the  President  to1  settle  at  any 
suitable  point  within  the  tropics,  being  charged 
"  to  maintain  the  honor  of  the  republic  abroad." 
Some  progress  was  made  in  organizing  this  en- 
terprise, but  it  was  abandoned.  Another  meas- 
ure proposed  was  the  removal  of  a  portion  of 
those  at  Fortress  Monroe  to  Massachusetts  and 
other  Northern  States,  both  for  "humane  and 
military  reasons." 

Notwithstanding  all  the  measures  proposed, 
the  Southern  slaves  remained  a  great  burden  on 
the  hands  of  the  Government,  excepting  those 
who  had  pressed  forward  to  the  free  States,  al- 
ready well  supplied  with  white  labor.  The  ac- 
tion of  the  President  relative  to  emancipation 
will  be  stated  in  a  subsequent  page. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


Military  Operations  In  Missouri  and  Arkansas — Advance  of  Gen.  Curtis — His  Address  to  the  People  of  the  Southwest — Bat- 
tle of  Pea  Kldge — Ketrcat  of  Gen.  Price — Further  Operations — Advance  of  the  Fleet  against  Columbus,  Ky. — Evacuated 
—Further  progress  down  the  Mississippi— Island  No.  10 :  its  Bombardment— Gunboats  pass  the  Batteries  in  the  night- 
Evacuation  of  the  Island— Advance  of  the  Fleet  toward  Memphis — Naval  Battle  before  the  City — Its  Surrender — Occu- 
pied by  Federal  Troops — Proceedings  during  the  Tear. 


UP  to  this  time  movements  of  some  import- 
ance had  taken  place  in  Missouri  and  Arkansas. 
Two  sharp  skirmishes  took  place — the  one  at 
Mount  Zion,  eighteen  miles  southwest  of  Stur- 
geon, on  December  28,  1861,  and  the  other 
near  Fayette,  on  January  8,  1862.  In  the 
former  Brig.-Gen.  Prentiss  commanded,  and 
in  the  latter  Major  Torneru.  They  produced 
no  special  influence  on  the  campaign  in  that 


department.  On  the  29th  of  January,  Gen. 
Earl  Vaa  Dorn  took  command  of  the  Con- 
federate forces  in  the  trans-Mississippi  dis- 
trict, which  comprised  a  considerable  portion 
of  the  State  of  Missouri,  with  his  headquarters 
at  Little  Rock.  On  the  preceding  day,  the  di- 
vision of  the  Union  army  under  the  command 
of  Col.  Jeff.  C.  Davis  left  Marseilles  for  Spring- 
field. It  consisted  of  four  regiments — the  8tb 


156 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


and  _22d  Indiana,  87th  Illinois,  and  9th  Mis- 
souri, with  two  batteries,  and  three  compa- 
nies of  cavalry.  The  other  forces  immediately 
moved  forward,  and  combined  under  Gen. 
Curtis.  On  the  llth  of  February  this  army 
moved  forward  from  Lebanon,  formed  in  three 
divisions — the  right  under  Col.  Davis,  the  cen- 
tre under  Gen.  Sigel,  and  the  left  under  Ool. 
Carr.  Six  miles  from  Springfield  on  the  12th, 
a  skirmish  took  place  between  the  advance  of 
this  force  and  a  body  of  Confederate  troops, 
with  serious  loss  to  both  sides.  During  toe 
night  a  continuous  fire  was  kept  up  between 
the  pickets.  On  the  next  morning  the  Con- 
federate force  had  retreated,  and  Gen.  Curtis 
occupied  Springfield  without  opposition.  About 
six  hundred  sick  and  a  large  amount  of  stores 
were  left  behind  by  the  Confederate  General 
Price.  Gen.  Halleck,  in  command  of  this  de- 
.  partment,  sent  the  following  despatch  to  the 
commander-in-chief,  Gen.  McClellan,  at  Wash- 
ington : 

ST.  Louis,  February  14,  1862. 

The  flag  of  the  Union  floats  over  the  court  house  in 
Springfield.  The  enemy  retreated  after  a  short  en- 
gagement, leaving  a  large  amount  of  stores  and  equip- 
ments, which  were  captured  by  Gen.  Curtis.  Our  cav- 
alry are  in  close  pursuit. 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  Major-General. 

Such  had  been  Gen.  Halleck's  skilful  man- 
agement of  this  department,  that  a  few  days 
previous  he  had  received  the  following  despatch 
from  the  Secretary  of  War : 

"WASHINGTON,  February  8,  1862. 
Maj.-Gen.  Halleck,  St.  Louis:  Your  energy  and 
ability  received  the  strongest  commendation  of  this 
Department.  You  have  my  perfect  confidence,  and 
you  may  rely  upon  my  utmost  support  in,  your  un- 
dertakings. The  pressure  of  my  engagements  has 
prevented  me  from  writing  you,  but  I  will  do  so  fully 
in  a  day  or  two. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

As  Gen.  Price  retreated  Gen.  Curtis  followed 
rapidly  in  pursuit.  On  the  16th  his  army  had 
advanced  sixty-nine  miles  south  of  Springfield, 
and  on  the  18th  had  crossed  the  Arkansas  line. 
Several  skirmishes  took  place  in  the  mountain 
defiles.  The  following  despatch  was  sent  to 
Washington  by  Gen.  Halleck : 

ST.  LOOTS,  February  18, 1862. 
To  Maj.-Gen.  McClellan,  Washington: 

The  flag  of  the  Union  is  floating  in  Arkansas.  Gen. 
Curtis  haawlriven  Price  from  Missouri,  and  is  several 
miles  across  the  Arkansas  line,  cutting  up  Price's 
rear,  and  hourly  capturing  prisoners  and  stores.  The 
army  of  the  Southwest  is  doing  its  duty  nobly. 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  Major-General. 

On  the  19th  Gen.  Price  had  been  reenforced 
by  Gen.  McCulloch,  and  made  a  stand  at  Sugar 
Creek  crossing,  but  was  defeated  after  a  short 
engagement,  and  retreated.  Squads  of  recruits 
from  Missouri,  on  their  way  to  join  the  Con- 
federate force,  were  captured  at  this  time, 
among  whom  was  Brig.-Gen.  Edward  Price, 
eon  of  Gen.  Price.  On  the  26th  Gen.  Price  had 
been  driven  from  his  stronghold  at  Cross  Hol- 
lows, leaving  his  sick  and  wounded,  and  such 
Btores  as  he  could  not  destroy.  He  burned  his 


extensive  barracks  at  that  place.  The  Federal 
forces  had  now,  for  some  days,  been  subsisting 
chiefly  on  provisions  which  they  had  captured. 

On  the  27th,  Gen.  Halleck  sent  the  following 
despatch  to  Washington : 

HEADQUARTERS,  ST.  Louis,  February  27. 
May. -Gen.  McClellan: 

Gen.  Curtis  has  taken  possession  of  Fayetteville,  Ar- 
kansas, capturing  a  large  number  of  prisoners,  stores, 
baggage,  &c. 

The  enemy  burnt  a  part  of  the  town  before  they  left. 
They  have  crossed  the  Boston  Mountains  in  great  con- 
fusion. We  are  now  in  possession  of  all  their  strong- 
holds. 

Forty-two  officers  and  men  of  the  Fifth  Missouri  cav- 
alry were  poisoned  at  Mud  Town  by  eating  poisoned 
food  which  the  rebels  left  behind  them.  The  gallant 
Capt.  Dolfort  died,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Von  Dutch  and 
Capt.  Lehman  have  suffered  much,  but  are  recovering. 
The  anger  of  our  soldiers  is  very  great,  but  they 
have  been  restrained  from  retaliating  upon  the  prison- 
ers of  war.  H.  W.  HALLECK,  Major-General. 

Gen.  Price  thus  reported  his  retreat  from 
Missouri,  under  date  of  Feb.  25 : 

"  About  the  latter  part  of  January  my  scouts 
reported  that  the  enemy  were  concentrating  in 
force  at  Rolla,  and  shortly  thereafter  they  oc- 
cupied Lebanon.  Believing  that  this  move- 
ment could  be  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  at- 
tack me,  and  knowing  that  my  command  was 
inadequate  for  such  successful  resistance  as  the 
interests  of  my  army  and  the  cause  demand- 
ed, I  appealed  to  the  commanders  of  the  Con- 
federate troops  in  Arkansas  to  come  to  my  as- 
sistance. This,  from  correspondence,  I  was 
led  confidently  to  expect,  and  relying  upon  it, 
I  held  my  position  to  the  last  moment,  and,  as 
the  sequel  proved,  almost  too  long;  for  on 
Wednesday,  February  12,  my  pickets  were 
driven  in,  and  reported  the  enemy  advancing 
upon  me  in  force.  No  resource  was  now  left 
me  except  retreat,  without  hazarding  all  with 
greatly  unequal  numbers  upon  the  result  of  one 
engagement.  This  I  deemed  it  unwise  to  do. 
I  commenced  retreating  at  once.  I  reached 
Cassville  with  loss  unworthy  of  mention  in 
any  respect.  Here  the  enemy  in  my  rear  com- 
menced a  series  of  attacks  running  through 
four  days.  Retreating  and  fighting  all  the 
way  to  the  Cross  Hollows  in  this  State,  I  am 
rejoiced  to  say  my  command,  under  the  most 
exhausting  fatigue,  all  the  time  with  but  little 
rest  for  either  man  or  horse,  and  no  sleep,  sus- 
tained themselves,  and  came  through,  repulsing 
the  enemy  upon  every  occasion  with  great  de- 
termination and  gallantry.  My  loss  does  not 
exceed  four  to  six  killed  and  some  fifteen  to 
eighteen  wounded." 

On  the  1st  of  March,  Gen.  Curtis  issued  the 
following  address  to  the  people  of  the  South- 
west: 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OP  THE  SOUTHWEST,  ) 
CAMP  HAILECK,  ARK.,  March  1, 1862.      J 
I  have  received  a  private  communication  from  an  in 
telligent  writer,  a  citizen  of  Arkansas,  who  says :  "  We, 
as  citizens,  have  left  our  homes  and  firesides  for  the 
purpose,  as  we  supposed,  of  having  to  defend  ourselves 
against  a  brutal  soldiery  that  would  lay  waste  our  hum- 
ble homes,  and  outrage  the  chastity  of  our  wives  and 
daughters,  and  place  our  own  lives  in  jeopardy.    We 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


157 


have  organized  what  is  called  Home  Guard  Companies, 
partly  01  Union  men  and  partly  of  Southern  men,  all 
of  whom  are  anxious  to  return  to  their  homes.  We 
are  happy  to  find  that  you  and  your  men  are  not  com- 
posed ot'thatclass  of  persons  commonly  called  jayhawk- 
ers,  who  do  not  regard  the  rights  of  citizens  and  prop- 
erty, but  confine  the  war  to  its  legitimate  object. 

The  falsehoods  circulated  concerning  us  have  driven 
thousands  from  their  homes,  and  I  take  the  liberty  of 
responding  publicly  to  the  sentiments  expressed  by  the 
writer,  because  these  falsehoods  have  involved  the 
whole  community  in  the  troubles  which  he  seeks  to 
mitigate. 

The  only  legitimate  object  of  the  war  is  peace,  and 
the  writer  only  does  me  justice  when  he  says  I  adhere 
to  this  legitimate  object.  Peaceable  citizens  shall  be 
protected  as  far  as  possible.  I  act  under  strict  orders 
of  Maj.-Gen.  Halleck.  The  flight  of  our  foes  from 
their  camps,  and  the  imitation  of  their  conduct  by  the 
citizens,  in  fleeing  from  their  homes,  leaving  their  ef- 
fects abandoned  as  it  were  for  the  victors,  have  much 
embarrassed  me  in  my  efforts  to  preserve  discipline  in 
my  command,  as  these  circumstances  offered  extraor- 
dinary temptations. 

The  burning  of  farms  and  fields  of  grain  in  Missouri, 
and  extensive  barracks  and  valuable  mills  in  Arkansas 
by  the  enemy,  has  induced  some  resentments  on  the 
part  of  my  troops,  which  I  have  severely  punished. 
Necessary  supplies  for  my  command  could  not  keep 
up  with  my  rapid  movements,  and  peaceable  citizens 
not  being  at  home  to  sell  them  to  my  quartermasters, 
I  am  compelled  to  take  them  without  purchase,  mak- 
ing settlement  difficult  and  doubtful ;  occasioning  ir- 
regularities which  I  have  always  labored  to  counteract. 
If  peaceably  disposed  citizens  will  stay  at  home,  or  re- 
turn homeland  check  the  clandestine,  stealthy  warfare 
that  is  carried  on  under  the  cover  and  cloak  of  peace- 
able citizens,  much  of  the  havoc  of  war  will  be  avoided, 
and  many  poor  families  can  be  protected  from  distress 
and  misery.  I  have  followed  the  war-path  through 
the  entire  State  of  Missouri,  have  seen  the  havoc  and 
devastation  surrounding  it,  and  I  deplore  the  prospect 
of  these  disasters  in  the  virgin  soil  of  Arkansas. 

Armed  men,  in  the  garb  of  citizens,  are  concealed 
by  citizens,  and  the  unfortunate  condition  of  Missouri 
will  be  transferred  to  Arkansas,  if  you  allow  this  com- 
plicity of  yourselves  in  the  struggle.  If  you  do  not 
discriminate  by  requiring  soldiers  to  wear  some  dis- 
tinctive badge,  you  must  not  complain  if  we  cannot 
discriminate. 

There  is  no  honor,  no  glory,  no  good  that  can  be 
gained  by  taking  u$>  arms  m  this  way,  to  defend  your 
homes,  for  we  do  not  wish  to  molest  them  if  you  are 
peaceably  disposed.  We  only  wish  to  put  down  rebel- 
lion by  making  war  against  those  in  arms,  their  aiders 
and  abettors.  We  come  to  vindicate  the  Constitution, 
to  preserve  and  perpetuate  civil  and  religious  liberty, 
under  a  flag  that  was  embalmed  in  the  blood  of  our 
Revolutionary  fathers.  Under  that  flag  we  have  lived 
in  peace  and  prosperity  until  the  flag  of  rebellion  in- 
volved us  in  the  horrors  of  civil  war. 

We  have  restored  the  Stars  and  Stripes  to  north- 
western Arkansas,  where  I  am  glad  to  find  many  who 
rejoice  to  see  the  emblem  of  their  former  glory,  and 
hope  for  a  restoration  of  the  peace  and  happiness  they 
have  enjoyed  under  its  folds.  A  surrender  to  such  a 
flag  is  only  a  return  to  your  natural  allegiance,  and  is 
more  honorable  than  to  persist  in  a  rebellion  that  sur- 
rendered to  the  national  power  at  Forts  Henry  and 
Donelson,  at  Nashville  and  at  Roanoke,  and  throughout 
the  most  powerful  Southern  States.  Why  then  shall 
the  West  be  devastated  to  prolong  a  struggle  which 
the  States  of  Maryland,  Virginia,  Kentucky,  North 
Carolina,  and  Tennessee  cannotrsuccessfully maintain? 
Disband  your  companies ;  surrender  your  arms ;  for 
in  all  instances  where  men  in  arms  have  voluntarily 
surrendered  and  taken  'the  oath  of  allegiance  to  our 
common  country,  they  have  been  discharged.  No  pris- 
oners have,  to  my  knowledge,  been  shot  or  hung,  or 
cruelly  treated  by  us. 
I  know  of  no  instance  where  my  troops  have  treated 


females  with  violence,  and  I  have  not  heard  of  a  con> 
plaint  of  any  kind.  I  enjoin  on  the  troops  kindness, 
protection,  and  support  for  women  and  children.  I 
shall,  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  maintain  our  country's 
flag  in  Arkansas,  and  continue  to  make  relentless  war 
on  its  foes,  but  shall  rejoice  to  see  the  restoration  of 
peace  in  all  the  States  and  Territories  of  our  country 
— that  peace  which  we  formerly  enjoyed  and  earnestly 
desire ;  and  I  implore  for  each  and  all  of  us  that  ulti- 
mate, eternal  peace  "  which  the  world  cannot  give  or 
take  away."  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

SAMUEL  R.  CURTIS, 
Brig. -Gen.  Commanding  Army  of  the  Southwest. 

On  reaching  Arkansas  the  forces  of  Gen. 
Price  were  rapidly  reenforced  by  regiments 
which  had  been  stationed  in  Arkansas  and  the 
Indian  Territory.  Knowing  this  fact,  Gen. 
Curtis  expected  an  attack  would  soon  be  made 
upon  him.  He  therefore  selected  Sugar  Greek, 
as  the  strongest  of  several  strong  places  taken 
from  the  enemy,  to  make  a  stand  against  any 
and  all  odds.  The  position  of  Gen.  Curtis's 
force  on  the  6th  of  March  was  as  follows: 
The  first  and  second  divisions,  under  Gens. 
Sigel  and  Asboth,  were  four  miles  southwest 
of  Bentonville  under  general  orders  to  move 
round  to  Sugar  Greek  about  fourteen  miles 
east.  The  third  division,  under  Col.  Jeff.  0. 
Davis,  had  moved  to  take  position  at  Sugar 
Creek,  under  orders  to  make  some  preparatory 
arrangements  and  examinations  for  a  stand 
against  the  enemy.  The  fourth  division  was  at 
Cross  Hollows  under  command  of  Col.  E.  A. 
Carr,  about  twelve  miles  from  Sugar  Creek  on 
the  main  telegraph  road  from  Springfield  to 
Fayetteville.  The  number  of  his  force  is  stated 
by  Gen.  Curtis  to  have  been  not  more  than 
10,500  cavalry  and  infantry  with  forty-nine 
pieces  of  artillery.  The  following  were  the 
forces  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge :  1st 
division,  under  command  of  Col.  Osterhaus, — 
36th  Illinois,  12th  Missouri,  17th  Missouri,  bat- 
talion of  3d,  two  battalions  of  Benton  Hussars 
cavalry,  one  battalion  39th  Illinois  cavalry,  bat- 
teries A  and  B,  twelve  guns.  A  brigade,  con- 
sisting of  the  25th  and  44th  Illinois,  was  com- 
manded by  Col.  Coler.  Another  brigade  was 
commanded  by  Col.  Greusel. 

The  second  division,  commanded  by  Brig.- 
Gen.  Asboth,  consisted  of  the  2d  Missouri,  Ool. 
Schaefer;  2d  Ohio  battery,  six  guns,  Lieut. 
Chapman ;  15th  Missouri,  Col.  Joliet;  6th  Mis- 
souri cavalry,  Col.  Wright;  light  battery  of 
six  guns,  Capt.  Elbert ;  battalion  4th  Missouri 
cavalry,  Maj.  Messaur.  These  two  divisions 
were  commanded  by  Gen.  Sigel. 

The  third  division,  commanded  by  Brig.-Gen. 
Jeff.  0.  Davis,  consisted  of  2  brigades :  the  1st, 
commanded  by  Col.  Barton,  was  composed  of 
the  8th,  18th  and  22d  Indiana,  and  an  Indiana 
battery  of  six  guns.  The  2d  brigade,  command- 
ed by  Col.  White,  was  composed  of  the  37th  Illi- 
nois, 9th  Missouri,  1st  Missouri  cavalry,  and  a 
battery  of  four  guns. 

The  fourth  division,  commanded  by  Col.  Carr, 
consisted  of  2  brigades ;  the  1st,  commanded  by 
Col.  Dodge,  was  composed  of  the  4th  Iowa,  35tb 


158 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Illinois,  and  an  Iowa  battery.  The  2d  brigade, 
commanded  by  Ool.  Vandever,  consisted  of  the 
9th  Iowa,  25th  Missouri,  3d  Illinois  cavalry,  and 
a  battery.  There  were  also  two  battalions  of 
the  Iowa  3d  cavalry  and  a  mountain  howitzer 
battery  of  four  guns.  A  considerable  number  of 
sick  soldiers  belonging  to  many  .of  these  regi- 
ments had  been  left  at  Rolla  and  Lebanon. 

On  the  5th  of  March,  a  cold,  blustering  day, 
snow  having  fallen  so  as  to  cover  the  ground, 
as  Gen.  Curtis  was  engaged  in  writing,  not  ap- 
prehending an  immediate  attack,  he  was  in- 
formed by  scouts  and  fugitive  citizens  that  the 
enemy  were  rapidly  approaching  to  give  battle. 
His  cavalry  would  be  at  Elm  Springs,  twelve 
miles  distant,  that  night,  and  his  infantry  had 
then  passed  Fayetteville.  Couriers  were  im- 
mediately sent  to  Gen.  Sigel  and  Col.  Oarr  to 
move  with  their  divisions  to  Sugar  Creek. 

The  Confederate  forces  were  under  the  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Van  Dorn,  who  had  arrived  at 
their  camp  on  the  2d  of  March.  They  were  stat- 
ed to  be  composed  of  between  twenty -five  and 
thirty  thousand  men,  as  follows:  Missouri  troops 
under  Brig.-Gen.  Price ;  Arkansas,  Louisiana, 
and  Texan  troops  under  Brig.-Gen.  McCulloch ; 
Choctaw,  Cherokee,  and  Chickasaw  Indians  un- 
der Brig.-Gen.  Pike. 

Gen.  Sigel,  upon  receiving  the  orders  of 
Gen.  Curtis  to  march  to  Sugar  Creek,  and  be- 
coming aware  of  the  dangerous  positicfn  of  his 
command,  immediately  ordered  Col.  Schsefer 
to  break  up  his  carnp,  and  send  the  cavalry 
company  to  Osage  Springs  to  cover  his  right 
flank  and  to  march  with  his  regiment  to  Ben- 
tonville.  All  the  other  troops  he  ordered  to 
be  prepared  to  march  at  two  o'clock  on  the 
next  morning.  Commencing  his  march  in  the 
morning,  he  reached  Bentonville,  and,  retaining 
a  small  force  to  set  as  a  rear  guard,  he  sent  his 
train  forward.  At  ten  o'clock  it  was  reported 
that  large  masses  of  troops,  consisting  of  in- 
fantry and  cavalry,  were  moving  from  all  sides 
toward  the  front  and  both  flanks  of  the  rear 
guard  at  Bentonville.  By  a  mistake  a  part  of 
this  force  designed  to  act  as  rear  guard  had 
gone  forward,  leaving  about  six  hundred  men 
with  five  pieces  of  the  light  battery.  These 
troops  were  ordered  by  Gen.  Sigel  to  march 
in  the  following  order :  two  companies  of  the 
12th  Missouri  regiment  at  the  head  of  the 
column  (feployed  on  the  right  and  left  as 
skirmishers,  followed  by  the  light  battery ;  one 
company  of  the  same  regiment  on  the  right 
and  one  on  the  left  of  the  pieces,  marching  by 
the  flank,  and  prepared  to  fire  by  ranks  to 
the  right  and  left,  the  remainder  of  the  regi- 
ment being  behind  the  pieces ;  two  companies 
of  cavalry  to  support  the  infantry  on  the  right 
and  left,  and  the  rest  of  the  cavalry  with  one 
piece  of  artillery  following  in  the  rear.  Thus 
the  troops  advanced  slowly  in  this  formation, 
modified  from  time  to  time  according  to  cir- 
cumstances, fighting  and  repelling  the  enemy  in 
front,  on  the  flanks,  and  rear,  whenever  he  stood 
or  attacked,  for  five  hours  and  a  half,  when  re- 


enforcements  from  Gen.  Curtis  arrived.  What 
made  this  march  a  more  difficult  achievement, 
was  the  condition  of  the  roads,  which  were  in 
many  places  very  narrow  and  badly  cut  up. 
This  movement  brought  Gen.  Sigel's  division 
to  the  west  end  of  Pea  Ridge,  where  he  formed 
a  junction  with  Gen.  Davis  and  Col.  Carr. 

On  this  day  Gen.  Curtis  had  been  engaged 
in  diligently  preparing  earthwork  defences 
and  cutting  timber  to  check  the  progress 
of  the  enemy  along  the  Fayetteville  road, 
where  they  were  confidently  expected  by  him. 
But  during  the  day  and  the  ensuing  night  Gen. 
Van  Dorn  moved  his  entire  army  around  the 
west  side  of  Gen.  Curtis's  army,  so  that  Gen. 
Price  occupied  the*  Fayetteville  road  north  of 
Gen.  Curtis's  camp,  while  Gens.  McCulloch  and 
Mclntosh  lay  north  of  Gen.  Sigel.  Thus  the 
Confederate  forces  fronted  south,  and  -the  divi- 
sion under  Gen.  Price  formed  their  left  wing. 
The  distance  apart  of  the  main  bodies  of  the 
two  wings  of  each  army  was  nearly  three  miles, 
thus  forming  in  fact  four  distinct  armies. 
Gens.  Van  Dorn  and  Price  were  opposed  to 
Gen.  Curtis,  who  had  with  him  Gen.  Davis  and 
Cols.  Carr  and  Asboth,  leaving  one  division 
to  Gen.  Sigel  opposed  to  Gens.  McCulloch 
and  Mclntosh.  Gen.  Curtis  was  thus  com- 
pelled to  make  a  change  of  front,  and  formed 
it  almost  two  miles  further  north  and  resting 
on  the  brow  of  a  range  of  hills  fronting 
north,  called  Pea  Ridge.  In  this  position  the 
enemy  occupied  the  line  of  retreat  for  Gen. 
Curtis,  if  defeated.  The  battle  commenced  on 
the  7th  on  the  right  of  Gen.  Curtis's  column, 
and  raged  furiously  during  the  entire  day.  The 
brunt  of  it  was  borne  by  Col.  Carr's  division. 
The  Confederate  forces,  owing  to  their  superior 
numbers,  the  numerous  and  deep  ravines  and 
the  thick  brush  which  covered  the  hills,  suc- 
ceeded in  driving  the  Union  right  from  the 
ground  occupied  in  the  morning,  with  a  severe 
loss  on  both  sides.  They  encamped  on  the 
battle  ground  during  the  night,  and  the  right 
wing  of  Gen.  Curtis  fell  back  nearly  a  mile. 
The  field  occupied  by  this  portion  of  both 
armies  during  the  day  did  not  exceed  three 
fourths  of  a  mile  in  diameter. 

On  the  left  wing  Gen.  McCulloch  commenced 
in  the  morning  by  moving  his  force  to  the  south 
and  east,  evidently  intending  to  form  a  junc- 
tion with  Gens.  Van  Dorn  and  Price.  Gen. 
Sigel,  perceiving  this  movement  and  the  effect 
it  would  have  toward  surrounding  the  Federal 
force,  sent  forward  three  pieces  of  light  artil- 
lery, with  a  supporting  force  of  cavalry,  to  take 
a  commanding  position  and  delay  the  move- 
ment of  the  enemy  until  the  infantry  could  be 
brought  into  proper  position  for  an  attack. 
Hardly  had  the  artillery  obtained  their  position 
and  opened  fire,  when  an  overwhelming  force 
of  the  enemy's  cavalry  came  down^upon  them, 
scattering  the  cavalry  and  capturing  the  ar- 
tillery. This  terrible  onslaught  of  the  enemy 
allowed  their  infantry  to  reach  unmolested  the 
cover  of  a  dense  wood.  On  the  west  of  this 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


159 


wood  was  a  large  open  field.  Hore  and  in  the 
surrounding  wood  a  protracted  struggle  ensued 
between  Gen.  McCulloch  and  the  forces  of 
Col.  Osterhaus.  But  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Davis's 
force,  as  a  reenforcement,  so  strengthened  Gen. 
Sigel  that  the  enemy  were  finally  routed  and 
driven  in  all  directions.  At  the  same  time 
Gens.  McCulloch  and  Mclntosh  and  a  number 
of  the  Confederate  officers  were  killed. 

Thus  the  right  wing  of  Gen.  Curtis  was  de- 
feated, and  his  left  was  victorious.  The  dis- 
cipline of  the  right  wing,  however,  was  such  as 
to  keep  the  troops  completely  together,  while 
the  right  wing  of  the  enemy,  .which  was  de- 
feated, was  greatly  disorganized  in  consequence 
of  their  loss  of  officers  and  lack  of  discipline. 
During  the  night  all  the  Confederate  forces 
formed  a  junction  on  the  ground  held  by  their 
left  wing,  which  was  a  strong ,  position,  and 
they  felt  confident  of  a  complete  victory  on 
the  next  day.  On  the  Federal  side  the  pros- 
pect was  gloomy.  The  night  was  too  col4  to 
sleep  without  fires,  and  their  position  and  near- 
ness to  the  enemy  would  not  allow  fires  along 
the  advance  lines.  The  men  were  exhausted 
by  two  days'  fighting  and  the  loss  of  sleep. 
The  enemy's  forces,  in  far  superior  numbers, 
held  the  only  road  for  their  retreat,  and  nearly 
a  thousand  of  their  companions  were  dead  or 
wounded.  No  alternative  was  presented  to 
them  but  to  conquer  or  be  destroyed. 

"With  the  rising  sun  the  battle  commenced. 
Col.  Carr's  division  had  been  reenforced  by  a 
large  part  of  that  of  Gen.  Davis,  thus  ena- 
bling the  right  barely  to  hold  its  position.  Gen. 
Sigel  began  to  form  his  line  of  battle  by  chang- 
ing his  front  so  as  to  face  the  right  flank  of  the 
enemy's  position.  For  this  purpose  he  first 
ordered  the  25th  Illinois,  Col.  Coler,  to  take  a 
position  along  a  fence  in  open  view  of  the  ene- 
my's batteries,  which  at  once  opened  fire  upon 
the  regiment.  He  next  ordered  a  battery  of  six 
guns,  partly  rifled  twelve-pounders,  into  a  line 
one  hundred  paces  in  the  rear  of  the  25th  in- 
fantry, on  a  rise  of  ground.  The  15th  Missouri 
then  formed  into  a  line  with  the  25th  Illinois 
on  their  left,  and  another  battery  of  guns  was 
similarly  disposed  a  short  distance  behind  them. 
Thus  more  infantry  with  batteries  in  their  rear 
was  placed  until  about  thirty  pieces  of  artillery, 
each  about  fifteen  or  twenty  paces  from  the 
other,  were  in  continuous  line,  the  infantry  in 
front  lying  down.  Each  piece  opened  fire  as  it 
came  in  position,  and  the  fire  was  so  directed  as 
to  silence  battery  after  battery  of  the  enemy. 

For  two  hours  the  Confederate  forces  stood 
unshaken  before  that  fire,  with  their  crowded 
ranks  decimated  and  their  horses  shot  at  their 
guns.  One  by  one  their  pieces  ceased  to  reply. 
Then  onward  crept  the  infantry  and  onward 
came  the  guns  of  Gen.  Sigel.  The  range  be- 
came shorter  and  shorter.  No  charge  of  the  en- 
emy could  face  those  batteries  or  venture  on  that 
compact  line  of  bayonets.  They  turned  and 
fled.  Again  the  Union  line  was  advanced  with 
a  partial  change  of  front,  when  an  order  to 


charge  the  enemy  in  the  woods  was  given. 
Then  the  infantry  rising  up  pressed  forward 
into  the  dense  brush,  where  they  were  met  by  a 
terrible  volley,  which  was  fiercely  returned; 
volley  followed  volley,  still  the  line  pushed  for- 
ward until  more  open  ground  was  obtained, 
when  the  Confederate  force  broke  in  confu-  • 
sion.  As  Gen.  Sigel  advanced,  Gen.  Curtis 
also  ordered  the  centre  and  right  wing  forward. 
The  right  wing  turned  the  left  of  the  enemy 
and  cross-fired  into  his  centre.  This  placed 
him  hi  the  arc  of  a  circle.  The  charge  was 
then  ordered  throughout  the  whole  line,  which 
utterly  routed  their  forces  as  above  stated, 
and  compelled  them  to  retire  in  complete  con- 
fusion, but  rather  safely  through  the  deep  and 
almost  impassable  defiles  of  Cross  Timbers. 
Gen.  Sigel  followed  toward  Keetsville,  and  the 
cavalry  continued  the  pursuit  still  further. 
The  Union  loss  in  this  battle  was  212  killed, 
928  wounded,  and  124  missing.  The  Confed- 
erate killed  and  wounded  was  larger  in  num- 
bers, with  a  loss  of  nearly  1000  prisoners. 
Among  their  killed  were  Gens.  McCulloch  and 
Mclntosh. 

On  the  9th  Gen.  Van  Dorn,  nnder  a  flag  of 
truce,  requested  permission  to  bury  his  dead, 
which  was  readily  granted.  In  the  reply  to 
this  request  Gen.  Curtis  said:  "The  General 
regrets  that  we  find  on  the  battle-field,  con- 
trary to  civilized  warfare,  many  of  the  Federal 
dead,  who  were  tomahawked,  scalped,  and  their 
bodies  shamefully  mangled,  and  expresses  the 
hope  that  this  important  struggle  may  not  de- 
generate to  a  savage  warfare." 

To  this  statement,  Gen.  Van  Dorn  replied: 
"He  hopes  you  have  been  misinformed  with 
regard  to  this  matter,  the  Indians  who  formed 
part  of  his  forces  having  for  many  years  been 
regarded  as  civilized  people.  He  will,  how- 
ever, most  cordially  unite  with  you  in  repress- 
ing the  horrors  of  this  unnatural  war;  and  that 
you  may  cooperate  with  him  to  this  end  more 
effectually,  he  desires  me  to  inform  you 
that  many  of  our  men  who  surrendered  them- 
selves prisoners  of  war,  were  reported  to  him 
as  having  been  murdered  in  cold  blood  by  their 
captors,  who  were  alleged  to  be  Germans. 
The  general  commanding  feels  sure  that  you 
will  do  your  part,  as  he  will,  in  preventing 
such  atrocities  in  future,  and  that  the  perpe- 
trators of  them  will  be  brought  ft)  justice, 
whether  German  or  Choctaw." 

Gen.  Curtis  in  answer  further  said :  "  I  may 
say,  the  Germans  charge  the  same  against  your 
soldiers.  I  enclose  a  copy  of  a  letter  from 
Gen.  Sigel,  addressed  to  me  before  the  receipt 
of  yours,  in  which  the  subject  is  referred  to. 
As  '  dead  men  tell  no  tales,'  it  is  not  easy  to  see 
how  these  charges  may  be  proven,  and  the 
General  hopes  they  are  mere  'camp  stories,' 
having  little  or  no  foundation.  The  Germans 
in  the  army  have  taken  and  turned  over  many 
prisoners,  and  the  General  has  not  before  heard 
murder  charged  against  them ;  on  the  contrary, 
they  have  deemed  peculiarly  anxious  to  exhibit 


160 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


the  number  of  their  captured  as  evidence  ot 
their  valor.  Any  act  of  cruelty  to  prisoners, 
or  those  offering  to  deliver  themselves  as  such, 
on  the  part  of  the  soldiers  of  this  army,  coming 
to  the  knowledge  of  the  General  commanding, 
will  be  punished  with  the  extreme  penalty  of 
the  law." 

The  following  is  Gen.  Halleck's  despatch  to 
Washington,  announcing  this  battle : 

ST.  Louis,  March  10, 1862. 
To  Maj.-Gen.  McClellan: 

The  army  of  the  Southwest,  under  Gen.  Curtis,  after 
three  days'  hard  fighting  near  Sugar  Creek,  Arkansas, 
has  gained  a  most  glorious  victory  over  the  combined 
forces  of  Van  Dorn,  McCulloch,  Price,  and  Mclntosh. 
Our  killed  and  wounded  are  estimated  at  one  thousand. 
That  of  the  enemy  still  larger.  Guns,  flags,  provi- 
sions, &c.,  captured  in  large  quantities.  Our  cavalry 
is  in  pursuit  of  the  flying  enemy. 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  Major-General. 

The  Confederate  force  retired  south  of  the 
Boston  Mountains  unpursued  by  Gen.  Curtis, 
to  obtain  reinforcements  and  to  recover  from 
their  loss.  Meantime  reinforcements  were 
sent  to  Gen.  Curtis  from  Kansas  and  Missouri. 
He  fell  back  to  Keetsville,  and  remained  through 
the  month.  On  the  5th  of  April,  it  being  sup- 
posed that  Gen.  Price  was  moving  on  Spring- 
field, Missouri,  Gen.  Curtis  began  a  march  in 
that  direction.  On  that  day  he  advanced  eigh 
teen  miles  and  on  the  next  twenty,  to  the  junc- 
tion of  Flat  Rock  with  James  river.  Failing  in 
an  attempt  to  cross  the  James,  the  force  moved 
to  Galena,  where  a  crossing  was  effected  in  a 
rain  storm.  On  the  next  day,  the  9th,  Bear 
Creek,  thirteen  miles,  was  reached,  and  on  the 
10th  Forsyth,  eighteen  miles,  where  the  army 
was  concentrated.  The  high  water  of  the 
river  delayed  active  operations.  Gen.  Price, 
with  a  body  of  mounted  men,  was  encamped 
about  five  miles  south  and  on  the  other  side  of 
the  river.  On  the  16th  of  April  an  expedition 
was  sent  out  under  Col.  McCrellis  to  destroy 
some  saltpetre  works  located  eight  miles  below 
the  Little  North  Fork,  south  side  of  White 
river.  It  was  entirely  successful.  About  ten 
thousand  pounds  nearly  prepared  for  transpor- 
tation were  destroyed.  The  army  next  moved 
to  West  Plains,  eighty-seven  miles,  thence  to 
Salem,  Arkansas,  which  is  southeast  of  For- 
syth, Mo.,  and  distant  one  hundred  and  seven- 
teen miles.  Thence  it  advanced  to  Batesville, 
crossed  the  White  river,  and  took  the  route  to 
Little  Rock,  the  capital  of  the  State.  It  ad- 
vanced to  Searcy,  fifty  miles  from  Little  Rock, 
where  an  order  was  received  from  Gen.  Halleck 
to  send  ten  regiments  by  a  forced  march  to  Cape 
Girardeau  and  thence  to  Corinth.  The  army 
then  fell  back  to  Batesville,  which  is  the  capi- 
tal of  Independence  county  and  the  most  im- 
portant town  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
State.  It  is  situated  on  the  White  river  about 
four  hundred  miles  from  its  mouth.  The  river 
is  navigable  to  this  point  for  small  steamers. 
Such  was  the  scarcity  of  supplies  that  the  army 
suffered  severely.  An  expedition  was  fitted 
out  in  Juno  from  Memphis  to  descend  the  Mis- 


sissippi to  the  mouth  of  Arkansas  and  thence 
up  the  White  river  to  Batesville.  (See  page 
168.)  It  was  unsuccessful.  Supplies  were  sub- 
sequently, sent  by  land  from  Missouri,  which 
reached  Gen.  Curtis  abput  the  1st  of  July. 
His  position  during  this  period  was  critical,  and 
excited  much  apprehension,  as  he  was  known 
to  be  nearly  destitute  of  provisions,  far  distant 
from  the  sources  of  supply,  and  surrounded  in 
the  midst  of  a  wilderness  by  foes.  From 
Batesville  he  now  advanced  to  Jacksonport  at 
the  confluence  of  the  White  and  Black  rivers, 
thence  passing  through  Augusta  and  Clarendon 
he  reached  Helena  on  the  Mississippi  river,  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  miles  from  Bates- 
ville. 

It  was  reported  soon  after  that  Confederate 
troops  under  Gen.  Price  were  crossing  the  Mis- 
sissippi at  a  point  between  Napoleon  and  Vicks- 
burg,  and  Gen.  Curtis  started  with  a  body  of 
troops  on  transports  to  make  an  exploration. 
The  steam  ferry  boat  at  Napoleon,  upon  the 
approach  of  Gen.  Curtis,  was  withdrawn  up  the 
Arkansas  river,  whither  he  followed  and  cap- 
tured it  with  fifteen  other  ferry  and  flat  boats. 
A  large  number  of  boats  were  destroyed  on  the 
Arkansas  by  this  expedition,  which  soon  after 
returned  to  Helena.  Gen.  Curtis  was  then  ab- 
sent until  the  close  of  September,  when  he  was 
appointed  to  conjjnand  the  department  of  Mis- 
souri, containing  the  States  of  Missouri  and 
Arkansas  and  the  adjacent  Indian  Territory, 
with  his  headquarters  at  St.  Louis.  Helena 
continued  to  be  occupied  by  the  Federal  troops, 
but  active  military  operations  were  suspended. 
This  closed  the  campaign  of  Gen.  Curtis. 

After  the  departure  of  Gen.  Curtis  from  He- 
lena on  the  15th  of  November,  an  expedition 
under  Gen.  Alvin  P.  Hovey,  consisting  of  eight 
thousand  infantry  and  cavalry,  started  for  the 
White  river ;  but  in  consequence  of  new  bars 
which  had  formed,  and  the  low  stage  of  the 
water,  it  entirely  failed  of  the  object  intended, 
and  returned.  The  command  of  the  post  was 
then  taken  by  Gen.  Steele,  who  had  arrived  with 
a  division  of  troops.  Subsequently  Gen.  Hovey 
was  sent  upon  an  expedition  from  Helena  into 
Mississippi  to  cooperate  with  Gen.  Grant  on 
his  advance  into  that  State.  The  particulars 
of  this  expedition  are  stated  in  connection  with 
the  campaign  of  Gen.  Grant. 

The  subsequent  military  operations  in  Arkan- 
sas exerted  no  special  influence  on  the  conduct 
of  the  war.  They  may  be  briefly  stated  in  this 
place.  The  Confederate  forces  in  the  State,  in 
October,  were  estimated  to  consist  of  five  thou- 
sand men  under  Gen.  Hindman,  posted  five 
miles  north  of  Little  Rock ;  five  thousand  men 
under  Gen.  Roan,  posted  fifty  miles  southeast 
of  Little  Rock  at  White  Sulphur  Springs,  near 
Pine  Bluff  on  the  Arkansas  river;  at  Cross 
Hollows  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  State, 
between  four  and  five  thousand  men,  chiefly 
conscripts  under  Gen.  Rains ;  Gen.  Holmes,  in 
chief  command,  was  at  Little  Rock  with  two 
thousand  men;  Gen.  McBride  was  at  Bates-. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOET  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


161 


162 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ville  with  two  thousand  more.  Small  forces 
were  also  at  Arkansas,  Crystal  Hill,  and  Arka- 
delphia.  The  latter  post  had  been  made  the 
seat  of  government.  These  forces  were  esti- 
mated at  twenty  thousand  men  with  a  deficient 
outfit.  In  the  northwestern  part  of  Arkansas, 
near  Cross  Hollows,  twelve  miles  south  of  Fay- 
etteville,  Gen.  Herron  had  a  severe  conflict 
with  a  Confederate  force  near  the  end  of  Octo- 
ber. Again  on  the  28th  of  November  Gen. 
Blunt  made  an  attack  on  Gen.  Marmaduke  with 
about  eight  thousand  men,  at  Cane  Hill,  forty- 
five  miles  north  of  Van  Buren,  which  caused 
the  Confederate  force  to  retreat  to  Van  Buren. 
Again,  on  the  7th  of  December,  the  combined 
Confederate  forces  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Hindman,  estimated  at  fifteen  thousand  men, 
made  an  attempt  to  cut  off  reenforcements  for 
Gen.  Blunt,  ten  miles  south  of  Fayetteville. 
The  Confederate  forces  advanced  on  the  flank 
of  Gen.  Blunt's  position,  and  attacked  Gen. 
Herron  with  the  reenforcements,  who  held  them 
in  check  until  they  were  attacked  in  the  rear 
by  Gen.  Blunt  at  Crawford's  Prairie.  The  fight 
continued  obstinate  until  dark,  when  the  Con- 
federate forces  retreated  across  Boston  Moun- 
tains. The  loss  was  severe  on  both  sides,  and 
the  advance  of  the  Confederate  troops  into 
Missouri  was  checked. 

The  campaign  in  the  West  was  now  pushed 
through.  The  evacuation  of  Columbus,  and 
the  flanking  of  other  Confederate  positions 
on  the  Mississippi  river  by  the  force  on  the 
advance  up  the  Tennessee  river,  led  to  the  fit- 
ting out  of  an  expedition  to  move  down  the 
Mississippi.  On  the  4th  of  March  an  armed 
reconnoissance,  commanded  by  Flag  Officer 
Foote  and  General  Cullum,  was  made  as  far  as 
Columbus.  This  consisted  of  six  gunboats,  four 
mortar  boats,  and  three  transports  having  on 
board  two  regiments  and  two  battalions  of 
infantry  under  Gen.  Sherman.  On  arriving 
at  Columbus,  it  was  found  to  have  been 
evacuated  and  subsequently  occupied  by  two 
hundred  and  fifty  of  the  2d  Illinois  on  a  scout- 
ing expedition.  The  Confederate  troops  had 
chiefly  retired  down  the  river  to  Island  No.  10 
and  New  Madrid.  The  evacuation  was  a  con- 
sequence of  the  position  being  flanked  on  both 
sides  of  the  river.  The  distances  to  various 
points  down  the  river  are  as  follows:  Cairo 
to  Columbus,  20  miles;  Hickman,  37;  Island 
No.  10,  45 ;  New  Madrid,  55 ;  Point  Pleasant, 
87;  Plumb  Point,  154;  Island  No.  33,  164; 
Fort  "Wright,  167;  Fulton  Landing,  168;  Hat- 
che  River,  170 ;  Island  No.  34,  170 ;  Fort  Ran- 
dolph, 175 ;  Fort  Pillow,  238 ;  Memphis,  242 ; 

This  force  returned  to  Cairo,  and  on  the  14th 
a  formidable  expedition  left  to  move  down  the 
river.  The  following  vessels  formed  the  fleet : 
flag  ship  Benton,  Lieut.  Phelps  acting  flag 
captain;  gunboats  Cincinnati,  Commander  R. 
N.  Stembel ;  Carondelet,  Commander  Walke ; 
Mound  City,  Commander  Kelly;  Louisville, 
Commander  Dove ;  Pittsburgh,  Lieut.  Thomp- 
son commanding;  St.  Louis,  Lieut.  Paulding 


commanding ;  Conestoga,  Lieut.  Blodgett  com- 
manding— the  only  boat  in  the  fleet  not  iron- 
clad. 

The  mortar  boats  assigned  to  the  expedition 
were  designated  numerically.  Each  had  a 
mortar  of  13-inch  calibre  and  discharging  a 
round  shell  weighing  two  hundred  and  fifteen 
pounds  without  its  contents.  The  "sailing" 
or  "  running"  crews  of  these  mortar  boats  con- 
sisted of  one  captain  and  two  men.  The  force 
to  fire  the  mortars  in  action  was  one  captain  to 
each  brace  of  mortars,  and  one  lieutenant  and 
twelve  men  to  each  boat.  The  Nos.  of  the 
vessels  were,  5,  7,  11,  19,  22,  23,  27,  29,  30,  38, 
under  command  in  chief  of  Capt.  H.  E.  Mayna- 
dier,  IT.  S.  Army.  The  steamers  Hammit  and 
Wilson,  lashed  together,  towed  four ;  the  Pike 
and  "Wisconsin  four  others ;  Lake  Erie,  No.  2, 
towed  two  others.  Then  followed  a  steamer 
with  a  barge  laden  with  coal  in  tow,  after  which 
came  the  two  ordnance  steamers,  and  two 
transports  with  the  27th  Hlinois,  Col.  Buford, 
and  15th  "Wisconsin,  Col.  Hey,  infantry — the 
latter  regiment  being  composed  exclusively  of 
Norwegians — and  also  a  battery  of  the  2d  Illi- 
nois artillery.  "With  the  gunboats  on  the  right, 
followed  by  the  mortar  fleet,  ordnance  boats, 
and  transports  with  troops,  the  gunboat  Con- 
estoga brought  up  the  rear,  protecting  the 
transports,  while  eight  or  ten  little  screw  pro- 
pellers, used  for  conveying  orders  and  despatch- 
es from  the  flag  ship  to  the  fleet,  were  busily 
darting  in  all  directions. 

The  expedition  reached  Columbus  at  1  p.  M., 
and  at  3  o'clock  left  for  Hickman,  where  it 
arrived  between  five  and  six  o'clock.  A 
small  force  of  Confederate  cavalry  left  upon 
its  approach.  The  town  was  partly  deserted ; 
a  few  Union  flags,  however,  were  waved.  The 
next  morning  it  proceeded  down  the  river  to 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  Missouri  point  above 
Island  No.  10,  which  by  an  air  line  was  two  and 
a  half  miles  distant,  while  by  the  river,  owing 
to  the  bend,  it  was  four  miles  distant.  In  this 
position  the  flagship  opened  fire  upon  a  Con- 
federate battery  discovered  on  the  Kentucky 
shore,  but,  owing  to  the  distance,  without  ef- 
fect. Two  of  the  mortar  boats  then,  having  got 
into  position,  opened  upon  and  soon  silenced  it. 
A  large  Confederate  force  appeared  to  be  en- 
camped on  that  side. 

Island  No.  10  is  situated  in  the  corner 
of  that  bend  of  the  Mississippi  river  which 
touches  the  border  of  Tennessee,  a  few  miles 
further  up  the  river  than  New  Madrid,  although 
nearly  southwest  of  that  point.  It  is  situated 
about  two  hundred  and  forty  miles  from  St. 
Louis,  and  nine  hundred  and  fifty  from  New 
Orleans.  The  average  depth  of  the  water  at 
this  point  is  from  ninety  to  one  hundred  and 
twenty  feet,  and  the  breadth  of  the  stream 
from  mainland  to  mainland  about  nine  hun- 
dred yards.  The  current  runs  by  the  island  at 
a  moderately  fast  rate,  and  with  the  power  of 
three  rivers— Mississippi,  Missouri,  and  Ohio — 
combined.  The  island  is  near  the  southern,  or 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


163 


•what  might  be  termed  the  eastern  bank  of  the 
river,  but  at  this  point  the  stream  varies  from 
its  southern  course  and  turns  abruptly  to  the 
northwest,  leaving  this  island  in  the  southern 
angle  of  the  bend.  It  is  about  forty-five  miles, 
by  the  course  of  the  river,  south  of  Columbus, 
and  about  twenty-six  miles  from  Hickman.  It 
is  near  Obionville,  which  is  in  Obion  coun- 
ty, in  the  northwest  extremity  of  Tennessee, 
where  it  borders  on  Kentucky  and  Missouri. 
The  Mississippi  river  passes  to  the  north  and  to 
the  south  of  Obionville,  leaving  a  land  distance 
between  the  two  waters  very  inconsiderable, 
and  easily  walked  across  in  less  than  an  hour, 
although  the  voyage  by  water  between  the 
same  points,  owing  to  the  bends  in  the  river, 
is  about  twenty  miles.  The  surface  of  the  sur- 
rounding country  is  nearly  level.  Obionville 
is  connected  by  a  turnpike  road  with  Columbus, 
in  Kentucky,  via  Hickman,  and  with  Troy,  the 
capital  of  the  county. 

The  fortifications  on  the  island  and  main- 
land adjacent  consisted  of  eleven  earthworks, 
with  seventy  heavy  cannon,  varying  in  caliber 
from  thirty-two  to  one  hundred  pounders, 
rifled.  The  bombardment  commenced  on  the 
16th  of  March,  and  continued  with  more  or 
less  vigor  until  the  7th  of  April.  A  different 
plan,  however,  was  arranged  for  the  capture 
of  the  island.  This  consisted  in  cutting  a 
canal  across  a  portion  of  the  narrow  and  low 
peninsula,  by  which  the  transports  could  pass 
below  the  island,  and  a  part  of  the  troops  with 
Gen.  Pope  at  New  Madrid  be  taken  across  the 
river,  and  thus  completely  invest  the  island. 

On  the  21st  of  February,  by  orders  of  Gen. 
Halleck,  Gen.  Pope  proceeded  to  Commerce  in 
Missouri  above  Cairo,  and  was  followed  by  a 
force  numbering  in  the  aggregate  about  forty 
thousand  men.  With  this  army  Gen.  Pope  pro- 
ceeded southwardly  in  the  early  part  of  the 
last  week  in  February,  destined  for  New  Mad- 
rid. In  a  direct  line  the  distance  from  Com- 
merce to  New  Madrid  is  about  fifty  miles,  but 
by  the  road  it  is  between  sixty  and  seventy-five 
miles.  On  the  3d  of  March  he  arrived  with 
his  forces  before  New  Madrid,  and  found  the 
place  occupied  by  five  regiments  of  infantry 
and  several  companies  of  artillery.  The  defen- 
sive works  consisted  of  one  bastioned  earth- 
work, mounting  fourteen  heavy  guns,  about 
half  a  mile  below  the  town,  and  another  irreg- 
ular work  at  the  upper  end  of  the  town,  mount- 
ing seven  pieces  of  heavy  artillery,  together 
with  lines  of  intrenchment  between  them ;  six 
gunboats,  carrying  from  four  to  eight  he,avy 
guns  each,  were  anchored  along  the  shore  be- 
tween the  upper  and  lower  redoubts.  The 
country  being  ^perfectly  level  and  the  river  so 
high  that  the  guns  of  the  boats  looked  di- 
rectly over  the  banks,  Gen.  Pope  found  the  ap- 
proaches to  the  town  commanded  for  miles  by 
guns  of  heavy  caliber. 

His  first  step  was  to  occupy  Point  Pleasant, 
twelve  miles  below,  in  such  a  manner  that  his 
force  could  not  be  driven  out  by  the  Confed- 


erate gunboats,  and  thus  blockade  the  river  from 
below.  He  next  procured  siege  guns  from  Cairo, 
which  arrived  on  the  12th  of  March,  and  were 
placed  in  battery  during  the  night  within  eight 
hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  main  work,  so  as 
to  command  that  and  the  river  above  it.  The 
battery  consisted  of  two  small  redoubts  con- 
nected by  a  curtain,  and  mounting  four  heavy 
guns,  with  rifle  pits  in  front  and  on  the  flanks 
for  two  regiments  of  infantry.  As  soon  as  day 
dawned  on  the  13th,  these  batteries  opened  fire, 
and  were  replied  to  by  the  whole  of  the  ene- 
my's heavy  artillery  on  land  and  water.  In  a 
few  hours  several  of  the  gunboats  were  disabled, 
and  three  of  the  heavy  guns  dismounted  in  the 
enemy's  main  work.  The  cannonading  contin- 
ued all  day  without  producing  any  impression 
on  the  position  of  Gen.  Pope,  other  than  the 
disabling  of  one  gun  by  a  round  shot.  The  ef- 
fect of  the  contest  during  the  day  convinced 
the  Confederate  commander  that  he  could  not 
hold  the  town,  although  he  had  previously  re- 
ceived reinforcements  of  men  and  guns  from 
Island  No.  10.  Accordingly  in  the  night,  dur- 
ing a  violent  storm  of  rain,  he  evacuated  the 
town  by  crossing  over  to  the  Kentucky  shore. 
This  evacuation  was  made  with  considerable 
precipitation.  Almost  everything  was  left  be- 
hind. Even  the  pickets  were  abandoned. 
"Thirty-three  pieces  of  artillery,  magazines 
full  of  fixed  ammunition,  several  thousand  stand 
of  small  arms,  hundreds  of  boxes  of  musket 
cartridges,  tents  for  an  army  of  ten  thousand 
men,  horses,  mules,  wagons,  &c.,  were  among 
the  spoils." 

The  Confederate  fleet  was  commanded  by 
Com.  Hollins,  and  their  land  force  by  Gens. 
McCown,  Stewart,  and  Gantt.  The  Union  loss 
was  fifty-one  killed  and  wounded ;  the  Confed- 
erate loss  was  estimated  by  Gen.  Pope  to  be 
larger.  A  number  of  their  dead  were  left  un- 
buried.  By  the  possession  of  these  works  Gen. 
Pope  commanded  the  river,  so  as  to  cut  off  all 
communication  with  Island  No.  10  from  below. 
It  was  on  the  day  after  this  evacuation  that  the 
fleet  left  Cairo. 

In  order  to  cut  off  entirely  the  retreat  of  the 
Confederate  force  from  Island  No.  10,  it  was 
necessary  that  a  portion  of  Gen.  Pope's  army 
should  be  taken  across  the  Mississippi  to  the 
Tennessee  shore.  To  bring  down  transports  a 
channel  was  made,  twelve  miles  long,  six  of 
which  were  through  heavy  timber.  The  trees 
standing  in  water,  had  to  be  cut  off  four  feet 
below  its  surface.  While  this  work  was  pushed 
forward  the  bombardment  of  the  island  was 
continued.  On  the  night  of  the  1st  of  April, 
under  the  cover  of  darkness  and  storm,  a 
boat  expedition  from  the  fleet,  with  a  small 
force  under  the  command  of  Col.  Roberts  of 
the  42d  Illinois,  landed  at  the  upper  or  No. 
1  Fort  on  the  Kentucky  shore  and  spiked 
the  six  guns  mounted,  and  retired  without 
injury.  The  pickets  of  the  enemy  fired  and 
fled,  and  the  troops  in  the  vicinity  also  re- 
treated. As  the  work  on  the  canal  approached 


164 


MTLITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  BEBELLIOK 


Batteries  on  Kentucky 
Shore. 


0. 1.— 3   8-Inch  howitzers,    6   33 

p  Irs.,  and  1  64  pdr. 
o.  2.— 2    24-pdrs. ;      11     32-pdrs, 

nmooth  ;   1  32-pdr.,  rifled ;  and 

1  42-pdr. 
o.  3.— 3  32-pdre,  rifled  ;  1  S2-pdt 

smooth, 
uare  redoubt.— 2  32-pdrs. 

4.-1  8-inch ;  2  S2-pdr».,  rifled 

1  32-pdr.,  smooth. 

5.— No  guns  mounted. 

6.— 15  32-pdr3.,  3  8-inch. 

7. — No  guns  mounted. 


Batteries  on  Island  No.  10. 


No.  8.— 3  32-pdrs.,  1  4-inch. 


No. 9.— 1  8-inch,  1  10-inch,  4  S2-pdr 


No.  10.— 2    8-Inch,   1  6-inch,  5  32 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OB  THE  REBELLION. 


165 


completion,  it  was  evident  that  the  assistance 
of  the  gunboats  would  also  be  required  to  make 
a  successful  landing  of  the  troops  across  the 
river.  The  enemy,  to  oppose  any  attempt  that 
might  be  made  to  cross  the  river,  had  planted 
field  pieces  along  the  left  bank  for  the  distance 
of  several  miles  above  and  below  New  Madrid. 
Gunboats  were  also  needed  to  protect  the  trans- 
ports from  any  gunboat  of  the  enemy  that  might 
appear  during  the  passage  across  the  river. 
For  these  reasons  the  gunboat  Carondelet, 
Oapt.  Walke,  undertook  to  run  down  past  the 
batteries  of  the  island  on  the  night  of  the  4th 
of  April.  For  this  purpose  her  hull  was  pro- 
tected in  all  weak  places  by  additional  covering, 
and  a  barge  laden  above  with  hay  was  taken  in 
tow  on  her  left  side.  Starting  at  ten  o'clock  on 
the  night  of  the  4th,  amid  the  darkness  of  an 
impending  storm,  she  proceeded  on  in  silence. 
Twice  as  she  approached  the  batteries  of  the 
enemy  the  soot  in  the  chimneys  caught  fire, 
and  a  flame  five  feet  high  leaped  out  from  their 
tops,  lighting  brightly  the  upper  deck  of  the 
vessel,  and  everything  around.  It  was  seen  by 
the  enemy,  and  the  anxious  listeners  for  the 
signal  of  her  safety  in  the  fleet  above  now 
heard  the  long  roll  beat  in  the  camps  on  the 
island.  At  the  same  time  five  rockets  were 
sent  up  from  the  mainland  and  the  island,  and 
were  followed  by  a  cannon  shot  from  Fort  No. 
2.  A  full  head  of  steam  was  now  let  on,  to 
make  the  greatest  possible  speed ;  and  while 
vivid  flashes  of  lightning  lit  up  the  hurried 
preparations  of  the  enemy,  while  peal  after  peal 
of  thunder  reverberated  along  the  river,  and 
the  rain  fell  in  torrents,  the  moment  for  cool- 
ness and  heroism  came.  For  thirty  minutes 
the  discharge  of  cannon  and  musket  ball  at  the 
dark  and  silent  object,  revealed  on  the  waters 
only  by  the  lightning  flash,  was  furious,  but 
no  injury  was  done.  Then  stopping  her  ma- 
chinery, her  officers  fired  the  signal  guns  to 
inform  their  companions  in  the  fleet  that  she 
was  safe.  On  the  night  of  the  6th,  the  gun- 
boat Pittsburg,  Lieut.  Thompson,  also  passed 
the  batteries.  On  the  morning  of  the  7th  the 
transports  were  brought  into  the  river  from 
the  bayou  where  they  had  been  kept  concealed, 
and  while  the  division  of  Ool.  Paine  was  em- 
barking, the  gunboats  ran  down  the  river  and 
silenced  the  enemy's  batteries  at  the  place  of 
landing.  Then  the  passage  of  the  wide  and 
swift  river  commenced,  and  was  completed  at 
the  hour  of  midnight. 

As  soon  as  the  troops  began  to  cross  the  river 
the  enemy  began  to  evacuate  the  island  and 
his  batteries  along  the  Kentucky  shore.  The 
divisions  were  pushed  forward  as  fast  as  they 
landed,  that  of  Col.  Paine  leading.  The  Con- 
federate force  was  driven  before  him,  says  Gen. 
Pope ;  and  although  it  made  several  attempts 
to  form  in  line  of  battle  and  make  a  stand,  Col. 
Paine  did  not  once  deploy  his  columns.  It  was 
pushed  all  night  vigorously  until,  at  four  o'clock 
A.  M.,  it  was  driven  back  on  the  swamps  and 
forced  to  surrender.  "Three  generals,  seven 


colonels,  seven  regiments,  several  battalions  of 
infantry,  five  companies  of  artillery,  over  one 
hundred  heavy  siege  guns,  twenty-four  pieces 
of  field  artillery,  an  immense  quantity  of  am- 
munition and  supplies,  several  thousand  stand 
of  small  arms,  a  great  number  of  tents,  horses, 
and  wagons  were  taken."  The  force  that 
surrendered  was  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Mackall.  Before  abandoning  Island  No.  10, 
the  Confederate  officers  sunk  the  gunboat 
Grampus  and  six  transports.  The  force  sur- 
rendered consisted  of  Tennessee,  Arkansas, 
Mississippi,  Alabama,  and  Louisiana  regiments, 
and  numbered  about  five  thousand.  At  the  isl- 
and a  large  amount  of  commissary  stores  was 
found  with  the  tents  and  baggage  of  the  enemy. 
Besides  there  were  eleven  earthworks,  with 
seventy  heavy  cannon  varying  in  caliber  from 
32  to  100-pounders,  rifled.  The  works,  erected 
with  the  highest  engineering  skill,  possessed 
great  strength.  There  appeared  to  be  no  concert 
of  action  between  the  force  on  the  island  and  that 
on  the  shore.  Gen.  Pope  did  not  lose  a  man 
or  meet  with  an  accident  in  crossing  the  river 
or  afterward.  The  canal  was  made  on  the  sug- 
gestion of  Gen.  Schuyler  Hamilton.  A  part  of 
the  distance  the  route  was  through  a  bayou. 
The  cut  made  was  about  four  miles,  sufficient 
for  steamboats  of  moderate  size,  and  about  one 
thousand  trees,  ranging  from  six  inches  to  three 
feet  in  diameter,  were  sawed  off  about  four  feet 
under  water  by  means  of  long  saws  worked  by 
hand.  When  the  canal  was  finished,  the  water 
came  through  with  such  a  current  that  the 
boats  had  to  be  dropped  by  lines  nearly  the 
whole  distance.  The  work  was  done  by  an 
engineer  regiment,  under  the  superintendence 
of  Col.  Bissell. 

The  position  thus  taken  was  regarded  by  the 
Confederate  officers  as  one  of  the  highest  im- 
portance to  the  new  line  of  defence  proposed 
by  tKem.  Upon  their  ability  to  hold  it  depend- 
ed the  s.afety  of  Memphis,  and  of  the  entire 
Mississippi  valley  thereabout.  This  line  was 
adopted  by  the  Confederate  commander,  with 
his  left  resting  on  the  Mississippi,  his  centre  be- 
tween Jackson,  Tenn.,  and  Corinth,  Miss.,  and 
his  right  between  Florence  and  Decatur. 

On  the  12th  of  April  the  gunboats  under 
Com.  Foote,  with  the  mortar  boats,  followed 
by  the  transports,  left  New  Madrid,  and  stood 
down  the  river.  The  order  of  a  line  of  battle 
was  observed.  A  part  of  Gen.  Stanley's  divi- 
sion, and  those  of  Gens.  Hamilton  and  Palmer, 
were  on  the  transports.  Their  destination  was 
Fort  Pillow  or  Wright,  which  is  situated  on  the 
first  Chickasaw  Bluifs,  near  Islands  Nos.  33  and 
34,  and  about  seventy  miles  above  Memphis. 
At  Plum  Point  the  Mississippi  makes  a  sharp 
bend,  running  for  some  distance  eastwardly,  and 
at  the  first  Chickasaw  Bluffs  turns  off  abruptly 
south-southwest,  which  course  it  continues  bo- 
low  Island  No.  34,  where  it  again  bends ;  the 
convex  side  of  the  curve  being  to  the  Tennessee 
shore.  Here  are  the  second  Chickasaw  Bluffs, 
surmounted  by  Fort  Randolph,  some  twelve 


166 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


miles  below  Fort  Pillow.  The  location  of  these 
fortifications  was  admirably  adapted  for  defence, 
and  in  case  of  a  determined  stand  it  would  have 
been  very  difficult  to  reduce  them.  Opposite 
Plum  Point  is  the  village  of  Osceola  in  Ar- 
kansas. 

On  the  next  day,  at  evening,  the  fleet  arrived 
at  Plum  Point  and  anchored.  A  force  of  three 
Confederate  gunboats  were  in  sight  most  of 
the  tune  during  that  day,  but  kept  at  a  safe  dis- 
tance. The  anchorage  was  about  three  and  a 
half  miles  from  the  fort.  Operations  against 
the  fort  were  commenced  by  moving  the  mor- 
tars to  the  Arkansas  shore  at  Oraighead  Point, 
and  opening  upon  the  enemy's  gunboats  and 
batteries  with  shells.  The  distance  of  the 
contending  forces  across  the  point  was  three 
fourths  of  a  mile,  although  by  the  river  around 
the  point  it  was  three  miles.  In  the  afternoon 
of  the  17th  of  April  fire  was  opened  from  the 
mortars,  and  rapidly  and  accurately  answered 
by  the  fort.  This  continued  until  midnight 
and  then  ceased;  daily  afterward  it  was  re- 
peated without  any  expectation  of  an  immedi- 
ate reduction  of  the  fort.  The  high  water  of 
the  river  prevented  cooperation  of  the  land 
forces.  On  the  4th  of  May  a  battle  occurred 
between  the  gunboats  and  a  Confederate  ram 
and  gunboats,  which  has  been  thus  related: 

"  The  enemy  appeared  with  four  boats — three 
gunboats  and  a  ram — the  latter  a  powerful 
contrivance,  combining  immense  weight  and 
strength  with  high  speed  and  admirable  steer- 
ing facilities.  Her  hull  and  boilers,  as  well  as 
all  the  Confederate  rams,  were  those  of  old 
New  Orleans  towboats.  The  upper  works  of 
these  were  cut  away  ;  their  sides  protected,  in 
some  instances  with  a  layer  of  railroad  iron, 
and  in  others  only  with  bales  of  tightly  aom- 
pressed  cotton,  hooped  and  bound  together, 
one  to  the  other,  with  iron  bands.  Their  bows 
were  pointed  and  sharp,  and  apparently  of  solid 
iron. 

"  At  their  first  appearance  the  gunboats  mani- 
fested no  disposition  to  come  up  the  river,  but 
sent  the  ram  ahead  to  attack  and  destroy  the 
Cincinnati,  thinking  then,  doubtless,  to  run  up. 
and  make  an  easy  prey  of  the  defenceless 
mortar  boats.  The  commander  of  the  Cincin- 
nati perceived  the  movement  and  apprehended 
its  intent.  The  ram  was  already  halfway  up 
to  her  before  she  was  cut  loose,  and  then  the 
accumulated  driftwood  on  her  bows  prevented 
her  getting  her  head  out  into  the  stream.  To 
back  out  would  be  to  run  directly  upon  the 
enemy  while  they  were  seeking  to  run  into  her, 
thus  adding  to  the  force  of  the  blow  with 
which  they  would  strike  her.  In  this  dilemma 
she  let  fly  her  stern  guns  full  into  the  face  of 
the  enemy,  and  at  the  same  time  attempted  to 
crowd  along  up  the  shore,  hoping,  before  mov- 
ing far,  to  succeed  in  getting  her  head  out. 
Her  guns  made  not  the  slighest  apparent  im- 
pression upon  the  ram,  which  still  held  its 
course  and  was  rapidly  coming  upon  the  en- 
tangled gunboat. 


"  Again  the  stern  guns  were  let  go  full  into 
the  face  of  the  enemy,  but  still  her  progress 
was  not  retarded  in  the  slightest.  A  moment 
more  and  her  tremendous  weight  came  with 
terrible  force  upon  the  starboard  stern  quarter 
of  the  gunboat,  but  without  inflicting  any 
serious  damage  The  force  of  the  blow,  how- 
ever, threw  the  stern  of  the  vessel  in  and  en- 
abled her  to  get  headway  from  the  shore. 
Then,  in  turning  out,  her  broadside  was  dis- 
charged directly  into  the  Confederate  craft, 
which  was  backing  off  preparatory  to  renew- 
ing the  assault. 

"  Again  the  gunboat  prepares  to  open  fire  on 
her  assailant,  and  the  ram  seeks  an  apportunity 
to  renew  the  assault.  The  Cincinnati  has 
worked  herself  away  from  the  shore  and  is 
now  more  easily  handled.  Turning  to  and  fro, 
she  gives  her  antagonist  broadside  for  broad- 
side, with  no  apparent  result.  Still  he  comes 
on.  As  he  nears  his  object,  his  steam  appara- 
tus is  got  ready,  and  his  crew,  armed  with 
small  arms,  prepare  to  board  the  Federal  craft. 
Commander  Stembel,  seeing  these  demonstra- 
tions, orders  out  carbines,  boarding  pikes,  and 
cutlasses,  and  also  puts  his  steam  battery  in 
readiness  to  give  the  enemy  a  warm  reception. 
On  they  come,  closer  and  closer,  and  strike! 
The  boats  collide  with  fearful  violence,  followed 
by  the  crashing  of  timbers,  and  the  bending  of 
iron,  and  the  shouts  of  men,  and  the  discharge 
of  musketry,  and,  above  all,*another  broadside 
directly  into  the  enemy  now  immediately  along- 
side. Amid  this  general  uproar  Commander 
Stembel  rushes  upon  deck,  and,  seizing  a  pis- 
tol, with  admirable  aim  discharged  its  contents 
into  the  head  of  the  Confederate  pilot,  killing 
him  instantly.  The  pilot's  mate  seized  a  gun 
in  retaliation,  and  shot  the  gallant  commander, 
just  as  he  was  turning  to  give  his  attention  to 
some  other  duty,  the  ball  entering  Ijigh  up  on  his 
shoulder  behind,  and,  passing  in  at  an  upward 
direction  through  his  neck,  went  out  under  his 
chin.  He  fell  instantly,  and  was  carried  be- 
low. 

"While  this  fierce  engagement  was  in  pro- 
gress, the  shots  from  the  other  vessels  had  ex- 
ploded the  boiler  on  one  of  the  Confederate 
gunboats,  and  set  fire  to  another  which  was 
burned  to  the  water's  edge. 

"  The  Cincinnati,  thus  released  from  her  an- 
tagonist, sought  others  of  the  foe.  It  was 
soon  after  this  withdrawal  that  the  Mallory, 
which  is  also  fitted  as  a  ram,  though  carrying 
a  heavy  armament,  moved  np  and  singled  out 
the  crippled  Cincinnati  as  her  special  victim. 
This  craft  was  more  lumbering  and  slower  than 
the  rams  proper,  and  could  not  be  so  easily 
moved  about.  She  worked  very  hard  to  get  her 
nose  into  the  Cincinnati's  side,  but  every  time 
was  foiled  by  the  movements  of  the  latter.  At 
last  she  had  apparently  secured  the  desired  op- 
portunity, and  was  crowding  all  steam  to  make 
good  headway,  when  an  unlooked-for  adversa- 
ry appeared.  The  St.  Louis  bore  down  upon 
her,  unseen,  until  close  on  her,  and  then  came 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


167 


the  tinavoidablo  collision — the  rain  was  cut 
half  into  and  sunk  immediately.  Her  crew 
perished  with  her,  but  half  a  dozen  or  so  es- 
caping by  clinging  to  the  St.  Louis.  This  was 
a  brilliant  manoeuvre  on  the  part  of  the  St. 
Louis,  relieving  and  probably  saving  the  Cin- 
cinnati, which  was  already  half  sunk  and  al- 
most unmanageable  from  the  weight  of  water 
in  her  hold.  Seeing  her  condition,  the  acting 
flag  officer  signalled  her  to  withdraw,  and  she 
was  run  upon  the  shoal  at  the  foot  of  the  island, 
and  sunk  to  the  bottom. 

"  The  action  had  now  lasted  about  forty-five 
minutes.  One  of  the  enemy's  boats  had  been 
sunk  and  two  blown  up.  The  rest  of  their  fleet 
was  crippled.  To  prolong  the  fight  was  to  in- 
sure its  destruction.  They  therefore  gradually 
fell  back,  under  «over  of  the  smoke,  around  the 
point  to  the  protection  of  their  land  batter- 
ies. The  Cincinnati  was  the  only  boat  injured 
in  the  Union  fleet.  Four  were  wounded  on 
board  of  her." 

On  the  night  of  the  4th  of  June  Fort  Pillow 
was  evacuated.  Everything  of  value  was  either 
destroyed  or  removed  by  the  Confederate  offi- 
cers. On  the  same  night  Fort  Eandolph,  some 
miles  below,  was  evacuated.  The  few  guns 
were  dismantled.  Com.  Ellet,  in  his  report  to 
the  Secretary  of  "War,  said :  "  Eandolph,  like 
Pillow,  is  weak,  and  could  not  have  held  out 
long  against  a  vigorous  attack."  The  remark 
is  worthy  of  notice,  as  it  raises  an  inquiry  why 
such  an  attack  was  not  made.  The  forts  were 
not  attacked  because  this  expedition,  was  not 
sustained  at  the  critical  time  for  its  success. 
There  were  no  land  forces  to  cooperate  with 
the  fleet. 

On  the  13th  of  April  the  gunboats  and  trans- 
ports arrived  before  Fort  Pillow,  and  on  the 
4th  of  June  this  fort  and  the  one  below  were 
evacuated,  and  the  way  clear  for  the  fleet  to 
attack  Memphis.  On  the  7th  of  April  the  bat- 
tle of  Pittsburg  Landing  took  place  between 
the  Federal  forces,  under  Gen.  Grant,  and  the 
Confederate  forces,  under  Gen.  Beauregard, 
which  resulted  in  the  withdrawal,  by  Gen. 
Beauregard,  of  all  his  forces  from  the  battle 
field  to  the  strong  position  at  Corinth.  Eeen- 
forcements  were  required  by  the  Federal  army, 
and  Gen.  Pope  was  ordered  to  join  it.  On  the 
21st  of  April  he  arrived  in  transports  up  the 
Tennessee  river  at  Pittsburg  Landing.  His 
force  numbered  between  twenty  and  twenty- 
five  thousand  men,  and  were  taken  on  some 
thirty  transports.  This  withdrawal  of  the  force 
of  Gen.  Pope  put  a  stop  to  the  progress  of 
the  Mississippi  river  expedition.  The  gun- 
boats, however,  were  obliged  to  remain  in  such 
force  as  to  prevent  any  movement  of  the  Con- 
federate gunboats  up  the  river.  Soon  after  the 
withdrawal  of  Gen.  Pope,  Com.  Foote  obtain- 
ed leave  of  absence,  and  the  command  of  the 
fleet  was  taken  by  Charles  Ellet,  jr.,  until  the 
arrival  of  Charles  H.  Davis,  the  successor  of 
Com.  Foote. 

As  has  been  stated,  Forts  Pillow  and  Ean- 


dolph were  evacuated  on  the  night  of  the  4th 
of  June.  This  evacuation  was  in  consequence 
of  the  withdrawal  of  a  large  portion  of  the  Con- 
federate army  from  Tennessee,  and  their  aban- 
donment of  Corinth.  The  positions  of  Fort 
Pillow,  Eandolph,  and  Memphis  could  not  be 
held  under  these  circumstances,  and  were  there- 
fore wisely  evacuated. 

Nothing  now  remained  to  oppose  the  Federal 
fleet  but  the  Confederate  gunboats.  On  the 
6th  of  June  the  fleet  arrived  within  two  miles 
of  Memphis,  and  came  to  anchor  for  the  night. 
On  the  6th,  at  4|  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the 
gunboats  Benton,  Cairo,  Carondelet,  Louisville, 
and  St.  Louis,  and  the  four  rams  Monarch,  Lan- 
caster, No.  3,  and  Queen  of  the  "West,  weighed 
anchor,  and  dropped  slowly  down  toward  the 
city.  The  Confederate  gunboats  were  seen 
approaching  in  order  of  battle.  This  was  in 
two  lines,  the  first  consisting  of  the  Beauregard, 
Little  Eebel,  Gen.  Price,  and  Gen.  Bragg,  the 
second  of  the  Gen.  Lovell,  Gen.  Van  Dorn,  Jeff. 
Thompson,  and  the  Sumter.  When  within 
three  fourths  of  a  mile,  a  shot  from  the  Little 
Eebel,  the  flag  ship,  fell  within  a  short  distance 
of  the  Cairo,  which  replied  with  a  broadside, 
and  soon  the  engagement  became  general.  The 
Confederates  had  fewer  guns  than  their  op- 
ponents, but  exceeded  them  in  the  number 
of  gunboats.  The  scene  of  the  battle  was  in 
front  of  the  city  of  Memphis,  and  the  shores 
were  crowded  with  spectators.  After  half  an 
hour  two  of  the  rams,  Monarch  and  Queen  of 
the  "West,  which  had  been  lying  on  the  Arkan- 
sas side,  in  rear  of  the  line  of  battle,  steamed 
out  toward  the  scene  of  action.  The  Queen  of 
the  "West  started  directly  for  the  Beauregard, 
and  that  gunboat  fired  at,  but  missed  her.  A 
second  shot  struck  the  ram  but  did  her  no  in' 
jury,  and  she  steamed  steadily  and  swiftly  to- 
ward her  adversary.  "When  she  was  within 
ten  feet  the  latter  swung  round,  and  the  ram 
missed  her  prey.  Not  discouraged,  however, 
the  Queen  ran  toward  the  Gen.  Price,  which 
fired  several  shots  but  did  no  damage,  and 
thrust  her  iron  prow  into  the  wheelhouse  of  the 
Price,  crushing  it  to  pieces,  and  causing  the  ves- 
sel to  leak  so  badly  that  she  was  run  to  the  Ar- 
kansas shore,  to  prevent  her  from  sinking.  The 
Beauregard  now  determined  to  avenge  the 
Price,  and  hurried  toward  the  Queen,  while 
the  ram  in  full  motion  was  dashing  toward  her 
fo.e.  They  bore  down  upon  each  other  bravely, 
but  the  skilful  pilot  of  the  enemy  contrived  to 
evade  the  shock  of  the  Queen,  and  struck  her 
aft  so  heavily  that  the  ram  was  disabled  and 
began  to  leak.  The  Monarch,  seeing  the  state 
of  affairs,  dashed  boldly  at  the  Beauregard. 
The  latter  fired  four  tunes  at  the  ram,  and 
struck  her  bulwarks  once,  the  ball  glancing 
harmlessly.  She  could  not,  however,  avoid  the 
unerring  aim  of  the  Monarch,  which  crashed 
through  her  bow,  and  caused  her  to  fill  in  a  few 
minutes  and  go  down  as  far  as  her  cabin,  the 
shallowness  of  the  water  preventing  her  sink- 
ing lower,  and  the  white  flag  she  had  run  up 


168 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


stopping  further  damage  from  the  fleet.  The 
Monarch  then  looked  after  her  disabled  consort, 
the  Queen  of  the  West,  and  towed  her  ashore, 
placing  her  in  a  position  of  security.  The  gun- 
boats now  increased  their  fire  against  the  ene- 
my, when  the  flag  ship,  having  obtained  an  ex- 
cellent range,  threw  a  50-pound  ball  from  a  ri- 
fled Parrott,  striking  the  Gen.  Lovell  aft  above 
the  water  line,  tearing  a  great  hole  in  her, 
through  which  the  water  rushed  like  a  torrent. 
She  began  to  sink  at  once,  giving  few  of  the 
officers  and  crew  time  to  save  themselves.  In 
less  than  four  minutes  the  vessel  had  sunk  in 
seventy-five  feet  of  water,  and  passed  entirely 
out  of  sight.  Some  of  the  crew  went  down 
with  the  Lovell,  but  about  fifty  of  them 
leaped  into  the  river,  and  were  struggling  in 
the  water,  when  the  Benton's  crew  arrived  in 
advance  of  several  other  cutters  from  the  flo- 
tilla, and  just  in  time  to  see  the  chimneys  of 
the  hostile  gunboat  disappear  beneath  the  water. 
Many  of  the  crew  had  already  begun  to 
swim  for  the  shore.  Some  six  or  seven,  how- 
ever, were  rescued  by  the  cutter,  but  the  cur- 
rent was  so  strong  that  a  large  number  were 
carried  off  and  drowned.  The  engagement  still 
continued  warm  and  desperate.  The  smoke  of 
the  battle  so  obscured  the  boats  that  it  was  dif- 
ficult to  see  them  at  any  distance,  yet  the 
levee  of  Memphis  was  black  with  the  crowd  of 
human  beings.  From  the  time  the  rams  made 
their  appearance,  the  Confederate  gunboats  had 
been  steadily  falling  back,  though  continuing  to 
fire  heavily,  before  the  advance  of  the  Federal 
gunboats. 

The  Jeff.  Thompson,  Gen.  Bragg,  Sumter, 
and  Van  Dorn  were  the  only  vessels  remain- 
ing, and  these  were  so  frequently  struck  and 
saw  so  little  opportunity  of  escaping,  that  they 
turned  their  bows  ashore.  As  soon  as  the 
Thompson  reached  the  shore  her  officers  and 
crew  leaped  off,  and  ran  through  the  woods ; 
but  a  shell  exploding  on  the  vessel,  she  took  fire 
and  was  burned  to  the  water's  edge.  The  Gen. 
Bragg  reached  the  shore  about  half  a  mile  be- 
low the  Thompson,  and  her  officers  and  crew 
escaped.  The  Sumter  followed  next,  and  the 
Gen.  Van  Dorn,  which  was  a  swift  vessel,  alone 
escaped  down  the  river.  The  Federal  fleet  now 
came  to  anchor  before  the  city.  The  engage- 
ment had  lasted  over  an  hour.  No  one  was  kill- 
ed on  the  fleet.  The  loss  of  the  other  side  could 
not  be  stated.  About  one  hundred  were  made 
prisoners. .-  The  other  mortar  boats,  owing  to 
a  misconception  of  «rders,  were  not  engaged. 
•  The  following  correspondence  then  ensued 
between  Oom.  Davis  and  the  city  authorities : 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG  STEAMEK  BKNTOK,  ) 
OFF  MEMPHIS,  June,  5, 1862.      ) 

SIB  :  I  have  respectfully  to  request  that  you  will  sur- 
render the  city  of  Memphis  to  the  authority  of  the 
United  States,  which  I  have  the  honor  to  represent. 
I  am,  Mr.  Mayor,  with  high  respect, 

C.  H.  DAVIS,  Flag  Officer  commanding,  etc. 
To  His  Honor  the  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Memphis. 

Th&  answer  of  the  mayor  was  as  follows : 


MAYOR'S  OFFICE,  MEMPHIS,  June  0, 1863. 
SIR  :  Your  note  of  this  date  is  received,  and  contents 
noted.    In  reply  I  have  only  to  say  that,  as  the  civil 
authorities  have  no  means  of  defence,  by  the  force  of 
circumstances  the  city  is  in  your  hands. 

Respectfully,        JOHN  PARK,  Mayor. 
To  C.  H.  DAVIS,  Flag  Officer  commanding,  etc. 

Commander  Davis  wrote  in  reply  as  follows: 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG  STEAMER  BENTON,  ) 
OFF  MEMPHIS,  June  6, 1862.     J 

SIR  :  The  undersigned,  commanding  the  naval  mili- 
tary forces  of  the  United  States  in  front  of  Memphis, 
has  the  honor  to  say  to  the  Mayor  and  the  city  that 
Col.  Fitch,  commanding  the  Indiana  brigade,  will  take 
military  possession  immediately. 

Col.  Fitch  will  be  happy  to  receive  the  cooperation 
of  His  Honor  the  Mayor  and  the  city  authorities  in 
maintaining  peace  and  order.  To  this  end  he  will  be 
pleased  to  confer  with  His  Honor  the  Mayor  at  the  mil- 
itary headquarters  at  3  o'clock  this  afternoon. 
Yours,  etc.,  C.  H.  DAVIS, 

Flag  Officer  commanding,  etc. 
To  the  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Memphis. 

The  military  occupation  of  the  city  followed, 
and  the  appointment  of  a  provost  marshal. 
Memphis  is  the  most  populous  and  important 
town,  on  the  Mississippi  river,  between  St.  Louis 
and  New  Orleans.  Its  population  in  1860  was 
22,625. 

About  the  10th  of  June  the  gunboats  St. 
Louis,  Mound  City,  Lexington,  and  Conestoga, 
with  the  transport  New  National,  having  on 
board  the  46th  Indiana  regiment,  Col.  Fitch, 
left  Memphis,  on  an  expedition  up  the  White 
river,  to  open  communication  with  the  army  of 
Gen.  Curtis,  and  to  remove  the  obstructions  in 
that  river.  The  White  river  is  formed  by  the 
junction  of  three  small  branches,  which  unite 
a  few  miles  east  of  Fayetteville,  Arkansas.  It 
flows  first  northwesterly  into  Missouri,  and 
after  making  a  circuit  of  about  one  hundred 
miles,  returns  into  Arkansas,  and  pursues  a 
southeasterly  course  to  the  mouth  of  Black  river. 
Thence  its  direction  is  nearly  south,  until  it 
enters  the  Arkansas  fifteen  miles  above  its 
mouth.  It  is  navigable  by  steamboats  to  the 
mouth  of  Black  river,  three  hundred  and  fifty 
miles,  in  all  stages  of  water. 

As  the  expedition  approached  St.  Charles, 
the  Mound  City,  being  in  advance,  was  fired 
on  from  two  concealed  batteries.  This  was 
returned.  Meantime  the  troops  were  landed 
below  for  the  purpose  of  marching  in  the  rear 
and  capturing  the  batteries.  At  this  juncture 
a  ball  fcom  a  siege  gun  on  the  bluff  struck  the 
forward  and  left  side  of  the  Mound  City  and 
penetrated  the  casemate  and  passed  through 
the  steam  drum.  The  vessel  was  immediately 
filled  with  the  escaping  vapor  and  nearly 
every  one  on  board  was  scalded ;  only  twenty- 
three  of  the  officers-  and  crew,  numbering  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five,  escaped  uninjured.  A 
horrible  scene  ensued.  Many  of  the  crew, 
frantic  with  pain,  jumped  overboard,  and  some 
were  drowned.  The  boats  from  the  Conestoga, 
which  was  coming  up  at  the  time,  were  sent  to 
their  relief,  but  the  enemy  fired  on  the  men  in 
the  water  with  grape  and  canister  from  their 
field  pieces,  killing  most  of  those  who  were 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


169 


attempting  to  escape.  Meantime  Col.  Fitch, 
learning  the  facts,  pushed  forward  with  his 
regiment  and  carried  the  works  at  the  point 
of  the .  bayonet.  They  consisted  of  two  bat- 
teries, the  lower  of  which  mounted  six  field- 
pieces,  and  the  upper  one  three  heavy  siege 
guns.  About  thirty  prisoners  were  taken, 
among  whom  was  Col.  Frye,  commanding  the 
post.  This  expedition  failed  to  open  communi- 
cation with  Gen.  Curtis,  as  has  been  heretofore 
stated. 

As  Memphis  was  the  second  important  city 
in  the  West  captured  by  the  Federal  troops,  a 
more  full  statement  of  affairs  there  after  its  oc- 
cupation will  serve  as  a  general  illustration  of 
the  proceedings  in  the  captured  cities. 

A  satisfactory  arrangement  was  made  as 
aforesaid  with  the  civil  authorities,  all  the 
more  readily  as  the  mayor  and  a  great  many 
of  the  citizens — according  to  some  accounts 
the  majority — were  Union  men.  Although 
previously  Col.  Ellet,  commanding  the  ram 
fleet,  had  made  an  independent  movement 
toward  placing  the  city  under  the  Federal  au- 
thority, of  which  the  following  is  his  official 
report  to  the  Secretary  of  War : 

TJ.  8.  RAM  SWITZERLAND,         ) 
OPPOSITE  MEMPHIS,  June  7,  P.  M.  J 
Hon.  E.  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War  : 

SIR  :  Yesterday,  after  the  engagement  with  the 
rebel  fleet  had  nearly  terminated,  and  the  gunboats 
and  one  of  my  rams  had  passed  below,  I  was  inform- 
ed that  a  white  flag  had  been  raised  in  the  city.  I 
immediately  sent  my  son,  a  medical  cadet,  Chas.  R. 
Ellet,  ashore  with  a  flag  of  truce  and  the  following 
note  to  the  authorities : 

"OPPOSITE  MEMPHIS,  June  6.  I  understand  that 
the  city  of  Memphis  has  surrendered.  I  therefore 
send  my  son,  with  two  United  States  flags,  with  in- 
structions to  raise  one  upon  the  custom  house  and 
the  other  upon  the  court  house,  as  evidence  of  the 
return  of  your  city  to  the  care  and  protection  of  the 
Constitution. 

"CHAS.  ELLET,  JR.,  Commanding." 

The  bearer  of  the  flags  and  the  above  note  was  ac- 
companied by  Lieut.-Col.  Conkell,  of  the  Fifty-ninth 
Illinois  regiment,  and  sixty-two  men  of  the  boat  guard. 

The  following  is  the  reply  of  the  mayor  of 
the  city : 

MEMPHIS,  J-wne  6. 
"  Col.  (Mas.  Ellet,  Jr.,  Commanding,  &c,  : 

' '  SIR  :  Your  note  of  this  date  is  received  and  the 
contents  noted.  The  civil  authorities  of  this  city  are 
not  advised  of  its  surrender  to  the  forces  of  the  United 
States  Government,  and  our  reply  to  you  is  simply 
to  state  respectfully  that  we  have  no  power  to  oppose 
the  raising  of  the  flags  you  have  directed  to  be  raised 
over  the  custom  house  and  post  office. 

"JOHN  PARK,  Mayor 

On  receiving  this  reply  the  small  party  proceeded 
to  the  post  office  to  raise  the  national  flag,  and  were 
there  joined  by  the  mayor.  It  is  proper  to  say  that 
the  conduct  of  the  mayor  and  some  of  the  citizens 
was  unexceptionable.  The  party  was  surrounded 
by  an  excited  crowd,  using  angry  and  threatening 
language,  but  they  ascended  to  the  top  of  the  post 
office  and  planted  the  flag,  though  fired  upon  several 
times  and  stoned  by  the  mob  below.  Still  I  believe 
this  conduct  was  reprobated  by  the  people  of  stand- 
ing iu  the  place ;  indeed,  many  evidences  of  an  ex- 
tensive Union  feeling  there  reach  me. 

Respectfully, 

CHAS.  ELLET,  JR.,  Commanding  Ram  Fleet. 


The  same  evening  the  citizens,  to  the  number 
of  some  two  thousand,  reported  themselves, 
armed  and  equipped,  to  the  provost  marshal  to 
prevent  the  destruction  of  property  by  the  mob, 
who  it  was  feared  would  fire  the  city,  in  fulfil- 
ment of  a  threat  which  had  been  made  some 
time  previously;  but,  beyond  the  breaking 
open  of  the  Mississippi  and  Tennessee  Railroad 
depot,  little  or  no  disorder  occurred.  The  same 
day  Col.  Fitch  issued  a  proclamation  to  the  cit- 
izens, announcing  that  he  had  taken  military 
possession  of  the  city.  "  Residents  who  may 
have  fled  from  their  homes,"  he  continues,  "are 
exhorted  to  return ;  merchants  and  others  who 
have  abandoned  their  business  are  requested  to 
reopen  their  stores  and  shops,  exce]fting  those 
dealing  in  intoxicating  liquors,  who  are  forbid- 
den to  resume  that  traffic  under  penalty  of 
having  the  stock  immediately  destroyed.  The 
mayor  and  common  council  will  continue  in 
the  exercise  of  their  municipal  functions,  the 
military  authorities  simply  cooperating  with 
them  in  enforcing  all  proper  ordinances,  unless 
some  exigency  arises  rendering  it  imperative  to 
place  the  city  under  martial  law.  It  is  hoped 
and  believed,  however,  nothing  will  occur  to 
render  this  step  necessary."  In  fact,  the  most 
perfect  tranquillity  continued  to  prevail ;  the 
municipal  authorities  cooperated  cordially  with 
the  military  in  preserving  order ;  and  great 
numbers  of  citizens,  who  had  fled  on  the  de- 
struction of  the  Confederate  fleet,  began  to  re- 
turn to  their  homes.  Before  the  surrender, 
1,494  bales  of  cotton,  and  large  quantities  of 
sugar  and  molassses,  had  been  destroyed  by 
order  of  the  Confederate  Government,  but  the 
citizens  had  succeeded  in  concealing  probably 
$150,000  worth  of  these  staples,  which  now 
began  to  find  their  way  to  the  levees.  Any 
person  was  allowed  to  go  North,  or  ship  goods 
thither,  on  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance. 
Trade  was  extremely  dull  for  a  week  or  tw» ; 
many  of  the  shops  remained  closed,  and  owing 
to  the  lack  of  every  species  of  currency  except 
Confederate  scrip,  Northern  merchants,  who 
had  sent  goods  to  Memphis,  were  in  several  in- 
stances compelled  to  reship  them. 

The  Memphis  post  office  was  reopened  on 
June  13th. 

On  the  same  day  Col.  James  R.  Slack,  of  the 
47th  Indiana  volunteers,  assumed  command  of 
the  city,  and  immediately  issued  the  following 
order : 

General  Orders  No.  3. 

HEADQUARTERS  UNITED  STATES  FORCES,  ) 
MEMPHIS,  TENN.,  June  18,  1862.         ) 
Hereafter  the  dealing  in  and  passage  of  currency 
known  as   "Confederate    Scrip*'   or  "Confederate 
Notes"  is  positively  prohibited,  and  the  use  thereof 
as  a  circulating  medium  is  regarded  as  an  insult  to 
the  Government  of  the  United  States,  and  an  im- 
position upon  the  ignorant  and  deluded. 

All  persons  offending  against  the  provisions  of  this 
order  will  be  promptly  arrested  and  severely  pun- 
ished by  the  military  authorities. 
By  order  of  JAS.  R.  SLACK, 

Colonel  Commanding  Post. 

The  Mayor  and  Board  of  Aldermen  addressed 


170 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


a  letter  to  Col.  Slack,  representing  that  in  the 
absence  of  almost  all  other  money  the  order 
above  cited  was  certain  to  cause  great  distress 
and  suffering  among  the  laboring  class,  and  re- 
questing him  to  leave  the  matter  for  sixty 
days  "to  the  judgment  and  discretion  of  the 
people."  Their  request  was  not  granted,  Ool. 
Slack  reminding  them,  in  his  answer,  "  that  the 
so-called  Confederate  States  issued  all  their 
notes  in  bills  of  the  denomination  of  $50's  and 
$20's,"  and  that  consequently  the  laboring  class 
probably  had  very  few  of  them  in  their  posses- 
sion. "  The  ruinous  effect  to  which  you  allude," 
he  continued,  "will  strike  a  different  class  alto- 
gether. The  calamity  of  having  to  contend 
with  a  depreciated  currency,  and  to  which  you 
refer,  wUl  come  upon  the  people  sooner  or 
later,  and  I  see  .no  reason  why  it  may  not  as 
well  come  now  as  sixty  days  hence. 

"Those  who  have  been  the  most  active  in 
getting  up  this  wicked  rebellion,  are  the  indi- 
viduals whose  pockets  are  lined  with  Confed- 
erate notes ;  and  if  sixty  days'  time  should  be 
given  them,  it  is  only  giving  that  much  tune 
for  those  who  are  responsible  for  its  issue  to 
get  rid  of  it  without  loss,  and  the  worthless 
trash  will  be  found  in  the  hands  of  the  unsus- 
pecting and  credulous,  who  have  always  been 
the  dupes  of  designing  Shylocks,  by  inducing 
them  to  accept  of  a  circulating  medium  which 
was  issued  to  aid  in  the  destruction  of  the  first 
and  best  Government  ever  known  to  civiliza- 
tion." 

On  the  17th  Gen.  Lewis  Wallace  arrived  at 
Memphis,  and  assumed  the  chief  command  by 
virtue  of  his  rank.  His  principal  official  act, 
during  the  few  days  that  he  remained  in  Mem- 
phis, was  to  take  possession  of  the  "Argus" 
newspaper  office,  where  he  installed  the  cor- 
respondents of  the  "New  York  Herald"  and 
"  New  York  Tribune  "  as  editors.  The  provost 
Marshal  also  issued  orders  to  the  guard  to  shoot 
any  one  tearing  down  United  States  flags,  and 
imprison  citizens  carrying  concealed  weapons. 

On  the  20th  Col.  Slack  issued  the  following 
"General  Orders  No.  8:" 

Members  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  the  Mayor, 
City  Recorder,  and  all  other  persons  discharging  any 
official  duty  within  the  city  of  Memphis,  ana  under 
the  charter  thereof,  are  required  to  come  before  the 
Provost  Marshal  and  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
the  Government  of  the  United  States  within  three 
daysj  or,  in  default  thereof,  will  be  regarded  as  sym- 
pathizing, aiding,  and  abetting  rebellion,  and  will  be 
arrested  and  treated  as  only  traitors  deserve. 

On  the  25th  a  Union  meeting  was  held  in 
Court  House  Square,  at  which  some  350  or  400 
persons  were  present,  about  200  of  them  being 
citizens.  After  several  speeches  had  been  made, 
a  series  of  resolutions  were  passed  pledging  the 
support  of  the  meeting  to  the  Union  ticket  at 
the  municipal  election  to  be  held  the  next  day ; 
and  the  meeting  then  adjourned,  to  reassemble 
in  the  evening  for  the  purpose  of  nominating 
candidates.  The  election  on  the  26th  passed 
off  quietly,  not  more  than  TOO  votes  being  cast. 
John  Park,  the  Union  candidate,  was  reflected 


mayor  without  opposition.  All  persons  offer- 
ing to  vote  were  required  to  take  the  oath  of 
allegiance. 

The  city  was  now  for  some  weeks  the  head- 
quarters of  Gen.  Grant,  and  Col.  J.  D.  "Webster 
was  appointed  commandant  of  the  post.  The 
editors  of  the  "Argus"  were  permitted  to  re- 
sume the  direction  of  their  paper,  with  the 
understanding  that  their  immediate  arrest  and 
the  suppression  of  the  paper  would  follow  the 
appearance  of  any  disunion  article  in  it. 

The  Northern  shipments  from  Memphis  up 
to  the  27th  of  June  were,  according  to  the 
report  of  the  Trade  Committee,  9,206  hhds.  of 
sugar,  8,117  hhds.  of  molasses,  and  7,061  bales 
of  cotton.  The  number  of  persons  who  had 
taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  in  the  city  at  the 
same  date  was  estimated  at  3,000. 

On  the  1st  of  July  the  "  Memphis  Avalanche  " 
was  suppressed,  but  its  reissue  being  allowed 
on  condition  of  the  retirement  of  the  chief  edi- 
tor, it  appeared  the  next  day  as  a  "  Bulletin." 

On  the  10th  of  July  Gen.  Grant  published 
the  following  order : 

The  families  now  residing  in  the  city  of  Memphis, 
of  the  following  persons,  are  required  to  move  South 
beyond  our  lines  within  five  days  from  the  date  hereof: 

1.  All  persons  holding  commissions  in  the  so-called 
Confederate  army,  or  who  are  voluntarily  enlisted  in 
said  army,  or  who  accompany  and  are  connected  with 
the  same. 

2.  All  persons  holding  office  under  or  in  the  employ 
of  the  so-called  Confederate  Government. 

8.  All  persons  holding  State,  county,  or  municipal 
offices,  who  claim  allegiance  to  the  said  so-called 
Confederate  Government,  and  who  have  abandoned 
their  families  and  gone  South. 

Gen.  Grant  went  to  Corinth  on  the  llth, 
and  was  succeeded  at  Memphis  by  Gen.  A.  P. 
Hovey,  who  published  an  order  on  the  16th 
requiring  all  male  residents  of  the  city,  between 
18  and  45  years  of  age,  to  take  the  oath  of 
allegiance  within  six  days  or  go  South.  About 
1,300  took  the  oath  and  500  were  sent  South. 
On  the  17th  it  was  discovered  that  a  Confed- 
erate telegraph  operator  had  interrupted  the 
line  between  Memphis  and  Corinth,  over  which 
passed  Gen.  Halleck's  messages  to  Flag-Officer 
Davis,  Gen.  Curtis,  and  the  commandant  at 
Memphis,  and  with  the  aid  of  a  pocket  instru- 
ment had  read  all  the  official  despatches  sent 
over  the  wires  for  four  days. 

Maj.-Gen.  "W.  T.  Sherman  reached  Memphis 
with  reinforcements  on  the  20th,  and  took 
command  of  the  post.  On  the  24th  he  pub- 
lished an  order  reopening  trade  and  communi- 
cation with  the  surrounding  country  under 
certain  restrictions.  Travel  into  and  out  of 
the  city,  over  five  specified  roads,  without 
passes  or  any  hindrance  except  the  right  of 
search  by  the  guard  at  the  discretion  of  the 
officer  in  command,  was  freely  permitted  to 
farmers,  planters,  and  business  men  with  their 
families  and  servants.  This  travel  must  in  all 
cases  be  by  daylight,  except  in  the  case  of 
market  and  supply  carts.  Another  order  pro- 
hibited the  payment  of  gold,  silver,  or  treasury 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


171 


notes  for  cotton,  and  ordered  quartermasters 
to  seize  all  cotton  purchased  after  that  date  and 
send  it  North  to  be  sold,  the  proceeds  to  be 
held  subject  to  the  claim  of  the  owners.  Ten- 
nessee or  Southern  -paper  might  be  used  for  the 
purchase  of  cotton,  or  buyers  might  give  obli- 
gations to  pay  at  the  end  of  the  war,  or  at'  the 
pleasure  of  the  Government,  or  might  deposit 
the  value  of  it  with  the  quartermaster,  to  be 
held  in  trust  for  the  planters.  This  order  was 
soon  afterward  modified  by  direction  of  the 
Government  at  "Washington. 

A  few  days  later  Gen.  Grant  directed  Gen. 
Sherman  to  "  take  possession  of  all  vacant  stores 
and  houses  in  the  city,  arid  have  them  rented 
at  reasonable  rates,  and  to  be  paid  monthly  in 
advance."  These  buildings,  with  their  tenants, 
were  to  be  turned  over  to  the  proprietors  on 
proof  of  loyalty.  Houses  which  had  been 
leased  by  disloyal  owners  were  also  to  be 
seized,  and  the  rents  appropriated  by  the 
United  States.  Early  in  August  he  also  ordered 
the  families  of  all  persons  absent  in  the  Confed- 
erate States  to  be  sent  out  of  Memphis. 

On  the  9th  of  the  same  month  it  was  an- 
nounced that  one  artillery  and  three  infantry 
companies,  comprising  in  the  aggregate  400 
men,  had  been  enlisted  in  Memphis  for  the  Fed- 
eral army  and  had  taken  the  field,  and  two 
others  were  recruiting. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  month  Gen.  Sherman 
issued  an  order  prohibiting  the  importation  and 
sale,  except  by  permit,  of  arms,  ammunition, 
salt,  and  salt  meat ;  and  commanding  dealers  to 
keep  an  account  of  goods  received  and  the  dis- 
position made  of  them,  said  account  to  be  sub- 
ject to  inspection  at  all  times  by  the  provost 
marshal.  Dealers  in  arms  and  medicines,  de- 
tected in  endeavoring  to  get  the  same  outside 
the  Union  lines,  were  to  suffer  the  extreme 
penalty  of  military  law. 

A  meeting  of  citizens  was  called  by  the  Gen- 
eral on  the  7th  of  September,  at  which  he  made 
an  address  in  answer  to  various  complaints 
which  had  been  made  of  his  administration. 
The  attendance  was  very  large,  and  an  unmis- 
takable feeling  of  loyalty  was  indicated  by  the 
assembly. 

About  the  10th  a  joint  order  was  issued  by 
Gen.  Sherman  and  W.  D.  Gallagher,  agent  of 
the  Treasury  Department,  for  the  regulation 
of  commercial  intercourse  between  Memphis, 
Helena,  and  other  points.  J^o  boats  were  to 
receive  goods  without  permits,  and  persons 
who  had  never  encouraged  secession  were  to 
receive  facilities  for  shipping  supplies  on  their 
taking  oath  that  no  part  of  the  same  were  to 
be  sold  to  disloyal  parties. 


On  the  25th  of  October  Gen.  Sherman  pub- 
lished stringent  regulations  for  the  government 
of  the  city.  A  military  commission  of  three 
army  officers  was  to  sit  daily  to  try  offenders 
under  tie  laws  of  war.  Vagrants,  thieves,  and 
other  disreputable  characters,  were  to  be  or 
ganized  into  gangs  and  set  to  work  in  the 
trenches  or  on  the  streets.  Citizens  lurking 
about  the  camps  were  to  be  treated  as  spies. 
The  inhabitants  were  to  keep  within  doors  be- 
tween tattoo  and  reveille,  unless  attending 
church,  places  of  amusement,  a  party  of  friends, 
or  necessary  business.  After  midnight  all  per- 
sons must  be  in  their  houses,  except  the  guard. 
Assemblages  of  negroes  were  forbidden,  except 
by  permission  previously  obtained  from  the 
provost  marshal. 

On  the  Vth  of  November  another  Union 
meeting  was  held  at  Memphis. 

About  the  same  time  the  general  command- 
ing prohibited  the  importation  of  liquors,  ex- 
cept by  gentlemen-citizens  and  officers,  for  the 
exclusive  use  of  themselves  and  their  families;  by 
regular  apothecaries  for  medicinal  purposes,  to 
be  retailed  on  a  physician's  prescription ;  or  by 
keepers  of  hotels  and  licensed  saloons,  in  limited 
quantities,  not  exceeding  one  month's  supply  at 
a  time. 

Gen.  Sherman  took  the  field  about  the 
middle  of  December,  and  the  command  of 
Memphis  devolved  upon  Gen.  Hurlbut,  who 
immediately  caused  all  drinking  saloons  to  be 
closed. 

On  the  21st  of  December  the  guerrillas,  who 
had  been  for  some  time  growing  daily  bolder 
in  their  operations  about  Memphis,  burning 
cotton,  intercepting  supplies,  and  forcing  con- 
scripts into  the  Confederate  army,  attacked  the 
suburbs  of  the  city,  committed  great  depreda- 
tions, and  carried  off  100  head  of  cattle  and  180 
mules.  The  next  day  a  meeting  of  the  citizens 
was  held  to  provide  means  of  defence.  On  the 
24th  the  guerrillas  appeared  again,  drove  the 
Federal  pickets  within  the  fortifications,  and 
plundered  the  neighboring  shops  and  houses. 
Two  companies  of  citizens  were  immediately 
enrolled  for  home  defence,  and  the  provost 
marshal  interdicted  for  the  time  all  trade  with 
the  surrounding  country.  The  arrival  of  two 
regiments  of  Federal  troops,  however,  soon 
quieted  the  public  alarm.  In  consequence  of 
these  occurrences,  the  election  for  member  of 
Congress  in  the  district  of  which  Memphis 
forms  a  part,  which  was  to  have  been  held, 
under  Gov.  Johnson's  proclamation,  on  the 
29th  of  December,  was  postponed  twenty  days. 
A  quiet  state  of  affairs  ensued.  The  population 
of  Memphis  in  1860  was  22,623. 


172 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


CHAPTER  XY, 


Advance  of  Gen.  Grant  up  the  Tennessee  Kiver — Position  of  the  Southern  Foraes — Movements  of  Gen.  Buell — Advance 
of  Gen.  Johnston  to  attack  Gen.  Grant — Commencement  of  the  Battle  at  Shiloh — Arrival  of  Gen.  Buell — Second  day 
of  Battle — Ketreat  of  Southern  Troops — Message  of  Mr.  Davis  to  Congress  at  Eichmond — Arrival  of  Gen.  Halleck — 
March  on  Corinth— Its  Evacuation — Movements  of  Gen.  Mitchel — Provisional  Government  in  Tennessee — Its  Pro- 


sumed  the  command  of  the  Southern  forces  in 
this  department,  when  he  issued  the  following 
address  to  his  soldiers : 

SOLDIERS  :  I  assume  this  day  the  command  of  the 
army  of  the  Mississippi,  for  the  defence  of  our  home- 
steads and  liberties,  and  to  resist  the  subjugation, 
spoliation,  and  dishonor  of  our  people.  Our  mothers 
and  wives,  our  sisters  and  children,  expect  us  to  do 
our  duty,  evra  to  the  sacrifice  of  our  lives. 

Our  losses  since  the  commencement  of  this  war,  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  are  now  about  the 
same  as  those  of  the  enemy. 

He  must  be  made  to  atone  for  the  reverses  we  have 
lately  experienced.  Those  reverses,  far  from  dis- 
heartening, must  nerve  us  to  new  deeds  of  valor  and 
patriotism,  and  should  inspire  us  with  an  unconquer- 
able determination  to  drive  back  our  invaders. 

Should  any  one  in  this  army  be  unequal  to  the  task 
before  us,  let  him  transfer  his  arms  and  equipments  at 
once  to  braver,  firmer  hands,  and  return  to  his  home. 

Our  cause  is  as  just  and  sacred  as  ever  animated 
men  to  take  up  arms ;  and  if  we  are  true  to  it  and  to 
ourselves,  with  the  continued  protection  of  the  Al- 
mighty we  must  and  shall  triumph. 

Associated  with  Gen.  Beauregard  in  command 
were  Gens.  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  Bragg, 
Polk,  Pillow,  Cheatham,  and  others.  The  Con- 
federate force  consisted  not  only  of  the  troops 
from  the  adjacent  States  which  had  been  in 
service  for  months,  but  also  of  new  levies  now 
called  out  by  the  governors  on  the  requisition 
of  Mr.'  Davis.  They  were  encamped  principally 
at  Corinth,  with  detachments  at  various  points 
on  the  railroad,  so  situated  that  they  could  be 
easily  concentrated  on  any  point. 

Corinth  is  at  the  intersection  of  the  Mobile 
and  Ohio  and  Memphis  and  Charleston  Rail- 
roads, in  Tishemingo  Co.,  Mississippi,  forty  miles 
from  Grand  Junction,  fifty-eight  miles  from  Jack- 
son, Tennessee,  and  about  eighteen  miles  from 
Pittsburg  on  the  Tennessee  River.  It  is  situated 
in  a  hilly,  semi-mountainous  country. 

The  Federal  forces  at  first  concentrated  at 
Savannah,  a  small  town  of  two  hundred  inhab- 
itants, on  the  Tennessee  River,  about  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  miles  above  Fort  Henry. 
The  number  of  transpocts  which  arrived  by  the 
13th  of  March,  was  eighty-two.  This  force 
comprised  all  of  Gen.  Grant's  original  com- 
mand, with  an  additional  force  of  infantry, 
almost  entirely  from  the  State  of  Ohio.  All 
the  steamers  that  formed  the  regular  line  of 
packets  between  Louisville  and  New  Orleans 
and  between  Louisville  and  St.  Louis  were  in 
the  fleet,  carrying  from  1,200  to  1,500  men  each, 
and  heavily  laden.  The  demonstrations  of  the 
inhabitants  along  the  shore  of  the  river  were  of 
the  most  extravagant  character.  One  declared 


THE  military  operations  in  Tennessee,  which 
finally  controlled  the  movements  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River  expedition,  had  paused  after  the 
capture  of  Nashville,  as  above  described,  but 
were  soon  resumed  again;  The  first  step  con- 
sisted in  fitting  out  a  great  expedition  to  pro- 
ceed under  Gen.  Grant  up  the  Tennessee  River. 
More  than  fifty-seven  steamers  and  two  gun- 
boats were  required  to  transport  and  convoy 
the  force.  It  was  organized  in  five  divisions, 
each  consisting  of  infantry,  cavalry,  and  artil- 
lery. The  advance  was  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  Sherman,  2d  division  under  Gen.  Hurl- 
but,  3d  division  under  Gen.  McClernard,  4th 
division  under  Gen.  L.  Wallace,  and  6th  division 
under  Col.  Lauman  of  the  Yth  Iowa  regiment. 
On  the  llth  of  March  the  transports  began  to 
arrive  at  Savannah  in  Tennessee.  On  the  night 
of  the  12th  the  Tyler  and  Lexington  were  sent 
up  the  river  to  reconnoitre  as  far  as  Eastport, 
forty  miles  above  Savannah.  The  enemy  was 
found  constructing  fortifications  and  with  a 
considerable  force.  It  was  known  that  the  Con- 
federate forces  were  also  concentrated  along 
the  lines  of  railroad  south  and  southwest  of  the 
«  river. 

The  line  of  defence  now  adopted  by  the  Con- 
federate commander  after  his  first  line  was 
broken  up,  had  for  its  base  the  Charleston  and 
Memphis  Railroad,  the  preservation  of  which 
was  absolutely  necessary  to  any  pretence  of 
resistance  through  northern  Mississippi,  Ala- 
bama, and  Georgia.  Along  this  railroad  are 
Tnscumbia  and  Florence,  at  the  foot  of  the 
Muscle  shoals  in  the  Tennessee  River  and  the 
junction  with  the  Florence  and  Nashville  Rail- 
road; Decatur,  near  the  head  of  the  lower 
Muscle  Shoal;  Huntsville  and  Bellefontaine ; 
Stevenson,  important  as  the  junction  with  the 
railroad  from  Nashville  through  Murfreesboro' 
and  Chattanooga,  a  strong  position.  All  these 
points  are  east  of  Corinth.  On  the  west  of  Cor- 
inth the  railroad  runs  in  a  nearly  straight  line 
to  Memphis,  ninety-three  miles  distant ;  and 
northwest  runs  the  road  to  Jackson,  almost  in 
the  centre  of  West  Tennessee. 

The  Union  line  ,vas  the  Tennessee  River,  ex- 
tending from  Paducah,  Kentucky,  to  Eastport 
in  Mississippi.^  The  gunboats  Lexington  and 
Tyler,  by  moving  up  and  down  the  river,  pre- 
vented the  erection  of  batteries.  Above  East- 
port,  at  Chickasaw  Bluffs  and  at  some  other 
points,  Confederate  batteries  were  placed  to 
command  the  navigation  of  the  river. 

On  the  5th  of  March  Gen.  Beauregard  as- 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


173 


it  to  be  "  the  second  coming  of  Christ."  The 
command  of  the  army  was  taken  by  Gen. 
Grant  soon  after  its  arrival  at  Savannah,  and  it 
was  advanced  seven  miles  to  Pittsburg  Landing. 
Savannah  was  made  a  depot  for  stores,  with 
only  a  few  troops.  Here  troops  and  supplies 
were  sent  to  Gen.  Grant  by  Maj.-Gen.  Halleck, 
both  from  St.  Louis  and  Cairo.  There  had  also 
been  such  a  change  in  the  position  of  the  en- 
emy before  Gen.  Buell  at  Nashville,  that  the 
original  plan  was  altered,  and  he  was  directed 
by  Maj.-Gen.  Halleck  to  make  a  junction  of  his 
forces  with  those  under  Gen.  Grant.  By  Gen- 
eral War  Order  No.  3  of  the  President,  dated 
March  llth,  the  Departments  of  Kansas  and 
Kentucky,  respectively  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  Hunter  and  of  Gen.  Buell,  were  united 
with  that  of  the  Missouri,  under  the  designation 
of  the  Department  of  the  Mississippi,  and  of 
this  consolidated  Department  Gen.  Halleck  was 
assigned  the  command. 

It  was  the  original  plan  of  Gen.  Buell  to 
advance  with  his  army  in  several  columns 
upon  northern  Alabama  over  the  principal 
roads  leading  to  that  region  from  Nashville. 
"With  this  object  in  view,  the  divisions  of  Gens. 
Mitchell,  Nelson  and  McCook  left  Nashville 
on  the  same  day,  and  by  different  roads.  But 
the  Confederates,  having  retired  from  Mur- 
freesboro  and  formed  along  the  new  line  they 
proposed  to  defend,  rendered  necessary  a  cor- 
responding change  in  the  plan  of  Gen.  Buell. 
A  direct  advance  upon  Alabama  by  Gen. 
Buell's  forces  would  not  only  have  involved 
an  unnecessary  amount  of  labor  and  slowness 
of  movement,  owing  to  the  destruction  of 
bridges  over  the  watercourses,  and  other  im- 
pediments, but  the  passage  of  the  Tennessee 
into  northern  Alabama  being  practicable  for  a 
large  army  at  a  few-places  only,  the  Confederates 
could  by  means  of  the  railroad  have  easily 
collected  a  large  force  to  dispute  it  at  any 
point.  This  concentration  of  the  main  body 
of  the  Confederate  forces  in  localities  within 
the  contemplated  field  of  the  operations  of  Gen. 
Grant's  army,  not  only  gave  to  the  latter  an 
opportunity  to  employ  the  whole  of  his  force 
to  the  best  'possible  advantage,  but  enabled 
Gen.  Halleck  to  order  Gen.  Bnell  to  turn  his 
army  toward  western  Tennessee,  to  cooperate 
with  Gen.  Grant  and  cross  the  river.  Thus 
combined,  they  were  regarded  as  certain  to  be 
superior  to  the  Confederate  army  in  the  num- 
ber, armament,  and  fighting  trim  of  their  com- 
mands. 

On  the  28th  of  March,  Gen.  Buell  left  Nash- 
ville and  passed  the  advance  of  his  divisions  at 
Columbia.  On  the  28th,  29th,  and  30th  the 
divisions  of  his  army  had  crossed  Dock  river 
on  a  new  bridge,  and  advanced  through 
Columbia,  distant  eighty-two  miles  from  Savan- 
nah. 

Meantime  most  active  preparations  had  been 
made  to  assemble  a  large  Confederate  force  at 
Corinth,  and  to  fortify  that  position,  which  is 
about  eighteen  miles  south  of  Pittsburg  Land- 


ing. The  force  of  Gen.  Grant  was  posted  at 
Pittsburg  and  along  both  sides  of  the  river  to- 
ward Crump's  Landing  and  Savannah,  but  kept 
in  active  service  scouring  the  country.  The 
importance  of  the  approaching  contest  to  the 
Confederate  States  could  not  be  concealed.  If 
Corinth  fell,  Memphis  would  also  fall,  and  the 
whole  territory  of  the  Gulf  States  would  be 
open  to  an  army  larger  than  that  of  the  Poto- 
mac. The  plan  adopted  by  Gens.  Johnston  and 
Beauregard  was  to  strike  an  unexpected  blow 
before  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Buell's  forces.  On 
the  3d  of  April,  Gen.  Johnston  issued  the  fol- 
lowing address  to  his  soldiers : 

HEADQUARTERS  AHMY  or  MISSISSIPPI,  ) 
COKINTH,  Miss.,  April  3.      f 

Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi  : 

I  have  put  you  in  motion  to  offer  battle  to  the  in- 
vaders of  your  country,  with  the  resolution  and  dis- 
cipline and  valor  becoming  men,  fighting,  as  you  are, 
for  aU  worth  living  or  dying  for.  You  can  but  march 
to  a  decisive  victory  over  agrarian  mercenaries  sent  to 
subjugate  and  despoil  you  of  your  liberties,  proper-ty, 
and  honor. 

Remember  the  precious  stake  involved ;  remember 
the  dependence  of  your  mothers,  your  wives,  your 
sisters,  and  your  children  on  the  result.  Remember 
the  fair,  broad,  abounding  lands,  the  happy  homes 
that  will  be  desolated  by  your  defeat.  The  eyes  and 
hopes  of  eight  million  people  rest  upon  you.  Y ou  are 
expected  to  show  yourselves  worthy  of  your  valor  and 
courage,  worthy  of  the  women  of  the  South,  whose 
noble  devotion  in  this  war  has  never  been  exceeded  in 
any  time.  With  such  incentives  to  brave  deeds,  and 
with  the  trust  that  God  is  with  us,  your  general  will 
lead  you  confidently  to  the  combat,  assured  of  success. 
(Signed)  A.  S.  JOHNSTON, 

General  Commanding. 

The  orders  accompanying  the  address  di- 
vided "  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi "  into  three 
corps.  Gen.  Beauregard  was  proclaimed  to 
be  in  command  of  the  whole  force.  The  first 
corps  was  assigned  to  Gen.  Polk,  and  embraced 
all  the  troops  of  his  former  command,  except- 
ing detached  cavalry  and  artillery,  and  reserves 
detached  for  the  defence  of  Fort  Pillow  and 
Madrid  Bend.  The  second  corps  was  assigned 
to  Gen.  Bragg,  and  was  to  consist  of  the  second 
division  of  the  army  of  the  Mississippi,  less 
artillery  and  cavalry  "hereafter  detached." 
The  third  corps  was  assigned  to  Gen.  Har- 
dee,  and  consisted  of  "  the  Army  of  Kentucky." 
To  Gen.  Crittenden  was  assigned  a  command 
of  reserves,  consisting  of  not  less  than  two 
brigades. 

From  two  to  three  miles  out  on  the  road  to 
Corinth  from  Pittsburg  Landing  lay  the  five  di- 
visions of  Gen.  Grant's  army.  The  advance 
line  was  formed  by  three  divisions :  Brig.-Gen. 
Sherman's,  Brig.-Gen.  Prentiss's,  and  Maj.-Gen. 
McClernand's.  Between  these  and  the  landing 
lay  the  two  others,  Brig.-Gen.  Hurlbut's  and 
Maj.-Gen.  Smith's,  commanded  in  his  absence 
by  Brig.-Gen.  W.  H.  L.  Wallace.  On  the  ex- 
treme left  of  the  line  was  one  brigade  of  Gen. 
Sherman's  division,  while  the  other  brigades 
were  some  two  miles  distant,  forming  the  ex- 
treme right  of  the  advance  line.  To  the  left, 
though  rather  behind  a  portion  of  the  line 


174 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


MAP  OF  THE 

FIELD  OF  SHILOH 

KEAK  PITTSBURGH  LANDING,  TENN. 
Showing  the  Positions  of  the  U.  S.  Forces 

UNDER  THE  COMMAND  OP 

MAJ.  GEN'L  U.  S.  GRANT,  U.  S.  VOL. 
MAJ.  GEN'L  D.  C.  BUELL,  U.  S.  VOL. 

Ox  THE  6TH.  AND  7TH.  OF  APRIL  1862. 

Surveyed  under  the  direction  of 

CO-L.  GEO.  THOM,  CHIEF  OF  TOP'L  ENGTIS; 

DE.PT  OF  IRE  MISSISSIPPI. 


'ii-ld ; 


Engraved  in  Belief  6y  f.  M.  Jewat  d:  Co,  Buffalo,  £f.  T. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


«••••—-—  Positions  ofHIaj.  Gen't  Granfi  Forces  on  the  Sforning  of  ApriifA 
Positions  of  ilaj  Gen' I  Grants  Forces  andthe  Divisions  of 

Gen' It.  Nelson  and  Crittenden  on  the  Evening  of  April  6th. 
Positions  of  Maj  Coils   Grant  and  Bufll  on  the  Morniny  of  April  "tl. 
Positions  of  ftlaj.  Gm'ls  Grant  and  Suell  on  the  Evening  of  April  Ith. 


Tlle  D'^ton3  °f  Maj-  Gen't  C.  F  Smith  and  Brig  Gerfl  Prentiss,  ou-ing  to  the  losso/  General 

Officers,  were  subdivided  and  assigned  to  the  other  Divisions  on  Sunday  Evy.  April  6th. 
The  fiebel  lines  were  generally  parallel  to  those  herein  indicated- 

#€»• 


176 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


formed  by  Sherman's  main  brigades,  lay  Gen. 
McClernand's  division,  and  between  it  and 
Gen.  Sherman's  brigade,  on  the  extreme  left, 
lay  Gen.  Prentiss's  division.  No  preparations 
had  been  made  for  any  means  of  defence  in  case 
of  attack,  although  the  position  was  an  exposed 
one. 

The  information  that  Gen.  Buell  was  near  at 
hand,  determined  Gen»Beauregard  to  make  the 
attack  at  once.  The  movement  of  his  troops 
from  Corinth  commenced  on  the  3d  of  April. 
Owing  to  the  difficulties  of  the  roads,  they  did 
not  reach  the  vicinity  of  the  Federal  forces 
until  Saturday  afternoon,  the  5th.  It  was  then 
determined  that  the  attack  should  be  made  on 
the  next  morning,  at  the  earliest  hour  practi- 
cable, and  in  three  lines  of  battle :  the  first  and 
second  extending  from  Owl  Creek,  on  the  Con- 
federate left,  to  Lick  Creek  on  their  right — a 
distance  of  about  three  miles — supported  by  the 
third,  and  the  reserve.  The  first  line  consisted 
of  Gen.  Hardee's  corps,  augmented  on  his  right 
by  Gladden's  brigade  of  Bragg's  corps,  deployed 
in  line  of  battle,  with  their  respective  artillery 
following  immediately,  and  the  cavalry  in  rear 
of  the  wings.  The  second  line  followed  the 
first  at  a  distance  of  five  hundred  yards,  in  the 
same  order  as  the  first.  The  corps  under  Gen. 
Polk  followed  the  second  line,  at  the  distance 
of  about  eight  hundred  yards,  in  lines  of  bri- 
gades, deployed  with  their  batteries  in  rear  of 
each  brigade,  the  left  wing  supported  by  caval- 
ry. The  reserve  followed  closely  the  third  line 
in  the  same  order,  its  right  wing  supported  by 
cavalry.  These  two  corps  constituted  the  re- 
serve, and  were  to  support  the  front  lines  of 
battle  by  being  deployed,  when  required,  on  the 
right  and  left,  or  otherwise  act  according  to  the- 
exigencies  of  the  battle. 

At  half  past  five  on  the  morning  of  April  6, 
the  Confederate  lines  and  columns  were  in  mo- 
tion. Like  an  Alpine  avalanche  they  came,  at- 
tacking first  the  left  of  Gen.  Grant,  under  Gen. 
Prentiss,  who,  with  two  thousand  of  his  men, 
were  soon  made  prisoners.  This  attack  was  in 
part  a  surprise.  Scarcely  had  the  men  time  to 
seize  their  weapons  and  form,  after  knowing  of 
the  approach  of  the  Confederates.  Gen.  Grant 
himself  was  at  Savannah  at  the  commencement, 
but  early  reached  the  raging  field.  Gradually, 
as  the  Confederate  line  came  up,  the  engage- 
ment had  become  general,  and  as  Gen.  Pren- 
tiss's division  fell  back,  abandoning  their  camp, 
they  were  supported  by  Gen.  Hurlbut,  and 
thus  for  a  time  checked  the  progress  of  the 
Confederates.  At  the  same  time  the  left  of 
Gen.  Sherman's  division  on  the  right  was 
forced  back,  and  the  brunt  of  the  battle,  in  the 
centre,  fell  upon  Gen.  McClernand's  division. 
Desperate  as  was  their  determination,  yet  at 
eleven  o'clock  this  division  had  been  pressed 
back  in  a  line  with  Gen.  Hurlbut.  It  still  did 
some  gallant  fighting;  once  its  right  swept 
round  and  drove  the  Confederates  for  a  con- 
siderable distance,  but  again  fell  back,  and  at 
the  last  it  brought  up  near  the  position  of  the 


camps  of  Gen.  Smith's  division,  commanded 
by  W.  H.  L.  Wallace.  Thus  the  divisions  of 
Prentiss,  Sherman,  and  McClernand  were  driv- 
en back,  their  camps  were  all  in  the  hands  of 
the  Confederates,  and  the  whole  front  line, 
for  which  Hurlburt  and  Wallace  were  but  the 
reserves,  was  gone,  excepting  Stuart's  brigade 
of  Sherman's  division,  on  the  extreme  left. 
The  position  of  this  brigade  was  along  the  cir- 
cuitous road  from  the  Landing  to  Hamburg, 
some  two  miles  distant  from  the  former,  and 
near  the  crossing  of  Lick  Creek.  They  had 
remained  isolated  until  after  the  division  of 
Gen.  Prentiss  fell  back,  when  the  Confederates 
advanced  upon  them  in  such  force  as  to  be  ir- 
resistible in  their  position,  and  they  fell  back 
a  fourth  of  a  mile  and  made  a  stand  for  three 
fourths  of-an  hour.  At  this  juncture  a  brigade 
of  Gen.  Wallace's  reserve,  under  Me  Arthur,  was 
sent  over  to  their  support.  They  were,  how- 
ever, soon  forced  to  fall  back  to  one  ridge, 
and  then  to  another,  and  finally  at  twelve 
o'clock,  badly  shattered  and  disordered,  they 
retreated  to  the  right  and  rear  of  McArthur's 
brigade  to  reorganize. 

Six  hours  had  passed  since  the  approach  of 
the  Confederates,  and  at  this  time  only  the 
divisions  of  Gens.  Hurlbut  and  Wallace  stood 
between  the  army  and  destruction  or  surren- 
der. Still  all  was  not  lost.  The  divisions  of 
Gens.  Hurlbut  and  Wallace  began  to  make  a 
most  gallant  stand.  The  brigade  of  the  latter 
had  been  sent  to  reenforce  McArthur's,  and 
thus  reunited,  filled  the  space  in  the  line  on 
the  left  made  vacant  by  the  falling  back  of  Gen. 
Prentiss's  division  and  Stuart's  brigade  of  Gen. 
Sherman's  division,  and  thus  were  on  the  left 
of  Hurlbut's  division.  By  the  early  breaking 
of  Gen.  Prentiss's  line,  the  onset  of  the  Con- 
federates had  been  made  to  veer  chiefly  to  the 
Union  left.  Here  the  contest  continued  stub- 
born. Four  times  the  Confederates  attempted 
tp  charge  on  Gen.  Wallace's  men.  Each  time 
the  infantry  poured  in  rapid  volleys,  and  the 
artillery  redoubled  their  efforts,  thus  com- 
pelling them  to  retreat  with  heavy  slaugh- 
ter. Farther  to  the  right,  Gen.  Hurlbut's  di- 
vision, which  had  taken  an  advanced  position, 
was  compelled  to  fall  back  through  its  camp 
to  a  thick  wood  behind.  Here,  with  open 
fields  before  them,  they  could  rake  the  ap- 
proach of  the  Confederates.  Three  times  their 
heavy  masses  bravely  charged  upon  the  divis- 
ion, and  each  time  they  were  repulsed  with 
severe  loss.  The  troops  from  the  driven  di- 
visions were  reorganized  so  far  as  available, 
and  re-sent  to  the  field.  Thus  the  right  of 
Gen.  Hurlbut,  which  was  almost  wholly  unpro- 
tected, and  the  weakness  of  which  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  discovered  by  the  Confed- 
erates, was  in  a  measure  patched  out.  It  had 
been  previously  determined  that  in  case  of  an 
attack  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  the  division  under 
Gen.  L.  Wallace  at  Crump's  Landing,  five  miles 
below,  should  come  up  on  the  right  and  flank 
the  enemy.  But  no  message  was  sent  to  this 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


177 


division  until  nearly  noon,  and  it  missed  the 
•way  on  coming  up,  and  did  not  arrive  until 
night.  The  division  of  Gen.  Hurlbut  at  length 
became  exhausted,  and  fell  back  out  of  sight 
of  their  camps  to  a  point  within  half  a -mile 
of  the  Landing.  lu  consequence  of  losing  this 
support,  the  division  of  Gen.  "Wallace,  thus  in 
isolated  advance,  was  compell'ed  to  fall  back, 
the  last  to  leave  the  field.  Just  at  this  moment 
its  commander  was  mortally  wounded. 

It  was  now  half  past  four  o'clock.  The  front 
line  of  the  divisions  had  been  lost  since  eleven 
o'clock,  and  the  reserve  line  was  gone  too.  The 
Confederates  occupied  the  camps  of  every  divi- 
sion except  Smith's,  commanded  during  his 
sickness  by  Gen.  Wallace,  who  had  just  been 
wounded.  The  whole  army  was  crowded  in  the 
region  of  Wallace's  camp,  and  to  a  circuit  of  one 
half  to  two  thirds  of  a  mile  around  the  Land- 
ing. The  next  repulse^ould  put  it  into  the 
river,  and  there  were  not  transports  enough  to 
cross  a  single  division  before  the  enemy  would 
be  upon  them.  Nearly  half  the  field  artillery 
was  lost,  nearly  all  the  camps  and  camp  equi- 
page. Prisoners  had  been  takeji  in  great  num- 
bers. 

At  this  time  a  lull  took  place  in  the  firing, 
the  first  which  had  occurred  since  sunrise.  It 
was  thought  that  the  enemy  were  either  pre- 
paring for  the  grand  final  rush  that  was  to 
crown  the  day's  success,  or  that  they  were 
puzzled  by  the  last  retreat,  and  were  moving 
cautiously.  These  few  minutes  were  golden 
ones  for  that  driven  and  defeated,  army,  and 
they  were  improved.  Col.  Webster,  chief  of 
staff,  arranged  the  guns  which  he  could  collect 
of  those  that  remained,  in  a  sort  of  semicircle 
to  protect  the  Union  centre  and  left,  upon 
which  it  was  thought  the  enemy  were  now 
sure  to  advance.  Corps  of  artillerists  to  man 
them  were  gathered  from  all  the  batteries. 
Twenty-two  guns  were  thus  placed  in  position, 
two  of  which  were  long  32's.  In  front  was 
a  victorious  enemy ;  behind  were  the  remnants 
of  the  repulsed  divisions  of  the  army  driven 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  Landing,  beyond 
which  was  a  deep  and  rapid  river.  Gen.  Wal- 
lace's division  at  Crump's  Landing  had  not  been 
heard  from.  Across  the  river  now  was  seen 
the  first  glitter  of  the  advance  of  Gen.  Buell, 
but  it  could  not  be  brought  over  in  tune  to  do 
much  good.  Suddenly  a  broad  flash  of  light 
leaped  out  from  the  darkening  woods,  and  the 
whistling  leaden  hail  swiftly  followed.  The 
enemy  were  about  to  make  their  crowning  ef- 
fort for  the  day.  Instantly  the  artillery  re- 
plied, and  as  they  approached  nearer,  the  in- 
fantry fired  volley  after  volley.  At  this  time 
*the  gunboats,  Lexington  and  Tyler,  approached 
the  mouth  of  Lick  Creek,  and  were  able  with 
their  guns  to  reach  the  field  occupied  by  the 
Confederates  near  the  river.  This  was  a  fire  in 
their  flank,  which  disconcerted  their  plans. 
Amid  this  terrible  conflict  darkness  came  on. 
The  enemy  had  been  held  at  bay. 

Meantime  Gen.  Wallace  had  arrived  with  his 
12 


division,  and  Gen.  Buell « with  his  forces,  part 
of  which  took  part  in  the  battle  of  the  after- 
noon, and  it  was  decided  after  the  sounds  of 
battle  had  ceased,  to  attack  the  Confederates  as 
soon  as  possible  after  daybreak.  Gen.  Wallace's 
division  was  to  take  the  right  and  sweep  back 
toward  the  position  from  which  Gen.  Sherman 
had  been  'driven  during  the  morning,  and  Gen. 
Nelson  was  to  take  the -extreme  left.  Gen. 
Crittenden  was  to  take  a  position  during  the 
night  next  to  Gen.  Nelson,  and  Gen.  McCook 
with  his  division  next  to  Crittenden.  The  space 
between  Gens.  McCook  and  Wallace  was  to 
be  filled  with  the  reorganized  divisions  of  Gen. 
Grant's  army.  Stealthily  the  troops  crept  to 
their  new  positions,  and  lay  down  in  line  of 
battle  on  their  arms.  All  through  the  night, 
Gen.  Buell's  men  were  marching  up  from  Sa- 
vannah to  the  point  opposite  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing, and  were  ferried  across,  or  were  coming 
up  on  transports.  At  nine  o'clock,  the  gun- 
boats commenced  a  cannonade  of  the  Confed- 
erate position,  which  was  kept  up  all  night.  It 
produced  little  or  no  effect. 

Gen.  Beauregard  thus  reported  his  position 
on  Sunday  night :  "  At  six  o'clock  p.  M.,  we 
were  in  possession  of  all  encampments  between 
Owl  and  Lick  creeks  but  one.  Nearly  all  of 
his  field  artillery,  about  thirty  flags,  colors,  and 
standards,  over  three  thousand  prisoners,  in- 
cluding a  division  commander  (Gen.  Prentiss) 
and  several  brigade  commanders,  thousands  of 
small  arms,  an  immense  supply  of  subsistence, 
forage,  and  munitions  of  war,  and  a  large  amount 
of  means  of  transportation — all  the  substantial 
fruits  of  a  complete  victory — such  indeed  as 
rarely  have  followed  the  most  successful  bat- 
tles ;  for  never  was  an  army  so  well  provided 
as  that  of  our  enemy. 

"  The  remnant  of  his  army  had  been  driven 
in  utter  disorder  to  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
Pittsburg,  under  the  shelter  of  the  heavy 
guns  of  his  iron-clad  gunboats,  and  we  remain- 
ed undisputed  masters  of  his  well-selected, 
admirably  provided  cantonments,  after  over 
twelve  hours  of  obstinate  conflict  with  his 
forces,  who  had  been  beaten  from  them  and 
the  contiguous  covert,  but  only  by  a  sustained 
onset  of  all  the  men  we  could  bring  into  ac- 
tion." 

The  Federal  forces  arranged  for  ;the  battle  of 
the  next  day  were :  the  divisions  <bf  Gens.  Nel- 
son, Crittenden,  McOook,  Hurlbut,  McClernand, 
and  Sherman,  including  in  the  three  latter  the 
shattered  and  disorganized  commands  of  Pren- 
tiss and  W.  H.  L.  Wallace,  which  were  without 
commanders,  and  the  fresh  division  of  Gen.  L. 
Wallace.  These  divisions  were  arranged  in  the 
order  above  named,  beginning  on  the  left. 
The  change  produced  in  the  position  of  the 
Confederate  forces,  by  the  shells  of  the  gun- 
boats during  the  night,  prevented  them  from 
opening  the  battle  at  daylight. 

At  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  Gen.  Nelson 
on  the  extreme  left  formed  his  line  of  battle, 
and  advanced,  with  skirmishers  thrown  out,  for 


178 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


nearly  a  mile  before  meeting  the  enemy  in  force. 
They  immediately  became  engaged:  There  was 
no  straggling,  as  upon  the  previous  day.  Gen. 
Nelson  slowly  but  steadily  advanced,  pushing 
the  exhausted  enemy  before  him  until  half  past 
ten,  when  under  cover  of  the  timber  and  a  fu- 
rious cannonading  they  made  a  general  rally. 
Suddenly  the  masses  of  the  enemy  were  hurled 
with  tremendous  force  against  the  Federal  lines, 
which  now  halted,  wavered,  and  fell  back.  At 
this  moment  TerrilPs  battery  of  24-pounder 
howitzers  rushed  up,  and  in  a  few  minutes  was 
unlimbered  and  firing  into  the  compact  and  ad- 
vancing ranks  of  the  enemy.  Here  was  the  turn- 
ing point  of  the  battle  on  the  left.  The  enemy 
were  only  checked,  not  halted ;  then  followed 
for  two  hours  a  contest  of  artillery  and  musketry 
at  short  range.  The  enemy  began  to  waver,  when 
Gen.  Buell  coming  up,  saw  at  a  glance  the  chance 
and  ordered  a  charge  by  brigades,  at  "double 
quick."  The  Confederates  fell  back  for  a  quarter 
of  a  mile,  became  more  confused,  and  at  half  past 
two  that  point  of  the  field  was  cleared.  The 
next  divisions,  of  Gens.  Orittenden  andMcCook, 
after  an  obstinate  struggle,  were  equally  success- 
ful. The  divisions  of  Gens.  McOlernand  and  Hurl- 
but,  nothing  daunted  by  the  reverses  of  the  pre- 
ceding day,  fought  with  much  bravery.  On  the 
right  the  contest  was  more  severe,  and  longer 
continued.  A  design  was  manifested  by  the  en- 
emy to  turn  the  flank  of  Gen.  Wallace's  division. 
This  was  thwarted,  and  the  enemy  steadily 
driven  back  until  four  p.  M.,  when  a  general  re- 
treat took  place  on  the  right.  Thus  the  original 
plan  of  the  enemy  was  frustrated.  It  was  his  de- 
sign to  drive  Gen.-Grant  into  his  transports  and 
the  river,  or  to  capture  his  force  in  time  to  profit 
by  the  victory,  and  remove  to  the  rear  all  the 
stores  and  munitions  that  would  be  taken.  This 
was  to  be  done  before  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Buell. 
On  the  retreat  of  the  Confederate  army,  the 
original  ground,  and  even  the  tents  of  Gen. 
Grant's  army,  were  recovered.  No  regular  pur- 
suit was  attempted  until  the  next  day.  The 
number  of  the  Federal  army  engaged  on  Sun- 
day, was  estimated  by  Gen.  Beauregard  at  five 
divisions  of  nine  thousand  men  each,  or  forty- 
five  thousand  men.  The  reenforcements  of 
Sunday  night  were  estimated  by  him  at  twenty- 
five  thousand  from  Gen.  Buell's  army,  and 
eight  thousand  under  Gen.  Wallace,  and  the 
entire  force  on  Monday  fifty-three  thousand. 
This  estimate  slightly  exceeds  the  Federal  force 
engaged,  especially  in  the  number  of  reenforce- 
ments furnished  by  Gen.  Buell.  On  the  other 
hand,,  the  Confederate  force  was  estimated  at 
sixty  thousand  by  the  Union  officers,  which  was 
undoubtedly  an  overestimate.  Gen.  Grant  had 
a  force  somewhat  less  than  the  enemy  on  Sun- 
day, but  on  Monday  he  outnumbered  them.  No 
official  statement  of  numbers  has  been  afforded 
on  either  side.  The  Federal  loss  was  1,735  kill- 
ed, 7,882  wounded,  and  3,956  taken  prisoners. 
Total,  13,573.  The  Confederate  loss  was  killed 
1,728,  wounded  8,012,  missing  959.  Total, 
10,699. 


At  the  close  of  the  battle  on  the  first  day 
Gen.  Beauregard  sent  the  following  despatch  to 
Richmond : 

BATTLE  FIELD  OF  SHILOH,  April  6,  1 
via  Corinth  and  Chattanooga.     ) 

GeneralS.  Cooper,  Adjutant- General  : 

We  have  this  morning  attacked  the  enemy  in  a  strong 
position  in  front  of  Pittsburg,  and  after  a  severe  bat- 
tle of  ten  hours,  thanks  to  Almighty  God,  gained  a 
complete  victory,  driving  the  enemy  from  every  posi- 
tion. 

The  loss  on  both  sides  is  heavy,  including  our  Com- 
mander-in-Chief,  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  who  fell 
gallantly  leading  his  troops  into  the  thickest  of  the 
tight. 

(Signed)   G.  T.  BEAUREGARD,  Gen'l  Com'd'g. 

In  consequence  of  the  reception  of  this  mes- 
sage, President  Davis  sent  the  following  Mes- 
sage to  the  Confederate  Congress,  then  in  ses- 
sion at  Richmond,  on  the  8th  of  April : 

To  the  Senate  and  House  qf  Representatives  of  the  Con- 
federate States  of  America  : 

The  great  importance  of  the  news  just  received  from 
Tennessee  induces  me  to  depart  from  the  established 
usages,  and  to  make  to  you  this  communication  in  ad- 
vance if  official  reports.  From  official  telegraphic 
despatches,  received  from  official  sources,  I  am  able  to' 
announce  to  you,  with  entire  confidence,  that  it  has 
pleased  Almighty  God  to  crown  the  Confederate  arms 
with  a  glorious  and  decisive  victory  over  our  invaders. 

On  the  morning  of  the  6th,  the  converging  columns 
of  our  army  were  combined  by  its  Commander-in-Chief, 
Gen.  A.  Sidney  Johnston,  in  an  assault  on  the  Federal 
army,  then  encamped  near  Pittsburg,  on  the  Tennes- 
see river. 

After  a  hard-fought  battle  of  ten  hours,  the  enemy 
was  driven  in  disorder  from  his  position,  and  pursued 
to  the  Tennessee  river,  where,  under  cover  of  the  gun- 
boats, he  was  at  the  last  accounts  endeavoring  to  effect 
his  retreat  by  aid  of  his  transports.  The  details  of  this 
great  battle  are  yet  too  few  and  incomplete  to  enable 
me  to  distinguish  with  merited  praise  all  of  those  who 
may  have  conspicuously  earned  the  right  to  such  dis- 
tinction, and  I  prefer  to  delay  our  own  gratification  in 
recommending  them  to  your  special  notice,  rather  than 
incur  the  risk  of  wounding  the  feelings  of  any  by  fail- 
ing to  include  them  in  the  list. 

When  such  a  victory  has  been  won  over  troops  as 
numerous,  well-disciplined,  armed,  and  appointed,  as 
those  which  have  just  been  so  signally  routed,  we  may 
well  conclude  that  one  common  spirit  of  unflinching 
bravery  and  devotion  to  our  country's  cause  must  have 
animated  every  breast,  from  that  of  the  Commanding 
General  to  that  of  the  humblest  patriot  who  served  in 
the  ranks.  There  is  enough  in  the  continued  presence 
of  invaders  on  our  soil  to  chasten  our  exultation  over 
this  brilliant  success,  and  to  remind  us  of  the  grave 
duty  of  continued  exertion,  until  we  shall  extort  from 
a  proud  and  vain-glorious  enemy  the  reluctant  acknow- 
ledgment of  our  right  to  self-government. 

But  an  All-wise  Creator  has  been  pleased,  while 
vouchsafing  to  us  his  countenance  in  battle,  to  afflict  us 
with  a  severe  dispensation,  to  which  we  must  bow  m 
humble  submission.  The  last  long,  lingering  hope  has 
disappeared,  and  it  is  but  too  .true  that  Gen.  Albert 
Sidney  Johnston  is  no  more.  The  tale  of  his  death  is 
simply  narrated  in  a  despatch  from  Col.  William  Pres- 
ton, in  the  following  words : 

"Gen.  Johnston  fell  yesterday  at  half  past  two* 
o'clock,  while  leading  a  successful  charge,  turning  the 
enemy's  right,  and  gaining  a  brilliant  victory.  A 
Minie  ball  cut  the  artery  of  his  leg,  but  he  rode  on  un- 
til, from  loss  of  blood,  he  fell  exhausted  and  died  with- 
out pain  in  a  few  moments.  His  body  has  been  in- 
trusted to  me  by  Gen.  Beauregard,  to  be  taken  to  New 
Orleans,  and  remain  until  directions  are  received  from 

My  long  and  close  friendship  with  this  departed 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


179 


chieftain  and  patriot  forbids  me  to  trust  myself  in  giv- 
ing vent  to  the  feelings  which  this  sad  intelligence  nas 
evoked.  Without  doing  injustice  to  the  living,  it  may 
safely  be  asserted  that  our  loss  is  irreparable.  Among 
the  shining  hosts  of  the  great  and  good  who  now  clus- 
ter around  the  banner  of  pur  country,  there  exists  no 
purer  spirit,  no  more  heroic  soul,  than  that  of  the  illus- 
trious man  whose  death  I  join  you  in  lamenting. 

In  his  death  he  has  illustrated  the  character  for 
which  through  life  he  was  conspicuous — that  of  single- 
ness of  purpose  and  devotion  to  duty — with  his  whole 
energies.  Bent  on  obtaining  the  victory  which  he 
deemed  essential  to  his  country's  cause,  he  rode  on  to 
the  accomplishment  of  his  object,  forgetful  of  self,  while 
his  very  life-blood  was  fast  ebbing  away.  His  last 
breath  cheered  his  comrades  on  to  victory.  The  last 
sound  he  heard  was  their  shout  of  victory.  His  last 
thought  was  of  his  country,  and  long  and  deeply  will  his 
country  mourn  his  loss.  JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  President  Lincoln, 
having  received  reports  of  the  battles  at  Pitts- 
burg  Landing,  or  Shiloh,  issued  the  following 
proclamation : 

WASHINGTON,  April  10, 1862. 

It  has  pleased  Almighty  God  to  vouchsafe  signal 
victories  to  the  land  and  naval  forces  engaged  in  sup- 
pressing an  internal  rebellion,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
avert  from  our  country  the  dangers  of  foreign  interven- 
tion and  invasion. 

It  is  therefore  recommended  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States  that,  at  their  next  weekly  assemblages 
in  their  accustomed  places  of  public  worship,  which 
shall  occur  after  the  notice  of  this  Proclamation  shall 
have  been  received,  they  especially  acknowledge  and 
render  thanks  to  our  Heavenly  Father  for  these  ines- 
timable blessings ;  that  they  then  and  there  implore 
spiritual  consolation  in  behalf  of  all  those  who  nave 
been  brought  into  affliction  by  the  casualties  and  ca- 
lamities of  sedition  and  civil  war,  and  that  they  rever- 
ently invoke  the  Divine  guidance  for  our  national 
counsels,  to  the  end  that  they  may  speedily  result  in 
the  restoration  of  peace,  harmony,  and  unity  through- 
out our  borders,  and  hasten  the  establishment  of  fra- 
ternal relations  among  all  the  countries  of  the  earth. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and 
caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 
Done  at  the  city  of  Washington,  this  tenth  day  of  April, 

in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred 

and  sixty-two,  and  of  the  independence  of  the  United 

States  the  eighty-sixth. 

.  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 
By  the  President — WM.  H.  SEWARD,  Secretary  of  State. 

On  the  8th  Gen.  Sherman,  with  a  body  of 
cavalry  and  infantry,  advanced  on  the  Corinth 
road.  His  progress  was  at  first  checked  by  a 
force  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  which  afterward 
was  driven  back.  The  roads  were  found  in  a 
bad  state,  in  consequence  of  the  heavy  rain  on 
Sunday  night,  and  strewn  with  abandoned  wag- 
ons, ambulances,  and  limber  boxes.  A  general 
hospital,  containing  ab  out  two  hundred  and  nine- 
ty wounded  Confederate  soldiers,  was  also  found. 
The  force  of  Gen.  Sherman  returned  to  camp 
at  night. 

It  was  charged  against  Gen.  Grant  that  the 
commencement  of  the  battle  was  a  surprise  to 
the  Federal  forces,  and  that  he  was  absent 
from  the  field  until  some  hours  after.  In  re- 
ply he  said :  "  As  to  the  talk  of  our  being  sur- 
prised, nothing  could  be  more  false.  If  the 
enemy  had  sent  us  word  where  and  when  they 
would  attack,  we  could  not  have  been  better 
prepared.  Skirmishing  had  been  going  on  for 
two  days  between  our  reconnoitring  parties 


and  the  enemy's  advance.  I  did  not  believe, 
however,  that  they  intended  to  make  a  deter- 
mined attack,  but  simply  to  make  a  recon- 
noissance  in  force.  My  headquarters  were  at 
Savannah,  though  I  usually  spent  the  day  at 
Pittsburg.  Troops  were  constantly  arriving  to 
be  assigned  to  the  different  brigades  and  divi- 
sions. All  were  ordered  to  report  at  Savannah, 
making  it  necessary  to  keep  an  office  and  some 
one  there.  I  was  also  looking  for  Buell  to  ar- 
rive, and  it  was  important  that  I  should  have 
every  arrangement  complete  for  his  crossing 
and  transit  to  this  side  of  the  river." 

Gen.  Beauregard  issued  the  preliminary  or- 
ders for  his  troops  to  move  from  Corinth  at 
one  o  clock  on  the  morning  of  the  3d  of  April. 
The  movement  did  not  commence  until  during 
the  forenoon.  It  was  expected  to  reach  the 
Federal  lines  in  time  to  commence  tjie  attack 
on  the  5th.  They  arrived  too  late  in  the  after- 
noon of  that  day  to  attack.  It  could  not  have 
been  with  the  advance  of  this  force  that  "  skir- 
mishing had  been  going  on  for  two  days." 

On  the  9th  of  April,  Maj.-Gen.  Halleck,  with 
a  portion  of  his  staff,  left  St.  Louis  for  Pitts- 
burg  Landing,  to  assume  command  in  the  field. 
His  first  efforts  were  devoted  to  reorganizing 
the  army.  Two  days  after  his  arrival,  an  ex- 
pedition was  sent  under  convoy  of  the  gunboats 
to  destroy  the  railroad  bridge  over  Bear  Creek, 
seven  miles  inland  from  Chickasaw.  This  was 
successfully  done  by  Gen.  Sherman,  and  cut  the 
communication  between  Richmond,  Va.,  and 
Corinth.  The  state  of  the  roads  delayed  for  some 
days  any  movement  of  importance.  Frequent 
skirmishes,  however,  took  place  with  the  Con- 
federate infantry  and  cavalry  hovering  near. 
On  the  22d  of  April,  Gen.  Pope,  with  his  divi- 
sion, numbering  about  25,000,  arrived  at  Pitts- 
burg  Landing  from  New  Madrid.  On  the 
27th,  orders  were  issued  by  Gen.  Halleck  for 
the  army  to  hold  itself  in  readiness  for  an  im- 
mediate movement.  Gen.  Grant's  divisions 
formed  the  right  wing  of  the  army,  those  of 
Gen.  Buell  the  centre,  and  those  of  Gen. 
Pope  the  left  wing.  Gens.  Grant  and  Buell 
retained  the  immediate  command  of  their  re- 
spective armies.  The  advance  of  the  army 
was  now  gradually  commenced.  Day  after 
day  a  division  or  a  brigade  was  moved  a  few 
miles,  and  the  outposts  extended.  On  the  1st 
of  May,  Monterey  was  occupied.  It  is  a  small 
village  in  McNairy  Co.,  Tenn.,  four  miles  from 
the  Mississippi  line,  and  about  midway  be- 
tween Pittsburg  Landing  and  Corinth.  A  few 
days  previously,  an  expedition  under  Gen. 
Wallace  had  gone  as  far  as  Purdy,  about  twen- 
ty miles  west  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  and  de- 
stroyed the  bridge  of  the  railroad  connecting 
Corinth  with  Jackson. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  Gen.  Beauregard  issued 
the  following  address  to  his  soldiers : 

•  HEADQUARTERS  or  THK  FOECBS  AT  COBINTH,  \ 
MISSISSIPPI,  May  2, 1S62.     ( 

Soldiers  of  Shiloh  and  Elkhorn :  We  are  about  to 
meet  once  more,  in  the  shock  of  battle,  the  invaders 


180 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


of  our  soil,  the  despoilers  of  our  homes,  the  disturbers 
of  our  family  ties,  face  to  face,  hand  to  hand.  We  are 
to  decide  whether  we  are  to  be  freemen  or  vile  slaves 
of  those  who  are  free  only  in  name,  and  who  but  yes- 
terday were  vanquished,  although  in  largely  superior 
numbers,  in  their  own  encampments,  on  the  ever-mem- 
orable field  of  Shiloh.  Let  the  impending  battle  de- 
cide our  fate,  and  add  a  more  illustrious  page  to  the 
history  of  our  revolution — one  to  which  our  children 
will  point  with  noble  pride,  saying,  "  Our  fathers 
were  at  the  battle  of  Corinth."  I  congratulate  you  on 
your  timely  junction.  With  your  mingled  banners, 
for  the  first  time  during  this  war,  we  shall  meet  our 
foe  in  strength  that  should  give  us  victory.  Soldiers, 
can  the  result  be  doubtful  ?  Shall  we  not  drive  back 
into  Tennessee  the  presumptuous  mercenaries  collect- 
ed for  our  subjugation  ?  One  more  manly  effort,  and, 
trusting  in  God  and  the  justness  of  our  cause,  we  shall 
recover  more  than  we  have  lately  lost.  Let  the  sound 
of  our  victorious  guns  be  reechoed  by  those  of  the 
army  of  Virginia  on  the  historic  battle  field  of  York- 
town.  G.  T.  BEAUREGARD, 

General  Commanding. 
J.  M.  OTET,  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

On  the  3d  of  May,  the  army,  commanded  by 
Gen.  Halleck,  numbering  108,000  men,  was 
within  eight  miles  of  Corinth.  The  bridges 
burned  had  been  rebuilt,  and  the  roads  had 
become  dry  enough  to  render  transportation 
easy.  Few  can  conceive  the  difficulty  of  mov- 
ing such  a  mass  of  men  with  their  tents,  bag- 
gage, artillery,  and  supplies,  over  an  uneven, 
marshy  country;  covered  with  woods,  and  with- 
out roads. 

Corinth  is  a  small  village  in  the  northeast 
corner  of  Mississippi,  ninety  miles  east  from 
Memphis,  and  about  twenty  miles  west  from  the 
Tennessee  river.  The  Memphis  and  Charles- 
ton railroad  runs  through  it  from  east  to  west, 
and  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  from  north  to  south. 
The  country  between  it  and  the  Tennessee 
river  is  very  uneven,  broken  into  ridges  of 
hills  and  abrupt  valleys,  and  covered  with  a 
heavy  forest.  The  bridges  over  the  creeks  had 
been  destroyed ;  the  roads  over  the  marshes 
had  been  torn  up,  and  timber  had  been  felled 
in  great  quantities  over  them. 

On  the  same  day  Gen.  Paine,  with  his  divi- 
sion, made  a  reconnoissance  to  Farmington,  five 
miles  northwest  of  Corinth,  and  found  about 
4,500  Confederate  troops,  who,  on  being  at- 
tacked, retreated  with  a  loss  of  30  killed  and 
200  taken  prisoners.  At  the  same  time  an  ar- 
tillery reconnoissance  to  Glendale  on  the 
Charleston  and  Memphis  railroad,  destroyed 
two  trestle  bridges  and  some  of  the  track. 

At  this  time  the  organization  of  Gen.  Hal- 
leek's  force  had  been  somewhat  changed. 
Gen.  Thomas  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  right  wing,  composed  of  five  divisions, 
viz. :  his  own,  Hurlbut's,  Sherman's,  that  of 
Gen.  Smith,  deceased,  and  Gen.  Davies' ;  the 
centre  consisted  of  four  divisions  under  Gens. 
McCook,  Wood,  Nelson,  and  Crittenden  ;  the 
left  under  Gen.  Pope,  to  which  was  added 
one  division  of  Gen.  Curtis's  army  from  Ar- 
kansas. Gen.  Grant  was  appointed  second  in 
command.  The  reserve  under  Gen.  McCler- 
nand  consisted  of  his  own  and  Gen.  Wallace's 
divisions.  The  advance  upon  Corinth  was 


made  with  the  extremity  of  each  wing  thrown 
back  in  echelons  to  prevent  a  flank  attack. 

Meantime  the  Confederate  forces  at  Corinth 
were  active  in  strengthening  their  position  and 
accumulating  reenforcements.  Pensacola  and 
New  Orleans  had  at  this  time  been  captured  by 
the  Federal  forces,  and  Gen.  Lovell  had  with 
his  force  arrived  at  Corinth  from  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  latter  city.  On  the  9th,  a  strong 
Confederate  force  drove  in  the  Federal  pickets 
beyond  Farmington,  and  advanced  upon  the 
brigade  occupying  the  farther  side  of  the  creek 
in  front  of  the  Federal  camp.  The  brigade 
maintained  its  position  for  some  time,  but  Gen. 
Pope,  finding  it  would  be  necessary  to  move  his 
whole  force  across  the  creek,  contrary  to  orders, 
in  order  to  sustain  it,  directed  it  to  retire. 

Great  as  was  the  army  of  Gen.  Halleck,  the 
Confederates  were  believed  to  be  stronger,  and 
the  people  of  the  Southern  States  now  looked 
forward  to  a  signal  and  brilliant  victory. 

The  advance  of  the  Federal  lines  was  slow, 
and  on  the  21st  their  batteries  were  within 
three  miles  of  Corinth.  The  skirmishing  of  the 
pickets  now  increased  every  day,  and  soon  be- 
came constant  along  the  entire  line.  Almost 
daily  the  artillery  was  engaged,  and  the  hour 
for  battle  was  close  at  hand. 

The  railroad  communication  to  the  northward 
and  eastward  of  Corinth  had  been  destroyed  at 
Purdy  and  Glendale.  With  a  view  to  prevent 
still  further,  so  far  as  it  was  in  his  power,  either 
the  reenforcement  or  the  retreat  of  the  Confed- 
erate armies  at  Corinth,  Gen.  Halleck  directed 
that  the  railroad  to  the  southward  of  Corinth 
and  in  the  direction  of  Mobile  should  be  also 
cut.  To  effect  this,  Col.  Elliott,  with  two  regi- 
ments of  cavalry,  started  on  the  night  of  the 
27th,  and  early  on  the  30th  reached  Booneville, 
24  miles  south  of  Corinth.  A  large  amount  of 
stores  was  found  and  destroyed,  consisting  of 
five  railroad  cars  loaded  with  small  arms,  five 
loaded  with  loose  ammunition,  six  with  officers' 
baggage,  and  five  with  subsistence  stores,  har- 
ness, saddles,  &c.  Some  hundreds  of  sick  Con- 
federate soldiers  were  paroled.  The  trains,  en- 
gines, and  depot  were  burned. 

On  the  28th,  Gen.  Halleck  sent  the  following 
despatch  to  Washington : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  MISSISSIPPI,  ) 
CAMP  on  COKINTH  KOAJD,  May  28.     J 
Hon.  K  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War  : 

Three  strong  reconnoitring  columns  advanced  this 
morning  on  the  right,  centre,  and  left,  to  feel  the  ene- 
my and  unmask  his  batteries.  The  enemy  hotly  con- 
tested his  ground  at  each  point,  but  was  driven  back 
with  considerable  loss.  The  column  on  the  left  en- 
countered the  strongest  opposition.  Our  loss  was 
twenty-five  killed  and  wounded.  The  enemy  left 
thirty  dead  on  the  field.  The  losses  at  other  points 
are  not  yet  ascertained.  Some  five  or  six  officers  and 
a  number  of  privates  were  captured.  The  fighting 
will  probably  be  renewed  to-morrow  morning  at  day- 
break. The  whole  country  is  so  thickly  wooded  that 
we  are  compelled  to  feel  our  way. 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  Major-General 

The  following  despatches  were  sent  on  the 
30th: 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  EEBELLIOK 


181 


inEiustuaci  UBS.  u  MILES 


Represents  Lines  of  Intrenchments  thrown 
vp  ~by  V.  &  Force*. 

W^***  Represents  Lines  of  Intrenchments  thrown 
up  ly  Confederate  Faroes 
around  Corinth. 


182 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


NBAS  COBINTH,  May  30, 1862. 
Hon.  E.  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War: 

Gen.  Pope's  heavj  batteries  opened  upon  the  ene- 
my's intrenchments  yesterday,  about  10  A.  M.,  and 
soon  drove  the  rebels  from  their  advanced  battery. 

Maj.-Gen.  Sherman  established  another  battery  yes- 
terday afternoon  within  one  thousand  yards  of  their 
works,  and  skirmishing  parties  advanced  at  daybreak 
this  morning. 

Three  of  our  divisions  are  already  in  the  enemy's 
advanced  works,  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  from 
Corinth,  which  is  in  flames. 

The  enemy  has  fallen  back  of  the  Mobile  railroad. 
H.  W.  HALLECK. 

NEAB  COBINTH,  May  80, 1862. 
Hon.  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War  : 

Our  advanced  guard  are  in  Corinth.  There  are 
conflicting  accounts  as  to  the  enemy's  movements. 
They  are  believed  to  be  in  strong  force  on  our  left 
flank,  some  four  or  five  miles  south  of  Corinth,  near 
the  Mobile  and  Ohio  railroad. 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  Major-General. 

IlEADQTTAETERS  CAMP  NEAB  COBINTH,  May  80. 

Hon.  E.  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War  • 

The  enemy's  position  and  works  in  front  of  Corinth 
were  unexpectedly  strong.  He  cannot  occupy  a 
stronger  position  in  his  flight. 

This  morning  he  destroyed  an  immense  amount  of 
public  and  private  property,  stores,  provisions,  wag- 
ons, tents,  &c. 

For  miles  out  of  the  town  the  roads  are  filled  with 
arms,  haversacks,  &c.,  thrown  away  by  his  flying 
troops. 

A  large  number  of  prisoners  and  deserters  have 
been  captured,  and  are  estimated  by  Gen.  Pope  at  two 
thousand. 

Gen.  Beauregard  evidently  distrusts  his  army,  or  he 
would  have  defended  so  strong  a  position.  His  troops 
are  generally  much  discouraged  and  demoralized.  In 
all  tneir  engagements  for  the  last  few  days  their  re- 
sistance has  been  weak. 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  Major-General. 

The  Confederate  officers  began  to  remove 
their  sick  from  Corinth  preparatory  to  an  evacu- 
ation on  Monday,  the  26th  of  May.  On  the  next 
day,  Tuesday  the  27th,  Gens.  Beauregard  and 
Bragg  were  making  arrangements  for  falling 
back,  which  process  was  completed  in  great  haste 
on  Thursday  night,  the  29th.  On  Wednesday 
the  entire  line  of  Gen.  Halleck  was  advanced 
from  one  half  to  three  quarters  of  a  mile  and 
up  into  easy  range  of  the  enemy's  works.  The 
heavy  siege  guns  were  put  into  position  on 
that  day  on  the  works  thrown  up  by  the 
advanced  column.  This  movement  throughout 
was  hotly  contested,  the  enemy  doubtless  seek- 
ing to  keep  their  opponents  at  a  safe  distance 
if  possible,  until  their  evacuation  should  be 
completed.  They  continued  to  show  an  un- 
broken front  and  to  work  their  batteries  with 
energy  and  without  interruption  throughout 
that  and  the  next  day.  On  Thursday  morning 
operations  were  resumed  with  the  same  earnest- 
ness as  on  "Wednesday.  The  enemy  appeared 
still  in  ^position,  and  contested  every  inch  of 
the  Union  advance  with  the  utmost  determina- 
tion. At^nine  o'clock  on  that  morning,  how- 
ever, then*  musketry  firing  ceased,  and  was 
not  again  resumed.  After  that  hour  there 
were  no  further  close  engagements.  The  bat- 
teries on  both  sides,  however,  were  kept  in 
play,  though  a  gradual  diminution  of  the  en- 


emy's fire  was  observable  as  the  day  wore 
away,  and  before  night  it  had  wholly  ceased. 
During  the  night  heavy  explosions  were  heard 
in  the  enemy's  works,  which  were  conjectured 
to  be  the  destruction  of  their  magazines  and 
ammunition,  which  subsequently  proved  true. 
Flames  were  also  seen  issuing  from  the  town 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  night.  These  indica- 
tions were  plain  to  those  in  the  advance  of  the 
Federal  lines,  and  were  understood  to  be  the 
movements  for  an  evacuation. 

As  no  opposition  was  made  to  the  advance 
on  Friday  morning,  some  officers  dashed  ahead 
to  satisfy  themselves  of  the  enemy's  position. 
The  first  party  rode  into  the  town  at  Ch^  30m. 
in  the  morning,  and  then  was  discovered  the  * 
whole  extent  of  the  success  gained.  Destruc- 
tion, waste,  and  desolation  were  visible  on 
every  hand.  Huge  piles  of  commissary  stores 
were  smouldering  in  the  flames.  The  remains 
of  buildings  destroyed  were  conspicuous  on  the 
streets.  The  enemy  had  fled,  taking  care  that 
what  they  could  not  carry  away  should  at  least 
not  be  left  for  the  victors.  One  large  ware- 
house, filled  with  provisions,  was  all  that  re- 
mained undamaged  of  boundless  stores  of  sim- 
ilar goods,  sufficient  to  withstand  a  much  longer 
siege.  Sacks  were  torn  open,  barrels  broken, 
hogsheads  knocked  to  pieces,  and  their  contents 
mixed  in  common  piles,  upon  and  about  which 
huge  bonfires  had  been  lit. 

So  complete  was  the  evacuation  that  not 
only  was  the  Confederate  army  successfully 
withdrawn,  but  they  took  every  piece  of 
ordnance.  A  large  quantity  of  ammunition 
was  left  behind  in  a  damaged  state. 

At  Corinth  the  Confederate  line  of  fortifica- 
tions was  about  fifteen  miles  long,  with  strong 
batteries  or  redoubts  at  every  road  or  assailable 
point.  Between  the  fortifications  and  a  marshy 
stream  covering  the  whole  front,  the  dense 
timber  had  been  cut  down  to  form  a  very  strong 
abattis,  through  which  no  cavalry  or  artillery 
could  have  passed,  nor  even  infantry  except  as 
skirmishers.  The  lines  thrown  up  by  the  Fed- 
eral troops  at  the  end  of  the  day's  advance  were 
mere  rifle  pits,  while  the  fortifications  around 
Corinth  were,  as  stated  above,  a  strong  con- 
tinuous line,  constructed  with  great  care  and 
labor,  and,  independent  of  their  position,  were 
in  themselves  immeasurably  stronger  than  the 
mere  precautionary  defences  on  the  Federal 
part  against  any  sudden  sortie  of  the  enemy. 
The  Confederate  works,  moreover,  were  on  the 
brow  of  a  ridge  considerably  .higher  than  any 
in  the  surrounding  country,  at  the  foot  of 
which  was  a  ravine  correspondingly  deep. 
The  zigzag  course  of  the  line  gave  to  ^  the  de- 
fenders the  cotnmand  of  all  the  feasible  ap- 
proaches, and  hundreds  could  have  been  mowed 
down  at  every  step  made  by  an  assailing  army. 

At  the  time  of  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  the 
hot  weather  of  summer  had  commenced  and 
the  period  of  low  water  in  the  rivers  was  close 
at  hand.  Even  the  Tennessee  could  not  be 
relied  upon  as  a  route  by  which  to  transport 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


183 


all  the  supplies  required  for  the  Federal  army. 
Gen.  Halleck  consequently  took  immediate 
steps  to  open  a  new  line  direct  to  Colum- 
bus, Ky.,  to  which  place  the  railroad  was 
speedily  repaired.  These  circumstances  would 
impose  a  limit  upon  the  military  operations 
of  Gen.  Halleck's  army  for  some  months. 
Even  if  Corinth  was  evacuated  and  a  part 
of  the  Confederate  force  withdrawn  entirely, 
no  serious  blow  could  be  struck  by  Gen.  Hal- 
leck. These  considerations  must  have  pre- 
sented themselves  to  the  Confederate  Gov- 
ernment at  the  time  when  Richmond  was 
closely  pressed  by  Gen.  McClellan,  and  really 
in  danger  of  capture.  Without  doubt  they  ex- 
erted an  influence  in  producing  the  determina- 
tion to  evacuate  Corinth.  And  when  it  be- 
came evident  that  the  position  could  not  be 
held  against  the  force  that  was  advancing  upon 
it,  they  pointed  out  the  manner  in  which  this 
evacuation  could  be  turned  to  advantage. 

At  this  time  Gen.  McClellan  had  crossed  the 
Chickahominy,  Gen.  Banks  was  retreating  be- 
fore Gen.  Jackson  up  the  Virginia  valley,  Forts 
Pillow  and  Randolph  and  the  city  of  Memphis 
had  surrendered,  and  a  Federal  force  was  mak- 
ing an  attack  on  Vicksburg. 

The  pursuit  of  the  retreating  forces  of  Gen. 
Beauregard  was  made  as  follows:  On  the 
morning  after  the  evacuation,  Gen.  Pope's  forces 
entered  the  town  about  twenty  minutes  before 
seven  o'clock,  just  as  the  last  of  the  Confed- 
erate cavalry  were  leaving.  One  company  of 
cavalry,  being  Gen.  Pope's  escort,  pushed  after 
them,  and  had  a  brisk  skirmish,  in  which  several 
were  killed  and  captured.  The  pursuit,  how- 
ever, was  arrested  by  the  burning  of  a  bridge 
over  a  swampy  creek,  and  the  cavalry  returned. 
A  brigade  of  cavalry  and  a  battery  under  Gen. 
Granger  were  then  sent  out  by  Gen.  Pope  on 
the  Booneville  road.  It  left  Farmington  at 
noon  on  the  30th,  and  the  same  day  came  up 
with  the  rear  guard  of  the  enemy  posted  on 
Tuscumbia  Creek  eight  miles  south  of  Corinth. 
The  next  day  they  were  driven  out,  and  on 
Sunday,  June  1,  the  pursuit  was  recommenced. 
Gen.  Granger  passed  Rienzj  only  two  hours 
behind  the  retreating  army,  and  found  the 
bridges  between  that  place  and  Boonevillo 
so  recently  fired  that  the  timbers  were  nearly 
all  saved.  That  afternoon  the  advance  over- 
took the  retreating  Confederate  rear  four  miles 
from  Booneville,  and  pursued  it  within  one  mile 
of  the  town,  and  halted  for  the  night.  At  five 
o'clock  on  the  next  morning  the  town  was 
entered,  and  skirmishing  was  kept  up  all  day 
with  the  Confederates  on  every  road  leading 
westward  or  southward  as  far  as  Twenty  Mile 
Creek.  On  the  next  day  a  reconnoissance  with 
force  was  made  toward  Baldwin,  and  the  Con- 
federate force  driven  across  Twenty  Mile 
Creek ;  and  on  the  4th  another  reconnoissance 
was  made  by  Col.  Elliot  via  Blocklands,  with 
similar  results.  On  the  10th  Baldwin  and  Gun- 
town  were  occupied  by  Federal  troops,  which 
was  the  termination  of  the  pursuit.  Boone- 


ville, above  .mentioned,  is  twenty-four  miles 
by  the  railroad  from  Corinth.  The  Confederate 
force  fell  back  to  Tupello.  The  position  of  the 
forces  at  Corinth  remained  unchanged  until  the- 
10th  of  June,  when  Maj.-Gen.  Buell,  under  in- 
structions from  Gen.  Halleck,.  moved  his  army 
along  the  line  of  railroad  toward  Chattanooga. 
He  was  then  between  Huntsville  and  Steven- 
son, when  it  became  necessary  to  move  upon 
Louisville  to  counteract  the  designs  of  Gen. 
Bragg.  Meantime  the  army  under  Gen.  Grant 
occupied  the  line  of  west  Tennessee  and  Mis- 
sissippi extending  from  Memphis  to  luka,  and 
protecting  the  railroads  from  Columbus  south, 
which  were  then  their  only  channels  of  supply. 
On  the  23d  of  July  Gen.  Halleck  left  the  de- 
partment to  take  the  position  of  general-in- 
chief  at  Washington.  Gen.  Grant  continued  in 
the  position  above  stated  until  a  portion  of 
his  troops  were  withdrawn .  from  Mississippi 
and  sent  to  Kentucky  and  Cincinnati  to  give 
confidence  to  the  new  levies  brought  into  the 
field  upon  the  invasion  of  Kentucky  by  Gen. 
Bragg. 

It  will  have  been  observed  that  the  division  of 
Gen.  Buell's  army,  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Mitchell,  has  not  been  spoken  of  as  cooperating 
with  the  other  divisions  at  Pittsburg  Landing 
and  Corinth.  This  division  left  Nashville  on 
the  same  day  with  the  others,  but  took  the 
road  to  Murfreesboro.  There  it  remained  in 
occupation  of  the  place  and  repairing  the 
bridges  until  the  4th  of  April.  Long  before 
this  time  the  Confederate  troops,  which  occu- 
pied Nashville  and  retreated  to  Murfreesboro, 
had  withdrawn  and  united  with  those  under 
Gen.  Beauregard  on  the  new  southern  line  of 
defence. 

On  the  4th  of  April,  Gen.  Mitchell  march- 
ed to  Shelbyville,  the  county  seat  of  Bed- 
ford county,  Tenn.,  twenty-six  miles  dis- 
tant. On  the  Vth  he  advanced  to  Fayetteville, 
twenty-seven  miles  farther,  and  the  next  fore- 
noon, the  8th,  fifteen  miles  beyondj  he  crossed 
the  State  line  of  Alabama.  Continuing .  his 
march  six  miles  farther,  and  being  within  ten 
miles  of  Huntsville,  Ala.,  he  halted  for  the  ar- 
tillery and  infantry  to  come  up.  No  tents 
were  pitched.  The  men  lay  round  camp  fires. 
Just  as  the  moon  was  going  down,  the  shrill 
bugle  call  was  sounded.  All  were  up,  and  in 
a  few  minutes  ready  to  move.  A  battery 
was  put  in  advance,  supported  by  two  bri- 
gades. Four  miles  from  Huntsville,  the  shrill 
whistle  of  a  locomotive  was  heard,  and  in 
a  few  minutes  the  train  came  in  sight,  and 
was  stopped  by  the  call  of  the  brass  guns 
of  the  battery.  The  train  was  captured  to- 
gether with  159  prisoners.  On  to  the  town 
was  now  the  order.  The  citizens  were  quietly 
sleeping  as  the  army  entered.  Says  a  specta- 
tor of  the  scene :  "  The  clattering  noise  of  the 
cavalry  aroused  them  from  their  slumber  ere 
the  dawn  of  the  morning,  and  they  flocked  to 
door  and  window,  exclaiming  with  blanched 
cheek  and  faltering  tongue,  '  They  come,  they 


184 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  BEBELLION. 


come,  the  Yankees  come ! '  Never  in  the  his- 
tory of  any  military  movement  was  surprise  so 
complete.  Men  rushed  into  the  streets  almost 
naked,  the  w;pmen  fainted,  the  children  scream- 
ed, the  darkies  laughed,  and  for  a  short  time 
a  scene  of  perfect  terror  reigned.  This  state 
of  affairs  soon  subsided." 

Ool.  Gazley,  of  the  37th  Indiana  regiment, 
was  appointed  provost  marshal,  and  his  regi- 
ment occupied  the  city  as  guard.  Then  com- 
menced an  examination  of  the  results  of  this 
bloodless  capture.  At  the  railroad  depot  were 
found  seventeen  first-class  locomotives  and  a 
great  quantity  of  passenger  and  freight  cars, 
and  at  the  foundery  two  or  three  cannon,  to- 
gether with  several  small  arms.  Gen.  Mitch- 
ell soon  made  good  use  of  the  engines.  Before 
the  close  of  day,  one  hundred  miles  of  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad  were  in  his 
possession,  stretching  in  one  direction  as  far  as 
Stevenson,  and  in  the  other  as  far  as  Decatur. 
At  the  latter  place,  the  entire  camp  equipage 
of  a  regiment  was  captured.  From  Decatur 
he  pushed  on  at  once  to  Tuscumbia. 

Thus,  without  the  loss  of  a  single  life, 
Gen.  Mitchell  placed  his  army  midway  be- 
tween Corinth  and  Chattanooga,  prevented 
the  destruction  of  a  fine  bridge  at  Decatur, 
opened  communication  with  Gen.  Buell,  and 
also  the  navigation  of  the  Tennessee.  The 
occupation  of  Huntsville  also  cut  off  all  com- 
munication between  the  east  and  west  by  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad.  The  ex- 
pedition east  on  the  railroad,  under  Col.  Sill, 
penetrated  as  far  as  Stevenson  at  the  junction 
of  the  Chattanooga  road,  at  which  place  five 
locomotives  and  an  amount  of  rolling  stock  were 
captured.  An  expedition  went  as  far  south  from 
Tuscumbia  as  Kusselville.  Lagrange  and  Flor- 
ence were  also  visited,  and  Confederate  proper- 
ty of  the  military  kind  was  found. 

This  extension  of  Gen.  Mitchell's  lines  to 
hold  the  railroad  rendered  his  situation  pre- 
carious. Soon  the  enemy  began  to  gather  in 
force  and  threaten  him.  His  course  however 
received  the  commendation  of  the  War  De- 
partment. He  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  a 
major-general,  and  ordered  to  report  directly 
to  the  department,  and  his  force  was  consti- 
tuted an  independent  corps.  But  he  got 


no  reenforcements.  He  was  left  in  Buch 
a  condition  that  he  at  first  hardly  had 
anything  to  report  but  that  he  had  been 
gradually  driven  from  those  positions, 
the  gaining  of  which  had  made  him  a 
major-general.  On  his  right,  the  enemy 
were  now  in  force,  and  picket  skirmish- 
ing was  constant.  On  his  left,  at  Chat- 
tanooga, a  strong  force  threatened  his 
rear  and  the  safety  of  Nashville.  In  his 
front,  cavalry  came  up  and  attacked  Ms- 
line  at  times.  Gen.  Halleck  sent  to  him 
100,000  rations  under  convoy  of  a  gun- 
boat. Of  these  40,000  were  burned  to 
prevent  their  capture.  On  the  24th 
of  April,  the  retreat  from  Tuscumbia  com- 
menced. On  the  26th  the  bridge  at  Decatur 
was  crossed,  when  it  was  fired  and  burned. 
It  was  the  only  crossing  of  the  Tennessee  east 
of  Florence,  above  the  head  of  navigation,  and 
west  of  Bridgeport  near  Chattanooga.  The 
bridge  was  destroyed  in  an  hour  and  a  half,  but 
before  its  destruction  was  complete,  the  enemy's 
cavalry  appeared  on  the  opposite  side.  Having 
returned  to  Huntsville,  the  right  wing  of  the  force 
commenced  operations  toward  Chattanooga. 

On  the  80th  of  April,  an  expedition  was  sent 
to  Bridgeport  near  Stevenson,  the  result  of 
which  placed  under  the  control  of  Gen.  Mitchell 
the  bridge  across  the  river.  As  there  was  no 
bridge  below  his  position  since  the  destruction 
of  the  one  at  Decatur,  and  as  he  had  control 
of  the  one  above  near  Chattanooga,  and  as  his 
communication  between  the  extremes  of  his 
line  was  by  railroad,  which  was  in  his  posses- 
sion, and  the  Tennessee  river  lay  in  front  of 
him,  on  the  farther  side  of  which  was  all  the 
enemy  he  anticipated,  he  thus  closed  his  report 
to  the  Secretary  of  War  under  date  of  May  1 : 
"The  campaign  is  ended,  and  I  now  occupy 
Huntsville  in  perfect  security,  while  all  of  Ala- 
bama north  of  the  Tennessee  river  floats  no 
flag  but  that  of  the  Union."  It  was  stated  that 
if  Gen.  Mitchell  had  been  sustained  with  a  suf- 
ficient force,  he  would  have  crossed  the  Ten- 
nessee river  at  its  extreme  southern  point  in 
Alabama,  and  reached  Gunter's  Landing — a 
march  of  forty  miles  thence  would  have  placed 
in  his  possession  Gadsden  on  the  Coosa  river, 
where  he  could  have  destroyed  the  steamboats 
on  the  river,  or  seized  them  and  proceeded  to 
Kome  and  destroyed  large  armories  and  foun- 
deries.  From  Gunter's  Landing  there  is  also  a 
fine  road  to  Borne,  eighty  miles  distant.  In  two 
days  his  cavalry  could  have  passed  that  distance, 
destroyed  the  founderies  at  Borne,  and  cap- 
tured engines  and  cars  enough  at  that  place 
and  Kingston  to  have  enabled  him  to  proceed 
up  the  road  with  an  armed  force  to  protect 
them  in  burning  the  bridges.  This  movement 
would  have  cut  off  Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith,  then 
advancing  upon  Huntsville,  from  reenforcements 
or  retreat.  The  Confederate  forces  in  Knox- 
ville,  Greenville,  and  Cumberland  Gap,  in  east 
Tennessee,  and  even  in  western  Virginia, 
would  all  have  been  dangerously  exposed  by 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


185 


little  more  extended  operations  along  the  rail- 
roads by  Gen.  Mitchell. 

Subsequently  he  advanced  upon  Chatta- 
nooga, which  compelled  the  Confederate  forces 
in  pastern  Tennessee  to  make  a  backward 
movement.  Only  a  single  stem  of  railroad 
connects  Chattanooga  with  Atlanta,  and  thence 
connects  with  other  parts  of  Georgia,  Alabama, 
and  South  Carolina,  and  its  loss  would  com- 
pel evacuation  above,  as  in  the  case  of  Bowling 
Green.  Several  expeditions  were  sent  out  by 
Gen.  Mitchell  during  the  month  of  May  against 
small  bands  of  cavalry  upon  the  same  side  of  the 
river.  One  or  two  skirmishes  of  considerable 
spirit,  and  with  respectable  numbers,  also  took 
place.  On  the  6th  of  June  Gen.  Negley,  from 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  made  an  attack 
with  his  artillery  upon  Chattanooga.  This 
•was  replied  to  from  some  earthworks.  On  the 
next  day  a  considerable  force  under  Gen.  E.  K. 
Smith  opened  fire  upon  Gen.  Negley,  but  were 
compelled  to  retire.  Chattanooga  was  finally 
abandoned  by  the  Federal  force  in  consequence 
of  the  difficulty  of  procuring  supplies. 

On  the  advance  of  Gen.  Buell,  this  division 
of  his  army  under  Gen.  Mitchell  was  placed 
under  the  command  of  Gen.  Rousseau,  and  Gen. 
Mitchell  was  ordered  to  the  command  at  Port 
Royal,  South  Carolina. 

The  result  of  the  military  operations  that 
have  been  thus  far  described,  was  at  this  time 
of  the  year  such  as  to  leave  m  the  hands  of  the 
Southern  Government  a  large  military  force, 
which  it  could  use  without  additional  hazard 
wherever  it  pleased,  while  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment, struck  with  panic  from  other  causes,  was 
actually  calling  upon  the  governors  of  the  loyal 
States  to  hurry  forward  to  its  protection  even 
three  months'  volunteers.  The  acquisition  of 
territory,  however,  was  all  on  the  side  of  the 
Federal  Government,  which  had  got  its  hands 
so  full  in  proportion  to  its  military  preparations, 
that  it  must  either  relinquish  some  portion  of 
it  or  submit  to  defeat  somewhere,  if  its  antag- 
onist was  active,  skilful,  and  dexterous.  This 
state  of  Affairs  culminated  in  the  midst  of  the 
Virginia  campaign,  and  it  was  decisive  not  only 
of  that  campaign,  but  it  presented  to  the  world 
magnificent  displays  of  the  skill  and  power  of 
the  respective  antagonists. 

It  has  been  said  that  the  Southern  Gov- 
ernment had  a  large  military  force  with  which 
it  was  free  to  act,  without  additional  hazard. 
This  force  consisted  of  part  of  the  levies  of  the 
previous  year,  some  of  the  levies  raised  by  the 
governors  of  the  States,  under  a  call  from  Pres- 
ident Davis  in  February  of  this  year,  and  some 
of  the  troops  beginning  to  come  up  under  the 
conscription  act  passed  by  the  Richmond  Con- 
gress early  in  April.  In  Missouri  the  success 
of  Gen.  Curtis  had  been  such  as  to  drive  out  all 
the  regular  Confederate  troops,  and  he  had 
established  himself  just  within  the  borders  of 
Arkansas.  But  the  requisition  upon  him  to  send 
ten  regiments  to  the  assistance  of  Gen.  Halleck, 
so  limited  his  ability  for  offensive  operations, 


that  the  troops  of  Arkansas  were  tc  a  consid- 
erable extent  free  to  act  wherever  the  South- 
ern Government  needed.  Kentucky  and  Mid- 
dle and  Western  Tennessee  had  been  evacuated 
by  the  Confederate  forces,  which  held  them  at 
the  beginning  of  the  year.  These  forces  con- 
gregated at  Corinth,  and,  upon  its  evacuation, 
the  vast  army  was  not  in  a  condition,  at  that 
hot  season  of  the  year,  to  follow  the  fugitives 
any  considerable  distance,  or  to  push  forward 
its  offensive  operations,  as  has  been  before  ob- 
served. A  limited  Confederate  force  was  there- 
fore kept  in  the  field,  to  observe  the  operations 
of  Gen.  Halleck.  The  cessation  of  military  op- 
erations against  Charleston  and  Savannah,  and 
also  in  North  Carolina,  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment, caused  the  Confederate  Government  to 
keep  no  more  than  a  force  of  observation  in  the 
field,  and  left  it  at  liberty  to  concentrate  its 
other  troops  wherever  their  presence  might  be 
most  needed.  These  troops  were  therefore  sent 
to  Virginia,  to  engage  in  the  campaign  going  on 
in  that  State. 

On  the  23d  of  February  the  Confederate 
troops  evacuated  Nashville;  and  on  the  25th 
the  city  was  occupied  by  the  advance  of  the 
Federal  army  under  Gen.  Nelson.  A  large 
portion  of  the  State  having  now  been  recon- 
quered to  the  Union,  President  Lincoln  nom- 
inated Andrew  Johnson  Military  Governor  of 
Tennessee,  with  the  rank  of  brigadier-general 
of  volunteers,  and  the  nomination  was  con- 
firmed by  the  Senate  on  the  5th  of  March. 
Governor  Johnson,  a  native  of  North  Carolina, 
had  been  five  times  a  Representative  in  Congress, 
and  twice  Governor  of  Tennessee,  and  at  the 
tune  of  his  appointment  was  United  States  Sen- 
ator from  that  State.  He  reached  Nashville 
March  12th,  in  company  with  Emerson  Ether- 
idge,  Clerk  of  the  .House  of  Representatives, 
and  Horace  Maynard,  Member  of  Congress  from 
Tennessee,  and  the  next  evening,  in  response  to 
a  serenade,  he  made  an  address,  which  he  after- 
wards published  as  an  "  Appeal  to  the  People 
of  Tennessee."  After  briefly  recounting  the 
history  of  the  secession  movement,  -and  the 
measures  adopted  by  the  Federal  Government, 
he  proceeded  as  follows : 

The  President  has  conducted  this  mighty  contest, 
until,  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  army,  he  has 
caused  the  national  flag  again  to  float  undisputed  over 
the  Capitol  of  our  State.  Meanwhile  the  State  Gov- 
ernment has  disappeared.  The  executive  has  abdi- 
cated; the  Legislature  has  dissolved;  the  judiciary  is 
in  abeyance.  The  great  ship  of  State,  freighted  with 
its  precious  cargo  of  human  interests  and  human 
hopes,  its  sails  all  set,  and  its  glorious  old  flag  un- 
furled, has  been  suddenly  abandoned  by  its  officers 
and  mutinous  crew,  and  left  to  float  at  the  mercy  of 
the  winds,  and  to  be  plundered  by  every  rover  upon 
the  deep.  Indeed,  the  work  of  plunder  has  already 
commenced.  The  archives  have  been  desecrated, 
the  public  property  stolen  and  destroyed ;  the  vaults 
of  the  State  bank  violated,  and  its  treasures  robbed, 
including  the  funds  carefully  gathered  and  conse- 
crated for  all  time  to  the  instruction  of  our  children. 
In  such  a  lamentable  crisis  the  Government  of  the 
United  States  could  not  be  unmindful  of  its  high  con- 
stitutional obligation  to  guarantee  to  every  State  in 


186 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


this  Union  a  republican  form  of  government,  an  obli- 
gation which  every  State  has  a  direct  and  immediate 
interest  in  having  observed  toward  every  other  State ; 
and  from  which,  by  no  action  on  the  part  of  the  peo- 
ple in  any  State,  can  the  Federal  Government  be  ab- 
solved. A  republican  form  of  government  in  conso- 
nance with  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  is  one 
of  the  fundamental  conditions  of  our  political  exist- 
ence, by  which  every  part  of  the  country  is  alike 
bound,  and  from  which  no  part  can  escape.  This  ob- 
ligation the  national  Government  is  now  attempting 
to  discharge.  I  have  been  appointed,  in  the  absence 
of  the  regular  and  established  State  authorities,  as 
Military  Governor  for  the  time  being,  to  preserve  the 
public  property  of  the  State,  to  give  the  protection 
of  law  actively  enforced  to  her  citizens,  and,  as  speed- 
ily as  may  be,  to  restore  her  Government  to  the  same 
condition  as  before  the  existing  rebellion. 

In  this  grateful  but  arduous  undertaking,  I  shall 
avail  myself  of  all  the  aid  that  may  be  afforded  by  my 
fellow  citizens.  And  for  this  purpose  I  respectfully 
but  earnestly  invite  all  the  people  of  Tennessee,  desir- 
ous or  willing  to  see  a  restoration  of  her  ancient  Goy- 
ernment,  without  distinction  of  party  affiliations  or 
past  political  opinions  or  action,  to  unite  with  me,  by 
counsel  and  cooperative  agency,  to  accomplish  this 

§reat  end.  I  find  most,  if  not  all  of  the  offices,  both 
tate  and  Federal,  vacated  either  by  actual  abandon- 
ment, or  by  the  action  of  the  incumbents  in  attempting 
to  subordinate  their  functions  to  a  power  in  hostility 
to  the  fundamental  law  of  the  State,  and  subversive 
of  her  national  allegiance.  These  offices  must  be 
filled  temporarily,  until  the  State  shall  be  restored  so 
far  to  its  accustomed  quiet,  that  the  people  can  peace- 
ably assemble  at  the  ballot  box  and  select  agents  of 
their  own  choice.  Otherwise  anarchy  would  prevail, 
and  no  man's  life  or  property  would  be  safe  from  the 
desperate  and  unprincipled. 

I  shall,  therefore,  as  early  as  practicable,  designate 
for  various  positions  under  the  State  and  county  Gov- 
ernments, from  among  my  fellow-citizens,  persons  of 
probity  and  intelligence,  and  bearing  true  allegiance 
to  the  Constitution  and  Government  of  the  United 
States,  who  will  execute  the  functions  of  their  re- 
spective offices  until  their  peaces  can  be  filled  by  the 
action  of  the  people.  Their  authority,  when  their 
appointments  shall  have  been  made,  will  be  accord- 
ingly respected  and  observed. 

To  the  people  themselves,  the  protection  of  the  Gov- 
arnment  is  extended.  All  their  rights  will  be  duly 
respected,  and  their  wrongs  redressed  Mfhen  made 
known.  Those  who  through  the  dark  and  weary 
night  of  the  rebellion  have  maintained  their  allegiance 
to  the  Federal  Government  will  be  honored.  The  err- 
ing and  misguided  will  be  welcomed  on  their  return. 
And  while  it  may  become  necessary,  in  vindicating 
the  violated  majesty  of  the  law,  and  in  reasserting  its 
imperial  sway,  to  punish  intelligent  and  conscious 
treason  in  high  places,  no  merely  retaliatory  or  vin- 
dictive policy  will  be  adopted.  To  those,  especially, 
who  in  a  private,  unofficial  capacity  have  assumed  an 
attitude  of  hostility  to  the  Government,  a  full  and 
complete  amnesty  for  all' past  acts  and  declarations  is 
offered,  upon  the  one  condition  of  their  again  yielding 
themselves  peaceful  citizens  to  the  just  supremacy  of 
the  laws.  This  I  advise  them  to  do  for  their  own  good, 
and  for  the  peace  and  welfare  of  our  beloved  State, 
endeared  to  me  by  the  associations  of  long  and  active 
years,  and  by  the  enjoyment  of  her  highest  honors. 

The  Address  was  listened  to  with  respect  and 
some  favor;  but  the  Union  feeling  developed 
in  Nashville  and  other  parts  of.  Middle  Tennes- 
see, after  their  occupation  by  the  Federal  forces, 
was  far  from  answering  the  expectations  of  the 
North,  or  even  of  the  Tennessee  Unionists 
themselves.  On  the  9th  of  March  the  citizens 
of  Shelbyville,  in  Bedford  County,  burned  a 
quantity  of  stores,  to  prevent  them  from  falling 


into  the  hands  of  the  Confederates ;  and  soon 
afterwards  the  people  of  Gallatin,  a  place  in 
which  the  Southern  party  had  before  been 
strongly  in  the  ascendant,  held  a  town  meeting, 
and  expressed  a  readiness  to  return  to  their  al- 
legiance ;  but  these  were  exceptional  instances, 
and  the  Federal  occupation  did  not  become 
popular  until  there  seemed  reason  to  think  it 
would  be  permanent. 

On  the  20th  the  following  letter  was  ad- 
dressed to  the  governor  by.  seven  Tennessee 
officers,  confined  at  Camp  Chase,  near  Colum- 
bus, on  behalf  of  themselves  and  "a  great 
many  others  whose  names  were  not  sub- 
scribed " : 

To  Andrew  Johnson,  Governor,  &c.,  of  the  State  of 
Tennessee. 

We  the  undersigned,  citizens  of  Columbia,  Tenn., 
having  gone  into  service,  under  the  last  call  of  Gov. 
Harris,  the  circumstances  of  which  call,  and  our  en- 
listment, you  have  by  this  time  become  fully  aware 
of;  are  very  desirous  of  returning  to  loyalty  by  taking 
the  oa_th  of  allegiance  to  the  Federal  Government, 
and  will  ever  feel  grateful  to  you  for  our  deliverance 
from  our  present  confinement. 

Several  other  letters  of  like  import,  from  Ten- 
nes.seans  who  had  served  in  the  Southern  army, 
were  published  about  the  same  time. 

Trade,  for  some  time  after  the  occupation  of 
Nashville,  gave  no  sign  of  reviving.  Northern 
merchants  had  followed  the  national  armies 
into  Tennessee,  in  the  expectation  of  buying 
cotton,  and  obtaining  markets  for  their  own 
commodities ,  but  there  was  little  or  no  cotton 
at  Nashville  and  other  river  ports,  and  the 
planters  of  the  interior  showed  no  disposition  to 
send  it  forward.  Northern  products  of  nearly 
all  sorts  were  in  great  demand,  and  quoted  at 
high  prices ;  but  the  people  had  no  money  ex- 
cept the  currency  of  the  Southern  Confeder- 
acy, which  the  Northern  speculators,  of  course, 
refused  to  take.  In  a  few  weeks'  time,  how- 
ever, United  States  money  became  compara- 
tively plentiful  throughout  Middle  Tennessee, 
confidence  in  the  depreciated  bills  of  Tennessee 
banks  was  restored,  and  cotton  gradually  found 
its  way  to  the  ports  of  outlet. 

Buyers  began  to  scour  the  country*in  all  di- 
rections, within,  and  sometimes  even  beyond 
the  Federal  lines.  The  reluctance  of  the  cot- 
ton planters  to  sell  was  soon  entirely  overcome. 
Good  middling  brought,  in  April,  16  and  17 
cents  in  specie,  or  United  States  Treasury  notes, 
and  22  and  25  cents  in  current  Tennessee  paper. 

Rice  was  also  shipped  to  some  extent,  and 
the  quantity  of  both  these  staples  sent  into  the 
loyal  States  would  have  been  much  greater  but 
for  guerrilla  bands,  who  made  it  their  object  to 
prevent  the  crops  from  being  sold.  A  procla- 
mation was  issued  by  the  governor,  threatening 
to  imprison  five  or  more  secessionists  of  the 
neighborhood  where  such  things  occurred. 

On  May  12,  in  pursuance  of  a  call  signed  by 
a  number  of  prominent  citizens,  requesting 
"  their  fellow-citizens  of  the  State  of  Tennes- 
see, who  are  in  favor  of  the  restoration  of  the 
former  relations  of  this  State  to  the  Federal 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


187 


Union,  to  be  present  at  a  public  meeting  to  be 
held  at  the  Capitol,  in  the  city  of  Nashville,"  a 
large  gathering  of  persons  from  different  parts 
of  the  State  took  place  in  the  Hall  of  Repre- 
sentatives. Ex-Gov.  "Wm.  B.  Campbell  (now 
brigadier-general)  was  chosen  president  *>f  the 
convention,  and  on  taking  the  chair  made  a  few 
remarks,  in  the  course  of  which  he  said : 

We  invite  all  to  help  us  in  restoring  the  supremacy 
of  law  over  Tennessee,  and  reinstating  her  in  all  the 
privileges  and  immunities  of  the  Union.  We  wish  to 
welcome  back  all  our  deluded  fellow-citizens  cordially. 
The  Government  intends  no  sweeping  confiscation, 
nor  wild  turning  loose  of  slaves  against  the  revolted 
States.  It  designs  no  infringement  on  the  rights  of 
property.  All  will  be  protected  who  will  be  loyal  to 
the  Government.  We  bear  no  malice  toward  any 
one,  but  deep  sympathy  for  the  deluded.  He  had  dear 
friends  and  dear-relations  who  had  gone  astray,  and 
his  heart  yearned  for  their  return.  The  Federal  Gov- 
ernment will  pursue  a  kind,  liberal,  and  benevolent 
policy  toward  the  people  of  the  South,  to  bring  them 
to  the  Union. 

Addresses  were  made  by  W.  H.  Wiseman, 
Hon.  W.  B.  Stokes,  Edmund  Cooper,  Col.  W. 
H.  Polk,  Gov.  Johnson,  Col.  L.  D.  Campbell, 
Gen.  Dumont,  and  others. 

At  the  request  of  many  persons  present  at 
this  convention,  the  chairman  appointed  Allen 
A.  Hall,  John  Lellyett,  Russell  Houston,  Horace 
H.  Harrison,  and  M.  M.  Brien,  a  "  State  Cen- 
tral Union  Committee,"  for  the  purpose  of  com- 
municating with  the  friends  of  Union  in  various 
parts  of  the  State. 

The  United  States  Circuit  Court  opened  at 
Nashville  on  the  13th,  and  in  his  charge  to  the 
Grand  Jury  Judge  Catron  instructed  them  to 
ferret  out  and  indict  all  persons  guilty  of  aiding 
and  abetting  the  marauding  parties  who  infest- 
ed the  State. 

On  the  14th  Ex-Gov.  Neil  8.  Brown,  one  of 
the  leaders  of  the  secession  party  in  Tennessee, 
was  arrested,  by  older  of  Gov.  Johnson,  on 
charge  of  treason,  but  was  afterward  released 
on  parole.  He  took  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and 
became  a  prominent  advocate  of  the  Union. 

The  following  notice,  was  issued  at  Nashville 
on  May  18 : 

After  this  date  no  shipment  of  merchandise  from 
this  city  or  State  will  be  allowed,  except  upon  per- 
mits therefor  issued  by  the  proper  constituted  offi- 
cers of  the  Government  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  21st,  D.  F.  Carter,  president,  and 
John  Herriford,  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  the 
Union  at  Nashville,  were  arrested  on  charge  of 
treason,  and  placed  in  confinement. 

An  election  for  judge  of  the  circuit  court  of 
Nashville,  held  on  the  22d,  resulted  in  the 
choice  of  Turner  S.  Foster,  secessionist,  by  a 
majority  of  about  190.  The  Union  vote  was 
about  1,000;  the  vote  against  separation  in 
Nashville,  in  June,  1861,  was  only  800. 

Judge  Foster  received  his  commission  from 
the  provisional  governor  on  the  26th  of  July, 
and  the  same  day  was  arrested  and  sent  to  the 
penitentiary. 

On  the  24th  of  May  a  Union  meeting  was 
held  at  Murfreesboro',  at  which  speeches  were 


made  by  Gov.  Johnson  and  others,  and  the  res- 
olutions of  the  Nashville  Union  Convention  of 
the  12th*were  unanimously  adopted.  Thirty- 
four  soldiers  of  a  Tennessee  regiment  in  the 
Southern  army  came  before  the  provost  mar- 
shal on  that  occasion,  and  took  the  oath  of  al- 
legiance. 

On  the  same  day,  under  the  provisions  of  the 
general  confiscation  act  of  August  6,  1861,  the 
United  States  Marshal  for  the  Middle  District 
of  Tennessee  seized  at  Nashville  the  offices  of 
the  "Republican  Banner,"  "Union  and  Amer- 
ican," and  "Gazette"  newspapers,  and  the 
Southern  Methodist  Publishing  House,  and  on 
the  26th  the  Baptist  Publishing  House,  and 
"  Patriot"  newspaper  office,  all  having  been  ac- 
tive supporters  of  the  secession  movement.  He 
also  seized  two  gun  factories  in  South  Nash- 
ville, belonging  to  stock  companies. 

Governor  Johnson,  about  the  same  time,  is- 
sued an  order  providing  that  all  persons  who 
should  be  arrested  for  using  treasonable  and 
seditious  language,  and  who  should  refuse  there- 
after to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  give 
bonds  in  the  sum  of  $1,000  for  future  good  be- 
havior, should  be  sent  South  beyond  the  Fed- 
eral lines,  with  the  distinct  understanding  that 
if  they  returned  they  would  be  treated  as  spies. 

On  the  7th  a  Union  meeting  was  held  at 
Shelbyville,  Gov.  Johnson,  Col.  May  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  James  L.  Scudder,  formerly  a  prorn- 
inant  secessionist  and  assistant  inspector  gen- 
eral of  State  troops  under  Gov.  Harris,  being 
among  the  orators. 

On  June  17th  Gov.  Johnson  summoned  six 
prominent  secession  clergymen  of  Nashville  to 
meet  him  at  the  Capitol,  and  requested  them  to 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment. At  their  urgent  desire,  a  few  days 
were  granted  them  for  deliberation.  On  the 
28th,  as  they  refused  to  take  the  oath,  five  were 
sent  to  the  penitentiary,  to  be  kept  in  close  con- 
finement until  arrangements  could  be  made  for 
escorting  them  beyond  the  lines :  the  sixth,  be- 
ing in  feeble  health,  was  paroled.  On  the  same 
day  Dr.  J.  P.  Ford,  and  on  the  next  day  the 
Rev.  0.  D.  Elliott,  principal  of  a  girls'  board- 
ing-school, and  Dr.  Cheatham,  superintendent 
of  the  State  Lunatic  Asylum,  were  arrested  at 
Nashville,  and  similarly  disposed  of.  At  a 
Union  meeting  held  in  Pulaski  June  17,  Mr. 
George  Baber,  formerly  identified  with  the 
Southern  party  as  editor  of  the  Nashville 
"Banner,"  delivered  an  address  in  which. he 
disavowed  his  past  course.  Another  meeting 
of  the  people  of  Giles  County  was  held  at  the 
same  place  on  the  21st,  when  resolutions  were 
passed,  whereby  the  citizens  pledged  them- 
selves to  use  their  influence  for  the  speedy  res- 
toration of  the  State  to  her  Federal  relations. 
Giles  County  is  one  of  the  most  flourishing  in 
Middle  Tennessee.  It  was  largely  engaged  in 
cotton  growing,  and  works  over  5,000  negroes. 
On  the  23d  five  of  the  most  prominent  seces- 
sionists of  Pulaski,  including  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Mooney,  a  Methodist  clergyman,  were  arrested 


188 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


and  sent  beyond  the  Federal  lines  under  an  es- 
cort of  cavalry.  _ 

A  Union  meeting  was  held  at  Valley  Springs 
Meeting  House,  Dickson  county,  on  the  21st. 

The  anniversary  of  American  independence 
was  celebrated  with  great  enthusiasm,  and 
Union  speeches  were  delivered  at  the  capital 
and  in  other  parts  of  the  State. 

Arrests  continued  frequent,  and  in  the  early 
part  of  July  twenty-eight  persons  were  arrested 
at  Goodlettsville,  but  were  all  released  on  tak- 
ing the  oath  of  allegiance. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Union  citizens  of  the 
State  had  been  almost  incessantly  harassed 
by  roving  bands  of  guerillas  and  marauders, 
of  whom  the  cavalry  forces  of  Cols.  Forrest 
and  Morgan  acquired  the  greatest  notoriety. 
Scarcely  a  day  passed  which  did  not  bring  a 
report  of  their  seizing  horses,  cattle,  and  stores, 
burning  bridges,  tearing  up  railroad  tracks,  de- 
stroying telegraphic  communications,  and  not 
unfrequently  killing  prominent  Union  men  or 
falling  unexpectedly  upon  small  detachments 
of  Federal  troops.  On  the  1st  of  May  a  party 
of  Ool.  Morgan's  horsemen  entered  Pulaski 
and  destroyed  the  goods  of  a  shop  keeper  of 
that  place.  A  military  commission  examined 
the  case  on  the  20th,  and  ordered  the  provost 
marshal  to  collect  from  the  secession  authori- 
ties of  the  town,  or  failing  in  that,  from  certain 
well-known  Confederate  citizens,  a  sum  suffi- 
cient to  cover  all  the  damages.  As  soon  as  Mem- 
phis had  fallen  the  Confederate  cavalry  began 
to  infest  the  line  of  the  Memphis  and  Charles- 
ton railroad,  burning  cotton,  carrying  off  Union 
citizens,  and  threatening  to  seize  the  person 
and  destroy  the  property  of  any  one  who  at- 
tempted to  enter  Memphis  upon  whatever  pre- 
text. On  the  7th  of  July  the  pickets  of  a  Min- 
nesota brigade  were  attacked  near  Murfrees- 
boro'  by  a  party  of  civilians,  and  two  of  the 
soldiers  were  killed.  The  next  day  90  guerillas 
were  captured  between  Gallatin  and  Hartsville. 
On  the  9th  a  wagon  master  and  a  sutler  were 
fired  upon  from  an  ambush  near  Franklin,  the 
the  latter  being  killed  and  the  former  severely 
wounded.  Similar  murders  were  perpetrated 
near  Memphis.  On  the  13th  Colonels  Forrest 
and  Warner,  with  a  regiment  of  Texan  Rangers 
and  a  strong  force  of  other  Confederate  troops, 
captured  Murfreesboro' ;  and  on  the  21st  a  party 
of  Forrest's  guerillas  captured  the  Federal  pick- 
ets on  the  Lebanon  road. 

The  greatest  excitement  now  existed  at  Nash- 
ville, and  the  loyal  citizens  proceeded  to  enroll 
themselves  in  anticipation  of  an  attack  upon 
the  city,  but  in  a  few  days  reinforcements  ar- 
rived and  the  guerillas  fell  back  toward  McMinn- 
ville.  On  the  17th  an  attack  was  made  by  about 
60  guerillas  upon  a  small  scouting  party  belong- 
ing to  Gen.  Negley's  command,  between  Mount 
Pleasant  and  Columbia.  The  Federal  soldiers, 
only  8  in  number,  took  refuge  in  a  house  and 
defended  themselves  for  6  hours,  the  guerillas 
finally  retiring.  On  the  19th  a  party  of  11 
guerillas  entered  Brownsville  and  destroyed  a 


large  quantity  of  cotton.  On  the  2d  of  August 
Gen.  Nelson  occupied  McMinnville,  the  Con 
federates  falling  back  before  his  arrival.  Gen. 
Negley  about  the  same  time  led  an  expedition 
against  the  guerillas  in  the  direction  of  Colum- 
bia, dispersing  a  Targe  assemblage  of  the  ma- 
rauders at  "Williamsport,  and  engaging  them 
again  with  success  at  Kinderhook.  On  the 
12th  a  detachment  of  Col.  Morgan's  guerillas 
surprised  Gallatin,  on  the  Louisville  and  Nash- 
ville railroad,  making  130  prisoners  and  cap- 
turing a  quantity  of  government  stores,  with  a 
train  of  grain  and  65  horses  on  the  way  from 
Louisville  to  Nashville.  A  force  was  immedi- 
ately sent  from  Nashville  to  intercept  them, 
but  arrived  only  in  time  to  capture  a  wagon 
load  of  arms,  and  exchange  shpts  with  strag- 
glers on  the  outskirts  of  the  town.  On  the 
16th  a  party  of  workmen  sent  to  repair  the 
railroad  which  had  been  injured  by  Morgan 
near  Gallatin  were  captured  by  guerillas,  and 
the  same  day  two  Federal  couriers  were  made 
prisoners  a  few  miles  south  of  Nashville.  Rail- 
road communication  with  the  latter  place  was 
now  entirely  cut  off  on  every  side,  bridges  be- 
ing burned  and  the  track  torn  up  for  consider- 
able distances,  but  the  interruption  lasted  only 
a  short  time.  On  the  18th  a  railroad  train  was 
fired  into  near  Columbia,  a  woman  and  child 
and  two  Federal  soldiers  being  killed.  The 
day  afterward  Clarksville  was  captured  by  a 
guerilla  force,  assisted  by  the  disunion  inhab- 
itants of  the  town,  Col.  Mason  of  the  71st 
Ohio  and  about  300  men  surrendering  without 
resistance. 

On  the  20th  a  guard  of  20  men  under  Cap- 
tain Atkinson  of  th'e  50th  Indiana  volunteers, 
being  attacked  at  Edgefield  junction  by  an 
overwhelming  force  of  guerillas  under  Col. 
Morgan,  defended  themselves  for  3  hours  be- 
hind a  stockade,  repulsmg  their  assailants 
three  times,  and  saving  the  train  to  Bow- 
ling Green  which  it  seems  to  have  been  Mor- 
gan's intention  to  capture. 

A  second  engagement  with  Morgan  at  Galla- 
tin on  the  22d  proved  a  much  more  disastrous 
affair  than  the  raid  on  the  12th.  Gen.  R.  "W. 
Johnson  was  taken  prisoner,  and  more  than 
half  his  command  of  800  men  were  killed  or 
captured.  The  guerillas  emboldened  by  suc- 
cess now  became  more  than  ever  troublesome. 
Travel  ceased  to  be  safe  even  within  a  few 
miles  of  the  capital ;  the  mails,  were  robbed ; 
Union  citizens  were  seized  and  sent  to  the 
South,  and  small  detachments  of  Federal  troops 
were  frequently  surprised  by  these  daring 
horsemen,  whose  rapid  movements  generally 
set  pursuit  at  defiance.  At  McMinnville  they 
attacked  the  stockade,  but  the  little  'guard  re- 
pulsed them  with  heavy  loss ;  and  on  the  28th 
Col.  Forrest's  band  had  a  severe  engagement 
with  a  Federal  Kentucky  r«giment  near  Wood- 
bury,  losing  8  killed,  30  wounded,  and  15 
prisoners.  On  the  10th  of  September  some 
Federal  officers  were  captured  by  guerillas 
while  dining  at  a  house  two  or  three  milea 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


189 


from  Nashville.  At  Covington,  Tipton  county, 
in  the  western  part  of  the  State,  where  such 
raids  had  been  common,  the  citizens  gave  bonds 
in  the  sum  of  $50,000  to  protect  Union  resi- 
dents, and  declared  their  purpose  of  hanging 
all  guerillas  who  fell  into  their  hands.  The 
interior  of  the  State  was  not  only  harassed  by 
organized  bands,  such  as  those  of  Forrest  and 
Morgan,  who  held  regular  commissions  in  the 
Confederate  army,  but  were  also  ravaged  by 
marauders  of  the  worst  description,  who  had 
no  object  but  plunder,  and  robbed  both 
parties  alike.  The  guerillas  also  gathered 
in  considerable  force  in  the  counties  border- 
ing on  the  Mississippi,  and  attacked  trans- 
ports and  other  vessels  on  the  river,  gen- 
erally with  musketry  alone,  but  sometimes 
with  light  field  artillery.  On  the  23d  of  Sep- 
tember a  party  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  men  at 
Randolph,  armed  with  rifles,  muskets,  and 
shot-guns,  signalled  the  steamer  Eugene  to 
land.  As  the  boat  had  two  passengers  and 
some  freight  for  that  point,  she  rounded  to, 
none  of  the  officers  perceiving  the  guerilla 
band,  who  in  fact  had  kept  in  the  background 
up  to  that  time.  It  was  now  apparent,  as  the 
guerillas  sprang  from  their  hiding  place,  that 
the  intention  was  to  seize  the  boat ;  and  the 
captain,  regardless  of  the  demand  to  surrender, 
boldly  pushed  back  into  the  stream  amid  sev- 
eral volleys  of  musketry.  There  were  a  great 
many  passengers  on  board,  including  women 
and  children,  buitao  one  was  killed  or  hurt. 

The  outrage  having  been  reported  the  next 
day  to  Gen.  Sherman,  at  Memphis,  he  sent  the 
forty-sixth  regiment  of  Ohio  volunteers  and  a 
section  of  "Willard's  Chicag'o  battery  to  destroy 
the  town.  These  troops  took  passage  on  the 
steamers  Ohio  Belle  and  Eugene,  which  arrived 
at  Randolph  on  the  25th.  The  inhabitants 
seemed  to  have  been  impressed  with  the  con- 
viction that  the  town  would  be  destroyed,  and 
consequently  most  of  them  had  left  the  place. 
The  quartermaster  of  the  regiment  went  through 
the  town  and  took  an  inventory  of  the  build- 
ings and  their  probable  worth,  with  their 
owners'  names,  as  far  as  they  could  be  learned. 
This  having  been  done,  and  everything  in  each 
house  having  been  removed,  every  house  in 
the  town  was  burnt  to  the  ground,  except  the 
Methodist  church,  which  was  left  standing  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  few  persons  turned 
out  of  doors  by  the  fire.  All  the  cotton  and 
other  property  of  value  as  merchandise  was 
brought  away. 

The  town  of  Randolph,  thus  destroyed,  con- 
tained about  ninety  houses,  said  to  be  mostly 
in  a  dilapidated  condition.  It  is  situated  about 
sixty  miles  above  Memphis,  and  was  the  site 
of  extensive  Confederate  fortifications  before 
the  Mississippi  river  was  opened. 

To  prevent  similar  occurrences  in  future, 
General  W.  T.  Sherman,  commanding  at  Mem- 
phis, ordered  that  for  every  boat  fired  upon 
ten  disloyal  families  should  be  expelled  the 
city. 


On  Oct.  21st  the  President  recommended  an 
election  for  members  of  Congress  to  be  held  in 
several  districts  of  Tennessee,  and  instructed 
the  military  commanders  to  take  measures  to 
facilitate  the  execution  of  the  order. 

The  progress  of  the  campaign  had  now 
brought  the  Confederate  forces  almost  within 
sight  of  Nashville,  and  the  guerillas,  hovering 
over  the  route  of  the  regular  forces,  carried 
off  stragglers  from  the  Federal  columns  and 
rendered '  important  service  to  their  cause  by 
burning  bridges,  skirmishing  with  pickets,  and 
threatening  the  Union  supply  trains.  On  the 
19th  of  October,  Col.  Forrest  was  defeated  on 
the  Gallatin  turnpike  about  7  miles  from  Nash- 
ville by  a  Union  brigade  under  Col.  Miller. 
On  Nov.  5th  Morgan  made  a  dash  at  a  Federal 
camp  north  of  the  Cumberland,  but  was  re- 
pulsed with  some  loss.  The  same  active  chief- 
tain on  the  9th  was  driven  out  of  Gallatin  by  a 
detachment  of  Gen.  Crittenden's  corps,  and  the 
next  day  was  beaten  at  Lebanon,  where  the 
Federalists  captured  a  quantity  of  stores  and 
some  prisoners.  On  the  following  morning 
Morgan  returned  end  carried  off  thirty  men 
from  the  Union  camp,  soon  after  which  exploit 
he  joined  the  rebel  army  near  Murfreesboro'. 

Col.  Forrest's  cavalry  was  also  active  in  the 
same  part  of  the  State,  but  the  vigorous  meas- 
ures of  the  Federal  generals  soon  succeeded  in 
checking  this  species  of  irregular  warfare. 

Some  of  the  Federal  soldiers,  however,  had 
been  guilty  of  excesses  hardly  less  outrageous 
than  those  of  the  guerillas,  and  rigid  orders 
were  issued  by  Gen.  Grant  to  prevent  it. 

On  the  7th  of  November,  a  portion  of  one  of 
the  Illinois  regiments  broke  open  a  shop  at 
Jackson,  Tenn.,  and  plundered  and  destroyed 
property  to  the  value  of  some  $1,242.  Gen.  Grant 
ordered  that  sum  to  be  assessed  against  the 
regiment,  and  such  of  its  officers  as  were  ab- 
sent without  leave  at  the  time  when  the  depre- 
dations were  committed,  the  money  when  col- 
lected to  be  paid  to  the  persons  who  had  suf- 
fered by  the  outrage ;  and  two  officers  who 
had  failed  to  prevent  it  were  mustered  out  of 
the  service. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  same  month,  a  plan 
was  matured  by  the  governor  and  Gen.  Rose- 
crans  for  requiring  bonds  and  sureties  for  good 
behavior  from  persons  suspected  as  disunion- 
ists,  or  known  to  have  been  formerly  secession- 
ists. 

On  the  7th,  a  brigade  of  Gen.  Dumont's 
division  was  captured  by  Col.  Morgan,  at 
Hartsville,  near  Nashville,  having  been  sur- 
prised in  their  camp,  and  forced  to  surrender 
after  a  short  and  desultory  resistance.  The 
Confederate  military  authorities  proclaimed  & 
general  conscription  in  Tennessee,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  draft  into  the  Confederate  army  all 
able-bodied  men  under  40,  in  the  portions  of 
the  State  under  their  control.  The  Union  men 
made  a  determined  resistance,  but  in  general, 
as  might  be  supposed,  with  little  effect.  Even 
in  Middle  and  West  Tennessee,  where  the  na- 


190 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


tional  arms  were  nominally  paramo  ant,  the 
guerrillas  were  employed  to  drive  conscripts 
into  the  ranks.  East  Tennessee  'suffered  still 
•  more  severely,  and  it  is  stated  that  particular 
care  was  had  to  draft  into  the  Confederate 
ranks  those  persons  who  were  most  conspicu- 
ous for  their  devotion  to  the  Union. 

In  accordance  with  the  President's  order  of 
October  21st,  Governor  Johnson,  in  the  early 
part  of  December,  issued  a  proclamation,  calling 
for  an  election  of  Representatives  to  the  37th 
Congress,  to  be  held  on  the  29th,  in  the  Ninth 
and  Tenth  Districts  of  Tennessee.  The  Ninth 
District  embraces  the  counties  of  Henry,  Weakly, 
Dyer,  Oberon,  Lauderdale,  Tipton,  Gibson,  Car- 
roll, and  Henderson,  and  the  Tenth  includes  the 
counties  of  Haywood,  Madison,  Hardeman,  Fay- 
ette,  and  Shelby.  The  governor  ended  his  proc- 
lamation with  the  notice  that  "  no  person  will 
be  considered  an  elector  qualified  to  vote  who, 
in  addition  to  the  other  qualifications  required 
by  law,  does  not  give  satisfactory  evidence  to 
the  judges  holding  the  election,  of  his  loyalty 
to  the  Government  of  the  United  States." 

About  the  same  time  Gov.  Johnson  reissued 
a  former  order  assessing  the  wealthy  secession- 
ists of  Nashville  and  the  vicinity  to  the  amount 
of  $60,000,  for  the  support  of  the  poor  during 
the  winter.  The  first  order  was  as  follows : 

NASHVILLE,  August  18, 1862. 

SIR  :  There  are  many  wives  and  helpless  children 
in  the  city  of  Nashville  and  county  of  Davidson,  who 
have  been  reduced  to  poverty  and  wretchedness  in 
consequence  of  their  husbands  and  fathers  having 
been  forced  into  the  armies  of  this  unholy  and  ne- 
fariou"  rebellion.  Their  necessities  have  become  so 
manifest,  and  their  demands  for  the  necessaries  of 
life  so  urgent,  that  the  laws  of  justice  and  humanity 
would  be  violated  unless  something  was  done  to  re- 
lieve their  suffering  and  destitute  condition. 

You  are  therefore  requested  to  contribute  the  sum 
of  dollars,  which  you  will  pay  over 

within  the  next  five  days  to  James  Whitworth,  Esq., 


Judge  of  thfc  County  Court,  to  be  by  him  distributed 
among  these  destitute  families  in  such  manner  as  may 
be  prescribed.  Kespectfully,  Ac., 

ANDREW  JOHNSON,  Military  Governor. 
Attest:  EDWARD  H.  EAST,  Secretary  of  State. 

On  the  20th  a  body  of  Confederate  horsemen 
made  a  raid  on  the  railroad  near  Jackson,  in  the 
western  part  of  the  State,  burned  a  long  trestle 
work,  and  tore  up  the  track  for  a  considerable 
distance.  The  day  following  a  small  guerrilla 
force  entered  the  suburbs  of  Memphis,  pillaged 
several  shops,  and  carried  off  100  cattle  and 
180  mules.  As  the  armies  of  Gens.  Bragg 
and  Rosecrans  began  to  prepare  for  battle,  the 
guerrilla  raids  became  more  numerous  and  more 
destructive ;  Nashville  was  again  almost  isolated, 
and  the  situation  of  the  Union  troops,  in  con- 
tinual danger  of  having  their  supplies  cut  off, 
became  extremely  precarious.  Soon  after  the 
close  of  the  year,  the  Chattanooga  "Rebel" 
published  the  following  from  an  official  source : 

Gen.  Morgan's  report  of  his  expedition  shows  that 
2,000  prisoners  were  paroled,  and  several  hundred 
of  the  enemy  killed  and  wounded,  and  an  immense 
quantity  of  arms  and  property  destroyed. 

Forrest's  report  shows  1,500  prisoners  taken,  1,000 
of  the  enemy  killed  and  wounded,  an  immense  quan- 
tity of  arms,  ammunition,  and  stores  destroyed,  and 
his  whole  command  splendidly  equipped  from  their 
captures. 

Our  operations  at  Murfreesboro',  including  the  cap- 
ture of  5,000  prisoners  and  the  capture  of  2,000  at 
Hartsville  and  around  Nashville,  sum  up  10,000  pris- 
oners in  less  than  a  month. 

We  have  also  captured  and  seat  to  the  rear  30  can- 
non, 60,000  small  arms,  with  2,OW)  more  in  the  hands 
of  our  troops;  1,500  wagons  destroyed,  and  the  mules 
and  harnesses  secured.  The  enemy's  loss  in  killed 
and  wounded  is  estimated  at  20,000,  including  7  gen- 
erals. 

The  exploits  of  Cols.  Forrest  and  Morgan 
referred  to  in  this  summary  were  performed 
principally  in  the  latter  half  of  December  and 
early  part  of  January,  1863.  • 


CHAPTEK   XYI. 


Preparations  for  the  capture  of  New  Orleans — Occupation  of  Ship  Island — The  Mortar  Fleet — Arrival  of  Captain  Farragnt — 
Bombardment  of  the  Forts  on  the  Mississippi— Preparation  to  run  past  the  Forts — The  Scenes  which  ensued— Arrival 
of  the  Fleet  before  New  Orleans — Surrender  of  the  City — Advance  up  the  River — Surrender  of  the  Forts  to  Commodore 
Porter— Gen.  Butler  occupies  New  Orleans — His  Administration — Superseded  by  Gen.  Banks. 


PREPARATIONS  for  the  capture  of  New  Or- 
leans had  early  in  the  war  been  commenced. 
As  a  preliminary  movement  an  expedition  to 
Ship  Island  was  projected  in  September,  1861, 
almost  immediately  after  Gen.  Butler's  return 
from  the  expedition  to  Hatteras  Inlet,  and  he 
was  authorized  to  enlist  troops  for  it  in  New 
England.  Coming  into  collision  with  Gov. 
Andrew  of  Massachusetts,  in  relation  to  the 
appointment  of  persons  as  field-officers  for  the 
regiments  he  raised  in  Massachusetts,  whom 
the  Governor  regarded  as  unfit  for  their  posts, 
and  refused  to  commission,  the  expedition  was 


delayed  for  a  time.  The  first  instalment  of 
troops  for  it  were  embarked  at  Boston,  on  the 
19th  of  November,  on  the  U.  S.  transport  Con- 
stitution, and  sailed  at  first  for  Portland,  Me., 
and  thence  for  Fortress  Monroe,  which  they 
reached  on  the  26th  November,  and  sailed  the 
next  day  for  Ship  Island,  where  they  arrived 
on  the  3d  December.  They  consisted  of  the 
Twenty-sixth  Massachusetts  regiment,  Col. 
Jones,  the  Ninth  Connecticut,  Col.  Cahill,  and 
the  Fourth  battery  of  Massachusetts  artillery, 
Capt.  Manning,  and  were  under  the  command 
of  Brig.-Gen.  John  W.  Phelps,  a  native ,pf  Ver- 


U.3     NAVY 


New  York.   D.Appletott  &C<! 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


.191 


mont,  and  graduate  of  West  Point  in  1836.  He 
served  for  23  years  in  the  army,  but  resigned 
in  1859,  and  was  living  at  Brattleboro',  Vt,  at 
the  commencement  of  the  war. 

Having  completed  the  debarkation  of  his 
command,  Gen.  Phelps  issued  a  proclamation 
to  the  loyal  citizens  of  the  Southwest,  for  which 
there  seemed  no  occasion,  as  his  superior  in 
command,  Maj.-Gen.  Butler,  had  not  arrived, 
and  there  were  on  the  island  none  but  U.  S. 
troops,  and  no  invasion  had  been  made  upon  the 
territory  claimed  by  the  Confederate  Govern- 
ment. The  proclamation  was  not  circulated 
upon  the  mainland  to  any  considerable  extent ; 
but  it  created  much  dissatisfaction  among  Gen. 
Phelps's  own  command. 

The  Constitution  left  Ship  Island  on  the  7th 
of  December  on  her  return  to  the  North,  and 
arrived  at  Fortress  Monroe  on  the  15th;  in 
January,  1862,  she  returned  with  another  con- 
siderable body  of  troops.  Thus  the  military 
part  of  the  expedition  for  the  capture  of  New 
Orleans  under  Gen.  B.  F.  Butler,  was  trans- 
ferred to  a  position  in  the  neighborhood  of 
that  city. 

On  the  3d  of  February  Capt.  D.  G.  Farragut 
sailed  from  Hampton  Roads  in  the  U.  S.  steamer 
Hartford  to  assume  the  duties  of  flag-officer 
of  the  "Western  Gulf  blockading  squadron.  In 
addition  to  the  ordinary  duties  of  the  blockade, 
he  was  specially  charged  with  the  reduction  of 
the  defences  guarding  the  approaches  to  New 
Orleans.  "There  will  be  attached  to  your 
squadron,"  said  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  in 
his  letter  of  instructions,  "  a  fleet  of  bomb  ves- 
sels, and  armed  steamers  enough  to  manage 
them,  all  under  command  of  Commander  D.  D. 
Porter,  who  will  be  directed  to  report  to  you. 
*  *  *  When  these  formidable  mortars  arrive, 
and  you  are  completely  ready,  you  will  collect 
such  vessels  as  can  be  spared  from  the  blockade 
and  proceed  up  the  Mississippi  River,  and  re- 
duce the  defences  which  guard  the  approaches 
to  New  Orleans,  when  you  will  appear  off1  that 
city  and  take  possession  of  it  under  the  guns 
of  your  squadron,  and  hoist  the  American  flag 
therein,  keeping  possession  until  troops  can  be 
sent  to  you.  If  the  Mississippi  expedition  from 
Cairo  shall  not  have  descended  the  river,  you 
will  take  advantage  of  the  panic  to  push  a 
strong  force  up  the  river  to  take  all  their  de- 
fences in  the  rear." 

This  fleet  of  mortars  spoken  of  by  the  Sec- 
retary was  fitted  out  at  the  Brooklyn  Navy 
Yard,  and  was  for  some  months  in  preparation. 
It  consisted  of  one  gunboat,  the  Octorara, 
mounting  18  guns,  and  serving  as  Com.  Porter's 
flag-ship,  but  subsequently  diverted  from  the  ex- 
pedition to  Fortress  Monroe,  and  20  schooners, 
of  from  200  to  300  tons  each,  of  great  strength 
and  solidity,  and  carrying  each  a  mortar,  weigh- 
ing 8%  tons,  of  thirty-nine  inches  length  of  bore, 
forty-three  inches  external  and  fifteen  inches  in- 
ternal diameter,  and  intended  to  throw  a  15-inch 
shell,  weighing,  when  unfilled,  212  Ibs.  They 
are  elevated  or  depressed  by  means  of  projections 


on  the  breech.  Each  vessel  also  carried  two  32- 
pounders,  rifled. 

This  class  of  vessels  had  been  selected  because 
they  were  stronger  in  proportion  to  their  size 
than  larger  ones,  at  the  same  time  that  their  light 
draft  enabled  them  to  go  into  shallow  water ;  and 
from  their  small  tonnage  they  could  be  handled 
by  a  small  number  of  men. 

To  fit  them  to  receive  the  mortars,  a  bed  had 
been  prepared, which  was  supported  by  an  almost 
solid  mass  of  wood,  built  from  the  keel  to  the 
deck.  This  consisted  of  timbers  over  one  foot 
square  and  twelve  feet  in  length,  interlaced  and 
firmly  fastened.  The  bed  rose  two  or  three 
inches  above  the  deck,  and  consisted  of  a  solid 
horizontal  surface,  circular  in  form,  with  a  truck 
near  its  edge,  upon  which  run  rollers  bearing  a 
revolving  platform.  The  bed  itself  was  carefully 
braced  and  supported  by  the  entire  strength 
of  the  vessel,  so  as  to  sustain  the  recoil  of  the 
mortar. 

The  circular  platform  surmounting  the  bed 
and  bearing  the  mortar  carriage, was  constructed 
of  heavy  timbers,  and  was  one  foot  in  depth  and 
nearly  twelve  feet  in  diameter.  When  in  po- 
sition for  a  discharge,  it  laid  flat  and  firmly  on 
the  bed,  but  by  ingenious  mechanism  it  might  be 
made  to  revolvd,  in  order  to  aim  the  mortar  in 
any  direction,  or  to  resight  it  if  the  vessel  shifted 
its  position.  The  change  of  direction  was  easily 
and  quickly  accomplished.  By  means  of  four 
eccentric  axles  in  the  platform,  to  which  levers 
were  fitted,  the  mortar  and  machinery  (weighing 
altogether  over  ten  tons)  might  be  raised,  and  the 
weight  transferred  by  the  same  movement  to 
a  great  number  of  metallic  rollers  attached  to  a 
framework  of  immense  strength  under  the  plat- 
form. Then,  by  means  of  tackle,  already  ar- 
ranged, the  whole  mass  might  be  moved  to  its 
desired  position,  and  instantly,  by  a  reverse 
movement,  replaced  on  the  bed.  In  the  centre 
of  the  platform,  and  extending  into  the  solid 
mass  beneath,  was  an  iron  cylinder  or  spindle 
which  prevented  any  side  movement. 

The  mortar  carriage  was  constructed  almost 
exclusively  of  wrought-iron.  Its  length  was 
about  nine  feet,  and  its  height  and  width  each 
four  feet.  In  form  it  had  the  slightest  pos- 
sible resemblance  to  a  land  carriage — gradually 
sloping  at  the  point  where  the  mortar  rested,  in 
the  direction  of  the  breech ;  and  having  wheels, 
yet  not  resting  on  them  when  the  mortar  was 
discharged.  The  carriage  was  composed  princi- 
pally of  plate  iron,  riveted  together,  braced  and 
bolted.  It  was  a  framework  of  excellent  design, 
and  though  weighing  probably  not  more  than 
two  tons,  was  capable  of  resisting  a  pressure  of 
one  to  two  hundred  tons. 

Two  wheels  were  set  close  to  the  framework, 
directly  under  the  mortars ;  and  connected  with 
them  were  eccentric  axles,  so  arranged  as  to  per- 
mit so  large  a  part  of  the  weight  to  be  thrown 
on  the  wheels,  that  the  carriage  might  be  moved 
on  them. 

It  was  not  intended,  however,  that  the  recoil 
of  the  mortar  should  in  any  degree  be  taken  up 


192. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


or  lessened  in  its  effect  by  the  moving  of  the 
wheels.  The  carriage  laid  firmly  on  the  plat- 
form when  the  mortar  was  discharged,  and  the 
only  possible  motion  was  that  of  the  vessel  in 
the  water. 

The  bombs  were  the  most  formidable  ordnance 
missile  known,  except  those  used  in  the  Rod- 
man columbiad  of  15-inch  bore.  In  addition  to 
the  two  32-pounder  guns,  the  vessels  were  pro- 
vided with  pikes,  cutlasses,  and  other  necessary 
weapons. 

The  mortars  could  not  be  fired  directly  over 
the  sides  of  the  vessels,  and  therefore  the  latter 
were  partially  headed  toward  the*  point  of 
attack.  The  vessels  were  therefore  anchored, 
and  a  part  of  the  rigging  removed.  The  extra- 
ordinary weight  and  strength  of  the  mortars, 
the  unprecedentedly  large  charge  of  powder,  the 
long  range  and  high  velocity  of  the  projectiles, 
with  their  destructive  character,  combined  to 
render  this  novel  expedition  one  of  the  most 
important  undertaken  during  the  war.  The 
vessels  made  their  first  rendezvous  at  Key 
West,  and  subsequently  proceeded  to  Ship 
Island,  Mississippi. 

Captain  Farragut  arrived  at  Ship  Island  on 
the  20th,  having  been  detained  for  some  time 
at  Key  "West,  and  immediately  began  to  or- 
ganize his  squadron  for  the  important  duty 
which  had  been  assigned  to  him.  There  are 
two  routes  by  which  New  Orleans  may  be  ap- 
proached by  water,  one  through  Lake  Borgne 
and  Lake  Pontchartrain,  and  the  other  directly 
up  the  Mississippi  River;  but  the  former,  on 
account  of  the  shallowness  of  the  water,  is 
impracticable  for  any  but  vessels  of  very  light 
draft.  The  Confederates  had  consequently  de- 
voted their  labors  chiefly  to  the  fortification  of 
the  Mississippi.  Some  seventy-five  miles  below 
the  city,  and  about  twenty-five  miles  from  the 
"  Passes  "  or  mouths  of  the  river,  they  had  pos- 
session of  two  strong  works  constructed  many 
years  before  by  the  United  States  Government, 
Fort  St.  Philip  on  the  left,  or  north  bank,  and 
Fort  Jackson  on  the  right.  Their  united  arma- 
ment was  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  guns, 
many  of  them  of  the  very  largest  calibre.  Start- 
ing opposite  Fort  Jackson  and  extending  to  a 
point  a  quarter  of  a  mile  below  Fort  St.  Philip, 
a  stout  chain  cable  was  stretched  across  the 
stream  (here  seven  hundred  yards  wide)  sup- 
ported by  a  raft  of  logs  and  eight  hulks  securely 
moored.  Adjoining  Fort  Jackson  was  a  water 
battery.  Under  cover  of  the  forts  was  a  fleet 
of  thirteen  gunboats,  the  powerful  iron-clad 
battery  Louisiana,  and  the  iron-clad  ram  Manas- 
sas,  the  naval  forces  being  commanded  by  Com- 
modore G.  N.  Hollins.  Between  New  Orleans 
and  the  forts  several  earthworks,  well  armed, 
commanded  the  channel.  "  Our  only  fear,"  said 
the  press  of  New  Orleans  of  April  5,  "  is  that 
the  Northern  invaders  may  not  appear.  We 
have  made  such  extensive  preparations  to  re- 
ceive them  that  it  were  vexatious  if  then*  invin- 
cible armada  escapes  the  fate  we  have  in  store 
for  it." 


To  reduce  these  formidable  defences,  Capt. 
Farragut  was  able  to  collect  the  following  ves- 
sels :  steam  sloops  Hartford,  24  guns  (flag-ship), 
Richmond,  26,  Pensacola,  24,  Brooklyn,  24, 
Mississippi,  12,  Iroquois,  9,  Oneida,  9,  sailing 
sloop  of  war  Portsmouth,  17,  gunboats  Varuna, 
12,  Cayuga,  6,  and  Winona,  Katahdin,  Itasca, 
Kineo,  Wissahickori,  Pinola,  Kennebeck,  and 
Sciota,  4  each.  The  frigate  Colorado,  48,  could 
not  pass  over  the  bar,  and  the  entrance  of  some 
of  the  other  large  ships  was  only  effected  with 
the  expenditure  of  much  time  and  labor.  The 
mortar  fleet  comprised  twenty  schooners,  each 
mounting  one  large  mortar  and  two  small  guns. 
They  were  accompanied  by  the  steamers  Harriet 
Lane,  4,  the  flag-ship  of  Commodore  Porter, 
Miami,  7,  Westfield,  6,  Clifton,  6,  and  Owasco, 
5.  Some  of  these  were  merely  armed  tugs,  in- 
tended principally  to  serve  the  purpose  of  tow- 
ing the  bomb  vessels  into  position.  Including 
the  coast-survey  steamer  Sachem,  the  number 
of  vessels  under  Capt.  Farragut's  command  was 
therefore  forty-six,  and  their  aggregate  arma- 
ment, counting  boat  howitzers  placed  in  the 
maintops,  was  about  three  hundred  guns  and 
mortars.  There  were  no  iron-clads  in  the 
fleet. 

Nearly  three  weeks  were  consumed  in  get- 
ting all  the  ships  of  the  squadron  over  the  bars 
at  the  mouths  of  the  Mississippi.  Capt.  Far- 
ragut found  the  depth  considerably  less  than 
it  had  been  laid  down  on  the  official  maps; 
no  doubt  for  the  reason  that  the  daily  passing 
of  large  ships,  before  the  port  was  blockaded, 
had  kept  the  channel  open.  On  the  28th  of 
March,  Fleet  Captain  H.  H.  Bell  made  a  recon- 
noissance  with  two  gunboats  from  the  head  of 
the  Passes  up  toward  the  forts.  He  found  the 
left  bank  quite  clear  of  trees  and  bushes,  but 
on  the  west  side  a  thick  wood  extended  about 
four  miles  below  Fort  Jackson.  By  the  8th  of 
April  the  Mississippi  and  Pensacola  were  over 
the  bar,  and  the  mortar  boats  were  moving  up 
toward  their  appointed  stations.  On  the  13th 
a  detachment  from  the  coast  survey  party  set 
out  under  protection  of  the  Owasco,  and  spent 
three  days  in  making  a  minute  boat  survey  of 
the  river  and  banks,  much  of  the  time  under  fire, 
and  marking  the  positions  which  the  mortar 
vessels  were  to  occupy.  On  the  18th  two  di- 
visions of  Commander  Porter's  flotilla  were 
moored  under  the  lee  of  the  wood  on  the  right 
bank  of  the  river,  screened  from  observation 
by  the  thick  growth  of  trees  interwoven  with 
vines ;  the  masts  and  rigging  were  dressed  off 
with  bushes,  which  were  renewed  as  often  as 
they  were  blown  away.  The  head  vessel  was 
2,850  yards  from  Fort  Jackson  and  3,680  from 
Fort  St.  Philip.  The  remaining  division,  com- 
posed of  six  vessels,  was  stationed  under  the 
opposite  bank,  the  nearest  being  3,680  yards 
from  Fort  Jackson.  There  was  nothing  on  this 
side  to  screen  them  from  observation,  but  their 
hulls  were  covered  with  reeds  and  willows. 

The  bombardment  opened  on  the  18th,  the 
mortar  vessels  taking  the  lead,  and  the  gunboats 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


193 


A,  B,  C,  D,  &c.,  are  points  on  the  left  bank,  and  1,  2,  8,  4, 
<fcc.,  points  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  established  for 
placing  the  gunboats  and  mortar  boats  in  position. 

The  position  of  the  mortar  flotilla  on  the  first  day  of  the 
bombardment,  April  18th,  was  as  follows:  Six  mortars  on 
the  left  bank  between  C  and  J,  distance  to  Fort  Jackson 
8,680  to  4,500  yards ;  fourteen  mortars  on  the  right  bank, 
from  1  to  5,  distance  to  Fort  Jackson  2,850  to  8,490  yards. 

On  the  19th,  the  second  day  of  the  bombardment,  they 
were  all  on  the  right  bank,  and  twenty  mortars  were  placed 
distant  from  Fort  Jackson  8,010  to  4,100  yards.  They  re- 
mained on  the  third  and  fourth  days  nearly  in  the  same  po- 
sition. All  the  large  armed  steamers  and  gunboats  were 
placed  from  one  quarter  to  one  and  a  quarter  miles  below 
the  lowest  mortar  vessel. 

On  the  first  day  the  small  steam  sloops  and  the  gnnboats 
went  to  abreast  of  the  Smoke  stack,  where  they  engaged  the 
forts  and  the  Confederate  steamers. 


13 


194 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


running  up  occasionally  to  draw  the  enemy's 
fire  when  the  mortars  required  relief.  Each 
boat  having  its  precise  distance  from  the  forts 
marked  out  by  the  surveyors,  the  firing  was  re- 
markably accurate.  At  the  given  signal  they 
opened  in  order,  each  one  throwing  a  shell 
every  ten  minutes.  Fort  Jackson  was  the  prin- 
cipal object  of  attack.  On  the  first  day  the  cit- 
adel was  set  on  fire  and  burned  until  two  o'clock 
the  next  morning,  all  the  clothing  and  commis- 
sary stores  in  the  fort  being  destroyed,  and 
great  suffering  caused  by  the  intense  heat.  Dur- 
ing the  night  the  firing  ceased  on  both  sides. 
Two  of  the  mortar  vessels  had  been  injured  by 
the  enemy's  fire  and  were  accordingly  moved 
to  another  position.  On  the  19th  the  mortar 
schooner  Maria  J.  Carleton  was  sunk  by  a  rifle 
shell  passing  down  through  her  deck,  magazine, 
and  bottom,  but  nearly  all  her  stores  and  arms 
•were  saved.  One  or  two  men  were  wounded, 
but  very  little  other  damage  was  done  except 
to  the  masts  and  rigging  of  some  of  the  schoon- 
ers. On  the  other  hand  the  officers'  quarters 
in  Fort  Jackson  were  set  on  fire  and  entirely 
consumed,  the  artillerists  were  driven  from  the 
parapet  guns,  and  the  batteries  were  silenced 
every  time  the  shells  were  concentrated  on  any 
one  point.  The  fuzes  being  bad,  however,  a 
great  many  exploded  prematurely  in  the  air. 
Commander  Porter  accordingly  gave  up  timing 
them  and  put  in  full-length  fuzes,  to  burst  after 
they  had  entered  the  ground.  The  soil  being 
wet  and  soft,  the  shells  penetrated  18  or  20  feet 
into  the  ground,  and  then  exploded  with  an  ef- 
fect like  an  earthquake.  The  levee  was  broken 
in  more  than  100  places,  and  the  water  bushing 
into  the  fort  flooded  the  parade  ground  and 
casemates.  On  the  night  of  the  20th  an  expe- 
dition was  sent  up  under  Commander  Bell  to 
break  the  obstructions  across  the  river.  With 
the  gunboats  Pinola,  Lieut.- Com.  Crosby,  and 
Itasca,  Lieut.-Com.  Caldwell,  he  made  for  the 
hulks,  under  a  heavy  fire,  while  all  the  mortars 
opened  at  once  upon  the  forts  to  distract  the 
enemy's  attention.  Petards  were  arranged  to 
blow  up  the  boom  by  means  of  a  galvanic  cur- 
rent, but  they  failed  to  ignite.  Lieutenant 
Caldwell  however,  boarding  one  of  the  hulks, 
managed  to  slip  the  chain,  and  thereby  made  an 
opening  sufficiently  large  for  the  fleet  to  pass. 
His  vessel  was  swept  ashore  by  the  current, 
which  was  running  with  great  violence,  but  the 
Pinola  got  her  off  after  about  half  an  hour's 
labor  in  full  sight  of  the  forts,  the  terrible  fire 
of  the  mortar  fleet  being  probably  the  only 
thing  that  saved  the  two  boats  from  destruction. 
The  bombardment  continued  with  undirninish- 
ed  vigor  for  3  days  longer,  with  little  damage 
to  the  squadron.  Almost  every  night  the  Con- 
federates sent  down  fire  rafts,  but  Capt.  Farra- 
gut  easily  avoided  them,  and  had  them  towed 
ashore.  On  the  23d  Commander  Porter  suc- 
ceeded in  breaking  a  heavy  rifled  gun  on  Fort 
fit.  Philip,  which  had  been  annoying  him  seri- 
ously for  some  time.  Wth  this  single  excep- 
tion the  6  days'  bombardment  had  not  dimin- 


ished the  fire  of  the  forts  in  any  perceptible 
degree. 

On  the  23d  orders  were  issued  to  the  fleet  to 
prepare  for  attacking  and  passing  the  forts. 
The  mortars  were  to  continue  the  bombard- 
ment while  this  movement  was  in  progress,  and 
to  try  to  drive  the  garrisons  from  their  guns. 
The  five  steamers  of  Porter's  flotilla,  assisted 
by  the  Portsmouth,  were  assigned  the  duty  of 
enfilading  the  water  battery  of  six  guns,  and- 
the  barbette  of  guns  which  commanded  the  ap- 
proach to  the  forts.  The  rest  of  the  ships  and 
gunboats  were  to  push  on  past  the  forts,  engage 
the  Confederate  fleet,  and  if  victorious  proceed 
to  New  Orleans,  leaving  the  final  reduction  of 
the  forts  to  Commander  Porter  and  the  land 
forces  under  General  Butler.  Flag-Officer  Far- 
ragut  now  separated  his  gunboats  into  two  di- 
visions, of  six  boats  each,  the  first  under  Capt. 
Theodoras  Bailey,  his  second  in  command,  and 
the  second  under  Fleet  Capt.  H.  H.  Bell.  The 
first  division  of  ships  comprised  the  flag  ship 
Hartford,  Commander  Wainwright ;  Brooklyn, 
Captain  Craven ;  and  Richmond,  Commander 
Alden.  The  second  was  composed  of  the  Pen- 
sacola,  Captain  Morris,  and  Mississippi,  Com- 
mander Melancton  Smith.  "Every  vessel," 
says  Captain  Farragut,  "  was  as  well  prepared 
as  the  ingenuity  of  her  commander  and  officers 
t could  suggest,  both  for  the  preservation  of  life 
'and  of  the  vessel,  and  perhaps  there  is  not  on 
record  such  a  display  of  ingenuity  as  has  been 
evinced  in  this  little  squadron.  The  first  was 
by  the  engineer  of  the  Richmond,  Mr.  Moore, 
by  suggesting  that  the  sheet  cables  be  stopped 
up  and  down  on  the  sides  in  the  line  of  the  en- 
gines, which  was  immediately  adopted  by  all 
4khe  vessels.  Then  each  commander  made  his 
own  arrangements  for  stopping  the  shot  from 
penetrating  the  boilers  orjnachinery  that  might 
come  in  forward  or  abaft,  by  hammocks,  coal, 
bags  of  ashes,  bags  of  sand,  clothes-bags,  and  in 
fact  every  device  imaginable.  The  bulwarks 
were  lined  with  hammocks  by  some,  with  splin- 
ter nettings  made  with  ropes  by  others.  Some 
rubbed  their  vessels  over  with  mud,  to  make 
their  ships  less  visible,  and  some  whitewashed 
their  decks,  to  make  things  more  visible  by 
night  during  the  fight."  On  the  night  of  the 
23d  Lieut.  Caldwell  made  a  second  visit  to  the 
obstructions,  and  ascertained  that  the  passage 
was^still  clear.  He  was  discovered  and  fired 
upon  by  the  enemy,  who  had  chosen  that  time 
to  send  down  some  of  their  fire  rafts,  and  had 
lighted  fires  on  the  shore  near  the  chain.  At 
two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  the  sig- 
nal was  given  to  get  under  way,  and  the  whole 
squadron  moved  up  the  river  in  two  columns, 
Cap'tain  Bailey  in  the  Cayuga  leading  the  right, 
composed  of  the  1st  division  of  gunboats  and 
the  second  division  of  ships,  and  the  Hartford, 
with  Captain  Farragut,  taking  the  post  of  honor 
on  the  left.  On  passing  the  barrier  chain  the 
right  column  attacked  Fort  St.  Philip,  and  the 
left  Fort  Jackson.  They  were  discovered  some 
time  before  they  reached  the  barrier,  and  both 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


195 


forts  opened  upon  them  a  hot  fire,  to  which  the 
squadron  at  first  could  only  reply  with  their 
bow  guns.  As  soon  as  their  broadsides  were 
brought  within  range  the  engagement  became 
general.  "  The  flames,"  said  Commander  Por- 
ter, "  seemed  to  be  literally  eating  the  vessels 
up."  In  attempting  to  aVoid  afire  raft  the  Hart- 
ford grounded  on  a  shoal,  and  in  this  position 
was  set  on  fire,'  the  flames  bursting  through 

•  the  ports  and  running  up  the  rigging;  but, 
Vith  great  exertion,  they  were  extinguished, 
and  the  ship's  guns,  which  had  meanwhile 
been  worked  without  interruption,  were  now 
brought  to  bear  upon  Fort  St.  Philip,  and  that 
work  was  almost  completely  silenced.  In  the 
mean  time,  the  Brooklyn  and  some  other  ves- 
sels, owing  to  the  darkness  and  smoke,  became 
entangled  in  the  barrier,  and  were  exposed  to 
a  raking  fire  from  the  forts  for  a  few  minutes, 
but  managed  to  extricate  themselves,  and  the 
Brooklyn,  finding  herself  unexpectedly  close 
abreast  of  Fort  St.  Philip,  poured  in"  such  a 
storm  of  grape  and  canister  that  the  garrison 
were  seen,  by  the  flash  of  the  bursting  shrap- 
nells,  running  from  their  guns.  Before  the 
squadron  had  fairly  passed  the  forts,  the  Con- 
federate fleet  of  gunboats  and  rams  appeared, 
and  took  part  in  the  fight.  They  were  first 
encountered  by  Captain  Bailey  in  the  Cayuga, 
who  was  considerably  in  advance  of  the  rest,  at 
a  moment  when  no  supporting  ship  was  in 
sight.  By  skilful  steering  he  frustrated  their 
attempts  to  board  and  butt,  and  had  forced 
three  to  surrender,  when  the  Oneida,  Com- 
mander Lee,  and  Varuna,  Captain  Boggs,  hove 
in  sight.  The  Oneida,  discovering  a  Confed- 
erate gunboat  crossing  her  bows,  ran  into  her 
with  a  full  head  of  steam,  and  cut  her  down, 
leaving  her  to  drift  down  the  stream  with  the 
current.  The  Varuna,  after  passing  the  forts, 
and  destroying  or  driving  ashofe  a  gunboat 
and  three  transports,  found  herself,  about  day- 
light, completely  surrounded  by  the  enemy. 
The  Governor  Moore,  iron-clad  about  the  bow, 
first  attacked  her,  butting  her  twice,  and  send- 
ing a  raking  fire  along  her  port  gangway, 
killing  four  and  wounding  nine  of  the  crew ; 
but  Captain  Boggs,  by  a  few  well-directed 
shells,  drove  her  off,  partially  disabled.  While 
still  engaged  with  her,  another  Confederate 
steamer,  iron-clad,  with  a  prow  under  water, 
struck  the  Varuna  in  the  port  gangway,  doing 
considerable  damage.  She  backed  off  for 
another  blow,  and  struck  again  in  the  same 
place,  crushing  in  the  side;  "but  by  going 
ahead  fast,"  says  Captain  Boggs,  "  the  concus- 
sion drew  her  bow  around,  and  I  was  able, 
with  the  port  guns,  to  give  her,  while  close 

.  alongside,  five  eight-inch  shells  abaft  her  ar- 
mor. This  settled  her  and  drove  her  ashore 
in  flames.  Finding  the  Varuna  sinking,  I  ran 
her  into  the  bank,  let  go  the  anchor,  and  tied 
up  to  the  trees.  During  all  this  tune,  the 
guns  were  actively  at  work  crippling  the  Mor- 
gan (Governor  Moore),  which  was  making 
feeble'  efforts  to  get  up  steam.  The  fire  was 


kept  up  until  the  water  was  over  the  gun- 
trucks,  when  I  turned  my  attention  to  getting 
the  wounded  and  crew  out  of  the  vessel." 
Just  at  this  moment  the  Oneida  came  up,  took 
off  some  of  the  men  from  the  Varuna,  and 
completed  the  destruction  of  the  Gov.  Moore, 
which  was  run  ashore  and  set  on  fire  by  the 
crew,  part  of  whom  afterward  surrendered  to 
Commander  Lee.  Three  of  the  gunboats  were 
obliged  to  put  back,  one  having  been  disabled 
early  in  the  action,  and  the  others  caught  in 
the  barrier  chain  and  delayed  until  the  day 
had  broken  and  the  rest  of  the  fleet  had  gone 
past  the  forts.  Within  two  hours  from  the 
commencement  of  the  fight,  nearly  the  whole 
Confederate  fleet  was  captured  or  destroyed, 
and  the  victory  was  secured;  but,  "just  as  the 
scene  appeared  to  be  closing,"  writes  Captain 
Farragut,  "  the  ram  Manassas  was  seen  coming 
under  full  speed  to  attack  us.  I  directed  Capt. 
Smith,  in  the  Mississippi,  to  turn  and  run  her 
down.  The  order  was  instantly  obeyed  by  the 
Mississippi  turning  and  going  at  her  at  full 
speed.  Just  as  we  expected  to  see  the  ram 
annihilated,  when  within  fifty  yards  of  each 
other,  she  put  her  helm  hard  a-port,  dodged 
the  Mississippi,  and  ran  ashore.  The  Missis- 
sippi poured  two  broadsides  into  her,  and  sent 
her  drifting  down  the  river  a  total  wreck." 
As  she  came  into  the  midst  of  Porter's  flotilla, 
several  of  the  mortar  boats  and  steamers  open- 
ed fire  upon  her;  "but  I  soon  discovered," 
writes  Porter,  "  that  the  Manassas  could  harm 
no  one  again,  and  I  ordered  the  vessels  to  save 
their  shot.  She  was  beginning  to  emit  smoke 
from  her  ports,  or  holes,  and  was  discovered  to 
be  on  fire  and  sinking.  Her  pipes  were  all 
twisted  and  riddled  with  shot,  and  her  hull 
was  also  well  cut  up.  She  had  evidently  been 
used  up  by  the  squadron  as  they  passed  along. 
I  tried  to  save  her  as  a  curiosity,  by  getting  a 
hawser  around  her  and  securing  her  to  the 
bank,  but  just  after  doing  so  she  faintly  ex- 
ploded. Her  only  gun  went  off,  and  emitting 
flames  through  her  bow  port,  like  some  huge 
animal,  she  gave  a  plunge  and  disappeared 
under  the  water."  About  5  o'clock  the  Oayu- 
ga  came  upon  the  camp  of  the  Chalmette  regi- 
ment, Col.  Szymanski,  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  river.  Casting  anchor,  Captain  Bailey 
opened  upon  it  with  canister,  and  obliged  the 
whole  force  to  surrender,  with  their  arms, 
camp  equipage,  &c.  Soon  afterward,  the  sig- 
nal was  given  to  cease  action,  and  12  vessels 
dropped  anchor  above  and  out  of  range  of  the 
forts,  and  began  to  prepare  for  further  opera- 
tions. Two  of  the  gunboats  were  immediate- 
ly sent  ahead  to  cut  the  telegraph  wires  in 
various  places,  and  one  was  sent,  by  way  of 
the  Quarantine  bayou,  to  communicate  with 
Commander  Porter  and  General  Butler.  With 
his  nine  remaining  vessels,  Captain  Farragut 
then  proceeded  up  to  New  Orleans,  meeting 
on  the  way  abundant  evidence  of  the  panic 
which  prevailed  in  that  city.  "  Cotton-loaded 
ships,  on  fire,  came  floating  down,  and  work- 


196 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ing  implements  of  every  kind,  such  as  are  used 
in  shipyards."  "  I  never  witnessed  such  van- 
dalism in  my  life,"  he  writes  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  "  as  the  destruction  of  property ; 
all  the  shipping,  steamboats,  &c.,  were  set  on 
fire  and  consumed."  The  squadron  reached  the 
English  Turn  about  10.30  A.  M.  on  the  25th, 
and  soon  jdescried  the  new  earthwork  forts  on 
the  old  lines  on  both  shores,  some  6  or  7  miles 
below  the  city;  these  were  known  as  the 
Ohalmette  batteries.  The  fleet  formed,  as  be- 
fore, in  two  lines,  each  taking  its  own  work, 
but  Captain  Bailey,  with  the  Cayuga,  was  far 
in  advance,  not  having  noticed  the  signal  for 
close  order,  and  sustained  alone  a  cross  fire  for 
about  20  minutes,  at  the  end  of  which  time  the 
Hartford  ranged  up  ahead,  and  gave  the  bat- 
teries a  broadside  of  shells,  shrapnell,  and 
grape,  the  first  discharge  driving  the  men  on 
the  right  bank  from  then*  guns.  The  Pensa- 
cola,  the  Brooklyn,  and  then  the  rest  of  the 
fleet,  came  up  in  quick  succession,  and  in  about 
15  or  20  minutes  "the  forts  were  silenced,  and 
those  who  could  run  were  running  in  every 
direction."  From  this  point  no  obstacles  were 
encountered,  except  burning  steamers,  cotton 
ships,  fire  rafts,  and  the  like,  and  at  one  o'clock 
p.  M.  the  squadron  anchored  in  front  of  New 
Orleans. 

A  terrible  and  melancholy  spectacle  was 
presented  to  the  victors.  The  whole  levee,  for 
miles,  was  wrapped  in  smoke  from  the  burning 
gun  carriages  and  cotton  which  the  authorities 
had  ordered  to  be  consumed.  In  the  river  were 
many  hulls  of  burning  ships,  and  the  utmost 
ingenuity  was  required  to  avoid  them.  As  the 
squadron  neared  the  levee  the  sailors  gave  a 
cheer  which  was  answered  by  some  persons  in 
the  crowd  on  shore.  Pistol  shots  were  im- 
mediately fired  at  these  latter  by  the  excited 
multitude,  and  several  persons  were  wounded. 
After  a  delay  of  half  an  hour  or  so,  Oapt.  Bailey 
was  sent  ashore  to  demand  the  surrender  of  the 
city.  He  was  received  by  the  mob  with  the 
most  violent  demonstrations,  but  under  escort 
of  a  number  of  citizens  proceeded  unmolested 
to  the  mayor's  office,  the  mob  at  his  heels  con- 
tenting itself  with  furiously  assaulting  citizens 
suspected  of  sympathy  with  the  Federal  Union. 
On  reaching  the  City  Hall,  Capt.  Bailey  de- 
manded the  surrender  of  the  city,  and  the  dis- 
play of  the  United  States  flag  over  the  custom 
house,  post  office,  mint,  and  city  hall.  The 
mayor  replied  that  he  had  no  authority,  the 
city  being  under  military  control,  and  a  mes- 
senger was  accordingly  sent  for  Gen.  Mansfield 
Lovell,  the  commander  of  the  department. 
Gen.  Lovell  informed  Capt.  Bailey  that  he  had 
already  evacuated  the  city,  and  would  now 
turn  over  the  control  to  the  municipal  authori- 
ties, leaving  them  free  to  act  as  they  saw  fit. 
It  was  then  arranged  that  Capt.  Bailey  should 
return  to  his  fleet,  and  await  the  action  of  the 
common  council.  To  the  demand  to  haul  down 
the  flag  of  Louisiana  from  the  City  Hall  the 
mayor  gave  an  unqualified  refusal.  The  com- 


mon council  was  already  in  session,  and  the 
mayor  at  once  sent  in  a  message,  recommend- 
ing that  an  answer  be  returned  to  Capt.  Far- 
ragut,  representing  that  the  city  being  incapa- 
ble of  offering  any  resistance  yielded  to  physi- 
cal force  alone,  without  giving  up  its  allegiance 
to  the  Confederate  Government ;  that  the  cus- 
tom house,  post  office,  and  mint  were  the  prop- 
erty of  the  Confederate  Government,  and  the 
municipal  authorities  had  no  control  over  them : 
and  that  all  acts  involving  a  transfer  of  author- 
ity must  be  performed  by  the  invading  forces 
themselves.  The  sentiments  expressed  in  this 
message  were  unanimously  adopted  by  the 
council,  and  on  the  next  day  the  following  cor- 
respondence was  opened  between  Capt.  Far- 
ragut  and  the  mayor : 

U.  S.  FLAG  SHIP  HAKTFOBD,  off  New  Orleans,  > 
April  26, 1862.     J 

To  His  Excellency  the  Mayor  of  New  Orleans: 

SIR  :  Upon  my  arrival  before  your  city  I  had  the 
honor  to  send  to  your  honor  Capt.  Bailey,  U.  S.  N., 
second  in  command  of  the  expedition,  to  demand  of 
you  the  surrender  of  New  Orleans  to  me  as  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  Government  of  the  United  States. 
Capt.  Bflley  reported  the  result  of  an  interview  with 
yourself  an'd  the  military  authorities.  It  must  occur 
to  your  honor  that  it  is  not  within  the  province  of  a 
naval  officer  to  assume  the  duties  of  a  military  com- 
mandant. I  came  here  to  reduce  New  Orleans  to  obe- 
dience to  the  laws  of  and  to  vindicate  the  offended 
majesty  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States. 

The  rights  of  persons  and  property  shall  be  secured. 
I  therefore  demand  of  you,  as  its  representative,  the 
unqualified  surrender  of  the  city,  and  that  the  emblem 
of  the  sovereignty  of  the  United  States  be  hoisted 
over  the  City  Hall,  Mints,  and  Custom  House  by  me- 
ridian this  day ;  and  that  all  flags  and  other  emblems 
of  sovereignty  other  than  those  of  the  United  States 
be  removed  from  all  the  public  buildings  at  that  hour. 

I  further  particularly  request  that  you  shall  exercise 
your  authority  to  quell  disturbances,  restore  order, 
and  call  upon  all  the  good  people  of  New  Orleans  to 
return  at  once  to  their  vocations,  and  I  particularly 
demand  that  no  person  shall  be  molested  in  person  or 
property  for  sentiments  of  loyalty  to  their  Govern- 
ment. 

I  shall  speedily  and  severely  punish  any  person  or 
persona«who  shall  commit  such  outrages  as  were  wit- 
nessed yesterday,  by  armed  men  firing  upon  helpless 
women  and  children  for  giving  expression  to  their 
pleasure  at  witnessing  the  old  flag.' . 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 

I).  G.  FARRAGUT, 
Flag-Officer  Western  Gulf  Squadron. 

U.  S.  FLAG  SHIP  HAKTFORD,  at  anchor  off  the  I 
City  of  New  Orleans,  April  26, 1862.     J 
To  Tiis  Honor  the  Mayor  of  New  Orleans  : 

Your  honor  will  please  give  directions  that  no  flag 
but  that  of  the  United  States  will  be  permitted  to  fly 
in  the  presence  of  this  fleet,  so  long  as  it  has  the  power 
to  prevent  it ;  and  as  all  displays  of  that  kind  may  be 
the  cause  of  bloodshed,  I  have  to  request  that  you  will 
give  this  communication  as  general  a  circulation  as 
possible. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obe- 
dient servant,  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 
Flag-Officer  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 

MATOK'B  OFFICE,  CITY  or  NB-W  ORT.EANB,  CITY  ) 
HALL,  April  26,  1862.      f 

To  Flag- Officer  D.  G.  Farragut,  U.  S.  Flag  Ship 

Hartford  : 

SIR  :  In  pursuance  of  a  resolution  which  we  thought 
proper  to  take,  out  of  regard  for  the  lives  of  the  wom- 
en and  children  who  still  crowd  the  metropolis,  Gen. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


197 


Lovell  has  evacuated  it  with  his  troops,  and  restored 
back  to  me  the  administration  of  its  government  and 
the  custody  of  its  honor. 

I  have,  in  council  with  the  City  Fathers,  considered 
the  demand  you  made  of  me  yesterday  of  an  uncondi- 
tional surrender  of  the  city,  coupled  with  a  requisition 
to  hoist  the  flag  of  the  United  States  on  the  public 
edifices  and  haul  down  the  flag  that  still  floats  upon 
the  breeze  from  the  dome  of  this  hall. 

It  becomes  my  duty  to  transmit  to  you  an  answer 
•  which  is  the  universal  sentiment  of  my  constituents, 
no  less  than  the  promptings  of  my  own  heart  on  this 
sad  and  solemn  occasion. 

The  city  is  without  the  means  of  defence,  and  is  ut- 
terly destitute  of  the  force  and  material  that  might  en- 
able it  to  resist  the  overpowering  armament  displayed 
in  sight  of  it. 

I  am  no  military  man,  and  possess  no  authority  be- 
yond that  of  executing  the  municipal  laws  of  the  city 
of  New  Orleans.  It  would  be  presumptuous  in  me  to 
attempt  to  lead  an  army  to  the  field,  if  I  had  one  at 
command,  and  I  know  still  less  how  to  surrender  an 
undefended  place,  held  as  this  is  at  the  mercies  of  your 
gunners  and  your  mortars. 

To  surrender  such  a  place  were  an  idle  and  unmean- 
ing ceremony.  The  city  is  yours  by  the  power  of 
brutal  force,  not  by  my  choice  or  the  consent  of  the 
inhabitants.  It  is  for  you  to  determine  the  fate  that 
awaits  her.  As  to  hoisting  any  flag  not  of  our  own 
adoption  or  allegiance,  let  me  say  to  you  that  the  man 
lives  not  in  our  midst  whose  hand  and  heart  would  not 
be  paralyzed  at  the  mere  thought  of  such  an  act ;  nor 
could  I  find  in  my  entire  constituency  so  desperate 
and  wretched  a  renegade  as  would  dare  to  profane 
with  his  hand  the  sacred  emblem  of  our  aspirations. 

Sir,  you  have  manifested  sentiments  which  would 
become  one  engaged  in  a  better  cause  than  that  to  which 
you  have  devoted  your  sword.  I  doubt  not  that  they 
spring  from  a  noble  though  deluded  nature,  and  I 
know  how  to  appreciate  the  emotions  which  inspired 
them.  You  have  a  gallant  people  to  administrate 
during  your  occupancy  of  this  city — a  people  sensitive 
to  all  that  cpn  in  the  least  affect  their  dignity  and  self- 
respect. 

Pray,  sir,  do  not  fail  to  regard  their  susceptibilities. 
The  obligations  which  I  shall  assume  in  their  name 
will  be  religiouslv  complied  with.  You  may  trust 
their  honor,  though  you  might  not  count  on  their  sub- 
mission to  unmerited  wrongs. 

In  conclusion,  I  beg  you  to  understand  that  the  peo- 
ple of  New  Orleans,  while  unable  to  resist  your  force, 
do  not  allow  themselves  to  be  insulted  by  the  inter- 
ference of  such  as  have  rendered  themselves  odious 
and  contemptible  by  their  dastardjy  desertion  of  our 
cause  in  the  mighty  struggle  in  which  we  are  engaged, 
or  such  as  might  remind  them  too  forcibly  that  they 
are  the  conquered  an4  you  the  conquerors. 

Peace  and  order  may  be  preserved  without  resort  to 
measures  which  I  could  not  at  this  moment  prevent. 

Your  occupying  the  city  does  not  transfer  allegiance 
from  the  government  of  their  choice  to  one  which  they 
have  deliberately  repudiated,  and  that  they  yield  the 
obedience  which  the  conqueror  has  a  right  to  extort 
from  the  conquered.  Yours,  respectfully, 

JOHN  F.  MONROE,  Mayor. 

U.  S.  FLAG  SHIP  HABTFOHD,  at  anchor  of  the  Ci((^  I 
of  New  Orleans,  April  28.  1S62.      ) 

To  His  Honor  the  Mayor  and  City  Council  of  the  City 
of  New  Orleans: 

Your  communication  of  the  26th  instant  has  been 
received,  together  with  that  of  the  City  Council. 

I  deeply  regret  to  see  both  by  their  contents,  and 
the  continued  display  of  the  flag  of  Louisiana  on  the 
court  house,  a  determination  on  the  part  of  the  city 
authorities  not  to  haul  it  down.  Moreover,  when  my 
officers  and  men  were  sent  on  shore  to  communicate 
with  the  authorities,  and  to  hoist  the  United  States 
flag  on  the  Custom  House,  with  the  strictest  order  not 
to  use  their  arms  unless  assailed,  they  were  insulted  in 
the  grossest  manner,  and  the  flag  which  had  been 


hoisted  by  my  orders  on  the  Mint  was  pulled  down  and 
dragged  through  the  streets. 

All  of  which  goes  to  show  that  the  fire  of  this  fleet 
may  be  drawn  upon  the  city  at  any  moment,  and  in 
such  an  event  the  levee  would,  in  all  probability,  be 
cut  by  the  shells,  and  an  amount  of  distress  ensue  to 
the  innocent  population,  which  I  have  heretofore  en- 
deavored to  assure  you  that  I  desire  by  all  means  to 
avoid. 

The  election,  therefore,  is  with  you.  But  it  becomes 
my  duty  to  notify  you  to  remove  the  women  and 
children  from  the  city  within  forty-eight  hours,  if  I 
rightly  understood  your  determination. 

V  ery  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Flag-Officer,  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 

CITY  HALL,  April  28, 1862. 

To  Flag-Officer  D.  G.Farragut,  United  States 'Flag  Ship 
Hartford  : 

Your  communication  of  this  morning  is  the  first  in- 
timation I  ever  had  that  it  was  by  your  strict  orders 
that  the  United  States  flag  was  attempted  to  be  hoisted 
upon  certain  of  our  public  edifices,  by  officers  sent  on 
shore  to  communicate  with  the  authorities.  The  offi- 
cers who  approached  me  in  your  name  disclosed  no 
such  orders  and  intimated  no  such  design  on  your 
part,  nor  would  I  have  for  a  moment  entertained  the 
remotest  suspicion  that  they  could  have  been  invested 
with  power  to  enter  on  such  an  errand  while  the  nego- 
tiations for  a  surrender  between  you  and  the  city  au- 
thorities were  still  pending.  The  interference  of  any 
force  under  your  command,  as  long  as  those  negotia- 
tions were  not  brought  to  a  close,  could  not  be  viewed 
by  us  otherwise  than  as  a  flagrant  violation  of  those 
courtesies,  if  not  of  the  absolute  rights,  which  prevail 
between  belligerents  under  such  circumstances.  My 
views  and  sentiments  with  reference  to  such  conduct 
remain  unchanged.  You  now  renew  the  demand 
made  in  your  former  communication,  and  you  insist 
on  their  being  complied  with  unconditionally,  under  a 
threat  of  bombardment  within  forty-eight  hours ;  and 
you  notify  me  to  remove  the  women  and  children  from 
the  city,  that  they  may  be  protected  from  your  shells. 

Sir,  you  cannot  but  know  that  there  is  no  possible 
exit  from  this  city  for  a  population  which  still  exceeds 
in  number  one  hundred  and  forty  thousand,  and  you 
must  therefore  be  aware  of  the  utter  inanity  of  such  a 
notification.  Our  women  and  children  cannot  escape 
from  your  shells,  if  it  be  your  pleasure  to  murder 
them  on  a  question  of  mere  etiquette.  But  if  they 
could,  there  are  but  few  among  them  who  would  con- 
sent to  desert  their  families  and  their  homes,  and  the 
graves  of  their  relatives,  in  so  awful  a  moment.  They 
would  bravely  stand  the  sight  of  your  shells  tearing 
up  the  graves  of  those  who  are  so  dear  to  them,  and 
would  deem  that  they  died  not  ingloriously  by  the  side 
of  the  tombs  erected  by  their  piety  to  the  memory  of 
departed  relatives. 

You  are  not  satisfied  with  the  possession  of  an  un- 
defended city,  opposing  no  resistance  to  your  guns, 
because  of  its  bearing  its  hard  fate  with  something  of 
manliness  and  dignity,  and  you  wish  to  humble  and 
disgrace  us  by  the  performance  of  an  act  against  which 
our  natures  rebel.  This  satisfaction  you  cannot  expect 
to  obtain  at  our  hands. 

We  will  stand  your  bombardment,  unarmed  and  un- 
defended as  we  are.    The  civilized  world  will  consign 
to  indelible  infamy  the  heart  that  will  conceive  the  deed 
and  the  hand  that  will  dare  to  .consummate  it. 
Respectfully,  JOHN  T.  >10NROE, 

Mayor  of  the  City  of  New  Orleans. 

UNITED  STATBS  ^LAO-SHIP  HAKTFORD,  At  Anchor   1 
off  the  City  of  New  Orleans.  April  29, 1862.  ) 

To  His  Honor  the  Mayor  of  the  City  of  New  Orleans  : 
SIR  :  The  Forts  St.  Philip  and  Jackson  having  sur- 
rendered, and  all  the  military  defences  of  the  city  be- 
ing either  captured  or  abandoned,  you  are  required,  as 
the  sole  representative  of  any  supposed  authority  in 
the  city,  to  haul  down  and  suppress  every  ensign  and 


198 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


symbol  of  Government,  whether  State  or  Confederate, 
except  that  of  the  United  States.  I  am  now  about  to 
raise  the  flag  of  the  UniteS  States  upon  the  Custom 
House,  and  you  will  see  that  it  is  respected  with  all 
the  civil  power  of  the  city. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obe- 
dient servant,  D.  G.  FARRAGTJT, 
Mag-Officer,  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG  SHIP  HARTFORD,  At  Anchor  ) 
off  the  City  of  New  Orleans,  April  30, 1862.  ( 
GENTLEMEN  : .  I  informed  you  in  my  communication 
of  the  28th  of  April,  that  your  determination,  as  I  un- 
derstood it,  was  not  to  haul  down  the  flag  of  Louisiana 
on  the  City  Hall,  and  that  my  officers  and  men  were 
treated  with  rudeness  when  they  landed,  even  with  a 
flag  of  truce,  to  communicate  with  the  authorities,  &c., 
and,  if  such  was  to  be  the  determined  course  of  the 
people,  the  fire  of  the  vessels  might  at  any  moment  be 
drawn  upon  the  city.  This  you  have  thought  proper 
to  construe  into  a  determination  on  my  part  to  murder 
your  women  and  children,  and  made  your  letter  so  of- 
fensive that  it  will  terminate  our  intercourse ;  and  so 
soon  as  General  Butler  arrives  with  his  forces  I  shall 
turn  over  the  charge  of  the  city  to  him  and  assume  my 
naval  duties.  Very  respectfully,  &c., 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Flag-Officer  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 
His  Honor  the  Mayor  and  City  Council  of  New  Orleans- 
Captain  Farragut  then  seized  all  the  steam- 
boats which  had  not  been  destroyed, — among 
them  the  famous  Tennessee,  for  which  the 
blockaders  had  long  been  watching — and  sent 
them  down  to  Quarantine  for  General  Butler's 
forces.  There  were  several  iron-clad  rams 
building,  at  the  time  of  the  capture  of  the 
city,  the  principal  one  of  which,  the  Missis- 
sippi, soon  came  floating  by  in  flames.  An- 
other was  sunk  in  front  of  the  custom  house, 
and  there  were  others  at  Algiers,  opposite 
N_ew  Orleans,  just  begun. 

"  I  next  went  above  the  city  eight  miles,  to 
Oarrolton,"  writes  Captain  Farragut,  "  where  I 
learned  there  were  two  other  forts ;  but  the 
panic  had  gone  before  me.  I  found  the  guns 
spiked,  and  the  gun  carriages  in  flames.  The 
first  work,  on  the  right,  reaches  from  the  Mis: 
sissippi  nearly  over  to  Pontchartrain,  and  has 
29  guns ;  the  one  on  the  left  had  6  guns,  from 
which  Commander  Lee  took  some  50  barrels 
of  powder,  and  completed  the  destruction  of 
the  gun  carriages,  &e.  A  mile  higher  up  there 
were  two  other  earthworks,  but  not  yet  armed. 
"  "We  discovered  here,  fastened  to  the  right 
bank  of  the  river,  one  of  the  most  Herculean 
labors  I  have  ever  seen — a  raft  and  chain  to 
extend  across  the  river  to  prevent  Footed  gun- 
boats from  descending.  It  is  formed  by  placing 
three  immense  logs  of  not  less  than  three  or 
four  feet  in  diameter,  and  some  thirty  feet 
long :  to  the  centre  one  a  2-inch  chain  is  at- 
tached, running  lengthwise  the  raft ;  and  the 
three  logs  and  chain  are  then  frapped  together 
by  chains  from  one  half  to  one  inch,  three  or 
four  layers,  and  there  are  96  of  these  lengths 
composing  the  raft.  It  is  at  least  three  quarters 
of  a  mile  long.  *  *  * 

"  I  sent  on  shore  and  hoisted  the  American 
flag  on  the  custom  house,  and  hauled  down 
the  Louisiana  State  flag  from  the  city  hall,  as 
the  mayor  had  avowed  that  there  was  no  man 


in  New;  Orleans  who  dared  haul  it  down ;  and 
my  own  convictions  are  that  if  such  an  indi- 
vidual could  have  been  found  he  would  have 
been  assassinated." 

The  operations  of  Commander  Porter  below 
the  forts  were  as  follows :  As  soon  as  Cap- 
tain Farragut  was  ready  to  proceed,  the  five 
steamers  attached  to  the  mortar  flotilla  moved 
up  and  took  position  under  the  batteries,  the 
leading  vessel  500  yards  off",  and  the  others 
closing  up  as  the  fire  commenced.  As  soon  as 
the  Hartford,  Brooklyn,  and  Richmond  passed 
they  opened  with  shrapnell  on  the  water  bat- 
tery and  forts,  having  received  the  fire  ten  or 
fifteen  minutes  before  replying  to  it.  As  the 
fire  was  high  and  they  were  close  in  shore, 
nearer  the  forts  than  the  enemy  supposed,  they 
occupied,  as  it  turned  out,  a  safer  position  than 
the  vessels  farther  out,  there  being  only  one 
killed  and  one*vounded  on  board  the  Harriet 
Lane,  while  the  other  steamers  remained  un- 
touched. The  mortars  meanwhile  poured  a 
heavy  fire  upon  Fort  Jackson.  In  one  hour  and 
ten  minutes  from  weighing  anchor,  the  fleet 
had  passed  the  forts,  and  Commander  Porter, 
having  accomplished  his  part,  hung  out  the  sig- 
nal to  retire,  and  sent  Lieutenant  Commanding 
Guest  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  demand  the  sur- 
render of  the  forts.  The  flag  was  fired  upon 
and  put  back,  but  a  boat  soon  came  down  with 
an  apology  and  received  the  summons,  to  which 
Lieut.-Col.  Higgins,  commanding  the  forts,  re- 
plied that  until  he  received  official  informa- 
tion of  the  fall  of  New  Orleans  no  proposition 
for  a  surrender  could  be  for  a  moment  enter- 
tained. Giving  the  men  one  day  to  rest, 
Commander  Porter  resumed  the  bombardment 
on  the  26th,  but  there  was  no  response.  Learn- 
ing that  the  formidable  iron-clad  battery  Louis- 
iana, mounting  16  heavy  guns,  had  escaped 
Captain  Farragut,  and  with  three  Confederate 
steamers  which  the  flotilla  had  also  left  behind 
them,  was  about  to  make  an  attack  upon  the 
mortar  boats,  he  sent  the  schooners,  which 
would  have  been  almost  defenceless  against 
such  an  adversary,  down  th^  river  to  refit  and 
prepare  for  sea,  six  of  them  having  orders  to 
pass  around  to  the  rear  of  Fort  Jackson  to  pre- 
vent supplies  from  getting  in,  and  two  being 
sent  to  the  rear  of  Fort  St.  Philip  to 
assist  in  landing  troops.  Three  of  them  drifted 
over  to  the  mouth  of  Barataria  Bay,  and  re- 
ceived the  surrender  of  Fort  Livingston.  On 
the^Tth,  the  possession  of  the  forts  being  an 
urgent  necessity,  Commander  Porter  renewed 
the  demand,  offering  honorable  terms,-the  offi- 
cers to  retain  their  side  arms,  and  both  officers 
and  men  to  be  paroled,  private  property  to  be 
respected,  the  arms  and  munitions  of  war  and 
public  property  to  be  surrendered,  and  no  dam- 
age to  be  done  by  the  garrison  to  the  defences. 
These  terms  were  accepted  the  next  day,  part- 
ly, no  doubt,  in  consequence  of  the  landing  of 
General  Butler  at  Quarantine  in  the  rear  of 
Fort  St.  Philip,  which  entirely  cut  off  reen- 
forcements ;  and  partly,  according  to  Command- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


199 


er  Porter,  on  account  of  disaffection  in  the  gar- 
rison. Two  hundred  and  fifty  in  fact  of  the 
garrison  of  Fort  Jackson,  after  spiking  the  guns 
bearing  up  the  river,  surrendered  themselves 
to  Gen.  Butler's  pickets  on  the  night  of  the 
28th,  averring  that  they  had  been  impressed 
and  would  fight  no  longer.  While  (he  capitula- 
tion was  being  drawn  up,  the  Confederate  naval 
officers  towed  the  ram  Louisiana  to  a  point 
above  the  forts,  and  having  set  her  on  fire,  turn- 
ed her  adrift,  with  guns  shotted,  in  the  expec- 
tation that  she  would  explode  in  the  midst  of 
the  fleet.  The  final  catastrophe,  however,  took 
place  sooner  than  they  had  hoped.  Just  as  the 
battery  got  abreast  of  Fort  St.  Philip  it  blew 
up  with  a  tremendous  noise,  and  sunk  imme- 
diately. The  only  injury  was  to  a  Confederate 
soldier  in  the  fort,  who  was  killed  by  one  of 
the  fragments.  As  soon  as  the  capitulation 
was  completed,  the  Harriet  Lane  turned  her 
attention  to  the  three  Confederate  steamers 
which  were  lying  about  half  a  mile  above. 
One  of  them  had  already  been  scuttled ;  the 
others  surrendered  without  resistance,  and  14 
officers,  7  engineers,  the  crews  of  the  steamers, 
and  300  men  and  two  companies  of  marine  ar- 
tillery belonging  to  the  Louisiana  became  pris- 
oners of  war.  The  men  were  released  on  pa- 
role ;  the  officers,  in  consequence  of  their  con- 
duct in  setting  fire  to  the  battery,  and  attempt- 
ing to  destroy  the  fleet  while  a  capitulation 
was  in  progress,  were  sent  to  the  North  as  close 
prisoners.  Gen.  Phelps  aow  arrived,  and 
Porter  turned  over  to  him  the  forts,  guns,  and 
captured  property.  The  loss  of  the  Confed- 
erates during  the  bombardment  was  14  killed 
and  39  wounded.  The  casualties  in  the  fleet 
were,  during  the  six  days'  bombardment,  2 
killed  and  24  wounded ;  during  the  passing  of 
the  forts  and  the  engagement  with  the  Chal- 
mette  batteries,  37  killed,  and  147  wounded; 
on  board  the  mortar  boats,  1  killed  and  6 
wounded ;  total,  40  killed,  and  177  wounded. 
Fort  St.  Philip  was  very  little  injured,  only 
one  of  the  mortars  having  fired  upon  it,  be- 
cause its  fate  evidently  depended  upon  that  of 
Fort  Jackson.  The  latter  was  described  by 
Commander  Porter  after  the  surrender  as  "  a 
perfect  wreck."  Over  1,800  shells  fell  inside 
the  work  proper,  170  in  the  water  battery,  and 
by  the  estimate  of  the  soldiers,  about  3,000  in 
the  ditches  around  the  works.  All  the  build- 
ings in  and  near  the  fort  were  burnt ;  the  ram- 
parts were  severely  damaged  on  every  side,  and 
particularly  on  the  north,  but  had  been  repaired 
with  sand  bags  which  were  constantly  sent 
down  from  New  Orleans  during  the  bombard- 
inent;  the  walls  of  the  citadel  were  cracked  in 
many  places  very  badly ;  the  casemates  were 
cracked  from  end  to  end,  several  of  them  show- 
ing wide  fissures  in  the  roofs  and  sides,  and 
their  floors  were  three  inches  under  water. 
Still  there  is  little  question  that,  but  for  the 
interruption  of  their  communications  with  New 
Orleans,  these  works  could  have  held  out  much 
longer,  the  extent  of  the  damage  being  far  from 


proportionate  to  the  time  and  powder  expended 
in  the  bombardment.  If  the  formidable  13-inch 
mortars  did  not  fully  answer  the  expectations 
which  had  been  formed  of  them,  this  fact  must 
be  attributed  first  to  the  softness  of  the  soil 
which  allowed  the  shells  to  sink  20  feet,  by 
measurement,  before  they  exploded,  and  sec- 
ondly to  the  difficulty  of  getting  accurate  range : 
the  forts  rose  but  little  above  the  surrounding 
bushes,  and  the  vessels  which  were  moored  be- 
hind the  wood  often  had  to  fire  almost  at  ran- 
dom ;  the  mortars  could  only  be  pointed  from 
sights  fixed  to  the  mast  heads,  and  the  most 
curious  expedients  were  resorted  to  for  obtain- 
ing correct  firing. 

After  the  conquered  forts  and  city  had  been 
occupied  by  the  military  forces,  Commander 
Porter  was  ordered  to  repair  to  Ship  Island. 
The  Portsmouth,  the  Pensacola,  and  one  gun- 
boat were  stationed  at  New  Orleans ;  seven 
vessels  were  sent  up  the  river  under  command 
of  Captain  Craven,  "to  keep  up  the  panic;" 
and  the  smaller  steamers,  under  command  of 
Captain1  Lee,  were  ordered  to  ascend  as  far  as 
Yicksburg. 

Commander  James  S.  Palmer  arrived  off  Ba- 
ton Rouge  with  the  Iroquois,  May  7,  and  de- 
manded the  surrender  of  the  town  and  all  prop- 
erty belonging  to  the  Confederate  Government, 
promising  to  respect  the  rights  and  property  of 
private  citizens,  but  requiring  that  the  United 
States  flag  should  be  hoisted  on  the  arsenal. 
The  mayor,  while  admitting  that  the  city  was 
without  the  means  of  resistance,  refused  to  sur- 
render or  to  hoist  the  flag.  Com.  Palmer 
accordingly  landed  a  force  and  took  possession 
of  the  arsenal,  and  Flag-Officer  Farragut  arriv- 
ing soon  afterward  took  measures  to  secure 
proper  respect  for  the  national  ensign,  and  to 
cause  all  other  flags  to  be  suppressed. 

On  the  12th  the  Iroquois  anchored  off 
Natchez  in  company  with  several  other  vessels, 
and  Commander  Palmer  sent  on  shore  a  de- 
mand for  surrender  which  the  people  at  the 
wharf  refused  to  receive.  He  then  made  dis- 
positions for  landing  an  armed  force,  but  was 
met  at  the  shore  by  a  deputation  from  the  com- 
mon council  with  an  apology  for  the  previous 
refusal.  The  mayor  sent  a  reply  to  the  sum- 
mons similar  to  that  given  by  the  mayor  of 
Baton  Rouge,  but  he  issued  a  proclamation 
urging  the  citizens  to  commit  no  act  to  provoke 
the  displeasure  of  the  United  States  forces.  As 
Natchez  however  had  never  been  occupied  as 
a  military  position,  Commander  Palmer  defer- 
red taking  formal  possession  of  it. 

Commander  S.  P.  Lee  with  the  advance  of 
the  squadron  arrived  near  Vickslmrg,  May  18, 
and  in  reply  to  his  demand  for  surrender  re- 
ceived a  defiant  refusal.  He  then  gave  24  hours 
for  the  removal  of  women  and  children,  after 
which  time  he  declared  he  should  consult  his 
own  judgment  as  to  the  propriety  of  immediate- 
ly opening  fire.  Flag-Officer  Farragut  arrived 
a  few  days  afterward,  accompanied  by  a  column 
of  troops  under  General  Williams.  Subsequent- 


200 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ly  an  additional  naval  and  military  force  was 
brought  up,  including  Porter's  mortar  fleet,  and 
the  latter  opened  the  bombardment  on  the 
night  of  June  26-27,  directing  their  fire  partly 
against  the  town  and  partly  against  some  for- 
midable batteries  on  the  heights.  On  the 
morning  of  the  27th  the  Owasco,  Lieut.  Guest, 
ran  up  abreast  of  the  town  and  threw  in  some 
incendiary  shells,  which  failed  to  explode.  At 
3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  28th  the  squad- 
ron made  a  move  to  pass  the  batteries,  the 
mortar  fleet  supporting  them  as  at  the  battle 
of  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip.  The  Hartford 
and  several  other  vessels  succeeded  in  passing 
the  range  of  batteries,  which  extended  full  three 
miles,  and  did  this  too  in  the  face  of  a  strong 
current,  but  as  there  was  not  a  sufficient  land 
force  to  cooperate  in  the  attack,  no  substantial 
benefit  resulted  from  the  movement.  The 
enemy  were  several  times  driven  from  their 
batteries,  but  returned  to  their  guns  as  soon  as 
the  ships  had  passed.  Forming  a  junction  with 
the  western  gunboat  flotilla  of  Flag-Officer  0. 
H.  Davis,  Farragut  concerted  with  that  officer 
and  Gen.  Williams  an  expedition  up  the  Yazoo 
River,  consisting  of  the  gunboats  Carondelet 
and  Tyler  and  the  ram  Queen  of  the  West, 
strengthened  by  sharpshooters  from  the  army. 
They  started  on  the  morning  of  July  15,  and 
near  the  mouth  of  the  river  encountered  the 
Confederate  ram  Arkansas.  A  severe  fight  en- 
sued, in  which  both  the  Carondelet  and  the 
Tyler  were  partially  disabled,  and  the  Arkan- 
sas then  entered  the  Mississippi  and  passing 
boldly  through  the  surprised  fleets  of  Farragut 
and  Davis,  took  refuge  under  the  guns  of  Vicks- 
burg.  Farragut  now  determined  to  repass  the 
batteries,  for  the  double  purpose  of  supporting 
the  rest  of  his  squadron  and  destroying  the 
Arkansas  in  passing;  to  assist  in  which  Flag- 
Officer  Davis  added  to  his  force  the  ram  Sumter, 
Lieutenant-Commanding  Erben. .  Toward  even- 
ing Davis  opened  a  bombardment,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  covering  the  movement,  and  Capt.  Far- 
ragut succeeded  in  getting  below  Vicksburg 
again  with  little  loss  of  life,  but  his  designs 
against  the  Arkansas  were  defeated  by  the  dark- 
ness of  the  night.  On  the  22d  Commander  W. 
D.  Porter  with  the  iron-clad  gunboat  Essex, 
and  Lieut.-Col.  Ellet,  with  the  ram  Queen  "of 
the  West,  made  another  attempt  to  destroy  the 
Confederate  vessel,  but  the  attack,  though  ex- 
ecuted with  great  gallantry  under  the  fire  of 
the  batteries,  did  not  succeed.  The  Essex  ran 
down  to  Farragut's  fleet,  and  Farragut  having 
been  instructed  by  the  navy  department  to 
drop  down  the  river  before  the  water  got  too 
low,  it  was  »ranged  that  Commander  W.  D. 
Porter  should  remain  below  Vicksburg  with 
the  Essex  and  Sumter. 

On  the  28th  of  July  Farragut  arrived  at  Few 
Orleans,  leaving  the  Katahdin  and  Kineo  at 
Baton  Rouge.  On  the  5th  of  August  the  Con- 
federates made  a  vigorous  land  attack  upon  the 
latter  place,  which  was  repulsed  after  a  severe 
contest.  The  gunboats  were  not  able  to  assist 


until  toward  the  close  of  the  action,  when  they 
threw  their  shells  directly  into  the  midst  of  the 
enemy  with  great  effect.  The  Arkansas  had 
dropped  down  the  river  to  take  part  in  the  at- 
tack, but  was  not  brought  into  action,  one  of 
her  engines  having  broken  down.  The  next 
morning  Porter,  who  was  then  at  Baton  Rouge, 
with  the  Essex,  moved  up  to  attack  her,  but 
before  the  fight  had  fairly  begun  her  other  en- 
gine gave  way,  and  she  was  run  asnore,  aban- 
doned, and  set  on  fire  by  the  crew.  About  an 
hour  afterward  she  blew  up.  On  the  llth 
Farragut  sailed  for  Ship  Island  and  Pensacola, 
which  latter  place,  having  been  evacuated  by 
the'jOonfederates,  was  now  made  the  depot  of 
the  Western  Gulf  squadron. 

Commander  W.  D.  Porter  remained  at  Baton 
Rouge  until  August  23,  when  the  town  having 
been  evacuated  by  the  Federal  troops,  he  pro- 
ceeded up  the  river  to  reconnoitre  batteries  re- 
ported to  be  erecting  at  Port  Hudson,  and 
thence  ascended  to  Bayou  Sara  to  obtain  coal, 
where  his  boat's  crew  was  fired  upon  by  guer- 
rillas. Some  of  the  buildings  were  thereupon 
burned,  and  a  few  days  afterward,  as  the  firing 
was  repeated,  the  rest  of  the  place  was  destroy- 
ed. Afterward,  a  boat's  crew  from  the  Essex, 
sent  ashore  at  Natchez  to  procure  ice  for  the 
sick,  was  attacked  by  some  two  hundred  armed 
citizens,  one  of  the  sailors  being  killed,  and  an 
officer  and  five  men  wounded.  Commander 
Porter  immediately  opened  fire  on  the  town, 
set  a  number  of  houses  in  flames,  and  continued 
the  bombardment  for  an  hour,  after  which  the 
mayor  surrendered.  On  her  way  down  to  New 
Orleans  the  Essex  had  a  brisk  engagement,  on 
the  7th  of  September,  with  the  Port  Hudson 
batteries. 

In  the  mean  time,  several  vessels  of  Capt. 
Farragut's  squadron  had  been  employed  on  the 
coast  of  Texas,  where  acting  volunteer  Lieut. 
J.  W.  Kittredge,  with  the  bark  Arthur,  the  lit- 
tle steamer  Sachem,  and  a  launch,  captured 
Corpus  Christi,  after  several  spirited  engage- 
ments with  the  enemy's  batteries,  but  was  un- 
able to  hold  the  town,  and  was  himself  made 
prisoner,  September  14,  while  on  shore  ex- 
ploring. 

On  May  1,  several  days  after  the  surrender  of 
the  city  to  Flag-Officer  Farragut,  formal  posses- 
sion was  taken  of  New  Orleans  by  thfe  land 
forces  of  the  United  States  under  the  command 
of  Major-Gen.  B.  F.  Butler,  who,  after  a  con- 
ference with  the  municipal  authorities  and  some 
of  the  principal  inhabitants,  issued  a  proclama- 
tion adapted  to  the  circumstances  of  the  cap- 
tured city  and  its  inhabitants.  After  assuring 
protection  to  all  well-disposed  persons,  natives 
as  well  as  foreigners,  and  requiring  keepers  of 
public  property  and  manufacturers  of  arms  and 
munitions  of  war  to  make  a  return  of  the  kind 
and  quantity  of  material  in  their  possession,  the 
proclamation  proceeded  as  follows : 

All  the  rights  of  property  of  whatever  kind  will  be 
held  inviolate,  subject  only  to  the  laws  of  the  United 
States.  All  the  inhabitants  are  enjoined  to  pursue 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


201 


their  usual  avocations.  All  shops  and  places  of  amuse- 
ment are  to  be  kept  open  in  the  accustomed  manner, 
and  services  are  to  be  held  in  the  churches  and  relig- 
ious houses,  as  in  times  of  profound  peace.  Keepers 
of  all  public  houses  and  drinking  saloons  are  to  re- 
port their  names  and  numbers  to  the  office  of  the 
Provost  Marshal,  and  they  will  then  receive  a  license 
and  be  held  responsible  for  all  disorders  and  disturb- 
ances arising  in  their  respective  places.  Sufficient 
force  will  be  kept  in  the  city  to  preserve  order  and 
maintain  the  laws.  The  killing  of  American  soldiers 
by  any  disorderly  person  or  mob  is  simply  assassina- 
tion and  murder,  and  not  war,  and  will  be  so  regarded 
and  punished.  The  owner  of  any  house  in  which 
such  murder  shall  be  committed  will  be  held  respon- 
sible therefor,  and  the  house  be  liable  to  be  destroyed 
by  the  military  authority.  All  disorders,  disturb- 
ances of  the  peace,  and  crimes  of  an  aggravated  na- 
ture, interfering  with  the  forces  or  laws  of  the  United 
States,  will  be  referred  to  a  military  court  for  trial 
and  punishment.  Other  misdemeanors  will  be  sub- 
ject to  the  municipal  authority,  if  it  desires  to  act. 
Civil  causes  between  party  and  party  will  be  referred 
to  the  ordinary  tribunals.  The  levy  and  collection  of 
taxes,  save  those  imposed  by  the  laws  of  the  United 
States,  are  suppressed,  except  those  for  keeping  in 
repair  and  lighting  the  streets  and  for  sanitary  pur- 
'  poses.  These  are  to  be  collected  in  the  usual  manner. 
The  circulation  of  Confederate  bonds,  evidences  ^>f 
debt  (except  notes  in  the  similitude  of  bank  notes), 
issued  by  the  Confederate  States,  or  scrip,  or  any 
trade  in  the  same,  is  forbidden.  It  has  been  repre- 
sented to  the  commanding  general  by  the  civil  au- 
thorities that  these  Confederate  notes,  in  the  form  of 
bank  notes,  in  a  great  measure,  are  the  only  substi- 
tutes for  money  which  the  people  have  been  allowed 
to  have,  and  that  great  distress  would  ensue  among 
the  poorer  classes  if  the  circulation  of  such  notes 
should  be  suppressed.  Such  circulation,  therefore, 
will  be  permitted  so  long  as  any  one  will  be  inconsid- 
erate enough  to  receive  them  until  further  orders. 
No  publication  of  newspapers,  pamphlets,  or  handbills 
giving  accounts  of  the  movements  of  the  soldiers  of 
the  United  States  within  this  department,  reflecting 
in  any  way  upon  the  United  States,  intending  in  any 
way  to  influence  the  public  mind  against  the  United 
States,  will  be  permitted,  and  all  articles  on  war 
news,  editorial  comments,  or  correspondence  making 
comments  upon  the  movements  of  the  armies  of  the 
United  States,  must  be  submitted  to  the  examination 
of  an  officer  who  will  be  detailed  for  that  purpose 
from  these  headquarters.  The  transmission  of  all 
communications  by  telegraph  will  be  under  the 
charge  of  an  officer"  from  these  headquarters. 

Gen.  Butler  further  requested  that  outrages 
committed  by  the  soldiery  upon  the  persons  or 
property  of  citizen's  should  be  reported  to  the 
provost  guard,  prohibited  the  assemblage  of 
persons  in  the  streets,  suspended  the  municipal 
authority  so  far  as  the  police  of  the  city  and 
crimes  were  concerned  (except  that,  for  the 
effective  promotion  of  order,  an  armed  body  of 
foreigners  known  as  the  European  Legion, 
which  was  employed  subsequent  to  the  evacu- 
ation of  the  city  by  Gen.  Lovell  to  protect  the 
lives  and  property  of  the  citizens,  was  invited 
to  cooperate  with  the  military  authorities),  and 
in  general  imposed  upon  the  city  the  ordinary 
conditions  of  martial  law.  Copies  of  the  proc- 
lamation were  sent  to  all  the  newspaper  offices; 
and  upon  the  editors  unanimously  refusing  fro 
print  it,  forcible  possession  was  taken  of  the 
"True  Delta"  office,  and  by  the  aid  of  Northern 
printers,  selected  from  the  different  regiments 
of  national  troops,  the  document  was  speedily 


set  up,  and  was  worked  off  in -the  edition  of  the 
paper  for  May  2. 

The  landing  of  troops  at  New  Orleans  and  at 
Algiers,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Mississippi, 
meanwhile  went  vigorously  on,  and,  by  the  di- 
rection of  Gen.  Shepley,  the  military  governor, 
the  principal  points  of  approach  to  the  city 
were  occcupied  in  force,  with  pickets  thrown 
out  as  far  as  the  crossing  of  the  Jackson  and 
Jefferson  Railroad.  Gen.  Butler  established  his 
headquarters  at  the  St.  Charles  Hotel,  and  an- 
other large  hotel,  the  Evans  House,  on  Poydras 
street,  was  converted  into  a  hospital.  A  suf- 
ficient force  of  gunboats  remained  in  front  of 
the  city  to  oppose  any  sudden  rising  of  the  in- 
habitants or  attack  by  a  Confederate  army, 
while  the  remainder  with  a  portion  of  the  mor- 
tar fleet  proceeded  up  the  river  to  Carrollton, 
Baton  Rouge,  and  other  places.  Whether  on 
account  of  th'e  hopelessness  of  opposition,  or  of 
the  indifference  with  which  the  large  foreign 
element  in  the  population  (about  40  per  cent.) 
regarded  the  fate  of  the  city,  or  because  perhaps 
the.  inhabitants  were  satisfied  with  the  immense 
destruction  of  cotton  and  sugar  which  had  al- 
ready been  accomplished,  the  city  remained 
comparatively  tranquil.  "  Our  streets,"  says 
the  "Delta"  of  May  1,  "are  remarkably  quiet. 
Most  of  the  stores  have  been  closed  since  Fri- 
day last  (April  25),  and  remain  closed,  with  a 
few  exceptions.  The  principal  hotels  are  closed, 
and  there  is  some  difficulty  among  those  who 
have  been  in  the  habit  of  making  these  estab- 
lishments their  homes  in  effecting  other  ar- 
rangements. The  bar  rooms  have  all  been 
closed  since  Friday  last.  For  some  days  there 
was  great  difficulty  in  passing  the  miserable 
currency  we  are  cursed  with,  but,  thanks  to  the 
judicious  measures  taken  by  the  authorities, 
confidence  in  it  has  been  partially  restored. 
The  markets  are  still  very  meagrely  furnished, 
and,  to  provide  regular  supplies  of  food  for  this 
large  population,  will  require  all  the  wisdom  of 
those  who  have  our  welfare  in  their  keeping, 
for  the  ordinary  intercourse  between  the  city 
and  country  must,  to  a  considerable  extent, 
continue  broken  up."  *  *  *  * 

The  first  consideration  brought  to  the  notice 
of  the  military  and  municipal  authorities  was 
the  destitute  condition  of  a  large  portion  of  the 
population,  who  were  literally  a't  the  point  of 
starvation ;  and  in  accordance  with  a  recom- 
mendation from  the  mayor  and  common  coun- 
cil Gen.  Butler  gave  orders,  on  May  2  and  3, 
for  the  safe  conduct  of  cargoes  of  flour,  live 
stock,  and  other  necessaries  from  Mobile  and 
various  places  in  the  interior.  These  proving 
ineffectual  to  relieve  the  prevailing  distress,  he 
issued  on  the  9th  of  the  month  a  proclamation, 
known  as  General  Order  No.  25,  the  purport 
of  which  can  be  best  understood  by  quoting  the 
document  in  full : 

HEADQTJAKTEES  DEPARTMENT  OP  THE  GULF,  | 
NEW  ORLEANS,  May  9, 1862.      f 

The  deplorable  state  of  destitution  and  hunger  of 
the  mechanics  and  working  classes  in  'this  city  has 


202 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


been  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  commanding 
general. 

t  He  has  yielded  to  every  suggestion  made  by  the 
city  government,  and  ordered  every  method  of  fur- 
nishing food  to  the  people  of  New  Orleans  that  that 
government  desired.  No  relief  by  those  officials  has 
yet  been  afforded.  This  hunger  does  not  pinch  the 
wealthy  and  influential,  the  leaders  of  the  rebellion, 
who  have  gotten  up  this  war,  and  are  now  endeavor- 
ing to  prosecute  it,  without  regard  to  the  starving 
poor,  the  working-man,  his  wife  and  child.  Unmind- 
ful of  their  suffering  fellow-citizens  at  home,  they 
have  caused  or  suffered  provisions  to  be  carried  out 
of  the  city  for  the  Confederate  service  since  the  occu- 
pation by  the  United  States  forces. 

Lafayette  Square,  their  home  of  affluence,  was  made 
the  depot  of  stores  and  munitions  of  war  for  the  rebel 
armies,  and  not  of  provisions  for  their  poor  neighbors. 
Striking  hands  with  the  vile,  the  gambler,  the  idler, 
and  the  ruffian,  they  have  destroyed  the  sugar  and 
cotton  which  might  nave  been  exchanged  for  food  for 
the  industrious  and  good,  and  regrated  the  price  of 
that  which  is  left,  by  discrediting  the  very  currency 
they  had  furnished  while  they  sloped  with  the  specie, 
as  well  as  that  stolen  from  the  United  States,  as  the 
banks,  the  property  of  the  good  people  of  New  Or- 
leans, thus  leaving  them  to  ruin  and  starvation — fu- 
gitives from  justice  many  of  them,  and  others,  their 
associates,  staying  because  too  puerile  and  insignifi- 
cant to  be  objects  of  punishment  by  the  clement 
Government  of  the  United  States. 

They  have  betrayed  their  country. 

They  have  been  false  to  every  trust. 

They  have  shown  the/nselves  incapable  of  defend- 
ing the  State  they  have  seized  upon,  although  they 
have  forced  every  poor  man's  child  into  their  service 
as  soldiers  for  that  purpose,  while  they  made  their 
eons  and  nephews  officers. 

They  cannot  protect  those  whom  they  have  ruined, 
but  have  left  them  to  the  mercies  and  assassinations 
of  a  chronic  mob. 

They  will  not  feed  those  whom  they  are  starving. 

Mostly  without  property  themselves,  they  have 
plundered,  stolen,  and  destroyed  the  means  of  those 
who  had  property,  leaving  children  penniless  and  old 
age  hopeless. 

Men  of  Louisiana,  working-men,  property -holders, 
merchants  and  citizens  of  the  United  States,  of  what- 
ever nation  you  may  have  had  birth,  how  long  will 
you  uphold  these  flagrant  wrongs,  and  by  inaction 
suffer  yourselves  to  be  made  the  serfs  of  these  lead- 
ers? 

The  United  States  have  sent  land  and  naval  forces 
here  to  fight  and  subdue  rebellious  armies  in  array 
against  her  authority.  We  find,  substantially,  only 
fugitive  masses,  runaway  property-owners,  a  whis- 
key-drinking mob,  and  starving  citizens  with  their 
wives  and  children.  It  is  pur  duty  to  call  back  the 
first,  to  punish  the  second,  root  out  the  third,  feed 
and  protect  the  last. 

Beady  only  for  what  we  had  not  prepared  ourselves, 
to  feed  the  hungry  and  relieve  the  distressed  with 
provisions.  But  to  the  extent  possible  within  the 
power  of  the  commanding  general  it  shall  be  done. 

He  has  captured  a  quantity  of  beef  and  sugar  in- 
tended for  the  rebels  in  the  field.  A  thousand  barrels 
of  those  stores  will  be  distributed  among  the  deserv- 
ing poor  of  this  city,  from  whom  the  rebels  had  plun- 
dered it ;  even  although  some  of  the  food  will  go  to 
supply  the  craving  wants  of  the  wives  and  children 
of  those  now  herding  at  Camp  Moore  and  elsewhere, 
in  arms  against  the  United  States. 

Capt.  John  Clark,  acting  .Chief  Commissary  of  Sub- 
sistence, will  be  charged  with  the  execution  of  this 
order,  and  will  give  public  notice  of  the  place  and 
manner  of  distribution,  which  will  be  arranged  as  far 
as  possible  so  that  the  unworthy  and  dissolute  will 
not  share  its  benefits. 

By  command  of  Major-General  BUTLER, 
GEO.  C.  STRONG,  Assistant  Adjt.-Gen.,  Chief  of  Staff. 


In  accordance  with  this  proclamation,  a  pub 
lie  distribution  of  the  captured  stores  was  coin 
menced  on  the  13th,  by  which  means,  together 
with  the  subsequent  revival  of  traffic,  all  appre- 
hensions of  immediate  distress  were  dispelled. 
In  reply  to  the  severe  strictures  of  Gen.  Butler, 
several  of  the  city  newspapers  stated,  that  since 
the  preceding  August  the  poor  had  been  gratu- 
itously supplied  twice  a  week  with  provisions, 
that  millions  of  dollars  had  been  subscribed  by 
private  individuals  for  similar  purposes,  and 
that  the  existing  suffering  was  due  to  two  causes  : 
first,  the  blockade,  or  non-intercourse  with  the 
country  from  which  provisions  had  previously 
been  drawn,  and,  secondly,  the  derangement  of 
the  currency,  the  United  States  commander  hav- 
ing, in  his  proclamation,  warned  the  people  of 
the  danger  of  receiving  the  only  currency  in 
circulation,  or  rathe.r  the  basis  of  the  only  cur- 
rency in  circulation. 

With  a  view  to  procure  a  remedy  for  the  lat- 
ter evil,  a  committee  of  the  Associated  Banks 
of  New  Orleans  requested  permission  to  restore 
tdWheir  vaults  the  specie  which  had  been  con- 
veyed from  the  city  previous  to  its  occupation 
by  the  national  forces;  to  which  Gen.  Butler 
replied  that  the  specie  should  have  safe  con- 
duct through  his  lines  and  be  protected,  so  long 
as  it  should  be  used  in  good  faith  to  make  good 
the  obligations  of  the  banks  to  their  creditors 
by  bills  and  deposits.  "  In  order,"  he  added, 
"that  there  may  be  no  misunderstanding,  it 
must  be  further  observed  that  I  by  no  means 
pledge  myself  that  the  banks,  like  other  persons, 
shall  not  return  to  the  United  States  authorities 
all  the  property  of  the  United  States  which  they 
may  have  received.  I  came  to  "  retake,  repos- 
sess, and  occupy  all  and  singular  the  property  of 
the  United  States  of  whatever  name  and  nature. 
Further  than  that  I  shall  not  go,  save  upon  the 
most  urgent  military  necessity." 

Acting  in  the  spirit  of  these  words,  Gen. 
Butler  had  on  the  10th  of  the  month  taken 
forcible  possession  of  a  large  amount  of  specie 
deposited  in  the  office  of  M.  Conturie,  consul 
of  the  Netherlands,  and  which,  it  was  supposed, 
belonged  to  the  Confederate  Government,  or 
was  to  be  expended  in  their  behalf.  The  pro- 
ceeding drew  forth  a  formal  protest  from  the 
entire  consular  body  of  New  Orleans,  as  being 
in  contravention  of  treaties  between  their  gov- 
ernments and  the  United  States.  In  reply 
Gen.  Butler  expressed  his  regret  that  the  con- 
suls should  have  acted  without  investigating 
the  facts  of  the  case,  and  stated  that  it  would 
be  demonstrated  at  the  proper  time  that  the 
flag  of  the  Netherlands  had  been  used  to  cover 
and  conceal  property  of  an  incorporated  com- 
pany of  Louisiana,  secreted  under  it  from  the 
operation  of  the  laws  of  the  United  States. 
"  No  person,"  he  concluded,  "  can  exceed  me  in 
the  respect  I  shall  pay  to  the  flags  of  all  nations 
and  to  the  consular  authority,  even  while  I'do 
not  recognize  many  claims  made  under  them ; 
but  I  wish  it  to  be  most  distinctly  understood, 
that,  in  order  to  be  respected,  the  consul,  his 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION 


208 


office,  and  the  use  of  his  flag,  must  each  and 
all  be  respected." 

The  rigor  and  decision  which  marked  Gen. 
Butler's  conduct  in  this  instance  characterized 
his  administration  from  the  moment  of  his 
arrival  in  New  Orleans,  and  by  a  prompt  and 
sometimes  severe  exercise  of  the  rules  of 
martial  law,  particularly  in  the  matter  of  ar- 
rests and  imprisonments,  he  kept  the  city  in 
an  orderly  condition,  although  the  inhabitants, 
distrusting  his  ability  to  maintain  his  authority 
for  any  considerable  period,  at  first  manifested 
no  enthusiasm  at  the  restoration  of  the  national 
supremacy,  and  carefully  abstained  from  com- 
mitting themselves  in  favor  of  the  Union.  A 
notable  exception  was  found  in  the  conduct  of 
a  portion  of  the  female  population,  who  availed 
themselves  of  the  license  usually  permitted  to 
their  sex,  to  offer  gross  insults  and  indignities 
to  the  national  soldiers  while  in  the  orderly 
discharge  of  their  duties.  Apprehending  that, 
^f  this  conduct  should  be  unrebuked,  the  soldiers 
might  be  induced  to  retaliate,  or  brought  into 
such  contempt  as  to  provoke  open  assaults  from 
the  disaffected  portions  of  the  populace,  Gen. 
Butler  issued  on  May  15  the  following  order, 
known  as  General  Order  No.  28 : 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPAKTMENT  OF  GITLF,  NEW  ORLEANS. 

As  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  United  States  have 
been  subject  to  repeated  insults  from  women,  calling 
themselves  ladies,  of  New  Orleans,  in  return  for  the 
most  scrupulous  non-interference  and  courtesy  on  our 
part,  it  is  ordered  hereafter,  when  any  female  shall 
by  mere  gesture  or  movement  insult,  or  show  con- 
tempt for  any  officers  or  soldiers  of  the  United  States, 
she  shall  be  regarded  and  held  liable  to  be  treated  as 
a  woman  about  town  plying  her  avocation. 

By  command  of  Major-General  BUTLER. 

Its  publication  excited  violent  opposition 
from  disloyal  citizens,  and  the  mayor  of  the 
city,  John  T.  Monroe,  made  it  the  subject  of  an 
angry  communication  to  the  municipal  govern- 
ment, and  of  a  letter  to  Gen.  Butler,  placing 
an  exceedingly  offensive  construction  upon  the 
order.  The  latter  immediately  directed  him  to 
be  deprived  of  his  official  functions,  and  com- 
mitted to  Fort  Jackson  until  further  orders. 
At  a  subsequent  interview  with  the  commander- 
in-chief  at  headquarters,  the  mayor  was  in- 
formed that  a  withdrawal  of  his  letter,  and  an 
apology  for  the  language  which  it  contained, 
would  alone  relieve  him  from  incarceration ; 
whereupon  he  made  the  annexed  apology  and 
retraction,  and  was  allowed  to  resume  the 
functions  of  his  office : 

GEN.  BUTLER:  This  communication,  having  been 
sent  under  a  mistake  of  fact,  and  being  improper  in 
language,  I  desire  to  apologize  for  the  same,  and  to 
withdraw  it.  JOHN  T.  MONROE,  Mayor. 

May  16,  1862. 

In  explanation  of  the  meaning  and  intent  of 
the  order,  Gen.  Butler,  at  the  same  time, 
addressed  the  following  letter  to  the  mayor, 
which  was  published,  together  with  the  apology 
of  the  latter,  in  the  daily  papers  of  New 
Orleans : 


HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  GPLF.  } 
NEW  ORLEANS,  May  16, 1862.         f 

SIR:  There  can  be,  there  has  been,  no  room  for 
misunderstanding  of  General  Order  No.  28. 

No  lady  will  take  any  notice  of  a  strange  gentleman, 
and  A  fortiori  of  a  stranger,  simply  in  such  form  as  to 
attract  attention.  Common  women  do. 

Therefore,  whatever  woman,  lady,  or  mistress,  gen- 
tle or  simple,  who,  by  gesture,  look,  or  word,  insults, 
shows  contempt  for,  thus  attracting  to  herself  the 
notice  of  my  officers  and  soldiers,  will  be  deemed  to 
act  as  becomes  her  vocation  as  a  common  woman, 
and  will  b«  liable  to  be  treated  accordingly.  This 
was  most  fully  explained  to  you  at  my  office. 

I  shall  not,  as  I  have  not,  abated  a  single  word 
of  that  order ;  it  was  well  considered ;  if  obeyed,  it  will 
protect  the  true  and  modest  women  from  all  possible 
insult.  The  others  will  take  care  of  themselves. 

You  can  publish  your  letter,  if  you  publish  this 
note  and  your  apology.  Respectfully, 

BENJ.  F.  BUTLER, 
Major-General  Commanding. 

JOHN  T.  MONROK,  Mayor  of  New  Orleans. 

The  agitation  consequent  upon  the  publica- 
tion of  Order  No.  28  was  not  confined  to  New 
Orleans  or  its  neighborhood,  but  throughout 
all '  the  States,  loyal  and  disloyal,  the  language 
'  of  Gen.  Butler  was  made  the  subject  of  com- 
ments varying  with  the  feelings  or  circum- 
stances of  the  writer.  Gen.  Beauregard  read  it 
at .  the  head  of  his  army,  as  an  incitement  to 
renewed  efforts  against  the  "  Northern  hordes ;" 
the  Confederate  journals  denounced  it  with  all 
the  resources  of  the  language  at  their  com- 
mand; and  even  in  the  North  many  editors  and 
public  speakers  expressed  themselves  strongly 
against  the  order,  and  called  upon  the  President 
to  disavow  it  publicly  and  rebuke  its  author. 
In  the  European  journals  unfriendly  to  the  na- 
tional cause,  and  in  some  also  of  opposite  views, 
it  was  criticised  with  characteristic  asperity. 
The  order  was  nevertheless  tolerated  by  the 
President,  and,  in  spite  of  the  obloquy  sought 
to  be  associated  with  it,  was,  in  the-opinion  of 
persons  competent  to  judge,  in  no  respect  op- 
pressive in  its  operation,  hut  rather  productive 
of  substantial  good  by  preventing  an  indulgence 
in  wanton  insults  by  any  class  of  the  popula- 
tion. 

On  May  29,  the  further  circulation  of  Con- 
federate money,  which  had  been  permitted  for 
a  limited  period,  ceased',  in  accordance  with  an 
order  from  the  commander-in-chief,  and  on 
June  1,  the  port  of  New  Orleans  was  declared, 
by  a  proclamation  of  the  President,  again  open 
to  commerce.  Charles  L.  Lathrop,  a  former 
resident  of  the  city,  was  appointed  collector, 
and  steam  communication  was  almost  imme 
diately  resumed  with  the  Northern  States. 

This  change  was  not  effected  without  a 
resort  to  measures  which  were  denounced  as 
arbitrary  and  tyrannical.  Arrests  of  suspected 
persons  had  constantly  to  be  made,  at  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  commander-in-chief,  including, 
among  others,  Pierre  Soul6,  who  was  sent 
North;  the  "thugs,"'  gamblers,  and  other  des- 
perate characters  who  had  long  dominated  in 
the  city,  were  dispersed  or  intimidated  into 
silence ;  the  newspapers  were  on  one  occasion 
temporarily  suppressed  for  advocating  the  burn- 


204 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ing  of  cotton  and  produce ;  and  the  bakers  and 
other  venders  of  food  who  had  taken  advantage 
of  the  scarcity  of  provisions  to  charge  exor- 
bitant prices,  were  compelled  to  conform  to  the 
tariff  fixed  by  the  city  ordinances.  For  the 
further  protection  of  the  citizens,  stringent 
orders  were  issued  on  May  27  and  June  5, 
prohibiting  officers  and  soldiers  from  taking  pri- 
vate property  or  forcibly  entering  and  search- 
ing private  dwellings  without  writtej|  authority 
from  the  proper  officers. 

On  June  7  took  place  the  first  military  exe- 
cution since  the  occupation  of  the  city,  the 
sufferer  being  one  William  B.  Mumford,  who 
was  arrested  for  hauling  down,  on  the  morning 
of  April  26,  an  American  flag  hoisted  on  the 
Mint  by  a  boat's  crew  from  Flag-Officer  Farra- 
gut's  fleet,  and  subsequently  assisting  in  tearing 
it  into  shreds,  and  otherwise  insulting  it  in  the 
presence  of  a  large  and  riotous  crowd  of  citizens. 
The  act,  if  unnoticed,  was  deemed  to  offer  so 
pernicious  a  precedent  for  future  offences,  that 
Mumford  was  directed  to  be  tried  before  a  mili- 
tary commission,  by  whom  he  was  convicted 
and  sentenced  to  be  hung.  The  sentence  was 
approved  by  Gen.  Butler,  and  carried  into  effect 
in  the  presence  of  an  ynmense  throng  of  citizens, 
who  made  no  demonstrations  and  dispersed 
quietly  to  their  homes.  A  universal  cry  of 
indignation  at  what  was  denounced  as  an  act 
of  murder  went  up  from  the  seceded  States,  the 
hoisting  of  the  flag,  pending  the  formal  sur- 
render of  the  city,  being  deemed  an  unauthor- 
ized and  unjustifiable  proceeding  on  the  part 
of  the  United  States  authorities,  and  one  against 
which  the  mayor  had  protested  in  a  written 
communication  to  Flag-Officer  Farragut.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  was  claimed  that  the  flag  had 
been  hoisted  on  a  public  building  of  the  United 
States,  and  that  the  tearing  of  it  down  was  art 
overt  act  of  treason,  done  for  the  purpose  of  ex- 
citing other  evil-minded  persons  to  further  resist- 
ance to  the  laws  and  arms  of  the  United  States. 

To  the  deep  feeling  of  revenge  which  this 
execution  aroused  was  due  the  vindictive  re- 
taliatory order  subsequently  issued  by  Jefferson 
Davis,  and  the  rewards  for  the  assassination  of 
Gen.  Butler,  which  have  from  time  to  time  ap- 
peared in  the  Southern  papers.  The  clemency 
of  Gen.  Butler  had,  however,  a  few  days  pre- 
vious, been  successfully  invoked  in  favor  of  six 
Confederate  soldiers  paroled  at  Fort  Jackson, 
and  subsequently  sentenced  by  a  court-martial 
to  be  sh6t  for  being  engaged  in  a  conspiracy  to 
raise  a  company  to  serve  in  Gen.  Beauregard's 
army ;  and  on  another  occasion  he  manifested 
his  desire  to  administer  justice  impartially,  by 
causing  sentence  of  death  against  two  soldiers 
of  the  garrison,  convicted  of  robbery  by  a  court- 
martial,  to  be  carried  into  effect.  These  were 
the  only  military  executions  which  have  taken 
place  in  New  Orleans  during  its  occupation  by 
the  national  forces. 

The  difficulties  with  which  Gen.  Butler  had 
become  involved  at  the  very  outset  of  his  ad- 
ministration, with  the  foreign  consuls  in  New 


Orleans,  foreshadowed  a  long  series  of  com- 
plications embodying  several  grave  questions 
of  international  comity.  The  news  of  the 
proceeding  in  the  case  of  the  consul  of  the 
Netherlands  made  some  stir  in  the  Northern 
States,  and  the  subject  having  been  brought  to 
the  notice  of  Mr.  Seward  by  the  British  minister 
in  the  latter  part  of  May,  orders  were  issued 
from  the  War  Department  directing  General 
Butler  to  refrain  from  practising  any  severities 
or  strictness  of  doubtful  right  toward  consuls  or 
the  subjects  of  any  foreign  power. 

Business  meanwhile  began  to  assume  some 
activity ;  a  degree  of  order  previously  unknown 
in  the  city  was  maintained,  and,  owing  to  the 
stringent  quarantine  regulations  enforced  by  the 
commander-in-chief,  the  sanitary  condition  of  all 
classes  of  the  inhabitants  was  unusually  good. 
On  June  14,  the  first  of  a  series  of  Union  meetings 
was  held,  at  which  several  of  the  old  residents 
were  present  and  made  speeches,  and  the  papers 
of  the  17th  announced  a  gratifying  increase  of 
Union  sentiment  among  the  population  at  large. 

During  the  summer  no  material  change  in 
the  condition  of  things  was  experienced,  the 
attention  of  Gen.  Butler  being  directed  toward 
the  gradual  weakening-  of  the  latent  disunion 
power  which  still  existed  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent among  the  wealthy  classes.  By  an  order 
issued  July  25th,  all  negroes  leaving  New  Or- 
leans by  direction  of  their  masters,  and  who 
joined  the  national  forces,  were  declared  free ; 
and  early  in  the  succeeding  month  a  tax  of 
$312,716  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  was  levied 
on  disloyal  corporations  and  firms,  being  25  per 
cent,  of  their  contributions  in  aid  of  the  South- 
ern Confederacy.  Confiscations  of  the  property 
of  prominent  secessionists,  as  Gen.  Twiggs  and 
John  Slidell,  were  also  ordered.  Subsequent  to 
August  11,  all  the  inhabitants  of  New  Orleans 
were  disarmed  by  order  of  the  military  com- 
mandant of  the  city,  a  proceeding  which  elicited 
a  remonstrance  from  the  French  consul  in  be- 
half of  French  subjects.  In  reply,  Gen.  Butler 
stated  that  he  "could  see  no  just  cause  for 
complaint  against  the  order,"  and  promised  the 
protection  of  the  United  States  troops  against 
any  attempts  at  violence  upon  disarmed  per- 
sons, no  matter  by  whom  attempted.  To  the 
Spanish  consul,  who  protested  against  the  strin- 
gency of  the  quarantine  laws,  he  replied  that 
his  object  in  enforcing  these  laws  in  their  strict- 
ness was  "  to  save  the  inhabitants  of  New  Or- 
leans, as  well  Spanish  as  others,  from  the 
epidemic  of  yellow  fever."  In  the  latter  part 
of  August  the  initiatory  step  in  the  formation 
of  a  negro  soldiery  was  taken  by  reorganizing 
the  "Native  Guards,"  a  colored  corps  of  the 
Louisiana  State  militia,  raised  under  the  certi- 
ficate issued  by  the  former  governor  of  the 
State,  and  placing  them  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States.  Other  organizations  of  a  similar 
kind  followed,  and  by  the  close'  of  the  year  this 
branch  of  the  service  was  established  on  a  per- 
manent footing. 

On  September  24,  Gen.   Lewis  G.  Arnold 


MILITAEY  AND  NAYAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


205 


assumed  command  of  all  the  national  troops 
at  New  Orleans  and  Algiers,  and  on  the  same 
day  Gen.  Butler  created  a  panic  among  the  se- 
cession sympathisers,  by  ordering  all  Americans, 
male  and  female,  in  his  department,  to  renew 
their  allegiance  to  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment, under  pain  of  fine  and  imprisonment  at 
hard  labor,  and  at  the  same  time  to  submit  a 
return  of  the  amount  of  their  real  and  personal 
property.  The  native  population  consequently 
flocked  en  masse  to  register  their  allegiance, 
and  within  a  comparatively  short  time  upward 
of  60,000  persons  had  complied  with  the  order. 
Soon  afterwards  an  order  was  issued  prohibiting 
all  persons  in  New  Orleans  holding  moneys  or 
other  property  in  trust  for  persons  in  or  sym- 
pathizing with  the  Confederate  service;  or  from 
paying  over  the  same  without  an  order  from  the 
military  headquarters,  under  penalty  of  having 
to  refund  a  similar  amount  to  the  United  States ; 
and  on  October  22  the  relief  commission,  whose 
labors  had  been  regularly  prosecuted  since  the 
previous  May,  was  directed  to  supply  no  family 
where  there  was  an  able-bodied  male  member 
over  18  and  under  45  years  of  age,  who  was 
either  not  employed,  or  had  not  enlisted  in  the 
United  States  army. 

The  month  of  November  was  distinguished 
by  a  further  series  of  orders.  The  most  im- 
portant of  these  was  one,  framed  in  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  the  confiscation  act  of 
July,  1862,  declaring  sequestered  all  the  property 
in  the  district  called  La  Fourche,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Mississippi,  and  all  in  that  part  of 
the  State  lying  east  of  the  Mississippi,  except 
the  parishes  of  Orleans,  St.  Bernard,  and  Pla- 
quemines.  Within  these  portions  of  the  State 
sales  or  transfers  of  property  were  prohibited, 
and  a  commission  was  appointed  to  take  pos- 
session of  the  districts  in  question,  under  whose 
direction  the  sugar  plantations  were  worked  in 
the  absence  of  their  owners,  and  the  property 
of  disloyal  persons  inventoried  and  sold  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Government.  From  these  sales, 
which  continued  until  the  middle  of  Decem- 
ber, considerable  sums  were  realized.  Another 
order  suppressed  distilleries  and  other  manu- 
factories of  intoxicating  liquors;  another  an- 
nounced that  any  officer  found  drinking  intoxi- 
cating liquors  in  any  public  drinking  place, 
would  be  recommended  to  the  President  for 
dismissal  from  the  service ;  and  a  third  prohib- 
ited the  arrest  of  any  slave  unless  known  to 
be  owned  by  a  Union  citizen,  or  the  imprison- 
ment of  a  slave  unless  his  expenses  should  be 
prepaid,  the  slave  to  be  released  when  the 
money  was  exhausted.  Gen.  Butler  also  or- 
dered a  list  of  slaves  confined  in  the  police  jail 
in  the  month  of  November  to  be  published,  and 
all  whose  jail  fees  were  not  paid  within  ten 
days  to  be  discharged,  adding:  "This  is  the 
course  taken  in  all  countries  with  debtors  con- 
fined by  creditors,  and  slaves  have  not  such  com- 
mercial value  in  New  Orleans  as  to  justify  their 
being  held  and  fed  by  the  city,  relying  upon  any 
supposed  lien  upon  the  slave." 


A  prominent  feature  in  the  history  of  this 
month  was  a  Union  meeting,  held  on  the  15th, 
which  was  terminated  by  a  grand  torchlight 
procession  through  the  principal  streets. 

On  December  3,  ia«compliance  with  an  order 
from  Gen.  Shepley,  the  military  governor  of 
Louisiana,  an  election  for  members  of  Congress 
was  held,  at  which  Benjamin  F.  Flanders  and 
Michael  Hahn  were  chosen  to  represent  the  first 
and  second  districts  of  the  State,  the  elective 
franchise  being  accorded  to  all  citizens  who  had 
taken  the  oath  of  allegiance. 

The  next  event  of  importance  was  the  ar- 
rival, on  the  evening  of  December  14,  of  Gen. 
Banks,  who  had  been  appointed  to  supersede 
Gen.  Butler  in  command  of  the  Department  of 
the  Gulf.  The  news  excited  surprise  among  all 
classes,  and  not  a  few  of  those  opposed  to  the 
restoration  of  the  national  supremacy  were 
sorry  to  part  with  an  officer  who,  if  obnoxious 
from  his  zeal  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  had 
brought  unexampled  order  and  security  to  the 
city.  A  meeting  of  the  two  generals  took  place 
on  the  15th,  at  which  Gen.  Butler  tendered  a 
cordial  welcome  to  his  successor,  assuring  him 
that  the  troops  would  render  a  cheerful  obe- 
dience to  his  orders;  and,  on  the  16th,  Gen. 
Banks  issued  a  general  order  assuming  com- 
mand of  the  Department  of  the  Gulf  and  of  the 
State  of  Texas.  Another  order  required  all 
military  and  civil  officers  in  the  department  to 
report  to  him,  and  a  third  suspended  all  public 
sales  of  property  on  account  of  the  United 
States  until  further  orders. 

On  assuming  command,  Gen.  Banks  issued 
the  following  proclamation : 

HEADQUABTEBS  DEPABTMENT  OF  THE  GTTLF,  ) 
NEW  OBLEANS,  Dec  16, 1862.      f 

In  obedience  to  orders  from  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  I  assume  command  of  the  Department 
of  the  Gulf,  to  which  is  added,  by  his  special  order, 
the  State  of  Texas. 

The  duty  with  which  I  am  charged  requires  me  to 
assist  in  the  restoration  of  the  Government  of  the 
United  States.  It  is  my  desire  to  secure  to  the  people 
of  every  class  all  the  privileges  of  possession  and  en- 
joyment consistent  with  public  safety,  or  which  it  is 
possible  for  a  beneficent  and  just  government  to  con- 
fer. In  execution  of  the  high  trust  with  which  I  am 
charged,  I  rely  upon  the  cooperation  and  counsel  of 
all  loyal  and  well-disposed  people,  and  upon  the 
manifest  interest  of  those  dependent  upon  the  pur- 
suits of  peace,  as  well  as  upon  the  support  of  the  na- 
val an4  land  forces. 

My  instructions  require  me  to  treat  as  enemies 
those  who  are  enemies,  but  I  shall  gladly  treat  as 
friends  those  who  are  friends.  No  restrictions  will 
be  placed  upon  the  freedom  of  individuals  which  is 
not  imperatively  demanded  by  considerations  of  pub- 
lic safety ;  but,  while  their  claims  will  be  liberally 
considered,  it  is  due  also  to  them  to  state  that  all  the 
rights  of  the  Government  will  be  unflinchingly  main- 
tamed.  Kespectful  consideration  and  prompt  repara- 
tion will  be  accorded  to  all  persons  who  are  wronged 
in  body  or  estate  by  those  under  my  command. 

The  Government  does  not  profit  Dy  the  prolonga- 
tion of  the  civil  contest,  or  private  or  public  sufferings 
which  attend  it.  Its  fruits*  are  not  equally  distrib- 
uted. In  disloyal  States  desolation  has  its  empire, 
both  on  sea  and  pn  land.  In  the  North  the  war  is  an 
abiding  sorrow,  but  not  yet  a  calamity.  Its  cities  and 
towns  are  increasing  in  population,  wealth,  and  power, 


206 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Refugees  from  the  South  alone  compensate  in  great 
part  for  the  terrible  decimations  of  battle. 

The  people  of  this  department  who  are  disposed  to 
stake  their  fortunes  and  lives  upon  resistance  to  the 
Government  may  wisely  reflect  upon  the  immutable 
conditions  which  surround  them.  The  valley  of  the 
Mississippi  is  the  chosen  seat  of  population,  product, 
and  power  on  this  continent.  In  a  few  years  twenty- 
five  millions  of  people,  unsurpassed  in  material  re- 
sources and  capacity  for  war,  will  swarm  upon  its 
fertile  rivers.  Those  who  assume  to  set  conditions 
upon  their  exodus  to  the  Gulf  count  upon  power  not 
given  to  man.  The  country  washed  by  the  waters 
of  the  Ohio,  Missouri,  and  Mississippi,  can  never  be 
permanently  severed.  If  one  generation  basely  bar- 
ters away  its  rights,  immortal  honors  will  rest  upon- 
another  that  reclaims  them. 

Let  it  never  be  said  either,  that  the  East  and  the 
West  may  be  separated.  Thirty  days'  distance  from 
the  markets  of  Europe  may  satisfy  the-wants  of  Louis- 
iana and  Arkansas,  but  it  will  not  answer  the  demands 
of  Illinois  and  Ohio.  The  valley  of  the  Mississippi 
will  have  its  deltas  upon  the  Atlantic.  The  physical 
force  of  the  West  will  debouch  upon  its  shores  with 
power  as  resistless  as^the  torrents  of  its  giant  river. 

This  country  cannot  be  permanently  divided. 
Ceaseless  wars  may  drain  its  blood  and  treasure ;  do- 
mestic tyrants  or  foreign  foes  may  grasp  the  sceptre 
of  its  power ;  but  its  destiny  will  remain  unchanged. 
It  will  still  be  united.  God  has  ordained  it.  What 
avails,  then,  the  destruction  of  the  best  Government 
ever  devised  by  man,  and  the  self-adjusting,  self-cor- 
recting Constitution  of  the  United  States  ? 

People  of  the  Southwest,  why  not  accept  the  con- 
ditions imposed  by  the  imperious  necessities  of  geo- 
graphical configuration  and  commercial  supremacy, 
and  reestablish  your  ancient  prosperity  and  renown? 
Why  not  become  founders  of  States,  which,  as  entre- 
pots and  depots  of  your  own  central  and  upper  val- 
leys, may  stand  in  affluence  of  their  resources  with- 


out a  superior,  and  in  the  privileges  of  the  people 
without  a  peer  among  the  nations  of  the  earth  ? 

N,  P.  BANES,  Maj.-Gen.  Com'g, 

The  commencement  of  Gen.  Banks's  adminis- 
tration was  marked  by  much  leniency;  but  a 
portion  of  the  people  abused  his  clemency  by 
various  demonstrations,  which  brought  out  the 
following  significant  warning  : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OP  THE  GULF.  ) 

) 


RLEANS,  Dec.  21,  1862. 

Information  has  been  received  at  these  headquar- 
ters that  publications,  injurious  to  the  character  of 
soldiers  of  the  United  States,  are  circulated  in  the 
streets,  and  that  anonymous  and  threatening  letters 
are  sent  to  officers  connected  with  the  public  service. 
Such  practices  are  indecent,  offensive,  and  criminal, 
and  must  be  suppressed.  The  troops  of  this  depart- 
ment are  instructed  to  observe  a  respectful  deport- 
ment to  all  persons,  and  the  same  deference  will  be 
exacted  from  all  persons  in  their  favor.  Any  attempt 
on  the  part  of  any  person  whatever  by  offensive  per- 
sonal conduct  to  excite  passion,  or  which  tends  to 
personal  altercation  or  controversy  and  the  disturb- 
ance of  the  public  peace,  will  be  punished  with  the 
sharpest  severity  known  to  the  military  laws.  The 
Commanding  General  requests  that  any  violation  of 
this  order  may  be  reported  to  these  headquarters  or 
to  the  Provost  Marshal  General. 
.  By  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  BANKS. 

That  this  did  not  immediately  produce  the 
effect  intended  was  shown  by  the  riotous  con- 
duct of  several  citizens,  who,  on  Christmas  Day, 
cheered  in  the  public  streets  for  President  Davis, 
and  used  threatening  language  toward  the  mili- 
tary authorities.  Prompt  measures  were  taken 
to  prevent  the  repetition  of  such  acts. 


CHAPTEE   XYII. 

• 

Position  of  the  forces  near  Washington — Movements  of  Gen.  Lander — Fortifications  at  Mana/ssas — Plans  of  Gen.  HcClellan 
— Evacuation  of  Manassas — Commanders  appointed  by  the  President — Advance  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  by  water- 
Delay  of  Gen.  McDowell — Safety  of  "Washington— New  Departments  created — Advance  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
on  Torktown — Its  Siege — Evacuation — Pursuit  by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac— Evacuation  of  Williamsburg— Nava) 
Battle  and  destruction  of  the  Iron-clad  Merrunac — Capture  of  Norfolk — Attack  on  Drury's  Bluff—  Advance  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  up  the  Peninsula — Position  on  the  Chickahominy — Withdrawal  of  Gen.  McDowell. 


THE  position  and  number  of  the  Federal 
troops  in  Virginia  at  the  beginning  of  the  year 
have  already  been  stated.  The  distinct  bodies 
of  men  were  those  under  Gen.  Wool  at  Fortress 
Monroe  and  Newport  News ;  those  under  Gen. 
Hooker  south  of  Washington;  those  under  Gen. 
McOlellan  southwest  of  Washington ;  those 
under  Gens.  Keyes  and  Casey  in  and  around 
Washington ;  those  under  Gen.  Stone  at  and  near 
Poolesville,  and  those  under  Gen.  Banks  near 
Darnestown  with  detachments  on  the  Potomac 
to  Williamsport.  Cumberland  was  the  head- 
quarters of  Gen.  Kelly,  and  Grafton  in  western 
Virginia,  on  the  line  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  the"  headquarters  of  Gen.  Eosecrans, 
while  Gen.  Cox  was  up  the  Kanawha  valley. 

On  the  5th  of  January  Gen.  Lander  arrived  at 
Hancock,  on  his  way  to  Cumberland  to  relieve 
Gen.  Kelly,  who  was  sick.  He  found  the  enemy, 
under  Gen.  Jackson,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Potomac,  in  considerable  strength.  It  had  been 


designed  for  two  months  that  General  Jackson 
should  move  northwest  toward  Romney ;  but  he 
was  delayed  by  the  impression  of  the  Confed- 
erate Government  that  the  Federal  army  would 
make  a  general  advance,  and  risk  a  battle  during 
the  winter.  On  the  3d  or  4th  of  January  he 
left  Winchester  and  moved  northward  toward 
Hancock,  a  distance  of  forty  miles,  and  attacked 
four  companies  of  Federal  troops  stationed  at 
Bath,  driving  them  to  Hancock,  where,  having 
been  reenforced  by  Gen.  Lander,  they  made  a 
stand.  Here  Gen.  Jackson  made  a  feint  attack 
by  throwing  some  shells  across  the  Potomac, 
which  did  only  slight  damage.  He  then  moved 
westward  with  the  intention  of  coming  into 
Komney,  on  the  Union  left,  by  way  of  Sprin'gr 
field,  and  thus  cut  off  the  supplies  from  Cum- 
berland and  the  railroad.  The  relative  positions 
of  Winchester,  Hancock,  and  Eomney  are  at 
the  points  of  an  equilateral  triangle :  Hancock 
north  of  Winchester,  and  Eomney  northwest. 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


2C7 


The  day  before  Gen.  Jackson  retired  from  be- 
fore Hancock,  Gen.  Kelly,  who  was  in  Cumber- 
land, 'sent  an  order  to  Col.  Dunning,  the  com- 
mandant at  Eomney,  to  make  an  attack  on  the 
enemy's  force  stationed  at  Blue's  Gap,  a  strong 
position,  sixteen  miles  from  Eomney,  on  the 
road  to  "Winchester.  On  the  night  of  the  6th 
an  expedition,  consisting  of  the  4th,  6th,  Tth, 
and  8th  Ohio,  14th  Indiana,  and  1st  Virginia, 
with  two  companies  of  cavalry  and  a  battery, 
was  sent  to  Blue's  Gap,  and  made  an  attack 
upon  the  enemy,  who,  being  in  small  force,  were 
completely  driven  out.  At  this  time  Gen.  Lo- 
ring,  with  a  considerable  Confederate  force,  was 
within  six  miles  of  the  gap,  expecting  the  Fed- 
eral column  to  push  on  and  attack  him.  Mean- 
time, as  soon  as  Gen.  Jackson  left  Hancock, 
Gen.  Lander,  anticipating  his  intentions,  pro- 
ceeded to  Cumberland  to  Gen.  Kelly,  and  assum- 
ed the  chief  command,  and  thence  to  Eomney^ 
where  he  arrived  on  the  night  of  the  Tuesday 
on  which  the  expedition  returned  from  Blue's 
Gap.  Everything  was  put  in  readiness  for  a 
struggle.  On  Friday  following  it  was  report- 
ed that  Gen.  Jackson,  in  command  of  his  right 
wing  of  ten  thousand  men,  was  within  twelve 
miles  east  of  Springfield,  resting  his  men,  and 
waiting  for  his  other  forces  to  get  into  position. 
His  centre  under  Gen.  Loring,  about  eight  thou- 
sand strong,  was  at  Blue's  Gap,  and  his  left  wing 
of  three  thousand  had  moved  up  from  toward 
Moorefield,  and  taken  position  on  the  New 
Creek  road,  some  six  miles  in  the  rear  of  Eom- 
ney. Thus,  excepting  at  one  point,  Eomney 
was  completely  surrounded  by  Gen.  Jackson. 
If  Gen.  Lander  could  march  north  eight  miles, 
to  the  Springfield  crossing  of  the  South  Branch 
of  the  Potomac,  before  Gen.  Jackson  could 
march  west  twelve  to  Springfield,  then  Gen. 
Lander  could  get  beyond  him,  or  fight  him  with 
ten  thousand  men,  at  a  less  disadvantage  than 
in  Eomney,  where  Gen.  Jackson  would  concen- 
trate twenty  thousand.  The  entire  force  of 
Gen.  Lander  was  about  four  thousand  five  hun- 
dred men.  On  Friday  night  everything  was 
ready  for  the  march.  The  sick,  the  hospital, 
and  commissary  stores  were  sent  forward  un- 
der a  strong  guard,  and  at  midnight  the  rear 
guard  of  Gen.  Lander  withdrew  from  the  town. 
It  had  rained  during  the  day,  and  the  rate  of 
advance  over  the  bad  roads  was  a  mile  and  a 
quarter  to  the  hour.  At  five  o'clock  the  next 
morning  Gen.  Lander  reached  Springfield.  The 
men  were  so  tired  and  exhausted  that,  after 
making  fires  of  the  fences,  they  lay  down  in 
files  on  the  cold,  wet  ground  and  slept.  In 
two  hours  they  were  again  t>nthe  march.  But 
Gen.  Jackson,  instead  of  following,  went  to  Eom- 
ney, and  thence  retired  to  "Winchester,  leav- 
ing the  former  place  occupied  by  Gen.  Loring. 
He  also  evacuated  it  after  a  few  days,  partly 
In  consequence  of  Gen.  Lander  having  gathered 
his  forces,  and  prepared  for  a  march  upon  it. 
Subsequently  Moorefield  was  captured,  and 
Bloomery  Gap,  by  Gen.  Lander.  On  the  llth 
of  February  Gen.  Lander  telegraphed  to  Gen. 


McClellan,  the  commander-in-chief,  as  fol- 
lows: "The  railroad  was  opened  to-day  to 
Hancock;  also  the  telegraph.  Papers  taken, 
and  my  own  reconnoissance  to  the  south,  prove 
the  country  clear,  and  Jackson  and  Loring  in 
"Winchester.  The  enemy  have  been  driven  out 
of  this  department." 

The  failure  of  Gen.  Lander's  health  compelled 
him  soon  after  to  resign  his  command. 

The  time  was  now  approaching  when  some 
movement  should  begin  among  the  vast  forces 
encamped  in  northeastern  Virginia.  "With  the 
Confederate  Government,  which  still  adhered 
to  the  defensive  policy,  the  question  was, 
whether  it  should  maintain  its  advanced  posi- 
tion before  "Washington,  or  fall  back  on  Eich- 
mond  ?  Its  position  was  so  well  fortified  that 
it  could  resist  any  attack  in  front,  but  would 
be  in  danger  if  either  of  its  flanks  were  turned. 
"Winchester,  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  was  the 
extreme  point  on  the  northwest  occupied  by 
the  Confederate  army,  and  Aquia  Creek  and 
Matthias  Point  on  the  southeast.  This  extent 
of  line  was  too  great  to  be  maintained  before 
the  vast  Federal  forces  organized  in  front.  The 
flanks  might  thus  be  turned  by  the  way  of 
Leesburg  on  the  north,  or  the  Potomac  on  the 
south,  and  serious  disaster  would  ensue.  At 
the  same  time,  the  farther  Gen.  McClellan  was 
drawn  from  his  position  before  being  encoun- 
tered, so  much  the  easier  would  his  army  be 
overcome,  and  at  a  greater  cost  to  the  North. 
These  and  similar  considerations  determined  the 
Confederate  Government  to  evacuate  the  posi- 
tion held  by  its  army  at  Manassas.  This  meas- 
ure was,  however,  not  executed  until  March. 

On  the  30th  of  January,  Gen.  Beauregard, 
having  been  ordered  to  command  in  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee,  issued  the  following  address  to 
the  soldiers  at  Manassas : 

HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  CORPS  ARMY  OF  THB  POTOMAC,  J 
Near  CENTREVILLS,  January  80, 1862.  J 
Soldiers  of  t7ie  first  Corps  Army  of  the  Potomac : 

My  duty  calls  me  away,  and  to  a  temporary  separation 
from  you.  I  hope,  however,  to  be  with  you  again,  to 
share  your  labors  and  your  perils,  and  in  defence  of 
our  homes  and  our  rights,  to  lead  you  to  new  battles, 
to  be  crowned  with  signal  victories. 

You  are  now  undergoing  the  severest  trial  of  a  sol- 
dier's life ;  the  one  by  which  his  discipline  and  capa- 
city for  endurance  are  thoroughly  tested.  My  faith  in 
your  patriotism,  your  devotion  and  determination,  and 
in  your  high  soldierly  qualities,  is  so  great  that  I  shall 
rest  assured  you  will  pass  through  the  ordeal  resolutely, 
triumphantly.  Still,  I  cannot  quit  you  without  deep 
emotion,  without  even  deep  anxiety,  in  the  moment 
of  our  country's  trials  and  dangers.  Above  all,  I  am 
anxious  that  my  brave  countrymen,  here  in  arms, 
fronting  the  haughty  array  and  muster  of  Northern 
mercenaries,  should  thoroughly  appreciate  the  exigen- 
cy, and  hence  comprehend  that  this  is  no  time  for  the 
army  of  the  Potomac — the  men  of  Manassas — to  stack 
their  arms  and  quit,  even  for  a  brief  period,  the  stand- 
ards they  have  made  glorious  by  their  manhood.  All 
must  understand  this,  and  feel  the  magnitude  of  the 
conflict  impending,  the  universal  personal  sacrifices 
this  war  has  entailed,  and  our  duty  to  meet  them  as 
promptly  and  unblenchingly  as  you  have  met  the  ene- 
my in  line  of  battle. 

To  the  army  of  the  Shenandoah  I  desire  to  return  my 
thanks  for  their  endurance  in  the  memorable  march  to 


208 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


my  assistance  last  July,  their  timely,  decisive  arrival, 
and  for  their  conspicuous  steadiness  and  gallantry  on 
the  field  of  battle. 

Those  of  their  comrades  of  both  corps,  and  of  all  arms 
of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  not  so  fortunate  as  yet  to 
have  been  with  us  in  conflict  with  our  enemy,  I  leave 
with  all  confidence  that  on  occasion  they  will  show  them- 
selves fit  comrades  for  the  men  of  Manassas,  Bull  Run, 
and  Ball's  Bluff.  G.  T.  BEAUKEGARD, 

General  Commanding. 

Twelve  months  had  now  nearly  passed  since 
the  first  soldiers  of  the  Confederate  army  took 
the  field,  and  their -term  of  enlistment  was  about 
to  expire.  This  fact  is  not  only  referred  to  in 
the  address  of  Gen.  Beauregard,  but  it  was  made 
the  occasion  of  the  following  address  by  Gen. 
Johnston,  now  in  command  of  the  same  forces : 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OP  NORTITEBN  VIRGINIA,  I 
February  4, 1862.  J 

SOLDIERS  :  Tour  country  again  calls  you  to  the  de- 
fence of  the  noblest  of  human  causes.  To  the  indomit- 
able courage  already  exhibited  on  the  battle  field,  you 
have  added  the  rarer  virtues  of  high  endurance,  cheer- 
ful obedience,  and  self-sacrifice.  Accustomed  to  the 
comforts  and  luxuries  of  home,  you  have  met  and 
borne  the  privations  of  camp  life,  the  exactions  of 
military  discipline,  and  the  rigors  of  a  winter  campaign. 
The  rich  results  of  your  courage,  patriotism,  and  un- 
faltering virtue  are  before  you.  Intrusted  with  the 
defence  of  this  important  frontier,  you  have  driven 
back  the  immense  army  which  the  enemy  had  sent  to 
invade  our  country,  and  to  establish  his  dominion  over 
our  people  by  the  wide-spread  havoc, of  a  war  inau- 
gurated without  a  shadow  of  constitutional  right,  and 
prosecuted  in  a  spirit  of  ruthless  vengeance.  By  your 
valor  and  firmness,  you  have  kept  him  in  check,  until 
the  nations  of  the  earth  have  been  forced  to  see  us  in 
our  true  character — not  dismembered  and  rebellious 
communities,  but  an  empire  of  confederate  States,  with 
a  constitution  safe  in  the  affections  of  the  people, 
institutions  and  laws  in  full  and  unobstructed  opera- 
tion, a  population  enjoying  all  the  comforts  of  life,  and 
a  citizen  soldiery  who  laugh  to  scorn  the  threat  of 
subjugation. 

Your  country  now  summons  you  to  a  noble  and  a 
greater  dead.  The  enemy  has  gathered  up  all  his 
energies  for.,  a  final  conflict.  His  enormous  masses 
threaten  us  on  the  west ;  his  naval  expeditions  are 
assailing  us  upon  our  whole  southern  coast ;  and  upon 
the  Potomac,  within  a  few  hours'  march,  he  has  a 
gigantic  armv,  inflamed  by  lust  and  maddened  by 
fanaticism.  But  the  plains  of  Manassas  are  not  for- 
gotten, and  he  shrinks  from  meeting  the  disciplined 
heroes  who  hurled  across  the  Potomac  his  grand  army, 
routed  and  disgraced.  He  does  not  propose  to  attack 
this  armv  so  long  as  it  holds  its  present  position  with 
undimimshed  numbers  and  unimpaired  discipline ;  but, 
protected  by  his  fortifications,  he  awaits  the  expira- 
tion of  your  term  of  service.  He  recollects  that  his 
own  ignoble  soldiery,  when  their  term  of  service  ex- 
pired, "  marched  away  from  the  scene  of  conflict  to  the 
sound  of  the  enemy's  cannon,"  and  he  hopes  that  at 
that  critical  moment  Southern  men  will  consent  to 
share  with  them  this  infamy.  Expectiig  a  large  por- 
tion of  our  army  to  be  soon  disbanded,  ne  hopes  that 
his  immense  numbers  will  easily  overpower  your  gal- 
lant comrades  who  will  be  left  here,  and  thus  remove 
the  chief  obstacle  to  his  cherished  scheme  of  Southern 
subjugation. 

The  Commandirfg  General  calls  upon  the  twelve 
months'  men  to  stand  by  their  brave  comrades  who 
have  volunteered  for  the  war,  to  re-volunteer  at  once, 
and  thus  show  to  the  world  that  the  patriots  engaged 
in  this  struggle  for  independence  will  not  swerve  from 
the  bloodiest  path  they  may  be  called  to  tread.  The 
enemies  of  your  country,  as  well  as  her  friends,  are 
watching  your  action  with  deep,  intense,  tremulous 
interest.  Such  is  your  position  that  you  can  act  no 
obscure  part.  Your  decision,  be  it  for  honor  or  dis- 


honor, will  be  written  down  in  histo'-y.  You  cannot, 
you  will  not,  draw  back  at  this  solemn  crisis  of  out 
struggle,  when  all  that  is  heroic  in  the  land  is  engaged, 
and  all  that  is  precious  hangs  trembling  in  the  balance. 
JOS.  E.  JOHNSTON,  Major-General  C.  S.  A. 

It  was  not  the  purpose  of  Gen.  McClellan 
while  commander-in-chief  to  move  on  Centre- 
ville,  but  by  the  lower  Chesapeake  upon  Rich- 
mond. His  object  was  to  capture  and  hold  Chat- 
tanooga, Tenn.,  before  the  army  of  the  Potomac 
advanced.  In  this,  however,  he  was  overruled 
by  the  President,  who,  on  the  27th  of  January, 
issued  an,  order,  as  above  stated,  for  a  general 
advance  of  all  the  armies  on  the  22d  of  Febru- 
ary. This  order  was  thus  undoubtedly  prema- 
ture ;  and  while  it  served  to  present  the  Presi- 
dent before  the  country  as  anxious  for  a  move- 
ment, it  was  really  of  no  benefit  to  the  cause, 
but,  on  the  contrary,  an  actual  injury.  Previous 
to  its  issue  a  change  had  been  made  in  the  head 
of  the  War  Department.  Secretary  Cameron  had 
resigned  and  was  succeeded  by  Edwin  M.  Stan- 
ton,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the  cabinet 
at  the  close  of  the  previous  administration. 

The  effects  upon  the  Confederate  States  of 
the  movements  made  in  consequence  of  this 
order  were  thus  described  at  Richmond:  "Had 
not  the  impatience  of  the  Northern  people  and 
the  pressure  of  the  European  Cabinets  forced 
the  hand  of  McClellan,  and  had  he  been  able 
to  assemble  and  arrange  his  troops  and  stores 
in  the  position  he  desired,  without  a  conflict  to 
arouse  the  attention  of  the  Southern  people  to 
what  was  going  on,  our  condition  in  April  and 
May  would  have  been  tenfold  more  dangerous 
than  it  now  is.  The  disasters  we  have  suffered 
are  mortifying  to  us  and  exhilarate  our  enemies ; 
but  they  have  startled  without  crippling  the 
Confederacy.  Had  it  lain  still  two  months  more, 
with  the  army  dwindling  daily  under  the  fur- 
lough system,  disgusted  with  the  inaction  of  sta- 
tionary camps,  while  the  Government  was  squab- 
bling with  the  Generals  and  the  people  sinking 
into  indifference,  we  would  have  been  overrun 
between  the  15th  of  April  and  the  1st  of  May.1' 

Gen.  Lander  having  cleared  his  department 
of  the  forces  of  the  enemy,  a  movement  was 
now  commenced  lower  down  the  Potomac  by 
a  portion  of  Gen.  Banks"s  command.  On  the 
24th  of  February  the  28th  Pennsylvania  regi- 
ment, Col.  Geary,  crossed  the  Potomac  from 
Sandy  Hook  and  took  possession  of  Harper's 
Ferry.  The  object  of  this  movement  upon 
Harper's  Ferry  was  to  cover  the  reconstruction 
of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  draw  the  attention  of  the  Confed- 
erates to  their  left  flank,  which  was  threatened 
by  the  movement.  The  operations  of  crossing 
the  Potomac  and  the  occupation  of  Harper's 
Ferry  and  Charlestown  were  superintended  by 
Gen.  McClellan  in  person.  The  bridges  were 
thrown  over  the  Potomac  by  Capt.  J.  C.  Duane, 
IT.  S.  engineers,  on  the  26th  of  February,  and 
on  the  same  day  Gen.  Banks  occupied  Harper's 
Ferry  permanently,  and  the  advance  took  pos- 
session of  Bolivar  Heights.  On  the  27th  recon- 
noissances  were  pushed  forward  to  Charles- 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL.  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


209 


town,  and  some  prisoners  taken ;  London 
Heights  were  also  occupied.  On  the  28th  of 
February  Charlestown  was  occupied  by  a  strong 
force  with  the  intention  of  holding  it  against 
any  attack.  On  the  3d  of  March  Hartinsburg  was 
occupied  by  the  13th  Massachusetts,  who  left 
camp  at  Williamsport  on  the  previous  afternoon. 
This  is  an  important  town  on  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  railroad  between  Harper's  Ferry  and 
Hancock.  It  is  distant  from  the  former  fifteen 
miles,  and  is  twenty  miles  north  of  Winchester, 
with  which  it  is  connected  by  a  turnpike  road. 
All  the  iron  of  the  double  track  of  the  railroad 
had  been  removed  excepting  half  a  mile  of 
track  made  of  compound  rails.  On  the  2d, 
Leesburg  was  occupied  by  Uol.  Geary.  The 
retreat  of  the  Confederate  army  had  now 
commenced  along  its  entire  line  from  Aquia 
Creek  to  the  Shenandoah.  This  movement 
threatening  its  left  flank  was  undoubtedly 
the  cause  of  this  abandonment  of  Manassas. 
All  their  important  positions  were  occupied 
by  the  Federal  troops  during  the  next  ten 
days,  including  the  strong  one  at  Centre ville. 
"Winchester  was  evacuated  by  Gen.  Jackson 
on  the  night  of  the  llth  of  March.  Gen. 
Shields,  in  command  of  Gen.  Lander's  divi- 
sion, soon  followed  up  this  retreat,  and  on 
the  19th  he  discovered  Gen.  Jackson  reen- 
forced  in  a  strong  position  near  New  Market, 
and  within  supporting  distance  of  the  main 
body  of  the  Confederate  army  under  Gen. 
Johnston.  In  order  to  draw  him* from  this 
position  Gen.  Shields  fell  back  rapidly  to  Win- 
chester on  the  20th,  as  if  in  retreat,  having 
marched  his  whole  command  thirty  miles  in 
one  day.  On  the  next  day  the  Confederate 
cavalry  under  Gen.  Ashbjj  showed  themselves 
in  sight  of  Winchester.  On  the  22d  the  entire 
command  of  Gen.  Banks,  with  the  exception  of 
Gen.  Shields's  division,  evacuated  Winchester 
and  marched  for  Centreville.  This  movement, 
and  the  masked  position  in  which  Geh.  Shields 
placed  his  division,  led  the  enemy  to  believe 
that  the  town  was  evacuated  with  the  exception 
of  a  few  regiments  to  garrison  it.  That  after- 
noon at  5  o'clock  Gen.  Ashby  attacked  the 
pickets  of  Gen.  Shields  and  drove  them  in,  but 
was  repulsed  by  a  small  force  pushed  forward 
by  Gen.  Shields  for  that  purpose,  who  now 
made  preparations  for  a  contest  in  the  morning. 
Only  a  small  Confederate  force  appearing  in 
the  morning,  Gen.  Shields  ordered  a  portion 
of  his  artillery  forward  to  open  fire  and  un- 
mask it.  This  had  the  desired  effect,  when  a 
battle  ensued,  during  which  Gen.  Shields  by  an 
attack  upon  the  Confederate  left  flank  forced  that 
wing  back  upon  its  centre  and  placed  the  enemy 
in  a  position  to  be  routed  by  a  general  attack, 
which  was  made  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
with  great  success.  The  Confederates  were 
driven  from  the  field.  Two  guns,  four  caissons, 
three  hundred  prisoners,  and  a  thousand  stand  of 
small  arms  were  captured.  The  force  of  Gen. 
Shields  was  between  seven  and  eight  thousand 
men.  His  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  be- 
14 


tween  three  and  four  hundred.  On  the  pre- 
vious evening  the  arm  of  Gen.  Shields  waa 
broken  above  the  elbow  by  the  fragment  of  a 
shell.  The  Confederate  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  was  large.  Considerable  numbers 
were  subsequently  found  in  the  houses  of  the 
inhabitants  as  the  force  of  Gen.  Banks  advanced. 
The  Confederate  force  was  estimated  at  near 
ten  thousand  men.  The  brigades  of  Gens.  Jack- 
son, Smith,  Garnett,  and  Longstreet  were  en- 
gaged, and  prisoners  were  taken  from  the  2d, 
4th,  6th,  21st,  23d,  27th,  28th,  33d,  37th,  and 
42d  Virginia ;  1st  regiment  of  the  Provisional 
Army,  and  an  Irish  battalion.  For  these  move- 
ments Gen.  Shields  was  complimented  by  the 
War  Department  in  the  following  despatch : 

"WAE  DEPARTMENT,  March  26, 1862. 
To  Brig.- Gen.  Shields: 

Your  two  despatches  relative  to  the  brilliant  achieve- 
ment of  the  forces  under  your  command  have  been 
received.  While  rejoicing. at  the  success  of  your  gal- 
lant troops,  deep  commiseration  and  sympathy  are 
felt  for  those  who  have  been  victims  in  the  gallant  and 
victorious  contest  with  treason  and  rebellion. 

Your  efforts  as  well  as  your  success  proves  that 
Lander's  brave  division  is  still  bravely  led,  and  that 
wherever  its  standard  is  displayed  rebels  will  be  rout- 
ed and  pursued.  To  you  and  to  the  officers  and  sol- 
diers under  your  command  the  Department  returns  ' 
thanks.  EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

The  following  was  also  received  by  Gen. 
Shields: 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  [ 
SEMINARY,  March  27, 1862.     ) 
To  Brig. -Gen,  Shields  : 

The  Commanding  General  congratulates  you  and 
the  troops  under  your  command  upon  the  victory  gain- 
ed by  your  energy  and  activity  and  their  bravery  on 
the  23d.  He  is  pained  to  learn  that  the  wound  you 
have  received  in  the  skirmish  on  the  day  before  is 
more  serious  than  at  flrst  supposed. 
By  command  of 

Maj.-Gen.  GEO.  B.  McCLELLAN. 
S.  WILLIAMS,  Assist.  Adj.-Gen. 

The  following  congratulations  and  instruc- 
tions were  sent  to  Gen.  Banks : 

FAIRFAX  SEMINARY,  March  27,  1862. 
To  Maj.-Gen.  Banks: 

The  General  Commanding  congratulates  you  and 
the  brave  troops  under  your  command  on  the  splendid 
achievement  commenced  in  your  department,  news  of 
which  he  has  just  received.  He  desires  you  to  follow  up 
rapidly  the  enemy's  troops  as  far  as  Strasburg  if  pos- 
sible. S.  WILLIAMS,  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

This  little  affair  at  Winchester  is  said  to  have 
caused  orders  to  be  issued  which  were  attend- 
ed with  momentous  consequences.  They  will 
be  stated  hereafter.  It  occurred  on  the  date 
of  March  23d. 

The  evacuation  by  the  Confederate  army  of 
their  positions  before  Washington  was  conduct- 
ed in  a  most  successful  manner.  When  the  Union 
troops  entered  their  intrenchments,  all  were 
gone.  Their  evacuation  had  been  effected  by 
means  of  the  railroad  fromManassas  to  Gordons- 
ville,  while  the  state  of  the  roads  was  such  as 
to  prevent  an  immediate  active  campaign  by 
the  Union  army.  Their  retreat  was  arrested 
at  the  Eappahannock  river,  and  a  new  line 
formed^br  the  purpose  of  defence.  It  stretoh- 


210 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ed  from  the  Kappahannock  by  a  circle  to  Cum- 
berland Gap  near  the  extreme  southwestern 
part  of  the  State,  embracing  the  Central  and 
the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  railroads,  the  chief 
cities  of  Virginia,  and  the  valley  of  the  James 
river  with  its  canal  and  railroads.  It  was 
simply  a  line  of  defence,  and  assumed  as  a 
necessity  in  view  of  the  immense  Federal  force 
that  had  been  marshalled  and  put  quietly  in 
position. 

The  design  of  Gen.  McClellan,  as  above 
stated,  was,  so  far  as  he  was  master  of  his  own 
movements,  to  attack  Kichmond  by  the  water 
line,  on  the  ground  that  such  a  movement 
would  certainly  force  the  Confederate  army 
out  of  Manassas.  By  the  James  river,  Kich- 
mond could  be  approached  by  transports  and 
gunboats  of  light  draft,  and  without  a  long  line 
for  the  transportation  of  supplies.  At  this 
time  the  President  as  commander-in-chief  is- 
sued the  following  order : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,      ) 
WASHINGTON,  March  8, 1862.  ) 

General  War  Order,  No.  2. 

Ordered,  I.  That  the  Major-General  commanding 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  proceed  forthwith  to  organ- 
,  ize  that  part  of  said  army  destined  to  enter  upon  ac- 
tive operations  (including  the  reserve,  but  excluding 
the  troops  to  be  left  in  the  fortifications  about  Wash- 
ington),l.into  four  army  corps,  to  be  commanded  ac- 
cording to  seniority  of  rank,  as  follows : 

First  Corps,  to  consist  of  three  divisions,  and  to  be 
commanded  by  Maj.-Gen.  I.  McDowell. 

Second  Corps,  to  consist  of  three  divisions,  and  to 
bo  commanded  by  Brig.-Gen.  E.  V.  Sumner. 

Third  Corps,  to  consist  of  three  divisions,  and  to  be 
commanded  by  Brig.-Gen.  S.  P.  Heintzelman. 

Fourth  Corps,  to  consist  of  three  divisions,  and  to  be 
commanded  by  Brig.-Gen.  E.  L.  Keyes. 

II.  That  the  divisions  now  commanded  by  the  offi- 
cers above  assigned  to  the  commands  of  corps,  shall 

.  be  embraced  in  and  form  part  of  their  respective  corps. 

III.  The  forces  left  for  the  defence  of  Washington 
will  be  placed  in  command  of  Brig.-Gen.  James  Wads- 
worth,  who  shall  also  be  Military  Governor  of  the 
District  of  Columbia. 

IV.  That  this  order  be  executed  with  such  prompt- 
ness and  despatch,  as  not  to  delay  the  commencement 
of  the  operations  already  directed  to  be  undertaken 
by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

V.  A  fifth  army  corps,  to  be  commanded  by  Maj.- 
Gen.  N.  P.  Banks,  will  be  formed  from  bis  own  and 
Gen.  Shields's  (late  Gen.  Lander's)  division. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

In  compliance  with  this  order  of  the  Presi- 
dent, Gen.  McClellan,  on  the  13th,  issued  an 
order  dividing  "  the  active  portion  of  the  army 
of  the  Potomac  "  into  army  corps  as  follows : 

The  corps  of  Gen.  McDowell  was  composed 
of  the  divisions  of  Gens.  Franklin,  McCall,  and 
King. 

The  corps  of  Gen.  Sumner  was  composed 
of  the  divisions  of  Gens.  Richardson,  Blenker, 
and  Sedgwick. 

The  corps  of  Gen.  Heintzelman  was  com- 
posed of  the  divisions  of  Gens.  Kearney,  Hook- 
er, and  Fitz  John  Porter. 

The  corps  of  Gen.  Keyes  was  composed  of 
the  divisions  of  Gens.  Couch,  Smith,  and  Casey. 

The  corps  of  Gen.  Banks  was  composed  of 
the  divisions  of  Gens.  "Williams  and  Ihields. 


On  the  llth  of  March,  the  President  issued 
another  order  relieving  Gen.  McClellan  from 
the  command  of  all*  the  military  departments 
except  that  of  the  Potomac,  and  re-arranging 
the  departments  as  follows : 


EXECUTIVE  MANSION,        1 
WASHINGTON,  March  11, 1862.  j 

General  War  Order,  No.  3. 

Maj.-Gen.  McClellan  having  personally  taken  the 
field  at  the  head  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  until 
otherwise  ordered,  he  is  relieved  from  the  command 
of  the  other  military  departments,  he  retaining  com- 
mand of  the  Department  of  the  Potomac. 

Ordered,  further,  That  the  two  departments  now 
under  the  respective  commands  of  Gens.  Halleck  and 
Hunter,  together  with  so  much  of  that  under  Gen. 
Buell  as  lies  west  of  a  north  and  south  line  indefinitely 
drawn  through  Knoxtfille,  Tenn.,  be  consolidated  and 
designated  the  Department  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
that  until  otherwise  ordered,  Maj.-Gen.  Halleck  have 
command  of  said  department. 

Ordered,  also,  That  the  country  west  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  the  Potomac  and  east  of  the  Department  of  the 
Mississippi  be  a  military  department,  to  be  called  the 
Mountain  Department,  and  that  the  same  be  command- 
ed by  Maj.-Gen.  Fremont. 

That  all  the  Commanders  of  Departments,  after  the 
receipt  of  this  order  by  them  respectively,  report  sev- 
erally and  directly  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  that 
prompt,  full,  and  frequent  reports  will  be  expected  of 
all  and  each  of  them.  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

The  effect  of  this  order  was  to  put  under  the  , 
charge  of  the  Secretary  of  War  a  class  of  du- 
ties which  had  heretofore  been  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  highest  military  command.  It 
relieved  6len.  McClellan  from  the  supervision 
of  military  operations  in  any  other  department 
than  his  own.  He  retained  still  under  his  im- 
mediate command  the  five  corps  of  the  army 
of  the  Potomac,  as  is  manifest  by  his  despatch- 
es, dated  March  27,  to  Gens.  Banks  and  Shields, 
after  the  battle  at  Winchester.  It  also  shows 
that  the  corps  of  Gen.  Banks  was  at  that  date 
expected  to  operate  under  his  command,  al- 
though he  had  then  embarked  a  portion  of  his 
army  to  Fertress  Monroe. 

Assuming  the  distinct  command  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  as  his  forces  were  now  desig- 
nated, for  the  purpose  of  conducting  a  campaign, 
Gen.  McClellan  issued  the  following  address  to 
his  soldiers : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  op  THE  POTOMAC,     J 
FAIRFAX  COURT  HOUSE,  VA.,  March  14,  1862. } 

Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  : 

For  a  long  time  I  nave  kept  you  inactive,  but  not 
without  a  purpose.  You  were  to  be  disciplined,  armed, 
and  instructed ;  the  formidable  artillery  you  now  have, 
had  to  be  created ;  other  armies  were  to  move  and  to 
accomplish  certain  results.  I  have  held  you  back  that 
you  might  give  the  death  blow  to  the  rebellion  that  has 
distracted  our  once  happy  country.  The  patience  you 
have  shown,  and  your  confidence  in  your  General,  are 
worth  a  dozen  victories.  Those  preliminary  results  are 
now  accomplished.  I  feel  that  the  patient  labors  ot 
many  months  have  produced  their  fruit ;  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  is  now  a  real  army— magnificent  in  ma- 
terial, admirable  in  discipline  and  instruction,  excel- 
lently equipped  and  armed— your  commanders  are  all 
that  I  could  wish.  The  moment  for  action  has  arrived, 
and  I  know  that  I  can  trust  in  you  to  save  our  country. 
As  I  ride  through  your  ranks,  I  see  in  your  faces  the 
sure  presage  of  victory ;  I  feel  that  you  will  do  what- 
ever I  ask  of  you.  The  period  of  inaction  has  passed. 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


211 


I  will  bring  you  now  face  to  face  with  the  rebels,  and 
only  pray  tnai  God  may  defend  the  right.  In  whatever 
direction  you  may  move,  however  strange  my  actions 
may  appear  to  you,  ever  bear  in  mind  that  my  fate  is 
linked  with  yours,  and  that  all  I  do  is  to  bring  you, 
where  I  know  you  wish  to  be — on  the  decisive  battle 
field.  It  is  my  business  to  place  you  there.  I  am  to 
watch  over  you  as  a  parent  over  his  children ;  and  you 
know  that  your  General  loves  you  from  the  depths  of 
his  heart.  It  shall  be  my  care,  as  it  has  ever  been,  to 
gain  success  with  the  least  possible  loss ;  but  I  know 
that,  if  it  is  necessary,  you  will  willingly  follow  me  to 
our  graves,  for  our  righteous  cause.  God  smiles  upon  us, 
victory  attends  us ;  yet  I  would  not  have  you  think  that 
our  aim  is  to  be  attained  without  a  manly  struggle.  I 
will  not  disguise  it  from  you :  you  have  brave  foes  to 
encounter,  toemen  well  worthy  of  the  steel  that  you 
will  use  so  well.  I  shall  demand  of  you  great,  heroic  . 
exertions,  rapid  and  lonj;  marches,  desperate  combats, 
privations,  perhaps.  We  will  share  all  these  together ; 
and  when  this  sad  war  is  over  we  will  return  to  our 
homes,  and  feel  that  we  can  ask  no  higher  honor  than 
the  proud  consciousness  that  we  belonged  to  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  ,  GEO.  B.  McCLELLAN, 

Major-General  Commanding. 

The  Prince  de  Joinville,  in  a  narrative  of  the 
campaign  on  the  peninsula,  has  described  with 
mnch  detail  the  reasons  for  the  evacuation  of 
Manassas  by  the  Confederate  forces,  and  the 
change  of  the  plan  for  the  campaign  under  Gen 
McClellan.  He  states  as  follows : 
)  "  While  we  were  riding  forward,  grave  events 
were  occurring  in  the  highest  regions  of  the 
army.  There  exists  in  the  American  army,  as 
in  the  English,  a  commander-in-chief,  who  exer- 
cises over  the  head  of  all  the  generals  a  supreme 
authority,  regulates  the  distribution  of  the  troops, 
and  directs  military  operations.  These  func- 
tions, which  have  been  greatly  curtailed  in 
the  British  army  since  the  Crimean  war,  were 
still  exercised  in  all  their  vigor  in  America. 
From  the  aged  General  Scott,  who  had  long 
honorably  discharged  them,  they  had  passed  to 
General  MoOlellan.  We  learned,  on  reaching 
Fairfax,  that  they  had  been  taken  away  from ' 
him.  It  is  easy  to  understand  the  diminution 
of  force  and  the  restrictions  upon  his  usefulness 
thus  inflicted  upon  the  general-in -chief  by  a 
blow  in  the  rear  at  the  very .  outset  of  his  cam- 
paign. 

"  Yet  this  was  but  a  part  of  the  mischief  done 
him.  McClellan  had  long  known,  better  than 
anybody  else,  the  real  strength  of  the  rebels  at 
Manassas  and  Centreville.  He  was  perfectly 
familiar  with  the  existence  of  the  '  wooden,  can- 
non' by  which  it  has  been  pretended  that  he 
was  kept  in  awe  for  six  months.  But  he  also 
knew  that  till  the  month  of  April  the  roads  of 
Virginia  are  in  such  a  state  that  wagons  and  artil- 
lery can  only  be  moved  over  them  by  constructing 
plank  roads — a  tedious  operation,  during  which 
the  enemy,  holding  the  railways,  could  either 
retreat,  as  he  was  then  actually  doing,  or  move 
for  a  blow  upon  some  other  point.  In  any  event, 
had  McClellan  attacked  and  carried  Cen- 
treville, pursuit  was  impossible,  and  victory 
would  have  been  barren  of  results.  A  single 
bridge  burned  would  have  saved  Johnston's 
whole  army.  Such  are  the  vast  advantages  of 
a  railway  for  a  retreating  army — advantages 


which  do  not  exist  for  the  army  which  pursues 
it. 

"  We  have  the  right,  we  think,  to  say  that 
McClellan  never  intended  to  advance  upon  Cen- 
treville. His  long-determined  purpose  was  to 
make  Washington  safe  by  means  of  a  strong 
garrison,  and  then  to  use  the  great  navigable 
waters  and  immense  naval  resources  of  the 
North  to  transport  the  army  by  sea  to  a  point 
near  Richmond.  For  weeks,  perhaps  for  months, 
this  plan  had  been  secretly  maturing.  Secrecy 
as  well  as  promptness,  it  will  be  understood, 
was  indispensable  here  to  success.  To  keep  the 
secret  it  had  been  necessary  to  confide  it  to  few 
persons,  and  henee  had  arigen  the  long  ill  feeling 
toward  the  uncommunicative  general. 

"  Be  this  as  it  may,  as  the  day  of  action  drew 
near,  those  who  suspected  the  general's  project, 
and  were  angry  at  not  being  informed  of  it ; 
those  whom  his  promotion  had  excited  to  envy ; 
his  political  enemies  (who  is  without  them  in 
America  ?) ;  in  short,  all  those  beneath  or  beside 
him  who  wished  him  ill,  broke  out  into  a  chorus 
of  accusations  of  slowness,  inaction,  incapacity. 
McClellan,  with  a  patriotic  courage  which  I  have 
always  admired,  disdained  these  accusations, 
and  made  no  reply.  He  satisfied  himself  with 
pursuing  his  preparations  in  laborious  silence. 
But  the  moment  came  in  which,  notwithstand- 
ing the  loyal  support  given  him  by  the  President, 
that  functionary  could  no  longer  resist  the  tem- 
pest.- A  council  of  war  of  all  the  divisional  gen- 
erals was  held ;  a  plan  of  campaign,  not  that  of 
McClellan,  was  proposed  and  discussed.  McClel- 
lan was  then  forced  to  explain  his  projects,  and 
the  next  day  they  were  known  to  the  enemy. 
Informed  no  doubt  by  one  of  those  female  spies 
who  keep  up  his  communications  into  the  domes- 
tic circles  of  the  Federal  enemy,  Johnston  evacu- 
ated Manassas  at  once.  This  was  a  skilful  mano3u- 
vre.  Incapable  of  assuming  the  offensive,  threat- 
ened with  attack  either  at  Centreville, where  de- 
fence would  be  useless  if  successful,  or  at  Rich- 
mond, the  loss  of  which  would  be  a  great  check, 
and  unable  to  cover  both  positions  at  once,  John- 
ston threw  his  whole  force  before  the  latter  of 
the  two. 

"  For  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  this  was  a  mis- 
fortune. Its  movement  was  unmasked  before 
it  had  been  made.  Part  of  its  transports  were 
still  frozen  up  in  the  Hudson.  Such* being  the 
state  of  affairs,  was  it  proper  to  execute  as  rap- 
idly as  possible  the  movement  upon  Richmond 
by  water,  or  to  march  upon  Richmond  by  land? 
Such  was  the  grave  question  to  be  settled  by 
the  young  general  in  a  miserable  room  of  an 
abandoned  house  at  Fairfax  within  twenty- 
four  hours.  And  it  was  at  this  moment 
that  the  news  of  his  removal  as  general-in- 
chief  reached  him;  the  news,  that  is,  that  he 
could  no  longer  count  upon  the  cooperation  of 
the  other  armies  of  the  Union,  and  that  the 
troops  under  his  own  orders  were*o  be  divided 
into  four  grand  corps  under  four  separate  chiefs 
named  in  order  of  rank — a  change  which  would 
throw  into  subalteri\positions  some  young  gen- 


212 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


erals  of  division  who  had  his  personal  confi- 
dence. It  is  easy  to  see  that  here  was  matter 
enough  to  cast  a  cloud  upon  the  firmest  mind. 
But  the  general's  resolution  was  promptly  taken. 

"  To  follow  the  Confederates  by  land  to  Rich- 
mond at  this  season  of  the  year  was  a  material 
impossibility.  An  incident  had  just  proved  this 
to  be  so.  Gen.  Stoneman,  with  a  flying  column, 
had  been  sent  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  This 
column  came  up  with  the  enemy  on  the  Rappa- 
hannock,  along  the  railway  to  Gordonsville,  and 
had  two  engagements  with  him  of  no  great  im- 
portance. Then  came  the  rain.  The  fords 
were  swollen,  the  bridges  carried  away,  the 
watercourses  could  no  longer  be  passed  by 
swimming;  they  were  torrents.  Stoneman's 
column  began  to  suffer  for  want  of  provisions, 
and  its  situation  was  perilous.  In  order  to  com- 
municate with  the  army,  Stoneman  had  to  send 
two  of  McClellan's  aides-de-camp,  who  had  ac- 
companied him,  across  a  river  on  a  raft  of  logs 
tied  together  with  ropes. 

"  Such  was  the  country  before  the  army. 
Furthermore,  the  enemy  was  burning  and  break- 
ing up  all  the  bridges.  Now  with  the  wants  of 
the  American  soldier  and  the  usual  extravagance 
of  his  rations,  and  with  the  necessity  of  trans- 
porting everything  through  a  country  where 
nothing  is  to  be  found,  and  where  the  least  storm 
makes  the  roads  impassable,  no  army  can  live 
unless  it  supports  its  march  upon  a  navigable 
watercourse  or  a  railway.  In  Europe  our  mil- 
itary administration  assumes  that  the  transpor- 
tation service  of  an  army  of  one  hundred  thou- 
sand men  can  only  provision  that  army  for  a 
three  days'  march  from  its  base  of  operations. 
In  America  this  limit  must  be  reduced  to  a  single 
day.  I  need  only  add  that  upon  the  roads  to 
Richmond  there  were  Viaducts  which  it  would 
have  required  six  weeks  to  reconstruct. 

"The  land  march  was  therefore  abandoned, 
and  we  came  back  to  the  movement  by  water. 
But  this  operation  also  was  no  longer  what  it 
had  been  when  McClellan  had  conceived  it. 
The  revelation  of  his  plans  to  the  enemy  had 
allowed  the  latter  to  take  his  precautions.  The 
evacuation  of  Manassas  had  preceded  instead 
of  following  the  opening  of  the  Federal  cam- 
paign. The  movement  by  water  could  no 
longer  be  a  surprise.  Unfortunately  it  was  also 
to  lose  the  advantages  of  a  rapid  execution." 

The  movement  of  troops  had  been  as  follows  : 
The  last  detachment  of  the  Confederate  army 
left  Manassas  on  the  9th  of  March.  On  the 
morning  of  the  10th  Gen.  McClellan  moved  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  toward  the  deserted  posi- 
tion. The  object  of  moving  to  Manassas  was 
to  verify  its  evacuation,  to  take  the  chance  of 
cutting  off  the  enemy's  rear  guard,  to  deceive 
the  enemy,  if  possible,  as  to  the  real  intentions 
of  Gen.  McClellan,  and  to  gain  the  opportunity 
of  cutting  loose  from  all  useless  baggage,  and 
to  give  thai  troops  a  few  days'  experience  in 
bivouac  and  on  the  march.  After  reaching 
Manassas,  Gen.  McClellan  returned  to  Washing- 
ton on  the  13th,  and  the  army  at  ouce  counter- 


marched, and  on  Sunday  the  16th  it  was  massed 
in  new  positions  near  Alexandria,  ready  to  em- 
bark with  the  least  possible  delay.  During  the 
ensuing  week  it  began  to  embark  on  transports 
at  Alexandria  for  Fortress  Monroe.  The  num- 
ber of  transports  promised  was  to  be  sufficient 
to  convey  fifty  thousand  men,  but  the  number 
collected  was  found  to  be  hardly  enough  for 
the  conveyance  cf  half  that  number.  Instead 
of  moving  the  whole  army  with  its  equipage 
at  once,  as  it  had  been  intended,  a  number  of 
trips  were  required.  The  embarkation  com- 
menced on  the  17th  of  March. 

By  reference  to  the  order  of  the  President 
issued  on  the  8th  of  March  (see  p.  210),  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  army  was  divided  into  five 
corps.  Of  these,  the  corps  of  Gens.  Banks  and 
McDowell  did  not  embark.  Of  the  second 
corps,  under  Gen.  Sumner,  one  division,  that 
of  Gen.  Blenker,  was  withdrawn  and  sent  to 
Gen.  Fremont  in  the  Mountain  Department. 
There  remained  therefore  to  be  embarkedj 
two  divisions  under  Gen.  Sumner,  three  under 
Gen.  Heintzelman,  and  three  under  Gen.  Keyes 
— being  in  all  eight  divisions.  The  Prince  de 
Joinville,  in  his  statement  of  the  numbers  of 
the  entire  army,  says  it  consisted  of  "11  di- 
visions of  infantry,  8,000  to  10,000  strong;  1  i 
division  of  regulars  (infantry  and  cavalry),  ' 
6,000  strong ;  350  pieces  of  artillery.  The  total 
effective  force  may  have  been  120,000  men." 
From  this  number  are  to  be  deducted  the  corps 
of  Gen.  McDowell  and  the  division  of  Gen.  » 
Blenker.  This  will  make  the  effective  force  of 
Gen.  McClellan  embarked  for  Fortress  Monroe 
about  eighty-five  thousand  men.  Two  weeks 
were  occupied  in  transporting  this  force  to 
Fortress  Monroe. 

It  has  been  stated  that  Gen.  Blenker's  divi- 
sion was  withdrawn  from  Gen.  Sumner's  corps, 
and  sent  to  Gen.  Fremont  in  the  Mountain  De- 
partment. This  was  done  one  or  two  days  be- 
fore Gen.  McClellan  sailed.  The  reason  given 
was  "political  pressure"  exercised  to  get  a 
command  for  Gen.  Fremont.  No  military 
reason  was  stated  for  this  withdrawal.  The 
following  letter  from  President  Lincoln  to  Gen. 
McClellan,  produced  at  a  court  martial  in  "Wash- 
ington, thus  explains  it : 

WASHINGTON,  April  9, 1862. 
Ma j.- Gen.  McClellan  : 

MY  DEAR  SIE  :  Your  despatches  complaining  that 
you  are  not  properly  sustained,  while  they  do  not  of- 
fend me,  do  pain  me  very  much. 

Blenker's  division  was  withdrawn  from  you  before 
you  left  here,  and  you  know  the  pressure  under  which 
I  did  it ;  and,  as  I  thought,  acquiesced  in  it— certainly 
not  without  reluctance. 

After  you  left  I  ascertained  that  less  than  twenty 
thousand  unorganized  men,  without  a  single  field  bat- 
tery,  were  all  you  designed  to  be  left  for  the  defence 
of  Washington  and  Manassas  Junction ;  and  part  of 
of  this  even  was  to  go  to  Gen.  Hooker's  old  position. 

Gen.  Banks's  corps,  once  designed  for  Manassaa 
Junction,  was  diverted  and  tied  up  on  the  line  of  Win- 
chester and  Strasburg,  and  could  not  leave  it  without 
again  exposing  the  Upper  Potomac  and  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  railroad.  This  presented  (or  would  present, 
when  McDowell  and  Sumner  should  be  gone)  a  great 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


213 


temptation  to  the  enemy  to  turn  back  from  the  Rappa- 
hannock  and  sack  Washington. 

My  explicit  order  that  Washington  should,  by  the 
judgment  of  all  the  commanders  of  corps,  be  left  en- 
tirely secure,  had  been  neglected.  It  was  precisely 
this  that  drove  me  to  detain  McDowell.  I  do  not  for- 
get that  I  was  satisfied  with  your  arrangement  to 
leave  Banks  at  Manassas  Junction ;  but  when  that  ar- 
rangement was  broken  up,  and  nothing  was  substi- 
tuted for  it,  of  course  I  was  not  satisfied  ;  I  was  con- 
strained to  substitute  something  for  it  myself. 

And  now  allow  me  to  ask,  "  Do  you  really  think  I 
'should  permit  the  line  from  Richmond,  via  Manassas 
Junction,  to  this  city,  to  be  entirely  open,  except  what 
resistance  could  be  presented  by  less  than  twenty 
thousand  unorganized  troops  ?  "  This  is  a  question 
which  the  country  will  not  allow  me  to  evade. 

There  is  a  curious  mystery  about  the  number  of 
troops  now  with  you.  When  I  telegraphed  you  on  the 
6th,  saying  that  you  had  over  one  hundred  thousan^d 
with  you,  I  had  just  obtained  from  the  Secretary  01 
War  a  statement  taken,  as  he  said,  fl*om  your  own  Re- 
turns, making  one  hundred  and  eight  thousand  then 
with  you,  and  en  route  to  you. 

You  now  say  you  will  have  but  eighty-five  thousand 
when  all  en  route  to  you  shall  have  reached  you. 
How  can  the  discrepancy  of  twenty-three  thousand  be 
accounted  for? 

As  to  Gen.  Wool's  command,  I  understand  it  is  do- 
ing for  you  precisely  what  a  like  number  of  your  own 
would  have  to  do,  if  that  command  was  away. 

I  suppose  the  whole  force  which  has  gone  forward 
for  you  is  with  you  by  this  time  ;  and,  if  so,  I  think  it 
is  the  precise  time  for  you  to  strike  a  blow.  By  delay 
the  enemy  will  relatively  gain  upon  you;  that' is,  he 
will  gain  faster  by  fortifications  and  reenforcementa 
than  you  can  by  reinforcements  alone. 

And,  once  more,  let  me  tell  you  it  is  indispensable 
to  you  that  you  strike  a  blow.  I  am  powerless  to 
help  this.  You  will  do  me  the  justice  to  remember  I 
always  insisted  that  going  down  the  bay  in  search  of 
a  field,  instead  of  fighting  at  or  near  Manassas,  was 
only  shifting  and  not  surmounting  a  difficulty ;  that 
we  would  find  the  same  enemy  and  the  same  or  equal 
intrenchments  at  either  place.  The  country  will  not 
fail  to  note — is  now  noting — that  the  present  hesita- 
tion to  move  upon  an  intrenched  enemy  is  but  the 
story  of  Manassas  repeated.  • 

I  beg  to  assure  you  that  I  have  never  written  you 
or  spoken  to  you  in  greater  kindness  of  feeling  than 
now,  nor  with  a  fuller  purpose  to  sustain  you  so  far  as 
in  my  most  anxious  judgment  I  consistently  can.  But 
you  must  act. 

Yours,  very  truly,  A.  LINCOLN. 

"When  Gen.  McClellan  sailed  he  supposed 
that  Gen.  McDowell's  corps  would  follow  him, 
and  it  was  not  until  he  was  before  Yorktown 
that  he  received  the  first  intimation  to  the  con- 
trary. The  reason  of  this  change  should  also 
be  stated. 

By  reference  to  a  preceding  page,  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  battle  of  Winchester  took  place 
on  the  23d  of  March,  about  the  time  the  army 
of  the  Potomac  was  embarking.  It  startled 
the  Government  by  revealing  a  much  stronger 
force  of  the  enemy  in  their  immediate  front  than 
they  had  supposed.  At  the  same  time  the  num- 
.ber  of  troops  at  "Washington  being  limited,  it 
was  decided  that  one  of  the  two  corps  which  had 
not  embarked  (either  McDowell's  or  Summer's) 
should  be  withheld,  and  the  decision  fell  upon 
Gen.  McDowell.  The  same  question  came  up  in 
Congress  on  the  26th  of  May,  after  Gen.  Jackson 
had  made  his  brilliant  dash  up  the  Shenandoah, 
and  driven  Gen.  Banks  across  the  Potomac.  Al- 


though it  may  be  anticipating  some  events,  it  is 
proper  that  the  explanation  of  the  withdrawal  of 
McDowell's  corps  should  be  here  noticed.  In  the 
Senate,  Mr.  "Wilson  of  Massachusetts,  chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Military  Affairs,  said :  "  I 
will  etate  that  the  Secretary  of  "War  is  not  re- 
sponsible for  the  movements  charged  upon  him 
by  the  Senator  from  Kentucky.  The  President 
alone  is  responsible  for  whatever  has  occurred, 
both  for  arresting  the  advance  of  General  Mc- 
Dowell to  Yorktown,  and  withdrawing  a  por- 
tion of  Gen.  Banks's  forces.  The  order  arrest- 
ing the  advance  of  Gen.  McDowell  was  made 
by  the  President,  with  the  approval  of  the 
Secretary  of  War,  General  Hitchcock,  and  sev- 
eral other  military  men.  It  was  given  for  the 
best  of  purposes,  and  I  am  sure  there  was  no 
intrigue  about  it,  nor  personal  objects  gained. 
It  may  have  been  an  error ;  but,  if  so,  it  was 
an  error  committed  by  the  President  fdr  an 
honest  and  patriotic  purpose,  under  the  advice 
of  the  military  men  whom  he  consulted.  I 
understand  the  fact  to  be  that  the  President 
gave  written  orders — in  fact  I  have  seen  the 
orders — that  the  number  of  men  necessary  for 
the  defence  of  "Washington  should  be  left  here, 
and  that  that  number  should  be  agreed  upon 
by  the  commanders  of  the  various  corps  of  the 
army.  The  commanders  of  corps  held  a  con- 
sultation, and  decided  that  forty-five  thousand 
men  were  necessary  to  be  held  for  the  defence 
of  this  city.  All  the  forces  were  ordered  to  be 
withdrawn  from  this  city,  with  the  exception 
of  nineteen  thousand,  and  four  thousand  of  that 
number  were  sent  for.  Nearly  all  of  the  regi- 
ments left  here  were  recently  brought  into  the 
service,  and  four  or  five  of  them  were  cavalry 
regiments,  not  mounted,  and  not  in  a  condition 
for  service.  Under  these  circumstances,  ap- 
prehending precisely  what  has  taken  place,  the 
President  withheld  thirty  thousand  men  un- 
der Gen.  McDowell.  Ten  thousand  of  this 
force,  under  Gen.  Franklin,  at  the  urgent  re- 
quest of  Gen.'  McClellan,  were  sent  forward  to 
Yorktown,  but  McDowell  was  held  back  with 
twenty  thousand  men  on  the  Rappahannock 
to  protect  the  capital  and  menace  Richmond. 
The  President  then,  in  order  to  concentrate  a 
force  here  and  threaten  Richmond,  and  aid 
Gen.  McOlellan's  movements,  ordered  Gen. 
Shields  to  unite  with  Gen.  McDowell,  thus 
making  an  army  of  about  forty  thousand  men, 
the  intention  of  which  was  to  move  on  Rich- 
mond by  land,  so  as  to  cover  Washington  in 
their  movement.  This  left  Gen.  Banks  a  small 
force,  and  a  movement  has  been  made  upon 
him,  and  he  has  been  compelled  to  evacuate 
the  Shenandoah  Valley  and  recross  the  Poto- 
mac. These  movements  were  directed  by  the 
President ;  and  he  is  alone  responsible  for  them. 
In  doing  what  he  did,  I  have  no  doubt  he  was 
actuated  by  honest  purposes,  and  he  had  the 
sanction  and  support  of  his  military  advisers, 
including  the  Secretary  of  "War."  ' 

Mr.  Trumbull  of  Illinois  said :   "  While  the 
Senator  from  Massachusetts  is  making  his  state- 


214 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


merit,  I  should  like  to  inquire  of  him  if  it  was 
not  at  the  argent  and  repeated  request  of  Gen. 
McClellan  that  troops  should  be  sent  to  him 
to  aid  in  his  attack  upon  Richmond  that  this 
has  been  done?" 

Mr.  Wilson  of  Massachusetts :  "In  response 
to  the  Senator's  question,  I  will  say  that  I 
understand  that  Gen.  McClellan  desired  to 
have  the  forces  reserved  under  Gen.  McDowell 
sent  forward  to  him  by  the  steamers.  Upon 
his  request,  Gen.  Franklin  with  his  division 
was  sent  forward  to  Yorktown.  The  President, 
to  protect  Washington,  and  at  the  same  time 
to  aid  Gen.  McClellan  by  menacing  Richmond, 
withdrew  Gen.  Shields's  division  from  Gen. 
Banks,  thus  concentrating  on  the  Rappahannock 
forty  thousand  men.  This  force  could  move  on 
Richmond,  or  act  directly  for  the  protection  of 
Washington,  according  to  circumstances.  Yes- 
terday the  President,  in  view  of  what  has  oc- 
curred, stated  that  this  force  of  twenty  thou- 
sand men,  which  he  had  reserved,  and  for  which 
he  takes  the  entire  responsibility,  had  been 
reserved  by  him  in  apprehension  of  precisely 
such  a  movement  of  the  enemy  threatening 
this  city  as  has  already  taken  place. 

"The  President  may  have  made  a  mistake  in 
withdrawing  so  much  of  the  force  of  Gen. 
Banks,  but  I  am  sure  he  acted  according  to  the 
best  lights  he  possessed.  Gen.  Banks  has  been 
forced  to  retrace  his  steps,  to  abandon  the  Shen- 
andoah  Valley,  and  to  recross  the  Potomac." 

On  Dec.  10,  before  a  court  martial  at 
Washington,  Gen.  McClellan,  in  answer  to  the 
question,  What  communication  he  received  from 
the  President  through  Gen.  Franklin,  &c.  ?  said : 
"  The  substance  of  the  communication  of  Gen. 
Franklin  from  the  President  was  that  the  Presi- 
dent assumed  the  responsibility  of  the  change 
of  destination  of  Gen.  McDowell's  corps,  re- 
garding that  corps  necessary  for  the  defence  of 
Washington,  although  the  troops  actually  left  in 
Washington  and  in  front  of  it,  disposable  for  its 
defence,  were  rather  more  than  double  the  gar- 
rison fixed  by  the  engineer  and  artillery  officers, 
and  considerably  more  than  the  largest  number 
recommended  by  any  of  the  corps  commanders 
to  be  left  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington." 

The  following  orders  of  Gen.  McClellan  will 
show  his  plans  for  the  protection  of  Washing- 
ton: 

HZADQITABTZES.  ABMT  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  I 

March  16, 1862.  f 

JBrig.-Gen.  James  S.  Wadsworth,  Military  Governor 

of  the  District  of  Columbia  : 

SIE  :  The  command  to  which  you  have  been  assign- 
ed, by  instruction  of  the  President,  as  Military  Gover- 
nor of  the  District  of  Columbia,  embraces  the  geo- 
graphical limits  of  the  district,  and  will  also  include  the 
city  of  Alexandria,  the  defensive  works  south  of  the  . 
Potomac,  from  the  Occoquan  to  Difficult  Creek,  and  the 
post  of  Fort  Washington.  I  enclose  a  list  of  the  works 
and  defences  embraced  in  these  limits.  Gen.  Banks 
will  command  at  Manassas  Junction,  with  the  divi- 
sions of  Williams  and  Shields,  composing  the  Fifth 
Army  Corps,  but  you  should,  nevertheless,  exercise 
vigilance  in  your  front,  carefully  guard  the  approaches 
in  that  quarter,  and  maintain  the  duties  of  advanced 
guards.  You  will  use  the  same  precautions  on  either 


flank.  All  troops  not  actually  needed  for  the  police  of 
Washington  and  Georgetown,  for  the  garrisons  north 
of  the  Potomac,  and  for  other  indicated  special  duties, 
should  be  removed  to  the  south  side  of  the  river.  In 
the  centre  of  your  front  you  should  post  the  main 
body  of  your  troops,  in  proper  proportions,  at  suitable 
distances  toward  your  right  and  left  flanks.  Careful 
patrols  will  be  made  to  thoroughly  scour  the  country 
in  front  from  right  to  left. 

It  is  specially  enjoined  upon  you  to  maintain  the 
forts  and  their  armaments  in  the  best  possible  order, 
to  look  carefully  after  the  instruction  and  discipline  of 
their  garrisons,  as  well  as  all  other  troops  under  your 
command,  and  by  frequent  and  rigid  inspection  to  in- 
sure the  attainment  of  these  ends. 

The  care  of  the  railways,  canals,  depots,  bridges,  and 
ferrfes  within  the  above-named  limits  will  devolve 
upon  you,  and  you  are  to  insure  their  security  and 
provide  for  their  protection  by  every  means  in  your 
nower.  You  will  also  protect  the  depots  of  the  public 
Stores  and  the  transit  of  the  stores  to  the  troops  in  ac- 
tual service.  • 

By  means  of  patrols  you  will  thoroughly  scour  the 
neighboring  country  south  of  the  eastern  branch,  and 
also  on  your  right,  and  you  will  use  every  possible  pre- 
caution to  intercept  mails,  goods,  and  persons  passing 
unauthorized  to  the  enemy's  lines. 

The  necessity  of  maintaining  good  order  within  your 
limits,  and  especially  in  the  capital  of  the  nation,  can- 
not be  too  strongly  enforced.  You  will  forward  and 
facilitate  the  movement  of  all  troops  destined  for  the 
active  part  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  especially 
the  transits  of  detachments  to  their  proper  regiments 
and  corps. 

The  charge  of  all  new  troops  arriving  in  Washing- 
ton, and  of  all  troops  temporarily  there,  will  devolve 
upon  you.  You  will  form  them  into  provisional  bri- 
gades, promote  their  instruction  and  discipline,  and 
facilitate  their  equipments.  Report  all  arrivals  of 
troops,  their  strength,  composition,  and  equipment;by 
every  opportunity.  Besides  the  regular  reports  and 
returns  which  you  will  be  required  to  render  to  the 
Adjutant-General  of  the  army,  you  will  make  to  these 
headquarters  a  consolidated  morning  report  of  your 
command  every  Sunday  morning,  and  a  monthly  re- 
turn on  the  first  day  of  each  month. 

The  foregoing  instructions  are  communicated  by 
command  of  Ma). -Gen.  McClellan. 

very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

HS  ADQ.TT  ABTZB8,  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  1 

March  16, 1862.  f 

To  Maj.-Oen.  N.  P.  Sanies,  Commanding  Fifth  Corps, 
Army  of  the  Potomac : 

SIE  :  You  will  post  your  command  in  the  vicinity 
of  Manassas,  intrench  yourself  strongly,  and  throw 
cavalry  pickets  well  out  to  the  front.  Your  first  care 
will  be  the  rebuilding  of  the  railway  from  Washington 
to  Manassas  and  to  Strasburg,  in  order  to  open  your 
communications  with  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah. 
As  soon  as  the  Manassas  Gap  railway  is  in  running 
order,  intrench  a  brigade  of  infantry— say  four  regi- " 
ments,  with  two  batteries — at  or  near  the  point  where 
that  railway  crosses  the  Shenandoah.  Something  like 
two  regiments  of  cavalry  should  be  left  in  that  vicini- 
ty to  occupy  Winchester,  and  thoroughly  scour  the 
country  south  of  the  railway  and  up  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  as  well  as  through  Chester  Gap,  which  might 
perhaps  be  occupied  advantageously  by  a  detachment 
of  infantry  well  intrenched.  Block  housas  should  be 
built  at  all  the  railway  bridges  occupied  by  grand 
guard,  Warrenton  Junction  or  Warrenton  itself,  and 
also  some  still  more  advanced  points  on  the  Orange  and 
Alexandria  railroad,  as  soon  as  the  railroad  bridges  arc 
repaired. 

Great  activity  should  be  observed  by  the  cavalry. 
Besides  the  two  regiments  at  Mantissas,  another  regi- 
ment of  cavalry  will  be  at  your  disposal  to  scout  to- 
ward the  Occoquan,  and  probably  a  fourth  toward 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


215 


Leesburg.    To  recapitulate,  the  most  important  points 
that  should  engage  your  attention  are  as  follows: 

First — A  strong  force,  well  intrenched,  in  the  vicini- 
ty of  Manassas,  perhaps  even  Centreville,  and  another 
force,  a  brigade,  also  well  intrenched  near  Strasburg. 

Second — Slock  houses  at  the  railroad  bridges. 

Third—  Constant  employment  of  cavalry  well  to  the 
front. 

Fourth — Grand  guards  at  Warrenton,  and  jn  ad- 
vance as  far  as  the  Rappahannoek,  if  possible. 

Fifth — Great  care  to  be  exercised  to  obtain  full  and 
early  information  as  to  the  enemy. 

Sixth — The  general  object  is  to  cover  the  line  of  the 
Potomac  and  Washington. 

The  foregoing  is  communicated  by  order  of  Maj.- 

Gen.  McClellan.         •  . -, 

Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

On  the  1st  of  April  Gen.  McOlellan  address- 
ed the  following  additional  note  to  Gen. 
Banks : 

HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OP  THE  POTOMAC,  I 
ON  BOARD  COMMODOBE,  April  1, 1862.  ) 

Maj.-Gen.  N.  P.  Banks,  Commanding  Fifth  Army 
Corps : 

GENERAL  :  The  change  in  affairs  in  the  valley  of  the 
Shenandoah  has  rendered  necessary  a  corresponding 
departure,  temporarily  at  least,  from  the  plan  we  some 
days  since  agreed  upon. 

In  my  arrangements  I  assume  that  you  have  a  force 
amply  sufficient  to  drive  Jackson  before  you,  provided 
he  is  not  reenforced  largely.  I  also  "assume  that  you 
may  find  it  impossible  to  find  anything  toward  Manas- 
sas for  some  days,  probably  not  until  the  operations 
of  the  main  army  have  drawn  all  the  rebel  force  to- 
ward Richmond. 

You  are  aware  that  Gen.  Sumner  has  for  some  days 
been  at  Warrenton  Junction,  with  two  divisions  of 
infantry,  six  batteries,  and  two  regiments  of  cavalry, 
and  that  a  reconnoissance  to  the  Rappahannock  forced 
the  enemy  to  destroy  the  railroad  bridge  at  Rappahan- 
nock Station,  on  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  railroad. 
Since  that  time  our  cavalry  have  found  nothing  on  this 
side  of  the  Rappahannock  in  that  direction,  and  it  seems1 
clear  that  we  have  no  reason  to  fear  any  return  of  the 
rebels  in  that  quarter.  Their  movements  near  Fred- 
ericksburg  also  indicate  a  final  abandonment  of  that 
neighborhood. 

I  doubt  whether  Johnston  will  now  reenforce  Jack- 
son with  a  view  to  offensive  operations.  The  time 
has  probably  passed  when  he  could  have  gained  any- 
thing by  so  doing. 

_I  have  ordered  one  of  Sumner's  divisions  (that  of 
Richardson)  to  Alexandria  for  embarkation.  Blenker'a 
has  been  detached  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and 
ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Fremont.  Abercrombie  is 
probably  at  Warrenton  Junction  to-day ;  Geary  at 
White  Plains. 

Two  regiments  of  cavalry  have  been  ordered  out, 
and  are  now  on  the  way  to  relieve  |he  two  regiments 
of  Sumner.  Four  thousand  infantry  and  one  battery 
leave  Washington  at  once  for  Manassas.  Some  three 
thousand  more  will  move  in  one  or  two  days,  and  soon 
after  three  thousand  additional. 

I  will  order  Blenker  to  move  on  Strasburg  and  re- 
port to  you  for  temporary  duty ;  so  that,  should  you 
find  a  large  force  in  your  front,  you  can  avail  yourself 
of  his  aid.  As  soon  as  possible,  please  direct  him  on 
Winchester,  thence  to  report  to  the  Adjutant-General 
of  the  Army  for  orders ;  but  keep  him  until  you  are 
sure  what'  you  have  in  front. 

In  regard  to  your  own  movements,  the  most  impor- 
tant thing  is  to  throw  Jackson  well  back,  and  then  to 
assume  such  a  position  as  to  enable  you  to  prevent  his 
return.  As  soon  as  the  railway  communications  are 
reestablished,  it  will  be  probably  important  and  ad- 
visable to  move  on  Staunton  ;  but  this  would  require 
communications  and  a  force  of  25,000  to  30,000 'for 
active  operations.  It  should  also  be  nearly  coinci- 
dent with  my  own  move  on  Richmond.  At  all  events, 


not  so  long  before  it  as  to  enable  the  rebels  to  concen- 
trate on  you  and  then  return  to  me. 

I  fear  that  you  cannot  be  ready  in  time ;  although 
it  may  come  in  very  well  with  a  force  less  than  I  have 
mentioned,  after   the  main    battle  near  Richmond. 
When  Gen.  Sumner  leaves  Warrenton  Junction,  Gen. 
Abercrombie  will  be  placed  in  immediate  command  of 
Manassas  and  Warrenton  Junction,  under  your  gen- 
eral orders.     Please  inform  me  frequently  by  tele- 
§raph  and  otherwise  as  to  the  state  of  things  in  your 
•ont.        I  am,  verv  truly  yours, 

"    GEO.  B.  McCLELLAN, 
f  Maj.-Gen.  Commanding. 

P.  S.    From  what  I  have  just  learned,  it  would 
seem  that  the  two  regiments  of  cavalry  intended  for 
Warrenton  Junction  have  gone  to  Harper's  Ferry. 
Of  the  four  additional  regiments  placed  under  your 
orders,  two  should  as  promptly  as  possible  move  by 
the  shortest  route  on  Warrenton  Junction. 
I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
GEO.  B.  McCLELLAN, 

Maj.-Gen.  Commanding.  • 

HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  ) 
STEAMER  COMMODORE,  April  1, 1862.     \ 

To  Brig.-Gen.  L.  Thomas,  Adj. -Gen.  U.  S.  A.  : 

GENERAL  :  I  have  to  request  that  you  will  lay  the 
following  communication  before  the  Hon.  Secretary  of 
War.  The  approximate  numbers  and  positions  of  the 
troops  left  near  and  in  rear  of  tha  Potomac  are  about 
as  follows : 

Gen.  Dix  has,  after  guarding  the  railroads  under 
his  charge,  sufficient  troops  to  give  him  five  thou- 
sand men  for  the  defence  of  Baltimore,  and  one 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  eighty-eight  available  for 
the  eastern  shotre,  Annapplis,  &c.  Fort  Delaware  is 
very  well  garrisoned  by v  about  four  hundred  men. 
The  garrisons  of  the  forts  around  Washington  amount 
to  ten  thousand  men,  other  disposable  troops  now  with 
Gen.  Wadsworth  being  about  eleven  thousand  four 
hundred  men.  The  troops  employed  in  guarding  the 
various  railroads  in  Maryland  amount  to  some  three 
thousand  three  hundred  and  fifty-nine  men.  These  it 
is  designed  to  relieve,  being  •  old  regiments,  by  dis- 
mounted cavalry,  and  to  send  them  forward  to  Manas- 
sas. Gen.  Abercrombie  occupies  Warrenton  with  a 
force  which,  including  Col.  Geary's  at  White  Plains, 
and  the  cavalry  to  be  at  their  disposal,  will  amount  to 
some  seven  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty  men, 
with  twelve  pieces  of  artillery. 

I  have  the  nonor  to  request  that  all  the  troops  organ- 
ized for  service  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  York  and 
in  any  of  the  Eastern  States,  may  be  ordered  to  Wash- 
ington. This  force  I  should  be  glad  to  have  sent  at 
xmce  to  Manassas — four  thousand  men  from  Gen. 
>Vadsworth  to  be  ordered  to  Manassas.  These  troops, 
with  the  railroad  guards  above  alluded  to,  will  make 
up  a  force  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Abercrombie 
to  something  like  eighteen  thousand  six  hundred  and 
thirty-nine  men.  It  is  niy  design  to  push  Gen.  Blen- 
.  kqr  from  Warrenton  upon  Strasburg.  He  should  re- 
main at  Strasburg  long  enough  to  allow-  matters  to_as- 
sume  a  definite  form  in  that  region  before  proceeding 
to  his  ultimate  destination.  The  troops  in  the  valley 
of  the  Shenandoah  will  thus— including  Blenker's  divi- 
sion, ten  thousand  and  twenty-eight  strong,  with  twen- 
ty-four pieces  of  artillery,  Banks' s  Fifth  Corps,  which 
embraces  the  command  of  Gen.  Shields,  nineteen  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  eighty-seven  strong,  with  forty- 
one  guns,  some  three  thousand  six  hundred  and  fifty- 
three  disposable  cavalry,  and  the  railroad  guard,  about 
twenty-one  hundred  men — amount  to  about  thirty-five 
thousand  four  hundred  and  sixty-seven  men. 

It  is  designed  to  relieve  Gen.  Hooker  by  one  regi- 
ment— say  eight  hundred  and  fifty  men — being,  with 
five  hundred  cavalry,  thirteed  hundred  and  fifty  men 
on  the  Lower  Potomac.  To  recapitulate  :  At  Warren- 
ton there  are  to  be  seven  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
eighty ;  at  Manassas,  say  ten  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  fifty-nine ;  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  thirty-five 
thousand  four  hundred  and  sixty-seven ;  on  the  Lower 


216 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Potomac,  thirteen  hundred  and  fifty — in  all,  fifty-five 
thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty-six.  There  would 
then  be  left  for  the  garrisons  in  front  of  Washington 
and  under  (Jen.  Wadsworth  some  eighteen  thousand 
men,  exclusive  of  the  batteries,  under  instructions. 
The  troops  organizing  or  ready  for  service  in  New 
York,  I  learn,  will  probably  number  more  than  four 
thousand.  These  should  be  assembled  at  Washington, 
subject  to  disposition  t  where  their  services  may  be 
most  needed. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
GEO.  B.  McCLELLAN, 

Maj.-Gen.  Commanding.  • 

Some  explanation  of  these  orders  is  to  be 
found  in  answers  of  Gen.  McClellan  to  inter- 
rogatories before  the  court  martial  above  men- 
tioned. In  one  answer  he  said:  "The  force 
left  disposable  for  the  defence  of  Washington 
was  about  V0,000  men,  independent  of  the 
oerps  of  Gen.  McDowell."  Again,  he  said: 
"  My  recollection  of  the  suggestions  as  to  the 
forces  to  be  left  varied  from  forty  to  fifty  thou- 
sand. I  think  Gen.  McDowell  proposed  the 
latter  number.  Of  one  thing  I  am  confident : 
that,  with  the  facts  fresh  in  my  mind,  I  thought 
that  I  left  more  than  was  suggested  by  any 
corps  commander." 

As  to  the  necessity  that  Gen.  McDowell 
should  remain  for  the  defence  of  "Washington, 
he  said:  "I  think  that  Gen.  McDowell  was 
correct  in  his  opinion  that  it  was  safe  and  pro- 
per for  him  to  unite  with  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac. I  think  that  immediately  after  the  oc- 
cupation of  Hanover  Court  House  by  a  portion 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  there  was  no 
rebel  force  of  any  consequence  between  Hano- 
ver Court  House  and  Gen.  McDowell.  I  think 
that  the  main  object  of  Jackson's  movement 
against  Gen.  Banks  was  to  prevent  reenforce- 
ments  from  being  sent  to  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac, and  expressed  that  opinion  in  a  telegram 
to  the  President  within  a  day  of  the  time  I  re- 
ceived information  of  Jackson's  movements.  I 
think  that  if  Gen.  McDowell  had  moved  direct 
upon  Hanover  Court  House,  instead  of  in  the 
direction  of  Front  Royal,  Jackson  would  have 
rapidly  retraced  his  steps  to  join  the  main  rebel* 
army  at  Richmond.  With  a  strong  army  of 
our'  own  in  the  vicinity  of  Richmond,  and 
threatening  it,  I  do  not  think  that  the  rebels 
would  have  detached  a  sufficient  force  to  seri- 
ously endanger  the  safety  of  Washington."  * 

Before  Gen.  McClellan  left  Washington,  an 
order  was  issued  placing  Gen.  Wool  and  all  his 
troops  under  his  command,  and  he  was  ex- 
pressly authorized  to  detail  a  division  of  about 
10,000  men  from  the  troops  under  Gen.  Wool 
and  to  attach  them  to  the  active  army.  After 
operations  had  commenced  on  the  peninsula, 
on  the  3d  of  April  Gen.  McClellan  received  an 
order  from  the  Secretary  of  War  countermand- 
ing all  this.  No  explanation  of  this  has  ever 
been  made. 

The  design  of  Gen.  McClellan  was  to  make  a 
sure  and  rapid  movement  upon  Richmond,  but 
other  causes  still  occurred  to  defeat  this  purpose. 
The  contest  between  the  Monitor  and  Merrimao 
took  place  on  the  9th  of  March  (see  below 


pp.  223  &c.),  and  the  insecurity  of  the  trans- 
ports, while  the  navy  really  had  not  entire  con- 
trol of  the  James  river,  caused  the  troops  to  be 
landed  at  Fortress  Monroe,  and  the  march  to 
be  commenced  overland  from  that  point. 

About  the  1st  of  April  the  force  above  stated 
had  reached  Fortress  Monroe,  Gen.  McClellan 
arrived  on  the  2d,  and  commenced  active  opera- 
tions. On  the  4th  of  April  the  following  order 
was  issued  from  the  War  Department : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  April  4, 1862. 

Ordered,  1. — That  the  portion,  of  Virginia  and  Ma- 
ryland lying  between  the  Mountain  Department  and 
the  Blue  Ridge  shall  constitute  a  military  department, 
to  be  called  the  Department  of  the  Shenandoah,  and  be 
under  the  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  Banks. 

2.— That  the  portion  of  Virginia  east  of  the  Blue 
Ridge  and  west  of  the  Potomac  and  the  Fredericks- 
burg  and  Richmond  railroad,  including  the  District 
of  Columbia  and  the  country  between  the  Potomac  and 
the  Patuxent,  sbalWbe  a  military  district,  to  be  called 
the  Department  of  the  Kappahannock,  and  be  under 
the  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  McDowell. 

By  order  of  the  PRESIDENT. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

The  effect  of  this  order  was  to  take  from 
under  the  control  of  Gen.  McClellan  the  forces 
of  Gens.  Banks  and  McDowell,  and  the  direction 
of  all  military  operations  in  his  department 
west  of  the  Richmond  and  Fredericksburg  rail- 
road, and  in  lower  Maryland,  and  to  con- 
fine him  strictly  to  the  remainder  of  eastern 
Virginia.  On  the  llth  of  April,  the  following 
order  was  sent  to  Gen.  McDowell : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  April  11, 1862. 
Maj.-Gen.  McDowell  Commanding  : 

SIR  :  For  the  present,  and  until  further  orders,  you 
will  consider  the  national  capital  as  especially  under 
your  protection,  and  make  no  movement  throwing 
your  force  out  of  position  for  the  discharge  of  this 
primary  duty. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  firing  was  opened  by 
the  enemy  at  Yorktown  on  the  extreme  Fed- 
eral right,  to  repel  a  bold  reconnoissance. 
While  this  was  going  on,  Gen.  McClellan  heard 
for  the  first  time  that  Gen.  McDowell  was  with- 
drawn from  his  command.  Yorktown  is  a  post 
village,  port  of  entry,  and  shire  town  of  York 
county,  Virginia.  It  is  situated  on  rising  ground 
on  the  right  bank  or  south  side  of  York  river, 
eleven  miles  frt>m  its  mouth.  It  is  seventy 
miles  east-southeast  of  Richmond,  and  had  be- 
fore the  war  about  sixty  houses,  four  hundred 
and  fifty  inhabitants,  aud  several  thousand  tons 
of  shipping. 

The  army  of  the  Potomac  had  commenced  its 
march  upon  this  place  wholly  in  the  dark  as 
to  the  nature  of  the  country,  or  the  position 
and  strength  of  the  enemy.  The  maps  which 
were  furnished  by  the  commanders  at  Fortress 
Monroe  were  found  to  be  entirely  erroneous. 
The  peninsula  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  York 
river,  which  is  commanded  by  Yorktown  and 
Gloucester,  on  either  side.  Both  places  were 
strongly  fortified  to  obstruct  the  entrance  of 
the  river  by  gunboats.  The  Confederate  batte- 
riesmounted  fifty-six  guns,  many  of  which  were 


MLITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


217 


218 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


rifled  one-hundred  pounders,  and  could  have 
sunk  the  entire  fleet  of  these  gunboats.  The 
James  river,  which  bounded  the  peninsula  on 
the  south,  was  in  full  possession  of  the  enemy. 
The  line  of  defence  at  Yorktown  was  selected 
with  great  judgment.  Taking  advantage  of  the 
highest  ground  on  the  peninsula  at  that  place, 
and  projecting  a  line  of  intrenchments  and  forts 
bearing  a  little  southwest  to  a  point  connecting 
with  the  head  of  Warwick  river,  the  enemy  had 
continued  his  works  down  that  stream  to  James 
river,  making  the  entire  distance  from  point  to 
point  eight  and  a  half  miles.  While  the  flat  and 
marshy  surface  of  the  peninsula,  together  with 
streams  constantly  fed  with  copious  supplies 
of  water  from  the  swamps,  afforded  peculiar 
means  of  defence,  it  was  equally  unfavorable 
to  offensive  operations,  especially  when  distant 
from  the  harbor  for  supplies  and  with  bad 
roads.  The  country  was  also  covered  with 
dense  forests  of  pine,  which  formed  a  valuable 
shield  to  the  positions  of  the  enemy. 

From  the  5th  to  the  8th,  when  the  unfavor- 
able weather  suspended  active  hostilities  on 
both  sides,  there  were  frequent  skirmishes,  and 
firing  by  artillery,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from 
constructing  further  defences  and  mounting 
additional  guns,  with  few  casualties  on  either 
side.  On  the  8th,  9th,  and  10th  there  was  a 
succession  of  extraordinary  storms  of  rain  and 
hail  with  some  sleet  and  snow.  The  enemy 
took  advantage  of  this  weather  to  complete 
their  defences.  Much  work  was  done  in  the 
interval  by  the  Federal  army  in  making  and 
corduroying  roads  to  the  deoots,  &c. 

When  the  army  left  Fortress  Monroe,  Gen. 
Keyes  with  three  divisions  proceeded  along 
the  James  river  until  he  reached  the  Warwick. 
In  seeking  for  a  ford  he  discovered  the  Confed- 
erate line  of  defence.  Dykes  had  been  erected 
in  different  parts  of  this  stream,  converting  it 
into  a  kind  of  pond.  These  dams  were  defend- 
ed by  redoubts,  artillery,  and  rifle  pits. 

The  supplies  of  the  army  consisted  in  provi- 
sions for  two  days,  which  each  soldier  had  taken. 
After  these  two  days  the  army  was  entirely 
dependent  on  the  wagons  for  subsistence. 
It  was  therefore  necessary  to  construct  roads. 
These  were  made  by  cutting  down  trees  of 
equal  size,  and  from  one  foot  to  eighteen  inches 
in  diameter,  and  placing  the  pieces  from  twelve 
or  eighteen  feet  in  length,  side  by  side,  on  the 
ground.  All  the  infantry  that  were  not  on 
picket  duty  on  the  outposts,  were  employed 
up  to  their  knees  in  mud  and  water  in  this  la- 
bor. By  this  means  the  .cannon  and  wagons 
arrived  at  places  where  otherwise  it  would 
have  been  impossible  to  have  brought  them. 

In  order  to  avoid  the  delays  of  a  siege,  Gen. 
McClellan  had  formed  a  plan  to  turn  the  posi- 
tion at  Yorktown.  This  was  to  be  done  by  ef- 
fecting a  landing  on  the  Severn  river,  north  and 
in  the  rear  of  Gloucester,  by  which  this  latter 
position  might  be  carried,  and  thus  render  the 
York  river  less  difficult  of  entrance  by  the  gun- 
boats. The  Federal  force  could  then  have  ad- 


vanced up  the  left  bank  of  th.3  York  river, 
in  the  direction  of  West  Point,  and  rendered 
the  position  of  the  Confederate  army  most  per- 
ilous, if  they  had  persisted  in  holding  it.  The 
execution  of  this  movement  had  been  confided 
to  the  corps  of  Gen.  McDowell,  which  was  to 
have  embarked  the  last  of  all,  at  Alexandria, 
and  arrive  at  Yorktown  at  the  moment  when 
the  rest  of  the  army,  coming  from  Fortress  Mon- 
roe, appeared  before  that  place.  This  corps  of 
Gen.  McDowell  was  detained,  as  has  already 
been  stated.  The  effect  of  its  detention  is  thus 
stated  by  Prince  De  Joinville : 

"  We  received  the  inexplicable  and  unexplain- 
ed intelligence  that  this  corps  had  been  sent  to 
another  destination.  The  news  was  received 
by  the  army  with  dissatisfaction,  although  the 
majority  could  not  then  foresee  the  deplorable 
consequences  of  an  act  performed,  it  must  be 
supposed,  with  no  evil  intention,  but  with  in- 
conceivable recklessness.  Fifteen  days  earlier 
this  measure,  although  it  would  always  have 
been  injurious,  would  not  have  had  so  bad  an 
effect ;  for  new  arrangements  might  have  been 
made.  Now,  it  was  the  mainspring  removed 
from  a  great  work  already  begun.  It  deranged 
everything.  Among  the  divisions  of  the  corps  of 
Gen.  McDowell  there  was  one — that  of  Franklin 
— which  was  regretted  more  than  all  the  rest, 
both  on  account  of  the  troops  themselves  and  of 
the  officers  commanding  them.  The  command- 
er-in-chief  had  carefully  superintended  its  or- 
ganization during  the  winter.  He  held  it  in  great 
esteem  and  earnestly  demanded  its  restoration. 
It  was  sent  back  to  him,  without  any  explana- 
tion, in  the  same  manner  as  it  had  been  with- 
drawn. This  splendid  division — eleven  thou- 
sand strong — arrived,  and  for  a  moment  the 
commander  thought  of  intrusting  to  it  alone 
the  storming  of  Gloucester ;  but  the  idea  was 
abandoned." 

The  next  step  was  to  search  the  Confederate 
line  of  defence  for  weak  points.  •  It  was  believ- 
ed that  if  any  were  found  and  forced,  the  result 
would  be,  that  the  enemy  would,  as  is  usual 
in  such  cases,  believe  that  his  position  was  turn- 
ed at  both  extremities,  and  his  forces  would 
become  demoralized.  Then  if  he  was  vigor- 
ously pushed  with  overwhelming  force,  a  seri- 
ous, if  not  fatal  disaster  might  be  inflicted 
on  his  army.  This  point  was  supposed  to 
exist  about  the  centre  of  the  line,  on  War- 
wick river  or  creek,  below  Winn's  Mills  and 
near  Lee's  Mills.  Here  the  Federal  forces  had 
thrown  up  a  considerable  work,  with  wings  for 
riflemen,  in  which  guns»were  mounted.  Di- 
rectly opposite  the  enemy,  were  protected  by  a 
demi-lune  with  two  embrasures,  with  long  in- 
fantry epaulements  extending  from  each  wing. 
An  open  field  some  six  or  seven  hundred  yards 
in  width  intervened.  The  enemy's  works  rest- 
ed on  the  skirts  of  a  pine  forest,  while  the  Fed- 
eral were  in  the  centre  of  the  field.  The  forest 
extended  like  a  curtain  clear  across  the  north 
edge  of  the  field,  in  which  sharpshooters  on 
either  side  were  posted. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


219 


On  the  IGtli  four  Federal  batteries  of  light 
artillery,  under  Capts.  Ayres,  Mott,  Kennedy, 
and  "Wheeler,  opened  furiously  upon  the  oppo- 
site work,  and  soon  drove  the  enemy's  cannon- 
eers to  shelter.  Detachments  consisting  of 
companies  E,  F,  D,  and  K,  of  a  Vermont  regi- 
ment, were  ordered  forward  through  the  woods 
to  capture  the  Confederate  work.  These  brave 
men  pushed  forward  firmly  under  a  scattering 
fire  of  musketry,  and  were  struggling  through 
the  creek,  when  the  enemy,  in  superior  force, 
opened  upon  them  a  galling  fire  of  rifles  and 
musketry.  They  still  went  forward  unfalter- 
ingly, and  their  ranks  were  rapidly  thinning, 
when  they  were  recalled.  Not  more  than  half 
their  number  had  crossed  the  stream.  They 
reluctantly  obeyed,  but  soon  it  became  more 
difficult  to  return  than  it  had  been  to  advance. 
The  enemy  suddenly  opened  a  sluice  above, 
and  almost  overwhelmed  them  with  a  flow  of 
water  which  reached  their  armpits.  They 
maintained  their  order  firmly,  however,  under 
cover  of  the  batteries,  which  with  the  sharp- 
shooters kept  the  enemy  within  their  intrench- 
ments,  and  in  a  short  time  extricated  them- 
selves, bringing  away  all  their  dead  and  wounded 
except  six.  The  casualties  exceeded  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty.  The  attempt  to  force  through 
the  enemy's  line  was  afterward  abandoned, 
having  presented  unforeseen  difficulties. 

Sharpshooting  was  a  feature  of  the  early 
part  of  the  campaign  on  the  peninsula.  An 
officer  thus  describes  one  or  two  scenes : 

"  The  operations  of  our  fellows  were  extreme- 
ly interesting.  One  man  was  securely  posted 
behind  an  embankment  with  a  glass,  and  upon 
discovering  an  enemy,  he  signalized  the  active 
riflemen.  The  latter,  covered  by  rifle  pits  or 
trees,  were  constantly  blazing  away,  and  at 
each  successful  shot  would"  make  some  satisfac- 
tory sign.  One  of  them  afforded  considerable 
amusement  by  his  daring  antics.  Depositing 
his  rifle  every  now  and  then  behind  a  tree,  he 
would  dash  across  the  field  from  his  cover  to  our 
bastion  and  back  again  quickly,  courting  a  shot, 
while  his  comrades  watched  for  a  victim.  He 
must  have  made  twenty  trips  while  we  observed 
him.  Once  or  twice  the  enemy's  balls  knocked 
up  the  dust  a  few  feet  from  him,  and  quicker 
than  thought  a  leaden  messenger  would  be  sent 
after  the  unlucky  enemy.  We  left  the  saucy 
fellow  continuing  his  hazardous  pranks." 

-  The  siege  of  Yorktown  was  now  commenced 
in  earnest.  The  Federal  army  was  encamped 
before  it  in  line  of  battle  order.  The  arrange- 
ment of  the  columns,  however,  was  influenced 
by  the  nature  and  topography  of  the  position 
invested.  It  is  thus  summarily  described  .by 
Prince  de  Joinville : 

"  The  last  operation,  like  that  on  Gloucester, 
not  being  accomplished,  nothing  remained  but 
to  begin  a  regular  siege  against  Yorktown.  All 
this  wandering  in  the  dark  had,  unfortunately, 
consumed  much  time,  and  the  siege  itself  would 
consume  much  more,  although  it  should  be 
pushed  with  the  greatest  energy.  Ten  thou- 


sand laborers  were  unceasingly  employed  cut- 
ting through  the  woods  and  forming  roads, 
trenches,  and  batteries.  It  was  a  curious  spec- 
tacle. A  straight  arm  of  the  sea,  fringed  by 
a  thick  and  strong  vegetation,  mixed  with  trees 
of  all  kinds,  living  and  dead,  entangled  with 
withes  and  moss,  approached  in  a  serpentine 
form  to  the  front  of  the  attack.  TJ«e  first  par- 
allel was  made.  The  wood  which  surrounded 
us  was  an  admirable  protection.  This  arm  of 
the  sea  was  covered  with  bridges.  Roads  were 
cut  along  its  irfargin  in  the  midst  of  tulips,  flow- 
ers of  Judea,  and  azaleas  in  full  bloom.  From 
this  natural  parallel  others  were  formed  by  the 
hands  of  man,  and  we  rapidly  approached  the 
place.  The  defenders  opened  a  terrific  fire  on 
those  works  that  they  could  see,  as  well  as  upon 
those  which  they  supposed  were  in  progress. 
Shells  whistled  on  every  side  through  the  large 
trees,  cutting  down  branches,  frightening  horses, 
but  otherwise  doing  very  little  harm.  Nobody 
cared  about  it.  In  the  evening,  when  all  the 
laborers  returned  in  good  order,  with  their  ri- 
fles on  their  backs,  and  their  shovels  on  their 
shoulders,  the  fire  became  more  furious,  as  if 
the  enemy  had  marked  the  hbur  of  their  return. 
We  went  to  this  cannonade  as  to  a  show ;  and 
when,  on  a  beautiful  night  in  spring  time,  the 
troops  gayly  marched  along  to  this  martial 
music  through  the  flowering  woods ;  when  the 
balloon,  with  which  we  made  our  reconnois- 
sances,  was  floating  in  the  air,  we  seemed  to  be 
spectators  at  -a  fete,  and  for  a  moment  were 
made  to  forget  the  miseries  of  war. 

"  The  siege,  however,  still  went  on.    Power- 
ful artillery,  with  great  difficulty,  had  been 
brought  up;  100  and  even  200-pounder  rifled 
cannon,  and  13-inch  mortars  were  ready  to  bat- 
ter the  place.    Fourteen  batteries  were  con- 
structed, armed,  and  appointed.    If  our  fire 
had  not  been  yet  opened^  it  was  because  it  was 
designed  to  open  all  our  batteries  together 
along  the  whole  line ;  and  for  this  reaspn  we 
waited  until  nothing  was  wanting  to  complete 
all  our  preparations.    We  could  not,  however, 
resist  the  desire  to  try  the  200-pounders.    These 
enormous  pieces  were  handled  with  incredible 
ease.    Four  men  sufficed  to  load  and  aim  them, 
without  any  more  difficulty  than  in  the  work- 
,  ing  of  our  old  24-pounders.    At  a  distance  of 
three  miles  their  fire  was  admirably  precise.  One 
day  one  of  these  immense  pieces  had  a  kind  of 
duel  with  a  rifled  piece  of  somewhat  smaller 
caliber,  in  position  on  the  bastions  at  Yorktown. 
The  curious  among  us  mounted  on  the  parapet 
to  see  where  the  missiles  might  fall,  and,  while 
they  communicated  their  observations  to  one 
another,  the  sentry  on  the  lookout  would  an- 
nounce when  the  enemy  was  about  to  fire  in 
turn ;  but  the  distance  was  so  great  that,  be- 
tween the  discharge  and  the  arrival  of  the  pro- 
jectile, everybody  had  time  to  descend  without 
any  hurry,  and  to  place  himself  under  the  shel- 
ter of  the  parapet.     Such,  however,  was  the 
precision  of  the  fire  that  we  were  sure  to  see 
the  enormous  projectile  passing  over  the  very 


220 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


spot  where  the  group  of  observers  had  been 
standing  but  a  moment  before ;  then  it  would 
bound  along  -and  tear  up  the  earth  some  fifty 
or  sixty  yards  off,  and  its  inflammable  compo- 
sition would  burst  with  a  loud  explosion,  throw- 
ing into  the  air  a  cloud  of  dust  as  high  as  the 
water  jets  of  St.  Cloud. 

"  It  was  evident  that  with  the  powerful  means 
at  our  disposal  the  capture  of  Yorktown  was 
but  a  work  of  time.  Shattered  beneath  the 
tremendous  fire  which  was  about  to  be  opened 
upon  it,  without  casemates  to  cover  their  sol- 
diers, without  any  other  defence  than  outworks 
and  palisades,  the  place  had  not  even  the  chance 
of  opposing  a  lengthened  resistance.  Every- 
thing was  ready  for  the  final  blow.  Not  only 
was  a  terrific  bombardment  about  to  be  opened 
upon  the  town,  not  only  were  the  most  select 
troops  set  apart  to  follow  up  this  bombard- 
ment by  a  grand  assault,  but  the  steam  trans- 
ports only  awaited  a  sign  to  push  immediately 
up  the  York  river,  and  to  land  Franklin's 
troops  at  the  upper  part  of  'the  stream,  on  the 
line  of  retreat  of  the  Confederate  army.  A 
part  of  these  troops  were  also  to  remain  on 
board  the  transports.  They  would  have  taken 
but  a  few  hours  to  traverse  by  water  the  dis- 
tance it  would  have  taken  the  enemy's  army 
two  days  at  least  to  march  by  land.  Driven 
from  the  lines  of  Yorktown  by  a  powerful  at- 
tack, pursued  sword  in  hand,  intercepted  on 
the  route  by  fresh  troops,  that  army  would  have 
been  in  a  most  critical  position,  and  the  Feder- 
als would  have  obtained  what  they  so  much 
desired — an  astonishing  military  success. 

"  A  great  success  of  the  Federal  army  before 
Yorktown  was  therefore  of  vital  importance  to 
the  Government  at  "Washington .  Unfortunately, 
the  Confederate  leaders  and  generals  were  of 
the  same  opinion,  and,  as  able  and  resolute  men, 
they  took  the  best  means  to  render  it  impos- 
sible." 

On  the  nights  of  the  3d  and  4th  of  May, 
Yorktown  and  the  Confederate  lines  of  the 
Warwick  river  were  evacuated.  This  work, 
doubtless  commenced  several  days  before,  and 
was  conducted  with  great  skill  and  energy.  On 
the  3d  the  fire  of  the  enemies  batteries  was  re- 
doubled in  severity.  This  was  done  to  mask 
their  retreat,  and  it  was  highly  successful.  The 
absence  of  all  signs  of  them  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  4th,  caused  their  lines  to  be  closely 
examined,  when  it  was  soon  ascertained  that 
they  were  abandoned.  The  capture  of  this 
strong  position  of  Yorktown  and  its  armament 
with  scarcely  any  loss  of  life,  was  a  brilliant 
military  success. 

_The  impossibility  for  the  navy  to  cooperate 
with  the  army,  the  want  of  forces  to  turn  the 
flank  of  the  enemy,  as  had  been  originally  plan- 
ned, and  their  obstinate,  courage  and  efforts  to 
prevent  the  capture  of  Yorktown,  had  caused 
the  delay  of  a  month  before  that  place.  Dur- 
ing this  time  the  defences  of  Richmond  had 
been  pushed  forward,  and  the  spring  time  of 
the  year  had  so  far  passed  away,  that  the  hot 


season  was  at  hand,  which  would  produce  dis- 
eases in  the  low  lands  of  the  peninsula,  and 
thus  greatly  aid  the  enemy.  The  loss  thus  fal 
on  the  Federal  side  was  about  three  hundred. 
That  of  the  Confederates  has  not  been  as 
certained.  They  left  in  their  works  at  York- 
town  two  3-inch  rifled  cannou,  two  4£-inch 
rifled  cannon,  sixteen  32-pounders,  six42-pound- 
ers,  nineteen  8-inch  columbiads,  four  9-inch 
Dahlgrens,  one  10-inch  columbiad,  one  10-inch 
mortar,  and  one  8-inch  siege  howitzer,  with 
carriages  and  implements  complete.  Each 
piece  was  supplied  with  76  rounds  of  ammu- 
nition. At  Gloucester  there  was  captured  nine 
9-inch  Dahlgrens,  two  32-pounders  rifled,  five 
32-pound  navy  guns,  five  42-pound  carronades ; 
making  at  both  places  a  total  of  seventy-three 
guns  and  much  ammunition. 

Their  force  has  been  estimated  at  100,000 
men.  Some  of  the  Federal  soldiers  were  killed 
and  horses  injured  by  the  explosion  of  instru- 
ments of  destruction  left  by  the  enemy.  It  was 
at  this  time  that  New  Orleans  was  captured. 

The  next  important  point  before  the  Federal 
army  was  the  city  of  Williamsburg.  There  were 
two  roads  to  that  city :  one  direct  from  York- 
town;  and  the  other,  front  the  left  of  the  Fed- 
eral army,  crossed  Warwick  river  at  Lee's  Mills, 
and  uniting  with  the  first  formed  a  fork  near 
Williamsburg. 

This  city  is  the  capital  of  James  City  county, 
and  is  situated  near  the  narrowest  part  of  the 
peninsula  between  the  James  and  York  rivers, 
and  is  three  miles  from  James  river  and  about 
five  and  a  quarter  from  York  river.  It  is  one 
of  the  oldest  towns  in  the  State,  and  contained 
a  population  of  about  fifteen  hundred. 
»  As  soon  as  the  evacuation  of  Yorktown  was 
known,  the  entire  cavalry  and  horse  artillery 
with  five  divisions  of  infantry  were  advanced 
in  pursuit.  Gen.  Franklin's  division  was  or- 
dered to  move  at  once  by  water  to  the  vicinity 
of  West  Point  to  endeavor  to  check  the  retreat 
of  the  enemy,  and  to  be  supported  by  other  di- 
visions as  rapidly  as  water  transportation  could 
be  obtained.  The  remaining  divisions  were 
massed  near  Yorktown,  ready  to  move  by  land 
or  water,'  as  might  be  necessary.  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan  meanwhile  remained  at  Yorktown  un- 
til Monday  noon,  the  5th,  pushing  the  move- 
ment of  the  troops  to  West  Point  by  water  and 
awaiting  the  development  of  events.  It  was 
not  until  that  time  that  he  was  made  aware  of 
the  serious  resistance  encountered  at  Williams- 
burg. All  the  information  up  to  that  time  in- 
dicated nothing  more  than  an  affair  of  a  rear 
guard.  As  soon  as  the  true  state  of  affairs  was 
known  he  moved  rapidly  to  the  front  and  as- 
sumed the  immediate  command. 

Gen.  Stonenaan  had  led  the  advance,  with  his 
cavalry  and  four  batteries  of  artillery,  on  the 
direct  road  from  Yorktown.  After  the  bridge 
had  been  constructed  over  Warwick  river,  Gen. 
Smith  advanced  on  the  narrow  road  from  the 
Federal  left  to  Yorktown..  He  encountered  a 
Confederate  force,  which  fell  back  before  him. 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


221 


A  report  of  this  was  sent  to  the  commander- 
in-chief,  who  ordered  Gen.  Stoneman  on  the 
other  road  to  press  forward,  and  endeavor  to 
intercept  this  retiring  force  before  its  junction 
with  the  main  body,  which  was  supposed  to  be 
at  Williamsburg.  Gen.  Stoneman  pushed  for- 
ward with  all  the  rapidity  possible  in  the  miry 
condition  of  the  roads,  and  as  he  came  out  at 
the  point  where  the  road  from  "Warwick  Creek 
united,  he  was  saluted  by  an  artillery  fire  from 
numerous  fieldworks  known  as  Fort  Magruder. 
A  vain  attempt  was  made  to  take- this  work 
with  cavalry,  during  which  Major  Williams  dis- 
played great  bravery,  but  the  column  was 
forced  to  retreat  and  await  the  arrival  of  the 
infantry.  Gen.  Smith's  division  subsequently 
arrived,  but  the  lateness  of  the  hour  and  the 
heavy  rain  caused  the  attack  to  be  put  off. 

The  pursuit  by  Gen.  McClellan's  forces  had 
been  so  rapid  that  tlA  Confederate  officers 
found  it  to  be  necessary  to  give  it  a  check,  in 
order  to  continue  their  retreat  with  success. 
This  led  to  the  battle  of  "Williamsburg  on  the 
next  day,  and  the  retreat  of  the  Confederate 
army.  Their  plan  for  the  campaign  was  thus 
developed.  It  was  to  delay  the  Federal  army 
as  long  as  practicable  at  Yorktown,  and  thus 
secure  time  to  place  Richmond  in  a  defensive 
condition,  and  also  to  meet  them  in  final  battle 
near  the  marshes  of  the  Chickahominy  river. 

The  Confederate  position  at  Williamsburg 
consisted  of  thirteen  works,  extending  nearly 
across  the  peninsula.  Excepting  two  or  three 
narrow  roads,  it  was  approachable  only  through 
dense  forests.  These  roads  were  made  worse 
by  a  heavy  rain  which  commenced  on  Sunday 
afternoon,  the-  4th,  and  continued  during  the 
next  day. 

When  Sunday  night  came,  the  division  of 
Gen.  Smith,  of  Keyes's  corps,  had  reached  Gen. 
Stoneman's  position  after  he  fell  back  from 
Fort  Magruder.  Gen.  Hancock's  brigade  form- 
ed the  advance  of  this  division.  Gen.  Hooker, 
of  Heintzelman's  corps,  was  approaching  on  the 
left  by  the  road  from  Warwick  river.  His  force 
consisted  of  the  llth  Massachusetts,  5th,  6th, 
and  7th  Wisconsin,  26th  Pennsylvania,  Sickles's 
New  York  brigade,  and  four  batteries.  Thus 
the  advance  of  the  Federal  line  had  arrived 
within  about  two  and  a  half  miles  of  the  works 
at  Williamsburg.  The  Union  troops  slept  on 
their  arms  without  tents,  without  food,  and  in 
a  hard  rain.  The  Confederates  determined  to 
make  the  attack  in  the  morning  upon  the 
Federal  left  and  rear.  About  eight  o'clock  they 
threw  out  a  body  of  infantry  on  their  right, 
which  soon  exchanged  fire  with  the  advance 
of  Gen.  Hooker's  division.  This  continued  in- 
termittently for  some  time.  Some  light  batteries 
became  engaged,  and  drove  the  enemy  back  un- 
til they  came  within  range  6f  his  heavy  guns, 
whSn  the  former  suffered  severely.  Bram- 
hall's  battery  lost  all  its  horses,  the  guns  became 
mired,  and  the  forces  of  the  enemy  pressing 
upon  it  in  greatly  increased  numbers,  it  was  lost. 
Encouraged  by  this  success,  the  enemy  pushed 


forward,  and  Gen.  Hooker  was  finally  forced 
to  give  way  and  fall  back,  leaving  his  wounded, 
about  two  thousand  in  number,  behind.  The 
Confederates  followed  him  as  he  fell  back,  until 
the  division  of  Gen.  Kearney  came  up  and  re- 
stored the  battle.  At  the  same  time  the  enemy 
was  strongly  reenforced,  and  the  fight  was  sharp 
and  fierce.  The  state  of  the  roads  had  pre- 
vented an  earlier  arrival  of  Gen.  Kearney's  di- 
vision. His  intrepidity  was  brilliantly  shown 
on  this  occasion,  although  Gen.  Heintzelman 
commanded  the  joint  divisions.  Meantime  the 
part  of  the  army  on  the  road  to  the  right  remain- 
ed passive.  A  single  division  only  had  come 
up.  Of  this  the  brigade  of  Brig.-Gen.  Peck,  of 
Couch's  division  of  Gen.  Casey's  corps,  was 
ordered  by  Gen.  Sumner,  who  was  in  chief 
command,  into  the  woods  on  the  left  toward 
the  point  where  the  battle  was  raging  against 
Gen.  Hooker's  division.  This  brigade  was  com- 
posed of  the  93d,  98th,  and  102d  Pennsylvania, 
the  55th  and  62d  New  York,  and  West's  bat- 
tery. Placed  on  the  right  of  that  division,  with 
other  regiments  amounting  to  six  thousand  men, 
it  stopped  the  Confederate  advance  by  repuls- 
ing with  great  obstinacy  every  attempt  made. 
Supported  later  in  the  day  by  Gen.  Palmer's 
brigade,  they  formed  ajftrong  centre. 

Gen.  Smith's  division  had  fprmed  on  the 
right  of  the  Federal  line,  and  at  an  early  hour 
a  reconnoissance  was  made  with  a  view  of  find- 
ing a  route  to  the  enemy's  left  flank.  One  was 
finally  found,  which  had  been  overflowed  with 
water  by  the  enemy,  and  another  was  cut 
through  the  woods.  The  only  obstacles  to  reach- 
ing the  flank  were  two  forts,  strong  from  posi- 
tion and  construction.  To  explore  this  route 
in  force,  and  if  possible  occupy  these  works, 
Gen.  Hancock  was  sent  forward  in  the  after- 
noon with  his  brigade.  This  consisted  of  the 
6th  and  7th  Vermont,  5th  Wisconsin,  33d  and 
49th  New  York,  and  Kennedy's  battery.  The 
two  works  were  found  to  be  unoccupied,  and 
garrisoned  by  his  men.  A  third  at  a  distance 
he  attacked  with  artillery  and  silenced.  The  en- 
emy, seeing  the  fatal  consequences  to  themselves 
from  this  attack,  if  successful,  sent  out  two 
brigades  to  drive  back  the  Federal  force.  The 
latter  allowed  them  to  come  up,  and  received 
them  with  a  most  destructive  fire  of  artillery. 
The  enemy  unshaken  pushed  forward  within 
thirty  yards  of  the  cannon's  mouth,  when  they 
wavered.  Gen.  Hancock,  seizing  the  moment, 
ordered  his  brigade  to  charge  upon  them  with 
the  bayonet,  which  they  could  not  withstand, 
and  broke  and  fled,  leaving  their  dead  and 
wounded  on  the  field.  Gen.  McClellan  now  ar- 
rived, and  gave  orders  to  support  Gen.  Hancock, 
and  to  press  the  advantage  already  gained  in  that 
direction.  In  a  few  minutes  seven  thousand 
men  were  on  the  march  for  that  point.  Night 
fell  before  they  reached  it,  and  no  more  was 
done  that  day.  The  ploughed  land  and  the 
day's  rain  made  a  soft  bed  on  which  the  weary 
soldiers  sank  down  during  that  night. 

The  success  of  Gen.  Hancock  on  the  Confed- 


222 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


erate  left  flank  caused  them  to  retreat  that 
night,  and  at  daylight  all  the  forts  on  the  Fed- 
eral front  and  Williamsburg  itself  were  found 
completely  abandoned  by  the  entire  Confederate 
army.  On  the  roads  and  in  the  woods  were 
found  the  Confederate  dead  left  unburied,  and 
.the  wounded  in  their  agonies.  Their  loss  in 
killed  and  wounded  was  estimated  at  nearly  a 
thousand. 

Gen.  McClellan  evidently  had  not  anticipated 
so  serious  a  resistance  at  Williamsburg.  In  a 
despatch  to  the  Secretary  of  War  on  Sunday 
evening  the  4th,  he  says:  "Our  cavalry  and 
horse  artillery  came  up  with  the  enemy's  rear 
guard  in  their  intrenchments  about  two  miles 
on  this  side  of  Williamsburg.  A  brisk  fight 
ensued  just  as  my  aid  left.  Smith's  division 
of  infantry  arrived  on  the  ground  and,  I  pre- 
sume, carried  his  works,  though  I  have  not 
yet  heard.  The  enemy's  rear  is  strong,  but  I 
have  force  enough  up  there  to  answer  all  pur- 
poses." ' 

The  force  that  was  actually  before  Williams- 
burg would  have  been  routed  on  the  next  day, 
if  they  had  not  been  sustained  by  the  arrival  of 
fresh  troops.  These  troops  were  delayed  great- 
ly by  the  bad  roads.  They  were  a  portion  of 
those  whom  Gen.  Magellan,  unaware  of  the 
great  difficulty  of  the  roads,  and -uninformed  of 
the  true  state  of  the  case  by  correct  reports 
of  the  front,  supposed  were  before  Williams- 
burg. As  it  was,  Gen.  Hooker's  division  alone 
for  hours  withstood  the  enemy,  even  within 
hearing  of  other  troops  who  were  unable  to 
come  earlier  to  his  relief. 

In  the  evening  after  his  arrival  Gen.  McClel- 
lan sent  a  despatch  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  in 
which  he  says:  "After  arranging  for  move- 
ments up  York  river,  I  was  earnestly  sent  for 
here.  I  find  Gen.  Joe  Johnston  in  front  of  me 
in  strong  force — probably  greater  a  good  deal 
than  my  own. 

"  I  shall  run  the  risk  of  at  least  holding  them 
in  check  here  while  I  resume  the  original  plan. 

"  My  entire  force  is  considerably  inferior  to 
that  of  the  rebels,  who  will  fight  well ;  but  I 
will  do  all  I  can  with  the  force  at  my  disposal." 

On  a  subsequent  day  Gen.  McClellan  took 
occasion  to  address  three  of  the  regiments  of 
Gen.  Hancock's  brigade,  which  was  engnged  on 
the  enemy's  left.  His  remarks  indicate  the. 
importance  which  he  afterward  ascribed  to  the 
action  of  the  brigade  on  that  day. 

To  the  men  of  the  Fifth  Wisconsin  regiment 
he  said: 

My  Lads :  I  have  come  to  thank  you  for  the  bravery 
and  discipline  you  displayed  the  other  day.  On  that 
day  you  won  laurels  of  which  you  may  ever  be  proud 
— not  only  you,  but  the  army,  the  State,  and  the  coun- 
try to  which  you  belong.  Through  you  we  won  the 
day,  and  Williamsburg  shall  be  inscribed  upon  your 
banner.  I  cannot  thank  you  too  much,  and  I  am  sure 
the  reputation  yo-ir  gallantry  has  already  achieved 
will  always  be  maintained. 

To  tL'3  Seventh  Maine  regiment  he  said: 
Soldiers  of  the  Seventh,  Maine  :  I  have  come  to  thank 
you  for  your  bravery  and  good  conduct  in  the  action  of 


yesterday.  On.  this  battle  plain  you  and  your  comrades 
arrested  the  progress  of  the  advancing  enemy,  and 
turned  the  tide  of  victory  in  our  favor.  You  have  de- 
served well  of  your  country  and  your  State,  and  in 
their  gratitude  they  will  not  forget  to  bestow  upon  you 
the  thanks  and  praise  so  justly  your  due.  Continue 
to  show  the  conduct  of  yesterday,  and  the  triumph  of 
our  cause  will  be  speedy  and  sure.  In  recognition  of 
your  merit  you  shall  hereafter  bear  the  inscription 
"  Williamsburg  "  on  your  colors.  Soldiers,  my  words 
are  feeble ;  but  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart  I  thank 
you. 

To  the  Thirty-third  New  York  regiment  he 
addressed  the  following : 

Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Thirty-third:  I  have 
come  to  thank  you  in  person  for  your  conduct  and 
bravery  on  the  5th  of  May.  I  will  say  to  you  as  I  have 
said  to  the  other  regiments  engaged  with  you  at  that 
part  of  the  field,  that  all  did  well — did  all  that  I  could 
have  expected.  The  other  troops  engaged  elsewhere 
fought  well  and  did  their  whole  duty,  too ;  but  you  won 
the  day,  and  to  you  and»your  comrades  belongs  the 
credit  of  the  victory  of  Williamsburg. 

You  acted  like  veterans !  Veterans  of  many  battles 
could  not  have  done  better.  You  shall  have  "  Williams- 
burg "  inscribed  upon  your  flag.  I  have  accorded  the 
same  privilege  to  the  other  regiments  engaged  with 
you. 

You  have  won  for  yourselves  a  name  that  will  last 
you  through  life. 

Soldiers,  again  I  thank  you. 

It  has  been  stated  that  the  division  of  Gen. 
Franklin,  belonging  to  the  corps  of  Gen.  McDow- 
ell, was  subsequently  sent  to  the  army  of  Gen. 
McClellan.  This  division  arrived  previous  to 
the  surrender  of  Yorktown,  and  remained  on 
board  of  the  transports  in  order  to  proceed  up 
the  York  river  as  soon  as  the  enemy's  batteries 
might  be  taken.  The  division  was  delayed  on 
the  5th  by  the  weather.  On  the  6th  it  left 
Yorktown,  and  landed  at  Brick  House  Point 
on  the  same  day.  This  is  the  point  where  the 
Pamunkey  river  enters  the  York  river  and  on 
the  right  bank  of  the  latter.  The  Pamunkey 
is  navigable  for  gunboats  of  light  draft  some 
twenty  miles  above  White  House.  It  unites 
with  the  Mattapony  and  forms  the  York  river. 
On  the  tongue  of  land  between  the  two  rivers 
at  their  junction  is  West  Point  opposite  to 
Brick  House  Point.  From  West  Point  a  rail- 
road runs  to  Richmond,  and  crosses  the  Pamun- 
key at  White  House.  Although  at  this  time 
an  insignificant  village,  West  Point  was  ancient- 
ly a  place  of  considerable  pretensions.  It  is 
about  twenty-five  miles  by  water  from  York- 
town  and  about  thirty-five  by  railroad  from 
Richmond.  The  troops  were  landed  on  the 
same  night,  and  encamped  on  a  plain  surround- 
ed on  three  sides  by  woods,  and  on  the  fourth 
bounded  by  the  river.  That  evening  a  part  of 
the  division  of  Gen.  Sedgwick,  under  Gen.  Dana, 
arrived.  During  the  next  day  the  enemy  were 
discovered  in  the  woods,  and  made  an  attack 
in  which  they  had  the  advantage  for  a  short 
time,  but  were  repulsed  and  driven  a  considera- 
ble distance.  Two  batteries  were  brought  to 
bear,  which  caused  them  to  press  upon  the 
Federal  left.  The  gunboats  then  opened  upon 
them  and  did  effective  service,  contributing 
materially  to  the  success  of  the  day.  The  divi- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


223 


Bion  of  Gen.  Porter  subsequently  arrived  on 
transports,  but  no  further  skirmishing  took 
place  at  that  position. 

The  success  at  Williamsburg  proved  to  be 
more  complete  than  had  been  at  first  expected. 
The  strong  works  of  the  enemy,  the  town,  and 
his  sick  and  wounded  being  taken,  indicated 
that  his  loss  had  been  great,  and  that  his  re- 
treat was  rapid  and  disorderly.  The  retreat 
was  followed  up  by  the  Federal  cavalry  for  one 
or  two  days,  and  constant  skirmishing  kept  up 
with  the  Confederate  rear  guard.  The  terrible 
condition  of  the  roads  rendered  a  more  active 
pursuit  out  of  the  question.  Three  days  were 
spent  by  the  army  at  Williamsburg  looking  after 
their  wounded,  who  were  scattered  through  the 
woods,  and  waiting  for  provisions  from  York- 
town,  the  arrival  of  which  was  delayed  by  the 
state  of'the  roads. 

After  the  movement  of  General  McClellan 
commenced,  a  serious  blow  was  given  to  the 
strength  of  the  enemy  by  the  destruction  of 
the  Merrimac  and  the  breaking  up  of  the  block- 
ade of  the  James  River,  which  had  been  caused 
by  the  Merrimac  taking  a  position  off  Oraney 
Island,  and  subsequently  by  their-  loss  of 
Norfolk. 

The  Merrimac,  was  the  steam  frigate  of  that 
name  which  had  been  sunk  at  the  Norfolk  navy 
yard  at  the  time  it  was  abandoned.  The  vessel 
was  subsequently  raised  by  the  enemy,  razeed 
or  cut  down  and  covered  with  a  roof  like  a 
house,  but  composed  of  railroad  iron.  Her 
sides  were  also  protected  with  plates  of  iron. 
She  took  a  position  as  above  stated,  and  to 
watch  her  the  wooden  frigates  Cumberland 
and  Congress  were  stationed  at  Newport  News, 
and  the  Minnesota,  Roanoke,  St.  Lawrence,  and 
other  ships  at  Fortress  Monroe.  At  the  same 
time  iron  clads  were  in  process  of  rapid  con- 
struction at  New  York  and  elsewhere,  with  the 
hope  of  being  ready  to  encounter  the  Merrimac, 
or  Virginia,  as  she  was  called  by  the  enemy, 
whenever  she  should  come  forth. 

About  half-past  eleven  A.  M.,  on  Saturday, 
March  8th,  the  Merrimac,  armed  with  ten  guns, 
appeared  to  be  coming  down,  accompanied  by 
the  Patrick  Henry,  Com.  Tucker,  six  guns; 
the  Jamestown,  Lieut.  Barney,  two  guns ;  Ra- 
leigh, Lieut.  Alexander ;  Beaufort,  Lieut.  Par- 
ker; Teazer,  Lieut.  Webb,  each  one  gun,  and 
moved  directly  toward  the  Cumberland.  Im- 
mediately all  hands  were  ordered  -to  their 
places,  and  the  Cumberland  was  sprung  across 
the  channel,  so  that  her  broadside  would  bear 
on  the  Merrimac.  The  armament  she  could 
bring  to  bear  was  about  eleven  nine  and  ten- 
inch  Dahlgren  guns,  and  two  pivot-guns  of 
the  same  pattern.  The  former  came  up  at 
the  rate  of  four  or  five  knots  per  hour,  and 
when  she  arrived  within  about  a  mile,  the 
Cumberland  opened  on  her  with  her  pivot- 
guns,  and  soon  the  whole  broadside  com- 
menced. The  balls  bounded  from  her  mailed 
sides  like  India-rubber,  apparently  making  not 
the  least  impression.  Six  or  eight  broadsides 


had  been  fired  when  a  shot  was  received  from 
one  of  her  guns  which  killed  five  marines.  It 
was  impossible  for  the  Cumberland  to  get  out 
of  her  way,  and  the  Merrimac  soon  crushed  her 
iron  horn  or  ram  into  the  frigate,  just  forward  the 
main  chains,  knocking  a  hole  in  the  side  near  the 
water-line,  as  large  as  the  head  of  a  hogshead, 
and  driving  the  vessel  back  upon  her  anchors 
with  great  force.  The  water  came  rushing  into 
the  hold.  The  Merrimac  then  backed  out  and 
discharged  her  guns  again,  the  shot  passing 
through  the  main  bay  and  killing  five  sick  men. 
The  water  was  all  the  while  rushing  in  the  hole 
made  by  the  ram,  so  that  in  five  minutes  it  was 
up  to  the  sick-bay  on  the  berth-deck.  In  the 
mean  time  her  broadsides  swept  the  men  away, 
maimed  and  killed,  and  also  set  the  frigate  on 
fire  in  the  forward  part.  The  fire  was  extin- 
guished. The  sick-bay,  berth-deck,  and  gun- 
deck,  were  almost  literally  covered  with  men 
killed  and  wounded,  but  the  surviving  ones 
still  fought  well,  and  every  one  displayed  the 
utmost  heroism.  The  fight  lasted  about  three- 
fourths  of  an  hour.  The  Cumberland  fired 
rapidly,  and  all  the  time  the  water  poured  in 
the  hole,  and  by  and  by  into  the  ports,  as  her 
bow  kept  sinking  deeper  and  deeper.  Near  the 
middle  of  the  fight,  when  the  berth-deck  of  the 
Cumberland  had  sunk  below  water,  one  of  the 
crew  of  the  Merrimac  came  out  of  a  port  to  the 
outside  of  her  iron-plated  roof,  and  a  ball  from 
one  of  the  guns  instantly  cut  him  in  two.  The 
Merrimac  fired  occasionally,  but  every  shot  told 
upon  the  wooden  vessel,  as  her  guns  being 
without  the  least  elevation,  pointed  straight  at 
the  Cumberland,  and  her  nearness,  being  much 
of  the  time  within  three  hundred  yards,  made 
it  an  easy  matter  to  send  each  ball  to  its  exact 
mark.  Finally,  after  about  three-fourths  of  an 
hour,  the  frigate  sank,  the  stars  and  stripes  still 
waving.  That  flag  was  finally  submerged,  but 
after  the  hull  grounded  on  the  sands,  fifty-four 
feet  below  the  surface  of  the  water,  the  pennant 
was  still  flying  from  the  topmast  above  the 
waves.  None  of  the  men  were  captured,  but 
many  were  drowned  as  the  vessel  went 
down.  There,  were  about  four  hundred  on 
board,  and  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two 
hundred  were  killed  during  the  engagement 
and  drowned  at  the  sinking.  Lieut.  George  M. 
Morris  was  in  command  of  the  vessel,  Capt. 
Radford  being  absent  on  the  Roanoke  at  a 
court  of  inquiry.  Very  few  of  the  men  swam 
ashore,  most  of  those  who  were  rescued  from 
the  water  being  saved  by  small  boats.  The 
Merrimac  seemed  to  be  uninjured,  although  her 
small  boats  and  flagstaff  were  shot  away  in  the 
commencement  of  the  action. 

The  Merrimac  next  surged  up,  and  gave  the 
Congress  a  broadside,  receiving  one  in  return, 
and  getting  astern,  raked  the  ship  fore  and  aft. 
This  fire  was  terribly  destructive,  a  shell  killing 
every  man  at  one  of  the  guns  except  one.  Com- 
ing again  broadside  to  the  Congress,  the  Merri- 
mac ranged  slowly  backward  and  forward  at 
less  than  one  hundred  yards  distant,  and  fired 


224 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


broadside  after  broadside  into  the  Congress. 
The  latter  vessel  replied  manfully  and  obsti- 
nately, every  gun  that  could  be  brought  to 
bear  being  discharged  rapidly,  but  with  little 
effect  upon  the  iron  monster.  Finally  the  ship 
was  on  fire  in  so  many  places,  and  the  flames 
gathering  such  force,  that  the  National  flag  was 
hauled  down  and  a  white  flag  hoisted  at  the 
peak. 

The  loss  of  life  on  the  Congress  was  about 
one  hundred.  The  remaining  officers  and  a 
part  of  the  crew  escaped  ashore,  and  the  others 
were  taken  off  by  a  gunboat  of  the  enemy. 
During  the  night  the  Congress  was  burned  to 
the  water's  edge  and  sunk. 

On  the  first  appearance  of  the  Merrimac,  the 
steamship  Minnesota  left  Fortress  Monroe  for 
the  scene  of  action.  On  approaching  within  a 
few  miles,  the  ship  got  aground.  She  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  frigate  St.  Lawrence,  which  also 
grounded.  The  Eoanoke  also  made  an  attempt 
to  get  up  to  the  scene,  but  owing  to  the  shal- 
low water  was  obliged  to  return. 

After  sinking  the  Cumberland  and  firing  the 
Congress,  the  Merrimac,  with  the  Yorktown 
and  Jamestown,  stood  off  in  $he  direction  of 
the  steam-frigate  Minnesota, '  aground  about 
three  miles  belojv  Newport  News.  This  was 
about  five  o'clock  on  Saturday  evening.  The 
commander  of  the  Merrimac,  wishing  to  cap- 
ture this  splendid  ship  without  doing  serious 
damage  to  her,  did  not  attempt  to  run  the 
Minnesota  down.  He  stood  off  about  a  mile 
distant,  and  with  the  Yorktown  and  James- 
town threw  shell  and  shot  at  the  frigate.  The 
Minnesota,  though  from  being  aground  unable 
to  manoeuvre  or  bring  all  her  guns  to  bear,  was 
fought  splendidly.  She  threw  a  shell  at  the 
Yorktown  which  set  her  on  fire,  and  she  was 
towed  off  by  her  consort  the  Jamestown.  She 
received  two  serious  shots :  one,  an  eleven-inch 
shell,  entered  near  the  waist;  another  shot 
through  the  chain-plate,  and  another  through 
the  main-mast.  Six  of  the  crew  were  killed 
outright  on  board  the  Minnesota,  and  nineteen 
wounded. 

About  nightfall  the  Merrimac,  satisfied  with 
her  afternoon's  work  of  destruction,  steamed  in 
behind  Sewall's  Point.  The  day  thus  closed 
with  the  most  gloomy  apprehensions  of  what 
would  occur  on  the  next.  The  Minnesota  was 
at  the  mercy  of  the  Merrimac,  and  there  ap- 
peared no  reason  why  the  iron  monster  might 
not  clear  the  Eoads  of  the  fleet,  destroy  all  the 
stores  and  warehouses  on  the  beach,  drive  the 
troops  into  the  Fortress,  and  command  Hamp- 
ton Eoads  against  any  number  of  wooden  ves- 
sels the  Government  might  send  there.  Mean- 
time the  iron-clad,  called  Monitor,  had  been 
completed  in  New  York,  and  was  taken  in  tow 
from  New  York  harbor  by  a  steam-tug,  on  the 
6th  of  March,  1862,  and  propelled  by  her  own 
steam-power  also,  was  hurried  towards  Hamp- 
ton Eoads,  to  be  in  readiness,  if  possible,  for  the 
threatened  descent  of  the  Merrimac.  In  case 
ol  encountering  storms,  the  original  plan  was 


to  make  a  harbor,  and  thus  avoid  the  dangers 
to  which  a  vessel  of  this  character  would  be 
subjected.  The  voyage,  however,  was  per- 
formed through  a  heavy  gale  of  wind  and 
rough  seas,  which  the  vessel  happily  weathered, 
although  the  waves  rolled  over  the  top  of  the 
turret,  and  the  water  was  driven  with  violence 
through  the  apertures  necessarily  left  for  ven- 
tilation, for  the  escape  of  smoke,  &c.  This 
threatened  several  times  to  extinguish  the  fires, 
and  caused  the  engines  to  work  so  feebly  that 
they  were  incompetent  to  expel  the  noxious 
gases,  or  pump  out  the  water.  Several  of  the 
men  and  officers  were  rendered  senseless  by 
the  suffocating  fumes  from  the  fires,  and  were 
only  restored  by  being  brought  up  into  the  tur- 
ret, and  exposed  to  the  fresh  air.  In  the  height 
of  the  gale  the  tiller  rope  was  thrown  off  the 
wheel,  and  but  for  the  strong  hawser  connect- 
ing the  battery  with  the  tug-boat  ahead,  the 
former  must  have  foundered  before  her  move- 
ments could  have  been  brought  under  any  con- 
trol. During  the  night,  when  these  dangers 
were  most  imminent,  no  means  whatever  were 
available  for  signalling  to  the  tugboat  the  need 
of  seeking  protection  nearer  the  shore,  from 
which  direction  the  wind  came,  and  all  on 
board  were  thus  kept  in  constant  alarm. 

To  those  upon  whom  rested  the  responsibili- 
ty of  the  great  trial  upon  which  they  were 
about  to  enter,  no  sleep  was  afforded  after  Fri- 
day morning  the  7th  of  March.  On  Saturday 
evening  the  Monitor  entered  Hampton  Eoads  as 
the  engagement  of  the  day  was  terminating. 
During  the  night  the  Merrimac  lay  at  anchor 
near  Sewall's  Point,  and  the  Monitor  remained 
near  the  Minnesota,  which  was  fast  aground 
between  Fortress  Monroe  and  Newport  News. 
Early  on  Sunday  morning  the  Merrimac  was 
seen  advancing  toward  the  Minnesota,  to  re- 
new the  work  of  destruction  she  had  so  succes- 
fully  prosecuted  the  day  before.  When  within 
range,  her  shot  were  discharged  at  the  frigate 
aground  without  any  heed  being  paid  to  the 
apparently  insignificant  stranger  within  a  mile 
of  which  she  was  passing.  At  this  distance, 
those  on  board  the  Merrimac  must  have  been 
astonished  as  one  of  the  11-inch  Dahlgrens  from 
the  curious  little  tower  upon  the  raft-like  struc- 
ture opened  upon  the  ship  with  its  hundred 
and  sixty-eight  pound  shot.  From  that  time 
the  attack  upon  the  Minnesota  was  abandoned, 
and  attention  was  directed  only  to  this  new  an- 
tagonist. The  vessels  soon  came  into  close  ac- 
tion, and  no  effect  resulting  from  the  shot  of 
the  Merrimac  striking  the  Monitor,  an  attempt 
was  made  by  the  former  to  run  down  and  crush 
or  sink  the  smaller  vessel.  Five  times  the  two 
vessels  struck  each  other,  and  each  time  one  of 
the  guns  of  the  Monitor  was  discharged  direct- 
ly against  the  plated  sides  of  the  Merrimac. 
The  Minnesota  directed  her  fire  against  the 
Merrimac,  and  two  of  her  balls  struck  the  Mon- 
itor, without,  however,  inflicting  any  damage. 
After  the  contest  had  raged  for  some  hours, 
the  Monitor,  entirely  unharmed,  withdrew  to 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


225 


some  distance  for  the  purpose  of  hoisting  more 
shot  into  her  turret;  which  being  done,  the 
fight  was  immediately  recommenced.  The 
Merrimac  soon  appeared  to  he  in  a  disabled 
condition,  and  gradually  worked  away  towards 
the  batteries  at  Sewall's  Point.  As  afterward 
ascertained,  the  heavy  iron  prow,  projecting 
six  feet  from  the  stem  of  the  Merrimac,  was  so 
wrenched  by  the  concussion  against  the  side  of 
the  Monitor,  that  the  timbers  of  the  frame  were 
started,  causing  the  vessel  to  leak  badly.  It  is 
not  known  that  the  shot  of  the  Monitor  pene- 
trated the  sides  of  her  opponent ;  but  it  has 
been  reported  and  denied  that  the  timbers  be- 
hind the  iron  plating  were  shattered  by  tne 
tremendous  force  of  the  blows.  The  Merrimac 
received  some  injury,  and  loss  of  life  was  incur- 
red from  the  shot  of  the  Minnesota.  During 
the  figbi,  the  first  officer  of  the  Monitor,  Oapt. 
A.  H.  Worden,  took  his  station  in  the  pilot- 
house, and  directed  the  firing  by  signals  to  the 
First  Lieutenant,  S.  Dana  Greene,  by  whom  the 
guns  were  trained  and  fired.  One  of  the  last 
shots  of  the  Merrimac  struck  the  pilot-house 
near  the  aperture  through  which  Capt.  "Worden 
was  looking  at  the  instant.  The  blow;  which 
was  so  heavy  as  to  break  one  of  the  great 
wrought-iron  beams  of  the  pilot-house,  stunned 
this  officer,  seriously  injuring  his  eyes  and  face. 
On  the  retiring  of  the  Merrimac,  the  second 
officer  took  charge  of  the  vessel,  knowing  that 
another  shot  striking  the  pilot-house  would  be 
likely  to  complete  its  destruction,  and  render 
the  vessel  unmanageable  by  disabling  the  steer- 
ing apparatus ;  and  acting  under  orders  which 
restricted  the  Monitor  to  a  defensive  course, 
except  so  far  as  might  be  necessary  to  protect 
the  Minnesota,  declined  to  pursue  the  Merrimac, 
and  remained  by  the  Minnesota. 

On  the  Vth  President  Lincoln  arrived  at  For- 
tress Monroe,  and  after  examining  the  fortress 
and  the  camp  at  Newport  News,  urged  a  move- ' 
ment  on  Norfolk,  which  had  already  been  re- 
ported as  abandoned  in  consequence  of  the  ad- 
vance of  the  army  of  the  Potomac  up  the  pen- 
insula. An  expedition  was  accordingly  organ- 
ized, under  the  direction  of  Maj.-Gen.  Wool, 
which  embarked  at  Fortress  Monroe  during  the 
night  of  the  9th  of  May,  and  landed  at  Wil- 
loughby's  Point,  a  short  distance  from  the  Rip 
Raps  and  eight  miles  from  Norfolk,  at  daylight 
on  the  10th.  The  force  consisted  of  the  10th 
New  York,  Col.  Bendix ;  20th  do.,  Col.  Weber ; 
99th  do.;  1st  Delaware,  Col.  Andrews;  16th 
Massachusetts,  Col.  Wyman ;  58th  Pennsylva- 
nia, Col.  Bailey ;  a  battalion  of  mounted  rifles, 
and  a  company  of  4th  regular  artillery.  Gens. 
Mansfield  and  Weber  proceeded  over  a  good 
road  on  the  direct  route  to  Norfolk,  but  finding 
the  bridge  over  Tanner's  Creek  on  fire,  and  a 
small  force  of  the  enemy  on  the  opposite  side 
with  three  small  howitzers,  a  march  of  eight 
miles  was  then  made  by  the  Princess  Anne 
road,  around  the  head  of  the  creek  to  Norfolk. 
The  defences  of  the  city  were  found  to  have 
been  abandoned.  At  the  limits  of  the  city 
15 


Gen.  Wool  was  met  at  half-past  four  hi  the 
afternoon  by  the  mayor  and  a  committee  of 
the  council,  who  surrendered  it.  He  immedi- 
ately took  possession,  and  appointed  Brig.-Gen. 
Viele  military  governor,  with  directions  to  see 
that  the  citizens  were  protected  in  "  all  their 
civil  rights."  The  troops  bivouacked  on  the  field 
outside  of  the  limits  of  the  city  for  the  night. 
About  four  o'clock  the  next  morning  a  bright 
light  was  observed  from  Fortress  Monroe,  in  the 
direction  of  Craney  Island,  which  ,was  supposed 
at  first  to  be  a  signal  of  some  description  from 
the  Confederate  iron-clad  steamer  Merrimac  or 
Virginia.  It  was  closely  watched  by  the  officers 
of  the  picket  boats,  as  well  as  by  the  various 
naval  vessels  of  the  fleet,  and  precisely  at  half- 
past  four  o'clock  an  explosion  took  place,  which 
made  the  earth  tremble  for  miles  around.  In 
the  midst  of  the  bright  flames  that  shot  up 
through  the  distant  blaze,  the  timber  and  iron 
of  the  monster  steamer  could  be  seen  flying 
through  the  air,  while  immense  volumes  of 
smoke  rose  up,  and  for  a  time  obscured  every 
thing.  No  doubt  was  entertained  that  the 
Merrimac  had  ceased  to  exist,  and  had  doubt- 
less been  abandoned  by  the  crew. 

A  naval  reconnoissance  was  immediately  sent 
out  toward  Norfolk.  The  fortifications  on 
Craney  Island  were  found  to  have  been  aban- 
doned. On  the  main  front  of  the  island, 
commanding  the  approaches  by  the  river  chan- 
nel, the  works  were  casernated.  Nine  of  these 
casemates  were  finished,  hi  each  of  which  were 
nine  or  ten-inch  guns,  principally  Dahlgrens, 
and  the  work  of  erecting  five  more  casemates 
was  in  progress  at  the  time  of  the  evacuation, 
in  one  of  which  a  gun  was  mounted.  The 
whole  number  of  guns  mounted  was  thirty-nine, 
of  which  two  were  Parrotts  and  a  number 
rifled  Dahlgrens.  There  were  also  about  six 
guns  in  the  works  which  had  not  been  mount- 
ed. None  of  them  had  been  removed. 

On  the  line  of  the  river  leading  from  Craney 
Island  to  Norfolk  there  were  not  less  than  six 
heavy  earthworks,  mounting  hi  all  about  sixty- 
nine  cannon,  all  of  which  were  in  position,  ex- 
cept those  that  were  in  the  works  near  the 
Naval  Hospital.  These  had  been  taken  to 
Richmond. 

Not  far  above  Craney  Island  was  the  river 
barricade.  Although  the  river  is  here  nearly 
a  mile  wide,  a  line  of  piles  had  been  driven 
from  shore  to  shore,  with  the  exception  of  an 
opening  in  the  centre  of  the  channel  for  ves- 
sels to  pass  in  and  out.  Here  were  two 
steam  pile-drivers  which  had  been  used  for 
this  work,  and  near  the  opening  was  moored 
the  hulk  of  the  old  frigate  United  States, 
which  it  was  proposed  to  sink  in  case  Federal 
vessels  should  have  succeeded  in  passing  the 
fortifications. 

Immediately  commanding  this  river  barricade 
was  a  casemated  battery,  forming  a  half  circle, 
and  mounting  eleven  heavy  guns.  On  the  op- 
posite bank  of  the  river  was  another  battery, 
with  two  or  three  other  small  works,  before 


226 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


old  Fort  Norfolk  on  one  side  of  the  river,  and 
the  Naval  Asylum  batteries  on  the  other,  were 
reached. 

In  addition  to  the  amount  of  ammunition  left 
in  the  sheds  of  the  batteries,  the  magazines, 
of  which  there  was  a  great  number,  were  well 
filled.  The  amount  of  powder  in  the  magazines 
was  estimated  at  five  thousand  pounds,  and  the 
fixed  ammunition  could  be  enumerated  by  the 
cargo.  All  the  workshops,  storehouses,  and 
other  buildings  at  the  Gosport  navy  yard  were 
burned,  and  the  dry  dock  had  also  been  partially 
blown  up  with  powder  on  the  night  after  Nor- 
folk was  surrendered.  While  this  was  taking 
place,  another  party  was  engaged  in  burning 
the  shipping  and  steamboats  in  the  harbor. 
There  is  no  doubt  this  vast  sacrifice  was  per- 
mitted by  the  Confederate  Government,  only  to 
enable  it  to  summon  to  Richmond  the  troops 
in  and  about  Norfolk  under  Gen.  Huger.  They 
were  about  eighteen  thousand  in  number. 

At  the  same  time  when  this  movement  was 
made  on  Norfolk,  steps  were  taken  to  open  the 
blockade  of  James  river.  On  the  8th  of  May 
the  gunboats  Galena  (iron  clad),  Aroostook, 
and  Port  Royal  started  up  the  river,  and  were 
successful  in  silencing  the  batteries  at  its  mouth 
and  on  its  banks.  They  were  subsequently  join- 
ed by  the  Monitor  and  Naugatuck,  and  on  the 
18th  were  repulsed  by  a  heavy  battery  at 
Drury's  Bluff,  about  eight  miles  below  Rich- 
mond. The  blockade  of  the  river  below  that 
point  was  raised. 

Meantime  the  army  of  Gen.  McClellan  was 
advancing  toward  Richmond.  On  the  8th  of 
May  the  advance  was  beyond  Williamsburg,  on 
the  llth  it  was  at  Barnhamsville,  on  the  13th  at 
New  Kent  Court  House,  and  on  the  15th  at  the 
White  House.  This  was  the  point  where  the 
railroad  from  West  Point  to  Richmond  crossed 
the  Pamunkey  river.  It  took  its  name  from 
a  fine  building,  once  the  property  of  Gen. 
Washington,  but  now  of  his  heirs.  The  rail- 
road was  in  good  order,  and  locomotives  and 
cars,  brought  on  the  transports,  were  imme- 
diately placed  on  the  track.  It  was  intended 
that  the  supplies  of  the  army,  as  it  advanced, 
should  be  taken  over  this  road.  The  Pamun- 
key river,  at  the  White  House,  was  of  sufficient 
depth  to  float  large  vessels,  and  an  immense 
amount  of  stores  was  there  collected.  A  re- 
connoissance  was  made  on  the  16th  by  one  of 
the  smaller  gunboats,  with  two  companies  of 
infantry  under  Major  Willard,  and  one  section 
of  Ayres'  battery,  up  the  Pamunkey  river,  a  dis- 
tance of  twenty -five  miles,  to  a  point  known  as 
Russell's  Landing.  A  steamboat,  a  propeller, 
and  fifteen  small  schooners  were  found  in  flames 
upon  their  arrival.  Most  of  these  vessels  were 
loaded  with  corn.  On  the  same  day  the  Con- 
federate troops,  consisting  chiefly  of  a  corps  of 
observation,  wer.e  driven  over  the  Chickahom- 
iny on  the  main  road  to  Richmond,  at  Bottom's 
Bridge,  which  was  burned.  When  the  Federal 
troops  arrived  within  a  half  mile  of  the  bridge, 
a  brisk  fire  of  artillery  from  the  opposite  side 


opened  upon  them.  The  Confederate  army 
had  now  retreated  across  the  Chickahominy, 
determined  beyond  that  river  to  dispute  the 
possession  of  Richmond.  The  Chickahominy 
river  is  formed  by  the  junction  of  Horsepen 
Branch,  Rocky  Branch,  North  Run,  and  Brook 
Run,  near  Meadow  Bridge,  five  miles  directly 
north  of  Richmond.  All  these  streams,  and 
several  others  too  small  to  have  names,  rise 
within  ten  miles  northwest  of  Richmond,  in  a 
rough,  unfertile  country,  exceedingly  broken 
and  unfit  for  cultivation. 

Meadow  Bridge  is  nearly  north  of  Richmond, 
five  miles  in  a  direct  line  by  railroad,  and  is 
tHe  outlet  of  a  considerable  swamp,  and  the 
place  of  crossing  for  Meadow  Bridge  road  and 
the  Virginia  Central  and  Louisa  railroad.  The 
stream  at  this  bridge  is  an  insignificant  brook, 
receiving  another  creek  from  the  Richmond 
side,  a  short  distance  below.  Less  than  two 
miles  from  Meadow  Bridge  is  the  bridge  of  the 
Mechanicsville  turnpike,  four  and  one  half 
miles  from  the  Confederate  capital  and  fifteen 
from  Hanover  Court  House. 

Two  miles  further  on,  it  receives  a  small  creek 
with  the  name  of  Brandy  Run,  and  from  this 
point  it  grows  considerably  wider,  more  slug- 
gish, with  swampy  shores  at  intervals,  and  low 
banks  often  overflowed.  Near  this  place  is  a 
small  bridge,  and  a  road  crosses,  but  little  used. 

Four  miles  from  Mechanicsville  turnpike 
bridge  is  New  Bridge,  in  a  direct  line  north- 
east from  the  city  six  miles,  and  seven  and  a 
half  miles  by  the  road.  Four  miles  farther,  and 
directly  east  from  the  city,  is  a  military  bridge. 
From  this  bridge  three  miles  farther  to  Bot- 
tom's Bridge  the  banks  of  the  stream  are  quite 
swampy,  but  it  is  still  of  no  considerable  size, 
although  several  creeks  have  emptied  their  wa- 
ters into  it.  A  mile  before  reaching  Bottom's 
Bridge  it  is  crossed  by  the  Richmond  and  York 
•  River  railroad,  running  to  White  House  and 
West  Point.  The  course  of  the  river  from  its 
source  is  east-southeast,  so  that  it  is  constantly 
leaving  Richmond,  and  at  Bottom's  Bridge  is  fif- 
teen miles  away  from  the  city.  Its  nearest 
point  is  at  Mechanicsville  bridge.  The  bank  of 
the  stream  on  the  north  side  is  for  the  most 
part  rolling  bluffs,  covered  with  forests,  with 
an  occasional  opening,  where  can  be  seen  finely 
situated  plantations.  Upon  the  south  side  of 
the  stream,  and  from  one  to  two  miles  from  the 
bank,  a  considerable  bluff  extends  the  entire 
distance  to  the  vicinity  of  the  lower  military 
bridge.  This  bluff  is  highest  opposite  New- 
Bridge,  where  a  point  of  it  is  known  as  Lew^s 
Hill.  A  road  runs  along  on  the  brow  of  this 
hill,  and  there  are  some  very  fine  residences 
situated  upon  it,  which,  as  it  is  only  some 
three  or  four  miles,  at  most,  from  the  city, 
are  very  desirable  locations.  ^  Other  bridges 
were  constructed  by  orders  of  Gen.  McClellan. 
The  soil  along  the  York  River  railroad  is  of 
too  pliable  a  nature  to  admit  of  the  transporta- 
tion of  heavy  guns,  or,  in  fact,  any  others,  at 
the  time  of  severe  rains.  The  same  may  be  said 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


227 


of  all  the  localities  between  the  Chickahominy 
and  Richmond.  After  the  passage  of  a  hundred 
teams  it  becomes  necessary  to  construct  new 
roads.  Some  days  passed  in  bringing  up  the  rear 
of  the  army,  in  making  preparations  to  cross  the 
Chickahominy,  and  in  securing  the  conveyance 
of  the  supplies  for  the  army.  The  railroad  from 
the  White  House  became  the  base  for  this  pur- 
pose, and  was  kept  open  until  the  25th  of  June. 
Meantime  the  Federal  army  was  diminishing  in 
numbers,  while  the  Confederates  were  gather- 
ing troops  by  every  method  they  could  devise. 
Prisoners  were  taken,  who  belonged  to  regi- 
ments which  had  opposed  Gen.  Burnside  in 
North  Carolina.  And  Norfolk  had  been  sacri- 
ficed to  send  her  troops  to  Richmond.  The 
conscription  act,  passed  by  the  Confederate 
Congress  in  April,  made  every  man  between 
the  ages  of  eighteen  and  thirty-five  years  a  sol- 
dier. The  new  levies  were  now  collecting  be- 
fore Richmond. 

On  the  evening  of  the  21st  Gen.  McClellan 
sent  the  following  despatch  to  the  War  Depart- 
ment: "I  have  just  returned  from  Bottom's 
Bridge;  have  examined  the  country  on  the 
other  side,  and  made  a  reconnoissance  on  the 
heels  of  theenemy,  who  probably  did  not  like  the 
skirmish  of  yesterday.  The  bridge  will  be  re- 
paired by  to-morrow  morning,  and  others  con- 
structed. All  the  camps  have  advanced  to-day." 

On  the  next  day  the  troops  began  to  cross  both 
at  Bottom's  Bridge  and  at  the  railroad  bridge, 
and  took  up  a  position  qne  and  a  half  miles 
beyond.  Reconnoissances  made  during  the  day 
gave  no  assurance  that  the  Confederates  were 
in  any  considerable  force  near  at  hand,  but  led 
to  the  impression  that  it  was  their  purpose  to 
make  a  stand  in  a  selected  position  near  Rich- 
mond. On  the  next  day,  the  23d,  the  advance 
was  within  seven  miles  of  Richmond.  •  The  Con- 
federates were  at  the  same  time  attacked  with 
shells  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  near 
New  Bridge.  This  was  followed  up  on  the  next 
day  with  more  skirmishing.  During  these  days, 
since  the  army  had  reached  the  river,  the  un- 
usual quantity  of  rain  that  fell  had  rendered  the 
roads  almost  impassable  for  artillery,  at  the 
same  time  it  had  greatly  retarded  the  construc- 
tion of  the  numerous  bridges  which  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan wished  to  build  over  the  Chicka- 
hominy. There  were  two  principal  objects 
now  before  the  commander-in-chief :  one  was 
to  capture  Richmond,  and  the  other  to  secure 
supplies  for  his  army.  For  this  latter  purpose, 
it  was  necessary  for  him  to  be  prepared  to  de- 
fend the  railroad  against  every  attack  upon 
it.  The  Confederate  general,  Johnston,  by  hav- 
ing possession  of  the  bridges  over  the  river  on 
the  north  of  Richmond,  could  at  any  moment 
throw  a  force  over  and  attack  Gen.  McClellan's 
line  of  supplies.  The  river  therefore  was  ne- 
cessarily made  passable  to  the  Federal  army  at 
all  times,  to  enable  the  commander  to  mass  his 
troops  on  either  side  as  might  be  necessary. 

While  arrangements  were  making  to  render 
the  position  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  safe 


and  secure  its  successful  advance  upon  Rich- 
mond, Gen.  McClellan  began  to  look  anxiously 
for  the  expected  cooperation  of  Gen.  McDow- 
ell. It  was  evident  that  the  retreat  of  the  ene- 
my could  be  made  but  very  little  farther.  The 
campaign  had  ripened  for  the  battle,  and  the 
conflict  must  be  near  at  hand.  The  enemy  had 
always  declared  that  Richmond  would  never 
be  captured  so  long  as  any  men  were  left  to 
defend  it.  They  had  shown  their  willingness  to 
wait,  and  no  one  believed  they  would  retire  with- 
in the  defences  of  Richmond  until  they  were 
forced  to  do  it  by  the  disastrous  issue  of  a  battle. 
On  the  17th  of  May,  the  War  Department 
sent  the  following  instructions  to  Gen.  McClel- 
lan. Unfortunately  the  reinforcements  spoken 
of  therein,  were  destined  never  to  arrive : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ) 

WASHINGTON  CITY,  D.  C.,  May  IT,  1862. ) 
Maj.-Gen.  George  £.  McClellan,  Commanding 

Army  of  the  Potomac  before  Richmond  : 

Your  despatch  to  the  President,  asking  for  rein- 
forcements, has  been  received  and  carefully  consider- 
ed. The  President  is  not  willing  to  uncover  the  capi- 
tal entirely,  and  it  is  believed  that  even  if  this  were 
prudent,  it  would  require  more  time  to  effect  a  junc- 
tion between  your  army  and  that  of  the  Eappahan- 
nock,  by  the  way  of  the  Potomac  and  York  rivers, 
than  by  a  land  march. 

In  order,  therefore,  to  increase  the  strength  of  the 
attack  upon  Richmond  at  the  earliest  possible  moment, 
Gen.  McDowell  has  been  ordered  to  march  upon  that 
city  by  the  shortest  route.  He  is  ordered — keeping 
himself  always  in  position  to  cover  the  capital  from  all 
possible  attack — so  to  operate  as  to  put  his  left  wing 
in  communication  with  your  right,  and  you  are  in- 
structed to  cooperate  so  as  to  establish  this  communi- 
cation as  soon  as  possible.  By  extending  your  right 
wing  to  the  north  of  Richmond,  it  is  believed  that  this 
communication  can  be  safely  established,  either  north 
or  south  of  the  Pamunkey  river.  In  any  event,  you 
will  be  able  to  prevent  the  main  body  of  the  enemy's 
forces  from  leaving  Richmond  and  falling  in  over- 
whelming force  upon  Gen.  McDowell.  He  will  move 
with  between  thirty-five  and  forty  thousand  men. 

A  copy  of  the  instructions  to  Maj.-Gen.  McDowell 
is  with  this.  The  specific  task  assigned  to  his  com- 
mand has  been  to  provide  against  any  danger  to  the 
capital  of  the  nation.  At  your  earnest  call  for  reen- 
force_ments,  he  ,is  sent  forward  to  cooperate  in  the  re- 
duction of  Richmond,  but  charged,  in  attempting  this, 
not  to  uncover  the  city  of  Washington,  and  you  Will 
give  no  orders  either  before  or  after  your  junction, 
which  can  keep  him  out  of  position  to  cover  this  city. 
You  and  he  will  communicate  with  each  other  by  tele- 
graph or  otherwise  as  frequently  as  may  be  necessary 
for  efficient  cooperation. 

When  Gen.  McDowell  is  in  position  on  your  right,  his 
supplies  must  be  drawn  from  West  Point,  and  you 
will  instruct  your  staff  officers  to  be  prepared  to  sup- 
ply him  by  that  route. 

The  President  directs"  that  Gen.  McDowell  retain  the 
command  of  the  Department  of  the  Rappahannock, 
and  of  the  forces  with  which  he  moves  forward. 

By  order  of  the  President. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

On  the  26th,  an  order  was  given  for  a  move- 
ment, the  design  of  which  was  to  open  a  com- 
munication with  Gen.  McDowell,  as  well  as  to 
scatter  a  force  known  to  be  collecting  near 
Hanover  Court  House  to  threaten  the  right  of 
Gen.  McClellan  and  his  communications. 

About  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
27th,  the  division  of  Gen.  Morrell,  of  Gen.  For- 


228 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ter's  corps,  commenced  its  march  in  a  heavy 
rain  which  had  continued  all  night.  It  turned 
off  from  the  road  to  New  Bridge,  and  took  that 
to  Hanover  Court  House.  The  whole  column 
marched  fifteen  miles  steadily,  with  great  ra- 
pidity, and  with  very  little  straggling.  Soon 
after  noon  the  enemy's  pickets  were  met  and 
driven  in.  This  was  near  the  railroad  and 
ahout  four  miles  from  the  Court  House.  The 
advance,  consisting  of  Gen.  Martindale's  bri- 
gade, composed  in  part  of  the  18th  and  22d 
Massachusetts,  2d  Maine,  and  25th  New  York, 
had  met  the  enemy  in  considerable  force.  The 
latter  regiment  suffered  severely  by  the  enemy 
on  either  flank,  until  -the  artillery  opened  its 
tire.  This  continued  for  half  an  hour,  when  the 
arrival  of  Gen.  Butterfield's  brigade  soon  settled 
the  affair.  After  an  advance  of  a  mile  farther 
the  Federal  force  halted.  During  this  halt  the 
enemy  marched  so  as  to  flank  it  and  made  an 
attack  upon  its  left,  when  a  severe  battle  ensued, 
which  finally  resulted  near  sundown  in  driving 
the  enemy  from  the  field .  The  Federals,  in  both 
contests,  had  fifty-four  killed  and  one  hundred 
and  ninety-four  wounded  and  missing.  The 
loss  was  chiefly  in  the  25th  New  York.  The 
Confederate  force  was  estimated  at  eight 
thousand,  and  wounded  prisoners  were  taken 
to  the  hospitals  belonging  to  fourteen  different 
regiments.  Their  loss  was  between  two  and 
three  hundred  killed  and  wounded,  and  about 
five  hundred  taken  prisoners.  The  expedition 
was  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Porter.  The 
battle  was  near  Peak's  Station,  on  the  Vir- 
ginia Central  Kailroad.  Fredericksburg,  the 
headquarters  of  Gen.  McDowell,  was  distant 
about  forty-five  miles,  and  his  advance  was  at 
Bowling  Green,  distant  only  fifteen  miles.  This 
was  the  moment  for  the  junction  of  the  two 
armies.  Prince  de  Joinville  thus  speaks  of  the 
actions  of  this  hour : 

"It  needed  only  an  effort  of  the  will ;  the  two 
armies  were  united,  and  the  possession  of  Rich- 


mond certain !  Alas !  this  effort  was  not  made , 
I  cannot  recall  those  fatal  moments  without  a 
real  sinking  of  the  heart.  Seated  in  an  orchard 
in  the  bivouac  of  Porter,  amid  the  joyous  ex- 
citement which  follows  a  successful  conflict,  I 
saw  the  Fifth  cavalry  bring  in  whole  companies 
of  Confederate  prisoners,  with  arms  and  bag- 
gage, their  officers  at  their  head.  But  neither 
the  glad  confidence  of  the  Federals  nor  the  dis- 
couragement of  their  enemies  deceived  me, 
and  I  asked  myself  how  many  of  these  gallant 
young  men  who  surrounded  me,  relating  their 
exploits  of  the  day  before,  would  pay  with  their 
lives  for  the  fatal  error  which  was  on  the  point 
of  being  committed.  Not  only  did  not  the  two 
armies  unite,  but  the  order  came  from  "Washing- 
ton to  burn  the  bridges  which  had  been  seized. 
This  was  the  clearest  way  of  saying  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  and  to  its  chief  that  in 
no  case  could  they  count  on  the  support  of  the 
armies  of  upper  Virginia." 

Gen.  McClellan,  in  his  testimony  before  the 
court-martial  at  "Washington  in  the  case  of  Gen. 
McDowell  on  December  10,  said:  "I  have  no 
doubt,  for  it  has  ever  been  my  opinion,  that 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  would  have  taken 
Richmond,  had  not  the  corps  of  Gen.  McDowell 
been  separated  from  it.  It  is  also  my  opinion 
that  had  the  command  of  Gen.  McDowell  joined 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  month  of  May, 
by  way  of  Hanover  Court  House  from  Freder- 
icksburg, we  would  have  had  Richmond  in  a 
week  after  the  junction.  I  do  not  hold  Gen. 
McDowell  respoo^ble  for  a  failure  to  join  with 
me  on  any  occasion.  I  believe  that  anwers  the 
question." 

The  principal  bridge  burned  was  the  one  over 
the  South  Anna  River.  The  report  of  the  de- 
struction of  this  bridge,  made  from  the  army  at 
the  time  says:  "It  cuts  off  the  communication 
by  railroad  between  Richmond  and  the  forces 
under  Gen.  Jackson."  On  th^29th  the  expe- 
dition returned  to  its  original  camp. 


CHAPTER  XY1I1. 


Junction  of  Gen.  Shields  with  Gen.  McDowell— Both  ordered  to  the  Shenandoah  Valley— March  of  Gen.  Fremont  to  the 
same  point — Previous  advance  of  Gen.  Banks  up  the  Shenandoah— Position  of  the  Forces— Advance  of  Gen.  Jackson 
down  the  Valley — Attack  at  Front  Eoyal — Ketreat  of  Gen.  Banks — Excitement  in  the  Northern  States — Gen  Jackson 
falls  back— Pursuit  by  Gens.  Fremont  and  Shields— Battle  at  Cross  Keys— Battle  at  Port  Kepublic— Advance  of 
Gen.  Heath. 


THE  explanation  of  this  failure  on  the  part 
of  Gen.  McDowell  to  cooperate  with  the 
army  of  Gen.  McClellan  at  this  critical  mo- 
ment, _  involves  a  statement  of  the  military 
operations  which  had  been  taking  place  in 
the  Department  of  the  Potomac,  the  Moun- 
tain Department,  and  the  Department  of 
the  Shenandoah,  and  which  culminated  at 
this  time.  On  the  Confederate  side,  the  de- 


sign of  these  military  operations  was  not  only 
to  prevent  this  junction  of  Gen.  McDowell 
with  Gen.  McClellan,  but  also  to  prevent  any 
reinforcement  whatever  to  the  latter.  In  this 
last  object  they  were  also  partly  successful. 

The  corps  of  Gen.  McDowell  was  not  allow- 
ed to  embark  for  Fortress  Monroe  with  the 
other  forces  of  Gen.  McClellan  by  order  of  the 
President,  as  has  been  stated.  The  Department 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOR5T  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


229 


of  the  Rappahannock  created  soon  after,  and 
placed  under  the  command  of  Gen.  McDowell, 
became  the  field  of  his  operations.  The  division 
of  Gen.  Franklin  having  been  sent  to  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan,  the  forces  of  Gen.  McDowell  consisted 
of  the  divisions  of  Gens.  McOall  and  King. 
These  forces  were  in  Virginia,  southwest  of 
"Washington.  On  the  15th  of  April  the  order 
for  their  advance  was  issued.  On  the  night  of 
that  day  the  advance  reached  Catlett's  Station. 
On  the  17th  the  march  again  commenced,  and, 
six  miles  out,  the  pickets  of  the  enemy  were 
found  and  driven  in,  and  several  skirmishes  took 
place  during  the  day.  On  the  morning  of  the 
18th  the  small  force  of  the  enemy  were  driven 
across  the  bridges  into  Fredericksburg,  which 
place  they  were  not  prepared  to  defend,  and 
soon  after  abandoned  it,  having  destroyed  every- 
thing of  value  to  themselves  which  could  not 
be  carried  away.  On  the  next  day  the  city  was 
surrendered  by  the  authorities.  It  was  so  com- 
pletely under  the  guns  of  the  Federal  force 
planted  opposite  the  town,  that  any  resistance 
in  its  unprotected  state  would  have  been  useless. 
The  Confederate  force  which  retired  before 
the  advance,  consisted  of  one  regiment  of  in- 
fantry and  one  of  cavalry.  On  the  23d  of 
April  Gen.  McDowell  was  ordered  by  the  Presi- 
dent not  to  occupy  Fredericksbnrg  for  the  pres- 
ent, but  to  prepare  the  bridges  and  his  trans- 
portation. On  the  80th  he  was  authorized 
to  occupy  it.  On  the  4th  of  May  the  bridges 
across  the  Rappahannock  had  been  restored, 
and  the  city  was  occupied  by  the  Federal  troops. 
At  the  same  time  when  the  order  was  given  to 
Gen.  McDowell  to  advance  upon  Fredericksburg, 
an  order  was  given  to  Gen.  Shields  to  withdraw 
with  his  division  from  the  corps  of  Gen.  Banks 
in  the  Department  of  the  Shenandoah,  and  to 
join  the  corps  of  Gen.  McDowell.  Upon  the 
issue  of  this  order  detaching  Gen.  Shields  from 
the  command  of  Gen.  Banks,  the  "War  Depart- 
ment was  warned  by  experienced  military  offi- 
cers that  disaster  would  certainly  follow  from 
it.  Gen.  Shields  immediately  moved  to  comply 
with  the  order,  and  on  the  19th  his  division  en- 
camped half  a  mile  south  of  Catlett's  Station. 
He  was  ordered  then  to  Fredericksburg,  and 
reached  Falmouth  on  the  22d  of  May. 

On  the  17th  of  May  the  following  instructions 
were  given  to  Gen.  McDowell : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,       ) 
WASHINGTON  Cmr,  D.  C.,  May  17,  1862.  ) 
ToMaj.-Gen.  McDowell,  Commanding  Department  of 
the  fiappahannock : 

GENERAL  :  Upon  being  joined  by  Shields's  division, 
you  will  move  upon  Richmond  by  the  general  route  of 
the  Richmond  and  Fredericksburg  railroad,  coopera- 
ting with  the  forces  under  Gen.  McClellan  now  threat- 
ening Richmond  from  the  line  of  the  Pamunkey  and 
York  rivers.  While  seeking  to  establish  as  soon  as 
possible  a  communication  between  "your  left  wing  and 
the  right  wing  of  Gen.  McClellan,  you  will  hold  your- 
self always  in  such  position  as  to  cover  the  capital  of 
the  nation  against  a  sudden  dash  by  any  large  body  of 
the  rebel  forces. 

Gen.  McClellan  will  be  furnished  with  a  copy  of  these 
instructions,  and  will  be  directed  to  hold  himself  in 
readiness  to  establish  communication  with  your  left  and 


to  prevent  the  main  body  of  the  enemy's  army  from 
leaving  Richmond  and  throwing  itself  upon  your  col- 
umn before  a  junction  between  the  two  armies  is  effect- 
ed. A  copy  of  his  instructions  in  regard  to  the  em- 
ployment of  your  forces  is  annexed. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

A  few  days  previously  a  small  force  had 
crossed  over  to  Fredericsburg  by  order  of  Gen. 
McDowell,  but  the  main  body  of  his  corps  re- 
mained at  Falmouth,  where  it  could  sustain  the 
advance  if  necessary.  The  enemy  had  retired 
only  a  short  distance  from  the  town.  So  far 
as  related  to  numbers,  the  division  of  Gen. 
Shields  was  not  needed  by  Gen.  McDowell ; 
but  the  soldiers  of  the  former  had  been  on 
many  a  hard  field,  while  those  of  the  latter  had 
hardly  stood  the  shock  of  battle.  The  division 
of  Gen.  Shields,  just  from  a  march  of  one 
hundred  and  ten  miles,  was  appointed  to  take 
the  advance  upon  the  enemy.  This  division 
consisted  of  the  following  brigades :  first  bri- 
gade, Gen.  Kimball,  4th  and  8th  Ohio,  14th 
Indiana,  and  7th  Virginia ;  second  brigade,  Gen. 
Terry,  7th,  29th,  and  66th  Ohio^and  7th  Indi- 
ana ;  third  brigade,  Gen.  Tyler,  5th  Ohio,  1st 
Virginia,  84th  and  110th Pennsylvania;  fourth 
brigade,  Col.  Carroll  acting  brig.-gen.,  7th  and 
62d  Ohio,  13th  Indiana,  and  39th  Illinois. 

On  Saturday  evening,  May  24,  the  order 
was  received  for  the  division  of  Gen.  Shields 
and  other  forces,  to  fall  back. 

The  following  was  the  order : 

WASHINGTON,  May  24, 1862. 
Maj.-Gen.McDowell : 

Gen.  Fremont  has  been  ordered,  by  telegraph,  to 
move  to  Franklin  and  Harrisonburg,  to  relieve  Gen. 
Banks,  and  capture  or  destroy  Jackson  and  Swell's 
forces.  You  are  instructed,  laying  aside  for  the  pres- 
ent the  mpvemBnt  on  Richmond,  to  put  twenty  thou- 
sand men  in  motion  at  once  for  the  Shenandoah,  moving 
on  the  line,  or  in  advance  of  the  line,  of  the  Manassaa 
Gap  railroad.  Your  object  will  be  to  capture  the 
force  of  Jackson  and  Ewell,  either  in  cooperation  with 
Gen.  Fremont,  or,  in  case  want  of  supplies  or  trans- 
portation interfered  with  his  movement,  it  is  be- 
lieved that  the  force  which  you  move  will  be  sufficient 
to  accomplish  the  object  alone.  The  information  thus 
far  received  here  makes  it  probable  that,  if  the  enemy 
operates  actively  against  Gen.  Banks,  you  will  not  be 
able  to  count  upon  much  assistance  from  him,  but  may 
have  even  to  release  him.  Reports  received  this  mo- 
ment are  that  Banks  is  fighting  with  Ewell,  eight  miles 
from  Harper's  Ferry.  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

The  reply  of  Gen.  McDowell  to  this  order 
was  as  follows : 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  KAPPAHANNOCK,  \ 
May  24,  1862.  f 

Hon.  E.  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War  : 

The  President's  order  has  been  received,  and  is  in 
process  of  execution.    This  is  a  crushing  blow  to  us. 
IRVIN  McDOWELL,  Major-General. 

To  this  the  President  responded  as  follows : 

WASHINGTON,  May  24, 1862. 
Mai. -Gen.  McDowell : 

I  am  highly  gratified  by  your  alacrity  in  obeying  my 
orders.  The  change  was  as  painful  to  me  as  it  can 
possibly  be  to  you  or  to  any  one. 

Everything  now  depends  upon  the  celerity  and  vigor 
of  your  movements.  A.  LINCOLNT 

The  reply  of  Gen.  McDowell  to  this  mes- 
sage is  important,  as  showing  the  probabilities 


230 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


that  his  movement  would  be  unsuccessful.    It 
was  as  follows : 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  THK  RAPPAHANNOCK,  J 
OPPOSITE  FEEDEBICKSBUKU,  May  24, 1362.     ) 

Sit  Excellency  the  President : 

I  obeyed  your  order  immediately ;  for  it  was  posi- 
tive and  urgent,  and,  perhaps,  as  a  subordinate,  there 
I  ought  to  stop  ;  but  I  trust  I  may  be  allowed  to  say 
something  in  relation  to  the  subject,  especially  in  view 
of  your  remark  that  everything  depends  upon  the 
celerity  and  vigor  of  my  movements ;  I  beg  to  say  that 
cooperation  between  Gen.  Fremont  and  myself  to  cut 
off  Jackson  and  Ewell  is  not  to  be  counted  upon,  even 
if  it  is  not  a  practicable  impossibility ;  next,  that  I  am 
entirely  beyond  helping  distance  of  Gen.  Banks,  and 
no  celerity  or  vigor  will  be  available  as  far  as  he  is 
concerned ;  next,  that  by  a  glance  at  the  map  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  line  of  retreat  of  the  enemy  s  forces 
up  the  valley  is  shorter  than  mine  to  go  against  him. 
It  will  take  a  week  or  ten  days  for  the  force  to  get  to 
the  valley  by  the  route  which  will  give  it  food  and  for- 
age, and  by  that  time,  the  enemy  will  have  retreated. 
I  shall  gain  nothing  for  you  there,  and  lose  much  for 
you  here.  It  is,  therefore,  not  only  on  personal  grounds 
that  I  have  a  heavy  heart  in  the  matter,  but  I  feel  that 
it  throws  us  all  back,  and  from  Richmond  north  we 
ehall  have  all  our  large  mass  paralyzed,  and  shall  have 
to  repeat  what -we  have  just  accomplished. 

I  have  ordered  Gen.  Shields  to  commence  the  move- 
ment to-mor^row  morning.  A  second  division  will  fol- 
low in  the  afternoon.  Did  I  understand  you  aright 
that  you  wish  that  I  personally  should  accompany  this 
expedition?  Very  respectfully, 

IRVIN  MCDOWELL. 

The  division  of  Gen.  Shields,  accompanied 
by  other  portions  of  McDowell's  forces,  was  on 
the  march  at  noon  of  the  next  day,  ,and  moved 
fifteen  miles,  and  the  next  day,  the  26th,  en- 
camped six  miles  beyond  Catlett's  Station. 
Early  the  next  morning,  moving  again,  it  pass- 
ed Manassas  Junction  during  the  day,  where 
it  met  a  portion  of  the  force  driyen  from  Front 
Royal,  and  learned  that  Gen.  Banks  was  flying 
before  Gen.  Jackson,  and  halted  at  Haymarket. 
Twelve  days  previous  this  division  had  left 
Gen.  Banks's  army  to  join  Gen.  McDowell,  on 
his  way, -as  it  was  believed,  to  cooperate  with 
Gen.  McClellan  before  Richmond.  It  had  been 
the  division  of  Gen.  Lander,  and  had  become 
familiar  with  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  up 
which  they  had  pursued  the  enemy  from  the 
Potomac  to  the  northern  base  of  the  Massanut- 
ten  Mountains.  Now  the  work  of  a  whole 
winter  and  spring  was  before  them  to  do  over 
again.  In  cooperation  with  Gen.  Fremont's 
forces  they  prepared  to  aid  in  cutting  off  the 
retreat .  of  Gen.  Jackson  after  having  driven 
Gen.  Banks  across  the  Potomac.  On  the  27th 
a  column  under  Gen.  Kimball,  embracing,  as  a 
part  of  it,  the  entire  division  of  Gen.  Shields, 
commenced  its  march  for  Front  Royal,  which, 
without  serious  opposition,  it  was  expected  to 
reach  in  three  days,  and  Strasburg  in  four. 

The  advance  of  Gen.  McDowell  at  the  time 
it  was  countermanded  had  reached  Bowling 
Green,  fifteen  miles  from  Hanover  Court  House, 
which  was  two  days  later  occupied  by  a  force 
from  Gen.  McOlellan's  army  under  Gen.  Porter. 

The  order  creating  the  Mountain  Department 
was  issued  by  the  President  on  the  llth  of 
March.  It  was  supposed  at  this  time  that  the 


plan  of  the  campaign  for  Gen.  Fremont  was  to 
move  up  the  left  bank  of  the  Big  Sandy  river 
in  Kentucky,  to  Prestonville  and  Pikeville, 
through  Cumberland  Gap  to  Knoxville,  and 
thus  command  the  southern  railroad,  and  cut 
off  any  retreat  from  or  any  reinforcements  to 
Richmond.  On  the  29th  Gen.  Fremont,  at 
"Wheeling,  assumed  the  command,  and  Gen. 
Rosecrans  retired  and  took  command  of  Gen. 
Pope's  corps  under  Gen.  Grant.  The  new  de- 
partment was  bounded  on  the  east  by  that  of 
the  Potomac  under  Gen.  McClellan,  and  on  the 
west  by  that  of  the  Mississippi  under  Gen. 
Halleck.  Active  preparations  had  been  made 
by  Gen.  Rosecrans  for  the  spring  campaign. 
On  the  same  day  Gen.  Fremont  issued  an  or- 
der assigning  Brig.-Gen.  B.  F.  Kelly  to  the 
command  of  the  railroad  district,  consisting  of 
all  of  western  Virginia,  north  and  east  of  the 
counties  of  Jackson,  Roane,  Calhoun,  Braxton, 
Lewis,  Barbour,  and  Tucker  inclusive,  and 
west  of  the  Alleghanies,  Maryland,  and  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Military  operations  in  this  department,  un- 
der Gen.  Fremont,  commenced  about  the  1st 
of  April.  Gen.  Milroy,  who  had  been  some 
time  holding  the  pass  of  Cheat  Mountain  in 
Randolph  county  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
State,  advanced  twelve  miles  to  Camp  Green- 
brier,  thence  nine  miles  in  a  northeasterly  di- 
rection to  Camp  Alleghany,  a  position  occupied 
by  the  enemy,  who  retreated  before  him.  On 
the  10th  he  had  occupied  Monterey,  being  an 
advance  of  sixteen  miles.  This  position  was 
evacuated  by  the  Confederates,  and  also  Hun- 
tersville.  The  next  day  he  moved  toward 
McDowell,  distant  ten  miles,  and  occupied  it 
and  advanced  subsequently  to  Fort  Shen- 
andoah eight  miles.  Thus  far  Geu.  Milroy 
had  followed  the  retreating  foe  from  Monterey 
in  the  direction  of  Staunton  in  the  Shenan- 
doah Valley. 

On  the  3d  of  May  Gen.  Fremont  left  Wheel- 
ing and  arrived  at  New  Creek  on  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  railroad,  and  on  the  5th,  accom- 
panied by  his  staff  and  body  guard,  and  one  or 
two  regiments  of  infantry  and  a  battery,  he  ad- 
vanced about  six  miles ;  on  the  7th  he  reached 
Petersburg,  a  small  town  twelve  miles  beyond 
Moorefield,  and  forty-four  from  New  Creek. 
Gen.  Schenck's  brigade  had  left  Petersburg  on 
the  3d.  Their  aim  was  to  effect  a  junction  with 
Gen.  Milroy,  whose  situation  was  becoming 
exposed  in  consequence  of  forces  of  the  enemy 
advancing  from  the  east.  Gen.  Milroy  in  his  ad- 
vance had  driven  the  Confederates  beyond  the 
Shenandoah  Mountains,  the"  boundary  of  Gen. 
Fremont's  department,  and  had  made  his  head- 
quarters at  McDowell.  On  the  5feh  of  May  the 
32d  Ohio  regiment  was  advanced  beyond  the 
ShenandoahMountains,  about  sixteen  miles  from 
McDowell,  for  the  double  purpose  of  scouting 
and  foraging.  The  75th  Ohio  and  3d  Virginia, 
with  Hyman's  battery,  were  encamped  at  the 
foot  of  the  mountain  on  the  west  side,  and 
the  remainder  of  Gen.  Milroy's  force  was  at 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


231 


!®L-J^lRPMNEY   ,£ 


/ 


"  _-^^^^L  -^0^i_  2Zra  ^g-    •    >. -^t          •?=•  /<S»<,>A\V*rV: 


/«.™^t>^= 


232 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


McDowell.  This  is  a  small  town  on  the  Bull  Pas- 
ture river  at  the  foot  of  mountains  bearing  the 
same  name,  and  about  forty  miles  distant  from 
Harrisonburg  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  where 
Gen.  Banks's  forces  then  were.  To  prevent  the 
junction  of  these  forces,  or  to  cut  them  up 
before  Gen.  Milroy  could  be  reenforced,  Gen. 
Jackson  collected  all  the  Confederate  forces  in 
the  region,  and  marched  against  him.  On  the 
7th  he  attacked  the  32d  Ohio,  which  fell  back 
with  the  loss  of  their  camp  equipage  and  bag- 
gage, through  lack  of  transportation.  At  the 
same  time  the  force  west  of  the  mountain  fell 
back  in  order  to  McDowell,  where  a  stand  was 
determined  upon.  Gen  Milroy  at  the  earliest 
moment  sent  despatches  to  Gen.  Schenck,  who 
was  thirty  miles  distant,  to  hasten  to  his  assist- 
ance. In  the  afternoon  the  enemy  appeared 
in  large  force  on  the  tops  of  the  mountains  in 
the  rear  of  the  town,  arranging  for  an  attack. 
A  force  was  immediately  sent  forward  by  Gen. 
Milroy  to  occupy  the  hilltops  adjacent  to  the 
ones  upon  which  the  enemy  appeared,  more  for 
the  purpose  of  skirmishing  and  reconnoitring 
than  for  bringing  on  a  battle.  A  fierce  con- 
test ensued,  which  was  increased  by  the  arrival 
of  Gen.  Schenck  with  his  brigade,  and  con- 
tinued until  night.  The  forces  of  the  enemy 
being  manifestly  greatly  superior,  Gen.  Milroy 
determined  to  retreat.  The  march  was  com- 
menced at  midnight,  and  at  daybreak  they 
had  retired  thirteen  miles.  After  a  halt  of  two 
hours  it  was  continued  with  the  enemy  press- 
ing upon  them.  Upon  reaching  the  camp  of 
Gen.  Schenck,  arrangements  were  made  for  pro- 
tection. Every  hill  was  surmounted  with  can- 
non, and  ten  different  regiments  were  placed 
to  support  them,  and  for  over  thirty  hours  the 
artillery  by  a  constant  fire  kept  the  enemy  at  a 
distance.  On  the  morning  of  the  14th  all  of 
the  enemy  had  disappeared,  which  was  subse- 
quently explained  by  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Fre- 
mont with  'Blenker's  division.  The  Federal 
loss  in  this  conflict  was  twenty  killed,  one 
hundred  and  seventy-seven  wounded,  and  two 
missing.  The  Confederate  loss  was  forty 
killed,  and  two  hundred  wounded.  It  was 
nearly  a  flight  of  the  Federal  forces,  and  only 
the  arrival  of  Fremont  probably  saved  it  from 
final  capture.  The  Federal  loss  in  tents,  bag- 
gage, and  stores  was  great.  The  enemy  were 
present  in  much  superior  numbers. 

(Jen.  Fremont  now  made  his  headquarters  at 
Franklin,  eighty  miles  south  of  New  Creek, 
twenty-four  miles  from  Monterey,  and  sixty- 
five  from  Staunton.  Here  he  remained  quietly, 
reorganizing  and  refreshing  his  forces  for  ten 
days.  This  repulse  of  his  advance,  Mjith  his 
withdrawal  to  Franklin,  now  gave  Gen.  Jack- 
son the  opportunity  to  carry  out  the  plans 
against  Gen.  Banks  as  soon  as  the  moment 
came  for  their  execution.  Consequently  no 
further  movement  of  importance  was  made  on 
theTwt  of  Gen.  Fremont  until  he  was  ordered 
to  hurry  to  the  relief  of  Gen.  Banks.  This 
order  was  received  by  him  on  Saturday,  the 


24th  of  May,  under  the  form  of  a  despatch 
from  the  Secretary  of  War,  directing  him  to 
fall  back  with  his  entire  command  to  the  sup- 
port of  Gen.  Banks.  That  evening  the  order 
was  given  to  be  ready  for  a  movement  early  on 
the  following  morning.  As  early  as  half  past 
three  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning  the  noise  of 
preparation  was  heard,  and  at  six  o'clock  the 
army  was  in  motion. 

It  seems  that  when  Gen.  Fremont  was  order- 
ed to  go  to  the  relief  of  Gen.  Banks,  the  order 
prescribed  the  route  by  which  he  should  go.  (See 
p.  237.)  This  route,  thus  specified  by  the  Presi- 
dent, would  have  brought  Gen.  Fremont  in  the 
rear  of  Gen.  Jackson ;  whereas  that  taken  by 
Gen.  Fremont  brought  him  in  front  of  Gen.  Jack- 
son. But  Gen.  Fremont,  judging  it  to  be  an  ii% 
practicable  route,  took  the  responsibility  of  go- 
ing by  another.  The  President  telegraphed  to 
him,  eaying :  "  You  are  ordered  to  go  so  and  so. 
I  hear  of  you  elsewhere.  "What  does  this  mean?  " 
To  which  Gen.  Fremont  replied,  giving  the 
reasons,  viz. :  that  he  knew  of  a  shorter  and 
easier  route  by  which  he  could  more  effectual- 
ly perform  the  service  desired,  and  on  which 
his  half-famished  troops  would  meet  their 
transportation  and  supplies.  He  also  stated 
that  when  one  is  "  in  the  field,"  it  is  essentially 
difficult  to  obey  literally  orders  transmitted 
from  one  necessarily  unaware  of  present  exi- 
gencies, but  that  if  it  was  expected  of  him  so 
to  do,  he  would  do  it.  To  this  the  President, 
with  characteristic  simplicity,  replied  that  he 
was  satisfied. 

The  first  six  miles  of  the  road  were  inde- 
scribably bad,  owing  to  the  recent  rains  and 
the  heavy  wagons  that  had  been  passing  over 
it.  "Wounded  and  sick  had  been  left  at 
Franklin,  but  the  entire  train  of  wagons  was 
taken.  At  night  the  army  bivouacked  about  a 
mile  beyond  the  upper  crossing  of  the  South 
Branch  of  the  Potomac  on  the  road  to  Peters- 
burg. The  distance  marched  was  fourteen 
miles.  On  Monday,  the  26th,  the  advance 
reached  Petersburg  after  noon,  having  marched 
sixteen  miles,  and  halted  until  the  next  morn- 
ing. Orders  were  here  issued  that  knapsacks, 
tents,  and  baggage  of  every  description,  which 
could  possibly  be  dispensed  with,  should  be 
left  behind.  Five  days'  rations  of  hard  bread 
were  given  to  the  troops,  and  on  Tuesday,  the 
27th,  after  marching  twelve  miles,  they  halted 
on  the  highlands  east  of  the  village  of  Moore- 
field.  On  "Wednesday,  the  28th,  the  army  ad- 
vanced ten  miles,  passing  over  Hunting  Ridge, 
and  about  two  o'clock  halted  to  rest  and  await 
supplies.  The  roads  continually  grew  worse, 
and  the  rain  fell  steadily.  Thursday,  no  move- 
ment was  made.  A  small  force  under  Col. 
Downey,  on  a  reconnoissance,  encountered  a 
small  body  of  Confederate  cavalry.  On  Friday, 
the  80th,  an  advance  of  twenty  miles  was  made, 
and  the  army  bivouacked  at  "Wardensville.  A 
heavy  rain  fell  during  the  afternoon.  On  Sat-' 
urday,  the  31st,  the  last  of  the  intervening 
mountain  ranges  was  crossed,  and  the  western 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


233 


barrier  of  the  Shenandoah  Valley  alone  re- 
mained to  be  traversed.  The  troops  pushed 
on  twelve  miles  through  the  rain,  and  halted  at 
night  where  the  Winchester  and  Strasburg 
roads  divide.  On  the  narrow  ridges,  along 
which  the  path  wound  in  constant  ascent,  there 
was  no  plane  or  table  land  for  camp.  That 
rainy  night  the  tired  troops  dropped  and  slept 
by  the  roadside  or  in  the  swimming  fields. 
The  next  morning,  Sunday,  June  1,  the  ad- 
vance moved  at  six  o'clock,  and  at  eight  the 
whole  column  was  in  motion  on  the  road  to 
Strasburg.  In  about  an  hour  and  a  half  later 
a  skirmish  ensued  near  Strasburg,  and  Gen. 
Fremont  had  reached  the  position  to  cooperate 
with  the  force  of  Gen.  McDowell  against  the 
advance  of  the  enemy  upon  Gen.  Banks. 

After  the  battle  of  Winchester,  on  the  23d 
of  March,  the  retiring  Confederate  forces  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  were  followed  up  by  Gen. 
Banks.  On  the  1st  of  April  he  moved  from 
Strasburg  to  Woodstock,  where  his  entrance 
was  disputed  by  a  force  of  cavalry,  infantry, 
and  artillery  under  Col.  Ashby.  They  how- 
ever retreated  to  Edinburg,  destroying  one 
railroad  and  two  turnpike  bridges.  The  ad- 
vance was  subsequently  continued  with  occa- 
sional skirmishes,  and  on  the  26th  Harrisonburg 
was  occupied.  A  considerable  body  of  Con- 
federate troops  was  in  the  neighborhood,  but 
in  a  position  from  which  a  retreat  could  easily 
be  made. 

The  order  of  the  President,  which  divided 
the  army  in  Virginia  into  five  corps,  placed  the 
fifth  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Banks.  It 
was  to  be  composed  of  his  division  and  that  of 
Gen.  Shields,  which  had  previously  been  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Lander.  This  was  the  force 
now  encamped  near  Harrisonburg.  About  the 
15th  of  May  an  order  was  issued  from  the  War 
Department  withdrawing  the  division  of  Gen. 
Shields  from  the  corps  of  Gen.  Banks,  and  di- 
recting him  to  report  immediately  at  Catlett's 
Station  on  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  railroad, 
as  above  stated.  At  the  same  time  orders 
were  given  to  Gen.  Banks  to  fall  back  to  Stras- 
burg and  fortify.  Gen.  Shields  left  at  once, 
and  on  his  arrival  at  Catlett's  Station  he  was 
ordered  to  join  Gen.  McDowell  at  Fredericks- 
burg  immediately. 

At  Strasburg  the  Massanutten  range  of 
mountains  rise  in  the  middle  of  the  valley, 
and  divide  it.  Strasburg  is  favorably  located 
for  defence  against  an  attack  from  the  south 
by  the  western  valley.  But  the  eastern  valley, 
by  opening  out  at  Front  Royal,  affords  another 
road  to  the  Potomac,  and  also  a  good  plank 
road,  which  runs  direct  to  Winchester,  going 
round  Strasburg. 

Gen.  Banks  had  not  actually  fallen  back  to 
Strasburg  when  Gen.  Shields  marched  over 
the  mountain  and  down  the  eastern  branch 
of  the  valley  to  Front  Royal.  At  that  very 
time  an  attack  was  expected  on  the  front,  and 
a  portion  of  his  forces  had  been  daily  skirmish- 
ing with  a  Confederate  force  in  the  gap  of  the 


Massanutten  Mountains.  It  was  also  known 
that  Gen.  Jackson,  having  attempted  to  dis- 
lodge Gen.  Milroy  in  the  Mountain  Department, 
was  returning  to  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and 
that  Gen.  Ewell  was  with  a  strong  force  on  the 
road  running  from  Harrisonburg  to  Gordons- 
ville,  and  also  that  Gen.  Taylor  was  still  higher 
up  the  valley  with  another  Confederate  force. 
In  addition,  Gen.  Jackson  could  be  easily  reen- 
forced  from  Gordonsville.  With  this  force 
menacing  the  valley,  Gen.  Banks  was  left  with 
less  than  six  thousand  men,  including  cavalry 
and  artillery,  to  defend  the  whole  valley,  and 
that,  too,  before  he  had  time  to  prepare  him- 
self for  resistance  by  fortifications. 

Eastward  of  Front  Royal  there  was  another 
force  under  Gen.  Geary,  charged  with  the  pro- 
tection of  the  Manassas  Gap  railroad.  The 
headquarters  of  Gen.  Geary  were  at  Rector- 
town,  and  there  were  only  between  seven  and 
eight  hundred  troops  at  Front  Royal.  Still 
farther  east,  at  Catlett's  Station,  on  the  Orange 
and  Alexandria  railroad,  about  ten  miles  south 
of  Manassas  Junction,  was  the  brigade  of  Gen. 
Duryea,  consisting  of  three  New  York  and  one 
Pennsylvania  regiment.  These  forces  formed 
the  connection  between  Gen.  Banks  and  the 
main  body  of  the  army  of  the  Rappahannock, 
under  Gen.  McDowell,  at  Fredericksburg. 

The  enemy,knowing  the  position  and  strength 
of  these  forces,  formed  a  plan  to  capture  the  en- 
tire force  of  Gen.  Banks.  This  plan  was  to  be 
executed  on  the  proper  signal  being  given  from 
Richmond.  At  this  time  Gen.  McClellan  was 
within  fifteen  miles  of  Richmond.  Gen.  Mc- 
Dowell had  been  reenforced  by  Gen.  Shields, 
and  orders  were  expected  every  hour  for  him 
to  advance  toward  Richmond.  It  was  all-impor- 
tant for  the  defence  of  that  capital  that  reen- 
forcements  should  be  prevented  from  reaching 
Gen.  McClellan.  After  the  junction  of  Gens. 
Shields  and  McDowell,  dense  columns  of 
smoke  could  be  seen  at  evening  ascending  for 
miles  south  of  Fredericksburg,  which  were 
caused  by  the  burning  of  bridges  to  retard 
the  Federal  advance.  Something  greater  than 
the  mere  burning  of  bridges  was  needed  ;  for 
it  was  not  only  necessary  to  prevent  the  Fed- 
eral reinforcements  to  Gen.  McClellan,  but 
also  to  gain  time  to  accumulate  the  Confederate 
forces  before  Richmond  from  such  parts  of 
the  South  as  they  could  be  taken,  and  by  the 
levies  of  the  conscript  law.  The  moment  had 
come  for  the  dash  on  Gen.  Banks,  and  the 
signal  from  Richmond  was  given.  Mean- 
while Gen.  Banks,  according  to  the  orders  of 
the  War  Department,  had  fallen  back,  and  now 
occupied  Strasburg.  The  first  movement  of  the 
enemy,  who  had  retired  from  their  advance  on 
Fremont,  and  were  already  concentrated  under 
Gens.  Jackson  and  Ewell  for  the  purpose, 
was  to  advance  a  heavy  column  rapidly  up  the 
valley  between  the  Blue  Ridge  and  Massanutten 
mountain  range  to  Front  Royal,  with  the  de-  • 
sign  of  capturing  the  force  there,  and  then  press 
on  by  a  good  plank  road  to  Winchester,  and 


234 


MTTJTABY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


thus  get  in  the  rear  of  Gen.  Banks.  The  guard 
ajt  Front  Royal  consisted  of  the  1st  Maryland 
regiment,  Col.  Kenly,  with  three  companies  of 
the  29th  Pennsylvania,  two  rifled  guns  of 
Knapp's  battery,  and  two  companies  of  the 
5th  New  York  cavalry.  To  their  bravery  is  due 
the  partial  defeat  of  the  Confederate  plan.  On 
Friday  noon,  May  23,  the  enemy  were  reported 
to  be  approaching,  and  Col.  Kenly  formed  in  a 
position  about  one  mile  east  of  the  Shenandoah 
river.  The  fight  commenced  by  a  strong  dash 
of  cavalry  under  Col.  Ashby  upon  this  position. 
After  a  contest  of  two  hours  the  enemy  were 
repulsed  with  considerable  loss.  Finding  that 
a  large  force  of  infantry  was  approaching  to 
the  aid  of  the  cavalry,  Col.  Kenly  ordered  his 
men  to  fall  back  to  the  west  side  of  the  Shenan- 
doah and  to  destroy  the  bridges  after  them. 
This  was  done  in  good  order  and  the  smaller 
bridge  destroyed ;  but  a  flanking  force  of  the 
enemy  fording  above  came  upon  them  before  the 
larger  one  was  destroyed.  Col.  Kenly  imme- 
diately got  his  guns  in  position  and  formed  his 
men,  and  another  struggle  ensued,  which  check- 
ed the  enemy  a  couple  of  hours  longer.  Finding 
the  force  of  the  enemy  increasing,  he  placed  his 
artillery  in  the  rear  and  commenced  falling 
back.  This  was  continued  for  three  miles, 
when  the  force  was  overwhelmed  by  a  charge 
of  the  enemy,  their  lines  broken,  and  no  further 
resistance  could  be  made.  Col.  Kenly  was 
severely  wounded,  but  afterward  recovered. 
This  check  retarded  the  Confederate  advance. 

The  news  of  this  affair  reached  Gen.  Banks 
that  evening,  with  such  details  as  convinced  him 
that  the  enemy  were  at  hand  with  a  force  from 
fifteen  to  twenty  thousand  strong.  It  was  evi- 
dent to  him  from  the  large  Confederate  force, 
composed  as  it  must  be  of  all  their  troops  in  the 
valley  concentrated,  that  they  were  close  upon 
him  for  some  purpose  not  yet  developed.  That 
purpose  must  be  nothing  less  than  the  defeat  of 
his  own  command,  or  its -possible  capture  by 
occupying  Winchester,  and  thus  intercepting 
supplies  or  reenforcements  and  cutting  off  all 
opportunity  for  retreat.  Under  this  interpreta- 
tion of  the  enemy's  plans,  one  of  three  courses 
was  open  for  him  to  pursue:  first,  a  retreat 
across  the  little  North  Mountain  to  the  Potomac 
river  on  the  west;  second,  an  attack  on  the 
enemy's  flank  on  the  Front  Royal  road\;  third, 
a  rapid  movement  direct  upon  "Winchester  with 
a  view  to  anticipate  the  occupation  of  the  town 
by  the  enemy,  and  thus  place  his  own  command 
in  communication  with  its  original  base  of  oper- 
ations in  the  line  of  reenforcements  by  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  secure  a  safe  retreat  in  case  of  disaster. 

To  remain  at  Strasburg  was  to  be  surrounded ; 
to  move  over  the  mountains  was  to  abandon  his 
train  at  the  outset,  and  to  subject  his  com- 
mand to  flank  attacks,  without  possibility  of 
succor ;  and  to  attack  the  enemy  in  such  over- 
whelming force  could  only  result  in  certain  de- 
struction. It  was,  therefore,  determined  by  Gen. 
Banks  that  to  enter  the  lists  with  the  enemy  in 
a  race  or  a  battle,  as  he  should  choose,  for  the 


possession  of  Winchester,  the  key  of  the  val- 
ley, was,  for  him  and  his  force,  the  path  to 
safety. 

Accordingly,  the  advance  guard  was  called  in, 
and  at  three  o'clock  on  the  next  morning  several 
hundred  disabled  men,  left  in  charge  by  Gen. 
Shields's  division,  were  put  upon  the  march  to 
Winchester,  followed  by  the  wagon  tram  under 
escort  of  cavalry  and  infantry.  The  rear  was 
protected  by  nearly  the  whole  force  of  cavalry 
and  six  pieces  of  artillery.  The  attack  of  the 
enemy  was  expected  in  the  rear.  When  all  the 
column  except  the  rear  guard  had  passed  'Cedar 
Creek,  three  miles  from  Strasburg,  informa- 
tion was  received  from  the  front  that  the  enemy 
had  attacked  the  train  and  was  in  full  possession 
of  the  road  at  Middletown.  The  danger  being 
.  now  in  front,  the  troops  were  ordered  to  the 
head  of  the  column  and  the  train  to  the  rear. 
After  this  change  the  head  of  the  column  en- 
countered the  enemy  in  force,  fifteen  miles  from 
Winchester,  who  were  attacked  with  artillery 
and  infantry  and  driven  back  some  two  miles. 
The  neglect  of  the  enemy  to  attack  the  train 
and  throw  it  into  confusion  when  at  the  head 
of  the  column  secured  a  successful  continuation 
of  the  march.  On  the  remainder  of  the  route 
to  Winchester,  the  enemy  pressed  the  main 
column  with  the  utmost  vigor,  and  defeated  at 
every  point  all  efforts  of  detachments  to  effect 
a  junction  with  it.  At  five  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon the  advance  guard  arrived  at  Winchester, 
and  Gen.  Banks  became  satisfied  that  the  force 
of  the  enemy  was  not  less  than  twenty-five 
thousand  men.  His  command  consisted  of  two 
brigades  of  less  than  four  thousand  men,  with 
nine  hundred  cavalry,  ten  Parrott  guns,  and  one 
battery  of  smooth  six  pounders.  To  this  should 
be  added  the  10th  Maine  regiment  of  infantry 
and  five  companies  of  Maryland  cavalry,  station- 
ed at  Winchester.  During  the  night  Gen. 
Banks  determined  to  test  the  strength  of  the 
enemy  by  actual  collision,  and  measures  were 
promptly  taken  to  prepare  the  troops.  The 
rolling  of  musketry  was  heard  during  the  latter 
part  of  the  night,  and  before  the  break  of  day 
a  sharp  engagement  occurred  at  the  outposts. 
Soon  after  four  o'clock  the  artillery  opened  its 
fire,  which  continued  without  cessation  until 
the  close  of  the  engagement. 

The  main  body  of  the  Confederates  was  hid- 
den during  the  early  part  of  the  action  by  the 
crest  of  a  hill  and  the  woods  in  the  rear. 

Their  force  was  massed  apparently  upon  the 
Federal  right,  and  their  manoeuvres  indicated 
a  purpose  to  turn  them  upon  the  Berryvillo 
road,  where,  it  appeared  subsequently,  they  had 
placed  a  considerable  force  with  a  view  of  pre- 
venting reenforcements  from  Harper's  Ferry. 
But  the  steady  fire  of  the  Federal  lines  held  them 
in  check  until  a  small  portion  of  the  troops,  on 
the  right  of  the  Federal  line,  made  a  movement 
to  the  rear.  This  was  done  under  the  erroneous 
impression  that  an  order  to  withdraw  had  been 
given.  No  sooner  was  this  observed  by  the 
enemy  than  its  regiments  swarmed  upon  the 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


235 


crest  of  the  hill,  advancing  from  the  woods  upon 
the  Federal  right,  which,  still  continuing  its  fire, 
steadily  withdrew  toward  the  town. 

The  overwhelming  Confederate  force  thus 
suddenly  showing  itself,  made  further  resistance 
unwise,  and  orders  were  sent  to  the  left  to  with- 
draw, which  was  done  in  an  orderly  manner. 
By  this  engagement  the  enemy  were  held  in 
check  five  hours. 

The  retreat  was  now  continued  in  three  paral- 
lel columns,  each  protected  by  an  efficient  rear 
guard,  in  the  direction  of  Martinsburg,  with  the 
hope  of  meeting  reinforcements.  The  pursuit 
of  the  enemy  was  prompt  and  vigorous,  and 
the  retreat  rapid  and  without  loss.  At  Martins- 
burg  the  columns  halted  two  hours  and  a  half, 
and  the  rear  guard  remained  in  the  rear  of  the 
town  until  seven  in  the  evening,  and  arrived  at 
the  river  at  sundown,  forty-eight  hours  after 
the  first  news  of  the  attack  on  Front  Royal.  It 
was  a  march  of  fifty-three  miles,  thirty-five  of 
which  were  performed  in  one  day.  The  scene 
at  the  river  when  the  rear  guard  arrived  was 
of  the  most  animated  and  excited  description. 
A  thousand  camp  fires  were  burning  on  the 
hillside;  a  thousand  carriages  of  every  de- 
scription were  crowded  upon  the  banks  of  the 
broad  stream  between  the  exhausted  troops  and 
their  coveted  rest.  The  ford  was  too  deep  for 
the  teams  to  cross  in  regular  succession ;  only 
the  strongest  horses,  after  a  few  experiments, 
were  allowed  to  essay  the  passage  over  before 
morning.  The  single  ferry  was  occupied  by 
the  ammunition  trains,  the  ford  by  the  wag- 
ons. The  cavalry  was  secure  in  its  form  of 
crossing.  The  troops  only  had  no  transporta- 
tion. No  enemy  appeared  in  sight.  Fortu- 
nately there  were  several  boats  belonging  to 
the  .pontoon  train  brought  from  Strasburg, 
which  were  launched  and  devoted  exclusively 
to  the  soldiers.  Gen.  Banks  says  in  his  report : 
"  There  never  were  more  grateful  hearts  in  the 
same  number  of  men  than  when  at  midday,  on 
the  26th,  we  stood  on  the  opposite  shore."  The 
loss  was  as  follows :  killed,  38 ;  wounded,  155 ; 
missing,  711;  total,  904.  The  wagon  train 
consisted  of  nearly  five  hundred  wagons,  of 
which  fifty-five  were  lost.  All  the  guns  were 
saved.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  has  not  been 
stated. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  Gen.  Jackson 
issued  the  following  address  to  his  soldiers : 


HEADQUARTERS,  V.  D.,     » 
"WINCHESTER,  May  28, 1862.  J 


General  Order,  No.  53. 
Within  four  weeks  this  army  has  made  long  and  rap- 
id marches,  fought  six  combats  and  two  battles,  sig- 
nally defeating  the  enemy  in  each  one,  capturing  several 
stands  of  colors  and  pieces  of  artillery,  with  numerous 
prisoners  and  vast  medical  and  army  stores,  and  final- 
ly driven  the  boastful  host,  which  was  ravishing  our 
beautiful  country,  into  utter  rout.  The  General  com- 
manding would  warmly  express  to  the  officers  and 
men  under  his  command  his  joy  in  their  achievements, 
and  his  thanks  for  their  brilliant  gallantry  in  action, 
and  their  obedience  under  the  hardships  of  forced 
marches,  often  more  painful  to  the  brave  soldier  than 
the  dangers  of  battle. 


The  explanation  of  the  severe  exertions  to  which  the 
commanding  General  called  the  army,  which  were  en- 
dured bythem  with  such  cheerful  confidence  in  him,  is 
now  given  in  the  victory  of  yesterday.  He  receives 
this  proof  of  their  confidence  in  the  past  with  pride 
and  gratitude,and  asks  only  a  similar  confidence  in  the 
future.  But  his  chief  duty  to-day,  and  that  of  the 
army,  is  to  recognize  devoutly  the  hand  of  a  protecting 
Providence  in  the  brilliant  successes  of  the  last  three 
days,  which  have  given  us  the  result  of  a  great  victory 
without  great  losses,  and  to  make  the  oblation  of  our 
thanks  to  God  for  his  mercies  to  us  and  our  country  in 
heartfelt  acts  of  religious  worship.  For  this  purpose 
the^  troops  will  remain  in  camp  to-day,  suspending  as 
far  as  practicable  all  military  exercises,  and  the  chap- 
lains of  the  regiments  will  hold  divine  service  in  their 
several  charges  at  4  o'clock  p.  M.,  to-day. 

By  order  of  Maj.-Gen.  JACKSON. 

R.  D.  DANBY,  Asst.  Adj.-Gen. 

When  the  news  of  the  attack  on  the  Maryland 
regiment  at  Front  Eoyal  on  the  23d,  reach- 
ed Gen.  Geary,  who,  with  his  force,  was 
charged  with  the  protection  of  the  Manassaa 
Gap  railroad,  he  immediately  began  to  move 
to  Manassas  Junction.  His  troops  hearing  the 
most  extravagant  stories  of  the  fate  of  the 
Maryland  regiment,  and  supposing  they  were 
about  to  be  swallowed  up,  burnt  their  tents 
and  destroyed  a  quantity  of  arms.  Gen.  Dur- 
yea,  at  Oatlett's  Station,  became  alarmed  on 
learning  of  the  withdrawal  of  Gen.  Geary,  took 
his  three  New  York  regiments,  leaving  the 
Pennsylvania  one  behind,  and  hastened  back 
to  Centreville,  and  telegraphed  to  Washington 
for  help.  He  left  a  large  quantity  of  army 
stores  behind,  and  also  for  two  days  his  camp 
equipage.  A  panic  prevailed  at  Catlett's  Sta- 
tion and  Manassas  Junction  for  two  days.  At 
night  the  camps  were  kept  in  constant  alarm 
by  the  sentinels  firing  at  stumps  or  bowing 
bushes,  which  they  mistook  for  Confederate 
guerillas.  The  alarm  spread  to  Washington, 
and  Secretary  Stanton  issued  orders  calling  for 
the  militia  of  the  loyal  States  to  defend  that 
city. 

The  following  is  the  despatch  sent  to  the 
Governor  of  Massachusetts : 

WASHINGTON,  May  $5, 1862. 
To  the  Governor  of  Massachusetts  : 

Intelligence  from  various  quarters  leaves  no  doubt 
that  the  enemy  in  great  force  are  marching  on  Wash- 
ington. You  will  please  organize  and  forward  imme- 
diately all  the  militia  and  volunteer  force  in  your 
State.  EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

This  alarm  at  Washington,  and  the  call  for 
its  defence,  produced  a  most  indescribable  panic 
in  the  cities  of  the  Northern  States,  on  Sunday, 
the  25th,  and  two  or  three  days  afterward. 

The  Governor  of  New  York,  on  Sunday 
night,  the  25th,  telegraphed  to  Buffalo,  Roches- 
ter, Syracuse,  and  other  cities  as  follows : 

Orders  from  Washington  render  it  necessary  to  for- 
ward to  that  city  all  the  available  militia  force.  What 
can  Buffalo  do?  E.D.MORGAN. 

Governor  Curtin,  of  Pennsylvania,  issued  the 
following  order : 

HEADQUARTERS  PENNSYLVANIA  MILITIA,  ) 
HARRISBITRG,  May  26.     j 
General  Order,  No.  23. 

On  pressing  requisition  of  the  President  of  the  Unit- 
ed  States  in  the  present  emergency,  it  is  ordered  that 


236 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


the  several  major-generals,  brigadier-generals,  and 
colonels  of  regiments,  throughout  the  Commonwealth, 
muster,  without  delay,  all  military  organizations  with- 
in their  respective  divisions  or  under  their  control,  to- 
gether with  all  persons  willing  to  join  their  com- 
mands, and  proceed  forthwith  to  the  city  of  Washing- 
ton or  such  other  points  as  may  be  indicated  by  future 
orders. 

By  order  A.  G.  CURTIN,  Governor  and  Commander- 
in-Chief. 

(Signed)  A.  L.  RUSSELL,  Adjt.-Gen. 

The  Governor  of  Massachusetts  issued  the 
following  proclamation : 

Men  of  Massachusetts !—  The  wily  and  barbarous 
horde  of  traitors  to  the  people,  to  the  Government,  to 
our  country,  and  to  liberty,  menace  again  the  national 
capital.  They  have  attacked  and  routed  Maj.-Gen. 
Banks,  are  advancing  on  Harper's  Ferry,  and  are 
marching  on  Washington.  The  President  calls  on 
Massachusetts  to  rise  once  more  for  its  rescue  and 
defence. 

The  whole  active  militia  will  Jbe  summoned  by  a 
general  order,  issued  from  the  office  of  the  Adjutant- 
General,  to  report  on  Boston  Common  to-morrow ; 
they  will  march  to  relieve  and  avenge  their  brethren 
and!  friends,  and  to  oppose  with  fierce  zeal  and  cou- 
rageous patriotism  the  progress  of  the  foe. 

May  God  encourage  their  hearts  and  strengthen 
their  arms,  and  may  He  inspire  the  Government  and 
all  the  people  I 

Given  at  Headquarters,  Boston,  11  o'clock,  this 
(Sunday)  evening,  May  25. 1862. 

JOHN  A.  ANDREW. 

Over  three  thousand  men  responded  on 
Monday. 

The  Governor  of  Rhode  Island  issued  the 
following  order : 

PBOVIDENCE,  May  25, 1862. 

Citizens  of  the  State  capable  of  bearing  arms  will  at 
once  report  themselves  to  the  nearest  military  organ- 
izations. 

The  commandants  of  the  chartered  and  volunteer 
military  companies  will  at  once  organize  their  com- 
panies, and  the  men  so  reporting  into  companies  of 
eighty-three  men  rank  and  file,  and  report  to  these 
headquarters,  when  they  will  be  armed,  equipped,  and 
moved  under  the  direction  of  the  Commander-m-Chief 
to  Washington,  to  protect  the  national  capital  from 
the  advance  of  the  rebels  who  are  now  rapidly  ap- 
proaching. 

Gen.  Robbins  is  directed  to  organize  and  command 
the  first  regiment,  and  will  order  his  brigade  under 
arms  and  form  it  into  a  regiment. 

The  second  regiment  will  be  under  command  of 
Capt.  Bliss,  of  the  United  States  Army. 

The  Providence  Marine  Corps  of  artillery  will  be 
placed  under  the  command  of  Lieut. -Col.  E.  C.  Gallup 
as  captain,  and  he  is  directed  to  organize  the  same. 

Col.  Shaw  is  ordered  to  assemble  the  National 
Guard  for  organization. 

Rhode*  Island  troops  will  move  through  Baltimore, 
and  if  their  progress  is  impeded  by  the  rebel  mob  of 
that  city,  they  will  mete  out  to  it  the  punishment 
which  it  has  long  merited.  Our  regiments  will  move 
to  Washington  to  defend  the  capital  in  common  with 
thousands  of  our  patriotic  countrymen,  who  will  rush 
to  arms  to  ward  off  the  danger  which  is  imminent. 
WM.  SPRAGTJE. 

Auo.  HOPPIN,  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

The  Governor  of  Ohio  issued  the  following 
proclamation : 

COMTMBPS,  0.,  May  26. 

To  the  Gallant  Men  of  Ohio :  I  have  the  astounding 
intelligence  that  the  seat  of  our  beloved  Government 
is  threatened  with  invasion,  and  am  called  upon  by 
the  Secretary  of  War  for  troops  to  repel  and  over- 
whelm the  ruthless  invaders. 


Rally,  then,  men  of  Ohio,  and  respond  to  this  call, 
es  becomes  those  who  appreciate  our  glorious  Gov- 
ernment. Three  classes  of  troops  will  be  accepted : 

First.  For  three  years,  or  during  the  war. 

Second.  For  a  term  of  three  months. 

Third.  For  guard  duty  within  the  limits  of  the  State. 

All  are  requested  to  report  for  duty  at  Gamp  Chase, 
where  the  organization  will  take  place. 

The  number  wanted  from  each  county  has  been  in- 
dicated by  special  despatches  to  the  several  Military 
Committees. 

Everything  is  valueless  to  us  if  our  Government  is 
overthrown. 

Lay  aside,  then,  your  ordinary  duties,  and  help  to 
bear  afloat  the  glorious  flag  unfurled  by  our  fathers. 
DAVID  TOD,  Governor. 

At  the  same  time  the  Secretary  of  War  at 
Washington,  caused  the  following  order  to  be 
issued : 

WASHINGTON,  May  25, 1862. 

Ordered.  By  virtue  of  the  authority  vested  by  an 
act  of  Congress,  the  President  takes  military  posses- 
sion of  all  the  railroads  in  the  United  States,  from  and 
after  this  date,  until  further  orders,  and  directs  that 
the  respective  railroad  companies,  their  officers  and 
servants,  shall  hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  the 
transportation  of  troops  and  munitions  of  war^as  may 
be  ordered  by  the  military  authorities,  to  the  exclusion 
of  all  other  business. 

By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

M.  C.  MEIGS,  Quartermaster-General. 

When  the  alarm  thus  indicated  in  the  head- 
quarters of  Government  had  disseminated  itself 
throughout  the  military  and  social  ramifica- 
tions of  society,  the  excitement  was  almost 
tumultuous.  In  Baltimore,  crowds  pursued 
persons  suspected  of  sympathy  with  the  cause 
of  the  South,  until  all  such  disappeared  from 
the  streets.  The  display  of  flags  was  demand- 
ed from  public  buildings.  Almost  half  a  mil- 
lion of  men  offered  themselves  for  the  defence 
of  Washington  within  twenty-four  hours  after 
the  issue  of  the  proclamations. 

Meanwhile  Gen.  Jackson,  having  seen  Gen. 
Banks  safely  escaping  to  the  ford  of  the  Poto- 
mac, turned  away  from  further  pursuit  to  carry 
out  the  other  details  of  his  plan,  little  conceiv- 
ing of  the  panic  his  movements  had  occasioned 
in  the  departments  at  Washington  and  the 
offices  of  the  Governors  of  States.  In  fact  a 
captured  despatch  from  Gen.  Johnston  to  Gen. 
Jackson  shows  that  the  chief  object  of  Gen. 
Jackson's  movement  was  to  prevent  reenforce- 
ments  to  Gen.  McClellan.  The  effect  of  this 
causeless  panic  on  the  part  of  the  authorities  at 
Washington  was  extremely  disastrous  to  the 
Federal  cause ;  fully  as  much  so  as  the  ground- 
less fears  for  the  safety  of  the  capital,  which 
determined  the  detention  of  Gen.  McDowell's 
corps  from  the  army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  be- 
ginning of  the  month  of  April.  The  War  De- 
partment manifestly  did  not  realize  the  self- 
evident  fact,  that  Washington  being  strongly 
fortified,  its  surest  defence  consisted  in  the 
presence  of  a  large  army  threatening  Rich- 
mond from  the  peninsula. 

On  the  28th  Gen.  Jackson  advanced  upon 
Harper's  Ferry  from  Charlestown,  driving  in  be- 
fore him  a  Federal  reconnoitring  force  consisting 
of  the  lllth  Pennsylvania  infantry,  Col.  Schlan- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


237 


decker ;  the  1st  Maryland  cavalry,  Major  Deems, 
and  a  section  of  Reynolds' s  battery.  Small  bo- 
dies of  the  enemy  appeared  in  the  neighborhood 
during  that  and  the  ensuing  day,  as  if  with  the 
object  of  alluring  the  Federal  forces  from  their 
strong  defensive  position  to  one  where  they 
could  be  more  easily  attacked  and  overpower- 
ed. This  was  the  opinion  of  the  Federal  com- 
mander. The  whole  force  of  Gen.  Jackson 
was  not  before  Harper's  Ferry.  Finding  the 
strength  of  front  presented  against  him,  he 
determined  to  collect  all  the  plunder  he  could 
convey  with  prisoners,  and  retire.  To  eft'ect  this 
object  more  securely  and  to  deceive  his  enemy 
respecting  his  movements,  he  left 'a  force  with 
Gen.  Ewell,  which  became  his  rear  guard,  and 
which  made  the  demonstration  upon  Har- 
per's Ferry.  Gen.  R.  Saxton,  who  was  in  com- 
mand at  Harper's  Ferry,  fearing  a  flank  move- 
ment on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  crossing  the 
Potomac  above  and  occupying  Maryland  Heights 
on  the  Maryland  side  at  the  same  time  that  an 
attack  should  be  made  in  front,  determined  to 
defeat  it.  He  therefore  withdrew  his  forces 
from  Bolivar  Heights  on  the  Virginia  side  to 
an  inner  line  of  defence,  on  the  heights  known 
as  Camp  Hill,  immediately  above  the  town  of 
Harper's  Ferry.  The  occupation  of  this  inner 
line  presented  a  twofold  advantage :  First,  that 
being  much  less  extended,  it  could  be  held  by 
a  smaller  force — the  enemy,  from  the  nature 
of  the  ground,  being  unable  to  bring  into  action 
a  larger  force  than  the  Federal ;  secondly,  that 
it  would  enable  Gen.  Saxton  to  bring  his  naval 
battery  on  the  Maryland  Heights  to  bear  upon 
the  enemy,  as  they  advanced  down  the  declivity  4 
of  Bolivar  Heights  into  the  valley  which  sep- ' 
arates  it  from  Camp  Hill.  They  would  thus 
be  exposed  for  a  considerable  time  to  a  heavy 
fire  from  this  formidable  battery,  where  great 
elevation  would  enable  it  to  throw  shells 
directly  over  the  heads  of  the  Federal  forces  on 
Camp  Hill  into  the  face  of  the  advancing  foe. 
With  the  force  rendered  by  this  contraction  of 
his  front  available  for  other  purposes,  he  deem- 
ed it  prudent  to  occupy  the  crest  of  the  hill 
above  the  naval  battery,  on  the  Maryland  shore, 
to  frustrate  arty  attempt  of  the  enemy  to  take 
this  hill  in  the  rear  and  turn  his  batteries 
against  him. 

On  Friday  night,  the  30th,  about  dark,  the 
enemy  advanced  beyond  Bolivar  Heights  to 
storm  thejyorks  on  Camp  Hill.  The  batteries 
on  Oamp  Hill,  and  the  one  on  Maryland  Heights, 
opened  upon  them.  The  scene  at  this  time 
was  very  impressive.  The  night  was  intensely 
dark;  the  hills  around  were  alive  with  the 
signal  lights  of  the  enemy ;  the  rain  descend- 
ed in  torrents ;  vivid  flashes  of  lightning  illu- 
mined at  intervals  the  green  and  magnificent 
scenery,  while  the  crash  of  the  thunder,  echo- 
ing among  the  mountains,  drowned  into  com- 
parative insignificance  the  roar  of  Federal  ar- 
tillery. 

After  an  action  of  about  one  hour's  duration 
the  enemy  retired.  He  made  another  unsuc- 


cessful attack  at  midnight,  with  regiments  of 
Mississippi  and  Louisiana  infantry,  and  after  a 
short  engagement  disappeared.  Signal  lights 
continued  to  be  seen  in  every  direction. 

A  reconnoissance  the  next  day  developed 
that  the  rear  of  the  Confederate  force  passed 
through  Charlestown  about  one  hour  before 
the  arrival  of  the  Federal  reconnoitring  force 
from  Harper's  Ferry. 

Gen.  Jackson  was  now  on  his  retreat.  If  he 
had  not  accomplished  all  that  he  aimed  at,  the 
result  will  show  that  he  was  completely  suc- 
cessful in  cutting  oft'  nearly  all  reinforcements 
to  Gen.  McClellan.  The  fear  of  having  his 
own  retreat  cut  off  now  caused  his  rapid  move- 
ments. Gen.  Fremont  from  the  west,  and  Col. 
Kimball  with  the  division  of  Gen.  Shields  from 
the  east,  were  on  the  march  to  intercept  him. 
The  Confederate  movements,  which  had  been 
made  to  prevent  the  retreat  of  Gen.  Jackson 
from  being  cut  off,  consisted  in  the  march  of  Gen. 
Smith  up  the  Shenandoah  from  Strasburg  to 
prevent  Gen.  Fremont  from  crossing  over,  as 
he  was  ordered,  to  Harrisonburg.  If  Gen. 
Fremont  could  have  successfully  crossed  to 
this  point,  he  might  have  taken  up  a  posi- 
tion so  far  in  the  rear  of  Gen.  Jackson  as 
to  have  effectually  cut  him  off.  It  has  been 
said  that  it  was  impossible  for  Gen.  Fremont 
to  cross  to  Harrisonburg.  When  he  recCT^ed 
the  order  to  come  to  the  aid  of  Gen.  Banks 
he  was  at  Franklin,  sixty-five  miles  from 
Staunton,  and  a  less  distance  from  Harrison- 
burg. Instead  of  taking  this  route,  he  march- 
ed a  hundred  miles  to  Strasburg.  The  Confed- 
erate forces  wh'ich  attacked  Gen.  Milroy  and 
drove  him  back  from  McDowell,  crossed  the 
mountains,  whence  they  retired  to  Staunton 
or  Harrisonburg.  This  was  some. three  weeks 
previous.  The  enemy  also  expected  Gen.  Fre- 
mont to  cross  to  New  Market  or  Harrisonburg, 
thus  showing  that  no  local  obstacles  prevented. 
The  means  of  transportation  were  limited ;  the 
supplies  could  hardly  have  been  found  by  that 
route. 

On  Thursday,  the  29th,  Gen.  Jackson  ordered 
a  retrograde  movement,  and  sent  off  his  train 
and  prisoners.  Early  Friday  morning,  he  left 
camp  between  Halltown  and  Charlestown,  and 
his  advance  rested  the  first  night  at  or  near 
Middletown,  and  the  next  day  (Saturday)  en- 
tered Strasburg.  On  Saturday  morning,  Gen. 
Ewell,  disappearing  from  Harper's  Ferry  with 
the  rear  guard,  followed  Gen.  Jackson,  and  en- 
camped on  Saturday  night  at  Middletown,  thus 
performing  a  march  of  thirty-four  miles  in  one 
day. 

"Where  now  were  the  pursuers  of  Gen.  Jack- 
son, who  were  to  cut  off  his  retreat  ?  On  Sat- 
urday night  the  advance  of  Gen.  Fremont  ar- 
rived at  Brent's  Gap,  about  six  miles  northwest 
of  Strasburg.  It  was  at  noon  of  the  previous 
day  that  Gen.  Fremont  was  expected  to  be  in 
Strasburg  by  Gen.  Shields,  who  was  advancing 
from  the  east,  having  been  ordered  to  be  in  Front 
Royal  at  that  hour,  which  he  was.  The  ad- 


238 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


vance  of  Gen.  Fremont's  force  on  Sunday,  June 
1,  encountered  the  enemy  three  or  four  miles 
from  Strasburg,  on  the  road  to  Winchester. 
Gen.  Jackson  had  arrived  in  Strasburg  on  the 
previous  day,  and  tarried  to  secure  the  safe 
arrival  and  departure  of  all  his  force.  This 
encounter  of  the  advance  of  Gen.  Fremont  was 
with  the  rear  of  Gen.  Jackson.  Col.  Cluseret, 
with  the  60th  Ohio  and  8th  Virginia  and  a  bat- 
tery, formed  this  advance.  The  contest  was 
with  artillery,  and  was  continued  by  Col. 
Cluseret  until  about  noon,  when  he  was  order- 
ed t»  retire  under  the  hope  of  drawing  Gen. 
Jackson  on  to  attack  the  position  which  Gen. 
Fremont  had  in  the  meanwhile  taken.  He  had 
formed  a  line  of  battle  in  a  strong  position,  with 
Gen.  Milroy  on  the  left,  Gen.  Schenck  on  the 
right,  and  Gen.  Stahl  in  the  centre,  with  Blen- 
ker's  division  in  reserve.  In  this  affair  five  of 
the  8th  Virginia  and  two  of  the  60th  Ohio  were 
wounded.  While  Gen.  Jackson's  rear  was  thus 
engaged  with  the  advance  of  Gen.  Fremont,  the 
main  body  of  his  troops  was  pushing  on 
through  Strasburg,  which  was  accomplished  on 
Sunday.  Thus  Gen.  Jackson  reached  Stras- 
burg just  in  time  to  pass  between  Gen.  McDow- 
ell on  the  one  side,  and  Gen.  Fremont  on  the 
other.  The  advance  of  Gen.  McDowell  reached 
Strasburg  soon  after  the  advance  of  Gen.  Fre- 
mont. The  afternoon  wore  away  without  any 
appearance  of  Gen.  Jackson.  The  truth  was 
that  the  attack  on  the  advance  of  Gen.  Fremont 
was  made  to  divert  his  attention  from  the 
retreating  movement  Gen.  Jackson  was  then 
making.  A  reconnoissance  w#s  made  during 
the  night  beyond  Strasburg.  On  Monday 
morning,  June  2,  Gen.  Fremont  pushed  on  to 
Strasburg  only  to  find  that  Gen.  Jackson  was 
on  his  way  to  Woodstock  unchecked  and  un- 
injured. The  advance  of  Gen.  Fremont's  main 
force  as  it  entered  Strasburg  met  the  1st  New 
Jersey  and  the  1st  Pennsylvania  cavalry  under 
Gen.  Bayard,  then  just  coming  in,  as  a  part  of 
Gen.  McDowell's  force. 

Meanwhile  the  force  of  Gen.  Shields  which 
had  been  ordered  to  cooperate,  had  left  Ma- 
nassas  Junction,  and  halted  at  Haymarket  on 
Tuesday,  the  27th  of  May,  as  has  been  stated. 
On  the  28th  this  division,  followed  by  other 
troops  from  Gen.  McDowell's  corps,  advanced 
as  far  as  Kectortown,  thirteen  miles,  having 
passed  over  steep  and  rocky  roads  through 
Thoroughfare  Gap.  On  Thursday,  the  29th,  it 
started  at  five  o'clock  p.  M.,  with  orders  to  be 
in  Front  Eoyal,  twenty-eight  miles  distant,  on 
the  next  day  at  noon,  at  which  time  Gen. 
Fremont  was  to  reach  Strasburg.  Their  entire 
train  was  left  behind  and  at  the  appointed  time 
their  advance  brigade,  under  Gen.  Kimball, 
struck  the  enemy  at  Front  Koyal,  completely 
routing  them  and  taking  a  number  of  prisoners 
and  a  large  amount  of  commissary  and  quarter- 
master's stores.  On  the  next  day  a  party  of 
eighteen  cavalry  entered  the  outskirts  of  Stras- 
burg. Finding  that  the  enemy  had  retired 
before  Gen.  Fremont,  and  that  he  was  follow- 


ing them,  Gen.  Shields  moved  up  the  east  side 
of  the  Massanutten  range  of  mountains  to 
Luray,  while  Gen.  Fremont  advanced  on  the 
west  side.  Gen.  Shields  was  in  hopes  of  strik- 
ing the  enemy  at  New  Market,  but  finding  the 
Whitehouse  and  Columbia  bridges  burned,  he 
resolved  to  push  on  further  up  the  east  side  of 
the  Shenandoah,  to  intercept  the  enemy  at 
Conrad's  Store  (Miller's  Bridge),  Port  Repub- 
lic, or  Waynesborough  on  the  railroad  eleven 
miles  east  of  Staunton.  Col.  Carroll,  in  com- 
mand of  the  4th  brigade,  moved  rapidly  for- 
ward with  one  regiment,  followed  by  the  re- 
mainder of  the  brigade.  A  violent  rain  on  the 
night  of  the' 3d  caused  a  delay,  and  various 
portions  of  the  command  were  separated  by 
rapid  streams  overflowing  their  banks.  He, 
however,  reached  Port  Republic  in  advance  of 
the  enemy. 

At  this  time  forces  were  gathering  in  other 
quarters..  The  5th  New  York  cavalry,  Col.  De 
Forrest,  left  Williamsport  on  Friday  night,  the 
30th,  at  the  time  the  attack  at  Harper's  Ferry 
was  made,  and  advanced  to  Martinsburg  on  Sat- 
urday morning,  the  31st,  and  occupied  the  town. 
On  the  2d  of  June  Gen.  Banks,  having  recrossed 
the  Potomac,  reached  Bunker  Hill,  twelve  miles 
from  Winchester.  Also  by  special  train  from 
Baltimore,  Gen.  Sigel  arrived  at  Harper's  Ferry 
on  Sunday  evening,  June  1.  During  the  next 
forenoon,  he  inspected  the  positions  of  the 
forces,  and  ordered  a  march  at  four  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon.  The  next  morning  the  advance 
of  his  division,  consisting  of  Gen.  Cooper's  bri- 
gade, was  beyond  Charlestown,  pushing  forward 
to  Winchester,  where  a  junction  was  formed 
with  Gen.  Banks. 

Meantime  Gen.  Fremont  was  in  full  chase  of 
the  swift-footed  foe.  Finding  that  the  enemy 
had  escaped  him  at  Strasburg,  and  being  joined 
by  an  advance  of  Gen.  McDowell's,  consisting 
of  Gen.  Bayard's  cavalry,  he  ordered  the  cav- 
alry and  artillery  to  the  front,  and  pursuit  to 
be  given. 

A  stand  was  made  several  times  by  the  re- 
treating enemy,  during  Monday,  the  2d.  A 
mile  and  a  half  beyond  Strasburg.  at  a  narrow 
and  defensible  pass  called  Fisher's  Hill,  the 
road,  after  crossing  a  bridge,  turns  abruptly  to 
the  right,  and  curving  to  the  left  passes  the 
base  of  a  thickly  wooded  hill  with  a  deep  ra- 
vine on  the  right,  and  continues  up  the  hill 
through  a  deep  and  densely  wooded  defile. 
Here  the  first  stand  was  made  by  the  rear 
guard  under  Gen.  Ewell.  His  artillery  occu- 
pied elevated  positions  overlooking  the  road 
on  his  front  for  a  mile,  and  commanding  a 
range  of  hills  adjacent  to  the  road  on  the  right 
of  Gen.  Milroy.  Finding  it  to  be  impossible  to 
drive  the  enemy's  centre,  Gen.  Milroy  chose 
other  elevated  positions  for  his  guns  on  the 
right,  and  a  fierce  contest  ensued  for  several 
hours.  The  enemy  at  night  encamped  three 
miles  beyond  Woodstock,  while  the  forces  of 
Gen.  Fremont  occupied  the  town. 

The  pursuit  was  commenced  at  seven  o'clock 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


239 


on  the  next  morning,  Tuesday,  June  3.  The 
advance  to  Edinburg  was  made  without  inci- 
dent. A  military  bridge  constructed  by  Gen. 
Banks  across  Stony  Creek,  a  swift,  wide  stream, 
was  half  burned  by  the  flying  enemy.  The  de- 
lay in  repairing  the  bridge  and  crossing  gave 
the  enemy  time  to  move  to  Mt.  Jackson,  eight 
miles  beyond  Edinburg,  where  he  halted  until 
noon  of  the  next  day,  the  4th,  when  he  was 
again  in  motion,  owing  to  the  approach  of  Gen. 
Fremont's  advance.  One  mile  beyond  Mt. 
Jackson,  is  a  long  bridge  over  the  Shenando*ah, 
a  river  too  swift  and  deep  to  be  forded.  Gen. 
Jackson  left  his  artillery  in  position  long  enough 
to  delay  the  advance  of  Gen.  Bayard's  cavalry, 
then  crossed  the  bridge  before  the  guns  of  his 
pursuers  could  be  brought  up,  and  burned  the 
bridge  in  face  of  their  cavalry.  The  bridge  was 
rebuilt  by  noon  of  the  next  day,  the  5th,  and 
the  army  of  Gen.  Fremont  was  again  in  motion. 
At  three  o'clock  the  advance  entered  New  Mar- 
ket, a  distance  of  seven  miles,  and  encamped 
two  miles  beyond.  On  the  6th,  Friday,  the  ad- 
vance reached  Harrisonburg  about  two  o'clock 
p.  M.  None  of  the  enemy  were  seen  on  the 
way.  Almost  every  bridge,  however  small, 
was  found  to  have  been  burned.  Information 
was  immediately  received  that  a  body  of  Con- 
federate cavalry  was  near  the  town.  Cannon 
were  planted  on  the  highlands  north,  and  a 
force  of  cavalry,  under  Col.  Wyndham,  was 
sent  out  to  reconnoitre,  with  instructions  to  en- 
gage the  enemy  if  the  force  was  only  two  or 
three  companies,  but  not  if  it  was  in  force 
and  supported  by  infantry.  Some  three  miles 
beyond  the  town,  Col.  Wyndham  discovered 
the  Confederate  cavalry  and  made  an  effort 
to  oppose  them,  but  unfortunately  came  upon 
a  large  force  of  infantry,  which  opened  such  a 
volley  upon  him  that  his  troops  were  thrown 
into  confusion,  and  suffered  severely,  and  he 
himself  was  taken  prisoner.  Later  in  the  day 
Gen.  Bayard  and  Col.  Cluseret  with  a  force  of 
cavalry  and  infantry  encountered  the  enemy. 
One  regiment,  the  Bucktail  rifles  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, numbering  one  hundred  and  twenty-five, 
under  Col.  Kane,  suffered  a  severe  loss  of  fifty- 
five  men.  This  small  force  was  rashly  led 
against  an  overwhelming  Confederate  mass. 
The  Union  forces  were  finally  withdrawn,  and 
the  enemy  subsequently  disappeared.  Among 
the  killed  of  the  Confederate  force  was  Col. 
Ashby,  a  brave  and  dashing  cavalry  officer. 
The  forces  of  Gen.  Fremont  remained  at  Har- 
risonburg on  Saturday,  the  7th  of  June.  A  re- 
oonnoissance  was  made  by  Gen.  Milroy,  about 
seven  miles  on  the  road  to  Port  Republic, 
where  the  enemy  was  found  in  a  position  well 
protected  by  woods.  It  seems  that  Gen.  Jack- 
eon,  before  reaching  the  final  bridge  across  the 
Shenandoah,  determined  to  fight  Gen.  Fremont, 
and  thereby  check  his  pursuit.  For  this  pur- 
pose he  had  chosen  his  position  as  above  stated, 
.  at  a  spot  called  Cross  Keys,  near  Union  Church. 
At  six  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning,  June  8, 
the  army  of  Gen.  Fremont  began  to  move,  and 


at  half  past  eight  his  advance  opened  upon  the 
enemy.  Gen.  Fremont  says : 

"The  battle  began  with  heavy  firing  at 
eleven  o'clock,  and  lasted,  with  great  obstinacy 
and  violence,  until  four  in  the  afternoon,  some 
skirmishing  and  artillery  firing  continuing  from 
that  time  until  dark." 

The  right  wing  was  under  Gen.  Schenck, 
the  left  under  Gen.  Stahl,  and  the  centre  under 
Gen.  Milroy.  The  right  wing  was  not  assailed, 
except  by  skirmish  fighting.  The  contest  was 
hot  on  the  centre,  and  Gen.  Milroy  forced  the 
enemy  back  from  point  to  point.  He  had  pen- 
etrated the  centre,  and  almost  reached  the  en- 
emy's guns,  when  the  order  to  retire  was  given. 
This  filled  him  with  indignation,  but  he  obeyed. 

Gen.  Stahl's  brigade  was  all  engaged.  Of 
this,  the  45th  New  York  and  the  27th  Penn- 
sylvania first  met  the  eneray,  and  being  threat- 
ened by  superior  numbers,  the  8th  New  York 
was  sent  to  support  them  on  the  left,  and  the 
41st  New  York  on  the  right.  These  regiments 
were  soon  all  engaged,  and  the  enemy  appeared 
to  be  bearing  heavily  upon  this  wing  of  the 
army.  It  finally  gave  way,  and  the  whole  line 
was  ordered  back  to  a  more  favorable  position. 
The  enemy  did  not  advance,  but  commenced  a 
retreat.  The  army  encamped  that-  night  on 
the  ground  where  their  line  was  first  formed 
in  the  morning.  They  drove  the  enemy's  pick- 
ets and  skirmishers  over  it  at  first,  for  no  at- 
tempt was  made  on  the  other  side  to  support 
them.  The  place  where  the  fighting  occurred, 
and  the  dead  and  wounded  were  strewn  over 
the  field,  was  in  the  enemy's  possession  all  night. 

The  loss  was  very  severe  on  both  sides.  In 
Gen.  Stahl's  command  the  loss  was  69  killed, 
wounded  254,  missing  79.  The  total  loss  was 
estimated  by  Gen.  Fremont,  immediately  after 
the  battle,  at  125  killed  and  500  wounded. 
The  enemy's  loss  was  less  than  this,  owing  to 
the  shelter  of  their  forces. 

The  despatch  of  Gen.  Fremont  to  the  "War 
Department,  dated  on  the  next  morning,  says : 

"  There  was  no  collision  with  the  enemy 
after  dark  last  night.  This  morning  we  renew- 
ed the  march  against  him,  entering  the  woods 
in  battle  order ;  his  cavalry  appearing  on  our 
flanks.  Gen.  Blenker  had  the  left,  Gen.  Milroy 
the  right,  and  Gen.  Schenck  the  centre,  with 
a  reserve  of  Gen.  Stahl's  and  Gen.  Bayardjs 
brigades." 

Port  Republic  is  a  small  town  on  the  south 
fork  of  the  Shenandoah  river,  near  which  is 
the  bridge  by  which  the  river  is  crossed.  It  is 
a  few  miles  distant  from  Cross  Keys,  where  the 
conflict  between  Gens.  Fremont  and  Jackson's 
forces  took  place.  It  has  already  been  stated 
that  Col.  Carroll,  in  command  of  the  advance 
of  Gen.  Shields's  division  up  the  east  side  of 
the  Shenandoah,  arrived  at  Port  Republic  in 
advance  of  Gen.  Jackson.  This  means,  in  ad- 
vance of  the  main  force  of  the  enemy.  On 
Saturday,  the  7th,  Col.  Carroll  received  orders 
to  move  forward  to  Waynesborough,  distant 
some  thirty-five  or  thirty-seven  miles,  by  the 


240 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


•way  of  Port  Eepublic,  for  the  purpose  of  de- 
stroying the  railroad  depot,  track,  and  bridge, 
at  that  place,  and  to  seize  Gen.  Jackson's  train 
and  throw  his  force  upon  Gen.  Jackson's  flank. 
Col.  Carroll  marched  in  obedience  to  these 
orders,  on  Saturday  afternoon.  His  infantry, 
cavalry,  and  artillery  had  in  the  mean  time 
come  up,  and  he  started  for  Conrad's  Store 
with  less  than  a  thousand  of  the  former,  with 
one  hundred  and  fifty  cavalry,  and  with  a  sin- 
gle battery  of  six  guns. 

Halting,  in  the  night,  six  miles  before  reach- 
ing Port  Eepublic,  Col.  Carroll  sent  forward  a 
party  of  scouts,  who  returned  with  the  informa- 
tion that  Gen.  Jackson's  train  was  parked  near 
Port  Eepublic,  with  a  drove  of  beef  cattle 
herded  near  by,  and  the  whole  guarded  by 
about  two  or  three  hundred  cavalry.  On  learn- 
ing this  he  pushed  forward,  with  the  design 
of  capturing  the  train  and  cattle,  as  his  orders 
directed.  He  halted  some  two  miles  from  the 
town,  made  a  reconnoissance,  and  received 
further  information  confirming  the  report  of 
his  scouts,  and  then  dashed  into  the  town  with 
his  cavalry  and  two  pieces  of  artillery,  driving 
the  enemy's  cavalry  out  and  taking  possession 
of  the  bridge.  He  halted  there  for  his  infantry 
to  come  up,  and  disposed  his  pieces  and  little 
force  to  prevent  a  repulse  from  the  train  guard, 
when,  before  he  had  occupied  the  village  any 
length  of  time,  he  was  attacked  by  a  force  of 
the  enemy  superior  to  his  own,  and  forced  to 
retire  and  abandon  his  further  march  to 
Waynesborough.  Thus  the  enemy  recovered 
possession  of  the  bridge  and  held  it. 

Col.  Carroll  brought  his  forces  to  a  stand  at 
the  first  defensible  position,  about  two  miles 
north  of  the  town.  At  this  time  the  conflict 
was  going  on  between  Ge"ns.  Fremont  and 
Jackson  at  Cross  Keys,  several  miles  distant, 
and  it  was  over  this  bridge  that  Gen.  Jackson 
must  retreat  or  be  placed  between  the  forces 
of  Gens.  Fremont  and  Shields.  At  two  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  Gen.  Tyler  arrived  to  the  aid 
of  Col.  Carrol..  As  commanding  one  of  the 
brigades  of  Gen.  Shields's  division,  he  had  also 
been  ordered  to  proceed  to  "Waynesborough. 
He  left  Columbia  Bridge  on  the  7th,  and 
reached  Naked  Creek  on  the  same  day,  and 
went  into  camp  under  orders  to  march  at  four 
A.M.  When  within  six  miles  of  Port  Eepublic  he 
learned  of  the  engagement  of  Col.  (acting  brig.- 
gen.)  Carroll,  and  pressed  forward  immedi- 
ately with  infantry  and  artillery  to  his  sup- 
port, and  reached  him  at  two  p.  M. 

Gen.  Tyler  in  his  report  thus  explains  his 
proceedings :  "  From  Col.  Daum  I  learned  the 
enemy  had  eighteen  pieces  of  artillery,  planted 
so  as  to  completely  command  all  the  ap- 
proaches to  the  town,  and  from  the  engage- 
ment with  Gen.  Carroll  that  morning,  had  ob- 
tained the  range  of  the  different  points.  Im- 
mediately on  the  arrival  of  my  command,  Col. 
Daum  urged  an  attack  with  the  combined  force 
of  infantry  and  artillery,  to  which  I  so  far  con- 
sented as  to  order  the  infantry  into  position 


under  cover  of  a  thick  wood  which  skirted  the 
road,  and  commenced  observing  the  enemy's 
position  myself,  which  appeared  to  me  one  to 
defy  an  army  of  50,000  men.  I  at  once  sent 
for  Col.  Carroll,  Lieut.-Col.  Schriber,  Capts. 
Clark  and  Eobinson,  who  had  been  over  the 
ground;  they  all  agreed  in  the  opinion  that 
an  attack  would  result  in  the  destruction  of 
our  little  force." 

The  infantry  was  ordered  back  to  bivouac  for 
the  night,  and  early  in  the  morning  Gen.  Tyler 
wafc  informed  that  the  enemy  were  advancing . 
evidently  with  the  intention  of  outflanking 
him  on  his  left.  Forces  were  ordered  up  to 
counteract  this  movement,  which  was  sucess- 
fully  done.  The  enemy  retired  into  the  woods, 
and  a  part  crossed  over  and  joined  the  forces 
attacking  the  right  wing.  The  engagement 
now  became  very  heavy  on  the  right,  addi- 
tional troops  having  been  brought  up  on  both 
sides.  Under  cover  of  this  conflict,  the  enemy 
threw  another  force  into  the  woods,  pressed 
down  upon  the  battery  on  the  left,  and  with  a 
sudden  dash  captured  it.  The  contest  con- 
tinued until  Gen.  Tyler,  perceiving  additional 
reinforcements  for  the  enemy  approaching, 
about  ten  o'clock  ordered  his  troops  to  fall 
back,  with  a  view  of  retreating  until  he  should 
meet  reinforcements.  The  retreat,  he  says, 
"  save  the  stampede  of  those  who  ran  before 
the  fight,  was  as  orderly  as  the  advance."  The 
number  of  his  force  is  stated  at  three  thousand, 
and  that  of  the  enemy  much  larger.  This  was 
evidently  the  rear  guard  of  Gen.  Jackson's 
army,  which  had  been  engaged,  and  some  re- 
enforcements  were  .sent  back  to  it.  Gen  Jack- 
son retired  from  before  Gen.  Fremont  on  Sun- 
day night,  and  on  Monday  morning  crossed  the 
bridge  at  Port  Eepublic,  and  while  the  main 
body  continued  to  retreat,  Gen.  Tyler  was 
thus  held  in  check. 

Meanwhile  Gen.  Fremont,  as  has  been  stated, 
commenced  his  march  for  Port  Eepublic  that 
morning,  with  his  army  in  battle  array.  Dur- 
ing the  afternoon  his  whole  army  reached  the 
river  opposite  the  town,  and  he  learned  that?  a 
portion  of  Gen.  Shields's  division  had  engaged 
the  enemy  on  both  Sunday  and  Monday  on  the 
other  side  of  the  river.  During  the  march  of 
Gen.  Fremont's  forces  from  the  battle  field  of 
the  preceding  day  to  the  river,  they  could  hear 
brisk  cannonading,  and  see  the  heavy  volumes 
of  smoke  arising  from  the  valley  where  the 
contest  was  going  on.  When  they  arrived  the 
Confederate  force  was  gone.  Thus  closed  the 
pursuit  of  Gen.  Jackson  with  a  portion  of  the 
forces  of  four  major-generals  of  the  TJ.  S.  army 
on  his  line  of  retreat,  beside  those  of  Brig.-Gen. 
Shields.  The  loss  of  men  on  both  sides  occa- 
sioned by  this  expedition  was  not  very  great 
either  in  killed,  wounded,  or  prisoners.  No  ac- 
curate details  are  at  present  accessible;  but 
the  destruction  of  Federal  stores  was  vast. 

On  the  night  of  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Fremont's 
forces  at  the  river,  an  alarm  was  raised  in 
camp.  Horses  were  harnessed,  and  men  placed 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


241 


in  a  condition  for  an  immediate  movement,  but 
affairs  finally  became  quiet,  and  a  part  of  a 
night's  rest  was  obtained.  On  the  next  morn- 
ing, the  10th,  orders  to  march  were  issued,  and 
the  army  was  soon  in  motion  back  to  Harrison- 
burg,  a  distance  of  twelve*  miles,  which  it 
reached  in  a  pitiless  storm  during  the  after- 
noon. On  Wednesday  it  moved  eighteen  miles 
to  New  Market,  and  on  Thursday  reached  Mt. 
Jackson,  seven  miles,  and  encamped  for  rest. 
Some  forces  of  Gen.  Jackson's  army  returned 
to  Harrisonburg  almost  as  soon  as  the  Federal 
troops  had  left  it.  The  division  of  Gen.  Shields 
also  fell  back  to  New  Market. 

The  force  of  Gen.  Jackson  was  estimated  by 
his  opponents  at  twenty-five  thousand  men. 
The  force  of  Gen.  Fremont,  on  leaving  Frank- 
lin, was  stated  to  be  about  twenty  thousand  men. 

It  should  be  stated  in  this  connection,  that 
on  the  very  day  on  which  Gen.  Jackson  at- 
tacked the  1st  Maryland,  under  Ool.  Kenly,  at 
Front  Royal,  the  23d  of  May,  the  Confederate 
General,  Heath,  in  the  western  part  of  the 
Mountain  Department,  advanced  rapidly  and 
boldly  with  nearly  three  thousand  men  and  at- 
tacked Ool.  Crook,  acting  brigadier-general, 
at  Greenbrier  Bridge,  thirty-five  miles  from 
McDowell,  and  nine  miles  from  Oamp  Alleghany. 
The  command  of  Col.  Crook  consisted  of  the 


36th  and  44th  Ohio  and  some  batteries.  The 
advance  of  Gen.  Heath  was  met  with  so  much 
vigor  and  promptness,  that  his  forces  were 
soon  defeated,  with  the  loss  of  his  four  pieces 
of  artillery,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  killed 
and  wounded,  and  three  hundred  stand  of 
arms,  and  a  number  taken  prisoners.  On  his 
retreat,  the  Greenbrier  bridge  was  burned  to 
check  or  prevent  pursuit.  This  affair  occurred 
on  the  day  previous  to  the  reception  of  the 
order  by  Gen.  Fremont  to  march  to  the  aid  of 
Gen.  Banks.  The  ill  success  of  this  enterprise 
was  such  that  it  failed  to  cause  any  diversion 
from  Gen.  Fremont's  command. 

This  exploit  of  Gen.  Jackson,  undoubtedly  one 
of  the  most  brilliant  and  successful  thus  far  of 
the  war,  if  its  objects  are  considered,  introduced 
into  the  whole  campaign  in  Virginia  a  disturb- 
ing element  of  considerable  magnitude.  It  di- 
verted large  masses  of  men  from  movements 
designed  to  accelerate  events  on  the  peninsula, 
delayed  the  advance  of  Gen.  McClellan,  and  de- 
prived him  of  the  reinforcements  he  expected. 
The  time  required  for  the  transfer  of  troops  in 
the  South  and  Southwest,  where  the  Confed- 
erate campaign  had  been  a  failure,  to  Richmond, 
was  thus  gained,  and  when  Gen.  McClellan  was 
next  prepared  to  move,  he  found  the  enemy  in 
accumulating  force  in  front  of  him. 


CHAPTEE   XIX. 

General  McClellan  crosses  the  Chickahominy— Battle  of  Fair  Oaks— Ketreat  of  the  Enemy— March  in  the  rear  of  Gen. 
McClellan — Bridges  over  the  Chickahominy  completed— Battle  at  Mechanicsville— Gen.  McClellan  moves  toward 
the  James — Battles  at  Savage  Station,  White  Oak  Swamp,  and  Charles  City  Cross  Roads — Confusion  of  the  Enemy — 
Attack  at  Malvern  Hill — Army  at  Harrison's  Landing — Arrival  of  Gen.  Halleck— His  Views — Army  of  the  Potomac 
withdrawn  from  the  Peninsula. 


On  the  25th  of  May  Gen.  McClellan  issued 
a  general  order,  which  was  read  throughout  the 
camps,  directing  the  troops,  as  they  advanced 
beyorfd  the  Chickahominy,  to  be  prepared  for 
battle  at  a  moment's  notice,  and  to  be  entirely 
unencumbered,  with  the  exception  of  ambu- 
lances ;  to  carry  three  days'  rations  in  their 
haversacks,  leaving  their  knapsacks  with  their 
wagons,  which  were  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
river,  carefully  parked.  Besides  practical  di- 
rections as  to  conduct,  this  order  says  to  officers 
and  soldiers :  "  Let  them  bear  in  mind  that  the 
Armyof  the  Potomac  has  never  yet  been  checked, 
and  let  them  preserve  in  battle  perfect  coolness 
and  confidence,  the  sure  forerunners  of  suc- 
cess." 

The  divisions  from  the  corps  of  Gens.  Heint- 
zelman  and  Keyes  were  among  the  first  to  cross 
the  Chickahominy.  They  took  a  position  on 
the  right  bank  somewhat  advanced  therefrom. 
The  right  wing  rested  near  New  Bridge,  the 
centre  at  Seven  Pines,  and  the  left  flank  on 
the  White  Oak  Swamp.  Gen.  Sumner's  corps 
remained  on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  On  the 
16 


30th  the  Confederate  Gen.  Johnston  made  ar- 
rangements for  an  attack  upon  the  Federal 
army,  for  the  purpose  of  cutting  off,  if  possible, 
the  corps  of  Gens.  Heintzelman  and  Keyes  be- 
fore they  could  be  joined  by  Gen.  Sumner. 
He  selected  the  divisions  of  Gens.  Longstreet, 
Huger,  G.  W.  Smith,  D.  H.  Hill,  and  Whiting, 
His  plan  was  that  Gens.  Hill  and  Longstreet 
should  advance  by  the  road  to  Williamsburg 
and  make  the  attack  in  front,  and  that  Gen. 
Huger  should  move  on  the  road  to  Charles 
City  and  attack  in  flank  the  troops  assailed  by 
Gens.  Hill  and  Longstreef.  Gen.  Smith  was 
ordered  to  the  junction  of  the  New  Bridge 
Road  and  the  Nine  Mile  Road,  and  to  be  in 
readiness  to  fall  on  the  right  flank  of  Gen. 
Keyes  and  to  cover  the  left  of  Gen.  Longstreet. 
The  forces  of  Gens.  Hill,  Longstreet,  and  Smith 
were  in  position  early  on  the  morning  of  Sat- 
urday, May  31,  and  waited  until  afternoon  for 
Gen.  Huger  to  get  into  position.  Prince  de 
Joinville,  who  was  a  competent  spectator,  thus 
describes  the  scenes  which  followed  this  attack: 
"At  the  moment  it  was  thus  attacked  the 


242 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Federal  -army  occupied  a  position  having  the 
form  of  a  V.  The  hase  of  the  V  is  at  Bottom 
Bidge,  where  the  railroad  crosses  the  Chicka- 
hominy.  The  left  arm  stretches  toward  Rich- 
mond, with  this  railroad  and  the  road  from  that 
city  to  Williamsburg.  There  stood  the  left 
wing,  composed  of  four  divisions  echeloned, 
one  behind  the  other,  between  Fair  Oaks  and 
Savage  stations,  and  encamped  in  the  woods  on 
both  sides  of  the  road.  The  other  arm  of  the 
V,  the  right,  follows  the  left  bank  of  the  river ; 
that  is  the  right  wing.  There  are  these  five 
divisions  and  the  reserve.  Should  one  desire 
to  communicate  from  one  extremity  to  the 
other  of  those  two  wings,  going  by  Bottom's 
Bridge,  the  way  is  very  long,  not  less  than  12 
or  15  miles.  In  an  air  line  the  distance,  on  the 
contrary,  is  very  trifling,  but  between  the  two 
arms  of  the  V  flows  the  Ohickahominy.  It 
was  to  connect  both  arms,  in  the  space  between 
them,  that  the  construction  of  3  or  4  bridges 
had  been  undertaken,  only  one  of  which  was 
'serviceable  on  the  31st  of  May.  It  had  been 
built  by  Gen.  Sumner,  nearly  halfway  between 
Bottom's  Bridge  and  the  most  advanced  point 
of  the  Federal  lines.  It  saved  the  army  that 
day  from  a  disaster."  The  other  bridges  were 
not  ready.  They  were  structures  of  logs,  and 
time  was  required  to  build  them.  The  ap- 
proaches were  always  bad,  and  the  tejdious 
labor  of  corduroying  long  distances  was  ne- 
cessary. 

"  It  was  against  the  left  wing  of  the  army  that 
every  effort  of  the  enemy  was  directed.  That 
wing  had  its  outposts  at  Fair  Oaks  station,  on 
the  York  river  railroad,  and  at  a  place  called 
Seven  Pines,  on  the  Williamsburg  road.  There 
the  Federals  had  thrown  up  a  redoubt  in  a 
clearing,  where  a  few  houses  were  to  be  seen, 
and  constructed  abatis,  to  increase  the  field  for 
sharpshooting  of  the  troops  posted  there.  The 
rest  of  the  country  was  completely  covered 
with  woods.  The  previous  day  there  had  been 
a  frightful  storm,  with  torrents  of  rain,  and  the 
roads  were  frightful. 

"  All  at  once,  about  one  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, the  weather  being  dark  and  gloomy,  a 
very  spirited  fusilade  is  heard.  The  pickets 
and  sentries  are  violently  driven  in  ;  the  woods 
which  surround  Fair  Oaks  and  Seven  Pines  are 
filled  with  clouds  of  the  enemy's  sharpshooters. 
The  troops  rush  to  arms  and  fight  in  despera- 
tion ;  but  their  adversaries'  forces  constantly 
increase,  and  their  losses  do  not  stop  them. 
The  redoubt  of  the*  Seven  Pines  is  surrounded, 
and  its  defenders  die  bravely.  Col.  Bailey, 
of  the  artillery,  among  others,  there  upon  his 
pieces  finds  a  glorious  death.  In  vain  Gens. 
Keyes  and  Naglee  exhaust  themselves  in  a 
thousand  efforts  to  keep  their  soldiers  together : 
they  are  not  listened  to.  In  this  moment  of 
confusion  they  perceive  a  little  French  bat- 
talion, known  as  the  Garde  Lafayette,  which 
has  remained  in  good  order.  They  rush  to  it, 
place  themselves  at  its  head,  charge  the  enemy 
and  retake  a  battery.  The  battalion  loses  a 


fourth  of  its  men  in  this  charge  ;  but,  like  true 
Frenchmen,  always  and  everywhere  the  same, 
they  cry,  "  They  can  call  us  the  Garde  Lafour- 
chette  now  ?  "  alluding  to  an  offensive  nickname 
that  had  been  given  them. 

"  Meanwhile  Heintzelman  rushes  to  the  res- 
cue with  his  two  divisions.  As  at  "Williams- 
burg, Kearney  arrives  in  good  time  to  reestab- 
lish the  fight.  Berry's  brigade,  of  this  division, 
composed  of  Michigan  regiments  and  an  Irish 
battalion,  advances  firm  as  a  wall  into  the 
midst  of  the  disordered  mass  which  wanders 
over  the  battle  field,  and  does  more  by  its  ex- 
ample than  the  most  powerful  reinforcements. 
About  a  mile  of  ground  has  been  lost,  fifteen 
pieces  of  cannon,  the  camp  of  the  division  of 
the  advanced  guard,  that  of  Gen.  Casey ;  but 
now  we  hold  our  own.  A  sort  of  line  of  battle 
is  formed  across  the  woods,  perpendicularly  to 
the  road  and  the  railroad,  and  there  the  repeat- 
ed assaults  of  the  enemy's  masses  are  resisted. 
The  left  cannot  be  turned,  where  is  the  White 
Oak  Swamp,  an  impassable  morass ;  but  the 
right  may  be  surrounded.  At  this  very  mo- 
ment, in  fact,  a  strong  column  of  Confederates 
has  been  directed  against  that  side.  If  it  suc- 
ceeds in  interposing  between  Bottom's  Bridge 
and  the  Federal  troops,  which  hold  beyond 
Savage's  Station,  the  entire  left  wing  is  lost. 
It  will  have  no  retreat,  and  is  doomed  to  yield 
to  numbers ;  but  precisely  at  this  moment — 
that  is  to  say,  at  6  o'clock  in  the  evening — new 
actors  appear  on  the  scene.  Gen.  Sumner,  who 
has  succeeded  in  passing  the  Chickahorniny, 
with  Sedgwick's  division,  over  the  bridge  con- 
structed by  his  troops,  and  who,  like  a  brave 
soldier,  has  marched  straight  through  the 
woods  to  the  sound  of  the  cannon,  arrived  sud- 
denly on  the  left  flank  of  the  column  with 
which  the  enemy  is  endeavoring  to  cut  off 
Heintzelman  and  Keyes. 

"  He  plants  in  the  clearing  a  battery  which 
he  has  succeeded  in  bringing  with  him.  They 
are  not  those  rifled  cannon,  the  objects  of  ex- 
travagant admiration  of  late,  good  for  cool 
firing  and  long  range  in  an  open  country :  these 
are  the  true  guns  for  a  fight — twelve-pound 
howitzers,*  the  old  pattern,  throwing  either  a 
round  projectile,  which  ricochets  and  rolls,  or 
a  heavy  package  of  grape.  The  simple  and 
rapid  discharging  of  these  pieces  makes  terri- 
ble havoc  in  the  opposing  ranks.  In  vain  John- 
ston sends  against  this  battery  his  best  troops, 
those  of  South  Carolina— the  Hampton  Legion 
among  others.  In  vain  he  rushes  on  it  him- 
self; nothing  can  shake  the  Federals,  who,  at 
nightfall,  valiantly  led  by  Gen.  Sumner  in  per- 
son, throw  themselves  upon  the  enemy  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet,  and  drive  him  furiously, 
with  frightful  slaughter  and  fear,  back  as  far 
as  Fair  Oaks  Station. 

"  Night  put  an  end  to  the  combat.  On  both 
sides  nothing  was  known  of  the  result  of  the 

battle  but  what  each  one  had  seen  with  his 

» 

*  Thenf  wero  "  Napoleon  "  guns.— [Eo. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


243 


own  eyes.  IViends  and  enemies,  lost  in  woods 
they  were  unacquainted  with,  lay  down  amid 
heaps  of  dead  and  wounded,  wherever  dark- 
ness overtook  them.  The  fatigue  of  this  obsti- 
nate struggle  as  well  as  the  obscurity  of  the 
night  had  imposed  on  the  combatants  one  of 
those  tacit  truces  so  frequent  in  war. 

"  Evidently  Johnston  had  flattered  himself, 
in  throwing  all  his  forces  on  the  four  divisions 
of  the  left  wing,  that  he  could  annihilate  them 
before  any  aid  could  come  to  them  from  the 
main  body  of  the  army  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
Chickahominy.  For  the  moment  he  had  re- 
coiled before  the  energetic  resistance  of  those 
four  divisions,  and  also  before  the  furious  and 
unforeseen  attack  of  Sumner's  troops.  No 
doubt  he  had  counted  on  the  terrible  storm  of 
the  previous  day  to  have  swelled  the  Chicka- 
hominy  so  as  to  render  the  establishment  of  a 
bridge  impossible,  or  to  sweep  away  in  its  over- 
flowing waters  those  already  established ;  but 
the  capricious  river  baffled  his  plans,  as  it  did 
some  hours  later  those  of  his  adversaries.  The 
effect  of  the  deluge  was  not  immediate ;  the 
rise  in  the  water  delayed  its  appearance  24 
hours.  Was  this  unhoped-for  delay  turned  to 
account  with  all  desirable  activity  on  the  part 
of  the  Federals  ?  That  is  a  question  which  will 
remain  always  in  dispute,  as  are  so  many  others 
of  the  same  kind,  which  form  one  of  the  ne- 
cessary chapters  of  the  history  of  most  great 
battles. 

"  It  was  only  at  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
that  the  action  had  commenced.  We  had 
waited  some  time  to  ascertain  if  the  attack  on 
that  side  was  not  a  feint,  intended  to  draw  the 
Federal  troops  to  that  point  while  the  bulk  of 
the  enemy's  forces  was  hastening  to  debouch 
on  the  left  bank.  We  had  been  promptly  re- 
lieved of  our  uncertainty  by  the  violence  of 
the  attack  and  by  the  reports  of  the  aeronauts, 
who  saw  the  entire  Confederate  army  marching 
to  the  point  of  attack. 

"  Then  Snmner  had  received  orders. to  cross 
the  water  with  his  two  divisions.  He  had  exe- 
cuted the  movement  with  rapidity,  marching  at 
the  head  of  his  column,  without  any  other 
guide  than  the  sound  of  the  cannon,  and  he 
arrived  at  the  right  moment  and  at  the  critical 
place.  But  some  persons  thought  then,  and 
still  think,  that  if,  at  the  moment  Sumner  re- 
ceived the  order  to  cross  the  river,  the  'Same 
order  had  been  given  to  all  the  divisions  of  the 
right  wing,  it  would  have  been  practicable. 
We  fancy  what  might  have  happened  if,  in 
place  of  throwing  15,000  men  on  Johnston's 
flank,  50,000  had  been  thrown.  Sumner's 
bridge,  doubtless,  would  not  have  answered  for 
the  crossing  of  so  many.  At  midnight  the  tail 
end  of  his  column  was  still  crossing,  struggling 
against  all  the  difficulties  which  bridges  formed 
of  trunks  of  trees  that  turn  under  the  feet, 
muddy  sloughs  and  a  dark  night — the  darkness 
rendered  still  deeper  by  the  thickness  of  the 
woods — present  to  horses  and  artillery.  Sev- 
eral bridges  were,  however,  ready  to  be  thrown 


across  at  other  points.  It  was  necessary  to 
work  without  a  moment's  loss  to  construct 
them,  and  not  be  disturbed  by  the  obstacles  the 
enemy  would  not  have  failed  to  present  to  the 
undertaking.  A  brigade  was  displayed  for  full 
effect  and  scarecrow  fashion,  opposite  the  points 
naturally  marked  out  for  crossing;  but  the 
stake  was  so  large,  the  result  so  important,  and 
the  occasion  itself  so  unforeseen  and  so  favor- 
able for  playing  a  decisive  part,  that  nothing, 
in  our  opinion,  should  have  prevented  that 
operation  from  being  attempted. 

"  Here,  again,  was  evident  that  American 
slowness  which  belongs  much  more  to  the  char- 
acter of  the  army  than  that  of  its  chief.  It 
was  not  until  7  o'clock  in  the  evening  that  the 
idea  of  securing  all  the  bridges  without  delay, 
and  causing  the  whole  army  to  cross  at  day- 
break to  the  right  bank  of  the  Chickahominy, 
was  entertained. 

"  It  was  now  too  late.  Four  hours  had  been 
lost,  and  the  opportunity — that  moment  so 
fleeting,  in  war  as  in  other  circumstances — had 
gone.  The  rise,  on  which  Johnston  had  vainly 
counted,  and  which  had  not  hindered  Sumner 
from  crossing,  came  on  during  the  night.  The 
river  rose  suddenly  from  two  feet,  and  continu- 
ed to  swell  with  rapidity,  carrying  away  the 
new  bridges,  tearing  up  and  sweeping  off  the 
trees  which  formed  the  planking  of  Sumner's 
bridges,  and  covering  the  entire  valley  with  its 
overflowing  waters.  Nothing  could  cross. 

"  At  the  earliest  dawn  of  day  the  combat 
was  resumed  with  great  fury  on  the  left  bank. 
The  enemy  came  on  in  a  body,  but  withput 
order  or  method,  and  rushed  upon  the  Federals, 
who,  knowing  that  they  were  inferior  in  num- 
bers and  without  hope  of  being  supported,  did 
not  attempt  to  do  more  than  resist  and  hold 
their  ground.  They  fought  with  fierce  deter- 
mination on  both  sides,  without,  any  noise, 
without  any  cries,  and  whenever  they  were  too 
hardly  pressed  they  made  a  charge  with  the 
bayonet.  The  artillery,  placed  on  the  emi- 
nences in  the  rear,  fired  shell  over  the  com- 
batants. Ah!  I  could  have  wished  that  all 
those  who,  forgetful  of  the  past,  and  impelled 
by  I  do  not  know  what  kind  of  egotistical  cal- 
culation, have  lavished  their  encouragement  on 
the  fatal  rebellion  of  slaveowners,  could  have 
been  present  at  this  fratricidal  struggle.  I 
could  have  wished  them,  as  a  punishment,  a 
sight  of  this  terrible  battle  field,  where  the 
dead  and  dying  were  piled  up  by  thousands.  I 
wished  that  they  could  have  seen  those  tem- 
porary ambulances  formed  around  the  few  habi- 
tations found  here  and  there.  Oh !  what  mis- 
ery— oh!  what  suffering!  The  ambulances 
had  something  about  them  particularly  horri- 
ble. The  houses  were  altogether  too  few  to 
contain  the  smallest  proportion  of  the  wound- 
ed, and  they  were  therefore  compelled  to  lay 
them  outside ;  but  although  they  did  not  make 
any  complaints,  and  b«re  their  fate  with  the 
most  stoical  courage,  their  exposure  in  one  po- 
sition beneath  the  rays  of  the  sun  of  the  middle 


244 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


of  June  soon  became  intolerable.  They  were 
then  to  be  seen  putting  forth  all  their  remain- 
ing strength,  and  crawling  to  seek  a  little  shade. 
I  will  always  remember  a  bed  of  roses,  whose 
sweet-scented  flowers  I  was  admiring  while 
conversing  with  one  of  my  friends,  when  he 
drew  my  attention  to  one  of  these  unfortunate 
men,  who  had  just  died  beneath  its  bushes. 
"We  looked  at  each  other  without  saying  a  word, 
the  heart  being  oppressed  with  the  most  pain- 
ful emotion.  Mournful  scenes,  from  which  the 
pen  of  the  writer,  like  the  eye  of  the  specta- 
tor, hastened  to  turn  away. 

"  Toward  midday  the  fire  gradually  dimin- 
ished, then  ceased.  The  enemy  retreated ;  but 
the  Federals  were  not  in  a  position  to  pursue 
them.  No  one  then  knew  what  a  loss  the 
Southerners  had  just  suffered  in  the  person  of 
their  commander,  Gen.  Johnston,  who  was  se- 
verely wounded.  It  was  to  his  absence  that 
was  owing,  in  a  great  measure,  the  unskilful 
attacks  against  the  Federal  army  in  the  morn- 
ing. When  the  firing  ceased  at  midday,  the 
Confederates,  tired  of  the  prolonged  strife 
.which  they  had  been  sustaining,  and  being  no 
longer  commanded,  were,  it  is  said  (for  in  the 
midst  of  these  immense  woods  one  sees  nothing, 
and  is  compelled  to  guess  everything),  in  a 
state  of  inextricable  confusion.  Who  can  say 
what  would  have  been  the  result  if  at  this  mo- 
ment the  35,000  fresh  troops  left  on  the  other 
side  of  the  Chickahominy  had  appeared  on  the 
flank  of  this  disordered  mass  after  having  suc- 
cessfully crossed  the  bridges  ? 

"  Such  is  the  history  of  this  singular  battle, 
which,  although  complicated  by  incidents  su- 
perior to  human  will,  must  not  be  taken  other- 
wise than  as  a  type  of  American  battles.  The 
conflict  was  a  bloody  one,  for  the  North  had  lost 
5,000  men,  the  South  at  least  8,000;  but  the 
results  were  barren  on  one  side  as  on  the  other. 
Although  the  losses  of  the  enemy  were  much 
greater  than  those  of  the  Federals,  the  result 
was  especially  distressing  to  the  latter.  They 
had  lost  a  rare  opportunity,  of  striking  a  deci- 
sive blow.  These  occasions  did  not  return,  and 
therefore,  in  the  circumstances  in  which  they 
were  placed,  the  result  was  against  them." 

The  crossing  of  Gen.  Sumner's  corps  com- 
menced about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
At  that  time  the  head  of  the  advance,  Gen. 
Gorman's  brigade,  turned  from  the  swamps  on 
the  left  bank  of  the  river  to  cross  by  the  bridge 
built  by  Gen.  Sumner, — a  battery  moved  next, 
then  Gen.  Burns's  brigade,  then  artillery,  and 
finally  Gen.  Dana's  brigade,  all  of  Gen.  Sedg- 
wick's  division.  In  consequence  of  the  mo- 
rasses, all  the  batteries  except  Kirby's  were  left 
behind;  but  all  the  troops  except  the  19th 
Massachusetts,  which  was  detached  to  assist 
the  artillery,  were  moved  swiftly  onward  to 
the  scene  of  action.  Gen.  Richardson's  division 
was  detained  until  quite  late  in  the  evening  by 
the  obstructed  causewty.  At  seven  o'clock, 
it  was  in  the  position  to  which  it  had  been  as- 
signed. It  took  no  part  in  the  battle  011  Saturday. 


Now  was  the  time  to  capture  the  city.  The 
retreat  of  the  army  caused  great  consternation 
at  Richmond.  The  Confederate  force  had  re- 
tired in  confusion,  and  if  they  had  been  sharply 
followed  up,  the  gates  of  the  city  would  have 
been  reached,  if  friend  and  foe  had  not  gone  in 
together.  It  is  useless  to  speculate  on  possi- 
bilities. The  force  with  which  Gen.  McClellan 
commenced  his  march  had  been  diminished 
before  Yorktown  and  Williamsburg,  and  by 
•constant  skirmishing.  It  garrisoned  York- 
town  and  Williamsburg,  and  occupied  the 
White  House,  and  the  line  of  the  railroad.  It 
had  received  no  reinforcements  up  to  this  time 
except  the  division  of  Franklin.  It  was  ulso 
impossible  for  him  to  move  the  corps  of  Geiis. 
Porter  and  Franklin  over  the  Chickahominy  at 
the  decisive  moment,  as  even  the  bridge  on 
which  Gen.  Sumner  had  crossed  had  been  so 
far  destroyed  by  the  river,  which  was  swollen 
by  the  rains  of  Friday  and  Saturday,  that  it 
was  impassable  for  a  single  horseman.  The 
three  corps  which  had  been  engaged  in  the 
battles  of  Saturday  and  Sunday  were  too  much 
cut  up  and  wearied,  by  their  conflict  with  supe- 
rior numbers,  to  be  able  to  pursue  the  retreat- 
ing Confederates,  particularly  as  they  might 
probably  have  been  met  at  the  outworks  of  the 
city  by  fresh  troops,  in  numbers  fully  equal  to 
themselves,  and  a  strong  artillery  in  position. 
He  was  in  no  condition  to  risk  anything.  He 
had  fought  the  enemy  in  equal  or  superior  num- 
bers, and  they  had  retired  in  confusion.  The 
corps  of  Gen.  McDowell,  if  on  hand  now,  might 
have  taken  Richmond,  but  without  it  the  com- 
manding general  was  not  strong  enough  to  risk 
its  immediate  attack.  There  were  other  con- 
siderations to  govern  his  conduct.  He  was 
leading  an  invading  army  without  reserves  to 
fall  back  upon.  A  repulse  would  have  ended 
in  serious,  if  not  complete  disaster.  Such  a 
result  to  the  peninsular  campaign  would  have 
been  fatal  to  the  cause  to  which  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  was  devoted.  It  would  have  con- 
vinced foreign  powers  that  there  was  such  a 
degree  of  military  strength  in  the  Confederacy 
as  to  render  the  immediate  recognition  of  its 
independence  both  safe  and  politic.  But  there 
was  probably  one  consideration  which  out- 
weighed all  others,  and  exerted  a  decisive  in- 
fluence upon  the  movements.  This  was  the 
certain  and  safe  reception  of  sufficient  sup- 
plies. The  single  line  of  railroad  was  not 
capable  of  transporting  them.  The  horses 
were  kept  on  half  forage,  and  if  the  distance 
had  been  increased,  the  army  itself  would  have 
suffered.  What  hope  was  there  of  holding 
Richmond,  even  if  it  had  been  taken,  with  a 
line  of  transportation  not  capable  of  bringing 
forward  sufficient  to  sustain  the  army,  and  one 
which,  from  the  inadequate  force  to  guard  it, 
was  liable  at  any  moment  to  be  broken  up? 
Finally,  for  many  days  after  the  battle,  tho 
fields  and  roads  were  in  such  condition  as  to 
render  it  impossible  to  move  any  amount  of  ar- 
tillery over  them.  To  have  advanced  without 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


245 


it  would  have  placed  infantry  in  front  of  works 
armed  with  heavy  guns. 

The  danger  of  his  position  was  soon  demon- 
strated to  the  commanding  general.  It  was 
determined  in  Richmond  at  this  time,  to  pene- 
trate the  lines  of  the  Federal  army,  and  make 
a  full  and  thorough  reconnoissance  of  its  posi- 
tion and  strength.  For  this  purpose,  early  on 
the  8th  of  June,  Gen.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  with  the 
1st,  Col.  Fitz  Hugh  Lee ;  9th,  Col.  F.  H.  Fitz 
Hugh  Lee ;  and  4th  Virginia  cavalry,  Lieut. 
Gardner;  the  Jeff.  Davis  troop,  with  two 
pieces  of  flying  artillery,  a  12-pound  howitzer, 
and  a  6-pound  rifled  English  piece,  numbering 
about  fifteen  hundred  men,  left  Richmond  and 
proceeded  down  the  Charlottesville  turnpike. 
That  night  they  encamped  at  Ashland,  not 
deeming  it  safe  to  proceed  after  dusk,  and  com- 
municated by  signal  rockets  with  Richmond. 
As  soon  as  day  dawned,  they  proceeded  care- 
fully and  cautiously,  and  penetrated  the  Fed- 
eral lines.  Near  Hanover  Court  House,  two 
or  three  small  bodies  of  Federal  cavalry  were 
met,  and  skirmishing  ensued,  but  the  latter,  be- 
ing unable  to  withstand  the  heavy  Confederate 
force,  were  quickly  routed.  The  camps  of 
these  Federal  outposts  were  visited  and  de- 
stroyed ;  wagons  on  the  road  were  overtaken 
and  burnt,  and  the  entire  route  from  Ashland 
by  Hanover  Court  House  to  Tunstall's  Station, 
on  the  York  River  railroad,  was  to  this  force 
a  continuous  scene  of  triumph  and  destruction. 
Commissary  and  quartermasters'  stores  were 
seized  and  burned ;  prisoners  and  horses  were 
taken  and  sent  to  the  rear.  The  amount 
of  property  destroyed,  however,  was  very 
small. 

Upon  approaching  the  railroad,  cars  were 
heard  advancing,  and  the  whistle  sounded. 
By  orders,  every  man  was  instantly  dismount- 
ed and  ranged  beside  the  track.  Thinking  the 
force  to  be  a  friendly  one,  the  train  w'as  stop- 
ped, when  one  company  of  the  troop  opening 
fire,  disclosed  its  character.  The  train  was 
immediately  started  under  full  steam  for  the 
Ohickahominy,  and  despite  logs  placed  on  the 
track,  made  its  escape.  It  consisted  chiefly 
of  uncovered  platform  cars,  on  which  were 
some  soldiers  who  were  fired  upon  and  killed 
or  wounded.  A  detachment  was  immediately 
sent  toward  the  White  House  on  the  Pamun- 
key  river,  where  a  number  of  wagons  loaded 
with  stores,  and  four  transport  vessels  were 
found.  Two  of  the  vessels  with  their  stores 
were  destroyed,  and  a  few  wagons  at  Garlick's 
Landing.  New  Kent  Court  House  was  made  the 
rendezvous  whither  the  main  body  had  gone, 
and  where  they  were  soon  joined  by  this  de- 
tachment. Here  «  halt  was  made  until  mid- 
night. Some  prisoners  were  taken,  and  sutlers' 
stores  consumed  or  destroyed.  At  midnight 
they  quietly  moved  by  a  lonely  road  toward  the 
Chickahominy,  and  passing  near  a  considerable 
body  of  the  Federal  forces,  they  reached  its 
banks  a  little  before  dawn  on  Sunday,  the  llth, 
and  were  ready  to  cross.  They  had  arrived 


far  below  the  bridges,  and  where  deep  water 
flows,  and  knew  not  how  to  cross.  Their  per- 
plexity is  thus  described  by  a  Confederate 
writer :  "  Here  was  an  awful  situation  for  a 
gallant  band !  Directed  to  Blind  Ford,  it  was 
fifteen  feet  deep !  The  enemy  had  blocked  up 
all  the  main  roads,  and  had  thousands  scouring 
the  country,  eager  to  entrap  or  slaughter  it.  And 
without  means  to  cross  1  Quietly  taking  pre- 
cautions against  all  surprise,  strict  silence  be- 
ing enjoined  upon  the  prisoners,  first  one 
horseman  plunged-  into  the  flood,  and  then 
another  at  different  points — all  too  deep ;  no 
ford  discoverable,  no  bridge !  The  horses,  it 
was  thought,  would  follow  each  other,  and 
swim  the  stream — it  was  tried,  and  the  horses 
carried  away  by  the  current!  Breaking  into 
small  parties,  the  cavalrymen  swam  and  re- 
swam  the  river  with  their  horses,  and  when 
some  fifty  or  more  had  been  landed,  a  strange 
but  friendly  voice  whispered  in  the  dark, 
'  The  old  bridge  is  a  few  yards  higher  up — it 
can  be  mended ! '  'Twas  found,  and  mended 
it  could  be !  Quietly  working,  tree  after  tree 
was  felled,  earth  and  twigs  and  branches  were 
carried  and  piled  up  on  the  main  props ;  old 
logs  were  rolled  and  patched  across  the  stream ; 
yet  after  long  and  weary  labor  the  bridge  was 
built,  and  the  long  and  silent  procession  of 
cavalry,  artillery,  prisoners  and  spoils,  safely 
and  quietly  passed  this  frail  impromptu  bridge, 
scarcely  any  sounds  being  heard  but  the  rush 
of  waters  beneath.  Once  across  and  in  the 
swamps,  all  was  industry  and  expedition.  Ar- 
tillery axles  sank  low  in  the  mire — ten  Yankee 
horses  were  hitched  to  each  piece,  and  as  the 
first  rays  of  morning  crimsoned  the  tree  tops, 
the  long  line  rapidly  sought  the  shade  of  woods 
away  from  the  Federal  lines.  Yet  the  troops 
had  not  proceeded  far  when  the  advance  was 
halted.  '"Who  comes  there?'  cried  the  Fed- 
eral horsemen  in  the  swamp.  '  Wno  goes 
there  ? '  calls  another,  and  quicker  than 
thought  the  advance  guard  dashes  away  into 
the  open  ground ;  the  Federals  fire  half  a  dozen 
shots,  and  rush  in  pursuit.  Into  the  thicket 
some  half  dozen  Federal  horsemen  dart  and 
are  surrounded  and  made  prisoners." 

The  crossing  was  made  thirteen .  miles  from 
Gen.  McClellan's  headquarters,  and  five  miles 
from  his  pickets.  They  were  now  soon  within 
the  lines  of  the  Confederate  army.  The  delay 
caused  by  the  vigorous  skirmishing  with  the 
enemy  encountered,  caused  them  afterward  to 
make  so  much  haste  to  escape,  that  the  amount 
of  property -destroyed  was  small,  and  estima- 
ted at  fifty  thousand  dollars.  Three  hundred 
mules  and  some  prisoners  were  taken  away. 
This  small  force  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  had 
passed  entirely  round  and  in  the  rear  of  the 
Federal  army.  The  hope  for  the  cooperation 
of  Gen.  McDowell  amid  these  perilous  scenes 
was  again,  for  the  third  time,  now  rekindled 
in  the  mind  of  Gen.  McClellan,  and  not  entire- 
ly in  vain.  On  the  10th  of  June,  Gen.  Mc- 
Dowell wrote  as  follows : 


246 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


June  10,  1862. 
Maj.-Gen.  G.  S.  McClellan,  Commanding  Department 

of  Virginia,  before  Richmond  : 
For  the  third  time  I  am  ordered  to  join  you,  and 
hope  this  time  to  get  through.  In  view  of  the  remarks 
made  with  reference  to  my  leaving  you  and  not  join- 
ing you  before,  by  your  friends,  and  of  something  I 
have  heard  as  coming  from  you  on  that  subject,  I  wish 
to  say  I  go  with  the  greatest  satisfaction,  and  hope  to 
arrive  with  my  main  body  in  time  to  be  of  s_ervice. 
McCall  goes  in  advance  by  water.  I  will  be  with  you 
in  ten  days  with  the  remainder  by  Fredericksburg. 

IBVIN  MCDOWELL, 

Major-General  Commanding. 
On  the  12th,  he  again  wrote,  as  follows: 

HEADQUARTERS  DBPABTMENT  or  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK,  ) 
MANASSAS,  June  12, 1862.     ) 
Maj.-Gen.  0.  B.  McClellan,  Commanding  Department 

of  Virginia,  before  Richmond  : 
The  delay  of  Maj.-Gen.  Banks  to  relieve  the  division 
of  my  command  in  the  valley  beyond  the  time  I  had 
calculated  on,  will  prevent  my  joining  you  with  the  re- 
mainder of  the  troops  I  am  to  take  below  at  as  early  a 
day  as  I  named.  My  third  division  (McCall's)  is  now 
on  the  way.  Plea_se  do  me  the  favor  to  so  place  it  that 
it  may  be  in  a  position  to  join  the  others  as  they  come 
down  from  Fredericksburg.  IRVIN  McDOWELL, 

Major-General  Commanding. 
Contrary  to  the  expectation  of  both,  the  divi- 
sion of  Gen.  McCall  was  the  only  one  of  Gen. 
McDowell's  corps  which  subsequently  reached 
the  army  of  the  Potomac. 
»  On  the  next  day  after  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks, 
above  described,  Gen.  McClellan  recovered 
without  resistance  the  stations  of  Fair  Oaks 
and  Seven  Pines,  and  the  two  armies  were 
once  more  in  the  same  position  as  before. 

On  the  2d  of  June  President  Davis  issued 
the  following  address  to  the  Confederate  army : 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE,  June  2, 1862. 
To  the  Army  of  Richmond  : 

I  render  to  you  my  grateful  acknowledgments  for 
the  gallantry  and  good  conduct  you  displayed  in  the 
battles  of  the  31st  of  May,  and  the  1st  instant,  and 
with  pride  and  pleasure  recognize  the  steadiness  and 
intrepidity  with  which  you  attacked  the  enemy  in  po- 
sition, captured  his  advanced  intrenchments,  several 
batteries  of  artillery,  and  many  standards,  and  every- 
where drove  them  from  the  open  field. 

At  a  part  of  your  operations  it  was  my  fortune  to  be 
present.  On  no  other  occasion  have  I  witnessed  more 
of  calmness  and  good  order  than  you  exhibited  while 
advancing  into  the  very  jaws  of  death,  and  nothing 
could  exceed  the  prowess  with  which  you  closed  upon 
the  enemy  when  a  sheet  of  fire  was  blazing  in  your 
faces. 

In  the  renewed  struggle  in  which  you  are  on  the  eve 
of  engaging,  I  ask  and  can  desire  but  a  continuance  of 
the  same  conduct  which  now  attracts  the  admiration 
and  pride  of  the  loved  ones  you  have  left  at  home. 

You  are  fighting  for  all  that  is  dearest  to  men  ;  and, 
though  opposed  to  a  foe  who  disregards  many  of  the 
usages  of  civilized  war,  your  humanity  to  the  wounded 
and  the  prisoners  was  the  fit  and  crowning  glory  to 
your  valor. 

Defenders  of  a  just  cause,  may  God  have  you  in  His 
holy  keeping !  JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 

Gen.  McClellan  now  set  to  work  to  complete 
in  a  substantial  manner  the  bridges  across  the 
Chickahominy  and  put  the  two  wings  of  his 
army  in  communication  with  each  other  in 
spite  of  any  inundations.  Entrenchments  were 
then  thrown  up  along  the  whole  line.  The 
right  wing,  consisting  of  the  divisions  of  Gens. 
McOall,  Morrell,  and  Sykes,  was  posted  on  the 


left  bank  of  the  Chickahominy  from  Beaver 
Dam  Creek  to  a  point  below  New  Bridge. 
The  centre,  consisting  of  Gens.  Smith's,  Sedg- 
wick's,  and  Kichardson's  divisions,  was  stretch- 
ed in  a  line  from  Golding  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  river  to  a  point  south  of  the  York  river 
railroad.  The  left  wing,  consisting  of  Ge"ns. 
Hooker's,  Kearney's,  and  Couch's  divisions,  ex- 
tended from  the  left  of  Gen.  Richardson's  posi- 
sion  to  a  point  considerably  south  of  the  Wil- 
liamsburg  stage  road,  on  the  borders  of  White 
Oak  swamp.  The  Confederate  line  pressed  so 
close  to  the  Federal  line  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  river  that  neither  could  advance  a  regiment 
outside  their  respective  breastworks  without 
provoking  a  contest.  In  this  position  the  two 
armies  remained  until  near  the  close  of  the 
month. 

The  demonstration  in  the  rear  of  the  Federal 
army  had  convinced  the  commanding  general 
that  a  change  of  position  might  become  neces- 
sary, and  some  vessels  loaded  with  ammuni- 
tion, provisions,  and  other  supplies  were  wisely 
sent  to  James  river  near  City  Point-,  but  no 
further  steps  for  this  purpose  were  taken. 

On  Wednesday,  the  25th  of  June,  the  first 
movement  on  the  part  of  Gen.  McClellan  was 
made.  This  consisted  in  directing  Gen.  Hooker 
to  take  up  an  advanced  position  of  a  mile  on 
Fair  Oaks  farm,  near  the  Williamsburg  road 
leading  directly  to  Richmond.  It  was  calculat- 
ed that  this  movement  might  be  followed  by  a 
general  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  Confed- 
erates, which  would  renew  the  battle  of  Fair 
Oaks,  and  by  the  advantage  of  the  bridges  the 
whole  army  could  be  concentrated.  If  the  bat- 
tle was  not  renewed  then  it  would  be  one  step 
in  advance  toward  Richmond.  The  ground 
Gen.  Hooker  was  ordered  to  occupy  was  taken, 
lost  and  retaken  with  a  loss  of  from  four  to  five 
hundred  men.  He  was  ably  supported  by 
Brig.-Gens.  Grover  and  Sickles.  During  the 
ensuing  night  information  was  received  that 
Gen.  Jackson,  returned  from  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  was  in  force  near  Hanover  Court  House. 
This  indicated  that  the  Confederate  army  had 
now  been  concentrated,  and  the  object  of  Gen. 
Jackson  in  that  position  was  to  attack  the  Fed- 
eral communications,  and  cut  them  off  by  seiz- 
ing the  York  river  railway  in  their  rear.  The 
advance  upon  Richmond  could  not  therefore 
be  further  prosecuted  by  the  diminished  forces 
of  the  Federal  army.  Gen.  Hooker  was  conse- 
quently recalled  from  his  advanced  position  on 
the  next  day. 

It  appears  that  on  the  25th  a  council  of  all 
the  Confederate  generals  was  held  at  Richmond. 
Gens.  Lee,  Baldwin,  Jackson,  A.  P.  Hill,  D.  H. 
Hill,  Huger,  Longstreet,  Brttach,  Wise,  Ander- 
son, Whiting,  Ripley,  and  Magruder  were  pres- 
ent. It  was  determined  that  Gen.  Jackson 
should  move  upon  the  right  flank  of  the  Fed- 
eral army,  and  if  Gen.  McDowell  remained  in- 
active in  his  position  near  Fredericksburg,  then 
a  general  and  simultaneous  attack  was  to  be 
made  upon  the  whole  line  of  Gen.  McClellan. 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


.   247 


A  demonstration  along  the  Richmond  road 
made  at  that  time  by  Gen.  McDowell  would 
have  rendered  the  flank  march  of  Gen.  Jack- 
son entirely  impracticable.  This  demonstra- 
tion was  feared  by  Gen.  Lee ;  but  he  was  un- 
aware that  it  had  then  been  determined  at 
Washington  to  concentrate  the  corps  of  Gen. 
McDowell  with  the  other  forces  before  Wash- 
ington and  form  the  army  of  Virginia  under 
Gen.  Pope.  The  order  for  that  purpose  was 
issued  on  the  27th,  at  Washington,  the  2nd 
day  after  the  council  of  officers  at  Richmond ; 
and  thus  prevented  entirely  the  movement 
feared  by  Gen.  Lee. 

On  the  26th  Gen.  Jackson  reached  Ashland, 
there  to  commence  his  flanking  operations. 
His  advanced  guard  drove  in  the  little  Federal 
force  posted  there  and  pushed  on  without  loss 
of  time  to  Hanover  Court  House,  where  he 
threw  forward  Gen.  Branch's  brigade  between 
the  Chickahominy  and  the  Pamunkey  rivers  to 
establish  a  junction  with  Gen.  Hill,  who  was  to 
cross  the  former  stream  at  Meadow  Bridge. 
It  was  the  movement  of  Gen.  Hill's  troops, 
seen  pouring  out  of  Richmond  by  the  Federal 
army,  in  the  direction  where  Gen.  Jackson  was 
known  to  be,  which  convinced  them  of  the  se- 
rious work  at  hand  on  their  right.  Gen.  D.  H. 
Hill  began  his  offensive  operations  about  1  p.  M. 
by  an  attack  upon  Mechanicsville  and  met  with 
a  brave  resistance.  Gen.  McCall's  Pennsylva- 
nia reserves  were  stationed  there  supported  by 
Gen.  Morrell  and  Gen.  Sykes,  and  strongly  in- 
trenched for  defence.  Storming  attacks  were 
made  again  and  again  with  fury,  and  were  as 
often  repelled  with  a  cool  determination.  In 
vain  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill  sent  his  aids  in  quest  of 
Gen.  Branch.  The  latter  did  not  arrive  until 
night,  when  the  conflict  had  ended. 

At  this  time  eight  divisions  of  the  Federal 
army  were  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Chicka- 
hominy occupying  entrenchments  fronting 
Richmond.  Before  these  troops  lay  the  mass 
of  the  Confederate  army  also  in  entrenched 
positions.  Upon  the  left  bank  of  the  river 
connected  by  numerous  bridges  was  Gen.  Fitz- 
John  Porter  with  two  divisions  and  Gen.  Sykes' 
regulars.  It  was  against  this  latter  force  that 
the  Confederate  attack  was  made.  Two  sepa- 
rate armies  of  great  force  were  thus  about  to 
attack  Gen.  McClellan,  and  his  position  was 
extremely  critical.  If  he  concentrated  on  the 
left  bank  of  the  Chickahominy,  he  abandoned 
the  attempt  to  capture  Richmond,  and  risked 
a  disastrous  retreat  upon  the  White  House  and 
Yorktown  with  the  entire  Confederate  army  in 
pursuit,  and  where  he  could  hope  for  no  sup- 
port. If  he  moved  to  the  right  bank  of  the 
river,  he  risked  the  cutting  off  of  his  communi- 
cations with  the  White  House  by  the  enemy, 
who  might  seize  the  railroad  over  which  his 
supplies  came.  He  would  then  be  forced  to 
open  new  communications  with  James  river, 
and  move  at  once  in  that  direction.  There  he 
would  receive  the  support  of  the  navy,  and  if 
reenforced  could  operate  against  Richmond  or 


Petersburg,  the  fall  of  the  latter  place  involving 
the  fall  of  the  former.  This  latter  movement 
had  been  thought  of  some  time  previous,  and 
transports,  with  a  prudent  foresight,  had  been 
sent  to  the  James  river.  It  was  now  deter- 
mined upon.  The  distance  from  Fair  Oaks  to 
the  James  river  was  about  seventeen  miles.  A 
single  road  only  existed  by  which  the  baggage 
and  stores  could  be  moved.  This  was  exposed 
in  front  to  the  enemy,  who,  by  several  roads 
radiating  from  Richmond,  could  throw  a  con- 
siderable force  at  once  upon  different  points. 
The  activity  with  which  this  movement  was 
performed  was  such  that  it  was  nearly  com- 
pleted before  it  was  anticipated  by  the  enemy. 
During  the  night  in  which  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill 
was  held  in  check  at  Mechanicsville,  the  whole 
of  Gen.  Porter's  baggage  was  sent  over  to  the 
right  bank  of  the  river  and  united  with  the 
long  train  which  was  to  set  out  on  the  evening 
of  the  27th  for  James  river.  At  the  same  time 
orders  were  given  to  reship  or  destroy  all  the 
stores  along  the  railroad  to  White  House  and 
to  evacuate  that  depot.  This  duty  was  assigned 
to  Gen.  Stoneman  with  a  flying  column.  He 
was  also  ordered  to  delay  the  advance  of  the 
enemy  and  to  fall  back  after  the  execution  of 
these  orders  on  Yorktown.  All  this  was  suc- 
cessfully done. 

For  the  next  day,  Friday,  the  27th,  the 
orders  to  Gen.  McCall  on  the  extreme  right 
were  to  fall  back  on  the  bridges  thrown  across 
the  Chickahominy  at  Gaines's  Mill.  Joining 
the  other  troops  of  Gen.  Porter's  corps,  con- 
sisting of  the  division  of  Gen.  Morrell  and  the 
regulars  of  Gen.  Sykes,  their  duty  was  to  make 
a  stand  in  front  of  the  bridges  in  order  to  give 
the  army  time  to  execute  its  general  movement. 
Gen.  Porter,  with  this  force,  was  not  to  cross 
the  bridges  until  evening,  and  then  to  destroy 
them.  The  manner  in  which  these  orders  were 
executed  will  now  appear. 

Scarcely  had  the  morning  of  the  27th  dawned, 
when  the  Confederate  forces,  under  Gen.  D.  H. 
Hill,  that  had  been  held  in  check  the  previous 
evening,  opened  a  tremendous  fire  of  artillery 
upon  the  front  of  Gen.  McCall,  who,  upon  see- 
ing the  brigade  of  Gen.  Branch,  ordered  on  the 
previous  day  to  support  Gen.  Hill,  advancing 
to  attack  his  right,  began  to  fall  back,  fighting, 
further  down  the  stream.  This  secured  the 
crossing  of  the  Chickahominy  at  Mechanicsville 
to  the  Confederates,  and  the  first  reinforcements 
ordered  from  their  main  body  during  the  night, 
consisting  of  the  veteran  corps  of  Gen.  Long- 
street,  and  the  division  of  Gen.  A.  P.  Hill,  now 
arrived.  An  order  to  advance  was  now  given 
all  along  the  Confederate  line,  except  the  right 
wing  under  Gen.  Magruder,  which  now  con- 
fronted Gen.  McClellan  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  Chickahominy.  The  divisions  of  Gens.  A. 
P.  Hill,  Anderson,  and  Whiting  formed  the 
centre,  and  moved  toward  Coal  Harbor,  while 
Gens.  Jackson,  D.  H.  Hill,  and  Longstreet 
formed  the  left  nearer  the  Pamunkey  river. 
Apprehensions  were  still  entertained  by  Gen. 


248 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


249 


Lee  of  the  approach  of  Gen.  McDowell,  and  it 
•was  not  until  he  received  reliable  intelligence 
of  the  latter's  inactivity  that  he  resolved  upon 
a  general  attack.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  he 
was  informed  that  Gen.  Jackson  had  reached 
Coal  Harbor,  steps  were  taken  for  an  immediate 
attack  on  the  retiring  corps  of  Gen.  Porter, 
which  was  supposed  to  be  the  mass  of  Gen. 
McOIellan's  army,  and  which  had  taken  up  the 
position  it  was  ordered  to  hold  on  the  left  bank 
before  the  bridges.  The  Confederate  attack 
was  opened  by  the  columns  of  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill, 
Anderson,  and  Pickett.  These  brave  masses 
rushed  with  "  thundering  hurrahs  "  upon  the 
musketry  of  Gen.  Porter's  corps,  and  whole 
ranks  went  down  under  the  terrible  fire  that 
met  them.  After  a  fierce  struggle  the  Con- 
federate troops  began  to  give  way,  and  at  length 
all  orders  and  encouragements  were  vain.  They 
were  falling  back  in  the  greatest  disorder.  Im- 
mediately Gen.  Cobb  appeared  on  the  field  with 
his  legion,  and  the  19th  North  Carolina,  and 
14th  Virginia,  and  renewed  the  attack,  but  all 
their  efforts  were  in  vain.  Broken  to  pieces 
and  disorganized,  the  fragments  of  that  legion 
came  rolling  back  from  the  charge.  The  19th 
North  Carolina  lost  eight  standard  bearers,  and 
most  of  their  officers  were  either  killed  or 
wounded.  The  shattered  regiments  of  Gens. 
Hill  and  Anderson  were  again  led  up,  but  their 
foes  quietly  and  coolly  held  out  against  every 
attack  that  was  made.  During  this  moment  of 
success  for  the  Federal  army,  Gen.  McClellan 
hastened  to  throw  upon  the  left  bank  all  the 
troops  not  absolutely  necessary  to  guard  the 
lines  in  front  of  Richmond.  It  was  nearly  night 
when  some  of  the  divisions  reached  the  river, 
and  at  this  time  the  Confederate  left  and  re- 
serves had  been  brought  up.  The  weight  of 
their  attack  was  made  on  the  Federal  left, 
where  the  troops  had  sustained  an  unequal 
fight  all  day,  and  were  worn  out,  having  fired 
almost  their  last  cartridge.  The  left  gave  way 
and  disbanded.  This  disorder  extended  until  it 
reached  the  centre  of  the  Federal  lines,  which  fell 
back  in  increasing  confusion,  until  the  fresh  bri- 
gades of  Gens.  Meagher  and  French  were  met. 
The  vigorous  shouts  of  these  troops,  and  the 
placing  a  few  guns  anew  in  battery  and  opening 
fire  served  to  check  the  enemy,  who  paused  at 
this  final  determination,  and  darkness  closed  the 
contest  at  Gaines's  Mill. 

The  left  wing,  under  Gen.  Porter,  subse- 
quently supported  from  the  main  body,  had  ac- 
complished the  purpose  of  holding  the  Con- 
federates in  check,  and  that  night  the  train  of 
five  thousand  wagons,  the  seige  train,  a  herd  of 
twenty-five  hundred  oxen,  and  other  material 
was  in  motion  for  James  river.  During  the 
night  the  troops  of  Gen.  McClellan  repassed  the 
bridges  of  the  Chickahominy  in  perfect  order, 
destroying  them  after  they  had  passed.  The 
field  of  battle,  with  the  dead,  and  those  most 
seriously  wounded,  a  few  guns  and  some  pris- 
oners, was  abandoned.  The  corps  of  Gen. 
Keyes  in, the  advance  to  ward  James  river  took 


possession  of  the  road  across  the  White  Oak 
Swamp,  and  the  principal  lines  of  communica- 
tion by  which  the  Federal  army  could  bo  an- 
noyed by  their  enemies. 

Meantime  the  Confederate  officers  and  men 
supposed,  from  the  manner  in  which  the  day 
closed,  leaving  them  in  possession  of  the  field 
of  battle  and  its  spoils,  that  Gen.  McClellan 
was  completely  cut  off  from  his  base  of  retreat. 
The  capture  or  destruction  of  the  entire  Fed- 
eral army  was  regarded  as  certain.  The  re- 
joicing bordered  on  frenzy.  Their  demonstra- 
tion on  the  28th  was  made  to  the  White  House, 
where  the  immense  stores  which  were  expected 
to  fall  into  their  hands  were  found  to  have  been 
destroyed,  and  nothing  but  ruins  remained. 
The  burial  of  the  dead,  and  the  care  for  the 
wounded,  and  repose  for  the  troops,  and  un- 
certainty as  to  the  position  of  the  Federal  army, 
caused  the  day  to  pass  without  any  movement 
of  the  Confederate  troops.  The  mass  of  them 
were  now  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Chickahominy, 
over  which  the  bridges  had  been  destroyed, 
while  Gen.  McClellan's  army  united  was  on  the 
right  bank.  Time  now  was  worth  everything 
to  them.  Before  they  could  be  attacked,  how- 
ever, it  was  necessary  for  the  Confederate  force 
to  rebuild  the  bridges,  or  to  fall  back  some  dis- 
tance to  the  Mechanicsville  bridge.  It  was  not 
until  the  reports  of  the  state  of  affairs  at  the 
White  House  were  made  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  28th,  and  the  statements  of  prisoners,  that 
Gen.  Lee  comprehended  the  real  movements  of 
Gen.  McOlellan,  and  that  he  was  on  his  way  to 
James  river  to  form  a  junction  with  the  fleet. 
The  twelve  brigades  of  Gens.  D.  H.  Hill  and 
Longstreet  were  instantly  put  in  motion  to  give 
the  death  blow  to  the  enemy,  whom  they  sup- 
posed now  to  be  flying. 

The  position  of  Gen.  McClellan  on  Saturday 
night  was  such  that  the  Confederate  officers, 
who  were  unaware  of  his  design,  were  confident 
of  his  capture.  Having  abandoned,  and,  as  they 
supposed,  been  driven  from  all  his  strongholds 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Chickahominy,  cut  off 
from  all  communication  with  his  supplies  at  the 
White  House,  and  with  the  Chickahominy  in 
his  rear,  and  the  divisions  of  Gens.  Longstreet, 
Magruder,  and  Huger  in  his  front,  all  hopes  of 
his  escape  were  thought  to  be  impossible. 

The  morning  of  the  29th  was  spent  by  Gen. 
McClellan's  troops  in  destroying  all  tha.t  could 
not  be  carried  away  from  the  camps.  A  com- 
plete railroad  train,  locomotive,  tender  and  cars, 
which  had  been  left  on  the  track,  was  sent 
headlong  over  the  broken  bridge  into  the  river. 
Nothing  was  left  but  three  siege  guns  which 
could  not  be  moved. 

The  corps  of  Gens.  Sumner  and  Franklin  had 
been  left  in  the  works  at  Fair  Oaks  with  in- 
structions to  evacuate  and  protect  the  baggage 
and  supply  trains  on  their  way  to  the  river. 
Hardly  had  they  commenced  to  fall  back  on  the 
railroad  and  Williamsburg  turnpike,  when  the 
enemy,  perceiving  the  movement,  pressed  for- 
ward, giving  the  former  barely  time  to  place 


250 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


their  men  in  position.  The  attack  was  com- 
menced by  the  Confederates  about  two  o'clock 
P.M.,  about  one  mile  and  a  half  above  Savage's 
Station,  and  the  conflict  continued  until  near 
night.  The  enemy,  advancing  in  solid  masses 
to  within  a  short  distance  of  the  artillery,  suffer- 
ed severely  and  were  repulsed.  During  the 
night  Gens.  Sumner  and  Franklin  fell  back  to 
White  Oak  Swamp  bridge. 

On  the  morning  of  Monday,  the  30th  of  June, 
all  the  troops  and  all  the  trains  were  in  safety 
beyond  White  Oak  bridge,  which  presented  a 
new  obstacle  to  the  Confederates.  Gens.  Sum- 
ner and  Franklin  were  left  to  act  as  a  rear 
guard,  and  hold  the  passage  of  the  White  Oak 
Swamp,  whilst  Gens.  Heintzelman,  with  the 
divisions  of  Gens.  Hooker,  Kearny,  Sedgwick, 
and  McCall,  were  placed  at  the  point  of  inter- 
section of  the  roads  leading  from  Eichmond, 
called  Charles  City  cross  roads.  These  move- 
ments protected  the  trains  until  they  arrived 
at  the  James  river,  precisely  at  the  time  when 
the  transports  with  provisions  and  ammunition 
and  hospital  stores  arrived  from  Fortress  Monroe. 

The  advance  of  the  Confederate  force  was 
actively  resumed  early  in  the  morning.  Gens. 
D.  H.  Hill,  Whiting,  and  Ewell,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Jackson,  crossed  the  Chicka- 
hominy  by  the  Grapevine  bridge,  and  followed 
the  Federal  retreat  by  the  Williamsburg  road 
and  Savage's  Station.  Gens.  Longstreet,  A.  P. 
Hill,  Huger,  and  Magruder  took  the  Charles 
City  road  with  the  intention  of  cutting  off  the 
Federal  retreat.  At  the  White  Oak  Swamp 
the  left  wing  under  Gen.  Jackson  came  up  with 
the  Federal  force  under  Gens.  Franklin  and 
Sumner,  about  11  A.  M.  They  had  crossed  the 
stream  and  burned  the  bridge  behind  them. 
An  artillery  fire  was  opened  upon  both  sides, 
which  continued  with  great  severity  and  de- 
struction until  night.  The  result  of  this  battle 
was  to  prevent  the  further  advance  of  the  ene- 
my in  this  direction,  which  was  the  single  line 
of  road  over  which  the  trains  had  passed. 

Late  on  the  same  day,  a  battle  was  fought 
between  the  forces  under  Gen.  Heintzelman  and 
the  main  force  of  the  enemy,  which  attempted 
to  advance  by  the  Charles  City  road  to  cut  off 
the  .retreat.  This  force  was  led  by  Gens.  Long- 
street,  A.  P.  Hill,  and  Huger.  The  former, 
however,  being  called  away,  the  command  de- 
volved upon  Gen.  Hill.  As  the  masses  advanced 
upon  the  Federal  batteries  of  heavy  guns  they 
were  received  with  such  a  destructive  fire  of 
artillery  and  musketry  as  threw  them  into  dis- 
order. Gen.  Lee  sent  all  his  disposable  troops 
to  the  rescue,  but  the  Federal  fire  was  so  terri- 
ble as  to  disconcert  the  coolest  veterans.  Whole 
ranks  of  the  Confederate  troops  were  hurled 
to  the  ground.  Says  an  actor  in  the  conflict, 
"The  thunder  of  the  cannon,  the  cracking  of 
the  musketry  from  thousands  of  combatants, 
mingled  with  the  screams  of  the  wounded  and 
the  dying,  were  terrific  to  the  ear  and  to  the 
imagination."  The  conflict  thus  continued 
within  a  narrow  space  for  hours,  and  not  a  foot 


of  ground  was  won  by  the  Confederates.  Night 
was  close  at  hand.  The  Federal  lines  were 
strengthened  and  the  confidence  of  the  Con- 
federate general  began  to  falter.  The  losses  of 
his  exhausted  and  worn  out  troops  in  attempt- 
ing to  storm  the  batteries  were  terrible.  Orders 
were  given  to  Gen.  Jackson  to  cover  the  re- 
treat in  case  the  army  should  have  to  fall  back, 
and  directions  were  sent  to  Eichmond  to  get 
all  the  public  property  ready  for  removal.  The 
Federal  forces,  perceiving  the  confusion,  began 
step  by  step  to  press  forward.  The  posture  of 
affairs  at  this  time  is  thus  related  by  a  Confed- 
erate officer :  "  The  enemy,  noticing  our  confu- 
sion, now  advanced,  with  the  cry,  '  Onward  to 
Eichmond ! '  Yes,  along  the  whole  hostile 
front  rang  the  shout,  '  Onward  to  Eichmond ! ' 
Many  old  soldiers  who  had  served  in  distant 
Missouri  and  on  the  plains  of  Arkansas  wept 
in  the  bitterness  of  their  souls  like  children. 
Of  what  avail  had  it  been  to  us  that  our  best 
blood  had  flowed  for  six  long  days? — of  what 
avail  all  our  unceasing  and  exhaustless  endu- 
rance? Everything,  everything  seemed  lost, 
and  a  general  depression  came  over  all  our 
hearts.  Batteries  dashed  past  in  headlong 
flight ;  ammunition,  hospital  and  supply  wagons 
rushed  along,  and  swept  the  troops  away  with 
them  from  the  battle  field.  In  vain  the  most 
frantic  exertion,  entreaty  and  self-sacrifice  of 
the  staff  officers!  The  troops  had  lost  their 
foot-hold,  and  all  was  over  with  the  Southern 
Confederacy. 

"  In  this  moment  of  desperation  Gen.  A.  P. 
Hill  came  up  with  a  few  regiments  he  had  man- 
aged to  rally,  but  the  enemy  was  continually 
pressing  nearer  and  nearer  ;  louder  and  louder 
their  shouts,  and  the  watchword,  '  On  to  Eich- 
mond ! '  could  be  heard.  Cavalry  officers 
sprang  from  their  saddles  and  rushed  into  the 
ranks  of  the  infantry  regiments,  now  deprived 
of  their  proper  officers.  Gen.  Hill  seized  the 
standard  of  the  Fourth  North  Carolina  regi- 
ment, which  he  had  formerly  commanded,  and 
shouted  to  the  soldiers,  '  If  you  will  not  fol- 
low me,  I  will  perish  alone.'  Upon  this  a  num- 
ber of  officers  dashed  forward  to  cover  their 
beloved  general  with  their  bodies;  the  soldiers 
hastily  rallied,  and  the  cry  '  Lead  on,  Hill ;  head 
your  old  North  Carolina  boys ! '  rose  over  the 
field.  And  now  Hill  charged  forward  with 
this  mass  he  had  thus  worked  up  to  the  wildest 
enthusiasm.  The  enemy  halted  when  they  saw 
these  columns,  in  flight  a  moment  before,  now 
advancing  to  the  attack,  and  Hill  burst  upon 
his  late  pursuers  like  a  famished  lion.  A  fear- 
ful hand  to  hand  conflict  now  ensued,  for  there 
was  no  time  to  load  and  fire.  The  ferocity 
with  which  this  combat  was  waged  was  in- 
credible. It  was  useless  to  beg  the  exasperated 
men  for  quarter;  there  was  no  moderation,  no 
pity,  no  compassion  in  that  bloody  work  of 
bayonet  and  knife.  The  son  sank  dying  at  his 
father's  feet;  the  father  forgot  that  he  had  a 
child — a  dying  child ;  the  brother  did  not  see 
that  a  brother  was  expiring  a  few  paces  from 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


251 


him ;  the  friend  heard  not  the  last  groans  of  a 
friend;  all  natural  ties  were  dissolved;  only 
one  feeling,  one  thirst,  panted  in  every  bosom 
— revenge.  Here  it  was  that  the  son  of  Major 
Peyton,  but  fifteen  years  of  age,  called  to  his 
father  for  help.  A  ball  had  shattered  both  his 
legs.  '  When  we  have  beaten  the  enemy  then 
I  will  help  you,'  answered  Peyton ;  '  I  have 
here  other  sons  to  lead  to  glory.  Forward ! ' 
But  the  column  had  advanced  only  a  few  paces 
farther  when  the  major  himself  fell  to  the  earth 
a  corpse.  Prodigies  of  valor  were  here  per- 
formed on  both  sides.  History  will  ask  in  vain 
for  braver  soldiers  than  those  who  have  fought 
and  fell.  But  of  the  demoniac  fury  of  both 
parties  one  at  a  distance  can  form  no  idea. 
Even  the  wounded,  despairing  of  succor,  col- 
lecting their  last  energies  of  life,  plunged  their 
knives  into  the  bosoms  of  foemen  who  lay  near 
them  still  breathing. 

"  The  success  of  General  Hill  enabled  other 
generals  to  once  more  lead  their  disorganized 
troops  back  to  the  fight,  and  the  contest  was 
renewed  along  the  whole  line,  and  kept  up  un- 
til deep  into  the  night ;  for  everything  depended 
upon  our  keeping  the  enemy  at  bay,  counting, 
too,  upon  their  exhaustion  at  last,  until  fresh 
troops  could  arrive  to  reenforce  us.  At  length, 
about  half  past  ten  in  the  evening,  the  divisions 
of  Magruder,  Wise,  and  Holmes,  came  up  and 
deployed  to  the  front  of  our  army. 

"  So  soon  as  these  reinforcements  could  be 
thrown  to  the  front  our  regiments  were  drawn 
back,  and  as  far  as  possible  reorganized  during 
the  night,  the  needful  officers  appointed,  and 
after  the  distribution  of  provisions,  which  had 
also  fortunately  arrived,  measures  were  adopt- 
ed for  the  gathering  up  of  the  wounded  and 
the  burial  of  the  dead." 

In  this  conflict  Gen.  McOall  was  taken  prison- 
er by  the  Confederates. 

During  the  same  day  an  attack  was  made 
upon  the  corps  of  Gen.  Porter  by  the  divisions 
of  Gens.  Wise  and  Holmes  near  Malvern  Hill, 
but  without  success. 

On  the  night  of  the  30th  all  the  divisions  of 
the  Federal  army  were  united  at  Malvern  Hill, 
a  strong  position  where  the  whole  train,  includ- 
ing the  siege  guns,  were  sheltered.  The  army 
was  thus  in  communication  with  its  transports 
and  supplies.  Five  days  of  incessant  marching 
and  fighting  had  passed,  during  which  many 
had  been  sun  struck  by  the  heat,  and  others 
from  exhaustion  had  quitted  the  ranks  and  fell 
into  the  procession  of  sick  and  wounded.  At- 
tacked by  a  force  far  superior  to  itself,  it  had 
succeeded  in  reaching  a  position  where  it  was 
out  of  danger  and  from  which,  if  reenforced,  it 
could  have  advanced. 

Gen.  McOlellan  immediately  put  his  army  in 
a  position  for  defence  by  arranging  his  batte- 
ries along  the  high  grounds  so  as  not  to  inter- 
fere with  the  defence  by  the  infantry  of  the 
sort  of  glacis  upon  which  the  enemy  would  be 
obliged  to  advance  to  the  attack.  About  four 
p.  M.  on  the  1st  of  July,  the  Confederate  forces 


advanced  to  storm  the  position.  But  a  destruc- 
tive fire  of  grape  mowed  them  down  until  the 
fragments  of  their  divisions  were  compelled  to 
seek  shelter  in  the  woods.  The  position  being 
within  range  of  the  gunboats  they  also  opened  a 
destructive  fire  with  their  hundred  pounders 
upon  the  enemy.  The  attack  was  a  failure,  the 
loss  of  the  Confederates  being  immense  while 
that  of  the  Federal  troops  was  insignificant 
On  the  evening  after  the  battle  the  exhausted 
enemy  retired  to  Richmond  to  appear  no  more, 
and  the  army  of  the  Potomac  took  up  a  posi- 
tion at  Harrison's  Bar,  a  spot  chosen  by  the 
engineers  and  naval  officers  as  the  most  favora- 
ble for  defence  and  for  receiving  supplies. 

These  battles  were  fought  at  a  time  when  the 
military  strength  of  the  Confederate  States  had 
been  brought  into  the  field  and  concentrated  at 
Richmond.  Thus  the  Confederate  army  great- 
ly outnumbered  the  Federal  force,  reduced  by 
losses  during  the  campaign  and  by  sickness,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Chickahominy.  No  official 
reports  have  appeared  of  the  losses  on  either 
side.'  They  were  not  far  from  fifteen  thou- 
sand men.  On  the  3d  of  July  the  War  Depart- 
ment published  a  despatch  from  Gen.  McClel- 
lan  dated  at  Berkeley,  Harrison's  Bar,  stating 
that  he  Ijad  lost  but  one  gun,  which  broke 
down  and  was  abandoned,  and  that  the  rear 
of  his  train  was  then  within  a  mile  of  camp 
and  only  one  wagon  abandoned. 

On  the  4th  of  July  Gen.  McClellan  issued 
the  following  address  to  his  army : 

HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,     ? 
CAMP  NEAR  HARRISON'S  LANDING,  July  4, 1862.  \ 

SOLDIERS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC:  Your 
achievements  of  the  past  ten  days  have  illustrated  the 
valor  and  endurance  of  the  American  soldier.  Attack- 
ed by  superior  forces,  and  without  hopes  of  reenforce- 
ments,  you  have  succeeded  in  changing  your  base  of 
operations  by  a  flank  movement,  always  regarded  as 
the  most  hazardous  of  military  operations.  You  have 
saved  all  your  guns  except  a  few  lost  in  battle,  taking 
in  return  guns  and  colors  from  the  enemy. 

Upon  your  march  you  have  been  assailed,  day  after 
day,  with  desperate  fury,  by  men  of  the  same  race  and 
nation,  skilfully  massed  and  led.  Under  every  disad- 
vantage of  number,  and  necessarily  of  position  also, 
you  have  in  every  conflict  beaten  back  your  foes  with 
enormous  slaughter. 

Your  conduct  ranks  you  among  the  celebrated 
armies  of  history.  None  will  now  question  what  each 
of  you  may  always,  with  pride,  say :  "  I  belonged  to 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  You  have  reached  this  new 
base  complete  in  organization  and  unimpaired  in  spirit. 
The  enemy  may  at  any  time  attack  you — we  are  pre- 
pared to  meet  them.  I  have  personally  established 
your  lines.  Let  them  come,  and  we  will  convert  their 
repulse  into  a  final  ^defeat. 

Your  government  is  strengthening  you  with  the  re- 
sources of  a  great  people.  On  this,  our  nation's  birth- 
day, we  declare  to  our  foes,  who  are  rebels  against  the 
best  interests  of  mankind,  that  this  army  snail  enter 
the  capital  of  the  so-called  Confederacy ;  that  our  na- 
tional Constitution  shall  prevail,  and  that  the  Union, 
which  can  alone  insure  internal  peace  and  external 
security  to  each  State,  must  and  shall  be  preserved, 
cost  what  it  may  iu  time,  treasure,  and  blood 

GEO.  E.  McCLELLAN, 
Major-General  Commanding. 

On  the  5th  President  Davis  issued  the  fol- 
lowing address  to  the  Confederate  army : 


252 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


RICHMOND,  July  5, 1862. 
To  the  Army  in  Eastern  Virginia, : 

SOLDIERS  ;  I  congratulate  you  on  the  series  of  brill- 
iant victories  which,  under  the  favor  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence, you  have  lately  won,  and  as  the  President  of 
the  Confederate  States,  do  heartily  tender  to  you  the 
thanks  of  the  country,  whose  just  cause  you  have  so 
skilfully  and  heroically  served.  Ten  days  ago,  an 
invading  army,  vastly  superior  to  you  in  numbers  and 
the  material  of  war,  closely  beleaguered  your  capital 
and  vauntingly  proclaimed  its  speedy  conquest ;  you 
marched  to  attack  the  enemy  in  his  intrenchments ; 
with  well  directed  movements  and  death-defying  valor, 
you  charged  upon  him  in  his  strong  positions,  drove 
him  from  field  to  field  over  a  distance  of  more  than 
thirty-five  miles,  and  despite  his  reinforcements  com- 

Eelled  him  to  seek  safety  under  the  cover  of  his  gun- 
oats,  where  he  now  lies  cowering  before  the  army  so 
lately  derided  and  threatened  with  entire  subjugation. 
The  fortitude  with  which  you  have  borne  toil  and  pri- 
vation, the  gallantry,  with  which  you  have  entered  into 
each  successive  battle,  must  have  been  witnessed  to  be 
fully  appreciated ;  but  a  grateful  people  will  not  fail  to 
recognize  you  and  to  bear  you  in  loved  remembrance. 
Well  may  it  be  said  of  you  that  you  have  "  done  enough 
for  glory ;"  but  duty  to  a  suffering  country  and  to  the 
cause  of  constitutional  liberty,  claims  from  you  yet 
further  effort.  Let  it  be  your  pride  to  relax  in  nothing 
which  can  promote  your  future  efficiency;  your  one 
great  object  being  to  drive  the  invader  from  your  soil, 
and,  carrying  your  standards  beyond  the  outer 
boundaries  of  the  Confederacy,  to  wring  from  an  un- 
scrupulous foe  the  recognition  of  your  birthright,  com- 
munity, and  independence. 

[Signed]  JEFFERSOtt  DAVIS. 

Early  in  July  Gen.  Halleck  resigned  his  com- 
mand of  the  army  of  the  West,  and  in  obedi- 
ence to  an  order  of  the  President  assumed,  on 
the  23d  of  July,  the  duties  of  general-in-chief 
of  the  entire  army  of  the  United  States.  This 
was  the  position  held  by  Gen.  McOlellan,  pre- 
vious to  his  departure  from  Washington  to  con- 
duct the  peninsular  campaign.  Its  duties  had 
been  subsequently  performed  by  the  Secretary 
of  War,  under  the  supervision  of  President  Lin- 
coln, assisted  by  the  counsel  of  Maj.-Gen.  Hitch- 
cock, an  elderly  officer  of  the  army.  Gen.  Hal- 
leck, upon  assuming  these  duties,  had  his  at- 
tention immediately  called  to  the  army  of  the 
Potomac.  He  thus  relates  his  action  in  relation 
to  it: 

"  The  first  thing  to  which  my  attention  was 
called  on  my  arrival  here  (at  Washington),  was 
the  condition  of  the  army  at  Harrison's  Land- 
ing, on  the  James  river.  I  immediately  visited 
Gen.  McClellan's  headquarters  for  consultation. 
I  left  Washington  on  the  24th  and  returned  on 
the  27th.  The  main  object  of  this  consultation 
was  to  ascertain  if  there  was  a  possibility  of  an 
advance  upon  Richmond  from  Harrison's  Land- 
ing, and  if  not  to  favor  some'  plan  of  uniting 
the  armies  of  Gen.  McOlellan  and  Gen.  Pope 
on  some  other  line.  Not  being  familiar  with 
the  position  and  numbers  of  the  troops  in  Vir- 
ginia and  on  the  coast,  I  took  the  President's 
estimate  of  the  largest  number  of  reinforce- 
ments that  could  be  sent  to  the  army  of  the 
.  Potomac. 

"  On  the  day  of  my  arrival  at  Harrison's 
Landing  Gen.  McClellan  was  of  opinion  that 
he  would  require  at  least  60,000  additional 
troops.  I  informed  him  that  this  number  could 


not  possibly  be  sent ;  that  I  was  not  authorized 
to  promise  him  over  20,000,  and  that  I  could 
not  well  see  how  even  that  number  could  be 
safely  withdrawn  from  other  places.  He  took 
the  night  for  considering  the  matter,  and  in- 
formed me  the  next  morning  that  he  would 
make  the  attempt  upon  Richmond  with  the  ad- 
ditional 20,000,  but  immediately  on  my  return 
to  Washington  he  telegraphed  that  he  would 
require  85,000,  a  force  which  it  was  impossible 
to  send  him  without  leaving  Washington  and 
Baltimore  almost  defenceless.  The  only  alter- 
native now  left  was  to  withdraw  the  army  of 
the  Potomac  to  some  position  where  it  could 
unite  with  that  of  Geri.  Pope,  and  cover  Wash- 
ington at  the  same  time  that  it  operated 
against  the  enemy.  After  full  consultation 
with  my  officers,  I  determined  to  attempt  this 
junction  on  the  Rappahannock,  by  bringing 
McClellan's  forces  to  Aquia  Creek. 

"'Accordingly,  on  the  30th  of  July,  I  tele- 
graphed to  him  to  send  away  his  sick  as  quick- 
ly as  possible,  preparatory  to  a  movement  of 
his  troops.  This  was  preliminary  to  the  with- 
drawal of  his  entire  army,  which  was  ordered 
by  telegraph  on  the  3d  of  August.  In  order 
that  the  transfer  to  Aquia  Creek  might  be  made 
as  rapidly  as  possible,  I  authorized  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan to  assume  control  of  all  the  vessels  in 
the  James  river  and  Chesapeake  Bay,  of  which 
there  was  then  a  vast  fleet.  The  quartermas- 
ter-general was  also  requested  to  send  to  that 
point  all  the  transports  that  could  be  procured. 
On  the  5th  I  received  a  protest  from  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan, dated  the  4th,  against  the  removal  of 
the  army  from  Harrison's  Landing.  On  the 
1st  of  August  I  ordered  Gen.  Burnside  to  im- 
mediately embark  his  troops  at  Newport  News, 
transfer  them  to  Aquia  Creek,  and  take  position 
'  opposite  Fredericksburg.  This  officer  moved 
with  great  promptness,  and  reached  Aquia 
Creek  on  the  night  of  the  3d.  His  troops  were 
immediately  landed,  and  the  transports  sent 
back  to  Gen.  McClellan. 

"  About  this  time  I  received  information  that 
the  enemy  were  preparing  a  large  force  to 
drive  back  Gen.  Pope,  and  attack  either  Wash- 
ington or  Baltimore.  The  information  was  so 
direct  and  trustworthy  that  I  could  not  doubt 
its  correctness.  This  gave  me  serious  uneasi- 
ness for  the  safety  of  the  capital  and  Maryland, 
and  I  repeatedly  urged  upon  Gen.  McClellan 
the  necessity  of  promptly  moving  his  army  so 
as  to  form  a  junction  with  that  of  Gen.  Pope. 
The  evacuation  of  Harrison's  Landing,  however, 
was  not  commenced  till  the  14th,  eleven  days 
after  it  was  ordered." 

The  following  correspondence,  respecting 
this  removal  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  took 
place  between  Gen.  McClellan  and  Gen.  Hal- 
leck: 

BERKELEY,  VD.,  August  4, 12  M. 
Maj.-Gen.  Halleck,  Commander-in- Chief : 

Your  telegraph  of  last  evening  is  received.  I  must 
confess  that  it  has  caused  me  the  greatest  pain  I  ever 
experienced,  for  I  am  convinced  that  the  order  to  with- 
draw this  army  to  Aquia  Creek  will  prove  disastrous  in 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


253 


the  extreme  to  our  cause.  I  fear  it  will  be  a  fatal  blow. 
Several  days  are  necessary  to  complete  the  prepara- 
tions for  so  important  a  movement  as  this,  and  while 
they  are  in  progress,  I  beg  that  careful  consideration 
may  be  given  to  my  statement.  This  army  is  now  in 
excellent  discipline  and  condition.  We  hold  a  de- 
bouche  on  both  banks  of  the  James  river,  so  that  we 
are  free  to  act  in  any  direction,  and,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  the  gunboats,  I  consider  our  communications 
as  secure. 

We  are  twenty-five  miles  from  Richmond,  and  are 
not  likely  to  meet  the  enemy  in  force  sufficient  to  fight 
a  'battle  until  we  have  reached  fifteen  to  eighteen  miles, 
which  brings  us  practically  within  ten  miles  of  Rich- 
mond. Our  longest  line  of  land  transportation  would 
be  from  this  point  twenty-five  miles,  but  with  the  aid 
of  the  gunboats  we  can  supply  the  army  by  water,  dur- 
ing its  advance,  certainly  to  within  twelve  miles  of 
Richmond.  At  Aquia  Creek  we  would  be  seventy-five 
miles  from  Richmond,  with  land  transportation  all  the 
way.  From  here  to  Fortress  Monroe  is  a  march  of 
about  seventy  miles,  for  I  regard  it  as  impracticable 
to  withdraw  this  army  and  its  material,  except  by  land. 
The  result  of  the  movement  would  thus  be  to  march 
one  hundred  and  forty-five  miles  to  reach  a  point  now 
only  twenty-five  miles  distant,  and  to  deprive  ourselves 
entirely  of  the  powerful  aids  of  the  gunboats  and  water 
transportation.  Add  to  this  the  certain  demoralization 
of  this  army,  which  would  ensue;  the  terrible  depress- 
ing effect  upon  the  people  of  the  North,  and  the  strong 
probability  that  it  would  influence  foreign  Powers  to 
recognize  our  adversaries;  and  these  appear  to  me 
sufficient  reasons  to  make  it  my  imperative  duty  to 
urge  in  the  strongest  terms  afforded  by  our  language, 
that  this  order  may  be  rescinded,  and  that,  far  from  re- 
calling this  army,  it  may  be  promptly  reenforced  to 
enable  it  to  resume  the  offensive. 

It  may  be  said  that  there  are  no  reenforcements 
available.  I  point  to  Gen.  Burnside's  force,  to  that  of 
Gen.  Pope,  not  necessary  to  maintain  a  strict  defence 
in  front  of  Washington  and  Harper's  Ferry:  to  those 
portions  of  the  Army  of  the  West  not  required  for  a 
strict  defence  there.  Here,  directly  in  front  of  this 
army,  is  the  heart  of  the  rebellion.  It  is  here  that  all 
our  resources  should  be  collected  to  strike  the  blow 
which  will  determine  the  fate  of  this  nation.  All  points 
of  secondary  importance  elsewhere  should  be  abandon- 
ed, and  every  available  man  brought  here.  A  decided 
victory  here,  and  the  military  strength  of  the  rebellion 
is  crushed.  It  matters  not  what  partial  reverses  we 
may  meet  with  elsewhere,  here  is  the  true  defence  of 
Washington ;  it  is  here,  on  the  bank  of  the  James  river, 
that  the  fate  of  the  Union  should  be  decided. 

Clear  in  my  conviction  of  right,  strong  in  the  con- 
sciousness that  I  have  ever  been,  and  still  am,  actuated 
solely  by  love  of  my  country,  knowing  that  no  ambi- 
tious or  selfish  motives  have  influenced  me  from  the 
commencement  of  this  war ;  I  do  now  what  I  never 
did  in  my  life  before,  I  entreat  that  this  order  may  be 
rescinded.  If  my  counsel  does  not  prevail,  I  will,  with 
a  sad  heart,  obey  your  order  to  the  utmost  of  my  pow- 
er, devoting  to  the  movement,  which  I  clearly  foresee 
will  be  one  of  the  utmost  delicacy  and  difficulty,  what- 
ever skill  I  may  possess,  whatever  the  result  may  be, 
and  may  God  grant  that  I  am  mistaken  in  my  fore- 
bodings. I  shall  at  least  have  the  internal  satisfaction 
that  I  have  written  and  spoken  frankly,  and  have 
sough*  to  do  the  best  in  my  power  to  arrest  disaster 
from  my  country. 

GEO.  B.  McCLELLAN,  Major  General. 

GEN.  HALLECK  TO  GEN.  MCCLELLAN. 

WASHINGTON,  Aitg  6, 1S62. 
Maj.-Gen.    Geo.  £.    McOlellan,   Commanding,    <&c., 

Berkeley,  Va. : 

GENERAL  —  Your  telegram  of  yesterday  was  re- 
ceived this  morning,  and  I  immediately  telegraphed  a 
brief  reply,  promising  to  write  you  more  fully  by  mail. 
You,  General,  certainly  could  not  have  been  more 
pained  at  receiving  my  order  than  I  was  at  the  neces- 
sity of  issuing  it.  I  was  advised  by  high  officers,  in 


whose  judgment  I  had  great  confidence,  to  make  the 
order  immediately  on  my  arrival  here,  but  I  determined 
not  to  do  so  until  I  could  learn  your  wishes  from  a  per- 
sonal interview ;  and  even  after  that  interview  I  tried 
every  means  in  mji  power  to  avoid  withdrawing  your 
army,  and  delayed  my  decision  as  long  as  I  dared~to  de- 
lay it.  I  assure  you,  General,  it  was  not  a  hasty  and 
inconsiderate  act,  but  one  that  caused  me  more  anxious 
thought  than  any  other  of  my  life.  But  after  full  and 
mature  consideration  of  all  the  pros  and  cons,  I  was  re- 
luctantly forced  to  the  conclusion  that  the  order  must  be 
issued.  There  was  to  my  mind  no  other  alternative. 

Allow  me  to  allude  to  a  few  of  the  facts  of  the  case. 
You  and  your  officers,  at  our  interview,  estimated  the 
enemy's  forces  in  and  around  Richmond  at  200,000 
men.  Since  then  you  and  others  report  that  they  have 
received  and  are  receiving  large  reonforcements  from 
the  south.  General  Pope^  army,  now  covering  Wash- 
ington, is  only  40,000.  Your  effective  force  is  only 
about  90,000.  You  are  thirty  miles  from  Richmond, 
and  Gen.  Pope  eighty  or  ninety.  With  the  enemy 
directly  between  you,  ready  to  fall  with  his  superior 
numbers  upon  one  or  the  other,  as  he  may  elect, 
neither  can  reenforce  the  other  in  case  of  such  an  attack. 

If  Gen.  Pope's  army  be  diminished  to  reenforce  you, 
Washington,  Maryland,  and  Pennsylvania  would  be 
left  uncovered  and  exposed.  If  your  force  be  reduced 
to  strengthen  Pope,  you  would  be  too  weak  to  even 
hold  the  position  you  occupy  should  the  enemy  turn 
round  and  attack  you  in  full  force.  In  other  words,  the 
old  Army  of  the  Potomac  is  split  into  two  parts,  with 
the  entire  force  of  the  enemy  directly  between  them. 
They  cannot  be  united  by  land  without  exposing  both 
to  destruction,  and  yet  they  must  be  united.  To  send 
Pope's  forces  by  water  to  uie  peninsula  is,  under  pres- 
ent circumstances,  a  military  impossibility.  The  only 
alternative  is  to  send  the  forces  on  the  peninsula  to 
some  point  by  water — say  Fredericksburg — where  the 
two  armies  can  be  united.  Let  me  now  allude  to  some 
of  the  objections  which  you  have  urged. 

You  say  that  to  withdraw  from  the  present  position 
will  cause  the  certain  demoralization  of  the  army, 
which  is  now  in  excellent  condition  and  discipline.  I 
cannot  understand  why  a  simple  change  of  position  to 
a  new  and  by  no  means  distant  base  will  demoralize  an 
army  in  excellent  discipline,  unless  the  officers  them- 
selvet  assist  in  the  demoralization,  which  I  am  satisfied 
the\ 


rigto 

was  over  thirty 

demoralized  your  troops,  notwithstanding  the  severe 

losses  they  sustained  in  effecting  it. 

A  new  base  on  the  Rappahannock,  at  Fredericks- 
burg,  brings  you  within  about  sixty  miles  of  Rich- 
mond, and  secures  a  reenforcement  of  forty  or  fifty 
thousand  fresh  and  disciplined  troops.  The  change, 
with  such  advantages,  will,  I  think,  if  properly  repre- 
sented to  your  army,  encourage  rather  than  demor- 
alize your  troops.  Moreover,  you  yourself  suggested 
that  a  junction  might  be  effected  at  Yorktown,  but 
that  a  flank  march  across  the  peninsula  would  be  more 
hazardous  than  to  retire  to  Fort  Monroe.  You  will 
remember  that  Yorktown  is  two  or  three  miles  further 
from  Richmond  than  Fredericksburgis.  Besides  the 
latter  is  between  Richmond  and  Washington,  and 
covers  Washington  from  any  attack  by  the  enemy. 

The  political  effect  of  the  withdrawal  may  at  first 
look  unfavorable,  but  I  think  the  public  are  beginning 
to  understand  its  necessity ;  and  that  they  will  have 
much  more  confidence  in  a  united  army  than  in  its 
separate  fragments.  But  you  will  reply.  Why  not  re- 
enforce  me  here,  so  that  I  can  strike  Richmond  from 
my  present  position  ?  To  do  this,  you  said  at  our 
interview  that  you  require'd  50,000  additional  troops. 
I  told  you  that  it  was  impossible  to  give  you  so  many. 
You  finally  thought  you  would  have  "  some  chance  " 
of  success  with  20,000 ;  but  you  afterward  telegraphed 
to  me  that  you  would  require  35,000,  as  the  enemy  was 
being  largely  reenforced.  * 

If  your  estimate  of  the  enemy's  strength  was  correct, 
your  requisition  was  perfectly  reasonable  ;  but  it  was 


254 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


utterly  impossible  to  fill  it  until  new  troops  could  be 
enlisted  and  organized,  which  would  require  several 
weeks.  To  keep  your  army  in  its  present  position 
nntil  it  could  be  so  reinforced  would  almost  destroy  it 
in  that  climate.  The  months  of  August  and  Septem- 
ber are  almost  fatal  to  whites  who  live  on  that  part 
of  James  River ;  and  even  after  you  got  the  reenforce- 
ments  asked  for,  you  admitted  that  you  must  reduce 
Fort  Darling  and  the  river  batteries  before  you  could 
advance  on  Richmond.  It  is  by  no  means  certain 
that  the  reduction  of  these  fortifications  would  not 
require  considerable  time,  perhaps  as  much  as  those 
at  Yorktown.  This  delay  might  not  only  be  fatal  to 
the  health  of  your  army,  but  in  the  mean  time  Gen. 
Pope's  forces  would  be  exposed  to  the  heavy  blows 
of  the  enemy,  without  the  slightest  hope  of  assist- 
ance from  you. 

In  regard  to  the  demoralizing  effect  of  a  withdrawal 
from  the  peninsula  to  the  Rappahannock,  I  must  re- 
mark that  a  large  number  of  your  highest  officers — 
indeed  a  majority  of  those  whose  opinions  have  been 
reported  to  me — are  decidedly  in  favor  of  the  move- 
ment. Even  several  of  those  who  originally  advocated 
the  line  of  the  peninsula  now  advise  its  abandonment. 
I  have  not  inquired,  and  do  not  desire  to  know,  by 
whose  advice  or  for  what  reason  the  Army  of  the  Po- 


tomac was  separated  into  two  parts,  with  the  enemy 
before  them.  I  must  take  things  as  I  find  them.  I 
find  our  forces  divided,  and  I  wish  to  unite  them. 
Only  one  feasible  plan  has  been  presented  for  doing 
this.  If  you  or  any  one  else  had  presented  a  better 
one,  I  certainly  should  have  adopted  it;  but  all  of  your 
plans  require  reenforcements  which  it  is  impossible  to 
give  you.  It  is  very  easy  to  ask  for  reenforcements, 
but  it  is  not  so  easy  to  give  them  when  you  have  no 
disposable-  troops  at  your  command.  I  have  written 
very  plainly  as  I  understand  the  case,  and  I  hope  you 
will  give  me  credit  for  having  carefully  considered 
the  matter,  although  I  may  have  arrived  at  different 
conclusions  from  your  own.  Very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant, 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  General-in-Chief. 
(Official  Copy.)    J.  C.  KELTON,  Assistant  Adj. -Gen. 

Thus  the  campaign  was  closed.  The  once 
proud  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  withdrawn 
from  the  peninsula  to  Aquia  Creek  and  Alexan- 
dria, and  its  corps  were  immediately  ordered 
into  the  field  to  reenforce  the  army  of  Gen.  Pope 
southeast  of  "Washington,  and  to  act  under  his 
command. 


CHAPTEK  XX. 

General  Pope  takes  command  of  the  Army  of  Virginia— Call  of  the  President  for  more  Men — Advance  of  Gen.  Lee — Battle 
of  Cedar  Mountain— Capture  of  Louisa  Court  House— Gen.  Pope  falls  back— Dash  on  Catlctt's  Station— Further  ad- 
vance of  the  Enemy — Attack  at  Manassas— Attack  at  Bristow's  Station — Battle  near  Manassas — Battle  at  Gainesville — 
Battle  near  Bull  Run— Excitement  in  the  Northern  States— Retreat  of  Gen.  Banks— Battle  at  Chantilly— Retreat  of 
Gen.  Pope  to  the  fortifications  at  Washington. 


BY  an  order  of  the  President  on  the  27th  of 
June,  Maj.-Gen.  Pope,  who  had  been  in  com- 
mand of  a  force  in  the  West,  entered  upon  the 
chief  commaira  of  the  army  of  Virginia. 

The  following  is  the  order  of  the  President 
creating  the  Army  of  Virginia,  and  putting  Gen. 
Pope  in  command,  dated  June  27,  1862 : 

I.  The  forces  under  Maj-Gens.  Fremont,  Banks, 
and  McDowell,  including  the  troops  now  under  Brig.- 
Gen.  Sturgis,  at  Washington,  shall  be  consolidated 
and  form  one  army,  to  be  called  the  Army  of  Virginia. 

II.  The  command  of  the  Army  of  Virginia  is  spe- 
cially assigned  to  Maj.-Gen.  John  Pope  as  command- 
ing'general. 

The  troops  of  the  Mountain  Department,  heretofore 
under  command  of  Gen.  Fremont,  shall  constitute  the 
First  Army  Corps,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Fre- 
mont. 

The  troops  of  the  Shenandoah  Department,  now 
under  Gen.  Banks,  shall  constitute  the  Second  Army 
Corps,  and  be  commanded  by  him. 

The  troops  under  the  command  of  Gen.  McDowell, 
except  those  within  the  fortifications  and  the  city  of 
Washington,  shall  form  the  Third  Army  Corps,  and  be 
under  his  command. 

The  creation  of  the  several  separate  and  in- 
dependent commands  which  constituted  the 
forces  west  and  southwest  of  Washington  had 
always  been  looked  upon  with  distrust.  Hence 
the  consolidation  of  these  forces  under  one  com- 
mander was  regarded  with  much  satisfaction  by 
the  public,  as  a  wise  and  prudent  measure. 

•The  appointment  of  Gen.  Pope  to  the  chief 
command  was  not  favorably  received  by  Maj.- 


Gen.  Fremont.  Consequently  an  order  was 
issued  from  the  War  Department,  relieving  him 
from  command. 

On  the  next  day  Gen.  Fremont  issued  an  or- 
der declaring  his  resignation  of  the  command 
of  his  forces  and  assigning  it  to  Brig.-Gen. 
Schenck.  The  ground  upon  which  the  resig- 
nation of  Gen.  Fremont  was  made,  was  under- 
stood to  be  that  Gen.  Pope,  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed to  the  command  of  the  Army  of  Vir- 
ginia, was  his  inferior  in  rank,  and  he  could  not 
consistently  command  a  corps  under  him.  Gen. 
Schenck,  on  assuming  command,  issued  his 
orders. 

At  night  of  the  same  day  he  learned  that 
Gen.  Rufns  King  had  been  ordered  to  the  com- 
mand of  that  corps,  and  sent  in  his  request  to 
be  relieved  of  command  in  that  portion  of  the 
army.  But  on  the  subsequent  day,  still  further 
learning  that  Gen.  King  had  been  detached  and 
Gen.  Sigel  ordered  to  the  same  command,  he 
withdrew  his  resignation. 

Meantime  Maj.-Gen.  Pope  was  making  his 
arrangements  to  take  the  field.     On  the  14th 
of  July  he  issued  the  following  address  to  his 
army: 
To  the  Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  Virginia : 

By  special  assignment  of  the  President  I  have  as- 
sumed command  of  this  army.  I  have  spent  two  weeks 
in  learning  your  whereabouts,  your  condition,  and 
your  wants,  in  preparing  you  for  active  operations,  and 
in  placing  you  in  a  position  from  which  you  can  act 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


255 


promptly  and  to  the  purpose.  These  labors  are  nearly 
completed,  and  I  am  about  to  join  you  in  the  field. 
Let  us  understand  each  other.  I  have  come  to  you 
from  the  West  where  we  have  always  seen  the  backs 
of  our  enemies— from  an  army  whose  business  it  has 
been  to  seek  an  adversary  and  beat  him  when  found ; 
whose  policy  has  been  attack  and  not  defence.  In  but 
one  instance  has  the  enemy  been  able  to  place  our 
Western  armies  in  a  defensive  attitude.  I  presume  I 
have  been  called  here  to  pursue  the  same  system,  and 
to  lead  you  against  the  enemy.  It  is  my  purpose  to 
do  so  and  'that  speedily.  I  am  sure  you  long  for  an 
opportunity  to  win  the  distinction  you  are  capable  of 
achieving ;  that  opportunity  I  shall  endeavor  to  give 
you.  In  the  mean  time  I  desire  you  to  dismiss  certain 
phrases  I  am  sorry  to  find  much  in  vogue  amongst 
you.  I  hear  constantly  of  taking  strong  positions  and 
holding  them— of  lines  of  retreat  and  bases  of  supplies. 
Let  us  discard  such  ideas.  The  strongest  position  a 
soldier  should  desire  to  occupy  is  one  from  which  he 
can  most  easily  advance  against  the  enemy.  Let  us 
study  the  probable  line  of  retreat  of  our  opponents, 
and  leave  our  own  to  take  care  of  itself.  Let  us  look 
before  us,  and  not  behind.  Success  and  glory  are  in 
the  advance — disaster  and  shame  lurk  in  the  rear. 
Let  us  act  on  this  understanding,  and  it  is  safe  to  pre- 
dict that  your  banners  shall  be  inscribed  with  many  a 
glorious  deed,  and  that  your  names  will  be  dear  to 
your  countrymen  forever. 

(Signed)     JOHN  POPE,  Maj.-Gen.  Commanding. 

Subsequent  orders  issued  by  Gen.  Pope  at 
this  time  indicate  the  manner  in  which  he  pro- 
posed to  conduct  the  campaign,  as  follows : 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THK  ARMY  OF  VIRGINIA,  \ 
WASHINGTON,  July  18, 1862.     ( 
General  Orders,  No.  5  : 

Hereafter,  as  far  as  practicable,  the  troops  of  this 
command  will  subsist  upon  the  country  in  which  their 
operations  are  carried  on.  In  all  cases  supplies  for 
this  purpose  will  be  taken  by  the  officers  to  whose  de- 
partment they  properly  belong,  under  the  orders  of 
the  co'mmanding  officer  of  the  troops  for  whose  use 
they  are  intended.  Vouchers  will  be  given  to  the 
owners,  stating  on  their  face  that  they  will  be  payable 
at  the  conclusion  of  the  war  upon  sufficient  testimony 
being  furnished  that  such  owners  have  been  loyal 
citizens  of  the  United  States  since  the  date  of  the 
vouchers. 

Whenever  it  is  known  that  supplies  can  be  furnish- 
ed in  any  district  of  the  country  where  the  troops  are 
to  operate,  the  use  of  trains  for  carrying  subsistence 
will  be  dispensed  with  as  far  as  possible. 

By  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  POPE. 

GEO.  D.  RUQOLES,  Col.  A.  A.-G.  and  Chief  of  Staff. 

HEADQUARTERS  OP  THE  ARMY  OF  VIRGINIA,  July  18, 1862. 
General  Order*,  No.  6 : 

Hereafter  in  any  operations  of  the  cavalry  forces  in 
this  command  no  supply  or  baggage  trains  of  any  de- 
scription will  be  used  unless  so  stated  especially  in  the 
order  for  the  movement.  Two  days'  cooked  rations 
will  be  carried  on  the  persons  of  the  men,  and  all  vil- 
lages and  neighborhoods,  through  which  they  pass,  will 
be  laid  under  contribution  in  the  manner  specified  by 
General  Orders',  No.  5,  current  series,  from  these  head- 
quarters, for  the  subsistence  of  men  and  horses. 

Movements  of  cavalry  must  always  be  made  with 
celerity,  and  no  delay  in  such  movements  will  be  ex- 
cused hereafter  on  any  pretext. 

Whenever  the  order  for  the  movement  of  any  por- 
tion of  the  army  emanates  from  these  headquarters,  the 
time  of  marching  and  that  to  be  consumed  in  the  exe- 
cution of  the  duty  will  be  specifically  designated,  and 
no  departure  therefrom  will  be  permitted  to  pass  un- 
noticed without  the  gravest  and  most  conclusive  rea- 
sons. 

Commanding  officers  will  be  held  responsible  for 
strict  and  prompt  compliance  with  every  provision  of 
this  order.  By  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  POPE. 

GEO.  D.  RUGGLES,  Col.  A.  A.-G.  and  Chief  of  Staff. 


Another  order  was  issued  on  the  same  day, 
declaring  that  the  inhabitants  along  the  lines 
of  railroads  and  telegraphs  and  the  routes  of 
travel,  would  be  held  responsible  for  any  in- 
jury done  to  track,  line,  or  road,  or  for  any 
attacks  on  trains  or  stragglers  by  bands  of 
guerillas  in  their  neighborhood.    In  cases  of 
damage  to  roads  the  citizens,  within  five  miles, 
would  be  turned  out  in  mass  to  repair  the  dam- 
age.   If  a  soldier  or  legitimate  follower  of  the 
army  was  fired  upon  from  any  house,  the  same 
should  be  razed  to  the  ground.    By  another 
order  all  disloyal  citizens  within  the  lines  of 
the  army,  or  within  the  reach  of  its  respective 
officers,  were  to  be  arrested  at  once.     Those 
taking  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  giving  suffi- 
cient security  for  its  observance,  were  to  be 
allowed  to  remain ;  all  others  were  to  be  con- 
ducted   to  the  South,   beyond    the    extreme 
pickets,  and  if  again  found  anywhere  within 
the  lines,  were  to  be  treated  as  spies  and  sub- 
jected to  the  extreme  rigor  of  military  law. 
These  orders  of  Gen.  Pope  were  followed  by 
the  pillaging  of  private  property  and  by  insults 
to  females  to  a  degree  unknown  heretofore  dur- 
ing the  war.    The  Confederate  Government,  by 
way  of  retaliation,  issued  an  order  declaring  that 
Gen.  Pope  and  the  commissioned  officers  serv- 
ing under  him,  were  "  not  entitled  to  be  con- 
sidered as  soldiers,  and  therefore  not  entitled 
to  the  benefit  of  cartel  for  the  parole  of  future 
prisoners  of  war.      Ordered,  further,  that  in 
the  event  of  the  capture  of  Maj.-Gen.  Pope,  or 
any  commissioned  officer  serving  under  him, 
the  captive  so  taken  shall  be  held  in  close  con- 
finement so  long  as  the  orders  aforesaid  shall 
continue  in  force,  and  unrepealed  by  the  com- 
petent military  authority  of  the  United  States, 
and  that  in  the  event  of  the  murder  of  an  un- 
armed citizen  or  inhabitant  of  this  Confederacy 
by  virtue  or  under  pretence  of  the  order  herein- 
before recited,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  com- 
manding general  of  the  forces  of  this  Confed- 
eracy to  cause  immediately  to  be  hung,  out  of 
the  commissioned  officers  prisoners  as  aforesaid, 
a  number  equal  to  that  of  our  own  citizens  thus 
murdered  by  the  enemy." 

The  main  divisions  of  Gen.  Pope's  army 
were  now  stationed  at  Culpepper  Court  House 
and  Fredericksburg.  Culpepper  Court  House 
is  about  seventy  miles  from  Washington  and 
equally  distant  from  Richmond.  The  route 
crosses  the  Long  Bridge  at  "Washington,  thence 
through  Alexandria,  Fairfax,  Manassas,  War- 
renton,  &c.  Fredericksburg  is  connected 
with  Washington  by  steamboat  navigation  on 
the  Potomac  to  Aquia  Creek,  thence  by  rail- 
road, fifteen  miles,  to  Fredericksburg,  which  ia 
sixty  miles  by  railroad  from  Richmond.  Gen. 
Pope,  although  not  personally  in  the  field  until 
the  27th  of  July,  had  been  engaged  in  concen- 
trating his  forces.  His  delay  in  taking 'the  field 
was  occasioned  by  the  absence  of  Maj.-Gen. 
Halleck,  who  arrived  at  Washington  on  tha 
23d  of  July,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
general-in-chief. 


256 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


A  show  of  force  had  beeji  kept  up  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley,  and  east  of  the  Blue  Eidge, 
by  the  Confederate  Government  throughout 
the  month  of  July,  chiefly  for  the  purpose  of 
preventing  reinforcements  to  Gen.  McClellan. 
The  knowledge  which  it  had  of  the  position 
and  strength  of  the  Federal  forces  made  it 
manifest  that  no  reenforcement  to  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  would  come  from  any  other 
quarter.  The  departure  of  the  division  of  Gen. 
Burnside  from  Newport  News,  where  it  had 
been  for  some  weeks  ready  to  cooperate  with 
Gen.  McClellan  in  any  forward  movements 
to  Aquia  Creek  on  'the  1st  of  August,  was 
immediately  known  in  Eichmond.  It  showed 
not  only  that  no  reinforcements  were  com- 
ing to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  but  also  that 
this  army  would  soon  evacuate  the  peninsula. 
The  star  of  their  fortune  now  appeared  to  be  in 
the  ascendant.  The  day,  so  long  and  anxiously 
looked  for,  had  come,  in  which  they  should  be 
able  to  take  their  great  and  powerful  adversary 
at  a  disadvantage,  and  demonstrate  to  civilized 
nations  their  own  military  strength  and  ability 
to  win  that  independence  which  they  had  pro- 
claimed. Consultations  were  immediately  held 
at  Eichmond,  and  their  purposes  were  soon 
formed.  It  was  resolved  to  abandon  the 
defensive  policy  and  to  repeat  the  exploit 
which  Gen.  Jackson  had  performed  by  driving 
Gen.  Banks  out  of  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  on 
a  scale  of  national  magnitude.  Eumors  were 
set  afloat  that  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  and  the 
whole  of  Virginia  were  to  be  recovered  at 
once ;  Maryland  liberated  from  her  oppression, 
and  not  only  "Washington  and  Baltimore  cap- 
tured, but  also  Harrisburg  and  Philadelphia 
in  the  east,  and  Cincinnati  in  the  west.  It  was 
a  magnificent  enterprise  for  a  people  situated 
like  those  in  the  Confederate  States  at  that 
time.  Measures  were  immediately  adopted  for 
the  execution  of  these  plans.  Gen.  McClellan 
was  to  be  left  to  retire  from  the  peninsula  with- 
out- any  further  attacks  than  were  necessary  to 
cover  their  real  designs,  and  their  forces  were 
to  be  prepared  for  an  immediate  movement 
northward.  The  Confederate  forces  at  this 
time  were  greater  than  ever  before.  Not  less 
than  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  men  were 
at  Eichmond  and  in  communication  with  it. 
All  this  force,  excepting  a  strong  corps  of  ob- 
servation, was  to  be  precipitated  at  once  upon 
Maryland. 

The  preparations  to  advance  into  Maryland 
which  were  making  at  Eichmond,  were  imme- 
diately known  at  "Washington  and  awakened 
great  anxiety.  An  order  was  issued  to  Gen. 
Cox  in  western  Virginia  to  send  his  main 
forces,  with  all  possible  despatch,  by  railroad  to 
join  Gen.  Pope.  To  facilitate  the  withdrawal 
of  the  army  from  Harrison's  Landing,  as  stated 
by  Gen.  Halleck,  and  to  gain  time  also  by  a 
demonstration  against  the  enemy,  Gen.  Pope 
was  ordered  to  push  his  forces  across  the  Bap- 
pahannock,  and  occupy  Culpepper  and  threaten 
Gordonsville.  At  the  same  time  President  Lin- 


coln issued  the  following  order,  calling  out  an 
additional  three  hundred  thousand  men  to 
serve  for  nine  months : 

"WAK  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  August  4, 1862. 

Ordered  first — That  a  draft  of  three  hundred  thou- 
sand militia  be  immediately  called  into  the  service  of 
the  United  States,  to  service  for  nine  months,  unless 
sooner  discharged.  The  Secretary  of  War  will  assign 
the  quotas  to  the  States,  and  establish  regulations  jor 
the  draft. 

Second— That  if  any  State  shall  not  by  the  15th  of 
August  furnish  its  quota  of  the  additional,  three  hun- 
dred thousand  volunteers  authorized  by  law,  the  de- 
ficiency of  volunteers  in  that  State  will  also  be  made 
up  by  a  special  draft  from  the  militia.  The  Secretary 
of  War  will  establish  regulations  for  this  purpose. 

Third — Regulations  will  be  prepared  by  the  War 
Department,  and  presented  to  the  President,  with  the 
object  of  securing  the  promotion  of  officers  of  the  army 
and  volunteers  for  meritorious  and  distinguished 
services,  and  of  preventing  the  nomination  and  appoint- 
ment in  the  military  service  of  incompetent  or  un- 
worthy officers.  The  regulations  will  also  provide  for 
ridding  the  service  of  such  incompetent  persons  as 
now  hold  commissions. 

By  order  of  the  PRESIDENT. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

The  Confederate  army  began  to  move  imme- 
diately after  the  1st  of  August,  and  the  divisions 
of  Gens.  Jackson,  Ewell,  and  Hill  were  hurried 
to  the  Eapidan  river,  which  is  the  south  fork 
of  the  Eappahannock.     On  Friday,  the  8th  of 
August,  Gen.  Pope  reached  Culpepper  Court 
House,  from  his  last  encampment  near  Wash- 
ington, the  county  seat  of  Eappahannock.    At 
the  same  time  the  corps  of  Gen.  Banks  was  in 
motion  in  the  direction  of  Culpepper.    The 
corps  of  Gen.  Sigel  was  encamped  at  Sperryville, 
twenty  miles  from  Culpepper,  and. on  the  road 
from  Washington,  Eappahannock  county.    At 
Cnlpepper  Court  House  was  Brig.-Gen.  Craw- 
ford, with  his  brigade  belonging  to  Gen.  Banks'a 
corps,  and  Gen.   Eicketts's  division,    belong- 
ing to  Gen.  McDowell's  corps.     They  had  ar- 
rived two  days  previous  from  Warrenton  with 
Gen.  McDowell,  who  took  command  of  all  the 
forces  then  at  Culpepper.     Gen.  Bayard  with 
his  cavalry  had  been  guarding  the  fords  of  the 
Eapidan  from  Eacoon  Ford  to  a  point  fourteen 
miles  below,  and  south  of  the  railroad  at  Bur- 
nett's Ford,  where  he  connected  with  the  caval- 
ry of  Gen.  Buford.     At  noon  on  Friday  he  sent 
information  tp  Culpepper  Court  House  that  the 
enemy  had  early  that  morning  crossed  the  river 
and  driven  in  his  pickets  with  such  force  that 
he  was  obliged  to  retire  before  them.     He  was 
retiring  to  the  north  and  east  side  of  Eobertson's 
river,  about  eight  miles  from  Culpepper,  there 
to  await  a  supporting  force.    The  numbers  of 
the  enemy  he  estimated  at  two  regiments  of  in- 
fantry, two  pieces  of  light  artillery,  and  three 
small  regiments  of  cavalry.    Gen.  Buford  at 
the  same  time  reported  the  enemy  to  be  ad- 
vancing in  heavy  force  ppon  Madison  Court 
House,  thus  leaving  it  in  doubt  whether  the 
movement  was  directed  toward  Culpepper  or 
Madison.    Wishing  to  maintain  the  communica- 
tion with  Fredericksburg  at  all  hazards,  Gen. 
Pope  resolved  to  concentrate  at  Culpepper,  in 
order  to  keep  his  forces  interposed  between 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


257 


258 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


the  main  body  of  the  enemy  and  the  lower 
fords  of  the  Rappahannock.  He  accordingly 
immediately  ordered  Brig.-Gen.  Crawford  to 
march  to  Gen.  Bayard  with  his  brigade,  which 
consisted  of  the  28th  New  York,  10th  Maine, 
46th  Pennsylvania,  25th  Connecticut,  with  ten 
pieces  of  artillery.  He  proceeded  rapidly  to 
the  front,  and  occupied  a  position  about  seven 
miles  from  Culpepper,  immediately  in  rear  of 
the  line  of  Gen.  Bayard's  cavalry.  Soon  after, 
Gen.  Pope  ordered  the  remainder  of  Gen. 
Banks's  corps  to  move  rapidly  from  Hazel  River 
bridge,  nine  miles  from  Culpepper,  where  it 
was  the  night  before,  to  the  scene  of  expected 
conflict.  By  eight  o'clock  that  night,  the  head 
of  Gen.  Banks's  column  was  descried  marching 
around  the  village  to  its  destination,  which  it 
reached  before  midnight.  That  point  was  im- 
mediately in  the  rear  of  Gen.  Crawford.  Gen. 
Sigel  was  at  the  same  time  ordered  up  from 
Sperryville  by  a  forced  march  of  twenty 
miles,  his  advance  reaching  Culpepper  late  in 
the  afternoon,  where  it  was  halted. 

Through  out 'Friday  night  and  Saturday  fore- 
noon, skirmishing  was  continued  between  Gen. 
Bayard's  cavalry  and  the  advance  of  the  enemy, 
until  the  latter  had  advanced  within  long 
range  of  Gen.  Crawford's  artillery.  The  enemy 
soon  developed  a  strong  force,  and  occupied 
both  sides  of  Cedar  Mountain,  a  sugar-loaf  emi- 
nence situated  two  miles  west  of  the  Orange  and 
Alexandria  railroad  at  Mitchell's  Station.  The 
artillery  of  the  enemy  opened  early  in  the  af- 
ternoon of  Saturday,  but  he  made  no  advance 
until  near  five  o'clock,  at  which  time  a  few 
skirmishers  were  thrown  forward  on  each  side 
under  cover  of  a  heavy  wood,  in  which  his 
force  was  concealed.  A  strong  force  was  push- 
ed forward  in  the  rear  of  the  skirmishers,  and 
Gen.  Banks  advanced  to  the  attack.  The  en- 
gagement did  not  fairly  open  until  after  six 
o'clock  P.  M.,  but  for  an  hour  and  a  half  was 
furious  and  unceasing.  The  report  of  Gen. 
Banks  to  Gen.  Pope  had  expressed  the  opinion 
that  no  action  was  imminent  that  afternoon,  and 
it  was  not  until  after  it  was  fully  commenced 
that  the  latter  ordered  Gen.  McDowell  to  ad- 
vance Gen.  Ricketts's  division  to  the  support 
of  Gen.  Banks,  and  also  Gen.  Sigel  to  bring  his 
men  on  the  ground  as  Boon  as  possible.  At  7 
p.  M.,  when  Gen.  Pope  arrived,  the  action  was 
raging  fiercely,  but  Gen.  Banks  held  the  posi- 
tion he  took  early  in  the  morning.  During  the 
action  he  had  fallen  back  about  one  mile  from 
the  spot  where  it  first  commenced,  but  without 
any  disorder  or  confusion.  The  enemy  were 
evidently  pressing  close,  and  the  artillery  was 
firing  at  short  range.  The  division  of  Gen. 
Ricketts  pushed  forward  and  occupied  the  right 
of  Gen.  Banks,  taking  the  place  of  his  right  wing, 
which  was  ordered  to  mass  upon  the  centre. 
Before  this  change  could  be  effected  it  was  quite 
dark,  and  the  musketry  firing  ceased,  but  the  ar- 
tillery kept  up  an  intermittent  firing  until  near 
midnight.  The  Federal  troops  rested  on  their 
arms  during  the  night  in  line  of  battle.  At  day- 


light the  next 'morning  the  enemy  fell  back  two 
miles,  and  still  higher  up  the  mountain,  and  the 
pickets  of  Gen.  Pope  advanced  and  occupied 
the  ground.  The  army  rested  during  the  day. 
Monday  was  spent  in  burying  the  dead  and  in 
getting  off  the  wounded,  and  during  the  night 
the  enemy  disappeared,  leaving  many  of  his 
dead  unburied  and  his  wounded  on  the  ground. 
The  slaughter  on  both  sides  was  severe ;  much 
of  the  fighting  having  been  hand  to  hand.  A 
cavalry  and  artillery  force  under  Gens.  Buford 
and  Bayard  was  thrown  forward  in  pursuit,  and 
followed  the  enemy  to  the  Rapidan,  over  which 
his  rear  guard  passed  about  ten  o'clock  on  Tues- 
day morning.  The  Federal  loss  was  fifteen  hun- 
dred killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  of  whom 
near  three  hundred  were  taken  prisoners.  Gen. 
Pope  also  lost  two  Napoleon  guns,  fifteen  hun- 
dred muskets,  and  considerable  ammunition. 
The  Confederate  loss  was  severe,  among  whom 
were  Gens.  "Winder  and  Trimble.  The  battle 
commenced  with  the  advance  of  Gen.  Ewell, 
consisting  of  ten  thousand  men,  who  were  re- 
enforced  by  Gen.  Jackson  with  five  thousand 
more,  and  the  balance  of  his  command  got  into 
position  early  in  the  night. 

On  the  Federal  side  the  contest  was  main- 
tained entirely  by  the  command  of  Gen.  Banks, 
and  was  conducted  with  great  skill  and  bra- 
very. The  object  of  this  attack  on  the  part  of 
Gen.  Lee  was  undoubtedly  to  feel  the  strength 
and  temper  of  Gen.  Pope's  army.  His  forces 
retired  across  the  river,  a  few  miles  toward 
Gordonsville,  to  await  the  approach  of  the 
main  army,  while  Gen.  Pope  pushed  forward 
his  whole  force  in  the  direction  of  the  Rapidan, 
where  he  occupied  a  strong  position,  extending 
from  Robertson's  Rise  on  the  right  to  near 
Racoon  Ford  on  the  left. 

On  the  16th  a  party  of  Confederate  cavalry  ' 
were  surprised  and  captured  at  Louisa  Court 
House.  Upon  them  were-  found  important 
despatches,  including  an  autograph  letter  from 
Gen.  Lee,  which  informed  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment that  Gen.  Lee  was  moving  by  forced 
marches  the  main  body  of  the  Confederate 
army  to  attack  Gen.  Pope  before  a  junction 
could  be  formed  between  him  and  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  Thus  their  plan  was  io  throw 
overwhelming  forces  upon  him,  cut  off  his 
rear,  and  annihilate,  if  possible,  his  entire 
army.  In  consequence  of  this  reliable  infor- 
mation, Gen.  Halleck,  the  general-in-chief,  on 
the  17th  ordered  Gen.  Pope  not  to  cross  the 
Rapidan,  but  advised  him  to  take  a  position  in 
rear  of  the  North  Fork,  where  he  could  be  more 
easily  reenforced.  This  movement  was  com- 
menced by  Gen.  Pope  on  the  18th,  and  during 
the  19th  the  main  body  of  his  forces  was  behind 
that  river,  and  prepared  to  hold  its  passes. 

Ten  miles  above  Fredericksburg  the  ^  Rap- 
pahannock river  receives  the  two  tributa- 
ries which  form  it.  The  southern  stream  is 
called  the  Rapidan,  the  northern  one  is 
called  the  North  Fork.  This  latter  is  the 
stream  behind  which  Gen.  Pope  was  advised  to 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


259 


retire,  and  which  he  effected  on  the  18th  and 
the  subsequent  day.  Below  the  junction  of  the 
tributaries  the  stream  is  called  the  Rappa- 
hannock.  This  junction  is  twenty  miles  be- 
low the  spot  where  the  Oulpepper  or  Orange 
and  Alexandria  railroad  crosses  the  North  Fork. 

Gen.  Lee  commenced  reconnoitring  on  the 
day  that  Gen.  Pope  retired,  and  at  night  a 
considerable  body  of  his  troops  had  crossed  the 
Rapidan.  On  the  19th  he  crossed  with  a  large 
force,  comprising  cavalry,  infantry,  and  artillery. 

Gen.  Pope  had  thus  far  received  some  re- 
enforcements  from  Gen.  Burnside,  who  landed 
at  Fredericksburg  from  the  mouth  of  the  James 
river  on  the  4th  of  August.  On  the  6th,  at  six 
p.  M.,  Gen.  Reno,  with  his  division  of  Gen. 
Burnside's  corps,  left  camp  to  march  to  Gen. 
Pope.  On  the  10th  Gen.  King,  of  McDowell's 
corps,  hurried  forward  to  Culpepper  Court 
House  for  the  same  purpose,  and  on  the  13th 
Gen.  Stevens,  with  six  regiments  of  his  division, 
and  four  of  Gen.  "Wright's,  which  had  been  de- 
tached from  Port  Royal,  S.  0.,  followed. 
Thus  nearly  forty  regiments  of  infantry,  fully 
armed  and  provided  with  trains  and  a  large 
force  of  artillery  and  cavalry,  were  sent  for- 
ward from  Fredericksburg.  He  was  also  au- 
thorized to  call  the  main  portion  of  Gen.  Cox's 
forces  from  western  Virginia. 

The  Orange  and  Alexandria  railroad,  which 
runs  from' Alexandria,  and  connects  with  the 
Virginia  Central  railroad  at  Gordonsville,  was, 
at  the  end  near  Alexandria,  the  route  by  which 
Gen.  Pope  received  his  supplies.  The  stations 
on  that  part  of  the  road  were  as  follows: 
Alexandria,  to  Springfield,  9  miles ;  to  Burke's, 
14  miles;  to  Fairfax,  18  miles;  to  Union  Mills, 
23  miles ;  to  Manassas  Junction,  27  miles ;  to 
Bristol,  31  miles;  to  Catlett's,  38  miles;  to 
•Warrenton  Junction,  41  miles;  to  Bealeton, 
47 miles;  to  Rappahannock,  51  miles;  to  Bran- 
dy, 56  miles;  to  Culpepper,  62  miles;  to 
Mitchell's,  69  miles.  The  road  crosses  the 
North  Fork  at  the  Rappahannock  station,  ten 
miles  beyond  Warrenton  Junction.  At  Manas- 
sas Junction  the  Manassas  Gap  railroad  comes 
in  from  the  northwest.  The  first  station  west 
of  Manassas  Junction  is  Gainesville,  distant  8 
miles ;  the  next  is  Thoroughfare,  distant  from 
Manassas  Junction  14  miles.  At  the  "Warren- 
ton Junction  comes  in  from  the  northwest  the 
Warrenton  railroad.  It  connects  Warrenton 
with  Warrenton  Junction.  All  these  positions 
were  in  the  rear  of  Gen.  Pope's  army  on  the 
North  Fork,  and  were  involved  in  the  subse- 
quent movements. 

When  the  retreat  of  Gen.  Pope  commenced, 
Gen.  Sigel's  command  was  in  the  advance,  Gen. 
Reno's  held  the  left  in  the  vicinity  of  Mitchell's 
Station,  on  the  line  of  the  Orange  and  Alexan- 
dria railroad,  and  Gen.  McDowell's  forces,  sup- 
ported by  Gen.  Banks,  occupied  the  right  centre. 
At  half-past  ten  on  the  night  of  the  18ih  of 
August,  Gen.  Sigel  commenced  moving  back 
toward  Culpepper.  Previous  to  this  hour, 
however,  the  troops  in  the  rear  were  in  motion. 


The  night  was  dark  and  cold,  and  the  march 
slow  in  consequence  of  the  immense  train  of 
transportation  wagons  placed  in  advance  of 
the  troops.  The  usual  camp  fires  were  extin- 
guished, excepting  those  necessary  for  the  safe 
passage  of  the  trains,  and  all  unnecessary  noise 
was  avoided.  At  midnight  the  advance  of  Gen. 
Sigel  reached  Cedar  Mountain,  the  scene  of  the 
late  battle,  and  at  a  late  hour  on  Tuesday  morn- 
ing, the  1 9th,  it  reached  Culpepper.  The  forces 
of  Gen.  McDowell,  including  Gen.  King's  divi- 
sion, had  then  passed  through  the  town.  Gen. 
Banks's  division  was  at  an  encampment  on  the 
right  of  the  road,  and  Gen.  Sigel  brought  np 
the  rear.  Far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  there  was 
to  be  seen  nought  but  moving  masses  of  infan- 
try, cavalry,  and  artillery ;  beyond  that  it  could 
catch  an  occasional  glimmer  of  the  white-cov- 
ered tops  of  the  wagon  trains  slowly  winding 
up  the  distant  hills.  All  the  sick  and  wounded, 
excepting  eighty-five  men  whose  injuries  were 
of  such  a  kind  as  to  prevent  their  removal,  and 
all  the  stores  of  the  medical  department,  had 
been  sent  off  by  railroad  before  five  o'clock  that 
afternoon.  The  rear  guard  of  the  army  con- 
sisted of  the  cavalry  under  Gen.  Bayard.  The 
movement  of  the  troops  during  the  day,  although 
made  in  different  directions,  all  tended  toward 
one  point,  the  Rappahannock  station  on  the 
railroad,  at  which  was  the  bridge  crossing  the 
North  Fork.  During  the  forenoon  of  the  19th, 
the  advance  crossed,  and  th*e  rear,  which  was 
that  day  under  Gen.  Sigel,  encamped  at  night 
some  four  miles  from  the  bridge.  Ail  night, 
long  army  trains,  infantry,  and  artillery  were 
moving  across  the  bridge,  and  by  noon  on  the 
20th  the  cavalry  composing  the  rear  guard 
made  its  appearance  just  on  the  west  side  of 
the  bridge,  and  was  then  drawn  up  in  line  of 
battle  to  meet  the  enemy's  cavalry,  with  whom 
Gen.  Bayard  had  been  skirmishing  from  Cedar 
Mountain.  About  one  o'clock  the  Confederate 
cavalry  made  a  charge,  but  accomplished  noth- 
ing except  wounding  a  few  men.  The  Feder- 
al cavalry  then  came  across  the  bridge,  and  the 
retreat  behind  the  North  Fork  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock was  complete. 

During  the  afternoon  and  night,  the  Confed- 
erate artillery  came  up.  On  the  next  day,  the 
21st,  being  Thursday,  an  attempt  was  made  by 
them  to  cross  a  few  miles  above  the  bridge. 
The  New  York  battery  of  Crowell  and  the 
Third  Maryland  regiment,  stationed  at  the  ford, 
would  have  been  driven  off  except  for  the  ad- 
ditional batteries  sent  to  their  support.  At  the 
same  time  an  attack  was  made  at  Kelly's  Ford ; 
this  was  also  repulsed.  An  attack  of  the  enemy 
was  expected  during  the  night,  ^md  the  Federal 
force  slept  on  their  arms.  Early  the  next  morn- 
ing a  Confederate  battery  opened  at  the  spot 
where  the  first  attempt  to  cross  was  made, 
which  kept  up  a  fire  for  some.  time.  A  little 
farther  up  the  stream  a  bridge  was  discovered 
which  the  enemy  had  erected  during  the  night. 
A  Federal  battery  opened,  which  slackened  fire 
soon  after  and  appeared  to  be  silenced  by  the 


260 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


batteries  of  the  enemy.  It  was  apparently 
withdrawn,  when  the  enemy  began  to  cross. 
The  batteries  of  Gen.  Sigel's  command  again 
opened  upon  their  approach,  and  they  were 
here  also  driven  back.  It  was  on  this  occasion 
that  Gen.  Henry  Bohlen  lost  his  life.  Attempts 
to  cross  were  also  made  at  other  fords.  On 
Friday  afternoon  and  night  of  the  22d,  rain  fell 
BO  heavily  as  to  swell  the  river  and  make  it 
unfordable  between  the  mountains  and  a  few 
miles  back  of  "Warrenton  Springs,  which  check- 
ed the  efforts  of  the  enemy.  The  firing  of 
artillery  at  nearly  all  the  fords  was  kept  up  on 
the  23d  and  24th  with  more  or  less  spirit,  but 
with  no  special  results.  On  the  23d  the  bridge 
at  the  Rappahannock  station  was  burned  by 
Gen.  Ricketts.  While  this  was  going  on  during 
the  24th,  Gen.  Lee  made  a  flank  movement,  ad- 
vanced higher  up,  and  attempted  to  throw  a 
portion  of  his  force  over  at  Waterloo  bridge, 
about  twelve  miles  above  the  Rappahannock 
bridge,  which  was  burned.  This  attempt  was 
defeated.  The  strategy  of  the  movements  of 
Gen.  Pope  consisted  in  the  hope  that  by  his  fall- 
ing back  across  and  holding  the  fords  of  the 
North  Fork,  sufficient  time  would  be  gained  for 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  come  to  his  aid. 

On  Friday  evening,  the  22d,  while  the  Feder- 
al force  was  thus  in  possession  of  the  fords  of 
the  Rappahannock,  a  body  of  Confederate  caval- 
ry under  Gen.  Stuart,  consisting  of  detachments 
of  the  1st,  4th,  and  9th  Virginia  cavalry,  made 
a  dash  upon  Catlett's  Station  on  the  Orange 
and  Alexandria  railroad,  thirty-five  miles  from 
Washington,  and  thirteen  miles  in  the  rear  of 
the  Rappahannock  station.  They  met  with  only 
slight  resistance.  There  were  a  great  number 
of  trains  in  a  circle  round  the  station  at  the 
time,  which  first  occupied  their  attention ;  but  a 
terrible  storm  of  rain  setting  in  a  few  moments 
after  their  arrival,  the  wagons  could  not  be  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  and  only  few  were  injured. 
They  remained  some  hours,  and  left  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  their  pickets  having 
been  driven  in.  They  took  away  over  two 
hundred  horses  of  Gen.  Pope's  train,  and  twen- 
ty from  Gen.  McDowell's.  They  took  all  Gen. 
Pope's  baggage  and  everything  belonging  to  his 
staff  officers.  All  the  sick  were  taken  from  the 
hospitals,  and  most  of  them  put  on  the  captured 
horses  to  ride.  A  few  were  killed  on  both  sides, 
and  the  number  of  prisoners  taken  was  about 
two  hundred.  This  force  had  crossed  the  North 
Fork  at  Porter's  Ford,  two  miles  above  White 
Sulphur  Springs.  The  Federal  force  at  Catlett's 
consisted  of  a  small  guard  from  the  Pennsylva- 
nia regiment  under  Col.  Kane,  and  the  Purnell 
Legion  of  Maryland.  In  the  neighborhood 
were  other  trains  likewise  having  small  guards, 
upon  some  of  which  an  attack  was  made. 

After  a  body  of  the  Confederate  force  had 
crossed  at  Waterloo  bridge  on  the  24th,  as  above 
stated,  an  attack  was  made  upon  them  by  order 
of  Gen.  Pope,  with  the  hope  of  cutting  them 
off.  This  was  unsuccessful,  but  the  enemy  was 
compelled  to  retire,  move  farther  up  the  river, 


and  enter  the  valley  which  lies  between  the  Blue 
Ridge  afcd  the  Bull  Run  mountains.  The  object 
of  this  movement  was  to  get  in  the  rear  of  Gen. 
Pope  and  cut  off  his  supplies  from  Washington. 

It  put  the  Confederate  army  in  such  a  posi- 
tion that  it  could  move  either  upon  Washington 
or  upon  Leesburg,  for  the  purpose  of  crossing 
into  Maryland.  Nevertheless,  Gen.  Pope  was 
successful  in  preventing  the  enemy  from  cross- 
ing at  any  of  the  fords  of  the  North  Fork,  and 
compelling  him  to  move  still  higher  up  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Bull  Run  mountains.  Thus, 
during  eight  days,  Gen.  Lee  had  advanced  no 
nearer  to  Washington.  It  now  remained  for 
Gen.  Pope  to  guard  the  passes  of  these  moun- 
tains in  order  to  prevent  the  approach  of  the 
enemy  any  nearer  to  Washington,  or  to  meet 
him  after  crossing  the  mountains  and  defeat  him. 
On  the  other  hand  it  was  the  object  of  Gen. 
Lee  to  pass  the  mountains  and  take  Gen.  Pope 
in  the  rear  if  possible.  At  all  events  it  was 
necessary  for  him  to  get  rid  of  the  army  of  Gen. 
Pope  if  he  intended  to  cross  over  the  Potomac 
into  Maryland. 

When  it  appeared  doubtful  if  the  North  Fork 
river  could  be  held  long  enough  to  effect  a  junc- 
tion of  the  forces  of  Gen.  McClellan  with  those 
of  Gen.  Pope,  a  part  of  the  former  were  order- 
ed to  land  at  Alexandria  and  move  out  by  rail- 
road as  rapidly  as  possible.  After  this  move- 
ment of  Gen.  Lee,  the  remainder  of  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan's  forces  were  ordered  to  land  at  Alexan- 
dria, and  Gen.  Burnside  was  ordered  to  evacu- 
ate Fredericksburg  and  Aquia  Creek 

As  soon  as  Gen.  Pope  discovered  that  a  large 
force  of  the  enemy  was  turning  his  right  to- 
ward Manassas,  and  that  the  divisions  which 
he  expected  to  be  there  from  Alexandria  had 
not  arrived,  he  broke  up  his  camps  at  Warren- 
ton  and  Warrenton  Junction  and  marched  rap-* 
idly  back  in  three  columns.  At  this  time  the 
corps  of  Gen.  Heintzelman  from  Gen.  McClel- 
lan's  army  had  reached  Warrenton  Junction, 
although  without  artillery,  wagons,  or  horses 
for  the  field  and  general  officers.  One  division 
of  the  corps  of  Gen.  Porter  from  Gen.  McClel- 
lan's  army  coming  by  the  way  of  Fredericks- 
burg,  arrived  at  Bealston's  Station,  eleven  miles 
south  of  Warrenton  Junction  in  advance  of 
Gen.  Heintzelman,  about  four  thousand  five 
hundred  strong.  The  other  division  was  at  Kel- 
ly's Ford.  This  corps  had  marched  night  and 
day  to  join  the  army  under  Gen.  Pope,  and  was 
broken  down  with  excessive  labor.  Both  these 
divisions  were  immediately  concentrated  at  War- 
renton Junction.  When  Gen.  Pope  determined 
to  fall  back  he  had  no  other  course  to  pursue,  ex- 
cept to  detach  a  sufficient  force  to  defeat  the  Con- 
federate troops  attempting  to  turn  his  flank,  and 
still  preserve  his  front  before  the  main  body  of 
the  Confederate  army.  The  reason  assigned  by 
Gen.  Pope  for  not  pursuing  the  latter  course 
was  the  lack  of  a  sufficient  force  to  maintain 
his  front  after  a  suitable  body  had  been  detach- 
ed to  defeat  Gen.  Jackson  on  his  flank.  He 
estimates  the  number  of  his  troops  at  forty 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


261 


thousand,  before  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Heintzel- 
manwith  ten  thousand.  The  Confederate  army 
before  him  was  not  less  than  eighty  thousand 
in  number.  On  evacuating  Warrenton  and 
Warrenton  Junction,  Gen.  McDowell  was  or- 
dered to  march  rapidly  with  his  own  corps  and 
that  of  Gen.  Sigel,  and  the  division  of  Gen. 
Reynolds,  by  the  turnpike  upon  Gainesville,  the 
first  station  west  of  Manassas  Junction,  on  the 
Gap  railroad,  for  the  purpose  of  intercepting 
any  reenforcements  coming  through  Thorough- 
fare Gap  to  Gen.  Jackson,  who  he  learned 
was  on  the  railroad.  At  the  same  time  Gen. 
Reno,  from  Gen.  Burnside's  corps,  and  Gen. 
Kearny,  from  Gen.  Heintzelman's  corps,  were 
ordered  to  march  upon  Greenwich,  so  as  to  sup- 
port Gen.  McDowell  if  necessary.  Greenwich 
is  a  little  south  of  Gainesville,  and  a  little  south- 
west of  Manassas  Junction.  The  division  of 
Gen.  Hooker,  under  Gen.  Pope,  moved  back 
upon  Manassas,  on  the  line  of  the  railroad. 
Gen.  Porter  was  ordered  to  remain  with  his 
corps  at  Warrenton  Junction  until  relieved  by 
Gen.  Banks  marching  from  Fayetteville,  and 
then  to  push  forward  in  the  direction  of  Gaines- 
ville, where  the  main  collision  with  the  enemy 
was  expected. 

On  Tuesday  night,  the  26th,  the  pickets  at 
Manassas  Junction  were  driven  in,  and  two 
companies  of  Pennsylvania  infantry,  one  com- 
pany of  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  and  a  battery 
of  artillery  stationed  there  were  surprised  and 
attacked  by  a  large  force  under  Gen.  Ewell. 
The  tlnion  force,  after  a  brief  skirmish,  retreat- 
ed across  Bull  Run.  There,  at  Union  Mills, 
were  the  llth  and  12th  Ohio  regiments  under 
Col.  Scammon,  being  a  portion  of  Gen.  Cox's 
division  brought  on  from  western  Virginia. 
They  immediately  advanced  to  meet  the  Con- 
'  federate  force,  and  early  on  Wednesday  morn- 
ing, the  27th,  a  conflict  took  place  between 
Manassas  Junction  and  Bull  Run.  This  con- 
tinued for  a  coxiple  of  hours,  when  Col.  Scam- 
inon  was  forced  to  retire  across  Bull  Run  bridge, 
which  he  attempted  to  hold.  About  noon, 
after  considerable  loss,  he  was  obliged  to  retire 
along  the  railroad  in  the  direction  of  Alexan- 
dria, halting  at  a  point  midway  between  Cen- 
treville  and  Fairfax  Court  House.  About  two 
o'clock  on  the  same  morning,  the  New  Jersey 
brigade  under  Brig.-Gen.  Taylor,  being  a  por- 
tion of  Gen.  Franklin's  division  of  Gen.  McClel- 
lan's  army,  left  their  encampment  near  Alexan- 
dria, and  proceeding  out  the  Fairfax  road  some 
distance,  made  a  detour  to  the  left,  and  during 
the  forenoon  arrived  on  the  old"  battle  ground 
near  Manassas.  The  enemy,  being  aware  of 
their  approach,  were  drawn  up  to  meet  them. 
As  they  emerged  from  the  woods  the  enemy 
opened  upon  them  with  a  severe  fire  of  artillery. 
Gen.  Franklin,  having  no  artillery,  was  compel- 
led either  to  make  a  charge  or  retire.  He  re- 
solved  to  charge  upon  the  enemy's  battery,  but 
as  these  were  supported  by  infantry,  it  proved 
ineffectual,  and  he  then  fell  back  in  order  to 
Songster's  Station,  toward  Fairfax,  holding  the 


enemy  in  check.  At  this  station  two  Ohio  regi- 
ments, sent  to  reenforce  him,  came  up,  who  were 
at  first  mistaken  for  a  body  of  the  enemy.  The 
troops  of  Gen.  Taylor  were  now  thrown  into 
confusion,  but  finding  out  the  mistake,  rallied 
and  joined  in  an  attack  upon  the  enemy,  who 
now  retired  toward  Manassas.  Gen.  Taylor 
then  fell  back  to  Fairfax  Court  House,  having 
left  one  regiment  at  Sangster's  Station  as  a 
guard.  The  losses  during  these  actions  were 
about  three  hundred. 

On  the  same  night  of  the  26th,  when  Man- 
assas Junction  was  taken,  a  body  of  Confede- 
rate cavalry,  being  a  detachment  of  the  force 
of  the  enemy  at  Manassas,  made  an  attack  upon 
a  railroad  train  at  Bristow's  Station,  four  miles 
from  Manassas  Junction.  This  train  was  the  one 
which  had  conveyed,  a  few  hours  previous,  the 
division  of  Gen.  Hooker  to  Warrenton  Junction, 
and  was  now  returning  empty.  The*  cars  were 
destroyed  and  the  track  torn  up  for  a  consider- 
able distance.  This  force  was  increased  by  the 
arrival  of  more  troops  from  Gen.  Ewell's  divi- 
sion, who  had  taken  Manassas  Junction,  where 
was  an  immense  depot  of  Federal  stores  valued 
at  nearly  one  million  of  dollars.  This  was  the 
body  of  the  enemy  which  Gen.  Pope  had  de- 
signed to  intercept  by  ordering  Gen.  McDowell 
to  fall  back  on  Gainesville.  Unfortunately,  his 
order  was  too  late,  for  the  first  reenforcements 
to  Gen.  Jackson,  then  in  the  rear  of  Gen.  Pope, 
had  passed  through  Thoroughfare  Gap  and 
Gainesville,  and  were  in  possession  of1  Manassas 
at  the  time  when  the  order  was  given  to  Gen. 
McDowell.  The  stores  captured  at  Manassas 
served  to  sustain  the  Confederate  army  in  extend- 
ing its  march  into  Maryland.  Vast  quantities, 
however,  were  burned,  because,  as  Gen.  Lee  re- 
ported, "  they  had  captured  more  than  they  conld 
use  or  carry  away."  On  the  23d,  the  next  day 
after  the  attack  upon  Catlett's  Station,  Gen.  Hal- 
leek  had  sent  a  despatch  to  Gen.  Pope  in  these 
words :  "  By  no  means  expose  your  railroad 
communication  with  Alexandria.  It  is  of  the 
utmost  importance  in  sending  your  supplies  and 
reenforcements."  Gen.  Pope,  in  his  report, 
says :  "  The  movement  of  Gen.  Jackson  to- 
ward White  Plains  and  in  the  direction  of 
Thoroughfare  Gap,  while  the  main  body  of  the 
enemy  confronted  me  at  Sulphur  Springs  and 
Waterloo  bridge,  was  well  known  to  me,  but  I 
relied  confidently  upon  the  forces  which  I  had 
been  assured  would  be  sent  from  Alexandria, 
and  one  strong  division  of  which  I  had  ordered 
to  take  post  on  the  works  at  Manassas  Junction. 
I  was  entirely  under  the  belief  that  the.se  would 
be  there,  and  it  was  not  until  I  found  my  com- 
munication intercepted  that  I  was  undeceived. 
I  knew  that  this  movement  was  no  raid,  and 
that  it  was  made  by  not  less  than  twenty-five 
thousand  men." 

The  army  of  Gen.  Pope  was  now  on  the  27th 
on  the  retreat  in  three  columns.  The  one 
moving  back  along  the  railroad  toward  Manas- 
sas Junction,  under  Gen.  Hooker,  was  the  first 
to  encounter  the  Confederate  forces  in  the 


262 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


rear.  It  was  the  advance  of  the  same  force,  a 
portion  of  -which  had  repulsed  Col.  Scammon 
and  Gen.  Taylor  in  separate  actions  during  the 
forenoon.  That  portion  of  the  force  had  ceased 
to  follow  them  beyond  Sangster's  Station,  as 
they  would  thereby  have  been  drawn  away 
from  the  main  body,  and  also  from  the  support 
of  Gen.  Lee's  army  marching  upon  White 
Plains  and  Thoroughfare  Gap,  and  because 
Gen.  Pope  was  falling  back  upon  them.  Upon 
the  approach  of  Gen.  Hooker's  force  to  Bris- 
tow's  Station  the  Confederate  forces  fell  back 
about  one  and  a  half  miles  across  Kettle  Run, 
and  formed  upon  its  left  bank.  Their  main 
body  was  at  Manassas,  a  little  farther  in  the 
rear,  to  which  their  line  of  battle  extended.  A 
severe  action  ensued,  which  terminated  at 
dark.  Gen.  Ewell's  force  was  driven  from  the 
field,  with  the  loss  of  his  camp  equipage  and 
about  three  hundred  killed  and  wounded.  Gen. 
Hooker's  division  had  brought  with  them  only 
forty  rounds  of  ammunition,  and  at  night  there 
were  only  five  rounds  to  the  man  left.  Upon 
learning  this  fact,  Gen.  Pope  immediately  sent 
back  orders  to  Gen.  Porter  to  march  with  his 
corps  at  one  o'clock  that  night,  so  as  to  be  with 
Gen.  Hooker  at  daylight  in  the  morning,  the 
28th,  with  Morell's  division,  and  also  directed 
him  to  communicate  with  Gen.  Banks  the  or- 
der to  move  forward  to  Warrenton  Junction. 
All  trains  were  ordered  this  side  of  Cedar  Run, 
and  to  be  protected  by  a  regiment  of  infantry 
and  a  section  of  artillery.  Owing  to  insur- 
mountable obstacles  and  the  limited  time  given 
him  to  make  the  march,  Gen.  Porter  did  not 
arrive  as  early  as  expected. 

The  position  of  Gen.  Jackson  after  the  deferit 
of  Ewell  on  the  night  of  the  27th  was  dangerous. 
Without  reinforcements  he  must  retreat  before 
the  powerful  foe  in  front.  Only  two  routes  were 
open  for  him.  The  one  by  which  he  had  come, 
which  was  through  Gainesville  and  Thorough- 
fare Gap ;  and  the  other  toward  Centreville. 
If  he  attempted  the  first  one,  he  would  meet 
the  forces  of  Gens.  McDowell  and  Sigel,  and 
i  he  Pennsylvania  reserve  under  Gen.  Reynolds, 
-,vho  were  already  at  Gainesville,  whither  they 
had  been  ordered  two  days  previous  by  Gen. 
Pope.  His  only  course  of  safety  was  to  fall 
back  toward  Centreville,  which  he  did  that 
night,  and  took  position  on  the  farther  line  of 
Bull  Run.  At  noon  on  the  28th  Manassas  was 
occupied  by  the  troops  of  Gen.  Pope,  and  on 
the  same  day  Gen.  Heintzelman's  corps,  con- 
sisting of  the  divisions  of  Gens.  Hooker  and 
Kearny,  pushed  on  to  Centreville,  and  enter- 
ed the  place  soon  after  the  rear  of  Gen.  Jack- 
son had  retired.  At  this  time  Gen.  Reno,  who 
had  cooperated  with  Gen.  McDowell,  had 
reached  Manassas  Junction,  and  Gen.  Porter 
was  at  Broad  Run,  where  he  had  been  or- 
dered to  halt.  It  was  now  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance to  Gen.  Lee  that  Gen.  Jackson 
should  be  reenforced,  or  he  might  be  cut  off. 
Foreseeing  the  danger,  Gen.  Lee  had  ordered 
Gen.  Longstreet  to  proceed  on  the  24th  from 


Warrenton  by  way  of  Thoroughfare  Gap,  a 
pass  in  the  Bull  Run  mountains,  fifteen  miles 
west  of  Centreville,  and  unite  with  Gen.  Jack- 
son. The  advance  of  Gen.  Longstreet  appears 
to  have  reached  Thoroughfare  Gap  on  the 
evening  of  the  28th,  and  encountered  Gen. 
Ricket's  division,  which  retired  that  night  to 
Bristol's  Station.  The  enemy  was  thus  free 
to  join  Gen.  Jackson  both  by  Thoroughfare 
and  Hopeville  Gaps.  The  advance  of  Gen. 
Jackson  retiring  to  join  Gen.  Longstreet  en- 
countered, near  Gainesville  on  the  Warrenton 
turnpike,  Gen.  Gibbon's  brigade  of  King's  divi- 
sion— or  all  of  King's  division — which  was  a 
part  of  Gen.  McDowell's  force.  The  division 
behaved  handsomely,  and  suffered  severe  loss. 
The  'contest  closed  with  the  darkness,  and  the 
division  retired  to  Manassas  Junction  before  day 
of  the  29th.  The  road  was  open  for  the  union 
of  Gen.  Longstreet  with  Gen.  Jackson,  and  the 
junction  was  effected  on  the  morning  of  the 
29th,  at  10  A.  M.,  in  person  and  with  large  force. 

Hopeville  is.  about  three  miles  northeast  of 
White  Plains,  on  the  road  from  White  Plains 
to  Aldie.  The  road  across  the  mountains  is 
some  three  miles  north  of  Thoroughfare  Gap. 
Gen.  Halleck  in  his  report  says:  "McDowell 
had  succeeded  in  checking  Lee  at  Thoroughfare 
Gap ;  but  the  latter  took  the  road  from  Hope- 
ville to  Haymarket,  and  hastened  to  the  relief 
of  Jackson,  who  was  already  in  rapid  retreat." 

The  next  morning  found  Gen.  King's  division 
fallen  back  from  Warrenton  turnpike  toward 
Manassas  Junction.  It  had  been  driven  back 
by  the  forces  of  Gen.  Jackson.  The  passage 
of  the  Gap  was  no  longer  disputed,  and  re- 
enforcements  to  Gen.  Jackson  were  passing 
through  during  the  whole  day.  Gen.  Lee,  in 
his  despatch  to  Richmond,  says  that  Gen.  Long- 
street  reached  Gen.  Jackson  on  the  29th.  The 
posture  of  affairs  was  now  changed.  The  over- 
whelming forces  of  Gen.  Lee  were  at  hand,  and 
it  became  a  question  with  Gen.  Pope  what  the 
consequences  to  him  might  be.  He  seems  to 
have  apprehended  the  facts.  He  cautioned 
Gen.  Porter,  in  his  order,  not  to  go  farther  in 
his  march  to  effect  a  junction  with  Gen.  Heint- 
zelman  than  might  be  necessary,  adding,  "as 
he  might  be  obliged  to  retire  behind  Bull  Run 
that  night  for  subsistence,  if  nothing  else."  It 
is  worthy  of  notice  that  the  movements  of  Gen. 
Jackson  for  the  last  two  days  had  been  in  the 
direction  of  Thoroughfare  Gap,  in  order  to  be 
nearer  the  approaching  reenforcements,  which 
he  was  confident  would  surely  come.  Soon 
after  daylight  on  the  next  morning,  the  29th, 
the  contest  began  on  the  part  of  Gens.  Sigel  and 
Reynolds's  divisions  of  Gen.  McDowell's  corps 
and  the  Confederate  forces.  The  divisions  were 
on  the  west  toward  Gainesville.  The  plan  of 
Gen.  Pope  was  for  Gen.  Heintzelman,  with  Gens. 
Hooker,  Kearny,  and  Reno,  to  proceed  from 
Centreville  toward  Gainesville  and  attack  the 
enemy  on  that  side,  and  Gen.  Porter,  with 
Gen.  King's  division,  to  make  another  attack 
from  the  south,  and  Gens.  McDowell  and  Sigel 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


263 


from  the  west,  thus  attacking  them  on  three 
sides.  The  contest,  as  has  been  stated,  com- 
menced early  in  the  morning  on  the  part  of  Gens. 
Sigel  and  Reynolds,  and  was  continued  rather 
feebly  until  the  afternoon,  when  Gen.  Heint- 
zelman's  corps  joined  Gen.  Sigel,  and  soon 
after  Gen.  Longstreet  had  joined  Gen.  Jackson. 
Here  Gen.  Grover's  brigade  of  Gen.  Hooker's 
division  made  a  brilliant  bayonet  charge 
through  two  lines  of  the  enemy  and  into  a 
third  one,  losing  thirty  per  cent,  of  its  force  in 
twenty  minutes.  Gen.  McDowell  also  brought 
his  whole  corps  into  the  field  in  the  afternoon, 
and,  as  Gen.  Pope  says,  "  taking  a  conspicuous 
part  in  that  day's  operations."  Gen.  Porter, 
reduced  by  the  withdrawal  of  Gen.  King's  divi- 
sion, was  on  the  direct  road  to  Gainesville, 
along  the  railroad  from  Manassas  Junction, 
holding  in  check  a  large  force  of  the  enemy's 
right  wing,  strongly  posted  to  guard  the  flank 
of  that  portion  confronting  Gen.  Pope's  right. 
About  Y  P.  M.  Gen.  Heintzelman's  right  division 
under  Gen.  Kearny  turned  the  enemy's  left  to- 
ward Sudley  Springs  and  went  into  action,  driv- 
ing them  back  fully  a  mile.  Thus  the  day  ended 
successfully  for  the  Federal  arms.  The  entire 
force  of  Gen.  Pope,  except  Gen.  Banks's  corps, 
was  thus  engaged  with  the  two  wings  of  Gen. 
Lee's  army.  The  loss  on  this  day  by  Gen.  Pope 
was  reported  at  eight  thousand,  which  was  an 
overstatement.  Both  parties  slept  upon  their 
arms  that  night  on  the  same  spot,  near  the  old 
battle  groumd  of  Bull  Run.  The  contest  was  re- 
newed the  next  day,  the  30th.  The  object  now 
with  Gen.  Pope  was,  if  possible,  to  maintain  his 
position.  The  design  of  the  enemy  appeared  to 
be  to  accumulate  such  a  force  on  his  right  as  to 
crush  the  Federal  left  and  occupy  the  road  to 
Centreville  in  its  rear.  Gen.  Lee,  of  the  Confed- 
erate army,  thus  reports  the  action  of  this  day : 
"  The  enemy,  being  reenforced,  renewed  the  at- 
tack on  the  afternoon  of  the  30th,  when  a  general 
advance  of  both  wings  of  the  army  was  ordered, 
and  after  a  fierce  combat,  which  raged  until 
after  nine  o'clock,  he  was  completely  defeated 
and  driven  beyond  Bull  Run.  The  darkness 
of  the  night,  his  destruction  of  the  stone  bridge 
after  crossing,  and  the  uncertainty  of  the  fords, 
stopped  the  pursuit."  The  only  additional 
force  brought  into  this  part  of  the  field  on  this 
day  by  Gen.  Pope  was  the  corps  of  Gen.  Porter, 
which  was  moved  from  the  extreme  left  to  the 
centre,  travelling  a  distance  of  six  miles.  Gen. 
Pope,  in  his  report,  thus  describes  the  conflict  of 
the  30th  :  "  The  enemy's  heavy  reenforcementa 
having  reached  him  on  Friday  afternaon  and 
night,  he  began  to  mass  on  his  right  for  the 
purpose  of  crushing  our  left,  and  occupying  the 
road  to  Centreville  in  our  rear.  His  heaviest 
assault  was  made  about  five  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, when,  after  overwhelming  Fitz  John 
Porter,  and  driving  his  forces  back  on  the  cen- 
tre and  left,  mass  after  mass  of  his  forces  was 
pushed  against  our  left.  A  terrible  contest, 
•with  great  slaughter,  was  carried  on  for  sever- 
al hours,  our  men  behaving  with  firmness  and 


gallantry  under  the  immediate  command  of 
Gen.  McDowell.  "When  night  closed  our  left 
had  been  forced  back  about  half  a  mile,  but  still 
remained  firm  and  unshaken,  while  our  right 
held  its  ground.  Gen.  Franklin,  with  his 
corps,  arrived  after  dark  at  Centreville,  six 
miles  in  our  rear,  whilst  Sumner  was  four  miles 
behind  Franklin.  I  could  have  brought  up 
these  corps  in  the  morning  in  time  to  have  re- 
newed the  action,  but  starvation  stared  both 
men  and  horses  in  the  face,  and,  broken  and 
exhausted  as  they  were,  they  were  in  no  con- 
dition to  bear  hunger  also.  I  accordingly  retir- 
ed to  Centreville  that  night  in  perfect  order." 

It  appears  that  the  contest  with  artillery 
commenced  early  in  the  day,  and  but  little 
damage  was  done  on  either  side.  Early  in 
the  afternoon  an  attempt  was  made  to  break 
the  line  of  Gen.  Porter  stationed  on  Gen. 
Pope's  centre.  This  was  unsuccessful,  but 
caused  a  severe  loss  to  Gen.  Porter.  In  the 
latter  part  of  the  afternoon  the  enemy's  forces 
were  concentrated  iipon  the  corps  of  Gen. 
McDowell  on  the  left  of  the  centre.  The  bat-  \ 
teries  there,  Lapine's  5th  Maine,  Thompson's 
New  York,  and  Howell's,  not  being  sufficiently 
supported  by  infantry,  were  soon  captured,  and 
McDowell's  troops  were  driven  irresistibly 
back.  The  right  and  centre  still  maintained 
their  positions,  but  the  disaster  on  the  left,  and 
the  apprehended  design  of  the  enemy  to  occu- 
py the  road  to  Centreville  in  their  rear,  made 
it  necessary  for  them  to  fall  back.  In  doing 
so  the  bridge  across  Bull  Run  was  destroyed. 
The  field  of  battle  with  its  dead  and  wounded 
was  left  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The 
right  wing  of  the  army  was  this  day  command- 
ed by  Gen.  Heintzelman,  and  did  not  give  one 
inch  of  ground  to  the  enemy  until  ordered  so  to 
do  after  the  repulse  received  by  the  left  wing. 
The  losses  on  both  sides  were  severe,  but  have 
never  been  officially  made  public.  The  report 
of  Gen.  Pope  was  made  before  the  reports  of  his 
subordinate  officers  were  received.  These,  in 
consequence  of  his  absence  in  the  "West,  had  not 
been  made  near  the  close  of  the  year.  The 
entire  loss  of  Gen.  Pope  was  estimated  at  be- 
tween 15,000  and  20,000. 

At  Richmond  the  following  despatch  was 
received  from  Gen.  Lee : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  NORTHERS  VIRGINIA,  GBOVB-  1 
TOWN,  Aug.  80,  P.  M.,  via  Kapidan.  J 

To  President  Dams  : 

This  army  achieved  to-day,  on  the  plains  of  Manas- 
sas, a  signal  victory  over  the  combined  forces  of  Gens.  • 
McClellan  and  Pope.  On  the  28th  and  29th  each  wing, 
under  Gens.  Longstreet  and  Jackson,  repulsed  with 
valor  attacks  made  on  them  separately.  We  mourn 
the  loss  of  our  gallant  dead  in  every  conflict,  yet  our 
gratitude  to  Almighty  God  for  His  mercies  rises  higher 
each  day.  To  Him  and  to  the  valor  of  our  troops  a 
nation's  gratitude  is  due.  R.  E.  LEE. 

This  was  followed  on  the  2d  of  September 
by  the  following  Message  of  President  Davis  to 
the  Confederate  Congress : 

To  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Cofir 

federate  States  : 
I  have  the  gratification  of  presenting  to  Congress 


264 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


two  despatches  from  Gen.  Kobert  E.  Lee,  commanding 
the  army  of  Northern  Virginia,  communicating  the 
result  of  the  operations  north  of  the  Eappahannock. 
From  these  despatches  it  will  be  seen  that  God  has 
again  extended  His  shield  over  our  patriotic  army, 
and  has  blessed  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy  with  a 
second  signal  victory  on  the  field  already  memorable 
br  the  gaUant  achievement  of  our  troops. 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 

At  "Washington,  on  Saturday,  the  30th,  the 
"War  Department  invited  the  citizens  to  go  out 
to  the  battle-field  and  assist  in  taking  care  of 
the  wounded  soldiers.  A  large  number  re- 
sponded to  the  invitation.  From  three  to  seven 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  streets  swarmed  with  people 
and  conveyances  loaded  with  blankets  and 
baskets  and  rolls  of  lint.  Every  public  carriage 
and  vehicle  was  impressed  into  the  service. 
A  thousand  persons  at  least  went  out.  More 
would  have  gone  on  Saturday  morning,  but 
the  invitation  was  recalled,  and  passes  re- 
fused. The  entire  movement  turned  out  as  ill 
advised.  Very  few  persons  were  allowed  to  go 
far  enough  to  find  the  wounded  they  sought, 
and  some  were  made  prisoners  by  the  Confed- 
erates. The  movement  thus  begun  at  Wash- 
ington instantly  extended  through  all  the  prin- 
cipal cities  of  the  Northern  States.  In  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  which  will  serve  as  an  illustra- 
tion of  the  others,  the  greatest  excitement  pre- 
vailed on  Sunday,  the  31st.  A  despatch  had 
been  received  on  the  previous  evening  from 
"Washington,  by  Gov.  Andrew,  asking  that 
the  surgeon-general  of  the  State  should  send 
on  twenty  surgeons  with  hospital  supplies  as 
soon  as  possible.  This  demand  was  made  pub- 
lic at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning,  with  the 
notice  that  contributions  would  be  received  at 
Tremont  Temple.  Those  notices  were  also 
read  from  pulpits,  which  is  the  usual  manner 
of  advertising  on  Sunday  in  New  England,  and 
many  congregations  were  immediately  dismissed 
to  procure  contributions.  At  an  early  hour 
these  contributions  began  to  be  received  at  the 
Temple,  and  continued  to  pour  in  during  the 
whole  day — old  sheets  for  bandages,  shirts, 
dressing  gowns,  pillows,  liquors,  jellies,  and 
sweetmeats  of  all  kinds — in  a  word,  every  va- 
riety of  article  which  could  suggest  itself  to  a 
kind  heart  as  necessary  to  the  .comfort  of  the 
wounded  soldier.  Bundles  and  packages  of 
every  conceivable  size  and  shape  were  momen- 
tarily arriving.  Ladies  brought  bundles,  who 
were  never  seen  to  carry  bundles  before ;  and 
stout  gentlemen  in  gold  spectacles  were  seen 
driving  heavy-laden  carts  through  the  streets, 
or  lending  a  hand  at  the  boxes.  All  these  ar- 
ticles were  received  at  the  side  doors  of  the 
Temple  and  taken  within,  where  corps  of  pack- 
ers inclosed  them  in  boxes,  which  were  then 
taken  out  of  the  main  entrance  to  the  express 
wagons,  which  crowded  the  streets.  Thus  twen- 
ty-one hundred  cases  were  packed,  and  all  sent 
forward  by  the  evening  train,  except  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty.  At  the  same  time  subscrip- 
tions were  taken  at  stands  on  the  sidewalks, 
and  over  five  thousand  dollars  collected. 


To  an  application  from  Gen.  Pope  for  a  truce 
to  gather  the  wounded,  Gen.  Lee  on  the  same 
day,  August  31st,  replied  as  follows  : 

SIR  :  Consideration  for  your  wounded  induces  me 
to  consent  to  your  sending  ambulances  to  convey 
them  within  your  lines.  I  cannot  consent  to  a  truce 
nor  a  suspension  of  the  military  operations  of  this 
army.  If  you  desire  to  send  for  your  wounded,  should 
your  ambulances  report  to  Dr.  Guilet,  Medical  Direc- 
tor of  this  army,  he  will  give  directions  for  their 
transportation.  The  wounded  will  be  paroled,  and 
it  is  understood  that  no  delay  will  take  place  in  their 
removal.  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  serv't, 
E.  E.  LEE,  General. 

On  Sunday,  the  31st,  the  Confederate  army 
was  put  in  motion  toward  the  Little  River 
turnpike  for  the  purpose  of  turning  the  right 
of  Gen.  Pope.  During  Sunday  night  and  Mon- 
day morning,  Gen.  Pope,  anticipating  this  de- 
sign of  the  enemy,  changed  his  front  by  caus- 
ing his  right  wing  to  fall  back  to  the  heights 
of  Germantown.  Thus  when  the  enemy  reached 
Ox  Hill  on  Monday,  he  discovered  Gen.  Pope's 
army  in  his  front  on  these  heights.  The  ulti- 
mate design  of  the  enemy  was  to  cut  the  rear 
of  Gen.  Pope  in  the  direction  of  Fairfax  Court 
House.  The  Little  River  turnpike  runs  from 
Middleburg  to  Alexandria,  and  intersects  the 
Centreville  turnpike  about  a  mile  east  of  Fair- 
fax Court  House.  Germantown  is  a  small  village 
between  Fairfax  Court  House  and  Centreville, 
and  about  one-fourth  of  the  whole  distance  be- 
yond the  former. 

Meanwhile,  during  the  conflict  on»Friday  and 
Saturday,  Gen.  Banks,  with  his  command,  was 
covering  the  extreme  left  of  Gen,  Pope's  line, 
to  keep  off  reinforcements  for  the  enemy,  and 
to  be  used  as  a  reserve.  He  crossed  to  Bris- 
tow's  Station,  on  the  railroad  four  miles  beyond 
Manassas  Junction,  and  on  Sunday  was  ap- 
proached by  a  large  force  of  the  enemy,  before 
which  he  fell  back  and  joined  Gen.  Pope.  The 
bridge  at  Bristow's  station  having  been  de- 
stroyed by  the  enemy  at  the  time  of  their  attack 
upon  it,  and  that  over  Bull  Run  not  having 
been  repaired,  he  destroyed  the  property  of  the 
United  States  before  retiring.  This  consisted 
of  some  200  railroad  cars,  five  locomotives,  and 
a  large  quantity  of  fixed  ammunition,  ordnance 
stores,  &c.  The  enemy,  however,  obtained 
great  spoil.  On  the  same  day,  Sunday,  Sept.  1, 
Fredericksburg  was  evacuated  by  Gen.  Burnside. 
Falmouth  station  was  burned,  and  a  quantity 
of  commissary  stores.  The  bridge  erected  in 
place  of  the  old  railroad  bridge,  the  wire  bridge, 
and  the  boat  bridge  were  destroyed.  The  evac- 
uation of  Aquia  Creek  followed. 

Gen.  Pope  states  that  by  the  reports  of  the 
commanders  of  corps  of  his  army  it  consisted 
on  the  1st  of  September,  of  less  than  60,000 
men.  The  position  taken  by  his  orders  on  this 
day  was  as  follows :  The  division  of  Gen.  Couch 
and  one  brigade  of  Gen.  Sumner's  corps  were  at 
Fairfax  Court  House.  Gen.  Hooker  was  posted  at 
or  in  front  of  Germantown,  and  had  command 
of  his  own  troops  and  those  at  Fan-fax.  Gen. 
McDowell's  corps  was  stationed  on  the  Warren- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


265 


ton  turnpike  about  two  miles  west  of  Fairfax. 
Gen.  Reno  was  pushed  north  of  the  turnpike 
at  a  point  about  two  and  a  half  miles  east  of 
Centreville,  and  supported  by  Gen.  Kearny's 
division  of  Gen.  Heintzelman's  corps. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  the  force  of  Gen.  Lee, 
composed  of  infantry  and  cavalry,  approached 
Germantown  by  the  Little  River  turnpike,  and 
were  met  by  Gen.  Hooker  at  that  place  and  by 
Gen.  Reno  farther  west.  The  conflict  raged  for 
an  hour,  when  they  concentrated  their  force  on 
the  left  of  Gen.  Reno's  line,  which  was  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Stevens.  Their  intention  was 
to  turn  his  left  flank.  Gen.  Stevens  was  soon 
killed  by  a  bullet  through  his  head,  and  his 
troops  were  driven  back.  The  Confederate 
force  now  began  to  advance  on  the  main  body 
of  Gen.  Reno,  which  was  short  of  ammunition, 
when  the  division  of  Gen.  Kearny  came  up 
and  took  the  position  occupied  by  the  troops 
of  Gen.  Stevens.  Night  had  now  set  in,  ren- 
dered thickly  dark  by  a  thunder  storm.  The 
rain  fell  in  torrents,  and  the  position  of  the 
contending  armies  was  revealed  only  by  the 
flashes  of  lightning.  At  this  time  Gen.  Kear- 
ny, anxious  to  know  the  nature  of  the  ground 
upon  which  he  expected  so  soon  to  fight,  rode 
out  to  examine  it.  Inadvertently  he  passed  the 
line  of  his  own  pickets  and  approached  those 
of  the  Confederate  force,  when  he  was  shot  by 
one  of  them.  He  was  soon  missed  from  his 
camp,  and  not  being  found,  Gen.  Birney  took 
command  of  the  division.  During  the  next 
day  his  body  was  brought  in  under  a  Confed- 
erate flag  of  truce.  Thus  two  most  valuable 


ofBcers  and  brave  soldiers  were  slain  in  this 
conflict.  After  Gen.  Birney  had  taken  com- 
mand, he  ordered  a  bayonet  charge  to  be  made 
by  Col.  Egan,  commanding  the  1st  and  40th, 
and  Col.  Ward,  of  the  38th  New  York  regiments, 
before  which  the  enemy  retired. 

By  morning,  on  the  2d  of  September,  the 
whole  of  Gen.  Pope's  army  was  massed  behind 
Difficult  creek,  between  Germantown,  Flint 
Hill,  and  Fairfax.  On  that  day  orders  were 
issued  by  the  general-in-chief  for  the  Army  of 
Virginia  to  fall  back  within  the  defences  of 
"Washington.  The  object  of  the  general-in-chief 
in  giving  this  order  was  "  to  reorganize  the 
different  corps,  to  get  the  stragglers  back  into 
the  ranks,  and  to  supply  deficiencies  of  ammu- 
nition, clothing,"  &c.  This  movement  was  exe- 
cuted on  the  2d  and  3d  of  September.  During 
these  days  might  be  seen  on  the  roads  leading 
to  Alexandria  and  the  fortifications  around 
Washington,  the  worn  and  bleeding  fragments 
of  the  once  proud  armies  of  the  North,  as  they 
straggled  in  from  their  fifteen  bloody  days  of 
fighting  and  retreating.  There  were  the  rem- 
nants of  the  decimated  regiments  of  Maine, 
New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio, 
and  Michigan — stragglers  belonging  to  every 
army  corps,  wounded,  weak,  and  dispirited, 
retiring  before  a  victorious  enemy  to  obtain 
safety  in  the  fortifications.  Many  of  them  had 
fought  their  way  up  the  peninsula,  contesting 
almost  every  inch  from  Williamsburg  against 
bulle.ts  and  bayonets  until  they  stood  in  sight 
of  the  spires  of  Richmond,  and  then  were  re- 
quired to  abandon  their  position  and  withdraw. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


Advance  of  Gen.  Lee  into  Maryland— His  Address  to  the  People— Gen.  McClellan  ordered  to  take  command  at  "Washington 
—His  Orders— Advances  into  Maryland  to  meet  Gen.  Lee— Confidential  Order  of  Gen.  Lee— Battle  of  South  Moun- 
tain—Attack of  the  Enemy  on  Harper's  Ferry— Its  Surrender— Battle  of  Antietam— Eetreat  of  Gen.  Lee. 


THE  rebel  force  which  was  repulsed  near 
Centreville  on  Monday  night,  September  2d, 
moved  toward  Vienna,  about  twelve  miles  west 
from  Washington,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a 
demonstration  near  the  Chain  Bridge,  and  the 
fords  of  the  Potomac  above  Washington.  The 
chief  object  in  this  movement  was  to  divert 
the  attention  of  the  Federal  officers  from  what 
Gen.  Lee  was  doing  elsewhere.  The  with- 
drawal of  the  army  of  Gen.  Pope  left  the  field 
clear  for  the  army  of  Gen.  Lee  to  follow  it, 
and  assault  the  strong  fortifications  of  Wash- 
ington, or  to  pass  over  the  Potomac  into  Mary- 
land. The  assault  upon  the  fortifications  of 
Washington  was  not  to  be  thought  of.  But 
the  invasion  of  Maryland  might  be  followed  by 
such  a  welcome  from  the  mass  of  the  citizens, 
and  such  cooperation,  as  to  enable  Gen.  Lee 
not  only  to  hold  a  portion  of  the  State,  but  to 


attack  Washington  in  the  rear,  and  perhaps  in- 
vade Pennsylvania.  In  any  event  it  would  be  a 
demonstration  to  the  Federal  Government,  and 
to  nations  hi  Europe,  of  the  vigorous  energy 
and  strength  of  the  Richmond  Government. 
Accordingly,  on  the  31st  of  August,  while  Gen. 
Pope  was  resting  his  exhausted  forces  at  Cen- 
treville, Gen.  Lee  drew  off  the  main  body  of 
his  army  and  moved  to  Leesburg.  Thence 
he  moved  to  the  Potomac,  near  Point  of 
Rocks,  and  crossed  at  Noland's  Ford,  five 
miles  below,  and  at  a  ford  three  miles  above 
on  the  5th.  His  force  consisted  of  the  divisions 
of  Gens.  Longstreet,  Jackson,  Ewell,  A.  P.  Hill, 
and  D.  H.  Hill.  It  proceeded  along  the  eastern 
slope  of  the  Catoctin  Mountains,  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Frederick,  Maryland.  On  the  night  of  the 
5th  the  advance  reached  White  Oak  Springs, 
about  three  miles  from  that  city,  which  is  fifty 


266 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


miles  from  Oentreville.  On  the  same  night  in- 
formation was  received  at  Frederick  of  the  ap- 
proach of  the  Confederate  force,  and  it  pro- 
duced much  excitement.  A  large  number  of 
the  inhabitants  fled  to\vard  Pennsylvania  and 
Baltimore.  Frederick,  the  capital  of  the  State 
of  Maryland,  is  forty-four  miles  northwest  of 
Washington,  and  sixty  miles  west  of  Baltimore. 
It  is  the  second  city  of  the  State  in  wealth  and 
commercial  importance,  and  the  third  in  popu- 
lation, containing  8,143  inhabitants.  The  mil- 
itary force  in  the  city  consisted  of  only  one 
company,  which  could  make  no  opposition. 
The  Federal  provost  marshal  removed  all  the 
military  stores  possible,  and,  leaving  enough  for 
the  hospitals,  in  which  there  were  about  six 
hundred  patients,  burned  the  remainder.  About 
ten  o'clock  the  next  morning,  the  6th,  the  Con- 
federate troops  quietly  entered  the  city.  These 
soldiers  were  in  a  destitute  condition,  in  re- 
spect to  clothes  and  shoes,  yet  the  most  scru- 
pulous regard  was  had  to  private  property. 
They  had  no  tents,  nor  were  burdened  with  any 
baggage.  Their  only  trains  were  ammunition 
trains.  If  enduring  great  hardships  without  a 
murmur,  and  most  bravely  and  heroically  fight- 
ing, are  evidences  of  good  soldiers,  seldom  ha3 
the  world  witnessed  better  than  those  who 
composed  the  army  of  Gen.  Lee.  A  Confeder- 
ate provost  marshal  was  appointed  (Bradley 
Johnson),  and  a  proclamation  issued  to  the  citi- 
zens, stating  that  the  army  came  as  friends,  and 
not  as  enemies,  to  relieve  the  people  of  Mary- 
land from  the  tyranny  by  which  they  were  op- 
pressed ;  that  they  did  not  purpose  to  interfere 
with  any  non-combatants,  or  to  disturb  private 
property,  or  to  inquire  into  the  opinions  of  cit- 
izens ;  and  that  whatever  stores  they  required 
would  be  paid  for,  either  in  Confederate  notes 
or  United  States  Treasury  notes,  as  the  seller 
might  prefer.  At  night  the  soldiers  were  all 
ordered  to  their  camps  outside  of  the  city. 
Meantime  foraging  parties  were  sent  out  in 
various  directions,  which  returned  at  evening 
with  droves  of  sheep,  cattle,  hogs,  and  horses. 
These  droves  were  all  taken  toward  the  Poto- 
mac. Pickets  were  thrown  out  from  Frederick 
both  east  and  west  for  considerable  distances. 
On  Sunday  they  were  reported  to  have  ad- 
vanced within  seven  miles  of  "Westminster, 
causing  a  great  excitement  in  the  town,  but 
disappeared  during  the  night.  No  Confederate 
force,  however,  came  farther  east  at  that  time 
than  Uniontown,  twenty  miles  from  Westmin- 
ster. The  main  body  encamped  for  some  days 
on  a  line  between  Frederick  and  the  Potomac 
river.  Eecruiting  offices  were  opened  in  the 
city,  and  citizens  invited  to  enlist.  Very  few 
volunteers,  however,  were  obtained. 

On  the  8th,  Gen.  Lee  issued  the  following  ad- 
dress to  the  people  of  Maryland : 

HSADQTTARTERS,  AKMY  OK  NORTITBKW  VIRGIWIA,  1 
NEAR  FREDBBIOKTOWN,  Sept.  8, 1862.      ) 
To  the  People  of  Maryland  : 

It  is  right  that  you  should  know  the  purpose  that 
has  brought  the  army  under  my  command  within  the 


limits  of  your  State,  so  far  as  that  purpose  concerns 
yourselves. 

The  people  of  the  Confederate  States  have  long 
watched  with  the  deepest  sympathy  the  wrongs  and 
outrages  that  have  been  inflicted  upon  the  citizens  of 
a  Commonwealth  allied  to  the  States  of  the  South  by 
the  strongest  social,  political,  and  commercial  ties,  and 
reduced  to  the  condition  of  a  conquered  province. 

Under  the  pretence  of  supporting  the  Constitution, 
but  in  violation  of  its  most  valuable  provisions,  your 
citizens  have  been  arrested  and  imprisoned,  upon  no 
charge,  and  contrary  to  all  the  forms  of  law_. 

A  faithful  and  manly  protest  against  this  outrage, 
made  by  a  venerable  and  illustrious  Marylander,  to 
whom  in  his  better  days  no  citizen  appealed  for  right 
in  vain,  was  treated  with  scorn  and  contempt. 

The  government  of  your  chief  city  has  been  usurped 
by  armed  strangers ;  your  Legislature  has  been  dis- 
solved by  the  tmlawful  arrest  of  its  members ;  freedom 
of  the  press  and  of  speech  has  been  suppressed ;  words 
have  been  declared  offences  by  an  arbitrary  decree  of 
the  Federal  executive;  and  citizens  ordered  to  be  tried 
by  military  commissions  for  what  they  may  dare  to 


Believing  that  the  people  of  Maryland  possess  a 
spirit  too  lofty  to  submit  to  such  a  government,  the 
people  of  the  South  have  long  wished  to  aid  you  in 
throwing  off  this  foreign  yoke,  to  enable  you  again  to 
enjoy  the  inalienable  rights  of  freemen,  and  restore 
the  independence  and  sovereignty  of  your  State. 

In  obedience  to  this  wish,  our  army  has  come  among 
you,  and  is  prepared  to  assist  you  with  the  power  of 
its  arms  in  regaining  the  rights  of  which  you  have  been 
so  unjustly  despoiled. 

This,  citizens  of  Maryland,  is  our  mission  so  far  as 
you  are  concerned.  No  restraint  upon  your  free  will 
is  intended — no  intimidation  will  be  allowed  within  the 
limits  of  this  army  at  least.  Marylanders  shall  once 
more  enjoy  their  ancient  freedom  of  thought  and 
speech.  We  know  no  enemies  among  you,  and  will 
protect  all  of  you  in  every  opinion. 

It  is  for  you  to  decide  your  destiny  freely  and  with- 
out constraint.  This  army  will  respect  your  choice, 
whatever  it  may  be ;  and,  while  the  Southern  people 
will  rejoice  to  welcome  you  to  your  natural  position 
among  them,  they  will  only  welcome  you  when  you 
come  of  your  own  free  will. 

B.  E.  LEE,  General  Commanding. 

On  the  10th  Gen.  Lee  began  to  evacuate 
Frederick,  and  by  the  12th  his  entire  force  had 
left.  His  forces  moved  in  the  direction  of  Ha- 
gerstown.  That  same  night  the  city  was  occu- 
pied by  the  advance  of  Gen.  McClellan's  army, 
under  Gen.  Hooker. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  10th,  Hagerstown 
was  entered  by  a  Confederate  force.  On  the 
6th  and  7th  the  banks  of  the  town,  anticipating 
this  approach,  removed  their  specie  to  Harris- 
burg  and  other  places  east  for  safety.  The 
Government  stores  there  were  also  removed. 

Meantime,  on  the  first  approach  of  the  Con- 
federate army  across  the  Potomac,  the  greatest 
excitement  prevailed  in  Pennsylvania,  especially 
in  York  and  Adams  counties,  and  through  the 
Susquehanna  and  Cumberland  valleys.  The 
farmers  sent  away  their  wives,  children,  and 
cattle,  and  hastened  to  take  up  arms.  In 
many  of  the  towns  of  the  State  stores  were 
closed,  bells  rung,  guns  fired,  public  meetings 
held,  and  citizens  in  their  excitement  assembled 
in  mass  to  drill.  On  the  10th  Gov.  Curtin  is- 
sued an  order  calling  upon  all  the  able  bodied 
men  of  Pennsylvania  to  organize  immediately 
for  the  defence  of  the  State,  and  to  be  ready 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


267 


for  marching  orders  upon  an  hour's  notice.  On 
the  llth  he  issued  a  call  for  fifty  thousand  of 
the  freemen  of  the  State  to  enter  immediate 
service  to  repel  the  imminent  danger  of  inva- 
sion. On  the  same  day  he  addressed  the  fol- 
lowing despatch  to  the  mayor  of  Philadelphia: 
We  hare  reliable  information  this  evening  that  the 
rebel  generals  have  moved  their  entire  army  from 
Frederick  to  Cumberland  Valley,  and  their  destination 
is  now  Harrisburg  and  Philadelphia.  We  need  every 
available  man  immediately.  Stir  up  your  population 
to-night.  Form  them  into  companies,  and  send  us 
twenty  thousand  to-morrow.  No  time  can  be  lost  in 
massing  a  force  on  the  Susquehanna  to  defend  the 
State  and  your  city.  Arouse  every s man  possible  and 
send  him  here. 

Gov.  Bradford,  of  Maryland,  also  issued  a 
proclamation  calling  upon  the  citizens  to  or- 
ganize without  delay  such  a  force  as  might 
effectually  assist  in  defending  their  homes  and 
firesides.  The  effect  of  these  appeals,  especially 
in  Pennsylvania,  was  to  bring  to  the  governor 
a  response  from  more  than  seventy-five  thou- 
sand men.  Harrisburg,  the  capital,  overflowed 
with  troops.  The  excitement,  however,  was 
not  confined  to  Pennsylvania.  In  the  adjacent 
States,  troops  under  the  first  call  for  three  hun- 
dred thousand  men  were  hurried  to  Washing- 
ton and  to  Harrisburg.  It  created  another 
military  excitement,  and  volunteers  promptly 
came  forward  in  all  the  States  to  fill  up  the  call 
of  the  President. 

On  the  2d  of  September,  the  following  order 
was  issued  by  the  general-in-chief : 

WAB  DEPARTMENT,  ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OEFICB,  } 
WASHINGTON,  September  2, 1862.     ) 
General  Orders,  No.  122. 

Maj.-Gen.  McClellan  will  have  command  of  the 
fortifications  of  Washington,  and,  of  all  the  troops  for 
the  defence  of  the  capital. 

By  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  HALLECK. 
E.  D.  TOWNSEND,  Assist.  Adj.-Gen. 

"When  Gen.  McClellan  arrived  at  Washington 
from  Harrison's  Landing,  he  was  in  the  de- 
partment of  Gen.  Pope,  which  included  the 
District  of  Columbia.  This  was  about  the  mid- 
dle of  August.  Subsequent  to  that  time  he  was 
without  a  command,  excepting  a  body  of  nine- 
ty-six men,  until  this  order  was  issued.  Each 
corps  of  his  army  had  been  sent  forward  to 
Gen.  Pope.  In  fact  the  active  forces  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  Pope  consisted  gf  the  Army 
of  Virginia,  embracing  the  corps  of  Gens. 
McDowell,  Banks,  Sigel,  a  portion  of  Gen.  Cox's 
force  from  western  Virginia,  a  part  of  Gen. 
Burnside's  force  from  North  Carolina,  about 
ten  regiments  from  Port  Royal  in  South  Caro- 
lina, under  Gen.  Stevens^  and  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  consisting  of  the  corps  of  Gens. 
Heintzelman*  Sumner,  Porter,  and  Franklin, 
and  the  divisions  of  Gens.  McCall  and  Couch, 
without  including  the  troops  stationed  in  the 
fortifications  around  "Washington.  With  this 
force  he  was  not  able  to  withstand  the  over- 
whelming march  of  the  Confederate  army. 
Yet  this  same  Confederate  army  was  the  force 
which  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  under  Gen. 
McClellau,  single  handed  and  unaided,  was  re 


quired  to  meet  and  conquer,  and  thus  obtain 
the  capital  of  the  Confederacy,  which  was  in 
their  possession.  In  this  unequal  struggle  no 
dishonor  ever  tarnished  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  Gen.  McClellan, 
having  received  the  order  above  stated,  issued 
another  assuming  command  of  the  forces  above 
mentioned,  together  with  some  new  levies  which 
had  arrived  at  Washington  under  the  call  of 
the  President  for  three  hundred  thousand  men. 
His  order  assuming  the  command  acted  like 
an  electric  shock  upon  these  dispirited,  defeat- 
ed masses.  It  was  as  follows : 

HEADQFAUTEKS,  WASHINGTON,  Sept.  4, 1862. 
General  Orders,  No.  1. 

1.  Pursuant  to  General  Orders  No.  122,  from  the 
War  Department,  Adjutant-General's  Office,  of  the  2d 
instant,  the  undersigned  hereby  assumes  command  of 
the  fortifications  of  Washington  and  of  all  troops  for 
the  defence  of  the  capital. 

2.  The  heads  of  the  staff  departments  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  will  be  in  charge  of  their  respective 
departments  at  these  headquarters. 

3.  In  addition  to  the  consolidated  morning  reports 
required  by  circular  of  this  date  from  these  headquar- 
ters, reports  will  be  made  by  corps  commanders  as  to 
their  compliance  with  the  assignment  to  positions  here- 
tofore given  them,  stating  definitely  the  ground  occu- 
pied and  covered  by  their  command,  and  as  to  what 
progress  has  been  made  in  obedience  to  orders  already 
issued  to  place  their  commands  in  condition  for  imme- 
diate service.         GEO.  B.  McCLELLAN,  Maj.-Gen. 

Official :  S.  WILIIAMS,  Assist.  Adj.-General. 

It  was  now«known  that  Gen.  Lee  had  march- 
ed into  Maryland,  and  the  orders  given  to  Gen. 
McClellan  were  to  pursue  him  with  all  the 
troops  which  were  not  required  for  the  defence 
of  Washington.  On  the  next  day  most  of  his 
army  was  in  motion,  and  rapidly  advanced  into 
Maryland.  Gen.  Couch's  division,  consisting 
of  three  brigades,  commanded  by  Gens.  Howe, 
Devens,  and  Cochrane,  on  the  morning  of  the 
6th  had  reach  M  the  road  from  Rockville  to 
Great  Falls,  eight  miles  beyond  Tenallytown. 
Other  corps  were  rapidly  pressing  on.  Three 
days  after  assuming  command,  on  the  7th,  at 
BIX  P.  M.,  he  left  Washington  to  take  the  field. 
That  night  he  passed  through  Rockville,  fifteen 
miles  from  Washington,  stopping  only  long 
enough  to  refresh  his  horses.  On  the  morning 
of  the  10th,  the  army  had  advanced  to  Damas- 
cus, thirty-four  miles  from  Washington  and 
sixteen  miles  from  Frederick.  The  first  move- 
ments of  the  army  were  such  as  to  occupy  po- 
sitions which  commanded  all  the  lower  fords 
of  the  Potoiiac,  thus  presenting  to  the  Con- 
federate army  the  alternative  of  meeting  him 
in  battle,  or  retiring  before  him,  and  crossing 
the  Potomac  higher  up,  which  would  take 
them  further  from  Washington,  and  oblige  them 
to  retreat  through  the  Shenandoah  Valley. 

Meantime  Gen.  Lee,  after  his  successes 
against  Gen.  Pope,  had  no  reason  to  apprehend 
that  the  same  army  would  soon  be  in  pursuit 
of  him ;  yet,  like  a  prudent  commander,  he,  upon 
learning  of  the  approach  of^Gen.  McClellan, 
immediately  took  precautions  to  secure  hia 
own,  safety.  His  army  had  met  with  no  such 


268 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


welcome  from  the  citizens  of  Maryland  as  to 
give  any  hope  that  the  State  would,  under  any 
circumstances,  rise  in  opposition  to  the  Federal 
Government.  On  the  contrary  the  people  had 
shown  that  it  'was  the  Government  of  their 
choice.  Very  few  recruits  had  joined  the  Con- 
federate army,  and  no  contributions  of  import- 
ance had  been  made  to  it.  The  following  is  a 
copy  of  Gen.  Lee's  order  of  march,  found  at 
Frederick,  on  the  13th  of  September.  It  dis- 
closes his  plans : 

[CONFIDENTIAL.] 

HEADQUARTERS.  ARMI  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA,  J 
Sept.  9, 1862.     f 

Special  Order,  No.  191. 

III.  The  army  will  resume  its  march  to-morrow, 
taking  the  Hagerstown  road.    Gen.  Jackson's  com- 
mand will  form  the  ^advance,  and  after  passing  Middle- 
ton  with  such  portion  as  he  may  select,  take  the  route 
toward  Sharpsburg,  cross  the  Potomac  at  the  most 
convenient  point,  and  by  Friday  morning  take  posses- 
sion of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad,  capture  such 
of  the  enemy  as  may  be  at  Martinsburg,  and  intercept 
such  as  may  attempt  to  escape  from  Harper's  Ferry. 

IV.  Gen.  Longstreet's  command  will  pursue   the 
main  road  as  far  as  Boonsboro',  where  it  will  halt  with 
reserve,  supply,  and  baggage  trains  of  the  army. 

V.  Gen.  McLaws,  with  his  own  division  and  that  of 
Gen.  R.  H.  Anderson,  will  follow  Gen.  Longstreet,  on 
reaching  Middletpn  will  take  the  route  to  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  by  Friday  morning  possess  himself  of  the 
Maryland  Heights,  and  endeavor  to  capture  the  enemy 
at  Harper's  Ferry  and  vicinity. 

VI.  Gen.  Walker  with  his  division,  after  accomplish- 
ing the  object  in  which  he  is  now  engaged,  will  cross 
the  Potomac  at  Check's  Ford,  ascend  its  right  bank  to 
Lovettsville,  take  possession  of  London  Heights,  if 
praticable,  by  Friday  morning,  keep  the  ford  on  his 
left,  and  the  road  between  the  end  of  mountain  and  the 
Potomac  on  his  right.     He  will,  as  far  as  practicable, 
cooperate  with  Gen.  McLaws  and  Gen.  Jackson  in  in- 
tercepting the  retreat  of  the  enemy. 

VII.  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill's  division  will  form  the  rear 
guard  of  the  army,  pursuing  the  road  taken  by  the 
main  body.    The  reserve  artillery,  ordnance,  and  sup- 
ply trains  will  precede  Gen.  Hill. 

VIII.  Gen.  Stuart  will  detach  a  squadron  of  cavalry 
to  accompany  the   commands  of  Gens.    Longstreet, 
Jackson,  and  McLaws,  and  with  the  main  body  of  the 
cavalry  will  cover  the  route  of  the  army,  and  bring  up 
all  stragglers  that  may  have  been  left  behind. 

IX.  The  commands  of  Gens.  Jackson,  McLaws,  and 
Walker,  after  accomplishing  the  objects  for  which 
they  have  attached  [been  detached  ?],  will  join  the  main 
bodVof  the  army  at  Boonsboro'  or  Hagerstown. 

i.  Each  regiment  on  the  march,  will  habitually  carry 
its  axes  in  the  regimental  ordnance  wagons  for  use  of 
the  men  at  their  encampments  to  procure  wood,  &c. 

By  command  of  Gen.  R.  E.  LEE. 
(Signed)  R.  H.  CHILTON,  A.  A.-General. 

ForMaj.-Gen.  D.  H.  HILL,  Comd'g  Division. 

It  is  clear  from  this  order  that  Gen.  Lee  in- 
tended first  to  capture  the  garrison  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  then  to  enter  Pennsylvania  by  the 
Cumberland  Valley ;  at  all  events,  that  he  had 
no  idea  of  abandoning  Maryland  until  forced  to 
do  so  by  the  battles  of  South  Mountain  and 
Antietam.  He  evacuated  Frederick,  and  taking 
the  road  to  Hagerstown  crossed  the  Catoctin 
Mountains,  passed  through  the  valley  in  which 
Middletown  is  situated,  and  drew  up  his  forces 
along  the  crest  o&South  Mountain  .there  to  await 
the  advance  of  Gen.  McClellan.  At  the  same 
time  he  detached  a  portion  of  his  force,  amount- 


ing to  twenty-five  thousand  men,  and  sent  them 
to  Harper's  Ferry  by  the  route  of  Williamsport, 
where  they  crossed  the  Potomac.  The  chief 
command  of  this  force  was  given  to  Gen.  Jack- 
son. It  embraced  his  division  with  those  of 
Gens.  A.  P.  Hill  and  Walker,  and  one  or  two 
others.  By  this  route,  although  longer,  they 
were  more  certain  to  reach  Harper's  Ferry  with- 
out the  knowledge  of  the  Federal  Government 
than  if  their  movement  had  been  more  direct. 
The  distance  from  Frederick  to  Williamsport 
was  thirty  miles,  and  from  Williamsport  to 
Harper's  Ferry  thirty  miles. 

The  advance  of  Gen.  McClellan  entered  Fred- 
erick on  the  12th,  and  he  immediately  sent  for- 
ward cavalry  and  artillery  to  follow  and  harass 
the  Confederate  rear.  Gen.  Pleasanton  was  in 
command  of  the  cavalry,  and  several  skirmishes 
took  place  during  the  succeeding  days.  The  line 
of  the  Federal  army  extended  from  the  Potomac 
river  in  the  region  of  Point  of  Rocks  in  a  north- 
easterly direction  to  the  region  near  Frederick, 
and  thence  in  an  easterly  and  southerly  direc- 
tion along  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad  to 
Baltimore.  On  Saturday  the  13th,  the  main 
column  of  Gen.  McClellan's  army  reached 
Frederick,  and  was  received  with  the  highest 
demonstrations  and  encamped  two  miles  be- 
yond. The  same  afternoon  the  Confederate 
rear  was  driven  by  his  advance  out  of  Middle- 
town,  which  was  held  by  the  latter  during  the 
night.  West  of  Frederick  and  running  nearly 
due  south  is  the  Catoctin  range  of  mountains, 
a  continuation  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  On  the 
south  it  terminates  in  Maryland  at  Point  of 
Rocks,  but  still  continues  in  Virginia.  On  the 
north  it  unites  at  the  Pennsylvania  State  line 
with  the  South  Mountain  range,  which,  tending 
to  the  southwest,  slopes  down  to  the  Potomac 
at  Knoxville  four  miles  east  of  Harper's  Ferry. 
Between  these  two  ranges,  nestles  the  loveliest 
valley  in  Maryland — the  valley  of  Catoctin. 
The  village  of  Middletown,  ten  miles  from  Fred- 
erick, is  in  the  centre  of  this  valley.  On  Sunday 
morning,  the  14th,  the  Confederate  army  were 
found  posted  on  the  east  side  of  the  South 
Blue  Ridge  Mountain  and  stretching  on  a  line 
from  north  to  south  from  points  immediately 
opposite  Middletown  and  Jefferson,  both  of 
which  villages  are  about  eight  miles  from  Fred- 
erick. Middletown  is  on  the  road  to  Hagers- 
town and  Jefferson  on  the  direct  road  to  Har- 
per's Ferry.  The  right  of  the  Federal  army,  at 
that  time  under  Gen.  Burnside,  rested  on  Mid- 
dletown, and  the  left  under  Gen.  Franklin  on 
Jefferson.  Early  in  tke  morning,  the  advance 
beyond  Middletown  overtook  -the  Confederate 
rear,  who  retreated  slowly,  contesting  the  road 
toward  Boonsboro'  step  by  step.  The  conflict 
that  ensued  during  the  morning  was  chiefly 
with  artillery,  and  came  to  closer  quarters  in 
the  afternoon.  At  this  time  the  Confederate 
line  of  battle  was  formed  with  the  left  rest- 
ing upon  Turner's  Gap  and  the  turnpike  road 
toward  Hagerstown  which  passes  through  the 
gap,  and  the  right  covering  Crampton's  Gap. 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


269 


Preparations  for  moving  the  main  body  of  the 
Federal  army  had  commenced  at  daylight,  and 
shortly  after  the  whole  army  was  advancing 
rapidly  toward  the  mountains  followed  by  the 
ambulances,  artillery,  and  baggage  wagons. 
Middletown  was  reached  with  ease,  beyond 
which  was  now  the  scene  of  conflict.  As  they 
approached  the  field  the  long  black  lines  of  in- 
fantry were  halted  and  opened  to  make  way  for 
the  artillery  and  ammunition  trains-  which  ad- 
vanced to  their  positions. 

The  battle  of  South  Mountain  really  com- 
menced at  a  bridge  over  Catoctin  Creek  half  a 
mile  west  of  Middletown,  where  Confederate 
artillery  had  been  posted  to  dispute  the  pas- 
sage. Dislodged  from  this  position  it  re- 
treated to  a  stronger  one  up  the  mountain  side. 
The  main  body  was  massed  on  wooded  bluffs 
to  the  right  and  left  for  a  distance  of  more  than 
two  miles.  On  the  right  of  Turner's  Gap  they 
were  stormed  out  of  their  stronghold  by  Gen. 
Burnside's  corps.  Gen.  Cox's  Kanawha  division 
in  Gen.  Reno's  corps,  attacked  and  carried  the 
crest  on  the  left  of  the  gap.  Of  this  division, 
the  23d  Ohio,  known  as  the  "psalm  singers  of 
the  Western  Reserve,"  here  came  in  contact 
with  the  23d  South  Carolina,  and  the  encounter 
was  most  stormy.  So  desperate  were  the  Caro- 
linians in  the  fight  that  before  a  single  man  sur- 
rendered he  would  beat  his  gun  against  a  rock 
or  tree  to  render  it  useless  to  his  enemy.  The 
Kanawha  division  was  supported  by  the  divi- 
sions of  Gens.  Wilcox,  Rodman,  and  Sturgess. 
After  very  severe  fighting  they  repulsed  several 
attacks  of  the  enemy,  and  retained  entire  pos- 
session of  the  crest.  About  3  p.  M.,  Gen.  Hooker 
attacked  the  heights  on  the  right  of  the  pass, 
the  Pennsylvania  reserves  leading,  and  after  a 
desperate  resistance  carried  the  crest  about 
dark,  and  held  it.  Shortly  before  dark  Gen. 
Gibbon's  brigade  of  Gen.  Hooker's  corps,  at- 
tacked by  the  main  road,  and  after  an  obstinate 
conflict  gained  the  entrance  to  the  pass  some 
time  after  dark.  Only  by  a  display  of  equal 
valor  in  all  the  other  regiments,  and  often  at 
close  quarters,  was  the  enemy  driven  over 
the  crest  of  the  mountain  into  the  vallfey  on 
the  w£st  side  of  the  South  Mountain.  In  the 
centre  and  on  the  left,  equally  desperate  was 
the  battle.  A  severe  fire  of  artillery  had  been 
opened  all  along  the  front.  Under  cover  of 
this,  the  infantry  advanced,  and  poured  in  a 
fire  of  musketry ;  this  continued  until  3  o'clock 
p.  M.  when  the  battle  raged  at  its  height.  Suc- 
cess being  soon  gained  on  the  right,  desperate 
charges  were  made  with  the  bayonet  before 
which  the  Confederate  troops  wavered,  broke, 
and  fell  back  in  confusion.  The  loss  sustain- 
ed by  the  Union  forces  was  2,325  killed  and 
wounded.  Among  the  killed  was  Gen.  Reno, 
who  was  shot  through  the  body.  Turner's  Gap, 
where  the  last  desperate  stand  of  the  Confed- 
erate force  on  the  right  was  made,  is  two  miles 
from  the  base  of  the  mountain.  Six  miles 
south  is  Crampton's  Gap,  through  which  passes 
the  road  from  Jefferson  to  Roherville.  This 


strong  position  on  the  left  was  carried  by  Gen. 
Franklin's  corps,  after  a  succession  of  brilliant 
bayonet  charges.  Gen.  Franklin  had  followed 
the  line  of  the  Potomac  closely.  On  Satur- 
day he  reached  Sugar  Loaf  Mountain,  and 
drove  out  the  Confederate  cavalry  occupy- 
ing it  for  a  signal  station.  On  Sunday,  he 
passed  through  the  small  village  of  Burkits- 
ville,  and  advanced  about  a  mile,  when  he  met 
the  Confederate  pickets  at  the  South  Mountain 
range,  and  near  Crampton's  Gap.  The  gap 
was  strongly  held  by  a  Confederate  force  un- 
der Gen.  Howell  Cobb,  and  his  artillery  im- 
mediately opened  fire  upon  the  Federal  ad- 
vance, which  was  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Slocum.  The  division  of  Gen.  "Slocum  consist- 
ed of  three  brigades  under  Gens.  Bartlett,  Tpr- 
bert,  and  Newton.  These  were  formed  in  line 
of  battle  and  ordered  to  advance  up  the  side 
of  the  mountain.  They  had  proceeded  only  a 
short  distance  before  they  came  under  the  fire 
of  a  strong  Confederate  force  concealed  behind 
a  stone  wall  running  along  the  base  of  the  gap. 
At  this  point  a  desperate  hand  to  hand  fight 
ensued  which  lasted  nearly  an  hour,  when 
the  Confederate  troops  were  routed.  They 
did  not  attempt  to  make  a  stand  again  until 
they  reached  the  crest  of  the  mountain,  where 
they  turned  and  prepared  to  hold  the  Federal 
advance  at  bay.  It  came  rushing  up,  composed 
of  New  Jersey,  New  York,  and  Pennsylvania 
regiments,  until  the  top  of  the  mountain  was 
gained,  when  another  Woody  struggle  ensued. 
The  Confederate  force  finally  gave  way  and 
fell  back  in  disorder  down  into  the  valley, 
leaving  four  hundred  prisoners,  three  regi- 
mental colors,  two  pieces  of  artillery,  and 
three  thousand  stand  of  arms.  The  Federal 
loss  in  this  affair  was  one  hundred  and  five 
killed,  and  four  hundred  and  forty-eight  wound- 
ed. The  Confederate  loss  was  still  larger. 
The  seizure  of  this  gap  exposed  the  flank  of 
Gen.  Lee's  army,  and  brought  the  Federal  left 
into  Pleasant  Valley,  and  within  five  miles  of 
Harper's  Ferry.  That  night  the  Federal  army 
occupied  the  battle  ground,  and  the  Confederate 
army  fell  behind  Antietam  Creek  and  took  a 
position  admirably  adapted  for  defence. 

Meantime  the  Federal  garrison  at  Winchester 
and  Martinsburg  had  been  ordered  to  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  the  commanding  officer  at  that  post 
had  been  advised  to  confine  his  defence,  in  case 
he  was  attacked  by  a  superior  force,  mainly  to 
the  position  of  Maryland  Heights,  which  could 
be  held  a  long  time  against  overwhelming 
numbers.  A  large  amount  of  artillery  and  stores 
had  been  collected  at  Harper's  Ferry  by  the 
Federal  Government,  which  it  would  have  been 
necessary  to  destroy  or  leave  to  the  enemy  if 
the  troops  there  had  been  withdrawn.  It  was 
therefore  determined  by  the  general-in-chief 
(Halleck)  to  hold  the  position  until  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan  could  relieve  it,  or  open  communication 
BO  that  it  could  be  evacuated  in  safety. 

On  Friday,  the  12th  of  September,  two  days 
before  the  battle  of  South  Mountain,  the  Confed- 


270 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


erate  force  of  Gen.  Jackson,  which  had  been 
ordered  to  Williamsport  and  thence  to  Har- 
per's Ferry,  commenced  an  attack  on  Maryland 
Heights.  As  early  as  the  15th  of  August  Col. 
Miles,  then  in  command,  received  orders  from 
Gen.  Wool,  commanding  the  department,  to 
fortify  Maryland  Heights,  which  is  considered 
to  he  the  key  of  the  position.  He,however,  dis- 
obeyed the  orders,  and  did  nothing  to  improve 
its  defences.  On  the  5th  of  September  Ool. 
Thomas  H.  Ford  took  command  of  the  force 
stationed  on  the  heights,  and,  apprehending  an 
attack  from  the  Confederate  army,  sent  a  re- 
quisition to  Col.  Miles  for  reinforcements  and 
for  tools  necessary  to  erect  defensive  works. 
He  received  reenforcements,  but  not  the  tools ; 
and  with  a  few  borrowed  axes  constructed  a 
slight  breastwork  of  trees  near  the  crest  of  the 
hill  on  the  same  day  upon  which  the  advance 
of  Gen.  Jackson  appeared.  The  forces  at  Har- 
per's Ferry  had  been  increased  that  day  to 
about  thirteen  thousand  men,  of  whom  twenty- 
five  hundred  were  cavalry,  by  the  arrival  of 
Gen.  Julius  White  with  the  garrison  from 
Martinsburg.  Gen.  White,  although  entitled  to 
the  command,  waived  his  right  in  favor  of  Col. 
Miles.  The  only  position  fortified  by  Col. 
Miles  was  Bolivar  Heights  behind  the  town  of 
Harper's  Ferry.  This  is  commanded  by  Mary- 
land Heights  and  by  Loudon  Heights  situated 
on  the  Virginia  side  of  the  Potomac  and  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  Shenandoah. 

The  attack  of  the  Confederate  force  was  re- 
newed, on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  on  the 
forces  stationed  on  Maryland  Heights,  and  they 
were  driven  behind  the  breastwork.  This 
was  soon  after  attacked,  and  the  enemy  were 
repulsed.  Subsequently,  through  the  precipi- 
tate flight  of  a  portion  of  the  troops  and  the 
premature  retreat  of  the  remainder,  in  conse- 
quence of  a  mistake  of  orders,  the  heights  were 
about  midday  entirely  abandoned.  Col.  Miles, 
who  had  visited  the  position  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, left  Col.  Ford  with  permission  to  exercise 
his  discretion  in  determining  whether  to  hold 
or  'abandon  the  heights.  Subsequently  Ool. 
Miles  sent  to  him  the  following  order. 

HARPER'S  FERRY,  Sept.  18, 1862. 
Col.  ford,  Commanding  Maryland  HeigTiit : 

Since  I  returned  to  this  side,  on  close  inspection  I 
find  your  position  more  defensible  than  it  appears 
when  at  your  station,  covered  as  it  is  at  all  points  by 
the  cannon  of  Camp  Hill.  You  will  hold  on,  and  cau 
hold  on  until  the  cows'  tails  drop  off. 

Yours,         D.  S.  MILES,  Col.  21st  Infantry. 

The  answer  of  Col.  Ford  to  this  order,  as 
stated  by  Ool.  Miles,  did  not  indicate  that  he  had 
the  slightest  intention  of  giving  up  the  heights. 

Col.  Ford,  after  the  events  above  mentioned, 
disobeyed  this  order  of  Col.  Miles,  abandoned 
the  position,  and  withdrew  his  forces  across  the 
river.  It  was  only  necessary,  after  this  dis- 
graceful retreat,  for  the  enemy  to  plant  their 
batteries  and  the  position  of  Harper's  Ferry 
must  surely  fall.  The  heights  were  not,  how- 
ever, immediately  occupied  by  the  enemy,  and 


on  the  next  morning  a  detachment  of  the 
39th  volunteers,  sent  there  by  Col.  D'Utassy, 
returned  with  four  field  pieces  and  a  wagon 
load  of  ammunition.  On  the  13th  the  Con- 
federate force  began  to  establish  batteries  on 
Loudon  Heights,  and  on  the  next  day  opened 
fire  from  those  heights  and  also  from  Maryland 
Heights.  On  the  night  of  the  13th,  Col.  Miles 
sent  a  despatch  to  Gen.  McClellan  that  the  posi- 
tion could  not  be  held  forty-eight  hours  longer 
without  reenforcements.  This  was  the  night 
before  the  battle  of  South  Mountain.  On  the 
night  of  the  14th,  the  cavalry  force  under  Col. 
Davis  cut  ftieir  way  through  the  enemy's  lines 
and  reached  Greencastle,  Penn.,  in  safety  on 
the  next  morning,  having  captured  by  the 
way  an  ammunition  train  belonging  to  the 
corps  of  the  Confederate  general  Longstreet. 
Early  in  the  morning  of  the  15th  Col.  Miles 
surrendered.  At  that  time  Gen.  McClellan's 
left  wing  was  in  Pleasant  Valley,  within 
five  miles  of  him.  It  has  been  stated  that 
the  ammunition  for  the  'batteries  was  nearly 
exhausted,  and  for  this  reason  the  place  be- 
came no  longer  tenable.  The  enemy,  not  per- 
ceiving the  white  flag  that  had  been  raised, 
continued  their  fire  some  time  afterward,  by 
which  Col.  Miles  was  mortally  wounded  by  the 
fragment  of  a  shell.  The  principal  fighting  took 
place  on  Saturday ;  there  was  very  little  on  Sun- 
day, and  none  worthy  of  mention  on  Monday, 
when  the  surrender  took  place.  The  military 
mistake  was  in  abandoning  Maryland  Heights. 
No  enemy  could  have  occupied  the  village,  or 
disturbed  the  railroad  or  pontoon  bridges  so 
long  as  they  were  held.  Provisions  and  forage 
for  a  siege  of  four  or  five  days  could  have  been 
readily  transferred  to  the  heights  by  a  road 
made  some  months  previous.  There  are  abun- 
dant springs  of  good  and  cool  water  gushing 
out  from  its  rocky  and  wooded  sides.  When 
these  and  the  other  heights  came  into  the  pos- 
session of  the  enemy,  surrender  or  destruction 
were  the  only  alternatives  to  Col.  Miles.  If 
his  entire  force  had  been  transferred  to  Mary- 
land Heights,  the  Confederate  force  present 
could'not  for  many  days  have  taken  Harper's 
Ferry.  By  the  terms  arranged  for  the  surrender, 
the  officers  were  allowed  to  go  on  parole  with 
side  arms  and  private  property,  and  the  privates 
with  everything  except  equipments  and  guns. 
The  forces  which  surrendered  were  as  follows : 


Col.    Downye,    3d 
Maryland    Home 
Brigade  600 

65th  Illinois  

850 
110 
115 
142 

120 
100 
100 
50 

50 

Graham's  battery.. 
McGrath's  battery. 
15th  Indiana  batt'y. 
Phillips's  N.  Y.  bat- 

Col.    Maulsby,    1st 
Maryland   Home 
Brigade                     <*N\ 

115th  New  York. 
120th  Hew  York. 
39th  New  York., 
lllth  New  York. 
125th  New  York. 
82d  Ohio  

1,000 
1,000 
530 
1,000 
1,000 
654 

Potts's  battery.... 
Rigby's  battery  . 
Scatt'd  companies. 
Officers    connected 
with    Headquar- 
ters and  Commis- 
sary Department 

Total... 

12th  New  York  S.M.      604 
87th  Ohio                      Q0fl 

9th  Vermont  .  . 

800 

11,583 

The  following  guns  were  surrendered:    13 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


271 


2-inch  rifled,  6  James's  rifled,  6  24-pound  how- 
itzers, 4  20-pound  Parrott  guns,  4  12-pounders, 
4  12-pound  howitzers,  2  10-inch  Dahlgrens,  1 
60-pound  Parrott,  and  6  6-pound  guns. 

The  Federal  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was 
reported  at  about  two  hundred ;  the  Confed- 
erate loss  has  not  been  stated.  In  the  latter 
part  of  the  year  the  circumstances  attending 
this  surrender  were  examined  by  a  court  of  in- 
quiry at  "Washington,  in  accordance  with  whose 
suggestions  Col.  Ford  and  other  officers  were 
dismissed  from  the  United  States  army.  The 
conduct  of  Col.  Miles  was  stated  in  their  report 
to  have  exhibited  "an  incapacity  amounting 
almost  to  imbecility." 

The  surrender  of  this  position  with  so  little 
resistance  was  followed  by  serious  conse- 
quences. •  It  took  place  on  the  15th.  On  the 
next  day,  the  16th,  most  of  the  Confederate  force 
left  it  in  great  haste,  crossed  the  pontoon 
bridge  into  Maryland,  and  joined  Gen.  Lee  at 
Antietam  in  time  to  engage  in  the  great  battle 
on  the  next  day,  the  17th.  "Without  the  assist- 
ance of  this  force  Gen.  Lee's  army  would  un- 
doubtedly have  been  badly  defeated  and  his 
retreat  into  Virginia  probably  cut  off.  That 
the  importance  of  their  aid  was  known  to  their 
commander,  is  manifest  from  the  haste  of  the 
evacuation  and  the  subsequent  celerity  of  their 
movements.  By  their  arrival  the  Confederate 
army  outnumbered  the  Federal  army  in  the 
battle  of  Antietam. 

The  battle  on  which  was  staked  "the  invasion 
of  Maryland  "  in  the  view  of  the  Federal,  and 
"  the  deliverance  of  Maryland  "  in  the  view  of 
the  Confederate  Government,  but  in  reality  the 
sovereignty  of  the  Union,  was  now  near  at  hand. 

On  the  morning  of  the  15th  the  whole  right 
wing  and  centre  of  Gen.  McClellan's  forces 
were  pushed  forward  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy, 
who  were  found  in  the  strong  position  made 
memorable  by  the  battle  of  the  Antietam. 
The  troops  were  not  up  in  sufficient  force  to 
make  the  attack  on  that  day ;  but  soon  after 
night  feir  the  greater  part  were  in  bivouac 
behind  the  heights  on  the  left  bank  of  the  An- 
tietam, sheltered  from,  but  within  range  of  the 
enemy's  batteries. 

On  the  left  the  three  divisions  of  Gen.  Frank- 
lin were  ordered  to  occupy  Roherville,  and  to 
push  in  the  direction  of  Brownsville  in  order 
to  relieve  Harper's  Ferry  if  possible.  During 
the  morning  Gen.  Franklin  received  intelli- 
gence of  the  surrender  of  Harper's  Ferry,  and 
found  the  enemy  in  force  in  a  strong  position 
near  Brownsville.  As  he  had  but  two  divi- 
sions with  him,  the  third  not  having  yet  ar- 
rived, he  was  not  in  sufficient  force  to  dislodge 
the  enemy,  and  was  obliged  to  content  himself 
with  watching  them  and  endeavoring  to  hold 
them  in  check. 

The  morning  of  the  16th  was  occupied  in 
reconnoissances  of  the  enemy's  position,  in  rec- 
tifying the  position  of  the  Federal  troops,  and 
perfecting  the  arrangements  for  the  attack. 
Very  sharp  artillery  firing  took  place  without 


any  material  loss  on  the  Federal  side.  The 
position  of  Gen.  McClellan's  forces  on  that 
morning  was  as  follows :  Gen.  Hooker's  corps 
was  on  the  right,  next  that  of  Gen.  Sumner, 
with  Gen.  Mansfield's  corps  in  the  rear ;  in  the 
centre  was  Gen.  Porter's  corps,  only  two  divi- 
sions being  present ;  on  the  left  was  Gen. 
Burnside's  ninth  corps.  Gen.  Franklin  was 
still  in  Pleasant  Valley. 

At  about  3  P.  M.,  Gen.  Hooker  crossed  the 
Antietam  by  the  bridge  in  the  village  on  the 
Hagerstown  road  and  an  adjacent  ford,  and  soon 
gained  the  crest  of  the  height  on  the  right  bank 
of  the  stream.  He  then  turned  to  his  left  and 
followed  down  the  ridge  under  a  strong  oppo- 
sition, until  brought  to  a  stand  still  by  the 
darkness.  During  the  evening  Gen.  Mansfield 
was  ordered  to  follow  Gen.  Hooker  so  as  to  be 
in  a  position  to  support  him  at  daybreak. 

At  daylight  on  the  lYth,  Gen.  Hooker  at- 
tacked the  forces  in  his  front,  and  for  a  time 
drove  them  before  him.  The  enemy  however 
rallying,  and  strengthened  from  their  support- 
ing columns,  repulsed  him.  Gen.  Mansfield's 
corps  was  then  drawn  to  Gen.  Hooker's  sup- 
port, and  the  two  masses  repelled  the  enemy. 
Gen.  Mansfield  was  killed  and  Gen.  Hooker 
wounded  at  this  crisis,  and  obliged  to  withdraw 
from  the  field.  Shortly  afterward  Gen.  Sum- 
ner's  corps  reached  this  portion  of  the  field 
and  soon  became  hotly  engaged.  This  corps 
suffered  greatly  at  this  period  of  the  contest, 
Gens.  Sedgwick  and  Crawford  being  wounded, 
and  portions  of  the  line  were  compelled  to  fall 
back.  The  enemy  were  here,  however,  check- 
ed by  the  Federal  artillery.  Gen.  Franklin 
shortly  arrived  to  the  relief  of  Gen.  Sumner's 
line  with  two  divisions  of  his  corps,  one  of 
which,  that  of  Gen.  "W.  F.  Smith,  drove  back 
the  enemy  and  recovered  the  lost  ground. 
The  enemy  did  not  retake  it.  Gens.  Richard- 
son's and  French's  divisions  held  the  extreme 
left  of  the  Federal  right  with  tenacity  during 
the  day.  Gen.  Richardson  was  wounded. 

In  the  centre  Gen.  Porter's  corps  was  held 
as  a  reserve  with  cavalry  and  horse  artillery. 

The  contest  on  the  right  had  been  most  ob- 
stinate, and  the  several  corps  which  partici- 
pated in  it  had  lost  heavily. 

Gen.  Burnside's  corps  on  the  left  was  order- 
ed early  in  the  day  to  carry  the  bridge  across 
the  Antietam  at  Rohrback's  farm,  and  to  at- 
tack the  enemy's  right.  The  approaches  to 
the  bridge  being  in  the  nature  of  a  defile,  and 
being  swept  by  batteries  of  the  enemy,  the  op- 
posite bank  of  the  Antietam  was  only  reached 
after  a  severe  struggle.  It  was  afternoon  be- 
fore the  heights  were  in  his  possession.  The 
enemy  were  driven  back,  and  a  portion  of  their 
line  in  disorder.  By  the  most  desperate  ef- 
forts, however,  the  enemy  rallied  their  retreat- 
ing regiments,  strengthened  their  line  with 
all  their  available  fresh  troops,  and  opened 
batteries  on  the  hills,  from  positions  which  the 
amphitheatrical  character  of  the  ground,  it 
seems,  abundantly  furnished.  Gen.  Burnside 


272 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


could  not  maintain  his  advantage,  and  was 
obliged  to  withdraw  from  the  extreme  position 
which  he  had  gained  near  Sharpsburg  to  one 
slightly  in  rear  of  it.  He,  however,  held  his 
bank  of  the  river  completely,  and  maintained 
much  ground  beyond  it  which  he  had  taken 
from  the  enemy.  During  the  advance  on  the 
left  Gen.  Rodman  was  wounded. 

The  Federal  artillery  is  represented  to  have 
played  an  important  part  during  this  battle. 

Notwithstanding  substantial  and  decided  suc- 
cesses of  the  day,  the  Federal  forces  had  suffer- 
ed so  severely  during  the  conflict,  having  lost 
11,426  in  killed  and  wounded,  and  among  them 
many  general  and  superior  officers,  that  it  was 
deemed  prudent  by  Gen.  McClellan  to  reorgan- 
ize and  give  rest  and  refreshment  to  the  troops 
before  renewing  the  attack.  The  18th  was 


accordingly  devoted  to  those  objects.  On  the 
night  of  the  18th,  however,  Gen.  Lee  withdrew 
his  forces  hastily  across  the  Potomac,  abandon- 
ing further  contest  with  the  Union  forces,  and 
yielding  all  hope  of  further  remaining  on  the 
Maryland  soil. 

The  Confederate  army  is  supposed  to  have 
lost  nearly  30,000  men  during  its  brief  campaign 
in  Maryland.  The  Federal  forces  captured  39 
colors,  13  guns,  more  than  15,000  small  arms, 
and  more  than  6,000  prisoners. 

On  the  20th  Harper's  Ferry  was  evacuated 
by  the  Confederate  troops,  which  fell  back  in 
the  direction  of  Charlestown  and  Winchester. 
Gen.  McClellan  took  a  position  along  the  left 
bank  of  the  Potomac,  and  active  movements 
were  suspended  for  a  short  time  in  order  to 
prepare  for  a  vigorous  advance. 


CHAPTEK  XXII. 


Message  of  the  President  recommending  Emancipation  with  Compensation — His  Conference  with  Members  of  Congress — 
Proclamation  threatening  Emancipation— Finances  of  the  Federal  Government— Increase  of  the  Annies — Efforts  of  the 
South  to  raise  Armies — Conscription — Officers  of  the  Southern  Government— Its  Finances— Its  Navy  Department — 
Cruisers— The  Oreto — The  Alabama :  vessels  destroyed  by  her— Other  Operations — Diplomatic  Correspondence  with 
the  British  Government 


MEASTTEES  to  secure  the  emancipation  of  the 
slaves  were  early  adopted  by  the  Government. 
On  March  6th  President  Lincoln  sent  a  mes- 
sage to  Congress,  then  in  session,  recommend- 
ing that  a  joint  resolution  should  be  passed, 
substantially  declaring  that  the  United  States, 
in  order  to  cooperate  with  any  State  which 
might  adopt  gradual  abolition  of  slavery,  would 
give  pecuniary  aid  to  be  used  by  such  State, 
in  its  discretion,  to  compensate  it  for  the  incon- 
veniences, public  and  private,  produced  by  such 
a  change  of  system.  Again,  on  May  19th,  after 
Gen.  Hunter  had  issued  an  order  at  Hilton 
Head,  declaring  slavery  and  martial  law  incom- 
patible, the  President  issued  another  proclama- 
tion, declaring  the  emancipation  of  the  slaves 
to  be  a  question  reserved  to  himself  for  decision, 
and  he  further  added,  relative  to  the  resolution 
above  mentioned :  "  The  resolution  in  the  lan- 
guage above  quoted  was  adopted  by  large  ma- 
jorities in  both  branches  of  Congress,  and  now 
stands  an  authentic,  definite,  and  solemn  pro- 
posal of  the  Nation  to  the  States  and  people 
most  interested  in  the  subject  matter.  To  the 
people  of  these  States  now  I  mostly  appeal. 
I  do  not  argue — I  beseech  you  to  make  the 
arguments  for  yourselves.  You  cannot,  if  you 
would,  be  blind  to  the  signs  of  the  times. 

"  I  beg  of  you  a  calm  and  enlarged  consider- 
ation of  them,  ranging,  if  it  may  be,  far  above 
partisan  and  personal  politics. 

"This  proposal  makes  common  cause  for  a 
common  object,  casting  no  reproaches  upon 
any.  It  acts  not  the  Pharisee.  The  change  it 
contemplates  would  come  gently  as  the  -dews 


of  Heaven,  not  rending  nor  wrecking  any  thing. 
Will  you  embrace  it?  So  much  good  has  not 
been  done  by  one  effort  in  all  past  time,  as  in 
the  Providence  of  God  it  is  now  your  high  priv- 
ilege to  do.  May  the  vast  future  not  have  to 
lament  that  you  have  neglected  it." 

Subsequently,  on  July  12th,  he  held  a  con- 
ference with  the  members  of  Congress  from 
Maryland,  Delaware,  Kentucky,  and  Missouri, 
in  which  he  urged  them  to  use  their  efforts  to 
secure  with  their  respective  States  the  adoption 
of  a  system  of  emancipation,  with  compensation 
to  the  owners  of  slaves.  This  measure  was  dis- 
cussed in  those  States,  but  not  adopted  by  any 
one. 

Subsequently,  on  September  22d,  the  Presi- 
dent issued  a  proclamation,  as  follows: 

PROCLAMATION. 

I,  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  President  of  the  United  States 
of  America,  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  army  and 
navy  thereof,  do  hereby  proclaim  and  declare  that 
hereafter,  as  heretofore,  the  war  will  be  prosecuted 
for  the  object  of  practically  restoring  the  constitu- 
tional relation  between  the  United  States  and  each 
of  the  States,  and  the  people  thereof,  in  which  States 
that  relation  is  or  may  be  suspended  or  disturbed. 

That  it  is  my  purpose,  upon  the  next  meeting  of 
Congress,  to  again  recommend  the  adoption  of  a 
practical  measure  tendering  pecuniary  aid  to  the  free 
acceptance  or  rejection  of  all  Slave  States,  so  called, 
the  people  whereof  may  not  then  be  in  rebellion 
against  the  United  States,  and  which  States  may  then 
have  voluntarily  adopted,  or  thereafter  may  volun- 
tarily adopt,  immediate  or  gradual  abolishment  of 
slavery  wuhin  their  respective  limits ;  and  that  the 
effort  to  colonize  persons  of  African  descent,  with 
their  consent,  upon  this  continent  or  elsewhere,  with 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


278 


the  previously  obtained  consent  of  the  governments 
existing  there,  will  be  continued. 

That  on  the  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-three,  all 
persons  held  as  slaves  within  any  State,  or  designated 
part  of  a  State,  the  people  whereof  shall  then  be  in 
rebellion  against  the  United  States,  shall  be  then, 
thenceforward,  and  forever  free ;  and  the  Executive 
Government  of  the  United  States,  including  the  mili- 
tary and  naval  authority  thereof,  will  recognize  and 
maintain  the  freedom  of  such  persons,  and  will  do  no 
act  or  acts  to  repress  such  persons^  or  any  of  them, 
in  any  efforts  they  may  make  for  their  actual  freedom. 

That  the  Executive  will,  on  the  first  day  of  January 
aforesaid,  by  proclamation,  designate  the  States  and 
parts  of  States,  if  any,  in  which  the  people  thereof 
respectively  shall  then  be  in  rebellion  against  the 
United  States :  and  the  fact  that  any  State,  or  the 
people  thereof,  shall  on  that  day  be  in  good  faith 
represented  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  by 
members  chosen  thereto  at  elections  wherein  a  major- 
ity of  the  qualified  voters  of  such  State  shall  have 
participated,  shall,  in  the  absence  of  strong  counter- 
vailing testimony,  be  deemed  conclusive  evidence 
that  such  State,  and  the  people  thereof,  are  not  then 
in  rebellion  against  the  United  States. 

That  attention  is  hereby  called  to  an  Act  of  Con- 
gress entitled  "An  Act  to  make  an  additional  Article 
of  War,"  approved  March  13,  1862,  and  which  act  is 
in  the  words  and  figures  following : 

Be  it  enacted,  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  the  United  States  of  America  in  Congress  assem- 
bled, that  hereafter  the  following  shall  be  promulgated 
as  an  additional  article  of  war  for  the  government  of 
the  army  of  the  United  States,  and  shallbe  obeyed  and 
observed  as  such ; 

ARTICLE. — All  officers  or  persons  in  the  military  or 
naval  service  of  the  United  States  are  prohibited  from 
employing  any  of  the  forces  under  their  respective 
commands  for  the  purpose  of  returning  fugitives  from 
service  or  labor  who  may  have  escaped  from  any  per- 
sons to  whom  such  service  or  labor  is  claimed  to  be 
due ;  and  anv  officer  who  shall  be  found  guilty  by  a 
court-martial  of  violating  this  article  shall  be  dis- 
missed from  the  service. 

SEC.  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  this  act  shall 
take  effect  from  and  after  its  passage. 

Also,  to  the  ninth  and  tenth  sections  of  an  act  en- 
titled "  An  Act  to  Suppress  Insurrection,  to  Punish 
Treason  and  Rebellion,  to  Seize  and  Confiscate  Prop- 
erty of  Eebels,  and  fop  other  Purposes,"  approved 
July  17,  1862,  and  which  sections  are  in  the  words 
and  figures  following: 

SEC.  9.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  all  slaves  of 
persons  who  shall  hereafter  be  engaged  in  rebellion 
against  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  or  who 
shall  in  any  way  give  aid  or  comfort  thereto,  escap- 
ing from  such  persons  and  taking  refuge  within  the 
lines  of  the  army;  and  all  slaves  captured  from  such 
persons,  or  deserted  by  them  and  coming  under  the 
control  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States;  and 
all  slaves  of  such  persons  found  or  being  within 
any  place  occupied  by  rebel  forces  and  afterwards 
occupied  by  the  forces  of  the  United  States,  shall  be 
deemed  captives  of  war,  and  shall  be  forever  free  of 
their  servitude,  and  not  again  held  as  slaves. 

SEC.  10.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  no  slave 
escaping  into  any  State,  Territory,  or  the  District  of 
Columbia,  from  any  other  State,  shall  be  delivered 
up,  or  in  any  way  impeded  or  hindered  of  his  liberty, 
except  for  crime,  or  some  offence  against  the  laws, 
nnless  the  person  claiming  said  fugitive  shall  first 
make  oath  that  the  person  to  whom  the  labor  or  ser- 
vice of  such  fugitive  is  alleged  to  be  due  is  his  lawful 
owner,  and  has  not  borne  arms  against  the  United 
States  in  the  present  rebellion,  nor  in  any  way  given 
aid  and  comfort  thereto ;  and  no  person  engaged  in 
the  military  or  naval  service  of  the  United  States 
shall,  under  any  pretence  whatever,  assume  to  decide 
on  the  validity  ot  the  claim  of  any  person  to  the  ser- 
18 


vice  or  labor  of  any  other  person,  or  surrender  up 
any  such  person  to  the  claimant,  on  pain  of  being 
dismissed  from  the  service. 

And  I  do  hereby  enjoin  upon  and  order  all  persons 
engaged  in  the  military  and  naval  service  of  the 
United  States  to  observe,  obey,  and  enforce,  within 
their  respective  spheres  of  service,  the  act  and  sec- 
tions above  recited. 

And  the  Executive  will  in  due  time  recommend 
that  all  citizens  of  the  United  States  who  shall  have 
remained  loyal  thereto  throughout  the  rebellion  shal 
(upon  the  restoration  of  the  constitutional  relation 
between  the  United  States  and  their  respective  States 
and  people,  if  that  relation  shall  have  been  suspended 
or  disturbed)  be  compensated  for  all  losses  by  acts 
of  the  United  States,  including  the  loss  of  slaves. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 
Done  at  the  city  of  Washington,  this  twenty- 
second  day  of  September,  in  the  year  of  our 
[L.  s.]     Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty- 
two,  and  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States  the  eighty-seventh. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 
By  the  President : 

WILLIAM  H.  SEWAED,  Secretary  of  State. 

The  finances  of  the  Federal  Government 
steadily  improved  after  the  commencement  of 
the  difficulties.  There  seemed  to  be  a  settled 
purpose  on  the  part  of  the  people  to  furnish  the 
Government  with  all  the  men  and  money  it 
might  need  to  restore  the  Union.  The  vast 
expenditures  incident  to  the  military  and  naval 
operations  were- met  with  a  promptitude  and 
certainty  unusual  under  similar  pircumstances. 
On  January  1st,  1862,  the  state  banks  of  the 
country  suspended  specie  payments,  which 
made  large  issues  of  United  States  notes  una- 
voidable. These  were  subsequently,  by  act  of 
Congress,  made  a  legal  tender,  and  constituted 
the  chief  circulating  medium  of  the  coxmtry  to 
the  close  of  the  war. 

The  receipts  into  the  Treasury  from  all  sources 
during  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30th,  1862, 
were  $583,885,247";  of  this  amount  the  sum  of 
$529,692,460  was  raised  by  loans  of  various 
forms.  The  disbursements  for  the  same  period 
were  $570,841,700  ;  of  this  amount  there  was 
expended  by  the  War  Department  the  sum  of 
$394,368,407,  and  by  the  Navy  Department 
$42,674,569. 

The  commerce  of  the  country,  was  shorn  of 
its  proportions  by  the  war,  and  became  haz- 
ardous on  the  ocean.  No  trade  of  importance 
took  place  from  ports  captured  from  the  enemy. 

The  forces  in  the  field  were  largely  increased 
by  calls  from  the  President  for  more  men. 
About  June  1st  a  call  for  militia  to  serve  three 
months  was  made  on  the  States  of  Massachu- 
setts, Ehode  Island,  New  York,  Pennsylvania, 
and  Ohio.  .  Nearly  40,000  men  were  sent  for- 
ward. On  July  1st  the  President  called  for 
300,000  more  volunteers  for  the  war,  and  on 
August  9th  for  300,000  for  nine  months,  who 
were  to  be  drafted  unless  they  volunteered 
promptly.  There  was  subsequently  consider- 
able vacillation  on  the  part  of  the  Government 
in  regard  to  the  force  to  be  raised  under  these 
two  calls.  In  Pennsylvania  a  part  of  those 
enlisted  under  the  first  call  were  enlisted  for 


274 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


twelve  months  only ;  in  other  States  an  excess 
raised  under  the  first  was  allowed  to  be  credited 
to  the  second ;  and  in  some  instances  an  excess 
under  the  previous  calls  was  allowed  to  count 
on  these.  There  was  very  little  drafting ;  prob- 
ably up  to  February  1st,  1863,  there  were  not 
10,000  drafted  men  in  the  army.  This  was 
mainly  due  to  the  great  exertions  made  in  the 
loyal  States  to  promote  volunteering,  and  the 
very  liberal  bounties  offered  by  States,  counties, . 
cities,  towns,  and  individuals,  to  those  .  who 
would  enlist. 

In  the  new  Confederacy  formed  by  the  in- 
surrectionary States,  the  demand  for  men  early 
became  urgent.  This  arose  in  part  from  the 
short  term  of  enlistment  and  a  disposition  on 
the  part  of  large  numbers  to  desert.  On  Feb- 
ruary 1st  Mr.  Davis  called  upon  the  States  for 
an  additional  quota  of  men,  and  on  April  16th 
the  Congress  at  Richmond  passed  an  act  de- 
claring every  man  between  the  ages  of  eighteen 
and  thirty-five  years,  with  a  few  exceptions,  to 
be  a  soldier  owing  service  to  the  Confederacy. 

On  the  16th  of  April  the  conscript  act,  hav- 
ing passed  both  Houses  of  Congress,  was  ap- 
proved by  the  President.  This  act  annulled  all 
previous  contracts  made  with  volunteers,  and  by 
explicit  terms  made  all  men  under  the  age  of 
thirty-five  years  and  over  eighteen  years,  sol- 
diers for  the  war,  or  until  they  attained  the 
age  of  thirty-five  years.  It  drew  every  male 
citizen  within  the  prescribed  ages  immediately 
and  entirely  from  the  control  of  State  action, 
and  placed  them  at  the  disposal  of  the  Presi- 
dent during  the  war.  It  also  provided,  "  That 
all  persons  under  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  or 
over  the  age  of  thirty-five  years,  who  are  now 
enrolled  in  the  military  service  of  the  Confed- 
erate States,  in  the  regiments,  squadrons,  bat- 
talions, and  companies  hereafter  to  be  organ- 
ized, shall  be  required  to  remain  in  their  re- 
spective companies,  squadrons,  battalions,  and 
regiments  for  ninety  days,  unless  their  places 
shall  be  sooner  supplied  by  other  recruits,  not 
now  in  the  service,  who  are  between  the  ages 
of  eighteen  and  thirty-five  years ;  and  all  laws 
and  part  of  laws  provided  for  the  reorganiza- 
tion of  volunteers,  and  the  organization  thereof 
into  companies,  squadrons,  battalions,  and  regi- 
ments, shall  be,  and  the  same  are  hereby  re- 
pealed." 

The  existing  organization  of  companies,  regi- 
ments, etc.,  was  preserved,  but  the  companies 
were  required  to  be  filled  up  to  the  number  of 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five  men.  When  thus 
filled  up,  the  privates  had  the  privilege  of 
electing  their  officers  in  the  same  manner  as 
under  former  laws,  but  the  commissions  were 
issued  by  the  President.  The  provision  of  the 
law  annulling  the  contract  with  volunteers,  and 
requiring  those  under  eighteen  years  or  over 
thirty-five  to  continue  in  service  ninety  daya 
after  its  passage,  without  regard  to  then-  term 
of  enlistment,  was  construed  by  these  volun- 
teers as  entitling  them  to  a  discharge  on  the 
16th  of  July.  Previous  to  that  date,  however, 


an  order  was  issued  by  the  War  Department 
placing  them  on  the  same  footing  as  conscripts, 
and  requiring  them  to  continue  in  the  service. 
So  extreme  was  this  order  that  it  retained  in 
service  all  enlisted  men  without  regard  to  the 
time  of  then*  enlistment  or  their  ages.  Thus 
youths  of  seventeen  and  men  of  fifty  were  not 
allowed  to  withdraw,  jior  any  who  were  in  the 
army  at  the  time  of  the  passage  of  the  law.  In 
a  word,  the  law  set  aside  all  contracts,  and  the 
Government  retained  all  soldiers  in  the  field, 
and  sought  to  add  to  them  every  man  between 
the  required  ages.  Not  even  physicians  were 
exempted.  Mr.  Davis,  in  a  letter  to  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Georgia,  thus  states  the  reason  for  this 
injustice  to  the  volunteers  : 

I  would  have  very  little  difficulty  in  establishing  to 
your  entire  satisfaction  that  the  passage  of  the  law  was 
not  only  necessary,  but  that  it  was  absolutely  indis- 
pensable ;  that  numerous  regiments  of  twelve  months' 
men  were  on  the  eve  of  being  disbanded,  whose 
places  would  not  be  supplied  by  new  levies  in  the 
face  of  superior  numbers  of  the  foe,  without  entailing 
the  most  disastrous  results;  that  the  position  of  our 
armies  was  so  critical  as  to  fill  the  bosom  of  every 
patriot  with  the  liveliest  apprehension,  and  that  the 
provisions  of  the  law  were  effective  in  warding  off  a 
pressing  danger. 

The  regulations  for  executing  the  law  de- 
tailed an  officer  in  each  State  to  take  charge  of 
the  enrolment,  mustering  in,  subsistence,  trans- 
portation, and  disposition  of  the  recruits.  The 
cooperation  of  State  officers  in  making  the 
enrolment  was  requested  of  the  governors  of 
the  States,  and  in  any  case  in.  which  such 
assistance  might  be  refused,  the  duty  was  per- 
formed by  officers  of  the  army.  Not  more 
than  two  camps  of  instruction  were  established 
in  each  State,  where  the  recruits  were  made 
ready  for  the  field  with  the  utmost  despatch. 
The  recruits  were  not  organized  in  force  as 
separate  bodies,  but  were  sent  to  supply  defi- 
ciencies in  regiments,  battalions,  squadrons,  or 
unattached  companies,  and,  so  far  as  practica- 
ble, in  corps  from  their  own  region  of  country. 
Recruits  were  allowed  to  choose  any  corps  to 
which  they  desired  to  be  attached,  in  which 
vacancies  existed.  They  could  also  join  any 
corps,  the  formation  of  which  had  been  author- 
ized by  the  Government.  All  twelve  months' 
volunteers  in  service  were  required  to  reorgan- 
ize by  the  election  of  new  officers  within  forty 
days  after  the  act  passed.  Those  who  preferred 
a  guerrilla  service  were  authorized  to  form  as 
partisan  rangers  by  an  act  specially  passed  for 
that  purpose.  The  operation  of  the  act  was 
suspended  in  Missouri  and  Kentucky,  under  a 
provision  authorizing  it  to  be  done  by  the 
President.  Troops  from  those  States  were 
received  under  the  acts  passed  previous  to  the 
conscription  law.  Maryland  was  regarded  as 
exempt  from  the  law,  as  appears  by  the  follow- 
ing from  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated  April  26  : 

Major  J.  A.  Weston  : 

In  reply  to  your  letter  of  the  17th  inst.,  you  are 
respectfully  informed  that  Marylanders  are  not  sub- 
ject to  the  conscription  act. 

G;W.  RANDOLPH,  Sec.  of  War. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


275 


This  extreme  measure  met  with  much  oppo- 
sition on  the  part  of  the  people  in  the  Southern 
States.  It  was  an  evidence,  in  itself,  that  the 
ardor  of  the  people  had  ceased  to  be  a  safe 
medium  of  reliance  in  the  conduct  of  the  war. 
It  was  a  measure  which  had  never  before  been 
adopted  in  the  States  of  the  Union  during  any 
previous  war.  It  necessarily  established  a  con- 
solidated government  founded  on  military  prin- 
ciples, and  was  thus  spoken  of  by  some  of  the 
Southern  leaders : 

If  it  be  absolutely  necessary  to  save  us  from  a  con- 
quest by  the  North,  we  are  willing  to  submit  to  it ; 
but  we  fear  the  public  mind  must  prepare  itself  for  a 
great  change  in  our  government. 

Mr.  Davis,  in  the  letter  to  Governor  Brown, 
of  Georgia,  above  mentioned,  argued  at  much 
length  that  the  act  may  be  pronounced  "  con- 
stitutional "  in  spite  of  its  seeming  invasion  of 
State  rights,  and  said : 

There  seems  to  me  to  be  a  conclusive  test  on  that 
whole  subject.  By  our  constitution,  Congress  may 
declare  war  offensive  as  well  as  defensive.  It  may 
acquire  territory.  Now,  suppose  that,  for  good  cause 
and  to  right  unprovoked  injuries,  Congress  should 
declare  war  against  Mexico  and  invade  Sonora.  The 
militia  could  not  be  called  forth  in  such  case,  the 
right  to  call  it  being  limited  "  to  repel  invasion."  Is 
it  not  plain  that  the  law  now  under  discussion,  if 
passed  under  such  circumstances,  could  by  no  possi- 
bility be  aught  else  than  a  law  to  "raise  an  army"  ? 
Can  one  and  the  §(Une  law  be  construed  into  a  "  call- 
ing forth  the  militia."  if  the  war  be  defensive,  and  a 
"  raising  of  armies  if  the  war  be  offensive? 

At  some  future  day,  after  our  independence  shall 
have  been  established,  it  is  no  improbable  supposi- 
tion that  'our  enemy  may  be  tempted  to  abuse  his 
moral  power  by  depredations  on  our  commerce,  and 
that  we  may  be  compelled  to  assert  our  rights  by 
offensive  war.  How  is  this  to  be  carried  on  ?  Of 
what  is  the  army  to  be  composed  ?  If  this  Govern- 
ment cannot  call  on  its  arms-bearing  population  mdre 
than  as  militia,  and  if  the  militia  can  only  be  called 
forth  to  repel  invasion,  we  should  be  utterly  helpless 
to  vindicate  our  honor  or  protect  our  rights.  War 
has  been  well  styled  "  the  terrible  litigation  of  na- 
tions." Have  we  so  formed  our  government  that  in 
litigation  we  may  never  be  plaintiff  ?  Surely  this 
cannot  have  been  the  intention  of  the  framers  of  our 
compact  ? 

A  permanent  form  of  Government  was  or- 
ganized in  these  States  in  February,  1862,  of 
which  the  officers  were  as  follows : 

President. — Jefferson  Davis,  of  Mississippi. 

Vice-President.-^ Alex.  H.  Stephens,  of  Ga. 

The  term  of  office  for  which  they  were 
elected  was  six  years.  The  cabinet  of  Mr. 
Davis  was  composed  as  follows : 

Secretary  of  State. — J.  P.  Benjamin,  of  La. 

Secretary  of  War. — George  W.  Randolph,  of 
Virginia. 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. — S.  R.  Mallory,  of 
Florida. 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  —  0.  G.  Memmin- 
ger,  of  South  Carolina. 

Attorney- General. — Thomas  H.  Watts. 

Postmaster- General. — James  H.  Reagan,  of 
Texas. 

In  November,  1862,  the  Secretary  of  War 
resigned,  and  James  A.  Seddon,  of  Virginia, 
was  appointed  in  his  place. 


The  finances  of  the  Government  soon  began 
to  indicate  weakness.  The  main  reliance  was 
paper  money,  and  depreciation  began  almost 
with  the  first  issues.  Cut  off  by  the  blockade 
from  all  commerce  with  foreign  countries,  their 
great  staples,  which  would  readily  command 
gold  in  the  markets  of  the  world,  perished  on 
their  hands.  The  receipts  of  the  Government, 
including  loans  and  paper  issues,  amounted  in 
August,  1862,  to  $302,482,096,  and  the  expend- 
itures $347,272,958.-  At  this  date  the  issues 
of  currency  amounted  to  $183,244,135.  Bonds 
$41,577,240.  Whenever  there  was  a  danger  of 
the  capture  of  cotton  by  the  Federal  troops  it 
was  ordered  by  the  Confederate  Government 
to  be  burned. 

The  navy  department  organized  by  the  Gov- 
ernment at  Richmond,  not  only  devoted  its 
energies  to  fit  out  iron -clad  vessels  in  the  ports 
of  the  States  for  harbor  defence,  but  to  procure 
armed  vessels  on  the  ocean. 

The  early  operations  of  the  privateer  Sum  ter 
have  been  stated  on  a  previous  page.  Her 
career  was  closed  in  the  year  1861  by  the  ref- 
uge of  the  vessel  in  Gibraltar,  where,  being 
unable  to  procure  coal,  she  remained  watched 
by  the  Federal  ship  Tuscarora.  The  Sumter 
was  finally  sold,  and  the  Federal  steamer  left 
Gibraltar,  January  13th,  for  the  Spanish  waters 
of  Algesiras.  The  efforts  of  the  Confederates 
were  then  turned  to  the  formation  of  an  exten- 
sive navy  by  purchasing  vessels  in  England. 
It  very  soon  became  apparent  that  a  number 
were  in  process  of  construction  at  the  ship- 
yards near  Liverpool,  and  the  attention  of  the 
British  Government  was  called  to  the  fact, 
which  became  the  basis  of  diplomatic  corre- 
spondence. Early  in  April  the  American  min- 
ister," Mr.  Adams,  addressed  Earl  Russell  rela- 
tive to  the  Oreto,  then  in  a  forward  state,  and 
by  general  report  destined  for  the  rebel  service. 
On  her  arrival  at  Nassau  she  was  immediately 
seized  by  the  captain  of  her  Majesty's  steamer 
Greyhound,  but  almost  as  quickly  released. 
Shortly  after  she  was  seized  again,  but,  after 
some  difficulty,  released  again.  The  authorities 
appeared  to  have  great  doubts  as  to  whether 
she  was  or  was  not  intended  for  the  Con- 
federate service.  On  one  occasion,  when  the 
British  gunboat  Bulldog  went  to  seize  her,  she 
was  discharging  shell.  The  Oreto,  on  the  4th 
of  September,  suddenly  appeared  off  Mobile 
harbor,  which  was  blockaded  by  a  steamer 
under  Commander  George  Henry  Preble,  whose 
instructions  were  emphatic  against  giving 
offence  to  foreign  nations  while  enforcing  the 
blockade.  The  Oreto  approached  flying  the 
English  flag  and  pennants.  Commander  Preble 
hesitated  to  fire  lest  the  stranger  should  really 
prove  an  English  man-of-war.  The  few  mo- 
ments' time  lost  in  the  hesitation  sufficed  for 
the  Oreto  to  pass  out  of  range  and  gain  her 
object,  getting  safely  into  Mobile  bay  with  her 
freight.  For  this  want  of  success  Commander 
Preble  was  summarily  dismissed  from  the 
service  without  a  hearing. 


276 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


On  the  27th  of  December,  the  Oreto  again 
left  Mobile  bay,  fully  armed  for  a  cruise,  under 
the  command  of  John  Newland  Maffit,  who 
was  born  in  Ireland,  and  when  quite  young 
was  brought  to  this  country  by  his  father,  a 
celebrated  preacher  of  the  same  name ;  was 
appointed  to  the  United  States  navy  from  the 
State  of  New  York.  He  originally  entered  the 
naval  service  in  the  year  1832,  and  became  a 
citizen  of  Georgia. 

After  the  sale  of  the  Sumter  her  captain, 
Semmes,  was  active  in  England  in  building  a 
new  vessel,  and  it  was  soon  ascertained  that 
one  was  in  a  forward  state  for  the  Confed- 
erate service.  Complaint  was  made  to  the 
British  Government  of  infringement  of  the 
neutrality  laws,  and  means  were  taken  to  pre- 
vent the  departure  of  the  vessel  as  she  ap- 
proached completion.  The  orders  came,  how- 
ever, too  late.  Meantime  a  barque'  had  loaded 
iu  London  with  arms,  and  sailed  from  the 
Thames.  The  United  States  ship  Tuscarora  was 
at  the  same  time  watching  for  the  Alabama  to 
make  her  appearance,  but  she  avoided  her  by 
taking  the  North  Channel  out.  After  a  short  run 
she  arrived  at  the  Western  Islands,  giving  an  ex- 
cuse to  the  authorities  for  making  harbor  there. 
Soon  after  the  barque  arrived,  alleging  stress 
of  weather.  The  Alabama  at  once  hauled  along- 
side of  the  barque,  and  cranes  were  rigged  by 
the  order  of  the  Alabama's  captain.  When  in 
readiness  he  began  to  transfer  the  cargo,  and 
this  infringement  of  quarantine  rules  excited 
the  ire  of  the  Portuguese  authorities,  but  it  was 
alleged  that  the  bark  was  sinking  and.it  was 
necessary  to  save  the  cargo.  On  the  following 
day,  when  the  transfer  was  nearly  completed, 
the  British  screw  steamer  Bahama  arrived, 
bringing  Capt.  Semmes  and  other  late  officers 
of  the  Sumter,  the  remainder  of  the  armament, 
and  20  more  of  the  crew.  This  arrival  exhaust- 
ed the  patience  of  the  authorities,  and  all  three 
vessels  were  ordered  to  leave  at  once.  The 
Bahama  handed  over  to  the  Alabama  what 
was  destined  for  her  and  left  immediately,  follow- 
ed by  the  "290"  towing  the  bark.  They  went 
a  few  leagues  to  Angra  bay  and  remained  24 
hours,  when  they  were  again  ordered  to  leave, 
which  they  did,  all  being  now  in  readiness. 
The  bark  left  for  Cardiff  to  load  coal  for  the 
Alabama.  Capt.  Semmes  then  took  command, 
mustered  the  crew,  read  his  commission  as 
post  captain  in  the  Confederate  navy.  It  was 
a  document  duly  attested  at  Richmond,  and 
bore  the  signature  of  "Jefferson  Davis,  Presi- 
dent, Confederate  States  of  America."  He 
then  opened  and  read  his  sealed  orders  from 
the  President,  directing  him  to  assume  com- 
mand of  the  Confederate  sloop-of-war  Alaba- 
ma, hitherto  known  as  the  290,  in  which  (hav- 
ing been  duly  commissioned)  he  was  to  hoist 
the  Confederate  ensign  and  pennant,  and  "sink, 
burn,  and  destroy  everything  which  flew  the 
ensign  of  the  so-called  United  States  of  Ameri- 
ca." Captain  Semmes  then  ordered  the  first 
lieutenant  to  fire  a  gun,  and  run  up  the  Con- 


federate flag  and  pennant.  The  gun  was  fired 
by  the  second  lieutenant  (Armstrong,  a  relation 
of  the  famous  inventor),  and  ere  its  smoke  had 
cleared  away,  the  stars  and  bars  of  the  Con- 
federacy were  floating  on  the  breeze,  and  the 
ceremony  was  complete ;  Captain  Semmes  de- 
clared the  vessel,  henceforth  to  be  known  as 
the  Alabama,  to  have  been  duly  commissioned. 
The  next  step  was  formally  to  engage  the  crew 
to  serve  and  fight  under  the  Southern  flag, 
which  having  been  done,  the  men  were  ad- 
dressed by  their  captain,  who  informed  them 
that  if  any  of  the  crew  were  dissatisfied  they 
could  leave  in  the  Bahama  about  to  take  her 
departure  for  England.  The  offer  was  declined, 
the  two  vessels  parted  company,  the  Bahama 
for  England  and  the  Alabama  in  chase  of  a 
whaler.  The  operations  of  the  vessel  were 
very  active.  The  following  is  a  list  of  vessels 
captured  and  destroyed  by  her : 

Sept.    6,  Ship  Ocmulgee , .  Edgartown,       Burned. 

"      7,  Schooner  Starlight Boston,  " 

"      9,  Bark  Alert 

"      9,  Schooner  Weather  Gauge  Provincetown, 

*      9,  Bark  Ocean  Rover Mattapoisett,          " 

"    13,  Ship  Benjamin  Tucker..  New  Bedford,        " 

Bark  Oscepla 

Bark  A^irginia,  Tilton "  "  " 

Ship  Elisha  D  unbar,  Gif- 

ford "  " 

Brig  Allamaha Sippican, 

Schooner  Courser Provincetown,       " 

Oct     8,  Ship  Brilliant,  Hagar....  Ne\**York, 
"       3,  Ship     Emily    Farnham, 

Simms "       "  Eeleased. 

"      10,  Ship  Tonawanda Philadelphia,       Bonded. 

"     15,  Ship  Lamplighter New  York,          Burned. 

"      15,  Ship  Manchester "        " 

"      15,  Brig  Dunkirk "        " 

"      23,  Ship  Lafayette,  Small...      " 
"      23,  Schooner  Ocean  Cruiser.      ' 

"      26,  Schooner  Crenshaw "        " 

"      28,  Bark  Laurietta,  Wells. . .  Boston, 
",     29,  Brig   Baron  de  Castine, 

Saunders Bonded. 

Nov.    2,  Schooner  Alice 

"      8,  Ship  I.  B.  Wales Boston,  Burned. 

"    18,  Steamer  Ariel New  York,          Bonded. 

Ship  Levi  Starbuck 

"    30,  Bark  Parker  Cook,  Ful- 
ton  Boston,  Burned. 

Dec.    5,  Schooner  Union Baltimore,  Bonded. 

Ship  Lafayette  had  a  cargo  consisting  of  13,369  bushels  of 
wheat,  47,663  bushels  of  corn,  and  16,850  Ibs.  of  lard. 
Bark  Lamplighter  had  a  cargo  of  800  hhds.  of  tobacco. 
Bark  Laurietta  had  a  cargo  of  1,424  bbls.  of  flour,  225  kegs 
of  nails,  998  bbls.  of  flour,  205  boxes  of  herring,  and  7,200 
staves. 

Schooner  Crenshaw  had  a  cargo  of  1,298  bbls.  of  flour  and 
9,272  bushels  of  Wheat. 

Ship  Manchester  had  on  board  45,141  bushels  of  wheat  and 
14,666  bushels  of  corn. 

Brig  Dunkirk  had  a  cargo  of  2,967  bbls.  of  flour  and  6,000 
staves. 

Ship  Tonawanda,  her  cargo  being  insured  in  England,  was 
released  on  giving  a  bond  for  $80,000.  She  had  a  cargo  of 
48,700  bushels  of  wheat,  40  bbls.  of  flour,  86  hhds.  of  bark, 
172  cases  of  wine,  128  bales  of  hemp,  and  50  bales  of  hops  and 
rags. 

The  course  of  the  Alabama  was  to  destroy, 
since  under  the  regulations  of  foreign  powers 
she  had  no  means  of  landing  and  condemning 
her  prizes.  Her  case  is  certainly  a  very  pecu- 
liar one.  She  has  neither  register  nor  record, 
no  regular  ship's  papers  nor  evidence  of  trans- 
fer, and  no  vessel  captured  by  her  has  ever  been 
sent  into  any  port  for  adjudication  and  con- 
demnation. All  forms  of  law  which  civiliza- 
tion has  introduced  to  protect  and  guard  pri- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


277 


vate  rights,  and  all  those  regulations  of  public 
justice  which  distinguish  and  discriminate  the 
legalized  naval  vessel  from  the  pirate,  are  dis- 
regarded and  violated  by  this  famous  rover, 
which,  though  built  in  and  sailing  from  Eng- 
land, has  no  acknowledged  flag  or  recognized 
nationality,  nor  any  accessible  port  to  which 
to  send  any  ship  she  may  seize,  nor  any  legal 
tribunal  to  adjudge  her  captures.  She  was 
built  and  fitted  out  in  British  ports  in  alleged 
violation  of  British  law  and  of  the  royal  proc- 
lamation of  neutrality,  and  her  crew  is  com- 
posed almost  exclusively  of  British  subjects,  or 
persons  who,  pursuing  a  lawful  voyage,  would 
be  entitled  to  ship  and  receive  protection  as 
British  seamen.  Most  of  the  crew  sailed  from 
Liverpool  to  join  her,  and  others  volunteered 
from  captured  vessels,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
crew  of  the  ship  Brilliant.  The  prize  money 
or  half  the  value  of  the  vessels  and  cargoes 
destroyed  was,  it  was  stated,  regularly  paid  in 
money  to  the  crew,  who  were  thus  large  gain- 
ers, and  their  prosperity  tempted  the  men  of 
captured  vessels,  from  which  also  supplies  were 
procured.  Among  the  first  of  the  captured 
were  the  Virginia  and  the  Elisha  Dunbar.  The 
statements  of  the  captains  of  those  vessels  in- 
dicate the  course  pursued  by  the  Confederate 
commander. 

Captain  Tiltbn,  of  the  Virginia,  says  that 
he  was  overhauled  by  the  Alabama  on  the 
morning  of  the  17th  of  September,  in  lat.  39° 
10',  and  long.  34°  20'.  The  enemy  showed 
British  colors,  but  when  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
from  tho  Virginia  set  Confederate  colors,  and 
sent  an  armed  boat's  crew  on  board.  Captain 
Tilton  was  informed  that  he  was  a  prize  to  the 
Alabama,  and  was  ordered  to  take  his  papers 
and  go  on  board  that  steamer.  The  Confeder- 
ates then  stripped  the  ship  of  all  the  valuable 
articles  on  board,  and  at  4  p.  M.  set  fire  to  the 
vessel.  Captain  Tilton  adds : 

I  went  on  the  quarter  deck  with  my  son,  when  they 
ordered  me  into  the  lee  waist,  with  my  crew,  and  all 
of  us  put  in  irons,  with  the  exception  of  two  boys, 
cook  and  steward.  1  asked  if  I  was  to  be  put  in  irons  ? 
The  reply  was  that  his  purser  was  put  in  irons  and  his 
head  shaved  by  us,  and  that  he  was  going  to  retaliate. 
We  were  put  in  the  lee  waist,  with  an  old  sail  over  us 
and  a  few  planks  to  lie  upon. 

The  steamer  was  cruising  to  the  west,  and  the  next 
day  they  took  the  Elisha  Dunbar,  her  crew  receiving 
the  same  treatment  as  ourselves.  The  steamer's  guns 
being  kept  run  out  the  side  ports  could  not  be  shut, 
and  when  the  sea  was  a  little  rough  or  the  vessel  rolled, 
the  water  was  continually  coming  in  on  both  sides  and 
washing  across  the  deck  where  we  were,  so  that  our 
feet  ana  clothing  were  wet  all  the  time,  either  from  the 
water  below  or  the  rain  above. 

We  were  obliged  to  sleep  in  the  place  where  we 
were,  and  often  waked  up  in  the  night  nearly  under 
water.  Our  fare  consisted  of  beef  and  pork,  rice, 
beans,  tea  and  coffee,  and  bread.  Only  one  of  our 
irons  was  allowed  to  be  taken  off  at  a  time,  and  we  had 
to  wash  in  salt  water.  We  were  kept  on  deck  all  the 
time,  night  and  day,  and  a  guard  placed  over  us. 

The  steamer  continued  to  cruise  to  the  northwest, 
and  on  the  3d  of  October  fell  in  with  the  ships  Brilliant 
and  Emily  Farnham — "the  former  of  which  they  burnt, 
and  her  crew,  with  ourselves,  were  transferred  to  the 
latter  ship,  after  signing  a  parole.  On  the  6th  instant 


was  taken  on  board  the  brig  Golden  Lead,  of  Thomas- 
ton,  Captain  Smith,  from  Jersey  for  New  York ;  was 
treated  with  great  kindness. 

Captain  Clifford,  of  the  Elisha  Dunbar,  stated 
as  follows : 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th  Sept.,  in  lat.  39"  50',  long. 
85°  20',  with  the  wind  from  the  southwest  and  the  bark 
heading  southeast,  saw  a  steamer  on  our  port  quarter 
standing  to  the  northwest.  Soon  after  found  she  had 
altered  her  course  and  was  steering  for  the  bark.  We 
soon  made  all  sail  to  get  out  of  her  reach,  and  were 
going  ten  knots  at  the  time ;  but  the  steamer  gaining 
on  us  under  canvas  alone,  soon  came  up  with  us  and 
fired  a  gun  under  our  stern,  with  the  St.  George's  cross 
flying  at  the  time.  Our  colors  were  set,  when  she  dis- 
played the  Confederate  flag;  being  near  us,  we  hove 
to,  and  a  boat  with  armed  officers  and  crew  came 
alongside,  and  upon  coming  on  board,  stated  to  me 
that  my  vessel  was  a  prize  to  the  Confederate  steamer 
Alabama,  Captain  Semmes.  I  was  then  ordered  on 
board  the  steamer  with  my  papers,  and  the  crew  to 
follow  me,  with  a  bag  of  clothing  each.  On  getting 
aboard,  the  captain  claimed  me  as  a  prize,  and  said  my 
vessel  would  be  burnt.  Not  having  any  clothes  with 
me,  he  allowed  me  to  return  for  a\small  trunk  of 
clothes — the  officer  on  board  asked  me  what  I  was 
coming  back  for,  and  tried  to  prevent  me  from  coming 
on  board.  I  told  him  I  came  after  a  few  clothes,  which 
I  took  and  returned  to  the  steamer.  It  blowing  very 
hard  at  the  time  and  very  squally,  nothing  but  the 
chronometer,  sextant,  charts,  &c.,  were  taken,  when 
the  vessel  was  set  fire  to  and  burnt;  there  were  65  bar- 
rels sperm  oil  on  deck,  taken  on  the  passage,  which 
were  consumed.  We  were  all  put  in  irons,  and  re- 
ceived the  same  treatment  that  Captain  Tilton's  officers 
and  crew  did,  who  had  been  taken  the  day  before. 
While  on  board  we  understood  that  the  steamer  would 
cruise  off  the  Grand  Banks  for  a  few  weeks  to  destroy 
the  large  American  ships  to  and  from  the  Channel 
ports.  They  had  knowledge  of  two  ships  being  load- 
ed with  arms  for  the  United  States,  and  were  in  hopes 
to  capture  them.  They  were  particularly  anxious  to 
fall  in  with  the  clipper  ship  Dreadnought,  and  destroy 
her,  as  she  was  celebrated  for  speed  ;  and  they  were 
confident  of  their  ability  to  capture  or  run  away  from 
any  vessel  in  the  United  States.  The  steamer  being 
in  the  track  of  outward  and  homeward  bound  vessels, 
and  more  or  less  being  in  sight  every  day,  she  wiil 
make  great  havoc  among  them. 

DAVID  R.  GIFFORD, 
Late  Master  of  Bark  Elisha  Dunbar. 

The  Brilliant  was  built  in  Boston  in  1861, 
was  839  tons,  and  was  valued  at  $80,000.  The 
Confederate  commander,  in  reply  to  the  cap- 
tain of  the  Virginia,  on  protesting  against  his  de- 
tention, stated :  "  You  Northerners  are  destroy- 
ing our  property,  and  New  Bedford  people  are 
having  their  war  meetings,  offering  $200  bounty 
for  volunteers,  and  send  out  their  stone  fleets 
to  block  up  our  harbors,  and  I  am  going  to  re- 
taliate ! "  The  officers  were  in  some  cases 
ironed  in  accordance  with  this  view  of  retalia- 
tion. The  number  of  prisoners  had  now  in- 
creased to  68,  and  these  were  placed  on  board 
the  Emily  Farnham,  which  was  captured  on 
the  same  day  as  the  Brilliant,  and  released  be- 
cause the  ship's  papers  showed  the  cargo  to  be 
on  English  account.  The  large  number  of 
prisoners  exceeded  the  accommodations  of  the 
vessel,  and  eight  of  the  number  were  put  on 
board  the  brig  Golden  Lead.  The  Alabama 
landed  170  prisoners  at  the  Island  of  Flores. 
Her  action  in  relation  to  British  ownership 
seemed  to  be  a  little  eccentric.  When  the  ship 


278 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Lafayette  was  captured,  Oapt.  Small  produced 
his  British  consular  certificate  and  remarked 
he  supposed  that  would  be  sufficient  protection. 
Captain  Semmes  replied,  "  The  New  York  peo- 
ple are  getting  very  smart,  but  it  won't  save 
you ;  it's  all  a  hatched  up  mess."  He  then  gave 
orders  to  burn  the  ship.  It  was  the  case  that 
the  property  of  a  large  circle  of  merchants 
known  to  Oapt.  Semmes  was  respected  much 
more  scrupulously  than  that  of  strangers.  It 
is  obvious  that,  as  290  merchants  were  subscrib- 
ers to  build  the  Alabama,  any  of  their  names 
upon  a  manifest  would  be  a  safe  passport. 

When  the  news  of  these  depredations  reached 
New  York  great  excitement  was  created.  The 
insurance  companies  advanced  the  war  risks. 
British  consular  certificates  were  in  demand, 
and  freights  were  placed  in  British  bottoms 
rather  than  American.  The  New  York  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce  held  a  meeting  in  relation  to 
the  matter,  onlhe  21st  day  of  October,  and  a 
series  of  resolutions  were  adopted. 

Captain  C.  H.  Marshall  submitted  the  follow- 
ing letter  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy : 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  "WASHINGTON, 1862. 

SIR:  I  received  your  letter  of  the  14th  instant,  also 
your  letter  of  yesterday,  referring  to  it,  inquiring,  as 
the  chairman  of  a  special  committee  of  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  what  measures  have  been  taken  to  cap- 
ture the  rebel  pirate  Alabama,  and  also  whether  the 
Government  will  grant  commissions  to  private  vessels, 
if  fitted  out  under  promise  of  reward  by  citizens,  for 
that  purpose.  An  earlier  reply  to  the  inquiry  of  the 
committee  has  been  unavoidably  delayed.  The  depart- 
ment has  several  vessels  in  search  of  the  Alabama,  in 
addition  to  the  flying  squadron  of  Acting  Hear  Ad- 
miral Wilkes  in  the  West  Indies,  and  other  ships  of 
war  on  the  European  coast.  Additional  force  will  be 
despatched  in  this  service  as  early  as  practicable. 
There  is  no  authority  for  granting  commissions  to  pri- 
vate vessels  to  search  for  the  Alabama  or  other  pirati- 
cal vessels  or  privateers.  I  am,  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant, 

GIDEON  WELLES,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

C.  H.  MARSHALL,  Esq.,  Chairman. 

The  events  also  produced  some  excitement 
in  England.  The  vessels  destroyed  and  threat- 
ened were  those  sailing  under  the  Federal 
flag.  But  vessels  so  sailing  have  hitherto 
carried  more  property  of  British  owners  than 
of  any  others.  And  as  Capt.  Semmes  burns 
vessels  and  cargoes  without  distinction,  and 
the  cargo  is  commonly  much  more  valuable 
than  the  vessel,  the  English,  as  a  neutral  na- 
•  tion,  have  hitherto  been,  probably,  the  chief 
sufferers.  Time,  of  course,  soon  changed  this 
aspect  of  the  case.  Vessels  under  the  Federal 
flag  became  by  so  much  less  eligible  for  safe 
conveyance ;  and,  though  a  corresponding  pre- 
mium of  insurance  will  always  cover  the  war 
risk,  it  in  this  case  so  enhanced  the  ordinary 
charges  as  to  put  Federal  vessels  to  a  very 
serious  disadvantage  in  the  market  of  freight ; 
thus  affording  some  compensation  to  English 
interests. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  obtain  redress  from 
the  Confederate  Government  for  British  losses 
in  the  manner  indicated  in  the  following  cor- 
respondence : 


To  his  Excellency  the  British  Minister,  Washington  i 
PHILADELPHIA,  Nov.  1  1862. 

EXCELLENCY:  As  a  British  subject  and  a  shipper 
of  merchandise  upon  the  ship  Tonawanda,  lately 
overhauled  by  the  Confederate  war  steamer  Alabama, 
I  beg  most  respectfully  to  call  your  attention  to  this 
matter. 

The  Tonawanda,  as  you  are  no  doubt  aware,  was  re- 
leased from  capture,  and  allowed  to  proceed  on  her 
voyage  under  a  bond  of  $60,000,  as  a  ransom,  and  this 
sum  will  be  rated  upon  ship  and  cargo  by  the  average 
staters,  on  her  arrival  in  Liverpool. 

I  respectfully  suggest  that  your  Excellency  make 
application  to  the  Government  of  the  Confederate 
States  that  consent  be  given  that  all  sums  so  rated 
upon  property  belonging  bona  fide  to  British  subjects 
be  remitted,  and  that  the  same  shall  be  deducted  from 
amount  of  said  bond  of  $60,000,  with  similar  proceed- 
ings iu  all  such  cases  as  may  arise. 

I  have  also  merchandise  on  board  the  ship  Lancas- 
ter, American,  now  in  this  port,  and  advertised  to  sail 
on  Tuesday  next.'  To  my  mils  of  lading,  which  the 
captain  takes  with  him,  "I  have,  attached  the  British 
consul's  certificate  that  the  property  belongs  to  British 
subjects ;  but,  as  it  is  feared  that  this  may  not  be  suffi- 
cient to  save  from  destruction,  in  the  event  of  capture, 
I  beg  that  your  Excellency  will  be  so  good  as  to  fur- 
nish me  with  a  letter  protesting,  as  the  highest  British 
authority  in  this  country,  against  the  destruction  of 
British  merchandise,  to  be  used  by  the  captain  of  the 
Lancaster,  if  necessary.  Any  cost  attending  such  let- 
ter I  will  gratefully  pay,  and  trust  your  Excellency 
will  think  that  I  only  do  right  in  seeking  to  protect 
my  friends  in  England  from  loss,  for  whom  I  have 
shipped  these  goods,  by  appealing  thus  to  our  own 
Government. 

It  will  mitigate  the  horrors  of  this  war  if  your  Ex- 
cellency shall  succeed  in  preventing  the  destruction  of 
ships  holding  certificates  of  British  property,  and  it 
will  be  but  just  that  British  merchants  should  be  ex- 
empt from  contributing  to  the  ransom  of  ships  and 
merchandise  belonging  to  belligerents.  I  cannot  but 
think  that  your  Excellency's  protest,  •which  I  ask  for, 
will  be  respected  on  the  seas,  and  also  that  the  Con- 
federate Government  will  readily  grant  the  exemption 
desired. 

Your  immediate  action  in  these  matters  will,  I  feel 
certain,  be  satisfactory  to  yourself,  and  will  be  hailed 
with  much  gratitude  by  British  merchants  every- 
where, and  meet  with  the  approval  of  the  home  Gov- 
ernment. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  Excellency's  most  obe- 
dient servant,  .  W.  H.  TRENWITH. 

WASHINGTON,  Nov.  8,. 1868. 
W.  II.  TEENWITH,  Esq.,  Philadelphia: 

SIR  :  I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  7th  instant, 
in  which  you  suggest  that  I  should  make  an  applica- 
tion to  the  Government  of  the  so-styled  Confederate 
States  with  reference  to  the  ransom  of  British  prop- 
erty on  board  American  vessels,  in  consequence  of  the 
recent  proceedings  of  the  war  steamer  Alabama;  and 
that  I  should  furnish  you  with  a  letter  of  protest, 
for  the  purpose  of  protecting  some  merchandise  which 
you  have  shipped  on  board  the  American  ship  Lan- 
caster. 

While  greatly  regretting  the  risk  to  which  British 
property  is  exp'osed  by  being  shipped  in  belligerent 
vessels,  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  accede  to  either  of 
your  suggestions. 

You  are  aware  that  the  so-styled  Confederate  States 
have  not  been  recognized  by  her  Majesty  the  Queen, 
and  for  that  reason  I  shall  not  be  justified  in  entering 
into  communication  with  the  Government  of  those 
States,  except  under  special  instructions  from  her  Maj- 
esty's Government.  Neither  do  I  feel  at  liberty  to  sup- 
ply you  antecedently  with  the  protest  which  you  desire, 
having  no  authority  to  issue  such  a  document,  and 
seeing  no  reason  to  believe  that  it  would  insure  a  more 
effective  protection  to  your  goods  upon  the  high  seas 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


279 


than  the  consular  certificate,  with  which  you  seem  to  have  supplied 
J  °Urieam,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant,  W.  STUART. 

On  the  18th  of  November  the  Alabama  fell  in  with  the 
steamship  Ariel,  on  her  way  from  New  York  to  Aspin- 
wall.  The  steamer  was  bonded  and  allowed  to  proceed 
with  her  passengers;  but  the  alarm  occasioned  by  her 
seizure  prevented  her  from  bringing  back  her  usual  freight 
of  gold.  A  United  States  gunboat  was  sent  to  bring  it. 
In  the  mean  time,  however,  it  arrived  by  the  next  boat 
of  the  company.  A  number  of  armed  vessels  were  sent 
out  to  cruise  in  the  track  of  the  Alabama,  without  much 
success.  The  Yanderbilt  sailed  from  New  York  for  Fayal, 
December  11.  Two  other  steamers  left  New  York,  one 
from  Boston,  one  from  Philadelphia,  and  one  from  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H.  None  of  these  were,  however,  of  sufficient 
speed.  »The.  U.  S.  frigate  Sabine,  Com.  Cadwalader  Ring- 
gold,  left  New  London,  November  3,  in  search  of  the 
Alabama.  Arrived  at  the  Azores  November  28.  Sailed 
thence  December  2,  and  arrived  at  Cape  de  Verde  De- 
cember 23,  and  left  there  January  2.  Absent  100  days, 
cruising  93  days,  and  sailed  10,000  miles  in  vain. 

The  Alabama  meantime,  having  •  captured  the  Ariel  on 
the  18th,  arrived  on  the  26th,  two  days  before  the  Sabine 
reached  the  Azores,  at  Martinique,  where  she  took  in  coal 
from  a  British  bark.  The  United  States  steamer  San 
Jacinto,  at  the  same  date,  was  off  St.  Thomas  watching 
for  the  Alabama,  which  on  the  30th  captured  the  Parker, 
Cook,  off  the  Moro  Passage.  December  5  she  captured 
the  Union  off  Cape  Mais,  and  was  off  Havana  December 
31.  Thus  she  does  not  appear  to  have  left  the  American 
coast,  while  the  Vanderbilt  and  other  vessels  sent  in 
search  were  seeking  her  elsewhere.  In  some  cases  the 
Alabama  released  her  prizes  on  a  ransom  bill  being  sign- 
ed by  the  captain,  and  agreeing  to  pay  a  sum  of  money 
after  the  close  of  the  war.  By  the  general  law  of  nations 
these  bills  or  contracts  are  recognized  as  between  bel- 
ligerents, and  a  captain  may  by  his  contract  bind  his 
owners,  the  whole  cargo  as  well  as  the  ship.  Those  ran- 
soms were  forbidden  by  the  English  Government  under 
George  III,  but  have  never  been  prohibited  by  the  United 
States. 

The  theory  of  ransom  is  that  it  is  a  repurchase  of  the 
actual  right  of  the  captors  at  the  time  the  bill  or  bond  is 
given,  be  that  what  it  may ;  or,  more  properly,  it  is  a  re- 
linquishment  of  all  the  interest  or  benefit  which  the  cap- 
tors might  acquire  or  consummate  in  the  property  by 
regular  adjudication  of  a  prize  tribunal,  whether  it  may 
be  in  the  interest  of  the  ship  and  cargo,  or  a  lien  on  the 
same,  or  a  mere  title  to  expenses.  These  ransom  bills  are, 
by  rules  of  international  law,  an  exception  to  the  general 
doctrine  that  no  contract  with  an  enemy  is  valid. 

In  the  case  of  the  ransom  bill  given  by  the  Ariel,  it 
seems  not  to  be  payable  till  six  months  after  the  recogni- 
tion of  the  Southern  Confederacy.  If  then,  that  con- 
tingency should  happen,  what  court  would  have  jurisdic- 
tion to  enforce  the  agreement  ?  Primarily,  all  questions 
of  prize  belong  to  the  tribunals  of  the  capturing  power ; 
and  fojreign  tribunals  will  not  interfere,  unless  where 
their  territorial  rights  have  been  violated.  Ransoms  be- 
long to  the  same  jurisdiction,  and  may  there  be  enforced 
or  set  aside,  as  the  facts  disclose  a  good  or  bad  prize. 
It  is,  however,  competent  for  the  captors  to  change  the 
forum  in  cases  of  ransom,  and  apply  for  redress  in  any 
country  where  the  person  of  the  owner  of  the  Ariel  may 
be  found,  or  the  ship  itself. 


,280 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


On  the  llth  of  January,  1863,  about  3  p.  M., 
as  the  Federal  squadron,  consisting  of  the 
steamers  Brooklyn,  Hatteras,  and  five  others, 
was  cruising  off  Galveston,  a  vessel  hove  in 
sight  at  the  southeast,  which  the  Hatteras  was 
ordered  to  proceed  to  and  learn  her  character. 
As  she  came  in  sight  she  appeared  to  the 
officers  of  the  Hatteras  to  be  endeavoring  to 
escape.  Just  after  dark  the  officers  of  the  Hat- 
teras could  perceive  that  she  was  bark  rigged, 
and  set  a  topgallant  sail;  and,  as  they  ap- 
proached, found  her  lying  to,  under  steam. 
The  crew  of  the  Hatteras  were  at  quarters,  and 
Capt.  Blake  hailed  and  asked  what  ship  it  was. 
The  answer  was,  "  Her  Britannic  Majesty's  ship 
Spitfire."  Capt.  Blake  replied  that  he  would 
send  a  boat  aboard.  The  Alabama  ranged  a 
little  ahead,  her  officer  declaring  that  she  was 
the  Confederate  steamer  Alabama,  and  imme- 
diately opened  fire  on  the  Hatteras  It  was 
returned  by  the  Hatteras,  and  both  started 
ahead  under  a  full  head  of  steam,  exchanging 
broadsides  as  fast  as  they  could  load  and  fire, 

The  heavy  guns  of  the  Alabama  soon  dis- 
abled the  Hatteras,  so  that  it  was  impossible 
to  keep  her  afloat.  Two  guns  were  tired  to  the 
leeward,  the  contest  ceased,  and  the  officers  and 
crew  of  the  Hatteras,  which  soon  sunk,  were 
taken  to  Kingston,  Jamaica,  and  paroled. 

The  following  were  the  principal  officers  of 
the  Alabama :  Captain,  Raphael  Semmes ;  First 
Lieutenant  and  Executive  Officer,  J.  M.  Kell ; 
Second  Lieutenant,  R.  T.  Armstrong;  Third 
Lieutenant,  J.  D.  Wilson ;  Fourth  Lieutenant, 
J.  Low ;  Sailing  Master,  Arthur  St.  Clair ;  Sur- 
geon, F.  M.  Gait;  Assistant  Surgeon,  R.  H. 
Lewelien ;  Lieutenant  of  Marines,  B.  K.  How- 
ell;  Engineer,  Michael  Freeman;  Paymaster, 
0.  T.  Young  (since  discharged) ;  Midshipmen, 
Maffit  (son  of  Capt.  Maffit,  of  the  Oreto),  St. 
Clair,  Bullock,  and  Anderson. 

The  diplomatic  correspondence  which  took 
place  between  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  and  that  of  Great  Britain,  relative  to 
these  vessels,  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  here  to 
notice,  especially  as  the  subject  may  at  some 
period  be  again  discussed  between  the  two 
nations. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  1862,  Mr.  Adams 
writes  to  Earl  Russell  that  he  had  been  informed 
of  the  preparation  at  Liverpool  of  an  armed 
steamer,  evidently  intended  for  hostile  opera- 
tions on  the  ocean.  In  reply,  Earl  Russell 
stated  that  the  commissioners  of  the  customs  at 
Liverpool  reported  that  she  was  built  for  certain 
parties  in  Liverpool,  and  intended  for  the  use 
of  Thomas,  Brothers,  of  Palermo,  one  of  whom 
had  frequently  visited  the  vessel  during  the 
process  of  building ;  that  she  had  taken  nothing 
on  board  but  coal  and  ballast ;  that  she  was  not 
fitted  for  the  reception  of  guns,  nor  were  the 
builders  aware  that  she  was  to  be  supplied  with 
guns  while  she  remained  in  England,  and  the 
collector  at  Liverpool  stated  that  he  had  every 
reason  to  believe  that  the  vessel'  was  for  the 
Italian  Government — also  that  special  direc- 


tions had  been  given  to  the  officers  at  Liverpool 
to  watch  the  movements  of  the  vessel.  Mr. 
Adams  subsequently  writes  to  Mr.  Seward: 
"  The  nominal  destination  of  the  Oreto  to 
Sicily  is  the  only  advantage  which  appears  to 
have  been  derived  from  my  attempt  to  procure 
the  interference  of  the  Government  to  stop  her 
departure." 

On  the  25th  of  March  Mr.  Adams  writes 
again  to  Earl  Russell,  enclosing  a  letter  from 
the  American  Consul  at  Liverpool,  stating  cer- 
tain facts  relative  to  the  Oreto.  Mr.  Adams 
says:  "It  is  with  great  reluctance  that  I  am 
driven  to  the  conviction  that  the  representations 
made  to  your  lordship  of  the  purposes  and  des- 
tination of  that  vessel  were  delusive,  and  that 
though  at  first  it  may  have  been  intended  for 
service  in  Sicily,  yet  that  such  an  intention  has 
been  long  since  abandoned  in  fact,  and  the  pre- 
tence has  been  held  up  only  the  better  to  con- 
ceal the  true  object  of  the  parties  engaged. 
That  object  is  to  make  war  on  the  United 
States.  All  the  persons  thus  far  known  to  be 
most  connected  with  the  undertaking  are  either 
directly  employed  by  the  insurgents  in  the 
United  States  of  America,  or  residents  of  Great 
Britain,  notoriously  in  sympathy  with,  and  giv- 
ing aid  and  comfort  to  them  on  this  side  of  the 
water." 

On  the  8th  of  April  Earl  Russell  replied  to 
Mr.  Adams,  enclosing  a  report  from  the  Lords 
Commissioners  of  her  Majesty's  Treasury,  which 
states  that  the  Oreto  was  registered  on  the  3d 
of  March  in  the  name  of  John  Henry  Thomas, 
of  Liverpool,  as  sole  owner;  that  she  cleared 
on  the  following  day  for  Palermo  and  Jamaica 
in  ballast,  but  did  not  sail  until  the  22d,  having 
a  crew  of  fifty-two  men,  all  British  with  the 
exception  of  three  or  four,  one  of  whom  was  an 
American.  She  had  no  gunpowder,  nor  even  a 
signal  gun,  and  no  colors  save  Marryatt's  code 
of  signals  and  a  British  ensign,  nor  any  goods 
on  board  excepting  the  stores  enumerated  in  an 
accompanying  copy  of  her  victualling  bill. 

On  the  15th  of  April  a  conference  took  plaoe 
between  Mr.  Adams  and  Earl  Russell.  Its  close 
is  thus  stated  by  the  former : 

In  the  case  of  the  Oreto,  upon  which  I  had  addressed 
a  note  to  him,  he  had  directed  an  investigation  to  be 
made  and  the  authorities  at  Liverpool  had  reported 
that  there  was  no  ground  for  doubting  the  legality 
of  her  voyage. 

I  replied  that  this  was  exactly  what  gave  such  un- 
pleasant impressions  to  us  in  America.  The  Oreto, 
by  the  very  paper  furnished  from  the  custom-house, 
was  shown  to  be'  laden  with  a  hundred  and  seventy 
tons  of  arms,  and  to  have  persons  called  troops  on 
board,-  destined  for  Palermo  and  Jamaica.  The  very 
statement  of  the  case  was  enough  to  show  what  was 
really  intended.  The  fact  of  her  true  destination  was 
notorious  all  over  Liverpool.  No  commercial  people 
were  blind  to  it.  And  the  course  taken  by  her  Maj- 
esty's officers  in  declaring  ignorance  only  led  to  an 
inference  most  unfavorable  to  all  idea  of  their  neu- 
trality in  the  struggle.  It  was  just  such  aqtion  as 
this  that  was  making  the  difficulties  of  our  Govern- 
ment in  the  way  of  giving  the  facilities  to  the  supply 
of  cotton,  which  they  hoped  to  furnish  in  a  short  tune 
if  the  whole  control  of  means  to  put  an  end  to  the 
contest  was  left  to  them. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


281 


His  lordship  concluded  by  a  polite  expression  of 
regret  at  these  circumstances,  at  the  same  time  that 
he  could  not  see  how  the  Government  could  change 
its  position. 

The  assertion  of  Mr.  Adams  relative  to  troops, 
&c.,  is  not  sustained  by  the  copy  of  the  paper 
from  the  custom  house  contained  in  the  diplo- 
matic correspondence.  The  only  part  referring 
to  troops  and  guns  is  as  follows :  u  Men,  52 ;  pas- 
sengers or  troops, ;  guns, ;  178  tons." 

Again,  on  the  26th  of  June,  Mr.  Seward  writes 
to  Mr.  Adams  that  a  gunboat  called  the  Oreto, 
built  in  England  for  the  service  of  the  insur- 
gents, with  ports  and  bolts  for  twenty  guns, 
and  other  equipments,  arrived  at  Nassau ;  and 
that  the  United  States  Consul,  on  the  basis  of 
the  facts  relative  to  her,  made  a  protest  upon 
the  subject  and  she  was  seized  by  the  authori- 
ties. She  was,  however,  released  soon  after,  on 
the  arrival  at  Nassau  of  Capt.  Semmes,  late  of 
the  Sumter,  and  was  about  to  start  on  a  priva- 
teering cruise.  This  release  by  the  authorities 
of  Nassau,  Mr.  Seward  was  instructed  by  the 
President  to  protest  against,  as  it  seemed  to  be 
particularly  at  variance  with  her  Majesty's  pro- 
clamation of  neutrality — and  to  ask  the  consid- 
eration of  her  Majesty's  Government  upon  the 
proceeding  as  one  calculated  to  alarm  the  Gov- 
ernment and  people  of  the  United  States.  The 
subject  was  duly  brought  to  the  notice  of  Earl 
Russell,  who,  on  the  29th  of  August,  replied 
that  the  Oreto  had  been  seized  at  Nassau,  and 
was  to  be  tried  before  the  admiralty  court  for 
a  breach  of  the  foreign  enlistment  act.  This 
was  accompanied  by  the  statements  of  the  col- 
lector, surveyor  and  inspector  of  the  port  of 
Liverpool,  and  the  affidavit  of  the  pilot,  that  the 
vessel,  when  she  went  to  sea,  had  no  munitions 
of  war  in  her,  that  is,  guns,  carriages,  shot,  shell, 
or  powder. 

No  further  reference  is  made  to  the  Oreto  in 
this  correspondence,  but  the  290,  or  Alabama, 
is  introduced  as  a  more  formidable  object.  On 
the  23d  of  June,  Mr.  Adams  writes  to  Earl  Rus- 
sell, saying: — "I  am  now  under  the  painful 
necessity  of  apprising  your  lordship  that  a  new 
and  still  more  powerful  war  steamer  is  nearly 
ready  for  departure  from  the  port  of  Liverpool 
on  the  same  errand  as  the  Oreto.  This  vessel 
has  been  built  and  launched  from  the  dockyard 
of  persons,  one  of  whom  is  now  sitting  as  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  is 
fitting  out  for  the  especial  and  manifest  object 
of  carrying  on  hostilities  by  sea."  Accompa- 
nying this  was  a  letter  from  the  United  States 
Consul  at  Liverpool  in  confirmation  of  these 
and  other  statements. 

The  subject  was  immediately  referred  to  the 
Lords  Commissioners  of  her  Majesty's  treasury, 
who,  on  the  1st  of  July,  report  that  the  fitting 
out  of  the  vessel  had  not  escaped  the  notice  of 
the  revenue  officers,  but  that  as  yet  nothing 
had  transpired  concerning  her  which  had  ap- 
peared to  demand  a  special  report.  The  vessel 
was  intended  for  a  ship  of  war,  reported  to  be 
built  for  a  foreign  government,  but  as  yet  had 


neither  guns  nor  carriages  on  board,  and  the 
builders  did  not  appear  disposed  to  reply  to 
any  questions  respecting  the  destination  of  the 
vessel  after  she  left  Liverpool.  Their  solicitor, 
however,  reported  his  opinion  that  there  was 
not  at  that  time  sufficient  ground  to  warrant 
the  detention  of  the  vessel,  or  any  interference 
by  the  department.  The  Consul  at  Liverpool 
was  then  instructed  by  Mr.  Adams  to  lay  his 
evidence  before  the  Commissioners.  At  the 
same  time,  he  called  Capt.  Craven,  in  command 
of  the  U.  S.  gunboat  Tuscarora,  to  Southamp- 
ton. To  Capt.  Craven  was  given  all  the  infor- 
mation respecting  the  objects  and  destination  of 
the  290  in  possession  of  Mr.  Adams,  who  advised 
him  to  take  such  measures  as  might  in  his  opin- 
ion be  effective  to  intercept  her  on  her  way  out. 

Meanwhile  evidence  was  procured  of  the 
character  and  objects  of  the  vessel  by  the  U.  S. 
Consul  at  Liverpool,  which,  in  the  opinion  of  a 
Queen's  solicitor,  was  sufficient  to  justify  the 
collector  of  the  port  in  seizing  the  vessel,  and 
laid  before  the  commissioners.  While  the 
snbject  was  under  their  consideration  the  290 
sailed  from  Liverpool,  without  register  or  clear- 
ance. The  captain  of  the  Tuscarora  was  im- 
mediately notified  by  Mr.  Adams  and  he  started 
in  pursuit.  Earl  Russell,  in  a  conference  with 
Mr.  Adams,  stated  that  a  delay  in  determining 
upon  the  case  had  most  unexpectedly  been 
caused  by  the  sudden  development  of  a  malady 
of  the  Queen's  advocate,  Sir  John  D.  Harding, 
totally  incapacitating  him  for  the  transaction 
of  business.  This  had  made  it  necessary  to  call 
in  other  parties,  whose  opinion  had  been  at  last 
given  for  the  detention  of  the  gunboat,  but  before 
the  order  got  to  Liverpool  the  vessel  was  gone. 
He  should  however  send  directions  to  have  her 
seized  if  she  went,  as  was  probable,  to  Nassau. 

On  the  30th  of  Sept.  Mr.  Adams  wrote  to 
Earl  Russell,  relating  the  injuries  done  by  the 
290  or  Alabama,  saying,  u  I  have  strong  reasons 
to  believe  that  still  other  enterprises  of  the 
same  kind  are  in  progress  in  the  ports  of  Great 
Britain  at  this  time.  Indeed  they  have  attained 
so  mnch  notoriety,  as  to  be  openly  announced 
in  the  newspapers  of  Liverpool  and  London." 
Earl  Russell,  acknowledging  the  letter,  in  reply 
said:  "I  have  to  state  to  you  that,  much  as 
her  Majesty's  Government  desire  to  prevent 
such  occurrences,  they  are  nnable  to  go  beyond 
the  law,  municipal  and  international. 

On  the  16th  of  October  Mr.  Adams  writes 
home  to  Mr.  Seward  that,  "  It  is  .very  manifest 
that  no  disposition  exists  here  to  apply  the 
powers  of  the  Government  to  the  investigation 
of  the  acts  complained  of,  flagrant  as  they  are, 
or  to  the  prosecution  of  the  offenders.  The 
main  object  must  now  be  to  make  a  record 
which  may  be  of  use  at  some  future  day." 

Among  the  papers  laid  before  Earl  Russell 
by  Mr.  Adams  was  an  affidavit  of  a  person  who 
sailed  from  Liverpool  in  the  290,  stating  that 
arms  were  furnished  to  her  in  or  near  Augra 
Bay,  part  of  the  Azores.  To  which  Earl  Rus- 
sell replies  that  the  transaction  does  not  appear 


282 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


to  have  taken  place  in  any  part  of  the  United  near  Greenock,  for  the  290,  Earl  Russell  re- 
Kingdom,  or  of  her  Majesty's  dominions,  but  in  plies  that  "there  would  be  great  difficulty  in 
part  of  the  Portuguese  dominions.  No  offence,  ascertaining  the  intention  of  any  parties  making 

such  a  shipment,  and  we  do  not  apprehend  that 
our  officers  would  have  any  power  of  interfer- 
ing with  it,  were  the  coals  cleared  outward  for 
some  foreign  port  in  compliance  with  the  law." 
No  further  correspondence  relative  to  the  290 


therefore,  cognizable  by  the  laws  of  the  coun- 
try, appears  to  have  been  committed  by  the 
parties  engaged  in  the  transaction.  Respect- 
ing a  statement  in  a  letter  of  the  American 
consul  at  Liverpool,  that  a  bark  was  to  take  out 
cargo  of  coals,  either  from  Cardiff  or  Troon, 


and  the  Oreto  took  place  during  1862. 


CHAPTEE  XXIII. 

Guerrillas  In  Kentucky — Invasion  of  the  State  by  Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith — Gen.  Buell  falls  back  from  Tennessee  as  Gen  Bragg 
advances  toward  Kentucky — Movements  in  Kentucky — Battle  at  Perryville — Retreat  of  Gen.  Bragg— Cumberland  Gap 
— Invasion  of  "West  Virginia — Operations  in  Mississippi — Battle  of  luka— Battle  at  Corinth— Eetreat  of  the  Enemy — 
Expedition  of  Gen.  Hovey— Gen.  Kosecrans  takes  command  in  Tennessee — Position  of  Gen.  Bragg's  Forces— Battle  of 
Stone  Kiver. 


EARLY  in  June  the  guerrilla  operations  became 
troublesome  in  some  of  the  lower  counties  of 
Kentucky.  At  Madisonville,  in  Hopkins  coun- 
ty, a  descent  was  made  by  a  small  body  of 
them  at  night.  The  county  clerk's  office  was 
broken  open  and  the  records  of  the  court  car- 
ried off  or  destroyed.  In  other  cases  horses 
and  other  property  were  taken.  Their  own 
friends,  equally  with  Union  citizens,  were  rob- 
bed. In  Jessamine,  Mercer,  Boyle,  and  Gar- 
rard  counties  bridges  over  the  streams  were 
burned.  On  the  5th  of  July  Lebanon  was 
taken.  It  is  at  the  termination  of  the  Lebanon 
branch  of  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  road. 
About  the  same  time  Murfreesborough  in  Ten- 
nessee was  captured  by  a  strong  guerrilla  force 
under  Col.  Forrest.  Vigorous  opposition  was 
however  made  by  the  small  body  of  Federal 
troops  stationed  there.  The  9th  Michigan 
regiment  was  captured  entirely '  by  surprise, 
with  Brig.-Generals  Duffield  and  Crittendeh, 
of  Indiana.  On  the  18th  of  July  an  attack 
was  made  by  Col.  John  Morgan  on  a  small 
Federal  force  stationed  at  Cynthiana,  Ky. 
Subsequently  he  was  overtaken  near  Paris  by 
Gen.  Green  0.  Smith  and  defeated.  About 
the  same  time  Henderson  was  occupied  by  citi- 
zens of  Kentucky  and  other  States,  acting  the 
part  of  guerrillas,  and  the  hospital  and  other 
stores  carried  off.  At  the  same  tune  Newburg, 
in  Indiana,  on  the  Ohio  River,  was  occupied  by 
a  band  from  Kentucky.  They  soon,  however, 
left.  The  activity  of  the  bands  under  Col. 
Morgan  produced  a  great  excitement  in  the  in- 
terior of  the  State.  Many  towns  were  visited 
and  much  plunder  obtained.  It  had  been  his 
conviction  that  large  numbers  of  the  citizens 
would  flock  to  his  standard.  In  this  he  was 
greatly  mistaken,  and  the  indifference  and  hos- 
tility of  the  people,  together  with  the  prepara- 
tions to  resist  him,  checked  his  movements. 
Active  operations  continued  in  Tennessee, 
whither  Col.  Morgan  retired.  Clarksville  was 
captured  with  its  military  stores. 

The  increase  of  guerrilla  operations  in  Ken- 
tucky about  the  1st  of  September,  with  the 


manifestations  of  the  existence  of  a  Confederate 
force,  indicated  some  hostile  movements.    It 
was  soon  known  that  the  Confederate  general 
E.  Kirby  Smith  was  approaching  from  Knoxville 
in  Tennessee.     On  the  22d  of  August  he  left 
Jacksborough  with  a  train  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  wagons,  and  passed  through  Big  Creek 
Gap.    So  difficult  were  some  parts  of  the  route 
in  Tennessee  that  for  two  or  three  days  the 
rear  of  the  trains  was  only  able  to  reach  at 
night  the  point  from  which  the  advance  started 
in  the  morning.    Rations  failed,  and  the  men 
were  obliged  for  several  days  to  subsist  on 
green   corn.     Hungry,   thirsty,   footsore,   and 
choking  with  dust,  his  men  marched  steadily 
on  to  a  land  of  plenty.     The  ordnance  stores 
were  brought  safely  through  without  the  loss 
of  a  wagon.     On  Saturday,  August  30,  a  battle 
took  place  between  his  forces  and  a  Federal 
force  near  Richmond,  Ky.,  in  which  the  latter 
were  defeated.     Richmond  is  the  capital  of 
Madison   County,   situated    about    fifty  miles 
south-southeast  of  Frankfort,  the  capital  of 
the  State.     The  Federal  force  there  consisted 
of  one  Ohio  regiment  and  five  Indiana  regi- 
ments and  part  of  a  sixth,  two  Kentucky  regi- 
ments, all  raw  troops,  and  a  squadron  of  Ken- 
tucky cavalry,  under  the  command  of  Brig.- 
Gens.  Mahlon  D.  Manson  and  Crufts,  with  nine 
field  pieces.    It  made  an  attack  upon  this  Con- 
federate column  under  Gen.  Smith  at  Rogers- 
ville  about  four  miles  from  Richmond,  and  after 
a  severe  battle,  continuing  from  six  o'clock  in 
the  morning  until  night,  it  was  entirely  defeat- 
ed, with  a  large  number  killed  and  wounded 
and  with  the  loss  of  eight  field  pieces.    Gen. 
Nelson,  who  had  come  from  Lexington,  arrived 
at  the  commencement  of  the  retreat,  and  en- 
deavored to  rally  the  troops,  was  wounded  and 
obliged  to  retire.    At  that  time  the  Legislature 
of  the  State  was  in  session,  and  it  met  on  Sun- 
day evening,  and  passed  resolutions  adjourning 
to  Louisville,  &c.    The  archives  of  the  State 
and  about  one  million  of  treasure  from  the 
banks  of  Richmond,  Lexington,  and  Frankfort 
were  transferred  during  the  night  to  Louisville.- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


283 


At  the  same  time  the  governor  of  the  State  is- 
sued the  following  proclamation : 

FBANKFOBT,  KY.,  August  81, 1862. 
To  the  People  of  Kentucky: 

A  crisis  has  arisen  in  the  history  of  the  common- 
wealth which  demands  of  every  loyal  citizen  of  Ken- 
tucky prompt  and  efficient  action.  The  State  has  been 
invaded  by  an  insolent  foe,  her  honor  insulted,  her 
peace  disturbed,  and  her  integrity  imperilled.  The 
small  but  gallant  army,  raised  upon  the  emergency  of 
the  occasion  for  her  defence,  under  the  brave  and  chiv- 
alric  Nelson,  has  met  with  a  temporary  reverse,  and 
the  enemy  is  advancing  for  the  accomplishment  of  his 
purpose — the  subjugation  of  the  State.  He  must  be 
met  and  driven  from  our  border,  and  it  is  in  your 
power  to  do  so.  I,  therefore,  as  Governor  of  the  Com- 
monwealth, deem  it  my  duty  to  call  upon  every  loyal 
citizen  of  Kentucky  to  rally  to  the  defence  of  the  State; 
not  a  moment  is  to  be  lost.  I  appeal  to  you  as  Ken- 
tuckians,  as  worthy  sons  of  those  who  rescued  the  dark 
and  bloody  ground  from  savage  barbarity,  by  the  mem- 
ories of  the  past  of  your  history,  and  by  the  future  of 
your  fame,  if  you  are  but  true  to  yourselves,  to  rise  in 
the  majesty  of  your  strength  and  drive  the  insolent  in- 
vader of  your  soil  from  your  midst.  Now  is  the  time 
for  Kentuckians  to  defend  themselves.  Each  man 
must  constitute  himself  a  soldier,  arm  himself  as  best 
he  can,  and  meet  the  foe  at  every  step  of  his  advance. 
The  day  and  the  hour,  the  safety  of  your  homes  and 
firesides,  patriotism  and  duty,  alike  demand  that  you 
rush  to  the  rescue.  I  call  upon  the  people,  then,  to 
rise  up  as  one  man,  and  strike  a  blow  for  the  defence 
of  their  native  land,  their  property,  and  their  homes. 
Rally  to  the  standard,  wherever  it  may  be  nearest, 
place  yourselves  under  the  commanders,  obey  orders, 
trust  to  your  own  right  arm  and  the  God  of  battle,  and 
the  foe  will  be  driven  back,  discomfited  and  annihilat- 
ed. To  arms !  to  arms ! !  and  never  lay  them  down 
till  the  Stars  and  Stripes  float  in  triumph  throughout 
Kentucky.  I  but  perform  my  duty  in  thus  summon- 
ing you  to  the  defence  of  your  State,  and  I  am  assured 
that  it  will  be  promptly  responded  to.  I  promise  that 
I  will  share  with  you  the  glory  of  the  triumph  which 
surely  awaits  you. 

Done  in  the  city  of  Frankfort,  this  31st  day  of  Au- 
gust, 1862. 

(Signed)  JAMES  F.  ROBINSON. 

By  the  Governor, 

•  D.  C.  WICKLIFFE,  Secretary  of  State. 

On  the  2d  the  Confederate  advance  gnard 
entered  Lexington.  All  the  Government  stores 
had  been  previously  safely  removed.  The  stock 
of  horses  and  mules  had  also  been  sent  off,  and 
all  the  cars  withdrawn  from  the  railroad. 

In  explanation  of  the  object  of  the  invasion, 
Gen.  Smith  issued  the  following  proclamation : 

KENTUCKIANS  :  The  army  of  the  Confederate  States 
has  again  entered  your  territory  under  my  command. 

Let  no  one  make  you  believe  we  come  as  invaders, 
to  coerce  your  will,  or  to  exercise  control  over  your 
soil.  Far  from  it.  The  principle  we  maintain  is,  that 
government  derives  its  just  powers  from  the  consent 
of  the  governed. 

I  shall  enforce  the  strictest  discipline,  in  order  that 
the  property  of  citizens  and  non-combatants  may  be 
protected.  I  shall  be  compelled  to  procure  subsistence 
for  my  troops  among  you,  and  this  shall  be  paid  for. 

Kentuckians :  We  come  not  as  invaders,  but  libera- 
tors. We  invoke  the  spirit  of  your  resolutions  of 
1798.  We  come  to  arouse  you  from  the  lethargy 
which  enshrouds  your  free  thought,  and  forebodes  the 
political  death  of  your  State. 

We  come  to  test  the  truth  of  what  we  believe  to  be  a 
foul  aspersion,  that  Kentuckians  willingly  join  the  at- 
tempt to  subjugate  us,  and  to  deprive  us  of  our  proper- 
ty, our  liberty,  and  our  dearest  rights. 

We  come  to  strike  off  the  chains  which  are  riveted 
upon  you.  We  call  upon  you  to  unite  your  arms,  and 


join  with  us  in  hurling  back  from  our  fair  and  sunny 
plains  the  Northern  hordes  who  would  deprive  us  of 
our  liberty,  that  they  may  enjoy  our  substance. 

Are  we  deceived?  Can  you  treat  us  as  enemies? 
Our  hearts  answer  NO !  E.  KIRB Y  SMITH 

Major-General  C.  S.  A.    ' 

On  the  6th  Frankfort,  the  capital  of  the 
State,  was  quietly  occupied  by  about  fifteen 
hundred  Confederate  cavalry.  The  govern- 
ment of  the  city  was  reorganized,  and  recruit- 
ing stations  opened.  The  guerilla  force,  under 
Col.  Morgan,  also  joined  Gen.  Smith. 

Meanwhile,  on  the  first  approach  of  the  Con- 
federate force  toward  Lexington,  excitement 
commenced  in  Cincinnati,  and  preparations  for 
defence  began  to  be  made.  Gen.  Lewis  Wal- 
lace took  command  of  Cincinnati,  Covington, 
and  Newport  on  the  1st  of  September.  Mar- 
tial law  was  declared,  and  on  the  next  day  all 
places  of  business  in  Cincinnati  were  ordered 
to  be  closed  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and 
the  citizens  were  required  to  assemble  at  ten 
o'clock  and  organize  for  defence.  The  street 
railroad  cars  were  stopped,  and  no  male  citizen 
was  allowed  to  leave.  Preparations  to  throw 
up  intrenchments  and  to  fortify  the  city  were 
immediately  commenced.  This  excitement  ex- 
tended into  the  interior  of  the  State  and  into 
the  adjoining  State  of  Indiana.  The  governor 
of  Ohio  issued  the  following  proclamation : 

CINCINNATI,  September  2, 1862. 
To  the  Loyal  People  of  the  River  Counties  : 

Our  southern  border  is  threatened  with  invasion.  I 
have,  therefore,  to  recommend  that  all  the  loyal  men 
of  your  counties  at  once  form  themselves  into  military 
companies  and  regiments  to  beat  back  the  enemy  at 
any  and  all  points  he  may  attempt  to  invade  our  State. 
Gather  up  all  the  arms  in  the  country,  and  furnish 
yourselves  with  ammunition  for  the  same.  The  ser- 
vice will  be  of  but  few  days'  duration.  The  soil  of 
Ohio  must  not  be  invaded  by  the  enemies  of  our  glori- 
ous Government.  DAVID  TOD,  Governor. 

About  the  10th  of  June  Gen.  Buell  left  Corinth 
with  the  main  body  of  his  army  for  Chattanoo- 
ga. On  reaching  Huntsville  he  appointed  Gen. 
Rousseau  to  command  the  division  of  his  army 
previously  under  Gen.  Mitchell,  and  completely 
reorganized  the  state  of  affairs  in  that  part 
of  his  department.  Depredations  by  soldiers 
were  stopped,  discipline  restored,  and  order 
established.  His  army  then  took  positions 
at  Battle  Creek,  Huntsville,  and  McMinnville. 
At  the  same  time  the  Confederate  general  Bragg 
massed  his  army  at  Chattanooga  and  Knoxville. 
This  was  done  by  suddenly  moving  his  force 
from  Tupello,  in  Mississippi,  through  the  States 
of  Alabama  and  Georgia,  and  thus  reaching 
Chattanooga  in  advance  of  Gen.  Buell.  It  was 
divided  into  three  corps  under  Maj.-Gens.  "Win. 
J.  Hardee,  Leonidas  Polk,  and  E.  Kirby  Smith, 
each  of  which  numbered  about  fifteen  thousand 
men.  The  two  former  of  these  officers  had 
been  at  Corinth,  and  their  forces  consisted  of 
some  of  the  troops  which  evacuated  that  place, 
increased  by  new  levies  under  the  conscription 
law.  The  division  of  Gen.  Smith  was  stationed 
at  Knoxville,  where  it  safely  remained  while 
Chattanooga  was  occupied  by  the  corps  of 


284 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Gen3.  Hardee  and  Polk.  Gen.  Smith  moving 
from  Knoxville  succeeded  in  flanking  the  Fed- 
eral general  G.  W.  Morgan,  and  with  no  battle  of 
any  consequence,  except  at  Tazewell,  effected 
the  design  of  getting  into  his  rear,  and  thence 
advanced  into  Kentucky  as  above  stated.  The 
next  movement  was  made  by  the  other  two 
corps,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  junction 
with  Gen.  Smith  after  he  had  reached  Lexing- 
ton. Accordingly,  on  the  21st  of  August,  Gen. 
Bragg  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  at  Harrison, 
a  few  miles  above  Chattanooga,  and  turning  the 
left  of  Gen.  Buell  he  marched  westward  by  the 
mountain  road  to  Dunlap,  which  he  reached  on 
the  27th.  His  force  then  consisted  of  five  regi- 
ments of  cavalry,  thirty-six  of  infantry,  with 
forty  pieces  of  field  artillery.  Thence  he  moved 
up  the  Sequatchie  Valley,  and  reached  Pikeville 
on  the  30th.  On  the  same  day  he  threw  a  large 
force  forward  toward  McMinnville,  the  capital 
of  "Warren  county,  Tennessee,  and  seventy-five 
miles  southeast  of  Nashville.  The  Confederate 
cavalry  advanced  far  toward  McMinnville,  and 
one  or  two  smart  skirmishes  took  place  with 
the  Federal  cavalry  thrown  forward  from  that 
point.  In  the  mean  time  the  rest  of  the  Con- 
federate army  moved  northeast  toward  Cross- 
ville,  and  on  the  1st  of  September  reached  the 
mountains  at  that  place,  having  ascended  the 
Grassy  Cave  road,  while  the  force  thrown  to- 
ward McMinnville  was  suddenly  withdrawn, 
and  followed  the  main  army.  On  the  5th  of 
September  this  Confederate  force  entered  Ken- 
tucky, and  moved  on  toward  Bowling  Green. 
On  the  13th  of  September  an  advance  of  this 
force  appeared  before  Munfordsville,  at  the 
crossing  of  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  rail- 
road, over  Green  river,  and  demanded  its  sur- 
render. Col.  "Wilder  then  in  command  refused, 
and  early  on  the  next  morning  an  attack  was 
made  by  the  Confederate  force,  under  Gen. 
Duncan,  who  after  a  struggle  of  seven  hours 
was  repulsed.  The  force  at  Munfordsville, 
which  had  been  stationed  there  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  bridge,  consisted  of  three  thou- 
sand one  hundred  infantry  with  four  pieces  of 
artillery.  The  Federal  loss  was  eight  killed 
and  twenty  wounded.  -The  Confederate  loss 
was  larger.  The  attack  was  renewed  again  on 
the  16th  with  great  spirit,  and  on  the  next  day 
the  place  was  surrendered  by  Col.  C.  L.  Dun- 
ham, who  had  arrived  with  his  regiment,  and 
then  had  command.  The  troops  surrendered 
consisted  of  the  17th,  60th,  67th,  68th,  69th  In- 
diana, a  company  of  Louisville  cavalry,  a  part 
of  the  4th  Ohio,  and  a  section  of  the  13th  In- 
diana battery ;  amounting  in  all  to  about  four 
thousand  five  hundred  men,  and  ten  guns.  The 
bridge  over  the  Green  river  was  burned  at  this 
time. 

During  this  period  Gen.  Buell  had  not  been 
idle.  While  on  the  Tennessee  river,  near  Chat- 
tanooga, his  army  was  dependent  on  Louisville 
as  its  base  for  the  supply  of  provisions  and  mu- 
nitions. To  render  this  available  it  was  neces- 
sary to  protect  over  three  hundred  miles  of 


railroad,  over  which  every  pound  of  these  sup- 
plies had  to  be  transported.  Every  care  which 
prudence  could  suggest  was  exercised  to  retain 
the  command  of  this  road.  Stockades  were 
built,  and  guards  were  stationed  at  the  places 
most  liable  to  attack,  but  they  were  not  able 


MUNFORDSVILLE 
WbodsonVT 


to  resist  the  dashes  of  the  Confederate  cavalry, 
who  in  many  cases  were  aided  by  the  sympa- 
thies of  the  local  residents.  In  the  meanwhile 
the  Confederate  conscription  act  had  been  rigid- 
ly enforced,  and  a  large  army  under  Gen.  Bragg 
was  massed  near  Chattanooga,  as  above  stated, 
the  definite  object  of  which  was  long  unknown. 
For  several  weeks  the  utmost  vigilance  was 
exercised  over  the  enemy  at  Dechard,  McMinn- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


285 


ville,  and  the  valley  of  the  Seqnatchie  before 
it  was  assuredly  ascertained  where  he  intended 
to  strike  his  blow.  It  was  expected  that  Nash- 
ville was  the  point  he  desired  to  reach,  but 
subsequent  movements  soon  made  it  evident 
that  was  not  the  projected  point  of  attack. 
Finally  despatches  to  Gen.  Bragg  were  inter- 
cepted, which  proved  conclusively  that  Louis- 
ville in  Kentucky  was  the  point  toward  which 
the  Confederate  strategy  was  directed.  This 
was  to  be  effected  by  forced  marches  of  the 
Confederate  force  without  supplies,  subsisting 
on  the  country,  and  reaching  the  city  when 
in  a  condition  unprepared  for  defence.  It  was 
then  intended  to  destroy  the  canal  around  the 
falls  of  the  Ohio,  to  seize  all  the  public  stores, 
and  to  hold  the  city,  under  the  impression  that 
the  Federal  army  would  make  no  effort  to  re- 
cover it,  for  fear  of  injuring  it  by  a  bombard- 
ment. 

While  -Gen.  Bragg  made  his  way  slowly  to- 
ward the  Cumberland  river,  which  he  struck  at 
Carthage,  Gen.  Buell  was  on  his  left  flank,  at 
Lebanon,  guarding  against  his  approach  to  the 
city  of  Nashville.  The  march  of  Gen.  Bragg 
was  commenced  on  the  21st  of  August,  as  above 
stated,  and  all  the  way  he  was  felt  by  Gen. 
Buell,  whose  object  was  to  guard  the  railroad 
as  much  as  possible,  and  allow  his  enemy  to 
get  no  distant  start  of  him.  All  this  time  Gen. 
Buell  was  drawing  his  supplies  from  the  depots, 
collecting  at  Nashville  and  Bowling  Green ;  but 
Gen.  Bragg  was  warmly  received  in  many 
places,  and  bountifully  supplied  by  friends. 
Gen.  Buell  harassed  his  rear  as  long  as  pos- 
sible, shelled  him  out  of  "Woodsonville,  and  ford- 
ed the  Green  river  and  drove  him  out  of  Mun- 
fordsville,  and  followed  him  along  the  turnpike 
road  from  Nashville  to  Louisville,  until  the 
road  through  Hodgenville  to  the  east  was 
reached,  into  which  Gen.  Bragg's  forces  defiled. 
It  was  evident  from  the  movement  of  Gen. 
Bragg  that  he  was  hurrying  in  a  direction  in 
which  he  expected  to  find  Gen.  E.  K.  Smith, 
Gen.  Humphrey  Marshall,  and  Col.  Morgan 
with  their  forces,  with  whom  he  could  unite 
and  make  a  combined  attack  on  Louisville. 
Gen.  Buell,  however,  was  forced  by  the  need 
of  supplies  to  move  directly  to  the  city,  around 
which  his  army  encamped. 

The  chief  object  of  this  Confederate  move- 
ment upon  the  State  of  Kentucky  was  to  obtain 
supplies  of  meat.  There  were  more  hogs'  and 
cattle  in  the  State  available  for  general  con- 
sumption, two  or  three  to  one1,  than  were  left 
in  all  the  South  besides.  The  grain  growing 
and  provision  raising  country  which  stretched 
from  the  Potomac  at  Harper's  Ferry  to  Mem- 
phis, on  the  Mississippi,  was  now  exhausted  of 
its  provisions.  Much  of  the  productive  por- 
tions of  North  Carolina,  and  of  the  Gulf  States, 
were  also  exhausted,  and  a  general  scarcity  ex- 
isted. Wheat  was  two  dollars  and  a  half  per 
bushel  in  the  heart  of  a  fine  wheat  country,  and 
cattle  sold  for  seven  cents  gross  per  pound  in  the 
chief  cattle-raising  region  of  the  whole  South. 


Pork  could  not  be  had  at  an  advance  of  four 
hundred  per  cent.  At  the  same  time  it  was 
thought  that  a  powerful  force  might  secure 
the  State  to  the  Southern  Confederacy. 

On  the  18th  of  September  Gen.  Bragg  issued 
the  following  address  to  the  people  of  the 
State : 

GLASGOW,  KY.,  September  18, 1862. 

Kentuckians !  I  have  entered  your  State  with  the 
Confederate  army  of  the  West,  and  offer  you  an  oppor,- 
tunity  to  free  yourselves  from  the  tyranny  of  a  despotic 
ruler.  We  come,  not  as  conquerors  or  despoilers,  but 
to  restore  to  you  the  liberties  of  which  you  have  been 
deprived  by  a  cruel  and  relentless  foe.  We  come  to 
guarantee  to  all  the  sanctity  of  their  homes  and  altars ; 
to  punish  with  a  rod  of  iron  the  despoilers  of  your 
peace,  and  to  avenge  the  cowardly  insults  to  your 
women.  With  all  non-combatants  the  past  shall  be 
forgotten.  Needful  supplies  must  be  had  for  my  army, 
but  they  shall  be  paid  for  at  fair  and  remunerating 
prices. 

Believing  that  the  heart  of  Kentucky  is  with  us  in 
our  great  struggle  for  Constitutional  Freedom,  we  have 
transferred  from  our  own  soil  to  yours,  not  a  band  of 
marauders,  but  a  powerful  and  well-disciplined  army. 
Your  gallant  Buckner  leads  the  van.  Marshall  is  on 
the  right,  while  Breckinridge,  dear  to  us  as  to  you,  is 
advancing  with  Kentucky's  valiant  sons,  to  receive  the 
honor  and  applause  due  to  their  heroism.  The  strong 
hands  which  m  part  have  sent  Shiloh  down  to  history, 
and  the  nerved  arms  which  have  kept  at  bay  from  our 
own  homes  the  boastful  army  of  the  enemy,  are  here 
to  assist,  to  sustain,  to  liberate  you.  Will  you  remain 
indifferent  to  our  call,  or  will  you  not  rather  vin- 
dicate the  fair  fame  of  your  once  free  and  envied 
State?  We  believe  that  you  will,  and  that  the' mem- 
ory of  your  gallant  dead  who  fell  at  Shiloh,  their  faces 
turned  homeward,  will  rouse  you  to  a  manly  effort  for 
yourselves  and  posterity. 

Kentuckians!  We  have  come  with  joyous  hopes. 
Let  us  not  depart  in  sorrow,  as  we  shall  if  we  find  you 
wedded  in  your  choice  to  your  present  lot.  If  you 
prefer  Federal  rule,  show  it  by  your  frowns,  and  we 
shall  return  whence  we  came.  If  you  choose  rather  to 
come  within  the  folds  of  our  brotherhood,  then  cheer 
us  with  the  smiles  of  your  women,  and  lend  your  will- 
inghands  to  secure  you  inyour  heritage  of  liberty. 

Women  of  Kentucky !  Your  persecutions  and  heroic 
bearing  have  reached  our  ear.  Banish  henceforth,  for- 
ever, from  your  minds  the  fear  of  loathsome  prisons  or 
insulting  visitations.  Let  your  enthusiasm  have  free 
rein.  Buckle  on  the  armor  of  your  kindred,  your  hus- 
bands, sons,  and  brothers,  and  scoff  with  shame  him 
who  would  prov«  recreant  in  his  duty  to  you,  his  coun- 
try, and  his  God.  BRAXTON  BRAGG, 

General  Commanding. 

From  Munfordsville  the  Confederate  force 
moved  toward  Bardstown,  Glasgow,  and  the 
central  part  of  the  State.  Thence  guerillas 
in  large  and  small  bands  scoured  almost  every 
other  portion,  penetrating  in  various  places  to 
the  Ohio  river,  and  even  making  dashes  to 
within  four  or  five  miles  of  Louisville.  Every 
day,  during  which  they  continued  these  oper- 
ations, was  estimated  to  afford  them  a  gain  of 
a  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  to  bring  a  loss 
to  the  loyal  people  of  at  least  two  hundred 
thousand.  Everything  which  could  be  of  use 
to  the  army  or  to  the  Southern  people  was 
seized.  Hundreds  of  drovers  almost  daily  took 
away  horses,  cattle,  and  hogs,  and  almost  in- 
terminable trains  were  hauling  away  bacon, 
pork,  and  all  kinds  of  breadstuffs.  Regarding 
Kentucky  as  belonging  to  the  Confederacy, 


286 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


287 


the  conscription  act  was  enforced,  and  men 
were  forced  into  the  ranks  of  the  Confederate 
army  by  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  The  stores 
of  the  towns  were  ordered  to  be  opened,  and 
the  goods  taken  and  paid  for  in  Confederate 
scrip. 

On  the  1st  of  October  Gen.  Buell,  who  had 
been  previously  removed  from  command  and 
reinstated  again,  moved  from  Louisville,  where 
he  had  lost  thousands  by  desertion,  to  meet 
the  Confederate  force,  and  on  the  4th  his  army 
arrived  at  Bardstown.  On  the  previous  day 
a  force  of  Gen.  Bragg  had  evacuated  that 
place.  This  force  consisted  of  about  sixty- five 
regiments,  averaging  about  three  hundred  men 
each,  and  amounting  in  total  to  twenty  thou- 
sand. It  moved  from  Bardstown  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Springfield.  The  force  of  Gen.  Buell 
was  stated  by  the  general-in-chief  to  number 
about  one  hundred  thousand  men.  From  the 
first  approach  of  the  Confederate  forces,  every 
effort  had  been  made  to  collect  new  troops  at 
Cincinnati  and  Louisville,  and  to  fortify  these 
places  against  a  coup  de  main.  To  give  confi- 
dence to  the  new  levies,  a  portion  of  Gen. 
Grant's  army  was  withdrawn  from  Mississippi 
and  sent  to  Kentucky  and  Cincinnati. 

The  army  of  the  Ohio,  as  Gen.'  Buell's  force 
was  designated,  was  now  divided  into  three 
corps,  commanded  by  Gens.  Gilbert,  Crittenden, 
and  McCook.  The  new  regiments  sent  to  Louis- 
ville were  placed  in  brigades  with  the  old  ones, 
which  had  seen  nearly  a  year's  service.  On  the 
march  from  Louisville  the  corps  of  Gen.  Mc- 
Cook,  forming  the  left  wing,  took  the  road  to 
Taylorsville,  Gen.  Gilbert  the  road  to  Shepherds- 
ville,  and  Gen.  Crittenden,  forming  the  right 
wing,  the  road  to  Bardstown.  With  the  latter 
corps  Gen.  Buell  moved. 

On  the  4th,  Richard  Hawes  was  inaugurated 
at  Frankfort  as  Confederate  Provisional  Gover- 
nor, and  on  the  same  day  the  city  was  evacuated, 
and  he  retired  with  the  troops. 

On  the  6th  the  army  of  Gen.  Buell  arrived 
at  Springfield,  sixty-two  miles  from  Louisville. 
Its  slow  progress  had  been  owing  to  its  num- 
bers, the  difficulty  of  the  route  and  the  conflicts 
with  the  Confederate  rear  guard.  The  main 
body  of  the  Confederate  army  was  twenty-four 
hours  in  advance  when  Gen.  Buell  left  Louis- 
ville, and  thus  far  had  been  constantly  gaining. 
The  order  of  Gen.  Bragg  to  his  rear  guard  was 
to  prevent  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Buell  at  Bards- 
town before  the  4th,  if  possible,  in  order  to  give 
time  to  the  Confederate  wagon  train  to  gain  an 
advance  of  some  twenty  miles.  Gen.  Critten- 
den's  corps  only  entered  the  place,  and  those 
of  Gens.  McCook  and  Gilbert  kept  on  toward 
Springfield,  retaining  their  position  on  the  left 
and  centre.  Gen.  Crittenden  followed  on  the 
5th.  On  the  7th  it  was  reported  to  Gen.  Buell 
that  a  considerable  Confederate  force  was  at 
Perryville,  forty-two  miles  south  of  Frankfort. 
The  three  army  corps  were  then  marching  on 
that  place  by  different  roads.  Gen.  Buell  de- 
termined to  surround  the  enemy,  if  possible, 


and  ordered  all  the  divisions  to  march  with- 
out delay,  leaving  behind  their  transportation. 
Gens.  McCook  and  Gilbert  continued  their 
march,  but  Gen.  Crittenden  lost  half  a  day  on 
a  circuitous  route  to  obtain  water.  Gen.  Bragg, 
learning  of  the  united  approach  of  the  Union 
forces,  immediately  began  to  retreat.  It  was 
the  design  of  Gen.  Buell  that  the  three  corps 
should  participate  in  the  battle,  but  Gen.  Bragg 
hearing  of  the  delay  of  Gen.  Crittenden,  imme- 
diately determined  to  fight  the  corps  of  Gens. 
McCook  and  Gilbert,  and  defeat  them  if  possible, 
and  then  to  fall  upon  Gen.  Crittenden  or  to  re- 
treat before  his  arrival.  The  Confederate  general 
Hardee's  corps,  which  had  retreated  six  miles, 
was  accordingly  ordered  back  in  haste  to  Per- 
ryville. Suddenly,  on  the  8th,  Gen.  McCook 
found  himself  in  front  of  the  Confederate  line 
of  battle,  with  his  men  marching  in  columns, 
and  without  skirmishers  in  advance,  nothing 
in  front  but  a  small  advance  guard  which  at- 
tempted to  attack  the  enemy's  outpost.  The 
Confederate  infantry  rushed  forward  and  a  divi- 
sion of  raw  troops  had  to  be  formed  in  line  of 
battle  under  a  heavy  fire.  The  raw  troops  fled  in 
confusion,  but  the  old  troops  stood  their  ground. 
Gen.  McCook  had  approached  Perryville  by  the 
Knoxville  road.  Gen.  Gilbert  had  marched  di- 
rect from  Springfield,  and  had  arrived  with- 
in two  miles  of  Perryville  on  the  preceding 
evening,  the  "Tth.  To  Gen.  McCook's  request 
for  reenforoements,  they  were  ordered  from 
Gen.  Gilbert's  corps.  At  the  same  time  Gen. 
Crittenden  was  ordered  to  p'ush  forward  on  the 
Lebanon  road  to  attack  the  Confederate  left. 
The  advance  of  Gen.  Gilbert's  reinforcements 
arrived  at  half-past  three  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon to  support  Gen.  McCook  on  the  left.  His 
forces  were  found  badly  cut  up  and  hotly  pressed 
by  the  Confederate  force,  having  retreated 
nearly  a  mile.  The  contest  continued  violent 
until  dark,  the  Federal  force  retiring  from  the 
field.  During  the  evening  Gen.  Crittenden's 
corps  came  up,  but  no  movement  was  made  till 
noon  of  the  next  day,  when  it  was  ascertained 
that  the  Confederate  force  had  retired.  The 
Federal  loss  was  about  four  hundred  and  sixty- 
six  killed,  among  whom  were  Brig.-Gens.  Jack- 
son and  Tyrrell,  fourteen  hundred  and  sixty- 
three  wounded,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty 
missing.  The  Confederate  loss  was  nearly  the 
same.  The  forces  of  Gen.  Bragg,  which  he  had 
been  able  to  draw  from  all  quarters,  were  now 
about  sixty  thousand.  The  arrival  of  Gen. 
Crittenden's  corps  undoubtedly  induced  Gen. 
Bragg  to  continue  his  retreat.  On  that  evening 
the  Federal  troops  returned  to  Perryville. 

It  was  now.  expected  that  Gen.  Bragg  would 
make  a  stand  at  Camp  Dick  Robinson.  The 
position  of  this  place  is  such  that  it  can  easily 
be  defended  against  an  approach  in  front  by  a 
few  batteries  on  the  cliffs  which  line  Dick  river. 
It,  however,  can  be  easily  flanked.  It  was  the 
plan  of  Gen.  Buell,  therefore,  to  make  a  feint 
in  front  and  a  strong  attack  on  the  flank  of  the 
Confederate  position.  Accordingly,  Gen.  Grit- 


288 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


tenden  was  ordered  to  march  to  Dick  river, 
giving  the  semblance  of  a  contemplated  attack 
in  front.  Gens.  McOook  and  Gilbert  were  to 
approach  by  different  roads,  so  as  to  cut  off  the 
escape  of  Gen.  Bragg  and  leave  to  him  no  alter- 
native but  to  fight  or  surrender.  By  the  night 
of  the  12th  the  entire  army  of  the  Ohio  was 
within  a  mile  of  Danville,  which  is  forty-two 
miles  south  of  Frankfort,  in  one  of  the  most 
fertile  and  highly  improved  parts  of  the  State. 
But  Gen.  Bragg  penetrated  the  designs  of  his 
antagonist  in  consequence  of  a  retrograde  move- 
ment 'by  the  advance  of  Gen.Crittenden's  corps, 
under  Gen.  Wood,  and  determined  to  frustrate 
them.  His  spoils  loaded  heavily  nearly  four 
thousand  wagons,  a  majority  of  which  were 
branded  with  the  letters  U.  S.,  having  been 
captured  during  the  year ;  in  addition  there 
were  several  thousand  head  of  cattle,  a  thou- 
sand mules,  and  as  many  sheep. 

The  following  statement  from  a  highly  credi- 
table source  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  has  been  made 
of  property  taken  by  Gen.  Bragg's  forces  : 

We  were  here  in  Lexington  and  saw  something 
of  the  removal  of  Government  stores,  and  witnessed 
the  plunderings  of  the  Confederate  armies  of  our  dry- 
goods  stores,  groceries,  &c.  Upon  the  resumption  of 
the  publication  of  our  paper  ("  Observer")  we  stated 
that  an  immense  amount  of  Government  stores, 
amounting  perhaps  to  $1,000,000,  besides  arms  suffi- 
cient to  arm  eighteen  or  twenty  thousand  men,  were 
taken  off,  and  we  stated  precisely  the  truth,  and  there 
are  hundreds  here  who  will  bear  us  out  in  the  state- 
ment. We  are  not  inclined  to  think  the  "  Richmond 
Examiner"  far  wrone  when  it  published  that  the 
"  wagon  train  of  supplies  brought  out  of  Kentucky  by 
Gen.  Kirby  Smith  was  forty  miles  long,  and  brought 
a  million  yards  of  jeans,  with  a  large  amount  of  cloth- 
ing, boots,  and  shoes,  and  200  wagon  loads  of  bacon, 
6,000  barrels  pork,  1,500  mules  and  horses,  8,000 
beeves,  and  a  large  lot  of  swine." 

From  the  city  of  Frankfort  it  is  stated  that  74,900 
yards  of  jeans  were  taken  from  the  establishment  of  Mr. 
Watson.  From  one  concern  in  this  city ^(Lexington) 
they  took  $106,000  worth  of  jeans  and  linseys,  from 
another  $10,000  worth,  another$9,000,  another  $10,000, 
another  $5,000.  These  different  amounts  in  woollen 
goods  we  know  to  have  been  removed  from  this  city, 
as  we  have  the  names  before  us  from  whom  they  were 
taken.  Aside  from  this,  in  boots,  shoes,  &c.,  we  know 
of  $30,000  worth  that  they  carried  off,  aud  also  have 
the  names  to  show  from  whom  the  goods  were  taken. 
From  one  house  seven  boxes  of  new  Springfield  rifles 
and  nine  boxes  of  muskets,  with  all  the  tents  belong- 
ing to  Metcalf  s  cavalry,  forty  kegs  of  horse  shoes,  and 
one  hundred  and  twenty  boxes  belonging  to  four  regi- 
ments, containing  clothing  and  subsistence.  The  arti- 
cles taken  from  this  house  were  valued  by  the  Confed- 
erates themselves  at  more  than  $10,000,  and  they  so 
declared  at  the  time.  The  Adams  Express  office  was 
robbed  of  everything  it  contained.  All  the  goods  that 
had  been  sent  and  deposited  in  the  establishment  from 
all  parts  of  the  country  were  seized  and  appropriated. 
For  four  weeks,  during  the  stay  of  the  enemy  here,  a 
train  of  cars  were  running  daily  to  Nicholasville,  bear- 
ing away  mess  pork  and  other  articles  necessary  to  the 
subsistence  of  armies,  while  trains  of  wagons — "huge  in 
number — were  moving  out  on  the  Richmond,  Ver- 
sailles, and  Nicholasville  roads,  day  and  night,  loaded 
with  valuable  commodities.  We  were  here  .and  saw 
nnd  know  what  occurred,  and  can  prove  what  we 
assert.  Lexington  afforded  the  Confederates,  when 
they  entered  it,  the  richest  harvest  they  have  reaped 
during  the  war,  and  nothing  is  to  be  made  by  disguis- 
ing the  fact. 


On  the  night  of  the  llth  the  evacuation  of 
Camp  Dick  Robinson  commenced.  The  desti- 
nation of  Gen.  Bragg  was  Cumberland  Gap. 
Two  routes  for  retreat  were  <Spen  to  him,  both 
leading  to  that  point ;  one  by  the  way  of  Rich- 
mond and  Big  Hill,  through  Madison  county, 
and  the  other,  called  the  Crab  Orchard  road, 
by  the  way  of  Mt.  Vernon  and  Barboursville. 
These  two  roads  converge  at  Pitman's  Junc- 
tion, twenty-two  miles  from  Mt.  Vernon,  and 
fifty-eight  miles  from  Cumberland  Gap. 

At  midnight,  on  the  night  of  the  12th,  orders 
were  received  from  the  headquarters  of  Gen. 
Buell  at  Perryville,  by  the  army  encamped  near 
Danville,  for  an  immediate  advance.'  Transpor- 
tation of  all  kinds  was  ordered  to  remain  be- 
hind. Only  ambulances  were  to  accompany  the 
troops.  Gen.  Buell  had  been  informed  of  the 
retreat  of  the  Confederate  army.  At  one  o'clock 
the  army  was  in  motion  toward  Stanford,  nine 
miles  from  Danville,  a  town  through  which  it 
was  supposed  the  Confederate  force  was  then 
retreating.  The  march  was  rapid,  and  the  ad- 
vance arrived  in  time  to  see  the  rear  of  the 
Confederate  rear  guard  pass  unmolested.  Two 
or  three  regiments  of  cavalry,  one  of  which 
was  the  Texan  Rangers,  and  two  howitzers,  was 
the  force  of  this  rear  guard.  Familiar  with  the 
topography  of  the  country,  and  taking  advan- 
tage of  it  whenever  favorable  to  themselves, 
these  troops  were  able  to  conceal  their  small 
numbers  and  to  check  the  Union  advance  until 
late  in  the  afternoon.  Having  thus  accomplish- 
ed their  object,  which  was.  to  gain  time  for  the 
main  body,  they  then  retired  toward  Crab  Or- 
chard. From  a  few  prisoners,  taken  by  the 
Union  troops,  they  learned  that  the  main  body 
of  Gen.  Bragg's  army  and  half  his  wagon  train 
had  passed  through  Stanford  on  the  previous 
day,  and  the  other  half  of  the  wagon  train  had 
gone  safely  through  Lancaster,  and  were  re- 
treating on  the  Richmond  and  Big  Hill  road. 
That  night  the  Union  army  encamped  at  Stan- 
ford. Early  the  next  morning,  the  14th,  it 
was  on  the  march,  and  soon  reached  Crab 
Orchard,  a  distance  of  ten  miles.  As  it  ap- 
proached the  town,  the  Confederate  rear  guard 
made  its  appearance  drawn  up  in  battle  array. 
It  had  taken  possession  of  two  hills,  and  was 
in  a  good  position  to  make  a  formidable  resist- 
ance for  a  short  time.  This  caused  the  Federal 
column  to  halt.  The  artillery  was  then  brought 
up  into  position,  a  line  of  battle  was  formed,  a 
reconnoissance  made,  an  advance  of  skirmishers 
thrown  out,  and  other  details  performed  which 
caused  a  delay  of  several  hours.  During  all 
this  time  the  army  of  Gen.  Bragg  was  unmolest- 
ed and  in  full  retreat.  When  all  the  Federal 
preparations  were  complete,  the  Confederate 
rear  guard  hastily  retired.  The  Union  advance, 
on  the  next  day,  reached  Mt.  Vernon.  On  the 
next  day,  the  16th,  the  division  of  Gens.  Van 
Cleave  and  Smith  were  ordered  forward  ;  the 
rest  of  the  advance  halted.  At  this  time  Gen. 
McCook's  corps  and  a  part  of  Gen.  Gilbert's 
were  at  Crab  Orchard,  and  all  the  cavalry  had 


MILITARY  AM)  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


280 


been  ordered  to  the  rear  in  consequence  of  the 
difficulty  of  obtaining  forage  in  the  mountain- 
ous region.  On  the  hills  and  in  the  denies 
between  Mt.  Vernon  and  the  State  line,  ten 
thousand  men  would  be  as  effective  as  forty 
thousand  in  resisting  an  army.  The  pursuit  of 
the  Confederate  forces  now  lost  all  of  its  impor- 
tance. 

The  result  of  the  invasion  of  Kentucky  was' 
undoubtedly  regarded  by  the  Confederate  lead- 
ers as  successful  in  obtaining  supplies,  but  they 
were  greatly  chagrined  at  the  tardiness  of  the 
Kentuckians  to  rally  around  the  Confederate 
standard.  The  desertions  from  their  force  ex- 
ceeded the  number  of  recruits  obtained.  The 
Confederate  forces  now  retired  into  east  Ten- 
nessee, and  Gen.  Buell  fell  back  to  the  line  be- 
tween Louisville  and  Nashville;  where  he  was 
superseded  in  the  command  by  Major-Gen. 
Rosecrans,  under  the  orders  of  President  Lin- 
coln. Col.  Morgan,  with  t  small  guerilla  force, 
still  remained  in  the  State.  The  invasion  of 
eastern  Kentucky,  by  the  Confederate  forces, 
cut  off  the  line  of  communication  between  the 
Federal  forces  at  Cumberland  Gap  in  east  Ten- 
nessee and  the  north.  It  was  followed  by  the 
evacuation  of  that  strong  position  by  the  Union 
General,  G.  "W.  Morgan. 

Cumberland  Gap  is  south  and  a  little  east  of 
Lexington,  Ky.,  and  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  distant.  It  is  a  natural  gap  in  a 
mountain  nearly  eighty  miles  in  length.  There 
are  other  places  in  this  long  mountain  wTiich 
are  called  gaps,  but  this  name  is  given  more  from 
the  fact  that  the  summit  at  those  places  is  of 
more  easy  access  than  because  of  any  natural 
depression  of  the  mountain.  At  the  place  called 
Roger's  Gap,  next  to  Cumberland,  and  eighteen 
miles  west,  there  is  actually  no  gap ;  but  the 
road,  taking  advantage  of  a  succession  of  ridges 
on  the  northern  side  and  running  diagonally  on 
the  southern  side,  is  rendered  passable  by  man 
and  beast,  and  may,  by  great  exertions,  be 
passed  over  by  wagons  and  cannon.  The  dis- 
tance from  the  beginning  of  the  ascent  on  the 
one  side  to  the  ending  of  the  descent  on  the 
other  is  a  little  more  than  five  miles.  Sixteen 
miles  further  west  is  Big  Creek  Gap,  the  cross- 
ing at  which  is  a  little  more  difficult. 

The  mountain  on  each  side  of  Cumberland 
Gap  is  about  twelve  hundred  feet  high.  In 
the  gap  it  is  only  four  hundred  feet.  The  road 
through  the  notch  is  a  good  one.  On  the 
southern  side  the  mountain  is  abrupt  in  some 
places  and  almost  perpendicular,  and*  the  sum- 
mit is  inaccessible  without  the  greatest  danger, 
except  by  entering  the  gap  and  ascending  on 
either  the  right  or  left.  The  northern  side  is 
more  irregular,  breaking  off  in  a  succession  of 
smaller  mountains  and  hills,  to  the  valley  lying 
between  the  gap  and  Cumberland  Ford.  But 
the  main  mountain  towers  far  above  its  neigh- 
bors. Two  roads  from  Lexington,  Ky.,  lead 
to  the  gap.  One  passes  through  Nicholasville, 
Crab  Orchard,  and  Mt.  Vernon,  by  the  way 
of  Wild  Cat.  The  other  passes  through  Rich- 
19 


mond,  by  way  of  Big  Hill.  From  London, 
Ky.,  there  is  but  one  road.  It  is  flanked  on 
each  side  by  a  succession  of  hills  and  moun- 
tains, and  passes  through  Barboursville,  and 
crosses  the  Cumberland  Ford.  Wagons  or 
cannon  could  scarcely  pass  by  any  other  route. 
This  position  was  important  to  the  Confed- 
erate Government,  as  by  its  occupation  in 
force  they  could  hold  possession  of  east  Tennes- 
see, and  prevent  any  approach  from  the  north 
to  cut  their  northern  railroad  line  of  connec- 
fcion  between  Richmond  and  northern  Alabama, 
Mississippi,  Nashville,  Memphis,  and  other 
towns  on  the  Mississippi.  Its  occupation  was 
also  necessary  to  sustain  their  advance  into 
eastern  Kentucky.  A  small  Confederate  force, 
therefore,  took  possession  of  the  gap  soon  after 
the  commencement  of  hostilities.  On  the 
other  hand,  its  possession  was  important  to  the 
Federal  Government,  as  thereby  it  prevented 
the  invasion  of  Kentucky  from  the  southeast. 
It  was  also  the  stronghold  of  east  Tennessee, 
a  section  in  which  there  existed  among  the 
people  a  stronger  and  more  invincible  attach- 
ment to  the  Union  than  in  any  other  portion 
of  the  seceded  States.  After  the  defeat  of  the 
Confederate  forces  in  southeastern  Kentucky, 
under  Gen.  Zollicoffer,  a  body  of  Federal 
troops  advanced  in  the  direction  of  Cumberland 
Gap.  On  the  15th  of  February,  they  were  en- 
camped near  Cumberland  Ford,  about  ten  miles 
from  the  gap,  which  was  then  occupied  by 
about  two  thousand  Confederate  soldiers. 
Scouting  parties  were  sent  out  from  the  camp 
near  the  ford,  one  of  which  penetrated  the  gap 
and  captured  a  few  prisoners.  On  the  13th 
of  March,  another  expedition  consisting  of 
about  12  companies  of  infantry  and  86  cav- 
alry, started  from  camp  near  Barboursville, 
Ky.,  and.  crossing  the  mountain  near  Big  Creek 
Gap,  after  four  days  reached  Powell's  Valley, 
five  miles  from  Jacksborough,  where  a  body  of 
about  four  hundred  Confederate  cavalry  was 
surprised  and  routed,  and  their  camp  taken 
possession  of.  Another  body  at  Jacksborough, 
about  two  hundred  in  number,  was  next  driven 
out.  After  remaining  four  days,  the  Federal 
force  retired.  On  the  21st,  a  strong  expedi- 
tion moved  upon  the  gap  and  made  an  attack, 
and  cannonading  ensued  without  any  impor- 
tant result  except  developing  the  Confederate 
strength.  The  Confederate  occupation  of  the 
gap  continued  without  any  serious  interference 
until  Chattanooga  was  occupied  by  the  forces 
of  Gen.  Mitchell,  as  has  been  stated.  This  led 
to  its  evacuation  about  the  10th  of  June.  Pre- 
vious to  that  date,  Gen.  Geo.  W.  Morgan,  with 
a  division  of  Union  troops,  advanced  from 
Cumberland  Ford,  and  crossing  at  Roger's 
Gap,  prepared  to  cut  off  the  supplies  for  the 
small  force  then  at  Cumberland  Gap.  Their 
stock  at  the  time  was  small ;  the  Confederate 
forces  under  Gen.  E.  K.  Smith  had  moved 
south  from  east  Tennessee,  and  the  Union 
forces  at  hand  being  large,  and  threatening  in 
front  and  rear,  no  alternative  remained  to  the 


290 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


garrison  but  to  surrender  or  evacuate  the  po- 
sition. On  the  14th  of  July,  an  expedition 
was  sont  against  a  body  of  Confederate  cavalry 
at  Wallace  Cross  Roads,  and  after  a  brief  skir- 
mish the  latter  retired.  Again,  on  the  9th  of 
August,  Col.  De  Courcy  was  on  a  foraging 
expedition  with  the  16th  and  42d  Ohio,  14th 
and  22d  Kentucky,  when  the  14th  Kentucky, 
being  advanced  a  short  distance  beyond  Taze- 
well,  was  attacked  by  the  llth  and  42d  Ten- 
nessee, 30th  Alabama,  and  21st  Georgia,  under 
Col.  Rains.  A  severe  conflict  ensued,  in  which 
the  Confederate  forces  were  compelled  to  retire 
before  the  artillery  that  was  brought  to  the  aid 
of  the  Federal  forces. 

On  the  17th  of  August,  a  small  Confederate 
force  approached  in  front  of  the  position,  and 
attacked  a  body  of  Union  cavalry  some  two 
miles  out  in  the  valley,  who  were  compelled  to 
retire  with  a  loss  of  two  or  three  killed  and 
wounded.  Their  camp,  however,  was  pro- 
tected from  the  approach  of  the  Confederate 
force  by  the  guns  on  the  mountain.  On  the 
same  day  information  was  received  by  Gen. 
Morgan  that  a  large  Confederate  force  had  ap- 
peared at  Barboursville  and  London,  Ky.,  and 
captured  his  supply  trains  nearly  as  far  back  as 
Crab  Orchard.  Its  object  was  to  hold  the 
Blue  Grass  region  of  Kentucky,  and  ultimately 
to  force  the  entire  division  of  Gen.  Morgan  to 
surrender  or  hastily  evacuate  the  position. 
The  comparative  success  of  Gen.  Bragg  in  his 
movements  in  Kentucky,  cut  off  all  the  com- 
munications of  Gen.  Morgan,  and  by  Sept. 
11,  his  corn  was  all  gone  and  nothing  re- 
mained for  his  troops  but  a  scanty  supply  of 
beans  and  rice.  The  force,  however,  had  not 
remained  inactive  during  this  period ;  about 
three  hundred  prisoners  and  two  hundred 
horses  had  been  captured.  The  destitute  con- 
dition of  the  force  for  clothes  and  food,  caused 
the  evacuation  of  the  gap  by  Gen.  Morgan  on 
the  17th  of  September.  On  that  day  the  23d 
Indiana  and  the  9th  Ohio  battery  left  with 
all  the  ammunition.  During  the  succeeding 
night  all  the  troops  left  except  a  squad 
that  remained  to  finish  the  work  of  destruc-. 
tion.  The  magazine  was  blown  up,  and  the 
commissary  building  burned.  Nothing  but 
ammunition  and  a  few  of  the  most  useful 
cooking  utensils  were  brought  away.  Tents, 
wagons,  gun  carriages,  arms,  and  accoutre- 
ments were  changed  to  a  mass  of  fragments 
and  ashes.  The  line  of  retreat  was  two  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  with  a  large  Confederate  force 
intervening.  But  the  position  was  one  of  the 
strongest  in  the  country,  and  Gen.  Morgan  had 
represented  that  his  supplies  were  abundant. 
By  the  4th  of  October  the  division  reached  the 
Ohio  river.  It  had  foraged  on  the  country, 
but  suffered  at  times  for  water.  During  the 
entire  march,  a  Confederate  cavalry  force  har- 
assed the  retreat.  During  nineteen  nights  the 
troops  bivouacked  without  a  tent.  New  roads 
were  made,  trees  cut  out,  provisions  gathered, 
a  hovering  enemy  kept  at  check,  and  a  large 


force  brought  safely  through  to  the  borders  of 
Ohio. 

This  body  of  troops  under  Gen.  Morgan 
numbered  more  than  ten  thousand  men.  It 
brought  twenty-eight  pieces  of  artillery,  six  of 
which  were  20-pounder  siege  guns,  and  four 
hundred  wagons.  Four  heavy  siege  guns 
were  destroyed  before  evacuating  the  gap,  and 
'  a  large  number  of  sick  men  were  left  behind. 

The  march  was  through  a  mountainous  and 
unproductive  country.  A  court  of  inquiry  was 
subsequently  ordered  to  investigate  the  causes 
of  this  evacuation.  The  position  was  soon 
afterwards  occupied  by  a  small  Confederate 
force. 

It  has  been  stated,  that  on  the  advance  of 
the  Confederate  army  from  Richmond  to  at- 
tack the  forces  of  Gen.  Pope,  troops  were  sum- 
moned by  the  general-in-chief  from  points  ad- 
jacent to  come  to  his  support.  Among  others  a 
portion  of  the  troojfs  of  Gen.  Cox  in  western 
Virginia  were  brought  on  to  unite  with  the 
army  of  Virginia.  The  effect  of  thus  reducing 
the  force  in  western  Virginia  was  an  invasion 
by  a  Confederate  force  under  Gen.  Loring.  He 
advanced  up  the  Kanawha  Valley  as  far  as 
Charleston,  which  he  occupied  for  some  time. 
His  troops  were  finally  required  to  re  enforce 
Gen.  Lee's  army,  when  he  retired.  The  chief 
advantage  derived  from  this  invasion  by  the 
Confederate  people  was  the  seizure  of  the  salt 
works  in  the  Kanawha  Valley.  Perhaps  there 
was*no  article  of  which  they  were  so  destitute 
in  comparison  to  its  importance  as  salt.  It  was 
exchanged  by  the  Confederate  colonel  Echols, 
who  had  charge,  for  forage  for  his  troops. 
Affairs  remained  in  this  situation  until  the 
return  of  Gen.  Cox's  forces  early  in  November, 
when  the  Confederate  forces  retired. 

It  has  also  been  stated  that,  on  the  invasion 
of  Kentucky  by  Gen.  Bragg,  a  portion  of  Gen. 
Grant's  troops  were  withdrawn  from  Missis- 
sippi and  sent  to  Kentucky  and  Cincinnati  to 
give  confidence  to  the  "new  levies,  and  to  re- 
enforce  Gen.  Buell.  The  consequence  of  the 
withdrawal  of  these  troops  was  to  induce 
the  Confederate  officers  to  renew  their  opera- 
tions in  north  Mississippi  and  western  Tennes- 
see. On  the  departure  of  Gen.  Halleck  to 
take  the  position  of  general-in-chief,  Gen.  Grant 
was  put  in  command  of  the  department  of 
west  Tennessee,  including  the  districts  of 
Cairo  and  Mississippi,  that  part  of  the  State  of 
Mississippi  occupied  by  Federal  troops,  and  that 
part  of  Alabama  which  might  be  occupied  by 
the  troops  of  his  particular  command,  includ- 
ing the  forces  heretofore  known  as  the  army 
of  the  Mississippi. 

In  the  department  of  Gen.  Grant  it  became 
apparent  in  August  that  the  Confederate  forces 
south  of  his  position  had  assumed  a  threaten- 
ing attitude  upon  his  line  between  Corinth  in 
Mississippi,  and  Tuscumbia  in  Alabama.  On 
the  10th  of  September  the  2d  brigade  of  Gen. 
Stanley's  division,  commanded  by  Col.  Murphy, 
evacuated  Tuscumbia,  and  fell  back  thirty 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


291 


miles  upon  luka.  On  the  next  day  the  Ohio 
brigade,  which  had  been  occupying  luka,  fell 
back  to  Corinth,  leaving  the  force  with  Ool. 
Murphy  in  its  place.  Scarcely,  however,  had 
it  reached  Corinth  before  information  was  re- 
ceived that  a  body  of  Confederate  cavalry  had 
dashed  into  luka,  and  after  a  slight  skirmish 
put  the  force  of  Ool.  Murphy  to  flight.  A  con- 
siderable amount  of  medical  and  commissary 
stores  was  captured,  among  which  were  six 
hundred  and  eighty  barrels  of  flour  that  Col. 
Murphy  had  neglected  to  destroy.  Col.  Murphy 
was  immediately  placed  under  arrest  by  Gen. 
Rosecrans,  who  now  commanded  the  forces 
previously  under  Gen.  Pope,  and  the  brigade 
was  ordered  back  to  luka  under  Col.  Mower, 
It,  however,  finally  reached  the  neighborhood 
of  Jacinto,  and  was  there  instructed  to  await 
further  orders.  The  preparations  of  the  army 
for  an  active  campaign  were  now  commenced. 
Transportation  and  baggage  were  reduced,  and 
the  supply  of  tents  cut  down.  At  this  time 
information  was  received  that  the  Confederate 
general  Price  had  not  only  occupied  luka  in 
force,  but  was  endeavoring  to  cross  the  Tennes- 
see river  for  the  purpose  of  getting  in  the  rear 
of  Gen.  Buell,  then  falling  back  toward  Nash- 
ville. It  was  also  a  part  of  the  plan  of  Gen. 
Price,  by  his  movement  upon  luka,  to  draw 
the  Federal  forces  away  from  Corinth,  and 
thus  render  its  capture  easy  by  Gen.  Van  Dorn, 
who  was  to  attack  it  during  the  absence  of 
Gen.  Grant's  forces.  The  design  was  then 
formed  by  Gens.  Grant  and  Rosecrans  to  cut 
off  the  retreat  of  Gen.  Price,  and  force  him  to 
surrender.  For  this  purpose  eighteen  thousand 
men  under  Gens.  Grant  and  Ord  were  to  move 
by  way  of  Burnsville,  and  attack  Gen.  Price, 
while  Gen.  Rosecrans  should  move  with  part 
of  his  force  by  the  way  of  Jacinto,  and  attack 
him  on  the  flank ;  at  the  same  time  the  re- 
mainder of  Gen.  Rosecrans'  force  was  to  move 
on  the  Fulton  road  and  cut  off  Gen.  Price's  re- 
treat if  he  should  attempt  it.  "With  this  under- 
standing the  army  was  put  in  motion  on  the 
morning  of  the  18th  of  September.  The  divi- 
sions of  Gens.  Stanley  and  Hamilton  under  Gen. 
Rosecrans,  after  aTatiguing  march  in  a  drench- 
ing rain,  bivouacked  at  Jacinto.  Early  the  next 
morning  they  were  again  on  the  march,  and  at 
ten  o'clock  the  advance  encountered  the  Con- 
federate pickets  at  Barnett's  Corners.  A  sharp 
skirmish  ensued,  which  resulted  in  driving 
them  six  miles  toward  luka,  with  a  small 
loss.  At  this  time  the  entire  column  had  ar- 
rived at  Barnett's  Corners,  and  awaited,  ac- 
cording to  the  previous  understanding,  for  Gen. 
Grant  to  commence  the  attack,  which  would 
be  known  by  the  sound  of  his  artillery.  After 
two  hours  had  elapsed  a  despatch  arrived  from 
Gen.  Grant,  seven  miles  distant,  to  the  effect 
that  he  was  waiting  for  Gen.  Rosecrans  to  open 
the  battle.  The  column  was  immediately  moved 
forward  within  two  miles  of  luka,  when  the 
Confederate  force  was  discovered  posted  on  a 
broad  ridge  commanding  the  country  for  some 


distance.  The  Confederates  opened  fire  upon 
the  skirmishers  as  they  advanced  in  sight,  un- 
der which  Gen.  Hamilton's  division  formed  in 
line.  They  were  also  received  by  a  hot  fire  of 
artillery  and  musketry,  which  was  replied  to 
by  the  ^Ith  Ohio  battery,  that  had  now  got 
into  position.  The  engagement  soon  became 
general,  and  continued  for  two  hours,  when 
darkness  prevented  any  further  advantage  to 
either  side.  The  contest  was  exceedingly  fierc*e, 
and  the  troops  behaved  with  great  bravery. 
The  llth  Missouri  and  the  5th  Iowa  stood  the 
severest  portion  of  the  contest,  and  the  former 
lost  seventy-six,  and  the  latter  one  hundred 
and  sixteen  in  killed  and  wounded.  The  llth 
Ohio  battery  was  exposed  to  a  severe  fire  of 
musketry,  and  in  less  than  half  an  hour  seventy- 
two  of  its  men  were  killed  or  wounded.  The 
Confederate  officers,  perceiving  that  it  was 
poorly  supported,  ordered  a  charge  to  be  rrtade 
on  it,,  by  which  the  six  guns  were  captured, 
and  two  of  them  spiked.  It  was  afterward 
retaken  twice  by  the  5th  Iowa  at  the  point  of 
the  bayonet,  but  finally  fell  into  the  possession 
of  the  Confederates.  The  night  was  spent  in 
taking  care  of  the  wounded  and  burying  the 
dead,  while  the  troops  lay  on  their  arms  awaiting 
the  dawn  of  the  next  day  to  renew  the  battle. 
Early  in  the  morning,  as  no  movement  was 
perceived  on  the  part  of  the  Confederate  force 
like  renewing  the  contest,  Gen.  Rosecrans  or- 
dered his  line  of  pickets  to  advance.  Not  meet- 
ing with  any  opposition 'the  whole  force  was 
thrown  forward,  and  within  a  half  mile  of  the 
town  a  flag  of  truce  was  seen  approaching.  It 
reported  that  Gen.  Price  had  evacuated  the 
town  during  the  night.  Pursuit  was  immedi- 
ately made  and  kept  up  by  three  companies  of 
cavalry  during  the  day,  skirmishing  with  the 
Confederate  rear  guard,  and  capturing  many 
prisoners.  The  loss  of  Gen.  Rosecrans's  force 
was  148  killed,  570  wounded,  and  94  missing. 
The  Confederate  loss  was  supposed  to  be  larger 
in  killed  and  wounded,  and  about  one  thousand 
prisoners  were  taken  by  Gen.  Rosecrans.  At 
Inka  the  six  pieces  of  the  llth  Ohio  battery 
were  found,  having  been  abandoned,  and  also 
a  large  number  of  wounded,  and  commissary 
stores  and  camp  equipage.  Among  the  killed 
were  the  Confederate  generals  Lytle  and 
Berry.  Gen.  Whitfield  also  was  mortally 
wounded.  The  road  by  which  Gen.  Price  re- 
treated being  unobstructed,  he  marched  that 
day  twenty-seven  miles  to  Bay  Spring. 

The  force  of  Gen.  Grant  left  Corinth  at  the 
same  time  when  Gen.  Rosecrans  marched,  and 
reached  Burnsville,  Miss.,  in  the  afternoon. 
There  it  remained  one  night  and  the  next  day, 
and  then  pushed  forward  until  it  met  the  Con- 
federate pickets.  Then  it  retired  and  awaited 
the  next  morning,  when  a  flag  of  truce  was 
sent  to  the  Confederate  camp,  which  did  not 
return  until  late  in  the  afternoon.  Thus  while 
Gen.  Rosecrans  engaged  the  Confederates  on 
the  south,  Gen.  Grant  was  prevented  from  en- 
gaging them  on  the  west  and  north. 


292 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


The  effect  of  this  battle  was  to  relieve  Gen. 
Buell  from  all  danger  of  an  attack  by  Gen. 
Price  on  his  rear,  while  moving  against  Gen. 
Bragg.  On  the  22d  Gen.  Grant's  forces  re- 
turned-to  Corinth,  and  Gen.  Rosecrans  to  Ja- 
cinto.  Gen.  Van  Dorn  through  delays  had 
not  reached  Corinth  as  soon  as  had  been  plan- 
ned, and  Gen.  Grant  by  now  abandoning  luka 
reached  the  former  place  in  advance  of  Gen. 
Van  Dorn.  On  the  26th  Gen.  Rosecrans  pro- 
ceeded to  Corinth,  and  took  command  of  that 
position,  Gen.  Grant  having  been  ordered  to 
Jackson,  and  Gen.  Ord  to  Bolivar.  Jackson  is 
forty-seven  miles,  and  Bolivar  nineteen  miles 
by  railroad  north  of  Grand  Junction,  which  is 
forty-one  miles  by  railroad  west  of  Corinth. 
By  the  ordinary  routes  Jackson  is  fifty-one 
miles  north,  and  Bolivar  forty  miles  northwest 
of  Corinth.  Meantime,  Gen.  Price  retreating 
southwesterly  from  lukaby  Bay  Spring,  reached 
Baldwin,  Miss.,  thirty  miles.  Thence  he  moved 
northwest  to  Dumas,  fifteen  miles,  where  he 
joined  Gen.  Van  Dorn  ;  thence  to  Pocahontas, 
thirty  miles,  where  he  was  joined  by  Gen. 
Lovell ;  thence  down  the  Chewalla,  and  from 
thence  to  Corinth  by  the  old  State  Line  road. 
Gen  Van  Dorn  took  the  chief  command  at 
Dumas. 

Meanwhile  Gen.  Rosecrans,  anticipating  that 
an  attack  would  be  made  on  his  position  at 
Corinth,  prepared  to  meet  it.  The  fortifica- 
tions constructed  by  Gen.  Beauregard  in  the 
beginning  of  the  yesfr  were  on  the  north  and 
east,  and  two  miles  from  the  centre  of  Corinth, 
and  required  an  immense  force  to  occupy  them. 
After  Gen.  Halleck  took  possession  of  the 
town  he  constructed  a  line  of  intrenchments 
inside  those  of  Gen.  Beauregard.  Afterward, 
upon  consultation  between  Gens.  Grant  and 
Rosecrans,  it  was  determined  to  construct  a 
line  inside  that  of  Gen.  Halleck.  This  was 
done  under  the  direction  of  Capt.  Prim  of  the 
U.  S.  engineers.  It  consisted  of  a  chain  of  re- 
doubts, arranged  for  the  concentric  fire  of 
heavy  batteries.  Learning  the  approach  of  the 
Confederate  forces,  Gen.  Rosecrans  ordered 
Gen.  Oglebey  with  his  brigade  to  proceed  up 
the  Chewalla  road  and  meet  them,  with  instruc- 
tions to  resist  strongly  enough  to  draw  them  un- 
der the  defences  of  Corinth.  McArthur  next 
went  forward  and  sent  back  for  assistance.  Gen. 
Davis  was  then  ordered  to  send  a  small  force, 
but  moved  with  his  whole  division.  This  oc- 
cupied the  30th  of  September,  and  the  1st  and 
2d  of  October.  On  the  3d  the  Confederate 
force  was  greatly  increased,  and  the  fighting  be- 
came severe ;  Gen.  Oglesby  was  wounded,  and 
Gen.  Hackelman  killed,  and  the  loss  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners  was  considerable,  and 
the  Union  troops  were  driven  back  to  their 
defences. 

On  the  north  and  east  of  Corinth,  hill  and 
swampy  ground  alternate,  which  is  on  the 
whole  heavily  timbered.  On  the  left  hand 
side  of  the  railroad  there  is  occasionally  an 
open  field.  The  Union  army  faced  to  the 


north.  On  the  front  of  its  right  centre  there 
was  a  heavily  thicketed  swamp  almost  impass- 
able for  masses  of  infantry.  On  the  left  cen- 
tre the  ground  was  quite  hilly.  "Where  the 
right  wing  was  posted  it  was  rolling,  but  fell 
off  in  front  into  heavily  timbered  ground,  such 
as  to  be  swampy  in  rainy  weather.  The  Che- 
walla road  enters  the  town  on  the  left,  and  the 
Bolivar  road  on  the  right  centre.  Excepting  at 
this  last  named  point  Corinth  was  approach- 
able in  an  unbroken  line  of  battle.  The  new 
line  of  fortifications  consisted  of  four  revetted 
redoubts,  covering  the  whole  front  of  the  town, 
and  protecting  the  flanks.  The  front  of  the 
extreme  right  was  strengthened  by  the  old 
works  of  Gen.  Beauregard.  On  the  left  of  the 
extreme  right,  which  was  held  by  Gen.  Hamil- 
ton's division,  a  new  five-pun  battery  was  con- 
structed on  the  night  of  Friday  the-  3d.  This 
was  in  direct  range  of  the  point  where  the  Boli- 
var road  entered  the  town.  The  previously 
mentioned  fort  on  the  extreme  right  flanked 
that  road.  The  hills  over  which  the  Chewalla 
road  entered  the  town  were  commanded  by 
Fort  Williams,  which  mounted  twenty -pounder 
Parrotts.  On  a  high,  narrow  ridge  was  located 
Fort  Robinson,  which  with  Fort  Williams  en- 
filaded both  the  Chewalla  and  Bolivar  roads. 
Another  fort  on  the  extreme  left  protected  the 
left  and  strengthened  the  centre.  Several 
forts  in  the  rear  were  so  located  as  to  be  of 
much  service  during  the  action.  Their  guns 
were  reversed,  and  turned  toward  the  centre. 

On  the  extreme  right  was  stationed  the  divi- 
sion of  Gen.  Hamilton.  Its  right  rested  near 
the  fort  first  mentioned  and  the  old  works  of 
Gen.  Beauregard,  and  stretched  from  the  south 
side  of  the  road  to  Purdy.  Its  left  rested  be- 
hind Fort  Richardson.  On  the  left  Gen.  Davies' 
division  joined  it,  and  in  consecutive  order  six 
companies  of  Illinois  sharpshooters  and  Bnrke's 
Missouri  sharpshooters;  Gen.  Stanley's  division, 
consisting  of  two  brigades,  and  Gen.  McKean's 
division,  with  Gen.  Arthur's  brigade,  were  on 
the  extreme  left.  The  cavalry,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Col.  Misener,  was  stationed  on  the 
wings  and  in  the  rear.  Suitable  forces  were 
held  as  reserves  and  to  protect  the  rear.  The 
front  line  was  covered  by  crests  of  undulations 
on  the  surface.  On  the  night  of  the  3d,  the 
Confederate  line  was  formed  within  a  thousand 
yards  of  the  Union  position.  Before  daybreak 
the  Confederates  were  heard  at  work  planting  a 
battery  on  a  hill  in  front  of  and  about  200  yards 
from  Fort  Robinett,  and  soon  after  they  opened 
a  furious  fire  on  Corinth.  At  daylight,  the 
Parrott  guns  in  Fort  Williams  opened  upon 
this  Confederate  battery  and  in  a  few  minutes 
silenced  it.  Two  of  the  guns  were  removed, 
but  the  third  was  taken  and  drawn  within  the 
Federal  line.  Skirmishing  also  opened  at  vari- 
ous points  in  front,  which  was  constantly,  in- 
creasing to  the  magnitude  of  a  battle.  The 
Confederate  lines,  however,  were  still  invisible. 
About  half  past  nine  o'clock  dark  and  threat- 
ening masses  of  Confederate  troops  were  sud- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


293 


denly  discerned  on  the  east  of  the  railroad 
moving  up  the  Bolivar  road.  They  assumed  a 
wedge-like  form  and  advanced  impetuously. 
It  was  now  manifest  that  the  Confederate  force 
had  been  enticed  to  attack  at  the  very  point 
where  the  Federal  artillery  could  sweep  it  with 
direct,  cross,  and  enfilading  fire.  These  batter- 
ies rent  hideous  gaps  in  those  massive  lines, 
but  they  were  closed  at  once  and  inflexibly 
pressed  forward.  Suddenly  the  Confederate 
force  extended  to  the  right  and  left,  and  ap- 
proached covering  the  whole  field.  In  front 
of  them,  however,  was  a  broad  turfed  glacis 
sloping  upward  to  a  crest,  fringed  with  deter- 
mined soldiers  and  covered  with  frowning  bat- 
teries. The  few  obstructions  from  fallen  tim- 
ber produced  no  disorder  in  the  approaching 
lines  but  what  was  quickly  restored.  The  en- 
tire Federal  line  next  opened  fire,  but  the  Con- 
federate forces,  as  if  insensible  to  fear,  steadily 
pressed  forward  undismayed.  As  they  ap- 
proached the  crest  of  the  hill  in  front  and  to 
the  right  of  Fort  Richardson,  the  division  of 
Gen.  Davis,  although  not  in  immediate  danger, 
began  to  fall  back  in  disorder.  Gen.  Rosecrans, 
seeing  the  disgraceful  scene,  dashed  forward 
inflamed  with  indignation  and  began  thrash- 
ing the  fugitives  with  the  blade  of  his  sabre. 
His  staff,  and  even  his  orderlies,  followed  his 
example,  and  the  panic  was  checked  and  the 
line  restored.  Much  space  was  thus  lost,  and 
the  enemy  reached  the  headquarters  of  Gen. 
Rosscrans  and  took  possession.  The  loss  of 
fort  Richardson  now  appeared  certain.  The 
Confederates  gained  the  crest  of  the  hill', 
swarmed  around  the  little  redoubt,  and  were 
swept  away.  _  Again  they  came  like  infuriated 
tigers,  and  with  a  yell  made  a  desperate  dash 
before  which  the  battery,  unsupported,  gave 
way.  The  guns  were  seized,  but  before  they 
could  be  manned,  the  56th  Illinois,  rising  from 
cover  in  the  ravine,  fired  a  deadly  volley  and 
with  a  shout  made  a  sweeping  charge,  before 
which  the  Confederates  fled.  "When  the  divi- 
sion of  Gen.  Davis  broke,  it  was  necessary  for 
all  to  fall  back,  but  this  charge  of  the  56th 
Illinois  recovered  the  ground.  The  whole  line 
advanced,  and  the  Confederates  were  broken 
and  fled  to  the  woods,  whither  they  were  pur- 
sued. The  attack  on  the  Federal  right  was 
made  by  Gen.  Price.  On  the  left  Gen.  Van 
Dorn  was  expected  to  make  a  simultaneous  ap- 
proach and  thus  carry  Corinth  by  assault.  In 
the  extension  of  the  Confederate  right,  artificial 
obstructions  interfered.  Gen.  Van  Dorn  was 
obliged  to  move  with  his  left  over  a  rugged  ra- 
vine through  dense  thickets  and  over  a  heavy 
abatis  up  hill.  His  centre  moved  down  hill 
under  the  fire  of  Fort  "Williams,  the  siege  guns 
in  the  rear  of  the  town,  and  under  heavy  mus- 
ketry. His  right  was  obliged  to  move  round  a 
ridge  and  advance  over  almost  insurmountable 
abatis  under  the  direct  fire  of  both  Fort  Wil- 
liams and  Fort  Robinett  well  supported  by  ex- 
perienced troops.  Gen.  Van  Dorn's  advance 
had  necessarily  been  slower  than  that  of  Gen. 


Price,  and  the  latter  was  overwhelmed  and  de- 
feated when  the  former  was  ready  to  commence 
the  attack.  His  forces  advanced  steadily,  with 
troops  from  Mississippi  and  Texas  in  front. 
Huge  gaps  were  made  through  their  ranks  by 
the  great  guns  of  the  batteries,  but  they  closed 
and  at  once  moved  unflinchingly  onward.  The 
slaughter  was  great,  but  none  wavered.  As 
they  reached  the*  ditch  a  pause,  as  if  for 
breath,  was  made.  That  pause  was  fatal  to 
them.  The  two  redoubts,  Fort  Robinett  and 
Fort  "Williams,  were  on  the  same  ridge,  and  the 
former,  which  was  in  front,  was  commanded  by 
the  latter.  They  were  about  150  yards  apart. 
The  Ohio  brigade,  Col.  Fuller  commanding, 
was  formed  behind  the  ridge  on  the  right  of 
the  redoubts.  The  left  of  the  63d  Ohio  rested 
on  Fort  Robinett,  and  its  right  joined  the  left 
of  the  27th  Ohio ;  the  39th  Ohio  was  behind 
the  27th  supporting  it ;  the  right  of  the  43d 
Ohio  joined  the  left  of  the  63d,  forming  a  right 
angle  with  it,  and  extending  to  Fort  "Williams 
behind  the  crest  of  the  ridge.  The  llth  Mis- 
souri was  formed  behind  the  63d  Ohio,  with 
its  left  in  the  angle  and  the  regiment  facing 
obliquely  to  the  right  of  the  63d.  The  brigade 
were  required  to  lie  flat  on  their  faces,  and  re- 
serve their  fire  until  the  Confederates  were 
close  upon  them.  At  the  moment  when  the 
Confederate  advance  paused,  as  above  stated, 
the  63d  Ohio  was  ordered  to  fire.  An  offi- 
cer has  thus  described  the  scene  which  en- 
sued :  "  There  were  only  250  of  the  63d  in  the 
conflict,  but  their  volley  was  fearful.  It  is 
said  50  Confederates  fell  at  once.  Six  volleys 
were  fired  and  the  enemy  was  gone.  The  63d 
again  lay  down.  Directly  the  supporting  Con- 
federate brigade  advanced.  The  63d  was  order- 
ed to  make  a  half  left  wheel  to  sweep  the  front  of 
the  redoubt,  and  the  manoeuvre  was  handsomely 
executed.  The  llth  Missouri  moved  on  the 
left  into  line  into  the  vacant  space ;  the  43d 
moved  by  the  right  of  companies  to  the  left, 
and  the  27th  half-faced  to  the  left.  Suddenly 
the  enemy  appeared,  and  a  furious  storm  of 
lead  and  grape  was  launched  at  them.  The  63d 
fired  five  or  six  volleys  and  the  enemy  rushed 
upon  them.  A  terrific  hand  to  hand  combat 
ensued.  The  rage  of  the  combatants  was  furi- 
ous and  the  uproar  hideous.  It  lasted  hardly 
a  minute,  but  the  carnage  was  dreadful.  Bayo- 
nets were  used,  muskets  clubbed,  and  men  were 
felled  with  brawny  fists.  Our  noble  fellows 
were  victors,  but  at  a  sickening  cost.  Of  the  250 
of  the  splendid  63d,  125  lay  there  on  the  field, 
wounded,  dead,  or  dying.  The  last  final  strug- 
gle terminated  with  a  howl  of  rage  and  dismay: 
The  foe  flung  away  their  arms  and  fled  like 
frightened  stags  to  the  abatis  and  forests.  The 
batteries  were  still  vomiting  destruction.  "With 
the  enemy  plunging  in  upon  him,  brave  Robi- 
nett, with  his  faithful  gunners  of  the  1st  U.  S. 
artillery,  double  shotted  his  guns  and  belched 
death  upon  the  infuriate  host,  and  now  he 
sent  the  iron  hail  after  the  fugitives  with  re- 
lentless fury.  The  abatis  was  full  of  them, 


294 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


but  they  were  subdued.  Directly  they  began 
to  wave  their  handkerchiefs  upon  sticks  in 
token  of  submission,  shouting  to  spare  them 
"for  God's  sake."  Over  200  of  them  were 
taken  within  an  area  of  a  hundred  yards,  and 
more  than  200  of  them  fell  in  that  frightful 
assault  upon  Fort  Robinett.  Fifty- six  dead 
were  heaped  up  together  in  front  of  that  re- 
doubt, most  of  whom  wer»  of  the  2d  Texas 
and  4th  Mississippi." 

The  battle  was  now  over.  It  had  begun  in 
earnest  about  9  o'clock,  and  at  half  past  11  the 
Confederate  force  was  falling  back.  The  front 
was  so  thoroughly  masked  that  it  was  late  in 
the  afternoon  before  it  could  be  determined 
•whether  a  second  assault  was  intended.  Pur- 
suit in  force  could  not  be  attempted  before  ra- 
tions and  ammunition  were  provided.  It  was 
3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  next  day,  Sun- 
day the  5th,  before  the  column  moved  in  light 
order  and  swiftly.  The  vigor  and  determina- 
tion with  which  <ren.  Rosecrans  would  pursue 
a  flying  foe  may  be  understood  from  his  views 
expressed  to  his  officers :  "  Follow  close ;  force 
them  to  pass  to- the  rear ;  compel  them  to  form 
often  in  line  of  battle  and  so  harass  and  dis- 
courage them;  prevent  them  from  communi- 
cating from  front  to  rear ;  give  them  no  time 
to  distribute  subsistence ;  don't  let  them  sleep." 
Meantime,  after  the  Confederate  force  had  re- 
tired, Gen.  McPherson  arrived  with  3  regiments 
from  Jackson,  and  led  the  van  of  the  pursuit. 

The  Confederate  force  retreated  by  the  route 
on  which  they  had  advanced,  which  was  the 
Chewalla  road.  It  was  necessary  for  them  to 
cross  the  Tuscumbia  river  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Pocahontas.  They  sent  a  body  of  troops  to 
protect  the  Hatchie  river  bridge,  which  is  two 
miles  from  the  bridge  across  the  Tuscumbia. 
On  the  4th  Gens.  Ord  and  Hurlbut,.  from  Gen. 
Grant's  force,  moved  down  and  encountered 
this  detachment  and  defeated  it,  capturing  a 
large  number  of  prisoners  and  two  batteries  of 
6  guns.  The  Federal  loss  here  was  50  killed, 
493  wounded,  and  17  prisoners.  This  action 
compelled  the  Confederate  force  to  retrace 
their  steps  and  by  making  a  wide  circuit  they 
finally  crossed  the  Hatchie  at  Crum's  Mill, 
about  6  miles  farther  up.  Gen.  Rosecrans, 
however,  continued  the  pursuit  to  Ripley, 
whence  he  was  ordered  by  Gen.  Grant  to  return. 
He  captured  nearly  1,000  prisoners,  part  of  the 
Confederate  ammunition  and  baggage  trains, 
and  11  guns.  The  Federal  loss  at  Corinth  was 
stated  at  315  killed,  1,312 'wounded,  and  232 
prisoners,  taken  chiefly  on  Friday,  and  two 
jParrott  guns.  The  additional  effects  of  the 
battle  are  thus  stated  by  Gen.  Rosocrans  in 
an  address  to  his  troops,  dated  October  25 : 

I  have  now  received  the  reports  of  the  various  com- 
manders. I  have  now  to  tell  you  that  the  magnitude 
of  the  stake,  the  battle  and  the  results,  become  more 
than  ever  apparent.  Upon  the  issue  of  this  fight  de- 
pended the  possession  of  west  Tennessee,  and  perhaps 
even  the  fate  of  operations  in  Kentucky.  The  entire 
available  force  of  the  rebels  in  Mississippi,  save  a  few 
garrisons  and  n  small  reserve,  attacked  you.  They 


were  commanded  by  Van  Dora,  Price,  Villipigue,  Rust, 
Armstrong,  ilaury,  and  others  in  person.  They  num- 
bered, according  to  their  own  authorities,  nearly  40,000 
men — almost  double  your  own  numbers.  You  fought 
them  into  the  position  we  desired  on  the  3d,  punishing 
them  terribly ;  and  on  the  4th,  in  3  hours  after  the  in- 
fantry went  into  action,  they  were  completely  beaten. 
You  killed  and  buried  1,423  officers  and  men ;  some 
of  their  most  distinguished  officers  falling— among 
whom  was  the  gallant  Colonel  Rogers,  of  the  2d  Texas, 
who  bore  their  colors  at  the  head  of  his  storming  col- 
umn to  the  edge  of  the  ditch  of  "Battery  Robinett," 
where  he  fell.  Their  wounded,  at  the  usual  rate,  must 
exceed  5,000.  You  took  2,268  prisoners,  among  whom 
are  137  field  officers,  captains,  and  subalterns,  repre- 
senting 53  regiments  of  infantry ;  16  regiments  cav- 
alry ;  13  batteries  of  artillery ;  7  battalions  ;  mak- 
ing 69  regiments,  13  batteries,  7  battalions,  besides 
several  companies.  You  captured  3,300  stands  of 
small  arms,  14  stands  of  colors,  2  pieces  of  artillery, 
and  a  large  quantity  of  equipments.  You  pursued  his 
retreating  columns  40  miles  in  force  with  infantry,  and 
69  miles  with  cavalry,  and  were  ready  to  follow  him  to 
Mobile,  if  necessary,  had  you  received  orders.  I  con- 
gratulate you  on  these  decisive  results ;  in  the  name  of 
the  Government  and  the  people,  I  thank  you.  I  beg 
you  to  unite  with  me  in  giving  humble  thanks  to  the 
Great  Master  of  all  for  our  victories. 

After  the  battle  at  Corinth  and  the  pursuit 
of  the  Confederate  force,  the  troops  of  Gen. 
Grant  returned  to  their  respective  positions. 
Gen.  Rosecrans,  on  the  25th  of  October,  was  or- 
dered from  Corinth  to  Cincinnati  to  take  com- 
mand of  the  forces  preparing  for  a  new  cam- 
paign. On  the  4th  of  November  the  forces  of 
Gen.  Grant  advanced  from  Jackson  and  Boli- 
var to  Lagrange,  3  miles  east  of  Grand  Junc- 
tion on  the  Cairo  and  New  Orleans  railroad. 
The  scattered  forces  of  Gens.  Van  Dorn  and 
Price  had  rallied  and  were  within  20  miles  of 
the  same  place,  at  Cold  Water  and  Holly  Springs, 
Mississippi.  Their  numbers  had  not  been  in- 
creased by  reinforcements,  but  they  had  been 
rendered  more  effective  by  concentration.  The 
forces  of  Gen.  Grant  had  been  slightly  increased 
by  the  new  levies.  His  army  was  required  to 
garrison  Columbus,  Humboldt,  Trenton,  Jack- 
son, Bolivar,  Corinth,  and  Grand  Junction,  and 
was  now  designated  as  the  army  of  west  Ten- 
nessee. The  position  of  the  army  was  un- 
changed until  near  the  end  of  November.  It 
required  reinforcements  and  supplies.  Active 
efforts  were  made  to  repair  the  Memphis  rail- 
road in  order  that  supplies  might  be  brought 
from  that  point  instead  of  Columbus  in  Ken- 
tucky. The  distance  to  the  latter  place  is  138 
miles,  and  to  the  former,  from  Lagrange,  49 
miles.  On  the  south  a  small  body  of  troops 
was  thrown  forward  a  few  miles  to  Davis's 
Mills,  and  on  the  west  a  heavy  force  had  been 
stationed  at  Moscow.  On  the  28th,  however, 
the  advance  of  Gen.  Hamilton's  corps  began  to 
move  in  the  direction  of  Holly  Springs,  which 

S'ace  was  reached  on  the  29th.  By  the  1st  of 
ecember,  Gen.  Grant's  forces  had  arrived  and 
were  chiefly  encamped  at  Lumpkin's  Mills,  south 
of  Holly  Springs,  and  7  miles  north  of  the  Tal- 
lahatchie  river.  The  Confederate  force  had  re- 
tired to  the  river.  At  the  same  time  that  the 
movement  was  commenced  from  Davis's  Mills, 
a  division  of  Gen.  Curtis's  army  left  Helena, 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


295 


Ark.,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  flank  move- 
ment on  the  Confederate  force  on  the  Tallahat- 
chie and  getting  in  their  rear,  and  thus  cutting 
off  their  retreat  while  the  main  army  advanced 
upon  them.  On  the  river  extensive  fortifica- 
tions had  been  thrown  up  as  if  for  the  purpose 
of  making  a  determined  stand  against  the  prog- 

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ress  of  the  Federal  army.  These,  however, 
were  abandoned  on  Dec.  1  by  Gen.  Van  Dorn, 
and  his  forces  retired  farther  south.  It  was 
supposed  that  information  of  the  flank  move- 
ment from  Helena  led  to  the  evacuation  of  his 
strong  position  on  the  Tallahatchie.  On  the  2d 
his  rear  guard  passed  through  Abbeville,  and 
on  the  3d  through  Oxford,  with  some  sharp 


skirmishes  with  the  Federal  advance.  On  the 
4th  Gen.  Grant's  headquarters  were  at  Oxford. 
The  main  body  of  the  army  was  at  Abbeville. 
As  it  advanced,  the  bridges  and  culverts  of  the 
railroad  were  repaired,  the  track  restored,  and 
the  cars  run.  At  the  same  time  the  Confed- 
erate force  continued  to  fall  back  toward  Gre- 
nada, presenting  only  a  strong  rear  guard. 

Meantime  the  expedition  from  Helena  above- 
mentioned,  moved  on  the  27th  of  Novem- 
ber with  seven  thousand  men  under  Gen.  Al- 
vin  P.  Hovey.  On  the  next  day  he  crossed 
the  Tallahatchie.  The  passage  was  disputed 
by  Confederate  pickets  without  loss.  On  the 
30th  a  second  skirmish  occurred  at  the  Yack- 
napatapha,  after  the  crossing  of  which  the 
Confederate  forces  retired  toward  Cofieeville. 
The  next  movement  of  Gen.  Hovey  was  to  cut 
the  Mississippi  Central  railroad  and  the  tele- 
graph line.  The  railroad  line  was  destroyed 
for  a  considerable  distance.  The  Confederate 
communication  on  the  Mississippi  and  Tennes- 
see railroad  for  a  short  distance  was  next  cut 
near  Panola,  by  a  cavalry  force  sent  out  by 
Gen.  Hovey  under  Col.  Washburn.  In  exe- 
cuting this  order,  on  Dec.  1,  Col.  "Washburn 
unexpectedly  encountered  a  cavalry  force  near 
Oakland,  on  the  Mississippi  and  Tennessee 
railroad,  and  a  sharp  skirmish  ensued.  The 
superiority  of  the  Federal  artillery  soon  put  an 
end  to  it,  and  the  Confederate  forces  retired  in 
the  direction  of  Coffeeville,  with  a  loss  of  five 
killed,  several  wounded,  and  about  fifty  taken 
prisoners.  The  loss  of  Col.  Washburn  was 
fifteen  men  wounded  and  fifteen  horses  killed. 
The  steamboats  and  small  craft  on  the  Talla- 
hatchie river  were  destroyed,  and  two  loco- 
motives and  some  cars  on  the  railroad,  and  the 
expedition  then  returned  to  Helena.  The  effect 
of  this  movement  was  to  cause  the  Confederate 
force  under  Gen.  Pemberton  to  fall  back  from 
the  Tallahatchie,  evacuate  Grenada,  and  re- 
tire toward  Canton,  under  the  impression 
that  the  entire  command  of  Gen.  Grant  was 
very  strong.  The  effect  of  the  return  of  this 
force  to  Helena  was  to  restore  the  confidence 
of  the  Confederate  general  Van  Dorn,  and  an  at- 
tack upon  Gen.  Grant's  rear,  in  order  to  cnt 
off  his  supplies,  was  immediately  organized,  and 
on  the  20th,  while  Gen.  Grant's  headquarters 
were  at  Oxford,  an  attack  by  surprise  was 
made  on  the  garrison  at  Holly  Springs,  thirty 
miles  north,  by  a  considerable  force  of  cavalry, 
to  whom  the  place  was  surrendered.  The 
prisoners  were  paroled,  the  immense  stores 
collected  there  for  Gen.  Grant's  army  were 
destroyed,  also  a  large  quantity  of  cotton  which 
had  been  purchased  of  the  people  in  the  vicin- 
ity. On  the  same  day  a  similar  attack  was 
made  at  Davis's  Mills,  a  little  farther  north, 
which  was  bravely  repulsed.  Near  Jackson, 
in  Tennessee,  previously  the  headquarters  of 
Gen.  Grant,  an  attack  was  made  on  the  19th 
by  a  body  of  cavalry  with  artillery,  under  Col. 
Forrest.  It  was  first  made  upon  a  train  loaded 
with  wood.  The  telegraph  wire  was  also  cut, 


296 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


and  the  road  destroyed.  On  the  next  day 
Humboldt  was  captured,  and  an  attack  was 
made  on  Trenton,  which  was  soon  surrendered 
by  Col.  Fry  in  command.  The  railroad  depot 
was  burned  with  all  the  stores  and  cotton  in 
it.  Other  stations  on  the  road,  as  Dyer,  Ruth- 
erford, and  Keaton,  were  taken  on  the  same 
day.  The  purpose  was  to  destroy  every  bridge 
on  the  railroad  from  Columbus  to  Corinth  and 
Grand  Junction,  and  thus  cut  off  the  route  for 
supplies  to  Gen.  Grant's  army.  The  conse- 
quence of  destroying  his  depot  of  supplies,  and 
disturbing  his  line  of  communication,  was  to 
make  Gen.  Grant  fall  back  upon  Holly*  Springs. 
Subsequently  Col.  Forrest's  force  was  entirely 
routed  by  Col.  Sweeney. 

Meanwhile  troops  had  been  collected  at 
Cairo  and  Memphis,  for  an  expedition  against 
Vicksburg.  This  had  been  done  within  the 
department  of  Gen.  Grant,  and  the  command- 
er of  the  expedition,  Gen.  Sherman,  was  sta- 
tioned at  Memphis  in  the  same  department,  and 
under  the  command  of  Gen.  Grant.  It  was 
an  object  of  Gen.  Grant's  movements  into 
Mississippi,  just  related,  to  reach  Jackson 
in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg,  and  thus  cooperate 
with  Gen.  Sherman.  In  this  design  he  was 
unsuccessful,  and  obliged  to  fall  back  in  con- 
sequence of  the  attacks  on  his  line  of  com- 
munication. After  falling  back  upon  Holly 
Springs,  a  division  of  his  troops  was  sent  to 
join  Gen.  Sherman.  The  future  proceedings 
of  Gen.  Grant  and  of  this  Expedition  properly 
belong  to  the  record  of  1863. 

The  second  campaign  in  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee during  the  year  was  virtually  ended. 
The  forces  of  Gen.  Grant  were  reduced  by 
a  detachment  of  ten  thousand  men  to  aid 
Gen.  Sherman  in  the  capture  of  Vicksburg, 
which  was  a  part  of  the  new  campaign. 

Meanwhile  the  calls  of  the  President  for  six 
hundred  thousand  additional  troops  were  pro- 
ducing their  effect.  Vast  forces  were  gather- 
ing, and  new  campaigns  were  about  to  com- 
mence. The  great  march  of  the  Northwest 
sweeping  everything  before  it  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  was  now  to  be  made.  The  Govern- 
ment had  found  that  the  Western  people  would 
bear  no  longer  with  its  futile  efforts  to  open 
the  Mississippi  and  to  seize  the  Southern  val- 
ley. "What  we  need,"  said  President  Lin- 
coln, "  is  a  military  success ;  "  money  and  men 
had  been  promptly  furnished  to  the  full  extent 
of  the  request. 

This  new  campaign  contemplated  the  ad- 
vance of  a  powerful  army  under  Gen.  Rose- 
crans  through  Tennessee  into  Alabama ;  the 
movement  of  a  military  and  naval  expedition 
from  Cairo  upon  Vicksburg ;  the  cooperation 
of  an  expedition  under  Gen.  Banks  from  New 
Orleans,  and  thence  into  Texas  ^  and  an  ad- 
vance from  Missouri  upon  Arkansas ;  and  also 
from  Kansas  upon  the  Indian  country  and 
northern  Texas.  Thus  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment would  not  only  open  the  Mississippi  river, 
but  occupy  all  the  Southwestern  States,  and  re- 


duce the  Confederate  forces  to  the  limits  of  the 
Atlantic  States. 

On  the  25th  of  October,  Gen.  Rosecrans  was 
ordered  to  Cincinnati  to  take  command  of  the 
army  of  the  Ohio,  as  already  stated.  This  com- 
mand consisted  of  what  remained  of  the  splen- 
did army  of  Gen.  Buell,  reenforced  by  new  but 
raw  levies,  until  it  became  the  second  army  in 
size  of  the  United  States.  The  preparation  for 
his  campaign  was  no  ordinary  effort. 

The  new  troops  were  to  be  drilled,  disci- 
plined, and  made  reliable;  equipments,  arms, 
horses,  and  stores  of  every  kind  were  needed. 

The  country  in  which  he  proposed  to  march 
had  just  been  swept  of  its  forage,  by  two  ar- 
mies—that of  Gen.  Buell,  and  that  of  Gen. 
Bragg.  His  supplies  must  come  from  the 
States  of  the  Northwest.  Only  two  routes  ex- 
isted for  their  conveyance :  the  Cumberland 
river,  which  was  at  too  low  a  stage  of  water 
for  successful  navigation,  and  the  Louisville 
and  Nashville  railroad,  on  which  the  bridges 
had  been  burned,  and  the  tunnel  at  Gallatin  de- 
stroyed. The  work  of  preparation  and  organi- 
zation was  vigorously  begun,  and  his  army 
soon  began  to  move  southward.  On  the  1st 
of  November  Gen.  Rosecrans  moved  to  Bow- 
ling Green,  and  on  the  5th  three  divisions  of 
Gen.  McCook's  corps  moved  farther  on  their 
way  to  Tennessee. 

The  commanders  of  the  corps  of  the  whole 
army  were  Gens.  Thomas,  McCook,  Rousseau, 
and  Crittenden.  On  the  Yth  the  corps  of  Gen. 
McCook  passed  through  Nashville. 

The  Louisville  and  Nashville  railroad  was 
completed  on  the  8th  to  Mitchellsville  on  the 
northern  line  of  Tennessee.  On  the  10th,  Gen. 
Rosecrans  arrived  at  Nashville,  and  from 
that  time  to  the  close  of  the  year  he  was  con- 
stantly engaged  in  concentrating,  reorganizing, 
reequipping,  and  disciplining  his  army,  accu- 
mulating supplies  by  the  railroad,  of  which 
there  was  only  a  single  track,  and  preparing  for 
a  forward  movement.  As  early  as  the  25th  of 
November,  the  Confederate  army  manifested 
a  purpose  to  contest  the  occupation  of  middle 
Tennessee.  The  railroad  bridge  at  Bridgeport 
was  repaired  and  troops  hurried  to  Murfrees- 
borough.  Gen.  Joseph  Johnston  had  been  placed 
in  command  of  this  Confederate  department, 
although  unable  to  .engage  in  active  field  oper- 
ations. The  Confederate  forces  were  stationed 
atLavergne,  Murfreesborough,  McMinnville,  &c. 
Their  numbers,  under  Gen.  Bragg,  were  esti- 
mated at  forty-five  thousand  effective  men.  He 
had  been  led  to  believe  by  the  spies  of  Gen. 
Rosecrans  that  the  latter  intended  to  go  into 
winter  quarters  at  Nashville,  and  had  despatch- 
ed one  body  of  cavalry  under  Gen.  Forrest  to 
cut  off  Gen.  Grant's  communication,  and  an- 
other body  under  Col.  Morgan  to  cut  the  com- 
munication of  Gen.  Rosecrans  in  Kentucky, 
and  also  a  body  of  infantry  to  the  Confederate 
army  of  Mississippi.  This  appeared  to  be  the 
opportunity  for  Gen.  Rosecrans  to  strike  an 
effective  blow.  At  this  time,  the  Federal  army 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


297 


occupied  a  line  of  about  ten  miles  on  the  south- 
easterly front  of  Nashville  facing  south,  the  right 
resting  on  the  right  of  the  Franklin  turnpike, 
the  centre  extending  out  to  Breakville  on  the 
Nolinsville  turnpike,  and  the  left  covered  by 
Mill  Creek,  some  six  or  eight  miles  from  Nash- 
ville, with  outposts  describing  an  irregular 
semicircle,  covering  a  distance  of  nine  miles 
from  the  city.  To  this  front  the  Confederate 
army  presented  its  force  with  outposts  about 
two  miles  distant.  Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith's  corps, 
with  part  of  Col.  Morgan's  cavalry,  occupied 
the  Confederate  right ;  the  corps  of  Gen.  Polk, 
with  Col.  Wheeler's  cavalry  brigade,  occupied 
the  centre  at  Lavergne;  Gen.  Hardee's  corps 
at  Triune  and  Nolinsville,  with  Col.  Wharton's 
cavalry  in  front,  occupied  the  left.  On  the 
night  of  the  25th,  Christmas,  the  determina- 
tion for  an  advance  the  next  day  was  made. 
The  respective  columns  were  so  disposed  as  to 
move  down  "Wilson's,  the  Nolinsville,  Murfrees- 
borough,  and  Jefferson  turnpikes.  The  general 
plan  was  to  move  a  brigade  down  Wilson's 
turnpike  to  protect  the  right,  while  Gen.  Negley 
should  endeavor  to  turn  the  Confederate  left 
and  get  into  its  rear ;  Gen.  McCook's  corps 
was  to  press  directly  upon  Gen.  Hardee  at  No- 
linsville and  Triune,  while  Gen.  Crittenden  push- 
ed down  the  Murfreesborough  and  Jefferson 
turnpikes.  At  dawn  on  the  26th,  the  troops 
broke  up  camp  with  wild  shouts  and  poured 
along  the  highways.  Gen.  McCook's  corps 
marched  steadily  down  the  road  with  skirmish- 
ers widely  spread  out.  The  Confederates  re- 
sisted sharply,  but  were  steadily  driven,  the 
Federal  loss  being  small.  Gen.  Crittenden  ad- 
vanced to  Lavergne  without  opposition.  The 
Confederates  retired  rapidly  before  his  skir- 
mishers. On  the  next  day,  the  27th,  the  Con- 
federate force  continued  to  retire  as  the  Fed- 
erals advanced  with  sharp  skirmishing.  At 
four  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  Confederate  right  had 
been  driven  over  the  bridge  across  Stewart's 
Creek,  on  the  Jefferson  turnpike,  which  they 
were  prevented  from  destroying.  They  were 
also  driven  over  the  bridge  across  the  same  creek 
on  the  Murfreesborough  turnpike  so  rapidly 
as  to  be  unable  to  destroy  it.  Both  structures 
came  into  the  possession  of  the  Federal  forces, 
all  the  columns  of  which  had  now  closed  up. 
It  was  now  apparent  from  the  course  of  the 
Confederate  retreat  that  their  purpose  was  to 
concentrate  near  Stone  Creek  or  river.  On 
Sunday  the  28th,  Gen.  Thomas  advanced  his 
camp  across  Stewart's  Creek,  and  joined  the 
left.  Next  day,  Gen.  McCook  moved  within 
seven  miles  of  Murfreesborough,  and  Gen.  Crit- 
tenden moved  within  three  miles,  Gen.  Negley 
advanced  to  the  centre,  and  Gen.  Rousseau's 
division  was  placed  in  reserve,  on  the  right  of 
Gen.  Crittenden.  On  the  30th,  Gen.  McCook 
advanced  through  thickets,  stubbornly  resisted 
by  the  Confederates,  and  pressed  Gen.  Hardee's 
corps  in  his  front  in  line  of  battle.  The  front 
of  this  Confederate  corps  crossed  the  Federal 
right  obliquely,  in  a  position  which,  if  extend- 


ed, would  flank  it.  The  centre,  under  Gen. 
Negley,  was  slightly  advanced  into  a  cedar 
wood,  and  was  engaged  in  reconnoitring  un- 
der sharp  resistance,  and  in  cutting  roads 
through  the  dense  forest  to  open  communica- 
tion with  the  right.  The  left  was  in  a  line 
corresponding  with  the  course  of  Stone  river. 
The  right  division  of  Gen.  McCook  now  faced 
to  the  southeast,  and  two  brigades  were  • 
thrown  out  on  the  extreme  right,  some- 
what in  reserve.  The  Confederate  force  was 
concentrated  within  two  miles  of  Murfrees- 
borough, with  its  right  resting  on  the  Lebanon 
turnpike,  thence  extending  west  across  Lytle's 
Creek  and  the  Nashville  turnpike,  and  under 
the  command  of  Gen.  Leonidas  Polk.  It  con- 
sisted of  three  divisions  under  Gens.  Cheathairr^- 
Breckinridge,  and  Buckner.  The  Confederate 
centre  was  composed  of  three  divisions  of  Ge&, 
E.  Kirby  Smith ;  the  left  was  under  the  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Hardee,  and  rested  on  the  Frank- 
lin and  Murfreesborough  road.  This  position  of 
the  Confederate  army  gave  to  it  the  advantage 
of  strong  natural  fortifications,  with  their  centre 
effectually  masked  by  almost  impenetrable  ce- 
dar forests.  Constant  skirmishing  was  going 
on  between  both  forces,  and  it  was  manifest 
that  another  day  would  witness  the  impending  • 
battle.  At  this  time  assaults  were  made  by 
cavalry  on  the  Federal  rear,  and  several  trains 
were  captured.  During  the  night  it  was  evi- 
dent that  the  Confederate  forces  were  massing 
on  the  right  of  Gen.  Rosecrans,  and  his  plan 
was  formed  to  give  ground  a  little,  if  necessary, 
on  that  wing,  and  to  advance  the  left  at  the 
same  time  into  Murfreesborough.  The  execu- 
tion of  this  purpose  was  prevented  by  the  great 
force  of  the  Confederate  attack  on  the  right. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  31st,  the  attack 
was  made  along  the  entire  line  of  the  Federal 
right  under  Gen.  McCook.  The  weather  was 
foggy,  and  the  appearance  of  the  Confederate 
force  was  sudden.  No  preparations  up  to  this 
time  for  an  advance  or  an  assault  had  been 
made.  An  attack  very  early  in  the  morning 
had  been  anticipated ;  but  as  it  did  not  come,  a 
degree  of  carelessness  and  indifference  had 
taken  possession  of  both  officers  and  men,  and 
all  precautions  were  in  a  degree  abandoned. 
The  opposing  lines  of  the  two  hostile  wings 
had  formed  on  the  opposite  sides  of  a  val- 
ley which  narrowed  toward  the  Federal  left. 
Gen.  McCook's  corps  consisted  of  three  divi- 
sions which  formed  this  line.  On  the  left  was 
the  division  of  Gen.  Sheridan,  in  the  centre 
that  of  Gen.  Davis,  and  on  the  right  that  of 
Gen.  Johnson.  The  attack  was  made  along  the 
entire  front  at  once  by  the  Confederate  force, 
rapidly  advancing  in  double  columns.  Before 
the  divisions  of  Gens.  Johnson  and  Davis  could 
form,  the  Confederate  batteries  opened  upon 
them,  and  their  infantry  soon  after  became  en- 
gaged at  short  range,  rapidly  advancing  and 
preparing  to  charge  bayonets.  Two  batter- 
ies of  Gen.  Johnson's  division  were  taken  be- 
fore a  gun  was  fired ;  and  the  irregular  fire  of 


298 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


the  others,  many  of  which  had  no  horses  near 
at  hand,  and  the  desultory  fire  of  the  incom- 
plete line  did  not  cause  the  Confederate  line  to 
waver,  much  less  repulse  it.  One  brigade  of 
Gen.  Johnson's  was  broken  and  fled  to  the 
rear,  leaving  the  artillery  they  should  have 
supported,  and  the  men  were  shot  down  at 
the  guns.  The  rest  of  the  division  fell  back, 
and  with  them  a  few  of  the  guns.  The  line  of 
Gen.  Davis's  division,  which  was  attacked  at  the 
same  time,  was  also  imperfectly  formed.  In 
vain  it  attempted  to  hold  its  position.  Like 
that  of  Gen.  Johnson,  it  was  crushed  and  bro- 
ken, and  three  entire  batteries  lost.  The  di- 
vision of  Gen.  Sheridan,  when  first  assailed, 
withstood  the  shock,  and  forced  back  the  Con- 
federate line ;  but  when  the  division  of  Gen. 
Davis  was  driven  back  it  stoutly  resisted,  and 
endeavored  to  hold  the  position  until  the 
others  could  be  rallied  in  the  rear,  and  ad- 
vanced to  its  support.  The  effort,  however, 
was  unsuccessful,  and  like  the  others,  his  divi- 
sion retreated.  The  divisions  of  Gens.  Johnson 
and  Davis  had  in  the  mean  time  formed  in  the 
rear,  and  endeavored  to  stay  the  Confederate 
progress.  They  were  unsuccessful,  but  main- 
tained their  line  and  fell  back  in  good  order, 
and  again  formed  at  the  first  good  position. 
In  like  manner  Gen.  Sheridan  proceeded.  No 
guns  were  captured  after  the  first  assault,  and 
the  mass  of  prisoners  was  taken  during  this 
retreat.  The  object  of  Gen.  Bragg  was  to  turn 
the  right  flank,  but  this  failed.  Gen.  Eosecrans, 
on  the  other  hand,  prepared  to  stop  the  prog- 
ress of  the  Confederates  on  his  right,  without  ex- 
posing his  centre  and  left  to  immediate  danger. 
His  left  wing  could  not  be  advanced  to  Mur- 
freesborough,  because  his  right  was  gone.  He, 
therefore,  massed  his  artillery  upon  his  centre, 
at  the  probable  point  of  assault.  These  move- 
ments were  concealed  by  forests,  and  were  un- 
perceived  by  the  enemy.  Gen.  Negley  now 
ordered  forward  the  advance  of  the  centre,  con- 
sisting of  two  small  brigades  to  protect  the  re- 
treating forces  of  Gen.  McCook.  These  were 
supported  by  the  division  of  Gen.  Eousseau,and 
served  to  check  the  Confederate  force  in  its 
pursuit  of  the  right  wing.  As  the  enemy  ap- 
proached these  brigades,  they  retired  slowly. 
The  former,  unsuspecting  it  to  be  a  decoy, 
rushed  forward,  and  were  received  with  such 
a  cross-fire  of  double  shotted  canister  from 
two  batteries  and  a  volley  from  a  brigade,  as 
caused  their  line  to  waver  for  a  moment.  It 
dashed  forward  again.  In  the  mean  time  Gen. 
Eousseau  had  come  up  on  the  right  of  Gen. 
Negley,  and  his  regular  troops  on  his  left  ad- 
vanced at  the  moment  when  the  right  of  the 
Confederate  left  wing  dashed  forward.  The 
combined  fire  of  Gen.  Negley's  force  and  of  the 
regular  troops  drove  the  Confederate  main 
force  back  with  terrible  loss,  and  a  large  num- 
ber of  Confederate  prisoners  were  taken.  The 
struggle  was  maintained  a  few  moments,  when 
the  Federal  force  under  orders  fell  back,  and 
the  Confederate  line,  flushed  with  success,  and 


consisting  of  their  centre  and  right  of  left  wing, 
rushed  in  overwhelming  mass  upon  the  batter- 
ies which  had  been  so  placed  as  to  rake  them 
in  almost  every  direction.  A  horrible  slaughter 
ensued.  The  Confederate  line  wavered,  fell 
back,  and  attempted  to  rally.  On  another 
discharge,  they  fled  from  the  fire  which  they 
could  not  face.  Meanwhile  Gen.  McCook  had 
got  into  line  on  the  right  of  Gen.  Eousseau,  and 
received  reinforcements  of  artillery,  and  was 
ready  for  another  attack.  The  Confederate 
force  had  now  fallen  back,  and  a  suspension  of 
fire  took  place  along  the  entire  line.  It  was 
midday.  The  Federal  line  had  been  driven 
back  between  two  and  three  miles,  thirty  pieces 
of  artillery  had  been  lost,  and  the  dead  and 
wounded  with  many  prisoners  were  in  Confed- 
erate hands.  The  spirit  of  the  troops  was  still 
resolute. 

These  movements  had  somewhat  changed 
the  position  of  the  Federal  line.  The  left  and 
centre  recovered  their  position  at  right  angles  to 
the  Murfreesborough  road  and  across  it.  They 
extended  from  the  river  to  the  distance  of  a 
mile  west  of  it.  The  right  wing  had  fallen 
back  until  it  was  nearly  parallel  to  this  road, 
and  extending  from  Stewart's  Creek  to  the 
right  of  Gen.  Eousseau.  The  Confederate  left 
was  opposite  the  Federal  right  and  a  few  hun- 
dred yards  from  it.  In  this  position  both  of 
Gen.  Eosecrans's  flanks  were  protected  by 
streams  with  good  bridges  and  fords  in  his  rear. 

About  three  o'clock,  the  battle  opened  again 
by  a  Confederate  attack  upon  the  Federal 
centre  and  left.  Although  this  was  made  by 
large  masses,  yet  such  was  the  favorable  posi- 
tion occupied  by  the  Federal  line  on  a  crest  or 
ridge  of  ground,  and  such  was  the  strength  of 
its  batteries  that  no  advantage  was  gained  by 
the  Confederates.  The  slaughter  on  both  sidet 
was  great  and  the  contest  very  determined. 
It  continued  until  five  o'clock  when  the  ex 
hausted  armies  suspended  operations  for  the 
night.  This  was  so  clear  and  beautiful  that 
some  batteries  continued  their  fire.  The  re- 
sult of  the  day  was  that  the  Federal  right  had 
been  driven  in  almost  upon  the  left,  and  a  change 
of  front  had  been  made  under  fire,  leaving  in 
possession  of  the  Confederate  troops  that  part 
of  the  field.  They  also  held  the  ground  occu- 
pied in  the  morning  .by  the  Federal  pickets  on 
the  left,  which  wing  had  receded  to  draw  the 
Confederate  troops  on.  During  this  time  the 
communication  to  Nashville  had  often  been  cut 
off,  and  a  strong  force  of  Confederate  cavalry 
had  made  a  dash  in  the  Federal  rear  within  a 
mile  of  the  front,  and  captured  a  considerable 
amount  of  hospital  stores.  The  ammunition 
train  of  the  right  wing  was  twice  captured  and 
twice  retaken.  The  Federal  loss  on  that  day 
was  estimated  at  three  thousand  killed  and 
wounded,  twenty-five  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a 
large  number  of  prisoners.  The  Confederate 
loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  not  less. 

On  Thursday  the  1st  of  January,  1863,  the 
line  of  Gen.  Eosecrans  was  restored  to  its 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOET  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


299 


original  position  by  the  success  of  Gen.  Mc- 
Cook's  efforts  to  recover  and  hold  it,  on  the 
third  attempt.  The  division  on  the  extreme 
left  was  also  moved  across  Stone  River.  The 
position  on  the  right  wing  was  intrenched  and 
the  communications  in  the  rear  completed. 
On  the  morning  of  the  2d,  sharp  demonstra- 
tions were  made  along  the  whole  Federal  line 
by  the  Confederate  army,  but  nothing  serious 
was  attempted  until  three  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon. At  that  time  the  Confederate  force 
burst  in  mass  upon  the  division  across  Stone 
River,  as  if  having  discovered  the  intention  of 
Gen.  Rosecrans  to  advance  it  in  their  rear. 
This  attacking  force  consisted  of  their  entire 
right  wing.  The  three  brigades  of  the  Federal 
division  under  Col.  Beatty  were  prepared  for 
the  attack  and  stood  their  ground  manfully, 
but  the  overwhelming  force  finally  drove  them 
•back  across  the  creek.  Gen.  Negley's  division, 
which  had  been  formed  in  reserve  as  if  for  this 
occasion,  now  advanced,  supported  by  the  divis- 
ion of  Gen.  Davis  and  the  pioneer  battalion 
of  Morton.  The  most  bitter  conflict  of  the 
battle  now  ensued.  Both  sides  massed  their 
batteries  and  used  them  with  desperate  vindic- 
tiveness.  The  Confederate  line  wavered  and 
fell  back.  Gen.  Davis  was  ordered  to  cross  the 
stream,  and  Col.  Sirwell  of  the  78th  Pennsyl- 


vania, placing  his  hat  on  the  point  of  his  sword, 
led  the  way  with  a  shout.  Col.  Beatty's  divis- 
ion followed.  An  overwhelming  and  irresist- 
ible charge  was  made  on  the  Confederate  line, 
and  it  broke  and  fled.  A  battery  was  captured, 
and  a  stand  of  colors.  The  entire  division  of 
Gen.  Negley  followed  up  rapidly,  and  Gen. 
Roseerans's  whole  line  immediately  advanced. 
The  enemy's  right  wing  was  now  broken,  and 
the  Federal  force  was  gaining  the  Confed- 
erate flank,  when  resistance  on  its  part  became 
vain  and  the  entire  force  receded  with  the  loss 
of  many  prisoners.  The  next  morning  found 
the  Federal  line  intrenched  in  its  advanced 
position,  but  a  storm  was  raging.  Quiet  pre- 
vailed through  the  day,  excepting  one  or  two 
sharp  conflicts  resulting  in  the  capture  of  a 
small  breastwork.  On  the  next  morning  the 
Confederate  army  had  retired  from  Murfrees- 
borough,  which  was  subsequently  occupied 
by  Gen.  Rosecrans.  Two  divisions  were  soon 
sent  forward  in  pursuit  of  the  forces  of  Gen. 
Bragg,  who  fell  back  to  Tullahoma.  The  Federal 
loss  was  8,485  killed  and  wounded,  and  3,600 
missing.  The  enemy's  loss  is  not  known. 

The  original  plan  of  Gen.  Rosecrans  to  turn 
the  right  of  the  Confederate  army  and  cut  off 
its  retreat,  was  entirely  defeated  by  the  failure 
of  the  right  wing  to  maintain  itself. 


CHAPTEK    XXIY. 

Conclusion  of  the  Campaign  in  Virginia — Gen.  McClellan  crosses  the  Potomac— Causes  of  his  Delay — Presses  Gen.  Lee — 
Gen.  Burnside  ordered  to  take  Command— His  Orders— Gen.  Lee  falls  back — Advance  of  Gen.  Burnside  toward  Fred- 
ericksburg— Its  Surrender  Demanded— Occupied  by  Gen.  Lee.— Battle  of  Fredericksburg — Withdrawal  of  Gen.  Burn- 
side's  Forces— Losses. 


THE  conclusion  of  the  campaign  in  Vir- 
ginia remains  to  be  described.  Immediately 
after  the  battle  of  Antietam,  the  Confederate 
army  retired  across  the  Potomac  and  occupied 
strong  positions  on  its  right  bank.  All  hopes 
that  the  State  of  Maryland  would  unite  her 
destinies  with  the  Southern  Confederacy  were 
now  banished.  The  invasion  had  been  made 
by  crossing  the  Potomac  within  a  limit  of 
twelve  miles,  which  is  about  a  mile  above  the 
Point  of  Rocks  and  five  miles  below  the  Mono- 
cacy  aqueduct  on  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio 
Canal.  The  army  then  marched  through  fields, 
woods,  and  roads  for  Frederick.  The  line  of 
the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  •  for  twelve 
miles  presented  a  scene  of  desolation.  It  was 
tapped  at  five  places.  Several  floodgates  were 
cut  to  pieces,  and  from  heights  aboie  large 
boulders  of  rock  were  dislodged  and  thrown 
into  the  canal.  An  unsuccessful  attempt  was 
made  to  blow  up  the  aqueduct  at  Monocacy. 
The  telegraph  lines  and  the  track  of  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Railroad  were  much  injured. 


The  bridge  at  Monocacy  and  portions  of  the 
abutments  were  destroyed.  Private  property 
did  not  escape.  Fences  were  torn  down  and 
fields  laid  desolate. 

The  army  of  Gen.  McClellan  remained  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Potomac  in  the  vicinity  of 
Sharpsburg  and  Harper's  Ferry.  On  the  1st 
of  October  it  was  visited  by  President  Lincoln, 
who  was  cordially  received  and  tarried  until 
the  4th.  On  the  7th  Gen.  McClellan  issued 
the  following  order  relative  to  the  proclama- 
tion threatening  emancipation  of  the  Southern 
slaves : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  October  7,  1862. 
General  Order,  163. — The  attention  of  the  officers 
and  soldiers  of  the  Armyof  the  Potomac  is  called  to 
General  Orders,  No.  139,  War  Department,  September 
24, 1862,  publishing  to  the  army  the  President's  proc- 
lamation of  September  22. 

A  proclamation  of  such  grave  moment  to  the  nation, 
officially  communicated  to  the  army,affords  to  the  Gen- 
eral commanding  an  opportunity  of  defining  specific- 
ally to  the  officers  and  soldiers  under  his  command  the 
relation  borne  by  all  persons  in  the  military  service 


300 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


of  the  United  States  toward  the  civil  authorities  of  the' 
Government. 

The  Constitution  confides  to  the  civil  authorities — 
legislative,  judicial,  and  executive — the  power  and 
duty  of  making,  expounding,  and  executing  the  Federal 
laws.  Armed  forces  are  raised  and  supported  simply 
to  sustain  the  civil  authorities,  and  are  to  be  held  in 
strict  subordination  thereto  in  all  respects.  The  fun- 
damental law  of  our  political  system  is  essential  to  the 
security  of  our  republican  institutions,  and  should  be 
thoroughly  understood  and  observed  by  every  soldier. 

The  principle  upon  which  and  the  objects  for  which 
armies  shall  be  employed  in  suppressing  rebellion 
must  be  determined  and.  declared  by  the  authorities, 
and  the  Chief  Executive,  who  is  charged  with  the 
administration  of  the  national  affairs,  is  the  proper  and 
only  source  through  which  the  views  and  orders  of  the 
Government  can  be  made  known  to  the  armies  of  the 
nation. 

Discussion  by  officers  and  soldiers  concerning  public 
measures  determined  upon  and  declared  by  the  Gov- 
ernment, when  carried  beyond  the  ordinary,  temperate, 
and  respectful  expression  of  opinion,  tend  greatly  to 
impair  and  destroy  the  discipline  and  efficiency  of  the 
troops,  by  substituting  the  spirit  of  political  faction 
for  the  firm,  steady,  and  earnest  supportof  the  authori- 
ty of  the  Government,  which  is  the  highest  duty  of  the 
American  soldier.  The  remedy  for  political  errors,  if 
any  are  committed,  is  to  be  found  only  in  the  action 
of  the  people  at  the  polls. 

In  thus  calling  the  attention  of  this  army  to  the  true 
relation  between  the  soldiers  and  the  Government,  the 
General  commanding  merely  adverts  to  an  evil  against 
which  it  has  been  thought  advisable  during  our  whole 
history  to  guard  the  armies  of  the  Republic,  and  in  so 
doing  he  will  not  be  considered,  by  any  right-minded 
person,  as  casting  any  reflection  upon  that  loyalty  and 
good  conduct  which  have  been  so  fully  illustrated  upon 
so  many  battle-fields. 

In  carrying  out  all  measures  of  public  policy  this 
army  will,  of  course,  be  guided  by  the  same  rules  of 
mercy  and  Christianity  that  have  ever  controlled  its 
conduct  toward  the  defenceless. 

By  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  McCLELLAN. 

JAS.  A.  HARDIE,  Lieut. -Col., 
Aide-de-Camp  and  Act'g  Ass't  Adj. -General. 

On  Monday  night,  Oct.  10,  a  body  of  Con- 
federate cavalry  of  about  twenty-five  hundred, 
under  Gen.  Stuart,  suddenly  appeared  at  Cham- 
bersburg,  Penn.,  and  occupied  the  place.  The 
Government  storehouses  and  machine  shops 
were  burned  by  them;  also  the  Cumberland 
Valley  railroad  depot.  On  the  next  day  Gen. 
Stuart  marched  to  Emmettsburg,  thence  to 
Woodsborough,  New  Market,  and  Monrovia, 
which  place  he  reached  early  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing. Thus  far  his  force  had  gathered  about  one 
thousand  horses.  He  next  pushed  for  the  Poto- 
mac, atNoland'sFord,  at  the  month  of  the  Mono- 
cacy ;  but  finding  a  Federal  force  there,  he  divided 
his  troops  and  crossed  at  different  places,  chiefly 
at  Conrad's  Ferry,  and  six  miles  below  the  Mono- 
cacy.  The  entire  distance  of  his  march  north 
of  the  Potomac,  was  a  little  over  one  hundred 
miles.  A  large  number  of  Federal  troops  were 
put  in  motion  to  effect  his  capture,  but  without 
success.  Reconnoissances  made  on  the  1 6th  and 
17th  discovered  the  Confederate  army  occupy- 
ing a  position  extending  from  Bunker  Hill  to 
the  Shenandoah  river. 

It  had  been  expected  that  Gen.  McClellan 
would  take  the  forces  of  Gen.  Pope's  shat- 
tered army  and  march  into  Maryland  and 
conquer  the  victorious  Confederate  force  and 


pursue  them  even  to  Richmond.  The  in- 
activity of  his  army  after  the  battle  of  An- 
tietam  became  a  subject  of  complaint.  It  was 
overlooked  that  the  low  water  in  the  Poto-  • 
mac  required  time  to  line  its  north  shore  with 
troops  to  prevent  another  invasion  of  Maryland. 
It  was  overlooked  that  most  of  his  troops  had 
been  in  active  service  in  the  field  during  the 
previous  six  months,  and  might  require  most 
important  supplies.  On  the  6th  of  October  the 
following  despatch  was  sent  by  the  general-in- 
chief,  Gen.  Halleck,  to  Gen.  McClellan  : 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  Oct.  6,  1862. 
Mai.  -Gen.  McClellan: 

I  am  instructed  to  telegraph  to  you  as  follows  : 
The  President  directs  that  you  cross  the  Potomac  and 
give  battle  to  the  enemy  or  drive  him  south.  Your 
army  must  move  now  while  the  roads  are  good.  If  you 
cross  the  river  between  the  enemy  and  Washington, 
and  cover  the  latter  by  your  line  of  operation,  you  can 
be  reenforced  with  80,000  men.  If  you  move  up  thf 
valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  not  more  than  12,000  or  15,- 
000  can  be  sent  to  you.  The  President  advises  the  in- 
terior line  between  Washington  and  the  enemy,  but 
does  not  order  it.  He  is  very  desirous  that  your  army 
move  as  soon  as  possible.  You  will  immediately  report 
what  line  you  adopt  and  when  you  intend  to  cross  the 
river.  Also,  to  what  point  the  reinforcements  are  to 
be  sent.  It  is  necessary  that  the  plan  of  your  opera- 
tions be  positively  determined  on  before  orders  are 
given  for  building  bridges  and  repairing  railroads.  I 
am  directed  to  add  that  the  Secretary  of  War  and  the 
General-in-Chief  fully  concur  with  the  President  in 
these  instructions. 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  Gen.-5n-Chief. 

According  to  the  report  of  Gen.  Halleck,  Gen. 
McClellan  disapproved  of  the  plan  of  crossing 
the  Potomac  south  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  said 
that  he  would  cross  at  Harper's  Ferry  and  ad- 
vance on  "Winchester.  The  advance,  however, 
did'  not  take  place  until  the  26th  of  October.  It 
became  the  subject  of  speculation  on  the  part 
of  the  public  as  to  the  real  nature  of  the  causes 
of  delay.  Subsequently,  upon  the  removal  of 
Gen.  McClellan  from  the  command  of  the  army, 
on  the  7th  of  November,  the  following  letter 
was  published  : 


HEADQUARTERS  OP  THE  ARMY,        ) 
WASHINGTON,  Oct.  28,  1862.    } 

Son.  E.  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War  : 

SIR  :  In  reply  to  the  general  interrogatories  contained 
in  your  letter  of  yesterday,  I  have  to  report  : 

1st.  That  requisitions  for  supplies  to  the  army  under 
Gen.  McClellan  are  made  by  his  staff  officers  on  the 
chiefs  of  bureaus  here  ;  that  is,  for  quartermasters' 
supplies,  by  his  chief  quartermaster  on  the  Quarter- 
master-General ;  for  commissary  supplies,  by  his  chief 
commissary  on  the  Commissary-General,  Ac.  No  such 
requisitions  have  been,  to  my  knowledge,  made  upon 
the  Secretary  of  War,  and  none  upon  the  General-in- 

2d/0n  several  occasions  Gen.  McClellan  has  tele- 
graphed to  me  that  his  army  was  deficient  in  certain 
supplies.  All  these  telegrams  were  immediately  refer- 
red to  the  heads  of  bureaus,  with  orders  to  report.  It 
was  ascertained  that,  in  every  instance,  the  requisitions 
had  been  immediately  filled,  except  one,  where  the 
Quartermaster-General  had  been  obliged  to  send  from 
Philadelphia  certain  articles  of  clothing,  tents,  Ac.,  not 
having  a  full  supply  here.  There  has  not  been,  so  far 
as  I  could  ascertain,  any  neglect  or  delay,  in  any  de- 
partment or  bureau,  in  issuing  all  supplies  asked  for 
by  Gen.  McClellan,  or  by  the  officers  of  his  staff.  De- 
lays have  occasionally  occurred  in  forwarding  supplies 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


301 


by*  rail,  on  account  of  the  crowded  condition  of  the 
depots,  or  of  a  want  of  cars;  but  whenever  notified  of 
this,  agents  have  been  sent-  out  to  remove  the  difficulty. 
Under  the  excellent  superintendence  of  Gen.  Haup,  I 
think  these  delays  have  been  less  frequent  and  of  short- 
er duration  than  is  usual  with  freight  trains.  An  army 
of  the  size  of  that  under  Gen.  McCTellan  will  frequently 
be  for  some  days  without  the  supplies  asked  for,  on  ac- 
count of  neglect  in  making  timely  requisitions  and  un- 
avoidable delays  in  forwarding  them  and  in  distributing 
them  to  the  different  brigades  and  regiments.  From 
all  the  information  I  can  obtain,  I  am  of  opinion  that 
the  requisitions  from  that  army  haTe  been  filled  more 
promptly,  and.  that  the  men,  as  a  general  rule,  have  been 
better  supplied  than  our  armies  operating  in  the  West. 
The  latter  have  operated  at  much  greater  distances 
from  the  sources  of  supply,  and  have  had  far  less  faci- 
lities for  transportation.  In  fine,  I  believe  that  no 
armies  in  the  world,  while  in  campaign,  have  been  more 
promptly  or  better  supplied  than  purs. 

3d.  Soon  after  the  battle  of  Antietam  Gen.  McClellan 
was  urged  to  give  me  information  of  his  intended  move- 
ments, in  order  that,  if  he  moved  between  the  enemy 
and  Washington,  reinforcements  could  be  sent  from 
this  place.  On  the  first  of  October,  finding  that  he  pro- 
posed to  operate  from  Harper's  Ferry,  I  urged  him  to 
cross  the  river  at  once  and  give  battle  to  the  enemy, 
pointing  out  to  him  the  disadvantages  of  delaying  till 
the  autumn  rains  had  swollen  the  Potomac  and  impaired 
the  roads.  On  the  6th  of  October  he  was  peremptorily 
ordered  to  "  cross  the  Potomac  and  give  battle  to  the 
enemy  or  drive  him  south.  Your  army  must  move  now, 
while  the  roads  are  good."  It  will  be  observed  that 
three  weeks  have  elapsed  since  this  order  was  given. 

4th.  In  my  opinion  there  has  been  no  such  want  of 
supplies  in  the  army  under  Gen.  McClellan  as  to  pfe- 
veut  his  compliance  with  the  orders  to  advance  against 
the  enemy.  Had  he  moved  to  the  south  side  of  the 
Potomac  he  could  have  received  his  supplies  almost  as 
readily  as  by  remaining  inactive  on  the  north  side. 

5th.  On  the  7th  of  October,  in  a  telegram  in  regard 
to  his  intended  movements,  Gen.  McClellan  stated  that 
it  would  require  at  least  three  days  to  supply  the  first, 
fifth,  and  sixth  corps ;  that  they  needed  shoes  and  other 
indispensable  articles  of  clothing,  as  well  as  shelter 
tents.  No  complaint  was  made  that  any  requisitions 
had  not  been  filled,  and  it  was  inferred  from  his  lan- 
guage that  he  was  only  waiting  for  the  distribution  of 
his  supplies. 

On  the  llth  he  telegraphed  that  a  portion  of  his  sup- 
plies sent  by  rail  had  been  delayed.  As  already  stated, 
agents  were  immediately  sent  from  here  to  investigate 
this  complaint,  and  they  reported  that  everything  nad 
gone  forward.  On  the  'same  date  (the  llth)  he  spoke 
of  many  of  his  horses  being  broken  down  by  fatigue. 
On  the  12th  he  complained  that  the  rate  of  supply  was 
only  "  one  hundred  and  fifty  horses  per  week  for  the 
entire  army  there  and  in  front  of  Washington." 

I  immediately  directed  the  Quartermaster-General 
to  inquire  into  this  matter  and  report  why  a  larger  sup- 
ply was  not  furnished.  Gen.  Meigs  reported  on  the 
14th  that  the  average  issue  of  horses  to  Gen.  McClel- 
lan's  army  in  the  field  and  in  front  of  Washington  for 
the  previous  six  weeks  had  been  1,459  per  week,  or 
8,754  in  all.  In  addition,  that  large  numbers  of  mules 
had  been  supplied,  aud  that  the  number  of  animals  with 
Gen.  McClellan's  army  on  the  upper  Potomac  was  over 
thirty-one  thousand.  He  also  reported  that  he  was  then 
sending  to  that  army  all  the  horses  he  could  procure. 

On  the  Ibth  Gen.  McClellan  stated,  in  regard  to  Gen. 
Meigs's  report  that  he  had  filled  every  requisition  for 
shoes  and  clothing:  "Gen.  Meigs  may  have  ordered 
these  articles  to  be  forwarded,  but  they  have  not  reached 
our  depot,  and,  unless  greater  effort  to  insure  prompt 
transmission  is  made  by  the  department  of  which  Gen. 
Meigs  is  the  head,  they  might  as  well  remain  in  New 
York  or  Philadelphia,  so  far  as  this  army  is  concerned." 
I  immediately  called  Gen.  Meigs's  attention  to  this  ap- 
parent neglect  of  his  department.  On  the  25th  he  re- 
ported, as  the  result  of  his  investigation,  that  43,000 
pairs  of  boots  and  shoes  had  been  received  by  the  quar- 


termaster of  Gen.  McClellan's  army  at  Harper's  Ferry, 
Frederick,  and  Hagerstown ;  that  20,000  pairs  were  at 
Harper's  Ferry  depot  on  the  21st;  that  10,000  more 
were  on  their  way,  and  15,000  more  ordered.  Col. 
Ingals,  aide-de-camp  and  chief  quartermaster  to  Gen. 
McClellan,  telegraphed,  on  the  25th :  "  The  suffering  for 
want  of  clothing  is  exaggerated,  I  think,  and  certainly 
might  have  been  avoided  by  timely  requisitions  of  regi- 
mental and  brigade  commanders."  On  the  24th  ne 
telegraphed  to  the  Quartermaster-General  that  the 
clothing  was  not  detained  in  cars  at  the  depots :  "  Such 
complaints  are  groundless.  The  fact  is,  the  clothing 
arrives  and  is  issued,  but  more  is  still  wanted.  I  have 
ordered  more  than  would  seem  necessary  from  any  data 
furnished  me,  and  I  beg  to  remind  you  that  you  have 
always  very  promptly  met  all  my  requisitions,  so  far  as 
clothing  is  concerned.  Our  department  is  not  at  fault. 
It  provides  as  soon  as  due  notice  is  given.  I  foresee  no 
time  when  an  army  of  over  100,000  men  will  not  call  for 
clothing  and  other  articles." 

In  regard  to  Gen.  McClellan's  means  of  promptly 
communicating  the  wants  of  his  army  to  me  or  to  the 
proper  bureaus  of  the  War  Department,  I  report  that, 
in  addition  to  the  ordinary  mails,  he  has  been  in  hourly 
communicatioa  with  Washington  by  telegraph. 

It  is  due  to  Gen.  Meigs  that  I  should  submit  herewith 
a  copy  of  a  telegram  received  by  him  from  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

tt  W.  HALLECK,  Gen.-in-Chief. 

UNITED  STATES  MILITARY  TELEGRAPH. 

Beceived,  Oct.  22, 1862—9  40  p  M. 
From,  McClellan's  Headquarters. 

ToBRiG.-GEN.  MEIGS:  Your  despatch  of  this  date  is 
received.  I  have  never  intended,  in  any  letter  or  de- 
spatch, to  make  any  accusation  against  yourself  or  your 
department  for  not  furnishing  or  forwarding  clothing  as 
rapidly  as  it  was  possible  for  you  to  do.  I  believe  that 
everything  has  been  done  that  could  be  done  in  this  re- 
spect. The  idea  that  I  have  tried  to  convey  was,  that 
certain  portions  of  the  command  were  without  clothing, 
and  the  army  could  not  move  until  it  was  supplied. 

G.  B.  MCCLELLAN,  Maj.-Gen. 

Nothing  has  been  made  public  on  the  part  of 
Gen.  McClellan  alluding  to  or  explaining  the 
causes  of  the  delay  of  the  movements  of  the 
army.  Strict  justice  requires  that,  in  estimat- 
ing the  importance  of  the  preceding  letters,  the 
testimony  of  Gen.  Burnside  on  a  subsequent 
page  should  be  considered.  It  was  generally 
understood  that  Gen.  McClellan's  movement 
was  delayed  by  the  want  of  clothing  and  other 
supplies,  and  especially  on  account  of  his  defi- 
ciency in  cavalry  and  artillery  horses.  The 
purchase  and  forwarding  of  these  was  going  on 
even  up  to  the  day  of  his  crossing  the  Potomac. 
One  army  corps  did  not  receive  its  clothing 
until  it  had  commenced  its  march  in  Virginia. 
It  was  stated  by  several  commanders  that  they 
made  every  effort  to  get  the  clothing  for  their 
troops,  repeatedly  sent  teams  to  the  railroad 
depots  for  it,  and  until  a  short  time  previous  to 
the  marching  of  the  army  they  were  invariably 
told  that  the  clothing  had  not  arrived. 

Early  on  the  26th  of  October  a  cavalry  force, 
under  Col.  Pleasanton,  crossed  the  Potomac 
on  the  new  pontoon  bridge  at  Berlin,  and 
moved  on  in  the  direction  of  Purcellville.  Soon 
after  the  corps  of  Gen.  Burnside  began  to  cross 
in  light  marching  order,  followed  by  an  im- 
mense train  of  wagons,  and  took  a  position 
near  Lovettsville.  On  the  next  day  a  heavy 
reenforcement  joined  him.  About  the  same 


302 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


time  the  Confederate  force  prepared  to  abandon 
the  line  of  the  Potomac  and  to  fall  back.  The 
crossing  of  the  Federal  troops  was  now  con- 
stant, until  the  entire  army  was  south  of  the 
river.  On  the  30th  of  October  Gen.  Sedgwick 
advanced  from  Boliver  Heights,  and  crossed  the 
Shenandoah  in  the  direction  of  Shannondale, 
and  Gen.  Hancock  pushed  forward,  pressing  on 
the  Confederate  lines  in  front  of  Charlestown. 
Gen.  Burnside  moved  along  the  eastern  base  of 
the  Blue  Ridge,  followed  by  the  corps  of  Gen. 
Porter. 

The  situation  of  the  respective  forces  at  this 
time  was  as  follows :  The  Federal  army  reen- 
forced  by  the  divisions  of  Gens.  Sigel  and  Sick- 
les, who  had  advanced  from  Washington,  occupi- 
ed all  the  region  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  with 
the  right  resting  on  Harper's  Ferry,  and  the  left 
extending  nearly  to  Paris,  on  the  road  from 
Aldie  to  Winchester.     The  centre  was  at  Snick- 
ersville ;  with  Snicker's  Gap  in  its  possession. 
The  Confederate  line  was  on  the  south  side  of 
the  Blue  Ridge,  with  the  Shenandoah  river  im- 
mediately in  its  front,  extending  from  Front 
Royal  down  to  Charlestown,  with  the  great  body 
of  their  troops  massed  between  Berryville  and 
Winchester.     On  the  4th  Ashby's  Gap  was  oc- 
cupied without  opposition  by  the  Federal  troops. 
The    cavalry    corps,    under   Col.   Pleasanton, 
pushed  on  from  Piedmont,  and  occupied  Mar- 
guette,  holding  the  approaches  to  Manassas 
and  Chester  Gap,  on  the  left  side  of  the  Blue 
Ridge.     The  condition  and  spirit  of  the  army 
at  tliis  time  were  unequalled  by  that  of  any  force 
before  organized.     On  the  6th  Gen.  McClellan's 
headquarters  were  at  Rectortown  near  Front 
Royal.     The  army  was  steadily  advancing  and 
the  Confederate  force  falling  back,  with  some 
skirmishing.     Warrenton  was  occupied  by  the 
Federal  troops  on  the  same  day.     On  the  7th  a 
severe  snow  storm  commenced,  and  continued 
throughout  the  day.     On  the  8th  the  bridge  at 
Rappahannock  Station  was  taken  and  held  by 
Gen.  Bayard.     On  the  night  of  the  7th.  near 
midnight,  Gen.  Buckingham  arrived,  from  Wash- 
ington, at  Gen.  McClellan's  tent,  and  delivered 
to  him  an  order  from  President  Lincoln,  to  sur- 
render the  command  of  the  army  to  Gen.  Burn- 
side,   and  to  report  himself  immediately  at 
Trenton,  tbe  capital  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey. 
This  order  was  entirely  unexpected  by  Gen. 
McClellan,  and  probably  by  every  officer  of  the 
army.     The  only  reasons  for  it  which  have  of- 
ficially appeared,  will  be  found  in  the  above 
letter    of   Gen.   Halleck,   dated  October    28, 
which  was  given  to  the  public  a  few  days  after 
this  removal. 

Gen.  McClellan  immediately  wrote  the  fol- 
lowing address  to  his  troops  preparatory  to  his 
departure : 

HEADQUARTERS  OP  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  I 
CAMP  NEAR  RECTORTOWN,  VA.,  November  7.    ( 
Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  : 

An  order  of  the  President  devolves  upon  Maj.-Gen. 
Burnside  the  command  of  this  army.  In  parting  from 
you  I  cannot  express  the  love  and  gratitude  I  bear  to 
you.  As  an  army  you  have  grown  up  in  my  care.  In 


you  I  have  never  found  doubt  or  coldness.  The  battlflt 
you  have  fought  under  my  command  will  probably  live 
in  our  Nation  s  history.  The  glory  you  have  achieved 
over  mutual  perils  and  fatigues ;  the  graves  of  our  com« 
rades  fallen  in  battle  and  by  disease ;  the  broken  forms 
of  those  whom  wounds  and  sickness  have  disabled ;  the 
strongest  associations  which  can  exist  among  men  unite 
us  by  an  indissoluble  tie.  We  shall  ever  be  comrades 
in  supporting  the  Constitution  of  our  country  and  the 
Nationality  of  its  people. 

(Signed)  GEO.  B.  McCLELLAN. 

Major-General  U.  S.  A. 

The  next  day  was  devoted  by  Gen.  McClellan 
to  the  transfer  of  his  command  to  Gen.  Burn- 
side.  The  most  cordial  feelings  existed  be- 
tween the  two  officers,  the  latter  of  whom  ac- 
cepted a  promotion  which  he  had  before  twice 
declined,  only  upon  the  peremptory  order  of 
the  War  Department.  On  Sunday  evening  his 
officers  assembled  at  his  tent,  for  a  final  parting 
of  commander  and  officers.  It  was  such  a  scene 
of  deep  feeling  as  could  occur  only  where  offi- 
cers reposed  the  highest  confidence  in  their 
commander,  who  had  led  them  successfully 
through  some  of  the  most  fearful  battles  of 
modern  wars.  Monday  was  occupied  in  pass- 
ing among  the  various  camps,  reviewing  the 
troops,  and  taking  a  final  leave  of  both  officers 
and  men.  A  spectator  of  these  scenes  has 
summed  them  up  in  these  words : 

"As  Gen.  McClellan,  mounted  upon  a  fine 
horse,  attended  by  a  retinue  of  fine-looking  mil- 
itary men,  riding  rapidly  through  the  ranks, 
gracefully  recognized  and  bid  a  farewell  to  the 
army,  the  cries  and  demonstrations  of  the  men 
were  beyond  bounds — wild,  impassioned,  and 
unrestrained.  Disregarding  all  military  forms 
they  rushed  from  their  ranks  and  thronged 
around  him  with  the  bitterest  complaints 
against  those  who  had  removed  from  command 
their  beloved  leader." 

On  the  next  day,  the  10th,  he  withdrew,  tak- 
ing the  railroad  cars  at  Warrenton.  On  reach- 
ing Warrenton  Junction  a  salute  was  fired.  The 
troops,  which  had  been  drawn  up  in  line,  after- 
ward broke  ranks,  when  the  soldiers  crowded 
around  him  and  many  eagerly  called  for  a  few 
parting  words.  He  said  in  response,  while  on 
the  platform  of  the  railroad  depot,  "I  wish 
you  to  stand  by  Gen.  Burnside  as  you  have 
stood  by  me,  and  all  will  be  well.  Good-bye." 
To  this  there  was  a  spontaneous  and  enthusi- 
astic response. 

The  troops  were  also  drawn  up  in  line  at 
Bristow's  Station  and  Manassas  Junction,  where 
salutes  were  fired  and  he  was  complimented 
with  enthusiastic  cheers.  On  reaching  Wash- 
ington he  proceeded  immediately  to  the  depot, 
and  passed  on  to  Philadelphia  and  Trenton, 
where  he  arrived  early  on  the  12th. 

What  was  now  the  military  aspect?  Tlie 
movement  of  Gen.  McClellan's  army,  after 
crossing  the  Potomac,  was  toward  Gordonsville. 
This  made  a  movement  on  the  part  of  the  Con- 
federate general  Lee  necessary  in  order  to  pre- 
vent the  Federal  army  from  getting  between 
him  and  Richmond.  For  this  purpose  he  at- 
tempted to  move  from  Winchester  through  the 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


303 


gaps  of  the  Blue  Ridge  to  Culpepper.  The  larger 
part  of  his  force  had  passed  through,  when  the 
gaps  were  taken  and  held  by  Gen.  McClellan. 
At  the  same  time  Gen.  Sigel  had  advanced  from 
Washington,  and  lay  near  the  Blue  Ridge,  cov- 
ering at  once  "Washington,  observing  the  gaps 
to  the  Rappahannock,  and  protecting  the  rail- 
road communication  to  that  river.  The  bridge 
at  Rappahannock  Station  had  already  been 
seized  by  the  cavalry,  under  Gen.  Bayard.  The 
available  force  of  Gen.  McClellan  was  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  men ;  that  of 
Gen.  Lee  consisted  of  about  sixty  thousand  able 
men  at  Culpepper  and  Gordonsville,  and  thirty 
thousand  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  near  Stras- 
burg.  The  distance  from  Warrenton  to  Gor- 
donsville is  about  fifty  miles,  and  from  War- 
renton to  the  Rapidan,  thirty-five  miles ;  from 
Strasburg  to  Gordonsville,  by  Staunton  and 
Charlottesville,  one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
miles ;  and  by  the  only  other  practicable  route, 
one  northwest  of  Gordonsville,  and  perpendic- 
ular to  Gen.  McClellan's  line  of  advance,  about 
one  hundred  miles.  In  his  position  it  was  ne- 
cessary for  Gen.  Lee  to  defend  the  line  of  the 
Rapidan,  or  endeavor  to  effect  a  junction  with 
the  force  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  under 
Gen.  Jackson,  or  fall  back  upon  Richmond,  in 
a  country  without  a  line  of  defence,  with  Gen. 
McClellan  close  upon  him,  leaving  Gen.  Jack- 
son to  shift  for  himself.  The  defence  of  the 
Rapidan  was  impracticable  from  the  course 
of  the  river  from  the  Alexandria  railroad  to  the 
Blue  Ridge.  The  efforts  to  join  Gen.  Jackson 
would  have  uncovered  Richmond,  and  the  at- 
tempt to  fall  back  on  Richmond  would  have  at 
least  hazarded  the  demoralization  of  his  army, 
and  enabled  Gen.  McOlellan  to  turn  the  defen- 
sible parts  of  the  Rappahannock,  and  the  line  of 
the  North  Anna.  The  appointment  of  Gen. 
Burnside  was  followed  by  the  organization  of 
a  portion  of  the  army  into  divisions,  and  a 
movement  to  concentrate  it  at  Fredericksburg. 
On  the  12th  Gen.  Burnside  issued  the  following 
address  to  the  army :  « 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OP  THE  POTOMAC,  Nov.  10, 1862. 

In  accordance  with  General  Orders,  No.  182,  issued 
by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  I  hereby  assume 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Patriotism, 
and  the  exercise  of  my  every  energy  in  the  direction 
of  this  army,  aided  by  the  full  and  hearty  cooperation 
of  its  officers  and  men,  will,  I  hope,  under  the  blessing 
of  God,  insure  its  success. 

Having  been  a  sharer  of  the  privations,  and  a  wit- 
ness of  the  bravery  of  the  old  Army  of  the  Potomac  in 
the  Maryland  campaign,  and  fully  identified  with  them 
in  their  feelings  of  respect  and  esteem  for  Gen. 
McClellan,  entertained  through  a  long  and  most  friend- 
ly association  with  him,  I  feel  that  it  is  not  as  a  stranger 
1  assume  command. 

To  the  9th  army  corps,  so  long  and  intimately  asso- 
ciated with  me,  I  need  say 'nothing.  Our  histories  are 
identical.  With  diffidence  for  myself,  but  with  a  proud 
confidence  in  the  unswerving  loyalty  and  determina- 
tion of  the  gallant  army  now  intrusted  to  my  care,  I 
accept  its  control,  with  the  steadfast  assurance  that  the 
just  cause  must  prevail. 

[Signed]  A.  E.  BURNSIDE, 

Major-General  Commanding. 

On  the  12th  the  general-in-chief  (Halleck) 


and  Gen.  Meigs  proceeded  from  Washington 
to  the  headquarters  to  confer  with  Gen.  Burn- 
side.  On  the  same  day  the  advance  of  the 
army  was  across  the  Rappahannock  and  fifteen 
miles  south  of  Warrenton.  On  the  14th  Gen. 
Burnside  issued  the  following  order  reorgan- 
izing a  portion  of  his  army : 

HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  I 
WABRENTON  (VA,),  Nov.  14, 1862.     J 

General  Order,  No.  184. 

First.  The  organization  of  a  portion  of  this  army  in 
three  grand  divisions  is  hereby  announced.  These 
grand  divisions  will  be  formed  and  commanded  as 
follows : 

The  Second  and  Ninth  Corps  will  form  the  right 
grand  division,  and  will  be  commanded  by  Maj.-Gen. 
E.  V.  Sumner. 

The  First  and  Sixth  Corps  will  form  the  left  grand 
division,  and  will  be  commanded  by  Maj.-Gen.  W.  B. 
Franklin. 

The  Third  and  Fifth  Corps  will  form  the  centre  grand 
division,  and  will  be  commanded  by  Maj.-Gen.  Joseph 
Hooker. 

The  Eleventh  Corps,  with  such  others  as  may  here- 
after be  assigned  to  it,  will  constitute  a  reserve  force, 
under  the  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  F.  Sigel. 

Assignments  of  cavalry  and  further  details  will  be 
announced  in  future  orders. 

By  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  BURNSIDE. 

S.  WILLIAMS,  A.  A.-G. 

A  movement  was  made  at  this  time  by  Gen. 
Jackson  for  the  purpose  of  detaching  a  portion 
of  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  He  occupied  all 
the  roads  west  and  north  of  Winchester  as  far 
as  Big  Cacapon  Bridge  on  the  northwestern 
turnpike,  and  from  Pughtown  to  Bath  and 
Hancock.  He  was  thus  looking  westward,  at 
the  same  time  he  was  in  a  position  to  cross  the 
Potomac.  His  movement  failed  to  effect  his 
design. 

Meanwhile  the  mass  of  Gen.  Lee's  forces  re- 
tired to  Gordonsville.  On  the  16th  the  forces 
of  Gen.  Burnside  began  to  move  for  Fredericks- 
burg,  as  had  been  previously  determined  in 
consultation  on  the  12th  between  Gens.  Hal- 
leck and  Burnside.  On  the  15th  the  evacuation 
of  Warrenton  and  the  adjacent  places  was  com- 
menced, and  by  the  morning  of  the  18th  it  was 
entirely  completed.  The  advance  was  led  by 
Gen.  Sumner.  At  the  same  time  supplies  were 
sent  to  Aquia  Creek,  and  the  repairs  of  the 
railroad  track  to  Fredericksburg  commenced, 
and  the  army  concentrated  at  Falmouth  oppo- 
site Fredericksburg. 

The  march  to  Richmond,  it  appeared,  was 
to  be  made  by  the  route  from  Fredericksburg. 
This  city  is  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock, and  sixty-five  miles  distant  from  Rich- 
mond. It  is  connected  with  the  latter  place  by 
a  railroad,  of  which  there  is  a  double  line 
nearly  to  Hanover  Junction,  twenty-three  miles 
from  Richmond.  The  railroad  crosses  the  Mat- 
tapony  river  at  Milford,  thirty-seven  miles  from 
Fredericksburg,  and  the  Pamunkey,  twenty- 
five  miles  from  Richmond,  besides  a  number 
of  smaller  streams.  Between  Falmouth,  where 
the  Federal  army  concentrated,  and  Richmond 
there  are  two  main  and  two  minor  lines  of  de- 


304 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


fence.  The  first  that  of  the  Rappahannock 
river.  Above  Falmouth  its  abrupt  banks, 
which  are  lined  with  high  hills,  difficult  of  ac- 
cess, and  its  narrow  fords  and  rocky  bottom 
render  a  rapid  crossing  for  a  large  force  al- 
most impossible.  Below,  the  valley  of  the  river 
expands,  spreading  often  into  spacious  plains, 
while  the  winding  course  of  the  stream  forms 
numerous  necks  of  land,  easily  commanded 
from  the  north  side,  and  giving  secure  crossing 
places,  and  ample  ground  for  the  formation  of 
troops.  At  Fredericfcsburg  the  north  com- 
mands the  south  bank  and  much  of  the  dis- 
tance, which  is  a  mile  and  a  half,  to  the  frown- 
ing hills  or  table  land  beyond.  But  these 
heights  equally  command  this  intermediate 
plain,  and  are  unassailable  in  front  except  by 
infantry.  Next  in  the  rear  and  twelve  miles 
distant,  is  the  line  of  the  Po  river  and  Stan- 
nard's  Marsh,  which  is  hardly  available  except 
to  hold  a  pursuing  foe  in  check.  The  North 
Anna  is  about  forty  miles  from  the  Rappahan- 
nock, and  affords  another  principal  line  of  de- 
fence. It  is  a  deep  and  rapid  stream,  with  a 
narrow  valley.  The  table  land  on  its  north 
bank  is  about  one  hundred  feet  above  the  bed 
of  the  river,  and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
on  the  south  bank.  The  extension  of  its  line 
after  it  turns  to  join  the  South  Anna,  and  be- 
comes the  Pamunkey,  presents  scarcely  less  ob- 
stacles than  the  river  itself,  so  well  is  the 
ground  guarded  by  swamps  and  flanked  by 
streams.  The  last  and  a  minor  line  of  defence 
is  the  South  Anna  river,  with  the  southern  com- 
manded by  the  northern  bank,  and  too  near 
the  North  Anna  for  a  second  formation  By  a 
force  that  has  been  badly  defeated.  Numerous 
email  streams  parallel  to  the  line  of  advance 
present  suitable  points  for  resistance,  and  pro- 
tect foes  attacking  the  line  of  communication, 
while  the  bridges  over  them  are  weak  points 
necessary  to  be  securely  guarded. 

By  the  20th  a  considerable  force  had  reached 
Falmouth.  Gen.  Sumner  on  the  next  day  sent 
to  Fredericksburg  the  following  summons  to 
surrender : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  Nov.  21, 1862. 
To  the  Mayor  and,  Common  Council  of  FredericTcslurg  : 

GENTLEMEN  :  Under  cover  of  the  houses  of  your 
city  shots  have  been  fired  upon  the  troops  of  my  com- 
mand. 

Your  mills  and  manufactories  are  furnishing  provi- 
sions and  materials  for  clothing  for  armed  bodies  in 
rebellion  against  the  Government  of  the  United  States  ; 
your  railroads  and  other  means  of  transportation  are 
removing  supplies  to  the  depots  of  such  troops. 

This  condition  of  things  must  terminate,  and  by  di- 
rection of  Gen.  Burnside,  I  accordingly  demand  the 
surrender  of  the  city  into  my  hands,  as  the  represent- 
ative of  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  at  or 
before  five  o'clock  this  afternoon. 

Failing  an  affirmative  reply  to  this  demand  by  the 
hour  indicated,  sixteen  hours  will  be  permitted  to 
elapse  for  the  removal  from  the  city  of  women  and 
children,  the  sick  and  wounded,  and  aged,  &c. ;  which 
period  having  expired,  I  shall  proceed  to  shell  the 
town. 

Upon  obtaining  possession  of  the  city,  every  neces- 
sary means  will  be  taken  to  preserve  order  and  secure 


the  protective  operation  of  the  laws  and  policy  of  the 
United  States  Government. 
I  am,  very  respectively,  your  obedient  servant, 
E.  V.  SUMNER, 
Brevet  Maj.-Gen.  U.  S.  army, 
Commanding  Eighth  Grand  Division. 

In  reply  the  mayor  of  the  city,  M.  Slaughter, 
stated  that  the  firing  complained  of  occurred 
in  the  suburbs,  and  was  the  act  of  the  Confed- 
erate officer  in  command,  for  which  neither 
the  citizens  nor  authorities  were  responsible. 
The  other  matters  complained  of,  he  said, 
should  no  longer  exist,  arid  proceeded  thus: 
"  The  civil  authorities  of  Fredericksburg  have 
no  control ;  but  I  am  assured  by  the  military 
authorities  of  the  Confederate  army  near  here 
that  nothing  will  be  done  to  infringe  the  con- 
ditions herein  named,  as  to  matters  within  the 
town  ;  but  the  latter  authorities  inform  us  that, 
while  their  troops  will  not  occupy  the  town, 
they  will  not  permit  yours  to  do  so." 

The  late  hour  at  which  the  summons  was  re- 
ceived rendered  it  impossible  to  remove  the 
women  and  children  in  the  time  allowed. 

The  reply  of  Gen.  Sumner  to  the  mayor  was 
as  follows : 

HEADQTTAKTEKS  EIGHT  GRAND  DIVISION,  CAMP  NEAR  ) 
FALMOUTH,  Uwv.  21, 1862.      j 

To  the  Mayor  and  Common  Council  of  Fredericksburg  : 
Your  letter  of  this  afternoon  is  at  hand,  and  in  con- 
sideration of  your  pledge  that  the  acts  complained  of 
shall  cease,  and  that  your  town  shall  not  be  occupied 
by  any  of  the  enemy's  forces,  and  your  assertion  that 
a  lack  of  transportation  renders  it  impossible  to  move 
the  women,  children,  sick,  wounded,  and  aged,  I  am 
authorized  to  say  to  you  that  our  batteries  will  not 
open  upon  the  town  at  the  hour  designated.  Gen. 
Patrick  will  meet  a  committee  of  representatives  from 
your  town  to-morrow  morning  at  nine  o'clock  at  the 
Lacy  House. 

Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

E.  V.  SUMNER, 
Brevet  Maj.-Gen.  Commanding  Division. 

An  interview  was  subsequently  held  as 
above  mentioned,  which  resulted  in  the  follow- 
ing note  from  Gen.  Sumner : 

HEADQUARTERS  EIOHT  GRAND  DIVISION,  Nov.  22,  1862. 
To  the  Mayor  and  Common  Council,  Frederickslurg  : 
I  am  authorized  to  say  that  so  long  as  no  hostile 
demonstration  is  made  from  the  town  it  will  not  be 
shelled.    I  have  also  to  say  that  there  will  be  no  firing 
upon  the  cars  before  11  o'clock  p.  M.  to-morrow. 
I  am,  gentlemen,  your  obedient  servant, 

E.  V.  SUMNER, 
Brevet  Maj.-Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  Commanding. 

The  firing  upon  the  cars  of  the  railroad 
above  mentioned  was  in  consequence  of  the  be- 
lief that  they  were  used  to  remove  military 
stores  from  Fredericksbui  g. 

As  Gen.  Burnside's  army  concentrated  on 
the  north  bank,  Gen.  Lee's  forces  concentrated 
on  the  heights  in  the  rear  of  Fredericksburg. 
Had  the  pontoon  bridges  required  been  at  hand 
when  the  advance  reached  Falmouth,  the  line 
of  the  Rappahannock  would  have  been  taken 
without  opposition.  Then,  with  proper  sup- 
plies and  bridges,  thirty  of  the  sixty  miles  to 
Richmond  would  have  been  placed  within  the 
reach  of  Gen.  Burnside,  and  perhaps  a  lodg- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


305 


ment  have  been  effected  on  the  banks  of  the 
North  Anna.  Nearly  thirty  days  elapsed  be- 
fore the  pontoons  arrived  and  the  bridges  were 
completed.  The  ensuing  military  operations 
were  investigated  by  a  committee  of  Congress, 
before  whom  Gen.  Burnside  testified  as  follows : 

Gen.  Halleck  came  down  to  see  me  on  the  llth  of 
November.  On  the  9th  I  made  out  a  plan  of  opera- 
tions, in  accordance  with  the  order  of  Gen.  Halleck, 
which  directed  me  not  only  to  take  the  command,  but 
also  to  state  what  I  proposed  to  do  with  it.  That  plan 
I  wrote  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  of  November,  and 
sent  it  by  special  messenger  to  Washington.  I  can 
furnish  the  committee  a  copy  of  that  plan  if  they  de- 
sire it.  I  do  not  have  it  here  now. 

Question. — State  the  substance  of  it,  if  you  please. 
That  may  do  as  well. 

Answer. — I  stated,  in  substance,  that  I  thought  it 
advisable  to  concentrate  the  army  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Warrenton,  to  make  a  small  movement  across  the 
Rappahannock  as  a  feint,  with  a  view  to  divert  the  at- 
tention of  the  enemy,  and  lead  them  to  believe  we 
were  going  to  march  in  the  direction  of  Gordonsville, 
and  then  to  make  a  rapid  movement  of  the  whole 
army  to  Fredericksburg,  on  this  side  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock. 

As  my  reasons  for  that,  I  stated  that  the  farther  we 
got  into  the  interior  of  Virginia,  the  longer  would  be 
our  lines  of  communication  and  the  greater  would  be 
the  difficulty  we  would  have  in  keeping  them  open,  as 
the  enemy  had  upon  our  right  flank  a  corps  that  al- 
most at  any  time  could,  by  a  rapid  movement,  serious- 
ly embarrass  us.  If  we  were  caught  by  the  elements 
so  far  from  our  base  of  supplies,  and  at  the  same  time 
in  the  enemy's  country,  where  they  had  means  of  get- 
ting information  that  we  had  not,  it  might,  I  thought, 
prove  disastrous  to  the  army,  as  we  had  but  one  Tine 
of  railway  by  which  to  supply  it. 

In  moving  upon  Fredericksburg  we  would  all  the 
time  be  as  near  Washington  as  would  the  enemy,  and 
after  arriving  at  Fredericksburg,  we  would  be  at  a 
point  nearer  to  Richmond  than  we  would  be  even  if 
we  should  take  Gordonsville.  On  the  Gor'donsville 
line,  the  enemy,  in  our  opinion,  would  not  give  us  a 
decisive  battle  at  any  place  this  side  of  Richmond. 
They  would  defend  Gordonsville  until  such  time  as 
they  felt  they  had  given  us  a  check,  and  then  with  so 
many  lines  of  railroad  open  to  them,  they  would  move 
upon  Richmond  or  upon  Lynchburg,  and  in  either 
case  the  difficulty  of  following  them  would  be  very 
great. 

In  connection  with  this  movement  I  requested  that 
barges  filled  with  provisions  and  forage  should  be 
floated  to  Aquia  Creek,  where  they  could  easily  be 
landed ;  that  materials  be  collected  for  the  reconstruc- 
tion of  the  wharves  there,  and  that  all  the  wagons  in 
Washington  that  could  possibly  be  spared  should  be 
filled  with  hard  bread  and  small  commissary  stores, 
and,  with  a  large  number  of  beef  cattle,  started  down 
to  Fredericksburg  on  the  road  by  way  of  Dumfries; 
and  that  this  wagon  train  and  load  of  cattle  should  be 
preceded  by  a  pontoon  train  large  enough  to  span  the 
Rappahannock  twice.  I  stated  that  this  wagon  train 
could  move  in  perfect  safety,  because  it  would  be  all 
the  time  between  our  army  and  the  Potomac ;  or  in 
other  words  our  army  would  be  all  the  time  between 
the  enemy  and  that  train.  But  at  the  same  time  I 
said  that  if  a  cavalry  escort  could  not  be  furnished 
from  Washington,  I  would  send  some  of  my  cavalry 
to  guard  the  train. 

On  the  morning  of  the  14th  of  November,  feeling 
uneasy  with  reference  to  the  pontoons,  as  I  had  not 
heard  of  their  starting,  I  directed  my  chief  engineer  to 
telegraph  again  in  reference  to  them. 

He  telegraphed  to  Gen.  Woodbury  or  to  Major 
Spaulding.  It  subsequently  appeared  that  that  was 
the  first  they  ever  had  heard  of  any  wish  to  have  the 
pontoon  train  started  down  to  Fredericksburg,  although 
the  authorities  in  Washington  had  had  my  plans  sent 
20 


to  them  on  the  9th  of  November;  and  it  had  also  been 
discovered  by  Gen.  Halleck  and  Gen.  Meigs,  at  my 
headquarters,  on  the  night  of  the  llth  and  12th  of  No- 
vember ;  and  after  discovering  it  fully  there,  they  sat 
down  and  sent  telegrams  to  Washington,  which,  as  I 
supposed,  fully  covered  the  case,  and  would  secure  the 
starting  of  the  pontoon  trains  at  once.  I  supposed, 
ot  course,  that  those  portions  of  the  plan  which  re- 
quired to»be  attended  to  in  Washington  would  be  car- 
ried out  there  at  once.  I  could  have  sent  officers  of 
my  own  there  to  attend  to  those  matters,  and  perhaps 
I  made  a  mistake  in  not  doing  so,  as  Gen.  Halleck  af- 
terward told  me  that  I  ought  not  to  have  trusted  to 
them  in  Washington  for  the  details. 

In  reply  to  the  telegram  I  had  ordered  to  be  sent, 
Gen.  Woodbury  telegraphed  back  that  the  pontoon 
train  would  start  on  Sunday  morning  probably,  and 
certainly  on  Monday  morning,  which  would  have  been 
on  the  16th  and  17th  of  November,  and  would  have 
been  in  time.  They  did  not,  however,  start  until  the 
20th,  and  on  that  day  it  commenced  raining,  which 
delayed  them  so  much  and  the  roads  became  so  bad 
that  when  they  got  to  Dumfries  they  floated  the  pon-  • 
toons  off  the  wagons.  We  then  sent  to  Washington 
for  a  steamer,  and  carried  them  down  to  Aquia  Creek 
by  water,  sending  the  wagons  around  by  land.  The 
pontoons  did  not  get  here  until  the  22d  or  23d  of  No- 
vember. 

On  the  15th  of  November  I  started  the  column  down 
the  road  to  Fredericksburg,  not  knowing  anything 
about  the  delay  in  the  starting  of  the  pontoons,  because 
the  telegram  announcing  the  delay  did  not  reach  War- 
renton Junction  until  I  had  left  to  come  down  here 
with  the  troops,  and  that  telegram  did  not  reach  me 
until  I  arrived  here  on  the  morning  of  the  19th,  when 
it  was  handed  to  me  by  an  orderly  who  had  brought  it 
down  to  Warrenton  Junction. 

After  reaching  here  I  saw  at  once  that  there  was  no 
chance  for  crossing  the  Rappahannock  with  the  army 
at  that  time.  It  commenced  raining  and  the  river  be- 

fan  to  rise — not  to  any  great  extent,  but  I  did  not 
now  how  much  it  might  rise.  Thve  were  no  means 
of  crossing  except  by  going  up  to  the  fords,  and  it 
would  be  impossible  to  do  that  oecause  of  the  inability 
to  supply  the  troops  after  they  should  cross. 

Gen.  Sumner,  with  his  command,  arrived  here  in 
advance.  He  sent  to  me,  asking  if  he  should  cross  the 
river.  He  was  very  much  tempted  to  take  his  own 
men  across  to  Fredericksburg  by  a  ford  near  Falmouth, 
as  there  was  no  enemy  there  except  a  very  small  force. 
I  did  not  think  it  advisable  that  he  should  cross  at 
that  time. 

The  plan  I  had  in  contemplation  was,  if  the  stores 
and  these  bridges  had  come  here  as  I  expected,  to 
throw  Sumner's  whole  corps  across  the  Rappahan- 
nock, fill  the  wagons  with  as  many  small  stores  as  we 
could,  and  having  beef  cattle  along  for  meat,  then  to 
make  a  rapid  movement  down  in  the  direction  of  Rich- 
mond and  try  to  meet  the  enemy  and  fight  a  battle  be- 
fore Jackson  could  make  a  junction  there.  We  knew 
that  Jackson  was  in  the  valley,  and  felt  confident  that 
there  was  force  enough  on  the  upper  Rappahannock  to 
take  care  of  him.  We  felt  certain  that  as  soon  as  the 
enemy  knew  of  our  crossing  down  here,  the  force  of 
Jackson  would  be  recalled,  and  we  wanted  to  meet  this 
force  and  beat  it  before  Jackson  could  come  down  on 
our  flank  and  perhaps  cripple  us. 

I  had  recommended  that  some  supplies  should  be 
sent  to  the  mouth  of  the  Rappahannock  with  a  view 
of  establishing  a  department  at  Port  Royal.  After 
we  had  advanced  to  Fredericksburg,  and  after  the 
first  delay  in  starting  the  pontoons,  I  think  they  were 
sent  as  quickly  as  they  could  have  been,  and  the  sup- 
plies and  quartermasters'  stores  have  been  always  in 
as  great  abundance  as  we  could  have  expected,  for 
after  the  19th  of  November  the  roads  were  particular- 
ly bad.  Horses  and  mules  were  sent  down  to  us,  so 
that  our  cavalry  and  teams  were  in  very  good  condi- 
tion. 

After  it  was  ascertained  that  there  must  be  a  delay, 
and  that  the  enemy  had  concentrated  such  a  force 


306 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


&a  to  make  it  very  difficult  to  cross,  except  by  a  num- 
ber of  bridges,  we  commenced  bringing  up  from 
Aquia  Creek  all  the  pontoons  we  could.  After  enough 
of  them  had  been  brought  up  to  build  the  bridges,  I 
called  several  councils  of  war  to  decide  about  crossing 
the  Rappahannock.  It  was  at  first  decided  to  cross 
at  Shinker's  Neck,  about  twelve  miles  below  here, 
but  our  demonstration  was  simply  for  the  purpose  of 
drawing  down  there  as  large  a  force  of  the  enemy  as 
possible. 

I  then  decided  to  cross  here  because,  in  the  first 
place,  I  felt  satisfied  that  they  did  not  eipect  us  to 
cross  here  but  down  below.  In  the  next  place  I  felt 
satisfied  that  this  was  the  place  to  fight  the  most  de- 
cisive battle,  because  if  we  could  divide  their  forces 
by  penetrating  their  lines  at  one  or  two  points,  sepa- 
rating their  left  from  their  right,  then  a  vigorous  at- 
tack with  the  whole  army  would  succeed  in  breaking 
their  army  in  pieces. 

The  enemy  had  cut  a  road  along  on  the  rear  of  the 
line  of  the  heights  where  we  made  our  attack,  by 
means  of  which  they  connected  the  two  wings  of 
their  army,  and  avoided  a  long  detour  round  through 
a  'bad  country.  I  obtained  from  a  colored  man  from 
the  other  side  of  the  town  information  in  regard  to  this 
new  road.,  which  proved  to  be  correct.  I  wanted  to 
obtain  possession  of  the  new  road,  and  that  was  my 
reason  for  making  an  attack  on  the  extreme,  left.  I 
did  not  intend  to  make  the  attack  on  the  right  until 
that  position  had  been  taken,  which  I  supposed  would 
stagger  the  enemy,  cutting  their  lines  in  two.  And 
then  I  proposed  to  make  a  direct  attack  on  their  front, 
and  drive  them  out  of  the  works. 

By  Mr.  Gooch :  Do  I  understand  you  to  say  that  it 
was  your  understanding  that  Gen.  Halleck  and  Gen. 
Meigs,  while  at  your  headquarters  in  Warrenton,  and 
before  you  commenced  the  movement  of  your  army, 
sent  orders  to  Washington  for  the  pontoons  to  be  im- 
mediately forwarded  to  Falmouth  ? 

Answer :  That  was  my  understanding,  certainly. 

Question:  In  your  judgment,  could  the  pontoons 
have  been  forwarded  to  you  in  time  for  you  to  have 
crossed  the  Rappahannock  when  you  expected,  if  all 
possible  efforts  nad  been  made  by  those  charged  with 
that  duty? 

Answer :  Yes,  sir,  if  they  had  received  their  orders 
in  time. 

Question :  Did  the  non-arrival  of  these  pontoons  at 
the  time  you  expected  prevent  your  crossing  when  you 
expected  to  cross  and  interfere  with  the  success  of 
your  plans  ? 

Answer :  Yes,  sir. 

Thus  it  was  the  design  of  Gen.Burnside  that 
the  pontoons  should  leave  Alexandria  on  Nov. 
11,  and  arrive  at  Falmouth  at  the  same  time 
with  the  advance  of  his  army.  The  right  grand 
division  reached  Falmouth  on  Nov.  17.  The 
pontoons  left  Alexandria  on  Nov.  19,  and  ar- 
rived at  Fredericksburg  after  the  movements 
of  Gen.  Burnside  had  not  only  become  known, 
but  after  Gen.  Lee  had  advanced  his  forces 
from  Gordonsville  to  the  heights  in  the  rear  of 
Fredericksburg,  and  had  fortified  them.  They 
were  not  used  until  the  night  of  Dec.  10. 

A  plan  for  the  movements  of  Gen.  Burnside 
had  now  been  arranged  between  President 
Lincoln,  Gen.  Halleck,  and  himself,  by  which  it 
was 'determined  that  the  army  should  move 
across  the  Rappahannock  at  a  certain  place 
and  at  a  certain  time.  This  was  departed  from 
by  Gen.  Burnside,  who  was  induced  to  move 
the  army  across  at  a  different  place  and  at  an 
earlier  day.  His  reasons  for  this  change  he 
thus  states  in  his  report : 

During  my  preparations  for  crossing  at  the  place 


I  had  first  selected,  I  discovered  that  the  enemy  had 
thrown  a  large  portion  of  his  force  down  the  river  and 
elsewhere,  thus  weakening  his  force  in  front,  and  also 
thought  I  discovered  that  he  did  not  anticipate  the 
crossing  of  our  whole  force  at  Fredericksburg,  and  I 
hoped  by  rapidly  throwing  the  whole  command  over 
at  that  place  to  separate  by  a  vigorous  attack  the 
forces  of  the  enemy  on  the  river  below  from  the  force 
behind  and  on  the  crest  in  the  rear  of  the  town,  in 
which  case  we  could  fight  him  with  the  greatest  ad- 
vantage in  our  favor.  To  do  this  we  had  to  gain  a 
height  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  crest,  which  height 
commanded  a  new  road  lately  made  by  the  enemy  for 
the  purpose  of  more  rapid  communication  along  his 
lines ;  which  point  gained,  his  position  along  the 
crest  would  have  been  scarcely  tenable,  a'nd  he  could 
have  been  driven  from  them  easily  by  an  attack  on 
his  front  in  connection  with  a  movement  in  rear  of  the 
crest. 

During  the  night  of  the  10th  of  December, 
therefore,  the  pontoons  were  conveyed  to  the 
river,  and  the  artillery  to  the  number  of  one 
hundred  and  forty-three  pieces  was  placed  in 
position  opposite  the  city.  Between  four  and 
five  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  llth,  the 
work  of  building  four  bridges  was  commenced. 
One  was  to  be  made  at  the  point  where  the 
railroad  bridge  formerly  crossed,  and  two  oth- 
ers opposite  the  city  but  nearer  Falmouth,  and 
the  fourth  nearly  two  miles  below  for  the 
crossing  of  the  left  wing  under  Gen.  Franklin. 
A  dull  haze  so  obscured  the  movement,  that  it 
was  not  discovered  for  some  time  by  the  Con- 
federate pickets.  The  bridges  were  thus  part- 
ly constructed,  when  a  brisk  and  deadly  fire 
of  musketry  from  along  the  banks  of  the  river 
and  windows  of  the  houses  was  opened,  which 
compelled  the  workmen  to  stop.  They  fled  to 
the  cover  of  the  surrounding  hills  where  they 
formed  again,  and  about  six  o'clock  the  work 
was  recommenced.  The  Confederates  had 
now  become  aroused  to  a  sense  of  what  was 
going  forward,  and  with  reinforcements  of 
sharpshooters  swarmed  the  opposite  bank  and 
houses.  The  pontonniers,  nothing  daunted  by 
the  hot  fire  poured  upon  them,  went  bravely 
to  work.  A  storm  of  bullets  covered  them. 
The  planks  and  boats  were  riddled  by  every 
volley.  Once  more  they  were  compelled  to 
withdraw,  and  again  fell  back  to  the  cover  of 
the  ridge  of  hills  running  parallel  with  the 
river.  Orders  were  now  given  to  the  artillery 
to  open  fire  on  the  city.  The  Federal  batter- 
ies commenced  an  almost  simultaneous  bom- 
bardment, directing  their  fire  chiefly  at  the 
houses  in  which  the  sharpshooters  had  con- 
cealed themselves.  At  the  first  fire  they  be- 
came untenable,  and  the  riflemen  retreated^  to 
the  rear  of  the  town,  and  took  shelter  behind 
the  buildings  unharmed.  The  fire  of  the  ar- 
tillery, which  commenced  at  seven^o'clock,  was 
continued  incessantly  until  one  o'clock.  The 
fog  somewhat  obscured  its  results,  but  bod- 
ies of  the  Confederates  with  great  stubborn- 
ness still  kept  within  the  city.  The  Confed- 
erate batteries  on  the  heights  in  the  rear  con- 
tinued silent.  Not  a  gun  was  fired,  About 
ten  o'clock,  the  workmen  were  again  formed 
for  a  third  attempt  to  build  the  bridges.  Vol- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


307 


unteers  joined  them  from  the  8th  Connecticut. 
Some  planks  were  seized  and  carried  out  to  the 
end  of  a  string  of  boats  and  placed  in  position, 
when  a  galling  fire  from  sharpshooters  in  rifle 
pits  near  the  edge  of  the  water  again  interrupt- 
ed them,  and  they  were  recalled.  Meantime 
the  bombardment  was  continued,  and  several 
houses  in  the  city  had  taken  fire.  In  the  after- 
noon, several  pontoon  boats,  loaded  with  vol- 
unteers from  the  7th  Michigan  and  19th  Mas- 
sachusetts, were  sent  over.  They  chased  the 
Confederate  sharpshooters  from  their  hiding 
places,  and  the  bridges  were  finished  without 
further  interruption.  On  the  other  side  a 
scene  of  destruction  presented  itself.  The 
walls  of  houses  were  breached,  roofs  had  fallen 
in,  and  the  interiors  were  destroyed. 

No  sooner,  were  the  bridges  completed  than, 
the  troops  began  to  cross,  and  before  dusk 
Gen.  Sumner's  grand  division  had  gone  over, 
and  a  section  of  Gen.  Hooker's.  All  had  ra- 
tions for  three  days,  and  blankets  for  a 
bivouac.  The  grand  division  of  Gen.  Franklin, 
consisting  of  the  corps  of  Gens.  Reynolds  and 
Smith,  crossed  over  at  the  lower  bridge,  which 
was  built  earlier  in  the  day  without  interrup- 
tion, as  there  was  a  plain  before  it  which  the 
artillery  could  easily  have  swept.  The  troops 
commenced  crossing  again  early  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  12th  without  molestation.  Some 
sharp  resistance  had  been  made  by  the  Confed- 
erate soldiers  to  those  who  crossed  on  the  pre- 
vious day,  but  these  were  driven  out  of  the 
city  or  killed.  During  the  afternoon,  fire  was 
opened  upon  the  city  by  the  Confederate  bat- 
teries on  the  nearest  heights,  which  was  re- 
plied to  by  the  Federal  batteries,  and  soon 
ceased.  The  occupation  of  Fredericksburg  had 
now  been  successfully  made.  No  greater  op- 
position had  been  presented  by  the  forces  of 
Gen.  Lee  than  was  sufficient  to  tempt  the  Fed- 
eral troops  to  press  forward  with  greater  ardor. 

The  next  movement  was  to  drive  the  Con- 
federate forces  from  their  positions  on  the 
heights.  These  positions  consisted  of  two  lines 
of  batteries,  one  a  mile  in  rear  of  the  other,  and 
both  overlooking  the  city.  They  extended,  in 
the  form  of  a  semicircle,  from  Port  Royal  to  a 
point  about  six  miles  above  Fredericksburg. 
Their  right  wing,  under  Gen.  Jackson,  extended 
from  Port  Royal  to  Guinney's  Station  on  the 
Richmond  and  Fredericksburg  railroad;  the 
centre,  under  Gen.  Longstreet,  extended  to  the 
telegraph  road;  the  left,  under  Gen.  Stuart, 
was  west  of  Massaponax  Creek.  A  reserve 
corps  was  commanded  by  Gen.  A.  P.  Hill. 
This  was  the  force  which  had  fought  at  Rich- 
mond and  in  Maryland. 

Friday  night  and  Saturday  morning,  the  13th, 
were  spent  By  Gen.  Burnside  in  making  a  prop- 
er disposition  of  his  forces.  The  left  was  oc- 
cupied by  Gen.  Franklin  with  his  grand  divi- 
sion, the  centre  by  Gen.  Hooker,  and  the  right 
by  Gen.  Sumner, 

The  right  of  Gen.  Franklin  rested  on  the 
outskirts  of  the  city,  his  centre  was  advanced 


about  a  mile  from  the  river,  and  his  left  was 
on  the  Rappahannock,  about  three  miles  be- 
low. The  action  commenced  on  the  extreme 
left  by  an  annoying  fire  from  a  Confederate 
battery,  which  the  9th  New  York  was  ordered 
to  charge  and  capture.  In  this  attempt  they 
were  repulsed.  A  brigade  was  brought  to 
their  aid  by  Gen.  Tyler,  and  another  attempt 
made,  but  the  fire  was  so  deadly  that  it  failed 
of  success.  The  battle  now  became  more  gen- 
eral, and  another  attempt  was  made  to  capture 
the  battery.  No  advantage  was  gained  at  this 
time,  but  a  severe  loss  was  suffered.  The  con- 
flict now  extended  along  the  whole  line  of  the 
left,  and  a  desperate  effort  was  made  to  drive 
the  Confederates  across  the  Massaponax  Creek 
by  turning  their  position.  The  ground  was 
contested  most  obstinately,  but  the  Confed- 
erates gradually  fell  back,  occasionally  making 
a  most  desperate  stand,  until  night,  when  Gen. 
Franklin  had  succeeded  in  gaining  nearly  a 
mile,  and  his  troops  occupied  the  field.  The 
right  of  Gen.  Franklin's  division,  under  Gen. 
Reynolds,  encountered  the  fire  of  the  Confed- 
erate artillery  on  the  heights,  and  although  the 
conflict  was  most  deadly,  no  advantage  was 
gained. 

On  the  right,  under  command  of  Gen.  Sum- 
ner, the  action  commenced  about  ten  o'clock 
and  was  furious  during  the  rest  of  the  day. 
The  Confederate  forces  occupied  the  woods 
and  hills  in  the  rear  of  the  city,  from  which  it 
soon  becajne  evident  they  could  not  be  driven 
except  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  The 
charge  was  ordered  to  be  made  by  the  divi- 
sion of  Gen.  French  supported  by  that  of  Gen. 
Howard.  Steadily  the  troops  moved  across  the 
plain,  until  they  were  within  a  dozen  yards  of 
the  ridge,  when  they  were  suddenly  met  by  a 
galling  fire  from  the  Confederate  infantry  post- 
ed behind  a  stone  wall.  For  a  few  minutes 
the  head  of  the  column  exhibited  some  con- 
fusion ;  but  quickly  forming  into  line  it  retired 
back  to  a  ravine  within  musket  shot  of  the 
Confederates.  Here  they  were  reenforced  by 
fresh  troops  who  fearlessly  advanced  to  their 
aid  under  a  most  destructive  fire  of  artillery. 
The  line  of  assault  was  now  formed  again, 
and  with  bayonets  fixed  and  a  double-quick 
step,  they  rushed  forward  to  seize  the  Con- 
federate artillery.  From  the  first  step  they 
encountered  a  terrific  fir»  of  infantry  and 
artillery.  No  veterans  could  face  that  shock. 
They  were  thrown  into  confusion  and  brought 
to  a  sudden  halt.  At  this  juncture  the 
centre  quivered,  faltered,  and  fled  in  disorder, 
but  was  afterward  rallied  and  brought  back. 
Three  times  was  the  attack  thus  made  to  dis- 
lodge those  batteries.  But  each  time  it  was  in 
vain.  The  ranks  of  the  storming  party,  shrunk 
to  small  limits,  retired.  The  entire  force  of  his 
artillery  was  now  brought  by  Gen.  Sumner  to 
bear  upon  the  enemy,  and  thus  the  contest  was 
kept  up  until  dark.  At  night  the  Confederate 
force  occupied  their  original  position,  and  the 
wounded  and  the  dead  remained  where  they 


308 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


had  fallen.  Every  attempt  to  remove  them 
by  the  Federal  troops  was  defeated  by  the 
Confederate  infantry. 

In  the  centre,  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Hooker,  skirmishing  commenced  early  in  the 
morning ;  and  during  the  forenoon,  while  the 
fog  prevailed,  a  terrific  contest,  chiefly  with  ar- 
tillery, was  kept  up  on  both  sides.  The  Con- 
federate position  appeared  to  be  invulnerable 
to  artillery,  and  about  noon  preparations  were 
made  for  storming  it.  The  troops  marched 
steadily  up  within  musket  shot  of  the  batteries, 
and  were  there  met  by  such  a  destructive  fire 
of  artillery  and  rifles  as  drove  them  back  with 
a  heavy  loss.  Reinforcements  were  obtained, 
and  the  attempt  to  take  the  batteries  was  re- 
peated in  the  afternoon,  but  without  success. 
The  contest  continued  with  great  fierceness 
until  night.  About  half  past  five  the  firing  of 
musketry  ceased,  but  that  of  the  artillery  con- 
tinued until  long  after  dark. 

On  the  next  day,  Sunday  the  14th,  both  ar- 
mies remained  comparatively  quiet.  Some 
skirmishing  and  artillery  fire  took  place  for  a 
short  time.  Gen.  Burnside  sent  the  following 
despatch  to  President  Lincoln  early  in  the 
morning : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  POTOMAC,  ) 
FOTJP.  O'CLOCK,  A.  M.,  December  14.     f 

THE  PRESIDENT:  I  have  just  returned  from  the  field. 
Our  troops  are  all  over  the  river  and  hold  the  first 
ridge  outside  the  town  and  3  miles  below.  We  hope  to 
carry  the  crest  to-day.  Our  loss  is  heavy — sav  5,000. 

A.  E.  BURNSIDE, 
Major-General  Commanding. 

On  Monday,  both  armies-  continued  in  the 
same  position.  The  Confederates  had  strength- 
ened some  of  their  works.  During  the  ensu- 
ing night,  the  army  evacuated  Fredericksburg 
and  retired  across  the  river  to  its  former 
position.  The  artillery  crossed  first,  followed 
by  the  infantry,  the  last  of  whom  left  about 
daylight.  The  pontoon  bridges  were  then  re- 
moved and  all  communication  cut  off.  The 
movement  was  not  perceived  by  the  Confeder- 
ates until  it  was  too  late  to  do  any  injury  to 
the  retreating  force.  The  following  is  the  de- 
spatch of  Gen.  Burnside  announcing  this  move- 
ment: 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  POTOMAC,  ) 

Six  O'CLOCK  p.  M.,  December  16, 1862.    J 
Maj.-Gen.  HALLECK  :  The  army  was  withdrawn  to 
this  side  of  the  river  Bbcause  I  felt  the  position  in  front 
could  not  be  carried,  and  it  was  a  military  necessity 
either  to  attack  or  retire.    A  repulse  would  have  been 
disastrous  to  us.    The  army  was  withdrawn  at  night, 
without  the  knowledge  of  the  enemy,  and  without  Toss 
either  of  property  or  men.         A.  E.  BURNSIDE, 
Major-General  Commanding. 

The  Federal  loss  was  as  follows :  Gen.  Sum- 
ner's  division  on  the  right,  killed,  473  ;  wound- 
ed, 4,090 ;  missing,  748,  Total,  5,311, 

Gen.  Hooker's  division  on  the  centre,  killed, 
326;  wounded,  2,468;  missing,  754.  Total, 
3,548. 

Gen.  Franklin's  division  on  the  left,  killed, 
339;  wounded,  2,547;  missing,  576.  Total, 


3,462.  Grand  total,  killed,  1,138 ;  wounded, 
9,105;  missing,  2,078.  Total,  12,321. 

The  Confederate  loss  was  comparatively 
small,  .having  been  sheltered  by  their  works. 

Gen.  Burnside,  in  his  report  to  the  general- 
in-chief,  thus  explains  his  defeat : 

How  near  we  came  to  the  accomplishment  of  our 
cbject  future  reports  will  show.  But  for  the  fog,  and 
the  unexpected  and  unavoidable  delay  in  building  the 
bridges,  which  gave  the  enemy  24  hours  to  concentrate 
his  forces  in  his  strong  position,  we  would  almost  cer- 
tainly have  succeeded,  in  which  case  the  battle  would 
have  been,  in  my  opinion,  far  more  decisive  than  if  we 
had  crossed  at  the  places  first  selected.  As  it  was,  we 
came  very  near  success.  Failing  in  accomplishing  the 
main  object,  we  remained  in  order  of  battle  two  days, 
long  enough  to  decide  that  the  enemy  would  not  come 
out  of  his  strongholds  to  fight  me  with  his  infantry, 
after  which  we  recrossed  to  this  side  of  the  river  un- 
molested, without  the  loss  of  men  or  property. 

As  the  day  broke  our  long  lines  of  troops  were  seen 
marching  to  their  different  positions  as  if  going  on  pa- 
rade— not  the  least  demoralization  or  disorganization 
existed. 

To  the  brave  officers  and  soldiers  who  accomplished 
the  feat  of  thus  recrossing  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  I 
owe  everything.  For  the  failure  in  the  attack,  I  am 
responsible,  as  the  extreme  gallantry,  courage,  and 
endurance  shown  by  them  were  never  exceeded,  and 
would  have  carried  the  points  had  it  been  possible. 

To  the  families  and  friends  of  the  dead  I  can  only 
offer  my  heartfelt  sympathies,  but  for  the  wounded  I 
can  offer  my  earnest  prayer  for  their  comfort  and  final 
recovery. 

The  fact  that  I  decided  to  move  from  Warrenton  on 
to  this  line  rather  against  the  opinion  of  the  President, 
Secretary  of  War,  and  yourself,  and  that  you  have 
left  the  whole  movement  in  my  hands,  without  giving 
me  orders,  makes  me  the  more  responsible. 

Thus  closed  the  third  campaign  against 
Richmond.  No  further  hostile  demonstrations 
were  made  by  either  army  during  the  year.  On 
the  31st  of  December,  the  Confederate  general 
Lee  issued  the  following  address  to  his  troops : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA,  ) 
Dec.  21, 1S32.       \ 

General  Order,  No.  38. 

1.  The  General  commanding  takes  this  occasion  to 
express  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  army  his  high 
appreciation  of  the  fortitude,  valor,  and  devotion  dis- 
played by  them,  which,  under  the  blessing  of  Almighty 
God,  have  added  the  victory  of  Fredericksburg  to  the 
long  lists  of  their  triumphs. 

An  arduous  march,  performed  with  celerity  under 
many  disadvantages,  exhibited  tbe  discipline  and 
spirit  of  the  troops  and  their  eagerness  to  confront  the 
foe. 

The  immense  army  of  the  enemy  completed  its  pre- 
parations for  the  attack  without  interruption,  and 
gave  battle  in  its  own  time,  and  on  ground  of  its  own 
selection. 

It  was  encountered  by  less  than  twenty  thousand  of 
this  brave  army,  and  its  columns,  crushed  and  broken, 
hurled  back  at  every  point  with  such  fearful  slaughter 
that  escape  from  entire  destruction  became  the  boast 
of  those  who  had  advanced  in  full  confidence  of 
victory. 

The  war  is  not  yet  ended.  The  enemy  is  still  nu- 
merous and  strong,  and  the  country  demands  of  the 
army  a  renewal  of  its  heroic  efforts  in  her  behalf. 
Nobly  has  it  responded  to  her  call  in  the  past,  and  she 
will  never  appeal  in  vain  to  its  courage  and  patriotism. 

The  signal  manifestations  of  Divine  mercy  that  have 
distinguished  the  eventful  and  glorious  campaign  of 
the  year  just  closing,  give  assurance  of  hope  that,  un- 
der the  guidance  of  the  same  Almighty  hand,  the  com- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION 


309 


ing  year  will  be  no  less  fruitful  of  events  that  will 
insure  the  safety,  peace,  and  happiness  of  our  beloved 
country,  and  add  new  lustre  to  the  already  imperish- 
able name  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

R.  E.  LEE,  General. 

Aa  a  part  of  the  campaign  against  Rich- 
mond undertaken  when  Gen.  Burnside  took 
command  of  the  army  in  Virginia,  the  efforts 
•which  were  made  to  cut  the  Confederate  line  of 
communication  between  Richmond  and  the 
southwestern  States,  should  be  stated.  There 
are  three  lines  of  railroad  running  south  and 
southwest.  The  one  running  southwest  passes 
through  southwestern  Virginia,  eastern  Ten- 
nessee, northern  Alabama,  and  connects  with 
roads  to  western  Tennessee  and  to  New  Orleans. 
One  line  running  south  connects  Richmond 
with  Wilmington,  Charleston,  Savannah,  and 
parts  of  Alabama.  A  southern  line  from  Rich- 
mond, recently  completed,  passes  through  cen- 
tral North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina.  By 
cutting  the  former  of  these  roads  at  Cumber- 
land Gap,  reinforcements  and  supplies  could 
not  be  brought  from  the  southwest  to  the  Con- 
federate army  under  Gen.  Lee.  Neither  could, 
reenforcements  be  taken  from  Gen.  Lee's 
army  to  Gen.  Bragg  at  Murfreesborough.  By 
cutting  the  second  line  the  most  direct  com- 
munication between  Richmond  and  the  prin- 
cipal cities  of  the  Confederate  States  was  de- 
troyed. 

At  the  time  when  Gen.  Rosecrans  was  pre- 
pared to  move  from  Nashville  to  attack  the  Con- 
federate army  near  Murfreesborough,  an  expe- 
dition was  sent  into  east  Tennessee  to  destroy 
the  railroad,  in  order  to  prevent  any  reenforce- 
ments to  Gen.  Bragg  from  Richmond.  Gen. 
Carter,  with  a  force  of  cavalry  numbering  one 
thousand  men,  left  London,  in  Kentucky,  on 
Dec.  21.  They  entered  Virginia  between  Cum- 
berland Gap  and  Pound  Gap,  and  advanced 
within  six  miles  of  Bristol,  burned  the  bridges 
across  the  Halston  and  Watauga  rivers,  and 
tore  up  portions  of  the  track,  destroying  the 
rails  for  a  distance  of  nearly  one  hundred 
miles,  almost  to  Jonesborough.  They  captured 
nearly  five  hundred  prisoners,  seven  hundred 
stand  of  arms,  and  a  large  amount  of  stores. 
They  reached  Manchester,  Ky.,  on  the  6th  of 
January,  having  lost  only  ten  men.  The  enter- 
prise was  a  most  hazardous  one. 

The  expedition  against  the  second  line  of 
railroads  was  undertaken  in  North  Carolina. 
It  forms  the  only  subsequent  military  move- 
ment of  importance,  in  addition  to  those  hereto- 
fore described,  which  was  made  in  that  depart- 
ment during  the  year.  It  was  a  march  upon 
Goldsborough,  and  the  destruction  of  the  rail- 
road at  that  place.  This  is  the  line  connecting 
Charleston  and  Savannah  with  Richmond. 
Gen.  J.  G.  Foster,  who  commanded  the  depart- 
ment after  the  departure  of  Gen.  Burnside, 
took  charge  of  the  expedition.  The  force  con- 
sisted of  four  brigades  under  Cols.  "Wessels, 
Amory,  Stevenson,  and  Lee;  the  3d  New 
York  and  1st  Rhode  Island  batteries;  also  sec- 


tions of  the  23d  and  24th  New  York  Independ- 
ent batteries,  and  the  3d  New  York  cavalry. 
It  left  Newbern  on  the  morning  of  Dec.  11, 
and  moved  on  the  Kinston  road  fourteen 
miles.  Some  parts  of  the  road  were  obstructed 
by  felled  trees.  On  the  next  morning  it  ad- 
vanced to  the  Vine  Swamp  road,  having  some 
sharp  skirmishing  with  a  small  Confederate 
force.  At  this  point  three  companies  of  cav- 
alry were  sent  up  the  Kinston  road  as  a  de- 
monstration,, and  the  main  force  took  the  Vine 
Swamp  road,  thereby  avoiding  the  obstruc- 
tions and  the  Confederate  forces.  It  was  de- 
layed to  build  the  bridge  over  Beaver  Creek, 
where  the  51st  Massachusetts  and  a  section  of 
artillery  were  left  to  hold  it,  and  support  the 
cavalry  on  the  main  road,  and  halted  at  a  dis- 
tance of  four  miles.  The  next  morning  the 
main  column  advanced,  turning  to  the  left  and 
leaving  the  road  it  was  upon  to  the  right.  At 
the  intersection  the  46th  Massachusetts  and  a 
section  of  a  battery  were  left  as  a  feint  and  to 
hold  the  position.  On  reaching  Southwest 
Creek  a  Confederate  force  was  found  posted  on 
the  opposite  bank,  about  four  hundred  strong, 
and  with  three  pieces  of  artillery.  The  creek 
was  not  fordable,  and  ran  at  the  foot  of  a  deep 
ravine.  Under  the  protection  of  a  battery  the 
9th  New  Jersey  effected  a  passage  and  formed 
on  the  opposite  bank,  where  it  was  afterward 
supported  by  the  85th  Pennsylvania.  This 
caused  the  Confederate  force  to  retire  with 
some  skirmishing.  On  the  next  day  an  ad- 
vance upon  Kinston  was  made,  and  the  Con- 
federate force 'found  posted  in  a  strong  posi- 
tion about  one  mile  from  the  place.  An  attack 
was  at  once  made  with  the  9th  New  Jer- 
sey in  advance,  and  the  position  taken.  The 
Confederate  force  retired  across  the  Neuse 
river,  with  a  loss  of  four  hundred  prisoners. 
On  crossing,  the  bridge  was  set  on  fire,  but 
soon  extinguished  by  the  advance  of  Gen.  Fos- 
ter. The  bridge  was  immediately  repaired, 
and  the  column  crossed,  and  occupied  the 
town  of  Kinston.  With  constant  skirmishing 
the  force  of  Gen.  Foster  continued  to  advance 
until  the  17th,  when  it  reached  Goldsborough. 
Here  it  burned  two  trestle-work  culverts,  de- 
stroyed a  train  of  four  railroad  cars,  water 
station,  depot,  &c.,  and  some  small  arms, 
which  it  was  unable  to  carry  off.  After  de- 
stroying other  bridges,  and  capturing  some 
small  positions  that  had  been  occupied  by  a 
Confederate  force,  the  expedition  successfully 
returned  to  Newbern.  This  enterprise  was 
very  skilfully  executed.  In  connection  with 
movements  upon  Richmond  it  would  have  pos- 
sessed considerable  importance,  but  in  the  ab- 
sence of  such  movements  it  only  served  to  in- 
terfere for  a  few  days  with  one  line  of  the  Con- 
federate internal  communication. 

These  expeditions,  although  successful  in 
themselves,  secured  no  important  advantages 
as  the  great  movement  upon  Richmond  had, 
in  the  mean  time,  been  suspended.  They  were 
useful  reconnoissances,  and  the  former  may  have 


310 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


delayed  the  arrival  of  reinforcements  from 
Gen.  Lee  to  Gen.  Bragg  before  the  hattle  of 
Murfreesborough.  They  developed  the  impor- 


tance of  these  roads  to  the  Richmond  Gov- 
ernment, and  proved  that  their  permanent  loas 
would  have  caused  serious  embarrassment  to  it. 


CHAPTEK  XXY. 


Attempt  to  capture  Washington,  North  Carolina — Expedition  from  Port  Koyal — Attack  on  Baton  Eouge — Contest  near 
Donaldsonville — Attack  on  Vicksbnrg — Surrender  of  Natchez — Capture  of  Galveston— Attack  on  the  Federal  Fleet  and 
capture  of  several  Vessels— Military  Operations  in  New  Mexico — Expedition  to  the  Indian  Territory — Operations  in 
Arkansas  and  Missouri — Campaign  against  the  Northwestern  Indians— Results  of  the  Year. 


SOME  military  movements  took  place  during 
the  year,  which  have  not  been  stated  in  the 
preceding  pages,  as  they  were  rather  isolated 
operations  than  a  part  of  the  campaign  at  the 
time  progressing. 

On  the  6th  of  September  a  body  of  Confed- 
erate troops  surprised  the  garrison  at  Wash- 
ington, in  the  Department  of  North  Carolina. 
A  vigorous  resistance  was  made,  and  the  at- 
tacking party  was  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  thirty- 
three  killed  and  nearly  one  hundred  wounded. 
The  Federal  loss  was  eight  killed  and  thirty- 
three  wounded. 

On  the  22d  of  October  an  expedition  was 
sent  out  from  Port  Royal  in  the  Department  of 
the  South,  which  was  then  under  the  command 
of  Gen.  Mitchell,  to  destroy  the  trestle-work 
bridges  of  the  Charleston  and  Savannah  Railroad 
across  the  Pocotaligo,  Tullifinny,  and  Coosaw- 
hatchie,  tributaries  of  the  Broad  River,  and  to 
make  a  reconnoissance  of  these  streams.  The 
expedition  was  under  the  command  of  Gens. 
Brannan  and  Terry.  The  main  body  of  the 
troops  was  landed  at  Mackey's  Point,  about 
fifteen  miles  from  the  railroad,  and  marched 
seven  miles  inland,  where  the  Confederates 
were  met  in  force.  After  a  sharp  fight  of  an 
hour  they  retired  to  a  point  two  miles  distant 
and  made  a  second  stand.  From  this  point  they 
again  fell  back  to  the  village  of  Pocotaligo,  and 
having  burned  the  long  bridge  across  the  stream, 
they  were  inaccessible.  Meanwhile  Col.  Bar- 
ton, with  three  hundred  and  fifty  men,  pene- 
trated to  the  railroad  at  Coosawhatchie,  and  de- 
stroyed some  of  the  rails,  cut  the  telegraph  wire, 
and  tired  upon  a  train  containing  troops.  The 
engagement  by  the  main  force  was  severe,  and 
the  Federal  loss  was  thirty-two  killed,  and  one 
hundred  and  eighty  wounded.  The  Federal 
force  retired  on  the  next  day,  having  failed  in 
the  object  of  the  expedition,  except  the  recon- 
noissance. The  rebel  loss  has  not  been  stated. 

On  the  5th  of  August  an  attack  was  made  on 
Baton  Rouge,  in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf, 
which  was  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Butler. 
The  Federal  force  of  this  city  was  under  com- 
mand of  Brig.-Gen.  Williams.  The  Confeder- 
ate force  making  the  attack  was  under  the  com- 
mand of  Gen.  John  C.  Breckinridge.  The  con- 
test was  sharp  and  bloody,  and  the  attack  was 
tuccessfully  repulsed.  The  Federal  loss  was 


ninety  killed,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  woun- 
ed.  Among  the  killed  was  Gen.  Williams. 
Three  hundred  of  the  enemy  were  reported  to 
have  been  killed  and  buried  by  the  force  of 
Gen.  Williams.  The  city  was  subsequently 
evacuated  by  the  Federal  force  on  May  16. 

On  the  24th  of  October  Brig.-Gen.  Weitzel 
commanded  an  expedition  from  New  Orleans 
to  the  west  bank  of  the  Mississippi  in  the  La 
Fourche  district.  An  engagement  took  place 
with  a  considerable  Confederate  force  on  the 
next  day,  about  nine  miles  from  Donaldson- 
ville, in  which  they  were  defeated  with  the  loss 
of  their  commander,  and  a  large  number  killed 
and  wounded,  and  two  hundred  and  sixty-eight 
prisoners.  The  Federal  loss  was  eighteen  kill- 
ed, and  sixty-eight  wounded. 

No  further  resistance  was  made  to  his  march 
to  Thibodeaux,  the  capital  of  La  Fourche  Inte- 
rior Parish.  On  the  9th  of  November  all  the 
property  of  this  parish  was  confiscated  by  an 
order  of  Maj.-Gen.  Butler.  Citizens  who  had 
been  loyal  to  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  were  to  be  secured  in  their  rights  of 
property.  The  plantations  not  confiscated  were 
to  be  worked  by  hired  negroes  for  the  benefit 
of  the  United  States. 

In  Mississippi,  June  17th,  Holy  Springs  was 
first  occupied  by  Federal  troops  from  the  army 
of  Gen.  Halleck.  This  movement  of  troops  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  State  and  the  defence- 
less condition  of  the  counties  on  the  river  against 
the  approach  of  the  Federal  gunboats  caused 
the  removal  of  the  archives  of  the  State  from 
Jackson,  the  capital,  to  Columbus,  near  the 
border  of  Alabama.  On  June  26th  the  first  at- 
tack on  Vicksburg  was  made,  which  continued 
for  eleven  days.  On  September  10th  Natchez 
surrendered  to  the  commander  of  the  gunboat 
Essex,  after  a  bombardment  of  two  hours.  The 
result  of  these  operations  was  the  firm  occupa- 
tion of  the  northern  extremity  of  the  State  by 
the  Federal  forces,  while  the  coast  at  the  south- 
ern extremity  was  completely  under  the  control 
of  the  Federal  naval  forces  in  the  neighborhood. 
Two  points  on  the  Mississippi  River  within  the 
State,  Port  Hudson  and  Vicksburg,  were  strong- 
ly fortified  by  the  Richmond  Government  in 
order  to  preserve  its  communication  with 
Texas,  and  to  prevent  the  complete  control  of 
the  river  from  falling  into  possession  of  the 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


311 


Federal  Government.  These  were  measures 
of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  insurrection- 
ary States. 

Some  military  movements  of  interest  took 
place  on  the  coast  of  Texas.  On  the  17th  of 
May  the  commander  of  the  Federal  naval  forces 
before  Galveston,  Henry  Eagle,  summoned  the 
place  to  surrender  "to  prevent  the  effusion  of 
blood  and  the  destruction  of  property,  which 
would  result  from  the  bombardment  of  the 
town,"  also  stating  that  the  land  and  naval 
forces  would  appear  in  a  few  days.  The  reply 
was  that  "  when  the  land  and  naval  forces  made 
their  appearance  the  demand  would  be  answer- 
ed." The  city,  however,  was  finally  taken  on 
the  8th  of  October.  The  military  and  the 
municipal  authorities  retired,  and  the  inhab- 
itants appointed  a  temporary  mayor.  On  the 
morning  of  that  day  Commander  'Renshaw, 
with  four  steamers,  approached  so  as  to  com- 
mand the  city  with  the  guns  of  his  vessels,  and 
upon  a  signal  the  mayor  came  off  to  the  flag- 
ship. The  mayor  requested  Commander  Ren- 
shaw to  communicate  to  him  his  intentions  in 
regard  to  the  city,  informing  him  at  the  same 
time  of  its  abandonment  by  the  military,  of  the 
absence  of  the  mayor  and  city  council,  and  of 
his  appointment  as  mayor  pro  tern,  by  a  meet- 
ing of  citizens. 

Commander  Renshaw  replied  that  he  had 
come  for  the  purpose  of  taking  possession  of 
the  city;  that  it  was  at  his  mercy  under  his 
guns ;  that  he  should  not  interfere  in  the  muni- 
cipal affairs  of  the  city ;  that  the  citizens  might 
go  on  and  conduct  their  business  as  hereto- 
fore ;  that  he  did  not  intend  to  occupy  the  city 
for  the  present,  nor  until  the  arrival  of  a  mili- 
tary commander ;  but  that  he  intended  to  hoist 
the  United  States  flag  upon  the  public  buildings, 
and  that  his  flag  should  be  respected.  Where- 
upon the  mayor  pro  tern,  answered  that  he 
could  not  guarantee  to  him  the  protection  of 
the  flag ;  that  he  would  do  every  thing  in  his 
power,  but  that  persons  over  whom  he  had  no 
control  might  take  down  the  flag  and  create  a 
difficulty. 

Commander  Renshaw  replied  that,  although 
in  his  previous  communications  with  the  mili- 
tary commander  he  had  insisted  that  the  flag 
should  be  protected  by  the  city,  still  he  thought 
it  would  be  onerous  upon  the  good  citizens; 
and,  to  avoid  any  difliculty  like  that  which  oc- 
curred in  New  Orleans,  he  would  waive  that 
point,  and  when  he  sent  the  flag  ashore,  he 
would  send  a  sufficient  force  to  protect  it,  and 
that  he  would  not  keep  the  flag  flying  for  more 
than  a  quarter  or  half  an  hour — sufficient  to 
show  the  absolute  possession. 

Commander  Renshaw  further  said  that  he 
would  insist  upon  the  right  for  any  of  his  men 
in  charge  c4  an  officer  to  come  on  shore  and 
walk  the  streets  of  the  city,  but  that  he  would 
not  permit  his  men  to  come  on  shore  indis- 
criminately or  in  the  night ;  that,  should  his  men 
insult  citizens,  he  gave  the  mayor  the  right  to 
arrest  and  report  them  to  him,  when  he  would 


punish  them  more  rigidly  than  the  mayor  pos- 
sibly could;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  should 
any  of  his  men  be  insulted  or  shot  at  in  the 
streets  of  Galveston,  or  any  of  his  ships  or 
boats  be  shot  at  from  the  land  or  wharves,  he 
would  hold  the  city  responsible  and  open  his 
broadsides  on  the  same  instantly ;  that  his  guns 
were  kept  shotted  and  double  shotted  for  that 
purpose ;  that  it  was  the  determination  of  his 
Government  to  hold  Galveston  at  all  hazards 
until  the  end  of  the  war. 

Commander  Renshaw  thus  held  the  city,  in 
which  a  small  military  force  was  placed,  until 
the  1st  of  January,  1863,  when  it  was  captured 
by  the  Texans.  The  Federal  naval  force  in 
possession  at  this  time  consisted  of  the  gunboats 
Westfield,  Harriet  Lane,  Clifton,  Owasco,  Cory- 
pheus,  and  Sachem,  the  latter  being  broken 
down.  The  troops  on  shore  were  two  hundred 
and  fifty  men  under  Col.  Burrill,  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts 42d  regiment.  On  the  night  previous 
information  was  received  by  the  commanding 
officers  of  both  the  land  and  naval  forces  that 
such  an  attack  would  be  made.  At  1.30  A.  M. 
on  the  night  of  the  1st  two  or  three  Confed- 
erate steamers  were  discovered  in  the  bay  by 
the  Clifton  and  Westfield.  Soon  after  the  force 
on  shore  was  informed  by  their  pickets  that 
the  Confederate  artillery  was  in  possession  of 
the  market  place,  about  one  quarter  of  a  mile 
.distant  from  the  wharf  on  which  they  were 
quartered. 

The  attack  commenced  on  shore  about  8 
A.M.,  by  the  enemy,  apon  the  Federal  troops, 
which  were  defended  by  the  Sachem  and  Cory- 
pheus,  with  gre"at  energy,  the  troops  only  reply- 
ing with  musketry,  having  no- artillery.  About 
dawn  the  Harriet  Lane  was  attacked,  or,  rather 
attacked  two  Confederate  steamers,  one  of 
which,  the  Bayou  City,  was  armed  with  68- 
pounder  rifle  guns,  had  200  troops,  and  was 
barricaded  with  cotton  bales,  some  twenty  feet 
from  the  water  line.  The  other,  the  Neptune, 
was  similarly  barricaded,  and  was  armed  with 
two  small  brass  pieces  and  160  men — (both 
were  common  river  steamers).  The  Harriet 
Lane  was  under  way  in  time,  and  went  up  to 
the  attack,  firing  her  bow  gun,  which  was  an- 
swered by  the  Confederates,  but  their  68- 
pounder  burst  at  the  third  fire. 

The  Harriet  Lane  then  ran  into  the  Bayou 
City,  carrying  away  her  whole  guard,  passed 
her  and  gave  her  a  broadside  that  did  her  little 
or  no  damage.  The  other  Confederate  steamer 
•then  ran  into  the  Harriet  Lane,  but  was  so  dis- 
abled by  the  collision  that  she  was  soon  after- 
wards obliged  to  back  in  on  the  flats,  where  she 
sunk  in  about  eight  feet  of  water,  near  to  the 
scene  of  action.  The  Bayou  City  turned  into 
the  Harriet  Lane,  and  she  remained  secured  to 
her  by  catching  under  her  guard,  pouring  in  in- 
cessant volleys  of  musketry,  as  did  the  other 
steamer,  which  was  returned  by  the  Harriet 
Lane,  with  musketry.  This  drove  the  Harriet 
Lane's  men  from  her  guns,  and  probably  wound- 
ed Commander  Wainwright  and  Lieutenant- 


312 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Commander  Lee — the  latter  mortally.  She 
was  then  carried  by  boarding,  by  the  Bayou 
City;  her  commander  was  summoned  to  sur- 
render, which  he  refused  to  do,  gallantly  de- 
fending himself  with  his  revolver  until  killed. 
But  five  of  the  Harriet  Lane's  men  were  killed, 
and  five  wounded.  One  hundred  and  ten,  in- 
clusive of  officers  and  wounded  men,  were  land- 
ed on  shore,  prisoners. 

The  Owasco,  which  had  been  anchored  below 
the  town,  moved  up  at  the  commencement  of 
the  attack,  and  engaged  the  Confederate  artil- 
lery on  shore.  When  it  was  light  enough  for 
her  to  observe  the  two  Confederate  steamers 
alongside  of  the  Harriet  Lane,  she  moved  up  to 
her  assistance,  grounding  several  times,  owing 
to  the  narrowness  of  the  channel.  Occasionally 
she  brought  her  11-inch  gun  to  bear,  but  was 
soon  driven  off  by  the  fire  of  the  Confederate 
musketry.  Soon  the  howitzers  of  the  Harriet 
Lane  opened  on  her,  and  she  backed  down  be- 
low, continuing  her  engagement  on  shore.  All 
her  rifle  gun  crew  were  wounded. 

The  Clifton,  before  the  action  commenced, 
went  around  into  Bolivar  Channel  to  render 
assistance  to  the  steamer  Westfield,  which  had 
got  under  way  when  the  Confederate  steam- 
ers were  first  discovered.  Soon  after,  she  got 
hard  and  fast  ashore,  at  high  water,  and  made 
a  signal  for  assistance.  When  the  Clifton  was 
in  the  act  of  rendering  this  assistance,  the . 
flashes  of  the  Confederate  guns  were  first  seen 
in  the  town.  Commander  Eenshaw  then  di- 
rected Lieutenant  Commander  Law  to  leave 
him  and  to  return  to  the  town. 

The  moon  had  now  g'one  down,  and  it  be- 
came quite  dark,  yet  the  Clifton,  with  some 
difficulty,  got  around  in  the  other  channel, 
opening  her  batteries  upon  Fort  Point,  which 
the  Confederates  now  had  possession  of,  shell- 
ing them  out  and  driving  them  out  up  the  beach 
as  she  neared  the  town.  Here  she  anchored, 
and  continued  the  engagement,  but  did  not 
proceed  up  to  the  rescue  of  the  Harriet  Lane, 
owing  to  the  failure  of  the  Owasco,  the  intri- 
cacy of  the  channel,  and  the  apprehension  of 
killing  the  crew  of  the  Harriet  Lane,  who  were 
then  exposed  upon  her  upper  deck.  It  was 
now  about  half-past  seven  A.  M.  A  white  flag 
was  hoisted  on  the  Harriet  Lane.  A  boat 
bearing  a  flag  of  truce,  with  a  Confederate 
officer  and  an  acting  master  of  the  Harriet 
Lane,  came  down  to  the  Clifton,  informing 
her  commander  of  the  capture  of  the  Harriet 
Lane,  the  death  of  her  commander  and  first 
lieutenant,  and  the  killing  and  wounding  of 
two-thirds  of  her  crew. 

The  proposition  was  made  by  the  Confeder- 
ate officer  that  all  the  Federal  vessels  should 
surrender,  and  one  be  allowed,  with  the  crews 
of  all,  to  leave  the  harbor,  or  they  would  pro- 
ceed to  capture  them  with  the  Harriet  Lane 
and  all  their  steamers,  three  more  of  which 
were  in  sight.  These  were  neither  armed  nor 
barricaded.  Upon  being  informed  of  this  pro- 
position, Commander  Eenshaw  refused  to  con- 


sent, and  directed  Lieutenant  Law  to  return 
and  get  all  the  vessels  out  of  port  as  soon  as 
possible,  and,  as  he  could  not  get  the  Westfield 
afloat,  he  should  blow  her  up,  and  go  on  board 
the  army  transports  Saxon  and  M.  A.  Bard- 
man,  then  near  him.  Lieut.  Law  returned  to 
execute  these  directions.  Meanwhile,  the  Con- 
federates had  hauled  the  Harriet  Lane  along- 
side the  wharf,  and  had  made  prisoners  of  the 
troops  on  shore,  although  it  had  been  under- 
stood that  all  should  remain  in  statu  quo  until 
the  answer  was  returned.  "When  the  Clifton 
was  half  way  toward  the  bar,  her  commander 
was  informed  by  a  boat  from  the  Westfield, 
that,  in  the  explosion  of  that  vessel  (which 
they  observed  some  half  an  hour  before),  Com- 
mander Eenshaw,  Lieutenant  Zimmerman,  En- 
gineer Green,  and  some  ten  or  fifteen  of  the 
crew,  had' perished,  the  explosion  being  prema- 
ture. Lieutenant  Commander  Law,  now  be- 
ing commanding  officer,  proceeded  to  cross 
his  vessel  over  the  bar,  and  finally  concluded 
to  abandon  the  blockade  altogether,  considering 
the  Owasco  as  his  only  efficient  vessel,  and 
regarding  her  as  not  equal  to  resist  an  attack 
fron?  the  Harriet  Lane,  should  she  come  out 
for  that  purpose. 

The  vessels  which  were  left  in  possession  of 
the  enemy  were  the  Harriet  Lane,  and  two  coal 
barks,  the  Caralto  and  Elias  Pike.  The  only 
injury  sustained  by  the  Harriet  Lane  appears 
to  have  been  from  a  twelve-inch  shell  under 
her  counter,  fired  by  the  Owasco,  and  the  dam- 
age to  her  guard  from  the  collision. 

New  Mexico,  during  the  year  1862,  was  the 
theatre  of  some  of  the  most  desperate  and  hard- 
fought  battles  of  the  war.  On  the  4th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1862,  it  was  ascertained  that  a  Texan 
force  1,500  strong,  under  the  command  of  the 
Confederate  General  Sibley,  were  approaching 
Fort  Craig,  200  miles  south  of  Santa  Fe,  which 
Col.  E.  E.  Canby  held  with  about  1,000  regular 
troops  and  1,500  volunteers.  Finding  the  Fed- 
eral force  too  strong  to  be  attacked,  Sibley  anC 
his  Texans  fell  back,  and  did  not  again  ap 
proach  Fort  Craig  till  they  had  been  largely  re 
enforced.  In  the  last  days  of  January,  having 
received  reinforcements,  which  brought  his 
force  up  to  fully  3,500,  the  rebel  general  again 
advanced  slowly  and  cautiously,  in  two  columns, 
toward  the  fort.  Col.  Canby,  hearing,  on  the 
13th  of  February,  from  scouts  and  deserters 
that  the  enemy  were  within  30  miles  from  Fort 
Craig,  sallied  out  with  a  large  force  to  meet  and 
attack  them,  but  could  find  no  trace  of  them, 
and  returned  to  the  fort.  On  the  18th  the 
Confederates  appeared  in  front  of  the  fort, 
about  2,000  strong,  but  retired  the  same  day, 
and  it  was  supposed  commenced  a  retreat. 
Col.  Canby  despatched  Major  Duncan,  with  a 
squadron  of  dragoons  and  mounted  men,  to 
follow  and  harass  them.  The  Texans  retreated 
down  the  valley  of  the  Eio  Grande  to  a  ravine 
about  eight  miles  below  the  fort,  where  they 
had  a  battery  of  eight  guns  strongly  planted. 
From  this,  after  a  strong  skirmish,  Major  Dun- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


313 


can  was  recalled.  On  the  19th  and  20th  the 
Texans  attempted  to  cross  the  Rio  Grande,  in 
order  to  take  possession  of  the  heights  opposite 
Fort  Craig,  but  were  driven  back  by  the  Fed- 
eral forces  without  material  loss  on  either  side. 
On  the  21st  a  desperate  battle  was  fought, 
lasting  most  of  the  day,  at  a  .place  called 
Valverde,  about  ten  miles  below  Fort  Craig. 
Early  in  the  morning  the  Federal  forces  cap- 
tured 200  mules  belonging  to  the  Texans,  and 
burned  many  of  their  wagons,  and  soon  crossed 
the  Rio  Grande  to  attack  them,  with  a  battery 
of  six  pieces  and  two  mountain  howitzers. 
Both  parties  fought  with  the  greatest  desper- 
ation, the  Texans,  to  capture  the  battery,  the 
deadly  execution  of  which  cut  them  off  from 
access  to  water,  for  want  of  which  they  and 
their  animals  were  near  perishing,  and  the 
Federal  troops  to  hold  the  ground  they  had 
gained.  The  two  howitzers  were  under  com- 
mand of  Lieutenant  Hall,  who  successfully, 
and  with  great  carnage,  repulsed  their  attempts 
to  capture  them ;  the  six-gun  battery  was 
commanded  by  Captain  McRea,  and  to  the 
capture  of  this  the  main  efforts  of  the  Texans 
were  directed.  They  would  not  have  succeed- 
ed, however,  had  not  the  new  Mexican  volun- 
teers (Col.  Pino's  regiment)  been  panic-strick- 
en and  fled  in  great  disorder,  and  the  regulars 
refused  to  obey  their  commander.  The  Texans, 
repeatedly  repulsed  by  the  terrible  fire  of  the 
•battery,  which  was  admirably  served  by  Capt. 
McRea,  finally  came  up  to  the  charge,  armed 
with  only  their  long  bowie  knives  and  Colt's 
revolvers,  and  though  more  than  half  their 
number  fell  before  they  reached  it,  they  finally 
succeeded  in  killing  all  the  gunners,  and  cap- 
turing the  battery.  The  brave  McRea  and  his 
two  lieutenants,  Michler  and  Bell,  stood  at  their 
guns  when  all  the  rest  had  fled,  and  defended 
themselves  with  their  revolvers  till  they  were 
killed.  The  loss  of  this  battery  compelled  Col. 
Canby  to  fall  back  to  Fort  Craig.  His  loss  was 
62  killed  and  140  wounded ;  that  of  Confed- 
erates was  very  much  greater,  and  effectually 
crippled  their  subsequent  operations.  They  did 
not  attempt  to  capture  Fort  Craig,  but  pro- 
ceeded up  the  Rio  Grande  to  Albuquerque  and 
Santa  Fe,  both  of  which  towns  were  evacuated 
by  our  forces,  which  fell  back  to  Fort  Union, 
10a  miles  east  of  Santa  Fe,  a  strong  position, 
where  the  Government  stores  for  the  depart- 
ment were  concentrated.  Col.  Canby  inter- 
cepted and  captured  a  force  of  400  Texans  on 
their  way  north  to  reenforce  General  Sibley. 
Colonel  Slough,  in  command  of  a  force  of 
1,300  Colorado  mounted  volunteers,  reached 
Apache  Pass,  on  the  26th  of  March,  on  his 
way  to  reenforce  Colonel  Donelson  at  Fort 
Union,  and  there  met  a  considerable  force  of 
Texans,  whom,  after  a  severe  action,  he  routed, 
capturing  100  men  and  officers,  killing  and 
wounding  between  300  and  400,  and  burning 
50  loaded  wagons.  The  Federal  loss  was  less 
than  150  killed  and  wounded.  On  the  28th  he 
had  another  battle  at  Pigeon's  Ranche,  twenty- 


five  miles  north  of  Santa  Fe,  and  captured  more 
prisoners  and  supplies.  He  then  fell  back  to 
Fort  Union,  and  there  received  orders  from 
Col.  (now  General)  Canby  to  form  a  junction 
with  his  forces  at  Galesto,  which  he  accomplish- 
ed on  the  9th  of  April,  and  there  learned  thai 
the  Texans  were  retreating  from  the  Territory. 
Major  Duncan,  commanding  the  advance  guard 
of  Gen.  Canby's  forces,  had  a  battle  with  a 
body  of  Texans  in  the  early  part  of  April,  and 
defeated  them.  Finding  themselves  hard  press- 
ed in  their  retreat,  the  Texans  took  a  strong 
position  at  Parillo,  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and  for- 
tifying it  hastily,  awaited  an  attack  there  about 
the  middle  of  April ;  General  Canb^  attacked 
them  in  front,  and  sent  Major  Paul,  in  command 
of  the  Colorado  troops,  to  assail  them  in  the 
rear.  After  a  sharp  action,  in  which  the  Fed- 
eral forces  lost  25  killed  and  wounded,  the 
Texans  were  defeated  with  great  slaughter,  and 
compelled  to  fly  to  the  mountains.  From  this 
point  their  retreat  was  a  succession  of  disasters; 
the  destruction  of  the  greater  part  of  their 
train  reduced  them  to  the  verge  of  starvation, 
and  more  than  one  half  of  the  original  number 
were  left  in  New  Mexico,  as  killed,  wounded, 
or  prisoners.  They  reached  Nusilla  with  five 
pieces  of  artillery  and  seven  wagons,  and  even 
this  scanty  supply,  the  small  remainder  of  the 
magnificent  train  with  which  they  had  invaded 
the  Territory,  was  destined  to  be  still  further 
diminished  before  they  reached  El  Paso.  "With 
bitter  curses  on  their  leaders,  who  had  gone  on 
in  advance,  and  left  them  to  take  care  of  them- 
selves, the  half-starved  and  wretched  remnant 
of  the  Texan  troops,  once  the  flower  of  the 
Texas  chivalry,  made  their  way,  sadly  and 
slowly,  homeward,  and  every  point  which  they 
left — as  for  instance,  Nusilla,  Fort  Fillmore, 
Fort  Bliss,  and  El  Paso,  was  immediately  oc- 
cupied by  loyal  troops,  under  the  efficient  move- 
ments of  Gen.  Carleton. 

In  the  spring  of  1862  an  expedition  was 
fitted  out  in  the  State  of  Kansas  to  go  south, 
through  the  Indian  Territory,  to  reduce  the 
Indian  tribes  which  had  joined  the  Confederacy 
to  subjection,  and  repossess  the  U4.  S.  forts,  Gib- 
son, Arbuckle,  Washita,  and  Cobb,  of  which 
the  Confederates  had  taken  possession.  The 
expedition  consisted  of  about  5,000  troops,  of 
which  2,000  were  whites  and  3,000  loyal  In- 
dians. The  expedition  was  unfortunate  in  its 
commanders  at  first :  Gen.  Blunt  having  as- 
signed the  command  to  Col.  Charles  Double- 
day,  of  the  Second  Ohio  cavalry;  but,  from 
some  political  influences,  he  was  removed,  and 
Col.  Wm.  Weir,  of  Kansas,  substituted.  Col. 
Weir's  management  was  so  inefficient  and 
ruinous  that  Col.  Solomon,  of  the  9th  Wisconsin 
regiment,  who  commanded  one  of  the  brig- 
ades, deemed  it  necessary  to  arrest  him1  on 
the  charge  of  insanity.  Under  Col.  Solomon's 
management  the  expedition  took  possession  of 
the  Indian  Territory,  arrested  John  Ross,  the 
principal  Cherokee  chief,  as  being  of  doubtful 
sentiment  toward  the  United  States,  and  re- 


314 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ceived  professions  of  loyalty  from  about  two 
thirds  of  the  Cherokees  and  Creeks.  The 
Choctaws  they  found  mostly  on  the  side  of 
the  South.  Large  numbers  of  the  slaves  of 
the  Indians  enlisted  in  the  army  of  the  expedi- 
tion as  "  Woolly-headed  Indians."  The  expedi- 
tion had  subdued  and  held  the  country  north 
of  the  Arkansas  River  before  the  25th  of  July, 
and  Gen.  Blunt,  on  the  8th  of  August,  tak- 
ing command  in  person,  routed  the  Confed- 
erate force  atMaysville,  in  the  northwest  corner 
of  Arkansas,  on  the  22d  of  Oct. ;  on  the  28th 
and  29th  of  Nov.  he  again  met  and  defeated, 
with  heavy  loss,  the  Confederate  forces  under 
Gen.  Marmaduke,  at  Cane  Hill,  Ark. ;  on  the 
Vth  of  December  he  defeated  and  scattered  a 
greatly  superior  force  (28,000)  of  the  enemy 
under  Gen.  Hindman,  at  Prairie  Grove,  Ark., 
his  loss  being  about  1,000,  and  that  of  the 
Confederates  1,500,  the  Confederates  retreating 
in  the  night,  abandoning  their  dead  and 
wounded;  and  on  the  27th  and  28th  of  Dec. 
Gens.  Herron  and  Blunt  defeated  two  regi- 
ments of  rebel  cavalry  at  Dupping  Spring, 
and  captured  Van  Bur  en,  a  strong  fortress  on 
the  Arkansas  River,  taking  one  hundred  and 
twenty  prisoners,  and  four  steamboats  laden 
with  stores. 

After  the  military  movements  in  the  north- 
western part  of  Arkansas,  including  the  battle 
of  Pea  Ridge,  related  on  a  previous  page,  Gen. 
Curtis  moved  to  the  White  River,  and  occupied 
Batesville  about  the  1st  of  May.  Here  he  was 
met  by  many  demonstrations  of  attachment  to 
the  Union.  Many  citizens  came  forward  and 
took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States ; 
these  were  judges  of  courts,  clergymen,  and 
citizens  holding  positions  of  influence.  His 
advance  being  pushed  forward  on  the  road  to 
Little  Rock,  a  great  excitement  was  produced 
there.  -The  governor  issued  a  proclamation 
calling  upon  the  State  militia  to  repair  imme- 
diately to  its  defence.  Finding  himself  not 
sufficiently  supported,  Gov. .  Rector  fled,  and 
the  State  was  left  without  any  executive  gov- 
ernment. Martial  law  was  then  declared  by 
Brig.-Gen.  Roane,  commanding  the  department, 
and  George  C.  Watkins  was  appointed  provost 
marshal.  The  weakness  of  Arkansas  at  this 
moment  was  caused  by  the  concentration  of  all 
the  rebel  military  strength  at  Corinth,  and  her 
fate  was  as  much  involved  in  the  security  of 
that  position  as  the  fate  of  Tennessee  or  Missis- 
sippi. But  while  the  forces  of  Arkansas  were 
taken  to  defend  Corinth,  ten  regiments  were 
taken  from  Gen.  Curtis  to  reenforce  the  Fed- 
eral troops  attacking  it.  This  left  him  in  no 
condition  to  march  upon  Little  Rock,  and  the 
capital  of  the  State  thus  escaped  being  captured. 
On  the  19th  of  May  a  skirmish  took  place 
near  Searcy,  between  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men  of  Col.  (acting  Brig.-Gen.)  Osterhaus's  div- 
ision and  a  State  force  under  Cols.  Coleman 
and  Hicks.  The  loss  was  small  on  both  sides. 
Other  skirmishes  occurred  during  the  march 
>f  Gen.  Curtis  from  Batesville  to  Helena,  of 


small  importance.  Bridges  were  burned  by 
the  Arkansas  troops  across  Bayon  des  Arc  and 
Cypress  River,  and  about  ten  thousand  bales  of 
cotton  on  the  Arkansas  River,  and  all  the  cotton 
and  sugar  at  Jacksonport.  By  the  first  of  June, 
twelve  thousand  men  were  collected  at  Little 
Rock  in  answer  to  the  call  of  the  governor,  but 
were  very  destitute  of  arms.  The  State  records, 
however,  had  been  removed  to  Arkadelphia. 

After  Gen.  Curtis  had  occupied  Helena,  the 
Federal  Government  appointed  John  S.  Phelps 
of  Missouri,  military  governor,  and  Col.  Wm. 
F.  Switzler  secretary  for  Arkansas.  He  left 
St.  Louis  on  Aug.  19,  for  Helena.  It  was  con- 
templated at  this  time  that  a  movement  on 
Little  Rock  would  be  made.  .This  however 
was  not  done,  and  the  office  of  governor  be- 
came of  little  importance.  Two  regiments  were 
organized  at  Helena,  composed  of  citizens  of 
Arkansas ;  they  were  chiefly  men  who  had  suf- 
fered in  consequence  of  their  attachment  to  the 
Union,  and  were  refugees. 

In  Missouri  disturbances  continued.  During 
the  summer  the  guerrillas  became  exceedingly 
troublesome. 

On  June  22,  Gen.  Schofield  issued  an  order 
holding  "  rebels  and  rebel  sympathizers  respon- 
sible in  their  property,  and,  if  need  be,  in  their 
persons,  for  damages  thereafter  committed  by 
guerrillas  or  marauding  parties."  This  had  so 
so  little  effect  that  by  the  middle  of  July  the 
whole  northern  and  western  parts  of  the  State 
were  disturbed  by  rumors  of  guerrilla  raids  and 
outrages.  In  the  northeast  quarter  Col.  Porter 
and  Col.  Quantrell  began,  as  early  as  the  last 
week  in  June,  to  gather  followers  about  them, 
and  early  in  July  the  former  was  defeated  and 
his  band  dispersed,  at  Cherry  Grove,  in  Schuyler 
County,  on  the  Iowa  line. 

The  increasing  alarm  in  the  State,  heightened 
by  the  apprehension  that  the  sudden  rising  of 
the  guerrillas  was  to  be  followed  by  another 
invasion  from  the  South,  caused  vigorous  meas- 
ures of  defence,  and  on  July  22d  an  order  from 
Gen.  Schofield  for  the  immediate  organization  of 
all  the  militia  of  Missouri.  The  organization  was 
effected  with  energy  and  rapidity,  and  in  a  brief 
space  of  time  the  forces  of  the  State  were  pre- 
pared to  make  vigorous  opposition  to  the  guer- 
rillas in  all  quarters. 

On  July  28,  Cols.  Porter  and  Cobb  were  de- 
feated in  Galloway  County,  on  the  Missouri 
River;  but  within  three  days  the  former  cap- 
tured Newark,  in  Knox  County,  with  two  com- 
panies of  national  troops.  About  the  same 
time  a  new  partisan  leader,  Col.  Poiudexter, 
began  to  be  active  in  the  central  counties  on 
the  Missouri,  and  during  the  first  week  in 
August  his  movements,  together  with  those  of 
Col.  Quantrell  in  the  west,  compelled  the  na- 
tional commanders  to  take  additional  measures 
of  precaution.  On  August  6th,  Col.  Porter 
was  disastrously  defeated  by  Col.  McNeil,  at 
Kirksville,  in  Adair  County,  and  for  several 
weeks  was  compelled  to  keep  aloof  from  active 
operations.  As  a  consequence,  the  .war  shifted 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


315 


to  central  and  western  Missouri,  where  Cols. 
Coffee  and  McBride  were  reported  to  have 
come  to  the  assistance  of  Col.  Quantrell. 

After  a  series  of  desultory  skirmishes,  an 
attack  was  made  on  the  13th  by  the  combined 
bands  of  these  leaders,  who  had  been  joined  a 
short  time  previously  by  Col.  Hughes,  and  other 
officers  of  the  Confederate  army,  upon  Inde- 
pendence, resulting  in  a  severe  defeat  of  the 
State  troops ;  and  two  days  later  a  body  of  800 
of  the  latter  were  drawn  into  an  ambuscade  at 
Lone  Jack,  Jackson  County,  by  Cols.  Quantrell 
and  Coffee,  losing  two  pieces  of  cannon,  and  a 
number  of  prisoners.  Heavy  reinforcements 
under  Gen.  Blunt,  of  Kansas,  coming  up,  how- 
ever, the  guerrillas  beat  a  hasty  retreat  south- 
ward, and  never  paused  until  they  were  over 
the  Arkansas  line. 

Scarcely  was  the  southwest  cleared  of  guer- 
rillas than  their  operations  commenced  in  the 
north  with  renewed  activity.  Col.  Poindexter, 
after  several  defeats,  was  captured  early  in 
September,  but  so  daring  were  the  raids  of 
Col.  Porter  and  his  followers  in  Lewis,  Maria, 
and  other  northeastern  counties,  that  a  Pal- 
myra newspaper  declared  the  whole  of  that 
part  of  the  State  "  to  be  in  the  possession  of 
the  rebels,  with  the  exception  of  the  posts  im- 
mediately garrisoned  by  State  or  United  States 
troops."  It  estimated  the  number  of  the  Con- 
federates at  5,000,  divided  into  numerous  small 
bands,  and  commanded  by  reckless  and  enter- 
prising leaders.  On  the  12th,  Palmyra,  occu- 
pied by  a  small  Union  garrison,  was  plundered 
by  Col.  Porter's  force ;  but,  subsequent  to  the 
15th,  the  efforts  of  Cols.  McNeil,  Guitar,  and 
other  Union  commanders  began  to  discourage 
the  guerrillas,  whose  strength  was  gradually 
frittered  away  in  petty  combats. 

By  an  order  from  the  "War  Department  of 
September  19,  the  States  of  Missouri,  Kansas, 
and  Arkansas  were  formed  into  a  military  dis- 
trict, under  the  command  of  Gen.  Curtis,  and 
soon  after  Gen.  Schofield  assumed  command  of 
the  so-called  "Army  of  the  Frontier"  in  south- 
ern Missouri.  Moving  with  rapidity  and  in 
considerable  force,  he  broke  up  a  formidable 
camp  in  Newtonia,  and  by  the  10th  of  October 
had  driven  the  enemy  completely  over  the  Ar- 
kansas border.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  same 
month  Cols.  Lazear  and  Dewry  defeated  the 
Confederate  bands  in  southeastern  Missouri  in 
several  engagements,  capturing  many  prisoners, 
and  driving  them  finally  into  Arkansas.  Col. 
Quantrell  had  reappeared  in  the  west  in  the 
middle  of  September,  but  was  almost  uniformly 
beaten  in  his  encounters  with  the  State  troops, 
and  by  the  end  of  October  the  war,  both  there 
and  in  the  north,  was  practically  ended. 

Before  this  event  was  consummated  in  the 
north  an  incident  occurred  in  Palmyra,  which 
created  no  little  comment  throughout  the  State. 
On  the  occasion  of  Col.  Porter's  raid  upon  Pal- 
myra, in  September,  he  had  captured,  among 
other  persons,  an  old  and  respected  resident  of 
the  place,  by  name  Andrew  Allsman,  who  had 


formerly  belonged  to  a  cavalry  regiment,  and 
had  been,  from  his  knowledge  of  the  surround- 
ing country,  of  great  service  to  scouting  parties 
sent  out  to  arrest  disloyal  persons.  Allsman 
was  not  paroled  like  ordinary  prisoners,  but 
was  conveyed  by  the  band  to  one  of  their  hid- 
ing places,  and  from  the  known  hatred  of  his 
captors  and  their  repeated  threats,  it  was  be- 
lieved that  he  would  be  summarily  executed  by 
them.  When  several  weeks  had  elapsed  with- 
out intelligence  of  him,  this  belief  ripened  in 
the  minds  of  his  friends  into  absolute  convic- 
tion, particularly  as  several  Union  men  had 
been  barbarously  murdered  by  the  guerrillas 
in  the  course  of  the  campaign. 

"When  Gen.  McNeil  returned  to  Palmyra,  and 
ascertained  the  circumstances  under  which 
Allsman  had  been  abducted,  he  caused  to  be 
issued,  after  due  deliberation,  the  following 
notice : 

PALMYKA  (Mo.),  October  8,  1862. 

JOSEPH  C.  PORTER, — SIR  :  Andrew  Allsman,  an  aged 
citizen  of  Palmyra,  and  a  non-combatant,  having  been 
carried  from  his  home  by  a  band  of  persons  unlawfully 
arrayed  against  the  peace  and  good  order  of  the  State 
of  Missouri,  and  which  band  was  under  your  control, 
this  is  to  notify  you  that  unless  said  Andrew  Allsman 
is  returned  unharmed  to  his  family  within  ten  days 
from  date,  ten  men  who  have  belonged  to  your  band, 
and  unlawfully  sworn  by  you  to  carry  arms  against 
the  Government  of  the  United  States,  and  who  are 
now  in  custody,  will  be  shot,  as  a  meet  reward  for 
their  crimes,  amongst  which  is  the  illegal  restraining 
of  said  Allsman  of  his  liberty,  and,  if  not  returned, 
presumptively  aiding  in  his  murder.  Your  prompt 
attention  to  this  wilfsave  much  suffering. 

Yours,  Ac.  W.  R.  STRACHAN. 

Provost  Marshal  General, 

District  N.  E.  Missouri.    Per  order  of  Brigadier- 
Gen.  Commanding  McNeil's  colutnn. 

A  written  duplicate  of  this  notice  he  caused 
to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  wife  of  Joseph 
0.  Porter,  at  her  residence  in  Lewis  County,  it 
being  well  known  that  she  was  in  frequent 
communication  with  her  husband.  The  notice 
was  published  widely,  and  as  Porter  was  in 
northeast  Missouri  during  the  whole  of  the  ten 
days  subsequent  to  t*he  date  of  this  notice,  it  is 
supposed  to  be  impossible  that  he  should  have 
been  unaware  of  Gen.  McNeil's  determination 
in  the  premises. 

The  ten  days  having  elapsed  without  tidings 
of  Allsman,  ten  prisoners,  already  in  custody, 
were  selected  to  pay  with  their  lives  the  pen- 
alty demanded. 

They  received  the  announcement  for  the 
most  part  with  composure  or  indifference,  and 
were  executed  at  Palmyra,  on  October  18,  in 
the  presence  of  a  multitude  of  spectators,  in 
literal  accordance  with  the  notice  of  Gen.  Mc- 
Neil. 

In  order  to  complete  the  history  of  the  mili- 
tary operations  of  1862,  the  proceedings  against 
the  Indians  in  Minnesota  remain  to  be  described. 
During  the  spring  and  early  summer  of  1862, 
reports  from  various  sources  reached  the  United 
States  Government,  indicating  that  the  Indian 
tribes  of  Utah,  Colorado,  Dakota,  and  "Western 
Nebraska,  would  ravage  the  Territories  and 


316 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


frontier  States.  It  was  said  that  emissaries 
from  the  Southern  Confederacy  had  been 
among  them,  stimulating  them  to  rise  and 
plunder  and  destroy  the  frontier  settlements; 
and  to  encourage  them  in  this  movement,  they 
were  told  that  the  United  States  Government 
was  broken  up  by  the  South,  and  could  make 
no  resistance.  Adventurers  from  Canada,  too, 
had  visited  them  in.  the  early  part  of  the  year, 
urging  them  to  bring  their  furs  across  the 
boundary,  and  assuring  them  that  they  should 
be  aided  with  money  and  arms  to  drive  the 
Americans  from  their  lands.  The  Indians,  while 
thus  prompted  to  insurrection  by  evil  and  de- 
signing men  from  both  north  and  south  of  their 
hunting  fields,  had  also  many  imaginary  and 
some  real  grounds  of  :omplaint  against  the 
Indian  agents  sent  among  them  by  the  United 
States  Government.  Some  of  these  had  proved 
unworthy  of  their  trust ;  had  swindled  and  de- 
frauded the  Indians,  and  had  treated  them  with 
harshness ;  and  though  these  were  the  excep- 
tions, and  perhaps  rare  exceptions,  yet  the  de- 
lay in  paying  the  Indian  annuities,  owing  to  the 
negligence  of  the  Indian  bureau,  and  the  at- 
tempt on  the  part  of  some  of  the  agents  to  pay 
them  in  legal  tender  notes  instead  of  gold,  which 
the  Government  had  furnished,  aroused  distrust 
in  the  minds  of  the  Red  men,  and  led  them  to 
plot  revenge. 

The  reports  which  reached  the  Department 
of  the  Interior  had  given  rise  to  so  much  appre- 
hension that  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs 
published  in  the  summer  an  advertisement 
warning  the  public  of  the  dangers  in  taking  the 
overland  route  to  the  Pacific. 

Meantime  the  settlers  in  "Western  Minnesota 
were  entirely  unsuspicious  of  danger.  A  large 
proportion  of  these  settlers  were  Germans,  espe- 
cially in  Brown  and  the  adjacent  counties ;  a 
considerable,  number  were  Norwegians,  and 
the  remainder  generally  of  American  birth. 
Most  of  them  had  purchased  considerable 
farms,  and  they  had  built  up  small  but  thriving 
villages  throughout  the  tier  of  western  counties. 
They  were  on  terms  of  friendship  with  the  In- 
dians, had  no  apprehension  of  any  treachery 
from  them. 

Though  an  insurrection  had  been  deliberately 
planned,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  mas- 
sacre was  precipitated  somewhat  sooner  than 
was  at  first  intended.  On  the  17th  of  August, 
four  drunken  Indians  belonging  to  Little  Crow's 
band  of  Sioux,  roaming  through  the  country 
and  becoming  intoxicated  on  whiskey  obtained 
from  a  white  man,  had  a  violent  altercation  with 
each  other  as  to  which  of  them  was  the  bravest, 
and  finally  determined  that  the  test  of  their 
bravery  should  be  the  killing  of  a  white  man. 
After  committing  several  murders,  and  be- 
coming somewhat  sober,  they  fled  to  their  vil- 
lage (Red  Wood),  and  told  their  chief,  Little 
Crow,  who  was  one  of  the  conspirators,  what 
they  had  done.  He,  expecting  retaliation  for 
this  outrage,  at  once  determined  upon  com- 
mencing the  intended  attack,  and  on  the  morn- 


ing of  the  18th,  with  a  force  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  or  three  hundred  Indians,  proceeded  to  the 
agency  at  Yellow  Medicine  and  engaged  in  an 
indiscriminate  slaughter  of  all  the  whites  he 
could  find  there.  Mr.  Galbraith,  the  agent, 
was  absent,  having  left  home  three  days  before, 
but  his  family  were  among  the  victims  of  this 
murderous  assault.  A  force  of  forty-five  sol- 
diers, sent  up  from  Fort  Ridgley  at  the  first 
rumour  of  disturbance,  were  attacked  by  the 
Indians  in  ambush,  and  half  their  number  slain. 
The  marauders,  flushed  with  success,  pressed  on 
with  their  work  of  death,  murdering,  with  the 
most  atrocious  brutalities,  the  settlers  in  their 
isolated  farmhouses,  violating  and  then  killing 
women,  beating  out  the  brains  of  infants  or 
nailing  them  to  the  doors  of  houses,  and  prac- 
tising every  species  of  atrocity  which  their 
fiendish  natures  prompted.  On  the  21st  of 
August  they  had  attacked  New  Ulm,  a  flourish- 
ing German  settlement,  the  capital  of  Brown 
County,  with  a  large  force,  had  beleaguered  Fort 
Ridgley,  and  were  advancing  upon  other  settle- 
ments. The  only  Indians  engaged  in  these  out- 
rages were  Sioux,  and  that  portion  of  them 
under  the  special  command  of  Little  Crow.  The 
Chippewas,  the  inveterate  enemies  of  the  Sioux, 
who  had  also  a  reservation  hi  Minnesota,  were 
uneasy,  and  assumed  a  threatening  attitude. 
They  alleged  gross  frauds  on  the  part  of  their 
agent,  who  escaped  from  the  reservation  and 
committed  suicide ;  but  they  took  no  part  in  the 
Sioux  massacres,  and,  indeed,  a  few  weeks  later, 
offered  to  raise  a  force  of  their  warriors  to  fight 
the  Sioux,  an  offer  which  the  Government  did 
not  think  it  wise  to  accept.  On  the  first  intel- 
ligence of  this  insurrection  Governor  Ramsey 
sent  four  companies  of  the  6th  regiment  of  vol- 
unteers from  Fort  Snelling,  and,  two  days  later, 
on  fuller  information,  he  sent  forward  seven 
companies  more.  Col.  (now  Gen.)  H.  H.  Sibley, 
who  had  thirty  years'  experience  among  the 
Indians  on  the  frontier,  was  placed  in  com- 
mand. Mounted  volunteers  were  also  called  for 
by  proclamation  to  join  these  forces,  and  large 
numbers  obeyed  the  call.  The  3d  Minnesota 
regiment,  then  on  parole  at  St.  Louis,  was  also 
ordered  to  report  at  St.  Paul,  and  arrived  there 
on  the  4th  of  September. 

On  the  23d  of  August  New  Ulm  was  attack- 
ed by  the  Indians,  who  were  repulsed  after  a 
severe  battle  by  a  body  of  the  citizens,  under 
Judge  Flandrau;  but  remained  in  the  vicinity, 
intending  to  renew  the  assault.  The  next  day 
a  detachment  of  Col.  Sibley's  troops  relieved 
them  from  siege,  and  scattered  the  marauders ; 
but  as  two  thousand  women  and  children,  who 
had  fled  in  terror  from  the  surrounding  region, 
had  taken  refuge  there,  it  was  deemed  best  to 
evacuate  the  place,  in  order  to  convey  them  to 
a  place  of  permanent  safety.  Fort  Ridgley  had 
been  besieged  for  nine  days,  and  its  little  garri- 
son had  sustained  and  repelled  three  desperate 
attacks ;  they  were  relieved  on  the  26th  by  a 
force  under  the  command  of  Lieut.-Col.  McPhail, 
sent  forward  by  Col.  Sibley.  Finding  a  large 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


317 


force  concentrating  on  their  trail  in  this  direc- 
tion, the  greater  part  of 'the  Indians  proceeded 
northward,  "burning  and  killing  every  thing  in 
their  way,  toward  Breckinridge,  a  town  at  the 
junction  of  the  Bois  des  Sioux  and  Red  River 
of  the  Nortli,  which  at  that  point  formed  the 
west  boundary  of  the  State,  massacred  the  set- 
tlers there,  and  crossing  the  river,  laid  siege  to 
Fort  Abercromhie  in  Dakota  Territory.  Intel- 
ligence of  these  movements  having  reached 
St.  Paul  on  the  2Tth,  two  companies  were  for- 
warded at  once  to  reenforce  Fort  Abercrombie. 
On  the  8d  of  September  a  force  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  Indians  unexpectedly  appeared  at 
Cedar  City,  in  McLeod  County,  in  the  centre 
of  the  State,  attacked  a  company  of  volunteers 
there,  and  drove  them  to  Hutchinson,  while  an- 
other band  about  as  numerous  attacked  Forest 
City  not  far  distant,  and  were  repulsed  by  the 
citizens.  A  few  days  later  the  Indians  attacked 
Hutchinson,  but  were  repulsed.  Troops  were 
sent  at  once  to  these  points.  Driven  back  here, 
the  savages  next  extended  their  raid  to  Jackson, 
Noble,  and  Pipeston  Counties,  in  the  S.  "W.  part 
of  the  State  on  the  border  of  Iowa,  and  Col. 
Flandrau,  who  had  so  valiantly  defended  New 
Ulm,  was  sent  with  five  hundred  troops  to  pro- 
tect that  region.  Gov.  Ramsey  had  meantime 
apprised  the  United  States  Government  of  the 
condition  of  affairs,  and  had  called  the  Legisla- 
ture of  Minnesota  together  to  meet  in  extra  ses- 
sion on  the  9th  of  September.  At  their  assem- 
bling he  laid  before  them,  in  his  message,  the 
circumstances  of  the  Indian  insurrection,  and 
suggested  the  measures  requiring  their  action, 
all  of  which  were  promptly  passed.  Meantime 
the  Government  had  despatched  Maj.-Gen.  Pope 
to  command  in  that  department,  and  aid  in  sup- 
pressing the  insurrection.  The  Indians,  finding 
a  force  greatly  superior  to  their  own  ready  to 
take  vengeance  on  them  for  the  terrible  and 
dastardly  outrages  they  had  committed,  began 
to  withdraw  from  the  region  they  had  desolated. 
A  force  of  three  or  four  hundred  of  them  made 
two  assaults  in  September  on  Fort  Aber- 
crombie, but  were  repulsed  in  both,  the  second 
time  with  heavy  loss ;  the  larger  part  of  those 
who  had  invaded  the  central  and  southwestern 
portions  of  the  State,  fled  toward  the  western 
border,  but  were  overtaken  and  brought  to 
bay  at  Wood  Lake  on  the  22d  of  September, 
where,  after  a  sharp  battle  they  were  utterly 
defeated,  and  Little  Crow,  with  his  women  and 
children,  fled  to  the  Yankton  Sioux  of  Dakota 
Territory.  About  five  hundred  Indians  were 
taken  prisoners,  and  four  hundred  and  ninety- 
eight  were  tried  by  court-martial,  of  whom 
three  hundred  were  sentenced  to  be  hung.  The 
President  ordered,  however,  that  only  thirty- 
eight  of  these  should  be  executed,  while  the  re- 
mainder were  kept  in  confinement  until  further 
investigation  could  be  had.  One  of  the  thirty- 
eight  executed  on  the  26th  of  December  was  a 
negro  named  Godfrey,  who  had  been  a  leader 
in  the  massacres,  and  it  was  said  had  killed  more 
than  any  one  of  the  Indians. 


The  whole  number  of  Indian  warriors  among 
the  Minnesota  Sioux  did  not  exceed  J,000  or 
1,200,  and  many  of  these  had  taken  no  part  in 
the  insurrection,  so  that  probably  the  killed  and 
captured  constituted  the  greater  part  of  the  in- 
surgents. This  defeat  and  prompt  arrest  of  the 
assailants  carried  terror  into  the  hearts  of  the 
other  Indian  tribes  in  the  vicinity ;  and  though 
there  have  been  occasional  symptoms  of  uneasi- 
ness since  that  time  among  some  of  the  Indians 
of  that  region,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Minnesota 
cannot  feel  safe  with  such  treacherous  and  blood- 
thirsty foes  so  near  them,  it  is  hardly  probable 
that  there  will  be  another  uprising  for  some 
years.  The  citizens  are  desirous  the  Govern- 
ment should  remove  the  Indians. 

The  loss  of  life  in  this  insurrection  has  never 
been  accurately  ascertained.  Gov.  Ramsey,  in 
his  message,  stated  it  in  round  numbers  at  eight 
hundred,  a  number  undoubtedly  larger  than 
subsequent  facts  would  sustain.  Some  of  the 
writers  from  the  region  in  which  it  occurred 
speak  of  it  as  not  exceeding  one  hundred,  which 
is  probably  as  great  an  error  in  the  other  direc- 
tion. Eighty-five  were  buried  at  Yellow  Medi- 
cine, nearly  all  of  whom  were  horribly  muti- 
lated, and  a  considerable  number  at  New  Ulm, 
Breckinridge,  Birch  Coolie,  Fort  Abercrombie, 
Red  Lake,  Red  Wood,  and  Wood  Lake,  and 
many  more  in  the  isolated  farm  houses  in  the 
extensive  tract  overrun  by  the  savages.  Prob- 
ably not  far  from  five  hundred  in  all  lost  their 
lives,  either  through  the  ferocity  of  the  Indians 
or  from  the  sickness,  suffering,  and  starvation 
which  resulted  from  their  hasty  flight  from  their 
homes.  Between  20,000  and  30,000  persons 
thus  fled  for  their  lives,  leaving  every  thing 
behind  them.  A  part  afterwards  returned, 
others  found  their  way  to  their  friends  at  the 
East,  but  for  some  months  between  6,000  and 
7,000,  mostly  women  and  children,  were  neces- 
sarily dependent  upon  charity.  The  people  of 
the  State  contributed  most  liberally  to  their  re- 
lief, and  considerable  sums  were  forwarded  from 
other  States. 

The  following  list  of  the  most  important  mili- 
tary events,  with  the  date  when  they  occurred,' 
presents  a  more  summary  view  of  the  great  mag- 
nitude of  the  simultaneous  operations  in  1862  : 

Burnside  sails Jan.  12 

Mill  Springs  (Ky.),  battle JaD.  19 

Cedar  Keys  (Fla.)  captured Jan.  16 

Fort  Henry  (Ky.),  captured Feb. 

Eoanoke  Island  (N.  C. ),  captured Feb.  7 

Elizabeth  (N.  C.),  captured Feb.  8 

Edcnton  (N.  C.),  captured Feb.  12 

Springfield  (Mo.),  captured Feb.  14 

Donelson  (Ky.),  captured Feb.  16 

Bowling  Green  (Ky.),  evacuated Feb.  17 

Fay ette ville  (Ark.),  occupied Feb.  18 

Clarkville  (Tenn. ),  occupied Feb.  19 

Winton  (N.  C.),  occupied Feb.  20 

Nashville  (Tenn.),  occupied . Feb.  24 

Columbus  (Ky.),  Evacuated March  1 

Fernandina  (Fla.),  captured March  8 

St.  Mary  (Fla.),  captured March  3 

Pea  Kidge  (Ark.),  battle March  6,  7 

Brunswick  (Ga.),  captured March  8 

Jacksonville  (Fla.),  captured March  12 

St.  Augustine  (Fla.).  captured March  14 

Newbern  (N.  C.),  captured March  14 

New  Madrid  (Mo.),  captured March  14 


318 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Washington  (N.  C.),  captured March  25 

Shiloh  (Tenn.),  battle April  6,7 

Island  No1.  10,  evacuated April  7 

Huntsville  (Ala.),  captured. April  8 

Decatur  and  Stevenson  (Ala.),  captured April  9 

Fort  Pulaski  (Ga.),  captured April  11 

FortMacon(N.  0.),  captured.., April  25 

New  Orleans,  captured. April  26 

Yorktown  ( Va.),  evacuated. May  8 

Williamsburg  ( Va.),  evacuated May  6 

Pensacola  (Fla.),  evacuated May  0 

Norfolk,  captured May  10 

Baton  Kouge,  occupied. May  27 

Corinth  (Miss.),  evacuated May  29 

Fair  Oaks  (Va.),  battle May  81 

Fort  Pillow,  evacuated June  5 

Memphis  (Tenn.),  surrenders June  6 

Cross  Keys,  battle June  8 

Cumberland  Gap,  occupied June  18 

Seven  days  before  Richmond .-.June  25,  &c. 

Malvern  Hill,  battle July  1 

Baton  Rouge,  attack Aug.  5 

Cedar  Mountain,  battle Aug.  9 

Rappahannock  Bridge Aug.  28 

Centreville  (Vs.),  battle Aug.  28 

Manassas  (Va.),  battle Aug.  80 

Chantilly  (Va.),  battle Sept  1 

Munfordsville  (Ky.),  battle Sept.  14 

South  Mountain,  battle ....Sept.  14 

Antietam,  battle Sept.  17 

Inka  (Miss.),  battle Sept.  19 

Corinth  (Miss.),  battle Oct  4 

Perry ville  (Ky.),  battle Oct.  8 

Holly  Springs  (Miss.) Nov.  13 

Cane  Hill  (Ark.),  battle Nov.  28 

Crawford's  Prairie  (Ark.),  battle Dec.  7 

Fredericksburg  ( VaA  battle Dec.  13 

Murfreesboro  (Tenn.),  battle Dec.  81 


What  had  been  accomplished  by  the  military 
operations  of  the  year : — The  State  of  Missouri 
had  been  relieved  from  invasion  by  the  Con- 
federate force.  Half  of  Arkansas  had  been 
permanently  occupied.  The  Confederate  force 
has  been  driven  from  the  Mississippi  River  ex- 
cept at  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson.  Western 
and  Middle  Tennessee  were  occupied,  and  the 
former  and  part  of  the  latter  held.  Western 
Virginia  had  been  retained  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment. Maryland  exhibited  her  preference 
for  the  Union.  Norfolk  and  Yorktown  were 
taken  and  held.  The  cities  and  towns  on 
the  coast  of  North  Carolina,  with  few  excep- 
tions, were  occupied  by  a  Federal  force.  Fort 
Pulaski,  commanding  the  entrance  to  Savannah, 
was  captured,  and  the  important  points  on  the 
coast  of  Florida  occupied.  Pensacola  and  New 
Orleans  were  also  taken,  and  nearly  all  of 
Louisiana  brought  under  Federal  control.  The 
forces  of  the  North  slowly  but  firmly  advanced 
upon  every  side  of  the  Confederacy,  and  per- 
manently held  every  important  position  which, 
they  had  gained.  The  battle  of  Antietam 
secured  the  border  States,  and  decided  the 
physical  supremacy  of  the  Union  in  favor  of 
the  North. 


CHAPTEE  XXYI. 

The  Emancipation  Proclamation— Action  of  Congress — Oath  of  Office  required — Organization  of  West  Virginia  as  a  State 
Proceedings  relative  to  the  exchange  of  Prisoners — The  Cartel  agreed  upon — Difficulties — Officers  in  the  Insurrec- 
tionary Service— Condition  of  Gen.  Lee's  Army  in  the  Autumn  of  1862— Appeal  to  the  Southern  People— Condition 
of  the  Federal  Army— Organization  of  a  Provost  Marshal's  Department 


ON  January  1,  1863,  the  President  issued  his 
emancipation  proclamation,  and  its  principles 
were  adopted  as  controlling  the  policy  of  the 
Government  in  the  future.  The  proclamation 
was  as  follows : 

.  WHEREAS  on  the  22d  day  of  September,  in  the  year 
or  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty- 
two,  a  proclamation  was  issued  by  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  containing,  among  other  things, 
the  following,  to  wit : 

"  That  on  the  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-three, 
all  persons  held  as  slaves  within  any  States  or  desig- 
nated part  of  a  State,  the  people  whereof  shall  then 
be  in  rebellion  against  the  United  States,  shall  be  then, 
thenceforward,  and  forever  free ;  and  the  Executive 
Government  of  the  United  States,  including  the  mili- 
tary and  naval  authority  thereof,  will  recognize  and 
maintain  the  freedom  of  such  persons,  and  will  do  no 
act  or  acts  to  repress  such  persons,  or  any  of  them,  in 
any  efforts  they  may  make  for  their  actual  freedom. 

"  That  the  Executive  will,  on  the  first  day  of  Janu- 
ary aforesaid,  by  proclamation,  designate  the  States 
and  parts  of  States,  if  any,  in  which  the  people  there- 
of, respectively,  shall  then  be  in  rebellion  against  the 
United  States;  and  the  fact  that  any  State,  or  the 
people  thereof,  shall  on  that  day  be  in  good  faith 
represented  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  by 
members  chosen  thereto  at  elections  wherein  a  ma- 
jority of  the  qualified  voters  of  such  State  shall  have 


participated,  shall,  in  the  absence  of  strong  counter- 
vailing testimony,  be  deemed  conclusive  evidence 
that  such  State  and  the  people  thereof,  are  not  then 
in  rebellion  against  the  United  States." 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of 
the  United  States,  by  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested 
as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army  and  Navy  of  the 
United  States  in  time  of  actual  armed  rebellion  against 
the  authority  and  Government  of  the  United  States, 
and  as  a  fit  and  necessary  war  measure  for  suppress- 
ing said  rebellion,  do,  on  this  first  day  of  January,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
sixty-three,  and  in  accordance  with-  my  purpose  so  to 
do,  publicly  proclaimed  for  the  full  period  of  one  hun- 
dred days,  from  the  day  first  above  mentioned,  order 
and  designate  as  the  States  and  parts  of  States  wherein 
the  people  thereof  respectively  are  this  day  in  rebel- 
lion against  the  United  States,  the  following,  to  wit , 

Arkansas, Texas,  Louisiana  (except  the  parishes  of 
St.  Bernard,  Plaquemincs,  Jeflerson,  St.  John,  St. 
Charles,  St.  James,  Ascension,  Assumption,  Terre 
Bonne,  Lafourche,  Ste.  Marie,  St.  Martin,  and  Or- 
leans, including  the  city  of  New  Orleans,)  Mississippi, 
Alabama,  Florida,  Georgia,  South  Carolina,  North 
Carolina,  and  Virginia  (except  the  forty-eight  coun- 
ties designated  as  West  Virginia,  and  also  the  coun- 
ties of  Berkeley,  Accomac,  Northampton,  Elizabeth 
City,  York,  Princess  Ann,  and  Norfolk,  including 
the  cities  of  Norfolk  and  Port.-mouth\  and  which 
excepted  parts  are  for  the  present  left  precisely  aa 
if  this  proclamation  were  not  issued. 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTCEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


319 


And  by  virtue  of  the  power  and  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid,  I  do  order  and  declare  that  all  persons  held 
as  slaves  within  said  designated  States  and  parts  of 
States  are  and  henceforward  shall  be  free ;  and  that 
the  Executive  Government  of  the  United  States,  in- 
cluding the  military  and  naval  authorities  thereof, 
will  recognize  and  maintain  the  freedom  of  said 
persons. 

And  I  hereby  enjoin  upon  the  people  so  declared 
to  be  free  to  abstain  from  all  violence,  unless  in  ne- 
cessary self-defence ;  and  I  recommend  to  them  that, 
in  all  cases  when  allowed,  they  labor  faithfully  for 
reasonable  wages. 

And  I  further  declare  and  make  known  that  such 
persons,  of  suitable  condition,  will  be  received  into 
the  armed  service  of  the  United  States  to  garrison 
forts,  positions,  stations,  and  other  places,  and  to  man 
vessels  of  all  sorts  in  said  service. 

And  upon  this  act,  sincerely  believed  to  be  an 
act  of  justice,  warranted  by  the  Constitution  upon 
military  necessity,  I  invoke  the  considerate  judg- 
ment of  mankind,  and  the  gracious  favor  of  Almighty 
God. 

In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my 
name,  and  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to 
be  affixed. 

Done  at  the  city  of  Washington  this  first  day 

of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 

[L.  s.]    thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty -three,  and 

of  the  independence  of  the  United  States  the 

eighty-seventh. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 
By  the  President : 

WILLIAM  H.  SEWARD,  Secretary  of  State. 

Congress  in  the  session  of  1861-'62  had  taken 
action  looking  to  this  object.  An  act  was  pass- 
ed for  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  District  of 
Columbia.  It  emancipated  all  persons  of  African, 
descent  held  to  service  in  the  District  immedi- 
ately upon  its  passage ;  loyal  owners  of  slaves 
only  were  allowed  ninety  days  to  prepare  and 
present  to  commissioners  appointed  for  that 
purpose  the  names,  ages,  and  personal  descrip- 
tion of  their  slaves,  who  were  to  be  valued  by 
the  commissioners.  No  single  slave  could  be 
estimated  to  be  worth  more  than  three  hundred 
dollars.  The  amount  of  these  claims  was  to  be 
paid  to  each  owner  after  the  final  report  of  the 
commissioners  at  the  end  of  nine  months.  One 
million  of  dollars  was  appropriated  to  carry  the 
act  into  effect.  The  sum  of  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  was  appropriated  to  colonize  any  of 
the  liberated  slaves  who  might  desire  to  go  to 
Hayti,  Liberia,  or  any  country  beyond  the  limits 
of  the  United  States,  as  the  President  might 
select. 

Slavery  was  forbidden  in  all  the  Territories 
of  the  United  States.  Liberia  and  Hayti  were 
recognized  as  independent  republics,  and  as  be- 
longing to  the  family  of  nations.  A  new  treaty, 
relative  to  the  slave  trade,  was  ratified  with 
Great  Britain,  which  allowed  to  her  the  lib- 
erty of  searching  American  vessels  under  cer- 
tain circumstances.  All  persons  in  the  army 
or  navy  were  prohibited  from  returning  slaves, 
or  sitting  in  judgment  on  the  claim  of  their 
masters. 

An  act  was  also  passed  requiring  every  per- 
son afterwards  elected  or  appointed  to  any  office 
of  honor  or  profit  under  the  Government  of  the 
United  States,  either  in  the  civil,  military,  or 


naval  departments,  except  the  President,  to  take 
the  following  oath  before  entering  upon  the  du- 
ties of  such  office : 

I,  A  B,  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  have 
never  voluntarily  borne  arms  against  the  United 
States  since  I  have  been  a  citizen  thereof;  that  I  have 
voluntarily  given  no  aid,  countenance,  counsel,  or  en- 
couragement to  persons  engaged  in  armed  hostility 
thereto ;  that  I  have  neither  sought,  nor  accepted,  nor 
attempted  to  exercise  the  functions  of  any  office  what- 
ever, under  any  authority  or  pretended  authority  in 
hostility  to  the  United  States ;  that  I  have  not  yielded 
a  voluntary  support  to  any  pretended  government, 
authority,  power,  or  constitution  within  the  United 
States,  hostile  or  inimical  thereto.  And  I  do  further 
swear  (or  affirm)  that  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge 
and  ability,  I  will  support  and  defend  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States  against  all  enenyes,  foreign  and 
domestic ;  that  I  will  bear  true  faith  and  allegiance  to 
the  same ;  that  I  take  this  obligation  freely,  without 
any  mental  reservation  or  purpose  of  evasion,  and 
that  I  will  well  and  faithfully  discharge  the  duties  of 
the  office  on  which  I  am  about  to  enter,  so  help  me 
God. 

Meantime  steps  had  been  taken  to  organize 
an  independent  State  of  that  portion  of  Virginia 
west  of  the  mountains.  On  a  previous  page  it 
has  been  related  that  on  the  secession  of  Vir- 
ginia a  convention  of  loyal  citizens  assembled  at 
Clarksburg.  This  convention  declared  the  or- 
dinance of  secession  to  be  null  and  void ;  that 
its  provision  suspending  the  election  of  mem- 
bers of  the  Federal  Government  was  a  usurpa- 
tion, and  that  if  the  ordinance  of  secession  was 
ratified  by  a  vote  they  recommended  the  elec- 
tion on  June  4th  of  delegates  to  a  general  con- 
vention to  be  held  on  the  llth  to  devise  such 
measures  as  the  welfare  of  the  people  might 
demand.  This  convention  met  at  Wheeling. 
Meantime  nearly  all  the  judicial  and  executive 
officers  in  that  part  of  the  State  had  fled  to 
Eichmond  before  the  Federal  forces.  Legal 
protection  to  life,  liberty,  or  property  was  given 
up.  This  convention  declared  the  office  of  gov- 
ernor, &c.,  vacant,  "  by  reason  of  those  who 
occupied  them  having  joined  the  rebellion," 
and  proceeded  to  fill  those  offices.  The  action 
of  this  convention  was  not  confined  to  "Western 
Virginia,  but  intended  to  embrace  the  whole 
State.  The  governor  elected  thus  stated  the 
object  of  the  convention : 

convention  to 


uau.  IHVTWJrlB  J 

the  Constitution  of  the  State,  which  prescribes  the 
number  of  delegates  in  the  General  Assembly  which 
shall  be  necessary  to  constitute  a  quorum. 

A  declaration  was  made  by  the  convention, 
and  an  ordinance  adopted  for  the  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  State  Government.  According  to 
this  ordinance  the  Government  to  be  reor- 
ganized, either  in  its  executive  or  legislative 
departments,  was  not  for  a  part  of  the  State, 
but  for  all  of  Virginia.  In  conformity  with 
this  ordinance  a  State  Government  was  reor- 
ganized in  all  its  branches  in  every  county  of 
the  State  not  occupied  by  an  armed  foe. 

On  the  20th  of  August,  1861,  the  convention 


320 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


passed  an  ordinance  "to  provide  for  the  for- 
mation of  a  new  State  out  of  a  portion  of  the 
territory  of  this  State."  In  compliance  with 
its  provisions  delegates  were  elected  to  a  con- 
stitutional convention  which  assembled  at 
"Wheeling,  November  26,  1861,  and  proceeded 
to  draft  a  Constitution,  which  was  submitted 
to  the  people  on  the  first  Thursday  of  April, 
1862.  The  vote  in  favor  was  18,862,  that 
against  it  was  514. 

The  governor  appointed  by  the  convention 
of  June,  1861,  which  declared  the  State  offices 
vacant,  now  issued  his  proclamation  convening 
an  extra  session  of  the  Legislature,  elected  and 
organized  under  the  same  authority,  and  which 
claimed  to  be  the  Legislature  of  Virginia.  This 
Legislature  met  on  the  6th  of  May,  1862,  and 
passed  an  act,  giving  its  consent  to  the  forma- 
tion of  a  new  State,  and  forwarded  its  consent 
to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  together 
with  an  official  copy  of  the  Constitution  adopted 
by  the  voters,  and  with  the  request  that  the 
said  new  State  be  admitted  into  the  Union. 

On  the  31st  of  December,  1862,  the  follow- 
ing act  of  Congress  was  approved  by  the 
President : 

An  act  for  the  admission  of  the  State  of  "  West  Vir- 
ginia" into  the  Union,  and,  for  other  purposes. 

Whereas  the  people  inhabiting  that  portion  of  Vir- 
•*inia^cnow_n  as  West  Virginia  did,  by  a  convention 
assembled  in  the  city  of  Wheeling  on  the  twenty-sixth 
_  of  November,  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-one,  frame 
for  themselves  a  Constitution,  with  a  view  of  becom- 
ing a  separate  and  independent  State ;  and  whereas  at 
a  general  election  held  in  the  counties  composing  the 
territory  aforesaid  on  the  third  day  of  May  last,  the 
siid  Constitution  was  approved  and  adopted  by  the 
qualified  voters  of  the  proposed  State,  and  whereas 
the  Legislature  of  Virginia,  by  an  act  passed  on  the 
thirteenth  day  of  May,  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty- 
two,  did  give  its  consent  to  the  formation  of  a  new 
State  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  said  State  of  Vir- 
ginia, to  be  known  by  the  name  of  West  Virginia, 
and  to  embrace  the  following  named  counties,  to  wit: 
Hancock,  Brooke,  Ohio,  Marshall,  Wetzel,  Marion,  Mo- 
nongalia,  Preston,  Taylor,  Tyler,  Pleasants,  Kitchie, 
Doddridge,  Harrison,  Wood,  Jackson,  Wirt,  Roane, 
Calhoun,  Gilmer,  Barbour,  Tucker,  Lewis,  Braxton, 
Upshur,  Randolph,  Mason,  Putnam,  Kanawha,  Clay, 
Nicholas,  Cabell,  Wayne,  Boone,  Logan,  Wyoming, 
Mercer,  McDowell,  Webster,  Pocahontas,  Fayette, 
Raleigh,  Greenbrier,  Monroe,  Pendleton,  Hardy, 
Hampshire,  and  Morgan ;  and  whereas  both  the  con- 
vention and  the  Legislature  aforesaid  have  requested 
that  the  new  State  should  be  admitted  into  the  Union, 
and  the  Constitution  aforesaid  being  republican  in 
form,  Congress  doth  hereby  consent  that  the  said 
forty-eight  counties  may  be  formed  into  a  separate 
and  independent  State.  Therefore — 

Be  it  enacted  'by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  the  United  States  of  America  in  Congress  as- 
sembled, That  the  State  of  West  Virginia  be  and  is 
hereby  declared  to  be  one  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  and  admitted  into  the  Union  on  an  equal 
footing  with  the  original  States  in  all  respects  what- 
ever, and  until  the  next  general  census  shall  be  en- 
titled to  three  members  in  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  the  United  States :  Provided,  always,  That  this 
act  shall  not  take  effect  until  after  the  proclamation 
of  the  President  of  the  United  States  hereinafter  pro- 
vided for. 

It  being  represented  to  Congress  that  since  the  con- 
vention of  the  twenty-sixth  of  November,  eighteen 


hundred  and  sixty-one,  that  framed  and  proposed  the 
Constitution  for  the  said  State  of  West  Virginia,  the 
people  thereof  have  expressed  a  wish  to  change  the 
seventh  section  of  the  eleventh  article  of  said  Consti- 
tution by  striking  out  the  same  and  inserting  the  fol- 
lowing in  its  place,  viz.  :  "  The  children  of  slaves  born 
within  the  limits  of  this  State  after  the  fourth  day  of 
July,  ejghteen  hundred  and  sixty-three,  shall  be  free ; 
and  that  all  slaves  within  the  said  State  who  shall,  at 
the  time  aforesaid,  be  under  the  age  of  ten  years,  shall 
be  free  when  they  arrive  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years ;  and  all  slaves  over  ten  and  under  twenty-one 
years,  shall  be  free  when  they  arrive  at  the  age  of 
twenty-five  years ;  and  no  slave  shall  be  permitted  to 
come  into  the  State  for  permanent  residence  there- 
in:" Therefore, 

SEC.  2.  Be  it  further  enacted,  That  whenever  the 
people  of  West  Virginia  shall,  through  their  said  con- 
vention, and  by  a  vote  to  be  taken  at  an  election  to 
be  held  within  the  limits  of  the  said  State,  at  such  time 
as  the  convention  may  provide,  make  and  ratify  the 
change  aforesaid,  and  properly  certify  the  same  under 
the  hand  of  the  President  of  the  Convention,  it  shall 
be  lawful  for  the  President  of  the  United  States  to  is- 
sue his  proclamation  stating  the  fact,  and  thereupon 
this  act  shall  take  effect  and  be-in  force  from  and  after 
sixty  days  from  the  date  of  said  proclamation. 

Approved  December  31,  1862. 

These  conditions  were  subsequently  complied 
with  by  the  citizens,  and  the  President  of  the 
United  States  issued  his  proclamation  accord- 
ingly. 

The  following  is  a  provision  of  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States:  "New  States  maybe 
admitted  by  the  Congress  into  this  Union ;  but 
no  new  States  shall  be  formed  or  erected  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  any  other  State,  nor  any  State 
be  formed  by  the  junction  of  two  or  more  States, 
or  parts  of  States,  without  the  consent  of  the 
Legislatures  of  the  States  concerned,  as  well  as 
of  the  Congress. " 

The  following  is  the  population  of  the  coun- 
ties embraced  in  this  new  State  according  to 
the  census  of  1860 : 


CouSTIKg. 

White 
popula- 
tion. 

Slaves. 

COCKTIIS. 

White 
popula- 
tipn. 

Slaves. 

Hancock  
Brooke  
Ohio  

4,442 
5,425 
22,196 
12,936 
6,691 
2,926 
10,791 
8,240 
8,752 
7,691 
6,604 
4,789 
4,681 
13,787 
5,809 
8,728 
6,809 
5,168 
6,488 
18,185 
12,656 
12,907 
13,188 
7,800 
8,729 

2 

18 
100 
29 
10 
16 
176 
55, 
886 
805! 
148 
148 
158 
2,184 
72 
28 
88 
84 
18; 
5S2 
63 
101 
67 
112 
95 

Lewis..  

7,786 
8,685 
2,492 
4,885 
1,761 
4,470 
5,716 
8,291 
2,797 
1,535 
6,428 
9,526 
10,499 
8,686 
1.552 
7,064 
4,798 
1,896 
6,708 
5,878 
8,521 
12,481 
8,618 

280 
52 
9 
104 
21 
154 
271 
57 
64 

862 
1,114 
1,525 
252 
8 
212 
188 
20 
580 
244 
1,078 
1,218 
94 

Gilmer  

Calhoun  
Braxton  
Clay  

Marshall  
"Wetzel  
Pleasants  
Wood  

Nicholas  
Fayette  
Italeigh  

Jackson  
Mason  
Cabell  

Wyoming  .... 
McDowell  
Mercer  

"Wayne  
Logan  

Monroe  .».  
Greenbrier... 
Pocahontas  .  .  . 
Webster  
Upshur  
Randolph  

Boone  

Kanawha.... 
Koane  

Wirt  

Kitchie  
Doddridge  .  . 
Tvler  

Putnam  
Pendleton.... 
Hardy  

Harrison  
Marion  
Monongalia.. 
Preston  
Taylor  
Barbour  

Hampshire 
Morgan  

Total,  48  cos.. 

884,921 

12,771 

The  officers  of  West  Virginia,  at  the  close  of 
1862,  were  Francis  H.  Pierpont,  governor; 
Daniel  Paisley,  lieutenant-governor ;  Lucian  A. 
Hugans,  secretary ;  Campbell  Tarr,  treasurer. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


321 


The  exchange  of  prisoners  was  attended  with 
difficulties  through  the  whole  year  1862.  After 
the  refusal  to  receive  within  the  Southern  lines 
the  commissioners  appointed  by  the  Federal 
Government  at  the  .close  of  1861,  negotiations 
were  opened  by  them  at  Norfolk,  which  resulted 
in  an  agreement  for  an  equal  exchange ;  and  the 
Confederates,  having  about  300  prisoners  in  ex- 
cess of  those  taken  by  the  national  troops,  pro- 
posed to  release  them  also,  on  parole,  provided 
the  United  States  Government  would  agree 
to  release  three  hundred  Confederates  who 
might  thereafter  fall  into  their  hands.  On 
February  14th  the  commissioners  returned 
to  Washington,  and  the  arrangement  entered 
into  by  them  having  been  approved  by  the 
"War  Department,  Gen.  "Wool  was  directed  to 
inform  the  rebel  general  Huger,  commanding 
at  Norfolk,  that  he  had  full  authority  to  settle 
the  terms  of  the  proposed  exchange.  Gen.  How- 
ell  Cobb  was  designated  by  the  Richmond  Gov- 
ernment to  confer  with  Gen.  "Wool,  and  a  per- 
manent plan  was  settled  between  them  on  the 
basis  previously  established.  By  the  terms  of 
this  plan  it  was  agreed  that  the  prisoners  of 
war  in  the  hands  of  each  Government  should 
be  exchanged,  man  for  man,  the  officers  being 
assimilated  as  to  rank,  &c. ;  that  the  privateers- 
men  captured  by  the  United  States  forces  dur- 
ing the  previous  year,  and  who  had  been  held 
as  having  lost  the  rights  of  war,  should  be  ex- 
changed on  the  footing  of  ordinary  prisoners 
of  war;  that  any  surplus  remaining  on  either 
side  after  these  exchanges  should  be  released ; 
and  that  hereafter,  during  the  continuance  of 
the  war,  prisoners  taken  on  either  side  should 
be  paroled.  The  clause  relating  to  the  priva- 
teersmen  was  considered  an  important  conces- 
sion on  the  part  of  the  National  Government, 
piiblic  opinion  in  the  North  having  demanded 
that  exemplary  punishment  should  be  inflicted 
on  this  class  of  prisoners,  for  which  reason  they 
had  been  for  a  number  of  months  held  in  strict 
confinement  in  the  city  prison  at  "Washington. 
As  a  retaliatory  measure,  the  Confederates  se- 
lected a  number  of  Union  prisoners,  including 
Cols.  Corcoran  and  "Wilcox,  and  other  high  offi- 
cers, whom  they  declared  hostages  for  the  safety 
of  the  privateersmen. 

The  exchanges  commenced  in  the  latter  part 
of  February,  but  had  proceeded  but  a  short 
tune  when  they'were  interrupted,  on  March  18, 
by  a  message  from  Mr.  Davis  to  the  Confederate 
Congress,  recommending  that  all  the  Confed- 
erate prisoners  who  had  been  paroled  by  the 
United  States  Government  b«  released  from  the 
obligations  of  their  parole,  so  as  to  bear  arms 
in  the  defence  of  the  Richmond  Government. 
The  reason  assigned  for  this  action  was  an  "  in- 
famous and  reckless  breach  of  good  faith  on  the 
part  of  the  Northern  Government,"  in  neglecting 
to  exchange  the  privateersmen,  and  in  sending 
the  prisoners  captured  at  Fort  Donelson  into 
the  interior,  instead  of  releasing  them  on  parole. 
But,  according  to  their  own  confession,  the 
Confederates  took  the  first  step  toward  the 
21 


interruption  of  the  exchange,  by  questioning, 
without  sufficient  cause  alleged,  the  integrity 
of  the  United  States  Government.  "At  the 
time  of  sending  North' the  hostages  we  had  re- 
tained for  our  privateersmen,"  said  a  Richmond 
journal,  commenting  upon  President  Davis's 
message,  "  Gen.  Cobb  had  reason  to  suspect  the 
good  faith  of  the  Northern  Government,  and 
telegraphed  in  time  to  intercept  the  release  of 
a  portion  of  these  hostages  (among  them  Col. 
Corcoran),  who  were  en  route  from  points  fur- 
ther South  than  Richmond,  to  go  North  under 
a  flag  of  truce  to  Norfolk." 

The  progress  of  events  immediately  previous 
to  and  succeeding  the  agreement  between  Gens. 
"Wool  and  Cobb  had  materially  changed  the 
relative  positions  of  the  belligerents,  and  the 
captures  of  Roanoke  Island  and  Fort  Donelson 
left  the  North  not  merely  an  excess  of  prison- 
ers, but  an  excess  numbering  many  thousands. 
The  3,000  prisoners  captured  at  Roanoke  Island, 
Feb.  8,  were,  nevertheless,  released  on  parole, 
in  accordance  with  the  agreement,  and  the  pri- 
vateersmen were  placed  on  the  footing  of  other 
prisoners,  by  being  'removed  from  "Washington 
to  Fort  Lafayette,  in  New  York  harbor.  The 
latter,  indeed,  were  temporarily  withheld  from 
exchange  until  information  should  be  received 
from  the  rebel  authorities  that  Col.  Corcoran, 
and  the  other  officers  retained  as  hostages, were 
on  their  way  to  Norfolk ;  but  in  all  other  respects 
the  terms  of  the  cartel  were  faithfully  observed 
by  the  United  States  Government,  until  aftei 
the  capture  of  the  Fort  Donelson  prisoners, 
and  measures  were  taken  to  release  these, 
when  the  message  of  President  Davis  was  de- 
livered. , 

As  a  consequence  of  the  receipt  of  this  com- 
munication by  the  Richmond  Congress,  the 
exchange  of  prisoners  ceased  at  Craney  Island, 
the  point  at  which  the  flags  of  truce  from  For- 
tress Monroe  and  Norfolk  were  accustomed  to 
meet;  and  the  Confederates  having  failed,  on 
several  succeeding  days,  to  meet  the  United 
States  officers  at  this  rendezvous,  Secretary 
Stanton  issued  an  order,  March  27,  prohibiting 
the  release  on  parole  of  the  Fort  Donelson  pris- 
oners. Here  the  matter  rested  for  several 
weeks,  the  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the  Fed- 
eral authorities  meanwhile  reaching  a  formi- 
dable number,  very  largely  in  excess  of  those 
taken  by  the  rebels. 

In  order,  however,  not  to  shut  the  door  en- 
tirely to  negotiation  on  a  subject  of  deep  in- 
terest to  the  inhabitants  of  both  the  Union  and 
the  seceded  States,  Gen.  Wool  informed  Gen. 
Huger,  on  May  2,  that  the  privateersmen  were 
held  as  prisoners  of  war,  and  that  he  was  em- 
powered to  effect  their  exchange.  On  the  suc- 
ceeding day  Gen.  Huger  replied  as  follows : 

HEADQ'KS  DEPARTMENT  OF  KOBFOLK,  May  8, 1862. 
GENERAL  :  I  have  your  letter  of  the  2d  instant.  On 
faith  of  your  statement  that  our  privateersmen  are 
prisoners  of  war,  and  will  be  exchanged,  the  officers 
heretofore  held  as  hostages  will  be  exchanged  on  the 
same  terms  a»any  others. 


322 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


As  it  is  but  fair  those  longest  in  captivity  should  be 
released  first,  I  request  you  will  let  the  privateersmen 
be  released,  and  I  will  reciprocate,  and  release  those 
longest  confined. 

I  have  requested  Gen.  Winder  to  send  prisoners  from 
Richmond  to  Newport  News  on  Monday,  the  5th  inst. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

BENJ.  HUGER,  Maj.-Gen.  Commanding. 

Maj.-Gen.  J.  E.  WOOL, 

Commanding  Department  of  Virginia. 

On  the  19th,  Gen.  Wool  wrote  that  he  was 
prepared  to  make  exchange  on  the  terms  pro- 
posed by  Gen.  Huger  in  the  above  communica- 
tion, adding,  "  I  will  have  the  privateersmen 
sent  to  this  post  (Fortress  Monroe),  to  be  for- 
warded to  you  at  any  place  you  designate  on 
James  river,  provided  you  will  send  forward, 
at  the  same  time,  the  hostages,  Cols.  Corcoran, 
Wilcox,"  &c. ;  and,  on  the  succeeding  day,  Gen. 
Huger  replied  from  Petersburg : 

If  you  will  release  upon  parole  the  privateersmen, 
and  send  them  to  me  at  City  Point,  I  will  return  you 
such  number  of  your  officers,  heretofore  retained  as 
hostages  for  them,  as  would  be  their  equivalent,  ac- 
cording to  the  rates  of  exchange  prescribed  by  the 
cartel  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Brit- 
ain in  1813 — the  captains  of  privateersmen  to  rank  as 
lieutenants  of  the  navy,  and  the  mates  of  the  privateers 
as  master's  mates.  If  you  will  have  the  rank  and 
number  of  the  privateersmen  made  out,  and  their  equiv- 
alent of  officers  now  retained  as  hostages  for  them, 
such  officers  will  be  released  unconditionally  and  re- 
turned to  you.  Any  of  the  other  hostages  that  may  not 
be  required  for  exchange  for  the  privateersmen  will  be 
released  upon  parole,  to  be  exchanged  for  officers  of 
equal  rank,  or  their  equivalent,  according  to  the  cartel 
above  alluded  to. 

On  the  21st,  Gen.  "Wool  despatched  another 
letter  to  Gen.  Hnger,  requesting  him  to  appoint 
a  time  for  the  exchanges  to  take  place,  and  re- 
ceived the  following  reply : 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OP  APPOMATTOX,  ) 
PETERSBURG,  VA.,  May  23, 1862.     $ 

GENERAL  :  I  have  detained  your  boat  until  to-day,  ex- 
pecting an  answer  from  Richmond  as  to  the  time  when 
the  prisoners  to  be  exchanged  for  the  privateersmen 
could  reach  here.  I  have  not  yet  received  an  answer, 
and  I  am  not  aware  of  the  location  of  these  officers,  or 
when  they  could  reach  here ;  but  I  can  assure  you  I 
consider  the  War  Department  have  fully  agreed  to  the 
terms  stated  in  my  letter  of  the  3d  instant  to  you,  and 
which  have  been  accepted  by  yourself.  I  must  be  re- 
sponsible that  on  the  delivery  of  all  the  privateersmen 
all  the  officers  retained  as  hostages  will  be  released 
upon  parole,  the  details  of  the  exchanges  to  be  ar- 
ranged between  us  according  to  the  cartel  referred  to, 
and  such  of  the  officers  as  are  not  exchanged  in  this 
way  to  remain  on  parole  until  exchanged  for  others. 
If  not  interrupted  by  movements  in  the  field,  I  will 
promise  to  have  the  officers  forwarded  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, and  will  send  notice  to  any  of  your  vessels,  and 
request  you  may  be  notified  to  send  tor  them. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

BENJ.  HUGER,  Maj.-Gen.  Commanding. 

Supposing  the  matter  to  be  definitely  settled, 
Gen.  Wool,  on  June  1,  sent  the  privateersmen, 
85  in  number,  to  City  Point,  on  the  James 
river,  with  instructions  to  deliver  them  up  on 
receiving  the  hostages  on  parole.  The  latter 
not  being  on  the  spot,  the  privateersmen  were 
withheld,  and  a  communication  was  sent  to  the 
Confederate  authorities  demanding  an  explana- 
tion. An  answer  came  back  that  Gen.  Huger 


had  exceeded  hia  authority,  and  that  further 
conference  would  be  necessary  before  the  ex- 
change could  be  effected.  With  a  view  to  the 
holding  of  such  a  conference,  the  flag  of  truco 
boat  remained  at  the  Point  until  the  6th,  when, 
learning  that  nothing  further  was  expected 
from  Richmond,  she  returned  to  Fortress  Mon- 
roe. 

The  following  letter  from  the  Confederate 
Secretary  of  War,  of  which  a  copy  was  trans- 
mitted by  Gen.  Huger  to  Gen.  Wool,  gives  his 
reasons  for  refusing  to  abide  by  Gen.  Huger's 
communication  of  May  23 : 

C.  8.  A.  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  RICHMOND,  June  8, 1862. 
GENERAL  :  I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  28th 
ultimo,  in  which  you  give  a  construction  in  your  agree- 
ment with  Gen.  Wool  for  the  exchange  of  the  priva- 
teersmen and  the  persons  formerly  held  as  hostages, 
which  requires  us  to  return  all  of  the  latter  for  all  of  the 
former,  and  to  parole  such  of  the  so-called  hostages  as 
are  not  exchanged,  and  to  support  this  construction  you 
refer  me  to  your  letter  of  May  23  to  Gen.  Wool. 

Upon  examining  that  letter  I  find  that  jrou  use  the 
following  language :  "  I  must  be  responsible  that  on 
the  delivery  of  all  the  privateersmen  all  the  officers  de- 
tained as  hostages  will  be  released  upon  parole."  If 
this  were  the  agreement,  there  could  be  no  doubt  of 
your  promise  to  return  all  the  "officers  retained  as 
hostages ;  "  but  in  the  same  letter  you  state  that  the 
agreement  was  contained  in  your  letter  of  May  3,  and 
you  say,  "  I  consider  the  War  Department  has  fuller 
agreed  to  the  terms  stated  in  my  letter  of  the  3d  inst. ' 
The  letter  of  May  3,  so  far  from  promising  "  to  return 
all  the  officers,  as  hostages,"  as  you  apparently  sup- 
pose, confines  the  proposed  exchange  to  such  as  Gen. 
Wool  might  name,  and  as  would  be  equivalent  to  tho 
privateersmen  according  to  the  tariff  agreed  upon  by 
the  cartel  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States 
in  1813,  and  consents  that  when  that  exchange  had  been 
made  the  other  officers  held  as  hostages  might  be  ex- 
changed "  as  usual."  There  can  be  no  doubt  about  (he 
agreement;  your  language  is  perfectly  explicit.  You 
say  to  Gen.  Wool,  "  I  will  return  such  officers  as  you 
may  name  in  exchange  according  to  the  tariff  agreed 
upon  by  the  cartel  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Unit- 
ed States  in  1813.  As  soon  as  these  men  are  exchanged, 
any  other  officers  that  have  been  held  as  hostages  will 
be'exchanged  as  usual." 

I  am  willing  to  perform  the  agreement  which  you 
stated  to  Gen.  Wool  that  the  department  had  fully 
agreed  to  perform,  but  I  cannot  consent  to  carry  out  a 
palpable  misconstruction  of  it,  much  more  disadvan- 
tageous to  the  Government  of  the  Confederate  States 
than  the  agreement  itself,  and  evidently  the  result  of 
mere  inadvertence  on  your  part.  Even  this  erroneous 
interpretation  of  your  promise  is  founded  on  the  sup- 
position that  "  officers  were  still  retained  as  hostages," 
when,  in  fact,  they  had  all  been  restored  to  the  condi- 
tion of  prisoners  of  war,  and  a  colonel  and  three  captains 
were  actually  then  on  parole.  It  is  therefore  not  only 
erroneous  in  its  construction  of  the  agreement  actually 
made,  but  is  founded  upon  such  a  misconception  of 
facts  that  it  would  not  bind  you  as  an  independent 
agreement.  ,  .,. 

You  will,  therefore,  inform  Gen.  Wool  that  the  War 
Department  will  execute  faithfully  your  agreement  with 
him  of  May  3,  without  considering  whether  you  were 
authorized  to  make  it  or  not;  that  we  will  exchange 
euch  officers  recently  held  as  hostages  as  he  may  namo 
for  the  privateersmen.  according  to  the  cartel  ngreed 
on,  but  that  we  shall  hold  others  to  be  exchanged  here- 

E  I  might  justly  complain  that  Gen  Wool  after  being 
inform.*!  by  Gen.  Cobb  that  the  "officers  hitherto  held 
as  hostages  for  the  privateersmen  had  been  placed  on 
the  same  footing  as  other  prisoners  of  war,  and  know- 
ing that  a  number  of  them,  more  than  equivalent  to  the 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


323 


privateersmen,  had  actually  been  paroled,  should  yet 
negotiate  with  you  as  if  they  were  all  still  held  as  hos- 
tages, apparently  taking  advantage  of  the  circumstance 
that  you  were  not  so  well  informed  as  himself. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

G.  W.  RANDOLPH,  Secretary  of  War. 
Major-General  B.  HUGBR, 

Commanding  Department  of  the  Appomattox. 

Accompanying  this  letter  was  the  following 
personal  explanation  of  Gen.  Huger : 

HEADQUARTERS  HUGBR'S  DIVISION,  June  5, 1862. 

SIR:  I  enclose  you  a  copy  of  a  letter  I  received  from 
the  War  Department.  I  have  heard  from  private  per- 
sons that  the  privateersmen  whom  you  promised  to 
send  for  exchange  had  arrived  at  City  Point,  but  no  let- 
ter to  me  has  as  yet  been  forwarded.  As  I  had  charge 
of  the  correspondence  with  yourself  on  the  subject,  I 
hasten  to  send  you  this  communication,  which  I  must 
confess  I  do  not  clearly  understand.  The  language  of 
one  of  my  letters  may  not  have  been  the  same  as  an- 
other ;  but  I  did  intend  not  to  give  you  all  the  officers 
once  retained  as  hostages  in  exchange  for  all  the  priva- 
teersmen, but  to  give  you  such  numbers  of  them  in  ex- 
change as  would  be  required  by  the  cartel  exchanging 
the  equivalent  of  rank,  and  the  other  officers  to  be  ex- 
changed as  usual.  As  you  agreed  to  these  terms,  and 
had  a  sufficient  number  of  our  officers,  there  was  no 
reason  why  the  exchange  should  not  be  made  at  once ; 
and  I  shall  insist,  if  the  privateers  have  been  sent,  as  I 
hear,  that  all  the  officers  referred  to  above  be  given  in 
exchange.  I  think  it  but  fair  we  should  name  the  offi- 
cers to  be  exchanged  on  our  side ;  and  as  the  most 
equitable  way,  I  propose  to  exchange  those  who  have 
been  longest  prisoners,  including  navy  officers* 

I  am,  General, 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

BENJ.  HUGER, 
Major-General  Commanding. 
Major-Gen.  JOHN  E.  WOOL, 

or  Officer  Commanding  Department  of  Virginia. 

Here  the  matter  rested,  and  for  upward  of  a 
month  nothing  seems  to  have  been  done  toward 
a  general  exchange,  notwithstanding  in  the 
mean  time  prisoners  had  accumulated  in  large 
numbers  on  either  side.  The  Confederates  had 
indeed  made  certain  overtures,  by  sending  to 
"Washington  Ool.  Miller  and  Major  Stone,  who 
had  been  captured  in  the  battle  near  Pittsburg 
Landing,  to  induce  the  National  Government  to 
adopt  some  general  plan.  This  the  latter  de- 
clined to  do,  claiming  that  certain  Confederate 
officers  of  rank,  as  Gen.  Buckner,  captured  at 
Fort  Donelson,  had,  in  consequence  of  acts  done 
previous  to  the  war,  forfeited  their  right  to  be 
considered  prisoners  of  war,  and  ought  to  be 
excepted  from  any  cartel  entered  into  by  the 
belligerents,  and  to  be  held  amenable  for  trea- 
son. The  Confederates,  on  the  other  hand,  in- 
s'sted  that  the  rule  should  be  general,  although 
from  the  reluctance  which  they  had  manifested 
in  releasing  Ool.  Corcoran  and  other  prisoners 
demanded  by  the  people  of  the  Northern  States, 
it  was  evident  that  they  had  been  themselves 
inclined  to  make  exceptions.  • 

In  obedience  to  a  very  general  popular  de- 
mand the  National  Government  finally  decided 
to  yield  its  point,  and  on  July  17,  Gen.  Dix, 
who  had  meanwhile  succeeded  Gen.  "Wool  in 
command  at  Fortress  Monroe,  met  the  Confed- 
erate general  D.  H.  Hill,  in  conference,  at 
Turkey  Island  Creek  on  the  James  river,  where 
on  the  22d  was  signed  the  following  agreement 


for  the  exchange  of  prisoners,  based  upon  the 
cartel  of  1812  between  the  United  States  and 
Great  Britain,  and  which  was  claimed  by  the 
Richmond  papers  to  mark  an  important  era  in 
the  war,  by  acknowledging  the  quasi  nation- 
ality of  the  Confederate  Government : 

HAXALL'S  LANDING.  ON  JAMES  RIVER,  VA.  } 
July  22, 1862.     f 

The  undersigned,  haying  been  commissioned  by  the 
authorities  they  respectively  represent  to  make  arrange- 
ments for  a  general  exchange  of  prisoners  Of  war,  have 
agreed  to  the  following  articles : 

ARTICLE  1. — It  is  hereby  agreed  and  stipulated  that 
all  prisoners  of  war  held  by  either  party,  including 
those  taken  on  private  armed  vessels,  known  as  priva- 
teers, shall  be  discharged  upon  the  conditions  and 
terms  following : 

Prisoners  to  be  exchanged  man  for  man  and  officer 
for  officer ;  privates  to  be  placed  on  the  footing  of  offi- 
cers and  men  of  the  navy. 

Men  and  officers  of  lower  grades  may  be  exchanged 
for  officers  of  a  higher  grade,  and  men  and  officers  of 
different  services  may  be  exchanged  according  to  the 
following  scale  of  equivalents : 

A  general  commander-in-chief  or  an  admiral  shall 
be  exchanged  for  officers  of  equal  rank,  or  forty -six  pri- 
vates or  common  seamen. 

A  flag  officer  or  major-general  shall  be  exchanged 
for  officers  of  equal  rank,  or  for  forty  privates  or 
common  seamen. 

A  commodore  carrying  a  broad  pennant,  or  a  briga- 
dier-general, shall  be  exchanged  for  officers  of  equal 
rank,  or  twenty  privates  or  common  seamen. 

A  captain  in  the  navy,  or  a  colonel,  shall  be  ex- 
changed for  officers  of  equal  rank,  or  for  fifteen  pri- 
vates or  common  seamen. 

A  lieutenant-colonel,  or  a  commander  in  the  navy, 
shall  be  exchanged  for  officers  of  equal  rank,  or  for 
ten  privates  or  common  seamen. 

A  lieutenant  commander  or  a  major  shall  be  ex- 
changed for  officers  of  equal  rank,  or  eight  privates  or 
common  seamen. 

A  lieutenant  or  a  master  in  the  navy,  or  a  captain  in 
the  army  or  marines,  shall  be  exchanged  for  officers  of 
equal  rank,  or  six  privates  or  common  seamen.. 

Masters'  mates  in  the  navy,  or  lieutenants  and  en- 
signs in  the  army,  shall  be  exchanged  for  officers  of 
equal  rank,  or  four  privates  or  common  seamen. 

Midshipmen,  warrant  officers  in  the  navy,  ^masters 
of  merchant  vessels,  and  commanders  of  privateers, 
shall  be  exchanged  for  officers  of  equal  rank,  or  three 
privates  or  common  seamen  :  second  captains,  lieuten- 
ants, or  mates  of  merchant  vessels  or  privateers,  and 
all  petty  officers  in  the  navy  and  all  non-commissioned 
officers  in  the  army  or  marines,  shall  be  severally  ex- 
changed for  persons  of  equal  rank,  or  for  two  privates 
or  common  seamen ;  and  private  soldiers  and  common 
seamen  shall  be  exchanged  for  each  other,  man  for 
man. 

ART.  2.— Local,  State,  civil,  and  militia  rank  held  by 
persons  not  in  actual  military  service  will  not  be  rec- 
ognized, the  basis  of  exchange  being  of  a  grade  actu- 
ally held  in  the  naval  and  military  service  of  the  re- 
spective parties. 

ART.  3.— If  citizens  held  by  either  party  on  charge 
of  disloyalty  or  any  alleged  civil  offence  are  exchanged, 
it  shall  only  be  for  citizens,  captured  sutlers,  teamsters, 
and  all  civilians  in  the  actual  service  of  either,  party, 
to  be  exchanged  for  persons  in  similar  position. 

ART.  4. — All  prisoners  of  war  to  be  discharged  on 
parole  in  ten  days  after  their  capture,  and  the  prisoners 
now  held  and  those  hereafter  taken  to  be  transported 
to  the  points  mutually  agreed  upon  at  the  expense  of 
the  capturing  party.  The  surplus  prisoners  not  ex- 
changed shall  not  be  permitted  to  take  up  arms  again, 
nor  to  serve  as  military  police  or  constabulary  force  in 
any  fort,  garrison,  or  field  work  held  by  either  of  the 
respective  parties,  nor  as  guards  of  prisoners,  depots,  or 
stores,  nor  to  discharge  any  duty  usually  performed  by 


324 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


soldiers,  until  exchanged  under  the  provisions  of  this    terized  this   agreement,  the    adjutant-Pen eral 
^.^**?^2»0^to^^&mplet*    of  the  United  States  a  few  days  afterward 


until  the  officer  or  soldier  exchanged  for  has  been  actu-     ! 

ally  restored  to  the  lines  to  which  he  belongs.  issued  an  order  that  chaplains   should  not  be 

ART.  5. — Each  party,  upon  the  discharge  of  prisoners  held  as  prisoners  of  war,  and  directing  the  im- 
of  the  other  party,  is  authorized  to  discharge  an  equal  mediate  and  unconditional  release  of  all  chap- 
number  of  their  own  officers  or  men  from  parole,  fur-  Jains  so  held 
nishing  at  the  same  time  to  the  other  party  a  list  of  .  ,    ,, 

their  prisoners  discharged  and  of  their  own  officers  rciance  with  the  terms  of  the  cartel,  an 

and  men  relieved  from  parole,  enabling  each  party  to  exchange   of  prisoners  commenced  forthwith 

relieve  from  parole  such  of  their  own  officers  and  men  and  by  the  middle  of  August  most  of  the  officers 

as  the  party  may  choose.    The  lists  thus  mutually  fur-  of  rank  on  either  side,  who  had  been  for  any 

nished  will  keep  both  parties  advised  of  the  true  con-  i 

ditiou  of  the  exchanges  of  prisoners.  lengthened  period  in  captivity,  were  released. 

ART.  6. — The  stipulations  and  provisions  above  men-  *30  *ar  as  ^ne  case  of  prisoners  of  this    class 

tioned  to  be  of  binding  obligation  during  the  con-  was  concerned,  matters  worked  harmoniously 

tinuance  of  the  war   it  matters  not  which  party  may  enough  ;   but  new  complications,  the  result  of 

have  the  surplus  of  prisoners,  the  great  principle  in-  „,-,.„„  ,     T, 

volved  being:  circumstances    happening   subsequent   to  the 

1.  An  equitable  exchange  of  prisoners,   man  for  car^  soon    occurred,  which  gave  rise  to  an 

man,  officer  for  officer,  or  officers  of  higher  grade  ex-  acrimonious  correspondence  between  the  bellig- 

changed  for  officers  of  lower  grade  or  for  privates,  ac-  erent  parties,  and  a  series  of  retaliatory  orders 

cording  to  the  scale  of  equivalents.  .  from  the  Confederate  authorities. 

Previous  to  the  adoption  of  the  cartel  of 
July  22,  however,  the  Confederate  general,  R. 

S.  That  all  prisoners,  of  whatsoever  arm  of  service,  E.  Lee,  had  written  to  the  authorities  at  "Wash- 

f.re  toj?e  exchanged  or.P?ro,!ed  in  ten  days  from  the  ington,  under  date  of  July  6,  requesting  infor- 

E,  fo  fe  ±^e£n  toS^A*^  "»* -  -P-ting  the  alleged  execution"  by  the 

thereafter  as  practicable.  national  authorities  of  John  Owens  and  Wil- 

4.  That  no  officer,  soldier,  or  employe  in  the  service  ^am  B.  Mumford,  citizens  of  the  seceded  States, 

of  either  party  is  to  be  considered  as  exchanged  and  and  on  certain  other  points,  indicated  in  the 

SvtlLT^\ir,fH^LhJrquivalent  has  actu-  foll?winS  reply  of  Gen.  Halleck,  the  general- 


2.  That  privates  and  officers  and  men  of  different 
services  may  be  exchanged  according  to  the  same  rule 
of  equivalents. 


ally  reached  the  line  of  his  friends. 

5.  That  the  parole  forbids  the  performance  of  field, 
garrison,  police,  or  guard  or  constabulary  duty. 

JOHN  A.  DIX,  Major-General. 

D.  H.  HILL,  Major-General,  C.  S.  Army. 

Supplementary  Articles. 

ART.  7.  —  All  prisoners  of  war  now  held  on  either 
side,  and  all  prisoners  hereafter  taken,  shall  be  sent 
with  all  reasonable  despatch  to  A.  H.  Aikens,  below 
Dutch  Gap,  on  the  James  river,  in  Virginia,  or  to 
Vicksburg,  on  the  Mississippi  river,  in  the  State  of 
Mississippi,  and  there  exchanged,  or  paroled  until  such 
exchange  can  be  effected,  notice  being  previously  given 
by  each  party  of  the  number  of  prisoners  it  will  send, 
and  the  time  when  they  will  be  delivered  at  those 
points  respectively  ;  and  in  case  the  vicissitudes  of  war 
shall  change  the  military  relations  of  the  places  desig- 
nated in  this  article  to  the  contending  parties,  so  as  to 
render  the  same  inconvenient  for  the  delivery  and  ex- 
change of  prisoners,  other  places,  bearing  as  nearly  as 
may  be  the  present  local  relations  of  saidplaces  to  the 
lines  of  said  parties,  shall  be,  by  mutual  agreement, 
substituted.  But  nothing  in  this  article  contained 
shall  prevent  the  commanders  of  two  opposing  armies 
from  exchanging  prisoners  or  releasing  them  on  parole 
at  other  points  mutually  agreed  on  by  said  commanders. 

ART.  8.  —  For  the  purpose  of  carrying  into  effect  the 
foregoing  articles  of  agreement,  each  party  will  appoint 
two  agents,  to  be  called  Agents  for  the  Exchange  of 
Prisoners  of  War,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  communi- 
cate with  each  other  by  correspondence  and  otherwise, 
to  prepare  the  list  of  prisoners,  to  attend  to  the  deliv- 
ery of  the  prisoners  »t  the  places  agreed  on,  and  to  carry 
out  promptly,  effectually,  and  in  good  faith,  all  the 
details  and  provisions  of  the  said  articles  of  agreement. 
ART.  9.  —  And  in  case  any  misunderstanding  shall 
arise  in  regard  to  any  clause  or  stipulation  in  the  fore- 
going articles,  it  is  mutually  agreed  that  such  misun- 
derstanding shall  not  interrupt  the  release  of  prisoners 
on  parole,  as  herein  provided,  but  shall  be  made  the 


in-chief  of  the  United  States  army  : 

HEADQUAKTERS  or  THE  ARMY,  WASHINGTON,  • 
Aug.  7,  1S6U.     f 
Gen.  R.  E.  Lee,  Commanding,  &c.  : 

GENERAL  :  Your  letter  of  July  6  was  received  at 
the  Adjutant-General's  office  on  the  14th,  but  sup- 
posing from  the  endorsement  that  it  required  no  fur- 
ther reply,  it  was  filed  without  being  shown  to  the 
President  or  Secretary  of  War.  I  learned  to  day,  for 
the  first  time,  that  such  letter  had  been  received,  and 
hasten  to  reply. 

No  authentic  information  has  been  received  in  rela- 
tion to  the  execution  of  either  John  Owens  or  --- 
Mumford,  but  measures  will  be  immediately  taken  to 
ascertain  the  facts  of  these  alleged  executions,  of  which 
you  will  'be  duly  informed. 

I  need  hardly  assure  you,  general,  that,  so  far  ns  the 
United  States  authorities  are  concerned,  this  contest 
will  be  carried  on  in  strict  accordance  with  the  laws 
and  usages  of  modern  warfare,  and  that  all  excesses 
will  be  duly  punished. 

In  regard  to  the  burning  of  bridges,  &c.,  within 
our  lines  by  persons  in  disguise  as  peaceful  citizens,  I 
refer  you  to  my  letter  of  the  22d  of  January  last  to 
Gen.  Price.*  I-think  you  will  find  the  views  there  ex- 
pressed as  most  materially  differing  from  those  stated 
in  your  letter. 

In  regard  to  retaliation,  by  taking  the  lives  of  inno- 
cent persons,  I  know  of  no  modern  authority  which 
justifies  it  except  in  the  extreme  case  of  a  war  with 
any  uncivilized  foe,  which  has  himself  first  established 
such  a  barbarous  rule.  The  United  States  will  never 
countenance  such  a  proceeding  unless  forced  to  do  so 
by  the  barbarous  conduct  of  an  enemy  who  first  ap- 
plies such  a  rule  to  our  own  citizens. 

Very  •espectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

H.  W.  HALLECK, 
General-in-Chief  of  U.  S.  Army. 


In  this  letter  Gen.  Hnlleck,  then  commanding  the  de- 


Ar>f1nr» in    «,«   v  •   -j.      i_  •   i      T_  men,  in  ^e  carb'of  soldiers,  destroying  bridges  as.a  military 

1   tne    humane   spirit  \vhich  charac-     act,  would,  if  captured,  be  treated  aa  ordinary  prisoners  of  war. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


325 


On  July  21,  Gen.  Lee  addressed  a  communi- 
cation to  Gen.  McOlellan,  then  in  command  at 
Harrison's  Landing,  stating  that  he  was  in- 
formed that  many  Confederate  citizens,  en- 
gaged in  peaceful  vocations,  had  been  arrested 
and  imprisoned  because  they  refused  to  take 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States ; 
while  others,  by  harsh  treatment,  had  been 
compelled  to  take  an  oath  not  to  bear  arms 
against  the  National  Government ;  adding  : 

This  Government  refuses  to  admit  the  right  of  the 
authorities  of  the  United  States  to  arrest  our  citizens, 
and  extort  from  them  their  parole  not  to  render  mili- 
tary service  to  their  country  under  the  penalty  of  in- 
curring punishment  in  case  they  fall  into  the  hands  of 
your  forces. 

I  am  directed  by  the  Secretary  of  "War  to  inform 
you  that  such  oaths  will  not  be  regarded  as  obliga- 
tory, and  persons  who  take  them  will  be  required  to 
render  military  service.  Should  your  Government  treat 
the  rendition  of  such  service  by  these  persons  as  a 
breach  of  parole,  and  punish  it  accordingly,  this  Gov- 
ernment will  resort  to  retaliatory  measures  as  the  only 
means  of  compelling  the  observance  of  the  rules  of 
civilized  warfare. 

The  matter  was  referred  by  Gen.  McOlellan 
to  Gen.  Halleck,  who  in  reply  to  that  officer, 
dated  August  13,  made  the  following  state- 
ment of  the  policy  which  the  Government 
would  pursue: 

The  Government  of  the  United  States  has  never 
authorized  any  extortion  of  oaths  of  allegiance  or  mil- 
itary paroles,  and  has  forbidden  any  measures  to  be 
resorted  to  tending  to  that  end.  Instead  of  extorting 
oaths  of  allegiance  and  paroles,  it  has  refused  the  ap- 
plications of  several  thousand  prisoners  to  be  permit- 
ted to  take  them  and  return  to  their  homes  in  the 
rebel  States. 

At  the  same  time  this  Government  claims  and  will 
exercise  the  right  to  arrest,  imprison,  or  place  beyond 
its  military  lines  any  persons  suspected  of  giving  aid 
and  information  to  its  enemies,  or  of  any  other  trea- 
sonable act.  And  if  persons  so  arrested  voluntarily 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  or  give  their  military 
parole,  and  afterward  violate  their  plighted  faith, 
they  will  be  punished  according  to  the  laws  and  usages 
of  war. 

You  will  assure  Gen.  Lee  that  no  unseemly  threats 
of  retaliation  on  his  part  will  deter  this  Government 
from  exercising  its  lawful  rights  over  both  persons 
and  property,  of  whatsoever  name  or  character. 

On  July  22  an  important  order  was  issued 
by  Secretary  Stanton,  acting  under  instructions 
from  the  President,  by  which  military  command- 
ers in  Virginia  and  other  parts  of  the  seceded 
States  were  empowered  "  in  an  orderly  manner 
to  seize  and  use  any  property,  real  or  personal, 
which  may  be  necessary  or  convenient  for 
their  several  commands,  for  supplies  or  for 
other  military  purpose  ;"  to  employ  at  reason- 
able wages  persons  of  African  descent  when 
needed ;  and  requiring  that  "  as  to  both  prop- 
erty and  persons  of  African  descent,  accounts 
shall  be  kept  sufficiently  accurate  and  in  de- 
tail, to  show  quantities  and  amounts,  and  from 
whom  both  property  and  such  persons  shall 
have  come,  as  a  basis  upon  which  compensa- 
tion can  be  made  in  proper  cases."  In  accord- 
ance with  the  terms  of  this  document  Gen. 
Pope,  then  recently  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  army  of  Virginia,  directed  his  division 


generals  to  seize  all  horses  and  mules  in  their 
vicinity,  and  all  stores  not  absolutely  needed 
by  the  inhabitants  for  their  maintenance  or 
subsistence;  and  his  General  Order  No.  11, 
dated  July  23d,  required  all  officers  of  his 
army  holding  independent  commands  to  ar- 
rest all  disloyal  male  citizens  within  their  lines 
or  within  their  reach.  "  Such  as  are  willing 
to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United 
States,"  &c.,  the  order  continued,  were  to  be 
discharged. 

These  several  orders  did  not  fail  to  create 
excitement  among  the  Confederate  authorities 
at  Richmond,  and  ultimately  led  to  the  retalia- 
tory action  suggested  by  the  two  following 
documents,  of  which  the.  first  was  addressed  by 
President  Davis  to  Gen.  Lee : 

RICHMOND  (TA.),  July  31, 1862. 

SIR  :  On  the  22d  of  this  month  a  cartel  for  the  gen- 
eral exchange  of  prisoners  of  war  was  signed  between 
Maj.-Gen.  D.  H.  Hill,  in  behalf  of  the  Confederate 
States,  and  Maj.-Gen.  John  E.  Dix,  in  behalf  of  the 
United  States.  By  the  terms  of  this  cartel  it  is  stipu- 
lated that  all  prisoners  of  war  hereafter  taken  shall  be 
discharged  on  parole  till  exchanged. 

Scarcely  had  that  cartel  been  signed  when  the  mili- 
tary authorities  of  the  United  States  commenced  a 
practice  changing  the  whole  character  of  the  war  from 
such  as  becomes  civilized  nations  into  a  campaign  of 
indiscriminate  robbery  and  murder. 

The  general  order  issued  by  the  Secretary  of  War  of 
the  United  States,  in  the  city  of  Washington,  on  the 
very  day  the  cartel  was  signed  in  Virginia,  directs  the 
military  commanders  of-  the  United  States  to  take  the 
private  property  of  our  people  for  the  convenience  and 
.use  of  their  armies,  without  compensation. 

The  general  order  issued  by  Maj-Gen.  Pope  on  the 
23d  day  of  July,  the  day  after  the  signing  of  the  cartel, 
directs  the  murder  of  our  peaceful  inhabitants  as  spies, 
if  found  quietly  tilling  the  farms  in  his  rear,  even  out- 
side of  his  lines ;  and  one  of  his  brigadier-generals, 
Steinwehr,  has  seized  upon  innocent  and  peaceful  in- 
habitants to  be  held  as  hostages,  to  the  end  that  they 
may  be  murdered  in  cold  blood,  if  any  of  his  soldiers 
are  killed  by  some  unknown  persons  whom  he  desig- 
nates as  "  bushwhackers." 

Under  this  state  of  facts,  this  Government  has 
issued  the  enclosed  general  order,  recognizing  Gen. 
Pope  and  his  commissioned  officers  to  be  in  the  posi- 
tion which  they  have  chosen  for  themselves — that 
of  robbers  and  murderers,  and  not  that  of  public  ene- 
mies, entitled,  if  captured,  to  be  considered  as  prison- 
ers of  war. 

We  find  ourselves  driven  by  our  enemies  by  steady 
progress  toward  a  practice  which  we  abhor  and  which 
we  are  vainly  struggling  to  avoid. 

Some  of  the  military  authorities  of  the  United  States 
seem  to  suppose  that  better  success  will  attend  a  sav- 
age war  in  which  no  quarter  is  to  be  given,  and  no  age 
or  sex  to  be  spared,  than  has  hitherto  been  secured  by 
such  hostilities  as' are  alone  recognized  to  be  lawful  by 
civilized  men  in  modern  times. 

For  the  present  we  renounce  our  right  of  retaliation 
on  the  innocent,  and  shall  Continue  to  treat  the  private 
enlisted  soldiers  of  Gen.  Pope's  army  as  prisoners  of 
war ;  but  if,  after  the  notice  to  the  Government  at  Wash- 
ington of  our  confining  repressive  measures  to  the 
punishment  only  of  the  commissioned  officers  who  are 
willing  participants  in  these  crimes,  these  savage  prac- 
tices are  continued,  we  shall  be  reluctantly  forced  to 
the  last  resort  of  accepting  the  war  on  the  terms  ob- 
served by  our  foes,  until  the  outraged  voice  of  com- 
mon humanity  forces  a  respect  for  the  recognized 
rules  of  war. 

While  these  facts  would  justify  our  refusal  to  execute 
the  generous  cartel  by  which  we  have  consented  to 


326 


MILITAET  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


liberate  an  excess  of  thousands  of  prisoners  held  by 
us  beyond  the  number  held  by  the  enemy,  a  sacred 
regard  to  plighted  faith,  shrinking  from  the  mere 
semblance  of  breaking  a  promise,  prevents  our  resort 
to  this  extremity. 

Nor  de  we  desire  to  extend  to  any  other  forces  of  the 
enemy  the  punishment  merited  alone  by  Gen.  Pope 
and  the  commissioned  officers  who  choose  to  participate 
in  the  execution  of  his  infamous  orders. 

You  are  hereby  instructed  to  communicate  to  the 
commander-in-chief  of  the  United  States  the  contents 
of  this  letter,  and  a  copy  of  the  enclosed  general  order, 
to  the  end  that  he  may  be  notified  of  our  intention  not 
to  consider  the  officers  hereafter  captured  from  Gen. 
Pope's  army  as  prisoners  of  war. 

Very  respectfully  yours,  &c., 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 

To  Gen.  R.  E.  LEE,  Commanding. 

The  substance  of  this  letter  -was  communi- 
cated by  Gen.  Lee,  according  to  President 
Davis's  request,  to  Gen.  Halleck  on  Aug.  2, 
•with  the  accompanying  General  Order  No.  54 : 

Confederate  General  Order  No.  54. 

ADJUTANT  AND  INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S  OFFICE,  ) 
RICHMOND,  August  1, 1862.     j 

First.  The  following  orders  are  published  for  the  in- 
formation and  observance  of  all  concerned. 

Second.  Whereas,  by  a  general  order  dated  the  22d 
of  July,  1862,  issued  by  the  Secretary  of  War  of  the 
United  States,  under  the  order  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  the  military  commanders  of  that  Govern- 
ment within  the  States  of  Virginia,  South  Carolina, 
Georgia,  Florida,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Tex- 
as and  Arkansas,  are  directed  to  seize  and  use  any  prop- 
erty, real  or  personal,  belonging  to  the  inhabitants  of 
this  Confederacy,  which  may  be  necessary  or  conve- 
nient for  their  several  commands,  and  no  provision  is 
made  for  any  compensation  to  the  owners  of  private 
property  thus  seized  and  appropriated  by  the  military 
commands  of  the  enemy. 

Third.  And  whereas,  by  General  Order  No.  11,  is- 
sued by  Major-General  Pope,  commanding  the  forces 
of  the  enemy  in  Northern  Virginia,  it  is  ordered  that  all 
commanders  of  any  army  corps,  divisions,  brigades, 
and  detached  commands,  will  proceed  immediately  to 
arrest  all  disloyal  male  citizens  within  their  lines  or 
within  their  reach  in  the  rear  of  their  respective  com- 
mands. Such  as  are  willing  to  take  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  shall  furnish  suffi- 
cient security  for  its  observance,  will  be  permitted  to 
remain  in  their  houses,  and  pursue  in  good  faith  their 
accustomed  avocations ;  those  who  refuse  shall  be  con- 
ducted south  beyond  the  extreme  pickets  of  the  army, 
and  be  notified  if  found  again  anywhere  within  o_ur 
lines,  or  at  any  place  in  the  rear,  they  will  be  consid- 
ered spies  and  subjected  to  the  extreme  rigor  of  mili- 
tary law.  If  any  person,  having  taken  the  oath  of  al- 
legiance as  above  specified,  be  found  to  have  violated 
it,  he  shall  be  shot,  and  his  property  seized  and  applied 
to  the  public  use. 

Fourth.  And  whereas,  by  an  order  issued  on  the  13th 
of  July,  1862,  by  Brigadier-General  A.  Steinwehr,  Ma- 
jor William  Steadman,  a  cavalry  officer  of  his  brigade, 
has  been  ordered  to  arrest  five  of  the  most  prominent 
citizens  of  Page  county,  Virginia,  to  be  held  as  hos- 
tages, and  to  suffer  death  in  the  event  of  any  of  the 
soldiers  of  said  Steinwehr  being  shot  by  bushwhack- 
ers, by  which  term  are  meant  the  citizens  of  this  Con- 
federacy who  have  taken  up  arms  to  defend  their  lives 
and  families. 

Fifth.  And  whereas  it  results  from  the  above  orders 
that  some  of  tho  military  authorities  of  the  United 
States,  not  content  with  the  unjust  and  aggressive 
warfare  hitherto  waged  with  savage  cruelty  against  an 
unoffending  people,  and  exasperated  by  the  failure  of 
their  efforts  to  subjugate  them,  have  now  determined 
to  violate  all  the  rules  and  usages  of  war,  and  to  convert 
the  hostilities,  hitherto  waged  against  armed  forces, 


into  a  campaign  of  robbery  and  murder  against  inno- 
cent citizens  and  peaceful  tillers  of  the  soil. 

Sixth.  And  whereas  this  Government,  bound  by  the 
highest  obligations  of  duty  to  its  citizens,  is  thus 
driven  to  the  necessity  of  adopting  such  just  measures 
of  retribution  and  retaliation  as  shall  seem  adequate  to 
repress  and  punish  these  barbarities.  And  whereas 
the  orders  above  recited  have  only  been  published  and 
made  known  to  this  Government  since  the  signa- 
ture of  a  cartel  for  the  exchange  of  prisoners  of  war, 
which  cartel,  in  so  far  as  it  provides  for  an  exchange 
of  prisoners  hereafter  captured,  would  never  have 
been  signed  or  agreed  to  by  this  Government,  if 
the  intention  to  change  the  war  into  a  system  of 
indiscriminate  murder  and  robbery  had  been  made 
known  to  it.  And  whereas  a  just  regard  to  humanity 
forbids  that  the  repression  of  crime,  which  this 
Government  is  thus  compelled  to  enforce,  should  be 
unnecessarily  extended  to  retaliation  on  the  enlisted 
men  of  the  army  of  the  United  States  who  may  be  un- 
willing instruments  of  the  savage  cruelty  of  their  com- 
manders, so  long  as  there  is  hope  that  the  excesses  of 
the  enemy  may  be  checked  or  prevented  by  retribution 
on  the  commissioned  officers,  who  have  the  power  to 
avoid  guilty  action  by  refusing  service  under  a  Govern- 
ment which  seeks  their  aid  in  the  perpetration  of  such 
infamous  barbarities. 

Seventh.  Therefore  it  is  ordered  that  Major-General 
Pope,  Brigadier-General  Steinwehr,  and  all  commis- 
sioned officers  serving  under  their  respective  com- 
mands, be  and  they  are  hereby  expressly  and  espe- 
cially declared  to  be  not  entitled  to  be  considered  as 
soldiers,  and  therefore  not  entitled  to  the  benefit  of  the 
cartel  for  the  parole  of  future  prisoners  of  war. 

Ordered,  further,  That  in  the  event  of  the  capture 
of  Major-General  Pope  or  Brigadier-General  Stein- 
wehr, or  of  any  commissioned  officers  serving  under 
them,  the  captive  so  taken  shall  be  held  in  close  con- 
finement, so  long  as  the  orders  herein  expressed  shall 
continue  in  force,  and  until  repealed  by  the  competent 
military  authorities  of  the  United  States,  and  that  in 
the  event  of  the  murder  of  any  unarmed  citizen  or  in- 
habitant of  this  Confederacy,  by  virtue  or  under  the 
pretext  of  any  of  the  orders  hereinbefore  recited, 
whether  with  or  without  trial,  whether  under  the  pre- 
tence of  such  citizen  being  a  spy  or  hostage,  or  any 
other  pretence,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  commanding 
General  of  the  forces  of  this  Confederacy  to  cause  im- 
mediately to  be  hung,  out  of  the  commissioned  officers 
prisoners  as  aforesaid,  a  number  equal  to  the  number 
of  our  own  citizens  thus  murdered  by  the  enemv. 
By  order.  S.  COOPER, 

Adjutant  and  Inspector-General. 

On  the  same  day,  August  2,  Gen.  Lee  ad- 
dressed the  following  communication  on  a  dif- 
ferent subject,  but  one  involving  similar  prin- 
ciples, to  Gen.  Halleck : 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  STATES,  NEAR  ) 
RICHMOND,  VA.,  Aug.  2, 1862.      f 
To  the  General  Commanding  Army  of  the  United  States, 

Washington : 

GENERAL  :  On  the  29th  of  June  last  I  was  instruct- 
ed by  the  Secretary  of  War  to  inquire  of  Maj.-Gen. 
McClellan  as  to  the  truth  of  alleged  mfcrders  com- 
mitted on  our  citizens  by  officers  of  the  United  States 

The  case  of  Wm.  B.  Mumford,  reported  to  have  been 
murdered  at  New  Orleans  by  order  of  Maj.-Gen.  B.  F. 
Butler,  and  of  Col.  John  Owens,  reported  to  have  been 
murdered  in  Missouri  by  order  of  Maj.-Gen.  Pope,  were 
those  referred  to.  I  had  the  honor  to  be  informed  by 
Maj.-Gen.  McClellan  that  he  had  referred  these  in- 
quiries to  his  Government  for  a  reply.  No  answer  has 
as  vet  been  received. 

The  President  of  the  Confederate  States  has  since 
been  credibly  informed  that  numerous  other  officers  of 
the  army  of  the  United  States  within  the  Confederacy 
have  been  guilty  of  felonies  and  capital  offences  which 
are  punishable  by  all  laws,  human  and  divine.  I  am 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


327 


directed  by  him  to  bring  to  your  notice  a  few  of  those 
best  authenticated. 

Newspapers  received  from  the  United  States  an- 
nounce as  a  fact  that  Maj.-Gen.  Hunter  has  armed 
slaves  for  the  murder  of  their  masters,  and  has  thus 
done  all  in  his  power  to  inaugurate  a  servile  war, 
which  is  worse  than  that  of  the  savage,  inasmuch  as 
it  superadds  other  horrors  to  the  indiscriminate 
slaughter  of  all  ages,  sexes,  and  conditions. 

Brig. -Gen.  Phelps  is  reported  to  have  initiated  at 
New  Orleans  the  example  set  by  Maj.-Gen.  Hunter  on 
the  coast  of  South  Carolina, 

Brig.-Gen.  G.  N.  Fitch  is  stated  in  the  same  journals 
to  have  murdered  in  cold  blood  two  peaceful  citizens, 
because  one  of  his  men,  while  invading  our  country, 
was  killed  by  some  unknown  person  while  defending 
his  home. 

I  am  instructed  by  the  President  of  the  Confederate 
States  to  repeat  the  inquiry  relative  to  the  cases  of 
Mumford  and  Owens,  and  to  ask  whether  the  state- 
ments in  relation  to  the  action  of  Gens.  Hunter,  Phelps, 
and  Fitch  are  admitted  to  be  true,  and  whether  the 
conduct  of  these  generals  is  sanctioned  by  their  Gov- 
ernment. . 

I  am  further  directed  by  his  Excellency  the  Presi- 
dent to  give  notice  that,  in  the  event  of  not  receiving 
a  reply  to*these  inquiries  within  fifteen  days  from  the 
delivery  of  this  letter,  it  will  be  assumed  that  the 
alleged  facts  are  true,  and  are  sanctioned  by  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States.  In  such  an  event,  on 
that  Government  will  rest  the  responsibility  of  the 
retribution  or  retaliatory  measures  which  shall  be 
adopted  to  put  an  end  to  the  merciless  atrocities  which 
now  characterize  the  war  against  the  Confederate 
States.  I  am,  most  respectfully,  your  ob't  serv't, 
K.  E.  LEE,  General  Commanding. 

To  both  communications  but  one  answer  was 
returned,  and  that  was  given  in  the  following 
note: 

HEADQFABTEBS  OF  THE  ARMT,  WASHINGTON,  Aug.  9, 1862. 
Gen.  JR.  E.  Lee,  Commanding,  &c. : 

GENERAL:  Your  two  communications  of  the  2d  in- 
stant, with  enclosure,  are  received.  As  these  papers 
are  couched  in  language  insulting  to  the  Government 
of  the  United  Stales,  I  most  respectfully  decline  to 
receive  them.  They  are  returned  herewith. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  General-in-Chief,  U.  S.  Army. 

The  rebels,  however,  not  receiving  what  they 
considered  a  satisfactory  answer  to  the  allega- 
tions contained  in  the  last-quoted  letter  of  Gen. 
Lee,  of  August  2,  proceeded  to  issue  two  vindic- 
tive orders  in  the  nature  of  retaliatory  measures 
against  officers  of  the  United  States  army.  The 
first,  _dated  August  20,  threatened  retaliation  for 
the  lives  of  peaceable  citizens  said  to  have  been 


taken  by  Gen.  (Colonel)  Fitch  in  Arkansas,  and 
the  second,  dated  on  the  succeeding  day,  and 
known  as  General  Order  No.  60,  is  as  follows :. 

Whereas  Maj.-Gen.  Hunter,  recently  in  command 
of  the  enemy's  forces  on  the  coast  of  South  Carolina, 
and  Brig.-Gen.  Phelps,  a  military  commander  of  the 
enemy  in  *the  State  Louisiana,  have  organized  and 
armed  negro  slaves  for  military  service  against  theil 
masters,  citizens  of  this  Confederacy: 

And  whereas  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
has  refused  to  answer  an  inquiry  whether  said  con- 
duct of  its  officers  meets  its  sanction,  and  has  thus 
left  to  this  Government  no  other  means  of  repressing 
said  crimes  and  outrages  than  by  the  adoption  of  such 
measures  of  retaliation  as  shall  serve  to  prevent  their 
repetition : 

Ordered,  That  Maj.-Gen.  Hunter  and  Brig.-Gen. 
Phelps  be  no  longer  held  and  treated  as  public  ene- 
mies of  the  Confederate  States,  but  as  outlaws;  and 
that  in  the  event  of  the  capture  of  either  of  them,  or 
that  of  any  other  commissioned  officer  employed  in 
drilling,  organizing,  or  instructing  slaves,  with  a  view 
to  their  armed  service  in  this  war,  he  shall  not  be  re- 
garded as  a  prisoner  of  war,  but  held  in  close  confine- 
ment for  execution  as  a  felon,  at  such  time  and  place 
as  the  President  may  order. 

The  retaliatory  orders  against  Gen.  Pope's 
command  were  for  several  weeks  enforced  with 
a  considerable  degree  of  strictness ;  but  when 
he  retired  from  command,  they  were  rescinded. 

An  event  occurring  in  Missouri  in  October 
gave  occasion  for  further  retaliatory  action  on 
the  part  of  the  Confederate  authorities.  An- 
drew Allsman,  a  loyal  citizen  of  Palmyra,  in 
the  northeastern  part  of  the  State,  and  a  non- 
combatant,  having  been  forcibly  abducted  by  a 
band  of  guerrillas  under  the  command  of  one 
Porter,  the  latter  was  notified  by  Gen.  McNeil, 
commanding  a  portion  of  the  Missouri  State 
Militia,  that  unless  Allsman  was  returned  un- 
harmed to  his  family  by  the  18th  of  October, 
ten  of  the  captured  guerrillas  would  be  sum- 
marily shot.  Allsman  not  appearing  on  the  day 
specified,  the  death  penalty  was  inflicted  on  ten 
men  selected  from  Porter's  band,  in  the  presence 
of  a  large  concourse  of  citizens. 

The  following  in  an  official  list  of  general 
officers  in  the  insurrectionary  service  in  August, 
1862.  The  major  and  brigadier-generals  are 
said  to  belong  to  the  Provisional  Army,  their 
commissions  having  been  granted  under  the 
Provisional  Government,  or  prior  to  1862 : 


ffeneral-in-  Chief. 
*Eobert  E.  Lee Virginia. 

Adjutant  and  Inspector-General. 
*8amuel  Cooper — Virginia. 

Quartermaster-General. 

*A.  C.  Myers Louisiana. 

*Larkin  Smith  (Assistant). 

Chief  of  Ordnance. 
*Bcnjamin  Huger South  Carolina. 

Generals — Regular  Army. 

*Samuel  Cooper Virginia. 

*  Joseph  E.  Johnston Virginia. 

*Robert  E.  Lee Virginia. 

*P.  G.  T.  Beauregard Louisiana. 

*Braxton  Bragg Louisiana. 

Major- Generate — Provisional  Army. 

*Leonidas  Polk Louisiana. 

*Earl  Van  Dorn Mississippi. 

*Gustavus  W.  Smith Kentucky. 

*Theo.  N.  Holmes North  Carolina. 


*William  J.  Hardee Georgia. 

*Benj.  Huger  (rel'd) South  Carolina. 

*James  Longstreet Alabama. 

*J.  B.  Magruder Virginia. 

*Thomas  J.  Jackson Virginia. 

*Mansfield  Lov ell... District  Columbia. 

*E.  Kirby  Smith  (rel'd) Florida. 

William  W.  Loring North  Carolina. 

Sterling  Price Missouri. 

*John  P.  McCown Tennessee. 

*Daniel  H.  Hill North  Carolina. 

*Richard  S.  Ewell , . . . .  Virginia. 

*John  C.  Pemberton Virginia. 

*Ambrose  P.  Hill Virginia. 

John  C.  Breckinridge Kentucky. 

William  S.  Cheatham Tennessee. 

Thomas  C.  Hindman Arkansas, 

*Richard  II.  Anderson.  .South  Carolina. 

*  James  E.  B.  Stewart Virginia. 

*Simon  B.  Buckner Kentucky. 

*  James  M.  "Withers Alabama. 

Brigadier-  Generals. 
John  B.  Floyd  (rel'd) Virginia. 


Henry  A.  Wise Virginia. 

*August  R.  Lawton Georgia. 

G.  J.  Pillow  (rel'd) Tennessee. 

*Daniel  S.  Donclson Tennessee. 

*David  R.  Jones South  Carolina. 

*John  H.  Winder Maryland. 

*Jubal  A.  Early Virginia. 

*Arnold  Elzey Maryland. 

*Samuel  Jones Virginia. 

*C.  C.  Sibley  (dead) Louisiana. 

*William  H.  C.  Whiting Georgia. 

*Daniel  Ruggles Virginia. 

Charles  Clark Mississippi. 

*Roswell  8.  Ripley South  Carolina. 

*Isaac  R.  Trimble Maryland. 

*Paul  O.  Hebert Louisiana. 

*Richard  E.  Gatlin North  Carolina. 

L.  Pope  Walker Alabama. 

•Albert  B.  Blan chard Louisiana. 

*Gab.  J.  Rains  (killed) Kentucky. 

*Lafayette  McLaws Georgia. 

*Thomas  F.  Dayton South  Carolina. 

*Lloyd  Tilghman Kentucky. 

*Nat.  G.  Evans South  Carolina. 


328 


MILITAET  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


*Cadmus  C.  Wilcox Tennessee. 

Bichard  E.  Bodes Alabama. 

Richard  Taylor Louisiana. 

*James  H.  Trapier South  Carolina. 

*Samuel  G.  French Mississippi. 

William  H.  Carroll Tennessee. 

*Hugh  W.  Mercer Georgia. 

Humphrey  Marshall Kentucky. 

'Alexander  P.  Steuart Tennessee. 

*W.  Montgomery  Gardner Georgia. 

*  Richard  B.  Garnett Virginia. 

William  Mahone Virginia. 

L.  O'B.  Branch  (killed).North  Carolina. 

Maxey  Gregg South  Carolina. 

Kobert  Toombs Georgia. 

*George  H.  Stewart Virginia. 

*Wm.  W.  Mackall... District  Columbia. 

*Henry  Heth Virginia. 

*Johnson  K.  Duncan Louisiana. 

John  E.  Jackson Georgia. 

*Edward  Johnson Virginia. 

Ho  well  Cobb Georgia. 

Joseph  L.  Hogg Texas. 

William  8.  Featherston Mississippi. 

Boger  A.  Pryor Virginia. 

*John  H.  Forney Alabama. 

*John  B.  Villepigue  (dead)..  ..Georgia. 

*Bushnel  E.  Johnson Tennessee. 

*Thomas  K.  Jackson . 

*Thomas  Jordan Virginia. 

*John  8.  Bowen Missouri. 

MohnB.  Hood Texas. 

*G.  B.  Anderson  (k'd).. North  Carolina. 

*Thomas  M.  Jones Virginia. 

J.  J.  Pettigrew South  Carolina. 

Albert  Rust Arkansas. 

James  J.  Bamsey Georgia. 

Hamilton  P.  Bee Texas. 

Henry  McCulloch Texas. 

William  Preston Kentucky. 

"Henry  Little  (killed) Missouri. 

*B.  Ransom North  Carolina. 

Martin  E.  Greene Missouri. 

Thomas  E.  R.  Cobb  (killed)..  .Georgia. 

— —  Wood Alabama. 

Kemper South  Carolina. 

— - — Kershaw South  Carolina. 

Leadbeater Tennessee. 

Armstrong 


John  S.  Williama, >,..»..,.  .  Kentucky, 

N.  B.  Forrest Tennessee. 

Robert  E.  Garland  (killed). . . .Virginia. 

*  A.  W.  Reynolds Virginia. 

Jenkins South  Carolina. 

* Pender North  Carolina. 

Edward  W.  Gantt Arkansas. 

Solon  Borland Arkansas. 

*M.  L.  Smith Mississippi. 

*William  B.  Taliaferro Virginia. 

*George  E.  Pickett Virginia. 

Wright Georgia; 

Helm Kentucky. 

George  Maurey Tennessee. 

Blanton  Duncan Kentucky. 

*L.  A.  Armistead Virginia. 

Semmes Georgia. 

Maxey 


S.  E.  Gist South  Carolina. 

*D.  M.  Frost Missouri. 

Beverly  R.  Robertson Virginia. 

J.  B.  8.  Roane Arkansas. 

C.  L.  Stevenson . 

"Wade  Hampton ...South  Carolina. 

A.  G.  Jenkins Virginia. 

Fields . 

Martin North  Carolina. 

*Fitz  Hugh  Lee Virginia. 

John  E.  Jones Virginia. 

James  E.  Slaughter . 

Henry  Hayes Louisiana. 

Henry  W.  Hilliard Alabama. 

*Abraham  Buford Kentucky. 

This  list,  numbering  137  generals,  is 
divided  among  the  several  States  as  fol- 
lows: Virginia,  31;  South  Carolina,  14; 
Georgia,  14;  Kentucky,  11;  Tennessee, 
11 ;  Louisiana,  9;  North  Carolina,  9 ; 
Alabama,  7;  Mississippi,  5;  Missouri, 
5;  Arkansas,  5;  Texas,  4;  Maryland, 
8 ;  District  of  Columbia,  2 ;  Florida,  1 ; 
Unknown,  6. 

The  following  were  born  in  the 
North :  Gen.  S.  Cooper,  New  York ; 
Maj.-Gen.  John  C.  Pemberton,  Penn- 
sylvania; Brig.-Gens.  H.  .C.  Whiting, 
A.  B.  Blanchard,  Massachusetts ;  John- 
son K.  Duncan,  Pennsylvania;  H.  S. 


Eipley.  Ohio ; 


Leadbeater,  Con- 


necticut; S.  G.  French,  New  Jersey; 
D.  M.  Frost. 

CASUALTIES,  &c.—  Killed. — Maj.-Gen. 
A.  8.  Johnston,*  Texas,  at  Shiloh,  April 
6, 1862. 

Brig.-Gen.  R.  S.  Garnett,*  Va.,  at  Car- 
rick's  Ford,  July  11,  1861. 

Brig.-Gen.  Bernard  E.  Bee,*  S.  C.,  at 
Manassas,  July  21, 1861. 

Brig.-Gen.  F.  K.  Zollicoffer,  Tenn.,  at 
Somerset,  January  19,  1862. 

Brig.-Gen.  Ben  McCulloch,  Texas,  r.t 
Pea  Ridge,  March  7, 1862. 

Brig.-Gen.  A.  H.  Gladden,  La.,  at 
Shiloh,  April' 6,1  SG2. 

Brig.-Gen.  T.  W.  Ashbv,  at , 

May  — ,  1862. 

Brig.-Gen.  Robert  Ilatton,  Tenn.,  at 
Seven  Pines,  May  31, 1862. 

Brig.-Gen.  Richard  Griffith,  Miss.,  be- 
fore Richmond,  June  27, 1862. 

Brig.-Gen.  C.  S.  Winder,*  Md.,  at 
Cedar  Mountain,  August  9,  1862. 

Brig.-Gen.  J.  T.  Hughes,  Mo.,  at  Inde- 
pendence, August  — ,  1862. 

Brig.-Gen.  Kobert  E.  Garland,  Va.,  at 
South  Mountain,  September  14, 1S62. 

Brig.-Gen.  Starke,  N.  C.,  at  Antietam, 
September  17, 1862. 

Brig.-Gen.  Law.  O'B.  Branch,  N.  C., 
at  Antietam,  September  17, 1862. 

Brig.-Gen.  Henry  Little,  Missouri,  at 
luka,  September  19, 1862.  Total— 15. 

Acting  Brig.-Gen.  F.  S.  Bartow,  Ga., 
at  Manassas,  July  21,  1861. 

Acting  Brig.-Gen.  James  Mclntosh, 
at  Pea  Eidge,  March  7, 1862.  Total— 13. 

Z>i«7.— Bris.-Gen.  J.  B.  Grayson, 
Ky. ;  T.  A.  Flourney,  Ark. ;  Philip  St. 
George  Cooke,*  Va.  (suicide)— 3. 

Resigned. — Maj.-Gens.  David  E. 
Twiggs,  Ga.  (since  dead) ;  M.  L.  Bon- 
ham,  S.  C. ;  Gcorse  B.  Crittenden,  Ky. ; 
Brig.-Gens.  H.  R.  Jackson,  Ga. ;  T.  T. 
Fauntlcroy,  Va. ;  G.  W.  Randolph,  Va. ; 
L.  T.  Wigfell,  Texas ;  S.  C.  Anderson, 
Tenn. ;  J.  R.  Anderson,"  Va. ;  Albert 
Pike,  Ark. ;  W.  H.  T.  Walker,*  Ga.— 11 , 


Graduates  of  West  Point. 


The  Confederate  army  in  Virginia,  near  the 
close  of  the  year,  was  in  a  most  destitute  con- 
dition. The  following  statement,  dated  at  Win- 
chester, Virginia,  on  September  26,  was  cir- 
culated .through  the  Confederate  States,  as  en- 
tirely reliable,  and  ^made  the  basis  of  appeals 
to  the  people  to  contribute  to  the  relief  of  the 
soldiers : 

I  can  recall  no  parallel  instance  in  history,  except 
Napoleon's  disastrous  retreat  from  Moscow,  where  an 
army  has  ever  dpne  more  marching  and  fighting,  un- 
der such  great  disadvantages,  than  Gen.  Lee's  has 
done  since  it  left  the  banks  of  the  James  river. 

This  army  proceeded  directly  to  the  line  of  the  Rap- 
pahannock,  and,  moving  out  from  that  river,  it  fought 
its  way  to  the  Potomac,  crossed  the  stream,  and  moved 
on  to  Frederick  and  Hagerstown,  had  a  heavy  engage- 
ment at  Boonsboro'  Gap,  and  another  at  Crampton 
Gap  below,  fought  the  greatest  pitched  battle  of  the 
war  at  Sharpsburg,  and  then  recrossed  the  Potomac 
back  into  Virginia.  During  all  this  time,  covering  the 
full  space  of  a  month,  the  troops  rested  but  four  days ! 
And  let  it  always  be  remembered,  to  their  honor,  that 
of  the  men  who  performed  this  wonderful  feat  one  fifth 
of  them  were  barefooted,  one  half  of  them  in  rags,  and 
the  whole  of  them  half  famished.  The  country  from  the 
Rappahannock  to  the  Potomac  had  been  visited  by  the 
enemy  with  fire  and  sword,  and  our  transportation 
was  insufficient  to  keep  the  army  supplied  from  so 
distant  a  base  as  Gordonsville ;  and,  when  provision 
trains  would  overtake  the  army,  so  pressing  were  the 
exigencies  of  their  position,  the  men  seldom  had  time 
to  cook.  Their  difficulties  were  increased  by  the  fact 


that  cooking  utensils  in  many  cases  had  been  left  be- 
hind, as  well  as  everything  else  that  would  impede 
their  movements.  It  was  not  unusual  to  see  a  com- 
pany of  starving  men  have  a  barrel  of  flour  distributed 
to  them,  which  it  was  utterly  impossible  for  them  to 
convert  into  bread  with  the  means  and  the  time  al- 
lowed to  them.  They  could  not  procure  even  a  piece 
of  plank  or  a  corn  or  flour  sack  upon  which  to  work  up 
their  dough. 

Do  you  wonder,  then,  that  there  should  have  been 
stragglers  from  the  army  ? — that  brave  and  true  men 
should  have  fallen  out  from  sheer  exhaustion,  or  in 
their  efforts  to  obtain  a  mouthful  to  eat  along  the  road- 
sides? Or  that  many  seasoned  veterans,  the  con- 
querors in  the  valley,  at  Richmond  and  Manassas, 
should  have  succumbed  to  disease,  and  been  forced 
back  to  the  hospital  ?  I  look  to  hear  a  great  outcry 
against  the  stragglers.  Already  lazy  cavalrymen  and 
dainty  staff  officers  and  quartermasters,  who  are 
mounted  and  can  forage  the  country 'for  something  to 
eat,  are  condemning  the  weary  private,  who,  notwith- 
standing his  body  may  be  covered  with  dust  and  per- 
spiration, and  his  feet'With  stone  bruises,  is  expected 
to  trudge  along  under  his  knapsack  and  cartridge  box, 
on  an  empty  stomach,  and  never  turn  aside  for  a  mor- 
sel of  food  to  sustain  his  sinking  limbs.  Out  upon 
such  monstrous  injustice  !  That  there  has  been  unne- 
cessary straggling  is  readily  admitted  ;  but,  in  a  large 
majority  of  cases,  the  men  have  only  to  point  to  their 
bleeding  feet,  tattered  garments,  and  gaunt  frames  for 
an  answer  to  the  unjust  charge.  No  army  on  this 
continent  has  every  accomplished  as  much  or  suffered 
as  much  as  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia  within  tho 
last  three  months.  At  no  period  during  the  first  Rev- 
olutionary War,  not  even  at  Valley  Forge,  did  our 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


329 


forefathers  in  arms  encounter  greater  hardships,. or 
endure  them  more  uncomplainingly. 

But  great  as  have  been  the  trials  to  which  the  army 
has  been  subjected,  they  are  hardly  worthy  to  be 
named  in  comparison  with  the  sufferings  in  store  for 
it  this  winter,  unless  the  people  of  the  Confederate 
States,  everywhere  and  in  whatever  circumstances, 
come  to  its  immediate  relief.  The  men  must  have 
clothing  and  shoes  this  winter.  They  must  have  some- 
thing to  cover  themselves  when  sleeping,  and  to  pro- 
tect themselves  from  the  driving  sleet  und snow  storms 
when  on  duty.  This  must  be  done,  though  our  friends 
at  home  should  have  to  wear  cotton,  and  sit  by  the 
fire.  The  army  of  Virginia  stands  guard  this  day  as 
it  will  stand  guard  this  winter,  over  every  hearth- 
stoae  throughout  the  South.  The  ragged  sentinel 
who  may  pace  his  weary  rounds  this  winter  on  the 
bleak  spurs  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  or  along  the  frozen 
valleys  of  the  Shenandoah  and  Kappahannock,  will 
also  be  your  sentinel,  my  friends,  at  home.  It  will 
be  for  you  and  your  household  that  he  encounters  the 
wrath  of  the  tempest  and  the  dangers  of  the  night, 
He  suffers,  and  toils,  and  fights  for  you,  too,  brave, 
true-hearted  women  of  the  South.  Will  you  not  clothe 
his  nakedness,  then?  Will  you  not  put  shoes  and 
stockings  on  his  feet?  Is  it  not  enough  that  he  has 
written  down  Lis  patriotism  in  crimson  characters 
along  the  battle  road  from  the  Rappahannock  to  the 
Potomac  ?  And  must  his  bleeding  feet  also  impress 
their  mark  of  fidelity  upon  the  snows  of  the  coming 
winter? 

It  is  not  necessary  to  counsel  violent  measures ;  but 
it  is  not  expected  that  any  person  will  be  permitted  to 
accumulate  leather  and  cloth  for  purposes  of  specu- 
lation. The  necessities  of  the  armies  rise  up  like  a 
mountain,  and  canno_t,  and  will  not  be  overlooked.  It 
was  hoped  at  one  time  that  we  might  obtain  winter 
supplies  in  Maryland.  This  hope  was  born  after  the 
army  left  Richmond,  and  has  now  miserably  perished, 
The  Government  is  unable  to  furnish  the  supplies, 
for  they  are  not  to  be  had  in  the  country.  If  it  had 
exercised  a  little  foresight  last  spring  and  summer, 
when  vessels  were  running  the  blockade  with  cargoes 
of  calico,  linen,  and  other  articles  of  like  importance, 
a  partial  supply  at  least  of  hats,  blankets,  shoes,  and 
woollen  sjoods  might  have  been  obtained  from  Eng- 
land. But  foresight  is  a  quality  of  the  mind  that  is 
seldom  put  in  practice  in  these  days. 

But  whatever  maybe  done  by  the  people  should  be 
done  immediately.  Not  one  moment  can  be  lost  that 
will  not  be  marked,  as  by  the  second-hand  of  a  watch, 
with  the  pangs  of  a  sufferer.  Already  the  hills  and 
valleys  in  this  high  latitude  have  been  visited  by  frost, 
and  the  nights  are  uncomfortably  cool  to  the  man  who 
sleeps  upon  the  ground.  Come  up,  then,  men  and 
women  of  the  South,  to  this  sacred  duty!  Let 
nothing  stand  between  you  and  the  performance  of  it. 
Neither  pride  nor  pleasure,  nor  personal  ease  and  com- 
fort, should  withhold  your  hands  from  the  holy  work. 
The  supply  of  leather  and  wool,  we  all  know,  is  limit- 
ed; but  do  what  you  can,  and  all  you  can,  and  as  soon 
as  you  can.  If  you  cannot  send  woollen  socks,  send 
half-woollen  or  cotton  socks ;  and  so  with  under  cloth- 
ing, coats,  and  pants  ;  and  if  blankets  are  not  to  be  had, 
then  substitute  comforters  made  of  dyed  osnaburgs, 
stuffed  with  cotton.  Any  thing  that  will  keep  off  the 
cold  will  be  acceptable.  Even  the  speculator  and  ex- 
tortioner might  forego  their  gains  for  a  season,  and 
unite  in  this  religious  duty. 

If  the  army  of  Virginia  could  march  through  the 
South  just  as  it  is — ragged,  and  almost  barefooted  and 
hatlcss;  many  of  the  men  limping  along,  and  not  quite 
well  of  their  wounds  and  sickness,  yet  cheerful,  and 
not  willing  to  abandon  their  places  in  the  ranks ;  their 
clothes  riddled  with  balls,  and  their  banners  covered 
with  the  smoke  and  dust  of  battle,  and  shot  into  tat- 
ters, many  of  them  inscribed  with  "  Williamsburg," 
"  Seven  Pines,"  Gaines's  Mill,"  "Garnett's  Farm," 
"Front  Royal,"  "McDowell,"  "Cedar  Run,"  and 
other  victorious  fields — if  this  army  of  veterans,  thus 


clad  and  shod,  with  tattered  uniforms  and  banners, 
could  march  from  Richmond  to  the  Mississippi,  it 
would  produce  a  sensation  that  has  no  parallel  in 
history  since  Peter  the  Hermit  led  his  swelling  hosts 
across  Europe  to  the  rescue  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre. 

The  straggling  from  the  army,  as  the  winter 
approached,  was  without  a  parallel.  The  press, 
Mr.  Davis,  and  officers  of  the  Confederate  and 
State  Governments,  appealed  to  the  people,  and 
particularly  to  the  women,  to  frown  upon  all 
stragglers,  and  use  every  means  to  secure  their 
apprehension.  It  was  declared  that  more  than 
half  the  men  who  went  into  service  from  the 
northeastern  counties  of  the  State  of  Georgia 
were  at  home  without  leave,  and  most  of  them 
were  skulking  in  the  mountains  to  avoid  being 
arrested.  Others  had  banded  together  under  a 
few  desperate  leaders  to  resist  any  attempts 
that  might  be  made  to  arrest  them,  or  to  release 
from  the  jails  those  who  had  been  arrested. 
Some  of  those  bands  had  arms  and  ammunition, 
and  subsisted  by  plunder.  They  were  volun- 
teers and  not  conscripts,  as  the  conscript  laws 
had  never  been  enforced  in  that  section. 

So  far  as  regards  desertions  the  condition  of 
the  Federal  armies  at  this  time  was  bad.  The 
number  of  "  missing  "  and  of  "  deserters  "  in.  the 
Eastern  volunteer  army  was  more  than  double 
the  number  of  those  classes  in  the  Western 
volunteer  forces. 

Taking  the  returns  of  the  period  from  the  1st 
of  June,  1861,  to  the  1st  of  March,  1862,  as  the 
basis  of  calculation,  it  was  estimated  that  to 
secure  in  the  field  a  constant  force  of  500,000 
effective  men,  the  nation  must  not  only  main- 
tain 58,000  sick  men,  but  must  also  recruit  the 
ranks  of  the  enlisted  portion  of  these  forces 
with  new  material  at  the  rate  of  123,000  per  an- 
num so  long  as  the  war  should  last — a  rate 
somewhat  exceeding  10,000  recruits  per  month. 
Of  those  123,000  annual  recruits,  83,000  were  to 
supply  losses  by  death  and  discharges  from  service 
(exclusive  of  discharges  for  expiration  of  term 
of  enlistment) ;  34,000  for  desertions  and  miss- 
ing in  action ;  and  6,000  to  supply  other  losses 
specified  and  unspecified. 

The  excess  of  the  mortality  due  to  disease 
and  accident,  over  that  due  to  wounds  in  action, 
became  at  this  time  a  noticeable  fact  in  the  vol- 
unteer army  of  the  United  States,  as  in  all  other 
armies — two-thirds  ot*  the  deaths  of  the  officers 
and  five-sixths  of  those  of  the  men  resulting 
from  disease  and  accident ;  the  remaining  one- 
third  and  one-sixth,  respectively,  being  caused 
by  wounds  received  in  battle. 

It  appeared  from  the  returns  that  the  general 
mortality  of  the  army  had  been  gradually  in- 
creasing since  the  commencement  of  the  war, 
and  that  the  rate  for  the  autumnal  months  was 
1'Y  times  that  indicated  by  the  returns  for  the 
summer  period,  and  the  winter  rate  in  turn 
double  jL*7  times  that  of  autumn. 

To  supply  losses  among  the  enlisted  men  in 
the  Eastern  armies  required  recruits  at  the  rate 
of  18-8  per  1,000  per  month,  or  226  per  1,000 
per  annum;  of  which  latter  proportion  32  was 


330 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


the  number  required  to  supply  the  annual  loss 
by  death ;  100  the  annual  loss  by  discharge  from 
service,  chiefly  from  disability;  79  the  annual 
loss  from  missing  in  action  and  from  desertions ; 
and  15  to  supply  the  loss  from  other  causes. 

To  supply  such  losses  in  the  Western  armies 
required  recruits  at  the  rate  of  19'5  per  1,000 
per  month,  or  134  per  1,000  per  annum ;  of 
which  latter  proportion  96  were  required  to 
supply  the  annual  loss  from  deaths;  101  the 
loss  from  discharges  from  service,  mainly  from 
disability;  35  the  loss  from  missing  in  action 
and  from  desertions,  and  2  from  other  causes. 

The  desertions  from  the  army  in  the  autumn 
of  1862  became  so  great  as  to  cause  the  ap- 
pointment of  officers  to  arrest  and  return  such 
persons.  An  order  of  Gen.  Buell,  dated  near 
Florence,  Alabama,  on  June  24,  stated  that  14,- 
000  officers  and  soldiers  were  absent  from  the 
various  divisions  of  his  army.  Some  had  gone 
without  any  authority,  and  others  with  the  per- 
mission of  officers  not  authorized  to  grant  it. 
Sickness  was  generally  stated  to  be  the  cause  of 
this  absence,  but  in  many  cases,  it  had  notorious- 
ly ceased  to  exist.  In  September  the  War  De- 
partment issued  the  following  order : 

Orders  respecting  Special  Provost  Marshals,  and  defin- 
ing their  duties. 

WAK  DEPARTMENT,  ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE,  ) 
WASHINGTON,  Sept.  24, 1862.     ) 

First.  There  shall  be  a  Provost  Marshal  General  of 
the  War  Department,  whose  headquarters  will  be  at 
Washington,  and  who  will  have  the  immediate  super- 
vision, control,  and  management  of  th.e  corps. 

Second.  There  will  be  appointed  in  each  State  one 
or  more  Special  Provost  Marshals,  as  necessity  may 
require,  who  will  report  to,  and  receive  instructions 
and  orders  from  the  Provost  Marshal  General  of  the 
War  Department. 

Third.  It  will  be  the  duty  of  the  Special  Provost 
Marshals  to  arrest  all  deserters,  whether  regulars,  vol- 
unteers, or  militia,  and  send  them  to  the  nearest  mili- 
tary commander,  or  military  post,  where  they  can  be 
cared  for  and  sent  to  their  respective  regiments ;  to 
arrest,  upon  the  warrant  of  the  Judge  Advocate,  all 
disloyal  persons  subject  to  arrest  under  the  orders  of 
the  War  Department ;  to  inquire  into  and  report  treas- 
onable practises,  seize  stc-len  or  embezzled  property 
of  the  Government,  detect  spies  of  the  enemy,  and 
perform  such  other  duties  as  may  be  enjoined  upon 
them  by  the  War  Department;  and  report  all  their 
procedings  promptly  to  the  Provost  Marshal  General. 

Fourth.  To  enable  Special  Provost  Marshals  to  dis- 


charge their  duties  efficiently,  they  are  authorized  to 
call  on  any  available  military  force  within  their  re- 
spective districts,  or  else  to  employ  the  assistance  of 
citizens,  constables,  sheriffs,  or  police  officers,  so  far 
as  may  be  necessary  under  such  regulations  as  may 
be  prescribed  by  the  Provost  Marshal  General  of  the 
War  Department  with  the  approval  of  the  Secretary 
of  War. 

Fifth.  Necessary  expenses  incurred  in  this  service 
will  be  paid  on  duplicate  bills  certified  by  the  Special 
Provost  Marshals,  stating  the  time  and  nature  of  the 
service,  after  examination  and  approval  by  the  Pro- 
vost Marshal  General. 

Sixth.  The  compensation  of  special  Provost  Mar- 
shals will  be dollars  per  month,  and  actual 

travelling  expenses  and  postage  will  be  refunded  on 
bills  certified  to  under  oath  and  approved  by  the  Pro- 
vost Marshal  General. 

Seventh.  All  appointments  in  this  service  will  be 
subject  to  be  revoked,  at  the  pleasure  of  the  Secretary 

Eighth.  All  orders  heretofore  issued  by  the  War 
Department,  conferring  authority  upon  other  officers 
to  act  as  Provost  Marshals  (except  those  who  have 
received  special  commissions  from  the  War  Depart- 
ment, are  hereby  revoked. 

By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

J.  THOMAS,  Adjutant-General.- 

The  operations  of  the  surgical  department 
have  been  aided  by  humane  and  benevolent  as- 
sociations. The  horrors  of  battle  were  assuaged 
by  ministers  of  mercy,  and  the  services  of  the 
medical  profession  were  voluntarily  and  gra- 
tuitously offered  on  every  occasion.  Relief  asso- 
ciations in  every  State  did  much  to  comfort  and 
assist  the  sick  and  wounded  in  camps  and  hos- 
pitals, and  their  vigilant  superintendence  per- 
haps operated  to  check  the  negligence,  abuse, 
and  fraud  that  too  often  prevail  even  in  such  in- 
stitutions. Religious  congregations  and  societies 
also  tendered  to  the  Government  their  church 
buildings  for  hospitals,  while  their  pastors  min- 
istered to  the  patients. 

The  subsistence  of  the  armies  during  the  year 
was  reported  as  good  and  wholesome.  Fresh 
beef  had  generally  been  supplied  to  the  armies 
in  the  field  on  the  hoof,  to  lessen,  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, the  quantity  of  transportation  required, 
and  in  larger  proportion  of  the  ration  to  march- 
ing columns.  It  was  stated  by  the  general-in- 
chief — Halleck — that  no  armies  in  the  world 
were  so  well  supplied  as  the  armies  of  the  United 
States. 


CHAPTER    XXYII. 

The  Campaign  against  Vicksbnrg— The  Plan  of  Gen.  Grant-The  loss  of  Holly  Springs :  Its  consequences— Movement  of 
Gen.  Sherman  toward  Vicksburg— Raines'  Bluffs— Attack  of  Gen.  Sherman  on  Chickasaw  Bluffs— Failure— Address  to 
his  Troops— Movement  np  the  Arkansas  Eivcr— Capture  of  Arkansas  Post— Retires  to  Young's  Point— Arrival  of  Gen 
Grant-Work  on  the  Canal  opposite  Yicksburg— Floods—  Queen  of  the  West  runs  the  Batteries  at  Vicksburg— Her  Ex- 
pedition down  the  Mississippi— Captures— Loss  of  the  Queen  of  the  West— Scenes  up  the  Bed  Biver— Approach  of  the 
Enemy's  Gunboats— The  Indianola  runs  the  Batteries— Her  Destruction— Attempt  of  Gen.  Grant  to  cut  a  Channel  to 
Lake  Providence :  also  one  to  Moon  Lake — Expedition  of  Admiral  Porter— Its  Failure. 

AFTER  the  battles  of  Fredricksburg  and  Mur-  plan  of  gaining  the  Mississippi  River  and  cut- 
freesboro,  the  armies  engaged  in  those  conflicts  ting  off  the  communication  batween  the  South- 
remained  inactive  for  some  time.  Meanwhile  ern  States  on  its  opposite  sides  by  the  capture 
the  Federal  Government  pushed  forward  its  of  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson.  Its  importance 


- 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


331 


was  thus  stated  by  Gen.  Sherman  at  St.  Louis 
after  the  close  of  the  war :  The  possession  of 
the  Mississippi  River  is  the  possession  of  Amer- 
ica ;  and  I  say.  that  had  the  Southern  Confed- 
eracy (call  it  by  what  name  you  may),  had  that 
power  represented  by  the  Southern  Confederacy  . 
held  with  a  grip  sufficiently  strong  the  lower 
part  of  the  Mississippi  River,  we  would  have 
been  a  subjugated  people,  and  they  would  have 
dictated  to  us  if  we  had  given  up  the  possession 
of  the  lower  Mississippi."  The  campaign  against 
Vicksburg  really  commenced  about  the  28th  of 
November.  At  that  time,  the  forces  of  Gen. 
Grant  were  at  Lagrange,  three  miles  east  of 
Grand  Junction,  on  the  Cairo  and  New  Orleans 
Railroad, with  garrisons  at  Columbus,  Humboldt, 
Trenton,  and  Jackson,  in  Tennessee,  and  Bolivar 
and  Corinth  in  Mississippi.  These  forces  were 
designated  as  the  Army  of  West  Tennessee. 
The  Confederate  forces  were  at  Coldwater  and 
Holly  Springs,  about  twenty  miles  distant. 

The  plan  of  Gen.  Grant  was,  that  Gen.  Sher- 
man should  take  command  of  the  forces  at 
Memphis  in  Tennessee,  and  Helena  in  Arkan- 
sas, and  descend  the  river  on  transports  with 
the  gunboat  fleet,  and  make  an  attack  on  Vicks- 
burg by  the  29th  of  December,  and  that  Gen. 
McClernand  should  take  the  forces  at  Cairo  and 
move  down  to  Vicksburg,  thus  reenforcing  Gen. 
Sherman  soon  after  his  attack  on  the  town. 
Meanwhile  Gen.  Grant  was  to  advance  rapidly 
upon  the  Confederate  troops  in  Mississippi  north 
and  east  of  Vicksburg,  which  formed  the  main 
body  of  their  army,  and  keep  them  fully  em- 
ployed, and,  if  they  retreated  to  Vicksburg, 
arrive  there  with  them,  ready  to  cooperate  with 
Gen.  Sherman. 

Large  reinforcements  and  supplies  were 
received,  and  the  advance  of  Gen.  Hamilton's 
corps,  on  the  28th  of  November,  began  to 
move  in  the  direction  of  Holly  Springs,  which 
was  reached  on  the  29th.  By  the  1st  of  De- 
cember, Gen.  Grant's  forces  had  arrived,  and 
were  chiefly  encamped  at  Lumpkin's  Mills, 
south  of  Holly  Springs,  and  seven  miles  north 
of  the  Tallahatchie  River.  The  Confederate 
force,  now  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Pember- 
ton,  retired  to  that  river,  and  finally  fell  back 
beyond  Granada.  Meanwhile  Gen.  Grant  ad- 
vanced on  Oxford,  and  on  the  20th  of  Decem- 
ber an  attack  was  suddenly  made  in  his  rear, 
by  a  Confederate  force  under  Gen.  Van  Dorn, 
on  the  garrison  under  Col.  Murphy  at  Holly 
Springs,  which  surrendered.  The  prisoners 
were  paroled,  and  the  supplies  collected  there 
for  Gen.  Grant's  army  were  destroyed ;  also  a 
large  quantity  of  cotton  which  had  been  pur- 
chased of  the  people  in  the  vicinity. 

This  surrender  of  Holly  Springs  is  thus  noted 
in  the  orders  of  Gen.  Grant : 


HEADQUARTERS  THIRTEENTH  ARMY  COUPS,  DEPART-  j 

WENT  OP  THE  TENNESSEE,  HOLLY  SPRINGS,  Ml 

December,  23, 1862. 


EPART-  ) 

MISS.,  v 

62,         ) 


It  is  with  pain  and  mortification  that  the  General 
commanding  reflects  upon  the  disgraceful  surrender 
of  this  place,  with  all  the  valuable  stores  it  contained, 


on  the  20th  inst.,  and  that  without  any  resistance,  ex- 
cept by  a  few  mefi,  who  form  an  honorable  exception ; 
and  this,  too,  after  warning  had  been  given  of  the  ad- 
vance of  the  enemy  northward  the  evening  previous. 
With  all  thecotton,  public  stores,and  substantial  build- 
ings about  the  depot,  it  would  have  been  perfectly 
practicable  to  have  made  in  a  few  hours  defences  suffi- 
cient to  resist,  with  a  small  garrison,  all  the  cavalry 
brought  against  them,  until  the  reenforcements, 
which  the  commanding  officer  was  notified  were 
marching  to  his  relief,  could  have  reached  him. 

The  conduct  of  officers  and  men  in  accepting  pa- 
roles, under  the  circumstances,  is  highly  reprehensi- 
ble, and,  to  say  the  least,  thoughtless.  By  the  terms 
of  the  Dix  Hill  cartel,  each  party  is  bound  to  take 
care  of  their  prisoners,  and  to  send  them  to  Vicks- 
burg, Miss.,  or  a  point  on  James  Kiver,  Va.,  for 
exchange  or  parole,  unless  some  other  point  is  mutu- 
ally agreed  upon  by  the  Generals  commanding  the 
opposing  armies.  By«a  refusal  to  be  paroled,  the 
enemy,  from  his  inability  to  take  care  of  the  prison- 
ers, would  have  been  compelled  either  to  have  re- 
leased them  unconditionally,  or  to  have  abandoned 
all  further  aggressive  movements  for  the  time  being, 
which  would  have  made  their  recapture  and  the  dis- 
comfiture of  the  enemy  almost  certain. 

It  is  gratifying  to  notice,  in  contrast  with  this,  the 
conduct  of  a  portion  of  the  command,  conspicuous 
among  whom  was  the  Second  Illinois  cavalry,  who 
gallantly  and  successfully  resisted  being  taken  pris- 
oners. Their  loss  was  heavy,  but  the  enemy's  was 
much  greater.  Such  conduct  as  theirs  will  always 
insure  success. 

Had  the  commandant  of  the  post  exercised  the  usual 
and  ordinary  precautions  for  defence,  the  garrison  was 
sufficiently  strong  to  have  repulsed  the  enemy,  saved 
our  stores  from  destruction,  and  themselves  from  cap- 
ture. 

The  General  commandingis  satisfied  that  a  majority 
of  the  troops  who  accepted  a  parole  did  so  thought- 
lessly, and  from  want  of  knowlege  of  the  cartel  re- 
ferred to,  and  that  in  future  they  will  not  be  caugb\ 
in  the  same  way. 

By  order  of  Major-General  U.  S.  GKANT. 

JNO.  A.  BAWLINS,  Asst.  Adjutant-General. 

The  post  was  under  the  command  of  Col. 
Murphy,  who  was  surprised  and  captured  with 
all  his  force  except  a  small  body  of  cavalry. 
The  enemy  estimated  the  stores  destroyed  as 
follows:  "  1,809,000  fixed  cartridges  and  other 
ordnance  stores,  valued  at  $1,500,000,  includ- 
ing 5,000  rifles  and  2,000  revolvers;  100,000 
suits  of  clothing  and  other  quartermaster's 
stores,  valued  at  $500,000 ;  5,000  barrels  of  flour 
and  other  commissary  stores,  valued  at  $500,- 
000;  $1,000,000  worth  of  medical  stores;  1,000 
bales  of  cotton,  and  $600,000  worth  of  sutlers' 
stores." 

On  the  same  day  an  attack  was  made  at 
Davis's  Mills,  a  little  further  north,  which  was 
bravely  repulsed.  Near  Jackson,  Tennessee, 
an  attack  was  made  by  a  body  of  cavalry  under 
Col.  Forrest  on  the  19th.  The  telegraph  wire 
was  cut  and  the  railroad  destroyed.  On  the 
next  day  Humboldt  was  captured  and  an  at- 
tack made  on  Trenton.  Other  stations  on  the 
-  railroad,  as  Dyer's,  Rutherford,  and  Keaton, 
were  taken  on  the  same  day.  The  purpose 
appeared  to  be  to  destroy  every  railroad  bridge 
from  Columbus  to  Corinth,  and  thus  cut  off  the 
communications  and  supplies  of  Gen.  Grant. 
The  consequence  of  these  movements  was  to 
make  Gen.  Grant  fall  back  upon  Holly  Springs, 


332 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


This  left  the  Confederate  Gen.  Pemberton  at 
liberty  to  concentrate  his  forces  at  Vicksburg 
to  resist  Gen.  Sherman.  Thus  that  part  of  the 
plan  of  the  campaign  against  Vicksburg,  which 
related  to  the  movements  of  Gen.  Grant  by  land, 
was  unsuccessful.  The  approach  of  the  wet 
season  of  the  year,  the  destruction  of  the  rail- 
roads, and  the  difficulty  and  delay  in  making  a 
further  advance,  caused  the  forces  of  Gen. 
Grant  soon  to  be  withdrawn  for  the  purpose 
of  joining  Gen.  Sherman  before  Vicksburg. 


Malones\ 

ijcforcl    \ 

Sgrfngdale 

CotfeeV. 


3TJT  C 


Meanwhile  Gen.  "William  T.  Sherman,  who 
had  been  stationed  at  Memphis,  embarked  with 
one  division  on  the  20th  of  December,  and 
dropped  down  to  Friar's  Point,  the  place  of 


rendezvous.  On  the  next  day  he  was  joined 
by  Admiral  Porter,  in  his  flagship,  with  the 
gunboats  Marmora,  Capt.  Getty,  and  Cones- 
toga,  Capt.  Selfridge,  to  act  as  a  convoy.  The 
main  body  of  the  naval  force  was  at  the  mouth 
of  Yazoo  river.  On  the  same  evening  the  troops 
at  Helena,  making  another  division,  embarked 
in  transports,  and  came  to  Friar's  Point. 

The  arrangements  were  completed  by  the 
military  and  naval  commanders  during  the  next 
forenoon,  the  22d,  and  the  fleet  got  under  way, 
and  moved  down  just  below  the  mouth  of  White 
river,  where  it  came  to,  at  sunset.  On  the  next 
day  it  descended  to  Gaines's  Landing,  and  at  two 
p.  M.  came  to  anchor,  to  await  the  arrival  of 
those  transports  in  the  rear,  and  also  a  division 
of  troops  from  Memphis.  Half  of  the  town  of 
Gaines's  Landing  was  destroyed  by  fire  while 
the  army  was  there.  Similar  destruction  had 
also  been  made  at  Friar's  Point.  These  acts  led 
to  stringent  measures  on  the  part  of  Gen.  Sher- 
man. 

On  the  night  of  the  24th  and  the  morning  of 
the  25th,  the  fleet  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Yazoo  river.  The  fleet  consisted  of  more  than 
sixty  transports,  with  a  number  of  ironclad 
and  other  gunboats,  and  several  mortar  boats. 
The  Yazoo  is  a  deep,  narrow,  and  sluggish 
stream,  formed  by  the  Tallahatchie  and  Yal- 
lobusba  rivers,  which  unite  in  Carroll  county, 
Mississippi.  It  runs  through  an  alluvial  plain 
of  extreme  fertility,  about  290  miles,  and  emp- 
ties into  the  Mississippi  river  twelve  miles 
above  Vicksburg. 

By  this  time  Gen.  Grant's  communications  in 
his  rear  had  been  cut  off,  and  he  had  been 
compelled  to  fall  back.  The  confederate  forces 
in  his  rear  retired  toward  Vicksburg,  where 
they  had  already  begun  to  concentrate,  both 
from  the  east  and  the  west,  although  these  facts 
were  unknown  to  Gen.  Sherman. 

It  was  supposed  by  the  Federal  forces  that 
they  would  now  receive  the  cooperation  of 
Gen.  Banks  and  Admiral  Farragut.  The  former 
had  left  New  York,  near  the  close  of  the  year, 
with  a  considerable  military  force,  for  New 
Orleans,  where  the  latter  commanded  the  naval 
forces. 

On  the  26th,  the  expedition,  under  convoy 
of  the  gunboats,  moved  up  the  Yazoo,  and  the 
troops  were  landed  at  various  points  from  the 
junction  of  Old  River  with  the  Yazoo  to  John- 
son's Farm,  a  distance  of  about  three  miles, 
without  opposition.  The  distance  from  Vicks- 
burg was  about  eight  miles.  A  strong  position, 
known  as  Haines's  Bluff,  some  distance  above 
on  the  river,  was  held  by  the  Confederate 
forces,  and  in  the  mean  while  attacked  by  the 
gunboats  De  Kalb,  Cincinnati,  Louisville,  Ben- 
ton,  and  Lexington.  It  was  the  plan  of  Gen. 
Sherman  to  attack  Vicksburg  in  the  rear.  For 
this  purpose  he  was  engaged,  on  the  28th,  in 
getting  his  forces  into  position. 

The  bluffs  on  which  Vicksburg  is  built  take 
their  rise  a  little  below  the  city,  and  extend  in 
a  direction  north  of  northeast  to  the  Yazoo 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


333 


river,  terminating  in  Haines's  Bluff,  a  distance 
of  twelve  or  fifteen  miles.  They  were  fortified 
throughout  their  entire  length.  These  bluffs 
front  the  Mississippi  and  Yazoo  rivers.  The 
ascent  is  abrupt  and  precipitous,  and  the  only 
approach  to  the  city  by  land  from  up  the  river 
is  by  climbing  their  face.  In  the  rear  the  ground 
is  high  and  broken,  and  somewhat  rolling.  It 
falls  off  gradually  to  the  Big, Black  river. 

The  line  of  the  Yazoo  here  is  nearly  north- 
east. It  is  six  miles  distant  from  the  bluffs  at 
Old  river,  and  passes  along  their  face  until,  at 
Haines's  Bluff,  the  river  and  the  bluffs  come  to- 
gether. This  junction  is  nine  miles  from  Vicks- 
burg  by  the  road  along  the  foot  of  the  bluffs, 
and  twenty-three  miles  from  the  Mississippi  by 
the  course  of  the  Yazoo  river.  On  the  trian- 
gular-shaped bottom  land  between  the  bluffs 
and  the  Yazoo  down  to  the  Old  river,  the  troops 
were  disembarked  for  the  purpose  of  getting  in 
the  rear  of  Vicksburg  and  capturing  it. 

About  one  third  of  the  distance  down  the 
Yazoo  from  Haines's  Bluff,  a  bayou  puts  off  from 
the  river  at  nearly  right  angles,  until  it  ap- 
proaches the  bluffs,  when  it  turns  and  follows 
their  base  until  it  empties  into  the  Mississippi. 
It  is  called  the  Ohickasaw  bayou.  Between 
this  bayou  and  the  bluffs  is  a  plain,  upon  which 
the  timber  had  been  felled  to  form  an  abatis. 
The  banks  of  the  bayou  are  quite  steep,  and 
about  two  hundred  feet  apart.  At  the  base  of 
the  bluffs,  through  their  whole  length,  rifle 
pits  had  been  dug,  in  the  rear  of  which,  upon 
the  face  of  the  bluffs,  single-gun  batteries  had 
been  planted  at  short  intervals  from  Vicksburg 
almost  to  Haines's  Bluff.  At  various  command- 
ing points  along  the  range,  both  on  its  face  and 
upon  the  summit,  field  works  were  thrown  up 
for  the  reception  and  protection  of  light  artil- 
lery whenever  it  might  be  needed. 

Parallel  with,  and  about  half  a  mile  north  of 
the  Chickasaw  bayou,  is  a  deep  slough,  having 
no  connection  with  the  river.  As  it  approaches 
the  base  of  the  bluffs,  it  makes  a  sharp  turn 
and  enters  Ohickasaw  bayou  near  the  point 
where  the  latter  makes  its  angle  as  it  strikes 
the  bluffs.  In  the  latter  part  of  its  extent  it 
contains  but  little  water  ;  its  bottom,  however, 
is  a  quicksand,  which  does  not  afford  good 
footing.  The  bottom  land  of  the  Yazoo  is  cov- 
ered with  a  dense  growth  of  cypress  trees: 
much  of  it  is  quite  clear  and  free  from  under- 
growth, while  in  other  parts  it  is  quite  thick. 

The  first  troops  landed,  on  the  26th,  were  a 
brigade,  under  Gen.  Blair,  of  Gen.  Steele's  divi- 
sion, and  a  brigade  from  each  of  the  divisions 
under  Gens.  M.  L.  Smith  and  Morgan.  They 
were  ordered  to  advance  two  miles  into  the 
country,  and  make  a  thorough  reconnoissance 
in  the  direction  of  the  bluffs.  The  brigade  from 
Gen.  Morgan's  division  found  the  rebels  in 
force  about  two  miles  inland.  The  other  brig- 
ades met  with  no  opposition.  No  conflict  took 
place. 

The  force  of  Gen.  Sherman  was  organized  in 
four  divisions  as  follows :  First  division,  three 


brigades,  under  Brig.-Gen.  George  W.  Morgan ; 
second  division,  three  brigades,  under  Brig.- 
Gen.  Morgan  L.  Smith;  third  division,  three 
brigades,  under  Brig.-Gen.  A.  J.  Smith ;  fourth 
division,  four  brigades,  under  Brig.-Gen.  Fred- 
erick Steele.  The  brigade  commanders  of  this 
fourth  division  were  Gens.  Frank  P.  Blair,  jr., 
John  M.  Thayer,  C.  E.  Hovey,  and  Ool.  Has- 
sendurbel. 

Under  the  plan  of  attack,  Gen.  Steele  was 
to  hold  the  extreme  left,  Gen.  Morgan  the  left 
centre,  Gen.  M.  L.  Smith  the  right  centre,  and 
Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  the  extreme  right.  The  divi- 
sion under  Gen.  Smith,  however,  not  having 
arrived,  Gen.  Blair  was  placed  on  the  right  cen- 
tre. All  the  divisions  were  to  converge  toward 
the  point  of  attack  on  the  bluffs.  The  remainder 
of  the  division  of  Gen.  Steele  Was  landed  on  tho 
27th  above  the  Chickasaw  bayou,  to  operate  on 
that  part  of  the  line.  The  entire  day  was  spent 
in  getting  the  troops  ashore.  The  bank  of  the 
river  was  overgrown  with  brush,  and  the  ground 
was  so  soft  that  it  was  necessary  to  build  roads 
for  moving  the  wagons  and  artillery.  At  night 
the  command  had  advanced  only  two  miles 
from  the  shore. 

On  the  same  day,  the  27th,  the  divisions  on 
the  centre,  including  Gen.  Blair's  brigade,  ad- 
vanced slowly  toward  the  bluffs,  in  order  to 
give  time  to  Gen.  Steele  to  come  into  position 
on  the  left.  A  battery  of  the  enemy  was  found 
near  the  point  designated  for  junction  with 
Gen.  Steele,  not  far  from  the  angle  of  the  bayou, 
and  silenced.  The  night  ensuing  was  cold  and 
frosty,  and  the  troops  bivouacked  without  fires. 

On  the  next  day,  the  28th,  the  enemy  was 
driven  across  the  Chickasaw,  and  night  closed 
with  the  troops  of  Gen.  Sherman  in  full  pos- 
session south  of  the  bayou,  with  one  bridge 
thrown  across,  and  with  two  bridges  partly 
constructed.  "While  reconnoitring  the  ground 
and  directing  the  movement  of  some  infantry, 
Gen.  M.  L.  Smith  was  severely  wounded  in  the 
hip,  and  the  command  of  his  division  devolved 
upon  Gen.  David  Stuart.  Meanwhile,  Gen. 
Steele  had  pushed  forward  his  command.  The 
slough  on  his  right  was  deep  and  impassable, 
and  on  the  left  the  ground  had  become  swampy 
and  full  of  small  pools,  so  as  to  be  also  im- 
passable. The  only  line  of  approach  to  the 
bluffs  was  along  a  narrow  levee  or  causeway, 
which  was  exposed  throughout  to  the  enemy's 
artillery.  Three  attempts  were  made  to  ap- 
proach the  causeway,  but  the  destruction  of  the 
troops  was  so  manifest  that  they  were  with- 
drawn. Gen.  Sherman,  under  this  state  of  af- 
fairs, ordered  Gen.  Steele  to  return  to  the  river, 
reembark  anjk  land  on  the  lower  side  of  the 
Chickasaw,  thus  holding  still  the  extreme  left, 
and  advance  upon  its  bank  until  he  met  Gen. 
Morgan.  It  was  too  late  in  the  evening  of  the 
28th  when  the  troops  were  fairly  on  shore  below 
the  bayous  to  move  farther.  At  this  time  the 
division  of  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  came  up  and  took 
its  position  on  the  right  of  the  line.  It  had  re- 
mained at  Milliken's  Bend  as  a  support  to  a 


334 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


force  sent  out  under  Col.  Wright  to  cut  the 
Shreveport  railroad  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Mississippi  opposite  Vicksburg. 


The  situation  of  the  forces  at  this  time  was  as 
follows :  Gen.  Morgan  was  in  position  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Chickasaw ;  near  its  angle,  at 
the  base  of  the  bluffs,  and  on  his  immediate 
right,  was  Gen.  Blair's  brigade ;  Gen.  M.  L. 
Smith's  division,  under  Gen.  Stuart,  was  on  the 
right  centre,  and  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  was  moving 
up  to  the  extreme  right.  Gen.  Steele  was 
coming  up  on  the  left  to  act  as  a  reserve  to 
Gen.  Morgan. 

At  daylight  on  the  29th,  the  Confederate 
batteries  began  to  fire  upon  Gen.  Morgan's  po- 
sition, and  continued -it  for  an  hour,  although 
with  little  effect.  With  several  cessations  the 
cannonade  was  kept  up  during  the  forenoon. 
Occasionally  engagements  of  infantry,  as  the  op- 
posing regiments  came  in  reach  of  each  other, 
took  place.  Several  detachments  were  throw- 
ing bridges  across  the  bayou,  for  the  purpose  of 
making  an  assault  on  the  bluffs.  The  brigade 
of  Gen.  Blair  had  crossed  the  bayou  before  it 
turned  along  the  bluffs,  and  was  in  position  at 
the  front  of  the  hill,  with  a  small  abatis  and  a 
deep  ditch  between  it  and  the  point  it  designed 
to  assail.  On  his  right,  at  the  point  where  the 
bayou  makes  its  angle,  was  Gen.  Morgan.  Next 
to  him  was  Gen.  Stnart,  and  on  the  extreme 
right  was  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith,  preparing  to  throw 
a  bridge  across. 

No  order  had  been  issued  by  Gen.  Sherman 
appointing  an  hour  for  the  assault.  But  by  or- 
der of  Gen.  Morgan,  Gen.  Blair  advanced,  and 
Gen.  Thayer,  of  Gen.  Steele's  bmgade,  came  up 
for  his  support.  The  difficulties  of  crossing  the 
ditch,  and  passing  the  abatis,  were  such,  that 
the  line  of  Gen.  Blair  was  thrown  into  some 
disorder,  which,  however,  it  soon  recovered, 
and  moved  forward  upon  the  Confederate 
works.  The  first  movement  was  over  a  slop- 
ing plateau,  raked  by  a  direct  and  enfilading 
fire  from  heavy  artillery,  and  swept  by  a  storm 


of  bullets  from  the  rifle  pits.  Undauntedly  the 
brigade  passed  on,  and  in  a  few  moments  drove 
the  enemy  from  their  first  range  of  rifle  pits, 
and  took  full  possession  of  them.  Halting  for  a 
moment,  the  brigade  pushed  forward  and  took 
possession  of  the  second  line  of  rifle  pits  about 
two  hundred  yards  distant.  The  batteries  were 
above  this  line,  and  their  fire  still  continued.  A 
prompt  and  powerful  support  was  necessary  to 
make  the  attempt  to  capture  them. 

Simultaneously  with  the  advance  of  Gen. 
Blair,  an  order  was  given  to  Gen.  Thayer,  of  Gen. 
Steele's  division,  to  go  forward  with  his  brig- 
ade. He  crossed  the  bayou  by  the  same  bridge 
as  Gen.  Blair,  and,  entered  the  abatis  at  the 
same  point,  and  deflecting  to  the  right,  came 
out  upon  the  sloping  plateau,  about  two  hun- 
dred yards  to  the  right  of  Gen.  Blair,  and  at  the 
same  time.  As  he  reached  the  rifle  pits,  with  a 
heavy  loss,  he  perceived  that  only  one  regi- 
ment, the  Fourth  Iowa,  Col.  "Williamson,  had 
followed  him.  After  his  movement  commenced, 
the  second  regiment  of  his  brigade  had  been  sent 
to  the  right  of  Gen.  Morgan  as  a  support.  The 
other  regiments  had  followed  this  one.  Notice 
of  this  change  of  the  march  of  the  second  regi- 
ment, although  sent,  had  failed  to  reach  Gen. 
Thayer.  With  little  hope  of  success,  he  bravely 
pushed  forward  into  the  second  line  of  rifle 
pits  of  the  enemy  on  the  right  of  Gen.  Blair. 
Here,  leaving  the  regiment  to  hold  the  position, 
he  hurried  back  for  reinforcements.  Meanwhile, 
Gen.  Blair,  vainly  waiting  for  support,  descend- 
ed in  person  to  persuade  the  advance  of  more 
troops.  He,  and  Gen.  Thayer,  both  failed  in 
their  efforts,  and  were  obliged  to  order  their 
commands  to  retire. 

While  Gen.  Blair  was  urging  the  advance 
of  more  troops,  his  brigade  fought  with  des- 
peration to  win  the  way  to  the  top  of  the  crest. 
Some  fifty  yards  above  the  second  line  of  rifle 
pits  was  a  cluster  of  small  willows.  Thither 
many  of  the  enemy,  driven  from  the  rifle  pits, 
had  fled.  They  were  promptly  pursued  by  the 
Thirteenth  Illinois,  and  driven  out  by  a  hand- 
to-hand  contest.  They  were  supported  at  once 
by  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade,  but  the 
position  was  exposed'  to  a  hot  fire  of  the  en- 
emy's batteries.  Meantime,  a  Confederate  in- 
fantry force  was  concentrated  to  attack  them, 
and  after  a  sharp  struggle  the  latter  were  forced 
back  to  the  second  line  of  rifle  pits,  when  Gen. 
Blair's  order  to  retire  wcs  received.  The  divi- 
sion of  Gen.  Morgan  was  not  brought  over  the 
bayou  in  time  to  engage  in  the  assault.  Tho 
division  of  Gen.  Stnart  encountered  so  much 
difficulty  in  constructing  their  bridges  over  the 
bayou,  under  a  hot  fire  of  the  enemy,  that 
only  one  regiment  finally  crossed  over.  The 
bridge  was  then  commanded  by  a  flanking  fire 
of  the  enemy,  which  prevented  others  from 
crossing.  The  regiment  which  had  crossed  re- 
turned afier  dark.  A  notice  of  the  intended 
movement  on  the  left  had  not  been  given  to  the 
division  commanders  on  the  right  of  Gen.  Mor- 
gan. The  division  of  Gen.  Smith  was  so  near 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


335 


to  Vicksburg,  and  the  strength  of  the  enemy 
before  him-  so  great,  that  an  assault  would 
have  been  fruitless.  Several  sharp  encounters, 
however,  took  place. 

The  real  assault  on  the  left  was  made  by 
about  three  thousand  men,  and  the  loss  was 
about  eight  hundred. 

As  soon  as  the  assault  on  the  left  was  eon- 
eluded,  Gen.  Sherman  determined  to  make 
another.  A  brigade,  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  Hovey,  was  advanced  to  Gen.  Blair's  posi- 
tion at  the  mouth  of  the  bayou,  which  was  to 
assault  the  hill,  supported  by  Gen.  Morgan  and 
the  brigades  of  Gens.  Blair  and  Thayer.  .The 
attack,  however,  was  not  made  during  the  re- 
mainder of  the  day ;  and  the  next  morning  de- 
veloped two  new  batteries  of  the  enemy  in  po- 
sition, and  a  portion  of  a  new  line  of  rifle  pits. 
Firing  was,  however,  kept  up  by  both  sides 
during  that  day;  and  on  Wednesday,  the  31st, 
a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  in  by  Gen.  Sherman, 
and  the  dead  were  buried. 

Afterward,  on  the  31st,  arrangements  were 
made  to  attack  Haines's  Bluif,  which  was  sup- 
posed to  be  defended  by  a  small  force.  The 
design,  as  formed  between  Admiral  Porter  and 
Gen.  Sherman,  was  for  a  combined  naval  and 
land  assault  on  the  extreme  Confederate  right, 
with  a  view  of  getting  a  position  on  the  bluffs, 
in  the  expectation  that  by  so  doing  they  would 
secure  the  key  to  the  Confederate  position, 
and  compel  the  enemy  to  withdraw  from  the 
entire  range  of  bluffs  and  form  a  new  line  at 
Vicksburg.  It  was  planned  to  land  the  divi- 
sion of  Gen.  Steele  out  of  range  of  the  guns  of 
the  bluffs,  and  that  they  should  immediately 
storm  and  carry  the  position.  At  the  same 
time,  the  gunboats  wore  to  make  an  attack. 
The  troops  were  made  rea  ly  to  embark  at  2 
o'clock  A.  M.  of  the  next  day,  but  a  dense  fog 
having  settled  on  the  river  prevented  their  de- 
parture. The  purpose  evidently  having  become 
known  to  the  enemy,  it  was  finally  given  up. 

The  unexpected  strength  of  the  position  of 
the  enemy  being  manifest,  and  the  failure  of 
the  forces  under  Gen.  Grant  to  attack  in  the 
rear  while  Gen.  Sherman  made  the  attack  in 
front,  entirely  disconcerted  the  original  plan 
upon. which  the  movement  of  Gen.  Sherman 
was  made.  The  loss  of  his  communications  by 
Gen.  Grant,  and  the  necessity  for  him  to  fall 
back,  prevented  this  simultaneous  attack  on  the 
front  and  rear  of  Vicksburg,  and  probably  its 
capture  at  this  time.  It  was  supposed  that  the 
first  assault  under  Gen.  Sherman  might  have 
been  successful  if  properly  supported,  so  far  as 
related  to  gaining  the  crest  of  the  bluffs,  al- 
though it  was  not  thought  that  his  force  could 
have  held  it.  Gen.  Sherman,  therefore,  re- 
solved to  withdraw,  and  on  Thursday  night 
and  Friday  morning,  January  2d,  the  troops 
were  embarked  and  moved  down  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Yazoo  river.  The  entire  loss  suffered 
in  this  expedition  was  191  killed,  982  wound- 
ed, and  756  missing.  Among  the  former  was 
Lieut.  Envin,  in  command  of  a  gunboat.  Gen. 


McClernand,  who  had  been  ordered  to  proceed 
from  Cairo,  was  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo  on 
the  arrival  of  Gen.  Sherman.  The  former  officer 
then  took  the  command,  and  ordered  the  forces 
to  Milliken's  Bend,  about  twelve  miles  up  the 
river. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  Gen.  Sherman  issued 
the  following  order : 

HEADQUARTERS  RIGHT  "WING  ARMY  OF  TENNESSEE,  1 

STEAMER  FOKEBT  QUEEN,  MILLIKEN'S  BEND,     > 

January  4th,  18G3.         ) 

Pursuant  to  the  terms  of  General  Order  No.  1,  made 
this  day  by  General  McClernand,  the  title  of  our  army 


other  by  myself.  In  relinquishing  the  command  of 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  restricting  my  author- 
ity to  my  own  corps,  I  desire  to  express  to  all  com- 
manders, to  soldiers  and  officers  recently  operating  be- 
fore Vicksburg,  my  hearty  thanks  for  the  zeal,  alac- 
rity, and  courage  manifested  by  them  on  all  occasions. 
We  failed  in  accomplishing  one  great  purpose  of  our 
movement — the  capture  of  Vicksburg;  but  we  were 
part  of  a  whole.  Ours  was  but  part  of  a  combined 
movement  in  which  others  were  to  assist.  We  were  on 
time ;  unforeseen  contingencies  must  have  delayed  the 
others.  We  have  destroyed  the  Shreveport  road,  we 
have  attacked  the  defences  of  Vicksburg,  and  pushed 
the  attack  as  far  as  prudence  would  justify,  and  hav- 
ing found  it  too  strong  for  our  single  column,  we  have 
drawn  off  in  good  order  and  good  spirits,  ready  for  any 
new  move.  A  new  commander  is  now  here  to  lead 
you.  He  is  chosen  6y  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  who  is  charged  by  the  Constitution  to  maintain 
and  defend  it,  and  he  has  the  undoubted  right  to  se- 
lect his  own  agents.  I  know  that  all  good  otiicers  and 
soldiers  will  give  him  the  same  hearty  support  and 
cheerful  obedience  they  have  hitherto  given  me. 
There  are  honors  enough  in  reserve  for  all,  and  work 
enough  too.  Let  each  do  kis  appropriate  part,  and 
our  nation  must  in  the  end  emerge  from  the  dire  con- 
flict purified  and  ennobled  by  the  fires  which  now  test 
its  strength  and  purity.  All  officers  of  the  general 
staff  not  attached  to  my  person  will  hereafter  report  in 
person  and  by  letter  to  Major-General  McClernand, 
commanding  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi,  on  board  the 
steamer  Tigress  at  our  rendezvous  at  Haines's  Landing 
and  at  Montgomery  Point.  By  order  of 

Major-General  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 
J.  H.  HAMMOND,  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

Subsequently,  on  the  8th,  Gen.  Pemberton, 
who  had  fallen  back  from  before  Gen.  Grant, 
and  had  taken  command  at  Vicksburg,  issued 
the  following  address  to  his  troops : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  MISSISSIPPI  AND  J 
LOUISIANA,  VICKCBURO,  January  8tfi.      f 

TheLieut.-General  commanding  this  department  of 
the  army  desires  to  express  to  its  troops  his  high  ap- 
preciation of  their  gallant  demeanor  in  the  defence 
of  this  important  position.  All  praise  is  due  them,  not 
alone  for  so  bravely  repulsing  the  renewed  assaults  of 
an  enemy  vastly  superior  in  numbers,  but  especially 
for  the  cheerful  and  patient  endurance  with  which  they 
have  submitted  to  the  hardships  and  exposures  inci- 
dent to  ten  successive  days  and  nights  of  watchfulness 
in  trenches,  rendered  imperatively  necessary  by  the 
close  proximity  of  the  opposing  armies,  while  all  have 
performed  their  duties  with  benefit  to  their  country 
and  honor  to  themselves.  Still,  as  must  ever  be  the 
case  in  war,  fortune  has  favored  unequally  those  who 
by  her  favor  held  the  posts  of  honor,  and  by  their  own 
resolute  courage  availed  themselves  of  their  opportu- 
nity; to  them  special  thanks  are  due.  It  will  be  a 
proud  and  agreeable  duty  of  tho  Lieutenant-General 


336 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


commanding  to  claim  for  them  from  their  country  the 
distinction  and  honor  they  so  justly  deserve. 

J.  C.  PEMBERTON, 


(Signed) 


Lieutenant-General  Commanding. 


At  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  Gen.  McCler- 
nand,  a  plan  had  been  agreed  upon  between 
Gen.  Sherman  and  Eear- Admiral  Porter  to  at- 
tack Arkansas  Post.  The  reasons  for  making 
this  attack  were  that  there  was  time  to  do  it 
while  Gen.  Grant  was  moving  his  army  to 
Memphis ;  the  blow  would  be  entirely  unex- 
pected by  the  enemy ;  the  Federal  forces  were 
amply  sufficient  to  make  a  victory  certain, 
which  would  be  valuable  in  restoring  the  spirit 
of  the  troops  disheartened  by  their  recent  fail- 
ure, which  was  not  understood  in  its  true  light. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  Confederate  force  up 
the  Arkansas  river  had  shown  considerable  ac- 
tivity by  sallies  in  which  they  had  captured  two 
steamers  bearing  supplies  to  the  army  below. 

Gen.  McClernand  approving  of  the  enter- 
prise, the  forces  moved  up  the  Mississippi  to 
Montgomery  Point,  opposite  the  mouth  of 
White  river. 

"White  river,  one  of  the  principal  streams  in 
Arkansas,  rises  a  few  miles  east  of  Fayette- 
ville,  and  flows  in  a  northeasterly  direction 
into  Missouri  about  one  hundred  miles.  It 
then  returns  into  Arkansas,  and  pursues  a 
southeasterly  course,  and  enters  the  Missis- 
sippi about  fifteen  miles  above  the  mouth  of 
the  Arkansas.  It  is  navigable  by  steamboats 
three  hundred  and  fifty  miles. 

On  Friday,  Jan.  9th,  the  ironclads  Louis- 
ville, De  Kalb,  and  Cincinnati,  with  all  the 
light-draft  gunboats,*  moved  up  the  White 
river,  followed  by  the  fleet  of  transports.  Af- 
ter ascending  the  White  river  about  fifteen 
miles,  the  fleet  passed  through  a  cut-off  to  the 
left,  eight  miles  in  length,  into  the  Arkansas 
river.  Thus  the  White  river  empties  by  one 
channel  into  the  Mississippi,  and  by  another 
into  the  Arkansas,  when  it  has  a  higher  stage 
of  water  than  the  Arkansas.  When  the  Ar- 
kansas is  higher  than  the  White  river,  one  of 
the  Arkansas  currents  comes  through  the  cut- 
off and  out  by  the  White  river  into  the  Missis- 
sippi. 

It  was  about  11  o'clock  A.  M.  when  the  fleet 
passed  into  the  Arkansas.  This  is,  next  to  the 
Missouri,  the  longest  affluent  of  the  Mississippi 
river.  It  rises  near  the  Eocky  mountains,  and 
flows  through  nearly  the  centre  of  the  State  of 
Arkansas,  exceeding  two  thousand  miles  in 
length,  and  navigable,  during  nine  months  of 
the  year,  about  eight  hundred  miles  from  its 
mouth. 

About  half  past  four  in  the  afternoon,  the 
fleet  moved  to  the  shore,  and  preparations 
were  made  to  land  three  miles  below  the  fort. 
The  artillery  and  wagons  were  brought  on 
shore  during  the  evening  and  night,  and  in 
the  morning  the  troops  were  landed  and  mar- 
shalled in  the  fields  bordering  on  the  north 
bank.  The  attack, -however,  was  begun  by  the 
gunboats. 


The  Arkansas  river,  in  its  descent  toward 
the  Mississippi,  makes  here  a  sharp  elbow  by 
flowing  north,  then  turning  abruptly  to  the 
east,  and  after  a  short  distance  turning  again, 
as  abruptly  to  the  south.  On  the  left  bank,  at 
the  point  where  the  river  turns  to  the  east,  the 
fort  of  Arkansas  Post  was  located.  Its  guns 
commanded  the  river  as  it  stretched  to  the 
east,  and  even  after  the  turn  to  the  south. 

The  advance  of  the  troops  was  along  the 
outside  bank  of  this  curve  of  the  river,  and  it 
was  expected  the  attack  on  the  fort  would  be 
made  during  the  day,  but  at  sundown  they 
were  not  in  position.  The  division  of  Gen. 
Stuart,  by  order  of  Gen.  Sherman,  had  moved 
along  the  bank,  passing  two  rows  of  rifle  pits 
which  had  been  abandoned,  and  reached  the 
point  for  an  attack,  but  the  corps  of  Gen.  Mor- 
gan had  not  then  deployed  on  the  left.  Orders 
were  then  issued  by  Gen.  McClernand  for  the 
troops  to  get  into  position  during  the  night,  so 
as  to  make  an  attack  in^the  morning.  The 
force  of  Gen.  Sherman  worked  its  way  through 
the  forest  and  marsh  round  to  the  right,  so  as 
to  invest  the  fort,  while  a  brigade  was  thrown 
across  the  river  to  prevent  the  arrival  down  of 
reenforcements  to  the  rebels. 

The  fort,  which  was  called  "Fort  Hindman," 
was  a  regular  square  bastioned  work,  one  hun- 
dred yards  each  exterior  side,  with  a  deep 
ditch  about  fifteen  feet  wide,  and  a  parapet 
eighteen  feet  high.  It  was  armed  with  twelve 
guns,  two  of  which  were  eight  inch  and  one 
nine  inch.  The  number  of  troops  which  it 
contained  was  about  five  thousand,  under  the 
command  of  Brig.-Gen.  Churchill. 

During  the  evening  of  the  10th,  the  fort 
was  bombarded  by  the  ironclads  Cincinnati, 
Lieut.-Commander  Geo.  L.  Bache;  De  Kalb, 
Lieut.-Com.  John  H.  Walker,  Louisville,  Lieut.- 
Com.  E.  L.  Owen,  all  under  the  orders  of 
Eear-Admiral  Porter.  The  bombardment  con- 
tinued over  a  half  hour,  and  the  firing  was  ac- 
tive on  both  sides.  The  distance  of  the  boats 
from  the  fort  was  about  four  hundred  yards. 

About  noon  on  the  llth,  the  fleet  was  noti- 
fied, by  order  of  Gen.  McClernand,  that  the 
army  was  ready,  and  a  joint  attack  was  made. 
The  gunboats  took  a  position  within  about 
three  hundred  yards  of  the  fort  and  opened 
fire.  The  fort  had  opened  upon  them  as  soon 
as  they  came  in  sight.  At  the  same  time  a 
battery  of  Gen.  Sherman's  began  to  fire,  and 
the  troops  were  advanced  to  attack.  It  was 
not  long  before  the  heavy  guns  of  the  fort 
were  silenced  by  the  gunboats,  but  the  action 
on  the  part  of  the  military  grew  more  severe 
until  four  o'clock,  when  the  enemy  were  so  far 
overcome  as  to  raise  the  white  flag.  A  rush 
was  immediately  made,  both  by  the  land  troops 
and  naval  force,  to  occupy  the  works,  and  the 
surrender  was  made  complete.  The  loss  of 
Gen.  McClernand  was  about  six  hundred,  of 
whom  one  hundred  and  twenty  were  killed. 
The  Confederate  loss  was  less,  owing  to  the 
shelter  of  their  troops.  About  sixty-five  were 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


337 


338 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


killed  and  eighty-three  wounded.  The  iron- 
clads were  struck  by  many  balls.  A  shot 
passed  through  a  porthole  of  the  De  Kalb  and 
exploded,  killing  two  and  wounding  fifteen. 
Two  shells  entered  portholes  of  the  Louisville 
and  exploded,  killing  one  and  wounding  ten> 
two  mortally.  The  other  boats  which  were 
engaged  escaped  without  serious  injury.  Seven 
thousand  prisoners,  eight  thousand  stand  of 
arms,  twenty  cannon,  and  a  large  amount  of 
ordnance  and  commissary  stores  were  cap- 
tured. 

On  the  15th,  an  expedition  in  light-draft 
steamers,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Gorman 
and  Lieut.-Oom.  J.  G.  Walker,  proceeded  up 
the  White  river  and  captured  the  towns  of 
Des  Arc  and  Duval's  Bluff.  The  former  is 
situated  in  Prairie  county,  Arkansas,  and  was 
once  a  thriving  commercial  town.  It  is  situa- 
ted on  the  White  river,  and  is  about  fifty 
miles  north  east  of  Little  Rock,  the  capital  of 
the  State.  Duval's  Bluff,  a  little  below ,  Des 
Arc  on  the  White  river,  was  the  station  of  a 
Confederate  camp,  and  an  earthwork  fort.  It 
is  an  elevated  position.  The  expedition  re- 
turned to  Napoleon  on  the  19th.  Some  pris- 
oners and  a  few  guns  were  captured  by  the 
expedition.  St.  Charles,  a  village  on  the  Ar- 
kansas river,  a  short  distance  above  Arkansas 
Post,  was  also  captured  by  a  force  sent  by  Gen. 
McClernand. 

The  next  two  days  after  the  engagement  at 
Fort  Hindman  were  devoted  to  the  care  of 
the  wounded  and  the  burial  of  the  dead.  On 
Thursday,  the  15t.h,  the  corps  of  Gen.  Sher- 
man, which  had  embarked  during  the  previous 
night,  proceeded  down  the  Arkansas  river  to 
Napoleon,  at  its  mouth.  The  rifle  pits  were 
levelled,  the  fort  completely  blown  up  and  de- 
stroyed, and  a  hundred  wagons  which  had  been 
captured  were  burned.  On  the  18th,  Gen.  Mc- 
Olernand  embarked  with  the  remainder  of  the 
troops  and  arrived  at  Napoleon. 

Meanwhile  Gen.  Grant,  leaving  Memphis  in  a 
swift  steamer,  met  Admiral  Porter  at  the  cut- 
off up  the  White  river,  on  the  18th,  and  thencfc 
proceeded  to  Napoleon,  wherfl  future  move- 
ments were  arranged  in  consultations  with 
Gens.  McClernand,  Sherman,  and  others.  On 
the  same  day  he  returned  Jo  Memphis. 

Orders  were  immediately  issued  by  Gen. 
McClernand  to  move  down  the  river,  and  at 
eight  o'clock  on  the  next  morning,  the  19th,  the 
signal  for  departure  was  given.  Shortly  after- 
ward all  the  transports  were  on  the  way.  A 
severe  storm  prevailed,  and  the  fleet  came  to 
at  the  foot  of  Ozark  Island  until  it  had  par- 
tially subsided.  It  then  moved  to  Chicot's 
Bend,  where  the  principal  portion  were  moored 
for  the  night.  On  the  next  day,  the  fleet  moved 
down  to  Milesia,  and  by  two  o'clock  of  the  fol- 
lowing day,  the  21st,  it  arrived  at  Young's 
Point,  its  place  of  destination.  A  small  force 
was  immediately  landed,  to  reconnoitre  the 
country. 

Young's  Point  is  on  the  western  side  of  the 


Mississippi  river,  about  nine  miles  above  Vicks- 
burg,  and  nearly  opposite  the  mouth  of  the 
Yazoo  river.  * 

On  the  22d,  the  troops  were  landed  and 
posted  a  little  farther  down  the  river,  so  aft  to 
defend  the  line  of  a  canal  which  had  been  com- 
menced a  year  previous,  across  the  peninsula 
formed  by  a  curve  of  the  river,  first  to  the 
north  and  then  to  the  south.  The  purpose  of 
this  canal  had  been  to  afford  a  passage  for  the 
traitiports  up  or  down  the  river,  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  batteries  at  Vicksburg.  A  little 
below  the  extreme  point  of  the  peninsula,  and 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Mississippi,  is  Vicks- 
burg. 

Meantime  the  army  of  Gen.  Grant  was 
moved  to  Memphis,  thence  to  be  transported 
to  Young's  Point.  On  the  20th,  Gen.  McAr- 
thur  left  Memphis,  on  fourteen  transports, 
with  his  corps.  He  had  been  preceded  by 
other  bodies  of  troops,  making  at  that  time  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  transports  with  troops 
and  stores  which  had  left.  The  forpes  of  Gen. 
Grant  consisted  of  the  veteran  soldiers  of  the 
West.  The  naval  force  was  also  greatly,  in- 
creased by  the  addition  of  several  ironclads, 
as  the  Chillicothe,  Indianola,  Lafayette,  East- 
port,  and  a  number  of  other  gunboats. 

On  the  2d  of  February,  Gen.  Grant  arrived 
at  Young's  Point  and  assumed  the  command. 
The  divisions  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee  had 
also  reached  there,  excepting  the  one  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Logan,  and  excepting  the 
troops  occupying  the  posts  in  Tennessee. 

The  attack  on  Vicksburg,  from  up  the  river, 
had  demonstrated  the  strength  of  its  defensive 
works  on  the  north,  and  convinced  Gen.  Grant 
that  they  were  too  strong  to  be  carried  with- 
out a  very  heavy  loss.  The  first  step  for  him 
to  accomplish,  therefore,  was  the  transporta- 
tion of  his  army  below  the  city,  in  order  to 
make  an  attack  from  the  south.  The  passage 
by  the  river  was  too  hazardous  to  be  attempt- 
ed. The  formidable  batteries  on  the  river 
front  at  Vicksburg  were  capable  of  destroy- 
ing all  the  transports.  Work  was  therefore 
recommenced  on  the  canal  across  the  penin- 
sula, on  the  western  side  of  the  river,  which 
had  been  located  by  Brig.-Gen.  Williams  at  the 
first  attempt  to  capture  the  city.  This  canal 
had  been  improperly  located,  its  upper  termi- 
nus being  in  an  eddy,  and  the  lower  terminus 
being  exposed  to  the  enemy's  guns ;  neverthe- 
less it  was  thought  that  it  would  be  completed 
sooner  than  a  new  one  could  be  constructed. 
While  this  work  was  in  progress,  the  river 
continued  to  rise  rapidly,  and  great  labor 
was  required  to  keep  the  water  out  of  the  ca- 
nal, and  also  out  of  the  camps  of  the  laborers 
and  soldiers.  In  addition,  the  rain  was  in- 
cessant, and  the  magnitude  of  the  work  was, 
from  these  causes,  grealy  increased.  The  earth 
taken  out  of  the  excavation  was  placed  on  the 
west  side,  and  thus  formed  an  embankment  or 
levee,  which  it  was  supposed  would  prevent 
the  water  from  flooding  the  country  on  that 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


339 


side,  and  the  ground  on  which  nearly  all  of  the 
army  was  encamped.  As  the  canal  cut  the 
peninsula  at  right  angles,  the  troops  were  en- 
camped west  of  it  and  behind  this  embank- 
ment. On  the  8th  of  March,  when  the  enter- 
prise promised  success  within  a  short  time,  the 
dam  across  the  mouth  of  the  canal  gave  way, 
owing  to  a  rapid  rise  of  the  river  and  the  great 
pressure  of  the  water.  When  it  broke  there 
was  a  difference  of  eight  feet  between  the  bot- 
tom of  the  canal  and  the  surface  of  the  water 
in  the  river.  The  violence  of  the  torrent  as  it 
rushed  through  swept  away  all  the  implements 
of  labor,  and  the  canal  was  full  in  a  few  min- 
utes. The  embankment  had  not  been  com- 
pleted, and  the  water  soon  began  to  pour  over. 
A  spectator  thus  describes  the  scene  :  "  Some 
regiments  that  were  in  exposed  positions  had 
to  gather  up  tents  and  camp  equipage  in  hot 
haste  and  confusion  and  run  for  the  levee. 
Several  companies  on  the  lower  side  of  the 
peninsula  were  cut  off  and  had  to  be  ferried  to 
the  main  body  of  the  army.  The  embankment 
of  the  Vicksburg  and  Shreveport  railroad, 
which  cut  the  peninsula  longitudinally,  pre- 
vented the  water  from  flooding  the  northwest 
quarter.  But  that  was  considered  insecure ; 
the  troops  were  all  ordered  to  move  their  quar- 
ters to  the  levee." 

Some  delay  was  caused  by  the  efforts  to  re- 
pair the  damages,  but  it  soon  became  manifest 
that,  with  the  existing  high  stage  of  the  water, 
some  other  plan  would  have  to  be  adopted  to 
get  below  "Vicksburg  with  the  transports. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  work  on  the  ca- 
nal, Gen.  Grant,  having  more  troops  than  could 
be  employed  at  Young's  Point  to  advantage, 
caused  a  channel  to  be  cut  from  the  Mississippi 
into  Lake  Providence  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  another  into  Coldwater  river  by 
the  way  of  the  Yazoo  Pass,  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Mississippi.  From  the  former  of  these 
routes  no  great  expectations  were  entertained 
by  Gen.  Grant.  He  thought  possible,  however, 
that  a  route  might  be  opened  there  through 
which  transports  might  pass  into  the  Mississip- 
pi, and  enable  him  to  cooperate  with  Gen. 
Banks  below.  By  the  Yazoo  Pass  he  expected 
to  get  into  the  Yazoo  by  way  of  the  Coldwater 
and  Tallahatchie  rivers,  with  some  light  gun- 
boats and  a  few  troops,  and  destroy  some  Con- 
federate transports  in,  that  stream  and  some 
gunboats  on  the  stocks.  With  such  views  the 
work  on  these  channels  was  commenced. 

While  these  operations  were  pushed  forward, 
other  measures  for  the  annoyance  of  the  enemy 
were  also  taken.  A  steamer  called  the  "  City 
of  Vicksburg"  was  daily  noticed  lying  under 
the  batteries  of  the  city,  and  it  was  known  that 
farther  down  the  river  there  was  a  number  of 
transports  rendering  great  service  to  the  Con- 
federate authorities  by  bringing  supplies  to 
their  troops  at  Vicksburg  and  at  Port  Hudson, 
another  strong  position  below.  A  movement 
was  planned  to  destroy  these  means  of  trans- 
portation. Orders  were  therefore  given  to 


Col.  Charles  E.  Ellet  to  prepare  the  ram  steam- 
er Queen  of  the  West  for  running  down  below 
the  batteries.  This  steamer  was  a  wooden 
freight  vessel,  strengthened  so  as  to  carry  a 
prow  of  iron.  To  protect  her  machinery  from 
injury  by  the  shot  and  shells  of  the  batteries  at 
Vicksburg,  three  hundred  bales  of  cotton  were 
placed  about  it,  and  her  steering  wheel  was  re- 
moved and  placed  behind  the  bulwarks  of  her 
bow.  Her  armament  consisted  of  a  large  30- 
pounder  rifled  Parrott  gun  on  her  main  deck 
as  a  bow  gun,  one  20-pounder,  and  three  12- 
pounder  brass  howitzers  on  her  gun  deck.  Be- 
sides these  she  had  fifty  or  sixty  rifles,  car- 
bines, cutlasses,  pistols,  &c.  Her  crew  consist- 
ed of  a  first,  second,  and  third  master,  two 
pilots,  three  engineers,  blacksmiths,  carpen- 
ters, and  deck  hands ;  also  a  squad  of  twenty- 
six  soldiers.  It  was  planned  that  she  should 
start  before  daybreak  on  the  morning  of  the  2d 
of  February.  At  the  appointed  time  the 
steamer  was  under  way,  but  her  steering  ap- 
paratus in  its  new  position  controlled  her 
movements  so  poorly  that  it  was  necessary  to 
replace  it  in  its  original  position.  This  was 
important,  as  the  destruction  of  the  City  of 
Vicksburg  would  depend  in  part  upon  the  ac- 
curacy of  the  blow  of  the  Queen  of  the  West. 
The  detention  which  ensued  prevented  her 
from  passing  round  the  point  of  the  peninsula 
into  view  from  the  Confederate  batteries  until 
sunrise,  when  she  was  instantly  greeted  by  a 
shell  that  passed  between  her  smoke  chimneys 
and  struck  the  water  about  three  hundred 
yards  behind  her.  After  the  sound  of  the  first 
shot  broke  the  stillness  of  the  morning,  the 
Confederate  artillerists  sprang  to  their  pieces, 
and  a  hundred  guns  were  fired  with  a  won- 
derful celerity.  Only  three  or  four  shots  had 
struck  her  before  she  reached  the  front  of  the 
city.  The  first  object  now  to  be  accomplished 
was  the  destruction  of  the  steamer  City  of 
Vicksburg,  which  was  made  fast  to  the  bank 
about  the  centre  of  the  bend  of  the  river,  where 
the  current  ran  very  rapidly.  To  strike  an  un- 
erring blow  it  was  necessary  for  the  Queen  of 
the  West  to  round  to  amid  the  storm  of  balls 
and  shells,  and  move  directly  across  the  river 
against  her  victim.  As  she  approached  the 
steamboat  and  the  city,  the  enemy,  thinking 
that  she  had  been  disabled,  and  that  her  com- 
mander had  concluded  to  surrender,  raised  en- 
thusiastic cheers,  which  ceased  as  the  ram 
struck  the  steamer.  The  wide  guards  of  the 
Vicksburg,  overlapping  the  deck  of  the  Queen, 
even  to  the  barricade  of  cotton  bales,  received 
the  force  of  the  blow  and  prevented  the  prow 
of  the  ram  from  reaching  her  hull.  At  the 
same  time  the  current  caught  the  stern  of  the 
Queen  and  swung  her  round  side  by  side  with 
the  Vicksburg.  This  action  of  the  current  had 
been  anticipated  by  Col.  Ellet,  and  the  star- 
board bow  gun  had  been  loaded  with  incendi- 
ary shells.  It  was  now  fired  into  the  Vicks- 
burg. At  the  same  time  the  shells  from  the 
batteries  had  set  on  fire  the  cotton  on  the 


340 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Queen,  and  it  was  evident  that  to  repeat  the 
blow  would  involve  the  loss  of  the  steamer. 
The  effort  was  then  made  to  turn  her  head  out 
toward  the  stream,  which,  owing  to  the  action 
of  the  wind  and  current,  was,  after  some  delay, 
accomplished.  She  then  proceeded  down  the 
stream  with  all  hands  at  work  to  extinguish 
the  fire.  Meantime  the  discharge  from  the 
batteries  became  quick  and  incessant,  and  she 
now  received  most  of  the  dozen  shots  which 
hit  her  from  the  artillery  and  the  sharpshoot- 
ers on  the  shore.  No  material  injury,  howev- 
er, was  done,  and  she  anchored  below  the  out- 
let of  the  canal  until  one  o'clock  p.  M.,  when  she 
proceeded  down  the  river. 

On  this  expedition,  down  the  river,  her  of- 
Icers  captured,  below  Natchez,  and  burned 
three  small  steamers,  the  Moro,  Berwick  Bay, 
and  A.  W.  Baker ;  one  of  them  was  laden  with 
pork,  and  another  with  molasses  and  sugar.  She 
ran  fifteen  miles  up  the  Red  river,  and  returned 
on  the  fifth  for  a  supply  of  coal.  During  the 
night  a  flatboat  loaded  with  coal  was  cast  loose 
in  the  stream,  and  passing  the  batteries  safely, 
floated  down  to  the  steamer. 

On  the  night  of  the  10th  of  February,  this 
steamer  started  on  another  expedition  down 
the  Mississippi.  The  first  object  of  the  ex- 
pedition was  to  capture  Confederate  steamers. 
It  was  also  proposed  to  run  up  the  Big  Black 
river,  which  empties  into  the  Mississippi  at 
Grand  Gulf,  to  visit  the  Atchafalaya,  and  per- 
haps the  Red  river,  and,  if  practicable,  to  pass 
the  batteries  at  Port  Hudson,  and  effect  a  junc- 
tion with  the  fleet  below  under  Com.  Farragut. 
A  tender  was  provided  for  the  Queen  of  the 
"West  in  the  steamer  De  Soto,  a  small  ferry 
boat  once  running  between  De  Soto,  the  ter- 
mination of  the  Vicksburg,  Shreveport  and 
Texas  railroad,  across  to  Vicksburg.  The  bat- 
teries at  "Warrenton,  eight  miles  below,  were 
passed  without  molestation.  At  Taylor's  Point, 
above  Natchez,  at  the  plantation  once  owned 
the  late  President  Taylor,  a  short  stop  was 
made.  It  was  found  to  be  occupied  by  friendly 
owners.  Natchez  was  next  passed,  and  on  "Wed- 
nesday evening  the  steamer  reached  the  mouth 
of  Old  river,  into  which  Red  river  runs.  This 
was  the  channel  of  the  Mississippi  before  the 
cut-off  was  formed.  The  Red  river  extends 
from  the  northern  side  of  Old  river,  first  north- 
westerly, and  then  nearly  west,  across  the 
State  of  Louisiana,  into  Texas.  At  high  water 
it  is  navigable  to  Paris,  nine  hundred  and  sixty 
miles  from  New  Orleans. 

Passing  the  night  at  anchor  at  the  mouih  of 
Old  river,  on  the  next  morning,  the  12th,  leav- 
ing the  De  Soto  as  a  guard  near  the  mouth  of 
Old  river,  the  Queen  of  the  "West  entered  the 
Atchafalaya,  which  flows  north  and  empties 
into  Red  river  just  above  its  junction  with 
Old  river.  A  train  of  eleven  army  wagons 
was  captured  about  five  miles  up  the  river,  and 
at  Semmes's  port,  ten  miles  farther  up,  seventy 
five  barrels  of  beef  and  a  mail  with  despatches 
was  taken,  but  a  Confederate  steamer  at  that 


place  had  escaped.  Returning  down  the  river 
near  dark,  the  steamer  was  fired  on  at  the 
point  where  the  wagons  had  been  captured, 
and  the  first  master  mortally  wounded.  A  land- 
ing was  not  made,  but  the  steamer  returned  to 
the  anchorage  of  the  previous  night.  On  the 
next  morning  Col.  Ellet,  having  been  informed 
of  the  parties  who  fired  on  the  boat,  returned 
and  destroyed  the  dwellings,  mills,  and  negro 
quarters  on  six  sugar  plantations  above  the 
mouth  of  the  Atchafalaya.  During  the  after- 
noon the  steamers  entered  the  Red  river,  and 
moved  up  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  Black  river,  at 
dark,  where  they  anchored  for  the  night.  The 
Black  river,  formed  by  the  junction  of  the 
Washita  and  Tensas  rivers,  flows  south  and 
empties  into  the  Red  river,  a  short  distance 
above  the  mouth  of  the  Atchafalaya.  At  day- 
light on  the  next  morning  they  were  under 
way  up  the  river.  About  ten  o'clock,  the 
Era,  No.  5,  a  steamer  of  one  hundred  tons,  was 
discovered  approaching.  At  the  same  time 
she  discovered  the  Queen,  and  attempted  to 
turn  for  the  purpose  of  escaping,  when  a  shot 
from  the  former  demolished  her  wheelhouse, 
and  her  officers  surrendered.  Fourteen  Texan 
soldiers  and  a  number  of  citizens  were  found 
on  board.  The  former  were  paroled  and  the 
latter  dismissed,  except  a  quartermaster,  hav- 
ing $28,000  in  Confederate  funds,  and  two 
lieutenants.  The  boat  was  loaded  with  4,500 
bushels  of  corn  in  the  ear,  destined  for  the 
Confederate  forces  at  Little  Rock.  Nothing 
further  of  importance  was  discovered  during 
the  passage  of  the  next  twenty  miles  up  the 
river.  In  fact  the  stream  is  so  crooked  in 
some  parts,  that  a  distance  of  two  miles  across 
the  land  would  strike  a  point  to  reach  which  a 
steamer  would  be  obliged  to  go  twenty  miles. 
Thus  information  was  easily  sent  of  the  ap- 
proach of  hostile  vessels.  Some  twenty  miles 
farther  up  was  located  Fort  Taylor,  a  post 
which  was  supposed  to  be  manned  by  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  with  two  or  three  guns. 
It  was  situated  on  the  south  bank  of  the  river, 
just  above  a  bend  which  its  guns  commanded, 
that  was  made  by  an  abrupt  turn  of  the  river 
to  the  north.  From  the  point  opposite  this 
bend  a  long  bar  projected,  on  which  the  water 
is  shallow,  and  it  is  necessary  to  "  hug "  the 
south  shore  to  avoid  being  driven  on  the  bar  by 
a  strong  eddy. 

The  Era  had  been  left  with  the  three  pris- 
oners under  a  guard  about  twenty  miles  below. 
It  was  about  nightfall  as  the  Queen  approached 
the  bend  of  the  river,  Tvith  the  De  Soto  a  con- 
siderable distance  astern.  The  pilot  of  the 
captured  Era  had  been  forced  to  assist  at  the 
wheel,  owing  to  the  intricacies  of  the  channel. 
Upon  turning  the  point,  the  Queen  struck  up- 
on the  bar  and  became  fast  aground  in  a  posi- 
tion in  which  none  of  her  guns  were  effective. 
The  guns  of  the  fort  immediately  opened  upon 
her  with  fearful  accuracy  and  rapidity.  The 
shot  and  shell  struck  all  about  her.  The  lever 
of  the  engine  was  shot  away,  the  escape  pipe 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


341 


broken,  and  the  immediate  roar  of  steam  that 
enveloped  the  vessel  showed  that  her  steam 
chest  had  been  penetrated.  Every  thought  of 
saving  the  steamer  was  given  up,  and  the  exer- 
tions of  all  were  made  to  save  themselves. 
Many  threw  bales  of  cotton  overboard  and  float- 
ed on  them  down  to  the  De  Soto  a  mile  below, 
among  whom  was  Col.  Ellet.  The  fort  seeing 
there  was  no  reply  to  their  guns,  and  conceiv- 
ing from  the  rush  of  steam  that  something  had 
happened,  slackened  their  fire  and  sent  boats 
•to  reconnoitre.  By  this  force  the  remainder 
of  the  crew  were  captured,  and  the  boat  made 
a  prize. 

Meanwhile  the  De  Soto  approached  as  near 
the  point  as  was  safe,  and  picked  up  those  who 
were  floating,  and  sent  a  boat  for  the  crew, 
which  was  almost  captured  by  the  enemy,  who 
had  already  reached  the  Queen.  Finding  that 
soldiers  were  collecting  on  the  shore,  the  De 
Soto  was  turned  and  slowly  floated  down  the 
stream.  Three  miles  below  she  ran  aground 
and  unshipped  her  rudder,  and  for  the  next  fif- 
teen miles  and  during  three  hours  she  was  un- 
manageable, and  moved  with  the  current.  As 
she  reached  the  Era  at  eleven  o'clock,  a  second 
rudder  was  unshipped,  and  she  became  unman- 
ageable again,  when  Col.  Ellet  ordered  her  to 
be  blown  up. 

It  was  about  twelve  o'clock  at  night  before 
the  Era  was  under  way.  It  was  known  to 
Col.  Ellet  that  the  swift  gunboat  "Webb  was  at 
Alexandria,  about  sixty  miles  up  the  river,  and 
he  was  confident  that  pursuit  would  be  made 
after  him  by  her.  All  hands  were  set  to  work 
to  throw  overboard  the  corn  with  which  the 
Era  was  laden,  and  amid  fog,  thunder,; light- 
ning and  rain,  she  worried  her  way  out  of  the 
Red  river  into  the  Mississippi  by  morning.  All 
that  day,  which  was  Sunday,  with  no  fuel  but 
some  of  the  corn  with  which  she  had  been 
laden,  and  cypress  found  on  the  banks  too 
wet  to  make  steam  enough  to  give  her  head- 
way, the  fleeing  steamer  attempted  to  get  up 
the  river.  She  had  made  scarcely  forty  miles 
in  twenty-four  hours.  At  Union  Point  she  was 
run  aground  and  detained  three  hours  in  get- 
ting off.  After  passing  Ellis's  Cliffs,  the  black 
chimney  of  a  passing  steamer  was  discovered 
over  the  fog  which  enveloped  her  hull.  The 
black  smoke  from  her  chimney  showed  that  she 
burned  coal,  and  that  it  was  a  Federal  steamer. 
It  was  the  Indianola,  and  all  fear  of  the  Webb 
was  over.  Scarcely  was  the  Era  well  along- 
side of  the  Icdianola  and  the  fog  had  lifted  a 
little,  when  the  "Webb  hove  in  sight.  A  brief 
pursuit  of  her  was  made  by  the  two  boats, 
without  success.  The  Era  was  then  furnished 
with  supplies,  and  sent  up  to  Admiral  Porter. 

The  Indianola,  which  came  so  fortunately  to 
the  rescue  of  Col.  Ellet,  was  one  of  the  finest 
of  the  ironclad  gunboats  of  the  squadron :  she 
was  new,  and  was  174  feet  long,  50  feet  beam, 
10  feet  from  the  top  of  her  deck  to  the  bottom 
of  her  keel,  or  8  feet  4  inches  in  the  clear.  Her 
sides  (of  wood")  for  five  feet  down  were  thirty- 


two  inches  thick,  having  bevelled  sticks  laid 
outside  the  hull  (proper),  and  all  of  oak.  Out- 
side of  this  was  three-inch  thick  plate  iron. 
Her  clamps  and  keelsons  were  as  heavy  as  the 
largest  ships.  Her  deck  was  eight  inches  solid, 
with  one-inch  iron  plate,  all  well  bolted.  Her 
casemate  stood  at  an  incline  of  26^-  degrees, 
and  was  covered  with  three-inch  iron,  as  were 
also  her  ports.  She  had  a  heavy  grating  on 
top  of  the  casemate  that  no  shell  could  pene- 
trate, and  every  scuttle  and  hatch  was  equally 
well  covered.  >  She  was  ironed  all  round,  ex- 
cept some  temporary  rooms  on  deck,  and,  be- 
sides the  amount  of  wood  and  iron  already 
stated,  had  coal  bunkers  seven  feet  thick  along- 
side of  her  boilers,  the  entire  machinery  being 
in  the  hold.  She  had  seven  engines — two  for 
working  her  side  wheels,  two  for  her  propellers, 
two  for  her  capstans,  and  one  for  supplying 
water  and  working  the  bilge  and  fire  pumps. 
She  had  five  large  five-flued  boilers,  and  made 
abundance  of  steam.  Her  forward  casemate  had 
two  11-inch  Dahlgren  guns,  and  her  after  case- 
mate two  9-inch.  Her  forward  casemate  was 
pierced  for  two  guns  in  front,  one  on  each  side, ' 
and  two  aft,  so  that  she  could  fire  two  guns 
forward,  one  on  each  side,  and  four  at  an  angle 
sideways  and  astern.  She  had  also  hose  for 
throwing  scalding  water  from  the  boilers,  that 
would  reach  from  stem  to  stern,  and  there  was 
communication  from  the  casemates  to  all  parts 
of  the  vessel  without  the  least  exposure.  The 
pilot  house  was  also  thoroughly  ironclad,  and 
instant  communication  could  be  had  with  the 
gunners  and  engineers,  enabling  the  pilot  to 
place  the  vessel  in  just  such  position  as  might 
be  required  for  effective  action.  She  left  her 
anchorage  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo,  about 
ten  o'clock  on  the  night  of  February  13th,  to 
run  below  the  batteries  at  Vicksburg.  The 
night  was  hazy  and  cloudy,  and  thus  exceed- 
ingly dark.  After  passing  entirely  through  the 
fleet,  and  reaching,  the  vicinity  of  the  upper 
end  of  the  canal,  she  shut  off  steam  entirely, 
and  suffered  the  current  to  bear  her  along.  Its 
rate  was  about  four  miles  an  hour.  In  perfect 
obscurity  she  rounded  the  point,  and  drifted 
fairly  beneath  the  formidable  batteries.  The 
tide  bore  her  down  directly  toward  the  levee 
of  the  city.  Lights  were  everywhere  numer- 
ous, and  the  voices  of  citizens  and  soldiers 
sounded  as  if  they  were  close  alongside.  Still 
the  black  and  noiseless  mass  drifted  along,  al- 
most rubbing  the  bank,  yet  undiscovered.  The 
whole  levee  was  patrolled  by  sentinels,  and  at 
one  spot  a  camp  fire  was  dimly  burning.  As 
the  drifting  vessel  approached  this  point,  a 
soldier  stooping  down  gathered  some  faggots 
and  threw  them  into  the  fire.  A  bright  blaze 
flashed  up  for  a  mojnent,  exposing  everything 
within  its  sphere.  The  Indianola  was  seen  by 
a  soldier,  who  discharged  his  musket  at  her. 
At  that  discharge  the  soldiers  everywhere  along 
the  bluff  sprang  to  arms.  A  battery  near  the 
centre  of  the  city  fired  a  gun,  rockets  were  sent 
off,  soldiers  on  the  bank  discharged  their  mna- 


342 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


kets  into  the  darkness,  and  indications  of  ex- 
citement were  manifest  everywhere.  The  boat 
had  been  discovered  running  the  blockade,  but 
no  one  knew  where  she  was.  Five  minutes 
passed  after  the  first  gun  was  fired,  and  another 
had  not  followed.  At  last  it  became  necessary 
to  start  the  wheels  in  order  to  get  steerage  way 
on  the  steamer.  The  noise  of  the  steam  drew 
forth  a  second  and  third  gun,  and  a  discharge 
of  musketry,  and  again  all  was  still.  The  boat 
drifted  on  a  few  moments  in  silence,  when  the 
steam  was  again  let  on,  and  she  dashed  down 
the  river,  regardless  of  any  noise  that  might  be 
made.  Battery  after  battery  now  opened  upon 
her  until  twenty  shots  were  fired,  and  she  had 
passed  uninjured  beyond  their  reach.  The 
steamer  was  under  the  command  of  Lieut.- 
Com.  Brown,  and  continued  on  down  the  river, 
until  she  met  the  Era  as  above  stated.  After 
pursuing  the  "Webb,  in  vain,  as  far  as  the  mouth 
of  Eed  river,  the  Indianola  proceeded  up  that 
stream  in  search  of  Confederate  transports,  and 
kept  up  a  watch  oif  the  mouth  of  the  Atcha- 
falaya  river.  Here  her  commander  learned  that 

•  the  Queen  of  the  West  had  been  repaired  and 
might  soon  be  down.    As  the  narrowness  of 

-  the  Eed  river  made  it  difficult  to  manoeuvre  a 
long  boat  like  the  Indianola,  while  the  Queen 
was   much   shorter,   Commander  Brown  de- 
termined to  return  to  the  mouth  of  the  Big 
Black  river,  and  attempt  to  pass  up  that  stream, 
and  reach  if  possible  the  bridge  of  the  Vicks- 
burg  and  Jackson  railroad.    This  had  been  one 
of  the  objects  for  which  the  steamers  had  run 
the  blockade.     The  Big  Black  river  empties 
into  the  Mississippi  at  Grand  Gulf,  forty  miles 
below  Vicksburg.   It  rises  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  State  of  Mississippi,  and  flows  south- 
westerly, passing  about  fifteen  miles  east  of 
Vicksburg. 

On  Tuesday  morning,  Feb.  24th,  the  India- 
nola reached  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Black,  and 
in  the  afternoon  made  preparations  to  move  up 
the  river,  when  two  steamers  were  descried 
approaching.  These  proved  to  bo  the  Con- 
federate gunboat  Webb  and  the  Queen  of  the 
West.  The  Webb  was  a  powerful  boat  and  one 
of  the  swiftest  on  the  river.  They  immediately 
attacked  the  Indianola,  and,  chiefly  by  striking 
her  with  their  rams,  so  shattered  her  as  to  en- 
danger her  sinking,  when  she  was  surrendered 
and  immediately  run  ashore. 

A  few  days  afterward  a  flatboat  was  fitted 
up  by  Admiral  Porter  to  appear  like  a  gun- 
boat, and  set  adrift  in  the  river  without  a  pilot 
or  crew.  As  it  passed  the  batteries  at  Vicks- 
burg, it  was  supposed  to  be  a  formidable  ram, 
and  they  fired  fiercely.  It  escaped  uninjured 
however,  and  floated  on  down  the  river,  infor- 
mation of  its  approach  was  sent  to  the  Queen 
of  the  West,  lying  under  the  batteries  at  War- 
renton,  eight  miles  below  Vicksburg,  and  she 
immediately  fled  down  stream.  The  Indianola 
was  undergoing  repairs  near  whore  she  was 
taken,  and  the  authorities  at  Vicksburg,  think- 
ing that  she  would  bo  recaptured  by  the  ram, 


issued  an  order  to  burn  her  up.  This  order 
was  sent  down  by  a  courier  to  the  officer  in 
charge  of  the  boat.  A  few  hours  later,  and 
another  order  was  sent  down  countermanding 
the  first,  it  having  been  ascertained  that  the 
monstrous  craft  was  nothing  else  than  a  coal- 
boat.  But  before  it  reached  the  Indianola  she 
had  been  blown  to  atoms :  not  even  a  gun  was 
saved. 

Meanwhile,  the  work  of  cutting  channels 
from  the  Mississippi  to  Providence  Lake,  on 
the  west  side,  and  to  Moon  Lake,  on  the  east 
side,  was  progressing  rapidly. 

Lake  Providence  is  a  few  miles  south  of  the 
boundary  line  between  Arkansas  and  Louisi- 
ana. It  is  situated  in  Carroll  parish,  Louisiana, 
about  one  mile  west  of  the  Mississippi  river, 
tand  about  seventy -five  miles  above  Vicksburg. 
It  is  about  six  miles  in  length.  Two  streams 
flow  out  of  the  lake  to  the  south,  Moon  bayou 
and  Tensas  river.  The  former,  after  running 
about  a  hundred  miles,  unites  with  the  latter. 
The  two  continue  south,  and  unite  with  the 
Washita,  and  are  called  after  the  junction  Black 
river,  which  empties  into  the  Eed  river,  as  is 
stated  on  a  preceding  page.  By  cutting  a  chan- 
nel from  the  Mississippi  to  Lake  Providence, 
Gen.  Grant  thought  a  communication  might 
be  had  through  that  lake  down  the  Tensas 
and  Black  into  the  Eed  river,  and  thence 
through  the  Atchafalaya,  with  Gen.  Banks  at 
New  Orleans.  This  route  avoided  the  batteries 
at  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson.  The  canal  to 
the  lake  was  finished  so  as  to  let  in  the  water 
on  the  IGth  of  March.  The  flood  was  so  great  as 
to  inundate  a  large  district  of  country,  some  of 
which  was  fine  land  for  growing  cotton.  Some 
boats  passed  into  Lake  Providence,  but  the  un- 
certainty of  the  channel  of  the  Tensas  river, 
and  the  interest  which  was  now  excited  by  the 
Yazoo  Pass  expedition,  together  with  the  un- 
important results  to  be  anticipated  by  remov- 
ing a  large  force  to  the  Eed  river  or  below, 
caused  a  diversion  from  this  route  to  others 
presenting  more  certain  prospects  of  success 
against  Vicksburg. 

Eight  miles  below  Helena,  in  Arkansas,  and 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  is  a  little  lake, 
known  as  Moon  Lake.  The  passage  from  the 
Mississippi  across  the  lake  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Yazoo  Pass  is  about  eight  miles ;  thence  through 
the  Pass  proper  to  the  Coldwater  river,  twelve 
miles.  The  Coldwater,  a  narrow  stream,  runs 
south,  empties  into  the  Tallahatchie,  which  con- 
tinues to  flow  south,  and  unites  with  the  Yal- 
lobusha,  forming  the  Yazoo  river,  which  emp- 
ties into  the  Mississippi,  .a  few  miles  above 
Vicksburg.  By  opening  a  wider  channel  from 
the  Mississippi  into  Moon  Lake,  it  was  the 
opinion  that  the  inner  streams  would  be  ren- . 
dered  more  easily  navigable,  in  consequence 
of  an  increase  of  water,  so  that  some  smaller 
gunboats  and  a  few  troops  could  destroy  the 
enemy's  transports  in  the  Yazoo,  and  their 
gunboats  which  were  building.  In  ordinary 
stages  of  water,  steamboats  could  ascend  the 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


343 


Yazoo  and  Tallahatehie  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Ooldwater.  The  region  of  country  through 
-which  these  streams  flow,  especially  the  Yazoo, 
is  verr  fertile,  producing  a  large  quantity  of 
cotton*  and  furnishing  considerable  supplies  to 
the  rebel  army  at  Vicksburg. 

The  expedition  consisted  of  two  of  the  largest 
and  heaviest  ironclad  gunboats,  one  ram,  six 
light-draft  gunboats,  three  barges  laden  with 
coal,  three  steam  tenders,  and  fifteen  or  eigh- 
teen transports.  The  passage  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  the  mouth  of  the  Pass,  after  the  im- 


WATEK& -SON  BC. 


provement  made  upon  it,  was  not  attended  with 
much  difficulty.  On  the  morning  of  the  25th 
of  March  it  entered  the  mouth  of  the  Pass.  The 
tortuous  stream  was  a  hundred  feet  wide,  and 
in  some  parts  less.  On  its  banks  were  cypress, 
sycamore,  and  gigantic  cottonwood  trees,  whose 
branches  formed  a  perfect  arch  over  the  stream. 
At  the  upper  end  the  current  rushed  with  great 
rapidity  through  the  channel,  and  lower  down 
were  strips  of  bottom  land,  which  were'  over- 
flowed, and  gave  to  it  greater  width,  and,  con- 
sequently, less  rapidity.  In  the  narrow  and 


crooked  passage  it  was  necessary  to  resist  the 
force  of  the  current  by  the  back  revolution  of 
the  wheels  of  the  boats,  and  by  lines  fastened 
from  tree  to  tree  as  they  moved  along.  Three 
days  were  thus  passed  in  making  a  distance  of 
about  twelve  miles,  and  reaching  the  Cold- 
water.  Smokestacks  were  swept  away,  and 
much  of  the  light  upper  works  of  several  of  the 
boats.  The  principal  difficulty  in  the  Pass  arose 
from  the  activity  of  the  enemy,  who  would  close 
one  end  while  the  Federal  force  was  opening 
the  other.  In  this  manner  time  was  gained  to 
prepare  to  resist  the  progress  of  the  expedition 
by  fortifying  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tallahatehie. 

On  the  2d  of  Apr*  the  expedition  proceeded 
down  the  Coldwater.  This  stream  was  a  little 
wider  than  the  Pass,  so  that  the  branches  of 
the  trees  seldom  met  over  head,  but  its  current 
was  more  sluggish,  and  its  channel  equally 
tortuous.  Two  mortar  boats  now  joined  the 
expedition,  adding  their  force  to  the  heavy  guns 
on  the  other  boats.  As  it  advanced  it  was  fur- 
ther reenforced,  until  it  consisted  of  eighteen 
transports,  five  small  gunboats,  and  two  of  a 
large  size,  the  Ohillicothe  and  the  De  Kalb. 
The  advance  consisted  of  one  division  of  Gen. 
McClernand's  corps,  which  had  been  stationed 
at  Helena,  under  command  of  Brig.-Gen.  L.  F. 
Eoss,  and  the  12th  and  17th  Missouri  regiments 
from  Gen.  Sherman's  corps,  as  sharpshooters, 
on  the  gunboats.  The  mouth  of  the  Coldwater 
was  reached  with  only  some  damage  to  the 
light  work,  wheels,  and  rudders  of  the  trans- 
ports. 

Proceeding  down  the  Tallahatehie,  the  expe- 
dition arrived  within  ten  miles  of  Greenwood  on 
the  llth.  Greenwood  is  a  small  village  on  the 
Yazoo  river,  just  below  the  junction  of  the  Tal- 
lahatehie with  theYallobusha,  forming  the  Ya- 
zoo. Just  below  the  position  of  the  Federal  trans- 
ports, the  Tallahatehie  turns  to  the  eastward, 
bending  in  the  form  of  a  horseshoe,  and  resumes 
its  southerly  course  at  a  point  nearly  south  of 
that  where  the  transports  were.  The  base  of 
the  peninsula  formed  by  this  bend,  being  the 
narrowest  part,  and  nearly  a  mile  across,  was 
occupied  by  a  Confederate  fortification.  It 
consisted  of  a  single  line  of  breastworks  facing 
westerly,  and  composed  of  cotton  bales  and 
earth,  and  flanked  on  the  right  by  a  battery 
of  three  heavy  guns  fronting  the  river.  Other 
field  pieces  were  in  position  on  the  works.  On 
the  right  flank  of  the  line,  a  defence  or  raft  of 
logs  had  been  constructed,  to  serve  as  a  block- 
ade of  the  river.  Directly  in  front  of  the  breast- 
works was  a  deep  slough,  extending  across  the 
peninsula,  and  admirably  serving  the  purpose 
of  a  ditch.  The  slough  was  close  to  the  base 
of  the  works  at  the  upper  end,  but  gradually 
receded  from  them  at  the  lower,  where  it  was 
several  hundred  yards  distant.  Beyond  the 
slough  there  was  an  almost  impenetrable  cane- 
brake,  backed  by  an  extensive  fore%t.  Below 
this  fortification  on  the  river,  and  in  the  arc  of 
the  bend,  the  Yallobusha  flows  in  from  the 
northeast,  and  forms  its  junction  with  the  Tal- 


344 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


lahatchie.  The  village  of  Greenwood  is  upon 
the  Yazoo,  four  miles  below.  The  object  of  the 
fortification  at  this  location  was  not  only  to  stop 
the  fleet  from  passing  below,  but  also  to  prevent 
its  passing  up  the  Yallobusha  river,  on  which 
a  number  of  the  enemy's  steamers  had  sought 
refuge,  and  on  the  bank  of  which  also  was  the 
important  town  of  Granada. 

The  Confederate  force  was  estimated  above 
five  thousand  men,  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Tilghman,  who  surrendered  Fort  Henry,  in 
Kentucky.  On  the  morning  of  the  llth  a  re- 
connoissance  was  made  by  the  gunboat  Chilli- 
cothe,  Lieut.-Commander  Foster.  The  boat  ap- 
proached within  a  short?  distance  of  the  forti- 
fication, and  fired  several  shots,  and  was  hit 
four  times  in  return  by  heavy  shot  from  rifle 
pieces.  At  the  same  time  detachments  from  the 
Forty-sixth  and  Forty-seventh  Indiana  regi- 
ments were  sent  out  to  feel  the  Confederate 
position  on  the  land  side.  A  considerable  body 
of  the  enemy's  skirmishers  were  encountered, 
who  were  driven  across  the  slough  and  into  the 
works,  when  the  detachments  were  withdrawn. 
In  the  afternoon  the  Chillicothe  was  orderr 
ed  to  engage  the  fortification.  After  she  had 
fired  seven  rounds,  a  64-pound  shell  from  the 
enemy  passed  through  a  half-open  port,  strik- 
ing upon  the  muzzle  of  a  gun,  in  which  a  shell 
had  just  been  placed  preparatory  to  cutting  the 
fuse.  Both  shells  exploded  at  once,  by  which 
three  men  were  killed  and  eleven  wounded.  At 
this  time  orders  were  received  to  withdraw 
from  the  engagement.  During  the  ensuing 
night  a  force  was  sent  to  throw  up  a  battery 
facing  the  enemy's  works,  west  of  the  slough, 
and  in  the  edge  of  the  timber.  A  single  30- 
pound  Parrott  gun  was  mounted,  and  the  work 
concealed  by  brush  from  the  view  of  the  enemy. 
Subsequently  another  gun  was  mounted.  No 
attack  was  made  on  the  12th,  in  consequence 
of  the  absence  of  the  mortar  boats.  After  some 
delay,  on  the  13th,  the  engagement  was  com- 
menced about  half  past  ten  A.  M.  by  the  land  bat- 
teries. The  gunboats  Chillicothe  and  De  Kalb 
soon  after  approached  and  opened  their  fire. 
It  now  appeared  that  the  fortification  mounted 
a  rifled  64-Parrott  and  three  24-Dahlgrens,  and 
a  small  field  battery.  These  guns  were  pro- 
tected by  a  parapet  composed  of  seven  tiers  of 
cotton  bales,  covered  on  the  outside  with  eight 
feet  of  earth.  The  contest  was  bravely  main- 
tained for  some  time,  when  the  fire  of  the  en- 
emy was  suspended,  but  no  disposition  to  sur- 
render was  shown.  The  gunboats  and  battery 
kept  up  the  fire,  but  without  any  success  in  re- 
ducing the  works.  The  Chillicothe  was  struck 
thirty-four  times,  but  not  severely  injured.  The 
DeKalb  suffered  more,  in  consequence  of  some 
shot  penetrating  her  casemates,  by  which  one 
man  was  killed  and  five  wounded. 

The  impracticable  nature  of  the  approach  to 
the  fort  by  foot  soldiers  on  the  west,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  overflow  or  slough,  rendered  it 
necessary  that  the  gunboats  should  silence  the 
gmna  of  the  enemy,  and  enable  the  transports 


to  run  down  and  land  troops  immediately  on 
the  fort  itself.  'But  all  attempts  to  silence  the 
fort  by  the  gunboats  proved  unsuccessful,  and 
the  guns  of  the  battery  were  withdrawn,  and 
the  expedition  put  on  the  defensive.  ^Jt'ter  a 
few  days  it  began  to  retire. 

Meantime,  Gen.  Grant  had  been  led  to  be- 
lieve, as  the  navigation  proved  better  than 
was  expected,  that  it  was  possible  to  make 
this  the  route  for  obtaining  a  foothold  on  high 
land  above  Haines's  Bluff,  and  had  sent  for- 
ward a  division  of  Gen.  McPherson's  corps, 
commanded  by  Brig. -Gen.  J.  F.  Quimby,  and 
had  ordered  some  small-class  steamers  for 
transporting  the  army.  The  seventeenth  corps, 
under  Gen.  McPherson,  was  also  directed  to  be 
in  readiness  to  move,  and  one  division  from 
the  thirteenth  and  fifteenth  corps  each,  was 
collected  near  the  Pass.  But  it  soon  became 
evident  that  a  sufficient  number  of  boats  of  the 
right  class,  cbuld  not  be  obtained  for  the  trans- 
portation of  more  than  one  division.  On  the 
23d  of  March,  therefore,  orders  were  given  to 
withdraw  all  the  forces  operating  in  that  direc- 
tion, for  the  purpose  of  concentrating  at  Milli- 
ken's  Bend. 

At  this  time  another  expedition  had  started 
under  Admiral  Porter,  for  the  purpose  of  reach- 
ing the  Yazoo  below  Fort  Pemberton  and  Green- 
wood, and  above  Haines's  Bluff.  Such  a  move- 
ment, if  successful,  would  leave  Greenwood 
and  Fort  Pemberton  to  the  rear  of  the  Federal 
forces,  and  necessarily  cause  it  to  be  abandoned. 
At  the  same  time,  about  thirty  Confederate 
steamers  could  be  captured  or  destroyed.  The 
route  to  be  pursued  by  this  expedition  was 
up  the  Yazoo  river  to  Cypress  bayou,  which 
enters  that  river  at  a  point  opposite  the  land- 
ing place  of  Gen.  Sherman's  troops  when  at- 
tacking the  bluffs  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg, 
thence  into  Steele's  bayou,  and  along  that 
watercourse,  and  through  Cypress  Lake,  to 
Little  Black  Fork,  thence  into  Deer  creek. 
Following  this  stream  for  some  distance,  the 
route  branches  off  along  Boiling  Fork  into  the 
Big  Sunflower  river,  which  empties  into  the 
Yazoo  above  Haines's  Bluff. 

The  expedition  under  Admiral  Porter,  con- 
sisted of  the  gunboats  Pittsburg,  Louisville, 
Mound  City,  Cincinnati,  and  Carondelet,  with 
a  number  of  small  transports.  Gen.  Grant 
stated  that  the  principal  obstacles  appeared  to 
be  the  overhanging  trees,  and  he  sent  forward 
a  pioneer  corps  for  their  removal.  Soon  after, 
Admiral  Porter  sent  back  for  a  cooperating  mil- 
itary force,  and  Gen.  Sherman  was  promptly 
sent  with  one  division  of  his  corps.  The  num- 
ber of  steamers  suitable  for  the  navigation  of 
these  bayous  being  limited,  most  of  the  force  was 
sent  up  the  Mississippi  to_  Eagle  Bend,  a  point 
where  the  river  runs  within  one  mile  of  Steele's 
bayou,  thus  avoiding  an  important  part  of  the 
difficult  navigation.  The  cause  of  the  failure 
of  this  expedition  is  thus  explained  by  Gen. 
Grant: 

"  The  expedition  failed,  probably,  more  from 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


345 


want  of  knowledge  as  to  what  would  be  re- 
quired to  open  this  route,  than  from  any  im- 
practicability in  the  navigation  of  the  streams 
and  bayous  through  which  it  was  proposed  to 
pass :  the  want  of  this  knowledge  led  the  expe- 
dition on  until  difficulties  were  encountered, 
and  then  it  would  become  necessary  to  send 
back  to  Young's  Point  for  the  means  of  remov- 
ing them.  This  gave  the  enemy  time  to  move 
forces  to  effectually  checkmate  further  pro- 
gress, and  the  expedition  was  withdrawn  when 
within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  free  and  open 
navigation  to  the  Yazoo." 

In  addition  to  these  several  routes,  another 
was  prospected  by  Capt.  F.  E.  Prime,  as  Chief 
Engineer,  and  Col.  G.  G.  Pride,  through  the 
bayous,  which  run  from  near  Milliken's  Bend 
and  New  Carthage  on  the  south,  through 
Roundaway  Bayou  into  the  Tensas  River.  This 
route  was  found  to  be  practicable,  and  work 
was  commenced  on  it.  With  fLe  aid  of  three 
dredge  boats,  it  proceeded  rapidly,  and  one 
small  steamer  and  a  number  of  barges  were 
taken  through  the  channel  thus  opened. 
About  the  middle  of  April,  however,  the 
river  commenced  falling  so  rapidly  as  to  ren- 
der it  impracticable  to  open  this  water  com- 
munication between  Milliken's.  Bend  and  New 
Carthage.  At  the  same  time  the  roads  between 
them  became  dry  and  passable,  and  thus  made 
the  water  communication  unnecessary. 

On  March  25th  the  ram  Lancaster  was  lost 
in  attempting  to  run  the  batteries  at  Vicksburg 
in  order  to  gain  the  fleet  of  Admiral  Farragut 
below.  The  Switzerland  got  through  badly 
cut  up. 


CHAPTEK  XXYIII. 

Object  of  Gen.  Grant  to  reach  the  rear  of  Vicksburg— His  Movements— Transports  and  Gunboats  run  the  Batteries— Attack 
on  Grand  Gulf— Crossing  the  Mississippi  by  the  Army— Change  of  base  by  Gen.  Grant — Raid  of  Col.  Grierson  through 
Mississippi — Advance  of  Gen.  Granite  the  Big  Black  River — Battles — Occupation  of  Jackson— MarA  on  Yicksbnrg— 
'  Battles— March  of  Gen.  Sherman  to  the  Yazoo— Investment  of  Vicksburg— Siege— Surrender— Results.  * 


THE  object  of  Gen.  Grant  now  was  to  find 
a  route  by  which  he  could  place  his  army  with 
its  supplies  below  Vicksburg,  so  as  to  approach 
it  in  the  rear,  where  alone  it  was  supposed  to 
be  weak  and  assailable,  with  the  hope  of  suc- 
cess. As  soon,  therefore,  as  he  had  directed 
a  water  communication  to  be  opened  from  a 
point  on  the  Mississippi,  near  Milliken's  Bend, " 
to  New  Carthage,  he  determined  to  occupy  the 
latter  place.  It  was  the  first-  point  below 
Vicksburg  that  could  be  reached  by  land  at  the 
stage  of  water  existing  at  that  time,  and  the 
occupancy  of  which,  while  it  secured  a  point 
on  the  Mississippi  River,  would  also  protect  the 
main  line  of  communication  by  water.  Major- 
Gen.  McClernand,  therefore,  with  the  Thir- 
teenth army  corps,  was,  on  the  29th  of  March, 
ordered  to  move  to  New  Carthage.  The 
Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  corps  were  to  follow, 
moving  no  faster  than  supplies  and  ammuni- 


tion could  be  transported  to  them.  The  move- 
ment was  necessarily  slow,  in  consequence  of 
the  bad  state  of  the  r*>ads.  As  the  advance 
reached  Smith's  Plantation,  two  miles  from 
New  Carthage,  it  was  found  that  the  levee  of 
Bayou  Vidal  was  broken  in  several  places ;  and 
in  consequence  of  the  overflow  of  water,  New 
Carthage  was  made  an  island.  All  the  boats 
in  the  different  bayous  in  the  vicinity  were 
collected,  and  others  were  built,  but  the 
transportation  of  the  army  was  exceedingly 
tedious.  Another  route  was  therefore  found, 
by  making  a  further  march  of  twelve  miles 
around  Bayou  Vidal,  to  a  point  called  Perkins's 
Plantation.  The  whole  distance  to  be  marched 
from  Milliken's  Bend  to  reach  water  commu- 
nication below  was  thirty-five  miles.  Over 
this  distance  it  was  necessary  to  transport  by 
wagons,  with  bad  roads,  the  supplies  of  ord- 
nance stores  and  provisions  with  which  to 


346 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


commence  the  campaign  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river. 

At  the  same  time  that  the  occupation  of 
New  Carthage  was  ordered,  preparations  were 
made  for  running  transports  and  a  gunboat 
fleet  below  the  batteries  of  Vicksburg.  The 
gunboats  selected  were  the  Benton,  Capt. 
Greer ;  Lafayette,  Capt.  Henry  Walke ;  Price, 
Capt.  Woodworth;  Louisville,  Capt.  Owens; 
Carondelet,  Capt.  McLeod  Murphy ;  Pittsburg, 
Capt.  Wm.  Hoel ;  Tuscumbia,  Capt.  Shirk,  and 
Mound  City.  All  of  these  boats  except  the 
Price  were  ironclad.  Each  had  taken,  for 
additional  protection,  baled  cotton,  hay,  rail- 
road iron,  timber,  chains,  or  whatever  else 
might  be  suitable.  The  transports  which  were 
selected  were  the  Forest  Queen,  Capt.  Dan. 
Conway ;  Henry  Clay ;  and  Silver  Wave,  Capt. 
McMillan.  These  boats  took  a  quantity  of 
supplies  for  the  army,  and  bales  of  cotton  and 
hay  were  placed  around  the  most  important 
parts  of  their  machinery.  The  night  of  the 
16th  of  April  was  fixed  for  the  expedition  to 
start.  Everything  was  in  readiness  before 
dark.  The  plan  decided  upon  was  that  the 
ironclads  should  pass  down  in  single  file,  with 
intervals  between  the  boats  of  a  few'  hundred 
yards,  and  that  when  in  front  of  the  batteries 
they  should  engage  them  with  their  broadside 
guns,  and,  under  cover  of  the  smoke,  the  trans- 
ports should  endeavor  to  pass  unseen.  A  spec- 
tator of  the  exciting  scene  has  thus  described 
it: 

"  Lights  twinkled  busily  from  the  Vicksburg 
hillsides  until  about  10  o'clock,  when  they 
disappeared,  and  about  the  same  moment  song 
and  laughter  on  our  side  were  hushed,  as  a 
shapeless  mass  of  what  looked  like  a  great  frag- 
ment of  darkness  was  discerned  floating  noise- 
lessly down  the  river.  It  was  the  Benton.  It 
passed  and  disappeared  in  the  night,  and  was 
succeeded  by  another  bank  of  darkness,  the  La- 
fayette, with  the  Price  lashed  to  her  starboard 
side.  And  thus  they  continued,  as  if  huge 
shadows  dettched  themselves  from  the  dark- 
ness above,  floated  across  the  vision,  and  dis- 
appeared in  the  darkness  below.  Ten  of  these 
noiseless  shapes  revealed  themselves  and  dis- 
appeared. 

"  Three  quarters  of  an  hour  passed.  People 
heard  nothing  save  their  own  suppressed 
breathings ;  saw  nothing  save  a  long  low  bank 
of  darkness,  which,  like  a  black  fog,  walled  the 
view  below,  and  joined  the  sky  and  river  in  the 
direction  of  Vicksburg.  And  all  watched  this 
gathering  of  darkness,  for  in  it  were  thunders 
and  lightnings  and  volcanoes,  which  at  any 
instant  might  light  up  the  night  with  fierce  ir- 
ruptions. 

"  So  long  a  time  passed  without  anything 
occurring  that  people  began  to  believe  the  en- 
emy had  determined,  for  some  malevolent  pur- 
pose, to  allow  the  fleet  to  p.  ass  below  without 
obstruction.  However,  this  supposition  was 
hardly  broached  ere  it  was  contradicted  most 
emphatically.  At  just  a  quarter  before  eleven, 


two  bright  sharp  lines  of  flame  flashed  through 
the  darkness,  at  the  extreme  right  of  the  Vicks- 
burg batteries ;  and,  in  an  instant,  the  whole 
length  of  the  bluffs  was  ablaze  with  tire.  The 
fleet,  which  had  rounded  the  Point,  and  now 
lay  squarely  before  the  city,  at  once  responded 
by  opening  their  ports,  and  pouring  their  full 
broadside  of  twenty-live  heavy  guns,  charged 
with  grape  and  shrapnel,  directly  against  the 
city.  , 

"A  great  cloud  of  smoke  rolled  heavily  over 
the  gunboats,  and  in  this  the  three  transports 
entered  and  made  their  '  best  time '  down  the 
river.  The  Forest  Queen,  which  was  in  the  ad- 
vance, received  a  shot  in  the  hull  and  another 
through  the  steam  drum,  which  disabled  her 
instantly.  The  Henry  Clay,  that  came  next,  was 
stopped,  to  prevent  her  running  into  the  other, 
and  at  the  same  moment  was  struck  by  a  shell 
that  set  her  cotton  on  fire.  The  crew,  demor- 
alized by  the  stoppage  and  terrified  by  the  tire, 
ran  aimlessly  around  for  a  few  moments,  then 
launched  the  yawl,  sprang  into  it,  and  pulled 
for  the  shore.  The  pilot,  finding  that  no  en- 
gineers qbeyed  the  bells,  stayed  a  short  time  un- 
til the  fire  began  to  seethe  around  him,  when 
he  seized  a  plank,  jumped  overboard,  and  was 
picked  up  by  a  gunboat.  The  Clay,  in  the 
mean  time,  became  a  great  blazing  mass,  that 
floated  down  the  river  until  it  disappeared  be- 
low "Warrenton.  Had  she  been  manned  by 
men  of  nerve,  the  fire  would  have  been  extin- 
guished and  the  boat  carried  through  safely. 
The  fact  of  her  floating  so  far  shows  that  her 
hull  was  uninjured. 

"  The  Forest  Queen  was  taken  in  tow  by  a 
gunboat,  and  towed  below  without  further 
damage.  The  Silver  Wave  did  not  receive  a 
s'cratch. 

"  The  Vicksburg  batteries  were  passed  in 
about  an  hour  and  a  quarter.  Upon  reaching 
Warrenton  batteries,  the  gunboats  took  the  in- 
itiative by  pouring  in  their  broadsides  on  the 
instant  they  reached  position ;  and  so  continu- 
ous and  terrific  was  their  fire  that  the  enemy 
scarcely  attempted  a  response." 

No  one  on  board  either  of  the  transports  was 
injured,  and  Gen.  Grant  immediately  ordered 
six  more  to  be  prepared  in  like  manner  for  run- 
ning the  batteries.  Accordingly  the  Tigress, 
Anglo-Saxon,  Cheeseman,  Empire  City,  Hori- 
zona,  and  Moderator  left  Milliken's  Bend  on 
the  night  of  the  22d  of  April,  and  five  of  them 
got  by,  but  in  a  somewhat  damaged  condition. 
The  Tigress  received  a  shot  in  her  hull  below 
the  water  line,  and  sunk  on  the  Louisiana  shore, 
after  passing  the  last  of  the  batteries.  In  tow 
of  these  transports,  twelve  barges  loaded  with 
forage  were  sent,  one  half  of  which  got  through 
in  a  condition  to  be  used.  The  transports  in- 
jured in  running  the  blockade  were  repaired 
by  order  of  Admiral  Porter,  and  in  a  very 
short  time  five  of  them  were  in  running  order, 
and  the  remainder  in  a  condition  to  be  used  as 
barges  in  the  movement  of  troops. 

As  the  number  of  transports  below  Vicks- 


PCI 
CO 

V 


PH 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


347 


burg  was  limited,  Gen.  Grant  found  it  neces- 
sary to  extend  his  line  of  movement  by  land  to 
Hard  Times  in  Louisiana.  By  the  circuitous 
route  it  was  necessary  to  take,  the  distance 
was  increased  to  seventy  miles  from  Millikeh's 
Bend. 

On  the  29th  of  April,  the  thirteenth  corps  of 
the  army  had  reached  the  Mississippi,  and  the 
seventeenth  was  well  on  the  way.  Gen.  Grant 
then  embarked  so  much  of  the  thirteenth  as 
could  be  got  on  board  the  transports  and  barges, 
and  moved  to  the  front  of  Grand  Gulf.  This 
was  a  strong  position  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
Mississippi,  below  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Black 
river.  The  plan  was  that  the  gunboats  under 
Admiral  Porter's  command  should  silence  the 
fortifications,  and  under  cover  of  the  gunboats 
the  troops  should  land  and  carry  the  place  by 
storm. 

At  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  attack 
was  commenced  by  the  gunboats,  and  contin- 
ued fiercely  for  more  than  five  hours.  The 
following  is  the  despatch  of  Admiral  Porter  re- 
specting the  attack: 

FLAG  SHIP  BENTON,  BELOW  GRAND  GTTLF,  Miss., ) 
April  Wth,  1862.      $ 

Hon.  Gideon  Welles,  Secretary  of  the  Navy  : 

I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that,  by  an' arrange- 
ment with  General  Graut,  I  attacked  the  batteries  at 
Grand  Gulf  this  morning,  which  were  very  formid- 
able. After  a  fight  of  five  hours  and  thirty  minutes, 
we  silenced  the  Tower  batteries,  but  failed  to  silence 
the  upper  one,  which  was  high,  strongly  built,  had 
guns  of  very  heavy  caliber,  and  the  vessels  were  un- 
manageable in  the  heavy  current.  It  fired  but  feebly 
toward  the  last,  and  the  vessels  all  laid  by  and  enfilad- 
ed it,  while  I  went  up  a  short  distance  to  communicate 
with  General  Grant,  who  concluded  to  land  the  troops 
and  march  over  to  a  point  two  miles  below  Grand 
Gulf.  I  sent  the  Lafayette  back  to  engage  the  upper 
battery,  which  she  did,  and  drove  the  persons  out  of 
it,  as  it  did  not  respond  after  a  few  fires.  At  6  P.  M. 
we  attacked  the  batteries  again,  and,  under  cover  of 
the  fire,  all  the  transports  passed  by  in  good  condition. 
The  Benton,  Tuscumbia,  and  Pittsburg  were  much  cut 
up,  having  twenty-four  killed  and  fifty-six  wounded ; 
but  they  are  all  ready  for  service. 

We  land  the  army  in  the  morning  on  the  other  side, 
and  march  on  Vicksburg.  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Acting  Rear-Admiral. 

Gen.  Grant,  who  was  a  spectator  of  the 
scene,  says :  "  Many  times  it  seemed  to  me  that 
the  gunboats  were  within  pistol  shot  of  the 
enemy's  batteries.  It  soon  became  evident  that 
the  guns  of  the  enemy  were  too  elevated  and 
their  fortifications  too  strong  to  be  taken  from 
the  water  side.  The  whole  range  of  hills  on 
that  side  were  known  to  be  lined  with  rifle 
pits.  Besides,  the  field  artillery  could  be  moved 
to  any  position  where  it  might  be  useful  in  case 
of  an  attempt  at  landing."  He  therefore  de- 
termined to  run  the  enemy's  batteries  again, 
and  to  turn  his  position  by  effecting  a  landing 
at  Rodney,  or  at  Bruinsburg,  between  Grand 
Gulf  and  Rodney.  Rodney  is  a  small  village 
on  the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  some  miles 
below  Grand  Gulf.  Bruinsburg  is  a  small 
place  between  the  two  others.  A  reconnois- 
sance  was  made  to  a  point  opposite  Bruinsburg, 
and  information  was  obtained  from  a  negro  that 


there  was  a  good  road  from  that  place  to  Port 
Gibson.  Gen.  Grant  determined  to  make  'the 
landing  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi,  at 
Bruinsburg.  Accordingly  the  troops  were  im- 
mediately ordered  to  land  at  Hard  Times,  and 
march  across  to  the  point  below  Grand  Gulf, 
and  at  dark  the  gunboats  again  engaged  the 
batteries,  and  all  the  transports  were  run  by. 
They  received  but  two  or  three  shots  during 
the  passage,  and  these  caused  no  injury. 

At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  30th,  the 
work  of  ferrying  the  troops  across  the  Missis- 
sippi was  commenced  both  by  the  gunboats 
and  the  transports.  The  thirteenth  corps,  as 
soon  as  landed  and  supplied  with  three  days' 
rations,  was  started  on  the  road  to  Port  Gibson. 
The  seventeenth  corps  followed  as  rapidly  as 
it  could  be  taken  across  the  river.  Port  Gib- 
son was  a  flourishing  village  on  Bayou  Pierre, 
28  miles  from  its  mouth,  and  about  65  miles 
southwest  from  Jackson,  the  capitnl  of  Missis- 
sippi. It  was  connected  with  Grand  Gulf  by 
a  railroad. 

About  two  o'clock  on  the  next  morning,  May 
1st,  the  advance  of  the  enemy  was  met  eight 
miles  from  Bruinsburgh,  on  the  road  to  Port 
Gibson.  They  were  forced  to  fall  back,  but  as 
it  was  dark,  were  not  pursued  far  until  day- 
light. Then  Gen.  McClernand  with  his  corps 
pressed  forward  within  four  miles  of  Port  Gib- 
son. Here  the  road  divided  in  opposite  direc- 
tions. Both  branches,  however,  led  to  Port 
Gibson.  The  enemy  took  a  position  on  each 
branch,  and  thus  divided  the  pursuing  force. 
The  nature  of  the  ground  was  such  that  a 
very  small  force  could  easily  retard  the  progress 
of  a  much  larger  one  for  several  hours.  The 
roads  run  on  narrow,  elevated  ridges,  with 
deep  and  impenetrable  ravines  on  each  side. 
The  corps  of  Gen.  McClernand  was  so  divided 
that  on  the  right  were  the  divisions  of  Gens. 
Hovey,  Carr,  and  Smith,  and  on  the  left  the  di- 
vision of  Gen.  Osterhaus.  The- three  former 
succeeded  in  driving  the  enemy  from  position 
to  position  steadily  back  toward  Port  Gibson. 
On  the  left,  Gen.  Osterhaus  was  unable  to 
move  the  enemy  until  he  was  reenforced  by  a 
brigade  of  Gen.  Logan's  division,  which  was 
the  advance  of  Gen.  McPherspn's  corps.  An- 
other brigade  of  the  same  division  was  sent  to 
Gen.  McClernand  on  the  right,  and  the  enemy 
were  so  badly  repulsed  there  as  to  be  able  to 
make  no  further  stand  south  of  Bayou  Pierre. 
Late  in  the  afternoon,  Gen.  OsterhausVas  suc- 
cessful in  repulsing  the  enemy,  whom  he  pur- 
sued toward  Port  Gibson,  but  night  closing  in 
and  the  enemy  making  the  appearance  of 
another  stand,  the  troops  slept  upon  their  arms 
until  daylight.  On  the  morning  of  the  2d,  it 
was  found  that  the  enemy  had  retreated  across 
Bayou  Pierre,  on  the  Grand  Gulf  road,  and  a 
brigade  of  Gen.  Logan's  division  was  sent  to 
divert  his  attention  whilst  a  floating  bridge 
was  thrown  across  the  Bayou  at  Port  Gibson. 
This  bridge  was  completed,  and  Gen.  McPher- 
son's  corps  passed  over  and  marched  eight 


348 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF'THE  REBELLION. 


miles  to  the  north  bank  of  Bayou  Pierre,  built 
a  bridge  over  that  stream,  and  the  advance 
commenced  passing  over  it  at  five  o'clock  on 
the  following  morning.  On  the  3d,  the  enemy 
were  pursued  to  Hawkinson's  Ferry,  with 
slight  skirmishing  all  day,  during  which  quite 
a  number  of  prisoners,  mostly  stragglers,  were 
taken.  The  following  despatch  from  Gen. 
Grant  was  sent  to  "Washington : 

GRAND  GULP,  May  1th. 
To  Mayor- General  HallecJc,  General-in-Chief: 

We  landed  at  Bruinsburg,  April  30,  moved  immedi- 
ately on  Port  Gibson,  met  the  enemy,  11,000  strong, 
four  miles  south  of  Port  Gibson,  at  2  o'clock  A.  M.,  on 
the  1st  instant,  and  engaged  him  all  day,  entirely  rout- 
ing him,  with  the  loss  of  many  killed  and  about  500 
prisoners,  besides  the  wounded.  The  enemy  retreated 
toward  Vicksburg,  destroying  the  bridges  over  the 
two  forks  of  the  Bayou  Pierre.  These  were  rebuilt, 
and  the  pursuit  was  continued  until  the  present  time. 
Besides  the  heavy  artillery  at  this  place,  four  field 
pieces  were  captured,  and  some  stores,  and  the  enemy 
was -driven  to  destroy  many  more.  The  country  is  the 
most  broken  and  difficult  to  operate  in  I  ever  saw. 
Our  victory  has  been  most  complete,  and  the  enemy  ia 
thoroughly  demoralized. 

Very  respectfully,  TJ.  S.  GRANT, 

Major-General  Commanding. 

These  movements  of  Gen.  Grant  had  caused 
the  evacuation  of  Grand  Gulf,  and  Admiral 
Porter,  upon  making  a  movement  to  attack 
that  position  on  the  3d,  found  that  it  had  been 
abandoned.  He  then  sent  the  following  des- 
patch to  the  Navy  Department : 

FLAG  SHIP  BENTON,  GBAND  GULF,  Miss., ) 
May  3d,  1863.      \ 
To  the  Ron.  Gideon  Welles,  Sec'y  of  the  Navy  : 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I  got  under 
way  this  morning  with  the  Lafayette,  Carondelet, 
Mound  City,  and  Pittsburg,  and  proceeded  up  to  the 
forts  at  Grand  Gulf,  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  them 
again  if  they  had  not  been  abandoned. 

The  enemy  had  left  before  we  got  up,  blowing  up 
their  ammunition,  spiking  their  large  guns  and  bury- 
ing or  taking  away  their  lighter  ones.  The  armament 
consisted  of  thirteen  guns  in  all.  The  works  are  of 
the  most  extensive  kind,  and  would  seem  to  defy  the 
efforts  of  a  much  heavier  fleet  than  the  one  which 
silenced  them. 

The  forts  were  literally  torn  to  pieces  by  the  ac- 
curacy of  our  fire.  Col.  Wade,  the  commandant  of 
the  batteries,  was  killed;  also  his  chief  of  staff. 
Eleven  men  were  killed  that  we  know  of,  and  our  in- 
formant says  many  were  wounded,  and  that  no  one 
was  permitted  to  go  inside  the  forts  after  the  action, 
except  those  belonging  there. 

We  had  a  hard  fight  for  these  forts,  and  it  is  with 
great  pleasure  that  I  report  that  the  navy  holds  the 
door  to  Vicksburg.  Grand  Gulf  is  the  strongest  p'ace 
on  the  Mississippi.  Had  the  enemy  succeeded  in  fin- 
ishing the  fortifications,  no  fleet  could  have  taken 
them. 

I  have  been  all  over  the  works,  and  find  them  as  fol- 
lows :  One  fort,  on  a  point  of  rocks  75  feet  high,  cal- 
culated for  six  or  seven  guns,  mounting  two  7-inch 
rifled  and  one  8-inch,  and  one  Parrott  gun  on  wheels, 
which  was  carried  off.  On  the  left  of  this  work  is 
a  triangular  work,  calculated  to  mount  one  heavy 
gun. 

These  works  are  connected  with  another  fort  by  a 
covered  way  and  double  rifle  pits  extending  a  quarter 
of  a  mile,  constructed  with  much  labor,  and  showing 
great  skill  on  the  part  of  the  constructor.  The  third 
fort  commands  the  river  in  all  directions.  It  mounted 
one  splendid  Blakely  100-pounder,  one  8-inch  and  two 


30-pounders.    The  latter  were  lying  burst  or  broken 
on  the  ground. 

The  gunboats  had  so  covered  up  everything  that  at 
was  impossible  at  first  to  see  what  was  there,  with  the 
exception  of  the  guns  that  were  dismounted  or  broken. 
Every  gun  that  fell  into  our  hands  is  in  good  condi- 
tion, and  we  found  a  large  quantity  of  ammunition. 
These  are  by  far  the  most  extensively  built  works,  with 
the  exception  of  those  at  Vicksburg,  that  I  have  seen 
yet,  and  I  am  happy  to  say  that  we  hold  them. 

I  am  dismounting  the  guns,  and  getting  on  board 
the  ammunition. 

Since  making  the  above  examination,  new  forts  have 
been  passed  nearly  finished.  They  had  no  guns  mount- 
ed, but  were  complete  of  the  kind  as  regards  position, 
and  had  heavy  field  pieces  in  them. 

(Signed)          DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Acting  Rear- Admiral,  Com'g  Mississippi  Squadron. 

Gen.  Grant  now  made  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments for  changing  his  base  of  supplies  from 
Bruinsburg  to  Grand  Gulf.  From  Milliken's 
Bend  to  New  Carthage  a  water  communica- 
tion had  been  opened  by  the  Roundaway  ba- 
you, and  troops  occupied  positions  along  the 
route  from  Milliken's  Bend  to  Dallas  and  thence 
to  New  Carthage.  A  strong  body  also  occu- 
pied Richmond,  situated  in  the  angle  formed 
by  the  junction  of  the  Brashy  with  Roundaway 
bayou. 

When  the  army  moved  from  Milliken's  Bend, 
the  fifteenth  corps,  under  Maj.-Gen.  W.  T.  Sher- 
man, remained  to  be  the  last  to  follow.  Gen. 
Sherman  had  also  been  ordered  to  make  a 
demonstration  on  Haines's  Bluff,  in  order  to 
prevent  heavy  reinforcements  leaving  Vicks- 
burg to  assist  the  Confederate  forces  at  Grand 
Gulf.  Gen.  Sherman  moved  upon  Raines's 
Bluff,  landing  his  forces  on  the  south  bank  of 
the  Yazoo,  and  the  attack  was  made  chiefly  by 
the  gunboats,  on  the  6th  of  May-  The  iron- 
clads De  Kalb  and  Choctaw,  with  other  gun- 
boats, engaged  the  batteries  for  BIX  hours,  dur- 
ing which  the  Choctaw  was  struck  fifty-four 
times.  The  enemy  displayed  a  strong  force, 
and  anticipated  a  battle.  On  the  7th  the  ex- 
pedition returned,  and  the  military  part  pre- 
pared to  join  Gen.  Grant.  It  was  entirely 
successful  in  preventing  reinforcements  to  the 
enemy  at  Port  Gibson. 

It  had  been  the  purpose  of  Gen.  Grant,  up  to 
the  time  of  crossing  the  Mississippi,  to  collect  all 
his  forces  at  Grand  Gulf,  and  to  get  on  hand  a 
good  supply  of  provisions  and  ordnance  stores, 
before  moving  against  Vicksburg  from  the 
south.  He  had  also  determined,  in  the  mean 
while,  to  detach  an  army  corps  to  cooperate 
with  Gen.  Banks  on  Port  Hudson,  and  effect  a 
junction  of  forces.  But  this  plan  was  given 
up  by  him  in  consequence  of  learning  that 
Gen.  Banks  could  not  return  to  Baton  Rouge 
from  his  position  west  of  the  Mississippi  before 
the  10th  of  May ;  and  that  by  the  reduction 
of  Port  Hudson  he  could  not  join  Gen.  Grant 
with  more  than  12,000  men.  The  delay  also 
for  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Banks  at  Baton 
Rouge,  and  then  for  the  reduction  of  Port 
Hudson,  would  be  so  great  that  the  addition 
of  12,000  men  to  his  forces  would  not  make 
him  relatively  so  strong  for  the  attack  upon 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


349 


Vicksburg,  as  if  it  was  at  that  time  promptly 
made.  Another  reason  for  a  change  of  Ins  first 
plan,  and  in  favor  of  a  prompt  movement  on 
Vicksburg,  was  the  information  that  troops 
were  expected  at  Jackson  from  the  Southern 
cities  under  command  of  Gen.  Beauregard. 

Meanwhile  the  army  was  lying  at  Hawkin- 
son's  Ferry,  waiting  for  wagons,  supplies,  and 
the  arrival  of  Gen.  Sherman's  corps.  Hawkin- 
son's  was  the  lowest  of  three  ferries  over  the 
Big  Black  below  the  railroad.  Hall's  and  Bald- 
win's were  the  names  of  the  others.  It  was 
on  a  new  military  road  from  Grand  Gulf  to 
Vicksburg. 

In  order  to  facilitate  Gen.  Grant's  operations 
by  destroying  the  enemy's  lines  of  communica- 
tion and  preventing  the  early  concentration  of 
reenforcemen^,  a  cavalry  raid  of  unusual  bold- 
ness was  made  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg.  Col. 
Benj.  H.  Grierson,  commanding  the  first  cav- 
alry brigade,  had  proposed  a  descent  into  the 
State  of  Mississippi,  without  meeting  the  ap- 
proval of  the  commanding  general  until  the 
1st  of  April,  when  he  was  instructed  to  pre- 
pare for  an  expedition.  The  force  was  sta- 
tioned at  Lagrange  about  fifty  miles  east  of 
Memphis,  and  four  miles  west  of  the  junction 
of  the  Mississippi  and  Charleston  railroad.  On 
the  17th,  Col.  Grierson  was  ordered  to  move  his 
force,  consisting  of  the  6th  Illinois  cavalry,  Col. 
Loomis,  7th  Illinois,  Col.  Edward  Prince,  and 
2d  Iowa,  Col.  Edward  Hatch,  out  on  the  road 
to  Ripley.  Feints  had  previously  been  made 
from  Lagrange,  Memphis,  and  Corinth,  in  or- 
to  divert  the  attention  of  the  enemy  from  the 
real  movement.  Early  on  the  next  day,  the 
18th,  the  force  proceeded  tft  Ripley  :  from  that 
village,  the  2dlowa,  advancing  on  the  left  flank 
of  the  column,  took  a  southeasterly  direction, 
and  crossed  the  Tallahatchie  about  five  miles 
northeast  of  New  Albany.  Meanwhile  the 
main  body  proceeded  directly  south  and  crossed 
the  river  two  miles  east  of  New  Albany.  At 
the  same  time  a  battalion  of  the  7th  Illinois 
marched  on  the  right  flank  and  crossed  the 
river  at  New  Albany.  Skirmishing  was  kept 
up  throughout  the  day  by  all  the  forces  with 
detached  bodies  of  the  enemy,  who  were  on 
both  sides  of  the  river,  but  unable  to  impede 
the  progress  of  Col.  Grierson.  At  night  the 
6th  and  7th  encamped  about  four  miles  south 
of  New  Albany,  and  the  2d  Iowa  about  four 
miles  east  of  that  place.  About  midnight  an 
attack  was  made  upon  this  regiment,  which 
was  promptly  repulsed.  On  the  morning  of 
the  19th  a  detachment  was  ordered  by  Col. 
Grierson  to  proceed  eastward,  another  to  move 
back  to  New  Albany,  and  a  third  to  march 
northwest  toward  King's  Bridge,  where  a  Con- 
federate force  under  Maj.  Chalmers  was  re- 
ported to  be  encamped.  These  movements 
were  designed  to  lead  the  enemy  to  believe 
that  the  object  of  the  expedition  was  to  break 
up  the  different  military  organizations  in  that 
part  of  the  country.  This  was  successful. 
About  nine  o'clock  the  main  body  resumed  its 


march  in  a  southerly  direction,  with  the  2d 
Iowa  on  its  left  flank.  The  various  detach- 
ments which  had  been  sent  out  soon  joined 
the  main  column,  and  the  whole  force  pro- 
ceeded to  Pontotoc.  A  small  Confederate 
force  was  here  encountered,  and  pursued 
through  the  town  by  the  advance,  and  their 
entire  camp  equipage  was  captured,  and  also 
four  hundred  bushels  of  salt,  which  were  de- 
stroyed at  night.  Col.  Grierson  encamped  six 
miles  south  of  Pontotoc,  on  the  road  leading 
to  Houston. 

Early  the  next  morning,  Major  Lall,  of  the 
2d  Iowa,  with  about  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  of  the  least  effective  portion  of  the  com- 
mand, one  piece  of  artillery,  and  all  the  pris- 
oners, moved  northward,  on  the  return  to 
Lagrange.  The  object  of  Col.  Grierson,  in 
ordering  this  movement,  was  to  relieve  his 
command  of  incumbrances,  and  to  lead  the 
enemy  to  believe  that  the  expedition  had  re- 
traced its  steps.  The  march  southward  was 
then  resumed,  and  the  force  encamped  that 
night  about  ten  miles  beyond  the  town  of 
Houston. 

On  the  next  day,  the  21st,  Col.  Hatch,  of 
the  2d  Iowa,  was  ordered  to  move  his  com- 
mand toward  Columbus,  and  destroy  as  much 
of  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  railroad  as  possible,  to 
attack  Columbus  if  the  opposing  force  was  not 
too  strong,  and  march  thence  to  Lagrange, 
taking  such  route  as  he  might  consider  to  be 
the  most  suitable.  In  this  movement,  Col. 
Hatch  was  quite  successful.  It  entirely  mis- 
led Gen.  Chalmers,  who  was  in  pursuit  of 
Col.  Grierson,  and  gave  the  latter  a  start  of 
two  or  three  days.  The  main  body  now  con- 
tinued its  march  to  Starkville,  and  captured  a 
mail,  which  was  destroyed.  At  Dismal  Swamp, 
four  miles  from  Starkville,  a  halt  was  ordered, 
and  a  part  of  the  command  continued  on  five 
miles  farther  to  one  of  the  principal  tanneries 
in  the  State,  which  was  destroyed,  with  a  large 
stock  of  boots,  shoes,  saddles,  and  leather. 

On  the  22d,  the  command  again  united  and 
marched  twenty-seven  miles,  nearly  to  Louis- 
ville, Mississippi.  The  deep  streams  and  marsh- 
es made  the  route  very  difficult  and  perilous. 
On  the  next  morning  the  command  reached 
Philadelphia;  here  a  mail  was  captured  and 
destroyed.  About  daylight,  on  the  next  morn- 
ing, Newton  was  reached,  where  two  trains  of 
cars,  loaded  with  all  kinds  of  quartermaster 
and  commissary  stores,  ammunition,  and  shells, 
were  captured,  and  their  contents  destroyed. 
One  bridge  was  destroyed  about  half  a  mile 
east  of  the  place,  and  three  heavy  trestlework 
bridges  ten  miles  farther  up  the  railroad.  On 
the  25th,  Col.  Grierson  reached  Nichols's  Plan- 
tation, seven  miles  west  of  Montrose.  A  more 
southerly  route  was  now  pursued.  At  Raleigh 
a  halt  was  ordered  for  the  night,  and  a  scout 
sent  to  cut  the  telegraph  wires  on  the  railroad 
between  Lake  Station  and  Jackson.  On  arriv- 
ing within  seven  miles  of  the  railroad,  a  regi- 
ment of  Confederate  cavalry  was  met,  which  had 


350 


M1LITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


left  Brandon  in  search  of  Col.  Grierson.  They 
were  on  the  direct  road  to  his  camp,  and  only 
fourteen  fniles  distant.  The  scout  succeeded  in 
misleading  the  enemy,  and  returned  safely  to 
camp.  Col.  Grierson  immediately  moved  his 
command  over  Leaf  river,  and  destroyed  the 
bridge,  thereby  preventing  the  possibility  of  a 
surprise  in  the  rear.  The  command  then  moved 
on  to  AYestville,  and  crossed  the  Pearl  river  at 
a  point  ten  miles  distant  from  the  latter  place. 
Two  battalions,  which  had  been  sent  out  in  ad- 
vance, under  Col.  Prince,  moved  rapidly  to  the 
railroad  station  at  Hazelhurst,  and  captured 
forty  cars,  loaded  with  shell  ammunition,  quar- 
termaster's and'  commissary  stores. 

When  south  of  Starkville,  Capt.  Forbes,  of 
Co.  B,  Yth  Illinois,  was  ordered  to  march  to 
Macon.  As  he  approached  within  a  short  dis- 
tance of  that  place,  he  found  it  occupied  by  a 
considerable  force  of  the  enemy.  He  then 
moved  to  Newton,  and  thence  to  Enterprise, 
one  hundred  miles  east  of  the  main  body  of  Col. 
Grierson's  force.  Here  he  sent  a  flag  of  truce 
to  Col.  Goodwin,  commanding  the  Confederate 
force  in  the  place,  and  demanded  his  surrender. 
Col.  Goodwin  requested  one  hour  in  which  to 
determine  his  reply.  But  Capt.  Forbes,  finding 
the  enemy  to  be  stronger  than  he  had  supposed, 
and  having  accomplished  his  object  in  divert- 
ing their  attention,  before  the  expiration  of  the 
hour  commenced  a  rapid  movement  to  join 
Col.  Grierson,  then  more  than  a  day's  march 
distant.  Taking  a  westward  course,  he  soon 
struck  the  route  of  the  main  body  at  Pearl 
river,  and  effected  a  junction.  Near  Galla- 
tin  a  32- pound  Parrott  gun,  destined  for  Port 
Gibson,  was  captured  and  spiked.  Five  miles 
east  of  Gallatin,  a  detachment  was  sent  to 
the  railroad  at  Bahala,  which  destroyed  the 
track,  several  cars,  water  tanks,  and  a  consider- 
able amount  of  other  property,  and  cut  the  tele- 
graph wires.  On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  Brook- 
haven  was  entered  by  the  advance  so  suddenly 
that  two  hundred  of  the  enemy  were  surprised 
and  made  prisoners.  A  large  number  of  mus- 
kets and  five  hundred  tents,  at  a  camp  of  in- 
struction, were  destroyed.  The  main  body, 
*  after  leaving  Gallatin,  encountered  a  cavalry 
force  under  Col.  Garland,  when  a  skirmish  en- 
sued, in  which  several  of  the  enemy  were  killed 
and  others  taken  prisoners.  A  feint,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  deceiving  the  enemy,  was  made  toward 
Port  Gibson,  and  another  toward  Natchez, 
when  the  main  body  marched  to  Brookhaven. 
On  the  30th,  Col.  Grierson  moved  in  a  south- 
erly direction,  and  destroyed  all  the  bridges  be- 
tween Brookhaven  and  Bogue  Chito  Station. 
At  the  latter  place  fifteen  cars,  partly  loaded 
with  army  stores,  were  destroyed,  together 
with  the  depot  and  other  railroad  build- 
ings. The  force  then  marched  to  Summit, 
where  twenty-five  freight  cars  were  destroyed. 
Thence  _Col.  Grierson  moved  from  the  railroad 
to  a  point  between  Magnolia  and  Liberty,  for 
the  purpose  of  reaching  the  Clinton  road.  Find- 
ing a  regiment  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  at  "Wall's 


bridge,  on  the  Tickfaw,  a  dash  was  made 
upon  them,  in  which  eight  or  ten  were  killed, 
several  wounded,  and  the  rest  put  to  flight. 
The  loss  of  Col.  Grierson  was  one  killed  and  five 
wounded.  Moving  then  east  of  the  Tickfaw  a 
short  distance,  the  march  was  continued  directly 
southward.  At  Edwards's  bridge  another  regi- 
ment of  the  enemy's  cavalry  was  posted,  pur- 
posely to  dispute  the  passage.  A  battalion  was 
sent  to  engage  them,  while  the  main  body  mov- 
ed on  in  the  direction  of  Greensburg.  Only  a  few 
brief  skirmishes  took  place  with  this  regiment. 
The  march  thus  far  had  proved  a  constant  sur- 
prise to  the  inhabitants,  and  as  it  was  supposed 
that  Col.  Grierson  would  return  to  Lagrange, 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


351 


arrangements  had  been  made  to  cut  off  his  re- 
treat. It  was  apparent  now  that  his  intention 
was  not  to  return,  but  to  march  through  the 
State.  Preparations  were  therefore  made  at 
Osyka  to  stop  his  progress.  It  was  well  known 
that  to  advance  any  farther  south  it  would  be 
necessary  for  him  to  cross  severa^  bridges. 
Hence  a  regiment  of  Confederate  cavalry  was 
so  posted  as  to  flank  his  force,  while  a  body  of 
infantry  was  thrown  in  his  front,  to  hold  him 
in  check  until  the  cavalry  could  make  an  at- 
tack upon  his  flank  and  rear.  Col.  Grierson, 
understanding  his  danger,  at  once  ordered  a 
charge  upon  the  infantry,  and,  with  one  dash, 
broke  through  their  lines,  and  soon  left  them 
far  in  the  rear.  Fortunately  he  met  with  no 
loss,  and  continued  his  inarch  south  to  Greens- 
burg,  thence  direct  to  Clinton.  About  ten  miles 
above  that  town  he  crossed  the  Amite  river. 
On  the  Big  Sandy  creek  a  camp  of  partisan 
rangers  was  found,  which  he  attacked,  and  de- 
stroyed one  hundred  and  fifty  tents,  with  the 
camp  equipage  and  private  baggage.  Several 
horses  were  also  captured.  He  then  marched 
on  the  Greenville  Spring  road  toward  Baton 
Rouge.  About  tea- miles  from  the  latter  place 
he  suddenly  came  upon  a  force  of  cavalry, 
under  Col.  Stewart,  and  captured  the  entire 
body.  About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  1st  of  May  he  entered  the  city  of  Baton 
Kouge,  Louisiana.  In  seventeen  days  the  troops 
had  marched  over  eight  hundred  miles  through 
the  heart  of  the  State  of  Mississippi.  A  large 
number  of  the  enemy  were  killed  and  wound- 
ed, and  it  was  estimated  that  over  four  millions 
of  property  were  destroyed.  On  two  important 
railroads  communications  were  cut  off  with 
strong  positions  of  the  enemy.  Over  a  thou- 
sand prisoners  and  more  than  twelve  hundred 
horses  were  captured,  and  great  excitement 
was  created  throughout  the  State. 

Meantime,  as  the  army  of  Gen.  Grant  lay  at 
Hawkinson's  Ferry,  waiting  for  supplies  and  the 
arrival  of  Gen.  Sherman's  corps,  demonstrations 
were  made  to  induce  the  enemy  to  think  that 
route  and  the  one  by  Hall's  Ferry,  next  above 
on  the  Big  Black  river,  were  objects  of  much 
solicitude  to  Gen.  Grant.  Reconnoissances  were 
made  on  the  west  side  of  the  Big  Black  river, 
extending  within  six  miles  of  Warrenton. 

On  the  Vth  of  May  an  advance  was  ordered. 
Gen.  McPherson's  corps  were  required  to  keep 
the  road  nearest  Black  river  to  Rocky  Springs. 
Gen.  McClernand's  corps  moved  on  the  ridge 
road  running  from  Willow  Springs,  and  Gen. 
Sherman  followed,  with  his  corps  divided  on 
the  two  roads.  All  the  ferries  were  closely 
guarded  until  the  troops  were  well  advanced. 
It  was  the  intention  of  Gen.  Grant  here  to  hug 
the  Big  Black  river  as  closely  as  possible  with 
Gen.  McClernand's  and  Gen.  Sherman's  corps, 
and  thus  get  them  to  the  Jackson  and  Vicks- 
burg  railroad,  at  some  point  between  Edwards's 
Station  and  Bolton.  Gen.  McPherson  was  or- 
dered to  move  by  way  of  Utica  to  Raymond, 
and  from  thence  into  Jackson,  destroying  the 


railroads,  telegraph,  public  stores,  &c.,  and  then 
push  west  to  rejoin  the  main  force.  Gen.  Sher- 
man moved  forward  on  the  Edwards's  Station 
road,  crossing  Fourteen  Mile  creek  at  Dillon's 
Plantation.  Gen.  McClernand  moved  across 
the  same  creek  farther  west,  sending  one  di- 
vision of  his  corps  by  the  Baldwin's  Ferry  road 
as  far  as  the  river.  At  the  crossing  of  Fourteen 
Mile  creek,  both  Gens.  McClernand  and  Sher- 
man had  considerable  skirmishing  with  the 
enemy  to  get  possession  of  the  crossing.  On  the 
evening  of  that  day,  May  llth,  Gen.  Grant  sent 
the  following  despatch  to  Maj.-Gen.  Halleck, 
at  "Washington : 

My  force  will  be  this  evening  as  far  advanced  along 
Fourteen  Mile  creek,  the  left  near  Black  river,  and  ex- 
tending in  a  line  nearly  east  and  west,  as  they  can  get 
without  bringing  on  a  general  engagement.  I  shall 
communicate  with  Grand  Gulf  no  more,  except  it  be- 
comes necessary  to  send  a  train  with  a  heavy  escort. 
You  may  not  hear  from  me  again  for  several  weeks. 

That  night  Gen.  McClernand's  corps  was 
near  Black  river.  Gen.  Sherman,  in  the  cen- 
tre of  the  line,  was  at  and  beyond  Auburn  ;  and 
Gen.  McPherson,  about  eight  miles  to  the  right, 
with  his  corps,  had  advanced  a  few  miles  north 
of  Utica.  Corn,  salt  meat,  and  live  stock  were 
found  abundant. 

On  the  next  morning,  Tuesday,  May  12th, 
Gen.  McClernand's  advance  drove  in  the  en- 
emy's pickets,  and  brisk  skirmishing  ensued  for 
an  hour  or  two,  with  little  loss  on  either  side. 
By  noon  the  enemy  had  disappeared  from  his 
front.  Gen.  Sherman  early  set  a  division  in 
motion,  which  came  upon  the  enemy  at  the 
crossing  of  Fourteen  Mile  creek.  The  cavalry 
advance  was  fired  upon  from  the  thick  woods 
that  skirt  the  stream,  and  was  unable,  owing 
to  the  nature  of  the  ground,  to  make  a  charge 
or  clear  the  enemy  from  their  position.  A  bat- 
tery was  brought  forward,  supported  by  two 
regiments,  and  skirmishers  thrown  out,  who 
drove  the  enemy  slowly  until  a  brigade  was 
thrown  upon  their  right  and  left  flanks,  when 
they  withdrew  toward  Raymond.  The  prin- 
cipal resistance  to  the  line  of  march  was,  how- 
ever, in  front  of  Gen.  McPherson.  At  ten 
o'clock  his  advance,  under  Gen.  Logan,  came 
upon  a  Confederate  force,  estimated  at  ten 
thousand,  but  which  proved  to  be  two  brigades 
under  Gens.  Gregg  and  Walker,  posted  on  Fon- 
dreu's  creek,  about  two  miles  south  of  Ray- 
mond. Brisk  skirmishing  began  at  once,  which 
soon  brought  on  a  general  engagement.  The 
enemy  was  almost  wholly  concealed  at  first  by 
the  woods  bordering  the  stream,  behind  which 
their  forces  were  posted.  Their  artillery  was 
on  an  eminence,  which  commanded  the  Fed- 
eral approach.  The  battle  continued  for  three 
hours,  when  the  enemy,  after  heavy  loss  in  kill- 
ed, wounded,  and  missing,  withdrew  in  two  col- 
umns, the  principal  one  taking  the  road  to  Jack- 
son. Gen.  McPherson  immediately  occupied 
Raymond. 

Gen.  Grant  was  at  this  time  with  Gen.  Sher- 
man's corps,  and  had  ordered  that  corps  and  also 
Gen.  McClernand's  to  move  toward  the  rail- 


352 


MILITAEY  AND  NAYAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


road  fromVicksburg  to  Jackson  by  parallel  roads, 
the  latter  in  the  direction  of  Edwards's  Station, 
and  the  former  to  a  point  on  the  railroad  be- 
tween Edwards's  Station  and  Bolton.  But  he 
afterward  ordered  these  two  corps  to  march  to 
Baymond,  in  consequence  of  being  informed 
that  the  enemy  had  retreated  to  Jackson  after 
the  defeat  near  Eaymond,  and  also  that  reen- 
forcements  were  daily  arriving  at  Jackson,  and 
that  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston  was  hourly  ex- 
pected there  to  take  the  command  in  person. 
He  says:  "I  therefore  determined  to  make 
sure  of  that  place,  and  leave  no  enemy  in  my 
rear." 

On  the  next  day,  the  13th,  Gen.  McPherson 
moved  to  Clinton,  and  destroyed  the  railroads 
and  telegraph,  and  captured  some  important 
despatches  from  Gen.  Pemberton  to  Gen.  Gregg, 
who  had  command  on  the  previous  day  in  the 
battle  of  Eayraond.  Gen.  Sherman  moved  to  a 
parallel  position  on  the  Mississippi  Springs  and 
Jackson  road,  and  Gen.  McClernand  moved  to 
a  point  near  Eaymond. 

On  the  14th,  Gen.  McPherson  and  Gen. 
Sherman  each  advanced  from  his  respective 
position  toward  Jackson.  The  rain  had  fallen 
in  torrents  during  the  night  before,  and  it  con- 
tinued to  fall  until  about  noon,  thus  making 
the  roads  at  first  slippery,  and  then  miry. 
Nevertheless,  the  troops  marched  in  excellent 
order  and  spirits  about  fourteen  miles,  when 
they  came  upon  the  enemy.  The  main  body  of 
their  force  in' Jackson  had  marched  out  on  the 
Clinton  road,  and  encountered  Gen.  McPher- 
son about  two  and  a  half  miles  from  the  city. 
A  small  force  of  artillery  and  infantry  also  took 
a  strong  position  in  front  of  Gen.  Sherman, 
about  the  same  distance  out  from  Jackson. 

On  the  march  of  Gen.  McPherson  from  Clin- 
ton toward  Jackson,  Gen.  Crocker's  division 
held  the  advance.  All  was  quiet  until  he  reach- 
ed a  hill  overlooking  a  broad  open  field,  through 
the  centre  of  which,  and  over  the  crest  of  the 
hill  beyond,  the  road  to  Jackson  passed.  On  the 
left  of  this  latter  hill  the  enemy  had  posted  his 
artillery,  and  along  the  crest  his  line  of  battle. 
As  the  Federal  force  came  within  range,  the 
artillery  of  the  enemy  opened  fire.  The  bat- 
tery of  the  First  Missouri  was  moved  to  the  left 
of  a  cotton  gin  in  the  open  field,  and  returned 
the  fire  for  nearly  an  hour,  when  the  guns  of 
the  enemy  were  withdrawn.  Meantime,  Gen. 
Crocker  had  thrown  out  two  brigades  to  the 
right  and  left  of  his  battery,  supported  by  an- 
other brigade  at  a  proper  distance,  and  had  also 
pushed  forward  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers, 
and  posted  them  in  a  ravine  in  front,  which 
protected  them  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  Af- 
ter a  little  delay  they  were  again  advanced  out 
of  cover,  and  a  desultory  fire  ensued  between 
the  opposite  lines  of  skirmishers,  in  which  the 
enemy,  owing  to  the  nature  of  the  ground,  had 
the  advantage.  At  length  Gen.  Crocker,  seeing 
the  necessity  of  driving  the  rebels  from  the 
crest  of  the  hill,  ordered  a  charge  along  the 
line,  the  execution  of  which  has  been  thus 


described:  "With  colors  flying,  and  with  a 
step  as  measured  and  unbroken  as  if  on  dress 
parade,  the  movement  was  executed.  Slowly 
they  advanced,  crossed  the  narrow  ravine,  and, 
with  fixed  bayonets,  reached  the  crest  of  the  hill 
in  easy  range  of  the  rebel  line.  Here  they  re- 
ceived a  fy-emendous  volley,  which  caused  pain- 
ful gaps  in  their  ranks.  They  held  their  fire  un- 
til they  were  within  a  distance  of  thirty  paces, 
when  they  delivered  the  returning  volley  with 
fearful  effect,  and,  without  waiting  to  reload 
their  muskets,  with  a  terrific  yell,  they  rushed 
upon  the  staggered  foe.  Over  the  fences,  through 
the  brushwood,  into  the  inclosure,  they  worked 
their  way,  slaughtering  on  the  right  and  left 
without  mercy.  The  enemy,  astonished  at  their 
impetuosity,  wavered  and  fell  back,  rallied 
again,  and  finally  broke  in  wild  confusion." 
They  finally  retreated  north,  but  without  fur- 
ther damage. 

When  Gen.  Sherman  encountered  the  en- 
emy, he  soon  discovered  the  weakness  of  the 
latter  by  sending  a  reconnoitering  party  to  his 
right,  which  had  the  effect  of  causing  them  to 
retreat  from  that  part  of  their  line.  A  few 
of  the  artillerists,  however,  remained  in  their 
places,  firing  upon  Gen.  Sherman's  troops  until 
the  last  moment,  evidently  having  been  in- 
structed to  do  so  with  the  expectation  of  being 
captured  in  the  end. 

At  this  time  Gen.  McClernand  occupied  Clin- 
ton with  one  division,  Mississippi  Springs  with 
another,  Eaymond  with  a  third,  and  his  fourth 
division  and  Gen.  Blair's  division  of  Gen.  Sher- 
man's corps  were  with  a  wagon  train,  still  in 
the  rear  near  Auburn.  At  the  same  time  Gen. 
McArthur,  with  one  brigade  of  Ms  division  of 
Gen.  McPherson's  corps,  was  moving  toward 
Eaymond  on  the  Utica  road.  It  was  not  the 
intention  of  Gen.  Grant  to  move  these  forces 
any  nearer  Jackson,  but  to  have  them  in  a  po- 
sition where  they  could  be  in  supporting  dis- 
tance if  the  resistance  at  Jackson  should  prove 
more  obstinate  than  there  seemed  any  reason 
to  expect. 

On  the  retreat  of  the  enemy,  Gen.  McPher- 
son followed  directly  into  the  city  of  Jackson. 
A  fine  battery  of  six  pieces  was  found,  and 
around  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Institute,  which 
was  used  as  a  hospital,  tents  enough  were 
seized  to  encamp  an  entire  division.  The  com- 
missary and  quartermaster's  stores  were  in 
flames.  The  Governor  and  State  Treasurer  had 
withdrawn,  taking  the  State  funds  and  papers. 
All  citizens  officially  connected  with  State  or 
Confederate  Governments  had  also  left.  Many 
soldiers  remained,  besides  a  large  number  in 
the  hospital. 

At  night,  Gen.  Grant,  who  with  Gen.  Sher- 
man's corps  had  arrived  at  Jackson,  was  in- 
formed that  Gen.  Johnston,  as  soon  as  he  had 
satisfied  himself  that  Jackson  was  to  be  at- 
tacked, had  ordered  Gen.  Pemberton  peremp- 
torily to  march  out  from  Vicksburg  and  attack 
the  Federal  rear.  Availing  himself  of  this 
information,  he  immediately  issued  orders  to 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY*  OF  THE  REBELLION.  353 


ite*Ma««-*«wf  >*«*     /« 


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W>»i«  /T»»kJ>  >y 


**»*..    IBURTONTON 


354 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Gen.  McClernand,  and  to  Gen.  Blair  of  Sher- 
man's corps,  to  face  their  troops  toward  Bol- 
ton,  with  a  view  to  reaching  Edwards's  Station 
by  marching  on  different  roads,  which  con- 
verged near  Bolton.  Gen.  McPherson  was 
ordered  to  retrace  his  steps  on  the  Clinton 
road,  early  on  the  morning  of  the  15th.  Gen. 
Sherman  was  left  in  Jackson  to  destroy  the 
railroads,  bridges,  factories,  workshops,  arse- 
nals, and  everything  valuable  for  the  support 
of  the  enemy.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  loth, 
Gen.  Grant  proceeded  as  far  west  as  Clinton, 
through  which  place  Gen.  McPherson's  corps 
had  passed  to  within  supporting  distance  of 
Gen.  Hovey's  division  of  Gen.  McClernand's 
corps,  which  had  moved  that  day  on  the  same 
road  to  within  one  and  a  half  mile  of  Bolton. 
The  country  from  Jackson  to  Bolton  is  rugged 
.  and  broken,  with  a  succession  of  hills  and  val- 
leys, precipitous  steeps  and  deep  ravines,  over 
and  through  which  the  road  passes.  Gen. 
Grant,  on  reaching  Clinton,  about  five  o'clock 
p.  M.,  ordered  Gen.  McClernand  to  move  his 
command  early  the  next  morning  toward  Ed- 
wards's Station,  marching  so  as  to  feel  the 
enemy,  if  he  encountered  him,  but  not  to 
bring  on  a  general  engagement  unless  he  was 
confident  he  was  able  to  defeat  him.  Gen.  Blair 
was  also  ordered  to  move  with  Gen.  McCler- 
nand. 

Early  the  next  morning,  two  persons  em- 
ployed on  the  Jackson  and  Vicksburg  railroad, 
who  had  passed  through  the  army  of  Gen. 
Pemberton  on  the  night  before,  were  brought 
to  the  headquarters  of  Gen.  Grant.  They 
stated  that  the  force  of  Gen.  Pemberton  con- 
sisted of  about  eighty  regiments,  with  ten  bat- 
teries of  artillery,  and  that  the  whole  force 
was  estimated  at  near  twenty-five  thousand 
men.  They  also  described  the  positions  taken 
by  the  enemy,  and  his  intention  to  attack  the 
Federal  rear.  Gen.  Grant  had  determined  to 
leave  one  division  of  Gen.  Sherman's  corps 
one  day  longer  in  Jackson,  but  after  this  infor- 
mation he  resolved  to  bring  his  entire  com- 
mand up  at  once,  and  accordingly  sent  orders 
to  him  to  move  with  all  possible  speed  until  he 
came  up  with  the  main  force  at  Bolton.  A 
despatch  was  sent  to  Gen.  Blair  at  the  same 
time,  to  push  forward  his  division  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Edwards's  Station  with  all  possible  des- 
patch. Gen.  McClernand  was  also  ordered  to 
establish  communication  between  Gen.  Blair 
and  Gen.  Osterhaus  of  his  corps,  and  to  keep 
it  up,  moving  the  former  to  the  support  of  the 
latter.  Gen.  McPherson  was  also  ordered  for- 
ward at  5.45  A.  M.,  to  join  Gen.  McClernand. 
The  information  received  was  communicated 
to  Gen.  McClernand,  with  instructions  as  to  the 
disposition  of  his  forces. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  16th,  Gen. 
Grant  left  Clinton  for  the  advance,  and  on  ar- 
riving at  the  point  where  the  road  from  Ray- 
mond to  Bolton  crosses  the  Jackson  and  Vicks- 
burg railroad,  he  found  Gen.  McPherson's 
advance  and  his  pioneer  corps  engaged  in 


rebuilding  a  bridge  on  the  latter  road,  that 
had  been  destroyed  by  the  cavalry  of  Gen. 
Osterhaus's  division,  which  had  gone  into  Bol- 
ton the  night  before.  On  reaching  the  front, 
Gen.  Grant  found  Gen.  Hovey's  division  of  the 
thirteenth  corps  at  a  halt,  with  his  skirmishers 
and  the  enemy's  pickets  near  each  other.  Gen. 
Hovey  was  bringing  life  troops  into  line,  ready 
for  battle,  and  could  have  brought  on  an  engage- 
ment at  any  moment.  The  enemy  had  taken 
up  a  very  strong  position  oji  a  narrow  ridge. 
His  left  rested  on  a  height  where  the  road 
made  a  sharp  turn  to  the  left,  as  it  approached 
Vicksburg.  The  top  of  the  ridge  and  the 
precipitous  hillside  to  the  left  of  the  road  were 
covered  by  a  dense  forest  and  undergrowth. 
To  the  right  of  the  road  the  woods  extended  a 
short  distance  down  the  hill,  and  then  were 
cultivated  fields  on  a  gentle  slope  spreading 
into  an  extensive  valley.  Gen.  Hovey's  division 
was  disposed  for  the  attack  on  the  road  nnd 
into  the  wooded  ravine  and  hillside,  while 
Gen.  McPherson's  force,  excepting  Gen.  Ran- 
som's brigade,  which  arrived  after  the  battle, 
were  thrown  to  the  right  of  the  road,  which 
was  properly  the  enemy's  rear.  Still  Gen. 
Grant  would  not  allow  an  attack  to  be  com- 
menced by  his  troops  until  he  could  hear  from 
Gen.  McClernand,  who  was  advancing  with  four, 
divisions,  two '  of  which  were  on  a  roafl  inter- 
secting the  Jackson  road  about  one  mile  from 
the  position  occupied  by  the  above-mentioned 
troops,  and  about  the  centre  of  the  enemy's 
line ;  the  other*  two  divisions  were  on  a  road 
still  farther  north,  and  nearly  the  same  distance 
off.  Learning  that  Gen.  McClernand  was  dis- 
tant two  and  a  half  miles,  Gen.  Grant  sent  or- 
ders to  him  to  push  forward  with  all  rapidity. 
Meanwhile  the  continued  firing  between  Gen. 
Hovey's  skirmishers  and  the  enemy  grew  into 
a  battle  by  eleven  o'clock.  At  first  this  divis- 
ion bore  the  brunt  of  the  conflict,  but  finding 
the  enemy  too  strong  for  them,  one  brigade 
and  then  another  of  Gen.  Crocker's  division 
of  Gen.  McPherson's  corps  was  ordered  to  re- 
enforce  them.  Meanwhile  Gen.  Logan's  division 
of  McPherson's  corps  was  working  upon  the 
enemy's  left  and  rear,  which  weakened  exceed- 
ingly their  attack  in  front.  Here  their  force 
outnumbered  the  Federal  force.  Gen.  McCler- 
nand was,  however,  expected  momentarily 
upon  the  field.  But  he  did  not  arrive  until 
the  enemy  had  been  driven  from  the  field  after 
a  terrible  contest  of  hours,  in  which  he  met 
with  a  heavy  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  pris- 
oners, and  artillery.  It  appeared  afterward 
that  the  road  to  Vicksburg,  after  following  the 
ridge  in  a  southerly  direction  about  one  mile, 
intersecting  one  of  the  roads  to  Raymond, 
turned  almost  to  the  west,  down  the  hill  and 
across  the  .valley  in  which  Gen.  Logan  was  op- 
erating on  the  rear  of  the  enemy.  One  brig- 
ade of  his  division  had,  unconscious  of  this 
fact,  penetrated  nearly  to  this  road,  and  com- 
pelled the  enemy  to  retreat  to  avoid  capture. 
As  it  was,  much  of  his  artillery  and  Gen.  Lor- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


355 


ing's  division  of  his  army  were  cut  off,  besides 
the  prisoners  captured. 

On  the  request  of  Gen.  Hovey  for  more  re- 
enforcements,  just  before  the  rout  of  the  enemy 
commenced,  Gen.  Grant  ordered  Gen.  McPher- 
son  to  move  what  troops  he  could  by  a  left 
flank  to  the  enemy's  front.  Proceeding  to  the 
front,  and  expecting  every  moment  to  see  the 
enemy,  Gen.  Grant  found,  on  reaching  what 
had  been  his  line,  that  he  was  retreating. 
Upon  arriving  at  the  Raymond  road,  Gen. 
Grant  perceived  a  column  of  troops  on  the 
left  and  on  the  next  ridge,  which  proved  to  be 
Gen.  Carr's  division  of  Gen.  McClernand's 
corps.  To  the  left,  Gen.  Osterhaus's  division  of 
the  same  corps  soon  after  appeared  with  his 
skirmishers  well  advanced.  Gen.  Oarr  was  or- 
dered to  pursue  the  enemy  with  all  speed  to 
Black  river,  and  to  cross  it  if  he  could,  and 
Gen.  Osterhaus  was  ordered  to  follow.  The 
pursuit  continued  until  after  dark,  and  a  train 
of  cars  loaded  with  commissary  and  ordnance 
stores  and  other  property  was  captured.  Gen. 
Grant  states  that  "  the  delay  in  the  advance 
of  the  troops  immediately  with  Gen.  McCler- 
nand  was  caused,  no  doubt,  by  the  enemy  pre- 
senting a  front  of  artillery  and  infantry,  where 
it  was  impossible,  from  the  nature  of  the  ground 
and  the  density  of  the  forest,  to  discover  his 
numbers.  As  it  was,  the  battle  of  Champion's 
Hill,  or  Baker's  Creek,  was  fought  mainly  by 
Gen.  Hovey's  division  of  McClernand's  corps, 
and  Gens.  Logan's  and  Quimby's  divisions  (the 
latter  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  M.  M. 
Crocker)  of  McPherson's  corps." 

Orders  were  now  sent  back  to  Gen.  Sherman 
to  turn  his  corps  toward  Bridgeport,  and  Gen. 
Blair  was  expected  to  join  him  at  that  place. 
Bridgeport  was  on  the  Black  river,  and  some 
miles  north  of  the  railroad.  By  crossing  the 
river  at  that  point,  Gen.  Sherman  would  be 
on  the  flank  of  the  -enemy,  if  they  made  a 
stand  at  the  railroad  crossing  of  the  river. 

At  daylight  on  the  next  morning,  the  17th, 
the  pursuit  was  renewed,  with  the  corps  of 
Gen.  McClernand  in  the  advance.  The  enemy 
was  found  strongly  posted  on  both  sides  of  the 
Black  river,  at  a  point  where  the  bluffs  on  the 
west  side  extended  to  the  water's  edge,  but  the 
east  side  was  an  open  cultivated  bottom  of 
nearly  one  mile  in  width,  and  surrounded  by 
a  bayou  of  stagnant  water  from  two  to  three 
feet  in  depth  and  from  ten  to  twenty  feet  in 
width,  extending  from  the  river  above  the  rail- 
road to  the  river  below.  Along  the  inside  line 
of  this  bayou  the  enemy  had  constructed  rifle- 
pits,  with  the  bayou  serving  as  a  ditch  on  the 
outside  and  immediately  in  front  of  them. 
The  division  of  Gen.  Carr  occupied  the  right 
in  investing  this  position,  and  the  brigade  of 
Gen.  Lawler  occupied  the  right  of  the  divi- 
sion. After  a  few  hours'  skirmishing,  Gen. 
Lawler  discovered  that  by  moving  a  portion  of 
his  brigade  under  cover  of  the  river  bank,  lie 
could  get  a  position  from  which  the  enemy 
could  be  successfully  assaulted.  He  accord- 


ingly ordered  a  charge.  Notwithstanding  the 
level  ground  over  which  a  portion  of  his  troops 
had  to  pass  without  cover,  and  the  great  obsta- 
cle of  the  ditch  in  front  of  the  enemy's  works, 
the  charge  was  gallantly  and  successfully  made, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  the  entire  garrison  with 
seventeen  pieces  of  artillery  were  the  trophies 
of  this  brilliant  movement.  The  enemy  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  river  immediately  set  fire  to 
the  railroad  bridge  and  retreated,  thereby  cut- 
ting off  all  chance  of  escape  for  any  portion  of 
his  forces  remaining  on  the  east  bank. 

By  this  time,  Gen.  Sherman  had  reached 
Bridgeport  on  the  Black  river  above.  The 
only  pontoon  train  was  with  him.  By  the 
morning  of  the  18th,  he  had  crossed  the  river 
and  was  ready  to  march  on  Vicksburg.  Gens. 
McClernand  and  McPherson  caused*  floating 
bridges  to  be  constructed  during  the  night, 
and  were  ready  to  cross  their  troops  by  eight 
o'clock  on  the  next  morning. 

Early  that  morning,  Gen.  Sherman  com- 
menced his  march  by  the  Bridgeport  and  Vicks- 
burg road,  and,  when  within  three  and  a  half 
miles  of  Vicksburg,  he  turned  to  the  right  to 
get  possession  of  Walnut  Hills  and  the  Yazoo 
river.  This  was  successfully  accomplished  be- 
fore night.  Gen.  McPherson  crossed  the  Black 
river  above  the  road  to  Jackson,  and  came  into 
the  same  road  with  Gen.  Sherman,  but  in  his 
rear.  His  advance  arrived  after  nightfall  at 
the  point  where  Gen.  Sherman  turned  to  the 
right.  Gen.  McClernand  moved  by  the  Jack- 
son and  Vicksburg  road  to  Mount  Albans,  in 
the  rear  of  Vicksburg,  and  there  turned  to  the 
left  to  get  into  the  Baldwin's  Ferry  road.  By 
this  disposition  the  three  army  corps  covered 
all  the  ground  their  strength  would  admit  of, 
and  by  the  morning  of  the  19th  the  investment 
of  Vicksburg  was  made  as  complete  as  could  be 
by  the  forces  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Grant. 

In  the  march  from  Bruinsburg  to  Vicksburg, 
only  five  days'  rations  were  issued,  and  three 
of  these  were  taken  in  haversacks  at  the  start, 
and  soon  exhausted.  It  was  a  period  of  twenty 
days  before  supplies  could  be  obtained  from 
Government  stores,  during  which  all  other 
subsistence  was  obtained  from  the  country 
through  which  the  army  passed.  Itwns  abun- 
dantly supplied  with  corn,  bacon,  beef,  and 
mutton.  The  march  was  commenced  without 
wagons  except  such  as  could  be  picked  up. 
Communications  were  at  once  opened  with  the 
fleet  above  Vicksburg,  and  Gen.  Grant's  base 
for  supplies  was  changed  from  Grand  Gulf  to 
the  Yazoo.  The  movements  by  which  this  was 
effected  are  thus  described  in  a  despatch  from 
Rear- Admiral.  Porter  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy: 

FLAG  SH:P  BLACK  HAWK,     ) 
HAINES'S  BLUFF,  YAZOO  RIVER,  May  20th.  f 

To  Hon.  Gidton  Welles,  Secretary  of  the  Navy  : 

On  the  morning  'of  the  16th  I  came  over  to  the  Yazoo 
to  be  ready  to  cooperate  with. Gen.  Grant,  leaving  two 
of  the  ironclads  at  Red  River,  one  at  Grand  Gulf,  one  at 
Carthage,  three  at  Warrenton,  and  two  in  the  Yazoo, 
which  left  me  a  small  force.  Still  I  disposed  of  them 


356 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


to  the  best  advantage.  On  the  18th,  at  meridian,  fir- 
ing was  heard  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg,  wh  jch  assured 
me  that  Gen.  Grant  was  approaching  the  city.  The 
cannonading  was  kept  up  furiously  for  some  time, 
when,  by  the  aid  of  glasses,  I  discovered  a  company 
of  artillery  advancing,  taking  position,  and  driving 
the  rebels  before  them.  I  immediately  saw  that  Gen. 
Sherman's  division  had  come  on  to  the  left  of  Snyder's 
Bluff,  and  that  the  rebels  at  that  place  had  been  cut 
off  from  joining  the  forces  in  the  city. 

I  despatched  the  DeKalb,  Lieut.-Commander  Wal- 
ker, the  Cboctaw,  Lieut.-Commander  Kamsay,  the 
Komeo,  and  Forest  Rose,  all  under  command  of  Lieut.- 
Commander  Breese,  up  the  Yazoo,  to  open  commu- 
nication in  that  way  with  Gens.  Grant  and  Sherman. 
This  I  succeeded  in  doing,  and  in  three  hours  received 
letters  from  Gens.  Grant,  Sherman,  and  Steele,  inform- 
ing me  of  this  vast  success,  and  asking  me  to  send  up 
provisions,  which  was  at  once  done.  In  the  mean  time, 
Lieutenant-Commander  Walker  in  the  DeKalb  pushed 
on  to  Haines's  Bluff,  which  the  enemy  had  commenced 
evacuating*the  day  before,  and  a  party  remained  be- 
hind in  the  hopes  of  destroying  or  taking  away  a  large 
amount  of  ammunition  on  hand.  When  they  saw  the 
gunboats  they  ran  out  and  left  everything  in  good  or- 
der, guns,  forts,  tents,  and  equipage  of  all  kinds,  which 
fell  into  our  hands. 

As  soon  as  the  capture  of  Haines's  Bluff  and  the  four- 
teen forts  was  reported  to  me,  I  shoved  up  the  gun- 
boats from  below  to  fire  on  the  hill  batteries,  which 
fire  was  kept  up  for  two  or  three  hours.  At  midnight 
they  moved  up  to  the  town  and  opened  on  it  for  about 
an  hour,  and  continued  at  intervals  during  the  night 
to  annoy  the  garrison.  On  the  19th  I  placed  six  mor- 
tars in  position,  with  orders  to  fire  night  and  day  as 
rapidly  as  they  could. 

The  works  at  Haines's  Bluff  are  very  formidable. 
There  are  fourteen  of  the  heaviest  kind  of  mounted 
eight  and  ten  inch  and  seven  and  a  half  inch  rifle 
guns,  with  ammunition  enough  to  last  a  long  siege. 
As  the  gun  carriages  might  again  fall  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy,  I  had  them  burned,  blew  up  the  mag- 
azine, and  destroyed  the  works  generally.  I  also 
burned  up  the  encampments,  which  were  permanently 
and  remarkably  well  constructed,  looking  as  though 
the  rebels  intended  to  stay  some  time.  TTheir  works 
and  encampments  covered  many  acres  of  ground,  and 
the  fortifications  and  .r.:fle  pits  proper  of  Haines's  Bluff 
extend  about  a  mile  ana  A  quarter.  Such  a  network 
of  forts  I  never  saw. 

As  soon  as  I  got  through  with  the  destruction  of  the 
magazines  and  other  works,  I  started  Lieut.-Com. 
Walker  up  the  Yazoo 'river  with  sufficient  force  to  de- 
stroy all  the  enemy's  property  in  that  direction,  with 
orders  to  return  with  all  despatch,  and  only  to  proceed 
as  far  as  Yazoo  City,  where  the  rebels  have  a  navy 
yard  and  storehouses. 

In  the  mean  time  Gen.  Grant  has  closely  invested 
Vicksburg,  and  has  possession  of  the  best  command- 
ing points.  In  a  very  short  time  a  general  assault 
will  take  place,  when  I  hope  to  announce  that  Vicks- 
burg has  fallen  after  a  series  of  the  most  brilliant  suc- 
cesses that  ever  attended  an  army. 

There  has  never  been  a  case  during  the  war  where 
'the  rebels  have  been  so  successfully  beaten  at  all  points, 
and  the  patience  and  endurance  shown  by  our  army 
and  navy  for  so  many  months  is  about  being  rewarded. 
It  is  a  mere  question  of  a  few  hours,  and  then,  with 
the  exception  o.  Port  Hudson,  which  will  follow  Vicks- 
burg, the  Mississippi  will  be  open  its  entire  length. 
(Signed)  "  D.  1).  PORTER, 

Com'g  Mississippi  Squadron. 

The  result  of  the  expedition  to  Yazoo  City 
is  thus  described  in  the  report  of  Lieut.  Walker, 
addressed  to  Rear- Admiral  Porter  : 

TJ.  8.  STKAMKR  BAEON  DE  KALB,         ) 
MOUTH  YAZOO  KIVEH,  May  23d  j 
SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  in  obedience  to 
your  order  I  started  from  Snyder's  Bluff  on  the  20th, 


with  the  DeKalb,  Chpctaw,  "Forest  Rose,  Linden,  ana 
Petrel,  on  an  expedition  to  Yazoo  City.  Arriving  at 
Haines's  Bluff,  I  landed  a  force  and  spiked  an  8-inch 
gun  on  the  fort  there,  and  burned  the  carriage.  I  also 
burned  some  forty  tents  left  standing,  and  a  steam  saw- 
mill. 

Arriving  at  Yazoo  City  at  1  p.  M.,  20th,  I  was  met 
by  a  committee  of  citizens,  who  informed  me  that  the 
place  had  been  evacuated  by  the  military  authorities, 
and  asking  protection.  The  navy  yard  and  vessels  had 
been  fired  by  the  enemy.  I  sent  a  working  party  to 
insure  the  destruction  of  everything  valuable  to  the 
rebels.  The  vessels  burned  were  the  Mobile,  a  screw 
vessel,  ready  for  plating ;  the  Republic,  which  was 
being  fitted  out  for  a  ram ;  and  a  vessel  on"  the  stocks 
— a  monster,  310  feet  long,  75  feet  beam.  The  navy 
yard  contained  five  saw  and  planing  mills,  an  exten- 
siv*  machine  shoo,  carpenter  and  blacksmith  shops, 
and  all  necessary  fixtures  for  a  large  building  and  re- 
pairing yard,  which,  with  a  very  large  quantity  of 
lumber,  were  burned.  I  also  burned  a  large  sawmill 
above  the  town.  Most  of  the  public  stores  had  been  re- 
moved ;  such  as  I  found  in  town  were  taken  on  board 
the  vessels  or  destroyed.  Enclosed  I  send  a  list  of  ar- 
ticles removed  or  destroyed  by  Acting  Volunteer  Lieut. 
Brown,  the  officer  detailed  for  that  purpose.  In  the 
hospital  I  found  and  paroled  1,500  prisoners,  a  list  of 
whom  I  enclose. 

Returning,  I  left  Yazoo  City  this  morning,  arriving 
here  at  4  p.  M.  At  Liverpool  Landing,  in  a  sharp  bend 
in  the  river,  we  Were  attacked  by  some  field  guns,  and 
about  200  riflemen  concealed  in  the  bushes,  and  for  a 
few  minutes  the  firing  was  very  sharp.  The  enemy 
retreated  as  soon  as  the  vessels  got  into  position  to  use 
their  guns  with  effect.  The  Petrel,  Linden,  and  Choc- 
taw  were  struck  with  shot,  but  received  no  particular 
injury.  Sergt.  Stockinger,  of  this  vessel,  was  killed  by 
a  rifle  shot.  The  Linden  had  five  wounded,  the  Petrel 
two,  and  the  Choctaw  one.  Most  of  the  wounds  are 
slight. 

After  the  storming  of  their  position  on  the 
Big  Black  river,  the  Confederate  force  fell 
back  to  Vicksburg,  which  they  readied  about 
eight  o'clock  on  Sunday  night,  the  17th.  Their 
army  was  immediately  reorganized,  and  placed 
as  follows  :  Gen.  Smith's  division  on  the  ex- 
treme left,  Major-Gen.  Forney  in  the  centre, 
and  Major-Gen.  Stephenson  on  the  right.  Brig.- 
Gen.  Bowen's  division  of  Missourians  held  the 
reserve. 

It  has  been  stated  that  by  the  morning  of 
Tuesday,  the  19th,  Vicksburg  was  invested  by 
the  Federal  army.  During  that  day  there  was 
a  continued  skirmishing,  and  Gen.  Grant  was 
not  without  hope  of  carrying  the  works.  He 
found  his  forces  insufficient  to  entirely  invest 
the  works.  There  was  therefore  danger  that 
the  two  bodies  of  the  enemy,  under  Gens. 
Johnston  and  Pemberton,  might  yet  effect  a 
junction,  as  it  was  known  that  the  former 
was  receiving  large  reenforcemsnts  from  Gen. 
Bragg's  army  in  Middle  and  Eastern  Tennessee. 
He  therefore  ordered  a  general  assault  to  be 
made  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  This  was 
made  by  the  fifteenth  army  corps,  which  arrived 
in  time  before  the  works  on  the  previous  day 
to  get  a  good  position.  The  thirteenth  and 
seventeenth  corps  succeeded  in  gaining  an  ad- 
vanced position  covered  from  the  fire  of  the 
enemy.  A  Confederate  report  of  the  action  of 
Tuesday  is  as  follows  :  "  On  Tuesday  morning, 
before  daylight,  they  opened  fire  from  their 
batteries,  our  guns  responding  immediately  and 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


357 


•with  fine  effect,  compelling  the  enemy  to  shift 
their  batteries  several  times.  At  the  same  time 
the  enemy  endeavored  to  throw  forward  a  hody 
of  sharpshooters,  but  were  prevented  by  the 
fire  of  our  men  from  so  doing.  The  artillery 
duel  and  sharpshooting  continued  for  about 
three  hours,  when  Gen.  Pemberton  rode  up 
and  ordered  our  men  to  cease  firing,  as  he  de- 
sired no  artillery  duels.  In  obedience  to  the 
order,  our  men  ceased  firing,  and  the  result  was 
that  next  morning,  the  enemy,  emboldened  by 
our  silence,  approached  one  hundred  yards 
nearer  than  they  were  the  day  before,  without 
any  opposition.  On  Tuesday  the  enemy  made 
their  first  assault  on  the  line  of  works  held  by 
Brig.-Gen.  Shoup's  brigade  of  Louisianians. 
They  marched  up  in  one  solid  column,  our  men 
withholding  their  fire  until  the  enemy  had  ap- 
proached within  thirty  yards  of  the  lines,  when 
they  opened  a  terrific  volley  of  musketry.  The 
enemy  wavered  a  moment,  and  then  marched 
forward.  They  were  again  met  by  another 
volley,  when  they  broke  and  fled  under  cover 
of  the  hills.  This  was  the  only  attempt  made 
on  that  day  to  force  our  lines,  and  the  attempt 
was  evidently  made  more  with  the  intention 
of  '  feeling '  our  lines  •  than  with  any  serious 
idea  of  storming  them." 

By  the  21st,  the  arrangements  of  Gen.  Grant 
for  drawing  supplies  of  every  description  were 
completed,  and  he  determined  to  make  another 
effort  to  carry  Vicksburg  by  assault.  His  rea- 


sons for  this  are  thus  stated :  "  I  believed  an 
assault  from  the  position  gained  by  this  time 
could  be  made  successfully.  It  was  known  that 
Johnston  was  at  Canton  with  the  force  taken  by 
him  from  Jackson,  reenforced  by  other  troops 
from  the  east,  and  that  more  were  daily  reach- 
ing him.  "With  the  force  I  had,  a  short  time 
must  have  enabled  him  to  attack  me  in  the 
rear,  and  possibly  to  succeed  in  raising  the  siege. 
Possession  of  Vicksburg  at  that  time  would 
have  enabled  me  to  turn  upon  Johnston  and 
drive  him  from  the  State,  and  possess  myself 
of  all  the  railroads  and  practical  military  high- 
ways, thus  effectually  securing  to  ourselves  all 
territory  west  of  the  Tombigbee,  and  this  be- 
fore the  season  was  too  far  advanced  for  cam- 
paigning in  this  latitude.  It  would  have  saved 
Government  sen  ding  large  reenforcements  much 
needed  elsewhere ;  and,  finally,  the  troops 
themselves  were  impatient  to  possess  Vicks- 
burg, and  would  not  have  worked  in  the 
trenches  with  the  same  zeal,  believing  it  un- 
necessary, that  they  did  after  their  failure  to 
carry  the  enemy's  works." 

Accordingly,  orders  were  issued  on  the  21st* 
for  a  general  assault  on  the  whole  line,  to  com- 
mence at  10  A.  M.  on  the  next  day.  This  as- 
sault is  thus  described  by  Gen.  Grant :  "  All 
the  corps  commanders  set  their  time  by  mine, 
that  there  should  be  no  difference  between 
them  in  the  movement  of  assault.  Promptly  at 
the  hour  designated,  the  three  army  corps  then 


358 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


in  front  of  the  enemy's  works  commenced  the 
assault.  'I  had  taken  a  commanding  position  near 
McPherson's  front,  and  from  which  I  could  see 
all  the  advancing  columns  from  his  corps,  and 
a  part  of  each  of  Sherman's  and  McClernand's. 
A  portion  of  the  commands  of  each  succeeded 
in  planting  their  flags  on  the  outer  slopes  of 
the  enemy's  bastions,  and  maintained  them 
there  until  night.  Each  corps  had  many  more 
men  than  could  possibly  be  used  in  the  assault, 
over  such  ground  as  intervened  between  them 
and  the  enemy.  More  men  could  only  avail  in 
case  of  breaking  through  the  enemy's  line  or 
in  repelling  a  sortie.  The  assault  was  gallant 
in  the  extreme  on  the  part  of  all  the  troops, 
but  the  enemy's  position  was  too  strong,  bo'th 
naturally  and  artificially,  to  be  taken  in  that 
way.  At  every  point  assaulted,  and  at  all  of 
them  at  the  same  time,  the  enemy  was  able  to 
show  all  the  force  his  works  could  cover.  The 
assault  failed,  I  regret  to  say,  with  much  loss 
on  our  side  in  killed  and  wounded ;  but  with- 
out weakening  the  confidence  of  the  troops  in 
their  ability  to  ultimately  succeed. 

"  No  troops  succeeded  in  entering  any  of  the 
enemy's  works,  with  the  exception  of  Sergeant 
Griffith,  of  the  Twenty -first  regiment  Iowa  vol- 
unteers, and"  some  eleven  privates  of  the  same 
regiment.  Of  these  none  returned  except  the 
sergeant  and  possibly  one  man.  The  work  en- 
tered by  him,  from  its  position,  could  give  us 
no  practical  advantage,  unless  others  to  the 
right  and  left  of  it  were  carried  and  held  at  the 
same  time.  The  assault  proved  the  quality  of 
the  soldiers  of  this  army.  Without  entire  suc- 
cess, and  with  a  heavy  loss,  there  was  no  mur- 
muring or  complaining,  no  falling  back,  or 
other  evidence  of  demoralization." 

A  Confederate  report  thus  describes  the 
manner  in  which  the  assault  was  met  by  them : 
"  The  days  intervening  from  the  19th  to  the 
22d  were  spent  in  one  continued  bombarding 
and  sharpshooting  during  the  day  ;  in  the  night 
they  generally  ceased  firing.  On  the  morning 
of  the  22d,  the  enemy  opened  a  terrific  fire  with 
their  Parrott  guns,  and  continued  it  till  about 
eleven  o  clock,  when  the  bombardment  ceased, 
and  heavy  columns  of  the  enemy  could  be  seen 
forming  in  line  of  battle.  Our  forces  were  all 
ready  for  them,  and  eager  for  their  advance. 
At  about  a  quarter  to  twelve,  the  column  of  the 
Federal  army  advanced  all  along  the  lines  in 
splendid  order,  and  with  a  loud  cheer  dashed 
up  to  the  works.  They  were  gallantly  respond- 
ed to  by  our  brave  boys,  and  the  first  charge 
repulsed. '  On  the  extreme  right  of  our  lines, 
the  nature  of  the  ground  prevented  the  enemy 
from  making  any  heavy  attack,  but  on  the  right 
of  the  centre,  the  centre,  and  the  left  of  the 
centre,  the  assault  was  desperately  made  and 
gallantly  met.  But  once  did  our  lines  break, 
and  that  was  in  Lee's  brigade.  The  enemy 
gained  a  temporary  footing  on  the  rifle  pits, 
but  Lee  quickly  rallied  his  men,  and,  after  a 
desperate  hand-to-hand  fight,  drove  them  out 
and  reoccupied  the  lines.  The  engagement 


at  this  point  and  'at  the  right  of  the  line,  held 
by  Brig.-Gen.  L.  Herbert,  was  of  a  terrible  na- 
ture, the  Federals  having  thrown  their  best 
troops  on  these  works.  Five  times  did  the} 
charge,  and  each  time  were  repulsed.  The  last 
charge  on  the  right  of  Brig.-Gen.  Herbert's 
lines  was  made  by  an  Irish  regiment  (the  Sev- 
enteenth Wisconsin),  carrying  the  green  flag 
of  Erin.  They  came  at  a  double  quick  up  the 
hill,  each  man  in  the  front  rank  furnished  with 
ladders  to  reach  the  works.  Three  times  they 
essayed  to  plant  their  ladders,  but  were  pre- 
vented by  the  obstinate  resistance  offered  by 
the  consolidated  Twenty-first  and  Twenty- 
third  Louisiana  regiments.  At  the  third  charge 
they  came  within  ten  yards  of  the  line,  but  two 
volleys  of  buckshot  from  the  shotguns  of  our 
forces  compelled  them  to  make  a  precipitate 
retreat  from  the  front  of  our  works.  At  about 
2  o'clock  they  made  their  last  charge,  and  were 
again  repulsed,  when  they  retired,  and  did  not 
attempt  any  further  demonstration  that  day. 
The  loss  of  the  enemy  on  that  day  is  estimated 
by  competent  parties  at  not  less  than  from 
8,000  to  10,000,  while  our  loss  was  between 
800  and  1,000  in  killed  and  wounded." 

The  following  despatch  of  Rear- Admiral  Por- 
ter to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  describes  the 
part  taken  in  this  conflict  by  the  naval  force : 

MISSISSIPPI  SQUADKON.  FLAG  SHIP  BLACK  HAWK,  ) 
March  23d,  1863.     f 

SIR  :  On  the  evening  of  the  21st  I  received  a  com- 
munication from  Gen.  Grant,  informing  me  that  he 
intended  to  attack  the  whole  of  the  rebel  works  at 
10  A.  M.  the  next  day,  and  asking  me  to  shell  the 
batteries  from  9.30  until  10.30,  to  annoy  the  garri- 
sons. I  kept  six  mortars  playing  rapidly  on  the  works 
and  town  all  night,  and  sent  the  Eenton,  Mound  City, 
and  Carondelet  up  to  shell  the  water  batteries  and 
other  places  where  troops  might  be  resting  during  the 
night. 

At  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  Mound  City 
proceeded  across  the  river,  and  made  an  attack  on  the 
hill  batteries  opposite  the  canal.  At  eight  o'clock  I 
joined  her  in  company  with  the  Benton,  Tuscumbia, 
and  Carondelet.  All  these  vessels  opened  on  the  hill 
batteries  and  finally  silenced  them,  though  the  main 
work  on  the  battery  containing  the  heavy  rifled  gun* 
was  done  by  the  Mound  City,  Lieut-Commanding 
Byron  Wilson.  I  then  pushed  the  Benton,  Mound 
City,  and  Carondelet  up  to  the  water  batteries,  leaving 
the  Tuscumbia,  which  is  still  out  of  repair,  to  keep  the 
hill  batteries  from  firing  on  our  vessels  after  they  had 
passed  by.  The  three  gunboats  passed  up  slowly, 
owing  to  the  strong  current,  the  Mound  City  leading, 
the  Benton  following,  and  the  Carondelet  astern.  The 
water  batteries  opened  furiously,  supported  by  a  hill 
battery  on  the  starboard  beam  of  the  vessels.  The 
vessels  advanced  to  within  440  yards  (by  our  marks), 
and  returned  the  fire  for  two  hours  without  cessa- 
tion, the  enemy's  fire  being  very  accurate  and  in- 
cessant. 

Finding  that  the  hill  batteries  behind  us  were  si- 
lenced, I  ordered  up  the  Tuscumbia  to  within  200 
yards  of  the  batteries,  but  her  timet  was  soon  made 
untenable.  Not  standing  the  enemy's  shot,  I  made 
her  drop  down.  I  had  been  engaged  with  the  forts  an 
hour  longer  than  Gen.  Grant  asked.  The  vessels  had 
all  received  severe  shots  under  water,  which  we  could 
not  stop  up  while  in  motion,  and  not  knowing  what 
might  have  delayed  the  movement  of  the  army,  I  or- 
dered the  vessels  to  drop  out  of  fire,  which  they  did 
in  U,  cool,  handsome  manner.  This  was  the  hottest 
fire  the  gunboats  have  ever  been  under,  but  owing  to 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


359 


the  water  batteries  being  more  on  a  level  with  them 
than  usual,  the  gunboats  threw  in  their  shells  so  fast 
that  the  aim  of  the  enemy  was  not  very  good.  The 
enemy  hit  our  vessels  a  number  of  times,  but,  fight- 
ing bow  on,  they  did  but  little  damage.  Not  a  man 
was  killed,  and  only  a  few  wounded.  I  had  only 
ammunition  enough  for  a  few  minutes  longer,  and 
set  all  hands  to  work  to  fill  up  from  our  depot  be- 
low. 

After  dropping  back  I  found  that  the  enemy  had 
taken  possession  again  of  one  of  the  lower  hill  bat- 
teries, and  was  endeavoring  to  remount  his  guns,  and 
had  mounted  a  12-pounder  field  piece  to  fire  at  Gen- 
eral McArthur's  troops,  which  had  landed  a  short 
time  before  at  Warrentpn.  I  sent  the  Mound  City 
and  the  Carondelet  to  drive  him  off,  which  they  did  in 
a  few  moments. 

I  beg  leave  to  enclose  a  letter  from  Gen.  McAr- 
thur,  explaining  why  he  did  not,  to  use  his  own  expres- 
sion, take  advantage  of  the  result  gained  by  the  gun- 
boats. 

I  have  since  learned  through  General  Grant,  that 
the  army  did  assault  at  the  right  time  vigorously.  In 
the  noise  and  smoke  we  could  not  hear  or  see  it.  The 
gunboats  were,  therefore,  still  fighting  when  the  as- 
sault had  proved  unsuccessful.  The  army  had  terri- 
ble work  before  them,  and  are  fighting  as  well  as 
soldiers  ever  fought  before,  but  the  works  are  stron- 
ger than  any  of  us  dreamed  of.  Gen.  Grant  and  his 
soldiers  are  confident  that  the  brave  and  energetic 
generals  in  the  army  will  soon  overcome  all  obstacles 
and  carry  the  works. 

(Signed)  PAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Acting  Rear- Admiral,  Com.  Miss.  Squadron. 

Hon.  G.  WELLES,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Gen.  Grant  now  determined  upon  a  regular 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  immediately  began  to 
mine  the  lines.  The  orders  given  to  the  ene- 
my, by  Gen.  Pemberton,  forbade  the  waste  of 
ammunition,  and  thus  Gen.  Grant  was  able  to^ 
commence  throwing  up  works  and  erecting 
forts  within  a  short  distance  of  the  opposing 
line  of  breastworks.  The  firing  upon  the  town 
was  made  only  during  the  day,  until  the  26th 
of  May,  after  which  it  was  continued  day  and 
night.  The  mortars  on  the  peninsula  opposite 
Vicksburg  opened  fire  on  the  25th,  and  con- 
tinued1 it  until  the  surrender.  It  was  estimated 
at  Vicksburg  that  as  many  as  6,000  mortar 
shells  were  thrown  into  the  town  every  twen- 
ty-four hours,  and  on  the  line  in  the  rear  of 
the  city,  as  many  as  4,000  in  the  same  time. 
Of  the  women  and  children  remaining  in  the 
city,  three  were  killed  and  twelve  wounded 
during  the  siege.  During  about  five  days  af- 
ter the  siege  commenced,  the  troops  in  the 
city  were  allowed  full  rations.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time,  they  were  gradually  reduced 
to  the  following  amount :  four  ounces  of  flour, 
four  ounces  of  bacon,  one  and  a  half  ounce  of 
rice,  two  ounces  of  peas,  not  eatable,  and  three 
ounces  of  sugar,  making  a  total  of  fourteen 
and  a  half  ounces  of  food  daily.  The  extent 
of  the  works,  and  the  limited  number  of  the 
Confederate  troops,  required  every  man  to  de- 
fend their  lines,  and  no  time  ,was  allowed  to 
rest.  Whole  companies  laid  back  of  their 
breastworks  for  three  weeks  without  leaving 
the  line  for  a  moment.  The  sharpshooters  of 
Gen.  Grant's  army  were  regarded  by  the  ene- 
my as  splendid  shots,  and  after  the  first  few 
days  of  the  siege  it  was  dangerous  for  any  one 


of  the  enemy  to  look  over  their  breastworks. 
In  one  instance,  a  hat  placed  on  a  stick,  and  held 
above  a  port  for  two  minutes,  was  pierced  by  < 
fifteen  balls.  The  sharpshooters  of,  the  enemy 
were  no  less  expert.  The  garrison  was  buoyed 
up  with  the  hope  o"f  relief  by  an  attack  upon 
the  rear  of  Gen.  Grant's  army  by  Gen.  John- 
ston, who  was  gathering  troops  in  Mississippi. 

Meantime  every  effort  was  made  to  strength- 
en the  force  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Grant. 
He  had  already  ordered  a  division  under  Gen. 
Lanman  and  four  regiments  at  Memphis  to 
join  him.  He  now  brought  forward  the  divis- 
ions of  Gens.  Smith  and  Kimball,  of  the  six- 
teenth army  corps,  and  placed  them  under  the 
command  of  Maj.-Gen.  0.  0.  Washburn.  On 
the  llth  of  June,  Maj.-Gen.  F.  J.  Herron's 
division,  from  the  department  of  Missouri,  ar- 
rived, and  on  the  14th,  two  divisions  of  the 
ninth  army  corps,  Maj.-Gen.  J.  G.  Parke  com- 
manding, reached  Vicksburg.  These  two  di- 
visions were  a  part  of  the  forces  of  Gen. 
Burnside,  commanding  in  the  Department  of 
Ohio.  This  increase  of  the  forces  of  Gen. 
Grant  enabled  him  to  make  the  investment  of 
Vicksburg  more  complete,-  and  at  the  same 
time  left  him  a  large  reserve  with  which  to 
watch  the  movements  of  Gen.  Johnston. 

These  reinforcements  were  arranged  by  pla- 
cing Gen.  Herron's  division  on  the  extreme  left, 
south  of  the  city.  Gen.  Lauman's  division  was 
placed  between  Gens.  Herron  and  McClernand. 
Gen.  Smith's  and  Gen.  Kimball's  divisions  and 
the  force  under  Gen.  Parke  were  senttoHaines's 
Bluff.  This  place  was  now  fortified  on  the 
land  side,  and  every  preparation  made  to  resist 
a  heavy  force.  About  the  25th  of  June,  Gen. 
Johnston  crossed  the  Big  Black  river  with  a 
portion  of  his  force,  and  everything  indicated 
that  he  would  make  an  attack.  The  position 
of  Gen.  Grant  before  Vicksburg  having  been 
made  as  strong  against  a  sortie  of  the  enemy 
as  their  works  were  against  an  assault,  he 
placed  Gen.  Sherman  in  command  of  all  the 
troops  designated  to  look  after  Gen.  Johnston. 
The  force  so  designated,  in  addition  to  that 
at  Haines's  Bluff,  was  one  division  from  the  thir- 
teenth, fifteenth,  and  seventeenth  army  corps 
each,  and  Gen.  Lauman's  division.  As  Gen. 
Johnston  did  not  make  the  attack  at  the  time  it 
was  expected,  Gen.  Grant  determined  to  attack 
him  as  soon  as  Vicksburg  was  taken.  He  ac- 
cordingly notified  Gen.  Sherman  that  another 
assault  on  Vicksburg  would  be  made  at  day- 
light on  the  6th  of  July,  and  ordered  him  to 
have  up  supplies  of  all  descriptions,  and  to  be 
ready  to  move  upon  the  receipt  of  further  or- 
ders, if  the  assault  should  prove  successful. 
Gen,  Sherman  made  his  preparations  immedi- 
ately, and  was  ready  to  move  earlier  than  the 
time  appointed. 

On  the  6th  of  June  an  attack  was  made  on 
Milliken's  Bend,  in  which  the  enemy  were  re- 
pulsed. The  Union  loss  was  101  killed,  285 
wounded,  and  266  missing.  Gen.  Halleck,  in 
his  report,  says :  "  It  is  represented  that  the 


360 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


colored  troops,  in  this  desperate  engagement, 
fought  with  great  bravery,  and  that  the  rebels 
treated  this  class  of  prisoners  of  war,  as  well 
as  their  officers,  with  great  barbarity.  It  has 
not  been  possible,  however,  to  ascertain  the 
correctness  of  the  representations  in  regard  to 
the  treatment  of  these  prisoners."  A  num- 
ber of  skirmishes  also  took  place  along  the 
Tensas  from  Lake  Providence  to  Richmond. 
The  great  object  of  the  enemy  in  these  move- 
ments was  ultimately  to  approach  Yicksburg 
from  the  west.  All  this  time  the  works  of 
the  siege  were  pushed  forward.  But  from  the 
22d  of  May  to  the  25th  of  June,  no  attempt 
upon  the  city  of  any  serious  nature  was  made, 
with  the  exception  of  the  attack  of  the  gun- 
boat Cincinnati,  for  the  purpose  of  silencing  one 
of  the  land  batteries.  The  report  of  this  at- 
tack was  thus  made  by  the  officer  in  charge : 

MISSISSIPPI  SQUADRON,  FLAQ  SHIP  BLACK  HAWK,  ) 
ABOVE  VIOKSBUKG,  May  IWi,  1863.  j 

To  Rear-Admiral  D.  D.  Porter  : 

SIE  :  In  obedience  to  your  order,  the  Cincinnati  got 
under  way  this  morning  at  seven  o'clock,  and  steamed 
Blowlydown  until  a  little  abreast  of  where  the  mortars 
lie.  When  we  rounded  to,  the  enemy  fired  several 
shots  from  a  gun  called  "  Whistling  Dick,"  but  soon 
gave  it  up.  At  naif  past  eight,  with  a  full  head  of  steam, 
we  stood  for  the  position  assigned  us.  The  enemy  fired 
rapidly  and  from  all  their  batteries.  When  abreast  of 
our  pontoon,  and  rounding  to,  a  ball  entered  the  maga- 
zine, and  she  commenced  sinking  rapidly.  Shortly 
after  the  starboard  tiller  was  carried  away.  Before  and 
after  this  the  enemy  fired  with  great  accuracy,  hitting 
us  nearly  every  time.  We  were  especially  annoyed  by 
plunging  shots  from  the  hills,  and  8-inch  rifled  and  10- 
inch  smooth-bore  shots  did  us  much  damage.  The  shots 
went  entirely  through  our  protection — hay  and  wood. 
And  now,  finding  that  the  vessel  would  sink,  I  ran  her 
up  stream  as  near  the  right-hand  shore  as  our  damaged 
steering  apparatus  would  permit.  About  ten  minutes  be- 
fore she  sank  we  ran  close  in,  got  out  one  plank,  and  put 
the  wounded  ashore.  We  also  got  a  hawser  out  to  make 
fast  to  a  tree  to  hold  her  until  she  sank.  Unfortunately, 
the  men  ashore  left  the  hawser  without  making  it  fast. 
The  enemy  were  still  firing,  and  the  boat  commenced 
drifting  out.  I  sang  out  to  the  men  to  swim  ashore, 
thinking  we  were  in  deeper  water  (as  was  reported) 
than  we  really  were.  I  suppose  about  fifteen  were 
drowned  and  twenty-five  killed  and  wounded,  and  one 
probably  taken  prisoner.  This  will  sum  up  our  whole 
loss.  The  boat  sank  in  about  three  fathoms  of  water ; 
she  lies  level  and  can  easily  be  raised,  but  lies  within 
range  of  the  enemy's  batteries.  The  vessel  went  down 
with  her  colors  nailed  to  her  mast,  or  rather  to  the 
stump  of  one,  all  three  having  been  shot  away.  Our 
fire,  until  the  magazine  was  drowned,  was  good,  and  I 
am  satisfied  did  damage.  We  only  fired  at  a  two-gun 
water  battery. 

Very  respectfully,  Ac., 

GEO.  11.  'BACHE,  Lieut.  Commanding. 

The  progress  of  the  mining  operations  was 
such,  that  on  the  25th  of  June  a  fort,  on  the 
immediate  right  of  the  Jackson  road,  was  blown 
up.  It  was  occupied  by  the  Third  Louisiana 
regiment.  Its  destruction  had  been  anticipated 
by  the  enemy,  and  most  of  the  force  was  pre- 
viously withdrawn  to  an  inner  line  of  intrench- 
ments,  so  that  only  a  few  men  were  wounded 
by  the  explosion.  As  soon  as  it  had  been  de- 
stroyed, a  strong  column  advanced  to  storm  the 
line,  which  was  met  by  a  force  of  the  enemy, 
consisting  of  the  Sixth  Missouri,  and  a  bloody 


contest  ensued,  in  which  tfie  loss  was  severe  on 
both  sides.  The  Federal  force  then  retired. 

On  the  29th  of  June,  the  same  portion  of  the 
enemy's  line  was  again  blown  up,  but  no  at- 
tempt to  charge  was  made.  All  attempts  to 
countermine,  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  were 
signally  unsuccessful,  owing  to  the  position  of 
Gen.  Grant's  works.  The  state  of  affairs  with- 
in the  city  at  this  time  is  thus  described  by  a 
Confederate  officer:  "About  the  thirty-fifth 
day  provisions  began  to  get  very  scarce,  and  the 
advent  of  Gen.  Johnston's  relieving  force  was 
anxiously  and  momentarily  looked  for.  Mule 
meat  was  the  common  fare  of  all  alike,  and 
even  dogs  became  in  request  for  the  table.  Bean 
meal  was  made  into  bread,  and  corn  meal  into 
coffee,  and  in  these  straits  the  garrison  patiently 
dragged  on  the  weary  length  of  one  day  after 
another,  under  a  scorching  sun,  the  stench  from 
the  unburied  corpses  all  around  alone  causing 
the  strongest  minded,  firmest  nerved  to  grow 
impatient  for  the  day  of  deliverance.  The  en- 
emy pushed  their  works  :  they  blew  up  several 
forts,  and  with  them  the  garrison,  andattempt- 
ed  to  charge  ;  but  the  meagre  and  famished 
yet  steadfast  garrison  still  defiantly  held  the 
key  of  the  Mississippi.  But  everything  must 
have  an  end.  Gen.  Pemberton  learned  from 
Gen.  Johnston  that  he  could  not  afford  him  re- 
lief, and  as  the  garrison  was  too  famished  and 
reduced  to  cut  its  way  out,  he  determined  to 
capitulate." 

On  the  3d  of  July,  about  half  past  seven  in 
the  morning,  a  flag  of  truce  was  seen  on  the 
^rest  of  a  hill  above  the  camp  of  Gen.  Bur- 
bridge.  An  officer  was  sent  to  escort  the  bearers 
of  it,  two  Confederate  officers,  blindfold,  to  the 
tent  of  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith,  whose  front  they  en- 
tered. These  officers  were  Major-Gen.  Bowen 
and  Col.  Montgomery,  of  Virginia.  They  were 
the  bearers  of  the  following  despatch  from 
Lieut.-Gen.  Pemberton  to  Gen.  Grant  :  • 


Er.s,  ViCESBUBG,  July  3rf,  1S63. 
Maj.-  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  commanding  U.  S.  Forces  : 

GENERAL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  propose  to  you  an 
armistice  for  blank  hours,  with  a  view  of  arranging 
terms  for  the  capitulation  of  Vicksburg.  To  this  end, 
if  agreeable  to  you,  I  will  appoint  three  commissioners 
to  meet  a  like  number  to  be  named  by  yourself,  at  such 
place  and  hour  to-day  as  you  may  find  convenient.  I 
make  this  proposition  to  save  the  further  effusion  of 
blood,  which  must  otherwise  be  shed  to  a  frightful 
extent,  feeling  myself  fully  able  to  maintain  my  posi- 
tion a  yet  indefinite  period.  This  communication  will 
be  handed  you,  under  a  flag  of  truce,  by  Major-Gen. 
James  Bovveh. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  C.  PEMBEETON. 

To  this  despatch  Gen.  Grant  replied  as  follows  : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  TENNESSEE,  IN  THE  ) 
FIELD  NEAR  VICKSBURG,  July  8a,  IbGS.     S 
Lieut.-Gen.  J.  C.  Pemberton,  commanding  Confederate 

Forces,  <&c.  : 

GENERAL  :  Your  note  of  this  date,  just  received,  pro- 
poses  an  armistice  for  several  hours,  for  the  purpose  of 
arranging  terms  of  capitulation,  through  commissioners 
to  be  appointed,  Ac.  The  effusion  of  blood  you  pro- 
pose stopping  by  this  course  can  be  ended  at  any  time 
you  may  choose,  by  an  unconditional  surrender  of  the 
city  and  garrison.  Men  who  have  shown  so  much  en- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


361 


durance  and  courage  as  those  now  in  Vicksburg  will 
always  challenge  the  respect  of  an  adversary,  and  I 
can  assure  you  will  be  treated  with  all  the  respect  due 
them  as  prisoners  of  war.  I  do  not  favor  the  proposi- 
tion of  appointing  commissioners  to  arrange  terms  of 
capitulation,  because  I  have  no  other  terms  than  those 
indicated  above. 

I  am,  General,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  ser- 
vant, U.  S.  GRANT,  Major-General. 

Gen.  Bowen,  the  bearer  of  Gen.  Pemberton's 
letter,  expressed  to  Gen.  Smith  a  strong  desire 
to  converse  with  Gen.  Grant,  and  according- 
ly Gen.  Grant,  while  declining  this,  requested 
Gen.  Smith  to  say  if  Gen.  Pemberton  desired  to 
see  him,  an  interview  would  be  granted  between 
the  lines,  in'  McPherson's  front,  at  any  hour  in 
the  afternoon  which  Gen.  Pemberton  might  ap- 
point. A  message  was  soon  sent  back  to  Gen. 
Smith,  appointing  three  o'clock  as  the  hour. 
At  that  time  Gen.  Grant,  with  his  staff  and  Gens. 
McPherson,  Ord,  A.  J.  Smith,  and  Logan,  was 
at  the  place,  which  was  a  fruit  orchard  midway 
between  the  front  of  the  two  contending  forces. 
Gen.  Pemberton  soon  came,  attended  by  Gen. 
Bowen  and  Ool.  Montgomery.  As  the  two 
commanders  drew  near  each  other,  both,  as 
though  involuntarily,  paused.  The  slight  em- 
barrassment was  brought  to  a  close  by  Ool. 
Montgomery,  who  stepped  forward  and  formal- 
ly introduced  them.  They  shook  each  other  by 
the  hand,  and,  after  a  few  words,  Gen.  Grant 
proposed  a  private  conversation,  which  was 
accepted,  and  the  two  generals  stepped  aside. 
The  conference  closed  by  Gen.  Grant  saying 
that  he  would  send  his  proposition  in  writing. 
After  an  interview  with  his  officers  at  his  head- 
quarters, Gen.  Grant  sent  the  following  letter, 
by  Gen.  Logan  and  Ool.  Wilson,  to  Gen.  Pem- 
berton : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OP  THE  TENNESSEE,  } 
NEAR  VIOKSBCRG,  July  3d,  1863.     J 
Li&ut.-Gen.  J.  C.  Pemberton,  commanding  Confederate 

Forces,  Vicksburg,  Miss. : 

GENERAL  :  In  conformity  with  agreement  of  this  af- 
ternoon, I  will  submit  the  following  proposition  for  the 
surrender  of  the  city  of  Vicksburg,  public  stores,  &c. 
On  your  accepting  the  terms  proposed,  I  will  march  in 
one  division  as  a  guard,  and  take  possession  at  eight 
A.  M.  to-morrow.  As  soon  as  paroles  can  be  made  out, 
and  signed  by  officers  and  men,  you  will  be  allowed  to 
march  out  of  our  lines— the  officers  taking  with  them 
their  regimental  clothing,  and  staff,  field,  and  cavalry 
officers  one  horse  each.  The  rank  and  file  will  be  al- 
lowed all  their  clothing,  but  no  other  property.  If  these 
conditions  are  accepted,  any  amount  of  rations  you  may 
deem  necessary  can  be  taken  from  the  stores  you  now 
have,  and  also  the  necessary  cooking  utensils  for  pre- 

Earing  them.  Thirty  wagons  also,  counting  two  two- 
orse  or  mule  teams  as  one,  will  be  allowed  you  to 
transport  such  articles  as  cannot  be  carried  along.  The 
same  conditions  will  be  allowed  to  all  sick  and  wound- 
ed officers  and  privates  as  fast  as  they  become  able  to 
travel.  The  paroles  for  these  latter  must  be  signed, 
however,  whilst  officers  are  present  authorized  to  sign 
the  roll  of  prisoners. 

I  am,  General,  very  respectfully,  • 
Your  obedient  servant, 

U.  S.  GRANT,  Major-General. 

About  the  dawn  of  day,  on  the  morning  of 
July  4th,  the  following  reply  was  received  from 
Gen.  Pemberton  : 


HEADQUARTERS,  VIOKSBURG,  July  3d,  1863. 
Major- Gen.    U.  S.  Grant,  commanding  United  States 

Forces,  etc. 

GENERAL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  re- 
ceipt of  your  communication  of  this  date,  proposing 
terms  for  the  surrender  of  this  garrison  and  post.  In 
the  main,  your  terms  are  accepted  ;  but  in  justice  both 
to  the  honor  and  spirit  of  my  troops,  manifested  in 
the  defence  of  Vicksburg,  I  have  the  honor  to  submit 
the  following  amendments,  which,  if  acceded  to  by 
you,  will  perfect  the  agreement  between  us :  At  ten 
o'clock  to-morrow,  I  propose  to  evacuate  the  works 
in  and  around  Vicksburg,  and  to  surrender  the  city 
and  garrison  under  *ny  command  by  marching  out 
with  my  colors  and  arms,  and  stacking  them  in  front 
of  my  present  lines,  after  which  you  will  take  posses- 
sion. Officers  to  retain  their  side  arms  and  personal 
property,  and  the  rights  and  property  of  citizens  to  be 
respected.  I  am,  General,  yours,  very  respectfully, 
J.  C.  PEMBERTON,  Lieutenant-General. 

To  this  letter  Gen.  Grant  immediately  replied 
as  follows : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  or  THE  TENNESSEE,  ) 

BEFORE  VlCKSBITKG,  July  4th,   1863.        ( 

Lieut.- Gen.  J.  G.  Pemberton,  commanding  Forces  in 
Vicksburg  : 

GENERAL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  your 
communication  of  3d  July.  The  amendments  pro- 
posed by  you  cannot  be  acceded  to  in  full.  It  will  be 
necessary  to  furnish  every  officer  and  man  with  a  pa- 
role, signed  by  himself,  which,  with  the  completion  of 
the  rolls  of  prisoners,  will  necessarily  take  some  time. 
Again,  I  can  make  no  stipulation  in  regard  to  the 
treatment  of  citizens  and  their  private  property. 
While  I  do  not  propose  to  cause  any  of  them  any  un- 
due annoyance  or  loss,  I  cannot  consent  to  leave  my- 
self under  restraint  by  stipulations.  The  property 
which  officers  can  be  allowed  to  take  with  them  will 
be  as  stated  in  proposition  of  last  evening ;  that  is, 
officers  will  be  allowed  meir  private  baggage  and  side 
arms,  and  mounted  officers  one  horse  each.  If  you 
mean  by  your  proposition  for  each  brigade  to  march 
to  the  front  of  the  lines  now  occupied  by  it,  and  stack 
their  arms  at  ten  o'clock  A.  M.,  and  then  return  to  the 
inside  and  remain  as  prisoners  until  properly  paroled, 
I  will  make  no  objections  to  it.  Should  no  modifica- 
tion be  made  of  your  acceptance  of  my  terms  by  nine 
o'clock  A.  M.,  I  shall  regard  them  as  having  been  re- 
jected, and  act  accordingly.  Should  these  terms  be 
accepted,  white  flags  will  be  displayed  along  your 
lines,  to  prevent  such  of  my  troops  as  may  not  have 
been  notified  from  firing  upon  your  men. 

I  am,  General,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  ser- 
vant. U.  S.  GRANT, 
Major-General  U.  S.  Army. 

To  this  letter  the  following  answer  was  re- 
ceived : 

HEADQUAP.TERS  VICKSBURG,  July  tth,  1863. 
Major- Gen.   U.  S.  Grant,  commanding  U.   S.  Forces, 

&c.  : 

GENERAL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  re- 
ceipt of  your  communication  of  this  date,  and  in  reply 
to  say  that  the  terms  proposed  by  you  are  accepted. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  C.  PEMBERTON,  Lieutenant-General. 

Of  the  terms  of  the  surrender,  Gen.  Grant 
thus  speaks  in  his  report:  "These  terms  I  re- 
garded more  favorable  to  the  Government  than 
an  unconditional  surrender.  It  saved  us  the 
transportation  of  them  North,  which  at  that 
time  would  have  been  very  difficult,  owing  to  the 
limited  amount  of  river  transportation  on  hand, 
and  the  expense  of  subsisting  them.  It  left  onr 
army  free  to  operate  against  Johnston,  who 
was  threatening  us  from  the  direction  of  Jack- 


362 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


eon ;  and  our  river  transportation  to  be  used 
for  the  movement  of  troops  to  any  point  the 
exigency  of  the  service  might  require." 

At  ten  o'clock  on  the  4th,  the  Confederate 
forces  marched  out  and  stacked  arms  in  front 
of  their  works,  while  Gen.  Pemberton  appear- 
ed for  a  moment  with  his  staff  upon  the  para- 
pet of  the  central  front.  The  city  was  imme- 
diately after  occupied  by  the  divisions  of  Gens. 
Logan,  J.  E.  Smith,  and  Herron. 

The  part  taken  by  the  naval  force  in  these 
operations  is  thus  summarily  described  by  Rear- 
Admiral  Porter,  in  a  despatch  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  as  follows  : 

U.  8.  MISSISSIPPI  SQUADRON,  ) 

FLAG  SHIP  BLACK  HAWK,  July  4t7i,  1863.  | 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  Vicksburg 
has  surrendered  at  last  to  the  United  States  forces, 
after  a  desperate  but  vain  resistance.  That  she  has 
not  done  so  sooner  has  not  been  for  want  of  ability  on 
the  part  of  our  military  commanders,  but  from  the 
magnitude  of  the  defences,  which  were  intended  to  re- 
pulse any  force  the  Government  could  possibly  send 
there.  What  bearing  this  will  have  on  the  rebellion 
remains  yet  to  be  seen,  but  the  magnitude  of  the  suc- 
cess must  go  far  toward  crushing  out  this  revolution, 
and  establishing  once  more  the  commerce  of  the  States 
bordering  on  this  river.  History  has  seldom  had  an 
opportunity  of  recording  so  desperate  a  defence  on 
one  side,  with  so  much  courage,  ability,  perseverance 
and  endurance  on  the  other ;  and  if  ever  an  army  was 
entitled  to  the  gratitude  of  a  nation,  it  is  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee  and  its  gallant  leaders. 

The  navy  has  necessarily  performed  a  less  conspic- 
uous part  in  the  capture  of  Vicksburg  than  the  army ; 
still  it  has  been  employed  in  a  manner  highly  creditable 
to  all  concerned.  The  gunboats  have  been  constantly 
below  Vicksburg  in  shelling  the  works,  and  with  suc- 
cess cooperating  heartily  with  the  left  wing  of  the 
army.  The  mortar  boats  Tiave  been  at  wbrk  for  forty- 
two  days  without  intermission,  throwing  shells  into  all 
parts  of  the  city,  even  reaching  the  works  in  the  rear 
of  Vicksburg  and  in  front  of  our  troops,  a  distance  of 
three  miles.  Three  heavy  guns  placed  on  scows,  a 
nine-inch,  ten-inch,  and  a  one-hundred-pounder  rifle 
were  placed -in  position  a  mile  from  the  town,  and  com- 
manded all  the  important  water  batteries.  They  have 
kept  up  an  accurate  and  incessant  fire  for  fourteen 
days,  doing  all  the  damage  that  could  be  done  by 
guns  under  such  circumstances.  Five  eight-inch,  two 
nine-inch,  two  forty-two-poundef  rifles,  four  thirty-two- 
pounder  shell  guns  have  been  landed,  at  the  request 
of  the  different  generals  commanding  corps,  from  the 
gunboats,  and  mounted  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg  ;  and 
whenever  I  could  spare  the  officers  and  men  from  our 
small  complement,  they  were  sent  to  manage  the  guns, 
with  what  ability  I  leave  the  general  commanding  the 
forces  to  say. 

In  the  mean  flme,  I  stationed  the  smaller  class  of 
gunboats  to  keep  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  clear  of 
guerillas,  who  were  assembling  in  force,  and  with  a 
large  number  of  cannon,  to  block  up  the  river  and  cut 
off  the  transports  bringing  down  supplies,  reenforce- 
ments,  and  ammunition  for  the  army.  Though  the 
rebels  on  several  occasions  built  batteries,  and  with  a 
large  force  attempted  to  sink  or  capture  the  transports, 
they  never  succeeded,  but  were  defeated  by  the  gun- 
boats with  severe  loss  on  all  occasions.  Without  a 
watchful  care  over  the  Mississippi,  the  operations  of 
the  army  would  have  been  much  interfered  with  ;  and 
I  can  say  honestly  that  officers  never  did  their  duty 
better  than  those"  who  have  patrolled  the  river  from 
Cairo  to  Vicksburg.  One  steamer  only  was  badly  dis- 
abled since  our  operations  commenced,  and  six  or 
seven  men  killed  and  wounded. 

While  the  army  have  had  a  troublesome  enemy  io 
front  and  behind  them,  the  gunboats,  marine  brigade, 


under  Gen.  Ellet,  and  a  small  force  under  Gens.  Den- 
nis and  Mower,  have  kept  at  bay  a  large  force  of  reb- 
els, over  twelve  thousand  strong,  accompanied  by  a 
large  quantity  of  artillery.  Though  offered  battle  sev- 
eral times  and  engaged,  they  invariably  fled,  and  sat- 
isfied themselves  by 'assailing  half-disciplined  and  un- 
armed blacks.  The  capture  of  Vicksburg  leaves  a 
large  army  and  naval  Force  free  to  act  all  along  the 
river,  and  I  hope  soon  to  add  to  my  department  the 
vessels  which  have  been  temporarily  lost  to  the  ser- 
vice, viz.,  the  Indianolaand  Cincinnati.  The  effect  of 
this  blow  will  be  felt  far  up  the  tributaries  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. The  timid  and  doubtful  will  take  heart,  and 
the  wicked  will,  I  hope,  cease  to  trouble  us,  for  fear  of 
the  punishment  which  will  sooner  or  later  overtake 
them. 

There  has  been  a  large  expenditure  of  ammunition 
during  the  siege.  The  mortars  have  fired  seven  thou- 
sand mortar  shells,  and  the  gunboats  four  thousand 
five  hundred.  Four  thousand  five  hundred  have  been 
fired  from  the  naval  guns  on  shore,  and  we  have  sup- 
plied six  thousand  to  the  different  army  corps. 

DAVID  D.  PORTER, 
A.  R.-Admiral,  comm'ng  Mississippi  Squadron. 

Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES,  Sec'y  of  the  Navy. 

The  result  of  his  operations  is  thus  summed 
up  by  Gen.  Grant :  "  The  result  of  this  cam- 
paign has  been  the  defeat  of  the  enemy  in  five 
battles  outside  of  Vicksburg;  the  occupation 
of  Jackson,  the  capital  of  the  State  of  Missis- 
sippi, and  the  capture  of  Vicksburg  and  its 
garrison  and  munitions  of  war ;  a  loss  to  the 
enemy  of  thirty- seven  thousand  (37,000)  pris- 
oners, among  whom  were  fifteen  general  offi- 
cers; at  least  ten  thousand  killed  and  wound- 
ed, and  among  the  killed,  Generals  Tracy, 
Tilghman,  and  Green ;  and  hundreds,  and  per- 
haps thousands,  of  stragglers,  who  can  never 
be  collected  and  reorganized.  Arms  and  mu- 
nitions of  war  for  an  army  of  sixty  thousand 
men  have  fallen  into  our  hands,  besides  a  large 
amount  of  other  public  property,  consisting  of 
railroads,  locomotives,  cars,  steamboats,  cotton, 
&c.,  and  much  was  destroyed  to  prevent  our 
capturing  it. 

"  Our  loss  in  the  series  of  battles  may  be 
summed  up  as  follows : 


Killed. 

Wounded. 

Missing. 

Port  Gibson  

130 

718 



Fourteen  Mile  Creek  (skirmish)  
Raymond  

4 
69 

24 
341 

5 
32 

40 

240 

6 

Champion's  Hill  

426 

1,842 

189 

Big  Black  railroad  bridge  

29 

242 

2 

Vicksburg  

545 

3.688 

303 

"Of  the  wounded,  many  were  but  slightly 
wounded,  and  continued  on  duty ;  many  more 
required  but  a  few  days  or  weeks  for  their  re- 
covery. Not  more  than  one-half  of  the  wound- 
ed were  permanently  disabled." 

On  Saturday,  the  llth  of  July,  the  force  of 
Gen.  Pemberton,  having  been  paroled,  marched 
from  Vicksburg,  and  arrived  at  the  Big  Black 
river  at  night.  Thence  they  were  distributed 
to  different  parts  of  the  South. 

On  the  13th  of  July,  the  President  addressed 
the  following  letter  to  Gen.  Grant : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  July  13th,  18G3. 
Mr  DEAR  GENERAL  :   I  do  not  remember  that  you 
and  I  over  met  personally.    I  writo  this  now  as  a 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


363 


grateful  acknowledgment  for  the  almost  inestimable 
service  you  have  done  the  country.  I  wish  to  say  a 
word  further.  When  you  first  reached  the  vicinity  of 
Vicksburg,  I  thought  you  should  do  what  you  finally 
did — march  the  troops  across  the  neck,  run  the  bat- 
teries with  the  transports,  and  thus  go  below ;  and  I 
never  had  any  faith,  except  a  general  hope  that  you 
knew  better  than  I,  that  the  Yazoo  Pass  expedition 
and  the  like  could  succeed.  When  you  got  below  and 
took  Port  Gibson,  Grand  Gulf,  and  vicinity,  I  thought 
you  should  go  down  the  river  and  join  Gen.  Banks, 
and  when  you  turned  northward,  east  of  the  Big 
Black,  I  feared  it  was  a  mistake.  I  now  wish  to  make 
the  personal  acknowledgment  that  you  were  right  and 
I  was  wrong. 

Yours,  very  truly,       A.  LINCOLN. 
Major-General  GRANT. 

Major-Gen.  Halleck,  the  General-in-Chief,  in 
his  annual  report,  thus  speaks  of  Gen. '-Grant's 
operations:  "When  we  consider  tho  charac- 
ter of  the  country  in  whichc  this  army  opera- 
ted, the  formidable  obstacles  to  be  overcome, 
the  number  of  forces  and  the  strength  of  the 
enemy's  works,  we  cannot  fail  to  admire  the 
courage  and  endurance  of  the  troops,  and  the 
skill  and  daring  of  their  commander.  No  more 
brilliant  exploit  can  be  found  in  military  his- 
tory. It  has  been  alleged,  and  the  allegation 
has  been  widely  circulated  by  the  press,  that 
Gen.  Grant,  in  the  conduct  of  his  campaign, 
positively  disobeyed  the  instructions  of  his  su- 
periors. It  is  hardly  necessary  to  remark,  that 
Gen.  Grant  never  disobeyed  an  order  or  in- 
struction, but  always  carried  out  to  the  best 
of  his  ability,  every  wish  or  suggestion  made 
to  him  by  the  Government.  Moreover,  he  has 
never  complained  that  the  Government  did  not 
furnish  him  all  the  means  and  assistance  in  its 
power,  to  facilitate  the  execution  of  any  plan 
he  saw  fit  to  adopt." 

After  the  capture  of  Vicksburg,  Gen.  Grant 
reported  that  his  troops  were  so  much  fatigued 
and  worn  out  with  forced  marches  and  the  la- 
bors of  the  siege,  as  to  absolutely  require  sev- 
eral weeks  of  repose,  before  undertaking  anoth- 
er campaign.  Nevertheless,  as  the  exigencies 
of  the  service  seemed  to  require  it,  he  sent  out 
those  who  were  least  fatigued  on  several  im- 
portant expeditions,  while  the  others  remained 
at  Vicksburg,  to  put  that  place  in  a  better  de- 
fensive condition  for  a  small  garrison. 

Immediately  upon  the  surrender  of  the  city, 
Gen.  Sherman,  with  his  force  increased  by  the 
remainder  of  both  the  thirteenth  and  fifteenth 
corps,  moved  in  pursuit  of  Gen.  Johnston. 
When  Gen.  Grant  moved  his  army  from  Jack- 
son to  Vicksburg,  Gen.  Johnston  moved  north 
to  Canton.  It  now  became  the  object  of  Gen. 
Johnston  to  collect  a  force  to  attack  the  rear 
of  Gen.  Grant.  His  energies  were  thus  devo- 
ted during  the  whole  siege  of  Vicksburg.  Yet 
the  country  had  been  so  exhausted  of  men  to 
fill  the  army  in  Virginia,  a  force  could  not  be 
obtained  sufficient  to  rescue  Vicksburg.  With 
the  troops  which  he  had  collected,  he  now  ap- 
proached the  rear  of  the  Federal  army.  The 
country  for  fifty  miles  around  Vicksburg  had 
—by  orders  of  Gen.  Grant  on  the  26th  of  May 
— been  laid  waste  by  Gen.  Blair,  who  drove 


off  the  white  inhabitants  and  burned  the  grist 
mills,  cotton  gins,  and  granaries,  and  destroyed 
the  crops. 

The  result  of  the  expedition  of  Gen.  Sher- 
man is  thus  stated  in  the  despatches  of  Gen. 
Grant : 

YICKSBTTRG,  July  \Wh. 
To  Major- Gen.  Halleck,  General-in-Chief: 

General  Sherman  has  Jackson  invested  from  Pearl 
river  on  the  north  to  the  river  on  the  south.  This 
has  cut  off  many  hundred  cars  from  the  Confederacy. 
Sherman  says  he  has  force  enough,  and  feels  no  ap- 
prehension about  the  results. 

Finding  that  Yazoo  City  was  being  fortified,  I  sent 
Gen.  Herron  there  with  his  division.  He  captured 
several  hundred  prisoners,  five  pieces  of  heavy  artil-  " 
lery,  and  all  the  public  stores  fell  into  our  hands.  The 
enemy  burned  three  steamboats  on  the  approach  of 
the  gunboats.  The  De  Kalb  was  blown  up  and  sunk 
in  fifteen  feet  of  water,  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell. 

Finding  that  the  enemy  was  crossing  cattle  for  the 
rebel  army  at  Natchez,  and  were  said  to  have  several 
thousand  there,  I  have  sent  troops  and  steamboats  to 
collect  them,  and  destroy  all  their  boats  and  means  for 
making  more. 

(Signed)  U.  S.  GRANT,  Major-General. 

YICKSBUKG,  July  ISth, 
To  Major- Gen.  H.  W.  Halleck,  Gemral-in-Cldef: 

Joe  Johnston  evacuated  Jackson  the  night  of  the 
16th  instant.  He  is  now  in  full  retreat  east.  Sher- 
man says  most  of  his  army  must  perish  from  heat, 
lack  of  water,  and  general  discouragement. 

The  army  paroled  here  have,  to  a  great  extent,  de- 
serted, and  are  scattered  over  the  country  in  every  di- 
rection. 

General  Ransom  was  sent  to  Natchez  to  stop  the 
crossing  of  cattle  for  the  eastern  army.  On  arrival, 
he  found  large  numbers  had  been  driven  out  of  the 
city  to  be  pastured.  Also,  that  munitions  of  war  had 
recently  been  crossed  over  to  wait  for  Kirby  Smith. 
He  mounted  about  200  of  his  men  and  sent  them  in 
both  directions.  They  captured  a  number  of  prison- 
ers, 5,000  head  of  Texas  cattle,  2,000  head  of  which 
were  sent  to  Gen.  Banks,  the  balance  have  been  and 
will  be  brought  here.  In  Louisiana  they  captured 
more  prisoners,  and  a  number  of  teams  loaded  with 
ammunition.  Over  2,000,000  rounds  of  ammunition 
were  brought  back  to  Natchez  with  the  teams  cap- 
tured ;  and  268,000  rounds,  besides  artillery  ammuni- 
tion, were  destroyed.  (Signed)  U.  S.  GRANT, 
Major-Gen.  Commanding. 

The  destruction  of  property  at  Jackson  was 
most  complete.  On  the  south  the  railroad  was 
injured  as  far  as  Brookhaven,  a  distance  of 
fifty  miles.  On  the  north  it  was  torn  up  at 
intervals  for  twenty  miles.  At  Jackson  exten- 
sive machine  shops,  five  locomotives,  and  a 
large  number  of  cars  were  destroyed  by  fire. 
The  road  east  was  torn  up  at  intervals  to  Bran- 
don, fifteen  miles.  The  bridges  at  Jackson, 
some  of  which  were  costly,  were  also  de- 
stroyed. This  destruction  secured  Gen.  Grant 
in  the  undisturbed  possession  of  the  western 
part  of  the  State.  The  city  was  formerly  one 
of  the  most  prosperous  in  the  Southern  States. 
It  was  thus  described  at  the  time  of  its  cap- 
ture :  "As  the  seat  of  government,  it  has  the 
capitol  buildings,  the  penitentiary,  the  gover- 
nor's house,  the  asylum  for  the  deaf  and  dumb 
and  the  insane;  and  in  addition  a  fine  court 
house,  two  excellent  hotels,  large  blocks  of 
stores,  a  cotton  factory,  a  couple  of  founderies, 
grist  mills,  and  a  large  number  of  splendid 


364 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


residences.  The  site  of  the  city,  upon  the 
right  bank  of  the  Pearl  river — a  stream  of  rare 
beauty — is  very  fine.  The  business  portion  is 
divided  into  small  lots,  and  the  buildings,  gen- 
erally of  brick,  are  placed  in  compact  blocks. 
The  portion  for  residences,  however,  is  in 
marked  contrast  with  the  other.  Here  the 
lots  contain  from  one  acre  to  five,  and  in  the 
suburbs  over  ten  acres,  according  to  the  ability 
or  taste  of  the  owners.  These  grounds  are 
laid  off  in  excellent  taste.  Neatly  trimmed 
hedges  line  the  gravelled  walks.  The  lux- 
uriant shrubbery  and  gorgeous  flowers  of  the 

.  genial  South  greet  the  eye  in  endless  pro- 
fusion and  variety.  Beautiful  arbors,  in  some 
cool,  shady  spot,  invite  the  stranger.  And 
trees,  loaded  with  ripened  figs  and  peaches, 
and  all  that  is  delicious,  bend  to  the  hand  that 
will  pluck  their  treasures.  In  the  midst,  as 

1  far  as  possible  removed  from  the  dust  and  din 
of  the  street,  and  embowered  in  magnificent 
liveoaks  and  grand  old  cedars,  stand  the  man- 
sions. They  are  as  different  as  the  varied 
tastes  and  conditions  of  their  respective  own- 
ers, but  they  all  bear  an  air  of  comfort  and 
luxury,  which  proclaims  the  cultivated  tastes 
and  generous  fortunes  of  their  occupants.  The 
buildings  are  not  only  models  of  architectural 
taste,  but  they  are  furnished  with  unusual 
richness,  amounting  in  many  cases  to  extrava- 
gance. This  was  the  Jackson  of  the  past.  The 
Jackson  of  to-jday  is  quite  another  place,  for 
the  fortunes  of  war  have  borne  heavily  upon 
it.  The  penitentiary,  one  of  her  fine  hotels, 
her  cotton  factory,  founderies,  a  whole  block 
of  stores,  several  warehouses,  and  the  railroad 
bridge  and  depot  buildings  were  destroyed 
while  the  Federal  troops  occupied  the  city  in 
May.  The  reoccupation  and  evacuation  by 
the  Confederate  armies  cost  her  another  large 
block  of  stores  and  the  other  hotel.  The  pres- 
ent occupation  by  the  Federal  army  has  well- 
nigh  served  to  blot  the  place  from  existence. 
The  first  few  hours  were  devoted  by  our  sol- 
diers to  ransacking  the  town,  and  appropria- 
ting whatever  of  value  or  otherwise  pleased 
their  fancy,  or  to  the  destruction  of  such  arti- 
cles as  they  were  unable  to  appreciate  or  re- 
move. Pianos  and  articles  of  furniture  were 
demolished,  libraries  were  torn  to  pieces  and 
trampled  in  the  dust,  pictures  thrust  through 
with  bayonets,  windows  broken  and  doors  torn 
from  their  hinges.  Finally,  after  every  other 
excess  had.  been  committed  in  the  destruction 
of  property,  the  torch  was  applied.  From 
that  hour  to  the  present,  there  has  scarcely 
been  a  moment  when  the  citizens  could  not 
walk  the  streets  by  the  light  of  blazing  build- 
ings. The  entire  business  portion  of  the  city 
is  in  ruins,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  old 
frame  buildings,  which  the  citizens  must  have 
long  regarded  as  an  injury  to  the  place.  One 
residence  after  another  has  been  burned,  until 
none  of  the  really  fine  ones  remain,  save  those 
occupied  as  quarters  by  some  of  our  general 
officers.  The  State  house  and  court  house 


and  insane  asylum  are  preserved  and  under 
guard.  It  is  not  improbable,  however,  that 
they,  together  with  all  the  remaining  residen- 
ces worth  anything,  will  be  fired  by  our  rear 
guard  when  we  leave  the  city  to-night.  Of 
the  Jackson  of  a  few  days  ago,  not  above 
one  fourth  of  the  houses  remain,  and  they 
are  nearly  all  the  residences  of  the  poorer 
classes." 

Another  circumstance  attended  the  return  of 
the  force  of  Gen.  Sherman  to  Vicksburg,  which 
is  so  peculiar  to  army  movements  into  the 
Southern  States,  that  a  mention  of  it  should 
not  be  omitted. 

"The  return  of  the  army  from  Jackson  was 
the  occasion  of  a  remarkable  exodus  of  negroes. 
There  were  few  able-bodied  young  men  among 
them,  for  it  is  the  policy  of  the  masters  to 
move  that  class  farther  south,  and  leave  only 
the  old  and  helpless  behind  them.  But  all  the 
old  men  and  women  and  the  young  children  in 
the  whole  region  of  country  around  Jackson — 
those  who  have  been  a  burden  upon  their  mas- 
ters, and  will  necessarily  be  dependent  on  our 
eharity — accompanied  the  army  on  its  return, 
in  large  numbers.  Every  species  of  vehicle, 
and  an  untold  number  of  broken-down  horses 
and  mules,  were  pressed  into  the  service  by 
the  contrabands  en  route  for  Vicksburg.  Their 
effects  consisted  of  a  wonderful  quantity  of 
old  clothing  and  bedding,  and  dilapitated  furni- 
ture, which  they  seemed  to  regard  as  of  ines- 
timable value.  The  transportation,  however, 
was  not  sufficient  for  all,  and  hundreds,  carry- 
ing as  many  as  possible  of  the  movable  arti- 
cles, trudged  along  on  foot.  All  seemed  anima- 
ted by  a  fear  that  our  rear  guard  would  over- 
take, pass,  and  leave  them  behind,  and  such  a 
straining  of  energies,  hurrying  and  bustling, 
were  never  before  known  among  the  whole 
black  creation.  The  soldiers  were  particularly 
struck  with  the  ludicrous  appearance  presented 
by  the  darkies,  and  the  tedium  and  fatigue  of 
the  march  were  often  relieved  by  good  jokes 
cracked  at  their  expense,  which  served  to  con- 
vulse  the  whole  brigade  with  laughter. 

"  The  minds  of  all  of  them  are  filled  with 
the  most  extravagant  ideas  of  the  North.  It  is 
to  them  a  country  of  ease  and  plenty  and  hap- 
piness, and  say  and  do  what  you  will,  as  soon 
as  the  military  blockade  is  made  less  stringent, 
they  will  go  North,  if  they  accomplish  the  dis- 
tance on  foot.  They  don't  feel  safe  here,  not 
even  those  whose  owners  are  dead." 

A  military  and  naval  force  was  sent  to  Ya- 
zoo  City,  on  the  13th.  It  took  three  hundred 
prisoners,  captured  one  steamer  and  burned 
five,  took  six  cannon,  two  hundred  and  fifty 
small  arms,  and  eight  hundred  horses  and 
rnules.  No  loss  on  our  side  was  reported. 
Small  expeditions  were  also  sent  against  Can- 
ton, Pontotoc,  Granada,  and  Natchez,  Missis- 
sippi. At  Granada,  a  large  amount  of  railroad 
rolling  stock  was  destroyed.  The  other  expe- 
ditions were  also  successful,  meeting  with  very 
little  opposition.  As  soon  as  his  army  was 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


365 


supplied  and  rested,  Gen.  Grant  sent  a  force 
under  Gen.  Steele  to  Helena,  to  cooperate  with 
Gen.  Schofield's  troops  against  Little  Kock,  and 
another,  under  Gens.  Ord  and  Herron,  to  New 
Orleans,  to  reenforce  Gen.  Banks  for  such  ulterior 
operations  as  he  might  deem  proper  to  undertake. 


After  Gen.  Grant  left  Vicksburg  to  assume 
the  general  command  east  of  the  Mississippi, 
Gen.  McPherson  moved  with  a  part  of  his 
force  to  Canton,  Mississippi,  scattering  the  en- 
emy's cavalry,,  and  destroying  his  materials  and 
roads  in  the  centre  of  that  State.. 


CHAPTEE  XXIX. 


Campaign  of  Gen.  Banks — The  Naval  Force— Action  with  the  Batteries  at  Port  Hudson — March  of  Gen.  Banks  west  of  tha 
Mississippi — Action  at  Brashear — Advance  upon  Alexandria — Its  Capture — March  to  Semmesport— Crossing  the  Mis- 
sissippi— Attack  on  Port  Hudson— Its  Investment— Siege — Surrender. 


THE  military  operations  before  Vicksbnrg 
were  only  the  prominent  features  of  a  great 
campaign  extending  from  "Washington  to  New 
Orleans.  The  movements  of  General  Banks, 
particularly  against  Port  Hudson,  which  fell 
with  the  fall  of  Vicksburg,  and  the  advance  of 
General  Lee  upon  Washington,  one  object  of 
which  was  to  make  a  diversion  in  favor  of 
Vicksburg,  or  rather  to  take  advantage  of  the 
concentration  of  so  large  a  force  at  such  a  dis- 
tance, were  incidents  of  the  same  campaign. 
Gen.  Banks's  arrival  in  New  Orleans  at  the 
close  of  1862  has  been  stated.  The  fleet,»which 
arrived  at  the  same  time,  consisted  of  twenty- 
six  steam  vessels  and  twenty-five  sailing  vessels, 
and  the  military  force  about  ten  thousand  men. 
Immediately  upon  his  arrival,  General  Banks 
took  the  position  of  General  Butler  as  command- 
er of  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  and  the  lat- 
ter reported  at  Washington.  The  leading  ob/- 
jects  of  Gen.  Banks's  expedition  were  to 
strengthen  the  military  force  in  Louisiana,  and 
to  cooperate  in  opening  the  Mississippi — two 
points  on  the  banks  of  which  were  known  to 
be  strongly  fortified,  Port  Hudson  and  Vicks- 
burg. It  was  anticipated  that  these  works 
might  be  reduced  in  a  short  time,  and  that  the 
strength  of  General  Banks  might  be  sufficient 
for  a  movement  on  Texas.  But  it  was  soon 
perceived,  after  his  arrival  in  New  Orleans,  that 
military  affairs  were  in  such  an  uncertain  con- 
dition that  the  moment  for  immediate  activity 
could  not  be  determined.  'Meanwhile  General 
Banks  devoted  his  attention  to  the  arrangement 
of  affairs  at  New  Orleans.  Nothing  of  im- 
portance occurred,  unless  it  was  a  small  affair 
on  the  Teche  Eiver,  in  which  Commander  Bu- 
chanan, of  the  gunboat  Calhoun,  was  killed, 
early  in  January.  In  March,  Gen.  Banks  had 
concentrated  his  force  at  Baton  Rouge,  number- 
ing nearly  twenty-five  thousand  men.  On  the 
13th  a  military  movement  on  Port  Hudson  was 
ostensibly  commenced,  to  divert  the  attention 
of  the  enemy,  while  the  vessels  ran  above  the 
batteries.  The  naval  force  was  under  the  com- 
mand of  Admiral  Farragut.  Its  result  was  to 
transfer  a  portion  of  the  fleet  above  Port  Hud- 
son, where  it  could  cooperate  with  the  force 


above,  and  also  cut  off  supplies  to  the  enemy 
from  Red  River.  Maj.-Gen.  Halleck,  in  his  an- 
nual report,  says:  "Had  our  land  forces  in- 
vested Port  Hudson  at  this  time,- it  would  have 
been  easily  reduced,  as  its  garrison  was  weak. 
This  would  have  opened  communication  by  the 
Mississippi  River  with  Gen.  Grant  at  Vicksburg. 
But  the  strength  of  the  place  was  not  then 
known." 

The  naval  force  consisted  of  the  frigates 
Hartford,  Mississippi,  Richmond,  and  Monon- 
gahela,  and  the  gunboats  Albatross,  Genesee, 
Kineo,  Essex,  and  Sachem,  and  six  mortar 
schooners.  They  reached  Profit's  Island,  five 
miles  below  Port  Hudson,  early  the  next  morn- 
ing. At  one  P.  M.,  the  mortars  and  the  gun- 
boats Sachem  and  Essex,  being  in  position, 
opened  fire  on  the  batteries  at  Port  Hudson. 
The  line  of  the  batteries  commenced  below  the 
town  and  extended  on  the  face  of  the  bluff, 
midway  between  the  crest  and  the  river  bank, 
about  three  and  a  half  miles.  At  nine  and  a 
half  o'clock  that  night  the  signal  to  advance 
was  made.  The  Hartford,  Capt.  Palmer,  with 
Admiral  Farragut  on  board,  with  the  gunboat 
Albatross,  Lieut.-Com.  Hart,  lashed  to  her 
side,  took  the  lead.  The  Richmond,  Capt. 
Alden,  the  gunboat  Genesee,  Commander 
McComb,  the  Monongahela,  Capt.  McKinstry, 
the  Kineo,  Lieut.-Com.  Waters,  and  the  Missis- 
sippi, Capt.  Melancthon  Smith,  followed  in  the 
order  named.  The  mortars  meanwhile  kept 
up  their  fire.  Soon  after,  rockets  were  sent  up 
by  the  enemy  to  give  warning  of  the  approach 
of  the  fleet.  As  the  vessels  approached  the 
batteries  opened  fire,  which  was  replied  to.  At 
the  same  time  fires  were  kindled  by  the  enemy 
on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river,  which  re- 
vealed the  position  of  the  vessels.  The  Hart- 
ford and  Albatross  were  successful  in  running 
above  the  batteries,  but  the  smoke  from  their 
fire  obscured  the  river  before  the  other  vessels. 
The  Richmond  received  a  shot  through  her 
steam  drum,  and  was  compelled  to  drop  down 
out  of  fire  and  anchor.  Three  of  her  crew 
were  killed  and  seven  wounded.  The  Monon- 
gahela, after  her  captain  was  seriously  injured, 
also  dropped  down  the  river  and  anchored. 


366 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


The  Kineo  received  a  shot  through  her  rudder 
post,  and  her  propeller  was  made  foul  by  a 
hawser,  which  rendered  her  unmanageable, 
and  she  floated  down  and  anchored.  After 
the  guns  of  the  batteries  were  got  into  range 
the  fire  was  so  accurate  and  constant  as  to 
threaten  the  destruction  of  every  gunboat  in 
the  fleet.  The  Mississippi  grounded  under  the 
guns  of  a.  battery  astern,  another  on  the  bow, 
and  others  opposite  to  her.  The  enemy,  upon 
discovering  her  position,  concentrated  their 
nearest  guns  upon  her.  She  continued  her 
fire  for  some  time  after  getting  aground.  Capt. 
Smith,  finding  it  to  be  impossible  to  get  her 
off,  determined  to  abandon  her.  He  then 
ordered  the  engines  to  be  destroyed,  the  guns 
to  be  spiked,  and  the  vessel  to  be  set  on  fire. 
The  officers  and  crew  were  then  hurried  off  to 
the  shore  opposite  the  batteries.  Some  of  the 
crew  are  supposed  to  have  jumped  overboard, 
a  few  were  taken  prisoners,  and  the  rest  pro- 
ceeded down  the  shore  and  were  taken  off  by 
the  other  vessels.  Of  two  hundred  and  thir- 
ty-three officers  and  men,  twenty-nine  were 
missing.  The  vessel,  after  becoming  lighter  by 
burning  her  top,  drifted  off,  and,  floating  down 
the  stream,  finally  blew  up.  Her  armament 
consisted  of  nineteen  eight-inch,  one  ten-inch, 
one  twenty-pound  Parrott,  and  two  small  how- 
itzers in  the  tops. 

Meanwhile,  at  three  o'clock  on  Friday  after- 
noon, Gen.  Grover's  division  marched  out  of 
Baton  Rouge,  followed  in  the  evening  by  Gen. 
Emory's  division,  and  on  the  next  morning  by 
that  of  Gen.  Augur.  The  army  readied 
Springfield  road  crossing  without  a  skirmish. 
The  headquarters  of  Gen.  Banks  were  estab- 
lished here,  which  was  about  seven  miles  from 
Port  Hudson.  During  Saturday  the  entire 
body  of  cavalry  and  some  infantry  regiments 
were  sent  out  on  the  Bayou  Sara  road  toward 
Port  Hudson,  and  down  the  Ross  and  Spring- 
field Landing  roads  to  reconnoitre.  One  or 
two  sharp  skirmishes  took  place  with  a  force 
of  Confederate  cavalry  and  infantry  sent  out 
from  Port  Hudson  and  deployed  as  skirmishers 
in  the  woods.  Toward  evening  the  enemy  re- 
tired within  their  intrenchments.  Two  Fede- 
ral officers  were  wounded.  On  Sunday  morn- 
ing orders  were  issued  to  return  to  Baton 
Rouge,  which  was  accomplished  by  evening. 
On  the  next  day,  an  attempt  to  open  communi- 
cation with  Admiral  Farragut  by  sending  a 
small  force  across  the  point  of  land  opposite 
Port  Hudson — the  fourth  effort  to  cross  the 
point — was  successful,  but  Admiral  Farragut 
had  moved  up  the  river.  The  difficulties  were 
caused  by  a  flood.  The  rebels  had  cut  the 
levee  above. 

The  attention  of  G^n.  Banks  was  now  turned 
to  that  part  of  the  State  west  of  New  Orleans 
and  bordering  on  the  Teche  river.  Opposite 
New  Orleans,  on  the  other  side  of  the  Missis- 
sippi river,  commences  the  New  Orleans  and 
Opelousaa  railroad,  which  runs  westwardly  a 
distance  of  eighty  miles  to  Brashear.  This 


place  is  situated  on  the  Atchafalaya  river 
where  it  flows  out  of  Lake  Chetimacha  into  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico.  Nearly  opposite,  on  the  west- 
ern side  of  the  river,  is  Berwick  City,  situated 
at  the  junction  of  the  Teche  river,  or  bayou, 
with  the  Atchafalaya.  The  Teche  river  com- 
mences in  St.  Landry  parish,  a  few  miles  from 
Opelousas,  and  flows  southeast  in  a  very  tor- 
tuous course  for  two  hundred  miles.  Duriag 
high  water  it  is  navigable  nearly  its  whole 
length.  On  the  banks  of  this  river  flourish  the 
finest  sugar-cane  plantations  in  the  State.  The 
chief  towns  on  the  river  are  Franklin,  Martins- 
ville,  and  Opelousas. 

A  considerable  force  of  the  enemy  was  at 
this  time  stationed  within  supporting  distance 
on  the  Teche.  It  had  been  kept  there  to  repel 
a  threatened  invasion  up  that  stream  by  the 
Federal  force  under  Gen.  Weitzel.  The  plant- 
ers, supposing  the  Confederate  force  sufficient 
for  their  protection,  had  put  in  their  crops  as 
usual.  When  Gen.  "Weitzel  made  the  first  at- 
tempt to  advance  up  the  river,  with  the  in- 
tention of  establishing  his  headquarters  at 
Franklin,  the  river  was  obstructed  a  few  miles 
above  its  mouth.  To  prevent  these  obstruc- 
tions from  being  removed,  the  enemy  had 
thrown  up  earthworks,  extending  from  the 
bank  of  the  river  back  to  an  impassable  swamp, 
and  planted  a  battery.  Here  Gen.  Moulton, 
with  fifteen  hundred  men,  aided  by  the  gunboat 
Cotton,  made  such  a  stubborn  resistance,  that 
Gen.  Weitzel  was  obliged  to  fall  back.  The 
enemy,  supposing  his  object  had  been  to  cap- 
ture the  gunboat,  removed  her  stores  and  am- 
munition immediately  afterward,  and  burned 
her ;  thus  showing  that  they  apprehended  a 
defeat  on  another  attack.  Subsequently  the 
water  washed  a  channel  round  the  obstruc- 
tions, and  the  passage  up  ceased  to  be  disputed 
at  that  point.  But  much  more  formidable 
works  were  constructed  a  few  miles  above  Pat- 
tersonville,  and  earthworks  thrown  up  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  to  prevent  a  flank 
movement  by  land  or  water.  The  distance  at 
this  point  from  the  river  back  to  the  swamp 
was  about  three  fourths  of  a  mile.  A  small 
force  could  thus  hold  at  bay  here  one  greatly 
superior  in  numbers.  Several  thousand  troops 
of  the  enemy  were  posted  here,  and  those  be- 
low were  expected  to  fall  back  as  the  Federal 
force  advanced. 

It  was  to  this  region,  comprising  the  parishes 
or  counties  of  Terrebonne,  Lafourche,  Assump- 
tion, St.  Mary,  and  St.  Martin,  that  Gen.  Banks 
now  transferred  his  army  from  Baton  Rouge. 
His  object  was  the  reclamation  of  this  rich 
country,  which  had  furnished  inestimable  sup-i 
plies  to  the  enemy,  and  which  sustained  a  dense 
slave  population.  Having  concentrated  his  for- 
ces at  Brashear,  Gen.  Weitzel's  brigade  was 
crossed  over  to  Berwick  on  the  10th  of  April. 
The  landing  was  not  disputed,  but  a  reconnois- 
sance  discovered  a  force  of  the  enemy,  which  re- 
tired. On  the  next  day,  Saturday,  the  infantry 
advanced  a  short  distance.  On  Sunday,  the  di- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


367 


vision  of  Gen.  Emory  crossed,  and  the  combined 
force  made  an  advance,  which  the  enemy  op- 
posed, but  not  obstinately.  In  this  order  the 
Federal  column  advanced,  feeling  its  way,  while 
the  enemy,  whose  forces  were  commanded  by 
Gen.  Taylor,  slowly  retired  upon  their  fortified 
position  a  few  miles  above  Pattersonville.  On 
the  13th  there  was  considerable  fighting,  mostly 
with  the  artillery,  in  which  the  Diana,  a  Fed- 
eral gunboat,  captured  about  four  weeks  pre- 
vious, bore  a  conspicuous  part.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  Saturday,  the  12th,  the  division  of  Gen. 
Grover  left  Brashear  on  the  gunboats  Clifton, 
Estrella,  Arizona,  and  Calhoun,  and  trans- 
ports, and  proceeded  up  the  Atchafalaya,  into 
Lake  Ohetimacha.  The  object  was  to  get  into 
the  rear  of  the  enemy,  and  if  possible  cut  off 
his  retreat  if  he  evacuated  his  position,  or  to 
attack  him  in  rear  at  the  time  of  the  attack  in 
front.  Some  difficulties  delayed  the  expedi- 
tion, but  it  effected  a  landing  early  the  next 
morning,  about  three  miles  west  of  Franklin, 
near  a  spot  called  Irish  Bend.  At  this  time 
the  gunboat  Queen  of  the  West,  which  had 
been  captured  previously  by  the  enemy,  was 
blown  up  and  destroyed  on  the  lake.  Skir- 
mishing immediately  ensued  with  a  small  force 
of  the  enemy,  that  fell  back  as  Gen.  Grover  ad- 
vanced. His  position  was  about  eleven  miles 
distant  from  Gen.  Banks.  At  Irish  Bend  the 
enemy  seemed  to  be  determined  to  make  a 
stand,  and  a  sharp  struggle  followed,  in  which 
they  were  forced  to  retire  to  the  woods  and 
canes.  On  this  retreat  they  destroyed  the 
gunboat  Diana  and  the  transports  Gossamer, 
Newsboy,  and  Era  No.  2,  at  Franklin.  This  sue 
cess  of  Gen.  Grover  was  followed  by  the  evac- 
uation of  the  works  before  Gen.  Banks.  Early 
on  Tuesday  morning,  the  cavalry  and  artil- 
lery, followed  by  Gen.  Weitzel's  brigade,  with 
Col.  Ingraham's  force  of  Gen.  Emory's  division 
as  a  support,  followed  the  enemy.  So  rapid 
was  the  pursuit  that  the  enemy  was  unable  to 
remove  the  transports  at  New  Iberia,  and  five, 
with  all  the  commissary  stores  and  ammunition 
with  which  they  were  loaded,  were  destroyed 
at  that  place,  together  with  an  incompleta  iron- 
clad gunboat.  On  Thursday,  the  army  reached 
New  Iberia.  A  foundery  for  the  manufacture 
of  cannon  and  other  munitions  of  war  was  im- 
mediately taken  possession  of,  as  a  similar  one 
had  been  seized  two  days  before  at  Franklin. 
Two  regiments  were  also  sent  to  destroy  the 
tools  and  mathinery  at  the  celebrated  salt 
mine  of  the  town.  Thus  far  about  fifteen  hun- 
dred prisoners  had  been  captured,  and  more 
than  five  hundred  horses,  mules,  and  beef  cat- 
tle taken  from  the  plantations.  The  Federal 
loss  was  small.  The  entire  force  of  the  enemy 
was  about  ten  thousand  men. 

On  the  next  day,  the  17th,  the  army  moved 
forward,  but  Gen.  Grover,  who  had  marched 
from  New  Iberia  by  a  shorter  road,  and  thus 
gained  the  advance,  met  the  enemy  at  Bay- 
on  Vermilion.  Their  force  consisted  of  a  con- 
siderable number  of  cavalry,  one  thousand  in- 


fantry, and  six  pieces  of  artillery,  massed  in  a 
strong  position  on  the  opposite  bank.  They 
were  immediately  attacked  and  driven  from 
their  position,  but  not  until  they  had  succeeded 
in  destroying  by  fire  the  bridge  across  the  river. 
The  night  of  the  17th  and  the  next  day  was 
passed  in  rebuilding  the  bridge.  On  the  19th, 
the  march  was  resumed,  and  continued  to  the 
vicinity  of  Grand  Coteau ;  and  on  the  next  day 
the  main  force  of  Gen.  Banks  occupied  Ope- 
lousas.  At  the  same  time,  the  cavalry,  support- 
ed by  a  regiment  of  infantry  and  a  section  of 
artillery,  were  thrown  forward  six  miles  to 
Washington,  on  the  Corn-tableau.  On  the  21st, 
no  movement  was  made,  but  on  the  next  day, 
Brig. -Gen.  Dwight,  of  Gen.  Grover's  division, 
with  detachments  of  artillery  and  cavalry,  was 
pushed  forward  through  Washington  toward 
Alexandria.  He  found  the  bridges  over  the 
Cocodrie  and  Boeuf  destroyed,  and  during  the 
evening  and  night  replaced  them  by  a  single 
bridge  at  the  junction  of  the  bayous.  A 
steamer  had  just  been  burned  by  the  enemy, 
but  the  principal  portion  of  her  cargo,  which 
had  been  transferred  to  a  flat,  was  captured. 
Orders  were  also  found  there  from  Gen.  Moore 
to  Gen.  Taylor,  in  command  of  the  Confederate 
force,  directing  him  to  retreat  slowly  to  Alex- 
andria, and,  if  pressed,  to  retire  to  Texas. 

Another  expedition,  under  Lieut.-Col.  Blan- 
chard,  was  sent  out  Tby  way  of  Barre's  Land- 
ing, to  examine  the  Bayou  Courtableau  in  the 
direction  of  Bute-a-la-Rose,  but  he  found  the 
roads  impassable  four  miles  beyond  Barre's 
Landing.  The  steamer  Ellen  was  captured  by 
him,  which  proved  a  timely  assistance.  Previ- 
ously Bute-a-la-Rose  had  been  taken  by  orders 
of  Gen.  Banks,  with  its  garrison  of  sixty  men, 
two  heavy  guns,  and  a  large  quantity  of  ammu- 
nition. The  result  of  the  expedition  thus  far  is 
thus  stated  by  Gen.  Banks :  "  We  have  destroy- 
•  ed  the  enemy's  army  and  navy,  and  made  their 
reorganization  impossible  by  destroying  or  re-" 
moving  the  material.  We  hold  the  key  of  the 
position.  Among  the  evidences  of  our  victory 
are  two  thousand  prisoners,  two  transports, 
and  twenty  guns  taken,  and  three  gunboats 
and  eight  transports  destroyed." 

On  the  6th  of  May,  Admiral  Porter  appeared 
before  Alexandria  with  a  fleet  of  gunboats,  and 
took  possession  of  the  town  without  opposition. 
On  that  evening  the  cavalry  of  Gen.  Dwight 
dashed  into  the  place,  and  the  next  morning 
the  advance  of  Gen.  Banks  arrived.  Alexan- 
dria is  the  capital  of  Rapides  parish  in  Louisi- 
ana. It  is  situated  on  the  Red  river,  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  its  mouth,  and  in 
the  centre  of  a  rich  cotton-growing  region. 

The  country  thus  occupied  by  Gen.  Banks 
was  the  mos.t  fertile  portion  of  the  State  of 
Louisiana.  His  movements  had  been  so  rapid 
that  the  enemy  h;id  been  nllowed  no  opportunity 
to  make  a  stand  against  him  after  their  defeat 
near  Franklin.  The  capture  of  Alexandria  and 
the  attack  on  Fort  de  Russe  below,  was  reported 
by  Admiral  Porter,  witli  his  movements,  thus: 


368 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


MISSISSIPPI  SQUADRON,  FLAG  SHIP  GENERAL  PR:CE,  ) 
GRAND  GULF,  Miss.,  May  l&A.     ) 
To  Secretary  Welles  : 

SIR  :  I  had  the  honor  to  inform  you  from  Alexandria 
of  the  capture  of  that  place,  and  the  forts  defending 
the  approaches  to  the  city,  by  the  naval  force  under  my 
command.  Twenty-four  hours  after  we  arrived  the  ad- 
vance guard  of  United  States  troops  came  into  the  city. 
Gen.  Banks  arriving  soon  after,  I  turned  the  place  over 
to  his  keeping.  The  water  beginning  to  fall,  I  deemed 
it  prudent  to  return  with  the  largest  vessels  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Bed  river.  I  dropped  down  to  Fort  de 
Russe  in  the  Benton,  and  undertook  to  destroy  these 
works.  I  only  succeeded,  however,  in  destroying  the 
three  heavy  casemates  commanding  the  channel  and  a 
small  water  battery  for  two  guns.  About  600  yards 
below  it  I  destroyed  by  bursting  one  heavy  thirty-two 
pounder  and  some  gun  carriages  left  in  their  hurry  by 
the  enemy. 

The  main  fort,  on  a  hill  some  900  yards  from  the 
water,  I  was  unable  to  attend  to.  It  is  quite  an  exten- 
sive work,  new  and  incomplete,  but  built  with  much 
labor  and  pains.  It  will  tuke  two  or  three  vessels  to 
pull  it  to  pieces.  I  have  not  the  powder  to  spare  to 
blow  it  up.  The  vessels  will  be  ordered  to  work  on  it 
occasionally,  and  it  will  be  soon  destroyed.  In  this 
last-mentioned  fort  was  mounted  the  11-inch  gun, 
which  I  am  led  to  believe  lies  in  the  middle  of  the 
river,  near  the  fort,  the  rebels  throwing  it  overboard 
in  their  panic  at  the  approach  of  our  gunboats.  The 
raft  which  closed  the  entrance  I  have  blown  up,  sawed 
in  two,  and  presented  to  the  poor  of  the  neighborhood. 
I  sent  Commander  Woodworth  in  the  Price,  with  the 
Switzerland,  Pittsburg,  and  Arizona,  up  Black  river 
to  make  a  rec,onnoissance,  and  he  destroyed  a  large 
amount  of  stores,  valued  at  $300,000,  consisting  of 
salt,  sugar,  rum,  molasses,  tobacco,  and  bacon. 
(Signed)  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Acting  Rear-Admiral, 
Commanding  Mississippi  Squadron. 

While  at  Opelousas,  Gen.  Banks  issued  the 
following  order : 

UKADQUARTEBS  DEPARTMENT  OF  TETB  GULT,          ) 
IDTii  ABMY  COKPS,  OPELOUSAS,  May  Is*,  1868.  f 
The  Major-General  commanding  the  Department  pro- 
poses the  organization  of  a  corps  d'armee  of  colored 
troops,  to  be  designated  as  the  "  Corps  d'Afrique."    It 
will  consist  ultimately  of  eighteen  regiments,  repre- 
senting all  arms— infantry,  artillery,  cavalry — making 
nine  brigades,  of  tsvo  regiments  each,  and  three  divis-. 
.  ions  of  three  brigades  each,  with  'appropriate  corps 
of  engineers,  and  flying  hospitals  for  each  division. 
Appropriate  uniforms,  and  the  graduation  of  pay  to 
correspond  with  the  value  of  services,  will  be  hereafter 
awarded. 

In  the  field,  the  efficiency  of  each  corps  depends  upon 
the  influence  of  its  officers  upon  the  troops  engaged, 
and  the  practical  limits  of  one  direct  command  is  gen- 
erally estimated  at  1,000  men.  The  most  eminent 
military  historians  and  commanders,  among  others, 
Thiers  and  Chambray,  express  the  opinion,  upon  a  full 
review  of  the  elements  of  military  power,  that  the 
valor  of  the  soldier  is  rather  acquired  than  natural. 
Nations  whose  individual  heroism  is  undisputed,  have 
failed  as  soldiers  in  the  field.  The  European  and 
American  continents  exhibit  instances  of  this  charac- 
ter, and  the  military  prowess  of  every  nation  may  be 
estimated  by  the  centuries  it  has  devoted  to  military 
contest,  or  the  traditional  passion  of  its  people  for  mil- 
itary glory.  With  a  race  unaccustomed  to  military 
service,  much  more  depends  on  the  immediate  influ- 
ence of  officers  upon  individual  members,  than  with 
those  that  have  acqui^d  more  or  less  of  warlike  habits 
and  spirit  by  centuries  of  contest.  It  is  deemed  best, 
therefore,  in  the  organization  of  the  Corps  d'Afrique, 
to  limit  the  regiment  to  the  smallest  number  of  men 
consistent  with  efficient  service  in  the  field,  in  order  to 
secure  the  most  thorough  instruction  and  discipline, 
and  the  largest  influence  of  the  officers  over  the  troops. 
At  first  they  will  be  limited  to  five  hundred  men.  The 


average  of  Arnerican    regiments    is  less  than  that 
number. 

The  Commanding  General  desires  to  detail,  for  tem- 
porary or  permanent  duty,  the  best  officers  of  the  army, 
for  the  organization,  instruction,  and  discipline  *f  this 
corps.  With  their  aid  he  is  confident  that  the  corps 
will  render  important  service  to  the  Government.  It 
is  not  established  upon  any  dogma  of  equality,  or  other 
theory,  but  as  a  practical  and  sensible  matter  of  busi- 
ness. The  Government  makes  use  of  mules,  horses, 
uneducated  and  educated  white  men,  in  the  defence  of 
its  institutions.  Why  should  not  the  negro  contribute 
whatever  is  in  his  power  for  the  cause  in  which  he  is 
as  deeply  interested  as  other  men?  We  may  properly 
demand  from  him  whatever  service  he  can  render. 
The  chief  defect  in  organizations  of  this  character  hua 
arisen  from  incorrect  ideas  of  the  officers  in  command. 
Their  discipline  has  been  lax,  and,  in  some  cases,  the 
conduct  of  their  regiments  unsatisfactory  and  discred- 
itable. Controversies  unnecessary  and  injurious  to  the 
service  have  arisen  between  them  and  other  troops. 
The  organization  proposed  will  reconcile  and  avoid 
many  of  these  troubles. 

Officers  and  soldiers  will  consider  the  exigencies  of 
the  service  in  this  department,  and  the  absolute  neces- 
sity of  appropriating  every  element  of  power  to  the 
support-of  the  Government.  The  prejudices  or  opin- 
ions of  men  are  in  no  wise  involved.  The  coopera- 
tion and  active  support  of  all  officers  and  men,  and  the 
nomination  of  fit  men  from  the  ranks,  and  from  the 
lists  of  non-commissioned  and  commissioned  officers, 
are  respectfully  solicited  from  the  Generals  command- 
ing the  respective  divisions. 

By  command  of  Major-Gen.  BANKS. 

RICHAHD  B.  IRWIN,  A.  A.  G. 

The  subsequent  movements  of  Gen.  Banks 
in  this  part  of  the  State  met  with  no  serious 
opposition  from  the  enemy.  After  the  invest- 
ment of  Vickshurg,  his  forces  were  concentra- 
ted at  Simmesport  for  an  advance  against  Port 
Hudson.  Meanwhile  the  division  of  Gen.  Sher- 
man, which  had  been  quartered  at  New  Or- 
leans, was  not  inactive.  A  brigade  was  sent 
out  under  Gen.  Nickerson,  for  the  purpose  of 
attacking  any  forces  that  the  enemy  might  have 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Lake  Pontchartrain.  The 
first  Texas  cavalry,  under  Col.  Davis,  pushed 
as  far  as  Tickfaw  Station  on  the  railroad,  and 
captured  a  large  amount  of  cotton,  lumber, 
corn,  and  bacon.  A  lieutenant  and  eight  men 
were  made  prisoners,  among  whom  were  four- 
teen Choctaw  Indians.  In  this  neighborhood 
a  large  tannery  was  also  destroyed,  and  a  large 
car  shop,  the  Tangipaha  bridge,  and  other  val- 
uable property.  On  the  lake,  four  schooners, 
with  cargoes  of  contraband  goods,  were  burned. 

The  division  of  Gen.  Augur  had  returned  to 
Baton  Kouge,  from  which  a  force  was  sent  out 
that  penetrated  to  a  point  on  the  railroad  be- 
tween Clinton  and  Port  Hudson.  A  body  of 
the  enemy  were  encountered  and  routed.  Ol 
this  body  five  were  killed,  several  wounded, 
and  twenty-five  prisoners  taken  with  their 
horses  and  accoutrements.  About  the  same 
time  Col.  Grierson  captured  near  Port  Hudson 
three  hundred  head  of  cattle.  The  squadron, 
meanwhile,  was  anchored  at  the  head  of  Prof- 
it's Island,  not  attempting  any  hostile  demon, 
strations,  except  the  mortar  vessels,  which  at 
night  threw  a  few  shells  into  Port  Hudson. 

About  the  middle  of  May  all  the  available 
force  near  the  river  was  concentrated  at  Baton 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


369 


Rouge,  to  assist  in  the  attack  on  Port  Hudson. 
Thence  Gens.  Augur  and  Sherman  moved  to 
the  south  and  east  of  that  position,  to  coope- 
rate with  Gen.  Banks.  From  Simmesport  Gen. 
Banks  moved  his  army  to  invest  Port  Hudson. 
A  portion  of  his  infantry  was  transported  in 
steamers,  and  the  residue  with  the  artillery 
and  cavalry  and  wagon  train  moved  down  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  river,  and  thence  across 
to  Bayou  Sara,  which  is  five  miles  above  Port 
Hudson,  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi 
river.  It  was  on  the  21st  of  May  that  Gen. 
Banks  landed,  and  on  the  next  day  a  junction 
was  effected  with  the  advance  of  Maj.-Gen. 
Augur  and  Brig.-Gen.  Sherman.  His  line  oc- 
cupied the  Bayou  Sara  road.  On  this  road 
Gen.  Augur  had  an  encounter  with  a  force  of 
the  enemy,  which  resulted  in  their  repulse 
with  heavy  loss.  On  the  25th,  the  enemy  was 
compelled  to  abandon  his  first  line  of  works. 
On  the  next  day  Gen.  Weitzel's  brigade,  which 
had  covered  the  rear  in  the  march  from  Alex- 
andria, arrived,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  27th 
a  general  assault  was  made  on  the  fortifications. 
Port  Hudson,  or  Hickey's  Landing,  as  it  was 
called  some  years  ago,  is  situated  on  a  bend  in 
the  Mississippi  river,  about  twenty-two  miles 
above  Baton  Rouge,  and  one  hundred  and  for- 
ty-seven above  New  Orleans.  Approaching 
Port  Hudson  by  water  from  below,  the. first 
batteries  were  situated  on  a  bluff  about  forty 
24 


feet  above  high  water  mark.  Thence  three  se- 
ries of  batteries  extended  along  the«river  above 
Port  Hudson  to  a  point  on  .Thompson's  creek, 
making  a  continuous  line  about  three  and  a 
half  miles  in  extent.  Above  Thompson's  creek 
is  an  impassable  marsh,  forming  a  natural  de- 
fence. From  the  lower  battery  began  a  line  of 
land  fortifications,  of  semi-circular  form,  about 
ten  miles  in  extent,  with  Thompson's  creek  for 
its  natural  terminus  above.  The  guns  were  of 
heavy  caliber ;  in  addition  to  which  there  were 
light  batteries,  that  might  be  easily  taken  to 
any  part  of  the  line.  The  position  was  under 
the  command  of  Col.  Frank  Gardner. 

The  fire  of  the  artillery  of  Gen.  Banks 
opened  about  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
27th,  and  continued  with  animation  during  the 
day.  At  ten  o'clock,  Gen.  Weitzel's  brigade, 
with  the  division  of  Gen.  Grover — reduced  to 
about  two  brigades — and  the  division  of  Gen. 
Emory,  temporarily  reduced  by  detachments 
to  about  a  brigade,  under  command  of  Col. 
Paine,  with  two  regiments  of  colored  troops, 
made  an  assault  upon  the  right  of  the  ene- 
my's works,  crossing  Sandy <creek,  and  driving 
them  through  the  woods  into  their  fortifica- 
tions. The  fight  lasted  on  this  line  until  four 
o'clock,  and  was  very  severely  contested.  On 
the  left,  the  infantry  did  not  come  up  until 
later  in  the  day ;  but  at  two  o'clock  an  assault 
was  commenced  on  the  works  on  the  centre 


370 


MILITARY  AJSD  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


and  left  of  centre,  by  the  divisions  under  Maj.- 
Gen.  Augur  and  Brig.-Gen.  Sherman.  The 
enemy  was  driven  into  his  works,  and  the  Fed- 
eral troops  moved  up  to  the  fortifications, 
holding  the  opposite  sides  of  the  parapet  with 
the  enemy.  On  the  right,  the  troops  continued 
to  hold  their  position;  but  on  the  left,  after 
dark,  the  main  body,  being  exposed  to  a  flank 
fire,  withdrew  to  a  belt  of  woods.  The  skir- 
mishers remained  close  upon  the  fortifications. 
On  the  extreme  right,  the  first  and  third  regi- 
ments of  negro  troops  were  posted.  Of  their 
behavior  in  action,  Gen.  Banks  thus  reports : 
"The  position  occupied  by  these  troops  was 
one  of  importance,  and  called  for  the  utmost 
steadiness  and  bravery  in  those  to  whom  it 
was  confided.  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  report 
that  they  answered  every  expectation.  In 
many  respects  their  conduct  was  heroic.  No 
troops  could  be  more  determined  or  more  dar- 
ing. They  made  during  the  day  three  charges 
upon  the  batteries  of  the  enemy,  suffering  very 
heavy  losses,  and  holding  their  position  at 
nightfall  with  the  other  troops  on  the  right  of 
our  line.  The  highest  commendation  is  be- 
stowed upon  them  by  all  the  officers  in  com- 
mand on  the  right.  "Whatever  doubt  may 
have  existed  heretofore  as  to  the  efficiency  of 
organizations  of  this  character,  the  history  of 
this  day  proves  conclusively  to  those  who  were 
in  condition  to  observe  the  conduct  of  these 
regiments,  that  the  Government  will  find  in 
this  class  of  troops  effective  supporters  and 
defenders.  The  severe  test  to  which  they 
were  subjected,  and  the  determined  manner  in 
which  they  encountered  the  enemy,  leaves 
upon  my  mind  no  doubt  of  their  ultimate  suc- 
cess. They  require  only  good  officers,  com- 
mands of  limited  numbers,  and  careful  disci- 
pline, to  make  them  excellent  soldiers."  The 
entire  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  since 
landing  at  Bayou  Sara  to  this  time,  was  nearly 
a  thousand,  including  some  of  the  ablest  officers 
of  the  corps,  among  whom  was  Gen.  Sherman. 

A  bombardment  of  the  position  had  been 
made  by  the  fleet  under  Admiral  Farragut,  for 
a  week  previous  to  this  assault.  Reconnoissan- 
ces  had  discovered  that  the  defences  were  very 
strong,  consisting  of  several  lines  of  intrench- 
ments  and  rifle  pits,  with  abatis  of  heavy  trees 
felled  in  every  direction.  The  upper  batteries 
on  the  river  were  attacked  by  the  Hartford 
and  Albatross,  which  had  run  the  blockade, 
and  the  lower  by  the  Monongahela,  Richmond, 
Genesee,  and  Essex. 

On  the  *14th  of  June,  after  a  bombardment 
of  several  days,  another  assault  on  Port  Hud- 
eon  was  made.  The  position  of  Gen.  Banks's 
forces  at  this  time  was  somewhat  changed, 
forming  only  a  right  and  left  without  a  centre, 
and,  joined  together,  making  a  right  angle. 
The  division  of  Gen.  Grover,  on  the  upper  side 
of  Port  Hudson,  extended  a  distance  of  nearly 
four  miles  from  the  river  toward  the  interior, 
within  supporting  distance  of  Gen.  Augur's 
division.  This  was  on  the  west  side  of  the 


enemy's  fortifications,  and  extended  a  distance 
of  three  miles  to  the  river,  and  within  hailing 
of  the  fleet.  At  this  time,  looking  from  the 
extreme  northeasterly  range  of  the  enemy's 
rifle  pits  toward  the  river,  on  the  upper  side 
of  Port  Hudson,  a  long  line  of  earthworks 
could  be  seen,  glistening  with  bayonets,  and 
protected  by  a  deep  ditch  nearly  twelve  feet  in 
width.  Within  short  range,  enfilading  breast- 
works commanded  every  approach  to  the  posi- 
tion of  the  enemy.  The  defences  of  the  ene- 
my formed  nearly  a  right  angle,  both  lines  of 
which  extended  to  the  river,  and  enclosed  a 
sharp  bend.  The  point  of  attack  was  the  ex- 
treme northeasterly  angle  of  the  enemy's  po- 
sition. For  some  days  previous,  several  pieces 
of  their  artillery  had  been  dismounted  by  the 
Federal  fire  and  abandoned,  while  those  in  po- 
sition were  rendered  useless  by  the  fire  of  the 
sharpshooters.  Two  regiments  were  detailed 
as  sharpshooters,  who  were  to  creep  up  and 
lie  on  the  exterior  slope  of  the  enemy's  breast- 
works, while  another  regiment — each  soldier 
having  a  hand  grenade  besides  his  musket — 
followed.  These  grenades  were  to  be  thrown 
over  into  the  enemy's  position.  Another  regi- 
ment followed  with  bags  filled  with  cotton, 
which  were  to  be  used  to  fill  up  the  ditch  in 
front  of  the  breastworks.  After  these  regi- 
ments came  the  others  of  Gen.  "Weitzel's  brig- 
ade. Following  these  as  a  support  were  the 
brigades  of  Col.  Kimball  and  Col.  Morgan. 
These  forces  under  Gen.  Weitzel  were  designed 
for  the  attack  on  the  right.  In  conjunction, 
on  the  left,  moved  the  old  division  of  Gen. 
Emory  under  Gen.  Paine,  forming  a  separate 
column.  Both  divisions  were  under  the  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Grover,  who  planned  the  attack. 
It  was  expected  that  Gen.  Weitzel's  command 
would  make  a  lodgment  inside  of  the  enemy's 
works,  and  thus  prepare  the  way  for  Gen. 
Paine's  division.  The  advance  was  made 
about  daylight,  through  a  covered  w;iy,  to  with- 
in three  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  position ; 
then  the  field"  consisted  of  deep  pullies  covered 
by  brush  and  creeping  vines.  The  fire  of  the 
enemy  was  incessant,  but  a  part  of  the  skir- 
mishers succeeded  in  reaching  the  ditch,  where 
they  were  immediately  repulsed  by  an  enfilad- 
ing fire.  But  little  was  therefore  accomplish- 
ed with  the  hand  grenades,  as  they  were  at 
once  caught  up  by  the  enemy,  and  hurled  back. 
Meanwhile  the  assaulting  column  moved  for- 
ward as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  made  a  series 
of  desperate  assaults  on  the  works,  but  the  ene- 
my were  fully  prepared,  and  lined  every  part  of 
their  fortifications  with  heavy  bodies  of  infantry. 
It  was  a  part  of  the  general  plan  of  attack 
that  a  feint  should  be  made  on  the  extreme  left 
by  Gens.  Augur  and  Dwight.  This  assault  was 
made,  and  the  fighting  was  extremely  desperate 
on  the  part  of  the  forces  under  Gen.  Dwight. 
At  length  all  the  assaulting  columns  were  com- 
pelled to  fall  back  under  the  deadly  fire  of  the 
enemy,  and  the  fighting  finally  ceased  about 
11  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  loss  of  Gen. 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


371 


Banks  was  nearly  700  in  killed  and  wound- 
ed. Meantime  the  first  parallel  encircling  the 
outer  line  of  the  enemy  was  pushed  forward, 
and  the  skirmishers  were  posted  in  rifle  pits 
so  near  that  skirmishes  were  of  constant  occur- 
rence at  night.  A  small  force  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry  hovered  in  the  rear  of  Gen.  Banks's 
army,  without  making  any  serious  demonstra- 
tions. 

The  withdrawal  of  Gen.  Banks's  force  from 
the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi  was  followed 
by  great  activity  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  for 
the  purpose  of  recovering  the  places  held  by  a 
small  body  of  Federal  troops,  and  to  cause  a 
diversion  from  Port  Hudson.  Opelousas  was 
reoccupied  by  a  considerable  Confederate 
force  ;  the  west  bank  of  the  Mississippi  was  lined 
with  squads  of  the  rebels,  who  fired  upon  eve- 
ry boat  which  passed.  A  raid  was  made  upon 
Plaquemine  by  a  body  of  Texans,  who  burned 
two  steamers  lying  there.  They  were  driven 
out  by  Lieut.  Weaver,  commanding  the  gunboat 
Winona.  On  the  17th  of  June,  an  attack  was 
made  on  the  Federal  pickets  at  La  Fourche, 
which  was  repulsed.  On  the  next  day  it  was 
repeated  with  the  same  result.  On  the  23d, 
Brashear  City  was  captured  by  a  confederate 
force  under  Gens.  Green  and  Mouton.  A  camp 
of  slaves,  or  contrabands,  as  they  were  called, 
was  attacked  by  the  enemy,  and  large  numbers 
killed.  Immense  quantities  of  ammunition,  sev- 
eral pieces  of  artillery,  three  hundred  thousand 
dollars'  worth  of  sutler's  goods,  sugar,  flour, 
pork,  beef,  and  medical  stores,  of  vast  amount, 
were  also  captured.  On  the  28th,  an  attack  was 
made  on  Donaldsonville,  and  the  storming  par- 
ty succeeded  in  getting  into  the  fort.  But  the 
gunboats  opened  a  flanking  fire  above  and 
below  the  fort,  and  drove  back  the  supporting 
party,  so  that  the  enemy  broke  and  fled.  Of 
those  who  had  entered  the  fort,  one  hundred 
and  twenty  were  captured  and  nearly  one  hun- 
dred killed. 

Other  movements  on  the  part  of  fhe  enemy 
were  made  at  this  time,  which  indicated  great 
activity,  and  enabled  them  to  destroy  much 
Federal  property.  No  embarrassment  however 
was  caused  to  the  position  of  Gen.  Banks.  The 
enemy,  in  short,  recovered  the  La  Fourche, 
Teche,  Attakapas,  and  Opelousas  country,  and 
captured  Brashear,  with  fifteen  hundred  prison- 
ers, a  large  number  of  slaves,  and  nearly  all  the 
confiscated  cotton. 

After  these  two  attempts  to  reduce  Port  Hud- 
son by  a  land  assault,  on  the  27th  of  May  and 
14th  of  June,  the  purpose  to  make  another  was 
given  up  by  Gen.  Banks,  until  he  had  fully  in- 
vested the  place  by  a  series  of  irresistible  ap- 
proaches. He  was  thus  engaged  in  pushing 
forward  his  works  when  Vicksburg  was  sur- 
rendered. Information  of  this  surrender  was 
sent  to  Gen.  Banks,  and  it  was  made  the  occa- 
sion for  firing  salutes  and  a  general  excitement 
in  his  camp,  which  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
enemy,  to  whom  the  surrender  was  communi- 
cated. Gen.  Gardner,  upon  receiving  the  infor- 


mation, sent  by  flag  of  truce,  about  midnight  of 
the  7th,  the  following  note  to  Gen.  Banks : 

HEADQUARTERS,  PORT  HUDSOH,  LA.,  July  1th,  1863. 
To  Maj.-Gen.  Banks,  commanding  United,  States  Forces 

near  Port  Hudson : 

GENERAL  :  Having  received  information  from  your 
troops  that  Vicksburg  has  been  surrendered,  I  make 
this  communication  to  request  you  to  give  me  the  offi- 
cial assurance  whether  this  is  true  or  not,  and  if  true, 
I  ask  for  a  cessation  of  hostilities,  with  a  view  to  the 
consideration  of  terms  for  surrendering  this  position. 
I  am,  General,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
FRANK  GARDNER,  Major-General. 

To  which  Gen.  Banks  thus  replied : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  GULF,  \ 
BEFORE  PORT  HUDSON,  July  8th,  1863.     J 

To   Maj.-Gen.  Frank  Gardner,   commanding   G.  8. 

Forces,  Port  Hudson : 

GENERAL  :  In  reply  to  your  communication,  dated  the 
7th  instant,  by  flag  of  truce,  received  a  few  moments 
since,  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  I  received, 
yesterday  morning,  July  7th,  at  10.45,  by  the  gun- 
boat General  Price,  an  official  despatch  from  Major- 
Gen.  Ulysses  S.  Grant,  United  States  Army,  whereof 
the  following  is  a  true  extract : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  TENNESSEE,  ) 
NEAR  VICKSBURG,  July  4«A,  1S63.     ( 

"Maj.-Gen.  N.  P.  Banks,  commanding  Department  of 
the  Gulf: 

"GENERAL:  The  garrison  of  Vicksburg  surrendered 
this  morning.  The  number  of  prisoners,  as  given  by 
the  officer,  is  27,000,  field  artillery  128  pieces,  and  a 
large  number  of  siege  guns,  probably  not  less  than 
eighty.  Your  obedient  servant, 

"U.  S.  GRANT,  Major-General." 

I  regret  to  say,  that  under  present  circumstances,  I 
cannot,  consistently  with  my  duty,  consent  to  a  cessa- 
tion of  hostilities  for  the  purpose  you  indicate. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

N.  P.  BANKS. 

The  following  further  correspondence  then 
took  place : 

PORT  HUDSON,  July  8th,  1863. 

GENERAL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  re- 
ceipt of  your  communication  of  this  date,  giving  a 
copy  of  an  official  communication  from  Major-Gen.  U. 
S.  Grant,  United  States  Army,  announcing  the  surren- 
der of  Vicksburg. 

Having  defended  this  position  as  long  as  I  deem  my 
duty  requires,  I  am  willing  to  surrender  to  you,  and 
will  appoint  a  commission  of  three  officers  to  meet  a 
similar  commission  appointed  by  yourself,  at  nine 
o'clock  this  morning,  for  the  purpose  of  agreeing  upon 
and  drawing  up  the  terms  of  the  surrender,  and  for  that 
purpose  I  ask  tor  a  cessation  of  hostilities. 

Will  you  please  designate  a  point  outside  of  my 
breastworks,  where  the  meeting  shall  be  held  for  this 
purpose  ? 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
FRANK  GARDNER,  Commanding  C.  S.  Forces. 
HEADQUARTERS  U.  8.  FORCES,  BEFORE  1 
PORT  HUDSON,  July  8th,  1863.     ) 

To  Maj.-Gen.  Frank  Gardner,  commanding  Confed- 
erate States  Forces,  Port  Hudson  : 

GENERAL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  re- 
ceipt of  your  communication  of  this  date,  stating  that 
you  are  willing  to  surrender  the  garrison  under  your 
command  to  the  forces  under  my  command,  and  that 
you  will  appoint  a  commission  of  three  officers  to  meet 
a  similar  commission  appointed  by  me,  at  nine  o'clock 
this  morning,  for  the  purpose  of  agreeing  upon  and 
drawing  up  the  terms  of  the  surrender. 

In  reply,  I  have  the  honor  to  state  that  I  have  de- 
signated Brig.-Gen.  Charles  P.  Stone,  Col.  Henry  W. 
Birge,  and  Lieut.-Col.  Richard  B.  Irwin,  as  the  officers 
to  meet  the  commission  appointed  by  you. 


372 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


They  will  meet  your  officers  at  the  hour  designated, 
at  a  point  where  the  flag  of  truce  was  received  this 
morning.  I  will  direct  that  active  hostilities  shall 
entirely  cease  on  my  part  until  forther  notice,  for  the 
purpose  stated.  Very  respectfully  yours,  etc., 

N.  P.  BANKS,  Maj.-Gen.  Commanding. 

The  following  are  the  articles  of  capitulation 
mutually  agreed  upon  and  adopted : 

ART,  1.  Maj.-Gen.  Frank  Gardner  surrenders  to  the 
United  States  forces  under  Maj.-Gen,  Banks,  the 
place  of  Port  Hudson  and  its  dependencies,  with  its 
garrison,  armaments,  munitions,  public  funds,  and 
materials  of  war,  in  the  condition,  as  nearly  as  may 
be,  in  which  they  were  at  the  hour  of  cessation  of 
hostilities,  namely,  6  o'clock  A.  M.,  July  8th,  1863. 

ART.  2.  The  surrender  stipulated  in  article  one  is 
qualified  by  no  condition,  save  that  the  officers  and 
enlisted  men  comprising  the  garrison  shall  receive 
the  treatment  due  to  prisoners  of  war,  according  to 
the  usages  of  civilized  warfare. 

ART.  3.  All  private  property  of  officers  and  enlisted 
men  shall  be  respected,  and  left  to  their  respective 
owners. 

AET.  4.  The  position  of  Port  Hudson  shall  be  occu- 
pied to-morrow,  at  7  o'clock  A.  M.,  by  the  forces  of 
the  United  States,  and  its  garrison  received  as  pris- 
oners of  war  by  such  general  officers  of  the  United 
States  service  as  may  be  designated  by  Maj.-Gen. 
Banks,  with  the  ordinary  formalities  of  rendition. 
The  Confederate  troops  will  be  drawn  up  in  line,  offi- 
cers in  their  positions,  the  right  of  the  line  resting  on 
the  edge  of  the  prairie  south  of  the  railroad  depot ; 
the  left  extending  in  the  direction  of  the  village  of 
Port  Hudson.  The  arms  and  colors  will  be  piledcon- 
veniently,  and  will  be  received  by  the  officers  of  the 
United  States. 

ART.  5.  The  sick  and  wounded  of  the  garrison  will 
be  cared  for  by  the  authorities  of  the  United  States, 
assisted,  if  desired  by  either  party,  by  the  medical 
officers  of  the  garrison. 

The  formal  surrender  was  made  on  the  9th  of 


July.  Gen.  Andrews,  Chief  of  Staff  of  Gen. 
Banks,  with  Col.  Birge  leading  his  column,  fol- 
lowed by  two  picked  regiments  from  each  divis- 
ion, with  Holcombe's  and  Eowle's  batteries  of 
light  artillery,  and  the  gunners  of  the  naval  bat- 
tery, entered  the  fortifications.  The  enemy  were 
drawn  up  in  line,  with  their  officers  in  front  of 
them,  on  one  side  of  the  road,  with  their  backs 
to  the  river.  The  Federal  troops  were  drawn 
up  in  two  lines  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road, 
with  their  officers  in  front.  Gen.  Gardner  then 
advanced,  and  offered  to  surrender  his  sword 
with  Port  Hudson.  In  appreciation  of  his 
bravery,  he  was  desired  to  retain  it.  He  then 
said :  "  General,  I  will  now  formally  surrender 
my  command  to  you,  and  for  that  purpose  will 
give  the  order  to  ground  arms."  The  order 
was  given,  and  the  arms  grounded.  The  sur- 
render comprised,  besides  the  position,  6,233 
prisoners,  51  pieces  of  artillery,  two  steam 
ers,  4,400  Ibs.  of  cannon  powder,  5,000 
small  arms,  and  150,000  rounds  of  ammu- 
nition. The  loss  of  Gen.  Banks  from  the  23d 
to  the  30th  of  May  was  about  one  thousand. 
The  village  of  Port  Hudson  consisted  of  a  few 
nouses  and  a  small  church,  which  had  been 
nearly  destroyed  by  the  cannonade.  The 
wounded  and  sick  of  the  garrison  suffered  the 
most  from  want  of  medical  stores.  The 
provisions  of  the  garrison  were  nearly  ex- 
hausted. 

The  surrender  of  Port  Hudson  enabled  Gen. 
Banks  to  turn  his  attention  to  other  points 
which  had  been  temporarily  and  necessarily 
neglected.  His  further  movements  are  stated 
in  subsequent  pages. 


CHAPTEE    XXX. 

Movement  of  Gen.  Bnrnside  to  cross  the  Bappahannock — Storm — The  Army  returns  to  Camp — Gen.  Hooker  takes  com- 
mand— Movement  of  Gen.  Hooker  across  the  Bappahannock — The  Battle  of  Chancellorsville — Losses — The  death 
of  G»n.  "  Stonewall "  Jackson. 


AFTER  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  on  the 
13th  of  December,  1862,  the  army,  under  Maj.- 
Gen.  Burnside,  remained  inactive  for  some 
weeks.  Its  position  was  opposite  Fredericks- 
burg.  Indications  of  some  movement,  however, 
were  manifest  about  the  16th  of  January.'  The 
roads  were  dry,  and,  on  the  night  of  the  16th,  the 
pontoons  were  brought  up  from  Belle  Plain,  and 
with  the  utmost  secrecy  taken  near  the  river 
some  distance  above.  An  order  to  march  had 
been  twice  issued  and  countermanded.  On  the 
17th  it  was  issued  again,  requiring  each  soldier 
to  have  three  days'  rations  and  sjxty  rounds  of 
cartridges.  The  army  at  this  time  was  as  strong 
in  numbers  and  material  as  it  had  ever  been. 
-It  was  supposed  that  the  forces  of  Gen.  Lee  had 
been  somewhat  reduced  by  the  withdrawal  of 
small  bodies  to  reenforce  other  points.  His 


army  was  composed  of  eight  divisions,  com- 
manded by  Gens.  A.  P.  and  D.  H.  Hill,  Early, 
Hood,  Walker,  Ransom,  McLaws,  ,and  Ander- 
son. '  Each  division  consisted  of  four  to  five 
brigades,  and  each  brigade  had  from  five  to 
seven  regiments.  It  was  the  intention  of  Gen. 
Burnside  to  move  his  army  a  few  miles  further 
up  the  Rappahannock,  and  cross  at  the  fords 
and  make  an  attack  upon  the  flank  of  Gen.  Lee. 
On  the  next  day  the  order  was  postponed. 
The  enemy  in  the  mean  time  were  on  the  alert, 
and  expecting  an  attack  at  any  time.  On  Tues- 
day, the  20th,  Gens.  Hooker  and  Franklin 
moved  in  heavy  order,  with  tents,  &c.,  toward 
Hartwood  Church,  Avhich  is  directly  north  of 
the  United  States  ford  of  the  Rappahannock, 
which  is  twelve  miles  above  Fredericksburg. 
Gen.  Sigel  moved  in  the  afternoon  in  the  same 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


373 


direction.  The  movement  of  Gen.  Hooker  was 
made  by  a  road  three  miles  north  of  the  river, 
and  concealed  from  the  view  of  the  enemy's 
pickets  on  the  south  bank.  That  night,  at  ten 
o'clock,  a  storm  from  the  northeast  commenced 
with  high  wind  and  torrents  of  rain.  The  march 
began  the  next  morning  at  daylight,  but  the 
roads  had  become  almost  impassable.-  In  every 
gully,  batteries,  caissons,  supply  wagons,  am- 
bulances, and  pontoons  were  mired.  All  day 
there  was  a  constant  and  exhausting  struggle 
of  men,  horses,  and  mules  with  the  mud.  On 
Wednesday  night  the  wearied  troops  lay  down 
in  their  blankets.  The  storm  still  continued. 
During  the  next  day  an  effort  was  made  to 
concentrate  on  the  high  table  land  near  Banks's 
Ford.  It  now  became  too  manifest  that  it 
would  be  impossible  to  get  the  army  through 
the  freshly  cut  roads  to  the  river,  so  that  the 
fords  could  be  reached.  On  Friday  the  storm 
abated,  but  further  progress  was  necessarily 
suspended,  and  on  the  next  day  the  movement 
was  abandoned,  and  the  army  returned  to  its 
former  quarters. 

On  Monday,  the  26th,  Gen.  Burnside  issued 
the  following  address,  surrendering  the  com- 
mand of  the  army  to  Gen.  Hooker : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OP  THE  POTOMAC,    ) 
CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTII,  January  26th,  1863.  $ 

By  direction  of  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
the  Commanding  General  this  day  transfers  the  com- 
mand of  this  army  to  Major-Gen.  Joseph  Hooker. 

The  short  time  that  he  has  directed  your  movements 
has  not  been  fruitful  of  victory  or  any  considerable 
advancement  of  our  lines,  but  it  has  again  demonstra- 
ted an  amount  of  courage,  patience,  and  endurance  that 
under  more  favorable  circumstances  would  have  ac- 
complished great  results. 

Continue  to  exercise  these  virtues.  Be  true  in  your 
devotion  to  your  country  and  the  principles  you  have 
sworn  to  maintain.  Give  to  the  brave  and  skilful 
general  who  has  long  been  identified  with  your  or- 
ganization, and  who  is  now  to  command  you,  your  full 
and  cordial  support  and  cooperation,  and  you  will  de- 
sefve  success. 

In  taking  an  affectionate  leave  of  the  entire  army, 
from  which  he  separates  with  so  much  regret,  he  may 
be  pardoned  if  he  bids  an  especial  farewell  to  his  long- 
tried  associates  of  the  ninth  corps.  His  prayers  are 
that  God  may  be  with  you,  and  grant  you  continued 
success  until  the  rebellion  is  crushed.  ' 

By  command  of  Major-Gen.  BURNSIDE. 

LEWIS  RICHMOND,  A.  A.  G. 

At  his  own  request,  Gen.  Burnside  was  re- 
lieved of  his  command,  and  the  President  im- 
mediately conferred  it  upon  Gen.  Hooker.  The 
views  under  which  this  command  had  been  ac- 
cepted by  Gen.  Burnside  were  thus  stated  by 
him  in  his  testimony  before  a  committee  ap- 
pointed by  Congress  to  investigate  the  conduct 
of  the  war:  , 

On  the  7th  or  8th  of  November,  I  received  an  order 
from  the  President  of  the  United  States,  directing  me 
to  take  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and 
also  a  copy  of  an  order  relieving  Gen.  McClellan  from 
that  command.  This  order  was  conveyed  to  me  by 
Gen.  Buckingham,  who  was  attached  to  the  War  De- 
partment. After  getting  over  my  surprise,  the  shock, 
«c.,  I  told  Gen.  Buckingham  that  it  was  a  matter  that 
required  very  serious  thought ;  that  I  did  not  want  the 
command ;  that  it  had  been  offered  to  me  twice  before, 


and  I  did  not  feel  that  I  could  take  it;  I  counselled 
with  two  of  my  staff  officers  in  regard  to  it,  for,  I  should 
think,  an  hour  and  a  half.  They  urged  upon  me  that 
I  had  no  right,  as  a  soldier,  to  disobey  the  order,  and 
that  I  had  already  expressed  to  the  Government  my 
unwillingness  to  take  the  command;  I  told  them  what 
my  views  were  with  reference  to  my  ability  to  exercise 
such  a  command,  which  views  were  those  I  had  un- 
reservedly expressed,  that  I  was  not  competent  to  com- 
mand such  a  large  army  as  this ;  I  had  said  the  same 
over  and  over  again  to  the  President  and  Secretary  of 
War ;  and  also  that  if  matters  could  be  satisfactorily 
arranged  with  Gen.  McClellan,  I  thought  he  could 
command  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  better  than  any 
other  general  in  it. 

On  the  saine  day  when  Gen.  Burnside  re- 
tired, Gen.  Hooker,  on  assuming  the  command, 
issued  the  following  address  to  the  army : 

HEADQUARTERS,  CAMP  NEAR  FALMOITTH,  ) 

January  26<A,  1863.     ) 

By  direction  of  the  President  of  the  United  States 
the  undersigned  assumes  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac. 

He  enters  upon  the  discharge  of  the  duties  imposed 
by  the  trust  with  a  just  appreciation  of  their  respon- 
sibility. Since  the  formation  of  this  army  he  has  been 
identified  with  its  history ;  he  has  shared  with  you  its 
glories  and  reverses,  with  no  other  desire  than  that 
these  relations  might  remain  unchanged  until  its  des- 
tiny should  be  accomplished. 

In  the  record  of  your  achievements  there  is  much  to 
be  proud  of,  and,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  we  will 
contribute  something  to  the  renown  of  our  arms  and 
the  success  of  our  cause.  To.  secure  these  ends  your 
commander  will  require  the  cheerful  and  zealous  co- 
operation of  every  officer  and  soldier  in  the  army.  In 
equipment,  intelligence,  and  valor  the  enemy  is  our 
inferior.  Let  us  never  hesitate  to  give  him  battle 
whenever  we  can  find  him. 

The  undersigned  only  gives  expression  to  the  feel- 
ings of  this  army  when  he  conveys  to  our  late  com- 
mander, Maj.-Gen.  Burnside,  the  most  cordial  good 
wishes  for  his  future. 

My  staff  will  be  announced  as  soon  as  organized. 

JOSEPH  HOOKER, 
Maj.-Gen.  Commanding  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Gens.  Sumner  and  Franklin  were  at  the  same 
time  relieved  of  the  command  of  the  right  and  - 
left  divisions  of  the  army.     The  following  is 
the  official  order  of  the  President  under  which 
these  changes  were  made : 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY,        ) 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE,  V 

WASHINGTON,  Janitary  2Sth,  1863.     ) 

I.  The  President  of  the  United  States  has  directed  : 

First.  That  Maj.-Gen.  A.  E.  Burnside,  at  his  own 
request,  be  relieved  from  the  command  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac. 

Second.  That  Maj.-Gen.  E.  V.  Sumner,  at  his  own 
request,  be  relieved  from  duty  in  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac. 

Third.  That  Maj.-Gen.  W.  B.  Franklin  be  relieved 
from  duty  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Fourth.  That  Maj.-Gen.  J.  Hooker  be  assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

The  officers  relieved  as  above  will  report  in  person 
to  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  Army. 

By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 

E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 
Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

O*  the  26th  of  January,  the  Senate  of  the  U. 
S.  Congress  adopted  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  on  the  Conduct  of  the 
War  be  instructed  to  inquire  whether  Maj  -Gen  A  E " 
Burnside  has,  since  the'battle  of  Fredericksbnrg  form- 
ed any  plans  for  the  movement  of  the  Army  of  the 


374 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  KEBELLIOK 


Potomac,  or  any  portion  of  the  same ;  and  if  so,  whether 
any  subordinate  generals  of  said  army  have  written  to 
or  visited  Washington  to  oppose  or  interfere  with  the 
execution  of  such  movements,  and  whether  such  pro- 
posed movements  have  been  arrested  or  interfered 
with,  and,  if  so,  by  what  authority. 

The  report  of  the  committee,  which  was 
published  in  April,  1863,  thus  states  the  pro- 
ceedings under  the  resolution : 

Under  that  resolution,  your  committee  proceeded  to 
take  the  testimony  of  Maj.-Gens.  A.  E.  Burnside  and 
John  G.  Parke,  and  Brig.-Gens.  John  Newton,  John 
Cochrane,  and  Wm.  W.  Averill.  That  testimony  brings 
to  light  the  following  facts  : 

Shortly  after  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  Gen. 
Burnside  devised  a  plan  for  attacking  the  enemy  in  his 
front.  The  main  army  was  to  cross  at  a  place  some 
six  or  seven  miles  below  Fredericksburg.  The  posi- 
tions for  the  artillery  to  protect  the  crossings  were  all 
selected ;  the  roads  were  all  surveyed,  and  the  corduroy 
was  cut  for  preparing  the  roads.  At  the  same  time  a 
feint  of  crossing  was  to  be  made  some  distance  above 
Falmouth,  which  feint  could  be  turned  into  a  positive 
attack  should  the  enemy  discorer  the  movement  be- 
low ;  otherwise  the  main  attack  was  to  be  made  below. 

In  connection  with  this  movement  of  the  main  army, 
a  cavalry  expedition  was  organized,  consisting  of 
twenty-five  hundred  of  the  best  cavalry  in  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  one  thousand  of  whom  were  picked  men. 
The  plan  of  that  expedition  was  as  follows :  Accom- 
panied by  a  brigade  of  infantry  detailed  to  protect  the 
crossing  of  the  Rappahannock,  it  was  to  proceed  to  Kel- 
ly's Ford ;  there  the  thousand  picked  men  were  to  cross, 
and  to  proceed  to  the  Rapidan,  and  cross  that  river  at 
Racoon  Ford ;  then  to  go  onward  and  cross  the  Vir- 
ginia Central  railroad  at  Louisa  Court  House;  the 
James  river  at  Goochland  or  Carter's,  blowing  up  the 
locks  of  the  James  River  canal  at  the  place  of  crossing ; 
cross  the  Richmond  and  Lynchburg  railroad  at  a  point 
south  of  there,  blowing  up  the  iron  bridge  at  the  place 
of  crossing ;  cross  the  Richmond,  Petersburg,  and 
Weldon  railroad  where  it  crosses  the  Nottoway  river, 
destroying  the  railroad  bridge  there ;  and  then  proceed 
on  by  Gen.  Pryor's  command,  and  effect  a  junction 
with  Gen.  Peck  at  Suffolk,  where  steamers  were  to  be 
in  waiting  to  take  them  to  Aquia  creek.  To  distract 
the  attention  of  the  enemy,  and  to  deceive  them  in  re- 
gard to  which  body  of  cavalry  was  the  attacking  col- 
umn, at  the  time  the  thousand  picked  men  crossed  the 
Rappahunnock  a  portion  of  the  remaining  fifteen  hun- 
dred was  to  proceed  toward  Warrenton ;  another  por- 
tion toward  Culpepper  Court  House ;  and  the  remainder 
were  to  accompany  the  thousand  picked  men  as  far  as 
Racoon  Ford,  and  then  return.  While  this  cavalry 
expedition  was  in  progress,  the  general  movement  was 
to  oe  made  across  the  river. 

On  the  26th  of  December  an  order  was  issued  for 
the  entire  command  to  prepare  three  days'  cooked 
rations;  to  have  their  wagons  filled  with  ten  days' 
small  rations,  if  possible ;  to  have  from  ten  to  twelve 
days'  supply  of  beef  cattle  with  them;  to  take  for- 
age for  their  teams  and  their  artillery  and  cavalry 
horses,  and  the  requisite  amount  of  ammunition — in 
fact,  to  be  in  a  condition  to  move  at  twelve  hours' 
notice. 

Shortly  after  that  order  was  issued,  Gen.  John  New- 
ton and  Gen.  John  Cochrane — the  one  commanding  a 
division  and  the  other  a  brigade  in  the  left  grand  di- 
vision, under  Gen.  William  B.  Franklin — came  up  to 
Washington  on  leave  of  absence.  Previous  to  obtain- 
ing leave  of  absence  from  Gen.  Franklin,  they  informed 
him  and  Gen.  William  F.  Smith  that  when  they  came 
to  Washington  they  should  take  the  opportunity  to 
represent  to  some  one  in  authority  here  the  diaprited 
condition  of  the  army,  and  the  danger  there  was  of  at- 
tempting any  movement  against  the  enemy  at  that 
time. 

When  they  reached  Washington,  Gen.  Cochrane,  as 
he  states,  endeavored  to  find  certain  members  of  Con- 


gress, to  whom  to  make  the  desired  communication. 
Failing  to  find  them,  he  determined  to  seek  an  inter- 
view with  the  President  for  the  purpose  of  making  the 
communication  directly  to  him.  On  proceeding  to  the 
President's  House,  he  there  met  Secretary  Seward,  to 
whom  he  explained  the  object  of  his  being  there,  and 
the  general  purport  of  his  proposed  communication  to 
the  President,  and  requested  him  to  procure  an  inter- 
view for  them,  which  Mr.  Seward  promised  to  do,  and 
which  he  did  do. 

That  day  the  interview  took  place,  and  Gen.  Newton 
opened  the  subject  to  the  President.  At  first  the 
President,  as  Gen.  Newton  expresses  it,  "  very  natu- 
rally conceived  that  they  had  come  there  for  the  pur- 
pose of  injuring  Gen.  Burnside,  and  suggesting  some 
other  person  to  fill  his  place."  Gen.  Newton  states 
that,  while  he  firmly  believed  that  the  principal  cause 
of  the  dispirited  condition  of  the  army  was  the  want 
of  confidence  in  the  military  capacity  of  Gen.  Burn- 
side,  he  deemed  it  improper  to  say  so  to  the  President 
"  right  square  put,"  and  therefore  endeavored  to  con- 
vey the  same  idea  indirectly.  When  asked  if  he  con- 
sidered it  any  less  improper  to  do  such  a  thing  indi- 
rectly than  it  was  to  do  it  directly,  he  qualified  his 
previous  assertion  by  saying  that  Ins  object  was  to  in- 
form the  President  of  what  be  considered  to  be  the 
condition  of  the  army,  in  the  hope  that  the  President 
would  make  inquiry  and  learn  the  true  reason  for  him- 
self. Upon  perceiving  this  impression  upon  the  mind 
of  the  President,  Gens.  Newton  and  Cochrane  state 
that  they  hastened  to  assure  the  President  that  he  was 
entirely  mistaken,  and  so  far  succeeded  that  at  the 
close  of  the  interview  the  President  said  to  them  he 
was  glad  they  had  called  upon  him,  and  that  he  hoped 
that  good  would  result  from  the  interview. 

To  return,  to  General  Burnside.  The  cavalry  expe- 
dition had  started ;  the  brigade  of  infantry  detailed  to 
accompany  it  had  crossed  the  Rappahannock  at 
Richard's  Ford,  and  returned  by  way  of  Ellis's  Ford, 
leaving  the  way  clear  for  the  cavalry  to  cross  at  Kel- 
ly's Ford. '  The  day  they  had  arranged  to  make  the 
crossing,  General  Burnside  received  from  the  President 
the  following  telegram  :  "  I  have  good  reason  for  sav- 
ing that  you  must  not  make  a  general  movement  with- 
out letting  me  know  of  it." 

Gen.  Burnside  states  that  he  could  not  imagine,  ;.• 
the  time,  what  reason  the  President  could  have  fur 
sending  him  such  a  telegram.  None  of  the  officers  ut 
his  command,  except  one  or  two  of  his  staff,  who  hud 
remained  in  camp,  had  been  told  anything  of  his  plan 
beyond  the  simple  fact  that  a  movement  was  to  be 
made.  He  could  only  suppose  that  the  despatch  «- 
lated  in  some  way  to  important  military  movements 
in  other  parts  of  the  country,  in  which  it  was  neces- 
sary to  have  cooperation. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  that  telegram  steps  were  imme- 
diately taken  to  nalt  the  cavalry  expedition  where  it 
then  was  (at  Kelly's  Ford)  until  further  orders.  A 

Portion  of  it  was  shortly  afterward  sent  off  to  intercept 
tuart,  who  had  just  made  a  raid  to  Dumfries  and  the 
neighborhood  of  Fairfax  Court  House,  which  it  failed 
to  do. 

Gen.  Burnside  came  to  Washington  to  ascertain 
from  the  President  the  true  state  of  the  case.  He  was 
informed  by  the  President  that  some  general  officers 
from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  whose  names  he  de- 
clined to  give,  had  called  upon  him  and  represented 
that  Gen.  Burnside  contemplated  soon  making  a  move- 
ment, and  that  the  army  was- so  dispirited  and  demor- 
alized that  any  attempt  to  make  a  movement  at  that 
time  must  result  in  disaster ;  that  no  prominent  offi- 
cers in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  were  in  favor  of  any 
movement  at  that  time. 

Gen.  Burnside  informed  the  President  that  none  of 
his  officers  had  been  informed  what  his  plan  was,  and 
then  proceeded  to  explain  it  in  detail  to  the  President. 
He  urged  upon  the  President  to  grant  him  permission 
to  carry  it  out,  but  the  President  declined  to  do  so  at 
that  time.  Gen.  Halleck  and  Secretary  Stanton  were 
sent  for,  and  then  learned,  for  the  first  time,  of  the 
President's  action  in  stopping  the  movement,  although 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


375 


Gen.  Halleck  was  previously  aware  that  a  movement 
was  contemplated  by  Gen.  Burnside.  Gen.  Halleck, 
with  Gen.  Burnside,  held  that  the  officers  who  had 
made  those  representations  to  the  President  should  be 
at  once  dismissed  the  service. 

Gen.  Burnside  remained  here  at  that  time  for  two 
days,  but  no  conclusion  was  reached  upon  the  subject. 
When  he  returned  to  his  camp  he  learned  that  many 
of  the  details  of  the  general  movement,  and  the  details 
of  the  cavalry  expedition,  had  become  known  to  the 
rebel  sympathizers  in  Washington,  thereby  rendering 
that  plan  impracticable.  When  asked  to  whom  he  had 
communicated  his  plans,  he  stated  that  he  had  told  no 
one  in  Washington  except  the  President,  Secretary 
Stanton,  and  Gen.  Halleck;  and  in  his  camp  none 
knew  of  it  except  one  or  two  of  his  staff  officers,  who 
had  remained  in  camp  all  the  time.  He  professed 
himself  unable  to  tell  how  his  plans  had  become  known 
to  the  enemy. 

A  correspondence  then  took  place  between  the  Pres- 
ident, Gen.  Halleck,  and  Gen.  Burnside.  Gen.  Burn- 
side  desired  distinct  authority  from  Gen.  Halleck,  or 
some  one  authorized  to  give  it,  to  make  a  movement 
across  the  river.  While  urging  the  importance  and 
necessity  of  such  a  movement,  he  candidly  admitted 
that  there  was  hardly  a  general  officer  in  his  command 
who  approved  of  it.  Wnile  willing  to  take  upon  him- 
self all  the  responsibility  of  the  movement,  and  promis- 
ing to  keep  in  view  the  President's  caution  concerning 
running  any  risk  of  destroying  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac, he  desired  to  have  at  least  Gen.  Halleck's  sanc- 
tion or  permission  to  make  the  movement.  Gen.  Hal- 
leck replied  that  while  he  had  always  favored  a  forward 
movement,  he  could  not  take  the  responsibility  of  giv- 
ing any  directions  as  to  how  and  when  it  should  be 
made. 

Gen.  Burnside  then  determined  to  make  a  movement 
without  any  further  correspondence  on  the  subject. 
He  was  unable  to  devise  any  as  promising  as  the  one 
just  thwarted  by  this  interference  of  his  subordinate 
officers,  which  interference  gave  the  enemy  the  time, 
if  not  the  means,  to  ascertain  what  he  had  proposed  to 
do.  He,  however,  devised  a  plan  of  movement,  and 
proceeded  to  put  it  in  execution.  As  is  well  known, 
it  was  rendered  abortive  in  consequence  of  the  severe 
storm  which  took  place  shortly  after  the  movement 
began. 

Gen.  Burnside  states  that,  besides  the  inclemency 
of  the  weather,,  there  was  another  powerful  reason  for 
abandoning  the  movement,  viz.,  the  almost  universal 
feeling  among  his  general  officers  against  him.  Some 
of  those  officers  freely  gave  vent  to  their  feelings  in  the 
presence  of  their  inferiors.  In  consequence  of  this, 
and  also  what  had  taken  place  during  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  Ac.,  Gen.  Burnside  directed  an  order 
to  be  issued,  which  he  styled  General  Order  No.  8. 
That  order  dismissed  some  officers  from  the  service, 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  President,  relieved 
others  from  duty  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and 
also  pronounced  sentence  of  death  upon  some  desert- 
ers who  had  been  tried  and  convicted. 

Gen.  Burnside  states  that  he  had  become  satisfied 
that  it  was  absolutely  necessary  that  some  such  exam- 
ples should  be  made,  in  order  to  enable  him  to  main- 
tain the  proper  authority  over  the  army  under  his  com- 
mand. The  order  was  duly  signed  and  issued,  and 
only  waited  publication.  Two  or  three  of  his  most 
trusted  staff  officers  represented  to  Gen.  Burnside  that 
should  he  then  publish  that  order,  he  would  force  upon 
the  President  the  necessity  of  at  once  sanctioning  it, 
or,  by  refusing  his  approval,  assume  an  attitude  of 
hostility  to  Gen.  Burnside.  The  publication  of  the 
order  was  accordingly  delayed  for  tne  time. 

Gen.  Burnside  came  to  Washington  and  laid  the 
order  before  the  President,  with  the  distinct  assurance 
that  in  no  other  way  could  he  exercise  a  proper  com- 
mand over  the  Army  of  the  Potomac;  and  he  asked 
the  President  to  sanction  the  order,  or  accept  his  re- 
signation as  major-general.  The  President  acknowl- 
edged that  Gen.  Burnside  was  right,  but  declined  to 
decide  without  consulting  with  some  of  his  advisers. 


To  this  Gen.  Burnside  replied,  that  if  the  President 
took  time  for  consultation  he  would  not  be  allowed  to 
publish  that  order,  and  therefore  asked  to  have  his  re- 
signation accepted  at  once.  This  the  President  de- 
clined to  do. 

Gen.  Burnside  returned  to  his  camp,  and  came  again 
to  Washington  that  night  at  the  request  of  the  Presi- 
dent, and  the  next  morning  called  upon  the  President 
for  his  decision.  He  was  informed  that  the  President 
declined  to  approve  his  order  No.  8,  but  had  concluded 
to  relieve  him  from  his  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  to  appoint  Gen.  Hooker  in  his  place. 
Thereupon  Gen.  Burnside  again  insisted  that  his  re- 
signation be  accepted.  This  the  President  declined  to 
do ;  and,  after  some  urging,  Gen.  Burnside  consented 
to  take  a  leave  of  absence  for  thirty  days,  with  the 
understanding  that,  at  the  end  of 'that  time,  he  should 
be  assigned  to  duty,  as  he  deemed  it  improper  to  hold 
a  commission  as  major-general  and  receive  his  pay 
without  rendering  service  therefor.  Gen.  Burnside  ob- 
jected to  the  wording  of  the  order  which  relieved  him 
from  his  command,  and  which  stated  that  it  was  at  his 
own  request,  as  being  unjust  to  him  and  unfounded  in 
fact ;  but  upon  the  representation  that  any  other  order 
would  do  injury  to  the  cause,  he  consented  to  let  it  re- 
main as  it  then  read. 

The  foregoing  statements  of  the  facts  proved,  to- 
gether with  the  testimony  herewith  submitted,  so  fully 
and  directly  meet  the  requirements  of  the  resolution, 
referred  to  "them,  that  your  committee  deem  any  com- 
ment by  them  to  be  entirely  unnecessary. 

Subsequently  a  letter  appeared  from  Gen. 
Cochrane,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract : 

I  have  no  copy  of  my  evidence,  nor  have  I  seen 
Gen.  Newton's.  But  I  remember  to  have  stated  ex- 
plicitly that  I  knew  nothing  of  Gen.  Burnside's  plan; 
that  1  knew  only  of  the  dispirited  condition  of  the 
troops,  and  the  sense  of  apprehension  which  depressed 
them,  and  that  I  recognized  it  as  a  duty  to  communi- 
cate this  knowledge  to  those  whose  duty  it  was  to  apply 
it.  This  much  I  testified  that  I  had  said  to  the  Presi- 
dent ;  and  I  then  further  said  to  the  committee  that  had 
I  been  the  depository  of  the  commanding  general's 
plans,  and  the  possessor  of  facts  which  would  neces- 
sarily have  ba_ffled  those  plans,  and  have  involved  the 
army  in  irretrievable  ruin,  I  would  have  considered  it 
no  less  than  treason  not  to  have  disclosed  the  facts — 
that  I  was  impressed  that  another  defeat,  then  and 
there,  would  have  been  fatal  to  our  cause ;  and  that  it 
was  upon  my  deepest  loyalty  that  I  had  spoken — that 
the  geese  had  doubtless  disturbed  the  sleeping  Roman 
sentinel,  when  their  alarm  saved  the  capital  from  the 
Gauls ;  but  that  I  had  never  heard  that  the  geese  had 
been  punished  for  disturbing  the  sentinel,  though  I 
had  heard  that  they  had  been  honored  for  saving  the 
state. 

The  following  has  appeared  as  so  much  of 
the  order  No.  8  as  relates  to  the  dismissal  and 
relief  of  certain  officers : 

General  Order  No.  8. 
HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  Jan.  23$,  1863. 

***** 
First.  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Hooker,  Major-General  of 
Volunteers  and  Brigadier-General  of  the  United  States 
Army,  having  been  guilty  of  unjust  and  unnecessary 
criticisms  of  the  actions  of  his  superior  officers,  and  of 
the  authorities,  and  having,  by  the  general  tone  of  his 
conversation,  endeavored  to  create  distrust  in  the  minds 
of  officers  who  have  associated  with  him,  and  having, 
by  omissions  and  otherwise,  made  reports  and  state- 
ments which  were  calculated  to  create  incorrect  im- 
pUssions,  and  of  habitually  speaking  in  disparaging 
terms  of  other  officers,  is  hereby  dismissed  the  service 
of  the  United  States,  as  a  man  unfit  to  hold  an  important 
commission  during  a  crisis  like  the  present,  when  so 
much  patience,  charity,  confidence,  consideration,  and 
patriotism  are  due  from  every  soldier  in  the  field.  The 


376 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


order  is  issued  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States. 

Second.  Brig.-Gen.  W.  T.  H.  Brooks,  commanding 
First  Division,  Sixth  Army  Corps,  for  complaining  of 
the  policy  of  the  Government,  and  for  using  lan- 
guage tending  to  demoralize  his  command,  is,  subject 
to  the  approval  of  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
dismissed  from  the  military  service  of  the  United 
States. 

Third.  Brig.-Gen.  John  Newton,  commanding  Third 
Division,  Sixth  Army  Corps,  and  Brig.-Gen.  John 
Cpchrane,  commanding  First  Brigade,  Third  Division, 
Sixth  Army  Corps,  for  going  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States  with  criticisms  upon  the  plans  of  their 
commanding  officer,  are,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the 
President,  dismissed  from  the  military  service  of  the 
United  States. 

Fourth.  It  being  evident  that  the  following  named 
officers  can  be  of  no  further  service  to  this  army,  they 
are  hereby  relieved  from  duty,  and  will  report  in  per- 
son without  delay  to  the  Adjutant-General  of  the 
United  States  Army : 

Maj.-Gen.  W.  B.  Franklin,  commanding  Left  Grand 
Division. 

Maj.-Gen.  W.  F.  Smith,  commanding  Sixth  Army 
Corps. 

Brig.-Gen.  Sam.  D.  Sturgis,  commanding  Second 
Division,  Ninth  Army  Corps. 

Brig.-Gen.  Edward  Ferrero,  commanding  Second 
Brigade,  Second  Division,  Ninth  Army  Corps. 

Brig.-Gen.  John  Cochrane,  commanding  First  Brig- 
ade, Third  Division,  Sixth  Army  Corps. 

Lieut.-Col.  J.  H.  Taylor,  Acting  Adjutant-General 
Eight  Grand  Division. 

By  command  of         Maj.-Gen.  A.  E.  BURNSIDE. 
LEWIS  RICHMOND,  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

The  testimony  of  Gen.  Burnside,  in  relation 
to  this  order,  from  which  the  committee  con- 
densed their  abstract,  was  as  follows : 

I  went  to  my  adjutant- general's  office,  and  issued  an 
order,  which  I  termed  General  Order  No.  8.  That  or- 
der dismissed  some  officers  from  service,  subject  to 
the  approval  of  the  President,  and  relieved  others 
from  duty  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  I  also  had 
three  sentences  of  death  upon  privates  for  desertion, 
which  I  had  reviewed  and  approved,  subject,  of  course, 
to  the  approval  of  the  President,  as  I  had  no  right  to  do 
any  of  these  things  without  that  approval.  I  nad  sent 
my  own  body  guard  over  into  Maryland,  and  had  suc- 
ceeded in  capturing  a  large  number  of  deserters.  _  I  had 
organized  a  court-martial,  the  one  which  is  now  in  ses- 
sion down  there  trying  some  two  hundred  and  fifty 
deserters. 

I  told  my  adjutant-general  to  issue  that  order  (No. 
8)  at  once.  One  of  my  advisers — only  two  persons 
knew  of  this — one  of  them,  who  is  a  very  cool,  sensible 
man,  and  a  firm  friend,  told  me  that,  in  his  opinion, 
the  order  was  a  just  one,  and  ought  to  be  issued ;  but 
he  said  that  he  knew  my  views  with  reference  to  en- 
deavoring to  make  myself  useful  to  the  Government 
of  the  United  States  instead  of  placing  myself  in  op- 
position to  it ;  that  all  of  these  things  had  to  be  ap- 
proved by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  at  any 
rate,  before  they  could  be  put  in  force  ;  that  he  did  not 
think  I  intended  to  place  the  President  in  a  position 
where  he  either  had  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  be- 
coming my  enemy-  before  the  public,  at  any  rate,  there- 
by enaoling  a  certain  portion «of  my  friends  to  make  a 
martyr  of  me  to  some  extent,  or  he  had  to  take  the 
responsibility  of  carrying  out  the  order,  which  would 
be  against  the  views  of  a  great  many  of  the  most  in- 
fluential men  in  the  country,  particularly  that  portion 
of  the  order  in  reference  to  the  officers  I  propose^o 
have  dismissed  the  service.  I  told  the  staff  officer  flat 
I  had  no  desire  to  place  myself  in  opposition  to  the 
President  of  the  United  States  in  any  way;  that  I 
thought  his  (my  staff  officer's)  view  of  the  matter  was 
the  correct  one ;  but  that  I  had  indicated  in  that  order 
the  only  way  in  which  I  could  command  the  Army  of 


the  Potomac.  I  accordingly  took  this  order,  already 
signed  and  issued  in  due  form,  with  the  exception  of 
being  made  public,  to  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
and  handed  him  the  order,  together  with  my  resigna- 
tion of  my  commission  as  a  major-general.  I  told  Trim 
that  he  knew  my  views  upon  the  subject ;  that  I  had 
never  sought  any  command,  more  particularly  that  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac ;  that  my  wish  was  to  go  into 
civil  life,  after  it  was  determined  that  I  could  no  longer 
be  of  any  use  in  the  army ;  that  I  desired  no  public 
position  of  any  kind  whatever.  At  the  same  time  I 
said  that  I  desired  not  to  place  myself  in  opposition  to 
him  in  any  way,  or  to  do  anything  to  weaken  the  Gov- 
ernment. I  said  he  could  now  say  to  me,  "  You  may 
take  the  responsibility  of  issuing  this  order,  and  I  will 
approve  it ;  "  and  I  would  take  that  responsibility,  if 
he  would  say  that  it  would  be  sustained  after  it  was 
issued,  because  he  would  have  to  approve  of  it,  for  I 
had  no  right  to  dismiss  a  man  or  condemn  a  man  to 
death  without  his  approval.  In  case  that  order  (No.  8) 
could  not  be  approved  by  him,  there  was  my  resigna- 
tion, which  he  could  accept,  and  that  would  end  the 
matter  forever,  so  far  as  I  was  concerned ;  that  noth- 
ing more  would  be  said  in  reference  to  it.  I  told  him 
he  could  be  sure  that  my  wish  was  to  have  that  done 
which  was  best  for  the  public  service,  and  that  was  the 
only  way  in  which  I  could  command  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  The  President  replied  to  me,  •"  I  think  you 
are  right.  *  *  *  [The  suppressions  here,  in  the 
body  of  Gen.  Burnside's  report  of  the  President's  an- 
swer, are  made  by  the  committee.]  But  I  must  con- 
sult with  some  of  my  advisers  about  this."  I  said  to 
him,  "  If  you  consult  with  anybody  you  will  not  do  it, 
in  my  opinion."  He  said,  "  I  cannot  help  that ;  I  must 
consult  with  them."  I  replied  that  he  was  the  judge, 
and  I  would  not  question  his  right  to  do  what  ne 
pleased. 

The  President  asked  me  to  remain  all  that  day.  I 
replied  that  I  could  not  remain  away  from  my  com- 
mand; that  he  knew  mv  views,  and  I  was  fixed  and 
determined  in  them.  lie  then  asked  me  to  come  up 
that  night  again.  I  returned  to  my  command,  and 
came  up  again  that  night,  and  got  here  at  six  o'clock 
in  the_  morning.  I  went  to  the  President's,  but  did  not 
see  him.  I  went  again  after  breakfast,  and  the  Presi- 
dent told  me  that  he  had  concluded  to  relieve  me  from 
the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  place 
Gen.  Hooker  in  command.  'I  told  him  that  I  was  willing 
to  accept  that,  as  the  best  solution  of  the  problem ;  and 
that  neither  he  nor  Gen.  Hooker  would  be  a  happier 
man  than  I  would  be  if  Gen.  Hooker  gained  a  victory 
there.  The  President  also  said  that  he  intended  to  re- 
lieve Gen.  Sumner  and  Gen.  Franklin.  I  said  that  I 
thought  it  would  be  wise  to  do  so,  if  he  made  the 
change  he  proposed  to  make.  Gen.  Sumner  was  a 
much  older  officer  than  Gen.  Hooker,  and  ought  not  to 
be  asked  to  serve  under  him. 

On  the  26th  of  April  Gen.  Burnside  assumed 
the  command  of  the  Department  of  the  Ohio. 
An  invasion  of  Kentucky  was  at  that  time 
threatened  by  the  Confederate  forces. 

The  inclemency  of  the  season  was  such  that 
no  movements  could  now  be  attempted  by  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  or  its  adversary  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  Rappahannock  at  Freder- 
icksburg.  Some  raids  by  the  enemy  and  some 
movements  of  cavalry  were  the  only  operations. 

On  the  12th  of  March  a  bold  and  successful 
raid  was  made  by  the  enemy  as  far  within  the 
Federal  lines  as  Fairfax  Court  House  in  Vir- 
ginia. Brig.-Geii.  Stoughton  was  taken  from 
his  bed  and  carried  off1,  and  a  detachment  from 
his  brigade,  with  guards,  horses,  &c.,  captured. 

On  the  17th  of  March  a  sharp  conflict  took 
place  between  a  body  of  cavalry,  under  Gen. 
Averill,  and  a  similar  force  of  the  enemy  near 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


377 


Il™ 


Kelly's  Ford.  About  forty  of  Gen.  Averill's 
force  were  disabled,  and  about  eighty  of  the 
enemy  made  prisoners. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  an  expedition  of  cav- 
alry, infantry,  and  artillery,  under  Major-Gen. 
Stoneman,  proceeded  in  detachments  to  War- 
renton,  Bealton,  Eappahannock  bridge,  and  Lib- 
erty. Small  bodies  of  Partisan  Rangers  were 
met  with,  but  no  opposition  was  encountered. 
Thence  he  moved  to  the  fords  of  the  Rapidan 
and  took  possession  of  them.  These  operations 
were  made  in  advance  of  a  general  movement 
of  the  army  across  the  Rappahannock  to  attack 
Gen.  Lee.  The  stormy  weather  which  ensued 
delayed  this  movement  until  the  27th  of  April. 

The  army  of  Gen.  Lee,  in  its  encampments 
near  Fredericksburg,  held  a  line  running  from 
northwest  to  southeast ;  its  right  wing  was  ex- 
tended as  far  down  as  Port  Royal  on  the  Rap- 
pahannock, and  its  left  wing  rested  above 
Fredericksburg  on  the  same  river.  In  this 
position  it  had  only  two  main  lines  of  retreat, 
one  toward  Richmond  by  railroad,  and  the 
other  toward  Gordonsville.  The  strength  of 
this  army  was  about  seventy  thousand  men. 

The  army  of  Gen.  Hooker  consisted  of  seven 
corps,  and  numbered  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty  thousand  men.  Under  his  plan  of  at- 
tack three  corps  were  massed  below  Freder- 
icksburg, to  cross  there  and  make  a  feint  attack 
on  the  enemy,  when  two  of  the  corps  were  to 


return  immediately  after  crossing  and  join  the' 
other  four  corps,  meanwhile  crossing  at  several 
fords  ten  and  twenty  miles  above  Fredericks- 
burg. The  object  of  Gen.  Hooker  by  moving 
down  on  the  left  of  the  enemy,  was  to  force  him 
to  fight  outside  of  his  intrenchments,  or  to  fall 
back  on  Richmond. 

Falmouth,  the  position  occupied  by  Gen. 
Hooker's  army,  is  nearly  opposite  Fredericks- 
burg, on  the  north  bank  of  the  Rappahannock. 
About  twelve  miles  above,  the  Rapidan,  a  small 
river,  unites  with  a  stream  heretofore  called 
the  North  Fork,  to  form  the  Rappahannock. 
Lately,  however,  the  North  Fork  has  been 
called  Rappahannock,  and  the  Rapidan  has 
been  spoken  of  as  a  tributary.  The  United 
States  Ford  is  abont  one  mile  below  the  mouth 
of  the  Rapidan.  BanSs's  Ford  is  about  midway 
between  the  United  States  Ford  and  Falmouth. 
Kelly's  Ford,  where  the  four  corps  crossed  the 
North  Fork,  or  the  Rappahannock  as  it  is  now 
called,  is  about  twenty  miles  above  Falmouth. 
Germania  Ford,  where  the  same  force  crossed 
the  Rapidan,  is  about  twelve  miles  south  of 
Kelly's  Ford,  at  a  place  called  Germania  Mills. 
The  troops  crossed  here  by  wading.  The  wa- 
ter was  up  to  the  armpits,  and  with  a  rapid 
current.  The  bottom  of  the  river  was  rocky. 

On  Monday  morning,  April  27th,  the  elev- 
enth corps,  under  Maj.-Gen.  Howard,  the 
twelfth,  under  Maj.-Gen.  Slocum,  and  the  fifth, 


378 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION". 


under  Maj.-Gen.  Meade,  marched  westward  on 
the  several  roads  leading  to  Kelly's  Ford, 
which  the  advance  under  Gen.  Howard  reached 
on  Tuesday  forenoon.  A  brigade  of  this  corps 
had  been  guarding  the  ford  since  the  movement 
of  cavalry  under  Gen.  Stoneman.  The  pontoon, 
boats  had  been  moved  into  a  creek  behind  the 
bluff  at  the  Ford.  About  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men  of  the  73d  Pennsylvania  and  154th  New 
York  immediately  crossed  in  boats  and  occupied 
the  bank  of  the  river.  Skirmishers  were  de- 
ployed to  the  right  and  left,  but  no  enemy,  ex- 
cepting a  few  pickets  who  retired,  was  to  be 
found.  The  remainder  of  the  two  regiments 
crossed  in  boats  whilst  the  bridge  was  building. 
That  evening  the  eleventh  corps  crossed,  and 
the  twelfth  bivouacked  on  the  shore. 

Early  on  Wednesday  morning,  the  twelfth 
corps  crossed  over,  followed  by  Gen.  Stone- 
man's  cavalry  force  and  the  fifth  corps.  The 
wagon  trains  were  sent  back  from  Kelly's  Ford 
and  parked  near  Banks's  Ford.  The  advance 
moved  directly  to  Germania  Ford  on  the  Rapi- 
dan.  The  fifth  corps,  under  Gen.  Meade, 
crossed  the  Rapidan  in  the  afternoon,  a  little 
lower  down.  On  the  next  morning,  Thursday, 
an  advance  was  made  to  Chancellorsville,  at  the 
junction  of  the  Orange  Court  House  road  with 
a  road  to  Culpepper,  between  five  and  ten  miles 
distant  from  the  ford.  The  three  corps  were 
massed  at  this  place  at  night,  and  Gen.  Hooker 
arrived  and  made  it  his  headquarters.  On 
Wednesday,  the  second  corps,  under  Gen. 
Couch,  took  a  position  at  Banks's  Ford,  five 
miles  above  Fredericksburg.  Some  skirmish- 
ing had  occurred  with  small  bodies  of  the  ene- 
my, which  retired.  The  cavalry  force  of  Gen. 
Stoneman  was  sent  to  cut  the  communication 
of  Gen.  Lee's  army  by  railroad  with  Richmond. 

Meanwhile  the  remaining  three  corps  of  the 
army  had  been  put  in  motion.  The  first  corps, 
under  Maj.-Gen.  Reynolds,  the  third,  under 
Maj.-Gen.  Sickles,  and  the  sixth,  under  Maj.- 
Gen.  Sedgwick,  moved  from  their  camps  on 
Monday  night  and  took  a  position  two  miles 
below  Fredericksburg.  Early  on.  the  next 
morning,  one  division  of  the  sixth  corps 
crossed  two  miles  below  Fredericksburg,  and 
one  division  of  the  first  corps  about  one  mile 
farther  down.  Some  skirmishing  took  place, 
and  the  enemy  held  their  position ;  at  the  same 
time  bridges  were  thrown  over  and  demonstra- 
tions made  as  if  the  intention  was  to  cross  a 
large  force  over.  On  the  next  day,  Wednesday, 
the  third  corps,  under  Gen.  Sickles,  was  detached 
and  ordered  to  cross  at  United  States  Ford  and 
join  Gen.  Hooker  at  Qhancellorsville.  On  the 
next  day  Geu.Hooker  issued  the  following  order: 

General  Order  No.  47. 
HEADQCABTERS  ARMY  OF  THB  POTOMAC,     ) 
CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA.,  April  30th,  1863.  $ 
It  is  with  heartfelt  satisfaction  that  the  Commanding 
General  announces  to  the  armythat  the  operations  of  the 
last  three  days  have  determined  that  our  enemy  must 
either  ingloripusly  fly  or  come  out  from  behind  his  de- 
fences and  give  us  battle  on  our  own  ground,  where 
certain  destruction  awaits  him.     The  operations  of  the 


fifth,  eleventh,  and  twelfth  corps  have  been  a  succes 
sion  of  splendid  achievements. 
By  command  of  Major-Gen.  HOOKER. 

S.  WILLIAMS,  Ass't  Adj't-Gen. 

Such  was  the  position  of  Gen.  Hooker's  forces 
on  Friday  morning.  About  noon,  the  fifth  and 
twelfth  corps,  under  Gens.  Meade  and  Slocum, 
were  advanced  by  separate  roads  toward  Fred- 
ericksburg. The  former  moved  to  the  left  and 
the  latter  to  the  right.  The  advance  of  Gen. 
Meade's  corps  was  led  by  the  second  division 
under  Gen.  Sykes.  In  about  an  hour  it  en- 
countered the  enemy,  and  heavy  firing  ensued, 
which  continued  for  three  fourths  of  an  hour, 
gradually  extending  toward  the  right  wing. 
Orders  were  then  sent  by  Gen.  Hooker,  whose 
headquarters  were  in  the  large  house  known 
as  Chancellorsville,  for  the  two  columns  to  fall 
slowly  back.  This  order  was  systematically 
obeyed,  and  everything  became  quiet  until 
about  four  o'clock,  when  the  enemy  appeared 
in  line  of  battle,  in  an  open  field  fronting  a 
dense  wood,  on  the  right  of  Gen.  Hooker,  and 
about  a  mile  from  Chancellorsville.  A  vigorous 
fire  of  artillery  was  opened  on  both  sides,  which 
continued  until  night,  when  the  enemy  retired. 
This  movement  was  regarded  as  indicating  a 
disposition  on  the  part  of  Gen.  Lee  to  feel  the 
Federal  lines  and  ascertain  the  strength  of  their 
position  and  force.  Meanwhile  Gen.  Hooker 
had  caused  intrenchments  to  be  thrown  up  by 
his  army.  On  the  next  day,  Saturday,  the  first 
corps,  under  Gen.  Reynolds,  was  ordered  to 
join  Gen.  Hooker  at  Chancellorsville.  It  ar- 
rived in  the  afternoon  at  United  States  Ford, 
and  was  ordered  into  position  on  the  right. 

During  Friday  night  the  enemy  were  ob- 
served cutting  a  road  past  the  Federal  picket 
line  on  the  right,  and  wagons  were  seen  pass- 
ing up  the  road  on  Saturday,  As  no  attack 
was  made  during  the  forenoon,  it  was  deter- 
mined to  ascertain  the  nature  of  the  movement 
on  the  right,  by  a  reconnoissance  in  force  under 
Gen.  Sickles.  The  divisions  of  Gens.  Birney 
and  Whipple,  with  Gen.  Barlow's  brigade  from 
Gen.  Howard's  corps,  were  pushed  to  the  front. 
This  force  soon  became  more  or  less  engaged, 
especially  with  the  artillery  and  the  sharp- 
shooters as  skirmishers.  Prisoners  who  were 
taken  reported  that  the  wagon  train  which 
had  been  seen  was  composed  mainly  of  ord- 
nance wagons  and  ambulances,  following  a  col- 
umn of  troops  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Jackson.  It  was  perceived  at  once  that  the 
object  of  Gen.  Jackson  was  to  make  a  sudden 
and  fierce  attack  upon  the  extreme  right.  To 
defeat  this  object  Gen.  Sickles  was  ordered  to 
push  forward,  and  Gen.  Birney  advanced  with 
great  vigor,  cutting  in  twain  a  column  of  the 
enemy  still  moving  up  the  road.  Gen.  Wil- 
liams's  division  of  Gen.  Slocum's  corps,  which 
had  been  ordered  to  cooperate,  then  commenced 
a  flank  movement  on  the  enemy's  right,  which 
promised  great  success.  It  was  supposed  that 
in  consequence  of  this  movement,  Gen.  Jackson 
would  endeavor  to  retreat  to  escape  a  capture^ 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


379 


or,  if  he  made  an  attack  on  the  right,  that  the 
eleventh  corps  would  be  sufficient  to  resist 
him.  On  the  contrary,  about  five  o'clock,  a 
terrific  volley  of  musketry  on  the  extreme  right 
announced  that  he  had  commenced  his  opera- 
tions. The  division  of  Gen.  Schurz,  which  he 
first  assailed,  almost  instantly  gave  way.  Thou- 
sands threw  down  their  arms  and  streamed 
down  the  road  toward  headquarters.  The  en- 
emy pressed  his  advantage.  The  division  of 
Gen.  Devens,  infected  by  the  demoralization  in 
front,  soon  followed  the  fugitives.  Gen.  How- 
ard, the  commander  of  the  corps,  with  all  his 
vigor  and  resolution  could  not  stem  the  retreat- 
ing torrent.  The  brigades  of  Cols.  Bush,  Beck, 
and  McLean  maintained  themselves  as  long  as 
possible,  but  finally  gave  way  in  good  order 
before  superior  numbers. 

Gen.  Hooker  now  sent  to  the  aid  of  Gen. 
Howard  the  second  division  of  the  third  corps, 
under  Maj.-Gen.  Berry.  Their  batteries,  under 
Oapt.  Best,  were  moved  on  a  ridge  running 
across  the  road,  and  after  a  short  but  sanguin- 
ary contest,  the  advance  of  the  enemy  was 
checked.  This  disaster  compelled  the  recall  of 
Gens.  Sickles  and  Slocum.  Gen.  "Williams's  di- 
vision found  a  portion  of  their  works  filled  with 
the  enemy,  and  Gen.  Sickles  could  not  commu- 
nicate with  the  rest  of  the  army  by  the  way  he 
had  advanced,  and  only  at  great  risk  by  any 
other  route.  This  was  the  state  of  affairs  at 
dark.  A  bright  moon  soon  appeared,  and  a 
night  attack  was  ordered  to  restore  the  com- 
munications. Gen.  "Wood's  brigade  of  Gen. 
Birney's  division  made  the  attack  at  eleven 
o'clock,  aided  by  the  guns  massed  on  the  ridge 
in  front  of  the  enemy.  This  attack  was  suc- 
cessful and  restored  the  communications.  The 
enemy  fell  back  nearly  half  a  mile.  The  effect 
of  the  enemy's  movement  was  to  compel  Gen. 
Hooker  to  contract  his  lines  and  assume  the 
defensive,  protected  by  breastworks  and  in- 
trenchments. 

During  the  night,  the  first  corps,  under  Maj.- 
Gen.  Reynolds,  and  the  fifth  corps,  under  Maj.- 
Gen.  Meade,  were  transferred  to  Gen.  Hooker's 
right,  and  set  to  work  vigorously  to  intrench 
themselves.  The  position  of  the  latter  corps 
on  the  left  was  taken  by  the  eleventh  corps, 
which  was  reorganized  during  the  night,  and 
then  assigned  to  a  point  where  but  little 
fighting  was  anticipated,  and  where  they  were 
protected  by  the  work  made  on  the  previous 
day  by  the  fifth  corps.  At  the  same  time  the 
force  of  Gen.  Lee  opposite  the  Federal  right 
was  strongly  reenforced. 

At  5  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning,  the  enemy 
could  be  seen  up  the  plank  road  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  from  the  Chancellor  House,  which 
was  still  retained  as  the  headquarters  of  Gen. 
Hooker.  The  Federal  line  was  formed  with 
the  division  of  Gen.  Berry  on  the  right,  that  of 
Gen.  Birney  next  on  the  left,  and  Gens.  "Whip- 
pie  and  Williams  supporting.  By  half  past 
five,  Gen.  Berry  became  engaged,  and  a  terri- 
ble conflict  ensued.  The  infantry  of  the  en- 


emy were  advanced  in  overwhelming  numbers 
for  the  purpose  of  crushing  the  Federal  line, 
but  the  forces  of  Gens.  Sickles  and  Slocum  held 
them  in  check.  The  struggle  became  despe- 
rate, hand  to  hand,  and  the  carnage  great.  It 
continued  until  8.45  A.  M.,  without  the  slightest 
intermission,  when  there  was  a  temporary  sus- 
pension on  the  Federal  side,  occasioned  by 
getting  out  of  ammunition.  The  position  was, 
however,  held  by  the  bayonet  for  nearly  an 
hour,  until  a  supply  was  received,  and  an  order 
was  given  to  fall  back  to  the  vicinity  of  the 
Chancellor  House.  The  contest  now  raged  in 
this  vicinity.  Gen.  Hooker's  headquarters  were 
withdrawn  at  ten  o'clock.  The  house  was 
burned  by  a  shell  of  the  enemy.  The  engage- 
ment continued  until  11.30  A.  M.,  when  the 
musketry  fire  ceased.  Gen.  Hooker,  acting  on 
the  defensive,  had  been  compelled  to  contract 
his  lines  still  further,  and  would  perhaps  have 
recrossed  the  Rappahannock  that  day  except 
for  the  advantages  expected  to  be  gained  by 
the  movement  of  Gen.  Sedgwick  below  Fred- 
ericksburg,  and  that  of  the  cavalry  force  under 
Gen.  Stoneman. 

Several  attempts  were  made  by  the  enemy 
during  the  afternoon  to  force  the  fines  of  Gen. 
Hooker,  but  without  success. 

The  following  despatch,  relative  to  the  ope- 
rations of  Saturday  and  Sunday,  was  sent  to 
Richmond  by  Gen.  Lee : 

MILFOKD,  May  3d,  1863. 
To  President  Davis  : 

Yesterday  Gen.  Jackson  penetrated  to  the  rear  of 
the  enemy.  We  drove  him  from  all  his  positions  from 
the  Wilderness  to  within  one  mile  of  Chancellorsville. 
He  was  engaged  at  the  same  time  in  front  by  two  of 
Longstreet's  divisions.  Many  prisoners  were  taken, 
and  the  enemy's  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  is  large. 
This  morning  the  battle  was  renewed.  He  was  dis- 
lodged from  all  his  positions  around  Chancellorsville, 
and  driven  back  toward  the  Rappahannock,  over 
which  he  is  now  retreating.  We  have  again  to  thank 
Almighty  God  for  a  great  victory.  I  regret  to  state 
that  Gen.  Paxton  was  .killed,  Gen.  Jackson  severely 
and  Gens.  Heth  and  A.  P.  Hill  slightly  wounded. 

R.  E.  LEE,  General  Commanding. 

On  Saturday,  May  2d,  Gen.  Sedgwick  was 
ordered  to  cross  the  Rappahannock,  move  upon 
Fredericksburg,  and  march  out  on  the  plank  road 
toward  Chancellorsville,  until  he  connected 
with  the  right  under  Gen.  Hooker,  and  to  de- 
stroy any  force  he  might  meet  on  the  road. 
By  twelve  o'clock  that  night,  the  three  divi- 
sions composing  the  sixth  corps  were  all  across, 
and  waiting  orders.  The  main  force  of  the 
enemy  had  been  concentrated  on  their  own  left 
to  resist  Gen.  Hooker.  The  first  division,  under 
Gen.  Brooks,  was  left  to  guard  the  crossing  and 
occupy  the  enemy  in  front.  At  four  o'clock 
A.  M.,  on  Sunday,  the  head  of  the  corps  was  in 
motion  toward  Fredericksburg.  At  the  edge 
of  the  town  it  was  halted,  the  batteries  brought 
into  position,  and  the  first  line  of  the  enemy's 
intrenchments  in  the  rear  carried  with  consid- 
erable loss.  At  noon  the  division  of  Gen.  Howe 
was  scattered  over  the  heights,  looking  out  for 
and  pursuing  the  enemy,  when  orders  were  re- 


380 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ceived  to  move  on  and  join  the  other  divisions, 
which  had  gone  through  the  city.  The  height 
and  the  city  were  thus  abandoned,  to  be  occupied 
soon  after  by  the  enemy.  About  five  o'clock,  the 
advance  was  overtaken  a  few  miles  out  of  Fred- 
ericksburg,  engaged  in  a  brisk  fight  with  the  en- 
emy. The  division  of  Gen.  Howe  was  dep|oyed 
to  the  left  of  the  road  over  a  broken  country, 
with  the  left  wing  to  the  rear,  so  as  to  confront 
the  enemy  reoccupying  the  heights  and  mass- 
ing in  the  rear.  In  this  position  Gen.  Sedg- 
wick's  force  remained  in  line  of  battle  during 
the  night,  distant  about  six  or  seven  miles  from 
Gen.  Hooker.  By  morning  of  the  4th,  the  en- 
emy appeared  in  strong  force  in  front  and  on 
the  hills  to  his  left.  About  4  p.  M.  they  moved 
up  to  attack,  and  Gen.  Sedgwick's  artillery 
opened  fire  on  every  quarter,  but  could  not 
check  their  slow  and  steady  advance,  before 
which  he  gradually  fell  back  toward  Banks's 
Ford.  The  engagement  was  hot,  and  lasted 
until  9  P.  M.,  with  a  loss  to  Gen.  Sedgwick  of 
nearly  four  thousand.  That  Monday  night  he 
recrossed  the  Rappahannock.  The  crossing 
was  effected  in  good  order,  with  the  camp 
equipage,  mule  trains,  etc.,  except  a  few  of  the 
latter,  which  were  taken  when  the  enemy  first 
appeared  in  rear  at  Fredericksburg.  All  the 
work  on  the  left  was  performed  by  this  corps 
of  Gen.  Sedgwick.  It  built  three  bridges,  con- 
stantly skirmished  with  the  enemy,  stormed 
the  heights  of  Fredericksburg,  and  advanced 
to  support  the  right,  when  it  was  flanked  by  a 
heavy  force  of  the  enemy  and  forced  to  retreat 
across  the  river. 

The  movements  of  the  enemy  in  this  affair 
were  thus  reported  by  Gen.  Lee : 
To  His  Excellency  President  Davis  : 

At  the  close  of  the  battle  of  Chancellors  ville  on  Sun- 
day, the  enemy  was  reported  advancing  from  Fred- 
ericksburg on  our  rear.  Gen.  McLaws  was  sent  to  ar- 
rest his  progress,  and  repulsed  him  handsomely. 

That  afternoon,  learning  that  his  forces  consisted  of 
two  corps,  under  Gen.  Sedgwick,  I  determined  to  at- 
tack him,  and  marched  back  yesterday  with  Gen.  An- 
derson, and  united  with  McLaws  early  in  the  afternoon, 
and  succeeded,  by  the  blessing  of  Heaven,  in  driving 
Sedgwick  over  the  river. 

We  have  reoccupied  Fredericksburg,  and  no  enemy 
remains  south  of  the  Rappahannock  or  in  the  vicinity. 
E.  E.  LEE,  General  Commanding. 

While  these  operations  were  going  on  under 
Gen.  Sedgwick,  the  enemy  made  no  serious  at- 
tack upon  Gen.  Hooker.  On  Monday,  at  day- 
light, they  placed  guns  on  the  heights,  which 
commanded  the  ground  north  of  United  States 
Ford,  and  began  shelling  the  trains  of  Gen. 
Hooker.  These  guns  were  soon  silenced  by  the 
twelfth  corps,  which  relieved  the  eleventh,  and 
now  occupied  the  extreme  left.  During  the  day, 
the  enemy  continued  to  feel  the  lines  of  Gen. 
Hooker  from  the  extreme  left  to  right,  making 
vigorous  feints,  driving  in  pickets,  picking  off 
artillery  horses  and  officers  on  horseback.  It 
was  in  one  of  these  forays  that  Gen.  Whipple 
was  mortally  wounded  in  the  spine,  while 
standing  against  a  tree  in  his  own  camp,  sup- 
posing himself  to  be  in  perfect  security.  Gen. 


Hooker  continued  during  the  day  to  strengthen 
his  position  with  a  second  line  of  rifle  pits. 
During  Monday  night  slight  skirmishing  con- 
tinued along  the  lines,  with  frequent  volleys  of 
musketry  from  some  portion  of  the  rifle  pits. 
Batteries  of  flying  artillery  were  used  to  shell 
the  camps,  which  changed  position  as  often  as 
guns  were  brought  to  bear  upon  them.  Thus 
the  Federal  troops  were  harassed  and  exhaust- 
ed during  the  night. 

Early  on  Tuesday  all  the  pioneers  and  men, 
with  extra  tools,  were  employed  on  the  roads 
leading  from  the  army  back  to  United  States 
Ford.  Old  roads  were  repaired  and  new  ones 
cut  through  the  woods.  The  trains  and  artil- 
lery commenced  moving  toward  the  river  early 
in  the  evening.  The  rain  then  was  falling  rap- 
idly, and  the  night  became  quite  dark.  The 
crossing  commenced  at  ten  o'clock,  and  at  three 
o'clock  on  Wednesday  morning  all  the  wagons 
and  mule  trains  and  artillery  had  passed  the 
bridges,  and  the  passage  of  the  infantry  com- 
menced. The  second  corps,  under  Gen.  Couch, 
led  the  advance.  The  fifth  corps,  under  Gen. 
Meade,  formed  the  rear  guard,  with  Gen.  Sykes's 
division  of  regulars  to  cover  the  retreat.  The 
passage  of  the  river  was  effected  without  any 
disturbance  from  the  enemy.  The  dead  on  the 
battle  field  of  Tuesday  Avere  left  un buried,  and 
many  of  the  wounded  remained  behind.  The 
rapid  rise  of  the  river  prevented  the  immediate 
advance  of  Gen.  Lee. 

The  movements  of  the  cavalry  force,  under 
Gen.  Stoneman,  do  not  appear  to  have  pro- 
duced any  advantage  in  favor  of  Gen.  Hooker. 
As  has  been  stated,  the  storms  which  ensued 
prevented  active  movements  by  Gen.  Stone- 
man until  the  29th  of  April.  On  that  day  he 
crossed  at  Kelly's  Ford.  The  division  of  Gen. 
Averill  moved  to  the  Orange  and  Alexandria 
railroad,  and  encountered  two  regiments  of 
the  enemy,  who  retired  toward  Gordonsville. 
Thence  he  proceeded  to  Culpepper,  and  dis- 
persed a  force  of  the  rebels  there,  capturing 
their  rear  guard,  and  seizing  a  large  amount  of 
flour,  salt,  and  bacon.  The  enemy  were  pur- 
sued by  way  of  Oedar  mountain  toward  the 
Rapid  an.  Here  he  received  a  despatch  from 
Gen.  Stoneman,  desiring  him  to  push  the  enemy 
as  vigorously  as  possible,  and  keep  him  oc- 
cupied. On  the  1st,  scouting  parties  were  sent 
up  and  down  on  both  sides  of  the  Rapidan.  On 
the  2d,  orders  were  received  by  him  to  join 
Gen.  Hooker  at  United  States  Ford  at  once. 

Gen.  Stoneman,  after  crossing  at  Kelly's 
Ford,  moved  the  main  body  of  his  command 
across  Fleshman's  creek,  and  encamped  for  the 
night  in  an  open  field.  On  the  next  day,  the  3d, 
Gen.  Buford  crossed  the  Rapidan,  two  miles 
below  Racoon  Ford,  and  drove  a  body  of  in- 
fantry from  the  ford,  where  Gen.  Gregg  cross- 
ed later  in  the  day.  A  lieutenant  and  thirteen  t 
privates  of  an  artillery  company  were  captured ' 
here.  At  night  the  whole  force  bivouacked 
one  mile  from  the  river.  On  the  next  day  the 
march  was  commenced,  and  at  Orange  Spring  a 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


381 


force  of  the  enemy,  approaching  by  railroad, 
barely  escaped  capture.  That  night  the  com- 
mand encamped  at  Greenwood,  one  mile  from 
Louisa  Court  House,  through  which  the  Vir- 
ginia Central  railroad  passes,  connecting  Gor- 
donsville  with  Richmond.  On  the  next  day,  the 
2d  of  May,  a  squadron  of  the  10th  New  York, 
under  Col.  Irwin,  was  sent  five  miles  above  the 
town,  and  another  of  the  same  regiment,  under 
Major  A  very,  was  sent  the  same  distance  below, 
to  destroy  the  track  of  the  road,  while  Col.  Kil- 
patrick  took  possession  of  the  town.  The  track 
was  torn  up  for  some  distance,  the  telegraph 
cut,  and  some  commissary  stores  seized.  In 
the  afternoon  the  command  moved  to  Thomp- 
son's Four  Corners.  From  this  place,  as  head- 
quarters, several  expeditions  were  sent  out. 
On  the  next  morning  Col.  Wyndham  proceeded 
to  Columbia,  on  the  James  river,  where  the 
Lynchburg  and  Eichmond  canal  crosses  the 
river.  An  unsuccessful  attempt  was  made  to 
destroy  the  aqueduct.  Five  locks  were  injuced, 
three  canal  boats,  loaded  with  commissary 
stores,  and  five  bridges,  were  burned,  and  the 
the  canal  lock  cut  in  several  places.  A  large 
quantity  of  commissary  stores  and  medicines  in 
the  town  were  also  destroyed.  Another  de- 
tachment, under  Capt.  Druinmond,  of  the  5th 
cavalry,  destroyed  the  bridge  over  the  James 
river  at  Centreville.  Other  small  parties  were 
sent  out  in  different  directions,  and  some  skir- 
mishing took  place  with  small  parties  of  the 
enemy.  At  the  same  time  a  force,  consisting 
of  the  10th  New  York  and  1st  Maine,  with 
two  pieces  of  artillery,  was  sent  out  under 
Gen.  Gregg,  to  destroy  the  railroad  bridge  at 
Ashland,  while  Col.  Kilpatrick,  with  the  Har- 
ris Light,  and  12th  Illinois,  Lieut.-Col.  Davis, 
were  to  go  between  Ashland  and  Eichmond, 
destroying  the  railroad,  bridges,  &c.  Gen.  Gregg 
destroyed  the  bridge  across  the  South  Anna  on 
the  road  from  Columbia  to  Spottsylvania ; 
thence  he  moved  east,  and  destroyed  the  road 
to  Beaver  Dam  Station.  He  then  turned  north 
to  the  Eichmond  and  Gordonsville  turnpike, 
sending  out  a  detachment  to  burn  the  Ground 
Squirrel  bridge.  That  night  he  bivouacked 
eight  miles  from  Ashland.  A  detachment  sent 
out  to  burn  the  bridge  at  Ashland  found  it  too 
strongly  defended.  Some  portions  of  the  rail- 
road track,  however,  were  destroyed.  Leaving 
Col.  Kilpatrick  and  Lieut.-Col.  Davis,  Gen. 
Gregg  returned  on  the  next  day  to  Gen.  Stone- 
man.  On  the  night  of  the  4th,  Gen.  Gregg 
moved  near  Yanceyville,  and  was  followed  the 
next'  day  by  Gen.  Stoneman  and  Gen.  Bnford's 
command.  On  the  5th,  the  retrograde  movement 
commenced,  and  crossing  Eacoon  Ford,  on  the 
Eapidan,  the  command  arrived  at  Kelly's  Ford, 
on  the  North  Fork.  Meantime,  the  advance 
of  Col.  Kilpatrick  was  made,  and  thus  subse- 
quently reported  by  him : 

By  directions  from  Maj.-Gen.  Stoneman,  I  left  Louisa 
Court  House  on  the  morning  of  the  3d  instant,  with 
one  regiment  (the  Harris  Light  Cavalry)  of  my  brig- 
ade ;  reached  Hungary,  on  the  Fredericksburg  railroad, 


at  daylight  on  the  4th  ;  destroyed  the  depot  and  tele- 
graph wires  and  railroad  for  several  miles ;  passed 
over  to  Brook  turnpike,  drove  in  the  rebel  pickets ; 
down  the  pike,  across  the  brook,  charged  a  oattery, 
and  forced  it  to  retire  within  two  miles  of  the  city  of 
Richmond;  captured  Lieut.  Brown,  aide-de-camp  to 
Gen.  Winder,  and  eleven  men  within  the  fortifications ; 
passed  down  to  the  left  of  the  Meadow  bridge  on  the 
Chickahominy,  which  I  burned ;  ran  a  train  of  cars 
into  the  river ;  retired  to  Hanovertown  on  the  penin- 
sula ;  crossed  and  destroyed  the  ferty  boat  just  in  time 
to  check  the  advance  of  a  pursuing  cavalry  force; 
burned  a  train  of  thirty  wagons  loaded  with  bacon ; 
captured  thirteen  prisoners,  and  encamped  for  the 
night  five  miles  from  the  river. 

I  resumed  my  march  at  1  A.  M.  of  the  5th ;  surprised 
a  force  of  three  hundred  cavalry  at  Aylett's ;  captured 
two  officers  and  thirty-three  men;  burned  fifty-six 
wagons,  the  depot,  containing  upward  of  twenty  thou- 
sand bushels  of  corn  and  wheat,  quantities  of  Clothing 
and  commissary  stores,  and  safeiy  crossed  the  Matta- 
pony,  and  destroyed  the  ferry  again  just  in  time  to  es- 
cape the  advance  of  the  rebel  cavalry  pursuit.  Late  in 
the  evening  I  destroyed  a  third  wagon  train  and  depot 
a  few  miles  above  and  west  of  the  Tappahannock  on 
the  Rappahannock,  and  from  that  point  made  a  forced 
march  of  twenty  miles,  being  closely  pursued  by  a  su- 
perior force  of  cavalry,  supposed  to  be  a  portion  of 
Stuart's,  from  the  fact  that  we  captured  prisoners 
from  the  3th,  1st,  and  10th  Virginia  cavalry.  At  sun- 
down discovered  a  force  of  cavalry  drawn  up  in  line 
of  battle  about  King  and  Queen  Court  House.  Their 
strength  was  unknown,  but  I  at  once  advanced  to  the 
attack,  only  to  discover,  however,  that  they  were  friends 
— a  portion  of  the  10th  Illinois  cavalry,  who  had  be- 
come separated  from  the  command  of  Lieut.-Col.  Davis, 
of  the  same  regiment. 

At  10  A.  M.,  on  the  7th,  I  found  safety  and  rest  under 
our  own  brave  old  flag  within  our  lines  at  Gloucester 
Point.  This  raid  and  march  around  the  entire  rebel 
army — a  march  of  nearly  two  hundred  miles — has  been 
made  in  less  than  five  days,  with  a  loss  of  one  officer 
and  thirty-seven  men,  having  captured  and  paroled 
upward  of  three  hundred  men. 

At  the  same  time,  Lieut.-Col.  Davis,  of  the 
12th.  Illinois,  was  ordered  to  penetrate  to  the 
Fredericksburg  railroad,  and,  if  possible,  to  the 
Virginia  Central,  and  destroy  communications. 
If  he  crossed  the  Virginia  Central  he  was  to 
make  for  "Williamsburg  on  the  peninsula.  Leav- 
ing the  main  body  on  the  South  Anna,  on 
Sunday,  May  3d,  he  passed  down  the  bank  of 
that  river,  burning  a  bridge,  and,  dispersing  a 
mounted  party  of  the  enemy,  struck  the  rail- 
road at  Ashland.  Here  he  cut  the  telegraph, 
tore  up  some  rails,  and  burned  the  trestle- 
work  bridge  south  of  the  town.  At  the  same 
time  a  train  of  cars,  filled  with  sick  and 
wounded,  arrived,  and  was  captured.  The 
prisoners  were  paroled,  and  the  locomotives 
disabled.  Twenty  wagons,  with  horses,  were 
destroyed,  and  several  horses  taken.  Leaving 
at  6  P.  M.,  a  train  of  eighteen  wagons  was 
met  and  destroyed,  and  Hanover  Station  reach- 
ed at  8  P.  M.  Here  thirty  prisoners  were  cap- 
tured, and  the  railroad  line  broken.  The  depot, 
storehouses,  and  stables,  filled  with  govern- 
ment property,  wer&  destroyed,  also  a  culvert 
and  trestlework  south  of  the  station.  Among 
the  property  destroyed  were  more  than  one 
hundred  wagons,  a  thousand  sacks  of  flour  and 
corn,  and  a  large  quantity  of  clothing  and  horse 
equipments.  The  command  then  moved  down 
within  seven  miles  of  Eichmond,  and  bivouack- 


882 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ed  until  eight  o'clock  the  next  morning.  It 
then  marched  for  Williamsburg,  but  at  Tuns- 
tail's  Station,  near  White  House,  encountered  a 
train  of  cars,  filled  with  infantry  and  a  battery 
of  three  guns.  This  force  formed  in  rifle  pits, 
so  that  Col.  Davis,  by  a  charge,  could  not  pene- 
trate their  line:  he  therefore  determined  to 
cross  the  Pamunkey  and  Mattapony,  and  pro- 
ceed to  vGloucester  Point.  He  thus  reports  the 
result  of  his  movements  : 

Our  total  loss  in  the  expedition  has  been  two  com- 
missioned officers  and  thirty-three  enlisted  men ;  we 
brought  with  us  one  hundred  mules  and  seventy-five 
horses,  captured  from  the  enemy.  We  captured,  in 
the  course  of  our  march,  a  much  larger  number,  which 
we  could  not  bring  in.  The  amount  of  property  de- 
stroyed is  estimated  at  over  one  million  of  dollars. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

H.  DAVIS,  Lieui.-Colonel  Commanding. 

The  army  of  Gen.  Hooker,  after  recrossing, 
as  before  stated,  moved  immediately  to  its  origi- 
nal camp  opposite  Fredericksburg. 

On  the  6th,  Gen.  Hooker  issued  the  follow- 
ing address  to  hia  army : 

General  Orders  No.  49. 

HEADQUABTEBS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  ) 
May  6th,  1863.      ) 

The  Major-General  Commanding  tenders  to  this 
army  his  congratulations  on-  its  achievements  of  the 
last  seven  days.  If  it  has  not  accomplished  all  that 
was  expected,  the  reasons  are  well  known  to  the  army. 
It  is  sufficient  to  say,  they  were  of  a  character  not  to 
be  foreseen  or  prevented  by  human  sagacity  or  re- 
source. 

In  withdrawing  from  the  south  bank  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock  before  delivering  a  general  battle  to  our  ad- 
versaries, the  army  has  given  renewed  evidence  of  its 
confidence  in  itself,  and  its  fidelity  to  the  principles  it 
represents.  On  fighting  at  a  disadvantage,  we  would 
have  been  recreant  to  our  trust,  to  ourselves,  our  cause, 
and  our  country.  Profoundly  loyal  and  conscious  of 
its  strength,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  will  give  or 
decline  battle  whenever  its  interest  or  honor  may  de- 
mand. It  will  also  be  the  guardian  of  its  own  history 
and  its  own  arm.  By  your  celerity  and  secrecy  of 
movement,  our  advance  and  passage  of  the  rivers  was 
undisputed,  and  on  our  withdrawal  not  a  rebel  ven- 
tured to  follow. 

The  events  of  last  week  may  swell  with  pride  the 
heart  of  every  officer  and  soldier  of  this  army.  We 
have  added  new  lustre  to  its  former  renown.  We 
have  made  long  marches,  crossed  rivers,  surprised  the 
enemy  in  his  intrenchments,  and,  wherever  we  have 
fough't,  have  inflicted  heavier  blows  than  we  have  re- 
ceived. We  have  taken  from  the  enemy  five  thousand 
prisoners;  fifteen  colors;  captured  and  brought  off 
seven  pieces  of  artillery ;  placed  hors  du  combat  eigh- 
teen thousand  of  his  chosen  troops;  destroyed  his 
depots  filled  with  vast  amounts  of  stores ;  deranged 
his  communications;  captured  prisoners  within  the 
fortifications  of  his  capital,  and  filled  his  country  with 
fear  and  consternation.  We  have  no  other  regret 
than  that  caused  by  the  loss  of  our  brave  companions, 
and  in  this  we  are  consoled  by  the  conviction  that  they 
have  fallen  in  the  holiest  cause  ever  submitted  to  the 
arbitrament  of  battle. 

By  command  of  Major-General  HOOKER. 

S.  WILLIAMS,  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

On  the  Yth,  Gen.  Lee  issued  the  following 
address  to  his  army : 

General  Orders  No.  59. 
HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA,  ) 
May  7th,  1863.      J 

With  heartfelt  gratification,  the  General  Command- 
ing expresses  to  the  army  his  sense  of  the  heroic  con- 


duct displayed  by  officers  and  men,  during  the  arduous 
operations  in  which  they  have  just  been  engaged. 

Under  trying  vicissitudes  of  heat  and  storm,  you 
attacked  the  enemy,  strongly  intrenched  in  the  depths 
of  a  tangled  wilderness,  and  again  on  the  hills  of  Fred- 
ericksburg, fifteen  miles  distant,  and,  by  the  valor  that 
has  triumphed  on  so  many  fields,  forced  him  once 
more  to  seek  safety  beyond  the  Rappahannock.  While 
this  glorious  victory  entitles  you  to  the  praise  and 
gratitude  of  the  nation,  we  are  especially  called  upon 
to  return  our  grateful  thanks  to  the  only  Giver  of  vic- 
tory, for  the  signal  deliverance  He  has  wrought. 

It  is,  therefore,  earnestly  recommended  that  the 
troops  unite  on  Sunday  next  in  ascribing  to  the  Lord 
of  Hosts  the  glory  due  His  name. 

Let  us  not  forget,  in  our  rejoicings,  the  brave  soldiers 
who  have  fallen  in  defence  of  their  country;  and, 
•while  we  mourn  their  loss,  let  us  resolve  to  emulate 
their  noble  example.  The  army  and  the  country  alike 
lament  the  absence  for  a  time  of  one  to  whose  brav- 
ery, energy,  and  skill  they  are  so  much  indebted  for 
success. 

The  following  letter  from  the  President  of  the  Con- 
federate States,  is  communicated  to  the  army  as  an 
expression  of  his  appreciation  of  its  success : 

I  have  received  your  despatch,  and  reverently  unite  with 
you  in  giving  praise  to  God  for  the  success  with  which  he 
has  crowned  our  arms. 

In  the  name  of  the  people,  I  offer  my  cordial  thanks  to 
yourself  and  the  troops  under  your  command,  for  this  addi- 
tion to  the  unprecedented  series  of  great  victories  which  your 
army  has  achieved. 

The  universal  rejoicing  produced  by  this  happy  result 
will  be  mingled  with  a  general  regret  for  the  good  and  the 
brave  who  are  numbered  among  the  killed  and  wounded. 
R.  E.  LEE,  General. 

On  the  8th,  the  following  despatch  was  sent 
by  the  Secretary  of  War  to  the  Governors  of 
the  Northern  States : 

WASHINGTON,  May  8th,  1863. 

The  President  and  General-in-Chief  have  just  re- 
turned from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The  principal 
operations  of  Gen.  Hooker  failed,  but  there  has  been 
no  serious  disaster  to  the  organization  and  efficiency 
of  the  army.  It  is  now  occupying  its  former  position 
on  the  Rappahannock,  having  recrossed  the  river  with- 
out any  loss  in  the  movement.  Not  more  than  one 
third  of  Gen.  Hooker's  force  was  engaged.  Gen. 
Stoneman's  operations  have  been  a  brilliant  success. 
Part  of  his  force  advanced  to  within  two  miles  of 
Richmond,  and  the  enemy's  communications  have 
been  cut  in  every  direction.  The  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac will  speedily  resume  offensive  operations. 

(Signed)        E.  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

On  the  same  day,  the  President  issued  the 
following  proclamation,  preliminary  to  execu- 
ting the  law  for  obtaining  soldiers  by  enrol- 
ment and  draft.  It  would  appear  that  the 
events  on  the  Rappahannock  had  hastened  the 
decision  to  put  the  law  for  this-object  in  opera- 
tion, and  the  proclamation  notified  all  foreign- 
ers who  had  merely  declared,  an  intention  to 
become  citizens  of  the  United  Jfcates,  that  after 
sixty-five  days  they  would  be  li;;Me  to  draft, 
if  found  in  the  country. 
£y  the  President  of  the  United  States  of  America  ': 

PROCLAMATION. 

Whereas,  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  at  its 
last  session,  enacted  a  law,  entitled  an  act  for  the  en- 
rolling and  calling  out  the  national  forces,  and  for  oth- 
er purposes,  which  was  approved  on  the  fid  day  of 
March  last ;.  and  whereas,  it  is  recited  in  said  act  that 
there  now  exists  in  the  West  and  South  an  insurrec- 
tion against  the  authority  thereof,  and  it  is  under  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  the  duty  of  the  Gov- 
ernment to  suppress  insurrection  and  rebellion,  to 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


383 


guarantee  to  each  State  a  republican  form  of  govern- 
ment, and  to  preserve  public  tranquillity;  and  where- 
as, for  these  high  purposes,  a  military  force  is  indis- 
pensable, to  raise  and  support  which  all  persons  ought 
willingly  to  contribute ;  and  whereas,  no  service  can 
be  more  praiseworthy  and  honorable  than  that  which 
is  rendered  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Constitution 
and  Union,  and  consequent  preservation  of  free  gov- 
ernment ;  and  whereas,  for  the  reasons  thus  recited, 
it  was  enacted  by  said  statute  that  all  able-bodied 
male  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and  persons  of  for- 
eign birth  who  shall  have  declared  on  oath  their  in- 
tention to  become  citizens  under  and  in  pursuance  of 
the  laws  therof,  between  the  ages  of  20  and  45  years, 
with  certain  exceptions  not  necessary  to  be  here  men- 
tioned, are  declared  to  constitute  the  national  forces, 
and  shall  be  liable  to  perform  military  duty  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States,  when  called  on  by  the 
President  for  that  purpose  ;  and  whereas,  it  is  claimed 
by  and  in  behalf  of  persons  of  foreign  birth  within  the 
ages  specified  in  said  act,  who  have  heretofore  de- 
clared on  oath  their  intention  to  become  citizens  under 
and  in  pursuance  of  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  and 
who  have  not  exercised  the  right  of  suffrage  or  any 
other  political  franchise  under  the  laws  of  the  United 
States  or  of  any  of  the  States  thereof,  are  not  abso- 
lutely concluded  by  their  aforesaid  declaration  of  in- 
tention from  renouncing  their  purpose  to  become 
citizens  ;  and  that  on  the  contrary  such  persons  under 
treaties  or  the  law  of  nations  retain  a  right  to  re- 
nounce that  purpose  and  to  forego  privilege  of  citi- 
zenship and  residence  within  the  United  States  un- 
der obligations  imposed  by  the  aforesaid  act  of  Con- 
gress : 

Now,  therefore,  to  avoid  all  misapprehensions  con- 
cerning liability  of  persons  concerned  to  perform  the 
service  required  by  such  enactment,  and  to  give  it 
full  effect,  I  do  hereby  order  and  proclaim  that  no 
plea  of  alienage  will  be  received  or  allowed  to  exempt 
from  obligations  imposed  by  the  aforesaid  act  of  Con- 
gress any  person  of  foreign  birth  who  shall  have  de- 
clared, on  oath,  his  intention  to  become  a  citizen  of 
the  United  States,  under  the  laws  thereof,  and  who 
shall  be  found  within  the  United  States  at  any  time 
during  the  continuance  of  the  present  insurrection 
and  rebellion  at  or  after  the  expiration  of  the  period 
of  sixty-five  days  from  date  of  this  proclamation ;  nor 
shall  any  such  plea  of  alienage  be  allowed  in  favor  of 
any  such  person  who  has  so  as  aforesaid  declared  his 
intention  to  become  a  citizen  of  the  United  States, 
and  shall  have  exercised  at  any  time  the  right  of 
suffrage  or  any  other  political  franchise  within  the 
United  States  under  laws  of  any  of  the  several  States. 
In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and 
caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 
Done  at  the  city  of  Washington,  this  8th  day  of  May, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1863,  and  of  the  independence 
of  the  United  States  the  87th. 

(Signed)  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  President. 

W.  fl.  SEWAKD,  Secretary  of  State. 

Previously,  while  the  movements  of  Gen. 
Hooker  were  in  progress,  the  following  mili- 
tary orders  were  issued.  The  object  appears 
to.  have  been  to  prevent  the  transmission  of 
premature  and  unreliable  reports  to  Halifax, 
Nova  Scotia,  and  by  steamer  to  Europe : 

WASHINGTON,  May  1,  1863. 
To  Major-  Gen.  Wool,  Commanding  at  New  York  .- 

By  virtue  of  the  act  of  Congress  authorizing  the 
President  to  take  possession  of  railroad  and  telegraph 
lines,  &c.,  passed  February  4th,  1862,  the  President 
directs  that  you  take  immediate  military  possession 
of  the  telegraph  lines  lately  established  between  Phil- 
adelphia and  Boston,  called  the  Independent  Tele- 
graph Company,  and  forbid  the  transmission  of  any 
intelligence  relating  to  the  movements  of  the  army  of 
tbe  Potomac  or  any  military  forces  of  the  United 
States.  In  case  this  order  is  violated,  arrest  and  im- 


prison the  perpetrators  in  Fort  Delaware,  reporting 
to  this  Department.  If  the  management  of  the  line 
will  stipulate  to  transmit  no  military  intelligence  with- 
out the  sanction  of  the  War  Department,  they  need 
not  be  interfered  with  so  long  as  the  engagement  is 
fulfilled.  This  order  will  be  executed  so  as  not  to 
interfere  with  the  ordinary  business  of  the  Telegraph 
Company. 
By  order  of  the  President : 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

The  official  statement  of  the  killed  and 
wounded  of  Gen.  Hooker's  army  was  as  fol- 
lows :  | 

Officers  killed, 154 

Enlisted  men  killed, 1,358 

Officers  wounded, 624 

Enlisted  men  wounded, 8,894 

Total 11,030 

Some  of  the  wounded  remained  on  the  field 
of  battle  at  least  ten  days,  as  appears  by  the 
following,  which  was  made  public : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  } 
Tuesday,  May  12,  1863.      f 

Dr.  Luckley,  medical  director  in  charge  of  our 
wounded  on  the  field,  reports  that  they  are  all  com- 
fortable, and  are  about  twelve  hundred  in  number. 
An  ambulance  train  has  been  sent  for  them.  They 
are  expected  to  return  to  camp  by  to-night. 

A  flag  of  truce  from  Gen.  Lee  stated  that 
he  had  exhausted  his  medicines  and  hospital 
stores,  and  fresh  supplies  were  sent  over  for  the 
wounded  of  Gen.  Hooker's  army.  The  num- 
ber of  prisoners  taken  was  estimated  by  the 
enemy  at  eight  thousand.  It  was  an  overesti- 
mate. 

The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  numbers  was  less 
than  that  of  Gen.  Hooker,  but  far  greater  in 
the  importance  of  the  officers.  Among  their 
wounded  was  Gen.  Jackson,  who  subsequently 
died.  Upon  hearing  that  he  was  wounded, 
Gen.  Lee  addressed  to  him  the  following  letter  • 

CHANCELLORSVILLE,  May  ±th. 
To  Lieutenant-  Gen.  T.  J.  Jackson  : 

GENERAL:  I  have  just  received  your  note,  inform- 
ing me  that  you  are  wounded.  I  cannot  express  my 
regret  at  the  occurrence. 

Could  I  have  directed  events,  I  should  have  chosen 
for  the  good  of  the  country  to  have  been  disabled  in 
your  stead.     I  congratulate  you  upon  the  victory 
which  is  due  to  your  skill  and  energy. 
Most  truly  yours, 

E.  E.  LEE,  General. 

Gen.  Jackson  had  gone  some  distance  in 
front  of  his  line  of  skirmishers,  on  Saturday 
evening,  May  2d,  and  was  returning  about 
eight  o'clock,  attended  by  his  staff  and  part  of 
his  couriers.  The  cavalcade,  in  the  darkness 
of  the  night,  was  supposed  to  be  a  body  of 
Federal  cavalry,  and  fired  upon  by  a  regiment 
of  his  own  corps.  He  was  struck  by  three 
balls,  one  through  the  left  arm,  two  inches 
below  the  shoulder-joint,  shattering  the  bone 
and  severing  the  chief  artery ;  another  ball 
passed  through  the  same  arm  between  the 
elbow  and  wrist,  making  its  exit  through  the 
palm  of  the  hand;  a  third  ball  entered  the  palm 
of  the  right  hand,  about  the  middle,  passed 
through  and  broke  two  bones.  He  suffered 
for  a  week,  during  which  his  wounds  improved, 


884 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


but  sunk  under  an  attack  of  pneumonia.    The 
following  order  was  issued  by  Gen.  Lee : 

General  Order  No.  61. 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMT  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA,  ) 
May  \\ih,  1863.       ) 

With  deep   grief  the  Commanding  General  an- 

nounces  to  the  army  the  death  of  Lieut.-Gen.  T.  J. 

Jackson,  who  expired  on  the  10th  instant,  at  3.15  p.  M. 

The  daring,  skill,  and  energy  of  this  great  and  good 


soldier,  by  the  decree  of  an  all-wise  Providence,  are 
now  lost  to  us ;  but  while  we  mourn  his  death,  wo 
feel  that  his  spirit  still  lives,  and  will  inspire  the 
whole  army  with  his  indomitable  courage  and  un- 
slmken  confidence  in  God  as  our  hope  and  strength. 
,  Let  his  name  be  a  watchword  to  his  corps,  who 
have  followed  him  to  victory  on  so  many  fields.  Let 
officers  and  soldiers  emulate  his  invincible  deter- 
mination in  defence  of  our  beloved  country. 

R.  E.  LEE,  General. 


CHAPTEK  XXXI. 


Position  of  the  hostile  Armies  on  the  Kappahannock— The  Military  Departments — Advance  of  Gen.  Lee  toward  the 
Shenandoah  Valley — Capture  of  Winchester  and  Martinsburg — Invasion  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania — Calls  for 
Troops  from  the  Northern  States — March  of  Gen.  Hooker's  Army — Plans  of  Gen.  Lee — The  Enemy  in  Penn- 
sylvania. 


THE  armies  confronting  eacb  other  at  Freder- 
icksburg,  now  remained  inactive  for  some  time. 
A  movement  of  a  small  force  of  Confederate 
cavalry  near  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad, 
during  the  last  week  in  April,  was  made,  by 
which  some  injury  was  done  to  that  road,  and 
an  alarm  created  on  its  borders.  On  the  1st  of 
June,  the  Federal  force  at  West  Point,  on  the 
York  River,  under  Brig. -Gen.  Gordon,  was 
withdrawn,  and  a  cavalry  dash  from  Gloucester 
was  made  by  Col.  Kilpatrick  through  the  ad- 
jacent counties,  for  the  purpose  of  joining  his 
force  with  that  of  General. Stoneman.  At  this 
time,  also,  some  cavalry  movements  took  place 
along  the  Rapidan,  and  such  changes  were  ob- 
served in  the  appearance  of  the  enemy's  camp 
at  Fredericksburg  as  created  an  impression  that 
some  of  his  force  might  have  been  withdrawn. 
This  induced  Gen.  Hooker  to  make  a  reconnois- 
sance  in  force  on  the  5th  of  June.  The  division 
of  Gen.  Howe,  of  the  sixth  corps,  was  sent 
across  the  river  below  Fredericksburg.  Some 
skirmishing  ensued,  and  the  enemy  developed 
so  much  strength  as  to  create  the  impression 
that  the  mass  of  his  forces  had  not  been  re- 
moved. 

On  Tuesday,  the  9th  of  June,  two  brigades 
of  Gen.  Pleasanton's  cavalry,  under  command 
of  Gen.  Buford,  made  a  reconnoissance  to  Cul- 
pepper.  The  force  was  supported  by  two  bat- 
teries of  artillery,  and  two  regiments  of  infan- 
try, as  a  reserve.  On  Monday  night,  the  force 
bivouacked  near  Beverly  Ford,  on  the  Rappa- 
hannock^  Beyond  the  ford  was  a  semi-circular 
belt  of  woods,  with  a  range  of  rifle-pits  near 
the  edge;  and  a  line  of  pickets  guarded  the 
fords  on  the  southern  bank  of  the  river.  The 
cavalry  crossed  at  4  A.  M.,  the  10th  New  York 
in  advance,  and  drove  the  pickets  back  to  the 
rifle-pits,  and  then  charged  upon  the  pits.  The 
combat  was  severe,  but  the  enemy  were  driven 
from  their  pits  and  the  woods.  Falling  back 
upon  their  artillery,  they  maintained  their  po- 
sition until  twelve  o'clock,  when  Gen.  Buford's 
artillery  reached  the  ground,  and  the  action 


was  renewed.  Gen.  Pleasanton  took  command 
of  the  Union  force  before  it  was  over.  Gen. 
Stuart  also  arrived  on  the  Confederate  side. 
The  Federal  loss  was  about  three  hundred  and 
sixty.  Among  the  killed  was  Col.  B.  F.  Davis, 
who  led  the  cavalry  force  from  Harper's  Ferry 
at  the  time  of  its  surrender  in  1862.  The  ene- 
my's loss  was  somewhat  larger.  The  number 
of  the  enemy  taken  prisoners  was  about  two 
hundred.  In  reply  to  a  communication  from 
Gen.  Pleasanton,  relating  to  the  men  left  in  the 
hands  of  General  Stuart,  the  latter  subsequently 
stated  that  the  dead  had  been  decently  bur- 
ied, the  wounded  humanely  attended  by  his 
surgeons,  and  the  prisoners  sent  to  Richmond ; 
but  that  no  parties  would  be  permitted  to  visit 
the  field  by  flag  of  truce,  for  the  purpose  of 
procuring  the  remains  of  friends,  and  that  all 
future  communications  must  be  sent  by  the 
flag-of-truce  boat  to  City  Point,  Va. 

Positive  information  was  obtained  by  this  re- 
connoissance that  the  Confederate  forces  were 
preparing  for  a  movement,  either  against  Wash- 
ington or  into  the  State  of  Maryland.  An  ap- 
prehension of  an  "aggressive  blow  from  the  en- 
emy now  existed.  Where,  or  in  what  manner 
the  attempt  would  be  made  to  strike  the  blow, 
no  one  could  foretell.  A  threat  had  been  mado 
to  invade  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  with  a 
considerable  force,  in  retaliation  for  the  raids 
made  by  Col.  Grierson  in  Mississippi  and  Cols. 
Kilpatrick  and  Davis  in  Virginia.  The  cavalry 
force  of  Gen.  Pleasanton,  on  its  return,  brought 
information  that  the  enemy  had  been  moving 
in  strong  force  westward,  through  the  town  of 
Sperryville,  toward  Luray,  in  the  Shenandoah 
valley;  that  the  column  so  moving  was  three 
hours  and  a  half  in  passing  the  town,  and  was 
composed  of  infantry  and  artillery.  The  move- 
ment of  Gen.  Pleasanton  also  developed  that 
the  enemy  were  massing  their  cavalry  on  the 
Upper  Rappahannock  for  some  purpose.  On 
the  llth  of  June,  a  force,  consisting  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  of  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
crossed  the  Potomac  at  Edward's  Ferry,  and 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


385 


attacked  the  company  of  the  6th  Michigan  on 
picket  at  Seneca.  This  company  gradually  fell 
back  toward  Poolesville.  The  enemy  burnt 
their  camp  and  recrossed  the  river,  where  they 
remained  for  some  time,  assuming  a  threaten- 
ing appearance. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  the  Richmond  (Va.)  press 
spoke  of  a  movement  of  Gen.  Lee,  in  these 
words:  "It  is  too  generally  known  to  raise 
any  question  of  prudence  in  speaking  of  it, 
that  Gen.  Lee  has  put  his  army  in  motion. 
His  designs  are  known  only  to  himself,  and 
those  with  whom  it  was  his  duty  to  confer. 
A  few  days  will  disclose  them  to  the  public, 
who  are  willing  to  wait  patiently,  in  full  confi- 
dence that  the  result  will  vindicate  the  wisdom 
of  what  he  undertakes.  A  forward  movement 
on  his  part  has  been  for  some  time  anticipa- 
ted by  the  enemy,  and  is  regarded  with  very 
perceptible  uneasiness." 

The  facts  were  as  follows:  The  position 
occupied  by  Gen.  Hooker,  opposite  Fredericks- 
burg,  being  one  iu  which  he  could  not  be  at- 
tacked to  advantage,  Gen.  Lee  determined  to 
draw  him  from  it.  The  execution  of  this  pur- 
pose by  him  embraced  the  relief  of  the  Shen- 
andoah  valley  from  the  Federal  troops  that 
had  occupied  the  lower  part  of  it  during  the 
winter  and  spring,  and,  if  practicable,  the 
transfer  of  the  scene  of  hostilities  north  of  the 
Potomac.  It  was  thought  that  the  correspond- 
ing movements  on  the  part  of  Gen.  Hooker,  to 
which  those  contemplated  by  Gen.  Lee  would 
probably  give  rise,  might  offer  a  fair  opportu- 
nity to  strike  a  blow  at  the  army  under  Gen. 
Hooker,  and  that  in  any  event  that  army  would 
be  compelled  to  leave  Virginia,  and  possibly  to 
draw  to  its  support  troops  designed  to  operate 
against  other  parts  of  the  Confederacy.  In 
this  way  it  was  supposed  that  the  Federal  plan 
of  campaign  for  the  summer  would  be  broken 
up,  and  a  part  of  the  season  of  active  opera- 
tions be  consumed  in  the  formation  of  new 
combinations  and  the  preparations  that  they 
would  require.  Other  valuable  results,  it  was 
hoped  by  Gen.  Lee,  would  be  attained  by  mili- 
tary success. 

The  movement  of  Gen.  Lee  began  on  the 
3d  of  June.  Gen.  McLaws's  division  of  Gen. 
Longstreet's  corps  left  Fredericksburg  for 
Culpepper  Court  House;  and  Gen.  Hood's 
division,  which  was  encamped  on  the  Rap- 
id.in,  marched  to  the  same  place.  They  were 
followed,  on  the  4th  and  5th,  by  Gen.  Ewell's 
corps,  leaving  that  of  Gen.  A.  P.  Hill  to  oc- 
cupy the  Confederate  lines  at  Fredericks- 
burg.  The  forces  of  Gens.  Longstreet  and 
Ewell  reached  Culpepper  on  the  8th,  at  which 
point  the  Confederate  cavalry  under  Gen.  Stu- 
art was  concentrated.  Gen.  Jenkins,  with  his 
cavalry  brigade,  had  been  ordered  to  advance 
toward  Winchester,  to  cooperate  with  the  in- 
fantry in  the  proposed  expedition  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  Shenandoah  valley,  and  at  the 
•arae  time  Gen.  Imboden  was  directed  with  his 
command  to  make  a  demonstration  in  the  di- 
25 


rection  of  Romney,  in  order  to  cover  the  move- 
ment against  "Winchester,  and  prevent  the  Fed- 
eral troops  at  that  place  from  being  reenforced 
by  the  troops  on  the  line  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  railroad.  Both  of  these  officers  were  in 
position  when  Gen.  Ewell  left  Culpepper  Court 
House,  on  the  16th  of  June. 

On  the  9th  of  June,  the  "War  Department 
issued  a  general  order  (No.  172)  establishing 
two  new  military  departments,  as  follows : 

1.  The  Department  of  the  Monongahela,  embracing 
that  portion  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  west  of 
Johnstown  and  the  Laurel  Hill  range  of  mountains, 
and  the  counties  of  Hancock,  Brooke,  and  Ohio,  in 
the  State  of  Virginia,  and  the  counties  of  Columbia, 
Jefferson,  and  Belmont,  in  the  State  of  Ohio.    The 
command  of  this  department  is  assigned  to  Major-Gen. 
William  T.  H.  Brooks,  with  his  headquarters  at  Pitts- 
burg. 

2.  The  Department  of  the  Susquehanna,  embra- 
cing that  portion  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  east 
of  Johnstown  and  the  Laurel  Hill  range  of  moun- 
tains.   The  command  of  this  department  is  assigned 
to  Major-Gen.  Couch,  with  his  headquarters  at  Cham- 
bersburg. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  the  military  geo- 
graphical departments  and  their  commanders 
at  this  time : 

Department  of  the  Tennessee — Maj.-Gen.  U.  S.  Grant. 

Department  of  the  Cumberland— Maj.-Gen.  W.  S. 
Rosecrans. 

Department  of  the  Ohio — Maj.-Gen.  A.  E.  Burnside. 

Department  of  NewEngland — Maj.-Gen.  John  A.  Dix. 

Department  of  the  Gulf— Maj.-Gen.  N.  P.  Banks. 

Department  of  North  Carolina  and  Department  of 
Virginia — Maj.-Gen.  J.  G.  Foster. 

Department  of  the  Northwest — Maj.-Gen.  John  Pope. 

Department  of  Washington — Maj.-Gen.  S.  P.  Heint- 
zelman. 

Department  of  the  Monongahela — Maj.-Gen.  W.  T. 
H.  Brooks. 

Department  of  the  Susquehanna— Maj.-Gen.  Darius 
N.  Couch. 

Department  of  Western  Virginia— Brig.-Gen.  B.  F. 
Kelly. 

Department  of  New  Mexico — Brig.-Gen.  James  H. 
Carlton. 

Department  of  the  Pacific— Brig.-Gen.  G.  Wright. 

Department  of  Key  West— Brig.-Gen.  J.  M.  Brannan. 

Department  of  Kansas — Maj.-Gen.  James  G.  Blunt. 

Middle  Department — Maj.-Gen.  Robert  C.  Schenck. 

Departmentof  the  South — Brig.-Gen.  Q.  A.  Gillmore. 

Department  of  Missouri— Mai.-Gen.  John  M.  Scho- 
field. 

On  the  12th  of  June,  the  Governor  of  Penn- 
sylvania issued  the  following  proclamation : 

In  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of  the  Commonwealth 
of  Pennsylvania,  by  Andrew  G.  Ourtin,  Governor 
of  the  saw,  Commonwealth,  : 

A  PROCLAMATION. 

Information  has  been  obtained  by  the  War  Depart- 
ment that  a  large  rebel  force,  composed  of  cavalry, 
artillery,  and  mounted  infantry,  has  been  prepared  for 
the  purpose  of  making  a  raid  into  Pennsylvania.  The 
President  has  therefore  erected  two  new  departments, 
one  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  to  be  commanded  by 
Major-General  Couch,  and  the  other  in  Western  Penn- 
sylvania, to  be  commanded  by  Major-General  Brooks. 
I  earnestly  invite  the  attention  of  the  people  of  Penn- 
sylvania to  the  general  orders  issued  by  these  officers 
on  assuming  the  command  of  their  respective  depart- 
ments. 

The  importance  of  immediately  raising  a  sufficient 
force  for  the  defence  of  the  State  cannot  be  overrated. 
The  corps  now  proposed  to  be  established  will  give" 


386 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


permanent  Security  to  our  borders.  I  know  too  well 
the  gallantry  and  patriotism  of  the  freemen  of  this 
Commonwealth  to  think  it  necessary  to  do  more  than 
commend  this  measure  to  the  people,  and  earnestly 
urge  them  to  respond  to  the  call  of  the  General  Gov- 
ernment and  promptly  fill  the  ranks  of  this  corps, 
the  duties  of  which  will  be  mainly  the  defence  of 
our  own  homes,  firesides,  and  property  from  devas- 
tation. ANDREW  G.  CURTIN. 

On  the  same  day,  Gen.  Couch  assumed  the 
command  of  the  Department  of  the  Susquehan- 
na,  with  his  headquarters  at  Harrisburg,  Penn. 
In  consultation  with  Governor  Curtin,  they 
were  of  the  opinion  that  the  danger  of  an 
invasion  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  was  cer- 
tain. The  Federal  Government  was  therefore 
requested  by  the  Governor  to  suspend  all  recruit- 
ing for  the  regular  or  volunteer  service  within 
the  State,  so  that  ^he  citizens  could  be  availa- 
ble in  its  defence.  The  request  was  granted. 
At  the  same  time  Gen.  Couch  issued  the  fol- 
lowing order,  calling  for  volunteers : 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  SBSQTTEHANNA,  ) 
CHAMBBRSBUKG,  June  I2th,  1S68.     ) 

The  undersigned  assumes  command  of  this  depart- 
ment. In  view  of  the  danger  of  the  invasion  now 
threatening  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  by  the  enemies 
of  the  Government,  a  new  military  department  has 
been  made  by  direction  of  the  War  Department,  em- 
bracing all  the  territory  of  Pennsylvania  east  of  Johns- 
town and  Laurel  Hill  range  of  mountains ;  headquar- 
ters at  Chambersburg. 

To  prevent  serious  raids  by  the  enemy,  it  is  deemed 
necessary  to  call  upon  the  citizens  of  Pennsylvania  to 
furnish  promptly  all  the  men  necessary  to  organize' 
an  army  corps  of  volunteer  infantry,  artillery,  and 
cavalry,  to  be  designated  the  "  Army  Corps  of  the 
Susquehanna."  Thejr  will  all  be  enrolled  and  organ- 
ized in  accordance  with  the  regulations  of  the  United 
States  service,  for  the  protection  and  defence  of  the 
public  and  private  property  within  the  department, 
and  will  be  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States  to  serve  during  the  pleasure  of  the  President 
or  the  continuance  of  the  war.  The  company  and 
field  officers  of  the  departmental  corps  will  be  pro- 
visionally commissioned  by  the  President  upon  the 
recommendation  of  the  General  Commanding.  They 
will  be  armed,  uniformed,  and  equipped,  and,  while  in 
active  service,  subsisted  and  supplied  as_  active  troops 
of  the  United  States.  When  not  required  for  active 
service  to  defend  the  department,  they  will  be  returned 
to  their  homes  subject  to  the  call  of  the  Commanding 
General. 

Cavalry  volunteers  may  furnish  their  own  horses, 
to  be  turned  over  to  the  United  States  at  their  ap- 
praised value,  or  allowance  will  be  made  for  the  time 
of  actual  service,  at  the  rate  authorized  by  law.  All 
able-bodied  volunteers  between  the  ages  of  eighteen 
and  sixty  will  be  enrolled  and  received  into  this  corps. 

The  volunteers  for  the  State  defence  will  receive  no 
bounty,  but  will  be  paid  the  same  as  like  service  in 
the  army  of  the  United  States,  for  the  time  they  may 
be  in  actual  service,  as  soon  as  Congress  may  make  an 
appropriation  for  that  purpose. 

If  volunteers  belonging  to  this  army  corps  desire, 
they  can  be  transferred  to  the  volunteer  service  for 
three  years  or  during  the  war,  when  they  will  be  en- 
titled to  all  the  bounties  and  privileges  granted  by  the 
acts  of  Congress. 

The  General  Commanding,  in  accordance  with  the 
foregoing  general  authority,  calls  upon  all  citizens 
within  his  department  to  come  forward  promptly  to 
perfect  the  company  organizations  under  United  States 
regulations,  to  wit :  one  captain,  one  first  lieutenant, 
one  second  lieutenant,  sixty-four  privates  as  the  mini- 
mum and  eighty-two  as  the  maximum  standard  of 
"  each  company. 


The  General  Commanding  specially  desires  that  citi- 
zens of  this  district  recently  in  the  army  should  vol- 
unteer for  duty  in  this  army  corps;  thereby,  from 
their  experience,  adding  greatly  to  the  efficiency  of 
the  force  for  immediate  defensive  operations;  each 
company  organization  to  be  perfected  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  report  the  name  of  the  officers  in  com- 
mand, the  number  of  men,  and  the  place  of  its  head- 
quarters, in  order  that  they  may  be  promptly  fur- 
nished with  transportation  to  the  general  rendervous, 
which  will  be  at  Harrisburg.  Any  person  who  will 
furnish  forty  or  more  men  who  will  be  enrolled,  if 
otherwise  unobjectionable,  will  be  entitled  to  a  cap- 
taincy. 

Any  person  who  will  bring  twenty-five  or  more 
men,  under  the  above  conditions,  will  be  entitled  to  a 
first  lieutenancy,  and  every  person  who  will  bring 
fifteen  or  more  men,  under  the  same  conditions,  to  a 
second  lieutenancy.  On  their  arrival  at  the  place  of 
rendezvous  they  will  be  formed  into  regiments.  So 
far  as  practicable,  and  as  may  be  found  consistent  with 
the  interests  of  the  public  service,  companies  from  the 
same  locality  will  be  put  together  in  the  regimental 
organizations. 

For  the  present  all  communications  will  be  addressed 
to  Harrisburg.  The  chiefs  of  the  respective  organi- 
zations will  report  accordingly. 

DARIUS  N.  COUCH,  Major-Gen'l  Commanding. 

At  the  same  time  Gen.  Brooks  assumed  com- 
mand of  the  Department  of  Monongahela,  with 
his  headquarters  at  Pittshurg,  and  proceeded 
to  prepare  to  resist  any  attempt  at  an  invasion. 

Meantime,  the  force  which  Gan.  Hookerliad 
sent  across  the  Rappahannock  on  a  reconnois- 
sance  had  intrenched  its  position  and  remained 
on  the  plain  below  Fredericksburg,  and  two 
bridges  were  constructed  over  the  river.  The 
enemy  fortified  themselves  strongly,  and  waited 
for  any  demonstration.  There  were  evidently 
about  ten  thousand  men  in  their  first  line  of 
defences,  and  others  were  visible  upon  the 
ridges  and  in  the  woods,  within  supporting  dis- 
tance. New  earthworks  appeared  every  morn- 
ing on  the  heights ;  picket  firing  was  constant, 
and  occasionally  their  artillery  opened  fire.  It 
was  known  that  troops  had  been  hurrying  up 
for  some  time  from  Southeastern  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina,  and  that  the  army  of  Gen. 
Lee  had  been  reorganized  and  made  to  con- 
sist of  three  large  corps,  under  Gens.  Long- 
street,  Ewell,  ana  A.  P.  Hill.  Although  the 
force  displayed  in  Fredericksburg  was  large, 
yet  Gen.  Lee  was  supposed  to  be  at  Culpepper 
on  the  12th,  with  the  corps  of  Gens.  Long- 
street  and  Ewell,  for  the  purpose  of  attacking 
the  right  of  Gen.  Hooker,  and  preparations 
were  made  to  resist  him.  On  the  13th  it  was 
manifest  that  the  movements  of  Gen.  Lee  in 
the  direction  of  Culpepper,  had  been  made  on  a 
larger  and  more  extensive  scale  than  was  at 
first  supposed,  and  embraced  nearly  the  whole 
of  his  army,  leaving  near  Fredericksburg  not 
more  than  ten  thousand  men.  Such  a  move- 
ment removed  every  doubt  of  his  intention  to 
assume  the  offensive. 

There  existed  at  this  time  many  considera 
tions  to  encourage  Gen.  Lee  in  this  movement. 
The  army  of  Gen.  Hooker  had  been  reduced, 
not  only  by  the  losses  in  the  battle  of  Chan- 
cellorsville,  but  by  the  departure  of  nearly 
twenty  thousand  men,  who  had  enlisted,  some 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


387 


for  two  years,  and  some  for  nine  months,  and 
whose  term  of  service  had  now  expired.  No 
aid  to  him  could  be  expected  from  the  West. 
The  Confederate  authorities  had  declared  that 
Gen.  Johnston  should  be  strengthened  suffi- 
ciently to  attack  Gen.  Grant  in  the  rear  and 
raise  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  This  declaration, 
on  their  part,  had  caused  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment to  make  every  exertion  to  defeat  it.  All  the 
troops  which  could  be  spared  in  the  West  were 
sent  to  Gen."  Grant.  The  force  of  Gen.  Burnside, 
in  the  Department  of  Ohio,  was  included.  This 
n<jt  only  compelled  the  latter  to  remain  inactive, 
but  actually  exposed  Ohio  and  Western  Virginia. 
The  entire  levy  of  nine-months'  men  would 
go  home  in  June,  and  the  Federal  Government 
had  made  no  call  for  others  in  their  place,  and 
had  not  in  reality  succeeded  in  obtaining  by  en- 
listment any  number  of  troops  except  the  free 
and  slave  blacks  it  had  been  successful  in  or- 
ganizing. There  were  also  reasons  why  the 
army  of  Gen.  Lee  should  take  the  field.  It  was 
now  well  known  to  the  Confederate  Govern- 
ment that  it  would  be  unable  to  reenforce  Gen. 
Johnston,  so  that  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  could 
be  raised ;  a  counteracting  effort  was  therefore 
necessary  in  some  quarter.  The  supplies  which 
might  be  obtained  by  an  invasion  of  the  North 
were  also  greatly  needed. 

It  was  the  purpose  of  Gen.  Lee,  if  possible, 
to  strike  a  most  decisive  blow.  For  this  ob- 
ject an  army  of  nearly  one  hundred  thousand 
mea  had  been  collected  in  the  field.  It  was  first 
contemplated  by  Gen.  Lee  to  enter  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  keep  the  army  of  Gen.  Hooker  fully 
occupied.  Meantime,  a  body  of  chosen  troops 
were  to  be  detached  from  the  forces  of  Gen. 
Beauregard,  at  Charleston,  and  Gen.  Bragg,  in 
Tennessee,  and  concentrate  at  Culpepper,  for 
the  purpose  of  making  an  attack  on  Washing- 
ton. It  was  thought  that  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment, thus  divided  between  a  fear  of  leaving 
Pennsylvania  defenceless,  and  the  necessity  of 
protecting  the  seat  of  government,  would  be 
obliged  to  fail  signally  in  one  quarter  or  the 
other.  Either  Washington'  would  fall,  or  the 
chief  towns  of  Pennsylvania  and  all  the  rich  • 
regions  surrounding  them  would  come  into  the 
•possession  of  Gen.  Lee's  army. 

Gen.  Hooker  penetrated  the  object  of  Gen. 
Lee  in  concentrating  upon  the  "Upper  Rappa- 
hannock  before  it  was  too  late.  As  early  as 
the  12th  of  June  he  began  to  send  his  sick  and 
•wounded  to  Washington,  and  to  remove  his 
stores.  A  most  formidable  invasion  by  Gen. 
Lee  was  soon  developed. 

On  Friday,  the  12th  of  June,  it  was  ascer- 
tained at  Winchester  that  a  large  body  of  the 
enemy  were  moving  up  the  Shenandoah  valley. 
On  Saturday  an-attack  was  made  by  the  advance 
of  the  enemy,  under  Gen.  Rhodes,  upon  Berry- 
ville,  which  was  held  by  Gen.  McReynolds  as  an 
outpost  of  Winchester.  The  force  of  Gen.  Mc- 
Reynolds was  about  three  thousand  men,  and 
the  position  was  midway  between  Winchester 
and  Snicker's  Gap,  through  which  the  enemy 


advanced.  The  attack  was  repelled  with  vigor 
and  firmness  for  some  time,  when,  in  conse- 
quence of  overwhelming  numbers,  a  retreat 
upon  Winchester  was  commenced.  The  6th 
Maryland,  Col.  Home,  with  Capt.  Alexander's 
1st  Maryland  battery  covered  the  retreat, 
and  maintained  their  ground  until,  the  enemy 
closing  around  them,  they  were  compelled  to 
abandon  their  guns.  A  large  part  of  the  regi- 
ment were  made  prisoners,  but  were  not  dis- 
armed, and,  in  the  confusion  which  ensued  dur- 
ing the  darkness  of  the' evening,  withdrew  un- 
observed, being  familiar  with  the  roads,  and 
escaped.  • 

On  the  same  day,  early  in  the  morning,  the 
pickets  of  Maj.-Gen.  Milroy,  at  Winchester, 
were  driven  in  by  the  advance  of  Gen.  Ewell, 
with  the  divisions  of  Gens.  Early  and  John- 
son. A  detachment  was  sent  out  to  feel  their 
strength,  and  an  artillery  fire  was  kept  up  for 
some  time.  Gen.  Milroy,  then  in  command  at 
Winchester,  had  a  force  of  seven  thousand  men, 
with  three  batteries  of  field  artillery,  and  six 
siege  pieces,  in  a  fort.  As  the  forces  of  the 
enemy  increased  during  the  day,  the  advanced 
regiments  of  Gen.  Milroy  were  compelled  to 
fall  back  to  the  cover  of  the  town.  Some  guns, 
posted  in  the  outskirts,  prevented  the  enemy 
from  crossing  Mill  creek  that  day ;  but  all  the 
country  southward  from  the  creek  was  free  to 
them.  During  the  morning  of  Sunday,  and,  in 
fact,  all  day,  skirmishing  took  place  between 
the  18th  Connecticut  and  87th  Pennsylvania 
regiments  and  the  skirmishers  of  the  enemy's 
force,  who  were  posted  in  the  woods,  a  mile 
east  of  Winchester,  on  the  Berryville  road,  and 
extending  across  to  the  Front  Royal  road  on 
the  southeast.  The  Federal  troops  kept  close 
in  upon  the  town,  while  .the  enemy  came  up  to 
the  eastern  side  of  the  public  cemetery,  across 
which  the  principal  firing  took  place.  About 
half  past  four  p.  M.  the  skirmishers  of  the  ene- 
my charged  up  the  Berryville  and  Front  Royal 
roads  to  the  edge  of  the  town,  but  by  a  well- 
directed  fire  were  repulsed  in  confusion.  A 
charge  was  now  ordered  by  Gen.  Milroy  to  be 
made  by  these  two  regiments,  but  the  enemy 
were  found  to  be  so  well  supported  in  the  dis- 
tant woods  that  the  regiments  were  compelled 
to  get  back  as  soon  as  they  could. 

About  five  o'clock  p.  M.  the  enemy  appeared 
in  strong  force,  with  two  eight-gun  batteries, 
directly  west  of  the  main  fort  north  of  the 
Romney  road,  which  runs  directly  west  from 
the  town,  and  about  fifteen  hundred  yards  from 
the  outworks.  These  were  held  by  the  110th 
Ohio,  and  company  L,  5th  regiment  artillery. 
After  getting  his  batteries  into  position  and 
opening  fire,  Gen.  Ewell  massed  his  infantry,  and 
charged  across  the  fields  to  the  very  muzzles  of 
the  Federal  guns,  although  the  latter  were  fired 
vigorously.  Without  a  pause,  the  enemy  cross- 
ed the  ditch,  came  over  the  breastworks,  and 
planted  their  colors  on  the  embankment.  The 
Ohio  regiment  was  flriven  from  the  works  at 
the  point  of  .the  bayonet.  Some  escaped  back 


388 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTQEY  OF  THE  REBELLION". 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


389 


to  the  main  fort,  and  the  remainder  were  cap- 
tured or  killed. 

Gen.  Milroy,  finding  that  the  enemy  were  on 
the  east,  south,  and  west  of  him,  and  were 
moving  toward  the  Martinsburg  road,  which 
runs  north  from  the  town,  ordered  all  the  troops 
and  artillery  from  the  south  and  east  into  the 
line  of  earthworks  encircling  the  main  works, 
when  the  contest  between  the  Federal  artillery 
and  that  of  the  enemy  continued  until  night. 
At  that  time  the  second  brigade,  under  Col. 
Ely,  occupied  the  town  and  the  space  to  the 
main  fort  on  the  northwest ;  the  first  brigade, 
under  Gen.  Elliott,  occupied  the  main  fort,  and 
the  third,  under  Col.  McReynolds,  was  posted 
in  the  Star  fort,  north  of  the  main  forj;.  Soon 
after  dark  the  enemy  charged  across  the  ravine 
between  their  new  position  and  the  main  fort, 
but  met  such  a  fire  as  quickly  repulsed  them. 
Quiet  then  prevailed. 

At  one  o'clock,  on  Monday  morning,  Gen. 
Milroy  called  a  council  of  brigade  commanders, 
and  it  was  decided  to  abandon  the  position, 
and  retreat  to  Harper's  Ferry.  The  troops  were 
then  quickly  put  in  motion,  taking  nothing  ex- 
cept what  they  had  upon  their  persons.  They 
marched  on  the  road  to  Martinsburg  about  four 
miles,  when  they  encountered  a  strong  force  of 
the  enemy,  upon  whom  an  advance  was  nfade 
and  repulsed.  The  18th  Connecticut  and  5th 
Maryland  regiments,  being  on  the  left  of  the 
line,  were  captured  almost  entire.  Of  the  re- 
mainder, about  1, 600  reached  Maryland  Heights ; 
about  400  Hancock  and  Cumberland,  and  about 
1,700  Bloody  Run.  Three  full  batteries  of 
field  artillery,  and  all  the  siege  guns  in  the 
Star  fort  and  the  main  fort,  were  taken  by 
the  enemy ;  also  the  quartermaster's  and  com- 
missary's stores,  the  ammunition  of  all  kinds, 
6,000  muskets,  200  wagons  with  horses  and 
mules,  and  all  the  private  baggage  of  officers 
and  men.  The  dead  and  wounded  were  left 
on  the  field  and  along  the  roadside  as  they 
fell.  On  Tuesday  a  large  train  of  wagons,  which 
had  left  Gen.  Milroy  early  on  Sunday,  arrived 
at  Harrisburg.  It  had  not  been  molested. 

Maj.-Gen.  Milroy  had  previously  rendered 
himself  very  obnoxious  to  the  enemy,  in  con- 
sequence of  rigorous  measures  adopted  by  him 
in  Western  Virginia.  Their  hatred  to  him  was 
so  bitter  that  a  reward  of  ten  thousand  dollars 
was  offered  for  his  head. 

Subsequently  a  court  of  inquiry  was  ordered, 
preliminary  to  a  court  martial,  upon  the  con- 
duct of  Gen.  Milroy  at  Winchester.  The  re- 
port of  the  Judge  Advocate-General,  with  the 
evidence  elicited,  was  laid  before  the  President, 
who  rendered  the  following  decision  : 

In  June  last  a  division  was  substantially  lost  at  and 
near  Winchester,  Va.  At  the  time  it  was  under  Gen. 
Milroy,  as  immediate  commander  in  the  field,  Gen. 
Schenck,  as  department  commander  at  Baltimore,  and 
Gen.  Halleck,  as  commander-in-chief  at  Washington. 
Gen.  Milroy,  as  immediate  commander,  was  put  under 
arrest,  and  subsequently  a  court  of  inquiry  examined 
chiefly  with  reference  to  disobedience  of  orders,  and 
reported  the  evidence. 


The  foregoing  is  a  synoptical  statement  of  the  evi- 
dence, together  with  the  Judge  Advocate-General's 
conclusions.  The  disaster,  when  it  came,  was  a  sur- 
prise to  all.  It  was  well  known  to  Gen.  Schenck  and 
Gen.  Milroy  for  some  time  before  that  Gen.  Halleck 
thought  that  the  division  was  in  general  danger  of  a 
surprise  at  Winchester ;  that  it  was  of  no  service  there 
commensurate  with  the  risk  it  incurred,  and  that  it 
ought  to  be  withdrawn.  But,  although  he  more  than 
once  advised  its  withdrawal,  he  never  positively  order- 
ed it. 

Gen.  Schenck,  on  the  contrary,  believed  the  service  of 
the  force  at  Winchester  was  worth  the  hazard,  and  so 
did  not  positively  order  its  withdrawal  until  it  was  so 
late  that  the  enemy  cut  the  wire  and  prevented  the 
order  reaching  Gen.  Milroy.  Gen.  Milroy  seems  to 
have  concurred  with  Gen.  Schenck  in  the  opinion  that 
the  forces  should  be  kept  at  Winchester,  at  least  until 
the  approach  of  danger ;  but  he  disobeyed  no  order 
upon  the  subject. 

Some  question  can  be  made  whether  some  of  Gen. 
Halleck's  despatches  to  Gen.  Schenck  should  not  have 
been  construed  to  be  orders  to  withdraw  the  force  and 
obeyed  accordingly ;  but  no  such  question  can  be  made 
against  Gen.  Milroy.  In  fact,  the  last  order  he  received 
was  to  be  prepared  to  withdraw,  but  not  actually  to 
withdraw  till  further  order — which  further  order  never 
reached  him. 

Serious  blame  is  not  necessarily  due  to  every  serious 
disaster,  and  I  cannot  say  that  in  this  case  either  of 
these  officers  is  deserving  of  serious  blame.  No  court 
martial  is  deemed  necessary  or  proper  in  the  case. 

A.  LINCOLN. 

Maj.-Gen.  Halleck,  in  his  annual  report, 
dated  Nov.  15th,  says : 

Winchester  and  Martinsburg  were  at  this  tfme  oc- 
cupied by  us  simply  as  outposts.  Neither  place  was 
susceptible  of  a  good  defence.  Directions  were  there- 
fore given  on  the  llth  of  June  to  withdraw  those  gar- 
risons to  Harper's  Ferry;  but  these  orders  were  not 
obeyed,  and  on  the  13th  Winchester  was  attacked  and 
its  armament  and  a  part  of  the  garrison  captured. 

On  Sunday,  the  14th,  about  4  p.  M.,  Gen. 
Rhodes,  who  had  been  instructed,  after  dis- 
lodging the  force  at  Berryville,  to  cut  off  the 
communications  between  Winchester  and  the 
Potomac,  appeared  before  Martinsburg,  north 
of  Winchester,  and  demanded  its  surrender  of 
Gen.  Tyler,  who  was  in  command.  This  was 
refused,  and  an  attack  was  made,  which  Gen. 
Tyler  resisted  until  dark.  He  then  prepared  to 
evacuate  the  position.  This  movement  being 
discovered  by  the  enemy,  the  attack  was  re- 
newed, and  a  bloody  contest  followed,  which 
was  kept  up  until  he  reached  the  Potomac  river. 
He  then  crossed  at  Shepherdstown,  and  subse- 
quently moved  to  Harper's  Ferry  with  his  forces. 

The  following  is  Gen.  Lee's  report  of  the 
taking  of  Martinsburg : 

CTTLPEPPER  COTTET  HorsK,  June  ISth,  1863. 
Gen.  S.  Cooper,  Adjutant  and  Inspector- G  eneral  : 

GENERAL:   On    the    afternoon    of    the  14th,   Gen. 
Rhodes  took  possession    of  Martinsburg,   capturing 
several  pieces  of  artillery,   more  than  two  hundred 
prisoners,  and  a  supply  of  ammunition  and  grain. 
Our  loss  was  one  killed  and  two  wounded. 

R.  E.  LEE,  General. 

Gen.  Lee  subsequently  reported  that  more 
than  four  thousand  prisoners,  twenty-nine 
pieces  of  artillery,  two  hundred»and  seventy 
wagons  and  ambulances,  with  four  hundred 
horses,  were  captured  in  these  operations,  be- 
sides a  large  amount  of  military  stores. 


390 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


On  Monday  morning  a  body  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  under  Col.  Jenkins,  estimated  at  two 
thousand  in  number,  crossed  the  Potomac  at 
Williamsport,  north  of  Martinsburg,  without 
opposition,  and  immediately  moved  northward 
through  Hagerstown  to  Greencastle,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  thence  to  Ohambersburg,  where  they 
arrived  on  Tuesday  night.  There  was  no  Fed- 
eral force  at  either  of  these  places  to  oppose 
them.  The  only  hostile  acts  of  this  force  were 
the  seizure  of  horses,  cattle,  and  forage ;  goods 
were  purchased  at  stores  and  paid  for  in  Con- 
federate scrip.  On  Tuesday  afternoon  a  small 
force  of  Confederate  infantry  crossed  the  Po- 
tomac at  Williamsport,  for  the  purpose  of 
guarding  the  passage  until  the  return  of  the 
cavalry  expedition. 

The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad  managers, 

on  seeing  the  approaching  danger,  had  removed 

.  from  their  road  all  cars  and  engines  for  the 

space  of  one  hundred  miles,  between  Harper's 

Ferry  and  Cumberland. 

The  rest  of  the  force  which  advanced  up  the 
Shenandoah  valley  was*  massed  in  the  vicinity  of 
Harper's  Ferry,  apparently  threatening  an  at- 
tack upon  that  place,  although  it  remained  quiet. 
A  band  of  guerrillas,  under  Col.  Moseby,  num- 
bering about  one  hundred  and  fifty,  on  Saturday 
entered  London  county,  Va.,  and  spread  them- 
selves'-about  from  Halltown  to  Waterford  in 
small  squads.  On  Sunday  and  Monday  they  were 
slightly  reenforced.  On  "Wednesday  this  force 
crossed  the  Potomac,  and  captured  a  small 
squad  of  home  guards  stationed  there.  They 
afterward  intercepted  a  train  of  twenty-two 
freight  cars,  most  of  which  were  empty,  that 
were  returning  to  Baltimore  from  Harper's 
Ferry.  The  cars  were  burned,  and  the  locomo- 
tives badly  injured.  The  enemy  then  returned 
to  the  Virginia  side  of  the  river,  but  maintain- 
ed their  pickets  along  the  banks.  The  force 
at  Chambersburg,  taking  all  the  negroes  with 
them,  returned  on  Wednesday  night  to  Hagers- 
town. The  bridge  at  Scotland,  five  miles  east 
of  Chambersburg,  was  burned  by  them.  From 
Hagerstown  a  detachment  was  sent  to  McCon- 
nellsburg,  where  it  arrived  on  Friday  morning, 
the  19th.  The  town  was  completely  surprised, 
and  large  numbers  of  horses  and  cattle  were 
captured.  Many  of  the  horses  were  returned 
upon  the  intercession  of  the  owners.  Goods 
were  obtained  from  the  stores  in  large  quanti- 
ties. The  enemy  then  retired,  but  on  the  next 
day,  a  small  body  of  them  were  captured  in  the 
neighborhood  by  a  regiment  of  New  York  cav- 
alry. 

McConnellsburg  is  the  capital  of  Fulton  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania.  It  is  situated  on  the  turn- 
pike from  Philadelphia  to  Pittsburg,  'and  is 
seventy  miles  west  of  southwest  from  Harris- 
burg.  The  population  is  about  eight  hundred. 

A  small  force  appeared  at  Hancock,  Md.,  on 
the  18th,  and  burned  the  canal  boats  there, 
but  were  driven  off  by  a  cavalry  force  from 
the  command  of  Col.  Gallagher,  attached  to 
the  corps  of  Gen.  Kelly.  Cumberland,  further 


west  on  the  Potomac,  was  occupied  by  about 
nine  hundred  cavalry  under  Col.  Imboden,  on 
the  17th.  No  damage,  however,  was  done. 
All  the  bridges  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
railroad,  from  Harper's  Ferry  to  Cumberland, 
a  distance  of  one  hundred  miles,  were  de- 
stroyed. West  of  Cumberland  the  road  was 
torn  up  at  Brady's  Station,  which  was  east  of 
New  Creek,  where  the  Federal  forces  were 
stationed.  Meantime  small  bands  of  cavalry 
were  sent  out  from  Hagerstown  and  Frede- 
rick, to  seize  horses  and  cattle,  large  numbers 
of  which  were  captured  and  driven  across 
the  Potomac  to  the  Confederate  army.  These 
operations  produced  an  unparalleled  excite- 
ment in  Washington  and  throughout  the  North- 
ern States.  They  were  regarded  as  indicating 
the  approach  of  Gen.  Lee  with  an  immense 
army.  It  was  known  that  he  had  commenced 
a  movement,  and  that  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac was  also  in  motion,  but  all  information  of 
the  position  of  each  army  was  carefully  with* 
held  from  the  knowledge  of  the  public.  Un- 
der this  uncertainty,  all  measures  taken  by  the 
Government  for  defence,  which  became  known, 
tended  to  increase  the  excitement.  Vast  ef- 
forts were  made  with  the  utmost  promptness 
and  vigor,  to  prepare  to  resist  successfully  the 
invasion. 

"Upon  the  first  complete  news  of  the  attack 
upon  Winchester,  the  President  issued  the  fol- 
lowing proclamation : 

Whereas,  the  armed  insurrectionary  combinations! 
now  existing  in  several  of  the  States  are  threatening 
to  make  inroads  into  the  States  of  Maryland,  West 
Virginia,  Pennsylvania,  and  Ohio,  requiring  immedi- 
ately an  additional  military  force  for  the  service  of  the 
United  States : 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of 
the  United  States,  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
Army  and  Navy  thereof,  and  of  the  militia  of  the  sev- 
eral States  when  called  into  actual  service,  do  hereby 
call  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  one  hundred 
thousand  militia  from  the  States  following,  namely: 

From  the  State  of  Maryland  ten  thousand. 

From  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  fifty  thousand. 

From  the  State  of  Ohio  thirty  thousand. 

From  the  State  of  West  Virginia  ten  thousand. 

To  be  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States 
forthwith,  and  to  serve  for  the  period  of  six  months 
from  the  date  of  such  muster  into  said  service,  unless 
sooner  discharged ;  to  be  mustered  in  as  infantry,  ar- 
tillery, and  cavalry,  in  proportions  which  will  be  made 
known  through  the  War  Department,  which  depart- 
ment will  also  designate  the  several  places  of  rendez- 
vous. 

These  militia  are  to  be  organized  according  to  the 
rules  and  regulations  of  the  volunteer  service,  and 
such  orders  as  may  hereafter  be  issued. 

The  States  aforesaid  will  be  respectively  credited 
under  the  enrolment  act  for  the  militia  service  ren- 
dered under  this  proclamation. 

In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

Done  at  the  city  of  Washington,  this  15th  day  of 
June,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1863,  and  of  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  United  States  the  eighty-seventh. 

By  the  President:  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

WM.  H.  SEWARD,  Secretary  of  State. 

On  the  same  day,  a  telegraphic  despatch 
was  sent  to  Governor  Seymour  of  New  York, 
calling  for  twenty  thousand  militia  immedi- 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


391 


ately.  On  the  same  day  the  Governor  replied, 
and  ordered  the  troops  out,  as  appears  by  the 
following  sub-orders : 

HEADQCARTERS  FIRST  BRIGADE  N.  T.  S.  N.  G., ) 
NEW  YOBK,  June  15th,  1863.      $ 
By  order  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  State 'of 
New  York,  the  several  regiments  of  this  brigade  will 
hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  depart  for  Philadelphia 
at  once,  on  short  notice.    By  order  of 

Brigadier-General  C.  B.  SPICEB. 
B.  H.  HOADLEY,  Brigade  Major  and  Inspector. 
WILLIAM  D.  DIMOCK,  Aide-de-Camp. 

Order  No.  3. 

HEADQUARTERS,  543  BROADWAY,  J 
NEW  YORK,  June  15th,  1863.      J 

Commandants  of  regiments  of  the  Third  Brigade 
N.  Y.  N.  G.,  are  hereby  directed  to  report  to  General 
Wm.  Hall,  at  his  quarters,  at  six  o'clock  on  Tuesday 
morning,  by  order  of  the  Commander-in-Chief,  Hora- 
tio Seymour,  to  be  ready  to  go  to  Philadelphia  at  once, 
on  short  service. 

The  brigade  drill  for  the  17th  inst.  is  hereby  coun- 
termanded. By  order,  General  WM.  HALL. 

J.  K.  SMITH,  Quartermaster. 

The  response  of  the  Governor  of  New  York' 
was  thus  approved  by  the  authorities  at  Wash- 
ington : 

WASHINGTON,  June  15th,  1863. 

GOVERNOR  SEYMOUR:  The  President  directs  me  to 
return  his  thanks,  with  those  of  the  Department,  for 
your  prompt  response.  A  strong  movement  of  your 
city  regiments  to  Philadelphia  would  be  a  very  en- 
couraging movement,  and  do  great  good  in  giving 
strength  to  that  State. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

The  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  on  the  same 
day,  issued  the  following  proclamation : 

The  State  of  Pennsylvania  is  again  threatened  with 
invasion,  and  an  army  of  rebels  is  approaching  our 
borders.  The  President  of  the  United  States  has  is- 
sued his  proclamation,  calling  upon  the  State  for  fifty 
thousand  men.  I  now  appeal  to  all  the  citizens  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  love  liberty  and  are  mindful  of  the 
history  and  traditions  jf  their  Revolutionary  fathers, 
and  who  feel  that  it  is  a  sacred"  duty  to  guard  and 
maintain  the  free  institutions  of  our  country,  who1  hate 
treason  and  its  abettors,  and  who  are  willing  to  defend 
their  homes  and  firesides,  and  do  invoke  them  to  rise 
in  their  might  and  rush  to  the  rescue  in  this  hour  of 
imminent  peril.  The  issue  is  one  of  preservation  or 
destruction.  It  involves  considerations  paramount  to 
all  matters  of  mere  expediency,  and  all  questions  of 
local  interest.  All  ties — social  and  political— ^11  ties 
of  a  personal  and  partisan  character,  sink  by  compar- 
ison into  insignificance.  It  is  now  to  be  determined 
by  deeds,  and  not  by  words  alone,  who  are  for  us  and 
who  are  against  us.  That  it  is  the  purpose  of  the  en- 
emy to  invade  our  borders  with  all  the  strength  he 
can  command,  is  now  apparent.  Our  only  defence 
rests  upon  the  determined  action  of  the  citizens  of 
our  free  commonwealth. 

I  therefore  call  upon  the  people  of  Pennsylvania, 
capable  of  bearing  arms,  to  enroll  themselves  in  mili- 
tary organizations,  and  to  encourage  all  others  to  give 
aid  and  assistance  to  the  efforts  which  will  be  put 
forth  for  the  protection  of  the  State  and  the  salvation 
of  our  common  country. 

ANDREW  J.  CURTIN,  Governor. 

At  the  same  time,  he  sent  a  message  to  the 
Governor  of  New  Jersey,  requesting  the  aid 
of  troops  from  that  State.  The  Secretary  of 
War  also  sent  a  request  to  the  Governor  for 
troops.  The  Governor  of  New  Jersey  imme- 
diately issued  the  following  call  for  men : 


EXECUTIVE  CHAMBER,  TKESTON,  N.  J.,  June  16, 1863. 

JERSEYMEN  :  The  State  of  Pennsylvania  is  invaded. 
A  hostile  army  is  now  occupying  and  despoiling  the 
towns  of  our  sister  State.  She  appeals  to  New  Jersey, 
through  her  Governor,  to  aid  in  driving  back  the  in- 
vading army.  Let  us  respond  to  this  call  upon  our 
patriotic  State  with  unprecedented  zeal. 

I  therefore  call  upon  the  citizens  of  this  State  to  meet 
and  organize  into  companies,  and  report  to  the  Adju- 
tant-General of  the  State  as  soon  as  possible,  to  be  organ- 
ized into  regiments  as  the  militia  of  New  Jersey,  and 
press  forward  to  the  assistance  of  Pennsylvania  in  this 
emergency.  The  organization  of  these  troops  will  be 
given  in  general  orders  as  soon  as  practicable. 

JOEL  PARKER. 

S.  M.  DICKINSON,  Private  Secretary. 

On  the  16th,  the  Governor  of  Maryland  is- 
sued the  following  proclamation : 

Whereas,  the  President  of  the*United  States,  by  his 
proclamation  of  the  15th  instant,  calling  into  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Government  the  militia  of  several  of  the 
States  now  threatened  with  invasion  by  the  insurgents 
in  arms  against  the  Union,  has  designated  ten  thou- 
sand men  as  the  quota  of  Maryland,  required  for  the 
special  purpose  of  protecting  her  own  soil,  it  becomes 
us  to  respond  with  the  least  possible  delay  earnestly 
and  effectually  to  the  call  thus  made  upon  us.  The 
entire  want  of  any  efficient  organization  of  the  militia 
of  the  State  makes  it  necessary  to  provide  the  required 
force  either  by  volunteers  or  by  draft.  The  term  of 
their  service  will  be  six  months,'  and  the  State  will  be 
credited  under  the  recent  enrolment  act  with  the  num- 
ber thus  furnished. 

Whether  we  look  to  the  purpose  for  which  this  force 
is  required,  to  the  success  or  efficiency  of  its  opera- 
tions, or  to  the  probable  movements  of  other  States 
embraced  in  the  same  appeal,  every  consideration  con- 
nected-with  the  subject  demands  that  the  call  should 
be  met  by  an  offer  of  volunteers.  When  our  own  ter- 
ritory is  threatened  by  an  invader,  let  it  never  be  said 
that  we  lacked  the  spirit  to  meet  the  emergency  or 
looked  to  others  to  provide  for  our  defence. 

Whilst,  therefore,  measures  will  immediately  be 
taken  to  provide  by  draft  from  the  recent  enrolment 
whatever  of  the  force  now  called  for  is  not -promptly 
furnished  by  volunteers,  I  would  earnestly  appeal  to 
the  patriotism  and  pride  of  every  Marylander  so  to  re- 
spond to  the  call  now  made  upon  them  as  to  leave  no 
necessity  to  raise  a  single  company  by  any  compulsory 
process. 

The  ten  thousand  men  required  of  us  will  be  organ- 
ized into  eight  regiments  of  infantry,  one  regiment  of 
cavalry,  and  two  Datteries  of  artillery,  and  though  re- 
quired to  be  of  the  maximum  standard,  they  will  be 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  armed 
and  equipped,  whenever  they  can  muster  the  minimum 
number  required  in  each. 

The  volunteer  militia  organizations  now  existing  in 
the  city  of  Baltimore  and  other  parts  of  the  State,  are 
earnestly  invited  to  call  their  members  together  and 
make  their  respective  commands  a  nucleus  tor  the  for- 
mation of  a  complete  regiment. 

Whenever  a  battalion  or  company,  or  a  majority  of 
their  respective  members,  shall  make  such  offer  of 
their  services,  they  will  report  to  Major  Wharton,  No. 
65  Fayette  street,  who  'will  designate  a  place  of  regi- 
mental rendezvous,  and  an  effort  will  be  made  to  ob- 
tain from  the  War  Department  permission  to 'muster 
in  the  several  companies,  as  soon  as  formed,  without 
waiting  for  the  complete  regimental  organization. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  affixed  the  great  seal  of  the  State,  this  16th  day  of 
June,  1863.  A.  W.  BRADFORD. 

WM.  B.  HILL,  Secretary  of  State. 

The^  Governor  of  West  Virginia  issued  the 
following  order  to  commanding  officers : 

The  commandants  of  regiments  and  companies  of 
Virginia  militia  will  immediately  call  their  companies 


392 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


and  regiments  together,  to  be  held  in  readiness  to  go 
to  the  field  at  an  hour's  warning,  and  will  provide  such 
means  as  shall  be  effectual  in  giving  immediate  notice 
to  all.  Arms  and  equipments  will  DC  furnished  at  the 
several  places  of  rendezvous. 

The  enemies  of  our  liberty  and  prosperity  are  again 
threatening  our  peaceful  homes. 

Citizen  soldiers,  stand  by  your  firesides  and  defend 
them  against  the  common  foes  of  a  free  government. 

Make  every  available  spot  a  rifle  pit  from  which  to 
slay  the  enemy. 

You  know  the  roads  and  the  passes.    Show  your- 
selves to  be  worthy  of  your  sires,  who  gave  you  the 
inestimable  blessings  of  freedom  and  independence. 
F.  H.  PIERPOINT,  Governor. 

The  Governor  of  Ohio  made  the  following 
appeal  to  the  citizens  of  the  State : 

STATS  OF  OHIO,  EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT,  ? 
•OLUMBUS,  O.,  June  1Mb,  1863.     $ 

TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF  OHIO. 

Lee's  rebel  army  is  advancing  in  force  upon  Penn- 
sylvania, Western  Virginia,  and  the  eastern  portion 
of  our  own  State.  To  meet  this  horde  of  rebels,  the 
President  of  the  United  States  has,  by  proclamation, 
called  out  one  hundred  thousand  militia  for  the  period 
of  six  months,  unless  sooner  discharged.  Of  this  force, 
thirty  thousand  are  called  from  Ohio ;  and  now,  gal- 
lant men  of  Ohio,  will  you  promptly  respond  to  this 
necessary  call,  without  hesitancy  ?  I  have  assured  the 
President  that  you  would  do  so.  Remember  that  our 
own  sacred  homes  are  threatened  with  pillage  and  de- 
struction, and  our  wives  and  daughters  with  insult. 
To  the  rescue  then  at  once,  and  thus  save  aH  that  is 
dear  to  men.  As  we  have  but  few,  if  any,  regularly 
organized  companies  of  volunteer  militia,  I  can  but 
invite  and  implore  you  to  duty.  The  few  companies 
which  have  been  recently  organized  are  requested  to 
repair  at  once,  with  their  entire  force,  to  the  camps 
hereinafter  indicated.  All  others  will  go  forward  in 
squads  and  be  organized  into  companies  after  their  ar- 
rival in  camp,  for  which  purpose  efficient  officers  will 
be  designated.  Railroad  transportation  has  been  duly 
provided,  and  every  provision  necessary  for  the  com- 
lort  of  the  men  after  their  arrival  in  camp.  A  reason- 
able allowance  will  be  made  to  each  volunteer  for  his 
subsistence  when  en  route  to  the  camp.  The  pay  and 
allowance  for  clothing  will  be  the  same  as  that  of  the 
volunteer  service.  Should  more  respond  than  the 
Government  requires,  the  surplus  men  will  be  returned 
to  their  homes  free  of  all  expense  to  themselves,  with 
the  regular  pay  for  the  period  necessarily  absent. 

The  military  committees  of  the  several  counties  are 
especially  requested  to  exert  themselves  in  securing  a 
prompt  response  to  this  call.  The  troops  will  all  be 
organized  into  regiments  and  well  armed  before  being 
ordered' into  service. 

And  now,  fellow  citizens  of  the  State,  in  the  name 
and  behalf  of  the  best  Government  on  earth,  let  me  im- 
plore you  to  lay  aside  all  other  duties  and  obligations, 
and  come  forward  promptly  and  cheerfully  for  the  pre- 
servation of  all  that  is  dear  to  us.  You  will  thus  se- 
cure the  gratitude  of  your  children's  children,  and  the 
smiles  and  blessings  of  Heaven. 

DAVID  TOD,  Governor. 

The  utmost  activity  now  prevailed  to  hasten 
forward  troops  to  the  centre  of  Pennsylvania. 
In  New  York,  the  Major-General  of  the  First 
Division  of  State  militia  issued  the  following 
order : 

HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  DIVISION  N.  T.  S.  M., ) 
NEW  YOBK,  June  162A,  1863.     f 

The  regiments  of  this  division  are  directed  to  pro- 
ceed forthwith  to  Harrisburg,  in  Pennsylvania,  to  as- 
sist in  repelling  the  invasion  of  that  State. 

The  United  States  Quartermaster  and  Commissary 
will  furnish  transportation  and  subsistence  upon  the  re- 
quisition of  regimental  quartermasters,  countersigned 
by  the  colonels. 


The  term  of  service  will  not  exceed  thirty  days. 

Commandants  of  brigades  and  regiments  will  report 
to  the  Major-General  the  numbers  ready  for  transporta- 
tion, and  will  receive  directions  as  to  the  route  and 
time  of  embarkation. 

Each  man  will  provide  himself  with  two  days'  cooked 
provisions. 

By  order  of  Major-Gen.     CHAS.  W.  SANFORD. 
J.  H.  WILCOX,  Division  Inspector. 

This  division  consisted  of  four  brigades.  The 
first  brigade,  under  Gen.  0.  B.  Spicer,  was  com- 
posed of  the  1st,  2d,  3d,  71st,  and  73d  regi- 
ments. The  second  brigade,  under  Gen.  Chas. 
Yates,  was  composed  of  the  4th,  5th,  6th,  and 
12th  regiments.  The  third  brigade,  under  Gen. 
Hall,  was  composed  of  the  7th,  8th,  37th,  and 
65th  regiments.  The  fourth  brigade,  under 
Gen.  Ewen,  was  composed  of  the  llth,  22d, 
and  69th  regiments. 

On  that  day  there  went  forward  the  7th  regi- 
ment, 650  men.  On  the  18th,  the  8th,  371 
men ;  llth,  762  men  ;  23d,  626  men,  and  71st, 
,737  men.  On  the  19th,  the  6th,  828  men; 
12th,  684  men ;  22d,  568  men  ;  37th,  693  men; 
65th,  555  men,  and  74th,  504  men.  On  the 
20th,  the  4th,  560  men  ;  13th,  496  men ;  28th, 
484  men ;  56th,  476  men.  On  the  22d,  the 
6th,  656  men;  52d,  351  men;  69th,  600  men. 
On  the  23d,  the  67th,  400  men.  On  the  24th, 
the  55th,  350  men ;  68th,  400  men.  On  the 
26th,  the  47th,  400  men.  On  the  27th,  the 
21st,  600  men.  On  July  3d,  the  17th,  400  men ; 
18th,  400  men;  84th,  480  men.  The  total  num- 
ber sent  between  the  15th  of  June  and  the  3d 
of  July  was  13,971  men.  During  the  same 
time  scattered  detachments  of  volunteers  in 
the  State  to  the  number  of  1,827  men  were  or- 
ganized and  equipped  and  ordered  to  Harris- 
burg. 

On  the  19th  of  June  the  following  despatch 
was  sent  to  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  State  : 

WAB  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON  CITT,  } 
June  1SWA,  1863.     J 
To  Adjutant-  General  Sprague  : 

The  President  directs  me  to  return  his  thanks  to  His 
Excellency  Gov.  Seymour,  and  his  staff,  for  their  ener- 
getic and  prompt  action.  Whether  any  further  force 
is  likely  to  be  required  will  be  communicated  to  you 
to-morrow,'  by  which  time  it  is  expected  the  move- 
ments'of  the  enemy  will  be  more  fully  developed. 
(Signed)  EDWIN  M.  STANTON, 

Secretary  of  War. 

Again,  on  the  27th,  the  following  despatch 
was  sent  to  the  governor  of  the  State  by  the 
Secretary  of  War : 

WAB  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON  Crrr,  June  27, 1863. 

DEAR  SIB  :  I  cannot  forbear  expressing  to  you  the 
deep  obligation  I  feel  for  the  prompt  and  cordial  sup- 
port you  have  given  the  Government  in  the  present 
emergency.  The  energy  and  patriotism  you  have  ex- 
hibited I  may  be  permitted  personally  and  officially  to 
acknowledge,  without  arrogating  any  personal  claims 
on  my  part,  to  such  service,  or  any  service  whatever. 

I  shall  be  happy  always  to  be  esteemed  your  friend, 
EDWIN  M.  STANTON. 

His  Excellency  HORATIO  SEYMOUR. 

The  Governor  of  New  Jersey,  in  answer  to 
the  request  of  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania, 
for  the  further  services  of  the  nine  months' 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


893 


men,  then  returning  from  the  war,  immediately 
tendered  the  services  of  the  22d  regiment, 
which  had  not  been  disbanded.  It  left  for 
Harrisburg  on  the  17th.  Other  regiments  of 
nine  months'  volunteers,  then  returned,  tender- 
ed their  services.  By  the  20th  more  than  two 
thousand  men  had  gone  forward.  Some  single 
companies  proceeded  to  Harrisburg,  The  en- 
tire State  sent  forward  several  thousand  men. 
On  the  22d  the  C-overnor  ordered  the  troops  to 
return  home,  as  the  emergency  had  apparently 
passed. 

In  Pennsylvania,  the  first  efforts  of  the  Gov- 
ernor were  directed  to  obtain  troops  from  "Wash- 
ington. These  failed  entirely.  On  the  16th  he 
issued  the  following  appeal  to  the  people  of 
Philadelphia : 

To  t?te  People  of  Philadelphia  : 

For  nearly  a  week  past  it  has  been  publicly  known 
that  the  rebels  in  force  were  about  to  enter  Pennsyl- 
vania. On  the  12th  instant,  an  urgent  call  was  made 
on  the  people  to  raise  Department  Army  Corps  for 
the  defence  of  the  State.  Yesterday,  under  the  pro- 
clamation of  the  President,  the  militia  was  called  out. 
To-day  a  new  and  pressing  exhortation  has  been  given 
to  furnish  men,  but  Philadelphia  has  not  responded. 

Meanwhile  the  enemy  is  six  miles  this  side  of  Cham- 
bersburg  and  advancing  rapidly. 

Our  capital  is  threatened,  and  we  may  be  disgraced 
by  its  fall,  while  the  men  who  should  be  driving  these 
outlaws  from  our  soil  are  grumbling  about  the  possible 
term  of  service  for  six  months.  It  was  never  intend- 
ed to  keep  them  beyond  the  continuance  of  the  emer- 
gency. 

You  all  know  this  by  what  happened  when  the  mili- 
tia was  called  out  last  autumn.  You  then  trusted  your 
Government,  and  were  not  deceived.  Trust  to  it  again 
now.  I  will  accept  men  without  reference  to  the  six 
months.  If  you  do  not  wish  to  bear  the  ignominy  of 
shirking  from  the  defence  of  your  State,  come  forward 
at  once.  Close  your  places  of  business  and  apply  your 
hearts  to  the  work.  Come  in  such  organizations  as  you 
can  form.  Gen.  Couch  has  appointed  Lieut.-Col.  Ruff 
to  superintend  your  organization.  Report  to  him  im- 
mediately. (Signed)  A.  G.  CURTIN, 

Governor. 

At  the  same  time  the  Governor  gave  notice 
that  he  would  receive  men  without  the  require- 
ment of  six  months'  service,  and  arrangements 
were  made  with  the  railroads  to  furnish  trans- 
portation to  Harrisburg  upon  application  of  the 
officers  of  militia  companies.  On  the  16th, 
Lancaster  sent  five  hundred  men  to  Harrisburg, 
and  Reading  a  regiment.  The  militia  at  Har- 
risburg  were  reorganized  and  armed.  On  the 
17th  thousands  of  men  reached  Harrisburg  from 
different  parts  of  the  State.  The  following 
list  of  some  of  the  organizations  shows  that  the 
interior  of  the  State  was  aroused  to  action : 

One  hundred  and  twenty-seventh  regiment  (Col. 
Jennings),  Harrisburg,  1,000  men. 

First  Pennsylvania  Militia  (Col.  R.  A.  Lamberton), 
Harrisburg,  1,000, 

i       Capt.  "William  H.  Connechan,  Bradford,  105  men. 
Capt.  J.  M.  Gregory,  Lehigh,  70  men. 
Capt.  J.  H.  Holion,  Lehigh,  70  men. 
Capt.  J.  M.  Broomall,  Delaware,  71  men. 
Capt.  G.  T.  Waters,  Northampton,  53  men. 
Capt.  William  R.  Ash,  Chester,  100  men, 
Capt.  J.  G.  Eicholtz,  Chester,  53  men. 
Capt.  J.  B.  Davis,  Northumberland,  50  men. 
Capt.  John  McClay,  Northumberland,  71  men. 


Capt.  William  Stoel,  Chester  50  men. 
Capt.  W.  McVeigh,  Chester,  60  men. 
Capt.  W.  M.  Hinkson,  Chester,  45  men. 
Capt.  W.  C.  Dickey,  Chester,  48  men. 
Capt.  E.  F.  James,  Chester,  63  men. 
Capt.  George  B.  Thomas,  Chester,  57  men. 
Capt.  Charles  Roberts,  Chester,' 40  men. 
Capt.  R.  D.  Townsend,  Chester,  16  men. 
Capt.  A.  Ricketts,  Luzerne,  56  men. 
Capt.  R.  F.  Clark,  Columbia,  90  men. 
Capt.  J.  B.  Grantiers,  Bradford,  71  men. 
Capt.  J.  D.  Jenkins,  Chester,  82  men. 
Capt.  James  Dickson,  Luzerne,  40  men. 
Capt.  H.  Bloss,  Northampton,  85  men. 
Capt.  J.  F.  Ramsey,  Montour,  70  men. 
Capt.  D.  A.  Smith,  Schuylkill,  105  men. 
Capt.  T.  J.  Sleppy,  Columbia,  31  men. 
Capt.  Wm.  B.  Mann,  Philadelphia,  100  men. 
Spencer  Miller's  battery. 

By  the  20th  about  twenty-five  thousand  citi- 
zens of  Pennsylvania  had  taken  the  field.  The 
imperfection  of  the  militia  law  of  the  State  was 
such  that  no  regimental  or  brigade  organiza- 
tions were  in  existence.  A  few  days  later,  as 
the  army  of  Gen.  Lee  entered  the  State,  and 
the  serious  character  of  the  invasion  became 
apparent,  the  Governor  issued  the  following 
address : 

Pennsylvanians !  In  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of 
the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  Andrew  <?.  <Jur- 
tin,  Governor  of  the  said  Commonwealth  : 

A  PROCLAMATION. 

The  enemy  is  advancing  in  force  into  Pennsylvania, 
He  has  a  strong  column  within  twenty-three  miles  of 
Harrisburg,  ana  other  columns  are  moving  by  Fulton 
and  Adams  counties,  and  it  can  no  longer  be  doubted 
that  a  formidable  invasion  of  our  State  is  in  actual 
progress. 

The  calls  already  made  for  volunteer  militia  in  the 
exigency,  have  not  been  met  as  fully  as  the  crisis  re- 
quires. 

I  therefore  now  issue  this  my  proclamation,  calling 
for  sixty  thousand  men,  to  come  promptly  forward  to 
defend  the  State.  They  will  be  mustered  into  the  ser- 
vice of  the  State  for  a  period  of  ninety  days,  but  will  be 
required  to  serve  only  so  much  of  the  period  of  muster 
as  the  safety  of  our  people  and  the  honor  of  our  State 
may  require.  They  will  rendezvous  at  points  to  be 
designated  in  the  general  order  to  be  issued  this  day 
by  the  Adjutant-General  of  Pennsylvania,  Which  order 
will  also  set  forth  the  details  of  the  arrangements  for 
organization,  clothing,  subsistence,  equipments,  and 
supplies. 

I  will  not  insult  you  by  inflammatory  appeals.  A 
people  who  want  the  heart  to  defend  their  soil,  their 
families,  and  their  firesides,  are  not  worthy  to  be  count- 
ed men.  Heed  not  the  counsels  of  evil-disposed  per- 
sons, if  such  there  be  in  your  midst.  Show  yourselves 
what  you  are — a  free,  loyal,  spirited,  brave,  vigorous 
race.  Do  not  undergo  the  disgrace  of  leaving  your  de- 
fence mainly  to  the  citizens  of  other  States.  In  defend- 
ing the  soil  of  Pennsylvania  we  are  contributing  to  the 
support  of  our  National  Government  and  vindicating 
our  fidelity  to  the  national  cause.  Pennsylvania  has 
always,  heretofore,  responded  promptly  to  all  the  calls 
made  by  the  Federal  Government,  and  I  appeal  to  you, 
now,  not  to  be  unmindful  that  the  foe  that  strikes  at  our 
State,  striked  through  our  desolation  at  the  life  of  the 
republic. 

Our  people  are  plundered  and  driven  from  their 
homes  solely  because  of  their  loyalty  and  fidelity  to  our 
free  institutions. 

People  of  Pennsylvania,  I  owe  to  you  all  my  facul- 
ties, my  labors,  my  life.  You  owe  to  your  country  your 
prompt  and  zealous  services  and  efforts.  The  time  has 
now  come  when  we  must  all  stand  or  fall  together  in 
the  defence  of  our  State,  and  in  the  support  of  our  Gov- 


394 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ernment.    Let  us  so  discharge  our  duty  that  posterity 
shall  not  blush  for  us. 

Come  heartily  and  cheerfully  to  the  rescue  of  our 
noble  commonwealth.  Maintain  now  your  honor  and 
freedom. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  the  great  seal  of  the  State, 
at  Harrisburg,  this  the  26th  day  of  June,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty- 
three,  and  of  the  Commonwealth  the  eighty-seventh. 

By  the  Governor,  A.  G.'CURTIN. 

ELI  SLIFEB,  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth. 

In  Maryland,  on  the  16th,  yarious  uniformed 
organizations  of  Baltimore  tendered  their  ser- 
vices to  the  Governor  for  six  months.  Vigorous 
efforts  were  made  to  enlist  recruits  under  the 
call  of  the  President,  with  small  success.  The 
troops,  however,  which  could  be  raised  were 
retained  for  the  defence  of  Baltimore. 

From  Delaware,  two  regiments,  the  5th  and 
6th,  numbering  1,919  men,  raised  for  State  de- 
fence, were  sent  into  Maryland,  and  placed  as 
guards  of  the  railroads. 

From  West  Virginia  no  troops  came  forward 
at  this  time. 

Offers  of  troops  for  th'e  emergency  were  made 
by  the  Governors  of  several  States  to  the  Pres- 
ident. But  their  distance  from  the  scene  of 
operations,  or  the  impression  that  the  force  at 
hand  was  sufficient,  prevented  the  acceptance 
of  them. 

The  call  of  the  President  for  one  hundred 
thousand  men  served  to  authorize  the  reception 
of  troops  for  the  emergency,  which  could  be 
put  into  the  field  at  once,  but  there  was  not 
sufficient  time  to  create  new  organizations,  or 
to  fill  up  regiments  partly  organized. 

Meantime  the  construction  of  defensive  works 
was  immediately  commenced  at  Harrisburg, 
•which  was  supposed  to  be  the  first  point  of  at- 
tack. The  records  of  the  State  and  the  specie 
in  the  banks  were  removed  to  places  of  security. 

The  scenes  in  that  capital,  on  the  16th,  were 
thus  described  by  a  spectator : 

The  morning  broke  upon  a  populace  all  astir,  who 
had  been  called  out  of  bed  by  the  "  beat  of  the  alarm- 
ing drum,"  the  blast  of  the  bugle,  and  the  clanging  of 
bells.  The  streets  were  lively  with  men,  who  were 
either  returning  from  a  night  s  work  on  the  fortifica- 
tions, or  going  over  to  relieve  those  who  were  toiling 
there.  As  the  sun  rose  higher  the  excitement  gathered 
head.  All  along  the  streets  were  omnibuses,  wagons, 
and  wheelbarrows,  taking  in  trunks  and  valuables,  and 
rushing  them  down  to  the  depot,  to  be  shipped  out  of 
rebel  range.  The  stores,  the  female  seminaries,  and 
almost  every  private  residence,  were  busy  all  of  the 
forenoon  in  swelling  the  mountain  of  freight  that  lay 
at  the  depot.  Every  horse  was  impressed  into  service, 
and  every  porter  groaned  beneath  his  weight  of  re- 
sponsibilities. 

The  scene  at  noon  at  the  depots  was  indescribable, 
if  not  disgraceful.  A  sweltering  mass  of  humanity 
thronged  the  platform,  all  furious  to  escape  from  the 
doomed  city. 

At  the  bridge  and  across  the  river  the  scene  was 
equally  exciting.  All  through  the  day  a  steadv  stream 
of  people  on  foot  and  in  wagons,  young  and  old,  black 
and  white,  was  pouring  across  it  from  the  Cumberland 
valley,  bearing  with  them  their  household  gods  and  all 
manner  of  goods  and  stock.  Endless  trains,  laden  with 
flour,  grain,  and  merchandise,  hourly  emerged  from 
the  valley,  and  thundered  across  the  bridge  and  through 
the  city.  Miles  of  retreating  baggage  wagons,  filled 
with  calves  and  sheep  tied  together,  and  great  old-fash- 


ioned furnace  wagons,  loaded  with  tons  of  trunks  and 
boxes,  defiled  in  continuous  procession  down  the  pike 
and  across  the  river,  raising  a  dust  that  marked  the 
outline  of  the  road  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see. 

The  proceedings  at  Pittsburg,  for  the  defence 
of  that  city,  were  thus  described  on  Friday,  the 
19th: 

Work  on  the  city  defences  is  still  progressing  vigor- 
ously, and  some  of  the  more  important  works  are  now 
ready  to  receive  the  guns.  The  number  of  men  employed 
on  the  fortifications  yesterday  was  four  thousand  six 
hundred  and  five.  The  works  are  on  Herron's  Hill,  on 
Harrison's  Hill,  on  Mount  Washington,  on  Squirrel 
Hill,  and  on  Negley's  Hill.  There  are  upward  of  five 
thousand  men  in  the  trenches  to-day,  and  with  such  a 
large  working  force  it  cannot  take  many  days  to  finish 
the  works  now  in  hand.  Gen.  Bernard,  with  a  compe- 
tent staff  of  engineers,  was  engaged  in  laying  out  new 
works  yesterday  on  the  outer  side  of  the  Alleghany,  so 
as  to  Tender  the  city  secure  against  an  advance  from 
that  direction.  Works  have  also  been  laid  out  near 
Turtle  creek  and  other  important  points. 

The  activity  in  Baltimore  to  prepare  for  de- 
fence is  thus  reported : 

The  work  of  erecting  barricades  progressed  rapidly 
on  Friday  and  Saturday,  and  on  Sunday  morning  the 
entire  circle  of  the  city  was  completed  and  ready  for 
military  occupation  at  any  moment  that  the  scouts 
should  announce  the  approach  of  the  enemy.  The  erec- 
tion of  lines  of  intrencnments  and  fortifications  on  all 
the  approaches  to  the  city  have  also  progressed  rapidly. 
On  Saturday  about  one  thousand  colored  men  were 
gathered  by  the  police  from  different  sections  of  the 
city,  causing  much  excitement  among  that  portion  of 
our  population  as  they  were  marched  out  to  the  differ- 
ent locations  for  the  defensive  works.  At  night  another 
force  was  secured  to  relieve  those  who  had  been  at 
work  throughout  the  day,  and  another  relief  gang  was 
provided  on  Sunday  morning  and  evening,  so  that 
rapid  progress  has  been  made,  and  the  works  are  now 
ready  for  immediate  use. 

Meanwhile  the  movements  of  Gen.  Lee  upon 
the  headwaters  of  the  Rappahannock  had  been 
made  in  such  force  as  to  lay  Gen.  Hooker  under 
the  necessity  of  hastily  breaking  up  his  camp  at 
Falmouth,  and  taking  new  positions  to  meet  thjs 
demonstration.  On  Saturday,  the  13th,  his  army 
began  to  move  from  Falmouth,  and  during  Sun- 
day the  stores  were  removed  from  Aquia  Creek 
to  Alexandria  by  twenty-six  steamers,  employ- 
ed for  that  purpose.  The  storehouses  and  rail-' 
road  buildings  were  not  destroyed  at  that  time, 
as  the  gunboats  commanded  the  place.  On  tho 
21st,  a  small  party  of  the  enemy  burned  the 
quartermaster's  buildings  and  the  wharf.  The 
buildings  and  wharf  known  as  "Urba  Switch 
were  not  burned. 

On  Sunday  morning  the  force  on  the  Frede- 
ricksburg  side  recrossed,  and  on  that  day  tho 
last  of  Gen.  Hooker's  army  left  Falmouth.  The 
corps  of  Gens.  Longstreet  and  Ewell,  of  tho 
Confederate  army,  passed  through  Culpepper ' 
just  one  week  previous,  and  the  latter  marched 
into  the  Shenandoah  valley  against  Winches- 
ter, &c. 

The  march  of  Gen.  Hooker's  army  was  rapid, 
and  at  times  disorderly.  Bridges  broke  down 
beneath  the  teams;  droves  of  horses  became 
frightened,  and  rushed  through  the  column 
like  a  tornado  ;  and  the  men,  choked  with  dust, 
straggled  into  the  fields  in  search  of  water  and 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


395 


rest  under  the  inviting  shadows  of  the  trees. 
On  Sunday  night  the  troops  encamped  at  Dum- 
fries, which  is  about  midway  between  Fal- 
mouth  and  Fairfax.  The  design  of  Gen.  Lee 
in  massing  his  troops  at  Culpepper,  to  fall  upon 
the  right  of  Gen.  Hooker,  and  intercept  his 
communications  by  land  with  Washington,  was 
thus  defeated.  ^  A  few  guns  were  heard  in  the 
direction  of  Thoroughfare  Gap  ;  but  with  this 
exception  everything  seemed  quiet  along  the 
lines.  On  Monday  the  army  advanced  to  'the 
neighborhood  of  the  Bull  Eun  battle  field.  The 
third  corps  reached  Manassas  Junction  in  the 
morning;  the  first  and  eleventh  arrived  at 
Centreville ;  and  the  second,  fifth,  sixth,  and 
twelfth  corps  came  up  at  night.  Thus  the 
whole  country  south  of  the  Occoquan  was  left 
to  the  enemy.  During  the  march,  the  cavalry 
acted  on  the  flanks,  and  rendered  great  service 
in  making  reconnoissances.  Gen.  Gregg  and 
his  division  operated  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Warrenton  and  White  Sulphur  Springs.  Gen. 
Duffie's  division,  previously  Geri.  Averill's, 
moved  to  the  base  of  the  Blue  Kidge,  near 
Ashby's  Gap.  Gen.  Buford,  with  the  regulars, 
occupied  Thoroughfare  Gap,  preventing  an  ap- 
proach of  the  enemy  through  that  passage. 
Col.  Tyjer,  temporarily  in  command  of  Gen. 
Wyndham's  brigade,  guarded  the  Orange  and 
Alexandria  railroad.  The  defence  of  Wash- 
ington had  been  the  object  of  Gen.  Hooker's 
movements  thus  far,  and  he  occupied  the  posi- 
tion which  he  considered  to  be  best  to  defeat 
any  designs  of  the  enemy  upon  that  city.  It  re- 
mained therefore  for  Gen.  Lee  to  attack  &en. 
Hooker  in  the  old  intrenchments  before  Wash- 
ington or  to  move  into  Maryland. 

On  Wednesday,  the  18th,  a  detachment  of 
cavalry,  consisting  of  the  2d  and  4th  New 
York,  6th  Ohio,  1st  Massachusetts,  under 
command  of  Col.  Kilpatrick,  and  the  1st 
Maine  of  Gen.  Gregg's  brigade,  encountered 
a  body  of  Confederate  cavalry,  under  Col. 
Eosser.  Col.  Kilpatrick  was  leading  the  ad- 
vance of  the  Federal  cavalry,  moving  from 
Fairfax  Court  House  to  Aldie.  The  enemy's 
force,  consisting  of  cavalry  and  mounted  infan- 
try, coming  from  the  direction  of  Snicker's  Gap, 
reached  Aldie  two  hours  in  advance  of  the  Fed- 
eral force,  and,  learning  of  the  approach  of  the 
latter,  posted  themselves  in  commanding  posi- 
tions. Col.  Kilpatrick  charged  upon  them  and 
drove  them  through  the  town,  beyond  which 
a  stand  was  made,  at  a  point  where  a  Confed- 
erate battery  of  four  guns  was  posted  in  the 
roffd  to  Ashby's  Gap.  The  enwny  occupied 
the  wooded  hills  and  stone  walls  toward  Snick- 
er's Gap.  Here  a  desperate  contest  ensued  for 
three  hours,  during  which  repeated  charges 
were  made  on  each  side.  The  arrival  of 
the  1st  Maine,  Col.  C.  S.  Douty,  gave  such 
strength  to  Col.  Kilpatrick  as  caused  the  en- 
emy to  retire.  During  the  retreat  toward 
Ashby's  Gap,  they  were  attacked  near  Middle- 
burg  by  the  1st  Ehode  Island,  Col.  Duffie, 
which  had  come  up  through  Thoroughfare 


Gap.  The  loss  was  severe  on  both  sides.  Sev- 
eral prisoners  were  taken  by  Col.  Kilpatrick. 
This  force  defeated  was  the  advance  of  a  larger 
force  of  Gen.  Stuart,  who  was  moving  to  the 
right  and  rear  of  Gen.  Hooker. 

On  Saturday,  the  21st,  another  cavalry  con- 
test took  place,  which  was^thus  reported  by 
Gen.  Pleasanton,  who  commanded  the  Federal 
force : 

HEADQUARTERS  CAVALRY  CORPS.     > 
CAMP  NEAR  UPPERTILLE,  5.30  p.  M.,  June  21st.  \ 
Brig. -Gen.  S.  Williams  : 

GENERAL  :  I  moved  with  my  command  this  morning 
to  Middleburg,  and  attacked  the  cavalry  force  of  the 
rebels  under  Stuart,  and  steadily  drove  him  all  day, 
inflicting  a  heavy  loss  at  every  step. 

I  drove  him  through  Upperville  into  Ashby's  Gap. 
We  took  two  pieces  of  artillery,  one  being  a  Blakely 
gun,  and  three  caissons,  besides  blowing  up  one ;  also, 
upward  of  sixty  prisoners,  and  more  are  coming  in ; 
a  lieutenant-colonel,  major,  and  five  .other  officers; 
besides  a  wounded  colonel,  and  a  large  number  of 
wounded  rebels  left  in 'the  town  of  Upperville.  They 
left  their  dead  and  wounded  upon  the  field ;  of  the 
former  I  saw  upward  of  twenty.  We  also  took  a  large 
number  of  carbines,  pistols,  and  sabres.  In  fact  it  was 
the  most  disastrous  day  to  the  rebel  cavalry.  Our  loss 
has  been  very  small  both  in  men  and  horses.  I  never 
saw  the  troops  behave  better  or  under  more  difficult 
circumstances.  Very  heavy  charges  were  made,  and 
the  sabre  used  freely,  but  always  with  great  advantage 
to  us.  A.  PLEASANTON,  Brig.-Gen. 

On  Monday,  June  15th,  the  day  on  which 
Gen.  Hooker's  army  reached  the  neighborhood 
of  Bull  Eun,  Gen.  Milroy  retreated  from  Win- 
chester and  Gen.  Tyler  from  Martinsburg,  as 
above  stated.  It  would  have  been  dangerous  for 
Gen.  Lee  to  have  attacked  Gen.  Hooker  in  the 
advantageous  position  which  he  now  held.  Gen. 
Lee  reports  as  follows : 

The  whole  army  of  Gen.  Hooker  withdrew  from  the 
line.of  the  Rappahannock,  pursuing  the  roads  near  the 
Potomac,  and  no  favorable  opportunity  was  offered  for 
attack.  It  seemed  to  be  the  purpose  of  Gen.  Hooker  to 
take  a  position  which  would  enable  him  to  cover  the 
approaches  to  Washington  City.  With  a  view  to  draw 
him  farther  from  his  base,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
cover  the  march  of  A.  P.  Hill,  who,  in  accordance  with 
instructions,  left  Fredericksburg  for  the  valley  as  soon 
as  the  enemy  withdrew  from  his  front,  Longstreet 
moved  from  Culpepper  Court  House  on  the  15th,  and, 
advancing  along  the  east  side  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  oc- 
cupied Ashby's  and  Snicker's  Gaps.  His  force  had 
been  augmented  while  at  Culpepper  by  Gen.  Pickett, 
with  three  brigades  of  his  division. 

The  cavalry,  under-Gen.  Stuart,  was  thrown  oat  in 
front  of  Longstreet  to  watch  the  enemy,  now  reported 
to  be  moving  into  Loudon.  On  the  19th  his  cavalry 
encountered  two  brigades  of  ours,  under  Gen.  Stuart, 
near  Aldie,  and  was  driven  back  with  loss.  The  next 
day  the  engagement  was  renewed,  the  Federal  cavalry 
being  strongly  supported  by  infantry,  and  Gen.  Stuart 
was  m  turn  compelled  to  retire.  . . 

The  enemy  advanced  as  far  as  Upperville,  and  then 
fell  back. 

The  attention  of  Gen.  Hooker  Avas  BO  oc- 
cupied by  the  attempts  to  seize  Thoroughfare 
Gap,  Aldie,  and  portions  of  the  Orange  and 
Alexandria  railroad,  as  to  make  it  appear  to 
be  the  intention  of  Gen.  Lee  to  move  upon 
the  Federal  army  from  these  points.  So  skil- 
fully was  this  done  that  the  impression  pre- 
vailed in  the  North  that  the  blow  would  be 
struck  .at  Gen.  Hooker's  army  in  its  position, 


396 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


and  that  the  emergency  in  Pennsylvania  had 
passed  away.  Thus,  on  this  ground,  the  Gov- 
ernor of  New  Jersey  considered  it  safe  to 
recall  the  troops  from  Pennsylvania.  Mean- 
while, Gen.  Lee  was  gathering  the  fruits  of 
the  surrender  of  Winchester,  and  preparing  to 
move  his  army  acfoss  the  Potomac.  The  de- 
monstrations of  Gen.  Ewell  in  Pennsylvania 
having  failed  to  cause  the  army  of  Gen.  Hooker 
to  leave  Virginia,  and  as  it  did  not  seem  dis- 
posed to  advance  on  Gen.  Longstreet,  the  latter 
was  withdrawn  to  the  west  side  of  the  Shenan- 
doah.  At  the  same  time  the  progress  of  Gen. 
Ewell  rendered  it  necessary  that  Gen.  Lee  should 
be  within  supporting  distance.  As  soon  there- 
fore as  the  fords  of  the  Potomac  between  Har- 
per's Ferry  and  Williamsport  were  well  seized 
by  his  advance,  his  main  body  began  to  move. 
This  was  as  early  as  Sunday,  the  21st — the  day 
of  Gen.  Pleasanton's  cavalry  skirmish.  On  that 
day,  Gen.  Lee  issued  the  following  order  to 
his  army : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA,  ? 
June  21st,  1863.     $ 

While  in  the  enemy's  country,  the  following  regu- 
lations for  procuring  supplies  will  be  strictly  observed, 
and  any  violation  of  them  promptly  and  rigorously 
punished : 

I.  No  private  property  shall  be  injured  or  destroyed 
by  any.  person  belonging  to  or  connected  with  the 
army,  or  taken,  except  by  the  officers  hereinafter  des- 
ignated. 

II.  The  chiefs  of  the  commissary,  quartermaster, 
ordnance,  and  medical  departments  of  the  army  will 
make  requisitions  upon  the  local  authorities  or  inhab- 
itants for  the  necessary  supplies  for  their  respective 
departments,  designating  the  places  and  times  of  de- 
livery.   All  persons  complying  with  such  requisitions 
will  be  paid  the  market  price  for  the  articles  furnish- 
ed, if  they  so  desire,  and  the  officer  making  such  pay- 
ment shall  take  duplicate  receipts  for  the  same,  spe- 
cifying the  name  of  the  person  paid,  and  the  quantity, 
kind,  and  price  of  the  property,  one  of  which  receipts 
shatf  be  at  once  forwarded  to  the  chief  of  the  depart- 
ment to  which  such  officer  is  attached. 

III.  Should  the  authorities  or  inhabitants  neglect  or 
refuse  to  comply  with  such  requisitions,  the  supplies 
required  shall  be  ta'ken  from  the  nearest  inhabitants 
so  refusing,  by  the  order  and  under  the  direction  of 
the  respective  chiefs  of  the  departments  named. 

IV.  When  any  command  is  detached  from  the  main 
body,  the  chiefs  of  the  several  departments  pf  such 
command  will  procure  supplies  for  the  same,  and  such 
other  stores  as  they  may  be  ordered  to  provide,  in  the 
manner  and  subject  to  the  provisions  herein  prescribed, 
reporting  their  action  to  the  heads  of  their  respective 
departments,  to  which  they  will  forward  duplicates  of 
all  vouchers  given  or  received. 

V.  All  persons  who  shall  decline  to  receive  pay- 
ment for  property  furnished  on  requisitions,  and  all 
from  whom  it  shall  be  necessary  to  take  stores  or  sup- 
plies, shall  be  furnished  by  the  officer  receiving  or 
taking  the  same  with  a  receipt  specifying  the  kind  and 
quantity  of  the  property  received  or  taken,  as  the  case 
may  be,  the  name  of  the  person  from  whom  it  was  re- 
ceived or  taken,  the  command  for  the  use  of  which 
it  was  received  or  taken,  and  the  market  price.    A  du- 
plicate of  said  receipt  shall  be  at  once  forwarded  to 
the  chief  of  the  department  to  which  the  officer  by 
whom  it  is  executed  is  attached. 

VI.  If  any  person  shall  remove  or  conceal  property 
necessary  for  the  use  of  the  army,  or  attempt  to  do  so, 
the  officers  hereinbefore  mentioned  will  cause  such 
property,  and  all  other  property  belonging  to  such 
person,  that  may  be  required  by  the  army,  to  DC  seized, 


and  the  officer  seizing  the  same  will  forthwith  report 
to  the  chief  of  his  department  the  kind,  quantity,  and 
market  price  of  the  property  so  seized,  and  the  name 
of  the  owner. 

By  command  of  Gen.  K.  E.  LEB. 

R.  H.  CHILTON,  A.  A.  and  I.  G., 
Lieut.-Gen.  R.  S.  EWELL,  Com'g  2d  Army  Corps. 

The  following  correspondence,  which  was  in- 
tercepted by  Gen.  Hooker,  shaws  the  general 
plans  of  Lee  at  this  time : 

ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE,  RICHMOND,  > 
June  28th,  1863.     ) 

Gen.  R.  E.  Lee,  commanding  Army  Northern  Virginia, 
Winchester,  Va. : 

GENERAL  :  While  with  the  President  last  evening,  I 
received  your  letter  of  the  23d  instant.  After  reading 
it  to  the  President,  he  was  embarrassed  to  understand 
that  part  of  it  which  refers  to  the  plan  of  assembling 
an  army  at  Culpepper  Court  House,  under  Gen.  Beau- 
regard.  This  is  the  first  intimation  that  he  has  had 
that  such  a  plan  was  ever  in  contemplation,  and,  taking 
all  things  into  consideration,  he  cannot  see  how  it  can 
by  any  possibility  be  carried  into  effect. 

You  will  doubtless  learn,  before  this  reaches  yon, 
that  the  enemy  has  again  assembled  in  force  on  the 

Eeninsula,  estimated  between  20,000  and  30,000  men, 
•om  6,000  to  10,000  of  whom  are  reported  to  be  in  the 
vicinity  of  White  House,  and  the  remainder  at  York- 
town.  It  is  impossible  to 'say  whether  the  estimated 
number  is  correct,  as  the  several  accounts  vary  and  are 
not  deemed  altogether  trustworthy ;  but  the  estimate, 
making  due  allowance  for  errors,  is  quite  near  enough 
to  satisfy  the  most  incredulous  that  he  is  in  this  vicin- 
ity in  sufficient  force,  in  cavalry,  artillery,  and  infan- 
try, to  do  much  harm,  whether  his  purpose  be  to  make 
a  demonstration  on  Richmond,  or  to  confine  himself  to 
raids  in  breaking  your  communications"  and  devasta- 
ting the  country.  His  efforts  in  the  last  case  may  prove 
more  successful  than  in  the  first,  if  we  may  judge  by 
what  took  place  at  Hanover  only  two  days  ago,  when 
about  1,000  or  1,200  of  his  cavalry  suddenly  appeared 
there,  and  did  some  execution  in  breaking  the  rail- 
road and  burning  a  bridge,  some  buildings,  public 
stores,  &c.  It  is  important  that  this  raid  took  place 
only  about  two  days  after  Gen.  Corse's  brigade  had  Jeft 
there  for  Gordonsville.  Had  it  remained  at  Hanover 
Junction,  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  most  of  the 
enemy's  cavalry  would  have  been  either  destroyed  or 
captured,  and  the  property  saved  from  injury.  Every 
effort  is  being  made  here  to  be  prepared  for  the  enemy 
at  all  points,  but  we  must  look  chiefly  to  the  protec- 
tion of  the  capital.  In  doing  this  we  may  be  obliged 
to  hazard  some  other  points.  You  can  easily  estimate 
our  strength,  and  I  suggest  for  your  consideration 
whether,  in  this  state  of  things,  you  might  not  be 
able  to  spare  a  portion  of  your  force  to  protect  your 
line  of  communication  against  attempted  raids  by  the 
enemy. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant,    . 

S.  COOPER,  Adjutant-General. 

LETTER  FROM  JEFF.  DAVIS. 

EICHMOND,  June  28th,  1868. 

GENERAL  :  Yours  of  the  23d  I  received  this  evening, 
I  hasten  to  reply  to  the  point  presented  in  relation  _to 
the  forces  on  the  coasts  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia. 
The  hopes  indulged  as  to  our  operations  at  the  time 
which  would  intervene  between  the  discharge  of  the 
enemy's  trained  troops  and  the  substitution  of  them  by 
others  have  been  disappointed  by  the  very  error  against 
which  it  was  sought  by  warning  to  guard.  Grant 
reached  the  river,  got  reenforcements,  made  intrench- 
ments,  and  Gen.  Johnston  continues  to  call  for  rein- 
forcements, though  his  first  requisition  was  more  than 
filled  by  withdrawing  troops  from  Gens.  Beauregard 
and  Bragg.  Gen.  Bragg  is  threatened  with  attack, 
has  fallen  back  to  his  intrenched  position  at  Tullahoma, 
and  called  on  Buckner  for  aid. 

Gen.  Beauregard  says  that  no  troops  have  been  with- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


397 


drawn  by  the  enemy  from  his  front  since  those  re- 
turned to  Newbern,  and  that  his  whole^brce  is  neces- 
sary to  cover  his  line.  This  being  in  answer  to  a 
proposition  to  follow  a  movement  of  the  enemy,  said 
to  be  to  the  west,  with  all  his  disposable  force,"  point- 
ing him  at  the  same  time  to  the  vital  importance  of 
holding  the  Mississippi,  and  communicating  the  fear 
that  Vicksburg  would  fall  unless  Johnston  was  strong- 
ly and  promptly  reenforced.  D.  H.  Hill  has  a  small 
force,  part  of  which  has  been  brought  here.  Cling- 
man's  brigade  is  near  Wilmington,  Colquith's  at 
Kingston,  Martin's  nominal,  on  the  railroad  at  Wei- 
don,  and  C.  Cook's,  Ransom's,  and  Jenkins's  have 
been  brought  here  ;  the  two  last  temporarily  from  the 
defence  of  Petersburg  and  the  country  thereabout. 

Wise's  brigade  is,  as  you  left  it,  engaged  in  the  de- 
fence of  Richmond,  and  serving  in  the  country  to  the 
east  of  the  city.  The  enemy  nave  been  reported  in 
large  force  at  the  White  House,  with  indications  of  an 
advance  on  Richmond.  We  are  organizing  companies 
for  home  duties,  and  the  spirit  of  resistance  is  increas- 
ing. Corse's  brigade,  in  accordance  with  your  or- 
ders, has  been  left  at  Hanover  Junction.  All  the  ar- 
tillery, I  am  informed,  was  taken  away,  and  the  single 
regiment  of  infantry,  which  constituted  the  guard  for 
the  bridges,  proved  unequal  to  the  duty,  as  you  have 
no  doubt  learned.  Reinforcements  were  ordered  to 
go  up,  but  some  delay  occurred,  and  they  arrived  too 
late  to  save  the  bridge  or  the  brave  guard  which  had 
unsuccessfully  defended  it.  The  Yankees,  reported 
to  be  three  regiments  of  cavalry,  returned  from  the 
Central  road  in  the  direction  of  Hanover  (old  town), 
and  nothing  has  been  heard  of  them  since. 

It  was  stated  that  Gen.  H.  F.  Lee  was  captured  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Wickham,  but  I  trust  it  will  prove 
to  be  one  of  the  many  startling  rumors  which  the 
newsmongers  invent.  The  advance  of  your  army  in- 
creases our  want  of  cavalry  on  the  north  and  east  of 
the  city;  but  except  one  regiment  from  North  Caro- 
lina, I  do  not  know  of  any  which  we  can  expect  soon 
to  be  available  to  us.  In  yours  of  the  20th  you  say  : 
"  If  any  of  the  brigades  I  have  left  behind  for  the 
protection  of  Richmond  can,  in  your  opinion,  be 
spared,  I  should  like  them  to  be  sent  to  me."  It  has 
been  an  effort  with  me  to  answer  the  clamor  to  have 
troops  stopped  or  recalled  to  protect  the  city  and  the 
railroad  communications  with  your  army.  Corse's 
brigade  has  gone,  and  Wise's  is  the  only  other  left  by 
you.  Cook's  was  in  North  Carolina,  and  Davis'  s  bri- 
gade was  sent  to  complete  Heth's  division  in  the  place 
of  Cook'  s  ;  and  Ransom*  s  and  Jenkins'  s  constitute  the 
defences  of  the  south  side  as  far  as  Weldon,  and  are 
relied  on  for  service  elsewhere  from  Wilmington  to 
Richmond. 

Gen.  Ely  is  positive  that  the  enemy  intend  to  at- 
tack here,  and  his  scouts  bring  intelligence,  which, 
if  I  believed  it,  would  render  me  more  anxious  for 
the  city  than  at  any  former  time.  I  do  not  believe 
that  the  Yankees  have  such  force  as  is  stated,  but 
they  have  enough  to  render  it  necessary  to  keep  some 
troops  within  reach,  and  some  at  Petersburg,  at 
least  until  Suffolk  is  truly  evacuated.  Do  not  under- 
stand me  as  balancing  accounts  in  the  matter  of 
brigades.  I  only  repeat  that  I  have  not  any  to  send 
you,  and  enough  to  form  an  army  to  threaten,  if  not 
Capture  Washington,  as  soon  as  it  is  uncovered  by 
Hooker's  army.  My  purpose  was  to  show  you  that 
the  force  here  and  in  North  Carolina  is  very  small, 
and  I  may  add  that  the  brigades  are  claimed  as  prop- 
erly of  their  command.  Our  information  as  to  the 
enemy's  intentions  maybe  more  full  and  trustwor- 
thy hereafter.  It  is  now  materially  greater  than 
when  you  were  here. 

Very  respectfully  and  truly  yours, 

.  DAVIS. 


The  advance  of  the  Confederate  army,  which 
crossed  the  Potomac,  was  the  corps  of  Gen. 
Ewell.  It  passed  from  Williamsport  to  Hagers- 
town,  which  was  still  held  by  Col.  Jenkins, 


and  at  noon,  on  the  22d,  entered  Greencastle, 
Penn.,  which  is  on  the  railroad  from  Hagers- 
town  to  Chambersburg.  The  distances  on  this 
line  are  as  follows :  from  Hagerstown  to  Mor- 
ganstown,  4  miles ;  to  the  State  line,  5  miles ; 
to  Greencastle,  11  miles;  to  Marion,  16  miles; 
to  Chambersburg,  22  miles.  On  the  23d,  Cham- 
bersburg was  reoccupied  by  the  Confederate 
force  under  Gen.  Ewell.  Gen.  Knipe,  who  was 
in  command  there,  as  the  outpost  of  the  Fed- 
eral forces  under  Gen.  Couch,  collected  in  the 
valley,  fell  back  in  the  direction  of  Carlisle  to 
the  main  body. 

In  order  to  retain  the  Federal  army  on  the 
east  side  of  the  mountains  after  it  should  enter 
Maryland,  and  thus  leave  open  the  Confeder- 
ate communications  with  the  Potomac  through 
Hagerstown  and  Williamsport,  Gen.  Lee  or- 
dered Gen.  Ewell  to  send  a  division  eastward 
from  Chambersburg  to  cross  the  South  Moun- 
tains. 

On  the  24th,  a  detachment  from  Gen.  Swell's 
force  advanced  within  twelve  miles  of  Carlisle, 
on  the  railroad  from  Chambersburg  to  Harris- 
burg.  The  distances  on  that  line  were  as  fol- 
lows :  from  Chambersburg  to  Scotland,  5  miles ; 
to  Shippensburg,  11  miles ;  to Oakville,18 miles; 
to  Carlisle,  34  miles;  to  Mechanicsburg,  44 
miles;  to  Harrisburg,  52  miles.  On  the  24th, 
Gen.  Lee  crossed  the  Potomac  into  Maryland, 
in  the  vicinity  of  Shepherdstown.  At  the  same 
time,  thfe  main  body  of  his  army  crossed  at  the 
fords  at  Shepherdstown  and  Williamsport.  The 
movement  continued  up  the  Cumberland  val- 
ley, on  the  west  side .  of  the  Catoctin  Moun- 
tains. The  advance  was  made  in  two  divisions, 
•one  by  way  of  the  Harrisburg  and  Chambers- 
burg Railroad  toward  Harrisburg,  and  the  other 
from  Gettysburg  eastward  to  the  Northern  Cen- 
tral Railroad  from  Baltimore  to  Harrisburg,  and 
thence  to  York  and  Lancaster,  in  Pennsylvania. 
•  On  Saturday  the  27th,  Carlisle,  on  one  line 
of  advance,  was  occupied  at  noon,  and  the  ad- 
vance continued  to  Kingston,  13  miles  from 
Harrisburg.  On  the  other  line  of  advance, 
Gettysburg  was  occupied  by  a  force  from  Ha- 
gerstown on  the  26th ;  and  at  noon  on  the2Vth, 
the  same  foroe  had  reached  the  Northern  Cen- 
tral Railroad,  at  a  point  between  York  and 
Hanover  Junction.  This  was  about  fifty  miles 
north  of  Baltimore,  and  thirty  miles  south  of 
Harrisburg.  The  same  evening,  York  was  oc- 
cupied without  resistance,  and  several  bridges 
on  the  Northern  Central  Railroad  were  de- 
stroyed. On  the  28th,  this  advance  continued 
to  the  Susquehanna,  opposite  Columbia.  The 
bridge  across  the  river  here  consisted  of  twen- 
ty-eight spans,  and  was  a  mile  and  a  quarter 
in  length.  It  was  burned  by  the  order  of  the 
officer  in  command  of  the  Federal  force  at  Co- 
lumbia— Col.  Frick.  The  Confederate  cavalry 
and  artillery  were  close  upon  the  structure 
when  it  was  tired.  On  the  same  day,  the  ad- 
vance from  Carlisle  approached  within  four 
miles  of  Harrisburg,  where  some  skirmishing 
took  place. 


398 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 'REBELLION. 


On  the  previous  day.  Gen.  Lee,  at  Chambers- 
burg,  issued  the  following  order  to  his  army : 

General  Order  No  27. 

HEADQUARTERS  AEMT  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA,  | 
CHAMBERSBURG,  PA.,  June  27th,  1868.      j 

The  Commanding  General  has  observed,  with  mark- 
ed satisfaction,  the  conduct  of  the  troops  on  the 
march,  and  confidently  anticipates  results  commen- 
surate with  the  high  spirit  they  have  manifested.  No 
troops  could  have  displayed  greater  fortitude,  or  bet- 
ter performed  the  arduous  marches  of  the  past  ten 
days.  Their  conduct  in  other  respects  has,  with  few 
exceptions,  been  in  keeping  with  their  character  as 
soldiers,  and  entitles  them  to  approbation  and  praise. 

There  have,  however,  been  instances  of  forgetful- 
ness,  on  the  part  of  some,  that  they  have  in  keeping 
the  yet  unsullied  reputation  of  the  army,  and  that  the 
duties  exacted  of  us  by  civilization  and  Christianity 
are  not  less  obligatory  in  the  country  of  the  enemy 
than  in  our  own. 

The  Commanding  General  considers  that  no  great- 
er disgrace  could  befall  the  army,  and  through  it  our 
whole  people,  than  the  perpetration  of  the  barbarous 
outrages  upon  the  innocent  and  defenceless,  and  the 
wanton  destruction  of  private  property,  that  have 
marked  the  course  of  the  enemy  in  our  own  country. 
Such  proceedings  not  only  disgrace  the  perpetrators 
and  all  connected  with  them,  but  are  subversive  of 
the  discipline  and  efficiency  of  the  army,  and  destruc- 
tive of  the  ends  of  our  present  movement.  It  must 
be  remembered  that  we  make  war  only  upon  armed 
men,  and  that  we  cannot  take  vengeance  for  the 
wrongs  our  people  have  suffered,  without  lowering 
ourselves  in  the  eyes  of  all  whose  abhorrence  has 
been  excited  by  the  atrocities  of  our  enemy,  and  of- 
fending against  Him  to  whom  vengeance  belongeth, 
without  wnpse  favor  and  support  our  efforts  must  all 
prove  in  vain. 

The  Commanding  General  therefore  earnestly  ex- 
horts the  troops  to  abstain  with  most  scrupulous  care 
from  unnecessary  or  wanton  injury  tp  private  prop- 
.erty;  and  he  enjoins  upon  all  officers  to  arrest  and 
bring  to  summary  punishment  all  who  shall  in  any 
way  offend  against  the  orders  on  this  subject.  • 

R.  E.  LEE,  General. 

On  the  28th,  the  Confederate  force  at  York 
made  a  demand  on  the  authorities  for  $100,000 
in  United  States  Treasury  notes,  200  barrels  of 
flour,  40,000  pounds  of  fresh  beef,  30,000  bush-' 
els  of  corn,  1,000  pairs  of  shoes,  socks,  &c.  On 
that  day,  also,  the  enemy  captured  a  train  of 
one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  wagons  and  one 
thousand  mules,  between  Rockville  and  Ten- 
allytown,  a  few  miles  from  Georgetown,  D.  C. 
Also  a  number-  of  Federal  officers  were  cap- 
tured near  Rockville,  by  a  body  of  Confederate 


cavalry  which  had  crossed  the  Potomac  near 
Seneca,  in  the  rear  of  Gen.  Hooker's  army; 
and  at  Edwards'  Ferry,  fifteen  barges  loaded 
with  government  stores  were  captured  and 
burned  by  a  body  of  Confederate  cavalry.  On 
the  same  day,  this  force  of  cavalry  appeared  at 
numerous  points  in  Montgomery  County,  and 
seized  horses.  Some  came  as  near  to  "Washing- 
ton as  Silver  Spring,  on  the  Seventh-street  road. 
These  were  portions  of  cavalry  under  Gen. 
Stuart.  On  the  advance  of  Gen.  Lee,  Gen. 
Stuart  was  left  to  guard  the  passes  of  the 
mountains,  and  to  observe  the  movements  of 
the  Federal  army,  with  instructions  to  harass 
and  impede  as  much  as  possible  any  attempt  by 
it  to  cross  the  Potomac.  With  this  view  he 
followed  its  movements,  and  advanced  as  fai 
east  as  Fairfax  Court  House.  He  then  crossed 
the  river  at  Seneca,  and  marched  through 
Westminster  to  Carlisle.  At  this  time  the  army 
of  Gen.  Lee  was  situated  as  follows :  The  main 
body,  embracing  the  corps  of  Gens.  Longstreet 
and  Hill,  were  at  and  near  Chambersburg, 
where  Gen.  Lee  also  was.  The  divisions  of 
Gens.  Rhodes  and  Johnson,  of  Gen.  Swell's 
corps,  were  in  the  vicinity  of  Carlisle  and  Har- 
risburg.  The  division  of  Gen.  Early,  of  the 
same  corps,  was  at  York,  where  it  was  joined 
on  the  27th  by  the  brigade  of  Gen.  Gordon. 
The  cavalry,  under  Col.  White,  had  advanced  to 
the  Susquehanna. 

But  the  extreme  point  of  the  Confederate 
advance  had  been  reached.  On  the  28th,  or- 
ders were  issued  for  both  lines  of  advance  of 
Gen.  Ewell's  corps  to  fall  back  on  Gettysburg, 
to  which  point  Gens.  Longstreet  and  Hill  were 
moving  by  the  Chambersburg  turnpike.  The 
reason  of  this  was  the  approach  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  Gen.  Lee  had  made  preparations 
to  march  upon  Harrisburg,  but  on  the  night  of 
the  27th  information  was  received  by  him  that 
the  Federal  army  had  crossed  the  Potomac  and 
was  advancing  northward,  and  that  the  head 
of  the  column  had  reached  South  Mountain. 
As  his  communications  with  the  Potomac  were 
thus  menaced,  he  resolved  to  prevent  the  fur- 
ther progress  of  the  Federal  army  in  that  di- 
rection by  concentrating  his  forces  on  the  east 
side  of  the  mountain. 


CHAPTEE  XXXII. 


Position  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac— Gen.  Hooker  relieved  by  Gen.  Meade— Concentration  of  the  Enemy  near  Gettys- 
burg—Opening of  the  Battle— The  Battle— Ketreat  of  Gen.  Lee— Pursued  by  Gen.  Meade— Cooperating  Movements 
elsewhere— Advance  of  Gen.  Eosecrans  hi  Tennessee  against  Gen.  Bragg— Raid  of  Gen.  John  Morgan  in  Ohio. 


_  ON  the  22d,  the  army  of  Gen.  Hooker  occu- 
pied the  line  of  the  Potomac  on  the  Virginia 
side  of  the  river,  up  to  and  beyond  Leesburg. 


had  advanced,  and  lay  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of 
Frederick,  Maryland.  On  that  day,  an  order 
was  issued  by  the  War  Department  to  Gen. 


At  the  same  time  it  held  all  the  gaps  of  the    Hooker,  to  transfer  the  command  of  the  army 
Bull  Run  range.    By  Saturday,  the  27th,  they     to  Maj.-Gen.  Meade,  who  commanded  the  Fifth 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


399 


corps,  and  to  report  himself  at  Baltimore.  On 
the  next  day,  Gen.  Hooker  issued  the  following 
order: 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMT  or  THE  POTOMAC,  ) 
FREDERICK,  MD.,  June  2Sth,  1863.     J 

la  conformity  with  the  orders  of  the  War  Depart- 
ment, dated  June  27th,  1863, 1  relinquish  the  command 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  It  is  transferred  to  Mai.- 
Gen.  George  G.  Meade,  a  brave  and  accomplished  offi- 
cer, who  has  nobly  earned  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  the  army  on  many  a  well-fought  field.  Impressed 
with  the  belief  that  my  usefulness  as  the  commander 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  is  impaired,  I  part  from  it, 
yet  not  without  »the  deepest  emotion.  The  sorrow  of 
parting  with  the  comrades  of  so  many  battles  is  re- 
lieved by  the  conviction  that  the  courage  and  devotion 
of  this  army  will  never  cease  nor  fail ;  that  it  will  yield 
to  my  successor,  as  it  has  to  me,  a  willing  and  hearty 
eupport.  With  the  earnest  prayer  that  the  triumph  of 
its  arms  may  bring  successes  worthy  of  it  and  the  na- 
tion. I  bid  it  farewell. 

JOSEPH  HOOKER,  Maj.-Gen. 

This  order  was  followed  by  the  subjoined  ad- 
dress from  Gen.  Meade : 

HBADQUAETERS  ARMY  OP  THE  POTOMAC,  ? 

June  28JA,  1863.     $ 

By  direction  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  I 
hereby  assume  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
As  a  soldier,  in  obeying  this  order,  an  order  totally 
unexpected  and  unsolicited,.!  have  no  promises  or 
pledges  to  make.  The  country  looks  to  this  army  to 
relieve  it  from  the  devastation  and  disgrace  of  a  hostile 
invasion.  Whatever  fatigues  and  sacrifices  we  may  be' 
called  upon  to  undergo,  let  us  have  in  view  constantly 
the  magnitude  of  the  interests  involved,  and  let  each 
man  determine  to  do  his  duty,  leaving  to  an  all-con- 
trolling Providence  the  decision  of  the  contest.  It  is 
with  just  diffidence  that  I  relieve,  in  the  command  of 
this  army,  an  eminent  and  accomplished  soldier,  whose 
name  must  ever  appear  conspicuous  in  the  history  of 
its  achievements ;  but  I  rely  upon  the  hearty  support 
of  my  companions  in  arms  to  assist. me  in  the  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  of  the  important  trust  which  has 
been  confided  to  me. 

GEORGE  G.  MEADE,  Maj.-Gen.  Commanding. 

This  change  was  so  entirely  unexpected,  both 
by  the  public  generally  and  the  army,  that 
nothing  could  exceed  the  surprise  which  it  oc- 
casioned. The  reasons  for  the  change  have  not 
yet  been  made  known,  except  that  Gen.  Hooker 
was  relieved  at  his  own  request.  The  impres- 
sion upon  the  army  was  thus  described : 

The  report  of  the  change  soon  extended  to  the  sev- 
eral corps,  and  their  commanders  hastened  to  bid  fare- 
well to  the  General.  By  three  o'clock  a  large  number 
of  officers  had  assembled,  and  soon  after  Gen.  Hooker 
appeared  in  the  avenue  before  his  tent.  Some  time 
was  spent  in  social  intercourse,  and  to  the  last  all  for- 
malities were  dispensed  with.  The  parting  was  painful 
to  every  one,  particularly  to  those  who  had  become  en- 
deared to  the  General  by  old  associations.  Gen.  Hooker 
was  deeply  grieved.  He  had  been  identified  with  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  he  said,  since  its  organization, 
and  had  hoped  to  continue  with  it  to  the  ena.  It  was 
the  best  army  of  the  country,  worthy  of  the  confidence 
of  the  nation,  and  could  not  fail  of  success  in  the  ap- 
proaching struggle.  He  spoke  of  his  successor  as  af 
glorious  soldier,  and  urged  all  to  give  him  their  earn- 
est support. 

Gen.  Meade  was  totally  surprised  by  the  order  ap- 
pointing him  commander  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
and  deeply  felt  the  weight  of  responsibility  resting 
upon  him.  His  appointment  gives  universal  satisfac- 
tion, and  all  express  a  determination  to  extend  their 
heartiest  cooperation. 

An  order  for  the  movement  of  the  army  was 


issued  on  the  same  day  by  Gen.  Meade.  The 
sixth  and  eleventh  corps,  which  were  at  Mid-, 
dletown,  in  the  valley  between  the  Oatoctin 
and  the  Blue  Ridge,  were  moved  east  to  Fred- 
erick, and  then  directly  up  the  Monocacy  val- 
ley, on  the  west  side  of  the  stream,  through  Me- 
chanicsburg  and  Emmitsburg,  toward  Gettys- 
burg. The  second  and  fifth  corps  crossed  the 
Monocacy  to  the  east,  three  miles  above  Fred- 
erick, and  moved  northeast  through  Union 
to  Frizelburg,  which  is  near  the  State  line. 
The  third  and  twelfth  corps  took  the  Middle- 
burg  road.  The  sixth  corps  crossed  the  Mono/- 
cacy,  east  of  Frederick,  and  moved  to  "West- 
minster. These  routes  took  the  army  into  such 
a  position  that  it  .could  cover  Baltimore,  or 
cross  the  Susque"hanna  below  Harrisburg,  or 
prevent  any  movement  of  the  Confederates 
toward  "Washington.  On  Tuesday  forenoon, 
the  first  and  eleventh  corps  were  at  Emmits- 
burg ;  the  second  and  fifth  at  Frizelburg ;  the 
third  and  twelfth  at  Taneytown,  and  the  sixth 
at  "Westminster.  The  Federal  force  at  Harper's 
Ferry  at  this  tune  was  supposed  to  be  abont 
eleven  thousand.  It  was  incorrectly  represented 
to  Gen.  Meade  to  be  destitute  of  provisions,  and 
,that  he  must  immediately  supply  it,  or  order  the 
abandonment  of  the  place.  Accordingly,  a  few 
hours  after  he  assumed  the  command,  he  as- 
sented to  an  order  drawn  up  by  an  officer  of 
Gen.  Hooker's  staff,  directing  Gen.  French  to 
send  seven  thousand  men  of  the  garrison  to 
Frederick,  and  with  the  remainder,  estimated  at 
four  thousand,  to  remove  and  escort  the  pub- 
lic property  to  Washington.  This  order  was 
unknown  in  "Washington  till  too  late  to  be 
countermanded.  It  was  not  entirely  executed 
when  Gen.  Meade  ordered  the  reoccupation  of 
that  point. 

At  this  time,  Gen.  Lee's  forces  had  with- 
drawn from  York  and  Carlisle,  and  from  Cham- 
bersburg,  and  were  concentrating  on  Gettys- 
burg. The  corps  of  Gens.  Longstreet  and  Hill, 
forming  the  main  army,  were  moving  eastward, 
while  Gen.  Meade  was  moving  northward. 
This  movement  would  bring  Gen.  Lee  on  the 
flank  of  Gen.  Meade's  army.  On  Tuesday  morn- 
ing, Gen.  Meade  changed  the  line  of  march  of 
all  his  corps,  except  the  first  and  eleventh, 
toward  Gettysburg.  The  first  and  eleventh 
were  then  moving  in  that  direction.  At  the 
same  time,  Gen.  Meade  issued  the  following 
address  to  his  army : 

HEADQUARTERS  AEMY  OP  tin  POTOHAO,  ? 
June  SQth,  1868.     \ 

The  Commanding  General  requests  that  previous  to 
the  engagement  soon  expected  with  the  enemy,  corps 
and  all  other  commanding  officers  address  their  troops, 
explaining  to  them  the  immense  issues  involved  in  the 
struggle.  The  enemy  is  now  on  our  soil.  The  whole 
country  looks  anxiously  to  this  army  to  deliver  it  from 
the  presence  of  the  foe.  Our  failure  to  do  so  will  leave 
us  no  such  welcome  as  the  swelling  of  millions  of  hearts 
with  pride  and  joy  at  our  success  would  give  to  every 
soldier  of  the  army.  Homes,  firesides,  and  domestic 
altars  are  involved.  The  army  has  fought  well  hereto- 
fore. It  is  believed  that  it  will  fight  more  desperately 
and  bravely  than  ever,  if  it  is  addressed  in  fitting  terms. 


400 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


pddad 

pno 


Corps  and  other  commanders  are  authorized  to  order 
the  instant  death  of  any  soldier  who  fails  to  do  his  duty 
at  this  hour. 

By  command  of  Major-Gen.  MEADE. 

S.  WILLIAMS,  Assistant  Adjutant-Gen. 

Gettysburg,  whither  both  armies  were  mov- 
ing, was  not  only  the  capital  of  the  county  in 
which  it  is  located,  but  a  central  point  to  which 
many  roads  converged.  The  road  from  West- 
minster, by  which  the  sixth  corps  was  advancing, 
comes  in  on  the  southeast ;  that  from  Taney- 
town,  by  which  the  third  and  twelfth  were  ad- 
vancing, comes  in  on  the  south,  which  was  the 
route  also  of  the  second  and  fifth ;  that  from 
Emmitsburg,  by  which  the  first  and  eleventh 
corps  were  advancing,  comes  in  on  the  south- 
west ;  that  from  Chambersburg,  by  which  the 
Confederate  corps  of  Gens.  Longstreet  and 
Hill  were  advancing,  comes  in  on  the  north- 
west; and  those  from  Harrisburg  and  York,  by 
which  the  corps  of  Gen.  Ewell  was  advancing, 
come  in  on  the  northeast. 

On  "Wednesday  morning,  Maj.-Gen.  Reynolds, 
in  command  of  the  first  corps,  advanced  on  the 


ry.  At  this  time  the  first  corps  appeared.  The 
first  division,  under  Gen.  Wadsworth,  was  in 
the  advance.  The  division  of  Gen.  Doubleday 
followed  and  formed  on  the  left,  and  that  of 
Gen.  Robinson  on  the  right.  The  position  occu- 
pied was  a  ridge  northwest  of  the  town,  which 
sloped  to  the  west,  into  a  little  open  valley  of 
ploughed  fields  and  meadows.  Beyond  the 
valley  is  a  ridge  of  higher  land  thickly  wooded. 
The  valley  runs  in  a  southwesterly  direction. 
Across  this  valley  the  line  of  Gen.  Reynolds 
advanced  somewhat  hastily,  almost  before  it 
was  well  formed,  and  soon  encountered  a 
heavy  force  of  the  enemy's  infantry,  by  which 
it  was  driven,  but  fell  back  in  good  order.  The 
impetuosity  of  the  enemy  caused  them  to  press 
the  right  centre  too  rashly,  and,  by  a  movement 
of  the  left  centre  upon  the  flank  of  the  foe,  a 
large  number  were  taken  prisoners.  The  ad- 
vance of  the  enemy  was  broken  soon  after,  and 
Gen.  Reynolds  prepared  to  go  forward.  His  line 
advanced  as  before,  and  drove  the  enemy  from 
the  valley  and  over  the  ridge  at  the  farther 
side,  with  a  heavy  loss  by  the  severe  fire  of 


Emmitsburg  road  from  Marsh  creek  to  Get-  ,the  foe.     His  line  of  skirmishers  was  now 


tysburg,  where  he  arrived  about  ten  o'clock, 
and  marched  directly  through  the  town.     A 


thrown  out  some  distance  from  the  hill,  and 
Gen.  Reynolds,  upon  going  out  to  it -to  recon- 


body  of  the  enemy,  being  the  advance  of  Gen.    noitre,  was  killed  by  a  shot  from  the  enemy. 

TT  _  j  i  *      -i  •    ,  a  «  '«.  -.,,     '••.••  . • 3    ^    f*\  _ 


Heth's  division  of  Gen.  Hill's  corps,  was  dis- 
covered to  be  posted  on  the  road  that  came  in 
from  Chambersburg  on  the  northwest.  They 
were  driven  back  by  Gen.  Buford's  cavalry. 
The  division,  coming  up,  drove  back  the  caval- 


The  eleventh  corps  now  arrived,  and  Gen. 
Howard  assumed  the  command  of  the  whole 
field,  while  Gen.  Schurz  took  command  of  the 
eleventh  corps.  Gen.  Doubleday  now  com- 
manded the  first  corps. 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


401 


It  being  reported  that  the  enemy  were  now 
massing  a  force  north  of  the  town  to  attack  the 
rear  of  the  first  corps,  the  first  and  third  divis- 
ions of  the  eleventh  corps  were  ordered  acjpss 
the  rear  of  the  first  corps  to  take  up  a  position 
on  the  right,  and  Gen.  Steinwehr  was  station- 
ed as  a  reserve  on  Cemetery  Hill,  immediately 
south  of  the  town.  This  force  of  the  enemy 
was  the  advance  of  Gens.  Rhodes  and  Early's 
divisions  falling  back  from  the  Susquehanna. 
At  this  time,  about  half  past  two  p.  M.,  the 
enemy  advanced  in  force  against  the  first  corps, 
which  slowly  fell  back  to  its  original  position, 
northwest  of  the  town.  Here  it  was  some- 
what reenfori^d  and  prepared  to  make  a  stand. 
The  force  ofuia  enemy  advanced  across  the 
open  space  in  line  of  battle,  while  their  batte- 
ries shelled  the  position  of  the  first  corps  to 
cover  the  advance.  At  short  range  it  met  a 
fire  so  sharp  and  well  served  as  to  cause  it  to 
reel  and  fall  back.  The  line  was  again  formed 
and  reenforced,  and  once  more  advanced,  but 
with  no  better  success.  By  this  time  the  divis- 
ions of  Rhodes  and  Early  had  come  up*from 
the  east,  and  Fender's  division  of  Gen.  Hill's 
moved  up  on  the  right  to  the  support  of  Gen. 
Heth.  Another  charge  was  now  made  by  the 
whole  force  of  the  enemy.  Their  superior 
numbers  enabled  them  to  threaten  both  flanks 
of  the  Union  force.  The  main  effort  was  di- 
%  rected  against  the  left,  and,  notwithstanding  a 
brave  resistance,  such  advantages  were  gained 
that  the  first  corps  was  ordered  back  to  the 
town.  By  this  movement  the  left  of  the 
eleventh  was  uncovered,  and  a  heavy  advance 
completely  on  its  right  flank  compelled  it  to 
retire.  The  enemy  advanced  and  took  posses- 
sion of  the  town,  while  the  two  corps  fell  back 
and  occupied  the  western  slope  of  the  hill  south 
of  the  town,  held  by  Gen.  Steinwehr. 

Gen.  Lee  says :  "  The  attack  was  not  pressed 
that  afternoon,  the  enemy's  force  being  un- 
known, and  it  being  considered  advisable  to 
await  the  arrival  of  the  rest  of  our  troops.  It 
had  not  been  intended  to  fight  a  general  battle 
at  such  a  distance  from  our  base,  unless  at- 
tacked by  the  enemy ;  but  finding  ourselves  un- 
expectedly confronted  by  the  Federal  army,  it 
became  a  matter  of  difficulty  to  withdraw 
through  the  mountains  with  our  large  trains. 
At  the  same  time  the  country  was  unfavorable 
for  collecting  supplies  while  in  the  presence  of 
the  enemy's  main  body,  as  he  was  enabled  to 
restrain  our  foraging  parties  by  oijcupying  the 
passes  of  the  mountains  with  regular  and  local 
troops.  A  battle  thus  became,  in  a  measure, 
unavoidable.  Encouraged  by  the  successful  is- 
sue of  the  engagement  of  the  first  day,  and  in 
view  of  the  valuable  results  that  would  ensue 
from  the  deferft  of  the  army,  of  Gen.  Meade,  it 
was  thought  advisable  to  renew  the  attack." 

At  dusk  the  third  and  twelfth  corps  arrived 
and  took  positions,  the  former  on  the  ridge  ex- 
tending south  and  to  the  left  of  Cemetery  Hill, 
and  the  latter  on  the  same  ridge  as  it  curved  to 
the  right  of  the  hill.  At  11  p.  M.,  Gen.  Meade 
26 


arrived  and  examined  the  position.  He  then 
posted  the  several  corps  in  the  following  order: 
the  twelfth,  under  Gen.  Slocum,  on  {lie  right ; 
the  eleventh,  Gen.  Howard,  next;  the  first, 
Gen.  Doubleday,  the  second,  Gen.  Hancock, 
the  third,  Gen.  Sickles,  in  the  centre ;  the  fifth, 
Gen.  Sykes,  arrived  the  next  morning,  and  was 
placed  on  the  extreme  left.  The  line  stretch- 
ed in  a  semicircle,  having  its  convex  centre 
toward  Gettysburg,  with  the  extreme  toward 
the  southwest  and  south.  The  heights  on 
which  the  troops  were  posted  sloped  gently 
down  from  their  front. 

On  the  part  of  the  enemy,  Gen.  Anderson's 
division  of  Gen.  Hill's  corps,  and  Gen.  Mc- 
Laws's  division  of  Gen.  Longstreet's  corps  ar- 
rived late  in  the  evening  within  a  mile  or  two 
of  the  town,  and  bivouacked  for  the  night. 
Early  on  the  next  morning,  Gen.  Hood's  divis- 
ion of  Longstreet's  corps  arrived,  and  their  line 
of  battle  was  soon  after  formed. 

The  key  of  Gen.  Meade's  position  was  Cem- 
etery Hill,  a  little  distance  south  of  the  town, 
and  on  the  northern  slope  of  which  the  town 
itself  is  situated.  It  was  so  called  because  the 
burial  place  of  the  town  was  there.  Its  sum- 
mit was  east  of  the  road  which  runs  south  to 
Taneytown.  The  ridge  passed  to  the  west  of 
this  road  and  ran  south  along  its  westside,  and 
was  occupied  by  the  second,  third,  fifth,  and 
sixth  corps  respectively,  in  line  of  battle.  On 
the  continuation  of  the  ridge  to  the  east  and 
southeast  was  a  part  of  the  eleventh  and  the 
twelfth  corps.  On  this  part  of  the  line  the  ridge 
was  rocky  and  thickly  wooded,  and  some  de- 
fences were  thrown  up  on  Thursday  morning 
by  Gens.  Geary  and  Williams.  The  ridge  from 
Cemetery  Hill  directly  south  was  open  and 
clear,  and  the  troops  there  faced  to  the  west. 
The  left  flank  of  Gen.  Meade  rested  upon  a 
sharp,  rugged,  and  almost  perpendicular  peak, 
covered  with  original  forest  growth.  At  the 
foot  of  the  ridge  on  the  west  was  a  narrow 
valley  between  one  and  two  miles  in  width,  on 
the  western  side  of  which  is  another  ridge, 
somewhat  lower  and  running  nearly  parallel, 
and  mostly  covered  with  heavy  timber.  The 
line  of  battle  of  the  enemy  was  formed  on  the 
slope  of  this  ridge,  with  Gen.  Ewell^  corps  on 
the  left.  Beginning  at  the  town,  Gen.  Early's 
division  was  at  the  extreme  right,  then  Gen. 
Rhodes's ;  on  the  right  of  his  division  was  the 
left  of  Gen.  Hill's  corps,  commencing  with 
Gen.  Heth's  division,  then  Gens.  Fender  and 
Anderson's  divisions.  On  the  right  of  Gen. 
Anderson's  division  was  the  left  of  Gen. 
Longstreet's  corps,  Gen.  McLaws's  division 
being  next  to  Gen.  Anderson's,  and  Gen. 
Hood's  on  the  extreme  right  of  their  lice 
and  opposite  the  extreme  left  of  Gen.  Meade. 
Neither  the  division  of  Gen.  Swell's  corps  nor 
that  of  Gen.  Pickett  of  Longstreet's  corps  had 
at  this  time  arrived.  Gen.  Pickett  had  been 
left  at  Chambersburg  to  protect  the  Confed- 
erate rear  and  escort  their  reserve  train.  Gen. 
Johnson  iad  been  operating  near  Harrisburg. 


402 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


On  the  ridge  occupied  by  Gen.  Meade,  a  hun- 
dred guns  were  in  position  facing  the  enemy. 
The  reserve  artillery  was  in  the  rear,  about  equi- 
distant from  the  extreme  points  of  the  line.  The 
Union  cavalry  was  east  of  the  creek  on  the  road 
to  Baltimore.  The  artillery  of  the  enemy  in 
position  was  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  guns. 
During  Thursday  forenoon  some  skirmishing 
took  place,  but  no  movement  of  importance  was 
made.  On  the  Confederate  side,  about  the  mid- 
dle of  the  afternoon,  Gen.  Lee  issued  orders  for 
the  commanders  to  prepare  for  a  general  attack 
upon  the  Federal  centre  and  left.  The  move- 
ment was  to  be  commenced  by  Gen.  Longstreet' 
and  followed  up  on  his  left  in  quick  succession 
by  the  respective  divisions  of  Gen.  Hill's  corps. 
The  movements  in  consequence  of  these  orders 
were  in  progress  when  sharpshooters  were  sent 
out  by  Gen.  Sickles,  being  one  regiment,  under 
command  of  Col.  Berdan.  They  advanced  in  the 
woods  about  a  mile  beyond  the  Emmitsburg 
turnpike,  reconnoitering,  and  reported  that  the 
enemy  were  moving  large  masses  to  turn  the 
Union  left.  On  this  report  Gen.  Sickles  moved 
up  to  a  ridge  in  front,  which  he  deemed  a  more 
commanding  position  to  repel  the  attack.  On 
this  ridge,  which  he  considered  as  commanding 
tn  a  great  extent  the  position  he  previously  oc- 
cupied, he  formed  his  line.  His  right  rested  in 
the  peach  orchard,  which  is  in  the  angle  form- 
ed by  the  Emmitsburg  road  and  a  cross  road 
running  about  southeast  and  connecting  the 


Emmitsburg  road  with  the  road  to  Taneytown. 
The  rest  of  the  line  extended  in  a  southerly 
direction,  with  the  left  resting  on  the  Round 
Top  Hill.  He  had  hardly  got  into  position 
when  the  enemy  made  their  anticipated  at- 
tack. After  resisting  it  about  two  hours, 
and  the  fifth  corps  failing  to  come  to  his  sup- 
port as  promptly  as  was  expected,  he  fell 
back  to  his  original  position  upon  the  crest 
of  the  hill,  where  a  most  desperate  assault 
was  made  by  the  troops  of  Gen.  Longstreet. 
The  line  was  strengthened  by  Gen.  Meade,  by 
ordering  up  the  fifth  corps  to  the  position 
it  afterward  occupied  on  the  left  of  the  third. 
Two  divisions  were  also  sent  from  the  twelfth 
corps,  as  no  attack  was  threatened  on  the 
right.  This  formidable  opposition  and  the 
precipitate  and  rugged  character  of  the  slope 
effectually  repulsed  all  the  efforts  of  Gen. 
Longstreef^  with  great  loss,  however,  on  both 
sides.  According  to  the  order  of  Gen.^Lee,  the 
advance  was  to  commence  from  the  right  and 
be  taken  up  along  the  whole  line.  With  the 
advance  of  Gen.  Longstreet  a  part  of  the  divis- 
ion of  Gen.  Anderson  moved  upon  the  centre 
of  Gen.  Meade.  As  Gen.  Sickfes  fell  back,  the 
second  corps,  under  Gen.  Hancock,  came  to  his 
aid  on  his  right,  assisted  by  a  portion  of  the 
first  corps.  These  troops  encountered  a  part  of 
McLaws's  and  Anderson's  divisions.  The  battle 
grew  fearful.  The  enemy  pressed  forward  un- 
restrained. Gen.  Sickles  was  wounded  in  the 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


403 


leg,  and  the  command  of  his  corps  devolved  on 
Maj.-Gen.  Birney.  Gen.  Hancock  was  wounded 
in  the  thigh,  and  Gen.  Gihbons  in  the  shoulder. 
The  first  and  second  wavered.  The  enemy 
pressed  up  to  the  very  guns  of  the  hatteries, 
which  were  exposed  to  capture.  The  sixth 
corps,  under  Gen.  Sedgwick,  although  weary 
with  a  march  that  day,  hurried  with  shouts 
to  the  support,  and  the  enemy  staggered  and 
drifted  slowly  back.  A  strong  force  was  now 
pushed  on  their  left  flank,  which  pressed  well 
to  their  rear  along  the  Emmitsburg  road,  and 
the  Confederates  retired.  At  this  time  Gen. 
Ewell  got  his  forces  forward  and  made  a  des- 
perate dash  on  the  twelfth  corps,  under  Gen. 
Slocum,  on  the  extreme  right,  which  had  been 
weakened  to  support  the  centre  and  left.  For 
fifteen  minutes  the  attack  was  furious,  but  the 
sixth  corps  came  to  its  support  followed  by  the 
first  corps,  and  the  struggle  continued  with 
some  advantages  to  the  enemy  until  9  o'clock, 
when  he  retired,  having  lost  the  day  in  every 
quarter.  It  was  stated  that  the  divisions  of 
Gens.  Fender  and  Heth,  of  Gen.  Hill's  corps, 
remained  inactive. 

Gen.  Lee  thus  reports  the  operations  of  the 
day: 

In  front  of  Gen.  Longstreetj  the  enemy  held  a  posi- 
tion from  which,  if  he  could  be  driven,  it  was  .thought 
that  our  army  could  be  used  to  advantage  in  assailing 
the  more  elevated  ground  beyond,  and  thus  enable  us 
to  reach  the  crest  of  the  ridge.  That  officer  was  di- 
rected tb  endeavor  to  carry  this  position,  while  Gen. 
Ewell  attacked  directly  the  high  ground  on  the  enemy's 
riicht,  which  had  already  been  partially  fortified.  Gen. 
Hill  was  instructed  to  threaten  the  centre  of  the  Fed- 
eral line,  in  order  to  prevent  reinforcements  being  sent 
to  either  wing,  and  to  avail  himself  of  any  opportunity 
that  mi^ht  present  itself  to  attack. 

After  a  severe  struggle,  Longstreet  succeeded  in  get- 
ting possession  of  and  holding  the  desired  ground. 
Ewelf  also  carried  sotr\e  of  the  strong  positions  which 
he  assailed,  and  the  result  was  such  as  to  lead  to  the 
belief  that  he  would  ultimately  be  able  to  dislodge  the 
enemy.  The  battle  ceased  at  dark. 

During  the  night,  Gen.  Meade  sent  the  fol- 
lowing despatch  to  Washington : 

The  enemy  attacked  me  about  four  p.  M.  this  day, 
and,  after  one  of  the  severest  contests  of  the  war,  he 
was  repulsed  at  all  points.  We  have  suffered  con- 
siderably in  killed  and  wounded.  Among  the  former 
are  Brig.-Gens.  Paul  and  Zook,aud  among  the  wounded, 
Gens,  sickles,  Barlow,  Graham,  and  Warren  slightly. 
We  have  taken  a  large  number  of  prisoners. 

On  the  next  morning,  the  following  further 
despatch  was  sent : 

The  action  commenced  again  at  early  daylight  upon 
various  parts  of  the  line.  The  enemy  thus  far  have 
made  no  impression  upon  my  position.  All  accounts 
agree  in  placing  the  whole  (rebel)  army  here.  Pris- 
oners report  Longstreet's  and  A.  P.  Hill's  forces 
much  injured  yesterday,  and  many  general  officers 
killed.  Gen.  Barksdale  s  (of  Mississippi)  dead  body 
is  within  our  lines.  We  have  thus  far  aboufsix- 
teen  hundred  prisoners. 

The  action  thus  -commenced  was  chiefly  an 
artillery  fire  directed  upon  the  line  of  Gen. 
Meade,  which  slackened  after  a  few  houra.  On 
the  right  of  Gen.  Meade,  the  contest  was  close 
and  more  severe.  It  commenced  at  daylight, 
"by  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  twelfth  corps, 


under  Gen.  Slocum,  to  drive  Gen.  Ewell  farther 
back.  This  attack  met  with  a  prompt  response 
from  Gen.  Ewell.  The  fiercest  assaults  were 
made  upon  the  positions  of  Gens.  Geary  and 
Berry,  which  fell  back  a  short  distance  until 
supported  by  Gen.  Sykes's  division  of  the  fifth 
corps  and  Gen.  Humphrey's  of  the  third. 
The  struggle  was  now  evenly  contested  for 
some  time,  when  a  further  reenforcement  ar- 
rived and  to^k  such  a  position  4as  to  enfilade 
the  enemy,  causing  his  force  to  retire,  and  at 
11  o'clock  A.  M.  a  general  quiet  prevailed. 

The  movements  of  the  enemy  thus  far  had 
been  made  rather  to  cover  up  his  designs  than 
as  serious  efforts  against  Gen.  Meade.  The 
battle  of  the  previous  day  had  demonstrated 
that  the  issue  of  the  struggle  turned  on  the 
occupation  of  Cemetery  Hill.  To  get  posses- 
sion of  this  spot  was  therefore  the  object  of  the 
enemy.  Early  in  the  morning,  preparations 
had  been  made  by  Gen.  Lee  for  a  general  at- 
tack upon  Gen.  Meade's  whole  line,  while  a 
large  force  was  concentrated  against  his  cen- 
tre for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  ground  it 
occupied.  Gen.  Longstreet  massed  fifty-five 
guns  of  long  range  upon  the  crest  of  a  slight 
eminence,  just  in  front  of  the  extreme  right  of 
Gen.  Hill's  corps,  and  a  little  to  the  left  of  the 
heights  upon  which  they  were  to  open  fire. 
At  the  same  time,  Gen.  Hill  massed  some  sixty 
guns  along  the  hill,  still  farther  to  his  left  and 
in  front  of  the  same  heights.  The  position  of 
these  guns  was  near  the  Bonaughton  road,  near 
the  York  road,  near  the  Harris-burg  road,  and 
along  the.  Seminary  ridge  to  a  point  beyond 
Eound  Top.  The  artillery  on  Cemetery  Hill 
was  thus  subject  to  more  than  a  half  circle  of 
cross  fires.  At  1  o'clock  the  signal  gun  was  fired, 
and  the  cannonading  commenced.  The  fire  of 
the  enemy  was  thus  concentrated  on  the  posi- 
tion held  by  the  eleventh  and  second  corps.  It 
drew  a  most  terrific  response  from  the  Federal 
batteries.  It  is  thus  described  by  a  spectator 
in  the  Union  army : 

"  The  etorm  broke  npon  us  so  suddenly  that 
soldiers  -and  officers — who  leaped,  as  it  began, 
from  their  tents,  or  from  lazy  siestas  on  the 
grass — were  stricken  in  their  rising  with  mor- 
tal wounds,  and  died,  some  with  cigars  between 
their  teeth,  some  with  pieces  of  food  in  their 
fingers,  and  one  at  least— a  pale  young  Ger- 
man, from  Pennsylvania — with  a  miniature  of 
his  sister  in  his  hands.  Horses  fell,  shrieking 
such  awful  cries  as  Cooper  told 'of,  and  writh- 
ing themselves  about  in  hopeless  agony.  The 
boards  of  fences,  scattered  by  explosion,  flew 
in  splinters  through  the  air.  The  earth,  torn 
up  in  clouds,  blinded  the  eyes  of  hurrying 
men ;  and  through  the  branches  of  the  trees 
and  among  the  gravestones  of  the  cemetery  a 
shower  of  destruction  crashed  ceaselessly.  As, 
•with  hundreds  ofjothers,  I  groped  through  this 
tempest  of  death  for  the  shelter  of  the  bluff, 
an  old  man,  a  private  in  a  company  belonging 
to  the  24th  Michigan,  was  struck,  scarcely  ten 
feet  away,  by  a  cannon  ball,  which  tore  through 


404 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


him,  extorting  such  a  low,  intense  cry  of  mor- 
tal pain  as  I  pray  God  I  may  never  again  hear. 
The  hill,  which  seemed  alone  devoted  to  this 
rain  of  death,  was  clear  in  nearly  all  its  unshel- 
tered places  within  five  minutes  after  the  fire 
hegan." 

A  spectator  in  the  Confederate  army  has 
thus  described  this  artillery  contest :  "  I  have 
never  yet  hea/d  such  tremendous  artillery  fir- 
ing. The  enemy  must  have  had  *ver  one  hun- 
dred guns,  which,  in  addition  to  our  one  hun- 
dred and  fifteen,  made  the  air  hideous  with 
most  discordant  noise.  The  very  earth  shook 
beneath  our  feet,  and  the  hills  and  rocks 
seemed  to  reel  like  a  drunken  man.  For  one 
hour  and  a  half  this  most  terrific  fire  was  con- 
tinued, during  which  time  the  shrieking  of 
shell,  the  crash  of  fallen  timbers,  the  fragments 
of  rocks  flying  through  the  air,  shattered  from 
the  clifis  by  solid  shot,  the  heavy  mutterings 
from  the  valley  between  the  opposing  armies, 
the,  splash  of  bursting  shrapnel,  and  the  fierce 
neighing  of  wounded  artillery  horses,  made  a 
picture  terribly  grand  and  sublime,  but  which 
my  pen  utterly  fails  to  describe.  After  the 
firing  had  continued  for  little  more  than  an 
hour,  the  enemy's  guns  began  to  slacken,  and 
finally  all  were  silenced  save  some  six  or  eight, 
which  were  in  a  clump  of  woods  a  little  to  the 
left  of  the  stone  fence."  After  the  firing  had 
continued  about  three  hours,  Gen.  Howard,  of 
the  second  corps,  slackened  his  fire  to  allow 
his  guns  to  cool :  it  was  supposed  by  the  enemy 
that  they  were  silenced,  and  that  the  time  had 
now  come  to  make  an  irresistible  attack.  Their 
storming  party  was  now  moved  up.  The  divis- 
ion of  Gen.  Pickett,  which  had  arrived  since  the 
previous  day,  led  the  advance,  supported  on  the 
right  by  Gen.  "Wilcox's  brigade  of  Gen.  Ander- 
son's division,  and  on  the  left  by  Gen.  Heth's 
division,  commanded  by  Gen.  Pettigrew.  The 
troops  of  Gen.  Pickett's  division  advanced 
in  splendid  order.  On  his  left,  the  command 
of  Gen.  Pettigrew  emerged  from  the  woods, 
and  swept  down  the  slope  of  the  hill  to  the 
valley  beneath,  and  some  two  or  three  hun- 
dred yards  in  the  rear  of  Gen.  Pickett.  As  it 
entered  the  conflict,  the  line  wavered,  being 
raw  soldiers,  and  wanting  the  firmness  of  nerve 
and  steadiness  of  tread  of  the  advance.  As 
the  advance  came  under  the  fire  of  the  first 
and  second  corps,  the  enemy  ceased  firing  from 
their  batteries.  Their  ammunition  was  ex- 
hausted. The  advance  of  Gen.  Pickett,  com- 
posed chiefly  of  Virginians,  presse'd  forward. 
A  terrible  fire  of  grape,  shell,  and  canister 
from  forty  guns  is  opened  upon  them.  They 
waver  not,  but  cross  the  Emmitsburg  joad, 
and  approach  the  masses  of  infantry.  Gen. 
Gibbon,  in  command  now  of  the  second  corps, 
walks  composedly  along  the  ranks,  saying: 
"  Hold  your  fire,  boys — they  are  not  near' 
enough  yet."  They  come  still  nearer — then, 
with  bayonets  at  the  charge,  sweep  up  to  the 
rifle  pits.  A  line  of  fire  flashes  from  the  sec- 
ond corps,  and  hundreds  go  down,  but  they  do 


not  falter.  They  charge  over  the  pits.  Gen. 
Gibbon  orders  his  men  to  fall  back  to  the  rear 
of  the  batteries.  It  is  done  without  confusion, 
to  allow  the  artillery  to  use  grape.  Still  on 
they  press,  up  to  the  muzzles  of  the  guns. 
Meanwhile,  the  hot  fire  has  thrown  the  divis- 
ion of  Gen.  Pettigrew  into  the  utmost  confu- 
sion. Their  line  is  broken ;  they  are  scattered 
over  the  plain,  and  flying  panic  stricken  to  the 
rear.  Gen.  Pettigrew  was  wounded,  but  still 
retained  command,  and  vainly  strove  to  rally 
his  men.  The  moving  mass  rushes  to  the  rear, 
and  Gen.  Pickett  was  left  to  contend  alone. 
Strong  flanking  bodies  were  moved  round  to 
gain  his  rear.  His  officers  were  falling  on 
every  side,  and  he  gave  the  order  to  fall  back. 
In.  doing  this  they  were  pressed  with  great 
vigor,  and  a  large  'number  were  made  prison- 
ers. Their  retreat  was  finally  covered  by  a 
brigade  under  Gen.  Wright,  which  was  moved 
forward  by  Gen.  Lee  for  that  purpose.  "While 
this  assault  was  made,  the  extreme  right  and 
left  were  threatened  by  Gens.  Ewell  and  Long- 
street.  Nothing  further  transpired  during  the 
evening  and  night. 

The  following  despatch  was,  soon  after  'tho 
confl-ict,  sent  by  Gen.  Meade  to  Gen.  Halleck : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  ) 
NEAR  GETTYSBURG,  July  Zd— 8.30  P.  M.     \ 

To  Major- General  Halleck,  General-in-Chief: 

The  enemy  opened  at  one  o'clock  p.  M.,  from  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  guns.  They  concentrated  upon 
my  left  centre,  Continuing  without  intermission  for 
about  three  hours,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he 
assaulted  my  left  centre  twice,  being,  upon  both  occa- 
sions, handsomely  repulsed  with  severe  loss  to  them, 
leaving  in  our  hands  nearly  three  thousand  prisoners. 
Among  the  prisoners  are  Maj.-Gen.  Armistead,  and 
many  colonels  and  officers  of  lesser  note.  The  enemy 
left  many  dead  upon  the  field,  and  a  large  »umber  of 
wounded  in  our  Lands.  The  loss  upon  our  side  has 
been  considerable.  Maj.-Gen.  Hancock  and  Brig. -Gen. 
Gibbon  were  wounded. 

After  the  repelling  of  the  assault,  indications  lead- 
ing to  the  belief  that  the  enemy  might  be  withdraw- 
ing, an  armed  reconnoissance  was  pushed  forward 
from  the  left,  and  the  enemy  found  to  be  in  force.  At 
the  present  hour  all  is  quiet. 

The  New  York  cavalry  have  been  engaged  all  day 
on  both  flanks  of  the  enemy,  harassing  and  vigorous- 
ly attacking  him  with  great  success,  notwithstanding 
they  encountered  superior  numbers,  both  of  cavalry 
and  artillery.  The  army  is  in  fine  spirits. 

(Signed)  GEORGE  G.  MEADE, 

,  Major-General  Commanding. 

On  the  next  day,  Gen.  Meade  i'ssued  the  fol- 
lowing address  to  his  army : 

General  Order  No.  68. 
HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  ) 
NEAR  GETTYSBURG,  July  ktli.      \ 

The  Commanding  General,  in  behalf  of  the  country, 
thanks  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  for  the  glorious  re- 
sult of  the  recent  operations.  Our  enemy,  superior 
in  numbers  and  flushed  with  the  pride  of  a  successful 
invasion,  attempted  to  overcome  or  destroy  this  army. 
Utterly  baffled*  and  defeated,  he  has  now  withdrawn 
from  the  contest. 

The  privations  and  fatigues  the  army  has  endured, 
and  the  heroic  courage  and  gallantry  it  has  displayed, 
will  be  matters  of  history  to  be  ever  remembered. 

Our  task  is  not  yet  accomplished,  and  the  Command- 
ing General  looks  to  the  army  for  greater  efforts,  to 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


405 


drive  from  our  soil  every  vestige  of  the  presence  of 
the  invader. 

It  is  right  and  proper  that  we  should,  on  suitable 
occasions,  return  our  grateful  thanks  to  the  Almighty 
Disposer  of  events  that,  in  the  goodness  of  His  provi- 
dence, He  has  thought  fit  to  give  victory  to  the  cause 
of  the  just. 

By  command  of  Major-General  MEADE. 

S.  WILLIAMS,  A.  A.  General. 

On  the  same  day,  President  Lincoln  issued 
the  following  announcement : 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  July  4th,  1863—10  A.  M. 
The  President  of  the  United  States  announces  to 
the  country,  that  the  news  from  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac, up  to  10  o'clock  P.  M.,  of  the  3d,  is  such  as  to 
cover  the  army  with  the  highest  honor — to  promise 
great  success  to  the  cause  of  the  Union— and  to  claim 
the  condolence  of  all  for  the  many  gallant  fallen;  and 
that  for  this  he  especially  desires  that  on  this  day, 
"  He  whose  will,  not  ours,  should  ever  be  done,"  be 
everywhere  remembered  and  reverenced  with  the  pro- 
foundest  gratitude. 

(Signed)  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

On  Saturday,  the  4th,  Gen.  Ewell's  division 
was  withdrawn  from  its  position  in  the  town 
and  the  hills  southeast  of  it,  and  placed  behind 
the  defences  on  the  Seminary  ridge,  and  both 
armies  were  engaged,  with  strong  working  par- 
ties, in  burying  their  dead  and  taking  care  of  the 
•wounded.  The  morning  was  hazy,  and  from 
•  noon,  until  night  the  rain  fell  in  torrents.  During 
the  whole  day  the  enemy  sent  forward  such  of 
their  wounded  aa  could  bear  removal,  toward 
Ilagerstown.  Late  in  the  afternoon  their  ar- 
tillery and  wagon  trains  also  commenced  mov- 
ing in  the  same  direction.  At  dark  their 
whole  army  was  put  in  motion,  taking  the 
road  to  Fairfield,  and  crossing  South  Mountain 
at  Waterloo  Gap.  The  position  of  Gen.  Meade's 
army  was  now  looked  upon  by  the  enemy  aa 
almost  Impregnable.  The  fighting  for  three 
days  had  nearly  exhausted  the  ammunition  of 
the  Confederate  army. 

On  Monday,  the  6th,  Gen.  Lee  reached  Ha- 
gerstown,  and  took  position  with  his  army.  On 
Tuesday  the  advance  of  Gen.  Meade  reached 
Funktown,  six  miles  south  of  Hagerstown. 

Meanwhile,  Gen.  Couch,  who  was  in  com- 
mand of  this  department,  had  proceeded  to  or- 
ganize the  raw  troops  which  had  been  called 
out,  as  they  came  in.  His  nucleus  for  this  pro- 
visional army  was  the  troops  from  New  York. 
The  first  division  organized  was  put  under  the 
coinraand  of  Gen.  W.  F.  Smith,  and  placed  op- 
posite Harrisburg,  to  resist  an  attack.  Upon 
the  retreat  of  the  enemy  from  the  neighbor- 
hood of  that  place,  Gen.  Smith  immediately 
followed  them  with  about  six  thousand  men,  a 
small  number,  of  cavalry,  and  two  batteries  of 
artillery.  He  advanced  to  Carlisle,  where  he 
was  met  by  W.  H.  F.  Lee,  who  expected  to  find 
Gen.  Ewell  there,  and  attacked  with  artillery. 
Gen.  Smith  was  so  strongly  posted,  that  Lee 
eoon  retired  and  Gen.  Smith  followed.  Mean- 
time, Gen.  Couch  organized  another  division, 
and  placed  it  under  the  command  of  Maj.-Gen. 
Dana.  Before  this  was  on  its  way,  Gen.  Couch 
moved  his  headquarters  to  Chambersburg,  to 


superintend  the  entire  movement.  Gen.  Smith, 
with  his  troops  shoeless  and  living  upon  the 
country,  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac;  and 
Gen.  Dana  pushed  forward,  and  had  reached 
Greencastle  when  Gen.  Lee  crossed  the  Poto- 
mac. Other  reinforcements  were  sent  to  Gen. 
Meade.  The  entire  Federal  loss  at  Gettysburg 
was  2,834  killed,  13,790  wounded,  and  6,643 
missing.  That  of  the  enemy  was  larger :  4,500 
of  his  dead  were  buried  by  the  Union  soldiers, 
26,500  wounded  fell  into  their  hands,  and  13,- 
621  prisoners  were  taken ;  also  three  guns,  for- 
ty-one standards,  and  24,978  small  arms. 

Meanwhile,  Gen.  Lee's  forces  fell  back  to- 
ward the  river  at  Williamsport.  On  the  llth, 
Gen.  Lee  issued  the  following  address  to  his 
troops : 

General  Order  No.  16. 

HEAIWJCABTEES  ABUT  OF  KonTffEim  VmnnnA,  \ 
July  llth,  1863.     j 

After  the  long  and  trying  marches,  endured  with 
the  fortitude  that  has  ever  characterized  the  soldiers  of 
the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  you  have  penetrated 
to  the  country  of  our  enemies,  and  recalled  to  the  de- 
fences of  their  own-  soil,  those  who  are  engaged  in  the 
invasion  of  ours.  You  have  fought  a  fierce  and  san- 
guinary battle,  which,  if  not  attended  with  the. suc- 
cess that  has  hitherto  crowned  your  efforts,  was  marked 
by  the  same  heroic  spirit  that  has  commanded  the  re- 
spect of  your  enemies,  the  gratitude  of  your  country, 
and  the  admiration  of  mankind. 

Once  more  you  are  called  upon  to  meet  the  enemy, 
from  whom  you  have  torn  so  many  field  names  that 
will  never  die.  Once  more  the  eyes  of  your  country- 
men are  turned  upon  you,  and  again  do  wives  and  sis- 
ters, fathers  and  mothers,  and  helpless  children  lean 
for  defence  on  your  strong  arms  and  brave  hearts. 
Let  every  soldier  remember,  that  on  his  courage  and 
fidelity  depends  all  that  makes  life  worth  having — the 
freedom  of  his  country,  the  honor  of  his  people,  and 
the  security  of  his  home.  Let  each  heart  grow  strong 
.  in  the  remembrance  of  our  glorious  past,  and  in  the 
thought  of  the  inestimable  blessings  for  which  we 
contend ;  and,  invoking  the  assistance  of  that  higher 
Power,  which  has  so  signally  blessed  our  former  ef- 
forts, let  us  go  forth  in  confidence  to  secure  the  peace 
and  safety  of  our  country.  Soldiers,  your  old  enemy 
is  before  you.  Win  from  him  honor  worthy  of  your 
right  cause,  worthy  of  your  comrades  dead  on  so  many 
illustrious  fields. 

R.  E.  LEE,  General  Commanding. 

The  pursuit  by  Gen.  Meade  is  thus  stated  in 
his  report:  "The  5th  and  6th  of  July  were 
employed  in  succ%ring  the  wounded  and  bury- 
ing the  dead.  *  Major-Gen.  Sedgwick,  command- 
ing the  sixth  corps,  having  pushed  the  pursuit 
of  the  enemy  as  far  as  the  Fairfield  pass  and 
the  mountains,  and  reporting  that  the  pass  was 
very  strong — one  in  which  a  small  force  of  the 
enemy  could  hold  in  check  and  delay  for  a  con- 
siderable time  any  pursuing  force — I  deter- 
mined* to  follow  the  enemy  by  a  flank  move- 
ment, and  accordingly,  leaving  Mclntosh's 
brigade  of  cavalry  and  Neil's  brigade  of  infan- 
try to  continue  harassing  the  enemy,  I  put  the 
army  in  motion  for  Middletown,  and  orders 
were  immediately  sent  to  Major-Gen.  French, 
at  Frederick,  to  reoccupy  Harper's  Ferry,  and 
send  a  force  to  occupy  Turner's  Pass,  in  South 
Mountain.  I  subsequently  ascertained  that 
Major-Gen.  French  had  not  only  anticipated 


406 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


these  orders  in  part,  but  had  pushed  a  cav- 
alry force  to  Williamsport  and  Falling  "Waters, 
where  they  destroyed  the  enemy's  pontoon 
bridge,  and  captured  its  guard.  Buford  was 
at  the  same  time  sent  to  Williamsport  and  Ha- 
gerstown.  The  duty  above  assigned  to  the 
cavalry  was  most  successfully  accomplished,  the 
enemy  being  greatly  harassed,  his  trains  de- 
stroyed, and  many  captures  of  guns  and  pris- 
oners made. 

"After  halting  a  day  at  Middletown  to  pro- 
cure necessary  supplies  and  bring  up  trains,  the 
army  moved  through  South  Mountain,  and  by 
the  12th  of  July  was  in  front  of  the  enemy,  who 
occupied  a  strong  position  on  the  heights  near 
the  marsh  which  runs  in  advance  of  Williams- 
port.  In  taking  this  position,  several  skir- 
mishes and  affairs  had  been  had  with  the  ene- 
my, principally  by  the  cavalry  and  the  eleventh 
and  sixth  corps.  The  13th  wa$  occupied  in 
reconnoi^sances  of  the  enemy's  position  and 
preparations  for  an  attack.  But  on  advancing 
on  the  morning  of  the  14th,  it  was  ascertained 
that  he  had  retired1  the  night  previous  by  the 
bridge  at  Falling  Waters  and  ford  at  Williams- 
port.  The  cavalry  in  pursuit  overtook  the  rear 
guard  at  Falling  Waters,  capturing  two  guns 
and  numerous  prisoners.  Previous  to  the  re- 
treat of  the  enemy,  Gregg's  €ivision  of  cavalry 
was  crossed  at  Harper's  Ferry,  and,  coming  up 
with  the  rear  of  the  enemy  at  Charlestown  and 
Shepardstown,  had  a  spirited  contest,  in  which 
the  enemy  was  driven  to  Martinsburg  and  Win- 
chester, and  pursued  and  harassed  in  his  re- 
treat. 

"  The  pursuit  was  resumed  j?y  a  flank  move- 
ment of  the  army,  crossing  the  Potomac  at 
Berlin  and  moving  down  the  London  Valley. 
The  cavalry  were  immediately  pushed  into  sev- 
eral passes  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  having  learn- 
ed from  servants  of  the  withdrawal  of  the 
Confederate  army  from  the  lower  valley  of  the 
Shenandoah,  the  army  (the  third  corps,  Maj.- 
Gen.  French,  being  in  advance)  was  moved  into 
Manassas  Gap,  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  in- 
tercept a  portion  of  the  enemy  in  possession  of 
the  Gap,  which  was  disputed  so  successfully  as  to 
enable  the  rear  guard  to  withdraw  by  the  way 
of  Strasburg.  The  Confederate  jirmy  retiring 
to  the  Rapidan,  a  position  was  taken  with  this 
army  on  the  line  of  the  Rappahannock,  and  the 
campaign  terminated  about  the  close  of  July." 

On  the  14th,  Gen.  Meade  sent  the  following 
despatches  to  Washington : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  ) 
July  Uth—3  P.  M.     J 

IT.  W.Halleck,  General-in-Chief : 

My  cavalry  now  occupy  Falling  Waters,  having 
overtaken  and  captured  a  brigade  of  infantry,  1,500 
strong,  two  guns,  two  caissons,  two  battle-flags,  and  a 
large  number  of  small  arms.   The  enemy  are  all  across 
the  Potomac.          GEO.  G.  MEADE,  Major-General. 
HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OP  THE  POTOMAC,  J 
July  Uth—  8.80  P.  M.      J 
Major- Gen.  Halleclc,  Gencral-in- Chief  : 

My  cavalry  have  captured  five  hundred  prisoners, 
in  addition  to  those  previously  reported.  Gen.  Petti- 
grew,  of  the  Confederate  army,  was  killed  this  morn- 


ing in  the  attack  on  the  enemy's  rear-guard.   His  body 
is  in  our  hands.          G.  G.  MEADE,  Major-General. 

The  first  of  these  despatches  was  subsequent- 
ly denied  by  Gen.  Lee,  as  follows : 

HEADQUAETEKS  ARMY  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA,  ) 
July  21st  1863.      J 

Gen.  S.  Cooper,  Adft  and  Inspector- General  C.  S.  A.  : 
GENERAL  :  I  have  seen  in  the  Northern  papers  what 
purports  to  be  an  official  despatch  from  Gen.  Meade, 
stating  that  he  had  captured  a  brigade  of  infantry,  two 
pieces  of  artillery,  two  caissons,  and  a  large  number 
of  small  arms,  as  this  army  retired  to  the  south  bank 
of  the  Potomac  on  the  13th  and  14th  instant.  This 
despatch  has  been  copied  into  the  Richmond  papers; 
and  as  its  official  character  may  cause  it  to  be  believ- 
ed, I  desire  to  state  that  it  is  incorrect.'  The  enemy 
did  not  capture  any  organized  body  of  men  on  that  oc- 
casion, but  only  stragglers  and  such  as  were  left  asleep 
on  the  road,  exhausted  by  the  fatigue  and  exposure  of 
one  of  the  most  inclement  nights  I  have  ever  known  at 
this  season  of  the  year.  It  rained  without  cessation, 
rendering  the  road  bv  which  our  troops  marched  to- 
ward the  bridge  at  Falling  Waters  very  difficult  to 
pass,  and  causing  so  much  delay  that  the  last  of  the 
troops  did  not  cross  the  river  at  the  bridge  until  1 
A.  M.  on  the  morning  of  the  14th. 

While  the  column  was  thus  detained  on  the  road,  a 
number  of  men,  worn  down  with  fatigue,  laid  down  in 
barns  and  by  the  roadside,  and  though  officers  were 
sent  back  to  arouse  them  as  the  troops  moved  on,  the 
darkness  and  rain  prevented  them  from  finding  all, 
and  mauy  were  in  this  way  left  behind.  Two  guns 
were  left  on  the  road ;  the  horses  that  drew  them  be- 
came exhausted,  arid  the  officers  went  back  to  procure 
others.  When  they  returned,  the  rear  of  the  column 
had  passed  the  guns  so  far  that  it  was  deemed  unsafe 
to  send  back  for  them,  and  they  were  thus  lost.  No 
arms,  cannon,  or  prisoners  were  taken  by  the  enemy 
in  battle,  but  only  such  as  were  left  behind,  as  I  have 
described,  under  the  circumstances.  The  number  of 
stragglers  thus  lost  I  am  unable  to  state  with  accuracy, 
but  it  is  greatly  exaggerated  in  the  despatch  referred 
to. 

I  am,  with  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 
R.  E-.  LEE,  General. 

This  despatch  of  Gen.  Lee  was  subsequently 
contradicted  by  Gen.  Meade  in.  the  following 
statement,  which  is  important,  as  containing 
the  details- of  some  of-  the  operations  to  harass 
the  retreat  of  the  Confederate  army  across  the 
river : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  ) 
August  9th,  1863.     f 
Major- Gen.  Halleck,  General-in-Chief : 

My  attention  has  been  called  to  what  purports  to  be 
an  o'fficial  despatch  of  Gen.  ft.  E.  Lee,  commanding  the 
rebel  army,  to  Gen.  S.  Cooper,  Adjutant  and  Inspector- 
General,  denying  the  accuracy  of  my  telegram  to  you, 
of  July  14th,  announcing  the  result  of  the  cavalry  af- 
fair at  Falling  Waters. 

I  have  delayed  taking  any  notice  of  Lee's  report  nn- 
til  the  return  of  Brig. -Gen.  Kilpatrick,  absent  on  leave, 
who  commanded  the  cavalry  on  the  occasion  referred 
to,  and  on  whose  report  from  the  field  my  telegram 
was  based.  I  now  enclose  the  official  report  of  Brig.- 
Gen.  Kilpatrick,  made  after  his  attention  had  been 
called  to  Lee's  report.  You  will  see  that  he  reiterates 
and  confirms  all  that  my  despatch  averred,  and  proves 
most  conclusively  that  Gen.  Lee  has  been  deceived  by 
his  subordinates,  or  he  would  never  in  the  face  of  the 
facts  now  alleged  have  made  the  assertion  his  report 
claims. 

It  appears  that  I  was  in  error  in  stating  that  the 
body  of  G^n.  Pettigrew  was  left  in  our  hands,  although 
I  did  not  communicate  that  fact  until  an  officer  from 
the  field  reported  to  me  he  had  seen  the  body.  It  is 
now  ascertained  from  the  Richmond  papers  that  Gen. 
Pettigrew,  though  mortally  wounded  in  the  affair. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


407 


BOLIVAR  aOOHTS 

HARPERS  FERRY 

HACCTOW 

CHARLCSTO. 


408 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


WM  taken  to  Winchester,  where  ho  subsequently  died. 
Tho  three  battle  Hair*  captured  on  this  occasion  and 

KCIll      (0   \Vash  HUM  .-:,.    I-   I.-!    :•..-,!     I,.     Ill,-      I'  'Hi.     I.  III.    llll.l 

Mil  Virginia  regiments  ol  infantry. 

lieu    I  ,,.   u,ll    Miroh    acknowledge   those  wero    not 
loll   in  Ilio  Immla  of  stra-lers  asleep  in  bMM, 

•  siuuoU)  t;i:o  t;.  MI.ADI:. 

Major  iJci.eral  roiumaudiili:. 

RatMVAVraM  Tm«»  Tiirmow  OATAIM  CORN,  > 

.     \V.U;U,MON.II  M  uox,  \  A.  .u.i/.'.^in.    » 

Jb  CWoad  ^. 


\va-j  \\,'l,',nih'(l  \vilh  sulutos  of  nrtillorj 
in  n  lari;o  niitiilu'r  ,-('  tlio  1'riiu'ipal  rtlios  in  tho 
NiirlluM-n  States. 

dti  tho  I  ,MI  i,  iho  President  issued  tho  follow- 
in;';  proclamation : 

By  tiU  Pnridu*  tftKt  Unittd  Stalt*  of  America  : 


COLONW,  :  In  ooinpllanoe  with  a  letter  just  received 

tvm  Iho  hoadomulors  of  (ho  oaval.v  corps  ol  (ho 
\trnv  Of th«  Potomac.  direOtiu|  me  lo  m\o  the  facts 
onnected  with  iho  I, -.1.1  at  Pal.'.  \\  1  have 

l,o  honor  lo  stale  that,  at  ."-  v.  M.  of  tho  llthult..  I 
UK*!  (hat  the  enemy '.I  px'keis  wero  retiring  m  my 

rout.  Ha/ing  been  previously  ordered  to  attack  at 
f  A.  *„  I  was  ready  to  move  at  once. 

\  .  ...  t  |  had  reached  thecie-t  ol  hills  ooeup-.ed 
by  tneeaeOU  SB  hour  before,  and.  a  few  n-..n.itos  be- 
foie  <••.  tien  Ooitar  drove  ll.o  roar  guard  of  the  enemy 

in  to  the  river  at  WHliamsport.    Learning  from  cm 
•ens  that  »  portion  of  the  enemy  had  retreated  in  Iho 
direcUon  of  Falling  Waters,  I  at  onoe  moved  r apull\  for 
Uiat  point,  and  came  up  with  this  roar  guard  ot  tho 
enemy  at  7. 80  A.  «.,  at  a  point  two  miles  distant  from 

Falling  Waters.     NY o  pressed  on.  driving  them  befoiv 

(H.  capturing  many  prisoner*  and  one  gun.    When 

w  ithni  a  mile  and  «  half  of  Fulling  V  enemy 

WAS  (bund  in  lam  force,  drawn  up  m  line  of  battle 
on  the  crest  of  aliill.  commanding  the  road  on  which 
I  ire*  advancing  His  left  was  protected  bv  oardi- 
works,  and  his  ti^ht  ovtended  to  tho  w  ood-  on  our  let! . 
The  eneim  w  us,  w  hen  l.r-t  seen,  m  tw  o  lines  ot  bat  • 

N  tie,  with  arms  stacked,  within  less  tha: 
of  the  large  foroa."  A  second  piece  of  art  ill,; 

Us  suppors  consisting  of  mfantn  .  w  as  captnivd  white 
attempting  to  gel  into  position.  Tho  gun  was  taken 
to  the  loar.  A  portion  of  the  I'-tli  Michigan  cava'.v. 
seeing  only  thai  po.  lion  of  the  enemy  behind  thfc  earth- 
works, chargtnl.  This  charge  was  .  \\  .•'  • 
ber,  and  was  the  most  gallant  ever  mad*.  At  a  trot 

he  passed  up  tho  hill,  received  the  tire  from  the  w  hole 
line,  uml  the  next  moment  rode  through  and  over  tho 
earthworks,  and  1-a-^e.d  to  the  right,  sabring  tho  rvb- 
eU  alOi|  >'.-.o  entire  1. no.  and  vcinrncd  «uh  a  loss  of 
thin  <  :  uvUxl.  and  uiissiug,  including  the  gal- 

lant Major  Webber,  killed. 

one  regiment 

as  skirmisher*.  Thev  were  repulsed  before  support 
could  be  sent  th«m,  and  dm  on  back,  olo-eh  followed 
by  th*  rebel*,  until  chevkod  br  the  1st  Michigan  and 
a  Muadron  of  the  8th  New  Vork.»  The  8d  brigade 
havintt  come  up,  it  was  quickly  thrown  into  position, 
and.  after  a  rtjtht  of  two  hours  and  Uurtr  miuutes. 
nmied  the  enemy  at  all  points  and  drove  bun  toward 


ie         . 

Whoa  within  a  short  distance  of  the  bridge,  Cteo. 
Bufcrd's  command  camo  up  and  took  th«  adrance. 
si  twonty-nine  killed,  thirty-si  x  woundod.  a«ut 
forty  mtwinf.    W«  (bund  upon  the  field  186  dwd  wb- 
ekCand  Ixought  awajr  upward  of  fifty  wound*d.    A 

law  min.t-cvof  tho  UMttVl  «our,UM  MM  l;-:}  «»M 

thVVld  in  eharg*  of  UMJT  own  Mrgeons.    We  cap- 
tured two  guns,  fhr*»  batU*  flags,  and  upward  of  fif- 

tivn  luin.'.n-a  MiSOMft; 

T*  Qea.  OotUr  and  his  brigade.  Ueut  Pennincton 

«hts  batt*»,  and  OM  squadron  of  th*  Sta  New 
k  car  airy  of  O*n.  Bufcrtf*  command,  all  praiM  u 
du*.     Vory  rwpoctfulhr,  rour  obt  MKtrant, 

J/KlLPATfclCK,  Brifadier>G«Mrat 

^u  the  nh  of  Julr,  d»spatchw  vera  r«- 
w»v«d  at  Wikthington  auriwwdng  the  turrou- 
d«r  of  Twkaburg,  and,  on  the  14th,  further 
>  announcing  the  mrrender  of  Port 
Tb«  new*  of  tho  surrender  of  Vkks- 


:-.ht\  i;.ul  (o  liourkon  to  the  sup- 
s  of  an  !itlliolo,i  pooplo.  and  to 
vom-hsafo  to  Iho  iiriny  ami  tho  navy  of  tho  Tinted 
Stairs.  \  lotorios  on  tho  laud  and  i>n  tho  SCft  SO  signal 
ami  so  otVootixo.  as  to  furnish  ronsonablo  ground  for 
an:-;niontcd  oont'uloiu'o  tlnit  Iho  Tnion  of  those  States 
will  be  iiuuntuutotl,  their  Constitution  preserved,  and 
tlu-ir  poaoo  ami  prosin-riix  ponnam-ntly  restored,  lint 
thcso  victories  hnvo  ooen'  neeordeil  not  without  saori- 
rilioos  of  life,  limb,  health,  an,l  liberly.  incurred  by 
and  patriotic  i-ili/ens.  Uomostio  alllio- 
tion,  in  <-\  or\  part  of  (ho  country,  follow;;  in  the  train 
of  these  tearful  boroavcments.  It  is  moot  uml  riuht 
to  roooj-m.  -o  and  confers  tho  presence  of  (ho  Allllii;llty 
Father!  uml  the  power  of  His  Ihmd,  equally  iu  these 
ti-.uinphs  inul  in  these  sorrows. 

Now.  then-fore,  be  it  known  that  I  do  set  apart 
Thursday,  the  rih  day  of  Au-.ust  ueM.  to  be  observed 
us  a  da\  tor  National  1  hanksuivinc.  Praise,  ami  Pray- 
er, and'  I  invite  ihe  people  ,-f  the  Vuitod  Stales  to  us- 
sotnblo  on  that  OCC.-IMOU  in  (heir  customary  places  of 
.p.  and.  in  lite  forms  iipprovod  hy  their  ouu  con- 
scicncos.  render  the  homage  due  to  the  l>ivino  Majesty 
for  the  wonderful  things  lie  has  done  in  the  nation's 
behalf,  uml  invoke  ihe'intUu-uce  of  His  Holy  Spirit  to 
.subdue  tie  r.r-.er  which  has  pi,  ,  .  .  1  so  loin:  sus- 
tained a  needless  :0ul  v'nu'1  rebellion,  to  chance  iho 
beans  of  the  m.MUxeuls,  to  iruido  the  counsels  of  tho 
li,M  eminent  with  wisdom  adequate  to  so  treat  a  na- 
tional cmorjroncy.  and  to  visit  with  tender  care  ami 
throughout  the  length  ami  breadth  of  our 
laud  all  those  who.  through  the  vicissitudes  of  march- 
^  ..  battle-,  and  MO-VS.  have  boon  bvov.i-.ht  to 

M-.tl'or'in  mind,  bo,i\  .  or  o-taic.  and  linalh  to  load  (ho 
\v!:>le  nation  thro.mh  the  paths  of  rcpcntivncc  :r.-,l 
submission  lo  tb.o  Pivine  NN  ill  back  to  the  peit'eot 
ei;:o\  ment  of  ir.iion  and  fraternal  peace. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hnml 

nml  caused  the  seal  of  the  I'nitod  States  to  be  affixed. 

lA>no  at   tho  Oit\  of  Washington,  lii'.s  fiKcov.ih  day 

of  .Inlv.  iu  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight 

hundred  and  si  \ty-throe.  and  of  the  Indepen- 

[ua.]    deuce  of  the  tlulfW   States  of  America  the 

eighty-eighth. 

P-y  tb.o  Pie'-ulent  AUK  VRAM   1  INv'Ol.N. 

WILUAH  H.  SKWARD,  Secretary  of  State. 

The  moToments  of  Gen.  Moado  in  pursuit  of 
lion.  1  M  ^c-.-o  i:'.  ,!o:.iil  :i<  U>l'.o\vs: 

On  Uie  18ih,  his  headquarters  vrere  moved 
toroM  UM  Potommc  :  on  HM  Wth.  they  «  wr«  :it 
LoT«ttsTille  ;  on  the  20th  and  21st,  at  I 
on  tho  22d,  at  ITpperville  ;  on  the  28d,  at  Mark- 
ham  Station  :on  the  84th,  at  Sal«m  ;  and  on 
the  8K5th,  at  Warrenton,  with  the  army  occu- 
pying the  same  line  which  it  did  two  months 
previous.  Active  oporatious  now  closed,  and 
on  the  30th,  Gen.  Mead*  issued  the  following 
proclamation  to  the  inhabitants  : 
H*A»QVA*nM  Awrr 


The  numerous  depredations  epmmjtted  by  citrons, 
or  ««be)  soldiers  in  disguise,  harbored  or  eontealed  by 

OitiMM,   kkMkg  Ihe  Oniu.cc  *nd  A.CN.H-.C.-  •.'.  .'  ..    toa* 
within  our  lines,  oall  fcr  prompt  and  exemplary  pun- 
ianmnt 
Under  the  insiracUoa  of  the  Cterernment,  ther»Jbr% 

evcrv  o.:i:cn  gainst  whom  thcrv  i-  -.   '  CWkl  ex  :  leM* 

of  his  haTinf  enfaftd  in  th«s»  prmciiccs,  will  be  ar» 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


409 


rested  and  confined  for  punishment  or  sent  beyond  the 
lines.  The  people  within  ten  miles  of  the  railroad 
are  notified  that  they  will  be  held  responsible  in  their 
persons  and  property  for  any  injury  done  to  the  trains, 
road,  depot,  or  stations,  by  citizens,  guerillas,  or  per- 
sons in  disguise ;  and  in  case  of  such  injury  they  will  be 
impressed  as  laborers  to  repair  all  damages.  If  these 
measures  should  not  stop  such  depredations,  it  will 
become  the  unpleasant  duty  of  the  undersigned,  in 
the  execution  of  his  instructions,  to  direct  that  the  en- 
tire inhabitants  of  the  district  of  country  along  the 
railroad  be  put  across  the  lines,  and  their  property 
taken  for  Government  purposes. 

GEORGE  G.  MEADE,  Maj.-Gen.  Commanding. 

Some  movements  were  made  during  the  ad- 
vance of  Gen.  Lee  into  Pennsylvania,  which, 
were  important,  being  intended  to  serve  as  di- 
versions. One  made  by  a  portion  of  the  forces 
under  Gen.  Dix,  from  Fortress  Monroe,  up  the 
peninsula  toward  Richmond,  is  mentioned  in 
the  correspondence  between  Mr.  Davis  and 
Gen.  Lee,  on  a  preceding  page.  The  effect 
of  this  movement  is  there  stated.  Gen.  Getty, 
of  the  seventh  corps,  was  sent  by  Gen.  Dix  to  the 
White  House,  at  the  junction  of  the  Pamunkey 
with  the  York  river.  In  this  position  he  threat- 
ened both  Richmond  and  the  communications 
of  Gen.  Lee.  From  the  White  House  a  force 
was  sent  out  to  occupy  TunstalPs  Station,  on 
the  railroad  to  Richmond.  Lanesville,  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Pamunkey,  was  also  occupied, 
and  an  advance  was  made  to  Hanover,  by 
which  several  prisoners  were  captured,  among 
whom  was  Brig.-Gen.  H.  F.  Lee,  a  son  of  Gen. 
E.  E.  Lee. 

The  advance  of  Gen.  Rosecrans  against  the 
army  of  Gen.  Bragg  commenced  at  this  time. 
It  is, hereafter  stated.  On  the  Confederate 
side  a  "raid"  was  made  by  the  Partisan  Ran- 
ger, John  Morgan,  into  the  States  of  Kentucky, 
Indiana,  and  Ohio,  in  which  he  designed  to 
sweep  everything  before  him,  attracting  the 
public  attention  entirely  to  himself,  and  break- 
ing all  the  railroad  communications  by  wliich 
reinforcements  for  the  defence  of  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  could  be  sent.  Immediately  upon 
this,  Gen.  Buckner,  from  Tennessee,  was  to 
dash  into  Kentucky  with  the  force  under  his 
command,  which  was  very  considerable,  cap- 
ture Louisville,  and  then,  in  cooperation  with 
Gen.  Morgan,  make  an  attack  upon  Cincinnati. 
By  the  advance  of  Gen.  Rosecrans  sooner  than 
was  expected,  Gen.  Buckner  could  not  be 
spared  for  this  movement. 

Gen.  Morgan,  with  about  four  thousand  men, 
was  in  Tennessee  at  this  time,  south  of  the 
Cumberland  river,  and  making  a  feint  upon 
Tompkinsville,  just  over  the  line  in  Kentucky. 
Tompkinsville  is  the  capital  of  Monroe  county, 
140  miles  south  of  southwest  of  Frankfort,  the 
capital  of  the  State,  and  10  miles  from  the 
Cumberland  river.  A  small  Union  force  was 
stationed  at  Columbia,  the  capital  of  Adair 
county,  Kentucky,  an  important  position  to 
defend  the  State  from  a  threatening  enemy  on 
the  south  bank  of  the  Cumberland.  On  the 
20th  of  June,  Brig.-Gen.  Hobson  was  ordered 
by  Gen.  Judah  to  move  to  Tompkinsville,  then 


apparently  threatened  by  Gen.  Morgan.  This 
opened  the  gate  for  Gen.  Morgan,  who  imme- 
diately crossed  the  Cumberland  at  Burksville, 
the  capital  of  Cumberland  county.  Thus  hav- 
ing the  start,  Gen.  Morgan  moved  rapidly  on 
to  Columbia,  where  a  brave  defence  was  made 
by  Capt.  Carter,  with  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men  of*€ol.  Wolford's  Kentucky  regiment,  who 
were,  however,  forced  to  retire  with  the  .loss 
of  their  leader.  Thence  Gen.  Morgan  attacked, 
on  July  4th,  Col.  Moore,  posted  with  a  few  hun- 
dred men  at  Green  river  bridge,  who  made  a 
firm  resistance.  He  next  marched,  on  the  5th, 
to  Lebanon,  and  demanded  the  surrender  of 
the  place-  by  Col.  Hanson,  who,  with  his  regi- 
ment, the  20th  Kentucky,' was  stationed  there. 
This  was  refused,  and  an  attack  was  immedi- 
ately made  and  bravely  resisted  for  seven 
hours,  when  the  enemy  began  to  set  fire  to 
the  town,  and  Col.  Hanson  surrendered  to  save 
its  Entire  destruction.  Lebanon  is  the  capital 
of  Marion  county.  It  is  60  miles  south  by 
west  of  Frankfort.  All  the  northern  portion 
of  'the  t»wn,  with  the  county  clerk's  office 
and  the  records,  was  burned.  The  soldiers 
who  surrendered  were  marched  in  front  to 
Springfield,  and  compelled  to  keep  pace  with 
the  cfrValry.  The  distance  was  ten  miles,  and 
passed  in  an  hour  and  a  half.  The  Union  loss 
was  five  killed  and  several  wounded ;  the  Con- 
federate loss  was  six  killed  and  ten  wounded. 
From  Springfield,  Gen.  Morgan  moved  to  Shep- 
herdsville ;  thence  to  Bardstown,  on  the  6th. 

.On  Tuesday,  the  7th,  the  advance  of  his  force 
reached  Brandenburg  on  the  Ohio  river,  forty 
miles  below  Louisville.  During  the  day,  the 
steamer  McCombs,  bound  up  the  river,  stopped, 
as  usual,  at  Brandenburg,  to  take  on  passengers 
and  freight.  As  soon  as  she  touched  the  shore 
she  was  boarded  by  a  number  of  the  enemy 
and  seized.  Everything  was  taken  that  would 
serve  the  purpose  of  the  captors,  and  the  boat 
was  run  out  into  the  river  and  anchored.  Some 
time  afterward,,  the  steamer  Alice  Dean  ap- 
proached, when  signals  of  distress  were  raised 
on  the  McCombs,  and  the  Dean  was  induced  to 
come  alongside  without  a  suspicion  of  the  ac- 
tual circumstances.  She  was  then  boarded  and 
seized.  On  the  next 'day,  Wednesday,  the  force 
of  Gen.  Morgan,  consisting  of  eleven  regiments 
and  over  four  thousand  men,  with  ten  pieces 
of  artillery,  including  two  howitzers,  were  taken 
across  the  river  in  these  boats.  The  Dean  was 
then  burned,  and  also  the  wharf  at  Branden- 
burg, but  the  McCombs  was  given  up. 

In  the  mean  time,  Gen.  Hobson,  after  some 
delay,  commenced  the  pursuit.  He  started  on 
the  4th,  but  being  encumbered  by  a  wagon  train, 
and  the  roads  being  bad,  he  advanced  only  ten 
miles  in  five  hours.  On  the  next  morning', 
the  infantry,  wagons,  and  artillery  were  left 
behind,  and  the  pursuit  made  with  cavalry. 
From  4  P.  M.  to  11  p.  M.  a  halt  was  made. 
The  march  was  then  continued  during  the  re- 
mainder of  the  night,  and,  on  the  next  morning, 
Brig.-Gen.  Shackelford  was  met  with  cavalry 


410 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


and  artillery.  Proceeding  to  Lebanon,  Col. 
"Wolford  and  hia  brigade  there  joined.  Orders 
•were  also  received  by  -Gen.  Hobson  from  Gen. 
Burnside,  in  command  of  the  department,  di- 
recting him  to  assume  full  command,  and  to 
pursue  until  the  enemy  was  captured.  The 
command  then  marched  toward  Bardstown, 
until  i  A.  M.  After  two  hours'  rest  the  pursuit 
was  resumed.  At  night,  a  halt  was  made  until 
rations  could  be  obtained  by  the  Louisville  and 
Nashville  railroad.  The  pursuit  was  renewed 
early  on  Tuesday,  the  7th,  and  by  night  the 
force  was  within  nine  miles  of  Brandenburg. 
Gen.  Hobson,  wishing  to  cooperate  with  the 
gunboats  and  make  a  night  attack,  proceeded 
with  a  small  escort  to  Rock  Haven.  Here  he 
found  that  the  gunboats  had  gone  up  the  river. 
It  was  1  A.  M.  before  he  returned.  The  men 
being  so  overcome  with  fatigue  and  want  of 
sleep  that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  arouse 
them,  he  reluctantly  concluded  to  wait  until  Say- 
break.  Pushing  on  at  that  time,  he  reached  the 
river  as  the  last  boat  with  the  enemy  had  crossed. 
During  the  night  the  enemy  marched  to- 
ward'Corydon,  in  Indiana,  which  they  reached 
early  the  next  forenoon.  Some  opposition 
was  made  to  their  progress  by  the  inhabitants. 
Great  excitement,  however,  prevailed  *in  the 
State.  A  proclamation  was  issued  by  Gov. 
Morton,  ordering  all  the  able-bodied  citizens  in 


the  southern  counties  of  the  State  under  arms. 
From  Corydon,  Gen.  Morgan  moved  by  the 
way  of  Greenville  and  Palmyra  to  Salem.  At 
Palmyra  a.  force  of  three  hundred  and  fifty 
Home  Guards  had  concentrated,  having  fallen 
back  from'  near  Corydon  to  that  place.  Con- 
sidering their  inability  to  retard  the  progress 
of  the  enemy,  they  also  fell  back  to  Salem.  So 
sudden,  however,  was  the  entrance  of  the  en- 
emy into  Salem,  that  these  Guards  were  all 
made  prisoners  and  subsequently  paroled.  At 
Salem,  the  depot  of  the  Louisville  and  Chicago 
railroad  was  burned.  Orders  were  also  issued 
by  Gen.  Morgan  to  burn  all  the  mills  and  fac- 
tories in  the  town,  but  upon  the  payment  of 
one  thousand  dollars  for  each  mill  and  factory, 
they  were  spared.  The  railroad  track  was  torn 
up,  the  water  tank  near  the  town  burned,  and 
one  passenger  and  three  freight  cars.  Three 
bridges  between  Salem  and  Farrabee's  Station 
were  also  destroyed.  Good  horses  were  taken 
wherever  found,  and  the  whole  command  was 
remounted.  From  Salem  the  enemy  moved 
to  Canton,  in  Washington  county,  four  and  a 
half  miles  distant.  Here  over  one  hundred 
horses  were  taken,  and,  joining  his  left  column 
with  the  right,  which  entered  the  town  by 
way  of  Harristown,  Gen.  Morgan  moved  in  the 
direction  of  Vienna,  in  Scott  county,  on  the 
line  of  the  Jeffersonville  railroad.  About  11 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


411 


p.  M.  on  Friday  night  the  advance  reached 
Vienna,  and  at  2  o'clock  on  the  next  morning 
the  rear  guard  arrived.  Here  a  railroad  bridge 
was  burned,  and  the  depot  and  station  house. 
Private  property  for  the  first  time  was  here 
respected.  At  Vienna,  the  force  of  the  enemy 
was  divided  into  two  columns,  one  of  which 
inarched  north  and  the  other  started  in  the  di- 
rection of  Madison.  The  advance  of  the  col- 
umn marching  north,  appeared  before  Old  Ver- 
non,  in  Jennings  county,  on  Saturday,  at  6  p. 
M.,  the  llth  of  July.  The  place  was  held  by  a 
force  under  Gen.  Love  or  Col.  Barkham.  A 
surrender  was  demanded  by  Gen.  Morgan  and 
refused.  A  half  hour  was  then  given  for  the 
removal  of  women  and  children.  At  the  expi- 
ration of  that  time  the  Union  force  moved  out 
to  meet  the  enemy,  and  found  that  they  had 
retired.  Pursuit  was  made  and  a  number  cap- 
tured. From  Vernon  they  moved  southward 
and  tore  up  the  track  of  the  Madison  and  In- 
dianapolis railroad,  and  cut  the  telegraph  wires. 
They  also  destroyed  a  portion  of  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  railroad  west  of  Vernon.  Thence 
the  enemy  moved  eastward,  and  reached  Ver- 
sailles at  1  P.  M.  on  Sunday.  A  party  of  sixty- 
three  advanced  to  Osgood,  and  burned  the 
bridge  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  railroad. 
The  enemy  now  moved  in  several  parties.  A 
large  body  encamped  ten  miles  northwest  of 
Aurora,  on  Sunday  night,  and  proceeded  thence 
to  Harrison.  Another  portion  crossed  the  In- 
dianapolis and  Cincinnati  railroad,  between 
Sunman  and  Van  Wedden's  stations,  and  passed 
on  to  Harrison  on  Monday.  A  large  force 
crossed  the  same  road  at  Barman's,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  Ohio  State  line.  At  Van  Wed- 
den's  the  water  tank  and  part  of  the  track 
were  destroyed.  Horses  were  taken  in  all 
places,  and  those  broken  down  left  behind. 
During  Monday,  the  13th,  the  enemy  continued 
moving  eastward.  In  the  evening,  one  division 
crossed  the  Coreraine  turnpike  just  beyond  the 
ten-mile  post  from  Cincinnati,  and  thence  ad- 
vanced through  Gleudale  and  Springdale.  A 
detachment  went  by  the  way  of  Camp  Monroe, 
where  the  Government  had  been  keeping  large 
numbers  of  horses  and  mules  for  the  use  of  the 
army.  These  had  been  removed  only  a  few 
hours  previous.  A  halt  of  a  few  hours  was 
made  near  Glendale,  and  the  march  was  then 
continued  through  Sharon  and  Reading  to 
Montgomery.  The  inhabitants  'everywhere 
were  required  to  furnish  provisions.  From 
Montgomery  the  enemy  crossed  to  Miamiville. 
A  body  also  crossed  the  Little  Miami  railroad 
at  Dangerous  Crossing,  between  Miamiville  and 
Branch  Hill.  At  this  spot  they  placed  some 
ties  and  rails  across  the  track  near  a  declivity, 
and  as  the  train  from  Morrow  came  down, 
about  a  quarter  past  7  A.  M.,  the  locomotive 
was  thrown  from  the  track,  the  fireman  killed, 
and  the  engineer  badly  bruised.  In  a  few  min- 
utes the  enemy  came  out  of  the  woods  and 
fields,  and  made  prisoners  of  about  two  hun- 
dred recruits  who  were  on  the  train.  "While 


the  cars  were  burning  they  were  paroled.  Some 
skirmishing  took  place  during  the  day.  Ar- 
rangements were  now  made  by  means  of  gun- 
boats to  cut  oif  the  retreat  of  the  enemy  across 
the  river,  if  they  should  attempt  it.  Forces 
were  also  gathering  to  stop  the  progress  of 
Gen.  Morgan,  and  his  movements  became  more 
rapid.  On  Tuesday  afternoon,  the  14th,  he 
reached  Williamsburg,  east  of  Batavia,  in  Cler- 
mont  county,  and  near  the  line  of  Brown 
county.  On  Wednesday,  he  passed  through 
Brown  county,  and,  on  Thursday  morning  at  9 
A.  M.,  through  the  town  of  Sardinia,  sixteen 
miles  southwest  of  Hillsboro,  the  capital  of 
Highland  county.  At  noon  he  was  at  Win- 
chester, southeast  of  Hillsboro,  and  forced  the 
citizens  to  prepare  a  dinner  for  his  men.  Af- 
terward he  moved  to  Piketown,  which  surren- 
dered without  opposition.  Very  little  depre- 
dation was  done  except  taking  horses  and  pro- 
visions. Burning  the  bridge  over  the  Scioto, 
he  next  moved  toward  Jackson,  where  he  ar- 
rived in  the  evening,  and  remained  until  joined 
by  his  whole  force.  Thence  he  started  for  the 
Ohio  river  near  Pomeroy. 

In  the  mean  time,  Gen.  Hobson,  who  arrived 
at  the  Ohio  river  in  pursuit  as  the  last  of  the 
enemy's  force  had  crossed,  sent  the  steamer 
McCombs  to  Louisville,  to  obtain  other  boats 
to  aid  in  crossing.  By  night,  quite  a  fleet 
had  arrived",  and  the  force  was  taken  over  be- 
fore morning.  Pursuit  was  immediately  com- 
menced on  Wednesday.  The  command  was  fed 
by  the  inhabitants  of  the  towns,  but  as  Gen. 
Morgan  had  swept  the  horses  from  both  sides 
of  the  road,  and  left  only  those  which  were 
broken  down,  the  advantage  was  greatly  in  his 
favor.  The  men  whose  horses  failed,  pressed 
forward  on  foot  until  they  could  obtain  others. 
Day  after  day  passed,  but  still  the  enemy  kept 
about  the  same  distance  ahead.  For  nearly 
twenty  days  and  a  distance  of  nearly  seven 
hundred  miles,  this  pursuit  continued  day  and 
night,  before  the  foe  was  reached.  The  local 
force  of  Indiana  which  was  sent  against  Gen. 
Morgan,  came  no  farther  than  the  borders  of 
the  State.  The  first  attempt  to  check  his  ad- 
vance was  made  when  he  reached  Piketon.  A 
considerable  force  was  at  this  time  at  Chilli- 
cothe,  north  of  the  latter  place,  and  Col.  Runkle, 
in  command,  planned  to  move  over  the  Mari- 
etta railroad  to  Hampden,  and  then  to  Jackson, 
in  advance  of  Gen.  Morgan. 

It  was  now  manifest  that  the  enemy  aimed 
to  reach  the  Ohio  river  at  Gallipolis  or  Pome- 
roy. The  inhabitants  commenced  cutting  trees, 
which  fell  across  the  roads  and  delayed  his  pro- 
gress. The  militia  in  the  adjoining  counties 
rushed  to  arms.  At  the  same  time,  the  forcet 
of  Gen.  Morgan  had  been  constantly  diminish- 
ing, bythe  exhaustion  of  some  and  the  capture 
of  others,  until  scarcely  a  fourth  remained. 
These  were  harassed  now  at  every  step.  Not- 
withstanding several  skirmishes,  they  reached 
the  river,  and  attempted  to  cross  at  Buffington 
island,  near  Pomeroy,  but  were  driven  back  by 


412 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


the  gunboats.  Gen.  Hobson  had  thus  overtaken 
him,  and  a  large  portion  of  the  force  was  cap- 
tured, on  the  21st,  near  Kyger's  Creek.  Gen. 
Morgan  and  about  five  hundred,  however,  es- 
caped, and  were  not  captured  until  the  26th, 
about  three  miles  south  of  New  Lisbon,  near 
Wellsville,  where  he  hoped  to  cross  the  river. 
Gen.  Shackelford  immediately  sent  to  Gen.  Burn- 
eide's  headquarters  the  following  despatch : 


HEADQUARTERS  IN  THE  FIELD,     ) 

Three  miles  south  of  New  Lisbon,  Ohio,  July  26th,  1863.  ) 
To  Col.  Lewis  Richmond,  A.  A.  G.; 

By  the  blessing  of  Almighty  God  I  have  succeeded 
in  capturing  Gen.  John  H.  Morgan,  Col.  Chike,  and 
the  remainder  of  the  command,  amounting  to  about 
four  hundred  prisoners.  I  will  start  with  Morgan 
and  staff  on  the  first  train  for  Cincinnati,  and  await 
the  General's  order  for  transportation  for  the  re- 
mainder. J.  M.  SHACKELFORD, 

Col.  Commanding. 


CHAPTEE    XXXIII: 

Measures  taken  in  the  Insurrectionary  States  to  recruit  their  Armies — The  Army  of  tLe  United  States — Conscription — The 
Draft :  how  made — Eiots  in  New  York,  Boston,  and  elsewhere— Employment  of  Colored  Troops — Proceedings  relative 
thereto — Organization  of  Hospitals — Expenditures — Materials— Ordnance  and  Small  Arms. 


IT  may  not  be  out  of  place  here  to  state  the 
measures  which  were  adopted  to  provide  and 
maintain  the  vast  military  forces  on  each  side. 
The  acts  of  the  Richmond  Congress,  passed  in 
1862,  authorized  Mr.  Davis  to  call  into  the  mil- 
itary service  all  white  residents  of  the  Confed- 
erate States  between  eighteen  and  forty-five, 
except  exempts,  or  such  part  of  them  as  in  his 
judgment  might  hot  be  necessary  for  the  public 
defence.  Under  this  authority  all  those  between 
the  ages  of  eighteen  and  thirty-five,  forming  the 
first  class,  were  called  into  the  field  in  1862. 
The  enrolment  of  the  second  class,  between 
thirty-five  and  forty-five,  was  also  completed, 
and  a  portion  of  the  troops  called  out.  At 
the  close  of  1862  the  Confederate  armies  were 
larger  than  at  any  previous  or  subsequent  pe- 
riod. This  force  was  subsequently  reduced  by 
desertions  during  the  winter,  and  by  the  with- 
drawal from  service  of  many  of  the  Maryland 
and  Kentucky  volunteers,  whose  terms  had  ex- 
pired, and  who  were  regarded  as  exempts. 
The  force  was  considered  to  be  sufficient  to  re- 
sist the  advance  of  the  Federal  troops,  until  the 
march  of  Gen.  Grant  to  the  rear  of  Vicksburg 
demonstrated  its  weakness.  At  this  time  the 
relative  physical  abilities  of  the  two  antagonists 
were  distinctly  shown,  for  while  the  North  re- 
enforced  Gen.  Grant  with  ease  to  the  extent  he 
deemed  necessary,  the  South  were  unable  to 
reenforce  Gen.  Johnston  sufficiently  to  enable 
him  to  threaten  Gen.  Grant.  The  resources  of 
the  States  west  of  the  Mississippi  were  cut  off 
from  the  Confederacy,  and  besides  the  forces 
of  Gens.  Lee,  Beauregard,  and  Bragg,  and  the 
detachments  at  important  points,  sufficient 
troops  were  not  to  be  had  to  save  Vicksburg. 
The  defeat  of  Gen.  Lee  at  Gettysburg,  and  the 
subsequent  falling  back  of  Gen.  Bragg  from 
Middle  Tennessee,  required  the  most  active 
efforts  to  recruit  the  Confederate  armies  in 
order  to  maintain  their  positions.  The  first  of- 
ficial act  of  the  government  to  obtain  more  sol- 
diers consisted  in  a  proclamation  issued  July 
15th,  1863,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract : 


Now,  therefore,  I,  Jefferson  Davis,  President  of  the 
Confederate  States  of  America,  do,  by  virtue  of  the 
power  vested  in  me  as  aforesaid,  call  out  and  place  in 
the  military  service  of  the  Confederate  States  all 
white  men  residents  of  said  States,  between  the  ages 
of  eighteen  and  forty -five  years,  not  legally  exempted 
from  military  service;  and  I  do  hereby  order  and 
direct  that  all  persons  subject  to  this  call  and  not 
now  in  the  military  service,  do,  upon  being  enrolled, 
forthwith  repair  to  the  conscript  camps  established 
in  the  respective  States  of  which  they  may  be  resi- 
dents, under  pain  of  being  held  and  punished  aa 
deserters,  in  the  event  of  their  failure  to  obey  this 
call,  as  provided  in  said  laws. 

It  was  estimated  that  the  number  which  this 
conscription  would  bring  out  would  be  as  follows: 

Alabama,     . 
Georgia,  . 
North  Carolina, 
Tennessee, 


10,393 
12,230 
14,000 
6,000 

5,000 
.   9,000 

Florida, 
Mississippi,    . 
South  Carolina,- 
Virginia, 

Louisiana,     .      . 
Texas,       .      . 

2,200 
9,000 
6,500 
18,000 

8,000 
.   5,000 

Arkansas, 
Mississippi, 

• 

27,000 

The  total  estimate  was  104,323.  That  por- 
tion to  be  contributed  by  the  States  partly  in 
possession  of  the  Federal  forces  cannot  be 
considered  otherwise  than  as  over-estimated. 
Some  of  the  number  liable  had  also  gone  vol- 
untarily to  the  field,  which  would  make  the  esti- 
mate about  75,000  men. 

A  report  of  the  Conscript  Bureau  presented 
to  Congress*  estimated  the  number  of  exempts 
in  the  four  States  under  its  charge  as  follows : 
Virginia,  20,370;  North  Carolina,  22,807; 
South  Carolina,  5,814 ;  Georgia,  15,837— total, 
65,031.  It  was  further  estimated  that  the 
number  of  substitutes  put  into  the  army  was 
from  20,000  to  25,000 ;  and  that,  in  addition, 
there  were  over  10,000  fraudulent  substitute 
papers  held  by  persons  not  in  the  service.  Ac- 
cording to  some  of  the  estimates  of  the  press, 
only  about  90,000  persons  remained  in  the 
States  entirely  under  Confederate  control,  who 
would  be  liable  to  conscription,  under  the  above 
proclamation  of  July  15th. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


413 


The  great  source  of  weakness  to  the  army 
was  desertion,  straggling,  and  absenteeism.  So 
large  was  the  number  of  those  thus  absent,  that 
a  half  or  three-fourths  of  them,  added  to  the 
forces  in  the  field,  were  estimated  to  be  suffi- 
cient to  give  success  at  all  points.  As 'a  meas- 
ure toward  effecting  their  return  to  the  service, 
Jefferson  Davis,  on  the  1st  of  August,  issued  an 
earnest  appeal  to  them : 

I  call  on  you,  then,  my  countrymen,  to  hasten  to 
your  camps,  in  obedience  to  the  dictates  of  honor  and 
of  duty,  and  summon  those  who  have  absented  them- 
selves without  leave,  who  have  remained  absent  be- 
yond the  period  allowed  by  their  furloughs,  to  repair 
without  delay  to  their  respective  commands,  and  I  do 
hereby  declare  that  I  grant  a  general  pardon  and  am- 
nesty to  all  officers  and  men  withm  the  Confederacy, 
not  absent  without  leave,  who  shall,  with  the  least 
possible  delay,  return  to  their  proper  posts  of  duty; 
but  no  excuse  will  be  received  for  any  delay  beyond 
twenty  days  after  the  first  publication  of  this  proc- 
lamation in  the  State  in  which  the  absentee  may  be 
at  the  date  of  the  publication.  This  amnesty  and 
pardon  shall  extend  to  all  who  have  been  accused,  or 
who  have  been  convicted  and  are  undergoing  sentence 
for  absence  without  leave  or  desertion,  excepting  only 
those  who  have  been  twice  convicted  of  desertion. 

Finally,  I  conjure  my  countrywomen — the  wives, 
mothers,  sisters,  and  daughters,  of  the  Confederacy — 
to  use  their  all-powerful  influence  in  aid  of  this  call, 
to  add  one  crowning  sacrifice  to  that  which  their  pa- 
triotSm  has  so  freely  and  constantly  afforded  on  their 
country's  altar,  and  to  take  cVre  that  none  who  owe 
service  in  the  field  shall  be  sheltered  at  home  from 
the  disgrace  of  having  deserted  their  duty  to  their 
families,  to  their  country,  and^o  their  God. 

Given  under  my  hand*,  and  the  seal  of  the  Confed- 
erate States,  at  Kichmond,  this  1st  day  of 
[SEAL.]       August,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  sixty-three. 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 

No  bounties  appear  to  have  been  paid  to  vol- 
unteers after  the  passage  of  the  conscription 
act,  in  1862.  Nor  were  any  efforts  made  to 
fill  up  the  quotas  of  States  by  contributions  to 
volunteers,  as  was  done  in  the  Northern  States. 

Under  the  depreciation  of  the  currency,  the 
pay  of  the  soldiers  sunk  to  an  insignificant  sum ; 
and,  to  prevent  local  disturbances,  measures 
were  taken  in  the  several  States  to  provide  for 
their  destitute  families. 

At  the  session  of  Congress  at  the  close  of 
1863,  an  act  was  introduced  which  declared 
every  man  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and 
fifty-five  to  be  in  the  military  service  for  the 
war.  Thus  every  one  between  these  ages  was 
made  subject  at  once  to  the  articles  of  war,  to 
military  discipline,  and  military  penalties ;  and, 
upon  failure  to  report  for  duty  at  a  military 
station  within  a  certain  time,  he  was  liable  to 
the  penalty  of  death  as  a  deserter. 

For  the  supply  of  the  army  a  commissary 
agent  was  appointed  for  each  county,  or  one 
for  two  or  three  counties,  who  *was  charged 
with  the  duty  of  purchasing  and  impressing  sup- 
plies in  his  territory  for  the  use  of  the  army. 

The  report  of  the  Secretary  of  "War,  made 
near  the  close  of  the  year,  alluded  to  desertion, 
straggling,  and  absenteeism,  and  said  that  the 
effective  force  of  the  army  was  but  little  over 
one-half  or  two-thirds  of  the  men  whose  names 


were  on  the  muster  rolls.  He  recommended 
the  repeal  of  the  substitute 'and  exemptive  pro- 
visions, and  that  all  having  substitutes  be  put 
back  into  the  field,  and  stated  that  the  privileges 
which  Congress  granted,  to  put  in  substitutes, 
could  be  regularly  and  constitutionally  abro- 
gated by  the  same  power. 

On  January  l«t,  1863,  the  army  of  the  United 
States,  comprising  the  regular  troops,  and  the 
volunteers  obtained  under  the  various  calls 
made  by  the  President  since  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war,  numbered  probably  between 
600,000  and  700,000  men.  Of  the  whole  num- 
ber of  men  voluntarily  raised  to  that  date  no 
precise  statement  can  be  afforded,  the  infor- 
mation furnished  by  some  of  the  reports  being 
so  obscure  that  it  is  difficult  to  decide  to  which 
class  of  service  (that  of  the  individual  States 
or  of  the  General  Government),  the  troops  fur- 
nished belonged. 

The  troops  actually  in  service  at  the  close  of 
1862,  comprising  three  years',  two  years',  twelve 
months',  nine  months'  men  and  regulars,  repre- 
sented organizations  amounting  originally  to  an 
aggregate  of  1,200,000;  but  among  these  the 
casualties  of  the  field,  diseases  of  the  camp,  dis- 
charges for  physical  disability,  and  desertions, 
had  made  fearful  inroads,  some  regiments  hav- 
ing within  a  year  of  their  enlistment  been  re- 
duced to  less  than  the  strength  of  a  couple  of 
full  companies.  As  an  illustration  at  once  of 
the  bravery  of  the  troops  and  of  the  rate  at 
which  the  army  is  depleted,  Gen.  Meade  stated 
in  reply  to  an  address  of  welcome  from  the 
mayor  of  Philadelphia,  that  from  March,  1862, 
when  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  left  its  lines  in 
front  of  Washington,  to  the  close  of  1863,  not 
less  than  a  hundred  thousand  men  in  it  had  been 
killed  and  wounded. 

In  view  of  the  serious  loss  of  disciplined  troops 
which  would  be  caused  by  the  return  home  of 
the  two  years',  twelve  months',  and  nine  months' 
regiments,  comprising  an  aggregate  of  about 
65,000  men,  whose  terms  of  enlistment  would 
expire  during  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1865, 
the  Government  early  in  the  year  to'ok  meas- 
ures to  obtain  the  passage  of  an  Enrolment  and 
Conscription  Act,  authorizing  the  President  to 
recruit  the  army  when  necessary,  by  drafting 
from  the  able-bodied  male  citizens  of  the  coun- 
try between  the  ages  of  twenty  and  forty-five. 

The  conscription  act  became  a-law  on  March 
3d ;  in  the  succeeding  May  and  June  the  enrol- 
ment was  effected  in  most  of  the  States,  and 
early  in  the  former  month  a  draft  of  300,000  men 
was  ordered,  the  conscription  commencing  in 
the  several  districts  into  which  the  country  was 
divided  by  the  provost  marshal  general  and  his 
assistants,  as  soon  as  the  enrolment  was  com- 
pleted and  the  quota  in  each  assigned. 

For  making  the  draft,  one-fifth  of  the  number 
of  men  enrolled  in  the.  first  class  was  adopted 
as  the  quota  of  a  dislrici  The  main  object  was 
to  apportion  the  number  among  the  States,  so 
that  those  previously  furnished  and  those  to 
be  furnished  would  make  a  given  part  of  their 


414 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


available  men,  and  not  a  given  part  of  their 
population;  and  a  sufficient  percentage  was 
called  for  to  make  a  given  number.  In  conse- 
quence of  thus  basing  the  calls  for  men,  those 
States  which  contained  more  females  than  males 
were  really  charged  with  a  greater  quota  than 
those  in  which  there  was  an  excess  of  males. 
Some  of  the  Western  States  with  quotas  nearly 
the  same  as  some  of  the  Eastern,  not  only  fur- 
nished their  quotas  and  a  large  excess  besides, 
but  had  a  larger  proportion  of  males  left  than 
Eastern  States  which  had  not  entirely  filled 
their  quotas  and  were  therefore  deficient.  This 
deficiency  was  not  probably  from  unwillingness 
to  answer  the  call,  but  from  a  want  of  men, 
while  the  excess  was  attributable,  in  some  de- 
gree, to  the  surplus  of  men.  Thus  the  States 
to  which  the  largest  credits  were  to  be  given 
really  had  a  larger  proportion  of  men  remaining 
than  those  to  which  a  deficiency  was  charged. 

Of  those  who  were  drawn,  including  the  fifty 
per  cent,  additi'onal,  over  eighty  per  cent,  re- 
ported in  accordance  with  the  orders  of  the 
boards.  Of  all  examined,  about  thirty  per  cent, 
•were  exempted  on  account  of  physical  disability ; 
another  thirty  per  cent,  were  exempted  under 
the  provisions  of  the  second  section  of  the  act 
above  quoted,  or  found  not  liable  on  account  of 
alienage,  unsuitableness  of  age,  non-residence, 
etc.  About  forty  per  cent,  of  the  men  exam- 
ined have  been  held  to  service ;  about  one-half 
of  these  paid  the  commutation  of  $300;  about 
two-thirds  of  the  remainder  furnished  substi- 
tutes, and  the  other  third  went  in  person  to  the 
field.  Thus,  if  the  number  drafted  is  supposed 
to  be  150,  then  deduct  20  per  cent,  for  those 
not  reported,  it  becomes  120 ;  then  deduct  60 
per  cent,  or  72  for  exempts,  it  becomes  48  who 
were  held  for  service ;  then  deduct  one-half  for 
those  who  paid  commutation,  and  it  becomes  24. 
Of  this  number  two-thirds  (16)  furnished  substi- 
tutes, and  the  other  third  (8)  went  to  the  field.  In 
this  proportion  the  enrolment  of  3,113,305  would 
Igave  sent  into  the  field  66,043  as  conscripts, 
132,686  as  substitutes — total,  198,129  men. 

Indeed  several  of  the  "Western  States  were 
not  subjected  to  the  draft  on  account  of  an  ex- 
cess of  volunteers,  and  in  other  "Western  States 
the  quota  was  quite  small  from  the  same  cause. 
A  bounty  of  $300  was  so  generally  paid  by  cities, 
counties,  and  States,  that  drafted  men  could 
either  retain  it  and  go  to  the  field,  or  purchase  a 
substitute  who  was  not  liable  to  military  service. 

The  draft  was  forcibly  resisted  in  New  York, 
Boston,  and  other  places. 

In  New  York,  after  several  postponements, 
Col.  Nugent,  the  provost-marshal,  was  directed  to 
prepare  the  central  office  of  the  acting  assistant 
provost-marshal- general,  for  the  immediate  ex- 
ecution of  the  provisions  of  the  act  for  enrolling 
and  calling  out  the  national  forces.  The  several 
deputies  received  official  requisitions  direct  from 
the  President,  calling  for  specified  numbers  of 
men,  and  were  instructed  to  commence  opera- 
tions on  the  llth  of  July.  In  compliance  with 
this  order  Provost  Marshal  Jenkins,  of  the  ninth 


Congressional  district  of  New  York,  publicly 
announced  through  the  press,  that  on  Saturday, 
the  llth,  the  ballots  would  be  publicly  counted 
at  the  corner  of  Forty-sixth  street  and  Third 
avenue,  and  that  immediately  thereafter  the 
wheel  would  be  turned  and  the  draft  begin. 
Rumors  of  popular  dissatisfaction  were  heard 
on  every  side,  trouble  was  apprehended,  and 
the  police  were  notified  to  hold  themselves  in 
readiness  for  any  emergency.  On  Saturday 
morning  a  large  crowd  assembled  at  the  ap- 
pointed place,  but  AS  every  thing  was  conducted 
quietly,  systematically,  and  fairly,  no  opportu- 
nity for  disturbance  occurred.  The  day  passed 
pleasantly,  the  «rowd  were  in  good  humor,  well- 
known  names  were  saluted  with  cheers,  and  at 
night  as  the  superintendent  of  the  police  passed 
out  from  the  office,  he  remarked  that  there  was 
no  danger  to  be  apprehended ;  the  Rubicon  was 
passed,  and  all  would  go  well.  The  names  of 
the  conscripts  were  published  by  the  press  of 
Sunday  morning,  with  incidents,  jocular  and 
otherwise,  connected  with  the  proceedings.  In 
the  neighborhood  in  which  the  initial  working 
of  the  law  was  attempted,  an  excitable  element 
of  the  city's  population  resided.  Very  many 
poor  men  were,  by  the  turn  of  the  wheel,  forced 
instantly,  as  it  were,  from  home  and  comfort, 
wrested  from  the  support  of  a  needy  family,  to  be 
sent  they  knew  not  whither,  unless  to  the  battle 
field,  or,  perhaps,  to  the  grave.  Such  were  the 
apprehensions  of  many  imprudent  persons  who 
were  liable  to  the  draft,  and  such  their  anxie- 
ties for  the  fate  of  their  wives  and  children, 
that  associations  were  formed  to  resist  it,  at  the 
last  alternative,  with  bloodshed.  Some  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  9th  district  met  in  secret 
places  on  Sunday,  and  resolved  to  resist  the 
further  drafting  by  force,  and,  if  necessary,  to 
proceed  to  extremity.  On  the  following  morn- 
ing, Monday  the  13th,  organized  parties  of  men 
went  from  yard  to  yard,  from  shop  to  shop,  to 
compel  the  workmen  to  leave  their  labor  and 
join  the  several  processions  which  were  wend- 
ing their  way  toward  the  corner  of  Third  Ave- 
nue and  Forty-sixth  street.  Unconscious  of 
impending  danger,  Captain  Jenkins,  with  his 
assistants,  prepared  for  the  morning's  work, 
and  in  the  presence  of  a  great  multitude,  many 
of  whom  had  crowded  into  the  little  room,  the 
draft  recommenced,  a  few  names  were  called 
and  registered,  when  a  huge  paving  stone  came 
crash  through  the  window,  and  shivered  into 
a  thousand  pieces  the  glass,  knocked  over  two 
or  three  quiet  observers,  upset  the  inkstand  on 
the  reporters'  table,  and  astonished  somewhat 
the  officials.  Hardly  had  their  surprise  found 
expression  in  words  before  a  second  and  a  third 
stone  was  sent  straight  from  the  crowd  among 
the  officials  and  reporters  behind  the  railing. 
As  if  emboldened  by  these  acts,  the  crowd  de- 
veloped instantly  into  a  mob,  and  with  frantic 
yells  passionately  rushed  upon  the  place,  break- 
ing down  the  doors,  throwing  helter-skelter 
the  furniture,  smashing  into  fragments  the 
tables  and  desks,  and  venting  their  fury 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


415 


over  the  remains  of  the  boxes  connected  with 
the  office.  The  wheel  was  taken  up  stairs  and 
eventually  saved,  but  nothing  else  was  spared 
from  absolute  wreck.  The  marshal  escaped 
uninjured,  as  did  the  reporters ;  but  one  of  the 
deputies,  Lieutenant  Vanderpoel,  was  badly 
beaten  and  taken  home  for  dead.  Having  de- 
stroyed the  material  of  th«  office,  the  enraged 
multitude  thought  of  an  additional  outrage,  and 
regardless  of  the  women  and  children  who  oc- 
cupied the  upper  portion  of  the  house,  sprin- 
kled camphene  upon  the  lower  floor  and  set  the 
place  ablaze.  In  two  hours  from  that  time  the 
entire  block,  of  which  this  was  the  corner 
building,  was  a  pile  of  smoking  brick  and 
mortar.  At  an  early  stage  of  the  proceedings, 
Chief  Engineer  Decker,  of  the  Fire  Department, 
arrived,  but  the  incendiaries  had  taken  posses- 
sion of  the  hydrants,  and  would  not  allow  the 
•engines  to  be  worked.  After  much  persuasion 
and  an  exhibition  of  absolute  heroism,  Chief 
Decker  obtained  permission  to  restrain  the 
flames  from  further  devastation,  but  it  was  too 
late  to  be  of  service.  Police  Superintendent 
Kennedy  was  attacked  by  the  mob  and  nearly 
killed. 

In  the  meantime,  word  had  been  sent  to  the 
lower  part  of  the  city,  that  the  long  threatened 
resistance  had  been  made,  and  that  success 
had  crowned  the  efforts  of  the  anti-conscrip- 
tionists.  The  most  exaggerated  rumors  ob- 
tained ready  currency,  and  while  every  one 
from  the  mayor  to  the  ward-cpnstable  stood 
aghast,  all  business  was  suspended,  and  the  voice 
of  trade  was  hushed.  There  were  no  troops  in 
the  city,  the  militia  regiments  being  nearly  all 
on  duty  in  Pennsylvania ;  the  force  in  the  sev- 
eral forts  in  the  harbor  was  small,  and  the 
Navy  Yard,  at  Brooklyn,  could  spare  but  a  few- 
marines.  While  therefore  Maj.-Gen,  Sandford, 
on  the  part  of  the  State  militia,  Maj.-Gen.  Wool, 
on  behalf  of  the  General  Government,  Mayor 
Opdyke,  as  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  city,  and 
their  several  staffs,  were  "consulting,"  the 
mob,  whose  proportions  had  attained  the  size 
of  an  army,  had  resolved  itself  into  a  peregrina- 
ting column  of  incendiaries,  and  was  in  the  suc- 
cessful pursuit  of  an  uninterrupted  career  of 
murder,  pillage,  and  arson.  No  person  was 
sacred  from  their  touch,  and  before  the  day  had 
passed,  gangs  of  thieves  joined  the  crowd,  and 
availing  themselves  of  the  general  disturbance, 
reaped  vast  harvests  of  money  and  other  desi- 
derata, which  they  unblushingly  took  from  the 
pockets  and  persons  of  their  propriet<£s.  Sev- 
eral members  of  the  press,  in  pursuit  of  their 
normal  avocations,  were  maltreated  and  abused. 
A  noticeable  case  was  that  a  reporter,  then 
of  the  "New  York  Times,"  who  was  surround- 
ed by  a  set  of  ruffians  on  the  corner  of  46th 
street  and  Third  avenue.  Without  a  moment's 
parley,  they  robbed  him  of  his  watch,  chain, 
diamond  pin,  and  wallet,  knocked  him  down, 
raised  the  cry  of  "  Abolitionist !"  and  left  him  to 
the  tender  mercies  of  the  crowd.  Supposing 
him  to  be  a  spy,  the  rioters  kicked  and  trampled 


upon  him,  pulled  him  by  the  hair  up  and  down 
the  streets,  and  only  let  him  alone  when  some 
firemen  interfered  in  his  behalf.  He  was  car- 
ried to  a  neighboring  engine-house,  and  barely 
escaped  being  stoned  to  death  by  a  second 
crowd,  which  had  gathered  about  the  door,  and 
whose  volleys  of  missiles  broke  every  window  in 
the  house.  A  fortunate  inciflent  attracted  their 
attention,  and  the  wounded  man  was  permitted 
later  in  the  day  to  retire. 

While  the  up-town  mob  was  delighting  it- 
self in  the  destruction  of  a  brown  stone  block 
in  Lexington  Avenue,  a  detachment  of-  ma- 
rines, some  fifty  in  number,  with  muskets  and 
blanli  cartridges,  were  sent  to  quell  the  riot. 
Taking  a  Third  avenue  car,  at  the  Broadway 
junction,  they  started  for  46th  street.  Infor- 
mation reached  the  mob  that  the  soldiers  were 
coming,  and  they  prepared  to  receive  them. 
Tearing  up  the  rails,  they  rendered  it  impos- 
sible for  the  car  to  be  drawn  beyond  43d 
street,  and  at  that  point  feveral  thousand 
men,  women,  and  children  stood  anxiously 
waiting  for  the  storming  party  of  fifty.  Many 
of  them,  particularly  the  women,  were  armed 
with  pieces  of  thick  telegraph  wire,  which  they 
had  broken  from  the  lines,  and  which,  as  will 
be  seen,  they  used  with  great  effect.  Such  a 
scene  has  rarely  been  witnessed ;  the  men  were 
sober  and  quiet,  but  malignant  and  fearful  in 
their  aspect;  the  women,  on  the  contrary, 
were  merry,  singing  and  dancing;  they  cheered 
their  husbands,  chatted  gaily  with  bystanders, 
and  boasted  of  what  should  yet  be  done  by 
their  brawny  arms.  As  the  car,  containing  the 
marines,  reached  the  centre  of  the  block,  the 
lieutenant  in  command  ordered  the  men  to 
leave  and  form  in  line.  Small  groups  and  gath- 
erings of  women  and  children  greeted  them 
with  hisses  and  derisive  cheers ;  to  these  they 
paid  no  attention,  but  marched  toward  the 
larger  mob  at  the  comer.  The  lieutenant  call- 
ed upon  the  crowd  to  disperse,  but  no  further 
notice  was  taken  of  the  command  than  a  sullen 
refusal ;  he  then  ordered  his  men  to  fire,  which 
they  did,  with  blank  cartridges,  and  of  course, 
with  blank  effect.  The  smoke  had  not  cleared 
away  before  the  infuriated  mob  rushed  with  ven- 
geance upon  the  little  band,  broke  them  into 
confusion,  seized  their  muskets,  trampled  them 
under  foot,  beat  them  with  sticks,  punched 
them  with  the  long  wires,  and  laughed  at  their 
impotence.  Several  of  the  marines  managed  to 
escape  into  the-  side  streets,  but  each  fugitive 
had  his  gang  of  temporary  pursuers,  and  quite 
u  number  were  killed,  while  all  were  ter-  ,, 
ribly  beaten.  From  this  moment  the  spirit 
of  the  mob  seemed  changed.  Eesistance  was 
no  longer  thought  of :  attack  was  the  watch- 
word. A  squad  of  police  attempted  to  arrest 
some  of  the  ringleaders  at  this  point,  but  they 
were  signally  defeated,  badly  beaten,  and 
one  of  them  was  killed.  Elated  with  this 
triumph,  excited  by  the  spilled  blood,  and  the 
instinct  of  passion,  the  mob  seemed  beside 
themselves,  and  proposed  an  immediate  on- 


416 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


slaught  upon  the  principal  streets,  the  hotels, 
and  other  public  buildings. 

Against  the  negroes  there  seemed  to  exist  a 
peculiar  animosity,  and  incidents  of  barbaric 
cruelty  occurred.  The  restaurants  and  hotels 
•whose  servants  were  of  this  class,  were  taken 
possession  of  by  the  rioters,  who  broke  win- 
dows, smashed  furniture,  maltreated  guests, 
and  sought  to  kill  the  fleeing  and  terrified 
servants.  In  the  afternoon,  by  which  time  the 
whole  city  was  in  alarm,  the  crowd  had  in- 
creased to  great  numbers,  when  some  one  sug- 
gested that  the  Colored  Half  Orphan  Asylum 
was  not  far  from  their  immediate  neighborhood. 
The  asylum  was  a  substantial  edifice,  erdfeted  a 
few  years  since,  on  Fifth  avenue,  between  For- 
ty-third and  Forty-fourth  streets,  and  afforded  a 
home  to  between  700  and  800  children.  Its  de- 
struction was  at  once  resolved  upon,  and  headed 
by  a  gang  of  half-grown  men,  the  crowd  rapidly 
moved  on  the  asylum.  Entering  it  by  doors 
or  windows,  the%  ransacked  every  room,  drove 
the  women  and  nurses  out,  and  flung  the  children 
hither  and  thither,  kicked  and  cuffed  the  little 
ones  without  regard  to  humanity,  and  after 
throwing  everything  they  could  lay  their 
hands  upon  into  the  street,  deliberately  set 
fire  to  the  building.  Here,  too,  Chief  Decker 
interfered.  "With  one  hand  he  extinguished 
the  flames,  with  his  person  barred  the  progress 
of  the  rioters,  and  strove  by  the  force  of  words 
to  deter  them  from  their  purpose.  But  his 
efforts  were  in  vain.  With  fearful  yells  and 
screams,  the  boys  set  fire  again  to  the  doomed 
building,  while  the  men  looked  sternly  on,  and 
the  women  walked  off  laden  with  the  spoils. 

About  the  same  hour,  an  attack  was  made 
upon  the  armory  in  Second  avenue,  corner  of 
Twenty-first  street.  The  object  was  to  secure  ri- 
fles and  muskets  which  it  was  known  the  Gov- 
ernment had  stored  there.  Ear^-  in  the  day,  the 
police  authorities  had  placed  a  squad  of  men 
in  charge  of  the  building,  with  instructions  to 
guard  it  and  to  prevent  the  entrance  of  any 
one.  Against  an  army  of  three  or  four  thou- 
sand rough  men  it  was  no  easy  task  to  defend 
the  building.  Sledge  hammers  and  stones  sooa 
broke  open  the  doors,  when  a  grand  rush  was 
made,  and  the  men  began  to  push  in.  The 
police'  knew  their  duty,  and  did  it;  their  first 
volley  killed  two  men,  and  a  subsequent  dis- 
charge three  others ;  but  then  the  crowd  pushed 
on  more  vigorously.  A  severe  hand-to-hand 
fight  ensued  among  those  at  the  door,  while  the 
crowd  outside  stoned  the  windows,  breaking 
every  pane  of  glass  in  the  building.  Findmg 
resistance  useless,  the  police  retired  and  effect- 
ed an  escape  through  a  rear  door.  The  build- 
ing was  instantly  fired,  and  soon  fell  a  mass  of 
blackened  ruins. 

In  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  the  evidences 
of  riotous  demonstrations  were  confined  to  at- 
tacks upon  colored  men,  and  a  threatened  demo- 
lition of  the  Tribune  newspaper  office.  Toward 
five  o'clock,  the  Forty-sixth  street  crowd 
made  its  way  to  the  park,  where  they  joined  a 


smaller  gathering  of  boys  and  men,  who  had 
been  hooting  and  sneering  at  the  establishment 
of  the  New  York  Tribune,  and  subjecting  its 
inmates  generally  to  an  unpleasant  inquisition. 
After  some  delay,  the  more  venturesome  ap- 
proached the  doors  of  the  office.  These  were 
locked,  but  a  few  vigorous  pushes  broke  tfcem, 
and  the  crowd  rushed  in.  The  counters  and 
desks  were  broken  up,  and  preparations  were 
made  for  a  grand  illumination,  when  a  detach- 
ment of  police  suddenly  made  its  appearance, 
and  charged  full  upon  them.  So  sudden  was 
the  attack  that  a  panic  seized  them,  and  they 
fled  like  chaff  before  the  wind. 

The  assaults  upon  negroes  were  among  the 
most  fiendish  features  of  the  proceedings.  It 
was  estimated  that,  during  the  twenty -four 
hours,  at  least  a  dozen  unfortunate  colored 
persons  were  brutally  murdered,  while  some 
were  beaten,  forced  to  jump  into  the  river, 
or  driven  from  the  city.  A  colored  man 
residing  in  Carmine  street,  was  caught  by  a 
mob  of  about  four  hundred  men  and  boys, 
as  he  was  leaving  his  stable  in  Clarkson 
street.  Instantly  an  attack  was  made  upon 
him,  and  he  was  beaten  and  kicked  until  life 
was  seemingly  extinct,  and  then  his  body  was 
suspended  to  a  tree,  a  fire  kindled  beneath  it, 
the  heat  of  which  restored  the  sufferer  to  con- 
sciousness, while  the  smoke  stifled  him. 

Several  fierce  battles  were  fought  between 
the  police  and  the  mob,  in  which  the  former 
were  invariably  the  victors.  During  the  day 
and  night,  th%  city  was  protected  solely  and 
only  by  this  arm  of  the  civil  service. 

The  office  of  Provost-Marshal  Manierro  was 
on  Broadway  near  Twenty-eighth  street.  At 
nine  o'clock  drafting  was  begun  there,  but  in 
consequence  of  the  disturbances  in  the  9th  dis- 
trict, at  twelve  o'clock  it  was  suspended.  Short- 
ly afterward  the  mob  arrived  and  entered  and 
sacked  the  office,  set  fire  to  the  building,  and 
destroyed  the  entire  block,  of  which  the  office 
was  the  centre  building.  The  famous  Bull's  Head 
Hotel,  on  Forty-fourth  street,  between  Lexing- 
ton and  Fifth  avenues,  shared  the  fate  of  other 
fine  structures,  and  was  burned  to  the  ground, 
because  its  proprietor  declined  to  furnish  liquor. 
The  residences  of  Provost-Marshal  Jenkins  and 
Postmaster  "Wakeman,  the  23d  precinct  station 
house,  and  two  brown  stone  private  dwellings 
on  Lexington  Avenue,  were  totally  destroyed 
by  fire;  several  members  of  the  police  were 
killed  and  many  badly  wounded,  some  twenty 
negroes  ^ere  murdered,  and  a  number  <Jf  ma- 
rines stoned  to  death. 

The  Board  of  Aldermen  of  the  city  met  at 
half  past  one  o'clock,  p.  M.,  but  a  quorum  not 
being  present,  that  body  adjourned. 

It  was  the  general  belief,  that  a  decided  ac- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  board  in  providing 
means  whereby  poor  men,  who  should  be  draft- 
ed, would  be  furnished  with  substitutes,  would 
at  once  check  the  riot;  and  to  meet  this  view,' 
Alderman  Hall  had  prpposed  this  resolution : 

WAcreas,  It  is  apparent  that  the  three  hundred  dol- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


417 


lar  clause  in  the  National  Enrolment  act  of  the  late 
Congress  is  calculated  to  inflict  great  privations  upon 
the  poorer  classes  of  our  citizens;  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,,  That  the  Committee  on  National  Affairs 
be,  and  they  are  hereby,  instructed  to  report  to  this 
board  a  plan  whereby  an  appropriation  can  be  made, 
to  pay  the  commutation  of  such  of  our  poorest  citizens 
as  are  likely  to  be  most  sorely  affected  by  the  enforce- 
ment of  a  conscription. 

Maj.-Gen.  Wool  was  in  command  of  the  De- 
partment of  the  East,  with  his  headquarters  in 
New  York,  and  about  noon  issued  the  follow- 
ing call  to  "  veteran  volunteers  "  : 

The  veterans  who  have  recently  returned  from  the 
field  of  battle,  have  again  an  opportunity  of  serving, 
not  only  their  country,  but  the  great  emporium  of 
New  York,  from  the  threatened  dangers  of  a  ruthless 
mob. 

The  Commanding  General  of  the  Eastern  Depart- 
ment trusts  that  those  who  have  exhibited  so  much 
bravery  in  the  field  of  battle,  will  not  hesitate  to  come 
forward  at  this  time,  to  tender  their  services  to  the 
mayor,  to  stay  the  ravages  of  the  city  by  men  who 
have  lost  all  sense  of  obligations  to  their  country,  as 
well  as  to  the  city  of  New  York. 

JOHN  E.  WOOL,  Major-General. 

P.  S. — These  men  are  requested  to  report  to  Major- 
General  Sandford,  corner  of  Elm  and  White  streets, 
on  Tuesday,  July  14th,  at  10  A.  M. 

The  next  morning  at  eight  o'clock,  several 
colonels  of  returned  volunteer  regiments  called 
upon  their  former  commands  to  rally,  and  in 
pursuance  of  orders  from  Gen,  Wool,  Gen. 
Harvey  Brown  assumed  command  of  the  Fed- 
eral troops  in  the  city. 

The  mob  had  full  control  of  the  city,  and 
omitted  no  opportunity  of  breaking  laws  or 
violating  ordinances,  until  midnight,  when  a 
heavy  rain  dispersed  them. 

On  Tuesday  the  spirit  of  the  riot  was  more 
malignant.  Governor  Seymour  having  arrived 
in  the  city,  issued  the  following  proclamation  : 

NEW  TOEK,  July  14, 1868. 
To  the  People  of  the  City  of  New  York  : 

A  riotous  demonstration  in  your  city,  originating 
in  opposition  to  the  conscription  of  soldiers  for  the 
military  service  of  the  United  States,  has  swelled  into 
vast  proportions,  directing  its  fury  against  the  prop- 
erty and  lives  of  peaceful  citizens.  I  know  that  many 
who  have  participated  in  these  proceedings  would  not 
have  allowed  themselves  to  be  carried  to  such  ex- 
tremes of  violence  and  of  wrong,  except  under  an 
apprehension  of  injustice,  but  such  persons  are  re- 
minded that  the  only  opposition  to  the  conscription 
which  can  be  allowed,  is  an  appeal  to  the  courts. 

The  right  of  every  citizen  to  make  such  an  appeal 
will  be  maintained,  and  the  decision  of  the  courts 
must  be  respected  and  obeyed  by  rulers  and  people 
alike.  No  other  course  is  consistent  with  the  main- 
tenance of  the  laws,  the  peace  and  order  of  the  city, 
and  the  safety  of  its  inhabitants. 

Riotous  proceedings  must,  and  shall  be  put  down. 
The  laws  of  the  State  of  New  York  must  be  enforced, 
its  peace  and  order  maintained,  and  the  lives  and  prop- 
erty of  all  its  citizens  protected  at  any  and  every  haz- 
zard.  The  rights  of  every  citizen  will  be  properly 

fuarded  and  defended  by  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  the 
tate. 

I  do,  therefore,  call  upon  all  persons  engaged  in 
these  riotous  proceedings,  to  retire  to  their  homes 
and  employments,  declaring  to  them  that  unless  they 
do  so  at  once,  I  shall  use  all  the  power  necessary  to  re- 
store the  peace  and  order  of  the  city.  I  also  call  upon 
all  well-disposed  persons  not  enrolled  for  the  preser- 
vation of  order,  to  pursue  their  ordinary  avocations. 
27 


Let  all  citizens  stand  firmly  by  the  constituted  au- 
thorities, sustaining  law  and  order  in  the  city,  and 
ready  to  answer  any  such  demand  as  circumstances 
may  render  necessary  for  me  to  make  upon  their  ser- 
vices ;  and  they  may  rely  upon  a  rigid  enforcement 
of  the  laws  of  this  State  against  all  who  violate  them. 
HORATIO  SEYMOUR,  Governor. 

It  was  soon  urged  upon  the  governor  that 
measures  more  rigorous  must  be  taken ;  and 
becoming  convinced  that  such  was  the  case,  he 
was  induced  to  declare  the  city  in  a  state  of 
insurrection. 

This  proclamation,  however,  produced  but 
little  effect,  and  the  second  day  was  in  many  of 
its  features  the  worst  of  the  four.  The  stores 
were  closed  in  all  parts  of  the  city;  no  signs  of 
trade  were  visible.  Between  the  several  mili- 
tary officers,  into  whose  hands  the  defence  of 
the  city  and  the  suppression  of  the  riot  were 
committed,  there  were  difficulties  of  which  no 
one  could  obtain  a  satisfactory  explanation. 
General  Wool  as  commanding  general  of  the 
Department  of  the  East,  was  in  supreme  control 
of  the  regular  troops,  and  he  delegated  de- 
partments of  his  small  command  to  General 
Brown  and  General  Sandford,  at  different 
times,  so  that  it  was  difficult  for  his  more 
immediate  subordinates  to  know  the  authority 
of  each.  The  police  were  true  to  their  great 
trust,  and  won  for  themselves  an  honorable 
record.  The  principal  feature  of  these  twenty- 
four  hours  was  the  onset  upon  the  negroes, 
which  was  attended  with  fearful  atrocities. 
Whenever  a  negro  was  found,  death  was  his 
inexorable  fate.  Old  men  and  infirm  women 
were  beaten  without  mercy;  whole  neighbor- 
hoods were  burned  out ;  the  life  of  no  person  of 
color  was  safe  for  a  moment  in  the  presence  of 
the  infuriated  mob.  On  several  occasions  dur- 
ing the  day  the  military  and  the  rioters  were 
brought  face  to  face.  Twice  an  attempt  was 
made  to  resist  the  progress  of  the  soldiers,  but 
ball  cartridges  were  used  and  the  rioters  fled. 
Lieut.  Wood,  in  command  of  150  "regulars" 
from  Fort  Lafayette,  was  directed  to  disperse  a 
crowd  of  perhaps  2,000  men,  who  had  assembled 
in  the  vicinity  of  Grand  and  Pitt  Streets.  On 
the  approach  of  the  soldiers,  the  lieutenant  called 
upon  the  crowd  to  disperse.  A  volley  of  stones 
was  the  reply.  He  then  ordered  his  men  to  fire 
above  the  crowd,  which  being  done  withorit 
apparent  effect,  he  directed  them  to  fire  and 
take  aim.  The  result  was  12  dead  men,  seve- 
ral wounded,  and  a  general  flight.  Two  chil- 
dren were  among  the  killed.  In  this  way  the 
mob  was  frequently  broken  up,  but  as  it  would 
continually  reorganize,  it  became  necessary  to 
adopt  some  plan  of  absolute  and  general  disper- 
sion. The  citizens  generally  prepared  to  defend 
themselves  and  their  property.  The  governor 
was  induced  to  speak  from  the  steps  of  the  City 
Hall  to  an  immense  gathering  of  the  people, 
among  whom  were  undoubtedly  many  who 
had  been  engaged  in  the  riots.  The  governor 
made  a  few  remarks,  intended  to  allay  the 
popular  excitement,  and  earnestly  counselled 
obedience  to  the  laws  and  the  constituted 


418 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


authorities.  He  also  read  a  note  explanatory 
of  what  he  had  done  about  the  draft.  The  gov- 
ernor was  listened  to  with  great  respect,  and 
the  reading  of  the  letter  caused  general  satis- 
faction among  his  hearers. 

The  murder  of  Col.  O'Brien  was,  perhaps, 
the  most  fearful  of  the  many  incidents  which 
occurred.  Commissioned  to  disperse  a  mob  in 
the  Third  Avenue,  he  gallantly  charged  upon 
them  with  an  efficient  detachment  of  troops, 
and  succeeded  in  breaking  the  front  and  turn- 
ing the  face  of  the  rioters.  Having  sprained 
his  ankle  during  the  excitement,  he  stepped 
into  a  drug  store  in  32d  street,  while  his  com- 
mand passed  on.  The  store  was  soon  sur- 
rounded, and  the  proprietor  fearing  it  would 
be  sacked  begged  the  colonel  to  get  away  as 
soon  as  possible.  With  a  brave  heart  O'Brien 
went  out  among  the  crowd  alone ;  and  while 
parleying  with  them  a  treacherous  blow  from 
behind  laid  him  senseless  upon  the  pavement. 
The  crowd  fell  upon  the  prostrate  form,  beat- 
ing and  bruising  it.  For  hours  the  bleeding 
body  was  drawn  up  and  down  the  street,  re- 
ceiving a  brutal  treatment  almost  unparalleled, 
after  which  it  was  carried,  with  shouts  and 
groans,  to  his  residence,  where  the  same  con- 
duct was  repeated.  A  priest  with  kindly  cour- 
tesy interfered,  and  read  over  the  dead  body 
the  prayers  of  its  church,  after  which  he  di- 
rected the  remains  to  be  taken  into  the  house. 
Hardly  was  his  back  turned,  however,  when  a 
brutal  fellow  stamped  upon  the  corpse,  and  his 
example  was  followed  by  many  others. 

Events  followed  each  other  in  rapid  succes- 
sion. The  Secretary  of  "War  ordered  home  the 
militia  regiments  that  were  doing  duty  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  the  rioters  became,  to  a  great  ex- 
tent, "  demoralized,"  their  leaders  having  been 
killed  or  taken  prisoners.  The  stages  and  cars 
were  withdrawn  from  the  streets  until  Thurs- 
day, when,  by  order  of  the  Police  Commission- 
ers, the  regular  running  was  resumed. 

By  this  time  it  had  become  generally  known 
that  the  draft  was  suspended.  The  municipal 
authorities  had  passed  a  relief  bill  to  pay  $300 
commutation,  or  substitute  money,  to  every 
drafted  man  of  the  poorer  classes.  These  facts 
contributed  greatly  to  appease  the  mob,  though 
they  had  been  practically  subdued  by  the  gal- 
lant conduct  of  the  regular  troops,  the  militia, 
and  the  police.  The  riot  ceased  as  an  organ- 
ized operation,  on  the  16th  instant.  A  large 
force  of  cavalry  patrolled  the  disaffected  dis- 
tricts on  the  evening  of  that  day,  and  met  with 
no  armed  opposition.  On  the  morning  of  the 
17th  the  cavalry  found  and  took  possession  of 
seventy  stands  of  revolvers  and  carbines,  and 
several  casks  of  paving  stones,  which  had  been 
secreted  by  the  rioters,  and  also  captured  sev- 
eral prisoners.  On  the  18th  instant,  Maj.- 
Gen.  Wool  was  relieved  of  the  command  of 
the  Department  of  the  East  by  Maj.-Gen.  Dix, 
by  orders  of  the  President,  dated  the  15fh. 
Gen.  Harvey  Brown  who  had  been  in  command 
of  the  city  and  harbor  of  New  York  (under 


General  Wool)  during  the  riots,  was  relieved 
on  the  17th  instant  by  Brig.-Gen.  Canby. 

The  twelve  militia  regiments  had  by  this 
time  returned  from  Pennsylvania.  Detach- 
ments from  their  number,  amounting  to  over 
1,000  men,  were  constantly  on  duty  for  many 
days  after  the  suppression  of  the  riots,  and  the 
entire  1st  division  was  ready  to  support  them 
at  short  notice.  But  there  was  not  the  least 
symptom  of  a  renewal  of  the  disturbances, 
although  rioters  were  arrested  by  civil  pro- 
cesses, tried,  and  sent  to  prison,  from  day  to 
day. 

The  number  of  persons  killed  during  these 
terrible  riots  is  not  known.  The  mortality 
statistics  for  the  week,  at  the  city  inspec- 
tor's office,  show  an  increase  of  450  over 
the  average  weekly  mortality  of  the  year. 
About  90  deaths  from  gunshot  wounds  were 
reported  at  his  office.  It  was  said — but  this  is, 
doubtless,  incorrect — that  the  remains  of  many 
of  the  rioters  were  secretly  taken  into  the 
country  and  buried  there.  A  large  number  of 
wounded  persons  probably  died  during  the 
following  week.  Governor  Seymour  in  his  an- 
nual message  states  that  the  "  number  of  killed 
and  wounded  is  estimated  by  the  police  to  be 
at  least  one  thousand."  The  police  and  the 
regular  and  local  military  forces  suffered  but 
little  in  comparison  with  the  mob.  With  re- 
gard to  the  militia  of  the  1st  division,  General 
Sandford  gives  the  exact  figures  of  their  losses 
in  a  portion  of  the  riots.  He  says  that  "one 
private  soldier  was  killed,  and  twenty-tvro  men 
dangerously,  and  fifty  officers  and  soldiers 
slightly,  wounded,  at  the  defeat  of  the  mob  in 
42d  street,  the  storming  of  the  barricade  erect- 
ed by  the  rioters  in  29th  street,  and  in  the 
other  conflicts  which  followed." 

The  losses  by  the  destruction  of  buildings 
and  other  property  were  originally  estimated  at 
$400,000.  A  committee  was  appointed  by  the 
county  supervisors  to  audit  claims  for  damages, 
for  all  of  which  the  county  was  responsible 
under  the  law,  and  for  the  payment  of  which  a 
large  appropriation  was  made.  The  aggregate 
of  the  claims  far  surpassed  the  highest  expecta- 
tions, amounting  to  over  $2,500,000.  The  ccjm- 
mittee  disallowed  many,  and  cut  down  most 
of  the  remainder  50  per  cent.  At  last  accounts 
over  $1,000,000  had  been  paid  to  claimants,  and 
it  was  supposed  that  $500,000  more  would  be 
needed  for  the  same  purpose. 

On  the  night  of  the  15th  of  July  a  riot  broke 
out  in  Boston,  under  the  following  circum- 
stances: Two  of  the  provost  marshal's  assist- 
ants were  engaged  in  distributing  notifications 
to  drafted  men,  when  one  of  the  officers  was 
struck  by  a  woman,  at  whose  house  a  noti- 
fication had  been  left.  An  attempt  being 
made  to  arrest  the  woman,  a  number  of  her 
friends  collected  and  attacked  the  officer,  se- 
verely beating  him.  A  police  force  was  soon 
upon  the  ground,  and  succeeded  in  temporarily 
quelling  the  disturbance ;  but  a  crowd  lingered 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  scene,  and  increased  as 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


419 


night  approached,  and  the  military  authorities 
thought  it  hest  to  order  out  the  Lancers,  the 
llth  battery  (Captain  Jones),  the  44th  regiment, 
three  companies  from  Fort  Warren,  a  com- 
pany of  regulars  from  Fort  Independence,  and  a 
squad  of  the  second  cavalry  from  Readsville,  to 
check  the  riot  which  was  believed  to  be  immi- 
nent. The  entire  police  force  was  also  placed 
on  duty,  and  stationed  at  points  where  difficul- 
ties were  most  likely  to  occur.  About  8-J-  p.  M. 
a  crowd  of  men  and  boys,  estimated  at  from 
500  to  1,000,  gathered  in  front  of  the  armory 
of  the  llth  battery,  in  Cooper  Street,  and  al- 
though warned  off  by  Captain  Jones,  the  com- 
manding officer,  threw  a  shower  of  stones  and 
bricks  at  the  building,  breaking  the  windows 
and  the  door,  and  wounding  several  of  the  sol- 
diers. The  mob  then  attempted  to  carry  the 
building  by  storm,  and  had  succeeded  in  forcing 
an  entrance,  when  a  gun  loaded  with  canister 
shot  was  fired  into  them  with  terrible  effect, 
but  they  did  not  break  and  run  until  a  bayonet 
charge  was  made  upon  them.  Six  or  eight 
persons  were  killed  ou  the  spot,  and  a  large 
number  wounded.  Simultaneously  with  the 
attack  on  the  armory  a  mob  of  several  hundred 
persons  broke  into  the-  gun  store  of  Thomas  P. 
Barnes,  in  Dock  Square,  and  carried  away  about 
a  hundred  muskets  and  a  large  quantity  of  pis- 
tols and  bowie  knives.  They  next  made  a  rush 
at  the  gun  store  of  Wm.  Read  and  Son,  Faneuil 
Hall  Square,  but  the  police  had  received  infor- 
mation of  the  intended  attack,  and  were  on 
hand  in  time  to  repel  it.  One  of  the  rioters 
was  shot  by  the  police,  and  a  few  others  were 
slightly  injured.  The  formidable  array  of  mili- 
tary and  police,  and  the  promptness  with  which 
they  had  quelled  disturbances  thus  far,  seemed 
to  frighten  the  rioters  at  this  stage  of  opera- 
tions, and  they  gradually  dispersed.  The  only 
other  riotous  incident  of  note  during  the  night 
was  an  attempt  to  set  fire  to  the  armory  in 
Cooper  Street,  in  the  absence  of  the  guard.  The 
fire  was  soon  discovered  and  extinguished. 

At  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  there  was  some  trou- 
ble on  the  day  of  drafting.  An  excited  throng 
of  men,  women,  and  children,  gathered  about 
the  provost  marshal's  office,  which  was  in 
.charge  of  volunteers  from  Fort  Constitution, 
'and  U.  S.  marines  from  the  naty  yard,  under 
command  of  Col.  Marston.  A  large  police  force 
was  also  in  attendance,  and  instructed  to  dis- 
perse the  crowd.  Two  men  who  resisted  were 
,taken  to  the  station  house.  About  9£  p.  M.  an 
attack  was  made  upon  the  station  house  by 
about  100  friends  of  the  arrested  parties,  but 
was  repelled  by  the  small  force  of  police  then 
on  the  ground.  A  squad  of  soldiers  from  the 
provost  marshal's  office  was  sent  to  their  assist- 
ance, and  charged  upon  the  mob  with  bayonets, 
dispersing  it  instantly.  Two  of  the  police  and 
four  of  the  rioters  were  wounded,  but  none 
reported  killed ;  and  there  was  no  further  ob- 
struction to  the  draft  in  Portsmouth. 

A  disturbance  which  threatened  at  one  time 
to  assume  formidable  proportions  occurred  in 


Holmes  County,  Ohio,  in  June.  It  appears  that 
on  the  5th  of  that  month,  Elias  Robinson,  an 
enrolling  officer,  was  stoned  out  of  Richland 
township  by  a  party  of  men,,  of  whom  the 
names  of  four  were  known.  Captain  Drake,  the 
provost-marshal  of  that  district,  went  with  a 
posse  of  men  to  the  village  of  Napoleon,  in  the 
above  named  township,  to  arrest  those  persons, 
and  found  them  in  the  upper  story  of  a  house, 
armed  and  ready  for  resistance.  They  refused 
to  surrender,  saying  that  they  would  not  con- 
sent to  be  tried  by  court-martial.  On  the  prom- 
ise, however,  that  they  should  be  tried  by  the 
U.  S.  court  at  Cleveland,  they  gave  themselves 
up,  and  the  party  started  for  Wooster.  But  be- 
fore Capt.  Drake  had  succeeded  in  getting  his 
prisoners  beyond  the  limits  of  Holmes  County  he 
was  overtaken  by  an  armed  force  of  150  men, 
who  ordered  the  prisoners  from  the  wagons,  took 
revolvers  from  several  of  Capt.  Drake's  men, 
and  surrounding  Capt.  Drake  with  a  score 
of  rifles  pointed  at  his  breast,  demanded  that 
he  should  take  an  oath  never  to  enter  Holmes 
County  on  such  business  again,  on  penalty  of 
death.  It  is  said  that  he  refused  to  take  the 
oath,  and  also  to  give  up  his  pistols.  The  res- 
cuers finally  let  him  and  his  posse  go,  and  car- 
ried the  prisoners  back  to  their  homes.  On  the 
12th  and  13th  the  enrolling  officers  were  also 
driven  out  of  two  of  the  townships  of  Holmes 
County. 

The  draft  resulted,  in  twelve  States  in  which 
it  was  enforced,  in  adding  about  50,000  men  to 
the  army,  and  in  the  accumulation  of  a  fund  of 
$10,518,000,  derived  from  commutations  under 
what  was  known  as  the  "  Three  Hundred  Dollar 
clause  "  of  the  act,  which  was  reserved  for  the 
procurement  of  recruits  by  bounties. 

Previous  to  1863  the  employment  of  colored 
soldiers  in  the  United  States  service  was  con- 
fined to  two  or  three  localities.  At  Hilton 
Head,  South  Carolina,  Gen.  Hunter  had  caused 
the  able-bodied  negroes  from  the  neighboring 
plantations  to  be  formed  into  regiments  and 
drilled  by  competent  officers ;  and  Gen.  Butler, 
finding  in  New  Orleans  a  colored  corps  of  the 
Louisiana  State  militia,  raised  under  the  certifi- 
cate of  a  former  governor  of  the  State,  placed 
it  in  the  service  of  the  Government,  and  en- 
couraged the  formation  of  similar  organizations. 
These  troops  were  originally  intended  chiefly 
for  local  service,  or  if  sent  beyond  the  localities 
in  which  they  were  raised,  were  to  be  employ- 
ed to  garrison  posts  which  the  unacclimated 
Northern  soldiers  could  not  safely  occupy  during 
the  unhealthy  season.  Public  opinion  had  not 
yet  decided  that  they  could  become  an  integral 
portion  of  the  army,  and  as  such  be  available 
for  every  species  of  military  service,  notwith- 
standing that  Congress,  by  two  acts  passed  in 
July,  1862,  had  expressly  authorized  the  em- 
ployment of  colored  men  as  troops. 

The  first  of  these,  known  as  the  Confiscation 
Act,  permitted  the  President  to  employ  as 
many  persons  of  African  descent  as  he  might 
deem  necessary  and  proper  for  the  suppression 


420 


MILITAEY  AND  NATAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


of  tlie  rebellion;  and  for  that  purpose  to  or- 
ganize and  use  them  in  such  manner  as  he 
might  judge  best  for  the  public  welfare.  The 
second  act  authorized  him  to  receive  into  the 
service  of  the  United  States  for  any  species  of 
labor  or  military  or  naval  service  for  which 
they  might  be  found  competent,  persons  of 
African  descent,  who  should  be  enrolled  and 
organized  under  such  regulations,  not  incon- 
sistent with  the  Constitution  and  the  laws,  as 
he  might  prescribe;  and  should  receive  $10  per 
month  and  one  ration  per  day,  of  which  month- 
ly pay  $3  might  be  in  clothing. 

Both  laws  were  made  with  reference  to  those 
persons  who  by  force  of  arms  or  by  provisions 
of  statutes  had  been  recently  freed  from  bond- 
age ;  and  the  important  class  of  colored  soldiers 
from  the  free  States  was  probably  not  then  in 
the  contemplation  of  Congress.  Many  considera- 
tions were  urged  upon  the  President  to  induce 
him  to  exercise  the  power  conferred  upon  him 
in  a  restricted  sense  only.  The  employment  of 
negroes  as  laborers  upon  fortifications,  team- 
sters, boatmen,  and  in  similar  capacities,  was 
declared  legitimate  and  sufficient  for  the  pres- 
ent needs  of  the  country ;  but,  in  the  opinion 
of  many,  the  arming  of  any  considerable  body 
of  such  persons  was  a  measure  fraught  with 
ominous  consequences.  "Whether  or  not  these 
reasons  were  deemed  conclusive,  it  is  certain 
that,  previous  to  1863,  the  number  of  persons 
of  African  descent  employed  as  soldiers  was 
exceedingly  limited.  But  with  the  commence- 
ment of  the  year  a  vigorous  movement  was  ini- 
tiated in  various  parts  of  the  country  to  organize 
colored  regiments,  and  especially  to  bring  to 
the  aid. of  the  Government  the  latent  strength 
of  the  large  negro  population  in  the  seceded 
States. 

On  January  12th  Mr.  Stevens,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, introduced  into  the  House  of  Represent- 
atives a  bill  authorizing  the  President  to  raise, 
equip,  and  organize  150,000  colored  troops, 
which,  after  being  amended  so  as  to  provide 
for  the  enlistment  of  not  over  300,000,  was 
passed,  February  2d,  in  the  face  of  a  deter- 
mined opposition  from  members  of  the  border 
States,  and  from  some  friends  of  the  adminis- 
tration. A  similar  bill,  introduced  by  Mr.  Sum- 
ner  in  the  Senate,  having  been  reported  back 
from  the  Committee  on  Military  Affairs,  with  a 
recommendation  that  it  should  not  pass,  on  the 
ground  that  sufficient  authority  to  raise  such 
troops  was  conferred  by  the  act  of  1862,  no 
further  action  was  taken  on  either  bill.  The 
subject  had,  however,  been  by  this  time  very 
generally  discussed,  both  in  and  out  of  Con- 
gress, and  in  deference  to  the  wishes  of  a  large 
portion  of  the  community,  and  of  many  promi- 
nent public  men,  including  officers  of  experi- 
ence, the  President  determined  to  exercise,  to 
their  fullest  extent,  the  powers  conferred  upon 
him  by  the  act  of  1862.  Congress  having  in  the 
Conscription  Act  avoided  making  any  distinc- 
tion between  white  and  colored  citizens,  and  re- 
quired them  equally  to  be  enrolled  and  drafted 


in  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  the  policy  of 
the  administration  thenceforth  became  clearly 
defined,  and  "  persons  of  African  descent,"  as 
well  in  the  free  as  in  the  slave  States,  were 
declared  to  be  available  as  soldiers. 

The  initiative  in  raising  colored  regiments  in 
the  free  States  was  taken  by  Governor  Andrew, 
of  Massachusetts,  acting  in  conformity  with  the 
following  order  from  the  Secretary  of  War : 

WAB  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON  CITY,  ) 
January  20, 1863.      ( 

Ordered  that  GOVERNOR  ANDREW,  of  Massachusetts, 
is  authorized,  until  further  orders,  to  raise  such  num- 
ber of  volunteer  companies  of  artillery  for  duty  in  the 
forts  of  Massachusetts  and  elsewhere,  and  such  corps 
of  infantry  for  the  volunteer  military  service,  as  he 
may  find  convenient.  Such  volunteers  to  be  enlist- 
ed for  three  years,  unless  sooner  discharged,  and 
may  include  persons  of  African  descent,  organized 
into  separate  corps.  He  will  make  the  usual  requi- 
sitions on  the  appropriate  Staff  Bureaus  and  officers 
for  the  proper  transportation,  organization,  supplies, 
subsistence,  arms,  and  equipments  of  such  volunteers. 
(Signed)  EDWIN  M.  STANTON, 

Secretary  of  War. 

Recruiting  offices  were  immediately  opened 
by  the  governor,  and,  as  the  colored  popula- 
tion of  Massachusetts  was  inconsiderable,  agents 
were  sent  into  neighboring  States,  where  the 
scruples  of  the  people  or  of  the  executive  pre- 
vented the  enlistment  of  troops  of  this  class. 
In  reply  to  inquiries,  Governor  Andrew  an- 
nounced that  these  regiments  would  be  num- 
bered, organized,  considered,  and  treated  in 
every  respect  precisely  as  other  regiments  pre- 
viously sent  into  the  field  by  Massachusetts; 
and,  on  the  authority  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 
he  pledged  the  honor  of  the  United  States  to 
them  in  the  same  degree  and  to  the  same  rights 
with  all  other  troops.  Other  free  States  subse- 
quently sanctioned  the  enlistment  of  colored 
soldiers,  including  Rhode  Island,  Pennsylvania, 
New  York,  Ohio,  and  Kansas. 

The  Government  having  matured  its  plans 
with  regard  to  the  negro  population  whom  the 
progress  of  the  war  had  brought  within  the 
Union  lines,  Gen.  Thomas,  adjutant-general  of 
the  United  States,  was  despatched  in  March  to 
the  Southwest,  charged  with  the  organization 
of  colored  troops,  and  the  establishment  of  a 
labor  system  in  the  Mississippi  valley.  In  the 
discharge  of  these  duties  he  visited  Memphis, 
Helena,  and  other  points  on  both  sides  of  the 
Mississippi  as  far  south  as  Vicksburg. 

Under  the  impulse  given  by  this  action  of  the 
Government,  recruiting  for  colored  regiments 
proceeded  with  considerable  activity  in  Tennes- 
see, Mississippi,  Louisiana,  and  North  and  South 
Carolina,  and  before  the  close  of  the  year  was  in 
progress  in  parts  of  Virginia  and  other  districts 
in  possession  of  the  Federal  arms,  as  also  in 
Maryland  and  in  the  District  of  Columbia.  Gen. 
Banks,  commanding  the  Department  of  the 
Gulf,  was  so  well  satisfied  with  the  black  troops, 
which  he  found  in  the  service  on  his  arrival  in 
New  Orleans,  and  was  so  confident  in  the  abil- 
ity and  disposition  of  the  negroes  to  become 
good  soldiers,  that  he  ordered  a  whole  army 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


421 


corps  to  be  raised,  consisting  of  eighteen  regi- 
ments of  five  hundred  men  each,  to  be  called 
the  "  Corps  d'Afrique." 

The  enlistment  of  negroes  in  the  rebel  States, 
or  of  colored  refugees  from  such  States,  was  at- 
tended with  little  or  no  difficulty  in  respect  to 
claims  of  service  or  labor  from  such  persons. 
The  owners  were,  for  the  most  part,  enemies, 
and  after  the  Emancipation  Proclamation  of  the 
President  the  question  of  property  was  consid- 
ered definitively  settled.  When,  however,  the 
Government  determined  to  make  requisitions 
upon  the  colored  population  of  the  border  slave 
States,  or  upon  those  portions  of  the  seceded 
States  expressly  excepted  from  the  operation  of 
the  Emancipation  Proclamation,  it  became  ne- 
cessary to  adopt  some  rule  of  compensation  for 
slaveholders,  whose  rights  might  be  affected. 
With  this  view  an  order  was  issued,  on  October 
3d,  from  the  War  Department,  directing  the 
establishment  of  recruiting  stations  in  Mary- 
land, Missouri,  and  Tennessee,  and  prescribing 
the  method  of  enlistment.  "All  able-bodied 
free  negroes,  slaves  of  disloyal  persons,  and 
slaves  of  loyal  persons,  with  the  consent  of 
their  owners,"  were  declared  eligible  for  mili- 
tary service,  and  the  State  and  county  in 
which  the  enlistments  were  made  were  to  be 
credited  with  the  recruits  thus  obtained.  Loyal 
slaveowners  offering  slaves  for  enlistment  were 
to  receive  $300  for  each  recruit  accepted,  upon 
filing  a  deed  of  manumission  for  him,  and 
making  satisfactory  proof  of  title.  But  if  with- 
in thirty  days  from  the  date  of  opening  enlist- 
ments, a  sufficient  number  of  recruits  should 
not  be  obtained  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  the 
service,  then  enlistments  might  be  made  by 
slaves,  without  requiring  the  consent  of  their 
owners ;  the  latter  were  to  receive  the  compen- 
sation, and  upon  the  same  terms  provided  for 
owners  offering  their  slaves  for  enlistment. 
Special  boards  were  also  appointed  for  each 
State  to  determine  all  claims  of  owners,  and 
to  furtker  the  objects  of  the  order. 

The  number  of  colored  soldiers  obtained  from 
the  sources  above  described  has  been  variously 
stated ;  but  it  appears  by  the  report  of  the  bureau 
of  enlistments,  created  in  May,  that  by  Decem- 
ber, 1863,  over  50,000  men  had  been  organized 
and  were  in  actual  service. 

The  regular  army  of  the  United  States,  before 
the  commencement  of  the  present  war,  seldom 
numbering  in  its  ranks  more  than  12,000  or 
13,000  men,  and  with  a  medical  and  hospital 
service  corresponding  to  its  limited  numbers, 
had  little  need  of  special  rules  of  hygiene,  or 
the  elaboration  of  any  extensive  system  of  reg- 
ulating the  health  and  physical  comfort  of  its 
forces. 

The  first  step  in  the  way  of  prevention  of 
disease  in  the  army  must  be  taken  in  the  ex- 
amination of  recruits.  The  ignorance  or  in- 
competence of  the  examining  surgeons  in  the 
first  two  years  of  the  war,  and  sometimes  it  is 
to  be  feared  baser  motives,  led  to  great  abuses 
in  this  respect.  "  Thousands  of  incapacitated 


men,"  says  Surgeon-General  Hammond,  "'were 
in  the  early  stages  of  the  war  allowed  to  enter 
the  army,  to  be  discharged  after  a  few  weeks' 
service,  most  of  which  had  been  passed  in  the 
hospital.  Many  did  not  march  five  miles  be- 
foje  breaking  down,  and  not  a  few  never  shoul- 
dered a  musket  during  the  whole  time  of  their 
service.  *  *  *  *  Cases  of  chronic  ulcers, 
varicose  veins,  epilepsy,  and  other  conditions 
unfitting  men  for  a  military  life,  came  fre- 
quently under  my  notice.  The  recruits  were 
either  not  inspected  at  all  by  a  medical  officer^ 
or  else  the  examination  was  so  loosely  con- 
ducted as  to  amount  to  a  farce.  I  know  of 
several  regiments  in  which  the  medical  inspec- 
tion was  performed  by  the  surgeon  walking 
down  the  line  and  looking  at  the  men  as  they 
stood  in  the  ranks."  There  was  great  improve- 
ment in  these  examinations  after  the  autumn 
of  1862. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  war,  the  War 
Department  had  no  hospitals,  save  a  few  post 
and  garrison  establishments  of  antiquated  de- 
sign, and  whose  aggregate  capacity  was  less 
than  that  of  a  single  one  of  the  magnificent 
structures  since  erected.  In  the  battles  of  the 
spring  of  1862,  though  new  hospitals  were  erect- 
ed with  the  utmost  rapidity,  consistent  with 
their  thorough  adaptation  to  the  wants  of  the 
patients,  they  were  inadequate  to  accommodate 
the  tens  of  thousands  of  the  sick  and  wounded 
who  needed  care,  and  the  Government  was 
compelled  to  solicit  the  admission  of  its  patient 
sufferers  into  the  civil  hospitals  hi  the  large 
cities.  In  this  way  many  were  provided  for  in 
Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  New  York,  Boston, 
Pittsburg,  Cincinnati,  St.  Louis,  and  Louisville. 
The  pushing  forward  of  the  new  hospitals  to 
completion,  as  well  as  the  erection  of  others, 
meantime  occupied  the  energies  of  the  Quar- 
termaster-General and  the  Surgeon-General, 
both  men  of  extraordinary  executive  ability, 
and  in  the  autumn  of  1862,  they  were  able  to 
announce  then.'  readiness  to  accommodate  in 
their  own  hospitals  all  their  sick  and  wounded. 
In  the  construction  and  administration  of  those 
hospitals  the  Surgeon-General  laid  down  these 
principles  to  be  observed : 

1st.  That  they  should  be  capable  of  being 
well  ventilated. 

2d.  That  each  should  be  sufficiently  capacious 
for  the  number  of  inmates  it  was  to  contain. 

3d.  That  they  should  admit  of  good  drainage. 

4th.  That  they  should  be  provided  with  a 
sufficient  number  of  windows. 

5th.  That  the  kitchen,  laundry,  and  other 
offices  of  administration,  should  be  separated 
from  the  wards,  well  arranged,  and  of  ample 
size. 

6th.  That  efficient  water-closets,  ablution, 
and  bathing  accommodations  should  be  pro- 
vided. 

7th.  That  they  should  be  amply  supplied  with 
water  and  gas,  or  other  means  of  illumination. 

8th.  That  the  furniture  of  all  kinds  should  be 
of  suitable  quality. 


422 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


9th.  That  the  officers  and  attendants  should 
have  their  proper  respective  duties  assigned  to 
them,  and  that  they  should  be  in  number  'suffi- 
cient for  the  wants  of  the  sick. 

10th.  That  proper  rules  should  be  established 
for  the  government  of  the  hospital,  for  the  $iet 
of  the  inmates,  and  for  preserving  order  and  an 
efficient  state  of  police. 

The  medical  department  has  performed  a  her- 
culean labor  in  the  erection  and  fitting  up  of 
233  general  hospitals,  in  different  parts  of  the 
country,  beside  a  very  considerable  number  of 
post  and  garrison  hospitals.  These  hospitals 
are  generally  temporary  structures,  intended 
to  last,  without  material  repairs,  for  ten  years. 

The  idea  of  a  hospital,  conceived  by  most 
non-professional  readers,  is  that  of  a  huge  bar- 
rack-looking building  or  buildings,  three  or 
four  stories  in  height,  gloomy  in  appearance, 
and  into  whose  ca'vernous  walls  many  a  poor 
unfortunate  enters,  but  very  few  return  to  the 
life  and  bustle  of  the  outer  world.  This  typi- 
cal hospital  is  as  far  as  possible  from  the  con- 
ception of  Surgeon-General  Hammond,  or  the 
able  medical  directors  and  surgeons  who  were 
his  coadjutors  in  planning  and  superintending 
the  construction  of  the  General  Hospitals  of  the 
army.  They  started  with  certain  fundamen- 
tal ideas  of  construction,  which  were  carried 
through  all  their  hospitals.  The  first  of  these 
was  ridge  ventilation,  or  the  supplying  a  way 
of  egress  for  the  foul  air  of  the  ward  by  an 
opening  of  from  ten  inches  to  three  feet  at  the 
ridge  or  apex  of  the  roof,  protected  from  the 
admission  of  rain,  snow,  or  violent  winds  by  a 
false  roof,  raised  four  inches  above  the  true  one, 
and  projecting  over  it  on  each  side  about  two 
feet.  A  perforated  iron  plate  near  the  floor  and 
behind  each  bed  admitted  the  fresh  air,  which 
passed  thus  upwards,  and  forced  the  foul  air 
through  the  roof  opening.  This  formed  the 
summer  ventilation.  In  winter  the  fresh  air 
was  admitted  around  the  stove  from  below,  and 
passing  between  the  stove  and  an  outer  casing 
of  zinc,  which  surrounded  it,  was  distributed 
through  the  room ;  while  a  large,  square,  wood- 
en tube,  open  at  the  bottom,  and  extending  to 
the  roof,  received  and  enclosed  the  pipe  of  the 
stove  to  its  termination  above  the  ridge,  and 
thus  became  the  ventilator  of  that  portion  of 
the  ward. 

Another  new  feature  in  the  construction  of 
these  hospitals  was  the  entire  separation  of  the 
wards  from  the  administrative  portion  of  the 
hospital,  and  the  making  of  each  ward  a  single 
one-story  pavilion,  removed  so  far  from  every 
other  ward  or  building,  that  it  could  have  the 
benefit  of  the  sun  and  the  free  circulation  of 
pure  air  on  both  sides  of  it  throughout  the 
day,  while  at  the  same  time  one  end  of  each 
ward  opened  from  a  corridor  which  would 
serve  as  a  covered  hall  for  exercise  to  the  con- 
valescing patients,  and  through  which  there 
was  communication  with  the  administrative 
buildings.  The  pavilions  were  to  have  their 
long  diameter,  where  possible,  a  north  and 


south  line.  Another  point  insisted  upon  was 
that  no  patient  should  have  less  than  1,000  (ex- 
cept under  very  peculiar  circumstances  not  less 
than  1,200)  cubic  feet  of  space,  and  the  air  of 
this,  by  the  system  of  ventilation,  constantly 
changing. 

The  pavilions  were  to  be  raised  at  least  one 
foot,  generally  two,  above  the  ground;  the 
floors  to  be  coated  with  a  mixture  of  beeswax 
and  oil,  to  prevent  any  liquid  from  soaking 
into  them ;  the  baths  and  water-closets  to  be  at 
the  extreme  end  of  the  pavilions,  and  form  an 
angle  with  them,  and  to  be  connected  with 
such  a  system  of  sewerage  as  would  convey  all 
offensive  matters  and  odors  away  instantly.  A 
ward  or  pavilion  was  not  to  contain  more  than 
fifty-two  beds,  and  these  were  to  be  placed  in 
pairs  with  three  feet  space  between  the  two, 
and  each  pair  to  be  placed  between  the  win- 
dows ;  the  two  beds,  occupying  an  average  space 
of  fifteen  feet  in  the  length  of  the  ward,  and  of 
seven  and  a  half  feet  in  width,  and  a  passage 
way  of  ten  feet  to  extend  through  the  middle  of 
the  ward  for  its  whole  length,  thus  making  the 
width  of  each  ward  twenty-five  feet,  .and  its 
length,  if  it  contains  fifty-two  beds,  about  two 
hundred  and  twenty  feet ;  the  additional  twen- 
ty-five feet  being  occupied  with  water  closets, 
scullery,  &c.,  at  one  end,  and  wardmasters', 
nurses'  rooms,  and  mess  room  at  the  other.  In 
the  practical  application  of  these  principles,  it 
has  been  found  better  not  to  have  the  wards 
quite  so  long,  and  they  generally  contain  only 
thirty-six  or  forty-eight  beds,  some  only  twen- 
ty-four) ;  or,  if  there  were  fifty-two,  they  occu- 
pied somewhat  less  than  fifteen  feet  to  the  pair. 
The  first  large  hospital  built  upon  the  principles 
presented  by  the  surgeon-general,  was  the  West 
Philadelphia  Hospital,  situated  at  th  e  intersection 
of  Forty-fourth  and  Spruce  Streets,  half  a  mile 
outside  of  the  limits  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 
"We  subjoin  an  engraving  (fig.  1)  of  the  general 
plan.  The  corridors  are  each  860  feet  long,  14 
feet  wide,  and  13  feet  high,  and  serve  as  mess 
rooms  for  the  pavilion.  There  are  thirty-four 
pavilions,  5  Z>  Z>,  each  24  feet  wide,  and  13  feet 
high  at  the  eaves;  they  are  now  of  unequal 
length,  ranging  from  150  to  250  feet.  Between 
the  corridors  is  the  administrative  building,  «. 
There  are  three  kitchens,  ccc\  two  laundries, 
d  d ;  a  chapel,  e ;  store  rooms,  ff\  a  mess  room 
for  special  occasions,  g ;  two  buildings  for  of- 
ficers' quarters,  h  h  ;  boiler  room,  *' ;  residence 
of  surgeon  in  charge,  Jc ;  water  tanks,  I ;  barber 
shop  and  printing  office,  m  and  n ;  boiler  and 
tank,  o  •  smoking  rooms,  p  p ;  reading  and  lec- 
ture room,  q ;  knapsack  room,  r ;  guard  room,  s ; 
stable,  t ;  guard,  u.  The  pavilions  are  21  feet 
apart,  which  is  too  close  by  at  least  ten  feet. 
The  building  is  of  wood,  lathed  and  plastered 
on  the  outside.  Its  cost,  aside  from  furniture, 
exceeded  $200,000.  It  has  3,124  beds.  The 
number  of  medical  officers  was  fifty-two,  beside 
eighteen  medical  cadets,  and  of  cooks,  nurses, 
and  other  attendants,  four  hundred  and  sixty- 
four.  There  were  also  three  chaplains. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


423 


A  still  finer  example  of  a  great  military  hos-  phia.  This  vast  establishment  consisted  of  50 
pital,  the  largest  in  the  world,  was  the  Mower  pavilions,  each  175  feet  long,  20  wide,  exclu- 
General  Hospital,  at  Chestnut  Hill,  Philadel-  sive  of  the  water  closet  and  scullery  which. 

(Fm.  1.)          


SCALE 


GROUND-PLAN    OF   WEST   PHILADELPHIA   HOSPITAL. 


projected  from  the  pavilion,  14  feet  high  to  the  tened  ellipsoidal  form,  16  feet  wide,  and  2,400 
eaves,  and  19  feet  to  the  ridge.  These  pavil-  feet  long,  enclosing  an  area  of  541,466  square 
ions  projected  in  radii  from  a  corridor  of  flat-  feet.  Across  the  shorter  diameter  of  the  ellip- 


424 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


soid,  as  well  as  around  its  circumference  was  a 
railroad  for  moving  food,  fuel,  furniture,  carry- 
ing the  patients  to  their  wards,  &c.  The  ad- 
ministrative portion  of  the  building  was  in  the 
central  plot.  The  pavilions  were  twenty  feet 
apart  at  the  Corridor,  and  forty  feet  at  the  dis- 
tant extremities,  and  the  circulation  of  air 
around  them  was  thus  secured.  The  sides  of 
the  corridor  were  almost  entirely  composed  of 


glass  sashes,  which,  in  summer,  were  entirely 
removed.  During  inclement  weather  they  were 
closed,  and  the  corridor  furnished  with  fifty  large 
stoves,  and  used  as  an  exercise  hall,  for  those 
patients  who  were  able  to  leave  their  ward.  To 
each  ward,  at  the  end  nearest  the  corridor,  a 
mess  room  was  attached,  sufficiently  large  for 
the  use  of  those  patients  who  were  able  to  leave 
their  beds.  The  following  plan  (fig.  2)  shows 


40  SO        4O       SO      SO      4O     Jff      BO        7O      8U     SCt      400 
GBOUND-PLAN  OP  WARD  PAVILION  OF  CHESTNUT  HILL  HOSPITAL. 


the  arrangement  of  a  ward  pavilion  in  detail :  a 
is  the  ward  room  occupying  150  feet  in  length  of 
the  pavilion,  and  twenty  feet  wide,  containing 
fifty-two  beds ;  5,  the  mess  room ;  e,  scullery ;  <L, 
bath  room ;  e,  water  closet ;  f,  ablution  room ; 
<7,  wardmaster's  room.  The  pavilions  are  four 
or  five  feet  narrower  than  they  should  be,  and 
when  the  beds  are  all  full  there  are  but  960 
cubic  feet  of  air  to  each  patient ;  but  as  this  is 
constantly  changed  by  the  admirable  ventila- 
tion, it  is  nearly  sufficient.  The  number  of 
beds  is  3,320.  There  was  a  force  of  622  offi- 
cers, attendants,  guard,  &c.,  attached  to  the 
hospital.  The  cost  of  the  buildings  was  over 
$250,000.  .The  McClellan  Hospital,  situated 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Philadelphia,  though 
smaller  (1,040  beds),  was,  perhaps,  more  nearly 
perfect  than  any  other  yet  erected.  The  corri- 
dor was  of  a  flattened  ovoidal  form,  from  the 
ends  of  which  the  pavilions  project.  These  pa- 
vilions were  wider,  larger,  and  farther  apart 
than  at  the  Mower  Hospital.  The  administra- 
tive building  was  in  the  centre  and  connected 
with  the  corridor  by  two  straight  passage  ways. 
In  the  ground-plan  (fig.  8),  a  is  the  main  cor- 
ridor ;  5  &  &,  wards ;  e,  administrative  building, 
two  stories  high ;  d,  kitchen ;  e,  laundry ;  /, 
clothing  and  guard  rooms ;  g,  engine  room ;  A, 
stable ;  i,  provision  and  knapsack  store  room ; 
i,  quarters  of  medical  officers  in  charge. 

We  give  below  ground-plans  of  two  other 
military  hospitals  of  large  size,  each  arranging 
the  pavilions  in  a  different  way,  but  all  observ- 
ing the  same  principles.  The  first  was  the 
Hammond  General  Hospital,  at  Point  Lookout 
(fig.  4),  in  which  sixteen  pavilions  project  from 
a  circular  corridor.  The  administrative  build- 
ing was  the  wide  structure  at  the  upper  side  of 
the  circle,  and  the  kitchen,  laundry,  guard 
room,  dead  house,  &c.,  were  in  the  centre. 
The  pavilions  here  are  40  feet  apart  at  the  cor- 


ridor, and  75  feet  at  the  farther  end.  They  are 
145  feet  long,  25  feet  wide,  and  14  feet  high  to 
the  eaves,  and  18  to  the  ridge.  The  ventila- 
tion is  perfect.  Each  patient  has  1,116  cubic 
feet  of  space.  The  second,  the  Lincoln  Gen- 
eral Hospital,  at  Washington  city  (fig.  5),  had 
its  pavilions  placed  en  echelon,  along  a  corridor, 
forming  two  sides  of  an  acute-angled  triangle. 
The  administrative  building  was  at  the  apex, 
and  the  kitchen,  &c.,  inclosed  within  the  angle. 
This  hospital  accommodated  1,200  patients. 
By  this  arrangement  a  thorough  ventilation  of 
each  ward  was  secured,  while  all  the  wards 
had  the  same  direction  and  received  the  rays 
of  the  sun  at  the  same  time — a  matter  of  con- 
siderable importance. 

In  the  West,  large  hospitals  on  some  one 
of  these,  or  similar  plans,  were  erected  at  St. 
Louis,  Louisville,  Nashville,  Madison,  Evans- 
ville,  and  New  Albany,  Indiana ;  and  others  at 
Madison,  Wisconsin;  Davenport,  Iowa;  and 
other  points. 

For  field  hospitals,  the  hospital  tent  is  un- 
doubtedly preferable  to  any  building.  Where 
a  camp  is  somewhat  permanent,  the  ^improved 
Crimean  tent  with  double  walls,  ridge  ventila- 
tion, and  the  admission  of  pure  air  near  the 
floor,  answers  a  good  purpose.  In  both,  special 
attention  should  be  paid  to  ventilation,  and 
over-crowding  carefully  avoided. 

In  the  lighting  and  warming  of  hospitals, 
special  care  is  now  taken  to  avoid  vitiating  the 
air  by  the  gases  produced  by  combustion. 
Where  it  is  possible,  illuminating  gas  is  used, 
but  the  vitiated  air,  and  carbonic  acid  gas,  are 
conducted  off  by  chimneys  in  such  a  way  as  to 
increase  the  ventilation  of  the  ward.  If  gas 
cannot  be  obtained,  the  vegetable  oils  or  par- 
affine,  spermaceti,  or  wax  candles  are  preferable 
to  any  other  modes  of  illumination.  Coal  or 
petroleum  oils,  camphene  and  burning  fluid,  ir- 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 

(Fio.  3.) 


425 


M'CLELLAN  HOSPITAL,  PHILADELPHIA. 


426 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ritate  the  lungs,  and  affect  the  respiration. 
The  animal  oils  give  off  carbon,,  carbonic  acid, 
and  carburetted  hydrogen  in  too  large  quantity 
to  be  desirable.  The  heating  of  the  hospital 
wards  should  be  connected  as  far  as  possible 
with  the  ventilation.  The  usual  method  is  by 
stoves,  though  in  some,  hot  water  is  introduced 
with  advantage.  Kuttan's  system  would  seem 
to  possess  advantages  over  any  other  plan  of 
warming  and  ventilation,  but,  so  far  as  we  are 
aware,  has  not  been  introduced.  The  temper- 
ature in  cold  weather  is  carefully  watched,  and 


is  not  allowed  to  vary  much  from  64°  to  66° 
Fahrenheit. 

The  alimentation  of  the  soldier  is  one  of  the 
most  important  items  in  the  hygienic  condition 
of  an  army.  Great  attention  had  been  paid 
by  the  medical  and  commissary  officers  of  the 
Government,  to  the  arrangement  and  character 
of  the  ration,  in  order  to  furnish  such  combina- 
tions of  food,  and  of  such  quality,  as  should  be 
best  adapted  to  maintain  the  health  and  strength 
of  the  soldier  in  its  greatest  perfection.  The 
rations  of  most  of  the  European  armies  are  de- 


(Fio.  4.) 


GROITND-PLAN  OP  HAMMOND  GENERAL  HOSPITAL,  POINT  LOOKOUT. 


fective  in  these  respects.  The  quantity  of  meat 
is  generally  too  low,  and  in  some,  the  supply 
of  fresh  meat  and  vegetables,  and  of  coffee  and 
sugar,  is  altogether  inadequate.  The  fearful 
prevalence  of  typhus  fevers,  and  of  scurvy  and 
other  cachectic  diseases,  in  the  British  and 
French  armies  in  the  Crimean  war,  was  nn* 
questionably  owing  to  the  poor  quality  and 
scanty  quantity  of  the  rations.  The  British 
soldier  receives  at  home  stations  sixteen  ounces 
of  bread,  and  twelve  ounces  of  flesh  meat  un- 
cooked ;  on  foreign  stations,  sixteen  ounces  of 
bread,  or  twelve  ounces  of  biscuit,  and  sixteen 
ounces  of  meat,  fresh  or  salt.  This  is  charged 


to  him  at  three  and  a  half  pence  per  day  abroad, 
or  four  and  a  half  pence  per  day  at  home.  Cof- 
fee, sugar,  pepper,  potatoes,  salt,  or  whatever 
else  he  may  need,  he  must  purchase  from  his 
own  funds,  where  and  how  he  can.  In  a  few 
of  the  foreign  stations,  as  at  Hong  Kong  and 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  rice,  sugar,  coffee, 
and  salt,  in  insufficient  quantities,  are  issued  as 
component  parts  of  the  ration.  In  the  United 
States  army,  the  ration  is  wholly  independent 
of  the  pay,  and  consisted  of  the  following  arti- 
cles :  bread  or  flour,  1  Ib.  6  oz. ;  fresh  and  salt 
beef,  1  Ib.  4  oz.,  or  pork  or  bacon,  12  oz. ;  po- 
tatoes, 1  Ib.  three  times  a  week ;  rice,  1  Tfi5  oz.; 


427 


coffee,  1  T6g-  oz. ;  or  tea,  &*„•  of  an  oz. ;  sugar,    a  gill ;  salt,  ,Vaff  of  a  gill ;  in  addition  to  the 
2  T\  oz. ;  beans,  ^  of  a  gill ;  vinegar,  ^  of     above,  1  Ib.  of  sperm  candles,  or  1J  Ibs.  of  ad- 


(Fio.  5.) 


GROUND     PLAN 
S  C  A  .L  E 


u 

u 

END     ELEVATION 
SCALE     ife 


LINCOLN   HOSPITAL,   WASHINGTON   CITY. 


amantine  candles,  or  1|  Ibs.  of  tallow  candles,    rations.    Pepper  haa  also  been  recently  added 
and  4  Ibs.  of  soap,  are  issued  to  each  hundred    to  the  ration,  and  extra  issues  of  pickles,  fruits, 


428 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


and  other  vegetables  made,  whenever  the  med- 
ical officers  considered  them  necessary  for  the 
health  of  the  troops. 

It  is  owing  to  the  care  and  persistence  with 
which  the  various  hygienic  measures  were 
urged  upon  the  army,  and  the  great  pains 
taken  to  instruct  and  train  the  army  surgeons 
and  nurses  in  the  hospitals  for  their  duties, 
that  the  army  of  the  United  States,  composed 
almost  wholly  of  volunteers,  whose  whole 
mode  of  life  had  been  changed  by  their  new 
vocations,  the  greater  part  of  them  entirely 
ignorant  of  the  laws  of  health,  with  surgeons 
who  had,  for  the  most  part,  no  previous  train- 
ing in  military  medicine  or  surgery,  and  many 
of  whom  were  utterly  unfitted  for  their  duties, 
maintained  a  lower  sick  rate  as  well  as  a  lower 
rate  of  mortality  than  any  other  army  in  mod- 
ern times.  This  result  was  reached,  too,  while 
the  regions  in  which  the  army  was  stationed 
have  in  general  been  exceedingly  unhealthy  to 
the  unacclimated,  quite  as  insalubrious  as  any 
part  of  Spain,  Portugal,  or  the  Crimea.  The 
attainment  of  so  gratifying  a  result  was  due  in 
a  great  degree  to  the  United  States  Sanitary 
Commission,  which,  by  its  careful,  regular  and 
special  medical  inspections  of  every  army  corps, 
and  all  the  hospitals,  promptly  detected  any 
violations  of  hygienic  laws,  and  took  measures 
to  correct  them ;  published  brief  medical  and 
surgical  tracts  from  the  pens  of  the  ablest  mili- 
tary physicians  in  the  country  and  Europe,  and 
placed  copies  in  the  hands  of  every  army  assist- 
ant surgeon  and  medical  cadet  in  the  army; 
trained  many  of  the  best  nurses  for  camp,  field, 
and  hospital;  provided  anti-scorbutics  in  vast 
quantities  where  they  were  needed,  and  by  its 
ministrations  to  the  -sick  and  wounded,  and  its 
stores  of  cordials,  medicines,  delicacies,  and 
clothing,  powerfully  aided  in  restoring  the  dis- 
abled to  service.  The  assistance  thus  rendered 
to.  the  medical  department  of  the  Government, 
with  which  the  Commission  ever  acted  in  per- 
fect harmony,  saved  many  thousands  of  lives, 
and  made  the  army  far  more  effective  than 
it  otherwise  could  have  been. 

A  brief  comparison  of  the  medical  statistics 
of  the  British  army  in  the  Peninsular  war,  in 
the  war  with  Russia,  and  in  times  of  peace, 
with  those  of  the  army  of  the  United  States 
during  the  recent  war,  will  show  conclusively 
the  beneficial  results  of  the  strict  attention  paid 
to  hygiene  in  the  latter. 

The  average  annual  mortality  in  the  British 
army  during  the  Peninsular  war  was  165  men 
out  of  every  thousand.  Of  these  113  died  by 
disease  or  accident,  and  52  by  wounds  received 
in  action.  From  1803  to  1812  the  average 
annual  death-rate  of  the  entire  British  army 
abroad  was  80  per  1,000 ; — 71  by  disease  or 
accident,  and  9  by  wounds  in  action.  This,  it 
should  be  remembered,  was  in  a -veteran  army 
composed,  not  of  raw  recruits,  bttt  of  men 
hardened  to  exposure  by  years  of  service,  a 
class  of  men  far  less  liable  to  illness  than  raw 
recruits  just  from  the  farm,  the  store,  or  the 


workshop.  In  July,  August,  and  September, 
1854,  the  British  army  in  the  Crimea  lost  at 
the  rate  of  293  men  per  thousand,  per  annum. 
During  the  next  three  months,  October,  No- 
vember, and  December,  the  loss  was  at  the 
annual  rate  of  511  to  every  thousand,  443  of 
which  was  by  disease.  In  January,  1855,  the 
mortality  was  at  the  rate  of  1,174  to  every 
1,000 — equal  to  the  entire  destruction  of  the 
army  in  ten  months,  and  1,143,  or  97  per  cent, 
of  this  .loss  was  by  disease.  During  the  first 
three  months  of  that  year  the  death-rate  was 
912  out  of  every  thousand,  and  98  per  cent,  of 
it  from  disease. 

During  the  entire  campaign  of  2J-  years, 
April,  1854,  to  June,  1856,  the  annual  death- 
rate  was  232  per  1,000,  of  whom  202  were  from 
disease,  and  only  30  from  wounds  received  in 
action.  In  other  words,  during  the  campaign 
of  2^  years,  582  of  every  thousand  men  died 
from  disease  or  wounds  and  505  of  every  thou- 
sand from  disease. 

According  to  the  Register  General's  report 
for  the  year  1861,  the  mortality  among  the 
home  troops  of  Great  Britain  in  that  year  was 
91*24  in  every  thousand  in  a  time  of  peace, 
and  among  the  troops  abroad  the  mortality 
from  sickness  averaged  100  in  every  thousand. 

In  the  armies  of  the  United  States  from  April 
15th,  1861,  to  May  18th,  1862,  the  entire  death- 
rate  was  53  per  1,000,  per  annum,  of  which 
only  44  per  cent,  or  less  than  one-half  was 
from  disease  or  accident..  During  the  year 
and  three  months  next  ensuing  the  loss  from 
wounds  in  battle  was  very  large,  and  during  a 
portion  of  the  time  there  was  a  large  percent- 
age of  sickness  from  typhoid  fever,  diarrhoea, 
dysentery,  small  pox,  etc.,  but  the  death-rate 
did  not  reach  the  ratio  of  the  first  year.  On 
the  30th  of  June,  1863,  there  were  in  the  gen- 
eral hospitals  91  men  for  each  1,000  of  the 
army,  and  in  field  hospitals  44  out  of  every 
1,000,  making  in  all  135  of  each  1,000  sick  or 
wounded,  of  whom  110  were  cases  of  sickness, 
and  25  of  wounds  or  casualties.  This  far  sur- 
passes the  British  army  even  in  time  of  peace. 
In  1861  the  British  troops  in  China  had,  in 
southern  China,  283  out  of  every  1,000  con- 
stantly sick,  and  in  northern  China  205  out  of 
1,000.  Among  the  home  troops,  the  admis- 
sions into  hospital  were  1,025  of  1,000  mean 
strength,  and  545  of  every  1,000  were  con- 
stantly sick.  The  careful  weeding  out  of  in- 
competent surgeons  and  inefficient  nurses,  the 
material  improvement  in  the  ambulance  service, 
and  the  admirable  construction  of  the  new  hos- 
pitals, in  respect  to  temperature  and  ventilation, 
exerted  a  powerful  influence,  notwithstanding 
the  terribly  destructive  battles,  in  diminishing 
the  mortality,  and  promoting  the  recovery  of 
the  sick  in  the  army. 

The  expenditures  during  the  fiscal  year  end- 
ing June  30th,  1863,  for  arms  and  munitions 
of  war,  furnished  by  the  Ordnance  Department 
for  sea  coast  and  frontier  fortifications,  and  for 
the  forces  in  the  field,  amounted  to  $42,313,630. 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


429 


The  cannon,  small  arms,  accoutrements,  and 
equipments  for  men  and  horses,  and  ammuni- 
tion obtained  during  the  same  period  by  pur- 
chase and  manufacture,  were  as  follows : 

1,57T  field,  siege,  and  sea-coast  cannon,  with  carriages, 

caissons,  and  other  implements. 
1,082,841  muskets  and  rifles  for  foot  soldiers. 

282,339  carbines  and  pistols  for  mounted  troops. 
1,251,995  cannon  balls  and  shells. 
48,719,862  pounds  of  lead  and  lead  bullets. 
1,435,046  cartridges  for  artillery. 
259,022,216  cartridges  for  small  arms. 
£47,273,400  percussion  caps. 
8,925,369  friction  primers. 
5,764,768  pounds  of  gunpowder. 

919,676  sets  of  accoutrements  for  men. 
•    94,639  sets  of  equipments  for  cavalry  horses. 

8,281  sets  of  artillery  harness,  each  set  for  two  horses. 

The  quantities  of  the  principal  articles  of 
ordnance  materials  in  the  control  of  the  de- 
partment at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  the 
quantities  of  those  articles  that  have  since 
been  procured,  and  the  quantities  of  those  arti- 
cles on  hand  June  30th,  1863,  are  shown  in  the 
following  table : 


ARTICLES. 

On  hand  at  begin- 
ning of  the  war. 

Procured  since 
the  war  began. 

Siege  and  sea-coast  artillery.  .  . 
Field  artillery  

1,052 
231 
437,433 
81,268 
16,933 
863,591 
1,301,776 
28,247 
8,292,800 
19,808,000 
84,425 
1,110,584 
2,923,348 
10,930 
4,329 
574 
586 

1,064 
2,734 
.     1,950,144 
338,124 
837,555 
2,552,744 
71,776,774 
2,238,746 
522,204,816 
749,475,000 
7,000,000 
13,424,363 
5,231,731 
1,831,300 
194,465 
266,581 
16,660 

Firearms  for  infantry  

Firearms  for  cavalry  

Sabres  

Cannon  balls  and  shells  

Lead  and  lead  bullets,  in  Ibs.  .  . 
Cartridges  for  artillery  

Cartridges  for  small  arms  
Percussion  caps  

Friction  primers  

Gunpowder  in  Ibs  

Saltpetre,  Ibs  

Accoutrements  for  infantry.  .  .  . 
Accoutrements  for  cavalry  
Equipments  for  cavalry  horses. 
Artillery  harness  (double)  

ARTICLES. 

Isened  since  the 
war  began. 

On  hand  for  is- 
1863.              ' 

Siege  and  sea-coast  artillery.  .  . 
Field  artillery  . 

2,083 
2,481 
1,550,575 
827,170 
271,817 
1,745,586 
50,045,515 
2,274,490 
878,534,104 
715,036,470 
6,082,505 
13,071,073 
none. 
1,680,220 
195,298 
211,670 
17,485 

927 
484 
886,231 
82,226 
82,571 
1,180,749 
28,024,025 
492,504 
151,913,012 
74,246,530 
1,005,629 
1,462,874 
8.155,079 
162,010 
2,496 
5,552 
1,767 

Firearms  for  infantry..  . 

Firearms  for  cavalry  .  . 

Sabres  

Cannon  balls  and  shells 

Lead  and  lead  bullets  in  Ibs  
Cartridges  for  artillery  .  .   . 

Cartridges  for  small  arms  
Percussion  caps  

Friction  primers  

Gunpowder  in  Ibs  

Saltpetre,  Ibs  

Accoutrements  for  infantry  
Accoutrements  for  cavalry  
Equipments  for  cavalry  horses. 
Artillery  harness  (double)  

At  the  commencement  of  the  civil  war  the 
amount  of  ordnance  in  the  country  was  not 
large,  though  sufficient  for  all  emergencies 
which  had  thus  far  occurred.  The  Secretary 
of  War  reported  that  there  were  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  United  States,  at  the  beginning  of 
the  war,  1,052  pieces  of  siege  and  sea-coast  ar- 
tillery of  all  calibers,  and  231  pieces  of  field 
artillery.  These  were  of  a  great  variety  of 
sizes,  and  some  of  them  in  unfit  condition  for 
service.  The  larger  sea-coast  artillery  were 
mostly  columbiads,  or,  as  they  are  called  in 


Europe,  Paixhan  guns — smooth-bore  cast-iron 
guns,  cast  solid  and  bored.  A  few  were  Rod- 
man guns,  smooth  bores,  cast  hollow,  and  with 
a  water  core  which  gave  the  inner  surface  of 
the  cannon  the  character  of  chilled  iron.  The 
smaller  guns  were  of  a  great  variety  of  patterns 
and  material — cast-iron,  bronze,  and  brass — and 
their  projectiles  ranging  from  three  to  forty- 
eight  pounds.  The  whole  field  artillery  actively 
organized  consisted  of  seven  batteries,  each  of 
four  guns,  smooth  bore,  six  and  twelve-pounder 
howitzers.  There  was  not  at  that  time  a  single 
rifled  cannon  in  the  United  States  service.  The 
Navy  Department  had  on  hand,  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1861,  2,966  guns  of  all  calibers.  Of 
these,  1,872,  or  nearly  two-thirds,  were  thirty- 
two  pounders,  of  six  different  patterns ;  107 
were  twelve-pounders,  of  two  patterns;  29 
were  twenty-four  pounders;  575  were  eight- 
inch  guns,  of  four  different  patterns ;  27  were 
ten-inch  guns ;  305  were  nine-inch  Dahlgrens ; 
19  ten-inch  Dahlgrens,  and  32  eleven-inch 
Dahlgrens.  Nearly  or  quite  one-half  of  these 
guns  were  captured  by  the  enemy  or  destroyed 
at  the  burning  of  the  navy  yard  at  Portsmouth, 
Va.  Only  555  in  all  were  on  board  ships,  and 
of  these  nearly  one-fourth  were  on  the  ships 
destroyed  at  that  time.  Of  the  army  artillery, 
it  is  doubtful  if  there  were  five  hundred  pieces 
in  serviceable  condition  at  the  command  of 
the  Government  at  the  beginning  of  the  war, 
and  in  the  na,vy  the  amount  of  all  calibers  did 
not  exceed  one  thousand.  Some  of  the  States, 
and  some  private  individuals,  possessed  a  few 
pieces,  usually  of  small  calibre.  'There  had 
been  for  some  years  before  the  public,  several 
inventions  for  the  purpose  of  applying  the  prin- 
ciple of  rifling,  which  had  been  so  successful  in 
small  arms,  to  cannon,  but  none  of  these  had 
been  adopted  by  the  Government,  or  were  in 
use  in  the  field  batteries  or  forts  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  War  Department,  or  in  the  vessels 
of  the  navy.  The  adaptation  of  the  system  of 
rifling  invented  by  Charles  T.  James  for  small 
arms,  was  proposed,  and  repeated  experiments 
were  made  with  it,  but  it  was  found  to  require 
material  modifications,  and  the  death  of  the  in- 
ventor by  the  explosion  of  his  own  cannon,  in 
October,  1862,  caused  the  abandonment  of  the 
efforts  at  improvement  of  that  gun.  Capt.  R. 
P.  Parrott,  of  the  West  Point  foundry,  had  in- 
vented, just  previous  to  the  war,  a  rifle  can- 
non, which,  with  some  improvements  in  the 
projectiles  and  the  method  in  rifling,  proved  the. 
most  successful  of  the  numerous  attempts  at 
producing  rifled  cannon  in  this  country.  It  was 
a  muzzle  loader  (the  breech-loading  cannon 
having  proved  objectionable),  and  consisted  of 
a  cast-iron  gun,  much  lighter  than  ordinary,  but 
having  a  "  reinforce  "  or  cylindrical  jacket  of 
wrought-iron  shrunk  around  the  breach  at  the 
seat  of  the  charge. 

The  charge  for  the  8-inch  or  200-pounder 
gun,  was  16  Ibs.  The  'projectiles  weighed  about 
150  Ibs.,  and  the  ranges  as  ascertained  in  the 
siege  of  Charleston,  Mrere  somewhat  greater 


430 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


than  those  of  the  100-pounder.  At  the  greatest 
elevation  the  range  attained  exceeded  five  miles. 
The  300-pounder  weighed  26,000  Ibs.,  used  a 
charge  of  25  Ibs.,  and  a  projectile  weighing 
250  Ibs.  At  an  elevation  of  35°  it  has  thrown 
this  formidable  missile  over  five  and  one-fourth 
miles. 

For  siege  purposes,  for  attacks  on  fortifica- 
tions by  vessels  of  the  Monitor  type,  and  for 
naval  conflicts  requiring  great  weight  of  metal, 
the  Government  adopted  the  Rodman  guns  of 
8,  10, 13, 45,  and  20-inch  caliber,  and  the  Dahl- 
gren  of  9,  1C,  and  11 -inch  caliber,  the  latter 
exclusively  for  the  navy.  Both  these  guns  are 
smooth  bores,  though  a  very  few  of  the  Dahl- 
grens  have  been  rifled.  The  Rodman  gun, 
named  after  Major  Rodman  of  the  regular  army, 
who  is  the  inventor  and  superintendent  of  its 
manufacture,  is  of  iron,  cast  hollow,  and  the 
core  is  kept  cool  during  the  casting  by  a  con- 
stant stream  of  cold  water  passing  through  it. 

The  following  table  shows  the  weight  of  each 
size,  the  service  charge,  and  the  weight  of  the 
solid  shot  thrown  by  each : 


Size  of  Gun. 

Weight. 

Service  Charge. 

Weight  of  eolid  shot 

Eight-inch.  .  . 
Ten-inch  
Thirteen-lnch 
Fifteen-inch  . 
Twenty-inch. 

9,240  Ibs. 
15,400    " 
88,000    " 
49,000    " 
116,000    " 

10  Ibs. 

18    " 
80    " 
50    " 
100   " 

65  Ibs. 
128    " 
294    " 
480    " 
1,000    " 

Of  the  9, 10  and  11-inch  Dahlgren  guns,  about 
804  had  been  made  since  the  war.  commenced, 
and  about  200  more  were  to  be  furnished  by 
the  close  of  the  year  1863.  Of  the  Rodman 
guns,  the  number  has  been  over  2,000. 

For  field  service  the  ten  and  twenty-pound 
Parrott,  the  brass  twelve-pounders  (Napoleons, 
as  they  are  generally  called),  and  for  light  artil- 
ery  the  steel  cannon  manufactured  by  Krupp, 
of  Prussia,  and  the  Wiaixl  guns,  were  all  in  use, 
though  the  preference  was  given  to  the  first 
three.  The  Wiard  gun  is  a  breech  loader,  with 
a  long  and  slender  barrel,  except  at  the  breech, 
which  is  very  bulky,  and  composed  of  successive 
layers  of  hard  and  soft  metals. 

The  Confederates  introduced  a  new  rifled  gun 
into  their  service,  invented  by  Capt.  Brooke, 
one  of  their  artillery  officers.  It  seems  to 
bear  a  stro'hg  resemblance  to  the  Blakely 
(English)  and  Treadwell  guns,  and  is  hooped 
with  iron  or  steel  bands  closely  adherent  to 
the  cannon,  not  merely  at  the  seat  of  the 
charge,  but  along  its  whole  length.  Dr.  Girard, 
4  French  writer  formerly  resident  in  this  coun- 
try, and  who  has,  since  the  war,  visited  Charles- 
ton, describes  it  as  follows:  "An  attentive  ob- 
server would  not  fail  to  remark  the  circular 
bands  closely  united  to  the  piece,  and  which 
are  destined  to  give  a  better  resisting  force. 
With  regard  to  its  rifling  it  is  on  the  system 
of  inclined  planes  instead  of  grooves.  The 
projectiles  are  of  forged  (wrought)  iron.  Those 
I  had  an  opportunity  of  examining  were  adapt- 
ed to  7-inch  guns.  Their  form  is  elongated, 
cylindrical  nearly  their  entire  length,  with  the 
exception  of  the  front  part,  which  is  slightly 


conical  and  rounded  at  its  periphery.  The  two 
extremities  are  vertical.  The  hinder  part  which 
presents  itself  to  the  breech  of  the  piece  bears 
on  its  circumference  a  bell-mouthed  groove,  and 
receives  a  copper  ring  whose  ends  nearly  meet 
at  the  end  of  the  projectile.  The  projectile  has 
bands  of  copper  running  round  it,  one  about 
four  inches  from  the  front,  and  the  other  close 
to  the  hinder  part.  These  bands  alone  are  des- 
tined to  take  the  rifling  of  the  piece.  The  mean 
length  of  these  projectiles  is  12  inches,  their 
posterior  diameter  6^%,  their  anterior  diameter 
Gy8^,  and  their  weight  from  116  to  120  Ibs. 
At  a  distance  of  260  yards,  and  with  a  charge 
of  12  Ibs.  of  powder,  they  penetrated  four 
iron  plates  of  two  inches  each,  backed  with  18 
inches  of  oak,  the  whole  fixed  against  a  clayey 
cliff." 

The  form  and  material  of  the  projectiles  for 
rifled  ordance  were  a  matter  of  profound  study 
and  research  with  numerous  inventors.  The 
Government,  after  a  great  number  of  careful  and 
thorough  trials,  gave  the  preference  to  the  in- 
ventions of  four  manufacturers,  viz. :  the  Par- 
rott, Shenkl,  Hotchkiss,  and  Sawyer  projectiles. 
The  Parrott  projectile,  whether  shell  or  shot,  is 
long,  pointed  at  the  anterior  extremity,  and  of 
smaller  circumference  in  the  centre  than  at 
either  extremity.  The  base  alone  fits  closely  to 
the  bore  of  the  cannon,  and  has  a  ring  of  soft 
brass  or  a  cup  of  the  same  metal,  which  by 
the  expansive  force  of  the  gas  of  the  projecting 
charge,  is  driven  into  the  grooves  to  an  extent 
sufficient  to  give  it  the  rotary  motion,  and  the 
extensive  range  of  the  rifle.  The  Hotchkiss  and 
Sawyer  projectiles  use  a  metallic  alloy  of  lead 
and  antimony  as  a  jacket  to  be  forced  into  the 
grooves  of  the  rifled  ordnance,  and  the  Shenkl 
missile  applies  papier  mache"  to  the  same  pur- 
pose. In  all  three,  the  softer  material  is  driven 
upon  the  tapering  spindle  of  the  iron  which 
forms  the  body  of  the  projectile,  from  its  poste- 
rior portion,  by  the  force  of  the  expansion  pro- 
duced by  the  ignition  of  the  powder,  and  held 
there  by  shoulders  projecting  from  the  iron 
itself,  and  the  rotary  motion  is  thus  imparted 
nearer  the  centre  of  gravity  than  in  the  Parrott 
projectile.  The  Roberts  projectile  has  a  core 
of  iron  tapering  to  a  point  at  the  posterior 
end,  with  a  shoulder  near  the  anterior  ex- 
tremity, and  the  soft  metal  (lead  and  antimony) 
which  forms  the  jacket  is  in  sufficient  quan- 
tity to  render  the  projectile  cylindrical  in  form, 
and  is  forced  forward  by  the  action  of  the 
gas  so  as  to  check  all  windage  and  make  the 
anterior  portion  of  the  projectile  heaviest. 
The  inventor  claimed  for  it  better  range,  less 
deflection,  no  danger  of  stripping,  and  economy 
of  cost  of  the  missile  itself,  and  of  wear  or  in- 
jury to  the  gun.  His  shell  projectile,  con- 
structed externally  in  the  same  way,  is  a  per- 
cussion shell,  for  which  he  claims  safety  from 
accidental  explosion,  and  certainty  of  explosion 
at  the  moment  of  impact. 

The  improvements  in  the  construction  of  small 
arms  brought  into  notice  by  the  war,  have 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


431 


been  even  more  remarkable  than  those  which 
have  been  made  in  cannon.  The  old  classifi- 
cation of  breech  and  muzzle  loaders  is  still 
maintained ;  but  while,  for  the  greatest  possible 
accuracy  in  target-shooting,  or  that  capacity 
for  hitting  with  almost  unerring  certainty  a 
small  object  at  very  long  range,  which  has  been 
displayed  by  some  of  our  sharpshooters,  the 
American  target  rifle,  with  its  "telescopic 
sight,"  "false  muzzle,"  and  "starter,"  have  no 
equal,  the  weapon  is  too  heavy  (weighing  from 
26  to  50  Ibs.),  and  too  delicately  constructed, 
to  answer  for  military  service  or  for  hunting, 
where  it  must  be  carried  by  the  huntsman. 
The  Springfield  government  rifle,  a  muzzle 
loading  weapon  without  the  adjuncts  named, 
to  insure  perfect  accuracy,  is  nevertheless  as 
good  a  muzzle-loading  rifle  as  can  be  made  for 
military  use,  where  weight,  facility  of  carriage, 
and  ease  of  handling  are  concerned. 


It  is  worthy  of  note,  however,  that  all  the 
improvements  in  the  rifle  which  have  been  made 
within  ten  years  past  have  been  confined  to  the 
breech-loading  weapon.  Breech-loading  guns 
may  be  divided  into  two  general  classes,  the 
first  including  those  which  may  be  loaded  with 
loose  powder  and  ball,  or  a  paper,  linen,  or  metal 
cartridge  requiring  a  cap  for  its  ignition,  and 
the  second  those  which  use  a  metallic  cartridge, 
having  the  fulminating  composition  in  its  base, 
which  is  fired  by  a  blow  of  the  hammer  directly 
upon  the  cartridge  itself.  This  last  class  may 
be  further  subdivided  into  those  which  use  only 
a  single  metallic  cartridge,  and  require  reload- 
ing after  each  shot,  and  the  magazine,  or  repeat- 
ing rifle,  in  which  a  number  of  cartridges  are 
inserted  in  a  receptacle  prepared  for  them,  and 
which  may  then  be  fired  in  rapid  succession  till 
the  magazine  is  emptied. 

The   metallic  cartridge   certainly  possesses 


Merrill  Rifle  In  position  for  cleaning. 


Merrill's  Sporting  Rifle. 


432 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


some  advantages  over  the  ordinary  paper  or 
linen  cartridge,  or  over  the  method  of  loading 
•with  loose  powder  and  ball.  It  is  water-proof, 
avoids  the  difficulty  of  loading  in  the  ordinary 
way.  Where,  in  the  excitement  of  battle,  the 
bullet  is  often  put  in  before  the  powder,  obvi- 
ates the  necessity  of  measuring  the  charge,  does 
away  with  the  ramrod,  the  priming  wire,  and 
the  percussion  cap,  and  enables  the  soldier  to 
deliver  his  fire  with  great  rapidity,  without 
sacrificing  precision  or  aim.  The  principal  and 
most  serious  objections  to  them  are  their  liabil- 
ity to  premature  explosion  in  the  hands  of  the 
gunner  (which  seems  to  be  obviated  in  some  of 
the  rifles  using  this  cartridge),  and  the  danger  of 
their  explosion  from  concussion,  as  by  a  serious 
blow  on  the  cartridge-box  of  the  soldier,  or  its 
being  struck  by  a  bullet  or  a  fragment  of  shell. 

The  first  of  the  breech-loading  rifles  which 
have  come  into  very  general  use  was  SHARPS', 
a  very  simple  but  effective  weapon,  using  ordi- 
narily a  patent  cartridge  with  a  conical  ball, 
the  cartridge  enclosed  in  stout  linen,  but  capa- 
ble of  being  used  effectually  also  with  loose 
powder  and  ball.  It  may  be  fitted  with  Sharps' 
or  Maynard's  primer,  or  with  a  percussion  cap. 
The  rifle  is  small,  light,  and  has  a  very  long 
range,  and  is  thus  an  excellent  weapon  for  cav- 
alry service,  for  which  purpose  it  has  been 
largely  used. 

The  MERRILL  rifle,  the  invention  of  a  Balti- 
morean,  belongs  to  the  same  class  as  Sharps', 
and  like  it  uses  the  prepared  paper  cartridge 
and  conical  ball,  or  the  ordinary  round  ball 
with  loose  powder.  It  is  fired  with  the  com- 
mon percussion-cap.  It  is  said  not  to  be  liable 
to  fouling  or  to  the  escape  of  gas  at  the  breach, 
and  to  possess  a  range  fully  equal  to  the  Sharps'. 
It  is  so  simple  in  its  construction  that  muzzle- 
loading  rifles  of  any  pattern  can  be  easily  and 
without  weakening  transformed  into  breech- 
loaders, on  its  plan,  and  the  Government  have 
caused  large  numbers  of  rifles  to  be  thus 
changed  with  great  advantage.  Two  drawings 
are  subjoined  (see  previous  page),  showing  the 
construction  of  the  military  rifle  and  the  sport- 
ing-rifle complete.  The  cavalry  carbine  of  the 
MerYill  patent  weighs  but  6  J  Ibs.  and  the  infan- 
try rifle  bat  9  Ibs. 

ASHCROFT'S  rifle,  another  new  weapon  be- 
longing to  the  same  class,  is  highly  commended 
by  Mr.  H.  W.  S.  Cleveland,  author  of  "  Hints 
to  Riflemen,"  and  decidedly  one  of  the  highest 
authorities  in  this  country  on  the  subject  of 
rifles  for  military  or  sporting  use.  "  The  breech 
block  of  this  rifle  is  constructed  with  a  cylin- 
drical gas-check,  which  enters  the  breech  of 
the  barrel  and  shuts  against  a  shoulder ;  and  this 
gas-check  being  slightly  concave  in  its  external 
form,  the  effect  of  the  explosion  is  to  strengthen 
and  thereby  to  lengthen  it,  so  as  to  press  it 
against  the  shoulder,  and  effectually  to  prevent 
the  slightest  escape  of  gas.  The  proof  that  it 
does  so  is  afforded  by  the  fact  that  it  has  been 
fired  eight  hundred  times  in  succession  without 
cleaning,  and  the  working  of  the  parts  WAS  as 


easy  at  the  last  as  at  the  first,  and  the  gas- 
check  itself  remained  as  bright  and  unsullied 
as  before  it  was  used,  which  would  not  have 
been  the  case  had  there  been  any  escape  of 
gas."  ....  "The  whole  arrangement  of  the 
working  parts  is  admirably  simple  and  effective, 
and  no  breech-piece  of  solid  metal  could  be 
more  safe  and  unyielding  than  this  when  fixed 
in  position ;  and  by  a  very  simple  arrangement, 
it  is  impossible  to  fire  the  gun  till  this  position 
is  attained."  Mr.  Cleveland  made  a  thorough 
experiment  of  the  powers  of  this  rifle,  in  com- 
parison with  several  others,  as  to  the  penetra- 
tion of  the  shot  at  thirty  yards.  The  target 
was  made  of  inch  pine  boards,  free  from  knots 
and  of  even  grain,  and  it  exceeded  all  others 
except  the  Greene  rifle,  of  which  we  shall  speak 
presently,  which  was  a  much  longer  weapon, 
and  used  a  heavier  bullet  and  a  much  larger 
charge  of  powder.  As  compared  with  the 
Sharps'  rifle  of  the  same  length  and  using  the 
same  cartridge,  its  average  penetration  was 
found  to  be  one  inch  greater. 

GREENE'S  rifle,  patented  by  Lieut.  Col.  J. 
Durell  Greene,  United  States  Army,  in  1857, 
and  now  manufactured  at  Worcester,  Mass.,  is 
a  weapon  of  great  merit.  Though  a  breech- 
loader, its  construction  is  entirely  different 
from  any  other  rifle  in  the  market.  It  has 
been  introduced  into  the  French  and  Russian 
service,  and  is  regarded  with  great  favor  in 
both.  This  is  the  only  rifle  manufactured  in 
this  country  on  the  Lancaster  system  of  rifling, 
that  is,  with  an  elliptic  instead  of  a  grooved 
bore,  which  imparts  the  rotary  motion  by  giv- 
ing the  longest  diameter  of  the  ellipse  a  turn 
of  three-fourths  in  the  length  of  the  barrel. 
The  bullet  is  round,  but  assumes  the  elliptic 
shape  on  entering  the  barrel,  though  the  varia- 
tion from  a  sphere  is  but  slight.  The  peculiar- 
ities in  the  construction  of  the  gun  are  as  fol- 
lows :  a  cylinder  of  iron  containing  a  breech- 
plug,  which  slides  backward  and  forward  within 
it,  is  inserted  at  the  breech  of  the  barrel,  and 
moved  forward  by  a  projecting  knob,  which 
moves  in  a  slot' on  the  top  of  the  barrel  till  it 
closes  the  breech,  when  it  is  turned  to  the 
right  and  secured  in  place  by  shoulders.  The 
knob  is  held  by  a  catch,  which  may  be  loos- 
ened by  pressing  a  pin  at  the  breech  of  the  bar- 
rel. The  hammer  is  on  the  under  side,  in  front 
of  the  guard,  and  the  nipple  is  so  arranged  that 
the  fire  is  first  communicated  at  the  forward 
end  of  the  cartridge,  thus  insuring  the  ignition 
of  all  of  the  powder.  The  cartridge  has  the 
bullet  in  its  base,  with  a  greased  wad  between 
it  and  the  powder,  which,  with  the  bullet, 
packs  the  joint  perfectly  at  every  discharge,  . 
and  prevents  the  slightest  escape  of  gas.  Af- 
ter each  discharge  this  bullet  is  pushed  forward 
by  the  breech  plug  to  the  end  of  the  chamber, 
the  cylinder  is  then  drawn  back,  and  the  car- 
tridge inserted  in  the  slot  which  is  thus  opened. 
The  cylinder  is  then  pushed  forward,  pressing 
the  cartridge  before  it,  and  the  knob  being 
turned  to  the  side  and  the  nipple,  capped,  the 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


433 


gun  is  ready  to  fire.  The  movements  are  per- 
fectly simple,  and  all  the  parts  are  strong  and 
well  adapted  to  stand  the  rough  usage  of  mili- 
tary service.  The  Greene  rifle  is  made  with  a 
36-inch  barrel,  and  this  size  carries  a  bullet 
weighing  575  grains  or  1^  ounces,  and  requires 
a  charge  of  88  grains  of  powder.  With  this 
charge  its  power  of  penetration  is  greater  at 
thirty  yards  than  any  other  of  the  modern 
rifles  with  the  possible  exception  of  the  Whit- 
worth,  in  which  a  leaden  bolt,  not  a  ball,  is 
used.  In  Mr.  Cleveland's  experiments  with  ten 
different  rifles,  this  penetrated  his  target  of  pine 
boards  thirteen  inches,  while  the  Ashcroft  penr 
etrated  eleven  inches,  and  the  others  ranged 
from  six  to  ten  inches.  It  is  fair  to  say,  how- 
ever, that  the  others  had  all  shorter  barrels, 
ranging  from  twenty  to  thirty-one  inches,  and 
carried  smaller  bullets,  the  charge  of  powder 
being  also  less. 

The  MAYNABD  rifle,  invented  in  1851  by  Dr. 
Edward  Maynard,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  but 
since  that  time  considerably  improved,  is  a 
most  ingenious  instrument,  and  for  efficiency, 
strength,  and  simplicity  has  hardly  been  equal- 
led. It  is  remarkably  compact,  and  without 
any  sacrifice  of  strength.  The  barrel  can  be 
disconnected  from  the  stock  by  the  removal  of 
a  single  pin,  and  the  whole  gun  can  then  be 
packed  in  a  case  20  x  6  x  1  inch.  Barrels  of 
different  calibre,  either  for  shot  or  rifled,  may 
be  fitted  to  the  same  stock  and  changed  in  a 


few  seconds.  Springs,  bolts,  and  catches  are 
not  used  in  this  rifle,  but  the  ends  required  are 
attained  by  the  careful  adjustment  and  excel- 
lent finish  of  the  several  parts,  which  work 
with  mathematical  precision,  and  give  it  the 
solidity  of  a  mass  of  steel,  wh'ich  is  not  affected 
by  any  strain  to  which  it  can  be  exposed.  The 
ammunition  is  contained  in  a  metallic  cartridge, 
having  an  aperture  in  the  base  through  which 
the  fire  is  communicated  from  the  cap.  These 
cartridges  are  so  constructed  that  when  charged, 
by  means  of  a  very  simple  implement  which 
accompanies  every  gun,  the  ball  is  not  only  of 
necessity  mathematically  exact  in  its  position, 
but  is  held,  without  compressing  the  cartridge 
(as  is  done  hi  the  self-exploding  cartridges) 
simply  by  being  fitted  to  it,  so  firmly  that  it 
cannot  be  moved  after  being  placed  in  the 
chamber  (which  is  enough  larger  than  the  cali- 
bre to  admit  of  the  presence  of  the  cartridge), 
in  any  direction  except  with  a  perfectly  true 
delivery  through  the  calibre.  The  cartridges 
can  be  used  over  and  over  again  for  an  indefi- 
nite period,  being  loaded  by  the  gunner  him- , 
self.  There  is  also  an  arrangement  for  using 
loose  ammunition,  the  ball  being  first  inserted 
at  the  breech,  and  followed  by  a  cartridge  or 
charger,  which  is  simply  filled  from  the  flask 
at  each  shot.  By  a  recent  improvement  the 
empty  cartridge  after  firing  is  started  from  its 
place  by  the  act  of  raising  the  breech  for  re- 
loading, so  that  it  may  easily  be  withdrawn. 


MAYXAED  BUTE.— Fig.  1.  Sho-ning  Rifle  loaded,  cocked,  and  with  back  sight  raised. 


MAYNAKD  EIFLE. — Fig.  2.  Showing  Eifle  in  position  to  receive  the  cartridge,  and  •with  the  magazine  also  opened,  shearing 

the  primer. 
28 


434 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


The  Maynard  primer,  used  in  connection  with 
this  rifle,  and  invented  for  it  by  Dr.  Maynard, 
consists  of  a  narrow  strip  of  varnished  paper 
of  double  thickness,  having  deposits  of  fulmi- 
nating powder  in  cells  between  the  two,  at 
equal  distances  apart.  Each  strip  contains  three 
dozen  of  these  cells,  equivalent  to  the  same 
number  of  caps.  The  strip  is  coiled  in  a  mag- 
azine concealed  beneath  the  lock-plate,  and 
brought  up  by  the  motion  of  a  wheel  in  the  act 
of  cocking,  so  as  to  bring  a  cell  directly  upon 
the  top  of  the  nipple.  The  fall  of  the  hammer 
explodes  it  and  at  the  same  time  cuts  off  the 
paper  behind,  so  that  it  is  not  seen  again  till 
the  gun  is  again  cocked.  Mr.  Cleveland,  after 
long  experience,  prefers  the  smaller  sized  barrel 
£T3/jT  inch  calibre)  to  the  larger,  which  is  of  half 
inch  calibre,  as  being  better  adapted  to  its 
charge.  He  says  of  this  smaller  calibre,  "In 
accuracy  and  force  I  have  never  seen  it  sur- 
passed by  any  gun  fit  for  field  service."  We 
subjoin  two  cuts  of  this  rifle,  one  showing  it 
loaded,  cocked,  and  with  back  sight  raised ;  the 
other  in  position  to  receive  the  cartridge,  and 
with  the  magazine  opened,  showing  the  primer. 

The  SMITH'S  patent  breech-loading  rifle,  man- 
ufactured by  Poultney  &  Trimble  of  Baltimore, 
is  another  very  simple,  yet  accurate  and  effect- 
;  ive  rifle.  The  cuts  show  its  construction  as 
completely  as  any  description.  There  is  noth- 
ing about  it  which  can  get  out  of  order.  Its 
range  is  2,000  yards  or  more,  and  it  can  be 
fired  ten  timea  a  minute.  The  cartridge  used 
for  this  rifle  is  a  metallic  one,  but  the  case  col- 
lapses after  firing,  and  can  be  withdrawn  by  a 
single  motion  of  the  finger.  It  has  not  the  ful- 
minating powder,  but  uses  an  ordinary  percus- 
sion cap. 

The  BtiENSiDE  rifle  belongs  to  the  same  class. 
It  is  now  manufactured  by  the  Burnside  Rifle 
Co.  in  Providence,  and  is  a  breech-loader,  hap- 
ing  a  breech-piece  of  wrought  iron  morticed  to 
receive  the  chamber  and  movable  breech-pin. 
The  upper  end  of  this  breech-piece  is  screwed 
to  the  lower  end  of  the  barrel,  which  is  of  cast- 
steel  and  rifled  with  a  gain-twist.  The  opening 
and  closing  the  guard  and  its  attachments  are 
analogous  to  those  of  opening  and  closing  a 
door  by  a  thumb-latch  and  catch.  The  cart- 
ridge is  similar  to  that  of  the  Smith  rifle ;  but 
by  a  slight  peculiarity  in  its'  construction,  and 
that  of  the  chamber  and  perforated  platinum 
case  which  fits  to  it,  it  is  water  and  air-tight 
when  loaded.  It  is  fired  with  a  common  per- 
cussion cap. 

Of  the  rifles  using  the  self-exploding  metal- 
lic cartridge,  two  only  have  much  reputation,* 
among  those  which  are  not  repeating  guns,  and 
must  be  .recharged  for  every  shot.  These  are 
F.  Wesson's  and  Ballard's.  The  WESSON  rifle 
is  light,  the  24-inch  barrel  weighing  only  six 
pounds,  and  the  28  and  34-inch  barrels  not 
over  seven  and  eight  pounds  respectively.  Dr. 
I.  J.  Wetherbee,  of  Boston,  an  experienced  and 
skilful  shot,  gives  the  result  of  extensive  trials 
of  this  rifle  with  others,  and  gives  it  the  pref- 


erence  over  all  others  in  accuracy,  penetration, 
and  range,  and  thinks  it  equal  in  rapidity  of 
Sring  .to  most  others.  The  28  and  34-inch  bar- 
rels he  regards  as  preferable  to  the  24-inch. 
At  the  Massachusetts  State  trial  of  breech-load- 
ing arms  at  Readville,  the  Wesson  rifle  placed 
twenty  successive  shots  in  the  target  at  200 
yards,  and  50  shots  were  fired  from  it  in  lesa 
than  five  minutes.  The'  annexed  cuts  repre- 


Bmith's  Breech-loading  Rifle. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


435 


sent  it  in  position  for  loading,  and  ready  to  The  empty  cartridge  is  then  withdrawn  by 
fire.  In  loading,  the  breech  is  elevated  by  a  hand,  a  new  one  inserted,  and  the  barrel  re- 
movement  somewhat  like  that  of  the  Maynard.  stored  to  its  place,  in  which  it  is  held  by  a 


Smith's  Breech-loading  Eifle. 


catch,  which  is  loosened  by  a  trigger  in  front  in  its  place.    The  piece  is  remarkable  for  ele- 

of  the  one  by  which  the  piece  is  discharged,  gance  of  form  and  perfection  of  mechanical 

The  hammer  cannot  be  drawn  back  beyond  finish. 

Lalf-cock  till  this  catch  has  secured  the  barrel  The  BALLABD  military  rifle  is  so  arranged 


Wesson's  Eifle  in  position  for  loading. 


"Wesson's  Eifle  ready  to  fire. 


that  it  may  be  used  with  the  metallic  cartridge  block  sinks  perpendicularly,  carrying  the  ham- 

or  with  the  ordinary  soldiers'  cartridge,  to  be  mer  with  it,  and  throwing  it  back  to  half-cock, 

fired  with  a  cap.     The  breech  of  the  rifle  is  The  empty  cartridge  is  then  removed  by  means 

opened  for  the  insertion  of  the  cartridge,  by  of  a  finger-piece  under  the  barrel,  attached  to 

drawing  down  the  guard,  when  the  breech-  a  slide,  which  pushes  out  the  cartridge  by 


436 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


pressing  against  its  flange,  and  is  then  restored 
to  its  place  by  a  spring.  The  rifle  shoots  with 
great  accuracy,  putting  every  shot  into  a  six- 
inch  ring  at  four  or  five  hundred  yards,  in  the 
hands  «f  a  good  marksman.  The  velocity  of 
its  shot  is  somewhat  less  than  that  of  the  Wes- 
son, Maynard,  or  Colt  rifles. 

There  are  three  models  of  repeating  arms 
which  have  gained  a  high  reputation :  Colt's  re- 
volving rifles,  and  the  Henry  and  Spencer  re- 
peating rifles. 

The  COLT'S  rifle  is  constructed  on  the  same 
general  principle  as  his  pistols.  A  revolving 
ch&mher,  fitted  either  for  five  or  six  shots,  re- 
ceives the  charges,  which  may  be  either  loose 
powder  and  ball  or  cartridges ;  a  rammer,  which 


COLT'S  KIFLE. 


is  moved  by  a  lever,  insures  their  being  sent 
home  perfectly  true,  and  the  balls  fit  so  exactly 
to  the  bore  of  the  chambers  as  to  close  them 
hermetically.  The  calibre  of  the  barrel  being 
.02  of  an  inch  less  than  that  of  the  chambers, 
the  ball  is  necessarily  forced  to  fit  itself  exactly 
to  the  grooves,  which  are  seven  in  number,  and 
cut  with  a  gain  twist  (that  is,  revolving  more 
rapidly  toward  the  muzzle  than  toward  the 
breech  of  the  gun.)  The  charge  is  fired  with 
a  cap,  and  the  working  of  all  the  parts  is  sim- 
ple and  exact.  Like  all  of  the  weapons  from 
this  famous  manufactory,  the  excellence  of  the 
material  and  workmanship  are  not  surpassed. 
The  annexed  cuts  give  an  idea  of  the  construc- 
tion of  this  rifle : 

Mr.  Cleveland  states  that  he  has  with  open 
sights  placed  ten  successive  shots  from  this -rifle 
in  a  nine-inch  ring  at  two  hundred  yards,  and 
Lieutenant  Hans  Busk,  of  the  Victoria  Rifles, 
placed  forty-six  out  of  forty-eight  shots  inside 
a  twenty-four-inch  ring  at  four  hundred  yards, 
and  the  other  two  less  than  an  inch  outside, 
while  eighteen  of  the  forty-eight  were  inside  a 
ring  eight  inches  in  diameter.  He  says :  "  For 
efficiency  and  strength  of  shooting  nothing  can 
beat  it."  General  Marcy,  U.  S.  A.,  pronounces 
it  the  most  reliable  and  certain  weapon  to  fire 
that  he  has  evf  r  used,  and  says,  that  if  he  were 
alone. upon  the  prairies,  and  expected  an  at- 
tack from  a  body  of  Indians,  he  is  not  ac- 
quainted with  any  arm  he  would  as  soon  have 
in  his  hands  as  this.  The  objections  to  it  are, 
that  it  takes  longer  to  load  than  any  of  the 
other  breech-loaders ;  but  when  loaded,  its 
five  or  six  shots  can  be  delivered  with  great 
rapidity)  ;  it  is  not  so  easy  to  clean  as  the  me- 
tallic cartridge  rifles,  and  is  liable  to  be  affected 
by  dirt  and  rust  in  its  working  parts  to  an  ex- 
tent/which would  be  objectionable  to  its  mili- 
tary use.  For  hunting  purposes  it  is  admi- 
rable. 

The  SPEXOEE  repeating  rifle  is  a  compara- 
tively new  arm,  having  been  patented  in  1860. 
It  uses  the  metallic  self-exploding  cartridge, 
and  has  a  magazine  in  the  breech  of  the  gun 
securely  protected  from  all  danger  of  accidental 
explosion,  containing,  in  the  army  and  navy 
rifle  seven,  and  in  the  sporting  rifle  nine,  cart- 
ridges, which  are  fed  successively  to  the  cham- 
ber by  means  of  a  spiral  spring,  and  with  such 
precision  as  to  avoid  the  possibility  of  their  not 
taking  the  grooves  properly.  An  ordinarily 
skilled  marksman  can  discharge  the  seven  loads 
in  twelve  seconds,  and  whole  platoons  of  sol- 
diers waiting  for  the  word  of  command  can 
fire  with  good  aim  once  in  three  seconds. 
When  the  seven  charges  are  fired,  the  rifle  is 
held  with  the  muzzle  pointing  downward,  and 
a  tube  being  withdrawn,  which  contains  the 
spiral  spring  which  pushes  the  cartridges  for- 
ward, they  are  dropped  into  the  magazine  and 
the  tube  replaced.  The  operation  requires  but 
a  very  short  time,  and  the  soldier  or  sports- 
man is  ready  to  fire  his  seven  shots  again.  The  , 
gun  is  not  liable  to  foul  or  to  get  out  of  order, 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


437 


and  its  range  and  force  are  good.  It  will  throw 
a  ball  two  thousand  yards,  and  will  seldom 
miss  its  mark  at  from  seven  hundred  to  a  thou- 
sand. At  a  distance  of  from  thirty  to  fifty 
yards,  it  will  penetrate  a  pine  target  to  a  depth 
of  from  nine  to  thirteen  inches.  It  was  used 
with  terrible  effect  by  the  Union  troops  at  Get- 
tysburg and  Chickamauga,  and  in  some  other 
battles  of  the  war.  At  Gettysburg,  it  was  said 
by  eye-witnesses  that  the  head  of  the  column 
(opposed  to  the  troops  armed  with  this  weapon), 
as  it  was  pushed  on  by  those  behind,  appeared 


to  melt  away  or  sink  into  the  earth,  for  though 
continually  moving  it  got  no  nearer.  Acting 
Brigadier-General  John  T.  Wilder,  of  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland,  in  command  of  a  brigade 
of  mounted  infantry  armed  with  this  rifle,  wrote 
on  the  28th  of  November,  1863,  that  at  Hoover's 
Gap,  June  24th,  1863,  one  of  his  regiments  de- 
feated a  rebel  brigade  of  five  regiments,  killing 
and  wounding  over  five  hundred,  while  their 
own  loss  was  only  forty-seven ;  and  that  from 
April  to  November  his  command  had  captured 
over  2,800  officers  and  men,  losing  as  prisoners 


Section  of  carbine,  showing  cartridges  in  magazine,  with 
lever  down  and  breech  open. 

in  the  same  period  only  six  men.  The  sub- 
joined cuts  exhibit  fully  the  mechanism  of  the 
magazine  and  lock. 

HENRY'S  repeating  rifle  is  a  still  later  inven- 
tion, patented,  we  believe,  in  1861.  The  prin- 
cipal novelty  in  this  gun  is  the  magazine  and 
the  manner  of  loading  from  it.  It  consists  of  a 
metal  tube  under  the  barrel,  extending  its  entire 


Spencer  Rifle. 

length,  of  sufficient  diameter  to  admit  the  cart- 
ridges freely.  A  section  of  this  tube  near  the 
muzzle  contains  a  spiral  spring  to  throw  the 
cartridges  upon  a  carrier-block  in  the  rear,  and 
by  means  of  a  metallic  sleeve  five  inches  in 
length,  embracing  the  barrel  of  the  gun  at  this 
point,  can  be  revolved  upon  the  axis  of  the 
bore  so  as  to  open  the  magazine,  and  admit  tho 


438 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


introduction  of  the  cartridges,  of  which  it  holds 
fifteen.  Upon  closing  it,  after  filling,  the  spring 
throws  a  cartridge  upon  the  carrier-block, 
which,  by  a  forward  movement  of  the  trigger- 
guard,  is  raised  to  a  level  with  the  chamber, 
the  hammer,  by  the  same  movement,  being 
carried  to  a  full  cock.  A  reverse  movement  of 
the  guard,  bringing  it  to  its  place  again,  forces 
the  cartridge  into  the  chamber,  and  the  gun  is 
ready  to  fire.  The  ammunition  is  fixed,  metal 
cased,  with  fulminate  or  cap  in  the  rear.  The 
hammer,  upon  falling,  strikes  a  rod,  or  breech- 
pin,  upon  the  front  of  which  are  two  sharp 
points,  which  are  driven  into  the  rear  of  the 
cartridge,  thus  exploding  it.  The  weight  of 
the  gun  complete  is  about  10  pounds ;  it  has 
six  shallow  grooves,  each  -^  of  an  inch  in  width, 
with  a  gaming  twist.  The  cartridge  weighs 
295  grains.  In  an  experiment  at  the  Ordnance 
Department,  "Washington,  120  shots  were  fired 
in  five  minutes  fifteen  seconds,  including  tho 
time  spent  in  reloading. 

The  following  cuts  show  the  construction  of 
the  rifle.  The  little  projecting  piece  on  the 
under  side,  in  the  first  cut,  directly  in  front  of 
the  shoulder,  at  the  breech  of  the  barrel,  is  the 
finger-piece  connected  with  the  follower  on  the 
end  of  the  spiral  spring.  To  load  the  magazine 
this  finger-piece  is  drawn  up  to  the  lower  end 
of  the  sleeve,  which  is  then  turned  far  enough 
to  allow  the  follower  to  rest  on  the  edge  of  the 
magazine,  where  it  is  held  in  place  till  the  cart- 
ridges are  dropped  in. 


This  gun  is  not  remarkable 
for  accuracy  at  long  distances, 
but  at  one  hundred  yards  or 
thereabouts  it  is  a  very  effec- 
tive weapon.    The  sudden  re- 
duction of  half  the  thickness  of 
the  barrel  for  five  inches  from 
the  muzzle  probably  impairs 
its   accuracy  at  long   range. 
Its  magazine,  being  in  a  thin 
metallic  tube  under  the  barrel, 
is  liable*  to  be  indented  by  a 
<§  shot  or  accidental  blow,  which 
w  would  prevent  the  cartridges 
.o  from  sliding  down,  and  as  they 

1  cannot  be   easily  introduced 
§*  into  the  barrel  in  any  other 
«  way,  this  would  render  the 
fr  gun  nearly  useless.    The  ne- 

2  cessity  of  leaving  an  open  slit 
for  the  finger-piece  to  slide  in 
exposes  the  contents  of  the 
magazine  to  the  influence  of 
dust  and   wet,  which  would 
tend  to  clog  the  passage  and 
rust  the  spiral  spring.    Still 
this  weapon  has  many  excel- 
lent points,  and  in  its  method 
of  loading,  the  capacity  of  its 
magazine,  and  its  rapidity  of 
firing,  it  surpasses  any  other 
repeating  rifle.    It  is  stated  on 

good  authority  that  Col.  Nelter,  while  raising  a 


Sectional  view  of  working  parts,  showing  the  operation  of  removing  the  empty  cartridge  and  cocking  the  hammer. 


regiment  of  Kentucky  volunteers  at  Owensboro', 
Kentucky,  sent  out  fifteen  of  his  men  armed 
with  this  rifle  on  a  scout.  They  were  attacked 
by  a  rebel  force  of  two  hundred  and  forty  sol- 
diers in  an  open  lane  where  there  was  no 
shelter,  and  owing  to  their  capacity  to  main- 


tain a  rapid  and  continuous  fire,  they  success- 
fully repulsed  and  drove  from  the  field  the  en- 
tire rebel  force.  Capt.  James  M.  Wilson,  Co.  M, 
12th  Kentucky  cavalry,  was  attacked  in  his 
own  house  by  seven  mounted  guerrillas  armed 
with  Colt's  revolvers.  He  sprang  for  a  log  cabin 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


439 


across  the  street  where  he  had  his  Henry  rifle, 
Colt's  revolver,  etc.,  and  though  his  clothing 
was  riddled  by  their  shot,  gained  it  without  a 
wound,  and  seizing  his  Henry's  rifle,  killed  five 
of  his  assailants  with  five  shots ;  the  other  two 
sprung  for  their  horses,  one  of  these  he  disabled 
with  his  sixth  shot,  and  killed  with  the  seventh ; 
the  other  he  killed  with  the  eighth.  The  State 
of  Kentucky,  in  consequence  of  this  feat,  armed 
his  company  with  this  rifle. 

The  WHITWOKTH  rifle,  which  is  manufactured 
either  as  a  breech  or  muzzle-loader,,  is  the  only 
English  rifle  which  fairly  competes  with  our 
American  breech-loaders.  As  a  breech-loading 


rifle  it  has  been  manufactured  only  by  "Westley 
Richards.  It  has  a  hexagonal  bore  and  fires  a 
hexagonal  bolt  an  inch  and  a  half  in  length, 
though  only  y4^  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  This 
bolt  weighs  517  grains.  The  bore  is  constructed 
with  a  complete  turn  in  twenty  inches,  or  one 
and  a  half  turns  in  the  length  of  the  barrel, 
which  is  thirty  inches.  The  charge  of  powder 
is  seventyrsix  grams.  It  is  a  very  efficient 
weapon  of  great  range,  though  lacking  some- 
what in  precision,  is  not  liable  to  foul,  but  its 
cartridge,  which  is  made  of  paper,  is  so  long 
and  narrow  as  to  be  liable  to  burst  on  the 
march. 


CHAPTEE   XXXIY. 

Operations  of  the  Florida  and  Alabama — The  bark  Tacony — Capture  of  the  Chesapeake — Damage  to  Federal  Commerce- 
Increase  of  the  Federal  Navy — Operations  of  the  North  Atlantic  Squadron— Operations  of  the  South  Atlantic  Squadron 
— Attack  on  Fort  McAllister— Attack  on  Charleston — Capture  of  the  Atlanta — Other  Naval  Operations. 


THE  most  important  operations  of  the  Con- 
federate navy  were  those  performed  by  the 
armed  sea-going  cruisers,  whose  depredations 
upon  commerce  cost  the  United  States  many 
millfons  in  money,  and  almost  paralyzed  the 
shipping  interest  in  the  chief  seaports.  The 
commencement  of  1863  found  the  Alabama, 
before  mentioned,  actively  cruising  among  the 
West  Indies.  In  the  middle  of  January  the 
Oreto,  afterwards  called  the  Florida,  slipped 
out  of  Mobile,  where  she  had  taken  refuge  some 
months  previous,  and  joined  the  Alabama  in 
her  work  of  destruction ;  and  in  the  beginning 
of  April  the  Japan,  subsequently  named  the 
Georgia,  escaped  from  the  Clyde,  and  pro- 
ceeding to  the  neighborhood  of  Ushant  Island, 
on  the  French  coast,  was  there  armed  and* 
equipped  as  a  privateer.  "  Sailing  sometimes 
under  the  English  and  sometimes  under  the 
rebel  flag,"  says  Secretary  Welles,  "  these  rov- 
ers, without  a  port  of  their  own  which  they 
can  enter,  .or  to  which  they  can  send  a  single 
prize  for  adjudication,' have  roamed  the  seas, 
capturing  and  destroying  the  commercial  ships 
of  a  nation  at  peace  with  Great  Britain  and 
France;  but  yet  when  these  corsairs  have  needed 
repairs  or  supplies,  they  have  experienced  no 
difficulty  in  procuring  them,  because  it  had 
been  deemed  expedient  to  recognize  the  rebels 
as  belligerents.  Not  one  of  the  many  vessels 
captured  by  these  rovers  has  ever  been  judi- 
cially condemned  as  a  legal  capture.  Wanton 
destruction  has  been  the  object  and  purpose  of 
the  captors,  who  have  burnt  and  destroyed  the 
property  of  their  merchant  victims."- 

During  thfc  first  three  months  of  1863  the 
Alabama  and  Florida  cruised'  with  impunity 
in  the  West  India  waters,  finding  no  difficulty, 
when  hard  pressed,  in  taking  refuge  in  neutral 


ports,  or  within  a  marine  league  of  the  shore 
of  a  neutral  Government,  and  meeting  with 
abundant  sympathy  from  the  local  authorities 
and  the  population.  Fulfilling  few  of  the  obli- 
gations of  armed  cruisers,  they  yet  demanded 
and  received  all  the  favors  accorded  to  nations 
having  open  ports.  The  Federal  war  vessels, 
on  the  other  hand,  were  invariably  subjected 
to  the  rules  of  national  law  in  their  strictest 
construction.  The  vigilance  of  the  flying  squad- 
ron under  acting  Rear  Admiral  Wilkes,  which 
was  organized  to  protect  American  interests  in 
that  quarter,  and  especially  to  guard  the  treas- 
ure ships  in  their  transit  to  and  from  Aspinwall, 
finally  made  the  neighborhood  too  hot  for  the 
Alabama  and  Florida,  and  in  April  thej  steered 
southward,  and  recommenced  their  work  of 
destruction  off  the  coast  of  South  America, 
where  many  valuable  prizes  fell  into  their  pos- 
session, which  were  almost  invariably  burned, 
or  bonded,  the  crews  being  despatched  to  the 
nearest  available  port.  In  May  the  two  priva- 
teers parted  company,  the  Alabama  proceeding^ 
to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  while  the  Florida 
sailed  northward,  and  on  July  8th  ventured 
within  60  miles  of  New  York.  After  remaining 
several  days  in  this  dangerous  neighborhood, 
she  repaired  to  Bermuda,  and  about  the  middle 
of  August  turned  up  on  the  track  of  the  Liver- 
pool and  New  York  packets.  Then,  after  cap- 
turing a  few  prizes  near  the  British  Isles,  she 
put  into  Brest  for  repairs. 

In  the  early  part  of  August  the  Alabama, 
accompanied  by  the  Tuscaloosa,  a  captured  mer- 
chantman, transformed  into  an  armed  tender, 
arrived  at  Capetown,  where  an  enthusiastic 
ovation  awaited  them.  One  of  the  first  acts  of 
the  privateersmen  was  to  capture  the  American 
ship  Sea  Bride,  within  a  marine  league  bf  the 


440 


MILITAEY  AND  FATAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


land.  The  American  consul  protested  against 
this  proceeding,  and  also  against  the  admission 
of  the  Tuscaloosa,  before  legal  condemnation, 
into  Simon's  Bay,  as  a  violation  of  the  Queen's 
proclamation  of  neutrality,  but  could  obtain  no 
redress.  Soon  afterward  the  Georgia,  which 
ever  since  her  equipment  as  a  privateer  had 
sailed  southward  along  the  African  coast,  burn- 
ing and  plundering  on  her  way,  also  arrived  at 
Capetown. 

Early  in  February,  1863,  the  Vanderbilt,  one 
of  the  largest  and  fastest  steamers  in  the  United 
States  Navy,  was  put  into  commission  for  special 
service  against  privateers  in  the  West  India 
waters,  and  her  commander  was  ordered,  should 
he  be  satisfied  that  the  Alabama  and  Florida 
had  left  that  locality,  to  proceed  down  the  South 
American  coast  to  Rio  Janeira,  and  thence  to 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  In  derogation  of  these 
orders,  Admiral  Wilkes,  soon  after  the  arrival 
of  the  Vanderbilt  in  the  West  Indies,  transferred 
his  flag  to  her  and  detained  her  in  his  possession 
until  the  middle  of  June,  many  weeks  after  the 
departure  southward  of  the  privateers.  The 
latter,  in  consequence,  were  enabled  to  do  im- 
mense damage  to  American  commerce  in  the 
Southern  Atlantic,  and  the  plans  of  the  Navy 
Department  for  their  capture  were  frustrated. 
The  Vanderbilt  finally  reached  Rio  Janeiro  in 
the  middle  of  July,  and  proceeding  thence  to 
Capetown  via  St.  Helena,  arrived  at  the  former 
place  in  September.  The  rebels,  however,  were 
by  this  time  on  the  alert,  and  kept  out  of  the 
way  of  the  Vanderbilt,  which  returned  to  the 
United  States  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year,  hav- 
ing accomplished  nothing  important  during  her 
cruise.  Subsequent  to  September  the  Alabama 
proceeded  to  the  East  Indies,  and  took  many 
valuable  prizes  in  that  quarter,  while  the  Geor- 
gia returned  to  France. 

Early  in  May  the  Florida,  while  cruising  in 
the  West  Indies,  captured  the  brig  Clarence, 
which  was  fitted  out  as  a  privateer  and  sup- 
plied with  a  crew,  under  command  of  Lieut. 
Charles  W.  Bead,  formerly  a  midshipman  in 
the  U.  S.  navy.  The  Clarence  immediately 
steered  northward,  keeping  near  the  Florida 
and  Carolina  coasts,  and  taking  several  valu- 
able prizes  on  the  way.  On  June  12th,  when 
within  30  miles  of  the  capes  of  Virginia,  she 
captured  the  bark  Tacony,  to  which  vessel  Lt. 
Bead  transferred  his  command.  For  the  next 
twelve  days  he  pursued  a  career  of  uninter- 
rupted success  among  the  unsuspecting  mer- 
chantmen and  fishing  vessels  which  he  encoun- 
tered ;  but  ascertaining  that  Union  cruisers  were 
on  his  track,  he  burned  the  Tacony,  to  avoid 
recognition,  and  on  the  24th  transferred  his  crew 
and  guns  to  the  captured  schooner  Archer.  He 
then  made  for  Portland  harbor,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  burning  two  gunboats  building  there 
and  cutting  out  the  revenue  cutter  Caleb  Gush- 
ing. At  sunset  he  came  to  anchor  near  the  en- 
trance of  the  harbor,  and  soon  after  midnight, 
the  moon  having  then  gone  down,  rowed  direct 
to  the  Gushing  in  two  boats  with  muffled  oars, 


boarded  the  vessel,  and  having  overpowered 
the  crew,  started  for  sea.  No  sooner  was  the 
Gushing  missed  from  her  anchorage  than  the 
Forest  City  and  Chesapeake,  two  merchant 
steamers,  were  manned"  with  troops  and  armed 
volunteers,  and  started  in  pursuit.  A  short 
distance  from  the  harbor  they  overhauled  her, 
and  having  no  guns  capable  of  copirig  with  her 
heavy  armament,  made  preparations  to  board, 
perceiving  which  the  rebels  took  to  their  boats,  • 
after  firing  half  a  dozen  shots  at  the  steamers. 
Soon  after  the  Gushing  blew  up.  The  boats, 
however,  were  captured,  as  also  tie  Archer, 
and  the  whole  crew  securely  confined. 

On  December  7th  the  steamer  Chesapeake, 
plying  between  New  York  and  Portland,  was 
seized  on  her  passage  to  the  latter  place, 
when  about  twenty  miles  northeast  of  Cape 
Cod,  by  sixteen  of  her  passengers,  who  repre- 
sented themselves  as  belonging  to  the  Confed- 
erate States.  The  captain  was  put  in  irons, 
one  of  the  engineers  killed  and  thrown  over- 
board, and  the  first  m#te  wounded.  The  crew 
and  passengers,  with  the  exception  of  the  first 
engineer,  retained  to  manage  the  steamer,  were 
subsequently  put  ashore  in  a  boat,  and  the 
Chesapeake  sailed  to  the  eastward.  Upon  the 
reception  of  the  news  in  the  United  States,  a 
fleet  of  cruisers  started  in  pursuit,  and  on  the 
17th  the  Chesapeake  was  captured  by  the  Ella 
and  Anna,  in  Sambro  harbor,  Nova  Scotia,  and 
with  a  portion  of  her  crew,  was  carried  to 
Halifax  and  delivered  to  the  authorities.  The 
prisoners  were  released  by  a  mob,  but  the 
Chesapeake  was  subsequently  restored  to  her 
American  owners  by  an  order  of  the  chief 
colonial  tribunal. 

Of  the  amount  of  damage  inflicted  by  rebel 
cruisers  upon  American  commerce  no  complete 
estimate  has  been  made.  While  at  Capetown 
'in  September,  Captain  Semmes  stated  that  the 
total  number  of  captures  made  by  the  Alabama 
amounted  to  fifty-six  vessels,  which  he  supposed 
would  involve  a  direct  loss  of  four  million  dol- 
lars, beside  the  loss  of  freight,  the  high  rates  of 
insurance,  and  other  embarrassments  caused  by 
the  danger  of  carrying  goods  in  American  bot- 
toms. The  captures  of  the  Florida  were  esti- 
mated by  her  commander  in  September  at  sev- 
enty-two, and  their  total  value  at  $15,000,000, 
which  is  evidently  exaggerated.  Yet  this  is 
but  a  small  part  of  the  loss  then  sustained  by 
American  commerce,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  fol- 
lowing figures : 


Value  under 
American  flag. 

Value  under 
Foreign  flags. 

Foreign  carrying  trade  in  1S60. 
Foreign  carrying  trade  in  1862. 
Foreign  carrying  trade  first  two 
quarters  in  1803  

$284,000,000 
150,000,000 

55,090,000 

$150,000,000 
238,000,000 

146,000,000 

Of  the  extent  to  which  the  city  of  New  York 
has  suffered,  the  following  table,  sliowing  how 
the  carrying  business,  of  which  she  once  enjoyed 
a  large  share,  has  been  transferred  to  foreign 
flags,  is  sufficiently  indicative  • 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


441 


Foreign  trade  of  the  port  of  New  York,  for  the  quarter 
ending  June  SQth. 


I860. 

In  American 

vessels. 

In  foreign 
vessel*. 

$35  197  101 

$13.242,622 

u              "     exported  

27  401  225 

12,776,229 

Total  trade  

$62,598,326 

$80,918,851 

1863. 

$12  731,819 

$80,139,557 

"              "      exported  

10,762,011 

35,760,296 

Total  trade  

$23,403,830 

$65,889,853 

North  Atlantic  Squadron,  72;  South  Atlantic 
Squadron,  76;  Eastern  Gulf  Squadron,  39; 
Western  Gulf  Squadron,  68;  Mississippi  Flo- 
tilla, 85;  West  India  Squadron,  3;  East  India 
Squadron,  2 ;  Mediterranean  Squadron,  1 ;  Pa- 
cific Squadron,  7 ;  special  service,  6 ;  miscella- 
neous, &c.,  6. 

The  grades  of  the  officers  had  been  changed 
by  Congress,  and  new  ones  established.  The 
number  of  officers  of  the  higher  grades  was  as 
follows : 


A  part  of  this  change  is  doubtless  in  conse- 
quence of  the  active  employment  of  so  many 
American  ships  for  purposes  connected  with 
the  war ;  but,  after  making  allowance  for  this 
fact,  a  sufficient  number  of  vessels  could  be 
found  for  commercial  purposes,  were  not  ship- 
pers deterred  by  fear  of  capture  from  employing 
them  as  carriers.  The  success  of  their  cruisers 
already  afloat,  and  the  eas«  with  which  they 
could  be  built  and  equipped  in  foreign  countries, 
prompted  the  Richmond  Government  to  con- 
tract for  others,  and  during  the  year  the  Alex- 
andra, a  fast  steamer  of  the  Alabama  class,  and 
two  iron-clad  rams,  the  latter  undertaken  by 
Laird,  of  Liverpool,  ostensibly  for  the  "  Empe- 
ror of  Cbina,"  or  the  "  Viceroy  of  Egypt,"  were 
under  construction  in  England.  The  vigilance 
of  the  American  minister  and  the  consuls  pre- 
vented the  completion  of  these,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  year  they  were  temporarily  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  British  government,  subject  to 
the  decision  of  the  courts.  The  Alexandra 
case,  after  being  carried  to  the  House  of  Lords, 
on  appeal  from  the  Court*  of  Exchequer,  was 
decided  against  the  Government,  and  the  vessel 
was  restored  to  her  owners. 

The  growth  of  the  Federal  navy  was  very 
rapid.  The  classes  of  vessels,  and  aggregate 
armament  and  tonnage  of  the  navy,  including 
all  the  vessels  building,  at  the  close  of  1863, 
were  as  follows : 


Active 

list. 

Reserved 

list. 

RetireA 
lint. 

Hear-  Admirals     

6 

g 

Do.          Acting.  

5 

Commodores  

13 

83 

Captains  

*36 

10 

15 

Commanders  

t72 

15 

7 

Lieutenant-Commanders  

144 

Lieutenants  

55 

8 

No.  of 

vessels. 

No.  of 
guns. 

Tonnage. 

Iron-clad  steamers,  coast  service  . 
Iron-clad  steamers,  inland  service. 
Sidewheel  steamers  .... 

46 
29 
203 
198 
112 

588 

150 
152 
1,240 
1,578 
1,8-23 

62.518 

20,784 
126,517 
187,892 
70,256 

Screw  steamers  

Sailing  vessels  

Total  

4.443 

467,967 

During  the  year  there  were  removed  from 
the  navy  by  various  casualties,  34  vessels,  hav- 
ing an  aggregate  of  166  guns  and  15,985  tons. 
Of  these  twelve  were  captured  by  the  enemy, 
three  were  destroyed  to  prevent  their  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  four  were  sunk  in 
battle  or  by  torpedoes,  and  fifteen  were  lost  by 
shipwreck,  fire,  and  collision.  In  the  last-named 
category  were  the  iron-clads  Monitor  and  Wee- 
hawken,  which  foundered  at  sea  in  stormy 
weather. 

The  fleet  in  active  service  at  the  close  of 
1803  comprised  384  vessels  of  all  classes,  dis- 
tributed as  foUows:  Potomac  Flotilla,  19; 


The  number  of  seamen  in  service  on  July  1st, 
1863,  including  those  on  the  Mississippi  Flotilla, 
was  about  34,000,  and  during  the  year  enlist- 
ments averaged  over  2,000  a  month.  In  1862 
the  average  was  1,529  a  month.  The  demand 
was  altogether  in  excess  of  the  supply  of  trained 
and  experienced  seamen,  notwithstanding  the 
marked  decrease  in  the  shipping  business  which 
the  ravages  of  the  Confederate  privateers  had 
caused ;  and  the  men  enlisted  were,  for  the  most 
part,  of  the  class  known  as  landsmen,  having 
little  or  no  knowledge  of  a  seafaring  life. 

One  cause  for  this  deficiency  was  the  opera- 
tion of  the  Enrolment  and  Conscription  Act  of 
1863,  which  provided  no  exemption  for  sailors 
or  mariners,  a  class  of  men  whom  most  nations 
foster  and  cherish  by  special  laws,  and  who 
were  formerly  expressly  exempted  by  act  of 
Congress  from  militia  duty.  But  the  chief  cause 
was  to  be  found  in  the  high  bounties  offered  for 
enlistment  into  the  army,  under  the  influence 
of  which  many  sailors,  whose  services  would  be 
much  more  valuable  afloat  than  on  shore,  were 
induced  to  become  soldiers. 

Congress  therefore  authorized  bounties  to  be 
offered  to  sailors  as  well  as  soldiers,  and  meas- 
ures also  were  taken  to  transfer  sailors  who 
had  enlisted  in  the  army  into  the  naval  service. 
The  result  was  to  rapidly  fill  up  the  deficiencies 
in  the  quota  of  seamen,  and  to  till  the  receiving 
sliips  to  overflowing.  In  the  latter  part  of  1863 
the  practice  was  also  introduced  of  putting  on 
shipboard  rebel  prisoners  who  had  taken  the 
oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and 
desired  to  enter  the  national  service,  but  were 
unwilling  to  subject  themselves  to  the  risk  of 
summary  execution  if  recaptured  while  serving 
in  the  Federal  army. 

During  1863  six  squadrons  were  maintained 
by  the  United  States  Government  along  the 
Atlantic  seaboard,  and  in  the  Western  waters, 
viz. :  1.  The  North  Atlantic-  Squadron,  Acting 
Rear- Admiral  S.  P.  Lee.  2.  The  South  Atlantic 
Squadron,  Rear- Admiral  S.  F.  Dupont,  who  was 

*  Beside  one  not  recommended  for  promotion, 
t  Beside  IS  not  recommended  for  promotion. 


442 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


relieved,  July  6th,  by  Rear-Admiral  J.  A. 
Dahlgren.  3.  The  Eastern  Gulf  Squadron,  Act- 
ing Rear- Admiral  T.  Bailey.  4.  The  Western 
Gulf  Squadron,  Rear- Admiral  D.  G.  Farragut, 
who  was  temporarily  relieved  in  July  by  his 
second  in  command,  Commodore  II.  II.  Bell. 
5.  The  Mississippi  Flotilla,  Rear-Admiral  D.  D. 
Porter.  6.  Tie  Potomac  Flotilla,  Commodore 
A.  A.  Harwood.  There  were  also  small  squad- 
rons on  the  Pacific  and  East  India  stations,  and 
a  number  of  vessels  were  employed  in  search- 
ing for  rebel  privateers  and  on  other  special 
service. 

The  operations  of  the  North  Atlantic  Squad- 
ron comprised  chiefly  blockade  duties  along 
the  coasts  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina. 
So  effective  was  the  service  that  along  the 
entire  station  all  intercourse  with  the  enemy 
was  cut  off,  with  the  single  exception  of  the 
port  of  Wilmington,  the  closing  of  which  was 
difficult  on  account  of  its  two  inlets,  thirty 
miles  apart,  flanked  by  extensive  batteries.  A 
few  steamers  from  the  Clyde  and  elsewhere,  of 
light  draught,  succeeded,  under  cover  of  the 
darkness,  in  eluding  capture,  but  most  even  of 
that  description  of  vessels  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  blockaders,  or  were  run  on  shore  and 
destroyed. 

On  January  14th  the  screw  steam  gunboat 
Columbia,  Lieutenant  Joseph  O.  Couthouoy, 
while  cruising  between  Federal  Point  and 
Masonboro'  inlet,  was  wrecked  on  the  bar  off 
the  latter  place,  and  before  assistance  could  be 
procured  from  her  consorts,  was  too  much 
broken  up  by  the  sea  to  be  got  off.  On  the 
afternoon  of  the  15th,  the  Penobscot  anchored 
near  her,  and  by  means  of  a  surf-line  succeeded 
in  rescuing  about  thirty  of  the  crew;  but  a 
heavy  gale  setting  in  at  nightfall,  she  was 
obliged  to  run  to  sea  again.  Early  the  next 
morning  several  rebel  shore- batteries  opened 
upon  the  Columbia,  and  later  in  the  day  the 
Penobscot,  Cambridge,  and  Genesee  approach- 
ed her.  The  surf  was  too  high,  however,  to 
enable  them  to  render  any  assistance  to  Lieut. 
Couthouoy,  who.  being  helpless  against  the  fire 
of  the  enemy,  was  compelled,  in  the  afternoon, 
to  surrender  the  remaining  officers  and  crew, 
forty  in  number.  He  had  previously  spiked 
and  thrown  overboard  his  guns,  drowned  the 
powder  in  his  magazines,  and  destroyed  his 


On  the  morning  of  March  14th  an  attack 
was  made  by  the  troops  under  General  D.  II. 
Hill  upon  Fort  Anderson,  an  unfinished  earth- 
work on  the  left  bank  of  the  Neuse,  opposite 
Newbern,  which  was  garrisoned  by  a  single 
regiment  of  volunteers.  The  fort  had  no  guns 
mounted,  and  the  troops  in  Newbern  were  un- 
able to  render  assistance.  The  gunboats  Hunch- 
back and  Heitzel,  however,  assisted  by  the  Shaw- 
eheen  and  some  smaller  vessels,  came  promptly 
to  the  rescue,  and  by  a  well-directed  fire  silenced 
the  enemy's  artillery,  consisting  of  fourteen 
pieces,  and  by  compelling  the  retreat  of  Hill 
saved  the  fort.  A  nine-inch  shell  from  the 


Heitzel  dismounted  and  broke  a  Parrott  gun, 
and  killed  and  wounded  a  number  of  rebels. 
The  enemy  were  followed  and  harassed  in  their 
retreat  up  the  Neuse  River  by  several  light- 
draught  vessels. 

During  the  attack  on  Suffolk,  Virginia,  in  the 
latter  half  of  April,  the  small  fleet  of  United 
States  gunboats  on  the  Nansemond  took  a 
distinguished  part.  On  the  14th  the  Mount 
Washington,  Stepping  Stones,  and  Commodore 
Barney,  the  first  named  being  at  the  time  dis- 
abled, succeeded,  with  but  slight  loss,  in  silenc- 
ing a  formidable  battery ;  and  on  the  19th  Lieut. 
R.  H.  Lamson,  with  the  Stepping  Stones,  aided 
the  land  forces  under  Gen.  Getty  in  capturing 
a  battery  of  five  guns,  manned  by  one  hundred 
and  sixty-one  men. 

In  June  and  July  a  number  of  small  gunboats 
cooperated  in  the  expeditions  up  the  York, 
Pamunkey,  and  Mattapony  Rivers  undertaken 
for  the  purpose  of*  occupying  West  Point  and 
threatening  Richmond.  There  were  also  during 
the  year  joint  army  and  navy  expeditions, 
chiefly  in  the  nature  of  reconnoissances,  up  the 
James,  Piankatank,  Ware,  and  other  rivers  of 
Virginia,  and  among  the  inlets  between  the 
York  and  the  Rappahannock,  most  of  which 
were  attended  by  substantial  successes.  Simi- 
lar operations  were  conducted  at  various  times 
along  the  shallow  sounds  and  inlets  of  North 
Carolina,  and  in  the  Roanoke  and  Chowan 
Rivers. 

During  the  latter  half  of  the  year,  and  par- 
ticularly after  the  harbor  of  Charleston  had 
been  rendered  inaccessible  to  blockade  runners, 
Wilmington  became  the  chief  port  of  resort  on 
the  Atlantic  coast  for  vessels  of  this  class.  The 
addition  to  the  blockading  fleet  of  several  swift 
steamers,  newly  built  at  the  national  yards,  or 
captured,  greatly  increased  the  risk  of  entering 
Cape  Fear  River,  by  either  inlet,  and,  in  conse- 
quence, many  valuable  prizes  were  taken,  and 
nearly  as  many  vessels  were  driven  ashore  and 
destroyed. 

On  July  12th  the  Penobscot,  Lieut.-Com. 
De  Haven,  succeeded,  after  a  short  chase, 
in  driving  the  iron  steamer  Kate  ashore  on 
Smith's  Island,  where  she  was  immediately 
deserted  by  her  officers  and  crew.  A  boat 
was  sent  in  to  get  her  off,  but,  as  the  tide  was 
falling,  this  was  found  impossible,  and  arrange- 
ments were  made  to  burn  her,  should  the  at- 
tempt to  float  her  off  at  high  water  prove  in- 
effectual. At  noon  a  battery  was  brought  to 
the  beach  by  the  rebels,  the  fire  from  which 
drove  out  the  party  from  the  Penobscot. 
Under  these  circumstances,  the  Kate  was  or- 
dered to  be  set  on  fire  by  shells,  and  was  ren- 
dered, as  was  supposed,  totally  unserviceable, 
together  with  her  cargo.  Upon  the  departure 
of  the  Penobscot  the  enemy  immediately 
stripped  the  Kate,  and  on  the  night  of  the 
31st  succeeded  in  floating  her  off,' the  damage 
to  her  hull  proving  to  be  slight.  On  tho 
morning  of  August  1st  she  was  discovered  on 
her  way  to  Fort  Fisher,  on  Federal  Point,  the 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION". 


443 


northern  side  of  New  Inlet,  towed  by  a  number 
of  small  boats,  and  the  Mount  Vernon, 
James  Adger,  and  Iroquois  'at  once  bore 
toward  the  shore  to  cut  her  out.  The  enemy 
abandoned  her  at  the  approach  of  the  blockad- 
ing vessels,  and,  the  Mount  Vernon  running 
alongside,  in  the  midst  of  a  severe  fire  from 
the  rebel  batteries  at  New  Inlet  and  Zuk's 
Island,  fastened  a  hawser  to  her  port  bow  and 
by  great  exertions  towed  her  out  of  the  range 
of  the  fire.  The  Kate  proved  to  be  a  new 
steamer,  very  fa;t,  and  built  entirely  of  iron. 
Her  machinery  had  been  removed,  but  her  hull 
was  scarcely  injured. 

At  daylight,  on  Aug.  18th,  the  steamer  Hebe 
attempted  to  run  into  Wilmington  by  the  New 
Inlet  entrance ;  but  being  intercepted  by  the 
Niphon,  she  headed  for  the  shore,  a  few  miles 
above  Fort  Fisher,  and  her  crew  escaped  in 
boats.  As  it  was  blowing  too  hard  to  get  her 
off,  a  boarding  party  was  sent  from  the  Niphon 
to  destroy  her.  Two  "Whit worth  guns  soon 
after  opened  fire  from  the  beach  upon  the  ship, 
which  was  found  to  be  hard  aground  in  V  feet 
of  water.  The  boat  from  the  Niphon  having 
been  swamped  almost  as  soon  as  she  reached 
the  Hebe,  and  the  violence  of  the  gale  prevent- 
ing the  blockading  vessels  from  sending  effec- 
tive assistance,  nearly  the  vrfiole  boarding  party 
was  compelled  to  wade  ashore  and  surrender 
to  a  force  of  Confederate  cavalry  and  riflemen 
which  had  meanwhile  arrived.  The  Hebe  was 
then  set  on  fire  by  shells  from  the  Shokokon, 
and  burned  to  the  water's  edge.  The  enemy, 
however,  succeeded  during  the  next  few  days 
in  discharging  a  portion  of  the  cargo  in  a  dam- 
aged state  ;  whereupon  the  Minnesota,  running 
up  to  within  600  yards  of  the  wreck,  drove  the 
rebels  from  their  battery  and  completed  the 
destruction  of  the  hull  and  machinery.  A  party 
then  landed  and  brought  off  the  two  "Whitworth 
guns. 

The  most  serious  disaster  of  the  year  on  this 
station  was  the  loss  of  the  .ironclad,  Monitor, 
Commander  Bankhead,  the  celebrated  pioneer 
vessel  of  her  class,  which  foundered  at  sea  in  a 
gale,  south  of  Cape  Hatteras,  on  the  night  of 
Dec.  80th,  1862.  The  Monitor  left  Hampton 
Roads  in  tow  of  the  side  wheel  steamer  Rhode 
Island,  on  the  29th,  the  weather  being  then 
pleasant,  and  until  7  P.  M.  of  the  30th,  the 
voyage  was  unattended  by  any  special  incident. 
At  that  hour  the  wind,  previously  light,  hauled 
round  to  the  southward,  gradually  increasing 
in  violence  until  midnight,  with  a  heavy  sea. 
As  the  swell  increased  the  Monitor  began  to 
tow  badly,  and  the  bilge  pumps,  which  during 
the  day  had  kept  her  free  from  water,  were  no 
longer  available.  At  8  p.  M.  she  labored 
heavily,  the  seas  completely  submerging  the 
pilot  house,  and  washing  over  and  into  the  tur- 
ret, and  at  times  into  the  blower  pipes.  It  was 
observed  that  when  she  rose  to  the  swell,  the 
flat  under  surface  of  the  projecting  armor 
would  come  down  with  great  force,  causing  a 
considerable  shock  to  the  vessel  and  turret,  and 


thereby  loosening  the  packing  around  its  base. 
The  Rhode  Island  was  several  times  signalized 
to  stop,  with  a  view  of  ascertaining  whether 
the  Monitor  would  ride  easier,  but  she  imme- 
diately fell  off  into  the  trough  of  the  sea,  and 
the  water  in  her  hold  continued  to  gain  steadily. 
The  centrifugal  pump  was  then  started,  and 
notwithstanding  it  worked  well,  the  water  had 
by  10j  P.  M.  risen  several  inches  above  the 
level  of  the  engine  room  floor.  Signals  of  dis- 
tress were  now  made  to  the  Rhode  Island, 
which  despatched  two  boats  to  the  assistance 
of  the  Monitor,  and  at  considerable  risk  the 
steamers  came  alongside  of  each  other.  "While 
getting  the  men  into  the  boats  (a  very  hazard- 
ous operation,  in  consequence  of  the  heavy  seas 
breaking  entirely  over  the  deck  of  the  Monitor), 
the  sharp  bow  of  the  ironclad  came  into  such 
dangerous  proximity  to  the  Rhode  Island, 
that  the  latter  was  obliged  to  steam  ahead,  to 
avoid  being  stove  near  her  water  line.  During 
the  absence  of  the  boats  the  rapidly  rising 
water  put  out  the  fires  in  the  Monitor,  and  her 
engines  having  stopped,  she  rolled  into  the 
trough.  By  letting  go  her  anchor  her  head 
was  again  brought  to  the  sea  and  the  remain- 
ing crew  and  officers  were  taken  off,  except  a 
few  who,  stupefied  by  fear,  refused  to  leave  the 
ship  and  went  down  with  her.  Several  men 
had  previously  been  washed  overboard  and 
drowned.  At  about  1  A.  M.  of  the  31st,  she 
disappeared.  One  of  the  boats  from  the  Rhode 
Island  employed  in  the  last  trip  from  that 
vessel  did  not  return,  and  was  supposed  to 
have  been  swamped.  It  was  however  pick- 
ed up  on  the  morning  of  the  31st,  by  the 
schooner  A.  Colby,  and  the  crew  were  safely 
landed  at  Beaufort.  The  total  casualties  of  the 
Monitor  were  four  officers  and  twelve  men 
missing. 

"  I  am  firmly  of  the  opinion,"  says  Com- 
mander Bankhead,  in  his  official  report  of  the 
disaster,  "  that  the  Monitor  must  have  sprung 
a  leak  somewhere  in  the  forward  part,  where 
the  hull  joins  on  to  the  armor,  and  that  it  was 
caused  by  the  heavy  shocks  received  as  she 
came  down  upon  the  sea.  The  bilge  pumps 
alone  until  7  P.  M.  had  easily  kept  her  free,  and 
when  we  find  that  all  her  pumps  a  short  time 
after,  with  a  minimum  capacity  of  2,000  gallons 
per  minute,  not  only  failed  to  diminish  the 
water,  but,  on  the  contrary,  made  no  percepti- 
ble change  in  its  gradual  increase,  we  must  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  there  are,  at  least,  good 
grounds  for  my  opinion." 

On  the  morning  of  June  24th,  the  blockader 
Sumter,  while  cruising  off  Smith's  Island  in  a 
dense  fog,  came  into  collision  with  the  trans- 
port General  Meigs,  from  the  effects  of  which 
she  soon  after  sunk,  being  very  rotten.  The 
officers  and  crew  got  off  in  boats,  and  were 
taken  on  board  the  schooner  Jamestown,  but 
everything  else  in  the  ship  went  down  with 
her. 

The  field  of  operations  embraced  by  the  South 
Atlantic  squadron,  although  unchanged,  com 


444 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


prised  the  coasts  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia 
and  the  northeast  coast  of  Florida,  and  at  the 
commencement  of  the  year  the  greater  part  of 
the  squadron  was  engaged  in  the  blockade  of 
Charleston,  or  stationed  at  Port  Royal.  Early 
in  January  the  first  instalment  of  ironclads  des- 
tined to  operate  against  Charleston  arrived,  and 
with  a  view  of  testing  the  efficiency  of  this 
class  of  vessels,  Admiral  Dupont  ordered  Com- 
mander Worden,  with  the  Montauk,  to  enter, 
Ossabaw  Sound  and  attempt  the  capture  of 
Fort  McAllister,  at  Genesis  Point,  on  the  Great 
Ogeechee  river,  under  cover  of  which  was 
lying  the  steamer  Nashville,  recently  fitted  by 
the  enemy  for  a  privateer,  and  which  was  wait- 
ing to  run  the  blockade.  On  the  morning  of 
January  27th,  the  Montauk,  supported  by  sev- 
eral small  gunboats,  opened  fire  upon  the  fort, 
which  proved  to  be  a  formidable  casemated 
earthwork  with  bomb  proofs,  and  mounting 
nine  guns.  The  enemy's  practice  was  excel- 
lent, but  under  the  fire  of  the  Montauk's  15 
and  11-inch  guns  their  fire  slackened.  Owing 
to  obstructions  in  the  river,  the  Montauk  was 
unable  to-  advance  within  effective  range,  and 
having  expended  her  shells  she  retired.  She 
was  struck  thirteen  times  but  received  no  in- 
jury- 
Early  on  the  morning  of  January  29th  the 
iron  propeller  Princess  Royal,  four  days  out 
from  Bermuda,  attempted  to  run  past  the  block- 
ading fleet  into  Charleston.  The  U.  S.  gunboat 
tlnadilla,  Lieut.  Quackenbush,  apprised  of  her 
approach  by  a  blue  light  from  the  schooner 
Blunt,  slipped  her  cable  and  stood  in  shore, 
firing  a  couple  of  shots  at  the  Princess  Royal. 
The  latter  was  then  run  ashore  and  abandoned 
by  her  captain,  supercargo,  pilot,  and  some  of 
the  petty  officers.  A  boat's  crew  from  the 
Unadilla  at  once  took  possession  of  the  prize, 
which  several  hours  later,  with  assistance  from 
other  vessels  of  the  blockading  fleet,  was  got 
off  without  sustaining  any  injury.  Her  cargo 
proved  to  be  one  of  the  most  valuable  taken  in 
the  course  of  the  war,  consisting  of  two  com- 
plete engines  of  great  power,  intended  for  iron- 
clads, beside  rifled  guns,  arms,  ammunition, 
medicines,  and  a  variety  of  miscellaneous  arti- 
cles. The  Princess  Royal  was  two  days  later 
taken  to  Port  Royal  and  subsequently  sent  to 
Philadelphia  for  adjudication. 

The  loss  of  the  Princess  Royal  was  a  severe 
blow  to  the  enemy,  who,  ascertaining  on  the 
next  day  that  she  was  still  lying  at  anchor  off 
Charleston  harbor,  organized  a  daring  scheme 
to  recover  possession  of  her,  and  at  the  same 
time  to  inflict  as  much  damage  as  possible  upon 
the  blockading  squadron.  Accordingly  at  4 
A.  M.  of  the  31st  the  iron-clad  steam  rams 
Palmetto  State,  Lieut.  Rutledge,  and  Chicora, 
Commander  Tucker,  in  the  former  of  which 
was  Flag  officer  D.  N.  Ingraham,  commanding 
the  station,  ran  out  from  Charleston  by  the 
main  ship  channel,  and  aided  by  a  thick  haze 
commenced  an  onslaught  on  the  blockadcrs. 
The  latter  at  that  time  consisted  of  the  steam- 


ers Housatonic,  Mercedita,  Ottawa,  TJnadilla, 
Keystone  State,  Quaker  City,  Memphis,  Au- 
gusta, Stettin,  and  Flag,  beside  the  pilot  boat 
Blunt,  and  some  smaller  vessels.  Most  of  these 
were  of  the  light  class  of  purchased  vessels, 
the  ironclads  and  two  of  the  heaviest  men-of- 
war,  the  Powhatan  and  Canandaigua,  being  at 
Port  Royal  coaling  or  repairing.  The  Merce- 
dita, Captain  Stellwagen,  was  the  first  vessel 
attacked,  and  was  almost  immediately  rendered 
helpless  by  a  7-inch  shell  from  the  Palmetto 
State,  which,  entering  her  starboard  side,  ex- 
ploded in  the  port  boiler,  blowing  a  hole  in  its 
exit  from  four  to  five  feet  square,  and  killing 
and  wounding  several  men.  So  suddenly  had 
the  ram  come  upon  her  in  the  haze,  that  it  was 
impossible  to  bring  any  of,  her  guns  to  bear, 
and  further  resistance  being  useless,  Captain 
Stellwagen,  in  reply  to  a  demand  for  surrender, 
announced  that  he  was  in  a  sinking  state.  An 
officer  from  the  Mercedita  was  immediately 
sent  on  board  the  ram  and  tendered  the  sur- 
render of  the  officers  and  crew,  who  were 
paroled. 

The  Palmetto  State,  leaving  the  Mercedita  to 
her  fate,  then  made  for  the  Keystone  State, 
Commander  Le  Roy,  which  was  also  at  the 
same  time  assailed  by  the  Chicora.  The  Key- 
stone State  returned  their  fire  vigorously,  but 
having  been  set  on  fire  in  her  forehold  by  the 
explosion  of  a  shell,  was  obliged  to  keep  off 
for  a  few  minutes  until  the  flames  could  be  got 
under.  Commander  Le  Roy  then  turned  his 
ship  and  with  a  full  head  of  steam  bore  down 
upon  the  nearest  ram  at  a  speed  of  twelve 
knots,  intending  to  sink  her.  He  also  trained 
his  guns  for  a  plunging  fire  at  the  moment  of 
collision;  but  before  this  could  occur  a  shot 
passed  through  both  steam  chests  of  the  Key- 
stone State,  rendering  her  powerless.  Ten 
rifle  shells  also  struck  her,  mostly  in  the  hull, 
near  or  below  the  water  line,  and  about  the 
same  time  the  fire  in  her  forehold  burst  out 
again,  and  the  engineers  reported  the  ship  tak- 
ing in  water  rapidly.  Commander  Le  Roy 
accordingly  hauled  down  his  flag,  but  finding 
that  the  enemy  were  still  firing  upon  him,  he 
directed  the  colors  to  be  rehoisted  and  the  fire 
to  be  resumed  from  the  after  battery.  At  this 
moment  the  Augusta,  Memphis,  and  Quaker  City 
came  up,  and  by  diverting  the  attention  of  the 
rams,  enabled  the  Keystone  State  to  get  out  of 
the  range  of  the  fire.  Subsequently  she  was 
taken  in  tow  by  the  Memphis  and  reached  Port 
Royal  in  a  very  crippled  state,  about  one  fourth 
of  her  crew  being  killed  and  wounded.  The 
Mercedita  also  arrived  there  on  the  same  even- 
ing without  assistance,  having  succeeded  in 
temporarily  stopping  the  hole  in  her  side  and 
in  getting  up  steam  in  her  uninjured  boiler. 

Meanwhile  the  rams  carried  on  a  sort  of 
running  combat  with  several  of  the  blockading 
fleet,  which,  having  no  guns  capable  of  making 
an  impression  on  ironclads,  kept  prudently 
aloof.  Upon  the  approach  of  the  Housatonic, 
the  only  heavy  man-of-war  then  on  the  station, 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


445 


Flag-officer  Ingraham  deemed  it  prudent  to  re- 
tire, and  at  about  7^  A.  M.  both  rams  took 
refuge  in  the  swash  channel,  and  subsequently 
anchored  in  shoal  water  near  the  shore,  to  the 
eastward  of  Fort  Moultrie.  They  remained 
here  until  5  p.  M.,  attended  by  several  small 
steamers,  and  then  disappeared  behind  Fort 
Jfoultrie.  One  of  them,  while  returning  into 
the  harbor,  had  her  pilot  house  carried  away 
by  a  shot  from  the  Housatonic.  During  this 
attack  the  Princess  Eoyal,  which  was  the 
principal  object  of  contest  on  both  sides,  lay 
quietly  at  her  anchorage.  After  the  retreat 
of  the  rams  she  got  to  sea,  and  arrived  safely 
at  Port  Eoyal. 

The  raid  had  failed  of  its  object,  and  beyond 
the  temporary  disabling  of  two  vessels  of  the 
blockading  squadron,  no  practical  advantage 
had  been  gained  by  the  enemy.  But  as  the 
latter  maintained  telegraphic  communication 
with  Eichmond,  and  could  send  north  their 
own  statements  of  the  occurrence  several  days 
in  advance  of  despatches  from  the  fleet,  it  was 
determined  to  forestall  the  Union  accounts, 
and,  if  possible,  induce  foreign  powers  to  be- 
lieve that  the  fleet  before  Charleston  had  been 
dispersed  and  the  blockade  raised.  Accord- 
ingly the  Eichmond  papers  of  the  2d  of  Feb- 
ruary published  despatches  from  Charleston 
announcing  as  the  result  of  the  naval  engage- 
ment of  Jan.  31st,  two  U.  S.  vessels  sunk,  four 
set  on  fire,  and  the  remainder  driven  away. 
The  following  "official  proclamation"  was  also 
given : 

HEADQUARTERS  LAND  AND  NAVAL  FORCES,  ) 
CHARLESTON,  S.  C.,  January  31st,  1863.     J 

At  about  five  o'clock  this  morning  the  Confederate 
States  naval  force  on  this  station  attacked  the  United 
States  blockading  fleet  off  the  harbor  of  the  city  of 
Charleston,  and  sank,  dispersed,  and  then  drove  out 
of  sight  for  a  time  the  entire  hostile  fleet ;  therefore 
we,  the  undersigned  commanders  respectively  of  the 
Confederate  States  naval  and  land  forces  in  this  quar- 
ter, do  hereby  formally  declare  the  blockade  by  the 
United  States  of  the  said  port  of  Charleston,  S.  C.,  to 
be  raised  by  a  superior  force  of  the  Confederate  States, 
from  and  after  this  31st  day  of  January,  A.  D.  18G3. 

[Signed]         G.  T.  BEAUREGARD,  Gen'l  Com'g. 
D.  N.  INGRAHAM,  Flag-officer, 

Commanding  Naval  Forces. 
[Official]    THOS.  JORDAN,  Chief  of  Staff. 

"Yesterday  evening  (Jan.  31st),"  said  an- 
other despatch,  "  Beauregard  placed  a  steamer 
at  the  disposal  of  the  foreign  consuls  to  see  for 
themselves  that  no  blockade  existed.  The 
French  and  Spanish  consuls,  accompanied  by 
Gen.  Eipley,  accepted  the  invitation.  The 
British  consul  with  the  commander  of  the 
British  war  steamer  Petrel,  had  previously 
gone  five  miles  beyond  the  usual  anchorage 
of  the  blockaders,  and  could  see  nothing  of 
them  with  glasses.  Late  in  the  evening  four 
blockaders  reappeared,  but  keeping  far  out. 
This  evening  a  larger  number  of  blockaders  are 
in  sight,  but  keep  steam  up,  evidently  ready  to 
run."  And  it  was  subsequently  announced 
that  the  consuls  held  a  meeting  on  the  night 
after  the  above  proclamation  was  issued,  and 


decided  unanimously  that  the  blockade  had 
been  legally  raised. 

The  publication  of  these  despatches  caused 
considerable  uneasiness  at  the  North.  It  was 
not  doubted  indeed  that  despatches  from  Ad- 
miral Dupont  would  put  an  entirely  different 
face  upon  the  matter,  but  apprehensions  were 
entertained  in  some  quarters  that  statements 
of  this  kind  going  abroad,  uncontradicted  by 
other  evidence,  might  be  only  too  readily 
seized  upon  by  unfriendly  powers  as  a  pretext 
for  insisting  that  the  blockade  had  been  raised, 
and  that  having  been  once  raised,  it  could  not 
be  declared  renewed  without  formal  notice 
from  the  United  States  authorities.  These 
fears,  however,  proved  groundless.  Foreign 
journals  or  governments  declined  to  be  influ- 
enced by  ex-parte  statements,  and  despatches 
from  the  blockading  fleet  showed  that  nothing 
approaching  a  raising  of  the  blockade  had  been 
effected. 

For  the  purpose  of  fortifying  his  own  state- 
ments, Admiral  Dupont  subsequently  sent  an 
official  refutation  of  the  Beauregard  and  In- 
graham  proclamation,  and  the  rebel  despatches, 
dated  Feb.  10th,  and  signed  by  nearly  all  the 
commanding  officers  of  vessels  that  were  lying 
off  Charleston  harbor  on  the  morning  of  Jan. 
31st.  "  We  deem  it  our  duty,"  they  observe, 
"  to  state  that  the  so-called  results  are  false  in 
every  particular — no  vessels  were  sunk,  none 
were  set  on  fire  seriously.  *  *  *  So  hasty 
was  the  retreat  of  the  rams  that,  although  they 
might  have  perceived  that  the  Keystone  State 
had  received  serious  damage,  no  attempt  was 
ever  made  to  approach  her.  The  Stettin  and 
Ottawa,  at  the  extreme  end  of  the  line,  did  not 
get  under  way  from  their  position  till  after  the 
firing  had  ceased,  and  the  Stettin  merely  saw 
the  black  smoke  as  the  rams  disappeared  over 
the  bar.  The  rams  withdrew  hastily  toward 
the  harbor,  and  on  their  way  were  fired  at  by 
the  Housatonic  and  Augusta  until  both  had 
got  beyond  reach  of  their  guns.  They  anchored 
under  the  protection  of  their  forts  and  remained 
there.  No  vessel,  iron-clad  or  other,  passed 
out  over  the  bar  after  the  return  of  the  rams 
in  shore.  The  Unadilla  was  not  aware  of  _tho 
attack  until  the  Housatonic  commenced  firing, 
when  she  moved  out  toward  that  vessel  from 
her  anchorage.  The  Housatonic  was  never 
beyond  the  usual  line  of  the  blockade."  They 
also  state  that  no  vessel  ran  in  or  out  of  the 
port  during  the  day,  and  that  no  attempt  was 
made  to  run  the  blockade,  and  conclude  as  fol- 
lows :  "  We  do  not  hesitate  to  state  that  no 
vessel  came  out  beyond  the  bar  after  the  re- 
turn of  the  rams,  at  between  7  and  8  A.  M.,  to 
the  cover  of  the  forts.  "We  believe  the  state- 
ment that  any  vessel  came  anywhere  near  the 
usual  anchorage  of  any  of  the  blockaders,  or 
up  to  the  bar,  after  the  withdrawal  of  the  rams, 
to  be  deliberately  and  knowingly  false.  If  the 
statement  from  the  papers,  as  now  before  us, 
has  the  sanction  of  the  captain  of  the  Petrel 
and  the  foreign  consuls,  we  can  only  deplore 


446 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


that  foreign  officers  can  lend  their  official  po- 
sitions to  the  spreading'  before  the  world,  for 
unworthy  objects,  untruths  patent  to  every 
officer  of  this  squadron."  Previous  to  the 
preparation  of  this  paper  the  blockading  fleet 
before  Charleston  had  been  strengthened  by 
the  New  Ironsides,  Powhattan,  and  Canan- 
daigua. 

On  January  30th,  the  gunboat  Isaac  Smith, 
Lieutenant  Conover,  while  engaged  in  reconnoi- 
tring the  Stono  river,  was  obliged  to  surrender 
to  a  rebel  land  force.  She  had  passed  some 
miles  beyond  LegareVille,  as  she  had  been  in 
the  habit  of  doing  for  weeks  previous,  and  was 
on  her  way  back,  when  three  shore  batteries, 
previously  concealed,  opened  a  concentrated 
fire  upon  her  from  heavy  rifled  guns.  Lieut. 
Conover  replied  with  vigor,  and  endeavored  to 
steam  down  past  the  batteries,  but  a  shot  in 
the  Smith's  steam  chimney  effectually  stopped 
the  engine,  and  with  no  wind,  little  tide,  and 
boats  riddled  with  shot,  she  was  left  at  the 
mercy  of  the  enemy.  Resistance  appearing 
useless,  the  ship  was  surrendered,  after  24  men 
had  been  killed  and  wounded.  It  subsequently 
appeared  that,  from  information  communicated 
by  a  deserter,  the  enemy  had  planned  the  am- 
buscade by  which  the  Smith  was  captured,  and 
had  aimed  at  her  boiler,  and  machinery,  which 
were  very  much  exposed. 

On  the  morning  of  Feb.  1st,  the  Montauk 
again  engaged  Fort  McAllister,  at  a  distance  of 
about  1,400  yards,  the  water  being  too  shoal  to 
permit  her  tq  approach  nearer.  .  Some  injury 
w&s  done  to  the  parapets  of  the  fort,  and  the 
Montauk  was  hit  46  times,  but  without  receiv- 
ing material  damage.  For  eight  months  pre- 
vious the  privateer  Nashville  had  been  lying 
under  the  protection  of  the  fort,  watching  an 
opportunity  to  run  the  blockade ;  and  to  pre- 
vent any  attempt  by  the  gunboats  to  cut  her 
out,  the  river  had  been  staked  and  a  line  of 
torpedoes  laid  across  the  channel.  She  had 
been  frequently  observed  close  under  the  fort, 
ready  to  make  a  dash  if  the  opportunity  offered, 
or  quietly  waiting  for  an  ironclad  to  tow  her 
to  sea.  On  the  morning  of  the  27th,  a  re- 
connoissance  discovered  the  Nashville  aground, 
and  Commander  Worden  seized  the  opportunity 
to  bring  the  Montauk  close  up  to  the  obstruc- 
tions in  the  river,  and  commence  a  bombard- 
ment upon  her.  In  less  than  20  minutes  the 
Nashville  was  in  flames  from  exploding  shells, 
and  half  an  hour  later  her  magazine  blew  up 
with  terrific  violence,  leaving  not  a  vestige  of 
the  vessel  in  sight.  The  Montauk  was  struck 
five  times  by  shots  from  Fort  McAllister,  and 
while  bhe  was  dropping  down  beyond  the  range 
of  the  enemy's  guns  a  torpedo  exploded  under 
her,  inflicting  a  slight  amount  of  injury. 

By  this  time  several  additional  ironclads  had 
arrived  at  Port  Royal,  and'for  the  purpose  of 
subjecting  their  various  mechanical  appliances 
to  the  full  test  of  active  service,  before  enter- 
ing upon  more  important  operations,  Admiral 
Dupont  ordered  them  to  make  a  concentrated 


attack  on  Fort  McAllister.  This  took  place  on 
March  3d,  the  Passaic,  Capt.  Drayton,  the 
Patapsco,  Commander  Ammen,  and  the  Na- 
hant,  Commander  Downes,  participating,  under 
the  command  of  Capt.  Drayton.  The  Passaic, 
by  skilful  pilotage,  was  brought  up  to  within 
about  1,000  yards  of  the  fort,  and  for  eight 
hours  withstood  its  chief  fire,  retiring  only 
when  her  ammunition  was  expended.  Few 
of  her  shots  failed  to  strike  above  the  parapet 
of  the  fort ;  but  beyond  disfiguring  the  face  of 
the  work  they  effected  no  injury  which  a 
night's  work  would  not  repair;  and,  in  the 
opinion  of  Capt.  Drayton,  the  fort  could  "  not 
bo  made  untenable  by  any  number  of  iron- 
clads which  the  shallow  water  and  narrow 
space  would  permit  to  be  brought  in  position 
against  it."  The  Passaic  was  struck  34  times 
in  all,  9  shots  being  against  her  side  armor,  13 
against  her  deck,  5  against  her  turret,  and  2 
against  her  pilot  house.  In  all  these  parts  of 
the  vessel  the  bolts  were  more  or  less  started 
by  the  violence  of  the  concussion;  and  indenta- 
tions, varying  from  half  an  inch  to  2  inches, 
were  made  in  the  armor.  A  10 -inch  mortar 
shell,  loaded  with  sand,  fell  on  the  deck  over 
the  bread  room,  crushing  m  the  planking,  and 
would  have  gone  through,  had  it  not  struck  on 
a  beam.  "  Had  it  been  loaded  wi-th  powder  in- 
stead of  sand,"  said  Capt.  Drayton,  "  it  might 
have  set  the  vessel  on  fire.  This  certainly  does 
not  say  much  for  the  strength  of  the  deck,  the 
injury  to  which  has  been  so  much  more  serious 
than  to  that  of  the  Montauk,  that  I  must  at- 
tribute it  to  a  worse  class  of  iron,  unless  heavier 
guns  have  been  mounted  since  the  attack  made 
by  Commander  Worden."  Everything  about 
the  guns  and  carriages  was  reported  to  have 
worked  well,  except  that  the  concussion  of  the 
15-inch  gun  broke  all  the  bolts  holding  the 
side  of  the  box  to  the  turret.  The  Patapsco  and 
Nahant  were  unable  to  approach  so  near  the 
fort  as  the  Passaic,  and  received  but  a  slight 
fire  from  the  enemy,  who  directed  their  efforts 
chiefly  against  the  latter.  The  Patapsco  was 
struck  but  once,  and  the  Nahant  not  at  all. 
Satisfied  with  the  experiment  (for  such  the  en- 
gagement had  been  on  the  part  of  the  iron- 
clads). Capt.  Drayton  immediately  returned  to 
Port  Royal,  where  the  Passaic,  and  also  the 
Montauk,  underwent  repairs. 

By  the  commencement  of  April,  the  prepara- 
tions, which  for  many  months  previous  had  been 
making  for  a  combined  attack  by  the  ironclads 
upon  the  fortifications  of  Charleston  harbor, 
were  completed,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  6th 
the  whole  fleet  crossed  the  bar,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  reducing  Fort  Sumter  on  the  same  day, 
and  thence  proceeding  up  to  the  city.  But  the 
weather  becoming  so  hazy  as  to  prevent  the 
pilots  from  seeing  the  ranges,  the  attack  was 
deferred  until  the  next  day,  and  the  fleet  an- 
chored about  fire  miles  from  Fort  Sumter.  At 
noon,  on  the  7th,  this  being  the  earliest  hour 
at  which,  owing  to  the  state  of  the  tide,  the 
pilots  would  consent  to  move,  signal  was  given 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


447 


by  Admiral  Dupontfrom  his  flag- ship,  the  New 
Ironsides,  for  the  vessels  to  weigh  anchor.  Ac- 
cording to  the  plan  of  attack  the  vessels  were 
to  form  in  the  following  order  ahead,  at  inter- 
vals of  one  cable's  length :  1.  Weehawken, 
Capt.  John  Rogers ;  2.  Passaic,  Capt.  Percival 
Drayton;  3.  Montauk,  Commander  John  L. 
"Worden ;  4.  Patapsco,  Commander  Daniel  Am- 
men ;  5.  New  Ironsides,  Commodore  Thomas 
Turner;  6.  Catskill,  Commander  George  W. 
Rodgers;  7.  Nantucket,  Commander  Donald 
McN.  Fairfax;  8.  Nahant,  Commander  John 
Downes  ;  9.  Keokuk,  Lieut.  Commander  Alex- 
ander C.  Rhind.  The  squadron  was  then  to 
pass  up  the  main  ship  channel  without  return- 
ing the  fire  of  the  batteries  on  Morris  Island, 
unless  signalized  to  do  so,  and  was  to  take  up  a 
position  to  the'  northward  and  westward  of 
Fort  Sumter,  and  engage  its  northwest  face  at  a 
distance  of  from  1,000  to  800  yards.  A  squadron 
of  reserve,  consisting  of  the  Canandaigua,  Una- 
dilla,  Housatonic,  Wissahickon,  and  Huron,  un- 
der the  command  of  Capt.  Joseph  H.  Green,  of 
the  Canandaigua,  was  ordered  to  remain  out- 
side the  bar,  and  be  in  readiness  to  support  the 
ironclads,  when  they  should  attack  the  batteries 
on  Morris  Island,  which  would  be  subsequent 
to  the  reduction  of  Fort  Sumter. 

The  chief  works  erected  by  the  enemy  for  the 
defence  of  Charleston  may  be  thus  briefly  de- 
scribed :  On  the  upper  or  north  end  of  Sul- 
livan's Island  a  powerful  sand  battery  guarding 
Maffit's  Channel-;  another  large  sand  battery, 
called  Fort  Beauregard,  between  this  and  the 
Moultrie  House;  Fort  Moultrie,  which  had 
been  greatly  strengthened  since  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war ;  Fort  Sumter,  built  upon  an 
artificial  island  in  the  middle  of  the  channel, 
near  the  entrance  of  the  inner  harbor,  and  about 
li_rniles  west  of  Fort  Moultrie ;  Battery  Bee,  ad- 
joining Fort  Moultrie,  on  the  western  extremity 
of  Sullivan's  Island ;  the  Mount  Pleasant  bat- 
tery on  the  mainland  between  Sullivan's  Isl- 
and and  Cooper  river  ;  Castle  Pinckney,  built 
on  an  island  about  a  mile  distant  from  Charles- 
ton ;  all,  with  the  exception  of  Sumter,  being 
on  the  right  or  northerly  side  of  the  harbor. 
On  the  other  side  of  the  harbor,  in  the  imme- 
diate vicinity  of  the  city,  was  the  Wappoo  bat- 
tery on  James  Island,  commanding  the  em- 
bouchure of  Ashley  river  ;  next  to  which  was 
Fort  Johnson,  and  between  it  and  Castle  Pinck- 
ney, Fort  Ripley,  a  work  erected  on  an  artifi- 
cial island  in  what  is  known  as  the  "  Middle 
Ground."  On  Cumming's  Point,  Morris  Isl- 
and, opposite  Fort  Moultrie,  was  Battery  Gregg, 
and  a  mile  south  of  this  Fort  "Wagner,  an  ex- 
tensive sand  battery  of  the  most  powerful  con- 
struction. Finally,  at  Light  House  Inlet,  which 
divides  Morris  Island  from  Folly  Island,  was 
another  fortification  covering  the  landing  at 
that  place.  Within  a  few  days  of  the  attack 
the  enemy  also  erected  a  new  sand  work  be- 
tween the  two  last  mentioned.  The  number  of 
guns  mounted  on  these  works  was  estimated 
at  several  hundred,  comprising  the  heaviest 


smooth-bore  ordnance,  and  many  rifled  pieces 
of  English  manufacture  ;  and  as  an  additional 
means  of  protection,  the  channel  between  Fort 
Sumter  and  Sullivan's  Island  was  obstructed  by 
rows  of  floating  casks  supporting  torpedoes  and 
other  submarine  obstacles,  and  in  that  between 
Sumter  and  Cumming's  Point  were  no  less  than, 
four  rows  of  piles  extending  nearly  up  to 
Charleston. 

At  half  past  twelve  the  fleet  began  to  move, 
the  "Weehawken,  the  leading  ship,  having  a 
pioneer  raft  attached  to  her  bows  for  the  pur- 
pose of  exploding  torpedoes  and  clearing  away 
obstructions.  Almost  immediately  her  raft  be- 
came deranged,  and  nearly  an  hour  was  con- 
sumed in  putting  it  in  position.  At  half  past 
one  the  vessels  were  again  under  way  and 
moved  slowly  up  toward  Fort  Sumter,  passing 
the  works  on  Morris  Island,  which  held  an 
ominous  silence.  They  then  steered  toward  the 
entrance  of  the  inner  harbor,  intending  to  pass 
betweenFort  Sumter  and  Sullivan's  Island,  and 
shortly  before  8  o'clock  came  within  effective 
range  of  these  positions.  At  2.50  P.M.  the  guns 
of  Fort  Moultrie  opened  upon  the  "Weehawken, 
followed  shortly  after  by  all  the  batteries  on 
Sullivan's  Island  and  Morris  Island,  and  by  Fort 
Sumter.  The  remainder  of  the  squadron  fol- 
lowed steadily  in  the  wake  of  the  leading  ship, 
which,  however,  upon  reaching  the  entrance 
of  the  channel  between  Sumter  and  Sullivan's 
Island,  encountered  obstructions  of  so  formi- 
dable a  nature,  that  Capt.  Rodgers  considered 
it  impossible  to  pass  through  them.  He  accord- 
ingly turned  his  ship  to  gain  a  better  position 
for  attack,  and  his  movements  being  followed 
by  the  vessels  immediately  behind  him,  the 
line,  in  consequence  of  the  narrowness  of  the 
channel,  and  the  force  of  the  tide,  was  thrown 
into  some  confusion.  The  New  Ironsides,  in 
attempting  to  turn,  was  caught  in  the  tideway, 
refused  to  obey  her  rudder,  and  became  in  a 
degree  unmanageable ;  while,  to  ;add  to  the 
complication,  the  Catskill  and  Nantucket, 
which  kept  in  her  wake,  fell  foul  of  her,  and 
for  fifteen  minutes  the  three  vessels  were  in  a 
dead  lock.  On  this  occasion,  and  once  subse- 
quently, the  Ironsides  was  obliged  to  come  to 
anchor  to  avoid  drifting  ashore,  in  which  case 
she  would  inevitably  have  been  lost. 

Nothing  now  remained  but  for  the  admiral  to 
make  signal  to  the  fleet  to  disregard  the  move- 
ments of  the  flag-ship,  and  take  up  such  po- 
sitions as  might  seem  most  available.  This  was 
at  once  done,  and  shortly  before  4  o'clock  the 
remaining  eight  vessels  were  ranged  opposite 
the  northeast  front  of  Sumter,  at  distances  vary- 
ing from  550  to  800  yards.  The  enemy  during 
this  time  had  not  been  idle,  and  from  Forts 
Beauregard,  Moultrie,  and  Sumter,  Battery  Bee 
and  Fort  Wagner,  the  concentrated  fire  of  300 
guns  was  poured  upon  the  devoted  fleet,  ex- 
ceeding probably  in  rapidity  and  power  any 
cannonade  previously  known  in  warfare.  To 
this  the  eight  ironclads  could  oppose  but  16 
guns.  During  the  climax  of  the  fire  160  shots 


448 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


449 


were  counted  in  a  single  minute,  and  officers 
described  the  projectiles  as  striking  their  ves- 
sels sometimes  as  rapidly  as  the  ticking  of  a 
watch.  It  is  estimated  that  from  first  to  last 
the  enemy  fired  not  less  than  3,500  rounds  of 
ammunition. 

Placed  in  the  focus  of  this  tremendous  fire,  the 
ironclads  fought  at  a  disadvantage  which  ren- 
dered their  offensive  power  of  little  effect.  The 
confined  space  in  which  they  were  obliged  to 
manoeuvre  called  for  unusual  vigilance  on  the 
part  of  their  commanders  in  avoiding  collisions, 
as  also  in  keeping  clear  of  the  floating  obstruc- 
tions and  submerged  batteries  against  which 
the  tide  was  constantly  bearing  them.  The 
dense  clouds  of  smoke  which  hung  over  the 
water  proved  an  additional  source  of  embarrass- 
ment. They,  nevertheless,  entered  resolutely 
upon  the  work  before  them,  and  directed  their 
principal  attack  against  Fort  Sumter.  Upon 
receiving  the  order  to  disregard  the  movements 
of  tbe  flag-ship,  Lieut.  Commander  Ehind  gal- 
lantly ran  his  vessel,  the  Keokuk,  up  through 
the  others  to  within  550  feet  of  the  fort,  where 
she  became  a  special  target  for  the  enemy. 
During  the  short  period  that  she  was  able  to 
retain  this  position,  she  was  struck  90  times 
in  the  hull  and  turrets,  19  shots  piercing  her 
at  and  below  the  water  line,  and  others  enter- 
ing her  turret.  The  vessel  was  in  fact  so  com- 
pletely riddled,  that  her  commander,  fearing 
she  could  not  much  longer  be  kept  afloat,  with- 
drew from  action  at  the  end  of  half  an  hour, 
and  succeeded  in  getting  her  to  anchor  out 
of  range  of  fire.  She  was  kept  afloat  during 
the  night  by  means  of  her  pumps,  but  sank 
the  next  morning.  The  Keokuk  was  only  able 
to  fire  three  times  during  the  engagement,  one 
of  her  guns  having  been  almost  immediately 
disabled,  and  the  other  rendered  unavailable 
by  casualties  to  the  crew.  She  differed  in  con- 
struction and  strength  from  the  other  iron- 
clads of  the  squadron,  and  her  side  and  turret 
armor  of  an  average  thickness  of  5|  inches, 
proved  entirely  insufficient  to  withstand  the 
terrible  fire  to  which  she  had  been  subjected. 

The  remaining  vessels,  though  suffering  no 
calamity  comparable  in  extent  with  that  of  the 
Keokuk,  were  more  or  less  damaged  by  the 
fire  from  the  forts.  The  Nahant  had  her  tur- 
ret so  jammed  as  effectually  to  prevent  its  turn- 
ing, and  the  pilot  house  became  nearly  unten- 
able in  consequence  of  flying  bolts  and  nuts. 
The  Passaic  was  unable  to  use  her  11 -inch 
gun  after  the  fourth  fire,  and  had  her  turret 
temporarily  jammed.  The  Patapsco  lost  the 
use  of  her  rifle  gun  after  the  fifth  fire,  owing  to 
the  carrying  away  of  her  forward  cap  square 
bolts ;  and  the  Nantucket  had  her  15-inoh  gun 
permanently  disabled  after  the  third  fire.  The 
Weehawken,  Montauk,  and  Oatskill  were  ob- 
structed in  the  use  of  their  guns  only  by  the 
obstacles  to  navigation  above  mentioned.  The 
New  Ironsides  never  got  nearer  than  within 
1,000  yards  of  the  enemy's  fire,  and  directed 
her  chief  attention  to  Fort  Moultrie,  against 
29 


which,  however,  she  was  unable  to  discharge 
but  a  single  broadside. 

At  4.30  P.  M.  Admiral  Dupont  observing  signs 
of  distress  on  the  part  of  several  of  his  ships, 
made  signal  to  withdraw  from  action,  intend- 
ing to  resume  the  attack  the  next  morning. 
The  reports,  however,  which  the  different  com- 
manders made  on  that  evening  respecting  the 
injuries  to  their  vessels,  the  character  of  the 
obstructions  in  the  inner  harbor,  and  the  num- 
ber and  weight  of  the  enemy's  guns,  convinced 
him  of  the  "  utter  impracticability  of  taking 
the  city  of  Charleston  with  the  force  under  his 
command."  During  the  forty -five  minutes  that 
the  fleet  had  been  under  the  hottest  concentra- 
ted fire  of  the  enemy,  one  vessel  had  been 
wholly,  and  four  partially  disabled,  and  in  the 
opinion  of  the  admiral  another  half  hour  would 
have  sufficed  to  put  the  remainder  hors  de  com- 
bat. To  compensate  for  these  damages,  noth- 
ing had  been  effected  by  the  ironclads  beyond 
some  injuries  to  the  east  wall  of  Fort  Sumter 
— a  result  which  confirmed  the  admiral  in  his 
opinion  that  the  opposing  forces  were  too  un- 
equal to  justify  him  in  renewing  the  contest. 
The  nine  ships  of  the  squadron  had  been  able 
to  fire  but  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  shots 
against  Fort  Sumter  in  reply  to  the  thousands 
of  shells,  solid  shot,  and  steel  pointed  bolts 
hurled  against  them  from  six  or  seven  different 
forts;  and  there  was  good  reason  to  suppose 
that  even  had  Sumter  been  silenced,  the  ob- 
structions beyond  would  have  been  impassable, 
and  the  fire  from  the  forts  have  sunk  every 
vessel  attempting  to  go  up  the  harbor.  This 
opinion,  however,  was  not  shared  by  all.  Un- 
der these  circumstances  Admiral  Dupont  not 
only  determined  not  to  renew  the  fight,  but  to 
recross  the  bar  and  return  with  the  ironclads 
to  Port  Royal ;  being  prompted  to  the  latter 
course  partly  by  the  necessity  of  making  re- 
pairs, and  partly  by  his  belief  that  the  anchor- 
age inside  or  outside  the  bar  was  unsafe  for 
vessels  of  the  Monitor  class.  On  the  12th  the 
whole  fleet,  with,  the  exception  of  the  New 
Ironsides,  which  anchored  outside  Charleston 
bar,  returned  to  Port  Royal. 

The  casualties  of  the  fleet  were  remarkably 
few,  considering  the  fierceness  of  the  enemy'* 
fire,  and  resulted  in  almost  every  case  from 
flying  bolts  and  concussions  within  the  turrets. 
But  one  man  died  of  injuries  received,  and 
about  twenty-five  were  wounded,  principally 
on  the  Keokuk  and  Nahant.  In  some  of  the 
vessels  no  casualities  whatever  were  reported. 
The  Passaic  was  struck  35  times,  the  Nahant, 
36  times,  the  Patapsco,  47  times,  the  Nantuck- 
et,  51  times,  the  Montauk,  14  times,  and  the 
Catskill,  20  times.  Many  of  the  shots  made 
but  slight  indentations  in  the  turrets  and  side 
armor,  but  in  every  ship  repairs  of  greater  or 
less  extent  were  considered  necessary.  The 
Ironsides  escaped  with  comparatively  little  in- 
jury, having  during  the  whole  engagement 
been  out  of  range  of  the  severest  fire.  The 
capabilities  of  the  ironclads  in  contests  of  this 


450 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


nature  were  proved.  In  explanation  of  his 
failure  to  renew  the  attack,  Admiral  Dupont 
wrote  as  follows  to  the  Navy  Department,  on 
the  15th : 

Any  attempt  to  pass  through  the  obstructions  I 
have  referred  to,  would  have  entangled  the  vessels 
and  held  them  under  the  most  severe  fire  of  heavy 
ordnance  that  has' ever  been  delivered;  and  while  it 
is  barely  possible  that  some  vessels  might  have  forced 
their  way  through,  it  would  only  have  been  to  be 
again  impeded  by  fresh  and  more  formidable  obstruc- 
tions, and  to  encounter  other  powerful  batteries,  with 
which  the  whole  harbor  of  Charleston  has  been  lined. 
I  had  hoped  that  the  endurance  of  the  iron-clads 
would  have  enabled  them  to  have  borne  any  weight 
of  fire  to  which  they  might  have  been  exposed ;  but 
when  I  found  that  so  large  a  portion  of  them  were 
wholly  or  one-half  disabled,  by  less  than  an  hour's 
engagement,  before  attempting  to  overcome  the  ob- 
structions, or  testing  the  power  of  the  torpedoes,  I 
was  convinced  that  persistence  in  the  attack  would 
qnly  result  in  the  loss  of  the  greater  portion  of  the 
iron-clad  fleet,  and  in  leaving  many  of  them  inside 
the  harbor,  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The 
slowness  of  our  fire,  and  our  inability  to  occupy  any 
battery  that  we  might  silence,  or  to  prevent  its  being 
restored  under  cover  of  the  night,  were  difficulties 
of  the  gravest  character;  and  until  the  outer  forts 
should  nave  been  taken,  the  army  could  not  enter  the 
harbor  or  afford  me  any  assistance. 

On  the  13th  the  President  despatched  the 
following  telegram  to  Admiral  Dupont : 

Hold  your  position  inside  the  bar  near  Charleston ; 
or,  if  you  shall  have  left  it,  return  to  it  and  hold  it 
until  further  orders.  Do  not  allow  the  enemy  to 
erect  new  batteries  or  defences  on  Morris  Island.  If 
he  has  begun  it,  drive  him  out.  I  do  not  herein 
order  you  to  renew  the  general  attack.  That  is  to 
depend  on  your  own  discretion  or  a  further  order. 

A.  LINCOLN. 

And  by  another  order,  dated  on  the  succeed- 
ing day,  he  directed  him,  should  he  not  suc- 
ceed in  taking  the  batteries  on  Morris  Island 
or  Sullivan's  Island,  to  continue  the  demonstra- 
tion for  a  time,  and  to  make  "the  attempt  a 
real  one,  though  not  a  desperate  one,  if  it  af- 
fords any  considerable  chance  of  success."  In 
reply,  Admiral  Dupont  said  that  he  should  use 
every  exertion  to  push  forward  the  repairs  of 
the  iron-clads,  and  get  them  inside  1he  bar. 
"  I  think  it  my  duty,  however,"  he  observed, 
"  to  state  to  the  department  that  this  will  be 
attended  with  great  risk  to  these  vessels  from 
the  gales  which  prevail  at  this  season,  and 
from  the  continuous  fire  of  the  enemy's  batter- 
ies." He  urged  various  objections  to  a  further 
employment  of  them  against  the  works  on 
Morris  Island,  but  expressed  his  willingness  to 
obey  all  orders  with  the  utmost  fidelity,  even 
should  his  judgment  be  opposed,  and  to  renew, 
if  necessary,  the  attack  on  Charleston,  although 
he  thought  such  a  measure  "  would  be  attend- 
ed with  disastrous  results,  involving  the  loss  of 
the  coast." 

In  the  early  part  of  June,  Admiral  Dupont, 
having  reason  to  believe  that  the  Atlanta  and 
other  rebel  iron-clads  at  Savannah  were  medi- 
tating an  attack  upon  the  blockading  vessels  in 
Warsaw  Sound,  despatched  the  Weehawken, 
Captain  John  Rodgers,  and  the  Nahant,  Com- 


mander J.  Downes,  thither  to  prevent  any  dis- 
aster to  the  fleet.  The  Atlanta,  originally  a 
swift  and  powerful  British  steamer  called  the 
Fingal,  had  early  in  the  war  run  the  blockade 
of  Savannah,  and  been  converted  by  the  enemy 
into  an  iron-clad  at  a  great  expense.  She  was 
191  feet  in  length  and  40  feet  beam-,  somewhat 
over  1,000  tons  in  measurement,  and  had  a  low 
deck,  with  a  casemate  or  covered  iron-plated 
house  in  the  centre,  with  sloping  sides  and 
ends,  in  which  was  her  battery,  consisting  of 
two  6-inch  and  two  7-inch  rifled  guns.  Of 
these  the  former  were  broadside  guns,  and  the 
latter  worked  on  a  pivot,  either  as  broadside 
or  bow  and  stern  guns.  She  was  further  armed 
with  a  powerful  ram,  and  had  attached  to  her 
bow  a  submarine  torpedo,  charged  with  about 
fifty  pounds  of  powder.  No  efforts  had  been 
spared  to  render  her  formidable,  and  it  was 
believed  by  the  enemy  that  her  speed,  her 
heavy  armament,  and  her  ram,  would  render 
her  more  than  a  match  for  any  two  vessels 
of  the  Monitor  type.  They  therefore  boldly 
steamed  down  the  sound  at  dawn  of  June  17th, 
followed  by  several  small  steamers  conveying 
pleasure  parties  who  were  to  be  the  witnesses 
of  her  triumph.  At  a  few  minutes  past  four 
she  was  perceived  by  the  Federal  iron-clads, 
which  Were  lying  at  anchor  near  the  mouth  of 
Wilmington  River,  and  they  at  once  prepared 
for  action.  The  Weehawken  being  nearest  the 
enemy  got  under  way  first  and  stood  up  the 
sound,  followed  by  the  Nahant,  which,  having 
no  pilot,  was  ordered  by  Capt.  Rodgers  to  keep 
in  the  wake  of  his  vessel.  A  few  minutes  be- 
fore five  the  Atlanta,  which  was  then  lying 
across  the  channel  awaiting  the  attack  of  the 
Federal  steamers,  fired  a  single  shot  at  the 
Nahant,  which  failed  to  take  effect.  The  'Wee- 
hawken steamed  steadily  toward  the  Atlanta, 
and  when  about  three  hundred  yards  distant 
opened  upon  her  with  her  15-inch  gun.  Drift- 
ing one  hundred  yards  nearer,  she  discharged 
both  her  guns,  upon  which  the  Atlanta  hauled 
down  her  colors,  and  ran  up  a  white  flag  in 
token  of  surrender.  The  signal  was  not  under- 
stood until  after  another  discharge  from  the 
Weehawken,  when  all  firing  ceased,  and  the 
prize  was  taken  possession  of,  after  a  contest 
of  scarcely  fifteen  minutes,  in  which  the  Wee- 
hawken alone  had  participated. 

On  examination  it  was  found  that  the  enemy 
had  been  struck  four  times.  The  first  shot 
knocked  a  hole  in  her  casemate,  without,  how- 
ever, going  through,  and  scattered  over  the 
enclosed  decks  great  quantities  of  wood  and 
iron  splinters,  by  which  upward  of  forty  men 
were  stunned  and  wounded,  one  of  whom  sub- 
sequently died.  This  is  believed  to  have  been 
the  first  shot  from  a  15-inch  gun  fired  in  & 
naval  combat,  and  according  to  the  rebel  offi- 
cers its  effect  was  to  demoralize  the  whole 
crew  of  the  Atlanta.  The  second  shot  struck 
the  edge  of  the  overhang ;  the  third  knocked 
off  the  top  of  the  pilot  house,  wounding  two 
pilots  and  stunning  the  men  at  the  wheel,  and 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


451 


the  fourth  struck  a  port  stopper  in  the  centre, 
breaking  it  in  two  and  driving  the  iron  frag- 
ments through  the  port.  The  first  and  third 
shots  decided  the  battle,  the  former,  as  Captain 
Rodgers  observed,  having  taken  away  the  desire 
to  fight,  and  the  latter  the  ability  to  get  away. 
The  captured  prisoners  amounted  to  145,  offi- 
cers and  men,  and  the  hull  of  the  Atlanta  was 
so  little  injured  that  in  a  short  time  she  was 
enabled  to  take  her  place  among  vessels  of  her 
class  in  the  United  States  navy. 

The  combat  was  characterized  by  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Navy  as  "the  most  marked  and 
extraordinary  in  the  service  during  the  year, 
and  in  some  respects  one  of  the  most  significant 
and  instructive  naval  battles  of  the  war." 
Whatever  opinions  may  have  been  entertained 
of  the  efficacy  of  iron-clads  against  forts  of 
masonry  or  sand,  few  could  doubt  after  this 
that  when  iron-clads  were  pitted  against  iron- 
clads their  execution  could  be  of  the  most  deci- 
sive character.  The  Monitor  class  of  vessels, 
which  had  fallen  into  temporary  disfavor  after 
the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter,  became  again  pop- 
ular, and  were  recognized  as  likely  to  be  of 
the  highest  value  in  harbor  or  coast  defence. 
The  brevity  of  the  conflict  and  the  complete 
disabling  of  the  Atlanta  also  reconciled  many 
to  the  heavy  ordnance  carried  by  these  vessels, 
the  efficacy  of  which  had  been  a  subject  of 
some  dispute  among  professional  men. 

Notwithstanding  the  failure  of  the  attack  of 
April  7th,  the  Government  was  unwilling  to 
relinquish  further  efforts  against  Charleston, 
and  as  the  tone  of  Admiral  Dupont's  letters 
indicated  that  he  was  opposed  to  a  renewed 
attack  upon  the  forts,  it  was  determined  to  re- 
lieve him  by  the  appointment  of  Rear- Admiral 
Foote.  That  officer  dying  in  New  York  before 
his  departure,  Rear-Admiral  Dahlgren  was 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  squadron, 
and  entered  upon  his  duties  on  July  6th.  Pre- 
vious to  this  date  the  demonstrations  against 
Charleston  had  been  exclusively  naval,  but 
with  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Gillmore  as  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  military  department  of 
the  South,  arrangements  were  made  for  com- 
bined operations  by  the  land  forces  and  the 
iron-clads. 

The  chief  maritime  disaster  on  this  station  was 
the  loss  of  the  Weehawken,  which  sank  at  her 
moorings  on  the  morning  of  Dec.  6th,  during 
the  prevalence  of  a  northwesterly  gale,  carry- 
ing with  her  to  the  bottom  four  of  her  engi- 
neers and  twenty-six  of  her  crew.  The  re- 
mainder of  the  ship's  company  escaped  in  the 
boats,  or  by  jumping  overboard  at  the  moment 
ofc  going  down.  The  most  of  those  who  per- 
ished were  probably  drowned  in  the  turret  and 
immediately  below  it,  while  seeking  to  force 
their  way  through  the  narrow  openings  which 
afford  the  only  means  of  escape.  The  disaster 


was  at  the  time  attributed  to  her  hatches  being 
unclosed.  • 

The  proper  station  of  the  "Western  Gulf 
squadron  was  along  the  Gulf  coast  from  Pensa- 
cola  to  the  Rio  Grande,  but  owing  to  military 
movements  in  Mississippi  and  Louisiana,  Rear- 
Admiral  Farragut  (having  been  promoted  to  the 
new  grade)  was  obliged  to  employ  many  of  his 
vessels  in  the  Mississippi  and  Red  Rivers,  in 
active  cooperation  with  the  land  forces.  For 
the  same  reason  he  gave  his  chief  attention  to 
this  portion  of  his  squadron,  leaving  the  block- 
ade of  the  coast  to  his  subordinates. 

The  operations  of  the  Mississippi  fleet,  like 
those  of  the  preceding,  were  almost  exclusively 
undertaken  in  conjunction  with  the  land  forces. 
Important  services  were  rendered  by  the  gun- 
boats in  patrolling  the  Tennessee  and  Cumber- 
land Rivers,  and  dispersing  the  guerrillas  who 
fired  upon  supply  steamers  and  transports.  To 
the  gunboats  on  the  Ohio,  which  in  July  co- 
operated with  the  land  forces  in  the  pursuit  of 
Morgan,  was  in  a  considerable  degree  due  the 
capture  of  that  leader  and  his  force. 

The  flotilla  on  the  Mississippi  numbered  np- 
ward  of  a  hundred  vessels,  carrying  462  guns, 
with  crews  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to 
5,500  men.  Thirteen  of  these  were  efficient 
iron-clads,  33  "tin-clads,"  so  called  from  being 
less  heavily  plated  than  the  others,  and  the  re- 
mainder consisted  of  despatch  and  auxiliary 
vessels,  rams,  &c.  There  were  also  a  number  of 
iron  and  tin-clads  in  the  course  of  construction. 

The  number  of  vessels  captured  by  the  sev- 
eral squadrons  from  the  commencement  of  the 
war  to  Nov.  1st,  1863,  was  1,045,  classified  as 
follows :  steamers,  179  ;  ships,  15 ;  barques,  26 ; 
brigs,  30  ;  schooners,  547 ;  sloops,  131 ;  yachts 
and  small  boats,  117.  The  value  of  all  the 
prizes  sent  to  admiralty  courts  for  adjudication 
is  estimated  by  Secretary  Welles  at  upward  of 
$13,000,000  ;  and  the  value  of  those  condemn- 
ed, the  costs  and  amounts  distributed,  are  shown 
in  the  following  table : 


No.  of 

Cases. 

Gross  amount 
of  sales. 

Costs  and 
expenses. 

Net  amount  for 
distiibution. 

Boston  

13 
89 
57 
71 
44 
11 

$864,322  15 
2.218,26329 
*1,859,434  76 
1,432,952  30 
72,091  62 
91,619  28 

$25,188  44 
281,16207 
149.806  06 
133,291  55 
11,966  12 
5,993  40 

$839,133  71 
1,937,785  21 
1,670,512  97 
1,804,053  51 
60,909  08 
85,625  88 

New  York.  
Philadelphia... 
Key  West  
Washington.... 
Illinois  

Total.... 

285 

$6,588,683  40 

$607,407  64 

$5,897,970  86 

The  number  of  prizes  captured  in  1863  by 
the  four  principal  coast  squadrons  considerably 
exceeded  300,  of  which  about  one-third  were 
steamers,  in  many  cases  built  expressly  for 
blockade  running,  and  loaded  with  valuable 
cargoes. 

*  Tho  sum  of  $89,115.78  allowed  to  claimants  by  decree  of 
court. 


452 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


CHAPTER   XXXY. 

Situation  of  Gen.  Bosecrans— Attack  on  Fort  Donelson— Expeditions  of  Colbnrn,  Sheridan,  Hall,  and  CoL  Straight— Ad- 
vance of  Gen.  Rosecrans — Retreat  of  Gen.  Bragg— Movement  of  Gen.  Burnside — Other  Movements — Occupation  of 
Chattanooga—  Further  advance  of  Gen.  Bosecrans — Battle  of  Chickamauga— Firmness  of  Gen.  Thomas — Army  concen- 
trates at  Chattanooga.  • 


BEFOEE  proceeding  to  state  the  important 
movements  of  the  army  under  Gen.  Rosecrans 
which  took  place  at  this  time,  it  may  be  proper 
to  notice  its  situation  subsequent  to  the  battle 
of  Stone  River  in  the  beginning  of  the  year. 
The  operations  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland, 
under  Maj.-Gen.  Rosecrans,  during  1862,  closed 
with  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  near  Murfrees- 
boro.  This  battle  took  place  on  the  last  days 
of  1862  and  the  first  of  1863.  On  the  5th  of 
January  the  headquarters  of  the  army  were 
established  at  Murfreesboro.  The  army  occu- 
pied a  position  in  front  of  the  town,  and  a 
series  of  extensive  earthworks,  completely  en- 
circling it,  were  constructed  for  the  purpose  of 
making  it  a  depot  of  supplies  and  the  base  of 
future  operations.  The  railroad  track  and  the 
bridges  in  the  rear  toward  Nashville  were  also 
repaired.  On  the  9th  of  January  the  army 
was  divided  into  three  corps,  designated  the 
Fourteenth,  Twentieth,  and  Twenty-first,  and 
commanded  respectively  by  Gens.  Thomas,  Mc- 
Cook,  and  Crittenden.  Active  operations  were, 
however,  suspended,  owing  to  the  rains  of  the 
season.  Large  supplies  were  collected  in  con- 
sequence of  the  rise  of  the  Cumberland  River  at 
Nashville  and  Murfreesboro.  But  the  enemy 
was  not  idle.  His  cavalry  overran  the  country, 
and  men  and  wagons  belonging  to  Gen.  Rose- 
crans were  often  captured  by  him.  The  object 
was  to  cut  off  the  communications  of  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  and  its  supplies.  Thus  also 
many  of  the  steamers  on  the  Cumberland  River 
were  captured  and  burned. 

On  the  31st,  Brig.-Gen.  Jeff.  C.  Davis,  with 
a  division  of  infantry  and  two  brigades  of  cav- 
alry, under  Col.  Minty,  moved  from  camp  on  an 
expedition  in  the  direction  of  Rover  and  Frank- 
lin. The  force  was  absent  thirteen  days,  and 
during  that  time  some  portion  of  it  visited 
Middletown,  Unionville,  Versailles,  Peytonville, 
Franklin,  Hillsboro,  Kinderhook,  and  Triune. 
The  cavalry  captured  one  hundred  and  forty- 
one  prisoners,  including  two  colonels,  one  ma- 
jor, four  captains,  and  several  lieutenants,  with 
two  men  severely  injured. 

On  the  3d  of  February  an  attack  was  made 
on  Fort  Donelson,  in  another  part  of  this  de- 
partment. On  the  2d,  the  Confederate  Col. 
Forrest,  with  nine  hundred  men,  had  taken  a 
position  at  Palmyra,  for  the  purpose  of  inter- 
rupting the  navigation  of  the  Cumberland.  On 
the  next  day  h«  advanced  upon  the  fort  both 
from  above  and  below.  The  garrison  consisted 
of  nine  companies  of  the  83d  Illinois,  a  batta- 
lion of  the  5th  Iowa  cavalry,  Flood's  battery, 


and  some  wounded  men,  under  command  of 
Col.  A.  0.  Harding.  The  battery  consisted  of 
four  rifled  guns,  and  in  addition  there  was  a 
pivot  of  thirty- two  pounder  rifled,  mounted  on 
the  northwest  corner  of  the  fort.  At  half-past 
one  in  the  afternoon  a  flag  of  trace  was  sent  in 
by  Col.  Forrest,  demanding  a  surrender  of  the 
fort  and  garrison.  This  was  promptly  refused, 
and  preparations  for  defence  were  made.  The 
attack  was  immediately  commenced,  and  kept 
up  with  numerous  charges,  which  were  gal- 
lantly repulsed,  until  eight  o'clock  in  the  even- 
ing, when  another  demand  for  a  surrender  was 
made.  It  was  again  promptly  refused,  and  the 
enemy  retired  in  confusion.  The  Federal  loss 
was  thirteen  killed,  fifty-one  wounded,  and 
twenty  taken  prisoners,  without  including  a 
captain  and  twenty-six  men  who  were  cap- 
tured on  the  same  day  while  on  a  scout ;  also 
one  gun,  twenty-five  mules,  and  forty-two 
horses.  The  Confederate  loss  was  estimated  at 
two  hundred  and  fifty  killed,  six  hundred 
wounded,  and  one  hundred  and  five  prisoners. 

A  period  of  inactivity  now  ensued,  which 
was  suddenly  broken  by  the  defeat  and  capture 
of  a  Federal  brigade  at  Spring  Hill  on  the  5th 
of  March.  On  the  preceding  day  an  expedi- 
tion, under  the  command  of  Col.  John  Colburn, 
consisting  of  part  of  the  33d  and  85th  Indiana, 
22d  Wisconsin,  and  19th  Michigan,  numbering 
fifteen  hundred  and  eighty-nine  men,  together 
with  the  124th  Ohio,  and  six  hundred  cavalry 
and  one  battery  of  six  small  guns,  was  ordered 
to  proceed  from  Franklin  to  Spring  Hill,  ten 
miles  south,  on  the  Columbia  turnpike.  Soon 
after  commencing  the  march,  the  enemy  were 
encountered,  and  after  a  sharp  skirmish,  repuls- 
ed. Moving  forward  about  two  miles,  they  were 
again  encountered,  but,  owing  to  the  late  hour, 
the  command  encamped.  .  Starting  again  on  the 
next  morning,  the  124th  Ohio  being  in  the  rear 
of  the  wagon  train,  the  enemy  was  again  met, 
after  an  advance  of  two  miles,  and  sharp  skir- 
mishing was  kept  up  for  some  distance.  The 
enemy  was  then  found  in  full  force  under  Gen. 
Van  Dorn  and  Col.  Forrest.  A  severe  struggle 
ensued,  which  was  protracted  until  Col.  Forrest 
had  taken  a  position  in  the  rear,  when  Col.  Col- 
born,  finding  his  ammunition  failing,  and  his 
retreat  cut  off,  surrendered.  Thirteen  hundred 
and  six  men  were  made  prisoners.  The  cav- 
alry were  not  engaged,  and,  with  the  artillery, 
escaped.  The  Confederate  force  consisted  of 
cavalry  and  mounted  infantry,  composing  six 
brigades,  under  the  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  Van 
Dorn.  The  whole  force  of  Gen.  Van  Dorn  had 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


453 


been  at  Spring  Hill  for  three  days,  preparing 
to  make  an  attack  on  Franklin. 

Meanwhile  a  successful  expedition  was  made 
by  Gen.  Sheridan,  with  his  division,  and  Ool. 
Minty,  with  a  force  of  eight  hundred  cavalry. 
Several  sharp  skirmishes  took  place,  and  a  por- 
tion of  the  force  which  captured  Col.  Colburn 
was  overtaken  at  Thompson  Station  and  driven 
from  the  field,  and  the  force  of  Gen.  Van  Dorn 
was  followed  to  Duck  river,  when  the  expedi- 
tion returned  to  Franklin. 

On  the  18th  of  March,  an  expedition,  consist- 
ing of  the  105th  Ohio,  80th  and  123d  Illinois, 
and  an  Indiana  battery,  and  one  company  of 
1st  Middle  Tennessee  cavalry,  numbering  about 
fourteen  hundred  men,  under  the  command  of 
Col.  A.  S.  Hall,  left  Murfreesboro  and  moved  in 
the  direction  of  Liberty.  That  night  Gainesville 
was  occupied,  and  on  the  next  morning  an  ad- 
vance was  made,  when  a  slight  skirmish  en- 
sued. The  enemy  slowly  retired  on  the  turn- 
pike down  Smith's  Fork,  followed  by  Col.  Hall, 
until  they  were  found  drawn  up  in  line  across 
the  road.  Finding,  upon  a  reconnoissance,  that 
he  was  giteatly  outnumbered,  Col.  Hall  fell  back 
toward  Murfreesboro,  with  the  object  of  draw- 
ing the  enemy  after  him.  That  night  he  en- 
camped at  Auburn,  seven  miles  from  Liberty, 
and  on  the  next  morning,  the  20th,  took  up  a 
position  at  Milton,  twelve  miles  northeast  of 
Murfreesboro.  Here  he  was  attacked  by  the 
Confederate  force  under  Gen.  John  Morgan, 
who,  after  a  fight  of  three  and  a  half  hours, 
withdrew  from  the  field.  Four  captains,  two 
lieutenants,  and  fifty-seven  men  were  left  on 
the  field  as  dead  or  mortally  wounded.  Their 
total  loss  was  estimated  at  nearly  four  hundred. 
Ten  prisoners,  eight  horses,  and  fifty-three 
stands  of  arms  were  captured.  The  loss  of  Col. 
Hall  was  six  killed,  forty-two  wounded,  and 
seven  missing.  The  force  of  the  enemy  was 
about  two  thousand. 

A  large  number  of  expeditions,  similar  to 
those  above  stated,  were  sent  out  at  different 
times;  often  with  much  success.  About  the  10th 
of  April  another  attack  was  made  on  Maj.-Gen. 
Gordon  Granger,  at  Franklin,  by  the  Confed- 
erate force,  under  Maj.-Gen.  Van  Dorn.  The 
force  of  Gen.  Granger  consisted  of  the  divisions 
of  Brig.-Gens.  Baird  and  Gilbert,  sixteen  hun- 
dred men  and  sixteen  guns,  and  Brig.-Gen. 
Smith's  cavalry  brigade  of  eleven  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  men ;  also  a  cavalry  force  of  six- 
teen hundred  men  and  two  guns,  under  CoL 
Stanley.  The  only  artificial  defence  was  an  un- 
completed fort,  which  mounted  two  siege  guns 
and  two  three-inch  rifled  guns.  Its  elevation 
was  about  forty  feet  above  the  surround  ing  coun- 
try, and  it  commanded  most  of  the  approaches 
to  Franklin,  north  of  the  Harpeth,  and  all  from 
the  south  except  a  small  portion  of  the  surface 
covered  by  a  few  blocks  of  houses.  Gen.  Gran- 
ger's camp  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  • 
about  two  thirds  of  a  mile  distant  from  the 
town.  Gen.  Baird  was  ordered  to  hold  in  check 
any  force  attempting  to  cross  the  fords  below 


the  town,  and  Gen.  Gilbert  was  placed  in  a 
position  to  meet  any  attack  in  front,  or  to  re- 
enforce  either  flank.  Gen.  Stanley  was  sta- 
tioned out  four  miles  on  the  road  to  Mur- 
freesboro, and  Gen.  Smith's  cavalry  were  held 
in  reserve  to  reenforce  Gen.  Stanley.  This  force, 
however,  was  sent  under  a  misapprehension  to 
Brentwood.  An  attack  was  made  by  Gen.  Van 
Dorn  upon  Gen*.  Granger's  front,  which  was  re- 
pelled and  afterward  turned  upon  Gen.  Stanley, 
who  was  driven  back  by  overpowering  num- 
bers before  reinforcements  could  reach  him, 
After  this  the  enemy  withdrew.  The  force 
of  the  enemy  was  estimated  at  nine  thousand 
cavalry  and  two  regiments  of  infantry,  and  his 
loss  at  about  three  hundred.  The  loss  of  Gen. 
Granger  was  thirty-seven  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing. 

On  the  20th  of  April,  a  force,  consisting  of 
Maj.-Gen.  Reynolds's  division,  Col.  "Wilder's 
mounted  brigade,  and  seventeen  hundred  cav- 
alry, under  Col.  Minty,  left  Murfreesboro  to 
capture  or  disperse  any  Confederate  force  at 
McMinnsville.  At  night  the  cavalry  encamped 
between  Readyville  and  "Woodbury.  Early  the 
next  morning  the  force  moved  on,  and,  ap- 
proaching the  town,  the  pickets  of  the  enemy 
were  discovered.  Forming  a  line,  they  opened 
fire,  and  were  charged  upon  and  driven  through 
the  town.  The  entire  force  thus  dispersed  con- 
sisted of  seven  hundred  men.  The  wagon  train 
had  left  the  town  for  Chattanooga  about  an 
hour  before  the  arrival  of  the  Federal  force, 
but,  by  hard  pressing,  three  wagons  were  cap- 
tured, and  eight  or  nine  men.  Other  move- 
ments were  made  by  this  force,  which  result- 
ed in  the  capture  of  one  hundred  and  thirty 
prisoners,  the  destruction  of  a  trestlework  be- 
low Morrison's,  the  burning  of  the  railroad 
buildings,  one  locomotive,  end  two  cars,  at 
that  place,  the  burning  of  the  railroad  bridge 
across  Hickory  creek,  and  the  capture  there  of 
a  large  amount  of  bacon  and  other  commissary 
stores.  A  large  amount  of  property  and  stores, 
including  a  cotton  factory  and  other  Govern- 
ment buildings,  was  destroyed  at  McMinnsville, 
and  a  large  number  of  horses  and  mules  brought 
in.  No  casualties  occurred  to  the  Federal  force. 

On  the  29th  of  April,  a  force  of  five  hundred 
men,  under  Col.  Watkins,  captured  a-  camp  of 
the  enemy,  taking  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight  prisoners. 

About  the  same  time  an  expedition  was  fit- 
ted out  for  Northern  Georgia,  consisting  of  the 
51st  Indiana,  80th  Illinois,  and  portions  of  two 
Ohio  regiments,  under  command  of  Ool.  A.  D. 
Streight.  The  force  numbered  about  eighteen 
hundred  men,  and  the  instructions  given  to  CoL 
Streight  were  as  follows: 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPOT  or  THK  CUMBERLAND,  I 
MCTRFBEESBOBO,  April  Bth,  1868.       f 
Colonel  A.  D.  Streiglit,  blst  Indiana  Volunteers  : 

By  special  field  order,  No.  94,  paragraph  8,  you 
have  been  assigned  to  the  command  of  an  Indepen- 
dent Provisional  Brigade,  for  temporary  purposes. 
After  fitting  out  your  command  with  equipments  and 
supplies,  as  you  have  already  been  directed  in  the  vei* 


454 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION". 


bal  instructions  of  the  General  commanding  this  de- 
partment, you  will  then  proceed  by  a  route  of  which  you 
will  be  advised  J)v  telegraph,  to  some  good  steamboat 
landing  on  the  Tennessee  river,  not  far  above  Fort 
Henry,  where  you  will  embark  your  command,  and 
proceed  up  the  river.  At  Hamburg  you  will  com- 
municate with  Brig.-Gen.  Dodge,  who  will  probably 
have  a  messenger  there,  awaiting  your  arrival.  If  it 
should  then  appear  unsafe  to  move  farther  up  the  river, 
you  will  debark  at  Hamburg,  and,  without  delay,  join 
ttie  force  of  Gen.  Dodge,  which  will  then  be  en  route 
for  luka,  Mississippi.  If,  however,  it  should  be  deemed 
safe,  you  will  land  at  Eastport,  and  .form  a  junction 
with  Gen.  Dodge.  From  that  point  you  will  then  march 
in  conjunction  with  him  to  menace  Tuscumbia ;  but 
you  will  not  wait  to  join  in  the  attack,  unless  it  should 
be  necessary  for  the  safety  of  Gen.  Dodge's  command 
or  your  own,  or  unless  some  considerable  advantage 
can  be  gained  over  the  enemy  without  interfering  with 
the  general  object  of  your  expedition.  After  having 
marched  long  enough  with  Gen.  Dodge  to  create  a 
general  impression  that  you  are  a  part  of  his  expedi- 
tion, you  will  push  to  ttie  southward  and  reach  Rus- 
sellville  or  Moulton.  From  there  your  route  will  be 
governed  by  circumstances;  but  you  will  with  all 
reasonable  despatch  push  on  to  Western  Georgia,  and 
cut  the  railroads  -welch  supply  the  rebel  army  by_ 
way  of  Chattanooga.  To  accomplish  this  is  the  chief 
object  of  your  expedition ;  and  you  must  not  allow 
collateral  or  incidental  schemes,  even  though  promis- 
ing great  results,  to  delay  you  so  as  to  endanger  your 
return.  Your  quartermaster  has  been  "furnished  with 
funds  sufficient  for  the  necessary  expenses  of  your 
command ;  you  will  draw  your  supplies  and  keep  your 
command  well  mounted  from  the  country  through 
which  you  pass.  For  all  property  taken  for  the  legiti- 
mate use  of  your  command,  you  will  make  cash  pay- 
ments in  full  to  men  of  undoubted  loyalty,  give  the  usual 
conditional  receipts  to  men  whose  loyalty  is  doubt- 
ful; but  to  rebels,  nothing.  You  are  particularly  com- 
manded to  restrain  your  command  from  pillage  and 
marauding;  you  will  destroy  all  depots  of  supplies  for 
the  rebel  army,  all  manufactories  of  guns,  ammuni- 
tion, equipments,  and  clothing  for  their  use,  which 
you  can  without  delaying  you  so  as  to  endanger  your 
return.  That  you  may  not  be  trammelled  with  minute 
instructions,  nothing  further  will  be  ordered  than  this 
general  outline  of  policy  and  operation.  In  intrusting 
this  highly  importjJht  and  somewhat  perilous  expedi- 
tion to  your  charge,  the  General  commanding  places 
great  reliance  on  your  prudence,  energy,  and  valor,  and 
the  well-attested  bravery  and  endurance  of  the  officers 
and  men  in  your  command."  Whenever  it  is  possible 
and  reasonably  safe,  send  us  word  of  your  progress. 
You  may  return  by  way  of  Northern  Alabama  or 
Northern  Georgia.  Should  you  be  surrounded  by  rebel 
forces,  and  your  retreat  cut  off,  defend  yourself  as  long 
as  possible,  and  make  the  surrender  of  your  command 
cost  the  enemy  as  many  times  your  number  as  possi- 
ble. A  copy  of  the  general  order  from  the  War  De- 
partment, in  regard  to  paroling  prisoners,  together 
with  the  necessary  blanks,  are  herewith  furnished  you ; 
you  are  authorized  to  enlist  all  able-bodied  men  who 
desire  to  join  the  "  Army  of  the  Union."  You  must 
return  as  soon  as  the  main  objects  of  your  expedition 
are  accomplished. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant. 

J.  A.  GARFIELD, 
Brigadier-General  and  Chief  of  Staff. 

The  following  additional  instructions  were 
sent  by  telegraph  to  Col.  Streight : 

April  §th,  1863. 

The  written  instructions  you  have  received,  are  de- 
signed to  cover  the  cases  you  allude  to.  It  is  not 
necessary  that  a  manufactory  be  directly  in  the  em- 

Sloy  of  the  rebels,  to  come  under  the  rule  there  laid 
own.     If  it  produces  any  considerable  quantity  of 
supplies,  which  are  likely  to  reach  the  rebel  army,  it 
is  to  be  destroyed.    Of  course,  small  mills,  that  can 
only  supply  the  necessaries  of  life  to  the  inhabitants, 


should  not  be  injured.  Any  considerable  amount  of 
supplies  likely  to  reach  the  rebel  army,  are  to  be  des- 
troyed. If  you  dress  your  soldiers  in  the  costume  of 
the  enemy,  they  will  be  liable  to  be  treated  as  spies : 
you  should  not  do  this  without  the  consent  of  the 
men,  after  they  have  been  fully  advised  of  the  conse- 
quences. J.  A.  GARFIELD, 
Brigadier-General  and  Chief  of  Staff. 

Under  these  instructions,  Col.  Streight  em- 
barked on  steamers  at  Nashville,  with  his  com- 
mand, and  landed  near  Fort  Donelson  on  the 
Cumberland  river.  He  then  proceeded  across 
the  country  to  the  Tennessee  river,  while  the 
steamers  descended  to  the  Ohio  and  came  up 
the  Tennessee  to  meet  him.  Thence  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Eastport,  and  formed  a  junction  with 
Gen.  Dodge's  force  then  marching  upon  Tus- 
cumbia, and  defeated  the  Confederate  troops 
stationed  there,  with  considerable  loss  to  them. 
Thence  he  moved  to  Northern  Georgia,  aiming 
to  reach  the  important  points  of  Rome  and 
Atlanta.  Meanwhile  Gen.  Dodge,  with  his 
force,  turned  southward,  to  make  a  sweeping 
raid  in  Northern  Alabama,  and  return  to  his 
headquarters  at  Corinth. 

No  sooner  had  Col.  Streight  commenced  his 
march  than  information  of  his  movements  was 
received  by  Gen.  Forrest  and  Col.  Eoddy,  who, 
with  a  cavalry  force,  happened  to  be  within 
striking  distance.  By  a  rapid  movement  they 
came  upon  the  rear  of  Col.  Streight,  and  com- 
menced a  running  fight,  which  continued  for 
four  days,  during  which  there  were  two  severe 
battles  and  several  spirited  skirmishes.  The 
Federal  troops  thus  marched  over  a  hundred 
miles  toward  the  heart  of  the  State,  destroying 
bridges,  and  large  supplies  of  corn  collected  for 
the  Confederate  army,  a  large  foundery  for  the 
manufacture  of  cannon  and  shot,  and  seizing 
all  the  animals  needed.  Strict  discipline  was 
also  maintained,  and  the  inhabitants  were  rot 
needlessly  harassed.  The  Confederate  force 
finally  increased  to  overwhelming  numbers, 
and  Col.  Streight,  having  expended  his  ammu- 
nition, and  his  men  becoming  exhausted,  was 
compelled  to  surrender  at  a  point  fifteen  miles 
from  Rome,  in  Georgia.  His  men,  numbering 
thirteen  hundred,  were  paroled  and  sent  to 
Virginia,  and  exchanged  about  two  months 
afterward.  But  his  officers  were  retained  and 
imprisoned,  on  the  demand  of  the  Governor  of 
Georgia,  by  whom  they  were  claimed  as  having 
incurred  the  penalty  fixed  by  a  statute  of  the 
State  for  inciting  slaves  to  rebellion.  It  was 
charged,  at  the  time  of  the  surrender,  that  ne- 
groes were  found  in  Col.  Streight's  command, 
who  were  uniformed  and  bearing  arms.  This 
was  denied  by  the  privates,  who  asserted  that 
only  five  or  six  negroes  were  with  the  command, 
and  they  had  started  with  it  from  Nashville. 
This  imprisonment  of  Col.  Straight  caused  the 
Federal  Government  to  suspend  the  exchange 
of  Confederate  officers,  and  subsequently  to 
imprison  Gen.  John  Morgan  and  his  officers  in 
the  penitentiary  of  Ohio.  Col.  Streight  was 
then  released  from  imprisonment  as  a  felon, 
and,  subsequently,  Gen.  Morgan  escaped. 


MILITARY  AND  NAYAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


455 


At  this  time,  the  authorities  at  "Washington 
•were  led  to  believe  that  large  detachments 
were  going  from  Gen.  Bragg's  army  to  reen- 
force  Gen.  Johnston  in  Mississippi.  Gen.  Rose- 
crans  was  therefore  urged  to  take  advantage 
of  this  opportunity  to  drive  Gen.  Bragg  back 
into  Georgia,  and  thus  secure  East  Tennessee 
from  the  possession  of  the  enemy.  Gen.  Burn- 
side  was  also  ordered  to  cooperate  with  him. 
The  following  correspondence  occurred  be- 
tween Gens.  Halleck  and  Rosecrans : 

MURFBEESBOBO,  TENN.,  June  l\th,  1863. 

Your  despatch  of  to-day  is  received.  You  remem- 
ber that  I  gave  you,  as  a  necessary  condition  of  suc- 
cess, an  adequate  cavalry  force.  Since  that  time  I 
have  not  lost  a  moment  in  mounting  our  dismounted 
cavalry  as  fast  as  we  could  get  horses.  Not  more  than 
three  hundred  remain  to  be  mounted.  The  5th  Iowa, 
ordered  up  from  Donelson,  arrived  to-day.  The 
1st  Wisconsin  will  be  here  by  Saturday.  My  pre- 
liminary infantry  movements  have  nearly  all 'been 
completed,  and  I  am  preparing  to  strike  a  blow  that 
will  tell.  But  to  show  you  how  differently  things  are 
viewed  here,  I  called  on  my  corps  and  division  com- 
manders and  generals  of  cavalry,  for  answers  in  writ- 
ing to  the  questions: 

First— From  your  best  information,  do  you  think 
the  enemy  materially  weakened  in  our  front  ?  Second 
— Do  you  think  this  army  can  advance  at  this  time 
with  reasonable  prospect  of  fighting  a  great  and  suc- 
cessful battle?  Third — Do  you  think  an  advance  ad- 
visable at  this  time?  To  the  first,  eleven  answered 
no ;  six,  yes,  to  the  extent  of  ten  thousand.  To  the 
second,  four,  yes,  with  doubts ;  thirteen,  no.  To  the 
third,  not  one  yes ;  seventeen,  no. 

Not  one  thinks  an  advance  advisable  until  Vicks- 
burg's  fate  is  determined.  Admitting  these  officers  to 
have  a  reasonable  share  of  military  sagacity,  courage, 
and  patriotism,  you  perceive  that  there  are  graver  and 
stronger  reasons  than  probably  appear  at  Washington, 
for  the  attitude  of  this  army.  I  therefore  counsel  cau- 
tion and  patience  at  headquarters.  Better  wait  a  little 
to  get  all  we  can  ready  to  insure  the  best  result.  If, 
by  so  doing,  we,  perforce  of  Providence,  observe  a 
great  military  maxim — not  to  risk  two  great  and  deci- 
sive battles  at  the  same  time — we  might  have  cause  to 
be  thankful  for  it.  At  all  events  you  see  that,  to  ex- 
pect success,  I  must  have  such  thorough  grounds  that 
when  I  say  "  Forward,"  my  word  will  inspire  convic- 
tion and  confidence  where  both  are  now  wanting.  I 
should  like  to  have  your  suggestion. 

W.  S.  ROSECRANS,  Major-General. 

To  Maj.-Gen.  H.  W.  HALLECK,  General-in-Chief. 

WASHINGTON,  June  12th,  18C3. 

GEXEBAL:  Your  telegram  of  yesterday  is  just  re- 
ceived. I  do  not  understand  your  application  of  the 
military  maxim  not  to  fight  two  great  battles  at  the 
same  time.  It  will  apply  to  a  single  army,  but  not  to 
two  armies  acting  independently  of  each  other.  John- 
ston and  Bragg  are  acting  on  interior  lines  between 
you  and  Grant,  and  it  is  for  their  interest,  not  ours, 
that  they  should  fight  at  different  times,  so  as  to  use 
the  same  force  against  both  of  you.  It  is  for  our  in- 
terest to  fight  them,  if  possible,  while  divided.  If  you 
are  not  strong  enough  to  fight  Bragg  with  a  part  of  his 
force  absent,  you  will  not  be  able  to  fight  him  after 
the  affair  at  "V  icksburg  is  over,  and  his  troops  return 
to  your  front. 

There  is  another  military  maxim,  that  "  councils  of 
war  never  fight."  If  you  say  that  you  are  not  pre- 
pared to  fight  Bragg,  I  shall  not  order  you  to  do  so, 
for  the  responsibility  of  fighting  or  refusing  to  fight  at 
a  particular  time  or  place,  must  rest  upon  the  general 
in  immediate  command.  It  cannot  be  shared  by  a 
council  of  war,  nor  will  ^ie  authorities  here  make  you 
fight  against  your  will.  You  ask  me  to  counsel  them 
to  caution  and  patience.  I  have  done  so  very  often, 


but  after  five  or  six  months  of  inactivity,  with  your 
force  all  the  time  diminishing  and  no  hope  of  any  im- 
mediate increase,  you  must  not  be  surprised  that  their 
patience  is  pretty  well  exhausted.  If  you  do  not  deem 
it  prudent  to  risk  a  general  battle  with  Bragg,  why 
can  you  not  harass  him,  or  make  such  demonstrations 
as  to  prevent  his  sending  more  reinforcements  to 
Johnston?  I  do  not  write  this  in  a  spirit  of  fault 
finding,  but  to  assure  you  that  the  prolonged  inac- 
tivity of  so  large  an  army  in  the  field  is  causing  much 
complaint  and  dissatisfaction,  not  only  in  Washington, 
but  throughout  the  country. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  General-in-Chief. 

Maj.-Gen.  ROSECBANS,  Murfreesboro,  Tenn. 

HEADQUARTEBS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND,  ) 
MURFREESBORO,  June  2ist,  1863.     \ 

GENERAL  :  In  your  favor  of  the  12th  inst.,  you  say  you 
do  not  see  how  the  maxim  of  not  fighting  two  great  bat- 
tles at  the  same  time,  applies  to  the  case  of  this  army 
and  to  Grant's.  Looking  at  the  matter  practically,  we 
and  our  opposing  forces  are  so  widely  separated,  that 
for  Bragg  to  materially  aid  Johnston,  he  must  aban- 
don our  front  substantially,  and  then  we  can  move  to 
our  ultimate  work  with  more  rapidity,  and  less  waste 
of  material  on  natural  obstacles..  If  Grant  is  defeated, 
both  forces  will  come  here,  and  then  we  ought  to  be 
near  pur  base.  The  same  maxim  that  forbids,  as  you 
take  it,  a  single  army  fighting  two  great  battles  at  the 
same  time — by  the  way,  a  very  awkward  thing  to  do 
— would  forbid  this  nation's  engaging  all  its  forces  in 
the  great  West  at  the  same  time,  so  as  to  leave  it  with- 
out a  single  reserve  to  stem  the  current  of  possible 
disaster.  This  is,  I  think,  sustained  by  high  military 
and  political  considerations.  We  ought  to  fight  here, 
if  we  have  a  strong  prospect  of  winning  a  decisive 
battle  over  the  opposing  force,  and  upon  this  ground  I 
shall  act.  I  shall  be  careful  not  to  risk  our  last  re- 
serve without  strong  grounds  to  expect  success. 

W.  S.  ROSECRANS,  Major-General. 

Maj.-Gen.  H.  W.  HALLECK,  General-in-Chief. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  Gen.  Rosecrans  com- 
menced a  series  of  movements  for  the  purpose 
of  bringing  on  a  conflict  between  Ms  forces 
and  those  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Bragg, 
or  to  cause  the  latter  to  retire.  His  plan  was 
to  create  the  impression  of  a  main  advance 
from  Murfreesboro  upon  Gen.  Bragg's  centre 
and  left,  by  feint  movements  and  demonstra- 
tions with  the  smaller  portion  of  the  army  in 
the  direction  of  Shelbyville,  while  the  decisive 
blow  should  be  struck  by  marching  rapidly 
with  the  main  body  upon  Gen.  Bragg's  right, 
and,  after  turning  or  defeating  it,  to  move  upon 
Tullahoma,  by  way  of  Manchester.  Thus  he 
would  seize  the  enemy's  base  and  lines  of  com- 
munication from  that  point. 

The  twentieth  corps,  under  Gen.  McCook, 
was  selected  to  make  the  advance  on  the  right. 
About  7  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  24th, 
the  division  of  Gen.  Sheridan  advanced  on  the 
Shelbyville  road,  preceded  by  five  companies 
of  the  30th  Indiana  mounted  infantry,  under 
Lieut.-Col.  Jones.  As  it  came  in  sight  of  the 
enemy's  outposts,  it  halted  and  bivouacked  on 
each  side  of  the  road  in  the  wood.  The  divis- 
ions of  Gens.  Johnson  and  Davis  advanced  six 
miles  on  the  same  road,  and  then  turned  to  the 
left  on  the  road  to  Liberty  Gap. 

The  morning  was  stormy,  but,  before  day- 
break, the  mounted  infantry,  under  Col.  "Wilder, 
marched  along  the  road  leading  to  Manchester, 


456 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


followed  by  Gen.  Reynolds  with  the  remainder 
of  his  division.  After  some  hours,  Gens.  Neg- 
ley  and  Rousseau  followed  in  the  same  direction. 
The  instructions  to  Col.  "Wilder  were  to  ad- 
vance within  a  few  miles  of  Hoover's  Gap,  and 
there  halt  until  the  infantry  came  up,  and  then 
to  carry  the  works.  Learning,  however,  that 
the  works  commanding  the  Gap  were  not  oc- 
cupied, he  moved  forward  and  took  possession 
of  them,  before  the  enemy  were  sufficiently 
aware  of  his  approach  to  make  any  serious  re- 
sistance. At  the  same  time  he  pushed  forward 
to  the  other  extremity  of  the  Gap,  and  took  up 
a  position  commanding  the  road  and  the  ene- 
my's camp.  In  this  movement  he  captured  a 
train  of  nine  wagons  and  a  drove  of  beef  cat- 
tle. The  enemy  immediately  prepared  for  an 
attack,  and  came  on  in  such  overwhelming 
numbers  that  they  would  have  been  successful, 
had  not  re  enforcements  arrived  to  the  aid  of  Col. 
Wilder.  The  fighting  continued  for  two  hours, 
during  which  the  loss  of  the  command  was 
sixty-three  killed  and  wounded.  The  loss  of 
the  enemy  was  represented  by  prisoners  as  ex- 
ceeding five  hundred. 

Meanwhile,  the  portion  of  the  corps  of  Gen. 
McCook  which  took  the  road  to  Liberty  Gap, 
encountered  a  force  of  the  enemy  near  the  en- 
trance of  the  Gap.  Gen.  Willicb,  whose  brigade 
led  the  column,  was  ordered  by  Gen.  Johnson 
to  drive  the  enemy.  This  was  done  so  prompt- 
ly that  their  tents,  baggage,  and  supplies  were 
captured.  Col.  Baldwin  was  then  sent  for- 
ward to  clear  the  upper  end  of  the  Gap,  where 
the  enemy  were  soon  found,  in  a  force  con- 
sisting of  a  brigade  of  infantry  and  a  battery 
of  artillery.  After  a  sharp  and  short  combat 
they  were  driven  out,  and  their  position  occu- 
pied. On  the  next  day,  Gen.  Johnson  held 
the  position  which  his  command  had  won, 
in  order  to  continue  the  delusion  of  the  en- 
emy as  to  the  real  designs  of  Gen.  Rosecrans. 
Skirmishing  was  kept  up  by  the  enemy  along 
the  front,  and,  between  three  and  four  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  a  formal  attack  in  line  of 
battle  was  made.  A  sharp  struggle  ensued, 
but  after  two  hours  the  enemy  abandoned 
the  contest.  The  occupation  of  these  gaps 
gave  to  Gen.  Rosecrans  the  command  of 
the  position,  and  as  soon  as  he  advanced 
through  them  to  Manchester  and  Winchester, 
he  flanked  Gen.  Bragg  at  Tullahoma,  and 
obliged  him  to  retreat.  This  was  commenced 
at  once ;  and  on  the  first  of  July,  Gen.  Rose- 
crans, learning  of  the  retreat  of  Gen.  Bragg, 
rapidly  advanced  his  forces.  Gen.  Thomas 
moved  on  the  Manchester  road,  and  Gen. 
McCook  on  the  one  from  Tullahoma.  Gen. 
Thomas  moved  rapidly,  in  order  to  strike  the 
enemy,  who  were  moving  directly  east  to 
the  military  road,  five  miles  east  of  the 
railroad,  and  parallel  with  it.  The  enemy 
however,  reached  the  crossing  of  Elk  river 
before  he  was  overtaken  by  the  advance  of 
Gen.  Thomas.  The  division  of  Gen.  Negley 
encountered  the  rear  of  Gen.  Hardee  at  a  point 


four  miles  north  of  Elk  river.  The  resistance 
made  here  by  Gen.  Wheeler  was  so  stubborn, 
that  Gen.  Negley  was  delayed  until  the  trains 
of  the  enemy  hgd  crossed  the  river.  During  the 
night,  their  reserve  of  artillery,  consisting  of 
twenty-six  pieces,  crossed  the  river  at  Estelle 
Springs,  and  reached  Tin  Mountain.  After 
crossing,  the  rear  of  the  enemy  burned  the 
bridges,  and  took  up  positions  Tn  works  hastily 
thrown  up  on  the  opposite  side,  in  order  to  de- 
lay the  crossing  of  Gen.  Thomas  as  long  as 
possible,  and  to  enable  their  infantry  and  trains 
to  get  into  the  mountains.  At  the  same  time 
heavy  rains  commenced,  and  the  river  rose 
very  high.  Gen.  Crittenden  took  possession  of 
the  road  from  Dechard  through  Tracy  City  to 
Chattanooga,  and  thus  forced  Gen.  Bragg  to 
take  the  roads  across  the  mountains.  On  the 
2d,  Gen.  McCook  moved  so  as  to  flank  the  road 
to  Winchester  and  the  mountains.  At  the  same 
time,  Gens.  Rosecrans  and  Brannan  moved  to 
the  upper  crossing  of  Rock  creek,  to  strike  the 
rear  of  the  enemy,  who  were  to  be  detained 
by  Gen.  Negley.  But  Gen.  Negley,  mistaking 
the  firing  of  a  cavalry  brigade  on  the  right 
flank  of  the  enemy  for  that  of  Gen.  Rosecrans, 
opened  with  two  batteries,  and  caused  them 
to  retreat  precipitately  to  the  mountains.  On 
the  morning  of  July  4th,  the  whole  Federal 
force  advanced  to  the  foot  of  the  mountains  at 
Cowan,  and  found  the  enemy  in  full  retreat 
upon  Chattanooga.  At  the  same  time,  Shel- 
byville  was  occupied  by  Gens.  Stanley  and 
Granger,  and  the  former  pushed  on  as  far  as 
Huntsville  in  Alabama. 

This  retreat  of  Gen.  Bragg  from  Tennessee 
had  a  demoralizing  effect  upon  his  forces,  and 
discouraged  the  friends  of  the  Confederacy  in 
Tennessee.  The  result  of  these  operations  of 
Gen.  Rosecrans  thus  far  was  to  recover  Mid- 
dle Tennessee,  and  to  preserve  Kentucky  from 
an  invasion.  His  losses  in  these  operations 
were  85  killed,  462  wounded,  and  13  missing. 
The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed  and  wounded 
is  unknown,  but  1,634  were  made  prisoners, 
and  six  pieces  of  artillery,  many  small  arms, 
much  camp  equipage,  and  large  quantities  of 
commissary  and  quartermaster's  stores  were 
taken. 

Gen.  Bragg,  having  returned  to  Chattanooga 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Tennessee  river,  now 
fortified  his  position,  and  threw  up  defensive 
works  at  the  crossing  of  the  river  and  as  far  up 
as  Blythe's  Ferry. 

The  first  object  of  Gen.  Rosecrans  was  to 
repair  the  railroad  from  Nashville  to  Stevenson 
in  Alabama.  At  Stevenson  the  Nashville  rail- 
road unites  with  the  Memphis  and  Charleston 
road.  Stevenson  is  thirty-seven  miles  west  of 
Chattanooga,  on  the  line  of  the  latter  road. 
Having  completed  his  preparations,  Gen.  Rose- 
crans commenced  his  movement  on  Chatta- 
nooga and  its  covering  mountain  ridges  on  the 
southeast,  on  the  16th  of  August.  On  that  day, 
Gen.  Thomas  moved  ffom  Decherd,  with  tho 
division  of  Gen.  Payne  in  advance.  This  divis- 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


457 


ion  had  been  stationed  at  the  University  on 
the  Cumberland  mountains.  The  corps  moved 
over  the  mountains  on  a  line  nearly -parallel 
with  the  Nashville  railroad  to  Stevenson :  it 
.  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  at  or  near  Bridge- 
port, Alabama,  by  a  pontoon  bridge.  On  the 
16th,  Gen.  Johnson's  division  of  Gen.  McCook's 
corps  left  Tullahoma,  and  passed  through  Win- 
chester on  the  forenoon  of  the  iVth.  Gen. 
Davis's  division  followed  in  the  afternoon.  Gen. 
Sheridan's  division  moved  from  Cowan  on  the 
same  day,  and  joined  the  rest  of  the  corps  at  Sa- 
lem, ten  miles  from  Winchester,  on  the  Hunts- 
ville  road.  There  the  corps  moved  in  col- 
umn, accompanied  by  its  artillery  and  baggage, 
crossing  the  mountains,  and  striking  the  Ten- 
nessee river  at  Bellefonte,  Alabama,  twelve 
miles  east  of  Stevenson.  Gen.  Crittenden's 
corps  moved  eastward  to  feel  the  strength  of 
"the  enemy,  and  to  cross  north  of  Chattanooga. 
The  front  of  the  entire  movement  extended 
from  the  head  of  Sequatchie  valley  in  East 
Tennessee  to  Athens  in  Alabama,  thus  threat- 
ening the  line  of  the  Tennessee  river  from 
Whitesburg  to  Blythe's  Ferry,  a  distance  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles. 

On  the  26th,  a  part  of  Gen.  Davis's  division 
crossed  at  Caperton's  Ferry,  about  six  miles 
below  Bridgeport.  The  remainder  of  the  divis- 
ion followed  in  a  few  days,  and  also  Gen.  John- 
son's division  of  the  same  corps ;  on  the  2d  of 
P  September,  Gen.  Sheridan,  of  the  same  corps, 
crossed  at  Bridgeport,  followed  by  the  infantry 
and  artillery  of  Gen.  Brannan's  division.  Gen. 
Negley,  of  Gen.  Thomas's  corps,  crossed  at  the 
same  time  at  Caperton's  Ferry.  By  the  8th 
of  September,  Gen.  Thomas  had  moved  on 
Trenton  in  Georgia,  having  seized  Frick's  and 
Stevens's  Gaps  on  the  Lookout  mountain. 
Gen.  McCook  had  advanced  to  Valley  Head 
and  taken  Winston's  Gap,  while  Gen.  Critten- 
den  had  crossed  to  Wauhatchie,  communicat- 
ing on  the  right  with  Gen.  Thomas,  and  threat- 
ening Chattanooga  by  the  pass  over  the  point 
of  Lookout  mountain.  The  first  mountain 
barrier  south  of  the  Tennessee  being  thus  suc- 
cessfully passed,  Gen.  Rosecrans  decided  to 
threaten  the  enemy's  communication  with  his 
right,  while  the  centre  and  left  seized  the  gaps 
and  the  commanding  points  of  the  mountains 
in  front.  On  the  9th,  Gen.  Crittenden  made  a 
reconnoissance  which  developed  the  fact  that 
the  enemy  had  evacuated  Chattanooga  on  the 
day  and  night  previous.  The  corps  of  Gen. 
Crittenden  therefore  took  immediate  possession 
of  Chattanooga,  which  had  been  the  object  of 
the  campaign,  while  Gen.  Rosecrans,  with  the 
remainder  of  the  army,  pressed  forward  through 
the  difficult  passes  of  the  Lookout  mountain, 
apparently  directing  his  march  upon  Lafayette 
and  Rome. 

At  the  same  time  when  Gen.  Rosecrans  com- 
menced his  forward  movement  on  the  16th  of 
August,  Gen.  Burnside  left  Camp  Nelson  in 
Kentucky  for  East  Tennessee.  Gen.  Burnside 
assumed  command  of  the  Department  of  Ohio 


in  March.  On  the  30th  of  that  month,  Gen. 
Gillmore  engaged  and  defeated  a  large  force  of 
the  enemy  under  Gen.  Pegram,  near  Somerset, 
Kentucky.  The  other  operations  which  had 
taken  place  consisted  of  an  attempted  raid  in 
Harrison  county,  Indiana,  from  which  the  en- 
my  were  driven  back  with  a  loss  of  fifty-three 
made  prisoners ;  a  movement  nnder  Col.  Saun- 
ders,  with  two  pieces  of  artillery,  the  first  Ten- 
nessee cavalry  and  some  detachments  from 
Gen.  Carter's  command,  by  which  the  railroad 
near  Knoxville  and  the  bridges  at  State  creek, 
Strawberry  Plains,  and  Mossy  creek  were  des- 
troyed, and  ten  pieces  of  artillery,  one  thou- 
sand stand  of  arms,  and  five  hundred  prisoners 
were  captured,  witk  a  loss  of  one  killed,  two 
wounded,  and  ti  few  missing ;  also  the  raid  of 
Gen.  Morgan  into  Kentucky,  Indiana,  and  Ohio, 
which  is  stated  on  a  previous  page.  The  de- 
parture of  the  ninth  army  corps  to  reenforce 
Gen.  Grant,  delayed  somewhat  Gen.  Burnside's 
preparations  for  an  active  campaign  in  East 
Tennessee.  The  necessity,  however,  of  his 
cooperating  with  the  movements  of  Gen.  Rose- 
crans, compelled  him  to  take  the  field  without 
awaiting  the  return  of  this  corps. 

At  this  time  Gen.  Buckner  was  in  command 
of  the  Confederate  forces  in  East  Tennessee, 
with  his  headquarter  at  Knoxville.  His  force 
numbered  about  twenty  thousand  men,  who 
were  not  supplied  in  the  best  manner  with 
ordnance.  This  force  was  sufficient  to  have  re- 
tarded the  progress  of  Gen.  Burnside  through 
either  the  Cumberland,  Big  Creek,  or  Wheeler's 
Gap  in  the  mountains ;  but  he  avoided  that 
route.  Concentrating  his  forces  at  Crab  Or- 
chard, on  the  southerly  edge  of  Lincoln  coun- 
ty, Kentucky,  Gen.  Burnside  prepared  for  the 
movement  over  the  mountains.  The  infantry 
were  mounted,  the  cavalry  and  artillery  were 
furnished  with  picked  horses,  and  the  divis- 
ion was  attended  with  large  droves  of  packed 
mules,  loaded  with  commissary  stores,  in  or- 
der that  its  movements  might  not  be  impeded 
by  the  slow  progress  of  wagon  trains.  On  the 
afternoon  of  August  21st  the  march  commenced, 
with  Gen.  S.  P.  Carter  in  the  advance.  After 
an  advance  of  thirteen  miles,  a  halt  was  made 
at  Mt.  Vernon,  the  capital  of  Rockcastle  coun- 
ty, Ky.  •  On  the  23d  the  march  commenced  at.4 
A.  M.,  and  was  continued  over  some  of  the  wild- 
est and  most  mountainous  parts  of  Kentucky, 
twenty-six  miles,  to  London.  On  the  next 
morning  the  army  was  in  motion  toward  Wil- 
liamsburg,  the  capital  of  Whitley  county,  Ky., 
twenty-nine  miles  distant.  On  the  25th  there 
were  heavy  rains,  and  no  movement  was  made. 
On  the  26th  the  movement  continued  to  the 
place  where  the  roads  from  Somerset  and  Wil- 
liamsburg  meet,  about  four  miles  beyond  the 
State  line,  in  Scott  county,  Tennessee.  Here 
the  army  rested  during  the  27th  and  28th,  and 
was  joined  by  Maj.-Gen.  Hartsuff.  On  the  29th 
the  movement  was  continued,  with  the  mount- 
ed,brigade  of  Gen.  Shackelford  in  the  advance. 
At  midnight  the  banks  of  the  New  river  were 


458 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


reached,  and  the  next  day  the  army  encamped 
at  Montgomery,  in  Morgan  county,  Tennessee, 
having  made,  during  the  two  days,  a  march  of 
forty  miles.  The  movement  continued  on  the 
31st,  and,  on  the  1st  of  September,  Gen.  Burn- 
side,  with  an  escort,  proceeded  to  Kingston, 
while  the  army  took  a  shorter  road  to  London 
bridge,  leaving  Kingston  to  its  right.  At  Lou- 
don,  the  East  Tennessee  and  Georgia  railroad 
crossed  the  Holston  river  over  a  fine  bridge 
'  more  than  two  thousand  feet  in  length.  To  save 
or  to  destroy  this  bridge,  as  the  situation  should 
demand,  was  undoubtedly  one  of  the  objects  of 
the  forced  march.  The  distance  from  Knox- 
ville  is  thirty-nine  miles.  The  artillery  came 
into  position,  on  the  2d,  within  easy  range  of 
this  bridge,  just  in  time  to  seenhe  rear  of  the 
enemy  pass  over  and  apply  the  torch  to  the 
structure.  It  was  entirely  consumed.  By  the 
fire  of  the  artillery  several  of  the  enemy  were 
killed  and  wounded.  The  march  then  con- 
tinued to  Leoni  Station,  twenty-two  miles  from 
Knoxville.  On- the  next  day  it  was  resumed  to 
Knoxville,  which  had  been  occupied  on  the  1st 
by  the  advance.  As  Gen.  Burnside  approached 
Knoxville  the  inhabitants  turned  out  to  wel- 
come him.  His  reception  is  thus  described  by 
a  spectator :  "  As  we  neared  Knoxville,  the 
evidences  of  the  intense  devotion  to  the  Union 
dwelling  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  became 
more  and  more  apparent.  Along  the  entire 
route,  especially  the  last  ten  or  fifteen  miles, 
the  whole  population  seemed  gathered  on  the 
roadside  to  give  welcome  to  the  Yankees.  On 
the  appearance  of  Gen.  Burnside  on  the  outskirts 
of  the  town,  the  news  of  his  arrival  spread,  and 
everybody,  rich  and  poor,  the  lame  and  the 
halt,  rushed  out  to  greet  him.  It  was  no  vul- 
gar curiosity  to  see  a  man  famons  in  the  world's 
history — it  was  the  greeting  of  an  oppressed 
people  to  their  deliverer.  Uncovered,  and  at  a 
slow  pace,  the  general  rode  through  the  streets 
to  his  headquarters.  His  progress  was  constant- 
ly impeded  by  the  rushing  of  men  to  his  horse's 
side  to  seize  him  by  the  hand  and  say,  '  God 
bless  you.'  On  arrival  at  headquarters,  a  large 
crowd  assembled  in  the  yard,  and  were  clamor- 
ous for  speeches.  Brig.-Gen.  S.  P.  Carter,  a 
native  of  East  Tennessee,  came  forward,  and  in 
a  few  words  congratulated  them  on  tkeir  deliv- 
erance. In  response  to  repeated  calls,  Gen. 
Burnside  then  appeared  and  said,  that  although 
his  profession  was  arms,  and  not  speaking,  yet 
he  would  take  the  occasion  to  say  that,  from  the 
moment  he  took  command  of  the  Department 
of  Ohio,  it  had  been  his  fervent  wish  to  lead  an 
army  into  East  Tennessee,  to  their  deliverance ; 
and  he  took  great  pleasure  in  saying  that  he 
had  come  with  means  sufficient,  with  their  as- 
sistance, to  hold  the  country  permanently  and 
securely. 

"  On  the  conclusion  of  the  speaking  the  gar- 
rison flag  of  the  United  States  was  flung  from 
the  portico,  and  the  crowd  rushed  up  and  seized 
it  in  their  hands,  many  of  them  pressing  it  to 
their  lips.  While  this  was  passing  at  head- 


quarters, the  troops  had  been  waylaid  all  over 
the  city,  and  carried  off  by  violence  to  be  feast- 
ed, without  money  and  without  price,  on  the 
best  which  the  land  afforded.  Not  officers 
merely ;  their  bounteous  hospitality  knew  no 
difference  in  rank  among  their  deliverers." 

At  Knoxville,  three  locomotives  and  a  large 
number  of  cars  and  railroad  machine  shops 
were  taken  possession  of.  A  large  train  was 
also  captured  twelve  miles  northwest  on  the 
road  to  Virginia.  On  the  4th  a  movement  was 
made  upon  Cumberland  Gap.  At  Tazewell  a 
slight  skirmish  took  place  with  a  small  force 
of  the  enemy  under  Col.  Carter.  At  daylight 
on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  the  Gap  was  invest- 
ed, and  its  surrender  demanded  by  Gen.  Shack  el- 
ford.  Gen.  Frazier,  commanding  the  enemy's 
force,  refused,  and  stated  that  he  was  prepared 
to  hold  out.  It  appeared  that  the  enemy  had  a 
large  quantity  of  grain  in  the  gap,  with  a  mill, 
which  they  used  to  grind  it.  During  the  en- 
suing night  an  expedition  was  sent  out  by  Gen. 
Shackelford,  which  succeeded  in  destroying  the 
mill.  The  enemy  still  refused  to  surrender,  but 
on  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Burnside,  on  the  9th, 
terms  were  agreed  upon,  and  a  surrender  made 
nnconditionally.  The  officers,  however,  were 
allowed  to  retain  their  side  arms.  About  forty 
wagons,  two  hundred  mules,  four  thousand 
pounds  of  bacon,  two  thousand  bushels  of 
wheat,  a  large  quantity  of  other  stores,  and  ten 
pieces  of  artillery,  were  surrendered.  The  num- 
ber of  prisoners  was  about  two  thousand.  The 
march  of  Gen.  Shackelford  to  the  Gap,  a  dis- 
tance of  fifty-two  miles,  was  made  in  sixty 
hours. 

Meantime  a  column  of  cavalry  ascended  the 
valley  to  Bristol,  driving  the  enemy  across  the 
Virginia  line,  and  destroyed  the  railroad  bridges 
over  the  Holston  and  Watauga  rivers,  so  as  to 
prevent  their  return  into  East  Tennessee.  The 
main  body  of  Gen.  Burnside's  army  was  now 
ordered  by  the  general-in-chief  to  concentrate 
on  the  Tennessee  river,  from  Loudon  west,  so 
as  to  connect  with  Gen.  Rosecrans'sarmy,  which 
reached  Chattanooga  on  the  9th  of  September. 

At  this  time  the  authorities  at  "Washington 
were  led  to  believe  that  Gen.  Lee  was  receiving 
reinforcements  from  Gen.  Bragg.  The  slight  re- 
sistance made  by  the  enemy  in  East  Tennessee, 
and  his  abandonment  without  defence  of  such 
an  important  position  as  Chattanooga,  rendered 
plausible  the  reports  of  spies  and  deserters  from 
Gen.  Lee's  army,  that  reinforcements  were  ar- 
riving there.  Fearing,  therefore,  that  Gen. 
Rosecrans's  army  might  be  drawn  too  far  into 
the  mountains  of  Georgia,  where  it  could  not 
be  supplied,  and  might  be  attacked  before  rei'n- 
forcements  could  reach  it  from  Gen.  Burnside, 
Gen.  Halleck  sent  the  following  despatch  to 
Gen.  Rosecrans : 

HEADQUARTERS  or  THE  AEMT,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  £ 
September  llth,  1868.     $ 
Mai- Gen.  Kosecrans,  Chattanooga: 

Gen.  Burnside  telegraphs  from  Cumberland  Gnpthat 
he  holds  all  East  Tennessee  above  Loudon,  and  also 
the  gaps  of  the  North  Carolina  mountains.  A  cavalry 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


459 


force  is  moving  toward  Athena  to  connect  with  you. 
After  holding  the  mountain  passes,  on  the  west  of  Dai- 
ton,  or  some  other  point  on  the  railroad,  to  prevent,  the 
return  of  Bragg's  army,  it  will  be  decided  whether 
your  army  shall  move  farther  south  into  Georgia  and 
Alabama. 

It  is  reported  here  by  deserters  that  a  part  of  Bragg's 
army  is  reenforcing  Lee.  It  is  important  that  the  truth 
of  this  should  be  ascertained  as  early  as  possible. 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  General-in-Chief. 

On  the  same  day  the  following  despatch  was 
sent  to  Gen.  Burnside  : 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  TUB  ABUT,  "WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  ) 
September  llth,  1863.     f 
Mai.-  Gen.  Burnside,  Cumberland  Gap  : 

I  congratulate  you  on  your  success.  Hold  the  gap 
of  the  North  Carolina  mountains,  the  line  of  the  Hof- 
ston  river,  or  some  point,  if  there  be  one,  to  prevent 
access  from  Virginia,  and  connect  with  Gen.  Kosecrans, 
at  least  with  your  cavalry.  Gen.  Rosecrans  will  occupy 
Daltou,  or  some  point  on  the  railroad,  to  close  all  access 
from  Atlanta,  and  also  the  mountain  passes  in  the 
west.  This  being  done,  it  will  be  determined  whether 
the  movable  force  shall  advance  into  Georgia  and 
Alabama  or  into  the  valley  of  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina.  H.  W.  HALLECK,  General-in-Chief. 

On  the  next  day,  Gen.  Rosecrans  replied 
that  he  was  sufficiently  strong  for  the  enemy 
then  in  his  front,  and  that  there  were  indica- 
tions that  the  enemy  intended  to  turn  his 
flanks,  and  cut  off  his  communications  ;  ho 
therefore  decided  that  Gen.  Burnside  should 
move  down  his  infantry  toward  Chattanooga, 
on  his  left,  and  that  Gen.  Grant  should  cover 
the  Tennessee  river  toward  Whitesburg  to  pre- 
vent any  raid  on  Nashville.  He  was  of  the 
opinion  that  no  troops  had  been  sent  from  Gen. 
Bragg's  army;  but  that  Gen.  Bragg  was  re- 
ceiving reenforcements  from  Gen.  Loring  in 
Mississippi. 

On  .the  13th,  Gen.  Foster,  in  command  at 
Fortress  Monroe,  sent  a  despatch  to  "Washing- 
ton, stating  that  trains  of  cars  had  been  heard 
running  all  the  time,  day  and  night,  for  the 
previous  thirty-six  hours,  on  the  Petersburg 
and  Richmond  railroad,  evidently  indicating  a 
movement  of  troops  in  some  direction.  On  the 
morning  of  the  14th,  he  further  stated  that  Gen. 
Longstreet's  corps  was  reported  to  be  going 
south,  through  North  Carolina. 

At  this  tune  Gen.  Meade  had  been  directed 
to  ascertain — by  giving  battle,  if  necessary — 
whether  any  of  Gen.  Lee's  troops  had  left.  On 
the  14th  he  reported  to  Gen.  Halleck  as  fol- 
lows: "My  judgment,  formed  on  a  variety  of 
meagre  and  conflicting  testimony,  is,  that  Gen. 
Lee's  army  has  been  reduced  by  Gen.  Long- 
street's  corps,  and  perhaps  by  some  regiments 
from  Gens.  Ewell  and  Hill." 

Upon  receiving  the  despatches  of  the  13th, 
Gen.  Halleck  sent  the  following  telegrams  to 
Gens.  Burnside,  Rosecrans,  Hurlbut,  Grant,  and 
Sherman : 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  AEMT,  "WASHINGTON,  D.  C., ) 
September  13th,  1863.     J 
My. -Gen.  Burnside,  Knoxville: 

It  is  important  that  all  the  available  forces  of  your 
command  be  pushed  forward  into  East  Tennessee.  All 
your  scattered  forces  should  be  concentrated  there.  So 
long  as  we  hold  Tennessee,  Kentucky  is  perfectly  safe. 
Move  down  your  infantry  as  rapidly  as  possible  toward 


Chattanooga,  to  connect  with  Rosecrans.  Bragg  may 
merely  hold  the  passes  of  the  mountains  to  cover  At- 
lanta, and  move  his  main  army  through  Northern 
Alabama,  to  reach  the  Tennessee  river  and  turn  Ro- 
secrans's  right,  and  cut  off  his  supplies.  In  this  case 
he  will  turn  Chattanooga  over  to  you,  and  move  to  in- 
tercept Bragg. 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  General-in-Chief. 

HEADQUABTEBS  OF  THE  ARMY,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  I 
September  18th,  1S63.     j 
MM.- Gen.  Eosecrans,  Chattanooga: 

there  is  no  intention  of  sending  Gen.  Burnside  into 
North  Carolina.  He  is  ordered  to  move  down  and  ' 
connect  with  you.  Should  the  enemy  attempt  to  turn 
your  right  flank  through  Alabama,  Chattanooga  should 
be  turned  over  to  Burnside,  at  d  your  army,  or  such 
part  of  it  as  may  not  be  required  there,  should  move  to 
prevent  Bragg  from  reentering  Middle  Tennessee. 
Hurlbut  will  aid  you  all  he  can,  but  most  of  Grant's 
available  force  is  west  of  the  Mississippi. 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  General-in-Chie£ 

HEAQUARTEES  OF  THE  AEMT,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C., ) 
September  IZth,  1S63.     J 
Maj.-Gen.  Hurlbut,  Memphis: 

I  think,  from  all  accounts,  that  Steele  is  sufficiently 
strong.  All  your  available  force  should  be  sent  to 
Corinth  and  Tuscumbia,  to  operate  against  Bragg. 
Should  he  attempt  to  turn  Rosecrans's  right  and  re- 
cross  the  river  into  Tennessee,  send  to  Gen.  Sherman, 
at  Vicksburg,  for  reenforcements  for  this  purpose. 
Gen.  Grant,  it  is  understood,  is  sick  in  NewOrleaus. 
H.  W.  HALLECK,  General-in.Chief. 

HEADQUAETEES  OP  THE  AEMT,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  ) 
September  13JA,  1863.     f 

Maj.-Gen.  Grant  or  Maj.-Gen.  Sherman,  Viclcsburg : 

It  is  quite  possible  that  Bragg  and  Johnston  will 
move  through  Northern  Alabama  to  the  Tennessee 
river,  to  turn  Gen.  Rosecrans's  right  and  cut  off  his  com- 
munications. All  of  Gen.  Grant's  available  forces  should 
be  sent  to  Memphis,  thence  to  Corirrth  and  Tuscumbia, 
to  cooperate  with  Rosecrans,  should  the  rebels  attempt 
that  movement.  • 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  General-in-Chief. 

On  the  14th,  the  following  telegrams  were 
sent  to  Gens.  Foster,  Burnside,  and  Hurlbut : 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMT,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  I 
September  1«A,  1863.     J 

Maj.-Gen.  Foster,  Fortress  Monroe: 

Information  received  here  indicates  that  part  of  Lee's 
forces  have  gone  to  Petersburg.  There  are  various 
suppositions  for  this.  Some  think  it  is  intended  to  put 
down  Union  feeling  in  North  Carolina,  others  to  make 
an  attempt  to  capture  Norfolk ;  others  again  to  threaten 
Norfolk,  so  as  to  compel  us  to  land  reenforcements 
there  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  then  to  move 
rapidly  against  Meade.  Such  was  the  plan  last  spring, 
when  Longstreet  invested  Suffolk.  It  will  be  well  to 
strengthen  Norfolk  as  much  as  possible,  and  to  closely 
watch  the  enemy's  movements.  I  think  he  will  soon 
strike  a  blow  somewhere. 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  General-in-Chief. 

ITEADQtrAETEES  OF  THE  ARMY,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  ) 

September  14W,  1868.      J 
Maj.-Gen.  Hurllut,  Memphis  : 

There  are  good  reasons  why  troops  should  be  sent-  to 
assist  Gen.  Rosecrans's  right  with  all  possible  despatch. 
Communicate  with  Sherman  to  assist  you,  and  hurry 
forward  reenforcements  as  previously  directed. 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  General-in-Chief. 

HEADQUARTEES  OF  THE  ARMT,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C., ) 
September  14tfi,  1863.     J 

Maj.-Gen.  Burnside,  Enoxville: 

There  are  several  reasons  why  you  should  reenforco 
Rosecrans  with  all  possible  despatch.  It  is  believed 
that  the  enemy  will  concentrate  to  give  him  battle.  You 
must  be  there  to  help  him. 

H.  W.  HALLECK,  General-in-Chief. 


460 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


At  the  same  time,  Gen.  Schofield,  in  com- 
mand of  the  Department  of  Missouri,  and  Gen. 
Pope,  in  command  of  the  Northwest  Depart- 
ment, were  ordered  to  send  forward  to  the 
Tennessee  line  every  available  man  in  their 
departments ;  and  the  commanding  officers  in. 
Indiana,  Ohio,  and  Kentucky,  were  ordered  to 
make  every  possible  exertion  to  secure  Gen. 
Rosecrans's  line  of  communications.  Gen.  Meade 
was  also  urged  to  attack  Gen.  Lee's  army  while 
hi  its  present  reduced  condition,  or,  at  least,  to 
prevent  him  from  sending  off  any  more  detach- 
ments. More  troops  were  not  sent  into  East 
Tennessee  or  Georgia,  on  account  of  the  impos- 
sibility of  supplying  them  in  a  country  which 
the  enemy  had  nearly  exhausted.  Gen.  Burn- 
side's  army  was  on  short  rations,  and  that  of 
the  Cumberland  inadequately  supplied. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  the  army  of  Gen. 
Eosecrans  was  occupying  the  passes  of  Look- 
out mountain,  with  the  enemy  concentrating 
his  forces  near  Lafayette,  to  dispute  his  further 
advance.  The  threatened  movements  of  Gen. 
Bragg  to  the  right  and  left  proved  to  be  merely 
cavalry  raids  to  cut  Gen.  Eosecrans's  lines  of 
supplies,  and  threaten  his  communication  with 
Gen.  Blirnside.  His  main  army  was  only  await- 
ing the  arrival  of  Gen.  Longstreet's  corps  to 
give  battle  in  the  mountains  of  Georgia.  It  had 
already  been  reenforced  by  troops  from  Gen. 
Johnston  in  Mississippi,  and  by  the  prisoners 
captured  at  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson,  and 
released  on  parole,  who  had  been  declared  by 
the  Confederate  authorities  to  be  exchanged. 

The,  line  of  Gen.  Eosecrans's  army  extended 
at  this  time  from  Gordon's  Mills  to  Alpines,  a 
distance  of  some  forty  miles.  By  the  iVth, 
they  were  brought  within  supporting  distance, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  18th  a  concentration 
was  begun  toward  Crawfish  Springs. 

The  advance  ot  Gen.  Eosecrans's  army  can  be 
traced  in  a  few  words.  The  Tennessee  river, 
west  of  Chattanooga,  hi  its  general  direction 
runs  southwest.  Skirting  it  is  the  Eacoon  range 
of  mountains.  Sand  mountain,  where  the  army 
passed  over,  is  a  part  of  this  range.  After 
marching  over  a  plateau  of  twelve  or  fifteen 
miles  in  width,  Sand  mountain  is  descended, 
and  the  Lookout  valley  is  gained.  This  valley 
is  about  two  miles  wide,  and  runs  southwest. 
It  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Lookout  moun- 
tains, running  parallel  with  the  Eacoon  range. 
The  right  wing,  under  Gen.  McCook,  and  the 
centre,  under  Gen.  Thomas,  had  been  in  this 
valley  two  or  three  days  when  Chattanooga  was 
evacuated.  Early  on  Wednesday,  the  9th,  both 
corps  were  in  motion  to  pass  the  Lookout 
range.  They  had  only  two  passes  by  which  to 
cross— one  ei?ht  miles  south  of  Trenton,  and 
the  other  at  Valley  Head,  more  than  twenty 
miles  south  of  Trenton.  At  Valley  Head  the 
rugged  mountain  melts  away  into  a  wild  scat- 
tering of  hills,  near  which  the  road  is  abruptly 
turned  through  winding  valleys,  with  a  steep 
and  stubborn  spur  before  the  summit  is  gained. 
After  reaching  the  summit,  a  plateau  gently 


rolling,  about  twelve  miles  in  width,  is  found. 
There  are  groves  and  fields,  and  smooth-flow- 
ing streams,  where  the  imagination  pictured 
crags  and  cascades.  At  Valley  Head,  Gen. 
McCook's  corps  passed  over  Lookout  moun- 
tain, and  reached  Alpines,  in  the  valley,  called 
Broomtown  valley,  on  the  10th.  Gen.  Thomas 
took  the  middle  gap,  and  passed  through  without 
opposition.  At  the  same  time  Gen.  Crittenden 
moved  south  of  Chattanooga  toward  Gordon's  , 
Mills,  a  distance  of  twelve  miles.  Bounding 
Broomtown  valley,  on  the  east,  is  another  par- 
allel ridge,  known  as  Taylor's  ridge.  It  is  not 
a  formidable  barrier,  and  is  crossed  by  a  num- 
ber of  good  roads  toward  Lafayette,  where 
Gen.  Bragg  was.  The  first  opposition  to  the 
present  advance  of  the  army  took  place  at  Al- 
pines, on  Wednesday,  the  9th,  when  a  cavalry 
division  had  a  brisk  fight  with  the  enemy, 
which  continued  two  hours,  with  the  loss  of 
four  killed  and  twelve  wounded.  The  enemy 
retired,  leaving  a  few  dead.  When  Gen. 
Thomas  passed  through  the  central  gap,  he 
found  himself  in  McLemore's  Cove  or  valley,  a 
strip  of  country  enclosed  between  Lookout 
mountain  and  Pigeon  mountain,  a  spur  of  Look- 
out, striking  northeast  from  it,  and  gradually 
melting  away  as  it  approaches  the  Chicka- 
mauga  river.  To  reach  the  same  valley  in 
which  Gen.  McCook's  corps  was,  Gen.  Thomas 
was  compelled  to  pass  through  one  of  the  gaps 
of  Pigeon  mountain.  He  therefore,  on  the  12th, 
ordered  Gen.  Negley  to  feel  his  way  through 
the  central  pass.  In  obeying  the  order  he  was 
suddenly  attacked  by  the  divisions  of  Gens. 
Witters  and  Stuart,  of  Gen.  Bragg's  army,  upon 
his  front  and  flanks,  with  such  energy  as  com- 
pelled his  hasty  retreat,  with  a  loss  of  some 
forty  "killed  and  wounded.  The  advance  of 
Gen.  Eosecrans's  army  thus  far  in  pursuit  of  the 
enemy,  had  been  made  under  the  impression 
that,  as  Chattanooga  had  fallen  without  resist- 
ance, Gen.  Bragg  was  weak,  and  the  Confed- 
erate Government  unable  to  reenforce  him ; 
there  would,  therefore,  be  no  fight  north  of  the 
Coosa  river.  This  sudden  show  of  strength 
against  Gen.  Negley,  therefore,  created  alarm. 
The  question  now  was,  whether  this  demon- 
stration of  the  enemy  indicated  a  purpose  of 
giving  battle,  or  whether  it  was  a  movement, 
to  secure  a  safe  retreat.  Gen.  Eosecrans  de- 
cided it  to  be  the  former.  The  next  day,  Gen. 
McCook  was  moving  back  over  the  Lookout 
mountain,  with  orders  to  close  on  the  centre, 
and  Gen.  Crittenden,  at  Gordon's  Mills,  put  in 
a  good  defensive  position. 

Lafayette,  the  capital  of  Walker  county, 
thirty-two  miles  from  Chattanooga,  and  eigh- 
teen from  Dalton,  was  supposed  to  be  the  place 
where  the  enemy  were  concentrating.  In  their 
front  was  the  Pigeon  mountain.  This  range 
was  the  highest  at  the  southern  extremity, 
where  it  is  separated  from  the  Lookout  moun- 
tain by  Doherty  Gap,  a  long  and  heavy  pass. 
Two  miles  north  is  a  less  elevated  gap,  called 
Eape ;  seven  miles  farther  north  is  Blue  Bird, 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


461 


a  rugged  pass  ;  three  miles  farther  is  Dug  Gap, 
affording  a  good  passage  for  an  army.  This 
was  easily  defended,  and  held  by  Gen.  Bragg. 
Two  and  a  half  miles  farther  is  Catlet's,  through 
which  runs  a  mountain  stream  and  a  good 
road ;  this  was  also  held  by  Gen.  Bragg.  Two 
miles  farther  is  Worthing,  a  rough  road  over 
the  mountain,  and  impassable  for  artillery. 
Wicker  is  a  good  wagon  road,  where  the  moun- 
tain  has  diminished  to  a  hill ;  a  mile  and  a  half 
beyond,  an  undulating  country  commences.  The 
country  lying  between  Pigeon  and  Lookout 
mountains  is  called  McLemore's  Cove,  as  above 
stated,  about  twenty  miles  long  and  eight 
broad.  West  of  Pigeon  mountain  is  Chicka- 
mauga  valley,  which  separates  it  from  Mission- 
ary ridge,  a  mere  range  of  hills,  and  west  of 
which  is  another  valley  separating  the  latter 
from  Lookout  mountain.  This  last  range  runs 
up  within  two  miles  of  Chattanooga,  and  ter- 
minates abruptly  at  the  Tennessee  river,  with 
a  bluff  two  thousand  feet  high. 

At  the  time  of  the  repulse  of  Gen.  Negley 
was  the  most  favorable  moment  for  Gen.  Bragg 
to  attack  Gen.  Rosecrans.  The  corps  of  Gen. 
McCook  was  separated  from  Gen.  Thomas  by  a 
march  of  nearly  three  days.  Gen.  Crittenden 
could  not  reinforce  Gen.  Thomas  without  ex- 
posing Chattanooga,  and  Gen.  Thomas  could 
not  move  to  Gen.  Crittenden's  position  without 
exposing  Gen.  McCook.  Slow  as  Gen.  Bragg 
was  in  collecting  his  forces  and  advancing,  the 
great  battle  which  followed  was  begun  be- 
fore Gen.  Rosecrans  had  recovered  from  the 
results  of  the  position  of  his  forces.  Gen.  Mc- 
Cook joined  Gen.  Thomas^  on  the  1 7th,  with 
his  weary  troops,  and  as  heavy  clouds  of  dust 
were  discovered  on  Pigeon  mountain  by  the 
signal  officers,  his  corps  and  the  right  of  the 
centre  were  formed  into  line  of  battle,  which 
was  maintained  all  the  afternoon  in  McLe- 
more's Cove.  As  the  morning  of  the  18th  broke, 
gray  and  chilly,  the  troops  were  ordered  on  the 
march.  -  Gen.  Thomas's  corps  pressed  on  to- 
ward Gordon's  Mills,  and  Gen.  McCook's  moved 
up  directly  in  his  rear.  At  Gordon's  Mills,  Gen. 
Ward  was  stationed  with  two  brigades.  Dur- 
ing the  forenoon  of  this  day,  Gen.  Granger,  situ- 
ated on  the  left  of  Gen.  Ward,  made  a  reconnois- 
sance  across  the  Chickamauga  at  Reid's  bridge, 
with  two  brigades,  and  ascertained  beyond  a 
doubt  that  Gen.  Longstreet's  corps  had  joined 
Gen.  Bragg.  Cols.  Minty  and  Wilder  were 
sent  with  their  commands,  the  former  to  watch 
Ringgold  road  crossing,  and  the  latter  to  re- 
sist any  advance  from  Napier  Gap.  Early  in 
the  afternoon  the  enemy  made  an  attack  from 
the  two  roads.  Heavy  cannonading  ensued, 
but  Cols.  Minty  and  Wilder  held  their  ground 
gallantly  until  a  body  of  the  enemy's  infantry, 
having  crossed  at  one  of  the  several  fords  in 
the  river,  was  fast  gaining  their  rear,  when  they 
were  compelled  to  retire.  This  proved  to  be 
the  extreme  left  of  the  enemy. 

Toward  evening,  Gen.  McOook's  corps  pitch- 
ed their  tents  at  Lee's  Mills,  in  McLemore's 


Cove  ;  but  hardly  was  this  done  before  an  or- 
der from  Gen.  Rosecrans  directed  them  to 
move  northward  to  Pond  Spring,  seventeen 
miles  south  of  Chattanooga.  Wearied  as  were 
the  men,  they  marched  silently  and  without 
straggling.  All  night  there  was  a  constant 
rumbling  of  wagons,  and  a  ceaseless  tread  of 
troops.  Gen.  Crittenden  being  ahead  of  Gen. 
Thomas,  had  thrown  Gen.  Van  Cleve's  divis- 
ion on  the  left  of  Gen.  Wood  at  Gordon's 
Mills,  and  Gen.  Palmer's  on  his  right,  Gen. 
Thomas  pushed  still  farther  to  the  left.  Gen. 
Johnson's  two  brigades  were  given  to  Gen. 
Thomas,  and  posted  on  Gen.  Van  Cleve's  left, 
while  Gen.  Negley,  who  was  already  in  posi- 
tion at  Owen's  Gap,  a  short  distance  south  of 
Crawfish  Spring,  thirteen  miles  from  Chatta- 
nooga, was  ordered  to  remain  there,  and  tem- 
porarily attached  to  Gen.  McCook's  corps. 

The  operations  of  the  Confederate  army  up 
to  this  time  had  been  as  follows:  In  conse- 
quence of  the  flank  movement  of  Gen.  Rose- 
crans on  the  right  of  Gen.  Bragg,  in  the  month 
of  June,  the  latter  retreated  from  Shelbyville 
and  Tullahoma  toward  Chattanooga,  which  was 
occupied  in  the  first  week  of  July.  The  brigade 
of  Gen.  Anderson,  of  Gen.  Polk's  corps,  was 
ordered  to  Bridgeport  for  purposes  of  observa- 
tion. The  remainder  of  the  corps  of  Gen.  Polk 
was  retained  in  and  around  Chattanooga;  and 
Gen.  Hardee's  corps  was  distributed  along  the 
line  of  the  railroad  to  Knoxville,  with  Tyner'a 
Station,  nine  miles  from  Chattanooga,  as  the 
centre.  The  headquarters  of  Gen.  Bragg  were 
at  Chattanooga.  On  the  21st  of  August  the 
corps  of  Gen.  Crittenden  succeeded  in  reaching 
the  town  with  artillery,  from  the  heights  over- 
looking the  Tennessee  river  and  the  town.  This 
bombardment  was  regarded  by  the  enemy  as 
announcing  that  Gen.  Rosecrans's  plans  were 
completed  and  about  to  be  executed.  The 
effect  was  to  cause  the  removal  of  Gen.  Bragg's 
headquarters  beyond  the  range  of  fire,  and  the 
removal  of  stores  to  points  of  convenience  on 
the  railroad  in  the  rear,  and  the  withdrawal 
of  Gen.  Anderson  from  Bridgeport.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  advance  of  Gen.  Burnside  into 
East  Tennessee,  the  Confederate  Gen.  Buckner 
was  now  ordered  to  evacuate  Knoxville  and 
occupy  Loudon ;  and  in  consequence  of  a  de- 
monstration reported  to  have  been  made  by 
Gen.  Rosecrans  at  Blythe's  Ferry,  on  the  Ten- 
nessee river,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Hiawas- 
see,  he  was  further  ordered  to  fall  back  from 
Loudon  to  Charleston,  and,  soon  after,  to  the 
vicinity  of  Chattanooga.  On  the  1st  of  Sep- 
tember, Gen.  Bragg  was  informed  of  the  cross- 
ing of  Gen.  Rosecrans  at  Caperton's  Ferry  for 
three  days,  and  that  he  was  moving  across  Sand 
mountain,  in  the  direction  of  Wills's  valley  and 
Trenton.  This  report  was  regarded  by  him  as 
incredible,  but  soon  after  confirmed  by  the  oc- 
cupation of  Trenton  by  Federal  cavalry  and 
by  its  advance  up  the  Wills's  valley  railroad 
in  the  direction  of  Chattanooga  as  far  as  Wau- 
liatchee,  within  seven  miles,  as  a  covering 


462 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


force  to  the  advance  of  the  infantry  column  at 
Trenton. 

The  following  topographical  view  will  assist 
in  the  comprehension  of  the  subsequent  move- 
ments :  Chattanooga  is  situated  on  the  Tennes- 
see river,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chattanooga  val- 
ley— a  valley  following  the  course  of  the  Chat- 
tanooga creek,  and  formed  by  Lookout  moun- 
tain and  Missionary  ridge.  East  of  Missionary 
ridge,  and  running  parallel  with  it,  is  anoth- 
er valley — Chickamauga  valley — following  the 
course  of  Chickamauga  creek,  which,  like  the 
Chattanooga  creek,  discharges  its  waters  into 
the  Tennessee  river — the  first  above,  and  the 
last  below  the  town  of  Chattanooga,  and  has 
with  it  a  common  source  in  McLemore's  Cove, 
the  common  head  of  both  valleys,  and  formed 
by  Lookout  mountain  on  the  west  and  Pigeon 
mountain  to  the  east.  Wills's  valley  is  a  nar- 
row valley,  lying  to  the  west  of  Chattanooga, 
formed  by  Lookout  mountain  and  Sand  moun- 
tain, and  traversed  by  a  railroad,  which  takes 
its  name  from  the  valley,  and  which,  branching 
from  the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  railroad, 
where  the  latter  crosses  the  valley,  has  its  pres- 
ent terminus  at  Trenton,  and  future  at  Tusca- 
loosa,  Alabama.  The  distance  of  Bridgeport 
from  Chattanooga  is  twenty-eight  miles,  of 
Caperton's  Ferry  about  forty,  and  of  Trenton 
something  over  twenty.  Ringgold  is  eighteen 
miles  from  Chattanooga,  on  the  Georgia  State 
road,  and  Dalton  some  forty,  at  the  point  where 
the  Georgia  State  road  connects  with  the  East 
Tennessee  railroad.  Rome  is  sixty-five  miles 
southwest  of  Chattanooga,  on  the  Coosa  river, 
at  the  point  of  confluence  of  the  Etowah  and 
Oostenaula.  The  wagon  road  from  Chattanooga 
to  Rome,  known  as  the  Lafayette  road,  crosses 
Missionary  ,ridge  into  Chickamauga  valley  at 
Rossville,  and,  proceeding  in  a  southwesterly 
direction,  crosses  Chickamauga  creek,  eleven 
miles  from  Chattanooga,  at  Lee's  and  Gordon's 
Mills,  and,  passing  to  the  east  of  Pigeon  moun- 
tain, goes  through  Lafayette,  distant  some 
twenty-two  miles  from  Chattanooga,  and  Sum- 
merville,  within  twenty-five  miles  of  Rome. 

1  From  Caperton's  Ferry  there  is  a  road  leading 
over  Sand  mountain  into  Wills's  valley  at  Tren- 
ton, and  from  Trenton  to  Lafayette  and  Dalton, 
over  Lookout  mountain,  through  Cooper's  and 
Stevens's  Gap  into  McLemore's  Cove,  and  over 
Pigeon  mountain  by  Plug  Gap.  The  road  from 
Trenton,  following  Wills's  valley,  exposed,  by 

•  easy  communications,  Rome,  and,  through  it, 
"Western  Georgia  and  Eastern  Alabama,  with 
easy  access  to  the  important  central  positions, 
Atlanta  and  Selma. 

Gen.  Bragg,  believing  that  a  flanking  move- 
ment was  the  object  of  Gen.  Rosecrans  by  his 
advance  on  the  left,  ordered  Lieut.-Gen.  Hill, 
on  Monday,  September  Yth,  to  move  with  his 
corps  toward  Lafayette,  Gen.  Polk  to  Lee's  and 
Gordon's  Mills,  and  Maj.-Gen.  Bnckner,  with 
the  Army  of  East  Tennessee,  and  Maj.-Gen. 
Walker,  with  his  division  from  the  Army  of 
Mississippi,  to  concentrate  at  Lafayette,  and 


Brig.-Gen.  Pegram  to  cover  the  railroad  with 
his  cavalry.  These  dispositions  having  been 
made  of  the  Confederate  forces,  Maj.-Gen.  Crit- 
tenden,  commanding  the  left  wing  of  the  Fed- 
eral army,  which  had  not  moved  with  the  right 
and  centre,  but  had  been  left  in  the  Sequatchie 
valley,  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  at  the  mouth 
of  Battle  creek,  and  moved  upon  Chattanoo- 
ga. Maj.-Gen.  McCook,  commanding  the  right 
wing,  was  thrown  forward  to  threaten  Rome, 
and  the  corps  of  Maj.-Gen.  Thomas  was  put  in 
motion  over  Lookout  mountain,  in  the  direction 
of  Lafayette. 

A  charge  of  incapacity  was  subsequently 
made  against  Gen.  Bragg,  because  he  did  not 
at  this  time  fall  upon  Gen.  Thomas  with  such 
a  force  as  would  have  crushed  him ;  then  turned 
down  Chattanooga  valley,  throwing  himself 
between  the  town  and  Gen.  Crittenden,  and 
crushed  him ;  then  passed  back  between  Look- 
out mountain  and  the  Tennessee  river  into 
Wills's  valley,  and  cut  off  Gen.  McCook's  re- 
treat to  Bridgeport ;  thence  moved  along  the 
Cumberland  into  the  rear  of  Gen.  Burnside,  and 
defeated  him.  But  Gen.  Bragg  now  threw  a 
force  forward  into  McLemore's  Cove,  which  re- 
sisted the  advance  of  Gen.  Thomas,  as  above 
stated.  It  was  on  such  a  limited  scale  as  only 
to  check  this  advance,  and  was  thence  with- 
drawn to  Lafayette.  Within  thirty-six  hours 
after  this  force  retired,  Gen.  Rosecrans  had  re- 
called Gen.  McCook,  and  concentrated  him  with 
Gen.  Thomas  in  McLemore's  Cove.  Meantime, 
Gen.  Crittenden,  after  occupying  Chattanooga, 
did  not  stop  to  fortify  it,  but  moved  on  toward 
Ringgold  to  cut  off  Gen.  Buckner,  who  was  un- 
derstood to  be  moving  to  the  support  of  Gen. 
Bragg.  On  reaching  tbe  point  on  the  Georgia, 
railroad  at  which  Gen.  Buckner  crossed,  and 
discovering  that  he  was  too  late,  he  turned  to- 
ward Lafayette  to  follow  him.  Moving  up  the 
Chickamauga,  on  the  east  side,  he  was  con- 
fronted by  a  force  of  Confederate  cavalry  un- 
der Gens.  Pegram  and  Armstrong,  which  re- 
tired before  him  until  supported  by  a  large  body 
of  infantry,  when  Gen.  Crittenden,  declining 
a  battle,  fell  back  on  the  Chickamauga,  and 
crossed  at  Gordon's  Mills.  This  brought  the 
whole  of  Gen.  Rosecrans's  force  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Chickaraauga  within  easy  support- 
ing distance. 

Gen.  Bragg  now  moved  his  army  by  divis- 
ions, and  crossed  the  Chickamauga  at  several 
fords  and  bridges  north  of  Gordon's  Mills,  up 
to  which  he  ordered  the  Virginia  troops,  which 
had  crossed  many  miles  below,  and  near  to 
which  he  attempted  to  concentrate.  At  this 
time  the  right  of  Gen.  Rosecrans  really  rested 
on  Gordon's  Mills.  Gen.  Thomas  had  moved 
on  until  his  left  division,  under  Gen.  Brannan, 
covered  the  Rossville  road.  Gen.  Baird  was 
on  Gen.  Brannan's  right,  then  followed  suc- 
cessively Gens.  Johnson's,  Reynolds's,  Palmer's, 
and  Van  Cleve's  divisions.  Gen.  Wood  covered 
Gordon's  Mills  ford.  Gen.  Negley,  four  miles 
farther  south,  held  Owen's  Gap.  Gens.  Davis 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


463 


and  Sheridan  were  on  the  march  south  of 
Gen.  Negley.  Gen.  "Wilder,  with  four  regiments 
and  a  light  battery,  was  posted  at  the  right, 
near  Gordon's  Mills.  Gen.  Gordon  Granger's 
forces  were  held  in  reserve  some  distance  back 
on  the  Rossville  road.  Such  was  the  position 
on  Saturday,  the  19th.  The  battle  which  now 
ensued  opened  about  ten  o'clock.  The  first 
attack  of  the  enemy  was  upon  the  left  wing  of 
Gen.  Rosecrans,  which  the  enemy  endeavored 
to  turn,  so  as  to  occupy  the  road  to  Chatta- 
nooga. But  all  their  eiforts  for  this  object 
failed.  The  centre  was  next  assailed  and  tem- 
porarily driven  back,  but,  being  promptly  re- 
enforced,  maintained  its  ground.  As  night  ap- 
proached, the  battle  ceased  and  the  combatants 
rested  on  their  arms.  Gen.  Bragg  now  issued 
an  order  dividing  the  forces  of  his  army  into 
two  corps  or  wings.  The  right  was  placed  un- 
der the  command  of  Lieut.-Gen.  Polk,  and  the 
left  under  Lieut.-Gen.  Longstreet.  The  former 
was  composed  of  Lieut.-Gen.  Hill's  corps  of  two 
divisions,  under  Maj.-Gen.  Cleburn  and  Maj.- 
Gen.  Breckinridge ;  with  the  division  of  Maj.- 
Gen.  Oheatham,  of  Lieut.-Gen.  Folk's  corps, 
and  the  division  of  Maj.-Gen.  W.  H.  T.  Walker. 
The  left  was  composed  of  the  divisions  of 
Maj.-Gen.  Stewart,  and  Brig. -Gens.  Preston 
Johnston,  of  Maj.-Gen.  Buckner's  corps;  with 
Maj.-Gen.  Hindman's,  of  Lieut.-Gen,  Folk's 
corps,  and  Gens.  Benning's  and  Lane's  and 
Robertson's  brigades  of  Maj.-Gen.  Hood's  di- 
vision, and  Gens.  Kershaw's  and  Humphrey's, 
of  Maj.-Gen.  McLaws's  division.  The  front  line 
of  the  right  wing  consisted  of  three  divisions, 
,  Breckinridge's,  Cleburn'e,  and  Cheatham's, 
which  were  posted  from  right  to  left  in  the 
order  named.  Maj.-Gen.  "Walker  was  in  reserve. 
The  line  of  the  left  wing  was  composed  of  Stew- 
art's, Hood's,  Hindman's,  and  Preston's  divis- 
ions, from  right  to  left,  in  the  order  named. 

Toward  morning  of  the  next  day  the  army 
of  Gen.  Rosecrans  changed  its  position  slightly 
to  the  rear,  and  contracted  the  extended  lines 
of  the  previous  day.  Trains  were  moving  north- 
ward on  all  the  roads  in  the  rear  of  Chatta- 
nooga, and  the  wounded  were  taken  from  the 
hospitals*  which  had  become  exposed  by  the 
concentration  of  the  forces  to  the  left.  Gen. 
Thomas  still  held  the  left,  with  the  divisions 
of  Gens.  Palmer  and  Johnson  attached  to  his 
corps  and  thrown  in  the  centre.  Gen.  Brannan 
was  retired  slightly,  with  his  regiments  arrayed 
in  echelon.  Gen.  Van  Cleve  was  held  in  re- 
serve on  the  west  side  of  the  first  road  in  the 
rear  of  the  line.  Gens.  "Wood,  Davis,  and 
Sheridan  followed  next,  the  latter  being  on  th* 
extreme  left.  Gen.  Lytle  occupied  an  isolated 
position  at  Gordon's  Mills. 

Orders  were  given  by  Gen.  Bragg  to  Lieut.- 
Gen.  Polk  to  commence  the  attack  at  daylight 
on  the  next  morning.  These  orders  were  im- 
mediately issued  by  him ;  but  prior  to  giving 
the  order  to  move  forward  to  the  attack  in  the 
morning,.  Gen.  Polk  discovered  that,  owing  to 
a  want  of  precaution,  a  portion  of  the  left  vrinjj, 


amounting  to  a  whole  division,  had  been  form- 
ed in  front  of  his  line,  and  that  if  the  order  to 
make  the  attack  at  daylight  was  obeyed,  this 
division  must  inevitably  be  slaughtered.  The 
battle  was  finally  opened  about  half  past  nine 
A.  M.,  by  a  forward  movement  of  Gen.  Breckin- 
ridge, accompanied  by  Gen.  Cleburn,  against 
the  left  and  centre  of  Gen.  Rosecrans.  Division 
after  division  was  pushed  forward  to  assist  the 
attacking  masses  of  the  enemy,  but  without  suc- 
cess. The  ground  was  held  by  Gen.  Thomas 
for  more  than  two  hours.  Meantime,  as  Gen. 
Reynolds  was  sorely  pressed,  Gen.  "Wood  was 
ordered,  as  he  supposed,  to  march  instantly 
by  the  left  flank,  pass  Gen.  Brannan,  and 
go  to  the  relief  of  Gen.  Reynolds,  and  that 
Gens.  Davis  and  Sheridan  were  to  shift  over 
to  the  left,  and  close  up  the  line.  Gen.  Rose- 
crans reports  that  the  order  was  to  close  up  on 
Gen.  Reynolds.  Gen.  Wood  says  that  Gen. 
Brannan  was  in  line  between  his  and  Gen. 
Reynolds's  division. 

A  gap  was  thus  formed  in  the  line  of  battle, 
of  which  the  enemy  took  advantage,  and,  strik- 
ing Gen.  Davis  in  his  flank  and  rear,  threw 
his  whole  division  into  confusion.  Passing 
through  this  break  in  Gen.  Rosecrans's  line, 
the  enemy  cut  off  his  right  and  centre,  and  at- 
tacked Gen.  Sheridan's  division,  which  was  ad- 
vancing to  the  support  of  the  left.  After  a 
brave  but  fruitless  effort  against  this  torrent 
of  the  enemy,  he  was  compelled  to  give  way, 
but  afterward  rallied  a  considerable  portion 
of  his  force,  and  by  a  circuitous  route  joined 
Gen.  Thomas,  who  had  now  to  breast  the 
tide  of  battle  against  the  whole  army  of  the 
enemy.  The  right  and  part  of  the  centre  had 
been  completely  broken,  and  fled  in  confusion 
from  the  field,  carrying  with  them  to  Chatta- 
nooga their  commanders,  Gens.  McCook  and 
Crittenden,  and  also  Gen.  Rosecrans,  who  was 
on  that  part  of  the  line.  Gen.  Garfield,  his 
chief  of  staff,  however,  made  his  way  to  the 
left  and  joined  Gen.  Thomas,  who  still  retained 
his  position.  His  ranks  had  now  assumed  a 
crescent  form,  with  his  flanks  supported  by  the 
lower  spurs  of  the  mountain,  and  here,  "  like  a 
lion  at  bay,  he  repulsed  the  terrible  assaults 
of  the  enemy." 

About  half  past  three  p.  M.,  the  enemy  dis- 
covered a  gap  in  the  hills,  in  the  rear  of  the 
right  flank  of  Gen.  Thomas,  and  Gen.  Long- 
street  commenced  pressing  his  columns  through 
the  passage.  At  this  time,  Maj.-Gen.  Granger, 
who  had  been  posted  with  his  reserves  to  cover 
the  left  and  rear,  arrived  on  the  field.  He  in- 
stantly attacked  the  forces  of  Gen.  Longstreet, 
with  Gen.  Steadman's  brigade  of  cavalry.  The 
conflict  at  this  point  is  thus  described  by  Gen. 
Halleck:  "In  the  words  of  Gen.  Ro.'ecrans's 
report,  '  swift  was  the  charge,  and  terrible  the 
conflict ;  but  the  enemy  was  broken.'  A  thou- 
sand of  our  brave  men  killed  and  wounded 
paid  for  its  possession ;  but  we  held  the  gap. 
Two  divisions  of  Longstreet's  corps  confronted 
the  position.  Determined  to  take  it,  they  sue- 


464 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


^W^ 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


465 


cessively  came  to  the  assault.  A  battery  of 
six  guns  placed  in  the  gorge  poured  death  and 
slaughter  into  them.  They  charged  within  a 
few  yards  of  the  pieces,  but  our  grape  and 
canister,  and  the  leaden  hail  of  musketry,  deliv- 
ered in  sparing  but  terrible  volleys,  from  car- 
tridges taken  in  many  instances  from  the  boxes 
of  their  fallen  companions,  was  too  much  even 
for  Longstreet'^g  men.  About  sunset  they  made 
their  last  charge,  when  our  men,  being  out  of 
ammunition,  moved  on  them  with  the  bayonet, 
and  they  gave  way,  to  return  no  more.  In  the 
mean  time  the  enemy  made  repeated  attempts 
to  carry  Gen.  Thomas's  position  on  the  left  and 
front,  but  were  as  often  thrown  back  with 
great  loss.  At  nightfall  the  enemy  fell  back 
beyond  the  range  of  our  artillery,  leaving  Gen. 
Thomas  victorious  on  his  hard-fought  field." 

During  the  night  Gen.  Thomas  fell  back  to 
Rossville,  leaving  the  dead  and  most  of  the 
wounded  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Gen. 
Sheridan,  who  had  been  cut  off  by  the  advance 
of  the  enemy,  as  he  was  upon  the  extreme 
right,  gathered  his  brigades  and  struck  across 
Missionary  Ridge  directly  to  the  west.  The 
enemy  were  in  possession  of  the  country  north 
of  him.  As  he  reached  the  top  of  the  ridge, 
he  caused  the  "assembly"  to  be  blown,  and 
picked  up  all  the  stragglers  from  the  other  di- 
visions that  he  could  find.  He  had  lost  three 
pieces  of  artillery,  but  in  his  progress  met  a 
whole  battery  which  had  been  abandoned,  and 
took  it  in  charge.  Passing  the  enemy's  flank, 
and  regaining  the  road  on  the  ridge,  he  turned 
east  through  Rossville,  and,  without  halting, 
reiinfor<»d  Gen.  Thomas  at  midnight.  The  po- 
sition near  Rossville  was  held  during  Monday 
without  serious  molestation,  and  in  the  night 
the  force  was  withdrawn  to  Chattanooga. 

The  loss  of  Gen.  Rosecrans  in  these  battles 
was  1,644  killed,  9,262  wounded,  and  4,945 
missing,  which,  with  a  cavalry  loss  of  1,000, 
makes  16,851.  In  material,  his  loss  was  36 
guns,  20  caissons,  8,450  small  arms,  and  5,834 
infantry  accoutrements.  He  captured  2,003 
prisoners.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing,  was  reported  at  18,000. 

After  Gen.  Rosecrans's  retreat  to  Chatta- 
nooga, he  withdrew  his  forces  from  the  passes 
of  Lookout  Mountain,  which  covered  his  line 
of  supplies  from  Bridgeport.  These  were  im- 


mediately occupied  by  the  enemy,  who  also 
sent  a  cavalry  force  across  the  Tennessee  above 
Chattanooga,  which  destroyed  a  large  wagon 
train  in  the  Sequatchie  valley,  captured  Mc- 
Minnsville  and  other  points  on  the  railroad, 
and  thus  almost  completely  cut  off  the  supplies 
of  Gen.  Rosecrans's  army.  The  line  of  the 
railroad  at  this  time  was  well  defended.  The 
enemy's  cavalry  were  attacked  by  Col.  McCook, 
at  Anderson's  cross  roads,  on  the  2d  of  October, 
by  Gen.  Mitchell,  at  Shelbyville,  on  the  6th,  and 
by  Gen.  Crook,  at  Farmington,  on  the  8th. 

On  October  2d,  Gen.  Rosecrans  issued  an 
order,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract : 

Army  of  the  Cumberland :  You  have  made  a  grand 
and  successful  campaign ;  you  have  driven  the  rebels 
from  Middle  Tennessee.  You  crossed  a  great  moun- 
tain range,  placed  yourselves  on  the  banks  of  a  broad 
river,  crossed  it  in  the  face  of  a  powerful,  opposing 
army,  and  crossed  two  other  great  mountain  ranges 
at  the  only  practicable  passes,  some  forty  miles  be- 
tween extremes.  You  concentrated  in  the  face  of 
superior  numbers;  fought  the  combined  armies  of 
Bragg,  which  you  drove  from  Shelbyville  to  Tulla- 
homa,  of  Johnston's  army  from  Mississippi,  and  the 
tried  veterans  of  Longstreet's  corps,  and  for  two 
days  held  them  at  bay,  giving  them  blow  for  blow, 
with  heavy  interest.  "When  the  day  closed  you  held 
the  field,  from  which  you  withdrew,  in  the  face  of 
overpowering  numbers,  to  occupy  the  point  for 
which  you  set  out — Chattanooga. 

You  have  accomplished  the  great  work  of  the  cam- 
paign ;  you  hold  the  key  of  East  Tennessee,  of  North- 
ern Georgia,  and  of  the  enemy's  mines  of  coal  and 
nitre.  Let  these  achievements  console  you  for  the 
regret  you  experience  that  arrivals  of  fresh  hostile 
troops  forbade  your  remaining  on  the  field  to  renew 
the  battle,  for  the  right  of  burying  your  gallant 
dead,  and  caring  for  your  brave  companions  who  lay 
wounded  on  the  field. 

"When  it  was  known  at  "Washington  that 
Gen.  Longstreet's  corps  had  probably  gone  to 
the  aid  of  Gen.  Bragg,  the  authorities  ordered 
to  Tennessee  the  forces  of  Gen.  Grant  at  Vicks- 
burg,  and  also  appointed  him  to  the  command 
of  the  forces  in  the  field  in  Tennessee.  Before 
information  was  received  in  reply  from  Gen. 
Grant,  who  was  at  New  Orleans,  Gen.  Hooker 
was,  on  the  23d  of  September,  sent  to  Tennes- 
see, in  command  of  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth 
corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  which  were 
detached  for  that  object.  They  were  assigned 
to  protect  General  Rosecrans's  line  of  communi- 
cation from  Bridgeport  to  Nashville. 


CHAPTEE    XXXYI. 

General  Grant  ordered  to  the  command  at  Chattanooga— Defeats  Gen.  Bragg— Movements  of  Gen.  Bnrnside  in  East  Ten- 
nessee—Position of  the  Armies  in  Virginia— Advance  of  Gen.  Meade  to  Mine  Run— Gen.  Gilmore's  Operations  before 
Charleston— Captures  Morris  Island— Opens  fire  on  Fort  Symter  and  Charleston— Movements  of  Gen.  Banks  in  Texas- 
Operations  in  Missouri  and  Arkansas— Operations  against  the  Indians  in  Minnesota— Desolations  by  the  Armies. 

ON  the  18th  of  October,  Gen.  Grant  having        The  Department  of  Ohio  had  comprised  the 
arrived  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  assumed  command    States    of  .Ohio,   Michigan,   Indiana,   Illinois, 

f\-P    *V,  «.     «.          -.,-,*;  ,1    .  J-  „  /I     T~\ A«4.A     «J?     HP TTT J ~TT! •_  •  T        TT  i  i 


of  the  consolidated  Departments  of  Tennessee, 
Cumberland,  and  Ohio,  by  order  of  the  President. 
30 


"Western  Virginia,  and  Kentucky,  east  of  the 
Tennessee  River,  including  Cumberland  Gap, 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  EISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


with  the  headquarters  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
That  of  the  Cumberland  had  comprised  the 
portion  of  the  State  of  Tennessee  east  of  the 
Tennessee  Eiver,  and  such  parts  of  Northern 
Alabama  and  Georgia  as  may  be  taken  pos- 
session of  by  the  United  States  troops,  with 
headquarters  in  the  field.  That  of  Tennessee 
had  comprised  Cairo,  Illinois;  Forts  Henry 
and  Donelson,  Tennessee ;  Northern  Missis- 
sippi, and  the  portions  of  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee west  of  the  Tennessee  Eiver,  with  head- 
quarters in  the  field. 

Major-Gen.  G.  H.  Thomas  was  placed  in  the 
immediate  command  of  the  Department  of  the 
Cumberland,  and  Maj.-Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman  in 
that  of  the  Department  of  Tennessee.  Gen. 
Eosecrans  was  relieved.  Gens.  McCook  and 
Crittenden  were  ordered  to  Cincinnati,  and 
their  corps  consolidated  into  one. 

At  this  time  the  army  was  at  Chattanooga, 
which  is  situated  in  a  bend  of  the  Tennessee 
Eiver.  The  flanks  rested  on  its  banks — the 
right  at  Chattanooga  Creek,  near  the  base  of 
Lookout  Mountain,  and  the  left  at  Citico  Creek. 
The  picket  lines  followed  these  two  creeks  for 
a  distance,  and  then  passed  across  the  low 
grounds  between,  which  lie  also  between  the 
foot  of  Missionary  Eidge  and  the  high  grounds 
about  the  town  upon  which  the  defensive 
works  were  constructed.  These  works  were 
connected  by  a  strong  line  of  rifle-pits.  Be- 
hind this  line  and  around  the  town  the  greater 
portion  of  the  army  was  bivouacked,  for  very 
little  camp  equipage  was  to  be  had.  This  was 
the  only  point  held  by  a  Federal  force  south  of 
the  river,  while  the  north  side  was  occupied 
entire  with  troops  stationed  to  guard  the  points 
above.  The  base  of  the  army  at  Chattanooga 
was  at  Stevenson  and  Bridgeport,  and  was  sup- 
plied from  depots  at  Louisville  and  Nashville, 
by  a  single  track  of  railroad.  The  south  side 
of  the  river  from  Lookout  Mountain  to  Bridge- 
port was  in  possession 'of  the  enemy,  and  the 
river  road  on  the  north  side  was  rendered  im- 
passable by  their  sharpshooters  stationed  on 
the  opposite  bank.  It  was  thus  necessary  to 
bring  all  supplies  to  the  army  over  a  distance 
of  fifty  or  sixty  miles,  taking  the  road  from 
Bridgeport  up  the  Sequatchie  valley,  over  the 
mountains  into  the  Anderson  road,  thence  to 
Chattanooga.  The  Tennessee  was  crossed  by 
pontoon  bridges,  constructed  from  such  mate- 
rials as  the  forest  and  the  town  could  afford. 
The  storms  rendered  the  roads  nearly  impass- 
able, and  the  army  was  in  danger  of  star- 
vation. 

Gen.  Hooker  had  arrived  at  Bridgeport  with 
the  Eleventh  and  a  portion  of  the  Twelfth  corps, 
and  Gen.  Sherman  was  on  the  route  from  Mem- 
phis. The  first  movement  was  to  open  the 
river,  and  secure  a  shorter  land  communication* 
with  the  base.  For  this  purpose  the  boats  for 
a  new  pontoon  bridge  were  filled  with  armed 
men  at  Chattanooga,  and  floated  down  in  the 
night  past  Lookout  Point,  to  a  place  known  as 
Brown's  Ferry,  where  they  landed  on  the  south 


side  of  the  river,  and  took  possession  of  two 
hills,  after  only  a  slight  skirmish  with  the  picket 
at  the  point  of  landing,  and  a  feeble  resistance 
from  a  brigade  of  infantry  and  regiment  of  cav- 
alry stationed  in  the  valley  beyond  the  hills. 
The  boats  then  crossed  the  river,  and  brought 
over  more  troops  to  hold  possession,  by  whom 
a  bridge  was  immediately  constructed,  about 
nine  hundred  feet  in  length,  in  five  hours.  The 
distance  between  this  bridge  and*  the  one  at 
Chattanooga  was  one  and  a  half  mile  by  land, 
and  about  eight  miles  by  water.  On  the  next 
day  Gen.  Hooker  crossed  the  river  at  Bridge- 
port, and  moved  up,  uniting  with  the  force  at 
Brown's  Ferry.  This  opened  the  river,  the 
road  to  Kelly's  Ferry,  and  the  direct  road  to 
Bridgeport,  as  well  as  the  river  road  on  the 
north  side  around  the  bend.  This  successful 
movement  is  thus  explained  by  a  spectator  in 
the  camp  of  the  enemy : 

The  enemy  were  several  miles  distant,  and  the 
smoke  of  their  bivouac  fires  resting  above  the  tree 
tops  indicated  a  halt.  Subsequently  the  column  re- 
sumed its  motion,  and  during  the  afternoon  the  long, 
dark,  thread-like  line  of  troops  became  visible,  slowly 
wending  their  way  in  the  direction  of  Chattanooga. 
On  Lookout  Peak,  gazing  down  upon  the  singular 
spectacle — a  coup  d  ceil  which  embraced  in  curious 
contrast  the  beauties  of  nature  and  the  achievements 
of  art,  the  blessings  of  peace  and  the  horrors  of  war — 
were  Gens.  Bragg,  Longstreet,  and  others,  to  whom 
this  bold  venture  of  the  enemy  opened  at  once  new 
vistas  of  thought  and  action.  Infantry,  artillery,  and 
cavalry,  all  glided  silently  by,  like  a  procession  of 
fantodni  in  a  panorama,  until,  among  all  the  "sun- 
down's sumptuous  pictures"  which  glowed  around 
us,  there  was  not  one  like  that  of  the  great,  fresh, 
bustling  camp,  suddenly  grown  into  view,  with  its 
thousand  twinkling  lights,  its  groups  of  men%nd  ani- 
mals, and  its  lines  of  white-topped  wagons,  now 
strung  like  a  necklace  of  pearls  around  the  bosom 
of  the  hills.  The  Federals  had  succeeded  in  effecting 
a  junction  wjth  the  army  of  Chattanooga. 

The  question  which  naturally  arises  is,  why  did  not 
Gen.  Bragg  throw  his  army  in  front  of  the  advancing 
columns  and  check  the  movement?  The  answer  is 
in  the  shape  of  one  of  those  stolid  facts  which  even 
strategy  cannot  always  stir.  On  Monday  night  Gen. 
Thomas — or  perhaps  Grant,  for  he  is  now  in  Chatta- 
nooga— crossed  a  force  of  six  thousand  men,  first 
over  the  Tennessee  at  the  edge  of  the  town,  then  over 
the  neck  of  land  known  as  the  Moccasin,  and  finally 
over  the  river  again  at  Brown's  Ferry,  in  rear  of 
Chattanooga,  where,  after  a  brief  skirmish  with  one 
of  our  regiments,  they  took  possession  of  the  hills 
and  commenced  the  work  of  fortification.  Simulta- 
neously with  this  movement,  a  column  at  Bridge- 
port, consisting  of  the  Eleventh  corps,  Gen.  How- 
ard, and  Twelfth  corps,  Gen.  Slocum,  the  whole 
under  command  of  Gen.  Joe  Hooker,  started  up  the 
valley. 

Under  these  circumstances,  an  interposition  of  our 
forces  across  the  valley  would  in  the  first  place  have 
required  the  transfer  of  a  considerable  portion  of  our 
army  from  the  east  to  the  west  side  of  Lookout  Moun- 
tain, thereby  weakening  our  line  in  front  of  Chatta- 
nooga, while  the  enemy  reserved  his  strength  ;  sec- 
ondly, it  would  have  necessitated  a  fight  on  both  our 
front  and  rear,  with  the  flanks  of  the  Federals  pro- 
tected by  the  mountains;  and  finally,  had  we  been 
successful,  a  victory  would  only  have  demoralized 
two  corps  of  the  Yankee  army,  without  at  all  influ- 
encing the  direct  issue  involved  in  the  present  in- 
vestment of  Chattanooga. 

Gen.  Longstreet,  however,  who  from  the  peak  had 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


467 


carefully  watched  the  march  of  the  eleventh  corps,  de- 
termined to  make  an  attack  for  another  purpose— name- 
ly, to  capture,  if  possible,  a  large  park  of  wagons  and 
its  escort,  numbering,  as  was  supposed,  from  fifteen 
hundred  to  two  thousand  men,  who  still  remained  ,in 
the  rear. 

The  attack  thus  proposed  was  made  during 
the  night,  and  the  result  was  that,  at  five  o'clock 
the  next  morning,  the  enemy  had  abandoned 
the  entire  country  west  of  Lookout  creek. 
These  operations  saved  the  army  from  starva- 
tion, for  the  situation  of  affairs  was  such,  that 
Chattanooga  must  be  held  at  all  hazards. 

A  steamboat  had  been  built  and  another 
had  been  captured.  The  latter  was  now  loaded 
with  two  hundred  thousand  rations.  It  ran 
the  blockade  of  Lookout  mountain,  and  ar- 
rived safely  at  'Brown's  Ferry.  The  point  of 
Lookout  mountain  between  Chattanooga  and 
Lookout  creek  was  still  held  by  pickets  and 
an  infantry  force  of  the  enemy,  while  their  bat- 
teries on  the  top  commanded  some  distance 
each  way.  The  steamboat  passed  to  the  pon- 
toon bridge  ground  until  the  battle  of  Mission- 
ary ridge,  thus  covering  the  line  of  communica- 
tion, and  then  in  connection  with  the  other  boat 
ran  regularly  to  Kelly's  Ferry  from  Bridgeport, 
reducing  the  wagon  transportation  to  ten  miles 
over  good  roads.  An  interior  line  of  defence, 
sufficient  to  hold  Chattanooga  with  a  small 
force,  was  now  constructed,  and  the  plans  were 
matured  for  accomplishing  the  main  object  of 
the  campaign,  which  was  the  clearing  of  East 
Tennessee  of  the  enemy. 

When  Gen.  Sherman  reached  the  vicinity  of 
Bridgeport  with  his*  corps,  Gen.  Longstreet  had 
been  detached  with  his  command  from  the  ar- 
my of  Gen.  Bragg,  and  sent  on  an  expedition 
against  Knoxville.  This  weakened  Gen.  Bragg 
and  exposed  Gen.  Burnside  to  danger.  The 
plan  therefore  adopted  by  Gen.  Grant  was  to 
attack  Gen.  Bragg,  and  to  follow  it  by  a  move- 
ment in  the  rear  of  Gen.  Longstreet.  The 
forces  of  Gen.  Bragg  held  Missionary  ridge, 
the  Chattanooga  valley,  and  Lookout  mountain, 
with  their  left  resting  on  the  latter,  and  their 
right  on  the  ridge  near  the  tunnel  of  the  Knox- 
ville and  Chattanooga  railroad.  Their  pickets 
occupied  the  south  bank  of  the  Tennessee  river 
for  miles  above,  and  their  supplies  were  brought 
by  the  railroad  from  Atlanta  and  Dalton.  The 
mass  of  Gen.  Bragg's  force  was  in  the  Chatta- 
nooga valley,  between  Lookout  mountain  and 
Missionary  ridge,  and  on  that  si  ope  of  Lookout, 
thus  being  very  nearly  on  his  centre.  The 
ridge  was  heavily  posted  with  artillery.  The 
plan  adopted  by  Gen.  Grant  for  the  attack,  and 
the  manner  in  which  it  was  executed,  were  thus 
described  by  a  spectator  :  "  A  division  of  Gen. 
Sherman's  troops  were  to  be  sent  to  Trenton, 
threatening  the  enemy's  left  flank.  Under 
cover  of  this  movement,  Gen.  Sherman's  main 
body  was  to  march  up  by  Gen.  Hooker's  lines, 
crossing  the  Brown's  Ferry  bridge  mostly  at 
night,  thence  into  a  concealed  camp  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  opposite  South  Chick- 
amauga  creek.  One  division  was  directed  to 


encamp  on  the  North  Chickamauga ;  about 
120  pontoons  were  to  be  taken  under  cover 
of  hills  and  woods,  and  launched  into  the 
North  Chickamauga ;  these  were  to  be  filled 
with  men,  to  be  floated  out  into  the  Ten- 
nessee and  down  it,  until  opposite  the  South 
Chickamauga  (about  three  miles  below),  to 
effect  a  landing  on  that  bank,  and  throw  up 
works ;  the  remainder  of  the  command  were  to 
be  taken  across  in  the  same  boats,  or  a  portion 
of  them ;  the  Tennessee  and  South  Chicka- 
mauga were  to  be  bridged,  and  then  the  artil- 
lery crossed  and  moved  at  once  to  seize  a  foot- 
hold on  the  ridge,  taking  up  a  line  facing  the 
enemy's  right  flank  near  the  tunnel.  Gen. 
Howard's  corps  of  Gen.  Hooker's  command 
was  to  cross  into  the  town  by  the  two  bridges, 
and  fill  the  gap  hetween  Gen.  Sherman's  pro- 
posed position  and  the  main  body  of  Gen. 
Thomas's  army.  Gen.  Hooker,  with  the  re- 
mainder of  his  force  and  the  division  sent  to 
Trenton,  which  should  return,  were  to  carry 
the  point  of  Lookout,  and  then  threaten  the 
enemy's  left,  which  would  thus  be  thrown 
back,  being  forced  to  evacuate  the  mountain 
and  take  position  on  the  ridge  ;  and  then  the 
Federal  troops,  being  on  both  flanks,  and  upon 
one  flank  threatening  the  enemy's  communica- 
tions, were  to  advance  the  whole  line  or  turn 
the  other  flank,  as  the  chances  might  dictate. 
Then  a  part  of  the  force  was  to  follow  as  far  as 
possible,  while  Gen.  Sherman  destroyed  the 
railroad  from  Cleveland  to  Dalton,  and  then 
pushed  on  to  relieve  Knoxville,  and  capture, 
disperse,  or  drive  off  Gen.  Longstreet  from  be- 
fore it. 

"  Gen.  Smith,  chief  engineer,  took  personal 
charge  of  the  preliminaries  necessary  for  the 
move  on  the  left  flank.  The  pontoons  were 
put  in  the  Chickamauga ;  the  men  encamped ; 
the  bridge  trains  ready  to  debouch  at  the 
proper  point;  and  so  completely  was  every 
thing  arranged  that  no  confusion  whatever  oc- 
curred. Artillery  was  posted  on  the  side  of 
the  river  to  cross  fire  in  front  of  the  point  of 
landing,  and  force  the  same,  if  necessary. 

"  On  Monday,  November  24th,  an  armed  re- 
connoissance  was  made  by  Gen.  Thomas  on  his 
left,  which  developed  the  enemy's  lines  and 
gave  to  Gen.  Thomas  aline  of  battle  in  advance 
of  his  picket  lines,  at  the  same  time  allowing 
the  eleventh  corps  (Howard's)  to  come  into 
the  position  assigned  it.  At  midnight  the  men 
entered  the  pontoons,  floated  down,  and  ef- 
fected a  landing.  At  daylight  the  pontoniers 
were  at  work,  and  at  noon  the  Tennessee  river 
was  bridged  by  a  pontoon  bridge  1,400  feet 
long,  and  the  rest  of  Gen.  Sherman's  troops 
crossed  with  his  artillery.  He  then  pushed  out 
to  the  ridge  and  took  np  his  position,  and  Gen. 
Howard  communicated  with  him,  his  force 
having  marched  to  its  place.  Gen.  Hooker's 
forces  formed  a  line  of  battle  running  up  and 
down  the  side  of  the  mountain  and  sweeping 
around  the  point,  and,  at  night  of  the  samo 
day  (the  24th),  held  what  he  had  gained  and 


468 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


communicated  with  Gen.  Thomas's  right.  That 
night  the  enemy  evacuated  Lookout  Mountain 
top,  and  fell  back  from  his  front  to  the  ridge. 
Thus,  on  Tuesday  night,  Gen.  Bragg  was  threat- 
ened on  both  flanks,  and  with  a  heavy  line  of 
battle  in  his  front.  It  was  difficult  for  him  to 
determine  what  the  Federal  move  would  be. 
His  railroad  must  be  held  at  all  hazards  from 
Gen.  Sherman.  The  amount  of  Gen.  Hooker's 
force  he  could  distinctly  see.  He  reenforced 
his  right  very  heavily,  leaving  enough  to  hold 
his  left  and  front,  as  he  supposed.  On  the 
25th,  Wednesday,  Gen.  Sherman  commenced 
to  move.  Two  hills  were  taken.  From  the 
third  he  was  several  times  repulsed,  and  he 
moved  around  more  force,  as  if  to  get  in  rear 
of  Gen.  Bragg's  line,  and  the  latter  then  com- 
menced massing  against  him.  The  critical  mo- 
ment had  now  arrived.  Gen.  Hooker  moved 
his  columns  along  the  Eossville  road  toward 
Gen.  Bragg's  left,  and  this  drew  still  more  force 
from  the  latter's  centre. 

"  General  Grant  now  ordered  Gen.  Thomas 
to  advance  and  take  the  rifle-pits  at  the  base 
of  the  mountain.  The  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land, remembering  Chickamauga  and  impatient 
by  reason  of  remaining  spectators  of  the  opera- 
tions of  Gens.  Sherman  and  Hooker  for  two 
days,  went  forward  with  a  will;  drove  the 
enemy  in  disorder  from  his  lower  works ;  and 
went  on,  heedless  of  the  heavy  artillery  and 
musketry  hurled  against  them  from  the  crest 
of  the  ridge.  Half-way  up  they  seemed  to 
falter,  but  it  was  only  for  breath.  Without 
returning  a  shot  they  kept  on,  crowned  the 
ridge,  captured  thirty-five  out  of  the  forty-four 
pieces  of  artillery  on  the  hill,  turned  some  of 
them  against  the  masses  in  Gen.  Sherman's 
front,  and  the  routed  line  fell  back,  while  the 
rest  of  Gen.  Bragg's  army,  including  Bragg  and 
Hardee,  fled,  routed  and  broken,  toward  King- 
gold.  Thousands  of  prisoners  and  small  arms 
and  quantities  of  munitions  of  war  were  taken. 
Gen.  Hooker  took  up  the  pursuit,  and  that 
night  Mission  Eidge  blazed  resplendent  with 
Union  camp-fires.  The  next  day  Gen.  Hooker 
pushed  the  enemy  to  Einggold,  where  he  made 
a  show  of  stubborn  resistance,  but  was  forced 
to  retire.  Gens.  Sherman  and  Howard  pushed 
for  the  railroad,  which  they  smashed  com- 
pletely. About  sixty  pieces  of  artillery  and.  a 
thousand  prisoners  were  captured."  When  the 
attack  was  planned,  orders  were  sent  to  Gen. 
Burnside  to  lure  Gen.  Longstreet  as  far  away 
as  possible,  and  fall  back  to  a  position  where 
he  could  stand  a  siege  and  subsist  from  the 
country.  Some  skirmishes  with  the  enemy 
still  in  East  Tennessee,  had  previously  taken 
place.  On  the  21st  of  September,  one  occur- 
red between  Col.  Foster  and  a  body  of  the  en- 
emy near  Bristol,  and  on  the  10th  and  llth  of 
October  a  sharp  engagement  took  place  at 
Blue  Springs.  The  enemy  was  defeated  with 
a  heavy  loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty  prisoners.  The  Federal  loss 
was  about  one  hundred.  Subsequently  Gen.  S. 


Jones,  who  had  held  a  threatening  position 
with  a  small  force  of  the  enemy  near  the  Vir- 
ginia line,  moved  down  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Holston  river  to  Eogersville,  with  some 
three  thousand  five  hundred  cavalry,  and  sur- 
prised the  garrison  at  that  place,  and  captured 
four  pieces  of  artillery,  thirty-six  wagons,  and 
six  hundred  and  fifty  men. 

Previous  to  the  advance  of  Gen.  Longstreet 
into  East  Tennessee,  Gen.  Burnside  had  occu- 
pied Philadelphia,  and  other  points  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Holston  river  with  small  gar- 
risons. Some  of  these  forces  were  surprised 
and»  six  or  seven  guns  captured,  with  forty 
wagons,  and  between  six  and  seven  hundred 
prisoners.  The  remainder  retreated  to  Lou- 
don.  Upon  receiving  the  orders  from  Gen. 
Grant,  Gen.  Burnside  moved  from  Knoxville 
toward  Loudon,  to  meet  Gen.  Longstreet.  The 
latter  placed  his  main  force  on  the  north  side 
of  the  river  Holston,  but  sent  his  cavalry  up 
the  south  side,  expecting  that  it  would  slip 
into  Znoxville  during  Gen.  Burnside's  absence, 
and  thus  compel  him  to  make  a  flank  retreat. 
But  the  cavalry  of  Gen.  Burnside  was  also  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Holston  with  a  small  force 
of  infantry,  and  they  fell  back  into  the  works, 
thus  covering  the  town  on  that  side.  Gen. 
Burnside  also  fell  back  to  Campbell's  Station, 
and  made  a  stand.  A  contest  ensued  for  sev- 
eral hours  in  which  Gen.  Longstreet  was  re- 
pulsed. Gen.  Burnside  then  withdrew  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Knoxville,  and  fortified  his 
position.  Gen.  Longstreet  then  came  up  and 
commenced  a  siege.  Knoxvitte  was  surrounded 
by  Gen.  Longstreet  on  the  17th  and  18th  of 
November.  A  constant  fire  was  kept  up  on 
the  line  of  Gen.  Burnside  until  the  evening  of 
the  28th,  when  an  attack  was  proposed  on  a 
small  fort  mounting  six  guns,  on  a  hill  near  the 
town,  and  commanding  the  approaches  to  it  on 
that  side  of  the  river.  The  fort  was  occupied 
by  the  29th  Massachusetts,  the  79th  New  York 
and  two  companies  of  the  2d,  and  one  of  the 
20th  Michigan.  On  its  front  and  flanks  was 
once  a  thick  field  of  pines,  which  had  been  cut 
down  with  the  tops  falling  in  all  directions, 
making  an  almost  impassable  mass  of  brush 
and  timber.  A  space  around  the  fort  was 
cleared.  The  ditch  in  front  was  about  ten 
feet  deep,  and  parapet  nearly  twenty  feet  high. 
The  assault  was  made  near  daylight,  on  the 
29th,  by  the  Confederate  brigades  of  Gens. 
Bryan  and  Humphrey,  with  a  party  from  Wol- 
ford's.  The  enemy  advanced  in  three  lines  and 
made  the  attack  fiercely,  but  all  attempts  to 
scale  the  sides  of  the  fort  failed,  and  they  were 
finally  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  two  hundred 
killed  and  wounded,  and  several  hundred  made 
prisoners.  Meantime  the  force  of  Gen.  Burn- 
side  was  closely  pressed,  and  provisions  became 
so  scarce,  that  his  troops  were  put  on  half  ra- 
tions of  bread. 

After  the  'battle  of  Chattanooga,  the  pur- 
suit of  "the  enemy  was  discontinued  through 
want  of  strong  animals  to  draw  the  artillery 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION.  469 


470 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


and  supply  trains ;  but  Gen.  Sherman  being  re- 
enforced  by  the  eleventh  corps,  and  a  part  of 
the  fourth,  commenced  his  march  for  Knoxville. 
Five  miles  above  Loudon  at  Davis's  Ford,  the 
eleventh  corps  crossed  the  Little  Tennessee, 
%and  at  Morgantown  seven  miles  further  up,  the 
fourth  and  his  own  corps  crossed.  The  eleventh 
moved  on  the  next  day  to  Louisville,  a  distance 
of  thirty-one  miles.  The  other  troops  moved 
to  Marysville.  All  were  on  the  south  side  of 
the  Holston.  On  the  night  of  December  3d, 
the  cavalry  of  Gen.  Sherman  reached  Knox- 
ville.  This  movement  turned  the  flank  of  Gen. 
Longstreet,  and  he  raised  the  siege  and  re- 
treated toward  Eutledge  on  that  night.  On 
the  next  day,  the  fourth  arrived  at  Knoxville, 
and  in  conjunction  with  Gen.  Burnside's  forces 
immediately  commenced  a  pursuit.  Gen.  Long- 
street  fell  back  into  the  border  of  Virginia,  and 
took  a  strong  position.  Gen.  Burnside  was  sub- 
sequently relieved  from  the  command  of  the  De- 
partment of  the  Ohio  at  his  own  urgent  request, 
and  Gen.  Foster  assigned  to  its  command. 

It  was  during  this  siege  that  Gen.  Averill 
advanced  from  Western  Virginia,  and  cut  the 
communications  of  Gen.  Longstreet,  as  here- 
atfer  stated. 

The  other  military  operations  of  the  year 
1863,  were,  with  the  exception  of  the  attack 
on  Charleston,  of  a  less  conspicuous  and  im- 
portant character.  Some  of  them,  however, , 
were  designed  to  be  made  in  cooperation  with 
the  principal  movements  above  stated. 

Upon  the  departure  of  Gen.  Longstreet's 
corps  to  reenforce  Gen.  Bragg,  the  remainder 
of  Gen.  Lee's  army  near  Orange  Court  House, 
in  Virginia,  assumed  a  threatening  attitude 
against  Gen.  Meade,  and  manoeuvred  to  turn 
his  left  flank  while  at  Culpepper  Court  House. 
At  this  time  Gen.  Hooker  had  left  with  nearly 
two  corps  to  reenforce  Gen.  Rosecrans  in  Ten- 
nessee. The  forward  movement  on  the  part 
of  the  Confederate  army  commenced  on  Thurs- 
day, October  8th,  when  Gens.  Anderson  and 
Heth  moved  their  divisions  from  the  vicinity 
of  Peyton's  Ford  and  Rapidan  Bridge,  up  to 
and  beyond  Orange  Court  House.  On  Friday 
morning  Gen.  Wilcox's  brigade  moved  from 
Barnett's  Ford,  and  forming  the  rear  of  Lieut.- 
Gen.  A.  P.  Hill's  column,  the  troops  proceeded 
to  Madison  Court  House.  At  the  same  time, 
the  corps  of  General  Ewell  followed,  consist- 
ing of  the  divisions  of  Gens.  Rhodes,  Johnson, 
and  Early.  Meanwhile  a  show  of  force  was 
still  kept  up  in  front  of  Gen.  Meade  on  the 
Rapidan,  by  burning  heavy  camp  fires,  and 
maintaining  the  regular  picket  force  in  front. 
In  the  afternoon  Gen.  Stuart's  cavalry  began 
to  advance,  keeping  on  the  right  of  the  infan- 
try, and  rested  at  night  near  Madison  Court 
House.  On  Saturday,  the  10th,  the  infantry 
crossed  the  Robinson  river  near  Criglersville, 
and  soon  after  a  skirmish  took  place  between 
Gen.  Stuart  and  a  body  of  New  York  infantry, 
in  which  many  of  the  latter  were  made  pris- 
oners. 


Gen.  Meade  was  now  aware  of  the  object  of 
the  enemy,  and  by  Saturday  night  his  whole 
force  had  left  Culpepper  and  was  falling  back. 
His  march  was  along  the  line  of  the  railroad 
running  from  Alexandria.  The  enemy  were 
encountered  at  times,  and  occasionally  skir- 
mishing ensued,  but  a  general  engagement  was 
avoided. 

On  the  llth  the  main  body  of  Gen.  Lee's 
army  reached  Culpepper,  and  were  compelled 
to  halt  during  the  day  to  furnish  provision  to 
the  troops.  On  his  advance  Gen.  Lee  had  left 
Gen.  Fitz  Lee  with  his  division  of  cavalry  and 
a  detachment  of  infantry  to  hold  his  lines  south 
of  the  Rapidan.  This  force  was  attacked  by 
Gen.  Buford  on  Saturday,  and  a  sharp  skirmish 
ensued ;  but  the  enemy  being  reenforced  by 
Gen.  Stuart's  troops,  Gen.  Buford  fell  back 
across  the  Rappahannock. 

On  the  12th  Gen.  Lee  advanced  in  two  col- 
umns, with  the  design  of  reaching  the  Orange 
and  Alexandria  railroad  north  of  the  river, 
and  intercepting  the  retreat  of  Gen.  Meade.  A 
cavalry  skirmish  occurred  at  Jeffersonton,  but 
the  Rappahannock  at  Warrenton  Springs  was 
reached  that  afternoon,  when  the  passage  was 
disputed  by  Federal  cavalry  and  artillery. 
Upon  the  advance  of  a  Confederate  force 
these  troops  fell  back. 

On  Tuesday  morning,  the  13th,  the  march 
was  resumed,  and  the  two  columns  reunited 
at  "Warrenton  in  the  afternoon,  and  halted. 
On  the  next  morning  the  advance  of  Gen.  Lee 
was  continued,  a  portion  of  his  army  moving 
by  way  of  New  Baltimore  toward  Bristoe's 
Station,  and  the  rest,  accompanied  by  the 
main  body  of  the  cavalry,  proceeding  to  the 
same  point  by  Auburn  and  Greenwich.  Near 
the  former  place  a  skirmish  took  place  be- 
tween Gen.  Ewell's  advance  and  &  body  of 
Gen.  Meade's  troops.  The  retreat  of  Gen. 
Meade  was  conducted  by  direct  parallel  roads, 
while  the  enemy  in  their  advance  were  com- 
pelled to  march  by  diiScult  and  circuitous 
routes.  They  were  thus  unable  to  intercept 
the  retreat.  The  rear  guard  of  Gen.  Moado 
consisted  of  the  second  corps,  under  Gen. 
Warren.  It  had  reached  Bristoe's  Station,  and 
about  noon  on  the  14th  it  was  suddenly  at- 
tacked by  Gen.  Hill,  who,  with  two  brigades 
of  the  enemy,  had  arrived  in  advance.  Gen. 
Warren  immediately  arranged  his  corps  for 
action,  and  a  sharp  struggle  ensued,  which 
lasted  for  some  hours,  when  the  enemy  were 
repulsed  with  a  loss  of  five  guns  and  a  large 
number  killed,  wounded,  and  four  hundred 
and  fifty  made  prisoners.  The  Federal  loss 
was  fifty-one  killed,  and  three  hundred  and 
fifty-nine  wounded.  After  remaining  in  pos- 
session of  the  field, during  the  night,  the  sec- 
ond corps  fell  back  across  Broad  Run.  Gen. 
Meade  then  fortified  his  position  beyond  Bull 
Run,  extending  his  line  toward  the  Little 
River  turnpike.  The  enemy  now  ceased  to 
advance  further.  Gen.  Meade  held  a  strong 
position,  and  if  it  could  have  been  turned  by 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


471 


the  enemy  he  could  readily  have  retired  to  the 
intrenchments  around  Washington  and  Alex- 
andria. After  destroying  the  railroad  from 
Cub  Run  southwardly  to  the  Rappahannock, 
the  enemy  retreated  on  the  18th  to  the  line  of 
that  river,  leaving  their  cavalry  in  front  of 
Gen.  Meade. 

During  the  next  day  the  cavalry  of  Gen. 
Meade  advanced,  before  whom  Gen.  Stuart 
retired,  until  an  attack  was  made  on  their 
flank,  near  Buckland,  by  Gen.  Fitz  Lee,  who 
had  moved  from  Auburn.  A  severe  action 
ensued,  and  the  enemy  advanced  nearly  to 
Haymarket  and  Gainesville,  where  the  in- 
fantry were  encountered,  and  the  former  re- 
tired. 

When  the  advance  of  Gen.  Lee  from  the 
Rapidan  commenced,  orders  were  sent  to  Gen. 
Imboden  to  advance  down  the  Shenandoah  val- 
ley and  guard  the  gaps  of  the  mountains  on  the 
Confederate  left.  Having  performed  this  duty 
he  marched  on  the  18th  upon  Oharlestown, 
and,  surrounding  the  place,  captured  nearly 
ail  of  the  force  stationed  there,  with  their 
stores  and  transportation.  Upon  an  advance 
of  the  force  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Gen.  Imboden 
retired  with  his  booty. 

Gen.  Halleck  states  the  loss  in  the  cavalry 
corps  during  these  operations  to  have  been  74 
by  casualties  and  885  missing.  Gen.  Lee  states 
that  in  the  course  of  these  operations  2,436 
prisoners  were  captured,  of  which  436  were 
taken  by  Gen.  Imboden.  The  loss  of  the  en- 
emy is  not  stated. 

On  the  7th  of  November  Gens.  Sedgwick 
and  French  attacked  the  enemy  at  Rappahan- 
nock Station  and  Kelly's  Ford,  and  captured 
several  redoubts,  four  guns,  eight  battle  flags, 
and  about  two  thousand  prisoners.  The  Fed- 
eral loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  three  hun- 
dred and  seventy. 

About  the  20th  of  November  an  advance  was 
made  by  Gen.  Meade  from  the  position  held 
at  that  time,  under  the  impression  that  Gen. 
Lee  was  either  retreating  south  from  the  Rapi- 
dan, or  was  preparing  for  a  movement  in  some 
other  quarter.  The  intention  was  to  ascertain 
the  position  of  Gen.  Lee's  forces,  and  to  bring 
on  a  contest  with  them.  Upon  this  advance 
the  enemy  fell  back  and  took  up  a  strong  posi- 
tion behind  Mine  Run,  southwest  of  Chancel- 
lorsville.  The  strength  of  the  position,  and 
the  risks  attending  an  assault,  were  such  that 
the»army  of  Gan.  Meade  withdrew  from  the 
front  of  the  enemy,  and  resumed  its  previous 
camps  around  Brandy  Station,  on  the  Orange 
and  Alexandria  railroad. 

In  West  Virginia  the  force  was  too  small 
during  the  year  to  attempt  any  important  cam- 
paign by  itself;  but  it  acted  mainly  on  the  de- 
fensive, in  repelling  raids  of  the  enemy  and 
breaking  up  bands  of  guerillas. 

When  Gen.  Lee's  army  retreated  across  the 
Potomac  in  July  last,  Brig.-Gen.  Kelly  concen- 
trated all  his  available  force  on  the  enemy's 
flank,  near  Clear  Springs,  ready  to  cooperate 


in  the  proposed  attack  by  Gen.  Meade.  They 
also  rendered  valuable  services  in  the  pursuit 
after  Gen.  Lee  had  effected  his  passage  of  tho 
river. 

On  the  24th  of  July  Col.  Toland  attacked  the 
enemy  at  Wytheville,  on  the  East  Tennessee  and 
Virginia  railroad,  capturing  two  pieces  of  artil- 
lery, 700  muskets,  and  125  prisoners.  Our  loss 
was  17  killed  and  61  wounded.  The  enemy's 
killed  and  wounded  were  reported  to  be  75. 

In  August-Gen.  Averill  attacked  a  force  of 
the  enemy  under  Gen.  Sam.  Jones,  at  Rocky 
Gap,  in  Greenbrier  county,  capturing  one  gun, 
150  prisoners,  and  killing  and  wounding  some 
200.  The  Federal  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing,  was  130. 

On  the  llth  of  September  Gen.  Imboden  at- 
tacked a  small  force  of  Federal  troops  at  Moore- 
field,  wounding  15  and  capturing  about  150. 

On  the  5th  of  November  Gen.  Averill  at- 
tacked and  defeated  the  enemy  near  Lewis- 
burg,  capturing  three  pieces  of  artillery,  100 
prisoners,  and  a  large  number  of  small  arms, 
wagons,  and  camp  equipage.  The  enemy's 
loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  estimated  at 
300. 

In  December,  Gen.  Averill,  with  the  2d,  3d, 
and  8th  Virginia  mounted  infantry,  14th  Penn- 
sylvania, Dobson's  battalion  of  cavalry,  and 
Ewing's  battery,  advanced  into  Southwestern 
Virginia,  and,  on  the  16th,  destroyed  the  Vir- 
ginia and  Tennessee  railroad  at  Salem.  At 
the  same  place  three  depots  were  destroyed, 
containing  2,000  barrels  of  flour,  10,000  bush- 
els of  wheat,  100,000  bushels  of  shelled  corn, 
50,000  bushels  of  oats,  2,000  barrels  of  meat, 
several  cords  of  leather,  1,000  sacks  of  salt,  31 
boxes  of  clothing,  20  bales  of  cotton,  a  large 
amount  of  harness,  shoes,  and  saddles,  equip- 
ments, tools,  oil,  tar,  and  various  other  stores, 
and  100  wagons.  The  telegraph  wire  was  cut, 
coiled,  and  burned  for  a  half  mile.  The  water 
station,  turn-table,  and  three  cars  were  burned, 
the  track  torn  up,  and  the  rails  heated  and  de- 
stroyed as  much  as  possible,  in  six  hours.  Five 
bridges  and  several  culverts  were  destroyed 
over  an  extent  of  fifteen  miles.  A  large  quan- 
tity of  bridge  timber  and  repairing  materials 
were  also  destroyed.  On  returning,  Gen.  Av- 
erill found  six  separate  commands  under  Gens. 
Early,  Jones,  Fitz  Lee,  Imboden,  Jackson,  and 
Echols,  arranged  in  a  line  extending  from 
Staunton  to  Newport,  on  all  the  available 
roads,  to  intercept  him.  Having  captured  a 
despatch  of  the  enemy,  by  which  their  posi- 
tions were  made  known,  Gen.  Averill  marched 
from  the  front  of  Jones  to  that  of  Jackson  dur- 
ing the  night,  crossed  the  river  and  pressed  in 
the  latter's  outposts,  and  passed  him.  In  the 
meantime,  forces  were  concentrating  upon  Gen. 
Averill  at  a  place  called  Calaghan's,  over  every 
available  road  but  one,  which  was  deemed  im- 
practicable. Over  this  one  he  crossed  the  top 
of  the  Alleghanies  with  his  command,  and  ar- 
rived at  Beverly  on  the  21st,  with  a  loss  of  six 
drowned,  four  wounded,  and  nicety  missing, 


472 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOBY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


and  having  captured  about  two  hundred  prison- 
ers and  one  hundred  and  fifty  horses. 

In  North  Carolina,  during  the  year  1863,  no 
important  operations  were  carried  on  against 
the  enemy  in  consequence  of  the  weakness  of 
the  Federal  force.  It  acted  chiefly  on  the  de- 
fensive, and  held  the  important  positions  which 
had  been  previously  captured. 

In  March  the  Confederate  general,  Pettigru, 
with  a  large  force  of  infantry  and  artillery, 
made  an  unsuccessful  demonstration  on  New- 
bern.  The  loss  of  Gen.  Foster,  in  command  of 
the  Federal  forces,  was  two  killed  and  four 
wounded.  In  April,  Gen.  Hill  laid  siege  to 
Washington,  on  the  Tar  river.  The  town  had 
only  a  small  garrison  and  was  slightly  fortified. 
Gen.  Foster,  who  was  there  at  the  time,  caused 
the  works  to  be  so  strengthened,  that  they  were 
held  until  reinforcements  arrived  from  New- 
bern  to  raise  the  siege. 

In  May  an  expedition  was  sent  against  a 
camp  of  the  enemy  at  Gum  Swamp,  which 
captured  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  prisoners 
and  military  stores.  In  July  another  expedi- 
tion was  sent  against  Rocky  Mount  on  the  Tar 
river,  which  destroyed  the  bridge  at  that  place, 
and  a  large  amount  of  property  belonging  to 
the  enemy.  No  further  operations  of  import- 
ance took  place  in  North  Carolina  during  the 
year.  The  Department  of  North  Carolina  was 
united  with  that*  of  Virginia,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Dix,  until  the  latter  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  command  of  the  Department  of 
the  East,  when  Gen.  Foster  assumed  the  com- 
mand. The  latter  was  subsequently  transferred 
to  the  Department  of  the  Ohio,  and  Gen.  B.  F. 
Butler  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  De- 
partment of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina. 

After  abandoning  the  siege  of  Washington 
hi  April,  Gen.  Hill  marched  toward  Nanse- 
mond  to  reenforce  Gen.  Longstreet,  who  was 
investing  Suffolk,  in  Southeastern  Virginia. 
Upon  failing  in  his  direct  assault  upon  the 
place,  Gen.  Longstreet  began  to  establish  bat- 
teries for  its  reduction.  The  defence  of  the 
place  was  conducted  by  Gen.  Peck,  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  Dix,  who  made  every  prepa- 
ration of  which  it  was  capable,  and  retarded 
the  construction  of  the  enemy's  works  until 
the  attempt  was  finally  abandoned.  The  Fed- 
eral loss  during  these  operations  was  forty-four 
killed,  two  hundred  and  one  wounded,  and  four- 
teen missing.  They  captured  four  hundred 
prisoners. 

About  the  20th  of  June,  while  Gen.  Lee  was 
advancing  into  Pennsylvania,  all  the  available 
forces  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Dix,  being 
about  eighteen  thousand  men,  were  moved  up 
the  York  river  and  landed  at  the  Whitehouse, 
for  the  purpose  of  threatening  Richmond,  of 
destroying  the  railroad  bridges  over  the  South 
and  North  Anna  rivers,  which  were  on  Gen. 
Lee's  line  of  communication,  and  doing  as  much 
damage  as  possible  to  the  enemy,  besides  occu- 
pying the  attention  of  a  large  body  of  his  force. 
One  of  the  bridges  over  the  South  Anna  was 


destroyed  by  an  expedition  under  Col.  Spear, 
and  the  quartermaster's  depot  at  Hanover  Sta- 
tion. On  his  return  he  brought  back  thirty- 
five  army  wagons,  seven  hundred  horses  and 
mules,  and  Gen.  Fitzhugh  Lee,  the  son  of  Gen. 
R.  E.  Lee,  as  a  prisoner.  The  other  bridge 
over  the  South  Anna  was  not  destroyed,  but 
the  railroad  track  between  it  and  Richmond 
was  torn  up  for  a  considerable  distance,  and 
the  bridge  at  Ashland  Station,  on  the  same 
road,  eleven  miles  out  of  Richmond,  was  com- 
pletely demolished  and  burned,  as  also  the  de- 
pot. After  remaining  at  the  Whitehouse  three 
days,  Gen.  Dix  received  orders  to  return  with 
his  forces  for  the  purpose  of  reenforcing  Gen. 
Meade.  At  that  time  he  had  completely  cut 
off  Gen.  Lee's  communications  with  Richmond 
by  way  of  the  two  railroads  crossing  the  South 
Anna  river,  and  had  control  of  the  whole  coun- 
try from  the  Pamunkey  to  the  Rappahannock. 

The  small  force  in  the  Department  of  the 
South  caused  a  suspension  of  active  oper- 
ations until  March,  1863.  An  attack  upon  Fort 
Sumter  and  Charleston  had  long  been  con- 
templated by  the  Navy  Department,  and  it  was 
represented  that  the  operation  of  the  ironclads 
would  be  greatly  aided  by  a  land  force  pre- 
pared to  assist  the  attack,  and  to  occupy  any 
work  reduced  by  the  navy. 

Gen.  Foster  was,  therefore,  sent  with  a,  con- 
siderable force  and  a  large  siege  equipage  to 
assist  the  naval  attack.  But  not  proving  ac- 
ceptable to  Gen.  Hunter,  then  in  command,  lie 
returned  to  North  Carolina,  leaving  his  troops 
and  siege  equipage.  The  naval  attack  on  tho 
fort  was  made  upon  April  Tth,  and  is  described 
elsewhere,  but  was  rather  unsuccessful,  and 
nothing  apparently  remained  to  be  done  by  the 
land  forces.  It  was  now  represented  by  the 
Navy  Department  that  a  second  attack  upon 
Fort  Sumter  and  Charleston  was  preparing, 
and  that  its  success  required  the  military  oc- 
cupation of  Morris  Island,  and  the  establish- 
ment of  land  batteries  on  that  island  to  assist 
in  the  reduction  of  the  fort.  As  this  was  a 
task  requiring  engineering  skill,  it  was  assign- 
ed to  Gen.  Q.  A.  Gillmore,  who  took  the  com- 
mand of  the  department.  On  the  night  of  the 
3d  of  July  he  commenced  his  advance  upon 
Charleston  by  the  movement  of  troops  to  Folly 
Island.  There  they  remained  as  secret  as  pos- 
sible, and  erected  batteries  to  cover  those  of  the 
enemy  on  the  south  ends  of  Morris  Island.  On 
the  10th  the  entire  force  which  was  required 
having  arrived,  the  batteries  opened  upon  the 
enemy,  and  when  their  guns  were  silenced  a 
charge  was  made  by  the  infantry,  who  had 
crossed  to  the  island  in  boats,  and  the  works 
captured.  A' despatch  from  Gen.  Gillmore  thus 
reports  his  movements: 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  SOUTH,         J 

In  TUB  FIELD,  MORRIS  ISLAND,  S.  C.,  July  12th,  1863.  J 
Major- General  II.  W.  Halleck,  General-in-Chief: 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  at  five  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  10th  instant  I  made  an  attack 
upon  the  enemy's  fortified  position  on  the  south  end 
of  Morris  Island,  and,  after  an  engagement  of  three 


MILITARY  AND  NAYAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


473 


hours  and  a  quarter,  captured  all  his  strongholds  upon 
that  part  of  the  island,  and  pushed  forward  my  infan- 
try to  within  six  hundred  yards  of  Fort  Wagner. 

'We  now  hold  all  the  island  except  about  one  mile  on 
the  north  end,  which  includes  Fort  Wagner  and  a  bat- 
tery on  Cumminjjjs'  Point,  mounting  at  the  present 
time  fourteen  or  fifteen  heavy  guns  in  the  aggregate. 

The  assaulting  column  was  gallantly  led  by  Brig.- 
Gen.  Strong.  It  landed  in  small  boats  under  cover  of 
my  batteries  on  Folly  Island  and  four  monitors  led 
by  Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren,  which  entered  the  main 
channel  abreast  of  Morris  Island  soon  after  our  bat- 
teries opened.  The  monitors  continued  their  fire  dur- 
ing the  day  mostly  on  Fort  Wagner. 

On  the  morning  of  the  llth  instant,  at  daybreak,  an 
effort  was  made  to  carry  Fort  Wagner  by  assault.  The 
parapet  was  gained,  but  the  supports  recoiled  under 
the  fire  to  which  they  were  exposed  and  could  not  be 
cot  up.  Our  loss  in  both  actions  will  not  vary  much 
from  one  hundred  and  fifty  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
prisoners.  We  have  taken  eleven  pieces  of  heavy  ord- 
nance and  a  large  quantity  of  camp  equipage. 

The  enemy's  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  i 
will  not  fall  short  of  two  hundred. 

Q.  A.  GILLMORE,  Brig.-Gen.  Commanding. 

The  portion  of  Morris  Island  not  yet  taken 
by  Gen.  Gillmora  was  well  fortified.  Fort 
Wagner  was  a  strong  work,  constructed  of  im- 
mense timbers  and  rafters  covered  over  with 
earth  and  sand  some  twenty  feet  thick.  Its 
distance  from  Fort  Samter  in  an  air  line  was 
about  a  mile  and  a  half,  and  four  and  a  half 
miles  from  Charleston.  On  the  part  of  the 
island  called  Cummings'  Point  was  Battery 
Gregg,  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  Fort 


missing, 


Sumter.  Morris  Island  is  about  five  mile8 
long  and  some  three  or  four  miles  wide. 
Along  the  sea  coast  is  an  irregular  ridge  made 
of  sand  heaps,  which  is  about  half  a  mile  wide, 
the  rest  of  the  island  is  low,  level,  marshy  land, 
much  of  which  is  flooded  at  high  tide.  The 
Confederate  forces  on  the  island  were  under  the 
command  of  Brig.-Gen.  Harrison,  of  Georgia ; 
Fort  Sumter,  which  stands  within  the  entrance, 
and  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  harbor,  was 
under  the  command  of  Col.  Rhett.  The  walls 
were  protected  by  tiers  of  sand  bags  in  the  in- 
side, some  twenty  feet  thick,  thus  making  an 
obstruction  of  brick  and  sand  some  twenty-six 
feet.  Fort  Moultrie  is  nearly  opposite  Sumter, 
on  the  north  side  of  tbe  harbor,  and  distant 
about  one  and  one-fourth  miles.  Up  the  har- 
bor on  the  southern  side  is  Fort  Johnson,  one 
and  one-fourth  miles  distant.  About  a  mile 
beyond,  in  the  middle  of  the  harbor,  on  the 
"  middle  ground,"  is  Fort  Ripley.  Castle  Pink- 
ney  is  in  the  same  line,  and  on  the  north  side 
of  the  harbor  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cooper  river. 
There  were,  in  addition,  numerous  batteries  at 
various  points  on  all  the  islands  and  the  front 
of  the  city,  and  also  works  facing  the  land  at- 
tack on  James  Island.  The  whole  number  of 
guns  in  position  and  afloat  for  the  defence  of 
Charleston,  was  estimated  at  three  hundred 
and  seventy-six. 
The  naval  force  under  Admiral  Dupont,  com- 


474 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


posing  tb.6  South  Atlantic  blockading  squadron, 
consisted  of  sixty-one  vessels  of  all  classes, 
mounting  three  hundred  and  ninety-six  guns. 
But  iron  clads,  carrying  in  all  about  thirty- 
four  guns,  were  expected  to  take  the  active 
part  in  the  operations  in  the  harbor. 

After  the  failure  of  the  assault  upon  Fort 
Wagner,  Gen.  Gillmore  set  to  work  to  bring  his 
heavy  guns  into  position,  not  only  for  an  at- 
tack upon  Wagner,  but  upon  all  the  works  of 
the  enemy,  and  also  to  throw  shells  into 
Charleston.  The  form  of  the  contest  now  con- 
sisted in  pushing  forward  the  siege  works  and 
annoying  the  enemy  as  much  as  possible  with 
sharpshooters  and  shells.  The  enemy  acted 
in  the  same  manner.  Fort  Johnson  night  and 
day  threw  shells,  which  burst  above  the  work- 
men in  the  trenches.  Wagner  was  kept  quiet 
by  the  ship  Ironsides  and  the  monitors,  while 
these  in  turn  were  attacked  by  the  guns  of 
Gregg  and  Sumter. 

On  the  18th  of  July,  about  twelve  heavy 
guns  were  in  position,  besides  eight  or  ten 
mortars,  within  eight  hundred  yards  of  Fort 
Wagner,  and  Gen.  Gillmore  determined  on 
making  another  attack.  It  was  commenced  at 
noon  by  Gen.  Gillmore's  batteries  and  the  fri- 
gate Ironsides;  five  monitors,  two  mortar 
schooners,  and  three  wooden  gunboats  soon 
joined  in.  The  enemy  replied  briskly  from 
Fort  Wagner,  Battery  Bee,  beyond  Cummings's 
Point,  and  the  guns  on  the  southwestern  face 
of  Fort  Sumter.  Their  fire  was  chiefly  direct- 
ed against  the  vessels,  occasionally  a  shell  was 
thrown  at  the  batteries.  Soon  after  four  o'clock 
the  fire  of  Fort  Wagner  ceased.  It  was  known 
that  one  gun  had  been  dismounted  and  another 
was  supposed  to  have  exploded.  Under  the 
impression  that  the  works  were  evacuated,  an- 
other attempt  to  occupy  them  was  determined 
upon.  For  this  purpose  two  brigades  consist- 
ing of  the  7th  Connecticut  regiment,  the  3d 
New  Hampshire,  the  9th  Maine,  the  76th  Penn- 
sylvania, and  the  48th  New  York,  under  Brig.- 
Gen.  Strong,  and  the  7th  New  Hampshire,  6th 
Connecticut,  62d  Ohio,  100th  New  York,  and 
64th  Massachusetts  (colored),  under  Col.  Put- 
nam, were  ordered  forward  from  behind  the 
sand  hills.  The  brigades  were  formed  in  line 
on  the  beach,  with  the  regiments  disposed  in 
columns,  the  colored  regiment  being  in  advance. 
This  movement  was  observed  at  Fort  Sumter, 
and  a  fire  was  opened  on  the  troops  but  with- 
out effect.  At  dark  the  order  was  given  for 
both  brigades  to  advance,  Gen.  Strong's  lead- 
ing and  Col.  Putnam's  within  supporting  dis- 
tance. The  troops  went  forward  at  quick  time 
and  in  silence,  until  the  54th  Massachusetts, 
led  by  Col.  Shaw,  was  within  two  hundred 
yards  of  the  work,  when  the  men  gave  a  fierce 
yell  and  rushed  up  the  glacis,  closely  followed 
by  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade. 

The  enemy,  hitherto  silent,  opened  upon 
them  furiously  with  grape,  canister,  and  a  con- 
tinuous fusilade  of  small  arms.  The  negroes, 
however,  plunged  on,  and  many  of  them  cross- 


ed the  ditch,  although  it  contained  four  feet  of 
water,  gaining  the  parapet.  They  were  dis- 
lodged, however,  in  a  few  minutes  with  hand 
grenades,  and  retired,  leaving  more  than  one- 
half  of  their  number,  including  their  colonel, 
dead  upon  the  field.  The  6th  Connecticut  regi- 
ment, under  Lieut.-Com.  Eodman,  was  next  in 
support  of  the  54th,  and  they  also  suffered  ter- 
ribly, being  compelled  to  retire  after  a  stub- 
born contest.  The  9th  Maine,  which  was  next 
in  line,  was  broken  up  by  the  passage  of  the  rem- 
nant of  the  repulsed  colored  regiment  through 
its  lines,  and  retired  in  confusion,  excepting 
three  companies  which  stood  their  ground.  • 

It  now  devolved  upon  the  3d  New  Hamp- 
s^iire  regiment  to  push  forward,  and,  led  by 
Gen.  Strong  and  Col.  Jackson  in  person,  they 
dashed  up  against  the  fort.  Three  companies 
gained  the  ditch,  and  wading  through  the 
water,  found  shelter  against  the  embankment. 
Here  was  the  critical  point  of  the  assault,  and 
the  second  brigade,  which  should  have  been  up 
and  ready  to  support  their  comrades  of  the  first, 
were  unaccountably  delayed.  Gen.  Strong  then 
gave  the  order  to  fall  back  and  lie  down  on  the 
glacis,  which  was  obeyed,  without  confusion. 

While  waiting  here,  exposed  to  the  heavy 
fire,  Gen.  Strong  was  wounded.  Finding  that 
the  supports  did  not  come,  Gen.  Strong  gave 
the  order  for  his  brigade  to  retire,  and  the  men 
left  the  field  in  perfect  order. 

Soon  afterward  the  other  brigades  came  on, 
and  made  up  for  their  tardiness  by  their  valor. 
Bushing  impetuously  up  the  glacis,  undeterred 
by  the  fury  of  the  enemy,  whose  fire  was  not 
intermitted,  several  of  the  regiments  succeeded 
in  crossing  the  ditch,  scaling  the  parapet,  and 
descending  into  the  fort.  Here  a  hand-to-hand 
conflict  ensued.  The  troops  fought  with  des- 
peration, and  were  able  to  drive  the  enemy 
from  one  side  of  the  work  to  seek  shelter  be- 
tween the  traverses,  while  they  held  possession 
for  something  more  than  an  hour.  This  piece 
of  gallantry  was  unfortunately  of  no  advantage. 
The  enemy  rallied,  and,  having  received  rein- 
forcements, made  a  charge  upon  them  and  ex- 
pelled them  from  their  position  by  the  force  of 
numbers.  One  of  the  regiments  engaged  in 
this  brilliant  dash  was  the  48th  New  York, 
Col.  Barton,  and  it  came  out  almost  decimated. 
The  48th  was  among  the  first  to  enter  the  fort, 
and  was  fired  upon  by  a  regiment  that  gained 
the  parapet  some  minutes  later,  under  the  sup- 
position that  it  was  the  enemy.  About  mid-  • 
night  the  order  was  given  to  retire,  and  tlie 
troops  fell  back  to  the  rifle  pits  outside  of  their 
own  works.  The  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing,  was  fifteen  hundred  and  thirty. 

Gen.  Gillmore  now  made  his  preparations  to 
bombard  both  Wagner  and  Sumter,  and  the 
city  of  Charleston. 

Meantime  a  correspondence  took  place  be- 
tween the  opposing  commanding  officers. 

Under  date  of  Headquarters  Department  of  South 
Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Florida,  Charleston,  S.  C.,  July 
4th,  1863,  Gen.  Beauregard  says  that  it  is  bis  duty,  in 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


475 


the  interests  of  humanity,  to  address  Gen.  Gillmore, 
with  a  view  of  effecting  some  understanding  as  to  the 
future  conduct  of  the  war  in  this  quarter.  And  then, 
after  alluding  to  the  expedition  set  on  foot  by  his  pre- 
decessor, Maj.-Gen.  Hunter,  to  the  Combahee  river, 
which  seized  and  carried  away  negro  slaves  off  planta- 
tions on  its  banks,  ravaged  the  plantations,  <KC.,  he 
says  he  does  not  propose  to  enter  upon  a  discussion 
touching  that  species  of  pillaging,  but  desires  to  ac- 
quaint Gen.  Gillmore  formally  that  more  than  one  plan- 
tation was  pillaged,  buildings  burned,  and  crops  de- 
stroyed— acts  which  were  not  rendered  necessary  by 
any  military  exigency. 

Then  he  takes  up  the  question  of  the  employment  of 
negroes,  and  quotes  Napoleon,  to  show  the  "  atrocious 
consequences  which  ever  resulted  in  the  employment 
of  a  merciless,  servile  race  as  soldiers  ; "  that  Napoleon 
refused  to  employ  the  serfs  in  his  campaign  against 
Russia,  because  he  dreaded  the  results  of  a  civil  or  in- 
testine war.  He  characterizes  all  who  call  to  their  aid 
such  material,  in  the  language  of  the  publicists,  as 
barbarians,  &c.  In  conclusion,  he  asks  whether  the 
acts  which  resulted  in  the  burning  of  the  villages  of 
Darien,  Ga.,  and  Bluffton,  and  the  ravages  on  the 
Combahee,  are  regarded  by  Gen.  Gillmore  as  legitimate 
measures  of  war,  which  he  will  feel  authorized  to  resort 
to  hereafter. 

Gen.  Gillmore  addresses  Gen.  Beauregard  from  Mor- 
ris Island,  under  date  of  July  18th.  He  states  that,  while 
he  and  his  Government  will  scrupulously  endeavor  to 
conduct  the  war  upon  principles  established  by  usage 
among  civilized  nations,  he  shall  expect  from  the  com- 
manding general  opposed  to  him  full  compliance  with 
the  same  rules,  in  their  unrestricted  application  to  all 
the  forces  under  his  command. 

Gen.  Beauregard,  under  the  date  of  July  22d,  1863, 
says  he  is  at  a  loss  to  perceive  the  necessity  for  the  re- 
mark that  Gen.  Gillmore  will  expect  from  him  "  full 
compliance  with  the  same  rules  established  by  usages 
of  civilized  nations,  &c.,  in  their  unrestricted  applica- 
tion to  all  his  forces,"  inasmuch  as  he  is  wholly  una- 
ware that  any  departure  from  the  same  has  ever  been 
alleged  on  his  part,  or  by  any  of  his  troops,  from  the 
established  laws  and  usages  between  civilized  peoples; 
and  then  he  calls  for  more  specific  charges. 

In  reply  to  Gen.  Beauregard's  despatch  of  the  22d 
ultimo,  Gen.  Gillmore,  on  the  oth  of  August,  after  noti- 
cing the  remark  of  Gen.  Beauregard  that  he  was  at  a 
loss  to  perceive  the  necessity  for  his  statement  that  he 
(Gen.  G.)  should  expect  a  full  compliance  on  his  (Gen. 
B.'s)  part  with  the  same  rules,  Ac.,  in  their  unrestrict- 
ed application  to  all  the  forces  under  his  command, 
states  that  he  considered  his  remarks  as  pertinent  and 
proper  at  the  time.  Events,  he  adds,  since  transpired, 
show  them  to  have  been  eminently  so.  In  proof  he 
quotes  the  circumstances  of  agreement  for  mutual  pa- 
roling and  returning  to  their  respective  commands 
the  wounded  prisoners  in  our  hands.  "  You  declined," 
Gen.  Gillmore  goes  on  to  say,  "  to  return  the  wounded 
officers  and  men  belonging  to  my  colored  regiments, 
and  your  subordinate  m  charge  of  the  exchange  as- 
serted that  the  question  had  been  left  for  after  consider- 
ation." He  could  but  regard  this  transaction  as  a  pal- 
pable breach  of  faith  on  Gen.  Beauregard's  part,  and 
a  flagrant  violation  of  Gen.  B.'s  pledges  as  an  officer. 

The  first  works  erected  by  Gen.  Gillmore  af- 
ter taking  possession  of  Morris  Island,  were  the 
construction  of  parallels.  These  extended  from 
the  beach  on  the  right  to  the  marsh  on  the  left. 
The  first  was  distant  from  Fort  Wagner  one 
thousand  two  hundred  yards.  The  second,  and 
principal  one,  was  so  constructed  that  its  left 
was  «ix  hundred  and  seven  yards  from  Wag- 
ner, and  its  right  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
yards.  The  third  was  four  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  yards  from  WagMer.  jThe  parallels  were 
built  in  an  oblong  direction'  with  the  length  of 


the  island,  having  the  highest  points  resting  on 
the  marsh.  The  rifle  pits  forming  the  founda- 
tion of  the  first  parallel  were  thrown  up  shortly 
after  the  troops  gained  possession  of  the  lower 
part  of  the  island.  These  pits  were  thrown  up 
in  a  single  night,  and  used  first  in  the  attack 
on  Fort  Wagner,  on  July  18th.  The  interstices 
were  subsequently  filled,  and  the  first  parallel 
constructed.  It  was  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  yards.  The  length  of  the  second  parallel 
was  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  yards. 
The  siege  guns  used  for  the  offensive  were 
mounted  in  the  rear  of  this  parallel.  Its  dis- 
tance from  Fort  Sumter  was  three  thousand 
three  hundred  and  fifty  yards.  The  third 
parallel  was  one  hundred  yards  in  length. 
On  the  left  of  the  parallels  earthworks  were 
constructed,  containing  guns  of  heavy  caliber. 
Their  mean  distance  from  Fort-  Surnter  was 
four  thousand  one  hundred  yards.  Still  farther 
to  the  left,  on  the  marsh,  another  earthwork 
was  constructed  facing  Fort  Sumter.  On  this 
was  mounted  a  gun  called  "Swamp  Angel." 
The  "  Marsh  "  is  a  vast  growth  of  cane,  border- 
ing on  Light  House  Inlet  and  Morris  Island, 
directly  facing  James  Island,  which  runs  par- 
allel with  Morris  Island.  It  is  about  a  mile  wide, 
and  borders  the  island  nearly  its  whole  length. 
At  low  tide  it  is  dry,  but  at  high  water  there  is 
about  four  feet  of  water  over  its  whole  extent. 
Scows  were  procured  and  loaded  with  bags  of 
sand,  and  at  every  tide  floated  into  the  marsh, 
and  piled  on  the  selected  spot.  They  sank 
down  in  their  watery  bed  and  rapidly  disap- 
peared, but  the  process  was  still  continued  with 
each  renewing  tide,  until  an  immense  bank, 
towering  six  feet  above  the  tops  of  the  canes, 
was  visible.  Strong  traverses  were  erected, 
and  after  due  time  given  for  it  to  settle,  the 
gun  was  placed  on  one  of  the  scows,  and  floated 
through  the  canes  at  high  tide  to  the  site  of  the 
battery,  where  it  was  moored  and  soon  mount- 
ed, the  work  having  all  been  done  at  night,  it 
being  in  full  view  of  Fort  Johnson  and  James 
Island  batteries. 

On  the  night  of  August  13th,  the  Federal 
works  were  advanced  within  four  hundred  and 
twenty  yards  of  Wagner,  without  any  suspi- 
cion of  the  enemy.  Soon  after  daylight,  a  fire 
was  opened  from  Wagner,  Gregg,  and  Sumter, 
which  continued  for  two  hours,  and  answered 
with  great  vigor  from  the  Federal  batteries. 
On  the  15th  all  the  forts  of  the  enemy  from 
Johnson  Island,  on  the  left,  to  Fort  Wagner,  on 
the  right,  opened  fire,  and  continued  it  at  in- 
tervals of  fifteen  minutes.  For  the  first  time 
fire  was  opened  upon  Fort  Sumter  by  the  Fed- 
eral batteries.  A  200-pounder  Parrott  was 
brought  to  bear  on  the  fort,  for  the  purpose  of 
testing  the  powder  to  be  used  in  these  guns. 
Seven  shots  were  fired,  a  distance  of  two  and 
five-eighth  miles ,  the  first  three  fell  short,  but 
of  the  remaining  four,  two  went  directly 
through  the  gorge  wall,  a  short  distance  above 
the  sally  port,  and  two  struck  the  parapet,  and 
sent  an  immense  amount  of  brick  and  mortar 


476 


-MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


into  the  ditch  and  into  the  fort.  The  solid  shot, 
which  went  through,  made  holes  from  four  to 
five  feet  in  diameter. 

On  the  morning  of  August  17th,  Gen.  Gill- 
more,  having  completed  his  batteries,  which 
numbered  about  sixty  pieces,  and  obtained  the 
range,  his  guns  opened  fire  upon  Fort  Sumter. 
The  fleet  consisting  of  the  frigate  Ironsides  and 
the  Monitors,  aided  by  some  wooden  gunboats, 
made  an  attack,  at  the  same  time,  upon  Forts 
Gregg  and  "Wagner.  The  latter  was  completely 
silenced,  and  the  former  nearly  so.  The  Moni- 
tors Passaic  and  Patapsco  then  moved  nearer 
to  Fort  Sumter,  and  opened  fire  on  it.  In  the 
afternoon  the  fleet  retired,  except  so  much  as 
was  required  to  prevent  remounting  the  guns 
in  Fort  Wagner.  The  fire  from  the  batteries 
upon  Fort  Sumter  continued  through  the  day 
and  night.  :'<*':'  •' 

The  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter  had  now 
been  regularly  commenced  by  Gen.  Gillmore. 
The  following  is  the  daily  report  by  the  enemy 
of  its  effect : 

CHARLESTON,  Thurs4ay,  August  20th. 

The  firing  of  the  Parrott  guns  upon  Fort  Sumter  to- 
day was  exceedingly  heavy,  out  not  so  accurate  as  here- 
tofore. About  uoon  the  flag  was  shot  away,  but  soon 
replaced.  No  casualties  are  reported.  Col.  Alfred 
Rhett  is  commanding,  and  the  garrison  is  stout- 
hearted. 

The  battery  of  Parrott  guns  is  distant  from  Sumter 
two  five-eighth  miles.  The  missiles  used  are  200-pound 
bolts,  eight  inches  in  diameter,  two  feet  long,  with  flat 
heads  of  chilled  iron.  Shells  of  the  same  dimensions 
are  also  used. 

Up  to  Wednesday  night,  the  third  day  of  the  attack, 
1,972  of  these  missiles  struck  Sumter,  and  including 
to-day  2,500  have  struck.  The  damage  is  of  course 
considerable,  and  for  the  last  two  days  all  the  guns  on 
the  south  face  of  the  fort  have  been  disabled. 

Yesterday,  about  four  o'clock,  the  iron-clads  formed 
in  line  of  battle  to  renew  the  attack  on  Suniter^  but  the 
fort  opened  at  long  range  from  the  east  face,  and  they 
retired  without  attacking.  To-day  the  Ironsides  and 
two  Monitors  kept  up  a  fire  on  Wagner  at  intervals, 
and  the  Yankee  sappers  have  begun  to  make  ap- 
proaches on  that  battery  from  the  nearest  work.  A 
shot  from  Wagner  disabled  one  of  the  Parrott  guns, 
and  the  James  Island  batteries,  under  Lieut.  Col. 
Yates,  exploded  two  of  the  enemy's  ammunition  chests. 

CHARLESTON,  Friday,  August  21st. 

The  fire   of  the  enemy's  land  batteries  has  been 

heavier  than  ever  to-day.    A  new  battery  of  Parrott 

guns  opened  on  Sumter  this  morning,  and  the  fires 

have  been  concentrated  upon  the  east  battery  and  its 

funs.  The  south  wall  of  the  fort  is  now  a  pile  of  rub- 
ish.  On  the  north  the  wall  is  also  crumbling  into 
a  heap  of  ruins.  The  flag  has  been  shot  away  twice 
to-day,  and  six  times  during  the  attack.  The  flag- 
staff is  shbt  off,  and  the  flag  flies  from  the  ruins  of  the 
south  wall. 

Just  before  sunset  Sumter  fired  several  shots  at  the 
Ironsides,  which  was  engaging  Battery  Wagner. 

A  Monitor  tbis  morning  fired  at  Sumter  while  mak- 
ing a  reconnoissance,  but  was  not  replied  to.  There  is 
no  report  of  casualties. 

The  sappers  are  making  a  regular  approach  on  Bat- 
tery Wagner. 

CHARLESTON,  Saturday,  August  22rf. 
From  5  o'clock  A.  M.  until  7  o'clock  p.  M.  yesterday, 
the  enemy's  fire  on  Fort  Sumter  was  very  heavy.  Nine 
hundred  and  twenty-three  shots  were  fired,  am!  seven 
hundred  and  four  struck  the  fort,  either  outside  or  in- 
side. The  eastern  face  of  the  fort  was  badly  battered. 


Some  guns  on  the  east  end  and  the  northeast  face 
were  disabled.  The  flag  was  shot  down  four  times. 
Five  privates  and  two  negroes  were  wounded. 

The  enemy's  fire  on  Wagner  caused  five  casualties, 
including  Capt.  Robert  Pringlc,  killed. 

At  11  o'clock  last  night  a  communication  from  the 
enemy,  unsigned,  was  sent  to  Gen.  Beauregard,  de- 
manding the  surrender  of  Sumter  and  the  Morris  Isl- 
and batteries,  with  a  notification  that  the  city  would 
be  shelled  in  four  hours  if  the  demand  was  not  com- 
plied with.  Gen.  Beauregard  was  on  a  reconnoissance, 
and  Gen.  Jordan  returned  it  for  the  signature  of  the 
writer. 

About  two  o'clock  this  morning  the  enemy  began 
throwing  shells  into  the  city  from  a  battery  on  the 
marsh  between  Morris  and  James  Islands,  and  distant 
five  miles  from  the  city.  Twelve  8-inch  Parrott  shells 
fell  in  the  city,  but  caused  no  casualties.  The  transac- 
tion is  regarded  as  an  outrage  on  civilized  warfare. 
The  shelling  had  a  good  effect  in  hastening  the  exodus 
of  non-combatants. 

At  daylight  this  morning  the  enemy  opened  fire 
vigorously  on  Sumter.  The  Ironsides  has  since  open- 
ed. Sumter  is  replying.  Wagner  is  firing  briskly  on 
the  enemy's  advanced  works,  450  yards  from  our 
battery. 

CHARLESTON,  August  22d. 

The  fire  of  the  enemy's  land  batteries  has  been  kept 
up  on  Fort  Sumter,  and  more  guns  disabled.  There  was 
only  one  casualty. 

There  was  also  a  heavy  fire  on  Battery  Wagner  from 
the  fleet  and  land,  also  on  Battery  Gregg.  The  casual- 
ties at  Wagner  were  one  officer  and  four  privates. 

Gen.  Gillmore's  demand  for  the  surrender  of  Fort 
Sumter  and  Morris  Island,  with  a  threat  to  shell  Charles- 
ton in  four  hours  from  the  delivery  of  the  paper  at 
Wagner,  was  signed  and  returned  at  seven  o'clock  this 
morning. 

Gen.  Beauregard,  in  his  reply,  charges  inhumanity 
and  violation  01  the  laws  of  war,  and  affirms  that  if  the 
offence  be  repeated  he  will  employ  stringent  measures 
of  retaliation. 

Up  to  this  time  the  threat  to  shell  the  city  has  not 
been  executed. 

CHARLESTON,  Sunday,  August  23d. 

To-day  the  land  batteries  opened  from  south  to 
north,  and  the  Monitors  from  east  to  west,  coming 
close  up.  The  fire  was  very  damaging.  The  east  wall 
was  cracked  and  breached,  and  the  shot  swept  through 
the  fort.  A  shell  burst,  wounding  Lieut.  Boylston,  Col. 
Rhett,  and  three  other  officers. 

The  fort  is  now  in  ruins.  Col.  Rhett  is  ordered  to 
hold  this  outpost  even  as  a  forlorn  hope,  until  relieved 
or  taken.  Col.  Gaillard  was  killed. 

Gen.  Gillmore  sent  a  communication  at  11  o'clock, 
giving  notice  that  at  11  o'clock  to-morrow  he  would 
open  fire  on  Charleston. 

CHARLESTON,  Monday,  August  21th. 
The  enemy's  fire  on  Sumter  slackened  to-day.  The 
fleet  has  not  participated.  At  12  o'clock  last  night 
the  enemy's  guns  opened  fire  on  the  city,  firing  fifteen 
8-inch  Parrott  shells.  No  casualties  resulted.  Non-com- 
batants are  leaving  the  city  in  continuous  streams. 

On  the  24th  of  August,  Gen.  Gillmore  sent 
the  following  despatches  to  Washington : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OP  THE  SOUTH,  ) 
MORRIS  ISLAND,  8.  C.,  August  24«l,  1863.     f 
To  Maj.-Gen.  H.  W.  Halleck,  General-in-Chief: 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  practical  demo- 
lition of  Fort  Snmter  as  the  result  of  our  seven  days' 
bombardment  of  the  work,  including  two  days  of  which 
a  powerful  northeasterly  storm  most  seriously  dimin- 
ished the  accuracy  of  our  fire. 

Fort  Sumter  is  to-day  a  shapeless  and  harmless  mass 
of  ruins.  My  chief  tff  artillery,  Col.  J.  W.  Turner, 
reports  its  destruction  so  far  complete,  that  it  is  no 
longer  of  any  "  avail  in  the  defence  of  Charleston." 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


477 


He  also  says  that  "  by  a  longer  fire  it  could  be  made 
more  completely  a  ruin  and  a  mass  of  broken  masonry, 
but  could  scarcely  be  made  more  powerless  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  harbor." 

My  breaching  batteries  were  located  at  distances 
ranging  between  3,320  and  4,240  yards  from  the  works, 
and  now  remain  as  efficient  as  ever.  I  deem  it  unne- 
cessary, at  present,  to  continue  the  fire  upon  the  ruins 
of  Fort  Sumter. 

I  have  also,  under  a  heavy  fire  from  James  Island, 
established  batteries  on  my  left,  within  effective  range 
of  the  heart  of  Charleston  city,  and  have  opened  with 
them,  after  giving  Gen.  Beauregard  due  notice  of  my 
Intention  to  do  so. 

My  notification  to  Gen.  Beauregard,  his  reply  there- 
to, with  the  threat  of  retaliation,  and  my  rejoinder, 
have  been  transmitted  to  the  army  headquarters. 

The  projectiles  from  my  batteries  entered  the  city, 
and  Gen.  Beauregard  himself  designates  them  as  the 
"  most  destructive  missiles  ever  used  in  war." 

The  report  of  my  chief  of  artillery,  and  an  accurate 
sketch  of  the  ruins  of  Fort  Sumter,  taken  at  12  M.  yes- 
terday, six  hours  before  we  ceased  firing,  are  herewith 
transmitted. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Q.  A.  GILLMORE, 

Brigadier-General  Commanding. 

OFFICE  OP  CHIEF  OF  ARTILLERY,  DEPARTMENT  OF  ) 

THE  SOUTH,  MOBEIS  ISLAND,  8.  C..         v 

August  23d,  1863.      j 

JSrig.-Gen.  Q.  A.  Gillmore,  Commanding  Department 
of  the  South,  Morris  Island,  S.  C.  : 

GENERAL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  effect  that 
our  breaching  batteries  have  had  upon  Fort  Sumter, 
and  the  condition  of  that  work  to-night,  at  the  close  of 
the  seven  days'  bombardment. 

The  gorge  wall  of  the  fort  is  almost  a  complete  mass 
of  ruins.  For  the  distance  of  several  casemates  about 
midway  of  this  face  the  ramparts  are  removed  nearly, 
and  in  places  quite  to  the  arches,  and  but  for  the  sand 
bags,  with  which  the  casemates  were  filled,  and  which 
have  served  to  sustain  the  broken  arches  and  masses 
of  masonry,  it  would  have  long  since  been  entirely  cut 
away,  and  with  it  the  arches  to  the  floor  of  the  second 
tier  of  casemates.  The  debris  on  this  point  now  forms 
a  ramp  reaching  as  high  as  the  floor  of  the  casemates. 


The  parapet  wall  of  the  two  northeasterly  faces  is  com- 
pletely carried  awav,  a  small  portion  only  being  left  in 
the  angle  made  with  the  gorge  wall,  and  the  ramparts 
of  these  faces  are  also  a  total  ruin.  Quite  one  half  of 
our  projectiles  seem  to  have  struck  the  parade  and 
parapet  of  these  two  faces,  and  judging  from  the  effect 
they  nave  had  upon  the  gorge  wall  within  our  obser- 
vation, the  destruction  of  masonry  on  these  two  sides 
must  be  very  great,  and  I  am  of  opinion  that  nearly 
every  arch  in  these  fronts  must  be  broken  in.  But 
one  gun  remains  in  position  on  these  two  fronts.  This 
is  in  the  angle  of  the  gorge,  and  I  think  unserviceable. 

The  ruin  extends  around,  taking  in  the  northeast- 
erly fa_ce  as  far  as  can  be  seen.  A  portion  of  this  face 
adjoining  the  angle  it  makes  with  the  southeasterly 
face  is  concealed,  but  from  the  great  number  of  mis- 
siles which  have  struck  in  this  angle  during  the  last 
two  days,  it  cannot  be  otherwise  than  greatly  damaged, 
and  I  do  not  think  any  guns  can  be  left  on  this  face  in 
a  serviceable  condition. 

The  ramparts  on  this  angle,  as  well  as  in  the  south- 
easterly face,  must  be  ploughed  up  and  greatly  shat- 
tered ;  the  parapet  on  this  latter  face  being  torn  off  in 
many  places,  as  we  can  see,  and  I  hardly  think  the 
platforms  of  the  three  remaining  guns  on  this  face 
could  have  escaped. 

With  the  assistance  of  a  powerful  glass,  I  cannot 
determine  that  more  than  one  of  these  guns  can  be 
used.  The  carriages  of  the  others  are  evidently  more 
or  less  shattered*%nd  such  is  the  ruin  of  the  parapet 
and  parade  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  this  gun 
that  it  probably  could  not  be  served  for  any  length  of 
time. 

In  fine,  the  destruction  of  the  fort  is  so  far  complete 
that  it  is  to-day  of  no  avail  in  the  defence  of  the  harbor 
of  Charleston ;  by  a  longer  fire  it  can  be  made  more 
completely  a  ruin  and  a  mass  of  broken  masonry,  but 
could  scarcely  be  more  powerless  for  the  defence  of  the 
harbor. 

I  therefore  respectfully  submit  my  opinion  that  a 
continuance  of  our  fire  is  no  longer  necessary,  as  giv- 
ing us  no  ends  adequate  for  the  consumption  of  our 
resources. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  W.  TURNER, 
Colonel  and  Chief  of  Artillery. 


The  correspondence  mentioned  in  the  pre- 
ceding despatch  commenced  on  the  21st.  On 
that  day  Gen.  Gillmore  addressed  the  following 
note  to  Gen.  Beauregard : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  SOUTH,  } 
MORRIS  ISLAND,  8.  C.,  August  21st,  1863.     f 
To  Gf.n.  G.  T.  Beauregard,  Commanding  Confederate 

Forces,  Charleston,  8.  C.  : 

GENERAL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  demand  of  you  the 
immediate  evacuation  of  Morris  .Island  and  Fort  Sum- 
ter by  the  Confederate  forces.  The  present  condition 
of  Fort  Sumter,  and  the  rapid  and  progressive  destruc- 


tion which  it  is  undergoing  from  my  batteries,  seem  to 
render  its  complete  demolition  within  a  few  hours  a 
matter  of  certainty.  All  my  heaviest  guns  have  not  yet 
opened. 

Should  you  refuse  compliance  with  this  demand, 
or  should  I  receive  no  reply  thereto  within  four  hours 
after  it  is  delivered  into  the  hands  of  your  subordinate 
at  Fort  Wagner  for  transmission,  I  shall  open  fire  on 
the  city  of  Charleston  from  batteries  already  estab- 
lished within  easy  and  effective  range  of  the  heart  of 
the  city. 

I  am,  General,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  ser- 
vant, Q.  A.  GILLMORE,  Brig.-Gen.  Commanding. 


478 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


To  this  note  Gen.  Beauregard  replied  as  fol- 
lows : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPABTMEN 
GEORGIA,  AND  FL< 


5PABTMENT  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA,  ) 

FLORIDA,  CHARLESTON,  8.  O.,       V 
August  22rf,  1863.     ) 


SIR:  Last  night,  at  fifteen  minutes  before  eleven 
o'clock,  during  njy  absence  on  a  reconnoissance  of  my 
fortifications,  a  communication  was  received  at  these 
headquarters,  dated  "  Headquarters  Department  of  the 
South,  Morris  Island,  S.C.,  August  21st,  1863,"  demand- 
ing "  the  immediate  evacuation  of  Morris  Island  and 
Fort  Sumter  by  the  Confederate  forces,"  on  the  alleged 
grounds  "  that  the  present  condition  of  Fort  Sumter, 
and  the  rapid  and  progressive  destruction  which  it  is 
undergoing  from  my  batteries,  seem  to  render  its  com-  • 
plete  demolition  within  a  few  hours  a  matter  of  cer- 
tainty ; "  and  that  if  this  demand  were  "  not  complied 
with  or  no  reply  thereto  received  within  four  hours 
after  it  is  delivered  into  the  hands  of  your  (my)  sub- 
ordinate commander  at  Fort  Wagner  for  transmission," 
a  fire  would  be  opened  "  on  the  city  of  Charleston 
from  batteries  already  established  within  easy  and  ef- 
fective range  of  the  heart  of  the  city."  This  commu- 
nication to  my  address  was  without  signature,  and 
was  of  course  returned. 

About  half  past  one  o'clock  one  of  your  batteries  did 
actually  open  fire,  and  threw  a  number  of  heavy  shells 
into  the  city,  the  inhabitants  of  which,  of  course,  were 
asleep  and  unwarned. 

About  nine  o'clock  this  morning  the  communication 
alluded  to  above  was  returned  to  these  headquarters, 
bearing  your  recognized  official  signature,  and  it  can 
now  be  noticed  as  your  deliberate  official  act. 

Among  nations,  not  barbarous,  the  usages  of  war 
prescribe  that  when  a  city  is  about  to  be  attacked 
timely  notice  shall  be  given  by  the  attacking  com- 
mander, in  order  that  non-combatants  may_  have  an 
opportunity  for  withdrawing  beyond  its  limits.  Gen- 
erally the  time  allowed  is  from  one  to  three  days  ;  that 
is,  time  for  the  withdrawal  in  good  faith  of  at  feast  the 
women  and  children.  You,  sir,  give  onljr  four  hours, 
knowing  that  your  notice,  under  existing  circum- 
stances, could  not  reach  me  in  less  than  two  hours, 
and  that  not  less  than  the  same  time  would  be  required 
for  an  answer  to  be  conveyed  from  this  city  to  Battery 
Wagner.  With  this  knowledge,  you  threaten  to  open 
fire  on  the  city,  not  to  oblige  its  surrender,  but  to 
force  me  to  evacuate  these  works,  which  you,  assisted 
by  a  great  naval  force,  have  been  attacking  in  vain  for 
more  than  forty  days. 

Batteries  Wagner  and  Gregg  and  Fort  Sumter  are 
nearly  due  north  from  your  batteries  on  Morris  Isl- 
and, and  in  distance  therefrom  varying  from  half  a 
mile  to  two  and  a  quarter  miles.  The  city,  on  the 
other  hand,  is  to  the  northwest,  and  quite  five  miles 
distant  from  the  battery  opened  against  it  this  morning. 

It  would  appear,  sir,  that,  despairing  of  reducing 
these  works,  you  now  resort  to  the  novel  measure  of 
turning  your  guns  against  the  old  men,  the  women, 
and  children,  and  the  hospitals  of  a  sleeping  city,  an 
act  of  inexcusable  barbarity  from  your  own  confessed 
point  of  sight,  inasmuch  as  you  allege  that  the  com- 
plete demolition  of  Fort  Sumter  within  a  few  hours  by 
your  guns  seems  to  you  "  a  matter  of  certainty." 

Your  omission  to  attach  your  signature  to  such  a 
grave  paper  must  show'  the  recklessness  of  the  course 
upon  which  you  have  adventured;  while  the  facts  that 
you  knowingly  fixed  a  limit  for  receiving  an  answer 
to  your  demand,  which  made  it  almost  beyond  the 
possibility  of  receiving  any  reply  within  that  time,  and 
that  you  actually  did  open  fire  and  throw  a  number  of 
the  most  destructive  missiles  overused  in  war  into  the 
midst  of  a  city  taken  unawares,  and  filled  with  sleep- 
ing women  and  children,  will  give  you  a  "  bad  emi- 
nence" in  history,  even  in  the  history  of  this  war. 

I  am  only  surprised,  sir,  at  the  limits  you  have  set 
to  your  demands.  If,  in  order  to  attain  the  abandon- 
ment of  Morris  Island  and  Fort  Sumter,  you  feel  au- 
thorized to  fire  on  this  city,  why  did  you  not-also  in- 
clude the  works  on  Sullivan's  and  James's  Island- 


nay,  even  the  city  of  Charleston  in  the  same  de- 
mand ? 

Since  you  have  felt  warranted  in  inaugurating  this 
method  of  reducing  batteries  in  your  immediate 
front,  which  were  found  otherwise  impregnable,  and 
a  mode  of  warfare  which  I  confidently  declare  to  be 
atrocious  and  unworthy  of  any  soldier,  I  now  sol- 
emnly warn  you  that  if  you  fire  again  on  the  city 
from  your  Morris  Island  batteries  without  giving 
a  somewhat  more  reasonable  time  to  remove  nou-com- 
batants,  I  shall  feel  impelled  to  employ  such  stringent 
means  of  retaliation  as  may  be  available  during  the 
continuance  of  this  attack. 

Finally,  I  reply,  that  neither  the  works  on  Morris 
Island  nor  Fort  Sumter  will  be  evacuated  on  the  de- 
mand you  have  been  pleased  to  make.  Already,  how- 
ever, I  am  taking  measures  to  remove  all  non-com- 
batants, who  are  now  fully  aware  of  and  alive  to  what 
they  may  expect  at  your  hands. 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

G.  T.  BEAUREGARD,  Gen.  Com'g. 

To  this  letter  Gen.  GiUmore  made  the  follow- 
ing response : 

DEPARTMENT  or  THE  SOUTH,  HEADQUARTERS  IN 
THE  FIELD,  MORRIS  ISLAND,  S.  C., 

August  22rf,  9  p.  M. 

G.    T.  Beauregard,    Commanding    Confederate  State 
Forces,  Charleston,  S.  G. : 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  communication  of  this  date,  complaining  that 
one  of  my  batteries  has  opened  upon  the  city  of  Charles- 
ton, and  thrown  a  number  of  heavy  rifle  shells  into  that 
city,  the  inhabitants  of  which,  of  course,  were  asleep 
and  unwarned. 

My  letter  to  you  demanding  the  surrender  of  Fort 
Sumter  and  Morris  Island,  and  threatening,  in  default 
thereof,  to  open  fire  upon  Charleston,  was  delivered 
near  Fort  Wagner  at  11.15  o'clock  p.  M.  on  the  21st  in- 
stant, and  should  have  arrived  at  your  headquarters  in 
time  to  have  permitted  your  answer  to  reach  me  with- 
in the  limit  assigned,  namely,  four  hours. 

The  fact  that  you  were  absent  from  your  headquar- 
ters at  the  time  of  its  arrival  may  be  regarded  as  an 
unfortunate  circumstance  for  the  city  of  Charleston,  but 
it  is  one  for  which  I  clearly  am  not  responsible.  This 
letter  bore  date  at  my  headquarters,  and  was  officially 
delivered  by  an  officer  of  my  staff.  The  inadvertent 
omission  of  my  signature  doubtless  affords  ground  for 
special  pleading,  but  it  is  not  the  argument  of  a  com- 
mander solicitous  only  for  the  safety  of  sleeping  wo- 
men and  children  and  unarmed  men. 

Your  threats  of  retaliation  for  acts  of  mine,  which 
you  do  not  allege  to  be  in  violation  of  civilized  warfare, 
except  as  regards  the  length  of  time  allowed  as  notice 
of  my  intentions,  are  passed  by  without  comment.  I 
will,  however,  call  your  attention  to  the  well  establish- 
ed principle,  that  the  commander  of  a  place  attacked, 
but  not  invested,  having  its  avenues  of  escape  open 
and  practicable,  has  no  right  to  expect  any  notice  of 
an  intended  bombardment  other  than  that  which  is 
given  by  the  threatening  attitude  of  his  adversary. 
Even  had  this  letter  not  been  written,  the  city  of 
Charleston  has  had,  according  to  your  own  computa- 
tion, forty  days'  notice  of  her  danger.  During  that 
time  my  attack  upon  her  defences  has  steadily  pro- 
gressed. The  ultimate  object  of  that  attack  has  at  no 
time  been  doubtful. 

If,  under  the  circumstances,  the  life  of  a  single  non- 
combatant  is  exposed  to  peril  by  the  bombardment  of 
the  city,  the  responsibility  rests  with  those  who  have 
first  failed  to  apprize  the  non-combatants,  or  secure  the 
safety  of  the  city,  after  having  held  control  of  all  its 
approaches  for  a  period  of  nearly  two  years  and  a  half, 
in  the  presence  of  a  threatening  force,  and  who  after- 
ward refused  to  accept  the  terms  upon  which  the  bom- 
bardment might  have  been  postponed.  From  various 
sources,  official  and  otherwise,  I  am  led  to  believe  that 
most  of  the  women  and  children  of  Charleston  were 
long  since  removed  from  the  city.  But,  upon  your  as- 
surance that  the  city  is  still  full  of  them,  I  shall  sua- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLIOK 


479 


pend  the  bombardment  until  11  o'clock  p.  M.  to-mor- 
row, thus  giving  you  two  days  from  the  time  you  ac- 
knowledged to  have  received  my  communication  of  the 
21st  instant. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Q.  A.  GILLMORE, 
Brigadier-General  Commanding. 

The  effect  of  the  shells  first  fired  at  Charles- 
ton is  thus  described  by  a  citizen  :  "  Between 
one  and  two  o'clock,  Saturday  morning,  the 
enemy  commenced  firing  on  the  city,  arousing 
the  people  from  their  slumbers.  Twelve  8-inch 
shells  fell  into  the  city,  thirteen  in  all  having 
been  fired.  Fortunately  no  person  was  injur- 
ed. Several  shells  flew  in  the  direction  of  St. 
Michael's  steeple,  and  fell  either  in  the  vacant 
lots  in  the  burnt  district  on  King  street,  or 
more  generally  struck  in  Queen  and  Rutledge, 
•where  an  8 -inch  shell  tore  tip  the  plank-road, 
and  dug  a  large  hole  in  the  ground.  Another 
shot  entered  the  warehouse  of  G.  TV.  Williams 
and  Co.,  at  the  corner  of  Hayne  and  Church 
streets,  entered  the  roof,  and  exploded  in  the 
upper  story,  making  a  large  opening  in  the 
brick  wall  of  the  Medical  Purveyor's  store- 
house next  door,  and  scattering  things  in  great 
confusion.  Some  loose  straw  or  packing  was 
set  on  fire  by  the  explosion,  which  caused  the 
alarm  bell  to  ring,  and  brought  out  the  firemen. 
It  was  extinguished  with  little  effort  before  it- 
had  made  any  progress.  Four  shells  fell  in  this 
locality.  One  large  piece  was  picked  up  and 
exhibited  at  the  guard-house,  where  it  was  the 
subject  of  much  curiosity.  There  was  a  good 
deal  of  excitement  and  some  surprise  expressed 
at  the  enemy  being  able  to  reach  the  city  from 
his  present  position.  The  battery  is  located  in 
the  marsh  between  Morris  and  Black  Islands, 
distant  fully  five  miles  from  Charleston." 

On  Wednesday,  August  26th,  Gen.  Gillmore, 
having  completed  a  fourth  parallel  and  sap, 
which  ^extended  very  close  to  Fort  Wagner, 
determined  to  possess  a  ridge  of  sand  which  in- 
terposed, and  was  necessary  to  the  success  of 
his  operations.  It  was  constantly  occupied  by 
a  strong  body  of  the  enemy's  pickets,  and  at 
night  by  a  force  protected  by  rifle  pits.  A  bom- 
bardment of  the  position  was  made  just  before 
dark,  after  which  it  was  carried  by  the  24th 
Massachusetts.  One  company  of  North  Caro- 
lina troops  was  captured.  On  the  7th  of  Sep- 
tember, Morris  Island  was  evacuated  by  the 
enemy,  which  is  thus  reported  by  Gen.  Gill- 
more: 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  Sotrrn,  HEADQUARTERS  iv  } 
THE  FIELD,  September  1th,  1863.     J 
2faj.-Gen.  H.  W.  Hailed,  General-in-Chief: 

GENERAL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  Fort 
Wagner  and  Battery  Gregg  are  ours.  Last  night  our 
sappers  mined  the  counter-scarp  of  Fort  Wagner  on  its 
sea  point,  unmasking  all  its  guns,  and  an  order  was  is- 
sued to  carry  the  place  by  assault  at  9  o'clock  this 
morning,  that  being  the  hour  of  low  tide. 

About  10  o'clock  last  night  the  enemy  commenced 
evacuating  the  island,  and  all  but  seventy-five  of  them 
made  their  escape  from  Cummings's  Point  in  small 
boats. 

Captured  despatches  show  that  Fort  Wagner  was 
commanded  by  Col.  Keitt,  of  South  Carolina,  and  gar- 


risoned by  1,400  effective  men,  and  Battery  Gregg  by 
between  100  and  200  men. 

Fort  Wagner  is  a  work  of  the  most  formidable  kind. 
Its  bomb-proo_f  shelter,  capable  of  containing  1,800 
men,  remains  intact  after  the  most  terrific  bombard- 
ment to  which  any  work  was  ever  subjected. 

We  have  captured  nineteen  pieces  of  artillery  and  a 
large  supply  of  excellent  ammunition. 

The  city  and  harbor  of  Charleston  are  now  com- 
pletely covered  by  my  guns. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  General,  very  respectfully, 
your  obedient  servant,  Q.  A.  GILLMORE, 

•  Brigadier-General  Commanding. 

On  the  night  of  the  Vth,  an  assault  was  made 
by  an  expedition  on  Fort  Sumter.  The  flotilla 
consisted  of  between  twenty-five  and  thirty 
boats,  manned  by  over  one  hundred  sailors, 
under  Lieutenant  Commandant  Williams,  and 
a  hundred  marines,  under  Capt.  McCawley. 
The  entire  force  was  commanded  by  Com- 
mander Stephens,  of  the  Patapsco.  The  boats 
were  towed  within  a  short  distance  of  the  fort, 
when  they  advanced.  Three  boats,  under  Com- 
mander Williams,  Lieut.  Eemey,  and  Ensign 
Porter,  landed,  and  the  parties  attempted  to  run 
up  the  ruins  to  the  parapet,  when  they  were 
fired  upon  by  musketry,  and  hand  grenades  were 
thrown  down  upon  them.  The  slope  was  so 
sharp  that  they  were  unable  to  reach  the  parapet. 
The  signal  was  given  from  the  fort,  and  in  an 
instant  all  of  the  batteries  of  the  enemy  opened 
on  the  fort  and  shelled  it  terribly.  Three  boats 
•were  smashed,  and  all  who  landed  were  either 
killed  or  captured.  Lieut.  Bradford,  of  the 
marines,  was  mortally  wounded  and  captured. 
Among  others  captured  were  Commander  Wil- 
liams, Lieut.  Eemey,  Lieut.  Preston,  Lieut. 
Bower,  Lieut.  Bunce,  Dr.  Wheeler,  and  Ensign 
Porter.  Forty  or  fifty  sailors  and  marines  were 
killed  and  wounded.  The  entire  list  of  casual- 
ties was  about  eighty.  The  remainder  of  the 
command  retired  safe.  • 

The  captured  forts  on  Morris  Island  were  en- 
larged and  new  batteries  erected  by  Gen.  Gill- 
more,  which  effectually  commanded  Fort  Sum- 
ter, and  could  aid  any  naval  attack  on  Charles- 
ton. But  little  further  progress,  however,  was 
made  in  the  siege  during  the  remainder  of  the 
year.  The  forts  of  the  enemy  were  occasion- 
ally bombarded  severely,  and  the  shelling  of 
Charleston  at  intervals,  during  day  and  night, 
was  continued.  The  portion  of  the  city  within 
the  reach  of  the  shells  was  greatly  injured,  and 
entirely  abandoned  by  its  inhabitants.  An  at- 
tempt was  made  by  the  enemy  to  blow  up  the 
frigate  Ironsides,  with  a  torpedo,  on  the  night 
of  October  5th.  It  failed  of  success,  and  did  no 
serious  damage  to  the  vessels. 

Some  further  operations  took  place  in  the 
Department  of  the  Gulf  during  the  year.  Af- 
ter the  capture  of  Yicksburg,  Gen.  Banks  was 
reenforced  by  Gen.  Grant,  and  an  expedition 
was  fitted  out  under  Gen.  Franklin  to  occupy 
the  mouth  of  the  Sabine  river,  in  Texas.  It 
consisted  of  a  force  of  four  thousand  men,  and 
the  naval  steamers  Clifton,  Sachem,  Arizona, 
and  Granite  City.  The  squadron  was  under  the 
command  of  Lieut.  Crocker.  The  defences  at 


480 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


the  pass  were  supposed  to  consist  of  two  32- 
pounders,  en  barbette,  and  a  battery  of  field 
pieces,  and  two  boats  used  on  the  bay,  which 
had  been  converted  into  rams.  The  plan  was 
that  the  squadron  should  make  the  attack  alone, 
assisted  by  about  one  hundred  and  eighty 
sharpshooters  divided  among  the  four  vessels, 
and,  having  driven  the  enemy  from  his  defences 
and  destroyed  or  driven  off  the  rams,  "the 
transports  were  then  to  advance  and  land  their 
troops. 

Sabine  Pass  is  the  name  of  the  outlet  from 
Sabine  Lake  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Sabine 
Lake  is  an  expansion  of  the  Sabine  river  about 
five  miles  from  its, entrance  into  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  at  the  southwest  extremity  of  Louisi- 
ana. Its  length  is  18  miles  and  its  breadth  9 
miles.  Sabine  river  rises  in  Hunt  county,  Texas, 
and  flows  in  a  direction  east  of  southeast  until 
it  strikes  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  State. 
From  this  point  it  pursues  a  southerly  course, 
forming  the  boundary  between  Texas  and  Lou- 
isiana. It  is  very  shallow  at  its  mouth.  The 
whole  length  of  the  river  is  estimated  at  500 
miles. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  Sept.  8th,  the  Clif- 
ton stood  in  the  bay  and  opened  on  the  fort,  to 
which  no  reply  was  made.  At  9  A.  M.  the  Sa- 
chem, Arizona,  and  Granite  City,  followed  by 
the  transports,  stood  over  the  bar,  and,  with 
much  difficulty,  owing  to  the  low  water,  reach- 
ed an  anchorage  about  two  miles  from  the  fort 
at  11  A.  M.  About  the  middle  of  the  afternoon 
the  Sachem,  followed  by  the  Arizona,  advanced 
up  the  eastern  channel  to  draw  the  fire  of  the 
forts  while  the  Clifton  advanced  up  the  western 
channel.  The  Granite  City  remained  to  cover 
the  landing  of  a  division  of  troops  under  Gen. 
Weitzel.  No  reply  was  made  to  the  fire  of  the 
gunboats  until  they  were  abreast  of  the  forts, 
when  eight  guns  opened  fire  upon  them.  Three 
of  these  were  rifled.  Almost  at  the  same  mo- 
ment the  Clifton  and  Sachem  were  struck  in 
their  boilers  and  both  vessels  enveloped  in 
steam.  The  Arizona,  not  having  room  to  pass 
the  Sachem,  then  backed  down  the  channel 
until  she  grounded  by  the  stern,  when  the  ebb- 
tide caught  her  bows  and  swung  her  across  the 
channel.  White  flags  were  raised  on  the  Clif- 
ton and  Sachem,  and  within  twenty  minutes 
they  were  taken  in  tow  by  the  enemy.  The 
naval  force  of  the  expedition  being  thus  disa- 
bled, the  transports  moved  out  of  the  bay. 
Tbe  Arizona  was  got  afloat  during  the  night 
and  followed.  The  expedition  then  returned 
to  Brashear  City.  The  officers  and  crews  of 
the  Clifton  and  Sachem  and  about  ninety  sharp- 
shooters who  were  on  board  were  captured, 
and  the  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  about 
thirty.  After  remaining  at  Brashear  City  some 
time,  the  military  force  moved  to  Franklin  and 
Vermillionville. 

On  the'27th  of  October  an  expedition  under 
Gen.  Banks  put  to  sea  from  New  Orleans.  It 
consisted  of  about  twenty  vessels  accompanied 
by  the  gunboats  Owasco,  Virginia,  and  Monon- 


gahela,  and  was  destined  to  the  mouth .  of  the 
Rio  Grande  river,  which  is  the  boundary  line 
between  Texas  and  Mexico.  During  the  first 
three  days  out  the, weather  was  pleasant.  On 
the  fourth  a  "norther"  prevailed,  and  one  light 
draft  steamer  and  two  schooners  were  lost,  but 
no  lives.  On  the  31st  the  expedition  anchored 
off  the  mouth  of  the  river  and  on  the  next 
day  a  force  was  landed  on  Brazos  Island.  By 
the  4th  the  troops  we.re  all  landed,  and  on  the 
next  day,  Gen.  Banks,  preceded  by  a  small  body 
of  infantry  and  artillery,  entered  Brownsville 
on  the  Rio  Grande  river.  A  small  body  of 
the  enemy  under  Gen.  Bee  attempted  to  de- 
stroy the  public  property,  and  retired  on  the. 
approach  of  the  Federal  force.  Subsequently 
Corpus  Christi  and  the  coast  of  Texas  to  within 
one  hundred  miles  of  Galveston  were  occupied. 
Gen.  Banks  successfully  prosecuted  the  cam- 
paign thus  begun  in  Texas,  the  extent  and 
results  of  which  more  properly  belong  to  the 
records  of  1864. 

In  Missouri  and  the  Department  of  the  Fron- 
tier, those  portions  of  the  Confederate  army 
of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department,  which 
was  under  command  of  Gens.  Hindman,  Ster- 
ling Price,  and  Marniaduke,  maintained  a  rest- 
less activity. 

Early  in  January,  1863,  a  force  of  five  or  six 
thousand  men,  under  Gen.  Marmaduke's  com- 
mand, comprising  a  portion  of  the  troops  which 
had  been  so  signally  defeated  at  Crawford's 
Prairie  (as  described  on  a  former  page)  a 
month  before,  proceeded  down  the  Arkansas 
river  to  Spadry's  Bluff,  near  Clarksville,  Ark., 
and  thence  marched  rapidly  north  toward 
Springfield,  Mo.,  with  the  intention  of  seizing 
and  destroying  the  large  amount  of  Federal 
commissary  and  quartermaster  stores  accumu- 
lated there  for  the  supply  of  the  Army  of  the 
Frontier.  The  design  of  Gen.  Marmaduke  in 
proceeding  so  far  eastward  before  making  a 
movement  northward  into  Missouri  was  to  avoid 
all  chance  of  collision  or  interference  with  his 
plans  by  Gens.  Blunt  and  Herron.  He  hoped 
to  reach  Springfield  and  accomplish  his  purpose 
before  they  could  obtain  intelligence  of  his  ap- 
proach, and  this  once  accomplished,  those  Fed- 
eral generals  and  their  army,  deprived  of  all 
supplies,  would,  almost  of  necessity,  be  com- 
pelled either  to  surrender  to  Gen.  Hindman  or 
fly  from  North-western  Arkansas.  The  scheme 
was  well  planned  and  circumstances  indicated 
that  it  would  be  successful.  Springfield  had 
some  defensive  works,  but  they  were  not  com- 
pleted, and  the  Federal  troops  which  were 
necessary  to  its  adequate  defence,  were  scat- 
tered widely  over  the  entire  region  of  South- 
western Missouri,  two  or  three  companies  in  a 
place.  When,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  Yth  of 
January,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  Confeder- 
ate force  had  burned  Lawrence  Mills,  and  were 
then  marching  on  Ozark,  and  would  certninly 
appear  before  Springfield  the  next  day,  Brig.- 
Gens.  Brown  and  Holland,  who  were  in  com- 
mand there,  the  one  of  the  Missouri  State 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


481 


militia  and  the  other  of  the  enrolled  Missouri 
militia,  exerted  themselves  to  the  utmost  to 
call  together  a  force  adequate  to  the  defence 
of  the  town,  but  their  most  strenuous  efforts 
only  sufficed  to  bring  together  about  1,100 
men,  of  whom  400  were  either  convalescents 
in  the  hospitals  or  those  who  had  just  been 
discharged  from  those  institutions,  and  the  re- 
mainder were  in  about  equal  numbers  Missouri 
State  militia  and  enrolled  Missouri  militia,  al- 
most wholly  raw  troops.  The  commissary  and 
quartermaster's  stores  were  sent  north  toward 
Bolivar,  only  enough  being  reserved  to  main- 
tain the  siege,  which  were  placed  in  one  of 
the  forts.  The  Confederate  force  (or  rather 
about  one-half  of  it,  not  far  from  three  thou- 
sand men)  appeared  before  the  city  about  one 
p.  M.  on  the  8th,  and  commenced  firing  with 
solid  shot  at  once,  without  giving  any  notice 
for  the  removal  of  non-combatants.  The  fight- 
ing which  followed  was  irregular,  and  occa- 
sionally the  Confederates  gained  some  advan- 
tages; but  the  courage  of  the  new  Federal 
troops  seemed  to  increase  under  fire,  and  late 
in  the  afternoon  they  commenced  driving  the 
enemy  from  one  position  after  another,  till  at 
night  the  battle  ended,  having  continued  five 
hours,  when  the  Confederates  retreated,  carry- 
ing with  them  a  part  of  their  wounded.  The 
Federal  loss  was  14  killed,  145  wounded  and  5 
missing.  The  Confederates  lost  41  killed,  and 
over  160  wounded,  of  whom  80  were  left  in 
the  town  as  prisoners.  The  next  day  the. gar- 
rison of  the  town  were  ready  to  renew  the 
battle,  but  found<that  the  Confederates  had  es- 
caped, and  they  were  too  feeble  to  maka  a  vig- 
orous pursuit. 

Before  proceeding  from  Ozark  to  Springfield, 
Gen.  Marmaduke  had  detached  Gen.  Porter 
with  nearly  3,000  men  to  follow  the  road  south 
of  tlje  Ozark  mountains  to  Hartsville,  and  hav- 
ing made  what  captures  he  could  there,  to  rejoin 
the  main  force  again  at  or  near  Marshfield, 
having  in  view,  probably,  the  extension  of  his 
expedition  either  to  Lebanon  or  Bolivar.  On 
the  9th,  Gen.  Porter  occupied  Hartsville,  but 
evacuated  it  that  night,  and  moved  toward 
Marshfield.  Gen.  Fitz  Henry  Warren,  in  com- 
mand of  that  Federal  military  district,  sent 
from  Houston  on  the  9th  of  January  Col.  Mer- 
rill, with  850  men,  to  Springfield  to  reenforce 
the  Federal  garrison  there.  They  reached 
Hartsville  on  Saturday,  the  10th,  and  learned 
that  Gen.  Porter  had  been  there  the  day  pre- 
vious. Leaving  Hartsville  at  3  p.  M.  they 
marched  to  "Wood's  Forks,  on  the  road  toward 
Springfield,  by  nightfall,  and  encamped  in  line 
of  battle.  The  next  morning  (Jan.  llth),  at 
daybreak,  they  encountered  Gen.  Marmaduke's 
forces  marching  from  Springfield,  and  though 
the  Federal  position  was  an  unfavorable  one, 
Col.  Merrill  fought  till  9  o'clock  A.  M.,  when  the 
Confederates  withdrew  in  a  southerly  direction. 
Sending  out  a  pursuing  force  of  cavalry,  and 
himself  returning  toward  Hartsville,  Col.  Mer- 
rill soon  found  that  the  Confederates  were  also 
31 


marching  toward  Hartsville,  and,  as  it  after- 
ward appeared,  had  formed  a  junction  with 
Gen.  Porter's  command.  Col.  Merrill  immedi- 
ately ordered  a  forced  march,  and  arrived  in 
Hartsville  in  time  to  take  a  strong  position, 
and  awaited  their  attack.  Firing  commenced 
on  both  sides  at  a  little  after  11  A.  M.,  and  the 
battle  raged  till  half-past  4  P.  M.,  the  Confed- 
erates charging  repeatedly  upon  the  Federal 
position,  but  being  met  at  short  musket  range 
by  so  terrible  a  fire  that  they  were  compelled 
to  fall  back  each  time.  At  length,  finding 
themselves  unable  to  make  any  impression  on 
the  Federal  garrison,  the  Confederates  retreat- 
ed, going  at  first  toward  Houston,  but  early 
the  next  morning  they  turned  their  faces  south- 
ward, and  moved  rapidly  toward  the  Arkansas 
line,  near  the  north  fork  of  White  river.  Their 
losses  had  been  very  heavy ;  Brig.-Gen.  Emmet 
McDonald,  and  acting  Brig.-Gen.  Porter,  two 
colonels,  a  major,  a  captain,  and  two  lieuten- 
ants being  among  the  killed,  and  several  other 
officers  severely  wounded.  Their  entire  loss 
was  over  300  killed  and  wounded,  and  29  pris- 
oners. The  Federal  loss  was  7  killed,  64  wound- 
ed, and  7  missing. 

A  portion  of  Gen.  Marmaduke's  force  made 
their  way  to  Van  Buren  Creek,  and  300  of 
them  were  taken  prisoners,  on  the  Julia  Roan, 
on  the  28th  of  January.  The  greater  part, 
however,  descended  the  White  river,  and,  with 
Marmaduke  himself,  camped  at  Batesville,  Ark., 
from  which  town  they  were  driven,  after  a 
sharp  fight,  by  the  Federal  Col.  Waring,  on  the 
4th  of  February,  a  considerable  number  of  the 
Confederates  being  killed  and  wounded,  and  a 
colonel  and  a  number  of  privates  being  cap- 
tured. 

Gen.  Marmaduke  now  repaired  to  the  head- 
quarters of  the  Confederate  army  corps  in 
Arkansas,  at  Little  Eock,  and  the  next  two 
months  were  spent  by  the  generals  of  that 
corps  mainly  in  enlarging  and  disciplining 
their  force.  The  guerilla  bands  in  Arkansas 
and  Missouri  made  frequent  dashes  into  the 
towns,  and  occasionally  stopped  steamers  on 
the  Missouri  river,  and  plundered,  captured, 
and  murdered  Federal  citizens  and  soldiers,  as 
in  the  case  of  the  Sam  Gaty,  on  the  28th  of 
March,  but  these  were  only  the  acts  of  the  ir- 
regular and  bushwhacking  troops  in  Missouri, 
and  they  generally  met  with  swift  retribution 
from  the  militia  scouts  and  cavalry  parties  who 
patrolled  all  sections  of  that  State.  There  was 
no  considerable  movement  of  Confederate 
troops  till  the  latter  part  of  April. 

On  the  17th  of  April,  the  Confederate  gen- 
eral, Cabell,  left  Ozark,  Arkansas,  with  two 
thousand  men,  two  pieces  of  artillery,  and 
three  days'  rations,  to  attack  Fayetteville,  Ar- 
kansas, which  had  been  so  many  times  a  battle 
ground,  and  was  then  garrisoned  by  two  regi- 
ments of  Federal  troops  (the  1st  Arkansas  in- 
fantry and  the  1st  Arkansas  cavalry),  under  the 
command  of  Col.  M.  La  Rue  Harrison.  The 
attack  was  made  on  the  18th  about  sunrise,  and 


482 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


after  nearly  six  hours'  severe  fighting  the  Con- 
federates were  thoroughly  defeated  and  in  full 
retreat  for  Ozark.  Gen.  Marmaduke  and  his 
superior  officer,  Maj.-Gen.  Sterling  Price,  hav- 
ing at  last  collected  a  sufficiency  of  troops, 
mostly  Texans,  and  a  large  portion  of  them 
cavalry,  to  render  an  expedition  into  Missouri 
probably  successful,  sought  and  obtained  per- 
mission to  attempt  the  capture  and  destruction 
of  Cape  Girardeau,  at  that  tune  the  depot  of 
supplies  for  a  portion  of  Gen.  Grant's  army. 
The  Confederate  force,  which  consisted  of 
Price's  (1st)  army  corps  of  the  trans-Mississippi 
Department,  numbering  somewhat  more  than 
ten  thousand  men,  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Marmaduke,  left  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  about 
the  middle  of  April,  and  on  the  20th  had  cross- 
ed the  State  line,  and  following  the  course  of 
the  St.  Francis  river,  reached  Fredericktown, 
Mo.,  about  the  22d.  From  this  point  they 
marched  upon  Cape  Girardeau,  and  came  be- 
fore, the  town  on  the  25th.  The  garrison  there 
was  under  the  command  of  Gen.  John  McNeil, 
and  consisted  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
men,  mostly  militia.  Gen.  McNeil  had  reach- 
ed Cape  Girardeau  on  the  night  of  the  23d,  and 
had  taken  immediate  measures  for  the  removal 
of  the  Government  stores  into  Illinois,  and  had 
sent  to  St.  Louis  for  reehforcements.  Confi- 
dent of  success,  the  Confederates,  though  re- 
pulsed in  their  first  attack,  demanded  on  Satur- 
day night  (25th)  the  surrender  of  the  town', 
the  demand  being  made  by  acting  Brig.- Gen. 
Carter,  whose  brigade  was  in  the  advance. 
Gen.  McNeil  replied  at  once,  declining  to  sur- 
render, as  he  believed  himself  capable  of  main- 
taining its  possession.  Fighting  was  not  re- 
sumed till  10  A.M.  of  the  26th,  when  Gen.  Mar- 
maduke again  demanded  a  surrender,  threaten- 
ing to  storm  the  town  in  case  of  refusal.  Gen. 
McNeil  again  refused,  and  after  nearly  five 
hours'  fighting,  in  which  the  Federal  artillery, 
which  was  admirably  served,  caused  great  havoc 
among  the  Confederate  troops,  Gen.  Marma- 
duke retreated  southward.  He  was  pursued 
closely  by  Gen.  Vandever  and  Gen.  McNeil, 
and  harassed  severely,  but  succeeded  in  escap- 
ing into  Arkansas,  on  the  2d  of  May.  His  loss 
in  the  battle  of  Cape  Girardeau  was  sixty  kill- 
ed and  about  three  hundred  wounded.  In  his 
retreat  he  also  lost  a  considerable  number  of 
killed  and  wounded,  and  many  prisoners. 

On  the  6th  of  May  a  Federal  force  of  about 
one  thousand  cavalry,  and  about  the  same 
number  of  infantry,  under  command  of  Col. 
(acting  brigadier-general)  Powell  Clayton,  left 
Helena,  Arkansas,  on  an  expedition  to  the  re- 
gion of  Arkansas,  lying  between  the  White  and 
St.  Francis  rivers,  to  break  up  a  band  of  gue- 
rillas, and  destroy  Confederate  stores  accumu- 
lated there.  The  infantry  went  only  as  far  as 
Snitzn's  and  then  returned  to  Mariana.  The 
cavalry  proceeded  to  the  vicinity  of  Taylor's 
Creek,  a  large  detachment,  however,  going  to 
Mount  Vernon,  and  at  these  points,  on  the  llth 
of  May,  the  two  small  bodies  of  cavalry,  one 


numbering  two  hundred  and  thirty  men,  and 
the  other  seven,  hundred  and  twenty-five,  had 
each  a  severe  fight  with  separate  brigades  of 
Marmaduke's  division,  and  both  repulsed  them 
with  heavy  loss  to  the  Confederates. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  the  Federal  forces,  about 
one  thousand  two  hundred  in  number,  under 
the  command  of  Col.  William  A.  Phillips,  near 
Fort  Gibson,  Indian  Territory,  were  attacked 
by  the  Confederates,  under  Col.  (acting  briga- 
dier-general) Cofiey,  commanding  a  force  of 
five  regiments.  After  a  desultory  fight,  in 
which,  through  the  cowardice  of  the  Creek 
regiment,  the  Federal  troops  lost  a  part  of  their 
cattle,  Col.  Phillips  succeeded  in  driving  the 
Confederate  troops  over  the  mountain,  and 
finally,  in  complete  disorder,  across  the  Arkan- 
sas river.  The  loss  on  the  Federal  side  was 
about  twenty-six  in  killed,  wounded,  and  miss- 
ing ;  that  of  the  Confederates  considerably 
larger.  There  were  repeated  skirmishes  in 
this  and  other  portions  of  the  department,  but 
no  severe  fighting  in  the  Indian  Territory,  till 
July  15th,  when  Maj.-Gen.  Blunt  crossed  the 
Arkansas  river  near  Henry  Springs,  in  that 
territory,  and  on  the  16th  attacked  a  superior 
force  of  Confederates  under  Gen.  Cooper,  which 
he  completely  routed,  they  leaving  their  df  ad 
and  wounded  on  the  field.  The  Federal  loss 
was  seventeen  killed  and  sixty  wounded,  while 
that  of  the  Confederates  was  one  hundred  and 
fifty  killed  (buried  on  the  field  by  the  Federal 
troops),  four  hundred  wounded,  seventy-seven 
prisoners,  and  one  piece  of  artillery  and  one 
hundred  stand  of  arms  captured.  After  several 
subsequent  skirmishes  with  the  Confederates, 
Gen.  Blunt  descended  the  Arkansas  river,  and 
on  the  1st  of  September  occupied  Fort  Smith, 
Arkansas.  The  army  of  the  frontier  having 
been  greatly  depleted  to  furnish  reinforcements 
to  Gen.  Grant,  while  he  was  engaged  in  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  the  Confederate  generals 
in  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department  took  ad- 
vantage of  the  fact  to  make  an  attack  on  Helena, 
Arkansas,  where  the  Federal  general,  Prentiss, 
was  in  command,  with  a  force  of  about  four 
thousand  troops.  Here  again  Gen.  Sterling 
Price  and  Gen.  Marmaduke  found  scope  for 
action.  The  Confederate  attack  was  made  on 
the  4th  of  July,  with  a  force  of  about  fifteen 
thousand  men.  It  was  commenced  about  day- 
light, and,  at  first,  they  were  successful  in  cap- 
turing a  small  fort  forming  a  part  of  the  out- 
works, but  the  gunboat  Tyler,  coming  up  op- 
portunely, and  opening  upon  them  with  its 
heavy  guns,  they  were  compelled  to  abandon 
it  with  severe  loss.  Determined  not  to  relin- 
quish their  purpose,  the  Confederates  fought 
desperately,  charging  repeatedly,  and  with 
large  masses,  upon  the  defences  of  the  town, 
attacking  now  the  north,  and  now  the  south 
side,  but  everywhere  they  met  with  the  same 
terrible  resistance  from  the  Federal  fire  at 
short  range,  and  from  the  large  missiles  from 
the  gunboat;  and  at  length,  utterly  foiled  at 
every  point,  having  lost  over  one  thousand  in 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


483 


killed  and  wounded,  and  more  than  one  thou- 
sand one  hundred  prisoners,  the  Confederates 
fell  back,  and  though  remaining  for  a  day  or 
two  in  the  vicinity,  in  hope  of  an  opportunity 
to  renew  the  attack,  finding  the  Federal  garrison 
reenforced,  retreated  to  the  interior  of  Arkansas. 
After  the  surrender  of  Vickshurg,  the  Fed- 
eral Gen.  Steele  was  sent  to  Helena,  with  a 
considerable  force,  and  instructed  to  form  a 
junction  with  Gen.  Davidson,  who  was  moving 
south  from  Missouri,  by  way  of  Crowley's 
Ridge,  west  of  the  St.  Francis,  and  with  the 
combined  force  drive  the  Confederates  south 
of  the  Arkansas  River*  Having  effected  this 
junction  and  established  his  depot  and  hospi- 
tals at  Duvall's  Bluff,  on  the  White  River,  Gen. 
Steele,  on  the  1st  of  August,  advanced  against 
the  Confederate  army,  which  fell  back  toward 
Little  Rock.  After  several  successful  skir- 
mishes, he  reached  the  Arkansas  River,  and 
threw  part  of  his  force  upon  the  south  side,  to 
threaten  the  Confederate  communications  with 
Arkadelphia,  their  depot  of  supplies,  and  flank 
their  position  at  Little  Rock.  Gen.  Marmaduke 
was  sent  out  with  a  cavalry  force  to  beat  the 
Federals  back,  but  was  completely  routed.  See- 
ing what  must  be  the  inevitable  result  of  this 
movement  of  Gen.  Steele,  the  Confederate  Gen. 
Holmes  destroyed  what  property  he  could,  and 
after  a  slight  resistance  retreated  with  his 
army  in  great  disorder,  pursued  by  the  Federal 
cavalry,  and  on  the  10th  of  September  Gen. 
Steele,  with  the  Federal  army,  entered  the  cap- 
ital of  Arkansas.  His  entire  losses  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing,  in  this  whole  movement, 
did  not  exceed  one  hundred.  He  captured  one 
thousand  prisoners,  and  such  public  property  as 
the  Confederates  had  not  time  to  destroy.  The 
Federal  cavalry  continued  to  press  the  retreat- 
ing Confederates  southward ;  but  a  small  force, 
which  had  eluded  pursuit,  and  moved  east- 
ward, attacked  the  Federal  garrison  at  Pine 
Bluff,  on  the  Arkansas,  south  of  Little  Rock, 
hoping  to  recapture  it  and  thus  cripple  the 
Federals  and  break  their  communications. 
The  attempt,  which  was  made  on  the  28th  of 
October,  was  repulsed  with  decided  loss  on  the 
part  of  the  Confederates,  and  the  same  day  the 
Federal  cavalry  occupied  Arkadelphia,  and  the 
Confederates  retreated  toward  the  Red  River. 
This  completely  restored  Arkansas  to  the  Fed- 
eral authority,  except  a  small  district  in  the  ex- 
treme southwest,  and  the  region  of  Northwest 
Arkansas,  over  which  the  guerrilla  and  other 
,  irregular  troops  of  the  Confederates  continued 
to  roam,  in  their  plundering  excursions  into 
Missouri,  Kansas,  and  the  Indian  Territory. 
Some  of  these  were  conducted  on  a  large  scale, 
and  were  accompanied  by  acts  of  most  atro- 
cious inhumanity.  On  the  20th  of  August  one 
of  the  guerrilla  leaders,  who  had  assumed  the 
name  of  Quantrell,  or  Quantrile,  with  a  force  of 
eight  hundred,  entered  the  city  of  Lawrence, 
Kansas;  murdered  in  cold  blood  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  of  its  citizens,  and  burned  the 
greater  part  of  the  city,  destroying  property  to 


the  value  of  over  $2,000,000.  He  was  pursued 
as  soon  as  troops  could  be  raised,  and  forty  or 
fifty  of  his  men  killed.  The  Confederate  Gen. 
Cabell,  collecting  together  as  many  of  the  guer- 
rillas and  Indians  as  possible,  and  some  of  the 
routed  troops,  driven  from  Little  Rock  and  its 
vicinity,  started  with  a  force  variously  estimat- 
ed at  from  4,000  to  10,000,  in  the  latter  part 
of  September,  from  the  Choctaw  settlements 
of  the  Indian  Territory,  crossed  the  Arkansas 
River  east  of  Fort  Smith,  and  on  the  1st  of  Oc- 
tober, a  detachment  of  his  troops,  under  Gen. 
Shelby,  joined  Coffey  at  Crooked  Prairie,  Mo., 
intending  to  make  a  raid  into  Southwestern  Mis- 
souri. This  combined  force,  numbering  2,000 
or  2,600  men,  penetrated  as  far  as  the  Missouri 
River  at  Booneville,  but  were  pursued  by  the 
Missouri  militia,  and  finally  brought  to  a  stand 
about  eight  miles  southwest  of  Arrow  Rock, 
on  the  evening  of  the  12th  of  October,  Gen. 
E.  B.  Brown,  who  commanded  the  Federal 
troops,  fought  them  till  dark  that  evening,  and, 
during  the  night,  having  detached  a  small  force 
to  attack  them  in  the  rear,  renewed  the  battle 
the  next  morning  at  eight  A.  M.  After  a  sharp 
contest  they  fled,  completely  routed  and  broken 
up,  with  a  loss  of  several  hundred  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners.  They  were  pursued 
to  the  Arkansas  line,  and  prisoners  gleaned  all 
the  way.  Gen.  Marmaduke,  who  seems  to  have 
been  with  Gen.  Cabell,  attempted  to  advance 
from  Fayettville,  Ark.,  to  reenforce  them,  but 
found  them  so  thoroughly  disorganized  that  the 
case  was  hopeless. 

Early  in  October  a  desperate  effort  was  made 
to  capture  and  murder  Gen.  Blunt  and  his  staff, 
who  was  at  this  time  marching  toward  Fort 
Scott,  Kansas.  Three  hundred  Confederate 
soldiers  in  Union  uniform  approached  him  as 
he  with  his  escort  was  in  advance  of  his  wag- 
ons. The  escort,  consisting  of  a  hundred  men, 
broke  when  the  Confederates  commenced  firing 
on  them,  and  seventy-eight  of  the  hundred, 
including  Major  Curtis,  a  son  of  Gen.  Curtis, 
were  captured,  and  murdered  after  their  cap- 
ture. Gen.  Blunt  succeeded  in  rallying  fifteen 
of  the  escort,  and  with  these  he  advanced  on 
his  assailants,  who  retreated,  till  he  found  an 
opportunity  of  moving  south,  and  joining  the 
remainder  of  his  command.  These  men,  who 
thus  murdered  their  prisoners,  were  under  the 
command  of  Quantrell.  The  Confederates  sup- 
posed that  Gen.  Blunt  had  been  killed,  and 
greatly  rejoiced  over  his  death.  On  the  20th 
of  October  Gen.  Blunt  was  relieved  from  the 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Frontier,  and 
Gen.  McNeil  appointed  his  successor. 

"With  these  last  convulsive  throes,  the  active 
existence  of  the  Confederate  authority  in  Ar- 
kansas died  out.  On  the  12th  of  November  a 
meeting  was  held  at  Little  Rock,  to  consult  on 
measures  for  the  restoration  of  the  State  to  the 
Union,  and  was  succeeded  by  others  in  different 
parts  of  the  State. 

The  most  atrocious  outrage  of  the  war  waa 
the  attack  of  Col.  Quantrell  and  his  band  of 


484 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Confederate  guerrillas  upon  the  thriving  city 
of  Lawrence,  on  the  21st  of  August,  1863. 
The  attack  was  made  in  the  early  morning,  and 
entirely  without  warning.  The  citizens,  un- 
armed, were  unable  to  make  any  defence,  and 
were  many  of  them  shot  down  in  the  streets 
in  cold  blood.  The  Eldridge  House,  the  largest 
hotel  in  the  city,  and  all  the  stores  on  Massa- 
chusetts Street,  the  principal  business  street, 
were  plundered  and  burned,  as  were  many 
dwellings  and  stores  in  other  parts  of  the  city. 
Two  hundred  and  five  men  were  killed  and 
many  others  wounded.  No  women  or  children 
were  killed  or  wounded,  though  one  assailant 
snapped  his  pistol  at  Miss  Lydia  Stone,  a  heroic 
woman,  who  had  exposed  her  life  for  the  pres- 
ervation of  others.  Several  of  the  churches 
were  destroyed,  and  the  property  stolen  and 
burned  was  estimated  to  exceed  the  value  of 
$2,000,000.  Quantrell,  the  leader  of  the  gang, 
had  been  at  one  time  a  resident  of  Lawrence. 
Senator  Lane  (General  James  H.  Lane)  was  in 
Lawrence  at  the  time,  but  succeeded  in  avoid- 
ing the  guerrilla.s,  and  as  soon  as  they  left  the 
town  raised  such  force  as  could  be  gathered 
and  started  in  pursuit.  Some  thirty  or  forty 
of  the  guerrillas  were  overtaken  and  slain,  but 
the  remainder  got  away  safely  with  their  plun- 
der. Much  indignation  was  felt  by  the  citizens 
of  Kansas  at  the  alleged  remissness  of  General 
Ewing,  who  was  in  command  of  the  district  of 
Kansas  and  "Western  Missouri,  and  of  General 
Schofield,  who  commanded  the  Department  of 
Missouri.  Two  days  after  the  attack,  General 
Ewing  issued  the  following  order : 

KANSAS  CITY,  Mo.,  August  23, 1868. 

All  persons  living  in  Jackson,  Cass,  and  Bates 
Counties,  Missouri,  and  that  part  of  Vernpn  County 
included  in  this  district,  except  those  living  within 
one  mile  of  the  limits  of  Independence,  Hickman's 
Mill,  Pleasant  Hill,  and  Harrisonville,  and  except 
those  in  Kaw  township,  Jackson  County,  north  of 
this  creek  and  west  of  the  Big  Blue,  embracing  Kansas 
City  and  Westport,  are  hereby  ordered  to  remove 
from  their  present  places  of  residence  within  fifteen 
days  from  the  date  hereof. 

Those  who  within  that  time  prove  their  loyalty  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the  mil- 
itary station  nearest  their  present  places  of  residence, 
will  receive  from  him  certificates  stating  the  fact  of 
their  loyalty  and  the  names  of  the  witnesses  by  whom 
it  can  be  sworn.  All  who  have  received  such  certifi- 
cates will  be  permitted  to  remove  to  any  military  sta- 
tion in  this  district,  or  to  any  part  of  Kansas  except 
the  counties  on  the  eastern  border  of  the  State.  All 
others  shall  remove  out  of  this  district.  Officers  com- 
manding companies  and  detachments  serving  in  com- 
panies, will  see  that  this  paragraph  is  promptly 
obeyed. 

All  hay  or  grain  in  the  field  or  under  shelter  in  the 
district  from  which  the  inhabitants  are  required  to 
remove  within  reach  of  the  military  stations  after  the 
Vth  of  September  next,  will  be  taken  to  such  stations 
and  turned  over  to  the  proper  officers  there,  and  a 
report  of  the  amount  so  turned  over  made  to  the  dis- 
trict headquarters,  specifying  the  names  of  all  loyal 
owners  and  the  amount  of  such  produce  taken  from 
them.  All  grain  and  hay  found  in  such  districts  after 
the  9th  of  September  next,  not  convenient  to  such 
stations,  will  be  destroyed. 

Quantrell  and  his  band  of  marauders  for 
some  time  hovered  around  the  Kansas  border. 


The  Department  of  the  Northwest  was  not 
without  its  disturbances,  though  the  wholesale 
massacres  of  the  previous  year  were,  happily, 
not  repeated.  During  the  spring  and  early 
summer  there  were  occasional  outrages  on  the 
part  of  the  Sioux  of  Mianesota  and  Dakota,  who 
penetrated  the  lines,  although  a  guard  of  2,000 
men  were  stationed  along  the  frontier,  and 
murdered  about  30  persons.  About  a  dozen  of 
these  assassins  were  captured  or  killed.  Early 
in  June  General  Sibley  started  with  a  force  of 
between  two  and  three  thousand  .men  for 
Devil's  Lake,  in  Dakota  Territory,  500  miles 
from  St.  Paul's,  and  sent  General  Sully,  about 
the  same  time,  with  a  large  body  of  cavalry,  up 
the  Missouri,  to  cooperate  with  him  in  cutting 
off  the  retreat  of  the  savages.  On  the  3d  of 
July,  Little  Crow,  the  principal  chief  of  the 
Sioux,  who  had  been  actively  engaged  during 
the  winter  and  spring  in  endeavoring  to  raise 
the  Sioux  and  Yanktonians  to  make  another  at- 
tack upon  the  settlers  in  Minnesota,  and  had 
endeavored  to  obtain  guns  and  ammunition 
from  British  America,  was  killed  by  Mr. 
Sampson,  about  six  miles  north  of  Hutchinson, 
Minnesota.  He  was  not  fully  identified  till  some 
time  after.  The  cavalry  force  under  General 
Sully  failed  to  connect  with  General  Sibley, 
and  that  General  encountered  the  Indians,  near 
Missouri  Conteau,  on  the  25th  of  July,  and  en- 
gagements followed  between  that  date  and  the 
29th,  at  Big  Mound,  Dead  Buffalo  Lake,  Stony 
Lake,  and  on  the  banks  of  the  Missouri.  In 
these  engagements  between  60  and  70  of  the 
Indians  were  killed  and  as  many  more  wounded. 
The  loss  of  General  Sibley's  troops  was  five 
killed  and  four  wounded.  On  the  3d  of  Septem- 
ber General  Sully  encountered  and  defeated  a 
body  of  Indians  at  Whitestone  Hall,  about  130 
miles  above  the  little  Cheyenne.  A  part  of  these 
Indians  had  previously  been  engaged  against  Gen. 
Sibley.  A  large  number  of  them  were  killed 
and  wounded,  and  156  taken  prisoners.  Gen. 
Sully's  loss  was  20  killed  and  38  wounded. 
The  Indians  fled  across  the  Missouri,  and  most 
of  them,  it  is  believed,  took  refuge  in  Idaho 
Territory,  where  they  were,  late  in  the  year, 
guilty  of  some  outrages. 

In  January,  1863,  roving  bands  of  Indians 
committed  some  thefts,  robberies,  and  murders 
in  the  western  part  of  what  is  now  called  Idaho 
Territory,  in  the  vicinity  of  Bear  River.  Act- 
ing Brig.-General  Connor,  in  command  in  that 
region,  marched  with  a  force  of  275  men  to 
Bear  River,  a  distance  of  140  miles,  through . 
deep  snows,  in  which  76  of  his  men  were  dis- 
abled by  frozen  feet,  and  with  200  men  at- 
tacked the  Indian  stronghold,  in  which  300 
warriors  were  assembled,  and  after  a  hard- 
fought  battle  of  four  hours,  destroyed  the_entire 
band,  leaving  224  dead  upon  the  field.  His  own 
loss  was  14  killed  and  49  wounded.  Since  that 
time  the  Indians  in  that  quarter  have  been  quiet. 

At  the  close  of  1863  the  federal  armies  had 
made  large  progress.  The  State  of  ^Missouri 
was  placed  beyond  the  danger  of  an  invasion. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


485 


The' military  power  of  the  enemy  in  Arkansas 
was  broken,  and  the  greatest  portion  of  the 
State  made  subject  to  the  army  of  the  Union. 
The  occupation  of  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
in  Western  Texas,  had  destroyed  one  outlet 
from  the  Confederacy  to  foreign  countries,  and 
the  commerce  which  thereby  existed.  The 
capture  of  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson  removed 
from  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  every  milita- 
ry station  of  the  enemy,  by  which  the  naviga- 
tion of  that  river  could  be  closed.  It  broke  up 
the  facilities  for  communication  between  the 
States  east  and  west  of  that  river,  and,  with  the 
occupation  of  the  eastern  part  of  Tennessee, 
gave  the  Federal  arms  the  entire  control  of 
that  State.  It  brought  under  the  same  control 
a  part  of  the  States  of  Mississippi  and  Louisiana 
on  the  shores  of  the  river.  In  the  East  there 
was  no  material  change  in  the  position  of  mili- 
tary affairs.  No  operations  of  any  magnitude 
had  taken  place  in  the  Departments  of  Virgi- 
nia and  North  Carolina.  And  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  siege  of  Charleston,  the  same  is  true 
of  the  department  of  the  South,  embracing  the 
States  o&Sft&tf1  Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Florida. 
The  terrHfijs:  1jh.us  lost  by  the  enemy  embraced 
eome  of  tKe  mWftpmportant  districts  for  pro- 
ducing grain  awtcattle  in  the  Southern  States. 
It  also  contained  some  valuable  deposits  of 
nitre,  used  for  the  manufacture  of  gunpowder. 
The  Secretary  of  "War,  in  his  annual  report,  in 
December,  said:  "The  success  of  our  arms 
during  the  last  year  has  enabled  the  Depart- 
ment to  make  a  reduction  of  over  two  hundred 
millions  of  dollars  in  the  war  estimate  for  the 
ensuing  fiscal  year." 

The  desolation  caused  by  the  war  is  almost 
indescribable.  The  condition  of  Mississippi  will 
serve  as  an  illustration.  When  Gen.  Grant's 
army  advanced  as  far  south  as  Oxford  and  the 
Yallabusha  at  the  close  of  1862,  the  inhabitants 
had  an  opportunity  to  purchase  a  few  of  the 
most  indispensable  articles  of  clothing  and 
household  economy,  but  in  the  part  of  the  State 
between  Jackson  and  Granada  there  had  not 
been  even  the  most  meagre  stock  of  goods  taken 
for  three  years.  The  destitution  of  the  poor 
there  reduced  them  almost  to  a  state  of  barbar- 
ism. Of  the  fifty  plantations  on  the  road  from 
Lagrange,  Tennessee,  to  Holly  Springs,  Missis- 
sippi, only  five  were  occupied.  The  rest  were 
abandoned,  and  in  a  majority  of  instances  the 
buildings  were  burned.  On  the  26th  of  May, 
an  expedition,  consisting  of  the  10th  Missouri, 
7th  Kansas,  and  15th  Illinois  cavalry  and  9th 
Illinois  mounted  infantry,  left  Corinth  for  the 
purpose  of  a  raid  through  a  portion  of  country 
which  had  escaped  the  ravages  of  war.  The 
expedition  passed  to  Florence,  Ala.,  and  Savan- 
nah, Tenn.,  and  returned  to  Corinth  on  the 
31st,  being  absent  five  days  and  nights.  What 
it  accomplished  in  so  short  a  space  of  time  is 
thus  described  : 

We  burned  seven  cotton  factories,  costing  an  aver- 
age of  $200,000  each.  The  Southern  Confederacy 
nadofiered  for  the  largest  $1,000, 000  containing  three 


hundred  looms.  They  employed  on  an  average  one 
hundred  men  and  the  same  number  of  women  and 
children  each.  But  their  contents  were  more  valuable 
than  the  buildings  and  machinery,  having  a  large 
amount  of  stock  and  manufactured  goods  on  hand.  A 
large  amount  of  steam  flouring  and  saw  mills  was 
likewise  burned.  A  number  of  blacksmiths'  and  wag- 
onmakers'  shops  were  destroyed,  they  being  employed 
on  Government  work,  and  containing  large  numbers 
of  wagons,  arms  of  all  kinds,  &c.,  &c.  A  ton  of  pow- 
der, a  large  number  of  arms  of  English  manufacture, 
600,000  rounds  of  fixed  ammunition,  each  cartridge 
having  the  crown  of  England  stamped  upon  it,  and 
several  boxes  containing  shell,  were  destroyed.  A 
number  of  dwelling  houses  were  accidentally  burned 
by  our  shells.  The  splendid,  bridge  near  Florence 
was  burned.  All  along  the  route,  both  going  and 
returning,  our  command  marched  in  line  through  the 
waving  wheat,  just  ripe,  utterly  destroying  it.  An 
immense  ("immense"  is  not  the  word — language  can- 
not describe  the  scene — the  smoke  arising  from 
burning  corn  cribs  in  every  direction,  and  for  miles 
each  side  of  our  path)  amount  of  forage  was  destroy- 
ed ;  some  was  passed  by  on  account  of  the  close  prox- 
imity of  dwelling  houses.  Large  quantities  of  meat, 
&c.,  were  used,  but  more  wasted  and  destroyed.  The 
people  appear  to  think  that  starvation  is  staring  them 
in  the  face ;  but  let  their  Government  protect  them, 
and  they  will  no  doubt  fare  very  well.  We  captured 
two  majors,  two  captains,  four  or  five  lieuten- 
ants, and  about  one  hundred  men.  A  large  Rebel 
flag  was  also  captured.  An  immense  amount  of  stock 
— horses,  mules,  oxen,  cows,  carriages,  Ac.,  &c. — was 
taken  and  turned  over  \o  the  Government.  About 
twenty  men,  who  have  escaped  conscription  by  lying 
in  the  bush  and  other  places  of  concealment,  accom- 
panied us  into  camp,  and  are  joining  some  one  of  our 
regiments  here.  We  brought  about  one  thousand 
contrabands — men,  women,  and  children — about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  of  them  joining  the  negro  brigade. 
And  all  with  a  loss  of  less  than  thirty  wounded  and 
missing. 

About  the  same  time  an  expedition  consist- 
ing of  six  brigades,  and  numbering  about  ten 
thousand  men,  moved  up  between  the  Big 
Black  and  Yazoo  Rivers.  The  object  was  to 
destroy  the  resources  of  the  country,  to  prevent 
the  enemy  from  subsisting  their  armies,  and  to 
drive  out  any  force  that  might  be  in  that  region. 
The  results  of  the  expedition  are  thus  described : 

We  have  marched  over  a  hundred  miles  in  a  week 
during  the  hottest  kind  of  weather.  We  destroyed  all 
the  forage  and  supplies  and  cotton,  and  drove  off  all 
the  cattle,  horses,  and  mules  between  the  two  lines 
for  a  distance  of  fifty  miles.  We  met  no  considerable 
body  of  the  enemy,  and  had  only  one  or  two  slight 
skirmishes ;  but  we  ascertained  where  the  enemy  was 
concentrating,  and  gained  much  valuable  information 
which  may  be  of  use  hereafter.  It  was  made  our 
painful  but  imperative  duty  to  destroy  every  thing — 
corn,  cotton,  meat,  mills,  and  cotton  gins — that  we 
could  find,  sparing  only  dwellings  and  a  small  supply 
of  provisions  for  each  family.  The  command  will 
rest  here  for  a  day  or  so,  and  then  return  to  Vicksburg, 
which  cannot  hold  out  very  long  against  our  forces. 

The  number  of  locomotives  and  cars  destroy- 
ed on  the  railroads  of  Mississippi  during  the 
year  is  stated  to  have  been  seventy-seven  of 
the  former,  and  about  six  hundred  of  the  latter. 
Owing  to  the  destruction  of  bridges  it  was  im- 
possible to  remove  a  large  portion  of  the  for- 
mer after  they  were  captured. 

On  the  1st  of  August  Gen.  Grant  issued  the 
following  order  recommending  that  in  the  re- 
gion subject  to  his  arms  the  freedom  of  the 


486 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


negroes  should  be  acknowledged,  and  instead 
of  compulsory  labor,  contracts  upon  fair  terms 
should  be  made  between  master  and  servants : 

llEADQC ATF.RS  DEB1!.  OF  THE  TEN?TE8ST?E,  I 

VIOKSBUEO,  Miss.,  August  1st,  1863.     J 

1.  All  regular  organized  bodies  of  the  enemy  having 
been  driven  from  those  parts  of  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee west  of  the  Tennessee  River,  and  from  all  Mis- 
sissippi west  of  the  Mississippi  Central  Railroad,  and 
it  being  to  the  interest  of  those  districts  not  to  invite 
the  presence  of  armed  bodies  of  men  among  them,  it 
is  announced  that  the  most  rigorous  penalties  will 
hereafter  be  inflicted  upon  the  following  class  of  pris- 
oners, to  wit:  All  irregular  bodies  or  cavalry  not 
mustered  and  paid  by  the  Confederate  authorities ;  all 
persons  engaged  in  conscription,  or  in  apprehending 
deserters,  whether  regular  or  irregular ;  all  citizens 
encouraging  or  aiding  the  same ;  and  all  persons  de- 
tected firing  upon  unarmed  transports.    It  is  not 
contemplated  that  this  order  shall  affect  the  treatment 
due  to  prisoners  of  war  captured  within  the  districts 
named,  when  they  are  members  of  legally  organized 
companies,  and  when  their  acts  are  in  accordance 
with  the  usages  of  civilized  warfare. 

2.  The  citizens  of  Mississippi  within  the  limits  above 
described  are  called  upon  to  pursue  their  peaceful 
avocations,  in  obedience  to  the  laws  of  the  United 
States.    Whilst  doing  so  in  good  faith,  all  United 
States  forces  are  prohibited  from  molesting  them  in 
any  way.    It  is  earnestly  recommended  that  the  free- 
dom of  negroes  be  acknowledged,  and  that  instead  of 
compulsory  labor  contracts  upon  fair  terms  be  entered 
into  between  the  former  masters.and  servants,  or  be- 
tween the  latter  and  such  other  persons  as  may  be 
willing  to  give  them  employment.    Such  a  system  as 
this,  honestly  followed,  will  result  in  substantial  ad- 
vantages to  all  parties. 

All  private  property  will  be  respected  except  when 
the  use  of  it  is  necessary  for  the  Government,  in  which 
case  it  must  be  taken  under  the  direction  of  a  corps 
commander,  and  by  a  proper  detail  under  charge  of  a 


commissioned  officer,  with  specific  instructions  to 
seize  certain  property  and  no  other.  A  staff  officer 
of  the  quartermaster  or  subsistence  department  will, 
in  each  instance,  be  designated  to  receipt  for  such  prop- 
erty as  may  be  seized,  the  property  to  be  paid  for  at 
the  end  of  the  war  on  proof  of  loyalty,  or  on  proper 
adjustment  of  the  claim,  under  such  regulations  or 
laws  as  may  hereafter  be  established.  All  property 
seized  under  this  order  must  be  taken  up  on  returns 
by  the  officer  giving  receipts,  and  disposed  of  in'accord- 
ance  with  existing  regulations.  *  *  *  * 
4.  Within  the  county  of  Warren,  laid  waste  by  the 
long  presence  of  contending  armies,  the  following  rules 
to  prevent  suffering  will  be  observed :  Maj-Gen.  Sher- 
man, commanding  the  Fifteenth  army  corps,  and  Maj.- 
Gen  McPherson,  commanding  the  Seventeenth  army 
corps,  will  each  designate  a  commissary  ofsubsistence, 
who  will  issue  articles  of  prime  necesity  to  all  desti- 
tute families  calling  for  them,  under  such  restric- 
tions for  the  protection  of  the  Government  as  they 
deem  necessary.  Families  who  are  able  to  pay  for  the 
provisions  drawn  will,in  all  cases,  be  required  to  do  so. 

On  the  march  of  Gen.  Sherman  from  East- 
port,  Miss.,  where  his  army  abandoned  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad,  to  re'enforco 
Gen.  Grant  at  Chattanooga,  his  force  was  sub- 
sisted on  the  route. 

A  very  limited  amount  of  supplies  was 
brought  by  wagons,  but  the  whole  country  for 
miles  on  either  flank  was  stripped  of  every  ar- 
ticle of  food  and  every  pound  of  forage.  The 
citizens  were  sorely  pressed,  but  the  safety  and 
sustenance  of  armies  were  balanced  against  this 
fact,  and  decided  in  favor  of  the  latter.  All  ani- 
mals capable  of  carrying  a  soldier,  his  gun  and 
blanket,  were  pressed  into  the  service,  and  al- 
most the  whole  command  consequently  arrived 
mounted. 


CHAPTEE  XXXYII. 

Progress  of  Civil  Affairs— Finances  of  the  Insurrectionary  States— Decay  of  Railroads— Crops— Mission  of  Mr.  A.  H. 
*   Stephens — His  Eeport — President  Lincoln's  Statement  of  the  Condition  of  Affairs— His  Amnesty  Proclamation — 
Efforts  to  secure  the  advantages  of  the  Emancipation  Proclamation — Freedmen— Federal  Finances — Confiscation — Ex- 
change of  Prisoners. 


THE  'progress  of  civil  affairs  is  too  important 
to  be  overlooked.  The  year  1863  did  not  ex- 
hibit much  advance  in  a  commercial  point  of 
view.  The  expectations  that  had  been  enter- 
tained of  an  immediate  renewal  of  trade  as  a 
necessary  consequence  of  the  opening  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  the  continued  occupation  of  the 
Atlantic  coast  of  South  and  North  Carolina,  and 
the  penetration  of  the  troops  into  the  Texan 
country,  were  not  realized ;  and  the  foreign  com- 
merce of  the  country  was  greatly  contracted  in 
face  of  the  improved  harvests  in  Europe.  These 
have  enabled  the  people  to  dispense  with  much 
of  the  breadstuffs  and  provisions  which  were 
the  main  staples  of  the  national  export. 

Extensive  regulations  were  adopted  by  the 
Government  of  the  United  States  relative  to 
trade  with  the  inhabitants  within  the  lines  of 


the  army  in  the  insurrectionary  States.  The 
results,  however,  were  very  limited. 

In  the  insurrectionary  States  the  currency 
exerted  a  most  unfavorable  influence  on  their 
internal  affairs,  and  very  seriously  diminished 
the  hopes  of  the  people  of  ultimate  success  in 
the  war. 

At  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  the  im- 
pression was  universal  that  the  war  would  be 
short.  The  most  distinguished  politicians,  the 
wisest  commercial  men  and  capitalists  of  all 
classes,  indeed  every  household,  acted  upon  this 
view.  Hence,  every  one  was  soon  embarrassed 
for  the  want  of  hundreds  of  small  articles, 
which  might  have  been  procured  at  cheap  rates 
if  the  parties  had  been  able  to  look  only  a  few 
months  into  the  future.  This  same  short-sight- 
edness controlled  the  financial  affairs  of  the 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


487 


Confederacy.  Its  loans  were  to  be  in  bonds, 
and  its  currency  was  to  be  paper.  The  capital 
invested  in  the  bonds  was  drawn  principally 
from  banks,  from  merchants  who  had  been 
driven  out  of  business,  and  from  trust  estates 
and  charitable  institutions.  Such  sources  were 
soon  exhausted,  and  it  became  impossible  to 
make  further  progress  in  bonding  by  appeals 
to  the  patriotism  of  the  people,  in  consequence 
of  their  peculiar  habits.  There  were  no  great 
money  capitalists  in  the  community.  The  cap- 
ital of  the  people  consisted  mainly  in  lands  and 
negroes,  and  the  habits  of  the  wealthy  for  gen- 
erations had  kept  them  in  one  channel — that 
of  producing  cotton,  tobacco,  and  rice — the  sur- 
plus products  to  be  invested  in  lands  and  ne- 
groes. This  thirst  for  land  and  negro  invest- 
ments absorbed  the  millions  of  income,  and 
kept  the  people  generally  in  debt  as  much  as  a 
year's  income.  There  existed  no  millionnaire 
bankers,  merchants,  manufacturers,  and  other 
moneyed  capitalists,  that  lived  in  splendor  on 
incomes  derived  from  money  at  interest.  Such 
people  as  those  were  not  in  a  situation  to  invest 
in  bonds ;  nor  was  it  reasonable  to  expect  them 
to  volunteer  to  invest  in  bonds  at  the  expense 
of  incurring  new  debts,  or  with  the  necessity 
of  selling  property.  Many,  very  many  planters 
who  subscribed  to  the  cotton  loan  .sold  the 
bonds  immediately,  and  invested  the  proceeds 
in  the  payment  of  debts,  or  in  land  and  negroes, 
and  were  unwilling  afterward  to  sell,  even  to 
aid  the  Government,  any  of  their  agricultural 
products  for  less  than  the  highest  market  value 
-for  currency.  Many  were  not  willing  to  sell 
for  currency  at  any  price.  The  consequence 
of  this  was  an  act  of  impressment  on  the  part 
of  the  Government,  and  starvation  to  towns 
and  villages,  and  all  that  class  of  persons  who 
live  on  fixed  incomes. 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  finances 
at  the  close  of  the  third  quarter  of  1863 : 

Receipts  from  January  1st  to  September  BOth,  1863. 

For  eight  per  cent  stock $107,292,900 

For  seven  percent,  stock 88,787,660 

For  six  per  cent  stock 6,810,050 

For  five  per  cent  call  certificates 22,992,900 

For  four  per  cent  call  certificates 482,200 

Cotton  certificates,  act  of  April  21st,  1862 2,000,000 

Interest  on  loans 140,210 

War  tax 4,128,988 

Treasury  notes 391,623,580 

Sequestration 1,862,556 

Customs 984,798 

Export  duty  on  cotton 8,101 

Patent  fund 10,794 

Miscellaneous,  including  repayments  by  disburs- 
ing officers 24,498,217 

Total $601,522,893 

Expenditures  during  same  period. 

War  Department $377,988,244 

Wavy  Department 83,437,661 

Civil,  Miscellaneous,  etc 11,629,278 

Customs 56,636 

Pubjic  debt 82,212,290 

Notes  cancelled  and  redeemed 69,044,449 

Total  expenditures $519,868,559 

Total  of  receipts t 601,522,893 

Balance  in  treasury $82,154,334 


Brought  forward $82,154,884 

From  which  is  to  be  deducted  the  amount  of 
Treasury  notes  which  have  been  funded  and 
brought  in  for  cancellation,  but  have  not  yet 
been  regularly  audited,  estimated 65,000,000 

Total $17,154,384 

The  public  debt  (exclusive  of  the  foreign  loan) 
at  the  same  period,  was  as  follows : 
Funded. 

Eight  per  cents.... $207,128,750 

Seven  per  cents 42,745,600 

Six  per  cents 41,006,270 

Six  per  cent,  cotton  interest  bonds 2,085,000 

Total $292,915,620 

Unfunded. 

Treasury  notes :  general  currency $603,632,798 

Two-year  notes 8,477,975 

Interest  notes  at  3.65 627,460 

Interest  notes  at  7.80 122,582,200 

Under  $5 4,887,095 

Five  per  cent,  call  certificates 26,240,000 

Total $766,447,519 

Deduct  amount  of  Treasury  notes  funded  and 

cancelled 65,000,000 

Total $701,447,519 

In  order  to  estimate  the  amount  of  Treasury 
notes  in  circulation  at  the  date  of  this  report, 
there  must  be  added  the  further  sum  of  one 
hundred  millions  for  the  two  months  which 
have  elapsed  since  the  date  of  the  above  sched- 
ules. The  balance  of  appropriations  made  by 
Congress,  and  not  drawn  on  September  30th, 
stood  as  follows : 

War  Department $895,502,698 

Navy  Department 24,413,645 

Civil,  Miscellaneous,  etc. 66,240,996 

Customs 294,460 

Total $476,451,799 

The  estimates  submitted  by  the  various  de- 
partments for  the  support  of  the  Government, 
were  made  to  July  1st,  1864,  the  end  of  the 
fiscal  year,  and  were  as  follows : 

$809,005 
52,350 
22,583,859 
488,078,870 
13,624,945 
8,908 


Legislative  Department 

Executive 

Treasury 

War 

Navy 

Post  Office          " 

State 

Justice  " 


544,409 
222,587 


Total $475498,493 

If  these  estimates  be  extended  to  embrace 
the  remaining  six  months  of  the  same  year, 
they  must  be  doubled,  and  that  sum  added  to 
the  undrawn  appropriations  would  make  an 
aggregate  of  $1,427,448,778. 

The  Confederate  currency  was  sold  during 
the  year  at  six  cents,  and  less,  on  the  dollar. 
This  depreciation  was  followed  by  most  disas- 
trous effects.  The  staple  property  of  the  coun- 
try became  worth  two  or  three,  and  in  some 
cases  four,  times  its  old  value.  But  most  of 
the  articles  of  consumption,  such  as  food  and 
clothing,  were  from  five  to  one  hundred  times 
"their  former  value. 

The  most  serious  consequence  which  result- 
ed from  the  depreciation  of  the  currency,  was 
the  refusal  of  the  agriculturists  to  sell  their 
produce  for  the  Government  notes,  or  to  sell 
only  at  the  highest  price.  This*  determination, 


488 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


if  adhered  to,  would  result  in  the  destruction 
of  the  army  from  a  lack  of  supplies,  and  the 
starvation  of  the  people  who  were  engaged  in 
other  industrial  pursuits  in  towns  and  cities. 
In  anticipation  of  this  danger,  an  act  was 
passed  by  Congress  in  the  Beginning  of  the 
year,  which  authorized  the  Government  to 
seize  or  impress  all  the  produce  necessary  for 
the  a"rmy.  It  provided  that  a  hoard  of  com- 
missioners should  he  appointed  in  each  State, 
who  should  determine,  every  sixty  days,  the 
prices  which  the  Government  should  pay  for 
each  article  of  produce  impressed  within  the 
State.  A  central  board  of  commissioners  was 
also  appointed  for  all  the  States.  The  act  au- 
thorized the  agents  of  the  Government  to  seize 
all  the  produce  of  the  farmer,  except  so  much 
as  was  necessary  to  maintain  himself  and  fam- 
ily. For  this  produce  the  agent  paid  at  the 
rate  fixed  by  the  State  commissioners.  The 
operation  of  the  act  created  an  unparalleled  ex- 
citement among  the  people. 

The  embarrassment  which  arose  from  this 
state  of  affairs  was  greatly  increased  by  the 
decay  of  the  railroads.  The  means  of  trans- 
portation possessed  in  the  Southern  States  be- 
came more  and  more  limited  during  each  year 
of  the  war.  In  Virginia  the  railroads  were  on 
the  point  of  giving  out  at  the  beginning  of  1863. 
Their  rate  of  speed  was  reduced  to  ten  miles  an 
hour  as  a  maximum,  and  their  tonnage  dimin- 
ished from  twenty-five  to  fifty  per  cent.  This 
change  in  the  rate  of  speed  and  quantity  of 
freight  was  made  through  necessity.  The  wood 
work  of  the  roads  had  rotted,  and  the  machin- 
ery was  worn  out,  and  owing  to  the  stringent 
enforcement  of  the  conscription  law  among  the 
men  employed  by  the  railroad  companies,  they 
had  not  been  able,  with  all  their  efforts,  to  re- 
new the  one  or  repair  the  other.  This  failure 
extended  to  the  roads  in  all  the  States.  The 
scarcity  of  iron  for  rails  was  another  serious 
injury,  which  could  not  be  repaired.  In  this 
respect,  the  pressure  of  the  blockade  was  more 
severely  felt  than  in  any  other.  So  completely 
weve  these  roads  a  part  of  the  military  system, 
that  serious  apprehensions  existed  that  the 
armies  might  be  obliged  to  fall  back  from  some 
of  their  positions  in  consequence  of  the  diffi- 
culty of  getting  to  them  food  for  men  and  horses. 
The  country  in  the  vicinity  of  the  armies,  had 
been  stripped  of  its  provisions  and  forage,  and 
they  depended  for  their  existence  and  the  main- 
tenance of  their  positions  upon  the  railroads. 
The  better  the  roads  were,  the  more  certain 
were  the  supplies  of  the  troops  and  their  ability 
to  resist  all  the  efforts  of  the  Federal  army  to 
occupy  the  country. 

In  two  instances  the  Government  made  roads, 
to  complete  the  internal  system,  where  gaps 
existed.  From  Selma,  in  Alabama,  to  Meridien, 
in  Mississippi,  a  link  was  built  which  completed 
this  great  highway  from  west  to  east,  and 
superseded  the  necessity  of  a  long  detour  by 
Mobile,  and  rendered  useless  any  attempt  by 
the  forces  at  Pensacola  to  cut  off  communica- 


tion by  destroying  the  railroad  which  connects 
Montgomery  with  Mobile.  The  other  instance 
was  the  line,  of  fifty  miles  in  length,  between 
Danville,  in  Virginia,  and  Greensborough,  in 
North  Carolina.  By  this  work  the  Government 
was  relieved  from  a  dependence  upon  the  line 
of  railroad  which  runs  from  Richmond  through 
Petersburg  and  Weldon,  and  which  has  for 
years  been  the  great  highway  between  the 
North  and  the  South. 

But  while  the  armies  were  exposed  to  want, 
from  the  probable  inability  of  the  roads  to 
transport  sufficient  provisions,  the  situation  of 
the  inhabitants  in  some  parts  of  the  Confeder- 
acy was  equally  critical,  from  the  same  cause. 
The  northern  part  of  Virginia,  the  fruitful  val- 
ley of  the  Shenandoah,  and  the  eastern  section 
of  North  Carolina,  produced  in  ordinary  times 
most  of  the  grain  which  supplied  bread  to  the 
South,  and  which  was  exported  to  South  Amer- 
ica. Each  of  these  districts  was  now  in  pos- 
session of  the  Federal  forces.  In  Middle  Ten- 
nessee agriculture  was  suspended,  and  the 
aged  men,  women,  and  children  who  adhered 
to  the  Confederacy,  were  forced  to  retire  stil] 
farther  south  and  increase  the  number  of 
mouths  to  be  fed  there.  Another  source  of 
supply,  the  North  Carolina  fisheries,  which  an- 
nually yielded  millions  of  herring,  besides  shad 
to  be  salted,  was  also  cut  off.  The  wheat  crop 
of  1862  was  an  unusually  poor  one;  and  al- 
though a  sufficiency  of  grain  for  the  year's  sup- 
ply  of  food  was  grown,  the  limited  means  of 
transportation  possessed  by  the  Confederacy 
were  taxed  to  the  utmost  to  bring  this  grain 
from  the  remote  corners  of  States  to  the  spots 
where  it  was  demanded  for  consumption — to 
bring  the  food  and  the  mouths  together.  Such 
was  the  aspect  relative  to  provisions,  in  the 
beginning  of  the  year.  It  was  evident  that  a 
great  change  must  be  made  in  the  production 
to  enable  the  country  to  surmount  these  evils. 
The  Government,  foreseeing  the  danger,  made 
vigorous  appeals  to  the  people. 

These  were  followed  by  appeals  from  the  gov- 
ernors of  several  States  to  their  citizens,  and 
by  resolutions  of  legislative  bodies.  A  very 
extensive  effort  was  also  made  to  secure  the 
planting  of  more  wheat  and  corn. 

The  crops  during  the  summer  were  repre- 
sented to  be  good,  but  as  the  latter  part  of  the 
year  approached,  the  apprehensions  of  a  scarcity 
were  manifest.  It  was  said,  "  the  coming  win- 
ter will  be  one  of  unusual  trials."  In  October 
the  following  facts  occurred  at  Richmond.  One 
firm  sent  one  hundred  barrels  of  flour  to  be  sold 
at  $27,  while  the  price  in  the  stores  was  from 
$65  to  $75,  and  promised  to  the  city  all  the 
flour  on  hand  and  all  the  tolls  they  might  receive 
at  Government  prices.  Another  firm  offered 
to  sell  all  the  flour  sent  for  consumers  without 
any  charge  for  commissions.  Another  offered 
to  grind  all  the  wheat  purchased  by  the  city, 
at  the  cost  of  labor.  The  city  of  Richmond  es- 
tablished a  Board  of  Supply  to  purchase  articles 
of  necessity  to  be  sold  to  the  poor  at  cost. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


489 


Petersburg  did  the  same,  and  the  Secretary  of 
War  instructed  the  officers  of  the  Government 
to  facilitate  the  labors  of  these  committees.  All 
the  churches  and  civic  societies  undertook  to 
support  their  own  poor.  One  firm,  after  stren- 
uous efforts  for  several  days,  were  unable  to 
purchase  a  lot  of  flour  for  the  accommodation 
of  their  customers,  and  concluded  that  the 
farmers  were  prevented  from  sending  in  their 
wheat  because  they  were  required  to  sell  it  at  $5 
per  bushel.  That  there  was  an  abundance  in 
the  country,  and  to  spare,  no  one  doubted.  On 
the  29th  of  October,  beef  was  quoted  in  Rich- 
mond at  a  dollar  to  a  dollar  and  a  half  per 
pound.  The  butchers  said  they  were  unable  to 
get  cattle,  and  might  be  compelled  to  close  their 
stalls.  By  an  arrangement  between  the  butch- 
ers and  the  Government,  it  ought  to  have  sold 
at  sixty-five  to  seventy  cents  per  pound. 

The  condition  of  the  supplies  in  Charleston 
was  thus  described : 

Since  the  necessaries  of  life  have  reached  the  very 
exorbitant  rates  which  they  now  command,  our  city 
fathers  have  been  most  zealously  laboring  for  the  ben- 
efit of  the  citizens  at  large,  and  with  what  success, 
the  thousands  who  are  now  daily  supplied  with  flour, 
rice,  Ac.,  at  less  than  half  the  current  market  prices, 
can  gratefully  testify.  The  action  of  the  council  in 
this  matter,  as  well  as  for  the  supply  of  fuel,  has  tended 
very  materially  to  check  the  inflation  of  prices,  which, 
but  for  this  course,  would  be  much  higher.  Yester- 
day afternoon  one  hundred  and  fifty  cords  of  wood 
were  distributed  in  quarter-cord  lots  to  six  hundred 
families,  at  the  rate  of  twelve  dollars  per  cord. 

It  was  reported  that  in  Southeastern  Alaba- 
ma and  Southwestern  Georgia,  fifty  per  cent, 
more  hogs  had  been  raised  than  at  any  previous 
season  of  the  year.  The  crops  of  wheat  gath- 
ered in  those  sections  were  unusually  large.  In 
Forth  Carolina  the  agents  of  the  city  of  Peters- 
burg were  quite  successful  in  procuring  supplies. 
It  was  asserted  that  either  North  or  South  Caro- 
lina, Georgia,  or  Alabama,  could  furnish  a  suf- 
ficient supply  for  the  population  of  Richmond. 

Notwithstanding  the  general  stringency  of 
the  blockade,  many  trips  were  made  by  vessels 
to  Charleston  and  Wilmington  during  the  early 
part  of  the  year,  with  great  profit  to  the  own- 
ers. The  officers  of  the  Government  owned 
many  of  these  vessels.  A  large  number,  how- 
ever, were  captured. 

The  relations  of  the  Confederate  States  with 
foreign  nations  underwent  no  favorable  change 
during  the  year.  England  and  France  steadily 
declined  to  treat  with  them  as  independent 
States.  Their  views  were  approved  by  all  the 
other  States  of  Europe.  It  finally  became  evi- 
dent that  the  simple  recognition,  not  accom- 
panied or  followed  by  any  thing  in  the  shape  of 
intervention,  would  be  fruitless.  The  successes 
of  the  North  also  were  such  as  to  create  the 
conviction  in  Europe  that  the  time  for  declar- 
ing the  seceded  States  to  have  established  their 
independence  had  not  arrived. 

The  Proclamation  of  Emancipation  to  all  per- 
sons held  as  slaves  in  certain  States  and  Dis- 
tricts, issued  by  President  Lincoln  on  January 


1st,  1863,  caused  great  excitement  in  the  South- 
ern States.  It  is  stated  that  the  "Executive 
Government  of  the  United  States,  including  the 
military  and  naval  authorities  thereof,  will  rec- 
ognize and  maintain  the  freedom  of  such  per- 
sons ;  "  also,  "  such  persons  will  be  received  into 
the  armed  service  of  the  United  States,"  &c.  Its 
immediate  effect  was  expected  to  arise  under 
these  clauses.  The  Confederate  Congress  took 
action  at  once  on  the  subject.  It  was  at  first 
contemplated  to  make  slaves  of  all  free  negroes 
found  with  arms  in  their  hands;  to  kill  all 
slaves  found  armed,  and  to  hand  over  to  the 
State  authorities  all  their  officers,  to  be  dealt 
with  according  to  the  laws  of  the  States  rela- 
tive to  persons  exciting  insurrection.  Severe 
measures  were  proposed  in  the  Confederate 
Congress.  These,  however,  were  not  adopted, 
and  the  subject  was  referred  to  the  discretion 
of  the  President.  Whether  any  extreme  meas- 
ures were  inflicted  upon  these  soldiers  or  their 
•officers  during  the  year,  was  not  officially  known. 
It  was  finally  considered  that,  under  the  law  of 
nations,  a  belligerent  could  employ  against  big 
antagonist  any  persons  whom  he  could  obtain, 
and,  therefore,  free  negroes  captured  as  Federal 
soldiers  were  entitled  to  be  treated  as  prisoners 
of  war.  On  the  23d  of  April  an  "Address  to 
Christians  throughout  the  World  "  was  issued 
at  Richmond,  signed  by  ninety-six  clergymen 
of  all  denominations.  After  asserting  that  "  the 
Union  cannot  be  restored,"  and  that  the  Con- 
federate Government  is  a  fixed  fact,  the  address 
proceeds  to  say : 

The  recent  proclamation  of.  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  seeking  the  emancipation  of  the  slaves 
of  the  South,  is,  in  our  judgment,  a  suitable  occasion 
for  solemn  protest  on  the  part  of  the  people  of  God 
throughout  the  world. 

The  address  charges  President  Lincoln  with 
intending  to  produce  a  general  insurrection  of 
the  slaves,  and  such  an  insurrection  "  would 
make  it  absolutely  necessary  for  the  public 
safety  that  the  slaves  be  slaughtered ;  and  he 
who  would  write  the  history  of  that  event, 
would  record  the  darkest  chapter  of  human  woe 
yet  written."  The  proclamation,  however, 
liberated  no  slaves  except  such  as  could  come 
within  the  lines  of  the  Federal  armies.  The 
political  aspect  of  the  proclamation  was  dis- 
cussed at  some  length  in  the  message  of  Mr. 
Davis  to  the  Richmond  Congress  in  January. 

The  difficulties  which  had  arisen  relative  to  the 
exchange  of  prisoners,  and  the  threats  of  retali- 
ation for  some  occurrences  on  each  side,  which 
were  regarded  by  the  other  as  unjustifiable 
acts  of  cruelty,  was  made  the  ostensible  occasion 
for  a  mission  by  Vice-President  Stephens  to 
Washington,  which  he  thus  reported : 

EICHMOJTD,  Slh  July,  1868. 
His  Excellency,  Jefferson  Davis : 

SIR:  Under  the  authority  and  instructions  of  your 
letter  to  me  of  the  2d  instant,  I  proceeded  on  the  Ais- 
sion  therein  assigned,  without  delay.  The  steamer, 
Torpedo,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Hunter  Davidson,  of 
the  navy,  was  put  in  readiness  as  soon  as  possible,  by 
order  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  and  tendered  for 


490 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


the  service.  At  noon,  on  the  8d,  she  started  down 
James  River,  hoisting  and  bearing  a  flag  of  truce  after 
passing  City  Point.  The  next  day  (the  4th)  at  about 
one  o'clock,  p.  M.,  when  within  a  few  miles  of  Newport 
News,  we  were  met  by  a  small  boat  of  the  enemy,  car- 
rying two  guns,  which  also  raised  a  white  flag  before 
approaching  us.  The  officer  in  command  informed 
Lieut.  Davidson  that  he  had  orders  from  Admiral  Lee, 
on  board  the  United  States  flagship  Minnesota,  lying 
below,  and  then  in  view,  not  to  allow  any  boat  or 
vessel  to  pass  the  point  near  which  he  was  stationed 
without  his  permission.  By  this  officer  I  sent  to  Ad- 
miral Lee  a  note  stating  my  objects  and  wishes,  a 
copy  of  which  is  hereto  annexed,  marked  A. 

I  also  sent  to  the  admiral,  to  be  forwarded,  another 
in  the  same  language  addressed  to  the  officer  in  com- 
mand of  the  United  States  forces  at  Fort  Monroe. 
The  gunboat  proceeded  immediately  to  the  Minneso- 
ta with  these  despatches,  while  the  Torpedo  remain- 
ed at  anchor.  Between  3  and  4  o'clock,  P.M.,  another 
boat  came  up  to  us,  bearing  the  admiral's  answer, 
which  is  hereunto  annexed,  marked  B. 

We  remained  at  or  about  this  point  in  the  river 
until  the  6th  inst.,  when,  having  heard  nothing  fur- 
ther from  the  admiral,  at  12  o'clock  M.,  on  that  day, 

1  directed  Lieut.  Davidson  again  to  speak  the  gun- 
boat on  guard,  and  to  hand  to-the  officer  on  board 
another  note  to  his  admiral.  This  was  done.    A  copy 
of  the  note  is  appended,  marked  C.    At  half-past 

2  o'clock  P.  M.,  two  boats  approached  us  from  below, 
one  bearing  an  answer  from  the  admiral  to  my  note 
to  him  of  the  4th.  This  answer  is  annexed,  marked  D. 
The  other  boat  bore  the  answer  of  Lieut.  Col.  W.  H. 
Ludlow  to  my  note  of  the  4th,  addressed  to  the  of- 
ficer in  command  at  Fort  Monroe.    A  copy  of  this  is 
annexed,  marked  E.    Lieut. -Col.  Ludlow  also  came 
up  in  person  in  the  boat  that  brought  his  answer  to 
me,  and  conferred  with  Col.  Ould,  on  board  the  Tor- 
pedo, upon  some  matters  he  desired  to  see  him  about 
in  connection  with  the  exchange  of  prisoners.   From 
the  papers  appended,  embracing  the  correspondence 
referred  to,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  mission  failed 
from  the  refusal  of  th%  enemy  to  receive  or  entertain 
it,  holding  the  proposition  for  such  a  conference  "  in- 
admissible." 

The  influences  and  views  that  led  to  this  determi- 
nation after  so  long  a  consideration  of  the  subject, 
must  be  left  to  conjecture.  The  reason  assigned  for 
the  refusal  of  the  United  States  Secretary  of  War,  to 
wit:  that  "the  customary  agents  and  channels"  are 
considered  adequate  for  all  needful  military  "  com- 
munications and  conferences,"  to  one  acquainted 
with  the  facts,  seems  not  only  unsatisfactory  but 
very  singular  and  unaccountable ;  for  it  is  certainly 
known  to  him  that  these  very  agents,  to  whom  he 
evidently  alludes,  heretofore  agreed  upon  in  a  former 
conference  in  reference  to  the  exchange  of  prisoners 
(one  of  the  subjects  embraced  in  your  letter  to  me), 
are  now,  and  have  been  for  some  time,  distinctly  at 
issue  on  several  important  points.  The  existing  car- 
tel, owing  to  these  disagreements,. is  virtually^ sus- 
pended, so  far  as  the  exchange  of  officers  on  either 
side  is  concerned.  Notices  of  retaliation  have  been 
given  on  both  sides. 

The  effort,  therefore,  for  the  very  many  and  cogent 
reasons  set  forth  in  your  letter  of  instructions  to  me, 
to  see  if  these  differences  could  not  be  removed,  and 
if  a  clear  understanding  between  the  parties  as  to  the 

feneral  conduct  of  the  war  could  not  be  arrived  at 
efore  this  extreme  measure  should  be  resorted  to  by 
either  party,  was  no  less  in  accordance  with  the  dic- 
tates of  humanity  than  in  strict  conformity  with  the 
usages  of  belligerents  in  modern  times.  Deeply  im- 
pressed as  I  was  with  these  views  and  feelings,  in  un- 
dertaking the  mission,  and  asking  the  conference,  I 
cfc  but  express  my  profound  regret  at  the  result  of 
the  effort  made  to  obtain  it :  ana  I  can  but  entertain 
the  belief  that,  if  the  conference  sought  had  been 
granted,  mutual  good  could  have  been  effected  by  it ; 
and  if  this  war,  so  unnatural,  so  unjust,  so  unchris- 


tian, and  so  inconsistent  with  every  fundamental 
principle  of  American  constitutional  liberty,  "must 
needs  continue  to  be  waged  against  us,  that  at  least 
some  of  its  severer  horrors,  which  now  so  eminently 
threaten,  might  have  been  avoided. 
Very  respectfully, 

ALEXANDER  H.  STEPHENS. 

During  the  year  no  signs  of  yielding  up  were 
exhibited  by  the  Confederate  Government,  or 
by  the  Governments  of  *any  of  the  seceded 
States.  On  the  question  of  submission  to  the 
Federal  Government,  no  organized  body  mani- 
fested any  assent,  but  on  the  contrary  the  most 
determined  opposition.  The  Federal  Govern- 
ment, on  the  other  hand,  continued  steadfast 
and  onward  in  the  policy  it  had  adopted.  The 
views  of  President  Lincoln  on  the  state  of  the 
country  are  thus  given  in  his  message  to  Con- 
gress, Dec.  8th,  1863 : 

When  Congress  assembled' a  year  ago,  the  war  had 
Already  lasted  nearly  twenty  months,  and  there  had 
been  many  conflicts  on  both  land  and  sea,  with  vary. 
ing  results.  The  rebellion  had  been  pressed  back 
into  reduced  limits ;  yet  the  tone  of  public  feeling 
and  opinion,  at  home  and  abroad,  was  not  satisfac- 
tory. With  other  signs,  the  popular  elections,  then 
just  past,  indicated  uneasiness  among  ourselves, 
while,  amid  much  that  was  cold  and  menacing,  the 
kindest  words  coming  from  Europe  were  uttered  in 
accents  of  pity  that  we  were  too  blind  to  surrender  a 
hopeless  cause.  Our  commerce  was  suffering  great- 
ly by  a  few  armed  vessels  built  upon  and  furnished 
from  foreign  shores,  and  we  were  threatened  with 
such  additions  from  the  same  quarter  as  would  sweep 
our  trade  from  the  sea  and  raise  our  blockade.  We 
had  failed  to  elicit  from  European  Governments  any 
thing  hopeful  upon  this  subject.  The  preliminary 
Emancipation  Proclamation,  issued  in  September- 
was  running  its  assigned  period  to  the  beginning  of 
the  new  year.  A  month  later  the  final  proclamation 
came,  including  the  announcement  that  colored  men 
of  suitable  condition  would  be  received  into  the  war 
service.  ,  The  policy  of  emancipation  and  of  employ- 
ing black  soldiers  gave  to  the  future  a  new  aspect, 
about  jvhich  hope,  and  fear,  and  doubt  contended  in 
uncertain  conflict.  According  to  our  political  sys- 
tem, as  a  matter  of  civil  administration,  the  General 
Government  had  no  lawful  power  to  effect  emancipa- 
tion in  any  State,  and  for  a  long  time  it  had  been 
hoped  that  the  rebellion  could  be  suppressed  without 
resorting  to  it  as  a  military  measure.  It  was  all  tho 
while  deemed  possible  that  the  necessity  for  it  might 
come,  and  that,  if  it  should,  the  crisis  of  the  contest 
would  then  be  presented.  It  came,  and,  as  we  antici- 
pated, it  was  followed  by  dark  and  doubtful  days. 

Eleven  months  having  now  passed,  we  are  permit- 
ted to  take  another  review.  The  rebel  hordes  are 
pressed  still  farther  back,  and,  by  the  complete  opcir- 
ing  of  the  Mississippi,  the  country  dominated  by  the 
rebellion  is  divided  into  distinct  parts:  with  no  prac- 
tical communication  between  them.  Tennessee  and 
Arkansas  have  been  substantially  cleared  of  insur- 
gent control,  and  influential  citizens  in  each,  owners 
of  slaves  and  advocates  of  slavery  at  the  beginning 
of  the  rebellion,  now  declare  openly  for  emancipa*- 
tion  in  their  respective  States.  Of  those  States  not 
included  in  the  emancipation  proclamation,  Mary- 
land and  Missouri,  neither  of  which,  three  years  age- 
would  tolerate  any  restraint  upon  the  extension  of 
slavery  into  new  Territories,  only  dispute  now  as  to 
the'best  mode  of  removing  it  within  their  own  limits. 
Of  those  who  were  slaves  at  the  begirfning  of  the  re- 
bellion, full  one  hundred  thousand  are  now  in  the 
United  States  military  service,  about  one-half  of 
which  number  actually  bear  arms  in  the  ranks ;  thus 
giving  the  double  advantage  of  taking  so  much  labor 
From  the  insurgent  cause,  and  supplying  the  places 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


491 


which  otherwise  must  be  filled  with  so  many  white 
men.  So  far  as  tested,  it  is  difficult  to  say  they  are 
not  as  good  soldiers  as  any.  No  servile  insurrection, 
or  tendency  to  violence  or  cruelty,  has  marked  the 
measures  of  emancipation  or  arming  the  blacks. 
These  measures  have  been  much  discussed  in  foreign 
countries,  and  contemporary  with  such  discussion 
the  tone  of  public  sentiment  there  is  much  improved 
At  home  the  same  measures  have  been  fairly  discuss- 
ed, supported,  criticized,  and  denounced,  and  the  an- 
nual elections  following  are  highly  encouraging  to 
those  whose  official  duty  it  is  to  bear  the  country 
through  this  great  trial.  Thus  we  have  the  new 
reckoning.  The  crisis  which  threatened  to  divide 
the  friends  of  the  Union  is  past. 

Looking  now  to  the  present  and  future,  and  with 
reference  to  a  resumption  of  the  national  authority 
within  the  States  wherein  that  authority  has  been 
suspended,  I  have  thought  fit  to  issue  a  proclama- 
tion, a  copy  of  which  is  herewith  transmitted. 

On  examination  of  this  proclamation  it  will  appear, 
as  is  believed,  that  nothing  is  attempted  beyond  what 
is  amplv  justified  by  the  Constitution.  True,  the 
form  of1  an  oath  is  given,  but  no  man  is  coerced  to 
take  it.  The  man  is  only  promised  a  pardon  in  case 
he  voluntarily  takes  the  oath.  The  Constitution 
authorizes  the  executive  to  grant  or  withhold  the 
pardon  at  bis  own  absolute  discretion ;  and  this  in- 
cludes the  power  to  grant  on  terms,  as  is  fully  estab- 
lishett  by  judicial  and  other  authorities.  It  is  also 
proffered  that  if,  in  any  of  the  States  named,  a  State 
Government  shall  be,  in  the  mode  prescribed,  set  up, 
such  Government  shall  be  recognized  and  guaran- 
teed by  the  United  States,  and  that  under  it  the 
State  shall,  on  the  constitutional  conditions,  be  pro- 
tected against  invasion  and  domestic  violence.  The 
constitutional  obligation  of  the  United  States  to 
guarantee  to  every  State  in  the  Union  a  republican 
form  of  government,  and  to  protect  the  State  in  the 
case  stated,  is  explicit  and  full. 

But  why  tender  the  benefits  of  this  provision  only  to 
State  Governments  set  up  in  this  particular  way?  This 
section  of  the  Constitution  contemplates  a  case  where- 
in the  element  within  a  State,  favorable  to  republican 
government,  in  the  Union,  may  be  too  feeble  for  an 
opposite  and  hostile  element  external  to  ofeven  with- 
in the  State ;  and  such  are  precisely  the  cases  with 
which  we  are  now  dealing.  An  attempt  to  guarantee 
and  protect  a  revived  State  Government,  constructed 
in  whole  or  in  preponderating  part  from  the  very  ele- 
ment against  whose  hostility  and  violence  it  is  to  be 
protected,  is  simply  absurd.  There  must  be  a  test 
by  which  to  separate  the  opposing  elements,  so  as  to 
build  only  from  the  sound ;  and  that'  test  is  a  suffi- 
ciently liberal  one  which  accepts  as  sound  whoever 
will  make  a  sworn  recantation  of  his  former  unsound- 
ness. 

But  if  it  be  proper  to  require,  as  a  test  of  rdmission 
to  the  political  body,  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States  and  to  the  Union  under 
it,  why  also  to  the  laws  and  proclamations  in 'regard 
to  slavery?  Those  laws  and  proclamations  were  en- 
acted and  put  forth  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  in  the 
suppression  of  the  rebellion.  To  give  them  their 
fullest  effect,  there  had  to  be  a  pledge  for  their  main- 
tenance. In  my  judgment  they  have  aided,  and  will 
further  aid,  the  cause  for  which  they  were  intended. 
To  now  abandon  them  would  be  not  only  to  relinquish 
a  lever  of  power,  but  would  also  be  a  cruel  and 
astounding  breach  of  faith. 

I  may  add  at  this  point,  that  while  I  remain  in  my 
present  position  I  shall  not  attempt  to  retract  or  modi- 
fy the  emancipation  proclamation ;  nor  shall  I  return 
to  slavery  any  person  who  is  free  by  the  terms  of  that 
proclamation,  or  by  any  of  the  acts  of  Congress. 
For  these  and  other  reasons  it  is  thought  best  that 
the  support  of  these  measures  shall  be  included  in 
the  oath ;  and  it  is  believed  the  executive  may  law- 
fully claim  it  in  return  for  pardon  and  restoration  of 
forfeited  rights,  which  he  has  clear  constitutional 


power  to  withhold  altogether,  or  grant  upon  the 
terms  which  he  shall  deem  wisest  for  the  public  in- 
terest. It  should  be  observed  also  that  this  part  of 
the  oath  is  subject  to  the  modifying  and  abrogating 
power  of  legislation  and  supreme  judicial  decision. 

The  proposed  acquiescence  of  the  national  execu- 
tive in  any  reasonable  temporary  State  arrangement 
for  the  freed  people  is  made  with  the  view  of  possibly 
modifying  the  confusion  and  destitution  which  must, 
at  best,  attend  all  classes  by  a  total  revolution  of 
labor  throughout  whole  States.  It  is  hoped  that  the 
already  deeply  afflicted  people  of  those  States  may  be 
somewhat  more  ready  to  give  up  the  cause  of  their 
affliction,  if,  to  this  extent,  this  vital  matter  be  left 
to  themselves ;  while  no  power  of  the  national  execu- 
tive to  prevent  an  abuse  is  abridged  by  the  proposi- 
tion. 

The  suggestion  in  the  proclamation  as  to  maintain, 
ing  the  political  framework  of  the  States  on  what  is 
called  reconstruction,  is  made  in  the  hope  that  it  may 
do  good  without  danger  of  harm.  It  will  save  labor 
and  avoid  great  confusion. 

But  why  any  proclamation  now  upon  this  subject  ? 
This  question-  is  beset  with  the  conflicting  views  that 
the  step  might  be  delayed  too  long  or  be  taken  too 
soon.  In  some  States  the  elements  for  resumption 
seem  ready  for  action,  but  remain  inactive,  apparent- 
ly for  want  of  a  rallying  point — a  plan  of  action.  Why 
shall  A  adopt  the  plan  of  B,  rather  than  B  that  of  A? 
And  if  A  and  B  should  agree,  how  can  they  know  but 
that  the  General  Government  here  will  reject  their 
plan  ?  By  the  proclamation  a  plan  is  presented  which 
may  be  accepted  by  them  as  a  rallying  point,  and 
which  they  are  assured  in  advance  Will  not  be  reject- 
ed here.  This  may  bring  them  to  act  sooner  than 
they  otherwise  would. 

The  objections  to  a  premature  presentation  of  a 
plan  by  the  national  executive  consists  in  the  danger 
of  committals  on  points  which  could  be  more  safely 
left  to  further  developments.  Care  has  been  taken 
to  so  shape  the  document  as  to  avoid  embarrassments 
from  this  source.  Saying  that,  on  certain  terms, 
certain  classes  will  be  pardoned,  with  rights  restored, 
it  is  not  said  that  other  classes,  or  other  terms,  will 
never  be  included.  Saying  that  reconstruction  will 
be  accepted  if  presented  in  a  specified  way,  it  is  not 
said  it  will  never  be  accepted  in.  any  other  way. 

The  movements,  by  State  action,  for  emancipation 
in  several  of  the  States  not  included  in  the  Emanci- 
pation Proclamation,  are  matters  of  profound  gratu- 
lation.  And  while  I  do  not  repeat  .in  detail  what  I 
have  heretofore  so  earnestly  urged  upon  this  subject, 
my  general  views  and  feelings  remain  unchanged ; 
and  I  trust  that  Congress  will  omit  no  fair  oppor- 
tunity of  aiding  these  important  steps  to  a  great  con- 
summation. 

In  the  midst  of  other  cares,  however  important,  we 
must  not' lose  sight^of  the  fact  that  the  war  power  is 
still  our  main  reliance.  To  that  power  alone  can  we 
look,  yet  for  a  time,  to  give  confidence  to  the  people 
in  the  contested  regions,  that  the  insurgent  power 
will  not  again  overrun  them. 

Until  that  confidence  shall  be  established,  little  can 
be  done  anywhere  for  what  is  called  reconstruction. 
Hence  our  chiefest  care  must  still  be  directed  to  the 
army  and  navy,  who  have  thus  far  borne  their  harder 
part  so  nobly  and  well.  And  it  may  be  esteemed  for- 
tunate that,  in  giving  the  greatest  efficiency  to  these 
indispensable  arms,  we  do  also  honorably  recognize 
the  gallant  men,  from  commander  to  sentinel,  who 
compose  them,  and  to  whom,  more  than  to  others, 
the  world  must  stand  indebted  for  the  home  of  free- 
dom disenthralled,  regenerated,  enlarged,  and  per- 
petuated. 

PROCLAMATION. 

Whereas,  in  and  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  it  is  provided  that  the  President  "  shall  have 
power  to  grant  reprieves  and  pardons  for  offencea 
against  the  United  States,  except  in  cases  of  impeach- 
ment ;" 


492 


MILITARY  AND  NAYAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


And  whereat  a  rebellion  now  exists  whereby  the 
loyal  State  Governments  of  several  of  the  States  have 
for  a  long  time  been  subverted,  and  many  persons 
have  committed  and  are  now  guilty  of  treason  against 
the  United  States ; 

And  whereas,  with  reference  to  said  rebellion  and 
treason,  laws  have  been  enacted  by  Congress,  declar- 
ing forfeitures  and  confiscation  of  property  and  liber- 
ation of  slaves,  all  upon  terms  and  conditions  there- 
in stated,  and  also  declaring  that  the  President  was 
thereby  authorized  at  any  time  thereafter,  by  procla- 
mation, to  extend  to  the  persons  who  may  have  par- 
ticipated in  the  existing  rebellion,  in  any  State  or 
part  thereof,  pardon  and  amnesty,  with  such  excep- 
tions and  at  such  times  and  on  such  conditions  as  he 
may  deem  expedient  for  the  public  welfare ; 

And  whereas  the  Congressional  declaration  for  lim- 
ited and  conditional  pardon  accords  with  well-estab- 
lished judicial  exposition  of  the  pardoning  power  ; 

And  whereas,  with  reference  to  said  rebellion,  the 
President  of  the  United  States  has  issued  several 
proclamations,  with  provisions  in  regard  to  the  liber- 
ation of  slaves ; 

And  whereas  it  is  now  desired  by  some  persons 
heretofore  engaged  in  said  rebellion  to  resume  their 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  to  reinaugurate 
loyal  State  Governments  within  and  for  their  respec- 
tive States ; 

Therefore,  I,  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  President  of  the 
United  State?,  do  proclaim,  declare,  and  make  known 
to  all  persons  who  have,  directly  or  by  implication, 
participated  in  the  existing  rebellion,  except  as  here- 
inafter excepted,  that  .a  fufl  pardon  is  hereby  granted 
to  them  and  each  of  them,  with  restoration  of  all 
rights  of  property,  except  as  to  slaves,  and  in  prop- 
erty cases  where  rights  of  third  parties  shall  have  in- 
tervened, and  upon  the  condition  that  every  such  per- 
son shall  take  and  subscribe  an  oath,  and  thencefor- 
ward keep  and  maintain  said  oath  inviolate;  and 
which  oath  shall  be  registered  for  permanent  preser- 
vation, and  shall  be  of  the  tenor  and  effect  following, 
to  wit : 

I,  ,  do  solemnly  swear,  in  presence  of  Al- 

mighty God,  that  I  will  henceforth  faithfully  support,  pro- 
tect, and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and 
the  Union  of  the  States  thereunder;  and  that  I  will,  in  like 
manner,  abide  by  and  faithfully  support  all  acts  of  Congress 
passed  during  the  existing  rebellion  with  reference  to  slaves, 
so  long  and  so  far  as  not  repealed,  modified,  or  held  void  by 
Congress,  or  by  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court ;  and  that  I 
will,  in  like  manner,  abide  by,  and  faithfully  support  all  • 
proclamations  of  the  Presicent,  made  during  the  existing 
rebellion,  having  reference  to  slaves,  so  long  and  so  far  as 
not  modified  or  declared  void  by  decision  of  the  Supreme 
Court  So  help  me  God. 

The  persons  excepted  from  the  benefits  of  the  fore- 
going provisions  are  all  who  are  or  shall  have  been 
civil  or  diplomatic  officers  or  agents  of  the  so-called 
Confederate  Government;  all  who  have  left  judicial 
stations  under  the  United  States  to  aid  the  rebellion ; 
all  who  are  or  shall  have  been  military  or  naval  offi- 
cers of  said  so-called  Confederate  Government  above 
the  rank  of  colonel  in  the  army  or  lieutenant  in  the 
navy ;  all  who  left  seats  in  the  TJ  nited  States  Congress 
to  aid  the  rebellion ;  all  who  resigned  commissions  in 
the  army  or  navy  of  the  United  States  and  afterwards 
aided  the  rebellion ;  and  all  who  have  engaged  in  any 
way  in  treating  colored  persons,  or  white  persons  in 
charge  of  such,  otherwise  than  lawfully  as  prisoners 
of  war,  and  which  persons  may  have  been  found  in 
the  United  States  service  as  soldiers,  seamen,  or  in 
any  other  capacity. 

And  I  do  further  .proclaim,  declare,  and  make 
known,  that  whenever,  in  any  of  the  States  of  Arkan- 
sas, Texas,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Tennessee,  Ala- 
bama, Georgia,  Florida,  South  Carolina,  and  North 
Carolina,  a  number  of  persons,  not  less  than  one- 
tenth  in  number  of  the  votes  cast  in  such  State  at  the 
Presidential  election  of  the  year  of  our  Lord. one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty,  each  having  taken 
'he  oath  aforesaid,  and  not  having  since  violated  it, 


and  being  a  qualified  voter  by  the  election  laws  of  the 
State  existing  immediately  before  the  so-called  act 
of  secession,  and  excluding  all  others,  shall  reestab- 
lish a  State  Government  which  shall  be  republican, 
and  in  nowise  contravening  said  oath,  such  shall  be 
recognized  as  the  true  Government  of  the  State,  and 
the  State  shall  receive  thereunder  the  benefits  of  the 
constitutional  provision  which  declares  that  "the 
United  States  shall  guarantee  to  every  State  in  this 
Union  a  republican  form  of  government,  and  shall 
protect  each  of  them  against  invasion ;  and,  on  appli- 
cation of  the  Legislature,  or  the  executive  (when  the 
Legislature  cannot  be  convened),  against  domestic 
violence." 

And  I  do  further  proclaim,  declare,  and  make 
known,  that  any  provision  which  may  be  adopted  by 
such  State  Government  in  relation  to  the  freed  peo- 
ple of  such  State,  which  shall  recognize  and  declare 
their  permanent  freedom,  provide  for  their  educa- 
tion, and  which  may  yet  be  consistent  as  a  temporary 
arrangement  with  their  present  condition  as  a  labor- 
ing, landless,  homeless  class,  will  not  be  objected  to 
by  the  national  executive. 

And  it  is  suggested  as  not  improper  that,  in  con- 
structing a  loyal  State  Government  m  any  State,  the 
name  of  the  State,  the  boundary,  the  subdivisions, 
the  constitution,  and  the  general  code  of  laws,  as  be- 
fore the  rebellion,  be  maintained,  subject  only  to  the 
modifications  made  necessary  by  the  conditions  here- 
inbefore stated,  and  such  others,  if  any,  not  contra- 
vening said  conditions,  and  which  may  be  deemed 
expedient  by  those  framing  the  new  State  Govern- 
ment. • 

To  avoid  misunderstanding,  it  may  be  proper  to 
say  that  this  proclamation,  so  far  as  it  relates  to  State 
Governments,  has  no  reference  to  States  wherein 
loyal  State  Governments  have  all  the  while  been 
maintained.  And,  for  the  same  reason,  it  may  be 
proper  to  further  say,  that  whether  members  sent  to 
Congress  from  any  State  shall  be  admitted  to  seats 
constitutionally,  rests  exclusively  with  the  respective 
houses,  and  not  to  any  extent  with  the  executive. 
And  still  further,  that  this  proclamation  is  intended 
to  present  the  people  of  the  States  wherein  the  na- 
tional authority  has  been  suspended,  and  loyal  State 
Governments  have  been  subverted,  a  mode  in  and  by 
which  the  national  authority  and  loyal  State  Govern- 
ments may  be  reestablished  within  said  States,  or  in 
any  of  them ;  and,  while  the  mode  presented  is  the 
best  the  executive  can  suggest,  with  his  present  im- 
pressions, it  must  not  be  understood  that  no  other 
possible  mode  would  be  acceptable. 

Given  under  my  hand,  at  the  city  of  Washington, 

the  eighth  day  of  December,  A.  D.  one  thou- 

[L.  s.]    sand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-three,  and  of  the 

Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America 

the  eighty-eighth. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

By  the  President : 
WILLIAM  H.  SEWARD,  Secretary  of  State. 

The  efficacy  of  the  Emancipation  Proclama- 
tion was  probably  very  imperfectly  manifested 
during  1863.  On  the  one  hand,  it  did  not  ap- 
pear to  make  free  any  slave  by  its  own  opera- 
tion during  the  year.  All  those  became  free 
who  came  in  contact  with  the  armies  or  within 
the  military  lines.  This  freedom  would  have 
been  obtained  equally  as  well  without  the  ex- 
istence of  the  proclamation,  for  all  officers  and 
soldiers  had  been  forbidden  to  restore  fugitives 
to  rebel  masters.  On  the  other  hand,  it  tended 
to  awaken  a  great  sympathy  among  the  slaves 
for  the  Union  cause,  which  held  out  to  them 
the  promise  of  certain  freedom  by  its  success ; 
it  presented  a  strong  stimulus  to  free  blacks 
to  enter  the  army  and  fight  for  a  cause  which 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


493 


would  give  freedom  to  their  race ;  it  also  stim- 
ulated the  unconditional  Union  men  in  Mary- 
land, Missouri,  and  Louisiana,  to  make  every 
effort  to  change  the  constitutions  of  the  former 
States  so  as  to  secure  immediate  emancipation. 
But  the  great  efficacy  of  the  proclamation  was 
expected  to  become  apparent  at  a  future  day, 
when  the  insurrectionary  States  should  be  re- 
covered to  the  Union.  In  short,  it  made  eman- 
cipation the  policy  of  the  Administration,  and 
encouraged  the  friends  of  that  great  cause  to 
make  every  exertion  to  secure  its  speedy  ac- 
complishment. But  it  must  not  be  supposed 
that  this  policy  was  adopted  without  opposition. 
The  President  nowhere  during  the  year  stated 
that  it  was  any  thing  more  than  a  measure  for 
the  preservation  of  the  Union,  and  limits  him- 
self to  this  position.  The  opposition  to  the 
Administration  protested  against  it.  The  friends 
of  the  Administration,  known  as  Union  men, 
approved  of  it  as  a  war  measure,  and  a  resolu- 
tion to  this  effect  passed  the  Republican  State 
Convention  of  New  York.  The  friends  of  the 
Administration,  known  as  unconditional  Union 
men,  not  only  warmly  approved  of  the  procla- 
mation, but  demanded  a  most  vigorous  enforce- 
ment of  it,  by  every  method. 

It  now  remains  to  notice  the  efforts  which 
were  made  to  secure  the  advantages  of  the 
proclamation,  and  the  new  questions  which 
arose  in  connection  with  those  efforts.  The 
first  movement  was  to  bring  the  colored  men 
into  the  field  as  soldiers,  which  has  been  previ- 
ously related.  On  the  27th  of  January  a  bill 
was  introduced  into  Congress  to  authorize  the 
President  to  raise  one  hundred  and  fifty  thou- 
sand colored  volunteers.  On  the  31st  of  July 
the  President  issued  an  order  declaring  that  the 
Government  would  give  the  same  protection  to 
all  of  its  soldiers ;  and  that  if  the  enemy  should 
sell  or  enslave  any  one  because  of  his  color,  the 
offence  should  be  punished  by  retaliation  upon 
the  enemy's  prisoners.  An  opinion  had  already 
been  given  by  the  attorney-general,  Mr.  Bates, 
that  the  colored  man  was  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States ;  and  upon  his  appearance  in  the 
field  under  arms,  it  was  insisted  by  many  that 
he  should  possess  all  the  rights  and  enjoy  all 
the  privileges  peculiar  to  that  citizenship.  He 
should  become  a  voter,  they  argued,  and  eligible 
to  public  office.  A  few  went  still  further,  and 
advocated  an  entire  wiping  out  of  all  civil  and 
social  distinctions  between  the  whites  and 
blocks,  and  an  establishment  of  all  the  intimate 
relations  which  exist  between  persons  of  one 
and  the  same  race. 

But  while  the  able-bodied  men  among  the 
freedmen  were  thus  enlisted  in  the  military 
and  naval  service  of  the  United  States,  and 
many  of  the  women  found  employment  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  camps,  garrisons,  and  hospitals, 
there  was  a  much  larger  class  who  were  not 
able-bodied,  some  of  them  capable  of  perform- 
ing some  labor,  others  feeble,  decrepit,  and 
helpless.  In  the  regions  which  were  occupied 
by  Federal  troops,  the  planters  who  sympa- 


thized with  the  Southern  Confederacy  had  gen- 
erally fled  southward,  taking  with  them  or 
sending  before  them  their  able-bodied  slaves, 
and  leaving  to  the  mercy  of  the  invading  army 
the  old  and  decrepit,  and  the  children  who 
were  too  young  to  be  of  much  value.  Those 
who  escaped,  too,  and  came  into  the  Union 
lines,  often  encountered  great  hardships  in  do- 
ing so,  and  in  many  instances  arrived  sick,  half- 
starved,  and  with  only  a  few  rags  for  clothing. 
It  was  obviously  the  duty  of  the  Government 
to  provide  in  part  at  least  for  these  poor  crea- 
tures, and  to  furnish  employment  for  such  of 
them  as  were  able  to  work,  that  they  might 
sustain  themselves  and  their  more  helpless 
kindred.  There  were,  however,  serious  prac- 
tical difficulties  in  the  way.  On  the  Mississip- 
pi, especially  below  Vicksburg,  it  was  a  mat- 
ter of  difficulty  to  obtain  a  sufficiency  of  rations 
for  the  soldiers,  to  say  nothing  of  the  30,000  or 
40,000  helpless  colored  people  who  looked  to 
the  Government  for  food ;  and  the  Government 
ration  was  not  well  adapted  to  the  freedmen, 
who  had  been  accustomed  all  their  lives  to  corn 
bread  and  bacon.  Clothing  the  Government 
had  not,  and  could  not  procure,  except  for  the 
uniforms  of  its  soldiers.  These  sick,  helpless, 
feeble,  and  infirm  persons,  and  all  who  were 
not  employed  with  the  army,  were  therefore 
collected  in  camps  at  different  points,  and  ra- 
tions furnished  them,  such  clothing  as  could  be 
collected  provided,  and  appeals  made  to  the 
people  of  the  North  for  new  and  second-hand 
clothing  to  supply  their  needs.  Generous  re- 
sponses were  made  to  these  appeals,  and  vast 
quantities  of  clothing  forwarded.  Those  who 
were  capable  of  performing  some  labor,  were 
presently  employed  on  the  abandoned  planta- 
tions, which  were  leased  under  certain,  restric- 
tions to  tenants  for  one  year. 

This  plan  would  have  answered  a  tolerable 
purpose  had  the  lessees  of  the  plantations  been 
honest,  upright,  humane  men ;  but,  with  few 
exceptions,  they  were  adventurers  and  camp 
followers,  who  were  ready  to  turn  their  hands 
to  any  opportunity  of  getting  gain  by  the  op- 
pression of  the  poor,  the  weak,  or  the.  defence- 
less. The  wages  prescribed  were  much  smaller 
than  were  paid  by  the  planters  for  the  hire  of 
slaves  for  the  same  work  when  cotton  was  but 
ten  cents  a  pound,  while  at  this  time  it  was 
worth  seventy  cents ;  the  clothing,  which  by 
the  terms  of  the  contract  was  to  be  furnished  at 
cost,  was  actually  supplied  at  a  most  exorbitant 
profit ;  and  while  a  portion  of  their  wages  ($2 
per  head)  was  withheld  for  medical  attendance, 
no  physician  was  ever  allowed,  to  see  them,  and 
no  medicines  furnished  on  most  of  the  planta- 
tions. The  provisions  concerning  families  were 
also  shamefully  evaded,  and  on  many  planta- 
tions every  rainy  day,  or  day  when  there  was 
no  opportunity  for  work,  was  deducted,  and 
even  the  little  pittance  which  remained  was  not 
paid!,  nor  were  they  furnished  with  food  ac- 
cordijig  to  agreement.  In  short,  the  plan  in- 
ured, in  its  results,  wholly  to  the  benefit  of  the 


494 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


lessees,  many  of  whom  made  large  fortunes  on 
the  single  year's  labor.  There  were  of  course 
some  exceptions,  though  but  few,  to  this  state 
of  things.  Fifteen  small  plantations  were 
leased  by  negroes  themselves,  some  of  whom 
cultivated  them  by  the  aid  of  their  own  fami- 
lies, while  others  employed  a  number  of  other 
negroes.  They  all  did  well ;  and  in  a  few  in- 
stances in  which  men  of  a  high  and  humane 
character  leased  plantations,  and  carried  out 
their  contracts  in  the  spirit  in  which  it  had 
been  conceived,  they  found  the  people  whom 
they  employed  grateful  and  contented,  and 
willing  to  labor  faithfully,  while  their  own  re- 
ceipts were  such  as  amply  compensated  their 
exertions  and  expenditure. 

Meantime  the  suffering,  sickness,  and  mor- 
tality at  many  of  the  camps  where  the  feeble 
and  infirm  freedmen  were  collected,  were  ter- 
rible. James  E.  Yeatman,  president  of  the 
"Western  Sanitary  Commission,  visited  these 
camps  from  Cairo  to  Natchez,  in  the  autumn 
of  1863 ;  and  while  in  some  of  them  the  freed- 
men employed  by  the  Government  in  chopping 
wood  or  other  work,  supported  themselves  and 
those  dependent  upon  them  in  tolerable  com- 
fort, in  others,  and  these  the  largest  camps, 
there  had  been  great  distress  and  frightful  mor- 
tality— the  result  of  overcrowding,  want  of 
ventilation,  malarious  localities,  the  prevalence 
of  small-pox,  want  of  medical  attendance,  poor 
and  insufficient  food,  and  lack  of  clothing. 
Many  of  the  people  under  these  causes  were 
seriously  affected  with  nostalgia,  or  home-sick- 
ness; their  condition  being  more  wretched 
than  it  had  been  on  the  plantations.  At  the 
camp  at  Natchez,  where  there  had  been  4,000 
freedmen,  the  number  was  reduced  to  2,100  by 
deaths,  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  having  died 
per  day  during  July  and  August;  at  Young's 
Point,  near  Vicksburg,  the  mortality  had  been 
equally  great  for  three  months ;  De  Soto  and 
President's  Island  were  among  the  worst  of 
these  camps.  Camp  Holly 'Springs  and  Camp 
Shiloh  near  Memphis,  Helena,  and  the  Freed- 
man's  Hospital,  were  in  better  condition,  and 
some  of  them  had  good  schools  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  those  who  desired  to  learn  to  read. 

About  35,000  colored  people  were  gathered 
in  these  camps  between  Cairo  and  Natchez,  and 
about  four-fifths  of  them  under  proper  manage- 
ment could  have  earned  their  own  support. 

Near  the  close  of  the  year,  the  management 
of  these  Infirmary  farms  and  camps,  as  well  as 
of  the  whole  matter  of  leasing  plantations  and 
employing  the  freedmen,  passed  from  the  "War 
Department  to  the  Treasury  Department,  and 
the  special  agent  appointed  by  the  latter  De- 
partment, in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Yeatman, 
perfected  the  regulations  for  the  year  1864, 
guarding  so  far  as  was  possible  against  all 
chances  of  fraud  or  ill  treatment  on  the  part 
of  the  lessees,  placing  them  under  strict  super- 
vision, increasing  the  wages  of  the  freedmen 
about  three  fold,  and  making  them  a  first  lien 
on  the  crop.  The  tax  payable  to  Government 


on  the  crop  was  also  increased,  and  one-fourth 
applied  to  the  support  of  schools  for  the  col- 
ored children,  and  another  fourth  to  the  main- 
tenance of  the  infirmary  farms.  Medical  at- 
tendants were  also  to  be  provided  for  each  dis- 
trict, and  the  money  reserved  paid  to  them  by 
the  district  superintendent,  and  they  were  re- 
quired to  attend  strictly  to  the  health  of  the 
people  of  their  districts. 

Great  atteLtion  was  paid  to  the  establishment 
of  schools  for  the  education  of  the  freedmen, 
and  to  the  imparting  of  religious  instruction  to 
them,  especially  at  Port  Royal,  Roanoke  Island, 
Norfolk,  and  at  the  Freedmen's  village,  Arling- 
ton, opposite  Washington,  D.  C.,  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  Freedmen's  Relief  Societies,  the 
American  Missionary  Association,  the  Free 
Mission  Society,  &c.  In  North  Carolina,  the 
land  on  Roanoke  Island  was  assigned  to  the 
freedmen  for  cultivation,  and  they  supported 
themselves  comfortably. 

But  the  questions  relative  to  freedmen  were 
generally  regarded  as  of  less  importance  com- 
pared with  the  greater  one  which  arose  relative 
to  the  relations  of  the  insurrectionary  States  to 
the  Federal  Government,  and  which  involved 
the  status  of  the  slave  at  the  close  of  the  civil 
war.  Previous  to  the  adoption  of  emancipation 
as  a  principle  and  a  policy  of  the  Government, 
it  had  been  held  by  all  except  those  who  were 
looking  to  ultimate  emancipation,  that  it  was 
only  necessary  for  the  Southern  States,  in  good 
faith,  to  send  representatives  to  Congress  where 
vacant  chairs  were  in  place  for  them,  to  restore 
their  States  to  their  original  position  in  the 
Union.  But  now,  under  the  operation  of  the 
principle  of  emancipation,  they  could  not  re- 
cover their  position  as  slaveholding  States,  but 
must  appear  as  non-slaveholding  States.  The 
problem  thus  to  be  solved  was  to  accomplish 
the  reappearance  of  the  slaveholding  insurrec- 
tionary States  in  the  Union,  with  the  shackles 
of  their  slaves  knocked  off,  with  their  bond- 
men and  women  and  children  sent  forth  as  free. 
A  problem  of  this  magnitude  called  into  exer- 
cise for  its  solution  the  ablest  intellects  of  the 
unconditional  Union  men,  or  emancipationists. 
In  the  first  place,  it  assumed  that  the  United 
States  should  prescribe  the  terms  and  condi- 
tions of  the  reappearance  of  the  insurrectionary 
States  in  the  Union,  and  be  able  to  secure  their 
reappearance  upon  those  terms.  To  accom- 
plish this  measure  involved  the  entire  subjuga- 
tion of  those  States,  the  extinction  of  their  ex- 
isting governments,  and  the  creation  of  new  ones. 

The  operations  of  the  Federal  Treasury  dur- 
ing the  year  1863,  were  successfully  conducted. 
The  enactment  by  Congress  of  a  national  bank- 
ing law  has  proved  a  support  of  public  credit ; 
and  the  general  legislation  in  relation  to  loans 
fully  answered  the  expectations  of  its  favorers. 

The  receipts  during  the  year  from  all  sources, 
including  loans  and  the  balance  in  the  Treasury 
at  its  commencement,  were  $901,125,674.86,  and 
the  aggregate  disbursements  $895,796,630.65, 
leaving  a  balance  on  the  1st  July,  1863,  of 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


495 


$5,329,044.21.  Of  the  receipts  there  were  de- 
rived from  customs,  $69,059,642.40;  from  inter- 
nal revenue,  $37,640,787.95;  from  direct  tax, 
$1,485,103.61 ;  .from  lands,  $167,617.17;  from 
miscellaneous  sources,  $3,046,615.36  ;  and  from 
loans,  $776,682,361.57;  making  the  aggregate, 
$901,125,674.86. 

Of  the  disbursements  there  were  for  the 
civil  service,  $23,253,922.08;  pensions  and  In- 
dians, $4,216,520.79;  for  interest  on  public 
debt,  $24,729,846.51 ;  for  the  War  Department, 
$599,298,600.83;  for  the  Navy  Department, 
$63,211,105.27;  for  payment  of  funded  and 
temporary  debt,  $181,086,635.07;  making  the 
aggregate,  $895,796,630.65;  and  leaving  the 
balance  of  $5,329,044.21. 

But  the  payment  of  funded  and  temporary 
debt  having  been  made  from  moneys  borrowed 
during  the  year,  must  be  regarded  as  merely 
nominal  payments,  and  the  moneys  borrowed 
to  make  them  as  merely-  nominal  receipts ;  and 
their  amount,  $181,086,635,07,  should  therefore 
be  deducted  both  from  receipts  and  disburse- 
ments. This  being  done,  there  remains  as  actual 
receipts,  $720,039,039.79;  and  the  actual  dis- 
bursements, $714,709,995.58,  leaving  the  bal- 
ance as  already  stated. 

In  January,  1863,  Mr.  John  P.  Usher  was 
appointed  Secretary  of  the  Interior  to  succeed 
Mr.  Smith,  appointed  judge  of  the  U.  S.  District 
Court  of  Indiana.  The  Cabinet  of  Mr.  Lincoln 
•was  thus  composed  as  follows : 

WILLIAM  H.  SEWARD,  New  York,  Secretary  of  State. 
SALMON  P.  CHASE,  Ohio,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 
EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Pennsylvania,  Sec'y  of  War. 
GIDEON  WELLES,  Connecticut,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
JOHN  P.  USHEE,  Indiana,  Secretary  of  the  Interior. 
MONTGOMERY  BLAIE|  Maryland,Postmaster-General. 
ED  WARD  BATES,  Missouri,  Attorney-General. 

Intercourse  of  a  private  nature  was  allowed 
between  the  citizens  of  the  Northern  and  South- 
ern States,  under  certain  simple  regulations,  as 
follows : 

1.  No  letter  must  exceed  one  page  of  a  letter  sheet, 
or  relate  to  any  other  than  purely  domestic  matters. 

2.  Every  letter  must  be  signed  with  the  writer's 
name  in  full. 

3.  A  letters  must  be  sent  with  five  cents  postage 
enclosed  if  to  go  to  Richmond,  and  ten  cents  if  be- 
yondf. 

4.  All  letters  must  be  enclosed  to  the  commanding 
general  of  the  Department  of  Virginia,  at  Fortress 
Monroe.    No  letter  sent  to  any  other  address  will  be 
forwarded. 

At  intervals,  females  and  children  were  grant- 
ed passes  to  go  South,  under  certain  regulations. 

The  power  of  the  Government  to  confiscate 
the  property  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  insur- 
gent States,  early  commanded  the  earnest  at- 
tention of  Congress,  and  led  to  a  full  discus- 
sion of  the  extent  of  this  power,  the  manner 
of  its  exercise,  and  the  restrictions  imposed 
by  the  Constitution.  The  results  of  the  exam- 
ination were  the  enactment  by  Congress  of  the 
act  of  August  6th,  1361,  and  of  the  act  of 
July  17th,  1862.  The  distinctive  features  of 
these  laws  were,  that  the  first  provided  for  the 
confiscation  of  property  actually  used  in  aiding, 


abetting,  or  promoting  the  measures  of  the 
rebels,  while  the  second  freed  the  slaves  and 
confiscated  all  other  property  of  persons  assist- 
ing, engaged  with  or  giving  aid  or  comfort  to 
the  rebellion.  By  an  order  of  the  President 
under  date  of  November  13th,  1862,  and  a  sub- 
sequent one  extending  the  directions  of  the  first, 
the  Attorney  General  was  charged  with  the 
superintendence  and  direction  of  all  proceedings 
under  the  two  acts  of  Congress  above  referred 
to,  in  so  far  as  concerned  the  seizure,  prosecu- 
tion, and  condemnation  of  the  estate,  property, 
and  effects  coming  under  the  operation  of  the 
same.  Attorney  General  Bates,  on  the  8th  of 
January,  1863,  issued  "  General  Instructions 
to  District  Attorneys  and  Marshals  relative  to 
proceedings  under  the  acts  of  Congress  for  con- 
fiscation." These  instructions  provided  gene- 
rally that — 

1st.  All  seizures  were  to  be  made  by  the  Mar- 
shal under  the  written  authority  of  the  District 
Attorney. 

2d.  A  true  return  thereof  by  the  Marshal  to 
the  District  Attorney. 

3d.  A  record  by  the  District  Attorney  of 
every  order  of  seizure,  and  one  by  the  Marshal 
of  every  return. 

4th.  That  the  District  Attorney  should  exer- 
cise vigilance  in  executing  the  law  and  care  to 
avoid  hasty  and  improvident  seizures. 

5th.  State  laws  directing  seizures  should  be 
conformed  to  as  nearly  as  may  be,  consistently 
with  the  objects  of  the  acts  of  Congress. 

6th.  That  property  seized  by  the  military 
officers  might  be  received  by  the  Marshal,  who 
should  make  return  thereof  to  the  District  At- 
torflfey. 

7th.  After  seizure  the  District  Attorney  to 
proceed  in  the  proper  court  for  the  condemna- 
tion of  the  property  seized. 

In  pursuance  of  these  instructions,  proceed- 
ings were  commenced  in  several  districts  to  en- 
force the  provisions  of  both  laws. 

With  regard  to  the  exchange  of  prisoners, 
the  commencement  of  1863  found  the  cartel 
agreed  upon  by  Gens.  Dix  and  Hill  in  the  pre- 
ceding July  in  full  force  and  operation.  The 
preponderance  of  prisoners  on  either  side  was 
not  great,  and  notwithstanding  certain  acrimo- 
nious correspondence  and  retaliatory  proclama- 
tions of  the  previous  year,  exchanges  proceeded 
regularly  at  City  Point  on  the  James  River,  the 
chief  place  appointed  for  that  purpose,  to  the 
mutual  relief  and  advantage  of  the  hostile  parties. 

The  first  indication  of  approaching  complica- 
tions was  afforded  by  the  message  of  Jefferson 
Davis  to  the  Confederate  Congress  on  Jan.  14th, 
in  which  he  used  the  following  language  : 

So  far  as  regards  the  action  of  the  Government  on 
'such  criminals  as  may  attempt  its  execution  [referring 
to  President  Lincoln  s  emancipation  proclamation  of 
Jan.  1st,  1863],  I  confine  myself  to  informing  you  that 
I  shall,  unless  in  your  wisdom  you  deem  some  other 
course  more  expedient,  deliver  to  the  several  State 
authorities  all  commissioned  officers  of  the  United 
States  that  may  hereafter  be  captured  by  our  forces 
in  any  of  the  States  embraced  in  the  proclamation, 


496 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


that  they  may  be  dealt  with  in  accordance  with  the 
laws  of  those  States  providing  for  the  punishment  of 
criminals  engaged  in  inciting  servile  insurrection. 

On  May  1st,  the  Congress,  after  mature  de- 
liberation, passed  a  series  of  resolutions  in  con- 
formity'with  these  views. 

The  effect  of  the  resolutions  was  to  withhold 
from  exchange,  if  captured,  a  certain  class  of 
soldiers  of  the  United  States  army,  who  were 
not  regarded  by  the  enemy  as  prisoners  of  war. 
As  no  colored  soldiers  had  up  to  this  time  fallen 
into  their  hands,  notwithstanding  a  large  num- 
ber of  colored  persons  employed  as  ambulance 
and  wagon  drivers,  laborers,  servants,  and  in 
•  other  capacities,  had  been  captured  by  them 
and  never  accounted  for,  no  direct  issue  seemed 
to  be  raised,  and  it  remained  for  future  events 
to  develop  one.  The  cartel  was  in  reality  inter- 
rupted when  the  resolutions  became  the  law  of 
the  Confederacy,  but  its  operation  was  not  prac- 
tically stopped  until  several-  months  afterwards, 
and  then  for  reasons  only  partially  connected 
with  the  position  taken  by  the  rebel  authorities 
on  this  point. 

The  cartel  of  July,  1862,  had  been  so  ar- 
ranged that  a  correct  return  of  prisoners  could 
be  kept  by  both  sides,  in  order  that  a  balance 
sheet  might  at  any  time  be  struck  between 
them.  For  this  purpose  City  Point  and  Vicks- 
burg  were  selected  as  points  of  exchange.  But 
under  a  liberal  interpretation  of  the  cartel  it 
became  the  practice  for  the  commanders  of 
opposing  armies  to  parole  and  exchange  pris- 
oners at  will,  without  the  formality  of  sending 
them  to  the  rear  for  transportation  to  the 
points  of  exchange,  or  designating  such  points. 
In  consequence  of  this  course  it  becameuim- 
possible  to  determine  with  accuracy  the  bal- 
ances between  the  contending  parties ;  and  the 
United  States  Government,  for  the  purpose, 
among  other  things,  of  making  its  generals 
conform  strictly  to  the  regulations  of  the  cartel 
in  the  matter  of  paroles,  issued,  on  May  22d,  a 
code  of  instructions  compiled  by  Dr.  Francis 
Lieber,  and  known  as  general  orders  No.  100, 
in  which  it  was  provided  that  captures,  to  be 
va}id,  u  must  be  reduced  to  possession,"  and 
that  when  the  Government  did  not  approve  of 
a  parole,  the  officer  or  man  paroled  must  return 
to  captivity.  This  was  sent  to  Robert  Ould, 
Confederate  agent  of  exchange  at  City  Point, 
on  May  22d,  accompanied  by  a  note  from  Col. 
Ludlow,  the  Federal  agent  at  Fortress  Monroe, 
in  which  he  stated  that,  together  with  the  car- 
tel, it  would  govern  the  U.  S.  army.  He  added : 

I  would  invite  your  special  attention  to  article  seven 
of  the  cartel,  which  provides  that  all  prisoners  of  war 
shall  be  seat  to  places  of  delivery  therein  specified. 
The  execution  of  this  article  will  obviate  much  dis- 
cussion and  difficulty  growing  out  of  the  mode,  time, 
and  place  of  giving  paroles.  No  paroles  or  exchanges, 
will  be  considered  binding  except  those  under  the 
stipulations  of  said  article,  permitting  commanders 
of  two  Opposing  armies  to  exchange  or  release  or 
parole  at  other  joints  mutually  agreed  on  by  said 
commanders. 

On  July  3d,  Gen.  Lee  received  his  final  repulse 
at  Gettysburg,  and  on  the  4th  he  retreated  tow- 


ard the  Potomac.  A  number  of  prisoners  taken 
by  him  during  the  battles  of  the  three  previous 
days  still  remained  upon  his  hands,  and  being 
unable  to  take  these  with  him  into  Virginia 
he  paroled  and  released  them  on1  the  spot.  Gen. 
Meade  at  once  disavowed  these  paroles  as  hav- 
ing been  made  in  violation  of  a  liberal  inter- 
pretation of  the  cartel,  which  required  prison- 
ers, when  exchanged  or  paroled  at  a  distance 
from  either  of  the  points  of  exchange,  to  be  so 
exchanged  or  paroled  at  a  point  mutually  agreed 
upon  by  the  commanders  of  the  opposing  ar- 
mies. In  the  present  case  nothing  of  the  kind 
had  been  attempted,  and  the  enemy,  by  showing 
his  inability  to  remove  his  prisoners,  failed  to 
prove  that  he  had  reduced  them  to  actual  pos- 
session. Hence  the  Federal  Government  not 
only  held  these  paroles  to  be  invalidated,  but 
ordered  the  officers  and  men  to  return  to  duty. 
The  rebels  complained  bitterly  of  this  proceed- 
ing, maintaining  that  the  Federal  Government 
had  undertaken  to  supplement  the  cartel  by  its 
general  orders,  by  which  the  basis  of  exchanges 
had  been  affected  without  previous  agreement. 

The  battle  of  Gettysburg  was  followed  by 
the  unconditional  surrender  of  Vicksburg  and 
Port  Hudson,  by  which  the  number  of  prisoners 
falling  into  the  Federal  hands  was  enormously 
increased.  In  both  instances  the  commanders 
of  the  opposing  armies,  acting  under  the  author- 
ity of  the  cartel,  mutually  agreed  upon  a  place 
for  the  delivery  of  the  prisoners  on  parole.  The 
Port  Hudson  prisoners  were  accordingly  sent 
to  Mobile.  Mr.  Ould  nevertheless  undertook 
to  release  these  men  from  their  obligations, 
ostensibly  because  they  were  not  exchanged  at 
City  Point  or  Vicksburg,  the  two  places  spe- 
cially mentioned  in  the  cartel  (although  that 
instrument  provided  for  other  arrangements, 
which  in  this  instance  were  literally  fulfilled), 
but  really  as  a  retaliatory  measure  to  offset  the 
disavowal  of  the  Gettysburg  paroles,  and  also, 
there  is  good  reason  to  believe,  for  the  purpose 
of  filling  up  the  depleted  ranks  of.  the  rebel 
army.  Other  prisoners,  to  the  number  of  sev- 
eral thousands,  were  for  similar  reasons  subse- 
quently absolved  from  their  paroles.  Tft  pro- 
ceedings above  related  involved  no  slight  amount 
of  acrimonious  correspondence,  extending  over 
a  considerable  period,  but  cannot  be  said  to 
have  permanently  interrupted  the  system  of  ex- 
changes then  in  operation. 

Previous  to  July  no  engagement  had  occurred 
in  which  colored  troops  had  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  But  the  capture  of  a  num- 
ber of  the  54th  Massachusetts  (colored)  regi- 
ment, at  the  assault  on  Fort  Wagner  in  Charles- 
ton harbor,  showed  that  the  enemy  were  deter- 
mined to  carry  out  literally  the  provisions  of  the 
resolutions  of  May  1st.  To  protect  this  class  of 
soldiers  from  these  harsh  measures,  the  following 
retaliatory  order  was  issued  by  the  President : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  July  80th. 
It  is  the  duty  of  every  Government  to  give  protec- 
tion to  its  citizens  of  whatever  class,  color,  or  condi- 
tion, and  especially  to  those  who  are  duly  organized 


• 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


497 


as  soldiers  in  the  public  service.  The  law  of  nations 
and  the  usages  and  customs  of  war,  as  carried  on  by 
civilized  powers,  permit  no  distinction  as  to  color  in 
the  treatment  of  prisoners  of  war  as  public  enemies. 
To  sell  or  enslave  any  captured  person,  on  account 
of  his  color,  and  for  no  offence  against  the  laws  of  war, 
is  a  relapse  into  barbarism  and  a  crime  against  the 
civilization  of  the  age.  The  Government  of  the 
United  States  will  give  the  same  protection  to  all  its 
soldiers,  and  if  the  enemy  shall  sell  or  enslave  any 
one  because  of  his  color,  the  offence  shall  be  punished 
by  retaliation  upon  the  enemy's  prisoners  in  our 
hands. 

It  is  therefore  ordered  that  for  every  soldier  of  the 
United  States  killed  in  violation  of  the  laws  of  war,  a 
rebel  soldier  shall  be  executed,  and  for  every  one 
enslaved  by  the  enemy  or  sold  into  slavery,  a  rebel 
soldier  shall  be  placed  at  hard  labor  on  the  public 
works,  and  continue  at  such  labor  until  the  other 
shall  be  released  and  recei^p  the  treatment  due  to  a 
prisoner  of  war. 
*  ABKAHAM  LINCOLN. 

By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 
E.  D.  TOWNSEND,  Ass't  Adj. -Gen. 

Of  the  fate  of  the  negroes  captured  at  Fort 
Wagner  no  certain  intelligence  reached  the 
Federal  Government  for  several  weeks,  the 
rebels  maintaining  a  strict  silence  on  the  sub- 
ject ;  but  Secretary  Stanton,  ascertaining  soon 
after  that  three  colored  men  captured  on  board 
the  gunboat  Isaac  Smith  in  the  Stono  River,  had 
been  placed  in  close  confinement,  ordered  three 
rebel  prisoners  of  South  Carolina  to  be  held  as 
hostages  for  them,  and  directed  this  fact-  to 
be  communicated  to  the  Confederate  Govern- 
ment. 

During  the  whole  year  not  a  single  instance 
occurred  of  a  negro  soldier,  or  a  commissioned 
officer  of  a  negro  regiment,  being  exchanged, 
or  recognized  as  a  prisoner  of  war.  On  the 
other  hand,  no  instance  came  to  light  of  the 
execution  by  the  Confederate  authorities  of  the 
death  penalty  upon  prisoners  of  this  class.  A 
suspension  of  exchanges  and  a  long  correspond- 
ence now  ensued. 

The  report  of  the  Commissary-General  of 
Prisoners,  accompanying  the  Secretary  of  War's 
annual  report  of  Dec.,  1863,  showed  that  the 
number  of  Confederate  officers  and  men  cap- 
tared  by  the  Federals  since  the  beginning  of  the 
war,  is:  1  lieutenant-general,  5  major-generals, 
25  brigadier-generals,  186  colonels,  146  lieuten- 
ant-colonels, 244  majors,  2,497  captains,  5,811 
lieutenants,  16,563  non-commissioned  officers, 
121,156  privates,  and  5,800  citizens.  Of  these, 
the  Federals  had  on  hand  at  the  date  of  the 
report,  29,229  officers  and  men,  among  whom 
were  1  major-general  and  7  brigadiers.  There 
had  been  121,937  Confederates  exchanged, 
against  110,866  Federal  soldiers  returned.  The 
exchanges  of  officers  on  both  sides  were 

32 


computed  at  their  exchangeable  value  int  pri- 
vates. 

Of  the  treatment  of  Federal  prisoners  by  the 
rebel  authorities,  the  accounts  of  exchanged 
surgeons,  officers,  and  men,  generally  concurred 
in  describing  it  as  bad.  Many  had  even  de- 
nounced it  as  unnecessarily  cruel.  The  enemy^ 
in  palliation  of  these  complaints,  alleged  that 
the  Union  prisoners  were  placed  on  an  equality, 
as  respects  rations  and  clothing,  with  their  own 
soldiers,  and  that  they  did  not  receive  the  com- 
forts which  might  be  reasonably  expected,  simply 
because  it  was  not  in  the  power  of  the  Confed- 
erate authorities  to  give  them.  This,  in  the 
opinion  of  several  exchanged  surgeons,  who 
were  in  the  habit  of  making  daily  visits  to  the 
prison  hospitals  in  Richmond,  would  not  account 
for  the  dreadful  mortality  in  those  buildings, 
averaging,  at  certain  periods,  upward  of  fifty 
persons  a  day.  Toward  the  close  of  1863,  the 
Federal  Government  was  permitted  to  send 
supplies  of  food  and  clothing  to  these  prisoners ; 
but  charges  of  misappropriation  of  them  having 
been  made,  the  permission  was,  in  December, 
revoked. 

A  somewhat  remarkable  episode  of  this  pe- 
riod was  the  plot  set  on  foot  by  the  rebel  au- 
thorities to  liberate  2,500  of  their  officers  con- 
fined on  Johnson's  Island,  in  Lake  Erie,  and  in 
connection  with  this  act  to  burn  or  destroy 
Buffalo  and  other  lake  cities.  The  expedition 
intended  for  this  purpose  was  to  rendezvous  in 
Canada,  surprise  the  Federal  garrison  on  John- 
son's Island,  liberate  the  prisoners,  convey  them 
to  Canada  In  vessels  provided  for  that  purpose, 
and  forward  them  by  Halifax  to  Nassau  or  Ber- 
muda; the  greater  part  of  the  funds  being  spe- 
cially devoted  to  paying  their  passage  to  one 
of  these  points. 

These  facts  coming  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
American  consul-general  in  Montreal,  he  at 
once  laid  them  before  the  governor-general  of 
Canada.  The  Canadian  authorities  gave  the 
subject  immediate  attention,  and  by  November 
llth  enough  had  been  discovered  of  the  plans 
of  the  rebels  to  authorize  the  governor-general 
to  inform  Lord  Lyons,  the  British  minister  at 
Washington,  by  telegraph,  of  the  existence  of 
the  plot.  Lord  Lyons  at  once  communicated 
his  despatch  to  the  United  States  Government, 
and  at  midnight  of  the  llth  a  despatch  was  sent 
by  Secretary  Stanton  to  the  mayors  of  Detroit, 
Buffalo,  and  other  Western  cities. 

The  prompt  movement  of  troops  to  the  scene 
of  danger,  and  the  precautions  taken  by  the 
local  authorities  in  the  lake  cities,  had  the  effect 
of  averting  the  threatened  catastrophe,  and  in 
a  few  days  tranquillity  was  restored. 


498 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


CHAPTEE    XXXVIII. 


Position  of  the  Armies  at  the  beginning  of  1864 — Gen.  Sherman's  march  to  Meridian— Opposing  movements  of  the  Enemy 
Gen.  Gilmore's  movements  in  Florida — Battle  of  Olnstee — Campaign  of  Gen.  Banks  on  the  Eed  Elver — Battles — Co- 
operation of  Gen.  Steele — Its  Results — Capture  of  Tort  Pillow  and  slaughter  of  the  Garrison — Unsuccessful  Operations 
in  North  Carolina. 


AT  the  commencement  of  the  year,  1864,  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  under  Gen.  Meade,  was 
near  Culpepper  Court  House,  in  Virginia,  with 
the  army  under  Gen.  Lee  in  front  and  south  of 
him.  The  Confederate  Gen.  Early  had  heen 
ordered  to  command  the  forces  in  the  Shenan- 
doah  valley,  with  his  headquarters  at  Staunton. 
The  Federal  forces  held  Winchester,  Martins- 
burg,  and  Harper's  Ferry,  and  occupied  the 
line  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  in 
Western  Virginia.  Gen.  Burnside  was  still  at 
Knoxville,  in  East  Tennessee,  with  a  line  of 
communication  into  Kentucky.  Eastward  of 
him  was  Gen.  Longstreet,  with  a  division  of  the 
Confederate  army.  The  army  of  Gen.  Grant 
was  in  front  of  Chattanooga,  in  the  southeast 
corner  of  Tennessee,  and  a  force  of  the  enemy 
before  him  at  Dalton,  under  Gen.  Bragg.  The 
following  address  to  his  soldiers  had  been  is- 
sued by  Gen.  Grant,  near  the  close  of  1863  : 

HBADQTTABTERS  MIUTAEY  DIVISION  or  THE  ) 

MISSISSIPPI,  IN  THE  FIELD,        V 

CHATTANOOGA,  TBNN.,  December  10, 1863.  ) 

The  General  commanding  takes  this  opportunity 
of  returning  his  sincere  thanks  and  congratulations 
to  the  brave  Armies  of  the  Cumberland,  tHe  Ohio,  the 
Tennessee,  and  their  comrades  from  the  Potomac,  for 
the  recent  splendid  and  decisive  successes  achieved 
over  the  enemy.  In  a  short  time  you  have  recovered 
from  him  the  control  of  the  Tennessee  River,  from 
Bridgeport  to  Knoxville.  You  dislodged  him  from 
his  great  stronghold  upon  Lookout  Mountain,  drove 
him  from  Chattanooga  valley,  wrested  from  his  de- 
termined grasp  the  possession  of  Missionary  Ridge, 
repelled  with  heavy  loss  to  him  his  repeated  assaults 
upon  Knoxville,  forcing  him  to  raise  the  siege  there, 
driving  him  at  all  points,  utterly  routed  and  discom- 
fited, beyond  the  limits  of  the  State.  By  your  noble 
heroism  and  determined  courage,  you  have  effectu- 
ally defeated  the  plans  of  the  enemy  for  regaining 
possession  of  the  States  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 
You  have  secured  positions  from  which  no  rebellious 
power  can  drive  or  dislodge  you.  For  all  this  the 
General  commanding  thanks  you  .collectively  and 
individually.  The  loyalpeople  of  ttie  United  States 
thank  and  bless  you.  Their  hopes  and  prayers  for 
your  success  against  this  unholy  rebellion  are  with 
you  daily.  Their  faith  in  you  will  not  be  in  vain. 
Their  hopes  will  not  be  blasted.  Their  prayers  to 
Almighty  God  will  be  answered.  You  will  yet  go  to 
other  fields  of  strife ;  and  with  the  invincible  bravery 
and  unflinching  loyalty  to  justice  and  right  which, 
have  characterized  you  in  the  past,  you  will  prove 
that  no  enemy  can  withstand  you,  and  that  no  de- 
fences, however  formidable,  can  check  your  onward 
march. 

By  order  of  Major-General  U.  S.  GRANT. 

T.  S.  BOWERS,  Ass't  Adj. -Gen. 

The  line  of  communication  of  Gen.  Grant 
extended  to  Nashville  by  the  railroad,  through 
Stevenson  and  Murfreesboro'.  Florence  and 
Corinth  were  also  held  by  a  Federal  force  until 


the  earlier  portion  of  the  year,  when  the  former 
was  occupied  by  the  enemy.  Military  posts 
consisting  of  fortifications  and  heavy  guns,  with 
negro  troops,  were  established  on  the  Missis- 
sippi River  at  Cairo,  Columbus,  New  Madrid, 
Fort  Pillow,  Memphis,  Helena,  Goodrich's  Land- 
ing, Vicksburg,  Natch«E,  Port  Hudson,  Baton 
Rouge,  New  Orleans,  and  Forts  Jackson  and 
St.  Philip.  There  were  also  forces  at  other 
points  adjacent  to  these.  A  large  force  was 
under  the  command  of  Gen.  Banks,  in  New  Or- 
leans, with  detachments  at  Brashear  City,  and 
at  Brownsville,  on  the  Rio  Grande.  Gen. 
Steele  occupied  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  with  a 
considerable  force,  and  Gen.  Rosecrans,  in  com- 
mand of  the  department,  had  a  small  body  of 
troops  in  Missouri.  The  military  positions  on 
the  coast  of  North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina 
remained  unchanged. 

The  number  of  troops  in  the  field  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  year  can  be  only  indefinitely 
estimated.  Between  October,  1863,  and  May, 
1864,  seven  hundred  thousand  new  troops  took 
the  field,  as  stated  by  Senator  Wilson  in  Con- 
gress. A  portion  of  these  supplied  the  place 
of  the  three  years'  men  whose  term  of  service 
expired  in  1864.  A  large  majority  of  the  latter, 
however,  reenlisted. 

The  number  of  Confederate  troops  in  the 
field  known  as  veterans,  in  the  beginning  of 
the  year,  was  as  follows  :  That  portion  of  tho 
Southern  army  which  constituted  the  force 
under  Gen.  Lee  (counting  in  Gen.  Longstreet, 
who  commanded  a  portion  of  his  army),  num- 
bered ninety  thousand  troops.  This  is  also 
counting  in  the  troops  which  were  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Abingdon,  Lynchburg,  and  other  por- 
tions of  Southwestern  Virginia  and  East  Ten- 
nessee, formerly  under  Gen.  Samuel  Jones,  who 
was  detached  from  Gen.  Lee's  army  late  in  Sep- 
tember, 1863,  to  operate  against  Gen.  Burnside, 
and  afterwards  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Breckinridge.  At  Richmond  and  at  Peters- 
burg there  were,  not  counting  in  citizens  and 
home  guards,  about  three  thousand  men.  Be- 
tween Petersburg  and  Weldon  there  were  one 
thousand  men.  Along  the  railroad,  between 
Weldon  and  Wilmington,  there  were  at  least 
six  thousand  men.  The  forces  under  Gen. 
Pickett  numbered  eight  thousand  men.  Im- 
boden  and  Moseby  together  had  four  thousand 
men— all  guerrillas.  This  swelled  the  army  in 
Eastern  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  to  one 
hundred  and  twelve  thousand  strong. 

The  second  great  army  in  the  Confederacy 
was  that  under  Gen.  Johnston,  a  large  portion 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


499 


of  which  was  cavalry.  The  army  known  as 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  was  composed  of 
two  corps,  each  having  six  divisions  of  in- 
fantry, amounting  to  thirty-six  thousand  men. 
There  were  also  several  divisions  of  cavalry, 
numbering  at  least  eighteen  thousand  men, 
making  an  aggregate  of  fifty-four  thousand. 
This  included  the  four  divisions  sent  to  reiin- 
force  Gen.  Polk,  and  the  two  divisions  sent 
to  Mobile,  and  the  entire  cavalry  under  Wheel- 
er, Wharton,  and  John  Morgan.  Gen.  John- 
ston also  had  command  of  all  the  Confederate 
forces  in  Georgia,  Alabama,  and  Mississippi, 
except  those  at  Savannah,  Mobile,  and  under 
Forrest,  who  had  an  independent  (roving)  com- 
mission. Before  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Sherman 
at  Meridian,  Gen.  Polk  'had  eighteen  thousand 
troops,  only  two  thousand  of  which  were  vet- 
erans. 

The  forces  in  South  Carolina  and  at  Savan- 
nah, under  Gen.  Beauregard,  and  in  Florida, 
under  Gen.  MeCown,  numbered  ten  thousand. 
This  only  included  the  veterans,  or  old  soldiers, 
as  the  armies  in  these  three  localities  above 
mentioned  a  little  later  numbered  twenty-five 
thousand  men. 

The  next  regular  armies  of  the  Confederacy 
were  the  Trans-Mississippi  forces,  scattered  in 
different  portions  of  Arkansas  and  Texas,  and 
all  under  the  command  of  Lieut.-Gen.  Kirby 
Smith,  the  army  in  Arkansas  under  Gen. 
Holmes,  and  the  army  in  Texas  under  Gen. 
Magruder ;  the  old  soldiers  of  which  numbered 
twelve  thousand  men. 

The  forces  at  Mobile,  under  Gens.  Maury  and 
Claiborne,  numbered  about  eight  thousand. 
The  forces  under  Gen.  Forrest,  and  under  Chal- 
mers, Lee,  and  Richardson,  amounted  to  six 
thousand,  which  included  all  the  veterans  in  the 
rebel  service. 

To  this  may  be  added,  however,  in  the  same 
line,  twelve  thousand  soldiers  engaged  in  im- 
portant prison  guard,  and  in  the  hospitals  and 
quartermasters'  and  commissary  departments. 
There  were  also  about  two  thousand  men  en- 
gaged in  the  guerrilla  warfare  on  the  banks  of 
the  Mississippi.  Up  other  guerrilla  bands  of 
importance  existed  in  Gen.  Grant's  department. 
There  was  not  a  single  squad  in  Kentucky,  East 
and  Middle  Tennessee,  Northern  Alabama,  or 
Northern  Georgia.  There  were  still  several 
guerrilla  organizations  in  "West  Tennessee  and 
Northern  Mississippi.  The  people  themselves 
had  rid  the  country. 

The  total  of  these  veterans  was  two  hundred 
and  twenty-four  thousand ;  to  these  were  add- 
ed, at  the  beginning  of  the  year,  one  hundred 
and  twenty  thousand  conscripts,  making  the 
number  in  the  service  three  hundred  and  forty- 
four  thousand. 

The  earliest  operations  of  importance,  in 
1864,  consisted  of  a  movement  under  Gen. 
Sherman  from  Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  to  Meri- 
dian, Alabama;  another  under  Gen.  Smith, 
from  Memphis,  Tennessee,  to  cooperate  with 
Gen.  Sherman;  another  under  Gen.  Grant's 


orders,  from  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  upon 
Dalton,  Georgia,  and  another  under  Gen.  Scho- 
field,  who  relieved  Gen.  Burnside,  upon  the 
forces  under  Gen.  Longstreet,  in  East  Tennessee. 

Upon  the  return  of  Gen.  Sherman  from  East 
Tennessee  to  Chattanooga,  his  command  was 
stationed  at  Scottsboro',  Alabama,  and  thence 
along  the  Memphis  and  Chattanooga  Railroad, 
to  Huntsville.  Near  the  end  of  January,  Gen. 
Sherman  went  to  Memphis  and  Vicksburg,  to 
command  an  expedition.  Corinth  was  aban- 
doned, and  the  Memphis  Railroad  eastward  of 
Lagrange  to  Huntsville,  and  a  large  body  of 
troops  sent  down  the  Mississippi  to  Vicksburg. 

The  following  letter  was  addressed  by  Gen. 
Sherman,  at  this  time,  to  his  adjutant-general, 
relative  to  the  course  to  be  pursued  by  subor- 
dinate commanders  of  military  districts  to  the 
inhabitants : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEP'T  OF  THE  TENNESSEE,  I 
VICKSBURG,  January  81, 1864         ( 
Major  R.  M.  Sawyer,  Ass't  Adj. -Gen.  Army  of  the 
Tennessee,  Huntsville. 

DEAR  SAWYER  :  In  my  former  letter  I  have  an- 
swered all  your  questions,  save  one,  and  that  relates 
to  the  treatment  of  inhabitants  known  or  suspected 
to  be  hostile,  or  "  secesh."  This  is  in  truth  the  most 
difficult  business  of  our  army  as  it  advances  and  oc- 
cupies the  Southern  country.  It  is  almost  impossi- 
ble to  lay  down  rules,  and  I  invariably  leave  this 
whole  subject  to  the  local  commanders,  but  am  will- 
ing to  give  them  the  benefit  of  my  acquired  knowl- 
edge and  expennce. 

In  Europe,  whence  we  derive  our  principles  of  war, 
as  developed  by  their  histories,  wars  are  between 
kings  or  rulers,  through  hired  armies,  and  not  be- 
tween peoples. 

The  war  which  prevails  in  our  land  is  essentially 
a  war  of  races.  The  Southern  people  entered  into  a 
clear  compact  of  Government,  but  still  maintained  a 
species  of  separate  interests,  history,  and  prejudices. 
These  latter  became  stronger  and  stronger,  till  they 
have  led  to  a  war  which  has  developed  the  fruits  of 
the  bitterest  kind. 

We  of  the  North  are,  beyond  all  question,  right  in 
our  lawful  cause,  but  we  are  not  bound  to  ignore  the 
fact  that  the  people  of  the  South  have  prejudices 
which  form  part  of  their  nature,  and  which  they  can- 
not throw  off  without  an  effort  of  reason,  or  the 
slower  process  of  natural  change.  Now,  the  ques- 
tion arises,  should  we  treat  as  absolute  enemies  all 
in  the  South  who  differ  from  us  in  opinion  or  preju- 
dice, kill  or  banish  them ;  or  should  we  give  them 
time  to  think,  and  gradually  change  their  conduct  so 
as  to  conform  to  the  new  order  of  things,  which  is 
slowly  and  gradually  creeping  into  their  country  ? 

When  men  take  arms  to  resist  our  rightful  author- 
ity, we  are  compelled  to  use  force,  because  all  reason 
and  argument  cease  when  arms  are  resorted  to. 
When  provisions,  forage,  horses,  mules,  wagons, 
etc.,  are  used  by  our  enemy,  it  is  clearly  our  duty 
and  right  to  take  them,  because  otherwise  they  might 
be  used  against  us. 

In  like  manner,  all  houses  left  vacant  by  an  inimi- 
cal people  are  clearly  our  right,  or  such  as  are  needed 
as  storehouses,  hospitals,  and  quarters.  But  a  ques- 
tion arises  as  to  dwellings  used  by  women,  children, 
and  non-combatants.  So  long  as  non-combatants 
remain  in  their  houses  and  keep  to  their  accustomed 
business,  their  opinions  and  prejudices  can  in  no- 
wise influence  the  war,  and  therefore  should  not  be 
noticed.  3ut  if  any  one  comes  out  into  the  public 
streets  and  creates  disorder,  he  or  she  should  be 
punished,  restrained,  or  banished,  either  to  the  rear 
or  front,  as  the  officer  in  command  adjudges.  If  the 
people,  or  any  of  them,  keep  up  a  correspondence 


500 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


with  parties  in  hostility,  they  are  spies,  and  can  be 
punished  with  death  or  minor  punishment. 

These  are  well-established  principles  of  war,  and 
the  people  of  the  South  having  appealed  to  war,  are 
barred  from  appealing  to  our  Constitution,  which 
they  have  practically  and  publicly  defied.  They 
have  appealed  to  war,  and  must  abide  its  rules  and 
laws.  The  United  States,  as  a  belligerent  party 
claiming  right  in  the  soil  as  the  ultimate  sovereign, 
have  a  right  to  change  the  population,  and  it  may  be 
and  is,  both  politic  and  just,  we  should  do  so  in  cer- 
tain districts.  When  the  inhabitants  persist  too 
long  in  hostility,  it  may  be  both  politic  and  right  we 
should  banish  them  and  appropriate  their  lands  to  a 
more  loyal  and  useful  population.  No  man  will  deny 
that  the  United  States  would  be  benefited  by  dis- 
possessing a  single  prejudiced,  hard-headed,  and  dis- 
loyal planter,  and  substituting  in  his  place  a  dozen  or 
more  patient,  industrious,  good  families,  even  if  they 
be  of  foreign  birth.  I  think  it  does  good  to  present 
this  view  of  the  case  to  many  Southern  gentlemen, 
who  grew  rich  and  wealthy,  not  by  virtue  alone  of 
their  industry  and  skill,  b'ut  by  reason  of  the  pro- 
tection and  impetus  to  prosp_erity  given  by  our  hith- 
erto moderate  and  magnanimous  Government.  It 
ia  all  idle  nonsense  for  these  Southern  planters  to 
say  that  they  made  the  South,  that  they  own  it,  and 
that  they  can  do  as  they  please — even  to  break  up 
our  Government,  and  to  shut  up  the  natural  avenues 
of  trade,  intercourse,  and  commerce. 

'We  know,  and  they  know,  if  they  are  intelligent 
beings,  that,  as  co_mpared  with  the  whole  world,  they 
are  but  as  five  millions  are  to  one  thousand  millions 
— that  they  did  not  create  the  land — that  their  only 
title  to  its  use  and  usufruct  is  the  deed  of  the  United 
States ;  and  if  they  appeal  to  war,  they  hold  their  all 
by  a  very  insecure  tenure. 

For  my  part  I  believe  that  this  war  is  the  result  of 
false  political  doctrine,  for  which  we  are  all  as  a  peo- 
ple responsible,  viz. :  that  any  and  every  people  have 
a  right  to  self-government ;  and  I  would  give  all  a 
chance  to  reflect,  and  when  in  error  to  recant.  I 
know  slave  owners  finding  themselves  in  possession 
of  a  species  of  property  in  opposition  to  the  growing 
sentiment  of  the  whole  civilized  world,  conceived 
their  property  in  danger,  and  foolishly  appealed  to 
war ;  and  by  skilful  political  handling  involved  with 
themselves  the  whole  South  on  the  doctrines  of  error 
and  prejudice.  I  believe  that  some  of  the  rich  and 
slavenolding  are  prejudiced  to  an  extent  that  nothing 
but  death  and  ruin  will  extinguish,  but  hope  that  as 
the  poorer  and  industrial  classes  of  the  South  realize 
their  relative  weakness,  and  their  dependence  upon  the 
fruits  of  the  earth  and  good  will  of  their  fellow-men, 
they  will  not  only  discover  the  error  of  their  ways, 
and.  repent  of  their  hasty  action,  but  bless  those  who 
persistently  maintained  a  Constitutional  Government, 
strong  enough  to  sustain  itself,  protect  its  citizens, 
and  promise  peaceful  homes  to  millions  yet  unborn. 

In  this  belief,  whilst  I  assert  for  our  Government 
the  highest  military  prerogatives,  I  am  willing  to 
bear  in  patience  that  political  nonsense  of  slave  rights, 
State  rights,  freedom  of  conscience,  freedom  of  press, 
and  such  other  trash  as  have  deluded  the  Southern 
people  into  war,  anarchy,  bloodshed,  and  the  foulest 
crimes  that  have  disgraced  any  time  or  any  people. 

I  would  advise  the  commanding  officers  at  Hunts- 
ville,  and  such  other  towns  as  are  occupied  by  our 
troops,  to  assemble  the  inhabitants  and  explain  to 
them  these  plain,  self-evident  propositions,  and  tell 
them  that  it  is  for  them  now  to  say,  whether  they 
and  their  children  shall  inherit  the  beautiful  land, 
which,  by  the  accident  of  nature,  has  fallen  to  their 
share.  The  Government  of  the  United  States  has  in 
North  Alabama  any  and  all  rights  which  they  choose 
to  enforce  in  war,  to  take  their  lives,  their  homes, 
their  lands,  their  every  thing,  because  $hey  cannot 
deny  that  war  does  exist  there,  and  war  is  simply 
power  unrestrained  by  constitution  or  compact.  If  -, 
they  want  eternal  war,  well  and  good — we  will  accept 


the  issue  and  dispossess  them,  and  put  our  friends  in 
possession.  I  know  thousands  and  millions  of  good 
people  who,  at  simple  notice,  would  come  to  Iv  orth 
Alabama  and  accept  the  elegant  houses  and  planta- 
tions now  there.  If  the  people  of  Huntsville  think 
different,  let  them  persist  in  war  three  years  longer, 
and  then  they  will  not  be  consulted.  Three  years 
ag°>  by  a  little  reflection  and  patience  they  could 
have  had  a  hundred  years  of  peace  and  prosperity, 
but  they  preferred  war;  very  well,  last. year  they 
could  have  saved  their  slaves,  but  now  it  is  too  late — 
all  the  powers  of  earth  cannot  restore  to  them  their 
slaves  any  more  than  their  dead  grandfathers.  Next 
year  their  lands  will  be  taken,  for  in  war  we  can  take 
them,  and  rigMfully,  too,  and  in  another  year  they 
may  beg  in  vain  for  their  lives.  A  people  who  will 
persevere  in  war  beyond  a  certain  limit,  ought  to 
know  the  consequences.  Many,  many  people,  with 
less  pertinacity  than  the  South,  have  been  wiped  out 
of  national  existence. 

My  own  belief  is,  that  even  now  the  non-slavehold- 
ing  classes  of  the  South  are  alienating  from  their  as- 
sociates in  war.  Already  I  hear  crimination.  Those 
who  have  property  left,  should  take  warning  in  time. 

Since  I  have  come  down  here,  I  have  seen  many 
Southern  planters  who  now  hire  their  negroes,  and 
acknowledge  that  they  knew  not  the  earthquake  they 
were  to  make  by  appealing  to  secession.  They 
thought  that  the  politicians  nad  prepared  the  way, 
and  that  they  could  part  in  peace.  They  now  see 
that  we  are  bound  together  as  one  nation,  by  indis- 
soluble ties,  and  that  any  interest  or  any  people  that 
set  themselves  up  in  antagonism  to  the  nation,  must 
perish. 

While  I  would  not  remit  one  jot  or  tittle  of  our 
nation's  rights,  in  peace  or  war,  I  do  make  allow- 
ances for  past  political  errors  and  false  prejudices. 
Our  national  Congress  and  Supreme  Courts  are  the 
proper  arenas  in  which  to  discuss  conflicting  opin- 
ions and  not  the  battle-field. 

You  may  not  hear  from  me  again,  and  if  you  think 
it  will  do  any  good,  call  some  of  the  people  together, 
and  explain  these  my  views.  You  may  even  read 
to  them  this  letter,  and  let  them  use  it,  so  as  to  pre- 
pare them  for  my  coming. 

To  those  who  submit  to  the  rightful  law  and  au- 
thority, all  gentleness  and  forbearance,  but  to  the 
petulant  and  persistent  secessionists,  why,  death  is 
mercy,  and  the  quicker  he  or  she  is  disposed  of,  the 
better.  Satan,  and  the  rebellious  saints  of  heaven, 
were  allowed  a  continuance  of  existence  in  hell, 
merely  to  swell  their  just  punishment.  To  suchgas 
would  rebel  against  a  Government  so  mild  and  just 
as  ours  was  in  peace,  a  punishment  equal  would  not 
be  unjust. 

We  are  progressing  well  in  this  quarter.  Though 
I  have  not  changed  my  opinion  that  we  may  soon  as- 
sume the  existence  of  our  National  Government,  yet 
years  will  pass  before  ruffianism,  murder,  and  rob- 
bery will  cease  to  afflict  this  region  of  our  country. 

Truly  your  friend, 
(Signed)  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Major-General  Commanding. 

The  advance  of  Gen.  Sherman's  movement, 
consisting  of  the  17th  corps,  under  Gen.  Mc- 
Pherson,  left  Vicksburg  on  February  3d,  in 
light  marching  order,  with  rations  for  some 
days.  The  enemy  were  encountered  after 
crossing  the  Big  Black  River,  during  the  day, 
and  some  skirmishing  ensued.  The  encamp- 
ment was  made  that  night  on  the  west  side  of 
Baker's  Creek,  the  enemy  appearing  in  line  of 
battle  on  the  opposite  side.  The  Confederate 
force  consisted  of  about  two  thousand  cavalry 
under  Gen.  Whitworth,  who  was  in  command 
from  Jackson  westward.  At  Canton  there  was 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


501 


502 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


a  force  of  about  five  thousand  men  under  Gen. 
Loring,  and  at  Meridian  Gen.  Polk  with  ten 
thousand  more.  The  latter  officer  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  department. 

The  preparations  for  Gen.  Sherman's  expe- 
dition had  attracted  the  attention  of  the  en- 
emy, and  many  unaware  of  the  difficulties  of 
such  a  movement  across  the  country,  had  sup- 
posed his  object  might  be  an  attack  on  Mobile. 
The  uncertainty  which  existed  is  shown  by 
the  following  order,  issued  at  a  later  date : 

MOBILE,  February  10, 1864. 

DEAR  SIR  :  I  have  just  been  informed  by  General 
Polk  that  the  enemy  is  moving  from  Morton  against 
Mobile.  It  is,  therefore,  my  duty  to  ask  all  persons 
who  cannot  take  part  in  the  defence  of  the  city  to 
leave  it. 

I  am,  sir.  very  respectfully  yours, 

DABNEY  MAURY, 
Major-General  Commanding. 
To  Col.  JOHN  FORSYTH,  Mobile. 

The  Governor  of  Alabama,  upon  the  first 
advance  of  the  Federal  troops  from  Yicksburg, 
issued  the  following  address  to  the  people  : 

EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT  OF  ALABAMA,  ) 
MONTGOMERY,  February  6, 1864.        ) 
To  tTie  People  of  Alabama  : 

The  recent  action  of  Congress  has  deprived  the 
State  of  much  of  the  materials  of  the  second-class 
militia.  It  is  important  to  the  defence  of  the  State, 
that  Alabama  shall  have  more  troops  subject  to  the 
call  of  her  Commander-in-chief.  We  have,  within 
the  State,  the  materials  for  an  efficient  army.  It 
needs  nothing  but  the  spirit,  the  prompt  and  willing 
spirit  to  fight,  as  men  ought  to  fight,  to  guard  our 
firesides  and  drive  the  hireling  Yankee  from  our  bor- 
ders. We  are  threatened  with  raids  into  the  heart 
of  the  State. 

As  your  Executive  Chief  I  call  upon  the  middle 
aged,  the  young  men  and  boys,  to  organize  into  com- 
panies at  once,  and  report,  without  delay,  that  they 
are  organized  and  ready.  I  cannot  suppose  that 
Alabamians  will  wait  to  be  drafted  into  the  service. 
The  enthusiastic  reenlistment  of  our  veteran  troops 
in  the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  armies  has  caused  a 
thrill  of  joyful  hope  to  animate  the  hearts  of  even 
the  croaking  and  despondent.  If  these  battle-scarred 
heroes,  who  for  three  years  have  carried  their  lives 
in  their  hands,  ready  to  be  sacrificed  in  the  defence 
of  their  homes  and  liberty,  are  willing  to  battle  on 
while  the  feet  of  a  hated  foe  press  our  soil,  shall  we 
at  home  be  laggards  in  the  race  of  glory  ?  I  trust 
no  such  damning  stigma  shall  rest  upon  the  honored 
name  of  Alabama. 

I  confidently  expect  a  hearty,  prompt,  and  noble 
response  to  this  call. 

The  rolls  of  companies  will  be  reported  to  the 
Adjutant-General. 

T.  H.  WATTS,  Governor  of  Alabama. 

The  force  of  Gen.  Sherman  consisted  of 
two  corps  under  Gen.  McPherson  and  Hurl- 
but,  estimated  at  thirty  thousand  men,  with 
sixty  pieces  of  light  artillery.  He  reached 
Jackson  on  February  6th,  and  pressed  forward 
toward  Meridian.  The  enemy  fell  back,  de- 
stroying all  provision,  and  making  a  desert  of 
the  country.  From  Jackson  Gen.  Sherman 
crossed  the  Pearl  Eiver,  and  passed  through 
Brandon  to  Morton.  Here  the  enemy  had 
made  dispositions  for  a  battle,  but  retired  during 
the  night.  On  the  next  day  the  army  advanced 
and  reached  Meridian.  The  enemy  state  that 
all  the  Confederate  Government  property  was 


previously  removed,  and  nearly  all  the  machi- 
nery of  the  railroad  company.  The  force  under 
Gen.  Polk  fell  back  across  the  Tombigbee.  On 
his  arrival  at  Meridian  Gen.  Sherman  issued 
the  following  congratulatory  address  to  his 
troops  : 

HEADQTTAETEES,  DEPAKTMKNT  OP  THE  TENNESSEE,  ) 
MERIDIAN,  Miss.,  February  15,  1864.     ) 

The  General  Commanding  conveys  his  congratu- 
lations and  thanks  to  the  officers  and  men  composing 
this  command  for  their  most  successful  accomplish- 
ment of  one  of  the  great  problems  of  the  war. 
Meridian,  the  great  railway  centre  of  the  Southwest, 
is  now  in  our  possession,  and  by  industry  and  hard 
work  can  be  rendered  useless  to  the  enemy,  and  de- 
prive him  of  the  chief  source  of  supply  to  his  armies. 
Secrecy  in  plan  and  rapidity  of  execution  accomplish 
the  best  results  of  war;  and  the  General  Command- 
ing assures  all  that  by  following  their  leaders  fear- 
lessly and  with  confidence  they  will  in  time  reap  the 
reward  so  dear  to  us  all  —  a  peace  that  will  never  again 
be  disturbed  in  our  country  by  a  discontented  mi- 
nority. 

By  order  of  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Major-General  Commanding. 

On  the  same  day  he  issued  the  following  in- 
structions : 


HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  or  THE  TEU, 
MERIDIAN,  Miss.,  February  15,  1864.      f 

1.  The  destruction  of  the  railroads  intersecting  at 
Meridian  is  of  great  importance,  and  should  be  done 
most  effectually.     Every  tie  and  rail  for  many  miles 
in  each  direction  should  be  absolutely  destroyed  or 
injured,  and  every  bridge  and  culvert  should  be  com- 
pletely destroyed.     To  insure  this  end,  to  General 
Hurlbut  is  entrusted  the  destruction  east  and  north, 
and  to  General  McPherson  the  roads  west  and  south. 
The  troops  should  be  impressed  with  the  importance 
of  this  work,  and  also  that  time  is  material,  and 
therefore  it  should  be  begun  at  once  and  be  prose- 
cuted with  all  the  energy  possible.    Working  parties 
should  be  composed  of  about  one-half  the  command, 
and  they  should  move  by  regiments,  provided  with 
their  arms  and  haversacks,  ready  to  repel  attacks  of 
cavalry.     The  other  half  in  reserve  will  be  able  to 
watch  the  enemy  retreating  eastward. 

2.  Colonel  E.  F.  Winslow,  commanding  cavalry, 
will  keep  his  cavalry  in  advance  of  the.  party  work- 
ing eastward,  and  will  act  as  though  this  army  were 
slowly  pursuing  the  enemy. 

8.  Special  instructions  will  be  given  as  to  the  gen- 
eral supply  train  ;  and  the  troops  now  in  Meridian 
will,  under  proper  brigade  parties,  collect  meal, 
meat,  and  supplies.  The  destruction  of  buildings 
must  be  deferred  till  the  last  moment,  when  a  special 
detail  will  be  made  for  that  purpose. 

By  order  of  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Major-General  Commanding. 

Gen.  Sherman  reports  that  while  at  Meridian 
he  made  "the  most  complete  destruction  of 
railroads  ever  beheld."  This  was  done  on  the 
road  running  south  as  far  as  Quitman  ;  on  the 
east  as  far  as  Cuba  Station,  twenty  miles  ;  and 
two  miles  north  to  Lauderdale  Springs.  Lau- 
derdale  County  was  already  desolate,  and  the 
country  between  Meridian  and  Demopolis  was 
sterile  and  unproductive.  While  at  Meridian 
he  heard  nothing  of  the  cavalry  force  under 
Gen.  W.  S.  Smith,  who  was  ordered  to  be  there 
from  Memphis  by  February  10th;  and  after  oc- 
cupying the  town  for  a  week,  and  his  supplies 
growing  short,  he  began  to  fall  back  toward 
Vicksburg,  making  a  circuit  by  the  north  to 
Canton.  This  place  was  reached  February 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


508 


26th.     His  total  loss  was  reported  at  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  men  killed  and  wounded. 

Meantime,  Gen.  W.  S.  Smith,  who  was  or- 
dered to  report  to  Gen.  Sherman  at  Meridian, 
moved  from  Memphis  on  February  llth,  with, 
a  force  of  seven  thousand  men,  consisting  of 
cavalry  and  a  brigade  of  infantry.  After  two 
days  the  expedition  reached  the  Tallahatchie. 
A  demonstration  was  made  westward  by  the 
infantry  toward  Panola,  thus  attracting  the 
attention  of  a  force  of  the  enemy,  while  the 
cavalry  moved  eastward  to  New  Albany,  where 
the  river  was  crossed  without  opposition.  Gen. 
Smith  then  pushed  forward,  and  in  the  vicinity 
of  Houston  encountered  some  troops  under 
Col.  Gholson.  They  fell  back  to  a  swamp, 
where  a  considerable  force  was  concentrated. 
Finding  it  impossible  to  turn  either  flank  of 
this  position,  Gen.  Smith  moved  rapidly  east- 
ward, while  a  demonstration  was  made  in  front 
of  the  enemy  as  if  an  attack  was  intended.  On 
the  same  day  he  surprised  and  entered  Okalona. 
The  9th  Illinois  cavalry,  Lieut.-CoL  Burgh, 
was  then  sent  to  Aberdeen  to  endeavor  to  se- 
cure a  crossing  of  the  Tombigbee.  On  the 
next  morning  Col.  Grierson  was  sent  forward 
with  a  brigade  to  support  the  9th,  with  di- 
rections to  threaten  Columbus  strongly. 
With  the  remaining  force  Gen.  Smith  advanced 
along  the  railroad  toward  West  Point,  tearing 
up  the  track  and  burning  all  the  corn  he  found. 
The  quantity  which  he  destroyed  is  reported  as 
nearly  a  million  of  bushels,  with  about  two 
thousand  bales  of  cotton.  During  this  portion, 
of  the  march  negroes  flocked  to  Gen.  Smith 
by  hundreds,  mounted  on  their  masters'  horses 
and  mules.  They  welcomed  Gen.  Smith  as 
their  deliverer  whenever  he  met  them :  "  God 
bless  ye ;  has  yer  come  at  last  ?  We've  been 
lookin1  for  you  for  a  long  time,  and  had  almost 
done  gone  give  it  up,"  was  the  cry  of  many. 
They  bid  farewell  to  their  wives  and  children 
and  marched  in  the  van. 

Hearing  that  the  enemy  was  concentrated  in 
heavy  force  at  West  Point,  the  brigade  at  Ab- 
erdeen was  called  over  by  a  forced  march  to 
the  railroad,  at  a  station  fifteen  miles  north  of 
"West  Point.  Two  miles  north  of  this  station 
Gen.  Smith  encountered  a  force  of  the  enemy, 
-which  fell  back,  after  a  sharp  skirmish,  through 
the  town  to  a  swamp  on  the  right.  Gen. 
Smith  now  found  the  enemy  on  his  front  in 
strong  force,  holding  all  the  crossings  of  the 
swamp  on  the  right ;  also  on  the  line  of  the 
Oetibbeha  in  front,  and  that  of  the  Tombig- 
bee River  on  his  left.  He  could  attack  only 
with  light  carbines,  as  his  horses  were  useless 
on  the  marshy  ground.  The  enemy  were  armed 
with  muskets  and  rifles.  Gen.  Smith  was  also 
now  encumbered  with  pack-trains,  and  mules 
and  horses  captured,  numbering  about  two 
thousand,  beside  as  many  negroes.  To  guard 
these  his  effective  force  was  reduced,  and  ^ie 
therefore  determined  to  make  a  demonstra- 
tion in  front,  and  at  the  same  time  fall  back 
with  his  trains  and  his  main  body  to  Okalona. 


This  movement  was  successfully  executed,  al- 
though the  enemy  pressed  closely,  under  the 
command  of  Gens.  Forrest,  Lee,  and  Chalmers. 
At  Okalona,  on  the  22d,  Gen.  Smith  was  at- 
tacked, and  •  suffered  severely  in  the  loss  of 
men,  besides  five  howitzers.  His  retreat  that 
day  was  followed  up.  Under  cover  of  the 
night  he  moved  toward  Pontotoc.  This  move- 
ment is  thus  'described :  "  Picture  to  yourself, 
if  you  can,  a  living,  moving  mass  of  men,  ne- 
groes, mules,  and  horses,  of  four  thousand  or 
five  thousand,  all  en  masse,  literally  jammed, 
huddled,  and  crowded  into  the  smallest  possi- 
ble space ;  night  setting  in ;  artillery  and  small 
arms  booming  behind  us;  cavalry  all  around 
and  ahead,  moving  on,  on,  on  over  fences, 
through  fields  and  brush,  over  hills  and  across 
mud-holes,  streams,  and  bridges,  and  still  on, 
on  into  the  night,  until  the  moon  rises  on  the 
scene  and  shows  us  some  of  the  outlines  of 
this  living  panorama.  I  forgot  to  say  that  in 
this  crowd  were  a  lot  of  prisoners,  too,  once 
or  twice  attempting  to  escape,  followed  by 
the  swift  report  of  the  revolver,  once  with 
bitter  consequences  to  the  escaping  prison- 
ers." 

During  the  day  the  enemy  had  moved  on 
each  flank,  with  the  evident  design  of  reaching 
the  Tallahatchie  River  in  advance,  and  forming 
a  junction  to  prevent  the  crossing  of  Gen. 
Smith  and  capture  his  whole  force;  but,  by 
marching  all  night,  he  safely  crossed  the  river 
at  New  Albany.  On  the  23d  the  rear  guard 
had  skirmishing  all  day.  On  the  25th  the  ad- 
vance reached  Memphis,  at  11  p.  M.,  having 
marched  nearly  fifty  miles  that  day.  It  was  re- 
ported that  a  million  bushels  of  corn  were  de- 
stroyed, many  miles  in  length  of  the  Memphis  and 
Ohio  Railroad,  bridges,  cotton-gins,  and  build- 
ings. Says  one :  "  We  have  probably  devoured 
fifty  thousand  hams,  some  eggs,  chickens,  tur- 
keys, milk,  and  butter  by  wholesale,  and  such 
et  cetera*  as  can  be  found  in  so  rich  a  country 
as  we  have  passed  through."  The  captured 
stock  and  trains  were  brought  off  safely.  The 
loss  was  less  than  two  hundred  killed  and  cap- 
tured. The  expedition  failed  to  make  a  junc- 
tion with  Gen.  Sherman. 

When  the  expedition  of  Gen.  Sherman  re- 
turned toward  Vicksburg,  a  detachment  was 
sent  up  the  Yazoo  River,  accompanied  with 
some  gunboats.  Yazoo  City  was  attacked, 
but  the  enemy  held  it  until  reenforced.  An 
amount  of  stor.es  and  cotton  was  destroy- 
ed. The  Federal  loss  was  about  fifty  killed 
and  wounded.  The  general  results  of  this 
movement,  including  those  of  Gens.  Sherman 
and  Smith,  is  stated  to  have  been  as  follows: 
One  hundred  and  fifty  miles  of  railroad,  sixty- 
seven  bridges,  seven  hundred  trestles,  twenty 
locomotives,  twenty-eight  cars,  several  thou- 
sand bales  of  cotton,  several  steam  mills,  and 
over  two  million  bushels  of  corn  were  de- 
stroyed. Some  prisoners  were  captured,  and 
upwards  of  eight  thousand  negroes  and  ref- 
ugees came  in  with  the  various  columns. 


504 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


Many  dwellings  and  all  the  outbuildings  and 
farming  utensils  were  destroyed. 

The  expedition  of  Gen.  Sherman  was  gen- 
erally supposed  to  be  designed  for  the  capture 
of  Mobile.  But,  however  that  may  have  been, 
no  official  statement  has  been  made.  As  it  ad- 
vanced toward  Meridian,  a  force  was  detached 
from  the  army  of  Gen.  Johnston,  formerly 
commanded  by  Gen.  Bragg,  near  Dalton,  in 
Georgia,  and  sent  to  reenforce  Gen.  Polk.  Two 
divisions  of  Gen.  Hardee's  Corps,  under  Gens. 
Stewart  and  Anderson,  composed  this  force. 
To  counteract  this  movement  of  the  enemy, 
another  was  set  on  foot  by  Gen.  Grant,  then  in 
command  at  Chattanooga.  This  consisted  of 
an  advance  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps,  under 
Gen.  Palmer,  upon  Dalton.  It  commenced  on 
February  22d.  The  divisions  of  Gens.  Jeff.  C. 
Davis,  Johnson,  and  Baird  participated  on  the 
right,  or  direct  road  to  Dalton,  and  the  division 
of  Gen.  Stanley,  under  command  of  Gen. 
Crufts,  on  the  left.  This  latter  division  had 
been  encamped  at  Cleveland,  and  formed  a 
junction  with  the  main  force  between  Eing- 
gold and  Tunnel  Hill.  The  advance  of  the 
main  force  passed  to  the  left  of  the  Chicka- 
mauga  battle-field,  over  Taylor's  Eidge  and 
through  Einggold  Gap.  A  small  force  of  the 
enemy  was  seen  here,  who  retired.  Einggold, 
twenty-three  miles  from  Chattanooga,  was  oc- 
cupied that  night.  On  the  next  day  the  col- 
umn, moved  at  daylight,  and  during  the  fore- 
noon there  was  constant  skirmishing  with  the 
cavalry  of  the  enemy.  At  noon  Gen.  Crufts 
made  a  junction,  and  the  whole  corps  moved 
forward  in  line  of  battle,  with  cavalry  in  ad- 
vance and  on  the  flanks,  until  it  reached  the 
vicinity  of  Tunnel  Hill.  On  the  ridge  were 
four  pieces  of  artillery,  under  Gen.  Wheeler, 
which  soon  opened  fire.  These  were  dislodged 
in  a  short  time  by  the  2d  Minnesota  and 
9th  Indiana  batteries,  and  the  ridge  occupied 
about  4  p.  M.  The  advance  continued  and  the 
cavalry  force  pressed  forward  in  pursuit  of  the 
few  scattered  enemies,  until  it  was  checked  by 
a  cross-fire  from  six  guns,  at  Eocky  Fall,  in  a 
gorge  through  which  the  railroad  and  turnpike 
passes.  The  enemy  succeeded  in  holding  that 
position  for  the  night.  On  the  next  morning, 
after  considerable  heavy  fighting,  the  corps  ad- 
vanced into  the  town  and  captured  about  a 
hundred  and  fifty  prisoners.  The  movement 
was  immediately  continued  upon  Dalton,  dis- 
tant seven,  miles  from  Tunnel  Hill.  The  corps 
descended  through  the  gaps  info  the  Eocky  Fall 
valley,  the  division  of  Gen.  Crufts  being  on  the 
left,  Gen.  Johnson  on  the  right,  Gen.  Baird  on 
the  left  centre,  and  Gen.  Davis  on  the  right 
centre.  During  the  whole  forenoon  there  was 
lively  skirmishing,  and  the  enemy's  force  evi- 
dently increased  in  numbers.  Gen.  Palmer 
advanced  cautiously  within  two  miles  of  Dal- 
ton, when  it  appeared  that  preparations  had 
been  made  by  the  whole  of  Gen.  Johnson's 
army  to  receive  him.  Considerable  activity 
was  perceptible  in  the  interior  of  the  enemy's 


works,  and  their  cavalry  began  to  hover  abont 
the  flanks  of  Gen.  Palmer's  corps.  Deserters 
reported  that  two  divisions  which  had  started 
toward  Mobile  had  returned.  Gen.  Palmer 
now  fell  -back  to  Tunnel  Hill.  His  loss  in  the 
expedition  was  about  three  hundred  and  fifty 
killed  and  wounded.  That  of  the  enemy  is 
unknown.  Some  prisoners  were  taken  by  Gen. 
Palmer.  On  March  10th  he  had  fallen  back  to 
Einggold. 

The  movement  in  East  Tennessee  consisted 
merely  in  an  advance  toward  the  position  of 
Gen.  Longstreet,  who  was  then  reported  to  be 
retreating  into  Virginia.  He  finally  joined  the 
army  of  Gen.  Lee  with  his  command. 

In  the  Department  of  the  South,  authority 
was  given  to  Gen.  Q.  A.  Gillmore  commanding, 
on  December  22d,  1863,  to  undertake  such  oper- 
ations as  he  might  deem  best  on  a  conference 
with  Admiral  Dahlgren  commanding  the  naval 
force.  On  the  13th  of  January  the  President 
wrote  to  Gen.  Gillmore  as  follows : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  "WASHINGTON,  January  IS,  1864. 
Major-General  GILUMORE:  I  understand  an  efi'ort  ia 
being  made  by  some  worthy  gentlemen  to  reconstruct 
a  legal  State  Government  in  Florida.  Florida  is  in 
your  department,  and  it  is  not  unlikely  you  may  be 
there  in  person.  I  have  given  Mr.  Hay  a  commission 
of  major  and  sent  him  to  you  with  some  blank  books 
and  other  blanks  to  aid  in  the  construction.  He  will 
explain  as  to  the  manner  of  using  the  blanks,  and 
also  my  general  views  on  the  subject.  It  is  desirable 
for  all  to  cooperate ;  but  if  irreconcilable  differences 
of  opinion  shall  arise  you  are  master.  I  wish  the 
thing  done  in  the  most  speedy  way  possible,  so  that 
when  done  it  be  within  the  range  of  the  late  procla- 
mation on  the  subject.  The  detail  labor  will  of  course 
have  to  be  done  by  others,  but  I  shall  be  greatly 
obliged  if  you  will  give  it  such  general  supervision 
as  you  can  find  consistent  with  your  more  strictly 
military  duties.  A.  LINCOLN. 

On  January  14th  Gen.  Gillmore  proposed  to 
the  War  Department  to  occupy  the  west  bank  of 
the  St.  John's  Eiver  in  Florida,  and  establish 
small  depots  there  preparatory  to  an  advance 
west.  On  the  22d  of  January  he  was  informed 
by  the  Secretary  that  the  matter  was  left  en- 
tirely to  his  judgment  and  discretion  with  the 
means  at  his  command.  On  January  31st  Gen. 
Gillmore  again  wrote  to  the  Secretary  that  the 
objects  to  be  obtained  by  the  operations  were : 

1st.  "  To  procure  an  outlet  for  cotton,  lum- 
ber, timber,  &c. 

2d.  "  To  cut  off  one  of  the  enemy's  sources 
of  commissary  supplies,  &c. 

3d.  "  To  obtain  recruits  for  my  colored  regi- 
ments. 

4th.  "  To  inaugurate  measures  for  the  speedy 
restoration  of  Florida  to  her  allegiance  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  instructions  which  he  had 
received  from  the  President,  by  the  hands  of 
Major  John  Hay,  Assistant  Adjutant-General." 

On  the  same  day  Gen.  Gillmore  issued  the 
following  order : 

HEADQUAHTEBS  DEPARTMENT  or  THE  SOUTH.  I 
0  HILTON  HEAB,  8.  C.,  January  81, 1864.      f 

GENERAL  ORDERS  No.  16.— In  accordance  with 
the  provision  of  the  Presidential  Proclamation 
of  Pardon  and  Amnesty,  given  at  Washington 
on  the  8th  day  of  December,  in  the  year  of  out 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


505 


Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-three, 
and  in  pursuance  of  instructions  received  from 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  Major  John  Hay, 
Assistant  Adjutant-General,  will  proceed  to  Fernan- 
dina,  Florida,  and  other  convenient  points  in  that 
State,  for  the  purpose  of  extending  to  the  citizens  of 
the  State  of  Florida  an  opportunity  to  avail  them- 
selves of  the  benefits  of  that  Proclamation,  by  offer- 
ing for  their  signature  the  gath  of  allegiance  therein 
prescribed,  and  by  issuing  to  all  those  subscribing  to 
said  oath  certificates  entitling  them  to  the  benefits  of 
the  Proclamation.  Fugitive  citizens  of  the  State  of 
Florida,  within  the  limits  of  this  Department,  will 
have  an  opportunity  to  subscribe  to  the  same  oath 
and  secure  certificates  in  the  office  of  the  Post  Com- 
mander at  Hilton  Head,  South  Carolina. 

By  command  of     Maj.-Gen.  Q.  A.  GILLMORE. 
ED.  W.  SMITH,  Ass't  Adj.-Gen. 

Orders  were  issued  to  Brig.-Gen.  Truman. 
Seymour  ou  February  5th  to  proceed  to  Jack- 
sonville, Fla.,  and  effect  a  landing  and  push, 
forward  his  mounted  force  to  Baldwin,  seventy 
miles  from  Jacksonville.  It  was  the  junction 
of  the  railroads  from  Jacksonville  and  Fernan- 
dina.  On  the  6th  the  expedition,  consisting  of 
twenty  steamers  and  eight  schooners,  under 
convoy  of  the  gunboat  Norwich,  left  Hilton 
Head  and  arrived  at  Jacksonville  on  the  next 
day,  February  7th.  When  the  landing  of  the 
troops  commenced  a  small  body  of  the  enemy 
in  a  wood  adjacent  to  the  town  fired  three 
shots,  thus  wounding  two  or  three  persons.  A 
company  of  colored  troops  went  in  pursuit,  and 
the  enemy  after  firing  a  few  shots  fled. 

About  twenty-five  families  remained  in  Jack- 
sonville. They  were  chiefly  women  and  chil- 
dren, and  all  professed  to  be  in  favor  of  the 
Union.  The  railroad  was  in  running  order  to 
Tallahassee.  Provisions  and  cattle  were  abun- 
dant. Gen.  Joseph  Finegan  was  in  command 
of  the  forces  of  the  enemy. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  8th  the  march  to  the 
interior  of  the  State  was  commenced.  The 
forces  were  divided  into  three  columns,  com- 
manded respectively  by  Cols.  Barton,  Hawley, 
and  Henry.  Col.  Barton  took  the  main  road, 
Col.  Henry  took  the  road  to  the  right  of  that, 
and  CoL  Hawley  one  still  further  to  the  right. 
After  an  advance  of  three  miles  the  three  roads 
united  on  the  line  of  the  railroad.  Here  the 
infantry  bivouacked  for  the  night,  and  Col.  Guy 
V.  Henry,  with  the  40th  Massachusetts  infantry, 
the  independent  battalion  of  cavalry  and  Elder's 
horse  battery  B,  1st  artillery,  pushed  forward 
on  a  reconnoissance.  It  was  dark  when  the 
movement  commenced  at  a  brisk  trot  toward 
Lake  City.  For  the  distance  of  five  miles  none 
of  the  enemy  were  seen.  The  country  through 
which  the  force  passed  was  low,  level,  and 
marshy.  On  each  side  the  road  was  flanked  by 
pine  forests.  The  soil  was  that  of  fair  farm- 
ing land  to  Lake  City,  but  beyond  it  becomes 
a  rich  sandy  loam.  A  mile  and  a  half  from 
Camp  Finegan  a  picket  station  was  discovered, 
but  the  pickets  had  fallen  back  to  the  reserve 
post.  Pressing  forward,  after  a  short  stop,  Col. 
Henry  soon  came  in  sight  of  Camp  Finegan  on 
the  right.  About  two  hundred  cavalrymen 
were  seen  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle.  Having 


no  apprehension  from  this  force,  he  continued 
his  advance,  and  three  miles  beyond  surprised 
and  captured  a  camp  of  artillery  containing 
four  guns,  camp  and  garrison  equipage,  includ- 
ing wagons,  tents,  commissory  stores  and  offi- 
cers' baggage.  Three  prisoners  were  taken. 
The  remainder  of  the  force  escaped  to  the 
woods.  This  body  was  falling  back,  and  had 
not  anticipated  so  rapid  an  advance  of  the 
Federal  force.  Early  on  the  next  morning  the 
advance  reached  Baldwin,  a  place  of  fifteen 
buildings.  Here  three  cars,  two  of  which  were 
filled  with  corn,  a  three-inch  rifled  gun,  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  cotton,  rice,  tobacco,  and 
other  stores  were  captured.  At  evening  Gens. 
Gillmore  and  Seymour  arrived. 

On  the  10th  Col.  Henry  continued  his  ad- 
vance. At  Barber's  Station  a  thousand  barrels 
of  turpentine  and  five  hundred  pounds  of  bacon 
were  captured.  An  advance  guard  was  then 
sent  forward  to  see  if  the  enemy  were  in  posi- 
tion to  defend  the  south  fork  of  the  St.  Mary's 
river,  while  the  remainder  of  the  force  cau- 
tiously followed.  The  enemy  in  small  force 
were  found  defending  the  fork,  when  a  skir- 
mish ensued,  in  which  four  were  killed  on  the 
Federal  side  and  thirteen  wounded.  Two  of 
the  enemy  were  killed  and  three  wounded, 
when  they  fled  to  the  woods.  Their  force  was 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men.  At  6  P.  M. 
Col.  Henry  reached  Sanderson,  forty-miles  from 
Jacksonville.  The  place  had  been  abandoned 
by  the  enemy,  and  a  large  amount  of  stores 
committed  to  the  flames.  On  the  llth  the 
command  encamped  five  miles  from  Lake  City, 
which  was  held  by  the  enemy  but  evacuated 
during  the  night.  This  was  unknown  to  Col. 
Henry,  and,  as  he  was  without  infantry,  he 
retraced  his  steps  to  Sanderson.  The  most  im- 
portant property  captured  was  as  follows :  Two 
twelve-pounder  rifled  guns,  two  six-pounder 
guns,  one  three-inch  gun,  two  other  guns,  five 
caissons,  a  large  quantity  of  ammunition,  an 
immense  supply  of  camp  and  garrison  equi- 
page, four  railroad  cars,  one  hundred  and  thir- 
teen bales  of  cotton,  four  army  wagons,  one 
hundred  and  five  horses  and  mules,  a  large 
stock  of  saddlery,  tanning  machinery,  three 
thousand  and  eighty-three  barrels  turpentine, 
six  thousand  bushels  corn ;  three  large  ware- 
houses were  destroyed.  On  the  llth  telegraphic 
communication  was  established  between  Jack- 
sonville and  Baldwin,  and  on  that  day  Gen. 
Gillmore  sent  instructions  to  Gen.  Seymour  not 
to  risk  a  repulse  in  advancing  upon  Lake  City, 
but  to  hold  Sanderson  unless  there  were  rea- 
sons for  falling  back,  and  also  in  case  his  ad- 
vance met  with  serious  opposition  to  concen- 
trate at  Sanderson  and  the  south  fork  of  the 
St.  Mary's.  On  the  13th  Gen.  Seymour  was 
further  instructed  to  concentrate  at  Baldwin 
without  delay.  This  was  done  at  once. 
Meantime,  Col.  Henry  was  sent  toward  the 
left  to  capture  some  railroad  trains  at  Gains- 
ville  on  the  Fernandina  and  Cedar  Keys  rail- 
road. This  resulted  in  a  skirmish  with  a 


506 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


TANZAS  SO  UNDO 
NASTASIA  ISO? 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


507 


body  of  East  Florida  cavalry,  which  -was  re- 
pulsed. A  reconnoissance  was  also  made  along 
the  Georgia  State  line  by  Col.  Scammon,  de- 
stroying several  small  works  of  the  enemy. 
After  arranging  with  Gen.  Seymour  for  the 
construction  of  certain  defences  at  Jackson- 
ville, Baldwin,  and  the  south  fork  of  the  St. 
Mary's,  Gen.  Gillmore  departed  to  Hilton  Head. 
His  understanding  was  that  no  advance  would 
be  made  by  Gen.  Seymour  without  further  in- 
structions, and  not  until  the  defences  were  well 
advanced.  It  was  the  intention  of  Gen.  Gil- 
more  to  construct  several  works  capable  of  re- 
sisting a  coup  de  main  at  Jacksonville,  Baldwin, 
Pilatka,  and  perhaps  one  or  two  other  impor- 
tant points,  so  strong  that  two  or  three  hundred 
men  would  be  sufficient  at  each.  His  desire 
was  to  see  the  lumber  and  turpentine  trade  on 
the  St.  John's  Eiver  revived,  and  to  give  assur- 
ance that  the  occupation  of  the  river  was  in- 
tended to  be  permanent. 

On  Thursday  the  18th,  the  force  of  Gen.  Sey- 
mour at  Jacksonville  left  camp  with  ten  days 
rations,  and  advanced  on  the  line  of  the  railroad 
sixteen  miles.  On  the  next  day  it  moved  seven- 
teen miles  to  Barber's  Station,  the  roads  having 
been  bad  on  the  whole  route.  On  the  20th 
the  troops  were  in  motion  at  an  early  hour,  the 
light  cavalry  in  advance.  The  line  of  march 
was  across  the  south  fork  of  the  St.  Mary's, 
and  up  the  road  to  Sanderson,  nine  miles  dis- 
tant. The  day  was  beautiful.  The  sky  was  clear 
overhead,  and  the  savannahs  which  stretched 
out  on  each  side  of  the  sandy  road  winding 
through  the  pine  woods,  were  warm  with  the 
sunshine.  Sanderson  was  reached  without  a 
halt.  There  the  infantry  made  a  short  halt,  but 
the  cavalry  kept  its  position  about  two  miles  in 
advance.  The  march  was  resumed  at  midday 
toward  Lake  City.  Gen.  Seymour's  force,  con- 
sisting of  five  thousand  men,  moved  in  three 
columns,  Col.  Hawley's  brigade  on  the  left,  Col. 
Barton's  in  the  centre,  and  Col.  Scammon's 
regiment  on  the  extreme  right.  The  cavalry 
in  advance  were  led  by  Col.  Henry  with  Elder's 
battery.  In  the  rear  was  the  colored  brigade 
led  by  Col.  Montgomery.  About  six  miles 
from  Sanderson  the  enemy's  mounted  pickets, 
thirty  or  forty  in  number,  were  met  and  driven 
in  after  exchanging  shots.  The  main  body  hur- 
ried forward  a  distance  of  two  miles,  when 
three  or  four  cannon  shot  of  the  enemy  fell 
among  the  head  of  the  column.  Skirmishing 
commenced  immediately.  The  artillery  dashed 
into  position  on  the  gallop,  the  infantry  on  the 
double-quick  step,  and  in  a  brief  period  of  time 
a  severe  battle  was  progressing.  Elder's  bat- 
tery unlimbered  at  the  head  of  the  road,  Ham- 
ilton's to  the  left,  and  Langdon's  on  the  ex- 
treme left,  opening  at  short  range  with  canister 
shot.  The  artillery  of  the  enemy  consisted  of 
four  or  five  guns,  and  was  badly  served  at  first, 
being  fired  too  high  to  do  injury.  Gen.  Sey- 
mour's line  of  infantry  was  well  formed  for  the 
position.  "With  the  exception  of  a  small  field 
of  a  few  acres,  it  was  in  the  woods,  amid  a 


heavy  growth  of  pine  timber,  and  with  swampy 
ground  intervening  between  it  and  the  enemy, 
of  whose  position  nothing  was  known.  The 
battle  lasted  for  three  hours.  Two  of  the 
Federal  batteries  were  disabled  early  in  the 
action.  The  7th  New  Hampshire  broke,  but 
was  rallied  again.  The  8th  TJ.  S.  colored 
fought  well  until  the  loss  of  their  leader,  when 
they  fled.  The  contest  closed  at  dusk,  and  Gen. 
Seymour  finding  his  force  repulsed  with  some 
loss,  and  the  colored  reserve  unequal  to  the 
emergency,  retired  from  the  field  leaving  his 
dead  and  wounded.  The  retreat  for  a  short 
distance  was  conducted  in  successive  lines  of 
battle,  but  finding  the  enemy  were  not  disposed 
to  follow  the  line  was  changed,  and  the  force  re- 
tired in  column,  Barton's  brigade  bringing  up 
the  rear  covered  by  the  cavalry  and  Elder's 
battery.  A  halt  was  made  at  Sanderson,  six  or 
seven  miles,  coffee  cooked,  and  some  attention 
given  to  the  wounded.  From  Sanderson  to 
Barber's  Station,  says  a  writer,  "  ten  miles,  we 
wended  or  crawled  along,  the  wounded  filling 
the  night  air  with  lamentations,  the  crippled 
horses  neighing  in  pain,  and  a  full  moon  kiss- 
ing the  cold,  clammy  lips  of  the  dying."  On 
the  next  morning  the  retreat  was  continued  to 
Baldwin,  where  the  cavalry  of  the  enemy  made 
their  appearance.  Many  of  the  wounded  were 
here  sent  on  cars  drawn  by  mules  to  Jackson- 
ville, and  Gen.  Seymour,  knowing  that  the 
enemy  was  following  in  force,  ordered  the  com- 
missary stores,  worth  about  sixty  thousand  dol- 
lars, to  be  destroyed,  and  resumed  his  march  to 
Jacksonville.  His  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing  was  about  twelve  hundred. 

The  following  despatch  from  the  Governor 
of  Florida  presents  the  enemy's  account  of  the 
battle : 

TALLAHASSEE,  FLA.,  February  21. 

To  PRESIDENT  DAVIS:  I  have  just  received  the  fol- 
lowing despatch  from  Gen.  Finegan,  dated  yester- 
day: 

"I  met  the  enemy  in  full  force  to-day,  under  Gen. 
Seymour,  and  defeated  him  with  great  loss.  I  cap- 
tured five  pieces  of  artillery,  hold  possession  of  the 
battle-field,  and  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  en- 
emy. My  cavalry  are  in  pursuit.  I  don't  know  p_re- 
cisely  the  number  of  prisoners,  as  they  are  being 
brought  in  constantly.  My  whole  loss,  I  think,  will 
not  exceed  two  hundred  and  fifty  killed  and  wound- 
ed. Among  them  I  mourn  the  loss  of  many  brave 
officers  and  men." 

I  understand  that  Gen.  Finegan  also  captured 
many  small  arms. 

(Signed)  JOHN  MILTON,  Governor. 

Gen.  Seymour  now  occupied  Jacksonville 
witk  his  forces,  and  the  enemy  took  up  a  posi- 
tion at  Camp  Finegan,  eight  miles  distant, 
toward  Baldwin.  The  following  correspond 
ence  passed,  at  this  time,  between  Gen.  Sey- 
mour and  Gen.  Finegan  commanding  the  en- 
emy's force : 

HEADQUARTERS  DISTRICT  OP  FLORIDA,  D.  8.  ) 
JACKSONVILLE,  FLA.,  Feb.  23, 1861      f 
SIR:  In  view  of  the  inconveniences  to  which  the 
wounded  prisoners  in  your  hands,  since  the  action 
of  the  20th,  near  Olustee,  Florida,  may  be  unavoid- 
ably subjected,  I  have  the  honor  to  propose  that  they 
may  be  paroled,  and  delivered  within  my  lines  as 


508 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


soon  as  possible,  and  Capt.  G.  S.  Dana,  of  my  staff, 
the  bearer  of  this  communication,  is  authorized  to 
make  such  arrangements  therefor  as  may  be  conven- 
ient, and  a  horse  car  or  ambulance  will  be  sent  for 
the  wounded,  at  such  times  as  may  be  designated, 
should  this  proposal  be  acceded  to. 

The  body  of  Col.  C.  W.  Fribley  was  left  on  the 
field  at  Olustee.    If  there  have  been  any  means  of 
identifying  his  person,  I  request  that  his  grave  may 
be  so  marked,  that  at  some  future  day  his  family  may 
be  able  to  remove  his  remains. 
I  am,  General,  very  respectfully, 
Your  obedient  servant, 

T.  SEYMOUR, 

Brigadier-General  Commanding. 
To  the  General  commanding  the  Confederate  forces 
in  Florida. 

HEADQUARTERS  DISTRICT  EAST  FLORIDA,  ) 
BALDWIN,  FLA.,  Feb.  24, 1864.     ) 

Brig. -Gen,  T.  Seymour,  Commanding  United,  States 

forces,  Jacksonville  : 

GENERAL:  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  your  communication  of  the  23d  inst.,  pro- 
posing "that  the  wounded  prisoners  left  by  you  on 
the  field  of  battle,  at  Ocean  Pond,  on  the  20th  inst., 
be  paroled  and  sent  within  your  lines,  and  request- 
ing that,  if  the  body  of  Col.  C.  W.  Fribley,  left  on 
the  ground,  can  be  identified,  that  his  grave  be 
marked,  so  that  at  some  future  day  his  family  may 
be  able  to  remove  his  remains." 

In  reply,  I  have  to  state  that  the  wounded  prison- 
ers have  been  sent  forward  and  properly  taken  care 
of,  and  will  be  kept  to  await  the  future  action  of  my 
Government  in  reference  to  a  general  exchange  of 
prisoners. 

I  regret  to  state  that  the  body  of  Col.  Fribley  has 
not  been  identified. 

Very  respectfully,  your  ob't  serv't, 

JOSEPH  FINEGAN. 
Brigadier-General  Commanding. 

HEADQUARTERS  DISTRICT  OF  FLORIDA,  D.  8.,  ) 
JACKSONVILLE,  FLA.,  Feb.  25, 1864.     ) 

GENERAL:  Notwithstanding  the  information  con- 
tained in  your  communication  of  the  24th  inst.,  re- 
specting the  body  of  the  late  Col.  Fribley,  that  it 
has  not  been  identified,  I  have  the  honor  to  urge 
that  measures  be  taken  to  ascertain  the  possession  of 
some  of  the  articles  upon  his  person,  with  a  view  to 
the  return  of  some  of  them  to  his  widow,  at  this 
place.  The  accompanying  memorandum  may  serve 
to  assist  in  whatever  investigation  you  may  decide 
to  institute.  • 

And  I  feel  assured  that  whatever  can  be  done  by 
you  to  mitigate  the  sorrow  that  is  the  lot  of  a  most 
deserving  and  greatly  suffering  lady,  will  be  cheer- 
fully accorded. 

And  any  remuneration  that  may  be  desired  or 
necessary  to  procure  any  part  of  the  personal  me- 
morials mentioned  in  this  memorandum,  will  be  duly 
forwarded  to  the  parties  having  them  in  possession. 

I  have  further  to  request,  it  the  arrangement  can 
be  made,  that  Mrs.  Fribley  herself,  accompanied  by 
the  adjutant  of  the  late  colonel,  may  be  permitted  to 
pass  within  your  lines,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining 
more  information  than  can  perhaps  otherwise  be  an- 
ticipated. _ 

The  circumstances  of  this  contest  will  certainly 
not  be  injuriously  affected  by  such  a  concession  to 
humanity. 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  SEYMOUR,  Brig.-Gen.  Commanding. 
Brig.-Gen.  Joseph   Finegan,  Commanding   Confed- 
erate forces  East  Florida. 

HEADQUARTERS  DISTRICT  EASTERN  FLORIDA,  ) 
February  26, 1864.      ) 

GENERAL:  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  your  communication  of  the  25th  inst.,  and 
to  reply  tbut^I  will  cause  the  proper  inquiries  to  be 
made  to  obtain  the  information  sought  for  in  your 


letter,  and  will,  as  soon  as  practicable,  forward  you 
a  reply  by  flag  of  truce. 

I  regret  to  say  that  I  consider  it  at  present  objec- 
tionable, for  reasons  which  it  is  needless  for  me  to 
state,  but  which  will  doubtless  be  appreciated  by 
yourself,  to  grant  a  permit  for  Mrs.  Fribley  and  the 
adjutant  of  her  late  husband's  regiment  to  visit  the 
battle-field  of  Ocean  Pond.  At  a  future  day  these 
obstacles  may  be  removed. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  JOSEPH  FINEGAN, 

Brigadier-General  Commanding. 
Brig.-Gen.  T.  Seymour,  Commanding  United  States 

forces  Jacksonville,  Florida. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  SOUTH  CAROLINA,  | 
GEORGIA  AND  FLORIDA,  March  4, 1864.     ) 

District  of  Florida  headquarters,  forces  in  the  field, 

GENERAL  :  In  further  reply  to  your  communication 
of  the  25th  of  February,  1864,  I  have  the  honor  to 
forward  through  you  to  the  widow  of  the  late  Col. 
Fribley,  an  ambrotype,  supposed  to  be  the  one  re- 
ferred to  in  the  memorandum  accompanying  your 
communication. 

Traces  have  also  been  discovered  of  his  watch,  a 
letter  from  his  wife  to  himself,  and  his  diary,  and 
steps  have  been  taken  to  recover  possession  of  them. 
If  successful,  the  two  former  articles  will  be  for- 
warded. 

That  I  may  not  be  misunderstood,  it  is  due  to  my- 
self to  state  that  no  sympathy  with  the  fate  of  any 
officer  commmnding  negro  troops,  but  compassion 
for  a  widow  in  griefj  has  induced  these  efforts  to  re- 
cover for  her  relics  which  she  must  naturally  value. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  W.  M.  GARDNER, 

Brigadier-General  Commanding. 
To  Brigadier-General  T.  SEYMOUR, 

Comm'g  United  States  forces,  Jacksonville,  Fla. 

A  small  Federal  force  remained  at  Jackson- 
ville for  several  months,  and  many  raids  in  dif- 
ferent directions  were  made  by  portions  of  it. 
No  important  military  operations  took  place. 
The  movement  to  reorganize  the  State  ceased 
after  the  battle  at  Olustee. 

Early  in  the  year,  a  concentration  of  forces 
at  New  Orleans  commenced.  To  these  were 
added  a  portion  of  the  forces  of  Gen.  Sherman. 
After  his  return  to  Vicksburg  from  his  expe- 
dition to  Meridian,  a  considerable  body  of  his 
troops  moved  to  join  Gen.  Banks,  while  the 
division  of  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  remained  at 
Vicksburg,  ready  to  cooperate.  It  was  the 
purpose  of  Gen.  Banks  to  open  the  region  of 
Western  Louisiana  to  trade,  and  scatter  or  de- 
stroy the  forces  of  the  enemy.  During  only 
the  months  of  March  and  April  the  Red  River 
has  sufficient  water  to  be  navigable  by  the 
largest  vessels. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  month  of  March, 
the  division  of  Gen.  Franklin,  who  formerly 
held  a  command  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac, 
moved  from  New  Orleans  by  the  railroad  to 
Brashear  City,  thence  along  the  Bayou  Teche 
and  Opelousas,  to  Alexandria.  This  was  sub- 
stantially the  same  route  as  was  taken  by  the 
army  in  the  previous  year,  under  Gen.  Banks. 
and  described  in  previous  pages  of  this  vol- 
ume. In  the  mean  time  the  most  formi- 
dable fleet  ever  seen  in  the  western  waters  had 
been  collected  under  Rear-Admiral  Porter,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Red  River.  It  consisted  of 
twenty  powerful  armed  steamers  of  all  classes. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


509 


from  the  light  to  the  heaviest  draught.  Among 
them  were  the  monitors  Ozark,  Osage,  Neosho ; 
the  ironclads  Benton,  Carondelet,  Pittsburg, 
Mound  City,  Louisville,  Essex,  and  Ohillicothe ; 
the  rams  Price,  Choctaw,  Lafayette,  besides 
the  lighter  boats,  Blackhawk,  Ouachita,  Cham- 
pion, and  Tyler. 

On  the  10th  of  March,  about  ten  thousand 
troops  under  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  embarked  in 
twenty  transports  at  Vicksburg,  and  proceeded 
to  join  the  fleet.  This  force  consisted  of  the 
first  and  third  divisions  of  the  sixteenth  army 
corps,  and  the  first  and  fourth  divisions  of  the 
seventeenth.  It  was  intended  to  unite  with 
the  force  of  Gen.  Banks,  to  which  was  subse- 
quently to  be  added  the  force  under  Gen.  Steele 
from  Arkansas.  The  principal  force  of  the  en- 
emy was  under  Gen.  Richard  Taylor,  at  Shreve- 
port.  Bodies  of  troops  under  Gen.  Price  and 
Gen.  Walker  were  also  moving  to  unite  with  it. 

On  the  next  afternoon  the  transports  arrived 
at  the  mouth  of  Red  River,  and  joined  the 
fleet.  On  the  next  day,  Saturday,  the  12th, 
the  fleet  moved  up  the  old  Red  River,  into  the 
Atchafalaya,  and  in  the  afternoon  anchored  at 
Semmesport.  The  town  had  ceased  to  exist ; 
a  few  chimneys  marked  the  former  site.  It 
was  burned  by  Col.  C.  R.  Ellet,  in  retaliation 
for  the  firing  upon  his  steamer,  the  Queen  of 
the  West;  and  afterward  entirely  destroyed  by 
Col.  John  Ellet,  during  the  siege  of  Port  Hud- 
son, to  prevent  the  construction  of  batteries 
by  the  enemy,  and  a  traffic  across  the  river. 
Hearing  nothing  from  Gen.  Banks,  Gen.  Smith 
disembarked  a  portion  of  his  troops  on  the 
next  day,  and  sent  a  brigade  under  Gen.  Mow- 
er to  reconnoitre  in  the  vicinity  of  Yellow  Ba- 
you. The  enemy  had  broken  up  their  camp 
and  retired.  Two  extensive  earthworks  in  an 
incomplete  state  were  found.  A  distance  fur- 
ther five  teams  loaded  with  tents  were  over- 
taken. The  latter  were  burnt,  and  the  teams 
loaded  with  sugar  and  molasses,  and  taken  to 
the  fleet.  It  was  now  decided  that  the  column 
should  march  overland  to  Fort  De  Russy,  a 
distance  of  thirty  miles,  whither  it  was  sup- 
posed the  enemy  had  retreated.  At  daybreak, 
on  Monday  morning,  the  force  started  in  light 
marching  order,  with  the  brigade  of  Gen. 
Mower  in  advance.  They  had  advanced 
scarcely  five  miles  before  they  were  beset  by 
the  enemy's  cavalry,  in  front  and  rear.  This 
continued  until  the  position  of  the  enemy, 
known  as  Fort  De  Russy,  was  approached  in 
the  afternoon.  It  consisted  of  two  distinct 
and  formidable  earthworks,  connected  by  a 
covered  way ;  the  upper  part  facing  the  road 
mounted  four  guns,  two  field  and  two  siege ; 
the  lower  work,  .commanding  the  river,  was  a 
casemated  battery  of  three  guns.  Only  two 
guns  were  in  position  in  it,  one  a  11-inch  Co- 
lumbiad,  and  an  8-irich  smooth  bore.  On  each 
side  were  batteries  of  two  guns  each,  making 
in  all  eight  siege  and  two  field-pieces.  As  the 
line  moved  up  to  the  edge  of  the  timber,  the 
upper  work  opened  with  shell  and  shrapnel, 


against  which  two  batteries  were  brought  to 
bear.  The  cannonading  continued  for  two 
hours.  A  charge  was  then  ordered,  and  as  the 
men  reached  the  ditch,  the  garrison  surren- 
dered. The  Federal  loss  was  four  killed  and 
thirty  wounded ;  that  of  the  enemy,  five  killed 
and  four  wounded.  The  prisoners  taken  were 
twenty-four  officers  and  two  hundred  men. 
Considerable  ammunition  and  stores  were 
found,  besides  a  thousand  muskets.  A  portion 
of  the  fleet  arrived  as  the  fort  surrendered. 
Gen.  Smith  ordered  the  works  to  be  destroyed. 
This  portion  of  his  troops  were  then  embarked 
on  the  transports,  and  reached  Alexandria, 
one  hundred  and  forty  miles  from  the  Missis- 
sippi River,  on  the  evening  of  the  16th.  They 
were  followed  by  the  remainder  of  the  forces 
and  the  fleet.  The  enemy  retired  before  the 
advance,  destroying  two  steamboats  and  con- 
siderable cotton.  During  the  first  week,  the 
gunboats  rescued  upwards  of  four  thousand 
bales  of  cotton,  and  large  quantities  were 
brought  in  by  the  negroes.  The  fleet  was  de- 
tained by  the  low  water  on  the  falls  above  Al- 
exandria, its  depth  being  only  six  feet,  whereas 
nine  feet  were  required  to  float  the  largest 
gunboats.  Three  formidable  iron-clad  rams  of 
the  enemy  were  reported  to  be  at  Shreveport, 
about  four  hundred  and  fifty  miles  above  the 
Mississippi  River.  On  the  19th,  Gen.  Stone, 
chief  of  l^en.  Banks'  staff,  arrived  and  report- 
ed that  the  latter  was  at  Opelousas.  On  the 
20th,  the  cavalry  force  under  Gen.  Lee,  at- 
tached to  the  command  of  Gen.  Banks,  reach- 
ed Alexandria,  after  marching  from  Franklin 
across  the  Teche  country.  Meantime  detach- 
ments from  Gen.  Smith's  command  had  been 
sent  forward,  and  captured  several  small  bodies 
of  the  enemy. 

On  the  21st,  Natchitoches  was  taken,  with 
two  hundred  prisoners  and  four  pieces  of  artil- 
lery. It  is  about  eighty  miles  from  Alexan- 
dria. On  the  26th,  the  force  of  Gen.  Smith  as 
the  advance,  left  Alexandria  for  Shreveport,  to 
be  followed  by  the  troops  of  Gen.  Banks  then 
arriving.  Shreveport  was  the  destination  of 
the  expedition.  It  had  been  the  capital  of 
the  Confederate  State  Government.  Its  sit- 
uation is  in  almost  the  extreme  northwestern 
corner  of  Louisiana,  and  at  the  head  of  navi- 
gation on  the  Red  River.  The  enemy  were 
reported  to  have  a  strong  force  there,  and 
large  quantities  of  cotton  and  military  stores 
were  expected  to  be  captured.  The  coopera- 
tion of  Gen.  Steele  in  command  at  Little  Rock, 
Arkansas,  was  also  expected  by  Gen.  Banks. 
Twelve  of  the  gunboats  and  a  fleet  of  thirty 
transports  were  able  to  pass  over  the  shoals, 
and  moved  up  the  river  in  cooperation  with 
the  land  forces.  On  the  4th  of  April,  Gen. 
Banks'  column  reached  Nachitoches.  Here  he 
remained  two  days. 

On  Wednesday,  the  6th,  the  army  moved 
from  Nachitoches  for  Shreveport,  with  Gen. 
Lee's  cavalry  in  advance.  The  infantry  march- 
ed seventeen  miles,  and  the  cavalry  reached 


510 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Crump's  Hill  four  miles  further,  and  half  way 
between  Natchitoches  and  Mansfield.  On  the 
7th,  Gen.  Lee  pushed  forward,  maintaining  a 
constant  skirmish  with  the  enemy,  until  he 
arrived  at  a  position  two  miles  beyond  Pleasant 
Hill.  Here  the  main  body  of  the  enemy's  cav- 
alry, under  Major-Gen.  Thomas  Green,  was  en- 
countered by  the  advance  of  Gen.  Lee's  cavalry, 
consisting  of  a  brigade  under  Col.  H.  Robinson. 
Heavy  skirmishing  ensued  for  two  hours  and  a 
half,  when  Gen.  Green  fell  back  upon  the  Con- 


CHENEY  VILLE 


federate  infantry  and  artillery  at  Bayou  du 
Paul.  Col.  Robinson  finding  the  enemy  in  an 
increased  force,  halted  for  the  night  and  to 
await  reinforcements.  Early  the  next  morn- 
ing,-the  infantry  brigade  of  the  4th  division 
of  the  13th  corps,  under  Col.  Landrum,  joined 
him,  and  the  advance  was  resumed  and  contin- 
ued until  2  o'clock  p.  M.,  driving  the  enemy 
before  them  for  seven  miles.  The  main  force 
of  the  enemy  now  appeared,  occupying  a  strong 
position  in  the  vicinity  of  Sabine  Cross  roads 
east  of  Mansfield.  They  were  partly  concealed 
in  a  dense  wood  with  an  open  field  in  front  and 
the  Shreveport  road  passing  through  their 
lines.  Major-Gen.  Taylor  was  in  command. 
Major-Gen.  Green  commanded  the  left  wing, 
Brig. -Gen.  Mouton  the  right,  with  Gen.  Walk- 
er's division  still  further  to  the  right,  and  two 
cavalry  regiments  on  the  extreme  right.  Mean- 
time Gen.  Ransom  arrived  on  the  field  with 
the  remaining  brigade  of  the  4th  division  of 


the  13th  corps.  The  entire  division  numbered 
2,600  men.  The  19th  corps,  under  Gen.  Frank- 
lin, were  in  camp  nine  miles  in  the  rear,  and 
Gen.  A.  J.  Smith,  with  about  one-half  of  the 
16th  and  17th  corps,  was  nearly  twenty  miles 
in  the  rear.  The  Federal  artillery  consisted 
of  the  Chicago  Mercantile  battery,  the  1st  In- 
diana battery,  Nim's  Massachusetts  battery, 
and  battery  G,  5th  regular  artillery.  Col. 
Landrum's  brigade  took  a  position  on  the  right 
and  centre  with  all  the  batteries  except  one, 
and  Gen.  Ransom's  brigade  on  the  left  with 
Nim's  battery  supported  by  Col.  Dudley's  cav- 
alry brigade,  while  Col.  Robinson's  cavalry 
protected  the  wagon  train,  and  Col.  Lucas 
acted  on  the  right.  Gen.  Banks  had,  in  the 
meanwhile,  arrived  on  the  field,  and  at  once 
sent  couriers  for  Gen.  Franklin  to  hasten  for- 
ward with  all  possible  despatch.  Heavy  skir- 
mishing commenced  at  5  o'clock,  and  in  a  short 
time  the  skirmishers  were  driven  in  by  the 
enemy  advancing  in  force,  when  the  engage- 
ment became  general  on  the  right  and  centre. 
To  sustain  this  portion  of  the  line,  which  was 
heavily  pressed,  the  left  was  necessarily  much 
weakened.  This  was  observed  by  the  enemy, 
who  massed  upon  their  right  and  dashed  upon 
the  left  of  Gen.  Banks,  which  was  soon  driven 
back,  and  four  gvfns  of  Nim's  battery  cap- 
tured. Not  horses  enough  were  alive  to  drag 
it  from  the  field.  Meantime  the  right  contin- 
ued fiercely  engaged  and  the  centre  was  pressed 
back,  when  the  right  also  gave  way.  The 
loss  of  the  Chicago  battery  and  the  1st  Indiana 
soon  followed.  Gen.  Cameron  came  up  with 
a  brigade  of  Indiana  troops  belonging  to  the 
third  division  of  the  13th  corps,  and  advanced 
to  the  front,  but  was  unable  to  resist  the  force 
of  the  enemy.  Gen.  Franklin  with  staff,  also 
arrived  on  the  field  in  advance  of  his  division. 
The  line  continued  to  fall  back  slowly  until 
the  baggage  trains  blocked  up  the  roads  in  the 
rear  so  that  the  troops  could  not  easily  pass> 
when  a  panic  ensued.  The  enemy  now  pur- 
sued for  three  and  a  half  miles,  when  their 
advance  was  checked  and  driven  back  by  Gen. 
Emory's  division.  Here  the  conflict  ended  for 
the  day.  Six  guns  of  the  Chicago  battery,  t\vo 
of  battery  G,  four  of  the  1st  Indiana,  and  six 
of  Nim's  battery  were  left  on  the  field,  with 
two  howitzers  of  the  6th  Missouri.  The  loss 
of  Gen.  Banks  was  estimated  at  two  thousand 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  His  force  on  the 
field  was  about  eight  thousand.  The  force  of 
the  enemy  was  much  larger.  Gen.  Mouton 
was  among  the  badly  wounded  of  the  enemy. 

As  it  was  now  known  that  Gen.  Smith  with 
his  force  had  marched  to  Pleasant  Hill  and 
halted,  Gen.  Banks  determined  to  withdraw  to 
that  place  for  the  sake  of  concentrating  his 
forces,  and  of  the  advantageous  position  which 
he  could  there  occupy.  The  movement  com- 
menced at  ten  o'clock  at  night,  and  before  day-- 
light  the  rear  of  the  army  was  well  on  the  road. 
The  enemy  during  the  night  had  pressed  his 
pickets  down  on  Gen.  Banks'  front,  but  failed 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


511 


to  discover  the  retreat  of  the  troops  as  it  was 
conducted  with  the  greatest  silence  and  expe- 
dition. Becoming  aware  of  it  in  the  morning, 
he  followed  after  with  his  main  force,  his  cav- 
alry being  in  advance,  hut  the  cavalry  failed  to 
come  up  with  the  rear  under  Gen.  Emory, 
before  it  had  arrived  at  Pleasant  Hill  about 
seven  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Col.  Gooding, 
of  the  cavalry  division,  was  then  sent  out  on 
the  Shreveport  road  to  find  the  enemy.  About 
a  mile  up  the  road  the  advance  was  seen  ap- 
proaching in  strong  force. 

The  battle-ground  was  an  open  field  on  the 
outside  of  the  town  of  Pleasant  Hill  on  the 
Shreveport  road.  It  was  open  and  rolling,  and 
ascended  both  from  the  side  of  the  town  and 
from  the  side  on  which  the  enemy  were  ap- 
proaching. A  belt  of  timber  extended  almost 
entirely  around  it.  The  division  of  Gen.  Em- 
ory was  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  on  the 
sloping  side,  with  the  right  resting  across  the 
Shreveport  road.  Gen.  McMillen's  brigade 
formed  the  extreme  right  of  the  line,  with  his 
right  resting  near  the  woods,  which  extended 
along  the  whole  base  of  the  slope  and  through 
which  the  enemy  would  advance.  Gen.  D  wight's 
brigade  was  formed  next  with  his  left  resting 
on  the  road,  Col.  Benedict's  brigade  formed 
next,  with  his  right  resting  on  the  road  and  a 
little  in  the  rear  of  Gen.  D  wight's  left.  Two 
pieces  of  Taylor's  battery  were  placed  in  the 
rear  of  Gen.  Dwight's  left  on  the  road,  and 
four  pieces  were  in  position  on  an  eminence  on 
the  left  of  the  road  and  in  rear  of  Col.  Bene- 
dict. Hibbard's  Vermont  battery  was  in  the 
rear  of  the  division.  Gen.  Smith's  division, 
under  command  of  Gen.  Mower,  was  massed 
in  two  lines  of  battle  fifty  yards  apart  with 
artillery  in  rear  of  Gen.  Emory's  division.  The 
right  of  the  first  line  rested  on  the  road,  and 
was  composed  of  two  brigades :  the  first  brigade 
on  the  right  commanded  by  Colonel  Linch; 
the  second  brigade  on  the  left  commanded 
by  Colonel  Shaw.  The  3d  Indiana  battery 
(Crawford's)  was  posted  in  the  first  line  of 
battle,  and  on  the  right  of  the  89th  Indiana. 
The  9th  Indiana  battery  (Brown's)  was  in 
position  on  the  right  of  the  first  brigade.  The 
Missouri  battery  occupied  ground  on  the  right 
of  the  89th  Indiana. 

The  second  line  was  composed  of  two  bri- 
gades. The  13th  corps  were  in  reserve.  Skir- 
mishing continued  through  the  day,  and  at  4 
p.  M.  the  enemy's  line  of  battle  was  formed. 
Gen.  Green's  division  was  posted  on  the  ex- 
treme left ;  Gen.  Mouton's  division,  under  com- 
mand of  Brig.-Gen.  Polignac,  on  Gen.  Green's 
right;  Gen.  Walker  on  Polignac's  right,  and 
Gen.  Churchill's  division  of  Arkansians  and 
Missourians  on  the  extrtme  right.  About  5 
p.  M.  the  enemy  appeared  on  the  field  at  the 
edge  of  the  woods,  and  the  battle  began  by  the 
Federal  batteries  opening  upon  him  with  case 
shell  as  he  advanced  at  double-quick.  The  left 
under  Col.  Benedict  came  into  action  first,  and 
soon  after  the  right  and  centre  were  engaged. 


The  contest  now  became  fierce  on  both  sides, 
when  Gen.  Emory's  division,  pressed  by  over- 
whelming numbers,  fell  back  up  the  hill  to 
the  16th  corps,  which  was  just  behind  the 
crest.  The  enemy  rushed  forward  and  were 
met  by  Gen.  Smith  with  a  discharge  from  all 
his  guns,  which  was  followed  by  an  immediate 
charge  of  the  infantry,  by  whioh  the  enemy 
were  driven  rapidly  back  to  the  woods,  where 
they  broke  in  confusion.  Night  put  an  end  to 
the  pursuit.  The  Taylor  battery  lost  on  the 
advance  of  the  enemy  was  recovered,  and  also 
two  guns  of  Nim's  battery.  Five  hundred  pris- 
oners were  also  taken.  Early  on  the  next 
morning,  leaving  the  dead  unburied  and  the 
muskets  thrown  on  the  field,  the  army  com- 
menced its  march  back  to  Grand  Ecore,  thirty- 
five  miles  from  Pleasant  Hill,  to  obtain  rest 
and  rations. 

The  entire  losses  of  the  campaign  thus  far 
were  stated  to  be  twenty  pieces  of  artillery, 
three  thousand  men,  one  hundred  and  thirty 
wagons,  twelve  hundred  horses  and  mules,  in- 
cluding many  that  died  of  disease.  The  gains 
were  the  capture  of  Fort  De  Eussy,  Alexan- 
dria, Grand  Ecore,  and  Natchitoches,  the  open- 
ing of  Red  River,  the  capture  of  three  thousand 
bales  of  cotton,  twenty-three  hundred  prison- 
ers, twenty-five  pieces  of  artillery,  chiefly  cap- 
tured by  the  fleet,  and  small  arms  and  consid- 
erable stores.  A  large  number  of  citizens 
enlisted  in  the  service  in  Alexandria,  and  the 
material  for  two  colored  regiments  was  gather- 
ed, and  five  thousand  negroes,  male  and  female, 
abandoned  their  homes  and  followed  the  army. 

Meanwhile  Rear- Admiral  Porter  ascended  the 
falls  with  twelve  gunboats  and  thirty  transports, 
and  reached  Grand  Ecore  when  the  army  was 
at  Natchitoches  preparing  for  an  immediate 
march.  As  the  river  was  rising  slowly  the  ad- 
vance was  continued  with  six  smaller  gunboats 
and  twenty  transports,  having  army  stores  and 
a  part  of  Gen.  Smith's  division  on  board. 
Starting  on  the  7th  of  April,  Springfield  Land- 
ing was  reached  on  the  third  day.  Here  a 
large  steamer  sunk  in  the  river  obstructed  fur- 
ther progress;  and  information  was  received 
that  the  army  had  met  with  a  reverse.  Orders 
also  came  to  Gen.  Smith's  troops  to  return  to 
Grand  Ecore  with  the  transports.  The  fleet, 
therefore,  turned  back,  but  was  constantly  an- 
noyed by  the  enemy  on  the  bank  of  the  river. 
Two  of  the  fleet  at  Grand  Ecore  were  found 
above  the  bar,  and  not  likely  to  get  away  until 
there  was  a  rise  of  water  in  the  river. 

The  continued  low  water  in  the  Red  River, 
and  the  difficulty  of  keeping  up  a  line  of  sup- 
plies, caused  the  army  to  fall  back  to  Alexan- 
dria. The  march  commenced  in  the  afternoon 
of  April  21st,  by  starting  the  baggage  train  with 
a  suitable  guard.  At  2  o'clock  the  next  morn- 
ing the  army  began  silently  to  evacuate  its 
position,  Gen.  Smith's  force  forming  the  rear 
guard.  Sbon  after  daylight  the  enemy  observ- 
ing the  movement  began  his  pursuit,  but  with 
so  small  a  force  that  only  slight  skirmishing 


512 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


513 


took  place.  After  moving  thirty  miles,  the 
army  bivouacked  for  the  night.  On  the  next 
morning  the  march  was  resumed,  six  miles 
to  the  crossing  of  Cane  River.  Here  the  enemy 
appeared  in  a  strong  position  to  dispute  the 
crossing  of  the  river.  A  flank  movement 
through  an  almost  impassable  wood  was  made 
upon  the  enemy's  position,  from  which  he  was 
driven,  and  the  crossing  secured.  The  pursuit 
was  continued  by  the  enemy  until  Alexandria 
was  reached  on  the  27th. 

Although  Gen.  Banks  had  declared  in  the 
commencement  of  the  campaign  that  his  occu- 
pation of  the  country  would  be  permanent, 
such  was  now  the  state  of  affairs  as  to  require 
his  withdrawal,  the  season  having  passed  for 
operating  with  any  chance  of  success.  Prepa- 
rations for  this  object  were  soon  commenced. 
The  position  of  the  fleet  was  most  serious,  and 
its  extrication  is  thus  related  by  Rear- Admiral 
Porter  : 

MISSISSIPPI  SQUADBON,  FLAGSHIP  BLACK  HAWK,  ) 
MOTTTH  RED  RIVER,  May  16th,  1864.         j 

SIE  :  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  the  ves- 
sels lately  caught  by  low  water  above  the  falls  at 
Alexandria,  have  been  released  from  their  unpleasant 
position.  The  water  had  fallen  so  low  that  I  had  no 
hope  or  expectation  of  getting  the  vessels  out  this 
season,  and,  as  the  army  had  made  arrangements  to 
evacuate  the  country,  I  saw  nothing  before  me  but 
the  destruction  of  the  best  part  of  the  Mississippi 
squadron. 

There  seems  to  have  been  an  especial  Providence 
looking  out  for  us  in  providing  a  man  equa_l  to  the 
emergency.  Lieut.-Col.  Bailey,  Acting  Engineer  of 
the  19th  Army  Corps,  proposed  a  plan  of  build- 
ing a  series  of  dams  across  the  rocks  at  the  falls, 
and  raising  the  water  high  enough  to  let  the  vessels 
pass  over.  This  proposition  looked  like  madness, 
and  the  best  engineers  ridiculed  it ;  but  Col.  Bailey 
was  so  sanguine  of  success  that  I  requested  to  have 
it  done,  and  he  entered  heartily  into  the  work.  Pro- 
visions were  short  and  forage  was  almost  out,  and 
the  dam  was  promised  to  be  finished  in  ten  days  or 
the  army  would  have  to  leave  us.  I  was  doubtful 
about  the  time,  but  I  had  no  doubt  about  the  ultimate 
success,  if  time  would  only  permit.  Gen.  Banks 
placed  at  the  disposal  of  Col.  Bailey  all  the  forces  he 
required,  consisting  of  some  three  thousand  men 
and  two  or  three  hundred  wagons.  All  the  neighbor- 
ing steam-mills  were  torn  down  for  material ;  two  or 
three  regiments  of  Maine  men  were  set  at  work  fell- 
ing trees,  and  on  the  second  day  after  my  arrival  in 
Alexandria,  from  Grand  Ecore,  the  work  had  fairly 
begun. 

Trees  were  falling  with  great  rapidity,  teams  were 
moving  in  all  directions,  bringing  in  brick  and  stone; 
quarries  were  opened ;  flat-boats  were  built  to  bring 
stone  down  from  above,  and  every  man  seemed  to  be 
working  with  a  vigor  I  have  seldom  seen  equalled, 
while  perhaps  not  one  in  fifty  believed  in  the  under- 
taking. These  falls  are  about  a  mile  in  length,  filled 
with  rugged  rocks,  over  which  at  the  present  stage 
of  water  it  seemed  to  be  impossible  to  make  a  chan- 
nel. 

The  work  was  commenced  by  running  out  from  the 
left  bank  of  the  river  a  tree  dam,  made  of  the  bodies 
of  very  larga  trees,  brush,  brick,  and  stone,  cross- 
tied  with  heavy  timber,  and  strengthened  in  every 
way  which  ingenuity  could  devise.  This  was  run 
out  about  three  hundred  feet  into  the  river;  four 
large  coal  barges  were  then  filled  with  brick  and 
sunk  at  the  end  of  it.  From  the  right  bank  of 
the  river,  cribs  filled  with  stone  were  built  out  to 
meet  the  barges,  all  of  which  were  successfully  ac- 
33 


complished,  notwithstanding  there  was  a  current 
running  of  nine  miles  an  hour,  which  threatened  to 
sweep  every  thing  before  it. 

It  will  take  too  much  time  to  enter  into  the  details 
of  this  truly  wonderful  work ;  suffice  it  to  say  that 
the  dam  had  nearly  reached  completion  in  eight 
days'  working  time,  and  the  water  had  risen  suffi- 
ciently on  the  upper  falls  to  allow  the  Fort  Hindman, 
Osage,  and  Neosho,  to  get  down  and  bo  ready  to  pass 
the  dam.  In  another  day  it  would  have  been  high 
enough  to  enable  all  the  other  vessels  to  pass  the 
upper  falls.  Unfortunately,  on  the  morning  of  the 
9th  inst.,  the  pressure  of  water  became  so  great  that 
it  swept  away  two  of  the  stone-barges  which  swung 
in  below  the  dam  on  one  side.  Seeing  this  unfortu- 
nate accident,  I  jumped  on  a  horse  and  rode  up  to 
where  the  upper  vessels  were  anchored,  and  ordered 
the  Lexington  to  pass  the  upper  falls  if  possible,  and 
immediately  attempt  to  go  through  the  dam.  I 
thought  I  might  be  able  to  save  the  four  vessels  below, 
not  knowing  whether  the  persons  employed  on  the 
work  would  ever  have  the  heart  to  renew  the  enter- 
prise. 

The  Lexington  succeeded  in  getting  over  the  upper 
falls  just  in  time,  the  water  rapidly  falling  as  she 
was  passing  over.  She  then  steered  directly  for  the 
opening  in  the  dam,  through  which  the  water  was 
rushing  so  furiously  that  it  seemed  as  if  nothing  but 
destruction  awaited  her.  Thousands  of  beating 
hearts  looked  on  anxious  for  the  result. 

The  silence  was  so  great  as  the  Lexington  ap- 

Eroached  the  dam  that  a  pin  might  almost  have 
een  heard  to  fall.  She  entered  the  gap  with  a  full 
head  of  steam  on,  pitched  down  the  roaring  tor- 
rent, made  two  or  three  spasmodic  rolls,  hung  for 
a  moment  on  the  rocks  below,  was  then  swept  into 
deep  water  by  the  currents,  and  rounded  to  safely 
into  the  bank. 

Thirty  thousand  voices  rose  in  one  deafening  cheer, 
and  universal  joy  seemed  to  pervade  the  face  of  every, 
man  present.  The  Neosho  followed  next — all  her 
hatches  battened  down,  and  every  precaution  taken 
against  accident.  She  did  not  fare  as  well  as  the 
Lexington,  her  pilot  having  become  frightened  as  he 
approached  the  abyss,  and  stopped  her  engine  when 
I  particularly  ordered  a  full  head  of  steam  to  be  car- 
ried. The  result  was  that  for  a  moment  her  hull  dis- 
appeared from  sight,  under  the  water.  Every  one 
thought  she  was  lost.  She  rose,  however,  swept 
along  over  the  rocks  with  the  current,  and  fortunate- 
ly escaped  with  only  one  hole  in  her  bottom,  which 
was  stopped  in  the  course  of  an  hour.  The  Hind- 
man and  Osage  both  came  through  beautifully  with- 
out touching  a  thing,  and  I  thought  if  I  was  only 
fortunate  enough  to  get  my  large  vessels  as  well  over 
the  falls  my  fleet  once  more  would  do  good  service 
on  the  Mississippi. 

The  accident  to  the  dam,  instead  of  disheartening 
Col.  Bailey,  only  induced  him  to  renew  his  exertions, 
after  he  had  seen  the  success  of  getting  four  vessels 
through.  The  noble-hearted  soldiers,  seeing  their 
labor  of  the  last  eight  days  swept  away  in  a  moment, 
cheerfully  went  to  work  to  repair  damages,  being 
confident  now  that  all  the  gunboats  would  be  finally 
brought  over.  The  men  had  been  working  for  eight 
days  and  nights,  up  to  their  necks  in  water,  in  the 
broiling  sun,  cutting  trees  and  Wheeling  bricks,  and 
nothing  but  good  humor  prevailed  among  them.  On 
the  whole,  it  was  very  fortunate  the  dam  was  carried 
away,  as  the  two  barges  that  were  swept  away  from  the 
centre  swung  around  against  some  rocks  on  the  left 
and  made  a  fine  cushion  for  the  vessels,  and  p_re- 
vented  them,  as  it  afterward  appeared,  from  running 
on  certain  destruction. 

The  force  of  the  water  and  the  current  being  too 
great  to  construct  a  continuous  dam  of  six  hundred 
Feet  across  the  river  in  so  short  a  time,  Col.  Bailey 
determined  to  leave  a  gap  of  fifty-five  feet  in  the  dam^ 
and  build  a  series  of  wing  dams  on  the  upper  falls. 
This  was  accomplished  in  three  days'  time,  and  on 


514 


the  Tlth  instant  the  Mound  City,  the  Carondelet,  and 
Pittsburgh  came  over  the  upper  falls,  a  good  deal  of 
labor  having  been  expended  in  hauling  them  through, 
the  channel  being  very  crooked,  scarcely  wide 
enough  for  them.  Next  day  the  Ozark,  Louisville, 
Chillicothe,  and  two  tugs  also  succeeded  in  crossing 
the  upper  falls. 

Immediately  afterward  the  Mound  City,  Caronde- 
let, and  Pittsburgh  started  in  succession  to  pass  the 
dam,  all  their  hatches  battened  down  and  every  pre- 
caution taken  to  prevent  accident. 

The  passage  of  these  vessels  was  a  most  beautiful 
sight,  only  to  be  realized  when  seen.  They  passed 
over  without  an  accident  except  the  unshipping  .of 
one  or  two  rudders.  This  was  witnessed  by  all  the 
troops,  and  the  vessels  were  heartily  cheered  when 
they  passed  over.  Next  morning  at  ten  o'clock,  the 
Louisville,  Chillicothe,  Ozark,  and  two  tugs  passed 
over  without  any  accident  except  the  loss  of  a  man, 
who  was  swept  off  the  deck  of  one  of  the  tugs.  By 
three  o'clock  that  afternoon,  the  vessels  were  all 
coaled,  ammunition  replaced,  and  all  steamed  down 
the  river  with  the  convoy  of  transports  in  company. 
A  good  deal  of  difficulty  was  anticipated  in  getting 
over  the  bars  in  lower  Red  Kiver — depth  of  water  re- 
ported only  five  feet;  gunboats  were  drawing  six. 
Providentially,  we  had  a  rise  from  the  back-water  of 
the  Mississippi — that  river  being  very  high  at  that 
tune — the  back  water  extending  to  Alexandria,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  distant,  enabling  it  to  pass  all 
the  bars  and  obstructions  with  safety. 

Words  are  inadequate  to  express  the  admiration  I 
feel  for  the  ability  of  Lieut.-Col.  Bailey.  This  is 
without  doubt  the  best  engineering  feat  ever  per- 
formed. Under  the  best  circumstances,  a  private 
company  would  not  have  completed  this  work  under 
one  year,  and  to  an  ordinary  mind  the  whole  thing 
would  have  appeared  an  entire  impossibility.  Leav- 
ing out  his  ability  as  an  engineer — the  credit  he  has 
conferred  upon  the  country — he  has  saved  the  Union 
a  valuable  fleet,  worth  nearly  $2,000,000 ;  more,  he  has 
deprived  the  enemy  of  a  triumph  which  would  have 
emboldened  them  to  carry  on  this  war  a  year  or  two 
longer,  for  the  intended  departure  of  the  army  was 
a  fixed  fact,  and.  there  was  nothing  left  for  me  to  do 
in  case  that  event  occurred  but  to  destroy  every  part 
of  the  vessels,  so  that  the  rebels  could  make  nothing 
of  them.  The  highest  honors  the  Government  can 
bestow  on  Col.  Bailey  can  never  repay  him  for  the 
service  he  has  rendered  the  country. 

To  Gen.  Banks,  personally,  I  am  much  indebted 
for  the  happy  manner  in  which  he  has  forwarded  this 
enterprise,  giving  it  his  whole  attention  night  and 
day ;  scarcely  sleeping  while  the  work  was  going  on ; 
attending  personally  to  see  that  all  the  requirements 
of  Col..  Bailey  were  complied  with  on  the  instant. 

I  do  not  believe  there  ever  was  a  case  where  such 
difficulties  were  overcome  in  such  a  short  space  of 
time,  and  without  any  preparation. 

Previous  to  passing  the  vessels  over  the  falls,  I  had 
nearly  all  the  guns,  ammunitions,  provisions,  chain 
cables,  anchors,  and  every  thing  that  could  effect 
their  draft  taken  out  of  them. 

#**#***# 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant, 

DAVID  D.  PORTER,  Rear-Admiral. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. 

The  last  of  the  gunboats  passed  the  falls  on 
May  12th,  and  'Alexandria  was  evacuated  on 
the  next  day.  As  early  as  10  A.M.  the  town 
was  discovered  to  be  on  fire  in  several  places. 
Yarious  opinions  existed  as  to  its  origin,  but 
nothing  positive  was  known.  It  is  situated  on 
a  plain,  in.  the  centre  of  a  rich  cotton-growing 
region,  with  six  hundred  inhabitants.  The  fire 
spread  with  great  rapidity.  Gen.  Banks  made 


some  ineffectual  attempts  to  stay  the  progress 
of  the  flames,  and  tore  down  several  buildings, 
but  the  soldiers,  it  is  said,  did  not  work  with 
much  interest.  An  engine  was  drawn  to  the 
river,  but  the  hose  was  found  to  be  cut.  The 
scenes  attending  the  burning  of  the  town  now 
became  appalling.  A  spectator  thus  describes 
it: 

Women  gathering  their  helpless  babes  in  their 
arms,  rushing  frantically  through  the  streets  with 
cries  that  would  have  melted  the  hardest  hearts  to 
tears.  Little  boys  and  girls  were  running  hither  and 
thither  crying  for  their  mothers  and  fathers ;  old  men 
leaning  on  a  staff  for  support  to  their  trembling 
limbs,  were  hurrying  away  from  the  suffocating  heat 
of  their  burning  homes.  The  helpless  wives  and 
children  of  absent  husbands  and  fathers  were  almost 
in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  driven  into  the  streets, 
leaving  every  thing  behind  but  the  clothes  they  then 
wore.  Owing  to  the  simultaneous  burning  in  every 
part  of  the  city,  the  people  found  no  security  in  the 
streets,  where  the  heat  was  so  intense  as  almost  to 
create  suffocation.  Everybody  rushed  to  the  river's 
edge,  being  protected  there  from  the  heat  by  the  high 
bank  of  the  river.  The  steamboats  lying  at  the  land- 
ing were  subjected  to  great  annoyance,  the  heat  be- 
ing so  great  that  the  decks  had  to  be  flooded  with 
water  to  prevent  the  boats  from  taking  fire.  Among 
those  who  thus  crowded  the  river  bank  were  the 
wives,'  daughters,  and  children,  helpless  and  now 
all  homeless,  of  the  Union  men  who  had  joined  the 
Federal  army  since  the  occupation  of  Alexandria. 
Their  husbands  had  already  been  marched  off  in 
the  front  toward  Semmesport,  leaving  their  families 
in  their  old  homes,  but  to  the  tender  mercies  of  the 
Confederates.  The  torch  had  now  destroyed  their 
dwellings,  their  household  goods  and  apparel,  the  last 
morsel  of  provisions,  and  left  them  starving  and  des- 
titute. As  might  be  expected,  they  desired  to  go 
along  with  the  Federal  army,  where  their  husbands 
had  gone.  They  applied  to  be  allowed  to  go  aboard  the 
transports.  They  were  refused !  They  became  frantic 
with  excitement.  The  officers  of  the  boats  were  de- 
sirous of  doing  so,  but  there  was  the  peremptory 
order  not  to  allow  any  white  citizen  to  go  aboard. 

It  had  been  expected  when  the  army  arrived  that 
the  occupation  would  be  permanent,  and  that  pro- 
tection would  be  given  to  all  who  came  forward  and 
took  the  oath  of  allegiance ;  while  those  who  would 
not  were  threatened  with  banishment  and  confisca- 
tion of  property.'  Hundreds  came  forward  and  took 
the  oath.  An  election  was  held,  and  delegates  were 
sent  to  the  constitutional  convention  then  in  session 
at  New  Orleans.  A  recruiting  office  was  opened,  and 
a  large  number  of  white  men  were  mustered  into  the 
'United  States  service.  Quite  a  number  of  permanent 
citizens  of  Alexandria  took  the  oath,  and  were  prom- 
ised protection.  Their  houses  and  other  property 
were  now  all  reduced  to  ashes,  and  they  turned  out 
in  the  world  with  nothing,  absolutely  nothing,  save 
the  amnesty  oath.  They  could  not  now  go  to  the 
Confederates  and  apply  for  charity.  They  too  ap- 
plied to  be  allowed  to  go  aboard  the  transports  and 
go  to  New  Orleans.  They  were  refused  in  every  in- 
stance I 

The  guns  taken  from  the  boats  above  the 
falls  were  bursted ;  and  when  every  thing  was 
ready,  the  fleet,  last  of  all,  moved  away,  leaving 
the  place  wrapped  in  a  dense  volume  of  smoke. 
The  fleet  proceeded  down  the  river  about  ten 
miles,  and  laid  up  for  the  night.  On  the  next 
day  the  advance  of  the  army  was  overtaken  by 
the  fleet,  and  on  the  16th  both  began  to  arrive 
at  Semmesport.  The  Atchafalaya  was  crossed 
the  next  day  by  the  army,  by  means  of  twenty- 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


515 


two  steamboats  placed  side  by  side,  with 
their  bows  lashed  firmly  together.  "A  plank 
bridge  was  then  laid  across  the  bows  of  each, 
connecting  them  together,  and  forming  a  solid 
bridge  across  the  stream,  which  was  no  sooner 
finished  than  it  was  covered  with  teams,  and 
there  was  a  constant  stream  of  wagons,  caval- 
ry, and  men,  until  the  night  of  the  20th,  when 
the  last  of  Gen.  Smith's  division  crossed  over, 
and  the  bridge  in  five  minutes  was  endowed 
with  life,  and  broke  into ,  fragments  and  pro- 
ceeded up  the  river." 

Thence  the  army  proceeded  toward  the  Mis- 
sissippi, encountering  on  the  way  a  considera- 
ble force  of  the  enemy,  with  whom  a  sharp 
skirmish  ensued.  It  finally  returned  to  New 
Orleans,  and  the  fleet  resumed  its  station  on 
the  Mississippi.  This  withdrawal  of  Gen.  Banks 
left  the  enemy  at  liberty  to  move  into  Arkan- 
sas and  operate  against  Gen.  Steele,  who  was 
moving  toward  Shreveport. 

It  was  expected  that  Gen.  Steele,  in  com- 
mand of  the  7th  army  corps,  at  Little 
Rock,  in  Arkansas,  would  cooperate  with  Gen. 
Banks  on  his  approach  to  Shreveport.  For 
this  purpose  he  left  Little  Rock,  March  23d, 
with  twelve  thousand  infantry  and  three  thou- 
sand cavalry,  under  Gen.  Carr.  On  the  previ- 
ous day  Gen.  Thayer,  in  command  of  the  Army 
of  the  Frontier,  left  Fort  Smith,  with  nearly 
five  thousand  men,  to  join  Gen.  Steele.  About 
the  same  time  Col.  Clayton,  with  a  small  force, 
left  Pine  Bluffs  on  an  expedition.  Camden  was 
the  point  of  junction  for  the  three  commands. 
It  was  120  miles  distant  from  Little  Rock, 
about  180  miles  from  Fort  Smith,  and  80  miles 
from  Pine  Bluffs. 

It  was  known  that  a  force  of  the  enemy, 
about  twelve  thousand  men,  under  command 
of  Gen.  Price,  was  in  southwestern  Arkansas, 
and  occupied  a  line  from  Camden,  at  the  head 
of  navigation  on  the  "Washita  River,  west  to 
Washington,  in  Hampstead  County.  Camden 
is  ail  important  position  for  all  movements  look- 
ing to  the  occupation  of  the  Red  River  and  con- 
fluent streams.  Forage  and  subsistence  were 
abundant  in  the  region,  and  the  army  of  the 
enemy  was  well  clothed  and  in  good  spirits. 

Camden  was  known  to  be  well  fortified. 
Gen.  Steele,  therefore,  directed  his  march  tow- 
ard -Washington,  evidently  with  the  design  of 
flanking  Camden  and  drawing  out  of  the  forti- 
fications what  forces  might  be  there.  On  the 
14th  of  April,  having  advanced  one  hundred 
and  ten  miles  in  twenty-two  days,  he  first  en- 
countered a  strong  cavalry  division  under  Gen. 
Marmaduke.  This  was  at  the  Little  Missouri 
River,  sixteen  miles  west  of  Camden.  Heavy 
skirmishing  ensued.  On  the  16th  Gen.  Thayer 
arrived  with  his  force.  Crossing  the  Little 
Missouri  at  a  point  menacing  Shreveport,  Wash- 
ington, or  Camden,  Gen.  Steele  concealed  the 
real  destination  of  the  expedition,  which  was 
Camden,  and  marched  beyond  the  junction  of 
the  roads,  thus  deluding  the  enemy  into  the  be- 
lief that  he  intended  to  attack-Shreveport.  Act- 


ing upon  this  opinion,  they  withdrew  and  took 
a  fortified  position.  From  this  they  were  driv- 
en by  a  flank  movement  of  Gen.  Steele,  who 
pursued,  apparently  with  vigor,  and  captured 
some  prisoners,  and  then  moving  in  a  direct 
line  to  Camden.  The  enemy,  having  discovered 
his  error,  concentrated  his  cavalry,  and  attack- 
ed in  front,  flank,  and  rear,  hoping  to  embarrass 
Gen.  Steele,  so  that  his  own  infantry  might 
have  time  to  regain  the  works  at  Camden. 
Their  efforts  were  in  vain, '  and  Gen.  Steele 
took  possession  of  the  town. 

Col.  Clayton,  in  advancing  from  Pine  Bluffs, 
captured  a  pontoon  bridge  over  the  Saline,  and 
attacked  and  dispersed  a  cavalry  force  and  took 
a  number  of  prisoners.  He  thus  reported  his 
movement : 

•    PINE  BLCTF,  AEK.,  March  81, 1864. 
Major  Greene,  A.  A.  Gen.  : 

The  expedition  to  Mount  Elba  and  Longview  has 
just  returned.  We  destroyed  the  pontoon  bridge  at 
Longview;  burned  a  tram  of  thirty-five  wagons, 
loaded  with  camp  and  garrison  equipments,  ammu- 
nition, quartermaster  stores,  &c. ;  captured  three 
hundred  and  twenty  prisoners ;  engaged  in  battle  at 
Mount  Elba,  yesterday  morning,  Gen.  Docking's  di- 
vision, of  about  twelve  hundred  men,  from  Mouticel- 
lo ;  routed  him,  and  pursued  him  ten  miles,  with  a 
loss  on  his  side  of  over  one  hundred  killed  and 
wounded  ;  captured  a  large  quantity  of  small  arms, 
two  stands  of  colors,  many  wagons,  and  over  three 
hundred  horses  and  mules.  Our  loss  will  not  exceed 
fifteen  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  We  brought 
in  several  hundred  contrabands.  The  expedition 
was  a  complete  success,  the  details  of  which  will  be 
furnished  in  my  official  report,  which  will  be  for- 
warded in  a  few  days. 

POWELL  CLAYTON,  Col.  Commanding. 

It  was  soon  known  that  Gen.  Banks  had  fail- 
ed in  his  object  on  the  Red  River.  This,  to 
some  extent,  endangef  ed  the  command  of  Gen. 
Steele.  The  force  of  the  enemy,  estimated  to 
reach  twenty-five  thousand  men,  could  now,  in 
part,  be  moved  against  Gen.  Steele.  As  it  was 
not  his  plan  to  act  alone,  but  in  conjunction 
with  Gen.  Banks,  he  now  prepared  to  fall  back. 
In  addition  to  these  circumstances,  his  commu- 
nications were  interrupted  and  Little  Rock 
threatened.  On  the  day  following  the  occupa- 
tion of  Camden,  the  enemy  appeared  in  force 
about  six  miles  to  the  south.  A  pontoon  bridge 
was  put  across  the  Washita  River  thirty  miles 
east  of  Camden,  by  which  a  force  of  the  ene- 
my's cavalry  crossed  and  cut  off  the  supplies. 
Trees  were  also  felled  into  the  stream,  and  oth- 
er obstructions  made  to  the  navigation.  On 
the  21st,  a  foraging  party,  with  one  hundred 
and  fifty  wagons  and  an  escort  of  nearly  a 
thousand  men,  were  sent  to  a  point  sixteen 
miles  west.  On  the  return,  at  Poison  Springs, 
twelve  miles  west  of  Camden,  the  command 
was  attacked  by  a  strong  force  of  the  enemy. 
After  a  severe  struggle  of  some  hours,  the  force 
reached  Camden,  with  a  loss  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  men,  four  guns,  and  the  trains,  with  a 
number  of  arms. 

On  the  23d  Gen.  Steele  started  a  train  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  wagons,  six  ambulances, 
and  an  escort  of  two  hundred  cavalry  and 


516 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


twelve  hundred  infantry,  with  four  pieces  of 
artillery,  to  Pine  Bluffs  for  supplies  for  the 
army.  The  expedition  was  under  the  command 
of  Lieut.-0f>l.  Drake,  of  the  36th  Iowa.  On 
the  25th,  an  attack  was  made  on  the  train, 
within  six  miles  of  the  Saline  River,  by  a  caval- 
ry force  under  Maj.-Gen.  Fagan,  which  result- 
ed in  the  capture  or  wounding  of  all  the  offi- 
cers, nearly  all  the  men — of  whom  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  were  killed  and  wounded — four 
brass  guns,  and  the  wagon  trains. 

On  the  26th  Gen.  Steele  determined  to 
evacuate  Camden,  and  before  daylight  of  the 
27th  the  army  had  crossed,  the  pontoon  bridge 
was  secured,  and  the  "Washita  River  put  between 
him  and  the  forces  of  the  enemy.  The  army 
was  pushed  forward  over  bad  roads,  and  on 
the  28th  camped  at  Princeton  crossing,  and'on 
the  next  evening  at  the  Saline  crossings,  Jen- 
kins Ferry.  During  the  night  the  enemy  show- 
ed themselves  in  the  rear.  Whether  they  were 
in  force,  or  only  sufficient  to  harass  by  caval- 
ry attacks  until  Gen.  Kirby  Smith's  main  force 
could  intercept  the  march  to  Little  Rock,  was 
uncertain.  Dispositions  were,  however,  made 
by  Gen.,  Steele  to  resist  a  large  force.  The  bad 
condition  of  the  roads,  and  the  heavy  rain 
which  commenced,  and  the  darkness,  prevent- 
ed the  crossing  of  the  Saline  during  the  night. 
The  pontoon  bridge,  however,  had  been  laid, 
find  a  small  portion  of  the  force  passed  over. 
The  remainder  of  the  army  encamped  in  the 
bottom  lands  of  the  river,  to  which  it  descend- 
ed from  a  considerable  elevation  about  four 
miles  west  of  the  stream.  Gen.  Salomon's  divi- 
sion camped  about  two  miles  from  the  hill,  and 
the  line  which  it  was  to  hold  in  the  morning 
was  protected  on  the  left  by  the  Saline  and 
swampy  bottom  lands,  and  on  the  right  by  a 
bayou  skirting  the  base  of  the  uplands.  In  the 
morning  the  rain  poured  in  torrents.  The  ar- 
tillery, the  trains,  and  men  were  to  cross  over 
the  river.  Soon  after  daylight  skirmishing 
commenced  in  the  rear,  and  a  general  engage- 
ment soon  succeeded.  The  enemy  consisted  of 
all  their  forces  in  southwestern  Arkansas,  with 
some  from  Louisiana,  under  Gens.  Smith,  Price, 
"Walker,  Churchill,  and  others.  Under  Gen. 
Steele,  the  commands  of  Gens.  Salomon,  Thay- 
er,  Rice,  Ingleman,  and  Col.  Benton  were  en- 
gaged. The  battle  continued  about  seven 
hours,  and  resulted  in  the  repulse  of  the  ene- 
my, and  a  loss  to  Gen.  Steele  of  seven  hundred 
in  killed  and  wounded,  although  several  stands 
of  colors  were  captured  and  three  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery. The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed  and 
wounded  was  also  severe.  The  effect  of  the 
battle  was  not  only  to  secure  a  safe  retreat  to 
Little  Rock  for  Gen.  Steele,  where  he  arrived 
on  the  2d  of  May,  but  also  to  relieve,  for  some 
time,  that  portion  of  Arkansas,  and  also  Mis- 
souri, from  the  presence  of  the  enemy.  The  fol- 
lowing is  Gen.  Steele's  address  to  his  troops : 

HEADQUARTEBS  DEPARTMENT  OF  ARKANSAS.  I 
LITTLE  KOCK,  May  9.         j 

To  you  troops  of  the  Yth  army  corps,  who  par- 
ticipated in  the  recent  campaign  designed  to  co- 


operate with  Gen.  Banks'  movement  against  Shreve- 
port,  the  Major-General  Commanding  tenders  his  ear- 
nest and  grateful  thanks.  Although  you  were  com- 
pelled to  fall  back  without  seeing  the  main  object  of 
the  expedition  accomplished,  you  will  have  the  satis- 
faction of  knowing  that  you  have  beaten  the  e_nemy 
wherever  he  has  met  you  in  force,  and  extricated" 
yourselves  from  the  perilous  position  in  which  you 
were  placed  by  the  reverses  of  the  cooperating  col- 
umn. This  let  loose  upon  you  a  superior  force  of  the 
enemy,  under  one  of  their  best  generals,  causing  the 
loss  of  your  trains  and  the  total  interruption  of  your 
communications,  rendering  it  impossible  for  you  to 
obtain  supplies.  You  have  fallen  back  over  rivers 
and  swamps,  while  pressed  by  a  superior  force  of  the 
enemy.  This  you  have  done  successfully,  punishing 
the  enemy  severely  at  the  same  time.  • 

The  patience  with  which  you  have  endured  hard- 
ships and  privations,  and  your  heroic  conduct  on  the 
battle-field,  have  been  brought  to  the  notice  of  the 
Government,  and  will  furnish  a  page  in  the  history 
of  this  war  of  which  you  may  well  be  proud. 

F.  STEELE,  Maj.-Gen.  Commanding. 

For 'further  details  of  military  affairs  under 
Gen.  Steele.  see  subsequent  pages. 

The  withdrawal  of  the  forces  of  Gens.  Sher- 
man and  A.  J.  Smith  from  Vicksburg  to  engage 
in  the  Red  River  expedition,  afforded  an  oppor- 
tunity for  the  irregular  command  of  Gen.  For- 
rest, with  other  detached  forces  of  the  enemy 
in  Northern  Mississippi  and  Southwestern  Ten- 
nessee, to  concentrate  for  an  attack  on  the 
Federal  posts  in  "West  Tennessee  and  Ken- 
tucky. Accordingly,  on  March  23d,  Gen.  For- 
rest left  Jackson,  Tennessee,  with  about  five 
thousand  men,  marching  north  to  Union  City. 
Jackson  is  a  station  on  the  railroad  from  Cairo 
and  Columbus  to  New  Orleans,  and  about  one 
hundred  and  seven  miles  from  Cairp,  and  sixty 
miles  from  Union  City,  another  station  on  the 
same  railroad,  where  the  line  to  Paducah  and 
the  one  to  Hickman  commence.  On  the  next 
day  he  arrived  before  Union  City  and  summoned 
Col.  Hawkins,  with  four  hundred  and  fifty  men 
of  the  llth  Tennessee  Union  cavalry,  to  sur- 
render. The  surrender  of  the  place  was  made 
after  resisting  an  assault,  and  also  two  hun- 
dred horses  and  five  hundred  small  arms.  This 
surrender  was  opposed  by  the  officers  under 
Col.  Hawkins'  command,  and  only  one  man 
had  been  injured  when  it  was  made.  A  force 
under  Gen.  Brayman,  from  Cairo,  advanced 
within  six  miles  for  its  defence ;  but  on  learn- 
ing that  it  had  surrendered,  Gen.  Brayman  re- 
tired. Gen.  Forrest  next  occupied  Hickman, 
and  then  moved  immediately  north  with  Bu  - 
ford's  division  of  his  forces,  direct  from  Jackson 
to  Paducah.  This  place  was  occupied  by  Col.  S. 
G.  Hicks,  40th  Illinois  regiment,  with  six  hun- 
dred and  fifty-five  men.  Col.  Hicks  retired  into 
Fort  Anderson  and  there  made  a  stand,  assisted 
by  the  gunboats  Peosta  and  Paw-Paw,  belong- 
ing to  the  command  of  Capt.  Shirk  of  the  navy. 
Gen.  Forrest  then  sent  the  following  demand 
for  a  surrender : 

HEADQTTAKTEBS  FOBBEBT'S  CAVALRY  CORPS,  I 
PADTTCAH,  March  25, 1SC4.         ( 

To  Col.  IlicJct,  commanding  Federal  forces  at  Fad-ucaTt  : 
Having  a  force  amply  sufficient  to  carry  your  works 
and  reduce  the  place,  in  order  to  avoid  the  unneces- 
sary effusion  of  blood,  I  demand  a  surrender  of  the 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


517 


fort  and  troops,  with  all  the  public  stores.  If  you 
surrender  you  shall  be  treated  as  prisoners  of.  war, 
but  if  I  have  to  storm  your  works  you  may  expect  no 
quarter.  N.  B.  FORREST,  Maj.-Gen.  Com'ing. 

Col.  Hicks  replied  as  follows : 

HEADQUARTERS  POST  PADTTCAH,     ( 
PADUCAH,  KT.,  March  25, 1864  f 

Maj.-Gen.  N.  B.  Forrest,   commanding   Confederate 

forces  : 

I  have  this  moment  received  yours  of  this  instant, 
in  which  you  demand  an  unconditional  surrender  of 
forces  under  my  command.  I  can  answer,  that  I 
have  been  placed  here  by  my  Government  to  defend 
.the  post.  In  this,  as  well  as  all  other  orders  from 
my  superior  officers,  I  feel  it  my  duty  as  an  honor- 
able officer  to  obey,  and  must  therefore  respectfully 
decline  surrendering,  as  you  require.  Very  respect- 
fully, S.  G.  HICKS,  Commanding  Post. 

Two  successive  attacks  upon  the  fort  were 
now  made  by  the  enemy  and  repulsed.  They  next 
occupied  the  houses,  and  fired  from  behind  them 
and  from  the  windows,  but  were  steadily  held 
back.  At  half-past  eleven  P.M.  they  retired. 
During  the  evening  a  steamboat  on  the  marine 
ways  was  burned,  and  also  some  houses.  On 
the  next  morning  Gen.  Forrest  proposed  an 
exchange  for  some  prisoners  in  Col.  Hicks' 
hands,  but  the  latter  had  no  power  to  make 
the  exchange.  In  the  afternoon  the  enemy  re- 
tired. Gen.  Forrest  reported  that  he  held  the 
town  ten  hours,  and  captured  many  stores  and 
horses,  burned  sixty  bales  of  cotton,  one  steam- 
boat, and  took  fifty  prisoners.  His  loss  at  Union 
City  and  Paducah  he  stated  at  twenty-five 
killed  and  wounded,  and  the  prisoners  captured 
at  five  hundred.  The  loss  of  Col.  Hicks  was 
fourteen  killed  and  forty-six  wounded.  .  A  large 
portion  of  the  town  was  destroyed,  partly  by 
the  guns  fired  from  the  fort  upon  the  enemy, 
and  partly  by  the  enemy. 

On  the  12th  of  April  an  attack  was  made  on 
Fort  Pillow  by  Gen.  Forrest,  with  Gen.  Chal- 
mers' division  of  his  forces,  of  which  Gen. 
Forrest  led  Bell's  brigade,  and  Chalmers  led 
McCulloch's.  Fort  Pillow  is  situated  about 
seventy  miles  above  Memphis,  on  the  Missis- 
sippi Kiver.  Its  garrison  at  the  time  of  the 
assault  consisted  of  nineteen  officers  and  five 
hundred  and  thirty-eight  enlisted  men,  of  whom 
two  hundred  and  sixty-two  were  colored  troops, 
comprising  one  battalion  of  the  6th  United 
States  heavy  artillery,  formerly  the  1st  Ala- 
bama artillery  of  colored  troops,  under  the 
command  of  Major  L.  F.  Booth;  one  section- 
of  the  2d  United  States  light  artillery  (color- 
ed), and  one  battalion  of  the  13th  Tennessee 
cavalry  (white),  commanded  by  Major  W.  F. 
Bradford.  Major  Booth  was  the  ranking  offi- 
cer, and  was  in  command  of  the  fort. 

The  troops  which  had  served  to  garrison  the 
fort  were  withdrawn  in  January,  to  accompany 
Gen.  Sherman's  expedition  to  Meridian,  and 
others  had  been  sent  from  Memphis  subse- 
quently to  hold  it. 

Just  before  sunrise  in  the  morning,  April 
12th,  the  pickets  of  the  garrison  were  driven 
in.  This  was  the  first  intimation  which  the 
force  then  had  of  an  intention  of  the  enemy  to 


attack  the  place.  Fighting  soon  became  gen- 
eral, and  about  nine  o'clock  Major  Bradford 
succeeded  to  the  command  and  withdrew  all 
the  forces  within  the  fort.  They  had  previ- 
ously occupied  some  intrenchments  at  some 
distance  from  the  fort  and  further  from  the 
river. 

This  fort  was  situated  on  a  high  bluff,  which 
descended  precipitately  to  the  river's  edge,  the 
ridge  of  the  bluff  on  the  river  side  being  cover- 
ed with  trees,  bushes,  and  fallen  timber.  Ex- 
tending back  from  the  river  on  either  side  of 
the  fort  was  a  ravine  or  hollow,  the  one  be- 
low the  fort  containing  several  private  stores 
and  some  dwellings,  constituting  what  is  called 
the  town.  At  the  mouth  of  that  ravine  and  on 
the  river  bank  were  some  Government  build- 
ings containing  commissary  stores. 

The  ravine  above  the  fort  was  known  as  Cold 
Bunk  Kavine,  the  ridge  being  covered  with 
trees  and  bushes ;  to  the  right  or  below,  and  a 
little  to  the  front  of  the  fort,  was  a  level  piece 
of  ground,  not  quite  so  elevated  as  the  fort  it- 
self, on  which  had  been  erected  some  log  huts 
or  shanties,  which  were  occupied  by  the  white 
troops,  and  also  used  for  hospital  and  other 
purposes.  "Within  the  fort  tents  had  been 
erected,  with  board  floors,  for  the  use  of  the 
colored  troops.  There  were  six  pieces  of  artil- 
lery in  the  fort,  consisting  of  two  6-pounders, 
two  12-pounder  howitzers,  and  two  10-pounder 
Parrotts. 

The  rebels  continued  their  attack,  but  up  to 
two  or  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  they  had 
not  gained  any  decisive  success.  The  Federal 
troops,  both  white  and  black,  fought  bravely, 
and  were  in  good  spirits.  The  gunboat  No.  7 — 
New  Era,  Capt.  Marshall — took  part  in  the  con- 
flict, shelling  the  enemy  as  opportunity  offered. 

Signals  had  been  agreed  upon  by  which  the 
officers  in  the  fort  could  indicate  where  the 
guns  of  the  boat  could  be  aimed  most  effectively. 
There  being  but  one  gunboat  no  permanent  im- 
pression appears  to  have  been  produced  upon 
the  enemy,  for  as  they  were  shelled  out  of  one 
ravine  they  would  make  their  appearance  in 
the  other.  They  would  thus  appear  and  retire 
as  the  gunboat  moved  from  one  point  to  another. 

About  one  o'clock  the  fire  on  both  sides 
slackened  somewhat,  and  the  gunboat  moved 
out  in  the  river  to  cool  and  clean  the  guns,  hav- 
ing fired  282  rounds  of  shell,  sharpnel,  and  can- 
ister, which  nearly  exhausted  the  supply  of 
ammunition.  The  rebels  having  thus  far  failed 
in  their  attack,  resorted  to  their  customary  flags 
of  truce.  The  first  flag  conveyed  a  demand 
from  Gen.  Forrest  for  the  unconditional  sur- 
render of  the  fort.  To  this  Major  Bradford 
replied,  asking  to  be  allowed  an  hour  to  consult 
with  his  officers  and  the  officers  of  the  gunboat. 

In  a  short  time  a  second  flag  of  truce  ap- 
peared with  a  communication  from  Gen.  Forrest. 
He  would  allow  Major  Bradford  twenty  minutes 
in  which  to  move  his  troops  out  of  the  fort,  and 
if  it  was  not  done  in  that  time,  an  assault  would 
be  ordered.  To  this  Major  Bradford  replied 


518 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


that  he  would  not  surrender.  Immediately 
after  the  second  flag  of  truce  retired,  the  rebels 
made  a  rush  from  the  positions  they  had  treach- 
erously gained,  while  the  flags  of  truce  were 
sent  in,  and  obtained  possession  of  the  fort, 
raising  the  cry  of  no  quarter.  But  little  oppor- 
tunity was  •  allowed  for  resistance.  The  Fed- 
eral troops,  black  and  white,  threw  down  their 
arms,  and  sought  to  escape  by  running  down 
the  steep  bluif  near  the  fort,  and  secreting 
themselves  behind  trees  and  logs,  in  the  bushes, 
and  under  the  brush,  some  even  jumping  into 
the  river,  leaving  only  their  heads  above  the 
water  as  they  crouched  down  under  the  bank. 

The  scenes  which  now  followed  became  a 
subject  of  investigation  by  a  Committee  of  Con- 
gress, who  state  in  their  report  as  follows : 

The  rebels  commenced  an  indiscriminate  slaughter, 
sparing  neither  age  nor  sex,  white  or  black,  soldier 
or  civilian.  The  officers  and  men  seemed  to  vie  with 
each  other  in  the  devilish  work.  Men,  women,  and 
even  children,  wherever  found,  were  deliberately 
shot  down,  beaten,  and  hacked  with  sabres.  Some 
of  the  children  not  more  than  ten  years  old,  were 
forced  to  stand  up  and  face  their  mothers  while  being 
shot.  The  sick  and  wounded  were  butchered  with- 
out mercy,  the  rebels  even  entering  the  hospital 
buildings,  and  dragging  them  out  to  be  shot,  or  killing 
them  as  they  lay  there  unable  to  offer  the  least  resist- 
ance. All  over  the  hillside  the  work  of  mufder  was 
going  on.  Numbers  of  our  men  were  gathered 
together  in  lines  or  groups  and  deliberately  shot. 
Some  were  shot  while  in  the  river,  while  others  on 
the  bank  were  shot  and  their  bodies  kicked  into  the 
water,  many  of  them  still  living,  but  unable  to  make 
any  exertion  to  save  themselves  from  drowning. 
Some  of  the  rebels  stood  upon  the  top  of  the  hill,  or 
a  short  distance  down  its  side,  and  called  to  our  sol- 
diers to  come  up  to  them,  and  as  they  approached 
shot  them  down  in  co_ld  blood ;  if  their  guns  or  pis- 
tols missed  fire,  forcing  them  to  stand  there  until 
they  we're  again  prepared  to  fire.  All  around  were 
heard  cries  of  "No  quarter,  no  quarter:"  "Kill  the 
d — n  niggers ;"  "  Shoot  them  down."  All  who  asked 
for  mercy  were  answered  by  the  most  cruel  taunts 
and  sneers.  Some  were  spared  for  a  time  only  to  be 
murdered  under  circumstances  of  greater  cruelty. 
No  cruelty  which  the  most  fiendish  malignity  could 
devise  was  omitted  by  these  murderers.  One  white 
soldier,  who  was  wounded  in  the  leg  so  as  to  be  un- 
able to  walk,  was  made  to  stand  up  wnile  his  torment- 
ors shot  him.  Others  who'were  wounded  and  unable 
to  stand  up  were  held  up  and  again  shot.  One  negro 
who  had  been  ordered  by  a  rebel  officer  to  hold  nis 
horse  was  killed  by  him  when  he  remonstrated. 
Another,  a  mere  child,  whom  an  officer  had  taken  up 
behind  him  on  his  horse,  was  seen  by  Chalmers,  who 
at  once  ordered  the  officer  to  put  him  down,  and 
shoot  him,  which  was  done.  The  huts  and  tents  in 
which  many  of  the  wounded  had  sought  shelter  were 
set  on  fire  both  that  night  and  the  next  morning, 
while  the  wounded  were  still  in  them,  those  only- 
escaping  who  were  able  to  get  themselves  out,  or  who 
could  prevail  on  others  less  injured  than  themselves 
to  help  them  out;  and  even  some  of  them  thus  seek- 
ing to  escape  the  flames  were  met  by  these  ruffians 
and  brutally  shot  down,  or  had  their  brains  beaten 
out.  One  man  was  deliberately  fastened  down  to  the 
flo.or  of  a  tent,  face  upwards,  by  means  of  nails  driven 
through  his  clothing  and  into  the  boards  under  him 
so  that  he  could  not  possibly  escape,  and  then  the 
tent  set  on  fire.  Another  was  nailed  to  the  side  of  a 
building,  outside  of  the  fort,  and  then  the  building 
set  on  fire  and  burned.  The  charred  remains  of  five 
or  six  bodies  were  afterwards  found,  all  but  one  so 
much  disfigured  and  consumed  by  the  flames  that 


they  could  not  be  identified,  and  the  identification  of 
that  one  is  not  absolutely  certain,  although  there  can 
hardly  be  a  doubt  that  it  was   the  body  of  Lieut. 
Akerstrom,  quartermaster  of  the  13th  Virginia  caval- 
ry, and  a  native  Tennessean.    Several  witnesses  who 
saw  the  remains,  and  who  were  personally  acquainted 
with  him  while  living  here,  testified,  that  it  is  their 
firm  belief  that  it  wasliis  body  that  was  thus  treated. 
These  deeds  of  murder  and  cruelty  closed  when  night 
came  on,  only  to  be  renewed  the  next  morning,  when 
the  demons  carefully  sought  among  the  dead  lying 
about  in  ^11  directions  for  any  other  wounded  yet  alive, 
and  those  they  killed.  Scores  of  the  dead  and  wounded 
were  found  there  the  day  of  the  massacre  by  the  men 
from  some  of  our  gunboats,  who  were  permitted  to 
go  on  shore  and  collect  the  wounded  and  bury  the 
dead.    The  'rebels  themselves  had  made  a  pretence 
.  of  burying  a  great  many  of  their  victims,  but  they 
had  merely  thrown  them,  without  the  least  regard  to 
care  or  decency,  into  the  trenches  and  ditches  about 
the  fort,  or  the  little  hollows  and  ravines  on  the 
hillside,   covering    them   but  partially  with    earth. 
Portions  of  heads  and  faces,  hands  and  feet,  were 
found  protruding  through  the  earth  in  every  direc- 
tion   even  when  your  committee  visited  the   spot 
two  weeks  afterward,  although  parties  of  men  had 
been  sent  on  shore  from  time  to^time  to  bury  the 
bodies  unburied,  and  re-bury  the  'others,  and  were 
even  then  engaged  in  the  same  work.     We  found 
evidences  of  this  murder  and  cruelty  still  most  pain- 
ful.    We  saw  bodies  still  unburied,  at  some  distance 
from  the  fort,  of  some  sick  men,  who  had  been  flee- 
ing from  the  hospital,  and  beaten  down  and  brutally 
murdered,  and  their  bodies  left  where  they  had  fallen. 
We  could  still  see  the  faces,  and  hands,  and  feet  of 
men,  white  and  black,  protruding  out  of  the  ground, 
whose  graves  had  not  been  reached  by  those  engaged  in 
reinterring  the  victims  of  the  massacre;  and  although 
agreatdeal  of  rain  had  fallen  within  the  preceding  two 
weeks,  the  ground,  more  especially  on  the  side  at  the 
foot  of  the  bluff  where  the  most  of  the  murders  had 
been   committed,  was  still  discolored  by  the  blood 
of  our  brave  but  unfortunate  men,  and  the  logs  and 
trees  showed   but  too  plainly  the   evidences  of  the 
atrocities  perpetrated  there.     Many  other  instances 
of  equally  atrocious  cruelty  might  be  enumerated,  but 
your  committee  feel  compellecf  to  refrain  from  giving 
here  more  of  the  heart-sickening  details,  and  refer  to 
the   statements  contained  in  the  voluminous  testi- 
mony herewith   submitted.     Those  statements  were 
obtained  by  them  from  eye-witnesses  and  sufferers. 
Many  of  them,  as  they  were  examined  by  your  com- 
mittee, were  lying  upon  beds  of  pain  and  suffering ; 
some  so  feeble  that  their  lips  could  with  difficulty 
frame  the  words  by  which  they  endeavored  to  con- 
vey some  idea  of  the  cruelty  which  had  been  inflicted 
on  them,  and  which  they  had  seen  inflicted  on  others. 
In  reference  to  the  fate   of  Major  Bradford,   who 
was    in    command  of  the  fort  when    it  was  cap- 
tured, and  who  had,  up  to  that  time,  received   no 
injury,  there  seems  to  be  no  doubt.    The  general  un- 
derstanding everywhere  seemed  to  be  that  he  had 
been  brutally  murdered  the  day  after  he  was  taken 
•  prisoner.     rfow  many  of  our  troops  thus  fell  victims 
to  the  malignity  and  barbarity  of  Forrest  and  his 
followers  cannot  yet  be  definitely  ascertained.     Two 
officers  belonging  to  the  garrison  were  absent  at  the 
time  of  the  capture  and  massacre.     Of  the  remaining 
officers  but  two  are  known  to  be  living,  and  they  are 
wounded,  and  now  in  the  hospital  at  Mound  City. 
One  of  them  (Capt.  Porter)  may  even  now  be  dead, 
as  the  surgeons,  when  your  committee  were  there, 
expressed  no  hope  of  his  recovery.     Of  the  men, 
from  three  hundred  to  four  hundred  are  known  to 
have  been  killed  at  Fort  Pillow,  of  whom  at  least 
three  hundred  were  murdered  in  cold  blood,  after  the 
fort  was  in  possession  of  the  rebels,  and  our  men 
had  thrown  down  their  arms  and  ceased  to  offer  re- 
sistance.    Of  the   survivors,  except  the  wounded  in  • 
the  hospital  at  Mound  City,  and  the  few  who  sue- 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  EEBELLIOK 


'     519 


ceeded  in  making  their  escape  unhurt,  nothing  defi- 
nite is  known,  and  it  is  to  be  feared  that  many  have 
been  murdered  after  being  taken  away  from  the  fort. 
When  your  committee  arrived  at  Memphis,  Tennes- 
see, they  found  and  examined  a  man  (Mr.  McLogan) 
who  had  been  conscripted  by  some  of  Forrest's 
forces,  but  who,  with  other  conscripts,  had  succeeded 
in  making  his  escape.  He  testifies  that  while  two 
companies  of  rebel  troops,  with  Major  Bradford  and 
many  other  prisoners,  were  on  their  march  from 
Brownsville  and  Jackson,  Tennessee,  Major  Bradford 
was  taken  by  five  rebels,  one  an  officer,  led  about 
fifty  yards  from  the  line  of  march,  and  deliberately 
murdered  in  view  of  all  those  assembled.  He  fell, 
killed  instantly  by  three  musket  balls,  and  while  ask- 
ing that  his  life  might  be  spared,  as  he  had  fought 
them  manfully,  and  was  deserving  of  a  better  fate. 
The  motive  for  the  murder  of  Major  Bradford  seems 
to  have  been  the  simple  fact  that,  although  a  native 
of  the  South,  he  remained  loyal  to  his  Government. 

On  the  other  side  is  the  following  statement 
by  Lieut.-Gen.  S.  D.  Lee,  who  was  in  command 
of  the  Confederate  department.  It  is  part  of 
a  letter  on  the  subject,  dated  June  28th  : 

As  commanding  officer  of  this  department,  I  desire 
to  make  the  following  statement  concerning  the  cap- 
ture of  Fort  Pillow — a  statement  supported  in  a  great 
measure  by  the  evidence  of  one  of  your  own  officers 
captured  at  that  place.  The  version  given  by  you 
and  your  Government  is  untrue,  and  not  sustained 
by  the  facts  to  the  extent  that  you  indicate.  The 
garrison  was  summoned  in  the  usual  manner,  and  its 
commanding  officer  assumed  the  responsibility  of 
refusing  to  surrender,  after  having  been  informed  by 
Gen.  Forrest  of  his  ability  to  take  the  fort,  and  of 
his  fears  as  to  what  the  result  would  be  in  case  the 
demand  was  not  complied  with.  The  assault  was 
made  under  a  heavy  fire  and  with  considerable  loss 
to  the  attacking  party.  Your  colors  were  never  low- 
ered and  your  garrison  never  surrendered,  but  retreat- 
ed under  co^er  of  a  gunboat,  with  arms  in  their  hands 
arid  constantly  using  them.  This  was  strue  particu- 
larly of  your  colored  troops,  who  had  been  firmly 
convinced  by  your  teachings  of  the  certainty  of 
slaughter  in  case  of  capture.  Even  under  these  cir- 
cumstances many  of  your  men — white  and  black — 
were  taken  prisoners.  I  respectfully  refer  you  to 
history  for  numerous  cases  of  indiscriminate  slaugh- 
ter after  successful  assault,  even  under  less  aggra- 
vated circumstances.  It  is  generally  conceded  by 
all  military  precedent  that  where  the  issue  had  been 
fairly  presented  and  the  ability  displayed,  fearful  re- 
sults are  expected  to  follow  a  refusal  to  surrender. 
The  case  under  consideration  is  almost  an  extreme 
one.  You  had  a  servile  race  armed  against  their 
masters,  and  in  a  country  which  had  been  desolated 
by  almost  unprecedented  outrages. 

I  assert  that  our  officers,  with  all  the  circumstances 
against  them,  endeavored  to  prevent  the  effusion  of 
blood ;  and  as  an  evidence  of  this,  I  refer  you  to  the 
fact  that  both  white  and  colored  prisoners  were 
taken,  and  are  now  in  our  hands.  As  regards  the 
battle  of  Tishimingo  Creek,  the  statements  of  your 
negro  witnesses  are  not  to  be  relied  on.  In  their 
panic  they  acted  as  might  have  been  expected  from 
their  previous  impressions.  I  dp  not  think  many  of 
them  were  killed — they  are  yet  wandering  over  the 
country,  attempting  to  return  to  their  masters.  With 
reference  to  the  status  of  those  captured  at  Tishimin- 
go Creek  and  Fort  Pillow,  I  will  state  that,  unless 
otherwise  ordered  by  my  government,  they  will  not 
be  regarded  as  prisoners  of  war,  but  will  be  retained 
and  humanely  treated,  subject  to  such  future  instruc- 
tions as  may  be  indicated. 

Your  letter  contains  many  implied  threats ;  these, 
of  course,  you  can  make,  and  you  are  fully  entitled 
to  any  satisfaction  that  you  may  feel  from  having 
made  them. 

It  is  my  intention,  and  that  also  of  my  subordinate 


officers,  to  conduct  this  war  upon  civilized  principles, 
provided  you  permit  us  to  do  so ;  and  I  take  this  occa- 
sion to  state  that  we  will  not  shirk  from  any  respon- 
sibility that  your  actions  may  force  upon  us.  We 
are  engaged  in  a  struggle  for  the  protection  of  our 
homes  and  firesides,  tor  the  maintenance  of  our 
national  existence  and  liberty ;  we  have  counted  the 
cost,  and  are  prepared  to  go  to  any  extremes ;  and 
though  it  is  far  from  our  wish  to  fight  under  a  black 
flag,  still,  if  you  drive  us  to  it,  we\will  accept  the 
issue.  Your  troops  virtually  fought  under  it  at  the 
battle  of  Tishimingo  Creek,  and  the  prisoners  taken 
there  state  that  they  went  into  battle  under  the  im- 
pression that  they  would  receive  no  quarter,  and,  I 
suppose,  with  the  determination  to  give  none. 

I  will  further  remark,  that  if  it  is  raised,  so  far  as 
y_our  soldiers  are  concerned,  there  can  be  no  distinc- 
tion, for  the  unfortunate  people  whom  you  pretend  to 
be  aiding  are  not  considered  entirely  responsible  for 
their  acts,  influenced,  as  they  are,  by  the  superior 
intellect  of  their  white  brothers.  I  enclose  for  your 
consideration  certain  papers  touching  the  Fort  Pillow 
affair,  which  were  procured  from  the  writer  after  the 
exaggerated  statements  of  your  press  were  seen. 

I  am,  general,  yours,  respectfully, 

S.  D.  LEE,  Lieutenant-General. 

The  report  of  the  enemy  stated  that  Gens. 
Forrest  and  Chalmers  "  both  entered  the  fort 
from  opposite  sides,  simultaneously,  and  an  in- 
discriminate slaughter  followed.  One  hundred 
prisoners  were  taken  and  the  balance  slain. 
The  fort  ran  with  blood.  Many  jumped  into 
the  river  and  were  drowned,  or  shot  in  the 
water.  Over  $100,000  worth  of  stores  were 
taken,  and  six  guns  captured.  The  Confeder- 
ate loss  was  seventy-five.  Lieut.-Col.  Keed,  of 
the  5th  Mississippi,  was  mortally  wounded." 

A  party  of  the  enemy  on  the  capture  of  Fort 
Pillow  made  an  advance  against  Columbus, 
Gen.  Buford  being  in  command  of  their  force. 

On  the  13th  he  sent  the  following  summons 
to  the  commander  of  the  fort : 

HEADQUARTERS  CONFEDERATE  STATES  ARMY,  1 
BEFORE  COLUMBUS,  KY.,  April  13,  ISM.      j 

To  the  Commander  of  the  United  States  forces,  Col- 

ftmbus,  Ky  : 

Fully  capable  of  taking  Columbus  and  its  garrison 
by  force,  I  desire  to  avoid  shedding  blood.  I  there- 
fore demand  the  unconditional  surrender  of  the 
forces  under  your  command.  Should  you  surren- 
der, the  negroes  now  in  arms  will  be  returned  to 
their  masters.  Should  I  be  compelled  to  take  the 
place  by  force,  no  quarters  will  be  shown  negro 
troops  whatever ;  white  troops  will  be  treated  as 
prisoners  of  war.  I  am,  sir,yours, 

A.  BUFORD,  Brig.-Gen. 

This  demand  was  refused,  and  Gen.  Buford 
retired  without  making  an  attack.  At  the 
same  time  an  excitement  arose  at  Paducah,  un- 
der apprehension  of  another  attack  of  the  en- 
emy. The  entire  forces,  however,  retired  to  Bol- 
ivar, Trenton,  and  Grand  Junction.  Some  fur- 
ther military  operations  in  this  part  of  the 
country,  chiefly  of  a  partisan  nature,  took  place. 

Some  active  operations  took  place  in  North 
Carolina.  The  important  ports  on  the  sounds, 
as  Newbern,  Washington,  Plymouth,  &c.,  had 
been  held  since  their  capture  by  the  forces  un- 
der Gen.  Burnside.  On  the  1st  of  February,  a 
force  of  the  enemy  under  Gen.  Picket,  con- 
sisting of  Gen.  Hoke's  brigade,  with  a  part  of 
Gens.  Corse's  and  Clingman's,  made  an  assault 


520 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  IHSTOHT  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


on  the  Federal  outpost  at  Bachelor's  Creek, 
eight  miles  from  Newbern,  and  captured  it 
with  seventy-five  prisoners.  They  then  ad- 
vanced toward  Newbern,  where  an  attack  was 
greatly  feared.  Before  daylight  on  the  next 
morning  a  party  in  barges  captured  the  gun- 
boat Underwriter,  with  her  officers  and  a  por- 
tion of  her  crew.  The  steamer  was  aground, 
but  so  lay  as  to  cover  a  portion  of  the  fortifi- 
cations between  Fort  Anderson  and  Fort  Ste- 
vens, at  Newbern.  Gen.  Picket  thus  reported 
his  expedition:' 

KINBTON,  February  3, 1S64 
To  Gen.  S.  Cooper: 

I  made  a  reconnoissance  within  a  mile  and  a  half 
of  Newbern,  with  Hoke's  brigade,  and  a  part  of 
Corse's  and  Clingman's,  and  some  artillery;  met  the 
enemy  in  force  at  Batch  dor's  Creek,  killed  and 
wounded  about  one  hundred  in  all,  captured  thir- 
teen officers  and  two  hundred  and  eighty  prisoners, 
fourteen  negroes,  two  rifled  pieces  and  caissons, 
three  hundred  stand  of  small  arms,  four  ambulan- 
ces, three  wagons,  fifty-five  animals,  a  quantity  of 
clothing,  camp,  and  garrison  equipage,  and  two 
flags.  Commander  Wood,  Confederate  States  navy, 
captured  and  destroyed  the  United  States  gunboat 
Underwriter.  Our  loss  thirty-five  killed  and  wound- 
ed. G.  E.  PICKET, 
Major-General  Commanding. 

The  next  movement  of  importance  made  by 
the  enemy  was  the  capture  of  Plymouth.  This 
town  is  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Roanoke 
River,  about  eight  miles  from  its  mouth.  The 
river  flows  in  an  easterly  direction  into  Albe- 
marle  Sound.  The  town  originally  contained 
about  one  thousand  inhabitants,  but  was  burn- 
ed by  the  Union  fleet  two  years  previously.  It 
had  been  held  for  some  time  as  a  key  to  the 
river,  and  had  been  strongly  fortified.  A 
breastwork  with  strong  forts  at  different  points 
along  the  line,  had  been  constructed.  Another 
strong  work,  called  Fort  .Gray,  had  also  been 
constructed  about  a  mile  further  up  the  river, 
opposite  which  a  triple  row  of  piles  had  been 
driven,  to  which  torpedoes  were  attached,  to 
serve  as  a  protection  to  the  fleet  below.  The 
enemy  had  a  powerful  iron-clad  ram  in  the 
river  above.  Still  further  up  there  was  another 
row  of  piles  with  torpedoes,  near  which  a  pick- 
et boat  was  stationed  to  watch  the  iron-clad. 
The  Federal  gunboats  Southfield  and  Miami 
were  anchored  in  the  river  opposite  the  town. 
The  garrison  of  the  town  was  about  twenty- 
four  hundred  men,  under  command  of  Gen. 
Wessels.  They  composed  the  85th  New  York 
infantry  regiment,  101st  Pennsylvania  infantry 
regiment,  103d  Pennsylvania  infantry  regi- 
ment, 16th  Connecticut  infantry  regiment,  two 
companies  of  the  Massachusetts  heavy  artil- 
lery, two  companies  of  the  2d  North  Carolina 
volunteers,  two  companies  of  the  12th  New 
York  cavalry. 

The  approach  of  the  enemy  was  unknown, 
until  they  began  to  appear  about  3  P.  M.,  April 
17th,  in  the  rear  of  the  town,  driving  in  the 
Union  pickets.  A  brisk  artillery  fire  was  soon 
opened  upon  Fort  Gray,  which  continued  with 
some  vigor  until  near  midnight.  About  daylight 
on  the  next  morning  the  contest  was  renewed, 


and  two  charges  were  made  during  the  fore- 
noon, which  were  repulsed.  In  the  afternoon, 
two  guns  of  the  enemy  were  captured  by  a 
sortie  from  the  fort.  The  gunboats  then  took 
a  position,  one  above  and  the  other  below  the 
town,  and  the  contest  continued  fiercely  until 
night,  when  it  ceased  without  any  advantage 
to  the  enemy.  Early  the  next  morning  the 
picket  boat  up  the  river  reported  that  the  iron- 
clad had  passed  down.  The  gunboats  were 
immediately  lashed  together,  to  make  a  joint 
resistance  to  the  iron-clad.  This  had  scarcely 
been  done  when  she  appeared  within  a  hun- 
dred yards.  As  they  approached  each  other, 
the  gunboats  fired  without  effect.  The  ram 
first  struck  the  Miami,  and  gliding  off  struck 
the  Southfield  on  her  left  side,  crushing  in  six 
or  eight  feet  square.  The  Miami  now  fired  a 
shell  at  the  iron-clad,  which  rebounded  and 
killed  her  captain,  Flusser,  and  wounded  eight 
persons.  Becoming  separated  from  the  South- 
field,  the  Miami  was  swung  round  by  the  cur- 
rent, and  unable  for  a  time  to  render  further 
assistance.  The  Southfield  was  now  rapidly 
sinking,  and  her  crew  took  to  the  boats  and 
fled.  The  Miami,  after  her  loss,  withdrew. 
The  iron-clad,  called  the  Albemarle,  under 
command  of  J.  "W.  Coke,  came  down  to  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  outside  of  which  were 
four  gunboats.  Her  position  in  the  river  cut 
off  all  hopes  of  sending  reinforcements  to  Gen. 
"Wessels,  and  he  surrendered  toBrig.-Gen.  Iloke 
on  the  next  day.  This  surrender  was  thus  an- 
nounced "by  Gen.  Peck,  in  command  of  the  de- 
partment : 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY  AND  DISTRICT  OF  J 

NORTH  CAROLINA,  NEWBERN,  N.  C.,  April  21, 1864.     f 
General  Orders  No.  66 : 

With  feelings  of  the  deepest  sorrow  the  command- 
ing general  announces  the  fall  of  Plymouth,  N.C., 
and  the  capture  of  its  gallant  commander,  Brig.-Gen. 
H.  W.  Wessels,  and  his  command.  This  result,  how- 
ever, did  not  obtain  until  after  the  most  gallant  and 
determined  resistance  had  been  made.  Five  times 
the  enemy  stormed  the  lines  of  the  general,  and  aa 
many  times  were  they  repulsed  with  great  slaughter ; 
and  but  for  the  powerful  assistance  of  the  rebaf  iron- 
clad ram,  and  the  floating  sharpshooter  battery,  the 
Cotton  Plant,  Plymouth  would  still  have  been  m  our 
hands.  For  their  noble  defence  the  gallant  Gen. 
Wessels  and  his  brave  band  have,  and  deserve  the 
warmest  thinks  of  the  whole  country,  while  all  will 
sympathize  with  them  in  their  misfortune. 

To  the  officers  and  men  of  the  navy  the  command- 
ing general  tenders  his  thanks  for  their  hearty  coop- 
eration  with  the  army,  and  the  bravery,  determina- 
tion, and  courage  that  marked  their  part  of  the 
unequal  contest.  With  sorrow  he  records  the  death 
of  the  noble  sailor  and  gallant  patriot,  Lieut.-Com. 
C.  W.  Flusser,  U.  S.  Navy,  who  m  the  heat  of  battle 
fell  dead  on  the  deck  of  his  ship,  with  the  lanyard 
of  his  gun  in  his  hand. 

The  commanding  general  believes  that  these  mis- 
fortunes will  tend,  not  to  discourage,  but  to  nerve 
the  army  of  North  Carolina  to  equal  deeds  of  brave- 
ry and  gallantry  hereafter. 

Until  further  orders,  the  headquarters  of  the  sub- 
district  of  the  Albemarle  will  be  at  Roanoke  Island. 
The  command  devolves  upon  Col.  D.  W.  Wardrop, 
of  the  99th  New  York  infantry.  OT™r 

By  command  of        Mai.-Gen.  JOHN  G.  PECK. 

J.  A.  JUDSON,  Ass't  AdjH-Gen. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


521 


522 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Gen.  Hoke  thus  reported  Ms  capture  of 'the 
position : 

PLYMOTTTH,  N".  C.,  April  20, 1864. 
To  Gen.  Braxton  Bragg  : 

I  have  stormed  and  carried  this  place,  capturing 
one  brigadier,  sixteen  hundred  men,  stores,  and 
twenty-five  pieces  of  artillery. 

B.  F.  HOKE,  Brig.-Gen. 

Only  two  places  on  the  main  land  were  now 
held  by  the  Federal  forces.  These  were  "Wash- 
ington, on  the  Tar  River,  and  Newbern,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Neuse.  Washington  was  evac- 
uated in  the  latter  part  of  April,  and  burned. 
The  following  order  of  Gen.  Palmer  was  issued 
for  the  purpose  of  detecting  the  incendiaries : 

HEABQTTAETEES  DISTRICT  OF  N.  C.,  ) 
NEWBERN,  N.  C.,  May  8, 1864     J 
General  Orders  Nof  5. 

While  the  troops  of  this  command  may  exult  and 
take  just  pride  in  their  many  yictories  over  the  en- 
emy, yet  a  portion  of  them  have,  within  a  few  days, 
been  guilty  of  an  outrage  against  humanity  which 
brings  the  blush  of  shame  to  the  cheek  of  every  true 
man  and  soldier.  *  *  *  * 


The  commanding  general  had,  until  this  time,  be- 
lieved it  impossible  that  any  troops  in  his  command 
could  have  committed  so  disgraceful  an  act  as  this, 
which  now  blackens  the  fame  of  the  Army  of  North 
Carolina.  He  finds,  however,  that  he  was  sadly  mis- 
taken, and  that  the  ranks  are  disgraced  by  men  who 
are  not  soldiers,  but  thieves  and  scoundrels,  dead  to 
all  sense  of  honor  and  humanity,  for  whom  no  pun- 
ishment can  be  too  severe. 

The  commanding  general  is  well  aware  what  troops 
were  in  the  town  of  Washington  when  the  flames 
first  appeared.  He  knows  what  troops  last  left  the 
place.  He  knows  that  in  the  ranks  of  only  two  of 
the  regiments  in  the  district  of  North  Carolina  tho 
culprits  now  stand.  To  save  the  reputation  of  the 
command,  it  is  hoped  that  the  guilty  parties  may  be 
ferreted  out  by  the  officers  who  were  in  Washington 
at  the  time  of  these  occurrences. 

This  order  will  be  read  at  the  head  of  every  regiment 
and  detachment  in  this  command,  at  dress  parade, 
on  the  day  succeeding  its  receipt,  and  at  the  head  of 
the  17th  Massachusetts  volunteers  and  the  15th  Con- 
necticut volunteers,  at  dress  parade,  every  day  for  ten 
consecutive  days,  or  until  the  guilty  parties  are  found. 

By  command  of        Brig.-Gen.  I.  N.  PALMER. 
J.  A.  JCDSON,  Ass't  Adj't.-Gen. 


CHAPTEE  XXXIX. 


Desultory  Operations  in  Virginia — General  Grant  appointed  Lieutenant-General — Reorganization  of  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac— Gen.  Sherman's  Campaign  against  Atlanta — Its  Plan — Battles — Manoeuvres  approaching  Atlanta— Its  Evac- 
uation— Correspondence  with  the  Authorities — Civilians  sent  away. 


IN  Virginia,  a  few  desultory  operations  took 
place  previous  to  the  commencement  of  the 

freat  campaign  of  the  year.  On  the  3d  of 
anuary  a  supply  train,  consisting  of  two  hun- 
dred animals,  was  captured  by  the  enemy  on  its 
return  from  Petersburg,  in  West  Virginia,  to 
New  Creek.  A  few  of  the  men  and  animals 
escaped.  The  enemy,  4>eing  in  considerable 
force,  now  made  several  demonstrations  for  the 
purpose  of  reaching  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  but  were  unsuccessful.  On  January 
28th,  a  train  from  New  Creek  to  Petersburg, 
laden  with  commissary  stores  for  the  garrison 
at  the  latter  place,  was  attacked  three  miles 
south  of  Williamsport,  and,  after  a  sharp  con- 
test, captured  by  the  enemy.  The  losses  in  this 
region  in  horses,  wagons,  stores  &c.,  to  Feb. 
1st,  was  estimated  at  two  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars. 

The  headquarters  of  Gen.  Meade,  in  command 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  was  near  Culpep- 
per  Court  House.  This  position  was  occupied 
by  that  army  from  December,  1863,  until  May, 
1864.  The  army  of  Gen.  Lee,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Rapidan,  confronted  it.  A  few  re- 
connoissances  were  made,  but  without  important 
results.  A  cavalry  expedition  into  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Richmond  was  the  most  active 
movement  at  this  period  of  the  year.  It  com- 
menced with  the  advance  of  the  8th  corps,  un- 
der Gen.  Sedgwick,  from  Madison  Court  House, 
.on  Feb.  27th.  A  division  under  Gen.  Birney 
followed  on  the  next  day.  Madison  Court  House 


was  occupied  by  a  brigade  of  infantry,  with  a 
small  force  of  cavalry,  but  the  main  force  was 
encamped  along  the  heights  of  Robertson's 
River.  From  this  position  pickets  were  sent 
out  to  the  right  and  left.  Gen.  Birney's  force 
occupied  James  City,  a  small  village  west  of 
Culpepper.  Meanwhile  a  cavalry  force  under 
Gen.  Custer  pushed  forward  by  way  of  Madi- 
son Court  House,  in  the  direction  of  Charlottes- 
ville,  the  junction  of  the-^Uexandria  with  the 
Lynchburg  Railroad.  About  the  same  time,  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  28th,  Gen.  Kilpatrick, 
with  his  division  of  cavalry  and  a  p&rtion  of 
Gens.  Merritt's  and  Gregg's  divisions,  with  a 
light  battery  of  six  guns,  being  nearly  eight 
thousand  men,  left  Stevensburg  for  the  lower 
fords  of  the  Rapidan,  intending  to  make  a  dash 
upon  Richmond.  This  force  crossed  at  Ger- 
mania  and  Ely's  fords,  distant  about  sixty  miles 
from  Richmond.  The  command  encamped  on 
that  night  eight  miles  south  of  the  Rapidan. 

The  headquarters  of  Gen.  Lee  were  at  Orango 
Court  House,  and  the  movements  of  the  in- 
fantry with  the  command  of  Gen.  Custer,  tow- 
ard Charlottesville,  threatened  to  turn  his 
left,  and  thus  serve  as  a  diversion  in  favor  of 
the  advance  of  Gen.  Kilpatrick.  Early  on  the 
morning  of  the  28th  (Monday),  Sen.  Cnster 
pushed  forward  across  the  Rapidan,  and  pass- 
ing through  Stannardsville  arrived  within  four 
miles  of  Charlottesville.  Here  a  body  of  cav- 
alry under  Col.  Caskie  were  encountered 
Six  caissons,  some  camp  equipage,  and  a  few 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


523 


prisoners  were  captured,  when  the  enemy 
rallied  in  force,  and  Gen.  Ouster  fell  back 
toward  Eavenna  River.  Finding  that  the 
force  of  the  enemy  was  considerable,  the 
original  intention  of  destroying  the  railway 
bridge  and  stores  at  Charlottesville  was  aban- 
doned, and  after  burning  three  mills  and  a  sad- 
dle factory  the  Ravenna  was  crossed,  and  the 
bridge  burned.  It  now  began  to  rain  and 
freeze,  and  the  night  became  exceedingly  dark. 
Gen.  Steadman's  brigade  being  in  advance, 
reached  Madison  Court  House  soon  after  day- 
light in  the  morning.  Gen.  Ouster,  however, 
was  delayed  by  the  difficulty  of  crossing 
streams  with  his  artillery  in  the  extreme  dark- 
ness. Thus  the  enemy  intercepted  him  near 
Stannardsville.  By  means  of  his  artillery  Gen. 
Ouster  held  them  in  check  until  he  could  fall 
back  upon  a  by-road,  and  thus  avoid  them. 
Madison  Court  House  was  reached  at  dusk  on 
the  29th,  with  a  number  of  horses  and  prison- 
ers captured,  and  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 

IQ  the  meanwhile  Gen.  Kilpatrick  resumed 
his  advance  on  the  next  morning,  to  Frederick's 
Hall,  on  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad.  Here 
the  track  was  torn  up  for  some  distance,  and 
several  officers  of  the  enemy  captured,  and  the 
carriages  of  several  pieces  of  artillery  destroyed. 
Col.  Dahlgren  was  here  detached  with  a  por- 
tion of  the  force,  and  moved  toward  the  James 
River  Canal,  and  Gen.  Kilpatrick  advanced  tow- 
ard Ashland,  on  the  railroad,  twenty  miles 
above  Richmond.  Here  he  rested  on  Monday 
night,  and  tore  up  a  portion  of  the  railroad 
track.  Early  the  next  morning  he  moved  tow- 
ards Richmond,  on  the  Brooks'  turnpike,  and 
reached  within  six  miles  of  that  city.  There 
he  was  met  by  a  portion  of  the  engineer  troops 
and  a  few  sections  of  light  artillery,  by  which 
his  advance  was  checked.  A  contest  with  artil- 
lery ensued  for  two  hours,  when  Gen.  Kil- 
patrick withdrew  in  the  direction  of  Mechanics- 
ville,  burning  the  trestle  work  of  the  railroad 
accross  the  Chickahominy  on  his  route. 

The  detachment  under  Col.  Dahlgren  pene- 
trated as  far  as  the  farm  of  James  A.  Seddon, 
Confederate  Secretary  of  War,  and  burned  his 
barn  and  stables,  and  the  flour  and  saw  mills 
in  the  vicinity.  On  the  canal  a  number  of 
freight  and  other  boats  were  destroyed,  and  a 
lock  cut.  A  large  number  of  horses  were  also 
seized.  The  ignorance  or  evil  intention  of  their 
negro  guide  had  misled  the  command,  so  that 
it  was  unable  to  join  Gen.  Kilpatrick  at  Ash- 
land, and  aid  in  the  attack  on  Richmond,  where 
it  was  supposed  the  enemy  had  few  troops.  It 
was  afternoon,  however,  before  he  reached  the 
vicinity  of  Richmond,  advancing  by  the  "West- 
ham  or  river  road.  As  he  approached  nearer 
he  was  confronted  on  every  road  by  superior 
numbers,  and  obliged  to  fall  back. 

He  then  attempted  to  reach  the  Peninsula 
through  King's  and  Queen's  county,  where  he 
encountered  on  the  next  day  the  9th  Virginia, 
Lieut.-Col.  Pollard,  and  a  sharp  skirmish  en- 
sued. Col.  Dahlgren  was  killed,  and  about 


sixty  of  his  men  captured.  The  remainder  of  the 
command,  and  the  force  of  Gen.  Kilpatrick, 
who  had  been  obliged  to  move  during  the 
night  by  the  pressure  of  the  enemy,  met  a  cav- 
alry force  sent  out  by  Gen.  Butler,  from 
"Williamsburg,  near  Tunstell's  station  on  the 
York  River  railroad,  and  retired  down  the 
Peninsula.  ,  Their  loss  was  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  men  killed  and  wounded,  besides  Col. 
Dahlgren.  A  number  of  prisoners  were  cap- 
tured. The  newspaper  press  at  Richmond  sub- 
sequently published  the  following  address  and 
orders,  and  asserted  that  they  were  found  in 
the  pocket  of  Col.  Dahlgren.  His  connection 
with  them  has  been  denied,  in  the  most  positive 
manner,  by  the  friends  of  Col.  Dahlgren : 

HEADQTTAKTEKS,  THIKD  DIVISION.  ) 
CAVALBY  CORPS,  1864.  f 

Officers  and  Men — You  have  been  selected  from  bri- 
gades and  regimbnts  as  a  picked  command  to  attempt 
a  desperate  undertaking — an  undertaking  which,  if 
successful,  will  write  youB  names  on  the  hearts  of 
your  countrymen  in  letters  that  can  never  be  erased, 
and  which  will  cause  the  prayers  of  our  fellow 
soldiers  now  confined  in  loathsome  prisons  to  follow 
you  and  yours  wherever  you  may  go.  We  hope  to 
release  the  prisoners  from  Belle  Isle  first,  and,  having 
seen  them  fairly  started,  we  will  cross  the  James 
Kiver  into  Richmond,  destroy  the  bridges  after  us, 
and,  exhorting  the  released  prisoners  to  destroy  and 
burn  the  hateful  city,  will  not  allow  the  rebel  leader 
Davis  and  his  traitorous  crew  to  escape.  The  pris- 
ners  must  render  great  assistance,  as  you  cannot  leave 
your  ranks  too  far,  or  become  too  much  scattered,  or 
vou  will  be  lost.  Do  not  allow  any  personal  gain  to 
lead  you  off,  which  would  only  bring  you  to  an  igno- 
minious death  at  the  hands  of  citizens.  Keep  well 
together  and  obey  orders  strictly,  and  all  will  be 
well;  but  on  no  account  scatter  too  far,  for  in  union 
there  is  strength.  With  strict  obedience  to  orders 
and  fearlessness  in  their  execution  you  will  be  sure 
to  succeed.  We  will  join  the  main  force  on  the 
other  side  of  the  city,  or  perhaps  meet  them  inside. 
Many  of  you  may  fall ;  but  if  there  is  any  man  here 
not  willing  to  sacrifice  his  life  in  such  a  great  and 
glorious  undertaking,  or  who  does  not  feel  capable 
of  meeting  the  enemy  in  such  a  desperate  fight  as 
will  follow,  let  him  step  out,  and  he  may  go  hence  to 
the  arms  of  his  sweetheart,  and  read  of  the  braves 
who  swept  through  the  city  of  Richmond.  We  want 
no  man  who  cannot  feel  sure  of  success  in  such  a 
holy  cause.  We  will  have  a  desperate  fight;  but 
stand  up  to  it  when  it  does  come,  and  all  will  be  welL 
Ask  the  blessing  of  the  Almighty,  and  do  not  fear  the 
enemy. 

U.  DAHLGREN,  Colonel  Commanding. 

SPECIAL   OEDEES  AND   INSTECCTIONS. 

Guides  and  pioneers,  with  oakum,  turpentine,  and 
torpedoes,  signal  officer,  quartermasters,  commis- 
saries, scouts  and  pickets,  and  men  in  rebel  uniforms 
— these  will  remain  on  the  north  bank  and  move 
down  with  the  force  on  the  south  bank,  not  get  ahead 
of  them,  and  if  the  communication  can  be  kept  up 
without  giving  an  alarm,  it  must  be  d(5ne  ;  but  every 
thing  depends  upon  a  surprise,  and  no  one  must  be 
allowed  to  pass  ahead  of  the  column.  Information 
must  be  gathered  in  regard  to  the  crossings  of  the 
river,  so  that,  should  we  be  repulsed  on  the  south 
side,  we  will  know  where  to  recross  at  the  nearest 
point. 

All  mills  must  be  burned  and  the  canal  destroyed, 
and  also  every  thing  which  can  be  used  by  the  rebels 
must  be  destroyed,  including  the  boats  on  the  river. 
Should  a  ferry  boat  be  seized  which  can  be  worked, 
have  it  moved  down.  Keep  the  force  on  the  south 
side  posted  of  any  important  movement  of  the  enemy, 


524 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


and  in  case  of  danger,  some  of  the  scouts  must  swim 
the  river  and  bring  us  information.  As  we  approach 
the  city  the  party  must  take  great  care  that  they  do 
not  get  ahead  of  the  other  party  on  the  south  side, 
and  must  conceal  themselves  and  watch  our  move- 
ments. We  will  try  and  secure  the  bridge  to  the 
city,  one  mile  below  Belle  Isle,  and  release  the  pris- 
oners at  the  same  time.  If  we  don't  succeed  they 
must  then  dash  down,  and  we  will  try  to  carry  the 
bridge  by  storm.  When  necessary  the  men  must  be 
filed  through  the  woods  and  along  the  river  bank. 
The  bridge  once  secured  and  the  prisoners  loose  and 
over  the  river,  the  bridges  will  be  burned  and  the 
city  destroyed.  • 

The  men  must  be  kept  together  and  well  in  hand, 
and  once  in  the  city,  it  must  be  destroyed  and  Jefl'. 
Davis  and  his  Cabinet  killed.  Pioneers  will  go  along 
with  combustible  material.  The  officer  must  use  his 
discretion  about  the  time  of  assisting  us.  Horses 
and  cattle  which  we  do  not  need  immediately  must  be 
shot,  rather  than  left. 

Every  thing  on  the  canal  and  elsewhere,  of  service 
to  the  rebels,  must  be  destroyed. 

As  Gen.  Ouster  may  follow  me,  be  careful  not  to 
give  a  false  alarm.  The  signal  officer  must  be  pre- 
pared to  communicate  at  night  by  rockets,  and  in 
other  things  pertaining  to  his_  department.  The 
Quartermasters  and  Commissaries  must  be  on  the 
lookout  for  their  departments,  and  see  that  there  are 
no  delays  on  their  account.  The  engineer  officer 
will  follow  and  survey  the  road  as  we  pass  over  it, 
&c.  The  pioneers  must  be  prepared  to  construct  a 
bridge  or  destroy  one.  They  must  have  plenty  of 
oakum  and  turpentine  for  burning,  which  will  be 
soaked  and  rolled  into  balls  and  be  given  to  the  men 
to  burn  when  we  get  into  the  city.  Torpedoes  will  only 
be  used  by  the  pioneers  for  burning  the  main  bridges, 
&c.  They  must  be  prepared  to  destroy  the  railroads. 

Men  will  branch  off  to  the  right  with  a  few  pioneers 
and  destroy  the  bridges  and  railroads  south  of  Rich- 
mond, and  then  join  us  at  the  city.  They  must  be 
well  prepared  with  torpedoes,  &c. 

The  line  of  Falling  Creek  is  probably  the  best  to 
march  along,  or,  as  they  approach  the  city,  Good's 
Creek,  so  that  no  reenforcements  can  come  up  on  any 
cars. 

No  one  must  be  allowed  to  pass  ahead,  for  fear  of 
communicating  news. 

Rejoin  the  command  with  all  haste,  and  if  cut  off, 
cross  the  river  above  Richmond  and  rejoin  us.  Men 
will  stop  at  Bellona  Arsenal  and  totally  destroy  it 
and  every  thing  else  but  hospitals ;  then  follow  on  and 
rejoin  the  command  at  Richmond  with  all  haste,  and, 
if  cut  off,  cross  the  river  and  rejoin  us.  As  Gen. 
Custer  may  follow  me,  be  careful  and  not  give  a  false 
alarm. 

On  the  approach  of  Gen.  Kilpatrick  Rich- 
mond was  in  a  defenceless  condition.  The 
Departments  of  the  Government  were  closed 
and  the  clerks  armed  for  defence.  Men  were 
collected  from  every  quarter  to  oppose  him.  At 
the  same  time  great  consternation  prevailed. 

On  the  29th  of  February  an  act  of  Congress 
to  revive  the  grade  of  Lieutenant-General  was 
approved  by  President  Lincoln.  He  immedi- 
ately sent  the  nomination  of  Maj.-Gen.  Ulysses 
S.  Grant  to  the  Senate  for  confirmation.  On 
March  3d  this  nomination  was  confirmed  by  the 
Senate.  Gen.  Grant  was  then  in  command 
of  the  army  in  Tennessee,  He  at  once  Ifeft 
his  Department  for  Washington,  and  visited  the 
President  on  March  9th.  On  presenting  to 
him  the  commission  as  Lieutenant-General,  in 
the  presence  of  the  Cabinet,  Gen.  Halleck,  Gen. 
Rawlins,  and  Col.  Comstock,  of  Gen.  Grant's 
staff,  the  son  of  Gen.  Grant,  Mr.  Lovejoy,  of 


the  House  of  Representatives,  and  others,  the 
President  rose  and  said : 

GEN,  GRANT:  The  nation's  appreciation  of  what 
you  have  done,  and  its  reliance  upon  you  for  what 
remains  to  do,  in  the  existing  great  struggle,  are 
now  presented  with  this  commission,  constituting 
you  Lieutenant-General  in  the  Army  of  the  United 
States.  With  this  high  honor  devolves  upon  you, 
also,  a  corresponding  responsibility.  As  the  country 
herein  trusts  you,  so,  under  God,  it  will  sustain  you. 
I  scarcely  need  to  add  that  with  what  I  here  speak  for 
the  nation,  goes  my  own  hearty  personal  concurrence. 

To  which  Gen.  Grant  replied : 

MR.  PRESIDENT  :  I  accept  this  commission  with 
gratitude  for  the  high  honor  conferred. 

With  the  aid  of  the  noble  armies  that  have  fought 
on  so  many  fields  for  our  common  country,  it  will  be 
my  earnest  endeavor  not  to  disappoint  your  expec- 
tations. 

I  feel  the  full  weight  of  the  responsibilities  now 
devolving  on  me,  and  I  know  that  if  they  are  met, 
it  will  be  due  to  those  armies,  and,  above,  all  to  the 
favor  of  that  Providence  which  leads  both  nations 
and  men. 

On  the  llth  of  March  Gen.  Grant  returned 
to  Nashville,  Tennessee.  On  the  12th,  the  fol- 
lowing order  was  issued  at  "Washington : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE,  1 
WASHINGTON,  March  12.     J 
General  Orders  No.  98. 

The  President  of  the  United  States  orders  as  fol- 
lows :  1.  Maj-Gen.  Halleck  is,  at  his  own  request, 
relieved  from  duty  as  General-in-Chief  of  the  Army, 
and  Lieut.-Gen.  if.  S.  Grant  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  Armies  of  the  United  States.  The  headquar- 
ters of  the  army  will  be  in  Washington  and  also  with 
Lieut.-Gen.  Grant  in  the  field. 

2.  Maj.-Gen.  Halleck  is  assigned  to  duty  in  Wash- 
ington as  Chief-of-Staff  of  the  Army,   under  the 
direction  of  the  Secretary  of  War  and  the  Lieutenant- 
General  commanding.     His  orders  will  be  obeyed 
and  respected  accordingly. 

3.  ilaj.-Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman  is  assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  military  division  of  the  Mississippi, 
composed  of  the  Department  of  the  Ohio,  the  Cum- 
berland, the  Tennessee,  and  the  Arkansas. 

4.  Maj.-Gen.  J.  B.  McPherson  is  assigned  to  the 
command  of  ttfe  Department  and  Army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee. 

5.  In  relieving  Maj.-Gen.  Halleck  from  duty  as  Gen- 
eral-in-Chief, the  President  desires  to  express  his 
approbation  and  thanks  for  the  zealous  manner  in 
which  the  arduous  and  responsible  duties  of  that 
position  have  been  performed. 

By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

E.  D.  TOWNS.END,  Ass't  Adj't  Gen. 

On  the  17th,  Gen.  Grant  issued  the  following 
order : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMIES  OF  UNITED  STATES,  1 
NASHVILLE,  March  17,  1864.     f 
General  Orders  No.  1. 

In  pursuance  of  the  following  order  of  the  Presi- 
dent— 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  ) 
•WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  March  10, 1864.     ( 
Under  the   authority  of  the   act  of  Congress  to 
revive  the  grade  of  Lieutenant-General  of  the  United 
States  Army,  approved  February  29th,  1864,  Lieut- 
Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  U.  S.  A.,  is  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Armies  of  the  United  States. 

(Signed)  A.  LINCOLN. 

I  assume  command  of  the  Armies  of  the  United 
States.  My  headquarters  will  be  in  the  field,  and 
until  further  orders  will  be  with  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  There  will  be  an  officers'  headquarters  in 
Washington,  to  which  all  official  communications 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


525 


will  be  sent,  except  those  from  the  army  where  head- 
quarters are  at  the  date  of  this  address. 
(Signed)        U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieut.-Gen.  U.  S.  A. 

On  the  19th  Gen.  Grant  left  Nashville  for 
"Washington,  and  proceeded  thence  to  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  On  the  24th  the  following 
order  was  issued  by  Gen  Meade,  in  command 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OP  THE  PoTOMAb,  I 
Thursday,  March  24, 1864.     j 
General  Orders  No.  10. 

The  following  order  has  been  received  from  the 
War  Department : 

WAS  DEPARTMENT,  ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE,  I 
WASHINGTON,  March  23, 1864.     j 
General  Orders  No.  15. 

By  direction  of  the  President  of  the  United  States 
the  number  of  army  corps  comprising  the  army  of  the 
Potomac  will  be  reduc.ed  to  three,  viz.,  the  2d,  5th, 
and  6th  corps  ;  and  the  troops  of  the  other  two  corps, 
viz.,  the  1st  and  3d,  will  be  temporarily  reorganized 
and  distributed  among  the  2d,  5th  and  6th  by  the 
commanding  general,  who  will  determine  what  exist- 
ing organizations  will  retain  their  corps  badges  and 
other  distinctive  marks.  The  staff  and  officers  of  the  2d 
corps,  which  are  temporarily  broken  up,  will  be 
assigned  to  vacancies  in  the  other  corps,  so  far  as 
such  vacancies  may  exist.  Those  for  whom  there  are 
no  vacancies  will  cease  to  be  considered  as  officers  of 
the  general  staff  of  army  corps. 

2.  Maj.-Gen.  G.  K.  "Warren  is  assigned  by  the  Pres- 
ident to  the  command  of  the  5th  corps. 

3.  The  following  general  officers  are  detached  from 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  will  report  for  orders 
to  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  army,  viz.:  Maj.-Gen. 
George  Sykes,  U.  S.  V.;  Maj.-Gen.  \V.  H.  French,  U. 
S.  V.;  Maj.-Gen.  John  Newton,  U.  S.  V.;  Brig.-Gen. 
J.  R.  Kenly,  U.  S.  V.;  Brig.-Gen.  P.  Spinola,  UT  S.  V., 
and  Brig.-Gen.  Solomon  Meredith,  U.  S.  V. 

By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

E.  D.  TOWNSEND,  Ass't  Adj't  Gen. 

The  following  arrangements  are  made  to  carry 
out  the  provisions  of  the  foregoing  order : 

The  2d,  5th,  and  6th  army  corps  will  each  be  con- 
solidated into  two  divisions.  The  1st  and  2d  divis- 
ions of  the  3d  corps  are  transferred  to  the  2d  corps, 
preserving  their  badges  and  distinctive  marks.  The 
3d  division  of  the  3d  corps  is  transferred  permanently 
to  the  6th  corps.  The  three  divisions  now  forming 
the  1st  corps  are  transferred  to  the  5th  corps,  preserv- 
ing their  badges  and  distinctive  marks,  and  on  forming 
the  5th  corps  they  will  be  consolidated  into  two 
divisions. 

The  commanders  of  divisions  transferred  to  the 
2d,  5th,  and  6th  corps  will  at  once  report  to  the  com- 
manders of  those  corps  for  instructions.  Brig.-Gen.  J. 
B.Carr  will  report  to  Maj. -Gen.  Hancock.commanding 
2d  corps,  and  Brig.-Gen.  H.  Prince  to  Maj.-Gen.  Sedg- 
wick,  commanding  6th  corps.  The  chief  of  artillery 
will  assign  eight  batteries  each  to  the  2d,  5th,  and  6th 
corps  ;  the  batteries  to  be  taken  from  those  now  with 
the  corps  and  with  the  1st  and  3d  corps.  The  bat- 
teries with  the  several  corps  in  excess  of  the  above 
allowance  will  join  the  artillery  reserve. 

The  consolidation  of  divisions  called  for  in  this 
order  will  be  made  by  the  corps  commanders  con- 
cerned, who  are  authorized  to  rearrange  the  bri- 
gades of  their  respective  commands  in  such  manner  as 
they  may  think  best  for  the  service.  The  reassign- 
ment of  'officers  of  the  staff  departments  consequent 
upon  the  reorganization  of  the  army,  will  be  made 
upon  the  nomination  of  chiefs  of  the  staff  depart- 
ments at  these  headquarters. 

Special  instructions  will  be  given  hereafter  with  re- 
spect to  staff  officers  of  the  2d  corps,  temporarily 
broken  up. 

The   Major-General  Commanding    avails  himself 


of  the  occasion  to  say  that,  in  view  of  the  reduced 
strength  of  nearly  all  the  regiments  serving  in  this 
army,  the  temporary  reduction  of  the  army  corps  to 
three  is  a  measure  imperatively  demanded  by  the 
best  interests  of  the  service,  and  that  the  reasons  for 
attaching  the  1st  and  3d  corps  for  the  time  being  to 
other  corps,  were  in  no  respect  founded  on  any  sup- 
posed inferiority  of  those  corps  to  the  other  corps  of 
the  army.  All  the  corps  have  equally  proved  their 
valor  in  many  fields,  and  all  have  equal  claims  to  the 
confidence  of  the  Government  and  the  country.  The 
1st  and  3d  corps  will  retain  their  badges  and  dis- 
tinctive marks,  and  the  Major-General  Commanding 
indulges  the  hope  that  the  ranks  of  the  army  will  be 
filled  at  an  early  day,  so  that  those  corps  can  again  • 
be  reorganized. 

By  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  MEADE. 

S.  WILLIAMS,  Ass't  Adj't  Gen. 

A  concentration  of  troops  was  now  com- 
menced in  preparation  for  a  campaign  against 
Richmond,in  Virginia,  by  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac, under  Gen.  Meade,  and  a  campaign  against 
Atlanta,  in  Georgia,  by  the  Army  of  Tennessee, 
under  Gen.  Sherman.  Gen.  Grant  continued  to 
be  present  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  during 
the  year.  Gen.  Meade  was  as  truly  the  com- 
mander of  that  army  as  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman 
of  the  army  operating  in  Georgia,  and  both 
these  officers  were  equally  under  the  command 
of  Gen.  Grant.  His  presence  with  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  naturally  led  to  his  assuming 
a  more  direct  and  personal  supervision  of  affairs 
in  Virgin!^  than  he  was  able  to  do  of  the  co- 
operative movement  of  Gen . Sherm an  in  Georgia. 
The  orders  of  Gen.  Grant  to  Gen.  Meade  were 
of  the  most  general  character.  The  manner  of 
executing  them  was  left  to  the  judgment  and 
skill  of  the  latter.  It  was  now  nine  months 
since  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  had  fought  a 
general  battle,  and  seven  months  since  the 
Western  army  marched  into  Chattanooga — the 
last  battle  for  the  possession  of  which  was 
fought  in  November. 

The  month  of  April  passed  in  reorganizing 
both  armies,  and  in  making  preparations  for  the 
campaign  against  Richmond  and  Atlanta. 

It  was  the  middle  of  March  when  Gen. 
Grant  turned  over  the  military  division  of 
the  Mississippi,  comprising  the  departments 
of  the  Cumberland,  the  Tennessee,  and  the 
Ohio,  to  Major-General  W.  T.  Sherman,  who 
had  previously  commanded  the  department  of 
the  Tennessee,  to  which  Major-General  Mc- 
Pherson  was  soon  after  assigned.  In  the  suc- 
ceeding month  the  general  plan  of  the  summer 
campaign,  which  contemplated  a  simultaneous 
advance  upon  Richmond  by  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  upon  Atlanta  from  Chattanooga, 
by  the  several  western  armies,  was  matured, 
and  Gen.  Sherman  at  once  bent  every  energy 
to  the  perfecting  and  enlargement  of  the  com- 
munications between  Nashville  and  Chatta- 
nooga, his  primary  and  secondary  bases,  and  to 
the  accumulation  in  the  latter  place  of  a  suffi- 
cient quantity  of  provisions  and  military  stores. 
These  went  forward  with  great  rapidity,  and  by 
the  end  of  April  the  depots  in  Chattanooga 
were  reported  abundantly  supplied  for  all  im- 
mediate purposes. 


526 


At  this  time  tho  headquarters  of  the  armies 
of  the  Tennessee,  the  Cumberland,  and  the 
Ohio,  were  respectively  at  Huntsville,  Chat- 
tanooga, and  Knoxville ;  and  on  the  27th, 
Gen.  Sherman  having  been  notified  by  Gen. 
Grant  that  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  would 
march  from  Culpepper  on  or  about  May  5th, 
and  that  he  wished  the  movement  from  Chat- 
tanooga to  commence  at  the  same  time,  put 
his  troops  in  motion  toward  the  latter  place. 
The  total  force  under  his  command  for  offen- 
.  sive  purposes,  was  as  follows : 

Army  of  the   Cumberland,    Major-Gen.  Thomas    Com- 
manding. 

Infantry 54,568 

Artillery 2.377 

Cavalry 3,828 

Total 60,773 

Guns 130 

Army  of  the  Tennessee,  Major- Gen.  McPherson  Com- 
manding. 

Infantry 22,437 

Artillery 1,404 

Cavalry 624 

Total , 24,465 

Guns 96 

Army  of  the  Ohio,  Major-Gen.  Schofield,  Commanding. 

Infantry 11,183 

Artillery 679 

Cavalry 1,679 

Total 13,559 

Guns .' 28 

making  a  grand  aggregate  of  88,188  infantry, 
4,460  artillery,  and  6,149  cavalry,  or  98,797 
men  and  254  guns.  The  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land comprised  the  4th  corps,  Gen.  Howard ; 
the  J4th  corps,  Gen.  Palmer,  and  the.  20th 
corps,  G.en.  Hooker ;  the  Army  of  the  Tennes- 
see, the  15th  corps,  Gen.  Logan;  the  16th 
corps,  Gen.  Dodge ;  and  later  in  the  campaign, 
the  17th  corps,  Gen.  Blair ;  and  the  Army  of 
the  Ohio,  the  23d  corps,  Gen.  Schotield.  These 
armies  were  grouped  on  the  morning  of  May 
6th  as  follows:  That  of  the  Cumberland  at 
Einggold,  on  the  "Western  and  Atlantic  Kail- 
road,  23  miles  southeast  of  Chattanooga ;  that 
of  the  Tennessee  at  Gordon's  Mill,  on  the 
Chickamauga,  eight  miles  west  of  Einggold ;  and 
that  of  the  Ohio,  near  Red  Clay,  on  the  Georgia 
line,  about  ten  miles  northeast  of  Einggold. 
The  enemy,  comprising  Gens.  Hardee's,  Hood's, 
aiM  Polk's  corps  of  infantry  and  artillery,  and 
"Wheeler's  division  of  cavalry,  the  whole  com- 
manded by  Lieut.-General  Joseph  E.  Johnston, 
of  the  Confederate  Army,  lay  in  and  about 
Dalton,  fifteen  miles  south  of  Einggold,  on  the 
railroad,  the  advance  being  at  Tunnel  Hill,  a 
station  about  midway  between  the  two  places. 
Their  cavalry  were  estimated  by  Gen.  Sherman 
at  10,000  men,  and  the  infantry  and  artillery  at 
from  45,000  to  50,000,  of  whom  much  the 
greater  part  were  veteran  troops. 

Topographically  considered,  the  State  of 
Georgia  admits  of  three  distinct  divisions:  1. 
A  mountainous  region,  embracing  the  north- 
west conier  of  the  State,  and^which  terminates 
at  the  Kenesaw  Mountain,  near  Marietta,  120 
miles  from  Chattanooga ;  2.  A  gently  undulat- 


ing country  extending  from  the  mountainous 
region  to  a  line  passing  in  a  northeasterly  di- 
rection through  Columbus,  Macon,  and  Augusta ; 
and  3.  A  level  country  extending  to  the  sea- 
board, for  the  most  part  sandy  and  thickly 
covered  with  pine  woods,  and  along  the  coast 
bordered  by  extensive  swamps.  The  north- 
western portion  of  the  State,  as  far  south  as 
Atlanta,  is  almost  exclusively  a  grain  and  grass- 
bearing  region;  the  middle  and  eastern  divi- 
sions being  devoted  chiefly  to  the  cultivation 
of  cotton.  But  its  mineral  wealth,  particularly 
in  iron  ores,  which  abound  among  the  moun- 
tains, has,  since  the  commencement  of  the  war, 
rendered  the  possession  of  this  first-mentioned 
division  a  matter  of  prime  importance  to  the 
Confederates.  At  Etowah,  Rome,  and  Atlanta 
were  large  iron  works  in-  the  employ  of  the 
rebel  government,  the  capture  and  permanent 
occupation  of  which  by  a  Union  force  would 
be  likely  to  cause  much  embarrassment,  not  to 
speak  of  cotton  and  woollen  mills  at  Eoswell, 
Eome,  and  elsewhere,  which  turned  out  large 
quantities  of  fabrics  for  the  use  of  the  rebel 
troops. 

Atlanta,  lying  near  the  boundary  between 
the  northwestern  and  middle  divisions  had, 
previous  to  the  war,  become  an  important  cen- 
tre of  railroad  communication  and  trade  be- 
tween the  western  and  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States, 
and  one  of  the  chief  manufacturing  towns  of 
the  South.  It  is  laid  out  in  a  circle,  two  miles 
in  diameter,  in  the  centre  of  which  was  the 
passenger  depot  (since  destroyed)  of  railroads 
radiating  to  Chattanooga,  Augusta,  Macon,  and 
Montgomery ;  and  the  business  portion  of  the 
town  contained  many  fine  blocks  of  warehouses 
for  storing  goods  consigned  from  the  north  and 
northwest  to  the  cotton  regions  of  the  South. 
Here  also  were  established  the  machine  shops  of 
the  principal  railroads,  the  most  extensive  roll- 
ing mill  in  the  South,  foundries,  pistol,  and  tent 
factories,  and  numerous  works  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  Confederate  Government  for 
casting  shot  and  shell,  and  the  manufacture  of 
gun-carriages,  cartridges,  caps,  shoes,  clothing, 
and  other  military  supplies.  The  population, 
numbering  in  1860  about  15,000,  had,  subse- 
quent to  the  commencement  of  the  war,  been 
increased  by  the  arrival  of  refugees  and  gov- 
ernment officials  and  employes  to  fully  20,000. 
In  any  event  the  capture  of  the  place,  with  its 
vast  stores  and  costly  machinery,  would  so 
cripple  the  rebel  resources,  that  the  simple  sug- 
gestion of  such  a  contingency  sent  a  thrill  of 
alarm  through  tha  entire  Confederacy.  In  the 
opinion  of  many  its  importance  was  not  second 
even  to  that  of  Eichmond.  Strenuous  efforts 
were  accordingly  put  forth  for  its  defence,  and- 
the  line  of  approach  along  the  Western  and  At- 
lantic Railroad,  which  is  crossed  by  the  Oosta- 
naula  and  Etowah,  branches  of  the  Coosa  Eiver, 
which  in  turn  is  a  branch  of  the  Alabama,  and 
by  the  "Chattahoochee,  and  is  girt  as  far  as 
Marietta  by  ranges  of  rugged  hills,  was  ren- 
dered as  difficult  for  Sherman  as  the  abundant 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


527 


COOSA  WATTf-E 

'/  \KOCK  Bf>R 

HOLLY  CK.P.D. 


528 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION". 


resources  at  the  disposal  of  Johnston  would 
admit.  Should  the  mountain  region  be  trav- 
ersed or  turned,  and  the  Ohattahoochee  be 
crossed  by  an  invading  army,  the  enormous 
strength  of  Atlanta  itself  still  gave  promise  of 
a  long  and  perhaps  successful  defence,  while  an 
active  cavalry  force  operating  on  Sherman's 
flanks  might  so  seriously  interrupt  his  commu- 
nications as  to  compel  him  to  retrace  his  steps 
and  abandon  the  campaign.  -His  forces  were 
also  liable  to  daily  depletion  as  he  advanced  by 
the  necessity  of  garrisoning  captured  places  as 
well  as  of  guarding  the  line  of  railway,  while 
Johnston,  moving  constantly  nearer  to  his  sup- 
plies and  reinforcements,  would  probably  be 
relatively  stronger  when  he  reached  Atlanta 
than  when  he  started.  The  consequences 
which  defeat  would  entail  upon  either  party 
seemed  so  disastrous  that  the  campaign  was 
watched  with  an  interest  hardly  inferior  to 
that  attending  the  more  extensive  operations 
around  Richmond. 

For  the  convenience  of  reference  the  follow- 
ing table  of  stations  «on  the  Western  and  At- 
lantic Railroad,  with  their  distances  from  Chat- 
tanooga, is  appended : 


Miles. 

Boyce 5 

Chickamauga 10 

Johnson 18 

Binggold 23 

Tunnel  Hill 31 

Dalton 88 

Tllton 47 

Kesaca 56 

Calhoun 60 

Adairsville  . . .  ..  69 


Mile*. 

Kingston 79 

Cass 86 

Cartersville 91 

Etowah 95 

Altoona 98 

Ackworth 102 

Big  Shanty 108 

Marietta 119 

Vining's 130 

Atlanta 133 


A  reconnoissance  by  Gen.  Sherman  of  Gen. 
Johnston's  position  at  Dalton  satisfied  him  that 
an  attack  in  front  was  impracticable,  even 
should  the  enemy  abandon  their  works  at 
Tunnel  Hill.  Directly  south  of  this  eminence, 
through  which  passes  the  railroad  by  a  tunnel 
eighteen  hundred  feet  in  length,  opens  a  level 
valley  about  three  miles  long  by  half  to  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  in  width,  bounded  .at  its  fur- 
ther extremity  by  "Rocky  Faced  Ridge,"  a 
steep,  thickly-wooded  and  rugged  eminence, 
which  commands  the  approach  to  Dalton  both 
by  railroad  and  wagon  road,  and  extends  as 
an  impassable  barrier  along  its  west  side  for 
many  miles.  The  outlet  to  this  valley  is  through 
a  narrow  mountain  pass  called  Buzzard  Roost, 
nearly  midway  between  Tunnel  Hill  and  Dal- 
ton, which  by  means  of  abatis,  a  formidable 
series  of  batteries,  and  a  line  of  rifle-pits  at  its 
northern  entrance,  had  been  rendered  absolutely 
impregnable  to  a  force  advancing  along  the  rail- 
road. On  its  northeast  side  Dalton  was  de- 
fended by  strong  works  on  Mill  Creek.  Gen. 
Sherman  accordingly  directed  Gen.  McPherson, 
with  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  to  move  rapid- 
ly southward  from  his  position  at  Gordon's 
Mill,  via  Ship's  Gap,  Villanov,  and  Snake  Creek 
Gap,  upon  Resaca,  a  station  eighteen  miles  be- 
low Dalton,  or  upon  any  other  point  on"  the 
railroad  which  might  prove  more  accessible. 
This  movement,  he  supposed,  would  compel 
Gen.  Johnston  to  evacuate  Dalton,  when  Gen. 


McPherson  would  be  in  a  position  to  harass 
the  enemy's  flank,  while  the  main  body  of  the 
Federal  army  pressed  him  from  the  north. 
While  this  flanking  movement  was  in  progress 
a  strong  feint  of  attack  was  to  be  made  by  Gen. 
Thomas  in  front  of  Buzzard  Roost,  and  Gen. 
Schofield,  with  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  was  di- 
rected to  close  up  upon  the  latter's  left. 

On  the  7th  Gen.  Thomas  advanced  from 
Ringgold  toward  Tunnel  Hill,  which  was  car- 
ried by  the  14th  corps  under  Gen.  Palmer,  after 
a  brief  skirmish,  with  the  loss -of  a  few  men 
wounded.  The  slight  resistance  offered  by  the 
enemy  indicated  that  they  had  no  intention  of 
defending  the  position,  but  only  sought  to  hold 
Gen.  Thomas  in  check  until  they  could  make 
good  their  retreat  to  the  stronger  position  of 
Buzzard  Roost.  The  Federal  line  was  estab- 
lished on  the  same  evening  about  a  mile  south 
of  Tunnel  HilP.  On  the  8th  a  demonstration 
in  force  was  made  against  Rocky  Faced  Ridge 
and  Buzzard  Roost,  which,  on  the  9th,  was 
pushed  almost  to  a  battle.  The  4th  (Howard's) 
corps  succeeded  in  carrying  the  ridge,  but  found 
the  crest  too  narrow  to  enable  it  to  attack  the 
pass  with  any  prospect  of  success.  Gen.  Scho- 
field meanwhile  came  up  on  Gen.  Thomas's  left, 
which  was  held  by  Gen.  Howard,  and  a  brigade 
of  his  cavalry,  while  demonstrating  against  the 
enemy's  right  flank,  met  with  some  loss  in  an 
encounter  with  a  superior  force  of  rebel  in- 
fantry. 

On  the  8th  Gen.  McPherson  passed  through 
Snake  Creek  Gap,  surprising  a  rebel  cavalry 
force  sent  to  hold  the  position,  and  approached 
within  a  mile  of  Resaca,  which  he  found  too 
strong  to  be  carried  by  assault.  Apprehend- 
ing, also,  that  if  he  should  attempt  to  cross  over 
to  the  railroad  he  might  expose  his  left  flank  to 
an  attack  from  the  direction  of  Dalton,  he  fell 
back  to  a  strong  position  at  the  west  end  of 
Snake  Creek  Gap,  and  reported  to  Gen.  Sher- 
man. The  latter,  finding  that  the  demonstra- 
tion on  the  enemy's  flank  had  failed  to  compel 
him  to  evacuate  his  strong  position,  immediate- 
ly determined  to  put  the  remainder  of  his  army 
in  motion  for  Snake  Creek  Gap;  and  on  the 
10th  Gen.  Hooker's  (20th)  corps,  which  held 
the  right  of  Gen.  Thomas's  line,  started  for  that 
place,  followed  on  the  succeeding  day  by  the 
rest  of  Thomas's  troops,  with  the  exception 
of  two  divisions  of  Howard's  corps  and  some 
cavalry,  who  were  left  to  threaten  the  ene- 
my in  front  of  Buzzard  Roost,  and  by  Gen. 
Schofield's  army ;  the  three  armies  thus  hold- 
ing the  same  relative  positions  occupied  by 
them  at  the  commencement  of  the  campaign. 
The  Federal  loss  in  the  actions  of  the  8th  and 
9th  was  between  700  and  800  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing,  the  greater  number  being  only 
slightly  wounded. 

Resaca,  toward  which  Sherman  was  now 
moving,  is  situated  on  the  Oostanaula,  in  a  pen- 
insula formed  by  the  junction  of  that  river 
with  its  northwest  fork,  the  Conasauga,  and 
across  this  peninsula  the  rebels  had  erected 


MILITAET  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


529 


continuous  lines  of  rifle-pits  with  strong  field 
fortifications,  particularly  about  the  town,  by 
means  of  which  their  flanks  were  protected  on 
either  river,  and  a  line  of  retreat  preserved 
across  the  Oostanaula.  Friday,  May  13th,  was 
occupied  by  the  troops  in  deploying  through 
Snake  Creek  Gap  and  getting  into  position  in 
Sugar  Valley,  a  fertile  tract  beyond,  much 
broken  by  hills,  which  are  covered  by  a  dense 
undergrowth,  and  on  that  account  difficult  of 
approach.  The  movement  was  covered  by  the 
cavalry  under  Gen.  Kilpatrick,  who,  while 
pressing  the  enemy  toward  Besaca,  fell  into  an 
ambuscade  and  received  a  severe  flesh  wound, 
which  incapacitated  him  for  several  months  for 
active  duty.  During  the  day  the  Federal  lines 
were  advanced  toward  Eesaca,  the  right  under 
McPherson  resting  on  the  Oostanaula,  about 
two  miles  below  the  town,  and  extending 
thence  northward  so  as  to  face  it ;  the  centre, 
under  Gen.  Thomas,  closing  up  upon  Gen. 
McPherson's  left,  and  the  left,  under  Schofield, 
striking  the  Conasauga  near  Tilton,  a  station 
on  the  railroad  about  midway  between  Dalton 
and  Eesaca.  Beside  the  protection  afforded  by 
the  two  rivers,  both  flanks  of  the  army  were 
covered  by  heavy  bodies  of  cavalry.  The  scene 
of  these  operations  was  a  rugged,  thickly- wood- 
ed country,  abounding  in  steep  hills  and  narrow 
ravines,  through  one  of  which,  directly  in  front 
of  the  rebel  lines,  flows  Camp  Creek,  a  small 
stream  emptying  into  the  Oostanaula  near 
Eesaca. 

Gen.  Johnston  was  not  long  in  detecting  the 
object  of  Sherman's  flanking  march,  and  judg- 
ing the  position  at  Dalton  to  be  no  longer 
tenable,  he  moved  rapidly  southward  on  the 
12th,  and  having  the  shorter  line  of  march, 
reached  Eesaca  with  his  entire  force  before  the 
Union  army  had  debouched  from  Snake  Creek 
Gap.  The  divisions  of  Howard's  corps  left  to 
watch  Buzzard  Boost,  soon  after  occupied 
Dalton,  which  was  found  thoroughly  stripped 
of  supplies  and  almost  deserted,  and  moving  in 
the  enemy's  rear,  effected  a  junction  on  the 
14th  with  the  Federal  left,  near  Tilton.  The 
successful  turning  of  the  rebel  position  at  Dal- 
ton was  justly  considered  a  great  step  gained 
in  the  movement  upon  Atlanta;  and  even  among 
the  rebel  troops  there  were  many  who  thought 
that  if  their  leader  could  not  hold  for  more 
than  four  days  a  place  so  strongly  fortified  by 
nature,  he  would  be  unable  to  main  tain  himself 
for  a  long  time  at  any  of  the  remaining  points 
north  of  Atlanta,  no  one  of  which  was  per- 
haps so  capable  of  defence  as  Dalton. 

The  night  of  the  13th  was  employed  by  the 
rebels  in  strengthening  their  already  formidable 
position  by  additional  earthworks,  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  14th  they  were  in  complete 
readiness  for  an  attack,  their  right  wing  being 
held  by  Gen.  Hardee,  their  centre  by  Gen. 
Hood,  and  their  left  by  Gen.  Polk.  Skirmish- 
ishing  commenced  at  an  early  hour,  and  the 
object  of  Gen.  Sherman  being  to  press  Eesaca 
at  all  points,  while  a  force  of  infantry  and  cav- 


airy  crossed  the  Oostanaula  and  threatened 
Calhoun  in  the  rear,  the  firing  toward  noon 
grew  heavy  along  the  whole  rebel  line.  The 
Federal  general  had  hoped  to  be  able  to  turn 
the  rebel  left  wing,  and  thus  cut  off  their  re- 
treat, but  the  nature  of  the  ground  rendered 
this  impossible.  At  1  p.  M.  an  attempt  was 
made  by  Palmer's  corps,  holding  the  left  centre, 
to  break  the  enemy's  line,  and  force  him  from 
an  elevated  position  in  th*e  immediate  front.  To 
reach  this  point  it  was  necessary  to  descend  a  hill 
in  full  range  of  rebel  artillery,  ford  a  stream 
thickly  bordered  with  undergrowth  and  inter- 
lacing vines,  and  then,  crossing  a  valley  full  of 
ditches  and  other  obstructions,  to  mount  the 
opposite  eminence.  In  the  teeth  of  a  murder- 
ous fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  Palmer's 
troops  charged  down  the  hill  and  across  the 
creek ;  but  becoming  speedily  entangled  in  the 
obstructions,  and  unable  to  find  shelter  or  to  re- 
turn with  effect  the  plunging  fire  of  the  enemy, 
which  caused  havoc  in  their  ranks,  they  were 
forced  to  retire,  with  a  loss  estimated  at  up- 
wards of  a  thousand.  About  the  same  tune, 
further  to  the  left,  Gen.  Judah's  division  of  the 
23d  corps  and  Newton's  of  the  4th  corps,  mov- 
ing over  comparatively  level  ground,  succeeded, 
after  a  desperate  struggle,  in  forcing  the  enemy 
to  abandon  an  important  position  on  their  outer 
line.  Although  the  Federal  troops  were  unable 
to  hold  this,  they  succeeded  in  advancing  their 
line  and  getting  their  artillery  into  a  position  to 
prevent  the  enemy  from  reoccupying  the  works. 
On  the  extreme  left,  that  portion  of  the  4th 
corps  which  had  arrived  from  Dalton,  in  concert 
with  Gen.  Schofield,  maintained  heavy  skir- 
mishing with  the  rebel  right,  the  dense  woods  in 
that  direction  preventing  the  use  of  artillery, 
and  effectually  concealing  the  movements  of 
trooplB  on  either  side.  The  operations  on  Gen. 
McPherson's  end  of  the  line  were,  during  the 
morning,  of  the  same  character.  . 

At  about  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  Gen. 
Johnston,  perceiving  that  no  serious  impression 
had  been  made  upon  his  lines,  quietly  massed  a 
heavy  force  on  the  road  to  Tilton,  with  a  view 
of  turning  the  Federal  left  flank,  held  by  Stan- 
ley]s  division  of  the  4th  corps.  The  attack  was 
delivered  with  impetuosity  and  in  such  over- 
whelming numbers,  that  Stanley's  troops,  after 
a  stubborn  resistance,  were  forced  in  confusion 
from  a  hill  upon  which  they  were  posted.  The 
rebels  rushed  on  with  loud  yells  across  an  open 
field  west  of  the  hill,  and  for  a  few  momenta 
matters  wore  a  critical  aspect.  Fortunately, 
howeyer,  the  movement  of  the  rebel  right  had 
been  early  detected,  and  Hooker's  corps  sent 
from  the  centre  to  reenforce  the  Federal  left. 
The  timely  arrival  of  a  portion  of  his  troops 
checked  the  Tebel  advance,  and  the  scattered 
division  of  Stanley  having  been  partially  rallied, 
the  rebels  were  at  dusk  driven  back  within  their 
lines  with  severe  loss.  Meanwhile  Gen.  Mc- 
Pherson, taking  advantage  of  the  enemy's  oc- 
cupation with  this  movement,  ordered  Logan's 
(15th)  corps,  with  a  portion  of  the  16th,  to 


530 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


cross  Camp  Creek  and  carry  a  hill  and  a  line  of 
rifle-pits  on  the  enemy's  extreme  left,  in  front 
of  Resaca,  which  was  effected  with  slight  loss. 
As  the  position  was  one  which  would  enable 
the  Federal  General  to  pour  a  destructive  en- 
filading fire  upon  the  rebel  works,  and  also  to 
command  the  railroad  and  trestle  bridges  across 
the  Oostanaula,  a  desperate  effort  was  made 
soon  after  dark  to  retake  it.  Heavy  columns 
of  infantry  with  fixed*  bayonets  moved  up  to 
the  very  crest  of  the  hill,  but  recoiled  under 
the  steady  fire  of  the  Federal  troops,  and  finally 
retired  in  confusion.  At  10  p.  M.  the  fighting 
terminated  for  the  day.  The  result  of  the  day's 
work  was  on  the  whole  satisfactory  to  Gen. 
Sherman,  as  the  Federal  lines  had  nowhere  been 
permanently  forced  back,  while  on  their  left  and 
centre  the  rebels  had  lost  positions  of  import- 
ance. 

The  night  of  the  14th  was  occupied  by  both 
armies  in  strengthening  their  positions,  and  the 
morning  of  the  15th  opened  with  heavy  skir- 
mishing along  the  Federal  centre,  under  cover 
of  which  troops  were  massed  for  an  assault 
upon  two  fortified  hills  commanding  each  other, 
on  the  enemy's  extreme  right,  which  were  con- 
sidered the  key  to  the  whole  position.  For  this 
purpose  Gen.  Hooker's  corps  had  been  shifted 
to  the  extreme  left,  and  Gens.  Howard's,  Scho- 
field's,  and  Palmer's  troops  moved  to  the  right 
to  fill  up  the  gap  occasioned  by  the  withdrawal 
of  Gen.  Hooker.  Shortly  after  1  o'clock  in  the  af- 
ternoon Gen.  Hooker  sent  forward  Butterfield's 
division  as  the  assaulting  column,  supported  by 
the  divisions  of  Gens.  Geary  and  Williams,  and 
after  several  unsuccessful  attacks  the  enemy 
were  driven  from  a  portion  of  their  lines,  and 
a  lodgment  was  secured  under  the  projecting 
works  of  a  lunette,  mounting  four  pieces  of 
artillery.  So  severe,  however,  was  the  fire 
from  rifle-pits  beyond  and  on  either  side  of  this 
work,  forming  the  inner  rebel  line,  that  further 
advance  was  impossible,  and  the  Federal  troops 
were  fain  to  seek  such  shelter  as  was  available, 
and  content  themselves  with  holding  the  posi- 
tion they  had  gained.  Toward  the  close  of  the 
afternoon  Gen.  Hood's  corps  made  a  deter- 
termined  but  unsuccessful  effort  to  dislodge 
them,  and  subsequently,  under  cover  of  the 
darkness,  a  number  of  rebel  prisoners  were 
brought  up,  the  ends  dug  out  of  the  works, 
and  the  guns  hauled  out  by  means  of  ropes, 
under  a  destructive  fire  from  the  rebels.  As 
soon  as  a  breach  was  made  our  forces  rushed  in 
and  captured  th^e  lunette  after  a  desperate  en- 
gagement. The  guns  seized  were  twelve- 
pounders.  The  flags  of  the  35th  and  38th 
Alabama  regiments  were  captured,  with  over 
two  hundred  prisoners.  "While  these  opera- 
tions were  in  progress  the  enemy's  attention 
was  occupied  by  heavy  skirmishing  along  the 
whole  line. 

During  the  night  the  enemy  quietly  aban- 
doned Resaca,  leaving  behind  a  four-gun  bat- 
tery and  a  quantity  of  stores,  and  by  dawn  were 
well  <fa  their  way  to  Kingston,  thirty-two  miles 


south  on  the  railroad.  Gen.  Thomas's  troops 
immediately  occupied  the  town,  and  succeeded 
in  saving  the  road  bridge,  but  the  railroad 
bridge,  the  most  costly  structure  of  the  kind 
between  Chattanooga  and  Atlanta,  was  de- 
stroyed by  the  enemy,  with  the  exception  of 
the  stone  piers.  The  total  Federal  loss  in  the 
two  days'  fighting  was  between  4,000  and  5,000 
killed  and  wounded,  upward  of  2,000  of  the 
latter  being  so  slightly  injured  that  they  were 
returned  to  duty  in  two  or  three  weeks.  The 
rebel  loss  was  stated  by  themselves  at  2,500, 
which  is  probably  not  far  from  the  mark. 
Fighting  for  the  most  part  behind  earthworks, 
and  having  the  advantage  of  position,  they 
necessarily  suffered  less  than  their  opponents. 
Beside  the  eight  guns  and  the  stores  already 
mentioned,  they  left  about  1,000  prisoners  in 
the  hands  of  the  Federals.  According  to  Gen. 
Sherman  nothing  saved  Gen.  Johnston's  army 
at  Resaca  but  the  impracticable  nature  of  the 
surrounding  country,  which  made  the  speedy 
passage  of  troops  across  the  valley  from  Snake 
Creek  Gap  an  impossibility.  This  fact  enabled 
the  rebel  army  to  reach  Resaca  from  Dalton 
along  comparatively  good  roads,  constructed 
beforehand  by  the  foresight  of  their  general. 
The  latter  was  nevertheless  severely  criticized 
for  this  second  abandonment  of  what  was  con- 
sidered a  defensible  position,  notwithstanding 
that  the  Richmond  newspapers  explained  that 
his  peculiar  forte  consisted  in  drawing  an  enemy 
after  him,  and  then  overwhelming  him  by  a 
sudden  attack.  They  also  endeavored  to  de- 
rive consolation  from  a  reputed  caution  of  Gen. 
Scott  to  a  Federal  commander:  "Beware  of 
Lee  advancing,  and  watch  Johnston  at  a  stand ; 
for  the  devil  himself  would  be  defeated  in  the 
attempt  to  Avhip  him  retreating,"  which  was 
extensively  quoted  in  the  Southern  papers. 

Soon  after  the  discovery  of  Gen.  Johnrston's 
retreat,  the  cavalry  divisions  of  Gens.  Stoneman 
and  McCook  were  thrown  forward  in  pursuit, 
and  during  the  16th  the  army  was  occupied  in 
crossing  the  Oostanaula.  Gen.  Thomas  made 
the  passage  at  Resaca,  Gen.  McPherson  at 
Lay's  Ferry,  a  few  miles  to  the  southwest, 
while  Gen.  Schofield,  moving  to  the  left  of 
Thomas,  crossed  the  Conasauga  and  Coosawat- 
tee,  which  unite  near  Resaca  to  form  the  Oos- 
tanaula. In  this  order  the  army  marched  south- 
ward on  roads  parallel  to  the  railroad,  finding 
no  trace  of  the  enemy  until  reaching  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Adairsville,  thirteen  miles  below 
Resaca,  where  Newton's  division  of  the  4th 
corps  had  a  smart  skirmish  with  the  rebel  rear 
guard,  who  had  posted  their  sharpshooters  in 
an  octagon  cement  building  called  "Graves 
House,"  for  the  purpose  of  delaying  the  ad- 
vance. By  the  aid  of  artillery  they  were  driv- 
en out,  and  on  the  18th  the  4th  corps  reached 
Kingston,  four  miles  beyond  which  place  the 
enemy  were  again  discovered  in  considerable 
force  on  open  ground.  At  Cassville,  five  miles 
east  of  Kingston,  they  were  known  to  have 
constructed  strong  works;  and  on  the  19th,  in 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


531 


anticipation  of  a  general  engagement,  Gen. 
Sherman  directed  Gen.  Schofield  to  move  down 
toward  this  place  from  the  north,  while  Gen. 
Thomas  closed  up  upon  his  right,  and  McPher- 
son  marched  to  Kingston  to  be  in  close  support 
of  Thomas.  Gen.  Johnston,  however,  declined 
the  offer  of  battle,  and  during  the  night  re- 
treated across  the  Etowah,  burning  the  road 
and  railroad  bridges  behind  him.  A  few  days' 
halt  for  rest  and  refreshment  was  now  allowed 
the  army,  and  as  the  country  north  of  the 
Etowah  had  been  completely  stripped  by  Gen. 
Johnston,  it  was  necessary  to  await  the  arrival 
of  supplies  by  railroad.  The  latter  fortunately 
had  received  little  injury  at  the  hands  of  the 
enemy,  and  by  the  energetic  labors  of  the  re- 
pairing parties,  who  followed  close  behind  the 
army,  was  put  in  running  order  to  Kingston 
on  the  20th,  on  which  day  trains  arrived  laden 
with  supplies.  By  this  means  the  army  was 
soon  restored  to  a  condition  of  complete  effi- 
ciency, and  relieved  of  the  necessity  of  looking 
after  the  wounded,  who  were  sent  back  to 
Chattanooga.  In  like  manner  telegraphic  com- 
munication with  the  latter  place  was  kept  open 
as  the  army  advanced. 

While  these  operations  were  in  progress, 
Gen.  Jeff.  0.  Davis,  of  Palmer's  corps,  on  the 
17th  marched  southwesterly  from  Resaca  tow- 
ard Rome,  fifteen  miles  west  of  Kingston, 
which  place  he  occupied  on  the  19th  after  a 
sharp  fight,  gaining  possession  of  several  forts, 
eight  or  ten  guns  of  heavy  caliber,  large  quan- 
tities of  stores,  and  the  valuable  mills  and 
foundries  employed  in  the  service  of  the  Con- 
federate Government. 

Gen.  Johnston  had  meanwhile  taken  a  strong 
position  at  Allatoona  Pass,  in  the  Etowah 
Mountains,  south  <jf  the  Etowah  River,  which 
formed  an  almost  impregnable  barrier  to  a  di- 
rect advance  upon  Atlanta  by  railroad.  Gen. 
Sherman  accordingly  resorted  to  the  same  tactics 
which  had  proved  so  successful  at  Dalton ;  and 
having  supplied  his  wagons  with  twenty  days' 
provisions,  and  left  garrisons  at  Rome  and 
Kingston,  he  put  his  army  in  motion  on  May 
23d  for  Dallas,  a  town  lying  about  fifte'en  miles 
southwest  of  Allatoona  Pass,  and  eighteen 
miles  directly  west  of  Marietta,  a  station  on 
the  railroad  forty  miles  below  Kingston,  and 
twenty -four  south  of  the  Etowah  River.  HB 
expected  thus,  by  threatening  Marietta,  to 
compel  the  evacuation  of  Allatoona.  The 
country  between  Dallas  and  the  railroad  is  of 
the  same  impracticable  character  as  that  in 
which  previous  operations  of  the  campaign 
had  been  conducted,  being  for  the  most  part 
densely  wooded,  traversed  by  ranges  of  rugged 
hills,  and  cut  up  by  frequent  ravines.  The 
roads  were  few  and  poor.  Through  this  re- 
gion, admirably  adapted  for  defence,  and  of 
which  the  topography  was  scarcely  known  to 
the  Federal  general,  the  advance  in  the  pres- 
ence of  a  vigilant  enemy  had  necessarily  to  be 
made  with  much  caution,  and  it  will  be  seen 
that  several  days  were  occupied  with  manoeu- 


vring for  position  and  other  movements,  before 
any  practical  results  were  obtained. 

In  marching  upon  Dallas,  Gen.  McPherson, 
still  holding  the  Federal  right,  made  a  some- 
what wide  detour  to  the  southwest  through 
Van  Wert,  while  Gen.  Thomas  took  a  course 
nearly  due  south,  having  Gen.  Schofield  on  his 
left  flank.  The  movement  had  scarcely  com- 
menced before  it  was  detected  by  Gen.  Johnston, 
who  having  the  shorter  line  to  Dallas,  marched 
in  the  direction  of  that  place  to  cover  the  ap- 
proaches to  Marietta.  On  the  25th  Hooker's 
corps,  approaching  Pumpkin  Vine  Creek  on 
the  main  Dallas  road,  came  into  collision  with 
parties  of  Hood's  and  Hardee's  corps,  and  a 
severe  engagement  took  place  for  the  posses- 
sion of  a  point  known  as  the  New  Hope  Church, 
where  three  roads  meet  from  Ackworth  [four 
miles  south  of  Allatoona  by  rail],  Marietta,  and 
Dallas.  By  means  of  earthworks  the  enemy 
successfully  resisted  the  advance  of  Gen.  Hooker, 
and  the  night  closing  with  a  heavy  rain  storm, 
no  further  attempt  was  made  to  force  the  posi- 
tion. In  this  affair  Hooker  sustained  a  loss  of 
about  six  hundred  killed  and  wounded.  Gen. 
Sherman  then  ordered  McPherson  to  move  up 
to  Dallas,  and  Gen.  Thomas  to  make  a  bold  dem- 
onstration against  New  Hope  Church,  while 
Schofield  overlapped  the  enemy's  right  wing. 
Owing  to  the  difficult  nature  of  the  country, 
the  26th  and  27th  were  occupied  in  perfecting 
these  dispositions,  and  on  the  evening  of  the 
latter  day  his  line  extended  in  a  semicircular 
direction  northeast  from  Dallas,  the  enemy 
having  his  right  resting  on  the  road  from  Ack- 
worth to  Dallas,  at  a  point  three  miles  north- 
east of  New  Hope  Church,  and  his  left  at  a 
point  nearly  due  east  of  Dallas.  Heavy  skir- 
mishing attended  these  manoeuvres,  but  as  the 
den'sity  of  the  surrounding  woods  rendered  the 
use  of  artillery  impracticable,  the  casualties 
were  not  numerous.  On  the  28th,  just  as  Gen. 
McPherson  was  on  the  point  of  closing  up  to 
Gen.  Thomas  in  front  of  New  Hope  Church, 
in  order  to  enable  a  further  development  of 
the  Federal  left  wing,  he  was  attacked  by  a 
heavy  rebel  force,  whose  repeated  and  desper- 
ate, though  fruitless  assaults  had  the  effect  of 
checking  temporarily  the  contemplated  move- 
ment. The  Federal  troops,  protected  by  their 
breastworks,  finally  drove  the  enemy  back  with 
a  loss  of  upward  of  two  thousand  killed  and 
wounded. 

After  a  brief  pause,  interrupted  only  by  the 
customary  skirmishing,  renewed  orders  were 
given  for  the  shifting  of  the  Federal  line  to  the 
left.  The  movement  was  now  effected  with 
comparative  ease,  and  on  June  1st,  the  roads  to 
Allatoona  and  Ackworth  being  occupied,  the 
cavalry  divisions  of  Stoneman  and  Garrard  were 
pushed  forward  to  Allatoona  Pass,  which  was 
carried  with  slight  loss.  Orders  were  imme- 
diately given  to  rebuild  the  railroad  bridge 
over  the  Etowah,  at  Etowah  Station,  and  on 
June  4th  Gen.  Sherman  moved  directly  upon 
Ackworth.  This  manoeuvre  compelle€  Gen. 


532 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


Johnston  to  abandon  Ms  intrenchments  at  New 
Hope  Church,  and  move  westward  to  the  rail- 
road to  cover  Marietta,  and  on  the  6th  the  Fed- 
eral army  reached  Ackworth,  where  it  rested 
for  several  days.  Allatoona  Pass  was  at  once 
fixed  upon  as  a  secondary  base,  and  put  in  a 
defensible  condition.  A  well-informed  corre- 
spondent, summing  up  the  results  of  the  cam- 
paign to  this  date,  observes:  ""We  have  in  a 
month's  time,  with  a  force  not  very  much  su- 
perior to  his,  forced  the  enemy  back  nearly  one 
hundred  miles,  obliging  bun  to  abandon  four 
different  positions  of  unusual  strength  and  pro- 
portions; have  fought  him  six  times;  have 
captured  twelve  guns,  three  colors,  over  two 
thousand  prisoners,  with  considerable  forage, 
provisions,  and  means  of  transportation ;  have 
placed  at  least  fifteen  thousand  of  his  men  Tiors 
de  combat,  and  have  destroyed  several  impor- 
tant foundries,  rolling  mills,  iron  works,  &c., 
at  Eome,  and  in  the  Allatoona  Mountains." 

On  the  8th  Gen.  Blair  reached  Ackworth 
with  two  divisions  of  the  17th  army  corps, 
which  were  attached  to  Gen.  McPherson's 
command,  and  a  brigade  of  cavalry  belonging 
to  Gen.  Garrard's  division.  These  accessions 
compensated  for  the  Federal  losses  in  battle, 
and  the  garrisons,  left  at  Eesaca,  Eome,  Kings- 
ton, and  Allatoona,  and  on  the  9th  the  army, 
refreshed  by  three  days'  much  needed  rest,  and 
abundantly  supplied  with  stores,  moved  for- 
ward to  Big  Shanty,  the  next  railroad  station 
south  of  Ackworth.  Between  this  place  and 
Marietta  intervenes  a  mountainous  district  of 
vast  natural  strength,  having  three  detached  and 
well-defined  summits,  where  Gen.  Johnston  had 
made  his  next  stand.  Kenesaw  Mountain,  the 
most  easterly  of  these  summits,  is  a  double- 
peaked  eminence,  about  1,200  feet  high,  lying 
directly  north  and  northwest  of  Marietta,  and 
west  of  the  railroad,  and  sending  out  a  spur  for 
several  miles  in  a  northeasterly  direction.  "West 
of  Marietta,  on  the  road  to  Dallas,  is  Lost 
Mountain,  and  midway  between  the  latter  and 
Kenesaw,  half  a  mile  further  to  the  north,  is 
Pine  Mountain,  a  rugged,  cone-shaped  peak, 
which  may  be  said  to  form  the  apex  of  a  trian- 
gle, of  which  Kenesaw  and  Lost  Mountains 
constitute  the  base.  The  three  eminences  are 
connected  by  several  ranges  of  lesser  heights, 
seamed  with  ravines,  and  covered  with  a  dense 
growth  of  oak  and  hickory,  and  upon  their 
summits  the  rebels  had  erected  signal  stations 
which  commanded  an  excellent  view  of  all  the 
general  operations  of  the  Federal  forces.  As 
the  latter  drew  in  sight,  the  most  assailable 
points  in  this  succession  of  mountain  fortresses 
appeared  bristling  with  cannon,  and  the  spurs 
were  alive  with  men  constructing  earthworks, 
felling  timber  for  obstructions,  and  otherwise 
preparing  for  an  obstinate  resistance.  The 
rebel  front  extended  westward  from  the  rail- 
road, on  which  their  right  rested,  about  four 
miles,  and  comprised  several  successive  lines 
of  intrenchments.  They  had  also  some  works 
on  thejidge  east  of  the  railroad.  "  The  rebel 


works,"  says  the  correspondent  above  quoted, 
"  consisted  of  log  barricades,  protected  by  earth 
thrown  against  them,  with  a  formidable  abatis, 
and  in  many  places  a  chevaux-de-frise  of  sharp- 
ened fence-rails  besides.  The  thickness  of  this 
parapet  (which  really  resembled  a  parallel)  was 
generally  six  to  eight  feet  at  top,  on  the  in- 
fantry line,  and  from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet 
thick  at  top  where  field  guns  were  posted, 
or  where  fire  from  our  artillery  was  antici- 
pated." 

The -con trolling  point  of  the  whole  region  is 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  which  covers  the  railroad 
and  the  town  of  Marietta  so  effectually  that  a 
direct  advance  upon  the  latter  place  from  the 
north  would  be  well-nigh  impossible.  As  the 
rebel  lines  were  drawn,  it  constituted  a  strong- 
hold or  citadel  in  a  deep  reentrant,  Pine  and 
Lost  Mountains  and  the  connecting  ridges  being 
in  the  nature  of  outworks,  useful  in  retarding 
the  approach  of  an  enemy,  but  not  absolutely 
essential  as  portions  of  a  system  of  defences. 
The  accounts  of  prisoners,  deserters,  and  scouts, 
placed  Gen.  Johnston's  force  at  nine  divisions  of 
seven  thousand  men  each,  which  was  probably 
-somewhat  above  the  mark ;  in  addition  to 
which  an  auxiliary  force  of  fifteen  thousand 
Georgia  militia,  called  out  by  Governor  Brown, 
was  placed  at  his  disposal.  The  latter,  though 
comparatively  undisciplined,  did  good  service 
as  laborers  on  fortifications,  and  were  capable 
of  offering  considerable  resistance  behind  earth- 
works. Hardee's  corps  occupied  their  right, 
Polk  the  centre,  and  Hood  the  left.  Their  cav- 
alry, estimated  at  fifteen  thousand,  operated 
on  the  flanks,  and  in  the  Federal  rear. 

The  order  of  the  Federal  advance  was  some- 
what different  from  that  previously  observed 
during  the  campaign.  Gen.  McPherson's  com- 
mand was  now  transferred  ft>  the  extreme  left, 
and  moved  toward  Marietta,  having  its  right 
on  the  railroad,  while  Gen.  Schofield,  shifting 
to  the  right  wing,  marched  for  Lost  Mountain. 
Gen.  Thomas  kept  his  old  position  in  the  cen- 
tre, and  moved  on  Kenesaw  and  Pine  Moun- 
tains. Gens.  Stoneman  and  Garrard  covered 
the  right  and  left  wings  with  their  cavalry, 
and  McCook  guarded  the  communications  and 
rear.  From  the  9th  to  the  14th  the  Federal 
lines  were  gradually  closed  up  toward  the  rebel 
position,  Sherman's  first  object  being  to  break 
the  line  between  Kenesaw  and  Pine  Mountains ; 
and  on  the  latter  day,  during  a  heavy  cannon- 
ade by  the  4th  corps,  the  rebel  Gen.  Polk,  com- 
manding on  Pine  Mountain,  was  killed  by  the 
explosion  of  a  shell.  On  the  same  night,  the 
rebels,  perceiving  that  Hooker's  corps  was 
moving  around  the  base  of  the  mountain  to 
cut  off  their  retreat,  abandoned  their  works 
without  loss  of  guns  or  material  of  war,  and 
on  the  morning  of  the«15th  the  position  was 
quietly  occupied  by  Stanley's  division  of  the 
4th  corps.  A  paper  was  found  affixed  to  a 
stake,  stating,  "  Here  Gen.  Polk  was  killed  by 
a  Yankee  shell;"  and  from  the  reports  of  de- 
serters it  appeared  that  Gens.  Johnston  and 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


533 


Hardee  were  standing  near  Gen.  Polk  when  he 
was  struck,  and  narrowly  escaped  death. 

Gen.  Johnston  now  drew  back-  his  centre 
about  a  mile,  to  a  strong  line  of  intrenchments 
in  the  rugged  hills  connecting  Kenesaw  and 
Lost  Mountains,  keeping  his  flanks  on  these 
two  eminences.  The  15th,  16th,  and  17th, 
were  occupied  with  incessant  skirmishing, 
which  told  upon  the  spirits  and  endurance  of 
the  Federal  army  almost  as  much  as  a  pitched 
battle.  "The  enemy,"  says  a  correspondent, 
"  seems  to  have  marked  out  this  whole  country, 
from  the  Allatoona  Mountains  to  the  Chatta- 
hooche,  with  line  after  line  of  rifle-pits  and  in- 
trenchments and  fortification.  No  sooner  do  we 
take  possession  of  one  formidable  line  of  works 
than  another  confronts  us,  and  each  seems  to 
be  stronger  than  the  preceding."  On  the  ex- 
treme right  during  the  afternoon  of  the  15th, 
Gen.  fichofield  carried  the  first  line  of  the  rebel 
works  at  the  foot  of  Lost  Mountain.  During 
the  17th,  the  left  and  centre  remained  quiet, 
its  line  being  so  far  advanced  that  a  general 
engagement  would  otherwise  have  resulted. 
The  right  and  right  centre  were  poshed  for- 
ward more  than  a  mile,  occupying  a  heavy  line 
of  intrenchments  which  the  rebels  had  evacu- 
ated, and  their  main  line  at  the  foot  of  Lost 
Mountain,  without  serious  loss.  Toward  even- 
ing, after  much  heavy  skirmishing,  the  enemy's 
left  was  dislodged  from  the  strong  intrench- 
ments at  the  Lost  Mountain  and  in  the  rear 
of  Kenesaw,  and  driven  back  upon  his  centre, 
the  Federal  army  swinging  around  so  as  to 
threaten  his  flank.  The  movement  occupied 
the  whole  day,  and  was  rendered  difficult  by 
the  thick  growth  of  timber  and  underwood 
and  the  pertinacity  of  the  skirmishers  of  the 
enemy.  During  the  18th,  the  right  crowded 
the  rebel  left  still  further  backward.  The 
possession  of  the  Dallas  and  Marietta  road  was 
secured,  and  the  enemy  pushed  so  hard  at  dusk 
that  the  20th  corps  was  in  a  line  perpendicular 
to  their  own.  The  Federal  troops  met  with 
considerable  loss  during  the  day,  as  in  many 
places  it  was  necessary  to  construct  opposing 
works  under  the  fiercest  fire,  especially  from 
the  enemy's  sharpshooters ;  but  from  extreme 
right  to  extreme  left  the  rebel  skirmishers 
were  steadily  driven,  and  many  of  them  killed 
and  wounded.  Several  hundred  prisoners  were 
also  taken.  These  made  the  number  taken  since 
the  llth  about  one  thousand. 

Apprehending  that  his  position  on  Lost 
Mountain  was  in  danger  of  being  enveloped, 
Gen.  Johnston,  on  the  night  of  the  18th,  under 
cover  of  the  darkness  and  a  violent  storm  of 
rain,  drew  in  his  left  flank  toward  Kenesaw, 
which  he  made  his  salient,  his  right  wing  being 
thrown  back  to  covej  Marietta,  and  his  left 
behind  Nose's  Creek,  for  the  purpose  of  guard- 
ing his  railroad  communication  with  the  Chat- 
tahooche.  The  abandoned  works  on  Lost 
Mountain,  and  the  line  of  breastworks  connect- 
ing it  with  Ktnesaw,  were  at  once  occupied 
by  the  Federal  troops,  and  during  the  19th  the 


enemy  was  steadily  pressed  at  all  points.  On 
the  evening  of  that  day  our  left  held  the  base 
of  Kenesaw  on  its  north  face,  and  the  first  ridge 
of  hills  running  thence  to  the  northeast,  whUe 
our  right  lay  to  the  west  and  rear  of  Kenesaw, 
and  within  three  miles  of  Marietta.  During 
these  operations  the  rain  fell  almost  incessantly, 
and  the  roads  were  rendered  so  heavy  that  a 
general  movement  would  have  been  impossible. 
The  most  that  could  be  attempted  was  to  press 
the  enemy  without  cessation,  and  harass  him 
by  constant  skirmishing.  The  fact  that  under 
such  discouraging  circumstances  so  many  strong 
positions  were  carried,  testifies  to  the  discipline 
and  endurance  of  the  troops. 

The  operations  of  the  20th  and  21st  were  of 
a  similar  character  to  those  above  described, 
but  on  the  22d  the  enemy  made  a  sudden  at- 
tack upon  portions  of  Gens.  Hooker's  and 
Schofield's  troops  on  the  Federal  right,  near 
what  is  known  as  the  "  Kulp  House,"  and 
was  handsomely  repulsed,  leaving  his  dead, 
wounded,  and  many  prisoners  behind  him. 
The  Federal  centre  was  now  established  square- 
ly in  front  of  Kenesaw,  but  it  required  so  many 
men  to  hold  the  railroad  and  the  line  running 
along  the  base  of  the  mountain,  that  but  a 
small  force  was  left  with  which  to  attempt  a 
flank  movement  to  the  right.  So  small  was  it 
that  Gen.  Sherman  hesitated  to  push  it  vigor- 
ously toward  the  railroad,  in  the  rear  of  Marietta, 
for  fear  that  it  might  be  altogether  detached 
from  the  army  and  exposed  to  disaster.  He 
therefore  contented  himself  with  extending  his 
right  along  the  enemy's  flank,  hoping  that  Gen. 
Johnston  would  thereby  be  induced  to  weaken 
his  centre  sufficiently  to  render  an  assault  in  that 
direction  practicable.  "  Although  inviting  the 
enemy  at  all  times,"  says  Gen.  Sherman  in  his 
official  report,  "  to  make  such  mistakes,  I  could 
not  hope  for  him  to  repeat  them  after  the  ex- 
amples of  Dallas  and  the  'Kulp  House;'  and 
upon  studying  the  ground,  I  had  no  alternative 
but  to  assault  his  lines  or  turn  his  position. 
Either  course  had  its  difficulties  and  dangers. 
And  I  perceived  that  the  enemy  and  our  own 
officers  had  settled  down  into  a  conviction  that 
I  would  not  assault  fortified  lines.  All  looked 
to  me  to  'outflank.'  An  army  to  be  efficient 
must  not  settle  down  to  one  single  mode  of 
offence,  but  must  be  prepared  to  execute  any 
plan  which  promises  success.  I  waited,  there- 
fore, for  the  moral  effect,  to  make  a  successful 
assault  against  the  enemy  behind  his  breast- 
works, and  resolved  to  attempt  it  at  that  point 
where  success  would  give  the  largest  fruits  of 
victory."  The  general  point  selected  was  the 
rebel  left  centre,  in  the  belief  that  if  this  should 
be  once  forced,  a  road  to  the  railroad  below 
Marietta  would  be  opened  to  the  assaulting 
column,  the  enemy's  retreat  cut  off,  and  their 
army  overwhelmed  in  detail.  Simultaneous 
with  this  an  attack  was  directed  to  be  made  on 
Little  Kenesaw  by  McPherson.  The  27th  waa 
selected  for  the  movement,  and  three  days  were 
allowed  for  preparation. 


534 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


At  6  A.  M.,  on  the  appointed  day,  Gen.  Blair's 

STth)  corps,  holding  the  extreme  left  of  Gen. 
cPherson's  line,  moved  toward  the  eastern 
point  of  the  mountain  to  threaten  the  enemy's 
right,  while  Gen.  Dodge's  (16th)  corps  and  Gen. 
Logan's  (15th)  corps  assaulted  the  northern  slope 
adjoining.  The  brunt  of  the  attack  was  borne 
by  three  brigades  of  the  15th  corps,  which  im- 
mediately scattered  the  enemy's  skirmishers, 
and  pushing  on  up  the  hill  with  impetuosity, 
carried  part  of  the  rebel  rifle-pits.  Some  of  the 
retreating  enemy  were  captured  while  endeav- 
oring to  escape  to  a  gorge  which  intervenes  be- 
tween the  right  and  left  halves  of  Kenesaw. 
Still  pressing  forward  our  troops  arrived  at  the 
foot  of  a  perpendicular  cliff  thirty  feet  high, 
from  the  crest  of  which  the  enemy  formed  in 
line  of  battle,  poured  a  destructive  plunging 
fire,  and  rolled  down  huge  stones.  Seeing  it 
impossible  to  scale  these  cliffs  our  line  halted, 
retired  a  short  distance,  and  fortified  on  the 
extreme  right.  For  the  second  and  more  im- 
portant attack  portions  of  Gen.  Newton's  divi- 
sion of  the  4th  corps,  and  of  Gen.  Davis's  of  the 
14th  corps,  were  selected.  At  a  given  signal 
the  troops  rushed  forward  with  buoyant  cour- 
age, charged  up  the  face  of  the  mountain  amidst 
a  murderous  fire  from  a  powerful  battery  on 
the  summit  and  through  two  lines  of  abatis, 
carried  a  line  of  rifle-pits  beyond,  and  reached 
the  works.  The  colors  of  several  regiments 
were  planted  before  the  latter,  and  some  of  the 
men  succeeded  in  mounting  the  ramparts,  but 
the  deaths  of  Gens.  Wagner  and  Barker,  and 
the  wounding  of  Gen.  McCook,  the  destructive 
fire  of  both  musketry  and  artillery,  and  the  dif- 
ficulty of  deploying  the  long  columns  under  such 
fire,  rendered  it  necessary  to  recall  the  men. 
Gen.  Newton's  troops  returned  to  their  original 
line,  while  Gen.  Davis's  2d  brigade  threw  up 
works  between  those  they  had  carried  and  the 
main  line  of  the  enemy,  and  there  remained.  The 
whole  contest  lasted  little  more  than  an  hour, 
but  cost  Gen.  Sherman  nearly  three  thousand  in 
killed  and  wounded,  while  the  enemy,  lying  be- 
hind well-formed  breastworks,  suffered  com- 
paratively slight  loss.  During  the  day  Gen. 
Schofield  had  sharp  skirmishing  with  the  ene- 
my's left  wing,  and  Gen.  Cox's  division  of  the 
23d  corps  pushed  forward  to  a  point  nine 
miles  south  of  Marietta  and  three  from  the 
Ohattahoochee ;  but  the  important  fighting  was 
in  the  centre.  The  failure  of  the  attack  is  to 
be  attributed  to  the  fact  that  Gen.  Johnston 
did  not  allow  himself  to  be  deceived  by  the 
lengthened  line  which  Gen.  Sherman  opposed  to 
him.  From  his  elevated  position  on  the  sum- 
mit of  Kenesaw  he  could  see  plainly  that  the 
main  posts  still  confronted  him,  and  that  the 
flacking  movement  to  his  left  was  not  in  earnest. 
Contenting  himself,  therefore,  with  sending  a 
single  corps  to  watch  the  right  wing,  he  held 
his  main  body  to  repel  the  assault  on  his  centre. 
It  was  not,  however,  the  intention  of  Gen. 
Sherman  to  rest  long  under  the  imputation  of 
defeat,  and  he  almost  immediately  commenced 


preparations  to  turn  the  enemy's  left,  amusing 
Gen.  Johnston,  meanwhile,  by  a  show  of  ap- 
proaching his  centre  by  saps.  On  July  1st, 
Gens.  Hooker  and  Schofield  advanced  to  the 
right  some  two  miles,  and  on  the  2d  Gen. 
McPherson  received  orders  to  rapidly  shift 
his  whole  force  from  the  extreme  left  to  the 
extreme  right  of  the  Federal  lines,  and  push 
on  to  Nickajack  Creek,  which  flows  into  the 
Chattahoochee,  four  miles  below  the  railroad 
bridge.  His  place  on  the  left,  in  front  of  Ken- 
esaw, was  occupied  by  Gen.  Garrard's  cavalry, 
while  Gen.  Stoneman's  cavalry  moved  on  his 
flanks  to  strike  the  river  near  Turner's  Ferry, 
two  miles  and  a  half  below  the  railroad  bridge. 
The  object  of  the  movement  was  speedily  de- 
tected by  Gen.  Johnston,  who  at  once  prepared 
to  evacuate  Kenesaw  and  fall  back  to  the  Chat- 
tahoochee. On  the  night  of  the  2d  his  rear 
guard  abandoned  the  works  which  for  upward 
of  three  weeks  had  been  so  resolutely  assailed 
and  defended,  and  before  dawn  of  the  3d  the 
Federal  pickets  occupied  the  crest  of  the  moun- 
tain. Orders  were  immediately  given  for  Gen. 
Thomas  to  move  forward  along  the  railroad  to 
Marietta,  and  thence  southward  to  the  Chatta- 
hoochee, the  rest  of  the  army  pressing  rapidly 
toward  Nickajack  Creek  to  harass  the  enemy  in 
flank  and  rear,  and  if  possible  to  assail  him  in 
the  confusion  of  crossing  the  river.  Gen.  Sher- 
man himself,  accompanying  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,  entered  Marietta  at  9  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  3d.  During  the  retreat  about 
two  thousand  prisoners,  principally  stragglers, 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Federal  troops. 

Gen.  Johnston  was  too  good  a  general  to 
leave  his  movement  uncovered,  and  Gen. 
Thomas  pushing  forward  in  pursuit,  found 
him  intrenched  behind  a  fortified  line  at  Smyr- 
na, half  way  between  the  river  and  Marietta, 
having  his  flanks  protected  by  Nickajack  and 
Rottenwood  Creeks.  This,  however,  was  but 
an  advance  line,  his  intention  being  to  make 
his  real  stand  in  a  series  of  works  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  river,  and  at  the  railroad  bridge, 
where  he  had  constructed  a  strong  tete  de 
font.  Again  a  flanking  movement  to  the 
right  was  attempted,  and  with  such  success 
that  on  the  night  of  the  4th  Gen.  Johnston 
fell  back  to  the  river,  across  which  the  main 
body  of  his  army  passed,  Gen.  Hardee's  corps 
remaining  on  the  right  bank.  Gen.  Sherman 
then  moved  up  to  the  Chattahoochee,  and  on 
the  evening  of  the  5th  Gens.  Thomas's  and  Mc- 
Pherson's  troops  occupied  a  line  extending  from 
a  short  distance  above  the  railroad  bridge  to  the 
mouth  of  Nickajack  Creek,  while  Gen.  Schofield 
was  posted  in  the  rear  near  Smyrna  as  a  re- 
serve. Cavalry  demonstrations  were  extended 
as  far  south  as  Campbelltown,  fifteen  miles  be- 
low the  railroad  bridge.  By  these  several  man- 
oeuvres, and  particularly  by  the  shifting  of  Gen. 
McPherson's  troops  to  the  right,  Gen.  Sherman 
aimed  to  convey  to  Gen.  Johnston  the  impression 
that  it  was  his  left  flank  that  was  to  be  turned; 
and  in  pursuance  of  the  same  strategy  the  Fed- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


535 


era!  general  having  determined  that  the  ene- 
my's position  was  unassailable  except  by  a  flank 
movement  across  the  river,  amused  his  enemy 
by  demonstrations  south  of  the  railroad  bridge, 
as  if  he  intended  crossing  there.  His  real  ob- 
ject was,  by  rapidly  shifting  masses  of  troops 
from  extreme  light  to  extreme  left,  to  turn  the 
enemy's  right  flank,  and  seize  and  hold  the  vital 
strategic  points  in  that  direction. 

Gen.  Schofield  was,  accordingly,  directed  to 
move  due  eastward  from  his  position  at  Smyrna 
to  the  Chattahoochee,  and  to  make  a  crossing 
near  the  mouth  of  Soap  Creek,  eight  miles 
north  of  the  railroad  bridge.  This  was  suc- 
cessfully accomplished  on  the  7th,  with  the 
capture  of  a  gun  and  a  number  of  prisoners, 
and  a  lodgment  was  effected  on  high  ground 
on  the  left  bank,  and  a  substantial  bridge  con- 
structed. At  the  same  time  Gen.  Garrard  occu- 
pied Rosswell,  a  town  near  the  Chattahoochee, 
nearly  due  north  of  Atlanta,  and  about  seven 
miles  above  Gen.  Schofield's  crossing,  where 
he  destroyed  some  woollen  and  cotton  mills 
which  had  supplied  the  rebel  armies.  In  accord- 
ance with  Gen.  Sherman's  orders  he  secured 
the  ford  at  this  place  until  a  corps  could  be  sent 
thither  from  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  on  the 
right  wing.  On  the  9th,  while  the  enemy  were 
amused  by  feints  extending  from  Power's  Ferry, 
four  miles  above  the  railroad  bridge,  to  Turner's 
Ferry,  three  miles  below  it,  a  crossing  was 
effected  at  Rosswell,  and  the  river  firmly  bridg- 
ed ;  and  under  cover  of  the  same  demonstra- 
tions Gen.  Howard  was  enabled  to  throw  a 
bridge  across  at  Power's  Ferry.  Gen.  John- 
ston at  length  took  the  alarm,  and  during  the 
night  of -the  9th  gave  orders  for  another  retreat. 
His  heavy  guns  were  removed  to  Atlanta,  seven 
miles  distant,  Gen.  Hardee's  corps  was  safely 
crossed  to  the  left  bank,  and  at  daylight  of  the 
10th  the  railroad  bridge,  the  road  bridge,  and 
the  pontoons,  were  in  flames.  The  rebel  army 
then  fell  back  toward  the  fortifications  of 
Atlanta,  abandoning  the  whole  line  of  the 
river,  although  its  left  wing  kept  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Turner's  Ferry,  in  the  expectation 
of  an  attack  from  that  quarter.  Leaving  Gen. 
Johnston  to  his  delusion,  Gen.  Sherman  rapidly 
and  quietly  moved  the  rest  of  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee  behind  the  line  of  our  forces,  to  its 
old  position  on  the  extreme  left,  and  busied 
himself  with  strengthening  his  bridges  and  col- 
lecting supplies,  which,  as  early  as  the  8th, 
were  brought  by  railroad  within  a  mile  of  the 
railroad  bridge. 

A  week's  rest  was  now  allowed  the  army,  a 
sufficient  force  being  detailed  to  the  left  bank 
of  the  Chattahoochee  to  secure  the  several  posi- 
tions there  and  occupy  the  works  of  the  enemy. 
These  proved  to  be  of  the  most  formidable 
character,  and  had  evidently  cost  many  months 
of  labor,  the  lines  extending  for  upward  of  five 
and  a  half  miles  along  the  river,  with  almost 
impenetrable  abatis  in  front.  The  sudden 
abandonment  of  them  caused  more  consterna- 
tion to  the  enemy  than  any  previous  disaster  of 


the  campaign,  as  it  was  anticipated  that  here,  in 
the  immediate  neighborhood  of  his  supplies, 
Gen.  Johnston  could  make  a  long  and  probably 
successful  stand ;  or  at  least  keep  Gen.  Sherman 
at  bay  until  reinforcements  from  other  parts  of 
the  confederacy  should  arrive.  The  catastro- 
phe completed  the  long  catalogue  of  complaints 
against  this  general  which  his  enemies  had 
sedulously  arrayed  before  the  public,  and  his  re- 
moval was  clamored  for  as  indispensable  to  the 
saltation  of  the  cause.  The  inhabitants  of 
Atlanta  in  particular  urged  that  the  retreating 
policy  had  been  followed  far  enough.  It  can 
hardly  admit  of  a  doubt,  however,  that  he  had 
conducted  the  campaign  with  prudence  and 
skill,  and  considering  his  inferiority  in  numbers 
to  Gen.  Sherman,  who  was  always  in  a  condi- 
tion to  outflank  him,  he  had  probably  delayed 
the  Federal  advance  as  long  as  it  was  possible. 
On  the  17th  the  whole  army  was  across  the 
Chattahoochee,  with  the  exception  of  Gen.  Da- 
vis's  division  of  the  14th  corps,  left  to  watch  the 
railroad  bridge  and  the  rear,  and  prepared  to 
move  upon  Atlanta.  The  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland now  occupied  the  right  wing  and  right 
centre,  resting  on  the  river  just  above  the  rail- 
road bridge,  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  the  left  cen- 
tre, and  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  the  left.  In 
this  order  a  grand  right  wheel  was  commenced, 
the  right  wing  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
serving  as  the  pivot,  which,  on  the  evening  of 
the  17th,  brought  the  Federal  line  into  a  posi- 
tion about  northeast  of  the  railroad  bridge, 
along  what  is  known  as  the  old  Peach  Tree 
road.  On  the  18th  the  left  wing,  swinging 
rapidly  around,  struck  the  Georgia  Railroad, 
which  connects  Atlanta  with  Augusta,  at  a 
point  two  miles  west  of  Stone  Mountain,  a  vast 
elevation  of  granite  towering  over  the  sur- 
rounding country,  fifteen  miles  northeast  of 
Atlanta.  With  the  aid  of  Gen.  Garrard's  cav- 
alry, which  moved  on  his  flank,  Gen.  Mc- 
Pherson  broke  up  a  section  of  about  four 
miles  of  the  road,  while  Gen.  Schofield  cte- 
cupied  Decatur,  six  miles  east  of  Atlanta, 
and  Gen.  Thomas  brought  his  troops  close 
up  to  Peach  Tree  Creek,  a  small  stream  rising 
five  or  six  miles  northeast  of  Atlanta,  and 
flowing  southwesterly  into  the  Chattahoochee, 
near  the  railroad  bridge.  In  these  manoeuvres 
our  extreme  left  encountered  little  else  than 
cavalry,  supported  by  a  few  guns  and  a  very 
inadequate  force  of  infantry,  an  evidence  that 
the  enemy  was  still  laboring  under  the  delusion 
that  his  left  and  not  his  right  was  the  real  point 
of  attack,  and  that  Atlanta  was  to  be  ap- 
proached from  the  southwest  instead  of  from 
the  northeast.  Under  these  circumstances  Gens. 
McPherson  and  Schofield  were  enabled,  on  the 
19th,  to  pass  with  little  trouble  westward  of 
Decatur,  within  the  naturally  strong  defensive 
lines  of  Nance's  and  Peach  Tree  Creeks.  Gen. 
Thomas,  moving  more  directly  from  the  north 
of  Atlanta,  found  the  enemy  in  larger  force, 
but  succeeded  on  the  same  day  in  crossing  Peach 
Tree  Creek  in  front  of  their  intrenched  lines. 


536 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


The  Federal  line  .then  held  the  arc  of  a  circle, 
extending  from  the  railroad  between  Atlanta 
and  the  river  to  some  distance  south  of  the 
Georgia  Railroad,  and  in  a  direction  north  and 
northeast  of  Atlanta. 

Meanwhile,  on  the  17th,  Gen.  Johnston  had, 
in  accordance  with  orders  from  the  confederate 
war  department,  turned  over  his  command  to 
Gen.  Hood,  accompanying  the  act  with  the  fol- 
io whig  farewell  address  to  his  troops  : 

HEADQUARTEBS,  ABMY  OP  TENNESSEE.*) 
July  IT,  1664.      f 

In  obedience  to  the  orders  of  the  War  Department, 
I  turn  over  to  Gen.  Hood  the  command  of  the  Army 
and  Department  of  Tennessee.  I  cannot  leave  this 
noble  army  without  expressing  my  admiration  of  the 
high  military  qualities  it  has  displayed  so  conspicu- 
ously— every  soldierly  virtue,  endurance  of  toil,  obe- 
dience to  orders,  brilliant  courage. 

The  enemy  has  never  attacked  but  to  be  severely  • 
repulsed  and  punished.  You,  soldiers,  have  never 
argued  but  from  your  courage,  and  never  counted 
your  fears.  No  longer  your  leader,  I  will  still  watch 
your  career,  and  will  rejoice  in  your  victories.  To  one 
and  all  I  offer  assurances  of  my  friendship,  and  bid 
an  affectionate  farewell. 

J.  E.  JOHNSTON,  General. 

General  Hood,  on  assuming  command,  issued 
the  following  address : 

HEA.DQUABTEBS,  ABMY  OF  TENNESSEE.  J 
July  18,  1864      Jf 

SOLDIERS  :  In  obedience  to  orders  from  the  War 
Department,  I  assume  command  of  this  Army  and 
Department.  I  feel  the  weight  of  the  responsibility 
so  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  devolved  upon  me  by 
this  position,  and  shall  bend  all  my  energies  and  em- 
ploy all  my  skill  to  meet  its  requirements.  I  look 
with  confidence  to  your  patriotism  to  stand  by  me, 
and  rely  upon  your  prowess  to  wrest  your  country 
from  the  grasp  of  the  invader,  entitling  yourselves 
to  the  proud  distinction  of  being  called  the  deliverers 
of  an  oppressed  people.  J.  B.  HOOD,  General. 

With  this  change  in  commanders  commenced 
a  change  in  the  method  of  conducting  the  cam- 
paign, by  which  it  was  expected  that  the  morale 
of  the  rebel  army,  weakened  by  the  persistent 
Fabian  policy  of  Gen.  Johnston,  would  be  fully 
reestablished.  The  time  for  retreating  had 
passed  when  the  chief  city  of  wefstern  Georgia 
lay  almost  in  the  grasp  of  Gen.  Sherman  ;  and 
the  rebel  army,  which,  to  give  Gen.  Johnston 
due  credit,  had  been  kept  in  a  compact  body, 
and  had  experienced  but  insignificant  losses  of 
guns  or  material  of  war,  was  to  be  launched, 
after  their  well-known  tactics,  in  fierce  assaults 
upon  the  invader.  With  this  view  the  command 
was  given  to  Gen.  Hood,  who  had  an  unequalled 
reputation  among  their  generals  for  energy  and 
impetuous  bravery. 

On  the  20th  the  Federal  lines  converged  still 
more  closely  around  the  northern  and  eastern 
sides  of  Atlanta,  and  as  a  gap  existed  between 
Gens.  Schofield  and  Thomas,  Stanley's  and 
Wood's  division  of  Gen.  Howard's  corps  were 
moved  to  the  left  to  connect  with  Gen.  Scho- 
field, leaving  Gen.  Newton's  division  of  Gen. 
Howard's  corps,  with  inadequate  force,  to  hold 
an  important  position  on  the  road  leading  from 
Atlanta  to  Buckhead.  This  weak  point  was 
soon  detected  by  Gen.  Hood,  who  determined 
to  signalize  his  appointment  to  the  chief  com- 


mand by  an  assualt  which,  at  one  blow,  should 
retrieve  the  disasters  of  the  campaign.  Gen. 
Sherman  also  was  well  aware  that  his  line  waa 
vulnerable  at  this  point;  and  as  there  were 
indications  during  the  morning  of  a  concen- 
tration of  troops  on  the  enemy's  right,  as  if 
to  attack  the  left,  orders  were  sent  to  Gen. 
Newton  and  the  rest  of  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland to  close  rapidly  up  in  the  latter  direction. 
Gen.  Newton  accordingly  pushed  forward  to  a 
prominent  ridge,  where,  about  two  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon  his  troops  stacked  arms  and 
made  a  temporary  halt.  Some  prisoners,  gath- 
ered up  by  the  skirmishers,  having  reported 
that  there  was  no  considerable  force  of  the 
enemy  within  a  mile  and  a  half,  no  apprehen- 
sion of  an  attack  seems  to  have  been  felt,  and 
no  preparations  had  been  made  beyond  the  ac- 
customed piles  of  logs  and  rails,  which  the  Fed- 
eral troops  constructed  as  a  matter  of  course, 
whenever  halting  for  any  considerable  time  on 
new  ground  in  presence  of  the  enemy.  Gen. 
Hood  had  meanwhile  been  massing  his  main 
body  in  the  woods  immediately  in  front  of 
Gen.  Newton  and  of  Gen.  Hooker,  who  was 
approaching  from  the  right,  expecting,  by  a  sud- 
den and  overwhelming  attack  upon  the  col- 
umns while  in  motion,  to  cut  the  Federal  army 
in  twain.  At  4  o'clock  he  advanced  from  his 
covert  without  skirmishers,  and  pushed  direct- 
ly for  Gen.  Newton's  position.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  unexpectedness  of  his  appearance,  the 
Federal  troops  sprang  instantly  to  their  arms* 
and  from  behind  their  breastwork*  poured 
deliberate  and  deadly  volleys  into  the  dense 
masses  of  the  Confederates,  who  were  further 
kept  in  check  by  well-served  batteries  which 
Gen.  Newton  had  posted  on  each  of  his  flanks. 

Almost  at  the  instant  of  the  attack  on  Gen. 
Newton,  Gen.  Geary's  division  of  Gen.  Hooker's 
corps  was  struck  by  the  advancing  columns  of 
the  enemy  and  thrown  back  in  some  confusion. 
But  quickly  rallying,  it  recovered  its  ground 
arid  kept  the  enemy  in  check  until  Ward's  di- 
vision could  arrive  to  its  assistance.  The  lat- 
ter met  the  enemy's  charge  by  a  counter  charge, 
and  the  two  columns  mingling  in  the  shock  of 
battle,  the  enemy,  after  a  brief  and  fierce  strug- 
gle, were  driven  back.  Further  to  the  right, 
and  next  to  Geary,  Williams'  division,  though 
attacked  with  desperation,  stood  manfully  up 
to  the  work,  and  repulsed  with  heavy  loss  every 
onset  of  the .  enemy.  After  four  hours  of  in- 
cessant fighting,  the  latter  retired  precipitately 
to  his  intrenchments,  leaving  on  the  field  up- 
ward of  six  hundred  dead,  one  thousand  severe- 
ly wounded,  seven  regimental  flags,  and  a  num- 
ber of  prisoners.  His  total  loss  was  estimated 
by  Gen.  Sherman  at  five  thousand.  That  of 
the  Federal  troops  was  one  thousand  nine 
hundred,  of  which  the  greater  part  fell  on  Gen. 
Hooker's  corps,  which  fought  wholly  on  open 
ground,  and  bore  the  brunt  of  the  battle. 

During  the  21st  the  enemy  kept  within  his 
intrenched  position,  commanding  the  open  val- 
ley of  Peach  Tree  Creek,  his  right  beyond  the 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


537 


Georgia  railroad  to  the  east,  and  his  left  ex- 
tended toward  Turner's  Ferry,  at  a  general 
distance  of  four  miles  from  Atlanta.  In  the 
course  of  the  day  a  steep  £fcd  strongly-fortified 
hill,  about  five  hundred  yards  in  advance  of 
the  skirmish  line  of  the  extreme  Federal  left, 
was  gallantly  carried  by  Gen.  Leggett's  division 
of  the  17th  corps,  though  with  a  loss  of  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  men.  Four  desperate 
attempts  were  made  by  the  division  of  Gen. 
Cleburne  to  regain  the  position,  which  com- 
pletely commanded  Atlanta  and  the  two  prin- 
cipal roads  leading  north  and  south  from  the 
city ;  but  the  enemy  finally  retired,  baffled  and 
severely  crippled,  leaving  his  dead  and  most  of 
his  wounded  on  the  slope  of  the  hill.  He  also 
lost  about  a  hundred  prisoners.  Gen.  McPher- 
son  immediately  threw  out  working  parties  to 
the  hill,  with  the  intention  of  occupying  it  with 
strong  batteries. 

On  the  22d  the  whole  advanced  line  of  the  ene- 
my was  found  abandoned,  a  circumstance  which 
at  first  led  Gen.  Sherman  to  believe  that  they 
intended  to  surrender  Atlanta  without  further 
contest.  Gen.llood,  however,  was  only  prepar- 
ing to  repeat,  on  a  larger  scale,  the  experiment 
of  the  20th.  By  a  show  of  retreating  upon  the 
city  he  hoped  to  decoy  Gen.  Sherman  into  a  rapid 
advance,  and  then  suddenly,  with  heavy  masses 
of  troops,  to  strike  the  Federal  army  while  in 
motion,  at  such  weak  points  ,as  should  present 
themselves.  "It  is  now  quite  evident,"  says  an 
army  correspondent,  writing  on  the  24th,  "that 
the  enemy,  when  they  fell  back  out  of  their 
works,  did  not  retire  to  the  inner  line  around 
the  city  at  all,  though  by  taking  that  direction, 
and  showing  themselvSp  in  large  numbers  upon 
their  works,  they  intended  to  make  us  believe 
they  had  done  so.  Gen.  Hardee's  corps,  instead, 
marched  during  the  night  away  round  to  the 
eastward,  sweeping  entirely  the  circle  of  the 
Federal  left  wing,  and  then,  as  we  closed  in 
around  the  city,  and  before  the  left  wing  had 
got  in  position,  struck  us  upon  the  front,  and 
also  upon  the  flanks."  Unsuspicious  of  this 
deep  laid  plan  for  his  discomfiture,  Gen.  Sher- 
man pushed  his  troops  beyond  the  abandoned 
works,  and  found  the  enemy  occupying  in  force 
a  line  of  finished  redoubts  completely  covering 
the  approaches  to  Atlanta,  and  busily  occupied 
in  connecting  these  redoubts  with  curtains 
strengthened  by  rifle  trenches,  abatis,  and  che- 
vaux-de-frise.  This  satisfied  him  that  Gen. 
Hood  meant  to  fight,  and  he  immediately  re- 
sumed the  dispositions  previously  commenced 
for  pressing  the  city  on  its  eastern  and  north- 
ern fronts.  As  the  Federal  line  closed  in,  the 
circle  which  it  formed  became  so  contracted, 
that  the  16th  corps,  Gen.  Dodge,  which  formed 
the  right  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  was 
thrown  out  of  position,  and  fell  behind  the  15th 
corps,  the  latter  thus  closing  up  with  Gen. 
Schofield,  who  held  the  centre.  Gen.  McPher- 
son  accordingly  ordered  Gen.  Dodge  to  shift 
his  position  to  the  extreme  left  of  the  line,  and 
occupy  the  hill  carried  by  the  17th  corps  on 


the  previous  day,  and  which  was  still  held  by 
Gen.  Leggett  's  division.  At  about  11  A.  M., 
soon  after  this  movement  had  commenced,  Gen. 
McPherson  met  the  commander-in-chief  near 
the  centre  of  the  lines.  "  He  described  to  me," 
says  Gen.  Sherman  in  his  official  report,  "  the 
condition  of  things  on  his  flank  and  the  dispo- 
sitions of  his  troops.  I  explained  to  him  that 
if  we  met  serious  resistance  in  Atlanta,  as  pres- 
ent appearances  indicated,  instead  of  operating 
against  it  by  the  left,  I  would  extend  to  the 
right,  and  that  I  did  not  want  him  to  gain 
much  distance  to  the  left.  He  then  described 
the  hill  occupied  by  Gen.  Leggett's  division  of 
Jen.  Blair's  (17th)  corps  as  essential  to  the  oc- 
cupation of  any  ground  to  the  east  and  south 
of  the  Augusta  railroad,  on  account  of  its  com- 
manding nature.  I  therefore  ratified  his  dis- 
position of  troops,  and  modified  a  previous  order 
I  had  sent  him  in  writing  to  use  Gen.  Dodge's 
corps,  thrown  somewhat  in  reserve  by  the 
closing  up  of  our  line,  to  break  up  railroad, 
and  I  sanctioned  its  going,  as  already  ordered 
by  Gen.  McPherson,  to  his  left,  to  hold  and 
fortify  that  position." 

At  noon  Gen.  McPherson  rode  off  to  the  left, 
where  the  enemy  appeared  to  be  making  a 
slight  cavalry  demonstration.  He  had  not  been 
gone  half  an  hour  when  the  desultory  skirmish-  * 
ing  which  had  been  going  on  in  that  quarter 
all  the  morning  suddenly  deepened  into  a  loud 
crash  of  musketry,  followed  by  rapid  artillery 
firing,  indicating  the  presence  of  the  enemy  in 
large  force.  Gen.  Hood  had  in  fact  secured 
the  opportunity  which  he  desired,  and  ap- 
prehending rightly  that  a  demonstration  was 
least  expected  on  the  left  flank,  had  massed 
Gens.  Hardee's  and  Stewart's  corps  under 
the  cover  of  the  thick  woods  which  skirt 
the  railroad,  and  was  preparing  to  attack  the 
16th  and  17th  corps  while  they  were  getting 
into  position,  his  forts  meanwhile  holding 
the  Federal  centre  and  right  in  check.  Gen. 
Sherman  instantly  transmitted  orders  to  Gens. 
Schofield  and  Thomas  to  keep  the  enemy  em- 
ployed on  all  parts  of  their  front,  and  the  former 
was  directed  to  hold  as  large  a  force  as  possible 
in  reserve  to  sustain  the  left,  should  aid  be 
needed. 

Gen.  McPherson,  upon  reaching  the  left, 
found  the  16th  corps  just  about  moving  into 
position  to  prolong  the  flank,  and  temporarily 
facing  to  the  left  in  a  direction  perpendicular 
to  our  main  line.  Between  the  right  of  the 
16th  and  the  left  of  the  17th  corps  was  a  wooded 
space  of  about  half  a  mile  which  was  not  occu- 
pied by  any  troops.  Shortly  after  twelve  o'clock 
the  enemy  emerged  from  the  dense  woods  in 
front  of  these  corps  in  three  solid  columns,  and 
marched  directly  upon  the  16th  corps  for  the 
purpose  of  turning  our  whole  line.  Three  des 
perate  assaults  were  repelled  by  Gen.  Dodge, 
in  the  last  of  which  the  enemy  suffered  severe 
loss  from  the  well-directed  fire  of  the  Federal 
batteries.  Finding  that  the  attempt  to  break 
the  lines  had  failed  at  this  point,  Gen.  McPher- 


538 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Bon  took  advantage  of  a  temporary  lull  in  the 
fighting  to  ride  through  the  woods  to  Gen. 
Giles  A.  Smith's  division,  which  held  the  left 
of  the  17th  corps.  A  report  that  the  enemy  in 
heavy  force  were  moving  around  the  left  of  the 
17th  corps,  and  were  pushing  in  through  the 
gap  above  mentioned,  as  existing  between  it 
and  the  16th  (the  attack  on  the  16th  corps 
having,  in  fact,  been  a  feint  to  draw  attention 
from  the  real  point  of  attack),  induced  him  to 
hasten  in  that  direction.  After  reaching  the 
gap  he  gave  directions  to  the  only  member  of 
his  staff  who  accompanied  him,  tfle  rest  having 
been  sent  with  orders  to  different  portions  of 
the  field,  to  obtain  a  brigade  from  Gen.  Logan's 
command  and  throw  it  across  the  gap,  and 
then,  with  a  single  orderly,  struck  into  a  cross 
road  leading  directly  to  Gen.  Smith's  position. 
Already,  however,  unknown  to  him,  the  ene- 
my's skirmish  line  had  advanced  close  up  to  this 
road,  and  when  it  was  too  late  to  retrace  his 
steps  he  found  himself  within  fifty  feet  of  it. 
The  rebel  officer  in  command  called  upon  him 
to  surrender,  but  he  only  dashed  his  horse  to 
the  right  of  the  road,  and  was  almost  imme- 
diately brought  to  the  ground,  mortally  wound- 
ed, by  a  volley  from  the  skirmishers.  His  body 
was  for  a  time  in  the  possession  of  the  enemy, 
*  but  was  subsequently  recovered  and  brought 
within  the  Federal  lines.  Upon  hearing  of  this 
disaster,  Gen.  Sherman  ordered  Gen.  Logan  to 
assume  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennes- 
see. 

The  brigade  (Wangelin's)  ordered  up  from 
Gen.  Logan's  corps,  arrived  in  time  to  partially 
check  the  enemy,  but  could  not  prevent  him 
from  getting  a  portion  of  his  force  in  the  rear 
of  the  17th  corps,  while  heavy  masses  of  troops, 
principally  from  Gen.  Stewart's  corps,  were 
pushed  against  the  works  held  by  Gen.  Leggett 
on  the  hill,  wrested  from  Gen.  Cleburne  the  day 
before,  and  which  they  were  evidently  determin- 
ed to  retake  at  any  sacrifice.  Sweeping  up  in 
their  advance  the  working  party  engaged  upon 
the  fortifications,  the  enemy  bore  heavily  against 
Gens.  Smith's  and  Leggett's  divisions,  which,  at- 
tacked in  front  and  rear,  were  obliged  to  fire  al- 
ternately from  behind  their  own  breastwork  and 
the  old  abandoned  parapet  of  the  enemy.  Gen. 
Leggett's  troops  clung  firmly  to  their  important 
position  on  the  top  of  the  hill,  against  the 
fortified  angle  of  which  the  rebels  dashed  their 
columns  with  desperate  but  fruitless  Energy. 
Gen.  Smith  had  meanwhile  been  compelled  to 
abandon  his  more  exposed  lines,  but  by  a  skil- 
ful movement  he  gradually  withdrew  his  men, 
regiment  by  regiment,  to  a  new  line  connecting 
on  the  right  with  Gen.  Leggett,  his  left,  refused, 
facing  to  the  southeast.  In  executing  this 
movement  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  two 
guns  to  ttie  enemy.  Against  this  new  forma- 
tion of  the  17th  corps  the  enemy  .could  make  no 
impression,  but  recoiled  again  and  again  before 
the  deadly  fire  of  the  Federal  troops,  which 
mowed  down  whole  ranks  at  a  time,  and  cov- 
ered the  ground  and  ditches  with  dead  and 


wounded  men.  A  part  of  the  rebel  force  that 
pushed  for  the  gap  between  the  16th  and  17th 
corps  renewed  the  attack  upon  the  right  flank 
of  the  former,  and«pon  its  first  advance  cap- 
tured a  six-gun  battery  of  the  regular  army, 
which  was  moving  along  unsupported  and  un- 
apprehensive of  danger.  Gens.  Sweeney's  and 
Fuller's  divisions  soon  checked  the  enemy's  ad- 
vance, and  finally  drove  him  back  in  confusion 
with  the  loss  of  many  prisoners.  At  a  critical  pe- 
riod of  the  battle  several  of  Gen.  Sweeney's  regi- 
ments were  found  to  be  without  ammunition ; 
but  as  it  was  indispensable  that  they  should 
hold  their  position,  their  commander  ordered 
them  to  meet  the  enemy  with  the  bayonet, 
whereupon  the  latter  broke  and  fled  to  the 
rear.  At  about  half-past  three  o'clock  the 
enemy  desisted  from  his  attack  on  our  left 
flank,  having  gained  no  ground  and  suffered 
enormous  losses,  for  which  his  capture  of  eight 
guns  ill  compensated. 

Meanwhile  two  divisions  of  Gen.  "Wheeler's 
cavalry,  with  a  section  of  artillery,  took  a  wide 
circuit  to  the  east  and  fell  upon  Decatur,  now 
three  miles  in  our  rear,  wher»  Col.  Sprague, 
with  three  infantry  regiments,  and  a  battery, 
was  guarding  a  number  of  wagon  trains  filled 
with  commissary  and  ammunition  supplies. 
By  a  skilful  disposition  of  his  small  force,  Col. 
Sprague  held  the  enemy  in  complete  check  until 
every  wagon  except  three  was  sent  to  the 
rear  of  Gens.  Schofield  and  Thomas,  when  he 
also  fell  back  nearer  the  main  body,  having  in- 
flicted considerable  damage  upon  the  enemy  and 
secured  a  number  of  prisoners.  Gen.  Wheeler's 
unopposed  approach  to  Decatur  was  owing  to 
the  absence  of  Gen.  ^arrard's  cavalry  on  a 
raid  southeast  of  Atlanta. 

About  4  P.  M.  a  pause  occurred  in  the  bat- 
tle, occasioned  by  Gen.  Hood's  massing  troops 
for  an  assault  upon  Gen.  Logan's  (15th)  corps, 
temporarily  commanded  by  Gen.  Morgan  L. 
Smith,  which  held  the  right  of  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee  behind  substantial  breastworks,  im- 
mediately adjoining  the  17th  corps.  At  half- 
past  4  P.  M.,  while  just  enough  of  an  attack 
was  maintained  against  the  extreme  left  to 
occupy  the  attention  of  the  troops  in  that 
quarter,  a  heavy  force  two  lines  deep  marched 
directly  toward  the  left  of  the  15th  corps,  driv- 
ing before  it  a  couple  of  regiments  of  skirmish- 
ers and  capturing  two  guns.  Protected  by 
their  works,  Gen.  Lightbura's  brigade,  which 
held  this  part  of  the  line,  for  half  an  hour  kept 
the  enemy  at  bay  by  well-directed  discharges 
from  a  battery  of  20-pounder  Parrotts;  but  a 
second  strong  rebel  column  now  approached, 
which  scarcely  faltered  beneath  the  volleys 
which  ploughed  its  ranks  in  long  furrows,  and 
presently,  to  add  to  the  perplexity  of  the  situa- 
tion, a  third  column  was  seen  pouring  in  at  the 
rear  through  a  deep  cut  in  the  Georgia  rail- 
road. Finding  that  to  hold  their  position 
would  insure  capture,  Gen.  Lightburn's  troops 
retired  in  considerable  confusion  to  the  second 
line  of  breastworks,  five  hundred  yards  from 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


539 


the  main  line,  and  the  abandoned  works,  with 
two  batteries,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
The  position  gained  by  the  latter,  if  allowed  to 
be  held  by  them,  threatened  such  serious  dis- 
aster that  Gen.  Sherman  sent  orders  to  Gen. 
Logan,  which  had  already  been  anticipated  by 
that  general,  to  make  the  15th  corps  regain  its 
lost  ground  at  any  cost.  In  aid  of  this  move- 
ment he  posted  certain  batteries  from  Gen. 
Schofield's  corps  where  they  could  shell  the 
enemy  and  the  works  beyond,  so  as  to  prevent 
reinforcements.  Just  as  the  enemy  were  pre- 
paring to  turn  the  captured  Parrotts  upon  the 
inner  Federal  line}  the  15th  corps,  supported 
by  portions  of  Gen.  Schofield's  troops,  ad- 
vanced with  loud  cheers  upon  them ;  and 
after  a  desperate  struggle,  in  the  course  of 
which  both  Federals  and  rebels  at  times  fought 
hand  to  hand  across  the  narrow  parapet,  the 
latter  were  driven  out  of  the  works  and  the 
guns  retaken.  Their  retreat  was  accelerated 
by  repeated  discharges  of  grape  and  canister 
among  their  crowded  ranks  which  caused  an 
awful  carnage.  With  this  repulse  the  battle 
terminated. 

This  was  by  far  the  bloodiest  battle  yet 
fought  in  Georgia;  and  notwithstanding  the 
complete  defeat  of  the  enemy  at  all  points,  the 
Federal  army  sustained  an  irreparable  loss  in 
the  death  of  Gen.  McPherson,  described  by 
Gen.  Sherman  as  "a  noble  youth,  of  striking 
personal  appearance,  of  the  highest  profes- 
sional capacity,  and  with  a  heart  abounding  in 
kindness  that  drew  to  him  the  affections  of  all 
men."  The  heroic  conduct  of  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee  during  the  whole  battle  was  in  no 
slight  degree  owing  to  the  desire  to  avenge  the 
fall  of  their  commander.  The  total  Federal 
loss  on  the  22d  was  3,722,  of  whom  much  the 
greater  portion  were  killed  and  wounded.  The 
enemy's  dead  alone  in  front  of  our  lines  num- 
bered 2,200  from  actual  count,  and  of  these 
800  were  delivered  to  the  enemy  under  flag  of 
truce.  Their  total  loss  in  killed  was  computed 
by  Gen.  Logan  at  3,240.  Upwards  of  3,000 
prisoners,  including  1,000  wounded,  and  many 
commissioned  officers  of  high  rank,  beside  18 
colors  and  5,000  small  arms,  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  Federals.  The  enemy  of  course  removed 
many  of  their  dead  and  most  of  their  wounded. 
Owing  to  the  closeness  and  desperation  of  the 
conflict,  the  proportion  of  wounded  to  killed 
was  much  less  than  usual— probably  not  more 
than  two  to  one — which  would  make  their 
loss  in  wounded  about  6,500,  and  their  total 
loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  more 
than  12,000. 

As  an  important  feature  in  his  campaign, 
Gen.  Sherman  had  contemplated,  in  addition  to 
offensive  operations  against  the  enemy  in  the 
field,  a  series  of  expeditions  against  the  several 
railroads  by  which  supplies  or  reinforcements 
were  brought  to  Atlanta.  The  first  line  of  rebel 
communications  selected  to  be  broken  was  the 
railroad  system  connecting  Atlanta  with  the 
southwest,  comprising  the  Atlanta  and  West 


Point  and  the  West  Point  and  Montgomery 
roads;  and  on  July  10,  in  accordance  with  or- 
ders long  previously  issued  by  Gen.  Sherman, 
a  body  of  2,000  Federal  cavalry,  under  Gen. 
Rousseau,  started  from  Decatur,  Ala.,  for  Ope- 
lika,  a  station  on  the  latter  of  these  roads,  in 
eastern  Alabama,  whence  a  road  diverges  east 
to  the  important  manufacturing  town  of  Colum- 
bus, Geo.,  and  thence  to  Macon.  On  the  13th 
Gen.  Rouss.eau  crossed  the  Coosa  near  the  Ten 
Islands,  routing  a  body  of  Alabama  cavalry ; 
passed  rapidly  through  Talladega ;  skirmished 
again  with  the  enemy  at  the  crossing  of  the  Tal- 
lapoosa ;  and  on  the  16th  struck  the  West  Point 
and  Montgomery  road  at  Loachapoka,  ten  miles 
west  of  Opelika.  From  this  point  to  Opelika 
the  railroad  was  well  broken  up,  and  the 
bridges  and  wulverts  destroyed,  beside  three 
miles  of  the  branch  toward  Columbus  and  two 
toward  West  Point.  Gen.  Rousseau  then  turn- 
ed north,  and  brought  his  command  in  safety 
to  Marietta  on  the  22d,  with  a  loss  of  less  than 
thirty  men. 

The  next  operation  was  to  more  thoroughly 
disable  the  Georgia  railroad.  This  had  been 
broken  up  between  Decatur  and  Atlanta  as  the 
army  closed  around  the  city ;  but  as  Gen.  Sher- 
man already  contemplated  prolonging  his  right 
toward  the  west  and  south  of  the  town,  and 
possibly  abandoning  his  hold  on  the  railroad,  it 
became  necessary  to  render  the  latter  unavail- 
able to  the  rebels.  Gen.  Garrard  was  therefore 
detached  on  the  21st,  and  ordered  to  proceed 
with  his  cavalry  to  Covington,  forty-one  miles 
east  of  Atlanta,  and  destroy  the  railroad  bridges  ~ 

over  the  Yellow  and  Ulcopauhatchee  Rivers, 
branches  of  the  Ocmulgee.  He  returned  in  safe- 
ty on  the  24th,  having  completely  destroyed  the 
two  bridges,  of  which  that  over  the  Yellow  River 
was  550  feet  in  length,  and  the  other  250  feet, 
and  broken  up  the  railroad  for  seven  miles  be- 
tween the  two.  He  also  burned  three  trains 
of  cars,  numerous  depots,  minor  bridges  and 
culverts,  2,000  bales  of  cotton,  a  new  and  ex- 
tensive hospital  building  at  Covington,  and  a 
considerable  quantity  of  commissary  and  quar- 
termaster's stores,  and  brought  in  with  him 
several  hundred  prisoners  and  negroes  and 
many  horses.  He  lost  but  two  men  in  the  ex- 
pedition. 

Having  rendered  the  Georgia  road  useless  to 
the  enemy  Gen.  Sherman  next  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  Macon  and  Western  Railroad,  con- 
necting Atlanta  with  Macon,  and  the  only  ave- 
nue left  for  the  conveyance  of  stores  and  am- 
munition to  the  rebel  army.  For  the  purpose 
of  effectually  erippling  this,  he  organized,  his 
cavalry  in  two  large  bodies,  to  move  in  concert 
from  each  wing  of  the  army,  while  simultane- 
ously with  this  movement  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee  was  to  be  shifted  by  the  right  toward 
East  Point,  a  station  six  miles  south  of  Atlanta, 
where  the  Atlanta  and  West  Point  and  Macon 
and  Western  Railroads  diverge  from  a  commoa 
track.  Gen.  Stoneman  was  transferred  to  the 
left  flank,  and  assumed  command  of  his  own 


540 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


cavalry  and  Gen.  Garrard's,  comprising  an  ef- 
fective force  of  5,000  men,  while  Gen.  McCook, 
on  the  right  flank,  received  his  own  command 
and  the  cavalry  brought  by  Gen.  Kousseau, 
amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  4,000  men. 
This  joint  force  Gen.  Sherman  supposed  was 
fully  adequate  to  look  after  Gen.  Wheeler's 
rebel  cavalry,  and  to  accomplish  the  work  allot- 
ted to  it,  which  was  to  rendezvous  atLovejoy's 
station  on  the  Macon  road,  thirty  miles  south 
of  Atlanta,  on  the  night  of  July  28th,  and  there 
make  such  a  complete  destruction  of  the  road 
as  would  lead  to  the  speedy  abandoment  of  At- 
lanta. At  the  moment  of  starting,  Gen.  Stone- 
man  asked  permission,  after  fulfilling  his  orders, 
to  proceed  with  his  own  command  to  Macon 
and  Anderson ville,  and  release  the  Federal  pris- 
oners of  war  confined  at  those  f(&ces.  After 
some  hesitation  Gen.  Sherman  consented,  stip- 
ulating, however,  as  a  condition  precedent,  that 
the  railroad  should  be  effectually  broken  up 
and  Wheeler's  cavalry  put  hors  de  combat. 


On  the  27th  the  two  expeditions  started 
forth,  Gen.  Stoneman  making  for  McDonough, 
a  town  about  ten  miles  east  of  Lovejoy's,  and 
sending  Gen.  Garrard  to  Flat  Rock  to  cover  his 
movement;  and  Gen.  McCook  keeping  down 
the  right  bank  of  the  Chattahoochee.  Gen. 
Stoneman,  however,  almost  immediately  turn- 
ed off*  toward  the  Georgia  Railroad,  which  he 
followed  as  far  as  Covington,  whence  he  struck 
due  south,  and  to  the  east  of  the  Ocmulgee,  for 
•Macon,  distant  sixty  miles,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  which  he  arrived  on  the  30th.  A  detach- 
ment was  sent  east  to  Gordon,  a  station  on  the 
Georgian  Central  Railroad,  where  eleven  loco- 
motives and  several  trains  loaded  with  quarter- 
masters' stores  were  destroyed,  together  with 
several  bridges  between  that  place  and  Macon. 
But  as  he  learned  that  the  prisoners  in  Macon 
had  on  the  previous  day  been  sent  to  Charles- 
ton, Gen.  Stoneman  decided  to  return  at  once 
by  the  way  he  had  come,  without  attempting 
to  reach  Macon  or  Andersonville.  On  the  even- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


541 


ing  of  the  30th  he  turned  northward  again, 
skirmishing  on  the  way ;  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  31st,  when  about  twenty  miles  from  Ma- 
con,  encountered  a  heavy  force  in  his  front. 
The  country  being  unfavorable  for  cavalry 
operations,  he  dismounted  a  portion  of  his  com- 
mand, and  threw  them  forward  as  skirmishers, 
but  soon  found  himself  surrounded.  After  va- 
rious fruitless  attempts  to  make  head  against 
the  enemy,  he  gave  directions  to  the  greater 
part  of  his  force  to  break  through  the  opposing 
lines,  and  escape  in  the  readiest  manner  possi- 
ble, while  he,  with  several  hundred  men  and  a 
section  of  artillery,  occupied  the  attention  of 
the  enemy.  He  was  finally  overpowered  and 
compelled  to  surrender.  Of  his  three  brigades 
one  arrived  safely  within  the  Federal  lines, 
one  was  attacked  and  somewhat  scattered  on 
the  way  back,  and  the  third  was  captured  with 
him.  Gen.  Garrard  meanwhile,  after  waiting 
at  Flat  Eock  for  orders  from  Stoneman  until 
the  29th,  moved  toward  Covington,  and  learn- 
ing that  he  had  gone  south  from  that  point, 
returned  to  his  position  on  the  left  flank  of  the 
army. 

Gen.  McCook,  after  reaching  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Eivertown  on  the  Chattahoochee, 
crossed  on  pontoons  and  made  for  Palmetto 
Station  on  the  Atlanta  and  West  Point  Kail- 
road,  twenty -five  miles  south  of  Atlanta,  where 
he  destroyed  a  section  of  the  road.  He  thence 
moved  eastward  upon  Fayetteville  and  burned 
five  hundred  wagons  belonging  to  the  rebel 
army,  besides  killing  eight  hundred  mules  and 
capturing  several  hundred  quartermasters'  men, 
and  reached  Lovejoy's  on  the  night  of  the  28th. 
Here  he  destroyed  a  section  of  the  Macon  and 
Western  Railroad,  but,  hearing  nothing  from 
Stoneman,  and  finding  his  progress  eastward 
barred  by  a  constantly  accumulating  force  of 
the  enemy,  he  turned  off  to  the  southwest,  and 
at  Newman,  a  station  on  the  Atlanta  and  West 
Point  Railroad  fifteen  miles  south  of  Palmetto, 
encountered  a  rebel  infantry  force  coming  up 
from  Mississippi  to  Atlanta.  After  a  severe 
fight  with  superior  numbers  he  finally  cut  his 
way  out,  with  the  loss  of  five  hundred  men  and 
all  his  prisoners,  and  reached  the  Chattahoochee, 
whence  he  arrived  safely  within  the  Federal 
lines.  The  damage  done  by  the  several  expe- 
ditions scarcely  compensated  for  the  severe 
losses  sustained  by  Gens.  Stoneman  and  Mc- 
Cook, amounting  to  upward  of  fifteen  hundred. 
Owing  to  the  failure  of  Gen.  Stoneman  to  con- 
centrate with  Gen.  McOook  at  Lovejoy's,  the 
communications  with  Atlanta  were  only  tempo- 
rarily interrupted,  and  the  enemy  gained  at 
least  a  month's  respite  from  their  final  catas- 
trophe. 

While  the  cavalry  raid  was  in  progress,  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee  was,  pursuant  to  in- 
structions, drawn  out  of  its  intrenchments  on 
the  left  flank  and  moved  en  echelon  to  a  position 
on  the  extreme  right,  the  right  flank  being 
held  by  Gen.  Logan's  corps.  This  movement 
was  directed  by  Gen.  Howard,  who  on  the 


'27th,  by  appointment  of  the  President,  assumed 
the  command  vacated  by  the  death  of  Gen. 
McPherson.  The  line  was  thus  prolonged  due 
south,  facing  east,  and  south  of  Proctor's  Creek. 
Apprehending  that  Gen.  Hood  might  again  im- 
prove the  opportunity  to  attack  the  Federal 
army  while  in  motion,  Gen.  Sherman  on  the 
28th  disposed  of  Gen.  Davis's  division  of  the 
14th  corps  so  that  it  might  be  within  easy  sup- 
porting distance  of  the  flank  of  Gen.  Howard's 
new  line,  in  the  event  of  a  strong  rebel  demon- 
stration in  that  quarter.  The  enemy  was  not 
slow  to  perceive  that  Gen.  Sherman  was  grad- 
ually swinging  around  toward  the  Macon  road, 
and  to  oppose  the  movement  massed  his  troops 
in  the  same  direction.  About  noon  of  the  28th 
Gen.  Stewart's  corps  came  out  from  Atlanta  by 
the  Bell's  Ferry  road,  and,  forming  on  open 
ground,  advanced  in  long  parallel  lines  upon 
Gen.  Logan's  troops,  fortunately  sheltered  be- 
hind the  customary  breastworks  of  rails,  ex- 
pecting to  find  his  flank  "in  air."  For  up- 
ward of  four  hours  a  series  of  desperate  attacks 
were  made  upon  Gen.  Logan's  position,  which 
were  uniformly  repelled  with  loss.  Again  and 
again  the  rebel  columns  were  brought  up  to  the 
breastworks,  only  to  recoil  shattered  and  bleed- 
ing before  the  steady  volleys  of  musketry  and 
the  incessant  discharges  of  grape  and  canister 
by  which  they  were  assailed.  The  few  officers 
and  men  who  reached  the  rail  piles  were  either 
killed  or  taken  prisoners.  Shortly  after  4 
o'clock  the  enemy  retired,  leaving  his  killed  and 
wounded  in  our  hands,  and  having  experienced 
a  total  loss  estimated  by  Gen.  Sherman  at  five 
thousand.  The  Federal  loss  was  under  six  hun- 
dred. By  some  inadvertency  Gen.  Davis's  di- 
vision failed  to  come  up  to  the  support  of  Gen. 
Logan,  whereby  an  opportunity  was  lost  to 
strike  the  assailing  rebel  columns  in  flank,  and 
probably  to  put  them  to  a  disastrous  rout. 

About  this  time  Gens.  Hooker  and  Palmer 
resigned  the  command  of  their  corps,  and  were 
succeeded,  the  former  by  Gen.  Slocum,  and  the 
latter  by  Gen.  Jeff.  C.  Davis.  Gen.  Slocum, 
however,  being  absent  at  Vicksburg,  the  com- 
mand of  the  20th  corps  was  temporarily  as- 
sumed by  Gen.  A.  S.  Williams.  Gen.  D.  S. 
Stanley  also  succeeded  Gen.  Howard  in  com- 
mand of  the  4th  corps. 

Failing  to  dislodge  Hood  from  Atlanta  in  this 
way,  Gen.  Sherman  next  resorted  to  a  further 
extension  of  his  right,  in  the  hope  of  flanking  him 
in  that  direction.  The  23d  corps,  supported  by 
the  14th,  was  accordingly,  on  the  5th  and  6th 
of  August,  transferred  from  the  left  to  a  posi- 
tion somewhat  below  Utoy  Creek,  a  small  af- 
fluent of  the  Chattahoochee,  where  it  joined 
on  Gen.  Logan's  right  and  formed  our  right 
flank.  Demonstrations  of  more  or  less  import- 
ance were  made  against  the  enemy's  works 
during  the  prolongation  of  the  right,  but  every- 
where he  was  found  well  protected  behind  an 
admirably  constructed  line  of  defences,  within 
which  was  a  second  line,  comprising  a  series  of 
redoubts  of  great  thickness  of  parapet  and  good 


542 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


command,  connected  throughout  by  a  contin- 
uous infantry  parapet,  covered  by  abatis,  che- 
veaux-de-frise,  and  other  impediments  of  the 
most  approved  kind.  This  inner  line  of  works 
completely  enveloped  Atlanta,  and  thence  ex- 
tended for  six  miles  along  the  railroad  track  to 
East  Point,  previously  described  as  jointly  used 
by  the  Atlanta  and  West  Point  and  Macon  and 
Western  Roads,  thus  covering  the  latter.  The 
Federal  army,  instead  of  threatening  the  city  on 
the  north  and  east,  was  now  so  shifted  from  its 
first  position  that,  while  the  extreme  left  cov- 
ered the  northern  approaches  to  Atlanta,  the  ex- 
treme right  was  southwest  of  it,  running  parallel 
fo  the  railroad.  The  Federal  lines  were  drawn 
at  an  average  distance  of  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  the  city,  and  between  them  and  the  rebel 
works  intervened  a  narrow  belt  of  rough  and 
wooded  country,  the  scene  of  constant  skirmish- 
ing between  the  opposing  forces.  Thus  Gen. 
Hood,  though  in  inferior  force  to  Gen.  Sher- 
man, having  the  advantage  of  interior  lines,  and 
acting  strictly  on  the  defensive  behind  almost 
impregnable  works,  seemed  able  to  hold  his 
position  for  an  indefinite  period.  He  had  re- 
cently been  reenforced  by  some  veteran  troops 
and  by  a  body  of  several  thousand  Georgia  mi- 
litia, and  had  also  added  considerably  to  his 
fighting  material  by  arming  and  organizing  la- 
borers, teamsters,  and  quartermasters'  men, 
whose  places  were  supplied  by  negroes. 

A  survey  of  the  situation  satisfied  Gen.  Sher- 
man that  Gen.  Hood's  lines  could  only  be  car- 
ried at  a  fearful  sacrifice  of  life,  and  that  in 
order  to  reach  the  Macon  Road  and  control  the 
supplies  of  Atlanta,  a  new  movement  by  the 
right  flank,  in  which  nearly  the  whole  army 
should  participate,  must  be  attempted.  He  ac- 
cordingly determined  to  withdraw  one  corps  to 
the  intrenched  position  at  the  railroad  bridge 
over  the  Chattahoochee,  to  protect  communica- 
tion with  his  base,  and  wiA  his  remaining 
troops  to  march  rapidly  to  the  southwest  and 
south  of  the  city,  and  crossing  the  two  rail- 
roads, break  them  up  in  such  a  manner  that  im- 
mediate repairs  would  be  impossible.  The 
movement  thus  resolved  itself  into  a  raid,  as 
the  term  is  understood  in  modern  military  par- 
lance, on  a  truly  gigantic  scale,  and,  if  success- 
ful, would  probably  cut  off  Atlanta  for  months 
from  it*  supplies  and  compel  its  evacuation. 
It  involved,  in  brief,  to  use  Gen.  Sherman's 
own  words,  "  the  necessity  of  raising  the  siege 
of  Atlanta,  taking  the  field  with  our  main  force, 
and  using  it  against  the  communications  of  At- 
lanta, instead  of  against  its  intrenchments." 
By  the  16th  of  August  his  plans  were  com- 
pleted ;  but,  before  commencing  to  put  them  in 
execution,  he  ascertained  that  Gen.  Wheeler, 
with  nearly  the  whole  force  of  rebel  cavalry, 
had  moved  round  in  a  northeasterly  direction 
to  cut  his  communications  between  Marietta 
and  Chattanooga.  Thinking  that  in  the  ab- 
sence of  Gen.  Wheeler  the  Federal  cavalry 
might  perhaps  accomplish  the  task  he  had 
marked  out  for  the  whole  army,  he  temporarily 


suspended  his  orders  and  directed  Gen.  Ejl- 
patrick,  recently  returned  to  duty,  to  move 
across  the  railroads  and  tear  them  up  thorough- 
ly. Gen.  Kilpatrick  started  on  the  18th  with 
a  force  of  five  thousand  men,  struck  the  Atlanta 
and  West  Point  Road  at  Fairburn  and  the  Macon 
road  at  Jonesboro,  and  Lovejoy's ;  but,  being 
harassed  by  the  enemy  at  each  place,  could 
effect  no  permanent  damage.  He  finally  re- 
turned on  the  22d  by  way  of  Decatur,  bringing 
one  hundred  prisoners,  three  flags,  and  one 
piece  of  artillery. 

This  satisfied  Gen.  Sherman  that  his  original 
plan  must  be  adhered  to,  and  preparations  for 
carrying  it  out  were  pressed  with  renewed  ac- 
tivity. A  battery  of  4^-inch  rifled  guns  was 
meanwhile  put  in  position,  and  by  its  well- 
directed  discharges  impressed  the  enwny  with 
the  belief  that  regular  siege  operations  were 
in  progress,  thus  aiding  to  mask  the  new  move- 
ment. It  also  materially  interrupted  the  run- 
ning of  the  rebel  supply  trains  on  the  Macon 
road,  and  was  the  cause  of  several  conflagra- 
tions in  Atlanta.  Notwithstanding  the  latter, 
the  enemy  held  resolutely  to  their  forts,  with 
the  evident  intention  of  suffering  the  city  to 
perish  rather  than  abandon  their  position.  On 
the  night  of  the  25th,  every  thing  being  in 
readiness,  and  'the  wagons  loaded  with  fifteen 
days'  provisions,  the  4th  and  20th  corps,  occu- 
pying the  extreme  left,  were  moved  quietly 
out  of  their  intrenchments,  and  marched,  the 
former  to  a  position  in  the  rear  of  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee,  and  the  latter  to  the  railroad 
bridge  over  the  Chattahoochee  and  the  adjacent 
ferries,  which  it  was  appointed  to  guard.  On 
the  succeeding  night  the  4th  corps  was  moved 
southward  toward  Red  Oak  and  Fairburn  sta- 
tions, on  the  Atlanta  and  West  Point  road, 
twelve  or  fifteen  miles  south  of  Atlanta,  fol- 
lowed by  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  on 
the  morning  of  the  27th  the  whole  front  of 
the  city  was  uncovered,  except  that  portion 
occupied  by  the  23d  corps,  which  alone  re- 
mained within  its  intrenchments.  In  like 
manner  the  23d  corps  was  withdrawn  from  its 
intrenchments  and  formed  the  left  of  the  new 
line,  of  which  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
held  the  centre,  and  the  Army  of  the  Tennes- 
see the  right.  These  operations  were  viewed 
with  undisguised  wonder  by  the  rebel  troops 
from  within  their  fortifications,  and  seemed 
to  give  color  to  the  belief  that  Gen.  Sherman 
had  commenced  a  retreat.  A  skirmish  line 
sent  out  toward  the  bridge,  after  the  with- 
drawal of  Gens.  Thomas  and  Howard,  encoun- 
tered the  20th  corps  intrenched  behind  a  strong 
tete  de  pont,  and  returned  more  bewildered  if 
possible  than  before. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  the  Armies  of 
the  Cumberland  and  the  Tennessee  lay  between 
Fairburn  and  Red  Oak  in  a  line  facing  east  and 
north.  The  day  was  devoted  to  a  thorough 
destruction  of  the  West  Point  Railroad  be- 
tween these  points,  and  some  distance  above. 
"  It  was  done,"  says  Gen.  Sherman,  "  with  a 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


543 


will.  Twelve  and  a  half  miles  were  destroyed, 
the  ties  burned,  and  the  iron  rails  heated  and 
tortured  by  the  utmost  ingenuity  of  old  hands 
at  the  work.  Several  cuts  were  filled  up  with 
trunks  of  trees,  with  logs,  rock  and  earth,  inter- 
mingled with  loaded  shells  prepared  as  tor- 
pedoes, to  explode  in  case  of  an  attempt  to  clear 
them  out."  On  the  30th  the  army  was  again 
in  motion  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  aiming 
to  strike  the  Macon  Railroad  from  Rough  and 
Ready  to  Jonesboro.  Gen.  Hood  now  began 
to  understand  the  object  of  Gen.  Sherman's 
movement ;  but  still  ignorant,  apparently,  that 
nearly  the  whole  Federal  army  was  moving 
upon  his  communications,  he  contented  himself 
with  sending  Gens.  Hardee  and  S.  D.  Lee's 
corps  to  Jonesboro,  where  they  intrenched,  re- 
maining in  Atlanta  with  Gen.  Stewart's  corps 
and  the  militia.  Gen.  Howard,  marching  due 
east  from  Fairburn,  arrived  within  half  a  mile 
of  Jonesboro  on  the  evening  of  the  30th ;  but 
encountering  Gens.  Hardee  and  Lee,  he  halted 
for  the  night  in  a  strong  position,  and  proceeded 
to  throw  up  intrenchments.  The  remainder 
of  the  army,  moving  en  echelon  to  the  left,  did 
not  succeed  in  reaching  the  railroad. 

Meanwhile  the  loth  corps,  having  seized  a 
prominent  hill  which  formed  the  key  to  the 
enemy's  position,  took  post  in  the  centre  of  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee,  the  16th  somewhat 
retired,  holding  the  extreme  right,  and  the 
17th  the  left.  The  15th  corps  spent  the  night 
jn  intrenching,  and  early  next  day,  before  the 
right  and  left  flanks  had  taken  up  their  ad- 
vanced position,  the  enemy  burst  in  masses  on 
the  15th  corps,  bat  were  steadily  and  repeat- 
edly repulsed,  losing  several  general  officers,  in- 
cluding Major-Gen.  Anderson,  mortally  wound- 
ed, and  five  colonels  and  majors  (wounded) 
taken  prisoners,  besides  upward  of  three  thou- 
sand rank  and  file  killed,' wounded,  and  cap- 
tured. The  Federal  loss  was  slight,  as  the  men 
fought  behind  breastworks.  It  was  observed 
that  the  rebel  attacks  lacked  the  enthusiasm 
and  dash  which  had  characterized  the  severe 
assaults  before  Atlanta;  During  the  31st  the 
23d  and  4th  corps  reached  the  railroad  near 
Rough  and  Ready,  and  commenced  destroying 
it  north  and  south  from  that  point,  in  the  same 
thorough  manner  which  had  characterized  their 
operations  on  the  "West  Point  road. 

Upon  the  repulse  of  the  enemy  on.  the  after- 
noon of  the  31st,  Gen.  Sherman  directed  Gen. 
Howard  to  hold  him  in  his  fortifications  until 
the  remainder  of  the  army  could  close  in  upon 
him.  The  14th  corps  only,  having  a  compar- 
atively short  distance  to  travel,  succeeded  in 
getting  up  to  Jonesboro  on  September  1st,  the 
other  two  being  too  far  from  the  field,  and  too 
much  embarrassed  by  the  difficult  character  of 
the  country  and  the  want  of  good  roads,  to  move 
with  rapidity.  At  4  p.  M.  the  14th  corps,  which 
had  taken  position  on  the  left  of  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee,  was  ordered  to  assault  the  ene- 
my's works,  Gen,  Sherman  fearing  that,  if  he 
waited  for  the  arrival  of  Gens.  Sehofield  and 


Stanley,  darkness  might  intervene,  and  the 
enemy  escape  without  a  fight.  The  troops 
steadily  advanced  under  a  withering  fire  of 
musketry  and  artillery,  and  after  a  desperate 
conflict  of  two  hours  drove  the  enemy  from 
their  works,  capturing  two  batteries — 6ne  of 
them  Loomis'  battery,  captured  at  Chick- 
amauga,  some  battle  flags,  and  a  large  number 
of  prisoners,  including  Gen.  Govan  and  the 
greater  part  of  his  brigade,  forming  part  of  the 
celebrated  "fighting  division"  of  Gen.  Cle- 
burne.  Darkness  now  setting  in,  G«n.  Hardee 
was  enabled  to  fall  back  seven  miles  to  Love- 
joy's,  where  he  intrenched  himself  in  a  natu- 
rally strong  position.  Had  Gens.  Stanley  and 
Schofield  succeeded  in  coming  up  in  season,  he 
would  in  all  probability  have  been  overwhelmed 
and  forced  to  capitulate. 

Meanwhile,  in  Atlanta  on  the  1st,  all  was 
excitement  and  consternation,  as  it  gradually 
transpired  that  the  main  body  of  the  Federal 
army  lay  between  the  city  and  Gen.  Hardee. 
Gen.  Hood  at  once  gave  orders  for  the  evacu- 
ation of  his  works,  and  the  destruction  of  such 
stores  and  ammunition  as  could  not  be  removed. 
The  removal  of  all  the  supplies  and  ammunition 
that  the  transportation  facilities  of  the  army 
would  permit  commenced  early  in  the  morn- 
ing^and  was  continued  throughout  the  day. 
Large  quantities  of  provisions  were  also  dis- 
tributed to  the  people,  and  the  several  bodies  of 
troops,  as  they  were  withdrawn  from  the  de- 
fences and  went  through  the  city,  were  allowed 
access  to  the  public  stores.  The  rolling  stock 
of  the  railroads,  consisting  of  about  one  hun- 
dred cars  and  six  engines,  was  concentrated 
near  the  rolling  mill  before  dark,  by  which  time 
all  the  troops  had  passed  through,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  rear  guard,  left  to  prevent  strag- 
gling. The  cars  were  then  laden  with  the  sur- 
plus ammunition,  and  together  with  the  loco- 
motives, depots,  and  store  houses,  and  every 
thing,  in  fine,  which  would  be  of  use  to  the  Fed- 
eral army,  fired  about  midnight.  The  flames 
lit  up  the  heavens  for  many  miles,  and  the  ex- 
plosion of  the  ordnance  trains  was  distinctly 
heard  by  the  army  in  front  of  Jonesboro,  and 
by  Gen.  Slocum  at  his  position  on  the  Chatta- 
hoochee.  The  latter  sent  out  a  heavy  recon- 
noitring column  at  daybreak  on  the  2d,  which, 
pushing  forward  without  opposition,  entered 
the  city  at  9  o'clock,  where  it  was  met  by  the 
mayor,  who  made  a  formal  surrender,  at  the 
same  time  requesting  protection  for  non-com- 
batants and  private  property.  This  having 
been  freely  granted,  Gen.  Ward's  division 
marched  into  the  city  with  drums  beating  and 
colors  displayed,  and  the  national  flag  was 
raised  over  the  Court  House  amidst  hearty 
cheers.  Eleven  heavy  guns  were  found  in  the 
fortifications,  beside  a  number  subsequently  ex- 
humed ;  and  among  the  additional  spoils  were 
three  uninjured  locomotives,  three  thousand 
muskets  in  good  order,  a  quantity  of  tobacco, 
and  other  stores.  Of  the  valuable  machinery 
in  the  workshops  part  had  been  removed  to 


544 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Augusta  and  Macon,  and  part  destroyed. 
"We  have,"  says  Gen.  Sherman,  in  his  de- 
spatch announcing  the  capture  of  Atlanta,  "  as 
the  result  of  this  quick,  and,  as  I  think,  well- 
executed  movement,  twenty-seven  guns,  over 
three  thousand  prisoners,  and  have  buried 
over  four  hundred  rebel  dead,  and  left  as 
many  wounded  that  could  not  be  removed. 
The  rebels  have  lost,  besides  the  important  city 
of  Atlanta  and  their  stores,  at  least  five  hun- 
dred dead,  twenty-five  hundred  wounded,  and 
three  thousand  prisoners  ;  whereas  our  aggre- 
gate loss  will  not  foot  up  fifteen  hundred.  If 
that  is  not  success  I  don't  know  what  is." 

Of  the  losses  in  killed,  wounded,  and  miss- 
ing, sustained  by  the  Federal  army  up  to  this 
period,  the  following  table,  based  upon  the  most 
trustworthy  information  at  present  attainable, 
may  be  considered  to  give  a  fair  estimate  : 

Skirmishing  from  Chattanooga  to  Besaca  ............  1,200 

Battle  of  Eesaca  ....................................  4,500 

Skirmishing  from  Eesaca  to  Allatoona  ...............  500 

Battles  around  Dallas  ...............................  3,000 

Battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  July  27th.  .  *.  .........  8,000 

Lesser  contests  around  Kenesaw,  June  9th  to  July  1st  4,500 

Skirmishing'between  Kenesaw  and  the  Chattahoochee  1,000 

Battle  of  July  20th  .................................  1,900 

"     ofJuly22d  ..................  /  ...............  3,700 

"     of  July  28th  .................................  600 

Skirmishing  from  July  17th  to  August  28th  ..........  3,000 

Fighting  at  Jonesboro,  August  81st  and  Sept  1st  .....  1,500 

Losses  in  cavalry  raids  .............................  2,000 

" 


Of  the  total  number,  less  than  one-sixth 
come  under  the  head  of  missing.  The  loss  in 
cannon  was  fifteen  pieces—  ten  in  the  battle  of 
July  22d,  three  taken  from  Stoneman,  and  two 
abandoned  by  McCook.  Notwithstanding  these 
casualties,  amounting  to  nearly  a  third  of  the 
force  with  which  he  set  out  from  Chattanooga, 
Gen.  Sherman  was  enabled  to  report,  after  the 
fall  of  Atlanta,  that  by  the  arrival  of  re- 
enforcements,  recruits,  furloughed  men  and 
convalescents,  he  had  maintained  his  original 
strength.  Of  the  rebel  losses  it  is  more  difficult 
to  form  an  estimate,  but  the  following  is  be- 
lieved to  be  reasonably  correct  : 

LOBS  in  skirmishing  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta  ____    6,000 

Battles  at  Eesaca  .............  *  .....................    2,500 

"      around  Dallas  ...............................    8,500 

Battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain  ..........  .  .............    1,000 

"     of  July20th  ................................    5,006 

"     of  ffuly22d  ............................  ......  12,000 

"     of3uly28th  ..................................    6,500 

Lesser  contests  around  Atlanta  .................  .  .....    1,500 

Battles  at  Jonesboro  .................................    6,000 

42,000 

The  enemy  lost  more  than  twenty  general 
officers,  killed  and  wounded,  according  to  their 
own  showing,  besides  from  forty  to  fifty  pieces 
of  cannon,  of  which  eight  were  64-pounders, 
and  over  25,000  stand  of  small  arms.  Their 
loss  in  colors  was  also  much  greater  than  that 
of  the  Federals. 

Gen.  Hood,  upon  abandoning  Atlanta,  di- 
rected his  march  toward  McDonough,  whence 
moving  west  he  succeeded  in  forming  a  junc- 
tion with  Gens.  Hardee  and  Lee.  On  the  2d 
Gen.  Sherman  followed  in  Gen.  Hardee's  traces, 
but  finding  him  intrenched  in  a  position  of  great 
strength,  and  learning  the  capitulation  of  the 


city,  he  desisted,  from  further  attack,  and  on  the 
4th  gave  orders  for  the  army  to  proceed  by  easy 
marches  in  the  direction  of  Atlanta.  On  the  8th 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  encamped  around 
the  city,  that  of  the  Tennessee  about  East  Point, 
and  that  of  the  Ohio  at  Decatur.  Atlanta  it- 
self was  held  by  Gen.  Slocum's  (20th)  corps. 

Previous  to  the  departure  of  the  cavalry  un- 
der Gen.  "VVheeler,  on  their  raid  against  the 
railroad  communications  of  Gen.  Sherman,  as 
mentioned  above,  the  latter  had  enjoyed  a  com- 
parative immunity  from  such  demonstrations. 
This  was  mainly  the  result  of  the  skilful  dis- 
positions which  he  had  made  for  guarding  the 
road  between  Atlanta .  and  Chattanooga.  In 
the  latter  place  he  had  also  wisely  accumulated 
a  sufficient  quantity  of  stores  to  render  him  in 
a  measure  independent  of  Nashville,  in  the 
event  of  any  interruption  of  travel  between  the 
two  places.  He  consequently  felt  little  imme- 
diate uneasiness  upon  hearing  of  the  departure 
of  Gen.  Wheeler,  but  rather  congratulated  him- 
self that  he  was  at  a  critical  moment  superior 
to  the  enemy  in  cavalry.  Gen.  Wheeler  left 
Atlanta  soon  after  the  miscarriage  of  Gen. 
Stoneman's  raid,  with  a  mounted  force  of  six 
thousand  men,  and  moving  around  to  the  north- 
east, struck  the  Western  and  Atlanta  road  near 
Adairsville,  just  midway  between  Atlanta  and 
Chattanooga.  Here  he  succeeded  in  capturing 
nine  hundred  beef  cattle.  He  next  approached 
the  road  at  Calhoun,  nine  miles  north  of  Adairs- 
ville, where  he  committed  some  damage,  and  on 
August  14th  made  his  appearance  at  Dalton,  of 
which  place,  "  to  prevent  the  effusion  of  blood," 
he  demanded  the  immediate  And  unconditional 
surrender.  Col.  Leibold,  who  held  the  town 
with  five  hundred  or  six  hundred  men,  replied 
that  he  had  "  been  placed  there  to  defend  the 
post,  but  not  to  surrender."  Apprising  Gen. 
Steedman,  in  command  at  Chattanooga,  of  hi3 
danger,  he  kept  Gen.  Wheeler  at  bay  until  the 
next  day,  when  reenfor cements  arrived  from1 
that  place,  by  whose  aid  the  enemy  were  driven 
off  in  confusion.  Gen.  Wheeler  then  passed  up 
into  East  Tennessee,  Having  the  Federals  to 
repair  at  their  leisure  the  damage  he  had  done, 
and  in  a  few  days  the  railroad  was  again  in 
good  running  order  between  Atlanta  and  Chat- 
tanooga. He  subsequently  destroyed  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  the  road  between  Chat- 
tanooga and  Knoxville,  and  moving  west  dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of  August  and  first  week  of 
September,  made  strenuous  efforts  to  interrupt 
railroad  and  telegraph  communication  between 
Chattanooga  and  Nashville ;  but  being  pursued 
by  Gens.  Kousseau,  Steedman,  and  Granger, 
he  was  speedily  driven  toward  Florence,  and 
thence  into  Northern  Alabama.  The  damage 
committed  by  him  between  Chattanooga  and 
Atlanta  was  so  slight,  that  Gen.  Sherman, 
writing  from  the  latter  place  on  September 
15th,  was  enabled  to  say,  "  Our  roads  and  tele- 
graphs are  all  repaired,  and  the  cars  run  with 
regularity  and  speed." 

The  news  of  the  capture  of  Atlanta  reached 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


545 


"Washington  on  Sept.  2d,  and  immediately 
elicited  the  following  expression  of  thanks 
from  President  Lincoln  : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON.  Sept.  2. 

The  national  thanks  are  tendered  by  the  President 
to  Maj.-Gen.  Sherman  and  the  gallant  officers  and 
soldiers  of  his  command,  before  Atlanta,  for  the  dis- 
tinguished ability,  courage,  and  perseverance  dis- 
played in  the  campaign  in  Georgia,  which,  under 
Divine  Power,  resulted  in  the  capture  of  the  city  of 
Atlanta. 

The  marches,  battles,  sieges,  and  other  military 
operations  that  has  signalled  this  campaign,  must 
render  it  famous  in  the  annals  of  war,  and  have  en- 
titled those  who  have  participated  there,  to  the  ap- 
plause and  thanks  of  the  Nation. 

(Signed)  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

Orders  were  also  given  for. the  firing  of  na- 
tional salutes  at  the  principal  arsenals,  and  the 
llth  of  September  was  appointed  a  day  of  sol- 
emn national  thanksgiving  for  the  signal  suc- 
cesses of  Gen.  Sherman  in  Georgia,  and  of  Ad- 
miral Farragut  at  Mobile.  The  following  is  Gen. 
Sherman's  congratulatory  address  to  his  troops : 

HEADQTTAKTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OP  THE  Miss.,  I 
IN  THE  FIELD,  ATLANTA,  GA.,  Sept  8.     j 
Special  Field  Orders  No.  68. 

The  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Armies  of  the  Cum- 
berland, Ohio,  and  Tennessee,  have  already  received 
the  thanks  of  the  nation  through  its  President  and 
Commander-in-Chief ;  and  it  now  remains  only  for  him 
who  has  been  with  you  from  the  beginning,  and  who 
intends  to  stay  all  the  time,  to  thank  the  officers  and 
men  for  their  intelligence,  fidelity,  and  courage  dis- 
played in  the  campaign  of  Atlanta. 

On  the  first  of  May  our  armies  were  lying  in  garri- 
son, seemingly  quiet,  from  Knoxville  to  Huntsville, 
and  our  enemy  lay  behind  his  rocky-faced  barrier  at 
Dalton,  proud,  defiant,  and  exulting.  He  had  had 
time  since  Christmas  to  recover  from  his  discomfiture 
on  the  Mission  Ridge,  with  his  ranks  filled,  and  a 
new  commander-in-chief,  second  to  none  of  the  Con- 
federacy in  reputation  for  skill,  sagacity,  and  extreme 
popularity. 

All  at  once  our  armies  assumed  life  and  action,  and 
appeared  before  Dalton  -threatening  Rocky  Face  we 
threw  ourselves  upon  Resaca,  and  the  rebel  army 
only  escaped  by  the  rapidity  of  its  retreat,  aided  by 
the  numerous  roads  with  which  he  was  familiar,  and 
which  were  strange  to  us. 

Again  he  took  post  at  Allatoona,  but  we  gave  him 
no  rest,  and  by  a  circuit  toward  Dallas  and  subse- 
quent movement  to  Ackworth,  we  gained  the  Alla- 
toona Pass.  Then  followed  the  eventful  battles 
about  Kenesaw,  and  the  escape  of  the  enemy  across 
Chattahoochee  River. 

The  crossing  of  the  Chattahoochee  and  breaking 
of  the  Augusta  road  was  most  handsomely  executed 
by  us,  and  will  be  studied  as  an  example  in  the  art 
of  war.  At  this  stage  of  our  game  our  enemies  be- 
came dissatisfied  with  their  old  and  skilful  com- 
mander, and  selected  one  more  bold  and  rash.  New 
tactics  were  adopted.  Gen.  Hood  first  boldly  and 
rapidly,  on  the  20th  of  July,  fell  on  our  right  at 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  lost. 

Again,  on  the  22d,  he  struck  our  extreme  left,  and 
was  severely  punished ;  and  finally  again,  on  the 
28th,  he  repeated  the  attempt  on  our  right,  and  that 
time  he  must  have  been  satisfied,  for  since  that  date 
he  has  remained  on  the  defensive.  We  slowly  and 
gradually  drew  our  lines  about  Atlanta,  feeling  for 
the  railroads  which  supplied  the  rebel  army  and 
made  Atlanta  a  place  of  importance. 

We  must  concede  to  our  enemy  that  he  met  these 
efforts  patiently  and  skilfully,  but  at  last  he  made 
the  mistake  we  had  waited  fo'r  so  long,  and  sent  his 
oavalry  to  our  rear,  far  beyond  the  reach  of  recall. 
Instantly  our  cavalry  was  on  his  only  remaining 
85 


road,  and  we  followed  quickly  with  our  principal 
army,  and  Atlanta  fell  into  our  possession  as  the 
fruit  of  well-concerted  measures,  backed  by  a  brave 
and  confident  army. 

This  completed  the  grand  task  which  had  been 
assigned  us  by  our  Government,  and  your  General 
again  repeats  his  personal  and  official  thanks  to  all 
the  officers  and  men  composing  this  army,  for  the 
indomitable  courage  and  perseverance  which  alone 
could  give  success. 

We  have  beaten  our  enemy  on  every  ground  he 
has  chosen,  and  have  wrested  from  him  his  own 
Gate  City,  where  were  located  his  foundries,  arse- 
nals, and  workshops,  deemed  secure  on  account  of 
their  distance  from  our  base,  and  the  seeming  im- 
pregnable obstacles  intervening.  Nothing  is  impos- 
sible to  an  army  like  this,  determined  to  vindicate 
a  Government  which  has  rights  wherever  our  flag 
has  once  floated,  and  is  resolved  to  maintain  them  at 
any  and  all  costs. 

In  our  campaign  many,  yea,  very  many  of  our 
nojjlo  and  gallant  comrades  have  preceded  us  to  our 
common  destination,  the  grave ;  but  they  have  left 
the  memory  of  deeds  on  wnich  a  nation  can  build  a 
proud  history.  Gens.  McPherson,  Barker,  McCook, 
and  others  dear  to  us  all,  are  now  the  binding  links 
in  our  minds  that  should  attach  more  closely  to- 
gether the  living,  who  have  to  complete  the  task 
which  still  lies  before  us  in  the  dim  future. 

I  ask  all  to  continue  as  they  have  so  well  begun  the 
cultivation  of  the  soldierly  virtues  that  have  enno- 
bled our  own  and  other  countries.  Courage,  pa- 
tience, obedience  to  the  laws  and  constituted  authori- 
ties of  our  Government ;  fidelity  to  our  trusts,  and 
good  feeling  among  each  other ;  each  trying  to  excel 
the  other  in  the  practice  of  those  high  qualities,  and 
it  will  then  require  no  prophet  to  foretell  that  our 
country  will  in  time  emerge  from  this  war,  purified 
by  the  fires  of  war,  and  worthy  its  great  founder,  Wash- 
ington. W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Maj.-Gen.  Com'ng. 

Upon  arriving  in  Atlanta,  Gen.  Sherman  de- 
termined that  the  exigencies  of  the  service  re- 
quired that  the  place  should  for  the  present  be 
appropriated  exclusively  for  military  purposes, 
and  orders  were  immediately  issued  for  the 
departure  of  all  civilians,  both  mald^and  fe- 
male, excepting  those  in  the  employment  of 
the, Government.  The  following  conveys  the 
intentions  of  Gen.  Sherman : 

HEADQUARTERS  POST  OF  ATLANTA,  ) 
ATLANTA,  GA.,  Sept.  5, 1864.     f 
General  Order  No.  3. 

All  families  living  in  Atlanta,  the  male  representa- 
tives of  which  are  in  the  service  of  the  Confederate 
States,  or  who  have  gone  south,  will  leave  the  city 
within  five  days.  They  will  be  passed  through  the 
lines  and  go  south. 

All  citizens  from  the  North,  not  connected  with 
the  army,  and  who  have  not  authority  from  Maj.- 
Gen.  Sherman  or  Maj.-Gen.  Thomas  to  remain  in 
the  city,  will  leave  within  the  time  above  mentioned. 
If  found  within  the  city  after  that  date,  they  will  be 
imprisoned. 

All  male  residents  of  this  city,  who  do  not  register 
their  names  with  the  city  Provost-Marshal  within 
five  davs  and  receive  authority  to  remain  here,  will 
be  imprisoned.  WM.  COGSWELL, 

Col.  Commanding  Post. 

A  truce  of  ten  days  was  accordingly  pro- 
posed, in  a  letter  from  the  Federal  general  to 
Gen.  Hood,  then  encamped  near  Lovejoy's,  to 
which  the  latter  made  the  following  reply: 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  TENNESSEE.  I 
.      n         OFFICE  CHIEF  OF  STAFF,  Sept.  9, 1864,     f 
Major- Gen.  Sherman,  Comm'g  U.  S.  forces  in  Georgia : 
GENERAL:  Your  letter  of  yesterday's  date,  borne 
by  James  W.  Ball  and  James  R.  Crew,  citizens  of 


546 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Atlanta,  is  received.  You  say  therein :  "  I  deem  it  to 
be  to  the  interest  of  the  United  States  that  the  citi- 
zens residing  in  Atlanta  should  remove,"  etc.  I  do 
not  consider  that  I  have  any  alternative  in  the  mat- 
ter. I  therefore  accept  your  proposition  to  declare  a 
truce  of  ten  days,  or  such  time  as  may  be  necessary 
to  accomplish  the  purpose  mentioned,  and  shall  ren- 
der all  the  assistance  in  my  power  to  expedite  the 
transportation  of  citizens  in  this  direction.  1  suggest 
that  a  staff  officer  be  appointed  by  you  to  superintend 
the  removal  from  the  city  to  Rough  and  Ready,  while 
I  appoint  a  similar  officer  to  control  their  removal 
further  south ;  that  a  guard  of  100  men  be  sent  by 
either  party,  as  you  propose,  to  maintain  order  at 
that  place;  and  that  the  removal  begin  next  Monday. 

And  now,  sir,  permit  me  to  say  that  the  unprece- 
dented measure  you  propose,  transcends  in  studied 
and  ingenious  cruelty  all  acts  ever  before  brought  to 
my  attention  in  the  dark  history  of  war. 

In  the  name  of  God  and  humanity  I  protest,  be- 
lieving that  you  will  find  you  are  expelling  from  their 
homes  and  firesides  the  wives  and  children  of  a  br^re 
people. 

I  am,  General,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient 
servant,  J.  B.  HOOD,  General. 

Official:  McA.  HUMMETT,  Lieutenant,  etc. 

Accompanying  the  above  letter  was  one  ad- 
dressed to  Col.  Calhoun,  Mayor  of  Atlanta,  as 
follows  : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OP  THE  TENNESSEE,  I 
September  9, 1864.     j 
Hon.  James  M.  Calhoun,  Mayor : 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  letter  touching  the  removal  of  the  citizens  of 
Atlanta,  as  ordered  by  Gen.  Sherman.  Please  find 
inclosed  my  reply  to  Gen.  Sherman's  letter.  I  shall 
do  all  in  my  power  to  mitigate  the  terrible  hardships 
and  misery  that  must  be  brought  upon  your  people 
by  this  extraordinary  order  of  the  Federal  com- 
mander. Transportation  will  be  sent  to  Rough  and 
Ready  to  carry  the  people  and  their  effects  further 
South. 

You  have  my  deepest  sympathy  in  this  unlocked 
for  and  unprecedented  affliction. 

I  am.  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant. 
J.  B.  HOOD,  General. 

The  following  is  Gen.  Sherman's  reply  to 
Gen.  Hood: 

HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  | 
IN  THE  FIELD,  ATLANTA,  GA.,  Sept.  10, 1864.      ) 

Oen.  J.  B.  Hood,,  Commanding  Army  of  the  Tennes- 
see, Confederate  Army  ; 

GENERAL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  your  letter  of  this  date  at  the  hands  of 
Messrs.  Ball  and  Crew,  consenting  to  the  arrange- 
ments I  had  proposed  to  facilitate  the  removal  south 
of  the  people  of  Atlanta,  who  prefer  to  go  in  that  di- 
rection. I  inclose  you  a  copy  of  my  orders,  which 
will,  I  am  satisfied,  accomplish  my  purpose  perfectly. 
You  style  the  measure  proposed  "unprecedented," 
and  appeal  to  the  dark  history  of  war  for  a  parallel  as 
an  act  of  "studied  ungenerous  cruelty."  It  is  not 
unprecedented ;  for  Gen.  Johnston  himself  very 
wisely  and  properly  removed  the  families  all  the  way 
from  Dalton  down,  and  I  see  no  reason  why  Atlanta 
should  be  excepted.  Nor  is  it  necessary  to  appeal  to 
the  dark  history  of  war,  when  recent  and  modern  ex- 
amples are  so  handy.  You,  yourself,  burned  dwell- 
ing-houses along  your  parapet,  and  I  have  seen  to- 
day fifty  houses  that  you  have  rendered  uninhabita- 
ble, because  they  stood  in  the  way  of  your  forts  and 
men. 

You  defended  Atlanta  on  a  line  so  close  to  the 
town,  that  every  cannon-shot,  and  many  musket- 
shots  from  our  line  of  intrenchments,  that  overshot 
their  mark,  went  into  the  habitations  of  women  and 
children.  Gen.  Hardee  did  the  same  at  Jonesboro, 
and  Gen.  Johnston  did  the  same,  last  summer,  at 


Jackson,  Miss.  I  ha_ve  not  accused  you  of  heartless 
cruelty,  but  merely  instance  those  cases  of  very  re- 
cent occurrence,  and  could  go  on  and  enumerate 
hundreds  of  others,  and  challenge  any  fair  man  to 
judge  which  of  us  has  the  heart  of  pity  for  the  fami- 
lies of  "brave  people."  I  say  it  is  a  kindness  to 
those  families  of  Atlanta  to  remove  them  now  at  once 
from  scenes  that  women  and  children  should  not  be 
exposed  to ;  and  the  brave  people  should  scorn  to 
commit  their  wive*  and  children  to  the  rude  barba- 
rians, who  thus,  as  you  say,  violate  the  laws  of  war, 
as  illustrated  in  the  pages  of  its  dark  history. 

In  the  name  of  common  sense,  I  ask  you  not  to  ap. 
peal  to  a  just  God  in  such  a  sacrilegious  manner — you 
who,  in  the  midst  of  peace  and  prosperity,  have 
plunged  a  nation  into  civil  war,  "dark  and  cruel 
war,  who  dared  and  badgered  us  to  battle,  insulted 
pur  flag,  seized  our  arsenals  and  forts  that  were  left 
in  the  honorable  custody  of  a  peacefnl  Ordnance 
Sergeant,  seized  and  made  prisoners  of  war  the  very 
garrisons  sent  to  protect  your  people  against  negroes 
and  Indians,  long  before  any  overt  act  was  committed 
by  the  "to  you'  hateful  Lincoln  government,  tried 
to  force  Kentucky  and  Missouri  into  the  rebellion 
in  spite  of  themselves,  falsified  the  rote  of  Louisiana, 
turned  loose  your  privateers  to  plunder  unarmed 
ships,  expelled  Union  families  by  the  thousand,  burn- 
ed their  houses,  and  declared  by  act  of  Congress  the 
confiscation  of  all  debts  due  Northern  meb  for  goods 
had  and  received.  Talk  thus  to  the  marines,  but  not 
to  me  who  have  seen  these  things,  and  will  this  day 
make  as  much  sacrifice  for  the  peace  and  honor  of 
the  South  as  the  best-born  Southerner  among  you. 
If  we  must  be  enemies,  let  us  be  men,  and  fight  it  out 
as  we  propose  to-day,  and  not  deal  in  such  hypocriti- 
cal appeals  to  God  and  humanity.  God  will  judge  me 
in  good  time,  and  He  will  pronounce  whether  it  be 
more  humane  to  fight  with  a  town  full  of  women,  and 
the  families  of  a  "  orave  people"  at  our  backs,  or  to 
remove  them  in  time  to  places  of  safety  among  their 
own  friends  and  people. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Maj.-Gen.  Com'g. 

The  following  is  the  truce  agreed  upon  be- 
tween the  two  generals : 

HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION,  MISSISSIPPI,  1 
IN  THE  FIELD,  ATLANTA,  GA^  Sept.  10, 1804.     f 

Special  Field  Order  No.  TO. 

1.  Pursuant  to  an  agreement  between  Gen.  J.  B. 
Hood,  commanding  the  Confederate  forces  in  Geor- 
gia, and  Maj.-Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  commanding  this 
Army,  a  truce  is  hereby  declared  to  exist  from  day- 
light of  Monday,  September  12,  until  daylight  of 
Thursday,  September  22 — ten  (10)  full  days — at  a 
point  on  the  Macon  Railroad  known  as  Rough  and 
Ready,  and  the  country  round  about  for  a  circle  of 
tWo  (2)  miles  radius,  together  with  the  roads  leading 
to  and  from,  in  the  direction  of  Atlanta  and  Lovejoy 
station,  respectively,  for  the  purpose  of  affording  the 
people  of  Atlanta  a  safe  means  of  removal  to  points 
south. 

2.  The  Chief  Quartermaster  at  Atlanta,  Col.  Easton, 
will  afford  all  the  citizens  of  Atlanta  who  elect  to  go 
south  all  the  facilities  he  can  spare  to  remove  them, 
comfortably  and  safely,  with  their  effects,  to  Rough 
and  Ready  station,  using  cars  and  ambulances  for 
that  purpose;    and  commanders  of  regiments   and 
brigades  may  use  their  regimental  and  staff  teams  to 
carry  out  the  object  of  this  order;  the.  whole  to  cease 
after  Wednesday,  21st  inst. 

3.  Maj.-Gen.   Thomas  will  cause    a  guard  to  be 
established  on  the  road  out  beyond  the  camp  ground, 
with  orders  to  allow  all  wagons  and  vehicles  to  pass 
that  are  used  manifestly  for  this  purpose  ;  and  Maj.- 
Gen.  Howard  will  send  a  guard  of  one  hundred  men, 
with  a  field  officer  in  command,  to  take  post  at  Rough 
and  Ready  during  the  truce,  with  orders,  in  concert 
with  a  guard  from  the  Confederate  army  of  like  size, 
to  maintain  the  most  perfect  order  in  tiat  vicinity 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


547 


daring  the  transfer  of  these  families.  A  white  flag 
•will  be  displayed  during  the  truce,  and  a  guard  will 
cause  all  wagons  to  leave  at  4  p.  M.  of  Wednesday,  the 
21st  instant,  and  the  guard  to  withdraw  at  dark,  the 
truce  to  terminate  the  next  morning. 

By  order  of         Maj.-Gen.  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 
L.  M.  DAYTON,  Aide-de-Camp. 

The  civic  authorities  made  a  final  appeal  to 
Gen.  Sherman  to  revoke  or  modify  his  order, 
which,  with  his  reply,  is  here  appended : 

ATLANTA,  GA.,  September  11, 1864. 
Major-General  W,  T.  Sherman: 

SIR:  The  undersigned,  Mayor,  and  two  members 
of  Council  for  the  City  of  Atlanta,  for  the  time  being 
the  only  legal  organ  of  the  people  of  the  said  city  to 
express  their  wants  and  wishes,  ask  leave  most 
earnestly  but  respectfully  to  petition  you  to  recon- 
sider the  order  requiring  them  to  leave  Atlanta.  At 
first  view  it  struck  us  that  the  measure  would  involve 
extraordinary  hardship  and  loss,  but  since  we  have 
seen  the  practical  execution  of  it,  so  far  as  it  has 
progressed,  and  the  individual  condition  of  many  of 
the  people,  and  heard  the  statements  as  to  the  incon- 
venience, loss,  and  suffering  attending  it,  we  are 
satisfied  that  the  amount  of  it  will  involve  in  the  ag- 
gregate consequences  appalling  and  heart-rending.  • 

Many  poor  women  are  in  an  advanced  state  of  preg- 
nancy ;  others  having  young  children,  whose  hus- 
bands, for  the  greater  part,  are  either  in  the  army, 
prisoners,  or  dead.  Some  say :  "  I  have  such  a  one 
sick  at  my  house ;  who  will  wait  on  them  when  I  am 
gone?"  Others  say:  "What  are  we  to  do;  we  have 
no  houses  to  go  to,  and  no  means  to  buy,  build,  or 
rent  any;  no  parents,  relatives,  or  friends  to  go  to." 
Another  says :  "  I  will  try  and  take  this  or  that  arti- 
cle of  property;  but  such  and  such  things  I  must 
leave  behind,  thoush  I  need  them  much."  We  reply 
to  them:  "Gen.  Sherman  will  carry  your  property 
to  Rough  and  Ready,  and  then  Gen.  Hood  will  take 
it  thence  on;"  and  they  will  reply  to  that:  "But  I 
want  to  leave  the  railroad  at  such  a  place,  and  can- 
notget  conveyance  from  thence  on." 

We  only  refer  to  a  few  facts  to  illustrate,  in  part, 
how  this  measure  will  operate  in  practice.  As  you 
advanced,  the  people  north  of  us  fell  back,  and  be- 
fore your  arrival  here  a  large  portion  of  the  people 
here  had  retired  south ;  so  that  the  country  south  of 
this  is  already  crowded,  and  without  sufficient  houses 
to  accommodate  the  people,  and  we  are  informed  that 
many  are  now  staging  in  churches  and  other  out- 
buildings. This  being  so,  how  is  it  possible  for  the 
people  still  here  (mostly  women  and  children)  to  find 
shelter,  and  how  can  they  live  through  the  winter  in 
the  woods?  no  shelter  or  subsistence;  in  the  midst 
of  strangers  who  know  them  not,  and  without  the 
power  to  assist  them  much  if  they  were  willing  to 
do  so. 

This  is  but  a  feeble  picture  of  the  consequences  of 
this  measure.  You  know  the  wotfj  the  horror,  and 
the  suffering  cannot  be  described  by  words.  Im- 
agination can  only  conceive  of  it,  and  we  ask  you  to 
take  these  things  into  consideration.  We  know  your 
mind  and  time  are  continually  occupied  with  the 
duties  of  your  command,  which  almost  defers  us 
from  asking  your  attention  to  the  matter,  but  thought 
it  might  be  that  you  had  not  considered  the  subject 
in  all  of  its  awful  consequences,  and  that,  on  reflec- 
tion, you,  we  hope,  would  not  make  this  people  an 
exception  to  mankind,  for  we  know  of  no  such  in- 
stance ever  having  occurred — surely  not  in  the  Uni- 
ted States.  And  what  has  this  helpless  people  done, 
that  they  should  be  driven  from  their  homes,  to 
wander  as  strangers,  outcasts,  and  exiles,  and  to 
subsist  on  charity? 

We  do  not  know  as  yet  the  number  of  people  still 
here.  Of  those  who  are  here,  a  respectable  number, 
if  allowed  to  remain  at  home,  could  subsist  for  sev- 
eral months  without  assistance;  and  a  respectable 


number  for  a  much  longer  time,  and  who  might  not 
need  assistance  at  any  time. 

In  conclusion,  we  most  earnestly  and  solemnly 
petition  you  to  reconsider  this  order,  or  modify  it, 
and  suffer  this  unfortunate  people  to  remain  at  home 
and  enjoy  what  little  means  they  have. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

JAMES  M.  CALHOUN,  Mayor. 

E.  E.  RAWSON.  )  n         ., 

S.  C.  WELLS,     \  Councilmen. 

GEN.  SHERMAN'S  REPLT. 

HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  or  THE 
MISSISSIPPI,  IN  THE  FIELD, 

ATLANTA,  GA.,  September  12, 1864. ' 
James  M.  Calhoun,  Mayor,  E.  E.  Rawson,  and  S.  C. 

Wells,  representing  City  Council  of  Atlanta  : 
GENTLEMEN:  I  have  your  letter  of  the  llth,  in  the 
nature  of  a  petition,  to  revoke  my  orders  removing 
all  the  inhabitants  from  Atlanta.  I  have  read  it  care- 
fully, and  give  full  credit  to  your  statements  of  the 
distress  that  will  be  occasioned  by  it,  and  yet  shall 
not  revoke  my  order,  simply  because  my  orders  are 
not  designed  to  meet  the  humanities  of  the  case,  but 
to  prepare  for  the  future  struggles  in  which  millions, 
yea,  hundreds  of  millions  of  good  people  outside  of 
Atlanta  have  a  deep  interest.  We  must  have  Peace, 
not  only  at  Atlanta,  but  in  all  America.  To.  secure 
this  we  must  stop  the  war  that  now  desolates  our 
once  happy  and  favored  country.  To  stop  war  we 
must  defeat  the  rebel  armies  that  are  arrayed  against 
the  laws  and  Constitution,  which  all  must  respect 
and  obey.  To  defeat  these  armies  we  must  prepare 
the  way  to  reach  them  in  their  recesses  provided  with 
the  arms  and  instruments  which  enable  us  to  accom- 
plish our  purpose. 

Now,  I  Know  the  vindictive  nature  of  our  enemy, 
and  that  we  may  have  many  years  of  military  opera- 
tions from  this  quarter,  and  therefore  deem  it  wise 
and  prudent  to  prepare  in  time.  The  use  of  Atlanta 
for  warlike  purposes  is  inconsistent  with  its  character 
as  a  home  for  families.  There  will  be  no  manufac- 
tures, commerce,  or  agriculture  here  for  the  main- 
tenance of  families,  and  sooner  or  later  want  will 
compel  the  inhabitants  to  go.  Why  not  go  now, 
when  all  the  arrangements  are  completed  for  the 
transfer,  instead  of  waiting  till  the  plunging  shot  of 
contending  armies  will  renew  the  scene  of  the  past 
month?  Of  course  I  do  not  apprehend  any  such 
thing  at  this  moment,  but  you  do  not  suppose  that 
this  army  will  be  here  till  the  war  is  over.  I  cannot 
discuss  this  subject  with  you  fairly,  because  I  cannot 
impart  to  you  what  I  propose  to  do,  but  I  assert  that 
my  military  plans  make  it  necessary  for  the  inhabit- 
ants to  go  away,  and  I  can  only  renew  my  offer  of 
services  to  make  their  exodus  in  any  direction  as  easy 
and  comfortable  as  possible.  You  cannot  qualify  war 
in  harsher  terms  than  I  will. 

War  is  cruelty,  and  you  cannot  refine  it ;  and  those 
who  brought  war  on  our  country  deserve  all  the 
curses  and  maledictions  a  people  can  pour  out.  I 
know  I  had  no  hand  in  making  this  war,  and  I  know 
I  will  make  more  sacrifices  to-day  than  any  of  you  to 
secure  peace.  But  you  cannot  have  peace  and  a  di- 
vision of  our  country.  If  the  United  States  submits 
to  a  division  now,  it  will  not  stop,  but  will  go  on  till 
we  reap  the  fate  of  Mexico,  which  is  eternal  war. 
The  United  States  does  and  must  assert  its  authority 
wherever  it  has  power ;  if  it  relaxes  one  bit  to  pres- 
sure it  is  gone,  and  I  know  that  such  is  not  the  na- 
tional feeling.  This  feeling  assumes  various  shapes, 
but  always  comes  back  to  that  of  Union.  Once  ad- 
mit the  Union,  once  more  acknowledge  the  authority 
of  the  National  Government,  and  instead  of  devoting 
your  houses,  and  streets,  and  roads,  to  the  dread 
uses  of  war,  I,  and  this  army,  become  at  once  your 
protectors  and  supporters,  shielding  you  from  danger, 
let  it  come  from  what  quarter  it  may.  I  know  that  a 
few  individuals  cannot  resist  a  torrent  of  error  and 
passion  such  as  has  swept  the  South  into  rebellion ; 
but  you  can  point  out,  so  that  we  may  know  those 


548 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


who  desire  a  Government  and  those  who  insist  on 
War  and  its  desolation. 

You  might  as  well  appeal  against  the  thunder-storm 
as  against  these  terrible  hardships  of  war.  They  are 
inevitable,  and  the  only  way  the  people  of  Atlanta 
can  hope  once  more  to  lire  in  peace  and  quiet  at 
home  is  to  stop  this  war,  which  can  alone  be  done  by 
admitting  that  it  began  in  error,  and  is  perpetuated 
in  pride.  We  donH  want  your  negroes,  or  your 
horses,  or  your  land,  or  any  thing  you  have,  but  we 
do  want  and  will  have  a  just  obedience  to  the  laws 
of  the  United  States.  That  we  will  have,  and  if  it 
involves  the  destruction  of  your  improvements  we 
cannot  help  it.  You  have  heretofore  read  public  sen- 
timent in  your  newspapers,  that  live  by  falsehood 
and  excitement,  and  the  quicker  you  seek  for  truth 
in  other  quarters,  the  better  for  you. 

I  repeat,  then,  that,  by  the  original  compact  of 
government,  the  United  States  had  certain  rights  in 
Georgia,  which  have  never  been  relinquished  and 
never  will  be ;  that  the  South  began  war  by  seizing 
forts,  arsenals^  mints,  custom-houses,  &c.,  &c.,  long 
before  Mr.  Lincoln  was  installed,  and  before  the 
South  had  one  jot  or  tittle  of  provocation..  I  myself 
have  seen  in  Missouri,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  and 
Mississippi,  hundreds  and  thousands  of  women  and 
children  fleeing  from  your  armies  and  desperadoes, 
hungry  and  with  bleeding  feet.  In  Memphis,  Vicks- 
burg,  and  Mississippi,  we  fed  thousands  upon  thou- 
sands of  the  families  of  rebel  soldiers  left  on  our 
hands,  and  whom  we  could  not  see  starve.  Now  that 
war  comes  home  to  you,  you  feel  verv  different ;  you 
deprecate  its  horrors,  but  did  not  feel  them  when  you 
sentcar-loads  of  soldiers  and  ammunition,  and  mould- 
ed shell  and  shot,  to  carry  war  into  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee,  and  desolate  the  homes  of  hundreds  and 
thousands  of  good  people,  who  only  asked  to  live  in 
peace  at  their  old  homes,  and  under  the  Government 
of  their  inheritance. 

But  these  comparisons  are  idle.  I  want  peace,  and 
believe  it  can  only  be  reached  through  Union  and 
war ;  and  I  will  ever  conduct  war  purely  with  a  view 
to  perfect  and  early  success. 


But,  my  dear  sirs,  when  that  peace  does  come,  you 
may  call  on  me  for  any  thing.  Then  will  I  share  with 
you  the  last  cracker,  and  watch  with  you  to  shield 
your  homes  and  families  against  danger  from  every 
quarter.  Now  you  must  go,  and  take  with  you  the 
old  and  feeble,  feed  and  nurse  them,  and  build  for 
them  in  more  quiet  places  proper  habitations  to 
shield  them  against  the  weather  until  the  mad  pas- 
sions of  men  cool  down,  and  allow  the  Union  and 
peace  once  more  to  settle  on  your  old  homes  at  At- 
lanta. Yours  in  haste, 

W.  T  SHERMAN,  Maj.-Gen. 

In  another  communication  to  the  Mayor 
Gen.  Sherman  ordered  the  latter  to  announce 
to  the  citizens : 

The  government  will  furnish  transportation  south 
as  far  as  Rough  and  Ready;  north,  as  far  as  Chatta- 
nooga. All  citizens  may  take  their  movable  property 
with  them.  Transportation  will  be  furnished  for  all 
movables.  Negroes  who  wish  to  do  so  may  go  with 
their  masters ;  other  male  negroes  will  be  put  in 
Government  employ,  and  the  women  and  children 
sent  outside  the  lines. 

For  the  purpose  of  contributing  to  the  com- 
fort of  those  who  were  under  orders  to  remove, 
an  extension  of  the  truce  was  subsequently 
obtained.  The  difficult  and  delicate  task  of  su- 
perintending the  departure  of  these  persons 
was  not  effected  without  charges  of  cruelty 
and  peculation  against  the  Federal  officers,  with 
which  for  several  weeks  the  Southern  press 
teemed.  Gen.  Sherman,  in  a  letter  of  Sept.  25, 
says :  "  The  truth  is,  that  during  the  truce  446 
families  were  moved  south,  making  T05  adults, 
860  children,  and  470  servants,  with  1,651 
pounds  of  furniture  and  household  goods  on  the 
average  to  each  family,  of  which  we  have  a 
perfect  recollection  by  name  and  articles." 


CHAPTEE   XL. 


Eeorganization  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac — Plans  of  Gen.  Grant— Advance  of  the  Army  under  Gen.  Grant — Crosses  the 
Bappahannock— First  Day's  Battle— Position  of  the  Armies  at  Night— Burnside's  Reserve  brought  on  the  Field- 
Subsequent  Battles— March  to  the  Left— Battles  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House— Thanksgivings  at  the  North— Disposal 
of  the  Wounded. 


THE  Army  of  the  Potomac,  under  Gen. 
Meade,  in  its  reorganization  was  reduced  to 
three  corps,  as  stated  on  previous  pages.  Maj-.- 
Gen.  "Warren  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  5th  army  corps.  The  consolidation  of 
divisions  and  arrangement  of  brigades  was 
made  as  follows:  The  commanding  officer  of 
the  1st  division  of  the  old  5th  corps  was  or- 
dered to  consolidate  the  three  brigades  into 
two  brigades,  to  be  designated  as  the  1st  and 
2d  brigades,  1st  division,  5th  army  corps.  The 
old  2d  division,  5th  corps,  was  consolidated 
into  one  brigade,  and  designated  as  the  3d  bri- 
gade, 1st  division,  5th  corps,  commanded  by 
Brig.-Gen.  R.  B.  Ayres.  The  old  3d  division, 
5th  corps,  remained  as  the  new  3d  division, 
5th  army  corps.  The  2d  brigade  of  the  3d 
division,  1st  army  corps,  was  transferred  to  the 


2d  division,  1st  army  corps,  and  this  division 
afterwards  designated  as  the  2d  division,  5th 
army  corps.  The  1st  brigade  of  the  3d  division, 
1st  army  corps,  was  transferred  to  the  1st  di- 
vision, 1st  army  corps,  and  this  division  after- 
wards designated  as  the  4th  division,  5th  army 
corps.  The  designating  flags  of  the  old  3d 
brigade,  1st  division,  5th  army  corps ;  of  the 
old  2d  division,  5th  army  corps ;  of  the  old  2d  • 
brigade,  2d  division,  5th  army  corps,  and  of 
the  3d  division,  1st  army  corps,  were  ordered  to 
be  turned  in  to  the  corps  quartermaster. 

The  following  was  the  assignment  of  general 
officers  to  commands  in  the  consolidated  corps : 

1— Brig.-Gen.  J.  S.  Wadsworth,  commanding  4th 
division. 

2 Brig.  Gen.  S.  W.  Crawford,  commanding  3d 

division. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


549 


3^— Brig.-Gen.  J.  C.  Robinson,  commanding  2d 
division. 

4— Brig.-Gen.  Charles  Griffin,  commanding  1st 
division. 

5 — Brig.-Gen.  R.  B.  Ayres,  commanding  3d  brigade, 
1st  division. 

6 — Brig.-Gen.  L.  Cutler,  commanding  1st  brigade, 
4th  division. 

7 — Brig.-Gen.  Henry  Baxter,  commanding  2d  bri- 
gade, 2d  division. 

8 — Brig.-Gen.  J.  J.  Bartlett,  commanding  2d  bri- 
gade, 1st  division. 

9 — Brig.-Gen.  James  Barnes,  commanding  1st  bri- 
gade, 1st  division. 

10— Brig.-Gen.  J.  C.  Rice,  commanding  2d  brigade, 
4th  division. 

The  2d  corps  was  commanded  by  Maj.-Gen. 
Hancock.  The  original  regiments  of  the  2d 
corps  were  consolidated  into  two  divisions,  with 
a  new  assignment  of  division  and  brigade  com- 
manders. 

_  The  division  formerly  known  as  the  1st  divi- 
pion  of  the  3d  corps,  commanded  by  Maj.-Gen. 
Birney,  was  designated  as  the  3d  division  of  the 
2d  corps.  The  division  formerly  known  as  the 
2d  division  of  the  3d  corps,  to  which  Brig.-Gen. 
Carr  had  been  assigned  as  commander,  was 
afterwards  known  as  the  4th  division  of  the  2d 
corps.  Each  of  these  divisions  had  been  re- 
duced to  two  brigades.  The  following  was  the 
arrangement  of  divisions  and  assignment  of 
commanders : 

FIRST  DIVISION. 

Brig.-Gen.  T.  C.  Barlow. 

First  Brigade— Col.  N.  A.  Miles,  61st  New  York. 
Second  Brigade— Col.  T.  A.  Smyth,  1st  Delaware 
volunteers. 

Third  Brigade— Col.  P.  Frank,  52d  New  York. 
Fourth  Brigade— Col.  J.  B.  Brooke,  55th  Pennsyl- 
vania.. 

SECOND  DIVISION. 
Brig.-Gen..John  Gibbon. 
First  Brigade— Brig.-Gen.  A.  S.  Webb. 
Second  Brigade — Brig.-Gen.  J.  P.  Owens. 
Third  Brigade— Col.  S.  S.  Carroll,  8th  Ohio. 

.THIRD  DIVISION. 

Maj.-Gen.  D.  B.  Birney. 
First  Brigade— Brig.-Gen.  J.  H.  Ward. 
Second  Brigade — Brig.-Gen.  A.  Hayes. 

FOURTH  DIVISION. 

Brig.-Gen.  J.  B   Carr. 
First  Brigade— Brig.-Gen.  G.  Mott. 
Second  Brigade— Col.  W.  B.  Brewster,  73d  New 
York. 
Chief  of  Artillery,  Col.  Tibball. 

•  Sixth  corps  was  commanded  by  Gen.  Sedg- 
wick. 

The  old  3d  division,  6th  corps,  was  broken 
up,  one  brigade  (Shaler's)  going  to  the  1st  di- 
vision; the  2d  (Wheaton's  and  Eustis')  going 
to  the  2d  division.  The  3d  division,  3d  corps, 
was  transferred  to  the  6th  corps,  and  Gen. 
Prince  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  it. 
The  three  brigades  of  this  division  were  con- 
solidated into  two,  under  Gen.  Russell  and  Gen. 
Morris. 

FIEST  DIVISION. 

Brig.-Gen.  H.  G.  Wright. 
First  Brigade— Brig.-Gen.  A.  T.  A.  Torbett. 
Second  Brigade— Col.  E.  Upton,  121st  New  York. 
Third  Brigade — Col.  H.  Burnham,  5th  Maine  rot 
unteers. 
Fourth  Brigade— Brig.-Gen.  A.  Shaler. 


SECOND  DIVISION. 

Brig.-Gen.  G.  W.  Getty. 
First  Brigade — Brig.-Gen.  F.  Wheaton. 
Second  Brigade — Col.  L.  A.  Grant,  "  Fremont  Bri- 
gade." 

Third  Brigade— Brig.-Gen.  T.  H.  Neill. 
Fourth  Brigade — Brig.-Gen.  A.  L.  Eustis. 

THIRD    DIVISION. 

Brig.-Gen.  H.  Prince. 
First  Brigade — Brig.-Gen.  W.  H.  Morris. 
Second  Brigade — Brig.-Gen.  D.  A.  Russell. 
Col.  C.  H.  Tompkins,  1st  Rhode  Island  artillery, 
commanding  artillery. 

The  cavalry  corps  of  this  army  was  placed 
under  the  command  .of  Gen.  P.  H.  Sheridan, 
previously  in  service  at  the  West.  Brig.-Gen. 
Kilpatrick,  in  command  of  the  3d  cavalry  di- 
vision, was  transferred  to  the  command  of  the 
cavalry  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  under 
Major-Gen.  Sherman ;  Gen.  Pleasanton  was  re- 
lieved.from  the  command  of  his  cavalry  corps, 
and  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Rosecrans ;  Gen. 
Sykes  was  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Curtis; 
Gen.  Newton  was  ordered  to  report  to  Gen. 
Sherman ;  Gen.  French  was  ordered  to  report 
at  Philadelphia;  Gen.  Meredith  was  ordered 
to  report  at  Cairo;  Gens.  Ricketts,  Gibbon, 
and  Wadsworth,  were  ordered  to  report  to 
Gen.  Meade  for  assignments  to  command. 

The  following  were  the  addresses  of  Gena. 
Pleasanton,  Newton,  and  French,  on  parting 
with  their  commands : 

HEADQUARTERS  CAVALRY  COKPS,  ARMY  OF  I 
THB  POTOMAC,  March  25, 1864.     j 

General  Orders  No.  14. 

.  Having  been  relieved  from  duty  with  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  the  regret  of  separation  from  the  many 
personal  associations  established  in  the  cavalry  corps 
becomes  more  impressive  by  the  devotion,  generos- 
ity, and  noble  daring  that  has  been  exhibited  through- 
out one  of  the  most  eventful  periods  in  the  history 
of  the  war.  The  brave  seek  no  higher  tribute  than 
the  confidence  of  their  commander.  Your  glorious 
deeds  testify  to  the  trust  you  have  maintained  so 
sacredly.  Continue  to  be  animated  by  the  same 
spirit  that  now  guides  your  colors  to  victory,  and 
you  will  reap  the  reward  of  duty  to  yourselves,  your 
country,  and  your  God. 

A.  PLEASANTON,  Major-General. 

HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  CORPS,  March  25, 1864. 

In  relinquishing  command,  I  take  occasion  to  ex- 
press the  pride  and  pleasure  I  have  experienced  with 
you,  and  my  profound  regret  at  our  separation. 

Identified  by  its  services  with  the  history  of  this 
war,  the  1st  corps  gave  at  Gettysburg  a  crowning 
proof  of  valor  and  endurance,  in  saving  from  the  en- 
emy the  strong  position  upon  which  the  battle  was 
fought.  The  terrible  losses  suffered  by  the  corps  on 
the  1st  of  July,  attest  its  supreme  devotion  to  the 
country.  Though  the  the  title  of  the  corps  may  not 
survive  the  present  changes,  history  will  not  be  si- 
lent upon  the  magnitude  of  its  services. 

JOHN  NEWTON,  Major-General. 

HEADQUARTERS  THIRD  AEMT  CORPS,  ) 
BRANDY  STATION,  March  24, 1864.     j 
General  Orders  No.  26 : 

Having  been  detached  from  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac, in  consequence  of  its  reorganization  into  three 
corps,  I  desire  to  express  the  personal  feelings  of 
regret  with  which  the  order  is  received.  The  con- 
solidation of  the  corps  gives  this  army  greater 
strength.  The  generals  to  command  them  are  con- 
spicuous for  their  gallantry  and  ability.  Only  known 
in  the  department  where  bullets  whistle,  there  is  a 
strong  probability  that  I  may  soon  meet  in  the  field 


580 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


those  brave  soldiers  with  whom  I  have  been  so  long 
associated  with  pride  and  distinction. 

WM.  H.  FRENCH,  Major-Gen.  Volunteers. 

The  following  officers  composed  the  staff  of 
Gen.  Grant  in  the  field : 

Brig.-Gen.  John  A.  Rawlins,  Chief  of  Staff;  Lieut.- 
Col.  T.  S.  Bowers,  Ass't  Adj't  Gen. ;  Lieut.-Col.  C. 
B.  Comstock,  Senior  Aide-de-Camp ;  Lieut.-Col.  0. 
E.  Baca  Babcock,  Aide-de-Camp;  Lieut.-Col.  F.  T. 
Dent,  Aide-de-Camp;  Lieut.-Col.  Horace  Porter,  Aide- 
de-Camp  ;  Lieut.-Col.  W.  L.  Dupp,  Ass't  Insp.-Gen. ; 
Lieut.-Col.  W.  R.  Rowley,  Sec. ;  Lieut.-Col.  Adam 
Badeau,  Sec.;  Capt.  E.  S.  Parker,  Ass't  Adj't-Gen. ; 
Capt.  George  K.  Leet,  Ass't  Adj't-Gen.,  in  charge 
of  office  at  Washington :  Capt.  P.  T.  Hudson,  Aide- 
de-Camp  ;  Capt.  H.  W.  Jones,  Ass't  Quartermaster, 
on  duty  at  headquarters;  First-Lieut.  Win.  Dunn, 
jr.,  83d  Indiana  volunteers,  Acting  Aide-de-Camp. 

At  the  same  time  the  9th  corps  of  the  army, 
at  Annapolis,  was  filled  up,  partly  with  color- 
ed troops,  and  placed  under  the  command  of 
Major-Gen.  Burnside,  its  former  commander. 

About  the  23d  of  April,  this  corps  moved  to 
Washington,  were  reviewed  by  President  Lin- 
coln, and  proceeded  to  Culpepper  Court  House, 
and  were  united  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Early  in  March  Major-Gen.  Sigel  had  been 
placed  in  command  of  the  active  forces  in  the 
Department  of  Western  Virginia,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  cooperating  with  Gen.  Grant  by  way 
of  the  Shenandoah  valley.  Those  forces  were 
largely  increased. 

The  forces  of  Major-Gen.  Butler,  in  com- 
mand at  Fortress  Monroe,  were  also  largely  in- 
creased. Major-Gen.  W.  F.  Smith,  from  the 
Western  army,  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  18th  corps,  and  Major-Gen.  Q.  A.  Gill- 
more,  from  the  Department  of  the  South,  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  10th  corps. 
Major-Gen.  Foster  was  ordered  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Department  of  the  South.  He 
had  previously  been  in  command  in  North 
Carolina. 

On  the  21st  of  April  the  Governors  of  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Iowa,  tendered  to  the 
President  the  services  of  one  hundred  thou- 
sand men  for  one  hundred  days.  The  object 
of  this  tender  of  men,  the  service  in  which 
they  were  to  be  engaged,  and  the  reasons  for 
the  same,  are  fully  stated  in  the  following  proc- 
lamation of  the  Governor  of  Illinois : 
To  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois  : 

On  the  21st  of  April,  the  Governors  of  Ohio,  Indi- 
ana, Illinois,-  Iowa,  and  Wisconsin,  submitted  to  the 
President  of  the  United  States  a  proposition  to  fur- 
nish volunteers  from  their  respective  States  for  the 
coming  campaigns : 

WAB  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  April  21, 1364. 
To  the  President  of  the  United  States  : 

First — The  Governors  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Iowa,  and 
Wisconsin,  offer  to  the  President  infantry  troops  for  the  ap- 
proaching campaign. 

Second — The  term  of  service  to  be  a  hundred  days,  reckon- 
ing from  the  date  of  muster  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  unless  sooner  discharged. 

Third— The  troops  to  be  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  by  regiments,  when  the  regiments  are  filled  up  ac- 
cording to  regulations  to  the  minimum  strength.  The  regi- 
ments to  be  organized  according  to  the  regulations  of  the 
War  Department.  The  whole  number  to  be  furnished  with- 
in twenty  days  from  date  of  notice  of  the  acceptance  of  this 
proposition. 

Fourth — The  troops  to  bo  clothed,  armed,  equipped,  sub- 


sisted, transported,  and  paid  as  other  United  States  infantry 
volunteers,  and  to  serve  in  fortifications  or  wherever  thefr 
services  may  be  required,  within  or  without  their  respective 
States. 

Fifths-No  bounty  to  be  paid  the  troops,  nor  the  service 
charged  or  credited  on  any  draft. 

Sixth— The  draft  for  three  years  service  to  go  on  in  any 
State  or  district  where  the  quota  is  not  filled  up ;  bnt,  if  any 
officer  or  soldier  in  the  special  service  should  be  drafted,  he 
shall  be  credited  for  the  service  rendered. 

JOHN  BEOUGH,  Governor  of  Ohio. 
O.  H.  MORTON,  Governor  of  Indiana. 
EICH'D  YATES,  Governor  of  Illinois. 
"W.  M.  STONE,  Governor  of  Iowa. 

The  foregoing  proposition  of  the  Governors  is  accepted, 
and  the  Secretary  of  War  is  directed  to  carry  it  into  execu- 
tion. A.  LINCOLN. 
APRIL  28d,  1864. 

I  shall  not  set  forth  the  various  reasons  which  in- 
duced the  Executive  of  these  States  to  submit  their 
proposition.  It  will  be  sufficient  for  you  to  know 
that  it  is  evident  from  the  circumstances  which  sur- 
round us,  that  the  battles  which  are  to  decide  the 
fate  of  the  country  are  soon  to  be  fought.  The  en- 
emy has,  during  the  past  winter,  been  concentrating 
all  his  stength  for  the  summer  campaign  which  is 
before  us.  It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  meet 
them  with  the  greatest  force,  and  with  the  most  over- 
whelming numbers  which  it  is  possible  to  briug  to 
bear. 

You  are  also  aware  that  the  country  which  has  al- 
ready been  wrested  from  the  grasp  of  the  enemy  is 
of  vast  extent,  embracing  many  States  and  Territo- 
ries, many  thousands  of  miles  of  seacoast,  and  the 
whole  length  of  the  Mississippi  River,  and  of  most 
of  her  tributaries,  and  that  to  hold  this  country  and 
these  long  lines  of  sea  and  river  coast  requires  large 
stationary  forces. 

The  strongholds,  forts,  garrisons,  cities,  and  towns, 
situated  as  they  are  in  the  midst  of  populations  which 
are  for  the  most  part  disloyal,  and  ready  to  rise  upon 
the  withdrawal  of  our  troops,  are  almost  innumer- 
able, and  require  by  far  the  greater  part  of  our  im- 
mense army  in  their  protection  and  defence.  In  this 
view  of  the  case,  the  Executives  of  the  most  West- 
ern States  believed  that  the  efficiency  of  the  army 
might  be  immensely  increased  by  a  volunteer  force, 
to  T>e  immediately  raised,  w4iich  should  occupy  the 
points  already  taken,  and  release  our  veteran  troops, 
and  send  them  forward  to  join  the  main  body  of  the 
army,  which  is  soon  to  engage  the  forces  of  the  en- 
emy. It  will  be  apparent  also  that,  while  these  forces 
are  to  be  employed  in  fortifications,  and  at  such 
points  as  the  Government  may  require  them  now,  in 
the  future,  also,  they  will  place  in  the  hands  of  the 
States  the  means  to  repel  invasion  from  their  bor- 
ders, suppress  insurrection,  and  maintain  the  peace. 

The  mode  of  enlistments,  places  of  rendezvous, 
and  all  information  pertaining  to  organization,  Ac., 
willjbe  communicated  to  you  by  the  adjutant-general 
of  the  State. 

I  make  my  appeal  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  to  re- 
spond to  the  Government  with  her  full  quota  of  20,- 
000  men  in  the  next  twenty  days.  Although  the 
State  has  thus  far  exceeded  her  quota  under  all  calls 
by  so  many  thousands,  I  doubt  not  she  will  stand 
ready  to  strengthen  the  arm  of  the  Government  in 
this  trying  hour,  and  that  she  will  send  this  timely 
necessary  relief  to  her  gallant  sons  now  in  the  field, 
and  who  have  so  distinguished  her  proud  name  upon 
every  battle-field  of  the  war.  It  is  confidently  hoped 
that  by  the  timely  aid  which  may  thus  be  given  our 
veteran  army,  the  last  blow  may  be  given  this  wick- 
ed rebellion,  and  the  Government  reestablished,  the 
Union  restored,  and  all  the  blessings  of  a  stable  and 
lasting  peace  secured. 

Though  in  the  North  and  in  the  South  the  notes 
of  preparation  for  the  conflict  fill  the  land,  yet  for 
the  first  time  have  I  fully  seen  the  beginning  of  the 
end  of  this  frightful  war.  All  that  is  now  required  is, 
thai  the  Government  put  forth  its  power  at  the  right 
time,  and  in  the  right  place. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


551 


The  people  of  Illinois  have  confidence  in  her  sons, 
and  in  the  great  commander,  Gen.  Grant,  whom  she 
has  given  to  the  country,  as  well  as  in  the  armies 
under  his  command.  Let  us  do  all  in  our  power  to 
uphold  and  strengthen  their  arms. 

Glorious  Illinois,  in  every  period  of  this  war  you 
have  done  your  duty.  The  shining  achievements  of 
your  sons  are  the  admiration  of  the  world.  In  this 
most  eventful  hour  you  will  not  fail. 

KICHARD  YATES,  Governor. 

The  address  of  the  Governor  of  Indiana  was 
as  follows : 

EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT,  INDIANAPOLIS,  April  23, 1864 
To  the  people  of  Indiana  : 

The  Governors  of  Ohio,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Wisconsin, 
and  Indiana,  have  offered  to  raise  for  the  service  of 
the  General  Government  eighty-five  thousand  men  for 
the  period  of  one  hundred  day_s,  to  perform  such 
military  service  as  may  be  required  of  them  in  any 
State.  They  will  be  armed,  subsisted,  clothed,  and 
paid  by  the  United  States,  but  receive  no  bounty. 
They  will  be  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States  for  the  period  designated,  the  time  to  com- 
mence from  the  date  of  muster. 

The  importance  of  making  the  approaching  cam- 
paign successful  and  decisive  is  not  to  be  over-esti- 
mated, and  I  feel  confident  that  this  call  will  be 
promptly  and  fully  responded  to. 

I  need  not  enter  into  the  reasons  which  have  in- 
duced the  making  of  this  offer,  and  its  acceptance 
by  the  Government,  as  they  will  be  suggested  to  all 
by  the  condition  and  position  of  our  military  affairs. 

I  therefore  call  for  twenty  thousand  volunteers,  to 
rendezvous  at  such  places  as  may  be  hereafter  desig- 
nated, and  to  be  organized  under  instructions  given 
by  the  Adjutant-General.  Existing  organizations  of 
the  Indiana  Legion,  offering  their  services,  will  be 
preserved  when  the  regiment  or  company  is  filled  to 
the  minimum  number,  under  the  regulations  govern- 
ing the  army  of  the  United  States. 

O.  P.  MORTON,  Governor  of  Indiana. 

The  following  order  was  issued  in  Ohio  : 

Conmuus,  April,  iMth,  1864. 
Gen-eral  Orders  No.  12. 

_The  regiments,  battalions,  and  independent  compa- 
nies of  infantry  of  the  National  Guard  of  Ohio  are 
hereby  called  into  active  service  for  the  term  of  one 
hundred  days,  unless  sooner  discharged.  They  will 
be  clothed,  armed,  equipped,  transported,  and  paid 
by  the  United  States  Government.  These  organiza- 
tions will  rendezvous  at  the  nearest  eligible  places  in 
their  respective  counties,  the  place  to  be  fixed  by  the 
commanding  officer,  and  to  be  on  a  line  of  railroad 
where  practicable,  on  Monday,  May  2,  1864,  and  re- 
port by  telegraph  to  these  headquarters  at  four 
o  clock  p.  M.  of  the  same  day  the  number  of  mea 
present  for  duty.  The  alacrity  with  which  all  calls 
for  the  military  forces  of  the  State  have  been  hereto- 
fore met,  furnishes  the  surest  guarantee  that  the  Na- 
tional Guard  will  be  prompt  to  assemble  at  the  ap- 
pointed time.  Our  armies  in  the  field  are  marshalling 
for  a  decisive  blow,  and  the  citizen  soldiery  will  share 
the  glory  of  the  crowning  victories  of  the, campaign, 
by  relieving  our  veteran  regiments  from  post  and 
garrison  duty,  to  allow  them  to  engage  in  the  more 
arduous  labor  of  the  field.  By  order  of  the  Governor 
B.  R.  COWEtf,  Adjutant-General  of  Ohio.  ' 

The  plan  of  Gen.  Grant  was  more  compre- 
hensive than  the  mere  capture  of  the  city  of 
Richmond.  His  purpose  was  to  secure  the 
machinery  of  the  Confederate  Government, 
and  to  destroy  the  army  of  Gen.  Lee.  Other 
movements  were  therefore  necessary  in  con- 
nection with  the  one  made  nnder  his  own 
direction.  The  first  of  these  was  to  be  made 
by  Gen.  Sigel  up  the  Shenandoah  Valley  toward 


Staunton  with  the  view  of  taking  possession  of 
the  Virginia  Central  Railroad,  and  ultimately 
holding  Lynchburg  on  the  Virginia  and  Ten- 
nessee Railroad.  The  next  of  these  movements 
was  to  be  made  by  Gen.  Averill  moving  toward 
the  same  great  railroad  with  the  design  of 
striking  it  near  Salem  or  "Wytheville.  The 
next  was  to  be  made  by  Gen.  Crook  moving 
with  a  strong  force  and  abundant  supplies  from 
Charleston,  Va.,  toward  Dublin  Depot  (New- 
bern),  on  the  same  railroad.  The  remaining 
movement  on  the  west  was  to  be  made  up  the 
eastern  side  of  the  Big  Sandy  River,  toward 
Abingdon,  on  the  same  railroad.  It  was  in- 
tended that  these  different  forces  should  strike 
the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  Railroad  about  the 
same  time,  at  Abingdon,  "Wytheville,  Dublin 
Depot,  and  Staunton,  and  should  afterwards 
unite  centrally  west  of  Lynchburg,  and  march 
against  that  town.  This  combined  movement 
comprehended  a  large  aggregate  of  forces,  to 
wit:  12,000  men  by  the  Big  Sandy  route,  un- 
der Gen.  Burbridge;  4,000  under  Gen.  Crook, 
moving  from  the  lower  Kanawha ;  2,500  cav- 
alry under  Gen.  Averill,  from  northwest  Vir- 
ginia, and  the  army  of  Gen.  Sigel,  numbering 
nearly  12,000. 

On  the  south  side  of  Richmond  it  was  in- 
tended by  Gen.  Grant  to  capture  and  hold 
Petersburg  by  a  heavy  force,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Gen.  B.  F.  Butler.  Thus  holding 
Petersburg  .and  Lynchburg,  all  southern  com- 
munication with  Richmond  would  be  cut  off. 
The  progress  and  results  of  these  respective 
cooperating  movements  will  be  stated  on  a  sub- 
sequent page. 

On  the  3d  of  May  Gen.  Meade  issued  the 
following  address  to  the  army : 

HEADQUARTERS  AEMT  OP  THE  POTOMAC,  May  3,  1864. 

SOLDIERS  :  Again  you  are  called  upon  to  advance 
on  the  enemies  of  your  country.  The  time  n.nd  the 
occasion  are  deemed  opportune  by  your  Command- 
ing-General to  address  you  a  few  words  of  confidence 
and  caution.  You  have  been  reorganized,  strength- 
ened, and  fully  equipped  in  every  respect.  You  form 
a  part  of  the  several  armies  of  your  country — the 
whole  under  an  able  and  distinguished  general,  who 
enjoys  the  confidence  of  the  Government,  the  people, 
and  the  army.  Your  movement  being  in  cooperation 
with  others,  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  no 
effort  should  be  spared  to  make  it  successful. 

Soldiers  !  The  eyes  of  the  whole  country  are  look- 
ing with  anxious  hope  to  the  blow  you  are  about  to 
strike  in  the  most  sacred  cause  that  ever  called  men 
to  arms.  Remember  your  homes,  your  wives,  and 
children  ;  and  bear  in  mind  that  the  sooner  your  ene- 
mies are  overcome  the  sooner  you  will  be  returned  to 
enjoy  the  benefits  and  blessings  of  peace.  Bear  with 
patience  the  hardships  and  sacrifices  you  will  be 
called  upon  to  endure.  Have  confidence  in  your  offi- 
cers and  in  each  other. 

Keep  your  ranks  on  the  march  and  on  the  battle- 
field, and  let  each  man  earnestly  implore  God's  bless- 
ing, and  endeavor  by  his  thoughts  and  actions  to 
render  himself  worthy  of  the  favor  he  seeks.  With 
clear  conscience  and  strong  arms,  actuated  by  a  hifh 
sense  of  duty,  fighting  to  preserve  the  Government 
and  the  institutions  handed  down  to  us  by  our  fore- 
fathers, if  true  to  ourselves,  victory,  under  God's 
blessing,  must  and  will  attend  our  efforts 

GEORGE  G.  MEADE,  Maj.-Gen.  Com' ding. 

S.  WILLIAMS,  Ass't  Adj.  Gen. 


552 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  EEBELLIOK 


On  the  same  day  camp  was  broken  up,  and 
with  six  days'  rations  the  army  was  put  in  mo- 
tion in  light  marching  order.  About  2  p.  M. 
the  division  of  cavalry  commanded  by  Gen. 
Gregg,  with  a  part  of  the  canvas  pontoon  train, 
moved  toward  Bichardsville  and  were  engaged 
till  late  at  night  in  repairing  the  roads  to  Ely's 
Ford.  Soon  after  midnight  a  crossing  was 
prepared  by  throwing  two  bridges  over  to  the 
south  shore.  At  the  same  time  Gen.  Wilson, 
in  command  of  the  3d  cavalry  division,  advanced 
to  Germania  Ford,  eight  miles  above,  and  there 
prepared  another  bridge  with  canvas  pontoons. 
About  midnight  the  2d  corps,  under  Maj.-Gen. 
Hancock,  began  to  move  down  the  Stevensburg 
and  Eichardsville  road  to  Ely's  Ford.  The 
entire  corps  were  on  the  march  before  3  A.  M.; 
and  crossed  soon  after  daylight.  At  the  same 
time  the  5th  corps,  under  Maj.-Gen.  Warren,  be- 
gan to  move.  The  advance,  consisting  of  two 
divisions  of  infantry  and  a  portion  of  artillery, 
passed  through  Stevensburg  soon  after  mid- 
night, closely  followed  by  the  remainder  of  the 
corps,  and  destined  to  Germania  Ford.  This 
corps  was  closely  followed  by  the  6th  corps,  un- 
der Maj.-Gen.  Sedgwick,  which  left  its  camp  at 
4  A.  M.  It  was  the  forces  at  Culpepper  Court 
House  which  moved  by  the  old  plank  road  and 
crossed  at  Germania  Ford.  Those  at  Brandy 
Station,  Catlet^'s,  &c.,  on  the  Alexandria  rail- 
road, moved  by  the  old  turnpike,  crossing  the 


Eappahannock  at  Ely's  Ford,  four  miles  below 
the  junction  of  the  Eapidan  and  the  Eappahan- 
nock rivers.  Germania  Ford  is  about  twelve 
miles  and  Ely's  Ford  about  four  miles  from 
Chancellorsville.  Orange  Court  House  is  about 
twenty-seven  miles  and  Wilderness  Tavern 
about  twenty-two  miles  from  Chancellorsville. 
From  points  between  Chancellorsville  and  Wil- 
derness Tavern,  roads  lead  to  Gordonsville, 
Louisa  Court  House  and  Frederick's  Hall,  on 
the  Virginia  Central  Eailroad,  in  distances 
varying  from  twenty  to  thirty  miles.  From 
these  places  there  are  good  roads  leading  direct 
to  Eichmond,  which  is  distant  between  forty- 
two  and  fifty-four  miles ;  and  also  good  roads 
to  Hanover  Junction. 

The  crossing  was  effected  during  the  day 
by  these  three  corps  without  opposition. 
The  pickets  of  the  enemy  withdrew  quietly 
from  the  river,  and  the  cavalry  of  Gen. 
Gregg  advanced  toward  Chancellorsville  with- 
out finding  the  enemy  anywhere  in  force. 
Gen.  Wilson's  cavalry  moved  up  the  road  to 
Parker's  store,  toward  Orange  Court  House, 
the  position  of  the  enemy.  The  infantry 
and  artillery  followed  in  the  direction  of 
Chancellorsville  and  the  Wilderness,  The  2d 
corps  camped  on  the  old  battle-field  at  Chan- 
cellorsville ;  the  5th  at  the  old  Wilderness 
Tavern,  and  the  6th  at  the  Tavern  and  at  Ger- 
mania Ford. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


553 


The  9th  corps,  under  Gen.  Burnside,  was  en- 
camped at  Warrenton.  On  May  1st  he  issued 
the  following  address  to  his  troops : 

HEADQUARTERS  OTH  ARMY  CORPS,         ) 
"WARRENTON  JUNCTION,  VA.,  May  1, 1S64.  j 

The  General  commanding  publishes  the  following 
instructions  to  the  men  just  entering  the  service  of 
the  country.  He  expects  that  every  old  soldier  who 
has  learned  their  value  by  experience,  will  join  in 
impressing  their  importance  on  those  who  are  now 
to  share  with  him  the  honor  of  a  soldier's  life. 

On  the  march  no  soldier  should  quit  the  ranks,  on 
any  pretence  whatever,  without  permission  of  his 
commanding  officer.'  The  army  is  about  to  move 
into  the  country  of  an  active  enemy,  with  no  friendly 
force  behind  or  near  it,  and  every  straggler  runs  the 
risk  of  Libby  Prison  or  a  bullet. 

No  soldier  should  leave  camp  without  his  musket ; 
nor,  on  any  consideration,  whether  on  the  march  or  in 
action,  take  off  the  haversack,  canteen,  or  cartridge- 
box. 

He  should  sleep  with  his  arms  within  reach. 

Washing  the  feet  at  night,  soaping  the  stockings, 
and  greasing  the  shoes  will  prevent  foot-soreness. 

Cavalry  and  artillery  should  husband  their  forage. 
Every  soldier  should  endeavor  to  make  his  rations 
hold  out  longer  than  the  time  for  which  they  were 
issued.  A  little  saving  may  save  a  day's  starving. 
It  is  well  to  make  little  bags,  or  some  secure  pack- 
ages, for  coffee,  salt,  and  sugar.  If  mixed  in  the 
haversack  they  become  worthless. 

Blankets  and  overcoats  should  never  be  thrown 
away,  no  matter  how  tired  or  hot  one  may  be.  Cold 
nights  follow  hot  days.  The  chief  point  in  health 
and  comfort  is  to  sleep  warm.  At  the  same  time 
the  recruit  should  not  overload  his  knapsack;  by 
endeavoring  to  carry  many  comforts  he  may  be  com- 
pelled to  throw  away  all. 

He  should  never  waste  a  cartridge  nor  a  cap;  the 
time  may  come  when  every  one  will  tell. 

When  on  picket  duty  he  must  remember  that  the 
safety  of  the  whole  army  may  depend  upon  his  vigi- 
lance. He  should  observe  and  report  every  unusual 
sound.  If  attacked  he  must  remember  that  a  cool 
and  determined  party,  acting  on  the  defensive  and 
properly  protecting  themselves,  can  keep  at  bay 
many  times  their  number,  and  thus  give  time  to  their 
comrades  to  form  and  come  to  their  support. 

In  action  he  should  keep  cool,  not  loading  in  haste, 
but  tearing  the  cartridge  and  pouring  in  all  the  pow- 
der before  putting  in  the  ball.  He  should  aim  de- 
liberately, aim  low,  and  pull  the  trigger  slowly.  One 
shot  in  five  minutes,  well  aimed,  is  better  than  five 
in  a  minute  without  aim. 

He  should  never  leave  the  ranks  to  carry  off  the 
wounded  without  permission  of  his  officer;  the 
ambulance  attendants  will  take  care  of  them,  and 
he  must  feel  that  his  first  duty  is  to  stand  by  his  com- 
rades  in  the  fight. 

Spies  and  persons  in  citizen's  dress  found  lurking 
in  our  lines  with  hostile  intent,  should  be  immed£ 
ately  turned  over  to  the  Provost  Guard. 

Prisoners  of  war,  wounded  or  not,  should  be  treated 
with  that  soldierly  kindness  and  consideration  which 
the  9th  corps  has  always  honorably  shown,  and  which 
is  due  to  an  open  enemy. 

The  General  Commanding  desires  to  express  to  the 
9th  corps  that  he  feels  the  same  confidence  in  them 
now  that  he  has  ever  felt  in  times  past,  and  has  ever 
found  just  cause  for  feeling.  He  believes  that  they 
will  do  their  duty  thoroughly  and  heartily  on  all  oc- 
casions and  under  all  circumstances. 

By  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  BURNSIDE. 

EDWARD  M.  NEILL,  Ass't  Adj. -Gen. 

Acting  as  a  reserve  upon  the  advance  of  the 
army  Gen.  Burnside  followed  to  the  banks  of 
the  Rapidan,  but  did  not  cross  over. 

The  army  of  Gen.  Lee  consisted  of  three  corps 


under  Lieut.-Gens.  Longstreet,  A.  P.  Hill,  and 
Ewell,  and  occupied  a  position  around  Orange 
Court  House,  south  of  Culpepper  Court  House. 

The  plan  of  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant  in  his  advance 
upon  Richmond  was  to  follow  a  line  nearly  cor- 
responding to  the  route  of  the  Fredericksburg 
and  Richmond  railroad,  making  his  base  at 
Aquia  Creek.  For  this  purpose  he  moved  down 
the  right  of  the  position  of  Gen.  Lee,  and  was 
prepared  either  to  accept  a  battle  from  him  on 
the  Rapidan  or  to  continue  his  march  to  Spott- 
sylvania  Court  House.  But  Gen.  Lee  would 
not  consent  to  be  outflanked,  and  ultimately 
endanger  his  railroad  communication  with 
Richmond.  He,  therefore,  prepared  to  resist 
the  progress  of  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant,  and  com- 
menced a  rapid  movement  of  his  forces  par- 
allel with  the  course  of  the  river.  Lieut.-Gen. 
Longstreet's  corps  started  from  Gordonsville, 
Lieut.-Gen  Hill  took  the  plank  road,  and  Lieut.- 
Gen  Ewell  the  old  turnpike  which  joins  the 
plank.  The  two  latter  arrived  in  front  of  Lieut.- 
Gen.  Grant's  forces  on  Thursday  morning. 
Early  on  that  morning  his  forces  began  to 
move.  The  5th  corps,  under  Maj.-Gen.  War- 
ren, advanced  from  its  position  near  Wilderness 
Tavern  along  the  rotads  leading  to  Orange 
Court  House,  five  miles  to  Parker's  Store.  It 
is  here  that  the  Germania  Ford  road  debouches 
into  the  old  turnpike.  This  point  is  in  Spottsyl- 
vania  county,  about  eight  miles  above  Chan- 
cellorsville,  and  twenty  below  Orange  Court 
House.  The  whole  face  of  the  country  in  that 
neighborhood  is  thickly  covered  with  an  under- 
growth of  field  pines,  cedars,  and  scrub  oaks, 
and  therefore  utterly  unfit  for  the  use  of  cav- 
alry or  artillery.  Maj.-Gen.  Sedgwick  with  the 
6th  corps  was  to  follow,  and  Maj.-Gen.  Hancock 
with  the  2d  corps  was  to  stretch  southwesterly 
from  Chancellorsville  toward  Shady  Grove 
Church.  Gen.  Sheridan  covered  the  extreme 
left  beyond  Maj.-Gen.  Hancock,  with  the  ob- 
ject of  finding  the  enemy's  cavalry  under  Gen. 
Stuart.  The  effect  of  these  movements  was  to 
bring  Maj.-Gen.  Sedgwick  on  the  right,  Maj.- 
Gen.  Hancock  on  the  left,  and  Maj.-Gen.  War- 
ren in  the  centre  of  the  line  extending  nearly 
five  miles.  The  centre  was  thrown  a  little  for- 
ward, the  wings  not  having  reached  the  best 
position,  and  then  the  action  commenced. 

At  noon,  Gen.  Griffin,  whose  advance  had 
been  driven  in,  was  ordered  to  push  the  1st  di- 
vision of  the  5th  corps  out  to  the  right  and  left 
of  the  turnpike  and  feel  the  enemy.  An  ad- 
vance of  less  than  a  mile,  stretching  across  the 
turnpike,  brought  them  in  contact  with  the 
enemy  under  Lieut.-Gen.  Ewell,  posted  on  a 
wooded  declivity.  A  sharp  engagement  ensued 
for  an  hour,  when  the  pressure  of  the  enemy 
could  no  longer  be  resisted.  Gen.  Griffin's  di- 
vision was  driven  back,  leaving  two  pieces  of 
artillery  in  the  eaemy's  hands.  The  4th  divi- 
sion, under  Gen.  Wadsworth,  and  the  2d,  under 
Gen.  Robinson,  now  advanced,  relieving  Gen. 
Griffin,  and  holding  the  enemy  in  check.  The 
Federal  loss  was  about  one  thousand  men. 


554 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


The  next  movement  of  the  enemy  was  to 

g-ess  between  the  corps  of  Gens.  Warren  and 
ancock  on  the  left  centre.  Here  the  contest 
commenced  about  3  p.  M.  In  anticipation  of 
this  movement  Gen.  Hancock's  advance  had 
been  checked,  and  his  corps  was  rapidly  moving 
to  close  the  gap  between  it  and  the  centre. 
One  division  of  the  6th  corps,  under  Gen.  Getty, 
had  been  detached  and  moved  to  the  left,  taking 
position  on  the  right  of  the  Orange  Court  House 
plank  road.  The  advance,  consisting  of  the  1st 
brigade  of  the  2d  division  of  the  2d. corps,  had 
scarcely  formed  a  junction  with  Gen.  Getty, 
when  the  enemy,  belonging  to  Lieut.-Gen. 
Hill's  corps,  made  a  powerful  attack  upon  them. 
The  position  was  held  with  the  utmost  obstina- 
cy. Meanwhile  the  remainder  of  Gen.  Han- 
cock's corps  arrived  and  attacked  on  the  ene- 
my's front  and  right.  The  divisions  of  Gens. 
Birney,  Barlow,  and  Gibbons,  took  an  active 
part,  and  the  contest  became  exceedingly  bloody. 
Such  was  the  nature  of  the  undergrowth  that 
there  was  little  opportunity  to  use  artillery. 
The  furious  fire  of  the  enemy's  musketry  was 
seldom  surpassed.  After  the  contest  had  stub- 
bornly continued  for  two  hours,  a  portion  of 
Gens.  Wadsworth's  and  Eobinson's  divisions  of 
the  5th,  moved  out  to  turn  the  flanks  of  Gen. 
Hill's  corps.  The  contest  continued  here  until 
late  in  the  night,  and  closed  with  a  loss  of  a 
thousand  killed  and  wounded,  among  whom 
was  Gen.  Alexander  Hayes.  The  effort  of  the 
enemy  to  penetrate  the  left  centre  failed. 

On  the  right  the  fighting  commenced  with  an 
attack  by  Gen.  Sedgwick,  who  advanced  his 
line.  In  the  afternoon  the  enemy  advanced  to 
drive  him  back,  during  which  they  made  a  des- 
perate effort  to  turn  his  right.  In  this  extremi- 
ty he  sent  a  request  to  Gen.  Burnside,  who 
had  that  day  crossed  over,  to  close  up  and  as- 
sist him.  At  this  time  the  attack  of  the  enemy 
was  repulsed,  but  near  nightfall  it  was.renewed 
again  with  great  vigor.  A  most  desperate  en- 
gagement ensued,  which  continued  until  two 
hours  after  dark,  when  the  indecisive  conflict 
closed.  Three  hundred  of  the  enemy  had  been 
taken  prisoners,  and  they  in  turn  claimed  the 
capture  .of  a  thousand  during  the  day. 

The  following  is  Gen.  Lee's  despatch : 

HEADQTTABTEES  AKMT  NOBTHEBN  VIBGINIA,  May  5, 1864. 
Hon.  Secretary  of  War ; 

The  enemy  crossed  the  Rapidan  at  Ely's  and  Ger- 
mania  Fords.  Two  corps  of  this  army  moved  to  op- 
pose him,  Ewell's  by  the  old  turnpike  and  Hill's  by 
the  plank  road.  They  arrived  this  morning  in  close 
proximity  to  the  enemy's  line  of  march.  A  strong 
attack  was  made  upon  Ewell,  who  repulsed  it,  cap- 
turing many  prisoners  and  four  pieces  of  artillery. 

The  enemy  subsequently  concentrated  upon  Gen. 
Hill,  who  with  his  and  "Wilcox's  divisions,  success- 
fully resisted  the  repeated  and  desperate  assaults. 
A  large  force  of  cavalry  and  artillery  on  our  right 
were  driven  back  by  Rossan's  brigade.  By  the  bless- 
ings of  God,  we  maintained  our  ppsition  against  every 
effort  until  night,  when  the  combat  closed.  We  have 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  many  brave  officers  and  men. 

Gallant  Brig.-Gen.  J.  M.  Jones  was  killed,  and  Gen. 
Stafford,  I  fear,  mortally  wounded,  while  leading  his 
command  with  conspicuous  valor.  E  E.  LEE. 


No  despatch  was  sent  from  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant. 
During  the  day  the  9th  corps,  under  Gen. 
Burnside,  had  come  upon  the  field  after  a  forced 
march.  It  was  distributed  as  occasion  required 
on  the  right,  right  centre  and  left  centre.  The 
Federal  line  continued  substantially  as  during 
the  day,  stretching  northwest  and  southeast, 
nearly  parallel  to  a  line  from  Germania  Ford  to 
Chancellorsville.  Gen.  Grant  had  thus  been 
successful  in  covering  the  fords  by  which  all  his 
teams  were  yet  to  pass,  and  which  it  was  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  keep  open  in  order  to  pre- 
serve his  line  of  communication,  and  which 
were  threatened  by  the  rapid  and  bold  move- 
ment of  Gen.  Lee  from  west  to  east. 

On  the  next  day,  Friday,  May  6th,  the  battle 
consisted  of  a  succession  of  fierce  attacks  made 
by  each  side.  Both  had  more  or  less  intrench- 
ed their  positions  by  felling  timber  and  cover- 
ing it  with  earth,  or  with  slight  earthworks. 
An  advance  had  been  ordered  on  the  right,  at 
6  A.  M.,  by  Gen.  Grant,  but  before  it  took  place 
the  firing  of  the  pickets  had  commenced  and 
increased  until  six  o'clock,  when  the  engage- 
ment became  general.  The  interval  of  ground 
between  the  opposing  lines  was  fought  over  in 
some  places  as  many  as  four  or  five  times,  the 
combatants  driving  each  other  in  turn  from  the 
opposite  lines  of  rifle-pits.  Gen.  Seymour  with 
a  provisional  division  on  the  extreme  right,  and 
Gen.  "Wright's  1st  division  of  the  6th  corps, 
next  adjoining,'  were  first  engaged,  and  Gen. 
Eicketts'  was  next  involved.  An  effort  made 
on  the  part  of  the  enemy  to  flank  was  repelled, 
and  the  line  pushed  a  few  hundred  yards  ahead, 
but  without  any  decisive  advantage.  At  8  and 
half-past  10  o'clock  the  right  was  again  pressed 
by  the  enemy.  The  firing  at  each  period  extend- 
ed all  along  the  line.  The  efforts  of  the  enemy 
appeared  to  be  intended  to  break  through  the 
separate  corps.  The  gaps,  however,  were  closed 
by  the  9th  corps.  Earthworks  were  thrown  up 
whenever  and  wherever  practicable,  and  proved 
to  be  of  invaluable  service.  On  the  left  the  en- 
gagement commenced  at  the  same  time  as  on 
the  right.  Gen.  Hancock  pressed  the  enemy 
some  distance,  until  being  reenforced  they  held 
their  ground.  Soon  a  severe  assault  was  again 
"made  on  the  left,  followed  up  along  the  line 
^with  such  vigor  as  nearly  to  involve  the  whole 
in  confusion.  Eeenforcements  from  Gen.  Burn- 
side  checked  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  and  re- 
lieved the  left  and  centre.  Before  noon  Gen. 
Wadsworth,  commanding  the  4th  division  of 
the  5th  corps  was  shot  in  the  forehead  and 
instantly  killed. 

At  noon  the  contest  was  comparatively  sus- 
pended, and  Gen.  Grant  concentrated  his  lines, 
interposing  the  greater  part  of  Gen.  Burnsido'a 
corps  between  Gens.  Warren  and  Hancock. 
The  left  was  also  brought  forward  a  little  tow- 
ard the  centre  from  the  Brock  Road,  to  which 
it  had  been  driven.  These  movements  had 
hardly  been  completed  when  the  forces  of  Gens. 
Longsfreet  and  Hill  renewed  the  attack  on  tho 
left  and  centre  with  great  fury,  and  drove  them 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


555 


back.  The  fight  was  fiercest  at  the  junction 
of  these  two  corps  and  Gen.  Crawford's' 3d  di- 
vision of  the  5th  corps.  Gen.  Carr's  4th  divi- 
sion of  the  2d  corps,  and  Gen.  Stevenson's 
division  of  the  9th  corps,  suffered  the  most 
heavily.  The  latter  division  being  on  Gen. 
Hancock's  right  gave  way,  and  the  enemy 
rushed  through  the  gap.  Their  advance  was 
checked  by  an  attack  on  the  flank  by  Gen.  Car- 
rol's brigade  of  Gen.  Hancock's  corps,  and  they 
retired  with  much  loss.  The  centre  and  left 
then  recovered  their  former  position. 

Toward  night  the  battle  was  renewed  on  the 
right.  The  assault  of  the  enemy  was  sudden 
and  furious,  and  the  2d  brigade  of  the  3d 
division,  under  Gen.  Seymour,  on  the  extreme 
right,  was  panic-stricken,  and,  with  Gen.  Sha- 
ler's  brigade,  were  overwhelmed  and  their  com- 
manders captured.  Gen.  Seymour  had  taken 
command  of  this  brigade  only  on  the  previous 
night,  and  did  every  thing  that  skill  and  bravery 
could  effect.  The  whole  right  wing,  if  not  the 
whole  army,  was  now  in  peril.  Gen.  Sedgwick, 
however,  rallied  and  held  his  troops,  thus  sav- 
ing the  army  from  the  threatened  destruction. 
The  enemy,  not  perceiving  the  havoc  which 
they  had  made,  or  not  knowing  the  condition 
of  the  right  wing,  and  exhausted  with  the  se- 
vere efforts  of  the  day,  retired  in  the  darkness 
which  now  prevailed.  No  further  effort  was 
made  to  cut  off  the  army  from  Germania  Ford, 
even  when  it  was  nearly  successful.  The  loss 
on  the  right  wing  was  about  6.000,  of  which 
4,000  occurred  during  this  assault  of  the  enemy. 
The  total  of  the  two  days'  battles  was  estimated 
at  15,000.  Among  the  killed  were  Gens.  Hayes, 
Wadsworth,  and  Webb  of  Gen.  Grant's  army. 
Of  the  enemy's,  Gens.  Jones,  Jenkins,  and 
Pickett  were  killed,  and  Gens.  Longstreet, 
Pegram,  and  Hunter  severely  wounded.  Gen. 
Longstreet  was  struck  in  the  neck  below  the 
AdanVs  apple.  The  ball  passed  along  the  clav- 
icle, fracturing  it,  and  came  out  on  the  shoul- 
der, cutting  some  important  nerves  of  the  arm. 
He  was  unable  to  take  the  field  until  near  the 
close  of  the  year. 

At  the  close  of  the  day  both  armies  held 
substantially  the  same  line  as  on  the  previous 
•evening,  and  the  intervening  space  was  occupied 
by  the  dead  and  wounded.  Gen.  Grant  had 
strengthened  his  left,  and  during  the  night  prep- 
arations were  made  to  strengthen  the  right, 
and  to  repair  the  disaster  on  that  flank. 

During  these  two  days  Gen.  Grant's  cavalry 
had  occupied  a  position  covering  the  rear  and 
left,  and  prevented  flanking  movements  by  the 
cavalry  of  the  enemy.  On  Friday,  as  Gen. 
Hancock's  corps  advanced  to  battle,  the  enemy 
charged  and  captured  several  hundred  of  the 
18th  Pennsylvania  cavalry. 

On  Saturday,  the  7th,  brisk  skirmishing  en- 
sued along  the  lines.  Gen.  Gordon's  brigade 
of  the  enemy  cut  off  the  communication  of 
Gen.  Sedgwick  with  Germania  Ford,  and 
the  latter  was  withdrawn  toward  "Wilderness 
Tavern.  Gen.  Burnside's  corps  was  moved  out 


on  the  road  to  Spottsylvania  Court  House. 
It  was  evident  in  the  afternoon  that  Gen. 
Lee  was  withdrawing  his  main  force  to- 
ward Spottsylvania  Court  House,  and  or- 
ders were  issued  to  the  surgeons  in  charge  of 
the  hospitals  to  remove  their  sick  and  wounded 
to  Ely's  Ford,  and  the  supply  trains  were  or- 
dered to  move  in  the  night  to  the  vicinity  of 
Todd's  tavern.  Subsequently  Fredericksburg 
was  occupied  by  some  of  Gen.  Grant's  forces, 
and  made  a  depot  for  the  wounded  and  a  basis 
for  supplies. 

The  following  despatches  were  sent  by  Gen. 
Lee  to  Richmond : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA.  I 

May  7, 1864—8  P.  M.         f      - 
Honorable  Secretary  of  War : 

Gen.  Gordon  turned  the  enemy's  extreme  right 
yesterday  evening  and  drove  him  from  his  rifle-pits. 
Among  the  prisoners  captured  are  Gens.  Seymour 
and  Snaler.  A  number  of  arms  were  also  taken. 
The  enemy  has  abandoned  the  Germania  Ford  road 
and  moved  his  pontoon  bridge  toward  Ely's.  There 
has  been  no  attack  to-day — only  slight  skirmishing 
along  the  line.  (Signed)  '  R.  E.  LEE. 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA,  May  8. 
Honorable  Secretary  of  War  ; 

The  enemy  have  abandoned  their  position  and  are 
marching  toward  Fredericksburg.  I  am  moving  on 
the  right  flank.  (Signed)  R.  E.  LEE. 

During  the  afternoon  a  battle  took  place  be- 
tween the  cavalry.  The  loss  was  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  on  each  side.  At  dark  the 
2d  corps  began  to  move  by  way  of  Brock's 
road,  followed  by  the  5th  corps  on  the  same 
route.  Gens.  Burnside  and  Sedgwick  moved 
on  the  old  Chancellorsville  road,  and  arrived  on 
the  field  near  Spottsylvania  at  noon  on  Sunday. 
Gen.  Warren  reached  a  point  about  three  miles 
from  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  after  march- 
ing all  of  Saturday  night.  About  the  same 
time  Gen.  E  well's  corps,  with  a  portion  of  Gen. 
Longstreet's,  had  arrived.  A  sharply-con- 
tested action  ensued  in  a  field  to  the  left  of  the 
Brock  road,  which  stretched  away  to  the  east, 
toward  the  Spottsylvania  and  Fredericksburg 
road.  The  country  was  rolling,  and  dotted 
here  and  there  with  thick  groves  of  pine  and 
cedar  for  the  distance  of  a  mile  from  the  point 
where  the  Wilderness  terminates  in  the  open 
country.  A  contest  between  cavalry  had  taken 
place  in  front  of  Gen.  Warren,  and  some  artil- 
lery was  seen,  but  it  was  inaccurately  reported 
that  there  was  no  infantry.  As  the  advance 
of  Gen.  Warren  passed  down  the  road,  shells 
were  thrown  at  it  with  great  activity,  and  the 
enemy  fell  back,  making  only  a  slight  resistance. 
On  reaching  a  triangular  clearing  known  as 
Alsop's  farm,  of  a  hundred  acres,  the  artillery 
of  the  enemy  was  found  to  be  stationed  there. 
Beyond  the  clearing  was  Ny  Runf  a  small  stream 
affording  no  obstacle  to  the  advance  of  troops. 
The  wooded  ground  rises  beyond  in  ridges. 
The  Union  batteries  were  stationed  to  the  right, 
commanding  those  of  the  enemy.  The  infantry 
advanced  through  the  clearing  and  came  upon 
three  lines  of  the  enemy,  the  last  of  which  was 
behind  earthworks.  Here  the  struggle  took 


556 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


place  with  the  greatest  violence,  and  continued 
some  hours,  during  which  Gen.  Warren  held 
his  ground.  In  the  afternoon  a  brigade  of  the 
6th  corps  came  to  his  assistance,  and  the  enemy 
w»ere  driven  from  their  position.  The  Federal 
loss  was  thirteen  hundred.  Many  officers  were 
wounded,  among  whom  was  Gen.  Robinson, 
who  was  shot  in  the  knee.  Several  brigades 
lost  their  commanders,  and  the  4th  Michigan 
was  finally  commanded  by  a  first  lieutenant. 
The  1st  Michigan,  two  hundred  strong,  came 
out  of  the  fight  with  twenty-three  men.  The 
day  was  intensely  hot,  and  many  suffered  from 
sun-stroke. 

Monday  was  comparatively  quiet  in  the 
morning,  followed  by  cannonading  and  skir- 
mishing, but  no  general  battle.  While  super- 
intending the  mounting  of  artillery,  Gen. 
Sedgwick  was  killed  by  a  ball  from  a  sharp- 
shooter entering  his  head.  The  centre  of  the 
the  line  formed  on  Sunday  was  held  by  Gen. 
Warren,  with  the  2d  corps,  Gen.  Hancock,  on 
the  right,  and  the  6th  corps,  Gen.  Wright,  lately 
Gen.  Sedgwick,  on  the  left.  Toward  night, 
on  Monday,  Gen.  Grant  ordered  another  ad- 
vance on  the  enemy.  The  right,  with  Gens. 
Birney's  and  Gibbon's  divisions  in  advance, 
followed  by  Gen.  Carroll's  brigade,  crossed 
over  to  the  south  bank  of  a  branch  of  the  Po 
River.  Here  a  severe  battle  with  both  infantry 
and  artillery  ensued.  Each  -side  alternately 
charged.  At  night  -the  enemy  held  Spottsyl- 
vania  Court  House,  and  Gen.  Hancock  slowly 
retired  his  corps,  after  suffering  heavy  losses. 
During  the  day  ,an  attack,  directed  on  Gen. 
Wihpx's  division  of  the  9th  corps,  was  met 
and  repulsed. 

The  following  despatches  from  Mr.  Stanton, 
the  Secretary  of  War,  relative  to  the  preceding 
operations,  were  sent  to  the  public  press : 

WASHINGTON,  May  8 — 9  A.  M. 
To  Gen.  John  A.  Dix,  New  York  : 

We  have  no  official  reports  from  the  front; 
but  the  Medical  Director  has  notified  the  Surgeon 
General  that  our  wounded  were  being  sent  to  Wash- 
ington, and  will  number  from  six  to  eight  thousand. 

The  Chief  Quartermaster  of  the  army  of  the  Poto- 
mac has  made  requisition  for  seven  days'  grain,  and 
for  railroad  construction  trains,  and  states  that  the 
enemy  is  reported  to  be  retiring.  This  indicates 
Gen.  Grant's  advance,  and  affords  an  inference  of 
material  success  on  our  part. 

The  enemy's  strength  has  always  been  most  felt  in 
his  first  blows,  and  his  efforts  having  failed,  and  our 
forces,  not  only  having  maintained  their  ground,  but 
preparing  to  advance,  lead  to  the  hope  of  full  and 
complete  success ;  for  when  either  party  falls  back, 
disorganization  by  straggling  and  desertion  com- 
mence, and  the  enemy's  loss  in  killed  and  wounded 
must  weaken  him  more  than  we  are  weakened.  Noth- 
ing later  than  my  last  night's  despatch  has  been  re- 
ceived from  Gey.  Butler. 

A  despatch  from  Gen.  Sherman,  dated  at  5  o'clock 
P.  M.  yesterday,  states  that  Gen.  Thomas  had  occu- 
pied Tunnel  Hill,  where  he  expected  a  battle,  and 
that  the  enemy  had  taken  position  at  Buzzard  Roost 
Pass,  north  of  Dalton.  Skirmishing  had  taken  place, 
but  no  real  fighting. 

Nothing  later  from  Gen.  Banks. 

You  may  give  such  publicity  to  the  information 
transmitted  to  you  as  you  deem  proper. 


It  is  designed  to  give  accurate  official  statements 
of  what  is  known  to  the  department  in  this  great 
crisis,  and  to  withhold  nothing  from  the  public. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

WASHINGTON,  May  8 — 5  p.  x. 
Mai. -Gen.  John  A.  Dix,  New  York  : 

We  are  yet  without  any  official  despatches  from  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  except  those  referred  to  this 
morning  from  the  Medical  Director  and  Chief  Quar- 
termaster, and  nothing  additional  has  been  received 
by  the  Department  from  any  other  source.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  no  fighting  took  place  yesterday. 

A  p_art  of  the  wounded  arrived  in  ambulances  this 
morning  at  Rappahannock  Station,  and  are  on  the 
way  in  by  railroad.  The  Department  will  probably 
receive  despatches  by  that  train,  which  will  arrive  to- 
night. 

A  despatch  from  Gen.  Butler,  just  received,  and 
which  left  him  yesterday,  states  that  a  demonstra- 
tion had  been  made  by  his  forces  on  the  railroad  be- 
tween Petersburg  and  Richmond,  and  had  succeeded 
in  destroying  a  portion  of  it,  so  as  to  break  the  con- 
nection ;  that  there  had  been  some  severe  fighting, 
but  that  he  had  succeeded.  He  heard  from  a  rebel 
deserter  that  Hunter  was  dangerously  wounded 
Pickett  also,  and  Jones  and  Jenkins  were  killed. 

Nothing  further  has  been  heard  from  Gen.  Sherman. 
EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

WASHINGTON,  May  9 — 10:45  A.  it. 
Maj.-Gen.  John  A.  Dix : 

We  have  intelligence  this  morning,  by  agents  direct 
from  the  army,  as  late  as  Saturday  evening,  but  no 
official  reports.  The  general  result  may  be  estimated 
as  a  success  to  our  arms. 

The  fighting  on  Friday  was  the  most  desperate 
known  in  modern  times. 

I  deeply  regret  to  say  that  the  country  will  have  to 
mourn  the  death  of  that  accomplished  soldier,  Brig.- 
Gen.  Wadsworth,  who  was  struck  in  the  forehead  by 
a  ball,  at  the  head  of  his  command,  while  leading 
them  against  one  of  the  enemy's  strongest  positions. 
His  remains  are  in  our  hands  in  charge  of  Col. 
Sharpe.  Gen.  Webb  was  wounded.  Gen.  Jones,  of 
the  rebel  army,  was  killed. 

The  condition  of  our  army  is  represented  to  be 
most  admirable.  Their  cool,  determined  courage,  has 
in  every  instance  proved  too  much  for  the  desperate 
fury  of  the  rebels,  who  have  been  driven  at  all  points. 
There  has  been  no  straggling. 

At  the  latest  accounts  Hancock  was  pushing  for- 
ward rapidly,  by  the  left,  to  Spottsylvania  Court 
House,  and  yesterday  heavy  cannonading  was  heard 
at  Aquia  Creek  from  that  direction. 

We  have  lost  some  prisoners.  Gne  regiment,  the 
7th  Pennsylvania  reserves,  charged  through  an  abatis 
of  the  enemy,  but  were  unable  to  get  back,  and  most 
of  them  were  captured.  We  have  also  taken  a  large 
number  of  prisoners,  supposed  to  be  more  than*  we 
lost.  The  wounded  had  not  yet  arrived  at  the  point 
where  the  trains  were  to  receive  them.  The  Medical 
Director  reports  that  a  large  proportion  are  slightly 
wounded.  Artillery  was  not  used  on  either  side  the 
last  two  days. 

There  is  nothing  later  from  Gen.  Butler  than  the 
dates  of  my  last  despatch. 

Gen.  Sherman  was  heard  from  last  night.  _He  had 
been  all  day  reconnoitring  the  enemy's  position,  and 
would  attack  to-day. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

WASHINGTON,  May  9—11:80  A.  M. 
Maj.-Gen.  John  A.  Dix  : 

This  Department  has  just  received  from  Gen.  Butler 
the  official  report  of  Gen.  Lee  of  the  operations  of  Fri- 
day. He  says  their  loss  in  killed  is  not  large,  but  they 
have  many  wounded.  He  grieves  to  announce  that 
Gen.  Longstreet  was  severely  wounded,  Gen.  Jenkins 
killed,  and  Gen.  Pegram  badly  wounded  on  Thurs- 
day, and  that  it  is  supposed  that  Gen.  Stafford  will 
recover.  He  thanks  a  merciful  God  that  every  ad- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


557 


ranee  on  their  (Gen,  Grant's)  part  has  been  re- 
pulsed. He  states  that  our  forces  attacked  them  and 
caused  some  confusion.  Gen.  Wads  worth's  body 
fell  into  their  hands;  but  our  reports  this  morn- 
ing state  that  it  is  now  in  our  possession,  under 
charge  of  Col.  Sharpe,  as  stated  in  my  first  despatch 
this  morning. 

The  belief  hero  is  that  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant  is  achiev- 
ing a  complete  victory. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 
WASHINGTON,  May  9 — 1  p.  M. 
Mai.- Gen.  John  A.  Dix  : 

Despatches  have  just  reached  here  direct  from 
Gen.  Grant.  They  are  not  fully  deciphered  yet,  but 
he  is  "  on  to  Kichmond."  We  have  taken  two  thou- 
sand prisoners. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

The  last  official  despatch. 

"WASHINGTON,  May  9 — 4,  p.  M. 

A  btearer  of  despatches  from  Gen.  Meade's  head- 
quarters has  just  reached  here.  He  states  that  Lee's 
army  commenced  falling  back  on  the  night  of  Friday. 
Our  army  commenced  the  pursuit  on  Saturday. 
.  The  rebels  were  in  full  retreat  for  Richmond  by 
the  direct  road. 

Hancock  passed  through  Spottsylvania  Court 
House  at  daylight  yesterday, 

Our  headquarters  at  noon  yesterday  were  twenty 
miles  south  of  the  battle  field. 

We  occupy  Fredericksburg.  The  22d  New  York 
cavalry  occupied  that  place  at  eight  o'clock  last 
night. 

The  depot  for  our  wounded  is  established  at  Fred- 
ericksburg. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

The  President,  on  the  9th,  also  issued  the 
following  proclamation : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  "WASHINGTON,  May  9, 1864. 
To  t7i«  Friends  of  Union,  and  Liberty  : 

Enough  is  known  of  the  army  operations  within 
the  last  five  days  to  claim  our  especial  gratitude  to 
God.  While  what  remains  undone  demands  our 
mo_st  sincere  prayers  to  and  reliance  upon  Him 
(without  whom  all  human  effort  is  vain),  I  recom- 
mend that  all  patriots,  at  their  homes,  in  their  places 
of  public  worship,  and  wherever  they  may  be,  unite 
in  common  thanksgiving  and  prayer  to  Almighty 
God.  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

The  excitement  produced  throughout  the 
North  by  these  despatches  was  very  great. 
Washington  also  was  almost  wild  with  enthu- 
siasm over  what  was  regarded  as  a  great  vic- 
tory achieved  by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  over 
the  army  under  Gen.  Lee.  In  the  evening  the 
feelings  of  the  people  found  vent  in  a  congratu- 
latory visit  to  the  President,  which  is  thus  re- 
ported : 

"A  procession  was  formed  in  front  of  Wil- 
lard's  Hotel  about  half-past  eight  this  even- 
ing, headed  by  the  band  of  the  27th  Michigan 
regiment,  and  proceeded  to  the  White  House. 
After  several  patriotic  airs  had  been  performed 
by  the  band,  in  response  to  the  cheers  and 
calls  of  the  multitude  assembled,  the  President 
came  forward,  and  was  introduced  to  the  peo- 
ple by  Senator  Foster,  of  Connecticut. 

"  He  returned  his  thanks  for  the  compliment 
paid  him,  and  said  that  we  had  won  a  great 
victory,  for  which  we  should  return  thanks  to 
the  Almighty,  who  had  smiled  upon  and  blessed 
our  efforts,  and  also  to  Gen.  Grant  and  his 
brave  officers  and  soldiers,  to  whose  heroism 
and  sacrifices  we  were  indebted,  under  Provi- 


dence, for  this  triumph.  "We  had  won  a  great 
victory,  but  we  must  not  be  prematurely  san- 
guine, for  although  much  had  been  done,  there 
was  a  great  deal  of  work  yet  to  do  before  the 
rebellion  could  be  suppressed  and  the  Union 
restored.  There  was  one  thing  which  he  de- 
sired to  say  to  thein.  and  that  was,  that  while 
Gen.  Grant  had  met  with  stubborn  resistance, 
he  had  not  been  forced  back  in  the  slightest 
degree  from  the  line  upon  which  he  had 
started,  and  was  now  moving  forward  upon 
the  line  which  he  had  marked  out  before  the 
movement  commenced.  He  had  every,  confi- 
dence in  Gen.  Grant,  and  believed  that  he 
would  accomplish  the  great  work  which  he 
had  yet  to  do. 

"Enthusiastic  cheers  were  given  for  the 
President,  Gen.  Grant,  Gen.  Meade,  and  our 
brave  armies,  after  which  the  crowd  retired  in 
a  quiet  and  orderly  manner." 

The  thanksgiving  recommended  by  the  Pres- 
ident was  very  generally  observed-  by  the 
churches  on  the  following  Sunday.  As  an  in- 
stance, the  rector  of  Trinity  Church,  New 
York,  issued  the  following : 

TEINITT  RECTORY,  May  13,  1864. 
The  reverend  the  clergy  of  this  parish  are  re- 
quested, on  the  approaching  feast  of  Whitsunday, 
to  offer  solemn  thanksgivings  to  Almighty  God  for 
the  answer  to  the  prayers  of  his  people,  and  for  the 

freat  mercies  extended  to  this  nation  by  His  Divine 
rovidence   during  the  past  week.     The  form  of 
thanksgiving  set  forth  and  authorized  by  the  Bishop 
of  this  diocese  will  be  used  immediately  after  the 
general  thanksgiving,  at  each  service  during  the  day. 
MORGAN  DIX,  Rector  of  Trinity  Church. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  the  manner  of 
observance : 

After  the  usual  initial  exercises  had  been  gone 
through,  the  prayer  for  victories,  to  be  found  in  the 
prayers  at  sea  in  the  Episcopal  book  of  common 
prayer,  was  read. 

Dr.  Vinton  then  ascended  the  pulpit  and  preached 
the  sermon,  taking  his  text  from  St.  John,  seventh 
chapter  and  thirty-ninth  verse : — "The  Holy  Ghost 
is  not  yet."  The  preacher  only  briefly  alluded  to 
our  victories  in  the  course  of  his  discourse.  He  said 
that  the  day  of  Pentecost  had  again  dawned  on  the 
world ;  but  the  anniversary^  of  the  Christian  year 
came  that  day,  not  ushered  in  like  the  fast  days  of 
the  world  formerly,  but  with  the  booming  of  cannon 
and  hurrahs  echoing  in  the  air,  and  the  rejoicing 
which  all  the  people  of  this  land  were  now  express- 
ing for  their  victories. 

The  rest  of  the  preacher's  discourse  was  strictly 
confined  to  remarks  on  the  coming  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  in  conclusion  he  said  we  should  now  especially 
give  God  thanks  for  all  the  favors  we  have  received 
at  His  hands. 

The  despatches  of  the  Secretary  were  con 
tinued  as  follows : 

WASHINGTON,  May  10, 1864 
To  Major-Gen.  Dix: 

Despatches  have  been  received  this  evening  from 
Maj.-Gen.  Grant,  dated  at  one  o'clock  yesterday. 

The  enemy  have  made  a  stand  at  Spottsylvania 
Court  House.  There  had  been  some  hard  fighting; 
but  no  general  battle  had  taken  place  there. 

I  deeply  regret  to  announce  that  Maj.-Gen.  Sedg- 
wick  was  killed  in  yesterday's  engagement  at  Spott- 
sylvania, being  struck  by  a  ball  from  a  sharpshooter. 
His  remains  are  at  Fredericksburg,  and  are  expected 


558 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


here»to-night.    [A  ball  entered  his  eye  and  passed 
thiough  his  head,  killing  him  instantly.] 

The  army  is  represented  to  be  in  excellent  condi- 
tion, and  with  ample  supplies. 

Gen.  Robinson  and  Gen.  Morris  are  wounded.  No 
other  casualties  to  general  officers  are  reported. 

Gen.  H.  G.  Wright  has  been  placed  in  command 
of  Sedgwick's  corps.  * 

Gen.  Grant  did  not  design  lo  renew  the  attack  to- 
day, being  engaged  in  replenishing  from  the  supply 
train,  so  as  to  advance  without  it. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

On  Tuesday  morning,  the  10th,  Gen.  Grant's 
forces  occupied  substantially  the  same  position 
as  on  the  previous  day.  His  line  stretched 
about  six  miles  on  the  northerly  bank  of  the 
Po,  and  took  the  general  form  of  a  crescent, 
the  wings  being  thrown  forward.  The  2d 
corps,  across  the  Po,  now  held  a  line  on  the 
right,  nearly  parallel  to  the  road  from  Shady 
Grove  Church  to  the  Court  House.  The  5th 
corps  held  the  centre,  being  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Po,  and  the  6th  corps  held  the  left,  facing 
toward  the  Court  House.  Further  on  the  left 
was  the  9th  corps,  under.  Gen.  Burnside.  Sev- 
eral batteries  covered  the  right  and  others  the 
left  centre.  In  front  was  a  dense  forest.  The 
enemy  held  Spottsylvania  and  the  region  north 
of  the  Court  House.  His  left  rested  on  Glady 
Run,  sweeping  northward  and  sheltered  by 
strong  works  long  before  made  in  anticipation 
of  this  emergency.  His  right  curved  in  a  similar 
direction,  and  rested  on  the  Ny  River,  and. his 
centre,  a  little  thrown  forward  from  the  right 
and  left  centres,  was  posted  on  commanding 
ground.  His  position  was  well  supported  by 
breastworks,  and  along  the  centre  was  the  for- 
est and  underbrush,  lining  a  marsh  partially 
drained  by  the  run.  The  conflict  opened  in 
the  morning  by  a  terrific  fire  of  artillery,  which 
was  incessant  during  all  the  forenoon.  A  most 
vigorous  and  gallant  attack  was  then  made  by  the 
5th  corps,  and  by  Gens.  Gibbons"and  Birney's 
divisions  of  the  2d  corps,  on  the  centre  of  Gen. 
Lee's  army.  The  losses  of  Gen.  Grant  were 
most  severe  in  the  repeated  charges  by  which 
the  enemy  was  driven  to  his  rifle-pits.  Brig.- 
Gen.  Rice,  commanding  the  2d  brigade  of  the 
4th  division  of  the  5th  corps,  was  killed  at  this 
time.  In  the  mean  time  the  enemy  had  attacked 
and  turned  Gen.  Barlow's  division  of  the  2d 
corps,  on  the  right ;  but  it  was  finally  extri- 
cated without  great  loss.  Toward  the  close  of 
the  day  a  most  energetic  assault  was  made 
along  the  whole  line,  in  which  the  enemy's 
works1  were  scaled,  and  more  than  a  thousand 
prisoners  taken,  with  several  guns,  by  Gen. 
Upton's  1st  brigade  of  Gen.  "Wright's  1st  divi- 
sion of  the  6th  corps,  which  was  in  the  advance 
of  this  onset.  His  position  being  too  far  in 
advance  of  the  residue  of  the  army  to  be  held, 
he  was  compelled  to  fall  back  with  the  pris- 
oners which  he  had  taken.  The  Federal  losses 
throughout  the  day  were  estimated  to  exceed 
ten  thousand ;  and  the  total  loss  thus  far,  thirty- 
five  thousand.  The  enemy's  loss  was  supposed 
to  be  equally  severe. 

The  following  despatches  from  the  Secretary 


of  "War,  relative  to  this  contest  at  Spottsylvi- 
nia,  were  published : 

WASHINGTON,  May  11, 1864. 
Mag. -Gen.  John  A.  Dix  : 

Despatches  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  have 
just  reached  here,  bearing  dates  to  5  o'clock  p.  M. 
yesterday. 

Both  armies  at  that  time  held  their  positions  at 
Spottsylvania  Court  House,  without  any  material 
change.  The  enemy  had  been  driven  to  their  breast- 
works. 

The  6th  corps,  under  Gen.  Wright,  had  carried  the 
first  line  of  the  enemy's  rifle  pits. 

There  had  been  heavy  skirmishing  during  the  day. 

Our  wounded  had  reached  Fredericksburg,  and  dur- 
ing the  night  some  were  brought  up  to  Washington. 

The  Surgeon  General  reports  that  ample  supplies 
of  nurses,  surgeons,  and  medical  stores  have  gone 
forward. 

There  has  been  nothing  heard  from  Gen.  Sherman 
or  Gen.  Butler  since  my  last  despatch  of  yesterday. 
EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 
WASHINGTON.  May  11—11:30  p.  M. 
Mai.  Gen.  John  A.  Dix  : 

Despatches  from  Gen.  Grant,  dated  at  8  o'clock 
this  morning,  have  just  reached  this  department. 
He  says : 

"  We  have  now  ended  the  sixth  day  of  very  hard 
fighting.  The  result  to  this  time  is  much  in  our 
favor.  Our  losses  have  been  heavy  as  well  as  those 
of  the  enemy.  I  think  the  loss  of  the  enemy  must 
be  greater.  We  have  taken  over  five  thousand  pris- 
oners in  battle,  while  he  has  taken  from  us  but  few 
except  stragglers. 

"Ipropose  to  fight  it  out  on  this  line,  if  it  takes 
all  summer." 

The  Government  is  sparing  no  pains  to  support  him. 
EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

The  following  despatch  of  Gen.  Lee  was 
sent  to  Riohrnond: 

SPOTTSYLVANIA  COTJET  HOTTSE,  VIA  GURNET'S,  I 
May  10, 1864.         j" 
The  Honorable  Secretary  of  War  : 

Gen.  Grant's  army  is  intrenched  near  this  place, 
on  both  sides  of  the  Brock  road.  Frequent  skir- 
mishing occurred  yesterday  and  to-day,  each  army 
endeavoring  to  discover  the  position  of  the  other. 
To-day  the  enemy  shelled  our  lines  and  made  several 
assaults  with  infantry  against  different  points,  par- 
ticularly on  our  left,  held  by  Gen.  R.  H.  Anderson, 
The  last,  which  occurred  after  sunset,  was  the  most 
•  obstinate,  some  of  the  enemy  leaping  over  the 
breastworks.  They  were  easily  repulsed,  except  in 
front  of  Gen.  Doles'  brigade,  where  they  drove  our 
men  from  their  position,  and  from  a  four-gun  bat- 
tery there  posted.  The  men  were  soon  rallied,  and 
by  dark  our  line  was  reestablished  and  the  battery 
recovered. 

A  large  body  of  the  enemy  moved  around  our  left 
on  the  evening  of  the  9th,  and  took  possession  of  the 
road  about  midway  between  Shady  Grove  Church 
and  the  Court  House.  Gen.  Early,  with  a  part  of 
Hill's  corps,  drove  them  back  this  evening,  taking 
one  gun  and  a  few  prisoners. 

Thanks  to  a  merciful  Providence,  our  casualties 
have  been  small. 

Among  the  wounded  are  Brig.-Gens.  Hayes  and  H. 
H.  Walker.  R.  E.  LEE. 

On  the  next  day,  "Wednesday,  the  llth,  the 
position  of  the  two  armies  was  nearly  the  same 
as  on  the  previous  day.  The  enemy  still  held 
and  covered  the  town  with  a  crescent-shaped 
line.  Their  centre  was  very  strong  and  posted 
securely,  with  rifle-pits  in  front  and  the  strip  of 
forest  covering  it,  well  guarded  with  lines  of 
skirmishers.  During  the  morning  there  was  a 
brisk  skirmishing,  which  died  away  at  noon. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


559 


Some  reconnoitring  movements  were  made,  and 
the  enemy,  apprehending  an  attack  on  their  left, 
moved  artillery  from  their  right  to  left,  tow- 
ard the  point  threatened.  During  the  after- 
noon rain  fell  for  the  first  time  since  the  army 
moved.  It  was  determined  during  the  day  to 
make  an  assault  early  the  next  morning  on 
the  enemy's  left,  where  their  batteries  were  so 
strongly  posted  as  to  annoy  Gen.  Grant's  lines. 
The  2d  corps  was  selected  to  make  this  move- 
ment. Soon  after  midnight,  in  the  darkness 
and  storm,  Gen.  Hancock  changed  the  position 
of  his  corps  from  the  extreme  right  to  the 
left,  filling  up  the  space  between  Gens.  Wright 
and  Burnside.  It  was  then  near  ground  well 
commanded  by  the  enemy,  and  requiring  a 
quick  advance  in  the  morning. 

On  Thursday  the  12th,  at  the  dawn  of  day, 
veiled  by  the  twilight  and  by  a  dense  fog,  the 
2d  corps  moved  up  to  the  enemy's  lines.  Gen. 
Barlow's  1st  division  and  Gen.  Birney's  3d 
division  formed  the  first  line;  Gen.  Gibbon's 
2d  division  and  Gen.  Mott's  4th  formed  the 
second  line.  The  advance  of  Gen.  Barlow 
marched  in  column  of  battalions  doubled  on 
the  centre.  As  the  corps  moved  over  the 
rugged  and  woody  space  intervening  the  ex- 
citement increased,  until  it  broke  out  in  a  rush 
at  the  hostile  intrenchments.  These  the  corps 
leaped,  with  loud  cheers,  and  dashed  among  the 
astonished  enemy,  compelling  their  surrender 
in  mass.  An  entire  division  was  surrounded, 
and  officers  and  men  captured.  Three  thousand 
prisoners  and  two  generals — Maj.-Gen.  Edward 
Johnson  and  Brig.-Gen.  G.  H.  Stewart — were 
taken.  So  complete  was  the  surprise  that  the 
hostile  officers  were  taken  at  their  breakfast, 
and  within  an  hour  after  the  start  of  the  corps 
Gen.  Hancock  reported  as  follows:  "I  have 
captured  from  thirty  to  forty  guns.  I  have 
finished  up  Johnson,  and  am  now  going  into 
Early."  The  second  line  of  rifle-pits  was  im- 
mediately stormed,  and  after  a  stubborn  resist- 
ance wrested  from  the  enemy.  A  heavy  can- 
nonade then  commenced  all  along  the  line,  to 
which  the  enemy  replied  with  the  utmost  spirit. 
The  whole  line  now  pressed  up  to  support  the 
2d  corps.  The  9th  corps  rushed  in  on  the  ex- 
treme left,  converging  toward  the  penetrated 
space,  and  joined  its  right  to  the  left  of  the  2d 
corps.  The  6th  corps  advanced  against  Gen. 
Ewell's  left,  and  on  the  extreme  right  Gen. 
Warren's  corps  became  hotly  engaged.  -About 
9  o'clock  the  enemy  began  to  charge  desper- 
ately upon  the  2d  and  9th  corps,  to  recover  the 
lost  works.  For  three  hours  a  bloody  fight 
continued.  At  noon,  however,  they  abandoned 
for  a  time  the  attempt  to  retake  the  position 
so  obstinately  held.  But  the  further  advance 
of  Gen.  Hancock  had  been  successfully  checked. 
Most  of  the  captured  cannon  were  covered  by 
the  guns  of  the  sharpshooters,  and  neither  party 
were  able  to  bring  them  off.  Meantime  the  right 
and  centre  had  charged  the  enemy's  position 
with  great  intrepidity,  but  without  success,  his 
position  being  found  impregnable.  Every  ave- 


nue of  approach  was  swept  by  a  most  destruc- 
tive fire  of  artillery,  and  his  force  was  strong 
enough  to  hold  the  position  against  twice  the 
attacking  numbers. 

Gen.  Meade  now  sought  to  turn  the  enemy's 
right ;  and  after  a  temporary  lull  in  the  after- 
noon, began  to  crowd  his  troops  down  toward 
the  left,  still  keeping  up  his  artillery  and  in- 
fantry fire.  The  rain  began  to  fall  at  noon,  but 
the  carnage  went  on  until  night.  The  enemy 
finding  that  the  Federal  right  had  been  merely 
holding  him  in  front  from  reenforcing  Ids  right, 
and  had  now  abandoned  his  front,  also  con- 
centrated on  his  right.  Every  inch  of  ground 
was  fought  over  with  desperation.  The  dead 
and  wounded  lay  thickly  strewn  along  the 
ground,  and  heaped  up  where  the  fight  was 
hottest.  After  fourteen  hours,  night  fell  on 
one  of  the  severest  contests  of  the  war.  The 
movement -.of  Gen.  Hancock  in  the  morning 
was  the  first  decided  success  of  the  campaign, 
having  secured  an  advance  of  a  mile  in  the  line 
at  that  point.  About  three  thousand  prisoners 
were  reported  to  be  captured.  The  loss  in 
killed  and  wounded  was  estimated  at  ten  thou- 
sand, and  that  of  the  enemy  was  supposed  to 
be  equally  severe.  The  artillery  which  had 
been  captured  remained  on  disputed  ground, 
and  was  subsequently  withdrawn  by  the  enemy. 

On  Friday  the  13th  it  was  soon  apparent  that 
the  enemy  had  withdrawn  his  main  force  on  the 
left,  by  falling  back  to  a  new  defensive  position. 
The  storm  increased,  and  rendered  the  roads 
very  heavy.  Skirmishing  and  artillery  firing 
were  kept  up  by  small  bodies  of  the  troops 
during  the  day.  At  noou  Gen.  Meade  issued 
the  following  address  to  his  army : 

HEADQTTABTEES  AEMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  ) 
May  13,  1864.       f 

SOLDIERS  !  The  moment  has  arrived  when  your 
commanding  officer  feels  authorized  to  address  you 
in  terms  of  congratulation. 

^For  eight  days  and  nights,  without  almost  any  in- 
termission, through  rain  and  sunshine  you  have  been 
fighting  a  desperate  foe  in  positions  naturally  strong, 
and  rendered  doubly  so  by  intrenchments. 

You  have  compelled  him  to  abandon  his  fortifica- 
tions on  the  Rapidan,  to  retire  and  to  attempt  to 
stop  your  progress,  and  now  he  has  abandoned  the 
last  intrenched  position,  so  tenaciously  held,  suffering 
in  all  a  loss  of  eighteen  guns,  twenty-two  colors,  eight 
thousand  prisoners,  including  two  general  officers. 

Your  heroic  deeds,  noble  endurance  of  fatigue  and 
privation,  will  ever  be  memorable.  Let  us  return 
thanks  to  God  for  the  mercy  thus  shown  us,  and  ask 
earnestly  for  its  continuance. 

Soldiers!  Your  work  is  not  over.  The  enemy  must 
be  pursued,  and,  if  possible,  overcome.  The  courage 
and  fortitude  you  have  displayed  render  your  Com- 
manding General  confident  that  your  future  efforts 
will  resVlt  in  success. 

While  we  mourn  the  loss  of  many  gallant  comrades, 
let  us  remember  that  the  enemy  must  have  suffered 
equal  if  not  greater  losses. 

We  shall  soon  receive  reenforcements  which  he 
cannot  expect.  Let  us  determine,  then,  to  continue 
vigorously  the  work  so  well  begun,  and,  under  God's 
blessing,  in  a  short  time  the  object  of  our  labors  will 
be  accomplished.  • 

(Signed)  GEORGE  G.  MEADE, 

Major-Gen.  Commanding. 

Official :  S.  WILLIAMS. 


560 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


On  Saturday  the  14th,  the  enemy  appeared 
to  have  fallen  back  a  little,  but  to  be  still  hold- 
ing the  Court  House  tenaciously.  Gen.  Meade's 
line  finally  stretched  nearly  at  right  angles 
across  the  Fredericksburg  and  Spottsylvania 
road,  with  Gen.  Hancock's  corps  on  the  right, 
Gen.  Burnside's  9th  on  the  right  centre,  Gen. 
Wright's  6th  on  the  left  centre,  and  Gen.  "War- 
ren's 5th  on  the  left.  The  position  of  the 
enemy  seemed  to  be  a  semicircular  line  of  earth- 
works with  rifle-pits  here  and  there,  well  estab- 
lished on  commanding  heights,  and  the  whole 
flanked  right  and  left  by  dense  woods.  A  part 
of  the  works  appeared  to  be  sodded,  showing 
an  old  construction,  and  great  activity  was 
manifest  in  strengthening  the  position.  Gen. 
Grant's  forces  soon  commenced  to  throw  up 
military  works,  and  both  armies  were  diligently 
at  work  with  the  spade.  On  the  extreme  left 
there  was  considerable  fighting.  In  the  after- 
noon Gen.  Meade  narrowly  escaped  capture  or 
injury,  being  in  a  house  near  which  the  enemy 
made  a  sudden  and  unlooked-for  charge. 

On  this  day  Gen.  Lee  issued  the  following 
address  to  his  army : 
General  Order  No.  41. 

HE  ADQU  ARTEKB  AEMT  OF  NORTITEEN  VA.,  May  14  1804. 

1.  The  General  Commanding  takes  great  pleasure 
in  announcing  to  the  army  the  series  of  successes 
that,  by  the  favor  of  God,  have  recently  been  achieved 
by  our  arms. 

2.  A  part  of  the  enemy's  force  threatening  the 
Valley  of  Virginia,  has  been  routed  by  Gen.  Imboden 
and  driven  back  to  the  Potomac,  with  the  loss  of  their 
train  and  a  number  of  prisoners. 

3.  Another  body  of  tne  enemy  under  Gen.  Averill, 
penetrated  to  the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  Railroad, 
at  Dublin  depot.    A  portion  of  his  force  has  been  dis- 
persed by  Gens.  Morgan  and  W.  E.  Jones,  who  are 
in  pursuit  of  the  remainder. 

4.  The  army  of  Gen.  Banks  sustained  a  severe  de- 
feat in  Western  Louisiana  by  the  forces  of  Gen.  Kirby 
Smith,  and  retreated  to  Alexandria,  losing  several 
thousand  prisoners,  thirty-five  pieces  of  artillery,  and 
a  large  number  of  wagons.     Some  of  the  most  formi- 
dable gunboats  that  accompanied  the  expedition  were 
destroyed  to  save  them  from  capture. 

5.  The  expedition  of  Gen.  Steele  into  Western 
Arkansas  has  ended  in  a  complete  disaster.    North- 
ern journals  of  the  10th  inst.  announce  his  surrender, 
with  an  army  of  nine  thousand  men,  to  Gen.  Price. 

6.  The  cavalry  force  sent  by  Gen.  Grant  to  attack 
Richmond  has  been  repulsed,  and  retired  toward  the 
Peninsula.    Every  demonstration  of  the  enemy  south 
of  James  River  has,  up  to  this  time,  been  successfully 
repelled. 

7.  The  heroic  valor  of  this  army,  with  the  blessing 
of  Almighty  God,  has  thus  far  checked  the  principal 
army  of  the  enemy,  and  inflicted  upon  it  heavy  losses. 
The  eyes  and  hearts  of  your  countrymen  are  turned 
to  you  in  confidence,  and  their  prayers  attend  you  in 
your  gallant  struggle.    Encouraged  by  the  success 
that  has  been  vouchsafed  to  us,  and  stimulated  by 
the  great  interests  that  depend  upon  the  issue,  let 
every  man  resolve  to  endure  all  and  brave  all,  until, 
by  the  assistance  of  a  just  and  merciful  God,  the 
enemy  shall  be  driven  back  and  peace  secured  to  our 
country.     Continue  to  emulate  the  valor  of  your 
comrades  who  have  fallen,  and  remember  that  it  de- 
pends upon  you  whether  they  shall  have  died  in  vain. 
It  is  in  your  power,  under*  God,  to  defeat  the  last 
great  effort  of  the  enemy,  establish  the  independence 
of  your  native  land,  and  earn  the  lasting  love  and 
gratitude  of  your  countrymen,  and  the  admiration  of 
mankind.  R.  E.  LEE,  General. 


The  following  despatches  were  sent  by  the 
Secretary  of  War : 

WASHINGTON,  May  18 — 2:30  p.  M. 
To  Major- General  John  A.  Dix  : 

A  despatch  from  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant  has  just  been 
received,  dated  near  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  May 
12,  6:30  p.  M.  It  is  as  follows  : 

"The  eighth  day  of  battle  closes  leaving  between 
three  and  four  thousand  prisoners  in  our  hands  for 
the  day's  work,  including  two  general  officers  and 
over  thirty  pieces  of  artillery.  The  enemy  are  ob- 
stinate, and  seem  to  have  found  the  last  ditch.  We 
have  lost  no  organization,  not  even  a  company,  while 
we  have  destroyed  and  captured  one  division  (John- 
son's), one  brigade  (Dobbs'),  and  one  regiment  en- 
tire of  the  enemy."  » 
EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

WASHINGTON,  May  13 — 6:30  p.  M. 
Major-General  Dix : 

The  following  despatch  from  Mr.  Dana  has  just 
reached  this  department. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

SPOTTSYLVANIA  COUBT  HotfsE,  VA.,  May  13 — 8  A.  M. 
Hon  E.  M.  Station,  Secretary^  of  War : 

Lee  abandoned  his  position  during  the  night, 
whether  to  occupy  a  new  position  in  the  vicinity  or 
to  make  a  thorough  retreat  is  not  determined. 

One  division  of  Wright's  and  another  of  Hancock's 
are  engaged  in  settling  this  question,  and  at  half-past 
7  A.  M.  had  come  up  on  his  rear  guard.  Though  our 
army  is  greatly  fatigued  from  the  enormous  efforts 
of  yesterday,  the  news  of  Lee's  departure  inspires 
the  men  with  fresh  energy. 

The  whole  force  will  soon  be  in  motion ;  but  the 
heavy  rains  of  the  last  thirty-six  hours  render  the 
roads  very  difficult  for  wagons  and  artillery. 

The  proportion  of  severely  wounded  is  greater  than 
on  either  of  the  previous  days'  fighting.  This  was 
owing  to  the  great  use  made  of  artillery. 

WASHINGTON,  May  13 — 6:55  p.  M. 
Major- General  Dix,  New  York: 

The  Acting  Surgeon  General  reports  that  of  five 
hundred  patients  from  the  recent  battle-field  admitted 
into  the  Harwood  Hospital,  not  one  will  require  any 
surgical  operation,  and  that,  in  his  opinion,  two- 
thirds  of  the  whole  number  of  wounded  will  be  fit  for 
service  in  thirty  days. 

Reinforcements  are  going  forward  to  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

WASHINGTON,  May  15 — 9  A.  M. 
To  Major-General  Dix  ; 

An  official  despatch  from  the  battle  field  at  Spott- 
sylvania yesterday  morning,  at  half-past  6,  states 
that  during  the  preceding  night  (Friday)  a  move- 
ment was  made  by  the  5th  and  6th  corps  to  our  left, 
and  an  attack  was  to  have  been  made  at  daylight,  but 
no  sound  of  battle  had  been  heard  from  that  quarter. 
This  manosuvre,  it  is  said,  if  successful,  would  place 
our  forces  in  Lee's  rear,  and  compel  him  to  retreat 
toward  Lynchburg. 

No  cannon  nor  any  sound  of  battle  was  heard  yes- 
terday at  Belle  Plain  or  Fredericksburg,  which  affords 
ground  for  inference  that  Lee  had  retreated  during 
Friday  night,  and  before  the  advance  of  the  5th  and 
6th  corps. 

Nothing  later  than  half-past  6  A.  w.  of  yesterday 
has  been  received  from  the  army  by  the  department. 
All  the  wounded  that  had  reached  Belle  Plain  yester- 
day evening  have  arrived  here. 

The  surgical  report  from  the  headquarters  of  the 
army  states  that  the  condition  of  the  supplies  is  satis- 
factory, and  the  wounded  are  doing  well.  The  medi- 
cal director  at  Belle  Plain  reports  that  every  thing  at 
that  point  is  satisfactory.  The  surgfcal  arrange- 
ments have  never  been  so  complete  as  now. 

Gen  Sheridan's  command  had  reached  the  lefl 
bank  of  Turkey  Island  at  3  o'clock  yesterday  after- 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


561 


noon,  and  have  formed  their  junction  with  the  forces 
of  Gen.  Butler. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

On  the  15th,  16th,  and  17th,  offensive  oper- 
ations were  suspended.  The  roads  had  been 
made  impassable  by  the  rains. 

It  was  at  first  supposed  that  the  wounded  in 
these  terrible  battles  would  be  sent  to  Rappa- 
hannock  Station,  and  thence  by  railroad  to 
Washington.  But  the  guerrillas  of  the  enemy 
were  so  numerous  in  the  rear  of  Gen.  Grant's 
army  as  to  prevent  this  arrangement.  The 
trains  were  therefore  withdrawn  to  "Washing- 
ton. •  At  first  hospitals  were  established  on  the 
field.  But  on  Friday,  the  6th,  a  number  of 
slightly  wounded  men,  who  had  been  ordered 
to  the  rear,  made  their  way  to  Fredericksburg 
under  an  escort  of  fourteen  armed  men.  On 
entering  the  town,  they  were  fired  on  by  the 
citizens  with  such  arms  as  could  be  obtained. 
They,  however,  succeeded  in  passing  out  and 
proceeded  to  Aquja  Greek,  where  they  were 
taken  up  by  a  gunboat  and  carried  to  Wash- 
ington. Fredericksburg  was  occupied  by  a 
force  of  Gen.  Grant,  and  hospitals  established. 
Surgeons  and  nurses  were  immediately  sent 
forward  from  Washington,  Philadelphia,  Har- 
risburg,  Trenton,  New  York,  and  Albany,  and 


other  cirtes,  to  render  assistance.  The  vessels 
in  the  employment  of  the  Sanitary  Commission 
were  loaded  with  hospital  supplies,  and  de- 
spatched with  relWf  agents  and  nurses.  The 
most  severely  wounded  were  retained  at  the 
hospitals  in  Fredericksburg,  but  others  were 
transported  to  the  Government  hospitals  in  the 
northern  cities.  The  Christian  Commission  had 
a  large  number  of  persons,  with  stores  at  hand, 
to  afford  relief.  The  Government  also  did 
every  thing  in  its  power  to  succor  the  wounded. 
The  losses  by  the  battles  of  the  first  eight  days 
were  variously  estimated.  The  following  is  a 
statement  which  does  not  include  .the  9th 
corps: 

Killed.    Wounded.    Missing.    Total. 

Second  corps 1,100       7,000       1,400     9,500 

Fifth  corps 1,200        7,500        1,300   10,000 

Sixth  corps 1,000       6,000       1,200     8,200 

Total 3,800      20,500       3,900   27,700 

If  the  losses  in  the  9th  corps  are  added  to  the 
above,  and  supposed  to  be  in  the  same  propor- 
tion, the  entire  loss  will  reach  thirty-five  thou- 
sand men. 

On  the  14th  the  first  detachment  of  the  hun- 
dred days'  volunteers  reached  Washington. 
Many  of  them  were  sent  into  the  army  under 
Gen.  Grant  before  their  term  of  service  expired. 


CHAPTEE  XLI. 


Strength  of  the  Ann7  of  the  Potomac — Cooperating  Movements — Cavalry  Paid  to  cut  Gen.  Lee's  Communications — Ad- 
vance of  Gen.  Averill  in  West  Virginia — Advance  of  Gens.  Crook  and  Sigel — Defeated  by  Gen.  Breckinridge— Move- 
ment of  Gen.  Butler  up  the  James — Attempts  to  cut  the  Kailroads — Attack  on  Fort  Darling — Expedition  of 
Gen.  Kautz. 


THE  number  of  troops  in  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac, when  it  crossed  the  Rapidan,  has  been 
variously  stated ,  at  120,000  and  150,000.  The 
army  consisted  of  four  corps,  each  of  which, 
with  full  ranks,  would  have  numbered  about 
forty  thousand  men.  The  ranks,  however,  were 
not  full.  No  official  statement  of  the  numbers 
has  been  made.  But  there  were  various  coop- 
erating movements  in  which  large  forces  were 
engaged.  Gen.  Butler  moved  up  the  Peninsula 
with  a  force  between  forty  and  fifty  thousand 
strong,  to  cut  the  southern  communications 
with  Richmond.  Another  force,  about  fifteen 
thousand  strong,  moved  up  the  Shenandoah 
valley,  under  Gen.  Sigel,  and  from  Western 
Virginia  under  other  commanders,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  cutting  the  railroads  running  from  the 
west  and  southwest  to  Richmond.  It  evidently 
must  have  been  the  opinion  of  Gen.  Grant  that 
the  army  of  Gen.  Meade  would  have  been  suffi- 
cient to  cope  with  the  forces  of  Gen.  Lee.  But, 
to  secure  ample  provision  for  that  object,  the 
corps  of  Gen.  Burnside  was  added  as  a  reserve 
against  all  contingencies.  After  the  first  day's 
36 


encounter,  it  was  found  necessary  to  order  up 
this  reserve  in  haste,  and  in  the  subsequent 
battles  every  brigade  was  fully  employed  as  a 
part  of  the  ordinary  force.  The  subsequent 
and  immense  reenforcement  required  by  Gen. 
Grant,  after  the  battles  at  Spottsylvania  Court 
House,  served  to  show  the  unexpected  great 
strength  of  the  enemy  in  the  field. 

Several  cooperating  movements  were  in  pro- 
gress during  the  advance  thus  far  of  Gen.  Grant. 
On  Monday  the  9th  of  May,  the  cavalry  force 
connected  with  Gen.  Grant's  army  commenced 
an  advance  to  cut  the  communications  between 
Gen.  Lee's  army  and  Richmond.  At  daylight 
the  march  began,  with  Gen.  Merritt's  1st  di- 
vision in  advance,  Gen.  Wilson's  3d  division  in 
the  centre,  and  Gen.  Gregg's  2d  division  in  the 
rear.  The  movement  was  first  toward  Fred- 
ericksburg. At  a  distance  of  three  miles  from 
that  city  the  column  turned  to  the  right  and 
passed  round  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy  to 
the  south  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  t>n  tho 
road  to  Childsburgh,  at  which  place  a  halt  was 
made.  Moving  thence  on  the  same  road  south- 


562 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


erly  and  -westerly,  they  forded  the  Np&h  Anna 
River  at  Anderson's  bridge,  two  miles  below 
Beaver  Dam,  about  dusk.  Gen.  Ouster's  bri- 
gade took  possession  of  the  Ailroad  station  and 
captured  a  train  of  cars  having  on  board  three 
hundred  and  seventy-eight  Union  wounded  and 
prisoners  on  their  way  to  Richmond.  These 
prisoners  had  been  captured  by  the  enemy 
during  the  late  operations.  The  trains  of  cars, 
with  the  depot  of  supplies,  were  quickly  set  on 
fire,  and  two  locomotives,  three  long  trains,  and 
a  large  quantity  of  bacon,  meal,  flour,  and  other 
supplies  for  Gen.  Lee's  army,  were  destroyed. 
The  ties^nd  bridges  were  burned,  and  the  rails 
twisted  so  as  to  become  useless.  Meantime  the 
enemy  came  up  and  attacked  the  flank  and  rear 
of  the  column,  and  captured  many  prisoners  of 
the  6th  Ohio.  At  night  the  column  bivouacked 
on  both  sides  of  the  North  Anna. 

Early  on  the  next  morning  the  enemy  began 
to  shell  the  camp,  and  the  column  moved  south, 
the  advance  being  annoyed  by  the  enemy  as  it 
proceeded.  The  South  Anna  was  crossed  at 
Ground  Squirrel  bridge,  and  the  bridge  de- 
stroyed. The  bivouac  at  night  was  near  Good- 
all's,  but  the  sharpshooters  of  the  enemy  caused 
some  annoyance.  Early  on  the  next  morning, 
the  llth,  the  1st  brigade  of  the  2d  division  un- 
der Gen.  Davies  was  sent  seven  miles  east  to 
Ashland,  on  the  Richmond  and  Fredericksburg 
Railroad.  There  the  depot  was  burned  and  a 
considerable  quantity  of  stores  destroyed  ;  also 
six  miles  of  railroad,  three  culverts,  two  trestle 
bridges,  several  Government  buildings,  a  loco- 
motive, and  three  trains  of  cars.  On  the  return 
the  force  was  fired  upon  from  the  houses,  and 
about  thirty  men  were  left  in  the  enemy's 
hands.  In  the  mean  time  the  column  had  ad- 
vanced and  destroyed  the  track  on  the  same 
road  at  Glen  Allen  station.  The  nearer  it  ap- 
proached Richmond,  the  more  opposition  was 
made  to  its  progress.  At  Yellow  Tavern  the 
cavalry  of  the  enemy,  concentrated  under  Gen. 
Stuart,  made  an  attack  on  the  advance  under 
Gen.  Devin.  A  sharp  contest  ensued,  dur- 
ing which  the  brigades  of  Gens.  Ouster,  and 
Gill,  and  Wilson  came  to  his  support,  and  the 
enemy  were  driven  toward  Asm1  and.  Ad- 
vancing still  further  toward  Richmond,  the 
picket  defences  were  entered,  and  in  a  charge 
by  Gen.  Ouster's  brigade  a  hundred  prisoners 
and  a  section  of  artillery  were  captured.  In 
the  conflict  Gen.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  and  Ool.  Pate, 
of  the  enemy,  were  fatally  wounded.  On  the 
next  morning  the  column  turned  toward  Mead- 
ow Bridge,  on  the  Chickahominy.  It  had  been 
destroyed,  but  was  rebuilt  under  a  galling  fire 
from  the  enemy,  and  crossed.  The  column 
next  reached  Mechanicsville  and  Coal  Harbor, 
and  encamped  toward  night  at  Gaines's  Mill. 
On  the  next  day  the  march  was  pursued  by  the 
way  of  Bottom  bridge  to  Turkey  Bend,  where 
supplies  were  obtained  from  Gen.  Butler. 

Two  movements  were  made  by  the  forces  in 
the  Shenandoah  valley  and  Western  Virginia, 
which  were  designed  to  act  against  Lynchburg. 


The  first,  in  May,  miscarried,  and  the  plan  was 
afterwards  altered.  It  was  determined  to  carry 
it  into  effect  in  June.  According  to  the  origi- 
nal plan,  at  the  time  when  Gen.  Grant  crossed 
the  Rapidan,  May  4th,  Gen.  Sigel  was  in  motion 
upon  Staunton,  Gen.  Crook  upon  Dublin  depot, 
and  Gen.  Averill  upon  Wytheville,  with  the 
design,  after  destroying  that  town  and  the  lead 
mines,  to  unite  with  Gen.  Crook  at  Dublin  de- 
pot, for  a  march  toward  Lynchburg  in  con- 
nection with  Gen.  Sigel.  A  movement  by  the 
Big  Sandy,  under  Gen.  Burbridge,  upon  Abing- 
don,  and  to  prevent  the  advance  of  the  enemy 
from  the  southwest,  was  not  ready.  The 
enemy,  upon  the  advance  of  Gen.  Sigel,  ordered 
Gen.  Breckinridge  to  move  in  haste  further 
east,  with  all  the  troops  he  could  collect,  to 
oppose  him,  thus  leaving  Gens.  Jenkins  and 
McCausland,  with  a  scattered  force  of  fifteen 
hundred  men,  to  resist  Gen.  Crook.  Further 
to  the  southwest,  on  the  line  of  the  Lynchburg 
and  Tennessee  Railroad,  the  enemy  happened 
to^ave  a  larger  force  than  anywhere  else  on 
that  route.  Gen.  W.  E.  Jones,  in  command,  at 
once  despatched  Gen.  Morgan  further  east. 
By  making  a  forced  march  from  Saltville,  he 
arrived  at  Wytheville  in  advance  of  Gen.  Av- 
erill. The  latter,  with  a  cavalry  force  of  two 
thousand  men,  left  camp  at  Charleston,  Va., 
on  May  1st,  with  three  days'  rations  and  two 
days'  forage,  and  moved  day  and  night  over 
mountain  paths  until  the  evening  of  the  8th, 
when  a  cavalry  force  of  the  enemy  was  encoun- 
tered near  Jeffersonville,  Va.  This  force  was 
repelled,  and  a  detour  made  by  way  of  Prince- 
ton. On  the  9th  Gen.  Averill  left  Tazewell 
Court  House  for  Wytheville,  in  order  to  cut  the 
railroad  thirty  miles  lower  down  than  it  was  to 
be  cut  by  Gen.  Crook.  Cove  Mountain  Gap, 
near  Wytheville,  was  reached  on  the  10th,  and 
the  enemy  found  to  be  in  possession  of  the  lat- 
ter place.  A  conflict  ensued,  which,  it  is  as- 
serted by  th'e  enemy,  resulted  in  the  defeat  of 
Gen.  Averill,  with  a  heavy  loss  in  killed, 
wounded,  prisoners,  and  horses,  and  prevented 
his  reaching  Dublin  station  and  forming  a  junc- 
tion with  Gen.  Crook  before  the  latter  had  re- 
tired from  that  place.  The  following  is  Gen. 
Averill's  address  to  his  command,  made  some 
days  later : 

HEADQUARTERS  CAVALRT  DEPARTMENT,  ) 
WEST  VIRGINIA,  Monday,  May  23, 1864.     $ 

General  Order  No.  f  ; 

The  Brigadier-General  commanding  Cavalry  Di- 
vision, desires  to  express  his  sincere  thanks  to  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  division,  for  the  uncomplain- 
ing fortitude  with  which  they  have  endured  the  terri- 
ble vicissitudes  incident  to  their  recent  march  of 
three  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  over  mountains  with- 
out roads,  and  the  unwavering  courage  with  which 
they  attacked  and  held  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy 
near  Wytheville,  on  the  10th,  thereby  enabling  an- 
other command  to  accomplish  its  purposes  without 
the  opposition  of  overwhelming  numbers.  lour 
country  will  remember  your  heroism  with  gratitude ; 
and  the  noble  sacrifices  and  sufferings  of  our  fallen 
comrades  will  be  cherished  forever  in  our  memories. 
The  14th  Pennsylvania  and  1st  Virginia  cavalry  first 
received  the  shock  of  battle,  while  the  2d  and  3d  Vir- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


563 


ginia  cavalry  and  34th  Ohio  infantry  established  a 
une  which  the  enemy  had  reason  to  respect  and  re- 
member. Great  credit  is  due  to  the  brigade  com- 
manders, Brig.-Gen.  Duffie  and  Col.  Schoonmaker, 
for  the  energy  and  skill  they  displayed.  While  the 
conduct  of  all  was  admirable  and  deserving  the  praise 
of  the  Brigadier-General  commanding,  he  desires, 
without  making  invidious  distinction,  to  express  his 
high  appreciation  of  the  steady  and  skilful  evolutions 
of  the  2d  Virginia  cavalry,  under  Col.  Powell,  upon 
the  field  of  battle.  It  was  a  dress  parade,  which  con- 
tinued without  disorder,  under  a  heavy  fire,  during 
four  hours. 

The'purposes  of  the  enemy  were  foiled  by  the  en- 
gagement. The  railroad  was  reached  and  destroyed, 
New  River  crossed,  and  the  baffled  columns  of  the 
enemy  arrived  in  time  to  witness  the  destruction 
which  all  the  energies  of*  their  superior  force,  even 
with  artillery,  failed  to  prevent. 

(Signed)  W.  W.  AVERILL, 

Brigadier-General  Commanding. 

WILL  RUMSKT,  A.  A.  GL 

Gen.  Crook  moved  from  Charleston,  Ya.,  at 
the  same  time  with  Gen.  Averill.  His  object 
was  to  strike  the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  Rail- 
road at  Dublin  Station.  His  force  consisted 
of  the  23d,  34th,  and  36th  Ohio,  forming  the 
first  brigade ;  the  12th,  91st  Ohio,  9th  and  14th 
Virginia,  forming  the  second  brigade ;  the  3d 
and  4th  Pennsylvania  Reserves,  llth  and  15th 
Virginia,  forming  the  3d  brigade.  He  pro- 
ceeded without  opposition  nearly  to  Princeton, 
where  two  companies  of  the  enemy,  one  of 
cavalry  and  one  of  infantry,  were  encountered 
and  driven  off.  Near  the  southwestern  base 
of  Lloyd's  Mountain,  about  four  miles  from 
Dublin  depot,  a  more  considerable  force  of  the 
enemy  was  found.  These  were  under  the  com- 
mand of  GenT  Jenkins.  "When  he  was  killed, 
Gen.  McCausland  took  the  command. 

After  some  skirmishing  and  manoauvring  for 
a  position,  the  enemy  were  attacked  in  front 
and  flank  and  driven  through  Dublin  to  New 
River  bridge.  The  Union  loss  was  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-six  killed  and  five  hundred 
and  eighty-five  wounded ;  and  that  of  the  enemy 
was  severe,  but  unknown.  On  the  next  day 
an  attack  was  made  on  the  enemy's  position 
near  the  bridge,  and  it  was  destroyed.  The 
expedition  proceeded  as  far  as  Newberne,  on 
the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  Railroad,  ninety- 
nine  miles  from  Bristol,  destroying  the  railroad 
for  some  distance.  The  resistance  of  the  enemy, 
with  the  approach  of  a  strong  force  under  Gen. 
Morgan,  caused  Gen.  Crook  to  abandon  the  de- 
sign of  the  expedition  against  Lynchburg  and 
withdraw  to  Meadow  Bluff,  hi  Greenbrier 
County. 

The  force  in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  num- 
bering about  fifteen  thousand  men,  was  placed 
under  the  command  of  Gen.  Sigel.  He  advanced 
to  the  vicinity  of  New  Market,  about  fifty  miles 
from  Winchester,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mas- 
anuttan  range  of  mountains,  and  nearly  midway 
between  Mount  Jackson  and  Harrisonburg. 
His  command  was  designed  to  cooperate  with 
Gen.  Grant,  as  before  mentioned,  up  the  She- 
nandoah valley,  and  occupy  Gordonsville  and 
Lynchburg,  and  thus  destroy  the  western  com- 


munication of  Gen.  Lee  s  army,  and  aid  to 
isolate  Richmond. 

On  the  13th  of  May  Gen.  Sigel's  advance 
encountered  the  advance  of  Gen.  Breckinridge. 
Some  skirmishing  ensued,  which  was  renewed 
on  the  next  day,  and  also  on  Sunday.  Gen. 
Sigel,  however,  continued  to  advance,  and 
brought  a  part  of  his  forces  into  position,  one 
division  still  being  in  the  rear.  About  3  p.  M. 
the  enemy  moved  to  attack.  A  hot  contest 
ensued,  which  resulted  in  the  defeat  of  Gen. 
Sigel,  with  a  loss  of  a  thousand  stand  of  small 
arms,  six  pieces  of  artillery,  and  seven  hundred 
men.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  also  large. 
Gen.  Sigel  fell  back  in  disorder,  abandoning  his 
hospitals,  and  destroying  a  portion  of  his  train, 
and  retreated  to  Cedar  Creek,  near  Strasburg. 
The  enemy  failed  to  pursue  in  force.  These 
results  to  Gens.  Averill,  Crook,  and  Sigel, 
caused  a  suspension  of  that  part  of  the  plan  of 
Gen.  Grant  which  consisted  in  destroying  the 
Virginia  and  Tennessee  Railroad,  and  the  occu- 
pation of  Lynchburg. 

The  next  important  movement  in  coopera- 
tion with  Gen.  Grant,  was  made  on  the  south- 
east side  of  Richmond,  from  Fortress  Monroe 
up  the  James  RiveV.  The  18th  corps,  under 
Maj.-Gen.  M.  F.  Smith,  and  the  10th  corps, 
under  Maj.-Gen.  Q.  A.  Gilmore,  composed  the 
military  force  of  the  movement,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Maj'.-Gen.  B.  F.  Butler.  These  forces 
were  concentrated  at  Yorktown  and  Glouces- 
ter as  if  designed  for  a  movement  up  the  York 
River.  At  the  same  time  a  brigade  under  Col. 
S.  F.  Alford,  3d  New  York,  landed  at  West 
Point,  up  the  York  River,  and  commenced 
building  the  wharves,  &c.  On  the  4th  of  May 
orders  to  move  were  issued,  and  the  troops 
embarked  on  board  the  transports.  After 
dark  on  the  5th,  the  vessels  began  to.  move 
down  the  York  River,  and  up  the  James  River, 
preceded  by  tlyee  army  gunboats  under  com- 
mand of  Brig.-Gen.  Graham ;  by  the  double- 
enders  Eutaw,  Mackinaw,  and  Osceola;  four 
monitors,  the  Tecumseh,  Canonicus,  Saugus, 
Onondaga,  and  the  iron-clad  Atlanta,  and 
by  the  smaller  gunboats  Commodore  Morris, 
Hunchback,  Commodore  Jones,  Dawn,  Dela- 
ware, Putnam,  and  Sheshonee. 

As  the  fleet  proceeded  up  the  James  River, 
a  regiment  of  negro  troops,  under  Gen.  Wild, 
were  landed  at  Wilson's  Wharf,  on  the  north 
bank,  below  Charles  City  Court  House.  This 
was  done  for  the  purpose  "of  preventing  the 
interruption  of  water  communication.  At 
Fort  Powhatan  Landing,  a  little  above  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  river,  two  regiments  of  the 
same  brigade  were  landed  for  the  same  object. 
At  City  Point,  the  division  of  Gen.  Hinks,  with 
some  other  troops,  and  a  battery  were  landed. 
At  this  place  the  flag  of  truce  boat  was  lying 
with  four  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners  brought 
up  on  the  previous  day  for  exchange.  The 
remainder  of  the  force  proceeded  up  the  river, 
and  landed  on  the  south  bank  at  Bermuda 
Hundred,  which  is  three  or  four  miles  above 


564 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


565 


the  mouth  of  the  Appomattox  River.  Imme- 
diately upon  landing,  the  troops  intrenched 
themselves,  with  the  gunboats  covering  their 
flank  on  the  water.  On  the  same  day,  Gen. 
Butler  sent  the  following  despatch  relative  to 
his  proceedings  to  Gen.  Grant : 

OFF  CITY  POINT,  VA.,  May  5,  1864. 
Lieutenant- General  Grant,   Commanding  Armies  of 
the  United  States,  Washington,  D.  C.  : 

We  have  seized  Wilson's  Wharf  Landing.  A  bri- 
gade of  Wild's  colored  troops  are  there.  At  Fort 
Powhatan  Landing  two  regiments  of  the  same  bri- 
gade have  landed.  At  City  Point  Hinks'  division, 
with  the  remaining  troops  and  battery,  have  landed. 
The  remainder  of  ooth  the  18th  and  10th  army  corps 
are  being  landed  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  above  the 
Appomattox. 

No  opposition  experienced  thus  far.  The  move- 
ment was  apparently  a  complete  surprise.  Both  army 
corps  left  Yorktown  during  last  night.  The  Monitors 
are  all  over  the  bar  at  Harrison's  Landing  and  above 
City  Point.  The  operations  of  the  fleet  have  been 
conducted  to-day  with  energy  and  success.  Gens. 
Smith  and  Gilmore  are  pushing  the  landing  of  the 
men.  Gen.  Graham,  with  the  army  gunboats,  led 
the  advance  during  the  night,  capturing  the  signal 
station  of  the  rebels. 

Col.  West,  with  eighteen  hundred  ,cavalry,  made 
several  demonstrations  from  Williamsburg  yesterday 
morning.  Gen.  Kautz  left  Suffolk  this  morning, 
with  his  cavalry,  for  the  service  indicated  during  the 
conference  with  the  Lieutenant-General. 

The  New  York,  flag  of  truce  boat,  was  found  lying 
at  the  wharf,  with  four  hundred  prisoners,  whom  she 
had  not  time  to  deliver.  She  went  up  yesterday 
morning. 

We  are  landing  troops  during  the  night — a  hazard- 
ous service  in  the  face  of  the  enemy. 

BENJ.  F.  BUTLER,  Maj.-Gen.  Commanding. 

A.  F.  PUFFER,  Captain  and  A.  D.  C. 

Gen.  Kautz,  above  mentioned,  left  Suffolk 
on  the  5th,  and  forcing  a  passage  over  the 
Black  Water,  advanced  to  Stony  Creek,  on  the 
Weldon  and  Petersburg  Railroad,  and  burned 
the  bridge  over  that  stream.  A  part  of  the 
force  of  Gen.  Beauregard  moving  from  Charles- 
ton to  Richmond,  had  previously  crossed  over, 
and  contested  the  further  progress  of  Gen. 
Kautz,  who  then  moved  through  Surry  and 
Prince  George  counties  to  City  Point,  which 
he  reached  on  the  8th. 

On  the  5th,  also,  Col.  West,  with  two  regi- 
ments of  cavalry— the  1st  and  2d  colored — made 
a  demonstration  on  Williamsburg,  above  York- 
town,  on  the  Peninsula.  He  advanced  to  the 
Pamunkey  River,  stopping  at  the  White  House, 
and  returned  to  Williamsburg  on  the  next  night. 
On  the  7th  he  advanced  over  nearly  the  same 
ground  again,  but  met  with  more  opposition, 
than  on  his  previous  expedition.  Subsequently 
his  force  was  embarked  on  transports,  and  land- 
ed at  Bermuda  Hundred. 

On  the  6th,  Gen.  Butler  caused  reconnois- 
sances  to  be  made  of  the  position  of  the  enemy. 
On  the  7th,  an  expedition  consisting  of  five 
brigades  under  Brig.-Gen.  Brqoks  was  sent 
forward  for  the  purpose  of  cutting  the  Peters- 
burg and  Richmond  Railroad.  When  within 
two  miles  of  the  railroad,  the  cavalry  advance 
cam.fi  on  the  enemy  in  a  strong  position,  from 
whir,h  they  opened  fire  upon  the  mounted  rifles. 


The  cavalry  fell  back  to  the  infantiy  line, 
which  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  slowly  ad- 
vanced with  a  strong  support  in  line  of  battle. 
The  enemy  were  now  steadily  driven,  with 
some  loss  to  both  sides,  back  to  their  main 
line  in  front  of  the  railroad.  Here  a  sharp 
contest  took  place,  during  which  some  of  the 
railroad  was  torn  up,  and  a  railroad  bridge, 
crossing  one  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Appomat- 
tox, was  set  on  fire  and  totally  consumed.  The 
increase  of  the  force  of  the  enemy  finally 
compelled  Gen.  Brooks  to  retire,  leaving  some 
of  his  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field,  and  with 
an  estimated  loss  of  two  hundred  and  fifty. 

At  the  same  time  when  Gen.  Brooks'  main 
column  started,  a  brigade  under  Gen.  Heck- 
man,  with  Belger's  Rhode  Island  battery,  moved 
out  on  another  road,  and  meeting  a  force  of 
the  enemy,  drove  them  back  on  the  railroad, 
but  were  unable  to  penetrate  far. 

The  Petersburg  and  Weldon  Railroad  was 
supposed  to  be  an  important  route  by  which 
supplies  were  brought  to  Richmond.  For  the 
purpose  of  disabling  this  line  more  effectually, 
another  advance  was  made  on  the  9th. 

Three  divisions  from  the  10th  corps,  under 
Gens.  Terry,  Ames,  and  Turner,  and  two  from 
the  18th,  under  Gens.  Weitzel  and  Wistar, 
moved  from  camp  at  daylight,  and  reached  the 
railroad  at  four  points  without  opposition.  Gen. 
Terry's  division  occupied  Chester  station,  about 
fourteen  miles  from  Richmond,  and  destroyed 
the  track.  Gen.  Turner  moved  on  his  left 
toward  Petersburg,  until  he  came  up  with  Gen. 
Ames'  division,  each  destroying  the  road.  Four 
miles  was  thus  finished  before  noon,  and  the 
column  began  to  move  toward  Petersburg, 
the  division  of  Gen.  Weitzel  leading  the  ad- 
vance. The  enemy  were  met  near  Swift  Creek. 
A  desultory  skirmish  began,  which  was  con- 
tinued until  the  line  of  battle  was  formed  and 
pushed  forward.  The  fire  on  both  sides  then 
increased,  and  artillery  was  brought  into  ac- 
tion. *  Gen.  Ames'  division  formed  on  the  left, 
then  Gens.  Weitzel's,  Turner,  and  Terry  in  the 
order  named.  The  enemy  were  steadily  driven 
back,  with  considerable  loss  on  both  sides.  At 
night  the  enemy  had  fallen  back  to  their  bat- 
teries across  the  creek,  and  the  skirmishers  con- 
fronted each  other  on  opposite  sides.  During 
the  night  the  enemy  formed  in  a  column,  and 
advanced  about  one  o'clock,  either  to  test  the 
strength  of  the  pickets,  and  to  determine  if  the 
force  had  been  withdrawn,  or  to  capture  a 
battery.  The  pickets  on  their  approach  fell 
back  to  the  main  line ;  and  as  they  came  well 
up,  a  destructive  fire  of  musketry  was  opened 
upon  them.  Three  charges  were  thus  made 
in  the  dark,  and  repulsed,  when  the  enemy 
withdrew,  leaving  sixty  dead  on  the  field.  In 
the  morning  they  made  an  attack  upon  the 
right  flank,  for  the  purpose  of  turning  it,  but 
without  success.  In  the  afternoon  a  simi- 
lar attack  was  made  on  the  left,  which  was 
repulsed  with  some  loss  on  both  sides.  At 
night  the  forces  had  returned  to  their  original 


566 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


l-SBiwK/^V.    vt        »  il  UK  NC^tYBal 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


567 


position.  The  llth  was  a  day  of  quiet  and  rest 
to  the  array  save  that  portion  engaged  in 
strengthening  the  intrenchments. 

On  Thursday,  the  12th,  a  heavy  force  from 
both  corps  was  sent  out,  under  Gens.  Gillmore 
and  Smith,  and  at  the  same  time  an  expedition 
of  cavalry,  under  Gen.  Kautz,  for  the  purpose 
of  cutting  the  railroad  communication  between 
Richmond  and  Danville.  Leaving  a  sufficient 
force  under  Gen.  Ames  to  watch  the  enemy  at 
Petersburg,  Gen.  Gillmore  advanced  on  the  left 
up  the  railroad  toward  Chester  station  and 
Richmond.  Gen.  Smith,  with  the  18th  corps 
and  a  division  of  the  10th,  advanced  in  the 
game  direction  on  the  right,  up  the  turnpike 
between  the  railroad  and  the  James  River.  A 
little  above  Werbottom  church  the  skirmishers 
in  advance  met  the  enemy  and  drove  them  back 
a  mile  or  more.  They  then  made  a  determined 
etand  in  a  strong  position,  and  a  sharp  engage- 
ment ensued.  Finally  the  enemy  retired  slowly 
to  a  new  position,  where  they  again  made  a 
stand,  and  were  again  driven  from  it.  The 
skirmishing  continued  until  dark,  when  the 
command  of  Gen.  Smith  had  advanced  to 
Proctor's  Creek,  within  about  three  miles  of 
Fort  Darling,  and  within  sight  of  that  work. 
The  weather  during  the  day  was  hot  and  sul- 
try, and  a  number  of  cases  of  sunstroke  oc- 
curred. 

Meanwhile  Gen.  Gillmore  moved  from  his  po- 
sition to  Chester  Junction,  and  thence  up  the 
railroad  toward  Richmond,  reaching  Chester- 
field Court  Hfmse,  on  the  enemy's  right,  with- 
out any  real  opposition.  Continuing  his  ad- 
vance, and  diverging  still  further  to  the  right, 
he  reached  a  formidable  earthwork,  stretching 
from  west  of  the  railroad  across  to  the  James 
River,  which  was  strongly  constructed,  and 
well  supplied  with  embrasures  for  artillery. 
This  proved  to  be  the  outer  line  of  defence 
about  Fort  Darling.  The  movement  of  Gen. 
Smith  had  caused  the  enemy  to  concentrate  in 
his  front,  so  that  no  heavy  force  appeared  be- 
fore Gen.  Gillmore.  Throwing  forward  the 
24th  Massachusetts  and  10th  Connecticut  as 
skirmishers,  with  some  sharpshooters  and  a 
battery  or  two  in  position  to  annoy  the  enemy 
and  occupy  his  attention,  Gen.  Gillmore  sent 
the  brigade  of  Col.  Hawley  through  the  woods 
on  the  right,  which  surprised  the  enemy  and 
entered  the  right  flank  of  the  work  in  the  rear. 
The  enemy  made  a  sharp  resistance,  but  were 
driven  to  the  rear  by  the  brigade  of  Col.  "White 
advancing  and  occupying  the  line.  Finding 
their  position  turned  by  this  movement,  the 
enemy  on  the  next  morning — Saturday,  the 
14th— under  cover  of  a  vigorous  demonstration, 
abandoned  the  whole  line,  and  withdrew  to  the 
second,  a  stronger  line  of  works,  about  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  distant. 

A  despatch  of  Gen.  Butler  on  the  morning 
of  the  14th  says : 

We  are  still  before  the  base  of  the  enemy's  works 
at  Drury's  Bluff,  Fort  Darling.  The  enemy  are  here 
in  force. 


Gen.  Gillmore,  by  a  flank  movement  with  a  portion 
of  his  corps  and  a  brigade  of  the  18th  corps,  assaulted 
and  took  the  enemy's  works  on  their  right.  It  was 
gallantly  done.  The  troops  behaved  finely.  We 
held  our  lines  during  the  night,  and  shall  move  this 
morning. 

Two  hours  later  he  added : 

Gen.  Smith  carried  the  enemy's  first  line  on  the 
right  this  morning  at  8  A.  M.  Loss  small.  The  enemy 
have  retired  into  three  square  redoubts,  upon  which 
we  are  now  bringing  our  artillery  to  bear  with  effect. 

The  redoubts  into  which  the  enemy  had  re- 
tired commanded  the  outer  line  of  their  de- 
fences, and  it  was  necessary  that  Gen.  But- 
ler should  obtain  possession  pf  these  to  enable 
him  to  secure  his  position.  His  artillery  was 
therefore  brought  to  bear  upon  them,  and  with 
the  aid  of  the  sharpshooters  the  enemy's  guns 
were  silenced.  About  9  p.  M.  the  enemy  at- 
tempted to  advance  on  Gen.  Butler's  line  near 
the  Petersburg  turnpike,  but  after  a  short  en- 
gagement they  withdrew  within  their  work. 
On  the  next  day,  at  noon,  they  again  ad- 
vanced, and  attacked  Gen.  Heckman's  brigade ; 
a  contest  with  musketry  ensued,  which  con- 
tinued for  four  hours,  when  they  withdrew 
within  their  works.  On  the  next  morning, 
Monday,  May  16th,  under  cover  of  a  thick 
fog,  the  enemy  made  an  attack  on  the  line  of 
Gen.  Butler.  The  attack  was  made  on  the 
right,  with  cavalry,  artillery,  and  infantry. 
The  extreme  right  next  the  James  River  was 
held  by  Gen.  Heckman's  brigade.  Next  the 
river  were  two  squadrons  of  colored  cavalry, 
then  came  the  9th  New  Jersey  infantry,  then 
the  23d  Massachusetts,  then  the  25th  and  27th 
Massachusetts,  all  of  Heckman's  brigade,  of 
Weitzel's  division,  of  Gen.  Smith's  corps.  Gen. 
Gillmore's  corps  held  the  left  and  left  centre. 
The  line  of  battle  was  the  fortifications,  except 
on  the  extreme  right,  where  they  did  not  ex- 
tend down  to  the  river.  Prominent  among  the 
batteries  on  the  right  was  battery  E  of  the  3d 
New  York  artillery,  of  twenty-pounder  Par- 
rotts,  and  the  1st  Rhode  Island  battery.  On 
the  right,  in  reserve,  Col.  Drake's  brigade  of  the 
10th  corps  was  temporarily  posted.  A  narrow 
belt  of  timber  screened  the  reserves  from  the 
view  of  the  enemy  on  the  right.  The  advance 
of  the  enemy  reached  the  rear  of  the  9th  New 
Jersey  before  the  attack  was  made.  Gen. 
Heckman  finding  he  could  not  hold  his  posi- 
tion, began  to  fall  back.  The  enemy,  however, 
charged  upon  him  in  overwhelming  numbers, 
and  his  force  was  broken  and  driven  from  the 
field,  and  he  was  made  a  prisoner.  At  the 
same  time  a  force  of  the  enemy  moved  down 
the  turnpike,  and  attempted  to  surprise  Ash- 
by's  battery  of  twenty-pounder  Parrott's.  Most 
of  the  guns  were  saved,  but  the  loss  was  heavy 
in  men.  The  Rhode  Island  battery  also  lost 
one  gun.  Having  forced  back  the  right,  a 
heavy  attack  was  made  on  the  entire  line  of  the 
18th  corps,  with  feints  along  the  line  of  the 
10th  corps;  and  the  entire  right  was  forced 
back  some  distance  after  several  hours  of  severe 
and  sanguinary  conflict.  The  loss  was  severe 


568 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


on  both  sides  in  killed  and  wounded,  and  some 
prisoners  were  taken.  After  thus  gaining  a 
portion  of  their  first  line  of  intrenchments,  the 
enemy  massed  their  forces  on  the  10th  corps  to 
drive  it  back.  Repeated  charges  were  made, 
which  were  desperately  resisted  and  driven 
back  at  all  points.  Finally,  ceasing  their  ef- 
forts to  force  the  position  of  the  10th  corps, 
and  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded  on  the 
field  before  its  line,  the  enemy  again  massed 
on  Gen.  Smith's  front  and  attacked  his  left. 
Gen.  Gillmore  immediately  ordered  Gen.  Tur- 
ner to  attack  the  enemy  on  their  flank,  and  also 
ordered  Gen.  Terry  to  support  him.  Gen.  Tur- 
ner's attack  had  hardly  commenced,  before 
Gen.  Gillmore  was  ordered  by  Gen.  Butler  to 
retire  and  strengthen  Gen.  Smith's  corps  by 
forming  in  his  rear.  The  troops  fell  baok 
slowly  and  in  order,  repulsing  every  attempt 
of  the  enemy  to  quicken  their  movements,  un- 
til they  ceased  to  follow  up  and  fell  back  to 
their  first  line  of  intrenchments.  At  half-past 
two  o'clock  the  fighting,  which  had  been  going 
on  with  more  or  less  violence  along  the  whole 
line,  ceased,  and  preparations  were  made  by 
Gen.  Butler  to  draw  off  his  forces  from  the 
field  and  return  to  his  intrenchments.  The 
artillery  was  sent  to  the  rear,  except  a  section 
to  cover  the  rear  guard.  The  ambulances, 
loaded  with  wounded,  and  the  supply  trains, 
were  despatched  to  the  rear,  and  finally  the 
entire  army  fell  back.  The  enemy  did  not  pur- 
sue. During  the  action  of  the  morning,  a  bri- 
gade of  the  enemy  attacked  the  force  guarding 
the  extreme  left  on  the  roads  from  Petersburg 
under  Ool.  Dobbs,  and  after  a  sharp  struggle 
drove  him  back  toward  Gen.  Butler's  intrench- 
ments, but  finally  gave  up  the  pursuit.  The 
loss  of  Gen.  Butler  was  estimated  at  twenty- 
five  hundred.  That  of  the  enemy  was  severe, 
but  the  amount  unknown. 

The  despatch  relative  to  the  above  operations 
was  as  follows : 

WAB  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  May  17,  9  r.  M. 
Major-  General  Dix, : 

Despatches  from  Gen.  Butler,  just  received,  report 
the  success  of  his  expedition  under  Gen.  Kautz,  to 
cut  the  Danville  road  and  destroy  the  iron  bridge 
across  the  Appomattox. 

On  Monday  morning  the  enwoy  in  force,  under 
csver  of  a  thick  fog,  made  an  attack,  upon  Smith's 
line,  and  forced  it  back  in  some  confusion  and  with 
considerable  loss.  But  as  soon  as  the  fog  lifted,  Gen. 
Smith  reestablished  his  lines,  and  the  enemy  was 
driven  back  to  his  original  lines. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

The  cavalry  expedition  under  Gen.  Kautz 
returned  on  the  17th.  On  the  night  of  the 
day  on  which  he  started,  Gen.  Kautz  reached 
Midlothian  coal-pits,  where  he  remained  an 
hour.  No  injury  was  done  to  public  property 
here,  but  a  considerable  amount  of  private 
property  was  destroyed.  Thence  he  proceeded 
to  Coalfield  station,  where  he  arrived  between 
10  and  11  o'clock.  The  depot  building  and 
water-tank  here  were  destroyed,  the  telegraph 
wire  torn  down,  and  some  hundred  feet  of  the 
railroad  track  ripped  up.  Thence  he  advanced 


at  daylight  upon  Powhatan  station,  which 
was  reached  at  8  A.  M.  The  railroad  was  torn 
up,  and  the  depot  and  water-tank  destroyed. 
An  advance  was  next  made  to  destroy  the 
iron  bridge  at  Mattaox  station.  This  was  found 
to  be  too  strongly  guarded  by  the  enemy,  and 
the  column  turned  to  the  right  and  reached 
Goode's  bridge  about  4  p.  M.  This  bridge  had 
been  partly  destroyed,  but  was  repaired  by 
Gen.  Kautz,  who  pushed  on  and  reached  Chula 
station  at  10  p.  M.  The  enemy  sent  a  loco- 
motive from  Mattaox  to  reconnoitre,  which 
was  captured  and  destroyed.  On  the  morning 
of  the  14th  the  column  faced  about  and  recross- 
ed  Goode's  bridge,  approaching  Mattaox.  Here 
a  fight  took  place  with  the  enemy,  who  were 
in  a  strong  position,  and  after  a  loss  of  about 
thirty  Gen.  Kautz  retired.  The  column  now 
moved  to  the  south,  and  crossed  the  Appomat- 
tox at  Devil's  bridge,  which  they  were  com- 
pelled to  rebuild,  reaching  Finney  Mill  at  12  M. 
Here  the  5th  Pennsylvania,  under  command 
of  Maj.  Kleinz,  was  sent  to  the  left  near  to 
Mansboro',  on  the  road  to  Petersburg',  to  con- 
vey the  impression  that  Gen.  Kautz  was  about 
to  move  on  that  point.  The  march  was  then 
resumed,  and,  arriving  within  six  miles  of  the 
Petersburg  and  Lynchburg  road,  Gen.  Spear 
was  sent  with  his  brigade  to  destroy  the  road 
at  Wilson's  station,  while  the  main  column 
moved  on  to  Welville,  where  they  arrived  at 
about  4  P.  M.  After  waiting  patiently  until  5 
p.  M.  for  a  train  that  was  due  at  that  hour  from 
Petersburg,  but  which  did  not  coifce,  Gen.  Spear 
destroyed  the  railroad  property  at  Wilson's, 
and,  moving  up  the  road,  rejoined  Gen.  Kautz 
at  Wellville,  just  as  the  latter  had  finished  tear- 
ing up  the  track  and  burning  the  depot. 

The  column  arrived  at  Black's  and  White's  at 
10  P.  M.,  and  found  large  supplies  of  forage  and 
rations.  These  were  dealt  out  with  a  liberal 
hand  to  the  exhausted  men  and  horses :  and  the 
track  and  other  railroad  and  government  prop- 
erty having  been  destroyed,  the  force  moved 
a  few  miles  further  on,  and  bivouacked  at 
2  A.M. 

On  the  15th,  at  7  A.  M.,  the  column  set  out 
for  Lawrcnceville,  and  after  a  long  march, 
passing  through  Jonesborough  and  Edmonds, 
arrived  at  that  place  at  dusk.  A  large  amount 
of  property  wa^s  destroyed  here,  and  large 
quantities  of  corn  and  bacon  distributed  to  the 
men.  At  daylight  the  march  was  resumed 
with  the  intention  of  striking  the  Petersburg 
road  at  Hickford.  Finding  a  strong  force  of 
the  enemy  at  Stony  Point  ready  to  receive  him, 
Gen.  Kautz  turned  directly  north.  After  march- 
ing eight  or  ten  miles,  the  advance  came  to  a 
stand  in  the  centre  of  an  immense  pine  forest, 
at  a  loss  how  to  proceed.  The  road  to  the 
right  was  followed,  and  Jarrett's  station  reach- 
ed at  5  P.  M.  The  track  of  the  railroad  was 
again  torn  up,  and  the  troops  marched  to  Free- 
man's bridge,  arriving  about  midnight.  Thence 
they  moved  to  Belcher's  Mills,  Heart's  station, 
and  City  Point. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


569 


The  naval  part  of  the  forces  had  been  chiefly 
employed  in  keeping  the  river  open  to  naviga- 
tion, and  in  removing  the  obstruction  and  tor- 
pedoes. In  order  to  remove  torpedoes,  the 
shore  near  where  they  were  placed  was  first 
shelled  by  the  gunboats,,  to  drive  away  any 
body  of  the  enemy.  A  boat  with  a  comple- 
ment of  men  was  then  sent  ashore  to  do  the 
work.  At  the  first  place  of  landing,  opposite 
Turkey  Bend,  they  captured  one  large  tor- 
pedo. The  next  landing  was  made  under  the 
bluff  above  which  stands  the  mansion  of  Gen. 
Pickett,  where  they  captured  six  more  of  the 
same  size,  making  seven  in  all.  There  was 
great  difficulty  in  cutting  the  strings  of  the  tor- 
pedoes, as  they  led  up  the  bluff,  where  the  per- 
son exploding  them  is  generally  stationed. 
Great  coolness  and  discretion  had  to  be  used  in 
handling  them.  The  officers  waded  up  to  their 
arm-pits  in  the  water  to  get  at  them,  which  was 
very  dangerous,  as  they  knew  not  but  that  at 
any  moment  the  string  might  be  pulled  from 
above  and  the  torpedo  exploded.  All  they  had 
to  depend  upon  to  prevent  this  was  the  boat's 
crew,  stationed  on  the  bluff  as  sharpshooters, 
Each  of  the  torpedoes  contained  about  seventy- 
five  pounds  of  powder.  They  were  taken  out 
of  the  stream,  and,  after  considerable  difficulty, 
successfully  emptied  of  their  contents. 

On  the  6th  one  of  the  smaller  gunboats,  Com. 
Jones,  was  destroyed  by  a  torpedo.  About 
fifty  of  the  crew  were  killed  and  wounded. 
This  was  an  instance  of  the  most  complete  de- 
struction by  a  submarine  battery  to  which  any 
vessel  has  been  subjected,  her  annihilation  being 
utter  and  instantaneous.  The  torpedo  was  fired 
amidships  and  directly  under  her,  upraising  the 
centre  of  the  ship,  which  burst  asunder  as  the 
explosion  rent  the  air;  and  then,  amid  a  cloud 
of  smoke  and  steam,  the  body  of  her  hull  and 
upper  works,  rent  into  a  thousand  pieces,  and, 
worst  of  all,  numbers  of  her  unfortunate  crew, 
were  propelled  into  the  air,  and  fell  like  a 
shower  of  missiles  from  the  crater  of  a  volcano. 
When  the  smoke  drifted  from  the  scene  the 
sunken  framework  and  ribs  of  the  destroyed 
vessel  were  all  that  remained,  except  innumer- 
able splintered  relics  of  the  wreck,  which  cov- 
ered the  waters  around  the  fatal  spot.  Two 
other  boats,  the  Sheshonee  and  the  Brewster, 
were  destroyed  by  art  explosion,  not,  however, 
of  a  torpedo. 

The  forces  of  Gen.  Butler  reached  their  in- 
trenchments  on  Monday  night,  the  16th.  On 
the  next  day  scouts  reported  that  two  heavy 
columns  of  the  enemy,  with  large,  trains,  were 
passing  down  the  turnpike  to  Petersburg.  It 
was  supposed  that  the  trains  were  either  car- 
rying supplies  for  the  moving  column,  or  were 
sent  to  Petersburg  to  be  loaded  with  supplies 
for  Gen.  Lee's  army,  or  the  forces  at  Richmond. 
The  capture  or  destruction  of  any  portion  of 
them,  therefore,  appeared  to  be  desirable.  Ac- 
cordingly, about  9,  P.  M.,  Gen.  Foster,  chief  of 
Gen.  Gillmore's  staff,  with  a  body  of  cavalry  and 
nfantry,  moved  quietly  out  to  the  picket  lines, 


and  a  few  hundred  yards  beyond.  There  he 
stationed  pickets  on  different  roads  to  guard 
against  an  attempt  to  cut  him  off,  and  began 
to  move  up  the  road  leading  to  the  turnpike. 
In  a  moment  or  two  he  encountered  the  pickets 
of  the  enemy,  and  attempting  to  capture  them 
received  a  heavy  fire  from  the  pickets  and  a 
force  of  the  enemy  behind  them.  Finding  they 
were  in  too  great  force  he  made  an  attack  on 
another  portion  of  the  line,  but  with  the  same 
result.  He  then  returned  to  camp.  This  exist- 
ence of  the  enemy  in  so  large  a  force  in  his 
front  caused  Gen.  Butler  to  make  extraordinary 
exertions  to  complete  other  works  on  his  de- 
fences. On  the  river  he  was  covered  by  the 
gunboats  under  Rear-Admiral  S.  P.  Lee. 

At  daylight  on  the  18th  the  enemy  appeared 
and  drove  back  the  picket  line  within  a  few 
hundred  yards  of  the  breastworks.  But  their 
advance  was  checked  after  a  heavy  skirmish. 
They  then  commenced  throwing  up  works  di- 
rectly in  front  of  Gen.  Butler's  lines,  either  for 
the  purpose  of  laying  siege  to  his  position,  or 
to  prevent  him  from  reaching  again  the  rail- 
road to  destroy  it.  On  Thursday,  *the  19th, 
they  put  two  or  three  light  batteries  in  position  _ 
and  commenced  vigorously  shelling  the  lines." 
No  assault  was  made,  and  their  guns  finally 
became  silent  during  the  remainder  of  the  day. 
At  midnight,  however,  they  advanced  in  force 
on  the  pickets  along  nearly  the  entire  line. 
The  sharp  fire  of  the  pickets  retarded  their  ad- 
vance, but  they  crowded  forward  and  the  re- 
serves were  ordered  up  by  Gen.  Butler.  A 
sharp  fight  ensued  which  lasted  nearly  an  hour, 
when  the  enemy  retired  with  considerable 
loss.  At  daylight  on  the  20th  they  began  to 
shell  the  lines  and  camps,  and  to  push  the  pick- 
ets strongly.  The  pickets  of  Gen.  Ames  were 
driven  back  from  the  rifle-pits  thrown  up  on  the 
picket  line,  and  Gen.  Terry's  line  was  forced  back 
under  a  heavy  fire.  The  position  thus  obtained 
by  the  enemy  was  too  important  to  be  given 
up.  A  brigade,  under  Col.  Howell,  was  there- 
fore sent  to  retake  the  rifle-pits  and  establish  a 
firm  line  there.  This  was  accomplished  after 
heavy  fighting,  with  considerable  loss  on  both 
sides,  'fhe  attack  was  renewed  again  on  the 
next  day,  but  no  advantage  was  gained  by  the 
enemy.  Meantime  the  work  on  the  fortifica- 
tions of  Gen.  Butler  was  continued  night  and 
day,  and  all  cover  for  the  enemy's  sharpshoot- 
ers cleared  away.  Thus  the  failure  of  the  ex- 
pedition on  the  west  to  destroy  the  Virginia 
and  Tennessee  Railroad,  and  occupy  Lynch- 
burg,  and  the  failure  of  Gen.  Butler  to  capture 
and  occupy  Petersburg,  enabled  the  enemy  to 
concentrate  against  Gen.  Grant.  The  forces 
of  Gen.  Breckinridge  were  immediately  added 
to  the  .army  of  Gen.  Lee,  and  Richmond  was 
held  by  the  troops  of  Gen.  Beauregard,  which 
had  opposed  Gen.  Butler.  Gen.  Grant,  on  the 
other  hand,  proceeded  to  organize  new  expe- 
ditions against  Lynchburg,  putting  Gen.  Hunter 
in  the  place  of  Gen.  Sigel,  and  pressed  forward 
himself  to  capture  Petersburg. 


570 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


CHAPTEE  XLII. 


Concentration  of  Troops  under  Gen.  Lee — Attempt  to  turn  the  Eight  of  Gen  Grant's  Lino — New  Movement  to  t\ie  Left— « 
Gen.  Grant  reaches  the  North  Ariha— Position  of  the  Armies — Gen.  Grant  crosses  the  Pamunkey — EeGnforcemonta 
from  Gen.  Butler— Battle  at  Coal  Harbor — Failure  of  the  attempt  to  push  the  Enemy  across  the  Chickahominy— Cross- 
ing the  James— Movement  of  Gen.  Butler  on  Petersburg— Failure — Other  Movements — Gen.  Grant  before  Petersburg 
— Condition  of  the  Army. 


THE  army  of  Gen.  Grant  had  remained  in- 
active during  the  16th,  17th,  and  18th,  before 
Spottsylvania.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  18th 
the  enemy  in  force  made  an  effort  to  turn  the 
right  of  Gen.  Grant's  line.  It  was  held  by 
some  regiments  of  heavy  artillery,  acting  as  in- 
fantry, comprising  the  1st  Massachusetts,  15th, 
2d,  6th,  and  a  battalion  of  the  4th  Few  York, 
all  under  Ool.  Kitchings,  who  fell  back  across 
an  open  field  under  cover  of  some  woods.  Re- 
peated attempts  were  made  by  the  enemy  to 
drive  them  further,  but  without  success.  Sub- 
sequently a  charge  was  made,  driving  the  ene- 
my back  across  the  open  field,  which  was  held. 
Night  put  an  end  to  the  conflict.  The  loss  of 
Col.  Kitchings  was  about  eleven  hundred  men. 
About  four  hundred  of  the  enemy  were  made 
prisoners. 

The  following  is  the  despatch  of  the  War 
Department: 

WAS  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  May  20—6 :  30  P.  M. 
Major-  General  Dix  ; 

This  afternoon  we  have  despatches  dated  at  half- 
past  eight  this  morning,  from  Gen.  Grant. 

Last  evening  an  effort  was  made  by  E well's  corps 
to  turn  our  right.  They  were  promptly  repulsed  by 
Birney's  and  Tyler's  divisions,  and  some  of  Warren's 
troops  that  were  on  the  extreme  right.  About  three 
hundred  prisoners  fell  into  our  hands,  besides  many 
killed  and  wounded.  Our  loss  foots  up  a  little  over  six 
hundred  wounded  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  killed 
and  missing. 

General  Grant  says  that  probably  our  killed  and 
missing  are  over-estimated. 

Over  twenty-five  thousand  veteran  reenforcements 
have  been  forwarded  to  Gen.  Grant.  The  condition 
of  the  army  and  his  contemplated  operations  are  en- 
tirely satisfactory.  The  army  is  abundantly  supplied. 

Major-General  Hunter  has  been  placed  in  command 
of  the  Department  of  West  Virginia,  including  the 
Shenandoah  valley. 

On  the  night  of  the  20th  the  troops  were 
moving  all  night  to  new  positions ;  and  on  the 
next  morning  the  general  headquarters  were 
broken  up,  and  nearly  the  whole  army  was  in 
motion.  At  12  o'clock,  p.  M.^  of  the  20th  the 
cavalry  left  their  camp  in  the  woods  near 
Massaponax  Church,  and  advanced  toward 
Guineas'  station,  on  the  Richmond  and  Fred- 
ericksburg  Railroad.  The  pickets  of  the  ene- 
my, firing  only  a  few  shots,  withdrew  before 
the  advance  until  they  reached  Guineas'  bridge 
on  the  river  Ny,  a  short  distance  from  the  sta- 
tion. Here  an  inclination  to  make  a  stand  and 
oppose  the  advance  was  shown.  They  were, 
however,  soon  driven  from  the  bridge.  At 
Downer's  bridge  another  stand  was  made,  and 


the  position  held  for  some  time.  At  Bowling 
Green  the  enemy  made  no  stand,  but  assem- 
bled at  Milford  station  in  considerable  force. 
On  an  eminence  a  little  to  the  left  of  the  sta- 
tion the  enemy  had  mounted  a  battery,  and 
thrown  up  some  rifle-pits.  A  battery  accom- 
panying the  cavalry  was  put  into  position,  and 
occupied  the  enemy  whilst  a  flank  movement 
to  the  left  was  made.  This  was  executed  with 
success,  and  the  enemy  made  a  hasty  retreat 
across  the  Mattapony.  Six  officers  and  sixty- 
six  soldiers  were  surprised  and  captured.  Mil- 
ford  station  had  been,  until  the  previous  day, 
the  base  for  supplies  to  the  army  under  Gen. 
Lee.  But  obtaining  information  of  the  con- 
templated movement,  the  enemy  had  removed 
their  stores  before  the  arrival  of  the  cavalry. 

Soon  after  midnight  on  the  night  of  the  20th 
the  2d  corps  moved  from  its  position  on  the  Ny, 
near  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  and  followed 
the  road  thus  opened  by  the  cavalry.  Nothing 
unusual  occurred  during  the  march  to  Bowling 
Green.  The  corps  then  crossed  the  Mattapony 
at  Milford  bridge,  and  about  a  mile  from  the 
river  Gen.  Hancock  halted  his  column  and 
formed  a  line  of  battle  in  a  commanding  position 
oji  the  crest  of  a  range  of  hills.  The  enemy's 
cavalry  followed  close  in  the  rear  during  the 
march  and  picked  up  the  stragglers. 

At  six  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  21st  the 
5th  corps,  under  Gen.  Warren,  left  the  position 
occupied  by  them  and  pushed  on  in  the  rear  of 
Gen.  Hancock.  As  the  column  approached 
the  bridge  across  the  Mattapony  at  4  p.  M.,  it 
was  delayed  by  a  detachment  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry  posted  in  the  woods  that  skirt  the  river 
on  both  sides  of  the  road.  They  were  soon 
driven  out  with  a  slight  loss.  During  the  day 
the  whole  army  was  in  motion.  The  weather 
had  become  fine  and  the  roads  well  settled. 
On  Sunday,  the  22d,  the  following  despatch 
was  sent  from  the  War  Department : 

WAE  DEPAKTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  May  23—10  P.  M. 

Major-  General  Dix  : 

On  Friday  evening  General  Grant  commenced  a 
movement  for  the  purpose  of  compelling  Lee  to  aban- 
don his  position  at  Spottsylvania.  It  has  thus  far 
progressed  successfully. 

Longstreet's  corps  started  south  at  one  o  clock 
Friday  night,  an  hour  and  a  half  after  Hancock 
moved.  Swell's  corps  followed  Longstreet's  last 
night. 

The  indications  are  that  the  rebel  army  has  fallen 
back  behind  the  North  Anna.  Hoke's  brigade  has 
joined  Lee. 

The  movement  of  General  Grant  has  thus  far  been 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


571 


accomplished  without  any  severe  engagement  or  se- 
rious interruption. 

We  now  occupy  Guineas'  station,  Milford  station, 
and  south  of  the  Mattapony  on  that  line.  No  de- 
spatches have  been  received  to-day  from  General 
Butler. 

Despatches  from  Kingston,  Ga.,  state  that  General 
Sherman's  forces  are  resting  and  replenishing  their 
supplies.  EDWIN  M.  STANTON, 

Secretary  of  War. 

On  the  next  morning  the  following  addi- 
tional despatch  was  sent  from  the  Depart- 
ment: 

WASHINGTON,  May  23, 1864. 
Major- General  Dix : 

We  have  no  official  reports  since  my  last  telegram 
from  General  Grant  or  General  Butler. 

Official  reports  of  this  Department  show  that 
within  eight  days  after  the  great  battle  at  Spottsyl- 
vania  Court  House  many  thousand  veteran  troops 
have  been  forwarded  to  General  Grant. 

The  whole  army  has  been  amply  supplied  with  full 
rations  and  subsistence. 

Upwards  of  twenty  thousand  sick  and  wounded 
have  been 'transported  from  the  fields  of  battle  to 
the  Washington  hospitals  and  placed  under  surgical 
care. 

Over  eight  thousand  prisoners  have  been  trans- 
ported from  the  field  to  prison  depots,  and  large 
amounts  of  artillery  and  other  implements  of  an 
active  campaign  brought  away. 

Several  thousand  fresh  cavalry  horses  have  been 
forwarded  to  the  army,  and  the  grand  Army  of  the 
Potomac  is  now  fully  as  strong  in  numbers,  and  bet- 
ter equipped,  supplied,  and  furnished,  than  when 
the  campaign  opened. 

Several  thousand  reinforcements  have  also  been 
forwarded  to  other  armies  in  the  field,  and  ample 
supplies  to  all. 

During  the  same  time  over  thirty  thousand  volun- 
teers for  a  hundred  days  have  been  mustered  into 
the  service,  clothed,  armed,-  equipped,  and  trans- 
ported to  their  respective  positions. 

This  statement  is  due  to  the  chiefs  of  the  army 
staff  and  bureaux,  and  their  respective  corps,  to 
whom  the  credit  belongs. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

The  9th  corps,  under  Gen.  Burnside,  hegan 
to  move  on  the  21st.  E-.rly  in  the  after- 
noon orders  were  given  to  leave  the  line  of 
works  thrown  up  in  their  front.  The  move- 
ment was  covered  by  a  sortie  of  Gen.  Ledlie's 
brigade  of  Gen.  Crittenden's  division,  who  de- 
ployed in  front  in  skirmish  line  with  two 
regiments  held  in  reserve.  The  enemy  were 
driven  some  distance  toward  Spottsylvania 
Court  House.  Meanwhile  the  rest  of  the  corps 
moved  out  of  the  works,  and  by  night  were 
far  on  the  road.  The  march  was  kept  up 
steadily  until  eleven  o'clock,  when  a  short  halt 
was  ordered. 

Finding  the  enemy  in  force  on  the  road  pro- 
posed, the  route  was  abandoned.  The  column 
retrograded  a  few  miles  on  the  Richmond  and 
Fredericksburg  telegraph  road,  and  thence 
moved  to  the  southeast.  At  9  o'clock  on  the 
next  morning  a  halt  of  an  hour  was  made,  and 
then  the  march  was  resumed,  crossing  the  rail- 
road near  Guineas'  station,  and  arriving  at 
Bowling  Green  at  4  p.  M.  On  the  next  morn- 
ing the  march  was  continued  to  Milford  station. 

The  6th  corps  moved  after  the  9th,  and  filed 
into  the  intrenchments  as  vacated  by  the  9th. 


The  sortie  of  Gen.  Ledlie  had  rallied  the  enemy 
on  their  main  line,  and  they  advanced  in  con- 
siderable force  upon  the  6th  corps,  but  were 
met  with  such  a  fire  as  caused  them  to  retseat 
with  severe  loss.  Subsequently  it  followed  the 
route  of  the  5th  corps.  On  the  22d  the  entire 
army  was  in  a  new  position,  facing  westerly 
from  Milford  to  Guineas'  station. 

On  Monday  forenoon,  May  22d,  the  advance 
of  the  army  reached  the  North  Anna  River. 
The  5th  corps  arrived,  by  the  telegraph  road, 
in  the  neighborhood  pf  Jericho  Mills.  The  2d 
corps  arrived  in  the  afternoon,  and  took  position 
on  the  left  of  the  5th,  extending  to  the  railroad. 
In  front  of  the  army  there  were  three  fords  of 
the  North  Anna,  known  as  Island,  Jericho,  and 
Chesterfield,  or  Taylor's  Bridge  fords.  The 
latter  is  about  a  mile  above  the  railroad  crossing 
of  the  river,  and  the  next,  or  Jericho  ford,  about 
four  miles  further  up.  The  2d  corps  arrived  at 
Taylor's  bridge  about  the  time  when  the  5th 
arrived  at  Jericho.  About  a  hundred  rods  in 
front  of  Taylor's  bridge  is  a  small  stream  called 
Long  Creek,  parallel  with  the  North  Anna, 
and  forming  a  junction  with  it  below  the  rail- 
road, thus  giving  a  peninsular  form  to  the  land 
between.  The  bridge  across  the  North  Anna 
was  commanded  at  its  entrance  by  a  redan 
whose  extremities  were  covered  by  the  river, 
and  its  flanks  swept  by  artillery  in  field-works 
on  the  opposite  bank,  as  well  as  by  infantry 
in  rifle-pits.  The  peninsula  formed  a  broad 
open  space  between  the  redan  and  the  2d  corps 
drawn  up  in  front.  Gen.  Barlow's  division  oc- 
cupied the  right  of  the  railroad,  Gen.  Birney's 
was  in  front  of  the  peninsula,  and  Gen.  Gib- 
bon's on  the  right,  while  the  5th  corps  was  on 
the  right  on  the  Milford  road,  and  about  four 
miles  up  from  the  railroad.  Skirmishing  com- 
menced in  front  of  Gen.  Birney,  and  his  bat- 
teries opened  upon  the  enemy  at  4  P.  M.  His 
division  was  ordered  to  charge  and  carry  the 
works,  and,  if  possible,  get  possession  of  the 
bridge  across  the  river.  A  brilliant  charge  was 
made  without  a  halt  until  the  enemy  was  driven 
across  the  bridge,  and  guns  so  placed  as  to  com- 
mand it.  The  loss  was  about  five  hundred  on 
each  side'.  No  effort  was  made  to  cross  that 
night,  but  the  bridge  was  then  held  by  a  small 
command.  About  11  P.  M.  the  enemy  made  a 
sortie  from  his  works  and  endeavored  to  retake 
the  bridge,  but  after  a  spirited  skirmish  of 
aoout  twenty  minutes  he  was  driven  off.  About 
midnight  another  attack  was  made  with  a  much 
larger  force.  The  enemy  got  possession  of  the 
bridge  and  held  it  for  some  time,  and  made 
several  attempts  to  burn  it,  but  were  finally 
forced  to  retire.  Early  the  next  morning  the 
2d  corps  crossed  the  river. 

About  the  time  when  the  bridge  was  taken 
by  the  2d  corps,  the  5th  corps  effected  a  cross- 
ing and  took  a  position  on  the  south  bank,  and 
threw  up  some  breastworks.  Soon  after  they 
were  attacked  by  a  heavy  force  of  the  enemy, 
which  was  repulsed  after  causing  a  loss  of  about 
five  hundred.  Their  own  loss  was  unknown. 


572 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


This  attack  was  renewed  during  the  night. 
About  dark  Gen.  Burnside's  corps  came  up  and 
took  position  between  Gens.  Hancock  and 
Warren,  and  made  preparations  to  cross,  while 
the  6th  corps  took  the  right  of  the  5th.  On 
the  next  day,  the  24th,  the  army  crossed  the 
river,  and  considerable  skirmishing  took  place 
along  the  whole  line  with  a  loss  of  about  five 
hundred;  During  the  day  a  portion  of  the  cav- 
alry force  under  Gen.  Sheridan  reached  the 
army,  returning  from  James  Eiver.  On  the 
25th,  contrary  to  general  expectation,  the  enemy 
were  found  strongly  posted  in  force  within  two 
miles  of  Gen.  Grant's  lines.  They  lay  in  the 
form  of  a  triangle,  with  the  apex  reaching 
nearly  to  the  North  Anna  Eiver,  between  the 
points  where  Gens.  Warren  and  Hancock 
crossed  with  their  corps.  Their  ground  was 
found  to  be  admirably  chosen  and  extensively 
fortified.  The  formation  of  their  line  gave 
them  every  facility  for  a  quick  movement  of 
troops  from  one  flank  to  the  other.  A  success- 
ful assault  would  have  involved  immense 
slaughter.  As  the  apex  of  the  enemy's  position 
stretched  toward  the  North  Anna,  his  right 
wing  resting  on  a  formidable  marsh  and  ex- 
tending across  the  railroad,  protected  it  and 
covered  the  junction.  His  left  wing  ran  along 
Little  Eiver.  New  movements  were  therefore 
made  by  Gen.  Grant.  His  plan  was  to  recross 
the  North  Anna  and  march  by  the  left  flank. 
The  swelling  of  the  streams  by  the  recent  rains 
made  it  prudent  to  commence  it  as  soon  as-  pos- 
sible. To  cover  the  movement  a  strong  demon- 
stration was  made  during  Thursday  on  the  left 
of  the  enemy.  Some  divisions  of  cavalry  at- 
tacked his  left,  whilst  the  3d  division  of  Gen. 
Sheridan's  cavalry  moved  up  the  Virginia  Cen- 
tral Eailroad  and  began  to  burn  the  track. 
Under  cover  of  this  attack,  on  Thursday  even- 
ing the  27th,  the  6th  corps  quietly  and  swiftly 
withdrew  to  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  fol- 
lowed by  the  other  corps  in  quick  succession, 
and  moved  out  easterly  for  the  Pamunkey. 
The  rear  was  protected  by  Gen.  Hancock.  At 
the  same  time  a  strong  skirmish  line  was  left  in 
front  to  engage  the  enemy's  attention  and  dis- 
arm suspicion. 

At  9  o'clock  on  the  next  morning,  Friday  the 
28th,  Hanover  Ferry  and  Hanovertown  were 
occupied  by  a  portion  of  Gen.  Sheridan's  cav- 
alry, who  captured  seventy-five  of  the  enemy. 
At  10  A.  M.  the  1st  division  of  the  2d  corps 
arrived,  followed  closely  by  the  remainder  of 
the  corps.  Hanovertown  is  on  the  Pamunkey 
Eiver,  fifteen  miles  from  Eichmond,  and  sixteen 
miles  from  the  White  House,  on  the  same  river. 
Thirteen  miles  east  of  the  White  House  is  West 
Point,  where  the  Mattapony  and  the  Pamunkey 
join  and  form  the  York  Eiver.  Transports 
with  supplies  for  the  army  were  already  on  the 
way  to  the  White  House,  to  which  the  base  of 
the  army  was  now  changed.  On  Saturday  the 
28th  the  troops  continued  to  arrive  all  day,  and 
the  crossing  of  the  Pamunkey  was  secured. 
The  enemy  had  previously  occupied  Hanover 


Court  House,  and  in  the  mean  time  extended 
his  lines  southerly.  The  despatch  of  the  War 
Department  relative  to  these  movements  was 
as  follows : 

"WASHINGTON,  May  28—9:60  p.  M. 
To  Major- General  Dix  .• 

An  official  despatch  from  the  headquarters  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  at  Magahick  Church,  ten  miles 
from  Hanovertown,  dated  yesterday  afternoon  at  five 
o'clock,  has  just  been  received. 

It  states  that  our  army  was  withdrawn  to  the  north 
side  of  the  North  Anna  on  Thursday  night,  and  moved 
toward  Hanovertown,  the  place  designated  for  cross- 
ing the  Pamunkey. 

At  9  o'clock  yesterday  (Triday)  morning  Sheridan, 
with  the  1st  and  2d  divisions  of  cavalry,  took  pos- 
session of  Hanover  Ferry  and  Hanovertown,  finding 
there  only  a  rebel  vidette.  The  1st  division  of  the 
6th  corps  arrived  at  10  A.  M.,  and  now  hold  the  place, 
with  sufficient  force  of  cavalry  and  infantry  and  ar- 
tillery to  resist  any  attack  likely  to  be  made  upon 
them.  The  remainder  of  the  cqrps  is  pressing  for- 
ward with  rapidity.  Weather  fine  and  perfect. 

A  later  despatch  dated  at  7  o'clock  this  morning 
(28th),  from  Headquarters,  Magahick  Church,  has 
also  been  received.  It  reports  that  every  thing  goes 
on  finely ;  weather  clear  and  cool ;  the  troops  came 
up  rapidly  and  in  great  spirits,  and  that  the  army 
will  be  beyond  the  Pamunkey  by  noon. 

Breckinridge  is  at  Hanover  Court  House  with  a 
force  variously  reported  from  three  thousand  to  ten 
thousand.  Wickham'  s  and  Lomax'  s  brigades  of  cav- 
alry are  also  there. 

The  despatch  further  states  that,  after  seizing  Han- 
over Ferry  yesterday,  General  Torbert  captured 
seventy-five  cavalry,  including  six  officers ;  that  the 
rebel  cavalry  is  exceedingly  demoralized,  and  flees 
before  ours  on  every  occasion. 

No  despatches  from  any  other  field  of  operations 
have  been  received  to-day. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

On  Saturday  two  divisions  of  cavalry,  under 
Gens.  Torbert  and  Gregg,  were  pushed  toward 
Mechamcsville  as  a  reconnoissance  of  the  ene- 
my's line.  Near  the  Tolopatomy  Creek,  a  trib- 
utary of  the  Pamunkey,  a  sharp  engagement 
took  place  with  a  cavalry  force  of  the  enemy, 
which  resulted  in  forcing  them  back  some  dis- 
tance, leaving  apart  of  their  dead  and  wounded. 
The  loss  of  the  Union  force  was  about  four 
hundred,  and  that  of  the  enemy  was  supposed 
to  be  not  less. 

On  Sunday,  the  29th,  the  whole  army  was 
across  the  Pamunkey,  and  fronted  southwest 
about  three  miles  from  the  river.  Eeconnois- 
sances  were  made  from  each  corps,  followed 
up  by  a  gradual  advance.  The  enemy  appeared 
to  be  in  force,  distant  about  six  miles,  and  be- 
yond the  Tolopatomy  Cre«k,  holding  Shady 
Grove  and  Mechanicsville  with  his  extreme 
right,  and  his  centre  in  front  of  Atlee's  station 
on  the  Virginia  Central  Eailroad,  and  his  left 
covering  Hanover  Court  House. 

On  Monday,  the  30th,  the  forces  of  Gen. 
Lee  were  reported  to  be  on  the  Mechanicsville 
road  south  of  the  Tolopatomy  Creek,  with  his 
right  resting  on  Shady  Grove.  The  right  of 
Gen.  Grant's  army,  consisting  of  the  6th  corps 
under  Gen.  Wright,  extended  in  the  direction 
of  Hanover  Court  House.  The  right  centre 
was  held  by  Gen.  Hancock  on  the  Shady  Grovo 
road,  and  the  left  centre  by  Gen.  Warren  on 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION". 


573 


the  Mechanicsville  road.  Gen.  Burnside  held 
the  left,  and  a  little  in  rear.  The  right  and 
rear  were  covered  by  the  3d  division  of  cavalry 
under  Gen.  Wilson.  .  The  divisions  of  Gens. 
Torbert  and. Gregg  were  advanced  on  the  left 
flank.  The  division  of  Gen.  Torbert  held  the 
Old  Church  Tavern  Cross  Road  with  a  picket 
force  extending  on  the  road  to  Coal  Harbor. 
A  movement  of  the  enemy  was  made  about 
2  P.  M.  upon  these  pickets,  who  were  driven  in, 
and  a  sharp  engagement  ensued,  with  a  loss  of 
eighty  or  ninety  on  each  side,  when  the  enemy 
were  driven  back.  About  5  p.  M.  an  attack 
was  made  on  Gen.  Warren's  corps,  which  was 
gradually  moving  to  the  left  along  the  Me- 
chanicsville road,  by  a  reconnoitring  division 
of  Gen.  Ewell's  corps  with  two  brigades  of 
cavalry.  The  turning  of  Gen.  Warren's  flank 
was  endangered,  which  was  prevented  only  by 
the  timely  arrival  of  reinforcements.  A  sharp 
engagement  followed,  and  the  enemy  were 
forced  to  retire  by  a  road  parallel  to  the  Coal 
Harbor  road.  Gen.  Meade,  upon  being  inform- 
ed of  the  situation  of  Gen.  Warren,  ordered  an 
attack  along  the  whole  line.  Gen.  Hancock 
alone  received  the  order  in  time  to  attack  be- 
fore dark,  and  immediately  advanced  upon  the 
enemy's  skirmish  line,  captured  their  rifle-pits, 
and  held  them  all  night.  '  Gen.  Warren  held 
his  position  near  Mechanicsville,  and  the  enemy 
moved  down  troops  to  prevent  any  further 
dangerous  concentration  on  his  right.  An  ef- 
fort was  made  to  dislodge  Gen.  Hancock  at 
midnight,  but  without  success. 

On  Tuesday,  the  31st,  the  aimy  of  Gen. 
Grant  was  further  reenforced  by  the  arrival  of 
the  18th  corps  under  Gen.  Smith.  This  corps, 
being  a  part  of  the  command  of  Gen.  Butler, 
embarked  on  transports  at  City  Point,  and 
moved  with  celerity  down  the  James  River 
and  up  the  York  River  to  the  White  House, 
which  was  the  base  of  supplies  for  Gen.  Grant's 
army. 

After  the  retirement  of  Gen.  Butler  to  his 
intrenchments  on  the  20th,  little  fighting  oc- 
curred. An  attack  was  made  on  his  post  at 
Wilson's  Wharf,  on  the  northerly  bank  of  the 
James,  held  by  two  regiments  of  negro  troops, 
on  the  24th,  by  a  body  of  cavalry  under  Gen. 
Fitz  Lee.  A  demand  for  surrender  was  made, 
which  Gen.  Wild  declined,  when  the  skirmish- 
ing line  was  speedily  driven  in,  and  furious 
charges  made  on  the  works.  After  a  contest 
of  three  or  four  hours  the  enemy  withdrew, 
leaving  twenty-five  dead  on  the  ground.  On 
the  26th  a  reconnoissance  discovered  the  ene- 
my in  considerable  force.  The  position  of  Gen. 
Butler  now  was  such  that  his  communication 
and  supplies  were  perfectly  secure.  Both  flanks 
of  his  remaining  force  were  covered  by  gun- 
boats. 

On  Tuesday,  May  31st,  the  headquarters  of 
Gen.  Grant  were  about  five  miles  southeast 
of  Hanover  Court  House,  and  less  than  that 
distance  west  of  Hanovertown.  In  front  of 
that  position,  facing  westerly  on  its  right  and 


southwesterly  on  its  left,  the  line  of  battle  of 
the  army  extended  a  distance  of  six  miles  across 
Tolopatomy  Creek.  The  right  was  held  by 
Gen.  Wright's  6th  corps,  next  Gen.  Hancock's 
2d  corps,  next  Gen.  Burnside's  9th  corps,  and 
Gen.  Warren's  5th  corps  on  the  left.  The  po- 
sition of  the  enemy  was  on  the  westerly  bank 
of  a  creek  running  southeast,  and  a  tributary 
to  the  Tolopatomy  before  the  latter  turns  to 
the  northeast  to  the  Pamunkey.  Their  line 
closely  followed  in  general  direction  that  of 
Gen.  Grant's  army.  The  right  was  held  by  Gen. 
A.  P.  Hill,  the  centre  by  Gen.  Longstreet's  corps, 
and  the  left  by  Gen.  Ewell.  In  this  position  they 
covered  the  Chickahominy,  which  is  the  outer 
line  of  defence  for  Richmond  and  the  Virginia 
Central  Railroad,  with  cavalry  supports  thrown 
out  on  the  left  as  far  as  Hanover  Court  House, 
and  on  the  right  to  Bottom  Bridge.  This  was 
the  theatre  of  operations  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  in  1862,  when  the  approach  to  Rich- 
mond was  made  across  the  Chickahominy,  be- 
fore which  the  enemy  were  now  strongly 
drawn  up. 

On  Tuesday  there  was  desultory  firing 
through  the  day  along  the  whole  line.  Gen. 
Grant  already  contemplated  a  movement  by 
the  left,  and  the  1st  division  of  cavalry,  under 
Gen.  Torbert,  were  ordered  forward  to  recon- 
noitre thoroughly  the  ground  i*  the  vicinity  of 
Coal  Harbor,  and  to  hold  it  at  all  hazards  for 
the  occupation  of  infantry.  While  there  a 
sharp  fight  ensued  with  a  body  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  which  resulted  in  Gen.  Torbert's  hold- 
ing the  desired  ground. 

On  the  next  day,  June  1st,  an  effort  was 
made  by  a  division  of  the  enemy  under  Gen. 
Hoke,  to  get  possession  of  Coal  Harbor.  This 
was  repulsed  by  Gen.  Sheridan.  Subsequently 
Gen.  Hoke  was  reenforced,  and  about  noon 
checked  the  further  advance  of  Gen.  Sheridan 
on  the  left.  On  the  previous  night  the  6th 
corps  was  detached  from  the  right,  and  march- 
ed from  Shady  Grove  to  Coal  Harbor,  where 
they  arrived  soon  after  the  close  of  the  above 
affair.  It  formed  in  line  on  the  right  of  the 
Games'  Mill  road,  with  Gen.  Ricketts'  division 
on  the  right,  Gen.  Russell's  in  the  centre,  and 
Gen.  Neill's  2d  on  the  left.  About  3  o'clock 
the  18th  corps,  under  Gen.  Smith,  from  the 
White  House,  came  into  the  field,  and  formed 
on  the  right  of  the  6th  corps,  With  Gen.  Mar 
tindale  on  the  right,  Gen.  Brookes  in  the  cen- 
tre, and  Gen.  D  evens  on  the  left.  Their  march, 
like  that  of  the  6th  corps,  had  been  severe, 
over  a  distance  of  twenty-five  miles,  A  charge 
by  the  18th  corps  was  ordered  at  once,  and, 
without  stopping,  they  crossed  an  open  field  to 
a  strip  of  wood,  and  took  and  held  the  first  line 
of  the  enemy's  rifle-pits,  capturing  six  hundred 
prisoners.  A  lodgment  was  also  effected  in  the 
enemy's  line  further  to  the  right,  but  the  4)0 
sition  proved  to  be  completely  commanded  by 
a  redoubt  in  the  second  line  of  the  enemy,  and", 
amidst  a  heavy  fire,  it  was  abandoned.  During 
the  night  the  enemy  made  desperate  efforts  to 


574 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


575 


regain  the  rifle-pits,  and  succeeded  in  annoy- 
ing the  troops  with  an  enfilading  fire.  Their 
charges,  however,  were  repelled.  The  loss  of 
the  Union  troops  was  about  two  thousand ;  the 
enemy  being  behind  breastworks,  probably  suf- 
fered much  less.  The  change  in  the  line  now 
had  brought  Gen.  "Wright  to  the  extreme  left, 
between  whom  and  the  5th  corps  was  now  the 
18th  under  Gen.  Smith.  During  the  entire  day 
there  had  been  warm  work  along  the  whole 
line,  in  which  the  artillery  took  a  part  toward 
night.  Several  distinct  charges  were  made  by 
the  enemy,  which  were  repulsed.  No  careful 
estimate  of  the  losses  in  this  part  of  the  field 
during  the  day  was  made,  but  it  was  supposed 
not  to  exceed  a  thousand.  The  loss  of  the 
enemy  was  severe.  The  result  of  the  day  was 
the  complete  occupation  and  holding  of  Coal 
Harbor,  which  was  an  important  position  both 
as  commanding  the  road  to  the  White  House, 
whence  supplies  were  brought,  and  also  in  ref- 
erence to  a  subsequent  crossing  of  the  Chicka- 
hominy. 

In  the  night  it  was  determined  by  Gen. 
Grant  to  make  the  attempt  to  push  the  enemy 
across  the  Chickahominy,  and  to  secure  a 
place  to  ford  that  stream.  The  2d  corps  was 
therefore  advanced  from  the  extreme  right 
to  the  extreme  left,  in  order  to  increase  the 
force  in  that  direction.  It  reached  its  position 
about  noon  the  next  day,  Thursday,  June  2d. 
The  attack  which  was  to  have  been  made  on 
<hat  evening,  owing  to  the  heavy  rain  which 
ensued,  was  postponed  until  the  next  morning, 
Friday.  Considerable  skirmishing  'had  taken 
place  during  the  day,  and  a  charge  was  made 
upon  the  5th  and  9th  corps,  without  gaining 
any  special  advantage. 

At  half-past  4  o'clock  on  Friday  morning 
the  army  was  in  motion.  Its  line  extended 
from  Tolopatomy  Creek  across  the  road  from 
Coal  Harbor  to  the  Chickahominy.  The  ground 
consisted  of  woodlands,  swamp,  and  open  fields. 
The  skirmishers  were  promptly  advanced,  and 
the  whole  line  was  soon  engaged  in  a  terrific 
battle.  From  Gen.  Hancock's  corps  on  the 
extreme  left  the  brigades  of  Gens.  Gibbon  and 
Barlow  moved  boldly  forward,  exposed  to  shot 
and  shell,  up  the  ascent  on  which  the  enemy  in 
their  front  had  concentrated  their  men  and  ar- 
tillery. They  drove  out  the  ene'my,  and  for  a 
moment  were  in  possession  of  their  position. 
Being  in  advance  of  the  line,  they  were  exposed 
to  a  most  destructive  enfilading  fire  of  the 
enemy.  At  the  same  time  the  second  line  of 
the  enemy  was  massed  and  hurled  upon  them. 
Thus  overwhelmed  in  front,  and  swept  by  a  fire 
on  the  flank,  these  divisions  were  now  driven 
out  of  the  intrenchments,  but  not  until  they 
had  secured  a  color  and  three  hundred  prison- 
ers. Falling  back  about  fifty  yards  they  were 
under  a  partial  cover  of  the  ridge.  Here  they 
intrenched  themselves,  and  remained  through 
the  day.  So  far  had  they  advanced  that  one 
of  the  enemy's  batteries  was  captured  and 
nearly  turned  against  them  when  the  retreat 


was  ordered.  The  18th  and  the  6th  corps  ad- 
joining the  second  along  the  line  charged  for- 
ward with  not  less  gallantry,  and  carried  the 
first  line  of  the  enemy's  intrenchments,  but 
were  received  with  a  most  destructive  enfilad- 
ing fire.  After  an  obstinate  conflict  they  were 
forced  back,  yielding  the  position  which  they 
had  taken,  and  occupied  another  close  to  the 
enemy's  works,  which  they  intrenched.  On 
the  right'the  5th  and  9th  corps  were  advanced ; 
but  the  conflict  here  was  not  so  severe,  as  the 
force  of  the  enemy  was  massed  on  their  right. 
Still  further  to  the  right  the  3d  division  of 
cavalry,  under  Gen.  Wilson,  were  engaged  with 
a  force  of  the  enemy  under  Gen.  Hampton,  but 
without  important  results.  The  contest  was 
continued  with  more  or  less  vigor  throughout 
the  day.  The  enemy  were  found  too  strongly 
posted  to  carry  their  works,  and  all  efforts  to 
cross  the  Chickahominy  at  that  point  were  re- 
pelled. The  loss  was  nearly  seven  thousand  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners.  The  enemy 
lost  many  prisoners,  but  the  advantages  under 
which  they  fought  prevented  their  loss  from 
being  so  severe.  The  following  despatches 
were  issued  by  the  War  Department : 

WASHINGTON,  June  4, 1864. 
To  Major-  Gen.  Dix  : 

Despatches  from  Gen.  Grant's  headquarters,  dated 
3  o'clock  yesterday,  have  just  been  received.  No 
operations  took  place  on  Thursday.  Yesterday,  at 
half-past  4  o'clock  A.M.,  Gen.  Grant  made  an  assault 
on  the  enemy's  lines,  of  which  he  makes  the  follow- 
ing report : 

"We  assaulted  at  half-past  4  A.  M.,  driving  the 
enemy  within  his  intrenchments  at  all  points,  but 
without  gaining  any  decisive  advantage.  Our  troops 
now  occupy  a  position  close  to  the  enemy,  some 
places  within  fifty  yards,  and  are  remaining.  Our 
loss  was  not  severe,  nor  do  I  suppose  the  enemy  to 
have  lost  heavily.  We  captured  over  three  hundred 
prisoners,  mostly  from  Breckinridge." 

Another  later  official  report,  not  from  Gen.  Grant, 
estimates»the  number  of  our  killed  and  wounded  at 
about  three  thousand.  The  following  officers  are 
among  the  killed : 

Col.  Haskell,  36th  Wisconsin ;  Col.  Porter,  8th  New 
York  heavy  artillery ;  Col.  Morris,  66th  New  York. 

Among  the  wounded  are  Gen.  R.  0.  Tyler — seri- 
ously— will  probably  lose  a  foot;  Col.  McMahon, 
164th  New  York ;  Col.  Byrnes,  28th  Massachusetts — 
probably  mortally;  and  Col.  Brfioke,  53d  Pennsyl- 
vania. EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Sec'y  of  War. 

WASHINGTON,  June  5 — 1  p.  M. 
Major-  Gen.  Dix  : 

A  des'patch  from  Gen.  Grant's  headquarters,  dated 
half-past  8  o'clock  last  night,  has  been-  received.  It 
states  that  "  about  7  P.  M.  yesterday,  Fridav,  3d  of 
June,  the  enemy  suddenly  attacked  Smith's  brigade, 
of  Gibbon's  division.  The  battle  lasted  with  great 
fury  for  half  an  hour.  The  attack  was  unwaveringly 
repulsed.  Smith's  losses  were  inconsiderable." 

At  6  p.  M.,  Wilson,  with  his«cavalry,  fell  upon  tho 
rear  of  a  brigade  of  Heth's  division,  which  Lee  had 
thrown  around  to  his  left,  apparently  with  the  inten- 
tion of  enveloping  Burnside.  After  a  sharp  but  short 
conflict,  Wilson  drove  them  from  their  rifle-pita  in 
confusion.  He  took  a  few  prisoners.  He  had  previ- 
ously fought  and  routed  Gordon's  brigade  of  rebel 
cavalry.  During  these  fights  he  lost  several  officers, 
among  them  Col.  Preston,  1st  Vermont  cavalry,  kill- 
ed ;  Col.  Benjamin,  8th  New  York  cavalry,  seriously 
wounded. 

Our  entire  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing 


576 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


during  the  three  days'  operations  around  Coal  Harbor 
will  not  exceed,  according  to  the  Adjutant-General's 
Beport,  seven  thousand  five  hundred. 

This  morning,  Saturday,  June  4,  the  enemy's  left 
wing,  in  front  of  Gen.  Burnside,  was  found  to  have 
been  drawn  in  during  the  night. 

Col.  Cesnola,  in  command  of  five  thousand  men, 
arrived  there  yesterday,  having  marched  from  Port 
Koyal.  EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Sec'y  of  War. 

The  position  gained,  however,  was  held,  and 
during  the  next  day,  Saturday,  June  4th,  the 
erection  of  temporary  breastworks  -was  busily 
prosecuted.  At  9  o'clock  at  night  the  enemy 
made  a  fierce  attack  on  the  corps  of  Gen.  Han- 
cock, Smith,  and  "Wright,  but  after  a  severe 
loss  they  were  repulsed. 

On  Sunday,  the  5th,  the  lines  continued  close 
to  each  other.  The  sharpshooters  of  the  enemy 
endangered  any  person  exposed  in  the  rifle- 
pits,  and  many  officers  and  men  were  fatally 
wounded.  Meanwhile  the  work  on  the  in- 
trenchments,  when  practicable,  was  kept  up. 
Soon  after  dark  the  enemy  made  a  sudden 
dash  on  Gen.  Smyth's  brigade  of  the  2d  divi- 
sion of  Gen.  Hancock's  corps.  They  met  with 
a  sharp  resistance,  and  were  soon  repelled  with 
a  disproportionably  large  loss.  On  Monday  the 
picket-firing  was  continued,  with  some  change 
of  position  in  bodies  of  the  troops,  and  with 
the  work  on  the  intrenchments.  At  midnight 
an  attack  was  made  on  Gen.  Burnside's  corps 
on  the  right,  but  soon  repelled.  The  nearness 
of  the  lines  of  the  two  armies  made  the  battle- 
fields of  Friday  disputed,  and  the  dead  still  re- 
mained upon  it  unburied  and  the  wounded 
were  unrelieved.  A  correspondence  ensued 
relative  to  -these  dead  and  wounded,  between 
Gens.  Grant  and  Lee.  It  resulted  in  an  armis- 
tice of  two  hours,  during  which  the  dead  and 
wounded  were  carefully  removed.  Meanwhile 
the  5th  corps  was  detached  from  its  position  on 
the  right  centre  and  withdrawn  to  the  rear. 
Its  place  in  the  line  was  filled  by  a  transfer  of 
the  9th  corps  from  the  extreme  right.  Com- 
missary supplies  had  been  constantly  sent  for- 
ward to  the  army  from  the  White  House,  with 
some  reinforcements  of  hundred  days'  men  and 
convalescents.  New  earthworks  were  built, 
extending  along  the  course  of  the  Chickahomi- 
ny,  and  everywhere  the  enemy  built  parallel 
works  a  few  hundred  yards  distant".  On  Tues- 
day, June  7th,  the  enemy  making  a  reconnpis- 
sance,  attacked  the  9th  corps  in  the  afternoon, 
but  were  vigorously  repelled.  Of  the  5th  corps 
detached  during  the  night  from  their  position 
in  the  line,  the  divisions  of  Gens.  Griffin  and 
Cutler,  moved  rapidly  down  toward  Sumner's 
bridge,  on  the  Chickahominy.  The  enemy_at 
the  bridge  were  in  force,  and  opened  with 
rather  heavy  guns  on  the  approaching  column. 
They  were  soon  driven  from  the  bridge,  but 
continued  to  command  it  with  their  artillery. 
During  Wednesday  and  Thursday  there  was  no 
change  of  position.  On  the  latter  day,  the 
cavalry  under  Gens.  Torbert  and  Gregg  were 
pushed  further  to  the  left.  On  Friday  some 
skirmishing  of  cavalry  took  place  on  the  right. 


The  work  of  intrenchrnent  was  continued,  and 
an  advance  was  pushed  as  far  as  Bottom  bridge, 
the  next  below  the  railroad  crossing  of  Chicka- 
hominy. The  enemy  kept  pace,  confronting 
the  advance,  and  fortifying  at  the  bridge.  On 
the  same  day  the  destruction  of  the  railroad  to 
the  White  House  was  begun  from  Despatch  sta- 
tion easterly.  The  rails  and  ties  were  removed 
to  th'e  White  House,  and  shipped  on  barges. 

On  Sunday  night,  June  12th,  the  movement 
for  crossing  the  James  River  commenced.  The 
line  of  the  enemy  extended  from  Bottom  bridge 
along  the  Chickahominy,  nearly  parallel  to 
which  was  the  line  of  Gen.  Grant,  and  both  in- 
trenched. Bottom  bridge  was  commanded  by 
the  enemy,  and  could  not  be  used  for  crossing. 
The  next  were  Long  bridge,  six  or  seven  miles, 
and  Jones's  bridge,  ten  or  twelve  miles  below. 

On  Sunday  night,  June  12th,  the  army  began 
to  move.  The  2d  and  5th  corps  moved  to  Long 
bridge,  over  which  they  crossed,  and  took  the 
road  due  south  to  Wilcox's  wharf,  twelve  miles 
distant  on  the  James'  River,  and  a  little  west 
of  Charles  City.  The  6th  and  the  9th  corps  at 
the  same  time  marched  to  Jones's  bridge,  by 
which  they  crossed  the  Chickahominy  and  ad- 
vanced rapidly  to  Charles  City  Court  House, 
about  nine  miles  nearly  south  of  the  bridge  and 
a  mile  from  the  James'  River.  The  18th  corps 
about  the  same  time  marched  to  the  White 
House,  embarked  on  transports  and  proceeded 
directly  to  Bermuda  Hundred,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  James'  River,  being  the  headquarter^ 
of  Gen.  Butler.  The  points  designated  for  the 
crossing  of  the  other  corps  were  Powhatan's 
and  near  Wilcox's  Wharf,  where  pontoons  had 
already  been  prepared  by  Gen.  Butler.  During 
all  Sunday  night  and  Monday  the  troops  moved 
forward,  and  at  evening  the  advance  reached 
Wilcox's  wharf.  On  Tuesday  the  crossing  of 
the  James  commenced,  and  was  completed  on 
Wednesday.  The  movement  had  been  attended 
with  some  slight  skirmishing  with  the  enemy, 
with  a  loss  of  not  more  than  four  hundred  men. 

Meanwhile  deserters  having  reported  that 
the  force  of  the  enemy  at  Petersburg  had  been 
greatly  reduced,  a  demonstration  against  that 
city,  was  made  by  a  portion  of  the  forces  under 
Gen.  Butler  at  Bermuda  Hundred.  It  was  de- 
termined that  Gen.  Gillmore,  with  thirty -five 
hundred  men,  crossing  the  Appomattox,  should 
move  by  the  turnpike  road  and  assault  the  city, 
while  Gen.  Kautz,  with  a  cavalry  force  of  fif- 
teen hundred  men,  should  make  a  circuit  of 
the  place  and  attack  it  on  the  southerly  or 
southwesterly  side,  and  thus,  as  the  movement 
was  simultaneous,  both  forces  might  enter  the 
city  together.  At  the  same  time  another  dem- 
onstration was  to  be  made  upon  Fort  Clifton, 
The  movement  commenced  on  Monday  night. 
June  8th.  Gen.  Gillmore  encountered  no  seri- 
ous opposition  until  within  two  miles  of  the 
city,  when  he  met  the  enemy's  skirmish  line 
and  briskly  drove  it  back.  On  arriving  in 
front  of  the  city  where  the  fortifications  could 
be  closely  examined,  he  found  thana  too  strong 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


577 


for  the  force  at  his  command  to  attempt,  and 
accordingly  withdrew  about  noon  and  returned 
to  camp  in  the  evening.  Meanwhile  Gen.  Kauti 
Lad  forced  the  enemy's  intrenchments  and 
reached  the  streets  of  the  city,  sharply  engaged 
in  fighting.  But  the  force  of  the  enemy  con- 
centrating against  him,  he  was  forced  to  retire. 
Some  prisoners  were  taken,  and  the  loss  was 
about  twenty  men.  Two  gunboajts  and  a  bat- 
tery engaged  Fort  Clifton  during  the  morning 
with  a  brisk  fire. 

Petersburg,  a  city  of  eighteen  thousand  in- 
habitants, is  situated  on  the  south  bank  of  the 
Appomattox  River,  twenty-two  miles  south  of 
Richmond,  and  ten  miles  from  the  James  River 
at  City  Point.  The  Appomattox  empties  into 
the  James  at  City  Point.  It  is  navigable  to 
Petersburg  for  vessels  of  one  hundred  tons,  and 
to  Waltham,  six  miles  below,  by  larger  vessels. 
The  city  is  connected  with  City  Point  by  a 
railroad.  The  road  from  Richmond  to  North 
and  South  Carolina  also  passes  through  it.  The 
river  at  this  point  runs  nearly  northeast  to  the 
James.  The  ci^y  was  defended  by  several  series 
of  strong  earthworks,  consisting  not  only  of 
square  redoubts,  but  also  of  well-established  and 
commanding  rifle-trenches. 

On  Wednesday,  June  15th,  a  reconnoissance 
was  made  by  the  cavalry,  by  which  it  was  dis- 
covered that  the  corps  of  Gen.  Hill  occupied 
the  region  southeast  of  Richmond  in  strong 
force.  At  1  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
same  day  the  18th  corps,  which  had  arrived  on 
the  previous  evening  from  the  White  House, 
started  for  Petersburg.  The  Appomattox  was 
crossed  by  a  pontoon-bridge  near  Point  of 
Rocks.  The  route  was  nearly  the  same  as  that 
taken  by  the  advance  of  Gen.  Gillmore  on  a 
previous  day.  Skirmishing  of  the  advance 
with  the  enemy  commenced  at  daylight.  A 
row  of  rifle-trenches  with  two  twelve-pounders 
was  carried  by  a  body  of  colored  troops  under 
Gen.  Hinks'  command  later  in  the  day.  In  the 
afternoon  the  movement  resulted  in  forming  a 
line  of  battle  in  front  of  the  outer  intrench- 
ments of  the  enemy,  about  two  miles  from  Pe- 
tersburg. Just  before  sunset  the  order  was 
given  to  carry  the  works  by  assault.  The 
whole  line  rapidly  advanced  under  a  hot  artil- 
lery fire  from  the  enemy,  and  swept  the  entire 
range  of  rifle-pits  with  great  gallantry.  The 
enemy  broke  and  deserted  their  intrenchments, 
losing  sixteen  guns,  a  battle  flag,  and  three  hun- 
dred prisoners.  The  Union  loss  was  about  five 
hundred.  The  position  was  held,  but  no  fur- 
ther advance  was  made.  It  was  supposed  that, 
if  a  supporting  force  had  been  at  hand,  the  sec- 
jnd  line  of  works  might  have  been  carried 
with  comparative  ease.  The  force  of  the  enemy 
in  the  city  was  small,  but  reinforcements  were 
received  by  them  previous  to  the  arrival  of  the 
other  corps  of  Gen.  Grant's  army.  The  troops 
which  held  Petersburg  composed  the  command 
of  Gen.  Beauregard.  A  portion  of  them  had 
confronted  Gen.  Butler,  and  some  had  been  in 

Richmond. 

37 


The  cavalry  nnder  Gen.  Kautz,  which  pre- 
ceded the  18th  corps,  had  moved  out  to  the  ex- 
treme left  against  the  works  near  the  Norfolk 
Railroad  and  on  the  Baxter  road.  The  posi- 
tion of  the  enemy  was,  however,  too  strong  to 
be  carried,  and  Gen.  Kautz  retired. 

Meanwhile  the  other  corps  of  the  army  were 
approaching  as  rapidly  as  possible.  Gen.  Bir- 
ney's  division  of  the  2d  corps  arrived  at  even- 
ing and  occupied  the  captured  intrenchments. 
During  the  night  the  remainder  of  the  corps 
came  up. 

•On  Thursday  morning  a  part  of  the  lOth^ 
corps,  under  Gen.  Terry,  was  sent  out  to  recon-* 
noitre  in  front  of  Gen.  Butler's  position.  The 
skirmishers  soon  drove  the  enemy,  and  his  line 
was  penetrated  and  carried,  and  the  railroad 
subsequently  reached  near  Port  Walthall  Junc- 
tion. About  two  miles  of  the  track  were  torn 
up,  when  the  enemy  came  down  in  such  force 
that  Gen.  Terry  was  obliged  to  retire. 

Early  in  the  morning  Gen.  Birney  sent  out  a 
force  under  Gen.  Egan  and  carried  a  redoubt  on 
his  left,  with  a  loss  of  about  a  hundred.  Mean- 
time the. troops  of  the  enemy  were  crowded 
forward  so  rapidly  that  it  became  necessary  to 
wait  for  Gen.  Burnside's  corps  to  come  up. 
The  intrenchments  of  the  enemy  ran  semicftcu- 
larly  from  the  river  on  the  north  of  the  city  to 
the  river  on  the  south.  Their  northern  extrem- 
ity was  also  strengthened  by  batteries  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  Appomattox.  In  the  after- 
noon the  corps  of  Gen.  Burnside  arrived  and  a 
line  of  battle  was  formed,  with  the  18th  corps 
under  Gen.  Smith  on  the  right,  the  2d  corps 
under  Gen.  Birney  during  this  assault,  which 
was  commanded  by  Gen.  Hancock,  and  the  9th 
under  Gen.  Burnside  on  the  left.  At  6  o'clock 
an  attack  was  made,  and  continued  for  three 
hours.  Gen.  Birney's  division,  on  the  right  of 
the  centre  corps,  carried  the  crest  in  his  front 
and  held  it  firmly.  On  the  left  of  Gen.  Birney's 
division  the  advance  of  Gen.  Barlow  found 
more  difficulty,  from  the  concentration  of  the 
enemy  in  front.  A  charge  was  made  by  the 
brigades  of  Gens.  Miles  and  Griffin,  which  suc- 
ceeded in  gaining  a  foothold  of  the  rifle-pits 
outside  of  the  stronger  works.  But  the  troops 
were  so  annoyed  by  the  enemy  that  Gen.  Bar- 
low determined  to  make  an  assault.  But  the 
enemy  cut  off  his  skirmish  line  in  front,  amount- 
ing to  three  hundred  men,  with  their  officers. 
Gen.  Burnside  ateo  prepared  to  make  an  assault, 
but  the  enemy  opened  so  severely  as  to  frus- 
trate it.  The  right  took  no  important  part  in 
the  contest.  After  three  hours  the  assault  was 
suspended.  The  loss  was  between  fifteen  hun- 
dred and  two  thousand.  That  of  the  enemy, 
as  they  held  an  advantageous  position,  was 
much  less. 

Early  on  Friday  morning,  June  17th,  the  as- 
sault was  renewed  by  an  order  of  Gen.  Burn- 
side  to  Gen.  Patten's  division  to  take  the  works 
in  their  front.  The  brigade  of  Gen.  Griffin, 
supported  by  that  of  Gen.  Curtin,  dashed  for- 
ward, carrying  the  position  and  capturing  six 


578 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


guns,  sixteen  officers,  and  four  hundred  men, 
with  a  loss  of  about  five  hundred  men.  A 
pause  now  ensued,  but  skirmishing  was  kept 
up  by  the  picket  lines,  and  there  was  a  moder- 
ate fire  of  artillery.  In  the  afternoon  Gen. 
Patten's  division  was  relieved  by  that  of  Gen. 
Ledlie.  An  advance  of  this  latter  division  was 
ordered,  under  cover  of  artillery,  upon  the 
enemy's  breastworks,  from  which,  after  a  des- 
perate contest,  they  were  driven,  and  the  posi- 
tion carried,  with  the  capture  of  some  prison-, 
ers.  Gen.  Burnside  was  now  about  a  mile  and 
.  a  half  from  the  city  and  threw  some  shells  into 
it.  Several  attempts  were  made  by  the  ene- 
my to  recover  the  intrenchments  during  the 
day,  but  without  success.  About  9  o'clock  at 
night,  however,  a  desperate  attempt  to  retake 
them  was  made  and  succeeded.  In  this  affair 
about  two  hundred  prisoners  were  made  on 
each  side.  The  loss  of  the  division  was  esti- 
mated at  a  thousand.  The  rest  of  the  line  dur- 
ing the  day  was  engaged  in  skirmishing,  with- 
out any  attempt  at  decisive  assault.  On  the 
right  the  18th  corps  had  been  withdrawn  and 
returned  to  the  intrenchments  at  Bermuda  Hun- 
dred. The  6th  corps,  under  Gen.  "Warren,  had 
come  and  massed  on  the  left  in  the  rear  of  Gen. 
•  Bufnside's  9th  corps.  The  2d  corps  was  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Birney,  as  Gen.  Hancock  was 
suffering  from  an  old  wound. 

The  proper  dispositions  were  now  made  for 
a  vigorous  assault  early  on  Saturday  morning 
the  18th.  The  line  was  formed  by  the  divisions 
of  Gens.  Martindale  and  Hinks,  of  the  18th 
corps,  on  the  right,  extended  by  the  6th,  2d, 
9th,  and  5th,  in  the  order  named,  to  the  left. 
On  sending  out  skirmishers  preparatory  to  the 
assault,  at  4  A.  M.,  it  was  found  that  the  enemy 
had  withdrawn  to  an  inner  series  of  defences. 
New  arrangements,  therefore,  became  neces- 
sary. At  noon  a  general  advance  of  the  2d, 
9th,  and  5th  corps  was  ordered.  From  the 
2d  corps  an  assaulting  column  of  three  brigades 
was  sent  forward,  while  the  rest  of  the  corps 
threw  out  double  lines  of  skirmishers  to  divert 
the  attention  of  the  enemy.  The  men  moved 
promptly  up  to  the  works  to  be  assaulted, 
which  were  situated  near  the  Petersburg  and 
City  Point  Railroad.  As  they  came  out  from 
cover,  they  were  received  by  such  a  desperate 
enfilading  fire  from  the  left,  that  they  retired 
without  reaching  the  breastworks,  leaving  their 
dead  and  wounded  on  the  field.  In  the  after- 
noon a  second  storming  party  was  organized  to 
commence  the  attack  from  Gen.  Mott's  posi- 
tion. His  division,  with  detachments  from  the 
other  two  of  the  corps,  advanced  in  two 
columns  about  5  p.  M.,  but  were  received  with 
such  a  destructive  tire  from  concentrated  bat- 
teries and  musketry,  as  to  force  them  back  with 
terrible  loss,  jn  spite  of  the  greatest  bravery  on 
their  part. 

>  The  9th  corps,  on  the  left  of  the  2d,  was 
prompt  to  act  during  the  day.  There  was 
brisk  skirmishing,  but  no  decisive  advantage 
was  gained.  The  line  was  established  during 


the  afternoon  across  the  Petersburg  and  Nor- 
folk Railroad. 

•  On  the  left  of  the  9th,  the  5th  corps,  at  the 
time  of  the  attack  of  the  2d,  made  a  determined 
and  vigorous  advance  against  the  south  side  of 
the  Norfolk  Railroad,  and  was  partially  suc- 
cessful. In  the  evening  their  efforts  were  again 
renewed,  but  were  foiled  by  the  enemy.  The 
division  of  the  18th,  on  the  extreme  right,  ex- 
perienced the  same  results  as  the  other  troops. 
The  operations  of  the  day  had  been  unsuccess- 
ful. The  loss  of  the  four  days'  operations  was 
estimated  above  ten  thousand  men. 

On  Sunday,  June  19th,  there  was  skirmish- 
ing and  considerable  artillery  fire,  but  no  de- 
cisive movement.  The  loss  was  estimated  at  a 
hundred  men.  The  6th  corps,  heretofore  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Appomattox,  now  took  a 
position  on  the  right,  and  the  colored  division 
of  Gen.  Ferrero,  of  the  9th  corps,  arrived,  and 
was  posted  in  front.  At  night  the  enemy 
made  an  attack  on  the  centre  of  the  line,  but 
were  driven  back.  During  the  afternoon  an 
attack  with  infantry  and  artillery  was  made 
on  Gen.  Butler's  lines  at  Bermuda  Hundred 
by  a  division  of  Gen.  Longstreet's  corps  under 
Gen.  Pickett.  At  the  same  time,  three  iron- 
clads from  Richmond  made  their  appearance 
near  Dutch  Gap,  but  retired  before  the  fleet 
of  Admiral  Lee.  During  the  same  night, 
squads  of  the  enemy  made  their  appearance 
along  the  James  River  and  destroyed  the  wharfs 
at  Wilcox's  and  Westover  landings. 

Monday,  the  20th,  was  unusually  quiet  near 
Petersburg.  Some  demonstrations  of  the  ene- 
my's cavalry  were  near  the  "White  House,  but 
without  any  serious  result  to  the  convalescents 
there. 

On  Tuesday,  the  21st,  a  movement  was  made 
to  occupy  and  destroy  the  railroad  from  Peters- 
burg to  Weldon.  On  the  previous  evening  the 
2d  corps  moved  from  its  entrenchments  on  the 
right  centre  to  the  left,  and  its  position  was 
occupied  by  the  9th  and  a  part  of  the  18th. 
In  the  morning,  crossing  the  Petersburg  and 
Norfolk  Railroad,  it  marched  as  rapidly  as  pos- 
sible in  a  southerly  direction.  A  division  of 
the  5th  and  one  of  the  6th  corps  moved  out  in 
support.  Before  noon,  the  2d  corps  halted,  and 
in  the  afternoon  a  division,  under  Gen.  Barlow, 
with  sharpshooters  skirmishing  in  advance, 
was  sent  forward  and  found  the  enemy's  lines 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Jerusalem  road, 
which  bisects  the  region  between  the  Norfolk 
and  the  "Weldon  Railroad.  The  position  was 
known  as  Davis  Farm,  about  three  miles  below 
Petersburg,  and  a  mile  from  the  railroad.  The 
enemy  proved  to  be  in  force,  with  artillery 
planted  in  earthworks.  They  advanced  to  at- 
tack, and  a  severe  skirmish  ensued,  and  the 
advance  line  of  Gen.  Barlow  was  withdrawn, 
and  rejoined  the  column.  The  loss  was  about 
a  hundred  men.  A  reconnoissance  toward 
Petersburg,  at  the  same  time,  was  attended 
with  no  results.  So  threatening  was  the  as- 
pect of  the  enemy  on  the  left,  that  a  sguadron 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


580 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


of  cavalry  was  sent  to  protect  that  flank,  and 
the  corps  retired  to  form  position  for  the  night. 
In  the  lines  east  of  Petersburg  comparative 
'  qnietness  prevailed.  The  bridges  across  the 
Appomattox,  between  Petersburg  and  Poca- 
hontas,  the  village  on  the  Richmond  side  of 
the  river,  were  shelled  daily  by  the  batteries  of 
Gen.  Grant.  On  the  same  day,  the  21st,  a  division 
of  the  10th  corps,  under  Gen.  Foster,  crossed 
the  James,  at  a  point  between  Aikin's  Landing 
and  Four  Mile  Creek,  and  occupied  Deep  Bot- 
tom, about  ten  miles  from  Richmond.  On  the 
.opposite  side  of  the  river,  about  six  miles  from 
Gen.  Foster,  the  enemy  had  a  battery  at  a 
position  called  Hewlett's.  In  this  position  he 
threatened,  to  some  extent,  the  southeast  ap- 
proaches to  Richmond.  At  the  same  time  the 
18th  corps  moved  from  Bermuda  Hundred  to 
Petersburg,  and  occupied  the  position  vacated 
by  the  6th  corps. 

Early  on  "Wednesday,  the  22d,  the  movement 
against  the  railroad  was  resumed.  The  object 
was  to  cut  off  the  communication  with  Peters- 
burg from  the  south.  At  the  same  time  a 
cavalry  expedition  was  sent  about  ten  miles 
further  south,  under  Gen.  Wilson,  to  destroy 
the  railroad.  The  general  movement  was  de- 
signed to  consist  of  an  advance  of  the  2d  and 
6th  corps  directly  against  the  road.  The  2d 
corps  was  on  the  left  of  the  Jerusalem  road, 
with  Gen.  Gibbon's  division  resting  its  right  on 
the  left  of  the  road.  Gen.  Griffin's  division 
of  the  5th  corps  was  on  the  further  side.  The 
position  of  Gen.  Gibbon  was  so  near  the  works 
of  the  enemy  that  any  further  advance  by  him 
would  bring  on  a  general  engagement.  The 
advance  was,  therefore,  ordered  for  the  left  of 
the  line,  consisting  of  the  divisions  of  Generals 
Barlow  and  Mott,  and  the  6th  corps.  It  was 
to  have  been  made  at  daybreak,  but  was  de- 
layed by  each  corps  apparently  waiting  for  the 
other  to  lead.  At  length  each  corps  was 
ordered  to  advance  independently,  and  to  pro- 
tect its  own  flank  as  connection  between  was 
not  made.  The  line  was  deployed  in  open 
style,  covering  a  large  extent  of  ground,  until 
it  approached  the  presence  of  the  enemy,  in 
more  intricate  ground,  when  the  left  of  the  2d, 
under  Gen.  Barlow,  was  pressed  well  in  tow- 
ard the  right,  thus  opening  a  gap  between  it 
and  the  6th  corps.  Gen.  Barlow  threw  out 
flanking  regiments  to  protect  himself.  But  no 
sooner  was  the  entire  line  of  the  2d  corps  in 
position,  and  Gen.  Barlow's  division  had  com- 
menced to  intrench,  when  it  was  attacked  on 
the  flank  by  the  enemy.  In  its  advance,  the 
2d  corps  had  separated  from  the  5th,  on  its 
right,  and  the  6th  was  now  far  distant,  on  the 
left  and  rear.  The  enemy  took  advantage  of 
the  error.  One  entire  division,  with  Mahone's 
brigade,  pushed  through  the  interval.  The 
flank  of  Gen.  Barlow  was  instantly  rolled  up 
and  a  large  number  made  prisoners.  This 
movement  of  Gen.  Barlow's  force  quickly  un- 
covered the  flank  of  Gen.  pott's  division,  and 
exposed  him  to  the  same  danger.  Gen.  Mott 


at  once  fell  back,  with  the  loss  of  many  made 
prisoners,  and  thus  exposed  the  left  flank  of 
Gen.  Gibbon's  division.  The  line  of  intrench- 
ments  occupied  by  Gen.  Mott  was  now  captured 
by  the  enemy,  who  thus  pressed  Gen.  Gibbon 
in  front  and  rear.  Several  regiments  were 
captured,  with  McKnight's  battery,  before  the 
enemy  were  checked  by  the  bravery  of  the 
20th  Massachusetts.  The  broken  corps  was 
soon  rallied  and  a  new  line  formed,  and  further 
attacks  of  the  enemy  repulsed.  The  6th  corps 
was  also  attacked  on  its  left  flank  by  a  division 
of  Gen.  Hill's  command,  and  its  advance  line 
driven  back,  thus  widening  the  gap  between  it 
and  the  2d.  In  the  evening,  Gen.  Meade  get- 
ting both  corps  well  in  order,  directed  an  ad- 
vance. The  6th  recovered  its  former  line  and 
the  2d  a  part  of  its  line,  and  intrenched  for 
the  night.  At  daylight  the  enemy  appeared, 
strongly  intrenched,  before  the  "Weldon  Rail- 
road. The  loss  of  the  day  included  about  two 
thousand  made  prisoners,  four  guns,  and  some 
colors. 

On  the  next  day,  the  23d,  Gen.  "Wright 
moved  out  tp  the  extreme  left,  and  finding  that 
the  enemy  had  not  advanced  so  far,  sent  out  a 
reconnoitring  force  to  the  railroad.  They 
reached  it  unopposed  and  cut  the  telegraph. 
The  3d,  4th,  and  llth  Vermont  regiments 
were  then  sent  forward  to  hold  the  road.  But 
they  had  hardly  reached  it  when  they  were 
attacked  on  their  flank  by  a  division  of  the 
enemy  under  Gen.  Anderson,  and  their  position 
was  turned  at  once.  Several  hundred  were 
taken  prisoners,  and  some  were  killed  and 
wounded.  The  enemy,  elated  with  success, 
pushed  the  troops  back  to  the  main  body,  and 
then  began  a  general  attack.  The  line  was 
withdrawn  toward  evening  to  the  cover  of 
the  breastworks.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  in 
these  two  days  was  disproportionately  small. 
Elsewhere,  during  the  day,  nothing  of  im- 
portance occurred. 

On  Friday,  the  24th,  the  enemy  opened  with 
artillery  upon  the  position  of  Gen.  Stannard's 
division  of  the  10th  corps.  After  an  hour,  a 
charge  was  made,  which  was  repulsed  with  a 
loss  to  the  enemy  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
prisoners,  besides  some  killed  and  wounded. 
No  important  movements  were  made  in  other 
parts  of  the  line.  During  the  evening,  the  cav- 
alry force  under  Gen.  Sheridan,  while  march- 
ing from  the  "White  House  to  the  James  River, 
were  attacked  by  the  enemy  and  a  bloody 
struggle  ensued.  The  enemy  were  finally 
driven  off,  after  a  loss  by  Gen.  Sheridan  of 
four  to  five  hundred  men.  His  trains  were 
saved  from  capture. 

On  the  next  day,  the  25th,  the  principal 
demonstration  was  made  in  front  of  Gen. 
Burnside's  position.  It  consisted  of  the  ad- 
vance of  a  strong  skirmish  line,  which  waa 
easily  repulsed. 

The  cavalry  expedition  of  Gen.  "Wilson  set 
out  from  the  camps  near  Prince  George  Court 
Houee,  on  the  morning  of  June  22d.  His 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


581 


force  was  between  six  and  eight  thousand  men, 
with  three  batteries  of  four  guns  each.  The 
column  moved  to  the  Petersburg  and  "Weldon 
Railroad  at  Reims'  station.  Here  it  took  up 
and  burned  the  trajk  for  several  hundred  yards, 
the  water-tank,  depot,  and  public  buildings.  It 
thence  moved  to  Sutherland's  station,  on  the 
Petersburg  and  Lynchburg  Railroad,  and  ad- 
vanced to  Ford's  station  in  the  evening.  Here 
two  locomotives,  sixteen  cars,  a  depot,  and  a 
few  stores  were  burned,  and  several  miles  of  the 
road  destroyed.  On  the  next  morning  Gen. 
Kautz  advanced  toward  Burkesville,  which  he 
reached  in  the  afternoon,  and  destroyed  the  prop- 
erty of  the  road  as  at  the  other  stations.  Mean- 
while the  main  body  followed,  and  encountered 
in  the  afternoon  a  body  of  the  enemy  near  Not- 
toway.  A  sharp  conflict  ensued  until  night, 
when  the  enemy  retired.  On  the  24th  the 
column  reached  Keysville,  and  bivouacked  for 
the  night.  About  eighteen  miles  of  the  road, 
besides  other  property,  were  destroyed  during 
the  day.  On  the  next  day  the  bridge  over 
Staunton  River  was  reached,  but  it  was  found 
to  be  well  defended  by  the  enemy.  The  return 
of  the  expedition  now  commenced.  On  the 
route  they  were  so  harassed  by  the  enemy  as 
barely  to  escape  capture.  On  Thursday  and 
Friday,  July  1st  and  2d,  they  arrived  within 
the  lines,  in  straggling  parties,  in  a  most  pitiable 
and  wretched  condition,  both  men  and  horses 
being  jaded  and  worn  beyond  description  after 
their  hard  march,  severe  fighting,  and  the  re- 
lentless harassing  of  the  enemy.  The  entire 
wagon  train,  the  ambulance  train,  all  the  guns 
(sixteen),  nearly  all  their  caissons,  and  many 
horses  had  been  lost,  and  between  ten  and  fifteen 
hundred  men.  More  than  a  thousand  negroes 
had  been  collected  and  followed  the  column, 
but  most  of  them  were  recaptured  by  the  ene- 
my. It  was  asserted  that  about  fifty  miles  of 
the  Danville  Railroad  had  been  destroyed.  A 


movement  was  made  by  the  6th  corps  to  aid 
the  expedition,  on  learning  its  situation,  but 
without  important  results. 

The  weather  at  this  period  was  exceedingly 
hot,  and  the  army  suffered  greatly.  At  the 
same  time  a  drouth  prevailed,  water  became 
scarce,,  and  the  dust  rose  in  clouds  at  every 
movement.  The  condition  of  the  army  at  this 
time  is  thus  described  by  the  "  Army  and  Navy 
Journal " : 

The  medical  and  commissary  department  had  been 
well  conducted,  but  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  the 
troops  were  thoroughly  worn  out.  While  their  spirit 
and  enthusiasm  were,  and  always  have  been,  beyond 
all  praise,  the  fatigues  of  so  extraordinary  a  cam- 
paign had  been  overpowering.  Officers  experienced 
its  effects  as  well  as  men.  Their  conspicuous  bravery 
had  stretched  out,  dead  or  wounded,  commissioned 
officers  of  all  grades,  not  by  hundreds,  but  by  thou- 
sands, before  the  James  was  crossed.  The  effect  was 
apparent  in  some  want  of  skill  and  experience  in  suc- 
ceeding battles.  Captains  were  sometimes  command- 
ing regiments,  and  majors  brigades.  The  men  miss- 
ing the  familiar  forms  and  voices  that  had  led  them 
to  the  charge,  would  complain  that  they  had  not 
their  old  officers  to  follow.  On  the  other  hand,  more 
than  one  leader  of  a  storming  party  was  forced  to 
say,  as  he  came  back  from  an  unsuccessful  attempt 
against  the  outworks  of  Petersburg,  "  My  men  do  not 
charge  as  they  did  thirty  days  ago."  A  few  com- 
manders, too,  showed  the  fatiguing  effects  of  the 
campaign  by  a  lack  of  health,  by  a  lack  of  unity  and 
harmony,  or  of  alertness  and  skill.  The  last  attacks 
on  Petersburg  show  clearly  how  the  campaign  was 
telling  on  men  and  officers,  and  the  two  achievements 
on  the  Jerusalem  road  of  the  22d  and  23d  of  June, 
put  the  matter  beyond  all  doubt.  On  the  former 
occasion,  the  gallant  2d  corps,  whose  reputation  is 
unexcelled,  fell  back,  division  after  division,  from  the 
enemy's  onset,  and  one  of  the  very  finest  brigades  in 
the  whole  army  was  captured,  with  hardly  a  shot 
fired.  In  our  account  at  that  time  the  probable  cause 
of  the  disaster  was  intimated.  But  when,  in  addition 
to  this,  the  Vermont  brigade  of  the  6th  corps  was 
badly  cut  up  on  the  following  day,  it  became  clear  that 
the  rapidity  of  the  fighting  must  be  checked  awhile. 
The  pace  was  now  too  great.  There  was  need  of  rest, 
recruitment,  and  some  reorganization. 


CHAPTER   XLIII. 

The  Second  Movement  against  Lynchburg— Gens.  Crook,  Averill,  and  Hunter— Movement  of  Gen.  Morgan— Advance  of 
Gen.  Hunter— Capture  of  Staunton,  Lexington,  <fcc. — He  retreats  to  West  Virginia — Invasion  of  Maryland — Defeat 
of  Gen.  "Wallace — Approach  of  the  enemy  to  Baltimore — Attack  on  "Washington — The  Enemy  retire — Other  Move- 
ments— Changes  in  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  James— Explosion  of  a  Mine  before  Petersburg— Battle  at  Reams' 
Station — Hatcher's  Eun. 


THE  second  movement  against  the  Virginia 
and  Tennessee  Railroad,  and  for  the  occupation 
of  Lynchburg,  thereby  to  cooperate  with  Gen. 
Grant  against  Richmond,  commenced  about 
May  31st.  Gen.  Sigel  was  removed  from  the 
Department  of  Western  Virginia,  and  Gen. 
Hunter  placed  in  command. 

The  commands  of  Gens.  Crook  and  Averill, 
which  retired  to  Meadow  Bluff,  were  reorgan- 
ized and  prepared  for  a  simultaneous  advance 
upon  the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  Railroad  and 
Lynchburg.  Gen.  Bui-bridge,  in  Kentucky, 


was  ready  to  move  upon  extreme  Southwest 
Virginia,  so  as  to  prevent  any  advance  from 
that  direction  upon  the  rear  of  the  combined 
forces  about  to  move  against  Lynchburg.  The 
position  of  the  enemy  at  this  tune  was  most 
unfavorable  for  opposing  these  movements. 
Gen.  Breckinridge,  with  the  only  Confederate 
force  of  importance  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge, 
had  been  withdrawn  to  the  army  of  Gen.  Lee, 
leaving  nothing  but  a  few  small  brigades  of  in- 
ferior cavalry,  about  two  regiments  of  infantry, 
and  a  small  brigade  of  dismounted  troops  acting 


582 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


as  infantry.  To  supply  the  place  of  Gen.  Breck- 
inridge,  the  little  force  of  Gen.  McOausland 
was  sent  from  Dublin  depot  to  the  front  of 
Staunton,  and  Gen.  "W.  E.  Jones  was  ordered 
to  take  all  the  troops  to  the  same  position 
which  he  could  move  from  Southwest  Wirginia. 
Gen.  Jones,  accordingly,  got  together  all  the 
Confederate  troops  west  of  New  River,  dis- 
mounting the  brigades  of  cavalry,  and  moved 
to  Staunton.  He  thus  left  in  the  extreme  south- 
west only  a  few  disjointed  bodies  of  cavalry, 
and  Gen.  Morgan's  command  to  oppose  the  ad- 
vance of  Gen.  Burbridge.  As  this  force  was 
too  small  to  effect  that  object  by  meeting  Gen. 
Burbridge  in  front,  with  the  slightest  hope  of 
success,  it  was  resolved,  as  the  only  chance  of 
saving  the  Southwest,  that  Gen.  Morgan  should 
dash  boldly  into  the  heart  of  Kentucky,  and 
thus  draw  Gen.  Burbridge  away.  This  was 
expected  to  be  successful,  especially  as  Gen. 
Burbridge  had  much  more  to  lose  in  Kentucky 
than  the  enemy  had  in  Southwest  Virginia. 

On  Sunday,  June  29th,  Gen.  Morgan -at  the 
head  of  two  thousand  men  passed  through 
Pound  Gap,  on  the  border  of  Kentucky.  At 
the  same  time  a  body  of  Gen.  Burbridge's  com- 
mand was  moving  eastward  and  passed  by  Gen. 
Morgan.  From  Pound  Gap  he  moved  to  Paint- 
ville,  thence  a  scouting  party  was  sent  in  ad- 
vance to  pick  up  horses.  This  body  passed  to 
Hazel  Green,  Owingsville,  Flemingsburg,  and 
Maysville,  without  resistance,  thence  to  Mount 
Sterling,  where  a  force  from  Gen.  Burbridge 
overtook  them.  Other  parties  appeared  in  vari- 
ous places,  but  the  main  force  moved  to  Cyn- 
thiana  and  Lexington,  and  approached  Frank- 
fort. Property  was  taken  everywhere,  the  rail- 
roads destroyed,  and  bridges  burned.  Gen. 
Hobson,  with  a  force  of  sixteen  hundred  men, 
was  captured,  and  by  the  12th  of  June  Gen. 
Burbridge,  with  his  whole  command,  was  near 
Paris  in  full  pursuit  of  Gen.  Morgan.  At  Cyn- 
thiana  a  conflict  took  place,  in  which  Gen. 
Burbridge  reports  that  he  killed  three  hundred 
and  took  as  many  more  prisoners.  He  says : 
"  Our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty.  Morgan's  scattered  forces 
are  flying  in  all  directions ;  have  thrown  away 
their  arms,  and  are  out  of  ammunition,  and  are 
wholly  demoralized."  Thus,  by  these  move- 
ments, Gen.  Burbridge  w^s  lured  back  to  Ken- 
tucky and  Southwest  Virginia,  for  a  time  se- 
cured to  the  enemy.  The  rest  and  reorganiza- 
tion required  by  Gen.  Burbridge's  command, 
detained  him  until  all  the  available  reenforce- 
ments  in  Kentucky  were  required  by  Gen. 
Sherman  in  his  progress  to  Atlanta. 

Meanwhile  the  other  parts  of  the  general 
movement  were  in  progress ;  Gen.  Hunter,  after 
assuming  the  command  of  the  Department,  is- 
sued the  following  order : 

General  Order  No.  29. 

HEADQTTABTEIZS,  DEPARTMENT  WEST  VIRGINIA,  ) 
IN  THE  FIELD,  *  *  *  *      ( 

It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  this  army  be 
placed  in  a  condition  for  immediate  efficiency. 
We  are  contending  against  an  enemy  who  is  in 


earnest,  and  if  we  expect  success  we  too  must  be  in 
earnest.  We  must  be  willing  to  make  sacrifices — 
willing  to  suffer  fora  short  time  that  a  glorious  result 
may  crown  our  efforts.  The  country  expects  that 
every  man  will  do  his  duty ;  and  this  well  done,  the 
protective  care  of  a  kind  Providence  will  certainly 
ensure  to  us  a  complete  success. 

I.  Every  tent  will  be  immediately  turned  in  for 
transportation  to  Martinsburg,  and  all  baggage  not 
expressly  allowed  by  this  order  will  be  at  once  sent 
to  the  rear.     There  will  be  but  one  wagon  allowed  to 
each  regiment,  and  these  will  only  be  used  to  trans- 
port spare  ammunition,  camp  kettles,  tools,  and  mess- 
pans.     Every  wagon  will  have  eight  picked  horses  or 
mules,  two  drivers  and  two  saddles.     One  wagon  and 
one  ambulance  will  be  allowed  to  department  head- 
quarters, and  the  same  to  division  and  brigade  head- 
quarters.    The  other  ambulances  will  be  under  the 
immediate  orders  of  the  Medical  Director. 

II.  'For'  the  expedition  on  hand,  the  clothes  that 
soldiers  have  on  their  backs,  with  one  pair  of  extra 
shoes  and  socks,  are  amply  sufficient.     Every  thing 
else  in  the  shape  of  clothing  will  be  packed  to-day 
and  sent  to  the  rear.   In  each  knapsack  there  must  be 
one  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition,  carefully  packed ; 
four  pounds  of  hard  bread,  to  last  eight  days ;  ten  ra- 
tions of  coffee,  sugar,  and  salt,  and  one  pair  of  shoes 
and  socks,  but  nothing  else. 

III.  Brigade  and  all  other  commanders  will  be 
held  strictly  responsible  that  their  commands  are 
amply  supplied  on  the  march.     Cattle,  sheep,  and 
hogs,  and  if  necessary,  horses  and  mules  must  be 
taken  and  slaughtered.    These  supplies  will  be  seized 
under  the  direction  of  officers  duly  authorized,  and 
upon  a  system  which  will  hereafter  be  regulated.    No 
straggling  or  pillaging  will  be  allowed.     Brigade  and 
other  commanders  will  be  held  responsible  that  there 
is  a  proper  and  orderly  division  of  the  supplies  taken 
for  our  use. 

IV.  Commanders  will    attend    personally  to  the 
prompt  execution  of  this  order,  so  that  we  may  move 
to-morrow  morning.     They  will  see  that  in  passing 
through  the  country  in  this  way — depending  upon  it 
for  forage  and  supplies  —great  attention  is  required 
of  every  commanding  officer  toward  the  enforcement 
of  strict  discipline. 

V.  The  commanding  general  expects  of  every  offi- 
cer and  soldier  of  the  army  in  the  field  an  earnest  and 
unwavering  support.     He  relies  with  confidence  upon 
an  ever  kind  Providence  for  a  glorious  result.     The 
lieutenant-general   commanding  the   armies   of  the 
United  States,  who  is  now  vigorously  pressing  back 
the  enemy  upon  their  last  stronghold,  expects  much 
from  the  Army  of  the  Shenandoah,  and  he  must  not 
be  disappointed. 

VI.  In  conclusion,  the  major-general  commanding 
makes  it  known  that  he  will  hold  every  officer  to  the 
strictest  accountability  for  the  proper  enforcement 
of  discipline  in  all'respects;  and  th'at,  on  the  other 
hand,  he  will  never  cease  to  urge  the  prompt  promo- 
tion of  all  officers,  non-commissioned  officers,  and  en- 
listed men  who  attract  recognition  by  their  gallantry 
and  good  conduct. 

By  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  HUNTER. 

CHARLES  G.  HALPINE,  Ass't  Adj. -Gen. 

His  first  movement  was  made  from  the 
neighborhood  of  Cedar  Creek  nearly  to  Wood- 
stock. The  guerrillas  in  the  rear  soon  became 
troublesome,  and  were  partially  successful  in 
destroying  his  communications.  The  advance 
continued  through  Woodstock,  Mount  Jackson, 
New  Market,  to  Harrisonburg.  On  leaving 
this  place  the  column  was  divided  into  two 
parts,  one  of  which  took  the  road  by  Port  Re- 
public, and  the  other  the  direct  route  to  Staunton. 
The  movement  to  Port  Republic  was  a  demon- 
stration against  the  right  of  the  enemy,  and  it 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


583 


encountered  a  movement  on  their  part  against 
the  Federal  left.  At  the  same  time  the  main 
body  advanced  in  the  direction  of  Mount  Craw- 
ford, and  met  the  enemy  on  North  River,  twelve 
miles  from  Staunton,  A  hot  conflict  ensued,  as 
well  here  as  at  Port  Republic,  but  the  enemy 
were  steadily  driven  on  the  North  River,  which 
exposed  their  right,  and  thus  compelled  it  to 
fall  back.  At  the  same  time  Gen.  Crook  was 
approaching  from  the  west,  and  the  enemy  in 
falling  back  retired  toward  Waynesboro'  on  the 
east.  The  loss  of  Gen.  Hunter  was  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty.  That  of  the  enemy  was  severe, 
and  included  the  commanding-  general,  -W.  E. 
Jones.  Staunton  was  immediately  occupied  by 
Gen.  Hunter.  Stores  and  railroad  property  of 
a  large  amount  were  captured. 

The  advance  of  Gens.  Crook  and  Averill 
from  Meadow  Bluff  was  commenced  on  May 
31st.  They  moved  through  Lewisburg,  White 
Sulphur  Springs,  &c.,  to  the  Gaston  depot  on 
the  Virginia  Central  Railrqad  by  June  5th. 
This  is  about  forty  miles  below  the  terminus 
of  the  road.  Here  the  work  of  destruction 
commenced.  The  track  was  torn  up,  and 
bridges  and  culverts  destroyed  for  a  distance 
of  ten  miles.  Thence  the  force  moved  over 
North  Mountain,  through  Pond  Gap  to  Staun- 
to^p,  and  arrived  on  the  8th  of  June.  The 
enemy  attempted  constantly  to  impede  their 
progress. 

On  June  10th  the  consolidated  command  of 
Gen.  Hunter  marched  from  Staunton  on  the 
road  through  Middlebrook  to  Lexington,  Gen. 
Crook's  command  being  in  advance.  Three 
miles  from  Staunton  the  enemy,  under  Gen. 
McCausland,  were  posted  behind  rail  breast- 
works, designed  to  delay  the  movement  as 
much  as  possible.  The  steady  advance,  how- 
ever, dislodged  them,  driving  them  ahead. 
Seventeen  miles  from  Staunton  they  managed 
to  kill  two  men  and  wound  two  others,  when 
a  strong  force  of  cavalry  dispersed  them  for 
that  day.  In  the.  forenoon  of  the  llth  Lexing- 
ton was  reached.  The  enemy  had  burned  the 
bridge  over  the  James,  and  were  posted  on  the 
high  bank  opposite.  They  were  driven  off  with 
artillery,  after  which  the  river  was  crossed  at 
the  fords  and  the  town  occupied.  On  Sunday, 
the  12th,  the  Military  Institute  and  the  house 
of  Gov.  Letcher  were  burned.  Ten  minutes 
were  allowed  to  remove  any  property  from  the 
latter.  A  number  of  canal  boats  were  destroy- 
ed, and  considerable  ammunition  seized.  A 
bronze  statue  of  Gen.  Geo.  "Washington,  cast 
upon  the  orders  of  the  legislature  of  Virginia, 
was  taken  down  and  subsequently  transported 
to  Wheeling,  Va.  On  the  13th  Gen.  Averill 
was  ordered  to  Buchanan,  and  the  whole  force 
followed  on  the  next  day.  On  Thursday,  the 
16th,  Liberty  was  reached,  and  seven  miles  of 
railroad  and  the  culverts  and  bridges  destroyed. 
On  the  17th  the  advance  under  Gen.  Crook 
arrived  within  eight  miles  of  Lynchburg  at 
10  A.  M.,  and  halted  for  the  main  force  to  come 
np.  It  arrived  at  3  P.  M.,  and  moved  on  within 


an  hour.  After  an  advance  of  two  miles  the 
first  position  of  the  enemy  was  reached.  They 
immediately  opened  with  a  brisk  cannonade, 
but  were  soon  driven  back  two  miles  to  their 
line  of  breastworks  with  considerable  loss  to 
both  sides.  Night  coming  on  Gen.  Hunter  was 
compelled  to  halt.  All  night  the  whistles  of 
locomotives  were  heard  in  Lynchburg,  bringing 
reinforcements  from  Richmond.  On  the  next 
day  the  enemy  appeared  in  force,  and  advanced 
to  turn  the  right  of  Gen.  Hunter's  force.  Af- 
ter a  sharp  struggle  they  were  driven  back  to 
their  breastworks,  which  were  protected  by 
others  in  the  rear.  The  position  of  the  enemy 
now  appeared  to  Gen.  Hunter  to  be  so  strong, 
and  his  numbers  so  great,  as  to  destroy  all  hope 
of  success  with  his  army,  now  on  limited  ra- 
tions. In  the  afternoon,  therefore,  the  trains 
were  started  back,  and  at  9  p.  M.  the  command 
commenced  retreating,  and  marched  until  1  A.  M. 
the  next  morning,  when  they  arrived  within  five 
miles  of  Liberty.  At  9  A.  M.  the  march  was 
renewed  until  2  p.  M.,  when  a  halt  was  made 
three  miles  southwest  of  Liberty.  The  enemy 
followed  close,  and  the  skirmishing  was  contin- 
ually heavy.  The  rear  was  brought  up  by 
Gen.  Crook.  At  6  p.  M.  the  command  was 
again  on  the  march,  and  reached  Bonsack's 
depot  at  10  A.  M.  of  the  20th,  where  a  halt  for 
rest  was  made.  At  8  p.  M.  the  march  was  re- 
sumed, via  Buford's  Gap,  for  Salem,  which  was 
reached  at  5  o'clock  on  the  next  morning.  The 
enemy  continued  a  hot  pursuit,  and  on  the  21st 
captured  ten  pieces  of  artillery  in  a  deep  gap. 
Six  were  recaptured.  That  night  the  command 
rested  all  night"  for  the  first  time  since  leaving 
Lynchburg.  New  Castle,  in  Craig  County,  was 
reached  at  6  p.  M.  on  the  22d.  On  the  night 
of  the  25th  Meadow  Bluff  was  reached  by  the 
force,  being  without  supplies,  except  such  as 
could  be  obtained  from  the  sparse  inhabitants 
of  a  mountainous  country.  On  the  27th  rations 
were  obtained,  and  Gen.  Hunter  arrived  at 
Loup  Creek  during  the  next  day.  On  the  same 
day  the  following  despatch  from  Gen.  Hunter 
was  issued  by  the  War  Department  : 

WASHINGTON,  June  28 — 4  p.  M. 
Mai. -Gen.  Dix  : 

The  following  despatch  has  just  been  received  from 
Gen.  Hunter : 

"  I  hare  the  honor  to  report  that  our  expedition 
has  been  extremely  successful,  inflicting  great  injury 
upon  the  enemy,  and  victorious  in  every  engagement. 
Eunning  short  of  ammunition,  and  finding  it  impos- 
sible to  collect  supplies  while  in  the  presence  of  an 
enemy  believed  to  De  superior  to  our  force  in  num- 
bers and  constantly  receiving  reenforcements  from 
Richmond  and  other  points,  I  deemed  it  best  to  with- 
draw, and  have  succeeded  in  doing  so  without  serious 
loss  to  this  point,  where  we  have  met  with  abundant 
supplies  of  Food.  A  detailed  report  of  our  operations 
will  be  forwarded  immediately.  The  command  is  in 
excellent  heart  and  health,  and  ready,  after  a  few 
days'  rest,  for  service  in  any  direction." 

Nothing  later  than  my  telegram  of  this  morning  has 
been  received  from  Gen.  Grant  or  Gen.  Sherman. 
-   EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

The  operations  of  the  expedition  were  com- 
mented upon  unfavorably  by  two  newspapers 


584 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


in  West  'Virginia.  They  were  temporarily  sup- 
pressed by  Gen.  Hunter.  His  reasons  for  this 
suppression,  as  well  as  his  views  of  the  condi- 
tion of  his  men  during  the  retreat,  will  be  found 
in  the  annexed  portion  of  a  letter  written  by 
him: 

HEADQITAKTEBS  DEP'T  oir  WEST  VIRGINIA.  I 
CUMBERLAND,  MD.,  July  13, 1864.         j 
To  his  Exc.  A.  I.  JBoreman,  Governor  of  West  Virginia. 
SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  communication  dated  July-lOth,  1864,  relative 
to  the  case  of  James  E.  Wharton,  Esq,,  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the<"  Parkersburg  Gazette,"  and  have 
first  to  state,  in  reply,  that  about  two  hours  previous 
to  the  receipt  of  your  letter  orders  had  been  given 
to  the  provost-marshal  for  Mr.  Wharton' s  release 
and  he  had  been  released  before  your  letter  reached 
my  hand.    And  now  a  few  words  as  to  the  causes 
which  led  to  Mr.  Wharton' s  arrest,  and  the  temporary 
suppression  of  his  journal. 

As  to -the  "criticism  on  your  (my)  conduct"  in 
which  Mr.  Wharton  indulged,  and  to  which  you  re- 
fer, I  agree  with  you  that  there  was,  of  course  no 
offence  whatever.  It  was  merely  a  matter  of  taste  on 
his  part ;  nor  was  it  noticed  by  me  until  you  called 
my  attention  thereto  as  one  of  the  possible  causes  for 
my  action..  But  Mr.  Wharton,  in  the  editorial  which 


Ajlett's'   and  encamped  on  Herring 


CrTe?  ^ 

On  the  morning  of  the  8th  I  resumed  the  march 
via  Polecat  station,  and  encamped  three  miles  west 
of  the  station. 

On  the  9th  I  marched  through  Childsburg  and  New 
Market,  encamping  on  E.  N.  E.  Creek,  near  Young's 
bridge. 

On  the  10th  I  marched  via  Andrews'  Tavern  and 
Leiman  s  store,  crossing  both  branches  of  the  North 
Anna,  and  encamped  at  Buch  Childs.  about  three 
miles  northeast  of  Trevilian  station. 

My  intention  was  to  break  the  railroad  at  this  sta- 
tion, march  through  Mechanicsville,  cut  the  Gor- 
donsville  and  Charlottesville  Railroad  near  Lindsay's 


^j  -v,^"..  ^,U(,  aif.  TTuarion,  in  me  editorial  which 
*f  a  to  the  suppression  of  his  paper,  stated,  first,  that 
uen.  Hunter,  with  his  command,  have  principally 
passed  through  our  city  (Parkersburg)  on  their  way 
east.  This  was  contraband  news,  and  was  utterly 
untrue.  Much  less  than  one-tenth  of  my  command 
had  passed  through  Parkersburg,  and  I  was  detained 
there  for  some  time  after  the  appearance  of  the  arti- 
cle, hurrying  forward  the  balance. 

In  the  second  place  Mr.  Wharton  went  on  to  say 
in  the  same  article :  "  We  were  sorry  to  see  so  much 
suffering  among  them.  They  were  completely  worn 
out,  and  many  in  the  division  had  died  of  starva- 
tion-   "The  sufferings  of  the  soldiers  in 

then-movement  from  Lynchburg  to  Charleston  were 
terrible,  and  they  half  require  rest  and  surgical  care." 
That  there  was  "some  suffering"  amongst  the 
troops  is  true.  The  business  of  the  soldier  is  one  in 
which  suffering"  forms  an  inevitable  part.  But  on 
careful  inquiry,  personally  and  through  many  officers 
employed  for  the  purpose,  I  have  fafled  to  discover 
even  a  report  of  any  one  case  of  death  from  hunger- 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  my  medical  director,  Sur- 
geon Thomas  B.  Reed,  an  officer  of  large  military  ex- 
perience and  excellent  judgment,  assures  me  that 
despite  the  certain  limited  privations  and  great  fa- 
tigues of  the  march,  the  health  of  the  command  was 
throughout,  far  better  than  the  average  health  of 

soldiers  quietly  resting  in  their  camps 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  with  very  sincere 're- 
spect, your  most  obedient  servant, 

D.  HUNTER,  Maj.-Gen.  Commanding. 

The  reason  for  his  retreat  through  West  Vir- 
ginia was  stated  to  be  that  "  the  return  march 
down  the  Shenandoah  to  Staunton,  was  flanked 
by  the  railroad  from  Lynchburg  to  Waynes- 
boro',  and  that  Hunter  with  his  whole  command 
must,  therefore,  have  been  cut  off  and  destroyed 
6r  captured,  had  any  such  movement  been  at- 
tempted." 

Simultaneously  with  the  beginning  of  the 
movement  against  Richmond,  a  cavalry  raid 
was  made  by  Gen.  Sheridan  from  New  Castle 
Ferry  on  the  Pamunkey  River  to  Gordbnsville, 
the  junction  of  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad 
with  the  road  to  Alexandria.  His  report  of  the 
expedition  was  as  follows : 

I  crossed  the  Pamunkey  River  on  the  ?th  instant, 


house,  and  then  to  march  on  Charlottesville ;  but  on 
our  arrival  at  Buch  Childs  I  found  the  enemv's  cav- 
alry m  my  immediate  front. 

On  the  morning  of  the  llth  Gen.  Torbert,  with  his 
division,  and  Col.  Gregg,  of  Gen.  Gregg's  division 
attacked  the  enemy.  After  an  obstinate  contest  they 
drove  him  from  successive  lines  of  breastworks 
through  an  almost  impassable  forest,  back  on  Tre'- 
vihan  station. 

In  the  meantime  Gen.  Custer  was  ordered  with  his 
brigade  to  proceed  by  a  country  road  so  as  to  reach 
the  station  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  cavalry.  On 
his  arrival  at  this  point  the  enemy  broke  into  a  com- 
plete rout,  leaving  his  dead  and  nearly  all  of  his 
wounded  in  our  hands  ;  also  twenty  officers,  five 
hundred  men,  and  three  hundred  horses. 

These  operations  occupied  the  whole  of  the  day. 
At  night  I  encamped  at  Trevilian  station,  and,  on  the 
morning  of  the!2th  inst.,  commenced  destroying  the 
railroad  from  this  point  to  Lorrain  Court  House. 
This  was  thoroughly  done,  the  ties  burned  and  the 
rails  rendered  unserviceable. 

The  destruction  of  the  railroad  occupied  until 
3  o'clock  of  this  day,  when  I  directed  Gen.  Torbert 
to  advance  with  his  division  and  Gen.  Davis'  brigade 
of  Gen.  Gregg's  division  in  the  direction  of  Gordons- 
ville  and  attack  the  enemy,  who  had  concentrated 
and  been  reenforced  by  infantry  during  the  night,  and 
had  also  constructed  rifle-pits  at  a  point  about  five 
miles  from  Gordonsville.  The  advance  was  made, 
but  as  the  enemy's  position  was  found  too  strong  to 
assault,  no  general  assault  was  made.  On  the  ex- 
treme right  of  our  lines  a  portion  of  the  Reserve 
brigade  carried  the  enemy's  works  twice,  and  waa 
twice  driven  therefrom  by  infantry.  Night  closed  the 
contest.  I  found,  on  examination  of  the  command, 
that  there  was  not  a  sufficiency  of  ammunition  left 
to  continue  the  engagement. 

The  next  day  trains  of  cars  also  came  down  to 
where  we  were  engaged  with  the  enemy.  The  re- 
ports of  prisoners  and  citizens  were  that  Pickett's  old 
division  was  coming  to  prevent  the  taking  of  Gor- 
donsville. I,  therefore,  during  the  night  and  next 
morning,  withdrew  my  command  over  the  North 
Anna,  via  Carpenter's  ford,  near  Miner's  bridge.  In 
addition,  the  animals  were  for  the  two  entire  days  in 
which  we  were  engaged  without  forage.  The  sur- 
rounding country  afforded  nothing  but  grazing  of  a 
very  inferior  quality,  and  generally  at  such  points  as 
were  inaccessible  to  us.  The  cavalry  engagement  of 
the  12th  was  by  far  the  most  brilliant  one  of  the 
present  campaign.  The  enemy's  loss  was  very  heavy. 
They  lost  the  following  named  officers  in  killed  and 
w_ounded  : — Col.  McAllister,  commanding  a  regiment, 
killed:  Brig.-Gen.  Rosser,  commanding  a  brigade, 
wounded,  and  Col.  Custer,  commanding  a  regiment, 
wounded.  My  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  will  be 
about  five  hundred  and  seventy-five.  Of  this  num- 
ber four  hundred  and  ninety  are  wounded.  I  brought 
off  in  my  ambulances  three  hundred  and  seventy 
seven — all  that  could  be  transported.  The  remainder 
were,  with  a  number  of  rebel  wounded  that  fell  into 
my  hands,  left  behind.  Surgeons  and  attendants 
were  detailed,  and  remained  in  charge  of  them.  I 
captured  and  have  now  with  me  three  hundred  and 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


585 


seventy  prisoners  of  war,  including  twenty  commis- 
sioned officers.  My  loss  in  captured  will  not  exceed 
one  hundred  and  sixty.  They  tvere  principally  from 
•  the  5th  Michigan  cavalry.  This  regynent  gallantly 
charged  down  the  Gordonsville  road,  capturingfifteen 
hundred  horses  and  about  eight  hundred  men ;  but 
were  finally  surrounded  and  had  to  give  them  up. 
When  the  enemy  broke  they  hurried  between  Gen. 
Ouster's  command  and  Col.  Gregg's  brigade,  captur- 
ing five  caissons  of  Pennington's  battery,  three  of 
which  were  afterwards  recaptured,  leaving  in  their 
hands  two  caissons. 

The  contest  at  Trevilian  was  reported  by 
Gen.  Lee  to  be  a  rebel  victory. 

The  retirement  of  Gen.  Hunter  to  West  Vir- 
ginia, with  his  army  in  such  condition  as  to 
need  rest  and  reorganization,  left  the  Shenan- 
doah  valley  open  to  the  unresisted  occupation 
of  the  enemy.  At  the  same  time  the  state  of 
affairs  at  Petersburg  permitted  Gen.  Lee  to 
detach  a  force  for  the  invasion  of  Maryland, 
and  perhaps  cause  troops  to  be  recalled  from 
Gen.  Grant  for  the  defence  of  Washington. 
Rumors  of  the  advance  of  the  enemy  down  the 
Shenandoah  valley  preceded  their  appearance 
by  some  days.  On  Saturday,  July  2d,  they 
first  reached  the  region  of  Martinsburg.  On 
the  news  of  their  approach,  Gen.  Sigel  deter- 
mined to  evacuate  Martinsburg  and  a  part  of 
the  stores  were  removed,  including  nearly  all 
the  rolling  stock  of  the  railroad  company,  and 
heavy  trains  loaded  with  supplies  for  Gen. 
Hunter.  A  quantity  of  valuable  stores,  how- 
ever, were  lost.  The  enemy  first  appeared  at 
North  Mountain,  eight  miles  north  of  Martins- 
burg, which  compelled  Gen.  Sigel  to  fall  back 
to  Harper's  Ferry.  On  Saturday,  July  3d,  he 
was  attacked  at  Leetown,  and  quickly  driven 
from  his  position,  and  moved  to  the  strong 
position  of  Maryland  Heights,  which  he  held. 
The  main  line  of  the  enemy's  advance  was  by 
way  of  Martinsburg  and  North  Mountain, 
across  the  Potomac  to  Hagerstown.  A  panic 
spread  over  the  region,  and  the  inhabitants  fled 
with  such  property  as  they  could  hastily  seize 
and  remove.  At  Fredrick,  Md.,  on  the  5th,  all 
the  Government  stores  were  loaded  on  railroad 
trains,  and  preparations  made  for  an  immedi- 
ate evacuation  of  the  city.  On  the  same  day 
Hagerstown  was  occupied  and  the  stores  plun- 
dered, and  a  requisition  made  on  the  inhabitants 
for  $20,000.  This  money  was  paid  and  the 
raiding  party  left.  The  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  was  held  by  the  enemy  as  far  down  as 
Sandy  Hook,  and  much  of  the  track  torn  up. 
The  following  were  the  orders  of  the  command- 
ing officer  of  the  enemy  to  his  force : 

HEADQUARTERS  CAVALRY  DIVISION,     I 
VALLEY  DISTRICT,  June  28, 1864.  ( 

The  following  directions  for  the  march  of  this  com- 
mand will  hereafter  be  strictly  observed  : — 

Before  the  march  begins  on  each  morning  the  rolls 
of  each  company  will  be  called  after  mounting,  and 
the  adjutant  of  each  regiment  will  keep  a  list  of  the 
names  of  all  deserters. 

Before  dismounting  at  camp  in  the  evening  the 
rolls  will  again  be  called,  and  the  brigade  command- 
ers will  report  to  these  headquarters  the  number  of 
men  absent  at  each  roll  call. 

The  habitual  order  of  the  march  will  be  in  column 


of  "fours,"  but  on  narrow  roads  by  "twos."  The 
distance  between  the  head  of  one  brigade  and  the 
rear  of  the  other  will  be  two  hundred  yards.  When 
artillery  and  ambulances  accompany  the  brigades, 
those  assigned  to  each  brigade  will'  follow  immedi- 
ately in  rear  of  their  brigades.  During  the  march  the 
brigades  in  rear  will  regulate  their  movements  by 
those  in  front. 

Begular  halts  will  be  made  during  the  march,  and 
neither  officers  nor  men  will  leave  the  column,  except 
at  such  halts,  unless  by  the  written  consent  of  the 
brigade  commander,  and  such  permission  will  not  be 
granted  unless  for  important  reasons. 

Brigade,  regimental,  and  company  commanders  will 
pass  frequently  from  front  to  rear  of  their  respective 
commands,  to  see  that  the  column  is  at  all  times  well 
closed  up.  Brigades  will  alternate  in  the  march  daily. 
A  rear  guard  will  be  placed  behind  each  brigade,  and 
no  person,  except  staff  officers  or  couriers,  will  be 
permitted  to  fall  behind  such  guard. 

All  the  wagons  of  this  division  will  march  together 
under  direction  of  the  division  quartermaster. 

The  quartermasters  of  the  command  will  constantly 
accompany  their  respective  trains.  One  man,  dis- 
mounted when  practicable,  will  go  with  each  wagon 
to  assist  the  driver.  He  will  remain  with  the  wagon. 
No  other  parties  will  be  permitted  with  the  train,  ex- 
cept when  a  guard  shall  be  necessary.  The  quarter- 
masters will  be  held  responsible  that  no  others  ac- 
company the  wagons.  No  other  wagons  or  convey- 
ances than  those  allowed  from  army  headquarters 
will  be  allowed. 

Upon  reaching  camp,  officers  and  men  must  remain 
in  their  camps,  and  commanders  will  establish  proper 
camp  guards. 

Immediately  upon  fixing  the  headquarters  of  the 
briga_de  the  commanders  will  report  their  locality  to 
division  headquarters. 

The  utmost  order  and  perfect  quiet  will  be  pre- 
served upon  the  march  and  in  camp.  The  silly  prac- 
tice of  whooping  and  hallooing  is  strictly  forbidden. 

Destruction  of  the  fences  and  crops  of  the  farmers 
is  positively  prohibited,  and  such  outrages  will  be 
paid  for  from  the  pay  of  the  officers  of  the  command 
nearest  where  such  depredations  may  be  committed. 

Greatest  care  must  be  taken  of  ammunition.  Not 
a  cartridge  must  be  fired  unnecessarily.  An  impor- 
tant campaign  is  commenced,  and  upon  its  results 
depend  more  than  we  can  estimate. 

The  Major-General  commanding  asks  and  expects 
from  every  man  of  his  command  a  hearty  and  cheer- 
ful compliance  with  orders,  assuring  all  that  they 
shall  reap  and  enjoy  the  full  fruits  of  whatever  their 
labors  and  privations  may  obtain. 

By  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  RANSOM. 

WALTER  K.MARTIN,  Asst.-Adjt.-Gen. 

Brig.-Gen.  NED  MCCAUSLAND,  com'dg  brigade. 

N.  FITZHUGH,  Asst.-Adjt.-Gen. 

On  the  same  day  the  President  issued  a  call 
for  twelve  thousand  militia  from  Pennsylvania, 
twelve  thousand  from  New  York,  five  thou- 
sand from  Massachusetts,  and  the  various  Gov- 
ernors issued  proclamations  calling  out  the 
troops,  and  the  militia  began  to  assemble. 

On  Wednesday  there  was  some  skirmishing 
with  a  few  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  between 
Hagerstown  and  Frederick.  The  Federal  force 
from  Hagerstown  fell  back  toward  Chambers- 
burg.  At  various  points  along  the  Potomac 
and  north  there  was  some  skirmishing. 

On  Thursday,  a  reconnoitring  force  sent  out 
by  Gen.  Wallace  from  Monocacy,  was  quickly 
repulsed  by  the  enemy.  Boonsboro'  and  Mid- 
dletown  were  occupied  by  them,  and  they  ad- 
vanced within  a  few  miles  of  Frederick,  and 
threw  some  shots  into  the  city.  Before  morn- 


586 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


587 


ing  of  the  8th  they  withdrew  to  another  quar- 
ter. The  country  on  all  sides  was  scoured  for 
horses,  forage,  provisions,  and  money.  On  the 
8th,  another  party  from  Harper's  Ferry  en- 
tered Hagerstown  from  Williamsport,  and 
again  plundered  the  inhabitants  and  burned 
some  buildings.  The  enemy  still  occupied  the 
road  to  Frederick  with  their  main  body  behind 
Catoctin  Mountain.  In  the  evening  of  the 
same  day,  Gen.  Wallace  withdrew  with  his 
force  from  Frederick  to  Monocacy  Junction. 
At  sunrise  on  the  next  morning,  the  9th,  the 
enemy  entered  and  levied  a  contribution  on 
the  inhabitants.  About  9  A.M.  they  advanced 
against  Gen.  "Wallace,  who  occupied  a  position 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Monocacy  River,  with 
his  batteries  protecting  the  railroad  and  the 
turnpike.  The  attack  of  the  enemy  was  made 
on  his  left  under  Gen.  Ricketts,  with  varying 
success  for  some  hours,  when  it  was  forced  to 
give  way.  At  the  same  time  the  right  of  Gen. 
"Wallace  was  outflanked  by  the  enemy,  who, 
appearing  in  the  rear,  poured  in  a  reverse  fire 
and  swept  off  about  six  hundred  men  and  offi- 
cers, including  Gen.  Tyler.  Gen.  Wallace  now 
fell  back,  and  the  enemy  pursued  him  some 
miles  toward  EUicott's  Mills  on  the  Baltimore 
turnpike.  His  loss  was  about  twelve  hundred 
men,  with  six  cannon.  The  command  under 
Gen.  Ricketts  had  been  sent  forward  from 
Petersburg  by  Gen.  Grant.  The  force  of  the 
enemy  consisted  of  a  column  which  crossed  the 
Potomac  at  Williamsport,  and  another  which 
had  besieged  Gen.  Sigel  for  four  days  in  Har- 
per's Ferry. 

The  disaster  to  Gen.  Wallace  created  great 
excitement  in  Washington  and  through  the 
Northern  States.  Washington  appeared  to  be 
in  imminent  peril,  and  reinforcements  were 
hurried  forward.  The  19th  army  corps,  which 
had  been  sent  from  New  Orleans  to  reenforce 
Gen.  Grant,  was  at  this  time  entering  the  Ches- 
apeake Bay.  It  was  at  once  sent  to  Washing- 
ton. One  corps  of  Gen.  Grant's  army — the 
6th,  under  Gen.  Wright — was  detached  from 
the  lines  before  Petersburg,  and  also  sent  to 
Washington.  Gen.  Wallace,  in  command  at  Bal- 
timore, was  superseded  by  Gen.  Ord.  Mean- 
time the  enemy,  after  tearing  up  some  of  the 
railroad  from  Frederick  to  Baltimore,  sent 
their  main  body  south  of  it  and  detached  a 
cavalry  force  toward  the  Northern  Central  Rail- 
road from  Harrisburg,  Penn.,  to  Baltimore.  This 
cavalry  expedition  overran  Eastern  Maryland. 
Twenty-five  miles  of  the  Northern  Central 
road  were  destroyed,  and  on  Monday,  the  llth, 
a  force  appeared  on  the  Baltimore,  Wilmington, 
and  Philadelphia  road,  and  captured  and  set  on 
fire  the  trains  at  Magnolia  station,  seventeen 
miles  south  of  Havre  de  Grace.  In  one  train 
Maj.-Gen.  Franklin  was  captured,  bit  after- 
wards made  his  escape.  Some  damage  was 
done  to  the  track,  and  Gunpowder  bridge  was 
partially  burned.  The  cavalry,  heavily  loaded 
with  plunder,  came  within  six  miles  of  Balti- 
more, then  turning  southward  they  joined  the 


force  near  Washington,  which  had  been  sent 
in  that  direction  to  guard  against  surprise. 
Part  of  it  halted  before  Fort  Stevens,  on  Seven- 
teenth Street.  Toward  evening  their  sharp- 
shooters had  become  so  annoying,  and  their  pres- 
ence at  the  Capital  so  humiliating,  that  an  at- 
tempt was  made  by  Gen.  Augur  to  dislodge 
them.  A  brigade  of  veteran  infantry  was  de- 
tached along  Seventeenth  Street  road,  which 
encountered  them,  and  a  sharp  skirmish  ensued. 
The  enemy  were  driven  off,  leaving  about  a 
hundred  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field.  The 
Federal  loss  was  between  two  and  three  hun- 
dred. While  this  demonstration  was  made 
before  Washington,  the  rest  of  the  enemy's 
force  were  moving  across  the  Potomac,  and  on 
Wednesday  morning  the  whole  force  was  ap- 
proaching the  river  and  the  invasion  was  ended. 
On  the  retreat  they  were  cautiously  followed 
by  a  column  from  Washington,  under  Gen. 
Wright,  consisting  of  the  6th  corps  and  a  division 
of  the  19th.  He  crossed  the  Potomac  below 
Edward's  ferry  and  moved  to  Leesburg.  At 
the  same  time  a  portion  of  one  train  was  cap- 
tured by  the  cavalry  under  Gen.  Crook,  with 
some  of  the  teamsters  and  guard,  and  the 
rear  driven  through  Snicker's  gap  after  a  sharp 
fight.  The  enemy,  however,  held  the  ferry 
across  the  Shenandoah  with  two  guns,  and 
checked  the  pursuit.  On  Monday,  July  18th, 
the  command  of  Gen.  Wright  and  the  cavalry 
under  Gen.  Crook,  excepting  a  body  sent  to 
guard  Ashby's  gap,  passed  through  Snicker's 
gap  to  the  ferry.  The  infantry  began  to  cross 
below  the  ferry.  The  cavalry  also  crossed,  and 
forming  a  line  with  the  brigade  of  Col.  Wells  on 
the  left,  and  that  of  Col.  Thorburn  on  the  right, 
hotly  engaged  the  enemy.  As  the  latter  were 
concentrating  on  the  right,  Gen.  Wright  began 
to  cross  the  6th  corps  to  meet  the  enemy's 
concentration.  But  they  charged  the  line  with 
violence,  and  at  length  turned  the  right  and 
drove  it  with  some  confusion  across  the  ford. 
Finding  the  right  giving  way,  Col.  Wells  with- 
drew the  left,  and  the  troops  recrossed  the 
river  with  a  loss  of  three  hundred.  The  force 
sent  to  Ashby's  gap  drove  the  enemy  through 
the  gap  and  across  the  river,  but  the  latter 
finding  their  rear  attacked,  hurried  back  in 
force  and  compelled  the  command  to  retire 
with  a  loss  of  two  hundred.  The  enemy  now 
leisurely  moved  toward  Winchester  and  Stras- 
burg,  and  the  force  of  Gen.  Wright  crossed  the 
Shenandoah.  They  soon  halted  and  recrossed, 
returning  to  Leesburg,  whence  Gen.  Crook 
moved  to  Harper's  Ferry,  and  Gen.  Wright  to 
Washington.  On  the  19th,  the  same  day  on 
which  the  enemy  were  overtaken  at  Snicker's 
ferry,  Gen.  Averill  moved  from  Martinsburg 
toward  Winchester,  and  encountered  a  cavalry 
force  near  Darksville.  On  the  next  morning 
he  pressed  toward  Winchester,  where  he  met 
the  enemy,  and  a  contest  ensued  for  three 
hours,  during  which  Gen.  Averill  captured 
four  guns,  several  hundred  small  arms,  and 
about  two  hundred  prisoners.  The  total  loss 


588 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLIOK 


of  the  enemy  was  between  three  and  four  hun- 
dred. The  force  of  the  enemy  at  hand  caused 
him  to  halt  in  his  advance. 

The  entire  force  of  the  enemy  in  this  inva- 
sion was  not  far  from  20,000  men.  It  included 
two  infantry  corps  under  Gens.  Breckinridge 
and  Rhodes,  a  division  of  cavalry  under  Gen. 
Eansom,  and  three  batteries  of  artillery.  The 
whole  was  under  the  command  of  Maj.-Gen. 
Jubal  Early.  Leaving  a  considerable  force  to 
guard  his  rear,  about  fifteen  thousand  crossed 
the  Potomac.  His  loss  was  about  fifteen  hun- 
dred. A  large  amount  of  property  was  de- 
stroyed, five  thousand  horses  driven  off,  one  of 
the  greatest  panics  was  excited,  and  several 
thousand  men  were  withdrawn  from  Gen. 
Grant's  army. 

Gen.  Crook,  after  returning  toward  Harper's 
Ferry  joined  Gen.  Averill,  and  on  July  23d 
there  was  considerable  skirmishing  at  Kerns- 
town,  four  miles  beyond  Winchester,  and  the 
Federal  cavalry  were  driven  back  on  the  main 
body.  On  the  next  day  the  enemy  pressed  his 
advantage,  and  the  cavalry  were  driven  back 
in  great  rout  through  Winchester  toward 
Bunker  Hill.  The  breaking  of  his  cavalry 
forced  Gen.  Crook  to  retreat.  His  command 
consisted  of  the  cavalry  under  Gens.  Averill 
and  DufBe,  and  two  divisions  of  infantry,  about 
ten  thousand  men.  The  enemy  being  in 
greater  strength  outflanked  him,  and  compelled 
a  retreat  from  point  to  point.  After  the  first 
struggle  Gen.  Early  halted  his  main  force  about 
five  miles  north  of  Winchester,  but  his  cavalry 
kept  up  a  hot  pursuit  to  Martinsburg.  The 
loss  of  Gen.  Crook  from  all  sources  was  about 
twelve  hundred,  among  whom  was  Col.  Mul- 
ligan, killed.  On  the  next  day  a  sharp  artil- 
lery engagement  took  place  at  Martinsburg, 
but  Gen.  Crook,  having  gained  time  to  get  off 
most  of  his  trains,  again  fell  back,  and  on  the 
succeeding  day  crossed  the  Potomac  into  Mary- 
land, without  molestation  by  the  enemy. 
Their  loss  in  these  affairs  was  considerable. 
None,  however,  were  taken  prisoners. 

The  enemy  now  held  the  west  bank  of  the 
Potomac  from  Williamsport  to  Shepardstown. 
In  Maryland  and  southern  Pennsylvania  the 
scenes  in  anticipation  of  the  previous  invasion 
were  renewed — the  panic — the  frightful  stories, 
fugitives,  and  the  roads  blocked  with  every  spe- 
cies of  property,  which  its  owners  were  endea- 
voring to  remove  to  a  place  of  safety.  The 
Federal  troops  rallied  again,  and  on  the  27th  it 
was  found  that  the  enemy  was  not  opposite 
Williamspoint.  On  the  next  day,  Gen.  Kelly 
crossed  and  reoccupied  Martinsburg,  which  the 
enemy  had  already  evacuated.  On  the  next 
day,  the  29th  of  July,  a  force  of  the  enemy 
crossed  the  Potomac,  and  advanced  on  Cham- 
bersburg,  in  Pennsylvania.  On  the  next  day, 
Saturday,  they  dispersed  some  troops  at  Car- 
lisle barracks,  and  a  force  of  two  or  three  hun- 
dred mounted  men  entered  Chambersburg  and 
set  it  on  fire.  A  part  of  the  inhabitants,  with 
their  valuable  property,  had  gone  off  on  the 


previous  day.  The  enemy  demanded  a  ransom 
of  $500,000,  which  not  being  paid,  about  two- 
thirds  of  the  town,  or  two  hundred  and  fifty 
houses,  were  burned.  The  inhabitants  who  re- 
mained made  no  opposition. 

During  the  forenoon  the  enemy  withdrew. 
Immediately  afterwards  Gen.  AveruT  entered 
the  town,  and  without  stopping  to  extinguish 
the  flames  set  out  in  pursuit.  On  Thursday 
evening  previous  he  had  retreated  from  Hagers- 
town  toward  Carlisle.  During  Friday  he  was 
driven  back  to  Greencastle  by  the  force  of  the 
enemy  which  on  that  day  crossed  the  Poto- 
mac, and  a  part  of  his  train  lost.  At  night  the 
enemy  turned  toward  Chambersburg,  and  Gen. 
Averill  on  the  next  morning  began  to  follow 
after  them  through  St.  Thomas,  London,  and 
McConnellsburg.  The  force  from  Chambers- 
burg having  reached  their  reserves,  were  over- 
taken by  Gen.  Averill  toward  evening,  eight 
miles  beyond  McConnellsburg.  Skirmishing 
took,  place  until  dark.  On  the  next  day  Gen. 
AverUl  followed  to  Hancock,  where  the  enemy 
checked  the  pursuit  by  felling  trees  and  burn- 
ing bridges  behind  him. 

On  Saturday,  Col.  Mosby,  a  partisan  ranger, 
with  about  fifty  men  crossed  the  Potomac  at 
Cheat  ferry,  pushed  up  the  towpath  to  Adams- 
town,  captured  the  picket  there,  consisting  of 
thirty  or  forty  cavalry,  cut  the  telegraph  wire, 
robbed  a  few  stores,  and  quickly  retired.  This 
affair  created  great  alarm  at  Frederick,  Mono- 
cacy,  and  Poolesville.  It  stopped  the  railroad 
trains  in  the  neighborhood,  and  gave  rise  to  a 
report  that  Gen.  Early  was  invading  Pennsyl- 
vania with  forty  thousand  men. 

The  band  of  Col.  Mosby  on  its  return  en- 
countered a  superior  force  at  Conrad's  ferry, 
with  which  a  slight  skirmish  occurred.  The 
panic,  however,  increased.  Gen.  Couch  tele- 
graphed to  the  authorities  at  Pittsburg  that 
"  it  is  believed  Breckinridge  is  marching  west." 
All  business  was  immediately  suspended,  and 
on  Sunday  a  public  meeting  was  held  to  pre- 
pare for  defence.  On  Monday,  August  1st,  Gov. 
Curtin  called  the  State  Legislature  to  assemble 
on  the  9th  to  take  prompt  measures  in  so  great 
a  crisis.  At  the  same  time  Gen.  Couch  exam- 
ined the  defences  on  the  Ohio  and  Mononga- 
hela  Eivers.  The  6th  corps  started  for  the  scene 
of  action  on  hearing  of  the  defeat  of  Gen. 
Crook.  Leaving  Georgetown  on  July  26th,  it 
bivouacked  at  Eockville  at  night.  On  the  next 
day  it  marched  to  Hyattstown  and  reached  tho 
Monocacy  on  Thursday,  and  passing  through 
Frederick  encamped  at  Jefferson.  On  Friday 
evening  it  reached  Halltown,  three  miles  from 
Harper's  Ferry.  The  force  at  that  point,  on 
Saturday,  the  day  that  Chambersburg  was 
burned,  consisted  of  the  6th  corps,  a  part  of 
the  19th,  and  the  infantry  of  Gen.  Hunter,  un- 
der Gen.  Crook.  On  that  day  orders  came  to 
move  in  pursuit  of  Gen.  Early's  army,  which  was 
reported  to  be  ravaging  Pennsylvania.  Tho 
whole  force,  with  an  immense  wagon-train, 
marched  hard  during  that  day  and  the  next, 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


589 


losing  some  men  by  sunstroke,  but  finding  no 
enemy.  After  a  severe  march  they  arrived  at 
Frederick  quite  exhausted,  and  rested. 

The  small  force  of  the  enemy  which  had  been 
in  Maryland  moved  from  Hancock  on  the  Cum- 
berland road,  as  above  stated,  the  pursuit  of 
Gen.  Averill  being  checked  by  felling  trees,  &c. 
Gen.  Kelly  with  his  command  in  Western  Vir- 
ginia now  started  to  intercept  this  advance. 
On  Monday  afternoon  the  enemy  reached 
Folck's  mill,  three  miles  from  Cumberland, 
and  attacked  Gen.  Kelly,  who  was  protecting 
the  town.  The  skirmish  continued  until  dark, 
and  the  enemy  during  the  night  fell  back 
to  Oldtown,  leaving  his  killed  and  wounded, 
some  wagons  and  ammunition.  During  the 
afternoon  previous  a  force  of  five  hundred 
men  had  been  posted  at  Oldtown,  under  Col. 
Stough,  to  cut  off  the  enemy's  retreat.  In 
the  morning  this  force  was  attacked  by  the 
enemy,  and,  after  a  sharp  skirmish,  routed. 
The  colonel  and  ninety  men  were  made  prison- 
ers. The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed  and  wound- 
ed was  about  thirty ;  the  Federal  loss  in  this 
respect  was  much  less.  On  Thursday,  August 
4th,  the  enemy  made  an  attack  on  Gen.  Crook, 
but  were  foiled,  and  during  the  night  withdrew 
on  the  road  to  Moorefield.  At  that  place  he 
was  overtaken  by  Gen.  Averill  and  routed  with 
the  loss  of  his  artillery,  many  wagons,  and  five 
hundred  prisoners.  The  loss  of  Gen.  Averill 
was  about  fifty.  On  Thursday,  the  4th,  a  panic 
prevailed  in  Harrisburg,  caused  by  a  report  that 
the  enemy  had  crossed  the  Potomac,  and  was 
invading  the  North.  Gov.  Curtin  issued  a  proc-  ' 
lamation  calling  out  thirty  thousand  militia,  and 
the  inhabitants  in  the  Cumberland  valley  com- 
menced another  grand  removal. 

The  result  of  these  operations  was  to  secure 
an  organized  defence  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  Sheridan  for  the  defence  of  the  valley. 
This  force,, by  orders  of  Gen.  Grant,  consisted 
of  the  6th  and  19th  corps,  the  division  of  in- 
fantry under  Gen.  Crook,  and  the  division  of 
cavalry  under  Gen.  Torbert,  with  four  brigades 
of  Gen.  Hunter's  cavalry. 

The  changes  made  before  Petersburg  during 
the  operations  of  the  enemy  in  Maryland,  con- 
sisted chiefly  in  the  transfer  of  troops  to  thwart 
them.  The  army  of  Gen.  Grant  continued  more 
quiet  than  at  any  time  since  his  campaign  was 
commenced.  The  principal  firing  during  this 
period  was  on  the  right  and  right  centre,  where 
Gen.  Grant's  lines  were  persistently  pushed  for- 
ward, and  Petersburg  and  the  batteries  of  the 
enemy  monotonously  shelled.  Some  skirmishes 
at  different  points  also  occurred  by  which  a 
few  men  were  lost  on  each  side. 

On  July  1st  a  movement  was  made  by  a  body 
of  troops  under  Gen.  Birney  from  Hilton  Head, 
up  the  North  Edisto  River.  They  disembarked 
at  White  Point  for  the  purpose  of  penetrating 
the  country  as  far  as  practicable.  The  enemy 
were  found  in  strong  positions,  a*nd  after  some 
skirmishing  the  force  withdrew.  An  attempt 
was  also  made  to  seize  Fort  Johnson  on  the 


northern  end  of  James  Island,  by  crossing  Mor- 
ris Island.  The  enemy  were  found  to  be  strong 
and  on  the  alert,  and  the  force  was  with- 
drawn. 

About  the  same  time,  July  3d,  Gen.  Dennis 
with  a  force  of  three  thousand  men  moved  out 
from  Vicksburg  to  destroy  the  railroad  from 
Jackson  to  Canton.  Jackson  was  easily  occu- 
pied, but  on  the  return,  an  attack  of  the  enemy 
was  made  upon  the  rear,  and  a  sharp  skirmish 
followed.  The  loss  was  about  two  hundred 
on  each  side.  Some  other  movements  were 
made  at  this  time  in  Mississippi  and  Missouri 
partaking  of  a  guerrilla  character. 

In  the  latter  part  of  July  some  changes  were 
made  in  the  commanders  of  the  corps  of  the 
army  of  the  James  River.  An  order  from  the 
War  Department  relieving  Gen.  Butler  was 
rescinded  by  Gen.  Grant,  and  the  former  was 
retained  in  command.  Gen.  Smith  was  relieved 
from  the  command  of  the  18th  corps  and  suc- 
ceeded temporarily  by  Gen.  Martindale,  and 
then  permanently  by  Gen.  Ord,  of  the  8th  corps. 
Gen.  Gillmore  was  relieved  of  the  command  of 
of  the  10th  corps,  succeeded  temporarily  by 
Gens.  W.  H.  H.  Brooks  and  Terry,  and  perma- 
nently by  Gen.  Birney  of  the  2d  corps.. 

The  line  of  Gen.  Grant  extended  at  this  time 
a  distance  of  twenty  miles.  On  the  right,  north 
of  the  James,  at  Deep  Bottom,  Gen.  Foster's 
division  of  the  10th  corps  had  been  for  some 
time  in  possession  of  an  intrenched  camp.  This 
position  served  to  prevent  any  sudden  demon- 
stration on  the  right  flank  by  the  enemy,  who 
were  in  possession  of  Malvern  Hill,  and  also 
checked  any  effort  by  them  to  blockade  the 
river  against  gunboats  and  transports  by  field 
artillery.  At  the  same  time  it  furnished  a  good 
base  for  threatening  an  advance  on  Richmond 
from  the  southeast,  or  for  making  a  feint  in  that 
direction.  In  the  rear  of  Gen.  Foster's  position 
a  pontoon  bridge  crossed  the  James  which  was 
thoroughly  protected  by  gunboats,  but  in  his 
front  a  large  force  of  the  enemy  prevented  an 
advance.  On  July  21st  a  second  bridge  was 
thrown  across  the  James  at  Strawberry  Plains 
a  little  further  down,  and  on  the  next  day  a 
brigade  of  the  19th  corps  crossed  over  and  held 
the  head  of  the  bridge.  Constant  skirmishing 
with  the  enemy  followed  for  some  days,  and  so 
threatening  was  the  demonstration  that  a  divi- 
sion was  added  to  their  force  in  front  of  Gen. 
Foster.  On  Tuesday,  July  26th,  rapid  artillery 
firing,  intermingled  with  musketry,  was  kept 
up  during  the  forenoon.  At  evening  it  was  re- 
newed with  the  addition  of  the  gunboats,  and 
continued  through  the  night.  At  4  p.  M.  of  the 
same  day  the  5th  corps  moved  from  the  extreme 
left,  followed  by  the  cavalry  under  Gen.  Sher- 
idan to  the  James  River  at  Jones's  Neck.  Be- 
fore daylight  they  began  to  cross  on  a  pontoon 
bridge,  which  had  been  muffled  with  hay  and 
grass.  A  line  of  battle  was  then  formed  with 
Gen.  Sheridan's  cavalry  on  the  extreme  right, 
and  the  2d  corps  next  at  Strawberry  Plains,  the 
brigade  of  the  19th  corps  on  its  left,  and  Gen, 


590 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Foster  in  his  old  position  on  the  extreme  left, 
at  Deep  Bottom 

Tne  position  of  the  enemy  was  in  front  of 
the  2d  corps.  They  occupied  rifle-pits,  de- 
fended by  one  battery.  An  advance  upon  them 
was  made  by  the  2d  corps,  during  which  Gen. 
Miles's  brigade  under  cover  flanked  the  whole 
position  under  a  brisk  charge.  The  enemy  im- 
mediately retreated,  losing  their  guns  and  some 
prisoners.  A  mile  further  in  the  rear  they  took 
a  new  position  on  a  ridge.  The  Federal  loss 
during  the  day  was  about  a  hundred.  On  the 
next  day  the  demonstrations  were  continued, 
and  a  cavalry  battle  took  place  on  the  right  with 
a  loss  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty.  On 
Friday  about  four  hundred  empty  wagons  were 
taken  across  on  the  bridges  as  if  an  advance 
on  Malvern  Hill  was  to  be  made  in  great  force. 
Nearly  twenty  thousand  men  and  twenty  can- 
non had  thus  been  sent  north  of  the  James. 
Meanwhile  the  enemy  hurried  off  a  considera- 
ble force  from  Petersburg  to  meet  these  demon- 
strations, and  during  Thursday  still  more  were 
sent.  On  Thursday  evening,  therefore,  the  3d 
division  of  the  2d  corps  was  secretly  removed 
to  Petersburg.  After  some  skirmishing  with 
the  enemy  on  Friday  afternoon,  the  rest  of  the 
2d  corps  and  the  cavalry,  after  dark,  retraced 
their  steps  and  arrived  before  daybreak  at  Pe- 
tersburg. At  this  place  there  had  been  the 
usual  cannonade  during  the  four  preceding 
days. 

All  those  movements  were  preliminaries  to  the 
explosion  of  a  heavy  mine  which  had  been 
planted  under  one  of  the  enemy's  heaviest 
works.  It  had  been  suggested  by  Lieutenant- 
colonel  Pleasants  of  the  48th  Pennsylvania 
regiment,  who  with  his  regiment  had  been  ac- 
custojned  to  mining  before  the  war.  By  them 
the  whole  work  was  accomplished.  It  was 
begun  on  June  25th.  It  started  in  the  side  of 
a  ravine  in  front  of  the  9th  corps  and  pushed 
toward  a  formidable  fort  of  the  enemy  situated 
about  two  thousand  yards  from  Petersburg. 
The  distance  to  be  mined  was  about  five  hun- 
dred feet.  The  gallery  was  made  in  the  usual 
shape,  being  about  four  feet  wide  at  the  bottom 
and  sloping  up  to  the  top.  Its  height  was 
about  four  and  a  half  feet.  A  ventilating 
shaft  was  sunk  near  the  entrance.  The  ground 
rose  toward  the  enemy's  position,  and  the  tun- 
nel was  sloped  upwards  as  it  advanced.  "When 
the  fort  was  reached,  it  was  about  twenty  feet 
overhead.  "Wings  were  extended  to  the  right 
and  left,  so  that  the  main  gallery  might  open 
into  two  diverging  galleries,  running  along  the 
outer  line  of  the  fort.  Eight  chambers  were 
formed  in  these  latter,  separated  by  sand-bags 
and  wood.  "Wooden  pipes  ran  about  a  hun- 
dred feet  from  the  magazines  toward  the 
mouth  of  the  gallery,  and  were  connected  there 
by  a  hose  or  fuse  which  extended  the  rest  of 
the  distance.  The  chambers  were  charged  with 
four  tons  of  powder.  After  its  completion  a 
delay  of  some  days  ensued,  during  which  the 
feint  at  Deep  Bottom  was  made. 


Every  effort  to  conceal  the  work  was  made, 
but  it  was  supposed  that  the  enemy  were 
aware  of  its  existence. 

The  plan  of  assault  was  to  explode  the  mine 
and  immediately  to  open  a  cannonading  from 
every  gun  on  the  line.  Under  cover  of  this 
concentrated  fire,  which  might  somewhat  un- 
nerve the  enemy,  a  storming  party  was  to 
rush  through  the  gap  made  by  the  explosion 
and  endeavor  to  carry  the  enemy's  position 
beyond.  In  the  rear  o"f  his  first  line  was  a 
strong  crest,  which  commanded  Petersburg. 
Tbe  Federal  lines  were  less  than  a  hundred 
and  fifty  yards  distant  from  the  enemy  at  the 
nearest  points.  The  approach  to  the  part  to 
be  charged,  which  was  about  the  same  distance, 
had  been  made  difficult  by  abatis  and  entangle- 
ments. Nearly  a  hundred  heavy  guns  had 
been  brought  up  by  Gen.  Grant,  some  of 
which  were  eight-inch  and  some  even  heavier. 

The  assaulting  force  was  the  9th  corps,  sup- 
ported by  the  18th  corps,  with  the  2d  in  re- 
serve on  the  right,  and  the  5th  on  the  left,  the 
whole  closely  massed,  and  leaving  only  the 
necessary  garrisons  to  hold  the  more  distant 
intrenchments.  This  force  was  in  position 
soon  after  midnight  on  Friday,  July  29th.  The 
9th  corps  was  arranged  with  Gen.  Ledlie's 
division  in  advance,  Gens.  Wilcox  and  Pot- 
ter's next  in  support,  and  the  colored  division, 
in  command  of  Gen.  Ferrero,  in  the  rear. 
The  fuse  was  to  be  lighted  at  3^-  o'clock  A.  M. 
But,  owing  to  dampness,  the  fire  went  out  in 
the  gallery.  It  was  renewed  after  much  delay, 
but  the  explosion  did  not  take  place  until 
twenty  minutes  of  five  o'clock,  and  after  sun- 
rise. A  heaving  and  trembling  of  the  earth 
was  followed  by  huge  clouds  of  earth  and  all 
the  contents  of  the  fort,  as  guns,  caissons,  lim- 
bers, and  the  soldiers  which  manned  them 
being  thrown  into  the  air.  To  the  spectators 
it  resembled  a  great  fountain  in  appearance; 
then,  poising  for  a  moment,  it  quickly  de- 
scended. A  crater,  one  hundred  feet  or  more 
in  length  and  half  as  wide,  and  a  depth  of 
twenty  feet,  with  heaps  of  ruins,  remained 
where  once  stood  a  six-gun  fort,  its  camp 
equipage,  and  two  hundred  men.  Immediately 
after  the  explosion,  the  cannonading  from  a 
hundred  guns  commenced.  Gradually  recover- 
ing from  his  surprise  the  enemy  began  to  re- 
spond, and  soon  their  entire  line  was  engaged. 
Meantime,  after  a  few  minutes'  delay,  Gen. 
Marshall's  brigade,  of  Gen.  Ledlie's  division, 
began  to  advance  across  the  deadly  plain.  The 
supporting  brigades  spread  out  and  enveloped 
the  flanking  rifle-pits,  capturing  about  two  hun- 
dred prisoners.  The  breach  was  gained,  and 
the  troops  began  to  reform  for  assault.  In- 
stead of  bursting  at  once  upon  the  frowning 
crest,  four  hundred  yards  distant,  the  advance 
brigades  were  suffered  to  throw  up  intrench- 
ments and  spend  time  in  getting  two  guns  to 
bear  on  the  enemy.  Meanwhile  the  latter 
rallied  and  poured  a  terrific  enfilading  fire 
upon  the  captured  fort.  At  length  the  7th 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


591 


corps  was  re-formed,  after  a  fatal  delay,  and 
with  Gen.  Potter's  division  on  the  right,  Led- 
fie's  in  the  centre,  and  "Wilcox  on  the  -left, 
under  cover  of  the  fire  of  two  guns,  began  the 
charge.  At  every  step,  the  fire  of  the  enemy 
in  front  and  on  each  flank,  concentrated  with 
greater  fury  upon  them  and  ploughed  their 
ranks  with  slaughter.  The  charge  was  checked 
on  the  side  of  the  crest,  there  was  a  halt,  and 
finally  the  whole  line,  wavering  under  terrible 
odds,  recoiled  to  the  fort.  The  colored  di- 
vision of  the  corps  remained.  As  a  forlorn 
hope,  it  was  despatched  to  do  what  the  other 
three  had  failed  in  attempting.  It  rushed  for- 
ward over  the  four  hundred  yards  which  sepa- 
rated it  from  the  enemy  only  to  meet  the  fate 
of  its  comrades.  "When  once  broken,  it  plunged 
headlong  into  the  fort,  upon  which  the  enemy 
now  concentrated  their  fire.  It  was  evident 
the  day  was  lost,  and  the  question  now  was, 
how  best  to  save  the  troops.  Efforts  were 
made  by  a  division  of  the  18th  and  another  of 
the  10th  corps  to  distract  the  attention  of  the 
enemy,  but  they  proved  to  be  useless.  His  tire 
was  directed  straight  upon  the  dismantled  fort, 
now  become  a  slaughter-pen,  in  which  were 
huddled  the  fragments  of  the  9th  corps,  hoping 
for  relief  from  their  comrades  who  lay  in  their 
intrenchments,  two  hundred  yards  distant. 
Then  squads  of  men  began  the  work  of  re- 
treating. But  the  enemy  kept  up  a  destruc- 
tive cross-fire  over  every  rod  of  the  space  be- 
tween the  fort  and  the  Federal  lines.  The 
retreating  movement,  however,  was  kept  up. 
Meanwhile,  the  enemy  made  several  charges 
upon  the  ruins  of  the  fort,  which  were  bravely 
resisted  by  some  of  the  officers  and  the  rem- 
nants of  the  corps.  About  noon,  however,  a 
general  retreat  was  ordered,  a  considerable 
part  of  the  survivors  of  the  assault  having  al- 
ready crossed  to  the  rear.  Those  who  re- 
mained in  the  fort  having  exhausted  their  am- 
munition and  being  left  unsupported  by  the 
rest  of  the  army,  were  captured  about  2  p.  M. 
by  a  final  charge  of  the  enemy. 

The  Federal  loss  was  estimated  at  five  thou- 
sand; that  of  the  enemy,  one  thousand,  of 
whom  two  hundred  were  mad*  prisoners.  The 
dead  lay  on  the  field  for  thirty-six  hours,  when 
they  were  removed  under  a  flag  of  truce. 

On  Friday,  Aug.  5th,  a  mine  was  exploded 
by  the  enemy.  No  assault  followed.  On  the 
7th  there  was  a  sharp  skirmish  and  an  artUlery 
duel  in  front  of  the  9th  corps.  In  the  after- 
noon of  the  9th  another  duel  with  heavy  mor- 
tars occurred  on  the  right  and  right  centre. 
On  the  same  day  an  ordnance  boat  was  re- 
ceiving fixed  ammunition  at  City  Point,  when, 
by  dropping  one  of  the  cases,  the  whole  cargo 
was  exploded.  On  several  succeeding  days, 
before  Petersburg,  only  picket  and  artillery 
firing  took  place. 

On  August  10th,  preparations  were  made  for 
digging  a  canal  at  Dutch  Gap.  A  great  bend 
in  the  James  River  forms  a  peninsula,  called 
Farrar's  Island,  which  a  neck  of  land,  less 


than  half  a  mile  wide,  connects  with  the  north 
shore.  This  isthmus  it  was  proposed  to  cut  by 
a  canal.  Such  canal  would  save  a  circuit  of 
six  miles  in  a  bend  crowded  with  obstructions 
and  torpedoes  and  guarded  by  gunboats  of  the 
enemy.  If  occupied,  it  would  also  flank  the 
strong  position  of  the  enemy  at  Howlett's, 
where  his  heavy  batteries  swept  the  river.  It 
would  compel  him  to  construct  a  new  and  more 
extended  line  of  defence,  requiring  a  larger 
force  of  men  to  defend  it,  and  also  bring  Gen. 
Grant's  forces  dangerously  near  to  Fort  Dar- 
ling. The  prosecution  of  the  work  was  con- 
tinued through  the  remainder  of  the  year,  al- 
though often  seriously  and  dangerously  an- 
noyed by  the  enemy.  One  of  the  last  acts  of 
Gen.  Butler,  while  in  command  on  the  James, 
was  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  remove,  by  an 
explosion  of  powder,  the  earth  at  the  entrance 
of  the  canal. 

The  state  of  operations  at  this  time,  as  view- 
ed by  Gen.  Grant,  is  expressed  in  the  following 
letter : 

HEADQTTAKTERS  Afcrrss  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  ) 
CITY  POINT,  VA.,  August  16th,  1864.     \ 
To  Hon.  E.  B.  WasJiburne  : 

DEAR  SIR — I  state  to  all  citizens  who  visit  me  that 
all  we  want  now  to  insure  an  early  restoration  of  the 
Union  is  a  determined  unity  of  sentiment  North. 
The  rebels  have  now  in  their  ranks  their  last  man. 
The  little  boys  and  old  men  are  guarding  prisoners, 
guarding  railroad  bridges,  and  forming  a  good  part 
of  their  garrisons  for  entrenched  positions.  A  man 
lost  by  them  cannot  be  replaced.  They  have  robbed 
the  cradle  and  the  grave  equally  to  get  their  present 
force.  Besides  what  they  lose  in  frequent  skir- 
mishes and  battles,  they  are  now  losing  from  der 
sertions  and  other  causes  at  least  one  regiment  per 
day. 

With  this  drain  upon  them  the  end  is  not  far  dis- 
tant, if  we  will  only  be  true  to  ourselves.  Their 
only  hope  now  is  in  a  divided  North.  This  might 
give  them  reenforcements  from  Tennessee,  Ken- 
tucky, Maryland,  and  Missouri,  while  it  would  weaken 
us.  With  the  draft  quickly  enforced  the  enemy 
would  become  despondent,  and  would  make  but 
little  resistance.  I  have  no  doubt  but  the  enemy 
are  exceedingly  anxious  to  hold  out  until  after  the 
Presidential  election.  They  have  many  hopes  from 
its  effects. 

They  hope  a  counter  revolution ;  they  hope  the 
election  of  the  Peace  candidate.  In  fact,  like  "Mi- 
cawber,"  they  hope  for  something  to  "  turn  up." 
Our  Peace  friends,  if  they  expect  peace  from  separa- 
tion, are  much  mistaken.  It  would  but  be  the  be- 
ginning of  war  with  thousands  of  Northern  men 
joining  the  South  because  of  our  disgrace  in  allow- 
ing separation.  To  have  "peace  on  any  terms"  the 
South  would  demand  the  restoration  of  their  slaves 
already  freed ;  they  would  demand  indemnity  for 
losses  sustained,  and  they  would  demand  a  treaty 
which  would  make  the  North  slave-hunters  for  the 
South.  They  would  demand  pay  for  the  restoration 
of  every  slave  escaping  to  the  North. 

Yours,  truly,.  U.  S.  GRANT. 

On  August  18th  the  5th  corps  marched  to 
Reams'  station,  on  the  "Weldon  Railroad,  and 
surprised  a  body  of  the  enemy  guarding  it,  and 
took  possession  of  the  road.  On  the  next  day 
an  impetuous  attack  was  made  upon  their  right 
by  three  brigades  of  the  enemy  under  Gen. 
Mahone.  The  pickets  and  an  advanced  regi- 
ment were  quickly  driven  back  to  the  breast- 


592 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


works,  and  the  enemy  rushed  through  a  gap  in 
the  line,  separating  the  divisions  of  Crawford 
and  Wilcox.  A  desperate  engagement  now 
ensued.  At  the  same  time  the  left  of  the  line 
'was  attacked  by  the  enemy  under  Gen.  Heth, 
and  the  temporary  intrenchments  carried.  On 
reaching  the  second  line  the  enemy  was  brought 
to  a  stand,  and  then  driven  back  with  great 
slaughter.  At  this  time  reenforcements  had 
arrived,  consisting  of  the  1st  and  2d  divisions 
of  the  9th  corps.  The  lines  were  thus  finally 
rallied  and  the  enemy  driven  back,  retrieving 
in  a  measure  the  disaster  at  the  outset.  The 
Federal  loss  was  estimated  between  3,500  and 
4,000.  The  enemy  claimed  to  have  captured 
2,700  prisoners.  The  Weldon  Railroad  was 
thus  recovered  by  the  enemy  as  far  as  Yellow 
Tavern,  but  the  position  first  taken  by  Gen. 
"Warren  was  held. 

On  August  28th,  Gen.  Grant  issued  the  fol- 
lowing order : 

HEADQITABTEBS  AHMIES  OF  THE  U.  8.,  IN  THE  FIELD,  ) 
VIRGINIA,  August  2Sth,  1864.     ( 
Special  Orders  Jfb.  82.  , 

Hereafter  deserters  from  "the  Confederate  army, 
who  deliver  themselves  up  to  the  United  States 
forces,  will,  on  taking  the  oath  that  they  will  not 
again  take  up  arms  during  the  present  rebellion,  be 
furnished  subsistence  and  free  transportation  to  their 
homes,  if  the  same  are  within  the  lines  of  the  Fed- 
eral occupation. 

If  their  homes  are  within  such  lines,  they  will  be 
furnished  subsistence  and  free  transportation  to  any 
point  in  the  Northern  States. 

All  deserters  who  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  will, 
if  they  desire  it,  be  given  employment  in  the  Quar- 
termaster's and  other  departments  of  the  army,  and 
the  same  remuneration  paid  them  as  is  given  to 
civilians  employed  for  similar  services. 

Forced  military  duty,  or  services  endangering 
them  to  capture  by  the  Confederate  forces,  Will  not 
be  exacted  from  such  as  give  themselves  up  to  the 
United  States  military  authorities. 

By  command  of  Lieut.-Gen.  GRANT. 

T.  S.  BOWERS,  A.  A.  G. 

Affairs  now  remained  quiet  until  September 
10th,  when  the  brigade  of  Gen.  De  Trobriand 
captured  a  portion  of  the  enemy's  pickets,  in- 
flicting a  loss  of  one  hundred  to  one  hundred 
and  fifty.  On  the  16th  a  body  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry  marched  around  in  the  rear  of  Gen. 
Meade's  left  at  Reams'  station,  and  captured 
the  13th  Pennsylvania  and  a  herd  of  2,500 
cattle.  They  were  pursued  by  cavalry,  but 
the  pursuit  was  repulsed  and  they  retired  at 
leisure. 

On  September  14th  the  Secretary  of  War 
sent  forward  the  following  despatch  : 

WAE  DEPAETMENT,  September  14. 
Major-  General  Dix,  New  York  : 

Lieutenant-General  Grant  telegraphs  this  depart- 
ment in  respect  to  the  draft  as  follows : 

CITY  POINT— 10:80  A.  M.,  September  18. 
Hon.  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War  : 

We  ought  to  have  the  whole  number  of  men  called 
for  by  the  President  in  the  shortest  possible  time. 
Prompt  action  in  filling  our  armies  will  have  more 
effect  upon  the  enemy  than  a  victory  over  them. 
They  profess  to  believe,  and  make  their  men  believe, 
there  is 'such  a  party  North  in  favor  of  recognizing 
Southern  independence  that  the  draft  cannot  be  en- 


forced. Let  them  be  undeceived.  Deserters  come 
into  our  lines  daily  who  tell  us  that  the  men  are 
nearly  universally  tired  of  the  war,  and  that  deser- 
tions would  be  much  more  frequent,  but  they  believe 
peace  will  be  negotiated  after  the  fall  election.  The 
enforcement  of  the  draft  and  prompt  filling  up  of  our 
armies  will  save  the  shedding  of  blood  to  an  immense 
degree.  U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-General. 

The  following  telegram  has  been  received  from 
Major-General  Sherman  on  the  same  subject : 

ATLANTA,  GA.— 6:30  r.  M.,  Sept.  13. 
Hon.  E.  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War  : 

I  am  very  glad  to  hear  that  the  draft  will  be  en- 
forced. First,  we  want  the  men ;  second,  they  come 
as  privates  to  fill  up  our  old  and  tried  regiments, 
with  their  experienced  officers  already  on  hand ; 
and  third,  because  the  enforcement  of  the  law  will 
manifest  a  power  resident  in  our  Government  equal 
to  the  occasion.  Our  Government,  though  a  Democ- 
racy, should  in  times  of  trouble  and  danger  be  able 
to  wield  the  power  of  a  great  nation.  All  well. 

W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Major-General. 

The  draft  is  ordered  to  commence  in  all  the  States 
and  districts  where  the  quota  is  not  filled  by  volun- 
teers, on  Monday,  the  19th,  and  will  go  on  until 
completed.  Volunteers  and  substitutes  will  be  re- 
ceived and  credited  to  as  late  a  period  as  possible. 
Volunteering  is  still  progressing  with  vigor  in  most 
of  the  States.  EDWIN  H.  STANTON, 

Secretary  of  War. 

A  call  for  500,000  men  had  been  issued  by 
the  President  on  July  18th. 

On  Sept.  28th  a  movement  was  made  by 
Gen.  Grant  on  the  north  of  the  James.  It  was 
predicated  on  the  belief  that  only  a  small  force  of 
the  enemy  occupied  the  works  on  the  north  side 
of  the  river,  and  a  hope  was  entertained  that 
by  a  sudden  movement  and  a  rapid  advance  the 
capture  of  Richmond  might  be  the  result.  At 
the  same  time  it  was  assumed  that  if  the  ad- 
vance was  successfully  resisted  it  could  only  be 
accomplished  by  the  withdrawal  of  a  force 
from  the  south  side  of  the  river,  which  would 
materially  aid  the  army  of  the  Potomac  in  a 
contemplated  movement  on  the  enemy  in  the 
vicinity  of  Petersburg.  Gen.  Ord  with  the 
18th  corps  was  ordered  to  cross  the  James  at 
Aikin's  Landing,  eight  miles  above  Deep  Bot- 
tom, and  to  mass  his  troops  quietly  on  the 
north  bank,  and  at  daylight  to  advance  against 
the  enemy's  works  in  his  front  with  the  utmost 
celerity,  in  orde^r  that  no  reenforcements  might 
reach  the  enemy  in  time  to  oppose  the  move- 
ment. After  capturing  the  works  on  Chapin's 
Farm,  it  was  designed  that  he  should  without 
delay  advance  against  the  rear  defences  of 
Chapin's  Bluff,  and,  after  capturing  these,  de- 
stroy the  bridges  across  the  James  and  con- 
tinue his  advance  toward  Richmond,  capturing 
the  enemy  or  driving  them  before  him,  and 
effectually  protecting  his  rear  by  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  bridges.  At  the  same  time  Gen. 
Birney,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  28th,  with  the 
10th  corps,  moved  to  Bermuda  Hundred  and 
crossed  the  river  during  the  night.  A  division 
of  colored  troops  of  the  18th  corps  was  added 
to  his  force.  Gen.  Birney  was  ordered,  by  a 
rapid  movement  at  daylight,  to  capture  the 
enemy's  work  in  front  of  Deep  Bottom  and 
gain  possession  of  the  Now  Market  road  lead- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


593 


ing  to  Richmond ;  thence  to  advance  as  rapidly 
as  practicable  toward  Richmond,  assaulting  any 
works  occupied  by  the  enemy  which  he  might 
meet,  and  establish  communication  or  a  con- 
nection with  Gen.  Ord  at  the  Mill  road,  distant 
about  seven  miles  from  Richmond.  Gen.  Bir- 
ney  had  captured  the  enemy's  works  at  &J  A.  M., 
and  by  nine  o'clock  his  second  division  was  on 
the  advance  toward  Richmond  on  the  New 
Market  road.  Communication  was  established 
with  Gen.  Ord,  as  directed,  by  10£  o'clock,  and 
Gen.  Grant,  being  on  the  field,  expressed  his 
gratification  with  the  progress.  The  strong 
inner  defences  of  Chapin's  Bluff  were  soon 
encountered,  and  preparations  were  made  to 
assault  them.  Gen.  Ord  had  carried  the  first 
line  of  the  enemy's  works  in  his  immediate 
front,  capturing  some  fifteen  pieces  of  artillery, 
and  was  then  preparing  to  act  in  conjunction 
with  Gen.  Birney  upon  the  enemy's  line  of 
fortifications.  As  the  works  were  evidently 
very  formidable,  it  became  necessary  to  organ- 
ize a  regular  assaulting  column.  This  delayed 
the  assault  until  2  p.  M.  Meantime  reenforce- 
ments  were  sent  to  the  enemy,  and  as  the  as- 
saulting column  advanced  they  could  be  seen 
entering  the  works.  From  this  cause  and  the 
strength  of  the  works,  the  assault  was  unsuc- 
cessful, although  the  troops  behaved  with  great 
gallantry.  Two  regiments  only  of  the  colored 
division  reached  one  of  the  rebel  forts,  where 
they  found  a  ditch  ten  feet  wide  and  eight  feet 
deep  between  them  and  the  parapet.  More 
than  a  hundred  of  these  brave  fellows  jumped 
into  the  ditch  and  assisted  some  of  their  com- 
rades to  mount  the  parapet  by  allowing  them 
to  climb  upon  their  shoulders.  About  a  dozen 
succeeded  in  mounting  the  parapet  by  these 
means.  But  this  force  which  had  bravely  pushed 
on  was  far  too  small  to  capture  the  fort,  and 
was  therefore  compelled  to  retire,  leaving  their 
comrades  in  the  ditch  of  the  fort.  But  these 
were  unable  to  make  good  their  escape,  as  it 
would  have  been  certain  death  to  leave  the 
the  ditch  and  return  to  the  troops,  and  were 
afterwards  compelled  to  surrender.  About 
eight  hundred  men  were  lost  in  this  assault  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners.  On  the  30th 
tlie^  enemy  attempted  to  recapture  the  works 
which  had  been  taken,  but  without  success. 
On  the  same  day  Gen.  "Warren  attacked  and  car- 
ried the  enemy's  lines  on  their  extreme  right, 
and  captured  a  number  of  prisoners.  At  the 
same  time  Gen.  Meade  attacked  and  carried  the 
enemy's  line  near  Poplar  Grove  Church. 

On  Oct.  7th  the  enemy  made  a  vigorous  and 
partially  successful  effort  to  turn  the  right  flank 
,of  the  Army  of  the  James.  Gen.  Anderson,  with 
one  brigade  of  cavalry  and  two  of  infantry,  sur- 

38 


prised  the  Federal  cavalry  and  routed  the  force 
on  the  right  and  captured  many  of  them.  Upon 
encountering  the  main  body  near  New  Market 
the  enemy  were  repulsed  and  abandoned  the 
Central  road.  The  loss  was  about  five  hundred, 
that  of  the  enemy  was  some  larger,  including 
one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners. 

On  the  27th  a  movement  was  made  by  a  por- 
tion of  the  2d  and  5th  corps  against  the^enemy's 
position  at  Hatcher's  Run.  A  severe  engage- 
ment ensued,  in  which  the  troops  of  both  corp? 
were  driven  back  with  severe  loss.  They,  how- 
ever, held  their  original  position.  The  follow- 
ing is  Gen.  Grant's  despatch  respecting  thh 
movement : 

CITY  PODTT,  Oct.  27—9  p.  M. 
To  Hon.  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Setfy  of  War  : 

I  have  just  returned  from  the  crossing  of  the  Boyl- 
ston plank  road  with  Hatcher's  Creek.  Our  line  now 
extends  from  its  former  left  to  Armstrong's  mill, 
thence  by  the  south  bank  of  Hatcher's  Creek  to  the 
point  above  named.  At  every  point  the  enemy  was 
found  intrenched  and  his  works  manned.  No  attack 
was  made  during  the  day  further  than  to  drive  pickets 
and  cavalry  inside  of  the  main  work.  Our  casualties 
have  been  light,  probably  less  than  two  hundred 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  The  same  is  probably 
true  with  the  enemy.  We  captured,  however,  seven 
loaded  teams  on  their  way  to  Stony  Creek  to  the 
enemy,  about  a  dozen  beef  cattle,  a  travelling  forge, 
and  from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  prisoners. 
Butler  extended  around  well  toward  the  Yorktown 
road  without  finding  a  point  unguarded.  I  shall  keep 
our  troops  out  where  they  are  until  toward  noon  to- 
morrow, in  hopes  of  inviting  an  attack. 

(Signed)  U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieut.  General. 

The  following  is  Gen.  Lee's  despatch : 


HEADQTTABTERS  ARMY  OF  NOBTITEBN 

October  28th,  1864.     ) 
Hon.  James  A.  Seddon,  Secretary  of  War : 

Gen.  A.  P.  Hill  reports  that  the  attack  of  Gen. 
Heth  upon  the  enemy  upon  the  Boylston  plank  road, 
mentioned  in  my  despatch  last  evening,  was  made  by 
three  brigades  under  Gen.  Mahone  in  front  and  Gen. 
Hampton  in  the  rear.  Mahone  captured  four  hun- 
dred prisoners,  three  stands  of  colors,  and  six  pieces 
of  artillery.  The  latter  could  not  be  brought  off,  the 
enemy  having  possession  of  the  bridge. 

In  the  attack  subsequently  made  by  the  enemy 
Gen.  Mahone  'broke  three  lines  of  battle,  and  during 
the  night  the  enemy  retired  from  the  Boylston  plank 
road,  leaving  his  wounded  and  more  than  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dead  on  the  field. 

About  9  o  clock  p.  M.,  a  small  force  assaulted  and 
took  possession  of  our  works  on  the  Baxter  road,  in 
front  of  Petersburg,  but  was  soon  driven  out. 

On  the  Williamsburg  road,  yesterday,  Gen.  Field 
captured  upward  of  four  hundred  prisoners  and  seven 
stands  of  colors.  The  enemy  left  a  number  of  dead 
in  front  of  our  works  and  returned  to  his  former 
position  to-day.  R.  E.  LEE. 

The  subsequent  movements  during  the  year 
were  comparatively  unimportant.  Both  armies 
prepared  such  quarters  as  to  enable  them  to 
retain  their  positions  during  the  winter. 


594 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


CHAPTEE   XLIY. 

The  Sanitary  Commission — Its  Organization — Objects — Means  of  Transportation — Preventive  Service — General  Relief- 
Special  Relief—  Field  Relief— Auxiliary  Belief  Corps — Receipts— Expenditures — Western  Commission— Other  Sani- 
tary Commissions— Christian  Conutoission — Organization— Objects — Services — American  Union  Commission— Objects. 


SOME  notice  should  be  given  to  those  chari- 
table organizations  which  were  designed  to  re- 
lieve the  sufferings  of  the  wounded  soldiers. 
Their  agents  were  not  only  present  on  the  field 
of  these  unparalleled  battles,  but  they  had  ac- 
companied the  armies  in  every  campaign. 

The  proclamation  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States  on  the  15th  of  April,  1861,  an- 
nouncing the  beginning  of  a  civil  war,  and 
calling  for  75,000  volunteer  soldiers,  not  only 
brought  to  light  the  patriotic  feeling  of  the 
masses  of  American  citizens,  who  hastened  to 
enrol  themselves  among  the  volunteer  defenders 
of  the  country,  but  evoked  a  deep  feeling  of 
sympathy,  and  a  desire  to  aid  in  the  good  work 
on  the  part  of  those  who  from  age,  profession, 
or  sex,  were  debarred  the  privilege  of  giving 
their  personal  service  in  the  field.  Soldiers'  aid 
societies,  to  furnish  lint,  bandages,  hospital 
clothing,  and  delicacies,  as  well  as  nurses  for  the 
sick  and  wounded,  sprung  up  on  every  hand ; 
their  zeal  was  often  mingled  with  inexperience 
and  ignorance,  and  the  Medical  Bureau  of  the 
War  Department,  nearly  as  ignorant  as  they  of 
the  immense  duties  and  responsibilities  which 
would  soon  overwhelm  it,  turned  a  cold  shoul- 
der to  their  offers  of  aid ;  but  the  motives  which 
prompted  them  in  their  benevolent  offers  were 
worthy  of  all  praise.  Among  these  aid  socie- 
ties, many  of  them  organized  within  two  or 
three  weeks  after  the  President's  proclamation, 
was  one,  "  The  "Woman's  Central  Association 
of  Relief,"  in  New  York,  which  had  among  its 
officers  some  gentlemen  of  large  experience  in 
sanitary  science,  and  of  considerable  knowledge 
of  military  hygiene.  These  sought  to  give  to 
its  labors  a  practical  character  from  the  begin- 
ning, and  they  urged  upon  the  association  the 
importance  of  ascertaining  at  once  what  the 
Government  would  and  could  do,  and  then 
making  arrangements  to  cooperate  with  it  and 
supplement  its  deficiencies.  Prominent  among 
these  gentlemen  was  Rev.  Henry  W.  Bellows, 
D.D.,  who  had  previously  won  a  high  reputa- 
tion by  his  efforts  for  improving  the  sanitary 
condition  of  our  large  cities. 

Other  organizations  of  gentlemen  were  at- 
tempting by  different,  yet  in  the  main  simi^r 
measures,  to  render  assistance  to  the  Govern- 
ment. Among  these  were  the  "  Advisory  Com- 
mittee of  the  Board  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons 
of  the  Hospitals  of  New  York,"  and  "  The  New 
York  Medical  Association  for  "furnishing  Hospi- 
tal Supplies  in  aid  of  the  Army,"  both  new  asso- 
ciations, called  into  existence  by  the  exigencies 
of  the  war.  Fraternizing  with  each  other,  as 
they  well  might,  since  they  all  looked  to  the  ac- 


complishment of  the  same  end,  these  associations 
resolved  to  send  a  joint  delegation  to  "Washington 
to  confer  with  the  Government,  and  ascertain 
by  what  means  they  might  best  cooperate  with 
it  for  the  benefit  of  the  soldiers  of  the  nation. 

The  idea  of  organizing  a  Commission  which 
should  unite  and  energize  all  these  as  yet  iso- 
lated societies,  and  apply  their  contributions  to 
the  best  advantage  in  aid  of  the  Medical  Bureau 
and  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers,  seems  to 
have  been  suggested  to  the  delegation  at  the 
very  outset  of  their  mission. 

On  the  18th  of  May,  1861,  Messrs.  Henry  "W. 
Bellows,  D.D.,  "W.  H.  Van  Buren,  M.D.,  Elisha 
Harris,  M.D.,  and  Jacob  Harsen,  M.D.,  repre- 
sentatives of  these  three  associations,  drew  up 
and  forwarded  to  the  Secretary  of  "War  a  com- 
munication setting  forth  the  propriety  of  creat- 
ing an  organization  which  should  unite  the 
duties  and  labors  of  the  three  associations,  and 
cooperate  with  the  Medical  Bureau  of  the  War 
Department  to  such  an  extent  that  each  might 
aid  the  other  in  securing  the  welfare  of  the 
army.  For  this  purpose  they  asked  that  a 
mixed  commission  of  civilians,  military  officers, 
and  medical  men,  might  be'  appointed  by  the 
Government,  charged  with  the  duty  of  method- 
izing and  reducing  to  practical  service  the 
already  active  but  undirected  benevolence  of 
the  people  toward  the  army. 

On  the  22d  of  May,  R.  C.  Wood,  M.D.,  then 
Acting  Surgeon-General,  and  subsequently  in 
charge  of  the  Western  Medical  Department,  fol- 
lowed this  communication  by  a  letter  addressed 
to  the  Secretary  of  War,  urging  the  establish- 
ment of  the  desired  Commission  as  a  needed 
adjunct  to  the  new,  extensive,  and  overflowing 
duties  of  the  Medical  Bureau. 

On  the  23d  of  May,  the  delegation  addressed 
to  the  Secretary  of  War  a  "  Draft  of  powers, 
asked  from  the  Government,  by  the  Sanitary 
delegates  to  the  President  and  Secretary  of 
War."  In  this  paper  the  powers  desired  were 
stated  as  follows : 

"  1.  The  Commission  being  organized  for  the 
purposes  only  of  inquiry  and  advice,  asks  for  no 
legal  powers,  but  only  the  official  recognition 
and  moral  countenance  of  the  Government, 
which  will  be  secured  by  its  public  appointment. 
It  asks  for  a  recommendatory  order,  addressed 
in  its  favor  to  all  officers  of  the  movement,  to 
further  its  inquiries;  for  permission  to  corre- 
spond and  confer,  on  a  confidential  footing,  with 
the  Medical  Bureau  and  the  War  Department, 
proffering  such  suggestions  and  counsel  as_  its 
investigations  and  studies  may  from  time  to  time 
prompt  and  enable  it  to  offer. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


595 


"  2.  The  Commission  seeks  no  pecuniary  re- 
muneration from  the  Government.  Its  motives 
being  humane  and  patriotic,  its  labors  will  be 
its  own  reward.  The  assignment  to  them  of  a 
room  in  one  of  the  public  buildings,  with  sta- 
tionery and  other  necessary  conveniences,  would 
meet  their  expectations  in  this  direction. 

"  3.  The  Commission  asks  leave  to  sit  through 
the  war,  either  in  "Washington,  or  when  and 
where  it  may  find  it  most  convenient  and  use- 
ful; but  it  will  disband  should  experience  ren- 
der its  operations  emb'arrassing  to  the  Govern- 
ment, or  less  necessary  and  useful  than  it  is 
now  supposed  they  will  prove." 

Concerning  the  objects  of  the  Commission, 
the  delegation  say: 

"The  general  object  of  the  Commission  is 
through  suggestions  reported  from  time  to 
time  to  the  Medical  Bureau  and  the  War  De- 
partment, to  bring  to  bear  upon  the  health, 
comfort,  and  morale  of  'our  troops,  the  fullest 
and  ripest  teachings  of  sanitary  science,  in  its 
application  to  military  life,  whether  deduced 
from  theory  or  practical  observations,  from  gen- 
eral hygienic  principles,  or  from  the  experience 
of  the  Crimean,  the  East  India,  and  the  Italian 
wars.  Its  objects  are  purely  advisory." 

They  indicate  the  following  specific  objects 
of  inquiry : 

"  1*  Materiel  of  the  Volunteers.  The  Com- 
mission proposes  a  practical  inquiry  into  the 
materiel  of  the  volunteer  forces,  with  reference 
to  the  laws  and  usages  of  the  several  States, 
in  the  matter  of  inspections,  with  the  hope  of 
assimilating  the  regulations  with  those  of  the 
•army  proper,  alike  in  the  appointment  of  medi- 
cal and  other  officers,  and  in  the  vigorous  ap- 
plication of  just  rules  and  principles  to  recruit- 
ing and  inspection  laws.  This  inquiry  would 
exhaust  every  topic  appertaining  to  the  original 
materiel  of  the  army,  considered  as  a  subject 
of  sanitary  and  medical  care. 

"  2.  Prevention.  The  Commission  would  in- 
quire with  scientific  thoroughness  into  the  sub- 
ject of  diet,  cooking,  cooks,  clothing,  huts, 
camping  grounds,  transports,  transitory  depots, 
with  their  expenses,  camp  police,  with  reference 
to  settling  the  question  how  far  the  regulations 
of  the  army  proper  are  or  can  be  practically 
carried  out  among  the  volunteer  regiments,  and 
what  changes  or  modifications  are  desirable 
from  their  peculiar  character  and  circumstances? 
Every  thing  appertaining  to  outfit,  cleanliness, 
precautions  against  damp,  cold,  heat,  malaria, 
infection,  and  unvaried  or  ill-cooked  food,  and 
an  irregular  or  careless  commissariat,  would  fall 
under  this  head. 

"  3.  Relief.  The  Commission  would  inquire 
into  the  organization  6f  Military  Hospitals,  gen- 
eral and  regimental;  the  precise  regulations 
and  routine  through  which  the  services  of  the 
patriotic  women  of  the  country  may  be  made 
available  as  nurses ;  the  nature  and  sufficiency 
of  hospital  supplies;  the  method  of  obtaining 
and  regulating  all  other  extra  and  unbought 
supplies,  contributing  to  the  comfort  of  the  sick  • 


the  question  of  ambulances  and  field  services,* 
and  of  extra  medical  aid;  and  whatever  else 
relates  to  the  care,  relief,  or  cure  of  the  sick 
and  wounded,  their  investigations  being  guided 
by  the  highest  and  latest  medical  and  military 
experience,  and  carefully  adapted  to  the  nature 
and  wants  of  our  immediate  army,  and  its  pecu- 
liar origin  and  circumstances." 

The  President  and  Secretary  of  War  were  not 
at  first  disposed  *to  look  with  any  great  favor 
upon  this  plan,  which  they  regarded  rather  as 
a  sentimental  scheme  concocted  by  women, 
clergymen,  and  humane  physicians,  than  as  one 
whose  practical  workings  would  prove  of  incal- 
culable benefit  to  the  army  which  was  rapidly 
coming  into  existence.  The  earnestness  of  its 
advocates,  their  high  position,  and  the  evidence 
which  was  adduced  that  they  only  represent- 
ed the  voice  of  the  nation,  produced  some 
effect  in  modifying  their  views ;  and  when  the 
Acting  Surgeon-General  asked  for  it,  as  a  needed . 
adjuvant  to  the  Medical  Bureau,  likely  soon  to 
be  overwhelmed  by  its  new  duties,  they  finally 
decided,  though  reluctantly,  to  permit  its  organ- 
ization. Accordingly  the  Secretary  of  War,  on 
the  9th  of  June,  decided  on  the  creation  of  such 
a  Commission,  the  President  approving.  The 
title  first  given  to  the  new  organization  was  "  The 
Commission  of  Inquiry  and  Advice  in  respect 
of  the  Sanitary  Interests  of  the  United  States 
Forces,"  but  was  subsequently  changed  to  "  The 
United  States  Sanitary  Commission." 

It  was  composed  of  the  following  gentle- 
men :  Rev.  Henry  W.  Bellows,  D.D.,  Presi- 
dent, New  York ;  Professor  A.  D.  Bache,  Vice- 
President,  Washington;  Elisha  Harris,  M.D., 
Corresponding  Secretary,  New  York;  George 
W.  Cullum,  U.  S.  A.,  Washington ;  Alexander 
E.  Shiras,  U.  S.  A.,  Washington;  Robert  C. 
Wood,  M.D.,  U.  S.  A.,  Washington ;  William 
H.  Van  Buren,  M.D.,  New  York;  Wolcott 
Gibbs,  M.D.,  New  York  ;  Cornelius  R.  Agnew, 
M.D.,  New  York;  George  T.  Strong,  New 
York ;  Frederick  Law  Olmsted,  New  York ; 
Samuel  G.  Howe,  M.D.,  Boston;  J.  S.  New- 
berry,  M.D.,  Cleveland,  Ohio.  To  these  were 
subsequently  added  Horace  Binney,  Jr.,  Phila- 
delphia; Rt.  Rev.  Thomas  M.  Clark,  D.D., 
Providence,  R.  I. ;  Hon.  Joseph  Holt,  Ken- 
tucky ;  R.  W.  Burnett,  Cincinnati,  Ohio ;  Hon. 
Mark  Skinner,  Chicago,  Illinois ;  Rev.  John  H. 
Heywood,  Louisville,  Kentucky ;  Professor 
Fairman  Rogers,  Philadelphia ;  J.  Huntington 
Wolcott,  Boston;  Charles  J.  Stille,  Philadel- 
phia ;  Ezra  B.  McCagg,  Chicago,  111. ;  and 
nearly  six  hundred  associate  members,  in  all 
parts  of  the  country. 

It  is  a  matter  of  wonder  that  in  a  field  so 
wholly  new  the  delegation  should  have  so 
fully  comprehended  the  duties  which  would 
be  incumbent  upon  the  Commission,  and  the 
range  of  its  future  operations.  There  were 
indeed  certain  features  of  its  work  which,  of 
necessity,  could  only  be  developed  by  the  bit- 
ter experiences  through  which  it  was  called  to 
pass ;  and  in  the  end,  the  great  lack  in  the  Gov- 


596 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


•eminent  medical  service  compelled  it  to  assume 
more  of  the  executive  and  less  of  the  advisory 
functions.  Still  it  has  never  failed  to  bear  in 
mind  that  it  was  created  to  aid  by  its  advice, 
counsel,  and,  where  needed,  its  direct  help,  -the 
medical  department  of  the  Government  service. 

Under  its  charter,  it  at  once  proceeded  to  or- 
ganize its  action  and  to  appoint  committees 
from  its  members  to  visit  every  camp,  recruit- 
ing-post, transport,  fort,  hospital,  and  military 
station,  to  ascertain  and  report  all  abuses,  and  to 
perfect  such  organization  as  might  insure  a  high- 
er degree  of  health  and  comfort  for  the  soldiers. 

The  medical  members  of  the  Commission  un- 
dertook to  consider  the  questions  which  might 
arise  concerning  the  diseases  of  the  camp,  and 
their  medical  and  surgical  treatment,  from  the 
highest  scientific  point  of  view ;  and  guided  by 
the  rich  and  abundant  experience  of  European 
army  surgeons,  to  prepare  brief  medical  and 
surgical  tracts  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  vol- 
'unteer  surgeons  of  the  army.  Among  these 
tracts,  of  which  many  thousands  have  been  cir- 
culated, were,  "Advice  as  to  Camping;  "  "Re- 
port on  Military  Hygiene  and  Therapeutics ;  " 
"  Dr.  Guthrie's  Directions  to  Army  Surgeons 
on  the  Battle-field ;  "  "  Rules  for  preserving  the 
Health  of  the  Soldier ; "  "  Quinine  as  a  Prophy- 
lactic against  Malarious  Diseases ;"  "Report  on 
the  value  of  Vaccination  in  Armies; "  "  Report 
on  Amputation;"  "Report  on  Amputation 
through  the  Foot  and  at  the  Ankle-joint ;"  "Re- 
port on  Venereal  Diseases ;  "  "  Report  on  Pneu- 
monia; "  "Report  on  Continued  Fevers ;  "  "Re- 
port on  Excision  of  Joints  for  Traumatic  Cause ;" 
"  Report  on  Dysentery ;  "  "Report  on  Scurvy;" 
"  Report  on  the  Treatment  of  Fractures  in  Mil- 
itary Surgery ;  "  "  Report  on  the  Nature  and 
Treatment  of  Miasmatic  Fevers;  "  "Report  on 
the  Treatment  of  Yellow  Fever ;  "  "  Report  on 
the  Treatment  of  Infectious  Diseases,"  etc. 

Three  committees  were  appointed,  one  to 
communicate  the  matured  counsels  of  the  Com- 
mission to  the  Government,  and  procure  their 
ordering  by  the  proper  departments ;  a  second 
to  maintain  a  direct  relation  with  the  army  offi- 
cers and  medical  men,  with  the  camps  and  hos- 
pitals, and  by  all  proper  methods  to  make  sure 
of  the  carrying  out  of  the  sanitary  orders  of  the 
Medical  Bureau  and  the  War  Department ;  and 
a  third  to  be  in  constant  communication  with 
the  State  Governments,  and  the  public  benevo- 
lent associations  interested  in  the  army. 

This  plan  of  organization  was  approved  by 
the  Secretary  of  War,  on  the  13th  June,  1861, 
and  on  the  21st  of  that  month  the  Commission 
issued  its  first  address  to  the  public.  This  was 
soon  Allowed  by  an  appeal  to  the  Life  Insurance 
Companies,  and  another  to  men  of  wealth 
throughout  the  country,  for  aid  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  its  work.  The  members  of  the  Com- 
mission, as  such,  received  no  compensation,  but 
the  purposes  of  the  organization  would  require 
a  very  considerable  number  of  paid  employes, 
and  would  involve  heavy  expenses  for  publica- 
tions and  supplies,  which  could  only  be  pur- 


chased with  money.  A  considerable  number 
of  associate  members  were  elected  at  this  time, 
who  gave  their  services  in  raising  means  for  the 
operations  of  the  Commission,  and  Ladies'  As- 
sociations, in  all  parts  of  the  country,  prepared 
clothing  and  supplies  of  all  sorts,  and  forwarded 
them  to  its  depots. 

The  members  of  the  Commission  visited, 
during  the  summer  of  1861,  the  different  camps 
of  the  widely-extended  armies  of  the  republic, 
and  carefully  inspected  and  reported  upon  their 
sanitary  condition  and  n^eds. 

The  necessity  of  the  services  of  the  agents  of 
the  Commission  on  the  field  immediately  after, 
or,  when  practicable,  during  the  progress  of,  im- 
portant battles,  was  felt,  as  soon  as  such  battles 
occurred.  At  first,  owing  to  the  difficulties 
of  procuring  transportation  for  its  supplies  to 
the  field,  in  consequence  of  the  dependence  of 
the  Medical  Bureau  upon  the  Quartermaster's 
Bureau  for  transportation,  it  could  not  reach 
the  field  so  early  as  its  officers  desired,  and  in 
some  of  the  earlier  battles  there  was  great  suf- 
fering (partially  ameliorated,  it  is  true,  by  indi- 
vidual effort  and  enterprise)  in  consequence. 
But  the  Commission  soon  found  it  necessary  to 
have  its  own  independent  transportation,  and 
this  both  by  land  and  water,  its  hospital  trans- 
ports, its  wagons  and  ambulances,  and  its  am- 
bulance railroad  cars.  In  July,  1863,  it  added 
to  these  the  plan  of  attaching  to  each  army 
corps  a  Superintendent  of  Relief,  with  his  as- 
sistants, wagons,  ambulances,  and  supplies,  to 
remain  constantly  with  his  corps  and  minister 
to  its  needs. 

The  transportation  of  the  wounded  soldier- 
from  the  battle  ground  to  the  field-hospital,  as 
well  as  to  the  more  remote  camp,  post,  or  gen- 
eral hospital,  is  a  matter  of  importance.  If 
roughly  and  unskilfully  performed,  the  wound- 
ed man  not  only  suffers  severely,  but  his  inju- 
ries may  be  rendered  mortal.  At  first  it  was  the 
practice  in  the  army  for  the  line  officers  to  de- 
tach two  men  who  were  uninjured  from  the 
ranks  to  bear  off  each  wounded  man ;  but  this 
weakened  the  force  so  much  in  a  severe  battle 
(the  bearers  seldom  returning  to  their  place), 
that  it  was  finally  prohibited,  and  only  the  am- 
bulance men  of  the  regiment,  or  the  members 
of  the  band,  aided  sometimes  by  the  chaplain, 
or  by  civilians,  assisted  in  that  duty.  An  am- 
bulance corps  was  organized  in  connectioH  with 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  autumn  of  1862, 
but  did  not  attain  much  efficiency  till  the  spring 
of  1863.  Congress,  at  its  session  of  1863-'64 
extended  its  provisions  to  the  other  armies  of 
the  republic.  By  its  provisions  each  regiment 
in  going  into  battle  is  entitled  to  three  ambu- 
lances, with  their  drivers,  and  six  stretcher- 
bearers,  who  are  commanded  by  a  sergeant,  the 
stretcher-bearers  marching  with  the  regiment 
into  battle,  and  the  ambulances  being  drawn  up 
in  rear  between  the  army  and  the  field  hospital; 
the  ambulance  force  of  the  regiments  forming 
a  brigade,  being  under  the  command  of  a  second 
lieutenant,  that  of  a  division  being  commanded 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


597 


by  a  first  lieutenant,  and  the  force  attached  to  a 
corps  by  a  captain  who  is  responsible  to  the 
medical  director  of  the  army.  The  ambulances 
to  be  provided  with  stretcher-hooks  and  seats, 
and  with  water,  cordials,  bandages,  etc.  The 
wounded  are  brought  off  by  these  arrangements 
promptly  and  with  comparatively  little  suffering. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  however,  there  have  been 
usually  but  two  ambulances  to  a  regiment,  and 
sometimes  bu.t  one. 

The  different  means  of  transportation  adopted 
deserve  notice.  In  most  of  the  armies  the  IT. 
S.  army  hand-litter  or  stretcher  is  now  in  use 
for  carrying  men  off  from  the  field,  but  some 
of  the  smaller  outlying  bodies  of  troops,  and 
occasionally  detachments  of  cavalry,  are  not 
provided  with  them.  For  these,  as  well  as  for 
the  larger  bodies  of  troops  early  in  the  war,  the 
hand-litter  made  with  guns  and  blankets,  has 
been  extemporized ;  for  this  purpose  the  edges 
of  the  blanket  are  rolled  over  the  guns,  and  tied 
firmly  with  twine,  and  two  stout  sticks  are  also 
tied  transversely  across  at  the  head  and  foot 
serving  as  handles  for  the  bearers.  This  being 
laid  oa  the  ground,  the  wounded  man  is  placed 
gently  upon  it  with  his  knapsack  under  his 
head,  and  the  bearers,  standing  between  the 
guns,  carry  him  with  comparative  comfort. 
The  Indian  litter  is  made  by  taking  two  stout 
saplings,  and  attaching  to  them  three  cross- 
pieces  about  two  and  a  half  or  three  feet  apart 
by  cords  and  notches;  the  sick  or  wounded 
man  being  placed  on  his  blanket,  this  frame- 
work is  placed  over  him  and  the  blanket  knot- 
ted to  it.  By  three  bent  twigs  and  an  addi- 
tional blanket  a  kind  of  wagon  top  can  be  made 
to  this  in  case  of  storm.  Dr.  James  R.  "Wood 
has  invented  an  admirable  hand-litter  of  can- 
vas, with  the  sides  bound  with  very  strong 
rope  with  loops  at  suitable  distances  and  the 
cross-pieces  of  steel.  This  can  be  rolled  up  hi 
small  compass  for  transportation,  and  needs 
only  a  couple  of  poles,  easily  obtainable  for 
use  at  any  time.  Panniers  to  be  fitted  on 
the  backs  of  mules  or  horses  (the  former  are 
preferable)  are  of  service  in  mountainous  dis- 
tricts where  wheel  carriages  are  inadmissible. 
The  French  use  them  to  some  extent  in  their 
ambulance  corps.  One  of  the  panniers  receives 
a  man  sitting,  the  other,  one  in  a  recumbent  or 
partially  recumbent  position.  It  is  necessary 
that  the  animals,  whether  horses  or  mules,  should 
have  been  trained  specially  for  this  service.  A 
horse  or  mule  litter  for  transporting  a  wounded 
man  in  a  recumbent  position,  by  means  of  two 
horses,  one  before,  the  other  behind  the  litter, 
was  ordered  by  the  II.  S.  Army  Medical  Board 
in  1860,  but  has  not  been  very  generally  intro^ 
duced.  It  is  convenient  for  a  mountainous 
country,  but  requires  too  many  horses  and  men 
for  a  single  soldier.  The  two-wheeled  ambu- 
lance, known  as  Cherry's  Cart,  which  may  be 
used  either  as  an  ambulance  or  transport,  found 
at  first  considerable  favor  in  the  army,  though 
Dr.  (now  Medical  Inspector,  U.  S.  A.)  Coolidge's 
two- wheeled  ambulance  soon  superseded  it,  and 


proved  •  an  admirable  conveyance  for  wounded 
men  on  smooth  and  good  roads,  though  too 
light  for  the  rough  and  horrible  routes  over 
which  most  of  our  campaigning  has  been  con- 
ducted. Surgeon  General  Hammond  ordered, 
in  1863,  four-wheeled  ambulances  to  be  drawn 
by  two  horses,  which  proved  preferable  to  any 
othe'rs  in  the  service.  They  were  intended  to 
convey  ten  or  twelve  persons  sitting,  or  two 
sitting  and  two  or  three  lying  down.  A  still 
better  four-wheeled  ambulance,  also  drawn  by 
two  horses,  has,  within  a  few  months  past,  been 
perfected  by  Dr.  B.  Howard,  late  a  surgeon  in  the 
U.  S.  Army,  and  has  been  adopted  in  the  ser- 
vice, and  received  the  approval  of  the  Sanitary 
Commission  (fig.  3).  It  is  beyond  question  the 
most  admirably  contrived  conveyance  for  sick 
or  wounded  men  over  roads  of  any  description 
which  has  ever  been  constructed,  and  seems  to 
leave  no  room  for  further  improvement.  It 
admits  of  the  transportation  of  six  persons  sit- 
ting, or  two  recumbent,  or  one  recumbent  and 
three  sitting,  and  gives  to  the  sitter  all  the  ad- 
vantages of  a  corner  seat  with  cushion,  for  sup- 
port, while  the  josting  and  shaking  of  an  ordi- 
nary ambulance  is  entirely  prevented  by  the  use 
of  semi-elliptic  springs  with  counterpoise  springs 
inside,  and  rubber  buffers  to  receive  any  sudden 
shock  (figs.  4,  5,  6).  The  badly  wounded  are 
brought  on  the  litters  of  the  ambulance,  which 
are  well  cushioned  and  slid  into  place  in  the 
ambulance  on  steel  rollers,  and  steadied  in  their 
position  by  loops  and  guys.  A  tank  of  fresh 
water  is  placed  underneath  the  seats  and  beds, 
and  the  water  can  be  drawn  from  the  rear  end 
of  the  ambulances  (figs.  7,  8).  There  are  also 
contrivances  for  the  suspension  of  fractures  of 
the  lower  extremities  without*  motion,  and  for 
suspending,  if  necessary,  additional  stretchers 
in  the  ambulance.  .There  are  also  hooks  on 
the  sides  of  the  ambulance  for  carrying  folded 
stretchers,  and  compartments  for  the  necessary 
simple  cordials,  lint,  bandages,  &c.  It  is  in 
short  a  complete  flying  hospital  (fig.  9). 

1^  has  sometimes  been  necessary  to  transport 
the  sick  and  wounded  to  hospitals  remote  from 
the  battle-fields,  either  for  the  sake  of  a  more 
healthful  climate,  or  to  afford  them  better  hos- 
pital accommodation  and  greater  facilities  for 
recovery.  In  the  earlier  years  of  the  war,  this 
was  done,  when  it  was  possible,  on  steamboats 
or  steamships  chartered  as  transports.  They 
were  often  fearfully  crowded  and  exposed  to 
great  suffering  in  their  voyages,  and  where,  as 
was  the  case  after  the  battles  of  the  Peninsula 
and  Antietam  in  1862,  the  voyage  was  made 
by  sea,  the  rolling  of  the  vessels  in  the  gales 
they  often  encountered,  increased  the  agony 
and  caused  the  death  of  many  of  the  helpless 
sufferers.  Subsequently,  where  transportation 
by  rqjlroad  was  necessary,  they  were  carried  in 
passenger  cars,  or  oftener  in  box  or  freight  cars, 
with  straw  laid  upon  the  floors.  In  this  way 
many  thousands  were  brought  from  Chatta- 
nooga to  Nashville  and  Louisville,  in  the  au- 
tumn of  1863,  and  a  large  number  in  the  spring 


598  MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 

FIG.  8. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION.  599 

t 


FIG.  5. 


FIG.  6. 


and  summer  of  1864.  The  Sanitary  Commis- 
sion, desirous  to  relieve  the  suffering  thus  caus- 
ed, ordered  the  construction  of  a  number  of 
hospital  cars,  from  drawings  made  by  Elisha 
Harris,  M.D.  In  these  cars  the  seats  are  re- 
moved, and  the  stretchers  in  which  the  patients 
are  brought  suspended  upon  gutta  percha  or 
rubber  loops,  and  secured  from  swaying.  There 
were  five  or  six  of  them  on  the  Atlanta,  Chat- 
tanooga, Nashville,  and  Louisville  route,  with 
the  surgeon's  car  in  the  centre  of  the  train,  with 
kitchen,  dispensary,  nurses,  assistant-surgeons, 
and  apothecaries  in  attendance,  and  the  sick 
and  wounded  had  the  same  care  and  attention 
they  could  have  had  in  the  best  regulated  hos- 
pitals. The  same  number  have  been  constantly 
running  between  Washington,  New  York,  and 
Boston. 

The  introduction  of  new  and  more  deadly 
missiles  into  modern  warfare  considerably  mod- 


ified the  methods  of  treatment  as  well  as  the 
diagnosis  and  prognosis  of  gunshot  wounds. 
The  old  round  bullet  produced  wounds  far  less 
formidable  than  those  inflicted  by  the  Mini6 
ball  or  the  shell,  which  played  so  prominent  a 
part  in  the  battles  of  this  war.  The  round 
musket-ball  had  a  much  lower  initial  velocity, 
was  readily  deflected  from  its  course  by  coming 
in  contact  with  bone,  tendon,  or  even  firm 
muscular  tissue,  and  if  it  penetrated  the  large 
cavities,  usually  made  a  clean  perforation  of  a 
diameter  but  little  larger  than  its  own.  The 
Mini6,  on  the  contrary,  made  a  ragged,  ugly 
wound,  and  passed  straight  on  through  muscle, 
tendon,  cartilage,  and  bone,  producing  terrible 
comminuted  fractures  of  the  latter;  and  if  it 
did  not  pass  entirely  through,  usually  came  to 
the  skin  on  the*opposite  side  from  that  which 
it  perforated,  and  lying  there,  presenting  its 
long  diameter  to  the  surface,  left  a  large  and 


600  MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 

PIG.  9. 


*K  JTfKvX'Nj/"  >K        >C    JK. -x*^  /^*^    2K  ' 


ragged  cavity  in  its  last  resting-place.  The 
wounds  made  -by  fragments  of  shell  were  still 
more  severe,  mangling  the  unfortunate  subject 
most  cruelly,  and  producing  destructive  frac- 
tures and  sloughing  wounds. 

The  Commission  worked  throughout  in  har- 
mony with  the  United  States  Government,  and 
especially  with  the  Medical  Bureau,  to  which  it 
proved  of  great  service.  That  bureau,  which 
at  the  commencement  of  the  war  was  utterly 
inadequate,  though  from  no  fault  of  its  own,  to 
the  vast  work  before  it,  was  soon  regulated 
and  admirably  organized,  having  a  corps  of 
three  thousand  skilful  and  responsible  sur- 
geons, and  fifteen  thousand  hired  nurses  expe- 
rienced in  their  duties. 

But  even  with  this  large  force,  trained  as  it 
had  been  by  the  arduous  duties  to  which  it  had 
been  called,  there  were  numerous  instances 
where  the  most  perfect  working-  of  the  Govern- 
ment machinery  could  not  remedy  suffering 
and  misery  which  a  more  flexible  system  could 
relieve.  The  presence  of  incipient  scurvy 
among  the  troops  on  Morris  Island,  and  the 
forces  engaged  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  and 
Port  Hudson,  was  detected  and  remedied  by 
the  sending  at  once  of  large  amounts  of  fresh 
vegetables  and  anti-scorbutics  by  the  Commis- 
sion to  those  points,  which  reached  them 
promptly,  and  arrested  the  disease,  while,  by 
the  necessarily  slow  movemerits  of  the  Govern- 
ment, many  weeks  must  have  elapsed  ere  the 
needed  remedies  could  have  been  furnished, 


and  meantime  half  the  forces'  engaged  would 
have  perished.  "  Potatoes  and  onions,"  says  one 
of  the  energetic  lady  agents  of  the  Commission 
in  Chicago,  "captured  Vicksburg."  "The  sup- 
plies of  fresh  vegetables  and  anti-scorbutics 
sent  by  the  Sanitary  Commission  to  Morris 
Island,  saved  the  army  of  the  South,"  is  the 
testimony  of  an  impartial  but  thoroughly  com- 
petent witness,  who  spent  ten  months  in  the 
hospitals  of  that  department  in  1863. 

The  work  of  the  Sanitary  Commission  com- 
prehended the  following  distinct  departments 
of  labor:  1st.  The  preventive  service,or  Sanitary 
Inspection,  which  required  a  corps  of  Medical 
Inspectors,  whose  time  was  passed  with  each 
army  corps  in  the  field,  visiting  camps,  hospi- 
tals, and  transports ;  skilful  and  experienced 
physicians,  who  watched  the  perils  from  climate, 
malarious  exposure,  from  hard  marching  or  ac- 
tive campaigning,  from  inadequate  food  or 
clothing,  growing  out  of  imperfect  facilities  of 
transportation,  and  reported  to  the  Chief  In- 
spector of  that  army,  and  through  him  to  the 
Chief  of  Inspection  at  headquarters,  for  reme- 
dy, or  to  the  Associate  Secretary  in  charge,  or 
to  relief  agents  under  their  control,  and  thus 
saw  to  the  supplying  of  the  needs  of  that  por- 
tion of  the  army,  and  the  adoption  of  the 
necessary  measures  for  the  improvement  of  its 
sanitary  condition.  From  the  reports  of  these 
inspectors  the  materials  were  gathered  which 
were  digested  into  such  forms  as  to  be  of  per- 
manent value  in  the  Commission's  Bureau  of 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


601 


Statistics.  To  this  department  belonged  also 
the  corps  of  Special  Hospital  Inspectors,  select- 
ed from  the  most  learned  and  skilful  physicians 
of  the  country,  who,  from  time  to  time,  made 
the  circuit  of  all  the  general  hospitals  of  the 
army  (numbering  nearly  three  hundred),  and 
reported  upon  their  wants,  condition,  progress, 
personnel,  and  capacity  for  improvement.  The 
substance  of  these  reports  was  confidentially 
made  over  to  the  Surgeon-General.  A  third 
agency,  in  connection  with  this  preventive  ser- 
vice, was  the  preparation  and  circulation  of  the 
medical  tracts  already  named,  and  information 
important  and  indispensable  to  the  officers,  sol- 
diers, and  especially  the  medical  men  in  the 
field. 

2.  The  Department  of  General  Belief. — The 
supplies  of  food,  clothing,  bandages,  hospital 
furniture,  clothing,  and  bedding,  delicacies  for 
the  sick,  stimulants  and  cordials  for  the  wound- 
ed on  the  field,  the  sick  and  wounded  in  camp, 
field,  regimental,  post,  and  general  hospitals, 
came  from  the  branches  of  the  Commission,  of 
which  there  were  twelve,  having  depots  in  Bos- 
ton, New  Haven,  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Cin- 
cinnati, Cleveland,  Chicago,  Buffalo,  Pittsburg, 
Detroit,  Columbus,  and  Louisville.  Each  of 
these  branches,  which  were  variously  denomi- 
nated as  Ladies'  Aid  Societies,  Relief  Associa- 
tions, etc.,  had  its  distinctly  defined  field,  from 
which  it  drew  its  supplies,  and  had  from  one 
hundred  and  fifty  to  twelve  hundred  auxiliary 
aid  societies,  in  the  towns,  hamlets,  and  villages, 
and,  in  the  cities,  in  the  different  churches  of 
its  field.  The  stores  collected  by  the  branch 
were  received  at  its  depot,  opened,  assorted, 
each  kind  by  itself,  repacked,  and  reports  of  the 
number  and  amount  of  the  supplies  thus  acfu- 
mulated  were  sent  every  week  to  the  principal 
office  of  the  Commission,  or  to  the  Associate 
Secretary  of  the  Eastern  or  "Western  Depart- 
ment, '  as  the  case  might  be,  and  shipped,  ac- 
cording to  orders  received,  to  the  depots  of  dis- 
tribution, Washington,  D.  0.,  Camp  Distribution, 
Va.,  Baltimore,  Md.,  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  An- 
napolis, Md.,  Camp  Parole,  Md.,  Norfold,  Va., 
City  Point,  Va.,  Newbern,  N.  C.,  Beaufort, 
S.  C.,  New  Orleans,  La.,  or  to  the  army  where 
they  were  needed,  with  the  utmost  promptness, 
One  of  these  branches  (the  "Woman's  Central 
Association  of  Relief")  reported,  among  the 
stores  forwarded  from  its  depot,  from  May  1, 
1861,  to  November  1,  1864,  599,780  pieces  of 
clothing,  89,898  pieces  of  bedding,  and  over 
90,000  packages  of  fruit,  vegetables,  jellies, 
wine,  condensed  milk,  beef  stock,  groceries, 
pickles,  lemonade,  etc.,  of  a  total  value  of  over 
a  million  of  dollars.  The  "  Northwestern  Sani- 
tary Commission,"  the  branch  of  the  II.  S. 
Sanitary  Commission  at  Chicago,  had  sent  to 
the  depots  of  distribution  from  its  organization 
to  December  31,  1864,  supplies  to  the  value  of 
$230,645.02,  and  had  expended  besides  for  the 
purposes  of  the  Commission,  about  $57,000 
more.  The  supplies  thus  furnished  were  dis- 
tributed with  great  care  to  avoid  waste,  and  to 


supplement  the  food,  clothing,  and  medicines 
which  the  Government  was  bound  to  furnish — 
the  object  being  to  do  what  the  Government 
could  not,  and  to  avoid  duplicating  its  supplies  of 
what  it  could  and  should  furnish.  Care  was 
exercised  also  to  avoid  imposition,  while  no 
sufferer  in  need  was  allowed  to  suffer  when  the 
Commission  could  supply  his  wants.  The  Com- 
mission was  national  in  its  character,  and  %up- 
plied  the  soldiers  of  one  State  as  readily  as  those 
of  another.  Nay,  more — the  rebel  wounded, 
when  left  on  the  field,  or  in  temporary  hospitals 
within  the  Union  lines,  or  when  sent  to  camps 
and  hospitals  as  prisoners,  uniformly  received  its 
bounty  and  its  assiduous  care.  It  had  in  this 
matter,  at  times,  to  contend,  both  among  the 
people  and  on  the  field,  with  that  exclusive 
feeling  which  would  limit  its  beneficence  to 
the  soldiers  of  a  single  State  or  regiment ;  but 
oftenest  the  agents  of  these  local  organizations, 
from  the  feeling  which  such  exclusiveness  caused 
among  the  soldiers,  turned  their  stores  into  the 
depots  of  the  Commission,  and  themselves  aided 
in  then-  distribution  to  the  soldiers,  without  dis- 
tinction of  locality.  The  Field  Relief  Superin- 
tendents, already  mentioned,  who-  accompanied 
each  army  corps,  belonged  to  this  department 
of  general  relief. 

3.  The  Department  of  Special  Belief. — This 
department  was  under  the  general  superintend- 
ence of  Rev.  F.  N.  Knapp,  Associate  Secretary 
of  the  Commission  for  the  East,  at  Washington, 
and  of  Dr.  J.  S.  Newberry,  Associate  Secre- 
tary for  the  West,  at  Louisville.  It  furnished 
"  Homes  "  to  soldiers,  where  shelter,  food,  and 
medical  care  and  general  superintendence  were 
furnished  for  those  soldiers  who  were  not  yet 
under  the  care  of  the  Government,  or  had  just 
got  out  of  their  care,  or  had  somehow  lost  their 
status,  and  could  not  immediately  regain  it — 
recruits,  or  men  on  leave,  sick  leave  or  furlough, 
going  to  and  fro ;  men  without  skill  to  care  for 
themselves^  ignorant,  underwitted,  or  vicious ; 
men  discharged  prematurely  from  the  hospitals , 
men  found  in  the  streets,  or  left  behind  by  their 
regiments.  Of  these  classes  about  seven  thou- 
sand five  hundred  were  accommodated  daily 
or  nightly  in  the  homes  of  the  Commission  at 
Alexandria,  Harrisburg,  Baltimore,  Washington, 
Buffalo,  Cincinnati,  Cairo,  Paducah,  Camp  Nel- 
son, Louisville,  New  Albany,  Nashville,  Co- 
lumbus, Cleveland,  Detroit,  Memphis,  and  New 
Orleans. 

There  were  also  belonging  to  this  department 
six  lodges — homes  on  a  smaller  scale — where 
the  wearied  soldier,  sick  or  feeble,  might  await 
his  opportunity  of  obtaining  his  pay  from  the 
Paymaster-General;  or  landing  sick  from  a 
steamer  or  cars,  and  unable  to  reach  the  hospi- 
tal to  which  he  might  belong,  could  find  rest, 
food,  and  medical  care,  till  he  could  be  trans- 
ferred to  the  hospital,  or  was  able  to  rejoin  his 
regiment.  There  were  also  at  Annapolis,  Md., 
and  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  "  Homes  for  the  Wives, 
Mothers,  and  Children  of  Soldiers,"  fitted  up 
and  supplied  by  the  Commission,  where  thesa 


602 


MILITAET  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


friends  of  the  sick  and  wounded  soldier,  coming 
with  scanty  means  to  minister  to  his  necessities, 
could  find  comfortable  food  and  shelter.  Besides 
these,  "  feeding  stations  "  for  the  supply  of  the 
sick,  wounded,  and  famished  soldier,  passing  to 
and  from  the  field,  were  established,  usually 
temporarily,  hut  sometimes  permanently,  on  the 
route  from  Louisville  to  Nashville,  Chattanooga, 
Atlanta,  &c.,  and  in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  at 
City  Point,  and  elsewhere.  The  hospital  cars, 
of  which  there  were  several,  between  Washing- 
ton, New  York,  and  Boston,  and  between  Louis- 
ville and  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  fitted  up  with 
hammocks,  in  rubber  slings,  and  with  a  small 
kitchen  for  preparing  the  necessary  food  for  the 
sick  and  wounded,  and  under  the  charge  of  a 
skilful  surgeon,  belonged  to  this  department; 
as  also  the  Sanitary  steamers,  the  Clara  Bell, 
on  the  Mississippi,  the  New  Dunleith,  on  the 
Cumberland,  and  the  Elizabeth,  on  the  Potomac. 
These  were  used  both  for  the  transmission  of 
necessary  supplies,  and  the  transportation  of  the 
wounded.  In  this  department,  also,  the  com- 
mission established  agencies  at  Washington, 
Philadelphia,  New  York,  Louisville,  and  New 
Orleans,  for  obtaining  for  the  soldiers  and  their 
families  pensions,  bounties,  back  pay,  trans- 
portation, aid  in  correcting  the  soldiers'  papers, 
where  there  were  errors  in  form,  or  recovering 
them  their  positions  when  they  had  wrongfully 
been  set  down  as  deserters,  and  saving  them 
from  sharpers.  The  Commission  also  established 
Hospital  Directories  at  Washington,  Philadel- 
phia, New  York,  and  Louisville.  In  these  four 
directories  were  registered  the  names  of  all  sol- 
diers in  the  United  States  general  hospitals,  and 
as  far  as  possible  the  regimental  and  post  hos- 
pitals throughout  the  country,  and  these  were 
constantly  receiving  additions  from  the  reports 
sent  regularly  from  such  hospitals.  By  apply- 
ing to  these  Directories,  information  was  fur- 
nished to  friends  without  cost,  other  than  that 
of  postage  or  telegram,  of  the  location  and  con- 
dition of  any  soldier  who  was  or  had  been  within 
a  year  an  inmate  of  any  United  States  military 
hospital.  At  the  Washington  office  of  the  Com- 
mission, the  names  of  patients  in  the  hospitals 
in  Eastern  Virginia,  Maryland,  District  of  Co- 
lumbia, North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Flori- 
da, and  Louisiana,  were  recorded ;  -at  Philadel- 
phia, those  in  Pennsylvania  hospitals;  at  New 
York,  those  in  New  York,  New  Jersey,  and 
New  England;  at  Louisville,  those  in  West- 
ern Vicginia,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Missouri, 
Iowa,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Mississippi,  and 
Arkansas.'  The  officers  in  charge  required  the 
name,  rank,  company,  and  regiment  of  the  per- 
son inquired  for,  and  where  he  was  when  last 
heard  from.  About  900,000  names  were  thus 
recorded,  and  the  information  afforded  by  these 
directories  to  the  friends  of  the  sick  and  wounded 
was  of  incalculable  value,  often  leading  to  the 
preservation  of  life,'  and  to  the  relief  of  that  most 
terrible  mental  anguish,  the  torture  of  a  dread 
uncertainty. 

Still   another  measure  of  special  relief,   on 


which  the  Commission  expended  more  than 
$30,000,  was  the  sending  of  supplies,  so  long  as 
it  was  permitted,  to  our  soldiers  who  were  pris- 
oners at  Richmond,  Salisbury,  and  Anderson- 
ville,  and  there  undergoing  the  terrors  of  cold, 
nakedness,  and  starvation.  It  also  sent  on  every 
flag-of-truce  boat  from  Fortress  Monroe  ample 
stores  of  clothing,  cordials,  nourishing  food, 
medicine,  and  restoratives,  for  the  poor  fellows 
who  were  exchanged,  and  who,  but  for  this 
timely  relief,  would  have  many  of  them  died  on 
the  voyage.  It  organized  a  system  of  furnishing 
fresh  supplies  to  the  hospitals  around  Washing- 
ton at  prime  cost,  which  it  brought  from  Phila- 
delphia in  arctic  cars,  thus  preventing  frauds, 
and  the  commissions  formerly  obtained  by  the 
hospital  stewards,  and  furnishing  more  and  bet- 
ter supplies  to  the  inmates  of  the  hospitals  for 
less  money.  It  caused  reforms  to  be  instituted 
in  our  own  convalescent  and  parole  camps,  and 
hi  the  prison  camps  of  the  rebels,  which  our 
Government  held  as  prisoners,  promoting  the 
health  and  comfort  of  both  in  every  possible  way. 
Its  agents  and  superintendents  often  brought  off 
men  under  fire  from  the  battle-field,  and  four 
of  them  were  taken  prisoners  by  the  rebels 
after  Gettysburg,  and  notwithstanding  the  kind- 
nesses bestowed  by  the  Commission  on  rebels, 
wounded  and  prisoners,  were  subjected  to  the 
meagre  fare  and  filth  of  Libby  prison  and  Castle 
Thunder,  for  months,  when  two  of  them  were 
finally  released  on  parole. 

4.  The  Department  of  Field  Belief. — The 
Commission  maintained  a  chief  inspector  for  the 
armies  of  the  East,  and  another  for  the  military 
division  of  the  Mississippi,  whose  duty  it  was 
to  superintend  the  work  of  field  relief.     He  had 
under  his  command  a  superintendent  and  assist- 
ant-superintendent of  such  army,  two  field  store- 
keepers and  two  messengers,  and  one  or  more 
relief  agents  to  each  army  corps.     These  relief 
agents  were  furnished  with  one  or  more  wagona 
of  supplies  and  ambulances,  and  moved  with 
their  corps   in  the  field,   ministering  to  the 
wounded  on  the  field,  furnishing  bandages,  cor- 
dials, and  nourishment,  and  aiding  the  surgeons 
and  assistant-surgeons  in  the  field  hospitals. 
They  also  rendered  assistance  and  supplied  de- 
ficiencies in  the  care  of  the  sick  in  camp.     The 
expenditure  of  the  Commission  for  the  Field 
Relief  Department  exceeded  $190,000. 

5.  Still  another  department  of  the  Sanitary 
Commission's  work  was  its  Auxiliary  Relief 
Corps.     This  was  first  organized  in  May,  1864. 
Its  object  was  to  supply  the  deficiency  of  sys- 
tematic personal  attendance  and  work  in  the 
hospitals,  or  among  the  wounded  on  the  field. 
It  employed  in  the  Eastern  armies  (in  Viiginia 
and  the  Department  of  the  South)  forty  men 
regularly,  and  the  number  was  increased  during 
the  severe  battles  of  May  and  June,  by  volun- 
teers, to  one  hundred  and  fifty.     In  all,  four 
hundred  different  agents  were  employed,  and 
more  than  seventy -five  thousand  patients  served 
with  suitable  food,  delicacies,  cordials,  clothing, 
&c.,  &c.,  previous  to  Jan.  1,  1865.    Personal 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


603 


ministrations  to  the  sick  and  wounded,  in  the 
way  of  conversation,  writing  letters,  supplying 
them  with  stationery,  postage  stamps,  news- 
papers, magazines,  and  books,  also  formed  a 
part  of  the  duties  of  this  corps. 

In  these  labors  it  constantly  had  the  aid  and 
cooperation  of  the  Medical  Department,  and, 
where  it  could  be  bestowed,  that  of  the  Quar- 
termaster's Department ;  and  the  generals  and 
commanding  officers  in  the  field  have,  almost 
without  exception,  given  it  their  hearty  sanction 
and  assistance.  Without  these,  its  work  would 
have  been  fourfold  more  expensive  than  it  was ; 
but  even  with  this  assistance,  it  necessarily  had 
to  incur  large  expenditures,  and  distributed 
supplies  to  an  immense  value.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  its  work,  when  it  was  expected 
that  the  war  would  be  a  brief  one,  it  made  its 
appeals  to  the  public  for  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
a  sum  which  it  was  thought  would  suffice  to 
accomplish  its  purposes ;  but  with  the  increasing 
proportions  of  the  war,  increasing  means  were 
found  necessary.  While,  of  most  descriptions 
of  supplies,  their  stock  derived  from  the  branches 
was  ample,  there  were  some,  such  as  the  best 
qualities  of  wines  and  brandies,  quinine,  &c., 
which  could  only  be  obtained  by  cash  purchases. 
The  transportation  of  their  supplies,  though 
much  of  it  was  given  by  railroad  companies, 
was  still  very  expensive,  while  the  maintenance 
of  their  homes,  lodges,  offices,  and  directories, 
required  a  heavy  outlay.  The  Commission,  as 
such,  received  no  compensation,  and  of  its  offi- 
cers, the  President,  Vice-President,  and  Treas- 
urer, received  no  pay;  while  the  Associate 
Secretary  for  the  West,  having  left  his  residence 
and  practice  at  Cleveland  for  Louisville  in  the 
Commission's  service,  had  a  moderate  salary. 
The  Commission  regarded  it  necessary  for  the 
proper  performance  of  its  extensive,  varied,  and 
onerous  duties,  to  employ  paid  agents,  and  had 
in  its  employ  about  two  hundred.  To  none  of 
them  were  salaries  paid  so  large  as  they  could 
receive  in  other  business,  but  they  remained  in 
the  work  because  they  loved  it.  The  aggre- 
gate salaries,  previous  to  May,  1864,  was  about 
$15,000  per  month,  and  of  other  expenses  from 
$30,000  to  $35,000  per  month,  making  a  total 
sum  of  $45,000  to  $50,000  per  month ;  but  with 
the  progress  of  the  gigantic  campaigns,  and  the 
terrible  battles,  both  East  and  West,  in  the 
months  of  May,  June,  July,  and  August,  1864, 
this  expenditure  was  greatly  increased.  For  the 
months  of  May  and  June  alone  the  outlay  was 
$525,000,  and  for  the  season  more  than  $1,000,- 
000 ;  the  expenditure  of  supplies  varied  with  the 
occurrence  of  great  battles.  During,  and  imme- 
diately after,  the  battles  at  Gettysburg,  supplies 
to  the  value  of  $75,000  were  distributed  there. 
To  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  within  ten 
days  after  the  disastrous  battle  of  Ohickamauga, 
six  thousand  packages  were  sent-,  and  immedi- 
ately after  Chattanooga,  five  thousand  packages 
and  boxes  went  forward. 

The  receipts  of  the  Commission,  from  its  or- 
ganization in  June,  1861,  to  Oct.  1,  1864,  were 


in  money  $3,083,124.58;  of  this  amount  about 
$1,000,000  was  received  from  the  States  and 
territories  on  the  Pacific  slope,  including  about 
$700,000  from  California  alone.  Aside  from 
this,  its  branches  received  in  money  to  Decem- 
ber, 1864,  about  $2,000,000,  which  had  been 
expended  in  the  purchase  of  supplies,  in  local 
relief,  and  in  the  support  of  establishments  of 
special  relief  under  their  direct  charge.  Its  ex- 
penditures for  the  same  period  were  $2,467,- 
958.55,  and  in  the  months  of  October  and  Nov., 
$263,000,  making  its  total  expenditure  from 
June,  1861,  to  Dec.,  1864,  $2,731,203.79.  The 
value  of  .articles  received  in  kind  as  contribu- 
tions by  the  Commission,  from  June,  1861,  to 
Oct.,  1864,  was  $8,406,272.78,  of  which  $5,286,- 
439.85  consisted  of  bedding,  hospital  furniture, 
and  wearing  apparel;  $1,362,560.42,  of  hos- 
pital food  and  delicacies;  $298,437.28,  of  mis- 
cellaneous supplies,  and  the  remainder  unspeci- 
fied articles.  The  branches  of  the  Commission, 
twelve  in  number,  had  furnished  supplies  to 
local  institutions,  soldiers'  families,  hospitals, 
etc.,  to  the  amount  of  between  two  and  three 
millions  more.  Previous  to  July  1,  1864,  the 
cost  of  distribution  was  only  3.76  per  cent,  of 
the  amount  distributed.  The  heavy  expense 
of  chartering  steamers  and  employing  auxiliary 
relief  agents,  etc.,  during  the  campaign  of  1864, 
increased  the  cost  of  distribution  to  4.88  per 
cent,  of  the  value  of  the  supplies  distributed. 

During  the  autumn  and  winter  of  1863-'4, 
and  the  spring  and  summer  of  1864,  a  series  of 
fairs  were  held  in  several  of  the  principal  cities 
of  the  Union,  in  the  interest  of  the  Commission 
and  its  branches.  These  fairs  were  more  gigan- 
tic in  their  conception  and  execution,  and  yield- 
ed larger  returns  than  any  enterprises  of  the 
kind  ever  attempted  in  this  country.  The  Chi- 
cago fair,  the  first  held,  realized  about  $80,000 
net;  that  at  Boston,  about  $140,000;  Cincinna- 
ti, $240,000  ;  Albany,  80,000 ;  Cleveland,  about 
$80,000;  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  $401,000  ;  New  York 
City,  $1,200,000;  Pittsburg,  $100,000;  Balti- 
more, $55,000 ;  Philadelphia,  $1,080,000.  Sev- 
eral of  the  smaller  cities  collected  at  fairs  for 
the  same  object,  from  $10-,000  to  $20,000. 
These  sums  were  not,  except  in  the  case  of  the 
New  York  and  Philadelphia  fairs,  paid  wholly 
into  the  treasury  of  the  parent  Commission,  a 
part,  and  in  some  cases  the  whole,  being  re- 
served for  the  purchase  of  supplies  and  mate- 
rial, and  the  support  of  local  institutions  for 
the  soldiers  or  their  families. 

II.  THE  WESTERN  SANITART  COMMISSION. 
This  organization  was  entirely  distinct  from  the 
United  States  Sanitary  Commission,  but,  like 
that,  knew  no  State  boundaries,  but  ministered 
alike  to  the  needs  of  soldiers  from  all  the  States, 
though  from  its  location  it  had  only  supplied 
the  wants  of  western  armies,  and  of  the  freed- 
men  and  white  refugees  of  the  Mississippi  Val- 
ley. It  derived  its  first  authority  to  act  from 
an  order  of  Maj.-Gen.  Fremont. 

The  authority  conferred  by  the  order  was 
recognized  and  confirmed  by  Maj.-Gen.  Hal- 


604 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


leek,  who  added  Dr.  S.  Pollak  to  the  Commis- 
sion, and  still  later,  viz.,  December  16,  1862, 
by  an  order  from  the  Secretary  of  War  (Hon. 
E.  M.  Stanton),  extending  the  field  of  its  labors, 
and  reappointing  the  members  of  the  Commis- 
sion as  at  first  constituted. 

This  Commission  did  not  devote  its  attention 
to  as  wide  a  range  of  topics  as  the  United 
States  Sanitary  Commission,  but  confined  itself 
to  the  work  of  superintending  hospitals,  fur- 
nishing supplies,  appointing  nurses,  visiting  and 
caring  for  the  sick  and  wounded  of  the  army 
of  the  Southwest  Frontier,  the  District  of  East 
Arkansas,  the  armies  operating  on  both  sides 
of  the  Mississippi,  and  the  Mississippi  Naval 
Flotilla;  it  acted  at  all  times  in  concert  with 
the  Medical  Directors  and  Inspectors  of  these 
armies,  and  on  account  of  their  efficient  super- 
vision of  the  condition  and  sanitary  wants  of 
the  armies  under  their  charge,  did  not  find  it 
necessary  to  appoint  separate  medical  inspec- 
tors. It  had  the  superintendence  of  twelve 
hospitals  (one  for  officers  and  another  for  mil- 
itary prisoners),  having  accommodations  for 
about  eight  thousand  patients,  besides  ten  large 
hospital  steamers  and  floating  hospitals ;  it  es- 
tablished Soldiers'  Homes  and  Soldiers'  Lodges 
at  St.  Louis,  Memphis,  and  Columbus,  Ky.,  and 
agencies  at  Helena,  Milliken's  Bend,  and  Spring- 
field, Mo.,  and  prepared,  published,  and  distrib- 
uted a  large  edition  of  a  "  Treatise  on  the  Pres- 
ervation of  the  Health  of  the  Soldier,  the  cook- 
ing of  food,  the  preparation  of  diet  for  the  sick, 
the  duties  of  nurses  and  attendants,  and  the 
organization  and  general  management  of  hos- 
pitals." During  1863  -and  1864  it  gave  special 
attention  to  the  necessities  of  the  freedmen  in 
the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  its  officers  interested 
themselves  in  the  adjustment  of  wages  and  in 
securing  just  and  considerate  treatment  of  the 
emancipated  slaves  from  those  who  have  rented 
the  plantations,  which  had  been  abandoned  by 
rebel  owners.  The  Commission  expended  about 
$40,000  in  the  relief  of  freedmen.  It  also  kept 
a  registry  of  the  location  and  condition  of  in- 
valid and  wounded  soldiers  in  the  Western  ar- 
mies. It  also  provided  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent'for  the  large  number  of  white  refugees 
from  the  States  in  insurrection,  who  drifted  into 
St.  Louis,  and  were  in  a  condition  of  great  suf- 
fering. 

The  Western  Sanitary  Commission  received 
from  its  organization  to  January,  1865,  a  little 
more  than  $1,000,000  in  cash,  of  which  $500,000 
was  the  net  result  of  a  fair  held  in  St.  Louis  in 
May,  1864 ;  and  about  $2,000,000  in  supplies. 

III.  OTHER  SANITARY  COMMISSIONS.  Two  or 
three  of  the  Western  States  established  organi- 
zations dependent  partly  upon  legislative  grants, 
and  partly  upon  contributions,  for  the  care  of 
the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  of  their  respec- 
tive States,  and  their  families,  to  which  they 
gave  the  name  of  "State  Sanitary  Commis- 
sions." 

They  generally  expended  their  moneys  for 
those  services  which  might  be  more  appropri- 


ately rendered  to  a  soldier  by  his  own  State,  or 
its  representatives,  than  by  others,  such  as  the 
furnishing  means  of  reaching  home  during  a 
furlough,  or  of  reaching  his  regiment  when  he 
had  been  detained  from  it  by  sickness ;  the  pro- 
curing of  the  allotment  of  his  pay  or  bounty,  or 
the  rendering  him  contented  by  the  care  of  his 
family.  The  Indiana  State  Sanitary  Commis- 
sion, fostered  and  prompted  by  the  energetic 
and  patriotic  Governor  of  that  State,  accom- 
plished much  good  in  this  way,  and  up  to  Feb- 
ruary, 1864,  had  expended  $320,000  in  its  suc- 
cor of  Indiana  soldiers.  The  Iowa  State  San- 
itary Commission  was  also  very  efficient.  It 
expended  $175,500  to  February  1,  1864.  An 
organization  of  a  similar  character,  though  not 
with  the  same  name,  existed  in  Wisconsin,  hav- 
ing originated  with  the  late  lamented  Governor, 
Louis  P.  Harvey,  who  lost  his  life  in  a  journey 
to  the  field  of  Shiloh,  to  distribute  its  bounties. 
It  contributed  largely  to  the  aid  of  the  soldiers, 
and  its  benefactions  were  not  confined  to  those 
from  Wisconsin.  In  Illinois  there  was  an  of- 
ficer called  a  Commissioner-General,  whose 
function  it  was  to  collect  stores  and  supplies 
from  the  towns  and  counties  of  the  State,  and 
send  them  forward  for  distribution  after  each 
great  battle.  In  New  York,»  a  State  Soldiers' 
Depot  was  established  in  July,  1863,  in  Howard 
Street,  New  York  City,  and  received  an  appro- 
priation from  the  State  Legislature  of  $200,000, 
which  combined  the  character  of  a  Soldiers' 
Home,  hospital,  and  reading-room,  and  had  its 
couriers  on  each  train  on  which  New  York  and 
other  soldiers  came  from  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac, and  met  them  coming  from  other  points, 
by  steamers  or  otherwise,  cared  for  the  comfort 
of  the  sick  and  wounded,  administering,  under 
the  direction  of  its  surgeon,  cordials  and  nutri- 
ment while  in  transit,  protected  them  from  the 
sharpers  who  would  plunder  them,  and  in  every 
way  looked  after  their  interests.  It  expended 
since  its  organization  in  June,  1863,  to  February, 
1865,  about  $65,000  in  money,  and  distributed 
clothing,  etc.,  to  the  amount  of  over  $10,000 
more.  It  fed  and  lodged  over  15,000  soldiers, 
and  gave  aid  and  counsel  to  thousands  more. 

One  of  the  best  of  the  institutions  of  this 
class  was  "  The  New  EngJand  Soldiers'  Relief 
Association,"  located  at  194  Broadway,  New 
York,  and  organized  April  3,  1862.  Its  found- 
ers and  supporters  were  New  England  men  and 
women,  but  its  doors  were  opened  to,  and  its 
charities  lavished  upon,  the  soldiers  of  every 
State.  That  a  soldier  was  on  furlough,  or  sick 
or  wounded,  discharged  or  in  trouble,  was  ever 
a  sufficient  passport  to  its  halls  and  its  sympa- 
thies. Since  its  organization,  to  January,  1865, 
it  received,  registered,  lodged,  fed,  aided  and 
clothed,  sick  and  wounded  or  disabled  soldiers 
from  thirty-one  States,  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia, the  regular  army,  the  navy,  and  the  In- 
valid Corps,  to  the  number  of  about  45,000,  and 
fed  or  lodged,  and  rendered  assistance  to  many 
thousands  more,  who  were  not  sick,  wounded, 
or  disabled.  It  had  a  Hospital  Record  and  Di- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


605 


rectory,  very  full  and  complete,  of  the  inmates 
of  all  the  military  hospitals  of  New  York  and 
New  England,  which  was  kept  up  to  date  by 
daily  reports  from  each  hospital,  and  gave  full 
particulars  in  regard  to  the  location,  condition, 
and  final  disposition  of  each  patient.  This 
register  contained  about  40,000  names,  and  was 
so  complete  that  the  Sanitary  Commission,  in 
February,  1864,  relinquished  theirs  for  that 
Department  in  its  favor.  It  had  a  good  hos- 
pital for  the  sick  or  wounded  soldiers,  with  a 
skilful  surgeon,  careful  attendants,  and  assid- 
uous volunteer  night  watches;  furnished  an 
asylum  to  those  unfortunate  soldiers  who,  dis- 
charged from  the  service  without  means,  found 
themselves  homeless  and  shelterless,  giving 
them  a  home  till  employment  could  be  pro- 
vided for  them.  It  also  interested  itself  in  pro- 
curing transportation,  bounties,  and  back  pay 
for  the  soldiers,  and  furnishing  information  to 
the  friends  of  those  who  were  sick,  or  had 
died,  relative  to  procuring  their  dues.  Religious 
services  were  conducted  every  Sabbath  at  its 
rooms.  Much  of  the  service  rendered,  includ- 
ing that  of  the  Superintendent,  was  voluntary, 
and  without  compensation.  The  Superintendent 
of  this  Association  acted  also  in  the  capacity  of* 
State  Military  Agent  for  the  States  of  Maine, 
New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  Massachusetts,  Wis- 
consin, Minnesota,  and  Indiana,  and  was  au- 
thorized to  render  such  assistance  as  might  be 
needed  to  the  soldiers  of  those  States-coming  to 
New  York. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  war  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Associations,  in  most 
of  the  larger  cities  and  towns  of  the  loyal  States, 
had  contributed  largely,  not  only  in  money  and 
supplies,  to  the  relief  and  comfort  of  the  sol- 
diers, but  in  personal  service. 

At  a  convention  of  these  Christian  Associa- 
tions, held  in  New  York,  November  16,  1861, 
it  was  resolved  to  organize  from  the  represent- 
atives of  these  bodies  a  United  States  Christian 
Commission,  and  the  following  persons  were 
appointed:  Rev.  Rollin  H.  Neale,  D.D.,  Bos- 
ton; George  H.  Stuart,  Esq.,  Philadelphia;  Rev. 
Bishop  E.  S.  Janes,  D.D.,  New  York ;  Rev.  M. 
L.  R.  P.  Thompson,  D.D.,  Cincinnati;  Hon. 
Benjamin  F.  Manierre,  New  York;  Gen.  Clin- 
ton B.  Fisk,  St.  Louis;  Rev.  Benjamin  C.  Cut- 
ler, D.D.,  Brooklyn;  Hon.  John  V.  Farwell, 
Chicago;  Mitchell  H.  Miller,  Esq.,  Washington ; 
John  D.  Hill,  M.D.,  Buffalo.  During  the  suc- 
ceeding year  Mr.  Manierre  and  Rev.  Dr.  Cutler 
resigned,  and  their  places  were  filled  by  the 
-  appointment  of  Jay  Cooke,  Esq.,  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  Rev.  James  Eells,  D.D.,  of  Brooklyn. 
To  these  were  subsequently  added  John  P. 
Crozer,  of  Philadelphia;  Charles  Demond,  of 
Boston ;  Rev.  W.  E.  Boardman,  Ex.  Off.,  Phila- 
delphia ;  Hon.  George  F.  Patton,  Bath,  Maine ; 
Rev.  James  Pike,  Sanbornton  Bridge,  N.  H. ; 
Edward  S.  Tobey,  Boston ;  Rev.  Francis  Way- 
land,  D.D.,  Providence,  R.  I.;  Rev.  Heman 
Dyer,  D.D.,  New  York ;  Hon.  William  E.  Dodge, 
New  York;  Nathan  Bishop,  LL.D.,  New  York; 


Morris  K.  Jesup,  New  York ;  Joseph  Patterson, 
Philadelphia;  Rev.  Bishop  M.  Simpson,  D.D., 
Philadelphia ;  Hon.  J.  G.  Smith,  Gov.  of  Vt. ; 
G.  S.  Griffith,  Baltimore ;  Hon.  W.  T.  Willey, 
Morgantown,  W.  V. ;  A.  E.  Chamberlain,  Cin- 
cinati ;  Rev.  R.  J.  Breckinridge,  D.D.,  Lexing- 
ton, Ky.  ;  Rev.  S.  D.  Storrs,  Atchison,  Kansas;. 
J.  B.  Roberts,  San  Francisco ;  Hon.  James  W. 
Nye,  Carson  City,  Nevada ;  Hon.  W.  A.  Buck- 
ingham, Norwich,  Conn. ;  Walter  S.  Griffith, 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  Samuel  B.  Caldwell,  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y. ;  Rev.  Charles  Hodge,  D.D.,  Prince- 
ton, N.  J. ;  Stephen  Colwell,  Philadelphia; 
Horatio  G.  Jones,  Philadelphia ;  William  Frew, 
Pittsburg;  Prof.  M.  L.  Stoever,  Gettysburg; 
Rt.  Rev.  Alfred  Lee,  D.D.,  Wilmington,  Del. ; 
Hon.  Francis  H.  Pierpont,  Alexandria,  Va. ; 
Rt.  Rev.  C.  P.  Mcllvaine,  D.D.,  Cincinnati, 
Ohio ;  Hon.  Schuyler  Colfax,  South  Bend,  Ind. ; 
Hon.  John  Owen,  Detroit ;  Walter'  S.  Carter, 
Milwaukee;  Hon.  Hiram  Price,  Davenport, 
Iowa ;  Rev.  E.  Lehman,  Chaska,  Minn. ;  Rev. 
S.  Cornelius,  Portland,  Oregon;  Hon.  John 
Evans,  Denver  City.  Col. 

Mr.  George  H.  Stuart,  of  Philadelphia,  was 
elected  President,  and  served  in  that  capacity. 
Three  or  four  months  were  consumed  in  arrang- 
ing its  plan  of  operations,  in  obtaining  the  ap- 
proval of  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
the  Secretary  of  War,  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 
the  General  in  command,  and  the  Surgeon 
General.  It  was  then  deemed  best  to  remove 
its  headquarters  to  Philadelphia,  and  Rev.  Wil- 
liam E.  Boardman  was  appointed  General  Sec- 
retary. There  were  added,  in  1864,  a  Secretary 
of  the  Home  organization,  and  a  Secretary  of 
the  Field  organization. 

The  general  character  of  the  duties  of  the 
Commission  was  defined  at  the  meeting  that 
brought  it  into  existence;  its  grand  object  as 
avowed  was  tto  promote  the  physical  comfort 
and  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  brave  men  of 
the  army  and  navy,  in  the  field,  in  the  hospital, 
the  prison,  or  wherever  they  might  be  found. 
Like  the  Government,  it  embraced  within  the 
range  of  its  influence  the  whole  Union,  and 
provided  for  the  material  and  spiritual  neces- 
sities of  suffering  humanity  without  regard  to 
race,  creed,  or  position.  It  aimed  to  save  life 
in  the  hour  of  peril,  to  ameliorate  the  condition 
of  our  soldiers  and  seamen,  to  perform  in  the 
midst  of  the  war  the  offices  of  a  kind  friend,  to 
supply,  as  far  as  possible,  the  place  of  home,  to 
furnish  opportune  and  substantial  relief  when 
required,  to  bind  up  the  wounds,  to  pour  in  the 
wine  and  the  oil  of  love  and  peace,  to  speak  a 
word  of  sympathy  and  encouragement  to  the 
suffering  and  depressed,  to  bring  the  influences 
of  the  Gospel  to  bear  upon  those  who  were  far 
from  home  and  its  privileges,  exposed  to  the 
dangers  and  temptations  peculiar  to  the  camp, 
to  arrest  the  thoughtless  in  their  course  and 
reclaim  the  wayward,  to  send  forth  the  living, 
practical  teacher,  to  whisper  Christian  consola- 
tion to  the  dying,  the  wounded,*  and  heavy-laden 
in  heart. 


606 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


In  addition  to  the  general  executive  commit- 
tee and  its  central  office  in  Philadelphia,  the 
Commission  had  its  agencies,  its  branch  organi- 
zations, in  the  principal  cities  and  towns  of  the 
land,  engaged  in  collecting  stores  and  procur- 
ing funds  to  carry  on  the  work  in  the  field.  It 
had  its  extensive  hases  of  supplies  for  the  dif- 
ferent armies,  and  its  carefully  organized  corps 
of  permanent  agents,  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  the  wants  of  the  soldiers  and  prepared  to 
forward  stores  upon  a  requisition  given  by 
those  in  proximity  to  the  scene  of  action.  It 
maintained  a  constant  supervision  over  the  camp 
and  field-hospitals,  and  when  special  emergen- 
cies arose  demanding  extraordinary  activity  and 
energy,  during  and  after  every  battle,  its  repre- 
sentatives were  present  dispensing  with  a  boun- 
tiful hand  whatever  might  contribute  to  the 
comfort  and  immediate  relief  of  the  wounded. 
It  sent  forth  ministers  and  laymen,  voluntary 
agents,  who  labored  without  compensation  to 
distribute  with  their  own  hands,  under  the 
direction  of  the  sflrgeons,  the  stores  gathered 
together,  to  circulate  the  Scriptures,  religious 
newspapers  and  tracts,  reading  of  a  moral  and 
instructive  character,  and  lead  men  to  repent- 
ance and  a  Christian  life.  It  aided  the  surgeon, 
helped  the  chaplain,  followed  the  army  in  its 
marches,  went  into  the  trenches,  coursed  along 
the  picket-line,  and  ministered  personally  to  the 
suffering  and  the  distressed.  Its  influence  was 
felt  wherever  the  dying,  the  wounded,  the  sick, 
and  the  afflicted  were  to  be  found.  It  furnished 
clothing  to  the  destitute,  nutritious  food  to  the 
sick,  books  for  military  hospitals,  posts,  and 
gunboats,  a  supply  of  paper,  envelopes,  ink, 
pens,  pencils,  and  the  thousand  co*m forts  which 
were  gratefully  appreciated  by  the  soldier,  and 
.which  the  Government  could  not  provide.  It 
cheered  with  the  consolations  of  religion  those 
appointed  to  die ;  and  as  the  soul  passed  from 
the  body  it  received  its  dying  words,  and  com- 
municated the  sad  record  to  the  bereaved  at 
home.  It  administered  Christian  burial  when 
practicable,  and  marked  the  place  of  interment 
for  the  satisfaction  of  distant  friends.  Besides 
the  more  private  appeals  and  personal  instruc- 
tions given  by  the  delegates  in  the  tent  and  the 
hospital,  public  services  were  held  from  day  to 
day,  especially  during  the  winter  campaigns  ;* 
chapels  wei'e  erected,  and  meetings  for  prayer, 
conference,  and  preaching  organized.  The  Sec- 
retary of  the  Commission  compendiously  but 
clearly  set  forth  its  system  and  work  as  follows: 

I.  .DIVISION  OP  THE   ARMY  FIELD. 

GENERAL. — 1.  Armies  near  Kichmond.  2.  Army 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  3.  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land, etc.  4.  Armies  along  the  Southern  Mississippi. 
5.  Armies  in  Missouri,  Arkansas,  and  Kansas.  6.  Tne 
navy,  southern  coast,  and  gulf  supplied  from  New 
York. 

SPECIAL. — Stations  and  corps  organizations. 

A  station  in  each  great  army  centre  when  the  army 
is  at  rest,  and  a  moving  organization  in  each  corps 
when  the  army  moves. 

Out-stations  to  meet  wants  of  various  sections. 

Permanent  stations  in  all  great  permanent  centres. 


II.   MEN  AND  WOMEN  FOR  THE   FIELD. 

1.  Agents. — Permanent — paid. 

One  field  agent  for  each  general  division,  five  in  all, 
with  assistants  in  the  larger  fields. 

One  station  agent  or  corps  captain  for  each  station 
or  corps  organization,  with  teamsters. 

2.  Delegates  for  six  weeks,  or  longer,  unpaid ;  from 
two  to  ten  at  each  station,  as  needed ;  and  at  City 
Point,  forty  to  fifty.    Three  hundred  the  full  corps. 
Over  three  thousand  in  all  have  served. 

3.  Managers  of  Diet  Kitchens. — About  sixty  ladies 
employed. 

III.   APPLIANCES. 

1.  Barrack  chapels,  store,  and  subsistence  rooms, 
at  permanent  camps. 

2.  Chapel,  store,  and  subsistence  tents,  at  all  mov- 
able stations. 

3.  Churches,   houses,   etc.,   detailed  by  Govern- 
ment, at  most  permanent  stations. 

4.  Wagons  and  teams,  four-horse,  for  each  moving 
organization ;  two-horse  for  such  stations  as  require 
them. 

5.  Special  diet  kitchens  in  field  hospitals,  managed 
under  direction  of  the  surgeons,  by  Christian  Com- 
mission lady  managers. 

IV.    LABORS. 

1.  Hospital. — Preaching  ;    prayer-meetings ;    per- 
sonal intercourse  with  soldiers ;  and  distribution. 

2.  field. — The  same — at  all  stations,  and  along  the 
lines ;  at  all  out-stations,  isolated  posts,  batteries,  etc. 
'   3.  Battle-field  work. 

4.  Individual  relief,  aid,  and  information,  at  special 
request. 

5.  Forwarding  home  money  for  soldiers  in  service, 
and  eftects  of  deceased  soldiers. 

6.  Managing  special  diet  kitchens,  under  medical 
authorities. 

V.    WflAT  IS   DISTRIBUTED. 

Battle-field,  hospital,  and  special  diet  kitchen 
stores;  such  as  shirts,  drawers,  socks,  handkerchiefs, 
towels,  bandages,  lint,  farina,  corn-starch,  crackers, 
cordials,  driea  fruits,  canned  fruits,  fresh  apples, 
grapes,  peaches,  etc.,  onions,  potatoes,  ice,  syrups, 
jellies,  pickles,  etc.,  Jamaica  ginger,  condensed  muk, 
Bibles  for  hospitals  and  Bible-classes ;  Testaments  to 
all  soldiers.  Scriptures  in  German,  French,  and 
other  foreign  languages.  Gunboat  libraries,  hos- 
pital libraries,  soldiers!  books,  weekly  and  monthly 
religious  papers,  over  four  hundred  thousand  a 
month ;  tracts,  Silent  Comforters,  etc. 

The  General  Government  cheerfully  furnished 
the  free  transportation  of  men  and  supplies  over 
all  military  railways,  and  generously  granted 
many  privileges  and  accommodations,  restricted 
only  by  absolute  military  necessity.  Railroad 
and  steamboat  companies  under  proper  regula- 
tions, very  generally  gave  passes  for  the  delegates 
of  the  Commission  and  for  the  transportation  of 
their  stores.  The  telegraph  wires,  without  charge, 
were  used  for  the  transmission  of  despatches 
on  business  with  the  Institution,  and  every  in- 
formation and  opportunity  afforded  to  enable 
the  Commission  to  carry  forward  its  appropriate 
and  benevolent  work  intelligently  and  success- 
fully. The  whole  army  was  accessible  to  the 
labors  of  the  Commission.  Its  delegates  were 
welcomed  at  all  points,  its  authority  regarded, 
and  its  influence  felt.  Its  voluntary,  unpaid 
delegates  were  men  of  the  highest  position  and 
character,  bishops  and  pastors  of  the  largest  and 
most  influential  churches  in  city  and  country, 
lawyers  and  physicians  of  eminence,  merchants 
and  manufacturers,  students  of  colleges  and 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  'THE  REBELLION. 


607 


theological  seminaries,  etc.  The  American  Bi- 
ble Society  granted  largely  of  Bibles  and  Tes- 
taments in  different  languages ;  the  Tract  and 
Publication  Societies,  and  publishers  of  religious 
and  moral  books,  periodicals,  and  newspapers, 
of  their  several  issues;  and  ladies  of  the  highest 
respectability  gave  themselves  to  the  work,  un- 
der its  auspices,  of  providing  for  the  necessities 
of  the  suffering  soldier. 

The  expenditures  as  well  as  the  receipts  of 
the  Commission  increased  each  year  in  a  rapid- 
ly-expanding rate.  In  1862,  the  first  year  of 
its  existence,  its  entire  receipts  were  $231,- 
256.29,  of  which  only  $50,000  or  $60,000  were 
in  cash,  the  remainder  being  in  supplies  and 
facilities  of  transportation,  etc.,  granted  to  it. 
In  1863  the  total  receipts  of  the  central  and 
branch  offices  of  the  Commission  were  esti- 
mated at  $916,837.65 :  of  which  $358,239.29 
was  in  money,  and  the  remainder  in  stores, 
grants,  and  railroad  and  telegraph  facilities,  and 
the  estimated  value  of  the  services  of  delegates. 
In  1864  the  total  estimated  receipts  were  $2,- 
882,347.86:  of  which  $1,297,755.28  was  in 
money;  $1,160,508.37  in  hospital  stores;  $33,- 
084.38  in  publications  donated ;  $72,114.83  in 
Bibles  and  Testaments  from  the  American  Bi- 
ble Society.  The  estimated  value  of  volunteer 
delegates1  services  was  $169,920  ;  the  value  of 
railroad,  steamboat,  and  other  transportation 
facilities,  $106,765  ;  value  of  telegraphic  facil- 
ities, $26,450  ;  rents  of  warehouses  and  offices 
donated,  $6,750. 

The  total  aggregate  of  receipts  for  the  three 
years  ending  Jan.  1,  1865,  was  $4,030,441.80. 
Since  that  period  not  far  from  $400,000  in 
money  has  been  received,  and  very  large 
amounts  of  hospital  supplies. 

The  following  general  summary  of  the  work 
and  distribution  of  the  Commission  for  the  year 
1864,  will  give  some  idea  of  its  activity  and 
usefulness : 


Boxes  of  hospital  stores  and  publica- 
tions distributed  during  the  year. .  47,103 

Value  of  stores  distributed 

Value  of  publications  distributed. 

Value  of  stationery  distributed. .'. '. '. 

Value  of  205  chapels  and  chapel  tents 
erected  during  last  winter  and  the 
present  in  the  various  armies 

Copies  of  Bible  and  Testaments  and 
portions  of  Scriptures  distributed 
during  the  year. 569,594 

Copies  of  Hymn  and  Psalm-books 
distributed  during  the  year 4,815,923 

Copies  of  boumd  library  books  dis- 
tributed during  the  year 38,872 

Copies  of  magazines  and  pamphlets 
distributed  during  the  year 

Copies  of  religious,  weekly,  and 
monthly  newspapers  distributed 
during  the  year |  7,990, 753 

Copies  of  pages  of  tracts 13,681,342 

Copies  of  "  Silent  Comforter,"  etc.. . .          8,691 

Delegates  commissioned  during  the 
year, 2,217 

Aggregate  number  of  days  of  dele- 
gate service 78,869 

Average  number  of  delegates  con- 
stantly in  field  during  the  year. . . . 

Number  of  delegates  now  in  the 
field 276 

Ba.anee  of  cash  on  hand  at  the  cen- 
tral office,  January  1st,  1865. 


$1,714,261  85 

446,574  26 

24,83471 


.  114,359  78 


$5,420  12 


With  these  should  be  mentioned  the  Union 
Commission.  This,  like  the  Sanitary  and 
Christian  Commissions,  was  called  into  exist- 
ence by  the  exigencies  of  the  war.  Tfie  con- 
tending armies  surging  to  and  fro  over  exten- 
sive regions  of  country  had  desolated  them 
completely,  seizing  not  only  garnered  but  grow- 
ing crops,  cattle,  horses,  and  mules,  and  de- 
stroying ruthlessly  dwellings,  barns,  and  fences, 
often  applying  the  torch  to  those  edifices  which 
shot  and  shell  had  spared.  From  these  deso- 
lated regions,  often  infested  with  guerrillas, 
whose  murderous  malignity  spared  neither  age 
nor  sex,  fled  their  wretched  inhabitants,  mostly 
women  and  children,  homeless  and  penniless, 
nearly  naked  and  often  starving,  wearied,  sick, 
and  dying,  seeking  shelter  and  sustenance  with- 
in the  Union  lines,  at  Nashville,  Vicksburg,  and 
Memphis.  Military  necessity  forbade  their  re- 
maining in  these  advanced  posts  of  the  Union 
armies;  and  rendering  them  what  assistance 
could  be  spared  in  the  way  of  food,  the  Govern- 
ment shipped  them  to  Cairo,  Louisville,  St.  Lou- 
is, Cincinnati,  and  other  points.  .  Here  they 
were  landed,  sick,  helpless,  and  friendless. 
Neither  State  nor  municipal  charity  could 
legally  be  bestowed  upon  them ;  but  that  they 
might  not  perish,  benevolent  societies  were  or- 
ganized which  did  what  they  could  to  shelter, 
clothe,  and  feed  them,  and  provide  places  for 
them  in  the  country.  .These  organizations  were 
local,  called .  into  existence  by  the  emergency, 
and  had  not  any  central  organization  or  means 
of  mutual  cooperation.  Meanwhile  the  demand 
for  help  was  increasing  with  fearful  rapidity. 
In  June,  1864,  the  present  President  of  the 
American  Union  Commission,  visiting  the  West 
with  other  gentlemen  as  a  delegate  of  the  United 
States  Christian  Commission,  became  deeply 
affected  with  the  sufferings  and  necessities  of 
these  poor  refugees,  and  after  free  conference 
with  other  patriotic  and  benevolqjit  men,  East 
and  West,  it  was  resolved  to  organize  a  Com- 
mission, having  for  its  object  the  care  and  wel- 
fare of  these  refugees,  and  their  eventual  resto- 
ration, so  far  as  was  possible,  to  homes  and 
home  comforts.  Most  of  these  people  were  the 
wives  and  children  of  Unionists,  who  had  either 
been  killed  or  imprisoned  for  their  loyalty,  or 
were  serving  in  the  Union  armies  as  soldiers  of 
the  nation.  To  leave  their  families  to  perish 
would  have  been  unworthy  of  a  great  and  no- 
ble people.  A  small  portion,  under  the  teach- 
ings of  southern  demagogues,  Avere,  in  spite  of 
their  sufferings,  still  disloyal;  but  they,  too, 
were  starving,  and  Christianity  forbade  refus- 
ing succor  to  them.  It  was  foreseen,  too,  that 
with  the  close  of  the  war  would  arise  other 
needs  no  less  imperious,  and  demanding  an  en- 
larged and  national  charity.  Industry  must  be 
revived  in  the  regions  wasted  by  war ;  desolated 
homes  must  be  rebuilt,  and  farms  stocked  anew 
and  supplied  with  the  implements  of  husbandry 
and  with  seeds  for  crops.  The  confiscated  lands 
must  be  made  accessible  to  settlers,  and  emigra- 
tion of  the  right  character  guided  and  stimu- 


608 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


lated.  Free  schools  must  be  organized  and  sus- 
tained for  a  time  in  part  by  northern  capital. 
Loyal  presses,  too,  must  be  established,  and  the 
social  structure  renovated  and  placed  upon  its 
new  basis  of  freedom,  order,  and  law.  While 
this  change  was  going  on,  though  superintend- 
ed mainly,  and  supported  in  part  by  persons 
who  had  previously  resided  in  the  regions  to  be 
reclaimed,  aid  would  be  required  for  some  time 
from  those  sections  which  had  not  been  despoil- 
ed by  the  ravages  of  war.  To  the  various  local 
refugee  societies  letters  were  addressed,  and 
their  cooperation,  counsel,  and  suggestions 
sought.  These  organizations  welcomed  with 
great  cordiality  the  new  movement,  and  united 
with  it  as  branches,  or  entered  into  harmonious 
cooperation  with  it.  The  American  Union  Com- 
mission, as  thus  organized,  had  its  headquarters 
in  New  York  city,  but  included  auxiliaries  in 
Boston,  Baltimore,  Pittsburg,  Cincinnati,  Chi- 
cago, Cairo,  Memphis,  Nashville,  Charleston, 
and  other  points.  Its  officers  were  Rev.  Joseph 
P.  Thompson,  D.  D.,  President ;  Rev.  Lyman 
Abbott,  Corresponding  Secretary;  II.  G.  Odi- 
orne,  Esq.,  of  Cincinnati,  Western  Secretary; 
H.  M.  Pierce,  LL.D.,  Recording  Secretary; 
A.  V.  Stout,  Esq.  (President  of  Shoe  and  Leath- 
er Bank),  Treasurer ;  and  an  Executive  Com- 
mittee of  six  members.  Its  fundamental  article, 
approved,  as  was  the  whole  work  and  purpose 
of  the  Commission,'  by  the  Government,  stated 
that  it  "  is  constituted  for'the  purpose  of  aiding 
and  cooperating  with  the  people  of  those  por- 
tions of  the  United  States  which  have  been 
desolated  and  impoverished  by  the  war,  in  the 
restoration  of  their  civil  and  social  condition 
upon  the  basis  of  industry,  education,  freedom, 
and  Christian  morality. 

About  the  1st  of  October,  1864,  the  Commis- 
sion was  fully  organized  for  its  work,  and  found 
at  first  abundant  occupation  in  relieving  the 
immediate  necessities  of  homeless  refugees,  who 
were  brought  from  the.  South  in  Government 
transports  and  landed  upon  the  wharves  in  the 
most  destitute  condition.  Nearly  100,000  were 


thus  thrown  upon  the  charity  of  the  benevolent 
during  seven  or  eight  months  of  1864-'65.  The 
Commission  gathered  them  into  barracks  or 
"homes"  at  St.  Louis,  Cairo,  Louisville,  Cincin- 
nati, Indianapolis,  New  York,  and  other  points 
in  the  North,  fed,  clothed,  and  provided  them 
with  medical  care,  and  where  it  was  possible 
procured  for  them  places,  where,  by  their  own 
industry,  they  could  obtain  a  livelihood.  Ex- 
perience in  other  organizations  proved  that  the 
retention  of  large  numbers  in  camps  and  bar- 
racks in  a  state  of  idleness,  was  injurious  alike 
to  their  health,  their  morals,  and  their  subse- 
quent efficiency,  and  hence  the  Commission 
sought  as  speedily  as  possible  to  place  all  who 
were  able  to  work  in  situations  where  they 
might  obtain  their  bread  by  their  labor.  The 
extraordinary  campaigns  of  General  Sherman, 
and  the  sudden  collapse  of  the  rebellion,  ren- 
dered a  different  system  necessary  in  the  Sea- 
board States.  It  was  neither  practicable  nor 
desirable  to  bring  the  thousands  who  flocked 
into  Savannah,  Charleston,  Wilmington,  New- 
bern,  Goldsborough,  Petersburg,  and  Richmond, 
to  the  North.  They  must  be  aided  in  their 
dire  necessity  at  home,  and  as  soon  as  practica- 
ble assisted  to  sustain  themselves.  Provisions 
were  accordingly  shipped  to  Savannah,  Charles- 
ton, Newbern,  Richmond,  and  other  points, 
and  careful  and  trustworthy  agents  despatched 
with  them  to  see  to  their  honest  and  faithful 
distribution.  Pauperism,  or  the  dependence 
upon  charity  without  effort  at  self-help,  was 
sternly  discouraged ;  the  cities  were  districted, 
and  the  applicants  visited  at  their  homes. 

The  Commission  disbursed  in  money  and 
clothing  from  its  New  York  office  in  six  months, 
$70,000,  and  the  various  auxiliary  boards  prob- 
ably fully  as  much  more.  (The  Boston  Branch 
expended  $32,000.)  Schools  were  opened  in 
Richmond  and  other  cities  of  the  South.  Seeds 
and  agricultural  implements  were  also  furnished 
to  the  impoverished  people  of  the  Southern 
States,  that  they  might  be  able  to  resume  their 
long  interrupted  industry. 


CHAPTEK  XLY. 

* 

Position  of  Gen.  Sherman  at  Atlanta— Position  of  Gen.  Hood :  his  Movements— Operations  of  Gen.  Forrest— The  failure 
to  interrupt  the  Federal  Communications— Plans  of  Gen.  Sherman— His  Orders— Distribution  of  his  Army— Advance 
of  the  Loft  Wing— Excitement  in  Georgia— Advance  of  the  Eight  "Wing— Beaches  the  Ogeechee— Demonstration  tow- 
ard Augusta — Advance  between  the  Ogeechee  and  Savannah  Rivers — Scouts  reach  the  Coast — Eeduction  of  Fort  Mc- 
Allister—Investment of  Savannah — Its  Evacuation — Further  Proceedings. 


DURING  the  month  of  September,  the  Federal 
army  in  and  about  Atlanta  were  allowed  to 
rest  from  the  fatigues  of  active  military  duty, 
and  many  were  sent  Borne  on  furlough.  The 
railroad  was  employed  to 'its  utmost  capacity 
to  bring  forward  supplies  and  recruits,  and 
much  was  done  in  the  construction  of  bar- 


racks, and  in  strengthening  the  defences  of 
Atlanta.  All  this  seemed  to  indicate  Gen. 
Sherman's  intention  to  make  the  city  a  base 
for  further  Derations  southward,  and  to  hold 
it  with  a  powerful  garrison.  From  his  recent 
experience  of  the  facility  with  which  a  cavalry 
force  could  temporarily  interrupt  his  long  line 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


609 


of  railroad  communication,  he  was  disposed  to 
hasten  this  work,  and  the  end  of  the  month 
found  Atlanta  transformed  into  a  considerable 
depot  of  supplies,  and  so  protected  by  works 
that  a  moderate  force  could  hold  it  against  an 
enemy  numerically  much  superior.  The  de- 
parture of  the  great  body  of  the  inhabitants, 
by  lessening  the  number  of  persons  to  be  sub- 
sisted, added  to  the  capacity  of  the  garrison  to 
withstand  a  protracted  siege. 

Gen.  Hood,  meanwhile,  'kept  his  forces  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Jonesboro,  receiving  his 
supplies  by  the  Macon  road.  Hia  army  num- 
bered about  40,000  men,  exclusive  of  the 
Georgia  militia ;  and,  as  if  to  show  that  no  im- 
mediate offensive  movement  was  contemplated, 
the  latter  were  withdrawn  from  him  by  Gov. 
Brown  soon  after  the  evacuation  of  Atlanta, 
through  the  following  communication : 

ExEcrcnvE  DEPARTMENT,     I 
MiLLEDGEVrLLK,  Sept.  10th,  1864  ) 
Gen.  J.  B.  Hood,  Commanding  Army  of  Tennessee  : 

GENERAL:  As  the  militia  of  the  State  were  called 
out  for  the  defence  of  Atlanta  during  the  campaign 
against  it,  which  has  terminated  by  the  fall  of  the 
city  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  as  many  of 
them  left  their  homes  without  preparation,  expecting 
to  be  gone  but  a  few  weeks,  who  bave  remained  in 
service  over  three  months  (most  of  the  time  in  the 
trenches),  justice  requires  that  they  be  permitted, 
while  the  enemy  are  preparing  for  the  winter  cam- 
paign, to  return  to  their  homes,  and  look,  for  a  time, 
after  important  interests,  and  prepare  themselves  for 
such  service  as  may  be  required  when  another  cam- 
paign commences  against  other  important  points  in 
the  State.  I,  therefore,  hereby  withdraw  said  organ- 
ization from  your  command,  in  the  hope  that- 1  shall 
be  able  to  return  it  with  greater  numbers  and  equal 
efficiency,  when  the  interests  of  the  public  service 
require  it.  In  this  connection,  I  beg  leave  to  tender 
to  you,  general,  my  sincere  thanks  for  your  impar- 
tiality to  the  State  troops,  and  for  your  uniform 
courtesy  and  kindness  to  me  individually.  With  as- 
surances of  my  high  consideration  and  esteem,  I  am, 
very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOSEPH  E.  BROWN. 

To  allow  their  principal  Southern  army  to 
rust  in  inactivity,  was  not,  however,  the  inten- 
tion of  the  rebel  authorities,  who,  whatever 
public  statements  they  might  make  as  to  the 
insignificance  of  Gen.  Sherman's  conquest, 
knew  that  it  was  a  vital  blow  aimed  at  the 
heart  of  the  Confederacy,  and  that  this  was 
the  belief  of  the  Southern  people.  Something 
must  be  done,  and  that  speedily,  to  arrest  the 
progress  of  the  Federal  army,  or  Georgia,  and 
perhaps  the  Gulf  States,  would  be  irretrievably 
lost.  In  this  emergency  Jefferson  Davis  start- 
ed on  a  tour  of  inspection  through  the  South, 
and  at  Macon,  on  Sept.  23d,  delivered  a  public 
address  on  the  crisis,  so  marked  «by  indiscreet 
admissions  that  many  of  the  Confederate  pa- 
pers at  first  refused  to  believe  that  it  was 
genuine.  He  alluded  with  undisguised  vexation 
to  the  depletion  in  Gen.  Hood's  ranks  caused 
by  absenteeism,  and  promised,  if  the  deserters 
would  return  to  duty,  that  Gen.  Sherman 
should  meet  "the  fate  that  befell  the  army  of 
the  French  Empire  in  its  retreat  from  Moscow. 
Our  cavalry,"  he  said,  "and  our  people,  will 
39 


harass  and  destroy  his  army  as  did  the  Cos- 
sacks that  of  Napoleon ;  and  the  Yankee  gen- 
eral, like  him,  will  escape  with  only  a  body- 
guard." These  remarks  foreshadowed  a  new 
policy,  borrowed  from  that  which  Gen.  Sher- 
man himself  had  so  successfully  employed  in 
the  capture  of  Atlanta,  and  which,  considering 
the  long  catalogue  of  rebel  reverses  in  Georgia, 
had  the  merit  of  boldness,  if  not  of  farsighted- 
ness. The  whole  army  of  Gen.  Hood,  it  was 
decided,  should  rapidly  move  in  a  compact 
body  to  the  rear  of  Atlanta,  and,  after  break- 
ing up  the  railroad  between  the  Chattahoochee 
and  Chattanooga,  push  on  to  Bridgeport  and 
destroy  the  great  railroad  bridge  spanning  the 
Tennessee  River  at  that  place.  Should  this  be 
accomplished,  Atlanta  would  be  isolated  from 
Chattanooga,  and  the  latter  in  turn  isolated 
from  Nashville,  and  Gen.  Sherman,  cut  off  from 
his  primary  and  secondary  bases,  would  find 
Atlanta  but  a  barren  conquest,  to  be  relin- 
quished almost  as  soon  as  gained,  and  would  be 
obliged  to  return  to  Tennessee.  Atlanta  would 
then  fall  from  lack  of  provisions,  or  in  conse- 
quence of  the  successful  attacks  of  the  Georgia 
militia. 

In  connection  with  this  movement,  Gen. 
Forrest,  confessedly  their  ablest  cavalry  officer, 
was  already  operating  in  Southern  Tennessee, 
where  the  Federal  force  was  barely  adequate  to 
prevent  him  from  interrupting  communications 
between  Nashville  and  Chattanooga.  Not  the 
least  favorable  result  anticipated  from  this 
movement  was  the  restoration  of  the  morale 
of  their  army,  which,  dispirited  by  constant 
retreats  and  reverses,  its  leaders  naturally  sup- 
posed would  be  encouraged  to  greater  efforts  by 
an  aggressive  campaign.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  effect  of  abandoning  their  conquests,  to 
meet  a  defeated  army  operating  in  their  rear, 
would  Ue  likely  to  perplex  and  disconcert  the 
Federals.  Such  was  the  ingenious  plan  devised 
by  the  authorities,  and,  to  a  less  able  general 
than  Sherman,  its  vigorous  execution  might 
have  been  productive  of  enormous  disaster,  in- 
cluding, of  course,  the  abandonment  of  the 
conquests  gained  during  a  long  and  arduous 
campaign.  The  sequel  will  show  that  he  was 
fully  master  of  the  situation,  and  that  the 
boasts  of  the  rebel  papers,  that  "the  great 
flanker  was  outflanked,"  were  destined  to 
prove  illusive. 

A  week  sufficed  to  complete  Gen.  Hood's 
arrangements,  and  by  the  2d  of  October  his 
army  was  across  the  Chattahoochee  and  on 
the  march  to  Dallas,  where  the  different  corps 
were  directed  to  concentrate.  At  this  point 
he  was  enabled  to  threaten  Rome  and  King- 
ston, as  well  as  the  fortified  places  on  the  rail- 
road to  Chattanooga ;  and  there  remained  open, 
in  case  of  defeat,  a  line  of  retreat  south- 
west into  Alabama.  From  Dallas  he  advanced 
east  toward  the  railroad,  snd,  on  the  4th,  cap- 
tured the  insignificant  stations  of  Big  Shanty 
and  Ackworth,  effecting  a  thorough  destruc- 
tion of  the  .road  between  the  two  places.  He 


610 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


also  sent  a  division  under  Gen.  French  to  cap- 
ture the  Federal  post  at  Allatoona  Pass,  where 
he  had  ascertained  that  a  million  and  a  half  of 
rations  for  the  Federal  army  were  stored,  on 
which  he  probably  depended  to  replenish  his 
commissariat.  The  natural  strength  of  the  po- 
sition was  such  that  ten  thousand  men  could 
easily  hold  it  against  ten  times  their  number, 
as  long  as  their  supplies  held  out,  besides  cut- 
ting off  railroad  communications  between  Chat- 
tanooga and  Atlanta.  This  of  itself  might 
have  compelled  the  evacuation  of  the  latter 
city,  and  was  a  sufficient  inducement  to  make 
the  attack. 

Gen.  Sherman,  however,  aware  that  his  seat 
in  Atlanta  was  insecure  while  this  long  line  of 
communications  lay  so  exposed  to  interruption, 
had  anticipated  and  partially  provided  against 
such  a  movement  as  this;  and  immediately 
upon  hearing  that  Gen.  Hood  had  crossed  the 
Chattahoochee,  he  despatched  Gen.  Corse  with 
reinforcements  to  Rome,  which  he  supposed 
the  enemy  were  aiming  at.  During  the  pre- 
vious week  he  had  sent  Gen.  Thomas  with 
troops  to  Nashville  to  look  after  Forrest.  His 
bridges  having  meanwhile  been  carried  away 
by  a  freshet  which  filled  the  Chattahoochee,  he 
was  unable  to  move  his  main  body  until  the 
4th,  when  three  pontoons  were  laid  down,  over 
which  the  armies  of  the  Cumberland,  the  Ten- 
nessee, and  the  Ohio  crossed,  and  took  up  their 
march  in  the  direction  of  Marietta,  with  fifteen 
days'  rations.  The  20th  corps,  Gen.  Slocum, 
was  left  to  garrison  Atlanta.  Learning  that  the 
enemy  had  captured  Big  Shanty  and  Ackworth, 
and  were  threatening  Allatoona,  and  alive  to  the 
imperative  necessity  of  holding  the  latter  place, 
Gen.  Sherman  at  once  communicated  by  signals 
instruction  to  Gen.  Corse  at  Rome  to  reSnforce 
the  small  garrison  and  hold  the  defences  until 
the  main  body  of  the  Federal  army  could  come 
to  his  assistance.  Upon  receiving  the  message 
Gen.  Corse  placed  nine  hundred  men  on  the 
cars,  and  reached  Allatoona  before  the  attack 
of  French.  With  this  addition  the  garrison 
numbered  1,700  men,  with  six  guns. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  5th,  Gen.  French, 
with  7,000  troops,  approached  Allatoona,  and 
summoned  the  Federal  commander,  "  in  order 
to  save  the  unnecessary  effusion  of  blood,"  to 
make  an  immediate  surrender ;  to  which  the 
latter  replied :  "I  shall  not  surrender,  and  you 
can  commence  the  unnecessary  effusion  of 
blood  whenever  you  please."  The  battle  opened 
at  8  A.  M.,  and  was  waged  hotly  until  2  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon.  Driven  from  fort  to  fort, 
until  they  reached  their  last  defence,  the  gar- 
rison fought  with  an  obstinacy  and  desperation 
worthy  of  the  great  stake  for  which  they  con- 
tended. Their  general  was  wounded  early  in 
the  action,  but  relaxed  in  no  degree  his  efforts 
to  repel  the  enemy.  On  one  occasion  the  op- 

g)sing  forces  mingled  in  a  bayonet  charge, 
nring  the  heat  of  the  contest  Gen.  Sherman 
reached  the  summit  of   Kenesaw  Mountain, 
whence  he  repeatedly  signalled,  to  Gen.  Corse 


to  hold  out  to  the  last.  The  announcement  of 
approaching  succor  animated  the  garrison  to 
renewed  exertions,  and  they  threw  back  the  as- 
saulting columns  of  the  enemy  again  and  again, 
finally  compelling  them  to  retire,  beaten  and 
disheartened,  in  the  direction  of  Dallas.  Their 
retreat  was  hastened  by  the  rapid  approach  of 
Stanley's  (4th)  corps  from  the  direction  of  Pine 
Mountain.  The  enemy  left  700  to  800  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the 
Federals,  and  their  total  loss  must  have  exceed- 
ed 1,000.  The  garrison  lost  600  men.  The 
town  of  Allatoona  was  reduced  to  a  mere  wreck 
by  the  severe  fire  of  the  enemy,  and  all  the 
Federal  artillery  and  cavalry  horses  were  killed ; 
but  the  valuable  stores  were  saved,  and  the  fort 
and  pass  held.  The  only  important  injury  done 
by  the  rebels,  was  the  destruction  of  six  or  seven 
miles  of  railroad  between  Big  Shanty  and  Alla- 
toona, which  Gen.  Sherman  immediately  com- 
menced to  repair. 

For  several  days  subsequent  to  the  fight  at 
Allatoona,  Gen.  Sherman  remained  in  the  latter 
place,  watching  the  movements  of  Hood,  who, 
he  suspected,  would  march  for  Rome,  and 
thence  toward  Bridgeport,  or  else  to  Kingston. 

The  23d  corps,  commanded  by  Gen.  Cox 
(Gen.  Schofield,  its  commander,  having  pre- 
viously been  ordered  to  look  after  the  defences 
of  Chattanooga),  was  at  once  sent  toward  the 
former  place,  and,  by  the  10th,  the  whole  army 
was  on  the  ma,rch  thither.  Gen.  Hood,  how- 
ever, crossing  the  Etowah  and  avoiding  Rome, 
moved  directly  north,  and  on  the  12th  Stuart's 
corps  of  his  army  appeared  in  front  of  Resaca, 
the  defences  of  which  were  held  by  Col.  "Weaver 
with  600  men  and  three  pieces  of  artillery.  The 
garrison  immediately  took  to  the  rifle-pits  sur- 
rounding the  works,  and  kept  the  enemy's 
skirmishers  at  bay,  and  in  the  midst  of  a  brisk 
contest  a  flag  of  truce  approached,  with  the 
following  message : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  TENNESSEE,  ) 
IN  THE  FIELD,  Oct  12th,  18frt     j 
To  the  Officer  Commanding  the  United  States  forces 

at  Resaca,  Ga.  : 

SIR  :  I  demand  the  immediate  and  unconditional 
surrender  of  the  post  and  garrison  under  your  com- 
mand ;  and  should  this  be  acceded  to,  all  white  officers 
and  soldiers  will  be  paroled  in  a  few  days.  If  the 
place  is  taken  by  assault,  no  prisoners  will  be  taken. 
Most  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  B.  HOOD,  General. 

To  which  Col.  Weaver  replied : 

HEADQtTARTEnS  SECOND  BRIGADE,         I 
THIRD  DIVISION,  FIFTEENTH  ARMY  CORPS.  ) 
To  Gen.  J.  B.  Hood  : 

Your  communication  of  this  date  just  received. 
In  reply,  I  have  to  state  that  I  am  somewhat  sur- 
prised at  the  concluding  paragraph,  to  the  effect  that 
"if  the  place  is  carried  by  assault,  no  prisoners  will 
be  taken."  In  my  opinion,  I  can  hold  this  post.  If 
you  want  it,  come  and  take  it. 

I  am,  General,  very  respectfully,  your  most  obedient 
servant,  CLARK  R.  WEAVER,  Comd'g  Officer. 

W.  W.  MCCAMMON,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

During  the  whole  day  continuous  masses  of 
rebel  troops  were  passing  the  forts,  but  no 
serious  attack  was  made  upon  the  garrison,  the 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


611 


enemy  being  more  intent  upon  destroying  the 
railroad  toward.  Dalton  than  wasting  their  time 
or  strength  upon  the  reduction  of  a  post,  the 
possession  of  which  they  wisely  considered 
would  be  of  no  particular  advantage  to  them. 
During  the  night  they  captured,  after  a  gallant 
resistance,  a  block  house  at  Tilton,  garrisoned 
by  part  of  the  17th  Iowa  regiment.  Through- 
out the  12th  and  the  13th  the  work  of  destruc- 
tion continued,  the  enemy  gradually  passing  to 
the  north,  out  of  sight  of  Resaca,  and  on  the 
evening  of  the  latter  day  the  advance  of  Gen. 
Sherman's  army  arrived  from  Rome,  followed 
on  the  14th  by  the  main  body,  which  encamped 
around  Resaca  for  the  night. 

Meanwhile  the  rebel  army,  pursuing  its  de- 
vastating march  north,  reached  Dalton  on  the 
14th,  and,  in  consequence  of  the  negligence  of 
the  Federal  scouts,  surrounded  the  fort,  garri- 
soned by  the  44th  colored  regiment,  Col.  John- 
ston, before  adequate  preparations  for  defence 
could  be  made.  A  demand  for  surrender  simi- 
lar to  that  sent  to  Col.  Weaver  was  at  once 
made,  which  was  refused.  But  Col.  Johnston, 
discovering  that  the  beleaguering  force  com- 
prised the  whole  of  Hood's  army,  and  that  Buz- 
zard Roost  and  other  important  points  com- 
manding his  work  had  been  occupied,  subse- 
quently surrendered  his  whole  command.  The 
14th  and  15th  were  employed  by  the  enemy  in 
continuing  the  destruction  of  the  railroad  as 
far  as  Tunnel  Hill,  which,  whether  through 
want  of  time  or  scarcity  of  gunpowder,  they 
neglected  to  mine.  They  found  no  rolling 
stock  of  consequence  on  the  road,  and  beyond 
the  destruction  of  a  few  box-cars  did  little 
damage  to  this  species  of  property.  The  ap- 
proach of  the  Federal  columns  now  warned 
Gen.  Hood  to  move  off  to  the  west,  and  the 
16th  found  him  in  full  retreat  for  Lafayette, 
followed  by  Gen.  Sherman,  who,  instead  of 
marching  along  the  railroad  to  Dalton,  pushed 
for  Snake  Creek  Gap,  through  which,  in  spite 
of  obstructions  accumulated  there  by  Hood,  he 
rapidly  passed.  At  Ship's  Gap  he  captured 
part  of  the  24th  North  Carolina  regiment, 
stationed  to  delay  his  march.  From  Lafayette 
the  enemy  retreated  in  a  southwesterly  direc- 
tion into  Alabama  through  a  broken  and  moun- 
tainous country,  but  scantily  supplied  with  food 
for  man  or  beast ;  and  passing  through  Sum- 
merville,  Gaylesville,  and  Blue  Pond,  halted  at 
Gadsdens,  on  the  Coosa  River,  75  miles  from 
Lafayette.  Here  he  paused  for  several  days, 
receiving  a  few  reinforcements  brought  up  by 
Gen.  Beauregard,  who  had  on  the  17th  assumed 
command  of  the  Confederate  military  division 
of  the  West  in  the  following  address : 

HEADQUABTEKS  MTLITABY  DIVISION  OF  THE  WEST,  ) 
October  17th,  1864       f 

In  assuming  command  at  this  criticul  juncture  of 
the  Military  Division  of  the  West,  I  appeal  to  my 
countrymen  of  all  classes  and  sections  for  their  gen- 
erous support  and  confidence.  In  assigning  me  to 
this  responsible  position,  the  President  of  the  Con- 
federate States  has  extended  to  me  the  assurance  of 
his  earnest  support.  The  Executives  of  your  States 


meet  me  with  similar  expressions  of  their  devotion 
to  our  cause.  The  noble  army  in  the  field,  composed 
of  brave  men  and  gallant  officers,  are  strangers  to 
me,  and  I  know  that  they  will  do  all  that  patriots  can 
achieve.  The  history  of  the  past,  written  in  the 
blood  of  their  comrades,  but  foreshadows  the  glori- 
ous future  which  lies  before  them.  Inspired  by  these 
bright  promises  of  success,  I  make  this  appeal  to  the 
men  and  women  of  my  country  to  lend  me  the  aid  of 
their  earnest  and  cordial  cooperation.  Unable  to 
join  in  the  bloody  conflicts  of  the  field,  they  can  do 
much  to  strengthen  our  cause,  fill  up  our  ranks,  en- 
courage our  soldiers,  inspire  confidence,  dispel  gloom, 
and  thus  hasten  on  the  day  of  our  final  success  and 
deliverance. 

The  army  of  Sherman  still  defiantly  holds  Atlanta. 
He  can  and  must  be  driven  from  it.  It  is  only  for 
the  good  people  of  Georgia  and  the  surrounding 
States  to  speak  the  w_ord,  and  the  work  is  done.  We 
have  abundant  provisions.  There  are  men  enough 
in  the  country  liable  to  and  able  for  service  to  accom- 
plish this  result.  To  all  such  I  earnestly  appeal  to. 
report  promptly  to  their  respective  commands.;  and 
let  those  who  cannot  go  see  to  it  that  none  remain 
who  are  able  to  strike  a  blow  in  this  critical  and  de- 
cisive hour.  To  those  soldiers,  if  any,  who  are  ab- 
sent from  their  commands  without  leaye,  I  appeal  in 
the  name  of  their  brave  comrades,  with  whom  they 
have  in  the  past  so  often  shared  the  privations  of  the 
camp  and  the  dangers  of  the  battle-field,  to  return  at 
once  to  their  duty.  To  all  such  as  shall  report  to 
their  respective  commands,  in  response  to  this  appeal, 
within  the  next  thirty  days,  an  amnesty  is  hereby 
granted.  My  appeal  is  to  everv  one,  of  all  classes 
and  conditions,  to  come  forward  freely,  cheerfully, 
and  with  good  heart  to  the  work  that  lies  before  us. 

My  countrymen,  respond  to  this  Call  as  you 
have  done  in  days  that  have  passed,  and,  with 
the  blessing  of  a  kind  and  overruling  Providence, 
the  enemy  shall  be  driven  from  your  soil.  The 
security  of  your  wives  and  daughters  from  the 
insults  and  outrages  of  a  brutal  foe  shall  be 
established  soon,  and  be  followed  by  a  permanent 
and  honorable  peace.  The  claims  of  home  and 
country,  wife  and  children,  uniting  with  the  demands 
of  honor  and  patriotism,  summon  us  to  the  field. 
We  cannot,  dare  not,  will  not  fail  to  respond.  Full 
of  hope  and  confidence,  I  come  to  join  in  your  strug- 
gles, sharing  your  privations,  and  with  your  brave 
and  true  men  to  strike  the  blow  that  shall  bring  suc- 
cess to  our  arms,  triumph  to  our  cause,  and  peace  to 
our  country.  G.  T.  BEAUREGARD,  General. 

Gen.  Hood  still  retained  his  special  com- 
mand,' subject  to  the  supervision  or  direction 
of  Gen.  Beauregard,  and  his  army,  after  re- 
maining a  few  days  in  Gadsden,  moved,  about 
the  1st  of  November,  for  Warrington,  on  the 
Tennessee  River,  30  miles  distant.  Gen.  Sher- 
man meanwhile  remained  at  Gaylesville,  which 
place  his  main  body  reached  about  the  21st, 
watching  the  enemy's  movements.  During  the 
retreat  of  Gen.  Hood  into  Northern  Alabama, 
he  had  frequent  opportunities  to  join  battle 
with  his  pursuers,  which  he  uniformly  declined. 
The  injuries  to  the  railroad  were  confined  to 
two  sections,  and  covered  about  28  miles  of 
track :  viz.,  7  miles  between  Big  Shanty  and 
Allatoona,  and  21  miles  between  Resaca  and 
Tunnel  Hill.  So  rapidly  were  the  repairs 
effected,  that,  by  the  20th,  the  road  was  in 
running  order  from  Resaca  to  Atlanta ;  and  on 
the  28th,  while  Gen.  Hood  was  still  lying  at 
Gadsden,  trains  again  left  Chattanooga  for  At- 
lanta. Whatever,  therefore,  might  be  the  final 
result  of  Hood's  flanking  movement,  it  had 


612 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


entirely  failed  to  interrupt  the  Federal  com- 
munications to  a  degree  that  would  compel 
the  evacuation  of  Atlanta.  "Without  perma- 
nently disabling  the  railroad,-  he  had  been 
driven  with  loss  across  the  mountains  south  of 
Chattanooga  into  Alabama;  had  cut  himself 
entirely  adrift  from  that  admirable  railroad 
system  which  had  so  long  kept  his  army  sup- 
plied, and  had  left  Georgia  and  the  whole 
Southeast  open  to  the  invaders.  He  perhaps 
felt  himself  compensated  for  these  disasters  by 
the  opportunity,  now  temptingly  presented  to 
him,  to  carry  the  war  into  Middle  Tennessee 
and  Kentucky,  and  plunder  the  richly-stored 
cities  and  farms  of  those  States,  forgetting  that 
a  general  who  had  shown  such  fertile  resources 
during  a  long  and  trying  campaign,  was  still 
opposed  to  him,  with  more  than  double  his  own 
force. 

It  was  undoubtedly  a  part  of  Gen.  Sherman's 
plan  to  remain  at  Atlanta  no  longer  than  would 
suffice  to  accumulate  stores  and  thoroughly 
strengthen  the  defences ;  after  which  he  would 
continue  his  march  southward.  This,  with  a 
determined  and  unbroken  enemy  in  his  front, 
was  likely,  to  judge  from  previous  experience, 
to  prove  a  tedious  and  dangerous  operation. 
To  relieve  himself  of  the  presence  of  that 
enemy  was  the  problem  to  be  solved.  When, 
therefore,  Gen.  Hood  crossed  the  Chattahoo- 
chee  on  his  flanking  march  upon  the  Federal 
communications,  it  was  with  mingled  feelings 
of  hope  and  apprehension  that  he  was  watched 
by  his  vigilant  adversary ;  hope,  that  he  would 
finally  place  himself  in  the  position  where  he 
was  actually  found  on  the  1st  of  November ; 
and  apprehension,  lest  he  should  again  retire  to 
his  camp  near  Jonesboro.  It  will  be  remem- 
bered how  apparently  slow  was  the  pursuit  of 
the  rebel  army  by  Gen.  Sherman  after  the  for- 
mer had  crossed  the  Chattahoochee,  and  how 
readily  it  seemed  to  escape  into  Alabama,  and 
thence  march  toward  the  Tennessee.  To  those 
who  had  witnessed  the  brilliant  campaign  to 
Atlanta,  the  Federal  general's  lack  of  energy 
and  tardiness  of  movement  seemed  unaccount- 
able. In  the  light  of  subsequent  events  it 
would  now  appear  that  Gen.  Sherman,  making 
only  a  show  of  following  his  adversary,  delib- 
erately lured  him  into  Northern  Alabama,  for 
the  purpose  of  pursuing  an  uninterrupted 
march  with  his  own  army  through  the  heart 
of  Georgia.  The  ill-advised  plan  of  Gen.  Hood 
had  given  him  the  very  opportunity  which  he 
desired,  and  he  prepared  at  once  to  avail  him- 
self of  it.  • 

Anticipating  that  his  army  was  unnecessarily 
large  for  his  purpose,  he  detached  from  it  the 
4th  and  23d  corps,  which  were  ordered  to  Ten- 
nessee, via,  Chattanooga  and  Bridgeport,  to  re- 
enforce  Gen.Thomas.  This  left  him  four  corps — 
the  14th,  15th,  16th  and  17th— which  had  ac- 
companied him  from  Atlanta,  and  the  20th  left 
to  garrison  that  place.  Two  armies  were  thus 
formed,  of  which  the  former,  in  conjunction 
with  such  forces  as  Gen.  Thomas  had  in  Ten- 


nessee, was  fully  able  to  cope  with  Gen.  Hood ; 
while  the  latter,  as  events  proved,  was  more 
than  sufficient  for  the  Georgia  expedition.  For 
several  days  Gen.  Sherman  retained  his  main 
force  at  Gaylesville,  throwing  out  strong  re- 
connoissances  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy,  as 
if  bent  upon  watching  and  thwarting  his  move- 
ment toward  the  Tennessee.  But  no  sooner 
had  he  ascertained  that  Gen.  Hood  had  started, 
than  he  moved  his  whole  army  eastward  to 
Rome,  with  the  exception  of  the  two  corps  sent 
to  Gen.  Thomas,  and  commenced  in  earnest  the 
preparations  for  his  new  campaign.  Being  no 
longer  under  the  necessity  of  coping  with  an 
active  enemy  in  his  front,  he  had  no  further 
occasion  to  keep  up  a  long  line  of  railroad  com- 
munication with  a  fortified  base  in  his  rear. 
The  original  plan,  therefore,  of  provisioning  At- 
lanta and  using  it  as  a  secondary  base,  which 
would  have  required  large  details  of  troops, 
was  willingly  abandoned,  and,  in  consequence, 
the  place  itself,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  rail- 
road connecting  it  with  Chattanooga,  became 
practically  useless.  To  garrison  and  guard 
either,  would  be  a  simple  waste  of  resources ; 
and  as  it  would  be  an  act  of  needless  generosity 
to  leave  them  for  the  enemy  to  use,  their  de- 
struction became  a  necessity.  The  army,  once 
fairly  started  from  Atlanta  on  its  march 
through  Georgia,  was  to  cut  loose  from  all 
bases  and  mainly  subsist  upon  the  country. 
This  plan,  so  daring  in  its  conception  as  to  re- 
call the  achievements  of  the  greatest  generals 
of  antiquity,  appears  to  have  been  matured  and 
carefully  elaborated  by  Gen.  Sherman  long  pre- 
vious to  its  execution,  and,  upon  being  laid  be- 
fore the  authorities  at  Washington,  received 
their  cordial  approval. 

During  the  first  ten  days  of  November  every 
locomotive  and  car  on  the  Chattanooga  and 
Atlanta  Railroad  was  employed  in  conveying 
North  the  inmates  of  the  hospitals,  and  such 
supplies  of  all  kinds  as  there  was  time  to  re- 
move. The  vast  supplies  of  provisions,  forage, 
stores,  and  machinery  which  had  accumulated 
at  Atlanta,  Rome,  and  other  points,  the  surplus 
artillery,  baggage,  and  other  useless  wagons — 
every  thing,  in  fact,  likely  to  impede  the  move- 
ments of  the  army,  was  gathered  up  and  sent 
safely  to  Chattanooga.  In  return,  the  trains 
brought  down  to  Gen.  Sherman  recruits,  con- 
valescents, furloughed  men,  and  ordnance  sup- 
plies. On  the  night  of  November  llth,  the 
last  train  left  Atlanta  for  the  North,  and  the 
army,  supplied  with  every  man  and  horse  and 
gun  which  it  needed,  and  having  30  days'  ra- 
tions in  his  wagons,  was  prepared  to  move 
toward  the  coast. 

The  five  corps  mentioned  above  as  consti- 
tuting the  army  which  Gen.  Sherman  reserved 
for  his  expedition,  were  concentrated  into  four, 
by  assigning  one  of  the  two  divisions  of  the 
16th  corps  (the  remaining  divisions  were  in 
Tennessee)  to  the  loth  corps,  and  the  other  to 
the  17th.  The  expeditionary  army  then  com- 
prised the  14th  corps,  Gen.  Jeff.  0.  Davis ;  the 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


613 


15th,  Gen.  Osterhaus  commanding  in  the  ab- 
sence of  Gen.  Logan;  the  17th,  Gen.  Blair; 
and  the  20th,  Gen.  Slocmn;  beside  four  bri- 
gades of  artillery,  one  for  each  corps,  two  horse 
batteries,  and  two  divisions  of  cavalry.  Gen. 
Barry,  chief  of  artillery,  in  fitting  out  this  im- 
portant arm,  withdrew  every  doubtful  or  sus- 
picious horse,  and  supplied  enough  serviceable 
animals  to  give  each  artillery  carriage  eight 
horses,  and  each  battery  a  reserve  of  twelve 
horses.  The  cavalry  were  equipped  with  equal 
care.  The  total  force  numbered  between 
50,000  and  60,000  picked  men,  constituting 
one  of  the  most  eflfective  armies  ever  organ- 
ized. The  following  order  of  Gen.  Sherman 
gives  the  plan  of  march  and  other  details  of 
the  campaign : 

HEADQUARTERS  MIL  Drv.  OP  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  ( 
IN  THE  FIELD,  KINGSTON,  GA.  ,  Wednesday,  Nov.  9th.    j 
Special  Field  Order  No.  120. 

1.  For  the  purpose  of  military  operations,  this 
army  is  divided  into  two  wings,  viz. :  The  right  wing, 
Maj.-Gen.  0.  0.  Howard  commanding,  the  15th  and 
17th  corps.    The  left  wing,  Maj.-Gen.  H.  W.  Slo- 
cum  commanding,  the  14th  and  20th  corps. 

2.  The  habitual  order  of  march  will  be,  whenever 
practicable,  by  four  roads,  as  nearly  parallel  as  pos- 
sible, and  converging  at  points  hereafter  to  be  indi- 
cated in  orders.     The  cavalry,  Brig.-Gen.  Kilpatrick 
commanding,  will  receive  special  orders  from  the 
C  omm  ander-in-Chief. 

3.  There  will  be  no  general  trains  of  supplies,  but 
each  corps  will  have  its  ammunition  and  provision 
train,  distributed  habitually  as  follows :  Behind  each 
regiment  should  follow  one  wagon  and  one  ambu- 
lance ;  behind  each  brigade  should  follow  a  due  pro- 
portion of   ammunition  wagons,  provision  wagons, 
and  ambulances.  In  case  of  danger,  each  army  corps 
should  change  this  order  of  march  by  having  his  ad- 
vance and  rear  brigade  unincumbered  by  wheels. 
The  separate  columns  will  start  habitually  at  7  A.  M., 
and  make  about  fifteen  miles  per  day,  unless  other- 
wise fixed  in  orders. 

4.  The  army  will  forage  liberally  on  the  country 
during  the  march.     To  this  end,  each  brigade  com- 
mander will  organize  a  good  and  sufficient  foraging 
party,  under  the  command  of  one  or  more  discreet 
officers,  who  will  gather,  near  the  route  travelled, 
corn  or  forage  of  any  kind,  meat  of  any  kind,  vege- 
tables, corn  meal,  or  whatever  is  needed"^  by  the  com- 
mand ;   aiming   at  all  times  to  keep  in  the  wagon 
trains  at  least  ten  days'  provisions  for  the  command 
and  three  days'  forage.     Soldiers  must  not  enter  the 
dwellings  of  the  inhabitants  or  commit  any  trespass ; 
during  the  halt,  or  a  camp,  they  may  be  permitted  to 
gather  turnips,  potatoes,  and  other  vegetables,  and 
drive  in  stock  in  front  of  their  camps.     To  regular 
foraging  parties  must  be  entrusted  the  gathering  of 
provisions  and  forage*  at  any  distance  from  the  road 
travelled. 

5.  To   army  corpus  commanders  is  entrusted  the 
power  to  destroy  mills,  houses,  cotton  gins,  etc.,  and 
for  them  this  general  principle  is  laid  down  :  In  dis- 
tricts  and  neighborhoods  where  the  army  is  un- 
molested, no  destruction  of  such  property  should  be 
permitted ;  but  should  guerrillas  or  bushwackers  mo- 
lest our  march,   or    should    the    inhabitants  burn 
bridges,  obstruct  roads,  or  otherwise  manifest  local 
hostility,  then  army  corps  commanders  should  order 
and  enforce  a  devastation  more  or  less  relentless  ac- 
cording to  the  measure  of  such  hostility. 

6.  As  for  horses,  mules,  wagons,  etc.,  belonging  to 
the  inhabitants,  the  cavalry  and  artillery  may  ap- 
propriate freely  and  without  limit ;  discriminating, 
however,  between  the  rich,  who  are  usually  hostile, 
and  the   poor  or  industrious,   usually  neutral    or 


friendly.  Foraging  parties  may  also  take  mules  or 
horses,  to  replace  the  jaded  animals  of  their  trains, 
or  to  serve  as  pack-mules  for  the  regiments  or  bri- 
gades. In  all  foraging,  of  whatever  kind,  the  parties 
engaged  will  refrain  from  abusive  or  threatening 
language,  and  may,  when  the  officer  in  command 
thinks  proper,  give  written  certificates  of  the  facts, 
but  no  receipts ;  and  they  will  endeavor  to  leave 
with  each  family  a  reasonable  portion  for  their 
maintenance. 

7.  Negroes  who  are  able-bodied  and  can  be  of 
service  to  the  several  columns,  may  be  taken  along ; 
but  each  army  commander  will  bear  in  mind  that  the 
question  of  supplies  is  a  very  important  one,  and 
that  his  first  duty  is  to  see  to  those  who  bear  arms. 

8.  The  organization  at  once  of  a  good  pioneer  bat- 
talion for  each  corps,  composed,  if  ncssible,  of  ne- 
groes, should  be  attended  to.    This  battalion  should 
Follow  the  advance  guard,  should  repair  roads  and 
double  them  if  possible,  so  that  the  columns  will  not 
be  delayed  after  reaching  bad  places.    Also,  army 
commanders  should  study  the   habit  of  giving  the 
artillery  and  wagons  the  road,  and  marching  their 
troops  on  one  side ;  and  also  instruct  their  troops 
to  assist  wagons  at  steep  hills  or  bad  crossings  of 
streams. 

9.  Capt.  0.  M.  Poe,  Chief  Engineer,  will  assign  to 
each  wing  of  the  army  a  pontoon  train,  fully  equipped 
and  organized,  and  the  commanders  thereof  wifl  see 
to  its  being  properly  protected  at  all  times. 

By  order  of  Maj.-Gen.  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 
L.  M.  DAYTON,  Aide-de-Camp. 

The  following  order  issued  by  Gen.  Slocum 
to  the  troops  under  his  immediate  command 
gives  additional  directions  for  the  conduct  of 
the  march : 

HEADQUARTERS  TWENTIETH  CORPS,  ) 
ATLANTA,  GA.,  Nov.  7th,  1864.     f 

[Circular.]  When  the  troops  leave  camp  on  tho 
march  about  to  commence,  they  will  carry  in  haver- 
sack two  days'  rations  salt  meat,  two  clays'  hard 
bread,  ten  days'  coffee  and  salt,  and  five  days'  sugar. 
Each  infantry  soldier  will  carry  sixty  rounds  of  am- 
munition on  his  person.  Every  effort  should  be  made 
by  officers  and  men  to  save  rations  and  ammunition ; 
not  a  round  of  ammunition  should  be  lost  or  unneces- 
sarily expended.  It  is  expected  that  the  command 
will  be  supplied  with  subsistence  and  forage  mainly 
from  the  country.  All  foraging  will  be  done  by 
parties  detailed  for  the  purpose  by  brigade  com- 
manders, under  such  rules  as  may  be  prescribed  by 
brigade  and  division  commanders.  Pillaging,  ma- 
rauding, and  every  act  of  cruelty  or  abuse  of  citi- 
zens will  be  severely  punished.  Each  brigade  com- 
mander will  have  a  strong  rear  guard  on  every 
march,  and  will  order  the  arrest  of  all  stragglers. 
The  danger  of  straggling  on  this  march  should  be 
impressed  upon  the  mind  of  every  officer  and  man 
of  the  command.  Not  only  the  reputation  of  the 
corps,  but  the  personal  safety  of  every  man,  will  bo 
dependent,  in  a  great  measure,  upon  the  rigid  en- 
forcement of  discipline  and  the  care  taken  of  the 
rations  and  ammunition. 

By  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  SLOCUM. 

H.  W.  PKEKINS,  Asst.  Adj.-Gen. 

A  glance  at  the  map  will  show  that  two 
parallel  lines  of  railway,  having  a  general 
southeasterly  direction,  connect  Atlanta  with 
the  Atlantic  seaboard,  one  terminating  at 
Charleston,  308  miles  distant,  and  the  other  at 
Savannah,  293  miles  distant.  The  former  line 
is  composed  of  the  Georgia  Railroad,  171  milea 
in  length,  connecting  Atlanta  with  Augusta, 
and  of  the  South  Carolina  Railroad,  extending 
from  Augusta  to  Charleston,  137  miles;  and 
the  latter,  of  the  "Western  and  Macon  road, 


614 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


103  miles  in  length,  connecting  Atlanta  with 
Macon ;  and  of  the  Central  Georgia  road,  190 
miles  long,  connecting  Macon  with  Savannah. 
From  Augusta  there  also  runs  a  cross-road, 
due  south,  to  Millen,  on  the  Georgia  Central 
road,  53  miles  in  length,  which  affords  a  second 
route  from  Atlanta  to  Savannah,  ten  miles 
longer  than  that  through  Macon.  The  average 
width  of  the  helt  of  country  embraced  be- 
tween the  two  main  lines  as  far  eastward  as 
Augusta  and  Millen  is  about  40  miles;  east- 
ward of  those  points  the  country  gradually 
expands  to  a  width  of  nearly  100  miles. 


The  Georgia  road,  from  Augusta  to  Atlanta, 
since  the  capture  of  the  latter  place,  had  lost 
much  of  its  importance  ;  but  all  the  others,  in- 
cluding that  between  Augusta  and  Millen,  were 
essential  links  in  the  great  chain  of  communica- 
tions between  the  northern  and  southern  por- 
tions of  the  Confederacy ;  and  their  destruction, 
which  was  one  of  the  objects  of  the  expedition, 
would  sever  the  Gulf  States  as  completely  from 
Virginia  and  the  Carolinas,  as  the  trans-Mis- 
sissippi States  were  cut  off  from  the  rest  of  the 
Confederacy  after  the  fall  of  ^Vicksburg  and 
Port  Hudson.  The  country  included  in  this 


railroad  system  was  probably  the  richest  and 
most  populous  of  Georgia,  containing  the 
capital,  Milledgeville,  and  many  other  im- 
portant towns ;  and  all  accounts  concurred  in 
describing  it  as  abundantly  supplied  with  horses, 
cattle,  and  subsistence  for  an  invading  army. 
Here  also  had  been  conveyed  for  greater  safety 
large  numbers  of  slaves  from  the  exposed  parts 
of  the  rebel  States.  Not  less  important  than 
these  facts  was  the  additional  one,  that,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  brigades  of  cavalry  under 
Gen.  Wheeler,  and  su.ch  troops  as  could  be 
gathered  from  Wilmington,  Charleston,  or 
Savannah,  there  was  nothing  but  the  Georgia 
militia  to  oppose  the  progress  of  Gen.  Sherman. 
Under  every  circumstance,  therefore,  the  two 
lines  above  described  seemed  likely  to  offer  the 
most  feasible  route  to  the  coast.  The  ultimate 
objective  point  of  the  expedition,  whether 
Charleston  or  Savannah,  it  was  left  to  circum- 
etances  to  determine. 

On  the  llth  of  November  the  army  was  dis- 
tributed as  follows :  the  14th  corps,  with  which 
was  Gen.  Sherman,  at  Kingston ;  the  15th  and 
17th  corps  on  the  Powder  Spring  road,  a  little 
west  of  the  Chattahoochee ;  and  the  20th  corps 


at  Atlanta.  The  latter,  after  the  appointment 
of  Gen.  Slocum  as  commander  of  the  left  wing 
of  the  army,  was  commanded  by  Gen.  Williams. 
On  the  morning  of  the  12th  the  14th  corps 
moved  out  of  Kingston,  leaving  a  brigade  to 
cover  the  last 'shipment  north  of  supplies  and 
rolling  stock.  This  was  completed  in  the  after- 
noon; a  parting  message,  "All  is  well,"  was 
sent  to  Chattanooga  by  the  telegraph  wires, 
which  were  then  cut,  and  by  nightfall  not  a 
soldier  of  the  expeditionary  army  remained 
north  of  Kingston.  Following  the  line  of  the 
railroad,  the  14th  corps  thoroughly  destroyed 
every  mile  of  track  between  Kingston  and  the 
Chattahoochee,  and  every  building  that  could 
be  of  any  possible  use  to  the  enemy.  Some 
instances  of  wanton  destruction  by  negroes  and 
stragglers  occurred,  including  churches  and  un- 
occupied buildings  in  Kingston,  Ackworth, 
Marietta,  and  elsewhere ;  but,  in  general,  pri- 
vate property  was  respected  wherever  the  main 
body  of  the  corps  marched.  On  the  evening 
of  the  10th,  Gen.  Corse's  division  of  the  15th 
corps  had  burned  the  public  buildings  and 
machine  shops  of  Rome.  On  the  14th  the 
corps  reached  the  Chattahoochee,  and  on  the 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLIOr 


615 


afternoon  of  the  15th  marched  into  Atlanta. 
On  the  latter  day,  the  15th  and  17th  corps 
went  into  camp  two  miles  south  of  the  city,  and 
the  20th  corps  marched  out  to  a  position  some- 
what further  east.  On  the  7th,  while  the  latter 
corps  alone  garrisoned  Atlanta,  a  brigade  of 
rebel  cavalry  which  had  been  watching  their 
opportunity,  made  a  dash  at  the  defences,  but 
were  easily  driven  off.  They  nevertheless  con- 
tinued their  demonstration — which  they  called 
the  "Siege  of  Atlanta" — for  several  days,  until 
constrained  by  the  approach  of  the  main  Federal 
army  to  retire.  The  several  corps  having  been 
newly  supplied  with  clothing  and  such  equip- 
ments as  were  necessary  from  the  depots  in 
Atlanta,  and  every  thing  valuable  to  the  Govern- 
ment removed,  the  torch  was,  on  the  evening  of 
the  15th,  applied  to  the  store  houses,  machine 
shops  and  depot  buildings,  the  most  substantial 
of  which  had  previously  been  mined.  For  many 
hours  the  heavens  were  lighted  up  by  the 
flames  of  this  vast  conflagration,  which  was 
rendered  more  awful  by  the  roar  of  exploding 
shells  and  magazines,  and,  by  dawn  of  the  16th, 
all  that  was  valuable  of  the  city  which,  next 
to  Richmond,  had  furnished  more  material  for 
prosecuting  the  rebellion  than  any  other  in  the 
South,  lay  in  ashes.  As  far  as  was  possible, 
private  property  was  spared,  and  the  city  ren- 
dered of  no  immediate  use  to  the  enemy. 

The  army  being  now  concentrated  and  ready 
to  march,  Gen.  Sherman  caused  the  following 
order  to  be  promulgated : 

HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  or  THE  Mis-  ) 
sissiPPi,  IN  THE  FIELD,  KINGSTON,  GA.,  Nov.  8th,  186i  j 

Special  Field  Orders  No.  119. 

The  General  Commanding  deems  it  proper  at  this 
time  to  inform  the  officers  and  men  of  the  14th,  15th, 
17th,  and  20th  corps,  that  he  has  organized  them  into 
an  army  for  a  special  purpose,  well  known  to  the 
War  Department  and  to  Gen.  Grant.  It  is  sufficient 
for  you  to  know  that  it  involves  a  departure  from  our 
present  base,  and  a  long  and  difficult  march  to  a  new 
one.  All  the  chances  of  war  have  been  considered 
and  provided  for,  as  far  as  human  sagacity  can.  All 
he  asks  of  you  is,  to  maintain  that  discipline,  patience, 
and  courage  which  have  characterized  you  in  the 
past,  and  hopes  through  you  to  strike  a  blow  at  our 
enemy  that  will  have  a  material  effect  in  producing 
what  we  all  so  much  desire — his  complete  overthrow. 
Of  all  things,  the  most  important  is  that  the  men, 
during  marches  and  in  camp,  keep  their  places,  and 
not  scatter  abroad  as  stragglers  and  foragers,  to  be 
picked  up  by  a  hostile  people  in  detail.  It  is  also  of 
the  utmost  importance  that  our  wagons  should  not 
be  loaded  with  any  thing  but  provisions  and  ammu- 
nition. All  surplus  servants,  non-combatants,  and 
refugees,  should  now  go  to  the  rear,  and  none  should 
be  encouraged  to  encumber  us  on  the  march.  At 
Borne  future  time  we  will  be  enabled  to  provide  for 
the  poor  whites  and  blacks  who  seek  to  escape  the 
bondage  they  are  now  suffering  under. 

With  these  few  simple  cautions  in  your  minds,  he 
hopes  to  lead  you  to  achievements  equal  in  impor- 
tance to  those  of  the  past. 

By  order  of  Gen.  W.  T»  SHERMAN. 

L.  M.  DAYTON,  Aide-de-Camp. 

On  Nov.  16th  the  whole  army  marched  east- 
ward in  four  columns,  the  two  under  Slocum, 
with  which  was  Gen.  Sherman,  following  the 
railroad  toward  Augusta,  while  the  right  wing, 


under  Howard,  moved  along  the  Macon  and 
Augusta  road.  Each  wing  had  cavalry  moving 
on  its  flanks.  "Whether  the  immediate  objective 
was  to  be  Augusta  or  Macon,  or  both,  it  was 
no  part  of  the  Federal  general's  plan  to  divulge. 
To  perplex  the  enemy  and  divide  his  forces  by 
pretended  demonstrations  on  places  widely  sep- 
arated, he  judged  would  be  most  likely  to  en- 
sure him  a  speedy  and  uninterrupted  march  to 
the  coast. 

Gen.  Howard's  command,  of  which  the  15th 
corps  formed  the  right  wing,  followed  the 
the  railroad  as  far  south  as  Jonesboro,  where 
the  mounted  troops  of  Iverson  essayed  to 
make  a  stand,  but  were  quickly  dispersed  by 
Kilpatrick.  Thence  the  column  moved  east 
through  McDonough  and  Jackson  to  the  Oc- 
mulgee,  which  it  crossed  at  Planter's  Factory, 
and  passing  south,  through  Monticello  and 
Hillsboro,  and  between  Milledgeville  and  Clin- 
ton, (on  the  22d  struck  the  Georgia  Central 
Railroad,  with  its  left  wing  at  Gordon,  twenty 
miles  east  of  Macon ;  the  right  wing  being  ex- 
tended westward  toward  Griswoldville.  In 
conjunction  with  the  operations  of  this  column 
the  greater  part  of  the  Federal  cavalry,  under 
the  immediate  command  of  Gen.  Kilpatrick, 
made  a  detour  on  the  extreme  right,  through 
Griffin  and  Forsyth,  toward  Macon,  within 
five  miles  of  which  place  he  was  ordered  to 
demonstrate.  The  rebels  at  first  believed  this 
to  be  another  raid  on  a  large  scale ;  but  learn- 
ing of  the  approach  of  Gen.  Howard's  column 
they  made  haste  to  concentrate  at  Macon  all 
their  available  troops,  consisting  of  some  cav- 
alry under  Wheeler,  a  small  body  of  regulars, 
and  several  brigades  of  militia.  They  still  re- 
mained in  ignorance  of  Gen.  Slocum's  movement 
in  the  direction  of  Augusta,  but  believed  Ma- 
con to  be  the  main  objective  point  of  Gen.  Sher- 
man. On  the  20th  about  eight  hundred  Fede- 
ral cavalry,  with  four  cannon,  made  a  feigned 
attack  on  East  Macon,  two  miles  east  of  the 
city,  which  though  resulting  in  little  loss  on 
either  side,  very  effectually  accomplished  its 
purpose  of  deceiving  the  enemy.  At  one 
period  of  the  fight  a  rebel  battery  was  cap- 
tured in  a  daring  charge  by  the  Federal  troops, 
who,  however,  having  no  means  of  carrying 
off  the  guns,  were  obliged  to  relinquish  them 
to  the  enemy.  The  Federal  cavalry  finally 
retired  in  the  direction  of  Griswoldville  after 
destroying  several  miles  of  railroad  east  of 
Walnut  Creek. 

Upon  striking  the  Georgia  Central  Railroad, 
on  the  22d,  the  15th  and  17th  corps  immedi- 
ately began  to  destroy  the  track  and  the  road 
bed  between  Gordon  and  Griswoldville  in  that 
thorough  manner  in  which  previous  experience 
had  rendered  the  troops  adepts.  It  was  while 
this  work  was  going  on  that  the  most  serious 
battle  of  the  campaign  up  to  this  date  took 
place.  A  brigade  of  infantry,  with  a  section 
of  artillery  and  some  cavalry,  under  Gen.  "Wai- 
cot,  forming  the  extreme  right  wing  of  the 
15th  corps,  had  been  thrown  forward  to 


616 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


The  above  Maps  represent  &  belt  of  country  about  80  miles  in  width  and  260  in  length, 
which  may  be  said  to  have  been  covered  by  the  operations  of  the  expeditionary  army. 
The  lines  of  march  pursued  by  the  four  main  columns  did  not,  perhaps,  extend  to  the  ex- 
treme limits  of  this  region ;  but  there  is  little  of  it  easj  of  the  Atlanta  and  Macon  Rail- 
road and  west  of  the  Savannah  River  which  was  not  visited  by  the  cavalry  or  foraging 
parties.  By  reference  to  the  text  the  movements  of  the  several  columns,  down  to  the  invest- 
ment of  Savannah,  can  be  readily  traced. 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


617 


Griswoldville,  to  continue  the  demonstration 
against  Macon  so  successfully  commenced  by 
Gen.  Kilpatrick  two  days  previous.  After 
burning  the  principal  buildings  in  the  town, 
the  troops  took  position  in  a  wood,  protected 
in  front  by  an  open  morass,  and  threw  up  a 
rail  barricade.  At  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
a  rebel  force  about  five  thousand  strong  was  per- 
ceived approaching  from  the  direction  of  Macon. 
The  Federal  cavalry  fell  slowly  back  on  either 
flank  of  the  infantry,  protecting  them  from 
attack  in  flank  and  rear,  and  leaving  the  enemy 
no  alternative  but  to  make  a  direct  front  at- 
tack. The  latter,  comprising  several  brigades 
of  militia  under  Gen.  Phillips,  with  a  part  of 
Hardee's  old  command  brought  up  from  Sa- 
vannah, advanced  with  considerable  confidence ; 
and  with  that  ignorance  of  danger  common  to 
raw  troops,  attempted  to  carry  by  storm  the 
Federal  position.  Six  desperate  assaults  were 
made,  which  Gen.  Walcott's  troops  from  behind 
their  breastworks  repelled  with  ease  and  with 
trifling  loss,  while  the  enemy,  exposed  to  a 
withering  fire  and  part  of  the  time  floundering 
in  the  morass,  paid  dearly  for  their  temerity 
and  inexperience.  They  finally  retired  toward 
Macon,  leaving  three  hundred  dead  upon  the 
field,  and  having  met  with  a  total  loss  esti- 
mated at  two  thousand  five  hundred,  including 
Gen.  Anderson  severely  wounded.  Their  own 
estimate  placed  their  loss  at  six  hundred  and 
fourteen,-which,  from  all  the  facts  attainable,  is 
manifestly  an  under  estimate.  Macon  could 
easily  have  been  taken  by  Gen.  Howard  after  this 
encounter,  but  the  Federal  Commander-in-chief, 
from  prudential  motives,  did  not  deem  it  ad- 
visable to  make  the  attempt.  His  base  being, 
in  technical  language,  "in  the  air,"  the  capture 
of  a  place  of  so  little  intrinsic  importance,  now 
that  its  railroad  connections  were  severed,  was 
not  essential  to  the  plan  of  the  campaign. 

Meanwhile  the  left  wing  of  the  expedition- 
ary army  pursued  its  march  along  the  Augusta 
and  Macon  Eailroad  in  two  parallel  columns, 
of  which  the  left  or  outer  one  was  the  20th 
corps.  The  14th  corps  was  accompanied,  by 
Gen.  Sherman  in  person.  The  latter,  having 
destroyed  the  railroad  effectually  as  far  as 
Covington,  turned  thence,  on  the  19th,  south- 
east toward  Milledgeville,  while  the  20th  corps, 
which  had  previously  marched  somewhat  north 
of  the  railroad,  continued  the  work  of  de- 
traction as  far  as  Madison,  sixty-nine  miles 
east  of  Atlanta  and  one  hundred  and  two  west 
of  Augusta.  This  was  intended  to  be  a  dem- 
onstration against  the  latter  city,  and  the 
more  completely  to  deceive  the  enemy  the 
,  Federal  cavalry  moving  on  this  wing  was  sent 
;  as  far  east  as  Union  Point,  seventy-five  miles 
from  Augusta.  From  Madison  the  20th  corps 
marched  nearly  due  south  through  Eatonton  to 
>  Milledgeville,  where  its  advance  arrived  on  the 
21st,  'followed  on  the  next  day  by  the  14th 
corps,  which  passed  through  Shady  Dale  and 
Eatonton.  Neither  corps  encountered  any  op- 
position worth  mentioning  during  the  march. 


At  the  time  the  expedition  started  from  At- 
lanta the  Georgia  Legislature  was  in  session  at 
Milledgeville.  The  announcement  of  the  ap- 
proach of  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  gave  them  at, 
first  no  alarm,  Macon  being  supposed  to  be 
the  place  aimed  at,  and  the  movement  itself  a 
raid.  But  when  on  the  18th  it  was  ascertained 
that  Gen.  Howard's  wing  was  moving  through 
McDonough  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  and 
that  Gen.  Slocum  was  evidently  approaching 
from  the  north,  an  almost  ludicrous  panic  and 
Consternation  seized  upon  the  whole  body  of 
legislators,  who,  with  Gov.  Brown,  fled  in  un- 
seemly haste  to  Augusta  with  such  valuables 
as  could  be  packed  within  a  few  hours.  On 
the  morning  of  the  20th,  two  days  after  the 
departure  of  the  legislature,  a  small  party  of 
Federal  scouts  dashed  into  the  town,  which 
was  at  onje  surrendered  to  them  by  the  Mayor. 
For  several  days  previous  to  the  evacuation 
of  Atlanta,  rumors  of  the  probability  of  such 
an  event  were  prevalent  both  in  the  loyal  and 
disloyal  States.  By  the  latter  the  movement 
was  supposed  to  have  been  forced  upon  Gen. 
Sherman  by  the  aggressive  campaign  of  Hood  in 
Tennessee,  and  to  promise  substantial  advan- 
tages to  the  rebel  cau*e,  no  doubt  being  enter- 
tained that  the  Federal  general,  unable  to 
maintain  his  communications  with  Chatta- 
nooga, had  resolved  to  abandon  his  recent 
conquest  and  march  back  to  Tennessee.  The 
evacuation  of  Atlanta  was  in  fact  claimed  as  a 
rebel  triumph.  The  cavalry  advance  toward 
Macon  became  in  that  light  merely  a  demon- 
stration to  cover  the  retreat  of  the  main  body. 
When,  however,  the  real  purpose  of  Gen. 
Sherman  became  apparent,  the  unprepared 
condition  of  Georgia  to  oppose  such  a  move- 
ment seems  for  the  first  time  to  have  occurred 
to  the  State  and  Confederate  authorities.  Ut- 
tering almost  in  a  single  breath  predictions  of 
the  speedy  overthrow  of  Sherman  and  appeals 
to  the  people  to  rally  against  the  invader,  they 
exhibited  in  reality  a  degree  of  alarm  which 
had  any  thing  but  an  encouraging  effect  upon 
the  public  mind.  On  the  18th  the  following 
characteristic  appeal  was  issued  by  Gen.  Beau- 
regard  from  his  headquarters  at  Corinth,  Ala. : 

To  the  People  of  Georgia  : 

Arise  for  the  defence  of  your  native  soil !  Rally 
around  your  patriotic  Governor  and  gallant  soldiers. 
Obstruct  and  destroy  all  the  roads  in  Sherman's 
front,  flank,  and  rear,  and  his  army  will  soon  starve 
in  your  midst.  Be  confident.  Be  resolute.  Trust 
in  an  overruling  Providence,  and  success  will  soon 
crown  your  efforts.  I  hasten  to  join  you  in  the  de- 
fence of  your  homes  and  firesides. 

G.  T.  BEAUREGARD. 

.  Simultaneous  with  this  came  the  following 
appeal  from  one  of  the  Georgia  Senators  in 
the  Confederate  Congress : 

RICHMOND,  Nov.  18. 
To  the  People  of  Georgia  : 

You  have  now  the  best  opportunity  ever  yet  pre- 
sented to  destroy  the  enemy.  Put  every  thing  at 
the  disposal  of  our  Generals,  remove  all  provisions 
from  the  path  of  the  invader,  and  put  aft  obstruc- 
tions in  his  path. 


618 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Every  citizen  with  his  gun  and  every  negro  with 
his  spade  and  axe  can  do  the  work  of  a  soldier.  You 
can  destroy  the  enemy  by  retarding  his  march. 
Georgians  be  firm,  act  promptly,  and  fear  not. 

(Signed)  B.  H.  HILL. 

I  most  cordially  approve  the  above. 

JAMES  A.  SEDDON,  Sec'y  of  War. 

And  this  also  from  the  Georgia  delegation  in 
the  lower  house  of  Congress : 

RICHMOITD,  Nov.  19, 1864. 
To  the  People  of  Georgia  : 

We  have  had  a  special  conference  with  President 
Davis  and  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  are  able  to  as- 
sure you  that  they  have  done,  and  are  still  doing,  all 
that  can  be  done  to  meet  the  emergency  that  presses 
upon  you.  Let  every  man  fly  to  arms.  Remove 
your  negroes,  horses,  cattle,  and  provisions  from 
Shermair  s  army,  and  burn  what  you  cannot  carry. 
Burn  all  bridges,  and  block  up  the  roads  in  his  route. 
Assail  the  invader  in  front,  flank,  and  rear,  by  night 
and  by  day.  Let  him  have  no  rest. 

JULIAN  HARTRIDGE,     MARK  BLAUFORD, 
J.  H.  REYNOLDS,  Gen.  N.  LESTER, 

JNO.  T.  SHEWMAKER,   JOS.  M.  SMITH. 

One  of  the  last  acts  of  Gov.  Brown,  before 
his  hurried  flight  from  Milledgeville,  was  to 
issue  a  proclamation  ordering  a  levy  en  masse 
of  the  whole  free  white  population  of  the 
State  between  the  ages  of  sixteen  and  forty-five 
years,  except  the  legislature  and  judiciary,  or- 
dained ministers  of  the  gospel,  railroad  em- 
ployes and  telegraph  operators,  and  all  persons 
physically  unable  to  bear  arm's.  They  were 
required  to  undergo  military  service  for  forty 
days,  and  failure  to  report  at  the  designated 
places  was  to  be  considered  equivalent  to  de- 
sertion. Should  the  directors  or  superintend- 
ents of  railroad  companies  refuse  to  afford 
proper  cooperation  with  the  military  authori- 
ties they  were  to  be  sent  immediately  to  the 
front.  Pursuant  to  a  resolution  of  the  Legis- 
lature the  Governor  also  offered  pardon  to  the 
prisoners  in  the  penitentiary  at  Milledgeville  if 
they  would  volunteer  and  prove  themselves 
good  soldiers.  About  a  hundred  accepted  the 
offer.  These  preparations  came  manifestly  too 
late  to  offer  any  other  than  a  feeble  resistance 
to  the  advance  of  Gen.  Sherman's  well-ap- 
pointed army;  and  whatever  opposition  the 
latter  did  encounter  during  the  remainder  of 
the  campaign  was  due  to  the  efforts  of  such 
fragmentary  bodies  of  Confederate  troops  or 
organized  State  militia  as  could  be  hastily  con- 
centrated. 

But  few  of  the  troops  that  reached  the 
neighborhood  of  Milledgeville  entered  the  town, 
two  or  three  regiments  only  being  detailed  to 
do  provost  guard  duty  and  destroy  public 
property.  The  magazines,  penitentiary,  arsen- 
als, depot  buildings,  factories,  and  storehouses, 
with  seventeen  hundred  bales  of  cotton,  were 
burned ;  but  the  Capitol  and  the  private  resi- 
dences received  no  injury,  and,  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, pillage  was  prevented.  The  principal 
of  the  State  Asylum,  and  other  persons, 
expressed  their  gratitude  to  Gen.  Sherman 
that  order  was  so  fully  maintained.  Some 
stores  and  about  twenty-five  hundred  small 
arms  fell  into  the  possession  of  the  Federal 


troops,  and  iu  the  penitentiary  were  found 
some  Federal  prisoners  of  war.  A  number  of 
sick  rebels  were  also  captured  in  the  hospital. 

While  the  left  wing  was  enjoying  a  temporary 
rest  at  Milledgeville,  the  right  advanced  steadily 
along  the  Georgia  Central  Railroad  to  the 
Oconee,  destroying  every  mile  of  track  in  its 
march.  The  rebels  became  aware  at  last  that 
Macon  was  not  to  be  seriously  attacked,  and 
by  extraordinary  exertions  succeeded  in  getting 
Gen.  Wheeler  across  the  Oconee,  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  railroad  bridge,  where,  aided 
by  a  body  of  militia  under  Gen.  Wayne,  he  was 
prepared  to  dispute  the  passage.  Upon  reach- 
ing the  bridge  on  the  23d,  Gen.  Howard  found 
it  too  well  guarded  to  effect  a  crossing  except 
with  considerable  loss.  A  day  or  two  was  oc- 
cupied with  skirmishing  across  the  river  banks 
to  occupy  the  enemy's  attention,  while  the  15th 
corps  was  pushed  down  to  a  ford  eight  miles 
below  the  railroad,  where  a  pontoon  was  laid 
without  much  difficulty.  The  rebel  forces  then 
made  a  precipitate  retreat,  and  by  the  26th  the 
whole  right  wing  was  across  the  river  and  mov- 
ing eastward  along  the  railroad,  which  was 
destroyed  as  the  column  advanced.  The  left 
wing  crossed  the  Oconee  near  Milledgeville 
without  opposition  on  the  24th,  and  moved  in 
a  southeasterly  direction  toward  Sandersville, 
a  town  lying  a  little  north  of  the  Georgia 
Central  Railroad,  and  about  15  miles  east  of 
the  river.  This  movement  hastened  the  re- 
treat of  Gen.  Wayne.  The  14th  corps  now 
took  post  on  the  left  flank  of  this  column, 
which  position  it  held  during  the  remainder  of 
the  campaign.  On  the  26th,  the  14th  and  20th 
corps,  marching  on  parallel  roads,  entered 
Sandersville  simultaneously,  driving  out  a  body 
of  rebel  cavalry  which  essayed  to  impede  their 
advance ;  and  on  the  27th  and  28th  both  wings 
were  temporarily  encamped  between  Sanders- 
ville and  Irwin's  Cross  Roads,  a  few  miles 
south  of  the  railroad.  About  this  time  Gen. 
Sherman  transferred  his  quarters  from  the  left 
wing  to  the  17th  corps,  then  at  Tennille,  a 
railroad  station  near  Sandersville. 

After  the  demonstration  toward  Macon,  end- 
ing with  the  action  at  Griswoldville,  Gen. 
Kilpatrick  shifted  his  cavalry  force  to  the  left 
wing.  Remaining  a  day  or  two  at  Milledge- 
ville to  recruit,  he  started  thence  on  the  25th 
.  in  the  direction  of  Waynesboro,  a  station  on 
the  Augusta  and  Millen  Railroad,  75  miles  due 
east,  for  the  purpose  partly  of  covering  the 
passage  of  the  main  body  of  the  army  across 
the  Ogeechee,  th^  next  great  river  on  the  route 
east  of  the  Oconee,  and  partly  of  conducting  a 
feint  toward  Augusta.  On  the  27th,  a  few 
hundred  of  his  cavalry,  under  Captains  Hays 
and  Estes,  dashed  into  Waynesboro,  burned  the 
railroad  bridge  over  Briar  Creek  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  after  inflicting  other  damage,  fell 
back  on  the  succeeding  day  to  the  main  cavalry 
body  which  lay  east  of  the  Ogeechee,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Louisville.  One  of  the  primo 
objects  of  the  advance  was  to  surprise  Millen 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


619 


and  release  the  Federal  prisoners  confined  there ; 
but  nothing  more  than  a  demonstration  in  that 
direction  was  attempted,  information  reaching 
Gen.  Kilpatrick  that  the  enemy  had  for  weeks 
previous  been  gradually  removing  the  prisoners 
to  some  less  exposed  point  in  Southern  Georgia. 

On  the  28th  the  14th  corps  struck  the  Ogee- 
chee  River  at  Fenn's  Bridge,  15  miles  north- 
east of  Sandersville,  crossed  on  pontoons  after 
some  hours'  delay,  and  marching  down  the  left 
bank  of  the  river  reached?  Louisville  on  the 
29th.  The  20th  corps  at  the  same  time  moved 
along  the  railroad,  which  from  Davisboro 
station  immediately  south  of  Fenn's  bridge, 
follows  for  about  20  miles  a  course  parallel 
with  the  Ogeechee.  The  17th  and  15th  corps 
moved  south  of  the  railroad,  the  15th,  with 
which  was  Gen.  Howard,  covering  the  right 
flank  of  the  army.  The  cavalry  under  Gen. 
"Wheeler  fell  back  steadily  in  the  path  of  the 
advancing  columns,  seeking  to  delay  their 
movements,  and  during  the  28th  and  29th  had 
much  sharp  skirmishing  with  the  Federal 
cavalry  in  the  neigborhood  of  Louisville.  Up 
to  this  time  the  objective  point  of  Gen.  Sher- 
man was  as  much  an  uncertainty  to  the  rebel 
leaders  as  at  the  commencement  of  the  cam- 
paign; but  in  the  appearance  of  Gen.  Kil- 
patrick on  the  left  flank  of  the  Federal  army, 
and  especially  in  the  occupation  of  Louisville 
by  the  14th  corps,  Gen.  "Wheeler  fancied  he 
detected  an  intention  to  move  in  force  upon 
Waynesboro,  and  thence  to  Augusta,  30  miles 
further  north.  That  he  should  be  thus  de- 
ceived was  part  of  the  plan  of  Gen.  Sherman, 
who  gladly  witnessed  the  rebel  cavalry  moving 
to  the  north  to  obstruct  the  supposed  advance 
upon  Augusta,  and  thus  leaving  him  at  liberty 
to  cross  the  Ogeechee  with  his  main  body.  On 
the  30th,  the  20th  and  17th  corps,  which  had 
been  actively  engaged  for  several  days  in 
destroying  the  railroad  between  Tenmlle  sta- 
tion and  the  river,  succeeded  in  crossing  with 
little  difficulty,  the  former  at  the  railroad 
bridge,  and  the  latter  near  Barton  station,  a 
few  miles  further  east.  The  15th  corps  pur- 
sued its  march  in  a  parallel  line  with  the  other 
columns  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river.  The 
Ogeechee  was  naturally  a  line  of  great  strength 
to  the  enemy,  who  might  have  made  its  passage 
a  costly  eifort  to  the  Federal  army.  That  three 
of  its  four  corps  should  have,  under  these  cir- 
cumstances, crossed  without  loss  was  esteemed 
one  of  the  most  brilliant  pieces  of  strategy  wit- 
nessed during  the  campaign. 

On  the  morning  of  Nov.  30th  Gens.  Baifd's 
and  Morgan's  divisions  of  the  14th  corps  moved 
forward  a  short  distance  on  the  road  toward 
Waynesboro,  which  was  the  signal  for  Gen. 
Kilpatrick  to  renew,  in  cooperation  with  these 
troops,  his  demonstration  against  Augusta. 
For  the  purpose  also  of  expediting  Gen. 
Wheeler's  movement  to  the  north,  the  remain- 
ing division  of  the  14th  corps  demonstrated  on 
the  same  day  against  his  left  flank.  This  had 
the  desired  effect,  and  during  Dec.  1st  that 


general  rapidly  fell  back  before  the  Federal  ad- 
vance. During  the  1st  2d  and  3d  constant 
skirmishing  took  place  between  the  Federal 
and  rebel  cavalry,  the  latter  being  gradually 
pushed  beyond  Waynesboro.  On  the  3d  they 
were  found  strongly  posted  on  the  railroad, 
two  miles  northeast  of  the  town,  with  heavy 
rail  barricades  in  front,  and  a  swamp  and  rail- 
road embankment  on  either  flank.  Two  or 
three  vigorous  charges  by  the  Federal  cavalry 
sufficed  to  drive  them  from  their  defences  with 
considerable  loss.  "Up  to  this  point  Baird's 
division  of  the  14th  corps  formed  the  infantry 
support  to  the  cavalry.  The  remaining  divisions 
of  this  corps  upon  reaching  Buckhead  Creek 
had  turned  east  to  Lumpkin's  station  on  the 
Augusta  and  Millen  Railroad,  10  miles  south 
of  Waynesboro,  where  on  the  3d  and  4th  they 
destroyed  a  considerable  portion  of  the  track. 
They  then  marched  in  a  southeasterly  direc- 
tion for  Jacksonboro,  20  miles  east  of  Millen, 
where,  on  the  5th,  they  united  with  Gens. 
Kilpatrick  and  Baird,  who  having  finished  their 
demonstration  against  Augusta,  moved  rapidly 
south  from  Waynesboro  on  the  4th. 

Meanwhile  the  20th  and  17th  corps  advanced 
steadily  along  the  railroad,  and  on  Dec.  2d  the 
latter  reached  Millen.  The  20th  corps  passed 
somewhat  north  of  Millen,  through  Birdsville, 
and  thence  marched  southeast,  while  the  15th 
corps  moved  in  two  columns  to  the  west  of 
the  Ogeechee  River,  a  day's  march  in  advance 
of  the  main  body.  The  whole  army,  pivoting, 
it  may  be  said,  upon  Millen,  now  swung  slowly 
around  from  its  eastern  course,  and  moved  in 
parallel  columns  directly  southward,  all,  with 
the  exception  of  the  15th  corps,  marching  down 
the  peninsula  formed  by  the  Ojjeechee  and 
Savannah  Rivers.  The  17th  corps  followed  the 
railroad,  destroying  it  from  Millen  downward. 
The  success  of  the  feint  toward  Augusta  was 
now  demonstrated  in  the  fact  that  Gen.  Sher- 
man was  pursuing  an  uninterrupted  march  to 
the  coast,  with  his  army  well  in  hand,  while  a 
large  rebel  force  was  concentrated  in  Augusta, 
too  far  in  the  rear  of  the  Federal  army  to  check 
its  progress  for  a  day,  and  utterly  useless  for 
offensive  purposes.  Even  when  it  was  ascer- 
tained that  Gen.  Sherman  was  moving  south 
from  Millen,  the  enemy  appear  to  have  been 
uncertain  whether  Savannah,  Darien,  Bruns- 
wick, or  even  Port  Royal  harbor  was  to  be  his 
objective  point.  After  the  deflection  of  the 
Federal  march  southward  from  Millen,  how- 
ever, they  admitted  that  Gen.  Sherman  might 
possibly  escape. 

As  the  Federal  army  continued  its  advance 
down  the  peninsula  between  the  Savannah 
and  Ogeechee  Rivers,  it  became  apparent  to 
Gen.  Hardee,  who  held  Savannah  with  fifteen 
thousand  men,  a  great  part  of  whom  were  mil- 
itia, that  that  city  was  to  be  the  objective  of 
Gen.  Sherman.  A  line  of  works,  stretching 
from  river  to  river,  had  been  erected  to  delay 
the  Federal  advance ;  and  for  the  purpose  of 
preventing  an  attack  upon  the  Savannah  and 


620 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Gulf  Railroad,  which  was  being  employed  to 
its  utmost  capacity  to  bring  supplies  and  re- 
enforcements  to  the  city,  a  force  was  sent 
across  the  Ogeechee,  which  it  was  supposed 
would  offer  effectual  resistance  to  the  progress 
of  the  15th  corps.  The  greater  part  of  the 
latter,  however,  had  crossed  to  the  east  bank 
of  the  Ogeechee,  on  the  7th,  near  Eden,  and 
on  the  succeeding  day  Gen.  Corse's  division 
was  pushed  forward  between  the  Little  and 
Great  Ogeechee,  thirteen  miles  in  advance  of 
the  main  column,  to  the  canal  connecting  the 
Ogeechee  with  the  Savannah.  The  canal  was 
quickly  bridged,  and  the  division  intrenched  in 
a  strong  position  on  the  south  side,  the  enemy, 
after  a  brief  resistance,  abandoning  their  ad- 
vanced lines,  and  taking  refuge  within  the  for- 
tifications proper  of  Savannah.  Other  portions 
of  the  15th  corps  were  immediately  brought 
up  to  support  Gen.  Corse,  and  on  the  9th  a 
detachment  moved  forward  to  the  Savannah 
and  Gulf  Railroad,  destroyed  the  track  for  sev- 
eral miles  around  Miller's  station,  and  captured 
a  train  of  eighteen  cars,  with  many  prisoners, 
thus  cutting  off  communication  between  Sa- 
vannah and  the  South. 

While  the<  extreme  right  was  thus  closing  in 
upon  the  rear  of  Savannah,  the  main  body 
moved  south  by  rapid  marches  between  the 
Ogeechee  and  Savannah  Rivers.  The  weather, 
which  had  been  for  the  most  part  favorable 
during  the  first  half  of  the  campaign,  became 
rainy  after  the  columns  passed  Millen,  and  the 
swampy  regions  of  the  coast,  which  the  army 
had  now  entered  upon,  offered  serious  obstacles 
to  rapid  marching.  But,  inspired  by  contin- 
ued successes  and  the  prospect  of  soon  opening 
communications  with  the  fleet  on  the  coast,  the 
troops  pushed  forward  with  no  more  delays 
than  were  caused  by  bridging  streams  or  cor- 
duroying swamps,  and  on  the  evening  of  the 
10th  the  advance  of  the  several  columns  had 
reached  positions  varying  from  three  to  eight 
miles  distant  from  Savannah.  On  the  march 
the  left  wing  struck  the  Savannah  and  Charles- 
ton Railroad  where  it  crosses  the  Savannah 
River,  from  which  point  southward  the  track 
was  thoroughly  destroyed.  The  enemy  showed 
considerable  resistance  as  the  Federal  army 
approached  the  city,  and  the  14th  and  17th 
corps  sustained  some  loss  in  skirmishing.  A 
number  of  men  having  been  wounded  by  the 
explosion  of  shells  and  torpedoes,  buried  and 
concealed  in  the  road,  the  rebel  prisoners  were 
placed  in  front  of  the  columns,  and  compelled 
to  remove  them.  Kilpatrick  covered  the  rear, 
and  kept  at  bay  such  scattered  bodies  of  cav- 
alry as  attempted  to  harass  the  march.  The 
llth  and  12th  were  occupied  in  putting  the 
troops  in  position,  establishing  batteries,  erect- 
ing breastworks,  and  in  other  operations  con- 
nected with  a  regular  investment,  and  on  the 
latter  day  the  army  was  concentrated  so  as  to 
form  a  semicircle,  extending  from  the  Savan- 
nah River  to  the  Savannah  and  Gulf  Railroad. 
The  line  was  about  ten  miles  long,  the  extreme 


left,  held  by  the  20th  corps,  being  about  three 
miles  from  the  city,  while  the  extreme  right 
of  the  15th  corps,  resting  on  the  railroad,  was 
eleven  miles  distant.  Next  to  the  20th  corps 
came  the  14th,  and  next  to  that  on  the  right 
the  17th.  Everywhere  the  troops  encountered 
a  strong  line  of  earthworks,  having  heavy 
guns  in  position,  and  held  apparently  by  a 
large  force.  These  were  the  exterior  fortifica- 
tions of  Savannah,  and  although  of  consider- 
able extent,  were  so  flanked  by  a  series  of  im- 
passable swamps  stretching  across  the  penin- 
sula, as  to  be  capable  of  easy  defence.  All  the 
openings  to  these  morasses,  as  well  as  the 
roads  leading  through  them,  had  been  fortified 
with  extreme  care,  and  could  hardly  be  carried 
without  severe  loss. 

Meanwhile,  as  early  as  the  9th,  Capt.  Dun- 
can and  two  scouts  had  been  sent  from  the  15th 
corps  on  the  hazardous  enterprise  of  penetrat- 
ing the  enemy's  lines  and  reaching  the  coast, 
for  the  purpose  of  communicating  with  the 
fleet,  which  it  was  known  was  on  the  alert  for 
intelligence  from  Gen.  Sherman's  army.  Em- 
barking in  a  small  skiff  on  the  Ogeechee,  at 
nightfall,  they  paddled  down  the  river  until 
warned  by  the  approach  of  day  to  conceal 
themselves  in  the  rice  swamps.  On  the  night 
of  the  10th  they  resumed  their  voyage,  and 
creeping  past  Fort  McAllister  and  the  picket 
boats  during  a  rain  storm,  emerged  into  Ossa- 
baw  Sound,  where,  on  the  morning  of  the 
llth,  they  were  picked  up  by  the  Federal  gun- 
boat Flag,  which  immediately  conveyed  them 
to  Hilton  Head.  Gen.  Foster,  commanding 
the  department,  was  at  once  summoned  from 
Pocotaligo,  where  he  was  demonstrating  against 
the  Charleston  and  Savannah  Railroad  in  aid 
of  Gen.  Sherman's  movement,  and  received 
from  the  scouts  Gen.  Howard's  despatch  of  the 
9th :  "  We  have  had  perfect  success,  and  the 
army  is  in  fine  spirits."  This  was  the  first 
direct  intelligence  from  the  expeditionary  army 
since  its  departure  from  Atlanta,  and  its  recep- 
tion in  the  North  a  few  days  later  caused  uni- 
versal rejoicing.  The  greater  part  of  the  avail- 
able naval  force  on  the  station  being  already 
in  the  Savannah  River  for  the  purpose  of  co- 
operating with  the  army,  nothing  remained  to 
be  done  but  to  send  a  few  vessels  around  to 
Ossabaw  and  Wassaw  Sounds  to  endeavor  to 
open  communications.  Wassaw  Sound,  into 
which  empties  the  Wilmington  River,  being 
nearer  the  city,  was  carefully  explored  by  Gen, 
Foster  and  Admiral  Dahlgren,  and  both  there 
and  in  Ossabaw  Sound  the  gunboats  were 
directed  to  make  frequent  signals  with  the 
shore. 

Gen.  Sherman  having  determined  that  Ossa- 
baw Sound,  which  forms  the  mouth  of  the 
Ogeechee,  afforded  the  most  practicable  means 
of  communicating  with  the  fleet,  immediately 
took  measures  to  reduce  Fort  McAllister,  which 
commands  the  water  approaches  in  that  di- 
rection. This  work,  situated  on  the  right  bank 
of  the  Great  Ogeechee,  about  six  miles  from 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


621 


the  Sound,  was  one  of  the  strongest  of  its  class 
in  the  South,  and  had  successfully  resisted  at- 
tacks by  the  Monitor  fleet  in  January  and 
March,  1863.  It  comprised  three  half  bastions 
and  two  curtains,  and  mounted  twenty-one 
guns,  several  of  which  were  8-inch  and  10-inch 
pieces.  Every  line  of  approach,  both  by  land 
and  water,  was  swept  by  howitzers  and  field- 
pieces  placed  on  the  bastions,  and  along  its 
front  extended  a  ditch  forty  feet  wide  and  of 
great  depth,  into  whose  bottom  were  driven 
heavy  palisades.  Outside  of  the  ditch  was  a 
formidable  line  of  abatis,  and  beyond  this  the 
land  approaches  were  thickly  planted  with  tor- 
pedoes. The  fort  had  received  additions  in 
armament  and  garrison  since  the  naval  attacks, 
and  was  now  held  by  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  commanded  by  Major  Anderson  and  Cap- 
tains Clinch  and  White. 

On  the  evening  of  the  12th  Gen.  Hazen's 
division  of  the  15th  corps,  to  which  was  as- 
signed the  duty  of  assaulting  the  fort,  marched 
from  its  position  on  the  Savannah  and  Gulf  Rail- 
road toward  Kingsbridge  over  the  Great  Ogee- 
chee,  distant  about  six  miles.  This  structure 
having  been  destroyed  by  the  enemy,  a  new 
one,  eighteen  hundred  feet  in  length,  was  erected 
during  the  night,  and  at  daybreak  of  the  13th 
the  column  pushed  on  for  Fort  McAllister.  At 
half-past  four  in  the  afternoon  the  work  was 
completely  invested,  and  the  troops  advanced 
to  the  assault  in  a  single  line,  over  an  open 
space  of  six  hundred  yards,  the  greater  part 
of  which  consisted  of  a  rice  swamp.  The  ob- 
stacles were  formidable  enough  to  have  de- 
terred veterans  of  more  experience  than  those 
who  formed  the  attacking  column,  and  might 
have  justified  the  erection  of  intrenchments 
and  a  system  of  gradual  approaches,  which 
would  have  involved  a  loss  of  valuable  time 
and  delayed  the  opening  of  communications 
with  the  fleet.  "Carry  the  place  by  assault 
to-night  if  possible,"  was  Gen.  Sherman's  order 
to  Hazen,  and  the  troops,  fighting  under  the 
immediate  eye  of  their  commander,  who  was 
watching  the  action  from  a  house-top  some 
miles  distant,  and  aroused  to  a  high  pitch  of 
enthusiasm,  pressed  eagerly  forward,  regard- 
less of  bursting  torpedoes  or  the  fire  from  the 
fort.  In  an  almost  incredible  short  space  of 
time  the  open  ground  was  crossed,  the  abatis 
surmounted,  and  the  ditch  reached.  A  few 
minutes  sufficed  to  remove  the  palisades,  and 
the  men,  with  loud  cheers,  swarmed  over  the 
parapet,  shooting  and  bayoneting  the  gunners 
who  refused  to  surrender,  and  planted  the  na- 
tional colors  upon  the  rampart.  The  assault 
occupied  barely  twenty  minutes,  and  from  first 
to  last  the  storming  column  never  wavered  in 
its  advance.  The  Federal  loss  was  but  twenty- 
three  killed  and  eighty-two  wounded,  owing  to 
the  celerity  of  the  movement,  and  that  of  the 
enemy  amounted  to  fourteen  killed  and  twenty- 
one  wounded.  Two  hundred  and  eleven  rebel 
otficers  and  men  were  taken  prisoners.  On 
the  succeeding  day  the  latter  were  employed 


in  removing  the  torpedoes  buried  around  the 
fort. 

Just  previous  to  the  assault  Gen.  Sherman 
detected  a  gunboat  reconnoitring  in  the  river 
below  the  fort,  and  at  once  opened  communi- 
cations with  her  by  signals.  No  sooner  was 
the  fort  taken  than  he  embarked  in  a  rowboat 
on  the  Ogeechee, .  and  a  few  hours  later  was 
taken  on  board  of  the  steamtug  Dandelion  in 
the  cabin  of  which  he  wrote  his  first  despatch 
to  the  Secretary  of  War  as  follows : 

Osr  BOABD  DANDELION,  OSSABAW  SotnrD. » 
11:50  p.  M.,  Dec.  13.        f 

To-day,  at  5  P.M.,  Gen.  Hazen's  division  of  the  15th 
corps  carried  Fort  McAllister  by  assault,  capturing 
its  entire  garrison  and  stores.  This  opened  to  us 
the  Ossabaw  Sound,  and  I  pushed  down  to  this  gun- 
boat to  communicate  with  the  fleet.  Before  opening 
communication  we  had  completely  destroyed  all  the 
railroads  leading  into  Savannah  and  invested  the 
city.  The  left  is  on  the  Savannah  Kiver,  three  miles 
above  the  city,  and  the  right  on  the  Ogeechee,  at 
Kingsbridge.  The  army  is  in  splendid  order,  and 
equal  to  any  thing.  The  weather  has  been  fine,  and 
supplies  were  abundant.  Our  march  was  most  agree- 
able, and  we  were  not  at  all  arrested  by  guerrillas. 

We  reached  Savannah  three  days  ago,  but  owing 
to  Fort  McAllister  could  not  communicate ;  but  now 
we  haw  McAllister  we  can  go  ahead. 

We  nave  already  captured  two  boats  on  the  Sa- 
vannah River,  and  prevented  their  gunboats  from 
coming  down. 

I  estimate  the  population  of  Savannah  at  twenty- 
five  thousand  and  the  garrison  at  fifteen  thousand. 
Gen.  Hardee  commands. 

We  have  not  lost  a  wagon  on  the  trip,  but  have 
gathered  in  a  large  supply  of  negroes,  mules,  horses, 
etc.,  and  our  teams  are  in  far  better  condition  than 
when  we  started. 

My  first  duty  will  to  clear  the  army  of  surplus 
negroes,  mules,  and  horses.  We  have  utterly  de- 
stroyed over  two  hundred  miles  of  rails,  and  con- 
sumed stores  and  provisions  that  were  essential  to 
Lee's  and  Hood's  armies.  The  quick  work  made 
with  McAllister  and  the  opening  of  communication 
with  pur  fleet,  and  the  consequent  independence  for 
supplies,  dissipates  all  their  boasted  threats  to  head 
me  off  and  starve  the  army. 

I  regard  Savannah  as  already  gained. 
Yours,  truly, 

W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Major-General. 

On  the  succeeding  day  he  met  Gen.  Foster 
and  Admiral  Dahlgren  in  Wassaw  Sound,  where 
measures  were  concerted  for  opening,  perma- 
nent communication  between  the  army  and 
the  fleet,  and  for  efficient  cooperation  by  the 
latter  in  the  reduction  of  Savannah.  The  new 
base  was  established  on  the  Ogeechee  at  Kings- 
bridge,  and'  the  obstructions  in  the  river  hav- 
ing been  removed,  a  number  of  transports 
passed  up  on  the  16th  and  17th.  On  the  16th 
several  tons  of  mail  matter  were  distributed 
among  the  soldiers. 

Meanwhile  the  lines  of  investment  were 
steadily  pressed  around  Savannah,  prisoners 
being  employed  to  remove  the  torpedoes 
buried  by  the  enemy  along  the  chief  avenues 
of  approach.  On  every  side  of  the  city  but 
that  fronting  the  river  the  investment  was 
complete.  By  means  of  rows  of  piles,  sunken 
vessels,  and  the  guns  of  Forts  Jackson,  Lee, 
and  Lawton,  the  enemy  commanded  the  river 
to  within  a  few  miles  of  Fort  Pulaski.  Be- 


622 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


tween  the  city  and  the  South  Carolina  shore 
intervenes  Hutchinson's  Island,  several  miles  in 
length,  the  upper  end  of  which  had  been  seized 
by  Gen.  Slocum  as  the  Federal  left  wing  ap- 
proached the  city.  But  the  lower  end,  divided 
from  the  upper  by  a  canal,  was  fortified  and 
still  held  by  the  enemy ;  and  somewhat  below 
the  island,  on  the  South  Carolina  side,  com- 
mences Union  Causeway,  traversing  the  ex- 
tensive swamps  intervening  between  Savannah 
and  Charleston,  and  offering  a  practicable  line 
of  retreat  to  Gen.  Hardee.  To  approach  the 
city  from  the  north,  along  the  Carolina  shore, 
through  the  wide  stretch  of  swamps  and  rice- 
fields,  artificially  and  skilfully  flooded,  seemed 
almost  an  impossibility,  and  the  enemy  re- 
lied confidently  upon  a  protracted  and  per- 
haps successful  resistance.  On  the  16th  Gen. 
Sherman  sent  a  formal  demand  for  the  sur- 
render of  Savannah,  closing  his  despatch  with 
Hood's  words  to  the  colored  troops  at  Dalton. 
To  this  General  Hardee  replied  that  as  his 
communications  were  still  open  and  his  men 
supplied  with  subsistence,  he  was  able  to  with- 
stand a  long  siege,  and  was  determined  to  hold 
the  city  until  his  forces  were  overpower^. 

Gen.  Sherman  now  rapidly  pushed  forward 
his  work,  and  by  means  of  a  substantial  cordu- 
roy road  traversing  the  swamps  and  rice-fields 
between  Kingsbridge  and  the  city,  brought 
up  heavy  siege  guns  which  by  the  20th  were 
put  in  position.  Perceiving  this,  and  also  that 
preparations  were  making  to  close  up  the  Fede- 
ral lines  on  the  left,  Gen.  Hardee  seems  to 
have  become  suddenly  aware  of  the  danger 
that  menaced  the  city,  and  alive  to  the  ne- 
cessity of  securing  his  own  retreat  while 
Union  Causeway  afforded  an  avenue  of  escape. 
On  the  afternoon  of  the  20th  his  troops  were 
hurriedly  set  to  work  to  destroy  the  navy 
yard  and  Government  property,  while  the  for- 
midable iron-clads,  Georgia  and  Savannah, 
moved  up  the  river  and  commenced  a  furious 
fire  on  the  Federal  left,  supported  by  several 
batteries.  Under  cover  of  this  fire  the  garri- 
son was  transported  during  the  night  of  the 
20th,  by  steamboats,  rowboats,  and  rafts  to 
Union  Causeway,  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
21st  the  troops  were  well  on  their  way  to 
Charleston.  Before  leaving,  they  blew  up  the 
iron-clads  and  the  fortifications  below  the  city. 

At  dawn  of  the  21st  the  evacuation  became 
known  to  the  Federal  pickets,  and  several  regi- 
ments were  sent  forward  to  occupy  the  deserted 
intrenchments.  A  few  hours  later  Gen.  Sher- 
man entered  the  city  at  the  head  of  his  body- 
guard, and  received  its  formal  surrender  from 
the  municipal  authorities.  The  following  de- 
spatch to  the  President  announced  this  crown- 
ing success  of  the  campaign: 

SAVANNAH,  GA.,  December  22. 
His  Excellency  President  Lincoln  : 

I  beg  to  present  you  as  a  Christmas  gift  the  city  of 
Savannah,  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  heavy  guns 
and  plenty  of  ammunition,  and  also  about  twenty- 
five  thousand  bales  of  cotton. 

W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Major-General. 


The  following  from  Gen.  Foster  gives  ad- 
ditional details  of  the  capture : 

STEAMBB  GOLDEN  STATE,  SAVANNAH  EITBB,  ) 
December  22 — 7  P.  M.     f 
To  Lieut.  Gen.- Grant  and  Mai. -Gen.  H.  W.  Halleck : 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I  have  just  returned 
from  Gen.  Sherman's  headquarters  in  Savannah. 

I  send  Major  Gray,  of  my  staff,  as  bearer  of  de- 
spatches from  Gen.  Sherman  to  you,  and  also  a  mes- 
sage to  the  President. 

The  city  of  Savannah  was  occupied  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  21st.  Gen.  Hardee,  anticipating  the  con- 
templated assault,  escaped  with  the  main  body  of  his 
infantry  and  light  artillery  on  the  morning  of  the 
20th,  by  crossing  the  river  to  Union  Causeway,  op- 
posite the  city.  The  rebel  iron-clads  were  blown  up, 
and  the  navy  yard  was  burned.  All  the  rest  of  the 
city  is  intact,  and  contains  twenty  thousand  citizens, 
quiet  and  well  disposed. 

The  captures  include  eight  hundred  prisoners,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  guns,  thirteen  locomotives  in  good 
order,  one  hundred  and  ninety  cars,  a  large  supply 
of  ammunition  and  materials  of  war,  three  steamers, 
and  thirty-three  thousand  bales  of  cotton,  safely 
stored  in  warehouses.  All  these  valuable  fruits  of 
an  almost  bloodless  victory  have  been,  like  Atlanta, 
fairly  won. 

I  opened  communication  with  the  city  with  my 
steamers  to-day,  taking  up  what  torpedoes  we  could 
see,  and  passing  safely  over  others.    Arrangements 
are  made  to  clear  the  channel  of  all  obstructions. 
J.  G.  FOSTER,  Major-General. 

With  the  capture  of  Savannah  ended  the 
great  winter  campaign  through  Georgia,  just 
five  weeks  after  the  Federal  army  left  Atlanta. 
Within  that  period  Gen.  Sherman  traversed  at 
his  leisure,  and  with  a  total  loss  of  less  than 
fifteen  hundred  men,  a  tract  of  country  varying 
from  sixty  to  twenty  miles  in  width,  and  com- 
pletely destroyed  the  great  railroad  quadri- 
lateral of  which  Atlanta,  Macon,  Augusta,  and 
Savannah  formed  the  four  corners.  When  it 
is  recollected  that  from  Atlanta  to  Madison 
on  the  Georgia  road,  and  from  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Macon  to  Savannah,  the  track 
was  systematically  torn  up,  beside  considerable 
portions  of  the  Milledgeville  branch  and  the 
Augusta  and  Millen  road,  Gen.  Sherman's 
estimate  of  200  miles  destroyed  will  seem  under 
the  mark.  The  work  of  destruction  was  car- 
ried on  with  a  completeness  and  deliberation 
unknown  to  previous  expeditions.  Every  rail 
was  heated  and  twisted;  every  tie,  bridge, 
tank,  wood-shed,  and  depot  building  was  burned, 
and  every  culvert  blown  up.  For  miles  on  the 
Georgia,  Georgia  Central,  and  Augusta  and 
Millen  roads,  the  track  is  carried  over  marshy 
territory  by  extensive  trestle-work.  This  was 
all  burned  or  otherwise  injured  beyond  the  pos- 
sibility of  immediate  replacement.  Almost  from 
the  moment  of  departure  the  army  literally 
fed  on  the  fat  of  the  land,  and  fared  probably 
better  on  the  march  than  in  camp.  Live  stock, 
poultry,  Indian  meal,  sweet  potatoes,  sorghum 
syrup,  and  other  luxuries  were  found  in  an 
abundance  far  exceeding  the  demands  of  the 
men,  and  many  thousand  head  of  cattle,  horses, 
and  mules  were  gathered  up  on  the  march  and 
brought  safely  to  the  coast.  The  army  is  said 
to  have  encamped  around  Savannah  with  fifty 
days'  rations  of  beef  on  the  hoof.  As  a  rule  the 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


623 


regulations  respecting  pillaging  were  observed 
by  the  troops,  but  of  necessity  many  instances 
occurred  where  private  property,  not  necessary 
to  sustain  life  or  assist  military  operations,  was 
appropriated  by  stragglers.  Such  occurrences 
are  unavoidable  in  the  unopposed  progress  of  a 
large  army  through  a  well-stocked  country. 
As  was  expected,  large  numbers  of  slaves,  of 
both  sexes  and  of  all  ages,  seized  the  oppor- 
tunity to  gain  their  freedom,  and  followed  in 
the  wake  of  the  several  columns.  The  able- 
bodied  men  did  good  service  as  pioneers,  team- 
sters, or  laborers,  and  in  many  cases  the  places 
where  horses,  cattle,  provisions,  cotton,  or 
valuables  were  concealed,  were  revealed  by  the 
colored  fugitives.  On  several  occasions  this 
class  of  followers  became  so  numerous  as  to 
impede  the  movements  of  the  army  and  the 
trains.  Many  dropped  off  from  time  to  time 
exhausted  by  the  march ;  but  from  eight  to  ten 
thousand  succeeded  in  reaching  Savannah. 
Cotton  was  of  course  invariably  burned  where- 
ever  discovered,  and  the  loss  is  estimated  at 
15,000  bales.  The  most  remarkable  feature  of 
the  campaign  was  the  trifling  opposition  which 
the  enemy  opposed  to  the  expeditionary  army,, 
and  the  ease  with  which  every  attack  was  re- 
pelled. In  every  engagement,  down  to  the 
smallest  skirmish,  the  Federal  troops,  having 
an  absolute  faith  in  their  leader  which  made 
them  equal  to  any  task  he  might  impose, 
showed  their  superiority.  The  cavalry  ad- 
vance, supported  occasionally  by  a  division  or 
two  of  infantry,  and  frequently  engaging  supe- 
rior numbers,  was  found  adequate  for  any 
thing  which  the  enemy  could  oppose  to  them. 
Full  half  the  loss  sustained  by  Gen.  Sherman 
was  of  stragglers  and  plunderers,  surprised  and 
captured  by  the  enemy  while  out  of  the  direct 
line  of  march. 

Upon  the  surrender  of  Savannah,  Gen.  Geary 
was  appointed  military  commander.  The  city 
was  found  uninjured,  the  Federal  cannon  hav- 
ing never  opened  upon  it,  and  was  crowded 
with  refugees  from  the  interior,  many  of  whom 
were  without  the  means  of  procuring  food. 
Measures  were  adopted  for  supplying  the  wants 
of  these  persons,  and  stringent  orders  issued  by 
Gen.  Geary  for  the  protection  of  peaceful 
citizens  and  their  property  against  outrages  by 
soldiers.  The  cotton  was,  however,  appro- 
priated by  the  United  States  Government,  with 
the  design  of  shipping  it  to  the  North  for  sale. 
The  following  order  was  issued  by  Gen.  Sher- 
man for  the  government  of  the  city : 

HEADQTTABTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  Mis-  ) 
sissippi,  IN  THE  FIELD,  SAVANNAH,  GA.,  Dec.  26th,  1864.  } 
Special  Field  Orders  No.  143. 

The  city  of  Savannah  and  surrounding  country 
will  be  held  as  a  military  post  and  adapted  to  future 
military  uses ;  but  as  it  contains  a  population  of  some 
20,000  people,  who  must  be  provided  for,  and  as 
other  citizens  may  come,  it  is  proper  to  lay  down 
certain  general  principles,  that  all  within  its  military 
jurisdiction  may  understand  their  relative  duties  and 
obligations. 

I.  During  war,  the  military  is  superior  to  civil 
authority,  and  where  interests  clash  the  civil  must 


give  way ;  yet  where  there  is  no  conflict,  every  en- 
couragement should  be  given  to  well-disposed  and 
peaceable  inhabitants  to  resume  their  usual  pursuits. 
Families  should  be  disturbed  as  little  as  possible  in 
their  residences,  and  tradesmen  allowed  the  free  use 
of  their  shops,  tools,  &c.  Churches,  schools,  all 
places  of  amusement  and  recreation,  should  be  en- 
couraged, and  streets  and  roads  made  perfectly  safe 
to  persons  in  their  usual  pursuits.  -Passes  should 
not  be  exacted  within  the  line  of  outer  pickets,  but 
if  any  person  shall  abuse  these  privileges  by  com- 
municating with  the  enemy,  or  doing  any  act  of 
hostility  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  he 
or  she  will  be  punished  with  the  utmost  rigor  of  the 
law.  Commerce  with  the  outer  world  will  be  resumed 
to  an  extent  commensurate  with  the  wants  of  the 
citizens,  governed  by  the  restrictions  and  rules  of 
the  Treasury  Department. 

II.  The  Chief  Quartermaster  and  Commissary  of 
the  army    may  give    suitable  employment  to  the 
people,  white  and  black,  or  transport  them  to  such 

Eoints  as  they  choose,  where  employment  may  be 
ad,  and  may  extend  temporary  relief,  in  the  way  of 
provisions  and  vacant  houses,  to  the  worthy  and 
needy,  until  such  time  as  they  can  help  themselves. 
They  will  select,  first,  the  buildings  for  the  necessary 
uses  of  the  army ;  next,  a  sufficient  number  of  stores 
to  be  turned  over  to  the  Treasury  Agent  for  trade 
stores.  All  vacant  storehouses  or  dwellings,  and  all 
buildings  belonging  to  absent  rebels,  will  be  con- 
strued and  used  as  belonging  to  the  United  States, 
until  such  times  as  their  titles  can  be  settled  by  the 
courts  of  the  United  States. 

III.  The  Mayor  and  CHy  Council  of  Savannah  will 
continue  and  exercise  their  functions  as  such,  and 
will,  in  concert  with  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
post  and  Chief  Quartermaster,  see  that  the  fire  com- 
panies are  kept  in  organization,  the  streets  cleaned 
and  lighted,  and  keep  up  a  good  understanding  be- 
tween the  citizens  and  soldiers.     They  will  ascertain 
and  report  to  the  Chief  C.  S.,  as  soon  as  possible, 
ihe  names  and  number  of  worthy  families  that  need 
assistance  and  support. 

The  Mayor  will  forthwith  give  public  notice  that 
the  time  has  come  when  all  must  choose  their  course, 
viz. :  to  remain  within  our  lines  and  conduct  them- 
selves as  good  citizens,  or  depart  in  peace.  He  will 
ascertain  the  names  of  all  who  choose  to  leave  Savan- 
nah, and  report  their  names  and  residence  to  the 
Chief  Quartermaster,  that  measures  may  be  taken  to 
transport  them  beyond  the  lines. 

IV.  Not  more  than  two  newspapers  will  be  pub- 
lished in  Savannah,  and  their  editors  and  proprietors 
will  be  held  to  the  strictest  accountability,  and  will 
be  punished  severely  in  person  and  property  for  any 
libelous  publication,  mischievous  matter,  premature 
news,   exaggerated    statements,    or    any   comments 
whatever  upon  the  acts  of  the  constituted  authorities ; 
they  will  be  held  accountable  even  for  such  articles 
though  copied  from  other  papers. 

By  order  of  Maj.-Gen.  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 
L.  M.  DAYTON,  Aide-de-Camp. 

In  marked  contrast  with  the  inhabitants  of 
other  Confederate  cities  captured  during  the 
war,  the  population  of  Savannah  showed  a  de- 
sire to  conform  their  conduct  to  circumstances, 
and  refrained  from  open  insults  or  efforts  to  vex 
or  harass  their  captors.  It  does  not  appear 
that  a  bale  of  cotton,  or  indeed  any  thing  of 
positive  value,  was  destroyed  by  the  citizens  to 
prevent  its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Federal 
troops.  A  latent  Union  feeling  was  even  de- 
veloped, and  at  a  meeting  of  influential  citizens 
convened  on  the  28th,  in  pursuance  of  a  call 
from  Mayor  Arnold,  to  take  into  consideration 
"matters  relating  to  the  present  and  future 


624 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


•welfare  of  the  city,"  the  following  resolutions 
were  unanimously  adopted : 

Whereas,  By  the  fortune  of  war  and  the  surrender 
of  the  city  by  the  civil  authorities,  Savannah  passes 
once  more  under  the  authority  of  the  United  States; 
and  .whereas  we  believe  that  the  interests  of  the  city 
will  be  best  subserved  and  promoted  by  a  full  and 
free  expression  of  our  views  in  relation  to  our  present 
condition,  we,  therefore,  the  people  of  Savannah,  in 
full  meeting  assembled,  do  hereby  resolve, 

1st.  That  we  accept  the  position,  and  in  the  lan- 

fuage  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  seek  to 
ave  "  peace  by  laying  down  our  arms  and  submit- 
ting to  the  national  authority  under  the  Constitution, 
leaving  all  questions  which  remain  to  be  adjusted  by  the 
peaceful  means  of  legislation,  conference,  and  votes." 
Resolved,  '2&.  That  laying  aside  all  differences  and 
burying  bygones  in  the  graves  of  the  past,  we  will 
use  our  best  endeavors  once  more  to  bring  back  the 
prosperity  and  commerce  we  once  enjoyed. 

Resolved,  3d.  That  we  do  not  put  ourselves  in  the 
position  of  a  conquered  city  asking  terms  of  a  con- 
queror, but  we  claim  the  immunities  and  privileges 
contained  in  the  proclamation  and  message  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  and  in  all  the  legisla- 
tion of  Congress  in  reference  to  a  people  situated  as 
we  are ;  and  while  we  owe  on  our  part  a  strict  obe- 
dience to  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  we  ask  the 
protection  over  our  persons,  lives,  and  property  re- 
cognized by  those  laws. 


Resolved,  4th.  That  we  respectfully  request  his 
Excellency  the  Governor  to  call  a  convention  of  tLo 

Eeople  of  Georgia,  by  any  constitutional  means  in 
is  power,  to  give  them  an  opportunity  of  voting 
upon  the  question  whether  they  wish  the  war  between 
the  two  sections  of  the  country  to  continue. 

Resolved,  5th.  That  Major-General  Sherman  having 
placed  as  military  commander  of  this  p_ost  Brigadier- 
General  Geary,  who  has,  by  his  urbanity  as  a  gentle- 
man and  his  uniform  kindness  to  our  citizens,  done 
all  in  his  power  to  protect  them  and  their  property 
from  insult  and  injury,  it  is  the  unanimous  desire  of 
all  present  that  he  be  allowed  to  remain  in  his  present 
position,  and  that  for  the  reasons  above  stated  the 
thanks  of  the  citizens  are  hereby  tendered  to  him 
and  the  officers  under  his  command. 

Finding  the  people  so  tractable  and  resigned 
to  their  condition,  Gen.  Geary  exerted  himself 
to  protect  them  from  oppression,  and  to  main- 
tain order;  and  several  instances  occurred  of 
soldiers  being  severely  punished  for  drunken- 
ness, pillaging,  or  other  improper  acts.  Meas- 
ures were  at  once  taken  to  prepare  the  Cus- 
tom House  and  Post  Office  for  the  former 
uses,  and  by  several  of  the  insurance  com- 
panies the  propriety  of  establishing  a  National 
Bank,  under  the  Act  of  Congress,  was  seriously 
considered. 


CHAPTEK  XLYI. 

i 

General  Sheridan  takes  command  on  the  Upper  Potomac— Attack  on  Fisher's  Hill— March  of  Sheridan  up  the  Shenandoah 
—Sudden  Attack  of  the  Enemy— Their  Eepulse  and  Pursuit— Guerrillas— Movements  of  Gen.  Price  in  Missouri— In- 
vestment of  Nashville  by  Gen.  Hood— Battles— Betreat  of  Hood  and  pursuit  hy  Gen.  Thomas— Expedition  against  the 
Mississippi  Central  Eailroad  from  Baton  Eouge — Movements  of  Gen.  Warren  against  the  Weldon  Boad, 


GENERAL  SHERIDAN,  after  taking  command 
of  the  army  on  the  upper  Potomac,  held  a  strong 
position  near  the  railroad  from  Harper's  Ferry 
toward  Winchester.  On  Sept.  14th  a  reconnois- 
sance  was  made  by  Gen.  Wilson  within  two 
miles  of  Winchester,  which  resulted  in  the  cap- 
ture of  the  8th  South  Carolina  infantry,  num- 
bering 136  men  and  16  officers.  On  the  18th 
Gen.  Gardner  made  an  attack  on  Gen.  Averill, 
at  Martinsburg,  but  was  repulsed.  At  this  time 
the  main  body  of  Gen.  Early's  army  was  in  the 
vicinity  of  Bunker  Hill,  northwest  of  the  posi- 
tion held  by  Gen.  Sheridan.  By  a  rapid  ad- 
vance along  the  Winchester  road  Gen.  Sheridan 
could  gain  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  and  he  quickly 
embraced  the  opportunity.  The  6th  and  19th 
corps  began  to  move  at  3  A.  M.  on  the  morning 
of  the  19th.  Gen.  Crook  followed  three  hours 
later  and  joined  the  main  column  at  the  cross- 
ing of  the  Opequan.  This  advance  was  stub- 
bornly resisted,  and  the  first  and  second  lines 
were  temporarily  thrown  into  confusion.  But 
the  artillery  being  brought  into  position,  the 
ranks  were  reformed,  and  a  severe  contest  en- 
sued. At  some  points  the  opposing  lines  were 
not  more  than  two  hundred  yards  apart.  By 
a  successful  cavalry  charge  the  enemy  were 
thrown  into  confusion  and  driven  from  the  field. 
The  enemy  retreated  toward  Fisher's  Hill,  a 


short  distance  south  of  Strasburg,  closely  follow- 
ed by  Gen.  Sheridan.  That  evening  he  sent  the 
following  despatch  to  Gen.  Grant : 

WIJTCHKSTEB,  VA.,  Sept.  19,  7.30  P.  M. 
Lieut. -Gen.  IT.  8.  Grant: 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I  attacked  the 
forces  of  Gen.  Early  over  the  Berryville  pike,  at  the 
crossing  of  Opequan  Creek,  and  after  a  most  stub- 
born and  sanguinary  engagement,  which  lasted  from 
early  in  the  morning  until  5  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
completely  defeated  him,  driving  him  through  Win- 
chester, capturing  twenty-five  hundred  prisoners, 
five  pieces  of  artillery,  nine  army  flags,  and  most  of 
their  wounded.  The  rebel  Generals  Rhodes  and 
Gordon  were  killed,  and  three  other  general  officers 
wounded.  Most  of  the  enemy's  wounded  and  all  of 
their  dead  fell  into  our  hands. 

Our  losses  are  severe:  among  them  Gen.  D.  A. 
Eussell,  commanding,  a  division  in  the  Sixth  Corps, 
who  was  killed  by  a  cannon  ball.  Generals  Upton, 
Mclntosh,  and  Chapman  were  wounded. 

I  cannot  yet  tell  our  losses.  The  conduct  of  the 
officers  and  men  was  most  superb.  They  charged 
and  carried  every  position  taken  up  by  the  rebels 
from  Opequan  Creek  to  Winchester.  The  rebels 
were  strong  in  numbers  and  very  obstinate  in  their, 
fighting. 

I  desire  to  mention  to  the  Lieut.-General  command 
ing  the  army  the  gallant  conduct  of  Generals  Wright, 
Crook,  Emory,  Torbert,  and  the  officers  and  men 
under  their  command.  To  them  the  country  is  in- 
debted  for  this  handsome  victory. 

P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Major-Gen.  Commanding. 

The  force  of  Gen.  Sheridan  was  composed  as 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


625 


"     X    11    ^,     "__!=  =  I JI     1    HANCOCKS 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


626 

follows:  6th  corps,  about  12,000;  19th  corps 
(two  divisions),  9,000 ;  Crook's  corps,  12,000 ; 
cavalry  (three  divisions),  10,000;  artillery,  about 
2,000 ;  total,  45,000,  and  20  or  22  batteries,  6 
guns  each. 

That  of  the  enemy  was  known  to  consist  of 
Gens.  Early  and  Breckinridge's  corps,  amounting 
to  about  20,000  men,  exclusive  of  cavalry  and 
artillery,  which  was  estimated  at  10,000  more. 
The  artillery  consisted  of  14  batteries  of  6  guns 
each. 

On  Sept.  22d  Gen.  Sheridan  attacked  the  ene- 
my's position  at  Fisher's  Hill,  and  by  forcing 
back  the  left  of  his  line  and  throwing  a  force  in 
his  rear,  compelled  him  to  abandon  it.  He  thus 
described  and  reported  his  success : 

HEADQ'RS  MIDDLE  MILITAET  DIVISION,  | 

Six  MILES  FBOM  WOODSTOCK,        V 

11.80  p.  M.  September  224  ) 

Lieut.- General  Grant : 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I  achieved  a  most 
signal  victory  over  the  army  of  General  Early  at 
Fisher's  Hill  to-day.  I  found  the  rebel  army  posted 
with  its  right  resting  on  the  north  fork  of  the  Shenan- 
doah,  and  extending  across  the  Strasburg  valley 
westward  to  North  Mountain,  occupying  a  position 
which  appeared  almost  impregnable. 

After  a  great  deal  of  manoeuvring  during  the  day, 
General  Crook's  command  was  transferred  to  the 
extreme  right  of  the  line  on  North  Mountain,  and  he 
furiously  attacked  the  left  of  the  enemy's  line,  car- 
rying every  thing  before  him.  While  General  Crook 
was  driving  the  enemy  in  the  greatest  confusion,  and 
sweeping  down  behind  their  breastworks,  the  Sixth 
and  Nineteenth  army  corps  attacked  the  works  in 
front,  and  the  whole  rebel  army  appeared  to  be 
broken  up.  They  fled  in  the  utmost  confusion.  Six- 
teen pieces  of  artillery  were  captured,  also  a  great 
many  caissons,  artillery  Corses,  &c.,  &c. 

I  am  to-night  pushing  down  the  Valley.  I  cannot 
say  how  many  prisoners  I  have  captured,  nor  do  I 
know  either  my  own  or  the  enemy's  casualties.  Only 
darkness  has  saved  the  whole  of  Early' s  army  from 
total  destruction.  My  attack  could  not  be  made 
until  4  o'clock  in  the  evening,  which  left  but  little 
daylight  to  operate  in. 

The  1st  and  3d  cavalry  divisions  went  down  the 
Luray  Valley  to-day,  and  if  they  push  on  vigorously 
to  the  main  valley,  the  result  of  this  day's  engage- 
ment will  be  still  more  signal.  The  victory  was  very 
complete. 

(Signed,)       P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Maj.-Gen.  Com. 

The  number  of  prisoners  taken  was  eleven 
hundred.  The  pursuit  was  made  and  continued 
to  Staunton,  which  Gen.  Sheridan  occupied 
with  his  cavalry  and  inflicted  much  damage 
upon  the  enemy.  He  then  leisurely  and  de- 
structively fell  back  toward  Stra§burg.  The 
losses  of  the  enemy  in  these  battles  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing  was  estimated  at  nearly 
ten  thousand  men.  The  losses  of  Gen.  Sheridan 
were  also  severe. 

On  the  night  of  the  27th  Gen.  Averill  met 
with  a  repulse  near  Brown's  Gap,  and  on  the 
following  day  fell  back  six  miles.  He  lost  some 
twelve  men.  While  Gen.  Sheridan  was  at 
Staunton  all  public  property  was  destroyed,  in- 
cluding the  railroad  and  factories.  His  cavalry 
then  proceeded  to  Waynesboro  for  the  purpose 
of  destroying  the  iron  railroad  bridge,  and  all 
the  barns  and  mills  in  that  section  of  country. 
The  force  of  Gen.  Early,  in  the  mean  time,  had 


retreated  through  Brown's  Gap  with  their 
wagon  trams,  but  on  learning  of  the  operations 
of  the  Federal  cavalry,  Kershaw's  division  of 
infantry  and  Fitzhugh  Lee's  cavalry  were  or- 
dered to  march  in  their  rear  and  cut  off  the 
command  of  Gen.  Torbert  at  Waynesboro. 
The  latter,  however,  marched  all  night  by  way 
of  Staunton  and  escaped. 

Gen.  Sheridan  thus  reported  his  inarch  back 

to  Woodstock : 

WOODSTOCK,  VA.,  Oct.  7,  P.  M. 

To  Gen.  IT.  S.  Grant  : 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  my  command  at  this 
point  to  night.  I  commenced  moving  back  from 
Port  Republic,  Mount  Crawford,  Bridgewater,  and 
Harrisonburg  yesterday  morning.  The  grain  and 
forage  in  advance  of  these  points  had  previously 
been  destroyed  in  coming  back  to  this  point. 

The  whole  country,  from  the  Blue  Ridge  to  the 
North  Mountain,  has  .been  made  untenable  for  a  rebel 
army.  I  have  destroyed  over  2,000  barns  filled  with 
wheat,  hay,  and  farming  implements,  over  70  mills 
filled  with  wheat  and  flour ;  four  herds  of  cattle  have 
been  driven  before  the  army,  and  not  less  than  3,000 
sheep  have  been  killed  and  issued  to  the  troops. 

This  destruction  embraces  the  Luray  and  Little 
Fork  Valleys  as  well  as  the  main  valley.  A  large 
number  of  "horses  have  been  obtained,  a  proper  esti- 
mate of  which  I  cannot  now  make. 

Lieut.  John  R.  Meigs,  my  engineer  officer,  was 
murdered  beyond  Harrisonburg  near  Dayton.  For 
this  atrocious  act  all  houses  within  an  area  of  five 
miles  were  burned.  Since  I  came  into  this  valley 
from  Harper*  s  Ferry,  up  to  Harrisonburg,  every  train, 
small  party,  and  every  straggler  has  been  bush- 
whacked by  people,  many  of  whom  have  protection 
papers  from  commanders  who  have  been  hitherto  in 
that  valley. 

The  people  here  are  getting  sick  of  the  war ;  here- 
tofore they  have  had  no  reason  to  complain,  because 
they  have  been  living  in  great  abundiyice. 

l"have  not  been  followed  by  the  enemy  up  to  this 
point,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  force  of  rebel 
cavalry  that  showed  themselves  some  distance  be- 
hind my  rear  guard.  To-day  a  party  of  100  of  the 
8th  Va.  cavalry,  which  I  had  stationed  at  the  bridge 
over  the  North  Shenandoab.  near  Mount  Jackson, 
was  attacked  by  McNeil  with  seventeen  men  while 
they  were  asleep,  and  the  whole  party  dispersed  or 
captured.  I  think  they  will  all  turn  up.  I  learn 
that  56  of  them  had  reached  Winchester.  McNeil 
was  mortally  wounded  and  fell  into  our  hands.  This 
was  most  fortunate,  as  he  was  the  most  daring  and 
dangerous  of  all  bushwhackers  in  this  section  of 
the  country. 

(Signed)  P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Major-Gen. 

A  correspondent,  who  was  present  with  the 
army,  thus  describes  the  scenes  of  this  march : 

The  atmosphere,  from  horizon  to  horizon,  hns 
been  black  with  the  smoke  of  a  hundred  conflagra- 
tions, and  at  night  a  gleam,  brighter  and  more  lurid 
than  sunset,  has  shot  from  every  verge.  The  orders 
have  been  to  destroy  all  forage  in  stacks  and  barns, 
and  to  drive  the  stock  before  for  the  subsistence  ot 
the  army.  The  execution  of  these  orders  has  been 
thorough,  and  in  some  instances,  where  barns,  near 
dwelling  houses,  have  been  fired,  has  resulted  in  the 
destruction  of  the  latter.  In  no  instance,  except  in 
that  of  the  burning  of  dwellings  within  five  miles,  m 
retaliation  for  the  murder  of  Lieut.  Meigs,  have 
orders  been  issued  for  the  burningof  houses,  or  have 
such  orders  been  sanctioned  by  Gen.  Sheridan. 
Such  wholesale  incendiarism  could  not  have  been 
pursued,  however,  without  undue  license  being  taken 
by  the  worst  class  of  soldiers,  and  there  have  been 
frequent  instances  of  rascality  and  pillage.  Indis- 
criminating  (for  with  such  swift  work  discrimma- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


627 


tion  is  impracticable),  relentless,  merciless,  the  torch 
has  done  its  terrible  business  in  the  centre  and  on 
either  side  of  the  valley.  Few  barns  and  stables 
have  escaped.  The  gardens  and  cornfields  have  been 
desolated.  The  cattle,  hogs,  sheep,  cows,  oxen, 
nearly  five  thousand  in  all,  have  been  driven  from 
every  farm.  The  poor,  alike  with  the  rich,  have  suf- 
fered. Some  have  lost  their  all. 

"  The  wailing  of  women  and  children  mingling 
with  the  crackling  of  flames,  has  sounded  from  scores 
of  dwellings.  I  have  seen  mothers  weeping  over 
the  loss  of  that  which  was  necessary  to  their  chil- 
dren's lives,  setting  aside  their  own,  their  last  cow, 
their  last  bit  of  flour  pilfered  by  stragglers,  the  last 
morsel  that  they  had  in  the  world  to  eat  or  drink. 
Young  girls  with  flushed  cheeks,  and  pale  with  tear- 
ful or  tearless  eye,  have  pleaded  with  and  cursed  the 
men  whom  the  necessities  of*war  have  forced  to  burn 
the  buildings  reared  by  their  fathers,  and  turn  them 
into  paupers  in  a  day.  The  completeness  of  the  deso- 
lation is  awful.  Hundreds  of  nearly  starving  people 
are  going  north.  Our  trains  are  crowded  with  them. 
They  line  the  wayside.  Hundreds  more  are  coming 
— not  half  the  inhabitants  of  the  valley  can  subsist 
on  it  in  its  present  condition.  Absolute  want  is  in 
mansions  used  in  other  days  to  extravagant  luxury. 

A  committee,  consisting  of  thirty-six  citizens 
and  the  same  number  of  magistrates,  appointed 
by  the  county  court  of  Rockingham  for  the 
purpose  of  making  an  estimate  of  the  losses  of 
that  county  by  the  execution  of  Gen.  Sheridan's 
orders,  made  an  investigation  and  reported  as 
follows : 

Dwelling  houses  burned,  30 ;  barns  burned,  450 ; 
mills  burned,  31 ;  fencing  destroyed  (miles),  100 ; 
bushels  of  wheat  destroyed,  100,000 ;  bushels  of  corn 
destroyed,  50,000;  tons  of  hay  destroyed,  6,233; 
cattle  carried  off,  1,750 ;  horses  carried  off,  1,750 ; 
sheep  carried  off,  4,200;  hogs  carried  off,  3,350; 
factories  burned,  3  ;  furnace  burned,  1.  In  addition 
to  which  there  was  an  immense  amount  of  farming 
utensils  of  every  description  destroyed,  many  of 
them  of  great  value,  such  as  McCormick's  reapers, 
and  threshing  machines ;  also  household  and  kitchen 
furniture,  money,  bonds,  plate,  &c.,  &c.,  the  whole 
loss  being  estimated  at  the  enormous  sum  of 
$25,000,000. 

As  Gen.  Sheridan  moved  down  the  valley  tow- 
ard the  Potomac  River,  he  was  followed  close 
by  the  enemy's  cavalry  in  considerable  force, 
under  Gen.  Rosser,  the  infantry  being  further 
in  the  rear.  On  Oct.  9th  the  head  of  the  col- 
umn of  infantry  having  entered  Strasburg  by 
the  eastern  road,  while  the  rear  was  some  four 
miles  further  south,  and  the  enemy  following 
the  cavalry  on  the  western  road  had  advanced 
so  far  as  to  bring  the  infantry  upon  their  right 
rear,  the  cavalry  under  Gens.  Ouster  and  Mer- 
ritt  turned  and  made  an  attack.  At  the  same 
time  a  report  spread  among  the  enemy's  cav- 
alry that  the  Federal  infantry  were  flanking 
them.  They  immediately  gave  way,  and  a 
stampede  ensued.  The  pursuit  continued  to 
Columbia  Furnace,  seven  miles  south  of  Fisher's 
Hill.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  eleven  pieces 
of  artillery  and  about  three  hundred  men. 
Gen.  Sheridan  then  continued  to  fall  back  as 
far  as  Cedar  Run.  While  at  this  position,  on 
Oct.  19th,  his  force  was  suddenly  attacked  by 
the  enemj  before  daylight,  and -his  lines  thrown 
into  confusion  with  every  prospect  of  a  serious 
disaster.  The  left  flank  of  the  8th  corps  was 


turned  and  the  army  driven  back  four  miles 
with  the  loss  of  twenty-four  pieces  of  artillery. 
At  this  moment  Gen.  Sheridan  arrived  on  the 
field,  and  re-forming  his  lines,  awaited  the  at- 
tack of  the  enemy.  This  was  made  at  1  p.  M. 
and  repulsed.  At  3  P.  M.  Sheridan  attacked  the 
enemy  and  completely  routed  him,  capturing 
fifty-four  pieces  of  artillery,  including  his  own 
pieces.  His  despatch  from  the  battle-field  to 
Gen.  Grant  was  as  follows : 

CEDAK  CREEK,  VA.,  Oct.  19, 10  p.  M. 

Lieut.-Gen.  Grant,  City  Point  : 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  my  army  at  Cedar 
Creek  was  attacked  at  Alacken  this  morning  before 
daylight,  and  my  left  was  turned  and  driven  in  in 
confusion.  In  fact,  most  of  the  line  was  driven  in 
confusion,  with  the  loss  of  20  pieces  of  artillery.  I 
hastened  from  Winchester,  where  I  was  on  my  return 
from  Washington,  and  found  my  army  between  Mid- 
dletown  and  Newton,  having  been  driven  back  about 
four  miles.  I  here  took  the  affair  in  hand  and  quick- 
ly marched  the  corps  forward,  formed  a  compact  line 
of  battle  to  repulse  an  attack  of  the  enemy,  which 
was  done  handsomely  at  about  1  o'clock,  p.  M.  At  3 
p.  M.,  after  some  changes  of  the  cavalry  from  the 
left  to  the  right  flank,  I  attacked  with  great  vigor, 
driving  add  routing  the  enemy,  capturing,  according 
to  the  last  report,  43  pieces  of  artillery  and  very 
many  prisoners.  *  *  *  * 

I  have  to  regret  the  loss  of  Gen.  Bidwell,  killed, 
and  Gens.  Wright,  Grover,  and  Ricketts,  wounded. 
Wright  is  slightly  wounded.  Affairs  at  times  looked 
badly,  but  by  the  gallantry  of  our  brave  officers  and 
men  disaster  has  been  converted  into  a  splendid  vic- 
tory. Darkness  again  intervened  to  shut  off  greater 
results.  I  now  occupy  Strasburg.  As  soon  as  prac- 
ticable I  will  send  you  further  particulars. 

(Signed)  P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Maj.-General. 

On  the  next  day  he  further  reported  as  fol- 
lows: 

CEDAB  CKEEK,  VA.,  Oct.  20, 11.30  A.  M. 

To  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant,  City  Point: 

We  have  again  been  favored  by  a  great  victory, 
won  from  disaster,  by  the  gallantry  of  our  officers 
and  men.  The  attack  on  the  enemy  was  made  at  3 
P.  M.,  by  a  left  half-wheel  of  the  whole  line,  with  a 
division  of  cavalry  turning  each  flank  of  the  enemy. 
The  whole  line  advanced. 

The  enemy,  after  a  stubborn  resistance,  broke  and 
fled,  and  were  pushed  with  vigor.  The  artillery  cap- 
tured will,  probably,  be  over  fifty  pieces.  This,  of 
course,  includes  what  were  captured  from  our  troops 
early  in  the  morning.  At  least  1,600  prisoners  have 
been  brought  in ;  also  wagons  and  ambulances  in 
large  numbers.  This  morning  the  cavalry  made  a 
dash  at  Fisher's  Hill  and  carried  it ;  the  enemy 
having  fled  during  the  night,  leaving  only  a  small 
rear  guard. 

I  have  to  regret  the  loss  of  many  valuable  officers 
killed  and  wounded.  Among  them  is  Col.  James 
Thorburn,  commanding  a  division  of  Crook's  com- 
mand, killed;  Col.  Sherwood,  commanding  a  brigade, 
but  would  not  leave  the  field.  I  cannot  yet  give  a 
full  account,  as  many  of  our  men  who  were  captured 
in  the  morning  have  since  made  their  escape  and  are 
coming  in.  Ramseur,  commanding  a  division  in 
Early 's  army,  died  this  morning. 

(Signed)  P.  H.  SHERIDAN? 

The  enemy  were  pursued  nearly  to  Mt.  Jack- 
son. The  loss  of  Gen.  Sheridan's  army  in  the 
morning  was  between  800  and  1,000  taken 
prisoners.  He  took  afterwards  from  1,500  to 
2,000  of  the  enemy  prisoners,  and  300  wagons 
and  ambulances.  The  losses  in  killed  and 
wounded  on  either  side  have  not  been  reported. 


628 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


They  are  known  to  have  been  severe.  With 
the  exception  of  a  few  affairs  of  small  conse- 
quence, this  closed  the  military  operations  in 
the  Shenandoah  valley  for  the  remainder  of 
the  year;  Gen.  Early's  force  took  a  position 
farther  up  the  valley,  while  Gen.  Sheridan's 
army  was  scattered  in  detachments  widely 
separated.  On  Nov.  14th  the  President  issued 
the  following  order : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  Nov.  14th,  1864. 

Ordered  by  the  President  ;— 1.  That  the  resignation 
of  George  B.  McClellan  as  major-general  in  the 
United  States  Army,  dated  November  8th,  and  re- 
ceived by  the  Adjutant-General  on  the  10th  inst.,  be 
accepted  as  of  the  8th  of  November. 

2.  That  for  personal  gallantry,  military  skill,  and 
just  confidence  in  the  courage  and  patriotism  of  his 
troops  displayed  by  Philip  H.  Sheridan  on  the  19th 
of  October,  at  Cedar  Kun,  whereby,  under  the  bless- 
ing of  Providence,  his  routed  army  was  reorganized, 
a  great  national  disaster  averted,  and  a  brilliant  vic- 
tory achieved  over  the  rebels  for  the  third  time  in 
pitched  battle  within  thirty  days,  Philip  H.  Sheridan 
is  appointed  Major-General  in  the  United  States 
Army,  to  rank  as  such  from  the  8th  day  of  Novem- 
ber, 1864. 

By  order  of  the  President  of  the  United  States. 
E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 

Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

All  that  district  of  country  west  of  Wash- 
ington and  immediately  south  of  the  Potomac 
River  was  infested  with  guerrillas  throughout 
the  year.  Col.  Moshy  was  their  leader.  Many 
of  their  expeditions  were  conducted  with  great 
boldness.  Sometimes  they  came  within  a  few 
miles  of  Washington.  On  one  occasion  during 
the  year  they  captured  a  passenger  train  on  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  between  Harper's 
Ferry  and  Martinsburg.  A  rail  was  removed, 
and  the  train  thus  running  off  the  track  was 
brought  to  a  stop.  Their  proceedings  have 
been  thus  graphically  described : 

In  an  instant  we  heard  the  guerrillas  entering  the 
cars  from  both  ends.  Surmising  their  errand,  I 
jerked  my  watch  from  my  pocket,  handed  it  to  a  lady 
companion,  telling  her  to  secrete  it,  which  she  did. 
Just  then  one  of  the  fellows  stood  before  me  with  a 
pistol  close  to  my  head  and  demanded  my  pocket 
book.  I  obeyed  with  commendable  diligence.  He 
passed  on  to  relieve  my  neighbor  of  hat,  coat,  watch 
and  pocket  book.  Another  of  the  band  approached, 
pistol  in  hand,  "Here,  you  d— d  Yank,  hand  over 
your  watch."  "You're  too  late,"  I  answered 
promptly,  "it  is  gone."  'The  fellow  seemed  satisr 
ned  with  this  and  went  on. 

A  very  demonstrative  fat  lady,  seated  near  the  end 
of  our  car,  just  then  jumped  up,  caught  one  of  the 
rebels  in  her  arms.  "  Oh  my  love,  my  dear  man, 
you  will  not  kill  me,"  she  screamed,  and  at  the  same 
time  clinging  to  him  until  in  ungallant  anger  he 
roared,  "Confound  you,  let  me  go;  I  will  lose  my 
part  of  the  plunder  with  your  stupidity."  We  were 
then  ordered  out,  as  the  train  was  to  be  set  on  fire. 
On  leaving  the  cars  we  had  to  climb  a  steep  sand 
bank  about  twenty  feet  high,  there  to  await  further 
orders.  The  passengers  in  the  sleeping-cars  fared 
worse,  as  all,  with  one  exception,  lost  their  hats, 
coats,  boots,  watches,  and  money.  When  they  were 
ejected  from  their  quarters,  and  ascended  the  hill, 
they  presented  a  sorry  appearance— just  conscious 
of  their  loss,  trembling  with  cold,  and  fearing  they 
might  be  invited  to  visit  Richmond.  In  one  car 
there  were  sixty  German  emigrants  bound  for  Ohio, 
who,  when  the  thieves  demanded  their  money, 


showed  fight.  To  intimidate  the  rest,  two  men  were 
instantly  shot  by  the  butchers  and  a  woman  wound- 
ed. The  remainder  were  then  ordered  to  leave  the 
cars,  but  did  not  understand  the  command.  Mosby 
ordered  his  men  to  fire  the  cars  and  burn  the  "  damn 
Dutch."  The  conductor  begged  of  him  to  hold  on 
until  he  could  find  a  man  who  could  speak  German. 
The  poor  creatures  were  at  last  made  to  understand. 
They  left  the  car ;  it  was  set  on  fire,  and  the  two  men 
and  one  wounded  woman  left  in  the  flames. 

There  were  about  thirty  Union  soldiers  on  board, 
unarmed,  returning  to  their  commands.  Those  were 
taken  prisoners,  and  also  forty  or  fifty  of  the  passen- 
gers were  ordered  to  fall  in  line  to  be  taken  off. 
About  this  time  I  felt  a  little  nervous,  not  having  any 
strong  desire  to  visit  Libby  ;  but  fortunately  as  I  had 
a  screaming  babe  in  my  arms  I  was  not  one  of  the 
chosen.  The  whole  party  were  soon  ordered  to 
march.  Then  followed  hurried,  agonizing  farewells, 
and  the  victims  moved  forward.  We  all  supposed 
they  were  on  their  way  to  Richmond,  but  only  the 
soldiers  met  with  this  fate.  The  citizens  were  taken 
a  short  distance  to  a  piece  of  woods  and  thoroughly 
searched  and  robbed  of  whatever  money  they  had 
left  and  the  best  of  their  clothes.  Then  arose  a  cry 
that  the  Yanks  were  in  the  woods ;  the  guerrillas 
mounted  and  started  off  in  a  hurry,  but  in  five 
minutes  they  were  back  and  exclaimed,  "  a  false 
alarm!"  and  they  fell  to  plundering  still  farther.' 
By  this  time  the  mail,  express,  and  baggage  had  been 
robbed,  and  what  they  generally  did  not  want  was  in 
flames,  and  the  gentlemen  were  left  no  extra  clothing, 
and  certainly  no  surplus  cash. 

One  of  the  ladies  of  our  party  lost  all  her  baggage. 
In  vain  she  begged  a  plethoric-looking  guerilla  to 
spare  her  clothing  and  that  of  her  child.  '  There 
are  no  valuables  in  the  trunk  ;  you  certainly  can  do 
nothing  with  its  contents,"  she  pleaded.  "Pooh, 
sneered  the  "  chivalry,"  as  he  swaggered  past  her, 
"they  will  do  to  help  on  the  flame,"  and  help  the 
flames  they  accordingly  did. 

It  was  then  announced  by  one  of  the  oflicers  that 
every  rider  had  a  place  for  a  woman  in  front  of  him 
on  his  horse,  but  this  beastly  threat  was  not  earned 
out  They  then  made  a  final  search,  and  saw  the 
work  was  complete ;  the  train  had  been  burned,  a 
pavmaster  with  $63,000  robbed,  the  passengers 
plundered  of  their  hats,  coats,  boots,  watches  and 
money,  and,  locking  and  burning  the  mail,  express, 
and  baggage,  they  made  us  a  boisterous  farewell. 

Missouri  became  the  scene  of  a  hostile  inva- 
sion under  Gen.  Price,  in  the  autumn.  Vari- 
ous rumors  and  threats  had  been  in  circula- 
tion among  the  enemy  for  some  months  pre- 
vious. About  the  21st  of  September  these 
rumors  ripened  intqj  a  certainty  by  a  move- 
ment of  Gen.  Sterling  Price  across  the  Arkansas 
with  two  divisions  of  cavalry  and  three  bat- 
teries of  artillery.  He  joined  Gen.  Shelby  near 
Batesville,  sixty  miles  south  of  the  boundary 
line  of  the  Missouri,  and  was  prepared  to  ad- 
vance with  15,000  to  20,000  mounted  veterans. 
The  Federal  force  then  in  the  Department 
under  Gen.  Rosecrans  consisted  of  6,500  mount- 
ed men  for  field  duty  scattered  over  a  country 
four  hundred  miles  long,  and  three  hundred 
broad,  with  partially  organized  new  infantry 
regiments  and  dismounted  men.  These  latter 
were  employed  to  cover  the  great  depots  at  St. 
Louis,  Jefferson  City,  St.  Joseph,  Macon 
Springfield,  Rolla,  and  Pilot  Knob,  to  guard 
railroad  bridges  and  protect  as  far  as  possible 
the  lives  and  property  of  citizens  from  the 
guerillas  who  swarmed  over  the  whole  country 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


629 


bordering  on  the  Missouri  Eiver.  At  this  time 
Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  being  at  Cairo  with  4,500 
troops  was  ordered  to  Missouri.  Preparation 
were  made  to  concentrate  the  forces  as  soon  as  it 
should  become  manifest  what  course  Gen.  Price 
would  pursue,  and  the  enrolled  militia  of  the 
State  made  ready  to  take  the  field. 

When  it  became  evident  that  Springfield  was 
safe  from  the  blow,  Gen.  Sanborn  moved  with 
all  his  available  cavalry  to  reenforce  Rolla, 
where  Gen.  McNeil  was  preparing  to  secure  the 
depots  and  supply  trains,  while  Gen.  Ewing, 
with  the  4Yth  Missouri  volunteer  infantry, 
detachments  of  the  1st,  2d,  and  3d  State  militia, 
and  the  14th  Iowa,  defended  Pilot  Knob  on 
Sept.  27th,  and  proved  the  presence  of  the 
enemy's  entire  force  in  southeast  Missouri. 
The  defence  of  Gen.  Ewirig  was  a  severe  blow 
to  the  enemy,  and  allowed  time  for  the  enrolled 
militia  and  citizens  of  St.  Louis  to  prepare  for 
its  defence.  At  this  time  it  was  covered  only 
by  Gen.  Smith's  infantry  and  three  regiments 
of  cavalry  thrown  as  far  as  practicable  toward 
the  enemy. 

In  the  midst  of  the  preparations  at  St.  Louis, 
the  132d,  134th,  136th,  139th,  140th,  and  142d 
regiments  of  Illinois  hundred  days'  volunteers 
arrived,  which  secured  the  safety  of  that  city. 
Meantime  the  1st,  2d,  3d,  4th,  10th,  llth,  13th, 
and  80th  regiments  of  enrolled  militia,  and  the 
National  Guard  of  St.  Louis,  organized  under 
Gens.  Pike,  Wolff  and  Miller,  to  support  Gen. 
Smith's  infantry,  and  turn  the  tide  of  invasion 
westward. 

The  troops  of  the  central  district  of  the  State 
were  concentrated  by  Gen.  Brown  at  Jefferson 
City,  and  being  reenforced  by  Gen.  Fisk  with 
all  the  available  troops  north  of  the  Missouri 
River,  they  were  prepared  for  the  defence  of 
the  State  capital.  In  these  efforts  the  citizens 
cooperated  with  enthusiasm. 

Meanwhile,  Gen.  Price  with  his  army,  after 
awaiting  a  day  or  two  at  Richwood's,  and 
threatening  St.  Louis,  started  for  the  State 
capital.  At  the  same  time  Gens.  McNeil  and 
Sanborn,  with  all  their  available  cavalry,  moved 
by  forced  marches  and  reached  the  point  of 
danger  a  few  miles  in  advance  of  Price,  and, 
uniting  with  Gens.  Fisk  and  Brown,  saved  the 
State  capital,  and  struck  another  blow  to  the 
hopes  of  the  invaders. 

On  Oct.  8th,  Gen.  Pleasanton  assumed  com- 
mand at  Jefferson  City,  and  sent  Sanborn  with 
all  his  mounted  force,  four  thousand  one  hun- 
dred strong,  to  follow  the  enemy  and  harass 
them  until  the  remaining  cavalry  and  infantry 
supports  could  come  up.  The  rear-guard  of 
the  enemy  was  thus  driven  upon  their  main 
force  near  Burnville,  and  Gen.  Price  was  kept 
between  the  Federal  force  and  the  Missouri 
River  until  the  latter  were  joined  on  the  19th 
by  the  command  of  Winslow,  consisting  of 
fifteen  hundred  men  who  had  followed  the 
enemy  from  Arkansas.  This  formed  a  pro- 
visional cavalry  division  of  sixty-five  hundred 
men  under  Gen.  Pleasanton  exclusive  of  escort 


guards.  On  the  22d,  this  force  fell  upon  Gen. 
Fagan  at  Independence  and  routed  him,  cap- 
turing two  guns.  'On  the  23d,  the  Big  Blue 
was  passed,  and  a  contest  with  the  main  force 
of  the  enemy  took  place,  by  which  they  were 
driven  by  dark  beyond  the  Little  Santa  F6. 
On  the  24th,  after  a  march  of  sixty  miles,  the 
enemy  were  overtaken  at  midnight  at  Marais 
des  Cygnes.  Skirmishing  began  at  4  A.  M.  on 
the  25th  with  artillery,  when  the  enemy  were 
driven  from  the  field  with  loss  of  mules,  horses, 
etc.  They  fell  back  skirmishing  to  the  Little 
Osage  Crossing,  where  a  charge  was  made  upon 
two  divisions  of  them  by  two  advanced  brigades 
under  Cols.  Benteen  and  Phillips,  and  eight  pieces 
of  artillery  and  nearly  one  thousand  prison- 
ers, including  Gens.  Marmaduke  and  Cabell, 
were  captured.  The  pursuit  was  kept  up  by 
Gen.  Sanborn's  brigade  with  repeated  and  suc- 
cessful charges  to  the  Marmiton,  whence  the 
enemy  fled  under  cover  of  night  toward  Ar- 
kansas. Kansas  troops  and  Gen.  Benteen's  bri- 
gade folio  wed  *apidly,  and  on  the  28th  Sanborn 
reached  Newtonia,  where  the  enemy  made  hia 
last  stand,  in  time  to  turn  the  tide  of  battle, 
which  was  going  against  Gen.  Blunt,  and  rout- 
ing the  enemy,  thus  giving  the  final  blow  to 
the  invasion. 

The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  ten  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery, a  large  number  of  small  arms,  nearly  all 
his  trains  and  plunder,  and,  besides  his  killed, 
wounded  and  deserters,  1,958  prisoners.  Gen. 
Price  claimed  to  have  added  to  his  force  6,000 
Missourians.  All  his  schemes  were  defeated, 
and  the  injury  done  was  confined  to  the  narrow- 
belt  of  country  over  which  his  army  marched. 
The  Federal  loss  was  346  officers  and  men. 
After  crossing  into  Arkansas  the  force  of  the 
enemy  became  greatly  reduced. 

Some  military  operations  took  place  in  East 
Tennessee  near  the  close  of  the  year,  the  most 
important  of  which  was  the  defeat  of  Gen.  A. 
C.  Gillem  by  the  enemy  under  Gen.  Breckin- 
ridge.  On  Nov.  12th  Gen.  Breckinridge  at- 
tacked the  Federal  forces  and  drove  them  from 
their  intrenchmeuts.  On  the  13th  he  again 
attacked  them  near  Russellville.  Gen.  Gillem 
gradually  fell  back  in  the  direction  of  Knox- 
ville,  and  was  pursued  by  the  enemy  as  far  as 
Strawberry  Plains.  Gen.  Gillem  lost  heavily 
in  killed  and  wounded,  besides  several  hundred 
prisoners.  Later  in  the  year  an  expedition  from 
East  Tennessee  was  made  by  Gen.  Stoneman,  in 
conjunction  with  Gen.  Burbridge,  with  better 
success.  On  Dec.  12th  Gen.  Stoneman,  with  a 
mounted  force  of  four  thousand  men,  and  the 
brigade  of  Gen.  Gillem,  moved  against  the  ene- 
my, who  were  drawn  up  at>  Kingsport,  on  the 
Holsten  River,  to  dispute  its  passage.  This  force 
was  flanked  by  Gen.  Gillem,  with  a  loss  of  a 
hundred  men  and  a  wagon  train,  and  pursued 
to  Bristol;  where  Gillem  captured  two  hundred 
and  fifty  more,  two  trains  of  cars,  fivq  engines, 
and  a  large  amount  of  stores.  On  Dec.  14th 
Gen.  Burbridge  advanced  to  attack  Gen.  Vaughn 
at  Zollicoffer,  but  the  latter  withdrew  to  Abing- 


630 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


don,  which  was  captured  by  Burbridge,  with 
much  stores.  A  portion  of  the  salt-works  at 
this  point  was  also  destroyed.  The  pursuit  of 
Vaughn  was  continued  by  Gen.  Gillem,  with 
the  support  of  Brown's  brigade,  and  some  loss 
inflicted  on  him.  A  force  was  also  sent  to  the 
Virginia  railroad  near  Glade  Springs,  which 
destroyed  a  large  number  of  bridges  and  depots, 
a  large  amount  of  rolling  stock,  and  the  exten- 
sive iron  works  near  Marion.  Upon  the  ad- 
vance of  the  Confederate  Gen.  Breckinridge 
it  withdrew  to  Kentucky. 

The  operations  in  Middle  Tennessee  became 
very  important  near  the  close  of  the  year.  On 
Nov.  4th,  Johnsonville,  a  depot  for  supplies  on 
the  Tennessee  River,  was  attacked  and  destroyed 
by  Col.  Forrest.  The  value  of  property  burned 
was  estimated  at  more  than  six  million  dollars. 
This  result  was  achieved  by  planting  batteries 
on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river  and  destroy- 
ing the  small  gunboats  which  lay  near  the 
place  for  its  protection. 

The  movement  of  Gen.  Sherman's  force  tow- 
ard Savannah,  with  the  necessary  reduction 
of  the  Federal  forces  in  Tennessee,  tempted 
Gen.  Hood  to  advance  into  that  State  with  the 
hope  that  by  the  cooperation  of  Gen.  Breckin- 
ridge in  East  Tennessee,  the  entire  State 
might  be  recovered  and  restored  to  the  Con- 
federacy. On  Nov.  21st  Gen.  Hood  began  to 
move  north  from  the  Tennessee  River  for  the 
capture  of  Nashville,  and  on  the  23d  his  army 
took  possession  of  Pulaski,  which  had  been  just 
evacuated  by  the  small  Federal  force  under 
Gen.  Hatch.  Pushing  forward  with  some 
skirmishing,  Columbia  was  occupied  on  the 
26th.  Meanwhile  the  force  left  under  Gen. 
Thomas  by  Gen.  Sherman,  continued  to  fall 
back  toward  Nashville.  The  enemy  appeared 
before  Franklin  on  the  30th,  and  Gen.  Scho- 
field  prepared  to  make  a  stand.  The  force  of 
Gen.  Hood,  however,  was  divided  into  two 
columns,  one  to  attack  Franklin  in  front,  and 
the  other  to  move  down  Harpeth  River,  cross 
over  it  some  distance  east  of  Franklin,  and  en- 
deavor to  get  into  the  Federal  rear.  At  4  p.  M. 
on  Wednesday,  the  30th,  Gen.  Hood's  main 
column  made  a  heavy  and  persistent  attack  on 
Franklin  in  front,  but  Gen.  Schofield,  who  was 
in  command  with  15,000  men,  managed  to  hold 
his  own  until  dusk,  and  then  ordered  a  retreat. 
This  was  accelerated  by  the  news  of  the  flank- 
ing column  having  crossed  Harpeth  River 
several  miles  east  of  Franklin.  The  retreat 
was  continued  all  night,  and  on  Thursday  at 
daylight  reached  a  point  seven  miles  south  of 
Nashville,  where  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith's  corps  was 
posted.  The  Confederate  flanking  column, 
after  crossing  Harpeth  River  attacked  a  Federal 
cavalry  brigade,  and  compelled  it  to  retreat. 
The  force  reached  Gen.  Smith's  position  about 
the  same  time  as  Gen.  Schofield.  The  enemy 
followed « both,  and  Gen.  Smith  being  hard 
pressed  abandoned  his  position  and  fell  back  to 
the  outer  line  of  the  Nashville  intrenchments, 
three  miles  from  the  town. 


Great  consternation  prevailed  in  Nashville. 
Business  was  suspended.  The  citizens  and  the 
vast  army  of  Government  laborers  were  put 
under  arms.  The  army  of  Gen.  Thomas  was 
put  in  line  of  battle  three  miles  south  of  Nash- 
ville, and  the  enemy  advanced  to  a  point  five 
miles  distant.  The  intervening  space  became  a 
scene  of  constant  skirmishing.  Meantime  Gen. 
Hood  proposed  to  blockade  the  Cumberland 
River,  cut  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  road, 
and  thus  compel  Gen.  Thomas  to  evacuate  the 
city.  To  execute  this  purpose  more  effectively, 
he  fell  back  from  his  works  before  the  city  to  in- 
trench himself  in  the  Overton  range  of  hills,  and 
thus  cut  off  Thomas  from  Rousseau  at  Murfrees- 
boro,  and  with  his  cavalry  and  Breckinridge's 
forces  cut  off  Bridgeport  and  Chattanooga. 

Reinforcements  were  now  sent  to  Gen. 
Thomas  with  the  greatest  despatch,  and  he 
determined  to  dislodge  Gen.  Hood  from  his 
position,  which  he  had  already  begun  to 
strengthen.  Accordingly,  early  on  Dec.  15th, 
a  feint  was  made  on  Hood's  right  and  a  real 
attack  upon  his  left,  which  resulted  in  driving 
it  from  the  river  below  the  city  as  far  as  Frank- 
lin's pike,  a  distance  of  eight  miles.  The  train 
and  headquarters  of  Gen.  Chalmers  were  cap- 
tured; another  train  of  twenty  wagons,  to- 
gether with  a  thousand  prisoners  and  sixteen 
pieces  of  artillery.  During  the  ensuing  night 
Gen.  Hood  contracted  his  lines  back  to.  the 
Brentwood  range  of  hills,  massing  on  the  Frank- 
lin pike  to  keep  it  open,  in  case  of  retreat,  and 
to  cover  his  large  wagon  train,  which  was  mov- 
ing by  by-roads  into  the  pike.  On  the  next 
morning  the  battle  was  renewed.  The  Federal 
position  remained  unchanged  from  the  previous 
day.  Steedman  on  the  extreme  left,  "Wood  con- 
necting with  him  on  the  left  of  the  Franklin 
pike.  Garrard's  division  of  A.  J.  Smith's  corps 
connecting  with  the  right  of  Wood's;  next 
came  McArthur,  then  Col.  Moore,  connecting 
with  Gen.  Schofield's  left.  Gen.  Cox  formed 
Schofield's  right  and  Gen.  Couch  his  left.  Wil- 
son's cavalry  came  up  on  Schofield's  right,  along 
the  Hillsboro  pike,  with  orders  to  operate  south 
of  the  hills,  and,  if  possible,  turn  the  enemy's 
flank  and  cut  off  his  retreat.  Movements  com- 
menced at  10  A.M.,  and  in  the  afternoon  the 
action  became  close  and  obstinate.  Near  dusk 
the  enemy  began  to  give  way,  and  a  rout  soon 
followed.  They  were  pursued  until  dark  through 
the  gap  of  the  hills  and  along  the  Franklin  pike. 
Some  four  thousand  prisoners  were  captured. 

The  following  is  Gen.  Thomas's  report  of  this 
day's  conflict : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEP'T  OP  THE  CUMBERLAND,  iioirr  [ 
MILES  FEOM  NASHVILLE,  Dec.  16—6  r.  M.      ) 
To  the  President  of  the   United  States,  Hon.  E.  M. 
.  Stanton,  and  Lieut.- General  Grant: 

This  army  thanks  you  for  your  approbation  of  its 
conduct  yesterday,  and  assure  you  that  it  is  not  mis- 
placed. I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  the  enemy 
has  been  pressed  at  all  points  to-day  01  his  line  of  re- 
treat to  the  Brentwood  Hill.  Brig.-Gen.  Hatch,  of 
Wilson's  corps  of  cavalry,  on  the  right,  turned  the 
enemy's  left,  and  captured  a  large  number  of  prison- 
ers. The  number  is  not  reported. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


631 


Maj.-Gen.  Schofield's  corps,  next  on  the  left  wing 
of  the  cavalry,  carried  several  hills,  capturing  many 
prisoners  and  six  pieces  of  artillery. 

Maj.-Gen.  Smith,  next  on  the  left  of  Maj.-Gen. 
Schofield,  carried  the  salient  point  of  the  enemy's 
line,  with  McMillan's  brigade  of  Me  Arthur's  division, 
capturing  sixteen  pieces  of  artillery,  two  brigadier 
generals,  and  about  2,000  prisoners. 

Brig.-Gen.  Garrard's  division,  of  Smith's  command, 
next  on  the  left  of  Me  Arthur's  division,  carried  the 
enemy's  intrenchments,  capturing  all  the  artillery 
and  troops  of  the  enemy  on  the  line. 

Brig.-Gen.  Wood's  troops  on  the  Franklin  Pike 
took  lip  the  assault,  capturing  the  enemy's  intrench- 
ments, and  in  his  retreat  also  capturing  eight  pieces 
of  artillery,  something  over  600  prisoners,  and  drove 
the  enemy  within  one  mile  of  the  Brentwood  Hill  Pass. 

Maj.-Gen.  Stedman,  commanding  detachments  of 
the  different  armies  of  the  Military  Division  of  the 
Mississippi,  most  nobly  supported  Gen.  Wood's  left, 
and  took- a  most  honorable  part  in  the  operations  of 
the  day.  I  have  ordered  the  pursuit  to  be  continued 
in  the  morning  at  daylight.  Although  the  troops  are 
very  much  fatigued,  the  utmost  enthusiasm  prevails. 

I  must  not  forget  to  report  the  operations  of  Brig.- 
Gen.  Johnson,  in  successfully  driving  the  enemy, 
with  the  cooperation  of  the  gunboats  under  Lieut. 
Commander  Fitch,  from  their  established  batteries 
on  the  Cumberland,  below  the  city  of  Nashville,  and 
of  the  success  of  Brig.-Gen.  Croxton's  brigade,  in 
covering  and  protecting  our  right  and  rear  in  the 
operations  of  to-day  and  yesterday.  Although  I 
have  no  report  of  the  number  of  prisoners  captured 
by  Johnson's  and  Croxton's  command,  I  know 
they  have  made  a  large  number. 

I  am  also  glad  to  be  able  to  state  that  the  number 
of  prisoners  captured  yesterday  greatly  exceeds  the 
number  reported  by  telegraph.  The  woods,  fields, 
and  intrenchments  are  filled  with  the  enemy's  small 
arms,  abandoned  in  the  retreat.  In  conclusion,  I 
am  happy  to  state  that  all  this  has  been  effected  with 
very  small  loss  to  us.  Our  loss  probably  does  not 
exceed  300,  and  very  few  killed. 

(Signed)  G.  H.  THOMAS,  Major-General. 

Early  on  the  next  morning  the  Federal  pursuit 
was  renewed.  A  large  number  of  wounded 
were  captured  on  the  road  to  Franklin,  and  also 
stragglers.  The  cavalry  harassed  the  flanks 
and  rear  of  the  enemy  and  scattered  any  force 
that  offered  resistance.  The  following  is  Gen. 
Thomas's  report  of  the  17th : 

HEADQ'S  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND,  ) 
Near  FRANKLIN,  TENS'.,  Dec.  17th,  8  p.  u.      ) 

We  have  pressed  the  enemy  to-day  beyond  Frank- 
lin, capturing  his  hospitals,  containing  over  1,500 
wounded,  and  about  150  of  our  wounded,  in  addition 
to  the  above.  Gen.  Knipe,  commanding  a  division 
of  cavalry,  drove  the  enemy's  rear-guard  through 
Franklin  to-day,  capturing  about  250  prisoners  and 
five  battle-flags  with  'very  little  loss  on  our  side. 
Citizens  of  Franklin  represent  Hood's  army  as  com- 
pletely demoralized,  in  addition  to  the  captures  of 
yesterday,  reported  in  my  despatches  of  last  night,  I 
nave  the  honor  to  report  the  capture  of  Gen.  Rucker, 
and  about  250  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  in  a  fight  that 
occurred  about  8  o'clock  last  night  between  Gen. 
Bucker  and  Gen.  Hatch  of  our  cavalry. 

The  enemy  has  been  pressed  to-day  both  in  front 
and  on  both  flanks.  Brig.-Gen.  Johnson  succeeded 
in  striking  him  on  the  flank  just  beyond  Franklin, 
capturing  quite  a  number  of  prisoners — number  not 
yet  reported.  My  cavalry  is  pressing  him  closely 
through,  and  I  am  very  much  in  hopes  of  getting 
many  more  prisoners  to-morrow. 

GEO.  H.  THOMAS,  Major-General. 

The  entire  loss  of  the  enemy  was  13,189  in 
prisoners,  including  several  general  and  nearly 


one  thousand  other  officers  of  lower  grades, 
and  seventy-two  pieces  of  artillery.  During 
the  same  period  over  two  thousand  deserters 
were  received.  The  Federal  loss  was  about 
10,000  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  Gen. 
Hood  retired  with  his  remaining  force  into  the 
northern  part  of  Alabama. 

Some  military  expeditions  were  made  near 
the  close  of  the  year.  A  force  left  Vicksburg 
under  Gen.  Dana,  in  the  latter  part  of  Novem- 
ber, for  the  purpose  of  cooperating  with  Gen. 
Sherman  by  occupying  the  enemy  in  Mississippi. 
It  reached  the  Mississippi  Central  Railroad  on 
Nov.  25th,  and  after  an  obstinate  engagement 
succeeded  in  destroying  the  Big  Black  River 
bridge.  Several  miles  of  the  track  of  the  rail- 
road, including  culverts,  stations,  2,600  bales  of 
cotton,  two  locomotives,  four  cars,  twenty 
barrels  of  salt,  and  $160,000  worth  of  stores 
at  Vaughan  station  were  also  destroyed. 

About  the  same  time  an  expedition  organized 
under  the  direction  of  Gen.  Oanby,  consisting 
of  a  cavalry  force  under  Gen.  Davidson,  left 
Baton  Rouge.  Thence  it  marched  to  Tanghi- 
piho  and  destroyed  the  railroad  to  Jackson, 
burning  bridges  and  railroad  buildings.  Thence 
it  moved  to  Franklinville,  capturing  a  mail  and 
prisoners.  Thence  it  moved  to  West  Pascagoula. 
.  These  movements  caused  a  great  panic  in  Missis- 
sippi, and  created  alarm  for  the  safety  of  Mobile, 
thus  effectively  cooperating  with  Gen.  Sherman. 

In  December  a  force,  consisting  of  five  divi- 
sions under  the  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  Warren, 
made  a  raid  upon  the  Weldon  Railroad.  The 
Nottoway  was  reached  about  midday  Dec.  8th, 
and  destroyed ;  thence  the  railroad  track  was 
destroyed  nearly  to  Bellfield  station,  twenty 
miles  south.  On  the  10th  the  expedition  start- 
ed on  its  return,  followed  by  crowds  of  negroes, 
and  arrived  after  an  absence  of  four  days.  Its 
loss  was  about  a  half  dozen  men. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  the  area  of  territory 
held  by  the  Federal  armies  was  about  the  same 
as  at  the  end  of  the  previous  year.  The  war 
during  the  year  had  been  the  cause  of  immense 
destruction  to  the  South,  both  in  men  and  prop- 
erty. In  the  latter  probably  there  is  no  parallel 
in  modern  history.  Its  effect  was  apparent  in 
the  exhausted  condition  of  the  country. 

The  Indians  on  the  frontier  maintained  a  hos- 
tile attitude  during  a  portion  of  the  year.  The 
plan  of  operations  of  Maj.-Gen.  Pope,  who  was 
in  command,  embraced  three  objects :  first,  the 
chastisement  and  subjection  of  the  bands  of 
savages  on  both  sides  of  the  Missouri  River, 
who  continued  refractory  and  hostile ;  secondly, 
the  protection  of  the  overland  route  to  Idaho,  by 
the  establishment  of  strong  military  posts  with- 
in the  Indian  country ;  thirdly,  the  security  of 
the' Minnesota  and  Iowa  frontier  against  raids. 

Some  conflicts  took  place  between  the  Indians 
and  Gens.  Sibley  and  Sully  in  the  northwest, 
and  Curtis  in  Kansas,  by  which  their  numbers 
were  greatly  reduced,  and  their  provisions  and 
property  destroyed.  The  ferocious  hostile  atti- 
tude of  these  border  tribes  continued  unchanged. 


632 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


Several  events  tending  to  disturb  the  friendly 
relations  of  the  United  States  with  other  coun- 
tries occurred  during  1864.  Eaiding  parties 
were  organized  in  Canada  by  persons  claiming 
to  be  in  the  service  of  the  Confederate  States, 
for  the  purpose  of  liberating  the  prisoners  of 
war  confined  on  Johnson's  Island,  and  depre- 
dating on  the  property  of  citizens  of  the  United 
States.  One  of  these  parties,  organized  by  one 
Bennet  G.  Bnrley,  consisting  of  some  twenty 
men,  seized  the  steamer  Philo  Parsons,  running 
between  the  city  of  Detroit  and  Sandusky,  after 
she  had  left  Kelly's  Island  in  the  State  of  Ohio. 
They  then  captured  the  Island  Queen  at  Middle 
Bass  Island,  Ohio,  where  they  put  ashore  all  the 
passengers.  "While  here  they  forced  Walter  O. 
Ashley,  the  clerk  of  the  Philo  Parsons,  at  the 
peril  of  his  life,  to  deliver  over  his  money. 
Barley  was  arrested,  charged  with  robbery,  and 
claimed  under  the  Extradition  Treaty ;  and  sur- 
rendered after  a  hearing  before  the  Kecorder  of 
the  city  of  Toronto. 

On  the  19th  of  October  a  party  of  men  from 
Canada,  twenty  to  thirty  in  number,  well  arm- 
ed, entered  the  village  of  St.  Albans,  in  Ver- 
mont, robbed  the  bank  in  the  place  of  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  stole  horses  enough  to  mount 
all  the  party,  fired  on  a  crowd  of  unarmed 
citizens,  wounding  three  men,  one  mortally, 
and  setting  fire  to  one  of  the  hotels.  The 
whole  transaction  occupied  only  three-quarters 
of  an  hour,  and  the  band  immediately  started 
for  Canada,  where  thirteen  of  the  marauders 
were  arrested  and  confined  at  St.  John's.  As 
eoon  as  the  outrage  was  reported  to  the 
Canadian  authorities  they  did  every  thing  in 
their  power  to  arrest  the  perpetrators ;  and 
Mr.  Seward,  on  the  21st  of  October,  expressed 
to  Mr.  Burnlew,  of  the  British  Legation  at 
Washington,  his  "sincere  satisfaction"  with 
their  proceedings.  Mr.  Seward  regarded  the 
outrage  as  a  deliberate  attempt  to  embroil  the 
governments  of  England  and  the  United  States, 
and  involve  them  in  a  border  war.  But  he 
rejoiced  that  the  officers  and  agents  on  both 
sides  of  the  frontier  had  acted  together  in  good 
faith,  and  with  due  respect  on  each  side  for  the 
lawful  rights  and  authority  of  the  other.  This, 
he  adds,  "  is  in  entire  conformity  with  the  wishes 
of  the  United  States."  It  should  be  added,  that 
a  great  proportion  of  the  stolen  money  was 
found  on  the  persons  of  the  raiders  captured,  and 
was  taken  possession  of  by  the  Canadian  police. 
Lord  Lyons,  when  the  transaction  occurred, 
was  at  New  York,  but  immediately  returned  to 
Washington.  The  legal  proceedings  in  the  case 
of  the  prisoners  were  not  very  rapidly  despatch- 
ed, and  early  in  November  Mr.  Seward  speaks 
rather  angrily  of  the  requisitions  for  the  offend- 
ers whose  crimes  were  committed  on  Lake  Erie, 
end  for  the  burglars  and  murderers  who  invaded 
Vermont,  remaining  unanswered.  In  fact,  the 
latter  were  discharged  by  Judge  Coursol  on  a 
supposed  technical  defect  in  the  instrument  un- 
der which  they  were  tried,  released  from  cus- 
tody, and  the  money  restored  to  them.  They 


were  thus  discharged  on  December  14th,  and 
again  apprehended,  and  finally  released. 

It  is  proper  here  briefly  to  mention  the  revo- 
lution extensively  produced  in  the  science  of 
offensive  and  defensive  warfare,  and  particular- 
ly in.  the  department  of  fortifications.  The 
newly-developed  powers  of  modern  artillery, 
both  as  respects  the  greatly-enlarged  calibres  of 
siege  and  naval  guns,  and  the  application  of  the 
principle  of  rifling  to  guns  of  the  largest  calibres, 
have  proved  destructive  to  masonry  forts,  even 
when  so  constructed  as  to  be  regarded  as  im- 
pregnable. Fort  Sumter,  one  of  the  strongest 
forts  of  its  class  ever  erected  on  this  continent, 
and  Fort  Morgan  in  Mobile  Bay,  also  a  work 
of  great  strength,  were  both  completely  reduced 
by  artillery  fire,  the  one  from  land  batteries  at 
a  distance  of  from  two  to  three  miles,  and  the 
other  by  the  concentrated  fire  of  the  naval 
squadron  of  Admiral  Farragut.  In  the  case  of 
Fort  Sumter  this  result  was  the  more  remark- 
able as  after  its  capture  in  1861  it  was  strength- 
ened by  all  the  resources  known  to  engineering 
art,  and  its  gorge  wall,  which  previously  was 
more  than  ten  feet  in  thickness,  was  protected 
by  an  inner  brick  wall  of  twelve  feet,  and  for  a 
considerable  portion  of  its  height  by  a  covering 
of  sandbags  on  its  outside.  All  its  casemates 
were  also  strengthened,  the  traverses  on  its 
terre-plain  enlarged,  and  every  precaution  pos- 
sible made  use  of  to  make  it  impregnable.  Yet 
seven  days'  bombardment  at  the  long  distances 
named,  were  sufficient  to  reduce  it  to  a  ruin  in- 
capable of  bearing  any  important  part  in  the 
defence  of  the  city  or  harbor.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  sandwork  Fort  McAllister  effectually 
resisted  the  assault  of  the  three  iron-clads  in 
March,  1863,  and  the  sandwork  Fort  Wagner, 
though  badly  located,  and  not  judiciously  de- 
fended, yet  resisted  two  vigorous  and  well-con- 
ducted assaults,  a  severe  and  almost  continuous 
bombardment  from  Admiral  Dahlgren's  squad- 
ron, and  a  constant  cannonade  from  heavy  bat- 
teries on  Morris  Island,  and  was  only  abandoned 
when  approached  and  mined  by  a  regular  siege, 
and  was  found  to  be  but  little  injured.  Fort 
Fisher,  a  more  recent  example  of  an  earthwork 
of  great  strength,  though  situated  too  near  the 
channel  so  as  to  be  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the 
monster  guns  of  the  monitors  at  short  range, 
yet  withstood  with  but  sMght  injury  the  first 
assault  of  the  squadron,  which  concentrated 
upon  it  afire  of  539  guns;  and  though  it  might 
have  been  silenced  by  the  fire  of  the  fleet  at  the 
second  bombardment,  would  hardly  have  been 
captured  but  for  the  feint  of  a  seaward  attack, 
which  called  off  the  attention  of  the  garrison 
from  the  actual  assault  by  Terry's  force. 

From  these  and  other  trials  of  the  compara- 
tive powers  of  resistance  of  masonry  and  earth- 
work fortifications,  the  ablest  engineers  of  the 
country  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
best  material  for  fortifications  in  general  is  a 
pure  quartz  sand  with  natural  slopes ;  and  that 
where  the  batteries  of  fortifications  are  much, 
exposed  or  can  be  approached  within  short 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


633 


range,  they  should  be  protected  by  heavy  iron 
plating. 

Major-General  Gillmore,  who  ranks  as  one  of 
the  highest  authorities  on  this  subject,  regards 
the  erection  of  revolving  iron  turrets  in  the 
centre  of  the  channels  of  approach  to  large 
cities  as  a  very  desirable  addition  to  their  means 
of  harbor  defence,  as  combining  the  advantages 
of  long  range  and  wide  field  of  fire. 

While  there  has  been  so  marked  a  revolution 
in  the  minds  of  military  men  in  regard  to  the 
subject  of  permanent  fortifications,  a  change 
almost  as  marked  has  taken  place  in  regard  to 
the  method  of  giving  or  receiving  battle.  Here- 
tofore, when  two  armies  have  been  opposed  to 
each  other  in  the  field,  and  neither  of  them  dis- 
posed to  take  advantage  of  the  defences  of  a 
fortified  town,  they  have  met  each  other  on  the 
open  plain  or  slope  of  hillside  or  valley  without 
fortification,  and  the  fortunes  of  the  day  have 
often  been  decided  by  a  dashing  charge  of  cav- 
alry or  the  sudden  assault  of  infantry  with  the 
bayonet.  Such  was  the  case  in  the  earlier  bat- 
tles of  the  present  war ;  but  the  troops  on  both 
sides  have  learned  that  a  barricade  even  of  the 
rudest  character  will  stop  many  of  the  balls, 
shot,  and  shell  which  are  sent  on  an  errand  of 
destruction  toward  them,  and  at  every  halt  for 
the  night  or  for  a  few  hours  the  men,  before 
attending  to  any  other  duty,  run  up  barricades 
of  rails  which  they  cover  with  earth,  and  thus 
protect  themselves  in  part  from  a  sweeping 
assault  like  those  at  Shiloh  and  at  Stone  River, 
which  would  destroy  or  capture  thousands. 
The  primary  barricade  is  thrown  xip  with  won- 
derful rapidity,  and  is  tolerably  complete  within 
five  or  ten  minutes.  If  not  immediately  as- 
saulted, the  men  proceed  to  perfect  it  by  digging 


a  trench  inside  and  throwing  the  earth  outside, 
thus  making  the  protection  greater ;  by  felling 
the  trees  and  undergrowth  in  front  and  arrang- 
ing it  as  an  abatis ;  by  palisades  and  wire  en- 
tanglements, and  by  placing  heavy  logs  on  the 
top  of  the  barricades  for  protection  to  the  sharp- 
shooters. During  General  Sherman's  cam- 
paigns from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  and  from 
that  city  to  Savannah,  as  well  as  in  General 
Grant's  campaigns  in  Virginia,  these  temporary 
fortifications  were  constantly  erected;  and  in 
General  Sherman's  report  of  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign he  says  of  this  practice :  "  The  skill  and 
rapidity  with  which  our  men  construct  them  is 
wonderful,  and  is  something  new  in  the  art  of 
war." 

Though  but  remotely  connected  with  the  sub- 
ject of  fortifications,  yet  as  pertaining  to  the 
matter  of  coast  defences,  the  introduction  of 
stationary  torpedoes  as  a  subaqueous  protection 
merits  attention.  In  no  previous  war  have  they 
been  used  to  the  same  extent  as  in  this.  Various 
forms  have  been  devised,  and  the  contrivances 
for  exploding  them  at  the  right  moment  for  de- 
stroying the  vessels  which  approached  them, 
have  displayed  a  rare  ingenuity.  Though  con- 
siderable injury  has  been  done  by  them,  five  or 
six  vessels  having  been  destroyed,  yet  they  can- 
not, on  the  whole,  be  regarded  as  successful,  as 
not  one  in  five  hundred,  and  perhaps  hardly  one 
in  one  thousand,  have  accomplished  the  purpose 
for  which  they  were  designed.  Their  use  as  a 
means  of  harbor  defence  seems  to  be  conceded 
as  justifiable  by  all  military  authorities ;  and  if 
they  can  be  made  more  certainly  effective,  they 
will  form  a  very  formidable  addition  to  the 
means  of  protection  to  the  approaches  to  large 
cities. 


CHAPTEE   XLYII. 

Naval  Operations— The  Stonewall— Other  Crui sera— Capture  of  the  Eoanoke— Increase  of  the  Federal  Navy— Operations 
of  the  North  Atlantic  Squadron— Blockade— Action  with  the  Albemarle— Her  Destruction— Operations  in  James 
Kiver— Attack  on  Fort  Fisher— Kepulse— Correspondence— Attack  Renewed— Capture  of  the  Fort— West  Gulf  Squad- 
ron—Capture of  the  Forts  at  Mobile  Bay— Action  between  the  Kearsarge  and  Alabama— Capture  of  the  Florida. 


THE  naval  operations  in  It64  remain  to  be 
described.  The  rams  built  in  England  for  sea 
service,  and  which  excited  much  anxiety  near 
the  close  of  the  previous  year,  under  a  convic- 
tion that  they  were  intended  for  the  Confed- 
erates, were  detained  and  bought  by  the  Eng- 
lish Government.  None  of  this  class  of  vessels 
were  therefore  built  in  English  ports  and  suf- 
fered to  enter  the  service  of  the  Richmond 
Government. 

During  the  hostilities  in  which  Denmark  was 
involved,  a  ram  was  built  in  a  port  of  France 
for  that  Government.  On  the  return  of  peace 
this  ram  was  transferred  to  agents  of  the  Gov- 
ernment at  Richmond,  and  placed  under  the 


command  of  Capt.  T.  J.  Page,  formerly  of  the 
U.  S.  Navy,  and  called  the  Stonewall.  She 
made  for  the  port  of  Ferrol,  in  Spain,  and  was 
there  blockaded  by  the  U.  S.  frigates  Niagara 
and  Sacramento.  She  subsequently  escaped 
and  reached  Havana,  and  was  there  delivered 
to  the  Spanish  government. .  During  the  year 
1865,  she  was  given  up  by  the  latter  to  the 
United  States. 

The  cruisers  were  more  numerous  and  ex- 
ceedingly destructive.  Previous  to  January  30, 
1864,  the  number  of  merchant  vessels  of  the 
United  States  destroyed  by  them  was  193 ;  ton- 
nage, 89,704 ;  value  of  vessels  at  $50  per  ton, 
$4,485,200;  value  of  cargo  at  $100  per  ton, 


634 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


$8,9TO,400.  Total,  $13,455,600.  The  number 
captured  by  the  different  vessels  and  by  the 
enemy  up  to  the  above  date,  was  as  follows : 

By    steamer    Sumter..      27  By    privateer  Calhoun .. 

«  *k  AliKoma  fifi        "  *fc  ftmj-anilnh 


mnuovr    Duiumr.  . 

21 
66 

"         Florida.! 

16 

privateer  Tacony.  . 

16 

steamer    Georgia.  . 

10 

privateer  Jeff.  Davi 
"         Retributi 

7 
n.  2 

"          Sallie  .  .  . 

1 

steamer   Winslow. 

5 

"         Nashville 

2 

V^illliUUU.  . 

Savannah. 

0 

1 

Lapwing.  . 

1 

8t  Nichols 

s  3 

Echo  

2 

Conrad... 

1 

Coquette  . 

1 

164 


The  other  merchant  vessels  (twenty-nine) 
were  captured  in  Southern  harbors  and  rivers. 
Of  the  vessels  captured  by  the  cruisers,  seven- 
teen were  bonded,  and  all  the  others  burned. 

During  1864  a  few  captures  were  made  by 
the  Alabama  before  she  was  sunk  by  the  Kear- 
sarge.  The  Florida,  Captain  Mori-is,  appeared 
off  the  coast  of  Virginia  in  July  and  captured 
six  vessels,  and  destroyed  afterwards  a  number, 
and  was  finally  captured  in  the  harbor  of  Bahia 
by  a  U.  S.  steamer. 

Three  more  cruisers  also  made  their  appear- 
ance during  1864,  viz. :  the  Tallahassee,  Olus- 
tee,  and  Chickamauga,  The  steamer  Tallahas- 
see in  August  visited  the  entire  length  of  the 
coast  of  the  Northern  States,  and  destroyed 
thirty-three  vessels  in  ten  days,  one  of  which 
was  a  New  York  pilot-boat.  The  steamer 
Olustee  was  an  iron  vessel  of  1,100  tons  bur- 
then, schooner  rigged,  with  two  screws  and 
very  fast.  Several  vessels  were  captured  by 
her  off  the  coast  and  bound  to  New  York  in 
the  month  of  November.  The  steamer  Chicka- 
mauga also  captured  several  vessels,  which 
were  valued  at  $500,000. 

The  most  important  rams  for  harbor  service 
were  the  Tennessee  and  Albemarle.  For  the 
details  respecting  thete  and  also  the  Confeder- 
ate gunboats,  see  other  pages. 

On  September  29th  the  steamer  Roanoke,  a 
passenger  and  freight  vessel  running  between 
New  York  and  Havana,  was  captured  by  Lieu- 
tenant Braine  and  some  companions,  who  had 
come  on  board  as  passengers  as  the  vessel  was 
leaving  Havana  in  the  afternoon.  The  officers 
and  crew  were  overpowered,  made  prisoners, 
and  the  vessel  headed  for  Bermuda,  where  a 
pilot  was  called  on  board.  Braine  went  ashore 
and  brought  on  board  a  party,  and  the  vessel 
put  to  sea,  soon  overhauling  a  brig  with  coal 
and  provisions. 

These  were  taken  aboard,  and  on  the  next 
day  a  vessel  was  sent  to  take  off  the  passengers. 
The  transfer  was  made  together  with  a  quan- 
tity of  cotton,  and  the  steamer  set  on  fire.  The 
passengers  and  crew  were  taken  into  Five 
Fathom  Hole,  and  the  purser  and  first  mate 
went  ashore  to  have  the  Confederates  as  pirates 
arrested,  which  was  done,  but  after  a  trial  by 
the  British  authorities  they  were  discharged. 
The  Roanoke  had  on  board  $17,000  in  green- 
backs, and  $4,000  in  gold. 

A  correspondence  relative  to  this  affair  en- 
sued between  the  Governor  of  Bermuda  and 
the  Home  Government,  and  with  Mr.  Adams, 


the  American  Minjster  at  London.  The  rea- 
sons on  which  Lieutenant  Braine  was  discharged 
are  stated  in  the  following  letter  of  Earl  Russell 
to  Mr.  Adams : 

FOREIGN  OFFICE,  January  21. 

SIR  :  I  have  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  letter 
of  the  21st  ult.  protesting  against  the  proceedings 
of  her  Majesty's  colonial  authorities  at  Bermuda  in 
the  case  of  the  steamer  Roanoke,  and  enclosing 
copies  of  various  documents  relating  thereto. 

These  papers  refer  to  two  different  complaints. 
The  one  complaint  is,  that  persons  were  enlisted  at 
Bermuda  with  a  view  to  make  war  on  a  State  in 
amity  with  her  Majesty.  The  other  complaint  is, 
that  certain  passengers  proceeding  from  Havana  in 
the  United  States  vessel  Roanoke,  when  five  hours 
from  Havana  on  their  voyage,  rose  on  the  captain, 
made  themselves  masters  of  the  vessel,  destroyed 
her,  and  were  afterwards  permitted  to  land  on  the 
island  of  Bermuda.  The  answer  to  the  first  com- 
plaint is,  that  sufficient  evidence  to  convict  the  per- 
sons accused  was  not  produced,  and  consequently 
they  could  not  be  convicted.  The  answer  to  the 
second  complaint  is,  that  the  person  arrested  for  a 
supposed  piratical  act  produced  a  commission  au- 
thorizing that  act  as  an  operation  of  war,  from  the 
Government  of  the  so-called  Confederate  States, 
which  are  acknowledged  by  her  Majesty's  Govern- 
ment to  possess  all  belligerent  rights. 

(Signed,)  I  am,  &c.,  RUSSELL. 

Of  all  the  systems  adopted  by  the  Federal 
Navy  Department  to  accomplish  the  various 
and  arduous  objects  rendered  necessary  by  the 
outbreak  of  the  war,  not  the  least  interesting  is 
the  manner  in  which  an  effective  blockade  of 
the  Southern  coast  was  secured.  The  length 
of  coast  to  be  blockaded  was  three  thousand 
five  hundred  and  forty-nine  (3,549)  miles. 
This  is  a  greater  extent  than  the  whole  coast 
of  Europe  from  Cape  Trafalgar  to  Cape  North. 
The  most  serious  attempts  heretofore  made  by 
the  great  maritime  powers  of  Europe  consisted 
in  endeavors  to  interdict  trade  at  a  few  of  the 
principal  ports  of  a  belligerent.  The  first  steps 
of  the  department  consisted  in  making  every 
naval  vessel  available,  recalling  the  foreign 
squadrons,  increasing  the  force  by  building 
new  vessels,  and  procuring  for  naval  purposes 
from  the  merchant  service  every  steamer 
which  could  be  made  a  fighting  vessel,  and  in 
enlarging  the  capacity  of  the  navy  yards, 
putting  in  requisition  the  foundries  and  work- 
shops of  the  country  for  supplies  of  ordnance 
and  steam  machinery,  augmenting  the  number 
of  seamen,  and  supplying  the  deficiency  of 
officers  by  selectiag  experienced  and  able  ship- 
masters and  others  from  the  commercial 
marine.  The  next  efforts  of  the  department 
were  directed  toward  securing  several  harbors, 
at  comparatively  equidistant  points,  as  bases  of 
operations  for  the  several  squadrons,  where 
our  naval  vessels  could  receive  their  supplies, 
and  maintain  themselves  at  their  stations  and 
on  their  cruising  ground  without  returning  to 
northern  ports  for  repairs  and  to  refit.  For 
this  purpose  various  naval  expeditions  were 
organized.  The  first  sailed  from  Hampton 
Roads  in  August,  1861,  and  captured  the  forts 
at  Hatteras  Inlet.  This  was  followed,  a  few 
weeks 'later,  by  the  capture  of  Port  Royal, 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION". 


635 


which  secured  a  commodious  harbor  for  the 
ships  of  the  South  Atlantic  squadron.  Early 
in  the  spring  of  1862  Jfew  Orleans  was  cap- 
tured. Other  harbors  and  places  were  from  time 
to  time  seized  and  occupied.  From  the  outset, 
the  blockade  has  been  so  effective  as  to  be  re- 
spected by  the  nations  of  Europe,  and  to  cause 
a  constant  complaint  by  the  enemy  of  its  ex- 
hausting severity.  Wilmington  was  the  last 
port  captured,  and  here  blockade-running  was 
more  successful  than  at  any  other. 

At  Wilmington  alone,  sixty-five  steamers, 
the  aggregate  value  of  which,  with  their  car- 
goes, scarcely  falls  short  of  thirteen  millions  of 
dollars,  were  captured  or  destroyed  in  endeav- 
oring to  enter  or  escape. 

On  the  interior  rivers  of  the  country  the 
department  also  early  commenced  to  put  afloat 
a  large  fleet.  It  comprised  more  than  one 
hundred  vessels.  They  were  to  a  great  extent 
boats  that  had  been  employed  in  the  carrying 


trade,  but  which  were  purchased,  strengthened, 
and  fitted  for  war  purposes.  They  were  neces- 
sarily inferior  to  naval  built  vessels  in  strength, 
lightly  armed,  and  more  liable  to  disaster. 
To  insure  a  systematic  and  vigorous  execution 
of  the  duties  devolving  upon  this  squadron,  the 
waters  traversed  by  it  were  divided  into  ten 
naval  districts,  each  under  the  command  of  an 
experienced  naval  officer.  The.  vessels  in  each 
district  had  their  appropriate  field  of  duty,  but 
at  the  same  time  they  were  held  ready  to  sup- 
port each  other  when  occasion  required,  and 
could  be  readily  concentrated  upon  any  emer- 
gency. The  principal  rivers  thus  traversed 
were  the  Mississippi,  lower  Ohio,  Cumberland, 
and  Tennessee.  The  effect  of  their  operations 
on  the  Mississippi  was  to  break  up  the  com- 
binations of  the  enemy,  and  sever  their  or- 
ganizations. On  the  other  rivers,  peaceful 
citizens  were  protected  and  partisan  bands  dis- 
spersed. 


COMPABATIVE  STATEMENT  OF  THE  NAVY,  DECEMBER,  1863  AND  1864. 


<M    «J 

°"* 

II 

DESCRIPTION. 

No.  of 

guns. 

No.  of 

toil  a. 

671 

Total  navy,  December,  1S64  

4,610 

510  896 

588 

Total  navy,  December,  1863  

4,443 

467  967 

83 

Actual  increase  for  the  year  

167 

42429 

26 

Total  losses  by  shipwreck,  in  battle,  capture,  &c.,  during  the  year  

146 

13,084 

109 

Actual  addition  to  the  navy  from  December,  1863,  to  December,  1864  

812 

55,513 

'VESSELS  CONSTRUCTED  FOR  THE  NAVY  SINCE  MARCH  4TH,  1861. 


Jl 

7 
1 
8 
2 
10 
4 
6 
2 
8 
4 
8 
23 
9 
2 
13 
26 
7 
1 

141 

DESCRIPTION. 

Guns. 

Tonnage. 

Screw  sloops,  Ammonoosnc  class,  17  to  19  guns,  8,213  to  3,713  tons  each  

121 
8 
200 
50 
180 
40 
74 
23 
96 
82 
71 
123 
18 
4 
98 
272 
70 
12 

23,637 
2,638 
25,416 
6,730 
23,480 
4,092 
8,584 
2,480 
11,040 
8,462 
4,744 
11,661 
8,150 
840 
11,024 
25,324 
7,210 
974 

Screw  sloop  Idaho,  8  guns,  and  2,683  tons  

Screw  sloops,  spar  deck,  Java  class,  25  guns,  and  3,177  tons  each  

Screw  sloops,  spar  deck,  Hassalo  class,  55  guns,  and  3,365  tons  each     . 

Screw  sloops,  clippers,  single  deck,  Contoocook  class,  13  guns,  and  2,848  tons  each  

Screw  sloops,  Kearsarge  class,  8  to  12  guns,  and  averaging  1,023  tons  each  

Screw  sloops,  Shenandoah  class,  8  to  16  guns,  and  1,367  to  1,583  tons  each 

Screw  sloops,  Ossipee  class,  10  to  13  guns,  and  1,240  guns  each 

Screw  sloops,  Serapis  class,  12  guns,  and  1,880  tons  each.. 

Screw  sloops,  Resaca  class,  8  guns,  and  831  to  900  tons  each.  .  .     . 

Screw  sloops,  Nipsic  class,  7  to  12  guns,  and  593  tons  each 

Screw  gunboats,  Unadilla  class,  4  to  7  guns,  and  507  tons  each  

Screw  tugs,  Pinta  class,  2  guns,  and  850  tons  each 

Screw  tuns.  Pilgrim  class,  2  guns,  and  170  tons  each  

Paddle-wheel  steamers,  double-enders,  Octorara  class,  7  to  11  guns,  and  780  to  955  tons  each.  .  . 
Paddle-wheel  steamers,  double-enders,  Sassacus  class,  10  to  14  guns,  and  974  tons  each  

Paddle-wheel  steamers,  of  iron,  double-enders,  Mohongo  class,  10  guns,  and  1,030  tons  each 
Paddle-wheel  steamer,  of  iron,  double-ender,  Wateree,  12  guns,  and  974  tons  

IBON-CLAD  VESSELS. 

Sea-going  casemated  vessels,  Dunderberg  and  New  Ironsides.  .  . 

1,442 

175,986 

2 
3 
4 

4 
1 
4 
8 
9 
20 
2 
8 
2 

62 
203 

28 
12 
16 
16 
4 
16 
16 
21 
85 
4 
13 
8 

8,576 
9,783 
12.800 
6,256 
1,250 
8,880 
8,272 
7,596 
12,280 
953 
1,624 
768 

Sea-going  turret  vessels,  Puritan,  Dictator,  and  Roanoke  

Double  turret  vessels,  Kalamazoo  class,  4  guns,  and  8  200  tons  each 

Double  turret  vessels,  Monadnock  class,  4  guns,  and  1,564  tons  each  t 

Double  turret  vessel,  Onondaga,  4  guns,  and  1,250  tons 

Doable  turret  vessels,  Winnebago  class,  4  guns,  and  970  tons  each. 

Single  turret  vessels,  Canonicns  class,  2  guns,  and  1.084  tons  each  

Single  turret  vessels,  Passaic  class,  2  to  4  guns,  and  844  tons  each  .  .  . 

Single  turret  vessels,  Yazoo  class,  1  to  2  guns,  and  614  tons  each 

Single  turret  vessels,  Sandusky  and  Marietta,  2  guns  each  

Single  turret  vessels,  Ozark,  NeoBho,  and  Osage,  2  to  7  gnns  each 

Casemated  vessels,  Tuscumbia  and  Chillicothe,  0  and  3  guns  respectively 

Total  

189 

73,983 

1,631 

249,974 

636 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


The  foregoing  tabular  statement  exhibits  the 
number  and  description  of  vessels  that  were 
constructed,  or  put  in  the  course  of  construction, 
for  the  navy  to  the  close  of  1864.  Some  of 
them  were  built  by  contract;  others  by  the 
Government,  in  the  several  navy  yards.  If 
there  is  added  to  the  number  those  constructed 
under  similar  circumstances,  and  within  the 
same  period,  that  have  been  lost  by  shipwreck, 
in  battle,  &c.,  viz. :  the  sloops  Housatonic  and 
Adirondack,  and  the  iron-clads  Monitor,  Wee- 
hawken,  Keokuk,  Indianola,  and  Tecumseh, 
the  aggregate  would  be  210  vessels,  1,675  guns, 
and  256,755  tons.  Picket-boats,  and  small  craft 
built  for  especial  purposes,  are  not  embraced 
in  this  statement. 

Various  classes  of  vessels  were  constructed 
to  meet  the  peculiar  exigencies  of  the  service. 
A  class  of  small  heavily-armed  propellers  was 
needed  at  the  outset,  and  twenty-three  were 
constructed  as  gunboats,  after  the  type  of  the 
Unadilla,  Pinola,  and  Wissahickon.  They  main- 
tained a  good  reputation  to  the  close  of  the 
war.  They  were  well  adapted  for  guarding 
the  Coast.  A  larger  description  was  needed  for 
ocean  service,  and  four  vessels  of  the  class  of 
the  Ossipee,  mounting  each  two  guns  of  eleven 
inch,  were  built.  There  were  also  four  vessels 
of  slightly  less  tonnage  constructed,  carrying 
the  same  armament  of  which  the  Kearsarge  is  a 
type.  The  Shenandoah  is  a  type  of  six  vessels 
mounting  each  three  eleven-inch  guns,  all  of 
which  sustain  a  high  reputation.  The  heavy 
g'ms  mentioned  constitute  the  principal  arma- 
ment of  the  several  classes  named,  but  they 
each  have  in  addition  from  two  to  six  guns  of 
less  calibre.  All  of  these  vessels  were  screw 
steamers,  suitable  for  sea  cruising;  but  the 
shallow  sounds  and  bays,  the  rivers  and  bayous, 
often  narrow  and  tortuous,  required  a  different 
class,  drawing  less  water.  To  turn  in  these 
frequently  restricted  channels  is  difficult,  and 
sometimes  impossible;  the  necessities  of  the 
case,  therefore,  suggested  the  principle  of  a 
fighting  vessel  with  a  double  bow  and  a  rudder 
at  each  end.  Twelve  paddle-wheel  steamers 
of  this  class,  of  which  the  Port  Royal  and 
Sonoma  are  types,  were  constructed.  Others 
of  the  same  class  were  the  Sassacus,  distin- 
guished in  the  attack  on  the  ram  in  Albemarle 
Sound,  and  .the  Metacomet,  conspicuous  in  Mo- 
bile Bay.  One  of  this  class  was  sent  round 
Cape  Horn  to  San  Francisco  where  she  is  on 
duty. 

Of  the  monitor  class  of  vessels  only  two, 
the  Dictator  and  Puritan,  were  proposed  for  sea- 
__  service.  Four  turreted  vessels  haw  been  built 
"of  wood  and  cased  with  iron,  thus  differing 
from  the  original  monitors,  which  are  exclu- 
sively of  iron.  One  of  them,  the  Monadnock, 
performed  her  trips  from  Boston  to  Hampton 
Roads  with  entire  satisfaction.  Her  draught 
of  water  was  twelve  feet,  and  with  two  inde- 
pendent screws  she  had  a  speed  of  ten  knots. 
Four  other  similar  vessels  of  a  still  more  for- 
midable and  invulnerable  character  were  com- 


menced. The  only  other  sea-going  iron-clad 
ships  besides  the  two  turreted  vessels  above 
mentioned,  were  the%New  Ironsides  and  the 
Dunderberg,  a  casemate  vessel. 

In  its  iron-clads  the  department  experimented 
by  the  construction  of  different  classes  and  sizes, 
both  in  wood  and  iron,  propelled  by  one  screw 
and  by  two  screws  working  independently  of 
each  other.  In  its  most  recent  constructions 
of  the  Miantonomah  class,  a  wooden  vessel  with 
Ericsson  turrets,  a  high  rate  of  speed,  perfect 
ventilation,  impregnability,  and  the  enormous 
battery  of  four  15-inch  guns,  were  combined  in 
a  vessel  of  1,564  tons,  and  drawing  only  twelve 
feet  of  water.  These  vessels  were  free  from 
the  disadvantage  of  fouling,  which  so  greatly 
reduced  the  speed  of  iron  ones. 

In  the  steam  vessels  nearly  every  variety 
and  type  of  engine,  of  valve  gear,  of  rate  of  ex- 
pansion, of  surface  condenser,  of  screw  propel- 
ler, and  of  boilers,  have  been  thoroughly  tested. 

As  in  previous  years  of  the  war  the  seacoast 
and  inland  waters  of  the  United  States  were,  in 
1864,  in  charge  of  six  different  squadrons,  viz. : 
1.  The  North  Atlantic  Squadron,  Acting  Rear 
Admiral  S.  P.  Lee,  relieved  October  12th  by 
Rear  Admiral  D.  D.  Porter;  2.  The  South  At- 
lantic Squadron,  Rear  Admiral  J.  A.  Dahlgren, 
temporarily  relieved  between  February  and 
May  by  Commodore  S.  0.  Rowan ;  3.  The  East 
Gulf  Squadron,  Acting  Rear  Admiral  T.  Bailey, 
•  relieved  in  October  by  Acting  Rear  Admiral  0. 
K  Stribling;  4.  The  West  Gulf  Squadron,  Rear 
Admiral  Farragut,  relieved  toward  the  close  of 
the  year  by  Acting  Rear  Admiral  H.  K.  Thatch- 
er; 5.  The  Mississippi  Flotilla,  Rear  Admiral 
D.  D.  Porter,  relieved  November  1st  by  Acting 
Rear  Admiral  S.  P.  Lee ;  and  6.  The  Potomac 
Flotilla,  Commander  Foxhall  A.  Parker.  The 
usual  squadron  in  the  Pacific  was  also  main- 
tained during  the  year,  under  the  command  suc- 
cessively of  Acting  Rear  Admirals  C.  H.  Bell 
and  G.  F.  Pearson ;  while  that  in  the  West  In- 
dia waters  was,  as  an  organization,  discontinued. 
A  number  of  vessels  were  actively  employed 
from  time  to  time  in  cruising  after  rebel  priva- 
teers and  in  special  service ;  and  small  squadrons 
were  also  maintained  in  the  Mediterranean  and 
the  East  Indies. 

The  operations  of  the  North  Atlantic  Squad- 
ron, which  in  the  previous  year  were  almost 
wholly  confined  to  blockade  duties,  were  suffi- 
ciently various  and  important  in  1864  to  call 
forth  all  the  resources  at-  the  command  of  the 
Naval  Department.  Besides  the  blockade  of 
Wilmington,  which  alone  required  a  fleet  dou- 
ble in  size  and  effectiveness  to  the  entire  naval 
force  in  commission  previous  to  the  war,  the 
inland  waters  of  Albemarle  and  Pamlico  Sounds 
had  to  be  guarded  against  the  formidable  iron- 
clads which  the  rebels  had  for  a  long  time 
been  constructing  in  the  Neuse  and  Roanoke 
Rivers ;  operations  on  an  extensive  scale, 
in  concert  with  the  army,  were  conducted  in 
the  James  River ;  and  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
year  occurred  the  terrific  bombardment  of  Fort 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


637 


Fisher  by  the  most  powerful  naval  armament 
which  ever  attacked  a  fortification.  In  fact,  so 
multiform  were  the  duties  required  of  this 
squadron,  that  in  order  to  ensure  their  proper 
fulfilment,  it  was  in  the  spring  divided  into 
four  separate  squadrons,  one  of  which  was 
stationed  in  the  James  River,  one  in  the  Sounds 
of  North  Carolina,  and  two  off  Cape  Fear  River 
and  the  adjacent  inlets.  Each  of  these  squad- 
rons was  placed  under  an  efficient  officer,  and 
the  general  headquarters  were  established  at 
Beaufort,  North  Carolina.  The  almost  total 
closing  of  Charleston  harbor,  and  the  vigilant 
watch  kept  over  Mobile,  caused  Wilmington  to 
be  the  only  port  east  of  the  Mississippi  River 
accessible  to  blockade-runners ;  and  so  daring, 
and  in  many  cases  so  successful,  were  the  latter 
in  evading  the  Federal  cruisers,  that  complaints 
were  freely  uttered  against-  the  naval  depart- 
ment for  permitting  the  rebels  to  enter  and  de- 
part from  this  port  at  their  pleasure.  "  Many 
who  have  failed  to  make  themselves  acquainted," 
observed  Secretary  Welles  in  his  annual  report, 
"  with  the  facts  connected  with  the  Wilmington 
blockade,  have  been  free  and  severe  in  their 
censures  of  the  manner  in  which  it  has  been 
conducted.  The  intelligent  officers  of  the  naval 
and  merchant  service  who  have  labored  with 
untiring  zeal  and  assiduity,  and  watched  with 
sleepless  vigilance  through  weary  months  of 
winter  and  summer,  and  in  all  weathers,  stimu- 
lated by  the  hope  of  benefiting  their  country 
and  receiving  its  thanks,  as  well  as  by  every  in- 
ducement of  fame  and  pecuniary  reward,  if  suc- 
cessful, do  not  concur  in  the  opinion  that  the 
port  of  Wilmington  can  be  entirely  closed  by 
blockade." 

To  one  familiar,  however,  with  the  con- 
figuration of  the  land  at  the  mouth,  or  rather 
mouths  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  through  which 
a  vessel  must  pass  in  order  to  reach  Wil- 
mington, the  injustice  of  condemning  the  navy 
for  not  more  effectually  blockading  the  place 
vyill  be  sufficiently  apparent.  For  about  thirty- 
five  miles  before  reaching  the  ocean,  the  Cape 
Fear  River  flows  in  a  direction  nearly  due  south, 
and  directly  in  front  of  its  mouth  lies  Smith's 
Island,  on  either  side  of  which  are  the  two  prin- 
cipal entrances  to  the  river.  The  southwest,  or 
main  channel,  is  about  two  and  a  half  miles  in 
width,  has  a  depth  of  from  ten  to  fourteen  feet 
over  the  bar,  and  is  protected  by  Fort  Caswell, 
a  casemated  stone  work  on  Oak  Island,  adjoin- 
ing the  mainland,  and  by  the  Light  House  bat- 
tery on  Smith's  Island.  The  northeast  en- 
trance, known  as  New  Inlet,  is  less  than  two 
miles  wide,  and  shallower  than  the  other,  and  is 
protected  by  Fort  Fisher,  a  first-class  casemated 
earthwork  near  Federal  Point  on  the  mainland, 
and  by  a  series  of  batteries  extending  thence 
about  six  miles  in  a  northerly  direction  along 
the  seacoast.  Owing  to  an  -extensive  shoal, 
called  the  Frying  Pan,  extending  around  the 
southern  and  western  sides  of  Smith's  Island, 
the  distance  by  sea  between  the  two  entrances 
is  forty  miles,  while  inside  the  island  it  is  not 


abdve  eight.  To  the  natural  advantages  of  the 
locality,  greatly  enhanced  by  the  artificial  de- 
fences, on  which  the  best  engineering  skill  of  the 
Confederacy  had  been  expended  since  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war,  must  be  added  the  shal- 
lowness  of  the  water,  which  decreases  in  depth 
gradually  and  regularly  to  the  shore  line,  so  that 
none  of  the  blockade-runners  of  light  draught 
were  under  the  necessity  of  making  direct- 
ly for  either  entrance,  but  could,  by  the  lead, 
run  close  under  the  land,  and  protected  by  the 
batteries,  pass  in  at  their  leisure.  In  escap- 
ing from  the  river  such  vessels  found  still  less 
difficulty  in  eluding  the  Federal  cruisers,  as 
they  could  pass  for  some  distance  up  or  down 
the  coast  before  making  an  offing,  or  proceed 
straight  out  to  sea,  trusting  to  darkness,  fog,  or 
a  full  head  of  steam  to  make  their  escape.  For 
running  the  blockade  of  this  port  a  peculiar  class 
of  steamers,  of  great  speed  and  light  draught, 
was  constructed  in  England,  and  the  enormous 
profits  arising  from  a  successful  voyage,  a  single 
trip  often  paying  many  times  the  cost  of  the 
vessel,  tempted  the  merchants  of  that  country 
to  embark  largely  in  this  illicit  commerce. 
Nassau,  Bermuda,  and  Halifax  became  their 
chief  places  of  rendezvous,  and  from  one  or  the 
other  of  these  ports  there  was  almost  a  daily 
departure  for  Wilmington. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Federal  cruisers  were 
for  the  most  part  of  too  deep  a  draught  to  run 
near  the  shore,  or  enter  the  several  lesser  chan- 
nels through  which  the  blockade-runners  could 
pass ;  still  less  to  approach  the  numerous  shal- 
low inlets  extending  up  and  down  the  coast, 
into  which  the  latter  could  take  refuge.  Such, 
also,  was  the  nature  of  the  coast,  and  the 
liability  at  some  seasons  of  constant  stormy 
weather,  that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  station 
light-draught  blockaders  there  on  permanent 
duty.  These  facts  will  explain  why,  with  fifty 
cruisers  stationed  at  the  two  main  entrances  of 
the  Cape  Fear  River,  some  of  them  the  fast- 
est in  the  service,  and  officered  by  men  who 
had  not  their  superiors  in  any  service  in 
intrepidity,  energy,  and  professional  skill, 
blockade-runners  were  nevertheless  enabled 
to  pass  in  and  out  with  seeming  impuni- 
ty. When  it  is  considered,  also,  that  the 
latter  have  always  a  full  head  of  steam  on  at 
the  critical  moment,  and  that  their  adversaries 
cannot  be  equally  prepared,  the  chances  in  favor 
of  the  blockade-runners  are  greatly  increased. 
Thus  it  happened  that  the  blockade  of  Wil- 
mington was  repeatedly  broken,  and  that  the 
port  itself  became  the  central  depot  of  the  Con- 
federacy for  the  reception  of  supplies  from 
abroad.  This  result,  however,  was  not  accom- 
plished without  considerable  sacrifice,  and  the 
steamers  captured  or  destroyed  off  the  mouth 
of  the  Cape  Fear  River  averaged  one  a  week 
subsequent  to  the  closing  of  Charleston  harbor 
by  the  monitor  fleet  under  Admiral  Dahlgren. 

From  an  official  statement  of  the  results  of 
blockade-running  at  Wilmington  from  Jan- 
uary, 1863,  to  December,  1864, -published  in 


638 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


the  "Manchester  Guardian,"  it  appears  that 
the  total  ventures  made  by  English  capitalists 
and  speculators,  counting  the  values  of  ships 
and  cargoes,  amounted  to  more  than  sixty-six 
millions  of  dollars  (£13,241,000).  The  quan- 
tity of  cotton  exported  in  twenty-two  months 
(January  1st,  1863,  to  October  31st,  1864)  was 
137,937  bales,  or  62,860,463  pounds,  of  which 
the  larger  part  was  Sea  Island.  The  value  of 
the  export  and  import  trade  in  one  year  (July 
1st,  1863,  to  June  30th,  1864)  was  $65,185,000; 
the  rebel  government  rating  exchange  at  five 
for  one.  The  total  number  of  vessels  which  ran 
the  blockade  in  fifteen  months  (October  1st, 
1863,  to  December  31st,  1864)  was  397.  The 
average  amount  of  capital  invested  by  English- 
men in  trading  ventures  with  Wilmington  dur- 
ing a  period  of  fifteen  mouths  (October  1st, 
1863,  to  December  31st,  1864),  is  stated  in  de- 
tail as  follows : 


Entrances. 
203. 

Clearances. 
194. 

Total 
venture*. 
397. 

Ships  at  £15,000  each  
Cargoes—  Inw'd  (£12,000) 
Outward  (£25,000)  .....' 

£8,045,000 
2,436,000 

£2,910,000 
4,850,000 

£5,955,000 
7,286,000 

Total  

£5,481,000 

£7,760,000 

£13  241,000 

The  operations  in  the  Sounds  of  North  Caro- 
lina, with  the  exception  of  some  unimportant  re- 
connoissances  and  boat  expeditions,  commenced 
in  April  with  the  engagement  between  the 
gunboats  Miami  and  Southfield  and  the  rebel 
ram  Albernarle,  at  Plymouth,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Roauoke  River,  of  which  an  account  is 
given  in  connection  with  Army  Operations. 
The  advantages  gained  by  the  Albemarle  on 
this  occasion,  taken  in  connection  with  the  re- 
verses sustained  at  Plymouth  by  the  land  forces 
in  garrison  there,  called  for  vigorous  measures 
to  prevent  further  disaster,  including  possibly 
the  overthrow  of  the  Federal  naval  supremacy 
in  Albemarle  Sound.  Captain  Melancton  Smith 
was  accordingly  sent  to  assume  command  in  the 
Sounds  with  several  vessels  of  the  double-ender 
class,  and  was  directed  to  attack  the  ram  at  all 
hazards,  and  use  every  means  to  disable  or  de- 
stroy her.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  5th  of  May, 
the  Federal  fleet  being  collected  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Roanoke  River,  the  Albemarle  came 
out,  followed  by  the  Bombshell,  a  small  armed 
tender,  and  at  4 : 40  proceeded  to  engage  the 
gunboats.  In  accordance  with  instructions, 
the  larger  gunboats  mano3uvred  to  get  along- 
side of  their  antagonist,  and  fire  upon  her  ports 
or  roof,  which  were  her  most  vulnerable  parts ; 
but,  owing  to  the  neglect  of  the  smaller  vessels 
to  obey  the  signals  from  the  flag-ship,  and  to 
their  rapid  and  indiscriminate  fire,  it  became  im- 
possible for  the  larger  ones  to  take  a  desirable 
position  without  risk  of  being  riddled  by  their 
own  friends.  The  contest  was,  consequently, 
for  the  first  half  hour  of  a  somewhat  desultory 
character.  The  gunboats  eluded  the  efforts  of 
the  Albemarle  to  ram  them,  but  their  guns 
seemed  to  make  no  perceptible  impression  upon 


her.  Soon  after  5  o'clock  the  Sassacus,  watch- 
ing her  opportunity,  struck  the  enemy  fairly 
abaft  her  starboard  beam,  causing  her  to  careen 
until  the  water  washed  over  her  deck  and  case- 
mate. In  this  position  the  two  vessels  remain- 
ed for  about  ten  minutes,  the  crew  of  the  Sas- 
sacus throwing  hand-grenades  down  the  deck- 
hatch  of  the  Albemarle,  and  trying  in  vain 
to  get  powder  into  her  smoke-stack.  Could 
another  of  the  gunboats  at  this  juncture  have 
got  up  on  the  other  side  of  the  ram,  she  might 
have  been  seriously  disabled,  and  perhaps  com- 
pelled to  surrender ;  but  before  this  could  be 
effected  she  swung  clear  of  the  Sassacus,  and 
in  parting  sent  a  100-pounder  rifle  shot  clean 
through  the  starboard  boiler  of  her  antagonist, 
who,  enveloped  in  blinding  clouds  of  steam, 
was  compelled  to  withdraw  for  a  short  time 
from  action.  About  this  time  the  colors  of 
the  Albemarle  came  down,  whether  by  acci- 
dent or  design  is  not  known ;  but  she  never- 
theless maintained  a  general  engagement  with 
the  gunboats  until  7 :  30  P.  M.,  when  she  retired 
up  the  Roanoke  River.  "With  the  exception  of 
the  Sassacus,  the  gunboats  sustained  compara- 
tively little  injury,  although  several  of  them 
were  struck  by  the  rifle  shots  of  the  Albemarle. 
The  latter  had  her  boats  knocked  to  pieces,  her 
smoke-stock  riddled,  and  one  of  her  guns  par- 
tially disabled,  but  in  other  respects  seemed  in 
as  good  condition  as  upon  going  into  action. 
Her  motive  power  was  entirely  uninjured,  and 
the  rifled  projectiles  of  the  gunboats,  even  when 
discharged  at  short  range,  rebounded  harmless- 
ly from  her  armored  sides.  Her  tender,  the 
Bombshell,  was  captured  early  in  the  fight. 

The  action,  though  without  any  definite  re- 
sults, reflected  no  little  credit  on  the  bravery 
and  skill  of  the  small  Federal  squadron,  and 
showed  that,  with  a  proper  effort,  even  by  the 
class  of  vessels  engaged,  the  Albemarle  might 
be  compelled  to  remain  within  the  waters  of 
the  Roanoke.  She  showed  herself  again  on 
May  24th  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  but  retired 
rapidly  up  the  stream  toward  Plymouth  upon 
being  approached  by  the  gunboats.  From  re- 
ports of  refugees  and  deserters,  it  also  appeared 
that  she  suffered  considerably  in  the  action  of 
the  5th,  both  in  her  outer  plating  and  from  the 
concussion  caused  by  the  fire  of  the  gunboats. 
On  the  25th  a  daring  but  unsuccessful  attempt 
was  made  by  five  volunteers  from  the  gunboat 
"Wyalusing  to  destroy  her  by  a  torpedo,  while 
lying  at  the  wharf  at  Plymouth. 

But  though  manifesting  no  disposition  to  re- 
assume  the  offensive,  the  Albemarle  was  of  suf- 
ficient importance  to  induce  the  naval  depart- 
ment to  take  measures  during  the  summer  for 
her  destruction.  Lieut.  W.  B.  Gushing,  who 
had  on  previous  occasions  shown  equal  coolness 
and  daring  in  conducting  hazardous  reconnois- 
sances,  was  selected  for  the  undertaking,  and  a 
small  steam  launch  was  equipped  as  a  torpedo 
vessel  and  put  under  his  charge.  On  the  liight 
of  Oct.  27th  he  started  up  the  Roanoke  with  a 
crew  of  thirteen  officers  and  men  who  chiefly 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


639 


volunteered  for  the  service,  and  passing  several 
miles  of  the  enemy's  pickets  unobserved,  arrived 
within  twenty  yards  of  the  Albemarle  before 
being  hailed  by  her  lookouts.  The  torpedo 
boat  was  then  steered  under  a  full  head  of  steam 
direct  for  the  ram,  which  lay  at  her  wharf  at 
Plymouth,  protected  by  a  raft  of  logs  extending 
outwards  about  thirty  feet.  Upon  the  alarm 
oeing  given  by  the  lookout,  a  confused  fire  of 
.nusketry  was  opened  by  the  rebels,  which  had 
little  effect.  "Passing  her  closely,"  says  Lieut. 
Gushing,  "  we  made  a  complete  circle,  so  as  to 
strike  her  fairly,  and  went  into  her  bows  on. 
By  this  time  the  enemy's  fire  was  very  severe, 
but  a  dose  of  canister  at  short  range  served  to 
moderate  their  zeal  and  disturb  their  aim.  In 
a  moment  we  had  struck  the  logs,  just  abreast 
of  the  quarter-port,  breasting  them  in  some  feet, 
and  our  bows  resting  on  them.  The  torpedo 
boom  was  then  lowered,  and  by  a  vigorous  pull 
I  succeeded  in  driving  the  torpedo  under  the 
overhang,  and  exploded  it  at  the  same  time  the 
Albemarle's  gun  was  fired.  A  shot  seemed  to 
go  crashing  through  my  boat,  and  a  dense  mass 
of  water  rushed  in  from  the  torpedo,  filling  the 
launch  and  completely  disabling  her.'  The  en- 
emy then  continued  to  fire  at  fifteen  feet  range 
and  demanded  our  surrender,  which  I  twice 
refused,  ordering  the  men  to  save  themselves, 
and  removing  my  own  coat  and  shoes.  Spring- 
ing into  the  river,  I  swam  with  others  into  the 
middle  of  the  stream,  the  rebels  failing  to  hit 
us."  Lieut.  Gushing  succeeded  in  reaching  the 
opposite  shore,  and  during  the  next  day  made 
his  way  by  stealth  through  the  surrounding 
swamps  to  a  creek  some  distance  below  Ply- 
mouth, where  he  found  a  skiff  belonging  to  a 
rebel  picket,  in  which  he  effected  his  escape  to 
the  fleet.  Only  one  other  of  his  party  succeed- 
ed in  escaping,  the  rest  being  either  captured, 
killed,  or  drowned.  The  Albemarle  was  com- 
pletely submerged  by  the  explosion  of  the  tor- 
pedo, and  so  remained  long  subsequent  to  the 
evacuation  of  Plymouth  by  the  rebels.  This 
daring  feat  excited  the  admiration  of  the  rebel 
no  less  than  of  the  Federal  authorities,  and 
obtained  for  Lieut.  Gushing  the  thanks  of  Con- 
gress, and  promotion  to  the  next  highest  grade 
in  the  service.  The  main  rebel  defence  of  Ply- 
mouth being  thus  removed,  Commander  Ma- 
comb,  the  senior  naval  officer  in  the  Sounds, 
availed  himself  of  Lieut.  Cushing's  success  to 
reestablish  the  Federal  supremacy  of  the  lower 
Eoanoke.  With  the  vessels  under  his  command 
he  immediately  pushed  up  the  river  to  Plymouth, 
drove  the  rebels  from  their  rifle-pits  and  batter- 
ies, and  on  Oct.  31st  retook  the  town,  capturing 
a  few  prisoners,  beside  cannon,  small  arms,  and 
ammunition.  Thenceforth  during  the  year  the 
Federal  forces  held  undisturbed  possession  of 
the  Sounds. 

For  some  time  previous  to  May,  1864,  the 
James  Eiver  had  been  left  almost  exclusively  to 
the  enemy,  who.  availed  themselves  of  this  cir- 
cumstance to  place  torpedoes  in  the  channel 
and  otherwise  obstruct  its  navigation.  With 


the  movement  of  Gen.  Butler's  forces  up  the 
river  on  May  5th,  for  the  purpose  of  cooperating 
in  the  grand  campaign  of  Gen.  Grant  against 
Eichmond,  commenced  a  long  series  of  naval 
operations,  which,  though  of  considerable  im- 
portance, are  so  intimately  connected  with  the 
military  campaign  in  that  quarter,  as  to  form  a 
subordinate  part  of  the  operations  of  the  army. 
Hence  a  very  brief  outline  of  what  was  accom- 
plished by  this  division  of  the  North  Atlantic 
squadron  is  all  that  it  is  necessary  to  give  here. 
The  land  forces  were  safely  convoyed  up  the 
river  to  their  landing  places  at  City  Point  and 
Bermuda  Hundred,  with  no  disaster  to  the  fleet 
beyond  the  destruction  by  torpedoes  of  two 
small  paddle-wheel  gunboats,  the  Commodore 
Jones  and  the  Shawsheen.  Military  operations 
having  commenced  near  Petersburg,  five  iron- 
clads, including*  the  captured  vessel  Atlanta, 
were  stationed  some  distance  above  City  Point 
to  watch  the  rebel  iron-clads  and  rams  in  the 
upper  James,  and  if  possible  engage  them  in 
action,  while  the  smaller  vessels  of  the  fleet 
were  busily  occupied  in  dragging  the  river  for 
torpedoes,  in  assailing  moving  batteries  or 
bodies  of  the  enemy  along  the  shore,  or  in 
minor  expeditions.  During  the  attack  upon 
the  colored  garrison  at  Wilson's  wharf,  a  por- 
tion of  the  fleet  rendered  good  service  in  repel- 
ling the  enemy.  In  June,  much  to  the  disap- 
pointment of  Admiral  Lee,  who  earnestly  de- 
sired a  brush  with  the  enemy,  obstructions  were 
sunk  in  the  channel  at  Trent's  Eeach,  for  the 
purpose  of  protecting,  from  any  sudden  attack 
by  the  rebel  fleet,  the  numerous  transports 
collected  at  City  Point,  the  security  of  which 
was  deemed  of  too  great  importance  to  the 
army  to  permit  their  defence  to  be  intrusted  to 
the  navy  alone.  During  most  of  the  summer 
and  autumn,  the  iron-clads  had  frequent  com- 
bats with  the  enemy's  vessels  and  the  powerful 
batteries  at  Hewlett's,  the  advantages  from 
which,  owing  to  the  difficult  navigation  of  the 
river,  could  never  be  pushed  to  any  definite 
result. 

The  complex  yet  comprehensive  plan  which 
the  Government  adopted  in  the  spring  of  1864, 
for  the  overthrow  of  the  rebel  power,  provided 
for  the  capture  of  the  remaining  seaports, 
through  which  munitions  of  war  and  pecuniary 
aid  were  received  by  the  Confederacy.  Wil- 
mington, from  the  facility  which  it  afforded  for 
blockade-running,  and  its  easy  communication 
with  Eichmond,  became  early  in  the  sum- 
mer a  prominent  object  of  attack ;  and  to  guard 
against  any  doubtful  issue  in  such  an  undertak- 
ing, preparations  commenced  early  in  the  Sum- 
mer to  equip  a  squadron,  which,  while  amply 
able  to  overcome  all  resistance,  should  also 
represent  the  commanding  position  assumed 
within  three  years  by  the  United  States  among 
the  great  naval  powers  of  the  world.  The 
naval  department  had  on  several  previous  oc- 
casions offered  to  close  the  port  of  Wilmington, 
with  the  aid  of  a  cooperating  land  force ;  but, 
in  view  of  the  failure  at  Charleston  in  "\  863, 


640 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


declined,  without  such  cooperation,  to  assume 
the  responsibility  of  reducing  the  strong  forts 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  Kiver.  In  pre- 
vious years  the  exigencies  of  the  service  had 
prevented  the  employment  of  land  forces  for 
this  specific  purpose ;  now  it  was  determined  to 
furnish  troops  enough  to  crown  the  expedition 
with  success.  The  stubborn  fighting  between 
the  Rapidan  and  the  James  entailed,  however, 
such  serious  losses  upon  Gen.  Grant,  that  all 
the  surplus  troops  at  the  disposal  of  the  Govern- 
ment were  needed  during  the  summer,  to  re- 
plenish the  wasted  ranks  of  the  Armies  of  the 
Potomac  and  the  James,  and  for  months  the 
contemplated  expedition  remained  unorganized. 
The  naval  part  of  it  alone,  in  consequence  of 
the  constantly-increasing  number  of  vessels  at 
the  disposal  of  the  naval  department,  seemed 
to  make  progress.  As  early  as  August,  iron- 
clads and  wooden  steamers  began  to  rendez- 
vous at  Hampton  Roads,  until  in  October  a 
formidable  fleet,  numbering  over  fifty  war  ves- 
sels, and  including  the  iron-clad  Ne^  Ironsides 
and  four  monitors,  was  collected,  of  which  Ad- 
miral Porter  assumed  command. 

Long  before  December  the  squadron  was  at 
its  rendezvous  in  readiness  to  sail ;  but  it  was 
not  until  the  winter  had  fairly  commenced  that 
the  necessary  ,quota  of  troops  could  be  fur- 
nished. The  signal  successes  of  Thomas  and 
Sherman  having  disarmed  all  apprehensions 
with  respect  to  the  result  of  military  operations 
in  the  South  and  Southwest,  and  the  Armies 
of  the  Potomac  and  the  James  having  been  re- 
cently largely  recruited,  the  Government  early 
in  December  issued  orders  for  the  troops  des- 
ignated for  the  service  to  repair  to  Hampton 
Roads.  These  consisted  of  Gen.  Ames's  divis- 
ion of  the  24th  corps,  and  of  Gen.  Paine's 
colored  division  of  the  25th  corps,  numbering 
together  6,500  effective  men,  both  of  which 
belonged  to  the  Army  of  the  James.  Gen. 
Weitzel  was  designated  as  commander-in-chief 
of  the  military  part  of  the  expedition,  but  Gen. 
Butler  subsequently  accompanied  it  in  that 
capacity,  and  on  the  9th  notified  Admiral  Por- 
ter that  he  was  in  readiness  to  move.  Owing 
to  stormy  weather  none  of  the  vessels  sailed 
until  the  12th,  when  the  transports  and  smaller 
war  vessels,  about  75  in  number,  took  their 
departure,  followed  on  the  succeeding  day  by 
the  New  Ironsides  and  the  heavy  steam  frigates. 

After  careful  consideration  it  was  determined 
that  of  the  two  entrances  to  the  Cape.  Fear 
River,  New  Inlet  could  be  the  more  success- 
fully attacked.  The  narrow  strip  of  land 
"forming  part  of  the  east  bank  of  the  Cape  Fear 
River,  and  terminating  in  Federal  Point, 
offered,  on  the  whole,  better  facilities  for  land- 
ing troops  than  any  other  part  of  the  coast ; 
and  the  capture  of  the  works  which  protected 
it  would  not  only  give  to  the  fleet  the  com- 
mand of  the  river,  and  thus  virtually  close  the 
port  of  Wilmington,  but  by  cutting  off  Fort 
Caswell,  which  commands  the  other  mouth  of 
the  river,  would  render  the  possession  of  that 


?C  A  P  E     FEAR 

ATLANTIC         OCEAN   


strong  work  of  no  further  importance  to  the 
rebels.  For  the  immediate  defence  of  the  inlet 
the  rebels  relied  chiefly  upon  Fort  Fisher,  and 
a  series  of  batteries,  connected  by  rifle-pits, 
running  thence  in  a  southwest  direction  along 
the  coast,  at  an  average  distance  of  two  hun- 
dred yards  from  the  beach,  to  what  was 
called  the  "Mound  Battery,"  situated  near 
the  extreme  end  of  Federal  Point.  The  fort 
and  its  connecting  batteries,  forming  practically 
a  single  work,  consisted  of  two  fronts :  the  first, 
or  land  front,  being  four  hundred  and  eighty 
yards  in  length  and  extending  nearly  across 
the  narrow  peninsula,  while  the  sea  front  has 
a  length  of  about  thirteen  hundred  yards.  The 
former  was  intended  to  resist  any  attack  from 
troops  approaching  the  fort  from  the  north, 
and  the  sea  front  to  prevent  vessels  from  run- 
ning through  New  Inlet  or  landing  troops  on 
Federal  Point.  The  following  more  particular 
description  of  both  fronts  is  given  By  Colonel 
Comstock,  chief  engineer  of  the  military  part 
of  the  expedition :  "  The  land  front  consists  of 
a  half  bastion  on  the  left  or  Cape  Fear  River 
side,  connected  by  a  curtain  with  a  bastion  on 
the  ocean  side.  The  parapet  is  25  feet  thick, 
averages  20  feet  in  height,  with  traverses  rising 
10  feet  above  it  and  running  back  on  their  tops, 
which  are  from  8  to  12  feet  in  thickness,  to  a 
distance  of  from  30  to  40  feet  from  the  interior 
crest.  The  traverses  on  the  left  half  bastion 
are  about  25  feet  in  length  on  top.  The  earth 
for  this  heavy  parapet  and  the  enormous 
traverses  at  their  inner  ends,  more  than  30  feet 
in  height,  was  obtained  partly  from  a  shallow 
exterior  ditch,  but  mainly  from  the  interior  of 
the  work.  Between  each  pair  of  traverses 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


641 


there  was  one  or  two  guns.  The  traverses  on 
the  right  of  this  front  were  only  partially  com- 
pleted. A  palisade,  which  is  loopholed  and 
has  a  banquette,  runs  in  front  of  this  face,  at  a 
distance  of  50  feet  in  front  of  the  exterior  slope, 
from  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver  to  the  ocean,  with  a 
position  for  a  gun  between  the  left  of  the  front 
and  the  river,  and  another  between  the  right 
of  the  front  and  the  ocean.  Through  the  mid- 
dle traverse  on  the  curtain  is  a  bomb-proof 
postern  whose  exterior  opening  is  covered  by 
a  small  redan  for  two  field-pieces,  to  give  flank 
fire  along  the  curtain.  The  traverses  are  gen- 
erally bomb-proofed  for  men  or  magazines. 
The  slopes  of  the  work  appear  to  have  been 
revetted  with  marsh  sod  or  covered  with  grass, 
and  have  an  inclination  of  45  degrees  or  a  little 
less.  *  *  *  There  were  originally  on  this  front 
21  guns  and  3  mortars.  *  *  *  The  sea  front 
consists  of  a  series  of  batteries,  mounting  in  all 
24  guns,  the  different  batteries  being  connected 
by  a  strong  infantry  parapet  so  as  to  form  a 
continuous  line.  The  same  system  of  heavy 
traverses  for  the  protection  of  the  guns  is  used 
as  on  the  land  front,  and  these  traverses  are 
also  generally  bomb-proofed."  There  was  also 
a  rebel  battery,  commanding  the  channel,  on 
Zeeke's  Island,  two  miles  southeast  of  Fort 
Fisher,  and  several  miles  north  of  the  latter 
were  the  Flag  Pond  Hill  and  Half  Moon  bat- 
teries, serving  as  outworks  to  it. 

On  December  15th  the  transports  arrived  off 
New  Inlet,  where,  on  the  18th  and  19th,  they 
were  joined  by  the  iron-clads,  which,  being 
obliged  to  put  into  Beaufort,  N.  0.,  for  coal  and 
ammunition,  could  not  reach  the  rendezvous 
sooner.  The  heavy-armed  frigates,  on  account 
of  their  slow  sailing,  arrived  also  a  day  or  two 
after  the  transports.  Scarcely  was  the  whole 
fleet  assembled  than  the  weather,  which  had 
previously  been  fair,  became  threatening,  and 
on  the  19th  the  sea  was  too  rough  to  admit  of 
landing  trod»ps.  On  the  20th  a  gale  set  in  from 
the  northeast,  and  the  transports,  being  now 
deficient  in  coal  and  water,  and  liable  to  dis- 
aster if  they  should  attempt  to  remain  at  their 
anchorage,  were  directed  to  make  for  Beaufort. 
The  war  vessels  rode  out  the  gale,  which  lasted 
three  days,  in  safety,  the  monitors  acting  unex- 
pectedly well ;  and  on  the  23d,  the  wind  having 
veered  round  to  the  west,  Admiral  Porter  de- 
termined to  improve  what  he  considered  a 
favorable  opportunity,  by  commencing  opera- 
tions on  his  own  account  without  waiting  for 
the  return  of  the  transports.  An  important 
agent  in  the  destruction  or  reduction  of  Fort 
Fisher  was  a  vessel  filled  with  powder,  which 
it  was  designed  to  run  ashore  as  near  as  possi- 
ble to  the  fort  and  explode.  The  idea  origi- 
nated with  General  Butler,  and  was  suggested 
by  the  accidental  explosion  at  Erith,  on  the 
Thames,  in  England,  on  October  1st,  of  two 
barges  and  two  adjoining  magazines  loaded 
with  barrels  of  powder,  by  which  eight  or  nine 
lives  were  lost,  and  much  surrounding  property 
was  destroyed.  It  was  supposed  that  a  similar 
41 


explosion  of  a  vast  mass  of  powder  near  the 
fort,  the  fleet  meanwhile  keeping  at  a  respect- 
ful distance,  would  cause  its  walls  to  fall  down, 
or  some  other  serious  disaster  to  occur,  of  which 
the  attacking  party  might  take  advantage.  The 
vessel  selected  for  the  purpose  was  the  small 
gunboat  Louisiana,  purchased  for  operations  on 
the  North  Carolina  Sounds,  and  which,  with  a 
view  of  deceiving  the  rebels  as  to  her  true 
character,  was  disguised  for  the  occasion  as  a 
blockade  runner.  She  was  then  stored  with 
two  hundred  and  fifteen  tons  of  powder,  ar- 
ranged as  fpllows:  Upon  the  berth  deck  was 
stowed  a  tier  of  barrels  of  powder  with  their 
heads  taken  out;  over  this  sixty-pound  hags 
of  powder  were  piled  in  layers  up  to  the  top 
of  the  deck,  and  a  house  was  constructed  on 
the  after  deck,  filled  in  the  same  manner.  All 
were  connected  together  by  Gomez  fuses,  pene- 
trating the  mass,  and  uniting  it  at  many  points, 
every  precaution  being  taken  to  insure,  if  pos- 
sible, the  instantaneous  ignition  of  the  whole 
mass.  A  simple  method  of  firing  these  fuses 
by  clock-work,  timed  as  desired,  was  provided, 
three  being  provided  in  case  one  should  fail.  As  a 
further  precaution,  in  case  the  clock  fuses  should 
miscarry,  the  ends  of  the  fuses  were  united  at 
another  point,  and  brought  beneath  a  perforated 
framework  of  wood,  in  which  were  set  lighted 
tapers,  the  lower  end  of  the  wicks  penetrating 
the  quick  of  the  fuses.  Five  of  these  tapers 
were  provided  to  insure  success  if  other  means 
failed;  and,  as  a  last  precaution,  it  was  ar- 
ranged to  fire  the  ship  at  a  point  remote  from 
the  powder  at  the  moment  of  leaving  it. 

The  vessel  thus  equipped  was  put  in  charge 
of  Commandw  A.  C.  Ehind,  who  had  associated 
with  him  Lieutenant  G.  "W.  Preston,  Second  As- 
sistant Engineer  Mullen,  Acting  Master's  Mate 
Boyden,  and  seven  men.  The  weather  seem- 
ing auspicious  for  the  enterprise  on  the  23d, 
Commander  Khind  was  directed,  under  cover 
of  the  darkness,  to  run  his  vessel  aground  di- 
rectly opposite  the  fort,  and  proceed  to  explode 
her.  Mr.  Bradford,  of  the  coast  survey,  had,  the 
night  previous,  ascertained  that  a  vessel  of  seven 
feet  draught  could  be  placed  on  the  edge  of  the 
beach.  The  result  of  the  undertaking  is  thus 
described  by  Admiral  Porter  : 

At  half-past  ten  p.  M.  the  powder  vessel  started  in 
toward  the  bar,  and  was  towed  by  the  Wilderness 
until  the  embrasures  of  Fort  Fisher  were  plainly  in 
sight.  The  Wilderness  then  cast  off,  and  the  Louisi- 
ana proceeded  under  steam  until  within  two  hundred 
yards  of  the  beach,  and  about  four  hundred  from  the 
fort.  Commander  Rhind  anchored  her  securely 
there,  and  coolly  went  to  work  to  make  all  his  ar- 
rangements to  blow  her  up.  This  he  was  enabled  to 
do,  owing  to  a  blockade-runner  going  in  right  ahead 
of  him,  the  forts  making  the  blockade-runner  signals, 
which  they  also  did  to  the  Louisiana.  The  gallant 
party,  after  coolly  making  all  their  arrangements  for 
the  explosion,  left  the  vessel,  the  last  thing  they  did 
being  to  set  her  on  fire  under  the  cabin.  Then  taking 
to  their  boats,  they  made  their  escape  off  to  the 
Wilderness,  lying  close  by.  The  Wilderness  then 
put  off  shore  with  good  speed,  to  avoid  any  ill  effects 
that  might  happen  from  the  explosion.  At  forty-five 
minutes  past  one  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  the  ex- 


642 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


plosion  took  place,  and  the  shock  was  nothing  like  so 
severe  as  was  expected.  It  shook  the  vessel  some, 
and  broke  one  or  two  glasses,  but  nothing  more. 

To  those  watching  the  explosion  from  the 
fleet  at  several  miles  distance  from  the  shore,  it 
seemed  scarcely  louder  than  the  discharge  of  a 
battery  of  light  artillery;  but  at  Newbern  it 
was  distinctly  heard,  and  was  supposed  to  be 
an  earthquake.  Not  the  slightest  damage,  so 
far  as  could  be  ascertained,  was  inflicted  upon 
the  fort,  whose  immensely  thick  walls  of  sand 
could  probably  have  withstood  the  explosion  of 
a  dozen  or  more  powder-ships. 

Although  the  explosion  had  proved  a  failure 
and  the  transports  were  not  yet  in  sight,  Admi- 
ral Porter  determined  to  proceed  at  once  with 
the  attack,  hoping  to  damage  the  fort  to  such  a 
degree  that  the  troops,  upon  their  arrival,  would 
find  comparatively  little  difficulty  in  carrying  it 
by  storm.  Accordingly,  at  daylight  of  the  24th, 
the  fleet  stood  in,  in  line  of  battle,  toward  the 
shore,  and  shortly  before  noon  took  up  the  po- 
sitions previously  assigned  to  them  by  the  Ad- 
miral. The  first  line  comprised  the  iron-clads, 
Ironsides,  Monadnock,  Canonicus,  and  Maho- 
pac,  which  were  anchored  in  line,  about  .a  length 
apart,  at  a  distance  of  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
from  the  fort,  each  having  in  its  rear,  within 
easy  supporting  distance,  a  gunboat  to  serve  as 
a  tender.  A  quarter  of  a  mile  behind  the  iron- 
clads was  a  line  of  heavy  frigates,  comprising 
the  Minnesota,  Colorado,  Wabash,  and  vessels  of 
similar  calibre ;  and  behind  these  another  line, 
each  vessel  of  which  was  anchored  intermediate 
between  those  of  the  first  line.  Another  divi- 
sion, consisting  chiefly  of  gunboats,  took  posi- 
tion to  the  south  and  southeast  of  the  forts,  and 
to  the  left  of  the  frigates,  and  still  another  was 
posted  to  the  northward  and  eastward  of  the 
iron-clads,  for  the  purpose  of  enfilading  the 
works.  The  attacking  squadron  numbered 
thirty-three  vessels  of  all  kinds,  mounting  up- 
ward of  four  hundred  guns,  and  was  supported 
by  a  reserve  of  seventeen  small  gunboats  with 
about  one  hundred  guns. 

Shortly  before  one  o'clock  the  Ironsides 
opened  upon  the  fort,  followed  by  the  monitors, 
and  within  half  an  hour  afterwards  the  Minne- 
sota, holding  the  left  of  the  second  line,  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  the  range.  The  rebels  kept 
up  an  active  fire  while  the  squadron  was  get- 
ting into  position,  but  the  terrific  broadsides  of 
the  Ironsides  almost  immediately  silenced  all 
their  guns  on  the  northeast  face  of  the  fort ; 
and  by  the  time  the  last  of  the  large  vessels  an- 
chored and  got  its  batteries  into  play,  but  one 
or  two  guns  were  discharged  from  any  part  of 
the  fort,  the  incessant  and  tremendous  fire  of 
the  fleet,  surpassing  any  thing  previously  known 
in  naval  warfare,  having  driven  the  gunners 
, within  the  shelter  of  their  bomb-proofs.  "In 
one  hour  and  fifteen  minutes  after  the  first  shot 
Was  fired,"  says  Admiral  Porter,  "  not  «g  shot 
came  from  the  fort.  Two  magazines  had  been 
blown  up  by  our  shells,  and  the  fort  set  on  fire 
in  several  places,  and  such  a  torrent  of  missiles 


were  falling  into  and  bursting  over  it,  that  it 
was  impossible  for  any  human  being  to  stand  it. 
Finding  that  the  batteries  were  silenced  com- 
pletely, I  directed  the  ships  to  keep  up  a  mod- 
erate fire,  in  hopes  of  attracting  the  attention 
of  the  transports  and  bringing  them  in."  In  the 
latter  part  of  the  afternoon  Gen.  Butler  arrived 
with  a  portion  of  his  transports,  and  the  fleet 
was  signalled  to  retire  for  the  night  for  safe 
anchorage.  During  the  four  or  five  hours  that 
the  engagement  lasted,  only  one  vessel,  the  gun- 
boat Yantic,  left  the  line  to  report  damages, 
although  several  others  were  struck  once  or 
twice.  The  most  serious  disasters  to  the  fleet 
were  caused  by  the  bursting  of  some  of  its  own 
guns.  Accidents  of  this  kind  occurred  on  the 
Ticonderoga,  Yantic,  Juniata,  Mackinaw,  Qua- 
ker City,  and  Susquehanna,  resulting  in  the  kill- 
ing and  wounding  of  between  forty  and  fifty 
officers  and  men.  The  pieces  which  exploded 
were  100-pounder  Parrott  gunsj  and  the  effect 
was  to  cause  a  great  distrust  in  this  species  of 
ordnance,  as  unfit  for  service,  and,  to  use  the 
language  of  Admiral  Porter,  "calculated  to 
kill  more  of  our  own  men  than  those  of  the 
enemy." 

On  the  25th  the  remaining  transports  arrived, 
and,  in  accordance  with  plans  matured  between 
the  naval  and  military  commanders  on  the  pre- 
vious evening,  another  attack  upon  the  fort  by 
the  fleet  was  determined  on,  in  cooperation 
with  an  assault  by  the  troops  upon  the  land 
face.  Under  cover  of  a  detachment  of  gunboats, 
the  disembarkation  of  the  troops  commenced, 
shortly  after  noon,  on  the  beach  about  three 
miles  above  the  fort.  A  portion  of  Curtis's 
brigade  of  Ames's  division  landed  first,  and 
pushed  forward  tp  reconnoitre  the  immediate 
approaches  to  the  fort,  the  fleet  meanwhile 
keeping  up  a  slow  and  deliberate  fire  of  just 
sufficient  force  to  occupy  the  enemy's  attention 
and  prevent  them  from  opening  upon  the 
troops.  The  reconnoitring  colunm,  accompa- 
nied by  Gen.  Weitzel  in  person,  approached  so 
near  to  Fort  Fisher  that  several  men  in  the 
skirmish  line  were  wounded  by  fragments  of 
shells  from  the  fleet.  From  a  point  eight  hun- 
dred yards  distant  Gen.  "Weitzel  made  a  survey 
of  the  work,  and  the  results  of  his  personal  ob- 
servation, together  with  information  previous- 
ly received  from  trustworthy  sources,  induced 
him  to  report  to  Gen.  Butler,  upon  his  return 
to  the  transport  fleet,  that,  under  the  circum- 
stances, it  would  be  "butchery  to  order  an  as- 
sault." This  opinion  coincided  with  that  al- 
ready formed  By  Gen.  Butler,  and  orders  were 
at  once  given  to  reembark  the  troops,  all  of 
whom,  however,  were  not  taken  off  until  the 
next  evening.  During  the  advance  of  the  re- 
connoitring column  toward  the  fort,  the  garri- 
sons of  the  Flag  Pond  and  Half  Moon  batteries, 
numbering  nearly  three  hundred  officers  and 
men,  were  captured. 

The  following  correspondence  subsequently 
passed  between  Gen.  Butler  and  Admiral 
Porter : 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION". 


643 


HEADQ'BS  Dsp1!  VIBGKIA  AND  NOBTH  CAROLINA,  ) 
December  25, 1864.  f 

ADMIRAL  :  Upon  landing  the  troops  and  making  a 
thorough  reconnoissance  of  Fort  Fisher,  both  Gen- 
Weitzeland  myself  are  fully  of  the  opinion  that  the 
place  could  not  be  carried  by  assault,  as  it  was  left 
substantially  uninjured  as  a  defensive  work  by  the 
navy  fire.  We  found  seventeen  guns -protected  by 
traverses,  two  only  of  which  were  dismounted,  bear- 
ing up  the  beach  and  covering  a  strip  of  land,  the 
only  practicable  route,  not  more  than  wide  enough 
for  a  thousand  men  in  line  of  battle. 

Having  captured  Flag  Pond  Hill  battery,  the  garri- 
son of  which,  sixty-five  men  and  two  commissioned 
officers,  were  taken  off  by  the  navy,  we  also  cap- 
tured Half  Moon  battery  and  seven  officers  and  two 
hundred  and  eighteen  men  of  the  3d  North  Carolina 
Junior  Reserves,  including  its  commander,  from 
whom  I  learned  that  a  portion  of  Hoke's  division, 
consisting  of  Kirkland's  and  Haywood's  brigades, 
had  been  sent  from  the  lines  before  Richmond  on 
Tuesday  last,  arriving  at  Wilmington  Friday  night. 

Gen.  Weitzel  advanced  his  skirmish  line  within 
fifty  yards  of  the  fort,  while  the  garrison  was  kept  in 
their  bomb-proofs  by  the  fire  of  the  navy,  and  so 
closely  that  three  or  four  men  of  the  picket  line  ven- 
tured upon  the  parapet,  and  through  the  sally-port 
of  the  work,  capturing  a  horse,  which  they  brought 
off,  killing  the  orderly,  who  was  the  bearer  of  a  de- 
spatch from  the  chief  of  artillery  of  Gen.  Whiting  to 
bring  a  light  battery  within  the  fort,  and  also  brought 
away  from  the  parapet  the  flag  of  the  fort.  This  was 
done  while  the  shells  of  the  navy  were  falling  about 
the  heads  of  the  daring  men  who  entered  the  work, 
and  it  was  evident,  as  soon  as  the  fire  of  the  navy 
ceased  because  of  the  darkness,  that  the  fort  was  fully 
manned  again,  and  opened  with  grape  and  canister 
upon  our  picket  line. 

Finding  that  nothing  but  the  operations  of  a  regu- 
lar siege,  which  did  not  come  within  my  instructions, 
would  reduce  the  fort,  and  in  view  of  the  threatening 
aspect  of  the  weather,  wind  arising  from  the  sorfth- 
east,  rendering  it  impossible  to  make  further  landing 
through  the  surf,  I  caused  the  troops,  with  their  pris- 
oners, to  reembark,  and  see  nothing  further  that  can 
be  done  by  the  land  forces.  I  shalltherefore  sail  for 
Hampton  Roads  as  soon  as  the  transport  fleet  can  be 
got  in  order. 

The  engineers  and  officers  report  Fort  Fisher  to  me 
as  substantially  uninjured  as  a  defensive  work. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant,  BENJ.  F.  BUTLER. 

Maj.-Gen^Comm'g. 

To  Rear  Adm.  PORTER,  Commanding  ]N.  A.  Block- 
ading Squadron. 

NOBTH  ATLANTIC  SQTTAD'N,  TJ.  S.  FLAGSHIP  MALVEBN,  ) 
Ow  NEW  INLET,  December  26, 1864.  ) 

GENERAL  :  I  beg  leave  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  letter  of  this  date,  the  substance  of  which 
was  communicated  to  me  by  Gen.  Weitzel  last  night. 

I  have  ordered  the  largest  vessels  to  proceed  off 
Beaufort,  and  fill  up  with  ammunition,  to  be  ready 
for  another  attack  in  case  it  is  decided  to  proceed 
with  this  matter  by  making  other  arrangements.  We 
have  not  commenced  firing  rapidly  yet,  and  could 
keep  any  rebels  inside  from  showing  their  heads  un- 
til an  assaulting  column  was  within  twenty  yards  of 
the  works. 

I  wish  some  more  of  your  gallant  fellows  had  fol- 
lowed the  officer  who  took  the  flag  from  the  parapet 
and  the  brave  fellow  who  brought  the  horse  from  the 
fort.  I  think  they  would  have  found  it  an  easier  con- 
quest than  is  supposed.  I  do  not  desire,  however, 
to  place  my  opinion  in  opposition  to  Gen.  Weitzel, 
w_hom  I  know  to  be  an  accomplished  soldier  and  en- 
gineer, and  whose  opinion  has  great  weight  with  me,, 

I  will  look  out  that  the  troops  are  all  off  in  safety. 
We  will  have  a  west  wind  presently,  and  a  smooth 
beach  about  three  o'clock,  when  sufficient  boats  will 
be  sent  for  them. 


The  prisoners  now  on  board  the  Santiago  de  Cuba 
will  be  delivered  to  the  Provost  Marshal  at  Fortress 
Monroe,  unless  you  wish  to  take  them  on  board  one 
of  the  transports,  which  would  be  inconvenient  just 
now. 

I  remain,  General,  respectfully,  your  obedient  ser- 
vant,* DAVID  D  PORTER,  Rear  Admiral. 

To  Maj.-Gen.  B.  F.  BUTLER,  Commanding,  &c.,  Ac, 

For  various  reasons  Admiral  Porter  was 
strongly  opposed  to  abandoning  the  attack,  and 
so  expressed  himself  in  his  subsequent  report 
to  the  Naval  Department.  "  I  don't  pretend," 
he  said,  "  to  put  my  opinion  in  opposition  to 
that  of  Gen.  Weitzel,  who  is  a  thorough  soldier 
and  an  able  engineer,  and  whose  business  it  is 
to  know  more  of  assaulting  than  I  do,  but  I 
can't  help  thinking  that  it  was  worth  while  to 
make  the  attempt  after  coming  so  far."  This 
was  the  view  generally  entertained  by  the  pub- 
lic, who,  accustomed  of  late  to  uninterrupted 
successes,  chafed  under  this  temporary  check  ; 
and  to  the  general  dissatisfaction  caused  by  the 
abandonment  of  the  enterprise  and  the  return 
of  the  troops  to  Fortress  Monroe  is  doubtless 
partly  to  be  attributed  the  order  issued  early  in 
1865,  relieving  Gen.  Butler  from  the  command 
of  the  Army  of  the  James.  The  enemy,  with 
some  degree  of  reason,  claimed  that  the  result 
of  the  expedition  was  a  triumph  for  their  arms, 
notwithstanding  that  during  two  whole  days 
Fort  Fisher  had  been  silenced  by  the  guns  of 
the  fleet;  and  a  congratulatory  order  was 
issued  by  Gen.  Bragg,  in  which  a  high  compli- 
ment was  paid  to  Gen.  Whiting,  Col.  Lamb, 
and  the  officers  and  men  of  the  garrison.  Ac- 
cording to  the  rebel  accounts  the  fort  fired 
662  shots  on  the  first  day  of  the  attack  and  600 
on  the  second,  and  had  2  guns  burst  and  4  dis- 
abled. The  garrison  lost  3  killed  and  55 
wounded. 

Admiral  Porter  remained  off  New  Inlet  a 
day  or  two  after  the  departure  of  the  trans- 
ports, but  finding  it  hopeless  to  attempt  the  re- 
duction of  the  fort  without  the  assistance  of  a 
land  force,  he  withdrew  his  fleet  to  Beaufort,  in 
the  confident  expectation  '  that  the  troops 
would  soon  be  ordered  back  again  from  For- 
tress Monroe.  In  this  he  was  not  deceived, 
for  scarcely  had  the  news  of  the  abandonment 
of  the  expedition  been  received  at  headquar- 
ters, than  orders  were  issued  for  a  renewal  of 
the  attempt.  On  January  2d,  Gen.  Terry, 
commanding  the  1st  division  of  the  24th  corps, 
Army  of  the  James,  was  ordered  to  take  com- 
mand of  the  two  divisions  which  had  partici- 
pated in  the  first  expedition,  to  which  was 
added  a  brigade  under  Col.  Abbott  from  his 
own  division,  and  two  batteries,  the  whole 
numbering  somewhat  more  than  8,000  men. 
With  these  he  proceeded  on  the  5th  to  For- 
tress Monroe,  and  thence  to  Beaufort,  where 
on  the  8th  he  arranged  with  Admiral  Porter  a 
plan  of  operations  against  Fort  Fisher.  Owing 
to  unfavorable  weather  the  transports  were 
unable  to  arrive  off  New  Inlet  until  late  on  the 
night  of  the  12th.  Next  morning  commenced 
the  disembarkation  of  the  troops  at  a  point 


644 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


about  five  miles  above  the  fort,  the  fleet,  with 
the  exception  of  the  iron-clads,  divided  into 
three  columns,  covering  the  operation.  One 
column  moved  a  little  to  the  northward  of  the 
landing  place,  to  guard  against  any  attack  from 
the  direction  of  Masonboro  Inlet,  and  shelled 
the  woods,  which  approach  within  about  300 
yards  of  the  shore,  without,  however,  provoking 
any  reply.  "With  the  aid  of  200  boats  from  the 
fleet,  besides  steam  tugs,  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
troops  were  landed  between  8  A.  M.  and  3  p.  M., 
each  man  carrying  three  days'  rations,  and  forty 
rounds  of  ammunition.  A  sufficient  quantity 
of  intrenching  tools  was  also  carried.  The  iron- 
clads, increased  to  five  by  the  arrival  of  the  moni- 
tor Saugus,  meanwhile,  from  their  old  positions 
in  front  of  Fort  Fisher,  had  maintained  a  steady 
fire  upon  the  work,  in  which,  after  the  disem- 
barkation of  the  troops  was  concluded,  they 
received  the  cooperation  of  columns  1  and  2  of 
the  fleet,  comprising  all  the  large  vessels,  which 
were  posted  very  nearly  as  at  the  first  attack. 
Column  3  remained  to  cover  the  landing  and 
help  get  the  field  artillery,  munitions,  and  com- 
missary stores  on  shore. 

The  bombardment  of  the  iron-clads  was  very 
effective,  and  that  of  the  combined  iron-clads 
and  wooden  ships,  lasting  from  4.30  p.  M.  to  6 
p.  M.,  the  most  tremendous,  perhaps,  in  the  an- 
nals of  this  or  of  any  war,  considering  the 
weight  of  metal  thrown,  and  the  force  with 
which  it  struck  the  fort.  The  iron-clads  alone, 
with  thirty  guns,  fired  in  the  course  of  the  day 
upward  of  2,000  shells,  or  about  four  per 
minute ;  and  during  the  grand  bombardment  it 
was  reckoned  that  four  shots  were  fired  from 
the  fleet  each  second,  or  about  20,000  in  all. 
The  rebels  were  pretty  effectually  kept  within 
the  shelter  of  their  bomb-proofs  while  this  feu 
(Pinfer  continued,  and  could  inflict  but  a  trifling 
amount  of  damage  upon  the  fleet.  "  Indeed," 
says  Admiral  Porter,  "I  do  not  see  how  they 
could  fire  at  all  after  lines  one  and  two  got 
fairly  anchored  in  position."  At  dark  the 
wooden  vessels  drew  off  for  the  night,  but  the 
iron-clads  remained  at  their  anchorage,  firing 
an  occasional  shell. 

As  soon  as  the  troops  were  landed  pickets 
were  thrown  out,  who  encountered  the  enemy's 
outposts ;  and  from  a  few  prisoners  taken  short- 
ly afterward,  it  was  ascertained  that  Hoke's 
division,  stationed  at  Fort  Fisher  on  the  for- 
mer attack,  and  which  it  was  supposed  had  been 
sent  south,  was  still  in  the  neighborhood. 
Gen.  Terry's  first  object  after  landing  was  to 
throw  a  defensive  line  across  the  peninsula 
from  Cape  Fear  River  to  the  sea,  to  protect  his 
rear  from  an  attack  from  the  direction  of  Wil- 
mington while  he  was  operating  against  Fort 
Fisher.  After  two  impracticable  surveys,  occu- 
pying many  hours,  a  line  was  finally  selected 
at  2  A.  M.  on  the  14th,  having  an  average  dis- 
tance of  about  two  miles  from  the  fort.  En- 
trenchments were  at  once  commenced,  and  by 
8  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  14th,  a  good 
breastwork,  reaching  from  the  river  to  the  sea 


and  partially  covered  by  abatis,  had  been  con- 
structed. During  the  day  this  work  was  con- 
siderably strengthened,  and  the  artillery,  as  fast 
as  it  was  landed,  was  placed  in  position  on  the 
line.  A  careful  reconnoissance  satisfied  Gen. 
Terry  that,  in  view  of  the  difficulty  of  conduct- 
ing a  regular  siege  on  the  narrow  and  exposed 
peninsula  in  such  an  inclement  season  of  the 
year,  the  better  policy  would  be  to  attempt  an 
immediate  assault.  This  decision  coincided 
with  Admiral  Porter's  views,  and  both  com- 
manders went  heartily  to  work  to  arrange  a 
plan  of  attack,  the  main  feature  of  which,  on 
the  part  of  the  navy,  was  to  be  a  severe  bom- 
bardment of  the  fort  by  the  fleet,  to  cover  the 
assaulting  column,  and  to  be  continued  against 
other  parts  of  the  work,  after  the  assault  had 
been  commenced.  It  was  also  decided  that  the 
attack  should  be  made  at  3  p.  M.  of  the  15th,  and 
that  the  army  should  assault  the  western  half 
of  the  land  face,  while  a  cooperating  body  of 
sailors  and  marines  attacked  the  northeast 
bastion.  A  slow  and  deliberate  fire  was  main- 
tained against  the  fort  during  the  day,  with  the 
object  mainly  of  dismounting  or  disabling  the 
guns  on  that  part  of  the  work  where  the  assault 
was  to  be  made,  and  also  of  demolishing  the  pali- 
sade sufficiently  to  admit  the  passage  of  troops. 
At  11  A.  M.  of  the  15th  all  the  vessels  of  the 
fleet  were  in  position  and  commenced  a  fire, 
"magnificent  alike  for  its  power  and  accuracy," 
which,  as  on  previous  occasions,  silenced  nearly 
every  gun  in  the  fort.  Under  its  cover  1,600 
sailors,  armed  with  cutlasses,  revolvers,  and  car- 
bines, and  400  marines,  and  the  whole  command- 
ed by  Fleet  Captain  K.  R.  Breese,  were  landed 
on  the  beach,  and  by  digging  rifle-pits  worked 
their  way  up  within  200  yards  of  the  fort.  The 
troops  selected  for  the  assault  were  Ames's 
division,  comprising  the  brigades  of  Curtis, 
Pennybacker,  and  Bell,  while  Paine's  division 
of  colored  troops  and  Abbott's  brigade  held 
the  intrenchments  facing  Wilmington,  against 
which  Hoke's  troops,  estimated  at  5,000  strong, 
had  begun  to  demonstrate.  At  8.30  p.  M.  sig- 
nal was  made  from  the  shore  to  the  fleet  to 
change  the  direction  of  the  fife,  in  order  that 
the  troops  might  assault ;  and  soon  afterwards 
the  sailors  rushed  with  reckless  energy  toward 
the  parapet  of  the  fort,  which  at  once  swarmed 
with  rebel  soldiers,  who  poured  in  upon  them 
a  murderous  fire  of  musketry.  The  marines, 
who  were  to  have  covered  the  assaulting  party, 
for  some  unexplained  reason  failed  to  fire  upon 
the  rebels  on  the  parapet,  all  of  whom,  in  the 
opinion  of  Admiral  Porter,  an  eye-witness  of 
the  fight,  might  have  been  killed.  "  I  saw,"  he 
said,  "how  recklessly  the  rebels  exposed  them- 
selves, and  what  an  advantage  they  gave  our 
sharpshooters,  whose  guns  were  scarcely  fired, 
or  fired  with  no  precision.  Notwithstanding 
the  hot  fire,  officers  and  sailors  in  the  lead 
rushed  on,  and  some  even  reached  the  parapet, 
a  large  number  having  reached  the  ditch.  The 
advance  was  swept  from  the  parapet  like  chaff, 
and,  notwithstanding  all  the  efforts  made  by 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


645 


the  commanders  of  companies  to  stay  them,  the 
men  in  the  rear,  seeing  the  slaughter  in  front, 
and  that  they  were  not  covered  by  the  marines, 
commenced  to  retreat ;  and,  as  there  is  no  stop- 
ping .a  sailor  if  he  fails  on  such  an  occasion  on 
the  first  rush,  I  saw  the  whole  thing  had  to  he 
given  up."  The  attack  on  this  part  of  the  fort, 
though  a  failure,  diverted  a  part  of  the  enemy's 
attention,  and  rendered  the  work  laid  out  for  the 
mam  storming  column  of  troops  much  easier. 

At  the  word  of  command,  the  division  of 
Gen.  Ames,  which  had  heen  gradually  drawn 
forward  under  the  shelter  of  hastily-formed 
breastworks,  rushed  toward  the  fort,  the  brigade 
of  Curtis  taking  the  lead.  The  palisades  had 
been  so  much  injured  by  the  fire  of  the  fleet 
that  a  few  vigorous  strokes  from  the  axemen 
sufficed  to  clear  gaps  for  the  passage  of  the 
troops,  and  in  the  face  of  a  severe  enfilading 
fire  a  lodgment  was  soon  effected  on  the  west 
end  of  the  land  front  Pennybacker's  and  Bell's 
brigades  followed  in  rapid  succession,  the  latter 
moving  between  the  work  and  the  river.  "  On 
this  side,"  says  Gen.  Terry,  "  there  was  no  reg- 
ular parapet,  but  there  was  an  abundance  of 
cover  afforded  to  the  enemy  by  cavities  from 
which  sand  had  been  taken  for  the  parapet,  the 
ruins  of  barracks  and  storehouses,  the  large  ma- 
gazine, and  by  traverses  behind  which  they 
stubbornly  resisted  our  advance.  Hand  to  hand 
fighting  of  the  most  desperate  character  ensued, 
the  traverses  of  the  land  face  being  used  suc- 
cessively by  the  enemy  as  breastworks,  over 
the  tops  of  which  the  contending  parties  fired 
in  each  other's  faces.  Nine  of  these  were  car- 
ried, one  after  the  other,  by  our  men."  At  five 
o'clock,  when  about  half  of  the  land  front  of 
the  fort  had  been  thus  captured,  it  became  ap- 
parent that  more  troops  were  needed  to  support 
the  assaulting  column,  and  Abbott's  brigade 
was  ordered  up,  its  place  in  the  defensive  line 
facing  "Wilmington  being  supplied  by  the  sailors 
and  marines.  The  attack  then  went  on  with 
redoubled  fury,  the  fire  of  the  navy  meanwhile 
continuing  upon  that  part  of  the  work  not 
occupied  by  the  Federal  troops,  and  upon  the 
beach  on  Cape  Fear  River,  under  the  apprehen- 
sion that  reinforcements  might  be  thrown  over 
there  by  the  rebels  from  the  right  bank  of  the 
river.  All  this  time  signals  between  the  land 
and  naval  forces  were  exchanged  with  great 
exactness,  and  the  cooperation  between  the  two 
services  was  in  the  highest  degree  harmonious 
and  useful.  By  9  p.  M.  two  more  traverses 
were  carried,  and  an  hour  later  Abbott's  brigade 
drove  the  enemy  from  their  remaining  strong- 
hold, and  the  occupation  of  the  work  was  com- 
plete. The  enemy  fell  gradually  back  to  Federal 
Point,  where,  being  cut  off  from  further  retreat, 
they  surrendered  unconditionally  about  mid- 
night. About  4  P.  M.  Hoke  had  advanced  against 
Paine's  division,  as  if  intending  a  general  assault, 
but  retired  after  a  slight  skirmish  with  the  out- 
posts. The  garrison  originally  numbered  over 
2,300  men,  of  whom  1,971,  with  112  officers, 
were  captured.  The  rest  were  killed  and 


wounded.  Their  commanders,  Gen.  Whiting 
and  Col.  Lamb,  were  captured,  badly  wounded. 
Of  the  three  brigade  commanders  of  Ames's 
division,  Curtis  and  Pennybacker  were  severely, 
and  Bell  was  mortally  wounded,  and  the  total 
Federal  loss,  according  to  official  accounts, 
footed  up  as  follows : 


Kill 
Officers. 

ed. 

Men. 

Woun 

Offlcera. 

ded. 

Men. 

Miss. 
Men. 

Curtis's  brigade  

2 
7 
2 

11 

35 
24 
15 
3 

77 

18 
15 
4 
2 

29 

166 
183 
105 
18 

472 

9 

72 

11 

92 
691 

Pennybacker's  brigade. 
Bell's  brigade  

Abbott's  brigade  

Total  

Aggregate  

The  fleet  suffered  a  loss  of  between  two  and 
three  hundred  in  killed  and  wounded,  princi- 
pally in  the  assaulting  column  of  sailors  and 
marines,  and  two  15-inch  guns  were  exploded 
on  board  the  monitors.  In  other  respects  the 
ships  experienced  little  damage. 

The  greater  part  of  the  guns  of  the  fort  were 
dismounted,  or  otherwise  injured  by  the  fire 
of  the  fleet,  but  the  work  itself  received  no 
damage  which  was  not  susceptible  of  immediate 
repair,  its  strength  being  about  the  same  as 
before  the  bombardment.  According  to  Admi- 
ral Porter,  who  had  visited  the  MalakofF  during 
the  siege  of  Sebastopol,  it  was  a  much  more 
formidable  work  than  that  celebrated  strong- 
hold, and  its  capture  caused  an  almost  unprece- 
dented rejoicing  throughout  the  United  States. 
The  capture  of  the  fort  having  sealed  the  fate 
of  the  rebel  supremacy  in  Cape  Fear  River, 
their  remaining  works  covering  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  including  Fort  Caswell  and  the  forts  at 
Smith's  Island,  Smithville,  and  Reeves's  Point, 
together  with  the  gunboats  Chickamauga  and 
Tallahassee,  were  destroyed  or  evacuated, 
whereby  169  guns  and  large  amounts  of  ammu- 
nition and  commissary  stores  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  Federals.  Among  the  guns  were  some 
English  ones  of  Sir  William  Armstrong's  make. 
Admiral  Porter  immediately  sent  some  of  his 
light  draught  gunboats  into  the  river,  and  by  a 
skilful  ruse  decoyed  several  blockade-runners 
under  the  shelter  of  Fort  Caswell,  where  they 
were  of  course  speedily  captured. 

The  operations  of  the  South  Atlantic  Squad- 
ron were  much  curtailed  by  a  variety  of  circum- 
stances, the  chief  of  which  was  the  withdrawal 
of  the  greater  part  of  the  troops  of  the  De- 
partment of  the  South,  under  Gen.  Gillmore,  to 
reenforce  the  Army  of  the  James.  Deprived 
of  this  necessary  cooperative  branch,  Admiral 
Dahlgren  found  it  impossible  to  make  any 
serious  demonstration  against  Charleston,  and 
the  fleet  in  that  quarter  was  principally  em- 
ployed in  blockade  duties.  A  detachment  of 
vessels  cooperated  in  the  St.  John's  River  with 
the  army  movements  in  Florida  in  the  spring, 
and  subsequently  in  demonstrations  against 
James's  Island,  Bull's  Bay,  and  other  places. 
On  Feb.  17th  the  gunboat  Housatonic  was  de- 
stroyed by  a  torpedo  off  Charleston,  and  two 


646 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


small  armed  steamers,  the  Columbine  and 
"Water  "Witch,  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands  in 
the  course  of  the  year. 

The  chief  events  in  the  history  of  the  West 
Gulf  squadron  were  those  connected  with  the 
capture  of  the  fortifications  guarding  the  en- 
trance to  the  hay  of  Mobile,  and  the  consequent 
closing  of  that  port  against  the  blockade-run- 
ners. Although  in  many  respects  it  was  de- 
sirable to  obtain  possession  of  these  works,  the 
exigencies  of  the  service  in  other  quarters  had 
not  previously  permitted  the  cooperation  of  so 
large  a  body  of  troops  as  was  needed  for  the 
undertaking.  The  rebels  availed  themselves  of 
this  circumstance  to  construct  several  iron- 
clads and  armed  vessels,  and  threatened  to 
raise  the  blockade  of  Mobile.  Early  in  the 
year  Admiral  Farragut  reconnoitred  the  ap- 
proaches to  the  city,  and  offered,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  an  iron-clad  or  two  and  a  few  thou- 
sand troops,  to  gain  full  possession  of  the  bay ; 
but  as  neither  of  these  could  at  once  be  obtain- 
ed, he  was  forced  to  confine  himself  to  threat- 
ening demonstrations,  although,  as  he  privately 
informed  the  Naval  Department,  should  the 
rebel  iron-clads  come  out  to  attack  his  wooden 
fleet,  the  issue  would  necessarily  be  a  doubtful 
one.  He,  however,  expressed  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  measure  his  strength  with  Admiral  Bu- 
chanan, whenever  the  latter  should  venture  to 
offer  battle,  and  kept  his  fleet  in  constant  readi- 
ness for  such  a  contingency. 

At  length,  in  the  latter  part  of  July,  Admiral 
Farragut  received  an  addition  of  four  monitors 
to  his  squadron,  the  Tecumseh,  "Winnebago, 
Manhattan,  and  Chickasaw,  and  a  cooperative 
land  force  under  Gen.  Granger  was  'promised 
by  Gen.  Oanby,  commanding  the  military  di- 
vision of  the  southwest.  The  entrance  to  Mo- 
bile Bay  is  divided  by  Dauphin  Island  into  two 
passages,  the  easterly  of  which  is  about  four 
miles  wide  and  twenty  feet  deep,  and  the  other 
a  shallow  strait  of  not  above  five  feet  depth. 
On  either  side  of  the  main  channel  stand  Forts 
Games  and  Morgan,  the  former  occupying  the 
east  end  of  Dauphin  Island,  and  the  latter  the 
end  of  a  long  sandy  point  which  makes  out  into 
the  bay  directly  opposite.  The  channel  runs 
close  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Morgan,  and  a 
large  part  of  it  had  been  obstructed  with  piles 
and  torpedoes.  Fort  Morgan  was  a  powerful 
stone,  casemated  work,  mounting  forty-eight 
guns,  including  some  of  very  heavy  calibre,  and 
the  armament  of  Fort  Gaines  consisted  of  twen- 
ty-one guns.  About  a  mile  distant  from  Fort 
Gaines,  on  Dauphin  Island,  was  Fort  Powell,  a 
lesser  work,  adjoining  which  were  a  water  bat- 
tery and  some  earthworks.  On  the  evening  of 
Aug.  4th  the  monitors  and  wooden  vessels  were 
all  assembled  off  the  bar  of  Mobile  Bay,  and  at 
5.40  A.  M.  of  the  5th  the  whole  fleet  moved  up 
the  bay  in  the  following  order,  two  abreast  and 
lashed  together :  the  Brooklyn  with  the  Octo- 
rara  on  the  port  side,  the  Hartford  and  Meta- 
comet,  the  Richmond  and  Port  Royal,  the 
Lackawanna  and  Seminole,  the  Monongahela 


and  Kennebec,  the  Ossipee  and  Itasca,  and  the 
Oneida  and  Galena.  Between  the  four  first 
couples  and  Fort  Morgan,  at  a  distance  of  about 
two  hundred  yards  from  the  latter,  moved  the 
monitors,  headed  by  the  Tecumseh,  for  the 
double  purpose  of  keeping  down  the  fire  of  the 
water-battery  and  parapet  guns  of  the  fort,  and 
attacking  the  rebel  iron-clads  when  the  fort 
was  passed.  The  object  of  coupling  the  wooden 
ships,  an  expedient  as  novel  as  it  was  ingenious, 
was  to  insure  mutual  protection  by  enabling 
each  to  tow  along  its  consort,  in  case  the  latter 
should  be  crippled.  The  Admiral  was  on 
board  his  flag-ship  th'e  Hartford,  and  in  order 
to  get  an  unobstructed  view  of  operations,  and 
to  give  his  orders  with  clearness,  caused  him- 
self to  be  lashed  to  the  main-top. 

At  about  seven  o'clock,  as  the  head  of  the 
column  came  abreast  of  the  fort,  the  latter 
opened  fire,  and  the  action  soon  became  general. 
The  enemy  confidently  expected,  from  the  close 
quarters  at  which  the  fighting  was  to  take 
place,  to  be  able  to  sink  or  disable  several  of 
the  attacking  vessels.  But  here,  as  at  the  pas- 
sage of  the  forts  in  Mississippi  in  1862,  Farragut 
converted  what  might  well  have  seemed  a  dis- 
advantage into  a  positive  advantage  to  himself, 
by  pouring  such  continuous  broadsides  into  the 
fort  as  to  drive  the  gunners  from  their  guns, 
and  enable  the  ships  to  pass  with  comparatively 
slight  damage.  At  7.40,  while  the  firing  was 
at  its  height,  and  the  fleet  making  rapid  pro- 
gress in  spite  of  the  obstructions  in  its  path, 
the  monitor  Tecumseh  struck  a  torpedo,  which 
blew  a  large  hole  through  her  bottom,  just  un- 
der the  turret,  and  almost  imediately  she  filled 
with  water  and  sank.  At  this  moment  the 
Brooklyn,  by  backing  her  engines  to  avoid  tor- 
pedoes, temporarily  arrested  the  progress  of  the 
fleet,  and  the  Admiral,  regardless  of  torpedoes, 
at  once  dashed  to  the  head  of  the  column,  first 
despatching  a  boat  from  the  Metacomet  to  pick 
up  the  survivors  of  the  Tecumseh.  Of  these 
only  four  officers  and  seventeen  men  were 
found ;  four  swam  ashore  and  were  made  pris- 
oners, and  the  rest,  with  her  commander, 
T.  A.  M.  Craven,  were  drowned. 

Soon  after  eight  o'clock  the  whole  column 
had  passed  the  forts,  with  no  serious  disaster 
beyond  the  loss  of  the  Tecumseh.  The  Oneida, 
which  brought  up  the  rear,  and  was  conse- 
quently more  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  fort 
than  the  rest  of  the  fleet,  had  her  boiler  pene- 
trated by  a  7-inch  rifle-shell,  and  was  deprived 
of  motive  power ;  but  she  was  towed  safely 
along  by  her  consort,  the  Galena,  and  made 
good  use  of  her  guns  until  the  fort  was  passed. 
Meanwhile  the  rebel  fleet,  consisting  of  the 
iron-clad  ram  Tennessee  and  the  gunboats  Sel- 
rna,  Gaines,  and  Morgan,  had  held  a  position 
inside  the  bay  a  little  north  of  Fort  Morgan, 
whence  they  poured  a  galling  fire  upon  the  fleet. 
The  Tennessee,  under  the  immediate  command 
of  Admiral  Buchanan,  made  a  dash  at  the 
Hartford  and  several  other  ships,  during  the 
passage  of  the  fort,  but  subsequently  sought 


MILITARY  AND  FATAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


647 


shelter  under  its  guns ;  and  under  the  suppo- 
sition that  she  had  retired  from  the  fight,  Ad- 
miral Farragut  ordered  the  fleet  to  cast  off 
their  couplings  and  come  to  anchor,  with  the 
exception  of  the  light-draught  gunboats,  which 
were  directed  to  ptfrsue  and  destroy  the  Selma, 
Morgan,  and  Gaines.  The  Metacomet  captured 
the  Selma  after  a  brisk  engagement,  but  the 
Morgan  and  Gaines  succeeded  in  getting  under 
the  protection  of  Fort  Morgan.  The  former 
subsequently  crept  along  the  shore  during  the 
night  into  Mobile,  but  the  latter  was  so  serious- 
ly injured  that  she  had  to  be  destroyed.  Sev- 
eral of  the  large  ships  were  already  at  anchor, 
when,  shortly  before  nine  o'clock,  the  Tennes- 
see was  seen  standing  toward  the  Hartford, 
with  the  desperate  intention  apparently  of 
fighting  single-handed  the  whole  fleet.  Of  the 
singular  combat  that  followed,  the  following 
description  is  given  by  Admiral  Farragut : 

I  was  not  long  in  comprehending  his  intentions  to 
be  the  destruction  of  the  flag-ship.  The  monitors, 
and  such  of  the  wooden  vessels  as  I  thought  best 
adapted  for  the  purpose,  were  immediately  ordered 
to  attack  the  ram,  not  only  with  their  guns,  but 
bows  on  at  full  speed,  and  then  began  one  of  the 
fiercest  naval  combats  on  record.  The  Monongahela, 
Commander  Strong,  was  the  first  vessel  that  struck 
her,  and  in  doing  so  carried  away  his  own  iron  prow, 
together  with  the  cutwater,  without  apparently  do- 
ing her  adversary  much  injury.  The  Lackawanna, 
Capt.  Marchand,  was  the  next  vessel  to  strike  her, 
which  she  did  at  full  speed ;  but  though  her  stem 
was  cut  and  crushed  to  the  plank  ends  for  the  dis- 
tance of  three  feet  above  the  water's  edge  to  five  feet 
below,  the  only  perceptible  effect  on  the  ram  was  to 
give  her  a  heavy  list.  The  Hartford  was  the  third 
vessel  which  struck  her,  but,  as  the  Tennessee  quick- 
ly shifted  her  helm,  the  blow  was  a  glancing  one, 
and  as  she  rasped  along  our  side,  we  poured  our 
whole  port  broadside  of  9-inch  solid  shot  within  ten 
feet  of  her  casement.  The  monitors  worked  slowly, 
but  delivered  their  fire  as  opportunity  offered.  The 
Chickasaw  succeeded  in  getting  under  her  stern,  and 
a  15-inch  shot  from  the  Manhattan  broke  through 
her  iron  plating  and  heavy  wooden  backing,  though 
the  missile  itself  did  not  enter  the  vessel.  Immedi- 
ately after  the  collision  with  the  flag-ship  I  directed 
Capt.  Drayton  to  bear  down  for  the  ram  again.  He 
was  doing  so  at  full  speed,  when,  unfortunately,  the 
Lackawanna  run  into  the  Jlartford  just  forward  of  the 
mizzen-mast,  cutting  her  down  to  within  two  feet  of 
the  water's  edge.  We  soon  got  clear  again,  how- 
ever, and  were  fast  approaching  our  adversary,  when 
she  struck  her  colors  and  run  up  the'white  flag. 

She  was  at  this  time  sore  beset;  the  Chickasaw 
was  pounding  away  at  her  stern,  the  Ossipee  was 
approaching  her  at  full  speed,  and  the  Monongahela, 
Lackawanna,  and  this  ship  were  bearing  down  upon 
her,  determined  upon  her  destruction.  Her  smoke- 
stack had  been  shot  away,  her  steering  chains  were 
gone,  compelling  a  resort  to  her  relieving  tackles, 
and  several  of  her  port  shutters  were-  jammed.  In- 
deed, from  the  time- the  Hartford  struck  her  until 
her  surrender,  she  never  fired  a  gun.  As  the  Ossi- 
pee, Commander  Le  Roy,  was  about  to  strike  her, 
she  hoisted  the  white  flag,  and  that  vessel  immedi- 
ately stopped  her  engine,  though  not  in  time  to  avoid 
a  glancing  blow.  During  this  contest  with  the  rebel 
gunboats  and  the  ram  Tennessee,  and  which  termi- 
nated by  her  surrender  at  10  o'clock,  we  lost  many 
more  men  than  from  the  fire  of  the  batteries  of  Fort 
Morgan. 

The  Tennessee,  as  was  effectually  shown  by 
the  determined  resistance  which  she  made,  was 


perhaps  the  strongest  vessel  ever  constructed 
by  the  enemy.  She  was  209  feet  in  length, 
with  a  breadth  of  beam  of  48  feet,  had  in  the 
centre  an  external  casement,  with  sloping  sides, 
about  80  feet  in  length  by  30  feet  in  breadth,  and 
drew  about  14  feet  of  water.  Her  deck  was 
plated  with  2  inches  of  wrought-iron,  her  sides 
with  4  inches,  and  her  casemate  with  from  5  to 
6  inches.  Her  armament  consisted  of  4  6-inch 
broadside  rifles,  and  2  7-inch  pivot  rifles,  all  of 
the  Brooks  pattern.  But  one  shot,  a  15-inch 
one  from  the  Manhattan,  penetrated  her  armor, 
and,  in  view  of  the  hard  pounding  which,  she 
received,  her  injuries  were  on  the  whole  incon- 
siderable. Admiral  Buchanan  lost  a  leg  in  the 
action,  and  ten  or  twelve  of  the  crew  were 
killed  and  wounded.  The  prisoners  surrendered 
numbered  20  officers  and  about  170  men ;  and 
those  on  the  Selma,  90  officers  and  men.  The 
casualties  in  the  fleet,  exclusive  of  those  on 
board  the  Tecumseh,  were  52  killed  and  170 
wounded. 

Meanwhile,  on  the  4th,  a  cooperative  body 
of  troops  under  Gen.  Granger  had  landed  on 
Dauphin  Island,  in  accordance  with  an  arrange- 
ment between  Admiral  Farragut  and  Gen. 
Canby,and  commenced  the  siege  of  Fort  Gaines. 
The  rebel  commander,  Colonel  Anderson,  seeing 
that  the  Federal  fleet  held  uninterrupted  pos- 
session of  Mobile  Bay,  concluded  that  further 
resistance  was  hopeless,  and  on  the  7th  sur- 
rendered his  garrison  of  818  men  uncondition- 
ally. Fort  Powell  had  been  blown  up  by  the 
rebels  on  the  evening  of  the  5th.  These  ob- 
structions being  removed  and  Grant's  Pass  se- 
cured, the  fleet  was  relieved  from  any  appre- 
hensions with  regard  to  obtaining  supplies ;  but 
it  was  nevertheless  determined  to  complete  the 
work  originally  undertaken  by  the  capture  of 
Fort  Morgan,  which  still  held  out.  The  troops 
were  accordingly  transferred  to  the  rear  of  the 
fort,  and  lines  of  investment  drawn  across  the 
sandy  spit  on  which  it  is  situated.  On  the  22d, 
fire  was  op.ened  from  the  shore  batteries  and 
the  fleet,  and  on  the  next  day  Gen.  Page,  the 
rebel  commander,  surrendered  unconditionally. 
"When  possession  was  taken  of  the  work  it  was 
found  that,  with  what  Admiral  Farragut  called 
"childish  spitefulness,"  he  had  destroyed  many 
of  the  guns  and  other  property  which  had  been 
surrendered.  Thenceforth  during  the  year 
Mobile  was  effectually  cut  off  from  external 
commerce. 

In  the  course  of  the  year,  says  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  "  the  three  English-built  piratical 
cruisers  which,  under  the  rebel  flag,  have,  dur- 
ing the  last  two  years,  roamed  the  seas,  robbing 
and  destroying  our  merchantmen,  shunning  all 
armed  antagonists,  and  have  found  refuge  and 
protection,  and  too  often  supplies  and  other 
assistance,  in  neutral  ports,  have  terminated 
their  predatory  career."  These  were  the  Ala- 
bama, the  Florida,  and  the  Georgia — the  first 
sunk  off  Cherbourg  by  the  Kearsarge,  the  second 
captured  in  Bahia  harbor  by  the  Wachusett, 
and  the  third  captured  at  sea,  off  the  coast  of 


648 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  KEBELLIOK 


Kearsarge. 

2141  feet 

198      " 


Portugal,  by  the  Niagara.  Early  in  June  the 
Alabama,  after  a  prosperous  career  among  the 
American  merchantmen  in  the  Southern  At- 
lantic and  Indian  Oceans,  returned  to  northern 
waters  and  put  into  Cherbourg.  The  Kear- 
sarge,  Captain  John  A.  Winslow,  then  lying  at 
Flushing,  immediately  sailed  for  Cherbourg  to 
watch  the  movements  of  the  Alabama  ;  and  on 
June  15th  her  commander  received  a  note  from 
Captain  Semmes  of  the  privateer,  announcing 
his  intention  to  fight  the  Kearsarge,  and  beg- 
ging Captain  Winslow  not  to  depart  until  the 
two  vessels  could  have  an  opportunity  to  meas- 
ure their  strength.  As  this  was  precisely  what 
the  Federal  commander  desired,  he  willingly 
awaited  the  movements  of  his  adversary.  The 
relative  proportions  and  armaments  of  the  two 
antagonists  were  as  follows  : 

Alabama. 

Length  over  all  ..............    220    feet 

Length  on  water  line  ........    210      " 

Beam  .......................      82      " 

Depth  .......................      IT      "  16      " 

Horse-power,  two  engines  of.  300  each.  400  h.  power. 
Tonnage  ....................  1,150  1,030 

Armament  of  the  Alabama.-^One  7-inch  Blakely  rifle  ; 
one  8-inch  smooth-bore  68-pounder  ;  six  82-pounders. 

Armament  of  the  Kearsage.  —  Two  11-inch  smooth-bore 
guns  ;  one  80-pounder  rifle  ;  four  82-pounders. 

The  Kearsarge  had  twenty-two  officers  and 
one  hundred  and  forty  men,  and  the  Alabama, 
so  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  about  one  hundred 
and  forty  officers  and  men,  the  greater  part  of 
the  ship's  company  consisting  of  British  sub- 
jects. Her  gunners  were  trained  artillerists 
from  the  British  practice-ship  Excellent.  Avail- 
ing himself  of  an  ingenious  expedient  for  the 
protection  of  his  machinery,  first  adopted  by 
Admiral  Farragut  in  running  past  the  rebel 
forts  on  the  Mississippi  in  1862,  Capt.  Winslow 
had  hung  all  his  spare  anchor-cable  over  the 
midship  section  of  the  Kearsarge  on  either  side  ; 
and  in  order  to  make  the  addition  less  unsight- 
ly, the  chains  were  boxed  over  with  inch  deal 
boards,  forming  a  sort  of  case,  which  stood  out 
at  right  angles  to  the  side  of  the  vessel. 

At  twenty  minutes  past  ten  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing, June  19th,  the  Alabama  was  seen  standing 
out  from  Cherbourg  harbor,  accompanied  by 
the  French  iron-clad  Couronne,  and  followed 
by  the  steam  yacht  Deer-hound,  whose  owner, 
an  Englishmen  named  Lancaster,  was  on  board 
with  his  family,  ostensibly  to  witness  the  en- 
gagement, but  really,  as  it  subsequently  ap- 
peared, to  act  as  a  tender  to  the  Alabama. 
Upon  seeing  the  Alabama  approach,  Capt.  Win- 
slow  kept  out  to  sea  a  few  miles,  in  order  "  that 
the  positions  of  the  ships  should  be  so  far  off 
shore  that  no  questions  could  be  advanced  about 
the  line  of  jurisdiction."  Upon  reaching  a  point 
about  seven  miles  from  the  land  the  Kearsarge 
put  about,  and  steered  directly  for  the  Alabama, 
which  first  opened  fire  at  a  range  of  about  a 
mile.  The  following  account  of  the  fight  that 
ensued  is  given  by  Capt.  Winslow  : 

Immediately  I  ordered  more  speed  ;  but  in  two 
minutes  the  Alabama  had  again  loaded,  and  fired  an- 
other  broadside,  and  following  it  with  a  third,  with- 
out damaging  us  except  in  rigging.  We  had  now  ar- 


rived within  nine  hundred  yards  of  her,  and  I  was 
apprehensive  that  another  broadside,  nearly  raking 
as  it  was,  would  prove  disastrous.  I  accordingly 
ordered  the  Kearsarge  sheered,  and  opened  on  the 
Alabama. 

The  positions  of  the  vessels  were  now  broadside 
to  broadside,  but  it  was  soon  apparent  that  Captain 
Semmes  did  not  seek  close  action.  I  became  then 
fearful  lest,  after  some  fighting,  that  he  would  again 
make  for  the  shore.  To  defeat  this  I  determined  to 
keep  full  speed  on,  and  with  a  port  helm  to  run  under 
th«  stern  of  the  Alabama,  and  rake,  if  he  did  not 
prevent  it  by  sheering  and  keeping  his  broadside  to 
us.  He  adopted  this  mode  as  a  preventive,  and,  as 
a  consequence,  the  Alabama  was  forced,  with  a  full 
head  of  steam,  into  a  circular  track  during  the  en- 
gagement. 

The  effect  of  this  manoeuvre  was  such  that,  at  the 
last  of  the  action,  when  the  Alabama  would  have 
made  off,  she  was  near  five  miles  from  the  shore ;  and 
had  the  action  continued  from  the  first  in  parallel 
lines,  with  her  head  in  shore,  the  line  of  jurisdiction 
would  no  doubt  hare  been  reached. 

The  firing  of  the  Alabama  from  the  first  was  rapid 
and  wild ;  toward  the  close  of  the  action  her  firing 
became  better.  Our  men,  who  had  been  cautioned 
against  rapid  firing  without  direct  aim,  were  much 
more  deliberate ;  and  the  instructions  given  to  point 
the  heavy  guns  below  rather  than  above  the  water 
line,  and  clear  the  deck  with  the  lighter  ones,  were 
fully  observed.  I  had  endeavored  with  a  port  helm 
to  close  in  with  the  Alabama,  but  it  was  not  until 
just  before  the  close  of  the  action  that  we  were  in  a 
position  to  use  grape ;  this  was  avoided,  however,  by 
her  surrender.  The  effect  of  the  training  of  our  men 
was  evident ;  nearly  every  shot  from  our  guns  was 
telling  fearfully  on  the  Alabama,  and  on  the  seventh 
rotation  on  the  circular  track  she  winded,  setting 
fore  trysail  and  two  jibs,  with  head  in  shore. 

Her  speed  was  now  retarded,  and  by  winding  her 
port  broadside  was  presented  to  us  with  only  two 
guns  bearing,  not  having  been  able,  as  I  learned  af- 
terward, to  shift  over  but  one.  I  saw  now  that  she 
was  at  our  mercy,  and  a  few  more  guns  well  directed 
brought  down  her  flag.  I  was  unable  to  ascertain 
whetner  they  had  been  hauled  down  or  shot  away, 
but  a  white  nag  having  been  displayed  over  the  stern, 
followed  by  two  guns  fired  to  leeward,  our  fire  was 
reserved.  Two  minutes  had  not  more  than 'elapsed 
before  she  again  opened  on  us  with  the  two  guns  on 
the  port  side.  This  drew  our  fire  again,  and  the 
Kearsarge  was  immediately  steamed  ahead  and  lay 
across  her  bows  for  raking. 

The  white  flag  was  still  flying,  and  our  fire  was 
again  reserved.  Shortly  after  this  her  boats  were 
seen  to  be  lowering,  and  an  officer  in  one  of  them 
came  alongside  and  informed  us  the  ship  had  surren- 
dered and  was  fast  sinking.  In  twenty  minutes  from 
this  time  the  Alabama  went  down,  her  mainmast, 
which  had  received  a  shot,  breaking  near  the  head 
as  she  sunk,  and  her  bow  rising  high  out  of  the  water 
as  her  stern  rapidly  settled.  The  fire  of  the  Alabama, 
although  it  is  stated  she  discharged  three  hundred 
and  seventy  or  more  shell  and  shot,  was  not  of  seri- 
ous damage  to  the  Kearsarge.  Some  thirteen  or  four- 
een  of  these  had  taken  effect  in  and  about  the  hall,  and 
sixteen  or  seventeen  about  the  waste  and  rigging. 

The  boats  of  the  Kearsarge  were  at  once  sent 
to  receive  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  Alabama, 
but  so  rapidly  did  she  go  down  that  it  was  im- 
possible to  save  them  all  without  assistance. 
Capt.  Winslow  accordingly  requested  the  Deer- 
hound,  which  had  meanwhile  come  alongside, 
to  assist  in  the  rescue  of  his  prisoners.  The 
crew  of  the  privateer  were  by  this  time  strug- 
gling for  their  lives  hi  the  water,  and  many^of 
the  wounded  men  went  down.  In  the  confusion 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


649 


of  the  moment  the  Deerhound,  after  picking  up 
forty-one  persons,  including  Semmes,  who  was 
wounded,  steamed  off  toward  the  English  coast, 
and  when  observed  had  got  too  much  the  start 
to  be  overhauled.  The  total  number  brought 
on  board  the  Kearsarge  was  sixty-nine,  of  whom 
seventeen  were  wounded;  and  twelve  were 
picked  up  and  carried  into  Cherbourg  by  two 
French  pilot  boats.  Several  of  the  wounded 
died  soon  after,  and  the  total  number  of  officers 
and  men  belonging  fo  the  Alabama  who  were 
landed  in  France  or  England,  amounted  to  one 
hundred  and  fifteen.  The  casualties  of  the 
Kearsarge  amounted  to  only  three  wounded. 
This  most  remarkable  sea  tight  between  single 
ships  that  has  occurred  within  the  century  was 
witnessed  by  thousands  of  spectators  on  the 
French  shore,  and  the  result  produced  a  pro- 
found impression  in  Europe  and  America.  The 
conduct  of  Semmes  in  throwing  his  sword  into 
the  sea  after  surrendering,  and  also  in  allowing 
himself  to  be  carried  into  a  neutral  port  by  the 
Deerhound,  formed  the  subject  of  severe  stric- 
tures in  the  United  States. 

The  Florida,  while  lying  in  the  neutral  port  of 
Bahia,  Brazil,  was  .captured  by  Capt.  N.  Collins 


of  the  Wachusett,  as  appears  by  the  following 
brief  report : 

ST.  THOMAS,  W.  I.  ISLANDS,  Oct  81. 

Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES.  Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to 
report  the  arrival  here  of  this  ship,  with  the  rebel 
steamer  Florida  in  company.  The  Florida,  with  58 
men  and  12  officers,  was  captured  about  3  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  7th  of  October,  in  the  bay  of  San 
Salvador,  Brazil,  by  the  officers  and  crew  of  this  ves- 
sel, without  loss  of  life.  We  also  captured  five  of  the 
officers,  including  her  commander.  The  remainder 
of  her  crew  were  on  shore. 

The  Florida  had  her  mizzcn-mast  and  main-yard 
carried  away  and  her  bulwarks  cut  down.  This  ves- 
sel sustained  no  injury,  A  detailed  report  will  be 
handed  to  you  by  Paymaster  W.  W.  Williams. 

Very  respectfully  your  obd'nt  serv't, 
N.  COLLINS,  Com.  U.  S.  Steam-sloop  Wachusett. 

In  November  the  Florida  was  brought  into 
Hampton  Roads,  and  while  lying  there  to  await 
the  decision  of  the  delicate  international  ques- 
tions which  her  capture  evolved,  was  accident- 
ally run  into  by  a  steam  transport  and  sunk. 

The  Georgia  was  captured  by  the  Niagara  on 
August  15th.  Although  having  no  armament 
on  board  at  the  time,  she  was  seized  as  a  law- 
ful prize,  and  sent  to  the  United  States  for  ad- 
judication. N 


CHAPTEE    XLYIII. 

Number  of  Southern  Troops— Measures  to  arm  the  Slaves— Objections— Recruiting  the  Union  Armies— Military  Depart- 
ments— Condition  of  the  Southern  States — Debt — Paper  Currency — Peace  Movements — Gilmore  and  Jacques — Un- 
official Conference  at  Clifton— Proceedings  at  Fortress  Monroe— Eeport  of  President  Lincoln— Eeport  of  Messrs.  Ste- 
phens, Hunter,  and  Campbell— Action  of  Congress  relative  to  Slaves— Finances  of  the  Federal  Government— Exchange 
of  Prisoners. 


IT  is  proper  to  notice  the  measures  which 
had  been  adopted  to  maintain  the  large  armies 
which  fought  the  battles  in  1864.  The  acts  of 
the  _  Congress  at  Richmond,  by  which  their 
armies  were  formed,  were  revised  at  the  be- 
ginning of  1864.  On  December  28,  1863,  it 
was  enacted  that  no  person  liable  to  military 
service  should  be  permitted,  or  allowed  to  fur- 
nish a  substitute  for  such  service ;  on  January  5, 
1864,  it  was  enacted  that  no  person  liable  to 
military  service  should  be  exempted  by  reason 
of  his  having  furnished  a  substitute.  In  Feb- 
ruary, a  general  military  act  was  passed. 

Under  the  provisions  of  this  bill,  almost  the 
whole  male  population  could  be  employed  either 
in  the  army  or  in  raising  supplies.  On  the 
5th  of  October,  an  order  -was  issued  revoking 
all  details,  furloughs,  and  temporary  exemp- 
tions of  men,  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and 
forty-five.  At  the  session  in  December,  1864, 
a  new  bill  was  introduced  which  omitted  the 
exemption  of  fifteen  field  hands. 

These  acts  were  never  executed  strictly.  In 
November  the  States  of  North  Carolina  and 
Georgia  had  respectively  fourteen  thousand 
and  fifteen  thousand  exempts  acting  as  State 
officers.  More  than  thirty  thousand  were  esti- 
mated to  be  exempted  as  State  officers  by  the 


Conscription  Bureau,  and  a  hundred  thousand 
from  physical  disability.  The  number  of  phy- 
sicians exempted  was  estimated  between  three 
and  four  thousand  ;  and  farmers,  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  thousand. 

No  facts  can  at  present  be  obtained  by  which 
to  determine  the  strength  of  the  armies  in  the 
field,  or  the  real  military  power  of  the  Con- 
federacy. The  following  estimate  was  pub- 
lished at  Richmond,  Dec.,  1864  : 

Number  between  17  and  50  in  1860  ...............  1,299,700 

Arrived  at  17  Bince  1860  ...........................    331,650 

Total  ............................  ............  1,631,850 

Deduct  for  ordinary  mortality  .............  200,000 

For  population  within  enemy's  lines  ......  340,515 

For  losses  in  battle,  and  by  unusual  dis- 
eases ...................................  225,000 

-    765,515 


Remainder  .................................     865,835 

Deduct   10  per  cent  for  exemptions  for 
disability  and  other  causes  ..............    86,584 

Prisoners  in  the  enemy's  hands  ...........    60,000 

-    136,584 

Subject  to  military  duty  .........................     729  251 

Left  the  country  ................................ 


Total. 


It  was  also  stated  at  that  time  that  if  one- 
third  of  this  number  (230,932)  were  added  to 
the  army  in  the  field,  it  would  consist  of 


650 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


461,844  men.  From  this  it  might  he  inferred 
that  the  force  then  in  the  field  was  230,912. 
This  is  about  the  number  of  veteran  troops 
estimated  to  be  in  the  service  at  the  beginning 
of  the  year,  to  which  120,000  conscripts  were 
added.  The  number  of  youths  passing  annually 
from  sixteen  to  seventeen  years  of  age,  was 
estimated  at  62,000. 

The  Secretary  of  War,  in  his  report  at  the 
session  of  Congress  in  November,  alludes  to  the 
enlistment  of  negroes  as  at  that  time  unneces- 
sary. He  says  : 

While  it  is  encouraging  to  know  this  resource  for 
further  and  future  efforts  at  our  command,  my  own 
judgment  does  not  yet  either  perceive  the  necessity 
or  approve  the  policy  of  employing  slaves  in  the 
higher  duties  of  soldiers ;  they  are  confessedly  infe- 
rior in  all  respects  to  our  white  citizens  in  the  quali- 
fications of  the  soldier,  and  I  have  thought  we  have 
within  the  military  age  .as  large  a  proportion  of  our 
whole  population  as  will  be  required  or  can  be  ad- 
vantageously employed  in  active  military  operations. 
If,  then,  the  negro  be  employed  in  the  war,  the  infe- 
rior is  preferred  to  the  superior  agent  for  the  work. 
In  such  a  war  as  this,  waged  against  foes  bent  with 
malignant  persistence  on  our  destruction,  and  for  all 
that  man  holds  priceless— the  most  vital  work  is  that 
of  the  soldier,  and  for  it  wisdom  and  duty  require  the 
most  fitting  workmen.  The  superior  instrumentali- 
ties should  be  preferred.  It  will  not  do,  in  my  opin- 
ion, to  risk  our  liberties  and  safety  on  the  negro 
while  the  white  man  may  be  called  to  the  sacred  duty 
of  defence.  For  the  present  it  seems  best  to  leave 
the  subordinate  labors  of  society  to  the  negro,  and  to 
impose  its  highest,  as  now  existing,  on  the  superior 
class. 

The  use  of  the  slaves  as  soldiers  with  the  re- 
ward of  freedom  to  those  who  survived,  was 
strongly  advocated  during  the  year.  From  the 
beginning  of  hostilities  they  were  the  laborers 
on  the  fortifications  in  all  parts  of  the  Confed- 
eracy. At  the  same  early  period  both  the  free 
and  slave  offered  their  services,  and  the  former 
in  considerable  numbers  enrolled  themselves. 
In  June,  1861,  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee 
passed  an  act  to  authorize  the  Governor  to  re- 
ceive into  the  military  service  free  persons  of 
color  between  the  ages  of  fifteen  and  fifty. 
Pay  and  rations  were  assigned  to  them.  In 
September  one  regiment,  numbering  fourteen 
hundred,  appeared  on  the  field  at  the  review 
of  troops  in  New  Orleans.  In  February,  1862, 
the  subject  of  enrolling  the  free  negroes  was 
discussed  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia,  and 
an  act  passed  to  provide  for  their  enlistment. 
The  next  step  was  the  threat  to  draft  slaves 
to  work  on  the  fortifications  when  refused  to 
hire  them.  This  was  made  by  Gov.  Brown, 
of  Georgia,  in  November,  1862.  During  the 
next  year  they  were  extensively  employed  as 
pioneers,  sappers,  cooks,  nurses,  and  teamsters, 
and  their  employment  as  a  military  arm  in 
defence  of  the  country  was  advocated  in  Con- 
gress. In  February,  1864,  Congress  passed  an 
act  making  all  "male  free  negroes  (with  cer- 
tain exceptions)  between  the  ages  of  eighteen 
and  fifty,"  liable  to  perform  such  duties  in  the 
army,  or  in  connection  with  the  military  de- 
fences of  the  country,  in  the  way  of  work  upon 


fortifications,  or  in  Government  works,  etc.,  aa 
the  Secretary  of  War  might  from  time  to  time 
prescribe,  and  providing  them  rations,  clothing, 
and  compensation.  The  Secretary  of  War  wag 
also  authorized  to  employ  for  similar  duty 
twenty  thousand  male  negro  slaves,  and  their 
owners  were  guaranteed  against  escape  or 
death.  He  was  authorized  to  impress  the 
slaves  when  he  could  not  hire  them ;  and  gen- 
eral orders  No.  32,  March  11,  1864,  directed 
the  enrolment  of  the  free  negroes,  and  their 
assignment  to  the  performance  of  the  duties 
mentioned  in  the  act.  Also  the  employment 
and  impressment  of  slaves  was  ordered  by  the 
same  general  orders. 

A  bill  to  arm  the  slaves  passed  the  House  of 
Congress  in  the  spring  of  1865,  but  was  lost  in 
the  Senate  by  one  vote.  The  Legislature  of 
Virginia  instructed  her  Senators  to  vote  for  it. 
Whereupon  it  was  reconsidered  in  the  Senate 
in  the  following  form  : 

A  Bill  to  Increase  the  Military  Forces  of  the  Confeder- 
ate States. 

The  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America 
do  enact,  That  in  order  to  provide  additional  forces 
to  repel  invasion,  maintain  the  rightful  possession  of 
the  Confederate  States,  secure  their  independence, 
and  preserve  their  institutions,  the  President  be, 
and  he  is  hereby,  authorized  to  ask  for  and  accept 
from  the  owners  of  slaves  the  services  of  such  number 
of  able-bodied  negro  men  as  he  may  deem  expedient, 
for  and  during  the  war,  to  perform  military  service 
in  whatever  capacity  he  may  direct. 

SECTION  2.  That  the  General-in-Chief  be  authorized 
to  organize  the  said  slaves  into  companies,  battalions, 
regiments,  and  brigades,  under  such  rules  and  regu- 
lations as  the  Secretary  of  War  may  prescribe,  and 
to  be  commanded  by  such  officers  as  the  President 
may  appoint. 

SEC.  3.  That  while  employed  in  the  service  the 
said  troops  shall  receive  the  same  rations,  clothing, 
and  compensation  as  are  allowed  to  other  troops  in 
the  same  branch  of  the  service. 

SEC.  4.  That  if,  under  the  previous  section  of  this 
act,  the  President  shall  not  be  able  to  raise  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  troops  to  prosecute  the  war  success- 
fully and  maintain  the  sovereignty  of  the  States  and 
the  independence  of  the  Confederate  States,  then  he 
is  hereby  authorized  to  call  on  ettch  State,  whenever 
he  thinks  it  expedient,  for  her  quota  of  three  hun- 
dred thousand  troops,  in  addition  to  those  subject  to 
military  service  under  existing  laws,  or  so  many 
thereof  as  the  President  may  deem  necessary,  to  be 
raised  from  such  classes  of  the  population,  irrespect- 
ive of  color,  in  each  State,  as  the  proper  authorities 
thereof  may  determine. 

SEC.  5.  That  nothing  in  this  act  shall  be  construed 
to  authorize  a  change  in  the  relation  of  the  said  slave. 

The  Senate  amended  it  as  follows : 

Provided,  That  not  mpre  than  twenty-five  per  cent, 
of  the  male  slaves  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and 
forty-five  in  any  State  shall  be  called  for  under  the 
provisions  of  this  act. 

It  was  then  passed  and  sent  to  the  House, 
where  the  amendment  was  approved  by  the 
following  vote : 

YEAS.— Messrs.  Anderson,  Barksdale,  Batson,  Bay- 
lor, Blandford,  Bradley,  H.  W.  Bruce,  Carroll,  Clark, 
Clopton,  Conrad,  Darden,  De  Jarnette,  Dickinson, 
Dupre,  Elliott,  Ewing,  Funstein,  Gaither,  Goode, 
Gray,  Hanley,  Johnston,  Keeble,  Lyon,  Machen, 
Marshall,  McMullen,  Menees,  Miller,  Moore,  Murray, 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


651 


Perkins,  Read,  Russell,  Simpson,  Snead,  Staples, 
Triplett,  and  Villere— 40. 

J*ATS. — Messrs.  Atkins,  Baldwin,  Chambers,  Col- 
yar,  Cruikshank,  Fuller,  Gholson,  Gilmer,  Hart- 
ridge,  Hatcher,  Herbert,  Holliday,  J.  M.  Leach,  J. 
T.  Leach,  Logan,  McCallum,  Ramsay,  Rogers,  Sex- 
ton, J.  M.  Smith,  Smith  of  North  Carolina,  Turner, 
Wickham,  Wilkes,  Withejrspoon,  Mr.  Speaker — 26. 

When  the  bill  was  on  its  passage  in  the 
Senate,  after  the  instructions  of  the  Virginia 
Legislature,  Mr.  Hunter,  of  Virginia,  said : 
When  we  left  the  old.  Government  we  had 
thought  we  had  got  rid  forever  of  the  sla- 
very agitation ;  that  we  were  entering  into  a 
new  Confederacy  of  homogeneous  States  where 
the  agitation  of  the  slavery  question,  which  had 
become  intolerable  under  the  old  Union,  was 
to  have  no  place.  But  to  his  surprise  he  finds 
that  this  Government  assumes  the  power  to 
arm  the  slaves,  which  involves  also  the  power 
of  emancipation.  To  the  agitation  of  this  ques- 
tion, the  assumption  of  this  power,  he  dated 
the  origin  of  the  gloom  which  now  overspreads 
our  people.  They  knew  that  if  our  liberties 
were  to  be  achieved  it  was  to  be  done  by  the 
hearts  and  the  hands  of  free  men.  It  also  in- 
jured us  abroad.  It  was  regarded  as  a  confes- 
sion of  despair  and  an  abandomnent  of  the 
ground  upon  which  we  had  seceded  from  the 
old  Union.  We  had  insisted  that  Congress  had 
no  right  to  interfere  with  slavery,  and  upon 
the  coming  into  power  of  the  party  who,  it  was 
known,  would  assume  and  exercise  that  power, 
we  seceded.  We  had  also  then  contended  that 
whenever  the  two  races  were  thrown  together, 
one  must  be  master  and  the  other  slave,  and 
we  vindicated  ourselves  against  the  accusations 
of  Abolitionists  by  asserting  that  slavery  was 
the  best  and  happiest  condition  of  the  negro. 
Now  what  does  this  proposition  admit  ?  The 
right  of  the  central  Government  to  put  the 
slaves  into  the  militia,  and  to  emancipate  at 
least  so  many  as  shall  be  placed  in  the  military 
service.  It  is  a  clear  claim  of  the  central  Gov- 
ernment to  emancipate  the  slaves. 

If  we  are  right  in  passing  this  measure' we 
were  wrong  in  denying  to  the  old  Government 
the  right  to  interfere  with  the  institution  of 
slavery  and  to  emancipate  slaves.  Besides,  if 
we  offer  slaves  their  freedom  as  a  boon,  we  con- 
fess that  we  were  insincere,  were  hypocritical, 
in  asserting  that  slavery  was  the  best  state  for 
the  negroes  themselves.  He  had  been  sincere 
in  declaring  that  the  central  Government  had 
no  power  over  the  institution  of  slavery,  and 
that  freedom  would  be  no  boon  to  the  negro. 

He  now  believed,  as  he  had  formerly  said  in 
discussion  on  the  same  subject,  that  arming 
and  emancipating  the  slaves  was  an  abandon- 
ment of  this  contest — an  abandonment  of  the 
grounds  upon  which  it  had  been  undertaken. 
If  this  is  so,  who  is  to  answer  for  the  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  men  wb»  had  been  slain  in  the 
war  ?  Who  was  to  answer  for  them  before  the 
bar  of  Heaven  ?  Not  those  who  had  entered 
into  the  contest  upon  principle  and  adhered  to 
the  principle,  but  those  who  had  abandoned 


the  principle.  Not  for  all  the  gold  in  Cali- 
fornia would  he  have  put  his  name  to  such  a 
measure  as  this,  unless  obliged  to  do  it  by  in- 
structions. As  long  as  he  was  free  to  vote 
from  his  own  convictions  nothing  could  have 
extorted  it  from  him. 

Mr.  Hunter  then  argued  the  necessity  of 
freeing  the  negroes  if  they  were  made  soldiers. 
There  was  something  in  the  human  heart  and 
head  that  tells  us  it  must  be  so ;  when  they 
come  out  scarred  from  this  conflict  they  must  be 
free.  If  we  could  make  them  soldiers,  the  con- 
dition of  the  soldier  being  socially  equal  to  any 
other  in  society,  we  could  make  them  officers, 
perhaps,  to  command  white  men.  Some  future 
ambitious  President  might  use  the  slaves  to 
seize  the  liberties  of  the  country,  and  put  the 
white  men  under  his  feet.  The  Government 
had  no  power  under  the  Constitution  to  arm 
and  emancipate  the  slaves,  and  the  Constitution 
granted  no  such  great  powers  by  implication. 

Mr.  Hunter  then  showed  from  statistics  that 
no  considerable  body  of  negro  troops  could  be 
raised  in  the  States  over  which  the  Govern- 
ment had  control  without  stripping  the  country 
of  the  labor  absolutely  necessary  to  produce 
food.  He  thought  there  was  a  much  better 
chance  of  getting  the  large  number  of  deserters 
back  to  the  army  than  of  getting  the  slaves  into 
it.  The  negro  abhorred  the  profession  of  a 
soldier.  The  commandant  of  conscripts,  with 
authority  to  impress  twenty  thousand  slaves, 
had,  between  last  September  and  the  present 
time,  been  able  to  get  but  four  thousand ;  and 
of  these,  thirty-five  hundred  had  been  obtained 
in  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  and  five  hun- 
dred from  Alabama.  If  he,  armed  with  all  the 
powers  of  impressment,  could  not  get  them  as 
laborers,  how  will  we  be  able  to  get  them  as 
soldiers?  Unless  they  volunteer  they  will  go 
to  the  Yankees ;  if  we  depend  upon  their 
volunteering  we  can't  get  them,  and  those  we 
do  get  will  desert  to  the  enemy,  who  can  offer 
them  a  better  price  than  we  can.  The  enemy 
can  offer  tlfem  liberty,  clothing,  and  even  farms 
at  our  expense.  Negroes  now  were  deterred 
from  going  to  the  enemy  only  by  the  fear  of 
being  put  into  the  army.  If  we  put  them  in 
they  would  all  go  over. 

In  conclusion,  he  considered  that  the  meas- 
ure, when  reviewed  as  to  its  expediency,  was 
worse  than  as  a  question  of  principle. 

A  benevolent  association,  known  as  the 
Richmond  Ambulance  Corps,  was  early  formed 
to  look  after  the  wounded  in  battle.  Their 
agency  was  similar  to  the  Sanitary  Commission 
of  the  north.  They  have  followed  the  Vir- 
ginian army  and  been  present  in  every  battle. 
They  have  every  appurtenance  necessary  in'their 
humane  vocation,  such  as  hospital  supplies, 
sugar,  tea,  coffee,  etc.,  with  utensils  for  pre- 
paring every  thing  on  a  large  scale. 

The  stringency  of  the  blockade  compelled 
the  inhabitants  to  manufacture  the  materials 
for  war.  The  Ordnance  Department  organized 
twelve  arsenals,  eight  armories,  seven  large 


652 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


harness  shops,  four  powder  mills,  a  laboratory 
for  smelting  lead,  and  many  other  small  estab- 
lishments. They  supplied  the  army  with  two 
hundred  field  batteries,  upwards  of  five  hundred 
thousand  small  arms,  several  hundred  thousand 
sets  of  infantry  accoutrements,  and  millions  of 
cartridges.  A  shoe  establishment  in  Richmond, 
employed  by  the  Government,  made  six  hun- 
dred pairs  daily.  The  material  brought  through 
the  blockade  in  1863,  was  estimated  to  be 
sufficient  to  put  four  hundred  thousand  men  in 
the  field. 

So  successful  had  been  the  manufacture  of 
arms,  that  all  the  troops  were  provided  with 
the  best  rifles,  and  the  smooth  bore  nearly  dis- 
appeared. .  The  field  artillery  of  the  armies 
comprised  more  than  a  thousand  pieces.  The 
gun  chiefly  used  was  the  12-pounder  Napoleon, 
to  which  ftad  been  added  the  10-pounder  Par- 
rott.  The  number  of  cannon  foundries  built 
up  since  the  commencement  of  the  war  was 
six;  two  of  which  had  capacity  to  cast  guns 
of  the  largest  dimensions.  Five  powder  mills 
were  erected  in  -different  places,  one  of  which 
alone  was  represented  to  be  capable  of  pro- 
ducing all  the  powder  required.  Four  hundred 
thousand  percussion  caps  were  manufactured 
in  a  day,  and  there  was  sufficient  machinery  to 
produce  a  million.  The  manufacture  of  the 
materials  of  war  seemed  to  have  reached  such 
perfection,  that  it  was  asserted  to  be  sufficient 
to  supply  all  wants,  without  asking  any  thing 
from  other  countries. 

During  1864  the  number  of  men  called  for 
by  the  President  of  the  United  States  to  re- 
enforce  the  army  amounted  in  the  aggregate  to 
1,500,000,  although  by  an  explanatory  state- 
ment of  the  Provost  Marshal  General  this 
number  was  in  fact  reduced  to  1,20.0,000. 
Notwithstanding  the  impulse  which  the  high 
bounties  and  premiums  offered  in  1863  gave  to 
enlistments  under  the  October  call  of  that  year 
for  300,000  men,  the  number  of  men  realized 
seems  to  have  been  insufficient  for  the  needs 
of  the  service,  and  on  Feb.  1st,  1864,  an  order 
was  issued  by  the  President  to  draft  500,000 
three  years'  men  on  March  10th,  less  the  num- 
ber enlisted  or  drafted  into  the  service  prior  to 
March  1st,  and  not  previously  credited.  This 
practically  amounted  to  a  call  for  200,000,  as 
appears  by  the  following  circular  : 

WAS.  DEPART  XSNT.  PBOVOBT  MARSHAL  GENBEAL'S  1 
OFFICE,  Feb.  1, 1864.         f 

The  President's  order  of  this  date,  for  a  draft  on 
tenth  (10th)  March  for  five  hundred  thousand  (500,- 
000)  men,  after  deducting  all  who  may  be  raised 
prior  to  March  first  (1)  and  not  heretofore  credited, 
is  equivalent  to  a  call  for  two  hundred  thousand 
(200,000)  men  in  addition  to  the  three  hundred 
thousand  (300,000)  called  for  October  seventeenth 
(17th).  JAS.  B.  FRY,  Prov.  Mar.  Gen. 

By  an  order  dated  Jan.  14th,  1864,  the 
Provost  Marshal  General  also  directed  that  the 
time  for  paying  the  bounty  of  $300  and  $400, 
and  the  $15  and  $25  premium,  be  extended  to 
March  1st. 

In  anticipation  of  the  momentous  campaign 


which  was  impending,  and  the  losses  likely  to 
be  incurred  by  the  troops  in  the  field,  the 
President  on  March  14th  followed  up  his  pre- 
vious call  by  a  supplementary  one  for  200,000 
men,  "  ;o  supply  the  force  required  to  be  drafted 
for  the  navy,  and  to  provide  an  adequate  re- 
serve force  for  all  contingencies." 

The  severe  losses  sustained  by  Gens.  Grant 
and  Sherman,  the  disasters  connected  with  the 
Red  River  campaign,  and  other  untoward  cir- 
cumstances, far  more  than  neutralized  the  results 
obtained  from  the  calls  of  February  and  March, 
and  induced  the  President  to  make  still  another 
call  on  July  18th  for  500,000  men,  with  the 
draft  to  take  place  on  September  5th.  Con- 
gress had  meantime  made  important  changes  in 
the  law  of  enrolment,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
following  extract  from  the  proclamation : 

Whereas,  By  the  act  approved  July  4,  1864,  en- 
titled, "An  act  further  to  regulate  and  provide  for 
the  enrolling  and  calling  out  the  national  forces  and 
for  other  purposes,"  it  is  provided  that  the  President 
of  the  United  States  may,  "at  his  discretion,  at  any 
time  hereafter,  call  for  any  number  of  men,  as  volun- 
teers, for  the  respective  terms  of  one,  two,  and  three 
years,  for  military  service,"  and  "that  in  case  the 
quota,  or  any  part  thereof,  of  any  town,  township,  or 
ward  of  a  city,  precinct,  or  election  district,  or  of  a 
county  not  so  subdivided,  shall  not  be  filled  within 
the  space  of  fifty  days  after  such  call,  then  the  Pres- 
ident shall  instantly  order  a  draft  for  one  year  to  fill 
such  quota,  or  any  part  thereof,  which  may  be  un- 
filled f»' 

The  allowance  of  credits  having  diminished 
the  number  of  men  to  be  obtained  under  this 
call  to  somewhat  above  200,000  (although,  ac- 
cording to  the  President's  statement,  250,000 
men  were  actually  put  into  the  army  and  navy 
under  the  call),  a  further  call  for  300,000  volun- 
teers to  serve  for  one,  two,  or  three  years,  was 
issued  on  Dec.  20th.  Quotas  of  States,  districts, 
and  sub-districts  were  directed  to  be  assigned 
by  the  Provost  Marshal  General,  and  in  case 
these  should  not  be  filled  by  Feb.  15th,  1865,  a 
draft  to  supply  the  deficiency  was  ordered  to 
commence  forthwith. 

The  number  of  men  called  for  during  the 
year  may  be  thus  recapitulated : 

Call  of  Feb.  1st ..  600,000 

Call  of  March  14th 200,000 

Call  of  July  18th 500,000 

Call  of  Dec.  20th. 800,000 

1,500,000 

Deducting  from  this  aggregate  300,000  men 
under  the  February  call,  who  were  really  in- 
cluded in  the  October  call  of  1863,  and  300,000 
cancelled  by  credits  on  the  July  call,  which 
made  it  equivalent  to  a  call  for  200,000,  we 
have  900,000  as  the  number  required  to  recruit 
the  army  and  navy  in  1864.  If  we  also  con- 
sider the  December  call  as  practically  intended 
for  1865,  the  number  is  still  further  reduced  to 
600,000. 

The  fact  that  four  cails  for  troops  were  made 
in  the  course  of  the  year  indicated  either  that 
the  casualties  of  the  service  were  greater  than 
in  any  previous  year  of  the  war,  or  that  the 
men  called  for  were  not  in  reality  obtained, 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


653 


whatever  the  returns  might  show.  The  latter 
is  in  all  probability  the  true  cause  of  the  fre- 
quency of  the  calls ;  and  from  their  apparent 
inefficiency  to  recruit  the  army  to  an  extent 
commensurate  with  the  magnitude  of  its  oper- 
ations, it  may  be  presumed  that  the  military 
strength  on  January  1st,  1865,  was  not  greater, 
if  so  great,  as  a  year  previous.  The  neglect  of 
duty  in  the  examining  surgeons  in  passing  men 
physically  incapacitated  for  service,  the  frauds 
of  bounty  and  substitute  brokers,  and  the 
wholesale  desertions  of  "  bounty  jumpers  "  (as 
those  recruits  or  substitutes  were  called  who 
systematically  deserted  after  receiving  their 
bounties,  and  often  with  the  connivance  of 
Government  employes),  reduced  the  number 
of  enlistments  to  a  comparatively  small  per- 
centage ;  and  hence  the  repeated  calls  of  the 
President  for  additional  men,  instead  of  enor- 
mously increasing  the  strength  of  the  army, 
barely  enabled  it  to  maintain  its  standard.  On 
one  point  only  an  explicit  official  statement  of 
the  results  of  'recruiting  has  been  made  public. 
The  Provost  Marshal  General,  in  reference  to 
the  reenlistment  of  veteran  volunteers  during 
the  fall  of  1863,  says :  "  Over  one  hundred  and 
thirty-six  thousand  tried  soldiers,  who  would 
otherwise,  ere  this,  have  been  discharged,  were 
secured  for  three  years  longer.  Organizations 
which  would  have  been  lost  to  the  service  were 
preserved  and  recruited,  and  capable  and  experi- 
enced officers  were  retained  in  command.  The 
force  thus  organized  and  retained  has  performed 
an  essential  part  in  the  great  campaign  of  1864, 
and  its  importance  to  the  country  cannot  be 
over-estimated." 

A  temporary  addition  was  made  to  the  army 
in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1864  of  a  class  of 
troops  known  as  "Hundred-days  men,"  num- 
bering about  100,000,  and  voluntarily  furnished 
by  the  governors  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois, 
Iowa,  and  Wisconsin.  They  were  organized  as 
regiments,  and  to  serve  one  hundred  days  from 
the  date  of  their  muster  into  the  service,  unless 
sooner  discharged.  It  was  further  stipulated 
that  they  should  receive  no  bounty,  nor  be 
credited  on  any  draft.  Then-  services  having 
been  accepted,  Congress  appropriated  $25,000,- 
000  for  equipping  them,  and  during  May  and 
June  the  hundred  days'  men  went  forward  in 
large  numbers  to  perform  garrison  duty  and 
otherwise  relieve  old  and  disciplined  troops, 
who  were  sent  to  the  front. 

Immediately  after  the  call  of  July  18th  for 
400,000  men,  the  Provost  Marshal  General 
issued  a  series  of  instructions  for  the  guidance 
of  enlisting  officers.  The  bounties  provided  by 
law  were  announced  to  be,  for  ^ecruits — in- 
cluding representative  recruits — (white  or  col- 
ored) for  one  year,  $100 ;  for  two  years,  $200 ; 
for  three  years,  $300.  A  first  installment  of 
bounty,  amounting  to  one-third  of  the  whole 
sum,  was  to  be  paid  to  the  recruit  when  mus- 
tered in.  The  premiums  previously  paid  for 
procuring  recruits  were  discontinued,  and  nei- 
ther drafted  men  nor  substitutes,  furnished 


either  before  or  after  the  draft,  were  to  be  en- 
titled to  bounty  from  the  United  States.  The 
"representative  recruits,"  alluded  to  above, 
were  those  offered  by  persons  not  fit  for  mili- 
tary duty,  and  not  liable  to  draft,  from  age  or 
other  causes,  who  desired  to  be  personally  rep- 
resented in  the  army.  The  Provost  Marshal 
General  issued  a  circular  to  further  this  laud- 
able project,  aal  ordered  the  names  of  persona 
thus  represented  by  recruits  to  be  officially  re- 
corded. Many  others,  also,  in  anticipation  of 
the  draft,  furnished  substitutes  for  one,  two,  or 
three  years,  for  whom  they  received  no  bounty 
^from  the  General  Government,  although  gener- 
ally assisted  by  the  town,  county,  or  State  in 
which  they  resided.  The  amount  of  these 
local  bounties  differed  in  different  parts  of  the 
country.  In  the  agricultural  districts,  where 
every  able-bodied  man  could  find  abundant 
occupation  during  the  harvesting  season,  it  was 
no  uncommon  thing  to  offer  from  $1,200  to 
$1,500  for  three  years'  recruits ;  and  even 
among  the  large  floating  population  of  unnatu- 
ralized  foreigners  in  the  seaboard  cities,  from 
which  substitutes  were  mainly  drawn,  the 
prices  demanded  were  unprecedented  in  the 
history  of  the  war. 

The  act  of  Congress  of  July  4th,  1864,  having 
provided  that  the  State  Executive  might  "  send 
recruiting  agents  into  any  of  the  States  de- 
clared to  be  in  rebellion,  except  the  States  of 
Arkansas,  Tennessee,  and  Louisiana,  to  recruit 
volunteers,  who  should  be  duly  credited  to  the 
States  procuring  them,"  a  series  of  instructions 
on  the  subject  were,  on  July  9th,  promulgated 
by  the  War  Department.  The  recftriting 
agents  were  to  report  through  the  commanding 
officers  of  certain  designated  rendezvous  for 
the  reception  of  this  class  of  recruits,  to  the 
commander  of  the  military  district,  depart- 
ment, or  army  in  which  such  rendezvous  might 
be  situated,  and  were  to  be  subject  to  all  the 
rules  and  articles  of  war.  Commanding  officers 
were  further  directed  to  afford  agents  all  rea- 
sonable facilities  for  the  performance  of  their 
duties,  to  dismiss  or  arrest  those  guilty  of  im- 
proper conduct,  and  to  prevent  recruiting  by 
unauthorized  parties.  Many  of  the  States 
hastened  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity 
thus  offered  to  fill  their  quotas  without  draw- 
ing upon  their  population.  Gov.  Andrew,  of 
Massachusetts,  was  one  of  the  first  to  appoint 
recruiting  agents,  and  the  Executives  of  Ohio, 
Connecticut,  Michigan,  Maine,  and  other  States, 
soon  followed  his  example.  Gov.  Seymour,  of 
New  York,  was  among  those  who  declined  to 
act  in  the  matter.  In  the  opinion  of  many 
military  men  the  new  plan  of  recruitment 
within  the  lines  of  military  operations,  was  ob- 
jectionable ;  and  commanding  generals  held  it 
in  particular  disfavor  on  account  of  the  oppor- 
tunities it  would  afford  for  reckless  and  inju- 
rious competition  among  State  agents,  and  for 
the  infraction  of  sound  military  rules. 

The  result  of  the  recruitment  in  the  insur- 
rectionary States  was  reported  by  the  Provost 


654 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Marshal  General  as  on  the  whole  unfavorable, 
and  the  system  was  practically  abolished. 

The  necessity  of  procuring  substitutes  from  a 
class  of  the  population  not  liable  to  draft,  led 
to  the  enlistment  of  a  large  body  of  recruits  of 
foreign  birth,  who  had  never  been  naturalized. 
Under  these  circumstances  any  considerable 
increase  in  the  emigration  from  Europe  to 
America  was  looked  upon  with  suspicion  by 
foreign  governments  or  statesmen  unfriendly 
to  the  United  States,  as  having  been  caused  by 
improper  inducements,  in  violation  of  munici- 
ple  law.  It  was  even  charged,  by  persons  high 
in  influence  in  England,  that  agents  from  the 
United  States  had  visited  Ireland  and  the  Brit-* 
ish  North  American  provinces,  for  the  purpose 
of  enlisting  men  in  the  army,  and  had  de- 
spatched many  recruits  to  America,  ostensibly 
as  mechanics  or  farm  laborers.  By  a  resolution 
adopted  by  the  United  States  Senate,  on  May 
24th,  the  President  was  requested  to  state  if 
such  was  the  fact. 

The  Secretary  of  State  replied,  that  no  au- 
thority to  recruit  abroad  had  been  given  by 
the  United  States  Government,  and  that  appli- 
cations for  such  authority  had  been  invariably 
rejected.  The  Government  had  no  knowledge, 
he  added,  that  any  such  recruits  had  been  ob- 
tained in  the  provinces  named,  or  in  any  foreign 
country. 

Until  1864  the  inferior  standing  of  colored 
troops  in  the  army  with  respect  to  bounty,  pay, 
and  pensions  remained  unchanged,  notwith- 
standing the  protest  of  the  Secretary  of  War 
and  other  officials  against  the  injustice  thus 
done  to  men  who  shared  all  the  dangers  and 
privations  of  the  war,  and  who  were  also  liable 
to  draft.  The  Army  Appropriation  Bill,  passed 
in  June,  1864,  disposed  of  this  vexed  question 
by  putting  the  colored  soldiery  on  a  footing 
with  the  white  troops. 

An  order  was  soon  after  issued  from  the 
"War  Department  to  pay  colored  soldiers  six 
months'  full  wages  for  the  period  embraced  be- 
tween January  1st  and  July  1st,  1864 ;  and  in 
August  the  Attorney-General,  in  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  section  4,  decided  that 
colored  men  volunteering  prior  to  1864,  were 
entitled  to  the  same  pay,  bounty,  and  clothing, 
as  other  volunteers.  By  section  14  of  the  act 
of  July  4,  1864,  the  widows  and  children  of 
colored  soldiers  dying  in  battle,  or  of  wounds 
or  disease  contracted  in  the  military  service, 
were  declared  entitled  to  pensions,  provided 
such  widows  and  children  were  free  persons. 

During  the  year  colored  troops  continued  to 
•  bo  enlisted  into  the  army,  prircipally  in  the 
Southern  States,  although  several  regiments, 
whose  organization  had  commenced  in  the 
North  in  1863,  departed  previous  to  July  for 
the  seat  of  war.  If  the  statement  of  the  Soli- 
citor of  the  War  Department  be  relied  upon, 
upwards  of  100,000  of  this  class  of  troops  were 
enlisted  in  1864.  Opinions  differed  quite  as 
much  as  in  1863,  upou  the  propriety,  politically 
considered,  of  employing  negroes  as  soldiers, 


and  upon  their  value  iu  a  military  aspect ;  but 
toward  the  close  of  the  year,  in  view  of  their 
soldierly  conduct  on  various  trying  occasions, 
it  seemed  to  become  the  settled  conviction  that 
they  would  form  a  useful  branch  of  the  service 
The  Corps  d'Afrique  organized  by  Gen.  Banks 
in  1863,  and  intended  tc  comprise  about  15,OOC 
men,  was  described  in  May,  1864,  by  an  army 
correspondent  in  Louisiana,  as  greatly  depleted 
in  numbers  by  disease,  by  discharges  for  physi- 
cal incapacity,  and  by  desertions,  and  in  con- 
sequence thoroughly  demoralized.  The  rate 
of  mortality  among  the  men  was  said  to  have 
been  unprecedented  in  the  history  of  the  war, 
and  their  idle,  wasteful,  and  slovenly  habits,  it 
was  alleged,  made  them  unfitted  for  soldiers. 
On  the  other  hand  Adjutant-General  Thomas, 
who  had  devoted  several  months  of  the  pre- 
vious year  to  organizing  negro  regiments  in 
the  South,  and  who  had  conceived  a  high  opin- 
ion of  their  capacity,  was  amply  confirmed  in 
his  views  by  his  experience  of  1864,  and  urged 
the  necessity  of  enlisting  more  of  this  class  of 
troops,  as  also  of  raising  their  pay. 

The  colored  regiments  continued  to  be  of5- 
cered  by  white  men,  who  were  subjected  to  an 
unusually  strict  examination  by  a  board  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose.  Up  to  August,  the 
total  number  of  officers  examined  amounted  to 
2,471,  of  whom  1,486  were  accepted. 

Although  desertions  from  the  service  during 
the  year  were  not  so  numerous  as  in  the  early 
years  of  the  war,  when  discipline  was  less 
strict,  and  the  offence  was  considered  in  a  less 
odious  light,  the  number  had  still  been  suffi- 
ciently large  to  cause  the  Government  con- 
siderable embarrassment.  This  resulted  in  a 
great  measure  from  the  inferior  class  of  men 
enlisted  into  the  army  through  the  medium  of 
bounty  and  substitute  brokers,  and  from  the 
unwise  leniency  shown  by  the  Government  to 
offenders.  For  a  long  time  the  death  penalty 
seemed  to  have  been  practically  abolished,  and 
the  activity  of  the  Provost  Marshals  had  in 
consequence  little  or  no  effect  in  lessening  the 
number  of  absentees  without  leave.  Unprinci- 
pled men,  having  no  fear  of  execution  before 
their  eyes,  risked  the  chance  of  recapture  and 
the  comparatively  slight  punishment  which 
would  follow,  and  escaped  with  their  bounty 
money,  a  few  weeks,  or  even  days,  after  being 
mustered  into  the  service.  As  an  illustration 
of  the  extent  to  which  the  practice  was  carried, 
it  is  stated  that  out  of  a  detachment  of  625 
recruits  sent  to  reenforce  a  New  Hampshire 
regiment  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  137  de- 
serted on  the  passage,  82  to  the  enemy's  picket 
line,  and  36  to  the  rear,  leaving  but  370  men, 
or  less  than  60  per  cent.,  available  for  duty. 

The  desertions  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
were  greatly  increased  by  a  proclamation  from 
Gen.  Lee  (intended  as  an  offset  to  one  issued 
by  Gen.  Grant),  offering  to  send  Federal  de- 
serters North.  Thousands  probably  availed 
themselves  of  this  opportunity,  and  found  their 
way  back  to  the  loyal  States,  there  perhaps  to 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


655 


reenlist  and  agai%  desert ;  and  a  small  percentage 
entered  the  rebel  service.  The  evil  finally  in- 
creased to  such  a  degree  that  the  death  penalty 
was  restored  and  unsparingly  used.  During 
the  latter  part  of  the  year  executions  of  desert- 
ers were  almost  of  daily  'occurrence  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  almost  immediately 
a  diminution  in  the  number  of  cases  was  ob- 
servable, which  continued  to  the  close  of  the 
war. 

The  total  number  of  deserters  of  all  kinds 
was  estimated  by  Senator  Wilson,  in  March,  at 
40,000.  The  Provost  Marshal  General  reported 
39,392  deserters  and  stragglers  arrested  by  his 
officers  between  Oct.  1st,  1863,  and  Oct.  1st, 
1864,  and  the  total  number  arrested,  from  the 
establishment  of  the  special  bureau  having 
charge  of  the  matter  to  Oct.  1st,  1864,  at 
60,760. 

On  June  30th,  1864,  190  hospitals,  with  a 
capacity  of  120,521  beds,  were  in  active  oper- 
ation ;  and  during  the  year  the  health  of  the 
entire  army  was  reported  better  than  is  usual 
with  troops  engaged  in  arduous  campaigns. 
At  the  close  of  the  year  the  number  of  sick  and 
wounded,  both  with  their  commands  and  in 
general  hospitals,  was  less  than  16  per  cent,  of 
the  strength  of  the  army.  The  number  sick 
with  their  respective  commands  was  4  per 
cent.,  and  in  general  hospitals  5  and  T3ff  per  cent. 
of  the  strength.  Of  the  6  and  -fif^  per  cent, 
wounded,  nearly  1  per  cent,  were  with  their 
respective  commands;  the  rest  in  general 
hospitals. 

The  supplies  of  ordnance  produced  during 
the  year  included  1,750  pieces  of  ordnance, 
2,361  artillery  carriages  and  caissons,  802,525 
small  arms,  794,055  sets  of  accoutrements  and 
harness,  1,674,244  projectiles  for  cannon,  12,- 
740,146  pounds  of  bullets  and  lead,  8,409,400 
pounds  of  gunpowder,  169,490,029  cartridges 
for  small-arms,  in  addition  to  large  quantities 
partially  made  up  at  the  arsenals.  The  sup- 
plies furnished  to  the  military  service  during 
the  same  period  included  1,141  pieces  of  ord- 
nance, 1,896  artillery  carriages  and  caissons, 
455,910  small-arms,  502,044  sets  of  accoutre- 
ments and  harness,  1,913,753  projectiles  for 
cannon,  7,624,685  pounds  of  bullets  and  lead, 
464,549  rounds  of  artillery  ammunition,  152,067 
sets  of  horse  equipments,  112,087,553  cartridges 
for  small-arms,  and  7,544,044  pounds  of  gun- 
powder. The  national  armory  at  Springfield, 
Mass.,  was  reported  in  a  condition  to  turn  out 
300,000  of  the  best  quality  of  rifle  muskets  an- 
nually. The  stock  on  hand,  at  the  close  of  the 
year,  amounted  to  a  million  and  a  quarter,  ex- 
clusive of  the  arms  in  the  hands  of  the  troops. 

At  the  close  of  1864  the  military  geograph- 
ical departments  were  in  charge  of  the  follow- 
ing generals : 

Department  of  the  Tennessee— Maj.-Gen.  O.  O.  Howard. 
"    of  the  Cumberland — Maj.-Gen.  George  H.  Thomas. 
"    of  the  Ohio— Maj.-Gen.  John  M.  Schofleld. 
"    of  the  East— Maj.-Gen.  John  A.  Dix. 
"    of  the  Gulf— Maj.-Gen.  Stephen  A.  Hnrlbut 
"    of  North  Carolina  and  Virginia— Maj.-Gen.  B.  F.  Butler. 


Department  of  the  Northwest — Maj.-Gen.  John  Pope. 

"  of  Washington — Maj.-Gen.  Christopher  C.  Augur 

"  of  Pennsylvania — Maj.-Gen.  Geofge  Cadwallader. 

"  of  Western  Virginia — Maj.-Gen.  George  Crook. 

"  of  New  Mexico — Brig.-Gen.  James  H.  Carlton. 

"  of  the  Pacific— Maj.-Gen.  Irwin  McDowell. 

"  of  Kansas— Maj.-Gen.  Samuel  K.  Curtis. 

-  "  of  the  Middle  Department — Mai. -Gen.  Lewis  Wallace. 

"  of  the  South— Maj.-Gen.  John  G.  Foster. 

"  of  Missouri — Maj.-Gen.  Grenville  M.  Dodge. 

"  of  Arkansas — Maj-Gen.  Joseph  J.  Reynolds. 

t  of  the  North — Maj.-Gen.  Joseph  Hooker. 

"  of  the  Mississippi — Maj.-Gen.  Napoleon  J.  T.  Dana. 

The  departments  of  the  Tennessee,  the  Cum- 
berland, and  the  Ohio,  formed  the  military 
division  of  the  Mississippi,  of  which  Maj.-Gen. 
William  T.  Sherman  assumed  command  in  the 
early  part  of  the  year ;  and  in  May  the  depart- 
ments lying  west  of  the  Mississippi  were  formed 
into  the  military  division  of  West  Mississippi, 
under  the  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  E.  K.  S. 
Canby. 

The  several  army  corps,  were,  on  Jan.  1st, 
1865,  commanded  as  follows : 

*lst  Maj\-Gen.  W.  8.  Hancock. 

24  Maj.-Gen.  A.  A.  Humphreys. 

8d.  Discontinued. 

4th  Maj.-Gen.  D.  S.  Stanley. 

5th  Maj.-Gen.  G.  K.  Warren. 

6th  Maj.-Gen.  H.  G.  Wright. 

7th  Maj.-Gen.  J.  J.  Eeynolds. 

8th  Maj.-Gen.  Lewis  Wallace. 

9th  Maj.-Gen.  John  G.  Parke. 
10th  Discontinued, 
llth  do 

12th       .   do 

13th  Maj.-Gen.  Gordon  Granger. 
14th  Brig-Gen.  Jefferson  C.  Davis. 
15th  Maj.-Gen.  John  A.  Logan. 
16th  Maj.-Gen.  Andrew  J.  Smith. 
17th  Maj.  Gen.  Frank  P.  Blair. 
18th  Discontinued. 
19th  Brig-Gen.  W.  H.  Emory, 
20th  Brig-Gen.  A.  S.  Williams. 
21st  Discontinued. 
22d  do 

23d   Maj.-Gen.  John  M.  Schofleld. 
24th  Maj.-Gen.  E.  O.  C.  Ord. 
•  25th  Maj.-Gen.  Godfrey  Weitzel. 

The  history  of  the  insurrectionary  States 
during  1864  presents  them  as  absorbed  in  one 
great  effort  to  maintain  a  successful  war,  the 
effects  of  which  had  reached  every  man  and 
every  family.  The  ardor  of  the  early  campaigns 
had  passed  away,  and  with  it  went  the  sanguine 
hopes  of  a  speedy  and  certain  triumph.  Doubt, 
uncertainty  of  the  result,  and  apprehension  of 
the  future,  heretofore  strangers,  now  found  a 
place  in  every  mind ;  yet,  with  the  heroic  reso- 
lution of  once  American  citizens  no  words  of 
fear  or  faintness  were  allowed  to  appear  in  their 
public  or  official  proceedings.  The  tone  of  these 
documents  was,  however,  more  subdued,  their 
extreme  demands  less  often  appeared,  and  the 
disappearance  of  passion  softened  all  the  inter- 
course with  their  opponents.  These  changes 
increased  with  the  progress  of  the  year,  until 
at  its  close  it  might  safely  be  said,  that  the  Con- 
federate States  were  no  longer  fighting  for  in- 
dependence and  a  separate  nationality,  but  for 
favorable  terms  of  settlement. 

Many  of  the  elements  which  entered  into  such 
a  struggle  were  abundant.  The  crops  of  1864 
were  larger  than  those  of  1863.  At  no  time 

*  Reorganizing  and  not  in  active  service. 


656 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


during  the  year  was  there  any  lack  of  quantity.  Tbe  balance  in  the  treasury  on  1st  of  April,  1864, 

The  difficulty  wai  in  the  distribution.   Manufac-  ThTamouAiVeceYvVd  iii«  toV/.V.V.'.  _V:.V.": 

turers  of  necessary  articles  became  prosperous. 

Paper-mills,  in  Georgia  and  other  States,  turned    ~  /ITo,tal ;  •  v •_,•;/ $728,474,272 

OUt  large  quantities     Cloth  mills  at  Lynchburg,     ^nct  amount  of  expenditures 614,938,830 

Mobile,   Raleigh,   Charleston,   in  Georgia,   Ala-     The  balance  In  the  treasury  is $108,535,442 

bama,  and  Mississippi,  were  in  successful  opera-  The  balance  is  made  up  as  follows : 

tion;  their  most  important  machinery  having    Treasury  notes  (new  issue)  and  specie $22,153,203 

been  imported  from  Europe.       Establishments     Treasury  notes  (old  Issue)  to  be  cancelled 86,882,239 

for  the  manufacture  of  cannon,   small-arms,          Total i $108,535,442 

powder,  shot,  shell,  percussion-caps,  harnesses,  _,     p  ,,.    n  , 

wagons,  ambulances,  and  all  the  materials  of 

war,  more  than  supplied  the  great  demand.  The  public  debt  on  the  first  of  October,  1864, 

The  commerce  of  these  States  was  carried  on  was  as  follows: 

e^6ly  &  ™'lf\  v.essel9  runninS  the  blockade.  Total  issue  of  bond8  „£%££  .™*. . .       . .  $363,416,150 

Although  limited,  it  was  of  great  advantage  to     Total  Issue  of  call  certificates 197,578,370 

the  Government  and  people.     The  latter,  how-    Total  i88ue  of  certificates  of  indebtedness 19,010,000 

ever,  must  have  reached  extreme  destitution  of  Total  issue  of  produce  certificates,  act  April  21, 

some  articles,  but  for  the  aid  derived  from  the       1862 > $2,500,000 

trflflp  within  fhft  Fwlprnl  linA«  Amount  of  7-30  Interest  notes,  which  have  as- 

Leral  lines.  8umed  the  character  Of  permanent  bonds 99,954,900 

The  foreign  relations  of  the  States  continued 
without  change  through  the  year.     It  appeared       w^otaliv V  -J '»\""-\ $682,459,420 

,1                            „                   ,.   J    .  Eeduced  by  amount  redeemed,  to  wit ; 

to  be  a  stretch  of  presumption  to  expect  France  Act  May  16, 1861,  principal ..........  $2,976,000 

and  England  to  recognize  their  independence.    Act  Aug.  19, 1861,  principal 1,267,700 

Recognition  was  of  no  practical  value  unless  ^S?*!1.??!  .??*  ^^  70,729,030 

followed  by  armed  assistance,  and  these  coun-  Call  certificates,  act  March  23,is63j  five 

tries  were  not  in  a  condition  to  go  to  war  with  ^^^'^'ig^'^m, 

a  iriemuy  power  to  relieve  one  unknown,  and       four  percent 1,825,000 

of  no  strength  on  the  ocean.    The  recognition  $141,119,330 

of  the  Confederate  States  as  a  belligerent,  while         Total $541,340,090 

it  deceived  the  people  by  exciting  large  expec-  vxmjrD-KD  DBBT. 

tations,  Was  a  great  measure  in  favor  of  Euro-     Amount  8-63  interest  notes  outstanding $516,050 

pean  powers,  as  it  practically  annihilated  any  ^M3™**™*™*.™^.  ™  $978,281,863 

opposition    from    the    United    States    to    their  Eeduced  by  amount  called  in  for 

schemes  and  plans.  cancellation 640,947,945  ^        8 

A  change  took  place  in  the  Treasury  Depart-    Total  issue  treasury  notes,  new  issue 288.'sso|i50 

ment  by  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Memminger,  and 

the  appointment  Of  Mr.  G.  A.  Trenhohn  Total  funded  and  unfunded  debt......        $1,149,896,108 

The  operations  of  the  Treasury  for  the  six  The,  Secretary  says  the  foreign  debt,  consist- 
months,  ending  Oct.  1,  1864,  present  the  fol-  ™S  °^A^e Jfe  Srf*^ ;   th®whole 
lowing  details ;  receipts  $415  191,550.  a™°«n>  \emS  £2,200,000,  w  adequately  pro- 
vided for  by  the  cotton  owned  by  the  Govern- 
From  four  per  cent,  registered  bonds,  act  17th  ment  even  at  sixpence  per  pound,  the  Quantity 

February,  1864 $18,363,500  hpin^  ahont  2W  000  hnl^ 

From  six  per  cent,  bonds,  $500,000,000  loan  act,  bei.ng  a»OUt  ^50,UUU  Dales. 

February  17, 1864 14,481,050  In  April,  the  note  department  of  the  Treas- 

From  four  per  cent,  call  certificates,  act  17th  Ury  was  removed  to  Columbia,  South  Carolina. 

February  1864 20,978,100  mi                  J.-L                            *7«:    -n 

From  tax  on  old  issue  of  certificates,  redeemed.     14,440,564  lo  increase  the  resources  oi  the  Government, 

From  repayments  by  disbursing  oflicers 20,115,830  heavy  taxes  were  imposed. 

From  treasury  notes,  under  act  17th  February,  n^u^                ~f  „  4-'^*,,  ^  *!,«  »v,n,,i-/s4.CT  AlA  «^4- 

1864 .   277,576,950  Ine  prices  oi  articles  in  tne  markets  aid  not 

From  war' tax! !!!'.!!!'..  ..\\\\\'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'... .....'.     42,294,814  decline  during  the  year. 

SSS  Smr1.1?!1. ::::::::::::::::::::::       ^oo!  The  p°sition  of  the  currency,  on  March  aist, 

From  export  duty ! . . .' ! .' .' .' '.......'.'....'..'.'.'.... '.              4,'820  was  as  folio  WS : 

Fromcofn  seized  by  authority  of  the  Secretary  Statement  of  the  issue  of  rum-inter  est-l  earing  Treasury 

of  War. Vooo'lVn  Fotes  since  the  organization  of  the  Confed.  Government  : 

From  premium  on  loans *£»,*£     Fifty  cents $911,25850 

From  soldiers' tax •         908,622     Ones...  4,8S2>0  00 

Twos (6,086,82000 

Expenditures.  Fives 79,090,815  oo 

Tens 157,982,750  00 

The  expenditures  during  the  same  period  are    Twenties 217,425,120  00 

as  follows.  FIftles 188,088,000  00 

War  Department $246,867,442  Total $973,277,368  50 

Navy  Department 15,554,802  Statement  showing  the  amount  of  non-intej-est-bearing 

Customs 28,585  Notes  outstanding  on  March  81, 1864 : 

Civil,  miscellaneous,  and  foreign  intercourse....      10,427,674     Act  May  16,  1S61— Ten-year  notes $7,201,87500 

Act  Aug.  19, 1861— General  currency 154,856,684.00 

Total $272,378,503     Act  April  19, 1862— Ones  and  twos. 4,516,509  00 

Public  debt— for  payment  of  interest 10,772,883     Act  Oct.  18,  1862— General  currency 118,997,321  00 

Public  debt— for  payment  of  principal 834,787,444     Act  Mar.  28, 1863— General  currency 511,182,586  50 

Total $614,938,830  Total $796,254,42550 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


657 


The  difference  between  the  issues  and  the 
amount  outstanding  is  the  amount  that  had 
been  redeemed. 

Of  all  the  difficulties  encountered  by  the 
administrative  bureau  of  the  Government,  the 
greatest  was  caused  by  the  deficiency  of  trans- 
portation. With  the  coasting  trade  cut  off  and 
all  the  great  rivers  under  command  of  the  Fed- 
eral fleet,  the  only  reliance  for  internal  trade 
and  communication  was  necessarily  on  the  rail- 
roads. These  were  never  designed  or  provided 
with  the  means  for  the  task  now  imposed  upon 
them.  They  had,  besides,  suffered  much  from 
inability  to  command  the  supplies  of  iron,  im- 
plements, and  machinery,  and.  from  many  sacri- 
fices and  losses  in  war.  The  deficiency  in  skilled 
labor  was  also  a  great  embarrassment  in  requi- 
site repairs.  Some  of  the  shorter  and  less  im- 
portant lines  were  thus  sacrificed,  and  the  iron 
and  machinery  taken  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
leading  roads,  and  for  the  construction  of  some 
essential  and  less  exposed  interior  links  of  con- 
nection. 

The  military  operations  demanded  all  the  en- 
ergies of  the  people,  and  required  the  sacrifice 
of  every  private  interest  to  secure  their  success. 
If  these  failed,  their  cause  was  lost.  But  armies 
could  be  raised  and  sustained  only  while  hope 
invigorated  the  spirits  of  the  people.  In  this 
respect  the  year  18G4  brought  the  severest  test 
which  had  yet  been  felt.  The  waning  propor- 
tions of  the  military  territory  and  of  the  armies 
to  resist  their  foes,  depressed  the  hopes  of  the 
rulers  and  people,  and  foreboded  what  the  result 
would  be.  Hence  unusual  efforts  were  made 
to  rouse  their  energies. 

The  question  of  Peace  was  present  to  every 
mind.  But  one  view,  however,  controlled  the 
Government  and  the  majority  of  the  people: 
when  the  North  is  prepared  to  acknowledge 
the  independence  of  the  Confederate  States, 
the  war  will  close  and  peace  prevail.  As  there 
was  not  the  slightest  indication  of  such  an  act 
on  the  part  of  the  North,  all  these  parties 
urged  forward  the  war.  In  North  Carolina, 
during  1863,  there  were  those  who  not  only 
desired  peace  but  demanded  some  immediate 
steps  to  be  taken  to  open  negotiations.  In 
their  minds  the  success  of  the  Confederacy 
was  considered  impossible,  as  they  sanguinely 
anticipated  some  favorable  arrangements  be- 
tween the  contestants. 

The  end  of  nearly  four  years  of  war  present- 
ed the  people  of  the  Southern  States  under  a 
Government  in  the  exercise  of  every  power  of 
a  national,  central,  military  despotism.  Con- 
scription was  carried  to  its  last  limit.  Every 
man  between  seventeen  and  fifty  was  subject  to 
military  authority.  None  were  exempt  except 
on  considerations  of  public  interest.  Direct 
taxes  were  laid  in  defiance  of  the  theory  of 
their  constitution.  Such  vast  amounts  of  paper 
money  had  been  issued  as  to  unsettle  all  values. 
The  holders  of  this  paper  money  were  com- 
pelled to  fund  it  or  lose  one-third.  All  the 
railroads  were  seized  by  the  Government,  and 
42 


some  were  destroyed  and  others  built.  A 
universal  system  of  impressment  of  property 
wa%  established  at  Government  prices  in  Gov- 
ernment money.  Of  the  exportations  of  the 
great  staples  the  Government  held  the  monop- 
oly. Those  citizens  who  were  permitted  to  re- 
main at  home  were  required  to  execute  a  bond 
to  furnish  their  products  to  the  Government  at 
its  prices.  The  habeas  corpus  was  suspended 
and  a  passport  system  was  established.  Not- 
withstanding all  these  sacrifices,  the  military 
operations  had  resulted  in  loss'in  every  State, 
and  the  theatre  of  activity  was  reduced  to  three 
Atlantic  States. 

On  the  other  hand,  in  the  Union  States  a 
weariness  of  the  war,  or  a  laudable  desire  to  put 
an  end  to  the  appalling  horrors  of  the  conflict, 
awakened  in  the  mass  of  the  people  a  strong 
wish  for  peace.  So  prevalent  was  this  wish, 
that  even  unofficial  individuals  were  tempted  to 
undertake  the  preparation  of  the  preliminaries. 
President  Lincoln  appears  kindly  to  have  in- 
dulged these  inclinations,  although  they  resulted 
in  showing  that  neither  side  were  willing  to 
make  any  concession  merely  for  the  sake  of 
peace. 

The  first  of  these  movements,  in  point  of 
time,  consisted  in  a  visit  of  Eev.  Col.  Jacques 
and  Mr.  J.  E.  Gilmore  to  Eichmond,  in  which 
two  interviews  were  had  with  Mr.  Davis.  The 
•visit  resulted  in  nothing,  and  the  President  ap- 
pears to  have  taken  no  part  in  the  matter  fur- 
ther than  to'  approve  of  their  passage  through 
the  Federal  lines,  although  the  terms  suggested 
in  the  conversations  are  the  same  as  the  Presi- 
dent has  advanced  on  every  subsequent  occa- 
sion. The  following  letter  explains  the  manner 
in  which  a  passage  into  the  enemy's  lines  was 
obtained : 

HEADQCABTEES  AKMTES  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES,  ) 
CITY  POINT,  VA.,  July  8, 1864.      J 

Gen.  E.  E.  Lee,  Commanding  Confederate  Forces  near 
Petersburg,  Va. 

GENERAL  :  I  would  request  that  Col.  James  F. 
Jacques,  Y8th  Illinois  volunteer  infantry,  and  J.  K. 
Gilmore,  Esq.,  oe  allowed  to  meet  Col.  Robert  Ould, 
commissioner  for  the  exchange  of  prisoners,  at  such 
place  between  the  lines  of  the  two  armies  as  you  may 
designate.  The  object  of  the  meeting  is  legitimate 
with  the  duties  of  Col.  Ould  as  commissioner.  If  not 
consistent  for  you  to  grant  the  request  here  asked,  I 
would  beg  that  this  be  referred  to  President  Davis  for 
'his  action. 

Requesting  as  early  an  answer  to  this  communica- 
tion as  you  may  find  it  convenient  to  make,  I  sub- 
scribe myself,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  ser- 
vant, U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieut.-Gen.  U.  S.  A. 

The  following  note  opened  the  way  for  an 
interview  with  Mr.  Davis : 

SPOTTISWOOD  HOTEL,  EICHMOND,  VA.,  July  17, 1864. 
Hon.  J.  P.  Benjamin,  Secretary  of  State,  C.  S.  A. 

DEAK  SIR  :  The  undersigned,  James  F.  Jacques,  of 
Illinois,  and  James  R.  Gilmore,  of  Massachusetts, 
most  respectfully  solicit  an  interview  with  President 
Davis.  They  visit  Richmond  as  private  citizens,  and 
have  no  official  character  or  authority;  but  they  are 
fully  possessed  of  the  views  of  the  United  States 
Government  relative  to  an  adjustment  of  the  differ- 
ences now  existing  between  the  North  and  the  South, 
and  have  little  doubt  that  a  free  interchange  of  views 
between  President  Davis  and  themselves  would  open 


658 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


the  way  to  such  official  negotiations  as  would  ulti- 
mate in  restoring  peace  to  the  two  sections  of  our 
distracted  c6untry. 

They  therefore  ask  an  interview  with  the  President, 
and  awaiting  your  reply,  are,  most  truly  and  respect- 
fully, your  obedient  servants,     JAS.  F.  JACQUES, 
JAS.  R.  GILMORE. 

Mr.  Gilmore  states  the  conversation  between 
himself  and  Mr.  Davis  thus : 

Gilmore. — Well,  sir,  be  that  as  it  may,  if  I  under- 
stand you,  the  dispute  between  your  Government  and 
ours  is  narrowed  down  to  this,  Union  or  disunion  ? 

Davis. — Yes,  or  to  put  it  in  other  words,  independ- 
ence or  subjugation. 

Grilmore. — Then  the  two  Governments  are  irrecon- 
cilably apart.  They  have  no  alternative  but  to  fight 
it  out.  But  it  is  not  so  •with  the  people.  They  are 
tired  of  fighting,  and  want  peace ;  and  as  they  bear 
all  the  burden  and  suffering  of  the  war,  is  it  not  right 
they  should  have  peace,  and  have  it  on  such  terms  as 
theV  like  ? 

Davis. — I  don't  understand  you ;  be  a  little  more 
explicit. 

Gilmore.— Well,  suppose  the  two  Governments 
should  agree  to  something  like  this:  To  go  to  the 
people  with  two  propositions:  say,  peace  with  dis- 
union and  Southern  independence,  as  your  proposi- 
tion— and  peace  with  union,  emancipation,  no  con- 
fiscation, and  universal  amnesty,  as  ours.  Let  the 
citizens  of  all  the  United  States  (as  they  existed  be- 
fore the  war)  vote  "y_es"  or  "no"  on  these  two 
propositions,  at  a  special  election  within  sixty  days. 
If  a  majority  votes  disunion,  our  Government  to  be 
bound  by  it,  and  to  let  you  go  in  peace.  If  a  major- 
ity votes  Union,  yours  to  be  bound  by  it  and  to  stay 
in  peace.  The  two  Governments  can  contract  in  this 
way,  and  the  people,  though  constitutionally  unable 
to  decide  on  peace  or  war,  can  elect  which  of  the  two 
propositions  shall  govern  their  rulers.  Let  Lee  and 
Grant,  meanwhile,  agree  to  an  armistice.  This  would 
sheathe  the  sword ;  and,  if  once  sheathed,  it  would 
never  again  be  drawn  by  this  generation. 

Davis. — The  plan  is  altogether  impracticable.  If 
the  South  were  only  one  State,  it  might  work;  but 
as  it  is,  if  one  Southern  State  objected  to  emancipa- 
tion it  would  nullify  the  whole  thing ;  for  you  are 
aware  the  people  of  Virginia  cannot  vote  slavery  out 
of  South  Carolina,  nor  the  people  of  South  Carolina 
vote  it  out  of  Virginia. 

'Gilmore. — But  three-fourths  of  the  States  can 
amend  the  Constitution.  Let  it  be  done  in  that  way ; 
in  any  way  so  that  it  be  done  by  the  people.  I  am 
not  a  statesman  nor  a  politician,  ana  I  do  not  know 
just  how  such  a  plan  could  be  carried  out;  but  you 
get  the  idea — that  the  people  shall  decide  the  ques- 
tion. 

Davis. — That  the  majority  shall  decide  it,  you  mean. 
We  seceded  to  rid  ourselves  of  the  rule  of  the  major- 
ity, and  this  would  subject  us  to  it  again. 

Gilmore. — But  the  majority  must  rule  finally,  either 
with  bullets  or  ballots. 

Davis. — I  am  not  so  sure  of  that.  Neither  current 
events  nor  history  shows  thafr  the  majority  rules,  or 
ever  djd  rule.  The  contrary,  I  think,  is  true.  Why, 
sir,  the  man  who  should  go  before  the  Southern  peo- 
ple with  such  a  proposition,  with  any  proposition 
which  implied  that  the  North  was  to  have  a  voice  in 
determining  the  domestic  relations  of  the  South, 
could  not  live  here  a  day.  He  would  be  hanged  to 
the  first  tree,  without  judge  or  jury. 

^  Mr.  Benjamin,  Secretary  of  State,  in  an  offi- 
cial letter  to  James  M.  Mason,  commissioner  in 
Europe,  says: 

Mr.  Gilmore  then  addressed  the  President,  and  in 
a  few  minutes  had  conveyed  the  information  that 
these  two  gentlemen  had  come  to  Richmond  impress- 
ed with  the  idea  that  this  Government  would  accept 


a  peace  on  a  basis  of  a  reconstruction  of  the  Union, 
the  abolition  of  slavery,  and  the  grant  of  an  amnesty 
to  the  people  of  the  States  as  repentant  criminals. 
In  order  to  accomplish  the  abolition  of  slavery,  it 
was  proposed  that  there  should  be  a  general  vote  of 
all  the  people  of  both  federations,  in  mass,  and  the 
majority  of  the  vote  thus  taken  was  to  determine  that 
as  well  as  all  other  disputed  questions.  These  were 
stated  to  be  Mr.  Lincoln's  views. 

The  President  answered,  that  as  these  proposals 
had  been  prefaced  by  the  remark  that  the  people  of 
the  North  were  a  majority,  and  that  a  majority  ought 
to  govern,  the  offer  was,  in  effect,  a  proposal  that  the 
Confederate  States  should  surrender  at  discretion, 
admit  that  they  had  been  wrong  from  the  beginning 
of  the  contest,  submit  to  the  mercy  of  their  enemies, 
and  avow  themselves  to  be  in  need  of  pardon  for 
their  crimes;  that  extermination  was  preferable  to 
dishonor.  He  stated  that  if  they  were  themselves  so 
unacquainted  with  the  form  of  their  own  Government 
as  to  make  such  propositions,  Mr.  Lincoln  ought  to 
have  known,  when  giving  them  his  views,  that  it  was 
out  of  the  power  of  the  Confederate  Government  to 
act  on  the  subject  of  the  domestic  institutions  of  the 
several  States,  each  State  having  exclusive  jurisdic- 
tion on  that  point,  still  less  to  commit  the  decision  of 
such  a  question  to  the  vote  of  a  foreign  people. 

The  next  attempt  to  prepare  the  way  for  ne- 
gotiations was  of  a  semi-official  character,  and 
resulted  in  a  clear  statement  by  the  President 
of  his  terms  of  settlement  so  indefinitely  brought 
out  in  the  preceding  conversation.  Mr.  Horace 
Greeley,  who  was  the  active  participant  on  the 
Union  side,  thus  relates  the  origin  of  the  cor- 
respondence which  took  place : 

Some  time  since  it  was  announced  by  telegraph 
from  Halifax  that  Messrs.  C.  C.  Clay,  of  Alabama, 
Jacob  Thompson,  of  Mississippi  (ex-United  States 
Senators),  Professor  J.  P.  Holcombe,  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Virginia,  and  George  N.  Sanders,  of  Ken- 
tucky, had  r'eached  that  city  from  Dixie  via  Bermu- 
da, on  important  business,  and  all  of  these  but  Mr. 
Thompson  (who  was  in  Toronto)  were  soon  quartered 
at  the  Clifton,  on  the  Canada  side  of  Niagara  Falls. 
I  heard  soon  after  of  confidential  interviews  between 
some  or  all  of  those  gentlemen  and  leading  Democrats 
from  our  own  and  Neighboring  States,  and  there  were 
telegraphic  whispers  of  overtures  for  reconstruction, 
and  conditions  were  set  forth  as  those  on  which  the 
Confederates  would  consent  to  reunion.  (I  cannot 
say  that  any  of  these  reports  were  authentic.)  At 
length,  after  several  less  direct  intimations,  I  receiv- 
ed a  private  letter  from  Mr.  Sanders,  stating  that 
Messrs.  Clay,  Holcombe,  himself,  and  another,  de- 
sired to  visit  Washington,  upon  complete  and  un- 
qualified protection  being  given  by  the  President  or 
the  Secretary  of  War. 

As  I  saw  no  reason  why  the  opposition  should  be 
the  sole  recipients  of  these  gentlemen's  overtures,  if 
such  there  were  (and  it  is  stated  that  Mr.  Clay  afore- 
said is  preparing  or  to  prepare  an  important  letter  to 
the  Chicago  Convention),  I  wrote  the  President,  urg- 
ing him  to  invite  the  rebel  gentlemen  aforesaid  to 
Washington,  there  to  open  their  budget.  I  stated 
expressly  that  I  knew  not  what  they  would  propose 
if  so  invited  ;  but  I  could  imagine  no  offer  that  might 
be  made  by  them  which  would  not  conduce,  in  one 
way  or  another,  to  a  restoration  of  the  integrity  and 


just  authority  of  the  Union. 
The  Presidei 


lent  ultimately  acquiesced  in  this  view 
so  far  as  to  consent  that  the  rebel  agents  should  visit 
Washington,  but  directed  that  I  should  proceed  to 
Niagara,  and  accompany  them  thence  to  the  capital. 
This  service  I  most  reluctantly  undertook,  feeling 
deeply  and  observing  that  almost  any  one  else  might 
better  have  been  sent  on  this  errand.  But  time 
seemed  precious,  and  I  immediately  started. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


659 


The  correspondence  was  as  follows : 
Mr.  Jewett  to  Mr.  Greeley. 

NIAGARA  FALLS,  July  5, 1864. 

MY  DEAR  ME.  GREELEY  :  In  reply  to  your  note,  I 
have  to  advise  having  just  left  Hon.  George  N. 
Sanders  of  Kentucky  on  the  Canada  side.  I  am 
authorized  to  state  to  you,  for  our  use  only,  not  the 
public,  that  two  ambassadors  of  Davis  &  Co.  are  now 
in  Canada,  with  full  and  complete  powers  for  a  peace, 
and  Mr.  Sanders  requests  that  you  come  on  immedi- 
ately to  me,  at  Cataract  House,  to  have  a  private  in- 
tejyiew;  or  if  you  will  send  the  President's  protec- 
tion for  him  and  two  friends,  they  will  come  on  and 
meet  you.  He  says  the  whole  matter  can  be  con- 
summated by  me,  you,  them,  and  President  Lincoln. 
Telegraph  me  in  such  form  that  I  may  know  if  you 
come  here,  or  they  to  come  on  with  me. 

Yours,  W.  C.  JEWETT. 

Mr,  Greeley  to  President  Lincoln, 

NEW  YOBK,  July  7, 1864. 

Mr  DEAR  SIR  :  I  venture  to  enclose  you  a  letter  and 
telegraphic  despatch  that  I  received  yesterday  from 
our  irrepressible  friend  Colorado  Jewett,  at  Niagara 
Falls.  I  think  they  deserve  attention.  Of  course  I 
do  not  indorse  Jewett' s  positive  averment  that  his 
friends  at  the  Falls  have  "full  power"  from  J.  D., 
though  I  do  not  doubt  that  he  thinks  they  have.  I 
let  that  statement  stand  as  simply  evidencing  the 
anxiety  of  the  Confederates  everywhere  for  peace. 
So  much  is  beyond  doubt.  I  therefore  venture  to 
remind  you  that  our  bleeding,  bankrupt,  almost  dy- 
ing country,  also  longs  for  peace — shudders  at  the 
prospect  of  fresh  conscriptions,  of  further  wholesale 
devastations,  and  of  new  rivers  of  human  blood ;  and 
a  wide-spread  conviction  that  the  Government  and 
its  prominent  supporters  are  not  anxious  for  peace, 
and  do  not  improve  proffered  opportunities  to  achieve 
it,  is  doing  great  harm  now,  and  is  morally  certain, 
unless  removed,  to  do  far  greater  in  the  approaching 
elections.  It  is  not  enough  that  we  anxiously  desire 
a  true  and  lasting  peace ;  we  ought  to  demonstrate 
and  establish  the  truth  beyond  cavil.  -The  fact  that 
A.  H.  Stephens  was  not  permitted  a  year  ago  to  visit 
and  confer  with  the  authorities  at  Washington  has 
done  harm,  which  the  tone  of  the  late  national  con- 
vention at  Baltimore  is  not  calculated  to  counteract. 
I  entreat  you,  in  your  own  time  and  manner,  to  sub- 
mit overtures  for  pacification  to  the  Southern  insur- 
gents, which  the  impartial  must  pronounce  frank  and 
generous.  If  only  with  a  view  to  the  momentous 
election  soon  to  occur  in  North  Carolina,  and  of  the 
draft  to  be  enforced  in  the  free  States,  this  should  be 
done  at  once.  I  would  give  the  safe  conduct  required 
by  the  rebel  envoys  at  Niagara,  upon  their  parole  to 
avoid  observation  and  to  refrain  from  all  communica- 
tion with  their  sympathizers  in  the  loyal  States  ;  but 
you  may  see  reasons  for  declining  it.  But  whether 
through  them  or  otherwise,  do  not,  I  entreat  you,  fail 
to  make  the  Southern  people  comprehend  that  you, 
and  all  of-us,  are  anxious  for  peace,  and  prepared  to 
grant  liberal  terms.  I  venture  to  suggest  the  follow- 
ing plan  of  adjustment : 

1.  The  Union  is  restored  and  declared  perpetual. 

2.  Slavery  is  utterly  and  forever  abolished  through- 
out the  same. 

3.  A  complete  amnesty  of  all  political  offences, 
with  a  restoration  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  each  State 
to  all  the  privileges  of  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

4;  The  Union  to  pay  four  hundred  million  dollars 
($400,000,000)  in  five  per  cent.  United  States  stock 
to  the  late  slave  States,  loyal  and  secession  alike,  to 
be  apportioned  pro  rata,  according  to  their  slave 
population  respectively,  by  the  census  of  1860,  in 
compensation  for  the  losses  of  their  loyal  citizens  by 
the  abolition  of  slavery.  Each  State  to  be  entitled 
to  its  quota  upon  the  ratification  by  its  legislature  of 
this  adjustment.  The  bonds  to  be  at  the  absolute 
disposal  of  the  legislature  aforesaid. 

5.  The  sad  slave  States  to  be  entitled  henceforth 


to  representation  in  the  House  on  the  basis  of  their 
total,  instead  of  their  Federal  population,  the  wbole 
now  being  free. 

6.  A  national  convention,  to  be  assembled  as  soon 
as  may  be,  to  ratify  this  adjustment,  and  make  such 
changes  in  the  Constitution  as  may  be  deemed  ad- 
visable. 

Mr.  President,  I  fear  you  do  not  realize  how  in- 
tently the  people  desire  any  peace  consistent  with 
the  national  integrity  and  honor,  and  how  joyously 
they  would  hail  its  achievement  and  bless  its  authors. 
With  United  States  stocks  worth  but  forty  cents  in 
gold  per  dollar,  and  drafting  about  to  commence  on 
the  third  million  of  Union  soldiers,  can  this  be  won- 
dered at  ?  I  do  not  say  that  a  just  peace  is  now  at- 
tainable, though  I  believe  it  to  be  so ;  but  I  do  say 
that  a  frank  oner  by  you  to  the  insurgents  of  terms 
which  the  impartial  say  ought  to  be  accepted,  will,  at 
the  worst,  prove  an  immense  and  sorely  needed  ad- 
vantage to  the  national  cause.  It  may  save  us  from 
a  northern  insurrection. 

Yours,  truly,        HORACE  GREELEY. 

P.  S. — Even  though  it  should  be  deemed  unadvisa- 
ble  to  make  an  offer  of  terms  to  the  rebels,  I  insist 
that,  in  any  possible  case,  it  is  desirable  that  any 
offer  they  may  be  disposed  to  make  should  be  receiv- 
ed, and  either  accepted  or  rejected.  I  beg  you  to  in- 
vite those  now  at  Niagara  to  exhibit  their  credentials 
and  submit  their  ultimatum.  H.  G. 

President  Lincoln  to  Mr.  Greeley. 

WASHINGTON.  D.  C.,  July  9, 18C4 

HON.  HORACE  GREELET  :  Dear  Sir — Your  letter  of 
the  Yth,  with  inclosures,  received.  If  you  can  find 
any  person  anywhere  professing  to  have  any  propo- 
sition of  Jefferson  Davis  in  writing,  for  peace,  em- 
bracing  the  restoration  of  the  Union  and  the  aban- 
donment of  slavery,  whatever  else  it  embraces,  say 
to  him  he  may  come  to  me  with  you ;  and  that  if  he 
really  brings  such  proposition,  he  shall,  at  the  least, 
have  safe  conduct  with  the  paper  (and  without  pub- 
licity if  he  chooses)  to  the  point  where  you  shall  havo 
met  him.  The  same  if  there  be  two  or  more  persons. 
Yours,  truly,  A.  LINCOLN. 

Mr.  Greeley  to  the  President. 
OFFICE  OF  THE  TKIBUNE,  NEW  TOEK,  July  10, 1864. 
MT  DEAR  SIR  :  I  have  yours  of  yesterday.  Whether 
there  be  persons  at  Niagara  (or  elsewhere)  who  are 
empowered  to  commit  the  rebels  by  negotiation,  is  a 
question ;  but  if  there  be  such,  there  is  no  question 
at  all  that  they  would  decline  to  exhibit  their  creden- 
tials to  me,  much  more  to  open  their  budget  and  give 
me  their  best  terms.  Green  as  I  may  be,  I  am  not 
quite  so  verdant  as  to  imagine  any  thing  of  the  sort. 
I  have  neither  purpose  nor  desire  to  be  made  a  con- 
fidant, far  less  an  agent,  in  such  negotiations.  But  I 
do  deeply  realize  that  the  rebel  chiefs  achieved  a  most 
decided  advantage  in  proposing,  or  pretending  to 
propose,  to  have  A.  H.  Stephens  visit  Washington  as 
a  peacemaker,  and,  being  rudely  repulsed;  and  I  am 
anxious  that  the  ground  lost  to  the  national  cause  by 
that  mistake  shall  somehow  be  regained  in  season  for 
effect  on  the  approaching  North  Carolina  election. 
I  will  see  if  I  can  get  a  look  into  the  hand  of  whom- 
soever may  be  at  Niagara :  though  that  is  a  project 
so  manifestly  hopeless  that  I  have  little  heart  'for  it, 
still  I  shall  try. 

Meantime  I  wish  you  would  consider  the  propriety 
of  somehow  apprising  the  people  of  the  South,  espe- 
cially those  of  North  Carolina,  that  no  overture  or 
advance  looking  to  peace  and  reunion  has  ever  been 
repelled  by  you,  but  that  such  a  one  would  at  any 
time  have  been  cordially  received  and  favorably  re- 
garded, and  would  still  be. 

Yours,  HORACE  GREELEY. 

Hon.  A.  LINCOLN. 

Mr.  Sanders  to  Mr.  Greeley. 

[Private  and  confidential.] 

CLIFTON  HOUSE,  NIAGAUA.  FALLS,  C.W.,  July  12,1864. 
SIR;  I  am  authorized  to  say  that  Hon.  Clement  C. 


660 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


of  Alabama,  Professor  James  P.  Holcombe,  of 
Virginia,  and  George  N.  Sanders,  of  Dixie,  are  ready 
and  willing  to  go  at  once  to  Washington,  upon  com- 

Elete  and  unqualified  protection  being  given,  either 
y  the  President  or  Secretary  of  War.    Let  the  per- 
mission include  the  three  names  and  one  other. 

Yery  respectfully,     GEORGE  N.  SANDERS. 
To  Hon.  HORACE  GREELEY. 

Mr.  Greeley  to  the  President. 
OFFICE  OF  THE  TRIBUNE,  NEW  YORK,  July  12, 1864. 

MY  DEAR  SIR:  I  have  now  information  on  which 
I  can  rely,  that  two  persons  duly  commissioned  and 
empowered  to  negotiate  for  peace  are  at  this  moment 
not  far  from  Niagara  Falls,  in  Canada,  and  are  desir- 
ous of  conferring  with  vourself,  or  with  such  persons 
as  you  may  appoint  and  empower  to  treat  with  them. 
Their  names  (only  given  in  confidence)  are  Hon. 
Clement  C.  Clay,  of  Alabama,  and  Hon.  Jacob  Thomp- 
son of  Mississippi.  If  you  should  prefer  to  meet 
them  in  person,  they  require  safe  conduct  for  them- 
selves and  for  George  N.  Sanders,  who  will  accom- 
pany them.  Should  you  choose  to  empower  one  or 
more  persons  to  treat  with  them  in  Canada,  they  will 
of  course  need  no  safe-conduct  ;•  but  they  cannot  be 
expected  to  exhibit  credentials,  save  to  commission- 
ers empowered  as  they  are.  In  negotiating  directly 
"with  yourself,  all  grounds  of  cavil  would  be  avoided, 
and  you  would  be  enabled  at  all  times  to  act  upon 
the  freshest  advices  of  the  military  situation.  You 
will  of  course  understand  that  I  know  nothing  and 
have  proposed  nothing  as  to  terms,  and  that  nothing 
is  conceded  or  taken  for  granted  by  the  meeting  of 
persons  empowered  to  negotiate  for  peace.  All  that 
is  assumed  is  a  mutual  desire  to  terminate  this  whole- 
sale slaughter,  if  a  basis  of  adjustment  can  be  mutu- 
ally agreed  on ;  and  it  seems  to  me  high  time  that  an 
effort  to  this  end  should  be  made.  I  am,  of  course, 
quite  other  than  sanguine  that  a  peace  can  now  be 
made,  but  I  am  quite  sure  that  a  frank,  earnest, 
anxious  effort  to  terminate  the  war  on  honorable 
terms  would  immensely  strengthen  the  Govern- 
ment in  case  of  its  failure,  and  would  help  us  in  the 
eyes  of  the  civilized  world,  which  now  accuses  us  of 
obstinacy,  and  indisposition  even  to  seek  a  peaceful 
solution  of  our  sanguinary,  devastating  conflict. 

Hoping  to  hear  that  you  have  resolved  to  act  in  the 
premises,  and  to  act  so  promptly  that  a  good  influ- 
ence may  even  yet  be  exerted  on  the  North  Carolina 
election  next  month, 

I  remain  yours,      HORACE  GREELEY. 

Hon.  A.  LINCOLN,  Washington. 

President  Lincoln  to  Mr.  Greeley. 
EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  July  15, 1861 
Hon.  HORACE  GREELEY,  New  York. 

I  suppose  you  received  my  letter  of  the  9th.  I 
have  just  received  yours  of  the  13th,  and  am  disap- 

Eointed  by  it.    I  was  not  expecting  you  to  send  me  a 
ttter,  but  to  bring  me  a  man  or  men.    Mr.  Hay  goes 
to  you  with  my  answer  to  yours  of  the  13th, 

A.  LINCOLN. 

President  Lincoln  to  Mr.  Greeley. 
EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  July  15, 1864. 
Hon.  HORACE  GREELEY:  My  Dear  Sir — Yours  of 
the  13th  is  just  received,  and  I  am  not  disappoint- 
ed that   you  have  not  already  reached  here  with 
those  Commissioners.      If  they  would   consent  to 
'  come  on  being  shown  my  letter  to  you  of  the  9th 
inst.,  show  that  and  this  to  them;   and  if  they  will 
come  on  the  terms  stated  in  the  former,  bring  them. 
I  not  only  intend  a  sincere  effort  for  peace,  but  I  in- 
tend that  you  shall  be  a  personal  witness  that  it  is 
made.  Yours,  truly,  A.  LINCOLN. 

Major  Hay  to  the  President. 
UNITED  STATES  MILITARY  TELEGBAPH,  WAR  DEP'T,  ) 

NEW  YoBK,-9  A.  M.,  July  16, 1864 
His  Excellency  A.  LINCOLN,  President  of  the  United 

_  States. 
Arrived  this  morning  at  6  A.  jr.,  and  delivered  your 


letter  a  few  minutes  after.  Although  he  thinks  some 
one  less  known  would  create  less  excitement  and  be 
less  embarrassed  by  public  curiosity,  still  he  will 
start  immediately,  if  he  can  have  an  absolute  safe 
conduct  for  four  persons  to  be  named  by  him.  Your 
letter  he  does  not  think  will  guard  them  from  arrest, 
and  with  only  those  letters  he  would  have  to  explain 
the  whole  matter  to  any  officer  who  might  choose  to 
hinder  them.  If  this  meets  with  your  approbation, 
I  can  write  the  order  in  your  name  as  A.  A.  G.,  or 
you  can  send  it  by  mail.  Please  answer  me  at  Astor 
House.  JOHN  HAY,  A.  A.  G. 

President  Lincoln  to  Major  Hay. 
EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  July  16, 1844. 
JOHN  HAY,  Astor  House,  New  York. 

Yours  received.  Write  the  safe  conduct  as  you 
propose,  without  waiting  for  one  by  mail  from  me. 
If  there  is  or  is  not  anything  in  the  affair,  I  wish  to 
know  it  without  unnecessary  delay. 

A.  LINCOLN. 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 
The  President  of  the  United  States  directs  that  the 
four  persons  whose  names  follow,  to  wit :  Hon.  Clem- 
ent C.  Clay,  Hon.  Jacob  Thompson,  Prof.  James  P. 
Holcombe,  George  N.  Sanders,  shall  have  safe  con- 
duct to  the  city  of  Washington,  in  company  with  the 
Hon.  Horace  Greeley,  and  shall  be  exempt  from 
arrest  or  annoyance  of  any  kind  from  any  officer  of 
the  United  States  during  their  journey  to  the  city  of 
Washington.  By  order  of  the  President, 

JOHN  HAY,  Major  and  A.  A.  G. 

Mr.  Greeley's  Reply. 

NIAGARA  FALLS,  N.  Y.,  July  IT,  1364. 
GENTLEMEN  :  I  am  informed  that  you  are  duly  ac- 
credited from  Richmond  as  the  bearers  of  propo- 
sitions looking  to  the  establishment  of  peace ;  that 
you  desire  to  visit  Washington  in  the  fulfilment  of 
your  mission,  and  that  you  further  desire  that  Mr. 
George  N.  Sanders  shall  accompany  you.  If  my  in- 
formation be  thus  far  substantially'  correct,  I  am 
authorized  by  the  President  of  the  United  States  to 
tender  you  his  safe  conduct  on  the  journey  proposed, 
and  to  accompany  you  at  the  earliest  time  that  will 
be  agreeable  to  you. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  gentlemen,  yours, 

HORACE  GREELEY. 

To  Messrs.  CLEMENT  C.  CLAY,  JACOB  THOMPSON, 
JAMES  P.  HOLCOMBE,  Clifton  House,  C.  W. 

Messrs.  Holcombe  and  Clay  to  Mr.  Greeley. 

CLIFTON  HOUSE,  NIAGARA  FALLS,  July  IS,  1864. 

SIR  :  We  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  your  favor 
of  the  17th  inst.,  which  would  have  been  answered 
on  yesterday  but  for  the  absence  of  Mr.  Clay.  The 
safe  conduct  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  has 
been  tendered  us,  we  regret  to  state,  under  some 
niisapprehension  of  facts.  We  have  not  been  accred- 
ited to  him  from  Richmond  as  the  bearers  of  propo- 
sitions looking  to  the  establishment  of  peace.  We 
are,  however,  in  the  confidential  employment  of  our 
Government,  and  are  entirely  familiar  with  its  wishes 
and  opinions  on  that  subject;  and  we  feel  authorized 
to  declare  that,  if  the  circumstances  disclosed  in  this 
correspondence  were  communicated  to  Richmond, 
we  would  be  at  once  invested  with  the  authority  to 
which  your  letter  refers ;  or  other  gentlemen,  clothed 
with  full  powers,  would  be  immediately  sent  to  Wash- 
ington with  the  view  of  hastening  a  consummation 
so  much  to  be  desired,  and  terminating  at  the  earliest 
possible  moment  the  calamities  of  the  war.  We  re- 
spectfully solicit,  through  your  intervention,  a  safe 
conduct  to  Washington,  and  thence  by  any  route 
which  may  be  designated,  through  your  lines  to 
Richmond.  We  would  be  gratified  if  Mr.  George  N. 
Sanders  was  embraced  in  this  privilege. 

Permit  us,  in  conclusion,  to  acknowledge  our  obli- 
gations to  you  for  the  interest  you  have  manifested 
id  the  furtherance  of  our  wishes,  and  to  express  the 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


hope  that  in  any  event  you  will  afl'ord  us  the  oppor- 
tunity of  tendering  them  in  person  before  you  leave 
the  Falls.    We  remain,  very  respectfully.  &c., 
CT  C.  CLAY,  JR. 
J.  P.  HOLCOMBE. 

P.  S. — It  is  proper  to  add,  that  Mr.  Thompson  is 
not  here,  and  has  not  been  staying  with  us  since  our 
sojourn  in  Canada. 

•Mr.  Greeley's  Reply. 

INTERNATIONAL  HOTEL,  NIAGARA,  N.  T.,  July  IS,  1864 

GENTLEMEN:  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  yours  of  this  date  by  the  hand  of  Mr.  W.  C. 
Jewett.  The  state  of  facts  therein  presented"  being 
materially  different  from  that  which  was  understood 
to  exist  by  the  President  when  he  entrusted  me  with 
the  safe  conduct  required,  it  seems  to  me  on  every 
account  advisable  that  I  should  communicate  with 
him  by  telegraph,  and  solicit  fresh  instructions,  which 
I  shall  at  once  proceed  to  do.  I  hope  to  be  able  to 
transmit  the  result  this  afternoon ;  and  at  all  events 
I  shall  do  so  at  the  earliest  moment.  Yours,  truly, 
HORACE  GREELEY. 

To  Messrs.  CLEMENT  C.  CLAY  and  JAMES  P.  HOL- 
COMBE, Clifton  House,  C.  W. 

Mr.  Greeley  to  the  President. 

INDEPENDENT  TELEGRAPH  LINE,  ) 
NIAGARA  FALLS,  July  18, 1864.  ) 
Hon.  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  President : 

I  have  communicated  with  the  gentlemen  in  ques- 
tion, and  do  not  find  them  so  empowered  as  I  was  pre- 
viously assured.  They  say  that  "we  are,  however,  in 
the  confidential  employment  of  our  Government,  and 
entirely  familiar  with  its  wishes  and  opinions  on  that 
subject;  and  we  feel  authorized  to  declare  that,  if  the 
circumstances  disclosed  in  this  correspondence  were 
communicated  to  Richnjond,  we  would  at  once  be 
invested  with  the  authority  to  which  your  letter 
refers,  or  other  gentlemen,  clothed  with  full  powers, 
would  immediately  be  sent  to  Washington  with  the 
view  of  hastening  a  consummation  so  much  to  be 
desired,  and  terminating  at  the  earliest  possible  mo- 
ment the  calamities  of  war.  We  respectfully  solicit,, 
through  your  intervention,  a  safe  conduct  to  Wash- 
ington, and  thence  by  any  route  which  may  be  desig- 
nated to  Richmond."  Such  is  the  more  material 
portion  of  the  gentlemen's  letter.  I  will  transmit 
the  entire  correspondence,  if  desired.  Awaiting  your 
further  instructions,  I  remain  yours, 

HORACE  GREELEY. 

Messrs.  Clay  and  Holcombe  to  Mr.  Greeley. 

CLIFTON  HOUSE,  KIAGARA  FALLS,  July  18, 1864 
To  Hon.  H.  GREELET,  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y. : 

SIR  :  We  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  note  of  this  date  by  the  hands  of  Col.  Jewett, 
and  will  await  the  further  answer  which  you  purpose 
to  send  to  us.    We  are,  very  respectfully,  &c., 
C.  C.  CLAY,  JR. 
JAMES  P.  HOLCOMBE. 

Mr.  Greeley  to  Messrs.  Clay  and  Holcombe. 

INTERNATIONAL  HOTEL,        ) 
NIAGARA  FALLS,  N.  Y.,  July  19, 1864  j 

GENTLEMEN  :  At  a  late  hour  last  evening  (too  late 
for  communication  with  you)  I  received  a  despatch 
informing  me  that  further  instructions  left  Washing- 
ton last  evening,  which  must  reach  me,  if  there  be  no 
interruption,  at  noon  to-morrow.  Should  you  decide 
to  await  their  arrival,  I  feel  confident  that  they  will 
enable  me  to  answer  definitely  your  note  of  yesterday 
morning.  Regretting  a  delay  which  I  am  sure  you 
will  regard  as  unavoidable  on  my  part,  I  remain, 
yours  truly,  HORACE  GREELEY. 

To  Hon.  Messrs.  C.  C.  CLAY,  Jr.,  and  H.  P.  HOL- 
COMBE, Clifton  House,  Niagara,  C.  W. 

Messrs.  Holcombe  and  Clay  to  Mr.  Greeley. 

CLDTOIT  HOUSE,  NIAGARA  FALLS,  July  19, 1864 
SIR:  Col.  Jewett  has  just  handed  us  your  note  of 
this  date,  in  which  you  state  that  further  instructions 


from  Washington  will  reach  you  by  noon  to-morrow 
if  there  be  no  interruption.  One  or  possibly  both  of 
us  may  be  obliged  to  leave  the  Falls  to-day,  but  will 
return  in  time  to  receive  the  communication  which 
you  promise  to-morrow.  We  remain  truly  yours,  &c., 

JAMES  P.  HOLCOMBE. 

C.  C.  CLAY,  JR. 
To  Hon.  H.  GREELEY,  now  at  International  Hotel. 

The  despatch  which  Mr.  Greeley  received 
from  "Washington,  he  thus  explains :  "  Not  feel- 
ing at  liberty  to  concede  this,  I  telegraphed  to 
Washington  for  further  instructions,  and  was 
duly  informed  that  Major  Hay,  the  President's 
private  secretary,  would  soon  be  on  his  way  to 
me.  He  reached  the  Falls  on  the  20th,  and  we 
crossed  over  to  the  Clifton,  where  Major  Hay, 
after  mutual  introductions,  handed  Professor 
Holcombe  the  following  paper  in  the  hand- 
writing of  the  President : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  July  IS,  1864 
To  icTiom  it  may  concern  : 

Any  proposition  which  embraces  the  restoration 
of  peace,  the  integrity  of  the  whole  Union,  and  the 
abandonment  of  slavery,  and  which  comes  by  and 
with  an  authority  that  can  control  the  armies  now  at 
war  against  the  United  States,  will  be  received  and 
considered  by  the  Executive  Government  of  the 
United  States,  and  will  be  met  by  liberal  terms  on 
other  substantial  and  collateral  points,  and  the 
bearer  thereof  shall  have  safe  conduct  both  ways. 
ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

"  I  left  the  Falls  by  the  next  train,  leaving 
Major  Hay  to  receive  any  response  to  the  Pres- 
ident's proffer,  should  any  be  made,  but  there 
was  none." 

Note  from  Major  Hay  to  Mr.  Holcombe. 

INTERNATIONAL  HOTEL,  Wednesday  July  20th. 

Major  Hay  would  respectfully  inquire  whether  Pro- 
fessor Holcombe  and  the  gentlemen  associated  with 
him  desire  to  send  to  Washington  by  Major  Hay  any 
messages  in  reference  to  the  communication  delivered 
to  him  on  yesterday,  and  in  that  case  when  he  may 
expect  to  be  favored  with  such  messages. 

Note  from  Mr.  Holcombe  to  Major  Hay. 
CLIFTON  HOUSE,  NIAGARA  FALLS,  Thursday,  July  21, 1S&4 
Mr.  Holcombe  presents  his  compliments  to  Major 
Hay,  and  greatly  regrets  if  his  return  to  Washington 
has  been  delayed  by  any  expectation  of  an  answer  to 
the  communication  which  Mr.  Holcombe  received 
from  him  on  yesterday,  to  be  delivered  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  That  communication  was 
accepted  as  the  response  to  a  letter  of  Messrs.  Clay 
and  Holcombe  to  the  Hon.  H.  Greeley,  and  to  that 
gentleman  an  answer  has  been  transmitted. 

Messrs.  Holcombe  and  Clay  to  Mr  Greeley. 

CLIFTON  HOUSE,  NIAGARA  FALLS,  July  21, 1864. 
To  HON.  HORACE  GREELEY  : 

SIR:  The  paper  handed  to  Mr.  Holcombe  on  yes- 
"terday  in  your  presence  by  Major  Hay,  Assistant 
Adjutant-General,  as  an  answer  to  the  application  in 
our  note  of  the  18th  inst.,  is  couched  in  the  following 
terms : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  July  18th,  1864. 
To  whom  it  may  concern  : 

Any  proposition  which  embraces  the  restoration  of  peace, 
the  integrity  of  the  whole  Union,  and  the  abandonment  of 
slavery,  and  which  comes  by  and  with  an  authority  that  can 
control  the  armies  now  at  war  against  the  United  States,  will 
be  received  and  considered  by  the  Executive  Government  of 
the  United  States,  and  will  be  met  by  liberal  terms  on  other 
substantial  and  collateral  points,  and  the  bearer  or  bearers 
thereof  shall  have  safe  conduct  both  ways. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

The  application  to  which  we  refer  was  elicited  by 
your  letter  of  the  17th  instant,  in  which  you  inform 
Mr.  Jacob  Thompson  and  ourselves  that  you  were 


662 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


authorized  by  the  President  of  the  United  States  to 
tender  us  his  safe  conduct,  on  the  hypothesis  that  we 
were  "  duly  accredited  from  Richmond  as  bearers  of 
propositions  looking  to  the  establishment  of  peace," 
and  desired  a  visit  to  Washington  in  the  fulfilment 
of  this  mission.  This  assertion,  to  which  we  then 
gave,  and  still  do,  entire  credence,  was  accepted  by 
us  as  the  evidence  of  an  unexpected  but  most  grati- 
fying change  in  the  policy  of  the  President — a  change 
which  we  felt  authorized  to  hope  mi^ht  terminate  in 
the  conclusion  of  a  peace  mutually  just,  honorable, 
and  advantageous  to  the  North  and  to  the  South, 
exacting  no  condition  but  that  we  should  be  "duly 
accredited  from  Richmond  as  bearers'  of  propositions 
looking  to  the  establishment  of  peace." 

Thus  proffering  a  basis  for  a  conference  as  compre- 
hensive as  we  could  desire,  it  seemed  to  us  that  the 
President  opened  a  door  which  had  previously  been 
closed  against  the  Confederate  States  for  a  full  inter- 
change of  sentiments,  free  discussion  of  conflicting 
opinions,  and  untrammelled  effort  to  remove  all  causes 
of  controversy  by  liberal  negotiations.  We,  indeed, 
could  not  claim  the  benefit  of  a  safe  conduct  which 
had  been  extended  to  us  in  a  character  we  had  no 
right  to  assume  and  had  never  affected  to  possess ; 
but  the  uniform  declarations  of  our  Executive  and 
Congress,  and  their  thrice  repeated  and  as  often  re- 
pulsed attempts  to  open  negotiations,  furnish  a  suffi- 
cient pledge  that  this  conciliatory  manifestation  on 
the  part  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  would 
be  met  by  them  in  a  temper  of  equal  magnanimity. 
We  had,  therefore,  no  hesitation  in  declaring  that  if 
this  correspondence  was  communicated  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Confederate  States  he  would  promptly 
embrace  the  opportunity  presented  for  seeking  a 
peaceful  solution  of  this  unhappy  strife. 

We  feel  confident  that  you  must  share  our  pro- 
found regret  that  the  spirit  which  dictated  the  first 
step  toward  peace  had  not  continued  to  animate  the 
counsels  of  your  President.  Had  the  representatives 
of  the  two  Governments  met  to  consider  this  ques- 
tion— the  most  momentous  ever  submitted  to  human 
statesmanship — in  a  temper  of  becoming  moderation 
and  equity,  followed  as  their  deliberations  would 
have  been  by  the  prayers  and  benedictions  of  every 
patriot  and  Christian  on  the  habitable  globe,  who  is 
there  so  bold  as  to  say  that  the  frightful  waste  of  in- 
dividual happiness  and  public  prosperity  which  is 
daily  saddening  the  universal  heart  might  not  have 
been  terminated,  or  if  the  desolation  and  carnage  of 
war  must  still  be  endured  through  weary  years  of 
blood  and  suffering,  that  there  might  not  at  least  have 
been  infused  into  its  conduct  something  more  of  the 
spirit  which  softens  and  partially  redeems  its  bru- 
talities? 

Instead  of  the  safe  conduct  which  we  solicited,  and 
which  your  first  letter  gave  us  every  reason  to  sup- 
pose would  be  extended  for  the  purpose  of  initiating 
a  negotiation  in  which  neither  Government  would 
compromise  its  rights  or  its  dignity,  a  document. has 
been  presented  which  provokes  as  much  indignation 
as  surprise.  It  bears  no  feature  of  resemblance  to 
that  which  was  originally  offered,  and  is  unlike  any 
paper  which  ever  before  emanated  from  the  consti- 
tutional executive  of  a  free  people.  Addressed  "  To 
whom  it  may  concern,"  it  precludes  negotiation,  and 
prescribes  in  advance  the  terms  and  conditions  of 
peace.  It  returns  to  the  original  policy  of  "  no  bar- 
gaining, no  negotiations,  no  truces  with  rebels,  except 
to  bury  their  dead,  until  every  man  shall  have  laid 
down  his  arms,  submitted  to  the  Government,  and 
sued  for  mercy." 

What  may  be  the  explanation  of  this  sudden  and 
entire  change  in  the  views  of  the  President,  of  this 
rude  withdrawal  of  a  courteous  overture  for  negoti- 
ation at  the  moment  it  was  likely  to  be  accepted,  of 
this  emphatic  recall  of  words  of  peace  just  uttered, 
and  fresh  blasts  of  war  to  the  bitter  end,  we  leave  for 
the  speculation  of  those  who  haVe  the  means  or  in- 
clination to  penetrate  the  mysteries  of  his  Cabinet,  or 


fathom  the  caprice  of  his  imperial  will.  It  is  enough 
for  us  to  say  that  we  have  no  use  whatever  for  the 
paper  which  has  been  placed  in  our  hands.  We  could 
not  transmit  it  to  the  President  of  the  Confederate 
States  without  offering  him  an  indignity,  dishonoring 
ourselves,  and  incurring  the  well-merited  scorn  of  our 
countrymen. 

Whilst  an  ardent  desire  for  peace  pervades  the 
people  of  the  Confederate  States,  we  rejoice  to  believe 
that  there  are  few,  if  any,  among  them  who  would 
purchase  it  at  the  expense  of  liberty,  honor,  and  self- 
respect.  If  it  can  be  secured  only  by  their  submission 
to  terms  of  conquest,  the  generation  is  yet  unborn 
which  will  witne_ss  its  restitution.  If  there  be  any 
military  autocrat  in  the  North  who  is  entitled  to  proffer 
the  conditions  of  this  manifesto,  there  is  none  in  the 
South  authorized  to  entertain  them.  Those  who  con- 
trol our  armies  are  the  servants  of  the  people,  not 
their  masters ;  and  they  have  no  more  inclination 
than  they  have  right  to  subvert  to  social  institutions 
of  the  sovereign  States,  to  overthrow  their  established 
constitutions,  and  to  barter  away  their  priceless  heri- 
tage of  self-government. 

This  correspondence  will  not,  however,  we  trust, 
prove  wholly  barren  of  good  results. 

If  there  is  any  citizen  of  the  Confederate  States  who 
has  clung  to  a  hope  that  peace  was  possible  with  this 
administration  of  the  Federal  Government,  it  will  strip 
from  his  eyes  the  last  film  of  such  delusion ;  or  if 
there  be  any  whose  hearts  have  grown  faint  under 
the  suffering  and  agony  of  this  bloody  struggle,  it  will 
inspire  them  with  fresh  energy  to  endure  and  brave 
whatever  may  yet  be  requisite  to  preserve  to  them- 
selves and  their  children  all  that  gives  dignity  and 
value  to  life  or  hope,  and  consolation  to  death.  And 
if  there  be  any  patriots  or  Christians  in  your  land  who 
shrink  appalled  from  the  illimitable  virtue  of  private 
misery  and  public  calamity  which  stretches  before 
them,  we  pray  that  in  their  bosoms  a  resolution  may 
be  quickened  to  recall  the  abused  authority  and  vin- 
dicate the  outraged  civilization  of  their  country. 

For  the  solicitude  you  have  manifested  to  inaugu- 
rate a  movement  which  contemplates  results  the  most 
noble  and  humane,  we  return  our  sincere  thanks,  and 
are,  most  respectfully  and  truly,  your  obedient  ser- 
vants, C.  C.  CLAY,  JR. 

JAMES  P.  HOLCOMBE. 

Messrs.  Clay  and  Holcombe  to  Wm.  C.  Jewett. 

CLIFTON  HOUSE,  NIAGARA  FALLS,  July  20,  1864. 
Col.  W.  C.  JEWETT,  Cataract  House,  Niagara  Falls : 

SIK  :  We  are  in  receipt  of  your  note  admonishing 
us  of  the  departure  of  Hon.  Horace  Greeley  from  the 
Falls,  that  he  regrets  the  sad  termination  of  the  ini- 
tiatory steps  taken  for  peace  in  consequence  of  the 
change  made  by  the  President  in  his  instructions  to 
convey  commissioners  to  Washington  for  negotia- 
tions unconditionally,  and  that  Mr.  Greeley  will  be 
pleased  to  receive  any  answer  we  may  have  to  make 
through  you.  We  avail  ourselves  of  this  offer  to  en- 
close a  letter  to  Mr.  Greeley,  which  you  will  oblige  us 
by  delivering.  We  cannot  take  leave  of  you  without 
expressing  our  thanks  for  your  courtesy  and  kind 
offices  as  the  intermediary  through  whom  our  cor- 
respondence with  Mr.  Greeley  has  been  conducted, 
and  assuring  you  that  we  are,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servants,  C.  C.  CLAY,  JR. 

JAMES  P.  HOLCOMBE. 
Mr.  Greeley  to  Mr.  Jewett. 
INTERNATIONAL  HOTEL,  NIAGARA  FALLS,  July  20, 1S64. 

In  leaving  the  Falls  I  feel  bound  to  State  that  I 
have  had  no  intercourse  with  the  Confederate  gentle- 
men at  the  Clifton  House,  but  such  as  I  was  fully 
authorized  to  hold  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  that  I  have  done  nothing  in  the  premises 
but  in  fulfilment  of  his  injunctions.  The  notes,  there- 
fore, which  you  have  interchanged  between  those 
gentlemen  and  myself,  can  in  no  case  subject  you  to 
the  imputation  of  unauthorized  dealing  with  public 
enemies.  HORACE  GREELEY. 

To  W.  C.  JEWETT,  Esq. 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


663 


No  farther  attempts  to  open  negotiations 
were  made  until  December  28th,  when  the 
President  and  Secretary  Seward  met  Commis- 
sioners from  Richmond  at  Fortress  Monroe. 
The  particulars  are  thus  stated  by  the  Pres- 
ident : 

To  the  Hon.  the  House  of  Representatives  ; 

In  response  to  your  resolution  of  the  8th  inst.,  re- 
questing information  in  relation  to  a  conference  held 
in  Hampton  Roads,  I  have  the  honor  to  state  that  on 
the  date  I  gave  Francis  P.  Blair,  senior,  a  card  writ- 
ten as  follows,  to  wit : 

"DECEMBER  23, 1864. 

Allow  the  bearer,  F.  P.  Blair,  Sr.,  to  pass  our  lines 
to  go  South  and  return. 

(Signed)  A.  LINCOLN." 

That  at  the  time  I  was  informed  that  Mr.  Blair 
sought  the  card  as  a  means  of  getting  to  Richmond, 
Va.,  but  he  was  given  no  authority  to  speak  or  act  for 
the  Government.  Nor  was  I  informed  of  any  thing 
he  would  say  or  do  on  his  own  account  or  otherwise. 

Mr.  Blair  told  me  that  he  had  been  to  Richmond 
and  had  seen^Mr.  Jefferson  Davis,  and  he  (Mr.  Blair) 
at  the  same  time  left  with  me  a  manuscript  letter,  as 
follows,  to  wit : 

"  KICHMOND,  VA..  Jan.  12, 1865. 
F.  P.  Wair,  Esq. 

SIR  :  I  have  deemed  it  proper  and  probably  desira- 
ble to  you  to  give  you  in  this  form  the  substance  of 
the  remarks  made  by  me  to  be  repeated  by  you  to 
President  Lincoln,  &c.  I  have  no  disposition  to  find 
obstacles  in  forms,  and  am  willing  now,  as  hereto- 
fore, to  enter  into  negotiations  for  the  restoration  of 
peace.  I  am  ready  to  send  a  commission  whenever 
1  have  reason  to  suppose  it  will  be  received,  or  to  re- 
ceive a  commission  if  the  United  States  Government 
shall  choose  to  send  one.  Notwithstanding  the  re- 
jection of  our  former  offers,  I  would,  if  you  could 
promise  that  a  commission,  minister,  or  other  agent 
would  be  received,  appoint  one  imrnediatelv,  and  re- 
new the  effort  to  enter  into  a  conference  with  a  view 
to  saoure  peace  to  the  two  countries. 

Yours,  Ac.,         JEFFERSON  DAVIS." 

Afterwards,  with  a  view  that  it  should  be  shown  to 
Mr.  Davis,  I  wrote  and  delivered  to  Mr.  Blair  a  letter 
as  follows,  to  wit : 

"  WASHINGTON,  Jan.  18, 1865. 
F.  P.  Blair,  Esq. 

SIR:  You  having  shown  me  Mr.  Davis' s  letter  to 
you  of  the  12th  inst.,  you  may  say  to  him  that  I  have 
constantly  been,  am  now,  and  shall  continue  ready 
to  receive  any  agent  whom  he,  or  any  other  influen- 
tial person  now  resisting  the  national  authority,  may 
informally  send  me,  with  a  view  of  securing  peace  to 
the  people  of  our  common  countrv. 

Yours,  Ac.,  A.  LINCOLN. 

Afterwards  Mr.  Blair  dictated  for  and  authorized  me 
to  make  an  entry  on  the  back  of  my  retained  copy  of 
the  letter  just  above  recited,  which  is  as  follows : 

"JANUARY  28,  1865. 

To-day  Mr.  Blair  tells  me  that  on  the  21st  inst.  he 
delivered  to  Mr.  Davis  the  original,  of  which  the 
within  is  a  copy,  and  left  it  with  him ;  that  at  the 
time  of  delivering  Mr.  Davis  read  it  over  twice  in 
Mr.  Blair's  presence,  at  the  close  of  which  he  (Mr.  B.) 
remarked  that  the  part  about  our  common  country 
related  to  the  part  of  Mr.  Davis' s  letter  about  the 
two  countries,  to  which  Mr.  D.  replied  that  he  un- 
derstood it.  A.  LINCOLN." 

Afterwards  the  Secretary  of  War  placed  in  my 
hands  the  following  telegram,  indorsed  by  him,  as 
appears : 

"  OFFICE  U.  8.  MILITAEY  TELEGRAPH,  ) 
War  Department.  | 

[CIPHER.]  The  following  telegram  was  received  at 
Washington,  Jan.  29, 1865  : 


'  FROM  HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  J Aires.  ) 
6.30  p.  M.,  Jan.  29, 1865.         f 
To  Hon.  E.  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War. 

Ths  following  despatch  is  just  received  from  Major- 
Gen.  Parke,  who  refers  it  to  me  for  my  action.  I  re- 
fer it  to  you  in  Gen.  Grant's  absence. 

(Signed)        E.  0.  C.  ORD,  Maj.-Gen.  Comdg. 

'  HEADQUARTERS  AEMT  OF  THE  JAMES. 
The  following  despatch  is  forwarded  to  you  for 
your  action,  since  I  have  no  knowledge  of  General 
Grant's  having  had  any  understanding  of  this  kind. 
I  refer  this  matter  to  you  as  the  ranking  officer  pres- 
ent in  the  two  armies.  (Signed) 

JOHN  G.  PARKE,  Maj.-Gen.  Comdg.' 

"  FROM  HEADQUARTERS  NINTH  ARMY  CORPS,  | 
January  29, 1865.  J 

Major- General  John  G.  Parke,  Headquarters  Army  of 

the  Potomac. 

Alexander  H.  Stephens,  R.  M.  T.  Hunter,  and  J.  A. 
Campbell  desire  to  cross  my  lines,  in  accordance  with 
an  understanding  claimed  to  exist  with  Lieut,-Gen. 
Grant,  on  their  way  to  Washington  as  Peace  Com- 
missioners. Shall  they  be  admitted?  They  desi* 
an  early  answer,  so  as  to  come  through  immediately. 
They  would  like  to  reach  City  Point  to-night  if  they 
can.  If  they  cannot  do  this  they  would  like  to  come 
through  to-morrow  morning. 

0.  B.  WILSON,  Maj.  Comdg.  Ninth  Corps. 
Respectfully  referred  to  the  President  for  such  in- 
structions as  he  may  be  pleased  to  give. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War." 
JANUARY  29, 1865—8.30  p.  M. 

It  appears  that  about  the  time  of  placing  the  fore- 
going telegram  in  my  hands,  the  Secretary  of  War 
despatched  to  General  Ord  as  follows,  to  wit: 

"  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON  CITY,  | 
Jan.  29, 1865—10  P.  M.  f 

Major- General  Ord. 

This  Department  has  no  knowledge  of  any  under- 
standing by  Gen.  Grant  to  allow  any  person  to  come 
within  nis  lines  as  commissioners  of  any  sort.  You 
will  therefore  allow  no  one  to  come  into  your  lines 
under  such  character  or  profession  until  you  receive 
the  President's  instructions,  to  whom  your  telegrams 
will  be  submitted  for  his  directions. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War." 
[SENT  IN  CIPHER  AT  2  A.  M.] 

Afterwards,  by  my  directions,  the  Secretary  of  War 
telegraphed  Gen.  Ord  as  follows,  to  wit : 

"  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON  CITY,  D.  0.,  ? 
Jan.  30, 1865—10  A.  M.          J 

Major- General  E.  0.  C.  Ord,  Headquarters  Army  of 
the  James. 

By  the  direction  of  the  President  you  are  instruct- 
ed to  inform  the  three  gentlemen,  Messrs.  Stephens, 
Hunter,  and  Campbell,  that  a  message  will  be  de- 
spatched to  them  at  or  near  where  they  now  are  with- 
out unnecessary  delay. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War." 

Afterwards  I  prepared  and  put  into  the  hands  of 
Major  Thomas  T.  Eckert  the  following  instructions  : 

"  EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  Jan.  30, 1865. 
Major  T.  T.  Eckert. 

SIR  :  You  will  proceed  with  the  documents  placed 
in  your  hands,  and  on  reaching  Gen.  Ord  will  de- 
liver him  the  letter  addressed  him  by  the  Secretary 
of  War.  Then,  by  Gen.  Ord's  assistance,  procure  an 
interview  with  Messrs.  Stephens,  Hunter,  and  Camp- 
bell, or  any  of  them,  and  deliver  to  him  or  them  the 
paper  on  which  your  own  letter  is  written.  Note  on 
the  copy  which  you  retain  the  time  of  delivery  and  to 
whom  delivered.  Receive  their  answer  in  writing, 
waiting  a  reasonable  time  for  it,  and  which,  if  it 
contain  their  decision  to  come  through  without  fur- 
ther conditions,  will  be  your  warrant  to  ask  Gen. 
Ord  to  pass  them  through  as  directed  in  the  letter  of 
the  Secretary  of  War.  If  by  their  answer  they  de- 
cline to  come,  or  propose  other  terms,  do  not  have 


664 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


tliem  passed  through.    And  this  being  your  whole 
duty  return  and  report  to  me. 

Yours  truly,  A.  LINCOLN." 

"  CITY  POINT,  Feb.  1,  1865. 
Messrs.  Al-exander  H.  Step'hens,  J.  A.  Campbell,  and 

B.  M.  T.  Hunter  : 

Gentlemen :  I  am  instructed  by  the  President  of 
the  United  States  to  place  this  paper  in  your  hands, 
with  the.  information  that  if  you  pass  through  the 
United  States  military  lines,  it  will  be  understood 
that  you  do  so  for  the  purpose  of  an  informal  confer- 
ence on  the  basis  of  that  letter,  a  copy  of  which  is 
on  the  reverse  side  of  this  sheet ;  and  that  you  choose 
to  pass  on  such  understanding,  and  so  notify  me  in 
writing.  I  will  procure  the  Commanding  General  to 
pass  you  through  the  lines  and  to  Fortress  Monroe 
under  such  military  precautions  as  he  may  deem  pru- 
dent, and  at  which*  place  you  will  be  met  in  due  time 
by  some  person  or  persons  for  the  purpose  of  such 
informal  conference ;  and,  further,  that  you  shall 
have  protection,  safe  conduct,  and  safe  return  in  all 
events.  THOMAS  T.  ECKERT, 

Major  and  Aide-de-Camp." 

Afterward,  but  before  Major  Eckert  had  departed, 
the  following  despatch  was  received  from  General 
Grant : 

"OFFICE  TJ.  8.  MILTTABT  TELEGBAPH,  ) 
%         [ClPHEB.]  War  Department,      j 

The  following  telegram  was  received  at  Washing- 
ton, Jan.  81,  1865,  from  City  Point,  Va.,  10:30  A.  M., 
Jan.  31, 1865 : 

'  His  Excellency  Abraham,  Lincoln,  President  of  the 
United  States  : 

The  following  communication  was  received  here 
last  evening : 

"  PETEBSBUBG,  VA.,  Jan.  30, 1865. 

Lieut.- Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  Commanding  Armies  of  tTie 
United  States  : 

Sir :  We  desire  to  pass  your  lines  under  safe  con- 
duct, and  to  proceed  to  Washington  to  hold  a  con- 
ference with  President  Lincoln  upon  the  subject  of 
the  existing  war,  and  with  a  view  of  ascertaining 
apon  what  terms  it  may  be  terminated,  in  pursuance 
of  the  course  indicated"^  by  him  in  his  letter  to  Mr. 
Blair  of  Jan.  18,  1865,  of  which  we  presume  you  have 
a  copy,  and  if  not,  we  wish  to  see  you  in  person,  if 
convenient,  and  to  confer  with  you  on  the  subject. 
Very  respectfully,  yours, 

ALEXANDER  H.  STEPHENS, 
J.  A.  CAMPBELL. 
R.  M.  T.  HUNTER."      . 

I  have  sent  directions  to  receive  these  gentlemen, 
and  expect  to  have  them  at  my  quarters  this  evening 
awaiting  your  instructions. 

U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieut.-General, 
Commanding  Armies  of  the  United  States.'  " 
.  This,  it  will  be  perceived,  transferred  Gen.  Ord's 
agency  in  the  matter  to  Gen.  Grant.    I  resolved, 
however,  to  send  Major  Eckert  forward  with  his  mes- 
sage, and  accordingly  telegraphed  Gen.  Grant  as  fol- 
lows, to  wit : 

"  EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  ) 
Jan.  81,  1866.     f 
Liewt.-Gen.  Grant,  City  Point,  Va.  ; 

A  messenger  is  coming  to  vou  on  the  business  con- 
tained in  your  despatch.  Detain  the  gentlemen  in 
comfortable  quarters  until  he  arrives,  and  then  act 
upon  the  message  he  brings  as  far  as  applicable,  it 
having  been  made  up  to  pass  through  Gen.  Ord's 
hands,  and  when  the  gentlemen  were  supposed  to  be 
beyond  our  lines.  A.  LINCOLN." 

[SENT  in  CIPHER  AT  1:30  p.  M,] 

When  Major  Eckert  departed  he  bore  with  him  a 
letter  of  the  Secretary  of  War  to  Gen.  Grant  as  fol- 
lows, to  wit : 

_u  WAS  DEPABTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  Jan.  80, 1865. 
Lieut.-General  Grant,  Commanding,  &c. 

General :  The  President  desires  that  you  procure 
for  the  bearer,  Major  Thomas  T.  Eckert,  an  interview 


with  Messrs.  Stephens,  Hunter,  and  Campbell,  and 
if,  on  his  return  to  you  he  requests  it,  pass  them 
through  our  lines  to  Fortress  Monroe  by  such  route 
and  under  such  military  precautions  as  you  may 
deem  prudent,  giving  them  protection  and  comfort- 
able quarters  while  there,  and  that  you  let  none  of 
this  have  any  effect  upon  any  of  your  movements  or 
plans.  By  order  of  the  President, 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War." 

Supposing  the  proper  point  to  be  then  reached,  I 
despatched  the  Secretary  of  State  with  the  following 
instructions,  Major  Eckert,  however,  going  ahead  of 
him: 

"  EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  Jan.  81, 1865. 
Hon.  Wm  H.  Seward,  Secretary  of  State  : 

You  will  proceed  to  Fortress  Monroe,  Va.,  there  to 
meet  and  informally  confer  with  Messrs.  Stephens, 
Hunter,  and  Campbell  on  the  basis  of  my  letter  to  F. 
P.  Blair,  Esq.,  of  Jan.  18,  1865,  a  copy  of  which  you 
have.  You  will  make  known  to  them  that  three 
things  are  indispensable,  to  wit :  1  st,  the  restoration 
of  the  national  authority  throughout  all  the  States ; 
2d,  no  receding  by  the  Executive  of  the  United  States 
on  the  slavery  question  from  the  position  assumed 
thereon  in  the  late  annual  message  to  Congress,  and 
in  the  preceding  documents ;  3d,  no  cessation  of  hos- 
tilities short  of  an  end  of  the  war.  and  the  disband- 
ing of  all  the  forces  hostile  to  the  Government.  You 
will  inform  them  that  all  propositions  of  theirs  not 
inconsistent  with  the  above  will  be  considered  and 
passed  upon  in  a  spirit  of  sincere  liberality.  You  will 
hear  all  they  may  choose  to  say  and  report  it  to  me. 
You  will  not  assume  to  definitely  consummate  any 
thing.  Yours,  &c.,  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN." 

On  the  day  of  its  date  the  following  telegram  was 
sent  to  Gen.  Grant : 

"  WAE  DEPABTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  Feb.  1, 1865. 
Liaut.-  General  Grant,  City  Point,  Va.  ; 

Let  nothing  which  is  transpiring  change,  hinder, 
or  delay  your  military  movements  or  pjans. 

A.  LINCOLN." 
[SENT  IN  CIPHER  AT  9:30  A.  M.] 

Afterward  the  following  despatch  was  received  from 
Gen.  Grant : 

"  OFFICE  U.  S.  TELEGKAPH,  WAB  DEPAETMENT. 
[!N  CIPHER.] 

The  following  telegram  was  received  at  Washington 
at  2:30  P.  M.,  Feb.  1, 1865,  from  City  Point,  Va.,  Feb. 
1,  12:30  p.  M.,  1865: 
'  His  Excellency  A.  Lincoln,  President  of  tJw  United 

States  : 

Your  despatch  is  received.  There  will  be  no  ar- 
mistice in  consequence  of  the  presence  of  Mr.  Ste- 
phens and  others  within  our  lines.  The  troops  are 
kept  in  readiness  to  move  at  the  shortest  notice  if 
occasion  should  justify  it. 

U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieut.-Gen.'  " 

To  notify  Major  Eckert  that  the  Secretary  of  State 
would  be  at  Fortress  Monroe  and  to  put  them  in 
communication,  the  following  despatch  was  sent : 

"  WAR  DEPABTAENT,  WASHINGTON,  Feb.  1, 1865. 
T.  T.  Eckert,  care  Gen.  Grant,  City  Point,  Va.  : 

Call  at  Fortress  Monroe  and  put  yourself  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  S.,  whom  you  will  find  there. 

A.  LINCOLN." 

On  the  morning  of  the  2d  inst.  the  following  tele- 
grams were  received  by  me  from  the  Secretary  of 
State  and  Major  Eckert : 

"FOBTBE88  MONEOE,  Va.— 11:80  p.  M.,  Feb.  1, 1865. 
The  President  of  the  United  States  : 

Arrived  here  this  evening.  Richmond  party  not 
here.  I  remain  here.  W.  H.  SEWARD." 

"  CITY  POINT,  Va.,  10  P.  M.,  Feb.  1, 1S65. 
His  Excellency  A.  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United 

States  : 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  delivery  of  your 
communication  and  my  letter  at  4:15  this  afternoon, 
to  which  I  received  a  reply  at  6  P.  M.,  but  not  satis- 
factory. At  8  P.  M.  the  following  note,  addressed  to 
Gen.  Grant,  was  received : 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


665 


'  CITY  POINT,  VA,,  Feb.  1, 1865. 
To  Lieut. -Gen.  Grant : 

Sir :  We  desire  to  go  to  Washington  City  to  con- 
fer informally  with  the  President  personally,  in 
reference  to  the  matters  mentioned  in  his  letter  to 
Mr.  Blair  of  the  18th  of  January,  ult.,  without  any 
personal  compromise  on  any  question  in  the  letter. 
We  have  the  permission  to  do  so  from  the  authorities 
in  Richmond.  Very  respectfully  yours, 

ALEX.  H.  STEPHENS, 
•  R.  M.  T.  HUNTER. 
J.  A.  CAMPBELL.1 

At  9:30  P.  M.  I  notified  them  that  they  could  not 
proceed  further  unless  they  complied  with  the  terms 
expressed  in  my  letter.  The  point  of  meeting  desig- 
nated in  the  above  would  not  in  my  opinion  be  in- 
sisted upon.  I  think  Fortress  Monroe  would  be  ac- 
ceptable. Having  complied  with  my  instructions, 
will  return  to  Washington  to-morrow  unless  other- 
wise ordered.  THOMAS  T.  ECKERT,  Major,  &c." 

On  reading  this  despatch  of  Major  Eckert's,  I  was 
about  to  recall  him  and  the  Secretary  of  State,  when 
the  following  telegram  of  Gen.  Grant  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  War  was  shown  me : 

"  OFFICE  TJ.  8.  MILITARY  TELEGRAPH,  WAS  DEPABTM'T. 
[!N  CIPHER.] 

The  following  telegram,  received  at  Washington  at 
4:35  A.  M.,  Feb.  2,  1865,  from  City  Point,  Va.,  Feb.  1, 
1865: 

'  Hon.  Edwin  If.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War  ; 

Now  that  the  interview  between  Major  Eckert, 
under  his  written  instructions,  and  Mr.  Stephens 
and  party  has  ended,  I  will  state  confidentially,  but 
not  officially,  to  become  a  matter  of  record,  that  I  am 
convinced,  upon  conversation  with  Messrs.  Stephens 
and  Hunter,  that  their  intentions  are  good  and  their 
desire  sincere  to  restore  peace  and  L  nion.  I  have 
not  felt  myself  at  liberty  to  express  even  views  of 
my  own,  or  to  account  for  my  reticence.  This  has 
placed  me  in  an  awkward  position,  which  I  could 
have  avoided  by  not  seeing  them  in  the  first  instance. 
I  fear  now.  their  going  back  without  any  expression 
to  any  one  in  authority  will  have  a  bad  influence'. 
At  the  same  time  I  recognize  the  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  receiving  their  informal  commissioners  at 
this  time,  and  I  do  not  know  what  to  recommend.  I 
am  sorry,  hp'wever,  that  Mr.  Lincoln  cannot  have  an 
interview  with  the  two  named  in  this  despatch,  if  not 
all  three  now  within  our  lines.  Their  letter  to  me 
was  all  that  the  President's  instructions  contem- 
plated to  secure  their  safe  conduct  if  they  had  used 
the  same  language  to  Cant.  Eckert. 

U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-General.' " 

This  despatch  of  Gen.  Grant  changed  my  purpose, 
and  accordingly  I  telegraphed  him  and  the  Secretary 
of  War  as  follows : 

"WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  Feb.  2, 1865. 
To  Lieut.- Gen.  Grant,  City  Point,  Va.  : 

Say  to  the  gentlemen  that  I  will  meet  them  person- 
ally at  Fortress  Monroe  as  soon  as  I  can  get  there.  , 

A.  LINCOLN." 
[SENT  IN  CIPHER  AT  9  A.  M.] 

"WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  Feb.  2, 1865. 
To  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Seward,  Fortress  Monroe,  Va.  : 

Induced  by  a  despatch  from  Gen.  Grant,  I  join  you 
at  Fortress  Monroe  as  soon  as  I  can  come. 

A.  LINCOLN." 
[SENT  IN  CIPHER  AT  9  A.  M.] 

Before  starting  the  following  despatch  was  shown 
me.  I  proceeded  nevertheless : 

"  OFFICE  U.  S.  MILITARY  TELEGRAPH,  WAR  DEPARTMENT. 
[!N  CIPHER.] 

The  following  telegram  was  received  at  Washing- 
ton, Feb.  2,  1865,  from  City  Point,  Va.,  9  A.  M.,  Feb. 
2,  1865 : 

'  To  Hon.  W.  H.  Seward,,  Sec'y  of  State,  Fortress  Monroe: 
[Copy  to  Hon.  E.  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War.] 
The  gentlemen  here  have  accepted  the  proposed 
terms  and  will  leave  for  Fortress  Monroe  at  9:30  A.  M. 
U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieut.-Gen.'  " 


On  the  night  of  the  2d,  I  reached  Hampton  Roads, 
and  found  tne  Secretary  of  State  and  Major  Eckert 
in  a  steamer  anchored  off  the  shore,  and  learned  of 
them  that  the  Richmond  gentlemen  were  in  another 
steamer,  also  anchored  off  shore  in  the  Roads,  and 
that  the  Secretary  of  State  had  not  yet  seen  or 
communicated  with  them.  I  ascertained  that  Major 
Eckert  had  literally  complied  with  his  instructions, 
and  I  saw  for  the  first  time  the  answer  of  the  Rich- 
mond gentlemen  to  him,  which  in  his  despatch  to  me 
of  the  1st,  he  characterized  as  not  satisfactory.  That 
answer  is  as  follows,  to  wit : 

"  CITY  POINT,  Va.,  Feb.  1, 1865. 
To  Thos  T  Eckert,  Major  and  Aide-de-camp. 

Major:  Your  note  delivered  by  yourself  this  day 
has  been  considered.  In  reply,  we  have  to  say  that 
we  were  furnished  with  a  copy  of  the  letter  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  to  F.  P.  Blair,  of  the  18th  of  January  ult. 
Another  copy  of  which  is  appended  to  your  note. 
Our  intentions  are  contained  in  the  letter,  of  which 
the  following  is  a  copy1: 

'  RICHMOND,  Jan.  28, 1865. 

In  conformity  with  the  letter  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  of 
which  the  foregoing  is  a  copy,  you  are  to  proceed  to 
Washington  City  for  an  informal  conference  with  him 
upon  the  issues  involved  in  the  existing  war  and  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  peace  to  the  two  countries. 
With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS.' 

The  substantial  object  to  be  attained  by  the  in- 
formal conference  is  to  ascertain  upon  what  terms 
the  existing  war  can  be.terminated  honorably.  Our 
instructions  contemplate  a  personal  interview  be- 
tween President  Lincoln  and  ourselves  at  Washing- 
ton ;  but  with  this  explanation,  we  are  ready  to  meet 
any  person  or  persons  that  President  Lincoln  may 
appoint,  at  such  place  as  he  may  designate.  Our 
earnest  desire  is  that  a  just  and  honorable  peace 
may  be  agreed  upon,  and  we  are  prepared  to  receive 
or  to  submit  propositions  which  may  possibly  lead  to 
the  attainment  of  that  end. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

ALEXANDER  H.  STEPHENS, 
R.  M.  T.  HUNTER, 
JOHN  A.  CAMPBELL." 

A  note  of  these  gentlemen,  subsequently  addressed 
to  Gen.  Grant,  has  already  been  given  in  Major 
Eckert's  despatch  of  the  1st  inst.  I  also  saw  here 
for  the  first  time  the  following  note  addressed  by  the 
Richmond  gentlemen  to  Major  Eckert : 

"CrrY  POINT,  VA.,  Feb.  2, 1865. 
Thomas  T.  Eckert,  Major  and  A.  D.  G. 

Major:  In  reply  to  your  verbal  statement  that 
your  instructions  did  not  allow  you  to  alter  the  con- 
ditions upon  which  a  passport  would  be  given  to  us, 
we  say  that  we  are  willing  to  proceed  to  Fortress 
Monroe,  and  there  to  have  an  informal  conference  with 
any  person  or  persons  that  President  Lincoln  may 
appoint,  on  the  basis  of  his  letter  to  Francis  P.  Blair 
of  the  18th  of  January  ultimo,  or  upon  any  other 
terms  or  conditions  that  he  may  hereafter  propose 
not  inconsistent  with  the  essential  principles  of  self- 
government  and  popular  rights,  upon  which  our  in- 
stitutions are  founded.  It  is  our  earnest  wish  to 
ascertain,  after  a  free  interchange  of  ideas  and  infor- 
mation, upon  what  principles  and  terms,  if  any,  a 
just  and  honorable  peace  can  be  established  without 
the  further  effusion  of  blood,  and  to  contribute  our 
utmost  efforts  to  accomplish  such  a  result.  We  think 
it  better  to  add,  that  in  accepting  your  passport  we 
are  not  to  be  understood  as  committing  ourselves  to 
any  thing,  but  to  carry  on  this  informal  conference 
with  the  views  and  feelings  above  expressed. 
Very  respectfully  yours,  Ac., 

ALEX.  H.  STEPHENS, 
J.  A.  CAMPBELL, 
R.  M.  T.  HUNTER." 
[NOTE.    The  abqve  communication  was  delivered 


666 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


to  me  at  Fortress  Monroe  at  4.40  p.  M.,  February  2,  by 
Lieut.-Col.  Babcock,  of  G-on.  Grant's  staff. 

THOS.  T.  ECKERT,  Major  and  A.  D.  C.] 
"  EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  Feb.  10, 1865. 

On  the  morning  of  the  3d,  the  gentlemen,  Messrs. 
Stephens,  Hunter,  and  Campbell,  came  aboard  of  our 
steamer  and  had  an  interview  with  the  Secretary  of 
State  and  myself  of  several  hours'  duration.  No 
question  of  preliminaries  to  the  meeting  was  then  and 
there  made  or  mentioned.  No  other  person  was 
present.  No  papers  were  exchanged  or  produced, 
and  it  was  in  advance  agreed  that  the  conversation 
was  to  be  informal  and  verbal  merely.  On  my  part 
the  whole  substance  of  the  instructions  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  State,  hereinbefore  recited,  was  stated  and 
insisted  upon,  and  nothing  was  said  inconsistent 
therewith,  while  by  the  other  party  it  was  not  said 
that  in  any  event  or  on  any  condition  they  ever  would 
consent  to  reunion ;  and  yet  they  equally  omitted  to 
declare  that  they  would  never  so  consent.  They 
seemed  to  desire  a  postponement  of  that  question 
and  the  adoption  of  some  other  course  first,  which, 
as  some  of  them  seemed  to  argue,  might  or  might  not 
lead  to  reunion,  but  which  course  we  thought  would 
amount  to  an  indefinite  postponement. 

The  conference  ended  without  result. 

The  foregoing,  containing,  as  is  believed,  all  the 
information  sought,  is-  respectfully  submitted. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN." 

EKPOET  OP  MESSRS.  STEPHENS,  HUNTER,  AND  CAMPBELL. 

EXEOTTTIVE  OFFICE,  RICHMOND,  February  6, 1866. 
To  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
Confederate  States  of  America  : 

Having  recently  received  a  written  notification 
which  satisfied  me  that  the  President  of  the  United 
States  was  disposed  to  confer  informally  with  unoffi- 
cial agents  which  might  be  sent  by  me,  with  a  view 
to  the  restoration  of  peace,  I  requested  the  Hon. 
Alexander  H.  Stephens,  the  Hon.  R.  M.  T.  Hunter, 
and  the  Hon  John  A.  Campbell  to  proceed  through 
our  lines  and  to  hold  conference  with  Mr.  Lincoln, 
or  any  one  he  might  depute  to  represent  him. 

I  herewith  transmit,  for  the  information  of  Con- 
gress, the_  report  of  the  eminent  citizens  above  nam- 
ed, sho\ying  that  the  enemy  refused  to  enter  into 
negotiations  with  the  Confederate  States,  or  any  one 
of  them  separately,  or  to  give  to  our  people  any 
other  terms  or  guarantees  than  those  which  the  con- 
queror may  grant,  or  to  permit  us  to  have  peace  on 
any  other  basis  than  our  unconditional  submission 
to  their  rule,  coupled  with  the  acceptance  of  their 
recent  legislation  on  the  subject  of  the  relations 
between  the  white  and  black  population  of  each 
State.  Such  is,  as  I  understand,  the  effect  of  the 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  which  has  been 
adopted  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 

RICHMOND,  VA.,  February  5, 1865. 
To  the  President  of  the  Confederate  States  : 

SIR  :  Under  your  letter  of  appointment  of  the  28th 
ult.,  we  proceeded  to  seek  an  "  informal  conference" 
with  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United 
States,  upon  the  subject  mentioned  in  the  letter. 
The  conference  was  granted,  and  took  place  on  the 
80th  inst.,  on  board  of  a  steamer  in  Hampton  Roads, 
where  we  met  President  Lincoln  and  the  Hon.  Mr. 
Seward,  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United  States.  It 
continued  for  several  hours,  and  was  both  full  and 
explicit. 

We  learned  from  them  that  the  message  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  in 
December  last  explains  clearly  and  distinctly  his 
sentiments  as  to  the  terms,  conditions,  and  method 
of  proceeding  by  which  peace  can  be  secured  to  the 
people,  _and  we  were  not  informed  that  they  would 
be  modified  or  altered  to  obtain  that  end.  We  un- 
derstand from  him  that  no  terms  or  proposals  of  any 
treaty  or  agreement  looking  to  an  ultimate  settlement 
would  be  entertained  or  made  by  him  with  the  Con- 


federate States,  because  that  would  be  a  recognition 
of  their  existence  as  a  separate  power,  which,  under 
no  circumstances,  would  be  done ;  and  for  like  rea- 
sons that  no  such  terms  would  be  entertained  by  him 
from  the  States  separately ;  that  no  extended  truce 
or  armistice  (as  at  present  advised)  would  be  granted, 
without  a  satisfactory  assurance  in  advance  of  a  com- 
plete restoration  of  the  authority  of  the  United  States 
over  all  places  within  the  States  of  the  Confederacy. 
That  whatever  consequence  may  follow  from  the 
reestablishment  of  that  authority  must  be  accepted ; 
but  that  individuals,  subject  to  pains  and  penalties 
under  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  might  rely  upon 
a  very  liberal  use  of  the  power  confided  to  him  to  re- 
mit those  pains  and  penalties  if  peace  be  restored. 

During  the  conference  the  proposed  amendment  to 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  adopted  by 
Congress  on  the  31st  ult.,  was  brought  to  our  notice. 
This  amendment  declares  that  neither  slaverv  nor 
involuntary  servitude,  except  for  crimes,  should  ex- 
ist within  the  United  States,  or  any  place  within  their 
jurisdiction,  and  that  Congress  should  have  power  to 
enforce  this  amendment  by  appropriate  legislation. 
Of  all  the  correspondence  that  preceded  the  confer- 
ence herein  mentioned,  and  leading  to  the  same,  you 
have  heretofore  been  informed. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servants, 

ALEX.  H.  STEPHENS, 
R.  M.  T.  'HUNTER, 
JOHN  A.  CAMPBELL. 

The  commerce  of  1864  with  Europe  was 
limited  in  consequence  of  the  increased  duties 
on  imports  and  the  favorable  harvests  ahroad, 
which  diminished  the  demand  for  breadstuifs. 
The  official  statement  of  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment gives  the  following  results  of  the  trade 
of  the  country  for  the  fiscal  years  1863  and 
1864.  The  fiscal  year  ends  on  June  30th.  The 
specie  export  for  1863  should  he  increased  to 
$18,207,879,  to  embrace  a  large  unusual  ship- 
ment made  from  California  to  England  for  safe- 
ty of  transit. 

Import*.  1S63.  1864 

Goods...  ...$252,731,939  $328,514,559 

Specie 9,555,648  13,155,706 

Total $262,287,587  $341,670,265 

Experts.  ' 

Domestic  produce $249,856,649  $320,292,171 

Foreign          "        17,796,200  20,373,449 

Specie 64,156,610  105,125,750 

Total $331,809,459  $445,791,870 

The  import  valuations  are  in  specie,  being 
the  invoice  value.  The  export  values  are  in 
legal  tender  prices.  The  advance  in  gold,  as 
compared  with  legal  tender  notes  and  the  in- 
crease of  taxes,  seriously  affected  the  prices  of 
articles  sold  for  consumption. 

Some  modification  allowing  more  freedom  of 
trade  was  made  in  the  conditions  of  commer- 
cial intercourse  with  places  within  the  limits 
of  the  insurrectionary  States  during  the  year. 

The  financial  affairs  of  the  Government  were 
^successfully  administered  during  the  year. 

The  receipts  from  all  sources,  upon  the  basis 
of  warrants  signed  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  including  loans  and  the  balance  in 
the  Treasury,  on  the  1st  day  of  July,  1863,  were 
$1,394,796,007.62 ;  and  the  aggregate  disburse- 
ments, upon  the  same  basis,  were  $1,298,056,- 
101.89,  leaving  a'  balance  in  the  Treasury,  as 
shown  by  warrants,  of  $96,746,905.73. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOBY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


667 


Deduct  from  these  amounts  the  amount  of 
the  principal  of  the  public  debt  redeemed,  and 
the  amount  of  issues  in  substitution  therefor, 
and  the  actual  cash  operations  of  the  Treasury 
were:  receipts,  $884,076,646.57;  disbursements, 
$865,234,087.86;  which  leaves  a  cash  balance 
in  the  Treasury  of  $18,842,558.71. 

Of  the  receipts,  there  were  derived  from  cus- 
toms $102,316,152.99 ;  from  lands,  $588,333.29 ; 
from  direct  taxes,  $475,648.96;  from  internal 
revenue,  $109,741,134.10;  from  miscellaneous 
sources.  $47,511,448.10 ;  and  from  loans  applied 
to  actual  expenditures,  including  former  balance, 
$623,443,929.13. 

There  were  disbursed,  for  the  civil  service, 
$27,505,599.46  ;  for  pensions  and  Indians,  $7,- 
517,930.97 ;  for  the  War  Department,  $690,791,- 
842.97;  for  the  Navy  Department,  $85,733,- 
292.77;  for  interest  of  the  public  debt,  $53,- 
685,421.69— making  an  aggregate  of  $865,234,- 
087.86,  and  leaving  a  balance  in  the  Treasury 
of  $18,842,558.71,  as  before  stated. 

The  public  debt  on  the  1st  day  of  July,  1864, 
as  appears  by  the  books  of  the  Treasury, 
amounted  to  $1,740,690,489.49. 

The  action  of  Congress  relative  to  slaves  and 
free  colored  persons  since  the  commencement 
of  the  war  may  be  thus  summarily  stated. 
Slaves  used  for  military  purposes  by  the*enemy 
were  declared  to  be  free ;  an  additional  article 
of  war  dismissed  from  service  all  officers  who 
should  surrender  escaped  fugitives  coming  with- 
in the  lines  of  the  armies;  three  thousand 
slaves  in  the  District  of  Columbia  were  eman- 
cipated, and  slaveholding  forbidden :  it  was 
enacted  that  colored  persons  in  the  Dis- 
trict should  be  tried  for  the  same  offences,  in 
the  same  manner,  and  be  subject  to  the  same 
punishment  as  white  persons,  and  that  such 
persons  should  not  be  excluded  as  witnesses  on 
account  of  color;  and  that  colored  schools 
should  be  provided,  and  the  same  rate  of  ap- 
propriation made  to  them  as  to  schools  for 
white  children;  and  that  there  should  be  no 
exclusion  from  any  railway  car  in  the  District 
on  account  of  color ;  slavery  was  forever  pro- 
hibited in  all  territory  of  the  United  States ;  a 
joint  resolution  was  passed  pledging  the  faith 
of  the  nation  to  aid  non-seceding  States  to 
emancipate  their  slaves;  all  slaves  of  persons 
aiding  the  enemy,  who  should  take  refuge  with- 
in the  lines  of  the  army,  were  declared  free ;  it 
was  enacted  that  no  slave  should  be  surrender- 
ed to  any  claimant  until  such  person  had  made 
oath  that  he  had  not  given  aid  and  comfort  to 
the  rebellion ;  the  President  was  authorized  to 
receive  into  the  military  service  persons  of  Afri- 


ed  the  same  as  whites,  the  former  to  have  the 
same  pay  as  the  latter,  and  the  slave  to  be  free ; 
all  fugitive  slave  acts  were  repealed ;  the  coast- 
wise slave  trade  was  declared  illegal ;  colored 
persons  enabled  to  testify  in  all  the  courts  of  the 
United  States ;  colored  persons  were  authorized 
to  carry  the  mails  of  the  United  States.  Other 
measures  were  introduced  but  failed  to  pass. 

The  question  of  the  proper  disposition  to  be 
made  of  the  vast  number  of  persons  of  African 
descent  who  by  the  operation  of  the  Emancipa- 
tion proclamation,  by  the  progress  of  the  Union 
armies  in  various  parts  of  the  South,  or  the  acts 
of  Emancipation  passed  by  the  Constitutional 
Conventions  of  several  of  the  States,  became 
free,  continued  to  excite  the  anxious  atten- 
tion of  the  Government  and  of  the  citizens  of 
the  United  States.  While  some  progress  was 
made  toward  the  solution  of  the  difficulties,  it 
cannot  be  said  that  any  entirely  satisfactory 
policy  was  adopted.  Different  sections  requir- 
ed differences  in  detail  in  the  management  of 
freedmen.  The  number  who  had  thus  far  ob- 
tained their  freedom  is  not  easily  ascertained, 
In  September,  1864,  the  Philadelphia  "  North 
American  "  published  a  carefully-prepared  estir 
mate  for  each  State,  making  the  aggregate 
amount  1,368,600.  Mr.  J.  E.  Gilmore  (Edmund 
Kirke)  had  previously  estimated  the  number  at 
1,555,225,  while  Jefferson  Davis  in  the  summer 
stated  the  number  at  3,000,000,  about  three- 
fourths  of  the  whole  number  in  the  country. 
Since  that  time,  Sherman's  march  through 
Georgia,  South  and  North  Carolina,  resulted  in 
setting  at  liberty  hardly  less  than  200,000,  and 
victories  in  other  quarters  materially  added  to 
the  number  elsewhere.  Whatever  may  have 
been  the  case  in  1863,  it  hardly  admits  of 
a  doubt  that,  including  those  set  free  by  the 
Emancipation  acts  in  Maryland,  Western  Vir- 
ginia, and  Missouri,  the  whole  number  of 
freedmen  in  1864  did  not  fall  much,  if 
at  all,  short  of  3,000,000.  Of  these  nearly 
250,000  were  in  the  army,  either  as  soldiers  or 
teamsters,  and  probably  more  than  twice  as 
many  more  women,  children,  or  old  men  were 
employed  as  servants,  cooks,  washerwomen, 
etc.,  etc.,  in  the  various  camps,  military  posts, 
hospitals,  etc.,  throughout  the  country.  Of 
the  remainder  a  large  number  picked  up  a 
living,  more  or  less  precarious,  in  the  larger 
cities  and  towns  of  the  West  and  South.  Very 
few  of  them  came  North,  the  severe  climate 
being  disliked  by  the  negro.  Not  far  from  a 
million  and  perhaps  more  than  that  number 
were  employed  upon  plantations  leased  or  per- 
mitted by  the  General  Government,  or  worked 


can  descent,  and  suc%  person,  his  mother,  wife,^for  wages  for  farmers  and  planters  in  Missouri, 


and  children,  owing  service  to  any  person  giving 
aid  to  the  rebellion,  were  declared  free ;  the 
mutual  right  of  search  was  arranged  within 
certain  limits  with  Great  Britain,  in  order  to 
suppress  the  slave  trade ;  the  independence  of 
Hayti  and  Liberia  were  recognized,  and  diplo- 
matic relations  with  them  authorized ;  colored 
persons,  free  or  slave,  to  be  enrolled  and  draft- 


Maryland,  or  Western  Virginia,  or  did  them- 
selves become  lessees  of  plantations,  or  were 
gathered  inFreedmen's  Home  Colonies  if  feeble, 
aged,  or  infirm,  and  there  supported  from  the 
proceeds  of  the  labor  of  those  who  were  able- 
bodied. 

The  Freedmen's  Aid  Societies,  Commissions, 
and  Associations,  of  which  there  were  eighteen 


668 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


or  twenty  in  the  United  States,  were  active  and  refused  by  the  other  side,  on  the  ground  that  it 
efficient  in  furnishing  supplies,  teachers,  and  was  a  departure  from  the  cartel,  and  the  ex- 
religious  instruction  to  the  freedmen.  They  change  was  suspended  for  some  time  on  this 
expended  for  these  purposes  during  the  three  ground.  At  length  on  August  10th,  1864,  the 
years  ending  January,  1865,  nearly  one  million  Confederate  Commissioner  accepted  these 
of  dollars.  Through  their  efforts  a  hill  was  in-  terms,  "  in  view  of  the  very  large  number  of 
troduced  into  Congress  providing  for  the  Estab-  prisoners  now  held  by  each  party  and  the 
lishment  of  a  Freedman's  Bureau  in  connection  suffering  consequent  upon  their  consequent 
with  the  War  Department  which  finally  passed,  confinement."  .  The  exchange,  however,  was 
The  statements  of  the  number  of  prisoners  not  at  the  time  resumed,  as  the  question  of 
exchanged  to  the  close  of  1864  by  each  party  slave  soldiers  was  still  under  discussion. 
in  the  war  are  quite  conflicting,  and  in  the  ab-  This  general  suspension  of  an  exchange  and 
sence  of  the  official  documents  of  either,  which  the  rapid  accumulation  of  prisoners  became  an 
were  withheld  from  publication,  and  which,  additional  cause  of  irritation  to  both  parties, 
perhaps,  would  not  agree  in  details,  it  is  diffi-  In  the  Federal  hands  there  were  between  60,000 
cult  to  arrive  at  a  satisfactory  conclusion.  The  and  70,000,  and  nearly  as  many  in  Confederate 
report  of  the  Commissary  General  of  prisoners, 
which  accompanied  Secretary  Stanton's  report 
at  the  close  of  1863,  stated  that  121,337  of  the 
enemy  as  prisoners  had  been  exchanged  against 
110,866  Union  prisoners;  and  that  29,229  still 


remained  in  Federal  prisons.     On  the  other 
hand  the  statistics  kept  by  the  clerk  of  Libby 


prisons.  To  the  enemy  there  was  an  additional 
grievance  arising  from  this  detention.  Their 
supply  of  men  was  limited ;  they  needed  every 
one  for  service  in  the  field.  In  addition  a  large 
force  was  necessarily  withdrawn  from  the  field 
to  guard  the  prisoners.  Statements  of  great 
cruelty  to  Federal  prisoners  were  now  pub- 


prison,  at  Richmond,  showed  that  from  the  1st  lished  and  verified.    Among  them  was  the  fol- 

of  January,  1864,  to  December  19th,  31,630  lowing  appeal  to  the  President,  made  by  officers 

Federal  prisoners  had  passed  the  doors  of  that  in  confinement  at  Charleston : 
This  number  is  independent  of  twenty 


pnson 

thousand  captured  at  Spottsylvania  and  else- 
where in  Virginia,  and  sent  directly  South. 
The  statistics  of  the  same  prison  made  the  num- 
ber of  those  who  passed  its  doors  and  departed 
as  prisoners  of  war  since  the  commencement  of 
hostilities  at  225,000. 

Of  the  points  in  dispute  between  the  authori- 
ties on  each  side  and  which  caused  temporary 
suspensions  of  the  exchange,  the  most  serious 
related  to  the  negro  prisoners. 

This  dispute  was  thus  founded  on  principles 
which  each  party  held  to  be  fundamental,  and 
yet  were  directly  opposite.  If  the  Federal 
Government  yielded  its  assent  to  this  doctrine, 
it  would  be  an  abandonment  of  the  procla- 
mation of  emancipation,  a  breach  of  faith  tow- 
ard those  men  it  had  made  free  and  accepted 
as  soldiers  in  its  service,  and  a  direct  recog- 
nilion  of  the  principle  of  property  in  man.  On 
the  other  hand,  if  the  Richmond  authorities 
recognized  the  right  of  those  fugitives  from 
bondage  to  freedom,  it  would  be  an  abandon- 
ment of  the  position  for  which  they  had  been 
so  long  contending,  and  knock  the  corner-stone 
from  under  the  whole  fabric  of  slavery.  The 
excess  of  prisoners  finally  became  so  large  in 
the  Federal  hands,  that  the  question  upon 
which  it  was  impossible  to  agree  was  tempora- 
rily waived.  Another  difficulty  which  existed 
early  in  the  year,  and  at  the  close  of  the  pre- 


f 


COXFEDEBATE  STATES  PEISON, 

CHARLESTON,  8.  C.,  August  — ,  1864. 
To  the  President  of  the  United  States : 

The  condition  of  the  enlisted  men  belonging  to  the 
Union  armies,  now  prisoners  to  the  Confederate  rebel 
forces,  is  such  that  it  becomes  our  duty,  and  the  duty 
of  every  commisioned  officer,  to  make  known  the 
facts  in  the  case  to  the  Government  of  the  United 
States,  and  to  use  every  honorable  effort  to  secure  a 
general  exchange  of  prisoners,  thereby  relieving 
thousands  of  our  comrades  from  the  horrors  now 
surrounding  them. 

For  some  time  past  there  has  been  a  concentration 
of  prisoners  from  all  parts  of  the  rebel  territory  to 
the  State  of  Georgia — the  commissioned  officers  be- 
ing confined  at  Macon,  and  the  enlisted  men  at  An- 
dersonville.  Recent  movements  of  the  Union  armies 
under  General  Sherman  have  compelled  the  removal 
of  prisoners  to  other  points,  and  it  is  now  understood 
that  they  will  be  removed  to  Savannah,  Georgia, 
Columbia  and  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  But  no 
change  of  this  kind  holds  out  any  prospect  of  relief 
to  our  poor  men.  Indeed,  as  the  localities  selected 
are  far  more  unhealthy,  there  must  be  an  increase 
rather  than  a  diminution  of  suffering.  Colonel  Hill, 
Provost  Marshal  General,  Confederate  States  Army, 
at  Atlanta,  stated  to  one  of  the  undersigned  that  there 
were  thirty-five  thousand  prisoners  at  Andersonville, 
and  by  all  accounts  from  the  United  States  soldiers 
who  have  been  confined  there,  the  number  is  not 
overstated  by  him.  These  thirty-five  thousand  are 
confined  in  a  field  of  some  thirty  acres,  enclosed  by 
a  board  fence,  heavily  guarded.  About  one-third 
have  various  kinds  of  indifferent  shelter;  but  up- 
ward of  thirty  thousand  are  wholly  without  shelter, 
or  even  shade  of  any  kind,  and  are  exposed  to  the 
storms  and  rains,  which  are  of  almost  daily  occur- 


Vious  one,  was  a  charge  that  the  Federal  Gov-^rence  •  the  cold  dews  of  *e.^«H  and  Ae  more  ter. 
eminent  departed  froS  the  original  agreement ^^f^n^^^ 

From  the  date  of  the  cartel  until  July,  1863, 
the  enemy  had  an  excess  of  prisoners.  The 
Federal  authorities  after  that  date  declared  the 
cartel  had  been  violated  by  the  release  from 
parole  of  the  Vicksburg  prisoners,  and  refused 
to  proceed.  They  then  proposed  to  exchange 


officer  for  officer  and  man  for  man.     This  was 


"rible  effects  of  the  sun  striking  with 
fierceness  upon  their  unprotected  heads, 
of  men  jostle  and  crowd  each  other  up  and  down  the 
limits  of  their  enclosure,  in  storm  or  sun,  and  others 
lie  down  upon  the  pitiless  earth  at  night,  with  no 
other  covering  than  the  clothing  upon  their  backs, 
few  of  them  having  even  a  blanket. 

Upon  entering  the  prison  every  man  is  deliberately 
stripped  of  money  and  other  property,  and  as  no 
clothing  or  blanke'ts  are  ever  supplied  to  their  prison- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


669 


ers  by  the  rebel  authorities  the  condition  of  the  ap- 
parel of  the  soldiers,  just  from  an  active  campaign, 
can  be  easily  imagined.  Thousands  are  without 
pants  or  coats,  and  hundreds  without  even  a  pair  of 
drawers  to  cover  their  nakedness. 

To  these  men,  as  indeed  to  all  prisoners,  there  is 
issued  three-quarters  of  a  pound  of  bre&d  or  meal, 
and  one-eighth  of  a  pound  of  meat  per  day.  This  is 
the  entire  ration,  and  upon  it  the  prisoner  must  live 
or  die.  The  meal  is  often  unsifted_  and  soxir,  and  the 
meat  such  as  in  the  North  is  consigned  to  the  soap- 
maker.  Such  are  the  rations  upon  which  Union  sol- 
diers are  fed  by  the  rebel  authorities,  and  by  which 
they  are  barely  holding  on  to  life.  But  to  starvation 
and  exposure,  to  sun  and  storm,  add  the  sickness 
which  prevails  to  a  most  alarming  and  terrible  ex- 
tent. On  an  average  one  hundred  die  daily.  It  is 
impossible  that  any  Union  soldier  should  know  all 
the  facts  pertaining  to  this  terrible  mortality,  as  they 
are  not  paraded  by  the  rebel  authorities.  Such  state- 
ments as  the  following,  made  by ,  speaks 

eloquent  testimony.  Said  he : — "Of  twelve  of  us  who 
were  captured,  six  died ;  four  are  in  the  hospital,  and 
I  never  expect  to  see  them  again.  There  are  but  two 
of  us  left.  In  1862,  at  Montgomery,  Alabama,  under 
far  more  favorable  circumstances,  the  prisoners  be- 
ing protected  by  sheds,  from  one  hundred  and  fifty 
to  two  hundred  were  siok  from  diarrhoea  and  chills, 
out  of  seven  hundred.  The  same  percentage  would 
give  seven  thousand  sick  at  Andersonville.  It  needs 
no  comment,  no  efforts  at  word  painting,  to  make 
such  a  picture  stand  out  boldly  in  most  horrible 
colors. 

Nor  is  this  all.  Among  the  ill-fated  of  the  many 
who  have  suffered  amputation  in  consequence  of  in- 
juries received  before  capture,  sent  from  rebel  hos- 
pitals before  their  wounds  were  healed,  there  are 
eloquent  witnesses  of  the  barbarities  of  which  they 
are  victims.  If  to  these  facts  are  added  this,  that 
nothing  more  demoralizes  soldiers  and  develops  the 
evil  passions  of  man  than  starvation,  the  terrible  con- 
dition of  Union  prisoners  at  Andersonville  can  be 
readily  imagined.  They  are  fast  losing  hope,  and 
becoming  utterly  reckless  of  life.  Numbers,  crazed 
by  their  sufferings,  wander  about  in  a  state  of  idiocy ; 
others  deliberately  cross  the  "dead  line,"  and  are 
remorselessly  shot  down. 

In  behalf  of  these  men  we  most  earnestly  appeal 
to  the  President  of  the  United  States.  Few  of  them 
have  been  captured  except  in  the  front  of  battle,  in 
the  deadly  encounter,  and  only  when  overpowered 
by  numbers.  They  constitute  as  gallant  a  portion 
of  our  armies  as  carry  our  banners  anywhere.  If  re- 
leased, they  would  soon  return  to  again  do  vigorous 
battle  for  our  cause.  We  are  told  that  the  only  ob- 
stacle in  the  way  of  exchange  is  the  status  of  enlisted 
negroes  captured  from  our  armies,  the  United  States 
claiming  that  the  cartel  covers  all  who  serve  under 
its  flag,  and  the  Confederate  States  refusing  to  con- 
sider the  colored  soldiers  heretofore  slaves  as  prison- 
ers of  war.  , 

We  beg  leave  to  suggest  some  facts  bearing  upon 
the  question  of  exchange,  which  we  would  urge  upon 
your  consideration.  Is  it  not  consistent  with  the 
national  honor,  without  waiving  the  claim  that  the 
negro  soldiers  shall  be  treated  as  prisoners  of  war, 


to  effect  an  exchange  of  the  white  soldiers  ?  The 
two  classes  are  treated  differently  by  the  enemy. 
The  whites  are  confined  in  such  prisons  as  Libby 
and  Andersonville,  starved  and  treated  with  a  barba- 
rism unknown  to  civilized  nations.  The  blacks,  on 
the  contrary,  are  seldom  imprisoned.  They  are  dis- 
tributed among  the  citizens,  or  employed  on  govern- 
ment works.  Under  these  circumstances  they  re- 
ceive enough  to  eat,  and  are  worked  no  harder  than 
they  have  been  accustomed  to  be.  They  are  neither 
starved  nor  killed  off  by  the  pestilence  in  the  dun- 
geons of  Eichmond  and  Charleston.  It  is  true  they 
are  again  made  slaves,  but  their  slavery  is  freedom 
and  happiness  compared  with  the  cruel  existence  im- 
posed upon  our  gallant  men.  They  are  not  bereft  of 
nope,  as  are  the  white  soldiers,  dying  by  piecemeal. 
Their  chances  of  escapee  are  tenfold  greater  than 
those  of  the  white  soldiers,  and  their  condition,  in 
all  its  lights,  is  tolerable  in  comparison  with  that  of 
the  prisoners  of  war  now  languishing  in  the  dens  and 
pens  of  secession. 

While,  therefore,  believing  the  claims  of  our  Gov- 
ernment, in  matters  of  exchange,  to  be  just,  we  are 
profoundly  impressed  with  the  conviction  that  the 
circumstances  of  the  two  classes  of  soldiers  are  so 
widely  different  that  the  Government  can  honorably 
consent  to  an  exchange,  waiving  for  a  time  the  es- 
tablished principle  justly  claimed  to  be  applicable  in 
the  case.  Let  thirty-five  thousand  suffering,  starv- 
ing, and  dying  enlisted  men  aid  this  appeal.  By 
prompt  and  decided  action  in  their  behalf  thirty-five 
thousand  heroes  will  be  made  happy.  For  the  eigh- 
teen hundred  commissioned  officers  now  prisoners 
we  urge  nothing.  Although  desirous  of  returning  to 
our  duty,  we  can  bear  imprisonment  with  more  for- 
titude if  the  enlisted  men,  whose  sufferings  we  know 
to  be  intolerable,  were  restored  to  liberty  and  life. 

The  exposure  to  artillery  fire  of  officers  who 
•were  prisoners  was  resorted  to  on  two  or  three 
occasions  as  acts  of  retaliation,  but  it  quickly 
led  to  explanations,  and  no  injuries  were  the 
result.  Arrangements  were  made  by  each  party, 
on  the  approach  of  winter,  to  furnish  their 
soldiers  with  blankets  and  other  absolute  ne- 
cessities. Articles  for  Federal  prisoners  were 
sent  to  City  Point  from  the  North,  and  dis- 
tributed as  directed  by  agents  of  the  rebels  to 
prisoners  in  their  hands.  At  the  same  time  a 
thousand  bales  of  cotton  were  shipped  from 
Mobile  to  New  York  and  sold.  With  the 
money  thus  obtained,'  blankets  and  other  ne- 
cessaries were  provided  for  the  rebel  prisoners 
in  Federal  prisons.  A  contribution  was  also 
made  up  in  England,  and  sent  over  for  Con- 
federate prisoners ;  but  permission  to  deliver  it 
was  refused. 

In  November  an  exchange  was  resumed  be- 
ginning first  with  the  invalids  and  the  sick, 
and  carried  forward  very  rapidly,  on  the  basis 
of  man  for  man,  and  officer  for  officer. 


670 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


CHAPTER   XLIX. 


Progress  of  Military  Operations— G«  eral  Thomas'  position  in  Tennessee— General  flood's  position  in  Tennessee— Move- 
ment of  the  Enemy  on  the  James  Kiver — Another  Battle  at  Hatcher's  Run— March  of  Gen.  Sherman  from  Savan- 
nah— Capture  of  Columbia,  8.  C. — Evacuation  of  Charleston — Advance  to  Fayetteville — Transfer  of  Gen.  Schofield  to 
North  Carolina — Capture  of  Wilmington — Advance  of  Gen.  Sherman  to  Cheraw — Battle  at  Averysboro — Battle  at  Ben- 
tonville — Arrival  at  Goldsboro — Results  of  Sherman's  March. 


THE  severe  weather  of  the  winter  months 
caused  no  cessation  in  army  operations.  Maj.- 
G-en.  Thomas,  after  pursuing  the  retreating 
forces  of  Gen.  Hood  from  Tennessee,  collected 
his  troops  at  Eastport.  Thence  a  considerable 
body  of  his  men,  consisting  of  the  23d  corps 
under  Gen.  Schofield,  were  moved  by  railroad 
to  the  Atlantic  coast  and  landed  on  the  North 
Carolina  shore.  Another  small  portion  was 
sent  to  Gen.  Sherman  at  Savannah.  To  Gen. 
Thomas  was  now  assigned  the  defence  of  that 
extended  portion  of  the  country  from  Atlanta 
north  and  westward,  which  belonged  to  the 
department  under  Gen.  Sherman,  when  he  com- 
menced his  march  upon  Savannah.  The  large 
garrisons  which  had  been  required  at  Memphis 
and  other  places  on  the  Mississippi  River,  also 
in  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  had  been  set  free  by 
his  new  position,  and  were  able  to  join  his  forces. 
At  the  same  time,  the  army  of  Gen.  Hood  had 
been  fatally  reduced.  The  situation  of  East- 
port,  on  the  Tennessee  River,  near  the  junction 
of  the  lines  of  Tennessee,  Mississippi,  and  Ala- 
bama, placed  the  northern  portion  of  the  two 
latter  States  at  the  mercy  of  Gen.  Thomas. 

On  Jan.  16th,  1865,  Gen.  Croxton,  with  a 
division  of  the  16th  corps  and  the  1st  division 
of  cavalry,  reconnoitred  from  Eastport  toward 
Corinth,  passing  through  luka  and  Brownsville. 
It  appeared  that  a  small  force  of  Gen.  Hood's 
army  held  Corinth,  while  the  main  body  was 
at  Tupelo.  Thirty-five  of  the  enemy  were  cap- 
tured at  the  depot,  and  a  hotel  at  Corinth 
burned.  Deserters,  averaging  from  thirty  to 
fifty  daily,  were  coming  within  Gen.  Thomas's 
lines,  from  Hood's  army.  Subsequently  a 
part  of  Gen.  Hood's  forces  were  marched  by 
land  eastward  across  the  State  of  Georgia,  to 
assist  in  opposing  Gen.  Sherman.  This  move- 
inentleft  Gen.  Thomas  free  in  the  latter  part  of 
February  to  cooperate  with  Gen.  Canby  against 
Mobile,  and  Southern  Alabama,  and  Mississippi. 

Thus  far  the  quiet  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
since  its  operations  last  described,  had  been 
undisturbed,  except  by  those  incidents  usual  to 
hostile  armies  when  near  each  other.  No  im- 
portant movement  had  been  attempted.  Under 
the  call  for  troops  in  December,  1864,  large 
numbers  were  going  forward  to  fill  its  ranks. 
The  withdrawal  of  a  portion  of  the  fleet  and 
of  the  forces  of  the  Army  of  the  James  for  the 
second  attack  on  Wilmington,  tempted  the  ene- 
my at  Richmond  to  make  a  demonstration  for 
the  purpose  of  breaking  the  pontoon  bridges 
over  the  James,  and  cutting  the  communication 


between  the  Federal  forces  on  the  two  banks. 
If  successful,  it  was  undoubtedly  the  purpose 
to  follow  it  up  by  an  attack  on  the  forces  on 
the  north  bank.  A  fleet,  consisting  of  the  Vir- 
ginia, Fredericksburg,  and  Richmond,  iron- 
clads carrying  four  guns  each,  and  the  wooden 
vessels  Drewry,  Nansemond,  and  Hampton, 
with  two  guns  each,  the  Buford,  one  gun,  the 
steamer  Torpedo,  and  three  torpedo  boats,  left 
Richmond  on  Jan.  23d.  About  midnight,  the 
fleet  passed  Fort  Brady,  and  began  to  pass  the 
obstructions.  A  fire  was  now  opened  by  the 
fort,  to  which  the  enemy  replied,  dismounting 
a  hundred  pounder  in  the  fort,  and  escaping 
beyond  its  range.  The  chain  in  front  of  the 
obstructions  beyond  the  lower  end  of  the  Dutch 
Gap  Canal  was  cut,  and  the  Fredericksburg 
passed  through.  But  the  Richmond,  Virginia, 
and  Drewry,  in  attempting  to  follow,  grounded. 
The  Drewry  could  not  be  got  oflf,  and  was  aban- 
doned as  daylight  appeared,  and  was  blown  up 
subsequently  by  a  shell  from  the  battery  on 
shore.  The  report  of  the  affair  by  the  enemy 
is  as  follows : 

The  flagship  of  the  expedition  was  the  Virginia, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  Dunnington.  The  Rich- 
mond was  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Bell,  who  was 
First  Lieutenant  on  the  Alabama  at  the  time  of  her 
fight  with  the  Kearsarge.  The  Fredericksburg  was 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  Sheppard.  The  latter 
vessel,  being  of  light  draught,  passed  clean  through 
the  obstruction,  but  the  others  found  a  lower 
tier  of  obstructions  deeply  submerged,  and  which 
"had  not  been  moved  by  the  freshet;  the  depth  of 
water  over  them  being  impassable  by  vessels  of  their 
draught.  The  Virginia  received  a  shot  in  the  centre 
by  a  three  hundred  pounder  Parrott  shell,  fired  from  a 
Yankee  Monitor,  being  struck  when  trying  to  get  oflf 
sunken  obstructions  in  the  river.  The  shot  displaced 
a  few  of  her  bolts,  and  killed  five  of  her  crew.  No 
other  damage  was  done,  but  it  was  found  that  her 
engines  were  fouled,  not  in  consequence  of  the  shot, 
and  that  she  was  not  in  fighting  order ;  in  the  mean 
time  the  fire  of  our  vessels  had  completely  silenced 
the  Yankee  shore  batteries,  and  a  number  of  shots 
were  exchanged  with  the  monitor,  with  what  effect 
is  not  known.  In  consequence  of  the  condition  of 
the  Virginia's  engine,  it  was  decided,  on  a  consulta- 
tion of  the  officers  of  the  flotilla,  to  withdraw  all  ves- 
sels, which  was  done  without  further  casualty.  It 
had  been  impossible  to  survey  the  channel  to  any 
great  extent  on  account  of  the  enemy's  picket  fire, 
and  the  submerged  obstructions  of  the  river  were 
found  *,o,  be  more  effectual  than  they  were  supposed 
to  be. 

This  was  followed  by  shelling  between  the 
hostile  batteries  on  the  river  throughout  the 
day,  and  during  the  night  the  fleet  returned  to 
Richmond. 

On  the  night  of  Jan.  31st,  marching  orders 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. . 


671 


•were  issued  to  the  entire  army  at  Petersburg, 
consisting  of  the  2d,  5th,  6th,  and  9th  corps. 
This  was  preparatory  to  another  movement 
^by  the  left,  the  plan  of  which  was  to  throw 
a  strong  flanking  column  far  beyond  the 
right  of  the  enemy's  works,  along  Hatcher's 
Run,  so  that  it  might  pass  behind  them  and 
take  them  in  reverse,  and  then,  if  possible,  turn 
north  and  march  upon  the  Southside  Railroad. 
Meanwhile  the  rest  of  the  army  would  form  a 
connection  between  this  corps  on  the  left  flank 
and  press  the  enemy  gradually  back  as  far 
as  possible  toward  the  railroad.  During  the 
day  and  night  following  the  issue  of  the  orders, 
the  usual  preparations  for  a  forward  movement 
went  on ;  troops  and  baggage  were  moved  to 
the  proper  places,  hospitals  were  cleared,  the 
sick  sent  to  City  Point,  and  four  days'  rations 
distributed  to  the  troops.  Meanwhile  a  heavy 
fire  was  opened  upon  the  enemy's  lines  at  differ- 
ent points,  to  conceal  the  preparations  on  foot. 
This  was  kept  up  during  portions  of  some  nights 
in  which  the  cars  were  kept  incessantly  running 
to  mass  troops  and  supplies  on  the  right.  The 
preparations  for  the  movement  were  not  com- 
pleted until  Sunday  morning,  the  5th.  Gregg's 
division  of  cavalry  had  been  ordered  to  move 
at  3  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  5th  corps, 
under  General  Warren,  was  to  march  at  five, 
and  the  2d  corps  under  Gen.  Humphreys, 
at  six  o'clock.  The  flanking  column  consisted 
of  the  5th  corps  with  Gregg's  cavalry.  The 
cavalry  column  moved  down  the  Jerusalem 
plank  road,  and  reached  Reams'  station  soon 
after  daybreak.  The  5th  corps  moved  along 
the  Halifax  road  at  5  o'clock,  with  Gen.  Ayres's 
division  in  advance,  Gen.  Griffin's  next,  and 
Gen.  Crawford's  in  the  rear.  On  the  Vaughan 
road  were  the  2d  and  3d  divisions  of  the 
2d  corps,  under  Gen.  Humphreys,  who  were 
expected  to  move  directly  upon  the  works  at 
Hatcher's  Run,  while  the  5th  corps  advanced 
around  the  right. 


From  Reams'  station  the  cavalry  advanced 
in  the  direction  of  Dinwiddie  Court  House,  and 
encountered  at  Rowanty  Creek,  a  tributary  of 
the  Nottoway,  a  portion  of  Hampton's  cavalry, 
dismounted  and  sheltered  by  breastworks  on 
the  opposite  bank,  but  commanding  the  bridge. 
After  a  short  skirmish  the  bridge  and  the  works 
were  carried  with  a  loss  of  about  twenty  men 
and  the  capture  of  twenty-two  prisoners.  In  a 
few  hours  two  bridges  were  built  for  the  troops 
and  trains  to  cross.  Meanwhile  e  portion  of 
the  cavalry  advanced  to  Dinwiddie  Court  House, 
and  captured  some  empty  wagons,  a  mail,  &c. 
Scouting  parties  also  advanced  up  the  Boyd- 
ton  road,  and  captured  a  few  wagons.  At 
night  the  force  returned  to  Rowanty  Creek, 
where  Gen.  Gregg  bivouacked. 

Meanwhile  Gen.  Humphreys,  with  the  2d  and 
3d  divisions  of  the  2d  corps  continued  his  ad- 
vance up  the  Yaughan  road,  encountering  and 
driving  in  the  enemy's  pickets,  and  reaching 
the  Run.  The  intrenchments  of  the  enemy 
on  the  opposite  bank  were  not  very  strongly 
manned,  but  the  obstructions  in  the  stream 
were  such  that  the  cavalry  were  driven  back  in 
an  attempt  to  cross.  The  brigade  of  Gen.  De 
Trobriand  was  then  di-awn  up  in  line  of  battle, 
and  the  99th  Pennsylvania  sent  across  in  skir- 
mish order,  who  carried  the  works  at  once  with 
a  small  loss,  and  secured  the  fording  of  the 
stream.  The  enemy's  small  force  were  now 
driven  back  rapidly  to  the  woods,  and  the  bri- 
gade took  a  position  on  a  hill  beyond  the  ford, 
and  throwing  up  intrenchments  rendered  itself 
secure.  Previously,  however,  the  2d  division, 
under  Gen.  Smyth,  when  within  half  a  mile  of 
the  Run,  turned  off"  to  the  right  on  a  path 
leading  northeasterly  toward  Armstrong's  mill 
and  pond.  After  advancing  three-fourths  of  a 
mile,  the  enemy  were  found  in  a  strong  position. 
Their  pickets  were  driven  in  after  a  sharp  en- 
counter, and  a  line  was  formed  connecting  the 
left  of  the  division  with  the  right  of  the  3d, 
which  Gen.  Mott  commanded. 
Temporary  earthworks  were 
thrown  up  and  preparations 
made  to  resist  an  attack.  Some 
skirmishing  ensued  between  the 
pickets  until  2  o'clock  p.  u., 
when  a  heavy  artillery  fire  com- 
menced, and  an  attack  from  the 
enemy  was  apparent.  Under 
cover  of  the  artillery  fire  the 
enemy  pressed  through  the  dif- 
ficult swamp,  and  rushed  upon 
the  rifle-pits,  which  now  part- 
ly covered  the  right  of  Gen. 
Smyth's  division.  He  was  re- 
ceived with  such  a  sharp  fire 
as  forced  him  to  fall  back  to 
the  woods.  A  second  and  third 
attempt  was  made  to  carry  tho 
works,  and  turn  the  flank  of 
Gen.  Smyth,  but  each  was  re- 
pulsed. At  dusk  the  fighting, 
was  over,  and  the  lines  re- 


672 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


mained  sec  ire.  The  loss  of  Gen.  Smyth  was 
about  three  hundred,  and  that  of  the  enemy 
who  made  the  attack  somewhat  larger. 

During  the  night  the  5th  corps  was  brought 
into  connection,  on  the  left  of  the  2d  corps,  with 
the  left  of  the  5th,  covered  by  the  cavalry  of 
Gen.  Gregg.  The  6th  and  9th  corps  were  also 
so  disposed  as  to  render  assistance  to  the  5th 
and  2d.  In  the  morning  the  position  of  the 
troops  was  strengthened  by  constant  work  un- 
til noon.  At  this  time  Gen.  Crawford's  division 
of  the  5th  corps  was  sent  toward  Dabney's 
mills,  in  order  to  reach  the  Boydton  plank  road. 
The  country  through  which  the  route  lay  was 
covered  with  woods,  swamps,  and  ravines,  cut- 
ting it  up  in  all  directions.  At  the  same  time  the 
enemy,  believing  the  Federal  force  had  recross- 
ed  Hatcher's  Eun  and  abandoned  the  advance, 
had  sent  out  Gen.  Pegram  with  his  division. 
About  two  miles  above  the  Vaughan  road  his 
skirmishers  met  those  of  Gen.  Crawford,  and 
after  a  sharp  contest  were  forced  back  toward 
his  original  position.  The  division  of  Gen. 
Evans  came  to  the  assistance  of  Pegram,  and 
the  advance  of  Gen.  Crawford  was  checked. 
The  division  of  Gen.  Ayres  was  now  sent  to 
support  Gen.  Crawford,  and  a  brigade  of  Grif- 
fin's to  support  Gen.  Gregg,  who  was  on  the 
left,  and  had  been  engaged  for  some  time  with 
Lee's  cavalry,  which  pressed  his  rear  heavily. 
During  a  lull  which  happened,  his  force  threw 
up  breastworks.  But  toward  evening  they 
were  attacked  with  great  force  by  the  enemy, 
and  his  pickets  driven  with  his  force  into  the 
works.  The  battle  increased,  and  many  of  his 
officers  were  wounded.  "While  this  was  taking 
place  on  the  left  of  the  Vaughan  road,  the  in- 
fantry had  again  become  furiously  engaged  on 
the  right  of  the  road  by  repeated  attacks  of  the 
enemy  along  the  line.  Finally  Gen.  Gregg  was 
driven  out  of  his  breastworks,  and  his  line 
forced  back  to  Hatcher's  Run,  where  he  soon 
found  that  a  similar  misfortune  had  happened 
to  the  infantry.  It  was  not  until  the  intrenched 
lines  on  the  Vaughan  road  and  Hatcher's  Run, 
thrown  up  on  the  previous  day,  were  reached, 
that  the  routed  troops  could  be  rallied.  The 
enemy  dashed  forward  with  great  elation,  but 
were  met  by  such  a  sharp  fire  from  the  intrench- 
ments  as  caused  them  to  fall  back  rapidly  to 
the  woods.  Night  put  an  end  to  the  conflict. 
The  following  is  a  report  by  Gen.  Lee  of  the 
operations  of  the  day : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  NORTHEKN  YIBGI»IA,  Feb.  6, 1865. 
General  8.  Cooper  ; 

The  enemy  moved  in  strong  force  yesterday  to 
Hatcher's  Run.  Part  of  his  infantry,  with  Gregg's 
cavalry,  crossed  and  proceeded  on  the  Vaughan  road, 
the  infantry  to  Cattail  Creek,  the  cavalry  to  Dinwid- 
die  Court  House,  where  the  advance  encountered  a 
portion  of  our  cavalry  and  retired. 

In  the  afternoon  parts  of  Hill's  and  Gordon's 
troops  demonstrated  against  the  enemy  on  the  left 
of  Hatcher's  Run,  near  Armstrong's  Mill.  Finding 
him  intrenched,  they  withdrew  after  dark.  During 
the  night  the  force  that  had  advanced  beyond  the 
creek  returned  to  it,  and  were  reported  to  be  re- 
orossing. 


This  morning  Pegram's  division  moved  down  to 
the  right  bank  of  the  creek  to  reconnoitre,  when  it 
was  vigorously  attacked.  The  battle  was  obstinately 
contested  several  hours,  but  Gen.  Pegram  being 
killed  while  bravely  encouraging  his  men,  and  Col. 
Hoffman  wounded,  some  confusion  occurred,  and  the 
division  was  pressed  back  to  its  original  position. 
Evans's  division,  ordered  by  Gen.  Gordon  to  support 
Pegram's,  charged  the  enemy  and  forced  him  back, 
but  was  in  turn  compelled  to  retire.  Malpne's  divi- 
sion arriving,  the  enemy  was  driven  rapidly  to  hia 
defences  on  Hatcher's  Run. 

The  Union  loss  during  the  day  was  estimated 
at  1,500  to  2,000  men.  The  loss  of  the  enemy 
was  estimated  as  exceeding  1,000  men,  includ- 
ing Gen.  J.  Pegram  and  Col.  Hoffman,  as  killed. 

During  the  night  the  works  were  strength- 
ened, and  early  in  the  morning  of  the  7th  the 
enemy  made  a  demonstration  on  the  skirmish 
lines  of  the  cavalry  and  infantry  on  the  right 
and  left  of  the  Vaughan  road,  but  were  repulsed. 
At  noon  the  division  of  Gen.  Crawford  was 
sent  out  to  make  a  reconnoissance,  supported 
on  the  left  by  the  division  of  Gen.  Wheaton. 
The  pickets  of  the  enemy  were  encountered 
after  an  advance  of  about  half  a  mile,  and  driven 
back  to  then*  works  higher  up  the  run  between 
Armstrong's  and  Burgess's  mills,  and  about  two 
miles  beyond  the  latter.  A  sharp  fire  of  mus- 
ketry ensued ;  but  as  Gen.  Crawford  was  not 
prepared  to  force  the  lines,  he  drew  his  men 
back  again  to  Hatcher's  Run.  The  fighting  by 
this  column  was  kept  up  until  night.  During 
the  day,  the  'cannonading  between  the  lines  had 
been  constant.  The  next  day,  the  8th,  was  de- 
voted to  throwing  up  intrenchments,  and  strong 
defensive  works  soon  indicated  the  points  at 
which  the  permanent  lines  were  to  be  located. 
The  enemy  made  no  attempts  to  force  the  new 
positions,  but  appeared  satisfied  to  give  up  the 
lower  part  of  the  run  if  no  attempt  was  made 
by  the  Union  forces  on  the  Boydton  plank  road. 
The  result  of  the  entire  movement  had  been  to 
gain  an  advanced  position  on  the  enemy's  right, 
which  was  held  firmly,  by  completing  the  lines 
to  Hatcher's  Run,  and  extending  the  City  Point 
railroad  thither.  Affairs  now  continued  quiet 
for  some  time.  Artillery  duels  were  frequent 
along  the  lines  before  Petersburg,  but  no  im- 
portant movement  was  made.  Large  numbers 
of  deserters  from  the  enemy  were  constantly 
coming  into  the  lines  of  Gen.  Grant,  often  ex-  ' 
ceeding  seventy  a  day  for  many  days  succes- 
sively, and  increasing  to  two  hundred. 

In  the  Shenandoah  valley,  small  expeditions 
by  one  or  the  other  party  served  to  prevent 
a  quiet  state  of  affairs.  Further  west,  the 
enemy  captured  Beverly  on  Jan.  llth.  This 
was  done  by  Gen.  Rosser,  who  crossed  the 
mountains,  and  early  on  the  morning  of  Jan. 
llth  entered  the  place,  making  prisoners  of  four 
hundred  of  the  garrison,  consisting  of  seven 
hundred  men,  and  dispersing  the  rest.  _  They 
were  asleep  in  their  winter  quarters,  with  no 
pickets  out  further  than  three  hundred  yarda 
from  their  camp.  A  large  amount  of  commis- 
sary and  quartermasters'  stores,  w  ith  a  great 
number  of  horses,  were  also  taken.  Again,  on 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OP  THE  EEBELLION. 


673 


the  21st  of  February,  a  body  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  under  Lieut.  McNeil,  dashed  into  Cum- 
berland before  daylight,  surprised  and  captured 
the  pickets,  and  carried  off  Maj.-Gens.  Kelly 
and  Crook.  They  were  quietly  seized  in  their 
beds  with  their  staff  officers,  and  taken  to  Rich- 
mond, and  subsequently  exchanged. 

The  success  which  attended  the  march  of 
Gen.  Sherman  through  Georgia,  both  in  dis- 
heartening the  Southern  people  and  in  destroy- 
ing the  communications  between  different  parts 
of  the  Confederacy,  determined  the  nature  of 
the  approaching  campaign.  The  field  of  de- 
cisive operations  was  now  reduced  to  three 
States,  and  if  South  and  North  Carolina  were 
overrun  it  would  not  only  cut  off  the  resources 
of  Gen.  Lee's  army  at  Eichmond,  but  also  result 
in  concentrating  an  overwhelming  force  against 
him.  Both  combatants  therefore  prepared  to 
put  forth  their  final  efforts.  At  Eichmond,  Gen. 
Lee  was  appointed  as  General-in-Chief;  Gen. 
Johnston  was  ordered  to  the  command  in 
South  Carolina ;  Gen.  Hood  was  supplanted  by 
Gen.  Taylor  in  Alabama  and  Mississippi ;  Gen. 
Breckinridge  was  brought  into  the  Cabinet  as 
Secretary  of  "War,  which  had  already  undergone 
a  change  by  the  displacement  of  Mr.  Memmin- 
ger  as  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  the  ap- 
pointment of  Mr.  Trenholm  of  South  Carolina. 
On  the  Federal  side  Gen.  Schofield,  with  a 
strong  force,  was  placed  in  command  in  North 
Carolina,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  approach 
of  Gen.  Sherman,  and  Gen.  Gillmore  relieved 
Gen.  Foster  in  the  Department  of  South  Caro- 
lina. 

Immediately  after  taking  possession  of  Sa- 
vannah, Gen.  Sherman  began  his  preparations 
for  a  march  through  the  Carolinas  to  Eichmond ; 
meanwhile  Gen.  Hardee  with*  his  command 
occupied  Charleston.  The  first  movement  of 
Gen.  Sherman  was  to  send  a  part  of  Gen. 
Logan's  15th  corps  and  Gen.  Blair's  17th  corps, 
both  belonging  to  Gen.  Howard's  wing  of  his 
army,  by  transports  to  Beaufort,  near  Hilton 
Head.  The  important  bridge  where  the  rail- 
road from  Savannah  to  Charleston  crossed  the 
Pocotaligo,  was  the  object  of  this  movement 
This  bridge,  49  miles  from  Savannah  and  55 
miles  from  Charleston,  being  with  the  trestle 
work  in  the  swamp  a  mile  in  length,  was  so 
necessary  to  the  communication  between  the 
two  cities,  that  frequent  attempts  had  been 
made  by  the  Union  commanders  of  the  depart- 
ment to  destroy  it.  The  force  of  the  enemy 
had  always  proved  strong  enough  to  defeat 
these  efforts.  On  Jan.  13th  the  advance  from 
Beaufort  began.  The  division  of  Gen.  Hatch 
had  taken  a  position  near  the  bridge,  with  their 
guns  turned  on  the  railroad,  when  the  17th 
corps  crossing  the  ferry  at  Port  Eoyal  on  a 
pontoon  bridge  moved  rapidly  but  cautiously 
to  the  railroad.  The  pickets  of  the  enemy  were 
driven  away  without  difficulty.  On  the  15th 
an  advance  was  made,  the  17th  corps  being 
on  the  left,  and  Gen.  Hatch  on  the  right,  and 
the  railroad  gained  a  little  south  of  the  bridge. 
43 


The  skirmishers  pushed  forward,  encountering 
those  of  the  enemy,  who  were  supported  by 
light  artillery,  and  quickly  drove  them  off, 
thus  gaining  the  bridge.  A  brigade  of  the 
17th  followed,  and  carried  it  and  the  earth 
works  at  the  further  end.  The  enemy  seeing 
they  would  lose  possession  of  the  bridge,  at- 
tempted to  burn  it,  but  were  defeated  in  their 
efforts  by  the  rapid  movements  of  the  troops. 
The  Federal  loss  was  about  fifty.  The  force 
of  the  enemy  consisted  of  a  detachment  from 
Gen.  Hardee's  command,  under  Gen.  McLaws. 
They  were  driven  out,  and  the  17th  corps 
occupied  the  railroad  from  Coosawatchie  to  the 
the  Tallahatchie.  A  depot  of  supplies  was 
established  near  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  with 
easy  water  communication  back  to  Hilton 
Head. 

At  the  same  time  the  left  wing,  under  Maj.- 
Gen.  Slocum,  and  the  cavalry,  under  Maj.-Gen. 
Kilpatrick,  were  ordered  to  rendezvous  near 
Eobertsville  and  Coosawatchie,  with  a  depot 
of  supplies  at  Pureysburg  on  Sister's  ferry  on 
the  Savannah  Eiver.  Gen.  Slocum  caused  a' 
good  pontoon  bridge  to  be  constructed  opposite 
Savannah,  and  the  "  Union  causeway  "  leading 
through  the  low  rice  fields  opposite  the  city 
was  repaired  and  "corduroyed."  But  before 
the  time  appointed  for  him  to  march,  the  heavy 
rains  of  January  had  swelled  the  river,  broken 
the  pontoon  bridge,  and  overflowed  the  whole 
bottom,  so  that  the  causeway  was  four  feet 
under  water,  and  Gen.  Slocum  was  compelled 
to  look  higher  up  for  a  passage  over  the  river. 
He  moved  up  to  Sister's  ferry,  but  even  there 
the  river  with  its  overflowed  bottoms  was 
nearly  three  miles  wide.  He  did  not  succeed 
in  getting  his  whole  wing  across  until  during 
the  first  week  in  February. 

Meanwhile  the  division  of  Gen.  Grover  of 
the  19th  corps  had  been  sent  by  Gen.  Grant  to 
garrison  Savannah,  and  on  Jan.  18th  *Gen. 
Sherman  transferred  th&  forts  and  city  of  Sa- 
vannah to  Gen.  Foster,  still  commanding  the 
Department  of  the  South,  and  instructed  him 
to  follow  on  the  coast  the  movements  of  the 
army  under  Sherman  inland,  by  occupying 
Charleston  and  such  other  points  as  would 
be  of  any  military  value.  The  plan  of  Gen. 
Sherman  was  to  strike  direct  for  Goldsboro' 
in  North  Carolina,  and  open  communication 
with  the  sea  by  the  Newbern  Eailroad.  For 
this  purpose  he  ordered  Col.  "W.  "W.  "Wright, 
Superintendent  of  Military  Eailroads,  to  pro- 
ceed in  advance  to  Newbern  and  to  be  prepared 
to  extend  the  railroad  out  from  that  city  to 
Goldsboro  by  March  15th.  At  the  same  time 
Gen.  Sherman  ordered  his  chief  quartermaster 
and  commissary,  Gens.  Easton  and  Beckwith, 
to  complete  the  supplies  at  Sister's  ferry  and 
Pocotaligo,  and  follow  the  movement  coastwise, 
and  be  prepared  to  open  communication  with 
him  from  Morehead  City  about  the  same 
time.  Having  completed  his  preparations,  Gen. 
Sherman  issued  the  order  to  march  on  Jan- 
uary 19th.  He  left  Savannah  on  the  22d 


GOLDSBORQ 

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FORT  MP  ALLISTER'*' 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


675 


and  proceeded  to  Beaufort,  and  on  the  24th 
reached  Pocotaligo,  where  the  17th  corps 
under  Gen.  Blair  was  encamped.  The  15th 
corps  at  this  time  was  somewhat  scattered : 
the  divisions  of  Gens.  "Wood  and  Hazen  were 
at  Beaufort ;  that  of  Gen.  J.  E.  Smith  was 
marching  from  Savannah  by  the  coast-road, 
and  that  of  Gen.  Corse  was  still  at  Savannah, 
cut  off  by  the  storms  and  freshet  in  the  river. 
The  enemy  supposed  the  object  of  Gen.  Sher- 
man was  to  reach  Charleston,  and  had  adopted 
the  Salkehatchie  River  as  his  line  of  defence. 
On  the  25th  a  demonstration  was  made  against 
the  Corabahee  ferry  and  railroad  bridge  across 
the  Salkehatchie,  for  the  purpose  of  occupying 
the  enemy.  The  heavy  rains  had  swollen  the 
river  so  that  water  stood  in  the  swamps  for  a 
breadth  of  more  than  a  mile  at  a  depth  of  from 
one  to  twenty  feet.  By  making  apparent 
preparations  to  cross  the  river,  he  was  able, 
with  a  comparatively  small  force,  to  keep  a  con- 
siderably body  of  the  enemy  in  front  disposed 
to  contest  the  advance  on  Charleston,  although 
not  having  the  remotest  intention  to  move  on 
that  city.  On  the  27th  Gen.  Hatch's  division 
evacuated  its  position  on  the  Tullafuiney  and 
Coosahatchie  Rivers,  and  moved  to  Pocotaligo 
to  keep  up  th§  feints  already  begun,  and  until 
the  right  wing  should  move  higher  up  and  cross 
the  Salkehatchie  about  River's  or  Broxton's 
bridge. 

By  the  29th  the  roads  back  of  Savannah  had 
become  sufficiently  free  of  the  flood  to  permit 
Gen.  Slocum  to  put  his  wing  in  motion ;  and  as 
he  approached  Sister's  ferry  the  gunboat  Pon- 
tiac  was  sent  up  by  Admiral  Dahlgren  to  cover 
the  crossing.  Meanwhile  the  division  of  the 
15th  corps  had  reached  Pocotaligo,  and  the 
right  wing  had  loaded  its  wagous  and  was 
ready  to  start.  Gen.  Howard  was  thereupon 
ordered  to  move  the  17th  corps  along  the 
the  Salkehatchie  as  high  up  as  River's  bridge, 
and  the  15th  corps  by  Hickory  Hill,  Loper's 
cross-roads,  Anglesey  post  office,  and  Beau- 
fort bridge,  leaving  Gen.  Hatch's  division  at 
Pacotaligo  feigning  to  cross  at  the  Salkhatchie 
bridge  and  ferry  until  the  movement  turned 
the  enemy's  position  and  forced  him  to  fall 
back  on  the  Edisto. 

The  march  began  on  the  1st  of  February. 
All  the  roads  northward  had  been  held  by  the 
Confederate  cavalry  under  General  Wheeler, 
who  had,  with  details  of  negro  laborers,  felled 
trees,  burned  bridges,  and  made  obstructions  to 
impette  this  march.  The  pioneer  battalions, 
however,  were  so  well  organized  that  these  ob- 
structions were  quickly  removed.  The  felled 
trees  were  cleared  away  and  bridges  rebuilt  by 
the  heads  of  columns  before  the  rear  could  close 
up.  On  February  2d  the  15th  corps  reached 
Loper's  cross-roads,  and  the  17th  was  at 
River's  bridge.  At  this  time  Gen.  Slocum 
was  struggling  with  the  floods  of  the  Savannah 
at  Sister's  ferry.  Two  divisions  of  the  20th 
corps,  under  Gen.  Williams,  were  on  the  east 
bank,  and  the  cavalry  of  Gen.  Kilpatrick  had 


been  able  to  cross  over  on  the  pontoon  bridge. 
Gen.  Sherman  ordered  Gen.  Williams  to  march 
to  Lawtonsville  and  Allandale,  Gen.  Kilpatrick 
to  Blackville,  by  way  of  Barnwell,  and  Gen. 
Slocnm  to  hurry  the  crossing  at  Sister's  ferry 
as  much  as  possible,  and  overtake  the  right 
wing  on  the  South  Carolina  Railroad.  At  the 
same  time  Gen.  Howard,  with  the  right  wing, 
was  ordered  to  cross  the  Salkehatchie  and  push 
rapidly  for  the  same  railroad  at  or  near  Mid- 
way. The  line  of  the  Salkehatchie  was  held 
by  the  enemy  in  force,  having  intrenchments 
for  infantry  and  artillery  at  River's  and  Beau- 
fort bridges.  The  former  position  was  carried 
on  February  3d  by  Gens.  Mower's  and  Smith's 
divisions  of  the  17th  corps.  The  troops  crossed 
the  swamp,  which  was  nearly  three  miles  wide, 
and  in  which  the  water  was  from  the  knee  to 
the  shoulder  in  depth.  The  weather  was  severe- 
ly cold,  and  the  generals  on  foot  led  their  com- 
mands and  made  a  lodgment  below  the  bridge, 
and  turned  ,on  the  brigade  of  the  enemy  which 
guarded  it,  and  drove  them  in  confusion  toward 
Branchville.  In  this  affair  one  officer  and  seven- 
teen men  were  killed,  and  seventy  wounded, 
who  were  sent  to  Pocotaligo.  The  15th  corps 
had  been  ordered  to  carry  the  Beaufort  bridge, 
but  this  was  evacuated  by  the  enemy  as  soon 
as  the  crossing  was  effected  at  River's  bridge. 
The  position  was  strong  both  in  its  natural 
works  and  the  line  of  works  which  defended 
the  passage  of  the  river.  Gen.  Sherman  had 
now  gamed  the  peninsula  formed  by  the  Salke- 
hatchie and  Edisto  Rivers,  and  threatened  alike 
Augusta,  Branchville,  and  Charleston.  At 
Augusta  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill  was  in  command  with  a 
considerable  force,  and  Branchville  was  reen- 
forced  and  works  thrown  up  to  render  it  more 
secure.  The  country  in  which  the  army  was 
now  moving  was  rich  in  forage  and  supplies. 
Turkeys,  geese,  ducks,  chickens,  nicely-cured 
hams,  potatoes,  honey,  and  an  abundance  of 
other  luxuries,  were  obtained  by  "the  soldiers, 
and  plenty  of  corn  and  fodder  for  the  animals. 
The  houses  generally  were  deserted,  although 
here  and  there  women  and  children  were  found. 
Wide-spreading  columns  of  smoke  rose  where- 
ever  the  army  went.  The  following  correspond- 
ence relative  to  the  destruction  of  dwellings 
took  place  on  the  dates  therein  named : 

GRAHAMS,  8.  C.,  February  7, 1865. 

GENERAL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  propose  that  if  the 
troops  of  your  army  be  required  to  discontinue  burn- 
ing the  houses  of  our  citizens  I  will  discontinue  burn- 
ing cotton. 

As  an  earnest  of  the  good  faith  in  which  my  propo- 
sition is  tendered,  I  leave  at  this  place  about  three 
hundred  bales  of  cotton  unharmed,  worth  in  New 
York  over  a  quarter  million,  and  in  our  currency  one 
and  a  half  millions.  I  trust  my  having  commenced 
will  cause  you  to  use  your  influence  to  insure  the  ac- 
ceptance of  the  proposition  by  your  whole  army. 

I  trust  that  you  will  not  deem  it  improper  for  me 
to  ask  that  you  will  require  the  troops  under  your 
command  to  discontinue  the  wanton  destruction  of 
property  not  necessary  for  their  sustenance. 
Respectfully,  General,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  WHEELER,  Maj.-Gen.  C.  S.  A. 
Maj.-Gen.  0.  0.  HOWARD,  TJ.  S.  Army,  Com' ding,  Ac. 


676 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ANSWERED  BT  GENERAL  SHERMAN. 

IIBADQU'KS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OP  THB  MISSISSIPPI,  ) 
IN  THB  FIELD,  February  8.1865.     ) 
GENERAL  :  Yours,  addressed  to  General  Howard,  is 
received  by  me.    I  hope  you  will  burn  all  cotton,  and 
save  us  the  trouble.     We  don't  want  it;  and  it  has 
proven  a  curse  to  our  country.    All  you  don't  burn 

As  to  private  houses  occupied  by  peaceful  families 
my  orders  are  not  to  molest  or  disturb  them,  and  I 
think  my  orders  are  obeyed.  Vacant  houses,  being 
of  no  use  to  anybody,  I  care  little  about,  as  the  own- 
ers have  thought  them  of  no  use  to  themselves.  I 
don't  want  them  destroyed,  but  do  not  take  much 
care  to  preserve  them. 

I  am,  with  respect,  yours  truly, 
W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Maj.-Gen.  Commanding. 
Maj.-Gen.  J.  WHEELER,  Commanding  Cavalry  Corps 

Confederate  Army. 

Upon  the  breaking  of  the  line  of  the  Salke- 
hatchie  the  enemy  retreated  at  once  behind  the 
Edisto  at  Branchville,  and  the  whole  army 
pushed  at  once  to  the  South  Carolina  Railroad 
at  Midway,  Bamberg,  and  Graham's  station. 
The  troops  immediately  set  to  woi?k  to  destroy 
the  road,  which  had  been  of  great  'importance 
to  the  enemy,  both  as  a  means  of  communica- 
tion and  for  forwarding  supplies  from  Augusta 
and  northern  Georgia  to  Richmond.  From  the 
7th  to  the  10th  of  February  the  work  was 
thoroughly  done  by  the  17th  corps,  from  the 
Edisto  up  to  Bamberg,  and  from  Bamberg  up 
to  Blackville  by  the  15th  corps.  As  the  17th 
corps  threatened  Branchville,  the  enemy  burn- 
ed the  railroad  bridge  and  Walker's  bridge  be- 
low across  the  Edisto.  Meanwhile  Gen.  Kil- 
patrick  had  brought  his  cavalry  rapidly  by 
Barnwell  to  Blackville,  and  turned  toward 
Aiken,  for  the  purpose  of  threatening  Augusta 
without  being  drawn  into  any  serious  battle. 
Blackville  is  eighteen  miles  west  of  Midway, 
and  forty-seven  miles  east  of  Augusta ;  Aiken  is 
seventeen  miles  east  of  Augusta.  In  his  pro- 
gress he  had  serious  skirmishes  with  Wheeler's 
cavalry,  first  at  Blackville  and  afterwards  at 
Williston  and  Aiken.  On  February  8th  Gen. 
Williams,  with  two  divisions  of  the  20th  corps, 
reached  the  railroad  at  Graham's  station,  and 
Gen.  Slocum  reached  Blackville  on  the  10th. 
This  wing  continued  the  destruction  of  the  rail- 
road from  Blackville  up  to  Windsor.  By  Feb- 
ruary llth  Gen.  Sherman's  force  was  along  the 
railroad  from  Midway  to  Johnson's  station. 
The  effect  was  to  divide  the  enemy's  forces, 
which  still  remained  at  Branchville  and  Charles- 
ton on  the  one  hand,  and  Aiken  and  Augusta 
on  the  other. 

The  movement  on  Orangeburg -now  com- 
menced. The  railroad  from  Augusta  running 
nearly  east  to  Branchville,  there  intersects  with 
the  railroad  from  Columbia  to  Branchville,  run- 
ning nearly  south,  and  thence  southeast  to 
Charleston.  Gen.  Sherman  at  this  time  was 
operating  west  of  Branchville  on  the  railroad 
from  that  place  to  Augusta.  He  now  strikes 
north  to  Orangeburg,  the  first  important  station 
on  the  road  from  Branchville  to  Columbia,  and 
distant  from  Branchville  seventeen  miles.  The 
next  important  station  north  is  Kingville,  where 


the  road  from  Wilmington  to  Charleston  inter- 
sects the  Columbia  and  Charleston  road,  the 
latter  portion  of  which  is  common  to  both. 
Orangeburg  had  a  population  of  about  three 
thousand,  and  was  prettily  situated  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Edisto.  From  its  position 
upon  the  ridge  of  high  lands  on  which  the  rail- 
road runs,  it  was  really  of  more  importance 
than  Branchville,  which  the  enemy  had  care- 
fully fortified. 

The  17th  corps  crossed  the  south  fork  of  the 
Edisto  atBinnaker's  bridge,  and  moved  directly 
for  Orangeburg,  while  the  15th  corps  crossed  at 
Holmon's  bridge,  and  moved  to  Poplar  Springs 
to  act  as  a  support.  The  left  wing,  which  was 
still  at  work  on  the  railroad,  was  ordered  to 
cross  the  South  Edisto  at  New  and  Guignard's 
bridges,  and  move  to  the  Orangeburg  and  Edge- 
field  road,  and  there  await  the  result  of  the 
attack  on  Orangeburg.  On  the-12th  the  corps 
was  before  the  north  fork  of  the  Edisto,  and  at 
an  early  hour  engaged  in  skirmishing  with  the 
enemy  at  different  points.  A  force  was  found 
intrenched  in  front  of  the  Oraugeburg  bridge, 
but  was  swept  away  at  a  dash,  and  driven  across 
the  bridge,  which  was  partially  burned.  Behind 
the  bridge  was  a  battery  in  position,  covered  by 
a  cotton  and  earth  parapet  with  extensive  wings. 
While  the  division  of  Gen.  Giles  A.  Smith  was 
held  close  up  to  the  Edisto,  the  other  two  were 
moved  by  Gen.  Blair  to  a  point  about  two 
miles  below,  where  Gen.  Force's  division  cross- 
ed by  a  pontoon  bridge,  and  Gen.  Mowers  was 
held  to  act  as  a  support.  As  soon  as  Force's 
division  made  their  appearance  coming  up  from 
the  swamp,  the  enemy  began  to  give  ground, 
and  Gen.  Smith's  division  succeeded  in  gaining 
the  bridge,  and  crossed  over  and  occupied  the 
enemy's  position.  The  bridge  was  soon  repair- 
ed, and  by  the  .middle  of  the  afternoon  the 
whole  corps  was  in  Orangeburg,  and  had  be- 
gun to  destroy  the  railroad.  This  work  was 
done  effectually  by  the  corps  to  Lewisville,  a 
distance  of  twelve  miles.  Gen.  Blair  was  then 
ordered  to  push  the  enemy  across  the  Congaree, 
and  force  him  to  burn  the  bridge.  This  was 
accomplished  on  the  14th.  The  Congaree  River 
is  -formed  by  the  Broad  and  Saluda  Rivers, 
which  unite  at  Columbia.  After  a  southeast 
course  of  about  fifty  miles,  it  unites  with  the 
Wateree  to  form  the  Santee.  Steamboats  as- 
cend to  Columbia. 

Gen.  Sherman  now  directed  his  march 
straight  for  Columbia,  distant  fifty-one  miles 
from  Orangeburg.  The  advance  of  the  17th 
corps  was  along  the  State  road,  while  the  15th 
corps  crossed  the  north  branch  of  the  Edisto 
from  Poplar  Springs  at  Schilling's  bridge,  and 
took  a  country  road  which  came  into  the  State 
road  at  Zeigler's.  The  20th  corps  moved 
north  on  a  line  west  of  the  15th,  diverging 
toward  Columbia ;  the  14th  corps  advanced  in 
a  line  further  west,  and  the  cavalry  on  their 
left  flank.  On  the  15th,  the  15th  corps  discov- 
ered the  enemy  in  a  strong  position  at  Little 
Congaree  bridge,  across  Congaree  Creek,  with 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


677 


a  work  on  the  south  side  to  cover  their  retreat 
across  the  bridge,  and  a  well-constructed  fort 
on  the  north  side  commanding  the  bridge  with 
artillery.  The  ground  in  front  was  level  and 
clear,  but  rendered  very  unfavorable  by  a  fresh 
deposit  of  mud  from  a  recent  overflow.  Gen. 
Woods,  in  command  of  the  leading  division,  suc- 
ceeded in  turning  the  flank  of  the  work  south 
of  the  bridge  by  sending  Stone's  brigade  through 
a  cypress  swamp  on  the  left ;  and  by  following 
up  the  enemy,  who  immediately  began  to  re- 
treat, he  was  able  to  get  possession  of  the 
bridge  and  the  fort  on  the  north  side.  The 
bridge  had  been  somewhat  injured  by  fire,  and 
had  to  be  repaired  before  the  passage  of  the 
artillery.  It  was  night,  therefore,  before  the 
head  of  the  column  reached  the  bridge  across 
Congaree  River  in  front  of  Columbia.  During 
the  night  the  enemy  shelled  the  camps  from 
a  battery  on  the  east  side  of  the  Congaree 
above  Granby.  Early  on  the  nest  morning, 
Feb.  16th,  the  head  of  the  column  reached  the 
bank  of  the  Congaree  opposite  Columbia,  but 
too  late  to  save  the  bridge  over  the  river  at  that 
point,  which  had  been  set  on  fire  by  the  enemy. 
Meanwhile  the  inhabitants  of  Columbia  could 
be  seen  moving  in  great  excitement  about  the 
streets,  and  occasionally  small  bodies  of  cavalry 
but  no  masses  of  troops.  A  single  gun  was 
fired  a  few  times  by  the  order  of  Gen.  Sherman, 
at  the  railroad  depot,  to  scatter  the  people  who 
were  seen  carrying  away  sacks  of  corn  and  flour 
which  his  army  needed.  No  manifestation  of 
surrender  was  exhibited  from  the  city. 

Within  an  hour  after  the  arrival  of  the  head 
of  Gen.  Howard's  column  at  the  river  opposite 
Columbia,  the  head  of  the  column  of  the  left 
wing  under  Gen.  Slocum  also  appeared.  Gen. 
Howard,  instead  of  crossing  in  front  of  Colum- 
bia, moved  three  miles  up  to  Saluda  Factory, 
and  crossed  on  the  16th,  skirmishing  with  cav- 
alry, and  on  the  night  of  the  same  day  made  a 
bridge  across  Broad  River,  three  miles  above 
Columbia,  by  which  he  crossed  over  Stone's 
brigade  of  Wood's  division  of  the  15th  corps. 
Under  cover  of  this  brigade  a  pontoon  bridge 
was' laid  on  the  morning  of  the  17th.  Mean- 
while Gen.  Slocum  moved  up  to  cross  the  Sa- 
luda at  Zion's  Church,  and  thence  to  take  the 
roads  leading  direct  to  Winnsboro.  His  object 
Was  also  to  break  up  the  railroads  and  bridges 
about  Alston. 

Gen.  Sherman  thus  describes  the  entrance  to 
Columbia :  "  I  was  in  person  at  the  pontoon 
bridge  (on  the  17th),  and  at  11  A.  M.  learned 
that  the  Mayor  of  Columbia  had  come  out  in  a 
carriage,  and  made  a  formal  surrender  of  the 
city  to  Col.  Stone,  25th  Iowa  infantry,  com- 
manding 3d  brigade,  1st  division,  15th  corps. 
About  the  same  time  a  small  party  of  the  17th 
corps  had  crossed  the  Congaree  in  a  skiif,  and 
entered  Columbia  from  a  point  immediately 
west.  In  anticipation  of  the  occupation  of  the 
city,  I  had  made  written  orders  to  Gen.  How- 
ard tov.cb.ing  the  conduct  of  the  troops.  These 
were  t  >  destroy  absolutely  all  arsenals  and  pub- 


lic property  not  needed  for  onr  own  use,  as 
well  as  all  railroads,  depots,  and  machinery 
nseful  in  war  to  an  enemy,  but  to  spare  all 
dwellings,  colleges,  schools,  asylums,  and  harm- 
less private  property.  I  was  the  first  to  cross 
the  pontoon  bridge,  and  in  company  with  Gen. 
Howard  rode  into  the  city.  The  day  was  clear, 
but  a  perfect  tempest  of  wind  was  raging.  The 
brigade  of  Col.  Stone  was  already  in  the  city, 
and  was  properly  posted.  Citizens  and  soldiers 
were  on  the  streets,  and  general  good  order 
prevailed.  Gen.  Wade  Hampton,  who  com- 
manded the  Confederate  rear  guard  of  cavab/y, 
had,  in  anticipation  of  our  capture  of  Colum- 
bia, ordered  that  all  cotton,  public  and  private, 
should  be  moved  into  the  streets  and  fired,  to 
prevent  our  making  use  of  it.  Bales  were 
piled  everywhere,  the  rope  and  bagging  cut, 
and  tufts  of  cotton  were  blown  about  in  the 
wind,  lodged  in  the  trees  and  against  the 
houses,  so  as  to  resemble  a  snow-storm.  Some 
of  these  piles  of  cotton  were  burning,  especially 
one  in  the  very  heart  of  the  city,  near  the 
Court  House,  but  the  fire  was  partially  subdued 
by  the  labors  of  our  soldiers,  During  the  day 
the  15th  corps  passed  through  Columbia  and 
out  on  the  Camden  road.  The  17th  did  not 
enter  the  town  at  all ;  and,  as  I  have  before 
stated,  the  left  wing  and  the  cavalry  did  not 
come  within  two  miles  of  the  town. 

"  Before  one  single  public  building  had  been 
fired  by  order,  the  smouldering  fires  set  by 
Hampton's  order  were  rekindled  by  the  wind, 
and  communicated  to  the  buildings  around. 
Abofft  dark  they  began  to  spread,  and  got  be- 
yond the  control  of  the  brigade  on  duty  within 
the  city.  The  whole  of  Wood's  division  was 
brought  in,  but  it  was  found  impossible  to  check 
the  flames,  which,  by  midnight,  had  become 
unmanageable,  and  raged  until  about  4  A.  M., 
when,  the  wind  subsiding,  they  were  got  under 
control.  I  was  up  nearly  all  night,  and  saw 
Generals  Howard,  Logan,  Woods,  and  others, 
laboring  to  save  houses,  and  protect  families 
thus  suddenly  deprived- of  shelter  and  of  bed- 
ding and  wearing  apparel.  I  disclaim  on  the 
part  of  my  army  any  agency  in  this  fire,  but, 
on  the  contrary,  claim  that  we  saved  what  of 
Columbia  remains  unconsumed.  And,  without 
hesitation,  I  charge  Gen.  Wade  Hampton  with 
having  burned  his  own  city  of  Columbia,  not 
with  a  malicious  intent,  or  as  the  manifestation 
of  a  silly '  Roman  stoicism,'  but  from  folly  and 
want  of  sense  in  filling  it  with  lint  cotton  and 
tinder.  Our  officers  and  men  on  duty  worked 
well  to  extinguish  the  flames ;  but  others  not 
on  duty,  including  the  officers  who  had  long 
been  imprisoned  there,  rescued  by  us,  may  have 
assisted  in  spreading  the  fire  after  it  had  once 
begun,  and  may  have  indulged  in  concealed  joy 
to  see  the"  ruin  of  the  capital  of  South  Carolina. 
During  the  18th  and  19th  the  arsenal,  railroad 
depots,  machine  shops,  foundries,  and  other 
buildings  were  properly  destroyed  by  detailed 
working  parties,  and  the  railroad  track  torn  up 
and  destroyed  to  Kingsville  and  the  Wateree 


678 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


bridge,  and  up  in  the   direction  of  Winns- 
boro." 

The  following  will  show  what  troops  first 
entered  Columbia :  ' 

HEADQUARTERS  FOURTH  DIVISION, 
SEVENTEENTH  ARMY  CORPS, 

Near  COLUMBIA,  8.  C.,  Feb.  17, 1865. 
Brig. -Gen.  Wm.  W.  JBelknap,  Commanding  3d  Brigade: 
SIR, — Allow  me  to  congratulate  you,  and  through 
you,  Lieut.-Col.  J.  C.  Kennedy,  13th  Iowa  Veteran 
volunteers,  and  the  men  under  his  command,  for 
first  entering  the  city  of  Columbia,  on  the  morning 
of  Friday,  February  I'Tth,  and  being  the  first  to  plant 
his  colors  on  the  capitol  of  South  Carolina.  While 
th»army  was  laying  pontoon  bridges  across  the  Saluda 
and  Broad  Rivers,  three  miles  above  the  city,  Lieut.- 
Col.  Kennedy,  under  your  direction,  fitted  up  an  old 
worn-out  flat  boat,  capable  of  carrying  about  twenty 
men,  and  accompanied  by  Lieuts.  H.  C.  McArthur 
and  Wm.  H.  Gopdell,  of  your  staff,  crossed  the  river 
in  front  of  the  city,  and  boldly  advanced  through  its 
streets,  sending  back  the  boat  with  another  procured 
on  the  opposite  shore,  for  more  troops,  and  on  their 
arrival,  with  seventy-five  men  in  all,  drove  a  portion 
of  Wheeler's  cavalry  from  the  town,  and  at  eleven 
and  a  half  o'clock  A.  M.  planted  his  two  stands  of 
colors,  one  upon  the  old  and  the  other  upon  the  new 
capitol. 

The  swift  current  of  the  Congaree  River  and  its 
rocky  channel  rendered  his  crossing  both  difficult 
and  dangerous,  and  the  presence  of  the  enemy,  but 
in  what  force  unknown,  rendered  the  undertaking 
still  more  hazardous.  Lieut.-Col.  Kennedy  and  his 
regiment  are  entitled  to  great  credit  for  its  successful 
accomplishment. 
'  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  GILES  A.  SMITH, 

Brevet  Major-General  Commanding. 

The  consequences  of  the  movements  of  Gen. 
Sherman  thus  far  were  a  division  of  the  forces 
of  the  enemy  and  the  evacuation  of  Charleston. 
Gen.  Hardee  was  in  Charleston  with  about 
14,000  men,  expecting  the  approach  of  Gen. 
Sherman  on  his  appearance  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Branchville.  4-t  Augusta,  which  was  equally 
threatened,  was  Gens.  D.  H.  Hill  and  G.  "W. 
Smith,  who  were  so  certain  of  the  approach  of 
Gen.  Sherman  that  the  public  property  was 
almost  entirely  removed  from  the  city.  A 
considerable  cavalry  force  was  at  different  points 
in  South  Carolina  under  Hampton,  Wheeler, 
McLaws,  and  others.  Gen.  Beauregard,  who 
had  been  in  command  at  Charleston,  was  near 
the  North  Carolina  line  collecting  forces  and 
ready  to  take  the  command  of  troops  from 
Hood's  army  with  those  under  Hill.  Gen.  Lee, 
it  is  supposed,  also  sent  some  men  into  North 
Carolina.  Gen.  Sherman  marched  at  once  to 
Columbia,  knowing  that  when  once  there  Au- 
gusta could  be  easily  taken.  But  if  Augusta 
had  been  first  captured,  a  concentration  of  the 
enemy  might  have  been  made  at  Columbia, 
which  would  have  rendered  its  capture  more 
difficult.  Augusta  was  also  of  less  importance 
after  its  railroad 'communication  ha4  been  cut 
off.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Charleston  some 
skirmishing  had  taken  place  at'  intervals  with- 
out any  important  results. 

After  Gen.  Sherman  destroyed  the  railroad 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Branchville,  only  one 
line  remained  open  from  Charleston.  This  was 


the  road  running  north  to  Florence  and  'Che- 
raw.  It  was  the  only  line  of  retreat  for  Gen. 
Hardee,  and  as  Gen.  Sherman  moved  north  it 
was  necessary  for  the  latter  to  secure  it  at 
once,  as  it  was  threatened.  On  Feb.  10th,  Gen. 
Schemmelfonnig,  with  a  body  of  troops  of  Gen. 
Gillmore'g  command,  laid  a  bridge  across  the 
creek  separating  Folly  and  Cole  Islands  from 
James  Island,  and  effected  a  lodgment  on  the 
latter,  about  three  miles  southwest  of  Charles- 
ton. Skirmishers  advanced  and  met  the  enemy 
about  a  mile  distant  on  the  Stono  River.  A 
gunboat  and  mortar  schooner,  and  the  iron- 
clads Augusta  and  Savannah,  were  now  moved 
up  the  Stono,  and,  covering  the  flank  of  Gen. 
Schemmelfennig's  troops,  shelled  the  enemy. 
About  ty  P.  M.,  Gen.  Hartwell  moved  his  whole 
brigade  forward  and  carried  the  rifle-pits  for 
the  first  time.  The  enemy  retreated  rapidly  to 
his  main  works,  leaving  his  dead  and  wound- 
ed, and  losing  about  twenty  prisoners.  The 
Union  loss  was  between  seventy  and  eighty. 
Cooperating  movements  were  made  at  the 
same  time  by  the  column  under  Gen.  Hatch, 
which  crossed  the  Combahee  with  slight  loss 
and  marched  toward  the  South  Edisto.  No 
serious  resistance  was  made  to  the  advance  in 
that  region,  which  was  accessible  to  the  gun- 
boats and  defended  only  by  small  batteries  on 
the  river  banks.  The  movement  of  Gen. 
Schemmelfennig  being  only  a  feint,  his  troops 
were  withdrawn  to  Cole  Island.  A  column 
under  Gen.  Potter,  however,  moved  to  Bull's 
Ba£,  as  if  designed  to  cut  the  northern  railroad. 
On  the  night  of  the  17th  the  last  of  Gen.  Har- 
dee's  troops  left  Charleston.  The  subsequent 
occupation  of  the  city  is  thus  described  by 
official  documents : 

CHABLESTON,  S.  C.,  February  18,  ) 

via  NEW  YORK,  Feb.  21, 1S65.  ) 
Major-  General  Halleck,  Chief  of  Staff  ; 

GENERAL  : — The  city  of  Charleston  and  all  its  de- 
fences came  into  our  possession  this  morning,  with 
about  two  hundred  pieces  of  good  artillery  and  a 
supply  of  fine  ammunition.  The  enemy  commenced 
evacuating  all  the  works  last  night,  and  Mayor  Mac- 
beth surrendered  the  city  to  the  troops  of  Geu. 
Schemmelfennig  at  9  o'clock  this  morning,  at  which 
tune  it  was  occupied  by  our  forces.  Our  advance  on 
the  Edisto  from  Bull's  Bay  hastened  the  retreat. 

The  cotton  warehouses,  arsenals,  quartermaster's 
stores,  railroad  bridges,  and  two  iron-clads  were 
burned  by  the  enemy.  Some  vessels  in  the  ship-yard 
were  also  burned.  Nearly  all  the  inhabitants  re- 
maining behind  belong  to  the  poorer  class. 

Very  respectfully, 
Q.  A.  GILLMORE,  General  Commanding. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  SOUTH,  I 

CHARLESTON,  8.  C.,  Feb.  26, 1865. 
Lieut.-Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  and  Haj.-Gen.  W.  H.  Hal- 

leek,  Chief  of  Staff,  Washington; 
An  inspection  of  the  Rebel  defences  of  Charleston 
show  that  we  have  taken  over  four  hundred  and 
fifty  pieces  of  ordnance,  being  more  than  double 
what  I  first  reported.  The  lot  includes  8  and  10-inch 
columbiads,  a  great  many  32  and  42-pounder  rifles, 
some  7-inch  Brooks  rifles,  and  many  pieces  of  foreign 
make.  We  also  captured  eight  locomotives  and  a 
great  number  of  passenger  and  platform  cars,  all  in 
good  condition.  Deserters  report  that  the  last  of 
Hardee' s  army  was  to  have  crossed  the  Santee  River 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOET  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


679 


yesterday,  bound  for  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  and  that  it 
was  feared  that  Sherman  had  already  intercepted 
their  march.  It  is  reported,  on  similar  authority, 
that  the  last  of  Hood's  army,  12,000  strong,  passed 
through  Augusta  last  Sunday,  the  19th,  on  the  way 
to  Beauregard.  Georgetown  has  been  evacuated  by 
the  enemy,  and  is  now  in  our  possession.  Deserters 
are  coming  in  constantly.  We  have  over  400  already. 

Q.  A.  GILLMORE, 
Major-General  Commanding. 

The  following  is  the  report  of  Col.  Bennett, 
who  was  the  first  to  enter  the  city : 

HEADQUARTERS  UNITED  STATES  FOBCES,  I 
CHARLESTON,  8.  0.,  February  24,  1865.         j 
Captain  J.  W.  Dickinson,  Acting  Asst.  Adjt.- General. 

CAPTAIN  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following 
report  of  the  evacuation  and  occupation  of  Charles- 
ton. On  the  morning  of  February  the  18th  I  received 
information  that  led  me  to  believe  the  defences  and 
lines  guarding  the  city  of  Charleston  had  been  de- 
serted by  the  enemy.  I  immediately  proceeded  to 
Cummings  Point,  from  whence  I  sent  a  small  boat 
in  the  direction  of  Fort  Moultrie,  which  boat,  when 
forty  yards  east  from  Fort  Sumter,  was  met  by  a  boat 
from  Sullivan's  Island,  containing  a  full  corps  of  band 
musicians  abandoned  by  the  enemy.  These  confirmed 
my  belief  of  an  evacuation.  I  had  no  troops  that 
could  be  available  under  two  hours,  as,  except  in  a 
few  pontoon  boats,  there  were  no  means  whatever 
of  lauding  troqps  near  the  enemy's  works  or  into  the 
city.  I  directed  Major  Hennessy  to  proceed  to  Fort 
Sumter  and  there  replace  our  flag.  The  flag  was  re- 
placed over  the  southeast  angle  of  Fort  Sumter  at 
nine  (9)  o'clock  A.  M.  I  now  pushed  for  the  city, 
stopping  at  Fort  Ripley  and  Castle  Pinckney,  from 
which  works  Rebel  flags  were  hauled  down  and  the 
American  flag  substituted.  The  guns  in  these  works 
were  in  good  order.  There  was  mounted  in  Fort 
Ripley  one  Quaker  gun  bearing  southeast.  I  landed 
at  Mill's  wharf,  Charleston,  at  ten  (10)  o'clock  A.  M., 
where  I  learned  that  a  part  of  the  enemy's  troops  yet 
remained  in  the  city,  while  mounted  patrols  were  out 
in  every  direction  applying  the  torch  and  driving  the 
inhabitants  before  them. 

I  at  once  addressed  to  the  Mayor  of  the  city  the 
following  communication : 

HEADQUARTERS  UNITED  STATES  FORCES,  \ 
CHARLESTON,  February  18, 1865.      i 
Mayor  Charles  Macbeth,  Charleston: 

MAYOR  :  In  the  name  of  the  United  States  Government  I 
demand  a  surrender  of  the  city  of  which  you  are  the  executive 
officer.  Until  further  orders  all  citizens  will  remain  within 
their  houses. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Mayor,  very  respectfully,  your  obe- 
dient servant, 

(Signed)  A.  G.  BENNETT, 

Lieut. -Col.  commanding  U.  S.  Forces,  Charleston. 

My  whole  force  consisted  of  five  (5)  officers  and  the 
armed  crews  of  two  (2)  small  boats,  comprising  in  all 
twenty-two  (22)  men.  Both  officers  and  men  volun- 
teered to  advance  from  the  wharf  into  the  city ;  but 
no  reinforcements  being  in  sight,  I  did  not  deem  it 
expedient  to  move  on. 

Public  buildings,  stores,  warehouses,  private  dwell- 
ings, shipping,  etc.,  were  burning  and  being  fired  by 
armed  Rebels,  but  with  the  force  at  my  disposal  it 
was  impossible  to  save  the  cotton  and  other  property. 
While  awaiting  the  arrival  of  my  troops  at  Mill's 
wharf,  a  number  of  explosions  took  place.  The  Rebel 
commissary  depot  was  blown  up,  and  with  it  is  esti- 
mated that  not  less  than  two  hundred  (200)  human 
beings — most  of  whom  were  women  and  children — 
were  blown  to  atoms.  These  people  were  engaged 
in  procuring  food  for  themselves  and  their  families 
by  permission  from  the  Rebel  military  authorities. 
The  Rebel  ram  Charleston  was  blown  up  while  lying 
at  her  anchorage  opposite  Mt.  Pleasant  Ferry  wharf^ 
in  the  Cooper  River.  Observing  a  small  boat  sailing 
toward  the  bay  under  a  flag  of  truce,  I  put  off  to  it, 
and  received  from  a  member  of  the  common  council 


a  letter  addressed  to  the  General  commanding  United 
States  forces  at  Morris  Island  or  to  the  officer  in  com- 
mand of  the  fleet.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the 
letter: 

CHARLESTON,  8.  C.,  February  18, 1865. 
To  the  General  Commanding  the  Army  of  the   United 

States  at  Morris  Island : 

SIB:  The  military  authorities  of  the  Confederate  States 
have  evacuated  the  city.  I  have  remained  to  enforce  law  and 
preserve  order  until  you  take  such  steps  as  you  may  think 
best 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

CHAELE8  MACBETH,  Mayor. 

The  deputation  sent  to  convey  the  above  letter  rep- 
resented to  me  that  the  city  was  in  the  hands  of  either 
the  Rebel  soldiery  or  the  mob.  They  entreated  of  me 
in  the  name  of  humanity  to  interpose  my  military  au- 
thority and  save  the  city  fro*m  utter  destruction.  To 
this  letter  I  replied  in  the  following  terms : 

HEADQUARTERS  UNITED  STATES  FORCES,  CHARLESTON  ) 
HARBOB,  NEAR  ATLANTIC  WHARF,  Feb.  18, 1S65.      i 
Mayor  Charles  Macbeth  : 

I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  com- 
munication of  this  date.  I  have  In  reply  thereto  to  state  that 
the  troops  under  my  command  will  render  every  possible 
assistance  to  your  well-disposed  citizens  in  extinguishing  the 
fires  now  burning. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Mayor,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant,  A.  G.  BENNETT, 

Lieut-Col,  commanding  U.  8.  Forces,  Charleston. 

Two  (2)  companies  of  the  52d  Pennsylvania  regiment 
and  about  thirty  (30)  men  of  the  3d  R'hode  Island  vol- 
unteer heavy  artillery  having  landed,  I  proceeded  with 
them  to  the  citadel.  I  here  established  my  headquar- 
ters, and  sent  small  parties  in  all  directions  with  in- 
structions to  impress  negroes  wherever  found,  and 
to  make  them  work  the  fire  apparatus,  until  all  fires 
were  extinguished.  I  also  sent  a  strdng  guard  to  the 
Unifed  States  Arsenal,  which  was  saved.  As  the 
troops  arrived  they  were  sent  out  to  points  in  the 
city  where  were  located  railroad  depots  or  any  large 
buildings  containing  property,  such  as  cotton,  rice, 
tobacco,  etc.  It  being  apparent  to  me  that  I  could 
not  effectually  save  all  that  remained,  I  concentrated 
my  guards  wherever  was  stored  the  largest  quantities. 

I  cannot  at  this  time  submit  any  account  of,  or  es- 
timate any  value  to,  the  property  that  has  fallen  into 
our  possession.  The  most  valuable  items  consist  in 
cotton  and  rice.  The  cotton  has  not  yet  been  secured. 
The  rice  is  being  given  to  the  poor  of  the  city  to  sup- 
ply their  immediate  necessities. 

Every  officer  and  soldier  exerted  himself  to  a  most 
willing  performance  of  every  allotted  duty,  yet  I  do 
not  deem  it  invidious  for  me  to  make  special  mention 
of  Lieutenant  John  Hackett,  Co.  M,  3d  Rhode  Island 
artillery,  who  volunteered  to  go  alone  to  Fort  Moul- 
trie and  there  raise  the  flag.  As  also  to  speak  of 
Major  John  A.  Hennessy,  Captain  Samuel  Cuska- 
den,  and  Lieutenant  P.  M.  Burr,  all  of  the  52d  regi- 
ment Pennsylvania  volunteers ;  and  Lieutenant  James 
F.  Haviland,  Acting  Assistant  Inspector-General  of 
my  staff,  who  accompanied  me  to  the  city ;  all  of 
whose  services  were  most  highly  valuable  to  me. 
Captain  H.  H.  Jenks,  52d  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
Acting  Assistant  Adjutant-General,  also  rendered  im- 

Eortant  services.     Although  he  remained  at  Morris 
sland,  he  was  very  efficient  in  facilitating  the  em- 
barkation of  my  troops  from  there. 

The  flags  from  Fort  Moultrie,  Castle  Pinckney,  and 
Fort  Ripley,  and  seventeen  (17)  signal  pennants'found 
in  the  city,  were  secured  by  the  troops  under  my 
command. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Captain, 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant 

(Signed)  A.  G.  BENNETT, 

Lieutenant-Colonel  21st  regiment  U.  S.  C.  T. 
A  copy  of  the  report  of  the  evacuation  and  occupa- 
tion of  Charleston.         JAMES  F.  HAVILAND 
First  Lieutenant  127th  Reg1!  N.  Y.  V.,  A.  A.  l!  G. 

Gen.  Hardee,  with  ahout  12,000  men,  movec3 


680 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


north,  aiming  to  reach  Charlotte  in  North  Car- 
olina. At  the  same  time  Georgetown,  a  sea- 
port north  of  Charleston,  was  evacuated,  and 
occupied  by  a  naval  force  sent  by  Admiral  Dahl- 
gren.  The  force  of  Gen.  Hood's  army  which 
had  been  sent  eastward,  having  passed  Augusta, 
was  moving  toward  Charlotte,  where  Gen.  Beau- 
regard  was  in  command.  As  the  danger  became 
more  critical,  the  enemy  sent  Gen.  Johnston  to 
take  the  command,  and  he  was-  again  in  a  posi- 
tion to  confront  Gen.  Sherman. 

Meanwhile  Gen.  Sherman  continued  his 
march.  The  left  wing  and  cavalry  crossed  the 
Saluda  and  Broad  Rivers,  and  broke  up  the  rail- 
road about  Alston  and  as  high  as  the  bridge 
across  Broad  River  on  the  road  to  Spartans- 
burg.  Meanwhile  the  main  body  moved  directly 
to  Winnsboro,  which  Gen.  Slocum  reached  on 
the  21st.  Here  the  railroad  was  destroyed  up  to 
Blackstake's  station,  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles. 
The  railroad  runs  from  Columbia  to  Charlotte, 
N.  C.,  one  hundred  and  nine  miles,  thence  to 
Greensboro,  and  branches  to  Lynchburg,  Va., 
and  Raleigh,  N.  0.  The  distance  from  Columbia 
to  Winnsboro  is  thirty-nine  miles.  Gen.  Slocum 
next  turned  to  Rocky  Mount,  on  the  Catawba 
River,  in  a  northeast  direction.  The  20th  corps 
reached  Rocky  Mount  on  the  22d,  and  laid  a 
pontoon  bridge  over  the  Catawba,  and  crossed 
on  the  23d.  The  cavalry  under  Gen.  Kilpatrick 
followed  during  the  night  ensuing,  and  moved 
up  to  Lancaster  with  instructions  to  keeft  up 
the  feint  of  a  general  march  on  Charlotte,  N.  C., 
to  which  place  Gen.  Beauregard  and  the  cav- 
alry of  the  enemy  had  retreated  from  Columbia. 
The  real  aim  of  Gen.  Sherman  was  to  reach 
Cheraw  and  Goldsboro,  N,  C.,  where  he  could 
communicate  with  the  naval  forces.  As  has 
been  already  stated,  a  portion  of  Hood's  army, 
consisting  of  Cheatham's  corps,  was  aiming  to 
make  a  junction  with  Gen.  Beauregard  at  Char- 
lotte, having  been  cut  off  by  -the  rapid  move- 
ment of  Sherman  on  Columbia  and  Winnsboro. 
For  three  days,  from  the  23d  to  the  26th,  the 
rains  were  heavy  and  the  rivers  became  quite 
swollen,  and  the  roads  almost  impassable.  The 
20th  corps  reached  Hanging  Rock  on  the  26th, 
and  waited  there  for  the  14th  corps  to  get  across 
the  Catawba.  The  river  had  so  swollen  that 
the  pontoon  bridge  broke,  and  was  with  diffi- 
culty restored  by  Gen.  Davis. 

Meanwhile  the  right  wing  had  broken  up  the 
railroad  to  Winnsboro,  and  turned  from  thence 
to  Peay's  Ferry,  where  it  crossed  the  Catawba 
before  the  heavy  rain  commenced.  The  17th 
corps  moved  straight  on  Cheraw  by  the  way  of 
Young's  bridge ;  and  the  15th  corps  by  Tiller's 
and  Kelly's  bridges.  From  the  latter  corps  de- 
tachments were  sent  to  Camden,  to  burn  the 
bridge  over  the  Wateree  and  the  railroad  depot, 
stores,  &c.  This  was  successfully  done. 

Several  of  the  foragers,  who,  as  a  body,  gen- 
erally kept  in  advance  of*  the  troops,  having 
been  very  cruelly  treated  by  the  enemy,  Gen. 
Sherman  wrote  the  following  letter  to  Gen.  W. 
Hampton : 


HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIV'N  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  ) 
IN  THE  FIELD,  Feb.  24, 1865.       J 

Lieut.- Geit  Wade   Hampton,    Commanding   Cavalry 
Forces,  C.  8.  A. 

GENERAL  :  It  is  officially  reported  to  me  that  our 
foraging  parties  are  murdered  after  capture,  and  la- 
belled "Death  to  all  foragers."  One  instance  of  a 
lieutenant  and  seven  men,  near  Chesterfield,  and  an- 
other of  twenty,  "  near  a  ravine  eighty  rods  from  the 
main  road,"  about  three  miles  from  Feasterville.  I 
have  ordered  a  similar  number  of  prisoners  in  our 
hands  to  be  disposed  of  in  like  manner. 

I  hold  about  one  thousand  prisoners  captured  in 
various  ways,  and  can  stand  it  as  long  as  you  ;  but  I 
hardly  think  these  murders  are  committed  with  your 
knowledge,  and  would  suggest  that  you  give  notice 
to  the  people  at  large,  that  every  life  taken  by  them 
simply  results  in  the  death  of  one  of  your  confed- 
erates. 

Of  course  you  cannot  question  my  right  to  forage 
on  the  country;  it  is  a  war  right  as  old  as  history. 
The  manner  of  exercising  it  varies  with  circum- 
stances, and  if  the  civil  authorities  will  supply  my 
requisitions,  I  will  forbid  all  foraging.  But  I  find  no 
civil  authorities  who  can  respond  to  calls  for  forage 
or  provisions,  and  therefore  must  collect  directly  of 
the  people.  I  have  no  doubt  this  is  the  occasion  of 
much  misbehavior  on  the  part  of  our  men ;  but  I  can- 
not permit  an  enemy  to  judge  or  punish  with  whole- 
sale murder. 

Personally  I  regret  the  bitter  feelings  engendered 
by  this  war ;  but  they  were  to  be  expected,  and  I 
simply  allege  that  those  who  struck  the  first  blow 
and  made  war  inevitable,  ought  not,  in  fairness,  to  re- 
proach us  for  the_  natural  consequences.  I  merely 
assert  our  war  right  to  forage,  and  my  resolve  to 
protect  my  foragers  to  the  extent  of  life  for  life. 

I  am,  with  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  T.  SHlERMAN,  Maj.-Gen.  U.  S.  A. 

To  which  Gen.  Hampton  replied  as  follows : 

HEADQUARTERS  IN  THE  FIELD,  Feb.  27, 1866. 
Major-Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  U.  8.  Army. 

GENERAL  :  Your  communication  of  the  24th  instant 
reached  me  to-day.  In  it  you  state  that  it  has  been 
officially  reported  that  your  foraging  parties  were 
"murdered  after  capture,  and  you  go  on  to  say  that' 
you  had  "ordered  a  similar  number  of  prisoners  in 
your  hands  to  be  disposed  of  in  like  manner."  That 
is  to  say,  you  have  ordered  a  number  of  Confederate 
soldiers  to  be  "  murdered." 

You  characterize  your  order  in  proper  terms,  for 
the  public  voice,  even  in  your  own  country,  where  it 
seldom  dares  to  express  itself  in  vindication  of  truth, 
honor,  or  justice,  will  surely  agree  with  you  in  pro- 
nouncing you  guilty  of  murder,  if  your  order  is  car- 
ried out. 

Before  dismissing  this  portion  of  your  letter,  I  beg 
to  assure  you  for  every  soldier  of  mine  "  murdered  " 
by  you  I  shall  have  executed  at  once  two  of  yours, 
giving,  in  all  cases,  preference  to  any  officers  who 
may  be  in  my  hands. 

In  reference  to  the  statement  you  make  regarding 
the  death  of  your  foragers,  I  have  only  to  say  that  I 
know  nothing  of  it;  that  no  orders  given  by  me 
authorized  the  killing  of  prisoners  after  capture,  and 
that  I  do  not  believe  that  my  men  killed  any  of  yours, 
except  under  circumstances  in  which  it  was  perfectly 
legitimate  and  proper  they  should  kill  them. 

It  is  a  part  of  the  system  of  the  thieves  whom  you 
designate  as  your  foragers,  to  fire  the  dwellings  of 
those  citizens"  whom  they  have  robbed. 

To  check  this  inhuman  system,  which  is  justly  ex- 
ecrated by  every  civilized  nation,  I  have  directed  my 
men  to  shoot  down  all  of  your  men  who  are  caught 
burning  houses.  This  order  shall  remain  in  force  as 
long  as  you  disgrace  the  profession  of  arms  by  allow- 
ing your  men  to  destroy  private  dwellings. 

You  say  that  I  cannot,  of  course,  question  your 
right  to  forage  on  the  country.  "  It  is  a  right  as  old 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


681 


as  history."  I  do  not,  sir,  question  this  right.  But 
there  is  a  right  older  even  than  this,  and  one  more 
inalienable — the  right  that  every  man  has  to*  defend 
his  home  and  to  protect  those  who  are  dependent 
upon  him ;  and  from  my  heart  I  wish  that  every  old 
man  and  boy  in  my  country  who  can  fire  a  gun, 
would  shoot  down,  as  he  would  a  wild  beast,  the  men 
who  are  desolating  their  land,  burning  their  houses, 
and  insulting  their  women. 

You  are  particular  in  defining  and  claiming  "war 
rights."  May  I  ask  if  you  enumerate  among  them 
the  right  to  fire  upon  a  defenceless  city  without  no- 
tice ;  to  burn  that  city  to  the  ground  after  it  had 
oeen  surrendered  by  the  authorities,  who  claimed, 
though  in  vain,  that  protection  which  is  always  ac- 
corded in  civilized  warfare  to  non-combatants ;  to 
fire  the  dwelling  houses  of  citizens,  after  robbing 
them,  and  to  perpetrate  even  darker  crimes  than 
these — crimes  too  black  to  be  mentioned  ? 

You  have  permitted,  if  you  have  not  ordered,  the 
commission  of  these  offences  against  humanity  and 
the  rules  of  war.  You  fired  into  the  city  of  Columbia 
without  9  word  of  warning.  After  its  surrender  by 
the  Mayor,  who  demanded  protection  to  private 
property,  you  laid  the  whole  city  in  ashes,  leaving 
amid  its  ruins  thousands  of  old  men  and  helpless 
women  and  children,  who  are  likely  to  perish  of 
starvation  and  exposure.  Your  line  of  march  can  be 
traced  by  the  lurid  light  of  burning  houses,  and  in 
more  than  one  household  there  is  an  agony  far  more 
bitter  than  that  of  death. 

The  Indian  scalped  his  victim  regardless  of  sex  or 
age,  but  with  all  his  barbarity  he  always  respected 
the  persons  of  his  female  captives.  Your  soldiers, 
more  savage  than  the  Indian,  insult  those  whose 
natural  protectors  are  absent. 

In  conclusion,  I  have  only  to  request,  that  when- 
ever you  have  any  of  my  men  "  disposed  of,"  or 
"murdered,"  for  the- terms  appear  to  be  synony- 
mous with  you,  you  will  let  me  hear  of  it,  in  order 
that  I  may  know  what  action  to  take  in  the  matter. 
In  the  mean  time  I  shall  hold  fifty-six  of  your  men  as 
hostages  for  those  whom  you  have  ordered  to  be  ex- 
ecuted. I  am,  yours,  &c., 

WADE  HAMPTON,  Lieut.-Gen. 

A  small  force  of  mounted  men,  under  Capt. 
Duncan,  was  sent  by  Gen.  Sherman  to  break 
up  the  railroad  between  Charleston  and  Flor- 
ence, but  were  met  by  a  division  of  cavalry  un- 
der Gen.  Butler,  and  after  a  sharp  skirmish  on 
Mount  Elon,  they  were  compelled  to  return 
without  success. 

Oheraw,  to  which  Gen.  Sherman  was  aiming, 
is  a  town  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Great  Pedee 
River,  at  the  head  of  steam  navigation.  It  had 
been  a  place  of  importance  as  a  depot  for  cot- 
ton, and  had  about  one  thousand  inhabitants. 
It  is  the  termination  of  the  northern  railroad 
from  Charleston  through  Florence,  being  dis- 
tant from  the  latter  forty  miles,  and  from  the 
former  one  hundred  and  forty-two  miles. 

On  March  2d  the  advanced  division  of  the 
20th  corps  entered  Chesterfield,  a  little  north- 
west of  Cheraw,  encountering  on  the  way  the 
cavalry  of  the  enemy  under  Gen.  Butler,  with 
whom  skirmishing  was  kept  up.  On  the  next 
day,  about  noon,  the  17th  corps  entered  Che- 
raw.  The  force  of  the  enemy  in  the  place  re- 
treated across  the  Pedee,  and  burned  the  bridge. 
A  considerable  quantity  of  ammunition  was 
captured  in  the  town,  and  a  number  of  guns 
which  had  been  brought  from  Charleston  on 
the  evacuation  of  that  city.  These  were  de- 


stroyed, and  also  the  trestles  and  bridges  of  the 
railroad  as  far  down  as  Darlington,  ten  miles. 
An  expedition  of  mounted  infantry  was  sent  to 
Florence,  but  it  encountered  both  cavalry  and 
infantry,  and  returned  after  doing  no  other 
damage  than  breaking  up  in  part  the  road  be- 
tween the  two  places. 

After  a  brief  delay  the  march  was  resumed 
for  Fayetteville,  in  North  Carolina.  The  right 
whig  crossed  the  Pedee  at  Cheraw,  and  the 
left  wing  at  Sneedsboro.  Fayetteville  is  the 
capital  of  Cumberland  County,  and  was  a 
flourishing  town  before  the  war,  having  a  pop- 
ulation exceeding  seven  thousand.  It  is  on  the 
left  bank  of  Cape  Fear  Eiver,  at  the  head  of 
navigation,  and  sixty  miles  south  of  Ealeigh, 
the  capital  of  the  State,  and  one  hundred  miles 
northwest  of  ^  Wilmington.  It  contained  an 
arsenal,  distilleries  of  turpentine,  and  cotton 
and  flour  mills.  The  14th  corps  moved  by 
Love's  bridge,  for  the  purpose  of  entering 
Fayetteville  in  advance,  but  the  weather  and 
road  continuing  bad  it  reached  that  place  on 
March  llth,  together  with  the  17th.  corps. 
They  approached  skirmishing  with  Gen.  "VVade 
Hampton's  cavalry,  which  covered  the  rear  of 
Gen.  Hardee's  army,  as  it  retreated.  It  crossed 
the  Cape  Fear  Eiver  and  burned  the  bridge. 
The  cavalry  during  the  march  had  kept  well 
on  the  left  and  exposed  flank ;  but  on  the  night 
df  March  9th  his  three  brigades  were  divided 
to  picket  the  railroad.  This  was  discovered  by 
Gen.  Hampton,  who,  early  in  the  morning, 
dashed  in  and  gained  possession  of  the  camp  of 
Col.  Spencer's  brigade,  and  the  house  in  which 
Gen.  Kilpatrick  and  Col.  Spencer  had  their 
quarters.  The  surprise  was  complete,  but  Gen. 
Kilpatrick  quickly  succeeded  in  rallying  his 
men,  on  foot,  in  a  swamp  near  at  hand,  and 
by  a  prompt  attack,  well  followed  up,  he  re- 
gained his  artillery,  horses,  camp,  and  every 
thing  except  some  prisoners.  The  enemy  re- 
tired, leaving  their  dead  behind. 

The  army  remained  at  Fayetteville  during 
three  days,  until  March  loth.  The  United 
States  arsenal,  and  a  vast  amount  of  machine- 
ry, which  had  formerly  belonged  to  the  arsenal 
at  Harper's  Ferry,  were  destroyed.  Every  build- 
ing was  knocked  down  and  burned,  and  every 
piece  of  machinery  broken  up  by  the  1st  Michi- 
gan engineers.  The  position  of  Gen.  Sherman 
at  this  time  is  thus  described  by  himself:  "  Up 
to  this  period  I  had  perfectly  succeeded  in  in- 
terposing my  superior  array  between  the  scat- 
tered parts  of  my  enemy.  But  I  was  then 
aware  that  the  fragments  that  had  left  Colum- 
bia under  Beauregard  had  been  reenforced  by 
Cheatham's  corps  from  the  West,  and  the  gar- 
rison of  Augusta,  and  that  ample  time  had  been 
given  to  move  them  to  my  front  and  flank 
about  Ealeigh.  Hardee  had  also  succeeded  in 
getting  across  Cape  Fear  Eiver  ahead  of  me, 
and  could  therefore  complete  the  junction  with 
.  the  other  armies  of  Johnston  and  Iloke  in 
North  Carolina;  and  the  whole,  under  the 
command  of  the  skilful  and  experienced  Joe 


682 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Johnston,  made  up  an  army  superior  to  me  in 
cavalry,  and  formidable  enough  in  artillery  and 
infantry  to  justify  me  in  extreme  caution  in 
making  the  last  step  necessary  to  complete  the 
march  I  had  undertaken.  Previous  to  reaching 
Fayetteville  I  had  despatched  to  Wilmington 
from  Laurel  Hill  Church  two  of  our  best  scouts 
with  intelligence  of  our  position  and  my  gen- 
eral plans.  Both  of  these  messengers  reached 
Wilmington,  and'  on  the  morning  of  the  12th 
of  March,  the  army  tug  Davidson,  Capt.  Ains- 
worth,  reached  Fayetteville  from  Wilmington, 
bringing  me  full  intelligence  of  events  from  the 
outer  world.  On  the  same  day,  this  tug  carried 
back  to  Gen.  Terry,  at  Wilmington,  and  Gen. 
Schofield  at  Newbern,  my  despatches  to  the  ef- 
fect that  on  Wednesday,  the  15th,  we  would 
move  for  Goldsboro,  feigning  on  Raleigh,  and 
ordering  them  to  march  straight  for  Goldsboro, 
which  I  expected  to  reach  about  the  20th.  The 
same  day,  the  gunboat  Eolus,  Oapt.  Young, 
United  States  navy,  also  reached  Fayetteville, 
and  through  her  I  continued  to  have  communi- 
cation with  Wilmington  until  the  day  of  our 
actual  departure.  While  the  work  of  destruc- 
tion was  going  on  at  Fayetteville,  two  pontoon 
bridges  were  laid  across  Cape  Fear  River,  one 
opposite  the  town,  the  other  three  miles  below." 

While  Gen.  Sherman  had  been  advancing  to 
Fayetteville,  some  movements  had  taken  place 
at  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  intended  to  prepare  the 
way  for 'cooperation  with  him.  It  was  on  Jan. 
15th  that  Gen.  Schofield,  with  the  23d  corps,  left 
Gen.  Thomas,  as  has  been  stated,  for  the  Atlan- 
tic coast.  The  troops  moved  with  their  artil- 
lery and  horses,  but  without  wagons,  by  steam 
transports,  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  thence  by 
railroad  to  Washington,  D.  0.,  and  Alexandria, 
Va.  Although  it  was  midwinter  and  the  weather 
unusually  severe,  the  movement  was  effected 
without  delay,  accident,  or  suffering  on  the  part 
of  the  troops.  In  February  an  order  was  issued 
by  the  Secretary  of  War  creating  the  depart- 
ment of  North  Carolina,  and  assigning  Gen. 
Schofield  to  the  command.  The  ultimate  object 
of  his  operations  was  to  occupy  Goldsboro, 
N.  0.,  and  to  open  railroad  communication  be- 
tween that  point  and  the  sea-coast,  and  further 
to  accumulate  supplies  for  Gen.  Sherman's  army 
and  to  join  it,  in  its  approach,  at  or  near  Golds- 
boro. Wilmington  was  made  the  first  paint  to 
capture,  as  it  would  afford  a  valuable  auxiliary 
tvase  to  Morehead  City  in  the  event  of  the  junc- 
tion being  made  at  Goldsboro ;  anfl  also  as  it 
would  be  of  great  value  to  Gen.  Sherman  in 
case  the  movement  of  the  main  army  of  the 
enemy  or  other  circumstances  should  render 
advisable  a  concentration  of  Sherman's  army  at 
some  point  further  south  than  Goldsboro. 

With  the  3d  division  of  the  23d  corps,  under 
Major-Gen.  J.  D.  Cox,  Gen.  Schofield  reached 
the  mouth  of  Cape  Fear  River  on  Feb.  9th,  and 
landed  near  Fort  Fisher.  The  other  troops 
were  to  follow.  Major-Gen.  Terry,  with  about 
eight  thousand  men,  then  held  a  line  across  the 
peninsula,  about  two  miles  above  the  fort,  and 


occupied  Smithville  and  Fort  Caswell  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river,  while  the  naval  squad- 
ron under  Rear- Admiral  Porter,  occupied  po- 
sitions in  Cape  Fear  River,  and  off  the  coast 
covering  the  flanks  of  Gen.  Terry's  lino.  On 
the  west  bank,  Fort  Anderson  was  occupied  by 
the  enemy  with  a  collateral  line  running  to  a 
large  swamp  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  dis- 
tant, and  a  line  opposite  Fort  Anderson,  run- 
ning across  the  peninsula  from  Cape  Fear  River 
to  Masonboro'  Sound.  This  position  was  im- 
pregnable against  a  direct  attack,  and  could  be 
turned  only  by  crossing  the  sound  above  his 
left,  or  passing  around  the  swamp  which  cov- 
vered  his  right.  The  first  movement  of  Gen. 
Schofield  consisted  in  pushing  forward  Gen. 
Terry's  line  on*  Feb.  llth,  supported  by  Gen. 
Cox's  division,  which  drove  in  the  enemy's 
pickets,  and  intrenched  in  a  new  posiflon  close 
enough  to  the  enemy's  line  to  compel  him  to 
hold  it  in  force.  Efforts  were  then  made  to 
turn  his  left  by  the  aid  of  a  fleet  of  boats  to 
cross  the  sound,  but  the  weather  prevented. 
Finally  Gen.  Schofield  determined  to  attempt 
to  turn  the  enemy's  right.  Gen.  Cox's  and 
Gen.  Ames'  divisions  were  crossed  over  to 
Smithville  and  joined  by  Col.  Moore's  brigade 
of  Gen.  Couch's  division,  which  had  just  de- 
barked. They  advanced  along  the  main  Wil- 
mington road  until  they  encountered  the  ene- 
my's position  at  Fort  Anderson  and  the  ad- 
jacent wt>rks.  Here  two  brigades  were  in- 
trenched to  occupy  the  enemy,  while  Gen. 
Cox  with  the  other  two  brigades  and  Gen. 
Ames'  division  moved  around  the  swamp  cover- 
ing the  enemy's  right,  in  order  to  strike  the 
Wilmington  road  in  the  rear  of  Fort  Anderson. 
The  distance  to  be  travelled  was  about  fifteen 
miles.  The  enemy,  by  means  of  their  cavalry, 
discovering  the  movement  of  Gen.  Cox,  hastily 
abandoned  their  works  on  both  sides  of  the 
river  during^  the  night  of  Feb.  19th,  fell  back 
behind  Town  Creek  on  the  west,  and  to  a 
similar  position  .covered  with  swamps  on  the 
east.  Thus  the  main  defences,  of  the  Cape 
Fear  River  an*d  of  Wilmington  were  captured, 
with  ten  pieces  of  heavy  ordnance  and  a  large 
amount  of  ammunition. 

On  the  next  day  Gen.  Cox  pursued  the 
enemy  to  Town  Creek,  behind  which  he  was 
found  intrenched.  The  only  bridge  over  had 
been  destroyed.  Gen.  Terry,  on  the  east  bank, 
also  encountered  the  enemy  in  superior  force, 
and  Gen.  Ames'  division  was  recrossed  and 
joined  him  during  the  night.  On  the  20th 
Gen.  Cox  crossed  Town  Creek,  and  gaining  the 
flank  and  rear  of  the  enemy  attacked  and  rout- 
ed them,  capturing  two  guns  and  three  hundred 
and  seventy-five  prisoners,  besides  the  killed 
and  wounded.  During  the  night  he  rebuilt  the 
bridge,  crossed  his  artillery,  and  advanced  tow- 
ard Wilmington  without  opposition.  Mean- 
while, Gen.  Terry  being  unable  to  advance,  so 
occupied  the  attention  of  the  entire  force  of 
Gen.  Hoke  that  he  was  unable  to  reinforce  those 
defeated  by  Gen.  Cox.  On  Feb.  21st  Gen.  Cox 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


683 


secured  a  portion  of  the  enemy's  bridge  across 
Brunswick  River,  and  passed  a  portion  of  his 
troops  to  Eagle  Island,  and  threatened  to  cross 
the  Cape  Fear  River  above  Wilmington.  The 
enemy  immediately  set  fire  to  his  steamers, 
cotton,  and  military  and  naval  stores,  and 
abandoned  the  city.  Early  the  next  morning, 
Feb.  22d,  Gen.' Cox  entered  without  opposition. 
The  force  in  front  of  Gen.  Terry  fell  back,  and 
were  pursued  by  him  across  Northeast  River. 

The  Federal  losses  in  these  operations  were 
about  two  hundred  officers  and  men  killed  and 
wounded.  That  of  the  enemy  was  estimated 
at  one  thousand  killed,  wounded,  and  taken 
prisoners.  Fifteen  heavy  and  fifteen  light  guns 
were  captured,  with  a  large  amount  of  ammu- 
nition. 

As  Gen.  Schofield  had  no  rolling  stock  at 
Wilmington,  and  was  nearly  destitute  of  wag- 
ons, he  was  compelled  to  operate  from  New- 
bern  for  the  capture  of  Goldsboro.  He  had 
already  sent  to  that  place  about  5,000  men,  and 
ordered  Gen.  J.  N.  Palmer  to  move  with  as 
little  delay  as  possible  upon  Kinstdn,  in  order 
to  cover  the  workmen  repairing  the  railroad. 
Gen.  Ruger's  division  of  the  23d  corps  was 
sent  to  reenforce  Gen.  Palmer,  by  way  of  More- 
head  City.  As  Gen.  Palmer  had  not  moved  on 
the  25th,  Gen.  Cox  was  ordered  to  take  the  com- 
mand and  push  forward  at  once.  At  the  same 
time  the  division  of  Gen.  Couch,  which  had 
just  arrived  at  Wilmington,  was  prepared  as 
rapidly  as  possible,  together  with  the  division 
of  Gen.  Cox,  then  under  Brig.-Gen.  Reilly,  to 
join  the  column  moving  from  Newbern  by  a 
land  march  from  Wilmington.  On  March  6th 
the  two  divisions  were  ready  to  move  for  Kins- 
ton,  and  proceeded  by  way  of  Onslow  and 
Richlands.  On  the  8th  Gen.  Cox  had  advanced 
to  Wise's  Forks,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  be- 
low Southwest  Creek,  behind  which  the  force 
of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  Gen.  Hoke's  divis- 
ion and  a  small  body  of  reserves,  had  retired. 
Meanwhile  Gen.  Cox  sent  two  regiments,  under 
Col.  Upham  of  the  15th  Connecticut,  to  secure 
the  crossing  of  the  creek  on  the  Dover  road. 
But  the  enemy  having  been  reenforced  by  a 
portion  of  the  old  Army  of  Tennessee,  recrossed 
the  creek  above  the  Dover  road,  and  came 
down  in  the  rear  of  Col.  Upham's  position,  and 
surprised  and  captured  nearly  his  entire  com- 
mand, about  seven  hundred  men.  They  then 
advanced  and  endeavored  to  penetrate  between 
Gen.  Carter's  and  Gen.  Palmer's  divisions, 
occupying  the  Dover  road  and  the  railroad  re- 
spectively, but  were  checked  by  Gen.  Ruger's 
division,  which  was  just  arriving  on  the  field. 
Only  light  skirmishing  took  place,  from  which 
the  loss  was  small.  As  the  enemy  was  equally 
as  strong  as  Gen.  Cox,  and  receiving  reinforce- 
ments all  the  time,  Gen.  Cox  intrenched  his 
force  to  await  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Couch.  On 
the  9th  the  enemy  pressed  his  lines  strongly 
without  making  an  assault;  and  on  the  10th, 
having  received  further  reinforcements,  and 
perhaps  heard  of  the- approach  of  Gen.  Couch's 


column,  they  made  a  heavy  attack  upon  the 
left  and  centre  of  Gen.  Cox,  but  were  decisively 
repulsed  with  a  heavy  loss.  They  retired  in 
confusion,  leaving  then?  dead  and  wounded  and 
a  large  number  of  arms  and  intrenching  tools. 
During  the  night  they  fell  back  across  the 
Neuse  and  burned  the  bridge.  The  loss  of 
Gen.  Cox  was  about  300  in  killed  and  wound- 
ed;  that  of  the  enemy  was  estimated  at  1,500 
in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners.  During  the 
night  the  column  of  Gen.  Couch  arrived.  Gen. 
Schofield  was  delayed  in  crossing  the  Neuse 
until  the  14th,  for  want  of  pontoons,  when  it 
was  effected  without  opposition.  Meanwhile 
the  enemy  had  abandoned  Kinston  and  moved 
rapidly  toward  Smithfield,  to  join  the  force 
under  Gen.  Johnston,  to  resist  the  advance  of 
Gen.  Sherman  from  Fayetteville.  After  occu- 
pying Kinston  and  repairing  the  bridge  over 
the  Neuse  and  the  railroad  track,  Gen.  Scho- 
field moved  on  the  20th  toward  Goldsboro, 
which  he  entered  on  the  evening  of  the  21st 
with  slight  opposition  from  the  enemy. 

Meanwhile  Gen.  Terry,  with  a  portion  of  the 
command  which  had  remained  at  Wilmington, 
moved  from  that  point  on  March  15th,  reaching 
Faison's  depot  on  the  20th,  and  advanced  to 
Cox's  bridge,  securing  the  crossing  of  the  Neuse 
on  the  22d. 

The  columns  of  Gen.  Sherman  commenced 
their  march  from  Fayetteville  on  Wednesday, 
March  15th.  His  plan  was,  that  Gen.  Kil- 
patrick  should  move  up  the  plank  road  to  and 
beyond  Averysboro,  a  village  on  the  Cape  Fear 
River,  about  forty  miles  south  of  Raleigh. 
Four  divisions  of  the  left  wing,  with  as  few 
wagons  as  possible,  were  to  follow  him;  the 
rest  of  the  train,  under  the  escort  of  the  two 
remaining  divisions  of  the  wing,  were  to  take 
a  shorter  and  more  direct  road  to  Goldsboro. 
In  like  manner  Gen.  Howard  was  to  send  his 
trains  well  to  the  right,  under  a  good  escort, 
toward  Faison's  depot  and  Goldsboro,  and  to 
hold  four  divisions  light  and  ready  to  go  to  the 
aid  of  the  left  wing  ff  it  should  be  attacked 
while  in  motion.  The  weather  continued  bad, 
and  the  roads  were  almost  impassable,  requir- 
ing repairs  at  almost  every  foot  to  admit  the 
passage  of  the  wagons  and  artillery. 

Gen.  Kilpatrick  advanced,  followed  by  Gen. 
Slocum,  who  moved  up  the  river  or  plank  road 
on  the  15th  to  Kyle's<  landing.  About  three 
miles  beyond,  at  Taylor's  Hole  Creek,  Gen. 
Kilpatrick  encountered  the  rear-guard  of  the 
enemy,  with  which  he  skirmished  heavily.  At 
his  request  Gen.  Slocum  sent  forward  a  brigade 
of  infantry  to  hold  a  line  of  barricades.  On 
the  next  morning  the  column  advanced  in  the 
same  order,  and  found  the  enemy  in  an  in- 
trenched position,  with  artillery,  infantry,  and 
cavalry.  They  were  in  front  of  the  point 
where  the  road  branched  off  toward  Goldsboro 
through  Bentonville.  It  appeared  that  Ge». 
Hardee,  in  retreating  from  Fayetteville,  had 
halted  in  the  narrow  and  swampy  neck  be- 
tween the  Cape  Fear  and  South  Rivers,  iu 


684 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


order  to  check  the  progress  of  Gen.  Sherman, 
that  time  m?ght  be  gained  for  the  concentration 
of  Gen.  Johnston's  forces  in  the  rear  at  Ealeigh, 
Smithfield,  or  Goldsboro.  The  force  of  Gen. 
Hardee  was  estimated  at  20,000  men.  Gen. 
Sherman  found  it  to  he  necessary  to  dislodge 
him,  both  to  gain  possession  of  the  road  to  Golds- 
boro and  to  keep  up  as  long  as  possible  the 
feint  of  an  advance  on  Ealeigh.  The  position 
of  the  enemy  was  a  difficult  one  to  carry,  by 
reason  of  the  nature  of  the  ground,  which  was 
so  soft  that  horses  would  sink  everywhere,  and 
even  men  could  hardly  make  their  way  over 
the  common  pine  barren. 

Gen.  Williams,  with  the  20th  corps,  was 
ahead,  and  Gen.  Ward's  division  in  the  advance. 
This  was  deployed,  and  the  skirmish  line  de- 
veloped the  position  of  a  brigade  of  heavy 
artillery  armed  as  infantry,  posted  across  the 
road  behind  a  light  parapet,  with  a  battery 
enfilading  a  clear  field  over  which  lay  the  way 
of  approach.  A  brigade  under  Gen.  Corsewas 
sent  by  Gen.  Williams  to  the  left  to  turn  this 
line.  By  a  quick  charge  it  broke  the  enemy's 
brigade,  which  retreated  rapidly  back  to  a  sec- 
ond line  better  made  and  more  strongly  held. 
On  the  retreat  the  enemy  were  made  to  suffer 
by  Winniger's  battery  of  artillery,  which  had 
been  put  in  position  by  Major  Eeynolds,  chief 
of  artillery.  On  the  advance  of  Gen.  Ward's 
division  over  the  ground,  three  guns  and  217 
prisoners  were  captured.  Of  the  latter  68 
were  wounded.  Of  the  enemy's  dead,  108 
were  buried  by  the  troops.  As  the  second  line 
was  developed,  the  division  of  Gen.  Jackson 
was  deployed  forward  on  the  right  of  Gen. 
Ward,  and  two  divisions  of  Gen.  Jefferson  0. 
Davis'  14th  corps  on  the  left,  well  toward  the 
Cape  Fear  Eiver.  At  the  same  time  Gen. 
Kilpatrick,  who  was  acting  in  concert,  was 
ordered  to  mass  his  cavalry  on  the  extreme 
right,  and  in  concert  with  the  right  of  Gen. 
Jackson,  to  feel  .forward  for  the  Goldsboro 
road.  He  succeeded  in  getting  a  brigade  on 
the  road,  but  it  was  attacked  so  furiously  by  a 
"division  of  the  enemy  under  Gen.  McLaws,  that 
it  fell  back  to  the  flank  of  the  infantry.  Late 
in  the  afternoon  the  entire  line  advanced  and 
drove  the  enemy  within  his  intrenchments,  and 
pressed  him  so  hard  that  during  the  night, 
which  was  stormy,  he  retreated.  In  the  morn- 
ing he  was  followed  by  the  division  of  Gen. 
Ward  through  and  be/ond  Averysboro,  when 
it  became  apparent  that  Gen.  Hardee  had  re- 
treated toward  Smithfield  instead  of  Ealeigh. 
The  Union  loss  was  12  officers  and  65  men 
killed  and  477"  wounded.  The  loss  of  the 
enemy  is  unknown. 

The  division  of  Gen.  Ward  remained  to  keep 
up  a  show  of  pursuit,  and  the  rest  of  Gen.  Slo- 
cum's  column  turned  to  the  right  and  built  the 
bridge  across  the  South  Eiver  and  took  the 
apad  to  Goldsboro.  At  the  same  time*  Gen. 
Kilpatrick  crossed  the  river  to  the  north  in  the 
direction  of  Elevation,  and  moved  eastward, 
watching  the  left  flank.  The  right  wing  of 


Gen.  Howard  was  still  working  its  way  over 
the  heavy  roads  toward  Bentonville  and  Golds- 
boro. The  cavalry  of  the  enemy  crossed  in 
front  of  Gen.  Sherman,  to  join  their  infaptry  at 
Smithfield,  burning  the  bridges  across  Mill 
Creek.  Smithfield  is  22  miles  northwest  of 
Goldsboro,  on  the  railroad  leading  from  the 
latter  place  to  Ealeigh,  and  on  the  left  bank  of 
the  Cape  Fear  Eiver,  27  miles  from  Ealeigh. 
Goldsboro  is  at  the  junction  of  the  railroad 
from  Ealeigh  to  Newbern  and  that  from  Eich- 
mond  to  Wilmington. 

On  the  night  of  the  18th  Gen.  Slocum's  col- 
umn encamped  on  the  Goldsboro  road,  about 
five  miles  from  Bentonville  and  twenty-seven 
miles  from  Goldsboro.  The  column  of  Gen. 
Howard  was  two  miles  south,  and  both  col- 
umns had  pickets  three  miles  forward,  at  the 
junction  of  the  roads  leading  to  Goldsboro. 
The  next  movement  is  thus  described  by  Gen. 
Sherman : — "  All  the  signs  induced  me  to  be- 
lieve that  the  enemy  would  make  no  further 
opposition  to  our  progress,  and  would  not 
attempt  to  strike  us  in  flank  while  in  motion. 
I  therefore  directed  Gen.  Howard  to  move  his 
right  wing  by  the  new  Goldsboro  road,  which 
goes  by  way  of  Falling  Creek  Church.  I  also 
left  Slocum  and  joined  Howard's  column,  with 
a  view  to  open  communication  with  Gen.  Scho- 
field,  coming  up  from  Newbern,  and  Gen.  Terry 
from  Wilmington.  I  found  Gen.  Howard's 
column  well  strung  out,  owing  to  the  very  bad 
roads,  and  did  not  overtake  him  in  person  until 
he  had  reached  Falling  Creek  Church,  with  one 
regiment  forward  to  the  cross-roads  near  Cox's 
bridge  across  the  Neuse.  I  had  gone  from  Gen. 
Slocum  about  six  miles  when  I  heard  artillery 
in.  his  direction,  but  was  soon  made  easy  by 
one  of  his  staff  officers  overtaking  me,  explain- 
ing that  his  leading  division  (Carlin's)  had  en- 
countered a  division  of  rebel  cavalry  (Dib- 
brell's),  which  he  was  driving  easily.  But  soon 
other  staff  officers  came  up  reporting  that  he 
had  developed  near  Bentouville  the  whole  of 
the  rebel  army  under  Gen.  Johnston  himself. 
I  sent  him  orders  to  call  up  the  two  divisions 
guarding  his  wagon  trains,  and  Hazen's  division 
of  the  15th'corps,  still  back  near  Lee's  store,  to 
fight  defensively  until  I  could  draw  up  Blair's 
corps,  then  near  Mount  Olive  station,  and  with 
the  three  remaining  divisions  of  the  15th  corps 
come  up  on  Gen.  Johnston's  left  rear  from  the 
direction  of  Cox's  bridge.  In  the  mean  time, 
while  on  the  road,  I  received  couriers  from 
both  Gens.  Schofield  and  Terry.  The  former 
reported  himself  in  possession  of  Kinston,  de- 
layed somewhat  by  want  of  provisions,  but 
able  to  march  so  as  to  make  Goldsboro  on  the 
21st,  and  Gen.  Terry  was  at  or  near  Faison's 
depot.  Orders  were  at  once  despatched  to  Gen. 
Schofield  to  push  for  Goldsboro,  and  to  make 
dispositions  to  cross  Little  Eiver  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Smithfield  as  far  as  Millard ;  to  Gen. 
Terry  to  move  to  .Cox's  bridge,  lay  a  pontoon 
bridge,  and  establish  a  crossing ;  and  to  Gen. 
Blair  to  make  a  night  march  to  Falling  Creek 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


685 


Church ;  and  at  daylight,  the  right  wing,  Gen. 
Howard,  less  the  necessary  wagon  guards,  was 
put  in  rapid  motion  on  Bentouville." 

It  appears  that  on  the  advance  of  the  head 
of  Gen.  Slocum's  column  from  his  camp  on  the 
night  of  the  18th,  it  first  encountered  Dibbrell's 
cavalry,  but  soon  found  its  progress  hindered 
by  infantry  and  cavalry.  The  enemy  attacked 
his  advance  and  gained  a  temporary  advantage, 
capturing  three  guns  of  Gen.  Oarlin's  division, 
and  driving  the  two  advanced  brigades  back  on 
the  main  body.  Gen.  Slocum  at  once  deployed 
the  two  divisions  of  the  14th  corps  of  Gen. 
Davis,  and  brought  up  on  their  left  the  two 
divisions  of  the  20th  corps  of  Gen.  Williams. 
These  were  placed  on  the  defensive,  and  a  line 
of  barricades  prepared.  Gen.  Kilpatrick  also 
massed  his  cavalry  on  the  left.  In  this  position 
six  assaults  were  made  on  the  left  whig  by  Gen. 
Johnston,  with  the. combined  forces  of  Gens. 
Hoke,  Hardee,  and  Cheatham.  During  the- 
night  ensuing,  Gen.  Slocum  got  up  his  wagon 
train  with  its  guard  of  two  divisions,  and  Gen. 
Hazen's  division  of  the  15th  corps,  which  en- 
abled him  to  make  his  position  impregnable. 
Gen.  Johnston  had  moved  by  night  from  Smith- 
field,  with  as  little  incumbrance  as  possible, 
for  the  purpose  of  overwhelming  the  left  wing 
before  it  could  be  relieved.  The  right  wing,  in 
its  advance  to  the  aid  of  Gen.  Slocum,  found 
the  cavalry  of  the  enemy  watching  its  approach 
without  being  able  to  offer  any  serious  resist- 
ance until  the  head  of  the  column  encountered 
a  considerable  body  behind  a  barricade,  at  the 
forks  of  the  road  near  Bentonville,  about  three 
miles  east  of  the  battle  field  of  the  previous 
day.  The  cavalry  were  quickly  dislodged,  and 
the  intersection  of  the  roads  secured.  As  the 
15th  corps  advanced,  Gen.  Logan  found  that 
the  en«my  had  thrown  back  their  left  flank, 
and  constructed  a  line  of  parapet  connecting 
with  that  toward  Gen.  Slocum,  in  the  form  of 
a  bastion,  with  its  salient  on  the  main  road  to 
Goldsboro  ;  thus  interposing  between  Gen.  Slo- 
cum with  the  left  wing  on  the  west,  and  Gen. 
Howard  with  the  right  wing  on  the  east,  while 
the  flanks  rested  on  Mill  Creek  and  covered  the 
road  to  Smithfield.  Gen.  Howard  proceeding 
cautiously  soon  made  strong  connection  with 
Gen.  Slocum  on  the  left,  and  at  4  p.  M.  of  the 
20th,  a  complete  and  strong  line  of  battle  con- 
fronted the  enemy  in  his  intrenched  position, 
which  put  Gen.  Johnston  on  the  defensive, 
with  Mill  Creek  and  a  single  bridge  in  his  rear. 
Gen.  Sherman  having  nothing  to  gain  by  a 
battle,  now  pressed  the  enemy  steadily  with 
skirmishers  alone,  using  artillery  on  the  wood- 
ed space  held  by  him,  and  feeling  the  flanks  of 
nis  position,  which  were  covered  by  swamps. 


On  the  next  day,  the  21st,  a  steady  rain  pre 
vailed,  during  which  Gen.  Mower  with'  his  di 
vision,  on  the  extreme  right,  had  worked  well 
to  the  right  around  the  enemy's  flank,  and 
nearly  reached  the  bridge  across  Mill  Creek, 
which  was  the  only  line  of  retreat  open  to  Gen. 
Johnston.  Fearing  the  enemy  might  turn  upon 
Gen.  Mower  with  all  his  reserves,  to  over- 
whelm him,  and  perhaps  yield  his  parapets  for 
the  purpose,  Gen.  Sherman  ordered  a  general 
attack  by  his  skirmish  line,  from  left  to  right. 
Meanwhile  Gen.  Mower  was  able  to  regain  his 
connection  by  moving  to  his  left  rear.  During 
the  night  ensuing  the  enemy  retreated  toward 
Smithfield,  leaving  his  pickets  to  fall  into  Gen. 
Sherman's  hands,  with  many  dead  unburied 
and  wounded  in  his  field  hospitals.  At  day- 
break pursuit  was  made  two  miles  beyond  Mill 
Creek.  The  loss  of  the  left  wing  about  Benton- 
ville was  reported  at  9  officers  and  145. men 
killed,  51  officers  and  816  men  wounded,  and 
3  officers  and  223  men  missing;  total,  1,247. 
Of  the  enemy,  167  dead  were  buried,  and  338 
made  prisoners  by  the  left  wing.  The  loss  of 
the  right  wing  was  2  officers  and  35  men  killed, 
12  officers  and  289  men  wounded,  and  1  officer 
and  60  men  missing;  total,  399.  Of  the  ene- 
my, 100  dead  were  buried  and  1,287  made 
prisoners  by  the  right  wing.  The  aggregate 
loss  of  Gen.  Sherman,  exclusive  of  the  cavalry, 
was  1,646. 

The  result  of  this  affair  gave  to  Gen.  Sher- 
man full  possession  of  Goldsboro,  with  the  two 
railroads  to  Wilmington  and  Beaufort  on  the 
coast.  The  22d  was  passed  in  burying  the 
dead  and  removing  the  wounded  at  Benton- 
ville, and  on  the  next  day  all  the  troops  moved 
to  the  camps  about  Goldsboro,  already  occu- 
pied by  Gen.  Schofield,  there  to  rest  and  re- 
ceive supplies  of  food  and  clothing. 

During  this  march  Gen.  Sherman's  army 
passed  over  an  average  breadth  of  forty  miles 
of  country,  from  Savannah  to  Goldsboro,  and 
consumed  all  the  forage,  cattle,  hogs,  sheep, 
poultry,  cured  meats,  corn  meal,  &c.  It  was 
stripped  so  bare  as  to  make  it  necessary  for  the 
enemy  to  send  provisions  from  other  quarters 
to  feed  the  inhabitants.  It  caused  the  abandon- 
ment by  the  enemy  of  the  whole  sea-coast  from 
Savannah  to  Newbern,  with  the  forts,  dock- 
yards, gunboats,  <fcc.  The  real  object  of  the 
march,  says  Gen.  Sherman,  "  was  to  place  this 
army  in  a  position  easy  of  supply,  whence  it 
could  take  an  appropriate  part  in  the  spring 
and  summer  campaign  of  1865."  The  troops 
remained  in  their  camps  during  the  remainder 
of  the  month  of  March.  Meantime  Gen.  Sher- 
man visited  City  Point  and  conferred  with  the 
President,  Gen.  Grant,  and  others. 


686 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


CHAPTEE  L. 


March  of  Gen.  Sheridan  from  "Winchester  to  the  James  River— Attack  on  the  Army  before  Petersburg— Movement  of 
Troops  by  the  left  of  Gen.  Grant — Battle  near  Five  Forks — Cannonade  of  Petersburg — Assault  on  the  City— Gen.  Lee 
orders  the  evacuation  of  Richmond  and  Petersburg— Occupation  of  the  latter  by  Union  Troops— Occupation  of  Rich- 
mond by  Gen.  "Weitzel — Retreat  of  Gen.  Lee's  Army — Pursuit  by  Gen.  Sheridan — Surrender  of  Gen.  Lee— Terms 
of  Capitulation. 


WHILE  Gen.  Sherman  had  been  marching 
through  the  Carolinas,  Gen.  Grant  was  com- 
pleting his  preparations  for  the  final  conflict 
with  Gen.  Lee.  Gen.  Sheridan,  in  command  in 
the  Shenandoah  valley,  was  ordered  to  join 
Gen.  Sherman,  and  for  that  purpose  left  his  camp 
at  Winchester  on  February  27th.  His  force  con- 
sisted of  the  1st  division  of  cavalry  under  Gen. 
Merritt,  the  3d  under  Gen.  Ouster,  and  one 
brigade  of  the  2d  with  four  guns.  The  severe 
rains  had  swollen  the  rivers  and  made  the  roads 
bad.  This  stormy  weather  continued  after  the 
first  few  days  during  the  march.  The  column 
passed  through  Kernstown,  Middletown,  Stras- 
burg,  and  Woodstock,  crossing  the  streams  on 
the  way  Without  opposition.  On  the  nest  day, 
the  28th,  the  march  was  made  without  opposi- 
tion from  Woodstock,  through  Edenburgh,  to 
Hawkinsburgh.  The  north  fork  of  the  Shenan- 
doah was  crossed  on  a  pontoon  bridge,  between 
Mount  Jackson  and  New  Market.  In  the  cross- 
ing nine  men  of  Gen.  Ouster's  division  were 
drowned.  On  the  next  day  Gen.  Sheridan  passed 
through  Harrisonburgh,  Mount  Crawford,  Mount 
Sidney,  and  crossed  Middle  River,  nine  miles 
from  Staunton,  and  camped  four  miles  from 
that  place,  haying  advanced  eighty-three  miles 
in  three  days.  The  only  skirmishing  thus  far 
took  place  at  a  point  near  the  North  River  and 
Mount  Crawford,  between  the  brigade  under 
Caphart  and  some  cavalry  of  Gen.  Rosser's 
division,  who  were  trying  to  burn  the  bridge. 
The  bridge  was  saved  and  several  wagons  of  the 
enemy  captured,  with  a  loss  of  only  six  men. 

Gen.  Early,  who  had  occupied  Staunton,  and 
was  aware  of  the  approach  of  Gen.  Sheridan, 
instructed  the  inhabitants  to  remove  their  prop- 
erty, as  he  would  be  unable  to  retain  possession 
of  the  town.  Much  property  was  therefore  re- 
moved. During  the  night  of  March  1st,  while 
the  troops  were  encamped  outside  of  Staunton, 
Gen.  Devins'  brigade  of  Merritt's  division, 
moved  to  Staunton,  drove  the  enemy's  pickets 
through  the  town,  and  occupied  it  without  op- 
position. Gen.  Devih  then  turned  to  the  left, 
marching  easterly  on  the  road  toward  Rockfish 
Gap,  and  destroyed  the  trestle  bridge  of  the 
Virginia  Central  Railroad  at  Christina's  Creek. 
On  the  2d  it  rained  heavily,  but  the  column 
moved  through  Staunton  toward  Waynesboro, 
thirteen  miles  distant.  At  Fishersville,  eight 
miles  from  Staunton,  Gen.  Caster's  division  be- 
ing in  advance,  met  the  enemy's  videttes  and 
drove  them  back  five  miles  to  Waynesboro. 
Here  he  made  a  reconnoissance  and  discovered 


the  enemy  in  position  on  some  ridges  along 
South  River,  with  five  guns.  Placing  the  bri- 
gade of  Gen.  Pennington  on  the  right,  and 
Wells'  on  the  left,  with  that  of  Caphart  acting 
as  a  reserve,  he  advanced  with  the  two  forward 
regiments  deployed  as  skirmishers  and  firing 
briskly.  Immediately  after  firing  a  volley  the 
entire  line  of  the  enemy  broke,  when  the  troops 
rushed  upon  them  and  captured  87  officers, 
•1,165  men,  13  flags,  5  cannon,  over  100  horses 
and  mules,  and  nearly  100  wagons  and  ambu- 
lances. Gen.  Early  lost  his  baggage  but  escaped 
to  Charlottesville.  Pursuit  was  made  and 
Caphart's  brigade  crossing  South  River  moved 
to  Greenwood  station,  where  it  destroyed  the 
depot,  a  train  containing  six  pieces  of  artillery, 
and  some  commissary  and  ordnance  supplies. 
Gen.  Ouster  now  waited  for  Gen.  Merritt  to 
come  up,  and  both  forces  pushed  on  through 
Rockfish  Gap  to  Charlottesville,  eighteen  miles. 
The  prisoners  were  sent  back  to  Winchester 
under  a  guard,  which  encountered  some  guer- 
rillas on  the  way.  At  Charlottesville  Gen. 
Sheridan  remained  two  days.  He  says :  "  This 
time  was  consumed  in  bringing  over  from 
Waynesboro  our  ammunition  and  pontoon 
trains.  The  weather  was  horrible  beyond  de- 
scription, and  the  rain  incessant.  The  two 
divisions  were  during  this  time  occupied  in 
destroying  the  two  large  iron  bridges,  one  over 
the  Rivanna  River,  the  other  over  Morse's 
Creek,  near  Charlottesville,  and  the  railroad 
for  a  distance  of  eight  miles  in  the  direction  of 
Lynchburg." 

On  March  6th  Gen.  Devin  advanced  with  his 
division  to  Scottsville,  whence  light  parties  were 
sent  through  the  country  destroying  all  mer- 
chandise, mills,  factories,  bridges,  &c.  The  di- 
vision then  proceeded  along  the  James  River 
Canal  to  Duguidsville,  fifteen  miles  from  Lynch- 
burg, destroying  every  lock,  and  in  many  places 
the  bank  of  the  canal.  The  bridges  at  Duguids- 
ville and  Hardwicke  had  been  burned  by  the 
enemy,  and  the  pontoons  were  useless  on  ac- 
count of  the  high  water.  At  the  same  time  the 
3d  division  started  from  Charlottesville  and 
proceeded  down  the  Lynchburg  Railroad  to 
Arnherst  Court  House,  destroying  every  bridge, 
and  in  many  places  miles  of  the  road.  The 
bridges  were  numerous,  and  some  of  them  five 
hundred  feet  in  length.  Abundant  supplies 
were  found  in  all  places.  The  can9l  had  been, 
says  Gen.  Sheridan,  "  the  great  feeder  of  Rich- 
mond." At  Rockfish  River  the  bank  of  the 
canal  was  cut,  and  at  New  Canton,  where  a 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


687 


dam  is  across  the  James,  the  guard  lock  was 
destroyed  and  the  James  River  let  into  the 
canal,  carrying  away  its  banks  and  washing  out 
its  bottom.  The  dam  was  also  partially  de- 
stroyed. Among  the  captures  were  twelve 
canal  boats  laden  with  supplies,  ammunition,  ra- 
tions, medical  stores,  &c.  Gen.  Ouster  was  next 
sent  to  Ashland,  and  Gen.  Devin  to  destroy 
the  bridges  over  the  South  Anna.  At  noon  on 
March  10th,  the  advance  of  Gen.  Sheridan  ar- 
rived on  the  banks  of  the  Pamunkey,  a  few  miles 
from  Whitehouse,  and  soon  crossed  the  river. 
On  the  26th  he  reached  City  Point,  and  took  a 
position  in  Gen.  Gregg's  old  cavalry  camp  on 
the  left  and  rear  of  the  army. 

The  line  occupied  by  Gen.  Grant's  army  at 
this>  time  extended  a  distance  of  about  thirty 
miles.  The  extreme  right  was  at  Fort  Harri- 
son at  Chafin's  farm,  north  of  the  James  River, 
where  were  also  the  outposts  of  the  cavah-y 
under  Gen.  Kautz.  Thence  it  crossed  the 
James  in  front  of  Bermuda  Hundred  and  the 
Appomattox,  and  extended  around  Petersburg 
as  far  southwest  as  the  bank  of  Hatcher's  Run. 
This  line  was  strongly  intrenched  everywhere, 
although  the  greater  part  of  the  army  were  on 
the  left.  The  Army  of  the  James,  under  Gen. 
Ord,  was  north  of  the  James,  forming  the  right 
wing,  and  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  south 
of  the  Appomattox,  and  formed  really  the  left 
wing.  From  the  Appomattox  to  Hatcher's  Run 
there  was  a  strong  series  of  connected  intrench- 
ments.  The  first  regular  work  on  the  line  was 
Fort  McGilvery ;  the  next  Fort  Steadman ;  the 
next  three-eighths  of  a  mile  further  on,  was  Fort 
Haskell ;  the  next  Fort  Morton,  &c.  Between 
the  forts  were  mortar  batteries,  as  follows :  No. 
8  near  Fort  McGilvery,  No.  9  between  that  and 
Fort  Steadman,  No.  10  on  the  right  of  the  lat- 
ter fort  and  near  it,  and  Nos.  11  and  12  on  its 
left.  Fort  Steadman  and  the  adjoining  batteries 
were  on  an  eminence  known  as  Hare's»Hill. 

For  some  days  previous  Jo  the  arrival  of  Gen. 
Sheridan  with  his  command,  there  had  been 
indications  of  a  change  on  the  part  of  the  ene- 
my, such  as  might  result  in  a  dash  on  some  part 
Gen.  Grant's  lines.  About  daylight,  on  March 
25th,  Gen.  Gordon's  old  division  and  Bushrod 
Johnson's  division  of  Lee's  army  were  massed 
for  a  charge  upon  Fort  Steadman,  which  covered 
about  an  acre  of  ground  and  had  nine  guns. 
At  the  same  time  the  rest  of  Gen.  Lee's  army  was 
*  arranged  for  an  attack  further  down  toward  the 
left.  At  dawn  Gordon's  troops  rushed  forward 
to  the  attack.  The  space  between  the  lines  was 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  wide.  They 
at  once  cleared  their  own  abatis,  charged  across 
the  interval,  and  up  the  ascent  to  Fort  Stead- 
man, and  working  through  the  abatis,  carried 
the  fort  almost  in  an  instant.  The  surprise  was 
complete.  In  the  fort  was  the  14th  New  York 
heavy  artillery,  and  the  line  was  guarded  by 
Gen.  McLaughlin's  brigade  of  the  1st  division 
of  the  9th  corps.  The  enemy  immediately  turned 
the  guns  of  the  fort  against  the  rest  of  the  line, 
and  caused  the  abandonment  of  batteries  10  and 


1 1  on  the  left,  and  battery  9  on  the  right.  Upon 
these  they  dashed  at  once,  and  opened  fire  upon 
the  troops  as  they  escaped.  Fort  Haskell, 
however,  soon  gave  them  a  check.  The  3d  di- 
vision of  the  corps  under  Gen.  Hartranft  was 
quickly  on  the  ground,  and  the  batteries  from  all 
sides  were  speedily  massed  upon  Fort  Steadman. 
A  terrible  fire  burst  from  the  artillery,  to  which 
the  enemy  replied  with  the  captured  guns. 
Under  this  fire  the  division  of  Gen.  Hartranft 
pressed  up  to  retake  the  captured  fort.  The 
enemy  at  first  resisted  obstinately,  and  checked 
his  progress  with  a  loss  of  nearly  two  hundred 
killed  and  wounded.  But  the  constant  fire  of 
the  artillery  and  the  pressure  of  Hartranft  soon 
caused  the  enemy  to  fall  back  into  the  fort  and 
then  beyond  it,  down  the  hill,  leaving  all  the 
captured  guns  in  the  endeavor  to  regain  their 
own  lines. .  A  portion,  however,  were  unable 
to  escape,  and  about  1,758  were  made  prisoners, 
causing  a  total  loss  to  the  enemy  of  more  than 
2,000  men.  The  Union  loss  was  nearly  1,000, 
in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  No  more 
firing  took  place  at  this  point  during  the  day. 
It  was  resumed  at  night  when  an  attempt  was 
made  to  repair  the  abatis.  The  affair  was  over 
before  other  Union  troops  arrived,to  gr^e  assist- 
ance. Later  in  the  day  a  general  forward  dem- 
onstration was  made  along  the  line  on  the 
left,  and  a  part  of  the  enemy's  skirmish  lines 
captured  with  about  2,000  prisoners.  Of  this 
movement  Gen.  Grant  reported  thus : 

"  Our  captures  by  the  2d  corps  were  365 ;  by 
the  6th  corps,  469,  and  by  the  9th  corps  1,049. 
The  2d  and  6th  corps  pushed  forward  and  cap- 
tured the  enemy's  strong  intrenchments,  and 
turned  them  against  him  and  still  hold  them. 
In  trying  to  retake  these  the  battle  was  con- 
tinued until  eight  o'clock  at  night,  the  enemy 
losing  very  heavily.  Humphreys  estimates  the 
loss  of  the  enemy  in  his  front  at  three  times  his 
own,  and  Gen.  Wright,  in  his  front,  as  double 
that  of  ours." 

The  following  is  Gen.  Meade's  congratulatory 
order  to  the  army : 

HEADQUARTEBS  AKMT  OP  THE  POTOMAC,  March.  26, 1S66. 
General  Orders  Jfb.  13. 

The  Major-General  Commanding  announces  to  the 
Army  the  success  of  the  operations  of  yesterday. 

The  enemy,  with  a  temerity  for  which  he  has  paid 
dearly,  massed  his  forces,  and  succeeded,  through 
the  reprehensible  want  of  vigilance  of  the  3d  brigade 
1st  division,  9th  corps,  in  breaking  through  our  lines, 
capturing  Fort  Steadman,  and  batteries  9, 10,  and  11. 

The  prompt  measures  taken  by  Maj. -General  Parke, 
the  firm  bearing  of  the  troops  of  the  9th  corps  in 
adjacent  portions  of  the  line  held  by  the  enemy,  and 
the  conspicuous  gallantry  of  the  3d  division  of 
this  corps,  for  the  first  time  under  fire,  together  with 
the  energy  and  skill  displayed  by  Brigadier-General 
Hartranft,  its  leader,  quickly  repaired  this  disaster: 
and  the  enemy  were  driven  from  Fort  Steadman  and 
our  lines,  with  heavy  losses  in  killed  and  wounded, 
leaving  in  our  hands  eight  battle-flags  and  over  1,900 
prisoners. 

The  enemy  being  driven  from  the  front  of  the  9th 
corps,  the  offensive  was  assumed  by  the  6th  and  2d 
corps ;  the  enemy  by  night  was  driven  from  his  in- 
trenched picket  line,  and  all  his  efforts  to  recover  the 
the  same,  which  were  particularly  determined  and 


688 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


persistent  on  the  2d  corps  front,  were  resisted  and 
repulsed  with  heavy  losses,  leaving  with  the  6th  corps 
over  400  prisoners,  and  with  the  2d  corps  two  battle- 
flags  and  over  300  prisoners. 

The  troops  of  the  6th  corps,  reported  by  Major- 
General  Wright  as  engaged  in  these  operations,  were 
Getty's  division,  Keifer's  brigade  of  Seymour's  divi- 
sion, and  Hamblin's  and  Edward's  brigade  of  Whea- 
ton's  division. 

Of  the  2d  corps,  Major-General  Humphreys  men- 
tions Miles'  and  Mott's  divisions,  and  Smvthe's  bri- 
gade of  Hays'  division,  supported  by  GriflSn's  division, 
5th  corps. 

The  result  of  the  flay  was  the  thorough  defeat  of 
the  enemy's  plans,  the  capture  of  his  strongly  in- 
trenched picket-line  under  the  artillery  fire  of  his 
main  works,  and  the  capture  of  ten  battle-flags  and 
about  2,800  prisoners — a  result  on  which  the  Major- 
General  Commanding  heartily  congratulates  the 
army. 

Two  lessons  can  be  learned  from  these  operations : 
One,  that  no  fortified  line,  however  strong,  will  pro- 
tect an  army  from  an  intrepid  and  audacious  enemy, 
unless  vigilantly  guarded ;  the  other,  that  no  disaster 
or  misfortune  is  irreparable,  where  energy  and  brav- 
ery are  displayed  in  the  determination  to  recover 
what  is  lost,  and  to  promptly  assume  the  offensive. 

The  Major-General  Commanding  trusts  these  les- 
sons will  not  be  Ibst  on  this  army. 

In  conclusion,  the  Major-General  Commanding  de- 
sires to  return  his  thanks  to  those  commands  of  the 
army  not  specially  mentioned  in  this  order,  for  the 
promptness  displayed  by  all,  in  their  movements  to 
different  parts  of  the  lines,  under  the  exigencies  of 
the  hour.  In  connection  with  this  subject,  the  prompt- 
itude of  Major-General  Warren  and  of  Brevet  Major- 
General  Hunt,  Chief  of  Artillery,  in  the  early  part  of 
the  operations,  during  the  accidental  absence  of  the 
Major-General  Commanding,  deserve  commendation 
and  thanks.  GEORGE  G.  MEADE, 

Major-General  Commanding. 

Indications  were  now  more  and  more  appar- 
ent of  the  weakness  of  Gen.  Lee's  forces,  and 
the  fall  of  Petersburg  and  Richmond.  Gen. 
Grant  immediately  prepared  for  new  movements 
of  the  highest  importance,  and  considered  that 
this  attack  of  Lee  was  made  to  cover  his  de- 
signed retreat  from  Richmond. 

On  the  26th  some  sharp  skirmishing  broke 
out  between  "the  pickets  of  the  1st  division  of 
the  9th  corps  and  their  opponents,  and  the  bat- 
teries .joined  in.  It  soon  quieted  down.  On 
the  27th  an  attack  was  made  by  the  enemy  on 
Gen.  Getty's  division  of  the  6th  corps  by  a  small 
i  force  of  the  enemy,  which  was  repulsed  after  a 
sharp  skirmish.  On  the  same  day  orders  were 
sent  to  the  various  field  hospitals  to  remove  the 
sick  and  wounded  to  City  Point,  and  to  keep 
the  hospitals  in  readiness  for  any  emergency 
that  might  arise.  At  12  o'clock  at  night  the 
whole  army  was  put  under  marching  orders, 
and  the  next  day,  the  28th,  was  passed  in  prep- 
arations for  the  movement.  The  plan  was  that 
the  cavalry,  under  Sheridan,  should  advance 
to  the  left,  as  had  been  done  so  often  before, 
followed  by  the  5th  corps  under  Gen.  "Warren, 
and  the  2d  corps  under  Gen.  Humphreys,  while 
the  other  corps  held  the  lines  around  Peters- 
burg. For  this  purpose,  on  the  2Vth  troops 
were  selected  from  the  24th  under  Gen.  Gibbon, 
and  25th  under  Gen.  Birney,  corps  which  be- 
longed to  the  Army  of  the  James,  under  Gen. 
Ord,  and  during  the  night  marched  across  the 


river,  leaving  the  remainder  of  the  corps  to 
garrison  the  position  north  of  the  James.  At 
noon  on  the  28th,  this  force  reached  the  head- 
quarters of  Gen.  Meade,  and  early  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  29th  marched  into  the  lines  as  they 
were  evacuated  by  the  2d  corps. 

About  6  A.  M.  of  Wednesday  the  29th,  the 
cavalry  began  to  move  dow'n  the  Jerusalem 
plank-road  to  Reams'"  station  on  the  Weldon 
Railroad,  in  two  columns,  of  which  Gen.  Crook 
commanded  the  right  and  Gen.  Merritt  the  left. 
The  bridge  over  Rowanty  Creek  was  gone,  and 
the  creek  not  fordable.  After  a  delay  of  four 
hours  a  bridge  was  built,  and  the  advance  under 
Crook  crossed,  and  moved  direct  to  Dinwiddie. 
The  bad  roads  caused  much  delay.  The  town 
was  occupied,  and  communication  opened  vith 
Gen.  Warren's  corps  on  the  right.  It  rained  a 
little  during  the  night,  and  very  hard  all  of 
Thursday,  the  30th.  The  roads  became  so 
bad  as  to  block  up  the  trains,  and  a  part  of 
the  cavalry  force  was  employed  in  guarding 
them.  The  rest  moved  up  to  the  Boydton 
road. 

Previous  to  the  advance  of  the  infantry,  the 
left  of  the  6th  corps  extended  to  Hatcher's 
Run.  The  2d  corps  extended  down  the  run 
from  the  left  of  the  6th,  at  nearly  a  right 
angle,  until  reaching  the  crossing  of  the 
Vaughan  road.  The  5th  corps  was  practically 
in  reserve,  and  extended  back  at  a  right  angle 
from  the  left  of  the  2d,  in  rear  of  the  6th. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  the  29th  the  2d  corps 
moved  along  the  Vaughan  road,  and  was  soon 
thrown  into  position  along  that  road  from 
Hatcher's*Run  to  Gravelly  Run,  which  unite  at 
Monk's  Neck  to  form  Rowanty  Creek.  Works 
were  thrown  up  to  cover  the  corps  from  attack, 
but  the  enemy  made  no  opposition.  The  5th 
corps  moved  at  the  same  time,  and  crossed 
Hatcher's  Run.  The  route  was  along  the  road 
to  Dinwiddie,  until  reaching  the  Quaker  road, 
when  the  column  turned  abruptly  to  the  right. 
About  nine  o'clock  a  connection  was  formed 
between  the  right  of  the  5th  corps  and  the 
left  of  the  2d.  The  line  of  the  former  extend- 
ed across  the  Quaker  road,  and  within  two  or 
three  miles  of  Dinwiddie.  Some  opposition 
had  been  made  to  the  crossing  of  the  5th  corps 
at  Gravelly  Run  by  a  cavalry  vidette,  which 
was  driven  off  after  a  short  skirmish.  Expect- 
ing an  attack  from  the  enemy,  preparations  , 
were  soon  made  by  the  troops,  and  about  3$ 
p.  M.  a  division,  under  Gen.  B.  Johnson,  at- 
tacked and  drove  in  the  skirmishers,  and  as- 
sailed with  great  force  Gen.  Griffin's  division. 
Some  batteries  being  in  position  opened  upon 
the  enemy,  who  had  no  artillery,  and  a  sharp 
but  short  conflict  ensued.  Finding  the  force 
against  him  becoming  too  strong  Johnson  with- 
drew to  his  original  position.  The  loss  to  the 
5th  corps  was  about  five  hundred,  and  that  of 
the  enemy  was  estimated  at  not  far  from  the 
same  number. 

During  the  night,  between  9  and  12  o'clock, 
a  cannonade  .took  place  on  the  right  of  the 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


689 


690 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


line,  in  front  of  Petersburg.  The  loss  was 
small  on  each  side. 

On  the  next  day,  Thursday,  the  30th,  Tur- 
ner's division  of  the  24th  corps  was  moved 
down  the  Vaughan  road  and  across  Hatcher's 
Run.  It  then  turned  to  the  right  and  advanced 
to  make  connection  with  the  right  of  the  2d 
corps.  A  brigade  of  Gen.  Foster's  division 
then  moved  out  and  connected  with  the  right 
of  Turner,  thus  making .  the  line  complete. 
Field  works  were  thrown  up,  and  some  skir- 
mishing with  the  enemy  took  place.  The  two 
divisions  of  the  25th  corps  held  a  place  be- 
tween the  right  of  the  24th  and  the  left  of  the 
6th.  The  9th  corps  remained  on  the  right  of 
the  6th. 

Early  on  the  same  day  Gen.  Sheridan  con- 
nected his  right  with  the  left  of  Gen.  Warren 
near  the  Boydton  plank-road.  The  enemy  had 
a  strong  line  of  intrenchments  already  erected 
to  cover  a  position  known  as  Five  Forks.  The 
force  of  Gen.  Merritt  was  sent  in  that  direction 
for  the  purpose  of  turning  the  right  of  the 
enemy,  and  the  advance  brigade,  under  Gen. 
Devin,  soon  encountered  their  cavalry,  and 
drove  them  back  to  their  works.  Their  in- 
fantry in  turn  drove  back  the  advance.  Their 
line  of  intrenchments  covered  the  "White  Oak 
road,  which  runs  from  the  Boydton  road  to 
the  Southside  Railroad.  From  the  White  Oak 
road  toward  Hatcher's  Run  the  enemy  were 
in  strong  force.  All  attempts  to  turn  his  right 
by  cavalry  were  baffled. 

Meanwhile  some  changes  were  made  in  the 
position  of  the  different  corps.  The  5th  at 
night  occupied  a  position  about  a  mile  north  of 
the  junction  of  the  Quaker  and  Boydton  roads. 
During  the  day  it  had  advanced  westward 
about  three-fourths  of  a  mile,  and  lay  fronting 
northward,  with  the  pickets  of  Gens.  Ayres's 
division  within  five  hundred  yards  of  the  White 
Oak  road,  but  at  a  spot  between  two  and 
three  miles  west  of  its  intersection  with  the 
Boydton  road.  The  divisions  of  Gens.  Craw- 
ford and  Griffin  were  on  the  right  successively. 
On  the  right  of  the  5th  corps  was  the  2d, 
which  now  had  its  right  near  Hatcher's  Run. 
Gen.  Sheridan  remained  at  Dinwiddie  and 
covered  the  left.  The  movements  of  the  day 
had  been  accomplished  with  skirmishing  and 
some  artillery  firing,  making  the  losses  of  the 
Union  troops  about  two  hundred. 

The  object  now  was  to  get  possession  of  the 
enemy's  position,  known  as  Five  Forks,  by 
carrying  which  their  right  flank  would  be 
turned.  At  this  point  five  roads  meet  in  the 
woods,  three  of  which  run  back  to  the  South- 
side  Railroad.  The  White  Oak  road  was  here 
strongly  fortified  with  logs  and  earth,  with  its 
approaches  blocked  by  fallen  trees.  Sharp- 
shooters were  also  stationed  to  resist  any  ad- 
vance. 

Early  on  Friday  morning,  the  31st,  Gen. 
Warren  massed  the  division  of  Griffin  in  the 
rear  of  those  of  Gens.  Ayres  and  Crawford, 
for  an  advance  upon  the  White  Oak  road, 


which  commences  at  the  Boydton  road  and 
runs  westward,  crossing  the  Quaker  road  and 
the  Claiborne,  which  latter  extends  northwest- 
ly  to  the  Southside  Railroad.  About  8  o'clock 
the  advance  commenced  toward  the  Dabney 
House,  Ayres's  division  leading  and  supported 
by  the  other  two.  After  moving  about  a  half 
mile  beyond  the  plank-road  the  enemy's  skir- 
mishers opened  fire,  at  the  same  time  falling 
back  upon  their  main  works,  a  mile  and  a  half 
below  the  White  Oak  road.  A  severe  fire  was 
now  opened  upon  the  advance  under  Gen. 
Ayres,  which  broke  and  fell  to  the  rear,  fol- 
lowed by  a  vigorous  charge  upon  them  by  the 
enemy.  The  attack  of  the  enemy  was  so  impet- 
uous, and  they  were  so  well  handled,  that  they 
swept  the  field,  notwithstanding  the  obstinate 
resistance,  Each  division  met  the  same  fate 
until  the  whole  5th  corps  was  driven  back  to 
the  Boydton  road,  when  Miles'  division  of  the 
2d  corps  came  to  their  aid  and  checked  the 
enemy.  They  now  attempted  to  cut  off 
Sheridan's  cavalry,  which  were  greatly  ex- 
posed by  the  failure  of  the  5th  corps  to  ad- 
vance. The  2d  division  was  on  Stony  Creek, 
southwest  of  Dinwiddie,  consisting  of  three 
brigades — Smith's,  Davies',  and  Gregg's — and 
holding  the  left  of  Sheridan's  line.  The  bri- 
gade of  Gen.  Fitzhugh  was  next,  and  facing 
southeast,  and  next  was  Stagg's  brigade,  on 
Gravelly  Run,  six  miles  from  Dinwiddie. 
About  two  miles  from  the  latter  place  was 
Gibbs'  brigade.  Early  in  the  afternoon  the 
enemy  attacked  the  left  in  force,  but  it  held 
its  ground.  Davies'  brigade,  on  the  right  of 
the  extreme  left,  was  next  attacked,  and,  being 
flanked,  was  driven  back  Avith  severe  loss. 
The  enemy  next  attacked  the  left  centre,  and 
forced  it  back,  when  the  commands  were  faced 
into  new  positions,  and  reinforcements  hurried 
up.  At  5  P.  M.  the  greater  part  of  both  divi- 
sions had  been  repulsed  and  driven  back  sev- 
eral miles  to  the  Boydton  road,  and  Gibbs'  bri- 
gade had  fallen  back  about  a  mile  from  Din- 
widdie. The  troops  of  Gen.  Merritt  were  now 
reformed,  and  held  a  firm  position  on  the  right. 
The  enemy,  reinforced  by  the  infantry  which 
had  driven  the  5th  corps,  renewed  the  attack, 
but  the  artillery  being  in  position,  and  a  large 
force  of  cavalry  having  been  rallied  by  Gen. 
Sheridan,  the  desperdte  charges  of  the  enemy 
were  successfully  resisted,  and  they  drew  "off 
to  the  woods.  Meantime  the  5th  corps  had 
been  rallied,  and  advanced  and  regained  the 
whole  ground  which  had  been  lost.  The  divi- 
sion of  Gen.  Griffin  captured  the  earthwork 
from  which  the  enemy  had  issued,  and  ad- 
vanced and  took  a  position  on  the  White  Oak 
road,  east  of  Five  Forks.  At  the  same  time  the 
1st  and  3d  divisions  of  the  2d  corps,  next  on 
the  right,  advanced,  and  a  hot  engagement  with 
the  enemy  ensued.  The  latter  resisted  stub- 
bornly, but  at  length  withdrew,  and  the  whole 
corps  advanced  three-fourths  of  a  mile,  captur- 
ing about  one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners. 
The  two  divisions  of  the  24th  corps  were  on 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


691 


the  right  of  the  2d,  and  were  thrown  forward 
so  as  to  cooperate  with  the  general  advance. 
The  enemy  had  thus  foiled  the  plans  of  the 
day;  but  owing. to  the  strong  force  and  the 
skilful  handling  of  the'  numerous  batteries  in 
the  field  works  lie  had  been  checked  in  turn, 
and  forced  to  retire.  At  night  the  Federal 
right  had  advanced  a  few  hundred  yards  from 
its  position  in  the  morning,  and  the  left  reached 
to  the  White  Oak  road,  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
from  Five  Forks,  which  was  to  the  westward, 
and  three  miles  from  the  intersection  of  the 
White  Oak  road  with  the  Boydton  road.  The 
White  Oak  road  from  the  extreme  spot  occu- 
pied, was  held  about  one  mile  eastward.  From 
that  point  the  line  ran  in  an  irregular  and 
semi-circular  form  to  the  2d  corps.  The  Union 
loss  of  the  day  was  between  2,500  and  3,000 ; 
that  of  the  enemy  was  less.  Many  prisoners 
were  taken  on  both  sides. 

On  the  next  day,  Saturday,  April  1st,  the 
contest  for  the  possession  of  Richmond  was 
virtually  decided.  During  the  night  Gen. 
Grant  had  placed  the  5th  corps,  Gen.  Warren, 
under  the  command  of  Gen.  Sheridan.  All 
night  the  troops  had  been  busy  throwing  up 
works,  corduroying  roads,  and  -  bringing  up 
trains.  At  4  A.  M.  the  enemy  made  an  attack 
on  Foster's  division  of  the  24th  corps.  It  had 
been  expected,  but  they  came  so  suddenly  that 
the  troops  broke  to  the  rear,  and  left  them  to 
raise  their  flag  on  the  parapet.  The  troops 
were  soon  aroused  and  drove  back  the  enemy. 
About  fifty  prisoners  were  captured  on  each 
side.  This  was  followed  by  the  roar  of  mus- 
ketry and  a  cannonade  all  along  the  centre 
and  right  of  the  line.  This  soon  quieted  down. 
The  command  of  Gen.  Sheridan  was  now 
about  80,000  men,  consisting  of  nearly  four 
divisions  of  cavalry  and  three  of  infantry,  and 
double  the  force  which  the  enemy  were  able  to 
concentrate  against  him.  At  the  same  time  the 
army  threatened  the  whole  length  of  the  ex- 
tended line  from  Dinwiddie  to  Petersburg. 
The  plan  of  operations  by  Gen.  Sheridan  ap- 
pears to  have  been  to  break  through  the  ene- 
my's line  in  such  a  manner  as  to  enclose  Five 
Forks  and  its  garrison,  and  to  capture  them. 
At  daybreak  the  cavalry  advanced  under  Gens. 
Oustar  and  Devin,  slowly  driving  the  enemy 
toward  the  left  of  his  works  on  the  White 
Oak  road.  These  divisions  were  dismounted, 
and  fought  with  carbines,  while  the  brigades 
of  Gens.  Gregg  and  Mackenzie  remained  in  the 
saddle,  so  as  to  flank  the  enemy  quickly.  Thus 
the  troops  worked  steadily  up  on  all  sides  tc 
the  intrenchments  of  the  enemy,  who  fell 
slowly  back  to  their  main  position,  delivering 
a  most  destructive  fire.  Thus  Gen.  Sheridan 
got  a  force  well  on  the  enemy's  flank  and  rear, 
while  the  rest  of  the  troops  pressed  slowly 
upon  the  front  of  his  works.  An  attack  was 
now  to  be  made  by  the  whole  force,  and  about 
3  P.  M.  the  5th  corps  was  ordered  forward  to 
support  the  cavalry.  It  marched  from  its  posi- 
tion, and  was  halted  obliquely  to  the  White 


Oak  road.  It  was  then  swung  round  on  its 
left  wing  as  a  pivot  by  advancing  the  centre 
and  right.  This  brought  it  on  one  flank  of  the 
enemy,  while  the  cavalry  pressed  the  other. 
The  enemy  were  pressed  back  slowly,  and  be- 
coming aware  of  their  dangerous  position,  a 
most  deadly  contest  ensued  for  two  hours. 
Being  strongly  intrenched,  and  having  a  bat- 
tery in  position,  they  raked  the  troops  of  Sheri- 
dan with  a  terrific  fire.  Several  times  his  men, 
appalled  by  the  slaughter,  staggered  back  from 
the  intrenchments ;  but  by  turns  he  urged, 
cheered,  and  drove  them  until  the  enemy  were 
nearly  surrounded  on  all  sides  and  exhausted. 
With  his  ranks  reduced  and  wearied,  and  see- 
ing it  to  be  useless  to  try  longer  to  check  the 
desperate  onsets,  the  enemy  rushed  to  the  rear 
through  the  only  outlet  left  for. him.  Sheridan, 
with  overwhelming  forces,  pressed  upon  him, 
and  a  further  bloody  contest  ensued.  At  TJ 
p.  M.  the  battle  was  over.  The  cavalry  divi- 
sions of  Gens.  Custar  and  Mackenzie  pursued 
and  picked  up  many  stragglers  and  fugitives. 
About  four  thousand  prisoners  were  captured, 
several  cannon,  an  ambulance  and  baggage 
train,  several  thousand  muskets,  and  many 
flags.  Sheridan's  loss  JHL  estimated  at  not  far 
from  three  thousand,  while  that  of  the  enemy 
was  as  large,  besides  the  prisoners.  During 
the  day  the  2d  corps  had  been  making  a  gen- 
eral advance,  engaged  constantly  with  the 
enemy,  and  extending  so  as  to  connect  with  the 
5th,  and  be  ready  to  support  them  near  the 
White  Oak  road.  The  6th  and  9th  corps  had 
not  been  engaged ;  but  in  order  to  cooperate 
in  a  manner  with  Sheridan,  a  general  cannon- 
ade was  opened  along  the  front  at  10  p.  M. 
Enlivened  by  the  news  of  Sheridan's  success, 
the  troops  made  it  _one  of  the  hottest  during 
the  siege  of  Petersburg.  During  the  day  Gen. 
Warren  was  removed  from  the  command  of 
the  5th  corps,  and  Gen.  Griffin  took  his  place. 

At  4  A.  M.  on  the  next  day,  Sunday,  April 
2d,  an  assault  all  along  the  line  by  the  2d,  6th, 
9th,  24th,  and  25th  corps  commenced.  The 
divisions  of  Gens.  Turner  and  Foster,  of  the 
24th  corps,  were  brought  up  on  both  sides  of 
Hatcher's  Run  in  support  of  the  6th  corps,  and 
charged  with  it.  The  enemy  opened  a  destruc- 
tive fire  while  the  troops  were  massing,  and 
continued  with  such  severity  as  often  to  check 
the  advance.  The  6th  corps  carried  the  two 
forts  in  its  front,  and  the  3d  division,  under 
Gen.  Seymour,  after  a  severe  fight,  broke 
through  to  the  Southside  Railroad,  and  com- 
menced to  tear  it  up.  The  24th  corps,  between 
the  6th  and  2d,  had  been  equally  successful. 
The  right  division  of  the  2d  corps  and  the  two 
divisions  of  the  24th,  captured  one  thousand 
prisoners  and  many  guns,  and  carried  the 
works  up  to  the  railroad.  The  9th  corps  ad- 
vanced simultaneously  with  the  6th,  and  after 
the  severest  fighting  on  the  field,  captured 
Fort  Mahone,  which  covered  the  Jerusalem 
plank  road.  But  the  position  was  too  import- 
ant to  be  lost,  and  the  enemy  charged  in  turn 


692 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


to  retake  it,  and  were  nearly  successful,  when, 
by  the  approach  of  the  6th  corps  on  the  left, 
he  was  once  more  driven  back.  The  following 
telegraphic  despatches  relate  the  progress  of 
the  day : 

CITY  POINT,  YA.,  April  2—2  p.  M. 
Hon.  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War : 

At  10:45  A.  M.  Gen.  Grant  telegraphs  as  follows: 
"Everything  has  been  carried  from  the  left  of  the 
9th  corps.  The  6th  corps  alone  captured  more  than 
three  thousand  prisoners.  The  2d  and  24th  corps 
captured  forts,  guns,  and  prisoners  from  the  enemy, 
but  I  cannot  tell  the  numbers. 

"We  are  now  closing  around  the  works  of  the  line 
immediately  enveloping  Petersburg.  All  looks  re- 
markably well.  I  have  not  yet  heard  from  Sheridan. 
His  headquarters  have  been  moved  up  to  Banks' 
House,  near  the  Boydton  road,  about  three  miles 
southwest  of  Petersburg."  A.  LINCOLN. 

SECOND   DESPATCH. 

CITY  POINT,  VA.,  April  2— S:30  P.  M. 
Hon.  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War  ; 

At  4:30  P.  M.  to-day  Gen.  Grant  telegraphed  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  We  are  now  up,  and  have  a  continuous  line  of 
troops,  and  in  a  few  hours  will  be  intrenched  from 
the  Appomattox,  below  Petersburg,  to  the  river 
above.  The  whole  captures  since  the  army  started 
out  will  not  amount  to  less  than  twelve  thousand 
men,  and  probably  fifty  pieces  of  artillery.  I  do 
not  know  the  number  ofmen  and  guns  accurately, 
however. 

"A  portion  of  Foster's  division,  24th  corps,  made 
a  most  gallant  charge  this  afternoon,  and  captured  a 
very  important  fort  from  the  enemy,  with  its  entire 
garrison. 

"  All  seems  well  with  us,  and  every  thing  is  quiet 
just  now."  A.  LINCOLN. 

During  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  Gen. 
Lee,  finding  his  army  no  longer  able  to  main- 
tain its  position,  gave  orders  for  the  evacuation 
of  Eichmond  and  Petersburg.  This  was  ac- 
complished during  the  night.  This  evacuatipn 
was  early  discovered  by  the  troops  before  those 
cities.  As  they  advanced  to  take  possession  of 
Petersburg,  the  Mayor  of  the  city  appeared 
with  the  following  communication : 

To  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant,  commanding  the  armies  of  the 
United  States,  or  the  Major-  General  commanding 
United  'States  forces  in  front  of  Petersburg. 
GENERAL  :  The  city  of  Petersburg  having  been  evac- 
uated by  the  Confederate  troops,  we,  a  committee 
authorized  by  the  Common  Council,  do  hereby  sur- 
render the  city  to  the  United  States  forces,  with  a 
request  for  the  protection  of  the  persons  and  property 
of  its  inhabitants. 

We  are,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servants. 
W.  W.  TOWNES,  Mayor. 
D'ARCY  PAUL, 
CHARLES  F.  COLLIERS. 

Seldom  was  a  city  occupied  by  a  besieging 
army  with  less  disorder  or  damage  to  private 
property.  A  writer  who  was  present  says: 
"  The  citizens  did  not  show  themselves  during 
the  fore  part  of  the  day,  but  after  discovering 
that  our  soldiers  were  orderly  and  well-behaved, 
with  no  disposition  to  disturb  any  one,  they  be- 
gan to  make  their  appearance  at  the  doors  and 
windows  of  their  residences,  and  later  in  the 
day  even  entering  familiarly  into  conversation, 
many  of  them  expressing  their  joy  quietly  that 
the  Confeda  had  gone,  and  hoping  that  the  war 
would  soon  be  over.  For  more  than  a  montt 


past  rebel  troops  have  been  receiving  less  ra- 
tions than  ever  before,  only  just  enough  being 
brought  in  to  last  from  day  to  day.  The  citi- 
zens say  they  have  suffered  much,  but  it  is  well 
to  take*  such  stories  with  a  good  deal  of  allow- 
ance. The  rebels  managed  to  get  away  all 
their  artillery,  excepting  one  ortwooldColum- 
biads  and  a  few  heavy  mortars,  which  they 
could  not  transport  readily.  The  city  presents 
a  very  cleanly  and  respectable  appearance,  and 
there  are  many  residences  here  that  would  do 
no  discredit  to  Fifth  avenue,  New  York.  Many 
of  the  houses  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city  have 
been  badly  injured  by  the  shot  and  shell 
thrown  from  our  batteries  last  summer,  and 
since  that  time  most  of  the  houses  located  there 
have  been  vacant." 

The  occupation  of  Eichmond  is  thus  de- 
scribed : 

WAB  DEPARTMENT,  "WASHINGTON,        1 
Wednesday,  April  5—10:20  p.  M.  J 
To  Major-  General  Dix  ; 

The  following  details  respecting  the  capture  of 
Richmond  and  its  occupation  by  the  Union  forces, 
have  been  telegraphed  to  this  department  from  that 
city.  EDWIN  M.  STANTON, 

Secretary  of  War. 

General  Weitzel  learned,  at  3  o'clock  on  the  morn- 
ing of  Monday,'  that  Richmond  was  being  evacuated, 
and  at  daylight  moved  forward,  first  taking  care  to 
give  his  men  breakfast,  in  the  expectation  that  they 
might  have  to  fight.  He  met  no  opposition,  and  on  en- 
tering the  city  was  greeted  with  hearty  welcome  from 
the  mass  of  the  people.  The  Mayor  went  out  to  meet 
him  and  to  surrender  the  city,  but  missed  him  on  the 
road.  Gen.  Weitzel  found  much  suffering  and  pov- 
erty among  the  population.  The  rich  as  well  as  the 
poor  are  destitute  of  food.  He  is  about  to  issue  sup- 
plies to  all  who  take  the  oath.  The  inhabitants  now 
number  about  twenty  thousand,  half  of  them  of  Afri- 
can descent. 

It  is  not  true  that  Jeff.  Davis  sold  his  furniture  be- 
fore leaving.  It  is  all  in  his  house,  where  I  am  now 
writing.  He  left  at  1  p.  M.  by  the  Danville  Railroad. 
All  the  m«mbers  of  Congress  escaped.  Hunter  has 
gone  home.  Gpv.  Smith  went  with'the  army.  Judge 
Campbell  remains  here. 

Gen.  Weitzel  took  here  one  thousand  prisoners, 
besides  the  wounded.  These  number  five  thousand, 
in  nine  hospitals.  He  captured  cannon  to  the  num- 
ber of  at  least  five  hundred  pieces.  Five  thousand 
muskets  have  been  found  in  one  lot.  Thirty  loco- 
motives and  three  hundred  cars  are  found  here.  The 
Petersburg  railroad  bridge  is  totally  destroyed ;  that 
of  the  Danville  road  partially,  so  that  connection  with 
Petersburg  is  not  easily  made.  All  the  1-ebel  vessels 
are  destroyed  except  an  unfinished  ram,  which  has 
her  machinery  in  her  perfect.  The  Tredegar  Works 
are  unharmed,  and  the  machinery  was  taken  to-day 
under  Gen.  Weitzel' s  orders.  Libby  Prison  and  Cas- 
tle Thunder  have  also  escaped  the  fire,  and  are  filled 
with  rebel  prisoners  of  war.  Most  of  the  editors 
have  fled,  especially  John  Mitchell.  The  Whig  ap- 
peared yesterday  as  a  Union  paper,  with  the  name 
of  the  former  proprietor  at  the  nead.  The  theatre 
opens  here  to-night.  Gen.  Weitzel  describes  the  re- 
ception of  the  President  yesterday  as  enthusiastic  in 
the  extreme. 

The  fire  in  the  city  commenced  in  the  Shoc- 
koe  warehouse,  filled  with  tobacco,  as  well  as 
the  large  granary  establishment  on  Carey  Street 
near  Twenty-third  Street.  It  was  very  destruc- 
Lye,  consuming  quite  one-third  of  the  city ;  and 
addition  to  destroying  the  War  Department, 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


693 


the  General  Post-office,  the  Treasury  building, 
several  churches,  and  many  stores,  likewise  de- 
stroyed the  offices  of  the  Richmond  Enquirer, 
Dispatch,  and  Examiner ;  the  Virginia  Bank, 
the  Farmers'  Bank,  and  the  Bank  of  Richmond. 
On  arriving  in  the  city  Gen.  "Weitzel,  through 
his  Adjutant-General,  Major  D.  D.  "Wheeler,  is- 
sued the  following  order : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  ARMY  OP  THE  JAMES,  > 
RICHMOND,  VA.,  April  8, 1866.         ) 

Major-Gen.  Godfrey  Weitzel,  commanding  detach- 
ment of  the  Army  of  the  James,  announces  the  oc- 
cupation of  the  city  of  Richmond  by  the  armies  of 
the  United  States,  under  command  of  Lieut. -Gen. 
Grant.  The  people  of  Richmond  are  assured  that 
we  come  to  restore  to  them  the  blessings  of  peace, 
prosperity,  and  freedom,  under  the  flag  of  the  Union. 

The  citizens  of  Richmond  are  requested  to  remain 
for  the  present  quietly  within  their  houses,  and  to 
avoid  all  public  assemblages  or  meetings  in  the  public 
streets.  An  efficient  provost-guard  will  immediately 
reestablish  order  and  tranquillity  within  the  city. 

Martial  law  is,  for  the  present,  proclaimed. 

Brig.-Gen.  George  F.  Shipley,  U.  S.  volunteers,  is 
hereby  appointed  Military  Governor  of 'Richmond. 

Lieut.-Col.  Frederick  L.  Manning,  Provost  Marshal 
General,  .Army  of  the  James,  will  act  as  Provost  Mar- 
shal of  Richmond.  Commanders  of  detachments  do- 
ing guard  duty  in  the  city  will  report  to  him  for  in- 
structions. By  command  of  Major-Gen.  Weitzel, 
D.  D.  WHEELER,  Ass't  Adj.-Gen. 

Brig.-Gen.  G.  F.  Shepley  having  heen  an- 
nounced as  Military  Governor  of  Richmond, 
issued  the  following  order : 

HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  GOVERNOR  OP  RICHMOND,  ) 
RICHMOND,  VA.,  April  3, 1865.  f 

1.  The  armies  of  the  rebellion  riaving  abandoned 
their  effort  to  enslave  the  people  of  Virginia,  have 
endeavored  to  destroy  by  fire  the  capital,  which  they 
could  not  longer  occupy  by  their  arms.    Lieut-Col. 
Manning,  Provost  Marshal  General  of  the  Army  of 
the  James  and  Provost  Marshal  of  Richmond,  will 
•immediately  send  a  sufficient  detachment  of  the  pro- 
vost guard  to  arrest,  if  possible,  the  progress  of  the 
flames.   The  fire  department  of  the  city  of  Richmond, 
and  all  the  citizens  interested  in  the  preservation  of 
their  beautiful  city,  will  immediately  report  to  him 
for  duty,  and  render  every  possible  assistance  in 
staying  the  progress  of  the  conflagration.     The  first 
duty  of  the  armies  of  the  Union  will  be  to  save  the 
city  doomed  to  destruction  by  the  armies  of  the  re- 
bellion. 

2.  No  person  will  leave  the  city  of  Richmond  with- 
out a  pass  from  the  office  of  the  Provost  Marshal. 

3.  Any  citizen,  soldier,  or  any  person  whatever, 
who  shall  hereafter  plunder,  destroy,  or  remove  any 
public  or  private  property,  of  any  description  what- 
ever, will  be  arrested  and  summarily  punished. 

4.  The  soldiers  of  the  command  will  abstain  from 
any  offensive  or  insulting  words  or  gestures  toward 
the  citizens. 

5.  No  treasonable  or  offensive  expressions  insult- 
ing to  the  flag,  the  cause,  or  the  armies  of  the  Union, 
will  hereafter  be  allowed. 

6.  For  an  exposition  of  their  rights,  duties,  and 
privileges,  the  citizens  of  Richmond  are  respectfully 
referred  to  the  proclamations  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States  in  relation  to  the  existing  rebellion. 

7.  All  persons  having  in  their  possession  or  under 
their  control  any  property  whatever  of  the  so-called 
Confederate  States,  or  of  any  officer  thereof,  or  the 
records  or  archives  of  any  public  officer  whatever, 
will  immediately  report  the  same  to  Col.  Manning, 
Provost  Marshal. 

In  conclusion,  the  citizens  of  Richmond  are  assured 
that,  with  the  restoration  of  the  flag  of  the  U^jn, 
they  may  expect  the  restoration  of  that  peace,  pros- 


perity, and  happiness  which  they  enjoyed  under  the 
Union  of  which  that  flag  is  the  glorious  symbol. 

G.  F.  SHEPLEY,  TBrig.'-Gen.  U.  S.  Volunteers, 
and  Military  Governor  of  Richmond. 

General  Order  No.  2. 

HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  GOVERNOR  or  RICHMOND,  ) 

RICHMOND,  VA.,  April  3, 1865.  j"  ^ 
No  officer  or  soldier  will  enter  or  search  any  pri- 
vate dwelling,  or  remov^  any  property  therefrom, 
without  a  written  order  from  the  headquarters  of  the 
Commanding  General,  the  Military  Governor,  or  the 
Provost  Marshal  General. 

Any  officer  or  soldier,  with  or  without  such  order, 
entering  any  private  dwelling,  will  give  his  name, 
rank,  and  regiment. 

Any  officer  or  soldier  entering  a  private  dwelling 
without  sttch  authority,  or  failing  to  give  his  name, 
rank,  or  regiment,  or  reporting  the  same  incorrectlv, 
will  be  liable  to  immediate  and  summary  punish- 
ment. GEO.  F.  SHEPLEY, 

Brig.-Gen.  U.  S.  Volunteers,  and  Military 
Governor  of  Richmond. 

The  following  details  were  written  by  a  cor- 
respondent at  the  time  of  the  occupation :  "  The 
works  in  front  of  Richmond,  which  were  wholly 
evacuated  previous  to  our  occupancy  of  the  city 
to-day  under  Gen.  Weitzel,  consist  of  three 
strong  lines,  wholly  enveloping  it.  The  outer 
ones  are  continuous  lines,  the  inner  one  consist- 
ing of  a  series  of  strong  redoubts  and  bastion 
forts.  All  these  works  mount  upwards  of  three 
hundred  heavy  guns,  all  of  which  we  have 
taken,  and  would,  when  properly  garrisoned, 
form  an  almost  impregnable  series  of  defences. 
As  I  rode  along  these  lines  they  seemed,  with 
the  exception  of  the  outer  one,  to  have  been 
most  indifferently  garrisoned ;  and  but  for  the 
facility  with  which  they  could  be  reinforced  at 
any  time  by  bringing  troops  up  the  Petersburg 
road  and  crossing  them  on  pontoons,  the  lines 
could  have  been  carried  by  assault. 

"  The  route  which  I  pursued  on  entering  the 
capital  was  that  by  the  Osborn  and  Richmond 
pike,  which  leads  in  a  nearly  north  and  south 
direction,  and  quite  parallel  to  the  James  River. 
After  passing  our  picket  line,  the  first  work  en- 
countered was  Fort  Field,  forming  a  part  of  the 
exterior  line  of  defence.  This  work,  which  is  a 
very  strong  one  in  itself,  is  surrounded  by  three 
lines  of  abatis  and  one  of  torpedoes.  The  torpe- 
does were  carefully  removed  by  the  advanced 
guard  of  "Weitzel.  These  lines  of  torpedoes  were 
marked  out,  by  small  flags  for  safety  to  the 
rebels,  which  flags  they  neglected  to  remove  in 
their  hasty  flight.  The  camps  were  left  entire 
— tents  standing  and  furniture  within.  After 
passing  this  line  we  came  upon  the  second  line, 
which  was  equally  as  strong  as  the  first,  except- 
ing as  to  abatis  and  torpedoes.  The  third  line 
is  just  outside  the  edge  of  the  town,  is  situated 
on  high  ground,  and  is  well  adapted  to  satisfy 
the  conditions  of  defence.  Each  of  the  detached 
works  forming  this  line  sweep  a  portion  of  the 
line  in  front  of  it  by  its  fire,  and  rendering  that 
front  line  untenable  when  reached.  These 
works,  like  the  others,  mount  heavy  guns,  many 
of  which  were  navy  guns,  probably  captured  at 
Norfolk  in  the  early  part  of  the  war.  Commu- 
nication between  these  works  and  those  on  the 


694 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


other  side  of  the  river  was  maintained  by  four 
bridges,  some  of  which  were  pontoon  and  some 
pile,  in  addition  to  the  three  railroad  bridges 
at  and  in  Richmond'. 

"  The  evacuation  of  the  works  and  city  was 
not  generally  understood  by  the  troops  and 
people  till  Sunday  afternoon.  The  necessity 
of  the  movement  was  rendered  imperative  by 
Gen.  Grant's  successes  on  the  left.  At  half-past 
three  o'clock  yesterday  afternoon,  Jeff.  Davis, 
while  in  church,  received  a  despatch  from  Gen. 
Lee,  that  immediate  preparations  must  be  made 
to  evacuate  Richmond  and  its  defences  at  once, 
as  he  was  wholly  unable  to  make  further  head- 
way against  Grant-'s  onset  on  the  left.  He 
added  that  his  (Lee's)  design  was  to  endeavor  to 
make  Danville,  and  there  fortify  for  a  last  grand 
stand. 

"  Davis  left  this  city  last  night  at  eight  o'clock 
by  rail  for  Danville,  his  family  having  been  sent 
out  five  days  ago.  On  the  train  he  had  horses 
and  carriages  embarked,  in  case  the  road  was 
interrupted,  in  order  to  easily  make  his  way  by 
these  means.  Governor  Smith  did  not  evacuate 
the  Gubernatorial  mansion  until  one  o'clock 
this  morning,  when  he  fled,  leaving  Mrs.  Smith 
behind,  and  all  the  furniture  in  his  house,  which 
he  had  heretofore  threatened  to  burn.  The 
residence  of  the  Governor  is  now  the  head- 
quarters of  General  Charles  Devens,  command- 
ing a  division  in  the  24th  corps,  now  here. 
Mrs.  General  R.  E.  Lee,  wife  of  the  General-in- 
Chief,  is  also  in  the  city." 

The  operations  of  Gen.  Sheridan  on  the  2d, 
consisted  in  efforts  to  push  the  advantages  thus 
far  gained  by  him.  On  the  3d  his  object  was 
to  intercept  the  retreat  of  the  enemy.  The  ad- 
vance of  the  cavalry  consisted  of  Custar's  divi- 
sion. At  Namozine  Creek  the  rear  guard  of  the 
enemy  was  found  strongly  intrenched  behind 
earthworks  covering  the  crossing.  The  bridge 
had  been  destroyed  and  trees  felled  across  the 
road  leading  down  to  it.  A  section  of  artillery 
was  opened  in  front,  while  the  cavalry  forded 
the  stream  and  flanked  the  enemy's  position. 
After  a  short  skirmish  the  enemy  retreated, 
•  leaving  their  path  strewn  with  wagons,  ambu- 
lances, dead  and  wodnded  horses  and  mules, 
caissons,  boxes  of  ammunition,  mess  utensils, 
arms,  accoutrements,  blankets,  &c^  The  enemy 
were  overtaken  beyond  Namozine  Church,  and 
prisoners,  horses,  and  arms  were  captured  in 
abundance.  A  harassing  pursuit  was  now  kept 
up  for  twenty  miles,  during  which  about  350 
prisoners,  four  cannon,  two  flags,  and  several 
ammunition  wagons  were  captured.  Night  put 
a  stop  to  its  progress. '  Early  on  the  next  morn- 
ing, Tuesday,  April  4th,  the  pursuit  was  resumed, 
with  Mackenzie's  division  in  front  and  Custar's 
in  the  rear.  The  enemy  were  overtaken  in  the 
afternoon,  and  found  posted  with  infantry  and 
artillery  in  works  about  two  miles  from  Beth- 
any. Skirmishing  began  at  once,  and  continued 
until  dark,  when  the  troops  encamped,  waiting 
for  the  rest  of  the  column.  Soon- after  11  p.  M. 
the  cavalry  were  aroused  and  marched  all  night, 


reaching  Jettersville  about  .6  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  and  there  found  the  5th  corps,  well 
intrenched  across  the  railroad  from  Richmond 
to  Danville.  The  5th  corps  had  started  in  pur- 
suit, soon  after  the  cavalry,  on  the  3d,  under 
Sheridan's  command.  They  arrived  in  sight 
of  the  Appomattox  about  2  p.  M.  Thence  it 
turned  to  the  left  without  crossing  the  river,  and 
moved  afong  the  Namozine  road  behind  the  cav- 
alry, marching  through  Amelia  County  and  cross- 
ing both  Deep  and  Namozine  Creeks.  The  dis- 
tance made  was  sixteen  miles,  which  ended  in 
blocking  the  trains  in  the  miry  roads.  Few  peo- 
ple were  to  be  seen,  except  those  who  had  been 
slaves,  many  of  whom  followed  the  column. 
The  march  on  the  next  day,  Tuesday  the  4th,  Avas 
twenty  miles,  and  brought  the  corps  to  Jetters- 
ville, where  it  was  massed  across  the  railroad 
in  an  open  field.  In  the  rear  of  the  5th  corps 
followed  the  2d,  .and  in  the  rear  of  the  2d  was 
the  6th.  These  two  corps  were  under  Gen. 
Meade  on  the  river  or  Namozine  road,  but  did 
not  start  until  the  4th.  After  a  long  march  the 
2d  reached  Jettersville  at  2  P.  M.  on  the  next 
day  after  the  5th. 

When  the  cavalry  reached  Jettersville  on  the 
morning  of  the  6th,  it  was  understood  that 
Gen.  Lee  in  his  retreat  from  Richmond  had  got 
as  far  as  Amelia  Court  House,  while  the  Union 
troops  were  beginning  to  assemble  at  Jetters- 
ville. This  place  is  on  the  railroad,  about  half- 
way between  Burkesville  and  Amelia  Court- 
House,  and  fifty-four  miles  southwest  of  Rich- 
mond. Amelia  Court-House  is  on  the  same 
railroad,  about  forty-seven  miles  from  Rich- 
mond. The  cavalry  division  of  Gen.  Custar 
was  immediately  posted  on  the  left  of  the  5th 
corps,  and  the  1st  and  Mackenzie's  division  still 
further  to  the  left. 

At  the  same  time  Gen.  Davies'  brigade  of 
Gen.  Crooks'  division  was  sent  toward  Burkes- 
ville, to  seize  that  station  and  ascertain  the 
state  of  affairs  in  that  direction.  At  Burkes- 
ville is  the  junction  of  the  Richmond  and  Dan- 
ville Railroad  with  the  Southside  Railroad  from 
Petersburg,  and  fifty-two  miles  west  of  the 
latter  place.  Gen.  Davies  came  upon  the  cav- 
alry of  the  enemy  at  Fame's  cross-roads,  and 
attacking  them,  captured  a  large  number  of 
prisoners,  5  new  Armstrong  guns  and  caissons, 
and  about  200  wagons,  mostly  empty,  and  7 
or  8  battle-flags.  An  infantry  force  then  came 
to  the  support  of  the  cavalry,  and  Gen.  Davies 
was  forced  to  retire  with  his  prisoners,  after 
burning  the  wagons.  At  3  P.  M.  Gen.  Sheridan 
learning  this  news,  and  finding  the  condition 
of  the  enemy,  sent  the  following  despatch  to 
Gen.  Grant : 

JETTEKSTILLK,  April  6 — 8  P.  M. 

To  Lieut.-Gen.  U.  8.  Grant  : 

GENERAL  :— I  send  you  the  enclosed  letter,  which 
will  give  you  an  idea'of  the  condition  of  the  enemy 
and  their  whereabouts.  I  sent  Gen.  Davies  brigade 
this  morning  around  on  my  left  flank.  He  captured 
at  Fame's  cross-roads  five  pieces  of  artillery  about 
two  hundred  wagons,  and  eight  or  nine  battle  Hags, 
and  a  number  of  prisoners.  The  2d  army  corps  ia 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


695 


now  coming  up.  I  wish  you  were  here  yourself.  I 
feel  confident  of  capturing  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia  if  we  exert  ourselves.  I  see  no  escape  for 
Gen.  Lee.  I  will  send  all  my  cavalry  out  on  our  left 
flank,  except  McKenzie,  who  is  now  on  the  right. 
(Signed)  P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Major-General. 

LETTER. 

AMELIA  COUKT  HOTTSE,  April  5, 1865. 
DEAR  BRAMMIA  : — Our  army  is  ruined,  I  fear.  We 
are  all  safe  as  yet.  Theodore  left  us  sick.  John 
Taylor  is  well ;  saw  him  yesterday.  We  are  in  line 
of  battle  this  evening.  Gen.  Eobert  Lee  is  in  the 
field  near  us.  My  trust  is  still  in  the  justice  of  our 
cause.  Gen.  Hill  is  killed.  I  saw  Murray  a  few 
moments  since.  Bernary  Perry,  he  said,  was  taken 
prisoner,  but  may  get  out.  I  send  this  by  a  negro  I 
see  passing  up  the  railroad  to  Michlenburg.  Love 
to  all.  Your  devoted  son, 

W.  B.  TAYLOR,  Colonel. 

Sheridan  now  proceeded  to  put  his  cavalry 
out  on  the  left  flank,  and  the  slight  skirmishing 
which  took  place  indicated  the  contest  of  the 
next  day. 

Meanwhile  the  other  corps  of  the  army  were 
approaching.  On  April  4th,  Gen.  Ord's  col- 
umn of  the  Army  of  the  James,  comprising  two 
divisions  of  the  24th  corps  and  one  of  the  25th 
corps,  marched  down  the  Cox's  road  from 
Sutherland's  station,  10  miles  west  of  Peters- 
burg, on  the  Southside  Railroad.  Having  sepa- 
rated from  the  main  column,  it  moved  on  the 
direct  road  to  Burkesville.  Gen.  Grant  was  with 
this  force.  After  advancing  along  the  railroad 
15  miles,  it  encamped  at  night  near  Wilson's 
station.  On  the  next  day,  the  5th,  it  advanced 
along  the  railroad  to  Black  and  White's,  which 
it  reached  at  2  p.  M.  Thence  it  pressed  for- 
ward, over  good  roads,  to  Nottaway  Court 
House,  9  miles  from  Burkesville'.  Here  the 
despatch  of  Gen.  Sheridan  was  received  by 
Gen.  Grant,  about  6-J-  p.  M.,  and  the  two  divis- 
ions of  the  24th  corps  were  immediately  pushed 
forward  to  Burkesville,  which  they  reached  at 
11  P.  M.  The  division  of  the  25th  corps  re- 
mained at  Black  and  White's.  Gen.  Grant  him- 
self went  to  Jettersville. 

Of  the  9th  corps,  two  divisions  on  the  4th 
marched  from  Petersburg  to  Ford's  station  on 
the  Southside  Railroad,  about  20  miles.  On 
the  5th  they  advanced  along  the  railroad  to 
Wellsville,  41  miles  from  Petersburg,  having  in 
charge  most  of  the  army  trains.  On  the  next 
day,  the  6th,  they  pressed  forward,  and  arrived 
within  10  miles  of  Burkesville. 

On  the  night  of  the  5th,  after  the  skirmishing 
of  the  cavalry  with  the  enemy,  the  army  lay  in 
line  of  battle,  facing  substantially  to  the  north. 
The  cavalry  division  of  Gen.  Mackenzie  was  on 
the  left,  next  the  2d  corps  of  infantry,  with  the 
5th  and  6th  still  further  to  the  right,  and  the 
cavalry  division  of  Gen.  Custar  on  the  right 
flank.  At  daylight  in  the  morning  Gen.  Meade 
moved  the  three  corps  along  the  railroad  in  the 
direction  of  Amelia  Cpurt  House,  but  learning 
that  the  enemy  were  retreating  toward  Farm- 
ville,  the  nearest  station  west  on  the  railroad 
to  Lynchburg,  he  changed  the  direction  of  the 
2d  and  5th  corps  from  a  northerly  to  a  north- 
westerly one,  with  the  2d  corps  in  advance, 


moving  on  Deatonsville,  and  the  5th  on  its 
right.  At  the  same  time  the  6th  corps  faced 
about  and  moved  by  ti(f>left  flank,  taking  posi- 
tion on  the  left  of  the  2d.  The  cavalry  were 
on  the  extreme  left.  The  6th  corps  in  its 
movement  struck  the  road  running  from  Dea- 
tonsville to  Burke's  station,  a  little  south  of  the 
former  place.  It  found  the  2d  corps  engaged 
with  the  enemy  at  the  front  and  right,  and  the 
cavalry  on  the  left.  Moving  down  the  road 
toward  Burke's  station  about  a  mile,  it  turned 
sharp  to  the  right  and  proceeded  across  toward 
a  nearly  parallel  road,  on  which  the  enemy  was 
moving,  and  along  which  they  had  a  line  of 
intrenchments  thrown  up.  Gen.  Seymour's 
division  of  the  corps  carried  the  road  held  by 
the  enemy  about  4  p.  M.,  and  then  turned  to 
the  right  and  advanced  down  the  road  against 
strong  resistance.  Gen.  Wheaton's  division 
was  brought  in  on  the  left  of  Gen.  Seymour's, 
and  both  swept  down  the  road  two  miles.  The 
enemy  were  there  found  reformed  on  the  oppo- 
site bank  of  a  deep  and  difficult  creek,  from 
which  they  were  driven  half  a  mile.  At  all 
points  the  enemy  were  driven  during  the  day, 
and  Lieut.-Gen.  Ewell,  Gen.  Custis  Lee,  and 
three  others,  were  captured,  with  a  large  number 
of  men.  The  5th  army  corps  made  a  long  march, 
but  its  position  on  the  right  prevented  it  from 
striking  the  enemy's  column  before  it  had  passed. 
The  Union  loss  was  above  1,000.  Five  guns  and 
many  fi^ags,  caissons,  and  wagons  were  taken,  be- 
sides prisoners.  On  the  next  day,  the  7th,  the 
2d  corps,  with  the  2d  division  of  cavalry,  found 
the  enemy  'at  Farmville,  16  miles  west  of 
Burkesville.  A  sharp  contest  ensued,  causing 
a  loss  of  several  hundred  men,  among  whom 
was  Gen.  Smyth,;  Other  troops  were  brought 
up,  but  before  the  enemy  could  be  reengaged 
he  was  on  the  retreat  again. 

At  High  Bridge  over  the  Appomattox,  Gen. 
Lee  crossed  to  the  north  side  of  the  river,  and 
two  regiments  sent  by  Gen.  Grant  to  hold  the 
bridge  were  captured  by  the  cavalry  of  the 
enemy,  and  the  bridge  burned.  The  re- 
treat of  the  enemy  was  now  directly  tow- 
ard Lynchburg.  The  pursuit  was  made 
with  great  vigor,  and  stragglers  were  picked 
up  at  every  step,  and  property  dropped 
or  partially  destroyed  by  the  enemy.  During 
the  day  Gen.  Grant  addressed  a  letter  to  Gen. 
Lee,  demanding  a  surrender  of  his  army.  On 
the  8th  the  enemy  made  most  strenuous  efforts, 
by  hard  marching,  to  extricate  themselves ;  but 
at  night  they  encountered  Gen.  Sheridan  at 
Appomattox  Court  House,  between  themselves 
and  Lynchburg.  A  sharp  contest  ensued,  in 
which  many  of  them  were  taken  prisoners  and 
their  retreat  checked.  The  24th  and  5th 
corps  were  in  support  of  the  cavalry,  and  dur- 
ing the  night  a  strong  position  was  taken  across 
the  main  road,  south  of  the  enemy,  the  Appo- 
mattox River  being  on  the  north,  and  cutting 
him  off  from  retreat  in  that  direction.  Early 
on  the  next  morning  Gen.  Sheridan  commenced 
a  vigorous  attack,  and  a  warm  engagement  en- 


696 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


sued  until  9  A.  M.,  when  a  flag  of  truce  appeared 
in  front  of  Ms  iine,  wtih  .the  information  that 
hostilities  had  been  imspended,  in  order  to 
arrange  terms  of  surrender.  At  this  time  Gen. 
Hancock  was  advancing,  having  left  Winches- 
ter on  April  4th,  with  a  strong  column,  and 
moved  up  the  Shenandoah  valley  for  Lynch- 
burg.  Gen.  Stoneman  had  already  reached 
Boohe,  in  North  Carolina,  in  his  march  from 
East  Tennessee,  and  would  have  aided  in  the 
capture  of  Gen.  Lee's  army  if  it  had  not  sur- 
rendered. Gen.  Sherman  was  also  rapidly 
moving  on  Gen.  Johnston  in  North  Carolina, 
and  cut  off  all  possibility  of  his  ultimately 
rendering  any  assistance  to  Gen.  Lee. 

The  letter  of  Gen.  Grant,  addressed  to  Gen. 
Lee  on  the  7th,  as  above  mentioned,  was  as 
follows : 

April  7. 
General  R.  E.  Lee,  Commander  Confederate  States 

Armies  : 

GENERAL  : — The  result  of  the  last  week  must  con- 
vince you  of  the  hopelessness  of  further  resistance 
on  the  part  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  in  this 
struggle.  I  feel  that  it  is  so,  and  regard  it  as  my 
duty  to  shift  fronv  myself  the  responsibility  of  any 
further  effusion  orblood,  by  asking  of  you  the  sur- 
render of  that  portion  of  -the  C.  S.  army  known  as 
the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant. 

U.  S.  GRANT, 
Lieut.-Gen.  Commanding  Armies  of  the  TJ.  States. 

To  this  note  Gen.  Lee  replied  as  follows : 

April  7. 
To  Lieut.-Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  Commanding  Armies  of 

the  United,  States  : 

GENERAL  : — I  have  received  your  note  of  this  date. 
Though  not  entirely  of  the  opinion  you  express  of 
the  hopelessness  of  further  resistance  on  the  part  of 
the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  I  reciprocate  your 
desire  to  avoid  useless  effusion  of  blood,  and  there- 
fore, before  considering  your  proposition,  ask  the 
terms  you  will  offer,  on  condition  of  its  surrender. 
E.  E.  LEE,  General. 

The  following  correspondence  then  ensued : 

April  8. 

To  Gen.  E.  E.  Lee,  Commanding  Confederate  States 
Army  : 

GENERAL  :— Your  note  of  last  evening,  in  reply  to 
mine  of  same  dat «,  asking  the  conditions  on  which  I 
will  accept  the  surrender  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia,  is  just  received.  In  reply,  I  would  say, 
that  peace  being  my  first  desire,  there  is  but  one 
condition  that  I  insist  upon,  viz. : 

That  the  men  surrendered  shall  be  disqualified  for 
taking  up  arms  against  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  until  properly  exchanged. 

I  will  meet  you,  or  designate  officers  to  meet  any 
officers  you  may  name  for  the  same  purpose,  at  any 
point  agreeable  to  you,  for  the  purpose  of  arranging 
definitely  the  terms  upon  which  the  surrender  of  the 
Army  or  Northern  Virginia  will  be  received. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
U.  S.  GRANT, 

Lieut.-Gen.  Commanding  Armies  of  the  U.  States. 

April  a 
To  Lieut.-Gen.   Grant,   Commanding  Armies  of  tlie. 

United  States ; 

GENERAL  : — I  received  at  a  late  hour  your  note  of  to- 
day, in  answer  to  mine  of  yesterday.  I  did  not  intend 
to  propose  the  surrender  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia, out  to  ask  the  terms  of  your  proposition.  To 
be  frank,  I  do  not  think  the  emergency  has  arisen  to 
call  for  the  surrender.  But  as  the  restoration  of 


peace  should  be  the  sole  object  of  all,  I  desire  to 
know  whether  your  proposals  would  tend  to  that  end. 
I  cannot,  therefore,  meet  you  with  a  view  to  sur- 
render the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  but  so  far  as 
your  proposition  may  affect  the  Confederate  States 
forces  under  my  command,  and  lead  to  the  resto- 
ration of  peace,  I  should  be  pleased  to  meet  you  at 
10  A.  M.  to-morrow,  on  the  old  stage-road  to  Rich- 
mond, between  the  picket  lines  of  the  two  armies. 

Very  respetfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
R.  E.  LEE,  General  Confederate  States  Armies. 

GEN.    GRANT  TO  GEN.    LEE. 

April  9. 
Gen.  R.  E.  Lee,  Commd'g  Confederate  States  Armies  ; 

GENERAL: — Your  note  of  yesterday  is  received. 
As  I  have  no  authority  to  treat  on  the  subject  of 
peace,  the  meeting  proposed  for  10  A.  M.  to-day, 
could  lead  to  no  good.  1  will  state,  however,  Gen- 
eral, that  I  am  equally  anxious  for  peace  with  your- 
self; and  the  whole  North  entertain  the  same  feeling. 
The  terms  upon  which  peace  can  be  had  are  well  un- 
derstood. By  the  South  laying  down  their  arms 
they  will  hasten  that  most  desirable  event,  save 
thousands  of  human  lives,  and  hundreds  of  millions 
of  property  not  yet  destroyed. 

Sincerely  hoping  that  all  our  difficulties  may  be 
settled  without  the  loss  of  another  life,  I  subscribe 
myself,  Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieut.-Gen.  U.  S.  A. 

GEN.    LEE  TO  GEN.    GRANT. 

April  9, 1865. 

GENERAL  : — I  received  your  note  of  this  morning 
on  the  picket  line,  whither  I  had  come  .to  meet  you 
and  ascertain  definitely  what  terms  were  embraced 
in  your  proposition  of  yesterday  with  reference  to 
the  surrender  of  this  army. 

I  now  request  an  interview  in  accordance  with  the 
offer  contained  in  your  Jetter  of  yesterday  for  that 
purpose.  Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

R.  E.  LEE,  General. 
To  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant,  Commanding  U.  S.  Armies. 

GEN.    GRANT  TO   GEN.    LEE. 

April  9. 

Gen.  R.  E.  Lee,  Commd'g  Confederate  States  Armies  : 
Your  note  of  this  date  is  but  this  moment  (11:50 
A.  M.)  received.  In  consequence  of  my  having 
passed  from  the  Richmond  and  Lynchburg  road  to 
the  Farmville  and  Lynchburg  road,  I  am  at  this 
writing  about  four  miles  west  of  Walter's  Church, 
and  wfll  push  forward  to  the  front  for  the  purpose 
of  meeting  you. 

Notice  sent  to  me  on  this  road  where  you  wish  the 
interview  to  take  place  will  meet  me. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieut.-Gen. 

THE  TERMS 

APPOMATTOX  COURT  HOUSE,  April  9. 
Gen,  R.  E.  Lee,  Commd'g  Confederate  States  Armies  ; 

In  accordance  with  the  substance  of  my  letter  to  you 
of  the '8th  instant,  I  propose  to  receive  the  surrender 
of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  on  the  following 
terms,  to  wit : 

Rolls  of  all  the  officers  and  men  to  be  made  in 
duplicate,  one  copy  to  be  given  to  an  officer  desig 
nated  by  me,  the  other  to  be  retained  by  such  ofr- 
cers  as  you  may  designate. 

The  officers  to  give  their  individual  paroles  not  to 
take  arms  against  the  United  States  until  properly 
exchanged,  and  each  company  or  regimental  com- 
mander sign  a  like  parole  for  the  men  of  their  com- 
mands. 

The  arms,  artillery,  and  public  property  to  be 
packed  and  stacked,  and  turned  over  to  the  officers 
appointed  by  me  to  receive  them.  This  will  not  em- 
brace  the  side-arms  of  the  officers,  nor  their  private 
horses  or  baggage. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


697 


This  done,  each  officer  and  man  will  be  allowed  to 
return  to  their  homes,  not  to  be  disturbed  by  United 
States  authority  so  long  as  they  observe  their  parole 
and  the  laws  in  force  where  they  may  reside. 
Very  respectfully, 

U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieut.-Gen. 

THE  SURRENDER. 
HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OP  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA,  } 

April  9, 1665.  J 

lAeut.-Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  Commdg  IT.  8.  Armies: 

GENERAL: — I  have  received  your  letter  of  this  date, 
containing  the  terms  of  surrender  of  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia,  as  proposed  by  you;  as  they  are 
substantially  the  same  as  those  expressed  in  your 
letter  of  the  8th  instant,  they  are  accepted.  I  will 
proceed  to  designate  the  proper  officers  to  carry  the 
stipulations  into  effect. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
R.  E.  LEE,  General. 

At  3£  P.  M.  the  terms  of  capitulation  were 
signed,  and  the  utmost  gratification  prevailed 
through  the  army.  The  following  is  the  form 
of  the  personal  parole  given  by  all  the  officers 
of  Gen.  Lee's  army : 

We,  the  undersigned,  prisoners  of  war,  belonging 
to  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia,  having  been  this 
day  surrendered  by  Gen.  R.  E.  Lee,  commanding 
said  army,  to  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant,  commanding  the 
Armies  of  the  United  States,  do  hereby  give  our 
solemn  parole  of  honor  that  we  will  not  hereafter 
serve  in  the  armies  of  the  Confederate  States,  or  in 
any  military  capacity  whatever  against  the  United 
States  of  America,  or  render  aid  to  the  enemies  of 
the  latter  until  properly  exchanged  in  such  manner 
as  shall  be  mutually  approved  by  the  respective  au- 
thorities. 

Done  at  Appomattox  Court  House,  Va.,  this  ninth 
day  of  April,  1865. 

This  parole  was  countersigned  as  follows : 

The  above  officers  (or  officer)  will  not  be  disturbed 
by  the  United  States  authorities  as  long  as  they  ob- 
serve their  parole,  and  the  laws  in  force  where  they 
may  reside.  GEORGE  H.  SHARP, 

General  Assistant  Provost  Marshal. 

The  obligation  of  officers  for  the  subdivisions 
under  their  command  was  as  follows : 

I,  the  undersigned,  commanding  officer  of , 

do,  for  the  within  named  prisoners  of  war,  belonging 
to  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  who  have  been 
this  day  surrendered  by  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee,  Con- 
federate States  Army,  commanding  said  army,  to 
Lieut.-Gen.  Grant,  commanding  Armies  of  the 
United  States,  hereby  give  my  solemn  parole  of 
honor  that  the  within  named  shall  not  hereafter 
serve  in  the  armies  of  the  Confederate  States,  or  in 
military  or  any  capacity  whatever,  against  the 
United  States  of  America,  or  render  aid  to  the  ene- 
mies of  the  latter,  until  properly  exchanged  in  such 
manner  as  shall  be  mutually  approved  by  the  re- 
spective authorities. 

Done  at  Appomattox  Court  House,  Va.,  this  ninth 
dav  of  April,  1865. 

"T^he  within  named  will  not  be  disturbed  by  the- 
United  States  authorities  so  long  as  they  observe 
their  parole  and  the  laws  in  force  where  they  may 
reside. 

The  surrender  of  Gen.  Lee's  army  was  fol- 


lowed by  the  voluntary  surrender  of  all  the 
troops  in  Northeastern  Virginia,  including- 
those  in  the  Shenandoah  valley. 

On  the  next  day,  the  10th,  Gen.  Lee  issued 
the  following  farewell  address  to  his  army : 

General  Order  No.  9. 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA,  ) 
April  10, 1865.  f 

After  four  years  of  arduous  service,  marked  by 
unsurpassed  courage  and  fortitude,  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia  nas  been  compelled  to  yield  to 
overwhelming  numbers  and  resources.  I  need  not 
tell  the  survivors  of  so  many  hard-fought  battles, 
who  have  remakied  steadfast  to  the  last,  that  I  have 
consented  to  this  result  from  no  distrust  of  them, 
but  holding  that  valor  and  devotion  could  accom- 
plish nothing  that  could  compensate  for  the  loss  that 
would  attend  the,  continuation  of  the  contest,  I  have 
determined  to  avoid  the  useless  sacrifice  of  those 
whose  past  vigor  has  endeared  them  to  their  coun- 
trymen. 

By  the  terms  of  agreement  officers  and  men  can 
return  to  their  homes  and  remain  there  until  ex- 
changed. You  will  take  with  you  the  satisfaction 
that  proceeds  from  the  consciousness  of  duty  faith- 
fully performed,  and  I  earnestly  pray  that  a  merciful 
God  will  extend  you  His  blessing  and  protection. 
With  an  increasing  admiration  of  your  constancy 
and  devotion  to  your  country,  and  a  grateful  remem- 
brance of  your  kind  and  generous  consideration  of 
mysey,  I  bid  you  an  affectionate  farewell. 

(Signed)  R.  E.  LEE,  General. 

No  official  statement  has  been  made  of  the 
number  of  officers  and  men  surrendered.  It  is 
estimated  that  the  army  of  Gen.  Lee  on  evacu- 
ating Richmond  consisted  of  not  far  from  fifty 
thousand  men.  Large  numbers  abandoned  the 
army  and  returned  home,  besides  .the  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners  taken  during  the  pur- 
suit. At  the  time  of  the  surrender  his  total 
force  was  not  far  from  twenty  thousand  men,  this 
included  all  branches  of  the  service,  and  leaving 
an  effective  force  less  than  fifteen  thousand 
men.  The  number  of  muskets  surrendered 
scarcely  exceeded  ten  thousand,  and  about 
thirty  pieces  of  artillery.  The  total  captures 
of  artillery  during  the  battles  and  pursuit 
amounted  to  one  hundred  and  seventy  guns. 
There  were  about  three  hundred  and  fifty 
wagons  surrendered. 

The  "War  Department  at  Washington  issued 
the  following  order  on  receiving  the  news  of 
the  surrender: 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  ) 
April  9 — 10  o'clock  p.  M.         j" 

Ordered  :  That  a  salute  of  two  hundred  guns  be 
fired  at  the  headquarters  of  every  army  and  depart- 
ment, and  at  every  post  and  arsenal  in  the  United 
States,  and  at  the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point, 
on  the  day  of  the  receipt  of  this  order,  in  commem- 
oration of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  R.  E.  Lee  and  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia  to  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant  and 
the  army  under  his  command ;  report  of  the  receipt 
and  execution  of  this  order  to  be  make  to  the  Adju- 
tant-General, Washington. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 


698 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


CHAPTEK  LI. 


March  of  Gen.  Stoneman  from  East  Tennessee  to  Salisbury — Advance  of  Gen.  Sherman  upon  Ealeigh — Gen.  Johnston  pro- 
poses a  Conference — The  Conference  and  Terms  agreed  upon — Kojected  at  Washington — Surrender  of  Gen.  Johnston's 
Army — March  of  Gen.  Wilson  in  North  Alabama^Capture  of  Mobile — Surrender  of  Gen.  Taylor's  Army — Surrender 
of  Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith — Disbandment  of  the  Armies — Farewell  of  Gen.  Sherman— Farewell  of  Gen.  Grant — Capture 
of  Mr.  Davis — Amnesty  Proclamation — Measures  to  establish  Civil  Governments  in  the  States — List  of  Army  Officers. 


THE  cavalry  column  of  Gen.  Stoneman,  al- 
ready mentioned,  as  at  Boone  C«urt  House,  in 
North  Carolina,  at  the  time  of  the  surrender  of 
Gen.  Lee,  had  left  Knoxville,  in  East  Tennessee, 
on  March  10th.  It  struck  the  Central  Rail*- 
road  from  Virginia  to  Tennessee  at  Wytheville 
and  Christiansburg,  in  Virginia.  Between  these 
places  thirty-three  bridges  were  burned  and 
twenty-five  miles  of  the  railroad  destroyed. 
Thence  it  marched  for  Greensboro,  in  North 
Carolina,  and  on  the.  12th  arrived  at  Grant's 
Creek,  three  miles  from  Salisbury.  The  enemy's 
line  of  defence  for  the  town  was  on  this  creek, 
and  defended  by  artillery  and  infantry.  It  was 
soon  forced,  with  the  capture  of  14  guns  and 
1,104  prisoners.  The  town  was  occupied  at 
10  A.M.,  where  the  column  remained  for  two 
days.  During  that  time  it  destroyed  four  large 
cotton  factories  and  7,000  bales  of  cotton;  four 
large  magazines,  containing  10,000  stand  of 
small  arms  and  accoutrements ;  1,000,000  rounds 
of  small  arm  ammunition,  1,600  rounds  of  fixed 
artillery  ammunition,  and  7,000  pounds  of  pow- 
der; 35,000  bushels  of  corn,  60,000  bushels  of 
wheat,  160,000  pounds  of  cured  bacon;  100,000 
suits  of  gray  uniforms  and  clothing,  250,000 
army  blankets,  20,000  pounds  of  harness-leather, 
10,000  pounds  of  saltpetre,  also  a  very  large 
amount  of  sugar,  salt,  rice,  and  other  stores, 
and  medical  supplies  valued  by  the  rebel  med- 
ical directors  at  $100,000  in  gold.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  arsenals  at  Salisbury,  establish- 
ments were  fitted  up,  and  filled  with  machinery 
sent  from  Raleigh  and  Richmond,  all  of  which 
was  destroyed. 

Fifteen  miles  of  railroad  track  and  the  bridges 
toward  Charlotte  were  also  destroyed.  Thence 
Gen.  Stoneman  moved  for  the  south  side  of  the 
Catawba  River  and  destroyed  the  railroad  to 
the  bridge,  which  was  fatal  to  the  armies  of 
Lee  and  Johnston,  who  depended  on  that 
road  for  supplies  and  as  their  ultimate  line  of 
retreat. 

Meanwhile  the  army  of  Gen.  Sherman  had 
been  rested  and  recruited  at  Goldsboro,  North 
Carolina.  The  men  were  all  reclad,  the  wagons 
.  reloaded,  and  a  fair  amount  of  forage  accumu- 
lated preparatory  for  a  march  to  destroy  or 
capture  the  army  of  Gen.  Johnston.  On  April 
6th  Gen.  Johnston's  army  was  in  and  about 
Smithfield,  and  was  estimated  at  35,000,  in- 
fantry and  artillery,  and  from  6,000  to  10,000 
cavalry.  At  daybreak  on  the  10th,  Gen.  Sher- 
man's army  was  in  motion.  Gen.  Slocum  took 
the  two  direct  roads  for  Smithfield ;  Gen.  How- 


ard made  a  circuit  to  the  right,  feigning  to 
move  up  the  Weldon  road  in  order  to  discon- 
cert the  enemy's  cavalry,  while  Gens.  Terry  and 
Kilpatrick  moved  on  the  west  side  of  the  Neuse 
River  to  reach  the  rear  of  the  enemy  between 
Smithfield  and  Raleigh.  Gen.  Schofield  followed 
Gen.  Slocum  in  support.  The  enemy's  cavalry 
were  met  within  six  miles  of  Goldsboro  by  all 
the  columns  protected  by  the  usual  rail  barri- 
cades. At  10  A.  M.  on  the  llth,  the  14th  corps  en- 
tered Smithfield,  and  the  20th  was  close  at  hand. 
Gen.  Johnston  had  retreated  rapidly  across  the 
Neuse  River,  and  having  the  aid  of  the  railroad 
to  lighten  his  trains,  could  retreat  faster  than 
the  pursuit  could  be  made.  The  bridge  over 
the  Neuse  had  been  burned  and  the  roads  had 
become  heavy  by  rain.  At  this  time  the  news 
of  Gen.  Lee's  surrender  was  received,  and  Gen. 
Sherman  immediately  dropped  his  trains  and 
marched  rapidly  in  pursuit,  reaching  Raleigh  at 
7i  A.  M.  on  the  13th,  in  a  heavy  rain.  On  the 
next  day  the  cavalry  pushed  on  to  Durham 
station,  the  15th  corps  followed  as  far  as  Mor- 
risville  station,  and  the  17th  to  John's  station. 
By  the  15th,  although  the  rains  were  incessant 
and  the  roads  almost  impracticable,  Gen.  Slocum 
had  the  14th  corps  near  Martha's  Vineyard, 
with  a  pontoon  bridge  laid  across  Cape  Fear 
River  at  Avon's  Ferry,  the  20th  corps,  Gen. 
Mower  commanding,  being  in  support;  Gen. 
Howard  had  the  15th  and  17th  corps  stretched 
out  on  the  rt>ads  toward  Pittsboro,  while  Gen. 
Kilpatrick  held  Durham  station  and  Capital 
Hill  University.  Gen.  Johnston  had  retreated 
rapidly  on  the  roads  from  Hillsboro  to  Greens- 
boro, at  which  latter  place  he  was.  In  this 
state  of  affairs  Gen.  Sherman  received  the  fol- 
lowing letter  from  Gen.  Johnston  : 

HEADQUARTERS  IN  THE  FIELD,  April  14,  1865. 
Major-General  W.  T.  Sherman,  Commanding  United 
States  forces. 

GENERAL  :  The  results  of  the  recent  campaigns  in 
Virginia  have  changed  the  relative  military  condition 
of  the  belligerents.  I  am  therefore  induced  to  ad- 
dress you  in  this  form  the  inquiry  whether,  in  order 
to  stop  the  further  effusion  of  blood  and  devastation 
of  property,  you  are  willing  to  make  a  temporary 
suspension  of  active  operations,  and  to  communicate 
to  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant,  commanding  the  Armies  of  the 
United  States,  the  request  that  he  will  take  like  ac- 
tion in  regard  to  other  armies,  the  object  being  to 
permit  the  civil  authorities  to  enter  into  the  needful 
arrangements  to  terminate  the  existing  war. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant, 


To  this  Gen.  Sherman  replied  as  follows  : 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


699 


HEADQ'BS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OP  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  > 
IN  THE  FIELD,  KALEIGH,  N.  C.,  April  14, 1S65.     ( 
Gen.  J.  E.  Johnston,  Commanding  Confederate  Army  ; 

GENERAL:  I  have  this  moment  received  your  com- 
munication of  this  date.  I  am  fully  empowered  to 
arrange  with  you  any  terms  for  the  suspension  of  fur- 
ther hostilities  as  between  the  armies  commanded  by 
you  and  those  commanded  by  myself,  and  will  be 
willing  to  confer  with  you  to  that  end.  I  will  limit 
the  advance  of  my  main  column  to-morrow  to  Mor- 
risville,  and  the  cavalry  to  the.  University,  and  ex- 
pect that  you  will  also  maintain  the  present  position 
of  your  forces  until  each  has  notice  of  a  failure  to 
agree. 

That  a  basis  of  action  may  be  had,  I  undertake  to 
abide  by  the  same  terms  and  conditions  as  were  made 
by  Gens.  Grant  and  Lee  at  Appoinattox  Court  House, 
of  the  9th  instant,  relative  to  our  two  armies,  and, 
furthermore,  to  obtain  from  Gen.  Grant  an  order  to 
suspend  the  movements  of  any.  troops  from  the  direc- 
tion of  Virginia.  Gen.  Stoneman  is  under  my  com- 
mand, and  my  order  will  suspend  any  devastation  or 
destruction  contemplated  by  him.  I  will  add  that  I 
really  desire  to  save  the  people  of  North  Carolina  the 
damages  they  would  sustain  by  the  march  of  this 
army  through  the  central  or  western  parts  of  the 
State. 

I  am,  with  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Major-General. 

At  the  same  time  Gen.  Sherman  addressed 
to  the  Secretary  of  War  and  Gen.  Grant  the 
following  letter : 

HEADQ'RS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OP  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  ) 
IN  THE  FIELD,  EALEIGH,  N.  C.,  April  15,*1865.     J 
Gen.  U*S.  Grant  and  Secretary  of  War  ; 

I  send  copies  of  correspondence  with  Gen.  John- 
ston to  you,  which  I  think  will  be  followed  by  terms 
of  capitulation.  I  will  grant  the  same  terms  Gen. 
Grant  gave  Gen.  Lee,  and  be  careful  not  to  compli- 
cate any  points  of  civil  policy.  If  any  cavalry  has 
retreated  toward  me,  caution  them  to  be  prepared  to 
find  our  work  done.  It  is  now  raining  in  torrents, 
and  I  shall  await  Gen.  Johnston's  reply  here,  and 
will  prepare  to  meet  him  in  person  at  Chapel  Hill. 

I  have  invited  Gov.  Vance  to  return  to  Raleigh, 
with  the  civil  officers  of  his  Sfate.  I  have  met  ex- 
Governor  Graham,  Messrs.  Badger,  Moore,  Halden, 
and  others,  all  of  whom  agree  that  the  war  is  over, 
and  that  the  States  of  the  South  must  resume  their 
allegiance,  subject  to  the  Constitution  and  Laws  of 
Congress,  and  must  submit  to  the  National  arms. 
The  great  fact  was  admitted  and  the  details  are  of 
easy  arrangement. 

W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Major-General. 

On  the  16th  the  following  despatch  was  sent 
to  Gen.  Kilpatrick,  at  Durham  station,  and  de- 
livered by  him  to  Gen.  Sherman : 
Major- General  J.  Kilpatrick,  U.  S.  A. 

GENERAL  :  The  General  Commanding  directs  me  to 
arrange  for  a  meeting  between  himself  and  Maj.-Gen. 
Sherman.  In  accordance  with  these  instructions,  I 
beg  to  inquire  when  and  where  this  meeting  can  most 
conveniently  be  had.  I  suggest  ten  (10)  o'  clock,  A.  M. 
to-morrow  as  the  hour,  and  a  point  on  the  Hillsboro 
road,  equidistant  from  the  picket  of  your  command 
and  my  own,  as  the  place  for  the  proposed  meeting. 

I  am,  respectfully,  yours, 
NED  WADE  HAMPTON,  Lieutenant-General. 

The  interview  which  followed  with  Gen. 
Johnston,  five  miles  from  Durham  station,  is 
thus  reported  by  Gen.  Sherman  :  "  I  agreed  to 
meet  Gen.  Johnston  in  person  at  a  point  inter- 
mediate between  our  pickets  on  the  17th  at 
noon,  provided  the  position  of  the  troops  re- 
mained statu  quo.  I  was  both  willing  and 
anxious  to  consume  a  few  days,  as  it  would 


enable  Col.  Wright  to  finish  our  railroad  to 
Raleigh.  Two  bridges  had  to  be  built  and 
twelve  miles  of  new  roads  made.  We  had  no 
iron  except  by  taking  up  the  branch  from 
Goldsboro  to  Weldon.  Instead  of  losing  by 
time  I  gained  in  every  way,  for  every  hour  of 
delay  possible  was  required  to  reconstruct  the 
railroad  to  our  rear  and  improve  the  condition 
of  our  wagon  road  to  the  front,  so  desirable  in 
case  the  negotiations  failed,  and  we  be  forced 
to  make  the  race  of  near  two  hundred  miles  to 
head  off  or  catch  Johnston,  then  retreating  to- 
ward Charlotte.  At  noon  of  the  day  appointed 
I  met  Gen.  Johnston  for  the  first  time  in  my 
life,  although  we  had  been  exchanging  shots 
continually  since  May,  1863.  Our  interview 
was  frank  and  soldier-like,  and  he  gave  me  to 
understand  that  further  war  on  the  part  of  the 
Confederate  troops  was  folly;  that  the  'cause' 
was  lost,  and  that  every  life  sacrificed  after  the 
surrender  of  Lee's  army  was  the  highest  possi- 
ble crime.  He  admitted  the  terms  conceded  to 
Gen.  Lee  were  magnanimous  and  all  he  could 
ask;  but  he  did  want  some  general  concessions 
that  would  enable  him  to  allay  the  natural  fears 
and  anxieties  of  his  followers,  and  enable  him 
to  maintain  his  control  over  them  until  they 
could  be  got  back  to  the  neighborhood  of  their 
homes,  thereby  saving  the  State  of  North  Caro- 
lina the  devastation  inevitably  to  result  from 
turning  his  men  loose  and  unprovided  on  the 
spot,  and  our  pursuit  across  the  State.  He  also 
wanted  to  embrace  in  the  same  general  propo- 
sition the  fate  of  all  the  Confederate  armies  that 
remained  in  existence,  I  never  made  any  con- 
cessions as  to  his  own  army  or  assumed  to  deal 
finally  and  authoritatively  in  regard  to  any 
other,  but  it  did  seem  tome  that  there' was  pre- 
sented a  chance  for  peace  that  might  be  deem- 
ed valuable  to  the  Government  of  the  United 
States,  and  was  at  least  worthy  the  few  days 
that  would  be  consumed  in  conference,  and  to 
push  an  enemy  whose  commander  had  so  frank- 
ly and  honestly  confessed  his  inability  to  cope 
with  me,  were  cowardly  and  unworthy  the 
brave  men  I  led.  Inasmuch  as  Gen.  Johnston 
did  not  feel  authorized  to  exercise  power  over 
the  armies  in  Texas,  we  adjourned  to  the  next 
day  at  noon. 

"  I  returned  to  Raleigh,  and  conferred  freely 
with  all  my  general  officers,  every  one  of  whom 
urged  me  to  conclude  terms  that  might  accom- 
plish so  complete  and  desirable  an  end.  'All 
dreaded  the  necessary  laborious  march  after  a 
fugitive  and  dissolving  army  back  toward 
Georgia,  over  the  very  country  where  we  had 
toiled  so  long.  There  was  but  one  opinion  ex- 
pressed, and,  if  contrary  ones  were  entertained, 
they  were  withheld,  or  indulged  in  only  by  that 
class  who  shun  the  fight  and  the  march,  but  are 
loudest,  bravest,  and  fiercest  when  danger  is 
past. 

"I  again  met  Gen.  Johnston  on  the  18th, 
and  we  resumed,  the  conversation.  He  satisfied 
me  then  of  his  power  to  disband  the  rebel  armies 
in  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  and  Texas, 


700 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


as  well  as  those  in  his  immediate  command,  viz. : 
North  Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Florida.  The 
points  on  which  he  expressed  especial  solicitude 
were  lest  their  States  were  to  be  dismembered 
and  denied  representations  in  Congress,  or  any 
separate  political  existence  whatever ;  and  the 
absolute  disarming  his  men  would  leave  the 
South  powerless  and  exposed  to  depredations 
by  wicked  bands  of  assassins  and  robbers.  The 
President's  (Lincoln)  Message  of  1864;  his  Am- 
nesty Proclamation ;  General  Grant's  terms  to 
General  Lee,  substantially  extending  the  bene- 
fit of  that  Proclamation  to  all  officers  above  the 
rank  of  colonel ;  the  invitation  to  the  Virginia 
Legislature  to  reassemble  in  Kichmond,  by  Gen. 
Weitzel,  with  the  supposed  approval  of  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Gen.  Grant,  then  on  the  spot ;  a 
firm  belief  that  I  had  been  fighting  to  reestab- 
lish the  Constitution  of  the  United  States ;  and 
last,  but  not  least,  the  general  and  universal  de- 
sire to  close  a  war  any  longer  without  organized 
resistance,  were  the  leading  facts  that  induced 
me  to  pen  the  'memorandum'  of  April  18, 
signed  by  myself  and  Gen.  Johnston.  It  was 
designed  to  be,  and  so  expressed  on  its  face,  as 
a  mere  'basis '  for  reference  to  the  President  of 
the  United  States  and  constitutional  Command- 
er-in-Chief,  to  enable  him,  if  he  chose,  at  one 
blow  to  dissipate  the  power  of  the  Confederacy 
which  had  threatened  the  national  safety  for 
years.  It  admitted  of  modification,  alteration, 
and  change.  It  had  no  appearance  of  an  ulti- 
matum, and  by  no  false  reasoning  can  it  be 
construed  into  an  usurpation  of  power  on  my 
part." 

Some  complaint  had  appeared  in  the  public 
press  that  the  terms  offered  to  Gen.  Lee  were 
too  lenient.  At  the  same  time  the  assassination 
of  President  Lincoln  took  place,  and  pubh'c  in- 
dignation was  greatly  aroused.  In  the  midst 
of  the  excitement  the  memorandum  of  terms 
between  Gen.  Sherman  and  Gen.  Johnston  was 
received  by  the  Government.  It  was  as  fol- 
lows: 

Afemoranditm  or  basis  of  agreement  made  this  ISth  day 
of  April,  A,  D,  1865.  near  Ihirha/nfs  Station,  and  in 
the  State  of  North  UaroUna,  by  and  between  Gen.  Jo- 
seph E.  Johnston,  commanding  the  Confederate  Army, 
and  Maj.-Geti.  W.  T.Sherman,  commanding  the  Army 
of  the  United,  States  in  North  Carolina,  both  present : 
~L — The  contending  armies  now  in  the  field  to  main- 
tain their  status  quo  until  notice  is  given  by  the  com- 
manding-general of  either  one  to  its  opponent,  and 
reasonable  time,  say  forty-eight  hours,  allowed. 

2. — The  Confederate  Armies  now  in  existence  to 
be  disbanded  and  conducted  to  the  several  State  cap- 
pitals,  there  to  deposit  their  arms  and  public  property 
in  the  State-arsenal,  and  each  officer  and  man  to  ex- 
ecute and  file  an  agreement  to  cease  from  acts  of  war 
and  abide  the  action  of  both  State  and  Federal  au- 
thorities. The  number  of  arms  and  munitions  of  war 
to  be  reported  to  the  Chief  of  Ordnance  at  Washing- 
ton City,  subject  to  future  action  of  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States,  and  in  the  mean  time  to  be  used 
solely  to  maintain  peace  and  order  within  the  borders 
of  the  States  respectively. 

^  3. — The  recognition  by  the  executive  of  the  United 
States  of  the  several  State  Governments  on  their  offi- 
cers and  Legislatures  taking  the  oath  prescribed  by 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  where  con- 
flicting State  Governments  have  resulted  from  the 


war,  the  legitimacy  of  all  shall  be  submitted  to  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States, 

4. — The  reestablishment  of  all  Federal  Courts  in 
the  several  States,  with  powers  as  denned  by  .the 
Constitution  and  laws  of  Congress. 

5. — The  people  and  inhabitants  of  all  States  to  be 
guaranteed,  so  far  as  the  Executive  can,  their  political 
rights  and  franchise,  as  well  as  their  rights  of  person 
and  property,  as  defined  by  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  and  of  States  respectively. 

6. — The  executive  authority  of  the  Government  of 
the  United  States  not  to  disturb  any  of  the  people 
by  reason  of  the  late  war  so  long  as  they  live  in  peace 
and  quiet,  abstain  from  acts  of  armed  hostility,  and 
obey  laws  in  existence  at  any  place  of  their  residence. 

7. — In  general  term's,  war  to  cease,  a  general  am- 
nesty, so  far  the  executive  power  of  the  United  States 
can  command,  or  on  condition  of  disbandment  of  the 
Confederate  Armies,  and  the  distribution  of  arms' and 
resumption  of  peaceful  pursuits  by  officers  and  men, 
as  hitherto  composing  the  said  armies,  not  being  fully 
empowered  by  our  respective  principals  to  fulfil  these 
terms,  we  individually  and  officially  pledge  ourselves 
to  promptly  obtain  necessary  authority  and  to  carry 
out  the  above  programme, 

W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Maior-General, 
Commanding  the  Army  of  the  United  States  in  North 
Carolina. 

J.  E.  JOHNSTON,  General, 

Commanding  Confederate  States    Army  in    North 
Carolina. 

This  was  at  once  made  public,  accompanied 
with  the  following  statement  from  the  Secre- 
tary of  War,  Mr.  Stanton : 

This  proceeding  of  General  Sherman  was  unap- 
proved  for  the  following  among  other  reasons : 

1. — It  was  an  exercise  of  authority  not  vested  in 
General  Sherman,  and  on  its  face  shows  that  both  he 
and  Johnston  knew  that  he  (Sherman)  had  no  au- 
thority to  enter  into  such  arrangement. 

2.— It  was  a  practical  acknowledgment  of  the  Rebel 
government. 

8. — It  undertook  to  reestablish  the  Eebel  State  gov- 
ernments that  had  been  overthrown  at  the  sacrifice 
of  many  thousand  loyal  lives  and  an  immense  treas- 
ure, and  placed  arms  and  munitions  of  war  in  the 
hands  of  the  Rebels  at  their  respective  capitals,  which 
might  be  used  as  soon  as  the  armies  of  the  United 
States  were  disbanded,  and  used  to  conquer  and  sub- 
due the  loyal  States. 

4. — By  the  restoration  of  the  Rebel  authority  in 
their  respective  States,  they  would  be  enabled  to  re- 
establish slavery.  • 

5. — It  might  furnish  a  ground  of  responsibility  by 
the  Federal  Government  to  pay  the  Rebel  debt,  and 
certainly  subjects  loyal  citizens  of  the  Rebel  States 
to  the  debt  consummated  by  the  Rebels  in  the  name 
of  the  State. 

6. — It  puts  in  dispute  the  existence  of  loyal  State 
governments,  and  the  new  State  of  Western  Virginia, 
which  had  been  recognized  by  every  department  of 
the  United  States  Government. 

7. — It  practically  abolished  the  confiscation  laws, 
and  relieved  Rebels  of  every  degree  who  had  slaugh- 
tered our  people,  from  all  pains  and  penalties  for  their 
crimes. 

8. — It  gave  terms  that  had  been  deliberately,  re- 
peatedly, and  solemnly  rejected  by  President  Lincoln, 
and  better  terms  than  the  Rebels  had  ever  asked  in 
their  most  prosperous  condition. 

9.— It  formed  no  basis  of  true  and  lasting  peace, 
but  relieved  Rebels  from  the  pressure  of  our  victories, 
and  left  them  in  condition  to  renew  their  effort  to 
overthrow  the  United  States  Government,  and  subdue 
the  loyal  States,  whenever  their  strength  was  recruited 
and  an  opportunity  should  offer. 

At  the  same  time  the  Secretary  of  War  issued 
the  following  instructions  to  Gen.  Grant : 


MILITAEY  AM)  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


701 


WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  April  21, 1865. 

GENERAL  :  The  memorandum  or  basis  agreed  upon 
between  Gen.  Sherman  and  Gen.  Johnston,  having 
been  submitted  to  the  President,  they  are  disapproved. 
You  will  give  notice  of  the  disapproval  to  General 
Sherman,  and  direct  him  to  resume  hostilities  at  the 
earliest  moment. 

The  instructions  given  to  you  by  the  late  President, 
Abraham  Lincoln,  on  the  3d  of  March,  by  my  tele- 
graph of  that  date  addressed  to  you,  express  substan- 
tially the  views  of  President  Andrew  Johnson,  and 
will  be  observed  by  Gen.  Sherman.  A  copy  is  here- 
with appended. 

The  President  desires  that  you  proceed  immediate- 
ly to  the  headquarters  of  Gen.  Sherman  and  direct 
operations  against  the  enemy. 

Yours  truly, 

EDW'IN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

To  Lieut. -Gen.  GRANT. 

COPT  OF  PRESIDENT   LINCOLN'S  INSTRUCTIONS. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  March  3, 1S65. 

To  Lieut.- Gen.  GRANT: 

The  President  directs  me  to  say  to  you  that  he 
wishes  you  to  have  no  conference  with  Gen.  Lee, 
unless  it  be  for  the  capitulation  of  Gen.  Lee's  army, 
or  on  some  minor  and  purely  military  matter.  He 
wishes  me  to  say  that  you  are  not  to  decide,  discuss, 
or  confer  upon  any  political  question.  Such  ques- 
tions the  President  holds  in  his  own  hands,  and  will 
submit  them  to  no  military  conferences  or  conven- 
tions. Meantime  you  are  to  press  to  your  utmost 
your  military  advantages. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

Perhaps  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  insert 
here  the  reasons  briefly  given  by  Gen.  Sherman 
in  his  report,  for  his  proceedings.  They  are  as 
follows : 

Immediately  on  my  return  to  Kaleigh  I  despatched 
one  of  my  staff,  Major  Hitchcock,  to  Washington, 
enjoining  him  to  be  most  prudent  and  careful  to 
avoid  the  spies  and  informers  that  would  be  sure  to 
infest  him  by  the  way,  and  to  say  nothing  to  anybody 
until  the  President  could  make  known  to  me  his  fee*» 
ings  and  wishes  in  the  matter. 

The  news  of  President  Lincoln's  assassination,  on 
the  14th  of  April  (wrongly  reported  to  me  by  tele- 
graph as  having  occurred  on  the  llth),  reached  me 
on  the  17th,  and  was  announced  to  my  command  on 
the  same  day,  in  Field  Orders  No.  56.  I  was  duly  in- 
formed of  its  horrible  atrocity  and  probable  effects 
on  the  country.  But  when  the  property  and  interests 
of  millions  still  living  were  involved,  I  saw  no  good 
reason  why  to  change  my  course,  but  thought  rather 
to  manifest  real  respect  for  his  memory  by  following 
after  his  death  that  policy,  which,  if  living,  I  felt  cer- 
tain he  would  have  approved,  or  at  least  not  rejected 
with  disdain. 

Up  to  that  hour  I  had  never  received  one  word  of 
instruction,  advice,  or  counsel  as  to  the  plan  of  pol- 
icy of  the  Government,  looking  to  a  restoration  of 
peace  on  the  part  of  the  Rebel  States  of  the  South. 
Whenever  asked  for  an  opinion  on  the  points  involved, 
I  had  always  avoided  the  subject.  My  letter  to  the 
Mayor  of  Atlanta  has  been  published  to  the  world, 
and  I  was  not  rebuked  by  the  War  Department  for 

it.  My  letter  to  Mr. of  Savannah,  was  shown 

by  me  to  Mr.  Stanton,  before  its  publication,  and  all 
that  my  memory  retains  of  bis  answer  is  that  he  said, 
like  my  letters  generally,  it  was  sufficiently  emphatic, 
and  would  not  oe  misunderstood.  Both  these  letters 
asserted  my  belief  that  according  to  Mr.  Lincoln's 
Proclamation  and  Message,  when  the  people  of  the 
South  had  laid  down  their  arms  and  submitted  to  the 
lawful  powers  of  the  United  States,  ipso  facto,  the 
war  was  over  as  to  them ;  and  furthermore,  that  if 
any  State  in  rebellion  would  conform  to  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States,  cease  war,  elect  Senators 
and  Representatives  to  Congress,  if  admitted  (of  which 


each  House  of  Congress  alone  is  the  judge),  that  State 
becomes  instanter  as  much  in  the  Union  as  New  York 
or  Ohio.  Nor  was  I  rebuked  for  these  expressions, 
though  it  was  universally  known  and  commented  on 
at  the  time.  And  again  Mr.  Stanton  in  person  at 
Savannah,  speaking  of  the  terrific  expense  of  the  war 
and  difficulty  of  realizing  the  money  for  the  daily 
wants  of  Government,  impressed  me  most  forcibly 
with  the  necessity  of  bringing  the  war  to  a  close  as 
soon  as  possible  for  financial  reasons. 

On  the  morning  of  April  24th  Gen.  Grant 
arrived  at  Gen.  Sherman's  headquarters,  and 
the  latter  was  informed  that  the  memorandum 
was  disapproved,  without  reasons  assigned,  and 
he  was  ordered  to-  give  the  forty-eight  hours 
notice,  and  resume  hostilities  at  the  close  of  that 
time.  Gen.  Sherman  immediately  despatched 
the  following  note  to  Gen.  Johnston : 

HEADQ'RS  MILITARY  DIVISION  or  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  ) 

IN  THE  FIELD,  KALEIGH,  April  24, 1865.         ) 

Gen.  Johnston,  Commanding  Confederate  Armies  ; 

I  have  replies  from  Washington  to  my  communica- 
tions of  April  18.  I  am  instructed  to  limit  my  opera- 
tions to  your  immediate  command,  and  not  to  at- 
tempt civil  negotiations.  I  therefore  demand  the 
surrender  of  your  army,  on  the  same  terms  as  were 
given  to  Gen.  Lee,  at  Appomattox,  of  April  9,  purely 
and  simply.  W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Maj.-Gen. 

Gen.  Grant,  although  properly  in  command, 
left  all  the  further  measures  to  be  executed  by 
Gen.  Sherman,  and  the  presence  of  the  former 
was  even  unknown  to  Gen.  Johnston,  who  re" 
plied  as  follows : 

[Telegram.] 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THB  TENNESSEE,  ) 
IN  THE  FIELD,  April  25, 1865.         f 
Major-Gen.  Sherman,  U.  S.  A. 

Your  despatch  of  yesterday  received.  I  propose 
a  modification  of  the  terms  you  offered ;  such  terms 
for  the  army  as  you  wrote  on  the  18th ;  they  also 
modified  according  to  change  of  circumstances,  and 
a  further  armistice  to  arrange  details  and  meeting  for 
that  purpose.  JOS.  E.  JOHNSTON,  General. 

HEADQ'ES  MILITARY  DIVISION  or  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  t 
IN  THE  FIELD,  RALEIGH,  April  25, 1865.      f 
Gen  Johnston  ;  I  will  meet  you  at  the  same  place 
as  before,  to-morrow,  at  12  o'clock  noon. 

W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Major-General. 

[Telegram.] 

Major- Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  Commtfg  U.  8.  Forces  : 
GENERAL  :  I  have  had  the  honor  to  receive  your 
despatch  of  yesterday,  summoning  this  army  to  sur- 
render on  the  terms  accepted  by  Gen.  Lee  at  Appa- 
mattox  Court  House.  I  propose,  instead  of  such 
surrender,  terms  base'd  on  those  drawn  up  by  you  on 
the  18th  for  disbanding  this  army,  and  a  further 
armistice  and  a  conference  to  arrange  these  terms. 

The  disbanding  of  Gen.  Lee's  army  has  afflicted 
this  country  with  numerous  bands  having  no  means 
of  subsistence  but  robbery — a  knowledge  of  which 
would,  I  am  sure,  induce  you  to  agree  to  other  con- 
ditions.   Most  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
J.  E.  JOHNSTON,  General. 
[Telegram.] 

GREENSBORO'  April  26, 1865—2  A.  M. 
Major-Gen.  Sherman  through  Gen.  Sutler  : 

I  will  meet  you  at  the  time  and  place  you  desig- 
nate. Is  armistice  with  status  quo  renewed  ? 

J.  E.  JOHNSTON,  General. 

Term*  of  a  Military  Convention  entered  into  this  twenty- 
sixth  (-26th)  day  of  April,  1865,  at  Bennett's  House, 
near  Durham  Station,  North  Carolina,  between  Gen- 
eral  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  commanding  the  Confed- 
erate Army,  and  Major- General  W.  T.  Sherman,  com- 
manding the  United  States  Army  in  North  Carolina. 
All  acts  of  war  on  the  part  of  the  troops  under  Gen. 


V02 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Johnston's  command  to  cease  from  this  date.  All 
arms  and  public  property  to  be  deposited  at  Greens- 
boro, and  delivered  to  an  ordnance  officer  of  the 
United  States  Army.  Rolls  of  all  the  officers  and  men 
to  be  made  in  duplicate,  one  copy  to  be  retained  by 
the  commander  of  the  troops,  and  the  other  to  be 
given  to  an  officer  to  be  designated  by  Gen.  Sher- 
man. Each  officer  and  man  to  give  his  individual 
obligation  in  writing  not  to  take  up  arms  against  the 
Government  of  the  United  States  until  properly  re- 
leased from  this  obligation.  The  side-arms  of  officers 
and  their  private  horses  and  baggage  to  be  retained 
by  them. 

This  being  done,  all  the  officers  and  men  will  be 
permitted  to  return  to  their  homes,  not  to  be  dis- 
turbed by  the  United  States  authorities  so  long  as 
they  observe  their  obligation  and  the  laws  in  force 
where  they  may  reside. 

W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Major-General, 

Commanding  U.  S.  Forces  in  North  Carolina, 
J.  E.  JOHNSTON,  General, 

Commanding  C.  S.  Forces  in  North  Carolina. 
Approved: — U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieut. -General. 
BALEIGH,  N.  CL,  April  26, 1865. 

On  the  next  day  Gen.  Sherman  issued  the 
following  order  : 

Special  Field  Orders  No.  65. 
HEADERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  I 
IN  THE  FIELD,  RALEIGH,  N.  C.,  April  27, 1865.     J 

The  General  Commanding  announces  a  further 
suspension  of  hostilities  and  a  final  agreement  with 
Gen.  Johnston,  which  terminates  the  war  as  to  the 
armies  under  his  command  and  the  country  east  of 
the  Chattahooche. 

Copies  of  the  terms  of  the  convention  will  be  fur- 
nished Major-Gens.  Schofield,  Gillmore,  and  Wilson, 
who  are  specially  charged  with  its  execution  in  the 
Department  of  North  Carolina,  Department  of  the 
South,  and  at  Macon  and  Western  Georgia. 

Capt.  Myers,  Ordnance  Department  U.  S.  army, 
is  hereby  designated  to  receive  the  arms,  etc.,  at 
Greensboro.  Any  commanding  officer  of  a  post  may 
receive  the  arms  of  any  detachment,  and  see  that  they 
are  properly  stored  and  accounted  for. 

Gen.  Schofield  will  procure  at  once  the  necessary 
blanks,  and  supply  the  other  Army  Commanders, 
that  uniformity  may  prevail,  and  great  care  must  be 
taken  that  all  the  terms  and  stipulations  on  our  part 
be  fulfilled  with  the  most  scrupulous  fidelity,  while 
those  imposed  on  our  hitherto  enemies  be  received 
in  a  spirit  becoming  a  brave  and  generous  army. 

Army  commanders  may  at  once  loan  to  the  inhab- 
itants such  of  the  captured  mules,  horses,  wagons, 
and  vehicles  as  can  be  spared  from  immediate  use, 
and  the  Commanding  Generals  of  Armies  may  issue 
provisions,  animals,  or  any  public  supplies  that  can 
be  spared  to  relieve  present  wants,  and  to  encourage 
the  inhabitants  to  renew  their  peaceful  pursuits,  and 
to  restore  the  relations  of  friendship  among  our  fel- 
low-citizens and  countrymen. 

Foraging  will  forthwith  cease,  and  when  necessity 
or  long  marches  compel  the  taking  of  forage,  pro- 
visions, or  any  kind  of  private  property,  compensa- 
tion will  be  made  on  the  spot :  or,  when  the  disburs- 
ing officers  are  not  provided  with  funds,  vouchers 
wiTl  be  given  in  proper  form,  payable  at  the  nearest 
military  depot. 

By  order  of       Major-Gen.  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 

L.  M.  DAYTON,  Ass't  Adjutant-General. 

Special  Field  Orders  No.  66. 
HEADQ'RS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  I 
IN  THE  FIELD,  BALEIGH,  N.  C.,  April  2J,  1865.     ( 
Hostilities  having  ceased,   the  following  changes 
and  dispositions  of  troops  in  the  field  will  be  made 
with  as  little  delay  as  practicable : 

1.  The  10th  and  23d  corps  will  remain  in  the  De- 
partment of  North  Carolina,  and  Major-Gen.  J.  M. 
Schofield  will  transfer  back  to  Major-Gen.  Gillmore, 


commanding  the  Department  of  the  South,  the  two 
brigades  formerly  belonging  to  the  division  of  Brevet 
Major-Gen.  Grover,  at  Savannah.  The  3d  division 
cavalry  corps,  Brevet  Major-Gen.  J.  Kilpatrick  com- 
manding, is  hereby  transferred  to  the  Department  of 
North  Carolina,  and  Gen.  Kilpatrick  will  report  in 
person  to  Major-Gen.  Schofield  for  orders. 

2.  The    cavalry  command    of  Maj.-Gen.   George 
Stoneman  will  return  to  East  Tennessee,  and  that  of 
Brevet  Major-Gen.  J.  H.  Wilson  will  be  conducted 
back  to  the  Tennessee  River,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Decatur,  Alabama. 

3.  Major-Gen.  Howard  will  conduct  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee  to  Richmond,  Virginia,  following  roads 
substantially  by  Lewisburg,  Warrenton,  Lawrence- 
ville,  and  Petersburg,  or  to  the  right  of  that  line. 
Major-Gen.  Slocum  will  conduct  the  Army  of  Georgia 
to  Richmond  by  roads  to  the  left  of  the  one  indicated 
for  Gen.  Howard,  viz.,  by  Oxford,  Boydtown,  and 
Nottoway  Court  House.    These  armies  will  turn  in 
at  this  point  the  contents  of  their  ordnance  trains 
and  use  the  wagons  for  extra  forage  and  provisions. 
These  columns  will  be  conducted  slowly  and  in  the 
best  of  order,  and  will  aim  to  be  at  Richmond  ready 
to  resume  the  march  by  the  middle  of  May. 

4.  The  Chief  Quartermaster  and  Commissary  of  the 
Military  Division,  Gens.  Easton  and  Beckwith,  after 
making  the  proper  dispositions  of  their  departments 
here,  will  proceed  to  Richmond  and  make  suitable 
preparations  to  receive  those  columns  and  to  provide 
them  for  the  further  journey. 

By  order  of       Major-Gen.  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 
L.  M.  DAYTON,  Ass't  Adjutant-General. 

On  the  same  day  Gen.  Johnston  issued  the 
following  notice  of  surrender  to  his  troops : 

General  Orders  No.  18. 
HEADQTTARTEBS  ARMY  OF  THE  TENNESSEE,  ) 

April  27, 1865. 

By  the  terms  of  a  military  convention  made  on  the 
26th  instant,  by  Major-Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  United 
States  Army,  and  Gen.  J.  E.  Johnston,  Confederate 
States  Army,  the  officers  and  men  of  this  army  are  to 
bind  themselves  not  to  take  up  arms  against  the 
United  States  until  properly  relieved  from  the  obli- 

fation,  and  shall  receive  guarantees  from  the  United 
tates  officers  against  molestation  by  the  United 
States  authorities,  so  long  as  they  observe  that  obli- 
gation and  the  laws  in  force  where  they  reside.  For 
these  objects  duplicate  muster-rolls  will  be  made, 
and  after  the  distribution  of  the  necessary  papers 
the  troops  will  march  under  their  officers  to  their 
respective  States,  and  there  be  disbanded — all  re- 
taining personal  property.  The  object  of  this  con- 
vention is  pacification  to  the  extent  of  the  authority 
of  the  commanders  who  made  it.  Events  in  Virginia, 
which  broke  every  hope  of  success  by  war,  imposed 
on  its  general  the  duty  of  sparing  the  blood  of  this 
gallant  army,  and  saving  our  country  from  further 
devastation,  and  our  people  from  ruin. 

J.  E.  JOHNSTON,  General. 

On  the  2d  of  May  he  issued  the  following 
farewell  to  his  army : 

General  Orders  No  22. 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  TENNESSEE,  } 

NEAR  GREENSBORO,  May  2, 1865.     f 

COMRADES  :  In  terminating  our  official  relations,  I 

expect  you  to  observe  the  terms  of  the  pacification 

agreed  upon,  and  to  discharge  the  obligations  of  good 

and  peaceful  citizens  to  the  powers  as  well  as  you 

have  performed  the  duties  of  soldiers  in  the  field. 

Bv  such  a  course  you  will  secure  comfort  and  restore 

tranquillity  to  your  country.    You  will  return  to  your 

homes  with  the  admiration  of  our  people,  won  by  the 

courage  and  noble  devotion  you  have  displayed  in 

this  long  war.     I  shall  always  remember  with  pride 

the  loyal  support  you  have  given  me.     I  part  from 

you  with  regret,  and  bid  you  farewell  with  feelings 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


703 


of  cordial  friendship,  and  with  earnest  wishes  that 
you  may  prosper.  J.  E.  JOHNSTON,  General. 

J.  E.  KENNARD,  Colonel,  etc. 

The  number  of  men  surrendered  and  paroled 
was  not  far  from  25,000 ;  108  pieces  of  artillery 
were  parked,  with  limbers,  caissons,  etc.,  com- 
plete. About  15,000  small  arms  were  surren- 
dered, and  but  little  ammunition.  A  large 
number  of  men  strayed  away  with  guns,  horses, 
mules,  and  wagons.  A  body  of  the  cavalry, 
under  Gen.  Hampton,  went  south  in  the  direc- 
tion in  which  it  was  supposed  Mr.  Davis  was- 
moving.  They  subsequently  disappeared,  and 
their  officers  were  classed  among  those  pa- 
roled. 

The  column  of  Gen.  Wilson,  which  has  been 
already  mentioned,  was  organized  at  Gen. 
Thomas's  headquarters,  in  Nashville,  for  a  cav- 
alry expedition  into  Alabama.  It  was  finely 
equipped  in  every  respect,  with  plenty  of  good 
men,  mostly  veterans,  horses,  ammunition,  sup- 
plies, pontoons,  and  wagons.  The  final  rendez- 
vous was  Gravelly  Springs,  above  Eastport,  on 
the  Tennessee  River,  and  Selma,  Montgomery, 
and  Mobile.  It  numbered  more  than  15,000 
men,  consisting  of  the  1st  division  under  Gen. 
McCook,  the  2d  xmder  Gen.  Long,  the  4th  tinder 
Gen.  Upton,  and  the  5th  under  Gen.  Hatch. 
The  latter,  however,  was  retained  in  reserve  at 
Eastport.  The  movement  commenced  from 
Chickasaw  on  the  22d  of  March.  Some  of  the 
enemy,  consisting  of  Gen.  Roddy's  cavalry, 
were  soon  met,  and  driven  back  with  constant 
skirmishing  thirty  miles  to  Plantersville.  Here 
they  made  a  stand  on  April  1st,  until  their 
flank  was  threatened,  when  they  retired.  The 
loss  of  each  side  in  killed  and  wounded,  thus 
far,  was  estimated  at  less  than  a  hundred ;  three 
guns  and  two  hundred  prisoners  were  captured 
by  Gen.  Wilson.  Pursuit  was  now  made  by 
the  divisions  of  Gens.  Upton  and  Long  to  Sel- 
ma. There  the  enemy  was  found  on  April 
2d,  in  line  of  battle  outside  of  their  works. 
Gen.  Long  having  arrived  first,  formed  and  dis- 
mounted his  men  in  the  night,  while  the  4th 
division  came  up  on  the  left.  In  the  morning 
the  skirmish  line  was  advanced,  and  a  brisk 
charge  made.  In  a  short  time  the  enemy  were 
driven  from  the  field,  and  the  intrenchments 
captured.  Selma  was  immediately  occupied. 
The  killed  and  wounded  of  the  Union  forces 
was  about  two  hundred,  and  that  of  the  enemy 
supposed  to  be  less.  One  hundred  guns,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  officers,  two  thousand  men, 
with  many  horses,  mules,  and  supplies,  were 
captured.  The  arsenal,  with  large  stores  of 
powder,  percussion  caps,  shells,  all  the  Confed- 
erate magazines,  works,  and  buildings,  four  large 
furnaces,  including  the  Red  Mountain  and  Cen- 
tral iron  works  and  machine  shop,  some  dwell- 
ings, and  vast  stores  of  cotton  were  destroyed. 
On  the  4th.  Cahawba,  a  little  southwest  of 
Selma,  was  surrendered,  and  about  seventy 
Federal  prisoners  were  recovered.  From  Selma 
Gen.  Wilson  moved  eastward,  capturing  Mont- 
gomery, West  Point,  Griffin,  Lagrange,  Colum- 


bus, and  Macon,   The  following  despatches  from 
Macon  relate  his  further  proceedings : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  .  TENNESSEE,  ) 
April  21, 1865—9:30  A.  M.         f 
To  Major- Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  through  headquarters 

of  Gen.  Beauregard  ; 

My  advance  received  the  surrender  of  this  city  with 
its  garrison  this  evening.  Gen.  Cobb  had  previously 
sent  me,  under  flag  of  truce,  a  copy  of  the  telegram 
from  Gen.  Beauregard,  declaring  the  existence  of 
an  armistice  between  all  the  troops  under  your  com- 
mand and  those  of  Gen.  Johnston.  Without  ques- 
tioning the  authority  of  this  despatch,  or  its  applica- 
tion to  my  command,  I  could  not  communicate  orders 
in  time  to  prevent  the  capture.  I  shall  therefore 
hold  the  garrison,  including  Major-Gens.  Cobb  and 
G.  W.  Smith,  and  Brig.-Gen.  McCall,  prisoners  of 
war. 

Please  send  me  orders.  I  shall  remain  here  a  rea- 
sonable length  of  time1  to  ifear  from  your. 

J.  H.  WILSON,  Brevet  Maj.-Gen.  TJ.  S.  A. 

HEADQUARTERS  CAVALRY  CORPS,  MILITARY  DIVISION  ) 
MISSISSIPPI,  MACON,  GA.,  April  21, 1865.        ) 

Major-Gen.  W.  T.Sherman,  through  Gen.  Johnston: 
Your  despatch  of  yesterday  is  just  received.  I  shall 
at  once  proceed  to  carry  out  your  instructions.  If 
proper  arrangements  can  be  made  to  have  sugar, 
coffee,  and  clothing  sent  from  Savannah  to  Augusta, 
they  can  be  brought  hither  by  the  way  of  Atlanta  by 
railroad,  or  they  can  be  sent  by  boat  directly  to  this 
place  from  Darien.  I  shall  be  able  to  get  forage, 
bread,  and  meat  from  Southeastern  Georgia.  The 
railroad  from  Atlanta  to  Dalton  or  Cleveland  cannot 
be  repaired  in  three  months.  I  have  arranged  to 
send  an  officer  at  once,  via  Eufaula,  to  Gen.  Canby, 
with  a  copy  of  your  despatch.  Gen.  Cobb  will  also 
notify  Gen.  Taylor  of  the  armistice.  I  have  about 
three  thousand  prisoners  of  war,  including  Gens. 
Cobb,  Smith,  McCall,  Mercer,  and  Robertson.  Can 
you  arrange  with  Gen.  Johnston  for  their  immediate 
release  ?  Please  answer  at  once.  I  shall  start  a  staff 
officer  to  you  to-morrow. 

J.  H.  WILSON,  Brevet  Major-Gen.  Comm'g. 

Gen.  Sherman,  after  the  surrender  of  Gen. 
Johnston,  went  to  Hilton  Head,  and  caused 
supplies  to  be  forwarded  at  once  to  Gen.  Wilson. 
On  May  1st  Gen.  Upton's  division  was  sent  to 
Augusta,  and  Gen.  McCook's  to  Tallahassee,  to 
receive  the  surrender  of  the  garrisons  and  take 
charge  of  the  public  property,  and  execute  the 
paroles  required  by  the  terms  of  surrender. 

At  the  same  time  that  Gen.  Wilson  was  ad- 
vancing against  Selma  and  Montgomery,  a 
movement  was  in  progress  for  the  capture  of 
Mobile.  This  city  was  occupied  by  about  fifteen 
thousand  troops  under  Gen.  Richard  Taylor. 
The  defences  of  the  city  had  been  most  carefully 
constructed,  and  were  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  Maury.  In  the  harbor  the  enemy  had 
several  vessels,  some  of  which  were  iron-clads ; 
in  addition  to  w,hich  its  defences  were  regarded 
as  almost  impregnable.  The  Federal  forces 
consisted  of  the  13th  army  corps  under  Gen. 
Granger,  and  the  16th  under  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith, 
Gen.  Canby  being  in  chief  command.  Attached 
to  these  was  a  division  of  cavalry  and  a  division 
of  colored  troops.  With  this  force  a  strong  fleet 
was  in  cooperation. 

Mobile  is  situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Mobile  River,  immediately  above  its  entrance 
into  the  bay,  and  thirty  miles  north  of  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico.  The  site  of  the  town  is  a  level 


704 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 

* 


sandy  plain,  sufficiently  elevated  for  drainage. 
The  enemy  had  supposed  that  the  attack  would 
be  made  on  the  west,  and  on  thi*  side  the  city 
was  most  strongly  fortified,  but  to  no  purpose 
in  the  final  attack.  The  16th  corps,  Gen.  A. 
J.  Smith,  was  landed  on  Dauphin  Island,  oppo- 
site Mobile  Point,  and  reached  Fort  Gaines  on 
March  12th.  All  the  cavalryunder  Gen.  Grier- 
son,  crossing  Pontchartrain,  reached  Mobile 
Point,  and  on  the  18th,  every  thing  being  in 
readiness,  the  march  commenced.  A  brigade 
of  the  3d  division  of  the  16th  corps,  about  two 
thousand  strong,  left  Dauphin's  Island  to  effect 
a  landing  on  Cedar  Point,  above  Fort  Powell, 
and  to  clear  the  way  for  the  rest  of  the  corps. 
On  the  previous  day  a  brigade  of  the  2d  division 
of  the  13th  corps  was  -landed  on  Mobile  Point, 
to  proceed  as  the  advance  of  the  corps  on  the 
mainland  on  the  east  side  of  the  bay.  At  the 
same  time  Gen.  Steele,  in  command  of  a  division 
of  colored  troops  at  Pensacola  and  Barrancas, 
commenced  a  march  across  to  Blakely  on  the 
Tensaw  Eiver,  about  twelve  miles  north  of  east 
of  Mobile.  On  the  18th,  the  whole  13th  corps 
under  Gen.  Granger  followed  the  advance  bri- 
gade, marching  by  land  along  the  shore  of  Bon 
Secour  Bay,  which  forms  the  southeasterly  cor- 
ner of  Mobile  Bay,  near  its  mouth,  and  just 
north  of  Mobile  Point,  on  which  is  Fort  Mor- 
gan. Fish  Eiver,  running  south  on  the  east 
side  of  Mobile  Bay,  empties  into  Bon  Secour 
Bay,  and  the  rendezvous  of  the  army  was  fixed 
about  eight  miles  frqm  its  mouth.  On  the  19th 
the  16th  corps,  under  Gen.  Smith,  were  taken 
in  transports  and  moved  across  Mobile  Bay,  and 
disembarked  at  the  rendezvous  up  the  river  by 
the  night  of  the  21st.  On  the  22d  and  23d  the 
13th  corps,  under  Gen.  Granger,  which  had 
been  delayed  in  its  march  by  the  bad  roads,  be- 
gan to  arrive.  Slight  skirmishing  occurred 
with  the  enemy  along  the  route.  The  advance 
toward  Spanish  Fort  at  the  head  of  Mobile  Bay, 
on  the  east  side,  was  made  on  the  25th.  The 
13th  corps  was  on  the  left,  direct  for  the  fort, 
and  the  16th  corps  on  the  right  moving  tow- 
ard Blakeley.  Constant  skirmishing  was  kept 
up  by  the  enemy,  and  the  road  was  found  to  be 
thickly  planted  with  torp.edoes.  On  the  27th 
both  corps  marched  into  position,  to  invest 
Spanish  Fort,  and  the  enemy  fell  back  toward 
Blakeley.  At  the  same  time  the  fleet  got  under 
way,  and  proceeded  up  the  bay  to  Howard's 
Landing,  below  the  fort.  The  Metacomet, 
Stpckdale,  Milwaukee,  Cincinnati,  Albatross, 
Winnebago,  Genesee,  and  Osag^,  were  ordered 
in  toward  the  shore,  and  opened  a  cannonade, 
which  the  enemy  did  not  return.  The  commu- 
nication between  the  city  and  the  fort  was  cut 
off  by  the  fleet,  with  the  loss  of  the  Milwaukee 
and  Osage  blown  up  by  torpedoes.  The  land 
forces  brought  up  the  artillery,  and  the  appear- 
ance of  a  regular  siege  was  presented.  The 
fleet  of  the  enemy  at  a  distance  also  occasionally 
opened  fire  on  the  troops.  On  April  3d  the  in- 
vestment was  complete,  and  a  fire  was  opened 
upon  it  both  by  land  and  water,  which  resulted 


in  silencing  the  guns  of  the  enemy  by  midnight. 
An  hour  afterwards  the  fort  was  surrendered 
with  its  dependencies.  The  number  of  men 
made  prisoners  was  five  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight  and  twenty-five  officers.  Gen.  Canby 
reported  that  the  major  part  of  the  garrison 
escaped  by  water.  There  was  found  in  the  fort 
five  mortars  and  twenty-five  guns. 

Meanwhile  Gen.  Steele  left  Pensacola  March 
19th,  and  marched  through  Pollard  toward  Mo- 
bile. On  the  25th  he  encountered  the  6th 
Alabama  cavalry  at  Mitchell's  Creek,  and  a 
sharp  contest  ensued,  in  which  the  enemy  were 
routed.  Thence  he  continued  his  march  tow- 
ard Blakeley,  and  came  in-  on  the  right  of  Gen. 
Canby. 

After  the  surrender  of  Spanish  Fort,  the  gun- 
boat Octarora  opened  fire  on  Forts  Tracy  and 
Huger,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Tensaw  Eiver, 
but  both  works  were  abandoned  by  the  enemy 
after  spiking  eight  heavy  guns.  Blakeley  was 
now  invested  by  the  gunboats  in  front,  which 
had  advanced  up  the  river  after  the  surrender 
of  the  forts  and  the  removal  of  torpedoes,  and 
by  the  troops  on  the  land  side.  The  works 
were  carried  by  assault  on  April  9th,  and  two 
thousand  four  hundred  prisoners  and  twenty 
guns  taken.  On  the  next  day,  the  10th,  the 
enemy  commenced  evacuating  Mobile,  which 
was  completed  on  the  llth  by  their  retreat 
with  their  fleet  up  the  Alabama  Eiver.  On  the 
next  day  it  was  surrendered  to  Gen.  Canby  and 
Eear- Admiral  Thatcher,  and  occupied  by  the 
corps  of  Gen.  Granger.  Gen.  Canby  reported 
that  he  found  in  Mobile  and  its  defences  over 
one  hundred  and  fifty  guns,  a  very  large 
amount  of  ammunition,  and  supplies  of  all 
kinds,  and  about  one  thousand  prisoners.  The 
Federal  loss  had  been  two  thousand  five  hun- 
dred men,  and  that  of  the  fleet  fifty  men. 

On  April  19th  an  officer  of  Gen.  Taylor's 
staff  arrived  at  Gen.  Canby's  headquarters  with 
a  flag  of  truce  to  make  terms  for  the  surrender 
of  the  troops  east  of  the  Mississippi.  On  May 
4th  surrender  was  executed.  The  delegation 
upon  the  Union  side  consisted  of  Gens.  Canby, 
Osterhaus,  Andrews ;  Col.  Christenson ;  Capts. 
Barrett  and  Perkins;  and,  by  invitation  of  Gen. 
Canby,  Admiral  Thatcher.  At  Citronelle,  Ala- 
bama, where  the  conference  was  held,  were 
found  Gen.  Taylor  and  staff,  Commander  Far- 
rand,  and  Lieut.  Commander  Myers,  of  the  Con- 
federate navy,  and  a  large  concourse  of  other 
officers.  After  considerable  discussion  and  con- 
sultation, ending  at  7:30  P.  M.,  the  following 
conditions  were  agreed  to  and  signed  as  the 
terms  of  surrender : 

Memorandum  of  the  conditions  of  the  surrender  of 
the  forces,  munitions  of  war,  etc*.,  in  the  department 
of  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and  East  Louisiana,  com- 
manded  by  Lieut. -Gen.  Kichard  Taylor,  Confederate 
States  army,  to  Major-Gen.  Edward  R.  S.  CanBy, 
United  States  army,  entered  into  on  the  4th  day  of 
May,  1865,  at  Citronelle,  Alabama : 

1.  The  officers  and  men  to  be  paroled  until  duly 
exchanged  or  otherwise  released  from  the  obligations 
of  their  parole  by  the  authority  of  the  Government  of 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


705 


the  United  States.  Duplicate  rolls  of  all  officers  and 
men  surrendered  to  be  made,  one  copy  of  which  will 
be  delivered  to  an  officer  appointed  by_  Major-General 
Canby,  and  the  other  appointed  by  Lieut.-Gen.  Tay- 
lor, officers  giving  their  individual  paroles,  and  com- 
manders of  regiments,  battalions,  companies,  or  de- 
tachments signing  a  like  parole  for  the  men  of  their 
respective  commands. 

2.  Artillery,  small  arms,  ammunition,  and  other 
property  of  the  Confederate  Government,  to  be  turned 
over  to  the  officers  appointed  far  that  purpose  on  the 
part  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States.    Du- 
plicate inventories  of  the  property  surrendered  to  be 
prepared,  one  copy  to  be  retained  by  the  officer  de- 
livering, and  the  other  by  the  officer  receiving  it,  for 
the  information  of  their  respective  commands. 

3.  The  officers  and  men  paroled  under  this  agree- 
ment will  be  allowed  to  return  to  their  homes,  with 
the  assurance  that  they  will  not  be  disturbed  by  the 
authorities  of  the  United  States  as  long  as  they  con- 
tinue to  observe  the  conditions  of  their  paroles  and 
the  laws  in  force  where  they  reside,  except  that  per- 
sons resident  of  Northern  States  will  not  be  allowed 
to  return  without  permission. 

4.  The  surrender  of  property  will  not  include  the 
side-arms,  or  private  horses,  or  baggage  of  officers. 

5.  All  horses  which  are  in  good  faith  the  private 
property  of  enlisted  men  will  not  be  taken  from 
them ;  the  men  will  be  permitted  to  take  such  with 
them  to  their  homes  to  be  used  for  private  purposes 
only. 

6.  The  time  and  place  of  surrender  will  be  fixed 
by  the  respective  commanders,  and  will  be  carried 
out  by  commissioners  appointed  by  them. 

7.  The  terms  and  conditions  of  the  surrender  to 
apply  to  the  officers  and  men  belonging  to  the  armies 
lately  commanded  by  Gens.  Lee  and  Johnston,  now 
in  this  department. 

8.  Transportation  and  subsistence  to  be  furnished 
at  public  cost  for  the  officers  and  men  after  surrender 
to  the  nearest  practicable  point  of  their  homes. 

R.  TAYLOR,  Lieut.-General. 
E.  R.  S.  CANBY,  Maj.-General. 

•  On  the  same  day  and  at  the  same  time  and 
place,  Commodore  Farrand  surrendered  to  Rear- 
Admiral  Thatcher  all  the  naval  forces  of  the 
enemy  then  blockaded  on  the  Tombigbee  River, 
on  the  same  terms  as  were  granted  by  Gen. 
Canby  to  Gen.  Taylor.  The  squadron  was  de- 
livered up  at  Nanna  Ilubba  Bluff  on  May  9th. 
The  following  vessels  were  surrendered :  Jeff. 
Davis,  Robert  Watson,  Magnolia,  Marengo,  St. 
Charles,  Commodore  Farrand,  General  Beaure- 
gard,  Duke,  Sumter,  St.  Nicholas,  Reindeer, 
Admiral. 

Among  the  officers  surrendered  were  Com- 
modore Ebenezer  Farrand,  of  Florida ;  Commo- 
dore L.  Rousseau,  of  Louisiana ;  Capt.  Patrick 
W.  Murphy,  of  North  Carolina ;  Commander 
C.  ap.  R.  Jones,  of  Virginia ;  Lieut.  Julien  My- 
ers, of  Georgia ;  Lieut.  James  D.  Johnston,  of 
Kentucky ;  Lieut.  Chas.  W.  Hays,  of  Alabama ; 
Lieut.  Charles  P.  McGary,  of  North  Carolina ; 
Lieut.  Robert  T.  Chapman,  of  Alabama ;  Lieut. 
F.  B.  Renshaw,  of  Florida;  Lieut.  E.  Lloyd 
Winder,  of  Maryland ;  Lieut.  John  R.  Eggle- 
ston,  of  Mississippi;  Lieut.  C.  0.  Simons,  of 
Virginia;  Lieut.  John  W.  Bennett,  of  Mary- 
land; Lieut.  Thomas  L.  Harrison,  of  Virginia; 
Lieut.  Joseph  Fry,  of  Florida ;  Lieut.  W.  P.  A. 
Campbell,  of  Tennessee ;  Lieut.  Julian  M  Spen- 
cer, of  Maryland ;  Lieut.  James  McBaker,  Lieut. 
Edgar  L.  Lambert,  and  110  others. 
45 


The  detached  forces  of  the  enemy  in  various 
places  east  of  the  Mississippi  were  severally 
surrendered  upon  the  same  terms  as  embraced 
in  those  of  the  commanding  officers,  and  by 
the  middle  of  the  month  of  May  hostilities  had 
ceased  everywhere  except  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River. 

On  learning  the  news  of  Gen.  Lee's  surren- 
der, Gen.  Kirby  Smith,  in  command  of  the  en- 
emy's forces  in  Texas,  issued  the  following 
order : 

HEADQUABTEP.S  TRANS-MISSISSIPPI  DEPARTMENT,  ) 
SHREVEPOKT,  LA.,  April  21, 1865.         f 

Soldiers  of^  the  Trans-Mississippi  Army  : 

The  crisis  of  our  revolution  is  at  hand.  Great  dis- 
asters have  overtaken  us.  The  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia  and  our  Commander-in-Chief  are  prisoners 
of  war.  With  you  rests  the  hopes  of  our  nation,  and 
upon  your  action  depends  the  fate  of  our  people.  I 
appeal  to  you  in  the  name  of  the  cause  you  have  so 
heroically  maintained — in  the  name  of  your  firesides 
and  families,  so  dear  to  you — in  the  name  of  your 
bleeding  country,  whose  future  is  in  your  hands. 
Show  that  you  are  worthy  of  your  position  in  history. 
Prove  to  the  world  that  your  hearts  have  not  failed 
in  the  hour  of  disaster,  and  that  at  the  last  moment 
you  will  sustain  the  holy  cause  which  has  been  so 
gloriously  battled  for  by  your  brethren  east  of  the 
Mississippi. 

You  possess  the  means  of  long  resisting  invasion. 
You  have  bopes  of  succor  from  abroad.  Protract 
the  struggle,  and  you  will  surely  receive  the  aid  of 
nations  who  already  deeply  sympathize  with  you. 

Stand  by  your  colors — maintain  your  -discipline. 
The  great  resources  of  this  department,  its  vast  ex- 
tent, *the  numbers,  the  discipline,  and  the  efficiency 
of  the  army,  will  secure  to  our  country  terms  that  a 
proud  people  can  with  honor  a%cept,  and  may,  under 
the  Providence  of  God,  be  the  means  of  checking  the 
triumph  of  our  enemy  and  securing  the  final  success 
of  our  cause.  E.  KIRBY  SMITH,  General. 

At  the  same  time  public  meetings  were  held 
in  Texas,  and  resolutions  to  maintain  the  con- 
test were  adopted.  The  Federal  Government 
immediately  despatched  a  large  force  to  New 
Orleans,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Sheridan, 
preparatory  to  a  campaign  in  Texas.  Mean- 
while, Col.  Barret  fought  the  last  battle  of  the 
war.  He  had  conducted  a  body  of  troops,  on 
May  llth,  from  300  to  500  strong,  from  Brazos 
to  seize  a  camp  of  the  enemy  about  fifteen  miles 
above,  on  the  Brownsville  road,  at  Palmetto 
Ranch.  His  object  was  to  secure  horses  and 
cattle.  The  camp  of  the  enemy  was  captured 
and  burned.  But  being  delayed  to  secure  horses, 
he  was  overtaken  by  a  body  of  cavalry  under 
Gen.  Slaughter,  with  three  pieces  of  artillery. 
A  retreat  was  made  with  the  enemy  in  pursuit, 
and  a  loss  of  about  seventy-five  men  ensued, 
who  were  chiefly  made  prisoners,  The  follow- 
ing is  Gen.  Slaughter's  report  of  the  affair : 

HEADQUARTERS  WESTERN  SUB-DISTRICT,  TEXAS,  > 
IN  THE  FIELD,  May  18,  1865.  J 
Captain  L.  G.  Aldrich,  Assistant  Adjutant-General: 
We  attacked  the  enemy — about  eight  hundred 
strong — this  evening  at  3  o'clock,  and  drove  him  in 
confusion  eight  miles,  killing  and  wounding  about 
thirty  and  capturing  eighty  prisoners,  with  many 
arms  and  accoutrements.  Owing  to  the  scattered 
condition  of  the  men,  a  halt  was  ordered.  Captain 
Carrington's  command  coming  up,  he  was  again  at- 
tacked and  driven  within  one  mile  of  Brazos,  when 


706 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


darkness  put  an  end  to  the  pursuit.  Had  not  our 
artillery  horses  broken  down,  we  would,  doubtless, 
have  captured  the  whole  command. 

I  cannot  speak  too  highly  of  the  sagacity  of  Colonel 
Ford  and  the  gallantry  of  his  command.  Our  loss 
was  four  or  five  severely  wounded.  We  did  not  have 
three  hundred  in  the  fight,  large  numbers  not  having 
arrived. 

J.  E.  SLAUGHTER,  Brigadier-General  Com. 
Official :  L.  G.  ALDRICH,  Ass't  Adjutant-General. 

But  the  surrenders  of  Gens.  Johnston  and 
Taylor  decided  the  course  of  events  in  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  Department.  On  the  23d  of  May, 
Brig.-Gen.  Brent  and  several  staff  officers 
reached  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana,  to  consult 
with  Gen.  Oanby  on  the  terms  of  the  surrender 
of  Gen.  Kirby  Smith's  army.  The  terms  were 
arranged,  and  the  surrender  made  on  the  26th. 
They  were  as  follows : 

Terms  of  a  military  convention,  entered  into  this 
26th  day  of  May,  1865,  at  New  Orleans,  La.,  between 
Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith,  Confederate  States  army,  com- 
manding the  Department  of  Trans-Mississippi,  and 
Major-General  E.  R.  S.  Canby,  United  States  army, 
commanding  army  and  division  of  West  Mississippi, 
for  the  surrender  of  the  troops  and  public  property 
of  the  military  and  naval  authorities  of  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  Department : 

1.  All  acts  of  war  and  resistance  against  the  United 
States,  on  the  part  of  the  troops  under  Gen.  Smith, 
shall  cease  from  this  date. 

2.  The  officers  and  men  to  be  paroled  until  duly 
exchanged,  or  otherwise  released  from  the  obligation 
of  their  parole  by  the  authority  of  the  Government 
of  the  United  States.    Duplicate  rolls  of  all  officers 
and  men  paroled  to  be  retained  by  such  officers  as 
may  be  designated  bjr  the  parties  hereto — officers 
giving  their  individual  paroles,  and  commanders  of 
regiments,  battalions,  companies,  and  detachments 
signing  a  like  parole  for  the  men  of  their  respective 
commands. 

3.  Artillery,  small  arms,  ammunition,  and  other 
property  of  the  Confederate  States,  including  gun- 
boats and  transports,  to  be  turned  over  to  the  officers 
appointed  to  receive  the  same  on  the  part  of  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States ;  duplicate  inventories 
of  the  property  to  be  surrendered  to  be  prepared,  one 
copy  to  be  returned  by  the  officer  delivering,  and 
the  other  by  the  officer  receiving  it,  for  the  informa- 
tion of  their  respective  commanders. 

4.  The  officers  and  men  paroled  under  this  agree- 
ment will  be  allowed  to  return  to  their  homes,  with 
the  assurance  that  they  will  not  be  disturbed  by  the 
authorities  of  the  United  States  as  long  as  they  con- 
tinue to  observe  the  conditions  of  their  parole  and 
the  laws  in  force  where  they  reside ;  except  that  per- 
sons resident  in  the  Northern  States,  and  not  excepted 
in  the  amnesty  proclamation  of  the  President,  may 
return  to  their  homes  on  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  the  United  States. 

5.  The  surrender  of  property  will  not  include  the 
side-arms,  or  private  horses,  or  baggage  of  officers. 

6.  All  horses  which  are,  in  good  faith,  the  private 
property  of  enlisted  men,  wifl  not  be   taken  from 
them ;  the  men  will  be  permitted  to  take  such  with 
them  to  their  homes,  to  be  used  for  private  pur- 
poses only. 

1.  The  time,  mode,  and  place  of  paroling  and  sur- 
render of  property  will  be  fixed  by  the  respective 
commanders,  and  it  will  be  carried  out  by  commis- 
sioners appointed  by  them. 

8.  The  terms  and  conditions  of  this  convention  to 
extend  to  all  officers  and  men  of  the  army  and  navy 
of  the  Confederate  States,  or  any  of  them,  being  in 
or  belonging  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department. 

9.  Transportation  and  subsistence  to  be  furnished 
at  public  cost  for  the  officers  and  men  (after  being 


paroled)  to  the  nearest  practicable  point  to  their 
tomes.  S.  B.  BUCKNER, 

Lieutenant-General  and  Chief  of  Staff 

for  General  E.  KIRBY  SMITH. 

P.  JOS.  OSTERHAUS, 
Major-General  Volunteers  and  Chief-of-Staff, 

for  Maior-General  E.  R.  S.  CANBY, 
Commanding  Military  Division  West.  Mississippi. 
J.  N.  GALLEHKW,  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

Additional  terms  were  made  later  in  the  day 
for  the  rendezvous  of  the  paroled  troops  in  the 
trans-Mississippi  Department  near  their  homes, 
and  also  for  the  surrender  of  the  Confederate 
navy  under  Capt.  Carter. 

The  surrender  of  these  armies  left  the  military 
occupation  of  the  rebellious  States  by  the  Fed- 
eral forces  nnresisted  and  complete.  The  plan 
now  adopted  by  the  Government  was,  to  retain 
in  each  State  a  sufficient  military  force  to  pre- 
serve peace,  and  to  put  down  any  opposition 
which  might  arise,  and  to  disband  the  remainder 
of  its  armies,  and  to  restore  to  civil  rights  all 
citizens  who  should  take  the  oath  prescribed  in 
the  amnesty  proclamation  of  President  Lincoln, 
which  may  be  found  on  a  preceding  page.  The 
effect  of  this  was  to  oblige  the  person  taking  it 
to  sustain  the  Federal  Government  and  all  its 
past  acts  relative  to  the  emancipation  of  slaves. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  the  army  under 
Gen.  Sherman,  with  the  exception  of  a  com- 
paratively small  force  retained  in  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina,  were  marched  to  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Washington,  for  a  grand  review  and 
final  dispersion.  The  review  took  place  on  the 
22d  and  23d  of  May.  The  mustering  out  of  ser- 
vice was  then  commenced,  and  by  July  1st 
nearly  800,000  men  had  been  discharged.  Gen. 
Sherman  took  leave  of  his  troops  by  issuing  the 
following  order  : 

Special  Orders  No.  67. 
HEADQ'KS  MIDDLE  DIVISION  OP  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  ) 

IN  THE  JTiEiD,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  May  30,  1865.     J 

The  General  Commanding  announces"  to  the  Armies 
of  the  Tennessee  and  Georgia  that  the  time  has  come 
for  us  to  part.  Our  work  is  done,  and  armed  enemies 
no  longer  defy  us.  Some  of  you  will  be  retained  in 
service  until  further  orders.  And  now  that  we  are 
about  to  separate,  to  mingle  with  the  civil  world,  it 
becomes  a  pleasing  duty  to  recall  to  mind  the  situa- 
tion of  national  affairs  when,  but  a  little  more  than  a 
year  ago,  we  were  gathered  about  the  twining  cliffs 
of  Lookout  Mountain,  and  all  the  future  was  wrapped 
in  doubt  and  uncertainty.  Three  armies  had  come 
together  from  distant  fields,  with  separate  histories, 
yet  bound  by  one  common  cause — the  union  of  our 
country  and  the  perpetuation  of  the  Government  of 
our  inheritance.  There  is  no  need  to  recall  to  your 
memories  Tunnel  Hill,  with  its  Rocky  Face  Mountain, 
and  Buzzard  Roost  Gap,  with  the  ugly  forts  of  Dalton 
behind.  We  were  in  earnest,  and  paused  not  for 
danger  and  difficulty,  but  dashed  through  Snake 
Creek  Gap,  and  fell  on  Resaca,  then  on  to  the  Etowah, 
to  Dallas,  Kenesaw:  and  the  heats  of  summer  found 
us  on  the  banks  of  the  Chattahoochee,  far  from  home 
and  dependent  on  a  single  road  for  supplies.  Again 
we  were  not  to  be  held  back  by  any  obstacle,  and 
crossed  over  and  fought  four  heavy  battles  for  the 
possession  of  the  citadel  of  Atlanta.  That  was  the 
crisis  of  our  history.  A  doubt  still  clouded  our  future ; 
but  we  solved  the  problem,  and  destroyed  Atlanta, 
struck  boldly  across  the  State  of  Georgia,  secured  all 
the  main  arteries  of  life  to  our  enemy,  and  Christmas 
found  us  at  Savannah.  Waiting  there  only  long 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


707 


enough  to  fill  our  wagons,  we  again  began  a  march, 
which  for  peril,  labor,  and  results,  will  compare  with 
any  ever  made  by  an  organized  army.  The  floods  of 
the  Savannah,  the  swamps  of  the  Combahee  and 
Edisto,  the  high  hills  and  rooks  of  the  Santee,  the 
flat  quagmires  of  the  Pedee  and  Cape  Fear  Rivers, 
were  all  passed  in  midwinter,  with  its'  floods  and  rains, 
in  the  face  of  an  accumulating  enemy ;  and  after  the 
battles  of  Averysboro  and  Bentonville  we  once  more 
came  out  of  the  wilderness  to  meet  our  friends  at 
Goldsboro.  Even  then  we  paused  only  long  enough 
to  get  new  clothing,  to  reload  our  wagons,  and  again 
pushed  on  to  Raleigh,  and  beyond,  until  we  met  our 
enemy,  sueing  for  peace  instead  of  war,  and  offering 
to  submit  to  the  injured  laws  of  his  and  our  country. 
As  long  as  that  enemy  was  defiant,  nor  mountains, 
nor  rivers,  nor  swamps,  nor  hunger,  nor  cold,  had 
checked  us ;  but  when  he  who  had  fought  us  hard 
and  persistently  offered  submission,  your  General 
thought  it  wrong  to  pursue  him  further,  and  negoti- 
ations followed  which  resulted,  as  you  all  know,  in 
his  surrender.  How  far  the  operations  of  the  army 
have  contributed  to  the  overthrow  of  the  Confederacy, 
of  the  peace  which  now  dawns  on  us,  must  be  judged 
by  others,  not  by  us.  But  that  you  have  done  all 
that  men  could  do  has  been  admitted  by  those  in  au- 
thority;  and  we  have  a  right  to  join  in  the  universal 
joy  that  fills  our  land  because  the  war  is  over,  and 
our  Government  stands  vindicated  before  the  world 
by  the  joint  action  of  the  volunteer  armies  of  the 
United  States. 

To  such  as  remain  in  the  military  service  your 
General  need  only  remind  you  that  successes  in  the 
past  are  due  to  hard  work  and  discipline,  and  that 
the  same  work  and  discipline  are  equally  important 
in  the  future.  To  such  as  go  home,  he  will  only  say, 
that  our  favored  country  is  so  grand,  so  extensive, 
so  diversified  in  climate,  soil,  and  productions,  that 
every  man  may  surely  find  a  home  and  occupation 
suited  to  his  tastes;  and  none  should  yield  to  the 
natural  impotence  sure  to  result  from  our  past  life  of 
excitement  and  adventure.  You  will  be  invited  to 
seek  new  adventure  abroad ;  but  do  not  yield  to  the 
temptation,  for  it  will  lead  only  to  death  and  disap- 
pointment. 

Your  General  now  bids  you  all  farewell,  with 
the  full  belief  that,  as  in  war  you  have  been  good 
soldiers,  so  in  peace  you  will  make  good  citizens; 
and  if,  unfortunately,  new  war  should  arise  in  our 
country,  Sherman's  Army  will  be  the  first  to  buckle 
on  the  old  armor  and  come  forth  to  defend  and  main- 
tain the  Government  of  our  inheritance  and  choice. 

By  order  of     Major-General  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 

L.  M.  DAYTON,  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

At  a  later  date  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant  issued  the 
following  address  to  all  the  armies : 

General  Orders  No.  108. 

"WAR  DEPABTMENT,  ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE,  ( 
WASHINGTON.!).  C.,  June  2, 1865.     ) 
Soldiers  of  the  Armies  of  the  United,  States  ; 

By  your  patriotic  devotion  to  your  country  in  the 
hour  of  danger  and  alarm,  your  magnificent  fighting, 
bravery,  and  endurance,  you  have  maintained  the 
supremacy  of  the  Union  and  the  Constitution,  over- 
thrown all  armed  opposition  to  the  enforcement  of 
the  laws  and  of  the  proclamations  forever  abolishing 
slavery — the  cause  and  pretext  of  the  rebellion — and 
opened  the  way  to  the  rightful  authorities  to  restore 
order  and  inaugurate  peace  on  a  permanent  and  en- 
during basis  on  every  foot  of  American  soil.  Your 
marches,  sieges,  and  battles,  in  distance,  duration, 
resolution,  and  brilliancy  of  results,  dim  the  lustre 
of  the  world's  past  military  achievements,  and  will 
be  the  patriot's  precedent  in  defence  of  liberty  and 
right  in  all  time  to  come.  In  obedience  to  your 
country's  call  you  left  your  homes  and  families  and 
volunteered  in  its  defence.  Victory  has  crowned 
your  valor,  and  secured  the  purpose  of  your  patriotic 
hearts ;  and  with  the  gratitude  of  your  countrymen 


and  the  highest  honors  a  great  and  free  nation  can 
accord,  you  will  soon  be  permitted  to  return  to  your 
homes  and  families,  conscious  of  having  discharged 
the  highest  duty  of  American  citizens.  To  achieve 
these  glorious  triumphs  and  secure  to  yourselves, 
your  fellow-countrymen,  and  posterity  the  blessings 
of  free  institutions,  tens  of  thousands  of  your  gallant 
comrades  have  fallen  and  sealed  the  priceless  legacy 
with  their  lives.  The  graves  of  these  a  grateful  na- 
tion bedews  with  tears,  honors  their  memories,  and 
will  ever  cherish  and  support  their  stricken  families. 
U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-General. 

On  May  5th  an  order  was  issued  by  Gen. 
Halleck,  in  command  of  the  James  River,  de- 
claring that  all  persons  found  in  arms  after 
May  26,  against  the  authority  of  the  United 
States  in  Virginia  or  North  Carolina,  would  be 
treated  as  robbers  and  outlaws.  A  similar  order 
was  subsequently  issued  by  the  "War  Depart- 
ment, to  be  enforced  in  all  States  east  of  the 
Mississippi  River.  This  caused  the  disband- 
ment  of  all  guerrilla  organizations : 

On  April  29th  the  President  issued  the  fol- 
lowing proclamation : 

EXECUTIVE  CHAMBER,  WASHINGTON,  April  29, 1865. 
Being  desirous  to  relieve  all  loyal  citizens  and  well- 
disposed  persons  residing  in  the  insurrectionary 
States  from  unnecessary  commercial  restrictions, 
and  to  encourage  them  to  return  to  peaceful  pursuits, 
it  is  hereby  ordered : 

1.  That  all  restrictions  upon  internal,  domestic, 
and  coastwise  commercial  intercourse  be   discon- 
tinued in  such  part  of  the  States  of  Tennessee,  Vir- 
ginia,   North    Carolina,    South    Carolina,   Georgia, 
Florida,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and  so  much  of  Louisi- 
ana as  lies  east  of  the  Mississippi  River,  as  shall  be 
embraced  within  the  lines  of  the  national  military 
occupation,  excepting  only  such  restrictions  as  are 
imposed  by  the  acts  of  Congress,  and  regulations  in 
pursuance  thereof  prescribed  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  and  approved  by  the  President,  and  ex- 
cepting also  from  the  effect  of  this  order  the  fol- 
lowing articles,  contraband-  of  war,  to  wit :  Arms, 
ammunition,  and  all  articles  from  which  ammunition 
is  manufactured ;  gray  uniforms  and  cloth,  locomo- 
tives, cars,  railroad  iron  and  machinery  for  operating 
railroads,  telegraph  wires,  insulators,    and  instru- 
ments for  operating  telegraph  lines. 

2.  All  existing  military  and  naval  orders  in  any 
manner  restricting  internal,  domestic,  and  coastwise 
commercial  intercourse  and  trade  with  or  in  the  lo- 
calities above  named,  be  and  the  same  are  hereby  re- 
voked, and  that  no  military  or  naval  officer  in  any 
manner  interrupt  or  interfere  with  the  same,  or  with 
any  boats  or  other  vessels  engaged  therein  under 
proper  authority -pursuant  to  the  regulations  of  the 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury.    ANDREW  JOHNSON. 

In  relation  to  prisoners  of  war  those  who  had 
been  delivered  on  parole  to  Federal  officers 
were  declared  exchanged,  and  those  confined  in 
the  Southern  States  were  released.  The  fol- 
lowing orders  were  issued  by  the  "War  Depart- 
ment respecting  Confederate  prisoners : 

WAK  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  May  7, 1865. 

Ordered— That  all  prisoners  of  war,  except  officers 
above  the  rank  of  colonel,  who,  before  the  capture 
of  Richmond,  signified  their  desire  to  take  the  oath 
of  allegiance  to  the  United  States  and  their  unwill- 
ingness to  be  exchanged,  be  forewith  released  on 
their  taking  said  oath,  and  transportation  furnished 
them  to  their  respective  homes. 

In  respect  to  all  other  prisoners  of  war,  further 
orders  will  be  issued. 

The  Commissary-General  of  Prisoners  will  issue 
the  necessary  regulations  for  preserving  the  requisite 


708 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


record  of  prisoners  of  war  to  be  released  under  this 
order,  the  record  to  set  forth  the  name  of  the  prison- 
er, his  place  of  residence,  the  organization  to  which 
he  belonged,  the  time  and  place  of  capture,  &c. 
The  oaths  of  allegiance  will  be  administered  by  com- 
manding officers  of  the  prisons,  camps,  and  forts, 
who  will  send  by  telegraph  daily  reports  of  prison- 
ers released  to  the  Commissary-General  of  Prisoners. 
These  reports  will  be  consolidated  for  each  day,  and 
transmitted  to  the  Secretary  of  War. 

By  order  of  the  SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 

James  A.  Hardie,  Brevet  Brig.-Gen.,  Inspector-Gen. 

U.  S.  Army. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE,  ) 
WASHINGTON,  June  6, 1865.     ) 

The  prisoners  of  war  at  the  several  depots  in  the 
North  will  be  discharged,  under  the  following  regu- 
lations and  restrictions : 

1.  All  enlisted  men  of  the  rebel  army,  and  petty 
officers  and  seamen  of  the  rebel  navy,  will  be  dis- 
charged upon  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance. 

2.  Officers  of  the  rebel  army  not  above  the  grade 
of  captain,  and  of  the  rebel  navy  not  above  the  grade 
of  lieutenant,  except  such  as  have  graduated  at  the 
United  States  Military  or  Naval  Academy,  and  such 
as  held  a  commission  in  either  the  United  States 
army  or  navy  at  the  beginning  of  the  rebellion,  may 
be  discharged  upon  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance. 

3.  When  the  discharges  hereby  ordered  are  com- 
pleted, regulations  will  be  issued  in  respect  to  the 
discharge  of  officers  having  higher  rank  than  captains 
in  the  army  or  lieutenants  in  the  navy. 

4.  The  several  commanders  of  prison  stations  will 
discharge  each  day  as  much  of  the  prisoners  hereby 
authorized  to  be  discharged  as  proper  rolls  can  be 
prepared  fot,  beginning  with  those  who  have  been 
longest  in  prison  and  from  the  most  remote  points  of 
the  country,  and  certified  rolls  will  be  forwarded 
daily  to  the  Commissary-General  of  Prisoners  of 
those  discharged.    The  oath  of  allegiance  only  will 
be  administered.     But  notice  will  be  given  that  all 
who  desire  will  be  permitted  to  take  the  oath  of  am- 
nesty after  their  release,  in  accordance  with  the  regu- 
lations of  the  Department  of  State  respecting  the 
amnesty. 

5.  The  Quartermaster's  Department  will  furnish 
transportation  to  all  released  prisoners  to  the  near- 
est accessible  point  to  their  nomes,  by  rail  or  by 
steamboat. 

By  order  of  the  President  of  the  United  States. 
E.  D.  TOWNSEND,  Ass't  Adjutant-General. 

Subsequently  a  commission  was  organized  at 
Washington  to  investigate  the  treatment  of 
Federal  prisoners  at  Andersonville,  which  was 
charged  to  have  been  of  a  most  cruel  and  bar- 
barous nature.  f 

The  charitable  organizations  which  had  been 
called  into  existence  by  the  war,  now  found  the 
necessity  for  their  services  removed.  In  the 
brief  but  bloody  campaigns  of  March  and 
April,  1865,  the  Sanitary  Commission  con- 
tinued its  humane  and  noble  work.  The  sick 
and  wounded  were  cared  for,  their  friends  in- 
formed of  their  situation,  their  pensions, 
bounties,  and  back  pay  collected,  and  when 
the  armies  were  disbanded  the  Soldiers'  Homes 
were  thrown  open  all  along  their  various  routes 
to  welcome  them,  and  agents  of  the  Commission 
met  them  at  railroad  stations  and  steamboat 
landings  to  invite  them  to  the  homes  and 
lodges,  and  protect  them  as  far  as  possible  from 
fraud.  The  Commission  also  greatly  increased 
its  claim  agencies,  which,  without  fee  or  re- 
ward, collected  the  arrearages  and  pay  due  to 
the  soldiers,  and  established  at  its  central  office 


in  Washington,  with  branches  in  all  the  princi- 
pal cities,  a  bureau  of  information  and  employ- 
ment, to  secure  to  all  soldiers  desiring  employ- 
ment such  situations  as  they  were  capable 
of  filling.  The  receipts  of  the  Commission 
were  large  during  the  spring  months,  but  its 
disbursements  were  still  larger.  On  the  1st  of 
June,  1865,  a  second  Sanitary  Fair  was  opened 
at  Chicago,  111.,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  funds 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  claim  agencies  and 
other  organizations  of  the  Commission,  which 
it  was  deemed  desirable  to  continue  in  opera- 
tion. About  $325,000  above  all  expenses  was 
received  from  this  fair.  On  the  1st  of  July, 
1865,  the  Aid  Societies,  auxiliary  to  the  Com- 
mission, ceased  their  cooperative  work,  though 
many  of  them  became  auxiliary  to  the  Com- 
mission as  claim  agencies.  It  was  officially 
announced  on  the  26th  of  April,  1865,  that  the 
contributions  to  the  Commission  from  Califor- 
nia to  that  date  amounted  to  $1,199,675.51; 
those  of  Nevada  to  $99,512.46  ;  Oregon,  $75,- 
597.56 ;  and  Washington  Territory,  $20,753.92 
— making  a  total  from  the  Pacific  slope  of 
$1,395,539.45.  The  Metropolitan  Fair  in  New 
York  yielded  $1,184,146.72,  and  the  Central 
Fair  in  Philadelphia,  $1,035,398.96.  The  final 
campaign  of  the  war  demanded  new  efforts 
from  the  Christian  Commission,  and  its  agents 
labored  with  new  zeal  and  energy.  No  official 
statement  of  its  receipts  during  these  months 
was  made,  but  they  are  understood  to  have  ap- 
proached half  a  million  of  dollars,  which  was 
expended  for  the  promotion  of  the  physical,  in- 
tellectual, and  religious  welfare  of  the  soldiers 
and  sailors.  As  the  war  closed  the  Commis- 
sion disbanded  and  discontinued  its  work. 

The  Union  Commission  found,  as  it  expected, 
a  sphere  of  wider  usefulness  in  the  closing 
scenes  of  the  war,  and  in  the  suffering  which  fol- 
lowed among  the  poorer  classes  of  whites  in 
the  Southern  States,  and  was  actively  engaged 
in  endeavoring  to  improve  their  condition.  It 
subsequently  cooperated  with  the  Freedmen's 
Bureau,  the  Western  Sanitary  Commission,  and 
other  similar  institutions,  in  their  useful  labors. 
A  reduction  of  the  naval  force  was  made  at 
the  same  time  when  the  armies  were  disbanded. 
Volunteer  officers  resigned,  men  were  dis- 
charged, and  all  vessels  not  needed  for  future 
service  were  sold.  The  steamer  Webb,  which 
had  been  used  as  a  ram  by  the  enemy  on  the 
Red  River  throughout  the  war,  ran  the  block- 
ade on  that  river,  and  passed  down  the  Missis- 
sippi about  April  24th,  making  an  attempt  to 
escape  to  the  West  Indies.  Being  pursued  after 
passing  New  Orleans,  and  discovering  the 
steamer  Richmond  coming  up  the  river,  her 
commander,  Edward  G.  Reed,  run  her  ashore, 
and  setting  her  on  fire,  escaped,  with  nearly  all 
the  crew,  to  the  swamps.  The  vessel  was  con- 
sumed. All  the  other  vessels  in  the  Confederate 
service  were  surrendered,  as  has  been  stated, 
except  the  Shenandoah,  which  was  in  Aus- 
tralia at  the  close  of  the  war.  She  continued 
her  operations,  and  caused  great  destruction 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION1. 


709 


among  the  whale-ships  on  the  northwest  coast 

of  America. 

Mr.  Davis,  who  had  acted  as  President  of  the 
insurrectionary  States,  on ,  the  evacuation  of 
Richmond,  hurried  to  Danville,  Va.,  and  imme- 
diately issued  the  following  proclamation : 

DANVILLE,  VA.,  April  5, 1865. 

The  General-in-Chief  found  it  necessary  to  make 
such  movements  of  his  troops  as  to  uncover  the  capi- 
tal. It  would  be  unwise  to  conceal  the  moral  and 
material  injury  to  our  cause  resulting  from  the  occu- 
pation of  our  capital  by  the  enemy.  It  is  equally 
unwise  and  unworthy  of  us  to  allow  our  energies  to 
falter  and  our  efforts  to  become  relaxed  under  ad- 
verses,  however  calamitous  they  may  be. 

For  many  months  the  largest  and  finest  army  of 
the  Confederacy,  under  command  of  a  leader  whose 
presence  inspires  equal  confidence  in  the  troops  and 
the  people,  has  been  greatly  trammelled  by  the  neces- 
sity of  keeping  constant  watch  over  the  approaches 
to  the  capital,  and  has  thus  been  forced  to  forego 
more  than  one  opportunity  for  promising  enterprise. 
It  is  for  us,  my  countrymen,  to  show  by  our  bearing 
under  reverses,  how  wretched  has  been  the  self-de- 
ception of  those  who  have  believed  us  less  able  to 
endure  misfortune  with  fortitude  than  to  encounter 
dangers  with  courage. 

We  have  now  entered  upon  a  new  phase  of  the 
struggle.  Believed  from  the  necessity  of  guarding 
particular  points,  our  army  wiU  be  free  to  move  from 
point  to  point  to  strike  the  enemy  in  detail  far  from 
his  base.  Let  us  but  will  it  and  we  are  free. 

Animated  by  that  confidence  in  spirit  and  fortitude 
which  never  yet  failed  me,  I  announce  to  you,  fel- 
low-countrymen, that  it  is  my  purpose  to  maintain 
your  cause  with  my  whole  heart  and  soul ;  that  I 
will  never  consent  to  abandon  to  the  enemy  one  foot 
of  the  soil  of  any  one  of  the  States  of  the  Confed- 
eracy. That  Virginia — noble  State — whose  ancient 
renown  has  been  eclipsed  by  her  still  more  glorious 
recent  history ;  whose  bosom  has  been  bared  to  re- 
ceive the  main  shock  of  this  war ;  "whose  sons  and 
daughters  have  exhibited  heroism  so  sublime  as  to 
render  her  illustrious  in  all  time  to  come — that  Vir- 
ginia, with  the  help  of  the  people  and  by  the  blessing 
of  Providence,  shall  be  held  and  defended,  and  no 
peace  ever  be  made  with  the  infamous  invaders  of 
her  territory. 

If  by  the  stress  of  numbers  we  should  ever  be 
compelled  to  a  temporary  withdrawal  from  her  limits, 
or  those  of  any  other  border  State,  again  and  again 
will  we  return,  until  the  baffled  and  exhausted  ene- 
my shall  abandon  in  despair  his  endless  and  impossi- 
ble task  of  making  slaves  of  a  people  resolved  to  be 
free. 

Let  us,  then,  not  despond,  my  countrymen;  but, 
relying  on  God,  meet  the  foe  with  fresh  defiance  and 
with  unconquered  and  unconquerable  hearts. 

JEFFEESON  DAVIS. 

Subsequently  on  understanding  the  true  state 
of  affairs,  he  proceeded  further  south  with  his 
family*  designing  to  escape  from  the  country 
by  some  port  on  the  seacoast,  but  was  cap- 
tured at  Irwinsville,  "Wilkinson  County,  Ga.,  on 
May  10th,  with  his  family,  his  Postmaster,  Gen. 
Reagan,  his  Private  Secretary,  Harrison,  and 
others,  with  a  train  of  five  wagons  and  three 
ambulances.  The  captors  were  Lieut.-Ool. 
Pritchard,  of  the  4th  Michigan  cavalry,  and  a 
body  of  his  men.  They  belonged  to  the  corps 
of  Gen.  Wilson.  Davis  was  removed  to  Fort- 
ress Monroe,  and  retained  as  a  prisoner  in  close 
confinement. 

The  plan  adopted  by  the  President  for  the 
restoration  of  the  Southern  people  to  their 


civil  rights  is  explained  in  the  following  proc- 
lamation : 

Whereas,  The  President  of  the  United  States,  on 
the  8th  day  of  December,  A.  D.  eighteen  hundred 
and  sixty-three,  and  on  the  26th  day  of  March,  A.  D. 
eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-four,  did,  with  the  ob- 
ject to  suppress  the  existing  rebellion,  to  induce  all 
persons  to  return  to  their  loyalty  and  to  restore  the 
authority  of  the  United  States,  issue  proclamations 
offering  amnesty  and  pardon  to  certain  persons  who 
had  directly  or  by  implication  participated  in  the 
said  rebellion ;  and 

Whereas,  Many  persons  who  had  so  engaged  in 
said  rebellion  have,  since  the  issuance  of  said  proc- 
lamations, failed  or  neglected  to  take  the  benefits 
offered  thereby ;  and 

Whereas,  Many  persons  who  have  been  justly  de- 
prived of  all  claim  to  amnesty  and  pardon  there- 
under, by  reason  of  their  participation  directly  or 
by  implication  in  said  rebellion,  and  continued  in 
hostility  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
since  the  date  of  said  proclamation,  now  desire  to 
apply  for  and  obtain  amnesty  and  pardon. 

To  the  end,  therefore,  that  the  authority  of  the 
Government  of  the  United  States  may  be  restored, 
and  that  peace,  order,  and  feeedom  may  be  regstab- 
lished,  I,  Andrew  Johnson,  President  of  the  United 
States,  do  proclaim  and  declare  that  I  hereby  grant 
to  all  persons  who  have  directly  or  indirectly  par- 
ticipated in  the  existing  rebellion,  except  as  herein- 
after excepted,  amnesty  and  pardon,  with  restora- 
tion of  all  rights  of  property,  except  as  to  slaves, 
and  except  in  cases  where  legal  proceedings  under 
the  laws  of  the  United  States  providing  for  the  con- 
fiscation of  property  of  persons  engaged  in  rebellion 
have  been  instituted;  but  on  the  condition,  never- 
theless,  that  every  such  person  shall  take  and  sub- 
scribe the  following  oath  or  affirmation,  and  thence- 
forward keep  and  maintain  said  oath  inviolate,  and 
which  oath  shall  be  registered  for  permanent  preser- 
vation, and  shall  be  of  the  tenor  and  effect  following, 
to  wit: 

"I, ,  do  solemnly  swear,   or  affirm, 

in  presence  of  Almighty  God,  that  I  will  henceforth 
faithfully  support  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  and  the  Union  of  the  States  there- 
under, and  that  I  will,  in  like  manner,  abide  by  and 
faithfully  suppo'rt  all  laws  and  proclamations  which 
have  been  made  during  the  existing  rebellion  with  ref- 
erence to  the  emancipation  of  slaves,  so  help  me  God." 
The  following  classes  of  persons  are  excepted  from 
the  benefits  of  this  proclamation : 

1.  All  who  are  or  shall  have  been  pretended  civil  or 
diplomatic  officers,  or  otherwise  domestic  or  foreign 
agents,  of  the  pretended  Confederate  government. 

2.  All  who  left  judicial  stations  under  the  United 
States  to  aid  the  Rebellion. 

3.  All  who  shall  have  been  military  or  naval  officers 
of  said  pretended  Confederate  government  above  the 
rank  of  colonel  in  the  army  or  lieutenant  in  the  navy? 

4.  All  who  left  seats  in  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States  to  aid  the  Eebellion. 

5.  All  .who  resigned  or  tendered  resignations  o/ 
their  commissions  in  the  army  or  navy  of  the  United 
States  to  evade  duty  in  resisting  the  Rebellion. 

6.  All  who  have  engaged  in  any  way  in  treating 
otherwise  than  lawfully  as  prisoners  of  war  persons 
found  in  the  United  States  service  as  officers,  soldiers, 
seamen,  or  in  other  capacities. 

7.  All  persons  who  have  been  or  are  absentees 
from  the  United  States  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the 
Rebellion. 

8.  All  military  and  naval  officers  in  the  Rebel  ser- 
vice who  were  educated  by  the  Government  in  the 
Military  Academy  at  West  Point  or  the  United  States 
Naval  Academy. 

9.  All  persons  who  held  the  pretended  offices  of 
Governors  of  States  in  in  surrection  against  the  United 
States. 


710 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


10.  All  persons  who  left  their  homes  within  the 
jurisdiction  and  protection  of  the  United  States,  and 
passed  beyond  the  Federal  military  lines  into  the  so- 
called  Confederate  States,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding 
the  Rebellion. 

11.  All  persons  who  have  been  engaged  in  the  de- 
struction of  the  commerce  of  the  United  States  upon 
the  high  seas,  and  all  persons  who  have  made  raids 
into  the  United  States  from  Canada,  or  been  engaged 
in  destroying  the  commerce  of  the  United  States  upon 
the  lakes  and  rivers  that  separate  the  British  Prov- 
inces from  the  United  States. 

12.  All  persons  who,  at  the  time  when  they  seek  to 
obtain  the  benefits  hereof  by  taking  the  oath  herein 
prescribed,  are  in  military,  naval,  or  civil  confinement 
or  custody,  or  under  bonds  of  the  civil,  military,  or 
naval  authorities  or  agents  of  the  United  States  as 
prisoners  of  war,  or  persons  detained  for  offences  of 
any  kind  either  before  or  after  conviction. 

18.  All  persons  who  have  voluntarily  participated 
in  said  Rebellion,  and  the  estimated  value  of  whose 
taxable  property,  is  over  twenty  thousand  dollars. 

14.  AU  persons  who  have  taken  the  oath  of  amnesty 
as  prescribed  in  the  President's  Proclamation  of  De- 
cember 8,  A.  D.  1863,  or  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
Government  of  the  United  States  since  the  date 
of  said  Proclamation,  and  who  have  not  thence- 
forward kept  and  maintained  the  same  inviolate — 
provided,  that  special  application  may  be  made  to 
the  President  for  pardon  by  any  person  belonging  to 
the  excepted  classes,  and  such  clemency  will  be  liber- 
ally extended  as  may  be  consistent  with  the  factsof  the 
case  and  the  peace  and  dignity  of  the  United  States. 

The  Secretary  of  State  will  establish  rules  and  reg- 
ulations for  administering  and  recording  the  said 
amnesty  oath,  so  as  to  insure  its  benefit  to  the  people, 
and  guard  the  Government  against  fraud. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

Done  at  the  city  of  Washington,  the  twenty-ninth 
day  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  sixty-five,  and  of  the  independence 
of  the  United  States  the  eightv-ninth. 

ANDREW  JOHNSON. 

The  proceedings  of  the  President  to  restore 
a  civil  government  to  the  Southern  States,  is 
explained  in  the  following  proclamation,  issued 
in  the  case  of  North  Carolina.  A  similar  proc- 
lamation was  issued,  and  a  Provisional  Gov- 
ernor appointed  in  each  of  the  other  States : 

Whereas,  The  fourth  section  of  the  fourth  article 
of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  declares  that 
the  United  States  shall  guarantee  to  every  State  in 
the  Union  a  republican  form  of  government,  and  shall 
protect  each  of  them  against  invasion  and  domestic 
violence ;  and 

Whereas,  The  President  of  the  United  States  is,  by 
the  Constitution,  made-Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
Army  and  Navy,  as  well  as  Chief  Executive  Officer 
of  the  United  States,  and  is  bound  by  solemn  oath 
faithfullv  to  execute  the  office  of  President  of  the 
United  States,  and  to  take  care  that  the  laws  be  faith- 
fully executed ;  and 

Whereas,  The  Rebellion,  which  has  been  waged  by 
a  portion  of  the  people  of  the  United  States  against 
the  properly  constituted  authorities  of  the  Govern- 
ment thereof  in  the  most  violent  and  revolting  form, 
but  whose  organized  and  armed  forces  have  now  been 
almost  entirely  overcome,  has  in  its  revolutionarv 
progress  deprived  the  people  of  the  State  of  North 
Carolina  of  all  civil  government ;  and 

Whereas,  It  becomes  necessary  and  proper  to  carry 
out  and  enforce  the  obligations  of  the  United  States 
to  the  people  of  North  Carolina,  in  securing  them  in 
the  enjoyments  of  a  republican  form  of  government; 

Now,  therefore,  in  obedience  to  the  high  and  solemn 
duties  imposed  upon  me  by  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  and  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  the 


loyal  people  of  said  State  to  organize  a  State  Gov 
eminent  whereby  justice  may  be  established,  do- 
mestic  tranquillity  insured,  and  loyal  citizens  pro- 
tected in  all  their  rights  of  life,  liberty,  and  property ; 
I,  Andrew  Johnson,  President  of  the  United  States, 
and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army  and  Navy  of 
the  United  States,  do  hereby  appoint  William  W. 
Holden  Provisional  Governor  of  the  State  of  North 
Carolina,  whose  duty  it  shall  be,  at  the  earliest  prac- 
ticable period,  to  prescribe  such  rules  and  regulations 
as  may  be  necessary  and  proper  for  convening  a  con- 
vention composed  of  delegates  to  be  chosen  by  that 
portion  of  the  people  of  said  State  who  are  loyal  to 
the  United  States,  and  no  others,  for  the  purpose  of 
altering  or  amending  the  Constitution  thereof,  aud 
with  authority  to  exercise  within  the  limits  of  said 
State  all  the  powers  necessary  and  proper  to  enable 
such  loyal  people  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina  to 
restore  said  State  to  its  constitutional  relations  to  the 
Federal  Government,  and  to  present  such  a  republi- 
can form  of  State  Government  as  will  entitle  the 
State  to  the  guarantee  of  the.  United  States  therefor, 
and  its  people  to  protection  by  the  United  States 
against  invasion,  insurrection,  and  domestic  violence ; 
provided  that  in  any  election  that  may  be  hereafter 
held  for  choosing  delegates  to  any  State  convention 
as  aforesaid,  no  person  shall  be  qualified  as  an  elec- 
tor, or  shall  be  eligible  as  a  member  of  such  conven- 
tion, unless  he  shall  previously  have  taken  and  sub- 
scribed the  oath  of  amnesty  as  set  forth  in  the  Presi- 
dent's proclamation,  May  29th,  1864,  and  is  a  voter 
qualified  as  prescribed  by  the  Constitution  and  laws 
of  the  State  of  North  Carolina  in  force  immediately 
before  the  20th  of  May,  A.  D.  1861,  the  date  of  the 
so-called  ordinance  of  secession ;  and  the  said  con- 
vention when  convened,  or  the  Legislature -that  may 
be  thereafter  assembled,  will  prescribe  the  qualifica- 
tion of  electors  and  the  eligibility  of  persons  to  hold 
office  under  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the  State — 
a  power  the  people  of  the  several  States  composing 
the  Federal  Union  have  rightfully  exercised  from  the 
origin  of  the  Government  to  the  present  time.  And 
I  do  hereby  direct : 

1.  That  the  military  commander  of  the  department, 
and  all  officers  and  persons  in  the  military  and  naval 
service,  aid  and  assist  the  said  Provisional  Governor 
in  carrying  into  effect  this  proclamation;  and  they 
are  enjoined  to  abstain  from  in  any  way  hindering, 
impeding,    or  discouraging  the  loyal'  people  from 

'  the  organization  of  a  State  government  as  herein 
authorized. 

2.  That  the  Secretary  of  State  proceed  to  put  in 
force  all  laws  of  the  United  States,  the  administration 
whereof  belongs  to  the  State  Department,  applicable 
to  the  geographical  limits  aforesaid. 

3d.  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  proceed  to 
nominate  for  appointment  assessors  of  taxes  and  col- 
lectors of  customs  and  internal  revenue,  and  such 
other  officers  of  the  Treasury  Department  as  are  au- 
thorized by  law,  and  put  in  execution  the  revenue 
laws  of  the  United  States  within  the  geographical 
limits  aforesaid.  In  making  the  appointments,  the 
preference  shall  be  given  'to  qualified  loyal  persons 
residing  within  the  districts  where  their  re|pective 
duties  are  to  be  performed.  But  if  suitable  residents 
of  the  districts  shall  not  be  found,  then  persons  re- 
siding in  other  States  or  districts  shall  be  appointed. 

4.  That  the  Postmaster  General  procedd  to  estab- 
lish post  routes  and  put  into  execution  the  postal 
laws  of  the  United  States  within  the  said  State,  giv- 
ing to  loyal  residents  the  preference  of  appointment. 
But  if  suitable  residents  are  not  found,  then  appoint 
agents  from  other  States. 

5.  That  the  district  judge  for  the  judicial  district 
in  which  North  Carolina  is  included,  proceed  to  hold 
courts  within  said  State,  in  accordance  with  the  pro- 
visions of  the  act  of  Congress.   The  Attorney-General 
will  instruct  the  proper  officers  to  libel  and  bring  to 
judgment,   confiscation,  and  sale,   and  enforce  the 
administration  of  justice  within  said  State  in  all  mat- 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


711 


ters  within  the  cognizance  and  jurisdiction  of  the 
Federal  courts.        » 

6.  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  take  possession 
of  all  public  property  belonging  to  the  Navy  Depart- 
ment within  said  geographical  fimits,  and  put  in  oper- 
ation all  acts  of  Congress  in  relation  to  naval  affairs 
having  application  to  said  State. 

7.  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  put  in  force 
the  laws  relating  to  the  Interior  Department,  appli- 
cable to  the  geographical  limits  aforesaid. 

r        -i  In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set 

L  J  my  hand,  and  caused  the  seal  of  the  United 
States  to  be  affixed. 

Done  at  the  City  of  Washington  this  twenty-ninth 
day  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  sixty-five,  and  of  the  Independence 
ofthe  United  States  the  eighty-ninth. 

ANDREW  JOHNSON.    . 

WM.  H.  SEWAED,  Secretary  of  State. 


The  Provisional  Governors  and  date  of  ap- 
pointment were  as  follows : 

North  Carolina,  Wm.  W.  Holden,  May  29. 

Mississippi,  Wm.  L.  Sharkey,  June  13. 

Georgia,  James  Johnson,  June  17. 

Texas,  Andrew  J.  Hamilton,  June  17. 

Alabama,  Lewis  E.  Parsons,  June  21. 

South  Carolina,  Benj.  F.  Perry,  June  30. 

Floriaa,  William  Marvin,  July  13. 

The  following  is  a  list  ofthe  officers  ofthe  War 
Department  at  the  close  of  1864;  of  the  General 
Officers  of  the  Regular  Army  in  service  subse- 
quent to  July,  1861 ;  and  ofthe  Major  and  Briga- 
dier-Generals ofthe  volunteer  army  in  service  on 
Jan.  1, 1865,  showing  also  where  and  how  such 
general  officers  were  employed  at  that  date. 


DEPARTMENT  OFFICERS. 
Officers  not  thus  *  designated  are  graduates  of  the  Military  Academy. 


EDWIN  M.  8TANTON,  of  Pennsylvania,  Secretary  of  War. 

PETER  H.  WATSON,  1st  Assistant  Secretary  of  War.     Joira  POTTS,  Chief  Clerk. 

CHAKLES  A.  DANA,  2d  Assistant  Secretary  of  War. 

HENETW.  HALLECK/CVwe/  of  Staff. 


OFFICE. 

NAME. 

RANK. 

Date  of  Commis- 
sion. 

Entry  into 
service. 

Born  In. 

Appointed  from. 

Adjutant  General  
Judge  Advocate  General. 
Inspector  General  

Lorenzo  Thomas  
Joseph  Holt*  

Brig.-Gen'l  . 
Colonel  
do.      .... 
do  
do  
do  
do  
Maj.-Gen1!.. 
Brig.-Gen'l  . 
do. 

3  Aug.,  1861. 
3  Sept.,  1862. 
9  Aug.,  1861. 
1  Oct.,  1861. 
12  Nov.,  1861. 
13  Mar.,  1862. 
3  Mar.,  1863. 
15  May,  1861. 
29  June,  1864. 

IJuly,  1823. 
3  Sept.,  1862. 
1  July,  1832. 
Uuly,  1845. 
Uuly,  1831. 
Uuly,  1833. 
18  Sept.,  1854. 
Uuly,  1836. 
Uuly,  1826. 
15  June,  1840. 
22  May,    1822. 
24  July,  1818. 
Uuly,  183T. 

Delaware  

Massachus'ts.. 
New  York... 
New  York... 
Pennsylvania. 
New  York... 
Georgia.  
New  York... 
Pennsylvania. 
Ireland  

Delaware  
Dist.  Columbia 
Massachus'ts.. 
New  York  .  .  . 
New  York  .  .  . 
New  York  .. 
New  York... 
Pennsylvania. 
New  York  .  .  . 
Pennsylvania, 
Dist  Columbia 
New  York... 
Missouri  .  . 

Randolph  B.  Marcy... 
Delos  B.  Sacket  
Henry  Van  Rensselaer. 
Edmund  Schriver  
Albert  J.  Myer*  
Montgomery  C.  Meigs. 
Amos  B.  Eaton  

do. 
do. 
do. 
Signal  Officer  Army  
Quartermaster  General  .  . 
Comm.  General  of  Sub.  .  . 

Surgeon  General  

Joseph  K.  Barnes  

Paymaster  General  

Timothy  P.  Andrews*. 
Richard  Delafleld  

Colonel  
Brig.-Gen'l  . 
do. 

6  Sep.,  1862. 

Chief  Corps  of  Engineers. 
Chief  Ordnance  Dep't.  .  . 

New  York... 
Virginia... 

GENERAL  OFFICERS  OF  THE  REGULAR  ARMY  IN  SERVICE  SINCE  JULY,  1861. 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

Date  of  Commis- 
sion. 

Entry  into  service. 

Born  in. 

Appointed  from. 

REMARKS. 

Lieutenant-Generals. 
Winfleld  Scott  

25  June,  1841... 

8  May,   1803... 

Virginia... 

Virginia  

Retired  Nov  1  1861 

Ulysses  S.  Grant  

2  Mar.,  1864... 

Ohio  

Illinois  

Major-  Generals. 
George  B.  McClellan  
John  C.  Fremont*  
Henry  W.  Halleck  
John  E.  Wool*  
Ulysses  S.  Grant  

14  May,   1861... 
14  May,   1861... 
19  Aug.,  1861... 
16  May,    1862... 
4  July,  1863... 

Uuly,  1846... 
7  July,  1833... 
Uuly,  1839... 
14  April,  1812... 

Pennsylvania..  .  . 
South  Carolina.. 
New  York  
New  York  
Ohio  

Ohio  
California  
California  
New  York  
Illinois  

Resigned  Nov.  8,  1864. 
Resigned  June  4,  1864. 

Retired. 

Montgomery  C.  Meigs.  .  . 
Joseph  G.  Totten  
William  T.Sherman.... 
Philip  H.  Sheridan  
George  G.  Meade  

21  Aprii,'iS64"!! 
12  Aug.,  1861... 
SNov.,  1864... 
10  Aug.,  1864... 

IJuly,  1836... 
Uuly,  1805... 

Georgia.  
Connecticut  
Ohio  

Massachusetts  .  . 

Pennsylvania  .  .  . 
Connecticut.  
Ohio  
Ohio,  

By  brevet. 
By  brevet.    Died  in  Wash- 
[ington  April  22,  1864. 

George  H.  Thomas  

Brigadier-  Generals. 
John  E.  Wool  
William  S.  Harney*.  
Edwin  V.  Sumner*.  
Joseph  K.  F.  Mansfield.. 
Irwin  McDowell  

25  June,  1841... 
14  June,  1858... 
16  Mar.,  1861... 
14  May,  1861... 
14  May,  1861... 

14  April,  1812... 
13  Feb.,   1818... 
3  Mar.,  1819... 
Uuly,  1827... 
1  July,  1888 

New  York  
Louisiana  
Massachusetts  .  . 
Connecticut  
Ohio 

New  York  
Louisiana  
New  York  

Connecticut  
Ohio  . 

Promoted. 
Retired  August  1,  1863. 
Died  March  21,  1863. 
Died  September  18,  1862,  of 

Robert  Anderson  

15  May.   1861... 

1  July,  1825  .  . 

Kentucky  

William  S.  Eosecrans.  .  .  . 
Philip  St.  G.  Cooke  

16  May,   1861... 
12  Nov.,  1861... 

Unly,  1842... 
IJuly,  1827... 

Ohio  
Virginia  

Ohio  
Virginia  

John  Pope  

14  July,  1862... 
20  Sept,  1862... 

Uuly,  1S42... 
1  July,  1837 

Kentucky  

Illinois  

James  B.  McPherson  
George  G.  Meade  

1  Aug.,  J863... 
3  July,  1863... 

Ohio  
Spain  

Ohio  

Dist.  Columbia.. 

Killed  near  Atlanta,  July 
ro-2  1864. 

William  T.  Sherman  
George  H.  Thomas  
Winfield  S.  Hancock  

4  July,  1S63... 
27  Oct.,    1863... 
12  Aug.,  1864... 

Ohio  
Virginia  
Pennsylvania..  .  . 

Ohio  
Virginia  

Promoted, 

Andrew  H.  Eeeder  
James  W.  Ripley  

*3  Aug'.,"iS64"! 

TJunV.  isii!" 

Connecticut  .... 

Pennsylvania  .  .  . 
Connecticut  

Declined. 

Joseph  G.  Totten 

1  July,  1805... 

John  M.  Schofleld  

20  Nov.,  1864... 

Oliver  O.  Howard... 

21  Dec.,   1864... 

712 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


LIST  OF  MAJOR  AND  BRIGADIER-GENERALS   OF  VOLUNTEERS,  SHOWING  WHERE  AND  HOW  SAID 
GENERAL  OFFICERS  WERE  EMPLOYED  JANUARY  1,  1865. 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

STATION. 

HOW  EMPLOYED. 

Major-  Generals. 
John  A.  Dix  

New  York  city  

Commanding  department  of  the  East. 
Before  Committee  on  Conduct  of  War. 
Commanding  department  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Commissioner  of  exchange  of  prisoners. 
Commanding  department  of  the  Pacific. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Commanding  department  of  the  Northwest. 
Commanding  department  of  Kansas. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Commanding  middle  department. 
Commanding  department  of  Pennsylvania, 
Commanding  24th  army  corps. 
Member  of  general  court-martial. 
Commanding  Northern  Department. 
Commanding  provisional  brigades  and  member  of  board. 
President  of  retiring  board. 
Commanding  2d  division,  23d  army  corps. 
Commanding  left  wing  army  of  Georgia. 
Second  in  command  department  of  the  East. 
Member  of  military  commission. 
Commanding  department  of  the  South. 
Commanding  9th  army  corps. 
Commanding  department  of  Washington. 
Commanding  department  of  the  Gutf. 
Commanding  district  of  West  Florida  and  South  Alabama. 
Commanding  district  of  Tennessee. 
Second  in  command  department  of  the  Ohio. 
Commanding  right  wing  army  of  Georgia. 
Off  duty  on  account  of  wounds. 
Commanding  defences  of  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  Railroad. 
Member  of  general  court-martial. 
Organizing  1st  army  corps. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Commanding  4th  army  corps.    (On  temporary  leave  of  absence.) 
Awaiting  orders. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Under  orders  of  Major-General  Canby. 
President  of  military  commission. 
Commanding  department  of  the  Mississippi. 
Commanding  15th  army  corps.    (On  temporary  leave  of  absence.) 
Commanding  district  of  South  Kansas. 
President  of  general  court-martial. 
Commanding  district  of  Vicksburg. 
On  temporary  leave  of  absence. 
Commanding  17th  army  corps. 
Commanding  department  of  Arkansas. 
Commanding  army  of  the  Ohio. 
Member  of  general  court-martial. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Commanding  5th  army  corps.    (On  temporary  leave  of  absence.) 
Second  in  command  department  of  the  Missouri. 
Commanding  2d  army  corps. 
On  tour  of  inspection  of  defensive  works  of  the  Mississippi. 
In  mil.  div.  of  W.  Mississippi  under  special  order  of  War  Dep't. 
Serving  in  department  of  the  Cumberland. 
Commanding  military  division  of  West  Mississippi. 
Commanding  6th  army  corps. 
Commanding  detachment  of  the  army  of  the  Tennessee. 
Commanding  department  of  the  Missouri. 
Commanding  2d  division,  2d  army  corps. 
Commanding  1st  division,  15th  army  corps. 
Commanding  1st  division,  17th  army  corps. 
Commanding  department  of  West  Virginia, 
Commanding  25th  army  corps. 

Commanding  defences  of  New  Orleans. 
Commanding  8d  division,  23d  army  corps. 
Commanding  2d  infantry  division  department  West  Virginia. 
Commanding  20th  army  corps. 
Severely  wounded. 
Commanding  1st  division  9th  army  corps. 
Commanding  8d  sep.  brigade  8th  army  corps. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Commanding  volunteer  engineer  brigade. 
Chief  of  artillery,  military  division  of  Mississippi. 
Member  of  board  for  examination  of  invalid  officers. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Commanding  3d  division  20th  army  corps. 
Chief  engineer  of  armies  operating  against  Richmond. 
Commanding  district  of  North  Carolina. 
Assistant  adjutant-general  army  of  Potomac. 
Commanding  district  of  Key  West  and  Tortugas. 

Nathaniel  P  Banks 

Washington,  D.  C  

Benjamin  F.  Butler.  
David  Hunter 

Bermuda  Hundred,  Va  . 
Washington,  D.  C  .  .f.  

Ethan  A.  Hitchcock. 

Washington,  D.  C  

Irwin  McDowell  

San  Francisco,  Cal  

Ambrose  E.  Burnside  
William  S.  Rosecrans  
John  Pope.  ...        . 

Providence,  R.  I  
Cincinnati,  Ohio  
Milwaukee,  Wis  

Samuel  R.  Curtis  

Fort  Leaven  worth,  Kansas. 
Bethlehem,  Penn  .  .•  

Franz  Sigel. 

Lewis  Wallace.  .  .•  .  .  . 

Baltimore,  Md  

George  Cadwalader  . 

Philadelphia,  Penn  

Edward  O.  C.  Ord. 

In  the  field,  Va  '... 

Samuel  P.  Heintzelman  .  . 

Wheeling,  W.  Va  

Joseph  Hooker  

Cincinnati,  Ohio  

Silas  Casey  

Washington,  D.  C.  

William  B.  Franklin 

Wilmington,  Del  

Darius  N.  Couch  

In  the  field,  Tenn  

Henry  W.  Slocum  
John  J.  Peck  

In  the  field,  Tenn  
New  York  city.  

Alexander  McD.  McCook.  . 
John  G.  Foster  

Baltimore,  Md  

Hilton  Head,  S.  C  

John  G.  Parke. 

Army  of  Potomac.  

Christopher  C.  Augur  
Stephen  A.  Hurlbut 

Washington,  D.  C  

New  Orleans,  La  

Gordon  Granger. 

Mobile  Bay,  Ala  

Lovell  H.  Rousseau 

In  the  field,  Tenn.  

George  Stoneman  
Oliver  O.  Howard 

Louisville,  Ky  
In  the  field,  Ga  

Daniel  E.  Sickles 

New  York  city  .  .  .  

Robert  H.  Milroy 

Tullahoma,  Tenn  

Daniel  Butterfield  
Winfield  S.  Hancock  

New  York  city  
Washington,  D.  C  

George  Sykes  

Fort  Leavenworth,  Kansas  . 
In  the  field,  Ga  

David  S.  Stanley  

James  S.  Negley 

Pittsburg,  Penn  

John  M.  Palmer  

Carlinsville,  111  

Frederick  Steele  
Abner  Donbleday  

New  Orleans,  La  
Washington,  D.  C  

Napoleon  J.  T.  Dana        . 

Memphis,  Tenn  

John  A.  Logan  

In  the  field,  Ga  

James  G.  Blunt  

Paola,  Kansas  

George  L.  Hartsuff  

New  York  city  

Cad.  C.  Washburne  

Vicksbnrg,  Miss  

Francis  J.  Herron  

Pittsburg.  Penn  

Frank  P.  Blair. 

In  the  field,  Ga  

Joseph  J.  Reynolds  

Little  Rock,  Ark  

John  M.  Schofield.  .  . 

In  the  field,  Tenn  

Julius  H.  Stahel    . 

Baltimore,  Md  

Carl  Sdi  11  rz  

Bethlehem,  Penn  

Gouverneur  K.  Warren.  .  . 

Army  of  Potomac  

St.  Louis,  Mo  

Andrew  A.  Humphreys.  .  . 
Quincy  A.  Gillmore  

Army  of  Potomac  

In  the  field,  Tenn  

William  F.  Smith.  

Edward  R.  8.  Canby  

New  Orleans,  La  

Horatio  G.  Wright 

Army  of  Potomac  

In  the  field,  Tenn  

St.  Louis,  Mo  

Peter  J.  Osterhaus  

In  the  field,  Ga  
In  the  field,  Ga  

Cumberland,  Md.  

Godfrey  Weitzel 

In  the  field,  Va  

Brigadier-  Generals. 
Thomas  W.  Sherman.  . 

New  Orleans,  La  

John  D.  Cox  

In  the  field,  Tenn  
In  the  field,  W.  Va  

A.  8.  Williams.  .  .  . 

Savannah,  Ga  

James  B.  Ricketts 

Washington.  D.  C  

Orlando  B.  Wilcox. 

Army  or  Potomac.  

Henry  H.  Lockwood  
Samuel  D.  Stnrgis  
Henry  W.  Benham  ...   . 

Baltimore,  Md  

Covingtou,  Ky  
City  Point,  Va  

William  F.  Barry  
Lawrence  P.  Graham.  
Kleazer  A.  Paine.  . 
W.  T.  Ward  .  .  . 

Savannah,  Ga  

Monmouth,  111  

In  the  field,  Ga  

John  G.  Barnard  

City  Point,  Va.  

Innis  A.  Palmer  
Seth  Williams  

Newbern,  N.  C  

John  Newton.  

Key  West,  Fla.  

MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


713 


LIST  OP  MAJOE  AND  BBIGADIER-GENEEALS  OF  VOLUNTEERS,  &c.— {Continued.) 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

STATION. 

HOW  EMPLOYED. 

Sacramento,  Cal  

Commanding  district  of  California. 
Chief  of  artillery,  department  of  Cumberland. 
Commanding  1st  sep.  brigade,  department  of  South. 
Commanding  post  and  military  prison. 
Temporarily  commanding  4th  army  corps. 
Commanding  6th  division  cavalry  corps  military  division  of  Miss. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Superintendent  of  military  academy. 
Commanding  district  of  West  Florida. 
Inspector  general  of  fortifications  military  division  of  Mississippi. 
Commanding  14th  army  corps. 
On  special  duty. 
Chief  of  cavalry  military  division  of  West  Mississippi 
On  duty  in  department  of  the  Cumberland. 
Military  Governor  of  Tennessee. 
Commanding  district  of  Little  Rock. 
Commanding  district  of  north  Kansas. 
Commanding  19th  army  corps. 
Provost-marshal  general  armies  operating  against  Richmond. 
Commanding  district  of  Philadelphia. 
Member  of  general  court-martial  and  military  commission. 
Commanding  district  of  Illinois. 
Commanding  1st  division  det.  of  the  army  of  Tennessee. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Commanding  post 
Awaiting  orders. 
Sick  in  hospital. 
Commanding  district  of  Nebraska. 
Commanding  2d  division  19th  army  corps. 
Commanding  district  of  Beaufort 
Commanding  district  of  Oregon. 
Commanding  district  of  eastern  Arkansas. 
Commanding  1st  division  4th  army  corps. 
Temporarily  commanding  24th  army  corps, 
Commanding  3d  division  5th  army  corps.  • 
Commissary  General  of  prisoners  east  of  Mississippi. 
Commanding  2d  division  20th  army  corps. 
Commanding  1st  division  24th  army  corps. 
Commanding  department  of  New  Mexico. 
Commanding  3d  division  14th  army  corps. 
Commanding  district  of  northern  New  York. 
Commanding  3d  division  6th  army  corps. 
En  route  to  Savannah,  Georgia. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Commanding  1st  scp.  brigade  department  West  Virginia. 
Commanding  district  of  Indiana, 
Commanding  district  of  West  Tennessee. 
Awaiting  assignment. 
President  of  military  commission. 
Member  of  G.  C.  M.  (wounded). 
Provost-marshal  General  of  East  Tennessee, 
Commanding  1st  sep.  brigade  8th  army  corps 
Com'dg  1st  div.  5th  army  corps.  (On  temporary  leave  of  absence.) 
On  duty  in  department  of  Virginia  and  Ngrth  Carolina. 
Commanding  district  of  Kentucky. 
Commanding  2d  division  4th  army  corps. 
Inspector  of  artillery. 
Member  of  military  commission. 
Member  of  military  commission. 
Commanding  post  and  defences. 
Commanding  prov.  division  department  of  Cumberland. 
Commanding  1st  division  7th  army  corps. 
Member  of  general  court-martial 
Commanding  2d  division  14th  army  corps.           * 
Commanding  post. 
Member  of  general  court-martial. 
Commanding  district  of  Eastern  Virginia. 
Commanding  district  of  eastern  shore  of  Maryland. 
Military  Governor  and  commanding  district  of  Alexandria. 
Commanding  3d  division  2d  army  corps. 
Chief  of  artillery. 
(Wounded). 
Commanding  post  and  defences. 
Commanding  1st  division  20th  army  corps. 
Com'dg  2d  di  v.  6th  army  corps.    (On  temporary  leave  of  absence.} 
Commanding  district  of  Iowa. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Under  trial  by  court-martial. 
Commanding  district  of  Western  Kentucky. 
Commanding  district  of  Florida. 
Commanding  district  of  Northern  Alabama. 
Chief  of  cavalry,  department  of  Arkansas. 
Commanding  district  of  Baton  Rouge  and  Port  Hudson. 
Commanding  district  of  North  Missouri. 
Commanding  draft  rendezvous. 
A.  A.  P.  M.  G.,  southern  division  of  New  York. 
Commanding  1st  brigade  1st  sep.  division,  dep't  of  Cumberland. 

John  M.  Brannan  

Chattanooga,  Tenn  

John  P  Hatch             .  .     . 

Morris  Island,  S.  C  

Fort  Delaware,  Del  

Thomas  J.  Wood  

In  the  field,  Tenn  

Bichard  W.  Johnson  
Adolph  von  Steinwehr  

Edgefield,  Tenn  
Wallingford,  Conn  .  . 

West  Point,  N.  Y  

Barrancas,  Fla  

Zealous  B.  Tower  

In  the  field,  Ga  

In  the  field,  Ga  

William  S  Ketchum..  .  . 

War  Department  

John  W.  Davidson.  

New  Orleans,  La  

In  the  field,  Tenn  

Andrew  Johnson  
Eugene  A.  Carr  

Nashville,  Tenn  
Little  Rock,  Arkansas  
Fort  Leavenworth,  Kansas. 
In  the  fi<?ld,Va  

Thomas  A.  Davis  

William  H.  Emory.  

Marsena  R.  Patrick  

In  the  field,  Va  

Orris  S.  Ferry  . 

Philadelphia,  Penn  

Louisville,  Ky  

Springfield,  111  

John  McArthur.  

In  the  field,  Tenn  

Jacob  G.  Lauman  
Horatio  P.  Van  Clave  

Burlington,  Iowa  
Mnrfreesboro,  Tenn  

Speed  S.  Fry  

Louisville,  Ky  

Alexander  Asboth 

New  Orleans,  La  

Bobert  B.  Mitchell  

Omaha  City,  N.  T.  .  .  . 

In  the  field,  Va  

Bufus  Saxton  

Beaufort,  S.  C  

Fort  Vancouver,  W.  T. 

Napoleon  B.  Buford. 

Helena,  Ark  

Nathan  Kimhall  

In  the  field,  Tenn  

Charles  Devens.  .  . 

In  the  field,  Va  

Samuel  W.  Crawford.  
Henry  W.  Wessells  . 

Army  of  Potomac  

Washington,  D.  C  

John  W.  Geary.  .  . 

Savannah.  Ga  

Alfred  H.Terry  

In  the  field,  Va  

James  H.  Carleton  

Santa  Fe,  N.  M  

Absalom  Baird  

In  the  field,  Ga  

John  C.  Bobinson  

Albany,N.  Y  

Truman  Seymour.  

Army  of  Potomac  

Henry  Prince.  

Louisville,  Ky  

Max  Weber.  

Hagerstown,  Md  

Jeremiah  C.  Sullivan.  
Albin  P.  Hovey  

In  the  field,  Va  

Indianapolis,  Ind  

James  C.  Veatch  

Memphis,  Tenn.  

William  P.  Benton  

New  Orleans,  La  

John  C.  Caldwell  

Washington,  D.  C  

George  8.  Greene  

New  York  city  

Samuel  P.  Carter.  

Knoxville,  Tenn  

Erastus  B.Tyler  
Charles  Griffin  

Belay  House,  Mtl  
Army  of  Potomac  

George  H.  Gordon  

Fort  Monroe,  Va  

Stephen  G.  Burbridge  
Washington  L.  Elliott  
Albion  P.  Howe  

Lexington,  Ky  

Mount  Eozel,  Ala  

Washington,  D.  C.  

Benjamin  S.  Roberts  
Fitz  Henry  Warren  .  .  . 

New  Orleans,  La  
New  York  city 

Morgan  L.  Smith  

Vicksbnrg,  Miss  

Charles  Cruft  

In  the  field,  Tenn  

Frederick  Solomon.  .  .  . 

Little  Rock,  Ark. 

Henry  S.  Briggs  

Washington,  D  C 

James  D.  Morgan  

Savannah,  Ga  

August  Willich  

Cincinnati,  Ohio 

Henry  D.  Terry  

Washington,  D  C 

George  F.  Shepley  

Norfolk,  Va  

JohnR.  Kenly  
John  P.  Slough  

Salisbury,  Md  

Alexandria,  Va.. 

Gersham  Mott  

Army  of  Potomac  • 

Henry  J.  Hunt  

Army  of  Potomac 

Francis  C.  Barlow.  

On  leave  of  absence 

Mason  Brayman  
N.  J.  Jackson  

Natchez,  Miss  
Savannah,  Ga  

Gcorere  W.  Getty.  -. 

Army  of  Potomac. 

Alfred  Sully  

Dubuque,  Iowa 

William  W.  AverelL  
Francis  B.  Spinola  

Bath,N.  Y  
Brooklyn,  N.  Y 

Solomon  Meredith  

Paducah,  Ky  

Eliakim  P.  Scammon  
Eobert  S.  Granger  

Jacksonville,  Fla  

In  the  field,  Ala  

Joseph  E.  West  

Little  Bock,  Ark.  .  .   . 

George  L.  Andrews  
Clinton  B.  Fisk  

Baton  Bouge,  La  

Macon,  Mo  

Henry  B.  Carrington  
William  Havs... 
John  H.King  

Indianapolis,  Ind  

New  York  city  
In  the  field,  Tenn  

714 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


LIST  OF  MA  JOE  AND  BEIG  ABLER-GENERALS  OF  VOLUNTEERS,  &c.— {Continued.) 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

STATION. 

HOW  EMPLOYED. 

Portsmouth,  Va  

Commanding  defences  of  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth. 
President  of  board  for  examination  of  sick  and  wounded  officers. 
Commanding  defences  of  city  and  harbor. 
On  duty  in  middle  military  division. 
A.  A,  P.  M.  G.,  State  of  Indiana. 
Under  trial  by  court-martial 
Commanding  1st  division  6th  army  corps. 
Commanding  1st  division  14th  army  corps. 
A.  A.  P.  M.  G.,  for  California  and  Nevada. 
Commanding  2d  division  5th  army  corps. 
Member  of  retiring  board. 
Com'dg  2d  cavalry  division.   (On  temporary  leave  of  absence.) 
Commanding  2d  division  15th  army  corps. 
Wounded. 
Chief  of  cavalry,  middle  military  division. 
On  temporary  leave  of  absence. 
Commanding  1st  brig,  reserve  corps,  mil.  div.  of  W.  Mississippi. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Commanding  1st  division  19th  army  corps. 
Commanding  draft  rendezvous. 
Commanding  2d  brigade  1st  division  19th  army  corps. 
Member  of  general  court-martial  and  military  commission. 
Serving  with  the  army  of  the  Tennessee. 
Commanding  draft  rendezvous. 
Commanding  3d  division  department  of  West  Virginia. 
Commanding  St.  Mary's  district  and  prisoners'  camp. 
Commanding  1st  division  district  of  Kentucky. 
On  general  court-martial. 
Sick. 
Commanding  district  of  Newbern. 
On  special  service  in  department  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina. 
Commanding  3d  division  4th  army  corps. 
Commanding  3d  division  15th  army  corps. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Commanding  1st  brigade  1st  division  district  of  Kentucky, 
Chief  of  Major-General  Sherman's  staff. 
Commanding  4th  division  15th  army  corps. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Member  of  general  court-martial.    (Wounded.) 
Commanding  1st  division  23d  army  corps. 
Commanding  2d  brig,  reserve  corps,  mit  div.  of  West  Mississippi 
Commanding  district  of  Wisconsin. 
Commanding  3d  division  25th  army  corps. 
Commanding  3d  division  17th  army  corps. 
Commanding  2d  brigade  4th  division  23d  army  corps. 
Commanding  district  of  Hilton  Head. 
Before  Committee  on  Conduct  of  War. 
Commanding  district  of  Eolla. 
Under  trial  by  court-martial. 
On  duty  in  department  of  Gulf. 
Commanding  2d  division  district  of  Kentucky. 
Commanding  United  States  forces. 
Severely  wounded. 
Commanding  2d  brigade  3d  division  5th  army  corps. 
Commanding  district  of  the  frontier. 
Member  of  general  court-martial.                                         [rebels. 
Commissioner  for  sending  supplies  to  federal  prisoners  in  hands  of 
Com'dg  2d  div.  9th  army  corps.    (On  temporary  leave  of  absence. 
Com'dg  district  of  St  Louis.    (On  temporary  leave  of  absence.) 
Commanding  post. 
Commanding  district  of  Minnesota. 
Commanding  sep.  brig,  dep't  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina. 
Commanding  3d  brigade  1st  division  5th  army  corps. 
Commanding  district  of  Utah. 
Commanding  1st  division  U.  S.  colored  troops. 
Severely  wounded. 
On  duty  in  25th  army  corps. 
Commanding  defences  of  Bermuda  Hundred. 
Commanding  2d  division  24th  army  corps. 
Commanding  2d  division  25th  army  corps. 
Chief  depot  quartermaster. 
Chief  Q.  M.  departments  of  the  West 
Chief  Q.  M.  armies  operating  against  Richmond. 
Commanding  division  22d  army  corps. 
Commanding  2d  division  7th  army  corps. 
Commanding  cavalry  division  department  of  Mississippi. 
Com'dg  1st  div.  24th  army  corps.  (On  temporary  leave  of  absence.) 
Commanding  3d  cavalry  military  division  of  Mississippi. 
Member  genu  court-martial.   (Under  orders  to  army  of  Potomac.) 
Prisoner  of  war. 
Commanding  2d  brigade  1st  division  4th  army  corps. 
Com'dglst  cav.  div.  mid.  mil.  div.  (On  temporary  leave  of  absence.) 
Commanding  3d  cavalry  division  middle  military  division. 
Chief  of  Major-General  Thomas's  staff. 
Awaiting  orders. 
Commanding  2d  cavalry  division  military  division  of  Mississippi 
Commanding  1st  brigade  1st  division  15th  army  corps. 
Commanding  district  of  Southwest  Missouri. 

Adam  J.  S  lemmer  

Cincinnati,  Ohio 

Lewis  C.  Hunt.  
Thomas  H.  Neill  

New  York  city  .» 

In  the  field,  Va    .  . 

Thomas  G.  Pitcher.  

Indianapolis,  Ind 

Louisville,  Ky  

Frank  Wheaton  

Army  of  Potomac. 

William  P.  Carlin  

In  the  field,  Ga 

John  S.  Mason  

San  Francisco,  Cal 

Eomeyn  B.  Ayres  

Army  of  Potomac  

Richard  Arnold  

Wilmington,  Del 

Army  of  Potomac.  

William  B.  Hazen  
Eobert  O.  Tyler  

Savannah,  Ga  

Philadelphia,  Pa  

Alfred  T.  A.  Torbert  
Gil  man  Marston  

In  the  field,  Va  
Washington,  D.  C.  .. 

Michael  K.  Lawler  

Memphis,  Tenn 

George  D.  Wagner  

Indianapolis,  Ind.  . 

William  Dwignt  
Lysander  Cutler  
James  W.  McMillan  

In  the  field,  Va  
Jackson,  Mich  
In  the  field,  Va 

Sullivan  A.  Meredith  

StLonis,Mo  

In  the  field,  Tenn  

E.  W.  Hincks  

Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  harbor. 
Harper's  Ferry,  W.  Va  
Point  Lookout,  Md 

John  D.  Stevenson  

James  Barnes  ' 

N.  C.  McLean  

Lexington,  Ky.  ... 

William  Vandever  
Alex.  Schemmelfennig.... 
Edward  Harland  

Louisville,  Ky  
Bethlehem,  Pa  
Newbern,  N.  C  
In  the  field,  Va.... 

Samuel  Beatty.  
John  E.  Smith.*  
Frank  8.  Nickerson  

Huntsville,  Ala  
Savannah,  Ga  
Searsport,  Me  

Lexington,  Ky.  .... 

Joseph  D.  Webster  

In  the  field  Ga 

William  Harrow  

In  the  field,  Ga... 

Joseph  T.  Copeland.  

Alton,m  

William  H.  Morris  
Thomas  H.  Euger  

New  York  city  
In  the  field,  Tenn 

EliasS.  Dennis  
Thomas  C.  H.  Smith  

Memphis,  Tenn.  

Charles  A.  Heckman  

In  the  field,  Va  

Mortimer  D.  Leggett  
DavisTillson  
Edward  E.  Potter  

In  the  field.  Ga  

Knoxville,  Tenn  
Hilton  Head,  S  C 

Albert  L.  Lee  

Washino'ton   D  C 

Egbert  B.  Brown  

Eolla,  Mo    .. 

John  McNeil  

St.  Louis  Mo 

George  F.  McGinnis  
Hugh  Ewing  

New  Orleans,  La  

Louisville,  Ky 

8t  Albans,  Vt  

Henry  Baxter  

John  M  Thayer  

Fort  "Smith  Ark 

Charles  T.  Campbell  

Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Halbert  E.  Paine  
Eobert  B.  Potter  

New  York  city  

Thomas  Ewing,  jr  

St  Louis,  Mo 

J.  A.  J.  Lightburn  
Henry  H.  Bibley  
Joseph  B.  Carr  

Clarksburg,  W.  Va.  
St  Paul,  Minn  
Norfolk,  Va  

J  J.  Bartlett  

Patrick  E.  Connor  

Camp  Douglas,  Utah  Ter.  .  . 
Vicksburg,  Miss  

John  P.  Hawkins  

Gabriel  R.  Paul  

Edward  A.  Wild.  

In  the  field  Va 

Edward  Ferrero  

Bermuda  Hundred,  Va  
In  the  field,  Va 

Adelbert  Ames  

William  Birney.  

In  the  field,  Va    

Daniel  H.  Encker.  

Washington  D  C 

Eobert  Allen  

Louisville,  Ky  

Rufus  Ingalls  

City  Point  Va 

Gustavus  A.  De  Eussey.  .  . 
Alexander  Shaler  

Near  Fort  Corcoran,  Va.  .  .  . 
Duvall's  Bluff,  Ark  

Benjamin  H.  Grierson  
Eobert  8.  Foster  
Judson  Kilpatrick  
Alexander  8.  Webb  

Memphis,  Tenn.  

In  the  field,  Va  
Savannah,  Ga  

Alfred  N.  Duffle  
Walter  C.  Whitaker.  

Danville,  Va  
In  the  field,  Tenn 

Wesley  Merritt  

In  the  field  Va 

George  A.  Custrr... 
William  D.  Whipple  
John  C.  Starkweather.  .... 
Kenner  Garrard  
Charles  E.  Woods  " 
John  B.  Sanborn  '.'. 

In  the  field,  Va  
Chattanooga,  Tenn  

Milwaukee,  Wis.  
In  the  field,  Ga  
Savannah,  Ga.  .,  
Springfield,  Mo  

MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


715 


LIST  OF  MAJOK  AND  BEIGADIEE-GENEEALS  OF  VOLUNTEERS,  &c.— (Continued.) 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

STATION. 

HOW  EMPLOYED. 

Giles  A.  Smith  

Savannah,  Ga.  ,  

Commanding  4th  division  17th  army  corps. 

Vicksburg,  Miss  

Commanding  brigade  district  of  Vicksburg. 

Thomas  K.  Smith  

In  the  field,  Tenn  
New  Albany,  Ind  

Serving  with  dot.  of  the  army  of  Tennessee. 
Wounded. 

Manning  F.  Force  
Kobert  A.  Cameron  

In  the  field,  Ga  
Thibodeaux,  La.  

Commanding  1st  brigade  3d  division  17th  army  corps. 
Commanding  district  of  Lafourche. 

Savannah,  Ga.  

Commanding  4th  division  15th  army  corps. 

John  A.  Bawlins  
Alvan  C.  Gillem 

City  Point,  Va  
In  the  field,  Tenn  

Chief  of  General  Grant's  staff. 
Commanding  Governor's  guard. 

John  W.  Turner  

Bermuda  Hundred,  Va  

Chief  of  staff,  department  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina. 

Army  of  Potomac.  

Commanding  1st  brigade  2d  cavalry  division. 

Andrew  J.  Hamilton  
Henry  W.  Birge  

New  Orleans,  La.  
In  the  field,  Va  

Under  orders  of  Major-General  Canby. 
Commanding  1st  brigade  2d  division  19th  army  corps. 

James  H.  Ledlie    .... 

Palatine  Bridge,  N.  Y  

Awaiting  orders. 

James  H.  Wilson  

In  the  field,  Tenn  

Commanding  cavalry  corps,  military  division  of  Mississippi. 

Adin  B.  Underwood  

Newton  ville,  Mass  

Wounded. 

Augustus  L.  Chetlain 

Memphis,  Tenn  

Commanding  colored  troops,  State  of  Tennessee. 

William  A.  Pile 

Port  Hudson,  La.  

Commanding  United  States  forces. 

John  W.  Fuller.     .  . 

Savannah,  Ga  

Commanding  1st  division  17th  army  corps. 

John  F.  Miller.  

Nashville,  Tenn.  

Commanding  post. 

Philip  Eegis  de  Trobriand. 

Army  of  Potomac  

Commanding  1st  brigade  8d  division  2d  army  corps. 

Cyrus  Bussey  

Little  Eock,  Ark  

Commanding  2d  brigade  cavalry  division,  dep't  of  Arkansas. 

Christopher  C.  Andrews.  .  . 
Edward  M.  McCook  
Lewis  A.  Grant  

Steamer  Niagara,  Miss,  river 
In  the  field,  Ga  
Army  of  Potomac  

En  route  to  Morganzia,  La.    (On  duty  in  department  of  Gulf.) 
Commanding  1st  cavalry  division,  military  division  of  Mississippi. 
Commanding  2d  brigade  2d  division  6th  army  corps. 

Edward  Hatch  

In  the  field,  Tenn  

Commanding  5th  cavalry  division,  military  division  of  Miss. 

August  V.  Kautz  

In  the  field,  Va  

Commanding  cavalry  division,  dep't  of  Virginia  and  N.  Carolina. 

Francis  Fessenden 

Washington,  D.  C.  

Member  of  military  commission.    (Severely  wounded.) 

John  F.  Hartranft    .  .  . 

Army  of  Potomac.  

Commanding  1st  division  9th  army  corps. 

Samuel  8.  Carroll 

New  York  city  

Member  of  general  court-martial.    (Severely  wounded.) 

Simon  G.  Griffin  

Army  of  Potomac  

Commanding  2d  brigade  2d  division  9th  army  corps. 

Emory  Upton  

In  the  field,  Tenn  

Serving  in  dep't  of  the  Cumberland.        [army  corps.  (Wounded.) 

John  E.  Brooke  

Washington,  D.  C  

Member  board  for  examination  of  applicants  for  commissions  in  1st 

Nelson  A.  Miles  

Army  of  Potomac  

Commanding  1st  division  2d  army  corps. 

Joseph  Hayes  

Libby  prison,  Eichmond,  Va 

Prisoner  of  war. 

Byron  R.  Pierce  

Army  of  Potomac  

Commanding  2d  brigade  3d  division  2d  army  corps. 

Selden  Connor  

Washington,  D.  C,  

Severely  wounded. 

Joshua  L.  Chamberlain.  .  .  . 

Army  of  Potomac  

Commanding  1st  brigade  1st  division  5th  army  corps. 

Elliott  W.Eice..,  
William  F.  Bartlett.  

Savannah,  Ga  
Winthrop,  Mass  

Commanding  1st  brigade  4th  division  15th  army  corps. 
Under  medical  treatment.                        [porary  leave  of  absence.) 

Edward  8.  Bragg  

Army  nf  Pntnmfio  . 

Commanding  1st  brigade  4th  division  5th  army  corps.    (On  tern- 

Martin  D.  Hardin  

Washington,  D.  C.  

Commanding  division  22d  army  corps. 

Charles  J.  Paine  

In  the  field,  Va  

Commanding  1st  division  25th  army  corps. 

John  Tl,  AfnTntngh 

Philadelphia,  Pa  

Severely  wounded. 

George  H.  Chapman  
William  Grose  

Winchester,  Va  
In  the  field,  Tenn  

Member  of  military  commission. 
Commanding  3d  brigade  1st  division  4th  army  corps. 

Joseph  A.  Cooper  
John  T.  Croxton  

In  the  field,  Tenn.  
In  the  field,  Tenn  

Commanding  1st  brigade  2d  division  28d  army  corps. 
Commanding  1st  brigade  1st  cavalry  div.  mil.  div.  of  Mississippi 

John  W.  Sprague  

Savannah,  Ga.  

Commanding  2d  brigade  1st  division  17th  army  corps 

James  W.  Eeilly  

In  the  field,  Tenn  

Commanding  1st  brigade  8d  division  23d  army  corps. 

Luther  P.  Bradley  

New  Haven,  Conn  

Wounded.                                                          [leave  of  absence.) 

Charles  C.  Walcutt  

In  the  field,  Ga  

Commanding  2d  brig.  4th  div.  15th  army  corps.     (On  temporary 

William  W.  Belknap.  ..... 

In  the  field,  Ga  

Commanding  3d  brigade  4th  division  17th  army  corps. 

Powell  Clayton  

Pine  Bluff,  Ark  

Commanding  post. 

Joseph  A.  Haskin  

Washington,  D.  C.  . 

Chief  of  artillery,  department  of  Washington. 

James  D.  Fessenden  .  .  . 

In  the  fleld-Va  

Commanding  3d  brigade  1st  division  19th  army  corps. 

Eli  Long^  

Lexington,  Ky.  . 

Wounded. 

Thomas  W.  Eagan  
Joseph  E.  Hawley  • 

Washington,  D.  C  

In  the  field,  Va.  .  . 

Wounded. 
Commanding  2d  brigade  1st  division  24th  army  corps. 

William  H.  Seward,  jr.... 
Isaac  H.  Duval  
John  Edwards  

Martinsburg,  W.  Va  
In  the  field,  Va  
Fort  Smith,  Ark 

Commanding  post. 
Commanding  1st  infantry  division,  department  of  W.  Virginia. 

Thomas  A.  Smyth  

Ferdinand  Van  Derveer.  .  . 

Hamilton,  Ohio  

Under  orders  to  department  of  Cumberland. 

Thomas  C.  Devin  

In  the  field,  Va  . 

Alfred  Gibbs  
E.  S.  McKenzie  

In  the  field,  Va  

On  duty  in  1st  cavalry  division  middle  military  division. 

E.  B.  Hays  

In  the  field,  Va.  . 

James  E.  Slack  
Thomas  J.  Lucas  
E.  J.Davis  

Memphis,  Tenn  
Indianapolis,  Ind  
Morganzia,  La  

Com'dg  2d  brig3.  2d  div.  reserve'  corps,  mil.  div.  of  W.  Mississippi 
On  recruiting  service. 

Joseph  Bailey  
George  L.  Beal  

New  Orleans,  La  
In  the  field,  Va  

Commanding  cavalry  division,  department  of  Gulf. 

Henry  G.  Thomas  

In  the  field,  Va  

Cyrus  Hamlin  

New  Orleans,  La.  

Commanding  3d  div.  U.  8.  colored  troops,  department  of  Gulf. 

EECAPITULATION. 


HOW  EMPLOYED. 

Maj.  Generals. 

Brig.  Generals. 

Aggregate. 

On  command  . 

45 

200 

245 

Before  Committee  on  Conduct  of  the  War.  

1 

1 

2 

Awaiting  orders  

8 

12 

2o 

Commissioner  for  exchange  and  Commissary  General  of  prisoners  

1 

1 

2 

Members  of  courts-martial,  military  commissions,  &c  

7 

20 

27 

Off  duty,  on  account  of  sickness  or  wounds  

1 

14 

15 

On  special  duty.  .  .       . 

2 

•jo. 

On  leave  of  absence  

1 

*              2 

g 

Under  trial  

g 

g 

Prisoners  of  War.  .  . 

2 

2 

Total  

66 

267 

833 

MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


NAVY  DEPARTMENT. 


NAME. 

DUTY. 

Place  of  birth. 

Where  a  citizen. 

Date  of  original 
appointment. 

Gideon  Wells  

(  i  ust:i  vus  V  Fox                            

Secretary  

Assistant  Secretary.  

Connecticut  
Massachusetts  .  . 
Connecticut  
Virginia  

Connecticut  
Massachusetts..  . 
Connecticut  
Virginia... 

7  Mar.,  1861 
9  May,   1861 
19  Mar.,  1861 
8  Dec.,  1852 

William  Faxon                                   . 

ChUf  Clerk  

Clerk  

Disbursing  Clerk  

Bureau  of  Yards  and  Docks. 

Massachusetts  .  . 
Massachusetts  .  . 
Virginia  

Massachusetts  .  . 
New  Hampshire. 

New  York...... 
Connecticut.  .... 

Massachusetts  .  . 
Dist  Columbia.. 
Dist  Columbia.. 

Massachusetts.  .  . 
New  York  

25  May,   1846 
15  Sept,  1842 
4  June,  1849 

17  July,  1862 
19  Feb.,   1863 

25  June,  1868 
28  June,  1863 
9  Aug.,  1861 

30  May,   18C8 
2  Sept.,  1862 

lOct,    1853 
3  June,  1859 

lOct,    1854 
1  Sept.,  1842 

18  Nov..  1858 
6  April,  1861 

25  July,  1862 
'9  Jan.,    1863 

William  P.  8.  Sanger      

Civil  Engineer  

John  W.  Bronaugh  
Bureau  of  Navigation, 
Charles  Henry  Davis  

Chief  Clerk  
Chief  of  Bureau  

Chief  Clerk  

Bureau  of  Ordnance. 
Henry  A.  »Wise  

Chief  of  Bureau  
Assistant  
Chief  Clerk        

New  York  

Richmond  Aulick  

Virginia  

C.  E.  Graves  

Bureau  of  Equipment  and  Recruiting. 
Albert  N.  Smith  

Chief  of  Bureau  
Chief  Clerk  

Chief  of  Bureau  

Maine  
Sweden  

Pennsylvania..  .  . 

Massachusetts... 
New  York  

Pennsylvania..  .  . 
Pennsylvania..  .  . 

Maine  
Maine  

Pennsylvania..  .  . 
Dist  Columbia  . 

New  York  
Wisconsin  

8.  Henriques.  
Bureau  of  Medicine  and  Surgery. 
William  Whelan  

Phineas  J.  Horwitz  

Bureau  of  Provisions  and  Clothing. 
Horatio  Bridge  

Chief  of  Bureau  
Chief  Clerk  

Maine  
Maine  

Dist  Columbia.  . 
Dist.  Columbia.. 

New  York  
Connecticut  

Thomas  Fillebrown  
Bureau  of  Construction  and  Repair. 
John  Lenthall  

Chie'  Clerk 

Bureau  of  Steam  Engineering. 
Benjamin  F.  Isherwood  

Chief  of  Bureau    

William  H.  Allyn  

Chief  Clerk 

REAR  ADMIRALS  OF  THE  NAVY. 


NAME. 

State  where  born. 

State  of  which  a  citizen. 

Original  entry  into  the 

service. 

Date  of  present 
commission. 

Active  List. 
David  G.  Farragut,*  
Louis  M.  Goldsborough.  

Tennessee  
District  Columbia 

Tennessee.  

17  Dec.,   1810  
18  June,  1812..... 

16  July,  1862 
16  July,   1862 

Samuel  F.  Dupont  

19  Dec.,  1815  

16  July,  1862 

Charles  Henry  Davis  

12  Aug.,  1823  

7  Feb.,  1863 

John^L  Dahlgren  
DaviaD.Porter  ,  

Pennsylvania  
Pennsylvania.  

Pennsylvania  
Pennsylvania  

IFeb.,    1826  
2  Feb.,   1829  

7  Feb.,   1863 
4  July,  1863 

Retired  List. 
Charles  Stewart  

Pennsylvania.  

New  Jersey  

t9Mar.,  1798  

16  July,   1862 

William  B.  Bhnbrick  

20  June,  1806  

16  July,  1862 

Joseph  Smith.  

16  Jan.,    1809  

16  July,   1862 

Francis  H.  Gregory  

16  Jan.,    1809  

16  July,    1862 

Silas  H.  Stringham  

New  York  

New  York  

15  Nov.,  1809  

16  July,  1862 

Samuel  L.  Breese  

New  York  

New  York  

17  Dec,,   1810  

16  July,  1862 

Hiram  Pauldinj*  ...... 

New  York... 

New  York... 

ISept.  1811... 

16  July,  1862 

COMMODORES  OF  THE  NAVY. 


Active  List. 
Thomas  T.  Craven  

District  Columbia. 

New  York-.  

1  May,  1822  

16  July,  1863 

Henry  K.  Hoff.  

28  Oct.,    1828  » 

16  July,  1862 

Henry  H.  Bell  

North  Carolina  

New  York  

4  Aug.,  1828  

16  July,  1862 

William  Smith  
John  W.  Livingston  

Kentucky  
New  York  

Missouri  -.. 
New  York  

4  Mar.,   1828  
4  Mar.,  1828  

16  July,  1862 
16  July,  1863 

Henry  K.  Thatcher.  . 
John  8.  Missroon  

Maine  
South  Carolina  

Maine  
South  Carolina  

4  Mar.,  1823  
27  June,  1824  

16  July,  1862 
16  July,  1863 

Robert  B.  Hitchcock  

Connecticut  

Connecticut  

Uan.,    1825  

16  July,  1862 

Stephen  C.  Rowan  
Joseph  Lanman.  
Thomas  Turner  .•...."  

Ohio  
Connecticut  
Virginia  

Ohio.  
Connecticut  
Pennsylvania  

IFeb.,  1826  
Uan.,    1825  
21  April,  1825  

16  July,  1862 
29  Aug.,  1862 
18  Dec.,   1863 

Charles  H.  Poor. 

District  Columbia  

1  Mar.,  1825  

2  Jan.,    1863 

Timothy  A.  Hunt  
Byl  vanus  W.  Godon  

Connecticut  
Pennsylvania  

Connecticut  
Pennsylvania  

IFeb.,   1825  
IMar.,  1819  

2  Jan.,    1863 
2  Jan.,   1863 

James  8.  Palmer  

Uan.,    1825  

7  Feb.,  1868 

William  Radford  

Virginia 

IMar..  1825  

24  April,  1863 

John  Rodgers.  i  .  r 

Maryland  .'  

Maryland  

18  Apr!  1,1828  

17  June,  1863 

*  Appointed  Vice-Admiral  December  21, 1864. 


f  As  lieutenant. 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


717 


COMMODORES  OF  THE 


NAME. 

State  where  born. 

State  of  which  a  citizen. 

Original  entry  into  the 
service. 

Date  of  present 
commission. 

Retired  List. 
John  D  Sloat  

New  York  

New  York  

12  Feb.,  1800  . 

16  July    1862 

William  Mervine  

Pennsylvania..  

New  York  

16  Jan.,    1809  

16  Julv    1862 

Maryland  

Pennsylvania  

15  Nov.,  1809  ... 

16  July    1862 

John  C.  Long  

New  Hampshire.  

New  Hampshire  

18  June,  1812  

16  July    1862 

New  Jersey  

New  Jersey  

4  June,  1812  . 

16  July    1862 

South  Carolina.  

South  Carolina  

18  June,  1812  

16  July    1862 

Joshua  E.  Sands  

New  York  

New  York  

18  June,  1812  

16  July,  1862 

Charles  H.  Bell      

New  York  

New  York  

18  June,  1812  

16  July    1892 

Joseph  K.  Jarvis  

Massachusetts.  

Maine  •  

18  June,  1812  

16  July,  1862 

William  C  Nicholson               

Maryland  .     .        .... 

Maryland  

18  June,  1812  .... 

16  July    1862 

Joseph  B.  Hull  

New  York  

Connecticut  

9  Nov.,  1813  

16  July,  1862 

William  H.  Gardner.  

Maryland  

Pennsylvania.  

6  Dec.,  1814  

16  July,  1862 

Ireland  

Maryland  

2  May,  1815  . 

16  July,  1862 

Frederick  Engle  

Pennsylvania.  

Pennsylvania  

6  Dec.,  1814  

16  July,  1862 

John  Kudd  

Rhode  Island  

Virginia  

80  Nov.,  1814  

16  July,  1862 

William  W.  McKean    

Pennsylvania.  

Pennsylvania  

80  Nov.,  1814  

16  July,  1862 

Charles  Lowndes  

Maryland  

Maryland  

28  Mar.,  1815  

16  July,  1862 

John  Marston  

Massachusetts  

Pennsylvania-  

15  April,  1818  

16  July,  1862 

Pennsylvania  

Pennsylvania  

15  Mar.,  1814  

16  July,  1862 

George  F.  Pearson*  

New  Hampshire  

Massachusetts  

11  Mar..  1815  

16  July,  1862 

Massachusetts   

Maine  

80  May,   1816  

16  July,  1862 

Levin  M.  Powell  

Virginia.  

Virginia  

1  Mar.,  1817  

16  July,  1862 

Charles  Wilkes  t  .  .  .  

New  York  

New  York.  

Uan.,    1818  

16  July,  1862 

Henry  Eagle  

New  York  

New  York  

1  Jan.,   1818  

16  July,  1862 

William  M.  Glendy  

Virginia  

Virginia  

Uan.,   1818  

16  July,  1862 

George  S  Blake                

Massachusetts  

Massachusetts  

28  April,  1818  

16  July,  1862 

Pennsylvania  

Pennsylvania  

IJan.,   1818  

16  July.  1862 

New  York  

IJan.,   1818  

16  July,  1862 

Maryland  

Maryland  

8  Nov.,  1818  

16  July,  1862 

Cadwalader  Ringgold.  

Maryland  

Maryland  

4  Mar.,  1819  

16  July,  1862 

James  L.  Lardner.  

Pennsylvania.  

Pennsylvania  

26\Tuly,  1820  

16  July,  1862 

*  Acting  Rear  Admiral. 

t  Reprimanded  and  suspended  for  three  yean  from  May  3, 1864.    Two  yean  of  his  suspension  was  remitted  by  the  President,  December  27, 1864 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


1861. 


May  24. — EPHEAIM  ELMEK  ELLSWORTH,  a 
colonel  of  volunteers  and  the  introducer  of  the 
Zouave  drill  and  organization  into  the  United 
States,  born  at  Mechanicsville,  Saratogo  Co., 
New  York,  April  23, 1837,  killed  at  Alexandria, 
Virginia,  May  24,  1861.  The  financial  misfor- 
tunes which  overtook  his  father  during  Elmer's 
early  childhood,  prevented  him  from  obtaining 
the  object  of  his  boyish  ambition,  a  cadetship 
at  "West  Point ;  but,  passionately  fond  of  study, 
he  acquired  a  good  English  education.  After 
brief  engagements  in  mercantile  employment 
in  Troy  and  New  York,  he  went  to  Chicago, 
and  though  not  yet  of  age,  commenced  busi- 
ness for  himself  as  a  patent  solicitor,  and  soon 
attained  success  and  a  handsome  income ;  but 
through  the  fraud  of  one  whom  he  had  trusted 
was  despoiled  of  his  hard  earnings.  Instead 
of  giving  way  to  despondency,  he  turned  his 
attention  to  the  study  of  law,  supporting  him- 
self meanwhile  by  copying  law  papers  at  night. 
But  while  thus  rafiidly  familiarizing  himself 
with  the  science  of  law,  his  predilection  for 
the^military  profession  was  very  strong;  and 
having  attained  a  thorough  familiarity  with  the 
French  chasseur  cPAfrique  or  Zouave  drill  and 
organization,  he  resolved  to  form  a  Zouave 
corps  in  Chicago,  with  such  modifications  as  he 
deemed  desirable  to  better  adapt  it  to  this  coun- 
try and  the  genius  of  the  people.  The  corps 
which  he  organized  and  of  which  he  became 
the  commander,  was  a  remarkable  one;  the 
strictest  abstinence  from  spirituous  liquors  and 
tobacco  was  enforced,  and  the  drill  was  exceed- 
ingly severe  in  its  gymnastic  requirements. 
They  had  been  organized  less  than  a  year  when 
their  extraordinary  performances  won  them  at 
the  State  Agricultural  Fair  a  stand  of  colors, 
and  in  July,  1860,  with  their  gallant  commander 
.at  their  head  and  bearing  their  prize  colors, 
they  visited  the  Eastern  cities,  and  challenged 
competition  in  their  military  discipline  and 
practice,  and  won  golden  opinions  everywhere. 
On  his  return  to  Chicago  he  organized  a  Zouave 
regiment,  which  he  offered  to  the  governor  for 


the  defence  of  the  State,  as  if  in  premonition 
of  the  coming  struggle.  During  the  autumn 
Ellsworth  entered  heartily  into  the  political 
campaign,  advocating  the  election  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln. After  the  election  he  accompanied  the 
President  elect  to  "Washington,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  lieutenant's  commission  preparatory 
to  his  entrance  into  the  "War  Department,  and 
had  already  matured  in  his  own  mind  a  reor- 
ganization of  the  militia  of  the  country.  The 
breaking  out  of  the  war  changed  his  plans.  At 
the  proclamation  of  the  President  on  the  15th 
of  April,  he  hastened  to  New  York,  organized 
a  Zouave  regiment  of  1,200  men  from  the 
Fire  Department,  and  in  three  weeks  marched 
at  their  head  through  Pennsylvania  Avenue, 
Washington.  He  drilled  his  regiment  assidu- 
ously, and,  more  than  any  other  man  could  have 
done,  tamed  and  confcolled  those  restless  and 
ungovernable  spirits.  On  the  23d  of  May  hia 
regiment  was  ordered  to  Alexandria,  which 
they  reached  early  in  the  morning  of  the  24th. 
Seeing  a  secession  flag  flying  over  a  hotel  (the 
Marshall  House),  he  entered  and  demanded  of 
a  man  whom  he  met  there,  whose  flag  it  was ; 
the  man,  who  was  really  the  proprietor  of  the 
house,  jpofessed  not  to  know,  saying  he  was 
only  a  lodger ;  antl  Ellsworth,  with  two  com- 
panions, ascended  to  the  roof  and  took  it  down, 
wrapping  it  around  his  body.  As  he  descend- 
ed he  said,  "  This  is  my  trophy."  "  And  you 
are  mine,"  said  Jackson,  the  proprietor,  pour- 
ing the  contents  of  his  shot  gun  full  into  the 
breast  of  the  colonel,  and  instantly  falling  him- 
self from  a  musket  ball  through  the  head  and  a 
deadly  bayonet  thrust  from  one  of  Ellsworth's 
Zouaves,  Francis  E.  Brownell.  Jackson  was 
captain  of  an  artillery  company  in  his  own 
county.  He  was  known  by  his  neighbors  as  a 
man  who  united  a  dauntless  courage  with 
generous  impulses.  A  week  before  his  death 
a  Union  man  from  "Washington  had  been  seized 
in  the  streets  of  Alexandria,  and  a  crowd 
threatened  to  shoot  or  hang  him.  He  rescued 
him,  and  threatened  to  kill  any  man  who 


720 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


should  molest  him.  The  body  of  Col.  Ellsworth 
was  borne  sadly  back  to  Washington,  and  the 
funeral  services  performed  at  the  White  House, 
with  the  President  as  chief  mourner.  From 
thence  it  was  brought  to  his  birthplace  (Me- 
chanicsville).  A  noble  regiment,  made  up  of 
one  man  from  a  town,  in  his  native  State,  was 
raised  as  his  fittest,  though  not  his  only  monu- 
ment. 

June  10. — JOHX  TKOTJT  GEEBLE,  an  officer 
of  the  United  States  army,  born  in  Philadelphia, 
January  19,  1834,  and  killed  in  the  battle  of 
Great  Bethel,  Virginia,  June  10,  1861.  He  ac- 
quired his  early  education  at  the  Ringgold 
Grammar  School  and  the  Central  High  School 
of  his  native  city,  receiving  his  bachelor's  de- 
gree at  the  latter  in  1850,  and  immediately  en- 
tered the  United  States  Military  Academy  at 
West  Point,  where  he  graduated  in  1854,  with 
high  rank  in  his  class.  On  his  graduation  he  was 
immediately  commissioned  as  brevet  second 
lieutenant  in  the  2d  artillery,  and  stationed  at 
Newport,  R.  I.  In  September  of  the  same  year 
he  was  made  second  lieutenant  and  sent  to 
Tampa,  Florida,  where  he  served  in  the  Indian 
troubles  for  two  years,  when  he  was  compelled, 
in  consequence  of  a  severe  fever,  to  return 
home  on  sick  leave ;  but  in  the  beginning  of 
1856  resumed  his  duties,  acting  a  part  of  the 
time  as  quartermaster  and  commissary  till  De- 
cember, 1856,  when  he  v&s  appointed  acting 
assistant  professor  of  Ethics  in  the  Military 
Academy,  the  duties  of  which  professorship  he 
performed  with  credit  and  success  till  October, 

1860,  when,  at  his  own  request,  he  was  detailed 
for  active  duty  at  Fortress  Monroe.    There  he 
rendered  efficient  service   in   preventing  the 
seizure  of  the  fortress.     On  the  26th  of  May, 

1861,  he  was  sent  to  Newport  News  as  master 
of  ordnance,  superintended  the  fortifi cation  of 
that  point,  and  trained  the  volunteers  to  artil- 
lery practice.    When  the  disastrous  expedition 
to  Great  Bethel  was  planned,  he  was  unexpect- 
edly detailed  to  accompany  it  with  two  guns ; 
and  though  in  his  own  judgment  it  was  Si-ad- 
vised, and  would  probably  prove  fatal  to  him, 
he  did  not  hesitate,  but  took  an  active  part  in 
its  duties ;  and  when  the  Federal  troops  were 
repulsed,  by  his  admirable  management  of  his 
guns  protected  them  from  pursuit  and  utter 
annihilation.    Just  at  the  close  of  the  action, 
when  he  had  given  .the  order  to  withdraw  from 
the  field,  he  was  struck  by  a  cannon  ball  on  the 
right  temple  and  instantly  killed. 

June  10. — Major  THEODOEE  WINTHEOP,  an 
officer  of  volunteers  in  the  United  States  army, 
and  an  American  author,  born  in  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  September  22,  1828,  killed  in  the  battle 
of  Great  Bethel,  June  10,  1861.  He  graduated 
with  high  honors  at  Yale  College  in  1848,  "and 
soon  after,  partly  to  recruit  his  health,  impair- 
ed by  too  close  application,  sailed  for  Europe, 
where  he  made  an  extensive  tour  mostly  on 
foot.  In  Italy  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of 
W.  H.  Aspinwall,  of  New  York,  and  upon  his 
return  became  tutor  to  his  son,  with  whom  he 


afterwards  again  visited  Europe.  Returning 
from  this  second  tour,  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Paciflfc  Mail  Steamship  Company  and 
went  to  Panama,  where  he  resided  about  two 
years.  He  then  joined  the  unfortunate  expe- 
dition of  Lieutenant  Strain,  the  exposures  of 
which  injured  his  health  to  such  a  degree  that 
he  was  compelled  to  return  to  New  York.  He 
next  engaged  in  the  study  of  law,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1855.  He  first  practised  in 
St.  Louis,  but  finding  the  climate  unfavorable, 
he  returned  again  to  New  York,  where  his  fond- 
ness for  literary  pursuits  drew  him  aside  from 
his  profession. 

At  the  commencement  of  hostilities  which 
resulted  in  the  present  war,  he  enrolled  him- 
self in  the  artillery  corps  of  the  7th  regiment, 
and  subsequently  was  made  acting  military 
secretary  and  aid  by  Gen.  Butler.  His  descrip- 
tion of  the  forty-two  days'  campaign  of  the  7th 
regiment,  in  the  June,  July,  and  August  numbers 
of  the  Atlantic  Monthly,  attracted  much  atten- 
tion by  its  gracefulness  and  brilliancy,  and  the 
interest  thus  excited  was  afterwards  heightened 
by  his  untimely  death.  In  the  autumn  of  1861 
Messrs.  Ticknor  and  Fields,  of  Boston,  pub- 
lished two  works  of  fiction  of  considerable 
merit,  "Cecil  Dreeme"  and  "John  Brent," 
which  were  found  among  his  papers  after  his  • 
death. 

June  17. — Col.  HOLLOWAY,  an  officer  of  the 
Missouri  State  Guard,  killed  at  the  battle  of  the 
Big  Blue,  in  Jackson  County,  Missouri.  Had 
been  a  captain  in  the  U.  S.  regular  army,  and 
was  deeply  deplored  by  Gen.  Sterling  Price's 
army.  He  had  rendered  great  service  in  or- 
ganizing Missouri  troops,  and  there  were  few 
in  that  army  and  at  that  tune  who  could  fill  his 
place. 

June  27th. — JAMES  HAEMAN  WARD,  com- 
mander in  the  United  States  navy,  son  of  Col. 
James  Ward  of  Hartford,  Conn. ;  born  in  that 
city  in  1806,  killed  in  the*attack  on  Matthias 
Point,  June  27,  1861.  He  was  educated  at  the 
Vermont  Military  Academy  at  Norwich,  and 
from  thence  entered  Trinity  College,  Hartford. 
On  the  4th  of  March,  1823,  he  received  an  ap- 
pointment as  midshipman  on  board  of  the 
Constitution,  commanded  by  Commodore  Mc- 
Donough ;  rose  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant  on  the 
3d  of  March,  1831,  and  was  attached  to  the 
Mediterranean  squadron.  For  several  years  ho 
was  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  and  while  "there 
compiled  his  "Manual  of  Naval  Tactics,"  pub- 
lished in  1858.  In  1842-'43  he  delivered  in 
Philadelphia  a  popular  course  of  lectures  on 
Gunnery.  He  urged  upon  the  Government  the 
necessity  of  establishing  a  Naval  School,  and 
upon  the  opening  of  the  school,  was  appointed 
one  of  the  professors,  and  gave  a  series  of  lec- 
tures, subsequently  published  under  the  title  of 
"Elementary  Instructions  on  Naval  Ordnance 
and  Gunnery : "  a  work  which  has  accomplished 
much  in  its  effects  upon  naval  science. 

Soon  after  the  introduction  of  steam  into  the 
navy,  he  gave  the  result  of  his  observations  ia 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


721 


a  work  entitled  "Steam  for  the  Million,"  sub- 
sequently republished  by  Van  Nostrand,  New- 
York.  In  1853  he  was  made  commander,  and 
in  1857  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
receiving  ship  North  Carolina,  lying  at  the 
Brooklyn  Navy  Yard.  At  the  commencement 
of  the  war  he  was  summoned  to  "Washington  to 
aid  the  Government  by  his  counsels.  Here  he 
remained  and  organized  the  Potomac  flotilla,  to 
the  command  of  which  he  was  appointed  on 
May  16,  1861.  On  the  31st,  he,  with  the  Free- 
born,  Anacosta,  and  Resolute,  cannonaded  the 
Confederate  batteries  at  Aquia  Creek,  silencing 
three  of  them,  and  only  retiring  when  his  am- 
munition was  exhausted.  The  next  day,  aided 
by  the  Pawnee,  he  resumed  the  attack,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  silencing  the  guns.  On  June  26th, 
on  discovering  that  a  battery  was  being  erected 
at  Matthias  Point  by  the  enemy,  he  sent  to  the 
Pawnee  for  aid  to  throw  up  breastworks ;  when 
completed,  as  the  men  were  returning  to  the 
boats  for  the  guns,  a  destructive  fire  was  opened 
upon  them  by  the  enemy  in  ambush.  The  crew 
hastened  to  the  steamer,  the  Freeborn  covering 
their  retreat.  Capt.  Ward  gallantly  stood  at 
his  post  sighting  one  of  the  guns,  when  he  was 
struck  by  a  Minie  ball  and  almost  instantly  kill- 
ed. He  was  buried  at  Hartford,  Conn. 

July  5. — BEXJ.  J.  BKOWN,  inspector-general, 
with  the  rank  of  colonel,  on  Gen.  Slack's  staff, 
who  then  commanded  a  division  of  the  Mis- 
souri State  Guard.  He  had  held  the  position 
of  president  of  the  Senate  of  the  State  of  Mis- 
souri, and  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Wilson 
Creek,  in  Missouri.  Ho  had  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Carthage,  and  distinguished  him- 
self for  dashing  courage  and  cool  judgment. 

July  5. — RICHARD  C.  COXE,  colonel  in  Mis- 
souri State  Guard,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Car- 
thage, in  Missouri.  At  the  opening  of  the  war  he 
lived  in  the  town  of  Atchison,  in  Kansas,  and 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  Kansas  troubles. 

July  15. — ROBT.  SELDEX  GABNETT,  an  officer 
of  the  Confederate  army,  born  in  Virginia 
about  1821,  and  killed  in  the  battle  of  Carrick's 
Ford,  July  15, 1861.  He  entered  West  Point  in 
1837,  and  graduated  27th  in  his  class  in  1841, 
was  appointed  brevet  second  lieutenant  of  artil- 
lery on  his  graduation,  and  from  July,  1843,  to 
Oct.,  1844,  was  assistant-instructor  of  infantry 
tactics  at  the  military  academy ;  was  aide- 
de-camp  to  Gen.  Wool  in  1845,  distinguished 
himself  in  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca 
de  la  Palma,  was  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenancy 
in  1846,  was  aide-de-camp  to  Gen.  Taylor 
through  the  Mexican  war  and  until  1849,  was 
breveted  captain  and  major  for  gallant  and 
meritorious  conduct  at  Monterey  and  Buena 
Vista ;  transferred  to  the  infantry  in  1848,  and 
promoted  to  a  captaincy  in  1851.  From  1852 
to  1854  he  was  commandant  of  the  corps  of 
cadets,  and  instructor  in  infantry  tactics  at  West 
Point;  appointed  captain  of  the  1st  regiment 
cavalry  in  1805,  and  major  of  9th  infantry  in 
the  same  month ;  was  the  commander  in  the 
operations  against  the  Indians  on  Puget's  Sound, 
46 


Washington  Territory,  in  1856,  and  commanded 
the  Yakima  expedition  in  1858.  At  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  present  war  he  took  the  side  of 
the  Confederates,  was  promoted  to  a  brigadier- 
generalship,  and  assigned  to  the  department 
of  Western  Virginia.  Here,  in  July,  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan  attacked  him,  and  after  several  days  of 
alternate  fighting  and  retreating,  at  the  deci- 
sive action- of  Carrick's  Ford,  Gen.  Garnett  was 
killed  and  his  forces  routed.  His  body  was 
carefully  cared  for  by  the  Federal  «ommander, 
and  after  being  embalmed,  was  forwarded  to 
his  friends. 

July  21. — Major  SULLIVAK  BALLOTT,  of  the 
2d  Rhode  Island  regiment  of  volunteers,  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run.  He  was  born  at 
Smithfield,  R.  I.,  March  28,  1829.  In  1846  he 
entered  Phillips'  Academy  at  Andover,  Mass., 
and  subsequently  Brown  University.  After  re- 
maining two  years  at  the  latter,  he  proceeded 
to  the  National  Law  School  at  Ballston,  N.  Y. 
In  1853  he  was  admitted  to  the  Rhode  Island 
bar,  and  practised  his  profession  with  little  in- 
terruption in  Smithfield  and  Providence  until 
he  left  with  his  regiment  for  the  seat  of  war. 
He  was  clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
of  Rhode  Island  during  the  years  1854,  1855, 
and  1856,  and  the  following  year  was  Speaker 
of  the  House.  In  1861  he  held  the  office  of 
Judge  Advocate  of  the  Rhode  Island  militia. 
He  joined  the  army  from  a  patriotic  sense  of 
duty,  and  his  military  career,  though  short,  won 
him  distinguished  honor. 

July  21. — FKANCIS  S.  BABTOW,  a  colonel  of 
the  8th  Georgia  regiment,  in  the  Confederate 
army,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  in  Vir- 
ginia. At  that  battle  he  commanded  a  brigade, 
but  at  the  head  of  the  8th  Georgia  regiment 
had  charged  a  battery  that  was  doing  great 
havoc  among  Confederate  troops,  and  had  been 
repulsed.  When  Gen.  Johnston,  however,  told 
huii  that  the  battery  must  be  taken,  he  seized 
the  standard  of  the  7th  Georgia  regiment  and 
exclaimed,  "I  will  do  what  mortal  man  can," 
and  charged  and  took  the  battery,  but  was 
killed.  "  They  have  killed  me,"  he  cried,  "but 
never  give  up  the  field."  Col.  Bartow  was 
chairman  of  the  military  committee  of  the  Rich- 
mond Congress,  and  upon  his  death  that  body 
paid  a  high  tribute  to  his  memory.  His  heroism 
in  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  or  Manassas  Junc- 
tion as  it  is  called  in  the  South,  was  so  con- 
spicuous as  to  attract  the  notice  and  eulogy  of 
the  entire  Southern  people.  Some  time  be- 
fore the  battle,  upon  being  told  that  Congress 
needed  his  services,  he  answered .  that  his 
country  needed  his  services  on  that  field,  and 
he  would  not  leave  until  after  the  battle; 
and  upon  being  told  that  he,  was  too  confident 
of  success,  and  that  the  odd's  were  very  great 
in  favor  of  the  other  side,  he  exclaimed  with 
great  fervor,  "They  can  never  whip  us.  We 
shall  not  count  the  odds.  We  may  be  exter- 
minated, but  never  conquered.  I  shall  go  into 
this  fight  with  the  determination  never  to  leave 
the  field  alive  but  in  victory ;  and  I  know  that 


722 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


the  same  spirit  actuates  my  whole  command. 
How,  then,  can  they  whip  us  ? "  On  that  san- 
guinary plateau  near  the  Henry  House,  also  fell 
Bartow,  pierced  through  the  heart  by  a  Mini<§ 
ball. 

July  21. — BERNARD  E.  BEE,  a  brigadier- 
general  in  the  Confederate  army,  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run.  Gen.  Bee  was  a  native  of 
South  Carolina,  and  entered  West  Point  from 
that  State.  He  graduated  fourth  in  his  class, 
with  high  honors,  in  July,  1845,  and  entered 
the  3d  infantry  regiment.  He  served  with 
marked  distinction  in  the  Mexican  war,  and 
was  brevetted  first  lieutenant  for  gallant  and 
meritorious  conduct  at  the  battle  of  Cerro 
Gordo,  April  18,  1847  (March,  1849),  in  which 
he  was  wounded.  He  was  brevetted  captain  for 
gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  at  the  storm- 
ing of  Chapultepec,  Sept.  13,  1847  (March, 
1847).  He  was  afterwards  adjutant.  In  sub- 
sequent wars  with  the  Indians  he  achieved 
great  success  and  distinction,  winning  the  ap- 
probation of  his  native  State,  which  presented 
him  with  a  superb  sword.  Gen.  Bee  contribut- 
ed in  a  large  degree  to  the  achievement  of 
Confederate  success  at  Bull  Run.  His  stub- 
born resistance  with  his  small  force  to  the 
fierce  charges  and  concentrated  fire  of  artillery 
of  the  Federal  troops,  and  his  repeated  and 
desperate  charges  subsequently  upon  being  re- 
enforced,  rendered  the  plateau  near  the  Henry 
House  the  bloodiest  spot  on  the  battle-field, 
and  materially  influenced  the  fortunes  of  the 
day.  He  died  grasping  the  sword  South  Caro- 
lina had  taken  so  much  pride  in  presenting 
to  him. 

Jidy  21. — Col.  JAMES  CAMERON,  born  at 
MaytoWn,  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.,  March  1, 1801. 
In  youth  he  engaged  in  various  occupations, 
and  at  19  years  of  age  entered  the  printing 
office  of  his  brother  Simon,  at  Harrisburg.  In 
1827  he  removed  to  Lancaster  and  assumed  the 
editorship  of  the  "  Political  Sentinel,"  studying 
law  in  the  mean  time  hi  the  office  of  the  late 
President,  James  Buchanan.  During  the  Mexi- 
can war  he  accompanied  the  volunteers  of  his 
State  as  sutler,  in  January,  1847.  When  the 
present  war  broke  out  he  was  living  in  retire- 
ment upon  his  estate  on  the  banks  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna,  bat  upon  urgent  entreaty  accepted 
the  appointment  of  colonel  of  the  79th  High- 
land regiment  of  the  New  York  State  militia, 
and  from  his  election  devoted  himself  assidu- 
ously to  the  duties  of  his  position.  In  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  when  his  regiment  was 
driven  back  before  the  terrible  tire  of  the 
enemy,  he  would  lead  them  up  again  and  again 
with  the  shout,  "  Scots,  follow  me !  "  until  he 
fell  in  the  deadly  charge. 

July  21. —  FISHER,  colonel  in  the 

Confederate  army,  commanded  the  6th  North 
Carolina  regiment ;  killed  at  Bull  Run,  in  Vir- 
ginia. 

July  21. — Col.  JOHN  S.  SLOOUM,  born  in  the 
town  of  Richmond,  R.  I.,  Nov.  1,  1824.  At 
the  commencement  of  the  Mexican  war  he  ob- 


tained a  commission  in  the  army,  and  at  Con- 
treras  received  the  brevet  rank  of  captain  for 
meritorious  conduct.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
present  war  Gov.  Sprague  appointed  him  colo- 
nel, and  authorized  him  to  raise  a  second  regi- 
ment, which  he  speedily  accomplished  and 
again  marched  to  the  seat  of  war.  At  the  bat- 
tle of  Bull  Run  his  regiment  led  the  advance  of 
the  division  which  crossed  Cob  Run  and  reach- 
ed Bull  Run  at  Sudley's  ford,  on  the  extreme 
left  of  the  enemy's  line.  Here  he  bravely  led 
on  his  regiment  through  the  woods,  and  opened 
that  terrible  engagement,  but  fell  almost  in  the 
beginning  of  the  action. 

July  21. — F.  J.  THOMAS,  a  colonel  in  the 
Confederate  army.  He  was  acting  chief  of 
ordnance  on  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston's  staff, 
and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run. 

July  21. — Capt.  OTIS  H.  TILLINGHAST,  born 
at  Homer,  Cortlandt  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  6,  1823. 
In  1847  he  graduated  with  honor  at  the  mili- 
tary academy  at  West  Point,  and  was  immedi- 
ately appointed  brevet  second  lieutenant  in  the 
3d  artillery,  and  joined  Sherman's  battery, 
under  Gen.  Taylor,  at  Saltillo,  Mexico.  In 
1848  he  was  associated  with  the  Mexican  Boun- 
dary Commission,  and  in  1856  was  appointed 
regimental  quartermaster,  and  stationed  in 
Florida.  Soon  after  he  was  ordered  to-  Fort 
Moultrie,  where  he  remained  until  about  the 
time  of  the  insurrection.  In  July,  1861,  Lieut. 
Tillinghast  was  appointed  chief-quartermaster 
to  Gen.  McDowell's  army,  and  attached  him- 
self to  the  division  commanded  by  Col.  Porter. 
Though  his  duties  did  not  require  him  to  take 
part  in  the  battle,  he  entered  with  alacrity  into 
the  field,  and  fell  early  in  the  enagement,  mor- 
tally wounded. 

July  21. — Capt.  LEVI  TOWER,  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run.  Born  in  the  village  of 
Blackstone,  Mass.,  August  18,  1835.  He  took 
a  thorough  classical  course  in  the  University 
Grammar  School  in  Providence,  and  in  due 
time  entered  Brown  University,  which  he  was 
subsequently  compelled  to  leave  in  consequence 
of  ill  health.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Paw- 
tucket  Light  Guard,  and  with  it.  joined  the 
1st  regiment  of  Rhode  Island  volunteers. 

July  22. — Col.  WILLIAM  D.  KENNEDY,  com- 
mander of  the  "  Tammany  "  regiment  of  N.  Y. 
volunteers.  He  was  a  prominent  democrat 
of  New  York  city,  and  a  man  of  great  energy 
and  ability.  He  died  at  Washington  of  conges- 
tion of  the  brain. 

Aug.  10. CAWTHORN,  colonel  in  the 

Missouri  State  Guard  in  the  Confederate  ser- 
vice. He  had  shown  considerable  ability  and 
courage  at  the  battle  of  Carthage,  July  5, 1861. 
He  commanded  a  brigade  of  cavalry  in  Gen. 
Rams'  division,  and  was  very  badly  wounded  in 
the  foot  at  Wilson's  Creek,  and  refusing  to  per- 
mit amputation,  he  died  after  a  few  days  of 
suffering. 

August  10.— NATHANIEL  LtoN,  a  general 
of  volunteers  in  the  United  States  army,  born 
at  Ashford,  Windham  Co.,  Connecticut,  July 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


723 


14,  1819,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek, 
Missouri,  August  10,  1861.  His  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  Lieut.  Daniel  Knowlton,  who  served 
through  the  old  French  war  and  the  Revo- 
lution. Gen.  Lyon  graduated  at  the  Military 
Academy  at  West  Point  in  1841,  and  immedi- 
ately received  the  appointment  of  second  lieu- 
tenant in  the  2d  regiment  of  infantry.  His 
first  field  of  service  was  Florida,  during  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  Seminole  war,  where  he  distin- 
guished himself  as  an  able  and  energetic  officer. 
He  was  subsequently  stationed  for  several  years 
at  different  posts  on  the  western  frontier.  In 
1847  he  was  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenancy, 
and  upon  the  commencement  of  the  war  with 
Mexico  was  again  ordered  to  active  service. 
He  joined  Gen.  Taylor  at  Monterey,  and  ac- 
companied his  regiment  when  it  was  detached 
from  the  command  of  Gen.  Taylor  and  placed 
under  that  of*  Gen.  Scott.  He  served  at  the 
bombardment  of  Vera  Cruz  and  the  battles  of 
Cerro  Gordo,  Contreras,  and  Ohurubusco,  and 
for  "meritorious  conduct"  received  the  brevet 
rank  of  captain.  At  the  close  of  the  war  with 
Mexico,  Gen.  Lyon  was  ordered  to  California, 
and  detailed  to  service  among  the  Indian  tribes, 
who  had  become  troublesome,  and  while  en- 
gaged in  this  service  was  promoted  to  a  full 
captaincy  in  1851.  From  California  Gen.  Lyon 
was  ordered  to  Kansas,  during  the  height  of 
the  political  troubles  there,  and  used  his  influ- 
ence to  maintain  order  and  calm  the  strife  of 
partisans.  Some  of  his  articles  written  for  the 
press  at  this  period,  bear  evidence  of  great 
vigor  of  intellect,  and  earnest  devotion  to  his 
country's  good.  Early  in  1861  Capt.  Lyon  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  United  States  ar- 
senal at  St.  Louis ;  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter 
the  possession  of  Missouri  seemed  to  depend 
upon  his  energy  and  coolness.  The  police 
commissioners  of  St.  Louis  assumed  to  them- 
selves the  power  of  opposing  the  Government, 
and  demanded  that  Capt.  Lyon  should  confine 
his  jurisdiction  to  the  arsenal  grounds;  this 
he  refused.  Not  long  before  the  Governor  of 
Missouri  had  authorized  the  formation  of  camps 
in  various  parts  of  the  State.  Taken  in  con- 
nection with  the  action  of  the  commissioners, 
Capt.  Lyon  considered  the  concentration  of 
these  forces  as  an  act  of  open  hostility  to  the 
Government,  and  suddenly  surrounded  one  of 
the  camps,  known  as  Camp  Jackson,  with  a 
large  force  of  the  State  "  Home  Guards  "  under 
Cols.  Blair  and.Sigel,  and,  planting  his  guna 
on  the  heights,  demanded  of  Gen.  Frost,  the 
commander  of  Camp  Jackson,  an  immediate 
surrender ;  satisfied  that  he  was  unable  to  re- 
sist so  large  a  force,  Gen.  Frost  yielded  up  his 
whole  command  as  prisoners  of  war.  A  few 
days  later  Gen.  Harney  arrived  at  St.  Louis 
and  assumed  the  command,  and  Capt.  Lyon 
was  appointed  general  of  the  1st  brigade  of 
Missouri  volunteers.  He  broke  up  a  Confeder- 
ate force  at  Potosi,  and  caused  several  import- 
ant seizures  of  war  material  destined  for  Camp 
Jackson.  Upon  the  removal  of  Gen.  Harney, 


Gen.  Lyon  was  placed  in  command  of  the  de- 
partment. Gov.  Jackson  and  Gen.  Price  sought 
an  interview  with  him,  in  which  they  insisted 
that  no  United  States  troops  should  march 
through  or  quarter  in  Missouri,  although  they 
had  already  allowed  Confederate  troops  to  do 
so.  Lyon's  reply  was  that  the  troops  of  the 
United  States  should  march  peaceably  every- 
where through  the  United  States,  offering  in- 
sult to  none,  but  would  oppose  every  attack 
and  crush  every  effort  to  molest  them.  Upon 
this  Gov.  Jackson  withdrew  from  St.  Louis  and 
prepared  for  war.  Gen.  Lyon  then  took  the 
field,  but  previously  issued  a  proclamation  to 
the  citizens  of  Missouri,  in  which,  after  rehears- 
ing the  various  acts  of  Gov.  Jackson,  he  con- 
cludes: "If,  in  suppressing  these  treasonable 
projects,  carrying  out  the  policy  of  the  Govern- 
ment, and  maintaining  its  dignity,  hostilities 
should  unfortunately  occur,  and  unhappy  con- 
sequences should  follow,  I  would  hope  that  all 
aggravation  of  those  events  may  be  avoided,  and 
that  they  may  be  diverted  from  the  innocent 
and  may  fall  on  the  heads  of  those  by  whom 
they  have  been  provoked.  In  the  discharge 
of  these  plain  but  onerous  duties  I  shall  look 
for  the  countenence  and  active  cooperation  of 
all  good  citizens,  and  I  shall  expect  them  to 
discountenance  all  illegal  combinations  or  or- 
ganizations, and  support  and  uphold,  by  every 
lawful  means,  the  Federal  Government,  upon 
the  maintenance  of  which  depends  their  liber- 
ties and  the  perfect  enjoyment  of  all  their 
rights." 

Learning  that  Gov.  Jackson  and  Gen.  Price 
had  commenced  hostilities,  Gen.  Lyon  moved 
toward  Jefferson  City  with  a  small  force,  and 
upon  his  approach  Gov.  Jackson  abandoned  his 
position  and  retreated  to  Booneville,  where  a 
battle  was  fought  on  the  iVth  of  June,  which 
resulted  in  a  complete  victory,  all  the  tents, 
ammunition,  and  supplies  falling  into  Gen. 
Lyon's  hands.  Upon  entering  Booneville,  he 
issued  a  proclamation,  in  which,  after  a  state- 
ment of  the  facts  in  relation  to  the  battle,  lie 
said:  "I  hereby  give  notice  to  the  people  of 
this  State  that  I  shall  scrupulously  avoid  all  in- 
terference with  the  business,  rights,  and  prop- 
erty of  every  description  recognized,  by  the 
laws  of  the  State,  and  belonging  to  law-abiding 
citizens.  But  it  is  equally-  my  duty  to  maintain 
the  paramount  authority  of  the' United  States 
with  such  force  as  I  have  at  my  command, 
which  will  be  retained  only  so  long  as  opposi- 
tion makes  it  necessary,  and  that  it  is  my  wish, 
and  shall  be  my  purpose,  to  visit  any  unavoid- 
able rigor  arising  in  this  issue  upon  those  only 
who  provoke  it." 

He  soon  after  moved  forward  to  Springfield, 
an  important  town  of  Southwestern  Missouri, 
driving  the  Confederates  before  him,  and  de- 
feating them  at  Dug  Spring,  about  fifteen  miles 
from  that  town.  Subsequent  to  the  battle  of 
Dug  Spring,  the  Confederates  received  heavy 
reinforcements,  and  Gen.  Lyon,  after  making 
several  appeals  to  the  Government  for  more 


724 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


troops,  and  receiving  no  response,  called  a  coun- 
cil of  war  to  determine  upon  the  question  of 
evacuating  Springfield.  Fearing  any  retro- 
grade movement  would  be  fatal  to  the  cause, 
it  was  decided  to  attack  Gens.  McCulloch  and 
Price  in  their  camp  at  Wilson's  Creek,  though, 
with  scarcely  any  hope  of  success,  as  the  Union 
force  was  but  a  little  over  five  thousand,  while 
the  Confederate  force  was  nearly  twenty-five 
thousand.  The  battle  was  a  desperate  one,  and 
Gen  Lyon,  after  being  twice  wounded,  was 
killed,  while  making  a  gallant  charge  at  the 
head  of  the  1st  Iowa  regiment,  which  had  lost 
its  colonel.  His  body  was  subsequently  con- 
veyed to  Connecticut,  the  home  of  his  parents, . 
and  upon  its  way  was  received  everywhere  with 
marked  respect.  Military  honors  were  paid  to 
it  at  Cincinnati,  Pittsburg,  Philadelphia,  Jersey 
City,  and  New  York.  The  funeral  oration  was 
delivered  by  Galusha  A.  Grow,  Speaker  of  the 
United  States  House  of  Representatives.  In 
Congress,  Senator  Pomeroy  delivered  an  elo- 
quent tribute  to  his  memory,  and  the  following 
resolutions  passed  both  houses : 

Resolved,  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  the  United  States  of  America  in  Congress 
assembled — first,  That  Congress  deems  it  just  and 
proper  to  enter  upon  its  records  a  recognition  of  the 
eminent  and  patriotic  services  of  the  late  Brigadier- 
General  Nathaniel  Lyon.  The  country  to  whose  ser- 
vices he  devoted  his  life  will  guard  and  preserve  his 
fame  as  a  part  of  its  own  glory.  Second,  That  the 
thanks  of  Congress  are  hereby  given  to  the  brave  offi- 
cers and  soldiers  who,  under  the  command  of  the  late 
General  Lyon,  sustained  the  honor  of  the  flag,  and 
achieved  victory  against  overwhelming  numbers  at 
the  battle  of  Springfield,  in  Missouri,  and  that,  in 
order  to  commemorate  an  event  so  honorable  to  the 
country  and  to  themselves,  it  is  ordered  that  each 
regiment  engaged  shall  be  authorized  to  bear  upon 
its  colors  the  word  "Springfield,"  embroidered  in 
letters  of  gold.  And  the  President  of  the  United 
States  is  hereby  requested  to  cause  these  resolutions 
to  be  read  at  the  head  of  every  regiment  in  the  armv 
of  the  United  States. 

Upon  opening  his  will,  it  was  ascertained 
that  Gen.  Lyon  had  bequeathed  his  entire  prop- 
erty, $30,000,  with  the  exception  of  some  slight 
bequests,  to  the  Government,  to  aid  in  the 
preservation  of  the  Union. 

Aug.  10. — CABY  GEATZ,  major  in  the  Federal 
army,  kiUed  at  the  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek, 
in  Missouri,  aged  about  28  years.  He  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  and  had  large  and  influen- 
tial connections  in  that  State.  For  many  years, 
however,  he  had  been  a  highly  esteemed  com- 
mission merchant  in  St.  Louis,  where  his  un- 
timely death  was  sincerely  mourned. 

Aug.  10. — CHAELES  ROGGEES,  major  in  the 
Missouri  State  Guard  in  the  Confederate  ser- 
vice, killed  at  Wilson's  Creek,  in  Missouri, 
aged  about  thirty  years.  Major  Roggers  was 
an  old  resident  of  St.  Louis,  and  a  prominent 
politician.  He  early  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
South,  and  was  one  of  the  association  in  St. 
Louis  called  minute  men,  before  the  war  was 
actually  commenced. 

Aug.  10. — RICHABD  HANSOM  WEIGIITMAN,  a 
colonel  in  the  Missouri  State  Guard  in  the 


service  of  the  Confederate  States,  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,  or,  as  it  is  called  in 
the  South,  "  Oak  Hills."  He  commanded  a  bri- 
gade of  Missourians  at  that  battle,  and  had  or- 
ganized and  drilled  them  himself.  They  com- 
posed the  best  brigade  then  in  that  army.  It 
was  the  excellent  fighting  of  this  brigade,  and 
the  military  sagacity  of  its'  commander,  that 
worsted  Sigel's  lines  on  the  left  of  the  line  of 
battle.  Col.  Weightman  was  then  sent  to  the 
right  (Confederate  left),  when  the  long  and 
sanguinary  contest  raged  for  the  possession  of 
Bloody  Hill,  where  Gen.  Lyon  fell  and  where 
Col.  Weightman  was  killed.  He  had  mani- 
fested marked  military  abilities  in  the  battle  of 
Carthage,  July  5,  1801,  and  distinguished  him- 
self by  his  reckless  courage.  He  was  a  native 
of  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  the  son  of 
General  Weightman.  He  entered  West  Point 
from  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  was  a  cadet 
from  Aug.,  1835,  to  April,  1837.  He  was  expelled 
for  cutting  a  brother,  cadet  in  the  face  with  a 
knife,  in  a  personal  rencontre.  With  the  same 
knife  he  killed  the  celebrated  Santa  Fe  trader, 
F.  X.Xaubrey,  in  a  personal  difficulty.  He  served 
in  the  Mexican  war  as  captain  in  Major  M.  L. 
Clark's  volunteer  light  artillery  battalion  from 
Missouri,  and  distinguished  himself  under  Col. 
Doniphan  at  the  battle  of  Sacramento ;  was 
additional  paymaster  until  May,  1848,  and  mus- 
tered out  of  service  August,  1849.  Upon  the 
organization  of  New  Mexico,  Col.  Weightman 
was  chosen  provisionally  .United  States  senator 
from  New  Mexico,  1850.  He  afterwards  repre- 
sented New  Mexico  in  the  U.  S.  Congress,  from 
the  year  1851  to  1853.  His  loss  to  Gen.  Price's 
army  was  very  seriously  felt.  He  had  done  much 
by  his  military  acquirements  and  energy  toward 
perfecting  the  organization  and  the  discipline 
of  Price's  raw  troops,  and  in  that  day  of  mili- 
tary ignorance  none  could  be  found  able  to  fill 
his  place. 

Aug.  14. — Col.  NOAH  L.  FABNHAM,  born  at 
Haddam,  Conn.,  June  6,  1829.  At  18  years  of 
age  he  became  a  member  of  the  New  York 
"  City  Guard,"  and  was  on  active  duty  at  the 
time  of  the  "  Astor  Place  Riot."*  In  1857  he 
was  elected  second  sergeant  in  the  "  Seventh 
Regiment,"  in  which  he  was  a  recruit.  When 
the  "Seventh"  left  for  Washington,  Farnham 
was  acting  as  first  lieutenant,  but  upon  Ells- 
worth's arrival  at  Washington  with  his  regi- 
ment, he  prevailed  upon  Farnham  to  accept  the 
office  of  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Zouaves,  and 
upon  the  death  of  Ellsworth  he  became  colonel. 
When  his  regiment  received  orders  to  move  on 
to  Manassas  he  was  confined  to  a  sick  bed,  but 
rose,  and,  placing  himself  at  the  head  of  his 
men,  hastened  to  the  scene  of  action.  Col.  F. 
fought  gallantly,  but  early  in  the  engagement 
received  a  wound  in  his  head,  which,  in  his  ex- 
hausted state,  soon  terminated  fatally. 

Sept.  10.— Col.  JOHN  WILLIAMSON  LOWE,  of 
the  Ohio  volunteers,  killed  at  Carnifex  ferry. 
He  was  born  in  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  Nov. 
15,  1809.  When  the  Mexican  war  broke  out, 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


725 


having  some  military  knowledge,  and  •  feeling 
that  his  country  needed  his  services,  he  accept- 
ed the  command  of  the  4th  Ohio  regiment  and 
went  to  the  seat  of  war,  serving  until  it  was 
disbanded  in  1848.  When  the  rebellion  began, 
he  once  more  offered  himself  to  his  country. 
The  12th  regiment  was  organized  and  he  was 
unanimously  chosen  its  colonel,  and,  united  to 
the  Cox  brigade,  they  advanced  up  the  Ka- 
nawha  River.  The  only  battle  necessary  to 
clear  the  Kanawha  valley  of  the  rebels  was 
fought  by  the  12th,  under  Col.  Lowe's  com- 
mand. 

Sept.  15. — JOHN  A.  WASHINGTON,  colonel  in 
tho  Confederate  army,  shot  in  a  skirmish.  He 
was  a  collateral  descendant  of  the  Washington 
family,  and  had  been  the  proprietor  of  Mount 
Yernon,  but  sold  it  for  $200,000  to  the  Mount 
Vernon  Association. 

Sept.  17. — Col. JOHNSTON,  an  officer  of 

the  Confederate  army,  killed  in  battle  in  Mis- 
souri. 

Oct.  21. — EDWABD  D.  BAKER,  an  American 
senator  and  soldier,  born  in  England  about  the 
beginning  of  the  present  century,  and  killed  at 
the  head  of  his  column,  at  the  battle  of  Ball's 
Bluff,  Va,,  Oct.  21,  1861.  He  came  to  this 
country  when  five  years  of  age,  and  found  a 
home  in  Philadelphia,  to  which  place  his  father, 
who  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
was  attracted  by  the  large  number  of  Friends  in 
that  vicinity.  Before  he  reached  the  age  of 
early  manhood  his  father  died  and  left  Edward 
and  a  younger  brother  with  no  near  relatives 
in  this  country,  and  portionless.  Stout-hearted 
and  self-reliant,  the  boy  found  work  by  which 
he  could  support  his  brother  and  himself,  as 
a  weaver,  in  a  small  establishment  in  South 
Street,  Philadelphia.  His  leisure  moments  were 
earnestly  occupied  with  reading,  and  most  of 
his  reading  was  of  an  instructive  character. 
The  West  was  then  a  region  of  romance,  and  its 
broad  prairies  and  fertile  soil  presented  attrac- 
tions to  those  who  looked  forward  to  fortune 
in  the  future.  Young  Baker  resolved  to  go 
thither,  and  taking  his  brother  with  him,  the 
two  youthful  emigrants  started  westward  with 
their  packs  upon  their  shoulders,  with  light 
hearts  and  purses  as  light.  Crossing  the  then 
new  States  of  Ohio  and  Indiana,  they  finally 
reached  Springfield,  Illinois,  which  Edward 
deemed  the  place  for  their  future  home.  Here 
he  soon  commenced  the  study  and  the  practice 
of  law,  and  having  a  natural  gift  of  oratory,  to 
which  his  extensive  reading  had  added  a  large 
vocabulary,  he  soon  became  one  of  the  most 
popular  advocates  in  the  State.  Uniting  his 
fortunes  with  those  of  the  Whig  party,  he  soon 
won  his  way  to  political  honors,  and  in  1846-'47 
was  elected  to  Congress  from  his  district,  and 
was  fast  becoming  recognized  as  one  of  the 
leaders  of  his  party,  when  the  commencement 
of  the  Mexican  war  attracted  his  ardent  spirit, 
and  returning  to  Illinois  he  raised  a  regiment, 
and  took  it  to  the  Rio  Grande.  Availing  him- 
self of  a  brief  furlough,  he  resumed  his  place  in 


Congress  long  enough  to  press  his  views  and 
give  his  vote  in  behalf  of  the  war,  and  hastened 
back  to  his  regiment,  which  he  overtook  on  the 
march  from  Vera  Cruz.  He  distinguished  him- 
self in  every  action  on  the  route  to  Mexico, 
and  when  Gen.  Shields  was  wounded  at  Cerro 
Gordo,  he  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the 
brigade,  and  led  it  through  all  the  subsequent 
conflicts  of  the  war.  Returning  to  Illinois,  he 
was  again  elected  to  Congress,  and  served  his 
district  there  till  1850,  when  he  visited  Panama 
on  business,  and  though  attacked  by  the  Chag- 
res  fever  and  compelled  to  return,  he  had 
learned  too  much  of  the  new.  Eldorado  of  the 
West,  California,  to  be  contented  to  remain 
east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  in  1851  he 
removed  to  San  Francisco,  where  he  soon  took 
rank  as  the  leader  of  the  California  bar,  and 
the  most  eloquent  speaker  in  the  golden  State. 

His  impressive  and  touching  oration  over  the 
body  of  his  friend  Broderick,  will  never  be  for- 
gotten by  those  who  heard  it.  He  soon  after 
removed  to  Oregon,  where  in  1860  he  was 
elected  to  the  U.  S.  Senate.  He  there  distin- 
guished himself  as  one  of  the  firmest  and  lofti- 
est patriots  of  the  Senate,  and  in  debate  proved 
himself  the  most  effective  orator  of  that  body. 
The  taking  of  Fort  Sumter  fired  his  soul  anew 
with  military  ardor,  and  on  the  20th  of  April, 
at  the  mass  meeting  in  Union  Park,  New  York 
city,  he  delivered  an  address  which  thrilled 
the  souls  of  all  who  heard  it.  He  there  pledged 
his  personal  services  to  the  country  as  a  soldier, 
and  closed  his  speech  with  these  impressive 
and  eloquent  words,  which  were  greeted  with 
a  thunder  of  applause : 

"  And  if,  from  the  far  Pacific,  a  voice  feebler 
than  the  feeblest  murmur  upon  its  shore  may 
be  heard  to  give  you  courage  and  hope  in  the 
contest,  that  voice  is  yours  to-day ;  and  if  a 
man  whose  hair  is  gray,  who  is  well-nigh  worn 
out  in  the  battle  and  toil  of  life,  may  pledge 
himself  on  such  an  occasion  and  in  such  an 
audience,  let  me  say,  as  my  last  word,  that 
when,  amid  sheeted  fire  and  flame,  I  saw  and 
led  the  hosts  of  New  York  as  they  charged  in 
contest  upon  a  foreign  soil  for  the  honor  of  your 
flag ;  so  again,  if  Providence  shall  will  it,  this 
feeble  hand  shall  draw  a  sword,  never  yet  dis- 
honored— not  to  fight  for  distant  honor  in  a 
foreign  land,  but  to  fight  for  country,  for  home, 
for  law,  for  government,  for  constitution,,  for 
right,  for  freedom,  for  humanity,  and  in  the  hope 
that  the  banner  of  my  country  may  advance, 
and  wheresoever  that  banner  waves,  there  glory 
may  pursue  and  freedom  be  established." 

The  pledge  thus  made  was  speedily  fulfilled. 
Though  having  a  strong  presentiment  that  he 
should  fall  in  battle,  he  raised  a  fine  regiment, 
called  the  California  Regiment,  which  he  led 
into  the  war,  and  had  been  nominated  Brig- 
adier-General, when  the  disastrous  battle  of 
Ball's  Bluff  occurred.  He  commanded  a  brigade 
in  that  battle,  and  after  exhibiting  the  most 
heroic  bravery  and  daring,  exposing  himself  for 
some  hours  in  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  he  fell 


726 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


pierced  with  six  wounds.  His  colleague  in  the 
Senate,  and  Senators  Latham  and  McDougal 
of  California,  and  Sumner  of  Mass.,  pronounced 
touching  and  eloquent  eulogiums  on  his  memory. 

Oct.  22. — WILLIAM:  LOWELL  PUTNAM,  a  lieu- 
tenant of  volunteers  in  the  United  States  army, 
born  in  Boston,  July  9,  1840,  the  grandson  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Lowell  and  Judge  Samuel 
Putnam,  educated  partly  in  France,  where  he 
resided  from  1851  to  1858,  and  subsequently 
trained  in  law  and  science  in  Harvard  Univer- 
sity ;  entered  the  20th  regiment  of  Massachu- 
setts volunteers  in  1861 ;  was  called  to  the  field 
in  September,  and  on  the  21st  of  October,  at 
the  disastrous  battle  of  Ball's  Bluff,  receive!  a 
mortal  wound  while  leading  on  his  battalion  to 
the  rescue  of  a  wounded  officer.  When  borne 
to  the  hospital  tent  he  declined  the  surgeon's 
assistance,  bidding  him  go  to  those  whom  his 
services  could  benefit,  as  his  life  could  not  be 
saved.  He  died  from  his  wound  the  next  day. 
He  was  a  young  man  of  extraordinary  genius, 
and  of  most  lovely  and  blameless  life,  and  the 
vast  assembly  who  gathered  in  Boston  to  do 
honor  to  his  last  remains,  responded  most  feel- 
ingly to  the  eloquent  and  touching  portrayal 
of  his  character  by  his  pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  Bartol, 
and  Rev.  James  Freeman  Clarke. 

Nov.  18.— Capt.  GEORGE  W.  SNTDEE,  died  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  aged  28  years.  He  was 
born  in  1836  in  New  York.  In  1852  he  was 
appointed  from  the  State  of  New  York  a  cadet 
in  the  military  academy  at  West  Point,  where 
he  graduated  with  high  honor,  holding  the 
rank  of  first  captain.  On  leaving  the  academy 
he  was  appointed  a  second  lieutenant  of  engi- 


neers, the  highest  promotion  accessible  to  a  re- 
cent graduate.  He  was  attached  in  1859  to  the 
board  of  engineers  under  the  presidency  of  Col. 
Thayer,  of  Boston.  In  the  following  year  he 
was  acting  assistant  professor  of  military  and 
civil  engineering  at  West  Point.  When  trouble 
was  anticipated  at  Charleston  he  was  sent  to 
that  station  as  first  engineer,  assistant  to  Capt. 
Foster,  and  through  the  hardships  consequent 
upon  the  siege  of  Fort  Sumter,  contracted  the 
disease  which  ultimately  proved  fatal. 

Dec.  26. — Gen.  PHILIP  ST.  GEORGE  COCKE,  an 
oificer  in  the  Confederate  army,  died  in  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  aged  53  years.  Holding  the  State 
rights  views  of  some  of  the  leading  men  of 
Virginia,  at  the  commencement  of  the  present 
war  he  volunteered  his  services  in  the  Con- 
federate army  of  the  Upper  Potomac,  and 
served  as  captain,  colonel,  and  general.  Upon 
the  field  of  Bull  Run  he  was  commander  of  the 
5th  Confederate  brigade.  After  a  campaign 
of  eight  months  he  returned  to  his  home,  shat- 
tered both  in  mind  and  body,  and  in  a  parox- 
ysm of  insanity  put  an  end  to  his  life. 

Dec.  — . — GEORGE  ST.  JOHN  CROGHAN,  a 
colonel  in  the  Confederate  army,  killed  in  a 
skirmish  during  Floyd's  retreat  from  Cotton 
Hill,  in  Western  Virginia.  Col.  Croghan  was 
the  son  of  the  late  Col.  Croghan,  of  historical 
distinction  in  the  North- Western  campaign  of 
the  war  of  1812.  Col.  George  St.  John  Croghan 
was  born  in  Kentucky.  He  invented  a  pack 
saddle  for  mules,  which  would  convey  three 
wounded  men  over  the  steep  mountain  passes 
of  Western  Virginia  with  almost  the  ease  and 
comfort  of  an  ambulance. 


1862. 


'March  2. — Brig.-Gen.  FREDERICK  WILLIAM 
LANDEE,  an  officer  of  volunteers  in  the  United 
States  service,  born  in  Salem,  Mass.,  December 
17,  1822,  died  at  Pawpaw,  Va.,  March  2,  1862. 
He  was  educated  at  the  Dummer  Academy, 
Byfield,  and  completed  his  studies  as  engineer 
at  Partridge's  Military  Academy  in  Norwich, 
Vt.  After  practising  his  profession  a  few  years 
in  Massachusetts,  he  was  employed  by  the  Gov- 
ernment to  con'duct  several  important  surveys, 
among  which  were  two  to  determine  the  prac- 
ticability of  a  railroad  route  to  the  Pacific,  from 
the  second  of  which,  organized  at  his  own  ex- 
pense, he  was  the  only  one  who  returned  alive. 
In  1858  he  had  the  command  of  an  expedition 
to  open  a  wagon  road  to  California,  across  the 
plains.  He  made  five  explorations  across  the 
continent,  as  engineer,  chief  engineer,  or  super- 
intendent, and  for  his  celerity  and  efficiency 
was  highly  complimented  by  the  Secretary  of 
the  Interior,  in  his  official  report.  While  en- 
gaged in  this  work  his  party  were  at  one  time 
attacked  by  the  Indians,  over  whom  they  gained 
a  complete  victory,  thereby  ensuring  safe  con- 


duct to  the  emigrant  trains  crossing  the  country. 
Of  the  appropriations  made  by  Congress  in  two 
seasons  alone  for  the  construction  of  these  roads, 
he  brought  back  $100,000  of  unexpended  funds. 
At  the  commencement  of  the  civil  war,  in  1861, 
he  offered  his  services  to  Gen.  Scott,  "  in  any 
capacity,  at  any  time,  and  for  any  duty,"  and 
was  successfully  employed  on  several  important 
missions  in  the  Southern  States.  After  serving 
as  a  volunteer  aid  to  Gen.  McClellan  in  western 
Virginia,  and  participating  in  the  capture  of 
Philippi  and  the  battle  of  Rich  Mountain,  he 
was,  in  July,  1861,  commissioned  brigadier- 
general,  and  assigned  to  an  important  command 
on  the  Upper  Potomac.  During  the  disaster 
at  Ball's  Bluff  he  was  at  Washington  arranging 
for  the  opening  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Rail- 
road. Receiving  the  intelligence  of  the  action, 
he  hastened  to  the  spot,  and  in  the  skirmish 
which  he  had  with  the  enemy  opposite  Edwards' 
Ferry,  was  wounded  in  the  leg  by  a  musket 
ball/  Before  the  wound  was  healed  he  reported 
for  duty,  and  was  assigned  the  command  of  the 
forces  at  Romney,  Va.  A  movement  on  the 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


727 


part  of  Gen.  Jackson,  threatening  to  outflank 
his  troops,  rendered  it  expedient  for  him  to  evac- 
uate the  position,  which  he  did  without  loss, 
and  soon  after  recovered  it.  Having  discovered  a 
Confederate  camp  at  Bloomery  Gap,  he  marched 
his  four  thousand  men  a  distance  of  forty-three 
miles  through  deep  snow,  without  rest  and 
with  little  sustenance,  and  charging  upon  them 
completely  routed  the  enemy,  capturing  seven- 
teen commissioned  officers  and  fifty  privates.  In 
this  brilliant  dash  the  Confederate  commander 
and  his  staff  surrendered  to  Gen.  Lander,  who, 
with  a  single  aid,  had  outridden  the  rest  of  the 
force,  and  coming  upon  them  at  full  gallop  de- 
manded their  swords.  In  recognition  of  these 
services  he  received  a  special  letter  of  thanks, 
written  by  the  Secretary  of  "War  in  behalf  of 
the  President.  Soon  after  Gen.  Lander  was 
compelled,  in  consequence  of  his  health,  to  ap- 
ply for  a  temporary  respite  from  military  duties, 
but  before  his  request  could  be  complied  with, 
he  learned  that  the  enemy  were  within  his 
reach,  and  while  preparing  for  a  midnight  attack, 
died  suddenly  with  congestion  of  the  brain.  In 
personal  presence  Gen.  Lander  was  commanding 
and  attractive,  and  as  a  military  leader  com- 
bined a  spirit  of  the  most  daring  enterprise  with 
clearness  of  judgment  in  the  adaptation  of  means 
to  results. 

March  7, — BEN  McCuLLOcn,  a  general  in 
the  Confederate  army,  born  in  Rutherford  Co., 
Tenn.,  in  1814,  killed  in  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge, 
March  7,  1862.  He  was  a  son  of  Alexander 
McCulloch,  who  fought  under  Gen.  Jackson  at 
the  battles  of  Talladega,  Tallahassee,  ,and  Horse- 
shoe, during  the  Creek  war.  He  attended  school 
in  Tennessee  until  he  was  14  years  of  age,  and 
from  that  time  until  21  was  mostly  engaged  in 
hunting,  in  which  occupation  he  became  highly 
skilled.  This  life  gave  him  a  taste  for  adventure, 
and,  upon  learning  of  an  expedition  of  trappers 
to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  he  made  arrangements 
to  join  them ;  failing  in  this,  however,  he  en- 
gaged to  join  the  expedition  of  David  Crockett 
to  Texas,  to  take  part  in  the  revolution ;  but, 
arriving  at  Nacogdoches,  the  place  of  rendez- 
vous, too  late,  he  proceeded  alone  to  the  river 
Brazos,  where  he  was  taken  sick,  and  did  not 
recover  until  after  the  fall  of  the  Alamo.  In 
1836  he  joined  the  Texan  army  under  Gen. 
Sam.  Houston,  and  was  assigned  to  the  artillery. 
He  served  gallantly  at  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto, 
and  afterwards  settled  in  Gonzales  Co.,  Texas, 
and  was  employed  on  the  frontier,  surveying 
and  locating  lands.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Mexican  war  he  raised  a  company  of  Texan 
rangers,  and  arrived  at  the  seat  of  war  four  days 
after  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  the  Resaca. 
His  company  were*  accepted  by  Gen.  Taylor, 
and  won  great  honor  at  the  battles  of  Monterey 
and  Buena  Vista.  He  afterwards  joined  Gen. 
Scott's  army,  and  for  his  gallant  services  at  the 
taking  of  the  city  of  Mexico,  was  appointed 
United  States  Marshal  of  Texas  by  President 
Pierce.  In  1857  he  was  appointed,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  Ex-Governor  Powell,  commissioner 


to  Utah.  At  the  time  of  the  inauguration  of 
President  Lincoln  he  was  in  "Washington,  it  was 
believed,  making  arrangements,  at  the  head  of 
a  body  of  secessionists,  to  take  possession  of  the 
city;  but,  owing  to  the  precautions  of  Gen. 
Scott,  the  idea  was  abandoned.  He  was  subse- 
quently made  brigadier-general  in  the  Confed- 
erate army,  and  assigned  the  command  of  the 
Arkansas  forces.  In  June,  1861,  he  issued  a 
proclamation  to  the  people  of  Arkansas  to  as- 
semble at  Fayetteville  to  defend  the  State  from 
invasion  from  Missouri.  He  commanded  at  the 
battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,  where  Gen.  Lyon  was 
killed,  and,  it  was  said,  having  some  misunder- 
standing with  Gen.  Price,  surrendered  the  com- 
mand to  him.  At  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge  he 
led  a  corps  of  Arkansas,  Louisiana,  and  Texas 
troops,  and  fell  on  the  second  day  of  the  en- 
gagement. 

March  7.— Gen.  JAMES  MoLsTOsrr,  an  officer 
in  the  Confederate  army,  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Pea  Ridge  (or  Elk  Horn,  as  it  is  sometimes 
called),  on  the  7th  of  March,  the  first  day  of  the 
battle.  Gen.  Mclntosh  succeeded  to  the  com- 
mand of  that  wing  of  the  army  commanded  by 
Gen.  Ben.  McCullough,  who  had  fallen  early  in 
the  action.  He  had  scarcely  assumed  command, 
when  as  he  passed  his  old  regiment,  which  was 
about  to  charge,  he  was  enthusiastically  cheered. 
His  brave  spirit  could  not  withstand  the  temp- 
tation to  place  himself  at  their  head,  and  lead 
the  charge.  He  received  the  contents  of  a 
musket,  loaded  with  buck-shot  and  ball,  in  the 
breast,  and  died  instantly.  It  was  said  that  the 
shot  came  from  some  of  his  own  men ;  but  the 
assertion  has  not  been  substantiated.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  was  regarded  as  the  most 
dashing  and  accomplished  cavalry  officer  in  the 
Trans-Mississippi  army  of  the  South.  Gen. 
Mclntosh  was  born  in  Florida,  and  entered 
West  Point  military  academy  in  1845.  Entered 
the  army  as  brevet  second  lieutenant  of  the  1st 
infantry  in  1849.  In  1851  he  was  in  the  8th 
infantry. 

March  7.— GKO.  W.  Y.  SLACK,  an  officer  in 
the  Confederate  army,  was  mortally  wounded 
on  the  first  day  of  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge  (or 
Elk  Horn).  He  resided  before  the  war  in  Linn 
County,  Missouri,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
State  Senate.  He  entered  into  the  service  of 
the  State  upon  the  first  call  of  Governor  Jack- 
son, and  was  subsequently  in  all  of  Gen.  Price's 
battles  in  Missouri,  distinguished  at  all  times 
for  his  coolness,  courage,  moderation,  and  good 
sense.  He  commanded  a  cavalry  brigade  at 
the  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,  and  was  severely 
wounded.  Upon  the  transfer  of  the  Mis- 
souri troops  from  the  State  to  the  Confederate 
service,  in  January,  1862,  he  resigned  his  posi- 
tion as  general,  and  modestly  entered  the  Con- 
federate service  as  a  private.  He  was  chosen 
by  the  men  formerly  under  his  command,  and 
temporarily  assumed  the  command,  as  briga- 
dier-general. Owing  to  the  difficulty  of  com- 
munication with  the  government  at  Richmond, 
his  appointment  as  general  did  not  reach  the 


728 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY'  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


army  until  after  his  death.  In  spite  of  all 
opposition,  Gen.  Slack  had  himself  placed  in 
an  ambulance  and  attempted  to  follow  the 
retreat  of  his  troops,  but  was  at  length  per- 
suaded to  allow  himself  to  be  secreted  in  a 
country  house,  declaring  he  would  rather  die 
than  be  captured.  Parties  of  the  Federal  cav- 
alry visited  the  house  in  search  of  him,  but  he 
feigned  to  be  a  private,  and  was  not  molested. 
His  mortal  wound  was  only  half  an  inch  above 
the  one  received  at  "Wilson's  Creek. 

March  8.— Capt.  CHURCHILL  CLARK,  an  officer 
of  artillery  in  the  Confederate  army,  killed  at 
Pea  Ridge  (Elk  Horn).  Capt.  Clark  was  born 
in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  on  the  12th  of  Sept.,  1842. 
He  entered  the  military  academy  at  "West  Point, 
in  1859,  appointed  at  large.  He  remained  a 
cadet  until  June,  1861,  when  he  resigned,  and 
entered  the  Southern  service  as  a  cadet  of  the 
regular  army.  He  was  sent  from  Richmond 
as  bearer  of  desptches  to  the  Trans-Mississippi 
Department,  and  reported  to  Maj.-Gen.  Sterling 
Price  at  Lexington,  Mo.  He  was  placed  in 
command  of  two  pieces  of  field  artillery,  and 
distinguished  himself  in  the  siege  of  Lexing- 
ton. A  guerdon  was  offered  to  him  who  should 
break  the  Federal  flagstaff  and  bring  down  the 
flag,  which  was  won  by  Capt.  Clark,  who 
sighted  his  own  guns.  His  bravery  and  skill, 
and  his  youth,  then  only  eighteen  years  old, 
won  the  respect  and  admiration  of  the  army. 
He  was  highly  complimented  in  general  orders 
for  his  conduct  in  this  engagement.  "When  the 
army  was  reorganized  at  Springfield,  Mo.,  Capt. 
Clark  received  a  full  battery  of  four  guns  from 
Gen.  Price,  and  it  was  whilst  in  command  of  this 
battery,  that  on  the  second  day  of  the  battle  of 
Elk  Horn,  his  head  was  taken  off  by  a  cannon 
ball,  just  as  he  was  limbering  up  his  last  gun, 
preparatory  to  a  retreat.  Capt.  Clark  had  been 
ordered  to  retire,  and  had  already  withdrawn 
his  other  guns. 

March  8.— Col.  BENJAMIN  A.  RIVES,  an  offi- 
cer in  the  Confederate  army,  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Pea  Ridge  (or  Elk  Horn).  Col.  Rives 
was  born  in  Virginia,  and  married  the  daugh- 
ter of  Col.  Towns,  of  Spottsylvania  County 
in  that  State.  Early  in  life  he  removed  to 
Ray  County,  Missouri,  where  he  settled,  and 
practised  the  profession  of  medicine.  He  raised 
and  tendered  to  Governor  Claiborne  F.  Jackson 
the  first  military  company  that  was  raised  in 
the  State  of  Missouri  to  fight  in  behalf  of  the 
cause  of  the  South.  He  subsequently  com- 
manded a  regiment  in  Gen.  Slack's  brigade  of 
cavalry,  and  at  the  battle  of  "Wilson's  Creek,  as 
senior  colonel,  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the 
brigade,after  the  general  was  severely  wounded. 
In  January,  1862,  upon  the  transfer  of  the  troops 
from  the  State  to  the  Confederate  service,  he 
was  elected  colonel  of  the  third  Missouri  regi- 
ment, and  was  killed  at  tho  head  of  his  regiment, 
gallantly  maintaining  his  high  reputation  as  a 
brave  and  skilful  officer. 

April  6.— Col.  BLYTHE,  an  officer  in  the 
Confederate  array,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh, 


in  Tennessee.  Col.  Blythe  was  from  Missis- 
sippi, and  was  formerly  consul  to  Havana. 

April  6. — Brig. -Gen.  GLADDEN,  an  officer 
in  the  Southern  army,  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Shiloh.  Gen.  Gladden  was  born  in  South  Car- 
olina, bat  at  the  commencement  of  the  war  was 
a  citizen  of  the  State  of  Louisiana.  He  had  dis- 
tinguished himself  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  on 
the  bloody  fields  of  Contreras  and  Churubusco, 
and  received  honorable  wounds  in  those  engage- 
ments. He  died  in  the  belief  that  the  Confed- 
erate arms  had  achieved  a  great  victory,  and 
exclaimed :  "  This  is  the  best  day  of  my 
life!" 

April  6. — ALBERT  SYDNEY  JOHNSTON,  a  gen- 
eral in  the  Confederate  service,  born  in  Mason 
County,  Kentucky,  in  1803,  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862.  He  graduated 
at  West  Point  in  1826,  as  lieutenant  in  the  6th 
infantry,  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  in 
1836  entered  the  Texan  army  as  a  private  sol- 
dier. After  several  promotions,  he  succeeded 
Gen.  Felix  Houston  in  the  chief  command,  and 
was  involved  in  a  duel  with  him  in  consequence. 
In  1838  he  was  appointed  secretary  of  war, 
and  the  following  year  engaged  in  a  success- 
ful expedition  against  the  Cherokees.  In  1840 
he  retired  to  private  life  for  a  time,  in  Brazo- 
ria  County,  Texas ;  but  in  1846,  at  the  solici- 
tation of  Gen.  Taylor,  he  assumed  the  com- 
mand of  §  volunteer  Texan  regiment  against 
the  Mexicans.  At  the  siege  of  Monterey  he 
served  as  inspector-general,  and  won  himself 
much  distinction.  In  October,  1849,  he  re- 
ceived from  President  Taylor  the  appointment 
of  paymaster  of  the  army,  with  the  rank  of 
major.  In  1857  he  conducted  the  expedition 
against  the  Mormons,  and  commanded  the  dis- 
trict of  Utah,  with  the  brevet  rank  of  briga- 
dier-general, until  1860,  when  he  was  removed 
to  the  command  of  the  Pacific  department,  and 
stationed  at  San  Francisco.  His  sympathies 
being  upon  the  side  of  the  Southern  Confed- 
eracy, he  was  making  arrangements  to  deliver 
the  State  of  California  to  the  Confederacy  when 
he  was  unexpectedly  superseded  in  his  com- 
mand by  General  E.  V.  Sumner,  before  his 
plans  were  completed.  Upon  his  return  to  the 
East  he  was  placed  in  an  important  command, 
and  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh  was  coinmander- 
in-chief  of  the  Confederate  army  of  the  West, 
and,  in  the  first  day  of  that  sanguinary  fight, 
when  encouraging  and  urging  forward  his 
troops,  was  mortally  wounded. 

April  6. — Lieut.  FITZ  JAMES  O'BRIEN  died  in 
Virginia,  aged  33  years.  He  was  born  in  Ire- 
land, and  came  to  this  country  about  1850.  He 
was  a  brilliant  writer,  and  also  a  poet  of  much 
merit.  In  April,  1861,  upon  the  call  for  troops, 
he  enlisted  in  the  7th  regiment  New  York  State 
militia,  and  in  Jan.,  1862,  accepted  an  appoint- 
ment upon  the  Staff  of  Gen.  Lander,  and  in  the 
short  time  of  service  prior  to  his  death,  distin- 
guished himself  as  an  officer  of  courage  and 
daring.  He  was  wounded  in  a  skirmish  on 
Feb.  16,  and  died  from  tetanus,  following  a 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


729 


severe  surgical  operation,  which  he  bore  with 
great  fortitude. 

April  6. — Col.  EVERETT  PEABODT,  of  the 
25th  Missouri  regiment,  was  killed  in  the  battle 
of  Shiloh.  He  was  born  in  Springfield,  Mass., 
June  13,  1830,  graduated  at  Harvard  College 
in  1849,  and  adopted  civil  engineering  as  a 
profession,  in  which  he  rapidly  distinguished 
himself.  He  was  employed  upon  various  rail- 
roads at  the  West,  and  in  1859  was  chief  engi- 
neer of  the  Platte  County  Railroad.  "When  the 
war  broke  out  he  raised  a  battalion,  was  com- 
missioned major,  and  employed  in  repairing 
and  defending  the  railway  communications  of 
northern  Missouri.  He  commanded  1,200  men 
at  the  siege  of  Lexington,  and  received  a  wound, 
which  lamed  him  for  life,  notwithstanding 
which  he  reorganized  his  regiment,  and  upon 
joining  Gen.  Grant's  army  was  assigned  the 
command  of  a  brigade  under  Gen.  Prentiss  on 
the  exposed  left  wing,  nearest  the  enemy,  where 
in  the  unequal  conflict  he  was  killed. 

April  6. — Col.  KITT  WILLIAMS,  an  officer 
in  the  Confederate  army,  killed  at  Shiloh. 

April  7. — Col.  WILLIAM  PEGHAM  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  Tenn.  He  was  born  in 
Virginia,  but  had  resided  for  many  years  in 
Kentucky.  Though  a  brother  of  Robert  Pe- 
gram,  commander  of  the  Confederate  steamer 
Nashville,  he  was  a  stanch  loyalist,  and  raised 
a  regiment  of  cavalry,  which  was  in  the  engage- 
ment at  Pittsburg  Landing.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  acting  brigadier-general. 

April  7. — GEORGE  M.  JOHNSTON,  Seces- 
sion Provisional  Governor  of  Kentucky,  killed 
at  Shiloh  on  the  second  day  of  the  battle.  He 
was  the  son  of  the  hero  of  the  battle  of  the 
Thames,  and  during  a  long  public  and  private 
career  had  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  noblest 
sons  of  Kentucky.  He  served  in  the  staff  de- 
partment the  first  day  of  the  battle,  but  having 
had  his  horse  killed  under  him,  he  entered  a  Ken- 
tucky infantry  company  that  night,  and  was 
regularly  "  sworn  in."  On  the  second  day  he 
fell  mortally  wounded  in  the  thickest  of  the 
fight.  In  making  official  mention  of  his  death, 
Gen.  Beauregard  declared  "  that  not  Kentucky 
alone,  but  the  whole  Confederacy,  had  sustained 
a  great  loss  in  the  death  of  this  brave,  upright, 
and  able  man." 

April  8. — Prof.  MILES  J.  FLETCHER,  of  the 
Indiana  Asbury  University,  Greencastle,  Ind., 
and  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction, 
was  killed  while  on  his  way  to  aid  the  wound- 
ed, after  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  He  was  a  man 
of  superior  attainments,  and  of  earnest  loyalty 
and  patriotism.  During  a  part  of  the  previous 
year  he  had  added  to  his  other  duties  that  of 
assistant  adjutant-general.  In  his  message  of 
Jan.  1863,  Gov.  Morton  paid  a  tribute  to  his 
many  virtues  and  excellencies. 

April  10. — Gen.  WM.  HAEVEY  LAMB  WAL- 
LACE died  at  Savannah,  Tenn.,  from  a  wound 
received  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  He  was  born 
in  Urbana,  Ohio,  July  8,  1821,  was  educated 
for  the  law,  served  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  in 


1853  was  elected  State  attorney  for  the  ninth 
judicial  circuit  of  Illinois.  He  held  command 
of  the  llth  regiment  of  Illinois  volunteers,  and 
joined  the  depot  at  Cairo  during  the  early  stages 
of  the  war.  He  held  a  command  in  the  troops 
sent  to  attack  Fort  Henry,  and  distinguished 
himself  in  the  siege  of  Fort  Donelson,  where 
he  commanded  a  brigade  in  Gen.  McClernand's 
division  of  Gen.  Grant's  army.  For  his  gal- 
lantry upon  that  occasion  he  was  made  by 
Congress,  on  the  21st  of  March,  a  full  brigadier- 
general,  and  with  that  rank  went  with  the  ex- 
pedition up  the  Tennessee  River. 

April  25. — CHARLES  FERGUSON  SMITH,  a  ma- 
jor-general of  volunteers  in  the  United  States 
service,  born  in  Pennsylvania  about  1806,  died 
at  Savannah,  Tennessee,  April  25, 1862.  He  was 
a  son  of  the  late  Dr.  Samuel  B.  Smith,  U.  S.  A., 
graduated  with  honor  at  West  Point  in  1835,  and 
was  made  second  lieutenant  of  artillery  on  the 
1st  of  July  in  the  same  year.  In  1829  he  was 
appointed  assistant  instructor  in  infantry  tactics 
at  West  Point ;  in  1831  was  promoted  to  the 
adjutancy,  and  in  1832  was  made  a  first  lieu- 
tenant. In  1838  he  was  appointed  instructor 
in  infantry  tactics  and  commandant  of  cadets, 
and  the  same  year  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy. 
He  took  an  important  part  in  most  of  the  bat- 
tles during  the  Mexican  war;  in  1847  was  bre- 
vetted  major  for  gallant  conduct  in  the  battles 
of  Pala  Alto  and  Resaca  do  la  Palma,  in  Texas, 
and  at  the  battles  of  Monterey,  Contreras,  and 
Churubusco,  won  the  successive  brevets  of  lieu- 
tenant-colonel and  colonel.  In  the  same  year 
he  was  appointed  acting  inspector-general  in 
Mexico.  On  the  25th  of  November,  1854,  he 
was  made  major  of  the  1st  artillery,  and  the 
following  year  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  10th 
infantry.  In  Sept.,  1851,  he  was  promoted  to 
the  colonelcy  of  the  3d  infantry,  having  the 
previous  month  been  appointed  brigadier-gen- 
eral of  volunteers,  and  taken  charge  of  the  troops 
at  Paducah,  Ky.  At  the  attack  on  Fort  Donel- 
son, the  most  brilliant  charge  was  made  by  the, 
troops  under  his  command,  and  had  much  to  do 
with  the  surrender.  For  his  gallantry  on  that 
memorable  occasion  he  was  promoted  to  a 
major-generalship,  and  ordered  to  take  posses- 
sion of  Savannah,  Tenn.,  where  he  died  of 
chronic  dysentery  contracted  during  the  Mexi- 
can war,  and  fatally  aggravated  by  his  expos- 
ures in  the  campaign  of  the  West. 

May  18.— Gen.  WM.  H.  KEIM  died  at  Har- 
risburg,  Pa.,  aged  about  49  years.  He  was  for 
several  years  a  militia  general,  and  in  1859 
was  elected  surveyor-general  of  the  State.  At 
the  commencement  of  the  present  war  he  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  major-general  from  Gov. 
Curtin,  and  was  in  Gen.  Patterson's  division  on 
the  Upper  Potomac  during  the  three  mouths' 
service.  In  the  fall  of  1861  he  was  appointed 
a  brigadier-general  by  the  President,  and  join- 
ed McClellan's  division,  where  a  brigade,  con- 
sisting chiefly  of  Pennsylvania  regiments,  was 
placed  under  his  command.  He  died  of  a  com- 
bined attack  of  typhoid  fever  and  dysentery. 


730 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


June  1. — Col.  OLIYEB  H.  EIPLEY,  of  the  61st 
Pennsylvania  regiment,  killed  in  the  battle  be- 
fore Richmond.  He  was  born  in  Pittsburg  in 
1826,  studied  law  under  Bushrod  Washington, 
Esq.,  served  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  upon  his 
return  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
for  which  he  possessed  talents  of  the  first  or^er. 
As  a  soldier  he  possessed  every  necessary  ele- 
ment— courage,  endurance,  and  faith. 

June  5. — Col.  ALBERT  WALDO  DEAKE,  died 
in  South  Windsor,  Conn.,  aged  27  years.  He 
entered  the  junior  class  in  Yale  after  having 
been  a  member  of  Williams  College,  and  grad- 
uated in  1857,  studied  law  in  Hartford  and 
New '  Haven,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1859,  in  which  year  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Connecticut  House  of  Representatives.  He 
afterwards  commenced  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Hartford.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
present  war  he  was  commissioned  as  first  lieu- 
tenant of  the  1st  Connecticut  volunteers,  and 
distinguished  himself  with  honor  in  the  battle 
of  Bull  Run.  He  was  subsequently  appointed 
by  the  governor  lieut.-colonel  of  the  10th  Con- 
necticut volunteers,  and  as  such  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Roanoke  Island.  He  took  part 
also  in  the  capture  of  Newbern,  and  was  then 
appointed  colonel  of  his  regiment. 

June  6. — General  T.UBNEB  ASHBT,  an  officer 
of  cavalry  in  the  Confederate  army,  killed  in  a 
skirmish  near  Harrisonburg,  Virginia.  He  was 
the  second  sdn  of  the  late  Col.  Turner  Ashby,  of 
"  Rose  Bank,"  Fauquier  County,  and  Dorothia 
F.  Green,  daughter  of  the  late  James  Green,  Sr., 
of  Rappahannock  County,  Virginia.  The  per- 
sonal appearance  of  Gen.  Ashby  was  not  strik- 
ing. He  was  of  small  stature,  had  a  long  black 
beard,  and  dark  complexion.  His  eyes  were 
dark  and  glittering.  In  battle  his  face  was 
lighted  up  with  the  glow  of  excitement,  and  his 
eyes  flashed  like  the  blade  of  a  cimeter.  It 
was  not  generally  known  that  the  man  who 
performed  such  deeds  of  desperate  valor  and 
enterprise,  and  who  was  generally  pictured  to 
%the  mind  as  a  fierce,  stalwart,  and  relentless 
adventurer,  was  as  remarkable  for  his  piety  and 
devoutness  as  for  his  military  achievements. 
His  manners  were  a  combination  of  gentleness 
with  the  most  enthusiastic  courage.  It  is  said 
of  him  that  when  he  gave  his  most  daring  com- 
mands he  would  gently  draw  his  sabre,  wave 
it  round  his  head,  and  in  a  clear  ringing  voice 
command,  "  Follow  me !  "  In  his  manner  he 
was  grave  and  silent,  but  courteous  and  gentle. 
He  was  singularly  domestic  in  his  tastes,  and 
shunned  the  dissipations  so  common  to  young 
men.  He  had  an  enthusiastic  love,  however, 
for  the  chase  and  all  field  sports.  He  was  an 
excellent  and  graceful  horseman,  and  loved  the 
horse.  Gen.  Ashby  covered  Gen.  Jackson's 
(Stonewall)  retreat  from  Kearnstown  after  the 
battle  at  that  place.  In  his  report  Gen.  Jack- 
son says :  "  An  official  report  is  not  an  appro- 
priate place  to  give  a  passing  notice  of  the  dis- 
tinguished dead,  but  the  close  relations  Gen. 
Ashby  has  borne  to  my  command  for  the  last 


twelve  months  justify  me  in  saying  that  as  a 
partisan  officer  I  never  knew  his  superior. 
His  daring  was  proverbial;  his  powers  of  en- 
durance almost  incredible ;  his  tone  of  charac- 
ter heroic,  and  his  sagacity  almost  intuitive  in 
divining  the  purposes  and  movements  of  the 
enemy."  The  death  of  his  brother,  Capt. 
Richard  Ashby,  saddened  the  life  and  changed 
the  disposition  of  Gen.  Ashby  very  materially. 
Capt.  Richard  Ashby  had  been  engaged  in  a 
hand-to-hand  contest  in  a  skirmish,  and  had 
wounded  his  opponent,  but  in  his  retreat  his 
horse  proved  false  and 'fell.  Capt.  Ashby  was 
caught,  wounded,  and  beaten,  and  left  for  dead. 
He  lived  for  several  days,  however,  and  died 
among  his  friends.  But  from  that  day  Gen. 
Ashby  always  wore  a  sad  smile ;  he  was  more 
silent  and  solemn  and  earnest  than  before. 
His.  behavior  at  his  brother's  grave  was  most 
touching.  He  stood  over  the  open  grave, 
took  his  brother's  sword,  broke  it,  and  threw 
it  in ;  clasped  his  hands  and  looked  up- 
wards, as  if  in  resignation,  and  then  pressing 
his  lips,  as  if  in  the  bitterness  of  his  grief, 
while  a  tear  rolled  down  his  cheek,  he  turned 
without  a  word,  mounted  his  horse  and  rode 
away.  Thenceforth  his  name  was  a  terror. 
No  dinner  parties,  no  collations,  no  induce 
ments  could  draw  him  away  from  his  camp  or 
his  duties.  He  slept  among  his  men,  treated 
them  as  equals,  and  they  idolized  him.  No 
matter  at  what  time  of  night  he  was  aroused 
he  was  wakeful  and  ready  for  battle.  His 
passion  for  dangers  was  extraordinary.  At  one 
time,  to  encourage  some  militia  whom  he  com- 
manded, he  advanced  to  the  Potomac,  and  rode 
his  white  horse  slowly  up  and  down  the  bank. 
The  Federal  troops,  with  long  ranged  guns, 
were  posted  on  the  other  side,  and  continually 
firing.  When  the  balls  were  whistling  by  him 
thickest,  Ashby  would  rein  in  his  horse  and 
stand  perfectly  still,  the  picture  of  daring  and 
recklessness.  At  one  time  he  was  riding 
abreast  of  three  hundred  infantry,  who  were 
passing  along  the  turnpike.  All  at  once  he 
wheeled  his  horse,  and  leaping  the  fence  with 
drawn  sword,  cut  his  way  right  (through  them ; 
then  wheeling  he  did  the  same  thing  a  second 
time.  A  week  after  this  occurrence  Ashby 
was  dead. 

June  18. — Col.  JAMES  H.  PEBEY,  D.D.,  died 
of  apoplexy  at  Fort  Pulaski,  Georgia,  aged 
about  51  years.  He  was  educated  at  West 
Point,  served  in  the  Texan  War  of  Independ- 
ence and  through  the  Mexican  campaign.  At 
the  commencement  of  the  present  war  he  was 
pastor  of  the  Pacific  Street  M.  E.  Church  at 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  but  from  love  of  his  country, 
and  a  sense  of  duty,  resigned  the  pastorate  of 
the  church,  and  raised  a  regiment  called  the 
Continental  Guards,  which  was  accepted  as  the 
48th  N.  Y.  State  volunteers.  This  regiment 
formed  a  part  of  Gen.  Sherman's  Port  Royal 
expedition.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  had 
command  of  Fort  Pulaski. 

June  21.— -CHARLES  ELLET,  Jr.,  an  American 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


731 


engineer,  born  at  Penn's  Manor,  Bucks  Co., 
Pa.,  Jan.  1st,  1810,  died  at  Cairo,  HI.,  June  21, 
1862.  He  was  a  thorough  master  of  his  pro- 
fession, and  his  name  is  identified  with  several 
of  the  most  important  works  in  the  country. 
He  designed  and  built  the  wire  suspension 
bridge  across  the  Schuylkill  at  Fairmount,  Phil- 
adelphia, the  first  in  the  United  States,  and 
subsequently  the  suspension  bridge  across  the 
Niagara  River  below  the  falls,  and  one  at 
Wheeling,  Va.  He  constructed  the  temporary 
track  of  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad  across 
the  Blue  Ridge,  and  contributed  largely  to  the 
improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Kanawha 
River.  He  aided  also  in  laying  out  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  there  are  indeed 
hardly  any  of  the  "Western  or  Middle  States 
which  do  not  furnish  some  lasting  evidence  of 
his  professional  skill.  In  1846-'47  he  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Schuylkill  Navigation  Company. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  in  1861,  he  was 
residing  at  Washington,  where  he  became 
deeply  interested  in  the  conduct  erf  military 
matters,  and  devoted  much  attention  to  the  use 
of  rams  in  naval  warfare.  He  projected  a  plan 
for  cutting  off  the  Confederate  army  at  Manas- 
sas,  which  being  rejected  by  Gen.  McClellan, 
he  wrote  two  pamphlets  severely  censuring  his 
mode  of  conducting  the  campaign.  The  Navy 
Department  having  rejected  his  plan  for  the 
construction  of  rams  for  service  on  the  Missis- 
sippi, he  applied  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  and 
was  successful.  He  was  commissioned  as  colo- 
nel of  engineers,  and  converted  several  power- 
ful steamers  into  rams,  which  did  effective 
service  in  the  naval  battle  off  Memphis,  in 
which  engagement  he  received  the  wound 
whereby  he  lost  his  life.  He  was  the  author 
of  an  "Essay  on  the  Laws  of  Trade,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  Works  of  Internal  Improvement  in 
the  United  States ;  "  a  paper  "  On  the  Physical 
Geography  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  with  sug- 
gestions as  to  the  Improvement  of  the  Navi- 
gation of  the  Ohio  and  other  rivers,"  published 
in  "Transactions  of  the  Smithsonian  Institu- 
tion ;  "  a  pamphlet  oa  "  Coast  and  Harbor  De- 
fenses, or  the  Substitution  of  Steam  Battering 
Rams  for  Ships  of  War,"  and  several  other 
important  and  valuable  scientific  papers. 

June  27. — Col.  ISAAC  M.  TTJOKEB,  of  the  2d  • 
New  Jersey  regiment,  was  killed  in  the  battle 
of  Games'  Mill.  He  was  a  resident  of  Newark, 
N.  J.,  a  member  'of  the  legal  profession,  and  a 
man  of  much  influence  throughout  the  State. 
In  1856  he  was  a  member  of  the  State  Repub- 
lican Executive  Committee.  He  was  a  true 
patriot,  and  his  services  to  his  regiment  were 
most  valuable.  He  was  shot  by  the  enemy 
while  being  borne  wounded  from  the  field. 

June  30. — Col.  GUILFORD  D.  BAILEY,  was 
killed  at  the  battle  of  the  Seven  Pines,  aged  28 
years.  He  was  a  native  of  New  York,  gradu- 
ated at  West  Point  in  1856,  and  was  appointed 
to  artillery  service.  Soon  after  his  graduation 
he  was  ordered  to  Florida,  and  after  a  short 
service  there  was  assigned  to  Forts  Mackinaw, 


Spelling,  and  Leavenworth  successively.  When 
secession  began  he  was  in  Texas,  where  he 
refused  peremptorily  to  be  included  in  Twiggs' 
surrender  in  1861.  Coming  north,  he  was 
sent  with  Major  Hunt's  battery  to  reenforce 
Fort  Pickens.  Subsequently  he  raised  a  vol- 
unteer regiment  in  the  northern  part  of  New 
Jersey,  and  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
participating  in  all  the  battles  until,  as  chief  of 
artillery  in  Gen.  Casey's  division,  he  was  mor- 
tally wounded. 

July  24. — WILLIAM  HENRY  MILNOE,  M.D., 
surgeon  in  the  army,  died  at  Savage's  Station, 
near  Richmond,  Va.,  aged  about  60  years.  He 
was  a  son  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Milnor,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  Past  Grand  Master  of  the 
Masonic  Order  in  the  State  of  New  York. 

Aug.  5. — Brig.-Gen.  ROBERT  L.  McCooK,  an 
officer  in  the  Union  service,  shot  by  guerrillas 
near  Salem,  Alabama.  He  was  a  native  of 
Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  born  in  1827.  He 
was  a  man  of  fine  attainments,  and  had  early 
chosen  the  legal  profession.  He  studied  law  in 
Columbus,  and  opened  an  office  in  that  city 
when  he  was  only  21  years  of  age.  A  few 
years  later  he  removed  to  Cincinnati,  where 
he  acquired  a  large  practice.  At  the  first 
call  for  troops  he  raised  a  regiment  of  Ger- 
mans for  the  war.  During  the  two  months 
that  his  regiment  was  in  camp  in  Ohio,  he  had 
drilled  them  into  a  high  state  of  perfection. 
In  the  campaign  of  Western  Virginia  in  the 
summer  and  autumn  of  1861  McCook  and  his 
"bully  Dutchmen,"  as  his  regiment  was  called, 
were  constantly  on  the  alert,  and  at  Rich 
Mountain,  Cheat  Mountain,  in  the  various 
skirmishes  on  and  near  the  line  of  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  at  Carnifex  ferry, 
the  skill,  bravery,  and  daring  of  the  command- 
er, and  the  invincibility  of  the  troops,,  were 
fully  tested.  Early  in  the  winter  Col.  McCook 
was  ordered  with  his  command  to  Kentucky, 
and  at  Mill  Springs  the  impetuosity  of  his  regi- 
ment in  their  charge  upon  the  enemy  carried 
the  day.  Col.  McCook  was  wounded  in  the 
engagement,  but  only  remained  away  from  his 
regiment  long  enough  to  recover  sufficient 
strength  to  ride  on  horseback.  For  his  gallant 
conduct  at  Mill  Springs  he  was  promoted  to  a 
brigadier-generalship,  the  Senate  unanimously 
confirming  the  nomination,  but  he  was  so 
strongly  attached  to.  his  "bully  Dutchman," 
and  they  were  so  unwilling  to  have  any  other 
commander,  that  he  never  accepted  the  com- 
mission. He  joined  Gen.  Buell's  command 
after  the  evacuation  of  Bowling  Green,  but  was 
not  in  any  of  the  subsequent  battles.  At  the 
time  of  the  attack  on  him  he  was  very  sick, 
and  was  carried  in  an  ambulance,  one  regiment 
and  part  of  another  of  his  brigade  being  in  ad- 
vance, and  the  remainder  some  distance  in  the 
rear.  The  guerrillas,  who  were  partly  residents 
of  the  vicinity,  had  been  informed  that  he  was 
to  pass,  and  knowing  his  helpless  condition, 
had  lain  in  ambush  for  him  while  the  regiments 
in  advance  passed.  They  came  upon  his  escort 


732 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


in  large  force,  overturned  the  ambulance,  and 
shot  him  down  in  cold  blood.  His  faithful 
driver  and  attendant  bore  him  to  the  nearest 
house.  He  survived,  though  in  terrible  suffer- 
ing, about  24  hours.  His  regiment,  learning 
of  the  death  of  their  commander,  visited  the 
scene,  and  seizing  some  of  the  guerrillas,  hung 
them  at  once,  and  destroyed  then-  houses.  The 
McCook  family  have  contributed  more  men  to 
the  war,  probably,  than  any  other  in  the  United 
States.  Maj.-Gen.  Alexander  McDowell  Mc- 
Cook was  a  brother  of  the  murdered  general, 
and  sixteen  members  of  the  family  have  been 
either  in  the  army  or  navy. 

Aug.  5. — Ool.  GEOBGE  T.  ROBERTS,  an  officer 
in  the  Union  service,  and  commander  of  the 
7th  regiment  Vermont  volunteers,  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Baton  Rouge,  La.  He  was  a  native 
of  Rutland,  Vt.,  and  the  regiment  which  he 
commanded  was  one  raised  to  form  part  of 
Gen.  Butler's  command  on  the  Ship  Island  ex- 
pedition. He  was  commissioned  Feb.  12, 1862, 
and  sailed  for  Ship  Island  on  the  10th  of  the 
following  month.  Ool.  Roberts  participated  in 
the  capture  of  New  Orleans,  and  his  regiment 
suffered  severely  in  the  battle  of  Baton  Rouge, 
in  which  he  lost  his  life. 

Aug.  5. — Brig.-Gen.  THOMAS  WILLIAMS,  an 
officer  of  the  U.  S.  army,  killed  in  the  battle 
of  Baton  Rouge,  La.  He  was  a  native  of  New 
York,  born  in  1818 ;  was  appointed  a  cadet 
at  West  Point  from  Michigan  in  1833,  and 
graduated  in  1837;  received  the  appointment 
of  brevet  second  lieutenant  in  the  4th  artillery 
during  the  same  year ;  in  1840-'41  was  acting 
assistant  professor  of  mathematics  at  West 
Point;  in  1844  was  appointed  an  aide-de-camp 
on  Gen.  Scott's  staff,  and  in  the  Mexican  war 
won  the  brevets  of  captain  and  major  for  gal- 
lantry and  meritorious  conduct.  He  was  pro- 
moted to  a  captaincy  in  1850,  and  commissioned 
major  in  the  5th  artillery  in  May,  1861,  and  in 
September  of  the  same  year  appointed  briga- 
dier-general of  volunteers.  During  the  autumn 
of  1861  he  commanded  the  forts  at  Hatteras 
Inlet,  and  when  the  Ship  Island  expedition 
was  sent  out  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
one  of  the  brigades.  He  commanded  the  forces 
in  the  first  unsuccessful  attack  upon  Vicksburg, 
projected  and  superintended  the  cutting  of  the 
canal  intended  to  turn  the  course  of  the  Missis- 
sippi away  from  Vicksburg ;  on  the  failure  of 
this  enterprise  he  was  placed  in  command  at 
Baton  Rouge.  He  repelled  with  vigor  and 
success  the  attack  of  the  Confederate  General 
Breckinridge  on  that  place,  but  just  at  the  close 
of  the  engagement,  while  bringing  up  a  Michi- 
gan regiment  to  charge  upon  the  enemy,  he  was 
slain.  He  was  an  able  and  skilful  officer,  and 
a  very  rigid  disciplinarian. 

Aug.  6. — Col.  F.  MoCuLLOUGH,  a  guerrilla 
belonging  to  Porter's  command,  captured  near 
Edina,  Missouri.  He  was  carried  to  Kirksville, 
where  a  court-martial  was  convened,  before 
which  he  was  tried  and  condemned  to  be  shot 
to  death  with  musketry  the  same  afternoon. 


He  received  the  announcement  of  his  sentence 
with  perfect  composure,  but  protested  against 
it.  He  leaned  against  the  fence  and  wrote  a 
few  lines  to  his  wife,  which,  with  his-  watch,  he 
delivered  to  the  officer  in  command  to  give  to 
her.  On  the  way  to  the  place  of  his  execution 
he  requested  the  privilege  to  give  the  command 
to  fire,  which  was  granted.  All  being  ready, 
in  a  clear  firm  voice  he  said:  "What  I  have 
done  I  have  done  as  a  principle  of  right.  Aim 
at  the  heart.  Fire!"  The  word  taking  the 
squad  by  surprise,  one  fired  before  the  rest. 
He  fell,  and  the  remainder  of  the  balls  passed 
over  him.  He  was  despatched  by  an6ther 
volley. 

Aug.  9. — Lieut.-Col.  L.  H.  D.  CBANE,  an 
officer  in  the  Union  service,  at  the  time  of  his 
death  acting  colonel  of  the  3d  regiment  Wis- 
consin volunteers,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Cedar 
or  Slaughter  Mountain.  He  was  a  citizen  of 
Ripon,  Wisconsin,  and  had  been  for  several 
years  chief  clerk  of  the  Assembly  of  that  State. 
He  joined*the  regiment  as  major,  but  was  soon 
promoted  to  the  lieutenant-colonelcy,  and  at 
the  time  of  the  battle,  owing  to  the  illness  of 
the  colonel,  was  in  actual  command  of  the 
regiment.  He  was  a  genial,  intelligent,  and 
amiable  man,  beloved  in  his  own  neighborhood 
and  State. 

Aug.  22. — Gen.  HEIKEICH  BOHLEN,  an  officer 
in  the  Union  service,  killed  while  opposing  the 
attempts  of  the  Confederate  force  to  cross  the 
Rappahannock.  He  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
but  emigrated  to  this  country  a  number  of 
years  since,  and  settled  in  Philadelphia  as  an 
importer  of  wines.  At  the  commencement  of 
the  war  he  raised  a  regiment  of  his  country- 
men (the  75th  Pennsylvania),  which  was  sub- 
sequently attached  to  Gen.  Blenker's  division. 
He  was  promoted  to  a  brigadier-generalship 
April  28,  1862,  and  attached  to  the  Mountain 
Department,  where  he  served  under  Fremont 
and  Sigel,  distinguishing  himself  for  bravery 
and  daring  at  the  battle  of  Cross  Keys.  He 
was  a  man  of  devout  and  exemplary  character. 
His  son,  Mr.  J.  B.  Bohlea,  who  was  on  a  visit 
to  his  native  land,  died  in  Baden-Baden  on  the 
same  day  with  his  father. 

Aug.  27.— Col.  FLETCHEB  WEBSTEE,  an  officer 
of  volunteers  in  the  Union  service,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  colonel  of  the  12th  regiment 
Massachusetts  volunteers,  died  at  Alexandria 
of  wounds  received  in  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run.  He  was  the  oldest  son  of  Daniel 
Webster,  and  was  born  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H., 
in  1812.  He  was  educated  at  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege, and  served  as  Assistant  Secretary  of  State 
under  his  father  during  the  administrations  of 
Presidents  Harrison  and  Tyler.  When  Caleb 
Gushing  went  to  China  as  American  commis- 
sioner, Mr.  Webster  accompanied  him  as  Secre- 
tary of  Legation.  Under  the  administrations 
of  Presidents  Pierce  and  Buchanan  he  held  a 
position  in  the  Boston  custom  house.  When 
the  call  was  made  for  troops  in  the  spring  of 
1861,  he  was  among  the  first  to  raise  a  regi- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


733 


ment  for  the  war,  and  was  in  active  service  till 
his  death.  He  was  shut  through  the  lungs,  and 
died  of  hemorrhage  in  a  few  hours.  He  was 
the  last  member  of  his  family,  a  brother  and 
sister  having  previously  deceased. 

Aug.  28. — Col.  ISAAC  H.  MEANS,  ex-governor 
of  South  (Carolina,  killed  at  the  second  battle 
of  Bull  Run.  He  was  a  colonel  in  the  Confed- 
erate service. 

Aug.  30. — Col.  JAMES  CAOTWELL,  an  officer  in 
the  Union  service,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
colonel  of  the  82d  Ohio  regiment,  killed  at  the 
battle  near  Gainesville,  while  rallying  the  left 
wing  of  his  regiment,  which  had  given  way 
under  the  atack  of  an  overwhelming  force  of 
the  Confederates.  He  was  a  citizeij  of  Kenton, 
Hardin  County,  Ohio,  and  volunteered  in  the 
service  at  the  commencement  of  the  war,  hav- 
ing been  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  4th  Ohio 
regiment  of  three  months'  troops ;  when  they 
were  disbanded  he  raised  the  82d  regiment  for 
the  war,  and  received  his  commission  as  colonel 
Dec.  31,  1861. 

Aug.  30. — Col.  JOHN  A.  KOLTES,  an  officer  in 
the  Union  service,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
acting  brigadier-general  in  Gen.  Steinwehr's 
division,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Gainesville,  Va. 
He  was  a  native  of  Rhenish  Prussia,  born  in 
1823,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1846.  In 
Prussia  he  had  been  a  professor  in  one  of  the 
gymnasia  or  colleges.  Shortly  after  his  arrival 
here  he  joined  a  regiment  from  Pennsylvania 
which  had  volunteered  for  the  Mexican  war, 
and  served  throughout  that  war  as  orderly  ser- 
geant. After  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  for 
a  time  an  officer  of  the  Marine  Corps,  and  was 
subsequently  employed  in  the  U.  S.  mint  at 
Philadelphia.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
present  war  he  appealed  to  his  countrymen  to 
join  him  in  defence  of  the  Union,  and  succeed- 
ed in  raising  a  regiment  of  Germans,  whom  he 
led  to  the  field.  He  had  been  for  four  months 
acting  brigadier-general  in  Steinwehr's  division, 
and  his  friends  had  secured  his  promotion  to 
that  rank  and  were  carrying  his  commission  to 
him  when  they  met  his  dead  body  as  it  was 
borne  from  the  field. 

Aug.  30. — Col.  GEO.  W.  PEATT,  an  officer  in 
the  Union  service,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
colonel  of  the  20th  regiment  N.  Y.  State  volun- 
teers, was  killed  at  the  battle  near  Gainesville, 
Va.  He  was  the  son  of  Col.  Zadock  Pratt,  for- 
merly M.  C.  from  Greene  County,  and  had  en- 
tered the  volunteer  service  in  the  summer  of 
1861.  He  was  an  excellent  officer,  and  highly 
esteemed  in  private  life.  He  was  killed  while 
leading  his  men  in  a  charge. 

Aug.  31. — Col.  THOBNTOS  F.  BEODHEAD,  an 
officer  of  the  Union  army,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  commander  of  the  1st  Michigan  cav- 
alry regiment,  died  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  of 
wounds  received  the  preceding  day  at  the 
second  battle  of  Bull  Run.  He  was  a  native 
of  New  Hampshire,  born  in  1822,  and  was  a 
son  of  Rev.  John  Brodhead,  formerly  a  mem- 
ber of  Congress  from  that  State.  He  studied 


law  at  the  Harvard  Law  School,  and  settled  in 
his  profession  at  Detroit,  Mich.  He  served 
with  distinction  in  the  Mexican  war  as  an  offi- 
cer in  the  15th  U.  S.  infantry,  and  was  twice 
brevetted  for  gallant  conduct  in  battle.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  and  was  -soon  after  elected  a 
member  of  the  State  Senate.  In  1852  Presi- 
dent Pierce  appointed  him  postmaster  of  De- 
troit. At  the  commencement  of  the  war  he 
raised  a  cavalry  regiment,  at  the  head  of  which 
he  served  under  Gens.  Banks,  Fremont,  and 
Pope. 

Sept.  1. — Maj.-Gen.  PHILIP  KEABNET,  an  of- 
ficer of  volunteers  in  the  United  States  army, 
born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  June  2,  1815,* 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Chantilly,  Va.,  Sept. 
1,  1862.  He  was  of  Irish  descent,  his  great- 
grandfather having  settled  in  Monmouth  Coun- 
ty, New  Jersey,  in  1716,  and  was  a  nephew  of 
Gen.  Stephen  Watts  Kearney.  He  studied  law, 
but  having  a  decided  taste  for  military  life,  at 
the  age  of  22  accepted  the  commission  of  sec- 
ond lieutenant  in  the  United  States  1st  dra- 
goons, commanded  by  his  uncle,  and  soon  after 
was  sent  to  Europe  by  the  Government  to 
study  and  report  upon  the  French  cavajry  tac- 
tics. To  accomplish  this  object  he  entered  the 
military  school  at  Saumur,  in  France,  and  from 
thence  went  to  Africa,  where  he  joined  the 
1st  Chasseurs  d'Afrique  as  a  volunteer.  By 
his  daring  exploits  he  attracted  the  attention 
of  the  French  army,  and  was  presented  with 
the  Cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor.  In  1840  he 
returned  home,  and  received  the  appointment 
of  aide-de-camp  to  Gen.  Macomb,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  was  aide-de-camp  to  Gen.  Scott, 
serving  in  that  capacity  until  1844.  In  1846  he 
became  captain  of  a  company  of  dragoons,  and 
from  his  private  means  provided  for  his  men 
equipments  and  horses,  and  his  corps  formed 
the  escort  of  Gen.  Scott  when  he  made  his  en- 
trance into  Vera  Cruz.  For  gallant  and  meri- 
torious conduct  at  the  battles  of  Contreras  and 
Churubusco  he  was  brevetted  major.  While 
making  a  brilliant  charge  upon  a  battery  at  the 
St.  Antonio  gate  of  the  capital,  he  lost  his  left 
arm.  He  had  ordered  the  charge,  but  his  men 
beginning  to  waver  under  a  terrific  fire,  he 
dashed  forward,  and  the  troops,  electrified  by 
his  example,  followed,  and  slaughtered  the 
Mexicans  at  their  guns.  After  the  Mexican 
war  he  was  sent  to  California,  and  commanded 
an  expedition  against  the  Indians  of  the  Co- 
lumbia River,  displaying  during  the  campaign 
such  tact  and  courage  as  won  him  the  praise  of 
the  best  military  judges.  In  1851  he  resigned 
his  commission,  and,  returning  to  Europe,  de- 
voted several  years  to  military  studies.  During 
the  Itah'an  campaign  of  1859,  Major  Kearney 
served  as  volunteer  aid  to  Gen.  Morris,  a  dis- 
tinguished officer  in  the  French  army,  and  upon 
its  conclusion  he  received  from  the  Emperor 
Napoleon  a  second  Cross  of  the  Legion  of 
Honor.  He  was  residing  in  Paris  when  the 
present  war  broke  out  in  1861,  and  hastened 


734 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


home  to  otter  his  services  to  his  country,  and 
after  some  delay  was  appointed  brigadier-gen- 
eral of  volunteers,  and  placed  in  command  of 
the  New  Jersey  troops,  and  afterwards  of  United 
States  volunteers.  He  distinguished  himself  at 
Yorktown,  Williamsburg,  Fair  Oaks,  White  Oak 
Swamp,  the  Cross  Roads,  and  Malvern  Hills, 
and  subsequently  near  Washington,  under  Gen. 
Pope.  He  was  commissioned  major-general 
July  4,  1862.  As  a  disciplinarian,  Gen.  Kear- 
ney was  second  to  none  in  the  army,  and  his 
troops  were  enthusiastic  in  their  admiration  of 
his  military  ability. 

Sept.  1. — ISAAC  ING  ALLS  STEVENS,  a  major- 
tgenerat  of  volunteers  in  the  United  States  ser- 
*vice,  born  in  Andover,  Mass.,  in  1817,  killed 
in  the  battle  near  Ohantilly,  Fairfax  Co.,  Va., 
Sept.  1,  1862.  He  graduated  at  West  Point  in 
1839,  ranking  first  in  his  class,  and  was  com- 
missioned second  lieutenant  of  engineers.  In 
1840  he  became  first  lieutenant,  and  was  em- 
ployed upon  the  fortifications  of  the  New  Eng- 
land coast  until  the  Mexican  war,  at  that  time 
being  adjutant  of  engineers.  He  was  attached 
to  Gen.  Scott's  staff,  and  for  gallant  and  meri- 
torious conduct  at  the  battles  of  Contreras  and 
Churubusco  was  brevetted  captain,  and  major 
for  his  heroic  conduct  at  the  storming  of  Cha- 
pultepec,  and  the  city  of  Mexico,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  severe  wound  from  which  he  never 
fully  recovered.  His  profound  knowledge  of 
the  principles  of  war  attracted  the  attention  of 
his  general,  who  spoke  of  him  as  "the  most 
promising  officer  of  his  age."  Upon  his  return 
to  the  United  States  he  was  selected  by  Prof. 
Bache  to  perform  the  duties  of  chief  of  the 
Coast  Survey  at  Washington.  In  1853  he  re- 
signed his  commission  and  accepted  the  ap- 
pointment of  Governor  of  Washington  Terri- 
tory, where  he  became  known  as  an  able  ex- 
ecutive officer,  displaying  the  most  unremitting 
devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  Territory. 
During  the  administration  of  President  Bu- 
chanan he  represented  Washington  Territory 
as  delegate  in  Congress  for  two  terms.  He  was 
the  chairman  of  the  Breckinridge  executive 
committee  in  the  presidential  campaign  of 
1860;  but  when  the  leaders  of  the  party  de- 
clared for  secession,  he  openly  denounced  them, 
and  stood  by  the  Union,  strongly  urging  Presi- 
dent Buchanan  to  remove  Secretaries  Floyd 
and  Thompson  from  the  cabinet,  and  trust  to 
the  counsels  of  Gen.  Scott.  At  the  close  of  the 
session  of  Congress  Gov.  Stevens  proceeded  to 
Washington  Territory,  but  upon  hearing  of  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumter  returned  to  Washington 
and  offered  his  services  to  the  Government. 
He  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  79th  New 
York  Highlanders.,  He  was  commissioned  brig- 
adier-general of  volunteers  Sept.  28, 1861,  and 
accompanied  Gen.  Sherman  to  South  Carolina, 
9  where  he  bore  a  prominent  part  in  all  the  bat- 
tles near  Port  Royal.  He  was  then  transferred 
to  North  Carolina,  whence  he  came  to  Virginia 
in  the  corps  of  Gen.  Reno,  and  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  major-general,  his  commission 


bearing  date  July  4,  1862.  He  was  in  all  the 
skirmishes  along  the  Rappahannock  under  Gen. 
Pope,  and  fought  most  gallantly  in  the  battle 
near  Bull  Run.  As  he  was  bearing  aloft  the 
colors  of  one  of  his  regiments,  cheering  on  his 
men,  he  fell  fatally  wounded  by  a  Minie  ball 
passing  through  his  head.  In  1851  tie  publish- 
ed a  work  entitled  "Campaigns  of  the  Rio 
Grande  and  Mexico,  with  Remarks  on  the  re- 
cent work  of  Major  Ripley." 

Sept.  1. — Gen.  GEORGE  B.  TAYLOR,  an  officer 
of  the  Union  army,  died  in  Alexandria  of 
wounds  received  at  the  second  battle  of  Bull 
Run.  He  was  a  native  of  Clinton,  Hunterdon 
County,  New  Jersey,  and  was  born  in  1808. 
At  the  age(  of  19  he  entered  the  navy  as  a 
midshipman,  but  after  a  three  years'  cruise  set- 
tled in  New  Jersey  as  a  farmer.  In  the  Mexi- 
can war  he  served  first  as  lieutenant,  and  af- 
terwards as  captain  in  the  10th  infantry.  After 
the  close  of  that  war  he  resided  for  three  years 
in  California,  and  then  returned  to  his  native 
State,  where  he  engaged  in  mining  and  manu- 
facturing. At  the  commencement  of  the  present 
war  he  was  commissioned  as  colonel  of  the  3d 
New  Jersey  regiment,  which,  under  Brig.-Gen. 
Runyon,  formed  a  part  of  the  reserve  at  Bull 
Run.  When  the  three  months'  men  were  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service,  he  reorganized  his 
regiment  and  returned  to  the  army,  and  was 
attached  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  when  it 
went  to  the  peninsula.  After  the  battle  of 
West  Point,  Gen.  Kearney  was  made  a  division 
commander,  and  Col.  Taylor  was  placed  in 
charge  of  the  1st  brigade  of  N.  J.  volunteers. 
On  the  9th  of  May,  1862,  he  received  his  com- 
mission as  brigadier-general.  In  the  hard  fight- 
ing that  followed  before  Richmond  he  per- 
formed his  part  manfully,  and  when  the  army 
returned  to  the  Potomac  he  was  prompt  and 
ready  with  his  brigade  in  the  sharp  battles 
southwest  of  Washington. 

Sept.  6. — COL.  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  LARNED, 
paymaster  general  of  the  U.  S.  army,  died  at 
Washington.  He  was  born  in  Massachusetts 
in  1791,  and  on  the  21st  Oct.,  1813,  entered  the 
army  as  ensign  in  the  21st  regiment  of  infan- 
try ;  he  was  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenancy  in 
the  summer  of  1814,  distinguished  himself  at 
the  defence  of  Fort  Erie,  Aug.  13 — 15  of  that 
year,  and  received  the  brevet  rank  of  captain 
for  his  gallant  conduct.  In  Jan.,  1815,  he  was 
appointed  regimental  paymaster,  and  on  the 
reduction  of  the  army  retained  as  paymaster 
of  the  5th  infantry,  with  the  rank  and  pay  of 
major.  In  1847,  when  two  deputy  paymaster 
generalships  were  created,  Major  Larned  was 
appointed  to  one  of  them  with  the  rank  of 
lieutenant-colonel,  and  on  the  death  of  Maj.- 
Gen.  Towson,  in  1854,  he  succeeded  to  the 
paymaster  generalship  by  right  of  seniority, 
with  the  rank  of  colonel.  Regarding  it  a 
matter  of  duty  to  aid  in  the  work  of  reorganiz- 
ing the  department  over  which  he  presided,  for 
the  vast  labors  which  were  thrown  upon  it  by 
the  war,  he  toiled  on,  though  with  impaired 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


735 


health,  till  the  office  and  its  duties  were  com- 
pletely systematized,  when  he  sunk  under  the 
load  and  his  overtasked  powers  gave  way.  He 
was  greatly  esteemed  and  beloved  by  all  his 
acquaintance. 

Sept.  14. — Brig.-Gen. GARLAND,  an  offi- 
cer in  the  Confederate  army,  killed  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Boonsboro,  in  Virginia,  while  endeavor- 
ing to  rally  his  men.  He  fell  pierced  in  the 
breast  by  a  musket  ball,  and  died  upon  the 
field. 

Sept.  15. — DAVID  EMANTJEL  TWIGGS,  a  major- 
general  in  the  Confederate  service,  born  in 
Georgia,  in  1790,  died  in  Augusta,  Ga.,  Sept. 
15,  1862.  He  entered  the  army  as  a  captain  in 
the  8th  infantry  in  1812,  served  throughout  the 
war,  and  was  afterwards  retained  in  service  as 
captain  in  the  7th  infantry,  with  the  brevet 
rank  of  major.  In  the  Mexican  war  he  held 
the  rank  of  colonel  of  the  2d  dragoons,  but 
acted  as  brigadier,  commanding  the  right  wing 
in  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma,  and  in  the  same  month  was  made 
brigadier-general.  He  was  subsequently  bre- 
vetted  major-general  for  gallant  and  meri- 
torious conduct  at  Monterey,  and  presented 
with  a  sword  by  Congress.  In  1847  he  was 
in  command  of  a  division  under  Gen.  Scott, 
and  the  following  year  was  military  governor 
of  Vera  Cruz.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
present  war  he  was  in  command  of  the  Union 
troops  in  Texas,  and  through  complicity  with 
the  Confederate  leaders  surrendered  great  quan- 
tities of  military  stores  and  material  into  the 
hands  of  the  State  authorities,  and  betrayed  the 
troops  under  his  charge  to  the  Confederate  au- 
thorities. For  a  short  time  he  was  in  com- 
mand at  New  Orleans,  but  very  soon  resigned, 
and  after  a  retirement  of  a  few  months  upon 
his  estate  in  Mississippi,  becoming  alarmed  at 
the  approach  of  the  Union  troops,  he  removed 
to  Augusta,  Ga.,  where  he  died. 

Sept.  16. — Col.  DIXON  H.  MILES,  an  officer 
of  the  U.  S.  army,  mortally  wounded  at  Har- 
per's Ferry,  Va.,  by  a  shell  thrown  by  the  en- 
emy after  his  surrender  of  the  place.  He  was 
a  native  of  Maryland,  born  about  1803,  and 
was  appointed  a  cadet  at  "West  Point  from  that 
State  in  1819.  He  graduated  in  1824,  and 
received  an  appointment  as  brevet  second  lieu- 
tenant of  the  4th  infantry,  and  the  same  day 
was  made  second  lieutenant  of  the  7th  infan- 
try. He  was  regimental  adjutant  from  1831 
to  1836,  and  in  1836  was  promoted  to  a  cap- 
taincy. In  Jan.,  1839,  he  was  appointed  assist- 
ant quartermaster  on  the  staff,  with  the  rank 
of  captain,  but  resigned  his  staff  appointment 
in  Sept.,  1845.  On  the  9th  of  May  he  was 
bre vetted  major  for  gallant  conduct  at  Fort 
Brown,  Texas ;  and  for  his  further  meritorious 
conduct  at  several  battles  in  Mexico,  was  bre- 
vetted  lieutenant-colonel.  In  Feb.,  1847,  he  was 
promoted  as  major  of  the  5th  infantry,  and  in 
July,  1848,  was  civil  and  military  governor  of 
Jalapa,  Mexico.  In  April,  1851,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  lieutenant-colonelcy  of  the  3d 


infantry,  and  in  1857  and  1858  distinguished 
himself  in  several  conflicts  with  the  Apache 
and  Navajoe  Indians.  In  Jan.,  1859,  he  was 
promoted  to  the  colonelcy  of  the  2d  infantry, 
and  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  was  in  charge  of 
the  6th  division,  and  was  ordered  to  cover 
the  retreat.  In  Sept.,  1862,  he  was  intrusted 
with  the  command  of  the  important  post  of 
Harper's  Ferry,  the  retention  and  defence  of 
which  were  essential  to  the  complete  success  of 
the  battles  which  followed.  He  asked  for 
reinforcements,  but  they  were  not  sent ;  one  of 
his  subordinates  abandoned  Maryland  Heights, 
which  commanded  the  main  position,  and 
finding  the  enemy  approaching  in  large  force, 
he  surrendered  the  post  with  but  slight  resist- 
ance, and  with  it  nearly  14,000  men  as  prison- 
ers, and  an  immense  amount  of  arms,  ammuni- 
tion, and  stores. 

Sept.  17. — Gen.  LA  WHENCE  O'BKIEN  BRANCH, 
an  officer  in  the  Confederate  service,  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Antietam.  He  was  a  son  of  Hon. 
John  Branch,  formerly  governor  of  North  Caro- 
lina, and  was  born  in  Halifax  Co.  in  that  State 
in  1820.  He  graduated  at  Nassau  Hall  College, 
Princeton,  in  1838,  studied  law  with  his  father, 
and  practised  his  profession  in  Raleigh.  In 
1855  he  was  elected  l£  Congress  from  the  Ra- 
leigh district,  and  reflected  till  1861.  After 
North  Carolina  passed  the  ordinance  of  seces- 
sion, he  entered  the  Confederate  army  first  as 
colonel,  but  was  soon  promoted  to  a  brigadier- 
generalship.  At  the  battle  of  Newbern  he  had 
command  of  that  important  position,  and  sub- 
sequently took  part  in  several  of  the  battles  in 
that  State  and  on  the  peninsula. 

Sept.  17. — JOSEPH  KING  FENNO  MANSFIELD,  a 
brigadier-general  in  the  United  States  army, 
born  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  December  22, 
1803,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Antietam, 
Sept.  17,  1862..  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
received  a  cadet's  appointment,  and  entered 
the  military  academy  at  West  Point,  where  he 
distinguished  himself  in  military  studies,  passing 
through  every  grade  of  office  in  the  cadet  bat- 
talion, and  during  a  portion  of  the  fourth 
year  acted  as  assistant  professor  in  the  depart- 
ment of  natural  philosophy.  He  graduated  in 
1822,  standing  No.  2  in  a  class  of  forty  mem- 
bers, and  was  made  a  second  lieutenant  of  the 
corps  of  engineers.  For  the  next  two  years  he 
was  an  assistant  to  the  board  of  engineers,  then 
assembled  in  New  York,  and  engaged  in  plan- 
ning fortifications  for  the  defence  of  the  harbors 
and  cities  on  the  coast.  In  1832  he  was  promot- 
ed to  be  $  first  lieutenant,  and  for  a  few  years 
following  was  engaged  upon  the  construction  of 
Fort  Pulaski,  though  in  the  mean  time  oc- 
casionally being  detached  upon  duty  at  Other 
posts.  On  the  7th  of  July,*  838,  he  was  ap- 
pointed captain.  He  served  in  the  Mexican 
war  as  chief  engineer,  under  Gen.  Taylor,  was 
brevetted  major  for  gallant  and  distinguished 
services  in  the  defence  of  Fort  Brown,  Texas, 
in  1846,  and  the  following  September  was 
brevetted  lieutenant-colonel  for  gallant  and 


736 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


meritorious  conduct  in  the  battles  of  Monterey, 
where  he  received  no  less  than  seven  severe 
wounds.  In  1847  he  was  brevetted  colonel 
for  his  meritorious  services  at  Buena  Vista. 
On  the  26th  of  May,  1853,  he  was  appointed 
an  inspector-general  of  the  United  States  army, 
with  the  rank  of  colonel,  which  position  he 
held  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  In 
May,  1861,  he  was  commissioned  brigadier- 
general,  and  was  placed  in  command  of  the  de- 
partment of  Washington.  He  fortified  the 
city  on  every  side,  crowned  the  heights  of  Ar- 
lington with  earthworks,  and  took  Alexandria. 
Upon  the  return  of  Gen.  Wool  to  Fortress 
Monroe,  he  was  sent  to  Hatteras,  and  afterwards 
to  Camp  Hamilton  and  Newport  News.  On 
the  10th  of  May  he  marched,  with  a  division, 
to  the  attack  on  Norfolk,  and,  after  the  capture 
of  that  place,  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
Suffolk,  Va.,  where  he  acted  as  military  govern- 
or. After  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  he 
was  summoned*  to  the  court  of  inquiry  at  Wash- 
ington, and,  during  the  delay,  becoming  impa- 
tient for  active  duty,  he  was  assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  corps  formerly  under  Gen. 
Banks,  and,  at  the  battle  of  Antietam,  fell  mor- 
tally wounded  while  cheering  on  his  troops  in 
a  brilliant  charge. 

Sept.  17. — Col.  J.  H.  CHILDS,  an  officer  in  the 
Union  service,  colonel  of  the  4th  Pennsylvania 
cavalry,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  acting 
brigadier-general,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Antie- 
tam. He  was  a  citizen  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and 
entered  the  service  in  July,  1861.  He  had  dis- 
tinguished himself  in  several  battles  for  courage, 
coolness,  and  skill,  and  at  Antietam  was  in 
command  of  a  brigade  of  cavalry. 

Sept.  17. — Col.  AUGUSTUS  H.  COLEMAN,  an 
officer  of  the  Union  service,  commanding  the 
llth  Ohio  regiment,  killed  at  the  battle  of  An- 
tietam. He  entered  the  service  as  major  of  the 
llth  regiment,  at  the  beginning^of  the  war,  and 
after  its  reorganization,  on  the' resignation  of 
Lieut.-Col.  Frizell,  in  Jan.,  1862,  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel,  and  soon  after- 
wards of  colonel.  His  regiment  had  done  service 
in  western  Virginia  as  a  part  of  Cox's  brigade, 
and  Col.  Coleman  had  a  high  reputation  for 
bravery  and  daring. 

Sept.  17. — Col.  SAMUEL  CBOASDALE,  an  officer 
of  the  Union  service,  commanding  the  128th 
Pennsylvania  regiment,  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Antietam.  He  was  a  citizen  of  Doylestown, 
Pa.,  and  had  a  large  practice  in  that  town  as 
a  lawyer.  Immediately  after  the  President's 
proclamation  of  April  15,  1861,  he  volunteered 
as  a  private  in  Capt.  Davis's  company  of  three 
months'  men.  On  their  discharge  he  resumed 
the  practice  of  hijysrofession,  but  on  the  govern- 
or's call  for  nine  months'  men,  in  the  summer 
of  1862,  he  opened  a  recruiting  office  and  raised 
a  full  company  of  the  citizens  of  Doylestown 
and  vicinity  in  a  few  days.  The  128th  regi- 
ment, composed  almost  entirely  of  citizens  of 
Berks,  Lehigh,  and  Bucks  Counties,  was  organiz- 
ed soon  after,  and  he  was  appointed  its  colonel. 


After  a  few  weeks'  service  in  camps  of  instruc- 
tion near  Washington,  the  emergencies  of  the 
invasion  of  Maryland  required  the  services  of 
Col.  Croasdale's  regiment  in  the  field,  and  it 
marched  with  the  grand  army  from  Washing- 
ton. At  Antietam,  though  a  new  regiment,  it 
was  assigned  an  important  position,  and  Col. 
Croasdale  was  leading  it  forward  through  a 
tempest  of  shot  and  shell,  when  a  musket  ball 
passing  through  his  brain  killed  him  instantly. 

Sept.  17. — Col.  RODERICK  MATHESON,  an  offi- 
cer of  the  Union  army,  and  commander  of  the 
32d  regiment  N.  Y.  State  volunteers  (1st  Cali- 
fornia regiment),  killed  at  the  battle  of  An- 
tietam. He  was  a  native  of  New  York,  but  had 
resided  for  several  years  in  California,  and  in 
May,  1861,  left  his  home  in  that  State  and  raised 
in  New  York  city  a  regiment  of  Californians 
and  those  who  had  formerly  resided  on  the  Pa- 
cific coast.  The  regiment  was  completed  about 
the  20th  of  June,  1861,  and  under  Col.  Matheson 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  and  in  most 
of  the  subsequent  battles  in  Virginia.  His  re- 
mains were  sent  to  California,  and  buried  with 
the  honors  of  war  at  his  former  residence  in  that 
State. 

Sept.  17. — Col.  HUGH  WATSON  MoNEiL,  an 
officer  in  the  Union  service,  and  commander  of 
the  Pennsylvania  "  Bucktail "  regiment,  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Antietam  while  leading  his  reg- 
iment in  a  charge.  He  was  a  native  of  Sene- 
ca County,  N.  Y.,  and  was  of  Scotch  family, 
his  father  being  a  Cameronian  clergyman ;  was 
born  in  1830 ;  was  educated  at  Yale  College, 
studied  law  at  Auburn,  and  commenced  prac- 
tice in  New  York  in  1857,  but  left  his  profes- 
sion on  account  of  ill-health ;  removed  to  Penn- 
sylvania, and  engaged  in  banking.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war  he  joined  the  Bucktail 
regiment  as  a  private,  but  was  soon  chosen  first 
lieutenant,  and  rose  by  successive  promotions  to 
the  command. 

Sept.  17. — Lieut.-Col.  PHILIP  J.  PARISEN,  an 
officer  in  the  Union  service,  at  the  time  of  his 
death  in  command  of  the  57th  regiment  New 
York  State  volunteers,  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Antietam.  He  was  a  native  of  New  York  city, 
and  entered  the  service  Dec.  21,  1861,  as  major 
of  the  57th,  and  early  in  1862  was  promoted  to 
a  lieutenant-colonelcy.  He  took  part  in  .most 
of  the  battles  on  the  peninsula  and  in  those  of 
August  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington.  He  was 
shot  through  the  body  and  instantly  killed  while 
leading  his  regiment  at  Antietam. 

Sept.  17. — Brig. -Gen. STAEK,  an  officer 

in  the  Confederate  army,  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Sharpsburg,  in  Maryland. 

Sept.  18. — Col.  HENEY  W.  ZINGSBUBY,  an 
officer  of  the  U.  S.  army,  commanding,  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  the  llth  regiment  Connecti- 
cut volunteers,  died  of  wounds  received  the 
previous  day  at  the  battle  of  Antietam.  He  was 
a  son  of  the  late  Major  Julius  J.  B.  Kingsbury, 
and  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1837.  He  en- 
tered West  Point  in  1856  and  graduated  in 
1861,  second  in  his  class.  Soon  after  his  grad- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


737 


nation  he  was  assigned  to  the  duty  of  drilling 
the  volunteers  at  Washington,  and  after  a  short 
time  put  in  command  of  a  battery  with  the 
rank  of  captain.  His  thorough  military  knowl- 
edge and  skill  as  an  officer  recommended  him 
to  the  authorities  of  his  native  State,  and  he 
was  offered  the  command  of  the  llth  regiment. 
He  acquitted  himself  nohly  in  his  new  position, 
and  wfts  regarded  as  an  officer  of  great  promise. 
In  the  battle  of  Antietam  he  was  four  times 
seriously  wounded. 

Sept.  19. — Lieut.-Col.  WILDER  Dwianr,  an 
officer  of  the  Union  service,  lieutenant-colonel, 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  of  the  2d  Massachu- 
setts volunteers,  died  in  the  hospital  at  Boons- 
boro',  Md.,  of  wounds  received  in  the  battle  of 
Antietam.  He  was  a  son  of  William  D  wight, 
of  Boston,  and  was  born  about  1882,  and  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  University  in  1853.  He  join- 
ed the  2d  regiment  at  its  formation,  and  had 
won  the  reputation  of  a  brave  and  skilful  offi- 
cer. In  the  retreat  of  Gen.  Banks  down  the 
Shenandoah  'valley  in  May,  1862,  he  was  dis- 
tinguished for  his  daring  and  the  solicitude 
which  he  manifested  for  the  safety  of  his  men ; 
and  was  taken  prisoner  during  this  retreat.  At 
Antietam  he  was  twice  wounded.  Three  of 
his  brothers  are  in  the  army. 

Sept.  19. — Brig.-Gen.  LEWIS  HENKY  LITTLE, 
an  officer  in  the  Confederate  army,  killed  at 
the  battle  of  luka,  Miss.  Gen.  Little  was  the 
son  of  Col.  P.  Little,  of  Maryland,  and  was 
appointed  from  civil  life  in  the  regular  army  of 
the  United  States.  Brevet  second  lieutenant 
of  the  5th  regiment  of  infantry,  July  1st,  1839. 
In  May,  1843,  he  was  transferred  to  the  seventh 
infantry;  became  first  lieutenant  April,  1845; 
brevetted  captain  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
conduct  at  the  battle  of  Monterey,  Mexico,  Sep- 
tember 23d,  1846 — brevet  dated  March,  1849. 
He  was  regimental  quartermaster  in  March, 
1847,  and  distinguished  in  the  battle  of  Cerro 
Gordo.  He  was  captain  in  the  regular  army  in 
1847.  When  the  war  broke  'out  he  was  in 
command  at  Albuquerque,  New  Mexico.  He 
resigned,  and  was  appointed,  by  Gov.  'Jackson, 
of,  Missouri,  adjutant-general  in  the  State 
forces  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  and  assigned 
to  duty  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Sterling  Price. 
When  the  Missouri  troops  were  transferred  to 
the  Confederate  service  Gen.  Little  was  as- 
signed temporarily  to  the  command  of  them. 
At  the  battle  of  Elk  Horn  he  handled  his  bri- 
gade with  such  courage  and  skill,  and  covered 
the  retreat  in  so  masterly  a  manner,  that  he 
soon  after  received  the  appointment  from  Rich- 
mond  of  brigadier-general.  When  Gen..  Van 
Dorn  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Dis- 
trict of  North  Mississippi,  Gen.  Little  succeeded 
to  the  command  of  Gen.  Price's  division,  com- 
posed of  the  brigades  of  Hebert,  Gates,  Green, 
and  Martin.  While  commanding  this  division 
he  *fell  pierced  by  a  Minie  ball  through  the 
head. 

Sept,  29. — WILLIAM  0.  PRENTICE,  at  Augusta, 
Ky.,  from  wounds  received  in  the  conflict  at 
47 


that  place  on  Sept.  27.  He  was  the  eldest  son 
of  Geo.  D.  Prentice,  for  many  years  editor  of 
the  "Louisville  Journal,"  and  a  young  man  of 
remarkable  powers.  An  intense  Southern  sym- 
pathy, in  spite  of  the  arguments,  remonstrance^ 
and  entreaties  of  parents  and  friends,  made  him 
join  the  Confederate  ranks,  and  after  a  brief 
service  of  five  weeks  he  was  fatally  wounded. 
On  his  departure  to  join  the  Confederate  force 
in  Kentucky,  his  mother  is  said  to  have  follow- 
ed him  four  or  five  miles,  with  the  hope  of  per- 
suading him  to  return,  but  he  declined  her  en- 
treaties, saying,  "  Mother,  I  implore  you  not  to 
ask  me  to  stay.  Honor  calls  me.  I  have  talk- 
ed long  enough.  I  must  now  do  something  else, 
and  show  myself  in  my  true  colors." 

Sept.  29. — WILLIAM  NELSON,  major-general 
of  volunteers  in  the  U.  S.  army,  born  in  Mays- 
ville,  Mason  Co.,  Ky.,  in  1825,  was  killed  at 
Louisville,  Ky.,  Sept.  29,  1862.  He  entered 
the  naval  school  at  Annapolis  at  the  age  of  fif- 
teen, and,  upon  graduating,  was  appointed  a 
midshipman  in  the  U.  S.  navy.  He  was  first 
attached  to  the  sloop-of-war  Yorktown,  in 
commission  for  the  Pacific,  and  soon  after 
joined  that  squadron  under  Commodore  T.  Ap 
Catesby  Jones.  In  1846  he  received  his  com- 
mission as  passed  midshipman,  and  was  ordered 
to  the  frigate  Baritan,  attached  to  the  home 
squadron,  and  flag-ship  of  Commodore  Conner. 
In  1847  he  was  made  acting  master  of  the 
steamer  Scourge,  under  the  command  of  Com. 
Perry.  At  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz,  during  the 
Mexican  war,  he  won  a  high  reputation  in  com- 
jnand  of  a  navy  battery.  In  1854  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  master,  and  ordered  to 
the  frigate  Independence,  stationed  in  the 
Pacific.  In  1858  he  was  ordered  to  the  Ni- 
agara when  she  carried  back  to  Africa  the 
negroes  taken  from  the  steamer  Echo.  At  the 
commencement  of  the  present  war  he  was  on 
ordnance  duty  at  the  Washington  navy  yard, 
and  was  detailed  to  command  the  Ohio  River 
fleet  of  gunboats,  having  received  the  rank  of 
lieutenant  commander,  but  was  soon  after 
transferred  to  the  army  for  the  purpose  of  in- 
fluencing volunteers  in  Kentucky,  his  native 
State.  He  organized  "  Camp  Dick  Robinson," 
between  Garrardsville  and  Danville,  and  an- 
other camp  at  Washington,  in  Mason  Co.  He 
fought  several  engagements  with  Humphrey 
Marshall,  in  some  of  which  he  was  successful. 
In  Sept.,  1861,  he  was  made  brigadier-general, 
and  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  second 
division  of  Gen.  Buell's  army.  He  won  much 
distinction  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  was  wound- 
ed at  the  battle  of  Richmond,  Ky.,  and  after- 
wards assumed  command  of  all  the  forces  in 
Louisville,  having  been  made  major-general  of 
volunteers  July  17,  1862.  His  overbearing  na- 
ture made  him  unpopular  with  his  associates, 
and  he  was  shot  in  his  hotel  by  Brig.-Gen.  Jef- 
ferson 0.  Davis  in  a  moment  of  resentment  for 
his  harsh  and  unjust  treatment  of  that  officer. 

Sept.  29. — Gen.   ISAAC  PEACE    RODMAN,   a 
brigadier-general  in  the  Union  service,  died 


738 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


near  Hagerstown,  Md.,  of  wounds  received  in 
the  battle  of  Antietam.  He  was  a  native  of 
South  Kingston,  R.  I.,  born  Aug.  28, 1822.  He 
Deceived  a  good  early  education,  and  engaged 
while  yet  a  youth  in  the  woollen  manufacture, 
and  had  attained  a  high  reputation  for  the 
character  of  the  goods  manufactured  by  his 
firm,  which  were  sold  in  all  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. At  the  commencement  of  the  war  he  was 
a  member  of  the  State  Senate ;  but  at  once  re- 
signed his  seat,  recruited  a  company  for  the  2d 
Rhode  Island  regiment  (Col.  Slocum's),  and 
went  to  the  war  as  its  captain.  His  company 
was  the  first  to  fire  upon  the  enemy  at  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  fought  bravely  through- 
out that  .battle.  He  was  appointed  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  4th  Rhode  Island  regiment  at  its 
organization,  and  soon  after  promoted  to  the 
colonelcy  of  that  regiment,  which  was  detailed 
to  the  Burnside  expedition.  At  Roanoke  Island 
Ool.  Rodman  took  an  active  part,  and  at  New- 
bern  his  regiment  made  the  brilliant  charge 
which  won  the  day.  His  regiment  also  par- 
ticipated in  the  investment  and  reduction  of 
Fort  Macon ;  but  before  that  was  accomplished, 
Col.  Rodman  had  received  his  commission  as 
brigadier-general.  An  attack  of  typhoid  fever, 
induced  by  over-exertion  and  exposure,  render- 
ed it  necessary  for  him  to  come  home  on  sick 
leave,  and  he  only  recovered  in  time  to  join 
Gen.  Burnside  at  Fredericksburg.  Here  he 
found  himself,  though  only  a  brigadier-general, 
in  command  of  Gen.  Parke's  division.  In  the 
month  of  battles  which  followed,  Gen.  Rodman 
did  his  full  share,  quietly  and  unostentatiously. 
At  South  Mountain  and  Antietam  he  displayed 
military  genius  of  a  high  order,  and  in  the  ter- 
rible conflict  by  which  the  stone  bridge  was 
carried  and  held,  he  was  stricken  down. 

Oct.  4. — Col.  DALY,  an  officer  of  the 

Southern  army,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Corinth, 
while  cheering  and  leading  his  men  on  to  the 
attack.  Col.  Daly  commanded  the  13th  Ar- 
kansas regiment. 

Oct.  4. — Lieut.  SAMUEL  FARKINGTON,  an  of- 
ficer in  the  Southern  service,  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Corinth,  Miss.  Lieut.  Farrington  was  a  re- 
markably shrewd  and  able  young  officer.  His 
devotion  to  the  cause  in  which  he  had  engaged 
was  unsurpassed,  if  equalled  At  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war  he  resided  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where 
lie  was  in  mercantile  business,  but  was  first  lieu- 
tenant of  an  infantry  company  in  the  State  ser- 
'viee.  When  Gov.  Jackson  decided  to  carry  the 
State  out  of  the  Union,  and  commenced  war  with 
the  United  States  Government,  Lieut.  Farring- 
ton was  ordered  to  guard  the  Gasconade  bridge 
with  a  detachment  »f  his  men,  and  upon  leav- 
ing the  bridge  Tt>urnt  it.  "With  the  same  de- 
tachment he  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Boon- 
ville,  the  first  fight  made  in  the  State  of  Mis- 
souri during  the  war.  In  the  battle  of  Car- 
thage he  was  on  Gen.  John  B.  Clark's  staff,  with 
the  rank  of  colonel,  and  was  distinguished  for 
his  courage,  coolness,  and  ability.  He  com- 
manded &  regiment  of  infantry,  as  lieutenant- 


colonel,  at  the  battle  of  Lexington,  Mo.  Upon 
the  organization  of  Confederate  troops  in  Mis- 
souri he  resigned  his  commission  in  the  State 
Guard,  and  accepted  that  of  a  lieutenant  of  ar- 
tillery in  the  Confederate  service,  conscien- 
tiously believing  that  the  cause  in  which  he 
had  taken  up  arms  would  be  better  served  by 
all  Missouri  troops  going  into  the  army,  of  the 
Confederate  States.  At  the  battle  of  Corinth 
a  Parrott  shot  tore  away  his  shoulder  and  half 
his  breast.  He  turned  his  head  half  round,  fell, 
and  died  instantly. 

Oct.  4. — Gen.  PLEASANT  ADAM  HACKLEMAX, 
a  brigadier-general  in  the  Union  army,  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Corinth.  He  was  a  native  of  Frank- 
lin County,  Indiana,  born  about  1817.  was  edu- 
cated for  the  legal  profession,  and  was  prominent 
as  a  lawyer  in  the  State.  He  became  editor  of 
the  "Rushville  Republican"  about  1840,  and 
continued  as  its  editor  till  the  commencement 
of  the  war.  In  1841  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Legislature  of  Indiana,  and  for  several  years  af- 
terwards clerk  of  Rush  County.  In  1847  and 
1858  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress,  but  was 
defeated  on  both  occasions.  In  1860  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Republican  National  Convention 
at  Chicago,  and  in  1861  of  the  Peace  Conference 
at  "Washington.  In  1861  he  was  appointed  col- 
onel of  the  10th  Indiana  regiment,  and  served 
in  Gen.  Banks'  corps  in  Virginia ;  his  gallant  and 
meritorious  conduct  there  occasioned  his  pro- 
motion to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general,  April 
28,  1862,  and  in  June  he  was  ordered  to  report 
to  Gen.  Grant,  in  the  army  of  the  Southwest. 
He  took  an  active  part  in  the  battle  of  luka,  and 
in  the  battle  of  Corinth  was  killed  on  the  sec- 
ond day  of  the  fight.  He  was  a  man  of  digni- 
fied and  upright  character,  and  of  superior  abil- 
ities. 

Oct.  4. — Col. ROGEES,  a  Confeder- 
ate officer,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Corinth.  He 
was  from  Texas,  and  was  at  that  battle  in  com- 
mand of  a  brigade.  "When,  on  the  morning  of 
the  4th,  the  Confederate  troops,  which  had  ex- 
pected to  capture  Corinth  with  but  a  slight 
struggle,  found  themselves  repulsed  by  the  ter- 
rible fire  of  the  Union  battery  Robinett,  and 
were  compelled  to  fall  back  into  the  timber  for 
protection,  Gen.  Van  Dorn  called  for  volun- 
teers to  carry  the  battery  by  storm.  Col. 
Rogers  at  once  volunteered,  and  2,000  men 
stepped  from  the  ranks  to  accompany  him. 
After  addressing  them  a  few  words  of  encour- 
agement, he  gave  the  order  to  march,  and  they 
moved  forward  at  a  quick  step,  in  solid  column 
eight  deep,  directly  in  face  of  the  battery.  Be- 
fore they  reached  it  nearly  one-half  their  num- 
ber had  fallen ;  but  there  was  no  faltering,  the 
rear  ranks  stepped  to  the  front  and  filled  the 
gaps ;  they  reached  the  outworks,  and  though 
twice  driven  back,  succeeded  the  third  time  in 
planting  their  flag  upon  the  parapet,  when  a 
volley  from  the  guns  of  the  inner  works,  at 
short  range,  killed  a  large  number,  among 
whom  was  the  rashly  brave  Rogers.  Gen. 
Rosecrans,  in  his  general  order  after  the  bat- 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY-  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


739 


tie,  rendered  the  homage  due  from  a  cMvalric 
foe  to  the  brave  man  who  led  this  attack, 
where  death  was  so  inevitable. 

Oct.  4. — Col.  JOSEPH  L.  KIRBT  SMITH,  of  the 
43d  Ohio  regiment,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Corinth.  He  was  born  in  1836,  was  appointed 
a  cadet  of  the  Military  Academy  from  New 
York,  and  graduated  with  the  highest  honors 
of  his  class  m  1857 ;  was  at  once  appointed  lieu- 
tenant of  topographical  engineers,  accompanied 
the  Utah  expedition,  was  aide-de-camp  to  Gen. 
Patterson  in  1860,  and  after  his  discharge  ap- 
pointed colonel  of  the  43d  Ohio  regiment,  with 
which  he  served  with  distinction  at  Island  No. 
Ten,  his  engineering  abilities  being  brought  al- 
most constantly  into  requisition,  and  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Corinth,  where  he  fell,  had  greatly  distin- 
guished himself  for  bravery  and  daring.  He  was 
a  nephew  of  the  Confederate  general  Edward 
Kirby  Smith. 

Oct.  6. — WILLIAM  DEAN  COLMAN,  a  captain 
and  assistant  adjutant-general  in  the  U.  S.  vol- 
unteers, and  one  of  the  staff  of  Brig.-Gen.  Stan- 
ley, 2d  division,  Army  of  the  Mississippi,  born  in 
Salem,  Mass.,  Sept.  15,  1827,  the  eldest  son  of 
Samuel  Colman,  publisher.  On  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war  with  Mexico  he  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  "Walker's  Mounted  Rifles,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  the  principal  battles  fought  under 
Lieut.-Gen.  Scott.  "When  the  first  gun  was  fired 
by  the  confederates. at  Fort  Sumter  he  was  assist- 
ant postmaster  at  New  Orleans,  but,  without 
stopping  to  count  the  cost,  he  abandoned  all  and 
hastened  north  to  join  the  Union  army.  In  the 
summer  of  1861  he  was  appointed  assistant 
quartermaster,  and  in  December  a  major  in  the 
Missouri  State  Militia,  where  he  was  actively 
occupied  in  the  most  hazardous  parts  of  that 
State  till  February,  1862,  when  he  was  ordered 
by  Major-Gen.  Halleck  to  the  staff  of  Brig.- 
Gen.  Stanley.  On  the  5th  July  he  accepted 
from  the  president  a  commission  as  captain,  and 
assistant  adjutant-general  of  U.  S.  volunteers. 
He  was  in  all  the  battles  and  skirmishes  with 
Gen.  Stanley,  from  New  Madrid  and  Island  No. 
Ten  to  the  most  memorable  and  sanguinary  bat- 
tle of  Corinth  on  the  3d  and  4th  October,  where 
he  received  a  mortal  wound,  and  died  on  the  6th 
after  two  days  of  severe  suffering.  He  was  bur- 
ied with  military  honors,  being  much  beloved  and 
esteemed  by  Gens.  Rosecrans,  Stanley,  and  all 
on  the  staff,  for  his  bra  very,  patriotism,  and  strict 
adherence  to  duty. 

Oct.  8. — Gen.  JAMES  S.  JACKSON,  a  brigadier- 
general  in  the  Union  service,  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Perryville.  He  was  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
born  about  1822,  and  educated  for  the  bar.  He 
had  been  some  years  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, when  at  the  commencement  of  the  Mex- 
ican war  he  raised  a  regiment  of  volunteers,  and 
served  during  the  war.  During  his  service  in 
Mexico  he  had  a  difficulty  with  Col.  Thomas  F. 
Marshall,  which  resulted  in  a  duel.  On  his  return 
to  Kentucky  he  resumed  his  practice  first  at 
Greenupsburg,  and  afterwards  at  Hopkinsville, 
Ky.,  and  ir.  1860  was  elected  to  Congress  from 


the  2d  congressional  district  of  that  State.  In 
the  autumn  of  1861  he  resigned  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress, and  took  command  of  the  3d  regiment 
Kentucky  cavalry,  was  an  active  participant  in 
most  of  the  battles  of  the  winter  and  spring  of 
1861,  and  on  the  16th  of  July  was  commissioned 
a  brigadier-general.  In  the  battle  of  Perryville 
he  commanded  a  division  of  McCook's  corps  of 
the  Army  of  the  Ohio. 

Oct.  8. — Gen.  WILLIAM  R.  TEEEILL,  a  briga- 
dier-general of  the  Union  army,  killed  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Perryville.  He  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
born  about  1832, -and  appointed  from  that  State 
a  cadet  at  the  Military  Academy,  where  he  grad- 
uated in  1853,  and  was  immediately  appointed 
brevet  second  lieutenant  of  the  3d  artillery,  from 
which  he  was  transferred  to  the  4th  artillery  in 
November  following  as  second  lieutenant.  In 
1855  he  was  appointed  assistant  professor  of 
mathematics  at  "West  Point.  In  1856  he  was 
promoted  to  a  first  lieutenancy,  and  in  May,  1861, 
was  appointed  captain  in  the  5th  artillery,  and 
assigned  to  duty  on  the  coast  survey.  He  soon 
after  raised  a  regiment  of  volunteers,  was  sent 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  commanded  a  battery  in 
Gen.  McCook's  division,  was  transferred  to  the 
command  of  a  brigade,  and  for  his  gallant  and 
meritorious  conduct  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  was 
appointed  brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  his 
commission  bearing  date  Sept.  9,  1862.  At 
Perryville  he  was  killed  while  urging  forward 
his  brigade  against  the  enemy. 

Oct.  9. — GEOEGE  WEBSTER,  colonel  of  the  98th 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  died  of  wounds  receiv- 
ed the  preceding  day  in  the  battle  of  Perryville. 
He  was  born  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  in  1822. 
He  volunteered  in  the  Mexican  war  as  a  private 
soldier,  but  was  promoted  to  be  sergeant-major. 
After  his  return  from  Mexico  he  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  Jefferson  County,  Ohio.  In 
June,  1861,  he  volunteered  as  major  of  the  25th 
Ohio,  and  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenant-colo- 
nelcy in  that  regiment,  and  on  the  organization 
of  the  98th  regiment,  in  the  summer  of  1862, 
was  appointed  colonel.  This  regiment  was  or- 
dered to  join  Gen.  Buell's  army,  and  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Perryville,  Col.  Webster  was  put  in  com- 
mand of  one  of  the  brigades  of  Jackson's 
division  of  McCook's  corps. 

Oct.  11. — Capt.  GEEEE  TALLMADGE,  quarter- 
master-general at  Fortress  Monroe,  died  of  dis- 
ease of  the  liver,  at  his  quarters  in  that  for- 
tress. He  was  born  in  Dutchess  County,  New 
York,  in  1826.  He  was  the  son  of  Hon.  N.  P. 
Tallmadge,  late  U.  S.  Senator  from  New  York. 
He  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1848,  and  was  ap- 
pointed brevet  second  lieutenant  in  the  1st  artil- 
lery ;  early  the  following  year  he  sailed  with 
a  detachment  of  United  States  troops  for  Fort 
Vancouver,  Oregon  Territory,  where  he  was 
stationed  for  a  year;  'returning  in  1850  he  was 
appointed  aid  to  Gen.  Wool,  and  after  three 
years'  service  on  his  staff  was  ordered  to  Fort 
Niagara,  and  subsequently  to  Fort  Ontario.  In 
1853  he  was  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenancy  in 
the  4th  artillery,  and  in  1 857  accompanied  the  ex- 


740 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


peditionto  Utah,  as  an  officer  of  Capt.(now  Gen- 
eral) Phelps'  battery.  In  1858  lie  was  ordered 
to  Fortress  Monroe,  and  in  May,  1861,  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  captain  in  the  quartermaster's 
department.  The  great  labor  of  organizing  the 
quartermaster's  department  for  so  large  a  force 
as  was  congregated  in  the  military  department 
of  Fortress  Monroe,  and  the  added  duties  of  as- 
sistant adjutant-general,  which  he  discharged  for 
a  time,  made  his  position  one  of  great  toil  and 
responsibility,  but  they  were  admirably  per- 
formed. The  "  contraband  "  idea  put  in  practice 
by  Gen.  Butler,  originated  with  him. 

Oct.  16. — Gen.  GEORGE  B.  ANDERSON,  an  offi- 
cer in  the  Confederate  army,  died  in  Raleigh, 
N.  C.  He  was  born  in  "Wilmington,  N.  C.,  in 
1827,  entered  "West  Point  from  that  State  in  1848, 
graduated  in  1852,  and  was  appointed  brevet  2d 
lieutenant  in  the  2d  dragoons,  promoted  to  be 
1st  lieutenant  in  1855,  and  in  1858  appointed 
adjutant  of  his  regiment  with  the  rank  of  cap- 
tain. He  resigned  in  April,  1861,  entered  the 
Confederate  army,  where  he  was  soon"  appointed 
brigadier-general,  and  at  the  battle  of  Antietam 
received  a  wound  in  the  foot,  which  eventually 
proved  fatal. 

Oct.  20. — Major  IRA  L.  HEWITT,  a  paymaster 
in  the  United  States  army,  died  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  He  resided  for  some  years  in  Illi- 
nois, but  emigrated  to  Texas  in  1840,  and  had 
there  become  one  of  the  associate  justices  of 
the  supreme  court  of  the  State.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war,  his  attachment  to  the 
Union  being,  known,  his  life  was  hi  danger,  but 
he  succeeded  in  escaping  from  the  State  by 
stratagem,  and  joining  the  army  served  at  Ship 
Island  and  New  Orleans  under  Gen.  Butler, 
and  when  Col.  A.  J.  Hamilton  came  north,  ac- 
companied him  and  was  assigned  to  duty  in 
New  York. 

Oct.  30. — ORMSBY  MACKXIGHT  MITCHEL,  an 
American  astronomer,  and  major-general  of 
volunteers  in  the  United  States  service,  born  in 
Union  Co.,  Ky.,  Aug.  28,  1810,  died  of  yellow 
fever,  at  Beaufort,  S.  C.,  Oct.  30,  1862.  He 
received*  his  early  education  at  Lebanon,  "War- 
ren Co.,  Ohio,  and  at  12  years  of  age  began 
life  for  himself  as  clerk  in  a  store  in  Miami, 
Ohio.  In  1825  he  received  an  appointment  to 
a  cadetship  in  "West  Point.  In  1829  he  gradu- 
ated fifteenth  in  a  class  of  46,  among  which 
were  Robert  E.  Lee  and  Joseph  E.  Johnston, 
late  generals  in  the  Confederate  service.  He 
was  at  once  appointed  assistant  professor  of 
mathematics,,  which  position  he  -occupied  for 
two  years.  He  subsequently  studied  law,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  practised  in  Cincinnati 
until  1834,  when  he  was  elected  professor  of 
mathematics,  philosophy,  and  astronomy  in  the 
Cincinnati  College.  In  1845  he  proposed  the 
establishment  of  an  observatory  at  Cincinnati, 
raising  nearly  the  whole  of  the  requisite  amount 
by  his  own  exertions,  and  was  made  director 
of  the  institution.  To  obtain  the  necessary  ap- 
paratus he  took  a  flying  trip  to  Europe,  visited 
London,  Paris,  and  Munich,  completed  his  con- 


tracts and  returned  to  his  college  duties  in  the 
short  space  of  fourteen  weeks.  In  1859  he  was 
chosen  director  of  the  Dudley  Observatory  at 
Albany,  retaining,  at  the  same  time,  his  con- 
nection with  that  at  Cincinnati.  As  an  as- 
tronomical lecturer,  he  was  exceedingly  popular, 
and  among  the  monuments  of  his  skill  in  per- 
fecting the  necessary  apparatus  for  that  depart- 
ment of  science,  is  an  instrument  at  Albany  for 
recording  right  ascensions  and  declinations  by 
electro-magnetic  aid  to  within  TTj!g^  of  a  second 
of  time,  and  for  the  measurement,  with  great 
accuracy,  of  large  differences  of  declination  in- 
capable of  being  reached  by  the  micrometer. 

Among  his  published  works  are :  "  Planetary 
and  Stellar  "Worlds,"  "Popular  Astronomy," 
and  a  treatise  on  Algebra.  On  the  1st  of  July, 
1846,  he  commenced  the  publication  of  a  peri- 
odical entitled  the  "Sidereal  Messenger,"  which 
at  the  end  of  two  years  was  discontinued  for 
want  of  sufficient  patronage.  At  the  breaking 
out  of  the  late  rebellion,  Professor  Mitchel  left 
his  scientific  pursuits  and  sought  an  opportunity 
of  serving  his  country.  In  August,  1861,  he 
was  commissioned  brigadier-general  of  volun- 
teers, and  ordered  to  the  Department  of  the 
Ohio,  under  the  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  Buell. 
After  the  capture  of  Bowling  Green  and  Nash- 
ville he  made  a  forced  march  southward  and 
seized  the  railway  between  Corinth  and  Chat- 
tanooga, thereby  breaking  the  enemy's  line  of 
communication,  and  possessed  himself  of  various 
points  in  northern  Alabama,  for  which  he  was 
made  a  major-general.  In  July,  1862,  he  was 
relieved  of  his  command,  and,  on  the  17th  of 
the  September  following,  was  appointed  com- 
mander of  the  Department  of  the  South,  where 
he  was  making  preparations  for  a  vigorous 
campaign  when  lie  fell  a  victim  to  the  yellow 
fever. 

Nov.  3. — ISRAEL  B.  RICHARDSON,  a  major- 
general  of  volunteers  in  the  United  States  ser- 
vice, born  at  Burlington,  Vt,  in  1819,  died  at 
Sharpsburg,  Md.,  Nov.  3,  1862.  He  was  a  de- 
scendant of  the  Revolutionary  hero,  Gen.  Israel 
Putnam,  graduated  at  "West  Point  in  1841,  was 
appointed  2d  lieutenant  in  the  3d  infantry,,  and 
1st  lieutenant  Sept.  21, 1846.  He  distinguished 
himself  in  nearly  every  important  battle  during 
the  Mexican  War;  was  brevetted  captain  for 
gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  at  Contreras 
and  Churubusco,  and  major  for  gallantry  at 
Chapultepec ;  and  so  distinguished  himself  for 
bravery  that  he  was  known  in  the  army  by  the 
sobriquet  of  "  Fighting  Dick."  In  March,  1851, 
he  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy.  In  1855  he 
left  the  army  and  retired  to  private  life  in 
Michigan.  Upon  the  commencement  of  the 
late  rebellion  he  promptly  offered  himself  again 
to  the  Government,  organized  a  regiment,  the 
2d  Michigan  volunteers,  of  which  he  was  made 
colonel,  and  soon  after  was  placed  in  command 
of  a  brigade,  with  which  he  covered  the  retreat 
of  the  army  at  Bull  Run.  His  commission  as 
brigadier-general  dated  back  to  May  12,  1861. 
At  the  battle  of  the  Chickahommy  he  com- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


741 


manded  a  division  of  Gen.  Sumner's  corps,  and 
won  much  honor  upon  that  occasion.  He  re- 
ceived his  commission  of  major-general  July  4, 
1862 ;  distinguished  himself  at  the  battles  of 
South  Mountain  and  Antietam,  in  the  latter  of 
which  he  received  the  wound  causing  his  death. 

Nov.  5. — Col.  CUREEN  POPE,  commander  of 
the  15th  Kentucky  regiment,  died  at  Danville 
of  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  Perryville, 
on  the  8th  of  October  previous.  He  was  a 
member  of  one  of  the  most  distinguished  fami- 
lies of  Kentucky,  and  was  born  in  Louisville 
about  1813.  He  entered  West  Point  as  a  cadet 
in  1829,  and  graduated  in  1834,  but  soon  after 
left  the  army  to  follow  the  profession  of  civil 
engineer.  Early  in  the  war  a  number  of  his 
relatives  joined  the  Confederate  army,  but  he 
adhered  firmly  to  the  cause  of  the  Union,  and 
abandoning  his  profession,  raised  the  regiment 
which  he  commanded  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Ntfv.  6. — Gen.  CHARLES  DAVIS  JAMESON  died 
at  Oldtown,  Me.,  from  camp  fever,  brought  on 
by  his  exertions  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks  and 
the  pestilential  influence  of  the  climate.  He 
was  born  at  Gorham,  Me.,  Feb.  24, 1827 ;  while 
yet  very  young,  his  parents  removed  to  Old- 
town,  Me.,  where,  after  receiving  a  limited  aca- 
demic education,  he  at  an  early  age  embarked 
in  the  lumber  business,  and  eventually  became 
one  of  the  largest  manufacturers  and  shippers 
of  lumber  on  the  Penobscot.  He  had  been  an 
active  adherent  to  the  Douglas  section  of  the 
democracy,  and  in  1860  was  a  Douglas  delegate 
to  the  Charleston  Convention,  where  he  be- 
came convinced  of  the  intentions  of  the  South- 
ern States  to  secede.  At  the  commencement 
of  the  war  he  was  one  of  the  first,  if  not  the 
first,  of  the  prominent  democrats  of  the  State 
to  offer  his  services  to  the  Government,  and 
was  placed  by  Gen.  Washburn  in  command  of 
the  first  regiment  which  left  that  State  for  the 
beleaguered  capital.  In  the  battle  of  Bull  Run 
he  commanded  this  regiment  (2d  Maine)  and 
distinguished  himself  by  his  bravery,  and  with 
his  regiment  protected  the  rear  in  its  retreat  to 
Centreville.  For  his  conduct  on  that  day  he 
was  appointed  brigadier-general  of  volunteers, 
on  the  3d  of  Sept.,  1861.  In  the  autumn  of 
1861  he  was,  without  his  knowledge  or  consent, 
nominated  by  the  democrats  of  his  own  State 
for  governor,  and  polled  a  heavy  vote  though 
defeated  by  the  republican  candidate.  In  the 
spring  and  early  summer  of  1862  he  took  an 
active  part  in  the  campaign  on  the  peninsula, 
in  Gen.  Heintzelman's  corps,  and  by  his  exer- 
tions there,  both  before  and  at  the  battle  of 
Fair  Oaks,  contracted  the  fever  which  finally 
terminated  his  life.  He  ranked  high  as  a  dis- 
ciplinarian and  as  a  brave  and  competent  com- 
mander. 

Nov.  1. — Commodore  GAEEETT  J.  PENDER- 
GRAST,  commandant  of  the  navy  yard  at  Phila- 
delphia, died  in  that  city,  aged  62  years.  He 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  entered  the 
navy  when  only  11  years  of  age,  and  had  been 
in  the  service  sin<e  that  time,  passing  through 


all  the  grades.  In  1860  he  was  flag  officer  of 
the  home  squadron,  and  did  service  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war  in  the  protection  of  the 
important  harbor  of  Hampton  Roads.  In  the 
autumn  of  1861  he  was  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  navy  yard  at  Philadelphia.  He 
died  of  paralysis. 

Nov.  22. — Brig.-Gen.  FRANCIS  E.  PATTERSON 
killed  himself  by  the  accidental  discharge  of 
his  pistol  in  his  tent  at  Fairfax  Court  House 
during  the  night.  He  was  a  native  of  Phila- 
delphia, born  in  1827",  and  had  entgjy^H^ 
army  from  civil  life  as  second  lieutenant  of  the 
1st  artillery  in  June,  1847.  In  March,  1855,  he 
was  promoted  to  a  captaincy  in  the  9th  infan- 
try, then  first  organized.  In  May,  1857,  he  re- 
signed, and  devoted  himself  to  civil  pursuits. 
On  the  raising  of  the  115th  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers, Gov.  Curtin  offered  him  the  command 
of  the  regiment,  which  he  accepted,  and  ac- 
quitted himself  so  ably  in  the  field,  that  on  the 
llth  of  April,  1862,  he  was  appointed  brigadier- 
general,  and  in  the  subsequent  battles  on  the 
peninsula  rendered  efficient  service. 

Nov.  — . — Gen.  JOHN  B.  VILLIPIGTJE,  a  briga- 
dier-general of  the  Confederate  army,  died  at 
Port  Hudson,  La.,  of  pneumonia.  He  was  born 
in  South  Carolina  about  1834 ;  it  is  said  that 
his  father  was  of  French  and  his  mother  of 
Spanish  extraction.  He  graduated  at  "West 
Point  in  1854 ;  was  appointed  to  a  second  lieu- 
tenancy in  the  2d  dragoons,  and  was  promoted 
to  a  first  lieutenancy  in  1857,  and  assigned 
to  service  in  the  Southwest.  In  March,  1861, 
he  resigned  from  the  United  States  service,  and 
at  once  accepted  an  appointment  as  colonel  in 
the  Confederate  service.  In  Nov.,  1861,  he  was 
wounded  at  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Pickens, 
and  soon  after  was  made  a  brigadier-general 
in  the  Confederate  army.  He  was  assigned  to  i : 
the  command  of  Fcrt  Wright,  and  retained  it 
nntil  the  evacuation  of  that  post ;  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Corinth  in  October,  1862,  and 
was  soon  after  assigned  to  the  command  of 
Mobile. 

Nov.  27- — Gen.  ALEXANDER  EARLY  STEEN 
(or  STEIN),  a  Confederate  officer,  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Kane  Hill,  in  Arkansas.  A  musket 
ball  passed  directly  through  his  brain.  He  was 
appointed  from  civil  life  second  lieutenant  of 
the  12th,  infantry  in  the  regular  army  of  the 
United  States,  March  6th,  1847 ;  was  brevetted 
first  lieutenant  for  "gallant  and  meritorious  . 

conduct"  at  the  battle  of  Contreras  and  Chu- 
rubusco,  in  Mexico,  Aug.  2d,  1847 — date  of 
brevet  August,  1848.  His  regiment  was  dis- 
banded in  July,  1848,  and  he  was  appointed 
second  lieutenant  of  the  3d  infantry,  June  30th, 
1852. 

Dee.  6. — CLAIBORNE  F.  JACKSON,  late  Gov&rn- 
or  of  Missouri,  died  at  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  of 
cancer  in  the  stomach.  He  was  born  in  Flem- 
ing County,  Ky.,  April  4,  1807,  and  emigrated 
to  Missouri  in  1822.  In  the  "Black  Hawk" 
war  he  raised  a  volunteer  company,  and  served 
as  captain.  He  was  for  ten  or  twelve  terms  a 


742 


MILITARY  AND  .NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


member  of  one  or  the  other  House  of  the  Missouri 
Legislature,  and  for  one  term  Speaker  of  the 
House.  In  the  session  of  1848  he  drew  up  and 
carried  through  the  Legislature  the  famous 
Jackson  resolutions.  He  was  one  of  the  prime 
movers  in  the  organization  of  the  present  bank- 
ing system  of  Missouri,  and  for  a"  number  of 
years  Bank  Commissioner.  In  1860  he  was 
elected  Governor.  -His  own  sympathy  with 
secession,  and  his  determination  to  draw  the 
^tate  into  it,  soon  became  evident ;  and  having 
n&fNbwB  the  State  capitol  on  the  approach  of 
Gen.  Lyon  in  July,  he  was  deposed  by  the 
State  Convention,  and  Gov.  Gamble  appointed 
provisional  governor  in  his  place.  He  acted 
for  a  short  time  as  a  general  in  the  Confederate 
army,  but  his  disease,  from  which  he  had  long 
suffered,  becoming  aggravated,  he  retired  to 
Little  Rock,  where  lie  died  after  some  months 
of  suffering. 

Dec.  12. — Rev.  ABTHUE  B.  FULLEB,  a  Unita- 
rian clergyman,  and  chaplain  of  the  16th  regi- 
ment Massachusetts  volunteers,  killed  while 
crossing  the  Rappahannock  with  a  portion  of  his 
regiment,  who  had  volunteered  to  cross  the  river, 
and  drive  off  the  sharpshooters  who  were  pre- 
venting the  laying  of  the  pontoon  bridges.  He 
was  born  in  1824  at  Cambridgeport,  Mass.,  and 
was  the  son  of  Hon.  Timothy  Fuller,  an  eminent 
lawyer  and  member  of  Congress  from  1817  to 
1 825,  and  a  brother  of  the  celebrated  Margaret 
Fuller,  Countess  D'Ossoli.  In  his  childhood  the 
family  removed  to  Groton,  Mass.,  and  by  an  acci- 
dent in  his  boyhood  Arthur  lost  an  eye.  He  was 
fitted  for  college  by  his  sister,  and  entered  Har- 
vard university  in  1889,  graduating  in  1843. 
After  studying  theology  at  the  Cambridge  Di- 
vinity School,  Mr.  Fuller  went  to  Illinois  as  a 
teacher  and  missionary,  and  after  some  years'  la- 
bor there  returned — first  to  Boston,  and  after- 
ward to  "Watertown,  Mass.,  where  he  was  settled 
as  pastor.  He  volunteered  as  a  chaplain  early 
in  the  war,  and  not  only  fulfilled  his  duties  in 
that  capacity  unexceptionally,  but  by  his  earnest 
sympathy  for  the  members  of  his  regiment,  and 
his  careful  solicitude  for  their  health,  their  men- 
tal improvement,  and  their  moral  welfare,  be- 
came the  idol  of  his  regiment,  and  exerted  a  pow- 
erful and  salutary  influence  on  other  bodies  of 
men  in  their  vicinity.  His  patriotism  and  cour- 
age led  him  to  risk  all  perils  with  his  men,  and 
when  several  companies  of  them  volunteered 
as  a  forlorn  hope  in  the  mission  of  crossing  the 
Rappahannock  under  a  deadly  fire,  his  prompt 
determination  to  go  with  them  greatly  stimula- 
ted their  enthusiasm.  He  edited  his  sister's 
works,  and  had  published  several  original  vol- 
umes. 

Dec.  13. — Brig. -Gen.  GEOEGE  D.  BAYARD,  an 
officer  of  the  United  States  army,  was  killed  in 
the  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  He  was  a  native  of 
New  York,  born  about  1836 ;  he  entered  "West 
Point  as  a  cadet  in  1852,  and  graduated  in  June, 
1856,  receiving  immediately  an  appointment  as 
2d  lieutenant  of  the  4th  cavalry.  On  the  20th 
of  Aug.,  1861,  he  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy 


in  his  regiment,  and  was  allowed  leave  of  ab- 
sence to  take  command  of  the  1st  Pennsylvania 
volunteer  cavalry  attached  to  Gen.  McCall's  re- 
serve corps,  and  participated  in  the  various  bat- 
tles of  that  fighting  corps.  •  On  the  20th  of  Nov., 
1861,  he  made  a  most  brilliant  and  successful 
dash  at  the  head  of  his  regiment  upon  Dranes- 
ville.  On  the  10th  of  June,  1862,  he  was  nom- 
inated as  brigadier-general  of  volunteers  com- 
manding cavalry,  his  commission  dating  from 
the  28th  of  April.  During  the  autumn  he  had 
done  excellent  service  with  his  brigade,  making 
frequent  dashes  into  the  enemy's  lines,  and  driv- 
ing them  from  the  gaps  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  At 
Fredericksburg  he  was  attached  to  Gen.  Frank- 
lin's corps.  He  was  buried  with  military  honors 
at  Princeton,  N.  J. 

Dec.  13.— Gen.  THOMAS  R.  R.  COBB,  of 
Georgia,  an  officer  of  the  Confederate  army, 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  Gen. 
Cobb  was  a  brother  of  Major-Gen.  Howell 
Cobb,  and  was  an  able  and  eloquent  member 
of  the  provisional  congress  of  the  seceded 
States,  in  which  body  he  served  as  chairman 
of  the  committee  on  military  affairs. 

Dec.  13. — Lieut.-Col.  JOSEPH  BEIDGIIAM  CPE- 
TIS  was  killed  at  Fredericksburg  while  leading 
his  regiment  in  a  charge.  He  was  born  in  New 
York  in  1836,  and  was  a  sou  of  the  late  George 
Curtis  president  of  the  Continental  Bank,  and 
brother  of  the  author,  George  "Wm.  Curtis.  He 
had  received  an  education  as  an  engineer,  and  at 
the  commencement  of  the  war  was  a  member 
of  the  engineer  corps  of  the  Central  Park,  and 
volunteered  in  the  7th  regiment  N.  Y.  S.  M.  as 
an  engineer.  Soon  after  that  regiment  was 
mustered  out  of  the  service  he  reBntered  the 
volunteer  army  as  adjutant  of  the  4th  Rhode 
Island  regiment,  one  of  the  regiments  attached 
to  the  Burnside  expedition.  He  distinguished 
himself  at  the  capture  of  Roanoke  Island  for  cool- 
ness and  daring,  and  was  soon  after  appointed 
by  Gen.  Rodman  assistant  adjutant-general  on 
his  staff.  The  ability  he  displayed  in  this  po- 
sition led  to  his  promotion  soon  after,  at  Gen. 
Burnside's  request,  to  the  lieutenant-colonelcy 
of  the  4th  Rhode  Island,  and  with  his  regiment 
he  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  on  the  pe- 
ninsula, and  was  with  it  in  that  succession  of  ter- 
rible battles  between  the  Rappahannock  and 
Washington,  and  at  South  Mountain  and  Antie- 
tam.  In  the  last-named  battle  his  regiment  was 
so  cut  up  that  it  wa^  by  command  of  the  general 
withdrawn  from  the  field,  but  the  lieutenant- 
colonel  did  not  go  with  it ;  seizing  the  musket 
and  cartridge  box  of  a  dead  soldier,  he  joined 
the  ranks  of  a  Pennsylvania  regiment  and  did 
duty  as  a  private  to  the  close  of  the  battle.  At 
Fredericksburg  he  was  in  command  of  the  regi- 
ment, the  colonel  being  disabled  by  a  wound. 

Dec.  13. — Brig.-Gen.  MAXET  GBEGG,  of  South 
Carolina,  a  Confederate  officer,  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Fredericksburg.  He  entered  into  the 
war  at  its  commencement,  and  commanded  the 
1st  South  Carolina  regiment,  which  was  the 
first  force  from  that  State  which  arrived  in 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


743 


Virginia,  and  was  hailed  by  the  people  upon  its 
advent  into  Eichmond  with  extraordinary  dem- 
onstrations of  honor  and  welcome.  "When 
the  term  of  service  of  this  regiment  expired,  it 
returned  to  South  Carolina,  hut  Col.  Gregg  re- 
mained in  Virginia,  and  subsequently  reorgan- 
ized the  regiment,  which  was  afterwards  con- 
stantly and  conspicuously  in  service.  Col. 
Gregg  was  shortly  afterwards  made  a  brigadier- 
general.  Previous  to  the  war  Gen.  Gregg, 
though  devoted  to  the  profession  of  law,  had  a 
wide  and  brilliant  political  reputation.  In 
politics  he  was  an  extreme  States'  rights  man, 
and  stood  with  others  in  South  Carolina  at  the 
head  of  that  party.  He  took  a  prominent  part 
in  favor  of  the  policy  of  reopening  the  slave 
trade ;  and  with  ex-Governor  Adams,  of  South 
Carolina,  being  associated  as  leading  representa- 
tives of  that  idea  in  the  cotton  States.  He  was 
a  prominent  member  of  the  bar,  and  practised 
his  profession  with  distinction  and  success  in 
Columbia  for  over  twenty  years.  As  a  military 
man  he  had  a  wide  reputation  for  coolness  and 
self-possession  in  danger.  In  battle  he  had  the 
faculty  of  inspiring  his  troops  with  confidence 
and  enthusiasm — not  by  words  but  by  deeds. 

Dee.  13. — Brig.-Gen.  CONEAD  FEGEK  JACK- 
BOOT, was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg, 
where  he  commanded  the  brigade  formerly 
known  as  Gen.  Ord's.  He  was  a  citizen  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  previous  to  the  war  had  been  con- 
nected with  the  Pennsylvania  Central  and  Eead- 
ing  Eailroads,  where  he  was  well  and  favourably 
known.  Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the 
war  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  9th  regi- 
ment of  the  corps  of  Pennsylvania  reserves, 
under  the  command  of  Gen.  George  A.  McCall. 
The  corps  was  ordered  to  Washington,  July  22, 
1861,  and  Col.  Jackson's  regiment  entered  that 
city\m  the  26th  of  that  month  with  full  numbers 
and  completely  equipped, and  encamped  near  Sev- 
enth Street.  They  were  subsequently  ordered  to 
Tenallytown,  and  formed  part  of  the  3d  brigade, 
then  under  command  of  Gen.  E.  0.  C.  Ord.  The 
regiment  "was  subsequently  stationed  on  the 
heights  south  of  the  Potomac,  and  formed  a  part 
of  the  brigade  which  gained  a  victory  atDranes- 
ville.  On  the  peninsula  Col.  Jackson  distin- 
guished himself  at  Mechanicsville  and  Games' 
Mills,  and  participated  in  the  remaining  contests 
of  those  memorable  seven  days.  He  also  took 
an  active  part  in  the  battles  between  the  Eappa- 
liannock  and  Alexandria  in  the  latter  part  of 
August ;  and  having,  on  the  departure  of  Gen. 
Ord  to  the  West,  been  promoted  to  the  command 
of  the  brigade,  he  led  his  troops  into  the  action 
of  South  Mountain  and  Antietam.  At  Freder- 
icksburg  he  was  at  the  head  of  his  troops,  leading 
them  on  to  a  charge,  when  a  rule  ball  passed 
through  his  head,  killing  him  instantly. 

Dec.  31. — Col.  JULIUS  P.  GAKESCHE,  chief  of 
Maj.-Gen.  Eosecrans's  staff,  was  born  in  Cuba, 
of  American  parents,  in  1821.  At  the  age  of 
16  he  entered  West  Point,  and  graduated  in 
1841.  He  served  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  dur- 
ing eight  years  previous  to  the  secession  was 


on  duty  at  Washington  as  assistant  adjutant- 
general.  When  the  war  broke  out,  his  patriotic 
nature  sought  active  service,  and  he  accepted 
the  appointment  of  chief  of  staff  to  Gen.  Eose- 
crans,  having  previously  declined  a  commission 
of  brigadier-general,  preferring  to  win  the  honor 
upon  the  field  of  service.  From  his  long  expe- 
rience and  thorough  acquaintance  with  military 
science,  he  was  eminently  qualified  for  his  du- 
ties, and  rendered  himself  at  once  an  invalu- 
able aid  to  his  commander.  He  was  an  earnest 
and  devoted  Christian,  gentle  and  amiable  in 
character  and  disposition,  and  was  widely  known 
for  his  benevolence  to  the  poor  and  sympathy 
for  those  in  affliction  and  sorrow.  He  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  Society  of  St.  Vincent 
of  Paul  in  Washington.  His  many  virtues,  add- 
ed to  his  gentlemanly  deportment  and  earnest 
devotion  to  his  country,  won  the  love  of  both 
officers  and  men,  and  his  untimely  death  by  a 
cannon  ball,  which  took  off  his  head,  while  on 
duty  at  the  side  of  his  commander,  was  alike  a 
shock  to  the  army  and  country.  A  few  days 
after  the  battle  his  body  was  disinterred  and 
taken  to  Cincinnati,  from  whence,  after  appro- 
priate honors,  it  was  forwarded  to  his  family  in 
Washington  City. 

Dec.  31. — Gen.  EOGEB  W.  HANSON,  an  of- 
ficer in  the  Confederate  army,  killed*  at  the 
battle  of  Murfreesboro  (or  Stone  Eiver  as  it  is 
sometimes  called).  Gen.  Hanson  was  born  in 
Winchester,  Ky..,  and  was  a  son  of  Samuel 
Hanson,  of  the  same  State.  Gen.  Hanson,  at 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  was  a  practising 
lawyer  in  Lexington,  Ky.',  a  prominent  poli- 
tician, and  a  staunch  Union  man  of  high  repu- 
tation. His  age  was  about  thirty-four  when  he 
was  killed. 

Dec.  31. — Brig.-Gen.  JAMES  E.  EAINS,  an 
officer  in  the  Confederate  service,  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Stone  Eiver.  He  was  a  native  of 
North  Carolina,  graduated  at  West  Point  in 
1827,  and  was  appointed  to  the  7th  infantry. 
He  took  part  in  the  Seminole  war  in  Florida, 
and  was  brevetted  major  for  gallant  and  meri- 
torious conduct  in  an  action  with  the  Indians 
near  Fort  King,  April  28th,  1840,  on  which  oc- 
casion he  commanded  the  troops,  and  was 
wounded.  In  1855  he  was  with  his  regiment 
in  Washington  Territory,  and  was  appointed 
brigadier-general  of  the  Washington  Territory 
volunteers.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  was 
a  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  5th  infantry,  but  his 
sympathies  being  with  the  Confederate  cause, 
he  resigned  his  commission,  July  31st,  1861, 
and,  according  to  Gen.  Sterling  Price's  official 
report  of  the  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,  was 
acting  as  brigadier-general  of  the  advance  guard 
of  the  army  which  fought  the  battle,  August 
10'th.  He  distinguished  himself  at  the  battle 
of  Shiloh  and  Perryville,  and  at  the  battle  of 
Stone  Eiver,  where  he  lost  his  life,  won  much 
credit  by  his  skill  and  daring. 

Dec.  31. — Col.  GEOEGE  W.  EGBERTS,  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Stone  Eiver,  was  born  in  West- 
chester  county,  Penn.,  Oct.  2d,  1833 ;  graduated 


744 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


at  Yale  College  in  1857,  studied  law,  and 
practised  his  profession  in  his  native  county 
until  the  spring  of  1859,  when  he  removed  to 
Chicago,  111.  The  commencement  of  the  war 
found  him  enjoying  a  prosperous  business,  but 
his  patriotism  led  him  to  enter  the  army,  and 
he  began  recruiting  for  the  42d  regiment  Il- 
linois volunteers.  On  the  22d  of  July  he  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  major  of  the  regiment. 
The  following  September  he  was  elected  lieu- 
tenant-colonel, and  upon  the  death  of  Col. 
"Webb,  was  chosen  colonel.  "With  his  regiment 
he  took  part  in  the  memorable  march  of  Gen. 
Fremont  to  Springfield.  He  distinguished  him- 
self in  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duty  at 
different  points,  but  more  especially  by  his  val- 
uable service  during  a  midnight  expedition  in 
spiking  a  number  of  guns  at  the  siege  of  Island 
No.  10.  An  upper  battery  of  the  enemy  com- 
manded' the  river  so  effectually  that  no  boats 
could  pass.  Col.  Roberts  conceived  the  idea  of 
spiking  the  guns,  and  selecting  a  dark  and 
stormy  night  for  the  occasion,  with  only  forty 
men  in  five  small  boats,  he  bravely  accomplished 
his  purpose.  He  afterwards  distinguished  him- 
self at  the  battle  of  .Farmington,  Tenn.  At 
the  siege  of  Corinth  he  was  in  the  advance,  and 
was  one  of  the  foremost  in  entering  the  fortifi- 
cation of  the  enemy.  He  was  in  command  of 
the  first  brigade,  first  division  of  the  Army  of 
'•he  Mississippi,  and  won  much  honor  during 
the  campaign  of  1862.  At  the  battle  of  Stone 
River  he  had  the  advance  of  the  20th  army 
corps,  and  drove  the  enemy  to  their  breast- 
works. On  the  31st  his  brigade  engaged  two 
divisions  of  the  enemy  at. once,  maintaining 
their  ground  until  attacked  by  a  third  division. 
At  one  period  of  the  engagement,  observing  a 
Confederate  division  driving  some  of  our  regi- 
ments before  them,  he  asked  permission  of  Gen. 
She'ridan  to  charge  upon  the  enemy,  and  gal- 
loping before  the  42d  Illinois,  he  waved  his 
cap  and  ordered  them  to  fix  bayonets.  The 
men,  fired  by  his  bravery,  rushed  upon  the  foe 
with  snch  force  that  they  broke  and  fled  in  the 
wildest  confusion.  This  discomfiture  at  such 
a  juncture  no  doubt  had  its  effect  on  the  final 
triumph  of  the  day.  While  gallantly  inspiring 


his  men  to  action  he  received  the  fatal  bullet 
which  ended  his  brave  career. 

Dec.  31. — J.  W.  SCHAEFFER,  acting  brigadier- 
general  of  the  U.  S.  volunteer  service,  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Stone  River.  He  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  but  was  appointed  to  the  service 
from  Illinois.  In  the  official  report  of  the  bat- 
tle of  Stone  River,  Gen.  Rosecrans  mentions  his 
name  with  honor. 

Dec.  31. — Brig.-Gen.  JOSHUA  WOODEOW  SILL, 
an  officer  of  the  United  States  army,  killed  in 
the  battle  of  Stone  River.  He  was  bom  in 
Chillicothe,  Ohio,  Dec.  6,  1831 ;  received  a 
thorough  English  and  classical  education,  and 
was  appointed  a  cadet  at  "West  Point  in  1849, 
where  he  graduated  third  in  his  class.  In  1854 
he  received  an  ordnance  appointment,  and  was 
stationed  at  "Water vliet  Arsenal,  "West  Troy. 
The  following  year  he  was  recalled  as  one  of 
the  instructors  at  "West  Point,  and  after  serving 
two  years  in  that  capacity  was  ordered  to  Pitts- 
burg  Arsenal,  and  from  thence,  in  1858,  to  Van- 
couver, Washington  Territory,  to  superintend 
the  building  of  an  arsenal  there.  Finding  this 
impracticable,  in  consequence  of  the  difficulty 
existing  about  Vancouver's  Island  with  the 
British  Government,  he  returned,  and  soon  af- 
ter was  ordered  to  Fort  Leavenworth.  In  1860 
he  resigned  his  position  in  the  army,  and  ac- 
cepted the  professorship  of  mathematics  and 
civil  engineering  in  the  Brooklyn  Collegiate 
and  Polytechnic  Institute.  Upon  the  outbreak 
of  the  present  war  he  resigned  his  position,  and 
upon  offering  his  services  to  the  Governor  of 
Ohio  was  appointed  assistant  adjutant-general 
of  the  State.  In  August,  1861,  he  was  com- 
missioned colonel  of  the  23d  Ohio  volunteers. 
He  joined  Gen.  Nelson  in  his  Kentucky  expe- 
dition, and  after  his  return  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  a  brigade,  receiving  the  commission 
of  brigadier-general  July  29,  1862.  Subse- 
quently he  commanded  a  division  for  a  time, 
evincing  great  courage  and  skill,  and  upon  the 
reorganization  of  the  army  under  Gen.  Rose- 
crans he  was  assigned  a  brigade  in  Gen.  Sheri- 
dan's division,  at  the  head  of  Avhich  he  gal- 
lantly fought,  and  fell  during  the  memorable 
Wednesday  of  the  battle  of  Stone  River. 


1863. 


Jan.  1. — WILLIAM  B.  RENSHAW,  acting  com- 
modore of  the  naval  squadron  engaged  in 
blockading  Galveston,  Texas,  was  killed  upon 
his  flag-ship,  the  Westfield.  He  was  a  native  of 
New  York,  from  which  State  he  was  appointed 
to  the  navy  as  a  midshipman,  Dec.  22d,  1831. 
In  1837  he  passed  the  Examining  Board,  and 
received  his  warrant  as  a  passed  midshipman, 
and  was  attached  to  the  North  Carolina,  at  the 
New  York  navy  yard.  In  1841  he  was  pro- 
moted to  a  lieutenancy,  and  in  1861  became 
commander,  and  was  ordered  to  the  Ordnance 


Bureau  at  Washington,  on  special  service.  He 
was  next  transferred  to  the  command  of  the 
United  States  steamer  Westfield,  under  Admiral 
Farragut,  and  was  by  him  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  that  portion  of  the  squadron  which 
blockaded  Galveston.  During  the  recapture  of 
Galveston,  the  Westfield  got  hopelessly  aground, 
and  having  a  large  supply  of  ammunition  and 
two  magazines  of  powder  on  board,  Commo- 
dore Renshaw  determined  to  destroy  her  rather 
than  let  her  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
Having  made  due  arrangements,  and  secured 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


745 


the  safety  of  his  men,  he  stayed  behind  to  light 
the  train  before  leaving ;  but  a  drunken  man 
had,  it  is  said,  prematurely  lighted  the  match, 
and  the  commodore,  together  with  those  in  the 
small  boats  awaiting  him,  were  involved  in  the 
general  destruction.  He  was  a  faithful  officer, 
and  had  spent  thirty-one  years  in  the  service 
of  his  country. 

Jan.  1. — Commander  JONATHAN  M.  WAIN- 
WRIGHT,  an  officer  in  the  U.  S.  navy,  was  killed 
upon  the  Harriet  Lane  during  the  attack  upon 
Galveston,  Texas.  He  was  a  native  of  New 
York,  but  a  citizen  of  Massachusetts,  from 
which  State  he  was  appointed  to  the  United 
States  navy  as  a  midshipman,  June  13th,  1837. 
He  passed  the  Examining  Board  June,  1843, 
and  received  his  warrant  as  a  passed  midship- 
man on  that  date.  He  was  then  engaged  at 
the  naval  rendezvous  in  New  York.  On  the 
17th  of  September,  1850,  he  was  promoted  to 
a  lieutenancy,  and  upon  the  commencement 
of  the  war  was  advanced  to  be  a  commander, 
and  ordered  to  the  Harriet  Lane.  He  was  a 
son  of  the  late  Bishop  Wainwright,  and  had 
been  twenty-five  years  in  the  United  States 
service. 

Jan.  2.— Lieut.  EDWAED  LEA,  of  the  U.  S. 
navy,  was  killed  upon  the  Harriet  Lane  in  the 
engagement  before  Galveston,  Texas.  He  was 
a  native  of  Maryland,  but  a  resident  of  Tennes- 
see, from  which  State  he  was  appointed  to  the 
Naval  Academy  in  1851.  After  graduating  he 
received  an  appointment  to  the  Home  squadron, 
and  subsequently  to  the  East  India  squadron. 
At  the  commencement  of  the  war,  being  him- 
self truly  Union,  notwithstanding  his  fies  of  re- 
lationship in  the  South,  he  was  assigned  to  the 
Harriet  Lane,  then  fitting  out  to  join  Admiral 
Porter's  mortar  flotilla  in  the  bombardment  of 
Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip. 

Jan.  3. — Commander  WILLIAM  GWIN,  of  the 
United  States  navy,  died  in  the  hospital  of  his 
vessel,  from  wounds  received  in  the  action 
against  the  batteries  on  Haines's  Bluff.  He  was' 
born  in  Columbus,  Indiana,  in  1831,  and  en- 
tered the  U.  S.  naval  service  as  a  midshipman 
in  1847,  in  which  capacity  he  made  one  cruise 
off  the  coast  of  Brazil  in  the  frigate  Brandy- 
wine,  flag-ship  of  the  squadron,  and  off  the  coast 
of  Africa.  In  June,  1853,  he  passed  a  satisfac- 
tory examination  at  the  Naval  Academy,  and, 
with  the  rank  of  passed  midshipman,  was  order- 
ed to  the  Bainbridge,  in  which  vessel  he  cruised 
off  the  coast  of  Brazil  until  1856.  On  the  15th 
of  September  he  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy. 
He  was  next  ordered  to  the  Pacific  squadron, 
and,  after  a  brief  visit  home  in  1859,  was  as- 
signed to  the  Mediterranean  squadron.  On  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  he  was  ordered  home, 
and  assigned  to  the  Cambridge,  on  blockading 
duty  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  From  this  he  was 
detached,  January,  1862,  and  assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  gunboat  Tyler,  of  the  "Western 
flotilla,  in  which  vessel  he  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Fort  Henry  and  Fort  Donelson.  He 
also  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  at  the 


time  when  the  gunboats  fired  at  night  among 
the  enemy,  his  vessel  discharging  one  hundred 
and  eighty-eight  shells.  On  the  16th  of  July, 
1862,  he  was  made  a  lieutenant-commander 
under  the  late  act  of  Congress  in  relation  to 
officers  in  the  navy.  He  distinguished  himself 
in  the  expedition  up  the  Yazoo  River  in  com- 
pany with  the  Carondelet,  to  meet  the  famous 
Confederate  ram  Arkansas;  and  his  vessel, 
though  sadly  disabled,  did  not  cease  firing  until 
she  had  passed  through  the  entire  squadron. 
After  the  explosion  on  the  Mound  City  at  St. 
Charles,  by  which  her  commander,  Capt.  Kelly, 
was  so  badly  scalded,  Lieutenant-Commander 
Gwin  took  command  of  that  vessel,  which  he 
held  until  assigned  to  the  Benton,  the  largest 
and  most  powerful  vessel  of  the  river  fleet. 
While  in  charge  of  this  gunboat  he  participated 
in  the  attack  upon  Haines's  Bluff,  during  which 
he  was  mortally  wounded. 

Jan.  — .— -Brig.-Gen.  EDWARD  N.  KIEK,  an 
officer  of  volunteers  in  the  U.  S.  service,  died 
from  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  Stone 
River.  He  was  born  in  Ohio,  but  subsequently 
removed  to  Sterling,  Whiteside  County,  Illinois. 
In  the  autumn  of  1861  he  was  instrumental  in 
raising  and  organizing  the  34th  Illinois  volun- 
teers, of  which  he  was  chosen  colonel.  At  the 
battle  of  Shiloh  he  acted  as  brigadier-general, 
and  was  also  engaged  in  this  capacity  at  the 
siege  of  Corinth.  At  the  battle  of  Stone  River 
he  commanded  one  of  the  brigades  in  Johnson's 
division  of  McCook's  corps,  and  was  mortally 
wounded  while  bravely  withstanding  the  enemy 
during  that  fierce  encounter. 

Jan.  11. — Col.  EMMETT  MACDONALD,  an  offi- 
cer of  the  Confederate  army,  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Hartsville,  in  Missouri.  He  was  born 
in  Steubenville,  Ohio,  on  the '25th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1834.  His  father,  Isaac  MacDonald,  was 
born  in  that  beautiful  and  romantic  spot  known 
as  Grey  Abbey,  on  Strangford  Loch,  in  the 
County  of  Down,  Ireland.  His  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Annie  Wilson,  was  likewise 
born  in  Ireland,  in  the  town  of  Lisburn,  noted 
for  its  linen  manufactures.  Col.  MacDonald 
was  the  descendent  of  a  long  line  of  warlike  an- 
cestors. The  father  of  his  grandfather  was  a 
Scottish  chief  of  the  MacDonalds  of  Glencoe. 
His  great-uncle  sympathized  with  the  Ameri- 
can colonies  in  then-  struggle  for  freedom  with 
Great  Britain,  and  he  fought  in  their  cause  in 
South  Carolina.  His  father  was  a  "United 
Man,"  and  was  engaged  in  the  Irish  Rebellion 
in  1798.  After  receiving  a  liberal  English  edu- 
cation, Col.  MacDonald,  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
located  in  St.  Louis,  and  commenced  business 
as  collector  and  general  agent.  His  leisure 
hours  were  devoted  to  the  study  of  history, 
poetry,  politics,  and  law.  In  1859  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  and  received  the  nomination 
for  the  position  of  assistant  circuit  attorney  for 
St.  Louis  County,  but  was  defeated  in  the  elec- 
tion by  the  German  vote.  In  the  heat  of  the 
canvas  he  was  challenged  by  Sylvan  Carlin  to 
fight  a  duel,  which  took  place  on  Bloody  Island, 


746 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


opposite  the  city  of  St.  Louis.  Two  shots  were 
exchanged  with  Kentucky  rifles,  at  fifty  paces, 
but  neither  party  was  injured.  Friends  inter- 
posed, and  the  difficulty  was  amicably  arranged. 
He  had  another  "  affair  of  honor  "  not  long  after 
this  occurrence,  which  was  near  not  ending  so 
happily.  Being  called  on  for  satisfaction,  he 
proposed  to  settle  the  matter  on  the  spot,  with 
Derringer  pistols,  across  the  table.  The  gentle- 
men took  their  places,  and  with  the  fatal 
weapons  at  the  breast  of  each  other,  awaited 
the  signal,  but  none  of  their  numerous  acquaint- 
ances in  the  room  would  give  the  word  in  so 
deadly  an  encounter.  The  cause  of  the  diffi- 
culty proved  to  be  a  few  words  spoken  in  jest, 
and  was  soon  explained.  During  the  Kansas 
troubles  MacDonald  was  captain  of  a  company 
of  mounted  infantry  in  Bowen's  battalion  of 
Missouri  volunteer  militia,  sent  to  the  border 
to  put  a  stop  to  the  outrages  committed  by 
lawless  bands  of  "  Jayhawkers."  He  remained 
on  the  border  six  months,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  was  ordered  to  report  with  his  com- 
mand at  Camp  Jackson,  near  St.  Louis,  and 
was  captured  on  the  10th  of  May,  1861,  with 
the  whole  force  in  that  encampment.  Mac- 
Donald  denied  the  legality  of  the  capture,  and 
refused  to  give  his  parole.  All  the  rest  of  the 
prisoners  gave  their  parole,  under  protest,  and 
were  released.  Oapt.  Lyon,  who  had  made  the 
capture,  sent  MacDonald  out  of  the  State,  to 
avoid  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  which  was, 
however,  issued  and  served  upon  him.  But  the 
prisoner  was  not  then  in  his  possession. 
Another  writ  was  issued  and  served  upon  Col. 
McArthur,  who  then  held  MacDonald.  Col. 
McArthur  refused  to  obey  the  writ,  and  the 
return,  was  so  made  to  the  court.  In  the 
mean  time  MacDonald  was  removed  to  Cairo, 
111.  Upon  the  case  being  laid  before  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan,  he  ordered  MacDonald  to  be  handed 
over  to  the  civil  authorities,  which  was  done, 
and  he  was  discharged.  He  then  joined 
Gen.  Price's  army,  and  led  a  portion  of  the 
Missouri  cavalry  at  the  battle  of  Carthage.  It 
was  by  his  interposition  that  a  whole  company 
of  Gen.  Sigel's  noted  regiment  of  Turners  was 
saved  from  massacre.  The  company  was  cap- 
tured in  Sigel's  retreat.  It  becoming  known 
that  this  company  had  taken  part  in  the  massa- 
cre at  Camp  Jackson,  the  Missourians  were 
almost  Tincontrollable.  MacDonald  sought  and 
obtained  permission  from  Gen.  McCullough  to 
protect  all  prisoners.  He  regaled  them  with 
two  barrels  of  lager  beer,  paroled  and  sent 
them  under  escort  through  the  Confederate 
lines.  His  treatment  a  few  weeks  later,  by  the 
Illinois  troops,  at  Rolla,  whither  he  had  been 
sent  with  a  flag,  of  truce,  was  an  ill  return  for 
his  magnanimous  behavior  toward  the  captive 
Germans.  Nothing  but  the  protecting  arm  of 
the  commander,  Gen.  Samuel  Sturgis,  saved  his 
life.  At  the  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek  he  fought 
in  the  ranks  of  a  Louisiana  regiment.  At  the 
1 'tittle  of  Dry  Wood  he  commanded  a  piece  of 
field  artillery.  At  the  battle  of  Lexington,  Mo., 


he  commanded  Bledroe's  battery,  that  officer 
having  been  wounded  at  Dry  Wood.  Gen. 
Price,  in.  his  official  report  of  the  capture  of 
Lexington,  makes  mention  of  the  "gallant 
services"  of  Capt.  MacDonald.  At  the  bat- 
tle of  Pea  Ridge,  Capt.  MacDonald  commanded 
a  battery  of  four  field-pieces,  and  was  com- 
plimented by  Gen.  Van  Dorn  on  the  field. 
His  battery  was  in  the  battle  of  Farmington,  in 
front  of  Corinth,  Miss.,  where  he  was,  as  usual, 
distinguished  for  his  contempt  of  danger. 
Whilst  on  a  visit  to  Richmond,  he  took  part  as 
a  volunteer  in  the  ranks  in  the  seven  days 
fighting  around  that  place.  Subsequently  he 
obtained  permission  to  go  to  the  Trans-Missis- 
sippi Department  and  raise  a  regiment  of 
cavalry.  On  the  8th  of  January,  1863,  he  com- 
manded a  brigade  under  Gen.  Marmaduke,  in 
the  attack  on  Springfield,  Mo.  ,At  the  battle 
of  Hartsville  he  had  come  upon  the  field  to  re- 
monstrate with  the  general  commanding  against 
keeping  his  regiment  too  far  from  the  scene  of 
action  to  take  part  in  it,  when  seeing  two 
pieces  of  Confederate  artillery  in  danger  of 
capture,  he  gathered  a  few  stragglers  together 
and  made  a  charge,  with  the  intention  of  bring- 
ing them  off.  He  succeeded,  but  received  two 
balls  in  the  leg,  and  expired  in  four  hours  after. 
As  he  laid  bleeding  upon  the  field,  he  said : 
"  Never  mind  me,  take  off  the  guns,  boys."  As 
he  was  being  carried  from  the  field,  feeling  that 
his  life  was  ebbing  with  the  crimson  stream 
from  his  wound,  he  asked  his  assistants  to  draw 
the  curtains  of  the  ambulance  aside,  that  he 
might  hear  the  music  of  the  battle  and  see  the 
retreating  enemy.  His  last  words  were  :  "  Tell 
the  general  to  remenroer  the  charge  of  the 
stragglers.  'It  was  a  gallant  charge."  He  was 
buried  on  the  battle-field,  but  his  remains 
were  subsequently  removed  to  St.  Louis.  The 
provost  marshal  of  that  city,  Gen.  Franklin 
A.  Dick,  issued  an  order  for  the  seizure  of  the 
body  and  its  burial  in  the  soldier's  graveyard. 
Kindred  and  friends  begged  the  privilege  of 
a  decent  burial  for  the  deceased,  but  the  pro- 
vost marshal  being  inexorable,  the  brothers 
and  sisters  of  Col.  MacDonald  gathered  round 
the  corpse,  and  gave  the  messengers,  who  had 
been  sent  to  seize  it,  to  understand  that  it  must 
be  done  over  their  dead  bodies.  Appeal  was 
made  to  Major-Gen.  Curtis,  commanding  the  de- 
partment, and  he  generously  revoked  the  order. 
The  remains  of  Col.  Emmett  MacDonald  were 
buried  in  the  lawn  of  his  sister's  residence 
near  St.  Louis,  but  were  recently  removed  to  a 
lot  in  the  Bellefontain  Cemetery.  Col.  MacDon- 
ald possessed  a  remarkable  personal  appearance. 
His  figure  was  good,  and  his  face  handsome, 
noble,  and  expressive.  His  height  was  about 
five  feet  ten  inches,  and  his  hair,  which  lie  wore 
very  long,  was  as  black  as  the  raven's  wing. 
He  took  an  oath  that  he  would  not  cut  it  until 
the  independence  of  the  Southern  Confederacy 
was  recognized.  Col.  MacDonald's  death  oc- 
curred on  the  same  day  that,  years  before,  the 
edict  was  issued  by  William  of  Orange  for  the 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


747 


massacre  of  his  ancesters,  the  MacDonalds  of 
Glencoe. 

Jan.  14. — Rev.  JAMES  HORTON-  DILL,  a  Con- 
gregational clergyman,  died  on  board  of  a  vessel 
on  his  way  from  Louisville  to  Nashville,  whither 
he  was  going  to  join  his  regiment,  of  which  he 
was  chaplain.  He  was  born  in  Plymouth,  Mass., 
Jan.  1st,  1821,  studied  theology  in  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  First 
Congregational  Church  in  Winchester,  Conn., 
Aug.  26th,  1846.  In  Feb.,  1852,  he  was  installed 
pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  in 
Spencerport,  New  York.  In  1859  he  removed  to 
Chicago,  and  became  the  pastor  of  the  South 
Congregational  Church.  His  devotion  to  his 
country  led  him  to  accept  the  chaplaincy  of 
the  38th  regiment  of  Illinois  volunteers  in  the 
autumn  of  1862.  His  death  was  hastened  by 
his  unsparing  activity  and  devotion  to  the  cause 
he  had  espoused. 

Jan.  14. — Lieut.-Com.  THOMAS  BUCHANAN  MO- 
KE AN,  of  the  U.  S.  navy,  was  killed  at  Bayou 
Teche,  La.  He  was  a  native  and  citizen  of  Penn- 
sylvania, from  which  State  he  was  appointed  to 
the  Naval  Academy  as  a  cadet  in  October,  1851. 
He  graduated  in  1855,  and  was  attached  to  the 
sloop  Constellation,  then  stationed  in  the  Medi- 
terranean, in  the  squadron  commanded  by  Com- 
modore Breese.  In  1858  he  was  promoted  to 
be  master,  and  ordered  to  the  sloop  St.  Mary's 
in  the  Pacific  squadron.  In  1860  he  was  made  a 
lieutenant,  and  attached  to  the  steam  sloop  Mis- 
sissippi, and,  under  the  new  act  of  Congress, 
became  lieutenant-commander  in  1861.  He 
.was  next  in  command  of  the  New  London,  the 
"  black  devil "  of  the  Mississippi  Sound,  and 
subsequently  of  the  gunboat  Calhoun,  on  which 
he  lost  his  life. 

Jan.  24. — Lieut.-Col.  WARREN  STEWART,  a 
cavalry  officer  in  the  U.  S.  service,  was  killed 
opposite  Vicksburg.  He  first  entered  the  United 
States  service  during  the  present  war  as  captain 
of  an  independent  cavalry  company  from  Illi- 
nois, and  was  attached  to  Gen.  McClernand's 
brigade.  On  the  2d  of  February,  1862,  he  was 
appointed  acting  adjutant-aid  on  Gen.  McCler- 
nand's staff,  with  the  rank  of  captain.  He  took 
an  active  part  in  the  memorable  battle  of  Fort 
Donelson.  The  several  companies  of  cavalry 
connected  with  McClernand's  brigade  were 
next  consolidated,  under  the  title  of  Stewart's 
Independent  Battalion  of  Cavalry,  the  command 
of  which  devolved  upon  him,  with  the  rank  of 
major,  dating  from  February  1st,  1862.  He 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  was 
especially  mentioned  in  his  general's  official  re- 
port for  his  gallantry  on  that  occasion.  He  also 
participated  in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and  subse- 
quently was  attached  to  the  division  stationed 
Klong  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad. 
On  the  promotion  of  Gen.  McClernand  he  was 
'  made  lieutenant-colonel.  He  was  engaged  in 
destroying  the  ferry  boats  opposite  Vicksburg, 
when  he  was  killed  by  a  shot  from,  the  enemy. 

Feb.  19. — Commander  MAXWELL  WOODHTTLL, 
of  the  United  States  navy,  was  killed  at  Fort 


Marshall,  Baltimore,  aged  about  fifty  years.  He 
was  visiting  the  forts  around  the  city,  in  com- 
pany with  Gen.  Butler  and  Gen.  Schenck.  and 
staff,  in  whose  honor  a  salute  was  fired ;  the 
gunner,  supposing  the  whole  party  had  passed 
out  of  range  of  the  gun,  fired  a  32-pounder  just 
as  a  fragment  of  the  party  came  up;  unfor- 
tunately Commander  Woodhull  received  the 
whole  charge,  which  caused  his  death  in  a  few 
moments. 

Feb.  22. — EDWARD  SMITH  GILBERT,  a  lieu- 
tenant-colonel in  the  U.  S.  volunteer  service, 
died  of  consumption  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  aged 
31  years.  He  was  born  in  Livingston  County, 
N.  Y.,  graduated  at  Amherst  College  in  1855, 
and  became  professor  of  mathematics  in  the 
Collegiate  Institute  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.  Soon 
after  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  entered 
the  military  service  as  second  lieutenant  in  the 
13th  regiment  N.  Y.  volunteers.  After  the 
first  battle  of  Bull  Run  he  was  promoted  to  a 
first  lieutenancy,  and  a  few  months  later  to  a 
captaincy,  and  transferred  to  the  25th  regi- 
ment. During  the  peninsular  campaign  he  rose 
to  the  rank  of  major.  In  one  of  the  "  seven 
days'  battles "  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  re- 
mained in  Richmond  until  August.  On  rejoin- 
ing his  regiment  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  lieutenant-colonel.  His  death  occurred  while 
at  home  on  a  furlough. 

March  12. — HENRY  N.  FISHER,  M.D.,  died  in 
Washington,  aged  29  years.  After  the  disasters 
of  the  peninsular  campaign  he  volunteered  as 
physician  and  surgeon,  to  minister  to  the  neces- 
sities of  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers,  and 
made  several  trips  between  Harrison's  Landing 
and  New  York  on  one  of  the  transports.  His 
faithfulness  and  efficiency  recommending  him 
to  those  in  authority,  he  received  an  appoint- 
ment as  surgeon  in  the  army,  and  for  several 
months  previous  to  his  death  had  charge  of 
Eckington  Hospital,  in  the  suburbs  of  Wash- 
ington. His  devotion  and  untiring  energy  in 
behalf  of  the  suffering  under  his  care,  contrib- 
uted to  bring  on  the  fever  which  cut  him  off  in 
the  dawn  of  manhood. 

March — . — Acting  Master  ROBERT  L.  KELLY, 
of  the  U.  S.  navy,  was  killed  during  the  attack 
upon  Port  Hudson.  He  was  a  native  of  the 
State  of  Rhode  Island.  During  the  early  part 
of  the  war  he  performed  important  services  in 
the  North  Atlantic  squadron,  after  which  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Western  Gulf  blockading 
squadron,  where  he  was  in  active  service  on 
board  the  United  States  sloop  Mississippi  for 
more  than  a  year.  He  held  an  important  post 
as  an  officer  of  that  ship,  and  in  her  last  engage- 
ment fought  his  division  nobly  and  courageous- 
ly amid  the  shower  of  shot  and  shell  until  he 
fell  lifeless  upon  the  deck. 

March  21. — Major-Gen.  EDWIN  VOSE  STJMNER, 
an  officer  of  U.  S.  volunteers,  and  brevet  major- 
general  in  the  U.  S.  army,  born  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  in  1796,  died  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  March 
21st,  1863.  He  was  educated  at  the  Milton 
Academy,  Boston,  and  in  March,  1819,  was  ap- 


748 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


pointed  sei  ond  lieutenant  in  the  2d  infantry, 
and  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  When  the 
2d  regiment  of  dragoons  was  raised  by  Gen. 
Jackson,  he  was  commissioned  as  its  captain, 
and  was  for  many  years  employed  in  service 
on  the  Indian  frontier,  and  subsequently  com- 
manded the  school  of  cavalry  practice  at  Oar- 
lisle,  Penn.  He  was  promoted  to  be  major  in 
1846,  and  in  April,  1847,  led  the  famous  cav- 
alry charge  at  Cerro  Gordo ;  was  wounded, 
and  obtained  the  brevet  of  lieutenant-colonel. 
At  Contreras  and  Churubusco  he  won  much 
honor,  and  at  the  battle  of  Molino  del  Key 
commanded  the  entire  cavalry,  holding  in  check 
5,000  Mexican  laucers.  For  his  gallant  con- 
duct he  received  the  brevet  of  colonel,  and  in 
July,  1848,  was  commissioned  lieutenant-colo- 
nel of  the  1st  dragoons.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  depart- 
ment of  New  Mexico,  In  1855  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  colonelcy  of  the  1st  cavalry,  and 
the  following  year  was  in  command  at  Fort 
Leavenworth,  Kansas.  In  July  of  1857  he 
led  a  successful  expedition  against  the  Chey- 
enne Indians,  and  in  1858  was  appointed  com- 
mander of  the  department  of  the  "West.  In 
March,  1861,  he  was  appointed  brigadier-gen- 
eral in  the  regular  army,  in  place  of  General 
Twiggs,  and  in  March,  1862,  appointed  com- 
mander of  the  first  army  corps  in  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  At  the  siege  of  Yorktown  he 
commanded  the  left  wing,  and  was  engaged  in 
all  the  battles  of  the  Ghickahominy,  during 
which  he  was  twice  wounded.  For  his  ser- 
vices before  Richmond  he  was  made  major- 
general  of  volunteers,  and  brevet  major-general 
in  the  regular  army.  Upon  the  reorganization 
of  the  army  Gen.  Sumner  was  assigned  to  the 
2d  corps,  and  in  the  battle  of  Antietam  was 
wounded.  Subsequently  he  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  right  grand  division  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  but,  upon  the  appoint- 
ment of  Gen.  Hooker  as  chief  of  that  army, 
he  asked  to  be  relieved,  and  after  a  few  weeks 
was  ordered  to  the  command  of  the  army  of 
the  frontier.  Upon  the  way  thither  he  was 
taken  sick,  and  died  after  a  short  illness,  at 
Syracuse. 

March  28. — Brig-Gen.  JAMES  COOPER,  an 
officer  of  the  U.  S.  volunteers,  died  at  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  aged  about  60  years.  He  was  a  na- 
tive of  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  but  re- 
moved many  years  ago  to  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  became  a  prominent  whig  politician,  and  was 
known  as  one  of  the  leading  advocates  of  the 
tariff  of  1842.  He  was  elected  to  the  United 
States  Senate,  and  served  two  terms  with  much 
ability,  taking  a  prominent  part  in  all  the  im- 
portant questions  that  at  that  time  agitated  the 
country.  A  few  years  ago  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Frederick  City,  Maryland,  and  after 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  was  appointed 
the  first  brigadier-general ;  took  command  of 
all  the  volunteers  in  Maryland,  and  organized 
them  into  regiments.  Subsequently  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  command  of  Camp  Chase,  near 


Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties  until  attacked  with  fatal 
illness. 

April  10. — Dr.  ROBERT  WARE  died  in  Wash- 
ington N.  C.,  aged  29  years.  He  was  a  native 
of  Boston,  Mass.,  studied  at  the  Latin  school 
in  that  city,  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 
1852,  and  studied  medicine  with  his  father,  Dr. 
John  Ware,  until  May,  1854,  when  he  went  to 
Europe  and  remained  until  September,  1855, 
spending  about  six  months  of  the  time  in  Paris, 
studying  in  the  French  hospitals.  On  his  re- 
turn to  this  country  he  resumed  his  studies 
with  his  father,  and  graduated  at  the  Medical 
School  in  1856,  when  he  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  Boston.  In  July,  1857,  he 
was  appointed  one  of  the  district  physicians  of 
the  Boston  Dispensary.  He  was  remarkably 
successful  in  his  practice,  which  increased  rap- 
idly, as  his  father  was  intending  to  relinquish 
the  profession  to  his  son.  On  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war  he  was  one  of  the  first  physicians  to 
enter  into  the  service  of  the  Sanitary  Commis- 
sion, in  which  he  continued  until  the  close  of 
the  peninsular  campaign  in  Virginia.  Throw- 
ing his  whole  soul  into  the  work  of  ministering 
to  the  wounded  and  dying,  he  spared  himself 
neither  night  nor  day.  He  was  subsequently 
appointed  surgeon  of  the  44th  Massachusetts 
regiment,  with  which  he  left  for  the  seat  of 
war.  On  his  arrival  in  North  Carolina  his  ar- 
duous labors  and  exposures  to  the  unhealthy 
climate  brought  on  a  fever,  which  speedily  ter- 
minated his  valuable  life.  In  the  eloquent  lan- 
guage of  one  of  the  officers  of  the  Sanitary  Com- 
mission, he  was  "one  who,  through  months  of 
death  and  darkness,  lived  and  worked  in  self- 
abnegation  ;  lived  in  and  for  the  sufferings  of 
others,  and  finally  gave  himself  a  sacrifice  for 
them."  \ 

April  12. — Lieut.-Col.  EDGAR  A.  KIMBALL, 
killed  at  Suffolk,  Va.  He  was  born  in  Concord, 
N.  H.,  in  1821,  was  educated  as  a  printer,  re- 
moved to  Vermont,  and  became  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Woodstock  (Vt.)  "  Age,"  a  liberal 
democratic  newspaper.  He  distinguished  him- 
self in  the  Mexican  campaign,  and  for  his  gal- 
lantry at  Contreras,  Churubusco,  and  Chapul- 
tepec,  received  the  brevet  of  major.  He  was 
subsequently  for  a  time  in  the  office  of  the  New 
York  "Herald."  Upon  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war  he  again  took  the  field,  and  received 
the  commission  of  major  of  the  9th  New  York 
volunteers  (Zouaves),  May  13th,  1861,  and  the 
following  August  participated  in  a  reconnois- 
sance  up  the  peninsula.  At  the  battle  of  Roan- 
oke  Island,  N.  0.,  Feb.  7th,  1862,  Major  Kim- 
ball  led  his  Zouaves  along  a  narrow  causeway 
commanded  by  the  enemy's  cannon,  and  at 
great  peril  carried  the  work  and  planted  the 
Federal  flag  over  it.  On  the  14th  of  February, 
1862,  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of 
'lieutenant-colonel,  and  soon  after  was  placed 
in  command  of  the  regiment,  which  formed  a 
portion  of  the  9th  army  corps.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  reduction  of  Fort  Macon,  and  was 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


749 


also  engaged  in  the  battles  of  South  Mountain, 
Antietam,  and  Fredericksburg.  The  regiment 
was  next  transferred  to  Newport  News,  thence 
to  Suffolk,  Va.  Here  he  unfortunately  met  his 
death,  on  the  12th  of  April,  by  a  shot  from 
General  Michael  Corcoran.  Gen.  Corcoran  had 
occasion  to  pass  Col.  Kimball's  camp  on  im- 
portant duties  connected  with  his  command, 
before  dawn  of  that  day,  and  his  right  to  pass 
being  challenged  by  Col.  Kimball,  he  announced 
his  rank  and  position,  and  the  urgency  of  his 
journey.  By  some  strange  perversity,  Col. 
Kimball  refused  to  accept  his  statement,  and 
persisting  in  his  determination  not  to  allow  him 
to  pass,  Gen.  Corcoran,  after  giving  him  notice, 
fired  upon  him  with  fatal  effect. 

April  14. — BENJAMIN  WELCH,  late  commis- 
sary general  of  the  State  of  New  York,  died  at 
Clifton  Springs,  arged  45  years.  He  studied  law 
with  the  late  Judge  Mann,  of  Utica,  N.  Y.,  and 
was  subsequently  editor  of  the  Utica  "  Demo- 
crat" and  of  the  Buffalo  "  Republican."  He  was 
at  one  time  State  treasurer,  and  for  four  years 
commissary  general  of  the  State.  In  the  spring 
of  1862  he  accepted  a  position  on  General  Pope's 
staff,  and  during  the  campaign  of  the  following 
summer  contracted  the  disease  which  subse- 
quently proved  fatal. 

April  18. — Lieut.-Com.  MCDERMOTT,  of  the 
U.  S.  gunboat  Cayuga,  was  killed  at  Sabine 
Pass,  while  making  a  reconnoissance  in  com- 
pany with  Capt.  Reed,  of  the  gunboat  New 
London.  He  was  a  brave  man,  a  gallant  officer, 
and  a  true  patriot. 

April  26. — Col.  EDWAED  COBB  CHARLES  died 
in  New  York  from  wounds  received  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Glendale.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
war  he  went  out  with  the  42d  New  York  vol- 
unteers as  lieutenant-colonel.  At  the  battle  of 
Ball's  Bluff.  Col.  Cogswell,  the  commander  of 
the  regiment,  was  taken  prisoner,  and  Lieut.- 
Col.  Charles  was  promoted  to  the  position  there- 
by left  vacant.  He  was  in  all  the  engagements 
from  Ball's  Bluff  down  to  the  last  of  the  seven 
days' battles  before  Richmond.  In  the  battle 
of  Glendale  he  was  severely  wounded  by  aMinie 
rifle  ball,  and  left  for  dead  on  the  field.  He 
was,  however,  taken  prisoner,  and  lay  for  many 
weeks  in  a  prison  hospital.  He  afterwards  came 
north  on  parole  and  was  confined  for  some  time. 
After  undergoing  some  severe  surgical  operations 
mortification  probably  supervened,  causing  his 
death.  His  funeral  took  place  from  the  City 
Hall,  New  York,  and  was  attended  by  a  large 
concourse  of  citizens,  the  old  Light  Guard  join- 
ing in  the  procession. 

May  1. — Brig.-Gen.  R.  D.  TRACY,  an  officer 
in  the  Confederate  service,  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  who  entered  the  Confederate  army 
from  civil  life.  After  serving  for  some  time  as 
colonel  of  a  North  Carolina  regiment,  he  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  in 
1862,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Port  Gib- 
son, Miss. 

May  1. — Lieut.-Col.  WILLIAM  WADE,  an  offi- 
cer of  artillery  in  the  Confederate  army,  killed 


near  "Grand  Gulf,  on  the  Mississippi  River. 
Lieut.-Col.  Wade,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war,  was  a  prominent  and  highly  respected 
merchant  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.  At  Camp  Jackson, 
where  Gen.  Lyon  captured  the  militia  of  St. 
Louis  County,  while  in  their  camp,  Lieut.- 
Col.  Wade  was  on  the  staff  of  Brig.-Gen.  Frost. 
By  some  mistake  he  was  omitted  in  the  parole. 
He  soon  after  went  South,  and  received  from  the 
Secretary  of  War  of  the  Confederate  Government 
a  battery  of  six  guns,  with  which  he  joined 
Gen.  Price,  at  Rock  River,  in  Missouri.  The 
battery  was  divided  into  two  batteries,  and  he 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major.  When 
the  State  troops  were  transferred  from  the  State 
to  the  Confederate  service,  his  battalion  was 
reduced  to  a  six-gun  battery,  to  conform  to 
Confederate  regulations.  At  Elk  Horn  he  dis- 
tinguished himself  for  courage,  and  coolness, 
and  ability.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Farming- 
ton,  luka,  and  Corinth,  Mississippi,  in  all  of 
which  his  battery  was  conspicuous  for  its  effi- 
ciency. His  courteous  and  amiable  manners 
endeared  him  to  all  who  knew  him.  He  was 
promoted  to  a  lieut.-colonelcy  only  a  short 
time  before  his  death. 

May  2. — Brig.-Gen.  EDWARD  F.  PAXTON,  an 
officer  in  the  Confederate  service,  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Chancellorsville,  Ya.  He  was  a  native 
of  Rockbridge  County,  Va.,  and  received  his 
military  education  at  the  Virginia  Military  Acad- 
emy at  Lexington.  When  "  Stonewall "  Jackson 
was  made  a  brigadier-general  he'appointed  young 
Paxton,  to  whom  he  was  strongly  attached,  ad- 
jutant-general of  his  brigade,  and  on  his  own 
advancement  promoted  him  adjutant-general  of 
the  division.  When  Jackson  became  command- 
er of  an  army  corps,  he  asked  and  obtained  the 
appointment  of  Paxton  as  brigadier -general,  and 
in  this  capacity  he  served  at  Antietam,  Freder- 
icksburg, and  the  beginning  of  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville.  He  was  killed  on  the  same 
evening  on  which  Jackson  was  mortally  wound- 
ed. 

May  3. — HIRAM  GEORGE  BERET,  a  major-gen- 
eral of  volunteers  in  the  United  States  service, 
born  in  Thomaston  (now  Rockland),  Maine,  Au- 
gust 27th,  1824,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Chancel- 
lorsville, May  3d,  1863.  In  early  life  he  had  ac- 
quired the  carpenter's  trade,  and  followed  the  . 
business  for  a  few  years,  but  was  subsequently 
engaged,  successfully,  in  navigation.  He  repre- 
sented his  native  town  in  the  State  Legislature 
several  tunes,  and  was  mayor  of  the  city  of 
Rockland.  Having  a  taste  for  military  affairs 
he  originated  and  commanded  for  several  years 
the  Rockland  Guard,  a  volunteer  company  which 
had  attained  a  very  high  reputation  for  its  per- 
fection of  drill  and  discipline.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war  he  entered  the  volunteer 
service  as  colonel  of  the  4th  regiment  of  Maine 
volunteer  infantry.  The  regiment  left  Rockland 
on  the  17th  of  June,  1861,  arrived  in  Washing- 
ton on  the  20th,  and  went  into  camp  on  Meri- 
dian Hill  on  the  21st.  On  the  8th  of  July  it 
crossed  into  Virginia,  and  on  the  16th  marched 


750 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


toward  Centreville,  where  it  arrived  on  the  18th. 
It  participated  in  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  in  act- 
ing Gen.  Howard's  brigade.  After  the  battle 
it  returned  to  Alexandria,  and  on  the  24th  to 
Meridian  Hill.  It  was  afterwards  brigaded  in 
Gen.  Sedgwick's  brigade  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  when  the  army  moved  to  the  pe- 
ninsula formed  part  of  Gen.  Birney's  brigade,  in 
Gen.  0.  S.  Hamilton's  division,  and  in  that  di- 
vision participated  in  the  siege  of  Yorktown. 
On  the  4th  of  April,  1862,  Col.  Berry  was  made 
a  brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  his  commission 
dating  from  March  iVth,  1862,  and  was  placed 
in  charge  of  the  third  brigade  of  the  third  divis- 
ion of  Heintzelman's  third  army  corps.  By  this 
change  he  was  separated  from  his  regiment.  In 
command  of  this  brigade  he  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Williamsburg,  where  the  coming  of  his 
brigade  brought  the  first  relief  to  the  wearied 
and  blood-stained  heroes  of  Gen.  Hooker's  di- 
vision ;  fought  under  Gen.  Kearney  at  Fair  Oaks, 
and  won  the  special  commendation  of  that  dar- 
ing and  gallant  officer  for  his  indomitable  brav- 
ery ;  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  seven  days' 
battles,  and  on  the  4th  of  July,  1862,  was,  with 
Heintzelman's  corps,  highly  complimented  for 
his  valor  and  endurance  by  the  commanding 
general'.  On  the  15th  of  August  he  moved  with 
his  brigade  to  Yorktown,  and  thence  to  Alexan- 
dria ;  thence  to  Warrenton  Junction  and  Rap- 
pahannock,  and  on  the  29th  and  30th  of  Aug. 
took  part  with  Kearney's  division  in  the  battles 
of  Oentreville  and  Manassas,  or  the  second  Bull 
Run.  On  the  1st  of  September  he  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Ohantilly,  where  the  gallant 
Kearney  lost  his  life.  During  the  campaign  in 
Maryland  he  held  with  his  brigade  important 
fords  on  the  Potomac,  and  thus  cut  off  the  re- 
treat of  the  enemy.  At  the  battle  of  Freder- 
ericksburg,  Dec.  13th,  1862,  Gen.  Berry  led  his 
brigade  in  a  charge  upon  a  force  considerably 
exceeding  his  own  in  numbers,  and  drove  them 
back, thus  relieving  his  division,  then  command- 
ed by  Gen.  Birney,  from  imminent  peril.  For 
this  brave  act  he  was  complimented  by  Gen. 
Birney  in  his  report.  In  January,  1863,  he  was 
nominated  by  the  President  as  major-general  of 
volunteers,  with  rank  dating  from  Nov.  29th, 
1862,  and  was  confirmed  by  the  Senate  on  the  9th 
of  March,  1863.  He  was  then  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  second  division  of  the  third  army 
corps,  which  was  at  that  time  under  the  com- 
mand of  Major-Gen.  Sickles.  At  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville,  after  the  fight  of  the  eleventh 
army  corps,  who  were  pursued  with  great  fury  by 
Gen.  Jackson's  corps,  Gen.  Hooker  selected  Ber- 
ry's division,  which  had  been  formerly  his  own 
division,  and  was  one  of  the  finest  in  the  army, 
to  charge  upon  the  advancing  foe,  and  stem  the 
overwhelming  wave  which  was  sweeping  his 
army  to  destruction.  His  order  was  character- 
istic, and  showed  his  thorough  appreciation  of 
the  courage  and  military  skill  of  Gen.  Berry.  It 
was  as  follows  :  "  Go  in,  General ;  throw  your 
men  intc  the  breach ;  don't  fire  a  shot — they 
can't  see  you — but  charge  home  With  the  bayo- 


net." They  did  charge  home,  and  in  the  shock 
of  battle  which  followed,  the  foe  went  down  like 
grass  before  the  mower's  scythe.  For  three  hours 
that  division,  almost  alone,  withstood  the  re- 
peated assaults  of  a  large  body  of  Confederate 
troops  flushed  with  their  previous  victory,  and  at 
last  drove  them  back,  and  regained  a  portion  of 
their  lost  ground.  The  battle  was  renewed  early 
the  next  morning,  and  again  Berry  and  his  di- 
vision were  in  front  and  received  the  first  as- 
sault of  the  enemy.  Intent  upon  driving  them 
back,  Gen.  Berry  headed  one  of  his  brigades  in 
several  successful  bayonet  charges,  and  in  one 
of  these  was  instantly  killed  by  a  shot  from  the 
enemy.  Gen.  Berry  was  not  only  a  brave  and 
skilful  commander,  but  a  most  estimable  man  in 
private  and  social  life,  and  his  death  caused  deep 
sorrow  among  a  wide  circle  of  warmly  attached 
friends. 

May  3. — Lieut.-Col.  DUNCAN  MoVioAR  was 
killed  near  Spottsylvania,  Va.  He  was  born  in 
Scotland.  At  the  commencement  of  the  war 
he  was  a  resident  of  Kingston,  Canada,  but  his 
sympathies  being  upon  the  side  of  the  Union, 
he  came  to  the  United  States  to  aid  in  its  main- 
tenance. He  first  joined  a  company  of  light 
artillery  in  New  York  city,  and  proceeded  to 
Rochester  for  recruits.  He  afterwards  joined 
the  Harris  Guards,  and  rose  to  the  office  of  lieu- 
tenant-colonel. During  the  peninsular  campaign 
he  commanded  a  battalion  of  his  regiment  then 
in  the  service  on  the  Chickahominy.  He  was 
a  brave  and  chivalrous  officer,  and  lost  his  life 
while  making  a  reconnoissance  with  a  part  of  his 
men,  and  bravely  assailing  a  force  of  the  enemy 
which  he  encountered. 

May  3. — Col.  BENJAMIN  RINGOLD  was  killed 
in  the  fight  before  Suffolk,  Va.  He  entered  the 
army  as  a  captain,  was  promoted  to  be  major, 
and  subsequently  became  colonel  of  the  103d 
New  York  volunteers.  He  commanded  his 
regiment  at  South  Mountain,  Antietam,  and 
Fredericksburg.  At  Antietam  he  particularly 
distinguished  himself  by  his  bravery  and  daring 
in  driving  a  Georgia  regiment  from  a  strong 
position  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  and  taking* 
the  colors  of  the  regiment.  He  was  for  a  long 
time  attached  to  Col.  Hawkins's  brigade. 

jlfay  4. — Rev.  FRANCIS  EUGENE  BUTLER  died 
from  wounds  received  in  battle  of  Suffolk,  Va., 
aged  38  years.  He  was  a  native  at  Suffolk, 
Conn.,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  engaged 
in  mercantile  pursuits  in  New  York  city,  where 
he  was  well  known  as  secretary  of  the  New 
York  Bible  Society,  as  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and  as 
an  active  friend  of  other  religious  institutions. 
"When  twenty-nine  years  old  he  entered  Yale 
College  with  the  determination  of  fitting  him- 
self for  the  ministry.  He  graduated  in  1857, 
after  which  he  spent  three  years  in  the  study 
of  theology  at  Princeton,  and  subsequently  one 
year  at  Andover.  Having  been  licensed  to 
preach,  he  supplied  for  a  time  the  pulpit  of  a 
church  in  Bedford  Springs,  Penn.,  and  atter- 
wards  that  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  REBELLION 


751 


in  Cleveland,*  Ohio.  He  was  next  engaged  as 
minister  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Pat- 
erson,  N.  J.  When  the  25th  regiment  of  New 
Jersey  Volunteers  was  organized,  he  accepted 
the  post  of  chaplain,  and  accompanied  the  regi- 
ment to  Suffolk,  Va.  In  an  engagement  near 
that  place,  May  3d,  learning  that  some  men  of  a 
Connecticut  regiment  on  the  right  were  suffer- 
ing for  want  of  surgical  assistance,  he  went  to 
their  relief,  and  in  so  doing,  being  greatly  ex- 
posed, he  was  shot  by  a  sharpshooter  and  died 
the  next  day. 

May  4. — JOSEPH  B.  PLUHMER,  a  brigadier- 
general  in  the  United  States  volunteer  service, 
died  at  Corinth,  aged  about  44  years.  He  grad- 
uated at  West  Point  in  1,841,  in  the  same  class 
with  the  late  Gens.  Lyon,  Richardson,  Reynolds, 
and  Whipple,  the  late  Col.  Garesche,  and  Gens. 
Buell  and  Wright  of  the  army  of  the  United 
States.  After  serving  with  distinction  in  Flor- 
ida and  Mexico,  he  was  stationed  for  several 
years  at  the  West.  At  the  commencement  of 
the  present  war  he  was  a  captain  of  the  First 
United  States  infantry,  and  accepted  the  com- 
mand of  a  regiment  of  Missouri  volunteers.  In 
this  capacity  he  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Springfield,  and  subsequently  distinguished 
himself  at  the  battle  of  Fredericktown,  Mo.,  for 
which  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  briga- 
dier-general of  volunteers.  He  participated  in 
the  campaign  of  the  Mississippi  River,  and  dis- 
tinguished himself  at  Island  No.  10,  and  other 
engagements  in  that  vicinity.  Becoming  pros- 
trated by  his  severe  labors  in  the  service,  he 
obtained  leave  of  absence  to  recruit  his  health. 
After  a  short  visit  to  his  family,  he  returned  to 
his  command  while  yet  unfit  for  duty,  and  died 
the  day  after  his  arrival  in  the  camp  of  Gen. 
Rosecrans,  at  Corinth. 

May  5. — Col.  WILLIAM  OLIVER  STEVENS  died 
from  injuries  received  in  the  battle  near  Chan- 
cellorsville,  Va.,  aged  36  years.  He  was  born  in 
Belfast,  Maine,  was  fitted  for  college  at  Phillips 
Academy,  Andover,  and  graduated  at  Harvard 
College  in  1848.  After  leaving  college  he  stud- 
ied law  with  his  father  in  Lawrence,  and  sub- 
sequently with  Hon.  Thomas  Wright  of  the 
same  place,  and  went  to  Florida,  where  he 
practiced  his  profession  for  a  few  months,  but 
was  obliged  to  leave  on  account  of  the  debili- 
tating effects  of  the  climate.  In  1852  he  went 
into  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Dunkirk, 
New  York.  In  1859  he  was  elected  district 
attorney  of  Chautauque  County,  filled  the  office 
for  two  years  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the 
people,  and  resigned  his  position  for  the  military 
service  of  his  country,  in  1861.  He  joined  the 
Excelsior  Brigade  at  Staten  Island,  as  captain 
of  a  company  raised  in  Dunkirk,  was  elected 
major  before  leaving  the  island,  and  took  a 
conspicuous  part  in  the  battles  of  Williamsburg, 
^jair  Oaks,  White  Oak  Swamp,  and  Malvern 
Hill.  In  October,  1862,  he  was  commissioned 
colonel,  dating  back  to  September,  and  his  regi- 
ment was  attached  to  the  third  army  corps  under 
Gen.  Sickles.  At  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville, 


May  3d,  his  horse  being  shot  under  him  early 
in  the  engagement,  he  led  his  regiment  on  foot, 
and  soon  after  received  a  mortal  wound  and 
was  carried  to  the  hospital,  where,  after  endur- 
ing the  most  terrible  suffering  with  heroic  for- 
titude, he  died  the  following  Tuesday. 

May  5. — Brig.-Gen.  AMIEL  W.  WHIFFLE,  an 
officer  of  United  States  volunteers,  born  in 
Greenwich,  Mass.,  died  at  Washington,  May  5, 
1863,  from  wounds  received  at  the  battles  near 
Chancellorsville.  He  graduated  at  West  Point 
in  1841,  was  commissioned  brevet  second  lieu- 
tenant in  the  1st  artillery,  and  then  transferred 
to  the  topographical  engineers.  In  1841  he 
was  engaged  in  the  hydrographical  survey  of 
the  Patapsco  River,  and  in  1842  in  surveying 
the  approaches  to  New  Orleans  and  the  harbor 
of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  In  1844  he  was  detailed 
as  assistant  astronomer  upon  the  Northeast 
boundary  survey,  and  in  1845  was  employed  in 
determining  the  northern  boundaries  of  New 
York,  Vermont,  and  New  Hampshire.  In  1849 
he  was  appointed  assistant  astronomer  on  the 
Mexican  boundary,  and  his  journal  while  in 
Mexico  was  published  by  order  of  Congress. 
In  the  spring  of  1853  he  was  ordered  to  direct 
the  survey  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad. 
In  July,  1855,  he  was  promoted  to  be  captain 
of  topographical  engineers,  and  the  following 
year  was  appointed  light-house  engineer,  and 
afterwards  superintendent  of  the  improvement 
of  St.  Clair  Flats  and  St.  Mary's  River.  In1  the 
spring  of  1861  he  was  made  chief  engineer  on 
the  staff  of  Gen.  McDowell ;  was  present  at  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  was  afterwards  em- 
ployed on  surveys  for  fortifications,  and  pro- 
moted major  of  engineers.  Subsequently  he 
was  attached  to  the  staff  of  Gen.  McClellan, 
made  brigadier-general  of  volunteers  in  May, 
1862,  and  placed  in  charge  of  all  the  fortifica- 
tions and  garrisons  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Potomac.  Shortly  afterwards  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  command  of  a  division  in  the 
ninth  army  corps,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
was  in  command  of  the  third  division  of  the 
third  corps. 

May  7. — JOHN  E.  HOLMES  died  at  Annapolis 
from  the  effects  of  confinement  in  a  Richmond 
prison.  He  was  born  in  Hartford  County,  Con- 
necticut, in  1809,  was  educated  in  the  Univer- 
salist  Academy  at  Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  and  com- 
menced the  study  of  law,  but  subsequently 
entered  the  ministry.  After  preaching  three 
years  he  returned  to  the  study  of  law,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  Illinois.  In  1843  he 
removed  to  Jefferson,  Wisconsin,  and  soon  after 
became  a  member  of  the  Territorial  Council. 
In  1848  he  was  lieutenant-governor,  and  in 
1852  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature,  all 
of  which  positions  he  filled  with  honor  and 
usefulness.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  felt  it 
his  duty  to  devote  his  energies  to  the  service 
of  his  country.  In  August,  1862,  he  recehed  a 
commission,  and  at  once  entered  upon  his  duties. 
He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Brentwood,  Tennessee, 
March  25th,  1863,  was  rapidly  marched  to  Rich- 


752 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


mond,  where  lie  was  imprisoned  four  weeks, 
and  died  immediately  after  being  exchanged.  , 
May  8. — Maj.-Gen.  EABL  VAN  DOKN,  an  offi- 
cer in  the  Confederate  service,  was  killed  by 
Dr.  Peters,  of  Maury  County,  Tennessee.  He 
was  born  in  Mississippi  about  1823,  graduated 
at  West  Point  in  1842,  and  was  appointed  bre- 
vet second  lieutenant  United  States  9th  infan- 
try; became  second  lieutenant  in  1844,  and 
first  lieutenant  in  1847 ;  was  bre vetted  captain 
for  gallantry  at  Cerro  Gordo,  and  major  for 
gallantry  at  Contreras  and  Churubusco;  dis- 
tinguished himself  at  Chapultepec,  and  was 
wounded  when  entering  the  city  of  Mexico. 
From  January,  1852,  to  June,  1855,  he  was 
treasurer  of  the  Military  Asylum  at  Pascagoula, 
Miss.  He  distinguished  himself  in  three  differ- 
ent expeditions  against  the  Comanches  in  Texas, 
in  one  of  which  he  was  dangerously  wounded. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  resigned  his 
commission  in  the  United  States  army,  and  ac- 
cepting the  position  of  colonel  in  the  Confed- 
erate army,  took  command  of  a  body  of  Texan 
volunteers,  and  entered  into  an  engagement  to 
get  possession  of  the  vast  amount  of  military 
stores  and  equipments  which  the  United  States 
Government  had  collected  in  Texas.  In  the 
spring  of  1861  he  captured  the  steamship  Star 
of  the  West  at  Indianola,  and  a  few  days  after, 
at  the  head  of  eight  hundred  men,  at  Saluria 
he  received  the  surrender  of  Major  0.  C.  Sibley ' 
and  seven  companies  of  United  States  infantry, 
and  the  following  month  that  of  Lieut.-Col. 
Reeve  and  six  companies  of  the  8th  infantry. 
He  was  made  brigadier-general  and  subsequent- 
ly major-general,  and  took  command  of  the 
trans-Mississippi  district,  January  19th,  1862 ; 
commanded  at  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  and 
was  superseded  by  Gen.  Holmes.  Since  the 
battle  of  Corinth,  where  he  was  unsuccessful,  he 
had  remained  in  comparative  obscurity,  but 
had  been  engaged  in  several  attacks  upon  the 
outlying  divisions  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land. He  had  made  his  headquarters  for  some 
months  in  Maury  County,  Tennessee,  and  while 
there  injured  the  family  of  Dr.  Peters,  who, 
after  attempting  in  vain  to  secure  from  him 
such  reparation  as  it  was  in  his  power  to  make, 
at  last  took  his  life. 

May  10. — THOMAS  JONATHAN  JACKSON,  a 
general  in  the  Confederate  army,  born  in 
Clarksburg,  Harrison  County,  Va.,  January 
21st,  1824,  died  at  Guinea's  station,  on  the 
Richmond  and  Fredericksburg  Railroad,  May 
10th,  1863.  The  death  of  his  father,  in  1827, 
left  him  dependent  upon  an  uncle,  by  whom 
he  was  brought  up  to  a  farmer's  life.  As  a 
boy  he  was  noted  for  gravity  and  sobriety  of 
manners,  and  at  16  years  of  age  is  said  to  have 
been  elected  constable  of  Lewis  County. 
Though  indicating  no  special  aptitude  or  taste 
for  a  military  career,  he  obtained  in  1842  the 
appointment  of  cadet  at  West  Point,  where  he 
was  graduated  in  1846,  17th  in  a  class  of  59, 
which  numbered  among  its  members  Generals 
McClellan,  Stoneman,  Foster,  Couch,  Reno,  and 


others  distinguished  on  both  sides  in  the  pres- 
ent war.  At  the  academy  he  was  far  from 
being  a  brilliant  pupil,  mastering  his  studies 
with  extreme  difficulty,  but  learning  thoroughly 
whatever  he  attempted.  •  His  disposition  was 
retiring  and  taciturn,  and  at  this,  as  well  as  at 
other  periods  of  his  life,  he  was  afflicted  with 
various  forms  of  hypochondria,  imagining  that 
he  had  consumption,  incipient  paralysis,  and 
other  maladies. 

He  was  immediately  brevetted  2d  lieutenant 
in  the  1st  artillery,  and  accompanied  Magruder's 
battery  to  Mexico  serving  first  under  Gen.  Tay- 
lor and  subsequently  under  Gen.  Scott.  Dur- 
ing the  victorious  campaign  of  the  latter  in  the 
valley  of  Mexico  he  was  promoted  to  a  first 
lieutenancy,  and  for  gallant  conduct  at  Contre- 
ras, Churubusco,  and  Chapultepec,  was  succes- 
sively brevetted  captain  and  major.  Returning 
home  in  impaired  health,  he  resigned  his  com- 
mission in  1852,  and  was  soon  after  appointed 
professor  of  mathematics  in  the  Military  Insti- 
tute of  Virginia,  where  he  remained  until  the 
outbreak  of  the  civil  war.  He  performed  his 
professional  duties  with  conscientious  fidelity, 
but  in  matters  of  discipline  was  too  much  of  a 
martinet  to  become  popular  with  the  pupils  of 
the  school,  who  were  accustomed  to  ridicule 
his  peculiarities  of  manner  and  appearance,  and 
his  strict  observance  of  a  religious  life.  Thus 
the  spring  of  1861  found  him  scarcely  known 
beyond  the  walls  of  the  Institute,  and  not  es- 
teemed there  as  a  soldier  of  more  than  ordinary 
promise.  He  embraced  the  cause  of  secession 
with  enthusiasm,  was  commissioned  a  colonel 
by  Gov.  Letcher,  of  Virginia,  and  on  the  3d  of 
May  appointed  commander  of  the  "Army  of 
Observation"  at  Harper's  Ferry,  which  a  few 
weeks  later  he  resigned  to  Gen.  Joseph  E. 
Johnston,  retaining  command  of  the  infantry. 

For  several  weeks  he  was  employed  in  fre- 
quent manoeuvres  between  Winchester  and  Har- 
per's Ferry,  encountering  the  Federal  Gen. 
Patterson's  advance  at  Falling  Waters  on  July 
2d ;  and  on  the  18th  his  brigade,  consisting  of 
five  Virginia  regiments,  carefully  disciplined  by 
himself,  was  hurried  off  to  Manassas,  almost 
under  the  eye  of  Patterson,  to  reenforce  Beau-  • 
regard.  He  bore  a  distinguished  part  in  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  where,  in  the  language  of 
the  Confederate  Gen.  Bee,  "Jackson  stood 
like  a  stone  wall ; "  and  ever  after  that  event- 
ful day  he  was  popularly  known  as  "  Stone- 
wall "  Jackson,  and  the  troops  commanded  by 
him  on  the  occasion  as  the  "  Stonewall  Bri- 
gade." He  remained  with  his  brigade  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Centreville  until  October,  hav- 
ing previously  been  commissioned  a  brigadier- 
general,  and  was  then  promoted  to  be  a  major- 
general  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
troops  at  Winchester,  where  he  remained  until 
early  in  the  succeeding  March,  retiring  only  on 
the  approach  of  the  Union  forces  under  Gen. 
Banks. 

A  reconnoissance  made  on  the  18th  and  19th 
of  this  month  by  Gen.  Shields,  commanding  a 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


753 


division  of  Gen.  Banks'  corps,  discovered  Jack- 
son posted  in  a  strong  position  south  of  Win- 
chester, and  in  immediate  communication  with 
powerful  supports,  for  which  reason  the  Union 
forces  were  concentrated  near  Winchester.  On 
the  22d,  Banks,  with  half  of  his  corps,  marched 
for  Centreville  to  join  the  army  of  McClellan, 
and  this  fact  having  been  communicated  to 
Jackson  by  his  scouts,  the  Confederate  cavalry 
was  ordered  to  drive  the  Union  pickets  back 
toward  Kernstown,  a  small  village,  three  miles 
south  of  Winchester,  while  the  main  body  of 
the  Confederates  was  pushed  forward  with  se- 
crecy and  rapidity.  Here  on  the  morning  of 
the  23d,  Jackson,  deceived  evidently  as  to  the 
strength  of  the  Union  army,  made  a  vigorous 
attack  up6n  Shields'  left  wing.  Failing  to 
make  an  impression  there,  he  massed  his  troops 
for  an  assault  upon  the  right,  where  Shields,  in 
anticipation  of  such  a  movement,  had  concen- 
trated a  large  force.  One  of  the  fiercest  con- 
tests of  the  war  ensued,  but  by  unflinching  en- 
ergy the  Unionists  succeeded  in  driving  the 
Confederates  from  a  strong  position  behind  a 
stone  wall,  and  the  latter  at  once  yielded  the 
field  to  their  opponents,  leaving  behind  two  guns 
and  other  trophies.  The  swelling  of  the  She- 
nandoah  by  rains  having  prevented  the  arrival 
of  his  supports;  Jackson  was  compelled  to  re- 
treat up  the  valley,  disputing  step  by  step  the 
pursuit  of  Banks  and  Shields,  until  he  reached 
the  neighborhood  of  Harrisonburg,  about  sixty 
miles  south  of  Winchester.  From  this  point 
he  was  summoned  with  his  command  to  Rich- 
mond, where  the  Confederates  were  collecting 
all  their  available  strength,  in  anticipation  of 
the  advance  of  McClellan  up  the  peninsula. 
But  having  suggested  that  he  could  better  de- 
fend Richmond  on  the  Shenaridoah  than  on  the 
Chickahominy  he  was  allowed  to  remain  where 
he  was. 

With  a  view  of  dislodging  Jackson  from  this 
position  two  columns  of  Union  troops  were  di- 
rected to  operate  in  concert,  one  under  Banks 
in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  and  another  under 
Fremont  in  the  Mountain  Department,  to  the 
west.  Both  were  weak  in  numbers,  and  by 
the  beginning  of  May  the  corps  of  Banks  had 
been  reduced,  by  the  withdrawal  of  Shields' 
division,  to  less  than  7,000  men.  Jackson,  how>, 
ever,  by  concentrating  with  Gens.  Edward 
Johnson  and  Ewell,  had  increased  his  force  to 
upward'  of  20,000.  In  conformity  with  the 
Union  plans,  Gen.  Milroy,  of  Fremont's  column, 
early  in  May  marched  with  a  small  force  east- 
ward toward  Buffalo  Gap,  for  the  purpose  of 
threatening  Staunton.  Jackson  at  once  moved 
to  meet  him,  encountered  the  Union  forces  at 
McDowell  on  the  8th,  and  drove  them  back  to 
Franklin,  on  the  west  side  of  the  mountains, 
thus  effectually  preventing  a  junction  between 
Fremont  and  Banks.  Then  rapidly  retracing 
his  steps,  he  collected  all  his  available  troops 
and  turned  upon  Banks,  who  had  been  con- 
strained by  the  depletion  of  his  corps  to  fall 
back  some  distance  from  Harrisonburg. 
48 


On  the  23d  of  May  a  portion  of  Jackson's 
army  which  had  made  a  detour  toward  Front 
Royal  on  the  Manassas  Gap  Railroad,  surprised 
the  small  Union  force  under  Col.  Kenly,  sta- 
tioned there,  and  captured  nearly  the  whole 
command.  Banks,  who  was  then  at  Strasburg, 
was  not  slow  to  perceive  his  critical  position, 
with  an  enemy  on  his  front  and  flank,  and  on 
the  night  of  the  23d  commenced  a  rapid  retreat 
toward  Winchester,  sending  his  train  in  ad- 
vance. The  force  which*  had  moved  upon 
Front  Royal  also  pushed  on  to  intercept  him  at 
Middletown,  while  Jackson  with  his  main  body 
followed  vigorously  in  his  rear,  expecting  by 
this  movement  to  capture  Banks's  train,  if  not 
to  put  his  whole  army  hors  de  comlat.  At  Mid- 
dletown the  Union  train  was  driven  beck  upon 
the  main  body,  whereupon  Banks,  ordering  his 
troops  to  the  head  of  the  column,  repulsed  the 
enemy  in  his  front,  and  succeeded,  after  hard 
fighting,  which  was  continued  at  intervals  along 
the  line  of  march,  in  reaching  Winchester.  But 
Jackson  was  too  close  upon  his  rear  to  admit 
of  his  making  a  stand  there,  and  almost  imme- 
diately the  retreat  was  renewed  and  not  again 
ended  until  the  Union  troops  reached  the  Po- 
tomac on  the  26th,  the  Confederates  pressing 
them  continually  on  either  flank  and  on  their 
rear.  A  brigade  under  Gen.  Gordon,  left  be- 
hind at  Winchester  to  enable  the  main  body 
and  the  train  to  get  well  forward,  maintained 
for  some  time  an  unequal  fight  with  Jackson, 
but  was  finally  compelled  to  fall  back. 

Thus  in  less  than  three  weeks  Jackson  had 
not  only  baffled  the  efforts  of  Fremont  and 
Banks  to  capture  him,  but  had  driven  the  latter 
completely  out  of  Virginia.  A  more  important 
advantage  gained  by  him  for  the  Confederate 
cause  was  the  diversion  of  McDowell's  corps, 
then  preparing  to  march  upon  Richmond,  from 
its  contemplated  junction  with  McClellan, 
which,  in  the  opinion  of  the  latter  general, 
would  have  sealed  the  fate  of  the  Confederate 
capital.  Jackson  remained  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Potomac,  between  Williamsport  and  Har- 
per's Ferry,  until  the  30th  of  May,  when  pru- 
dential motives  counselled  him  to  move  south- 
ward. The  excitement  which  his  dashing  raid 
created  throughout  the  Northern  States  had 
caused  a  considerable  accumulation  of  troops  at 
Harper's  Ferry,  while  Fremont  on  one  flank 
and  McDowell  on  the  other  were  in  motion  to 
cut  off  his  retreat.  Accordingly,  on  the  night 
of  the  30th,  after  a  fruitless  attempt  to  carry 
the  Federal  position  at  Harper's  Ferry,  he  hur- 
ried off  toward  Winchester,  whence  on  the  suc- 
ceeding day  his  retreat  was  continued  up  the 
valley.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  31st,  Fre- 
mont's advance,  which  had  hastened  by  forced 
marches  over  difficult  mountain  roads  from 
Franklin,  encountered  the  rear  guard  of  Jack- 
son near  Strasburg,  and  a  smart  skirmish  en- 
sued, which  was  terminated  by  darkness  with- 
out material  advantage  on  either  side. 

Jackson's  retreat  now  equalled  in  rapidity 
that  of  Banks'  a  week  previous.  He  Lad  how- 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


ever  the  advantage  of  having  got  his  main  body 
and  train  well  forward,  and  his  rear  guard, 
covered  by  Ashby's  cavalry,  by  delaying  the 
march  of  Fremont,  enabled  the  Confederates 
to  pass  safely  through  Strasburg,.  Part  of  the 
division  of  Shields,  sent  westward  by  McDowell 
to  intercept  Jackson,  reached  Front  Royal, 
twelve  miles  from  Strasburg,  about  the  same 
time,  so  that  the  escape  of  the  latter  between, 
both  parties  of  his  pursuers  seemed  almost 
miraculous.  On  the  afternoon  of  June  1st, 
Fremont  entered  Strasburg  only  to  find  Jack- 
son far  in  advance  of  him.  Shields'  advance 
guard  now  joined  Fremont's  force,  while  his 
main  army  passed  up  the  valley  along  the  south 
fork  of  the  Shenandoah,  Jackson  and  Fremont 
being  on  the  north  fork.  It  was  thus  the  ob- 
ject of  Jackson,  though  in  superior  force  to 
Fremont,  to  avoid  fighting  a  pitched  battle,  as 
the  delay  which  would  thereby  be  caused  in  his 
movements  might  enable  Shields  to  flank  him 
on  the  east.  For  seven  days  the  pursuit  was 
pressed  with  vigor  by  Fremont,  Jackson  having 
in  some  instances  barely  time  to  burn  the 
bridges  behind  him,  and  being  obliged  to  leave 
by  the  way  much  of  his  plunder  and  material ; 
and  on  the  8th  the  two  armies  came  into  col- 
lision at  Cross  Keys,  seven  miles  beyond  Harri- 
sonburg.  A  severe  but  indecisive  engagement 
followed,  terminating  at  nightfall,  and  under 
cover  of  the  darkness  Jackson  pressed  forward 
to  secure  the  passage  of  the  Shenandoah  at  Port 
Republic. 

Shields  had  meanwhile  made  a  parallel  march 
with  the  retreating  and  pursuing  armies,  and 
his  advance  under  Col.  Carroll  reached  Port 
Republic  on  the  8th,  while  Jackson  was  fight- 
ing the  battle  of  Cross  Keys.  Had  the  bridge 
over  the  Shenandoah  been  destroyed  at  this 
juncture,  and  had  Carroll  then  pressed  on  to 
Waynesboro  and  rendered  the  Virginia  Central 
Railroad  impassable  at  that  point,  the  position 
of  Jackson  would  have  been  critical.  But  the 
latter,  well  aware  of  this  plan  to  intercept  him, 
again  baffled  his  enemies  by  the  celerity  of  his 
movements,  and  before  Carroll  had  made  prep- 
arations to  destroy  the  bridge,  drove  him  back 
toward  his  supports.  The  Confederate  army 
then  pushed  silently  and  swiftly  across  the 
river,  upon  the  banks  of  which  Fremont  ar- 
rived on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  only  to  find 
the  bridge  in  flames  and  his  prey  again  snatch- 
ed from  his  grasp.  Gen.  Tyler  meanwhile 
came  up  to  the  assistance  of  Carroll,  but  being 
in  insignificant  force,  was  soon  put  to  rout  by 
Jackson,  who  proceeded  by  easy  marches  to 
Richmond.  Pursuit  was  impossible  by  the 
Federal  troops,  and  Jackson  was  needed  for 
more  important  duties  in  the  army  of  Lee. 
Thenceforth  he  held  no  independent  command, 
but  his  management  of  the  brief  but  exciting 
campaign  of  the  Shenandoah  had  sufficed  to 
make  his  name  famous  both  in  Europe  and 
America;  and  his  admirers  claim  that  in  no 
subsequent  campaigns,  when  acting  under  the 
directions  of  a  superior,  did  ha  exhibit  such 


energy,  decisiveness,  and  command  of  resources. 
His  raid  was  of  great  benefit  to  the  Confeder- 
ate cause,  and  in  no  remote  degree  produced  a 
series  of  disasters  to  the  Federal  arms,  which 
for  a  time  turned  the  scale  against  them. 

On  June  25th  Jackson  arrived  at  Ashland, 
about  sixteen  miles  north  of  Richmond,  whence, 
in  accordance  with  Lee's  plan  of  a  flank  move- 
ment on  McClellan's  right  wing,  he  was  directed 
to  move  to  Cold  Harbor  and  attack  the  rear  of 
Fitz  John  Porter's  corps,  which  alone  occupied 
the  left  bank  of  the  Chickahominy.  During 
the  26th  and  27th  he  was  occupied  with  getting 
into  position,  and  late  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
latter  day,  his  troops  falling  with  irresistible 
fury  on  the  exhausted  forces  of  Porter,  who 
had  been  contending  for  hours  against  superior 
numbers  at  Games'  Mill,  drove  them  toward 
the  Chickahominy  and  gave  the  victory  to  the 
Confederates.  On  the  29th  he  moved  across 
the  Chickahominy,  engaged  McClellan's  rear 
guard  on  the  succeeding  day  at  Frazier's  farm, 
and  on  July  1st  shared  in  the  signal  defeat  of 
the  Confederates  at  Malvern  Hills,  where  his 
corps  lost  several  thousand  in  killed  and  wound- 
ed. A  pause  then  ensued  in  the  military  opera- 
tions before  Richmond,  both  sides  being  too 
shattered  to  desire  to  renew  the  contest  imme- 
diately. But  about  the  middle  of  July  the 
movements  of  the  army  of  Virginia  under  Gen. 
Pope  induced  Lee  to  send  a  force  to  cover 
Gordonsville,  and  Jackson  with  his  old  corps, 
and  Swell's  division,  were  selected  for  this 
duty. 

For  several  weeks  he  remained  at  Gordons- 
ville. But  learning  on  August  7th  that  Pope's 
advance  was  at  Culpepper  Court  House,  he 
marched  rapidly  in  that  direction  with  his 
whole  force,  hoping  to  cut  it  off  before  the 
arrival  of  refinforcements.  On  the  9th  was 
fought  the  severely  contested  battle  of  Cedar 
Mountain,  between  Jackson  and  Banks,  in 
which  the  latter  was  forced  back  about  a  mile 
toward  his  supports.  But  Jackson  almost  im- 
mediately retired  across  the  Rapidan  toward 
Orange  Court  House,  to  await  the  arrival  of 
the  main  body  of  the  Confederates,  which  was 
pressing  forward  under  Lee  to  the  invasion  of 
Maryland.  McClellan  was  also  by  this  time  in 
motion  down  the  peninsula,  and  it  became  an 
object  of  paramount  importance  with  Lee  to 
overwhelm  the  small  force  under  Pope  before 
any  portion  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  could 
join  it.  About  the  18th  Lee  effected  a  junction 
with  Jackson,  and  on  the  next  day  the  united 
Confederate  army  moved  tgvvard  the  Rapidan, 
Jackson  keeping  to  the  lert  with  a  view  of 
flanking  Pope.  On  the  20th  the  Rapidan  was 
crossed,  and  for  several  days  the  Confederates 
harassed  Pope  by  frequent  attempts  to  cross 
the  Rappahannock,  which,  it  subsequently  ap- 
peared, were  intended  to  mask  a  flanking  move- 
ment under  Jackson  toward  Thoroughfare  Gap 
in  the  Bull  Run  Mountains,  and  thence  to  Ma- 
nassas  in  the  Federal  rear. 

On  the  24th  and  25th  Jackson  made  rapid 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


755 


progress  northward,  moving  by  unfrequented 
roads,  taking  no  unnecessary  baggage  or  ra- 
tions, and  subsisting  Ms  men  on  roasted  corn 
and  whatever  else  the  country  might  produce. 
On  the  26th  he  passed  safely  through  Thorough- 
fare Gap,  and  fell  suddenly  upon  the  small 
Union  force  at  Manassas,  capturing  prisoners, 
cannon,  and  a  large  amount  of  stores.  Learn- 
ing this,  Pope  moved  with  his  whole  force  to 
the  rear,  and  stationed  McDowell  at  Thorough- 
fare Gap  to  prevent  the  arrival  of  reenforce- 
ments  for  Jackson.  The  situation  of  the  latter 
becoming  somewhat  critical,  he  evacuated 
Manassas  on  the  28th,  and  moved  through 
Centreville  toward  Gainesville,  to  be  in  the 
neighborhood  of  his  supports.  Here,  on  the 
succeeding  day,  he  was  brought  to  bay  by  .the 
united  Federal  forces,  and  had  there  been  a 
proper  concert  of  action  between  Pope  and  his 
generals,  it  seems  impossible  but  that  he  should 
have  been  crushed  before  the  arrival  of  Lee. 
As  it  was,  he  was  pushed  back  toward  the  Bull 
Run  Mountains,  with  fearful  loss,  but  unbroken 
and  defiant,  and  the  golden  opportunity  was 
lost  to  the  Federals.  Longstreet  had  mean- 
while forced  his  way  through  Thoroughfare 
Gap,  followed,  on  the  night  of  the  29th,  by 
Lee,  and  on  the  30th  the  Confederates  confront- 
ed their  foe  with  a  united  army  and  in  greatly 
superior  numbers.  Jackson  had  a  full  share  in 
the  bloody  battle  of  that  day,  and  after  the  re- 
treat of  Pope  across  Bull  Run,  led  his  corps  to 
the  north  of  Centreville,  with  a  view  of  turning 
the  Federal  right  and  severing  their  connec- 
tions with  "Washington.  Pope  anticipated  this 
movement  by  falling  back  a  few  miles  to  Ger- 
mantown,  where,  on  the  evening  of  September 
1st,  a  sharp  action  was  fought,  resulting  in  the 
repulse  of  the  Confederates. 

Lee  was  now  ready  for  the  invasion  of  Mary- 
land, and  Jackson  was  again  pushed  forward, 
as  he  had  been  during  the  whole  campaign,  to 
be  the  pioneer  of  the  movement.  On  the  4th 
of  September  he  occupied  Leesburg,  on  the  5th 
he  crossed  the  Potomac  near  the  Point  of  Rocks, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  6th  his  advance 
entered  Frederick,  where,  with  a  view  of  win- 
ning over  the  inhabitants  to  the  Confederate 
cause,  a  proclamation  was  issued,  promising 
them  relief  from  the  tyranny  by  which  they 
were  oppressed,  and  similar  benefits.  As  a 
further  means  of  conciliation,  strict  measures 
were  taken  to  protect  private  property,  and  on 
Sunday,  the  7th,  Jackson,  true  to  his  devotional 
habits,  publicly  attended  Divine  service  at  the 
Presbyterian  and  German  Reformed  churches. 
The  expected  sympathy  of  the  Marylanders, 
however,  proved  a  delusion ;  recruiting  for  the 
Confederate  army  made  little  or  no  progress, 
and  the  approach  of  the  Federal  army  under 
McClellan  rendered  it  necessary  for  Lee,  whose 
whole  force  was  now  concentrated  at  Frederick, 
to  move  in  the  direction  of  the  upper  fords  of 
the  Potomac,  by  which,  in  case  of  defeat,  he 
might  retire  into  Virginia. 

One  of  the  prime  objects  of  the  campaign  was 


the  capture  of  Harper's  Ferry,  then  garrisoned 
by  a  considerable  force  of  Federals,  and  con- 
taining large  amounts  of  artillery  and  munitions 
of  war.  Accordingly  detachments  were  sent 
to  occupy  Maryland  Heights,  in  Maryland,  and 
Loudon  Heights,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  She- 
nandoah,  both  of  which  command  the  place, 
while  Jackson  marched  up  the  Potomac  to 
Williamsport,  and,  crossing  thence  into  Vir- 
ginia, moved  down  to  the  rear  of  Bolivar 
Heights,  the  only  point  of  Harper's  Ferry 
which  the  Federals  had  fortified.  The  latter, 
though  thus  invested  on  three  sides,  might 
easily  have  maintained  the  post  but  for  the 
unaccountable  abandonment,  by  Col.  Ford,  of 
Maryland  Heights,  the  occupation  of  which  by 
the  Confederates  on  the  13th  and  14th  decided 
the  fate  of  the  garrison.  A  furious  cannonade 
from  Maryland  and  Loudon  Heights  was  open- 
ed on  the  14th,  while  Jackson  pressed  the  gar- 
rison in  the  rear.  The  attack  was  renewed  on 
the  morning  of  the  15th,  and  resulted,  in  a  few 
hours,  in  the  unconditional  surrender  of  the 
place,  with  11,000  troops  and  all  the  material 
of  war. 

Meanwhile  the  battle  of  South  Mountain  had 
been  fought,  and  Lee,  retreating  before  McClel- 
lan, was  taking  position  behind  Antietam  Creek. 
Foiled  by  the  vigor  and  celerity  of  Jackson  in 
his  efibrt  to  relieve  Harper's  Ferry,  the  Federal 
general  concentrated  his  forces  to  give  battle  to 
Lee  and  drive  him  out  of  Maryland.  No  time, 
therefore,  was  to  be  lost  by  Jackson  in  forming 
a  junction  with  his  commander;  and  leaving 
Gen.  A.  P.  Hill  with  his  division  to  hold  Har- 
per's Ferry  and  finish  paroling  the  prisoners,  he 
crossed  the  Potomac  at  the  Shepherdstown  ferry 
on  the  16th,  and  the  same  evening  took  post  on 
the  Confederate  left  wing  on  the  historic  field 
of  Antietam.  The  hardest  fighting  of  the  suc- 
ceeding day  devolved  upon  him,  and  though  the 
obstinate  valor  of  the  Federal  troops  availed  to 
push  him  back  some  distance,  the  ground  was 
gained  at  a  cost  of  life  never  exceeded  during 
the  war.  On  the  night  of  the  18th  the  Confed- 
erates quietly  retreated  into  Virginia,  and  for 
several  days  Jackson  was  employed  in  destroy- 
ing the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  track  from 
near  Harper's  Ferry  to  the  North  Mountain,  a 
distance  of  30  miles.  Scarcely  had  he  accom- 
plished this  work  when  he  was  called  upon  to 
repel  a  reconnoitring  party  of  Federals,  who 
crossed  the  Potomac  near  Shepherdstown  and 
were  driven  back  with  serious  loss. 

During  October  and  November  Jackson  re- 
mained in  the  valley  o£  Virginia,  Lee  having 
meanwhile  occupied  and  fortified  Marye's 
Heights,  in  the  rear  of  Fredericksburg,  in  front 
of  which  Burnside  lay,  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
Rappahannock.  In  the  first  week  of  December 
he  was  summoned  thither  by  Lee,  and  upon  his 
arrival  took  command  of  the  right  wing  of  the 
Confederate  army,  which  he  held  during  the 
eventful  battle  of  the  13th.  Though  here,  as  at 
Antietam,  the  weakest  point  in  the  line  was 
given  him  to^ defend,  and  though  at  ono  time  he 


756 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


was  in  imminent  danger  of  being  flanked  by 
Franklin,  he  held  his  ground  till  darkness 
ended  the  battle,  at  which  tune  no  important 
advantage  had  been  gained  in  that  quarter  by 
the  Federals.  He  even  designed  a  night  attack 
by  massing  his  artillery  in  front  and  supporting 
the  pieces  with  infantry,  but  was  obliged,  in 
consequence  of  a  severe  fire  from  the  Federal 
batteries  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  to 
abandon  the  project. 

For  several  months  Jackson  remained  at  his 
headquarters,  ten  miles  below  Fredericksburg, 
employed  chiefly  in  preparing  the  official  re- 
ports of  his  battles.  He  still  -held  commaml  of 
the  right  wing,  and  for  services  in  the  battle 
of  December  i3th  had  been  promoted  to  be  a 
lieutenant-general.  With  the  exception,  of  cav- 
alry expeditions  and  occasional  reconnoissances, 
no  operations  were  undertaken  by  Gen.  Hooker 
from  the  tune  of  assuming  command  of  the  Fed- 
eral army,  January  26th,  until  the  latter  part 
of  April.  On  the  26th  of  that  month,  however, 
he  commenced  the  execution  of  a  plan  which 
he  had  been  long  maturing,  and  which  contem- 
plated a  flank  movement  by  one  portion  of  h%i 
army  some  distance  above  Fredericksburg,  while 
another  portion  crossed  the  Eappahannock  be- 
low the  town,  and  menaced  it  from  that  quarter. 
By  a  skilful  ruse  Jackson's  corps  was  detained 
in  its  old  position  below  Fredericksburg,  while 
the  bulk  of  the  Federal  army  crossed  the  Eap- 
pahannock and  the  Eapidan  at  various  fords 
above,  and  on  the  evening  of  April  30th  was 
concentrated  to  the  number  of  four  corps  at 
Chancellorsville,  about  twelve  miles  west  of 
Fredericksburg.  The  position  of  Hooker  ena- 
bling him  to  threaten  both  Fredericksburg  and 
Gordonsville,  was  strengthened  during  the  en- 
suing day  by  the  erection  of  breastworks  and 
abatis.  Lee  was  not  slow  to  fathom  the  design 
of  the  Federal  general,  and  leaving  a  single 
division  to  guard  the  heights  he  had  so  long 
occupied,  he  moved  westward  on  the  29th  of 
April,  and  threw  up  earthworks  midway  be- 
tween Chaucellorsville  and  Frederjcksburg  to 
arrest  the  progress  of  Hooker  toward  the  latter 
place.  During  May  1st  he  reconnoitred  the 
Federal  lines,  and  finding  them  impregnable  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Chancellorsville  by  reason 
of  the  earthworks  and  abatis,  he  determined 
upon  a  flank  movement  upon  Hooker's  right, 
and  selected  Jackson  to  execute  it. 

The  latter  accepted  the  task  with  alacrity,  and 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  his  corps  com- 
menced its  march,  moving  toward  the  road 
leading  to  Germanna  fgrd  on  the  Eapidan,  so  as 
to  strike  the  rear  of  the  Federal  right  wing,  oc- 
cupied by  the  llth  corps  under  Gen.  How- 
ard. No  suspicion  seems  to  have  entered  the 
mind  of  any  of  the  Federal  generals  that  such  a 
movement  was  in  progress,  the  Confederate  at- 
tack, if  made  at  all,  being  expected  in  front  of 
Chancellorsville,  and  no  precautions  had  been 
taken  to  fortify  this  part  of  the  line.  Suddenly, 
at  about  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  Jackson  fell 
like  a  thunderbolt  upon  the  unprepared  Fed- 


erals, who  were  cooking  supper,  or  engaged  in 
various  camp  duties.  Formation  or  order  was 
impossible  in  the  face  of  the  impetuous  charge 
of  the  Confederates,  and  in  ah  almost  incredi- 
bly short  time  the  greater  part  of  the  llth 
corps  was  routed  and  fleeing  in  a  confused  mass 
toward  the  Federal  centre,  which  was,  by  this 
unforeseen  disaster,  pressed  back  upon  Chancel- 
lorsville. By  great  exertion  the  fugitives  were 
rallied  behind  other  troops,  and  the  advance  of 
Jackson  'stayed.  The  latter,  however,  had  no 
thought  of  pausing  in  his  career,  and  having 
given  orders  to  Gen.  A.  P.  Hill  to  press  for- 
ward in  pursuit,  reserving  his  fire  unless  cav- 
alry approached  from  the  direction  of  the  ene- 
my, he  rode  with  his  staff  and  escort  to  the  front. 
It  was  now  nearly  nine  o'clock,  and  quite  dark, 
and  in  deference  to  the  wishes  of  his  staff,  who 
thought  he  was  exposing  himself  needlessly  to 
the  Federal  skirmishers,  Jackson  turned  his 
horse  to  ride  back  toward  his  own  lines.  In 
the  growing  obscurity  the  cavalcade  was  mis- 
taken for  Federal  cavalry,  and  a  South  Caro- 
lina regiment,  in  literal  conformity  with  the 
orders  recently  issued,  fired  a  sudden  volley 
into  it,  by  which  Jackson  was  wounded  in  both 
arms,  and  several  of  his  staff  killed  outright. 
Ho  fell  from  his  horse,  exclaiming,  "  All  my 
wounds  are  by  my  own  men,"  and  almost  im- 
mediately a  Federal  column,  attracted  by  the 
firing,  charged  over  the  very  spot  where  he 
lay,  his  staff  scattering  in  all  directions  at 
their  approach.  The  Federals  were  in  turn  re- 
pulsed, and  in  the  midst  of  a  terrific  artillery 
fire,  which  swept  down  the  Confederates  by 
hundreds,  he  was  placed  on  a  litter  and  carried 
to  the  rear,  receiving  in  the  confusion  of  the 
moment  severe  contusions  in  his  arms  and 
side's. 

His  left  arm  was  amputated  on  that  same 
evening,  and  two  days  later  he  was  removed  to 
Guinea's  station,  on  the  Eichmond  and  Fred- 
ericksburg Eailroad.  For  several  days  he  con- 
tinued to  improve,  but  on  the  7th,  while  prep- 
arations were  making  to  remove  him  to  Eich- 
mond, symptoms  of  pneumonia  appeared.  On 
the  evening  of  that  day  all  pain  left  him,  and 
with  its  cessation  he  began  rapidly  to  sink. 
He  died  quietly  on  Sunday  afternoon,  the  10th, 
exclaiming,  when  told  by  his  wife  of  his  ap- 
proaching end,  "Very  good,  very  good;  it  is 
all  right ! "  and  was  honored  with  a  public 
funeral  in  Eichmond  on  the  12th,  amidst  unmis- 
takable manifestations  of  sorrow.  Through- 
out the  seceded  States  he  was  not  less  pro- 
foundly mourned,  the  public  regret  being  in- 
tensified by  the  reflection  that  their  great  gen- 
eral, like  the  eagle  killed  by  arrows  tipped  with 
its  own  plumage,  had  fallen  under  the  volleys 
of  his  chosen  and  devoted  soldiery. 

The  character  of  Jackson  was  developed  only 
during  the  two  brief  but  momentous  years 
which  succeeded  the  outbreak  of  the  war. 
Had  secession  never  taken  place  he  might  have 
lived  and  died  the  obscure  and  eccentric  pro- 
fessor which  the  spring  of  1861  found  him.  In 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


757 


private  life,  in  fact,  he  was,  like  others  dis- 
tinguished in  his  profession,  a  comparatively 
dull  and  uninte^sting  man,  noticeable  chiefly 
for  the  depth  and  earnestness  of  his  religious 
convictions ;  and  few  could  have  predicted  that 
under  so  quiet  an  exterior  he  concealed  an  im- 
petuous hravery  rivalling  that  of  Ney  and 
Lannes,  and  an  energy,  ripened  judgment,  and 
command  of  resources  to  which  those  generals 
could  lay  no  claim.  Of  his  capacity  to  under- 
take a  large  independent  command  no  test  was 
ever  made,  his  celebrated  campaign  in  the 
Shenandoah  valley  having  been  conducted  with 
an  army  not  exceeding  25,000  men.  But  as 
the  lieutenant  of  another,  executing  important 
movements  of  an  army  wing,  and  anticipating 
almost  intuitively  the  plans  of  his  superior,  he 
proved  himself  a  genius  of  the  first  order ;  and 
one  can  readily  appreciate  the  significance  of 
Lee's  remark,  when  learning  the  misfortune 
which  had  befallen  his  favorite  general:  "He 
is  better  off  than  I  am.  He  lost  his  left  arm, 
but  I  have  lost  my  right."  During  his  resi- 
dence at  Lexington  he  became  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  at  his  death  was 
a  deacon  in  that  denomination.  Embracing,  to 
its  fullest  extent,  the  doctrine  of  predestination, 
he  was  regarded  by  many  as  a  fatalist,  and  his 
religious  fervor  seemed  to  rise  with  the  pro- 
gress of  the  war,  approaching  sometimes  the 
verge  of  fanaticism.  He  attended  service  regu- 
larly on  Sundays,  never  omitted  his  daily  de- 
votions, encouraged  prayer  meetings  and  re- 
vivals among  his  troops,  and  in  reports  and 
despatches  announcing  successes  in  the  field, 
invariably  ascribed  the  victory  to  divine  inter- 
position. To  extreme  simplicity  of  manners 
and  dress,  he  united  a  transparent  honesty  of 
character,  and  a  genuine  humanity,  which,  in 
the  midst  of  a  civil  war  of  unexampled  fury, 
caused  him  to  be  respected  alike  by  friends  and 
foes.  In  person  Jackson  was  of  middle  height 
and  soldierly  bearing,  and  his  features,  when 
not  lightened  up  by  eyes  of  singular  brilliancy 
and  expression,  were  in  no  respect  remark- 
able. 

May  11.— Col.  JOHIT  M.  WIMEB,  a  Confeder- 
ate officer,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Hartsville, 
Mo.  Col.  Wimer  had  long  been  a  citizen  of 
high  reputation  and  extensive  influence  in  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  He  had  held  many  and  various 
positions  of  public  resonsibility  in  the  city  and 
State ;  among  the  most  important,  that  of 
mayor  of  the  city. 

May  17. — Brig.-Gen.  LLOYD  TILGHMAN,  an 
officer  in  the  Confederate  service,  was  killed  at 
Champion  Hill,  Miss.  He  was  a  native  of 
Maryland,  graduated  at  West  Point  in  July, 
1836,  and  was  appointed  second  lieutenant  of 
the  1st  dragoons;  resigned  September,  1836. 
He  then  became  a  division  engineer  of  the 
Baltimore  and  Susquehanna  Railroad,  and  sub- 
sequently surveyor  of  the  Norfolk  and  Wil- 
mington Canal,  and  the  Eastern  Shore  Railroad. 
During  the  Mexican  war  he  was  a  volunteer 
aid  to  Col.  Twiggs  in  the  battle  of  Palo  Alto 


and  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  and  commanded  a 
volunteer  partisan  party  in  Mexico,  October, 

1846.  He  was  superintendent  of  defences  at 
Matamoras,  January,  1847 ;  captain  of  volun- 
teer artillery  in  Hughes's  regiment  for    the 
Mexican  war  from  August,  1847,  to  July,  1848, 
and  the  principal    assistant  engineer  of   the 
Panama  division  of  the  Isthmus  Railroad  in 

1847.  At  the  commencement  of  the  war  he 
went  into  the  Confederate  service. 

May  16. — Lieut.-Col. HOEXEY,  an  officer 

of  the  Federal  army,  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Champion  Hills.  Lieut.-Col.  Horney  was  an 
officer  of  the  10th  Missouri  regiment,  in  Gen. 
Boomer's  brigade  at  that  battle. 

May  22. — Gen.  GEOEGE  BOABDMAK  BOOMEB, 
an  officer  in  the  Federal  volunteer  army,  killed 
at  Vicksburg,  Miss.  Gen.  Boomer  was  born 
in  Sutton,  Worcester  County,  Mass.,  July  26th, 
1832.  He  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Job  Bordon 
Boomer.  He  went  west  at  a  very  early  age, 
and  settled  in  St.  Louis,  where  he  pursued  the 
business  of  bridge  building  throughout  the 
State  of  Missouri,  and  succeeded  remarkably 
well.  He  laid  out  and  partially  built  the  town 
of  "  Castle  Rock,"  on  the  Osage  River.  When 
the  guns  of  Sumter  told  that  civil  war  had 
actually  commenced,  Gen.  Boomer  entered  the 
army  of  the  Union  as  colonel  of  the  26th  regi- 
ment of  Missouri  volunteers,  and  as  such  was 
present  at  the  surrender  of  Island  No.  10  and 
at  the  battle  of  luka,  Miss.,  where  he  greatly 
distinguished  himself,  but  was  severely  wound- 
ed. He  received  two  balls  in  his  body,  but 
would  not  leave  the  field  until  he  received  a 
third,  which  placed  him  Tiors  de  combat.  At 
the  battte  of  Champion  Hills,  near  Vicks- 
burg, Miss.,  he  commanded  the  2d  brigade  of 
Quiinby's  division,  McPherson's  corps,  and  be- 
haved with  such  conspicuous  gallantry  and 
rendered  such  signal  service  that  he  was  highly 
recommended  for  promotion.  He  was  killed 
in  a  charge  on  the  fortifications  at  Vicksburg. 
His  remains  were  carried  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and 
thence  to  Worcester,  Mass.,  his  native  county, 
where  his  obsequies  were  performed  with  mili- 
tary honors. 

May  23. — Col.  J.  RICHTEE  JOXES,  an  officer 
of  the  U.  S.  volunteers,  was  killed  near  New- 
bern,  N.  C.  He  was  born  in  1804;  received 
his  academical  education  at  the  Germantown 
Academy,  and  graduated  with  high  honors  at 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1821.  Hav- 
ing studied  law,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Phila- 
delphia bar  in  1827,  and  continued  to  practise 
until  1836,  when  he  was  appointed  a  judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the  county  of 
Philadelphia,  and  held  the  office  until  his  term 
expired  by  limitation  under  the  new  Constitu- 
tion in  1847.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  was 
residing  near  Laporte,  Sullivan  County,  Pa.  He 
promptly  offered  his  services  to  the  War  De- 
partment, was  commissioned  colonel  of  a  regi- 
ment he  had  raised,  and  located  his  camp  in 
Roxborough.  On  the  8th  of  March,  1862,  he 
left  with  his  regiment,  the  58th  Pennsylvania 


758 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


volunteers,  for  Fortress  Monroe,  and  was  in 
the  advance  when  the  attack  was  made  on 
Norfolk.  He  also  performed  some  bold  move- 
ments on  the  Blackwater.  Subsequently  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Department  of  North 
Carolina,  and  in  January,  1863,  his  regiment 
was  stationed  near  Newbern.  A  short  time 
previous  to  his  death  he  was  in  command  of  a 
brigade,  in  which  position  he  evinced  much 
ability  as  a  military  chieftain. 

May  27. — Ool.  DANIEL  S.  COWLES,  an  officer 
of  the  U.  S.  volunteers,  was  killed  in  the  as- 
sault at  Port  Hudson.  At  the  commencement 
of  the  war  he  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
law  in  Columbia  County.  He  accepted  the 
command  of  the  128th  regiment  of  New  York 
volunteers,  made  up,  for  the  most  part,  of  me» 
of  wealth  and  high  social  position.  He  was 
cool  in  council,  brave  in  battle,  and  fell  by  a 
bayonet  thrust  while  leading  his  men  to  the 
enemy's  works. 

May  27. — Lieut.-Col.  WM.  LOGAN  RODMAN 
was  killed  in  the  attack  on  Port  Hudson,  Miss. 
He  was  born  in  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  March 
7th,  1823 ;  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 
1842,  and  soon  after  entered  into  mercantile 
business.  He  visited  California  during  the  gold 
excitement,  and  was  absent  two  .years,  return- 
ing by  way  of  Calcutta  and  the  overland  route 
through  Europe.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Common  Council  of  New  Bedford  in  1852,  and 
in  1860  and  1862  was  in  the  Legislature.  He 
enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  country,  raised  a 
company  of  volunteers,  with  whom,  as  their 
captain,  he  proceeded  to  the  seat  of  war.  His 
skill  and  bravery  rapidly  promoted  him  to  the 
position,  first,  of  major,  and  then  of  lieutenant- 
colonel,  and  in  the  assault,  during  which  he 
lost  his  life,  he  bore  a  gallant  part. 

June  — . — Brig.-Gen.  MABTIN  E.  GKEENE,  an 
officer  of  volunteers  in  the  Confederate  army, 
killed  at  Yicksburg,  Miss.  Brig.-Gen.  Greene 
was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  characters  de- 
veloped by  the  war.  He  entered  into  the  con- 
test with  the  serious,  grim  determination  of  a 
zealot.  His  private  character  was  pure  and 
chaste,  unsullied  by  a  single  vice.  The  im- 
morality and  licenses  of  army  life  could  never 
corrupt  his  strict  principles,  or  divert  him  from 
his  path  of  devout  religious  practices.  He  was 
never  known  to  touch  ardent  spirits,  and  at 
home  was  a  "class-leader"  in  the  Methodist 
Church.  After  the  capture  of  Camp  Jackson, 
near  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  May  10th,  1861,  the 
country  was  so  unsettled  and  dangerous  that 
Gen.  Greene  organized  and  commanded  a  com- 

Eany  of  home  guards  for  the  protection  of  the 
imilies  of  the  neighborhood  of  Paris  from 
lawless  bands  of  desperadoes.  This  body  of 
men  afterwards  swelled  to  twelve  hundred,  and 
Greene  organized  it  into  a  regiment,  and  be- 
came its  colonel.  Upon  the  advance  of  Gen. 
Price  on  Lexington,  Gen.  Curtis,  with  2,800 
men,  advanced  into  Monroe  County  to  capture 
Greene  and  his  party,  but  the  latter  marched 
his  men  seventy  miles,  and  arrived  at  Glasgow 


on  the  Missouri  River  the  next  day,  where  he 
captured  a  steamboat  loaded  with  supplies  for 
the  garrison  at  Lexington,  ^id  safely  crossed 
his  troops  to  the  south  side.  He  reported  to 
Gen.  Price,  and  contributed  by  his  determina- 
tion, good  sense,  and  sagacity  to  the  capture 
of  the  garrison  under  Col.  Mulligan,  at  Lexing- 
ton. His  men  rolled  hemp  bales  up  the  pre- 
cipitous bluff  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and 
converted  them  into  movable  breastworks. 
The  garrison  fired  hot  shot  at  them,  and  ignited 
the  combustible  material ;  but  nothing  daunted, 
Gen.  Greene  had  the  bales  saturated  with  water, 
and  steadily  the  line  advanced.  The  first  line 
of  Federal  works  was  reached,  and  the  hemp- 
bales,  by  means  of  skids,  placed  against  the 
works,  actually  rolled  over  and  advanced  on 
the  second  line.  Col.  Mulligan  seeing  that  this 
new  mode  of  approach  would  be  successful, 
surrendered  the  place.  Gen.  Greene  was  after- 
wards conspicuous  for  coolness  and  courage  in 
all  of  Gen.  Price's  battles  in  Missouri.  He  was 
in  the  battles  of  Farmington,  luka,  Corinth,  Big 
Black,  and  Baker's  Creek.  At  Vicksburg  he 
had  a  presentiment  he  would  be  killed.  He 
wrote  an  affectionate  letter  to  his  wife,  taking 
leave  of  her.  In  a  few  hours  after  a  ball  from 
the  rifle  of  a  sharpshooter  passed  through  his 
head,  killing  him  instantly. 

June  — . — .Col.  EUGENE  IRWIN,  an  officer 
of  the  Confederate  army,  killed  at  Vicksburg, 
Miss.  Col.  Irwin  was  a  son  of  James  Irwin. 
His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Henry  Clay,  of 
Kentucky,  and  he  was  a  great  favorite  of  his 
illustrious  grandfather.  In  the  neighborhood 
of  Ashland,  it  was  no  unusual  sight  to  see  the 
great  orator  of  the  United  States  affectionately 
leading  his  little  grandson,  Eugene,  by  the  hand, 
and  listening  with  delight  to  his  boyish  prattle. 
Col.  Irwin  was  born 'in  Lexington,  Ky.,  but  at  the 
commencement  of  the  war  was  a  merchant  in 
New  Orleans,  Louisiana.  He  was  distinguished 
for  his  reckless  daring,  and  when  killed  was  on 
the  top  of  the  breastworks  at  Vicksburg,  in  the 
hottest  of  the  fight,  gallantly  waving  his  sword 
and  animating  his  men  by  his  rash  example. 

June  1. — Brig.-Gen.  EDMUND  KIBBT,  an  offi- 
cer of  U.  S.  volunteers,  died  in  Washington, 
from  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  Chancel- 
lorsville.  He  was  born  in  Brownsville,  Jeffer- 
son County,  New  York,  graduated  at  West 
Point,  and  joined  the  army  in  May,  1861.  He 
was  assigned  to  Ricketts'  battery  as  second 
lieutenant,  and  upon  the  imprisonment  of  Gen. 
Ricketts  by  the  enemy,  assumed  command  of 
the  battery,  which  position  he  retained  until 
his  death.  He  took  a  prominent  and  active 
part  in  all  the  battles  in  which  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  was  engaged,  and  was  promoted 
to  a  brigadier-generalship  for  his  bravery  at 
Chancellorsville. 

June  1. — Major  MASSETT,  an  officer  in  the 
U.  S.  volunteers,  died  at  Memphis,  Tenn.  He 
was  an  Englishman  by  birth,  but  had  been  for 
the  last  twenty  years  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States.  After  the  loss  of  a  son,  Col.  Massett, 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION 


759 


killed  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  he  abandoned 
a  life  of  ease  and  comfort,  and  entered  the 
army,  with  the  rank  of  major  of  cavalry.  As 
an  officer  he  was  brave  and  active,  and  spared 
neither  body  nor  mind  in  the  faithful  perform- 
ance of  his  duties. 

June  9. — Col.  BEU JAMIU  F.  DAVIS,  of  the  8th 
N.  Y.  cavalry,  was  killed  while  leading  a  bri- 
gade to  the  charge.  He  was  a  native  of  Mis- 
sissippi, bat  was  appointed  a  cadet  at  West 
Point  from  the  State  of  Alabama,  in  the  year 
1850;  graduated  in  1854,  and  was  appointed 
brevet  second  lieutenant  of  the  5th  infantry, 
and,  in  1855,  was  transferred  to  the  1st  dra- 
goons, with  the  full  rank.  He  distinguished 
himself  in  the  conflict  in  New  Mexico,  June, 
1857.  In  1860  he  was  promoted  to  a  first 
lieutenancy,  and,  continuing  in  the  service 
when  his  State  seceded,  was,  on  the  30th  of 
July,  1861,  further  promoted  to  a  captaincy  in 
the  1st  dragoons,  now  1st  cavalry.  At  the 
battle  of  Williamsburg  he  so  distinguished 
himself  that  he  was  nominated  for  a  brevet  of 
lieutenant-colonel.  In  June,  1862,  he  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  8th  regiment  of  New 
York  cavalry,  and  soon  after  was  brevetted  and 
confirmed  major  for  his  gallant  withdrawal  of 
the  cavalry  from  Harper's  Ferry. 

June  11. — Rev.  JAMES  AVERILL  died  at  La- 
fourche,  La.,  aged  48  years.  He  was  born  in 
Griswold,  Conn.  He  was  fitted  for  college  in 
the  Plainfield  Academy ;  graduated  at  Amherst 
College  in  1837 ;  pursued  his  theological  stud- 
ies at  New  Haven,  where  he  graduated  in 
1840,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Shrewsbury,  Mass.,  June  22d,  1841.  In  1848, 
his  health  being  very  poor,  he  was  obliged  to 
remit  his  labors,  and  subsequently  was  settled 
in  Plymouth  Hollow,  Conn.,  Oct.  13th,  1852. 
After  a  ministry  here  of  ten  years,  he  asked  for 
a  dismission,  and  accepted  the  chaplaincy  of 
the  23d  regiment  of  Connecticut  volunteers, 
which  he  accompanied  to  Louisiana.  After  a 
short  but  faithful  service  in  this  new  field,  he 
fell  a  victim  to  the  climate,  and  died  of  inter- 
mittent fever,  after  an  illness  of  two  weeks. 
He  was  an  ardent  friend  of  the  philanthropic 
and  moral  enterprises  of  the  day,  a  staunch  ad- 
vocate of  temperance,  and  a  strong  anti-slavery 
man. 

June  23. — Lieut.-Col.  ABEL  SMITH  died  at 
the  Hotel  Dieu  in  New  Orleans.  He  was  in 
command  of  the  2d  Duryea  Zouaves  (165th 
New  York  volunteers)  at  the  battle  before  Port 
Hudson,  and,  while  fighting  at  the  head  of  his 
regiment,  received  the  wound  of  which  he  af- 
terwards died. 

June  26. — AJTDEEW  HULL  FOOTE,  an  American 
rear-admiral,  born  hi  New  Haven,  Ct.,  Sept. 
12th,  1806,  died  in  New  York,  June  26th,  1863. 
At  sixteen  years  of  age  he  entered  the  navy  as 
acting  midshipman,  and  made  his  first  cruise  in 
the  schooner  Grampus,  which  formed  part  of 
the  squadron  operating,  in  1823,  under  Commo- 
dore Porter,  against  the  pirates  of  the  "West  In- 
dies. In  the  succeeding  year  he  obtained  a 


midshipman's  warrant;  in  1830  he  was  com- 
missioned a  lieutenant,  and  in  1838  he  accom- 
panied Commodore  Read  in  his  voyage  of  cir- 
cumnavigation, as  first  lieutenant  of  the  sloop 
John  Adams,  participating  in  the  attack  of  the 
squadron  upon  the  pirates  of  Sumatra.  In 
1841-'43,  while  stationed  at  the  Naval  Asylum 
in  Philadelphia,  he  prevailed  npon  many  of  the 
inmates  to  take  the  temperance  pledge,  and 
was  thus  one  of  the  first  to  intrpduce  into  the 
navy  the  principle  of  total  abstinence  from 
spirituous  liquors.  In  his  next  cruise,  as  first 
lieutenant  of  the  frigate  Cumberland,  he  in- 
duced the  crew  to  give  up  their  spirit  rations, 
to  the  manifest  improvement  of  health  and  dis- 
cipline ;  and  he  also  personally  superintended 
their  religious  instruction,  often  preaching  on 
the  berth  deck  to  officers  and  men.  In  1849- 
'52  he  commanded  the  brig  Perry,  of  the  Afri- 
can squadron,  and  showed  great  vigilance  in 
suppressing  the  slave-trade;  and  it  is  worthy 
of  note  that  during  the  cruise  not  a  drop  of 
grog  was  served  out  to  the  crew,  and  not  an 
officer  or  man  was  lost  or  disabled,  or  for  any 
considerable  period  on  the  sick  list,  although 
the  station  is  notoriously  unhealthy. 

In  1852  he  was  promoted  to  be  a  com- 
mander, and  after  serving  on  the  "  Naval  Re- 
tiring Board,"  and  in  other  capacities,  he  sailed 
in  1856,  in  -command  of  the  sloop  Portsmouth, 
for  the  China  station.  At  the  time  of  his  ar- 
rival, hostilities  were  imminent  between  the 
British  and  Chinese,  and  the  latter,  with  a  reck- 
lessness which  subsequently  cost  them  dear, 
fired  from  the  Canton  barrier  forts  upon  a  boat 
from  the  Portsmouth,  at  the  stern  of  which  the 
American  flag  was  displayed.  Receiving  per- 
mission,  after  urgent  solicitation,  from  his  com- 
manding officer,  Commodore  Armstrong,  to 
resent  this  indignity,  he  anchored  his  ship 
opposite  the  largest  of  the  forts,  and  on  No- 
vember 21st,  with  partial  assistance  from  the 
sloop  Levant,  effected  a  practicable  breach  in 
its  walls.  Immediately  a  force  of  marines  and 
sailors  were  landed,  and  the  work  carried  by 
assault,  Commander  Foote  being  one  of  the 
first  to  enter  with  the  stormers.  The  remain- 
ing forts,  three  in  number,  yielded  successively 
to  his  attacks,  and  on  the  24th  the  American 
flag  waved  over  all  of  them.  In  view  of  the 
disparity  of  strength  between  the  contending 
forces,  the  forts  being  massive  granite  struc- 
tures, mounting  176  guns,  and  manned  by 
5,000  Chinese,  the  engagement  was  justly  es- 
teemed one  of  the  most  brilliant  in  the  annals 
of  the  American  navy,  and  Commander  Foote 
received  abundant  congratulations  and  com- 
pliments from  foreign  officers  on  the  station, 
who  had  been  witnesses  of  his  gallantry. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion,  Commander 
Foote  was  executive  officer  at  the  Brooklyn 
navy  yard.  In  July,  1861,  he  was  commis-. 
sioned  a  captain,  and  in  the  September  follow- 
ing was  appointed  flag  officer  of  the  flotilla 
fitting  out  in  the  Western  waters.  He  entered 
upon  his  duties  with  great  energy,  and  by  the 


760 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


commencement  of  1862  his  vessels  were  com- 
pleted and  awaiting  their  crews  and  arma- 
ments, the  work  having  been,  in  his  own  words, 
"  the  most  difficult  and  arduous  "  of  his  life. 
Early  in  February  the  combined  advance  of  the 
gunboats  and  land  forces  against  the  enemy  in 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee  was  commenced,  and 
on  the  6th,  Foote,  without  waiting  for  the  ar- 
rival of  the  cooperating  land  forces  under  Gen. 
Grant,  attacked,  with  -seven  gunboats,  the 
strong  works  at  Fort  Henry,  on  the  Tennessee 
Eiver,  and  in  two  hours  compelled  an  uncon- 
ditional surrender.  With  the  least  possible  de- 
lay, he  transferred  his  fleet  to  the  Cumberland 
Eiver,  and  on  the  14th  opened  fire  upon  Fort 
Donelson.  The  contest  was  maintained  with 
great  vigor  on  both  sides  for  an  hour  and  a 
quarter,  and  resulted  in  silencing  the  heavy 
water  batteries  of  the  enemy.  The  flag-ship 
St.  Louis,  and  the  Louisville,  having  at  this 
juncture  become  unmanageable  by  injuries  to 
their  steering  apparatus,  drifted  out  of  the  fire, 
and  the  fleet  was  obliged  to  haul  off,  leaving  the 
capture  of  the  fort  to  the  land  forces. 

Foote,  though  injured  in  the  ankle  by  the 
fragment  of  a  shot,  and  compelled  to  move 
upon  crutches,  proceeded  up  the  river  imme- 
diately after  the  surrender  of  the  fort,  and  de- 
stroyed the  Tennessee  iron  works  at  Clarks- 
ville.  Then,  after  a  brief  respite  at  Cairo,  he 
sailed  with  his  fleet,  considerably  increased  in 
efficiency,  down  the  Mississippi,  the  Confed- 
erates evacuating  their  strong  positions  at  Co- 
lumbus and  Hickman  at  his  approach.  He  re- 
mained at  his  post  during  the  tedious  siege  of 
Island  No.  Ten,  but  after  the  reduction  of  that 
place,  was  reluctantly  compelled  by  intense 
suffering  from  his  unhealed  wound  to  apply  for 
leave  of  absence,  and  early  in  May  turned  over 
his  command  to  Commodore  Davis.  Upon  be- 
ing restored  to  health,  he  was  placed  in  charge 
of  the  bureau  of  equipment  and  recruiting  un- 
der the  new  organization  of  the  navy,  and  in 
July  the  President  appointed  him  one  of  the 
nine  rear-admirals  on  the  active  list.  In  June, 
1863,  he  was  ordered  to  relieve  Admiral  Du- 
pont  in  command  of  the  South  Atlantic  block- 
ading squadron,  and  died  while  making  prepa- 
rations for  his  departure  for  Charleston. 

Apart  from  his  professional  career,  Admiral 
Foote  was  noted  as  an  active  friend  of  relig- 
ious and  philanthropic  enterprises,  and  when 
not  absent  on  sea  duties,  frequently  partici- 
pated at  the  religious  anniversary  meetings  in 
New  York  and  elsewhere.  While  in  command 
of  the  Western  flotilla,  he  framed  and  enforced 
strict  rules  for  the  proper  observance  of  Sun- 
day, 'and  for  the  prevention  of  profane  swear- 
ing and  intemperance.  He  had  also  some  rep- 
utation as  a  writer,  and  in  connection  with  his 
African  cruise  published  "Africa  and  the  Amer- 
ican Flag,"  containing  a  general  survey  of  the 
African  continent,  with  remarks  on  the  slave 
trade ;  beside  a  series  of  letters  on  Japan,  which 
country  he  visited 'in  1857. 

July  1. — JOHU  FULTON  EETNOLDS,  a  major- 


general  of  United  States  volunteers,  born  in 
Lancaster,  Pa.,  in  1820,  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg,  July  1,  1863.  He  graduated  at 
West  Point  on  the  30th  of  June,  1841,  and  on 
the  23d  of  October  following  received  his  com- 
mission as  second  lieutenant  in  the  3d  artillery. 
On  the  13th  of  June,  1846,  he  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  first  lieutenant,  and  served  through- 
out the  Mexican  war,  winning  the  brevets  of 
captain  and  major  for  his  "  gallant  and  meritori- 
ous conduct"  at  Monterey  and  Buena  Vista. 
After  his  return  from  Mexico  he  was  engaged 
in  military  service  in  California,  and  against  the 
Indians  on  the  Pacific  coast.  In  1852  he  was 
appointed  aid  to  Gen.  Wool,  and  on  the  3d  of 
March,  1855,  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy  in 
the  3d  artillery.  On  the  14th  of  May,  1861,  he 
was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  14th 
United  States  infantry.  On  the  20th  of  August, 
1861,  he  was  commissioned  brigadier-general  of 
volunteers,  and  appointed  to  the  command  of 
the  1st  brigade  of  the  Pennsylvania  reserve 
corps,  then  under  Gen.  McCall.  In  June,  1862, 
the  Eeserves  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
on  the  peninsula,  and  Gen.  Eeynolds,  on  the 
26th  of  June,  1862,  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Mechanicsville,  and  the  next  day  took  part 
in  the  severe  battle  of  Games'  Mill.  He  was 
also  engaged  at  Savage  Station,  and  at  Charles 
City  Cross-Eoads,  where  he  took  command  of 
the  division  after  Gen.  McCall  was  taken  prison- 
er, and  at  a  late  hour  the  same  day  was  himself 
captured  by  the  enemy  and  sent  to  Eichmond. 
For  his  gallantry  in  these  battles  he  received 
the  brevets  of  colonel  and  brigadier-general  in 
the  regular  army.  After  his  release  from  Eich- 
mond, and  on  the  26th  of  September,  he  return- 
ed to  the  command  of  his  division,  and  soon 
after  assumed  command  of  the  1st  army  corps, 
by  virtue  of  seniority  of  rank.  He  commanded 
this  corps  in  the  first  battle  of  Fredericksburg. 
In  January,  1863,  he  was  nominated  major- 
general  of  volunteers.  In  the  battles  of  Chan- 
cellorsville  his  corps  took  no  active  part,  being 
in  the  reserve.  On  the  12th  of  June  he  was 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  right  wing  of 
Hooker's  army,  having  charge  of  three  corps. 
He  hastened  forward  to  Gettysburg  at  the  di- 
rection of  the  commanding  general,  and  arrived 
there  in  the  vanguard  of  the  Union  army,  and 
bringing  his  little  corps  of  eight  thousand  men 
into  action  against  a  Confederate  force  of  three 
times  their  number,  he  rode  forward  to  recon- 
noitre a  grove  in  which  the  enemy  had  placed 
a  large  body  of  sharpshooters ;  and  dismounting 
from  his  horse,  approached  a  fence  and  looked 
over  toward  the  wood,  when  he  was  struck  in 
the  neck  by  a  rifle  ball,  and,  falling  upon  his 
face,  died  in  a  few  minutes. 

July  2. — Brig.-Gen.  WILLIAM  BABKSDALE,  an 
officer  in  the  Confederate  service,  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  He  was  born  in 
Eutherford  Co.,  Tenn.,  August  21st,  1821.  His 
early  education  was  obtained  in  the  Nashville 
University,  after  which  he  removed  to  Colum- 
bus, Miss.,  where  he  studied  law  and  was  ad- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


761 


mitted  to  the  bar  before  he  had  attained  his 
majority,  becoming  a  successful  practitioner. 
He  was  for  a  time  one  of  the  editors  of  the 
Columbus  "Democrat,"  in  which  he  sustained 
the  principle  of  States'  rights  and  the  delegated 
powers  of  the  General  Government.  During 
the  year  1847  he  participated  in  the  Mexican 
war  as  a  non-commissioned  officer  in  the  staff 
of  the  2d  Mississippi  volunteers.  In  1851  he 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  State  Convention 
to  discuss  the  compromise  measures  proposed 
during  the  previous  year.  In  1853  he  was 
elected  to  Congress  on  the  general  ticket,  and 
became  a  leading  member  of  the  States'  rights 
portion  of  the  democratic  party.  During  one 
of  those  memorable  disturbances  in  the  House 
of  Congress,  Mr.  Barksdale  assisted  Mr.  Brooks 
of  South  Carolina  in  his  assault  upon  Hon. 
Charles  Sumner.  When  the  war  broke  out,  he 
left  his  seat  in  Congress  and  joined  the  Confed- 
erate army.  At  the  head  of  the  13th  regiment 
of  Mississippi  volunteers  he  participated  in  the 
various  campaigns  in  Virginia,  and  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general,  and 
placed  in  command  of  the  3d  brigade  of  Major- 
Gen.  Early's  division  of  Lieut.-Gen.  Ewell's 
corps  in  Gen.  Lee's  army.  On  the  second  day 
of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  July,  1863,  he  was 
killed  while  in  the  act  of  leading  on  his  men. 

July  2. — Col.  EDWARD  EVERETT  CROSS  was 
killed  at  Gettysburg.  He  was  born  in  Lancas- 
ter, N.  H.,  and  commenced  life  as  a  journeyman 
printer.  He  was  for  some  time  connected  with 
the  press  in  Cincinnati,  and  in  1854  he  can- 
vassed the  State  of  Ohio  for  the  American 
party.  He  was  afterwards  employed  as  agent 
of  the  St.  Louis  and  Arizona  Mining  Company, 
in  which  he  subsequently  became  a  large  stock- 
holder. He  made  several  trips  across  the 
plains,  taking  the  first  steam-engine  that  ever 
crossed  the  Rocky  Mountains.  When  the  war 
commenced  he  organized  the  5th  New  Hamp- 
shire regiment,  and  was  commissioned  as  its 
colonel.  Under  his  command  the  regiment 
distinguished  itself  in  many  important  engage- 
ments, and  won  an  enviable  reputation  for 
bravery.  He  had  been  in  command  of  a  bri- 
gade several  months,  and  was  strongly  recom- 
mended for  a  brigadier-general.  He  fell  while 
gallantly  fighting  at  the  head  of  his  regiment 
in  the  memorable  battle  of  Gettysburg. 

July  2. — Col.  PATRICK  H.  O'ROTTRKE  was 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  He  was  a 
native  of  Ireland;  was  appointed  a  cadet  to 
West  Point  from  New  York,  and  graduated  in 
1861,  standing  first  hi  his  class.  He  was  as- 
signed to  a  lieutenancy  in  the  regular  army, 
and  placed  in  the  engineers  corps  in  service  at 
Hilton  Head  and  the  works  on  Savannah  River, 
where  he  greatly  distinguished  himself.  When 
the  140th  regiment  was  ready  for  the  field,  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command,  and  soon  brought 
it  up  to  a  high  degree  of  discipline.  He  pos- 
sessed military  talent  of  a  high  order,  and  was 
eminently  prepossessing  and  courteous  hi  all 
his  ways.  At  the  reduction  of  Fort  Pulaski  he 


behaved  with  great  gallantry,  and  at  Chancel- 
lorsville  commanded  a  brigade  with  great  honor 
to  himself.  At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  he 
mounted  a  rock,  cheering  on  his  men,  when  he 
was  struck  by  the  fatal  bullet. 

July  2. — Col.  C.  F.  TAYLOR,  an  officer  of 
U.  S.  volunteers,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg.  He  was  born  in  1840,  and  was  a 
brother  of  Bayard  Taylor,  with  whom  a  few 
years  ago  he  travelled  extensively  in  Europe. 
After  his  return  he  graduated  at  the  Michigan 
University.  His  patriotic  devotion  to  his  coun- 
try led  him  to  organize  a  company  in  Pennsyl- 
vania under  the  first  call  of  the  President.  He 
received  a  captain's  commission  from  the  gov- 
ernor, and  his  company  was  attached  to  the 
Bucktail  regiment  under  Col.  Kane.  At  the 
battle  of  Harrisonburg,  Va.,  when  Col.  Kane 
was  wounded,  Capt.  Taylor  remained  with  that 
officer  on  the  field,  and  they  were  both  taken 
prisoners  by  the  enemy.  A  few  months  later 
he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  regiment,  Col. 
Kane  having  been  promoted  ae  brigadier-gen- 
eral. When  Gen.  Burnside  attempted  to  storm 
the  heights  of  Fredericksburg,  he  led  one  of 
the  charges  with  great  gallantry  and  was  twice 
wounded.  While  bravely  leading  a  charge, 
over  Roundtop  Summit,  at  the  battle  of  Get- 
tysburg, a  ball  entered  his  heart  as  he  raised 
his  sword  above  his  head.  His  last  words 
were,  "Come  on,  boys:  we'll  take  them  all 
prisoners ! " 

July  2. — Brig.-Gen.  STEPHEN  H.  WEED,  an 
officer  of  U.  S.  volunteers,  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg.  He  was  a  native  of 
New  York,  graduated  at  West  Point  in  July, 
1854,  and  subsequently  was  made  first  lieuten- 
ant in  the  4th  United  States  artillery.  When 
the  5th  United  States  artillery  was  organized, 
he  was  appointed  captain.  His  ability  and  ge- 
nius as  a  commanding  officer,  and  especially  as 
an  artillerist,  had  long  been  appreciated  in  the 
corps,  and  his  brigadier-general's  commission 
was  the  reward  of  his  gallant  services  at  the 
battles  near  Chancellorsville.  At  the  time  of 
his  death  he  was  commanding  the  3d  brigade 
of  regulars,  and  was  fighting  manfully,  when 
a  bullet  from  the  enemy  struck  his  arm,  and, 
passing  into  his  lung,  inflicted  a  terrible  wound 
from  which  he  died  hi  a  few  hours.  In  try- 
ing to  catch  the  dying  commands  of  Gen.  Weed, 
Lieut.  Charles  E.  Hazlett,  a  young  officer  of 
the  5th  artillery,  was  kneeling  with  his  head 
bent  close  to  that  of  Gen.  Weed,  when  a  bul- 
let struck  his  forehead,  felling  him  dead  upon 
the  bosom  of  his  friend. 

July  2. — SAMUEL  KOSCIUSZKO  ZOOK,  a  brig- 
adier-general hi  the  U.  S.  volunteer  service, 
was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  He 
was  born  hi  Pennsylvania  about  the  year  1823. 
When  quite  young  he  entered  into  the  tele- 
graph business,  and  made  several  important 
discoveries  in  electrical  science,  which  gave 
him  a  wide  reputation.  When  about  twenty- 
five  years  of  age  he  removed  to  New  York, 
and  became  connected  with  the  local^  military 


762 


MILiTAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


organizations  of  the  city.  In  1857  he  was  com- 
missioned lieutenant-colonel  of  the  6th  New 
York  State  militia,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
war,  though  much  out  of  health,  went  with 
his  regiment  to  the  seat  of  hostilities,  and  was 
appointed  military  governor  of  Annapolis. 
After  his  return,  he  recruited  the  57th  regi- 
ment of  New  York  State  volunteers,  and, 
having  been  commissioned  colonel,  led  it  to 
the  peninsula.  During  that  long  and  bloody 
ampaign  he  generally  held  command  of  a  bri- 
gade, though  without  the  rank  or  commis- 
sion properly  belonging  to  his  position.  On 
the  29th  of  November,  1862,  he  was  commis- 
sioned brigadier-general,  the  appointment  be- 
ing confirmed  in  March,  1863.  He  was  placed 
in  command  of  his  old  brigade,  and  nobly  dis- 
tinguished himself  at  the  battles  of  Chancel- 
lorsville  and  Gettysburg,  on  the  latter  field 
giving  up  his  life. 

July  3. — Brig.-Gen.  LEWIS  A.  ARMISTEAD, 
an  officer  in  the  Confederate  service,  was  killed 
at  Gettysburg.  He  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  was  appointed  from  that  State  a  cadet  at 
West  Point  in  March,  1834.  He  remained  in  the 
Military  Academy  till  October,  1836.  On  the 
10th  of  July,  1839,  he  was  appointed  second 
lieutenant  in  the  6th  infantry ;  he  was  ad- 
vanced to  a  first  lieutenancy  in  March,  1844; 
received  the  brevets  of  captain  and  major  for 
gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  in  the  battles 
of  Contreras,  Ohurubusco,  Molino  del  Eey,  and 
Ohapultepec,  in  1847.  In  the  last  of  these  en- 
gagements he  had  led  a  storming  party  against 
the  citadel.  He  attained  a  captaincy  in  March, 
1854,  and  in  1859  commanded  a  detachment 
sent  against  the  Indians,  from  Fort  Mohave, 
California,  and  attacked  and  routed  them  with 
great  slaughter.  He  joined  the  Confederates 
early  in  the  war  and  was  appointed  a  brigadier- 
general  in  1862.  He  was  a  brave  officer. 

July  3. — Brig.-Gen.  ELON  J.  FARSTSWORTH, 
an  officer  in  the  U.  S.  volunteer  service,  was 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  He  was 
born  in  Livingstone  County,  Michigan,  in  1835, 
and  was  educated  at  the  university  of  that 
State.  In  1857  he  went  to  New  Mexico,  and 
became  attached  to  the  United  States  commis- 
sary department,  and  subsequently  was  en- 
gaged in  Utah  in  the  same  capacity.  "When 
the  news  of  the  war  reached  hinf  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1861,  he  hastened  home  to  join  the  8th 
Illinois  cavalry,  which  his  uncle,  Gen.  John  F. 
Farnsworth,  was  then  organizing.  He  was 
made  battalion  quartermaster,  but  was  soon 
promoted  to  the  captaincy  of  Company  K  of 
that  regiment.  During  all  the  battles  of  the 
peninsula  and  in  Gen.  Pope's  campaign  he 
never  missed  a  fight  or  skirmish  in  which  his 
company  was  engaged.  In  May,  1863,  he  was 
placed  upon  Gen.  Pleasanton's  staff  as  aide.  He 
was  made  brigadier-general  only  a  few  days  be- 
fore his  death. 

July  3. — Brig.-Gen.  EICHAED  B.  GARKETT, 
an  officer  in  the  Confederate  service,  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  He  was  a  native 


of  Virginia,  entered  the  service  of  the  United 
States  army  as  second  lieutenant  of  infantry, 
July,  1841,  and  was  captain  of  the  6th  infan- 
try, May  9,  1855.  When  the  war  broke  out  he 
resigned  to  enter  the  Confederate  service,  and 
was  engaged  in  most  of  the  battles  in  Virginia. 
He  was  at  first  a  colonel  under  Pegram  and 
Floyd  in  Western  Virginia,  but  soon  after  join- 
ing Lee's  army  was  promoted  to  the  command 
of  a  brigade.  He  had  the  reputation  of  being  a 
capable  officer. 

July  3. — Maj.-Gen.  WILLIAM  D.  PENDER,  an 
officer  in  the  Confederate  service,  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  He  was  a  native  of 
North  Carolina  and  appointed  from  that  State 
to  West  Point,  where  he  entered  as  a  cadet  in 
1850  and  graduated  in  1854.  He  was  appoint- 
ed brevet  second  lieutenant  in  the  4th  artillery 
in  July,  1854,  and  second  lieutenant  of  the  1st 
dragoons  in  March,  1855.  He  distinguished 
himself  in  several  conflicts  with  the  Indians  in 
Washington  Territory  in  September,  1858.  He 
joined  the  Confederate  army  early  in  the  war, 
and  rose  by  successive  promotions  from  the 
rank  of  colonel  to  that  of  major-general.  He 
commanded  a  division  of  Gen.  Hill's  corps  at 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg. 

July  3. — Col.  J.  K.  MARSHALL,  an  officer  in 
the  Confederate  service,  was  killed  at  Gettys- 
burg. He  was  born  in  1840,  graduated  at  Lex- 
ington (Virginia)  Military  Institute  in  1860, 
when  he  went  to  Edenton,  North  Carolina,  and 
took  charge  of  a  private  school.  Upon  the 
commencement  of  the  war  he  accepted  the  cap- 
taincy of  a  volunteer  company,  and  was  subse- 
quently elected  colonel  of  the  52d  regiment  of 
North  Carolina  troops,  taking  the  place  of  Col. 
Vance,  who  resigned  because  elected  governor. 

July  3. — Brig.-Gen.  SEMMES,  an  officer  of  the 
Confederate  army,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Get- 
tysburg. 

July  4. — Col.  PAUL  JOSEPH  EEVERE,  an  offi- 
cer of  U.  S.  volunteers,  died  of  wounds  re- 
ceived in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  He  was 
born  in  Boston,  September  18,  1832,  and  was  a 
grandson  of  Paul  Severe  of  Eevolutionary  his- 
tory. His  early  educational  advantages  were 
good,  and  in  1852  he  graduated  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege. When  the  war  broke  out,  though  occu- 
pying a  high  social  position'  and  surrounded  by 
every  thing  calculated  to  make  life  pleasant,  he 
at  once  volunteered  his  services  in  behalf  of  his 
country,  and  accepting  the  commission  of  major 
in  the  20th  regiment  of  volunteers,  went  to  the 
seat  of  war.  At  the  disastrous  battle  of  Ball's 
Bluff  his  regiment  behaved  nobly,  but  lost 
heavily ;  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and,  with  his 
colonel,  was  confined  in  a  felon's  cell  as  a  host- 
age for  the  privateersmen  whom  the  United 
States  Court  had  convicted  as  pirates.  After 
his  exchange  he  participated  in  the  campaign 
on  the  James  Eiver,  and  at  Antietam  was  on 
Gen.  Sumner's  staff,  when  he  was  compliment- 
ed for  his  gallantry,  having  received  a  severe 
wound,  which  gave  him  a  long  winter  of  pain 
and  seclusion.  Upon  his  recovery  he  was  pro- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


763 


moted  as  colonel  of  the  20th  regiment,  and  re- 
ceived his  death  wound  in  the  first  successful 
battle  of  the  campaign. 

July  12. — Commander  ABNEE  READ,  an  offi- 
cer of  the  United  States  navy,  died  from  a 
wound  received  upon  the  Monongahela,  at  the 
batteries  above  Donaldsonville.  He  was  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio  and  about  forty-two  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  his  death ;  was  educated  at  the 
Ohio  University  at  Athens,  which  institution 
he  left  in  his  senior  year  in  1839,  having  re- 
ceived a  midshipman's  warrant.  His  first  voy- 
age was  on  the  schooner  Enterprise  to  the 
South  American  coast,  having  been  detached 
from  a  ship-of-war  destined  to  the  Mediter- 
ranean, on  account  of  some  little  difficulty  with 
the  captain,  previous  to  the  sailing  of  the  ves- 
sel. Prior  to  his  examination,  he  spent  a  year 
in  reviewing  his  studies  at  the  Naval  School  in 
Philadelphia,  and  stood  fifth  in  a  class  of  forty- 
eight.  He  was  at  once  detailed  to  the  duty  of 
acting  sailing  master,  in  which  capacity  he  made 
several  voyages  and  soon  acquired  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  one  of  the  most  skilful  navigators  in 
the  service.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Mexi- 
can war  he  was  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  but  re- 
turned in  time  to  make  a  cruise  in  the  Gulf  and 
participate  in  some  naval  operations  near  the 
close  of  the  war.  The  progress  of  naval  pro- 
motion being  slow,  he  did  not  reach  the  rank 
of  lieutenant  until  1853,  and  in  1855  the  Navy 
Retiring  Board  consigned  him  to  the  list  of  re- 
tired officers,  but  he  was  not  long  after  rein- 
stated by  the  Examining  Board.  Soon  after  the 
commencement  of  the  war  he  was  ordered  for 
service  to  the  Wyandotte,  the  command  of 
which  soon  devolved  upon  him,  and  it  was  this 
vessel  which  performed  such  important  service 
in  saving  Fort  Pickens  from  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  In  May,  1862,  the  health 
of  Lieutenant  Read  was  so  much  impaired  that 
he  was  relieved  of  his  command  for  a  time  in 
order  to  place  himself  under  medical  treatment. 
A  severe  fit  of  sickness  prostrated  him  for  some 
weeks,  and  before  fully  recovering  his  strength, 
he  asked  sailing  orders  and  was  assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  gunboat  New  London.  Pro- 
ceeding at  once  to  Ship  Island  he  commenced 
cruising  in  the  Mississippi  Sound,  and  in  eight 
days  captured  four  valuable  prizes.  The  ex- 
ploits of  this  vessel  won  for  it  from  the  enemy 
the  appellation  of  the  "Black  Devil,"  and  it 
soon  succeeded  in  breaking  up  the  trade  between 
New  Orleans  and  Mobile.  The  New  London 
captured  nearly  thirty  prizes,  took  a  battery  at 
Biloxi,  and  had  several  engagements  with  Con- 
federate steamers  on  the  sound.  A  short  time 
previous  to  his  death  he  lost  his  left  eye  in  an 
engagement  at  Sabine  Pass.  In  June  of  1863 
he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  steam  sloop- 
of-war  Monongahela.  He  was  a  skilful  officer 
and  a  universal  favorite  throughout  the  navy. 

July  14.— Col.  HENBY  T.  O'BBIEK  was  killed 
by  the  rioters  in  New  York  city.  He  was  a 
native  of  Ireland,  but  had  resided  for  many 
years  in  New  York  city.  Previous  to  the  riot 


he  had  been  for  some  time  engaged  in  raising 
a  three  years'  regiment  (the  llth  New  York 
volunteers,  or  James  T.  Brady  Light  Infantry). 
Early  on  Monday,  July  13th,  he  volunteered 
his  service  and  those  of  his  regiment  to  aid  in 
suppressing  the  riot. 

July  18. — Acting  Brig.-Gen.  HALDIMAND 
SUMNEB  PUTNAM,  an  officer  of  United  States 
volunteers,  was  killed  at  the  attack  on  Fort 
Wagner.  He  was  born  in  Cornish,  N.  H.,  Oct. 
15th,  1835,  graduated  at  "West  Point  in  1857, 
and  from  that  time  until  a  few  months  previous 
to  the  war,  was  stationed  at  different  localities 
on  the  western  frontier.  "When  the  war  broke 
out,  he  was  summoned  to  Washington  and  in- 
trusted with  special  messages  of  the  highest 
importance  to  carry  to  Fort  Pickens.  He  ac- 
complished his  mission,  and  was  returning  to 
the  North  when  he  was  seized  by  the  military 
authorities  at  Mongomery,  Alabama,  and  held 
in  prison  several  days,  but  was  finally  released 
and  came  back  to  Washington.  Soon  after  he 
was  placed  upon  Gen.  McDowell's  staff",  in  which 
position  he  performed  many  arduous  and  im- 
portant duties.  He  participated  in  the  first 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  won  himself  much 
honor  by  his  bravery  and  devotion.  When  re- 
quested to  take  command  of  a  regiment  from 
his  native  State,  he  at  first  declined,  upon  the 
ground  that  he  was  too  young  for  so  respon- 
sible a  position,  but  upon  being  further  urged, 
he  finally  accepted,  and  on  the  14th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1862,  departed  with  his  regiment  for  the 
seat  of  war.  During  the  first  year  of  its  ser- 
vice this  regiment  was  stationed  at  Fort  Jeffer- 
son, on  Tortugas  Island.  Since  then  the  com- 
mand has  been  located  at  St.  Augustine,  Florida, 
Port  Royal,  S.  0.,  and  in  the  vicinity  of 
Charleston,  and  though  not  engaged  in  any 
important  action  previous  to  the  attack  upon 
Fort  Wagner,  it  has  participated  in  many  skir- 
mishes and  expeditions.  For  four  or  five 
months  -previous  to  his  death  he  was  acting 
brigadier-general,  and  was-  serving  in  that  ca- 
pacity when  he  fell  on  Morris  Island.  His 
forces  consisted  of  the  7th  New  Hampshire 
volunteers,  and  several  other  regiments  from 
the  Middle  StaDfes.  At  the  attack  on  Fort 
Wagner  he  led  his  brigade  gallantly  into  ac- 
tion, and  fell  while  rallying  his  men,  holding 
his  position  within  the  enemy's  works. 

July  18.— Col.  ROBEET  GOULD  SHAW,  an 
officer  of  colored  volunteers,  was  killed  during 
the  assault  upon  Fort  Wagner.  He  was  the 
only  son  of  Francis  G.  Shaw,  of  Staten  Island, 
and  was  born  about  1836.  When  the  war 
broke  out  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  7th 
regiment  New  York  militia,  and  went  to  Wash- 
ington. Before  the  three  months'  term  of 
service  expired,  he  sought  and  obtained  a  com- 
mission in  the  Massachusetts  2d,  which  subse- 
quently won  so  much  honor  on  many  a  battle- 
field. At  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain  his  life 
was  saved  by  his  watch.  He  commanded  the 
first  regiment  of  colored  soldiers  from  a  free 
State  ever  mustered  into  the  United  States  ser- 


764 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY 'OF  THE  REBELLION. 


vice,  and  although  aware  that,  by  the  order 
of  Mr.  Davis,  he  ran  the  risk  of  dying  upon 
the  gallows  if  taken  prisoner,  he  went  forth 
ready  to  die  in  any  way  that  might  prove  for 
the  benefit  of  his  country.  He  fell  at  the  head 
of  his  regiment,  when  standing  upon  the  para- 
pet of  Fort  Wagner,  which  had  been  carried  by 
assault. 

July  19. — Major  DANIEL  McCooK,  an  officer 
of  United  States  volunteers,  died  of  wounds 
received  at  the  fight  with  Morgan's  men  near 
Buffington  Island,  Ohio.  He  was  born  in  179U. 
He  was  clerk  in  the  Pension  Office  at  Wash- 
ington for  two  or  three  years  previous  to  the 
commencement  of  the  war,  and  for  ten  months 
previous  to  his  death  was  a  paymaster  in  the 
tTnited  States  army.  He  had  eight  sons,  who 
have  all  been  in  the  service  except  one,  Col. 
George  W.  McOook,  attorney-general  of  Ohio. 

July  30. — Brig.-Gen.  GEOKGE  0.  STRONG,  an 
officer  of  United  States  volunteers,  died  from 
wounds  received  in  the  assault  upon  Fort  Wag- 
ner, Charleston  harbor,  aged  30  years.  He  was 
born  in  Stockbridge,  Vt.  His  father  died  when 
he  was  but  eight  years  of  age,  and  he  was 
adopted  in  the  family  of  his  uncle,  A.  S.  Strong, 
of  Easthampton,  Mass.,  under  whose  care  he 
imbibed  his  frit  desire  for  military  life.  He 
entered  West  Point  Academy  in  the  class  of 
1857,  and  held  the  post  of  first  captain  of  ca- 
dets for  three  years.  After  graduating  he  had 
charge  of  the  Bridesburg  arsenal,  was  thence 
transferred  to  Fortress  Monroe,  and  thence  to 
Mount  Vernon,  Alabama.  He  subsequently 
had  charge  of  the  Watervliet  arsenel  a  short 
time,  but  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he 
applied  for  active  service,  and  was  placed  on 
the  staff  of  Gen.  McDowell,  at  the  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  and  was  highly  complimented  for 
his  efficiency  in  that  battle.  He  was  next  ap- 
pointed on  the  staff  of  Gen.  McClellan,  but 
shortly  after  was  detailed  as  ordnance  officer, 
by  Gen.  Butler,  to  the  Department  of  the  Gulf. 
He  distinguished  himself  at  Biloxi,  and  iif  the 
perilous  adventure  up  the  Tangipahoa  River. 
He  was  a  brave  and  skilful  officer,  and  was 
honored  and  trusted  by  the  men  under  his 
command.  At  the  assault  o*  Fort  Wagner'he 
commanded  the  assaulting  column,  and  led  it 
with  the  judgment  and  courage  of  a  veteran. 

July  — .  — Lieut.-Ool.  NAZEB,  of  the 

New  York  Mounted  Rifles,  died  at  Washing- 
ton of  typhoid  fever.  He  had  acquired  some 
distinction  in  the  British  army,  having  been  an 
officer  of  the  90th  Light  Infantry.  After  leav- 
ing the  British  army,  he  was  for  some  time 
treasurer  of  the  Winter  Garden,  in  New  York. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  accepted  the 
position  of  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  New  York 
Mounted  Rifles,  with  which  regiment  he  con- 
tinued to  serve  up  to  the  period  of  his  death, 
and  was  on  the  eve  of  receiving  the  full  colo- 
nelcy. He  was  an  able  officer,  and  his  soldierly 
acquirements  and  high  sense  of  honor  won  for 
him  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  whole  di- 
vision. 


Aug.  6. — Capt.  ROCK  CHAMPION,  an  officer 
of  the  Confederate  army,  killed  in  a  skirmish 
at  Middleburg,  Tenn.  At  the  battle  of  Elk 
Horn  or  Pea  Ridge,  Capt.  Champion  commanded 
the  escort  of  Brig.-Gen.  D.  M.  Frost,  and  in  the 
hottest  of  the  fight  charged  a  whole  infantry 
regiment  with  his  little  band  of  eighteen.  He 
took  part  in  all  the  battles  in  Missouri.  At  the 
battles  of  Carthage,  Wilson's  Creek,  &c.,  he 
commanded  a  regiment  of  infantry  in  the  Mis- 
souri State  Guard,  and  was  distinguished  for 
his  intrepid  courage.  Whilst  in  command  of  a 
company  of  cavalry  in  North  Mississippi,  a  ro- 
mantic incident  occurred  in  which  Capt.  Cham- 
pion was  the  hero.  A  young  lady,  described 
as  very  beautiful,  and  the  daughter  of  one  of 
the  wealthiest  men  of  Northern  Alabama, 
declared  she  would  bestow  her  hand  on  the 
man  who  would  kill  the  Federal  colonel  who 
commanded  the  town  in  which  she  resided,  he 
having  by  his  conduct  while  in  command" 
greatly  incensed  the  inhabitants.  Not  long 
afterwards  Gen.  Roddy  made  a  sudden  attack 
upon  the  town,  and  in  a  hand  to  hand  encoun- 
ter Capt.  Champion  killed  the  Federal  colonel. 
Learning  then,  for  the  first  time,  that  a  young 
lady  had  made  such  a  declaration,  he  called 
upon  her.  She  was  as  good  as  her  word,  and 
they  were  engaged  to  be  married  when  Capt. 
Champion's  command  was  ordered  to  Tennes- 
see. In  an  engagement  at  Middleburg,  Ten- 
nessee, he  was  killed.  It  is  said  he  was  so 
close  to  the  soldier  who  shot  him,  that  he  ran 
his  sword  through  his  opponent,  after  receiving 
the  wound,  and  that  both  fell  and  died  together. 

Aug.  — . — Maj.-Gen.  JOHN  S.  BOWEN,  an  of- 
ficer in  the  Confederate  army,  died  at  Raymond, 
Miss.  He  was  a  native  of  Georgia,  graduated 
at  West  Point  in  July,  1863,  and  was  appoint- 
ed brevet  second  lieutenant  of  mounted  rifles. 
He  resigned  in  May,  1856.  He  married  in  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  and  was  for  a  time  an  architect  in 
that  city.  He  commanded  the  2d  regiment  of 
Missouri  volunteer  militia  of  the  district  of  St. 
Louis,  at  the  time  Camp  Jackson  was  captured, 
May  10, 1861 ;  but  having  protested  against  the 
legality  of  the  capture  and  the  exaction  of  his 
parole  at  the  time  it  was  given,  he  escaped  to 
the  South,  and  disregarding  his  parole  entered 
the  Confederate  army.  He  was  afterwards  ex- 
changed for  an  officer  captured  by  Gen.  Price 
at  Lexington,  Mo.,  but  published  a  card  stating 
that  he  had  never  been  legally  a  prisoner,  and 
refused  the  benefit  of  the  exchange.  At  Mem- 
phis he  raised  the  1st  Missouri  Confederate 
regiment  of  infantry,  which,  through  the  whole 
war,  was  hardly  surpassed  in  gallantry,  disci- 
pline, or  drill.  At  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  Gen. 
Bowen,  then  acting  brigadier  general,  was 
severely  wounded.  From  this  wound  and  a 
fever  from  which  he  was  suffering  when  he 
went  into  the  battle,  he  never  entirely  recover- 
ed. Gen.  Bowen  commanded  the  Confederate 
troops  in  the  battle  near  Port  Gibson  in  May, 
1863,  and  made  a  very  stubborn  resistance  to 
Gen.  Grant's  advance.  He  reported  Grant's 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL.  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


765 


force  at  20,000,  his  own  at  5,500.  He  was  in 
all  the  subsequent  battles  around  Vicksburg, 
and  bore  a  prominent  part  in  the  negotiations 
for  the  surrender  of  the  city.  Gen.  Bowen  was 
an  excellent  officer,  and  a  soldier  of  spirit  and 
courage.  He  is  said  to  have  died  of  mortifica- 
tion and  sorrow  for  the  fall  of  Vicksburg. 

Aug.  6. — Brig.- Gen.  Lucius  MAESH  WALKEB, 
an  officer  of  the  Confederate  army,  killed  in  a 
duel  by  Gen.  Marmadulfe,  also  of  the  Confederate 
service,  near  Little  Rock,  Ark.  Gen.  "Walker 
was  born  in  Tennessee,  and  was  a  cadet  at 
"West  Point  in  1846.  July  1,  1850,  he  was 
brevet  second  lieutenant  of  the  2d  dragoons. 
He  resigned  on  the  31st  of  March,  1852.  At 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  lived  in  Ar- 
kansas. During  the  siege  of  Corinth  he  com- 
manded a  brigade  in  Hardee's  corps,  and  in  the 
campaign  in  Kentucky  in  the  fall  of  1862,  he 
commanded  a  brigade  in  the  same  corps,  and 
in  Anderson's  division.  In  November  of  the 
same  year  he  was  transferred  to  the  Trans-Mis- 
sissippi Department.  The  cause  of  the  duel 
was  something  Gen.  Marmaduke  had  said  de- 
rogatory to  the  courage  of  Gen.  "Walker.  The 
duel  was  of  a  deadly  character,  the  terms  being : 
weapons,  revolvers — distance  twelve  paces ;  fir- 
ing to  commence  at  the  word,  and  continue 
until  one  or  the  other  should  fall. 

Aug.  11. — Lieut.-Col.  GEORGE  NAUMAN,  an 
officer  of  United  States  volunteers,  died  at  Phila- 
delphia in  the  61st  year  of  his  age.  In  1819 
he  entered  the  Military  Academy  at  "West  Point, 
and  in  1821  was  acting  assistant  professor  of 
French  in  that  institution ;  in  1823  he  gradu- 
ated, and  was  commissioned  brevet  second  lieu- 
tenant in  the  2d  regiment  of  artillery,  and  the 
same  year  received  his  full  second  lieutenancy 
in  the  1st  regiment  of  artillery ;  was  appointed 
assistant  commissary  of  subsistence  in  March, 
1828,  and  was  assistant  instructor  of  French 
at  the  Military  Academy,  from  September, 
1828,  to  August,  1829.  In  May,  1832,  he  was 
promoted  to  a  first  lieutenant.  He  served  in  the 
Florida  war,  where  he  distinguished  himself, 
particularly  in  the  battle  of  "Wahoo  Swamp." 
He  served  throughout  the  war  with  Mexico  un- 
der Gens.  Taylor  and  Scott,  and  was  twice  pro- 
moted for  "  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct." 
He  commanded  the  1st  regiment  of  artillery  ; 
was  "  Commissioner  of  Prizes  "  at  Vera  Cruz, 
at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  conducted  the 
evacuation  of  that  city  by  the  United  States 
army.  He  commanded  Fort  Washington,  on 
the  Potomac,  from  1848  to  1852 ;  served  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  from  May,  1854,  to  January,  1861, 
having  been  promoted  major  of  the  3d  artillery ; 
was  inspector  of  artillery  for  the  Department 
of  Oregon  and  California,  from  May,  1858,  to 
January,  1861,  and  for  some  months  conducted 
the  Artillery  School  at  Fort  Vancouver.  He 
was  promoted  to  the  lieutenant-colonelcy  of 
the  1st  artillery,  July,  1861,  and  was  chief  of 
artillery  at  Newport  News,  Va.,  in  March,  1862, 
during  the  engagement  with  the  "Merrimac," 
"Yorktown,"  "Jamestown,"  and  other  Con- 


federate steamers.  For  the  last  year  he  was 
stationed  at  Fort  Warren,  in  the  harbor  of  Bos- 
ton, engaged  in  preparing  that  work  for  a  state 
of  suitable  defence.  He  was  on  the  eve  of  pro- 
motion to  a  full  colonelcy  of  artillery,  and  was 
on  the  way  to  Lancaster  to  visit  his  children, 
when  he  was  attacked  by  sunstroke,-  and  died 
in  a  few  hours. 

Aug.  14. — Commodore  HENBY  W.  MOEEIS, 
an  officer  of  the  United  States  navy,  died  in 
New  York  city  in  the  58th  year  of  his  age.  He 
was  a  son  of  the  late  Thomas  Morris,  a  con- 
spicuous member  of  the  New  York  bar,  and 
subsequently  United  States  marshal  for  the 
southern  district  of  that  State,  and  grandson 
of  the  celebrated  Gouverneur  Morris  of  Revolu- 
tionary memory.  The  subject  of  this  notice 
entered  the  navy  as  midshipman,  Aug.  21st, 
1819.  He  was  first  stationed  at  the  Brooklyn 
navy  yard,  but  in  1820  he  was  ordered  to  the 
corvette  Cyane,  from  thence  to  the  sloop-of-war 
Ontario,  and  next  to  the  frigate  Constitution,  at 
that  tune  cruising  in  the  Mediterranean.  From 
1828  to  1838,  under  the  commission  of  lieuten- 
ant, he  distinguished  himself  in  various  posi- 
tions. From  1839  to  1845  he  was  on  special 
duty  in  New  York  city,  passing  through  six 
degrees  of  official  promotion  during  the  term 
of  six  years.  He  was  then  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  storeship  Southampton,  at 
that  tune  belonging  to  the  African  squadron. 
In  1846  he  was  again  ordered  to  the  Brooklyn 
navy  yard,  where  for  the  next  five  years  he 
was  awaiting  orders.  In  the  mean  time  he  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  commander,  and  in 
1851  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  ren- 
dezvous in  New  York  until  1853,  when  he  was 
ordered  to  the  sloop-of-war  Germantown,  be- 
longing to  the  Brazilian  squadron.  In  1855  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Mediterranean  station, 
where  he  served  as  fleet  captain  under  Commo- 
dore Stringham.  Upon  his  return  to  America, 
he  received  in  1856  his  commission  as  captain. 
Toward  the  close  of  1861  he  superintended  the 
construction  of  the  steam  sloop-of-war  Pensa- 
cola,  at  the  Washington  navy  yard.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1862,  the  Pensacola,  under  his  command, 
successfully  passed  the  line  of  Confederate 
batteries  on  the  Potomac,  and  after  anchoring 
a  short  time  in  Hampton  Roads,  set  sail  to  join 
the  blockading  squadron  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
The  Pensacola  took  a  brilliant  part  in  all  the 
attacks  upon  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  and 
upon  the  Chalmette  batteries.  After  the  cap- 
ture of  New  Orleans,  Commodore  Morris  was 
intrusted  with  the  duty  of  holding  the  city  and 
guarding  the  adjacent  coasts.  Under  his  many 
arduous  duties  his  health  became  seriously 
affected,  and  after  resisting  for  a  time  the  en- 
treaties of  his  friends,  he  was  persuaded  to  come 
North  to  recruit  his  strength,  but  died  soon 
after  his  arrival. 

Aug.  14. — Brig.-Gen.  BENJAMIN  WELCH,  Jr., 
an  officer  of  United  States  volunteers,  died  at 
Cincinnati  of  congestive  fever,  acquired  during 
the  campaign  in  Mississippi.  He  was  formerly 


766 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION", 


a  citizen  of  Ohio,  but  more  recently  of  Colum- 
bia, Penn.  He  served  during  the  war  with 
Mexico,  and  for  gallant  conduct  in  the  battle 
of  Buena  Vista  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy. 
At  the  commencement  of  the  war  he  entered 
the  service  as  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  45th 
Pennsylvania,  was  subsequently  promoted  to  the 
colonelcy  of  the  regiment,  and  during  1863  was 
made  a  brigadier-general. 

Aug.  26. — JOHN  BUCHANAN  FLOYD,  a  general 
in  the  Confederate  army,  born  in  Montgomery 
(now.  Pulaski)  County,  Va.,  in  1805,  died  at 
Abingdon,  Va.,  Aug.  26th,  1863.  He  was 
graduated  at  the  South  Carolina  College  in 
1826,  subsequently  practised  law  for  several 
years  in  Virginia,  and  in  1836  emigrated  to 
Helena,  Arkansas,  whence  he  returned  in  1839 
to  Virginia.  In  184T-'49  he  represented  "Wash- 
ington County  in  the  House  of  Representatives, 
and  from  1850  to  1853  he  was  governor  of  the 
State.  As  a  delegate  to  the  democratic  presi- 
dental  convention  at  Cincinnati  in  1856,  he  ex- 
erted his  influence  in  favor  of  the  nomination 
of  Mr.  Buchanan,  in  whose  interest  he  made 
speeches  in  many  parts  of  the  country  during 
the  ensuing  canvass,  and  for  whom  he  cast  his 
vote  in  the  electoral  college  of  Virginia.  Presi- 
dent Buchanan  rewarded  his  services  by  ap- 
pointing him  in  March,  1857,  Secretary  of  War. 
In  that  capacity  he  labored  to  the  best  of  his 
ability  to  promote  the  rebellion  of  the  Southern 
States,  and  to  place  them  on  a  footing  of  strength 
commensurate  with  the  importance  of  the  con- 
flict upon  which  they  were  about  to  enter ;  and 
there  seems  now  to  be  little  doubt  that  for 
several  years  previous  to  the  election  of  Mr. 
Lincoln  he  was  privy  to  the  plot  for  over- 
throwing the  Government.  During  1860,  in 
accordance  with  his  orders,  the  army  had  been 
dispersed  in  the  remotest  part  of  the  country, 
considerable  portions  being  on  the  western 
frontier,  in  California,  and  Southern  Texas, 
whence  they  could  not  readily  be  conveyed  to 
the  Atlantic*  seaboard ;  and  in  the  same  year 
an  extensive  transfer  of  arms  from  northern  to 
southern  arsenals  was  made,  115,000.  muskets 
having  been  transferred  by  one  order,  and 
great  quantities  of  cannon  and  ammunition  by 
other  orders. 

No  sooner  had  the  secession  of  South  Caro- 
lina paved  the  way  for  concentrated  action  on 
the  part  of  the  conspirators,  than  he  began  to 
avow  openly  his  sympathy  with  the  movement; 
and  during  the  stormy  discussions  in  the  cab- 
inet on  the  subject  of  reSnforcing  the  forts  in 
Charleston  harbor,  he  was  the  most  strenuous 
opponent  of  that  measure,  threatening  to  resign 
if  it  were  consummated.  On  December  26th 
Major  Anderson  unexpectedly  removed  his  gar- 
rison from  Fort  Moultrie  to  Fort  Sumter,  and 
upon  the  refusal  of  the  President  to  order  the 
entire  withdrawal  of  the  United  States  troops 
from  Charleston  harbor,  Mr.  Floyd  tendered  his 
resignation,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Holt. 
Soon  afterwards  he  wag  indicted  by  the  grand 
jury  of  the  District  of  Columbia  as  being  privy 


to  the  abstraction  of  bonds  to  the  amount  of 
$870,000  from  the  Department  of  the  Interior 
in  the. latter  part  of  1860.  He  had,  however, 
been  permitted  to  retire  from  Washington,  and 
was  never  subsequently  brought  to  trial. 

As  a  reward  for  his  eminent  services  to  the 
cause  of  secession,  he  was  appointed,  soon  after 
the  commencement  of  hostilities,  a  brigadier- 
general  in  the  Confederate  army,  and  in  the 
summer  and  autumn  of  1861  commanded,  with 
Gens.  Wise  and  Henningsen,  in  Western  Vir- 
ginia. The  campaign  was  conducted  by  him 
with  little  skill  or  energy,  and  his  retreat  from 
Gauley  Bridge,  September  10th,  after  his  defeat 
by  Gen.  Cox,  with  loss  of  baggage,  camp  equi- 
page, and  ammunition,  was  characterized  by  the 
Virginia  papers  of  that  period  as  the  most  dis- 
graceful rout  of  the  war.  He  was  subse- 
quently ordered  to  Kentucky,  and  commanded 
a  brigade  at  Fort  Donelson  when  that  place 
was  besieged  by  Gen.  Grant,  in  February,  1862. 
From  apprehensions  that,  if  captured,  he  might 
be  subjected  to  harsh  treatment,  while  public 
opinion  in  the  loyal  States  was  embittered 
against  him,  he  retired,  on  the  night  previous  to 
the  surrender  of  the  fort,  with  Gen.  Pillow  and 
5,000  men  of  the  garrison,  and  made  good  his 
escape  into  Southern  Tennessee  and  Alabama. 
Thenceforth  he  held  no  important  command. 
A  temporary  reappearance  in  the  field  in  the 
succeeding  summer,  under  State  authority, 
resulted  in  no  practical  success,  and  he  died  in 
retirement. 

Aug.  — .— Brig.-Gen.  ROSWELL  SABINE  RIP- 
LEY,  died  in  Charleston,  S.  C.  He  was  a  native 
of  Ohio,  and  appointed  cadet  from  that  State 
in  1839 ;  he  graduated  seventh  in  his  class,  and 
was  appointed  brevet  second  lieutenant  3d  ar- 
tillery July,  1843;  became  second  lieutenant  in 
the  2d  artillery  in  1846,  and  first  lieutenant 
March  3d,  1847.  He  was  aide-de-camp  to  Gen. 
Pillow  in  1847  and  1848 ;  was  brevetted  captain 
for  gallantry  at  Cerro  Gordo,  and  major  for 
gallantry  at  Chapultepec.  In  1853  he  resigned 
his  commission  and  retired  to  private  life.  At 
the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  entered  into  the 
service  of  the  Southern  Confederacy,  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  siege  of  Fort  Sumter, 
and  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Antietam. 
He  was  the  author  of  "  The  War  in  Mexico  " 
(2  vols.,  New  York,  1849). 

Sept  19. — Col.  HANS  0.  HEG,  acting  brig.- 
gen.  of  United  States  volunteers,  was  killed  at 
Chickamauga,  aged  34  years.  He  was  a  Nor- 
wegian by  birth,  and  came  with  his  father  to  the 
United  States  when  but  11  years  of  age,  and 
settled  in  Wisconsin.  In  1849,  during  the  gold 
excitement,  he  went  to  California  by  the  over- 
land route,  and  after  a  stay  of  two  years  returned, 
and,  purchasing  a  piece  of  land  near  Milwaukee, 
engaged  in  farming  and  mercantile  pursuits  until 
1859,  when  he  was  elected  by  the  Republican 
State  Convention  of  Wisconsin  to  the  office  of 
commissioner  of  State  Prisons.  In  1861  he  en- 
tered into  the  military  service  of  his  country  as 
major  of  the  4th  Wisconsin  militia,  and,  on  the 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


767 


30th  of  September  of  the  same  year  was  com- 
missioned colonel  of  the  15th  regiment  of  Wis- 
consin volunteer  infantry,  composed  mostly  of 
Scandinavians.  This  regiment  formed  part  of  the 
forces  under  Gen.  Pope  in  the  reduction  of  Island 
No.  10,  and  was  afterwards  attached  to  Col.  Bu- 
ford's  brigade,  with  which  it  participated  in 
the  surprise  and  capture  of  Union  City,  Tenn. ; 
it  also  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  battle  of 
Chaplin  Hills  near  Perryville,  Oct.  8th,  1862. 
With  Gen.  Buell's  army,  Col.  Heg  joined  in  the 
pursuit  of  Gen.  Bragg's  forces  out  of  the  State 
of  Kentucky,  and  when  the  former  was  super- 
seded by  Gen.  Eosecrans,  he  continued  his  com- 
mand, and  participated  in  the  contests  at  Stone 
Eiver  and  Murfreesboro.  On  the  29th  of  April 
he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  third  brigade 
of  Davis's  division,  McCook's  (20th)  army  corps, 
of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  With  this  bri- 
gade he  took  part  in  all  the  movements  of  the 
20th  corps,  resulting  in  the  evacuation  of  Shel- 
byyille,  Tullahoma,  and  Chattanooga,  and  at 
Chickamauga,  where  he  fell  at  thS  head  of  his 
forces  on  the  second  day  of  the  fight. 

Sept.  19. — Brig.-Gen.  PRESTON  SMITH,  an  of- 
ficer of  the  Confederate  army,,  killed  during  the 
last  of  the  first  day's  battle  at  Chicamanga.  He 
had  entered  the  Confederate  service  as  an  of- 
ficer of  a  Tennessee  regiment,  and  rose  by 
gradual  promotion  to  the  rank  of  brigadier- 
general.  AfteV  dark,  accompanied  by  his  staff, 
he  was  reconnoitring  the  ground  in  his  front, 
when  he  suddenly  came  upon  a  regiment  of 
the  opposing  army,  who  fired  a  volley  upon  his 
party,  killing  him  and  nearly  all  of  his  staff. 

Sept.  20. — Brig.-Gen.  JAMES  DESHLER,  an  of- 
ficer of  the  Confederate  army,  killed  on  the 
second  day  of  the  battle  of  Chicamauga.  Gen. 
Deshler  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  and  one 
of  the  most  unassuming,  gentle,  and  courteous 
gentlemen  in  the  army.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  commanded  a  splendid  brigade  of 
Texans,  who  idolized  their  commander. 

SepL  20. — Brig.-Gen.  BEN.  HABDIN  HELM,  an 
officer  in  the  Confederate  service,  killed  on  the 
second  day  of  the  battle  at  Chickamauga  (the 
river  of  death).  Gen.  Helm  was  born  in  Hardin 
County,  Ky.,  in  1831,  and  entered  West  Point 
from  that  State  in  1849.  In  1851  he  was  bre- 
vetted  second  lieutenant  of  2d  dragoons,  and 
resigned  October,  1852,  to  take  up  the  profes- 
sion of  law.  He  was  a  son  of  ex-Governor 
John  L.  Helm,  a  prominent  politician  of  Ken- 
tucky. His  mother  was  the  daughter  of  that 
distinguished  statesman  known  as  "old  Ben. 
Hardin  of  Kentucky."  Gen.  Helm's  wife  was 
a  half  sister  of  Mrs.  Lincoln,  wife  of  our  late 
President.  Immediately  after  the  fall  of  Fort 
Sumter,  President  Lincoln  sent  Gen.  Helm  a 
commission  as  major  in  the  regular  army  of  the 
United  States,  but  his  sympathies  being  with 
the  South,  and  holding  a  commission  in  the 
State  Guards  of  Kentucky,  under  Gen.  Buck- 
ner,  he  refused  the  commission  tendered  him 
by  the  authorities  at  Washington,  and  entered 
the  Confederate  service  as  a  private.  He  im- 


mediately rose  to  the  rank  of  colonel,  and  com- 
manded the  1st  Kentucky  cavalry.  In  1862  he 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general. 
He  was  in  the  battles  of  Perryville  and  Stone 
Kiver,  in  which  last  he  commanded  a  division. 
The  Kentucky  brigade  which  he  commanded 
at  Chickamuaga  went  into  action  with  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty-three  men, 
and  came  out  with  only  four  hundred  and 
thirty-two. 

Sept.  20. — Lieut.-Col.  WILLIAM  G.  JONES,  an 
officer  of  the  U.  S.volunteers,  died  at  Chattanooga 
from  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga, aged  28  years.  He  graduated  at  West 
Point  in  1860,  and,  after  the  usual  respite,  was 
ordered  to  join  his  company  of  the  8th  infantry 
— to  which  he  was  attached  as  brevet  second 
lieutenant — then  serving  in  Texas.  He  partici- 
pated in  several  Indian  skirmishes ;  and  at  San 
Antonio  was  taken  prisoner.  In  the  fall  of  1860 
he  became  second  lieutenant  in  the  10th  infantry, 
and  in  the  following  spring  was  promoted  to  first 
lieutenant.  In  March,  1862,  he  was  selected  as 
aide-de-camp  to  Gen.  Andrew  Porter,  then  pro- 
vost marshal  general  of  theArmy  of  the  Potomac, 
which  post  he  filled,  with  ability,  until  he  was 
appointed  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  71st  Penn- 
sylvania volunteer  infantry,  and  the  colonel  be- 
ing absent,  took  command  of  the  regiment.  In 
the  battles  of  Peach  Orchard,  Glendale,  White 
Oak  Swamp,  and  Allen's  Field,  the  regiment 
under  his  command  won  itself  much  honor ;  and 
for  his  conduct  on  these  occasions  he  was  re- 
warded with  the  brevets  of  captain  and  major. 
He  was  subsequently  aid  upon  the  staff  of  Major- 
General  Sumner,  in  which  capacity  he  distin- 
guished himself  at  South  Mountain  and  at  Antie- 
tam.  After  the  death  of  General  Sumner  he  was 
appointed  to  the  colonelcy  of  the  89th  Ohio  in- 
fantry ;  and  it  was  while  ably  commanding  this 
regiment  of  Crook's  brigade,  that  he  fell  fighting 
nobly  at  the  head  of  his  men. 

Sept.  20.— Brig.-Gen.  WM.  HAINES  LTTLE,  an 
officer  of  U.  S.  volunteers,  was  killed  at  Chick- 
amauga, Ga.  He  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
Nov.  2d,  1826,  and  his  ancestors,  for  several  gen- 
erations, were  noted  as  military  men.  He  grad- 
uated with  distinction  at  Cincinnati  College  ; 
studied  law,  and,  during  the  Mexican  war,  en- 
tered the  military  service  of  his  country  as  a 
lieutenant  of  an  independent  company  of  foot 
soldiers.  On  the  21st  of  December,  1 847,  he  was 
promoted  to  the  captaincy,  retaining  his  com- 
mand until  the  regiment  was  disbanded,  July, 
1848.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  Mexican  war  he 
resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  was 
soon  after  elected  to  the  Ohio  Legislature.  Sub- 
sequently he  was  chosen  major-general  of  the 
first  division  of  Ohio  militia,  a  position  previously 
held  by  both  his  father  and  his  grandfather.  At 
the  outbreak  of  the  present  war  he  accepted  the 
colonelcy  of  the  10th  Ohio  volunteers,  which, 
by  its  desperation  in  the  fight,  won  the  title  of  the 
"  Bloody  Tenth."  He  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Eich  Mountain,  where  he  won  much  honor. 
At  Carnifex  Ferry  he  commanded  a  brigade,  and 


768 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


largely  contributed  to  drive  Gens.  Floyd  andWise 
from  that  part  of  Virginia ;  and  here  he  was 
severely  wounded.  When  scarcely  recovered 
he  returned  to  the  field  and  first  took  the  com- 
mand of  theBardstown  Camp  of  Instruction,  and 
then  of  the  17th  brigade  under  General  0.  M. 
Mitchel,  participating  in  the  brilliant  operations 
along  the  Memphis  and  Chattanooga  Railroad. 
At  the  battle  of  Perryville  he  was  again  wound- 
ed, and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  but  after 
a  week's  captivity  was  exchanged.  For  his 
gallant  conduct  he  was  made  brigadier-general 
of  volunteers  in  the  spring  of  1863,  and  from 
that  time  to  his  death  served  under  Gen.  Rose- 
crans.  In  addition  to  his  talents  as  a  soldier,  he 
was  a  poet  of  much  merit,  though  from  his  ex- 
treme modesty  few  of  his  productions  have  found 
their  way  into  print.  He  fell  at  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga,  by  a  bullet  which  pierced  his 
brain,  as  he  was  gallantly  leading  a  charge. 

Sept.  22. — Major GBAVES,  an  officer  of 

artillery  in  the  Confederate  army,  mortally 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  Major 
Graves  was  a  very  recent  graduate  of  West 
Point,  and  was  a  rashly  brave  but  exceedingly 
efficient  officer.  At  Fort  Donaldson  he  com- 
manded a  battery,  and  was  there  captured  with 
the  remainder  of  the  army.  After  his  exchange, 
he  was  placed  upon  Gen.  Breckenridge's  staff 
as  chief  of  artillery,  with  the  rank  of  major, 
and  was  acting  in  that  capacity  when  he  was 
mortally  wounded  by  a  musket-ball  through  the 
bowels,  and  taken  to  Ringold,  where  he  died. 

Oct.  — . — Brig.-Gen.  CHARLES  DIMMOCK,  an 
officer  of  the  Confederate  army,  died  at  Rich- 
mond, Va.  He  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  and 
was  a  cadet  at  West  Point  from  Sept.,  1817, 
until  July,  1821.  He  graduated  second  in  his 
class,  and  entered  the  army  as  brevet  second 
lieutenant  of  1st  artillery,  July,  1821,  and  from 
that  time  until  July,  1822,  he  was  acting  assist- 
ant professor  of  engineering  in  the  military 
academy  at  West  Point.  In  1826  he  was  assist- 
ant commissary  of  subsistence,  and  from  Aug., 
1831,  to  Aug.,  1836,  was  quartermaster,  when 
he  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy.  He  was  civil 
engineer  on  the  railroad  from  Weldon,  North 
Carolina,  to  Wytheville,  Va.,  in  1836,  and  on  the 
route  of  the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  Railroad 
in  1837.  He  was  engaged  in  the  same  capacity 
from  1837  to  1839  on  the  military  road  from 
the  Upper  Mississippi  to  Red  River,  and  general 
agent  of  the  Portsmouth  and  Roanoke  Railroad 
in  1839  and  1841.  He  served  in  the  army  of 
the  United  States  fifteen  years.  Since  1843  he 
had  been  superintendent  of  the  Virginia  State 
armory,  and  captain  commanding  State  Guard. 
During  the  war  he  was  chief  of  ordnance  of  the 
department  of  Virginia. 

Oct.  2. — Major  EDWARD  B.  HUNT,  an  officer 
of  U.  S.  volunteers,  born  in  Livingston  County, 
N.  Y.,  in  1822,  died  at  the  Brooklyn  Marine 
Hospital,  Oct.  2d,  1863.  He  was  appointed  to 
the  Military  Academy  from  his  native  State  in 
1841,  graduated  second  in  the  class  of  1845,  was 
appointed  second  lieutenant  in  the  corps  of 


engineers,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  as  assistant 
to  the  Board  of  Engineers  for  Atlantic  Coast 
Defence.  After  serving  in  this  capacity  a  year, 
he  was  called  to  fill  the  important  position  of 
principal  assistant  professor  of  civil  and  mili- 
tary engineering  at  the  military  academy, 
West  Point,  where  he  remained  until  1849, 
when  he  was  employed  as  assistanfc-enginee 
upon  Fort  Warren,  Boston  harbor,  Mass. 
From  1851  to  1855  he  was  the  assistant  of 
Prof.  Bache  in  the  Coast  Survey  Bureau. 
From  1855  to  1857  he  was  engaged  in  engineer 
operations  in  Newport,  R.  I.,  and  constructed 
and  repaired  many  important  lighthouse  struc- 
tures on  the  coast.  In  1857  he  was  ordered  to 
Key  West,  where  for  five  years  he  assisted  in 
the  construction  of  fortifications  and  other  de- 
fensive works  on  the  island,  receiving  his  cap- 
taincy while  serving  there,  July  1st,  1859.  It 
was  chiefly  through  his  instrumentality  that 
the  forts  of  Southern  Florida  were  withheld 
from  the  Confederates  after  the  war  actually 
commenced.  'In  1862  he  was  appointed  chief 
engineer  of  the  5th  army  corps,  comnlanded  by 
Maj.-Gen.  Banks,  and  from  this  duty  was  re- 
lieved and  placed  on  special  service  under  the 
Navy  Department,  in  order  to  superintend  the 
construction  of  his  submarine  battery.  While 
engaged  in  making  some  experiments  with  this 
battery,  a  shell  prematurely  discharged,  imme- 
diately after  which  he  descended  into  the 
caisson,  and  in  attempting  to  ascend,  being 
probably  overcome  by  the  gas,  fell  backward, 
striking  his  head,  and  causing  concussion  of 
the  brain,  from  which  he  died  the  next  day. 

Oct.  14. — Brig.-Gen.  HEXKT  F.  COOK,  an  offi- 
cer in  the  Confederate  service,  was  killed  at 
Bristoe  Station.  He  was  a  native  of  Missis- 
sippi ;  served  in  the  Mexican  war  as  first  lieu- 
tenant in  Jefferson  Davis's  regiment  of  Missis- 
sippi volunteers;  distinguished  himself  in  the 
battle  of  Monterey,  where  he  was  wounded, 
and  commanded  Co.  C  in  the  battle  of  Buena 
Vista.  He  had  joined  the  Confederate  army 
early  in  the  war,  and  had  risen  by  successive 
promotions  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  in 
1863. 

Oct.  18.— Col.  THOMAS  RUTFTN,  an  officer  in 
the  Confederate  service,  died  at  Grace  Church 
Hospital, Washington,  from  wounds  received  at 
the  battle  of  Bristow  Station.  He  was  a  na- 
tive of  North  Carolina,  but  for  a  number  of 
years  was  a  citizen  of  Missouri,  residing  at 
Bolivar,  Polk  County,  and  was  at  one  time 
State  Attorney  for  that  judicial  circuit.  Subse- 
quently he  returned  to  his  native  State,  from 
which  he  was  elected  to  Congress. 

Oct.  29. — Col.  CHARLES  RIVEES  ELLET,  com- 
mander of  the  Mississippi  marine  brigade,  died 
at  Bunker  Hill,  Illinois,  aged  about  22  years. 
He  was  a  son  of  the  late  Col.  Charles  Ellet,  an 
accomplished  engineer  and  the  originator  of  the 
ram  fleet,  and  was  born  in  Philadelphia.  To  a 
thorough  education  he  had  added  the  advan- 
tages of  foreign  travel  and  a  brief  residence  in 
Paris.  He  had  made  choice  of  the  medical 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


769 


profession,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war  was 
engaged  in  pursuing  the  requisite  studies,  in 
which  he  had  already  made  such  progress  as  to 
fill  competently  the  place  of  assistant  surgeon 
in  one  of  the  military  hospitals.  Preferring  to 
follow  the  fortunes  of  his  father  he  accompanied 
him  westward  in  the  spring  of  1862,  and  com- 
manded one  of  the  rams  at  the  action. of  Mem- 
phis, in  which  the  elder  Ellet  received  the 
wound  which  soon  after  proved  fatal.  After 
his  father's  death,  on  the  organization  of  the 
Mississippi  marine  brigade  by  his  uncle,  now 
Gen.  Alfred  "W.  Ellet,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
colonelcy,  and  when  his  uncle  was  commis- 
sioned brigadier-general  of  land  troops,  he  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  marine  brigade. 
Choosing  the  ram  Queen  of  the  "West  as  his 
headquarters,  he  made  many  daring  expeditions 
on  the  Mississippi.  He  succeeded  in  running 
the  Confederate  batteries  at  Vicksburg,  and 
was  for  some  time  engaged  in  cruising  between 
that  stronghold  and  Port  Hudson.  k  On  the  10th 
of  February,  1863,  he  started  upon  an  expedi- 
tion up  the  Red  River,  during  which  he  cap- 
tured the  Confederate  steamer  Era  No.  5  and 
some  other  vessels,  and  after  ascending  the 
river  for  some  distance  with  success,  his  vessel 
was  run  aground  by  the  pilot,  in  such  position 
that  she  was  disabled  by  the  fire  from  a  Con- 
federate fort,  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy;  Col.  Ellet,  however,  made  his  escape 
upon  a  bale  of  cotton  and  was  picked  up  by 
the  De  Soto.  During  and  after  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg,  Col.  Ellet  and  his  command  ren- 
dered much  valuable  assistance  to  Gen.  Grant, 
in  keeping  open  his  communications,  and  while 
engaged  in  these  operations  his  health  became 
so  seriously  affected  by  the  noxious  vapors  of 
the  river  as  to  make  it  necessary  to  retire  for  a 
season  to  Illinois  to  rest.  His  death,  which 
was  the  result  of  the  disease  he  contracted,  was 
very  sudden. 

Oct.  31. — Brig.-Gen.  Louis  BLENKEE,  of 
TJ.  S.  volunteers,  died  in  New  Jersey,  aged  51 
years.  He  was  born  in  the  city  of  Worms,  in 
the  Grand  Duchy  of  Hesse  Darmstadt,  and  in 
his  youth  was  apprenticed  to  a  jeweller,  but 
upon  his  majority  enlisted  in  the  Bavarian  le- 
gion which  was  raised  to  accompany  the  newly- 
elected  King  Otho  to  Greece.  From  a  private 
he  rose  to  a  sergeant,  and  when  the  legion  was 
disbanded  in  1837,  received  with  his  discharge 
the  rank  of  lieutenant.  With  this  rank  he  re- 
turned to  Worms,  whence  he  went  to  Munich 
to  attend  medical  lectures  with  the  view  of 
becoming  professor  of  medicine.  Subsequently 
he  changed  his  mind  and  entered  into  commer- 
cial pursuits.  In  1849  he  became  a  leading 
member  of  the  revolutionary  government  in 
his  native  city,  and  having  been  appointed 
commander  of  the  national  guards,  took  an  ac- 
tive part  in  the  popular  struggle  of  that  period. 
After  the  revolutionary  movement  had  been 
crushed  he  retired  to  Switzerland,  and,  being 
ordered  to  leave  the  country,  he  embarked  at 
Havre  for  the  United  States,  and  settled  on  a 
49 


farm  in  Rockland  County,  N.  Y.  Subsequent- 
ly he  removed  to  New  York  city,  where  he 
engaged  in  commerce  until  1861.  Upon  the 
commencement  of  the  war  he  raised  the  8th 
regiment  of  New  York  volunteers,  with  which 
he  marched  to  Washington,  having  been  com- 
missioned its  colonel  May  13th,  1861.  After 
being  encamped  for  some  time  on  Meridian 
Hill,  the  regiment  was  incorporated  with  others 
into  a  brigade,  of  which  Col.  B.  was  appointed 
commander.  The  brigade  was  then  attached 
to  Gen.  McDowell's  army  as  a  portion  of  Col. 
Miles's  5th  division.  During  the  battle  of 
Bull  Run  this  division  acted  as  a  reserve,' and 
for  his  services  at  that  time  he  was  commis- 
sioned a  brigadier-general,  August  9th,  1861. 
He  remained  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
commanding  a  division,  until  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Yorktown  campaign,  when  he 
was  ordered  to  Western  Virginia.  Gen. 
Blenker  participated  in  the  battle  of  Cross 
Keys,  June  8th,  1862,  but  was  shortly  after  re- 
lieved of  the  command  and  was  succeeded  by 
Gen.  Sigel.  He  was  then  ordered  to  Washing- 
ton, where  he  remained  for  some  time,  and  on 
March  31st,  1863,  was  mustered  out  of  service. 

Nov.  — . — Brig.-Gen.  JOHNSON  K.  DUNCAN, 
an  officer  who  died  in  the  Confederate  service. 
He  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania ;  entered  West 
Point  in  1845,  and  upon  his  graduation  was  ap- 
pointed brevet  second  lieutenant  2d  artillery ; 
was  transferred  to  the  3d  artillery  Oct.,  1849,  as 
second  lieutenant,  and  in  Dec.,  1853,  was  made 
first  lieutenant.  He  resigned  Jan.  31st,  1855, 
and  upon  the  commencement  of  the  war  en- 
tered into  the  Confederate  service  as  colonel. 
He  was  appointed  brigadier-general  from  Louis- 
iana, and  commanded  Forts  Jackson  and  St. 
Philip  at  the  time  of  the  bombardment  by 
Flag-officer  Farragut. 

Nov.  15. — Brig.-Gen.  CONEAD  POSEY,  an  offi- 
cer in  the  Confederate  service,  died  at  Char- 
lottesville  from  a  wound  received  at  Gettys- 
burg. He  was  a  native  of  Mississippi,  and 
was  made  a  brigadier-general  early  in  1863. 
He  was  an  officer  of  much  military  talent. 

Nov.  24. — Major  GILBERT  MALLESON  ELLIOTT, 
of  the  102d  regiment  N.  Y.  volunteers,  was 
killed  at  Lookout  Mountain.  He  was  born  in 
Connecticut  in  1840,  and  removed  to  New 
York  in  early  childhood. '  In  1857  he  became 
a  member  of  the  Free  Academy,  and  at  once 
took  the  highest  stand  in  scholarship  and  de- 
portment, receiving  the  gold  medal  at  four  suc- 
>  cessive  commencements,  and  the  valedictory 
'  oration  at  his  graduation.  On  the  completion 
of  his  studies,  he  was  impressed  with  a  strong 
desire  to  enter  into  the  service  of  his  country, 
and  in  October  of  that  year  was  commissioned 
first  lieutenant.  At  Antietam  he  won  himself 
much  honor,  and  soon  after  was  appointed 
ordnance  officer  in  the  second  division  of  the 
12th  army  corps,  where  he  rendered  most 
effective  service  during  the  battles  of  Chancel- 
lorsville  and  Gettysburg.  Having  previously 
received  the  rank  of  captain,  he  was  subse- 


770 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


quently  appointed  major,  and  was  soon  after 
placed  in  actual  command  of  his  regiment,  both 
of  his  superior  officers  having  been  wounded, 
In  September,  1863,  the  12th  army  corps  was 
transferred  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  in  the  storm- 
ing of  Lookout  Mountain  his  regiment  held 
the  right  of  Geary's  division  in  Gen.  Hooker's 
first  line  of  battle.  During  the  hottest  part  of 
the  engagement  Major  Elliott  leaped  upon  a 
rock,  either  to  cheer  his  men  or  for  pur- 
poses of  observation,  and  immediately  received 
a  ball  from  a  sharpshooter,  causing  speedy 
death. 

Nov.  25. — Brig.-Gen.  WILLIAM  P.  SANDERS, 
an  officer  of  U.  S.  volunteers,  died  at  Knox- 
ville,  Tenn.,  of  wounds  received  in  the  battle 
at  Campbell's  Station.  He  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1856, 
and  entered  the  service  as  brev^fc  second  lieu- 
tenant 1st  dragoons,  and  was  transferred  to  the 
2d  dragoons  in  May,  185V.  Soon  after  the 
commencement  of  the  war,  he  was  made  cap- 
tain of  a  company  in  the  6th  regular  cavalry, 
and  took  an  active  part  in  the  peninsula  cam- 
paign. He  subsequently  accepted  the  office  of 
colonel  of  a  volunteer  regiment  in  Kentucky, 
and  performed  many  valuable  services  in  the 
West.  A  few  months  previous  to  his  death 
he  was  appointed  brigadier-general  of  volun- 
teers, and  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
first  division  of  cavalry  in  East  Tennessee. 
He  was  a  brilliant  officer,  a  true  patriot,  and  a 
thorough  gentleman. 

Nov.  29. — Col.  McELEOY,  an  officer  of  the 
Confederate  army,  killed  in  Lieut.-Gen.  Long- 
street's  attempt  to  take  Knoxville,  East  Tenn. 
He  fell  mortally  wounded  in  the  ditch  where, 
in  an  instant  of  time,  the  Confederates  lost 
seven  hundred  men,  and  where  the  dead  and 
wounded  laid  seven  and  eight  deep.  He  com- 
manded the  13th  Mississippi  regiment. 

Nov.  29. — Col.  THOMAS,  an  officer  of  the 
Confederate  army,  killed  at  the  storming  of 
Knoxville,  Tenn.  Col.  Thomas  fell  mortally 
wounded  in  the  ditch  where  so  many  Confed- 
erates fell,  and  into  which  hand-granades  and 
ignited  shell  were  thrown  from  the  forts.  He 
commanded  the  16th  Georgia  regiment. 

Dec.  13. — Gen.  THOMAS  J.  GREEN,  an  officer 
in  the  Confederate  service,  died  at  his  residence 
in  Warren  County,  N.  0.,  aged  62  years.  He 
was  a  general  in  the  Texas  war  of  independence, 
a  member  of  the  Texan  Congress,  the  leader 
of  the  Mier  expedition,  one  of  the  band  of 
"Mier  prisoners,"  and  subsequently  historian 
of  that  transaction.  He  was  afterwards  a  State 
senator  in  California,  and  major-general  of  the 
militia  in  that  State. 

Dec.  16. — JOHN  BUFORD,  a  major-general  of 
volunteers  in  the  United  States  service,  born  in 
Kentucky  in  1825,  died  at  Washington,  Dec.  16, 
1863,  of  typhoid  fever,  contracted  in  service 
with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  His  early 
training  and  education  were  carefully  conduct- 
ed, and  his  mental  and  moral  development  gave 


bright  promise  of  future  usefulness.  He  was 
appointed  from  Illinois,  to  the  military  acad- 
emy at  West  Point,  and  graduated  in  1848, 
standing  well  in  his  class,  and  in  the  estimation 
of  all  who  knew  him ;  was  appointed  brevet 
second  lieutenant  of  1st  dragoons,  and  served 
on  the  Plains  until  the  war  broke  out,  when  he 
promptly  and  heartily  offered  himself  to  the 
service  of  his  country.  His  rare  abilities  as 
an  officer  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Gov- 
ernment, and  he  was  early  made  a  major  in  the 
Inspector-General's  corps.  His  peculiar  duties 
did  not  give  him  an  opportunity  to  engage  in 
the  leading  campaigns  until  1862,  when  he  was 
made  a  brigadier-general,  simply  as  an  ac- 
knowledgment of  his  military  merits.  In  the 
early  part  of  1862  he  fought  under  Gen.  Pope 
in  his  Virginia  campaign,  succeeding  Gen. 
Stoneman  (who  afterwards  became  his  com- 
mander) on  Gen.  McCleLan's  staff,  during  the 
battle  of  Antietam.  When  the  present  cavalry 
organization  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was 
perfected,  of  which  Gen.  Stoneman  was  at  that 
time  the  chief,  Gen.  Buford  was  assigned  to 
command  the  reserve  cavalry  brigade.  He  was 
subsequently  conspicuous  in  almost  every  cav- 
alry engagement,  and  at  Gettysburg  commenced 
the  attack  on  the  enemy  at  Seminary  Ridge,  be- 
fore the  arrival  of  Reynolds  on  the  1st  of  July, 
and  on  the  2d  of  July  rendered  important  ser- 
vices both  at  Wolff's  Hill  and  Round  Top.  A 
short  time  previous  to  his  death  he  was  assign- 
ed to  the  command  of  the  cavalry  in  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland,  and  had  left  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  for  that  purpose.  He  was  a  splen- 
did cavalry  officer,  and  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful in  the  service ;  was  modest,  yet  brave ;  un- 
ostentatious, but  prompt  and  persevering ;  ever 
ready  to  go  where  duty  called  him,  and  never 
shrinking  from  action  however  fraught  with 
peril.  His  last  sickness  was  but  brief,  the  ef- 
fect, probably,  of  protracted  toil  and  exposure. 
On  the  day  of  his  death,  and  but  a  little  while 
before  his  departure,  his  commission  of  major- 
general  was  placed  in  his  hands.  He  received 
it  with  a  smile  of  gratification  that  the  Govern- 
ment he  had  defended  appreciated  his  ser- 
vices, and  gently  laying  it  aside,  soon  ceased  to 
breathe. 

Dec.  17. — Commodore  GERSHOM  J.  VAN 
BRUNT,  of  the  U.  S.  navy,  died  at  Dedham, 
Mass.,  aged  63  years.  He  was  a  native  and  a 
citizen  of  New  Jersey,  and  entered  the  service 
November  3d,  1818.  He  received  his  commis- 
sion of  commodore  July  16th,  1862,  was  in 
command  of  the  Minnesota,  which  sailed  from 
Boston  soon  after  the  commencement  of  the 
war,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  reduction 
of  the  Hatteras  forts,  and  in  the  blockading 
service  at  Hampton  Roads.  Subsequently  he 
was  entrusted  by  the  Government  with  the 
supervision  and  equipment  of  Gen.  Banks' 
New  Orleans  expedition,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  acting  under  the  orders  of  the  War 
Department  as  inspector  of  transports  for  the 
New  England  district.  He  was  highly  esteem- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


771 


ed  in  the  navy  for  his  talents  as  an  officer  as 
well  as  for  his  intrinsic  worth.     • 

Dec.  22. — MICHAEL  COECOEAN,  a  brigadier- 
general  of  U.  S.  volunteers,  born  in  Carrowkeel, 
county  Sligo,  Ireland,  Sept.  21  st,  1827,  died 
Dec.  22d,  1863,  near  Fairfax  Court  House,  of 
injuries  received  by  a  fall  from  his  horse.  His 
father,  Thomas  Corcoran,  was  an  officer  in  the 
British  army,  and  saw  service  in  the  West  In- 
dies. On  the  mother's  side  he  was  a  descend- 
ant of  the  Earl  of  Lucan,  the  title  and  estates 
of  whose  family  were  confiscated  after  the  no- 
ble defence  of  Limerick,  during  the  seventeenth 
century,  and  were  conferred  on  the  Bingham 
family  for  services  rendered  the  British  crown. 
Young  Corcoran  received  the  benefits  of  a 
good  English  education  until  his  nineteenth 
year,  when,  through  some  influential  friends, 
he  received  an  appointment  in  the  Irish  Con- 
stabulary force ;  but  the  love  of  his  country 
burned  so  strongly  within  him  that  he  could 
not  brook  the  oppression  of  British  rule,  and, 
fearing  that  some  occasion  might  tempt  him  to 
break  through  all  restraint,  he  resigned  his 
commission  in  1849,  emigrated  to  this  country, 
and  settled  in  New  York  city.  There  he  made 
many  friends,  and  through  their  influence  was 
appointed  to  an  official  situation  in  the  post- 
office,  and  subsequently  was  clerk  in  the  reg- 
ister's office.  He  commenced  his  military 
career  as  a  private  in  Company  I,  69th  New 
York  State  militia.  Displaying  some  amount 
of  military  talent,  he  rose  successively  from 
one  grade  to  another,  and  in  August,  1859, 
was  elected  colonel  of  the  69th.  While  holding 
this  position,  he  attracted  much  pubHc  notice 
by  his  refusal  to  parade  his  regiment  at  the  re- 
ception accorded  to  the  Prince  of  Wales,  upon 
his  visit  to  New  York  city  during  the  fall  of 
1860.  He  had  not  forgotten  how  England  .had 
persecuted  and  oppressed  his  countrymen,  and 
declined  to  do  homage  to  the  son  of  a  sovereign 
under  whose  rule  some  of  the  most  worthy 
sons  of  Ireland  had  been  banished.  In  this  he 
was  consistent  with  the  spirit  and  principles  of 
those  heroes  of  Limerick  from  whom  he  had 
descended,  and  was  fully  sustained  by  the  corps 
he  commanded.  By  command  of  Major-Gen. 
Sandford  he  was  subjected  to  a  trial  by  court- 
martial,  which  was  long,  and  contested  upon 
his  part  with  true  Irish  spirit  and  independence, 
and  which  was  still  pending  when  the  war 
broke  out.  The  President's  call  to  arms  fired 
all  the  patriotism  of  his  soul ;  he  called  upon 
his  men  to  stand  by  the  flag  of  the  Union  and 
the  sacred  principles  it  involved.  The  court- 
martial  was  quashed.  The  Irish  flocked  to  the 
ranks  with  all  the  enthusiasm  of  native-born 
citizens,  and  the  69th  left  New  York  for  the 
seat  of  war,  attended  by  a  vast  concourse  of 
admiring  people.  The  regiment  was  speedily 
sent  to  Virginia,  where  the  men  comprising  it 
built,  upon  Arlington  Heights,  the  famous 
"  Fort  Corcoran."  At  the  disastrous  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  July  21st,  1861,  the  69th  won  itself 
much  honor.  Their  gallant  colonel  was  taken 


prisoner,  first  sent  to  Richmond  and  afterwards 
to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  where  he  was  closely  con- 
fined for  nearly  a  whole  year,  being  held  most 
of  the  time  as  a  hostage  for  some  privateersmen 
who  had  been  condemned  as  pirates.  An  ex- 
change being  finally  effected,  he  was  released, 
and  was  commissioned  brigadier-general,  dat- 
ing from  July  21, 1861.  He  next  organized  the 
Corcoran  Legion,  which  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  the  Nansemond  River  and  Suffolk,  during 
April,  1863,  and  held  the  advance  of  the  enemy 
upon  Norfolk  in  check.  In  August,  1863,  the 
Legion  was  added  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
On  the  22d  of  December,  Gen.  Meagher,  who 
had  been  paying  a  visit  to  Gen.  Corcoran,  was 
returning  to  Washington,  when  the  latter,  with 
some  members  of  his  staff,  concluded  to  accom- 
pany him.  Gen.  Corcoran  mounted  upon  Gen. 
Meagher's  horse,  and  was  somewhat  in  advance 
of  the  party;  When  near  his  headquarters,  his 
comn/inions  found  him  lying  senseless,  his  horse 
having  fallen  upon  him.  He  was  placed  at  once 
under  medical  treatment,  but  died  without 
waking  to  consciousness. 

Dec.  31. — Capt.  GEOEGE  W.  VANDEBBILT,  son 
of  Commodore  C.  Vanderbilt,  died  at  Nice,  in 
the  25th  year  of  his  age.  He  graduated  at  West 
Point  in  the  spring  of  1860,  and  immediately 
entered  the  regular  army  with  the  rank  of 
second  lieutenant.  He  was  first  stationed  at 
Fort  Walla- Walla,  in  Washington  Territory, 
where  he  remained  until  the  war  broke  out, 
when  he  was  ordered  to  Boston  to  take  charge 
of  the  recruiting  service  at  that  place.  In  the 
spring  of  1862  he  received  an  appointment  on 
the  staff  of  Brig.-Gen.  Tyler  as  assistant-adju- 
tant general,  with  the  rank  of  captain.  He  was 
regarded  by  his  superiors  as  an  officer  of  great 
promise.  While  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties 
he  contracted  a  disease  incident  to  exposure  in 
an  unhealthy  region,  and  resisting  the  impor- 
tunities of  his  superior  to  accept  a  furlough  for 
the  recovery  of  his  health,  he  was  soon  beyond 
the  reach  of  medical  skill.  In  the  spring  of 
1863,  finding  himself  seriously  ill,  he  obtained  a 
furlough,  and  left  for  Europe,  where  he  secured 
the  best  medical  advice,  but  too  late ;  he  con- 
tinued to  sink,  and  died  the  last  day  of  the 
year,  lamented  by  a  large  circle  of  relations 
and  friends. 

Dec.  — . — Lieut.-Col.  LAOHLAN  ALLAN  MAO- 
LEAN,  an  officer  of  the  Confederate  army,  killed 
in  a  personal  encounter  at  Richmond,  Ark.,  by 
Colonel  Robert  C.  Wood,  who  had  been  at  one 
time  a  member  of  Gen.  Sterling  Price's  staff. 
Lieut.-Col.  Maclean  was  born  in  Scotland,  and 
was  the  son  of  Hector  Maclean.  He  once  lived 
in  the  State  of  Missouri,  and  taught  school  in 
Lexington.  He  had  been  chief  clerk  for  John 
Calhoun,  surveyor-general  for  the  State  of  Ar- 
kansas and  the  territory  of  Nebraska,  and 
proved  himself  so  efficient  that  the  entire  busi- 
ness was  entrusted  to  him.  During  the  Kansas 
troubles  he  espoused  the  pro-slavery  party  and 
became  a  brigadier-general  of  volunteer  forces 
in  Kansas.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  the 


772 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


adjutant-general  of  Major-Gen.  Sterling  Price, 
and  about  forty-four  years  of  age.  He  had  the 
wild  roving  disposition  of  a  border  man,  or  of 
the  Scottish  Highlander,  but  the  gentle  and  re- 
fined manners  of  the  polished  gentleman.  His 
personal  appearance  was  remarkably  striking, 


his  voice  rich  and  mellow,  and  his  taste  for  po- 
etry and  elocution  chaste  and  cultivated.  His 
friends,  who  have  so  often  assembled  around 
the  camp-fire  in  the  far  "West  to  hear  his  re- 
hearsals, will  long  remember  his  "  Dundee " 
and  his  "Antony  and  Cleopatra." 


1864. 


Jan.  8. — Rear-Admiral  GEO.  "W.  STOREK,  an 
officer  of  the  U.  S.  navy,  died  at  Portsmouth, 
N.  H.  Admiral  Storer  had  served  his  country 
in  its  navy  over  half  a  century.  He  was  born 
in  New  Hampshire,  and  was  appointed  a  mid- 
shipman in  the  navy  Jan.  16th,  1809.  On  July 
24th,  1813,  he  was  appointed  a  lieutenant,  and 
ordered  to  the  Independence,  seventy-four 
guns.  He  was  ordered  to  the  old  frigate  Con- 
gress in  1818,  and  in  1819  to  the  Jura  frigate. 
In  1820  he  was  ordered  to  the  Constitution,  then 
flag-ship  of  Commodore  J.  Rodgers,  on  the 
Mediterranean  station,  where  he  remained  on  a 
long  cruise.  In  1825  he  was  stationed  at  the 
Portsmouth  navy  yard.  In  1828  he  was  pro- 
moted master  commandant,  which  is  ranked 
next  to  that  of  captain.  He  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  sloop-of-war  Boston  (eighteen 
guns),  and  attached  to  the  Mediterranean 
squadron  in  1831.  He  remained  in  command 
of  that  ship  until  the  end  of  the  cruise,  when 
he  was  again  ordered  to  the  Portsmouth  navy 
yard,  1833.  He  was  promoted  captain,  and 
put  on  waiting  orders  Feb.  9th,  1837.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  was  put  in  command  of  the 
Potomac  frigate,  and  ordered  to  the  coast  of 
Brazil.  He  returned  in  1843,  and  awaited 
orders  at  Portsmouth,  and  was  again  attached 
to  the  navy  yard  at  that  place.  In  1848  he 
commanded  a  squadron  off  the  coast  of  Brazil. 
In  1851  he  obtained  a  leave  rendered  necessary 
by  the  state  of  bis  health.  After  a  short  leave 
he  reported  for  duty,  and  was  put  on  waiting 
orders.  He  was  then  ordered  to  the  Philadel- 
phia Naval  Asylum  as  Governor,  in  1855.  He 
was  relieved  in  1858  and  placed  on  waiting 
orders.  On  the  16th  of  July,  1862,  he  was 
promoted  rear-admiral,  and  placed  on  the  re- 
tired list.  His  time  was  largely  occupied  after, 
as  in  fact  before  his  promotion,  as  president  of 
courts-martial  and  inquiry.  He  was  fifty-five 
years  in  the  naval  service.  Of  that  time  he 
was  at  sea  twenty-one  years  and  nine  months ; 
twenty  years  on  shore  and  other  duties ;  unem- 
ployed twelve  years  and  eight  months.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  was  announced  to  preside 
over  a  court-martial  to  be  held  in  New  York 
city.  He  had  lived  to  see  the  once  small  navy 
of  a  few  ships  grow  to  be  scarcely  inferior  to 
any  on  the  ocean.  It  was  the  dream  of  his 
youth  and  the  pride  of  his  manhood  realized 
and  gratified. 

Jan.  12. — Col.  EDWIN  ROSE  died  at  Jamaica, 
L.  I.  He  was  born  in  Bridgehampton,  L.  I. 


Feb.  14th,  1817,  graduated  at  Vest  Point,  but 
resigned  his  position  in  the  army  in  1837,  to 
enter  the  service  of  the  State  of  Michigan  as 
civil  engineer.  He  reentered  the  service  in 

1861,  as  colonel  of  the  81st  New  York  volun- 
teers, and  served  with  honor  through  the  pe- 
ninsular campaign,  when,  his  health  becoming 
impaired,  he  accepted  the  appointment  of  pro- 
vost-marshal of  the  First  Congressional  district 
of  New  York.     He  twice  represented  Suffolk 
County  in  the  Legislature. 

Jan.  20. — T.  M.  SAUNDERS,  captain  in  the 
United  States  army,  died  at  St.  Paul,  Minn. 
He  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  During  the  Cri- 
mean war  he  obtained  a  furlough  and  joined  a 
British  regiment.  He  was  twice  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  Inkermann.  At  the  breaking  out 
of  the  rebellion  he  continued  firm  in  the  sup- 
port of  the  Government ;  and,  upon  receiving 
an  autograph  letter  from  Jefferson  Davis,  en- 
closing a  commission  as  a  brigadier-general  in 
the  Confederate  Army,  he  returned  it  with  the 
utmost  indignation. 

Jan.  29. — STEPHEN  G.  CHAPLIN,  brigadier- 
general  of  United  States  volunteers,  died  at 
Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  He  entered  the  service 
as  major  of  the  3d  Michigan,  was  severely 
wounded  at  Fair  Oaks,  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Bull  Run,  Antietam,  and  Fredericksburg, 
and  received  his  commission  of  brigadier  in 

1862.  He  was  in  command   of  the  Grand 
Rapids  camp  of  conscripts  at  the  time  of  his 
death. 

Jan.  81. — SOLON  BORLAND,  formerly  a  United 
States  Senator  from  Arkansas,  and  Brigadier- 
general  in  the  rebel  army,  died  in  Texas.  He 
was  born  in  Virginia,  educated  in  North  Caro- 
lina, studied  medicine,  and  settled  in  Little 
Rock,  Ark.,  where  he  practised  his  profession. 
He  served  in  the  Mexican  War  as  major  of 
volunteers  and  aide-de-camp,  and  was  taken 
prisoner ;  was  elected  United  States  Senator  in 
1849,  and  in  1853  appointed  minister  to  Central 
America,  where,  in  consequence  of  an  alter- 
cation, he  returned  in  1854,  and  Greytown  was 
bombarded  by  Com.  Hollins  in  consequence  of 
the  insult  offered  him.  He  was  afterwards  ap- 
pointed Governor  of  New  Mexico,  but  declined. 
He  was  ardently  in  favor  of  secession,  and  on 
the  24th  of  April,  1861,  long  before  the  seces- 
sion of  the  State,  raised  a  body  of  troops  and 
captured  Fort  Smith,  Ark.,  in  the  name  of  the 
Southern  Confederacy. 

Pel,  5. — Rev.  N.  A.  STAPLES,  a  Unitarian 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


773 


clergyman,  died  in  Brooklyn,  in  the  34th  year 
ofj  his  age.  He  was  a  native  of  Mendon,  Mass. ; 
studied  theology  at  the  Meadville  Seminary, 
under  Dr.  Stebbins ;  was  for  a  time  pastor  of 
a  church  in  Lexington,  Mass.,  and  subsequently 
of  a  church  in  Milwaukee.  At  the  beginning 
of  the  war  he  was  appointed  chaplain  to  one  of 
the  Wisconsin  regiments,  resigning  his  pastorate 
to  accept  the  post.  Here,  as  ever,  he  was 
earnest  and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties,  and  contracted  the  disease  which  finally 
terminated  in  death.  He  succeeded  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Longfellow  in  the  Second  Unitarian  Church 
of  Brooklyn,  where  he  discharged  his  duties  as 
a  pastor  as  long  as  his  failing  strength  allowed. 

Feb.  15. — Capt.  ALLAN  RAMSAY,  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  Marine  Corps,  died  at  the  headquar- 
ters of  the  Marine  Corps,  of  small-pox.  He 
was  a  son  of  Commodore  William  Ramsay, 
United  States  navy,  and  was  on  the  Richmond 
during  all  her  service  on  the  Mississippi,  before 
and  after  running  past  the  batteries.  He  had 
been  in  fifteen  engagements  during  the  war. 

Feb.  20. — Commander  DAWSON  PHEXIX,  U. 
S.  navy,  died  in  Philadelphia,  aged  36  years. 
He  entered  the  naval  service  in  1841,  having 
been  appointed  from  Maryland,  his  native  State. 
His  first  orders  were  to  join  the  Independence, 
then  attached  to  the  home  squadron.  Subse- 
quently he  served  on  board  the  frigate  Savan- 
nah, of  the  Pacific  squadron,  and  during  a  cruise 
of  the  Brandywine,  also  upon  the  steamer 
Princeton.  In  July,  1847,  he  was  ordered  to 
the  naval  school  for  promotion ;  was  a  passed 
midshipman  in  1848,  and  the  following  year 
was  ordered  upon  the  coast  survey,  where  he 
remained  until  July,  1850,  when  he  was  ordered 
to  the  Raritan,  but  was  transferred  to  the  sloop 
St.  Mary's.  In  1852  he  was  detached  from 
that  vessel  and  ordered  to  the  Observatory  at 
Washington,  where  he  remained  until  October, 
1853,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  receiving-ship 
Philadelphia,  and  again  to  coast  survey  duty. 
In  September,  1855,  he  was  promoted  to  a  lieu- 
tenancy, and  afterwards  served  upon  the  Fre- 
donia  and  the  Lancaster.  In  1861  he  was  pro- 
moted to  be  lieutenant-commander,  and  ordered 
to  ordnance  duty  at  Old  Point  Comfort,  Va. 
A  few  months  previous  to  his  death  he  was  as- 
signed to  the  command  of  the  gunboat  Poca- 
hontas. 

Feb.  22.— Col.  FELBLET,  of  the  8th 

United  States  volunteers  (colored),  was  killed 
at  Olustee,  Florida,  aged  28  years.  He  enlisted 
at  the  commencement  of  the  war  as  a  private  in 
the  84th  Pennsylvania,  and  rose  to  his  position 
through  good  conduct  and  courage  alone. 

March  4. — Col.  ULEIO  DAHLGEEIT,  an  officer 
in  the  United  States  volunteer  service,  born  in 
1842,  killed  in  a  skirmish  at  King  and  Queen's 
Court  House,  Virginia,  March  4,  1864.  He 
was  the  son  of  Rear- Admiral  John  Dahlgren, 
and  had  received  a  very  thorough  education, 
and  especially  a  careful  training  in  the  science 
of  gunnery,  which  was  his  father's  speciality. 
He  had  entered  the  navy  as  midshipman  before 


the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  and  at  the  time 
of  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter  was  travelling  in 
the  Southwestern  States.  Great  efforts  were 
made  to  induce  him  to  join  the  rebels,  but  he 
refused  indignantly;  and  hastening  home,  he 
assisted  his  father  in  the  Ordnance  Department ; 
and  when  Gen.  Saxton  was  in  command  at 
Harper's  Ferry,  and  the  place  was  first  threat- 
ened, Commodore  Dahlgren,  having  received 
orders  to  place  a  naval  battery  on  Maryland 
Heights,  sent  his  son  Ulric  to  place  the  guns  in 
position,  and  take  charge  of  the  battery.  He 
executed  this  duty  with  great  skill,  and  when 
Gen.  Sigel  relieved  Gen.  Saxton  of  his  com- 
mand, he  found  young  Dahlgren  at  his  post  as 
captain  of  artillery,  and  took  him  at  once  upon 
his  staff.  Subsequently  Gen.  Sigel  solicited 
and  obtained  his  appointment  as  additional 
aide-de-camp  with  the  rank  of  captain.  He 
served1  in  this  capacity  in  Fremont's  mountain 
campaign,  distinguishing  himself  particularly 
at  Cross  Keys,  and  served  through  Pope's  cam- 
paign, acting  as  chief  of  artillery  under  Sigel 
at  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  where  he  was 
specially  commended  by  his  general.  During 
the  movements  in  the  autumn  of  1862  he  was 
actively  engaged  under  Gen.  Stahel  in,  all  his 
reconnoissances  and  raids,  and  when  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  moved  down  into  Virginia,  in 
November,  1862,  he  made  that  attack  upon 
Fredericksburg  at  the  head  of  Gen.  Sigel's 
bodyguard,  which  has  become  famous  in  the 
history  of  the  war.  For  this  gallant  act  Gen. 
Burnside  detailed  him  as  special  aid  upon  his 
staff.  At  the  crossing  of  the  Rappahannock,  at 
the  unfortunate  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  he 
was  one  of  the  first  to  land  in  that  city.  When 
the  army  went  into  winter  quarters  he  rejoined 
Gen.  Sigel,  and  when  that  general  was  relieved 
of  command,  Gen.  Hooker  applied  to  have  Capt. 
Dahlgren  transferred  to  his  staff,  which  was 
done.  He  again  distinguished  himself  at  the 
battle  of  Chancellorsville,  was  with  General 
Pleasanton  in  all  the  cavalry  fights  in  the  Bull 
Run  Mountains  and  Aldie,  joined  Gen.  Stahel's 
expedition  to  Warrenton  as  a  volunteer,  and 
led  the  most  important  reconnoissances  then 
made.  When  Gen.  Meade  succeeded  Gen. 
Hooker,  he  requested  Capt.  Dahlgren  to  remain 
on  his  staff.  Before  the  battles  at  Gettysburg 
he  obtained  from  Gen.  Pleasanton  a  hundred 
picked  men,  with  a  roving  commission,  and 
among  other  distinguished  services  rendered 
the  Union  cause,  scoured  the  country  in  search 
of  a  bearer  of  despatches,  whom  he  knew  to  be 
on  his  way  from  Jefferson  Davis  to  Gen.  Lee, 
captured  him  and  his  escort,  secured  the  de- 
spatches, and,  by  the  most  skilful  manoeuvring, 
succeeded  in  reaching  Gen.  Meade's  tent  after 
the  first  day's  battle,  and  laid  these  important 
papers  before  him.  Not  waiting  for  thanks,  he 
returned  to  his  men,  and  harassed  the  enemy 
*  at  every  point,  destroying  their  wagon  trains, 
and  attacking  their  rear-guard.  On  their  re- 
treat he  led  the  famous  charge  into  Hagers- 
town,  when  of  five  officers  in  the  charge  two 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


were  killed,  he  was  wounded,  and  one  of  the 
remaining  two  was  saved  by  the  ball  striking 
his  scabbard.  He  was  brought  to  "Washington, 
and  his  leg  amputated,  and,  owing  to  the  severe 
inflammation  which  had  set  in,  five  operations 
were  required  before  the  wound  would  heal, 
and  his  life  was  despaired  of.  For  his  gallant- 
ry in  this  campaign  he  was  made  colonel,  and 
as  soon  as  he  was  able  to  move  he  was  anxious 
to  return  to  active  service.  In  concert  with 
Gen.  Kilpatrick  he  planned  the  raid  toward 
Richmond,  fired  with  the  hope  of  being  able  to 
release  the  Union  prisoners  then  suffering  so 
terribly  at  Libby  Prison  and  Belle  Island.  Ac- 
cepting with  delight  the  most  dangerous  part 
of  the  duty,  he  was  led  into  the  midst  of  the 
enemy  by  his  treacherous  guide,  and  brutally 
murdered  when  endeavoring  to  fight  his  way 
out.  His  body  was  stripped  and  treated  with 
indignity,  and  the  rebels  published,  with  abun- 
dant comments,  papers  which  they  asserted 
were  found  upon  his  person,  giving  instructions 
to  his  men  to  burn  Richmond,  and  even  photo- 
graphed these  papers,  and  sent  copies  to  Eng- 
land. His  friends  asserted  that  they  were  base 
forgeries. 

March  11. — Col.  GEZA  MIHOLOTZI  died  at 
Chattanooga  from  the  effects  of  a  wound  re- 
ceived at  Buzzard  Roost.  He  was  born  in 
Pesth,  Hungary,  received  a  military  education, 
and  took  part  in  the  Hungarian  revolution  of 
1848-'9 ;  came  to  this  country  in  1850,  settled 
in  Chicago,  and  commenced  the  study  of  medi- 
cine under  Dr.  Yalenta  of  that  city.  At  the 
outbreak  of  the  rebellion  he  raised  a  company 
for  the  three  months'  service,  and  was  elected 
captain.  In  November,  1861,  he  was  elected 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  24th  Illinois  volun- 
teer (infantry),  and  on  the  resignation  of  Col. 
Hecker,  became  colonel  of  the  regiment.  He 
served  in  several  important  battles,  and  as  a 
regimental  commander  stood  very  high  in  the 
estimation  of  his  military  superiors. 

March  15.— KENNEDY  STEWAET,  M.  D.,  sur- 
geon in  the  United  States  navy,  died  in  Phila- 
delphia, aged  31  years.  He  was  born  at  Easton, 
Pa. ;  graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in  1854,  and 
the  following  spring  was  appointed  to  the  navy. 
Not  being  assigned  immediately  to  duty,  he 
joined  a  merchant  vessel,  but  hearing  of  the 
ravages  of  yellow  fever  at  Norfolk  and  Ports- 
mouth, he  volunteered  for  service  there,  and  was 
soon  prostrated  by  the  disease.  On  his  recovery 
he  joined  the  Preble,  and  participated  in  the  bat- 
tle between  the  rebel  navy  and  the  blockading 
squadron  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi.  At  the 
capture  of  New  Orleans  he  was  on  the  Hartford, 
and  was  especially  commended  in  the  official 
report  of  that  battle.  In  the  summer  of  1863 
he  was  again  ordered  to  the  Gulf  on  board  the 
Ticonderoga,  and  was  with  her  until  she  return- 
ed to  the  Philadelphia  navy  yard  for  repairs. 

March  23. — Col.  HENBY  VAX  REXSELLAEE, 
Inspector-General  of  the  United  States  army, 
died  in  Cincinnati,  aged  about  53  years.  He 
was  a  son  of  the  late  Stephen  Van  Rensellaer, 


graduated  from  the  academy  at  West  Point  in 
1831,  but  soon  after  resigned  his  connection 
with  the  army,  married  a  daughter  of  the  Hon. 
John  A.  King,  of  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  and  went  to 
take  possession  of  a  patrimonial  lauded  estate 
in  St.  Lawrence  County.  In  1841  he  was  elect- 
ed a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
from  his  district,  and  served  through  the  three 
sessions  of  the  27th  Congress.  For  some  years 
past  he  had  resided  in  Cincinnati,  but  upon  the 
breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  offered  his  services 
to  his  country,  and  was  made  by  Gen.  Scott 
chief  of  staff,  with  the  rank  of  brigadier-general. 
Upon  the  retirement  of  Gen.  Scott,  the  subject 
of  this  notice  was  made  inspector-general  in  the 
regular  army,  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  and  con- 
tinued in  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  of 
his  post  until  a  few  days  prior  to  his  death. 

April  4. — Lieut.-Col.  GEOEGE  H.  RIXGGOLD, 
an  officer  of  the  United  States  army,  died  at 
San  Francisco,  California,  aged  50  years.  He 
was  a  native  of  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  gradu- 
ated at  "West  Point  military  academy,  July, 
1833,  as  brevet  second  lieutenant  in  the  6th  in- 
fantry, but  resigned  in  1837.  During  the  Mex- 
ican war  he  was  reappointed  to  the  army  as 
major  and  paymaster,  and  in  1862  was  promoted 
to  deputy  paymaster-general,  with  the  rank  of 
lieutenant-colonel.  He  Avas  truly  loyal  to  his 
country,  and  although  of  Southern  birth,  firmly 
withstood  all  influences  exerted  to  draw  him 
from  her  allegiance.  As  a  scholar  he  was  en- 
dowed with  rare  attainments,  was  possessed  of  a 
decided  poetic  talent,  an  accomplished  draughts- 
man, and  amateur  painter.  He  was  the  author 
of  a  book  of  poems,  entitled  "  Fountain  Rock, 
Amy  "Weir,  and  other  Metrical  Pastimes."  pub- 
lished in  1863,  and  dedicated  "  To  my  Children." 

April  8. — Maj.-Gen.  ALFEED  MOUTOX,  an 
officer  of  the  Confederate  army,  killed  at  Mans- 
field, Arkansas.  He  was  the  son  of  the  former 
Governor  of  Louisiana,  who  was  also  once  Sen- 
ator in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  He 
was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  was 
in  all  of  Gen.  Thomas  Green's  conflicts.  He  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  and  bravest  offi- 
cers in  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  he  was  commanding  a  di- 
vision in  Gen.  Dick  Taylor's  army. 

April  14. — Maj.-Gen.  THOMAS  GEEEX,  an  offi- 
cer of  cavalry  in  the  Confederate  army,  killed 
at  Blains'  Landing,  on  Red  River,  in  an  attack 
on  the  Federal  gunboats  and  transports.  Gen. 
Green  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  was  the  son 
of  Chief-Justice  Green,  of  Tennessee,  who  was 
also  president  of  the  Lebanon  (Tenn.)  law 
school.  He  went  to  Texas  when  he  was  only 
eighteen  years  of  age.  Gov.  Sam.  Houston,  an 
excellent  judge  of  human  nature,  discovered,  at 
first  sight,  that  Green  and  Ben.  McCulloch, 
who  were  both  about  eighteen  years  of  age, 
possessed  extraordinary  minds  and  abilities,  and 
»at  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto  placed  them  in 
command  of  all  the  artillery  of  the  army. 
Gen.  Green,  Ben.  McCulloch,  and  Jack  Hays 
organized,  commanded,  and  raised  to  the  high- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


775 


est  perfection,  the  Texas  Rangers.  Thomas 
Green  commanded  a  company  of  Texas  Rangers 
in  Col.  Jack  Hays's  regiment  during  the  war 
with  Mexico.  After  peace  was  declared  he  be- 
came clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court.  At  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  he  entered  the  Con- 
federate army,  and  commanded  the  5th,  the 
choicest  regiment  of  cavalry  from  Texas.  He 
was  commander-in-chief  at  the  battle  of  Val- 
verde  during  the  latter  part  of  the  fight,  Gen. 
Sibley  being  too  ill  to  remain  in  command. 
He  also  commanded  the  forlorn  hope  of  five 
hundred  Texans  in  the  attack  on  Galveston  and 
the  capture  of  the  Harriet  Lane.  After  this 
feat  he  was  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Dick 
Taylor,  and  was  put  in  command  of  the  old  Sib- 
ley  brigade.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Bisland, 
where  Gen.  Taylor,  in  his  report,  called  him 
the  "  Ney  "  and  the  "  Shield  and  Buckler  of  his 
army."  At  Vermilion  Bayou,  where  he  had 
a  fight  with  the  Federal  gunboats,  he  was  seen 
to  go  to  the  river  edge  to  get  a  drink  of  water. 
As  he  held  the  bucket  to  his  lips  two  bullets 
passed  through  it,  but  Gen.  Green  neither  took 
it  from  his  mouth  nor  spilled  a  drop.  A  staff 
officer  being  sent  to  him  to  know  how  long  he 
could  hold  his  position,  as  there  were  hundreds 
of  baggage  wagons  to  get  away,  he  answered: 
"  Tell  Gen.  Taylor  not  to  ask  me  how  long  I 
can  hold  the  position,  but  to  send  me  word  how 
long  he  desires  it  held."  About  this  time  he 
was  put  in  command  of  all  the  cavalry  in  Tay- 
lor's army  and  in  the  district  in  which  that 
army  operated.  He  was  repulsed  at  Donaldson- 
ville.  At  the  battle  of  Bayou  La  Fourche  he 
defeated  Gens.  Grover  and  Weitzel,  and  cap- 
tured over  five  million  dollars'  worth  of  sup- 
plies. He  defeated  Gen.  Washburne  at  Bayou 
Fordache  in  November,  1863.  At  Bayou 
Borbeaux  he  fought  successfully  two  entire 
corps,  and  was  made  major-general  for  his 
achievements.  He  was  then  ordered  to  Texas 
and  put  in  command  of  all  the  cavalry  of  the 
Trans-Mississippi  Department.  Gen.  Green 
was  a  remarkable  man,  and  was  regarded  in 
his  department,  and  by  all  who  knew  him,  as 
one  of  the  few  men  who,  during  the  whole 
war,  had  manifested  real  military  genius. 

April  17. — Rev.  WM.  H.  GILDEK,  chaplain 
of  the  40th  New  York  regiment,  died  of  small- 
pox at  Culpepper,  Va.,  aged  52  years.  He  was 
educated  in  the  Wesleyan  University,  at  Mid- 
dletown,  Conn.,  joined  the  Philadelphia  Con 
ference  in  1833,  and  after  preaching  for  several 
years  in  New  Jersey,  returned  on  account  of 
failing  health  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  edited 
the  "  Christian  Repository."  He  was  for  sev- 
enteen years  engaged  in  the  work  of  education : 
first  as  Principal  of  the  Female  Institute  at 
Bordentown,  N.  J.,  and  afterwards  as  President 
of  Flushing  Female  College,  L.  I.  In  1859  he 
resumed  preaching,  and  in  1862  accepted  a 
chaplaincy  in  the  army,  following  his  charge  to 
every  battle,  until  prostrated  by  disease  ter- 
minating in  his  death. 

April  18. — Lieut.-Com.  CHAELES  "W.  FLTJSSEB, 


of  the  United  States  navy,  born  in  Maryland 
about  1832,  killed  near  Plymouth,  North  Caro- 
lina, in  a  naval  engagement,  April  18th,  1864. 
Commander  Flusser  belonged  to  one  of  the  old- 
est and  best  families  in  Maryland,  but  during  his 
childhood  his  parents  removed  to  Kentucky, 
from  which  State  he  was  appointed  a  midship- 
man in  the  navy,  July  19, 1847".  His  first  cruise 
was  made  in  the  Cumberland.  In  1849  he  was 
sent  to  the  Raritan,  40  guns,  where  he  remained 
until  the  latter  part  of  1850.  In  1851  he  was 
ordered  to  the  Saratoga,  sloop-of-war,  and  in 
her  made  a  cruise  which  lasted  two  years.  In 
1853  he  was  at  the  Naval  Academy  at  Annapo- 
lis, preparatory  to  passing  as  passed  midshipman. 
His  warrant  to  that  grade  bore  date  of  June  10, 
1853. 

At  the  close  of  the  examination,  after  a  brief 
recreation,  he  was  ordered  to  the  frigate  Savan- 
nah, where  he  remained  during  the  entire  cruise, 
which  ended  on  the  26th  of  November,  1856. 
During  the  cruise  he  was  promoted  to  a  lieuten- 
ancy, his  commission  bearing  date  September 
16,  1855.  In  1857  he  was  granted  a  leave  of 
absence.  Toward  the  close  of  the  year,  how- 
ever, he  was  ordered  to  the  Naval  Academy  as 
an  assistant  professor.  He  remained  in  that 
position  until  ordered  to  the  brig  Dolphin,  in 
1859.  He  made  a  cruise  in  her,  returning  late 
in  1860.  He  then  was  granted  a  leave  of  ab- 
sence, in  which  position  he  was  when  the  war 
broke  out.  He  applied  for  active  duty  at  once, 
wnen  it  was  seen  that  war  must  ensue,  and  the 
Navy  Department  assigned  him  to  the  command 
of  the  purchased  gunboat  Commodore  Perry, 
and  with  this  vessel  he  took  part  in  the  naval 
attack  by  Commodore  Goldsborough  which 
preceded  the  capture  of  Roanoke  Island  on  the 
7th  of  February,  1862,  by  Gen.  Burnside. 

On  the  3d  of  October,  1862,  he  took  part  in 
the  shelling  of  Franklin,  Virginia.  More  re- 
cently he  has  been  in  command  of  the  gunboat 
Commodore  Perry,  in  the  North  Atlantic 
Blockading  Squadron,  being  stationed  in  North 
Carolina  waters.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
was  in  command  of  the  Miami,  in  Albemarle 
Sound. 

He  was  a  skilful  and  intelligent  sailor,  a 
thorough  and  gallant  officer,  and  a  genial,  ac- 
complished, and  high-toned  gentleman.  In 
habits  he  furnished  an  example  of  temperance 
and  moderation. 

He  had  been  urgently  besought  by  his  Mary- 
land friends,  many  of  whom  were  secessionists, 
as  well  as  by  Commander  Collins,  and  other 
Southern  officers,  to  join  the  South,  and  was 
offered  a  high  command ;  but  he  refused  firmly 
and  indignantly,  and  threw  his  whole  soul  into 
the  cause  of  the  Union. 

April  24. — FEAXKLIN  HITLSE  CLACK  died 
from  wounds  received  during  the  battles  of 
Mayfield  and  Pleasant  Hill,  Louisiana.  He  was 
a  son  of  Commander  Clack,  U.  S.  N.,  was  born 
in  Florida,  1828,  graduated  at  Mount  St.  Mary's 
College  in  1845,  and  took  the  degree  of  Bache- 
lor of  Laws  at  Yale  College,  1847.  In  1851 


776 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


he  was  appointed  Secretary  of  Legation  to 
Brazil,  and  after  his  return  and  settlement  in 
New  Orleans,  was  appointed  U.  S.  District  At- 
torney for  Louisiana.  On  retiring  from  this 
position  he  continued  the  practice  of  law  with 
great  success. 

April  25. — Rev.  JAMES  H.  SCHNEIDER  died 
at  Key  West,  of  yellow  fever,  aged  25  years. 
He  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin  Schneider, 
missionary  of  the  A.  B.  0.  F.  M.  at  Aintab, 
Syria,  and  was  born  at  Broosa,  Turkey,  gradu- 
ated at  Yale  College  in  1860,  and  spent  the 
three  years  following  in  teaching  in  the  State 
Normal  School,  Bridgewater,  Mass.  It  was  his 
desire  to  enter  into  the  service  of  his  country, 
and  being  drafted,  he  at  once  reported  in  per- 
son for  duty,  was  appointed  lieutenant  in  the 
2d  regiment  of  U.  S.  colored  troops,  and  sub- 
sequently chosen  chaplain  of  the  regiment,  be- 
ing ordained  at  Bridgewater,  Oct.  27th,  1863. 
In  entering  the  military  service  he  declined  an 
appointment  as  tutor  in  Yale  College,  and  post- 
poned his  preparations  for  the  work  of  a  for- 
eign missionary,  upon  which  he  had  determined. 

May  1. — Commodore  WILLIAM  DAVID  POB- 
TER,  an  officer  of  the  United  States  navy,  born 
in  New  Orleans,  La.,  1810,  died  of  disease  of 
the  heart  in  New  York  city,  May  1st,  1864. 
He  was  a  son  of  Commodore  David  Porter, 
and  elder  brother  of  Adm.  David  D.  Porter. 
He  entered  the  service  from  Massachusetts, 
Jan.  1st,  1823,  and  was  connected  successively 
with  the  Franklin,  Brandywine,  Natchez,  Ex- 
periment, United  States,  and  Mississippi;  and 
in  1843  was  ordered  to  the  home  squadron. 
In  1849  he  commanded  the  storeship  Erie,  and 
in  1851  was  made  commander  of  the  Water- 
witch.  He  projected  and  was  the  founder  of 
the  present  light-house  system,  served  through 
the  Mexican  war  with  distinction,  and  in  1855 
was  placed  on  a  retired  list  by  a  secret  Navy 
Board ;  four  years  later  he  was  restored  to  his 
rank  as  commander  by  President  Buchanan ; 
was  ordered  to  the  United  States  sloop  St. 
Mary's,  and  did  important  service  on  the  Paci- 
fic coast.  On  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  was 
ordered  home,  and  though  he  had  property  in 
Virginia,  and  several  of  his  family  were  in  the 
rebel  service,  he  proved  faithful  to  the  Govern- 
ment, and,  laying  aside  all  personal  considera- 
tions, tendered  to  it  his  aid,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  superintendence  of  the  building  of  the 
iron-clad  Essex,  at  St.  Louis,  which  he  named 
after  his  father's  ship.  In  the  attack  on  Fort 
Henry  he  commanded  the  Essex,  and  during 
the  engagement  was  severely  scalded  by  the 
steam  issuing  from  the  boiler,  the  thick  plates 
of  which  had  been  penetrated  by  a  ball.  He 
also  commanded  the  Essex  at  the  attack  on 
Fort  Donelson,  and  fought  his  way  in  the  same 
boat  past  all  the  batteries  from  Cairo  to  New 
Orleans.  He  caused  the  destruction  of  the 
ram  Arkansas,  above  Baton  Rouge,  in  Aug., 
1862,  and  during  the  following  month  bom- 
barded Natchez,  attacked  the  Vicksburg  bat- 
teries and  Port  Hudson.  On  the  16th  of  July, 


1862,  he  was  promoted  from  captain  to  com- 
modore, after  which  he  did  but  little  active 
service,  owing  to  an  enfeebled  state  of  health, 
which,  as  already  stated,  eventually  resulted  in 
heart  disease.  Commodore  Porter  had  two 
sons  in  the  Confederate  service. 

May  5. — Col.  ALFORD  B.  CHAPMAN  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  aged  about  27 
years.  He  was  a  native  of  New  York  city,  and 
had  been  for  eight  years  previous  to  the  war 
connected  with  the  7th  militia  regiment,  N.  G. 
At  the  commencement  of  the  rebellion  he  raised 
a  company,  which  was  attached  to  the  57th 
regiment  of  New  York  volunteers,  and,  after 
several  promotions,  rose  to  the  command  of  the 
regiment. 

May  5. — Brig.-Gen.  ALEXANDER  HAYS,  an 
officer  of  U.  S.  volunteers,  was  killed  in  the 
battle  of  the  Wilderness,  aged  40  years.  He 
was  a  native  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  graduated  at 
West  Point  in  1844,  was  appointed  brevet  sec- 
ond lieutenant  of  the  4th  United  States  infan- 
try, and  in  June,  1846,  was  fully  commissioned 
a  second  lieutenant  of  the  8th  infantry.  He  was 
engaged  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  distinguished 
himself  in  several  important  battles.  In  1848 
he  resigned  his  connection  with  the  army  and 
became  engaged  as  an  iron  manufacturer  in 
Venango  Co.,  Pa.,  from  which  occupation  ho 
was  called  at  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion. 
Entering  the  volunteer  service  as  colonel  of 
the  63d  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  he  was  ap- 
pointed captain  of  the  16th  regular  infantry, 
dating  from  May  14, 1861,  which  regiment  was 
attached  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  dur- 
ing the  peninsular  campaign  formed  a  portion 
of  the  1st  brigade  3d  army  corps.  He  partici- 
pated with  gallantry  in  the  battles  of  Seven 
Pines  and  Fair  Oaks,  and  was  nominated  for  a 
brevet  of  major  of  the  United  States  army,  dis- 
tinguished himself  during  the  seven  days'  bat- 
tles, and  was  nominated  brevet  lieutenant- 
colonel,  took  part  in  the  Maryland  campaign, 
and  was  made  brigadier-general  of  volunteers 
Sept.  29, 1862.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle 
of  Chancellorsville,  and  at  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg was  in  command  of  the  3d  division  of  his 
corps,  and  of  the  whole  corps  for  a  time,  after 
the  wounding  of  Gen.  Hancock.  He  led  the 
3d  division  through  the  battles  of  Auburn, 
Bristoe  Station,  and  Mine  Run.  Upon  the  re- 
organization of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  for 
the  next  campaign,  Gen.  Hays  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  2d  brigade,  Birney's  3d  divi- 
sion 2d  corps,  under  Gen.  Hancock. 

May  5. — Brig.-Gen.  A.  G.  JENKINS,  a  Con- 
federate officer,  killed  in  the  battle  of  the  Wil- 
derness. He  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  had  re- 
ceived his  military  education  at  the  Virginia 
Military  Institute  at  Lexington,  and  had  distin- 
guished himself  in  several  actions  in  Western 
Virginia.  He  was  in  the  advance  of  Lee's  army 
before  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  took  part 
in  that  battle. 

Jlfay  5. — Major-Gen.  SAMUEL  JONES,  a  Con- 
federate officer,  killed  in  the  battle  of  the_Wil- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


777 


derness.  He  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point, 
appointed  from  Virginia,  of  which  State  he  was 
a  native,  and  at  the  opening  of  the  war  was 
captain  in  the  1st  regiment  of  artillery,  U.  S.  A. 
He  resigned  his  commission  in  the  army  April 
27,  1861,  and  was  immediately  appointed  colo- 
nel, and  soon  after  brigadier-general  by  the 
Confederate  War  Department,  and  early  in  1860 
was  promoted  to  the  command  of  a  division, 
with  the  rank  of  major-general.  He  had  been 
in  command  of  the  rebel  forces  in  West  Vir- 
ginia until  the  spring  of  1864,  when  he  brought 
his  contingent  to  reenforce  Lee's  army  on  the 
Rapidan. 

May  5. — Gen.  JOHN  LLOYD  died  in  New  York 
city,  aged  67  years.  He  was  a  native  of 
Dutchess  County,  N,  Y.,  was  for  many  years  a 
prominent  dry  goods  merchant  in  New  York, 
and  latterly  the  head  of  the  firm  John  Lloyd 
&  Sons,  real  estate  brokers.  In  his  younger 
years  he  held  the  rank  of  major-general  in  the 
State  militia. 

May  6. — THOMAS  GOLDEN  COOPEB,  a  captain 
in  the  67th  regiment  N.  Y.  State  volunteers, 
was  killed  while  leading  a  charge  in  the  battle 
of  the  Wilderness.  He  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
a  man  of  fine  education  and  culture,  and  pre- 
vious to  1862  had  been  the  principal  of  the  New 
York  Institution  for  the  Blind  for  several  years. 
Resigning  his  position  there,  he  accepted  an 
appointment  as  captain  in  the  67th  New  York 
volunteers. 

May  6. — Brig. -Gen.  JAMES  SAMUEL  WADS- 
WOETH,  of  U.  S.  volunteers,  born  in  Geneseo, 
Livingston  County,  N.  Y.,  October  30th,  1807, 
killed  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May 
6th,  1864.  He  was  the  son  of  James  Wads- 
worth,  an  extensive  landowner  and  philanthro- 
pist of  Geneseo,  under  whose  care  he  received 
a  thorough  rudimentary  education,  after  which 
he  was  sent  to  Harvard  College,  and  thence  to 
Yale  College,  where  he  completed  his  studies. 
Soon1  after  graduating  he  entered  upon  the 
study  of  law  in  Albany,  finishing  his  course  in 
the  office  of  the  great  statesman  and  lawyer, 
Daniel  Webster,  and'was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1833,  but  did  not  practise  his  profession,  as 
the  charge  of  his  immense  estate  required  his 
whole  attention.  A  few  years  later  Mr.  Wads- 
worth  turned  his  attention  somewhat  to  local 
politics.  A  Federalist  by  education  and  a 
Democrat  by  conviction,  he  early  took  part  in 
the  "Free  Soil"  movement  that  divided  the 
Democracy  of  the  State,  and  gave  a  zealous 
support  to  the  Presidential  candidate  of  that 
party  in  1848,  and  to  the  Republican  candidates 
of  1856  and  1860.  Like  his  father,  he  mani- 
fested a  deep  and  active  interest  in  the  cause  of 
education.  He  founded  a  public  library  at 
Geneseso ;  was  a  liberal  subscriber  to  the  en- 
dowment of  Geneseo  College ;  aided  in  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  school  district  library  sys- 
tem, and  in  every  way  did  what  lay  in  his 
power  to  relieve  suffering  and  diffuse  the  bene- 
fits of  our  free  institutions.  Acting  as  a  com- 
missioner to  the  Peace  Convention  held  in 


Washington,  in  1861,  under  an  appointment 
from  the  Legislature  of  New  York,  when  it 
became  evident  that  war  was  inevitable,  he 
was  prompt  to  offer  his  services  to  the  Govern- 
ment. When  communication  with  the  capital 
was  cut  off,  he  chartered  two  ships  upon  his 
own  responsibility,  loaded  them  with  provi- 
sions, and  proceeded  with  them  to  Annapolis, 
where  they  arrived  most  opportunely  to  supply 
the  pressing  necessities  of  the  Government. 
Commencing  his  military  career  as  a  volunteer 
aide  to  Gen.  McDowell  at  the  first  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  upon  the  recommendation  of  that 
general,  Wadsworth  was  appointed  brigadier- 
general  of  volunteers  August,  1861,  and  in 
March,  1862,  became  Military  Governor  of  the 
District  of  Columbia.  In  the  election  of  Gov- 
ernor of  New  York,  in  November,  1862,  Gen. 
Wadsworth  was  the  Republican  candidate,'  but 
was  defeated  by  Mr.  Seymour.  In  the  follow- 
ing December  he  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  a  division  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
At  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville  he  dis- 
played great  military  skill,  and  at  Gettysburg 
his  division  saved  the  first  day.  Upon  the  re- 
organization of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  for 
the  campaign  of  1864,  Gen.  Wadsworth  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  fourth  division 
of  the  fifth  corps,  at  the  head  of  which  he 
bravely  met  his  death. 

May  9. — JOHN  SEDGWIOK,  a  major-general  of 
volunteers  in  the  United  States  Army,  born  in 
Connecticut  about  1815,  killed  near  Spottsyl- 
vania  Court  House,  Va.,  May  9th,  1864.  He 
was  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1837,  24th  in 
a  class  of  fifty  members,  among  whom  were 
Gens.  Benham,  Hooker,  Arnold,  French,  and 
others  of  the  Federal  service,  and  the  rebel 
Generals  Bragg,  Early,  and  Pemberton.  He 
entered  the  Mexican  war  as  first  lieutenant  of 
artillery,  and  was  successively  brevetted  captain 
and  major  for  gallant  conduct  at  Contreras, 
Churubusco,  and  Chapultepec.  He  also  distin- 
guished himself  at  the  head  of  his  command  in 
the  attack  on  the  San  Cosmo  gate  of  the  city 
of  Mexico.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion 
he  held  the  position  of  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
2d  United  States  cavalry.  On  April  25th,  1861, 
he  was  promoted  to  the  colonelcy  of  the  4th 
cavaby,  and  on  August  31st  was  commissioned 
a  brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and  placed  in 
command  of  a  brigade  of  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac, which  in  the  subsequent  organization  of 
the  army  was  assigned  to  the  2d  corps  under 
Gen.  Sumner,  Gen.  Sedgwick  assuming  com- 
mand of  the  3d  division  of  the  corps.  In  this 
capacity  he  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Yorktown, 
and  the  subsequent  pursuit  of  the  enemy  up  the 
peninsula,  and  greatly  distinguished  himself  at 
the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  where  the  timely  ar- 
rival of  Sumner's  troops  saved  the  day.  In  all 
the  seven  days'  fighting,  and  particularly  at  Sav- 
age Station  and  Glendale,  he  bore  an  honorable 
part,  and  at  the  battle  of  Antietam  he  exhibited 
the  most  conspicuous  gallantry,  exposing  his 
person  with  a  recklessness  which  greatly  im- 


778 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


perilled  his  life.  On  this  occasion  he  was  twice 
wounded,  but  refused  for  two  hours  to  be  taken 
from  the  field.  On  December  23d  he  was 
nominated  by  the  President  a  major-general 
of  volunteers,  having  previously  been  made  a 
brevet  brigadier  general  of  the  regular  army, 
and  in  the  succeeding  February  he  assumed 
command  of  the  6th  army  corps.  At  the  head 
of  these  troops  he  carried  Marye's  Heights  in 
the  rear  of  Fredericksburg  during  the  Chancel- 
lorsville  campaign  in  May,  1863,  and  after  the 
retreat  of  Gen.  Hooker  across  the  Rappahan- 
nock,  succeeded  only  by  very  hard  fighting  in 
withdrawing  his  command  in  the  face  of  a 
superior  force,  against  which  he  had  contended 
for  a  whole  day,  to  the  left  bank  of  the  river. 
He  commanded  the  left  wing  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  during  the  advance  from  the  Rap- 
pahannock  into  Maryland  in  June,  and  also  at 
the  succeeding  battle  of  Gettysburg,  where  he 
arrived  on  the  second  day  of  the  fighting,  after 
one  of  the  most  extraordinary  forced  marches 
on  record,  and  where  his  steady  courage  in- 
spired confidence  among  his  tried  troops. 
During  the  passage  of  the  Rapidan  on  Novem- 
ber 7th,  1863,  he  succeeded,  by  a  well-executed 
manoeuvre,  in  capturing  a  whole  rebel  division 
with  a  number  of  guns  and  colors,  for  which 
he  Was  thanked  by  Gen.  Meade  in  a  general 
order.  In  command  of  his  corps  he  took  part 
in  the  spring  campaign  of  the  Wilderness,  un- 
der Gen.  Grant,  and  on  the  oth  and  6th  of 
May  had  position  on  the  Federal  right  wing, 
where  the  hardest  fighting  of  those  sanguinary 
engagements  took  place.  Three  days  later, 
while  directing  the  placing  of  some  pieces  of 
artillery  in  position  in  the  intrenchments  in 
front  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  he  was 
struck  in  the  head  by  a  bullet  from  a  sharp- 
shooter, and  instantly  killed.  Gen.  Sedgwick 
was  one  of  the  oldest,  ablest,  and  bravest  soldiers 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  inspiring  both 
officers  and  men  with  the  fullest  confidence  in 
his  military  capacity.  His  simplicity  and  honest 
manliness  of  character  endeared  him,  notwith- 
standing he  was  a  strict  disciplinarian,  to  all 
with  whom  he  oame  in  contact,  and  his  corps 
was  in  consequence  one  of  the  best  in  discipline 
and  morale  in  the  army.  He  several  times  held 
temporary  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac during  the  absence  of  Gen.  Meade,  but  on 
more  than  one  occasion  declined  the  supreme 
command. 

May  10. — Count  HEBMANN  HACKE  was  killed 
in  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania.  He  was  a  native 
of  Prussia,  and  connected  with  the  Prussian 
army,  but  obtained  a  furlough,  and  coming  to 
this  country  procured  a  commission  as  first 
lieutenant  in  the  7th  New  York  volunteers. 
Upon  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service  he 
procured  a  commission  as  first  lieutenant  in -the 
52d  New  York  volunteers,  Hancock's  corps, 
and  fell  while  leading  a  charge  at  the  head  of 
his  company.  He  was  a  brave  and  gallant  sol- 
dier. 

May  10. — JOHN  M.  JONES,  a  brigadier- gen- 


eral in  the  Confederate  service,  killed  near 
Spottsylvania,  Ya.,  aged  about  43  years.  He 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  graduated  at 
"West  Point  in  the  class  of  1841.  After  serving 
as  second  lieutenant  in  the  5th  and  7th  regi- 
ments of  infantry,  he  was  appointed  in  1845 
assistant  instructor  in  infantry  tactics  at  West 
Point,  which  position  he  filled  for  several  years. 
In  1847  he  was  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenancy 
and  in  1853  to  a  captaincy  in  the  7th  infantry, 
and  accompanied  his  command  in  the  Utah  ex- 
pedition. He  resigned  his  commission  in  May, 

1861,  was  appointed  colonel  of  a  regiment  of 
Virginia  volunteers,  and  in  1863  was  promoted 
to  the  command  of  a  brigade  in  Ransom's  divi- 
sion of  Longstreet's  corps.    In  the  latter  capa- 
city he  took  part  in  the  rebel  attack  on  Knox- 
ville  in  the  fall  of  1863,  and  in  the  operations 
in  the  Wilderness  and  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Spottsylvania  immediately  preceding  his  death. 

May  10. — Col.  CLAY  PATE,  an  officer  of  the 
Confederate  army,  killed  in  a  cavalry  fight  with 
Sheridan,  near  Yellow  Tavern,  on  the  road  to 
Richmond.  Col.  Pate  gained  some  distinction 
as  a  partisan  leader  during  the  troubles  in  Kan- 
sas. When  the  war  commenced  he  raised  a 
battalion  of  cavalry  in  Richmond,  Va.,  which 
was  soon  after  its  organization  merged  into  the 
5th  Virginia  regiment,  and  he  became  lieuten- 
ant-colonel of  the  regiment.  Col.  Rosser  being 
promoted,-  he  became  colonel,  and  was  killed  a 
few  days  after  he  received  his  promotion.  He 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  was  33  years  of 
age  at  his  death. 

May  10. — Lieut-Col.  RANDOLPH,  an 

officer  of  cavalry  in  Stuart's  corps,  killed  at 
Yellow  Tavern  in  a  fight  with  Sheridan. 

May  10. — THOMAS  G.  STEVENSON,  a  brigadier- 
general  of  U.  S.  volunteers,  killed  near  Spott- 
sylvania, Va.,  aged  28  years.  He  was  the  son 
of  Hon.  J.  Thomas  Stevenson,  of  Boston,  and 
early  manifested  a  predilection  for  military  life, 
having  risen  from  the  ranks  to  be  major  of  the 
4th  battalion  of  Massachusetts  infantry,  which 
position  he  held  at  the  commencement  of  the 
war.  He  had  an  unsurpassed  reputation  as  a 
drill-master,  and  his  command,  which  was 
brought  to  a  high  degree  of  discipline,  was  the 
school  of  many  young  officers  since  distinguish- 
ed in  the  national. service.  In  the  fall  of  1864 
he  recruited  the  24th  regiment  of  Massachusetts 
volunteers,  which  originally  formed  part  of 
Foster's  brigade  in  Burnside's  expedition  to 
North  Carolina,  and  as  its  colonel  participated 
in  the  capture  of  Roanoke  Island  and  Newbern, 
February  and  March,  1862,  and  in  various  mi- 
nor operations  immediately  succeeding  those 
events.  After  holding  for  some  months  the 
outpost  defences  of  Newbern,  he  conducted 
several  expeditions  within  the  rebel  lines,  and 
on  Sept.  6th  successfully  defended  Washing- 
ton, N.  G.,  against  an  attack  by  a  superior  force. 
He  had  charge  of  a  brigade  in  the  movements 
on  Goldsboro  and  Kingston,  and  in  December, 

1862,  was  appointed  a  brigadier-general;  and 
when  Gen.  Foster,  in  Feb.,  1863,  organized 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


779 


the  expedition  for  operations  against  Charles- 
ton, received  command  of  a  brigade  in  Gen. 
Naglee's  division.  Shortly  after  his  arrival  at 
Port  Royal  he  was  temporarily  put  under  ar- 
rest by  order  of  Gen.  Hunter,  for  a  casual  ex- 
pression of  his  disbelief  in  the  policy  of  arming 
slaves,  but  was  subsequently  honorably  acquit- 
ted of  blame.  His  appointment  as  brigadier- 
general  was  confirmed  in  March,  1863,  and 
during  the  succeeding  summer  he  saw  much 
active  service  in  the  neighborhood  of  Charles- 
ton, assisting  in  the  reduction  of  Morris  Island 
and  the  assault  on  Fort  "Wagner,  where  he 
commanded  the  reserves.  He  returned  to  the 
north  in  the  fall  to  recruit  his  health,  and  sub- 
sequently was  appointed  by  his  old  commander, 
Gen.  Burnside,  who  had  a  high  appreciation  of 
his  capacity,  to  command  the  1st  division  of  the 
9th  corps.  He  was  killed  at  the  head  of  his 
troops.  As  a  disciplinarian  he  was  greatly 
esteemed,  and  he  showed  also  an  energy  and 
maturity  of  judgment  which  gave  promise  of  a 
brilliant  career  as  a  soldier. 

May  11. — JULIUS  DANIELS,  a  brigadier-general 
in  the  rebel  army  from  Virginia,  killed  in  the 
battle  of  Spottsylvania. 

May  11. — Brig.-Gen.  J.  B.  GOEDOJT,  an  officer 
of  the  rebel  army,  wounded  in  the  skirmish 
between  Sheridan's  cavalry  and  the  rebels  near 
Richmond,  died  at  Richmond,  Va.  He  was  a 
native  of  North  Carolina,  and  entered  the  rebel 
service  as  major  of  the  1st  regiment  of  North 
Carolina  cavalry,  and  was  advanced  first  to  the 
command  of  his  regiment  and  then  to  that  of 
a  brigade  in  Gen.  Fitz  Hugh  Lee's  division  of 
rebel  cavalry. 

May  11. — Brig.-Gen Perrin,  an  officer 

of  the  rebel  army  from  South  Carolina,  killed 
in  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania. 

May  11. — JAMES  CLAY  RICE,  a  brigadi^r-gen- 
eral  of  United  States  volunteers,  born  at  "Worth- 
ington,  Mass.,  Dec.  27,  1829,  died  from  wounds 
received  at  the  battle  near  Spottsylvania  Court 
House,  May  llth,  1864.  His  early  life  was 
spent  in  a  struggle  to  obtain  an  education,  and 
in  1854  he  graduated  at  Yale  College,  with  high 
honors.  Shortly  afterwards  he  went  to  Natchez, 
Miss.,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching,  and  edited 
the  literary  department  of  one  of  the  local 
newspapers.  He  also  pursued  the  study  of 
law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  that  State. 
Returning  to  the  North  he  continued  his  legal 
studies  in  New  York,  and  in  1856  entered  upon 
the  practise  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  was 
rapidly  rising  to  distinction.  At  the  outbreak 
of  the  war  he  entered  the  ranks  ts  a  private 
soldier  in  the  New  York  Garibaldi  Guard,  and 
subsequently,  by  distinguished  merit,  attained 
the  colonelcy  of  the  44th  New  York  volunteers, 
or  Ellsworth's  regiment.  He  led  this  regiment 
through  the  battles  of  Yorktown,  Hanover 
Court  House,  Gaines's  Mill,  Malvern  Hill,  and 
Manassas,  and  was  only  absent  from  Antietam 
because  on  a  sick  bed  with  typhoid  fever.  He 
was  also  at  Fredericksburg  under  Gen.  Burn- 
side,  at  Chancellorsville  under  Gen.  Hooker, 


where  he  was  temporarily  in  command  of  a 
brigade,  and  at  Gettysburg,  where  he  greatly 
distinguished  himself  by  his  skill  and  gallantry. 
It  was  his  brigade  which,  on  the  second  day  of 
the  battle,  held  the  extreme  left  of  the  line 
successfully  under  the  repeated  and  desperate 
onsets  of  the  enemy.  For  three  hours  Col. 
Rice  fought  incessantly,  receiving  no  orders 
from  any  superior  officer,  arranging  and  dis- 
posing of  his  men  with  such  skill  and  judgment 
that  at  the  close  of  the  day's  fight  he  had  ex- 
tended his  line  so  as  to  cover  Round-Top  Moun- 
tain, thus  securing  it  against  any  flanking  move- 
ment. For  this  and  other  gallant  deeds  he  was 
warmly  commended  by  Gen.  Meade  and  ear- 
nestly recommended  by  him  and  Gens.  Hooker 
and  Butterfield,  for  the  appointment  of  briga- 
dier-general of  volunteers.  The  President  ac- 
quiesced in  the  wishes  of  these  officers,  the 
Senate  confirming  the  appointment,  and  dating 
his  commission  from  Aug.  17,  1863.  In  this 
position  he  took  part  in  the  operations  of  Mine 
Run,  passed  through  the  terrible  battles  of  the 
"Wilderness,  and  met  his  death  at  the  head  of 
his  command,  on  the  banks  of  the  Po.  He  died 
shortly  after  amputation  had  been  performed, 
his  last  words  being,  "  T? urn  me  over  that  I  may 
die  with  my  face  to  the  enemy."  Gen.  Rice 
was  a  man  of  deep  religious  principle,  a  brave 
and  skilful  officer,  and  thoroughly  devoted  to 
his  country. 

May  11. — L.  A.  STAFFORD,  a  brigadier-gen- 
eral in  the  rebel  army,  died  at  Richmond  of 
wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilder- 
ness. He  was  a  native  of  Virginia. 

May  12. — Baron  Von  STEUBEJT  was  killed  at 
Spottsylvania.  He  was  a  Prussian  officer, 
came  to  this  country  and  joined  the  52d  New 
York  volunteers,  and  proved  himself  a  gallant 
and  faithful  officer. 

May  12. — Maj.-Gen.  JAMES  E.  B.  STUABT,  an 
officer  in  the  Confederate  service,  born  in 
Patrick  County,  Va.,  about  1832,  died  in  Rich- 
mond, June  llth,  1864.  He  was  graduated  at 
"West  Point  in  1854,  commissioned  a  cavalry 
officer,  and  after  reaching  the  rank  of  first 
lieutenant,  resigned  May  14,  1861.  He  had 
previously  seen  considerable  active  service  in 
the  Indian  country,  and  was  known  as  a  fear- 
less rider  and  brave  soldier.  He  immediately 
entered  the  Confederate  army,  commanded  the 
cavalry  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  was  promoted 
a  brigadier-general  in  September,  1861,  and  in 
the  ensuing  winter  organized  the  cavalry  forces 
of  the  enemy  in  Virginia.  He  first  brought 
himself  conspicuously  into  notice  by  his  cele- 
brated raid  in  the  rear  of  Gen.  McClellan's 
communications  near  Richmond,  on  June  13th 
and  14th,  1862,  which  was  the  immediate  pre- 
cursor and  cause  of  the  change  of  base  soon 
after  jcommencecl  by  the  Federal  army,  and  also 
of  the  seven  days'  fighting.  During  the  ad- 
vance of  Gen.  Lee  toward  Maryland  in  the  suc- 
ceeding August  he  made  a  night  attack,  in  the 
midst  of  a  terrific  thunder-storm,  on  Gen. 
Pope's  headquarters,  capturing  many  private 


780 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


papers  and  plans  of  campaign ;  and  in  October, 
a  few  weeks  after  the  battle  of  Antietam,  at 
the  head  of  two  thousand  cavalry  and  four 
pieces  of  flying  artillery,  he  crossed  the  Poto- 
mac between  Williamsport  and  Hancock,  and 
passing  through  Mercersburg  and  Chambers- 
burg,  rode  completely  round  the  Union  lines, 
and  recrossed  the  river  into  Virginia  with  the 
loss  of  but  one  man.  This  raid,  though  of  lit- 
tle advantage  beyond  the  capture  of  several 
hundred  horses  and  the  destruction  of  a  few 
thousand  dollars'  worth  of  stores,  was  the 
most  daring  movement  of  the  kind  hitherto  at- 
tempted during  the  war,  and  greatly  enhanced 
Gen.  Stuart's  reputation  as  a  cavalry  officer. 
It  was  his  last  great  success.  At  Beverly  ford, 
in  Virginia,  and  in  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania, 
during  the  Gettysburg  campaign,  he  was  in- 
variably worsted  in  his  encounters  with  the 
Federal  cavalry.  He,  however,  rendered  effi- 
cient service  in  protecting  the  retreat  of  Lee's 
army  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  He  was 
mortally  wounded  in  an  encounter  with  Gen. 
Sheridan's  cavalry  at  Yellow  Tavern,  near 
Richmond,  while  endeavoring  to  cover  that 
city  against  Federal  raids,  and  died  a  day  or 
afterwards. 

May.  18. — CHARLES  BROOKS  BROWN  died  in 
a  field  hospital  from  wounds  received  the  pre- 
vious day  in  the  battle  at  Spottsylvania  Court 
House,  Va.,  aged  29  years.  He  was  a  native 
of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  graduated  at  Harvard 
College  in  1856,  studied  law,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  Suffolk  bar  in  1858.  He  soon  after  re- 
moved to  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  his  profession.  In  1860  he  re- 
turned to  his  native  State  and  opened  an  office 
in  Charlestown,  and  subsequently  in  Boston. 
Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  a,  Cambridge  company  attached  to 
the  3d  regiment  of  Massachusetts  volunteers, 
and  afterwards  in  the  19th  regiment  Massachu- 
setts volunteers-,  serving  in  the  peninsular  and 
other  campaigns  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
"Was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks  and 
again  at  Fredericksburg,  and  upon  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  of  three  years,  reSnlisted  for 
another  three  years'  service. 

May  14. — Lieut.-Col. LLOYD  was  killed 

at  Resaca.  He  was  an  officer  of  the  119th 
regiment  of  New  York  volunteers,  and  fell 
while  leading  a  desperate  charge  upon  the 
enemy. 

May  16. — Brig.-Gen.  WATT  RANSOM,  an  offi- 
cer of  the  Confederatfc  army,  killed  at  Burmuda 
Hundred. 

May  22. — Col.  — —  FELLOWS,  an  officer  of 
the  Federal  army,  died  at  Key  West.  He  was 
colonel  of  the  2d  U.  S.  (colored)  regiment.  He 
was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  gradu- 
ated at  the  West  Point  military  academy. 
Shortly  after  graduating,  having  been  instru- 
mental in  raising  the  second  colored  regiment 
in  the  District  of  Columbia,  he  was  appointed 
to  the  command  of  it  as  colonel,  and  soon 
manifested  an  ability  which  made  his  regiment 


one  of  the  best  colored  regiments  in  the  ser- 
vice. At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  very 
little  over  23  years  of  age.  His  personal  ap- 
pearance was  very  prepossessing,  and  his 
"  suaviter  in  modo  "  won  the  esteem  of  both 
officers  and  men. 

May  22. — Rev.  SAMUEL  FISKE,  a  captain  of 
U.  S.  volunteers,  died  at  Fredericksburg  of 
wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  the  WUder- 
ness.  He  graduated  at  Amherst  College  in  the 
class  of  1848.  He  was  the  author  of  a  series 
of  Letters  from  Europe  written  some  years 
since  for  the  Springfield  "Republican,"  signed 
by  "-Dunn  Browne,"  and  also  a  well-known 
college  text-book,  a  translation  of  Eschenberg's 
"Manual  of  Greek  and  Roman  Antiquities." 
When  the  war  broke  out  he  was  pastor  of  a 
church  in  Madison,  Conn.,  but  from  a  patriotic 
love  of  his  country  entered  the  army,  and  after 
fighting  bravely  in  several  battles,  was  taken 
prisoner  by  the  enemy,  and  detained  for  some 
time  in  Richmond.  He  was  promoted  to  a 
captaincy  previous  to  the  battle  of  the  Wilder- 
ness, in  which  he  lost  his  life. 

May  24. — Col.  GEOEGE  B.  HALL,  an  officer 
of  U.  S.  volunteers,  died  at  his  residence  in 
Brooklyn,  from  disease  contracted  in  the  ser- 
vice, aged  38  years.  He  was  a  son  of  ex-Mayor 
Hall  of  Brooklyn,  entered  upon  his  military 
career  at  the  early  age  of  19  years  as  a  private 
in  the  165th  regiment  N.  Y.  S.  M.,  rapidly 
rising  through  the  several  grades  of  promotion, 
until  the  commencement  of  the  Mexican  war, 
when  he  was  offered  and  accepted  the  position 
of  first  lieutenant  in  the  1st  regiment  of  New 
York  volunteers.  He  distinguished  himself  at 
Vera  Cruz,  Cerro  Gordo,  Contreras,  and  par- 
ticularly at  Churubusco,  and  for  his  gallantry 
on  several  occasions  was  remembered  by  Gen. 
Scott,  who,  in  1853,  recommended  him  to  the 
Secretary  of  War  as  worthy  of  promotion  to 
the  rank  of  brigadier-general.  In  April,  1850, 
he  was  commissioned  as  major  of  the  13th 
regiment  N.  Y.  S.  M.,  and  the  following  Sep- 
tember was  made  lieutenant-colonel  in  the 
same  re'giment.  While  occupying  a  position  in 
the  City  Inspector's  Department,  New  York, 
the  rebellion  broke  out,  when  he  at  once  re- 
signed and  entered  into  the  work  of  raising 
troops  for  the  defence  of  the  Union,  was  made 
colonel  of  the  "Jackson  Light  Infantry,"  or 
71st  regiment  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  and  was  with  it  in 
every  battle  and  skirmish  in  which  it  was  en- 
gaged, from  the  Stafford  Court  House  raid  of 
1862,  to  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg. 

May  26. — Commander  EDWARD  A.  BARNET, 
an  officer  of  the  U.  S.  navy,  died  in  New  York 
city  after  a  long  and  painful  illness.  On  the 
24th  of  June,  1837,  he  entered  the  United 
States  naval  service  as  midshipman  from  Penn- 
sylvania, his  native  State.  The  first  ship  to 
which  he  was  ordered  was  the  sloop-of-war 
Ontario,  on  the  West  India  station,  carrying 
eighteen  guns.  He  was,  in  1840,  transferred  to 
the  schooner  Grampus,  and  in  the  following 
year  to  the  sloop-of-war  Levant.  In  1842  he 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


781 


•was  attached  to  the  schooner  Wave,  and  dur- 
ing the  following  year  he  was  attached  to  the 
naval  school  at  Philadelphia.  On  the  29th  of 
June,  1843,  he  was  warranted  a  passed  mid- 
shipman, and  ordered  to  the  steamer  Princeton, 
where  he  remained  until  he  was  ordered  to  the 
East  Indies  as  the  naval  storekeeper  at  Macao. 
In  1847  he  was  ordered  to  the  sloop-of-war 
Dale,  on  which  vessel  he  remained  until  Janu- 
ary, 1848,  when  he  was  ordered  to  the  receiv- 
ing-ship Boston.  He  received  his  commission 
on  the  4th  of  August,  1850,  as  lieutenant,  and 
was  ordered  to  duty  on  the  Coast  Survey, 
where  he  remained  until  October,  1851.  His 
next  orders  placed  him  in  the  steam  frigate  San 
Jacinto,  on  the  Mediterranean  station.  In  1853 
he  was  ordered  to  the  receiving-ship  at  Phila- 
delphia. He  was  next  in  the  sloop-of-war 
Jamestown,  and  in  1856  was  ordered  to  the 
steam  frigate  "Wabash,  flag-ship  of  the  Home 
Squadron,  under  Commodore  Paulding.  The 
flag-ship  returned  in  1858,  and  he  was  put  upon 
waiting  orders.  In  1860  he  joined  the  sloop- 
of-war  John  Adams,  on  which  he  remained 
until  the  commencement  of  civil  war  in  the 
United  States.  The  resignation  of  officers 
from  the  South  in  the  United  States  naval  service 
afforded  him  rapid  promotion,  and  on  the  16th 
of  July,  1862,  he  was  made  commander,  and 
ordered  to  the  New  York  navy  yard  on  ord- 
nance duty.  He  was  detached  from  the  post 
in  October  of  sixty-two,  and  was  shortly  after 
seized  with  the  illness  that  resulted  in  his  death. 
He  was  in  the  naval  service  about  twenty- 
seven  years — fourteen  of  which  he  was  at  sea ; 
five  years  and  nine  months  on  shore  and  other 
duties ;  and  seven  years  unoccupied.  He  was 
a  valuable  officer,  and  highly  esteemed. 

June  2. — Brig.-Gen.  GEO.  E.  DOLES,  an  offi- 
cer of  the  Confederate  army,  killed  near  Cold 
Harbor.  G-en.  Doles  was  from  Georgia,  and 
commanded  a  division  in  Ewell's  corps.  He 
entered  the  service  as  captain  of  Co.  A  in  the 
4th  Georgia  regiment  of  infantry,  and  was 
soon  after  promoted  to  a  colonelcy,  and  on  Nov. 
1st,  1862,  was  made  brigadier-general.  At  the 
time  the  fatal  shot  struck  him  he  was  dis- 
mounted. His  horse  had  been  restive  and 
troublesome,  and  he  had  sent  him  to  the  rear. 
The  ball  passed  through  his  heart  and  out 
under  his-  right  arm,  shattering  the  arm 
frightfully.  His  body  was  sent  to  Richmond, 
and  thence  to  his  native  State.  His  merit 
and  high  qualifications  procured  him  the'  rec- 
ommendation upon  which  he  was  created 
brigadier-general.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  34  years  of  age. 

June  2. — Col.  JEREMIAH  C.  DRAKE,  an  officer 
of  U.  S.  volunteers,  was  killed  in  the  action  at 
Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  aged  about  38  years.  He 
was  a  native  of  Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.,  but 
removed  to  "Wisconsin,  and  was  for  some  time 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  Subsequently 
he  removed  to  Rochester,  N".  Y.,  and  com- 
menced the  preparatory  studies  for  a  collegiate 
course.  He  then  entered  the  Madison  Univer- 


sity, passed  through  the  academic  course, 
studied  theology,  and  upon  the  outbreak  of  the 
rebellion  was  occupying  the  pulpit  of  the.  Bap- 
tist Church  at  Westfield.  Having  a  strong  de- 
sire to  enter  into  the  service  of  his  country,  he 
volunteered  in  the  49th  regiment  New  York, 
was  elected  captain,  and  sh'ared  in  the  disasters 
of  the  peninsular  campaign.  Upon  the  organi- 
zation of  the  112th  New  York  he  accepted  the 
colonelcy  of  the  regiment,  and  served  with  it 
during  the  siege  of  Suffolk,  and  afterwards  in 
the  siege  of  Charleston,  nnder  Gen.  Gillmore. 
Col.  Drake  was  appointed  to  command  the  2d 
brigade,  3d  division,  10th  army  corps,  in  the 
attack  upon  Richmond  via  James  River,  nnder 
Gen.  Butler. 

June  2. — Col.  LA  WHENCE  M.  KEITT,  an  officer 
in  the  Confederate  army,  died  at  Richmond 
of  wounds  received  in  the  battle  ot  the  preced- 
ing day.  Col.  Keitt  was  a  native  of  South 
Carolina ;  born  Oct.  4,  1824 ;  graduated  at  the 
College  of  South  Carolina  in  1843;  studied 
law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1845.  In 
1848  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature, 
and  in  1853  to  Congress,  to  which  he  was 
thrice  reSlected  —  his  last  term  expiring  in 
March,  1861.  At  the  time  of  Preston  Brooks' 
assault  on  Senator  Sumner,  in  1856,  he  was 
with  Brooks,  and  exerted  himself  to  prevent 
any  of  those  present  from  interfering  to  rescue 
Sumner,  and  by  word  and  act  justified  the 
ruffianly  attack.  In  the  winter  of  1861  he  left 
his  seat  in  Congress,  before  the  close  of  the 
session,  to  aid  in  carrying  out  the  secession 
measures  of  South  Carolina.  He  raised  a  regi- 
ment, and  was  in  several  of  the  earlier  battles 
of  the  war  as  colonel.  In  1863  he  was  an  act- 
ing brigadier-general,  but  was  at  the  time  of 
his  death  in  command  of  the  20th  South  Caro- 
lina regiment,  esteemed  one  of  the  finest  regi- 
mants  in  the  rebel  service  till  the  campaign  of 
1864. 

June  2. — Col.  Jomf  McCoNraE,  an  officer  of 
U.  S.  volunteers,  was  killed  in  the  battle  of 
Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  aged.  29  years.  He  was  a 
native  of  Troy,  N.  Y.;  studied  law  with  his 
father,  Hon.  Isaac  McConihe,  of  that  city,  and 
at  the  law  school  at  Albany;  graduated  at 
Union  College  in  1853,  and  was  subsequently 
chosen  one  of  the  Board  of  Education.  In 
1856  he  went  to  Omaha,  and  was  appointed 
Private  Secretary  to  the  Governor,  and  was 
afterwards  Adjutant-General  of  the  Territory. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  he  raised 
a  company,  was  made  its  captain,  participated 
in  the  Missouri  campaign  of  1861  and  part  of 
1862,  and  was  severely  wounded  in  the  battle 
of  Shiloh.  Returning  to  Troy,  he  was  appointed 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  169th  New  York,  and 
did  provost  duty  at  Washington,  participating 
also  in  the  siege  of  Morris  Island.  Subse- 
quently he  served  in  Florida,  in  the  peninsula 
under  Gen.  Butler,  and  finally  under  Gen. 
Grant. 

June  3. — Col.  FRANKLIK  A.  HASKELL,  an  offi- 
cer of  U.  S.  volunteers,  was  killed  in  the  battle 


782 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


of  Cold  Harbor,  Ya.,  aged  35  years.  He  was 
a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  in  the  class 
of  1854. 

June  8. — Col.  LEWIS  O.  MORRIS,  an  acting 
brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and  captain  in 
the  1st  artillery  in  the  regular  army,  was  killed 
in  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor.  He  was  a  native 
of  New  York.  His  father  was  an  officer  in  the 
regular  army,  killed  at  the  siege  of  Monterey, 
and  young  Morris,  though  not  educated  at 
"West  Point,  received  a  commission  as  second 
lieutenant  on  the  8th  of  March,  1847,  and  took 
part  in  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz  and  the  subse- 
quent advance  upon  Mexico.  From  that  time 
to  the  commencement  of  the  present  war  he 
has  been  almost  constantly  in  the  field,  and  in 
April,  1861,  had  attained  the  rank  of  captain 
in  the  1st  artillery.  In  the  winter  of  1860-'61 
he  was  stationed  in  Texas,  and  'his  company 
was  the  only  one  not  surrendered  to  the  rebels. 
He  was  immediately  called  to  active  service, 
and  in  the  winter  of  1862  was  designated  to 
direct  the  operations  against  Fort  Macon,  N.  0., 
which  he  captured  and  afterwards  commanded. 
In  the  summer  of  1862,  his  health  being  im- 
paired, he  obtained  a  short  leave  of  absence 
and  returned  to  his  home  in  Albany,  N.  Y., 
when  he  was  soon  after  appointed  colonel  of 
the  113th  N.  Y.  volunteer  infantry,  with  whom 
he  started  for  "Washington,  and  reached  that 
city  when  it  was  menaced  by  Lee's  troops. 
He  converted  the  regiment  into  one  of  heavy 
artillery  in  a  very  short  time,  and  contributed 
materially  to  the  defence  of  the  city.  The 
regiment  was  stationed  at  Fort  Reno,  but  this 
inactive  life  did  not  suit  the  fiery  spirit  of  Col. 
Morris,  and  he  plead  earnestly  and  repeatedly 
to  be  sent  into  the  field.  At  the  beginning  of 
the  campaign  of  1864  his  wish  was  gratified, 
and  during  all  the  battles  from  Spottsylvania 
till  his  death  he  commanded  a  brigade.  He 
was  greatly  beloved  and  admired  as  an  officer, 
and  while  a  strict  disciplinarian  his  urbanity 
and  kindness  of  heart  made  him  the  idol  of  his 
men. 

June  3. — Col.  ORLANDO  H.  MORRIS,  an  officer 
of  U.  S.  volunteers,  was  killed  in  the  action  at 
Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  aged  29  years.  He  was  a 
son  of  Gen.  "Wm.  L.  Morris,  and,  when  the  war 
broke  out,  was  a  promising  young  lawyer  in 
New  York  city.  He  assisted  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  66th  regiment  of  New  York  volun- 
teers, was  commissioned  its  major  in  November, 
1861,  and  served  in  that  capacity  through  the 
peninsular  campaign;  was  subsequently  pro- 
moted to  the  colonelcy,  and  led  his  regiment 
at  Chancellorsville,  acting  during  part  of  the 
engagement  as  brigadier-general.  During  the 
recent  severe  battles  under  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant, 
the  66th  was  very  conspicuous,  being  in  the  ad- 
vance of  the  attack  which  resulted  in  the  cap- 
iure  of  Geu.  Johnson  and  his  division. 

June  3. — Col.  PETER  A.  PORTER,  an  officer 
of  U:  S.  volunteers,  was  killed  at  the  head  of 
his  division  at  the  battle  on  the  Chickahominy, 
aged  36  years.  He  was  a  son  of  P.  B.  Porter, 


a  major-general  in  the  U.  S.  army,  and  now  an 
extensive  landholder  in  Niagara  County,  N.  Y. ; 
was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  in  1862,  and, 
by  his  talents  and  integrity  won  a  position  of 
influence  in  the  Legislature.  When  the  Pres- 
ident called  for  troops  to  repair  the  losses  of 
the  peninsular  campaign,  he  raised  a  regiment, 
and  taking  command  of  it  went  to  the  war. 
He  was  stationed  for  some  time  on  garrison 
duty  at  Baltimore,  and  while  there  was  offered 
the  nomination  for  Secretary  of  State  on  the 
Union  ticket,  but,  true  to  his  patriotism,  de- 
clined the  honor.  He  subsequently  joined  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  was  killed  at  the 
close  of  the  first  month  of  active  service,  while 
leading  on  a  division  which  he  was  temporarily 
commanding. 

June  3. — COL.  EDWIN  SCHALL,  an  officer  of 
U.  S.  volunteers,  was  killed  in  battle  at  Cold 
Harbor,  Va.,  aged  29  years.  He  was  a  son  of 
Gen.  Wm.  Schall,  and  a  native  of  Montgomery 
County,  Pa. ;  was  favorably  known  in  civil  life, 
and  was  twice  elected  Burgess  of  Norristown, 
Pa.  He  was  educated  for  the  law,  and  was 
also  a  graduate  of  Captain  Partridge's  Military 
Academy.  At  the  commencement  of  the  war 
he  was  editor  of  the  "  National  Defender,"  pub- 
lished in  Norristown,  but  abandoned  his  occu- 
pation, and  in  company  of  four  brothers,  joined 
the  4th  regiment  of  Pennsylvania  volunteers 
and  was  commissioned  its  major.  He  served 
with  his  regiment  throughout  its  whole  career, 
and  participated  in  all  its  engagements,  passing 
rapidly  through  the  usual  promotions.  Subse- 
quently he  was  transferred  to  the  command  of 
the  51st,  and  during  several  months  of  service 
in  East  Tennessee  was  in  command  of  a  brigade. 

June  3. — Col.  FREDERICK  F.  WEAD,  an  officer 
of  U.  S.  volunteers,  was  killed  in  the  battle  of 
Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  aged  29  years.  He  was 
born  in  Malone,  Franklin  County,  N.  Y.,  grad- 
uated at  Union  College  in  1856,  studied  law 
at  Poughkeepsie,  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and 
practised  his  profession  in  his  native  town  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  in  the  spring 
of  1861,  when  he  entered  the  U.  S.  service  as 
First  Lieutenant,  in  the  16th  regiment  of  New 
York  volunteers.  In  October,  1861,  he  was 
appointed  one  of  Gen.  Slocum's  staff,  with 
which  he  served  through  the  peninsular  cam- 
paign, and  in  1862  was  appointed  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  98th  regiment  New  York  volun- 
teers, and  afterwards  colonel.  Subsequently 
his  regiment  was  assigned  to  Gen.  Heckman's 
brigade,  forming  a  portion  of  the  18th  army 
corps,  under  Gen.  Smith.  During  the  battle 
of  South  Richmond  Gen.  Heckman  was  taken 
prisoner,  and  the  command  of  the  brigade  tem- 
porarily devolved  upon  Col.  Wead.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  the  18th  army  corps  was  serv- 
ing under  Gen.  Grant. 

June  5. — Col.  ARTHUR  H.  DUTTON,  an  officer 
of  U.  S.  volunteers,  was  killed  in  the  engage- 
ment near  Bermuda  Hundred.  He  was  a  na- 
tive of  Wallingford,  Conn.,  graduated  at  West 
Point  in  the  Engineer  Corps  in  1861,  and  at 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


783 


the  time  of  Ms  death  held  the  rank  of  captain 
of  engineers  in  the  regular  army.  While  on 
duty  iu  North  Carolina  with  his  regiment,  the 
21st  Connecticut  volunteers,  he  served  as  chief 
of  staff  for  Maj.-Gen.  Peck,  and  subsequently 
held  a  similar  position  upon  the  staff  of  Maj.- 
Gen.  W.  F.  Smith.  After  the  battle  of  Drury's 
Bluff,  in  which  he  greatly  distinguished  himself, 
he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  3d  brigade, 
which  position  he  had  held  but  a  few  days  when 
he  lost  his  life. 

June  5. — Brig.-Gen.  W.  E.  JONES,  an  officer 
in  the  Confederate  army,  killed  at  Piedmont, 
in  West  Virginia.  Gen.  Jones  was  an  officer 
of  cavalry,  and  reputed  to  be  one  of  the  best 
in  the  Confederate  service. 

June  7.— GORDON  WINSLOW,  M.  D.,  D.  D.,  a 
clergyman  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  fell  over- 
board from  a  transport  and  was  drowned  in 
the  Potomac,  aged  60  years.  He  was  a  native 
of  Williston,  Vt.,  graduated  at  Yale  College, 
studied  for  the  ministry,  and  became  rector  of 
a  church  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  subsequently  in 
Annapolis,  Md.  Afterwards  he  was  for  many 
years  rector  of  St.  Paul's,  Staten  Island,  and 
chaplain  of  the  Quarantine.  At  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war  he  was  appointed  chaplain  of 
the  Duryee  Zouaves,  and  accompanied  the  reg- 
iment in  all  its  hard-fought  battles.  He  also 
served  with  the  Sanitary  Commission,  and  upon 
the  return  of  his  regiment  in  1863,  was  ap- 
pointed Inspector  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
for  that  Commission,  and  was  returning  from 
his  labors  in  its  behalf  at  Belle  Plain,  having  in 
charge  his  wounded  son,  Col.  Cleveland  Win- 
slow,  when  he  met  his  untimely  death.  He  had 
been  a  frequent  contributor  to  the  press,  and  was 
a  man  of  high  and  liberal  intellectual  culture, 
and  of  a  most  genial  and  amiable  disposition. 
His  wife  had  been  for  many  months  engaged  in 
ministering  to  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  in 
Washington,  and  his  two  sons  were  officers  of 
the  Union  Army.  Rev.  Hubbard  Winslow, 
D.  D.,  of  New  York,  and  Rev.  Myron  Winslow, 
D.  D.,  missionary  in  Ceylon,  were  both  brothers 
of  the  deceased. 

June  11. — Col.  EDWARD  PYE,  an  officer  of 
U.  S.  volunteers,  died  from  wounds  received  at 
th*  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  aged  40  years. 
He  was  educated  for  the  law,  and  soon  after 
entering  upon  the  practise  of  his  profession  rose 
to  a  high. rank  at  the  bar.  When  quite  young 
he  was  appointed  District  Attorney  for  Rock- 
land  County,  N.  Y.,  and  soon  after  County 
Judge  and  Surrogate.  At  the  breaking  out  of 
the  rebellion  he  at  once  made  preparations  for 
winding  up  his  practice,  accepted  the  command 
of  a  company  in  the  95th  regiment  New  York 
State  volunteers,  then  organizing  under  the 
name  of  the  "  Warren  Rifles,"  and  in  the  fall  of 
1861  entered  into  active  service  with  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  Being  promoted  to  a  lieuten- 
ant-colonelcy, he  led  his  regiment  through  the 
carnage  of  Antietam,  followed  the  enemy  across 
the  Potomac  to  the  Rappahannock,  and  shared 
in  the  battles  of  Fredersicksburg,  Chancellors- 


ville,  and  Gettysburg,  receiving  after  the  latter 
his  commission  as  colonel.  -In  the  battles  of 
the  Wilderness  and  Spottsylvania  he  was  often 
in  the  front  ranks  of  the  army,  and  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Cold  Harbor,  while  leading  an  assault 
upon  the  breastworks  of  the  enemy,  received  a 
rifle  ball  in  the  shoulder,  and  at  the  same  mo- 
ment was  wounded  by  a  shell,  surviving  these 
injuries  but  a  few  days. 

June  14. — LEONIDAS  POLK,  a  bishop  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  General  in 
the  Confederate  service,  born  in  Raleigh,  N.  C., 
in  1806,  died  near  Marietta,  Ga.,  June  14, 1864. 
He  was  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1827,  and 
appointed  a  brevet  second  lieutenant  of  artil- 
lery; but  having,  through  the  influence  of  Bishop 
Mcllvaiue,  then  chaplain  at  West  Point,  been 
induced  to  study  for  the  ministry,  he  resigned 
his  commission  in  December,  1827,  and  three 
years  later  was  ordained  a  deacon  in  the  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  Church.  From  1831  to  1838 
he  officiated  at  various  places  in  the  South,  and 
in  the  latter  year  he  was  consecrated  Missionary 
Bishop  of  Arkansas  and  the  Indian  territory 
south  of  36°  30',  with  provisional  charge  of  the 
dioceses  of  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and  Louisiana, 
and  the  missions  in  the  republic  of  Texas.  In 
1841  he  resigned  these  charges,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  diocese  of  Louisiana,  of  which  he 
remained  bishop  until  the  close  of  his  life.  The 
outbreak  of  the  rebellion  found  him  a  strong 
sympathizer  with  the  doctrine  of  secession. 
His  education  and  associations  were  strongly 
Southern,  and  his  property,  which  was  very 
considerable  in  lands  and  slaves,  helped  to 
identify  him  with  the  project  for  establishing  a 
Southern  Confederacy.  His  familiarity  with  the 
Valley  of  the  Mississippi  prompted  him  to  urge 
upon  Jefferson  Davis  and  the  rebel  authorities 
the  importance  of  fortifying  and  holding  its 
strategical  points,  and  amidst  the  excitement  of 
the  time  the  influence  of  his  old  military  train- 
ing became  uppermost  in  his  mind.  Under 
these  circumstances  the  offer  of  a  major-general- 
ship by  Davis  was  regarded  not  unfavorably,  in 
spite  of  the  sacred  calling  which  he  had  followed 
during  thirty  years.  He  applied  to  Bishop 
Meade,  of  Virginia,  for  advice,  who  declined 
to  give  it,  but  referred  him  to  Gen.  Robert  E. 
Lee,  as  one  to  whose  judgment  he  might  safely 
defer.  Lee  unhesitatingly  advised  him  to  ac- 
cept the  commision,  and  he  at  once  did  so.  His 
first  command  extended  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Arkansas  River,  on  both  sides  of  the  Mississippi, 
to  Paducah,  on  the  Ohio,  his  headquarters  being 
at  Memphis ;  and  his  first  general  order,  issued 
July  13th,  declared  that  the  invasion  of  the 
South  by  the  Federal  armies  "  comes  bringing 
with  it  a  contempt  for  constitutional  liberty, 
and  the  withering  influence  of  the  infidelity  of 
New  England  and  Germany  combined."  It 
was  under  his  general  direction  that  the  exten- 
sive works  at  Forts  Donelson  and  Henry,  Co- 
lumbus, Ky.,  Island  No.  Ten,  Memphis,  and 
other  points  were  constructed,  and  the  skill 
with  which  thev  were  selected  for  defence  les- 


784 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


tifies  to  liis  thorough  military  training.  He  held 
this  command  until  the  spring  of  1862,  when, 
in  consequence  of  the  signal  Federal  successes 
in  that  part  of  the  country,  he  was  relieved  and 
ordered  to  join  Johnston's  and  Beauregard's 
army  at  Corinth.  As  commander  of  a  corps 
he  participated  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  in 
the  subsequent  operations  ending  with  the  evac- 
uation of  Corinth.  He  afterwards  held  a  com- 
mand in  the  army  of  Gen.  Bragg,  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  Perryville  during  the  invasion  of 
Kentucky  in  the  autumn  of  1862,  and  saw  much 
hard  fighting  at  the  stubbornly  contested  battle 
of  Murfreesboro.  Still  serving  under  Bragg,  he 
fell  back  with  him  beyond  Chattanooga  before 
the  steady  advance  of  Gen.  Rosecrans  in  the 
campaign  of  1863,  and  had  a  share  in  the  vic- 
tory of  Chickamauga.  For  disobedience  of  or- 
ders in  this  battle,  whereby,  as  was  asserted  by 
Gen.  Bragg  in  his  official  report,  the  Federal 
army  was  alone  saved  from  annihilation,  he  was 
relieved  from  his  command,  and  ordered  to  At- 
lanta. He  was  soon  after  appointed  to  com- 
•mand  the  camp  of  rebel  prisoners  paroled  at 
Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson,  and  in  the  winter  • 
and  spring  of  1864  had  temporary  charge  of 
the  Department  of  the  Mississippi.  By  skilful 
dispositions  of  his  troops  he  prevented  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Federal  cavalry  column  under  Gen. 
Smith  with  Gen.  Sherman's  army  in  south- 
ern Mississippi,  and  caused  the  campaign  under- 
taken by  the  latter  in  February  to  result  in  no 
permanent  advantage.  His  prestige  being  thus 
restored,  he  received  orders  to  unite  his  force 
with  that  of  Johnston  at  Resaca,  and  took 
command  of  one  of  the  three  corps  of  Gen. 
Johnston's  army,  which  in  the  spring  of  1864 
attempted  to  withstand  the  advance  of  Gen. 
Sherman  toward  Atlanta.  After  participating 
in  the  chief  engagements  previous  to  the  mid- 
dle of  June,  he  was  killed  by  a  cannon  shot 
while  reconnoitring  on  Pine  Mountain,  a  few 
miles  north  of  Marietta.  About  a  year  and  a 
half  before  this  he  had  been  commissioned  a 
lieutenant-general  in  the  Rebel  army.  Gen. 
Polk  never  resigned  his  diocese,  and,  it  was  said, 
intended  at  the  close  of  the  war  to  resume  his 
Episcopal  functions.  He  had  labored  zealously 
in  behalf  of  religious  interests  previous  to  the 
rebellion,  and  was  described  by  his  friends  as  of 
manly  bearing,  frank  and  cordial  manners,  and 
impressible  and  easily  kindled  temperament. 
He  was  buried  in  the  yard  of  the  Episcopal 
church  in  Augusta. 

June  15. — Col.  SIMON  H.  Mix,  an  officer  of 
U.  S.  volunteers,  was  killed  in  a  charge  upon 
the  rebel  intrenchments  at  Petersburg.  He 
was  a  native  of  Fulton  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
learned  the  printing  trade  of  his  father,  Peter 
Mix,  for  many  years  editor  of  the  "  Schoharie 
Patriot."  Both  father  and  son  were  among 
the  earliest  and  firmest  Republicans,  and  the 
latter  was,  in  1860,  Republican  candidate  for 
Congress,  but  was  beaten  by  a  few  votes  by 
Hon.  Chauncey  Vibbard,  Superintendent  of  the 
Central  Railroad.  At  the  commencement  of 


the  war  the  subject  of  our  sketch  dedicated 
himself  to  the  service  of  his  country.  He  was 
appointed  major  and  finally  colonel  of  the  3d 
cavalry  regiment  New  York,  which  he  was  in- 
strumental in  raising,  and  died  at  its  head. 

June  15. — Col. RIELT,  an  officer  of  the 

Confederate  army,  killed  at  New  Hope  Churcli, 
in  Georgia.  Col.  Riely  was  colonel  of  the  1st 
Missouri  regiment  of  infantry  (Gen.  John  S. 
Bowen's  old  regiment),  and  was  sleeping  in  the 
trenches  when  a  spherical-case  shot  from  the 
Federal  guns  burst  near  the  parapet,  and  an 
accidental  ball  mortally  wounded  him. 

June  16. — Hon.  ANDREW  EWING,  an  officer 
in  the  Confederate  service,  died  in  Atlanta,  Ga. 
He  was  a  lawyer  of  eminence,  and  a  politician 
of  considerable  importance,  having  for  many 
years  participated  in  the  political  controversies 
which  mark  the  history  of  Tennessee.  He  rep- 
resented the  Nashville  district,  Tenn.,  in  Con- 
gress during  one  term,  and  in  February,  1861, 
was  elected  to  represent  Davidson  County  in 
the  proposed  State  Convention,  which  was 
voted  down  by  the  people,  being  at  that  time  a 
sincere  Union  man.  Unfortunately  he  was  sub- 
sequently drawn  away  from  his  allegiance  to 
the  Union,  and  took  an  active  part  against  the 
Government.  After  the  fall  of  Fort  Donelson 
he  left  his  home  and  became  an  exile,  holding 
until  he  died  some  position  in  the  rebel  army. 

June  20. — JOHU  K.  HABDENBEOOK,  Acting 
Assistant  Surgeon  U.  S.  A.,  died  at  Rush  Bar- 
racks, "Washington,  D.  C.,  in  the  62d  year  of 
his  age,  of  typhoid  fever,  contracted  while  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duties  at  L'Ouverture  Hos- 
pital, Alexandria,  Va.  Dr.  Hardenbrook  was 
one  of  the  oldest  physicians  of  New  York  city, 
and  for  several  years  Secretary  of  the  New 
York  County  Medical  Society ;  also  one  of  the 
first  trustees  of  the  Rutgers  Female  Institute, 
and  was  a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest  Masonic 
Lodges  in  New  York.  He  promptly  offered  his 
services  in  response  to  a  call  for  more  surgeons 
for  the  army,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  at 
Alexandria,  where  he  labored  faithfully  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duties  until  attacked  with  the 
disease  which  terminated  in  death. 

June  22. — WILLIAM  WHEELEB,  an  officer  of 
United  States  volunteers,  was  killed  near  Mari- 
etta, Ga.,  aged  28  years.  He  was  a  native  of 
New  York  city,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in 
the  class  of  1855,  and  studied  law  until  1857, 
when  he  sailed  for  Europe.  After  passing  the 
summer  in  travel,  he  continued  the  study  of  law 
at  the  University  of  Berlin,  and  subsequently 
visited  Italy  and  Greece.  In  July,  1858,  he  re- 
turned to  New  Haven,  and  the  following  spring 
entered  the  Law  School  at  Cambridge,  Mass., 
where  he  received  the  degree  of  LL.D.  in  1860. 
Soon  after  he  opened  an  office  in  New  York, 
and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
but  upon  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion  his  pa- 
triotic impulses  led  him  to  accompany  the  7th 
regiment  of  N.  Y.  S.  N.  G.  to  the  defence  of 
the  Capital.  After  this  temporary  service  he 
raised  a  company  and  was  made  lieutenant,  and 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


785 


subsequently  captain  of  the  13th  Independent 
battery  of  N.  Y.  In  the  Shenandoah  valley, 
and  at  G  ettysburg,  with  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac, and  subsequently  in  the  battle  of  Lookout 
Mountain,  he  bore  an  honorable  part.  He  was 
afterwards  appointed  chief  of  artillery  on  the 
staff  of  Gen.  Geary,  2d  division,  20th  army 
corps,  and  met  his  death  while  bravely  holding 
an  exposed  position  with  his  battery  in  the  face 
of  the  enemy. 

June  27. — Brig.-Gen.  CHAKLES  G.  HAKKER, 
an  officer  of  United  States  volunteers,  was  kill- 
ed in  the  battle  at  Kenesaw,  Ga.  He  gradu- 
ated at  "West  Point  about  1857,  and  was  ap- 
pointed second  lieutenant  of  the  9th  United 
States  infantry,  and  afterwards  captain  in  the 
15th  regulars.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
he  was^ppointed  to  the  colonelcy  of  the  65th 
Ohio,  known  as  Sherman's  brigade;  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  Stone  River,  Chicka- 
mauga,  and  Mission  Ridge,  in  the  latter  being 
the  first  to  pass  the  enemy's  works,  and  took 
an  active  part  in  the  East  Tennessee  campaign 
with  the  4th  army  corps.  He  was  commis- 
sioned brigadier-general  for  his  gallantry  at 
Chickamauga.  He  fell  while  bravely  leading 
on  his  brigade,  and  within  a  few  yards  of  the 
enemy's  works.  . 

June  27. — Gol.  OSOAE  F.  HARMON,  an  officer 
of  United  States  volunteers,  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Ga.  He  was  a 
native  of  Wheatland,  Monroe  County,  N.  Y., 
studied  law  in  the  school  of  Prof.  John  "W. 
Fowler,  at  Ballston  Spa,  N.  Y.,  and  in  the 
office  of  Smith  and  Griffin,  at  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
In  1853  he  removed  to  Danville,  111.,  where  he 
practised  his  profession  with  distinguished  suc- 
cess until  the  summer  of  1862,  when,  from  a 
strong  desire  to  serve  his  country  in  the  army, 
he  accepted  the  proffered  command  of  the  125th 
regiment  of  Illinois  volunteers,  which  position 
he  held  with  increasing  popularity  until  his 
death.  In  the  terrible  assault  upon  the  rebel 
position  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  his  regiment 
was  assigned  a  difficult  point.  The  brigade 
commander,  Gen.  McCook,  being  dangerously 
wounded,  the  command  devolved  upon  Col. 
Harmon,  and  while  nobly  cheering  on  his  men 
he  was  struck  by  a  ball  in  his  breast,  which  im- 
mediately proved  fatal. 

,  June  80. — Col.  WILLIAM  WILSON,  an  officer 
of  United  States  volunteers,  killed  by  a  fall 
from  his  horse  at  his  farm  in  Westchester 
County,  N.  Y.  He  was  the  leader  of  the  famous 
Wilson-  Zouaves,  and  served  with  his  regiment 
in  many  positions  of  great  danger  and  exposure, 
being  stationed  for  several  months  at  Santa 
Rosa  Island,  previous  to  the  capture  of  Fort 
Pickens.  His  camp  was  once  surprised  while 
there,  and  made  a  gallant  fight. 

July  4. — Brig.-Gen.  JAMES  E.  BLYTHE,  an 
officer  of  the  Indiana  militia,  died  at  Evans- 
ville,  Ind.,  aged  45  years.  He  was  a  native  of 
Lexington,  Ky.,  graduated  at  Hanover  College, 
Ind.,  in  1838,  studied  law  in  New  Jersey,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  that  State  in  1840, 
60 


and  the  following  year  removed  to  Evansville, 
where  he  entered  upon  the  practise  of  his  pro- 
fession. His  talents  and  learning  enabled  him 
in  a  short  time  to  take  his  position  among  the 
leading  members  of  the  profession  in  the  Su- 
preme and  inferior  Courts  of  the  State,  and  in 
the  Courts  of  the  United  States.  He  was  a 
prominent  and  influential  member  of  the  Con- 
stitutional Convention  of  Indiana  in  1850-'51, 
and  also  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of 
that  State  in  1859.  During  the  years  1862  and 
1863  he  was  brigadier-general  of  the  active 
militia  or  Legion  of  Indiana,  and  through  his 
exertions  and  influence  the  Legion  of  the  border 
counties  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  State 
was.  organized  and  rendered  sufficiently  formi- 
dable for  the  prevention  of  raids. 

July  6. — Brig.-Gen.  SAMUEL  A.  RICE,  an  offi- 
cer of  United  States  volunteers  from  Iowa,  died 
at  Oskaloosa,  Iowa,  of  wounds  received  in  the 
battle  of  Jenkins'  Ferry,  in  Arkansas.  He  was 
a  native  of  New  York,  but  had  removed  to 
Iowa,  and  engaged  in  civil  pursuits,  and  soon 
after  the  opening  of  the  war  entered  the  ser- 
vice as  colonel  of  the  33d  Iowa  volunteers.  He 
soon  distinguished  himself  for  military  skill  and 
courage,  and  was  put  in  command  of  a  brigade, 
and  on  the  4th  of  July,  1863,  at  the  battle  of 
Helena,  Ark.,  his  command  was  conspicuous 
for  its  bravery  and  good  conduct.  For  his 
meritorious  conduct  in  this  and  subsequent 
battles,  he  was  appointed  brigadier-general,  his 
commission  dating  August  4,  1863.  He  took 
an  honorable  part  in  every  battle  of  the  ardu- 
ous campaigns  of  that  and  the  succeeding  year 
in  Arkansas,  up  to  the  time  of  receiving  his 
fatal  wound. 

July  7. — Col.  CLEVELAND  WINSLOW,  an  offi- 
cer of  U.  S.  volunteers,  died  in  the  hospital  at 
Alexandria,  Va.,  from  wounds  received  at  the 
battles  near  Mechanicsville,  Va.,  aged  28  years. 
He  was  a  native  of  Medford,  Mass.,  and  the 
eldest  son  of  the  Rev.  Gordon  Winslow,  D.  D. 
When  the  war  commenced  he  was  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits  in  New  York  city,  but  hav- 
ing some  military  knowledge  from  his  connec- 
tion with  the  militia,  he  raised  a  company  of 
men  and  departed  with  the  famous  Duryea 
Zouaves  for  the  seat  of  war,  continuing  with 
them  for  two  years  in  all  their  engagements. 
Immediately  upon  the  return  of  his  regiment  he 
raised  another,  and  with  it  was  engaged  in  all 
the  important  battles  of  the  Army  of"the  Poto- 
mac since  that  period. 

July  11. — Col.  P.  STEABNS  DAVIS,  39th  regi- 
ment Massachusetts  volunteers,  an  officer  in  the 
volunteer  service,  killed  near  Petersburg,  Va. 

July  17. — Col.  DAN.  MoCooK,  an  officer  of 
United  States  volunteers,  died  in  Steubenville, 
Ohio,  of  wounds  received  in  the  battle  of  Kene- 
saw Mountain,  making  the  fourth  member  of 
the  family  who  have  fallen  in  the  service  of 
their  country,  and  leaving  two  brothers  only, 
who  were  at  that  time  commanding  Ohio  regi- 
ments in  the  field. 

July  20. — Brig.-Gen.  AKMISTEAD  L.  LONG, 


786 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


an  officer  of  the  Confederate  army  from  Georgia, 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga. 

July  20. — Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  J.  PETTUS,  an 
officer  of  the  Confederate  army  from  Missis- 
sippi, formerly  Governor  of  that  State,  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga. 

July  20. — Brig.-Gen.  GEOEGE  M.  STEVENS, 
an  officer  of  the  Confederate  army  from  Mary- 
land, killed  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
Ga. 

July  21. — Brig.-Gen.  LTJOIEN  GEKATHOTTSE, 
of  U.  S.  volunteers,  killed  in  a  skirmish  near 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  aged  21  years. ,  He  was  a  native 
of  Carlinsville,  111.,  graduated  at  Bloomington, 
studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  At 
the  commencement  of  the  war  he  volunteered 
as  a  private,  and  after  passing  through  every 
intermediate  grade  was  commissioned  colonel 
of  the  48th  Illinois,  his  regiment  bearing  a  con- 
spicuous part  in  the  achievements  of  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee.  He  was  made  a  brigadier-gen- 
eral only  a  day  or  two  previous  to  his  death. 

July  22. — JAMES  BIEDSETE  MoPnERSON,  a 
major-general  of  United  States  volunteers,  born 
in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  November  14th, 
1828,  killed  near  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  22d,  1864. 
He  entered  "West  Point  from  Ohio  in  1849,  and 
at  the  end  of  that  year  ranked  second  in  his  class. 
The  two  years  following  he  stood  first,  graduat- 
ing at  the  head  of  his  class  June  30th,  1853, 
and  was  at  once  appointed  brevet  second  lieu- 
tenant of  engineers  and  assistant  instructor  of 
practical  engineering  at  the  Academy,  a  compli- 
ment never  before  awarded  to  so  young  an  offi- 
cer. He  was  next  appointed  assistant  engineer 
on  the  defences  of  New  York  harbor,  and  on 
the  improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Hud- 
son River,  having  previously  been  made  full 
second  lieutenant  of  engineers.  In  January, 
1857,  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  construc- 
tion of  Fort  Delaware,  and  subsequently  of  the 
erection  of  fortifications  on  Alcatras  Island,  San 
Francisco  Bay,  California,  and  was  also  con- 
nected with  the  survey  of  the  Pacific  coast.  In 
December,  1858,  he  was  promoted  to  first  lieu- 
tenant, and  in  1861  was  ordered  from  the  Paci- 
fic coast  to  take  charge  of  the  fortifications  of 
Boston  harbor.  The  same  year  he  was  made 
captain,  and  upon  the  appointment  of  Maj.-Gen. 
Halleck  to  the  command  of  the  Department  of 
the  West  in  November,  he  was  chosen  aide-de- 
camp to  that  general,  and  at  the  same  time  was 
promoted  as  lieutenant-colonel.  In  the  expedi- 
tions against  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson  he  was 
chief  engineer  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee, 
and  subsequently  was  at  Shiloh,  and  as  colonel 
on  Gen.  Halleck's  staff,  held  the  chief  engineer- 
ing charge  of  the  approaches  to  Corinth,  which 
ended  in  its  evacuation.  On  the  15th  of  May, 
1862,  b.3  was  made  brigadier-general  of  volun- 
teers, and  appointed  general  superintendent  of 
military  railroads  in  the  district  of  West  Ten- 
nessee the  following  June.  In  September,  1862, 
Gen.  McPherson  held  a  position  on  the  staff  of 
Gen.  Grant;  and  for  his  gallantry  at  Corinth 
was  promoted  to  be  major-general,  dating  from 


October  8th,  rising  to  that  position  in  the  short 
space  of  nine  years,  and  by  merit  alone.  From 
that  time  till  the  close  of  the  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
during  which  he  commanded  the  centre  of  our 
army,  his  career  was  one  course  of  triumph. 
Gen.  Grant  wrote  of  him :  "He  is  one  of  the 
ablest  engineers  and  most  skilful  generals.  I 
would  respectfully,  but  urgently,  recommend 
his  promotion  to  the  position  of  brigadier-gen- 
eral in  the  regular  army." 

Upon  this  recommendation  Gen.  McPherson 
was  immediately  confirmed  a  brigadier-general 
in  the  regular  army,  dating  from  August  1st, 
1863,  and  soon  after  conducted  a  column  into 
Mississippi  and  repulsed  the  enemy  at  Canton. 
Subsequently  Gen.  McPherson's  department 
was  extended  so  as  to  embrace  all  the  region 
bordering  the  Mississippi  River,  from  Helena, 
Arkansas,  to  the  mcfhth  of  the  Red  River,  with 
headquarters  at  Vicksburg.  In  the  memorable 
expedition  to  Meridian  he  was  second  in  com- 
mand to  Gen.  Sherman,  and  during  the  first 
Atlanta  campaign  his  command  was  the  De- 
partment of  the  Tennessee,  including  the  entire 
15th,  16th,  and  17th  corps.  He  distinguished 
himself  at  Resaca,  Dallas,  Allatoona,  Kulp  House, 
and  EJenesaw.  In  the  battles  before  Atlanta 
Gen.  McPherson's  grand  division  held  the  left 
of  the  line.  In  superintending  the  advance  of 
his  skirmish  line  h"e  had  ridden  from  left  to 
right,  and  was  returning  when  he  was  suddenly 
confronted  by  a  party  of  the  enemy  in  ambush, 
and  received  a  shot  in  the  breast  causing  almost 
instant  death.  Gen.  McPherson  was  a  man  of 
indefatigable  energy,  tireless  industry,  and  a 
bravery  which  almost  amounted  to  recklessness. 
He  always  reconnoitred  in  person. 

July  22. — Maj.-Gen.  WILLIAM  WALKER,  an 
officer  of  the  Confederate  army,  killed  in  the 
battle  of  the  twenty-second  of  July,  in  front 
of  Atlanta,  Ga.  Gen.  Walker  was  from  Georgia, 
and  commanded  principally  Georgia  troops. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  and  greatly 
distinguished  himself  in  the  war  with  Mexico, 
where  he  was  severely  and  dangerously  wounded 
a  number  of  times.  He  was  notorious  particu- 
larly for  three  things :  his  reckless  courage,  the 
number  of  wounds  he  had  received,  and  the 
habitual  expression  of  "  By  G — ,  sir." 

July  26. — Col.  JAMES  A.  MULLIGAN,  an  officer 
of  U.  S.  volunteers,  born  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  June 
25,  1830 ;  died  July«26,  1864,  from  wounds  re- 
ceived at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  Va.  He  was 
of  Irish  descent,  his  parents  having  emigrated 
to  this  country  a  few  years  previous  to  his 
birth.  In  the  autumn  of  1836  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Chicago,  and  after  a  few  years'  resi- 
dence placed  him  in  the  University  of  St.  Mary's 
of  the  Lake.  He  graduated  in  1850,  being  the 
first  graduate  from  the  University,  and  in  the 
same  year  commenced  the  study  of  the  law. 
In  1851  he  accompanied  John  Lloyd  Stephens, 
the  American  author,  on  his  expedition  to  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama.  After  remaining  at  Pan- 
ama about  a  year,  the  deceased  returned  to 
Chicaco,  and  in  1855  he  was  admitted  to  the 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


787 


bar,  and  immediately  commenced  practise  in 
that  city.  During  the  winter  of  1857  he  was 
appointed  to  a  clerkship  in  the  office  of  the  In- 
terior at  Washington.  When  the  war  broke 
out  he  obtained  the  requisite  authority,  and  in 
a  few  weeks  raised  a  fine  regiment  of  Irishmen, 
the  23d  Illinois  infantry,  afterwards  known  as 
"Mulligan's  Brigade,"  was  made  colonel,  and 
in  July,  1861,  left  for  the  front.  During  the 
first  month  or  two  of  service  the  regiment  was 
actively  engaged  in  Virginia  and  Missouri  until 
September,  when  it  was  ordered  to  the  defence 
of  Lexington.  For  nine  days  Col.  Mulligan  held 
the  town  against  heavy  odds,  praying  for  re- 
enforcements ;  but  reinforcements  came  not. 
Lexington  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  and 
Col.  Mulligan  and  his  command  were  also  cap- 
tured. He  was  exchanged  on  the  25th  of  Nov., 
and  returned  to  Chicago  as  the  hero  of  Lexing- 
ton. On  his  return  he  reorganized  his  regi- 
ment. In  January,  1862,  he  was  ordered  with 
his  regiment  to  proceed  to  New  Creek,  Va., 
and  hold  that  post.  From  that  date  till  the 
time  of  his  reenlistment  (in  June,  1864),  Col. 
Mulligan  participated  in  several  hard-fought 
battles. 

In  the  battle  of  Winchester  during  a  charge 
on  the  rebel  lines  he  was  mortally  wounded ;  a 
squad  of  his  men  seeing  him  fall,  attempted  to 
carry  him  off  the  field,  but  seeing  that  the  colors 
of  his  brigade  were  endangered,  he  turned  to 
his  bearers  and  exclaimed,  "  Lay  me  down  and 
save  the  flag,"  repeating  the  order  upon  their 
hesitation.  They  obeyed  him,  and  ere  their  re- 
turn, he  was  borne  off  by  the  enemy,  and  soon 
after  died  in  their  hands.  Col.  Mulligan  was 
at  one  time  offered  a  commission  of  brigadier- 
general,  but  declined,  preferring  to  remain  with 
his  old  regiment.  He  was  a  peculiarly  gifted 
writer,  strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits,  and 
an  earnest,  devoted  Catholic. 

July  27. — SILAS  MILLER,  colonel  of  the  36th 
regiment  Illinois  volunteers,  died  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  from  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  Ga.,  aged  25  years.  He 
was  born  in  Tompkins  County,  N.  Y.,  but  when 
very  young  removed  to  Aurora,  Illinois,  learn- 
ed the  printer's  trade,  pursuing  his  education 
in  the  mean  time,  and  when  the  war  broke  out 
was  diligently  engaged  in  the  study  of  law.  In 
April,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  volunteer  service 
as  a  private,  passing  rapidly  through  the  differ- 
ent grades  of  promotion,  and  doing  important 
service  in  the  early  campaign  of  Missouri  and 
Arkansas,  and  in  Mississippi  and  East  Ten- 
nessee; was  taken  prisoner  by  the  enemy  at 
the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  and  after  his  ex- 
change was  commissioned  colonel  of  his  regi- 
ment, participating  with  it  in  the  fearful  battles 
of  Chickamauga  and  Mission  Eidge,  where  he 
commanded  a  brigade.  From  thence  he  went 
with  his  command  into  East  Tennessee,  endur- 
ing with  them  one  of  the  severest  campaigns  of 
the  war.  In  January,  1864,  he  reenlisted,  ac- 
companied Gen.  Sherman  on  his  eventful  cam- 
paign, and  participated  in  all  the  engagements 


between  Chattanooga  and  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
where  he  received  the  fatal  wound. 

July  29. — ABRAHAM  SIDDON  Cox,  M.  D., 
Surgeon-in-Chief  of  the  1st  division,  20th 
corps,  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  died  in  the 
officers'  hospital,  Lookout  Mountain,  Tenn., 
aged  64  years.  Dr.  Cox  was  a  native  of  New 
York,  and  had  been  for  many  years  one  of  the 
most  eminent  medical  practitioners  of  New 
York  city.  At  the  opening  of  the  war,  with  a 
rare  patriotism,  he  relinquished  his  large  prac- 
tice and  took  an  appointment  as  a  surgeon  in 
the  army.  His  abilities  were  recognized,  and 
he  was  promoted  to  be  surgeon-in-chief  of 
division ;  but  the  hardships  and  exposures  of 
the  Chattanooga  and  Atlanta  campaigns  had 
broke  down  his  health  and  terminated  his  use- 
ful life.  . 

Aug.  5. — Capt.  Tuxis  AUGUSTUS  CEAVEN,  U. 
S.  navy,  killed  by  the  explosion  of  the  Tecum- 
seh  by  a  torpedo,  in  Mobile  Bay.  He  was  a 
native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  entered  the 
navy  as  a  midshipman,  June  2,  1829,  serving 
on  different  vessels  until  1837,  when,  upon  his 
own  request,  he  was  placed  on  the  Coast  Sur- 
vey. In  1841  he  was  promoted  to  a  lieuten- 
ancy, and  was  attached  to  the  sloop-of-war 
Falmouth  till  1843,  when  he  was  transferred 
to  the  receiving-ship  North  Carolina.  Subse- 
quently he  was  connected  with  the  Pacific 
squadron,  and  again  from  1850  to  1859  upon 
the  Coast  Survey,  from  which  he  was  appoint- 
ed to  the  command  of  the  steamer  Mohawk,  of 
the  home  squadron,  stationed  off  the  coast  of 
Cuba  to  intercept  slavers.  When  the  war 
broke  out  Capt.  Craven  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  Crusader,  and  had  an  important 
share  in  preserving  for  the  Union  the  fortress 
of  Key  West.  In  April,  1861,  he  was  appoint- 
ed commander  of  the  new  sloop  Tuscarora, 
and  was  sent  after  rebel  cruisers.  At  his  own 
request  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  monitor 
Tecumseh,  early  in  the  present  year,  and  joined 
the  James  River  flotilla.  Recently  he  was 
ordered  to  reenforce  Admiral  Farragut,  and 
bravely  met  his  fate  during  the  assault  on  the 
defences  of  Mobile. 

Aug.  5. — JOHN  FARON,  Chief  Engineer  U.  S. 
navy,  was  lost  by  the  sinking  of  the  monitor 
Tecumseh,  in  Mobile  Bay.  He  entered  the 
service  in  1840,  being  appointed  from  the  State 
of  New  Jersey,  of  which  he  was  a  native. 
Upon  the  completion  of  the  U.  S.  steam  frigate 
Powhatan,  he  was  attached  to  her  as  one  of 
her  officers,  and  served  three  years  and  a  half 
in  her,  making  a  cruise  in  the  Gulf,  thence  to 
China  and  Japan.  He  served  as  senior  assist- 
ant on  the  Niagara  during  the  laying  of  the 
Atlantic  cable,  and  was  in  charge  of  the  en- 
gine department  tff  the  San  Jacinto  when  the 
rebel  commissioners,  Slidell  and  Mason,  were 
captured,  since  which  time  he  has  been  super- 
intendent of  the  monitors  built  at  the  iron  ship- 
building yard  at  Jersey  City.  Previous  to  the 
Tecumseh  being  commissioned,  he  was  ordered 
to  the  Onondaga ;  but  preferring  to  go  to  sea  in 


788 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


a  vessel  of  his  own  construction,  he  succeeded 
iii  getting  detached  and  ordered  to  the  Tecum- 
seh,  and  had  left  a  sick  bed  to  be  present  at 
the  engagement  during  which  he  lost  his  life. 

Aug.  6. — Brig.-Gen.  GRIFFIN  A.  STEDMAN, 
an  officer  of  U.  S.  volunteers,  killed  near  Pe- 
tersburg. He  was  a  native  of  Hartford,  Ct.,  a 
graduate  of  Trinity  College,  and  entered  the 
service  in  1861  as  major  of  the  llth  regiment 
Connecticut  volunteers.  On  the  resignation  of 
the  lieutenant-colonel  he  was  advanced  to  that 
position,  and  in  the  battle  of  Antietam,  where 
Col.  Kingsbury,  the  commander  of  the  regi- 
ment, was  killed,  he  was  wounded,  but  not 
fatally.  Recovering,  he  commanded  the  regi- 
ment at  Fredericksburg,  and  Chancellorsville, 
and  Gettysburg.  At  the  commencement  of 
the  campaign  of  1864  he  was  put  in  command 
of  a  brigade,  and  fought  through  all  the  terri- 
ble battles  of  the  campaign  in  such  a  way  as 
to  win  the  frequent  commendation  of  his  supe- 
rior officers.  After  the  explosion  of  the  mine 
at  Petersburg  his  brigade  was  much  exposed  to 
the  assaults  of  the  enemy,  and  in  one  of  the 
frequent  skirmishes  which  occurred  he  lost  his 
life.  His  commission  as  brigadier-general  did 
not  arrive  till  after  his  death,  though  he  had 
been  acting  in  that  capacity  for  several  months. 

Aug.  16. — Brig.-Gen.  VICTOR  J.  B.  GIRARDEY, 
an  officer  in  the  Confederate  army,  killed  in 
the  action  near  Richmond,  Va.  He  was  quite 
young,  and  had  previously  to  the  campaign  of 
1864  been  provost  marshal  of  Richmond. 

Aug.  16. — Col.  ABEL  D.  STREIGHT,  IT.  S. 
volunteers,  killed  during  an  engagement  at 
Dalton,  Ga.  He  was  a  resident  of  Indianapo- 
lis when  the  war  broke  out,  and  when  the  call 
was  made  for  three  years'  men,  raised  a  regi- 
ment, of  which  he  was  made  colonel,  and  took 
part  in  the  campaign  which  placed  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee  in  the  possession  of  the  Union 
armies.  In  1863  he  led  a  cavalry  force  on  a 
raid  through  Alabama,  which,  though  well 
conducted,  was  but  partially  successful,  and  re- 
sulted in  his  being  taken  prisoner  and  confined 
in  Libby  prison.  After  a  long  period  of  priva- 
tion and  suffering,  he  made  his  escape  and  re- 
turned to  his  home  in  Indiana,  but  soon  after 
rejoined  his  regiment  in  the  field. 

Aug.  16. — Brig.-Gen.  DANIEL  PHINEAS  WOOD- 
BTTBY,  U.  8.  volunteers,  died  at  Key  West,  Fla., 
of  yellow  fever.  He  graduated  at  West  Point 
in  1836,  and  was  first  commissioned  in  the  3d 
artillery,  but  in  1838  was  made  second  lieuten- 
ant in  the  corps  of  engineers.  In  1847  he  was 
engaged  in  the  survey  of  the  Oregon  route.  In 
1853  he  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy,  and  pre- 
vious to  1860  was  engaged  in  the  work  of  con- 
structing Fort  Jefferson,  in  the  Tortugas.  In 
May,  1861,  he  was  appointed  to  superintend 
the  construction  of  a  part  of  the  defences  of 
Washington  under  Gen.  Barnard,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  was  made  lieutenant-colonel  of 
volunteers,  and  subsequently  brigadier-general 
of  volunteers,  to  date  from  March  19,  1862, 
•and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Engineer 


Brigade  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  During 
the  whole  of  the  peninsular  campaign  Geru 
Woodbury's  command  was  engaged  in  con- 
structing bridges,  railroads,  earthworks,  &c., 
and  greatly  assisted  the  army  in  its  movements. 
After  the  appointment  of  Gen.  Hooker  to  the 
army,  Gen.  Woodbury  accepted  an  assignment 
to  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  as  commander 
of  the  district  of  Key  West  and  Tortugas,  ar- 
riving at  his  new  post  April,  1863.  In  June, 
1863,  he  was  promoted  to  be  lieutenant-colonel 
of  engineers  in  the  United  States  army.  He 
was  the  author  of  a  work  entitled  "  Sustaining 
Walls,"  1854;  also,  "Theory  of  the  Arch," 
1858. 

Aug.  21. — Commander  JAMES  M.  DUNCAN, 
an  officer  of  the  U.  S.  navy,  died  in  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  of  disease-  of  the  heart,  aged  44  years. 
He  was  a  native  of  Madisonville,  Ohio,  entered 
the  navy  in  1837,  and  subsequently  passed 
through  a  course  of  study  at  the  naval  school, 
Philadelphia.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the 
Mexican  war,  and  especially  distinguished  him- 
self in  the  contest  which  preceded  the  annexa- 
tion of  California.  The  commencement  of  the 
present  war  found  him  serving  as  a  lieutenant 
on  the  U.  S.  steamer  Crusader,  then  just  com- 
pleting a  two  years'  cruise  after  slavers  on  the 
coast  of  Cuba.  In  1862  he  was  appointed 
commander,  and  assigned  to  the  storeship  Re- 
lease, and  subsequently  to  the  monitor  Wee- 
hawken,  of  which  he  had  command  when  she 
went  down  in  Charleston  harbor,  but  was 
providentially  on  board  the  flag-ship  at>the 
time  of  the  disaster.  He  was  in  command  of 
the  Norwich,  and  assisted  in  the  bombardment 
of  Fort  Pulaski,  and  of  Jacksonville,  Fla. 
During  his  service  on  the  Gulf  blockade,  Com- 
mander Duncan  contracted  the  disease  which 
terminated  his  life. 

Aug.  21.— Col.  A.  F.  DUSHANE,  an  officer  of 
U.  S.  volunteers,  killed  before  Petersburg,  Va. 
He  was  at  the  time  of  his  death  acting  as  brig- 
adier-general of  the  Maryland  brigade. 

Aug.  23. — Col.  CARTER  VAN  VLEOK,  an  offi- 
cer of  U.  S.  volunteers,  died  in  a  field  hospital, 
near  Atlanta,  Ga.,  from  a  wound  received  in 
action.  He  was  an  eminent  lawyer  of  Illinois, 
joined  the  78th  Illinois  volunteers  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war,  and  had  recently  been 
made  colonel. 

Aug.  29.— Dr.  W.  H.  RULISON,  Medical  Di- 
rector of  the  cavalry  corps  of  the  Army  of  the 
Shenandoah,  killed  near  Winchester  by  a  rebel 
sharpshooter.  He  was  from  Ohio,  and  had  at- 
tained a  high  reputation  for  ability  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

Sept.  1. — Brig.-Gen.  ROBERT  H.  ANDERSON, 
an  officer  in  the  Confederate  army  from  Geor- 
gia, a  graduate  of  West  Point,  killed  in  the 
battle  of  Jonesboro,  Ga. 

Sept.  1. — Brig.-Gen.  ALFRED  GUMMING,  an 
officer  in  the  Confederate  army  from  Georgia, 
a  graduate  of  West  Point,  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Jonesboro,  Ga. 

Sept.  1.— Col.  WILLIAM  T.  0.  GROWER,  an 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


789 


officer  of  U.  S.  volunteers,  killed  at  Jonesboro, 
Ga.,  while  leading  his  troops  against  the  rebel 
intrenchments,  aged  25  years.  He  was  a  resi- 
dent of  New  York  previous  to  the  war,  and  for 
several  years  was  connected  with  the  Metro- 
politan Bank.  lie  entered  the  volunteer  ser- 
vice in  May,  1861,  as  captain  in  the  17th  regi- 
ment N.  Y.  S.  M.,  was  promoted  to  the  position 
of  major,  and  passed  through  the  various  cam- 
paigns of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  until  the 
second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  when  he  was 
wounded  and  disabled  for  nearly  a  year.  He 
afterwards  reorganized  the  regiment,  serving 
with  it  in  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  sub- 
sequently in  th,e  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Sept.  1. — Brig.-Gen. PATTEN,  an  officer 

in  the  Confederate  army,  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Jonesboro,  Ga. 

Sept.  2. — Col.  DAVID  IRELAND,  an  officer  of 
U.  S.  volunteers,  died  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  from  a 
wound  received  at  Resaca  some  months  previ- 
ous. He  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  entered  the 
service  in  the  137th  New  York,  and  distin- 
guished himself  at  the  battles  of  Lookout 
Mountain,  Mission  Ridge,  and  Resaca,  where 
he  was  severely  wounded.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  commanded  the  3d  brigade,  2d  divi- 
sion, 20th  corps. 

Sept.  3. — Col.  FREEMAN  McGn,VERY,  an  offi- 
cer of  U.  S.  volunteers  from  Maine,  died  while 
under  the  influence  of  chloroform,  undergoing 
an  operation  made  necessary  by  a  wound  re- 
ceived at  the  battle  of  Chaffin's  Farm.  He  was 
a  skilful  artillerist,  and  at  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, on  the  2d  of  July,  as  chief  of  artillery  in 
Sedgwick's  corps,  turned  the  fortunes  of  the 
day  by  the  skill  and  promptness  with  which  he 
planted  his  batteries,  and  the  tenacity  with 
which  he  held  them  to  their  work.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  was  chief  of  artillery  in 
the  10th  corps,  Army  of  the  James. 

Sept.  3. — Major  REID  SANDERS,  an •  officer  in 
the  Confederate  service,  a  son  of  the  Confeder- 
ate Agent,  George  N.  Sanders,  died  at  Fort 
Warren,  Boston,  aged  27  years.  He  was  sent 
as  bearer  of  despatches  from  the  Confederate 
Government  to  Europe,  on  a  blockade-runner, 
but  was  captured  and  confined  in  Fort  Warren 
as  a  prisoner  of  state. 

Sept.  4. — Brig.-Gen.  MILO  S.  HA  so  ALL,  an 
officer  of  U.  S.  volunteers  from  Indiana,  who 
entered  the  service  as  colonel  of  one  of  the 
Indiana  regiments,  but  was  promoted  to  a 
brigadier-generalship  in  1862.  He  handled  his 
brigade  with  great  skill  and  bravery  in  the 
battle  of  Stone  River,  where  he  was  wounded, 
but  returned  to  his  command  and  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga  and  Mission 
Ridge,  and  was  active  as  division  commander 
in  the  early  battles  of  the  Atlantic  campaign. 
He  was  killed  in  an  engagement  near  Frank- 
lin, Tenn. 

Sept.  4. — Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  H.  MORGAN,  an 
officer  of  the  Confederate  army,  killed  at 
Greenville,  Tenn.  Gen.  Morgan  was  born  on 
the  1st  of  June,  1826,  in  the  beautiful  city  of 


Huntsville,  Ala.  In  1330  he  removed  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  settled  on  the  Tates  Creek  road,  two 
miles  from  Lexington.  At  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war  with  Mexico  his  martial  spirit  took 
fire  immediately,  and  he  rushed  to  arms  with  the 
first  who  volunteered.  He  served  in  Humphrey 
Marshall's  regiment  of  cavalry  as  first  lieuten- 
ant, and  was  in  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista.  At 
the  termination  of  twelve  months  from  the 
tune  of  enlistment  his  term  of  service  expired, 
and  he  returned  to  Lexington,  Ky.,  and  organ- 
ized a  company  for  the  war.  The  State  of 
Kentucky  having  offered  more  troops  than  her 
quota  amounted  to,  the  captains  of  companies 
drew  lots  for  acceptance  or  non-acceptance. 
Capt.  Morgan  lost,  and  his  company  returned 
to  Lexington,  where  it  was  dismissed.  In  1848 
he  married,  bat  his  wife  died  in  1861.  He  did 
a  large  business  in  bagging,  lindsey,  and  jeans. 
He  had  in  Lexington  manufactories,  where  all  of 
those  articles  were  made.  In  September,  1861, 
he  left  Lexington  with  a  part  of  his  old  State 
guard  company,  "  The  Lexington  Rifles,"  num- 
bering one  hundred  guns,  and  though  Lexing- 
ton was  then  occupied  by  the  United  States 
forces,  he  arrived  safely  at  Bowling  Green, 
then  in  possession  of  the  Confederate  troops, 
and  there  joined  the  standard  of  Gen.  Buck- 
ner.  At  the  battle  of  Shiloh  Gen.  Morgan 
commanded  a  squadron  of  cavalry.  He  soon 
after  commenced  his  series  of  raids  into  Ken- 
tucky, in  which  he  destroyed  military  stores 
and  transportation  amounting  to  many  mill- 
ions of  dollars.  He  captured  railroad  trains 
loaded  with  supplies  and  soldiers,  and  burnt 
the  trains  and  stores,  and  paroled  the  soldiers. 
He  tore  up  railroad  tracks,  and  burnt  bridges, 
and  destroyed  culverts  in  the  rear  of  the  Fede- 
ral army,  and  prevented  timely  reinforcements 
and  regular  and  necessary  military  supplies 
from  reaching  the  Federal  armies.  In  this  way 
he  gave  a  constant  and  excessive  annoyance. 
Nothing  was  safe  except  where  guarded  by  large 
bodies  of  troops.  He  moved  with  such  celerity 
that  Union  men  and  small  bodies  of  troops  in 
Kentucky  knew  not  when  they  laid  down  at 
night  in  perfect  security,  but  they  would  wake 
up  next  morning  in  the  hands  of  the  ubiqui- 
tous Morgan.  On  one  day  he  was  heard  of 
hundred  of  miles  away ;  on  the  next  he  was 
confronting  them.  He  carried  a  telegraph 
operator  with  him,  who  tapped  the  wires  some- 
times, and  at  others  took  possession  of  offices 
at  posts  captured  by  Morgan,  and  so  man- 
aged the  telegraphing  as  that  much  of  the 
purport  of  what  was  done  in  the  State  to 
intercept  him  became  known  to  the  daring 
raider.  So  renowned  and  dreaded  did  he 
make  himself,  that  at  length  it  became  ne- 
cessary to  make  a  garrison  of  the  State  of 
Kentucky.  Troops  were  stationed  at  all  of  the 
towns  of  any  importance,  and  arrangements 
made  for  concentrating  them  at  the  shortest 
notice,  upon  any  given  point.  As  a  partisan 
fighter,  Gen.  Morgan's  talent  was  of  a  high 
order.  But  for  the  full  development  of  such 


790 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


talent  one  must  be  untrammelled.  Gen.  Mor- 
gan, when  placed  under  the  orders  of  Gen. 
Bragg,  at  Tullahoma,  Tenn.,  and  by  him  placed 
on  his  right  flank,  did  not  gain  reputation. 
Why  ?  Because  he  was  fettered  by  orders,  and 
besides,  that  service  was  suited  neither  to  him 
nor  his  men.  Gen.  Morgan  originated  the 
present  mode  of  fighting  cavalry,  or  mounted 
infantry,  as  all  mounted  men  might  now  more 
properly  be  called.  He  also  originated  the 
idea  of  extensive  cavalry  raids  to  impair  the 
strength  and  destroy  the  resources  of  an  enemy. 
The  mode  of  fighting  alluded  to  consists  in 
moving  by  circuitous  routes  with  great  rapidity 
to  the  distance  of  hundreds  of  miles,  and  thus 
avoiding  the  enemy's  troops ;  then  falling  un- 
expectedly upon  detached  posts  or  bodies  of 
men  or  army  trains.  When  any  fighting  is  to 
be  done,  dismount  the  men  and  let  them  fight 
with  long  ranged  accurate  guns,  as  infantry. 
For  it  is  well  known  that  only  the  best  cavalry 
can  cope  with  a  line  of  infantry  armed  with 
the  modern  improved  firearm ;  and  that  where 
each  vast  armies  are  in  the  field  as  the  late  war 
called  out,  it  is  impossible  to  keep  them  sup- 
plied with  trained  cavalry.  It  was  for  these 
reasons  that  John  Morgan's  mode  of  organ- 
izing mounted  men,  and  fighting  them  on 
foot,  has  been  so  generally  adopted  in  this 
country.  It  would  have  been  better  for  the 
South  if  the  idea  of  Morgan's  raiding  had  never 
been  originated,  because  the  vast  resources  of 
men  and  horses  at  the  command  of  the  Fed- 
erals general  enabled  them  to  organize  and  send 
through  all  the  unprotected  and  productive 
parts  of  that  country  immense  raiding  expedi- 
tions, which  spread  devastation  and  suffering 
among  countless  thousands  of  women  and  chil- 
dren, whose  natural  protectors  were  in  the 
southern  armies,  or  had  fled  from  the  country 
to  avoid  military  service.  In  1863  he  under- 
took a  bold  and  extensive  raid  through  Ken- 
tucky, Indiana,  and  Ohio.  But  he,  and  nearly 
his  entire  command,  were  captured,  and  him- 
self and  officers  confined  in  the  Ohio  Peniten- 
tiary. Some  time  afterwards  he  escaped,  and 
reached  Richmond,  Va.,  where  he  received  an 
enthusiastic  ovation.  He  subsequently  under- 
took a  raid  into  Tennessee,  but  being  betrayed 
while  stopping  at  a  house,  was  surrounded 
during  the  night  by  a  company  of  Union  cav- 
alry, and  killed  in  his  attempt  to  escape. 

Sept.  5. — Col.  JAMES  C.  CLABK,  an  officer  of 
U.  S.  volunteers;  died  in  Troy,  from  illness 
contracted  during  service  in  Louisiana,  aged 
49  years.  He  served  in  the  peninsular  cam- 
paign, and  distinguished  himself  by  his  gal- 
lantry at  Port  Hudson.  He  was  colonel  of  the 
79th  colored  regiment,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  acting  as  brigadier-general; 

Sept.  14. — Brig.-Gen.  JOSHUA  B.  HOWELL, 
an  officer  of  TJ.  S.  volunteers,  was  accidentally 
killed  near  Petersburg,  Va.,  by  being  thrown 
from  his  horse,  aged  about  65  years.  He  was  a 
brave  officer,  and  had  been  wounded  in  several 
battles  during  the  war.  He  was  colonel  of  the 


85th  regiment  of  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and 
had  recently  been  made  brigadier-general. 

Sept.  14. — Major  (Acting  Colonel)  HEXEY  L. 
PATTED,  an  officer  of  U.  S.  volunteers,  died  of 
wounds  received  in  battle  near  James  River, 
aged  28  years.  He  was  a  native  of  Kingston, 
N.  II.,  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1858, 
spent  a  few  years  in  teaching,  and  when  the 
war  broke  out  was  studying  law.  He  entered 
the  army  with  the  20th  Massachusetts  regi- 
ment, served  in  the  peninsular  campaign,  and 
especially  distinguished  himself  at  Fredericks- 
burg,  Gettysburg,  and  the  battles  of  the  Wil- 
derness. 

Sept.  ID.-^-Brig.-Gen.  A.  0.  GODWIN,  an  officer 
in  the  Confederate  service,  killed  at  the  battle 
Winchester,  Va.  He  was  a  native  of  Ports- 
mouth, Va.,  was  formerly  Provost-Marshal  of 
Richmond,  and  was  subsequently  promoted  colo- 
nel of  a  North  Carolina  regiment.  A  short 
time  previous  to  his  death  he  was  made  briga- 
dier-general. 

Sept.  19. — Maj.-Gen.  ROBEET  E.  RHODES,  an 
officer  in  the  Confederate  service,  killed  in  the 
battle  at  Winchester,  Va.  He  was  a  native  of 
Lynchburg,  Va.,  graduated  at  the  Virginia  Mili- 
tary Institute,  in  the  Class  of  1848,  and  after  a 
few  years  of  professorship  at  that  institution, 
removed  to  Alabama.  In  1861  he  entered  the 
Confederate  service  as  captain  of  the  Mobile 
Cadets,  and  upon  the  organization  of  the  5th 
Alabama  regiment,  was  appointed  its  colo- 
nel. Soon  after  the  first  battle  of  Manassas  he 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general ; 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines,  and 
also  at  Sharpsburg ;  was  present  at  Fredericks- 
burg  and  at  Chancellorsville,  when  he  was 
made  major-general ;  served  through  the  Penn- 
sylvania campaign  with  Early,  in  the  defence 
of  Lynchburg,  and  with  the  army  of  the  valley 
of  Virginia  in  1864,  throughout  its  marches  and 
battles,  commanding  one  of  the  two  army 
corps  of  which  it  was  composed,  until  he  fell 
at  Winchester. 

Sept.  19. — Brig.-Gen.  DAVID  A.  RUSSELL,  an 
officer  of  U.  S.  volunteers,  killed  in  battle  near 
Winchester,  Va.  He  graduated  at  West  Point 
in  1845,  served  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  was 
brevetted  "  for  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct 
at  National  Bridge  and  Cerro  Gordo."  In  1854 
he  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy  in  the  4th  reg- 
iment of  infantry  in  the  regular  army,  and  in 
August,  1862,  was  made  major  in  the  8th  infan- 
try. He  entered  the  volunteer  service  at  the 
commencement  of  the  present  war  as  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  Yth  Massachusetts  volunteers,  at- 
tached to  the  6th  army  corps,  served  with  distinc- 
tion through  the  important  battles  of  1862-'63, 
having  been  commissioned  a  brigadier-general 
November,  1862,  and  subsequently  was  in  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Howe's  division,  6th  army  corps, 
and  in  that  command  served  with  distinction 
at  Gettysburg,  and  in  the  campaign  of  Gen. 
Grant  from  the  Rapidan  to  the  James.  In  the 
summer  of  1864  he  was  transferred  to  the  com- 
mand of  a  division  in  the  army  of  the  Sheuan- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


791 


doah,  where  he  met  his  death,  gallantly  fighting 
at  the  head  of  his  troops. 

Sept.  24. — Commodore  THOMAS  A.  CONOVEE, 
IT.  S.  navy,  died  at  South  Ambpy,  N.  J.,  aged 
73  years.  He  entered  the  navy  in  January, 
1812,  his  first  cruise  being  on  the  Essex,  com- 
manded by  Captain  David  Porter,  during  the 
•war  with  England.  His  next  service  was  un- 
der Commodore  McDonough,  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain.  Promoted  to  a  lieutenancy  shortly  after, 
he  served  on  board  the  Guerriere  in  the  Medi- 
terranean, and  subsequently  in  other  vessels  in 
various  portions  of  the  world  until  his  promo- 
tion to  the  position  of  commander  about  1835, 
in  which  capacity  he  commanded  the  John 
Adams  sloop-of-war  some  years.  In  1848  he 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain,  and  in 
the  years  1857-'58  commanded  the  squadron  on 
the  coast  of  Africa,  the  old  Constitution  being 
his  flag-ship.  In  July,  1862,  on  the  creation  by 
law  of  the  grade  of  commodores  in  the  navy, 
he  received  a  commission  as  such.  He  had  been 
in  the  service  fifty-three  years. 

Sept.  29. — Brig.-Gen.  HIBAM  BUEBTHAM,  an 
officer  of  TJ.  S.  volunteers,  killed  in  battle  at 
Chaffin's  Farm.  He  entered  the  service  as  colo- 
nel of  the  6th  Maine  volunteers,  leading  them 
with  skill  and  gallantry  through  the  peninsular- 
campaign,  at  Antietam,  and  subsequently.  At 
the  second  battle  of  Fredericksburg  he  distin- 
guished himself  for  bravery  and  courage,  and 
again  at  Gettysburg.  In  April,  1864,  he  was 
made  brigadier-general,  and  during  the  cam- 
paign from  the  Wilderness  to  Petersburg,  he 
bore  a  conspicuous  part.  A  few  weeks  previous 
to  his  death  he  was  assigned  to  a  brigade  in 
Stannard's  division  18th  corps. 

Sept.  29.— Col.  N.  E.  WELCH,  an  officer  of 
U.  S.  volunteers,  killed  in  battle  near  Chaffin's 
Farm.  He  was  commissioned  colonel  in  1863, 
and  was  placed  in  command  of  the  16th  Michi- 
gan regiment,  at  the  head  of  which  he  was  gal- 
lantly fighting  when  he  met  his  death.  He  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  bravest  and  most  skilful 
officers  of  the  volunteer  service. 

Oct.  3. — Lieut.  JOHN  R.  MEIGS,  an  officer  of 
U.  S.  volunteers,  killed  by  guerrillas  near  Har- 
risonburg.  He  was  the  only  son  of  Maj.-Gen. 
Meigs,  Quartermaster-General;  graduated  at 
West  Point  in  1863,  at  the  head  of  his  class, 
and  with  the  highest  honors,  and  was  immedi- 
ately sent  to  the  field,  where  he  highly  distin- 
guished himself  during  the  campaigns  in  Mary- 
land, Harper's  Ferry,  and  the  Shenandoah  val- 
ley. At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  engaged 
in  making  a  military  survey,  in  his  capacity  of 
Chief  Engineer  of  the  Army  of  the  Shenandoah. 

Oct.  5. — Col.  JAMES  REDFIELD,  an  officer  of 
tT.  S.  volunteers,  was  killed  at  the  head  of  his 
regiment  in  the  battle  of  Allatoona  Pass,  Ga., 
aged  40  years.  He  was  a  native  of  Clyde,  Wayne 
County,  N.  Y.,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in 
1845,  studied  law,  and  was  for  some  time  in 
the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  (New  York). 
He  subsequently  removed  to  Iowa,  and  was 
elected  State  Senator.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 


rebellion  he  assisted  in  raising  the  39th  Iowa 
regiment,  which  he  led  through  nearly  all  the 
hard  campaigns  of  the  Western  army. 

Oct.  6. — Col.  J.  C.  THOMAS  AMOET,  an  officer 
of  U.  S.  volunteers,  died  of  yellow  fever  at 
Newbern,  N.  C.  He  graduted  at  the  military 
academy,  West  Point,  in  1851,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  7th  infantry,  in  which  he  obtained  a 
first  lieutenancy  in  1855,  and  in  1861  a  cap- 
taincy. In  the  latter  year  he  was  appointed 
colonel  of  the  17th  Mass,  volunteers,  with  which 
regiment  he  took  part  in  Gen.  Burnside's  North 
Carolina  expedition,  participating  in  the  capture 
of  Newbern,  where  he  remained  stationed  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death.  During  nearly  the 
whole  of  his  service  in  North  Carolina  he  was 
in  command  of  a  brigade. 

Oct.  7. — Brig.-Gen.  GEEGG,  an  officer  in  the 
Confederate  service,  killed  in  battle  near  Peters^ 
burg,  Va.  He  was  commanding  a  Texas  bri- 
gade at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Oct.  13. — Dr.  EMIL  OHLENSCHLAGEB,  late 
medical  inspector  on  Gen.  Sheridan's  staff,  was 
murdered  by  guerrillas  near  Winchester,  aged 
29  years. 

Oct.  13. — Col.  GEOEGE  D.  WELLES,  an  officer 
of  U.  S.  volunteers,  died  of  wounds  received  in 
the  battle  near  Strasburg.  He  was  made  colo- 
nel of  the  34th  regiment  Massachusetts  volun- 
teers, August,  1862. 

Oct.  14. — Col.  JOHN  P.  SANDEBSON,  an  officer 
of  U.  S.  volunteers,  and  Provost  Marshal  Gen- 
eral of  the  Department  of  Missouri,  died  at  St. 
Louis.  He  had  filled  many  important  offices 
of  trust  during  the  war,  among  which  was  that 
of  chief  clerk  of  the  War  Department,  during 
Mr.  Cameron's  term  as  Secretary.  Before  re- 
signing that,  he  was  appointed  lieutenant-colo- 
nel of  the  15th  TJ.  S.  infantry,  and  soon  after 
was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  13th  U.  S. 
infantry,  with  which  he  passed  through  the 
fearful  contest  of  Chickamauga.  Some  months 
previous  to  his  death  he  was  appointed  to  the 
responsible  office  of  Provost  Marshal  General 
at  St.  Louis. 

Oct.  14. — Brig.-Gen.  WADKINS,  an  officer  in 
the  Confederate  service,  killed  in  the  battle  of 
Resaca,  Ga. 

Oct.  18. — DANIEL  BELL  BIBNEY,  a  major-gen- 
eral of  volunteers  in  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  commander 
of  the  10th  army  corps,  born  in  Huntsville,  Ala., 
in  1825,  died  in  Philadelphia,  Oct.  18th,  1864. 
Gen.  Birney  was  a  son  of  the  late  Hon.  J.  G. 
Birney,  an  Alabama  planter  and  statesman, 
who  emancipated  all  of  his  slaves,  and  coming 
first  to  Cincinnati,  and  Afterwards  to  Michigan, 
to  advocate  the  cause  of  emancipation,  was,  in 
1844,  the  candidate  of  the  liberty  party  for  the 
presidency.  His  son  received  his  academical 
education  in  Cincinnati,  and  also  studied  law 
there,  but  after  his  admission  to  the  bar  was 
for  two  or  three  years  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits.  In  1848  he  removed  to  Philadelphia 
and  opened  a  law  office,  and  soon  acquired  a 
large  practice.  He  early  connected  himself 


792 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


with  one  of  the  volunteer  militia  companies  of 
that  city,  and  at  the  commencement  of  the  war 
was  active  in  raising  a  Philadelphia  regiment 
under  the  three  months'  call,  of  which  he  was 
appointed  lieutenant-colonel.  At  the  expiration 
of  their  time  of  service,  the  men  reenlisted 
under  him  as  colonel,  and  the  regiment  joined 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  In  February,  1862, 
he  was  appointed  brigadier-general,  and  served 
in  all  the  battles  of  the  peninsula,  as  well  as 
those  before  "Washington.  In  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg  he  distinguished  himself,  and 
in  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  his  brigade,  in 
Berry's  division,  rendered  efficient  service  in 
checking  the  advance  of  Jackson's  troops  after 
the  panic  in  the  llth  corps.  After  the  death 
of  Gen.  Berry  he  took  command  of  the  division, 
being  promoted  to  a  major-generalship  May 
23d,  1863,  and  led  it  in  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, commanding  the  corps  after  Gen.  Sickles 
was  wounded.  After  the  2d  corps  had  been 
recruited  to  about  40,000  men,  he  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  one  of  its  divisions,  and  in 
the  campaign  of  1864  his  bravery  and  skill 
had  called  forth  the  warm  commendations  of 
his  superior  officers.  In  pushing  Lee  back  from 
the  wilderness,  in  the  movements  toward  the 
North  Anna,  the  crossing  of  that  river  and  the 
Pamunkey,  in  the  actions  of  Hanover  Court 
House  and  Bethesda  Church,  in  the  battle  of 
Cold  Harbor,  and  indeed  in  every  battle  of  the 
campaign,  his  division  was  foremost  in  the  very 
heart  of  danger.  On  the  23d  of  July  Gen. 
Grant  promoted  him  to  the  command  of  the 
10th  army  corps,  in  the  Army  of  the  James. 
Early  in  October  he  was  taken  sick  with  mala- 
rious fever,  and  his  constitution  was  so  seri- 
ously impaired  by  the  great  exertions  he  had 
made  at  the  tune  of  the  rebel  attack  on  Kautz's 
cavalry  corps,  being  then  ill  in  bed,  that  it  could 
not  withstand  the  onset  of  the  disease.  He  was 
brought  home  to  Philadelphia,  and  though  al- 
most in  a  dying  state,  insisted  on  being  borne 
to  the  polls  (the  State  election  being  in  progress) 
to  vote  before  he  was  carried  home.  He  was 
greatly  esteemed  and  beloved  both  in  the  army 
and  in  Philadelphia. 

Oct.  19. — Brig.-Gen.  DAKIEL  D.  BIDWELL,  an 
officer  of  U.  S.  volunteers,  killed  in  the  battle 
of  Cedar  Creek,  Ya.,  aged  about  48  years.  He 
was  born  in  the  township  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
where^he  became  a  prominent  and  influential 
citizen,  and  for  more  than  twenty  years  was 
identified  with  the  military  organizations  of  the 
city.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  was  holding 
the  office  of  police  justice,  but  resigned  his  posi- 
tion and  entered  the  65th  regiment  of  volunteers 
as  a  private,  and  was  subsequently  appointed 
brigade  inspector.  Upon  the  death  of  the  cap- 
tain of  his  company  he  resigned  that  position, 
accepted  the  command  vacated,  and  withdraw- 
ing it  from  the  regiment,  reorganized  it  as  an 
independent  citizens'  corps,  thus  forming  the 
nucleus  of  what  has  since  been  known  as  the 
74th  regiment.  In  September,  1861,  he  was 
commissioned  colonel  of  the  49th  regiment, 


served  wi^h  it  through  the  peninsular  campaign, 
and  during  the  "  seven  days'  battles  "  was  in 
command  of  a  brigade,  continuing  in  charge 
from  Ilarrison'-s  Landing  to  Washington,  and  up 
to  the  time  of  the  battles  of  South  Mountain 
and  Antietam,  when  he  resumed  command  of 
his  regiment.  Col.  Bidwell  took  a  prominent 
part  in  the  battles  of  Fredericksburg  and  Chan- 
cellorsville, commanded  a  brigade  at  Gettys- 
burg, and  when  Gen.  Grant  took  command 
of  the  armies  in  Virginia,  was  again  placed  in 
charge  of  a  brigade,  participating  in  all  the 
battles  near  Petersburg.  He  was  commissioned 
brigadier-general  in  July,  1864,  and  had  served 
with  honor  in  all  the  late  battles  in  the  Shenan- 
doah  valley,  under  Gen.  Sheridan. 

Oct.  19. — Col.  JOSEPH  THOBUKN,  an  officer 
of  TJ.  S.  volunteers,  who  entered  the  service  in 
1861  as  colonel  of  the  1st  regiment  West  Vir- 
ginia volunteers,  killed  in  the  battle  of  Cedar 
Creek.  He  was  a  brave  and  able  officer,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death  was  commanding  the 
1st  division  of  the  Army  of  the  Shenandoah. 
While  rallying  his  men  he  was  treacherously 
surprised  and  shot  by  a  rebel  officer  in  the 
Union  uniform. 

Oct.  20.  —  CHARLES  RUSSELL  LOWELL,  an 
'American  soldier,  born  in  Boston  in  1835,  died 
near  Cedar  Creek,  Va.,  October  20th,  1864. 
He  was  educated  at  the  Public  Latin  School  of 
Boston,  and  in  1854,  when  scarcely  nineteen 
years  of  age,  graduated  at  Harvard  College 
with  the  first  honors.  After  several  years  of 
travel  in  Europe  he  entered  into  commercial 
pursuits,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  present  re- 
bellion was  superintendent  of  some  iron-works 
in  Maryland.  He  Immediately  sought  service 
in  the  army,  and  was  commissioned  a  captain 
in  the  Sixth  regiment  of  -regular  cavalry.  Dur- 
ing the  next  two  years  he  saw  much  service  as 
a  cavalry  officer  and  as  a  member  of  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan's  staff,  and  after  participating  in  the 
peninsular  campaign  and  in  the  military  opera- 
tions in  Virginia  and  Maryland  of  the  succeed- 
ing autumn,  was  appointed  early  in  1863  to 
command  the  2d  Massachusetts  cavalry,  then 
organizing  in  the  neighborhood  of  Boston.  In 
this  capacity  he  on  one  occasion,  by  his  cool- 
ness and  pei'sonal  courage,  repressed  a  danger- 
ous mutiny  among  a  portion  of  his  command. 
The  regiment,  upon  being  recruited  to  its  full 
number,  was  sent  to  Washington,  where  for 
more  than  a  year  Col.  Lowell  held  command 
of  all  the  cavalry  about  the  city,  a  post  re- 
quiring no  little  vigilance  and  activity,  in  view 
of  the  daring  depredations  by  Mosby's  guerril- 
las, whom  his  troopers  frequently  encountered 
and  dispersed.  Becoming  weary  of  this  guard 
duty,  and  longing  for  the  opportunity  to  serve 
in  a  regular  campaign,  he  gladly  transferred  his 
command  to  Sheridan's  army  in  the  valley  of 
the  Shenandoah,  and  in  every  subsequent  en- 
gagement and  reconnoissance  showed  such 
ability  and  courage,  that  a  brigadier-general's 
commission  would  undoubtedly  have  been  soon 
conferred  upon  him,  had  lie  lived.  He  was 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL'  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


793 


mortally  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek, 
Oct.  19th,  and  died  on  the  succeeding  day.  He 
had  hitherto  seemed  to  bear  a  charmed  life, 
having  had  twelve  horses  killed  under  him 
within  three  years,  and  escaped  without  a 
wound.  In  social  position,  in  culture,  and  in 
intellectual  gifts,  Col.  Lowell  was  one  of  the 
most  promising  young  men  that  New  England 
has  sent  to  the  war.  Almost  every  great  quality 
belonging  to  the  soldier  seemed  to  be  his,  and 
his  whole  soul  was  absorbed  in  the  cause  for 
which  he  fought  and  died. 

Oct.  20. — Maj.-Gen.  STEPHEN  D.  RAMSEUR, 
an'  officer  in  the  Confederate  service,  died  of 
wowids  received  in  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek. 
He  was  commanding  a  division  in  Early's  army. 

Oct.  26. — Brig.-Gen.  J.  FAGATT,  an  officer  in 
the  Confederate  service  from  Texas,  killed  in 
Kansas.  He  had  been  a  prominent  actor  in 
most  of  the  important  Western  battles,  and 
distinguished  himself  for  his  bravery  as  com- 
mander of  a  regiment  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh, 
and  as  a  brigadier  in  the  battle  of  Corinth. 

Oct.  27. — Brig.-Gen. BEARING,  an  offi- 
cer in  the  Confederate  service,  killed  near 
Petersburg,  Va. 

Oct.  27. — Col.  KIDDOO,   an  officer  of 

U.  S.  volunteers,  died  from  wounds  received  in 
battle  near  Richmond.  He  was  in  command 
of  the  22d  regiment  U.  S.  colored  troops. 

Oct.  29. — Brig.-Gen.  THOMAS  E.  GREENFIELD 
RANSOM,  an  officer  of  II.  S.  volunteers,  born  in 
Norwich,  Vt.,  Nov.  29,  1834,  died  of  dysentery 
at  Rome,  Ga.,  Oct.  29,  1864.  In  1846  he 
entered  Norwich  University,  continuing  there, 
with  the  exception  of  a  short  interval,  until 
the  age  of  seventeen.  In  1851  he  entered  upon 
the  practise  of  his  profession  as  an  engineer, 
in  Lasalle  County,  111.  Three  years  later  he 
embarked  in  the  real  estate  business  at  Peru,  in 
that  State,  and  in  1855  removed  to  Chicago  to 
become  a  member  of  a  firm  largely  engaged  in 
land  operations.  At  a  later  period  he  removed 
to  Fayette  County,  and  while  engaged  in  trade 
acted  as  an  agent  for  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- ' 
road  Company.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
war  he  raised  a  company  and  proceeded  to 
Camp  Yates,  at  Springfield,  April  24,  1861, 
where  it  was  organized  into  the  llth  Illinois 
volunteers,  and  upon  the  election  of  officers  he 
was  made  major.  After  the  expiration  of  the 
three  months'  service  the  regiment  was  re- 
organized and  mustered  in  for  three  years, 
Ransom  being  elected  lieutenant-colonel.  On 
the  night  of  the  19th  of  August,  in  a  brilliant 
dash  upon  Charleston,  Mo.,  he  was  severely 
wounded,  and  in  consequence  was  granted  a 
furlough  of  thirty  days,  but  reported  for  duty 
upon  the  seventh  day.  He  participated  in  the 
capture  of  Fort  Henry,  and  led  his  regiment  in 
the  assault  upon  Fort  Donelson,  where  he  was 
again  severely  wounded,  his  clothing  being 
pierced  by  six  bullets,  but  he  would  not  leave 
the  field  until  the  battle  was  ended.  For  his 
gallantry  upon  that  occasion  he  was  promoted 
to  the  colonelcy.  At  Shiloh,  Col.  Ransom  led 


his  regiment  through  the  hottest  part  of  the 
battle,  and  was  mentioned  by  Maj.-Gen.  Mc- 
Clernand  in  his  official  report  as  "  performing 
prodigies  of  valor,  though  reeling  in  his  saddle 
and  streaming  with  blood  from  a  serious 
wound."  He  subsequently  served  upon  the 
staff  of  Gen.  McClernand,  and  also  upon  that 
of  Gen.  Grant,  who  has  on  several  occasions 
borne  testimony  to  his  bravery  as  an  officer. 
In  January,  1863,  Ransom  was  appointed  briga- 
dier-general, his  commission  dating  from  No- 
vember, 1862.  He  won  honor  to  himself  at 
Vicksburg  and  during  the  Red  River  campaign, 
commanded  a  division  until  Gen.  McClernand 
fell  ill,  when  the  command  of  the  corps  de- 
volved upon  him.  In  the  disastrous  battle  of 
Sabine  Cross-Roads,  April,  1864,  while  fighting 
with  a  courage  and  bravery  unsurpassed,  he 
was  severely  wounded  in  the  knee.  The  limb 
was  examined  by  four  surgeons,  two  advising 
amputation,  and  the  others  deeming  it  unneces- 
sary. Subsequently  Gen.  Ransom  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  the  4th  division,  16th  army 
corps,  operating  in  the  vicinity  of  Atlanta, 
from  thence  he  was  promoted  to  the  command 
of  the  left  wing  of  the  corps,  and  finally  to 
the  command  of  the  17th  corps.  From  the 
date  of  the  capitulation  of  Atlanta,  Gen.  Ran- 
som had  suffered  from  a  severe  attack  of  dys- 
entery, but  no  consideration  would  induce  him 
to  leave  the  post  of  duty.  While  his  corps  was 
in  pursuit  of  Hood's  army  he  directed  its  move- 
ments, though  obliged  to  ride  in  an  ambulance, 
being  too  weak  to  sit  upon  his  horse,  and  soon 
after  sank  under  the  power  of  his  disease. 
His  career,  though  short,  was  brilliant.  He 
was  a  man  of  fine  genius,  great  military  capaci- 
ty, and  of  unblemished  personal  character. 

Oct.  29. — Col.  HENRY  CLAY  PATE,  an  officer 
in  the  Confederate  service,  killed  during  the 
engagement  between  Gens.  Sheridan  and  Stu- 
art's cavalry  near  Richmond,  aged  about  33 
years.  He  was  a  native  of  Western  Virginia, 
and  was  a  speaker  and  writer  of'  some  distinc- 
tion. He  attained  an  unenviable  notoriety  as 
a  "  border  ruffian "  leader  in  the  Kansas 
troubles  of '1855-'58.  On  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war  he  raised  a  battalion  of  cavalry  in 
Richmond,  which  was  soon  merged  in  the  5th 
Virginia  cavalry,  and  being  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  lieutenant-colonel,  served  through  the 
principal  battles  in  Virginia.  He  had  but  re- 
cently been  made  colonel. 

Nov.  7. — Col.  CORNELIUS  W.  TOLLES,  Chief 
Quartermaster  of  Gen.  Sheridan's  army,  died 
at  Winchester,  Va.,  of  wounds  received  from 
guerrillas  Oct.  llth,  in  the  37th  year  of  his  age. 
He  entered  the  service  of  the  United  States  in 
May,  1861,  as  first  lieutenant  of  the  13th  regi- 
ment of  infantry,  and  received  his  appointment 
of  quartermaster  August,  1862.  He  served 
constantly  in  the  field,  discharging  the  duties 
of  his  position  with  zeal  and  fidelity,  winning 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  commanders  and 
subordinates.  His  health  having  given  way 
under  his  severe  labors,  he  was  temporarily 


794 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


placed  on  duty  as  inspector ;  but,  upon  his  re- 
covery, he  was  appointed  Acting  Chief  Quarter- 
master of  the  Middle  Military  Division.  While 
actively  engaged  in  the  duties  of  this  position, 
he  published  some  valuable  contributions  to 
military  literature  in  the  "  United  States  Ser- 
vice Magazine,"  the  "Army  and  Navy  Jour- 
nal," and  elsewhere. 

Nov.  19. — Lieut-Col.  JAMES  A.  P.  HOPKINS, 
an  officer  of  U.  S.  volunteers,  died  in  New 
York  city.  He  entered  the  volunteer  service 
with  the  133d  regiment  N.  Y.  (2d  Metropoli- 
tan), sharing  with  it  in  the  siege  of  Port  Hud- 
eon.  He  also  fought  with  great  bravery  and 
skill  in  other  engagements  in  the  department 
of  Gen.  Banks.  During  the  latter  part  of  his 
career  at  the  South  he  was  appointed  Chief  of 
Police  in  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  and  subse- 
quently received  a  commission  as  Chief  of  the 
United  States  Detective  force  of  that  city. 

Nov.  25. — Maj.  JOSEPH  W.  PAINE,  an  officer 
of  U.  S.  volunteers,  died  suddenly  in  New 
Orleans,  La.  He  was  a  native  of  Boston, 
Mass.,  and  for  several  years  was  an  associate 
editor  and  publisher,  with  "William  Mathews, 
of  the  "  Yankee  Blade."  More  recently  he 
was  connected  with  several  of  the  leading  life 
insurance  companies  of  New  York  city,  but 
continued  to  contribute  to  some  of  the  princi- 
pal Boston  and  New  York  journals.  In  the 
summer  of  1863  he  entered  into  the  volunteer 
service  as  first  lieutenant  of  the  13th  New 
York  cavalry,  and  in  1864  was  commissioned 
major  of  the  4th  TJ.  S.  colored  cavalry,  and  at 
once  proceeded  to  the  Department  of  the 
Gulf.  During  the  Bed  Eiver  campaign  he  did 
able  and  effective  service,  but  in  August  was 
obliged  to  come  North  for  the  benefit  of  his 
health.  While  there  he  entered  into  the  politi- 
cal campaign,  supporting  the  Administration 
both  with  pen  and  voice.  The  second  week  in 
November  he  returned  to  New  Orleans,  before 
his  health  was  sufficiently  recruited,  and  died 
within  a  week  of  his  arrival. 

Nov.  26. — Col.  FREDERICK  BECKHAM,  an  offi-  • 
cer  of  artillery  in  the  Confederate  army,  killed 
at  Columbia,  Tenn.,  by  a  fragment  of  stone, 
which,  being  thrown  into  the  air  by  the  ex- 
plosion of  a  shell  from  the  Federal  guns,  struck 
him  in  the  head  and  penetrated  the  brain.  At 
the  battle  of  Manassas,  and  indeed  in  many 
other  severe  battles  fought  by  the  Virginia 
army,  he  commanded  a  battery  of  field  guns, 
and  distinguished  himself  by  his  courage  and 
ability.  He  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  and 
served  some  time  on  Gen.  Hood's  staff,  when 
that  officer  was  in  the  army  of  Virginia.  When 
Gen.  Hood  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenant- 
generalcy,  Col.  Beckham  was  promoted  to  a 
colonelcy  of  artillery,  January,  1864,  and  as- 
signed to  Hood's  staff  as  chief  of  artillery  of 
his  corps  in  the  Army  of  Tennessee. 

Nov.  30.-  MaJ9r-Gen.  PATRICK  CLEBURN,  an 
officer  of  the  Confederate  army,  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Franklin,  Tenn.  Gen.  Cleburn  was 
born  in  Ireland,  but  received  his  military  edu- 


cation in  the  English  army.  When  the  war 
broke  out  it  found  Gen.  Cleburn  practising 
law  in  Arkansas,  where  his  talents  had  raised 
him  to  the  head  of  his  profession.  He  entered 
the  army  as  a  private,  and  by  his  merit  and 
successful  engagements  rose  to  the  rank  he  bore 
when  he  fell.  His  division  was  thought  invin- 
cible. His  name  was  a  tower  of  strength,  and 
the  tide  of  battle  often  changed  on  whatever 
part  of  the  battle-field  he  and  his  division  ap- 
peared. His  command  was  composed  of  vet- 
erans from  Texas  and  Arkansas.  Gen.  Cleburn's 
horse  fell  dead  across  the  Federal  breastworks, 
and  he  was  moVtally  wounded  himself,  and  died 
in  a  few  moments.  « 

Nov.  30. — Col.  HUGE  GARLAND,  an  officer  of 
the  Confederate  army,  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Franklin,  Tenn.  Col.  Garland  was  from  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  and  had,  by  the  death  of  Col.  Eiely, 
succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  1st  Missouri 
regiment  of  infantry  only  a  short  time  before 
his  death.  At  the  time  of  his  becoming  colonel 
of  his  regiment,  he  was  in  Eichmond  on  special 
duty,  recruiting  from  exchanged  prisoners,  and 
rejoined  his  command  at  Kenesaw  Mountain 
some  tune  in  June,  1864.  He  fell  at  the  head 
of  his  regiment  in  the  charge  on  the  breast- 
works of  Gen.  Schofield's  army.  Col.  Garland's 
personal  appearance  was  very  striking.  He 
was  nearly  six  feet  two  inches  in  height,  and 
well  proportioned,  fair  complexion,  high  smooth 
forehead,  and  light  blue  eyes;  his  manners 
were  bland  and  courteous ;  his  disposition  noble 
and  kind,  and  his  gallantry  and  courage  un- 
doubted. 

Dec.  9. — Lieut. -Col.  Lucius  M.  SAEGENT,  an 
officer  of  U.  S.  volunteers,  killed  near  Meherrin 
Eiver,  Va.  He  was  a  son  of  Lucius  M.  Sargent, 
the  well-known  author.  He  was  in  command 
of  the  1st  Massachusetts  cavalry. 

Dec.  11. — Col.  J.  HOWARD  KITCHING,  an  offi- 
cer of  U.  S.  volunteers,  formerly  colonel  of  the 
6th  New  York  artillery,  but  of  late  in  command 
of  a  provisional  division  in  the  Army  of  the 
Shenandoah,  died  from  the  effects  of  a  wound 
received  in  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  at  his 
father's  residence,  Dobbs'  Ferry,  N.  Y.  He 
was  a  native  of  New  York,  was  well  educated, 
and  at  the  opening  of  the  war  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  the  Lincoln  cavalry.  He  was  trans- 
ferred soon  after  to  the  2d  New  York  artillery, 
in  which  he  soon  rose  to  the  rank  of  captain, 
and  by  diligent  study  and  observation  made 
himself  an  accomplished  artillerist  and  thorough 
military  scholar.  He  served  in  every  battle  in 
which  the  6th  corps  was  engaged  during  the 
peninsular  campaign,  and  in  the  autumn  of 
1862  became  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  135th 
New  York  volunteers,  afterwards  the  Gth  New 
York  artillery,  of  which  regiment  he  became 
the  commander  on  the  promotion  of  Col.  Mor- 
ris to  the  brigadier-generalship.  From  the  time 
of  his  receiving  a  commission  as  colonel  he  was 
almost  constantly  in  command  of  a  brigade, 
and  repeatedly  received  the  special  commen- 
dation of  his  superior  officers,  especially  that  of 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


795 


Geii.  Meade,  for  his  extraordinary  gallantry  in 
the 'action  of  the  19th  of  May.  In  the  battle 
of  Cedar  Creek,  Oct.  19th,  his  division  bore  the 
brunt  of  Gen.  Early's  attack,  and  fought  with 
desperate  valor.  He  was  wounded  in  the  ankle 
early  in  the  action,  but  would  not  leave  the 
field  till  the  close  of  the  battle ;  but  erysipelas 
set  in  after  the  first  operation,  rendering  a  sec- 
ond necessary,  under  which  he  died. 

Dec.  16. — Col.  0.  DE  FOEKEST,  an  officer  of 
U.  S.  volunteers,  died  in  New  York.  He  was 
among  the  first  to  enter  the  army  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  rebellion,  commanding  the  5th  New 
York-cavalry  until  a  short  time  after  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg.  During  the  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania  campaign  he  commanded  the  5th 
brigade  of  Gen.  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  division, 
and  distinguished  himself  as  an  excellent  officer. 


Dec.  24. — JOHN  LA  WHENCE  Fox  M.D.,  Fleet- 
Surgeon  U.  S.  navy,  died  at  his  residence  in 
Roxbury,  Mass.,  aged  54  years.  He  was  -a 
native  of  Salem,  Mass.,  graduated  at  Amherst 
College  in  1831,  and  in  1837  entered  the  navy 
as  assistant  surgeon.  In  1847  he  received  a 
full  commission.  A  few  months  previous  to 
his  death  he  was  appointed  fleet-surgeon  upon 
the  staff  of  Admiral  Porter,  and  his  death  was 
doubtless  the  result  of  overtaxing  his  system  by 
the  severe  duties  of  his  department. 

Dec.  25. — Major  JOHN  S.  FILLMOEE,  paymas- 
ter U.  S.  Army,  died  at  his  residence  in  Denver 
City,  Colorado  Territory.  He  was  a  native  of 
the  State  of  New  York ;  was  appointed  pay- 
master by  the  Governor  of  Colorado  in  August, 
1861,  and  was  commissioned  paymaster  in  the 
U.  S.  army  by  the  President,  in  November,  1862. 


1865. 


Jan.  1. — ANGUS  W.  MCDONALD,  a  colonel  of 
in  the  Confederate  service,  and  for  many  years 
.brigadier-general  of  Virginia  militia,  died  in 
Richmond,  Va.  He  was  a  native  of  New  York, 
and  was  born  in  1802.  His  father  was  a  major 
in  the  United  States  army,  and  died  during  the 
war  of  1812,  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  The  son  was 
appointed  a  cadet  at  West  Point,  and  graduated 
in  1817,  and  on  his  graduation  was  appointed 
third  lieutenant  in  the  artillery  corps.  He  was 
promoted  to  a  second  lieutenantcy  in  February, 
1818,  and  in  April  of  the  same  year  to  a  first 
lieutenancy.  He  resigned  hi  January,  1819, 
and  commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  Romney, 
Va.  He  had  been  for  many  years  a  brigadier- 
general  of  the  militia  in  Virginia,  and  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  received  a  commission 
as  colonel  of  volunteers  in  the  Confederate 
army.  In  June,  1864,  he  was  captured  by 
Gen.  Hunter,  near  Lexington,  Va.,  and  was  ex- 
changed on  the  14th  of  November. 

Jan.  16. — Col.  Louis  BELL,  of  the  4th  New 
Hampshire  volunteers,  acting  brigadier-general, 
died  of  wounds  received  at  Fort  Fisher  the  pre- 
ceding day.  He  was  born  in  Chester,  N.  H., 
in  1836,  and  was  the  youngest  son  of  the  late 
Governor  Samuel  Bell.  He  graduated  at 
Brown  University  in  1853,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  at  Farmington,  N.  H.  In  1860 
he  was  appointed  Solicitor  for  Stafford  County. 
In  April,  1861,  he  was  offered  the  captaincy  of 
a  company  of  the  1st  New  Hampshire  regiment 
of  three  months'  men,  and  served  during  the 
campaign.  Returning  home  he  was  appointed 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  4th  New  Hampshire 
volunteers,  and  upon  the  resignation  of  Col. 
Whipple,  in  March,  1862,  was  made  commander 
of  the  regiment.  Col.  Bell  was  for  some  time 
a  member  of  Gen.  T.  W.  Sherman's  staff,  and 
was  inspector  general,  of  the  Department  of  the 
South  from  November,  1861,  to  March,  1862. 
Previously  to  the  "Wilmington  expedition  he 


had  been  several  times  temporarily  a  brigade 
commander,  and  had  served  bravely  at  Poco- 
taligo  and  at  the  siege  of  Fort  Wagner.  At 
the  attack  on  Fort  Fisher  he  commanded  a 
brigade  of  Gen.  Ames'  division,  and  was  mor- 
tally wounded  while  leading  his  men  in  an 
assault  upon  one  of  the  traverses  of  that  work. 
He  was  a  brother  of  Chief  Justice  Bell,  of 
Manchester,  N.  H.,  of  the  late  Dr.  Luther  V. 
Bell,  of  the  McLean  Lunatic  Asylum,  and  of 
Dr.  John  Bell,  U.  S.  A. 

Jan.  21. — Brevet  Brig.-Gen.  CHABLES  WHEE- 
LOCK,  colonel  of  97th  New  York  volunteers, 
died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  from  disease  con- 
tracted in  the  service.  He  was  a  native  and 
resident  of  Oneida  County,  N.  YM  where  ho 
was  engaged  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  in  a 
large  and  prosperous  business,  which  he  aban- 
doned immediately  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter, 
and  devoted  his  whole  time  to  raising  men  for 
the  army,  pledging  himself  to  provide  for  their 
families.  In  the  summer  of  1861  he  said  to  a 
friend :  "  I  am  worth,  I  think,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  $10,000.  Half  of  this  I  have  already 
given  or  pledged  to  aid  the  war,  and  if  my 
country  wants  the  other  half  it  can  have  it, 
and  myself  into  the  bargain."  Becoming  im- 
patient with  the  slow  progress  of  the  war,  he 
soon  after  commenced  raising  a  regiment  on 
his  own  hook,  fed  and  housed  several  hundred 
men  at  his  personal  expense  for  many  months, 
and  after  a  series  of  embarrassments  and 
disappointments  that  would  have  disheartened 
almost  any  other  man,  completed  its  organiza- 
tion and  marched  it  to  the  field.  Entirely 
without  military  experience,  and  with  but  a 
very  limited  general  education,  he  became  one 
of  the  best  volunteer  officers  in  the  service,  and 
so  signally  distinguished  himself  that  he  was 
brevetted  brigadier-general  for  bravery  and 
good  soldiership.  He  had  seen  much  service, 
was  engaged  in  many  of  the  bloodiest  battles  in 


796 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


Virginia,  was  taken  prisoner,  if  we  mistake  not, 
at  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  tasted  for 
many  months  the  sweets  of  prison  life  at  Rich- 
mond, but  was  subsequently  exchanged,  when 
he  rejoined  his  old  regiment  and  did  more 
gallant  service  in  behalf  of  the  old  flag. 

Jan.  29. — Dr.  ROBERT  MONTGOMERY  SMITH 
JACKSON,  Medical  Inspector  of  the  23d  army 
corps,  and  acting  medical  director  of  the  De- 
partment of  the  Ohio,  died  at  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.  He  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
a  resident  of  Cresson,  Pa.,  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war.  He  was  widely  known 
throughout  Pennsylvania,  being  distinguished 
for  great  force  of  character,  decided  opinion, 
and  some  eccentricity  withal.  He  was  a  man 
of  strong  and  generous  feelings,  and  intense  in 
his  patriotism.  As  a  scientific  man  he  had 
few  superiors  in  Pennsylvania.  He  was  thor- 
oughly versed  in  all  departments  of  natural 
science,  and  as  a  geologist  and  botanist  was 
specially  distinguished.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Geological  Commission,  of 
which  Professor  Rogers  was  chief,  and  very 
much  of  the  results  of  that  survey  are  due  to 
the  skill  and  industry  of  Dr.  Jackson.  He  was 
an  enthusiastic  mountaineer,  and  believed  that 
in  the  pure  air  of  the  Alleghanies  the  enervated 
and  listless  inhabitants  of  cities  and  the  low- 
lands would  find  health,  strength,  and  energy. 
He  published,  some  years  ago  a  work  called 
"The  Mountain,"  which  is  distinguished  by  a 
love  of  nature,  and  by  a  scientific  handling  of 
the  topics,  which,  without  being  too  technical, 
is  of  a  character  to  elevate  the  human  mind 
and  teach  the  reader  to  look  "from  nature  up 
to  nature's  God."  Some  of  Dr.  Jackson's  views 
are  bold  and  startling,  but  his  fine  command  of 
language,  his  chaste  and  vigorous  style,  places 
the  book  ^among  the  most  remarkable  of  its 
kind  ever  written.  Dr.  Jackson  was  a  member 
of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  Acade- 
my of  Natural  Sciences,  and  other  learned 
institutions. 

Jan.  — . — Lieut.-Col.  LEWIS  LEDYARD  WELD, 
U.  S.  0.  T.,  formerly  Secretary  of  the  Territory 
of  Colorado,  died  before  Petersburg.  He  was 
a  native  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  born  about  1834, 
and  son  of  the  late  Lewis  Weld,  president  of 
the  American  Asylum  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb. 
He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1856,  and 
studied  law.  In  1858  he  removed  to  Leaven- 
worth,  Kansas,  where  he  practised  law  for  two 
years,  writing  frequently  for  the  newspaper 
press.  In  1862  he  was  made  Secretary  of  Colo- 
rado, and  was  the  first  editor  of  the  Denver 
Commonwealth.  In  1863  he  was  made  lieu- 
tenant-colonel of  a  colored  regiment,  and  served 
with  distinction  through  Grant's  campaigt  till 
his  death. 

Feb.  6. — JOHN  PEGRAM,  a  major-general  in 
the  Confederate  service,  mortally  wounded  in 
the  battle  of  Hatcher's  Run,  and  died  in  Peters- 
burg the  following  day.  He  was  a  son  of  the 
late  Hon.  John  Pegram,  M.  C.  from  Virginia  in 
1818  and  1819  but  was  born  in  South  Carolina, 


to  which  State  his  father  had  removed.  He 
graduated  at  West  Point  in  1855,  and  at"  the 
opening  of  the  war  was  first  lieutenant  of  2d 
dragoons,  but  resigned  on  the  secession  of  his 
State,  and  was  soon  after  appointed  to  the 
command  of  a  Confederate  volunteer  regiment, 
and  in  1862  promoted  to  be  brigadier-general. 
He  was  in  most  of  the  severe  battles  of  the 
Army  of  Virginia,  and  in  1864  was  made  major- 
general.  His  division  had  distinguished  itself 
throught  the  campaign  of  1864-'6o  for  its  per- 
sistent and  desperate  fighting,  and  its  -com- 
mander, Gen.  John  Pegram,  was  regarded  by 
his  superiors  in  command  as  one  of  the  ablest 
division  commanders  in  the  army. 

Feb.  6. — JOHN  H.  WINDER,  a  brigadier-gen- 
eral in  the  Confederate  service,  died  at  Florence, 
S.  C.,  of  apoplexy.  He  was  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, the  son  of  Gen.  William  H.  Winder,  of 
Baltimore,  an  officer  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
graduated  at  West  Point  about  1825.  He 
served  in  the  army  with  considerable  distinc- 
tion, took  part  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  at  the 
commencement  of  the  rebellion  was  major  and 
brevet  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  3d  artillery. 
He  resigned,  and  entered  the  Confederate  ser- 
vice, where  he  was  soon  made  a  brigadier- 
general,  but  was  not  employed  in  active  service 
to  any  great  extent.  He  commanded  the  post 
of  Richmond,  and  had  charge  of  the  Union 
prisoners  in  Libby  Prison  and  Belle  Isle  for 
some  time,  and  was  finally  sent  to  Anderson- 
ville,  Ga.,  in  a  similar  capacity.  When  Sher- 
man's expedition  passed  through  Georgia,  he 
left  Andersonville  a*nd  repaired  first  to  Charles- 
ton, and  afterwards  to  Florence,  where  he  died. 

Feb.  8. — Lieut.-Col.  TREMAINE,  of  the 

10th  New  York  cavalry,  died  near  Petersburg 
of  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  Hatcher's 
Run,  Feb.  6th.  He  was  the  son  of  the  Hon. 
Lyman  Tremaine  of  Albany,  and  was  born  in 
Greene  County,  N.  Y.,  in  June,  1843 ;  entered 
Hobart  College  in  the  fall  of  1860,  and  remained 
till  the  summer  of  1862,  when  unable  longer  to 
resist  the  calls  of  patriotism,  he  entered  the 
army  as  adjutant  of  the  7th  New  York  heavy 
artillery.  He  served  with  distinction  in  the 
defences  of  Washington,  and  subsequently  as 
assistant  adjutant-general,  with  the  rank  of 
captain,  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Davies  of  the  cav- 
alry in  Kilpatrick's  division  of  the  Potomac 
army.  In  this  position  he  distinguished  him- 
self by  his  bravery  and  the  prompt  and  intelli- 
gent discharge  of  his  duties.  In  December, 
1864,  he  was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel 
of  the  10th  New  York  cavalry,  in  the  command 
of  which  regiment  he  was  wounded  at  Hatch- 
er's Run  in  the  battle  of  February  6th,  and  died 
on  the  following  Wednesday.  Col.  Tremaine 
was  distinguished  for  an  unusual  degree  of 
generosity,  firmness,  and  courage,  great  ability 
and  entire  devotion  to  the  cause  of  his  country. 

Feb.  9. — Capt.  JAMES  MELVIN  GILLISS,  an  offi- 
cer of  the  U.  S.  naval  service,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  Superintendent  of  ^he  National 
Observatory,  was  born  in  the  District  of  Co- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


797 


lumbia  in  1810,  died  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  of 
apolexy,  Feb.  9,  1865.  He  entered  the  navy  as 
midshipman  March  1,  1827,  having  enjoyed 
good  previous  advantages  of  education.  He 
spent  but  little  time  afloat,  his  entire  sea  service 
amounting  to  only  four  years  and  seven  months, 
his  fondness  and  adaptation  for  astronom- 
ical studies  having  led  to  his  being  employed 
very  early  in  that  department  of  naval  service. 
In  1838  he  organized  the  first  working  observa- 
tory in  the  United  States,  and  during  the  five 
following  years  collected  and  published  his 
astronomical  observations,  the  first  American 
work  of  the  kind  published.  In  September, 
1842,  Lieut.  Gilliss  was  appointed  to  plan  and 
superintend  the  construction  of  a  naval  observa- 
tory, which  was  completed  and  furnished  in  1845. 
On  the  16th  of  November,  1848,  he  was  ordered 
to  proceed  to  Chili  to  make  observations  for  the 
determination  of  the  Solar  Parallax,  and  re- 
mained there  three  years.  Through  his  influ- 
ence a  naval  observatory  was  established  in 
that  country,  and  he  completed  a  series  of  ob- 
servations of  great  value,  not  only  in  regard  to 
the  Solar  Parallax,  but  to  the  constellations  of 
the  Southern  Hemisphere,  and  to  earthquakes, 
and  other  subjects  relating  to  the  physical  geog- 
raphy of  Chili.  His  observations  have  been 
published  by  the  Government  in  a  series  of 
quarto  volumes.  In  1858  he  visited  Peru  to 
observe  the  total  eclipse  of  the  sun,  which  was 
most  complete  and  and  protracted  in  that  coun- 
try, and  in  1860  made  the  journey  to  Washing- 
ton Territory  for  the  same  purpose.  His  ob- 
servations in  regard  to  both  were  of  great  im- 
portance, and  went  far  toward  settling  several 
questions  of  interest  in  relation  to  the  form  and 
properties  of  the  sun.  On  the  flight  of  Lieut. 
Maury  at  the  commencement  of  the  war,  Com- 
mander Gilliss  was  at  once  placed  in  charge  of 
the  Observatory  (his  appointment  bearing  date 
April  22,  1861),  which  he  had  constructed  and 
equipped  sixteen  years  before;  a  most  bene- 
ficial change  to  the  institution,  which,  under  his 
charge,  soon  became  one  of  the  few  first-class 
observatories  in  the  world.  He  found  a  vast 
amount  of  work  left  in  arrears  by  his  prede- 
cessor, no  reduction  of  the  observations  of  the 
previous  six  years  having  been  maderf  He  ap- 
plied himself  to  the  work  of  bringing  them  up, 
and  of  adding  new  and  valuable  observations, 
with  great  industry,  and  perhaps  with  an  as- 
siduity which  may  have  caused  his  untimely 
death.  On  the  10th  of  July,  1862,  he  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain  in  the  navy. 
He  had  won  for  himself  a  high  reputation 
among  the  most  eminent  astronomers  of  the 
world  by  his  profound  astronomical  knowledge 
and  his  eagerness  in  the  pursuit  of  his  favorite 
science.  Shortly  before  his  death  he  had  made 
an  official  report  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 
detailing  the  scientific  observations  made  in 
various  observatories  of  the  world,  under  his 
auspices  or  at  his  request,  to  ascertain  the  par- 
allax of  the  planet  Mars,  and  the  result  as  ap- 
proximating the  exact  distance  from  the  earth 


to  the  sun.  He  possessed  a  rare  degree  of  me 
chanical  ingenuity,  and  hajd  contributed  many 
valuable  improvements  in  the  instruments  of 
astronomical  science.  Thoroughly  Union,  he 
had  given  one  son  to  his  country's  service,  who, 
after  a  long  imprisonment  in  one  of  the  South- 
ern prisons,  had  reached  home  the  evening 
before  his  father's  decease. 

Feb.  12.— Col. DEAN,  of  the  58th  U.  S. 

colored  troops,  was  killed  in  Arkansas.  He 
was  on  an  expedition  from  Helena  across  the 
country  to  St.  Francis  River. 

Feb.  22. — Lieut.-Commander  MARSHALL  0. 
CAMPBELL,  an  officer  of  the  U.  S.  naval  service, 
and  until  a  short  tune  before  his  death  instruc- 
tor in  seamanship  and  naval  tactics  in  the  Naval 
Academy,  died  in  Baltimore,  Md.  He  was  born 
in  Tennessee,  in  1834,  but  was  admitted  to  the 
Naval  Academy  from  Mississippi,  where  his 
parents  then  resided,  in  February,  1850.  He 
was  a  young  officer,  of  fine  attainments,  and 
had  spent  nine  years  and  seven  months  of  the 
fifteen  years  he  had  been  in  the  navy,  afloat, 
his  last  cruise  having  closed  in  September,  1864. 
His  assiduity  in  the  performance  of  his  duties 
had  so  far  overtasked  a  somewhat  feeble  frame 
that  he  returned  to  Baltimore,  now  the  resi- 
dence of  his  widowed  mother,  only  to  die. 
Although  from  a  State  in  rebellion,  he  was  dis- 
tinguished for  his  thorough  attachment  to  the 
national  cause. 

March  10.— Maj.-Gen.  WILLIAM  H.  C.  WHI- 
TIXG,  an  officer  in  the  Confederate  service, 
wounded  at  Fort  Fisher,  and  taken  prisoner, 
died  at  Governor's  Island,  N.  Y.,  whither  he 
had  been  removed.  He  was  a  native  of  New 
York,  was  born  about  1825,  and  graduated  at 
West  Point  in  1845,  ranking  very  high  in  his 
class.  He  took  part  in  the  Mexican  war,  and 
was  promoted  rapidly  for  an  officer  of  engineers, 
having  attained  the  rank  of  captain  of  engi- 
neers in  1861,  when  he  went  over  to  the  rebels, 
having  resided  for  some  years  in  Virginia.  He 
was  made  a  brigadier-general  in  1862  and  a 
major-general  in  1863.  In  the  autumn  of  1864 
he  was  put  in  command  of  Fort  Fisher,  and 
was  in  charge  during  both  attacks. 

March  25. — Brig.-Gen.  WILLIAM  R.  TERRY, 
an  officer  in  the  Confederate  service,  killed  in 
the  assault  on  Fort  Stedman,  near  Petersburg. 
He  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  had  been 
educated  in  the  Lexington  (Va.)  Military 
Academy. 

April  1.  —  Brevet  Brig.-Gen.  FREDERICK 
WINTHROP  (Colonel  of  the  5th  New  York  vol- 
unteers and  captain  12th  infantry  U.  S.  army), 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Five  Forks,  Va.,  while 
leading  the  1st  brigade,  2d  division,  5th  corps. 
He  was  born  in  New  York  in  1840,  joined  the 
71st  regiment  New  York  State  militia  in  its 
three  months'  service  at  the  beginning  of  the 
war  as  a  private,  and  fought  at  Bull  Run.  In 
October,  1861,  he  was  appointed  captain  in  the 
12th  U.  S.  infantry  (regular  ar^y),  and  con- 
tinued in  service  until  the  battles  of  the  Wilder- 
ness in  1864,  when  he  was  appointed  colonel 


798 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


of  the  5th  New  York  regiment,  and  shortly 
afterwards  brevetted  brigadier-general  for  gal- 
lantry in  the  field.  He  was  a  cousin  of  the 
late  Major  Theodore  Winthrop  and  of  Robert 
0.  Winthrop  of  Boston. 

April  2. — Lieut.-Gen.  AMBROSE  POWELL  HILL, 
an  officer  in  the  Confederate  army,  born  in 
Culpepper  County,  Va.,  in  1824,  killed  in  the 
assault  on  Petersburg,  Va.,  April  2,  1865.  His 
father  was  for  many  years  a  leading  politician 
and  merchant  in  Culpepper  County.  The 
future  lieutenant-general  entered  the  military 
academy  in  1843,  and  graduated  with  fair 
standing  in  his  class  in  1847,  in  the  same  class 
with  Gen.  Burnside.  There  being  no  vacancy 
he  received  the  brevet  rank  of  second  lieuten- 
ant in  the  1st  artillery,  and  on  the  22d  of  Au- 
gust of  the  same  year  attained  a  full  second 
lieutenancy.  He  was  promoted  to  be  1st  lieu- 
tenant in  September,  1851,  and  in  1855  to  be 
captain.  In  November  of  that  year  he  was 
appointed  an  assistant  on  the  United  States 
Coast  Survey,  in  which  he  continued  till  March 
1st,  1861,  when  he  resigned  his  connection  with 
the  regular  army ;  and  when  Virginia  seceded 
from  the  Union,  he  sought  and  received  an  ap- 
pointment from  Gov.  Letcher  as  colonel  of  the 
13th  regiment  of  Virginia  volunteers.  He  was 
attached  to  Johnston's  army,  and  stationed  at 
first  at  Harper's  Ferry,  and  in  the  battle  of 
Manassas,  or  Bull  Run,  came  in  with  Johnston's 
troops  in  season  to  turn  the  issue  of  the  battle. 
At  Williamsburg,  in  May,  1862,  he  held  the 
rank  of  brigadier-general,  and  distinguished 
himself  as  a  gallant  fighter  in  that  battle.  For 
his  bravery  in  this  battle  he  was  made  major- 
general,  and  on  the  25th  of  June,  1862,  formed 
one  of  the  council  of  war  held  in  Richmond. 
He  took  part  in  the  battle, of  Mechanicsville  on 
the  26th  of  June,  and  in  the  succeeding  battles 
of  what  is  known  as  "The  Seven  Days,"  he 
was  a  prominent  actor,  and  gained  a  brilliant 
reputation  for  bravery  and  skill  in  the  handling 
of  his  troops.  He  was  actively  engaged  in  the 
battles  of  Cedar  Run,  or  Cedar  Mountain,  in 
the  Groveton  or  second  Bull  Run  battle,  in 
the  attack  near  Centreville  on  the  30th  of 
August,  atChantilly,  and  in  the  campaign  before 
"Washington,  in  which  Gen.  Pope  was  the  Fed- 
eral commander.  On  the  14th  of  September, 

1862,  he  captured  Harper's  Ferry,  and  made  a 
forced  march  to  Antietam  Creek,  where  he  ar- 
arrived  in  season  to  take  part  in  that  severe  but 
indecisive  battle,  and  on  the  19th  repulsed  the 
Federal  troops,  who  crossed  the  river  in  pur- 
suit of  the  rebels,  with  heavy  loss.     In  the 
battle  of  Fredericksburg,  Dec.   13,  1862,  his 
division  formed  the  right  of  Jackson's  force, 
and  fought  desperately,  finally  repulsing  the 
Federal  troops.     At  Chancellorsville,  in  May, 

1863,  his  division  formed  the  centre  of  Jack- 
son's command,  and  participated  in  that  flank 
movement,  by  which  Hooker's   right  was  so 
effectually  crlshed.     When  "  Stonewall "  Jack- 
son received  his  death  wound,  the  command 
devolved  on  Gen.  Hill,  who  was  himself  se- 


verely wounded  soon  after.  For  his  gallantrj 
in  this  battle  he  was  made  a  lieutenant-general, 
and  placed  permanently  in  command  of  one 
of  the  three  great  corps  into  which  the 
Army  of  Virginia  was  divided.  On  the  1st,  2d, 
and  3d  of  July,  1863,  he  led  his  corps  in  the 
severe  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  though  suc- 
cessful the  first  day,  was  unsuccessful  on  the 
second  and  third.  In  the  autumn  of  1863  he 
was  concerned  in  the  affair  at  Bristoe  Station 
with  a  part  of  his  corps,  but  was  repulsed  with 
serious  loss.  In  the  great  battles  of  the  spring 
of  1864,  Gen.  Hill  was,  next  to  Gen.  Lee,  the 
most  prominent  actor  in  the  Army  of  Virginia. 
On  the  5th  of  May,  from  2  p.  M.  till  long  after 
nightfall,  he  was  engaged  in  a  most  desperate 
but  indecisive  conflict,  and  the  early  dawn 
would  have  found  him  in  a  position  of  extreme 
peril  had  not  Longstreet's  corps  been  brought 
up  to  reenforce  him  at  2  A.M.  The  fighting  of 
the  6th  of  May  was  very  severe,  and  in  this 
Hill  took  a  full  share,  but  it  was  no  more  de- 
cisive than  that  of  the  previous  day.  In  the 
movement  toward  Spottsylvania  Hill  aided  by 
his  counsel,  but  his  corps  were  not  engaged. 
In  the  battle  of  Mechanicsville  Hill's  corps  sus- 
tained the  brunt  of  the  attack,  and  under  his 
eye  fought  with  great  heroism.  In  the  battle 
of  the  3d  of  June,  at  Cold  Harbor,  the  corps 
were  at  first  in  reserve,  but  supported  the  other 
corps  before  the  battle  was  over.  On  the  22d 
of  June  his  corps  and  Longstreet's  repulsed  the 
attempt  of  the  Federal  troops  to  gain  posses- 
sion of  the  Weldon  Railroad,  and  drove  them 
back  with  severe  loss.  At  the  explosion  of  the 
mine  on  the  lines  of  Petersburg,  on  the  30th 
of  July,  in  the  engagement  at  Reams'  Station, 
on  the  25th  of  August,  in  the  battle  of  Hatch- 
er's Run,  Oct.  28-30,  and  the  subsequent  move- 
ments in  that  vicinity,  in  December,  1864,  and 
February,  1865,  Gen.  Hill  led  his  corps  with 
great  ability,  and  in  almost  every  instance  re- 
pulsed the  Federal  troops.  When  the  final  at- 
tack upon  the  South  Side  Railroad  and  the  de- 
fences of  Petersburg  came  (March  2  9- April  2), 
Gen.  Hill  was  active  and  indefatigable  in  his 
exertions  to  repel  the  Federal  attack,  and  on 
the  2d  of  April,  for  the  possession  of  the  works 
in  front  of  Petersburg,  his  corps  were  opposed 
to  the  6th,  9th,  and  part  of  the  25th  Federal 
corps,  almost  single-handed,  and  then,  as  al- 
ways, exposing  himself  to  fire  without  hesita- 
tion, he  was  instantly  killed  by  a  rifle  shot,  and 
as  time  was  pressing,  the  evacuation  of  the  city 
being  determined  upon,  was  buried  the  same 
day. 

April  5. — Col.  HUGH  H.  JANEWAY,  1st  New 
Jersey  volunteer  cavalry,  killed  at  Fame's  Cross- 
Roads,  near  Jetersville,  Va.  He  was  born  in 
Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  in  1842,  entered  the  1st  New 
Jersey  cavalry  at  the  commencement  of  the 
war  as  second  lieutenant,  and  rose  'steadily 
through  every  grade  to  the  highest,  being  ap- 
pointed colonel  when  but  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  at  the  written  request  of  every  officer  in 
the  regiment.  He  had  been  in  every  important 


MILITAET  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  EEBELLION. 


799 


battle  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  liad 
been  twelvettimes  wounded.  He  was  a  young 
man  of  extraordinary  promise,  and  in  his  last 
as  in  every  previous  battle,  he  led  his  men  into 
the  fight,  asking  them  only  to  follow  his  ex- 
ample. He  had  just  seized  the  colors  of  his 
regiment  and  was  in  the  act  of  carrying  them 
forward,  when  a  bullet  entered  his  brain,  and 
"he  died  instantly. 

April  6.— Brevet  Brig.-Gen.  S.  T.  EEAD, 
Chief  of  Staff  to  Gen.  Ord,  shot  by  the  rebel 
Gen.  Bearing,  in  a  hand  to  hand  conflict,  at 
the  High  Bridge  over  the  Appomattox,  near 
Farmville,  Va.  Gen.  Eead  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  and  had  entered  the  service  as 
captain  of  a  company  of  unattached  cavalry 
from  that  State  in  January,  1862.  After  con- 
siderable service  in  this  capacity  the  several 
companies  of  cavalry  having  been  organized 
into  a  battalion,  he  accepted  a  staff  appoint- 
ment, and  distinguished  himself  at  Gettysburg, 
where  he  was  severely  wounded,  and  subse- 
quently in  the  battles  of  Grant's  campaign. 
When  Gen.  Ord  took  a  command  in  connection 
with  the  Army  of  the  James,  he  gave  him  a  po- 
sition as  chief  of  staff,  which  he  retained  when 
Gen.  Ord  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
Army  of  the  James.  He  had  recently  received 
a  brevet  promotion  for  gallantry  in  the  field. 

April  9. — Brig.-Gen.  THOMAS  A.  SMYTH, 
commanding  the  2d  division  2d  army  corps, 
was  mortally  wounded  near  Farmville,  Va.,  by 
a  shot  from  a  sharpshooter  on  the  6th  of  April, 
and  died  at  Petersburg.  He  was  born  in  Ire- 
land, but  emigrated  to  this  country  when  a  boy 
and  settled  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  coachmaMng  business.  At  the 
opening  of  the  war  he  recruited  a  company  in 
Wilmington,  and  proceeded  to  Philadelphia  and 
joined  a  three  months'  regiment  then  leaving 
for  the  Shenandoah  valley.  Eeturning  home 
he  was  made  major  of  the  Delaware  regiment 
then  leaving  for  the  seat  of  war,  and  rose  gradu- 
ally from  that  position  to  lieutenant-colonel 
and  colonel,  and  soon  was  put  in  charge  of  a 
brigade,  where  he  won  a  high  reputation  for 
his  daring  and  skill.  He  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  brigadier  general  in  the  summer  of  1864, 
for  his  gallant  conduct  at  Cold  Harbor. 

April  11. — Col.  WILLIAM  SERGEANT,  210th 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  captain  of  the  12th 
infantry,  U.  S.  A.,  was  wounded  on  the  31st  of 
March  near  Petersburg,  and  died  on  board  the 
boat  coming  from  City  Point  to  Fortress  Mon- 
roe. He  was  born  in  Philadelphia  in  1830,  and 
was  the  son  of  the  late  Hon.  John  Sergeant, 
and  brother  of  Mrs.  Gen.  Meade.  He  was 
educated  for  the  bar,  and  had  attained  a 
high  position,  and  represented  his  native  city 
in  the  Legislature  before  the  opening  of  the 
war.  He  voluntered  early  in  the  war,  and  soon 
after  received  an  appointment  as  captain  in  the 
12th  U.  S.  infantry,  in  which  position  his  gal- 
lantry in  the  peninsular  and  other  campaigns 
attracted  the  attention  of  his  superiors.  He 
was  subsequently  called  to  the  command  of  the 


210th  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  in  the  duties 
of  his  new  post  was  as  remarkable  for  his  per- 
sonal bravery  as  for  the  military  talent  which 
he  had  developed.  He  was  gentle,  open  heart- 
ed, and  generous  to  a  fault. 

April  15. — ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  sixteenth 
President  of  the  United  States,  and  Command- 
er-in-Chief  of  the  Army  and  Navy  of  the  same. 
He  was  born  in  Hardin  County,  Kentucky,  Feb- 
ruary 12, 1809,  and  died  in  Washington  from  a 
pistol-shot  wound  inflicted  by  an  assassin,  April 
15,  1865.  His  father  was  very  poor,  and  the 
region  of  Kentucky  in  which  he  lived  afforded 
at  that  time  but  scant  opportunities  for  educa- 
tion. At  seven  years  of  age  he  was  sent  to 
school  for  a  short  time,  and  his  only  text-book 
was  an  old  copy  of  Dilworth's  Spelling-Book. 
When  he  was  in  his  eighth  year,  his  father, 
tired  of  the  hopeless  struggle  which  even  then 
crushed  all  the  energies  of  the  poorer  white 
settlers  in  the  slave  States,  sold  his  little  home- 
stead, and  putting  his  family  and  his  few  house- 
hold goods  upon  a  raft,  sought  a  new  home  in 
the  then  wilderness  of  Spencer  County,  Indiana, 
cutting  his  road  with  his  axe  through  the  dense 
forest  during  the  last  eighteen  miles  of  his  route. 
Eearing  a  log-cabin  two  or  three  miles  distant 
from  the  nearest  neighbor  the  family  entered 
upon  a  pioneer's  life.  The  mother  of  the  future 
President,  herself  a  woman  of  intelligence  and 
piety,  taught  her  boy  to  read  and  write,  and 
encouraged  the  taste  for  books  which  even 
their  circumstances  could  not  wholly  repress. 
When  he  was  ten  years  of  age  she  died.  His 
father  married  again  a  year  or  two  later,  and 
the  step-mother  proved  a  kind  and  tender 
friend  to  the  orphaned  boy.  When  he  was 
about  twelve  years  old  a  Mr.  Crawford,  one  of 
the  settlers,  opened  a  school  in  his  own  cabin, 
and  young  Lincoln  attended  and  studied  arith- 
metic and  some  of  the  other  branches  of  a  com- 
mon school  education.  But  few  books  had 
found  their  way  into  the  wilderness  of  the 
"Pocket,"  as  this  portion  of  Indian*  was  call- 
ed, but  whenever  one  could  be  obtained  his 
father  always  endeavored  to  procure  the  read- 
ing of  it  for  him.  In  this  way  he  became  famil- 
iar with  Bunyan's  Pilgrim's  Progress,  Esop's 
Fables,  Weems's  and  Eamsey's  Life  of  Wash- 
ington, a  Life  of  Henry  Clay,  and  perhaps  a 
few  other  volumes.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he 
made  a  trip  to  New  Orleans  in  company  with 
the  son  of  the  owner  of  a  flatboat,  who  intrust- 
ed to  the  care  of  the  two  youths  a  valuable 
cargo.  Attacked  on  their  way  down  by  a  gang 
of  thievish  negroes,  the  two  young  men  de- 
fended the  property  and  drove  off  the  plun- 
derers, and  pushing  out  into  the  stream  suc- 
ceeded in  saving  it  from  depredation. 

In  1830  Mr.  Lincoln's  father  determined  upon 
another  rempval  to  Decatur,  Illinois,  and  his 
son  assisted  him  in  settling  in  his  new  home, 
breaking  the  ground  for  a  crop  of  corn,  and 
building  a  rail  fence  around  his  farm.  The 
winter  which  followed  was  very  severe,  and  it 
required  the  utmost  exertion  of  Abraham  Lin- 


800 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


coin,  now  a  stalwart  youth  of  twenty-one  years, 
and  his  father,  to  keep  the  family  in  food,  which 
was  mostly  obtained  by  hunting.  Two  years 
more  were  passed  in  working  on  a  farm,  or  as 
clerk  in  a  store.  In  1832  the  Black  Hawk  war 
occurred.  Volunteers  were  called  for,  and 
young  Lincoln  enlisted  and  was  at  once  made 
captain.  He  experienced  considerable  march- 
ing 'during  the  campaign,  but  had  no  oppor- 
tunity of  exhibiting  his  prowess  as  a  fighter. 
After  his  return  from  the  war  he  ran  for  the 
Legislature,  but  was  defeated,  though  receiving 
a  heavy  vote.  He  next  purchased  a  store  and 
stock  of  goods,  and  was  appointed  postmaster. 
The  store  proved  unprofitable  and  he  sold  out, 
but  through  the  whole  pursued'  his  studies  at 
every  opportunity.  Having  acquired  a  knowl- 
edge of  surveying,  he  spent  the  greater  part  of 
the  next  two  or  three  years  as  government  sur- 
veyor, and  won  a  high  reputation  for  the  ac- 
curacy of  his  surveys.  In  1834  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Illinois  Legislature,  and  after  the 
session  closed,  devoted  all  his  leisure  time  to  the 
study  of  law.  In  1836  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  in  April,  1837,  removed  to  Springfield, 
Illinois,  and  commenced  practice  in  partnership 
with  Hon.  John  T.  Stuart.  He  soon  won  a 
good  reputation  as  an  able  pleader,  both  in  civil 
and  criminal  practice.  He  was  reflected  twice 
to  the  Legislature,  where  he  formed  the  acquaint- 
ance of  his  subsequent  political  antagonist,  Hon. 
Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  1840  he  declined  be- 
ing a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  though 
taking  a  deep  interest  in  political  matters,  rank- 
ing as  a  Whig  of  the  Henry  Clay  School,  he 
sought  no  political  preferment,  but  devoted  him- 
self _  assiduously  to  his  profession,  in  which  his 
ability  had  already  gained  him  a  commanding 
position.  In  1844  he  canvassed  the  State  for 
Mr.  Clay.  In  1846  he  was  elected  to  Congress, 
and  took  his  seat  in  1847,  the  only  "Whig  rep- 
resentative from  Illinois,  and  probably  the  only 
one  who  could  have  been  elected.  During  the 
single  tern*  in  which  he  was  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  there  were  several 
important  questions  before  Congress,  among 
others  the  Mexican  War,  the  Right  of  Petition, 
the  Abolition  of  Slavery  in  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia, the  Wilmot  Proviso,  the  Pacheco  Case, 
the  River  and  Harbor  Bill,  the  Modification  of 
the  Tariff,  and  the  Abolishment  of  the  Frank- 
ing Privilege.  In  regard  to  all  these  questions 
Mr.  Lincoln  took  a  manly  and  decided  action, 
voting  generally  with  his  party,  but  independ- 
ently whenever  he  regarded  their  course  as  in- 
consistent with  the  highest  rule  of  right. 

In  1848  Mr.  Lincoln  was  a  member  of  the 
national  convention  which  nominated  Gen. 
Taylor  for  the  Presidency,  and  subsequently 
canvassed  Illinois  in  his  favor.  In  1849  he  was 
the  Whig  candidate  for  United  Spates  senator 
from  Illinois,  but  was  defeated,  the  Democratic 
party  having  a  majority  in  both  branches  of  the 
Legislature.  He  now  devoted  himself  most  as- 
siduously to  his  professional  pursuits,  though 
Btill  watching  with  great  eagerness  the  political 


measures  before  the  country.  In  May,  1854, 
the  Nebraska  bill  was  passed,  and  the  Missouri 
Compromise  act  repealed.  This'  roused  the 
majority  of  the  people  of  the  Northern  States 
to  a  vigorous  opposition,  and  Illinois,  which 
had  long  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  reli- 
able of  the  Western  States  for  the  Democratie 
party,  was  revolutionized.  Mr.  Lincoln  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  political  campaign  of  the 
autumn  of  1854.  A  United  States  senator  was 
to  be  chosen  in  the  place  of  Gen.  Shields,  who 
had  supported  the  Nebraska  bill,  which  Judge 
Douglas  had  originated.  The  State  was  carried 
by  the  Whigs,  who  had  two  candidates  for  the 
senatorship,  Mr.  Lincoln  and  Judge  Trumbull, 
one  of  Whig  and  the  other  of  Democratic  ante- 
cedents. Regarding  a  division  as  disastrous  at 
that  time,  and  satisfied  of  Judge  Trumbull's 
ability  and  integrity,  Mr.  Lincoln,  with  rare 
generosity,  not  only  withdrew  his  name  from 
the  canvass,  but  persuaded  his  friends  to  support 
Trumbull,  who  was  then  elected. 

In  1856  Mr.  Lincoln's  name  was  prominent 
before  the  first  Repubh'can  national  convention 
for  the  Vice-Presidency,  receiving  one  hundred 
and  ten  votes  on  the  informal  ballot.  His  name 
headed  the  Republican  electoral  ticket  in  Illi- 
nois, and  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  canvass. 

In  1858  the  senatorial  term  of  Judge  Doug- 
las being  about  to  expire,  the  Republicans  of 
Illinois  at  their  State  Convention  on  the  17th 
of  June,  1858.  at  Springfield,  nominated  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  as  their  candidate  for  United  States 
senator.  Judge  Douglas  was  the  candidate  of 
the  Democratic  party ;  and,  in  accordance  with 
Western  custom,  the  two  candidates  canvassed 
the  State  in  defence  of  their  principles.  The 
canvass  was  one  of  deep  interest ;  great  prin- 
ciples were  at  stake.  Both  the  candidates 
were  men  of  decided  ability,  and  possessed  the 
power  of  swaying  their  audiences — Judge  Doug- 
las by  a  rare  talent  for  reaching  the  popular 
vein,  and  chiming  in  with  the  prejudices,  the 
sympathies,  and  the  passions  of  the  people,  and 
Mr.  Lincoln  by  an  irresistible  logic,  and  a  hap- 
py faculty  of  "  putting  things,"  which,  by  a 
few  well-placed  words,  overturned  and  annihi- 
lated his  adversary's  positions.  It  would  have 
been  difficult  to  find  two  men  better  matched 
for  a  controversy.  At  first  their  meetings  be- 
fore the  people  were  accidental ;  Judge  Douglas 
spoke  at  Chicago  on  the  9th  of  July,  and  Mr. 
Lincoln  on  the  10th,  and  a  week  later  both 
spoke  on  the  same  day  at  Springfield.  On  the 
24th  of  July  Mr.  Lincoln  challenged  Judge 
Douglas  to  a  series  of  debates  on  the  principles 
involved  in  the  campaign.  The  Judge  ac- 
cepted, and  though  the  terms  he  proposed  gave 
him  four  speeches  to  Mr.  Lincoln's  three,  the 
latter  made  no  objection.  Seven  of  these  de- 
bates were  held  in  different  parts  of  the  State 
between  the  21st  of  August  and  the  15th  of 
October,  and  they  were  afterwards  published  in 
full  from  phonographic  notes.  The  principles 
of  the  two  parties  were  very  thoroughly  dis- 
cussed, and  the  weak  points  of  each  fully  ex- 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


801 


posed.  The  discussion  was  fair,  open,  and 
manly,  and  it  was  very  generally  conceded  that 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  unsurpassed  in  the  mental 
tournament.  The  Republicans  had  a  majority 
of  about  five  thousand  in  the  popular  vote,  but 
owing  to  the  inequality  with  which  the  State 
was  districted,  and  the  pressure  from  other 
States,  Mr.  Douglas  was  reflected  to  the  Senate 
by  a  small  majority  of  legislative  votes. 

During  the  next  year  and  a  half  Mr.  Lincoln 
visited  Ohio,  Kansas,  and  New  York,  and  made 
several  speeches  of  great  ability  on  political 
questions.  That  delivered  in  New  York  and 
subsequently  published,  was  one  of  the  most 
effective  and  eloquent  expositions  of  the  pol- 
icy of  the  Republican  party,  and  served  as 
a  text-book  for  the  orators  of  that  party  in 
the  succeeding  canvass..  A  speech  delivered  in 
Cincinnati  to  an  audience  largely  made  up  of 
Kentuckians  in  the  spring  of  1860,  in  which  he 
enunciated,  in  his  own  telling  way,  his  abhor- 
rence of  slavery,  is  still  remembered  in  that 
city  for  its  extraordinary  power.  The  Repub- 
lican national  convention,  which  assembled  at 
Chicago  on  the  16th  of  May,  1860,  was  at  first 
nearly  equally  divided  between  Mr.  Seward  and 
Mr.  Lincoln  as  its  candidate  for  the  Presidency, 
but  the  preponderance  for  Mr.  Lincoln  soon 
became  evident,  and  on  the  third  ballot  he  was 
nominated,  receiving  three  hundred  and  fifty- 
four  out  of  four  hundred  and  sixty -five  votes, 
and  by  motion  of  Mr.  Evarts,  of  New  York,  the 
nomination  was  made  unanimous.  The  nomi- 
nation with  the  platform  was  formally  accepted 
by  him,  in  a  graceful  letter,  on  the  23d  of  May, 
and  was  enthusiastically  received  by  the  Re- 
publican party  throughout  the  country. 

His  opponents  were  divided  (purposely,  there 
was  reason  to  believe,  it  being  the  design  of  the 
leaders  at  the  South  to  make  his  election  cer- 
tain, that  it  might  be  used  to  effect  a  disruption 
of  the  nation)  to  a  greater  extent  than  ever  be- 
fore, there  being  three  other  tickets  in  the  field, 
viz.,  Messrs  Breckinridge  and  Lane,  the  candi- 
dates, of  the  Pro-slavery  Democrats;  Messrs. 
Douglas  and  H.  V.  Johnson,  the  candidates  of 
the  Progressive  Democrats;  and  Messrs.  Bell 
and  Everett,  the  representatives  of  a  conserva- 
tive party,  mostly  composed  of  those  who  had 
belonged  to  the  old  Whig  party.  On  the  6th  of 
Nov.,  1860,  the  election  took  place,  and  Mr.  Lin- 
coln received  180  electoral  votes  out  of  303, 
Breckinridge  having  72,  Bell  39,  and  Douglas  12. 
The  popular  vote  was  somewhat  different  in  its 
proportions,  Mr.  Lincoln  having  a  plurality  of 
nearly  600,000,  but  not  an  absolute  majority, 
while  Douglas  came  next,  Breckinridge  next, 
and  Bell  last.  The  exact  popular  vote  was :  for 
Lincoln,  1,857,610 ;  for  Douglas,  1,291,574 ;  for 
Breckinridge,  850,082;  for  Bell,  646,124. 

No  sooner  was  his  election  ascertained  than 
the  conspiracy  which  had  long  been  smoulder- 
ing in  the  Southern  States  burst  out  in  full  flame. 
During  the  four  months  which  intervened 
between  his  election  and  his  inauguration,  six 
States — South  Carolina,  Mississippi,  Alabama, 
51 


Florida,  Louisiana,  and  Texas — passed  ordinan- 
ces of  secession,  and  appointed  delegates  to  meet 
in  convention  at  Montgomery,  Alabama,  on  the 
4th  of  February,  a  month  before  the  inaugura- 
tion. This  convention  adopted  a  provisional 
constitution  for  what  they  denominated  the 
Confederate  States,  and  chose  Jefferson  Davis 
President  and  Alexander  H.  Stephens  Vice- 
President  of  their  new  government.  Thus,  be- 
fore he  had  even  left  his  home  in  Illinois  to 
come  to  the  capital  and  assume  office,  and 
nearly  a  month  before  his  taking  his  official 
oath,  the  insurrectionists  had  organized  a  rebel- 
lion involving  six  States,  and  with  a  certainty 
that  others  would  join  them.  It  was  not  in 
consequence  of  any  thing  he  had  done,  for  he 
could  not  as  yet  perform  any  official  act ;  nor 
was  it  in  consequence  of  any  thing  which  the 
leaders  saw  he  had  power  to  do,  for  they  knew 
his  views  of  the  sanctity  of  an  oath,  and  he 
would  swear  to  maintain  the  constitution  in- 
violate. Secession  had  been  a  foregone  con- 
clusion to  be  carried  out  at  this  time,  if  it  could 
be  made  practicable. 

On  the  llth  of  February,  1861,  Mr.  Lincoln 
left  his  house  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  to  go  to 
"Washington,  and  enter  upon  his  presidential 
duties.  In  the  course  of  his  journey  he  passed 
through  Indianapolis,  Cincinnati,  Columbus, 
Pittsburg,  Cleveland,  Buffalo,  Albany,  New 
York,  Trenton,  Philadelphia,  and  Harrisburg. 
He  met  the  Legislatures  of  Indiana,  Ohio,  New 
York,  New  Jersey,  and  Pennsylvania,  which 
were  then  in  session,  at  the  capitals  of  those 
States,  and  everywhere  along  his  way  made 
brief  addresses,  the  main  scope  of  which  was, 
that  if  the  people  only  stood  firm  in  maintain- 
ing the  constitution  and  the  Government,  no 
power  on  earth  could  overthrow  them.  At 
Philadelphia  information  was  communicated  to 
him  that  a  plot  existed  to  assassinate  him  at 
Baltimore.  The  only  precaution  he  took  was 
to  leave  Harrisburg  one  train  earlier  than  had 
been  expected,  the  telegraph  wires  being  mean 
time  disconnected.  He  arrived  in  "Washington 
on  the  morning  of  Saturday,  Feb.  23d. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1861,  he  took  the 
oath  of  office,  and  delivered  his  inaugural  ad- 
dress, a  plain,  straightforward  talk  with  the 
nation.  He  began  by  showing,  in  the  clearest 
way,  that  there  was  no  ground  for  the  appre- 
hension which  seemed  to  exist  at  the  South 
that  "their  property,  their  peace,  and  their 
personal  security  were  to  be  endangered."  He 
declared  that  he  took  the  oath  to  support  the 
Constitution  "with  no  mental  reservations." 
He  argued  briefly  and  clearly  the  question  of 
secession,  averring  that,  in  spite  of  all  that  had 
been  done  at  the  South,  the  Union  was  un- 
broken, and  he  should,  to  the  extent  of  his 
ability,  take  care  "that  the  laws  of  the  Union 
be  faithfully  executed  jn  all  the  States ;  "  that 
in  doing  this  there  would  be  no  bloodshed, 
"  unless  it  be  forced  upon  the  national  authori- 
ty," but  that  the  power  of  the  Government 
would*  be  used  "to  hold,  occupy,  and  possess 


802 


MILITAKY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


the  property  and  places  belonging  to  the  Gov- 
ernment, and  to  collect  the  duties  and  imposts ;" 
and  he  closed  his  address  with  an  earnest  ap- 
peal to  all  who  really  loved  the  Union,  to  pause 
and  consider  "  hefore  entering  upon  so  grave  a 
matter  as  the  destruction  of  our  national  fabric, 
with  all  its  benefits,  its  memories,  and  its 
hopes."  "In  your  hands,  my  dissatisfied  fel- 
low countrymen,"  said  he,  "and  not  in  mine, 
is  the  momentous  issue  of  civil  war.  The  Gov- 
ernment will  not  assail  you.  You  can  have  no 
conflict  without  being  yourselves  the  aggres- 
sors. You  have  no  oath  registered  in  heaven 
to  destroy  the  Government,  while  I  shall  have 
the  most  solemn  one  to  '  preserve,  protect,  and 
defend'  it.  I  am  loath  to  close.  We  are  not 
enemies,  but  friends.  We  must  not  be  enemies. 
Though  passion  may  have  strained,  it  must  not 
break  our  bonds  of  affection.  The  mystic  cord 
of  memory,  stretching  from  every  battle-field 
and  patriot  grave  to  every  living  heart  and 
hearthstone  all  over  this  broad  land,  will  yet 
swell  the  chorus  of  the  Union,  when  again 
touched,  as  surely  they  will  be,  by  the  better 
angels  of  our  nature." 

Mr.  Lincoln  found,  upon  entering  upon  the 
duties  of  his  office,  the  credit  of  the  Govern- 
ment greatly  impaired  by  the  uncertainty  of 
the  future,  its  navy  scattered,  and  less  than  a 
dozen  ships  in  serviceable  condition  to  guard  our 
coasts ;  the  larger  part  of  the  small  arms  and 
cannon  belonging  to  the  Government  in  the 
hands  of  the  States  which  had  already  seceded ; 
forts,  arsenals,  mints,  and  vessels  seized  by  the 
insurrectionists ;  the  troops  of  our  regular  army 
deprived  of  their  arms  and  sent  home,  by 
slow  and  devious  routes,  as  paroled  prisoners. 
The  garrison  of  Fort  Sumter  was  drawing 
nigh  the  point  of  starvation,  and  no  supplies 
could  be  sent  them  except  by  running  the  fire 
of  batteries.  The  attempt  was  made  by  a  mer- 
chant vessel,  but  she  was  fired  upon,  and  with- 
out waiting  the  surrender,  which  could  not 
have  been  long  delayed,  the  rebel  leaders 
chose  to  bombard  the  fort,  and  take  posses- 
sion of  it  after  a  thirty-three  hours'  siege,  on 
the  14th  of  April. 

Then  came  the  necessity  of  at  once  calling 
the  nation  to  arms,  and  on  the  15th  of  April 
the  call  for  75,000  men  roused  the  people  to  the 
struggle  which  for  four  years  to  come  was  to 
task  their  energies  and  try  their  patience.  The 
response  from  every  northern  State  was  cordial, 
prompt,  and  earnest.  Men  and  means  were 
pressed  upon  the  Government  in  abundance. 
Kentucky,  Missouri,  Maryland,  Delaware,  and 
Virginia  hung  back,  and  some  of  them  answered 
the  call  with  insolent  threats  and  defiance.  Vir- 
ginia soon  after  went  over  to  the  Rebels ;  the 
Governor  of  Missouri,  foiled  in  his  efforts  to  take 
the  State  in  the  same  direction,  fled  from  the 
State,  and  loyal  officers  took  his  place ;  Mary- 
land, held  in  military  possession,  took  up  the 
national  cause,  and  finally  emancipated  her 
slaves ;  Delaware,  halting  long  between  two 
opinions,  at  length  raised  troops  for  the 


Union ;  and  Kentucky,  attempting  neutral- 
ity, found  herself  neutral  only  as  the  battle- 
field and  plunder  ground  of  the  contending 
armies.  An  extra  session  of  Congress  had  been 
called  for  July  4th.  On  the  .1 9th  of  April  the 
ports  of  the  seceded  States  were  declared  under 
blockade.  Washington,  at  first  in  extreme 
peril,  was,  not  without  bloodshed,  soon  strongly 
garrisoned.  The  President  long  cherished  the 
hope  that  the  war  would  be  but  brief,  and  that 
soon  peace  and  union  as  of  old  would  be  re- 
stored. The  battle  of  Bull  Run  dispelled  in 
part  this  illusion ;  the  nation  began  to  harness 
itself  for  the  work  before  it,  and  during  the 
autumn  and  winter  of  1861-'62  the  President 
was  heavily  burdened  with  the  cares  and  re- 
sponsibilities so  suddenly  thrown  upon  him; 
finance,  the  raising  and  maintaining  great  ar- 
mies throughout  the  country ;  settling  the  diffi- 
cult Trent  case,  and  adjusting  temporarily  the 
serious  and  delicate  questions  connected  with 
slavery  which  were  constantly  arising,  under 
the  movements  of  Butler,  Fremont,  and  other 
of  the  army  commanders. 

The  year  1862,  though  cheered  by  some  vic- 
tories like  those  of  Thomas,  at  Mill  Spring,  the 
grand  forward  movements  of  Halleck,  Grant, 
and  Buell  through  Kentucky  and  Tennessee, 
the  capture  of  Island  No.  10  and  Memphis, 
of  New  Orleans  and  its  guarding  forts,  of  Beau- 
fort and  Port  Royal,  of  Roanoke  Island  and 
Newbern,  was  on  the  whole  one  of  gloom  and 
anxiety  for  the  President.  But  the  dawn  of 
the  new  year  brought  altered  prospects.  He 
had,  after  long  and  anxious  deliberation,  come 
to  believe  in  the  necessity  of  the  proclamation 
of  emancipation  as  a  war  measure,  and  the 
first  day  of  the  new  year  saw  liberty  pro- 
claimed to  all  the  slaves  of  the  rebellious  States. 
The  victory  of  Stone  River,  the  capture  of 
Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson,  and  the  opening 
of  the  Mississippi,  the  substantial  exclusion  of 
the  Rebels  from  Missouri  and  Arkansas,  the 
redemption  of  Tennessee,  were  all  so  many 
positive  gains ;  while  the  disaster  of  Chancellors- 
ville  was  more  than  redeemed  by  the  glorious 
though  bloody  victory  of  Gettysburg,  and  the 
misfortunes  of  Chickamauga  alleviated  by  the 
triumphant  successes  of  Chattanooga.  "  Peace  " 
said  the  President,  reviewing  these  achievements 
of  our  armies,  "  does  not  look  so  distant  as  it 
did."  He  had  anxiously  sought  for  two  years 
to  bring  the  border  States  into  the  adoption  of 
a  system  of  emancipation,  more  or  less  gradual ; 
and  he  was  rewarded  by  the  adoption  of  an 
emancipation  constitution  in  the  new  State  of 
West  Virginia,  and  the  emancipation  of  their 
slaves  by  Missouri  and  Maryland,  while  Con- 
gress abolished  slavery  in  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia, forbade  it  in  all  the  territories,  and 
struck  from  the  statute  books  the  fugitive 
slave  laws. 

The  arrest  of  persons  guilty  of  alleged  treas- 
onable acts  or  words,  which,  though  not  made 
in  all  cases  by  his  order,  he  could  not  but  sanc- 
tion, occasioned  some  animadversions,  and  was 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


803 


explained  by  him  in  two  lucid  and  able  let- 
ters to  the  New  York  and  Ohio  committees 
who  had  addressed  him  on  the  subject.  In 
1864,  the  first  few  months  of  the  year  were 
rendered  anxious  by  financial  difficulties,  the 
rapid  depreciation  of  the  national  currency,  the 
resignation  of  Secretary  Chase,  and  the  ap- 
pointment of  Mr.  Fessenden.  Then  began  in 
May  those  movements — unequalled  in  the  his- 
tory of  modern  times,  by  which,  in  less  than 
a  twelvemonth,  the  rebellion  "was  crushed — 
Grant's  great  campaign,  where  each  day's 
slaughter  was  almost  that  of  an  army,  but  in 
which,  with  a  wonderful  endurance  and  per- 
sistency, he  held  his  adversary,  till  at  last  he 
yielded ;  that  unparalleled  march  of  a  thousand 
miles,  by  which  Sherman,  making  pauses  only 
at  Atlanta,  at  Savannah,  and  at  Goldsboro, 
swept  as  with  a  besom  of  destruction  through 
the  hostile  territory,  and  at  last  brought  his  foe 
to  surrender ;  and  that  wisely-planned  retreat 
of  Thomas  on  Nashville,  and  his  subsequent 
hurling  of  his  troops  upon  the  foe,  pursuing 
them  till  they  were  scattered  and  broken. 
Meantime  Mr.  Lincoln  had  been,  by  a  respect- 
able majority  in  the  popular  vote,  and  a  great 
majority  in  the  electoral  college,  called  for  a  sec- 
<5nd  term  to  the  Presidential  chair,  inaugurated 
amid  the  acclamations  of  thousands,  though 
still  not  without  some  threats  of  assassination, 
he  seemed  about  entering  upon  more  halcyon 
days.  Richmond  and  Petersburg  had  been 
evacuated,  and  his  own  feet  had  trodden  the 
pavements  of  the  late  Rebel  capital ;  Lee  had 
surrendered,  and  Johnston  was  about  to  do  so. 
Davis  was  a  fugitive,  and  his  abdication  had 
been  made  without  leaving  a  successor.  War 
had  substantially  ceased,  and  the  national  ban- 
ner was  to  float  from  the  walls  of  Fort  Sumter 
on  the  14th  of  April,  1865,  the  anniversary  of 
the  day,  four  years  before,  which  witnessed  its 
humiliation.  Pacification  was  to  be  the  future 
work  of  the  President. 

Amid  these  joyous  anticipations  of  the  future, 
when  the  sad  and  wearied  look  which  had  so 
long  hovered  over  his  face  seemed  about  to 
give  place  to  one  of  serene  satisfaction,  the  as- 
sassin, creeping  stealthily  from  behind,  as  he 
sat  with  his  family  and  friends  in  his  box  at  the 
theatre,  on  the  night  of  the  14th  of  April,  1865, 
fired,  with  fatal  precision,  the  pistol  shot,  which, 
penetrating  his  brain,  in  a  few  hours  terminated 
his  life.  The  immediate  assassin  was  an  actor, 
by  the  name  of  John  "Wilkes  Booth,  but  the 
assassination  was -a  part  of  a  conspiracy  intended 
to  cripple  the  Government  by  the  simultaneous 
destruction  of  its  principal  executive  officers, 
and  it  involved  either  as  principals  or  accessa- 
ries, a  number  of  persons.  Nine  of  the  more 
immediate  actors  suffered  condign  punishment, 
Booth  being  shot  in  the  act  of  arresting  him ; 
Harold,  Payne,  Atzerot,  and  Mrs.  Snrratt 
hung;  Arnold,  Mudd,  and  McLaughlin  im- 
prisoned for  life,  and  Spangler  for  six  years. 
The  excitement  which  the  intelligence  of  his 
death  caused  throughout  the  nation,  has 


never  been  paralleled  in  human  history.  The 
whole  people  were  in  tears ;  cities  and  villages 
were  draped  in  mourning ;  all  ranks  and  con- 
ditions lamented  him  as  a  father,  and  every- 
where were  seen  the  insignia  of  sorrow.  When 
his  body  was  borne  through  the  cities  through 
which  he  had  passed  as  he  came  to  enter  upon 
his  Presidency,  it  was  greeted  with  unusual  dem- 
onstrations of  grief;  the  throngs  in  the  streets 
were  clad  in  the  habiliments  of  wo,  and  with 
saddened  countenances  and  streaming  eyes 
watched  the  funeral  train  as  it  bore  all  that 
was  mortal  of  the  loved  and  honored  President, 
a  martyr  for  his  country's  sake,  to  the  quiet 
grave  in  his  prairie  home.  England  poured 
forth  her  encomiums  upon  the  dead,  her  wid- 
owed queen  writing  a  most  touching  letter  of 
sympathy  to  the  bereaved  consort  of  the  Presi- 
dent, while  her  poets  vied  with  ours  in  chaunt- 
ing  his  requiem.  France,  too,  expressed  in  words 
and  tones  of  sympathy  her  grief  at  our  nation's 
bereavement,  and  the  wave  of  grief  sweeping 
over  Europe  found  answering  billows  in  the  far- 
off  Orient.  China,  Japan,  and  Siam  sent  their 
condolence. 

Mr.  Lincoln's  character  as  a  man  and  a  chief 
magistrate  may  be  summed  up  in  a  few  words. 
He  was  honest  in  the  best  sense  of  the  term ; 
patient,  forbearing,  and  forgiving ;  slow  in  ar- 
riving at  conclusions,  but  when  once  settled  in 
them,  firm  to  obstinacy ;  endowed  with  a  wis- 
dom and  tact  not  acquired  in  the  schools,  but 
which  guided  him  in  administration,  sustained 
him  in  despondency,  and  rendered  him  calm 
and  self-possessed  in  the  hour  of  success;  in 
short,  a  self-taught,  large-hearted,  clear-headed 
man. 

April  17. — CHARLES  H.  TTLEB,  a  brigadier- 
general  in  the  rebel  army,  killed  at  West  Point, 
Ga.,  in  the  battle  at  that  point  with  Major-Gen- 
eral  Wilson's  cavalry.  He  was  a  native  of  the 
South,  and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  a 
captain  of  dragoons  in  the  U.  S.  army.  His 
promotion  was  not  rapid,  and  he  had  not  ap- 
parently distinguished  himself  in  the  war. 

April  21. — Col.  MATTHEW  MUBPHY,  69th 
regiment  N.  Y.  volunteers,  died  in  New  York, 
from  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  Hatcher's 
Run,  Feb.  4, 1865.  He  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
born  Dec.  26, 1840,  but  had  come  to  the  United 
States  in  childhood.  At  the  commencement 
of  the  war  he  was  a  teacher  in  Public  School 
No.  24,  and  from  patriotic  impulses  entered  as 
a  private  in  the  69th,  but  soon  rose  from  the 
ranks  by  his  merit,  and  on  the  return  of  the 
regiment  to  this  city  was  elected  its  colonel, 
reorganized  and  filled  up  the  regiment,'  and  led 
it  again  to  the  field.  He  had  taken  part  in 
most  of  the  prominent  battles,  and  had  won 
the  reputation  of  a  brave  and  gallant  officer. 

April  22. — WILLIAM  W.  MoKsAN,  TJ.  S.  N., 
a  commodore  in  the  naval  service  of  the  United 
States,  died  near  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  after  a 
brief  illness.  He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1801,  being  the  son  of  Judge  McKean  and  a 
nephew  of  Governor  McKean.  He  entered  the 


804 


MILITAEY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  KEBELLION. 


navy  from  Pennsylvania  in  Nov.  1814,  and  had 
consequently  been  over  fifty  years  in  the  service, 
twenty-five  of  them  afloat.  His  last  cruise  was 
completed  in  June,  1862.  In  1823-'24  he  com- 
manded a  schooner  in  Porter's  squadron,  and 
was  very  active  in  suppressing  piracy  along  the 
coast  of  Cuba,  and  among  the  islands  of  the 
"West  Indies.  In  1860  he  was  sent  on  the  special 
service  of  conveying  the  Japanese  embassy 
home,  and  on  his  return  was  the  first  commander 
of  the  "West  Gulf  blockading  squadron.  He  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  commodore  July  16, 
1862. 

May  1.— Lieut.  EDWIN  J.  DE  HAVEN,  TJ.  S. 
N.,  died  at  Philadelphia.  He  was  born  in  Phil- 
adelphia in  1819,  and  entered  the  navy  in  Oct., 
1829,  at  the  age  of  ten  years.  He  had  been 
nearly  thirty-six  years  in  the  service,  about  one- 
half  of  it  in  the  sea  service,  but  owing  to  im- 
8 aired  vision  had  been  placed  upon  the  retired 
st.  His  last  cruise  was  completed  in  Feb., 
1857.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  scientific  abilities, 
and  was  often  detailed  for  special  service.  He 
commanded  the  first  Arctic  exploring  expedi- 
tion, of  which  Dr.  Kane  wrote  so  graphic  an 
account.  He  was  for  several  years  employed 
in  the  National  Observatory  under  Maury,  who 
was  indebted  to  him  for  much  of  the  reputation 
he  had  attained. 

June  11.— rDr.  WILLIAM  WHELAN,  U.  S.  N., 
surgeon  and  chief  of  bureau  of  medicine  and 
surgery  in  the  Navy  Department,  died  at  "Wash- 
ington, D.  0.  He  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
Sept.  4,  1808.  He  graduated  at  Mount  St. 
Mary's  College,  Emmittsburg,  with  the  highest 
honors  of  his  class,  though  quite  young,  and 
studied  medicine  under  Dr.  Samuel  Jackson,  of 
of  Philadelphia,  graduating  M.  D.  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania  in  1828.  He  at  once 
entered  the  navy  as  an  assistant  surgeon,  and 
continued  in  it  till  his  death.  His  first  sea  ser- 
vice was  a  cruise  of  over  five  years  in  the  West 
Indies.  On  his  return  he  was  ordered  to  Bos- 
ton, where  he  assiduously  prepared  himself  for 
his  second  examination,  and  was  assigned  the 
first  place  in  his  class.  He  was  promoted  to 
be  surgeon  in  1837.  He  then  made  a  cruise  to 
the  Pacific  in  the  Falmouth,  and  was  twice  fleet 
surgeon  to  the  Mediterranean  squadron  each 
time  at  the  request  of  the  commander  of  the 
fleet.  In  October,  1853,  Dr.  Whelan  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  Medical  Bureau  by  President 
Pierce,  as  successor  to  Dr.  Thomas  Harris.  In 
1862,  under  the  four  years  rule,  he  was  again 
nominated  to  the  Senate  by  the  President,  and 
confirmed.  In  1855,  when  on  a  tour  of  duty,  he 
received  a  severe  injury  from  a  railroad  accident, 
from  which  he  never  entirely  recovered.  As 
an  executive  officer,  as  well  as  a  surgeon,  he  had 
won  a  high  reputation  for  clearness  of  compre- 
hension, decision,  skill,  and  gentleness. 

June  13. — Col.  J.  CLEVELAND  CAMPBELL,  23d 
U.  S.  C.  T.,  died  at  Castleton,  N.  Y.,  from 
injuries  received  at  the  explosion  of  the  mine 
at  Petersburg,  July  30,  1864.  He  was  born  in 
New  York  in  July,  1836,  and  graduated  succes- 


sively at  the  Free  Academy,  Union  College,  and 
the  University  of  Gottingen.  Early  in  the  war 
he  entered  as  a  private  in  the  44th  N.  Y.  volun- 
teers, was  soon  promoted  to  be  a  lieutenant  on 
Gen.  Palmer's  staff,  was  next  adjutant  of  the 
152d  N.  Y.  volunteers,  then  captain  in  Upton's 
121st  N.  Y.  volunteers,  and  after  passing  a  most 
brilliant  examination  was  commissioned  lieu- 
tenant-colonel, and  finally  colonel  of  the  23d 
U.  S.  C.  T.  He  led  his  regiment  into  the  hot- 
est  of  the  fight  at  Petersburg,  when  the  mine 
.exploded,  and  left  in  and  around  that  awful 
crater  nearly  400  of  his  men,  killed  or  wounded. 
His  lung  was  contused  and  ruptured  by  a  burst- 
ing shell,  which  eventually  caused  ills'  death. 

June  23. — SAMUEL  FEAXCIS  DuPoNT,  U.  S.  N., 
a  rear-admiral  in  the  navy  of  the  United  States, 
born  at  Bergen  Point,  New  Jersey,  September 
27,  1803,  died  in  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  June  23, 
1865.  He  was  of  French  origin  on  his  father's 
side,,  his  grandfather  being  P.  S.  Du  Pont  de 
Nemours,  the  intimate  personal  friend  of  Madi- 
son and  Jefferson.  He  was  appointed  a  mid- 
shipman in  the  navy  by  President  Madison, 
December  19,  1815.  His  appointment  was 
made  from  Delaware,  of  which  State  he  be- 
came a  resident  in  his  boyhood.  His  first 
cruise  was  in  the  Franklin,  74,  under  Commo- 
dore Stewart ;  from  this  he  was  transferred  to 
sloop-of-war  Erie,  Captain  Bollard.  His  second 
cruise  was  on  the  Mediterranean  station  in  the 
Constitution,  and  twice  subsequently  he  re- 
turned to  the  Mediterranean  for  three  years  in 
the  North  Carolina,  74,  and  in  the  sloop-of-war 
Ontario.  He  also  served  on  the  West  India 
station  and  on  the  coast  of  Brazil  in  the  frigate 
Congress,  under  Commodore  Biddle.  On  the 
North  Carolina  he  had  been  promoted  to  be 
sailing  master,  and  in  1826  he  was  commission- 
ed lieutenant  and  ordered  to  the  schooner 
Porpoise.  From  1835  to  1838  he  served  as 
executive  officer  on  the  Warren  and  Constella- 
tion, and  from  1838  to  1842  on  the  Ohio,  the 
flag-ship  of  Commodore  Hull.  In  1845,  having 
been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  commander,  he 
was  ordered  to  the  Pacific  in  command  of  the 
frigate  Congress,  bearing  the  flag  of  Commodore 
Stockton,  and  in  1846  was  transferred  to  the 
corvette  Cyane.  The  outbreak  of  the  Mexican 
war  brought  his  services  into  request.  In  the 
Cyane  he  captured  San  Diego,  and  landed  John 
C.  Fremont.  He  cleared  the  Gulf  of  California 
of  Mexican  vessels,  capturing  and  destroying 
thirty.  He  took  possession  of  La  Paz,  the 
capital  of  Lower  California,  spiked  the  guns  of 
San  Blaz,  and  established  the  blockade  of  Maz- 
atlan,  which  latter  port  he  subsequently  as- 
sisted in  capturing,  leading  the  line  of  boats 
which  entered  the  main  harbor  under  the  orders 
of  Commodore  Shubrick,  in  November,  1847. 
He,  was  next  despatched  in  the  Cyane  to  defend 
Lower  California  against  the  Indians  and  Mexi- 
cans. He  covered  La  Paz  until  it  could  be  for- 
tified, landed  at  San  Jos6  with  a  force  of  one 
hundred  marines  and  sailors,  defeated  and  scat- 
tered a  largely  superior  force  of  Mexicans,  and 


MILITARY  AND  NAVAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


805 


rescued  a  small  party  under  Lieut.  Heywood, 
who  were  beleaguered  in  the  Mission  House. 
He  led  or  took  part  in  a  number  of  expeditions 
into  the  interior,  capturing  many  prisoners  and 
cooperating  with  Col.  Benton  and  Lieutenant 
(now  Maj.-Gen.)  Halleck,  approaching  from  the 
north,  scattered  the  Mexicans  and  Indians,  and 
gained  complete  possession  of  the  peninsula  of 
California.  In  1848  he  returned  to  Norfolk  in 
the  Cyane  after  an  absence  of  three  years. 
After  a  service  of  forty  years,  sixteen  as  lieu- 
tenant and  thirteen  as  commander,  he  was 
made  a  captain  in  1855.  In  1857  he  was  order- 
ed to  the  command  of  the  Minnesota,  and  sent 
on  a  special  service  to  China,  with  W.  B.  Reed 
minister  to  that  empire.  After  a  cruise  of  two 
years,  during  which  he  visited  Japan,  "Western 
India,  and  Arabia,  he  returned  in  June,  1859, 
to  Boston,  in  the  Minnesota.  On  the  1st  of 
Jan.,  1861,  he  was  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  Philadelphia  navy-yard,  relieving  Com- 
modore Stewart.  Here  he  was  stationed  at  the 
commencement  of  the  war,  and  by  his  prompti- 
tude and  experience  rendered  great  service  in 
securing  "Washington.  In  June,  1861,  he  was 
made  president  of  a  Board  called  at  Washington 
to  establish  a  plan  of  naval  operations  from  the 
examination  of  the  records  of  the  coast  survey 
and  other  data. 

On  the  division  of  the  Atlantic  squadron  into 
two  distinct  commands,  in  September,  1861, 
Capt.  Du  Pont  was  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  South  Atlantic  squadron,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  recall  on  the  3d  of  June,  1863. 
His  first  enterprise  afloat  with  his  squadron  was 
the  brilliant  bombardment  and  capture  of  Forts 
Beauregard  and  Walker,  at  the  entrance  of  Port 
Royal  Harbor,  S."C.,  and  the  occupation  by  a 
joint  land  and  naval  force  of  the  islands  adja- 
cent. This  was  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the 
finest  and  most  admirably  conducted  naval  con- 
flicts of  the  war.  He  also  rendered  essential 
service  in  the  establishment  of  a  very  close 
blockade  of  the  coast  of  Carolina  and  Georgia ; 
in  the  occupation  of  Tybee  Roads  and  Tybee 
Island,  which  gave  the  army  their  base  for  the 
reduction  of  Fort  Pulaski ;  in  the  expedition  for 
the  destruction  of  the  batteries  on  the  mainland 
at  Port  Royal  ferry ;  in  the  capture  in  March, 


1862,  of  Cumberland  Island  and  Sound,  Amelia 
Island,  the  river  and  town  of  St.  Mary's,  Ga., 
Fernandina,  Florida,  and  Fort  Clinch.    The  in- 
lets along  the  coast  were  also  occupied  or  care- 
fully examined,  the  rivers  ascended,  Jackson- 
ville and  St.  Augustine,  Florida,  taken,  and  the 
yacht  America,  which  had  been  sunk,  was  raised. 
At  Charleston  alone  the  blockade  was  ineffec- 
tive, the  force  at  command  not  being  sufficient 
to  cover  completely  the  circuit  from  the  bay  to 
Stono,  and  the  demands  upon  the  navy  render- 
ing the  reenforcement  of  the  squadron  impossi- 
ble.    The  capture  of  Charleston,  it  was  hoped, 
would  complete  the  blockade,  and  in  April, 

1863,  a  resolute  attempt  was  made,  the  rear- 
admiral  himself  leading  the  attack  to  bombard, 
and  if  possible  pass  Fort  Sumter.    It  failed,  one 
of  the  iron-clads  being  sunk  and  others  dis- 
abled, and  the  brave  admiral  did  not  feel  war- 
ranted in  renewing  the  attack.     The  Secretary 
of  the  Navy  deeming  him  distrustful  of  the 
iron-clads  of  the  Monitor  type,  removed  him 
from  the  'command  of  the  squadron,  but  his 
successor,  with  a  larger  fleet  and  an  efficient 
cooperative  land   force,  was   no   more   suc- 
cessful. 

On  the  16th  of  July,  1862,  while  in  command 
of  the  squadron,  Captain  Du  Pont  was  made  a 
Rear- Admiral,  ranking  second  in  the  list.  After 
his  withdrawal  from  the  South  Atlantic  squad- 
ron he  held  no  active  command,  but  served,  as 
occasion  required,  on  naval  commissions  and 
courts-martial.  He  had  been  active  in  the 
general  improvement  of  the  navy  during  all 
his  period  of  service;  had  assisted  in  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Naval  Academy,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Light  House  Board ;  had  twice 
aided  in  revising  the  Rules  and  Regulations  of 
the  Navy ;  was  a  member  of  the  Naval  Retiring 
Board;  and  had  at  various  times  contributed 
important  papers  on  subjects  relating  to  the  in- 
terests of  the  naval  service.  Among  these  one 
on  coast  defences  has  been  repuhlished  and 
widely  circulated.  He  was  a  brave  and  accom- 
plished sailor,  a  fearless  and  greatly  beloved 
commander,  an  earnest,  sincere,  and  consistent 
Christian.  His  death  was  occasioned  by  a  sud- 
den attack  of  quincy,  a  disease  to  which  he  had 
been  for  some  years  subject. 


INDEX    OF    CONTENTS. 


ABBOTT, Col. — Commands  a  brigade  at  Fort  Fisher  bat- 
tle, 645. 

Abingdon,  Fa.— Captured  by  Burbridge,  629. 

Accomac  County,  Va. — Troops  sent  Into,  by  Gen.  Dix,  113. 

ADAMS,  JOHN  F. — Minister  to  England,  275 ;  correspondence 
relative  to  the  Oreto,  275-280 ;  do.  Alabama,  281. 

Alabama — Secession  movements,  8 ;  election  of  delegates  to 
a  State  Convention,  8 ;  division  among  the  people,  8 ; 
Convention  assembles,  8 ;  resolutions  considered,  8 ;  or- 
dinance of  secession,  8 ;  its  adoption,  8 ;  refusal  to  sub- 
mit it  to  the  people,  9  ;  excitement  at  Mobile,  9 ;  feeling 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  10 ;  address  of  the 
President  of  the  Convention,  10 ;  commissioners  sent  to 
"Washington,  10. 

Alabama— A  Confederate  cruiser,  276 ;  her  origin,  276 ;  ves- 
sels destroyed,  276 ;  Federal  cruiser  sent  after  her,  279 ; 
attack  on  the  Hatteras,  280 ;  list  of  officers,  280 ;  further 
cruise  of,  439,  440 ;  battle  with  the  Kearsarge,  648. 

Albemarle— Confederate  iron-clad,  520 ;  contest  with  gun- 
boats, 520;  further  contest  with  gunboats,  638;  de- 
stroyed by  torpedoes,  638. 

ALDEN,  Capt  JAMES — Letter  to  consuls  on  firing  upon  Gal- 
veston,  83 ;  in  the  battle  below  New  Orleans,  194 

Alexandria — Occupied  by  Federal  troops,  53;  martial  law 
declared,  54;  bridges  on  the  railroad  burned,  54. 

Alexandria,  La. — Evacuation  and  burning  of,  514 

Alatoona  Pass— Conflict  at,  531. 

AMES,  Brig.-Gen.  ADELBEET — Commands  a  division  of  10th 
corps,  565;  expedition  against  Weldon  Railroad,  565; 
commands  in  the  attack  on  Fort  Fisher,  640-645 ;  in  the 
advance  on  Wilmington,*682. 

AMMEN,  Com.  DANIEL — Attacks  Fort  McAllister,  446;  at- 
tacks forts  in  Charleston  harbor,  447. 

Amnesty  Proclamation — Issued  by  President  Lincoln,  491 ; 
do.  of  President  Johnson,  709. 

AMOET,  Col.  J.  C.  T.— Biographical  notice  of,  791. 

Anderson,  Fort— Attacked  by  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill,  462. 

ANDEBSON,  Brig.-Gen.  G.  B. — "Wounded  at  Antietam,  740 ; 
biographical  notice  of,  740. 

ANDEBSON,  Maj.-Gen.  EGBERT— In  command  at  Fort  Sumter 
20 ;  correspondence  with  Gen.  Beauregard  relative  to  a 
surrender,  22 ;  notice  to  the  Government  of  the  surrender 
of  Fort  Sumter,  26 ;  in  command  in  Kentucky,  98. 

ANDERSON,  Gen.  R.  H. — In  council  at  Richmond,  246;  com- 
mands a  division  of  Lee's  army,  872 ;  commands  a  di- 
vision of  Hill's  corps,  401 ;  at  Gettysburg,  401 ;  moves 
with  Lee,  470 ;  attacks  Wright  at  Petersburg,  580 ;  at- 
tacks Federal  cavalry,  593.  • 

ASDBKSON,  Brig.-Gen. — Commands    a    division   of    Har- 


dee's  corps,  504;  moves  to  re'inforce  Gen.  Polk,  504; 
mortally  wounded,  543 ;  biographical  notice  of,  738. 

ANDKEW,  JOHN  A. — Governor  of  MitsucaaseitB,  236  ;  calls 
for  men,  236 ;  attempts  to  recruit  in  slave  States,  653. 

Antietam— Battle  of,  272. 

Appalachicola — Expedition  to,  152. 

Aquia  Creek — Batteries  at,  attacked  by  gunboats,  54. 

Arkansas — Action  of  the  Legislature,  40 ;  vote  on  the  Con- 
vention question,  40;  Convention  assembles,  40;  pro- 
ceedings, 40 ;  reply  of  the  Governor  to  the  call  for 
troops,  40;  Convention  reassembles,  40;  ordinance  of 
secession,  41 ;  other  proceedings  of  the  Convention,  41 ; 
seizure  of  Little  Rock  arsenal,  41 ;  do.  Fort  Smith,  41. 

Arkansas  Post — See  Fort  Hindman. 

AEMISTEAD,  Brig.-Gen.  L.  A. — Biographical  notice  of,  762. 

Army,  Confederate— Strength  in  July,  18C1,  80;  position 
and  strength  of  the  forces  at  the  commencement  of  1862, 
120 ;  need  of  men,  274 ;  conscription,  274 ;  list  of  general 
officers  In  1862,  327;  destitution  of  the  soldiers,  828; 
reorganization  of,  886;  condition  of,  412;  conscription, 
412 ;  desertion,  413 ;  position  and  numbers  at  the  begin- 
"ning  of  1864,  498 ;  measures  to  keep  up  the  army,  649  ; 
its  numbers  in  1864, 649  ;  enlistment  of  negroes  opposed, 
650,;  a  law  passed  too  late  to  be  available,  650 ;  arms,  652. 

Army,  United  States— Response  to  President  Lincoln's  call 
for  troops,  55 ;  troops  in  service  July  1st,  1861,  55 ;  in- 
crease of  the  regular  army,  55 ;  system  of  organization, 
55 ;  pay  offered  privates  in  July,  1861,  80 ;  force  in  the 
field,  December,  1861^0 ;  force  of  different  arms  of  the 
service,  80 ;  strength  and  position  at  the  commencement 
of  1862, 120 ;  call  for  three  hundred  thousand  militia  and 
three  hundred  thousand  volunteers,  256 ;  forces  in  the 
field,  273 ;  desertions,  829 ;  mortality,  329  ;  losses,  829 ; 
provost  marshals  appointed  to  arrest  deserters,  330 ;  its 
numbers  in  1863, 413;  enrolment  and  draft  act,  413;  man- 
ner of  making,  414 ;  effects,  414 ;  riots  in  cities,  414 ;  re- 
sult of  the  draft,  419 ;  colored  troops,  419,  420 ;  its  hos- 
pitals, 421 ;  expenditures  for  arms  and  munitions,  429  ; 
ordnance  and  small  arms,  429 ;  position  and  number  at 
the  commencement  of  1864,  498;  corps  reduced,  525; 
divisions  consolidated,  525 ;  consolidation  of  divisions 
and  arrangement  of  brigades,  548 ;  number  of  men  called 
for  in  1864,  652 ;  difficulty  in  obtaining  men,  652 ;  re- 
cruiting agents  sent  into  Southern  States,  653 ;  result, 
658 ;  importation  of  substitutes  charged,  654 ;  wages  of 
colored  troops,  654 ;  Banks'  Corps  d'Afrique,  654 ;  deser- 
tions, 654;  hospitals,  654;  arms,  655;  troops  mustered 
out  of  service,  706 ;  officers  of  the  regular  army,  711 : 
volunteer  major,  and  brigadier-generals,  712-715. 


80« 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


irmy  Operations— Number  tod  position  of  the  Federal 
forces,  January,  1862, 120 ;  number  and  positions  of  Con- 
federate forces,  January,  1862,  120 ;  results  of  the  pre- 
vious year,  120 ;  what  required  to  organize  and  equip  the 
Federal  army,  121 ;  plans  of  the  Government  for  the 
war,  121 ;  influence  of  railroads  on  military  operations, 
121 ;  movements  in  Kentucky,  121 ;  object  of  the  Con- 
federate officers,  121 ;  defeat  of  Humphrey  Marshall,  121 ; 
despatches  of  Col.  Garfleld,  121,  122 ;  proclamation  of 
Gen.  Crittenden,  122;  position  at  Mill  Spring,  122; 
movements  of  Gen.  Thomas,  123 ;  defeat  of  Gen.  Zolli- 
coffer,  123 ;  forces  on  each  side,  128 ;  thanks  of  the  Gov- 
ernment, 123 ;  effect  of  the  victory  at  the  North,  128. 

Eeconnoissances  in  Kentucky,  124 ;  plan  of  the  cam- 
paign and  force  of  Gen.  Buell,  124 ;  from  what  States, 
124 ;  naval  force  to  cooperate,  124 ;  gunboats,  124 ;  order 
of  the  President  for  an  advance  of  all  the  forces,  125 ; 
effect,  125 ;  movements  after  the  battle  of  Mill  Spring, 
125 ;  advance  upon  Fort  Henry,  125 ;  its  capture  by  the 
gunboats,  127 ;  advance  of  the  gunboats  up  the  Tennes- 
see into  Alabama,  127;  preparations  for  an  attack  on 
Fort  Donelson,  127 ;  forces  of  Gen.  Grant,  128 ;  Confed- 
erate force,  128  ;  remarks  of  Senator  Trumbull,  128 ;  lo- 
cation of  the  fort,  128;  attack  by  the  gunboats,  129; 
conflict  with  the  land  forces,  129 ;  summons  to  surren- 
der, 129 ;  surrender,  129 ;  troops  captured,  129  ;  effects, 
181 ;  Clarksville  surrendered,  181 ;  advance  of  Gen. 
Buell,  131 ;  address  of  Gen.  Mitchell,  182 ;  evacuation 
of  Nashville,  132 ;  it  surrenders,  182 ;  effect  upon  the 
Southern  people,  133 ;  address  of  Gen.  Halleck  to  the 
troops,  188 ;  movement  of  gunboats  to  Columbus,  133 ; 
its  occupation,  183 ;  proceedings  at  Nashville,  and  im- 
portant events  elsewhere,  134 

Expedition  of  Gen.  Burnside,  185 ;  sails  from  Fortress 
Monroe,  185 ;  the  storm,  186 ;  its  disasters,  186 ;  address 
of  Gen.  Burnside,  186 ;  advance  up  Pamlico  Sound,  186 ; 
capture  of  Koanoke  Island,  137 ;  thanks  of  the  President, 
187 ;  expedition  to  Elizabeth  City,  137 ;  address  of  Gen. 
Burnside  and  Com.  Goldsborough  to  the  people  of  North 
Carolina,  188 ;  proclamation  of  Go v.  Clark,  138;  advance 
upon  Newbern,  189 ;  defeat  of  the  Confederate  force,  139 ; 
congratulations  of  Gen.  Burnside,  189 ;  movement  tow- 
ard Beaufort,  141 ;  expedition  to  "Washington,  N.  C., 
141 ;  capture  of  Fort  Macon,  141 ;  advance  toward  Nor- 
folk under  Gen.  Eeno,  141 ;  skirmishes,  141 ;  expedition 
to  the  Dismal  Swamp  Canal,  142;  subsequent  move- 
ments of  Gen.  Burnside,'  142. 

Expedition  to  South  Carolina,  143 ;  movements  against 
batteries  at  Seabrook  Island,  143 ;  approaches  to  Savan- 
nah, 144;  explorations  at  Waljje  Cut,  145;  further  recon- 
noissances,  145 ;  Wilmington  Narrows,  145 ;  attack  on 
the  vessels  under  Com.  Tatnall,  145;  preparations  to 
capture  Fort  Pulaski,  146 ;  attack,  146 ;  surrender,  147 ; 
expedition  against  Femandina,  147;  its  capture,  147; 
expedition  to  Brunswick,  Ga.,  149 ;  St.  Simon's  Sound, 
149 ;  St.  John's  Eiver,  149 ;  Jacksonville,  its  surrender, 
149;  Union  proceedings,  149;  report  to  Com.  Dupont, 
149 ;  Mosquito  Inlet,  150 ;  movements  toward  Charles- 
ton, 150 ;  "Wappoo  Creek,  151 ;  movement  against  Hilton 
Head,  151. 

Movements  in  Missouri,  155;  skirmishes  at  Mount 
Zlon  and  Fayette,  155;  occupation  of  Springfield  by 
Gen.  Curtis,  156;  advance  into  Arkansas,  156;  report 
of  Gen.  8.  Price,  156 ;  driven  from  Cross  Hollows,  156 ; 
address  of  Gen.  Curtis  to  the  people,  156 ;  position  and 
strength  of  his  forces,  157 ;  advance  of  Confederate 
forces,  158;  preparations  for  the  battle  at  Pea  Eidge, 
158 ;  the  battle,  158 ;  flag  of  truce,  159  ;  correspondence, 
159 ;  retreat  of  the  Confederate  forces,  160 ;  movements 
of  Gen.  Curtis,  160 ;  advance  to  Batesville,  160  ;  lack  of 


supplies,  160 ;  ten  regiments  sent  to  Corinth,  160 ;  moves 
to  Helena,  160 ;  expedition  down  the  Mississippi,  160 ; 
expedition  to  White  Eiver  under  Gen.  Hovey,  160 ;  sub- 
sequent operations  in  Arkansas,  160 ;  Cross  Hollow,  162; 
Cane  Hill,  162;  Crawford's  Prairie,  162. 

Expedition  down  the  Mississippi  under  Com.  Foote, 
162 ;  land  and  naval  forces,  162 ;  reaches  Columbus,  162; 
Island  No.  10, 162 ;  its  situation,  162 ;  fortifications,  163 ; 
movement  of  Gen.  Pope,  163 ;  capture  of  New  Madrid, 
163 ;  occupies  Point  Pleasant,  163 ;  takes  his  army  across 
the  Mississippi,  163 ;  gunboat  Carondelet  runs  past  the 
batteries  on  the  island,  165 ;  evacuation  of  Island  No.  10, 
165 ;  capture  of  Confederate  force,  165. 

New  Confederate  line  of  defence,  165 ;  gunboats  move 
down  the  Mississippi,  165 ;  anchor  at  Plum  Point,  166 ; 
naval  battle  with  Confederate  gunboats,  1 66 ;  evacuation 
of  Fort  Pillow,  167 ;  Gen.  Pope  ordered  to  Corinth,  167 ; 
naval  battle  before  Memphis,  167 ;  surrender  of  Mem- 
phis, 168 ;  expedition  up  the  White  Eiver,  168. 

Operations  in  Tennessee,  172 ;  forces  of  Gen.  Grant, 
172 ;  line  of  defence,  172 ;  Confederate  force,  172 ;  move- 
ments of  the  Federal  force,  172 ;  plan  of  Gen.  Buell, 
178;  Pittsburg  Landing,  173 ;  battle  at  Shiloh,  174-178; 
despatch  of  Gen.  Beanregard,  178;  message  of  Presi- 
dent Davis  to  the  Confederate  Congress,  178 ;  Gen.  Hal- 
leek  takes  command  and  moves  on  Corinth,  179;  its 
situation,  180 ;  advances  of  the  Federal  army,  180 ;  de- 
spatches of  Gen.  Halleck,  ISO  ;  evacuation  of  Corinth, 
182 ;  Confederate  works,  182 ;  pursuit  of  the  Confed- 
erate forces,  183;  movements  of  Gen.  Mitchell,  183; 
capture  of  Huntsville,  183 ;  seizure  of  the  railroad,  184 ; 
operations  in  Alabama,  184 ;  close  of  operations  in  Ten- 
nessee, 185. 

Situation  in  Virginia,  206 ;  movements  of  Gen.  Lander, 
206 ;  intended  movements  of  Gen.  Jackson,  206 ;  attack 
at  Blue's  Gap,  207 ;  march  of  Gen.  Lander  from  Eom- 
ney,  207;  position  of  the  Confederate  army,  207 ;  address 
of  Gen.  Beauregard,  207 ;  do.  of  Gen.  Johnston,  203 ;  de- 
sign of  Gen.  McClellan,  208;  effects  of  the  order  of  the 
President  for  a  general  movement  of  all  the  troops,  208 ; 
opinion  at  Eichmond  on  this  order,  208 ;  salvation  of  the 
Confederacy,  208 ;  Federal  movement  at  Harper's  Ferry, 
208 ;  retreat  of  Confederate  army  commenced,  209 ;  bat- 
tle of  Winchester,  209  ;  new  Confederate  line,  209 ;  order 
of  the  President  dividing  the  army  of  the  Botomac  into 
corps,  210 ;  assigning  Gen.  McClellan  to  the  command, 
210 ;  effect,  210 ;  address  of  Gen.  McClellan,  210 ;  expo- 
sure of  his  plans,  211 ;  his  position,  211 ;  movement  of 
troops  begun,  212 ;  number  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
212 ;  withdrawal  of  Gen.  Blenker's  division,  212 ;  letter 
of  President  Lincoln,  212 ;  withdrawal  of  Gen.  McDow- 
ell's corps,  213 ;  statements  in  the  Senate,  213  ;  statement 
of  Gen.  McClellan  at  a  court-martial,  214 ;  his  instruc- 
tions to  Gen.  Wadsworth,  214 ;  do.  to  Gen.  Banks,  214, 
215 ;  letter  to  Gen.  Thomas,  215 ;  further  statements  of 
Gen.  McClellan  in  a  court-martial,  216 ;  generals  under 
command  of  Gen.  McClellan,  216 ;  countermanded,  216 ; 
order  creating  the  Mountain  Department,  216;  do.  She- 
nandoah,  216;  do.  Eappahannock,  216;  duty  assigned  to 
Gen.  McDowell  to  protect  the  capital,  216 ;  movements 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  from  Fortress  Monroe,  216 ; 
Torktown,  216 ;  Gloucester,  216;  progress  of  the  army, 
218 ;  attack  of  Vermont  troops  on  the  enemy's  line,  219 ; 
sharpshooters,  219 ;  operations  of  the  siege,  210 ;  evac- 
uation of  Torktown,  220 ;  causes  to  retard  its  capture, 
220;  guns  captured,  220;  situation  of  Williamsburg,  220 ; 
advance  upon,  220 ;  movements  of  Gen.  McClellan,  220 ; 
misinformed  of  affairs  in  front,  220 ;  fight  before  'Wil- 
liamsburg, 221 ;  success  of  Gen.  Hancock,  221 ;  arrival 
of  Gen.  McClellan,  222 ;  address  to  the  troops,  222 ;  ad- 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


809 


vance  of  Gen.  Franklin  to  West  Point,  222;  conflict, 
222 ;  aid  of  the  gunboats,  222 ;  delays  at  Williamsburg, 
223 ;  evacuation  of  Norfolk,  225 ;  its  occupation  by  Fed- 
eral troops,  225 ;  advance  of  Gen.  McClellan's  army,  226 ; 
description  of  the  country,  226;  concentration  of  Con- 
federate forces,  227;  skirmishing,  22T ;  instructions  from 
the  "War  Department,  227;  do.  to  Gen.  McDowell  to  join 
Gen.  McClellan,  227 ;  movement  under  Gen.  Porter  upon 
Hanover  Court  House,  227;  conflict,  228;  opinion  of 
Gen.  McClellan  on  the  effect  of  a  junction  with  Gen. 
McDowell,  228 ;  Prince  de  Joinville,  228 ;  cause  of  the 
failure  of  Gen.  McDowell  to  join  Gen.  McClellan,  228 ; 
advance  of  the  former  to  Fredericksburg,  229;  Gen. 
Shields  sent  to  join  Gen.  McDowell,  229 ;  orders  from 
the  "War  Department  to  Gen.  McDowell  how  to  proceed 
after  the  junction  with  Gen.  Shields,  229;  force  of  Gen. 
Shields,  22f ;  joins  Gen.  McDowell,  229;  ordered  to  fall 
back  to  relieve  Gen.  Banks,  229 ;  correspondence,  229  ; 
Gen.  Shields  falls  back,  280;  Gen.  Fremont's  depart- 
ment, 230 ;  his  movements,  280 ;  conflict  at  McDowell, 
280 ;  Gen.  Fremont  ordered  to  the  relief  of  Gen.  Banks, 
232;  order  of  the  President,  232;  his  reply,  232 ;  reaches 
Strasburg,  233 ;  skirmish  with  Gen.  Jackson's  rear,  233; 
valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  233  ;  situation  of  Gen.  Banks, 
283 ;  connection  with  the  forces  east,  238 ;  the  plan  to 
capture  Gen.  Banks,  233;  designs  of  the  enemy,  233; 
movements  of  Gen.  Jackson,  238,  234 ;  attack  on  Front 
Royal,  284;  plan  of  Gen.  Banks  on  hearing  of  it,  234; 
his  movements,  234 ;  retreats,  234 ;  pursuit  of  Gen.  Jack- 
son, 234;  fight  at  "Winchester,  234;  further  retreat,  235; 
crossing  of  the  Potomac,  235 ;  address  of  Gen.  Jackson 
to  his  troops,  235;  panic  occasioned  by  the  attack  at 
Front  Koyal,  235 ;  extends  to  "Washington,  235 ;  alarm 
of  the  Government,  235 ;  telegraphic  despatch  of  the 
Secretary  of  War,  235 ;  do.  of  Gov.  Morgan  of  New  York, 
285 ;  orders  of  Gov.  Curtin  of  Pennsylvania,  235 ;  procla- 
mation of  Gov.  Andrew  of  Massachusetts,  236 ;  order  of 
Gov.  Sprague  of  Rhode  Island,  236 ;  proclamation  of  the 
Governor  of  Ohio,  286 ;  order  of  the  Secretary  of  "War 
taking  military  possession  of  the  railroads,  236 ;  excite- 
ment in  the  Northern  States,  286 ;  success  of  Gen.  Jack- 
son's movements,  236;  advance  upon  Harper's  Ferry, 
236 ;  attack  by  his  rear-guard,  287 ;  retreat  of  Gen.  Jack- 
son, 237 ;  of  his  rear,  287 ;  position  of  Gens.  Fremont 
and  Shields,  237;  Gen.  Fremont  attacks  Gen.  Jackson's 
rear-guard,  238 ;  movements  of  Gen.  Shields,  238 ;  move- 
ments of  Gens.  Banks  and  Sigel,  238 ;  Gen.  Fremont  at- 
tacks the  rear  of  Gen.  Jackson  beyond  Strasburg,  238 ; 
pursuit  continued,  238;  affair  near  Mt  Jackson,  289; 
conflict  near  Harrisonburg,  239 ;  Col.  Ashby  killed,  239 ; 
battle  at  Cross  Keys,  239 ;  situation  of  Port  Bepublic, 
239  ;  advance  of  Gen.  Shields  repulsed,  289 ;  Gen.  Jack- 
son escapes,  240 ;  Gen.  Fremont  reaches  Port  Republic, 
240 ;  force  of  Gen.  Jackson,  241 ;  advance  of  Gen.  Heath 
in  "Western  Virginia,  and  defeat,  241 ;  consequences  of 
these  movements  to  prevent  reinforcements  to  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan, 241 ;  order  of  Gen.  McClellan  to  his  troops,  241 ; 
crossing  of  the  Chickahominy,  241 ;  battle  of  Fair  Oaks, 
242-244 ;  retreat  of  the  Confederate  troops,  244 ;  difficul- 
ties in  capturing  the  city,  244 ;  Confederate  march  in  tho 
rear  of  Gen.  McClellan,  245 ;  another  prospect  of  the  co- 
operation of  Gen.  McDowell,  245 ;  letters  of  Gen.  Mc- 
Dowell, 246 ;  address  of  President  Davis  to  the  Confed- 
erate army,  246 ;  completion  of  the  bridges  across  the 
Chickahominy,  246 ;  advance  of  Gen.  Hooker,  246 ;  his 
recall,  246 ;  reason,  246 ;  plans  of  the  Confederate  gen- 
erals, 246 ;  flank  march  of  Gen.  Jackson,  247 ;  position 
of  Gen.  McClellan's  forces,  247 ;  attack  on  his  right,  247 ; 
firm  resistance  of  Gen.  Porter's  corps,  249 ;  crossing  to 
the  right  bank  of  the  Chickahominy,  249 ;  opinion  of 


Confederate  officers,  249;  further  developments,  249; 
plans  of  the  Federal  general  comprehended,  249 ;  battle 
at  Savage's  Station,  250 ;  do.  at  White  Oak  Swamp,  250 ; 
do.  at  Charles  City  Crossroads,  250;  confusion  of  ths 
Confederate  troops,  250;  "Onward  to  Richmond"  shout 
of  Federal  troops,  250 ;  desperate  valor  of  Confederata 
troops,  250 ;  attack  of  Gens.  Wise  and  Holmes,  251 ;  at- 
tack at  Malvern  Hill,  251 ;  army  at  Harrison's  Landing, 
251 :  address  of  Gen.  McClellan  to  his  soldiers,  251 ;  ad- 
dress of  President  Davis  to  Confederate  army,  252 ;  ar- 
rival of  Gen.  Halleck,  252 ;  his  views,  252 ;  instructions 
to  Gen.  McClellan,  252 ;  letter  of  Gen.  McClellan,  252 ; 
reply  of  Gen.  Halleck,  253  ;  Army  of  the  Potomac  with- 
drawn from  the  Peninsula,  254. 

Gen.  Pope  assigned  to  command  the  army  of  Virginia, 
254 ;  Gen.  Fremont  resigns,  254 ;  Gen.  Pope's  address, 
254 ;  his  orders,  255 ;  situation  of  his  army,  255 ;  plans 
of  the  Confederate  officers,  256 ;  call  of  the  President  for 
three  hundred  thousand  men,  256 ;  movement  of  Con- 
federate troops,  256 ;  skirmishing  on  the  Rappahannock, 
256 ;  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  258 ;  capture  of  Louisa 
Court  House,  258 ;  nature  of  the  country,  258 ;  forces  of 
Gen.  Pope  begin  to  fall  back,  259 ;  Rappahannock  bridge, 
259 ;  attempts  of  Confederates  to  cross  the  Rappahan- 
nock, 259;  dash  on  Catlett's  Station,  260;  advance  of 
Confederate  army,  260;  Gen.  Pope  continues  to  fall 
back,  260;  concentration  of  his  forces,  260;  attack  at 
Manassas  Junction,  261;  attack  on  Bristow's  Station, 
261 ;  further  movements  of  the  Confederate  forces,  261 ; 
continued  retreat  of  Gen.  Pope,  261 ;  battle  near  Manas- 
sas, 262 ;  conflict  near  Gainesville,  262 ;  battles  near  Bull 
Run,  263 ;  despatch  of  Gen.  Lee,  268 ;  message  of  Presi- 
dent Davis,  263 ;  excitement  at  Washington  and  through 
the  North,  264 ;  Gen.  Pope  falls  back  to  the  heights  of 
Germantown,  264;  his  correspondence  with  Gen.  Lee, 
264 ;  retreat  of  Gen.  Banks,  264 ;  battle  of  Chantilly,  265 ; 
retreat  of  Gen.  Pope's  army  to  fortifications  at  Washing- 
ton, 265. 

Movements  of  the  Confederate  forces,  265 ;  advance 
toward  Maryland,  265;  enter  Frederick,  266;  address 
of  Gen.  Lee  to  the  citizens  of  Maryland,  266 ;  evacuates 
Frederick  and  enters  Hagerstown,  266;  excitement  in 
Pennsylvania,  266;  activity  in  Maryland,  267;  Gen. 
McClellan  ordered  to  command  the  troops  for  the  de- 
fence of  Washington,  267 ;  effect  upon  the  troops,  267 ; 
advance  sent  forward  into  Maryland,  267;  movements 
of  Gen.  Lee,  267 ;  his  order  to  Gen.  Hill  showing  his 
plans,  268 ;  advance  of  Gen.  McClellan's  forces,  268 ;  en- 
ter Frederick,  268 ;  pursue  Confederate  forces,  268 ;  bat- 
tftfcf  South  Mountain,  268,  269 ;  movements  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  269;  its  surrender,  270;  spoils  taken,  270;  battle 
at  Antietam,  271,  272 ;  losses,  272 ;  retreat  of  the  Con- 
federate army  from  Maryland,  272. 

Guerrilla  operations  in  Kentucky,  282;  advance  of 
Gen.  E.  K.  Smith  into  Kentucky,  282 ;  battle  at  Rich- 
mond, 282 ;  removal  of  the  Kentucky  Legislature,  282 ; 
address  of  the  governor,  288 ;  proclamation  of  Gen. 
Smith,  283 ;  movements  of  Gen.  Buell,  288 ;  advance  of 
Gen.  Bragg  into  Kentucky,  284 ;  capture  of  Munfords- 
ville,  2^4;  object  of  Gen.  Bragg's  advance  into  Ken- 
tucky, 285;  his  address  to  the  Kentuckians,  285;  ad- 
vance of  Gen.  Buell  in  pursuit,  287 ;  battle  of  Perrys- 
ville,  287;  Camp  Dick  Robinson,  287;  spoils  taken  by 
Gen.  Bragg,  288 ;  his  retreat  and  the  pursuit,  288 ;  result 
of  the  invasion  of  Kentucky,  289. 

Cumberland  Gap,  its  situation,  289 ;  occupation  by 
Confederate  forces,  289;  invasion  by  a  Federal  force, 
289 ;  its  evacuation,  289 ;  oocupation  by  Gen.  Morgan, 
290;  skirmishes,  290;  evacuation  by  Gen.  Morgan,  290. 

Movements  of  Gen.  Grant's  forces  in  Tennessee  and 


810 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


Mississippi,  290 ;  dash  upon  Inka,  291 ;  movements  of 
Federal  forces  upon  luka,  291 ;  its  capture,  291 ;  march 
of  the  Confederate  forces  upon  Corinth,  292 ;  position  of 
the  forces,  292 ;  battle  of  Corinth,  292, 293 ;  retreat  of  the 
Confederate  force,  294 ;  pursuit,  294 ;  address  of  Gen. 
Eosecrans,  294;  advance  of  Gen.  Grant's  forces,  294; 
movement  by  a  division  of  Gen.  Curtis's  army,  294; 
expedition  from  Helena,  295 ;  capture  of  Holly  Springs, 
295 ;  close  of  the  second  campaign  in  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee,  296. 

Gen.  Eosecrans  ordered  to  the  command  in  Kentucky, 
296;  advance  toward  Nashville,  296;  position  of  the 
Confederate  forces,  296 ;  Federal  advance  beyond  Nash- 
ville, 297 ;  position  of  the  armies  at  Murfreesboro,  29T ; 
the  battle  at  Murfreesboro,  29T-299 ;  losses,  299. 

Conclusion  of  the  campaign  in  Virginia,  299 ;  position 
of  the  armies,  299 ;  order  to  Gen.  McClellan  to  cross  the 
Potomac,  800 ;  letter  of  Gen.  Halleck  to  the  Secretary 
of  War,  300 ;  causes  of  delay  to  advance,  801 ;  advance 
of  the  troops,  801 ;  the  situation  of  the  respective  forces, 
802 ;  removal  of  Gen.  McClellan,  802 ;  his  farewell  to  the 
troops,  802 ;  the  military  aspect  of  affairs,  802 ,-  move- 
ment upon  Fredericksburg,  803 ;  that  city  summoned  to 
surrender  by  Gen.  Sumner,  804 ;  correspondence,  304 ; 
concentration  of  Federal  army,  804 ;  delay  of  pontoons, 
804;  testimony  of  Gen.  Burnside,  805 ;  battle  in  the  rear 
of  Fredericksburg,  306,  807 ;  retreat  of  the  Federal 
forces,  808 ;  despatches  of  Gen.  Burnside,  808 ;  address 
of  Gen.  Lee  to  his  troops,  808. 

Dash  upon  the  Cumberland  Gap,  309;  attack  upon 
Goldsboro,  809 ;  fight  at  Pocotaligo,  310 ;  at  Baton  Eouge, 
810 ;  summary  of  important  military  events,  810 ;  results 
of  the  military  operations  of  the  year  1862,  811. 

Plan  of  the  movement  against  Vicksbnrg,  830 ;  sur- 
render of  Holly  Springs,  831 ;  Gen.  Grant's  order,  881 ; 
loss  at  Holly  Springs,  331 ;  attack  on  Davis's  Mills,  831 ; 
other  stations  on  railroad  to  Corinth,  331;  effects  on 
Gen.  Grant,  881 ;  do.  on  the  plan  of  the  campaign,  332 ; 
movements  of  Gen.  Sherman,  832 ;  appears  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Tazoo,  832 ;  moves  up  the  river,  332 ;  his  plan, 
832 ;  character  of  the  country,  333 ;  bayous,  833 ;  landing 
of  Gen.  Blair,  833 ;  organization  of  Gen.  Sherman's  forces, 
833 ;  plan  of  attack  on  the  bluffs  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg, 
833 ;  landing  and  movement  of  the  troops,  333 ;  bivouac, 
883 ;  reconnoitring,  838 ;  repulse  of  Gen.  Steele,  833 ; 
change  in  the  order  of  movements,  333 ;  position  of  the 
forces,  834 ;  assaults  upon  the  bluffs,  834,  835 ;  repulse, 
885 ;  withdrawal  of  the  troops,  835 ;  arrival  of  Gen.  Mc- 
Clernand,  835 ;  address  of  Gen.  Sherman  to  the  troops, 
835 ;  Gen.  Pemberton  in  command  at  Vicksburg,  835 ; 
address  to  his  troops,  385. 

Plan  to  attack  Arkansas  Post,  836;  White  Eiver,886; 
movement  of  the  fleet,  836 ;  position  of  Fort  Hindman, 
886;  bombardment,  886;  assault,  836;  surrender,  836; 
expedition  up  the  White  Elver,  838. 

Gen.  Grant  leaves  Memphis  for  Vicksburg,  338 ;  as- 
sumes command,  888 ;  plans  for  the  attack  on  Vicks- 
borg,  888 ;  the  canal,  338 ;  routes  by  which  to  reach  the 
rear  of  Vicksburg,  839;  Lake  Providence,  339;  Tazoo 
Pass,  839. 

Queen  of  the  West  runs  the  blockade,  889  f  her  expe- 
dition down  the  river,  840 ;  returns,  840 ;  second  expedi- 
tion, 840 ;  moves  np  the  Atchafalaya,  340  ;  captures  the 
Era  No.  5,  340;  Fort  Taylor,  340;  attack  on,  840;  injury 
to  the  Queen,  840 ;  capture  of,  841 ;  escape  of  the  officers 
with  the  De  Soto,  841 ;  meets  the  Indianola,  841 ;  de- 
scription of  the  Indianola,  841;  runs  the  batteries  at 
Vicksburg,  841 ;  pursues  the  Webb,  842 ;  returns  to  Big 
Black  Eiver,  842 ;  is  captured  by  the  Webb  and  Queen 
of  the  West,  342. 


Situation  of  Lake  Providence,  842;  how  connected 
with  Bed  Elver,  842 ;  ronte  of  the  proposed  canal,  842 ; 
situation  of  Moon  Lake,  842 ;  Tazoo  Pass,  342 ;  Cold- 
water,  842 ;  route,  842 ;  advance  of  the  gunboats,  848 ; 
the  force,  843 ;  Fort  Pemberton,  843 ;  its  situation,  843 ; 
Greenwood,  343 ;  force  of  the  enemy,  843 ,  attack  on  the 
fort,  844;  repulse,  844;  its  cause,  344;  expedition  with  • 
drawn,  844 

Expedition  by  way  of  Cypress  Bayou,  844;  the  route; 
844 ;  its  progress,  844 ;  fleet  withdrawn,  344 ;  cause  of  the 
failure,  344. 

Eoute  from  Milliken's  Bend  to  New  Carthage,  845; 
rams  Switzerland  and  Lancaster  attempt  to  pass  the 
batteries  at  Vicksbnrg,  845;  Gen.  Grant  orders  New 
Carthage  to  be  occupied,  845 ;  advance  of  Gen.  McCler- 
nand,  845 ;  Perkins's  plantation  reached,  345 ;  bad  roads, 
845;  transports  at  the  same  time  run  (he  batteries  at 
Vicksburg,  846 ;  march  of  the  troops  below  Vicksburg, 
847 ;  attack  on  Grand  Gulf  by  the  gunboats,  847 ;  report 
of  Admiral  Porter,  847 ;  do.  Gen.  Grant's,  347 ;  trans- 
ports run  the  batteries  at  Grand  Gulf,  347 ;  troops  pre- 
pare to  cross  the  Mississippi,  847 ;  landed  at  Bruinsbnrg, 
847 ;  advance  of  the  Thirteenth  Corps,  347 ;  Port  Gibson, 
847;  enemy  encountered,  347;  repulsed,  847;  Bayou 
Pierre,  847 ;  Hawkinson's  Ferry,  348 ;  Gen.  Grant's  re- 
port of  the  crossing  of  the  Mississippi,  348;  Admiral 
Porter's  report  of  the  capture  of  Grand  Gulf,  348 ;  move- 
ment of  Gen.  Sherman  up  the  Tazoo,  848;  its  object, 
848;  attacks  Haines'  Bluff,  348;  position  of  Gen. 
Banks  at  this  time,  848 ;  ferries  over  the  Big  Black 
Eiver,  849. 

Col.  Grierson's  raid,  849;  his  force,  849;  leaves  La 
Grange,  349;  reaches  Eipley,  849;  New  Albany,  349; 
skirmish,  349 ;  King's  Bridge,  849 ;  Pontotoc,  349 ;  re- 
turn of  Major  Lall,  849 ;  Columbus,  349 ;  Louisville,  849 ; 
Nichols'  plantation,  349 ;  Ealeigh,  849 ;  Brandon,  849 ; 
Starkville,  349 ;  expedition  of  Capt.  Forbes,  349 ;  Pearl 
river,  350 ;  Gallatin,  850 ;  Brookhaven,  850 ;  Summit, 
850 ;  Edward's  Bridge,  350 ;  preparation  to  stop  him  at 
Osyka,  851 ;  Greensburg,  851 ;  Clinton,  351 ;  arrives  at 
Baton  Eonge,  851. 

Arrival  of  Gen.  Sherman,  851 ;  advance  of  Gen.  Grant, 
851 ;  route  of  Gen.  McPherson,  351 ;  do.  of  Gen.  Sher- 
man, 851 ;  do.  of  Gen.  McClernand,  851 ;  despatch  of 
Gen.  Grant,  851 ;  battle  of  Eaymond,  351 ;  further  ad- 
vance, 852 ;  capture  of  Jackson,  352 ;  movements  of  the 
enemy,  852 ;  battle  of  Champion  Hills,  854 ;  flght  at 
Black  Elver,  855 ;  Gen.  Sherman  marches  upon  Bridge- 
port, 855 ;  Walnut  Hills  occupied,  855 ;  supplies  for  the 
troops,  855;  investment  of  Vicksbnrg,  855;  report  of 
Admiral  Porter,  855 ;  do.  of  expedition  to  Tazoo  City, 
856 ;  retreat  of  Pemberton  to  Vicksburg,  356 ;  assault  on 
the  works  made  by  Gen.  Grant,  856 ;  a  second  assault, 
857 ;  how  made,  857 ;  report  of  Gen.  Grant,  857 ;  report 
of  the  enemy,  358;  report  of  Admiral  Porter  on  the  as- 
sault on  Vicksburg,  858 ;  siege  determined  upon,  859  ; 
how  conducted,  859 ;  reinforcements  to  Gen.  Grant,  859 ; 
attack  on  Milliken's  Bend,  359 ;  sinking  of  the  Cincin- 
nati, 860 ;  report  of  Capt.  Bache,  860 ;  progress  of  the 
siege,  860 ;  flag  of  truce,  860 ;  proposal  to  surrender,  360 ; 
correspondence,  861 ;  opinion  of  Gen.  Grant  of  the  terms 
of  surrender,  861 ;  despatch  of  Admiral  Porter,  861 ;  re- 
sult of  the  campaign,  862 ;  letter  of  President  Lincoln  to 
Gen.  Grant,  862 ;  report  of  Gen.  Halleck,  863 ;  new  ex- 
peditions, 368 ;  Gen.  Sherman  sent  to  attack  Gen.  John- 
ston, 863 ;  despatches  of  Gen.  Grant,  363. 

Destruction  of  property  at  Jackson,  Miss.,  863 ;  negroes 
flocking  after  the  army,  864 ;  their  views,  864 ;  expedi- 
tion against  Tazoo  City,  864;  movement  of  Gen,  Mc- 
Pherson, 865 ;  vast  extent  of  the  militarv  camcaifin,  365. 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


811 


Gen.  Banks  sails  for  New  Orleans,  865 ;  the  expedi- 
tion, 865 ;  his  movements,  865 ;  naval  force  on  the  lower 
Mississippi,  365 ;  attack  on  Port  Hudson,  865 ;  loss  of  the 
Mississippi,  866 ;  movement  of  the  land  forces,  866 ;  the 
Teche  country,  866 ;  forces  there,  866 ;  (movements  of 
Gen.  Weitzel,  866;  objects  of  Gen.  Banks,  866;  concen- 
trates at  Brashqar,  366 ;  advances,  86T ;  success  of  Gen. 
Grover,  367;  New  Iberia,  867 ;  further  operations,  867; 
surrender  of  Alexandria  to  Admiral  Porter,  867 ;  country- 
occupied  by  Gen.  Banks,  367 ;  despatch  of  Admiral  Por- 
ter on  the  capture  of  Alexandria,  86S;  order  of  Gen. 
Banks  to  organize  a  corps  d'Afrique,  868;  movements 
of  Gen.  Sherman,  368 ;  do.  of  Gen.  Augur,  368 ;  advance 
upon  Port  Hudson,  869;  fire  opened  by  Gen.  Banks, 
369 ;  report  of  Gen.  Banks  on  the  conduct  of  colored 
troops,  370;  second  assault  on  Port  Hudson,  370 ;  activity 
of  the  enemy  west  of  the  Mississippi,  870 ;  their  success, 
870 ;  complete  investment  of  Port  Hudson,  371 ;  its  sur- 
render, 371 ;  correspondence,  871 ;  terms  of  surrender, 
872;  further  movements  of  Gen.  Banks,  872. 

Gen.  Burnside's  position,  372  ;  another  movement  con- 
templated, 872 ;  storm,  373 ;  movement  abandoned,  373 ; 
order  of  Gen.  Burnside  surrendering  the  command,  378; 
his  statement  relative  to  his  resignation,  873  ^  order  of 
Gen.  Hooker  on  taking  command,  373 ;  order  of  the  War 
Department,  873 ;  Congress  passes  a  resolution  of  in- 
quiry, 873;  report  of  the  Committee  of  Inquiry,  874; 
letter  of  Gen.  Cochrane,  875 ;  order  of  Gen.  Burnside  dis- 
missing certain  officers,  875 ;  his  testimony  before  the 
committee,  375 ;  assumes  command  of  the  Department 
of  Ohio,  376;  raids,  376;  position  of  Gen.  Hooker's  and 
Gen.  Lee's  armies,  877 ;  advance  of  Gen.  Hooker  across 
the  Kappahannock,  378;  his  order,  378;  his  position, 
878 ;  movements  of  the  enemy,  378,  379 ;  report  of  Gen. 
Lee,  379 ;  movements  of  Gen.  Sedgwick,  879 ;  Lee's  re- 
port of  these  movements,  380;  further  movements  of 
Gen.  Hooker,  880. 

Movements  of  Gen.  Stoneman,  880 ;  Kilpatrick's  move- 
ments, 381 ;  his  report,  381 ;  movements  of  Lieut-Col. 
Davis,  381 ;  his  report,  382. 

Orders  of  Gen.  Hooker,  882 ;  orders  of  Gen.  Lee,  882 ; 
despatch  of  Secretary  Stanton  to  governors  of  Northern 
States,  382 ;  proclamation  of  President  Lincoln  relative 
to  the  conscription  of  aliens,  882;  order  of  Secretary 
Stanton  relative  to  the  sending  of  intelligence  by  tele- 
graph, 383 ;  official  report  of  the  loss  at  Chancellorsville, 
383 ;  flag  of  truce  from  Gen.  Leo,  383 ;  loss  of  the  enemy, 
883 ;  letter  of  Gen.  Lee  to  Gen.  Jackson,  383 ;  Gen.  Jack- 
son's wounds  and  death,  383 ;  order  of  Gen.  Lee,  384 ;  re- 
connoissance,  384 ;  movements  of  Gen.  Lee  northward, 
884 ;  his  objects,  385;  commencement  of  his  march,  385. 

Order  of  the  War  Department  creating  two  new  de- 
partments, 385 ;  departments  and  commanders,  885 ; 
proclamation  of  Gov.  Curtin,  885 ;  order  of  Gen.  Couch, 
886 ;  position  of  Gen.  Hooker,  886 ;  movements  of  Gen. 
Lee,  386,  887 ;  his  purpose,  887 ;  attack  at  Berryville, 
887 ;  do.  on  Winchester,  387 ;  retreat  of  Gen.  Milroy, 
889 ;  court-martialed,  889 ;  decision  of  President  Lincoln 
on  its  verdict,  839  ;  report  of  Gen.  Halleck,  389  ;  evacua- 
tion of  Martinsburg,  389 ;  report  of  Gen.  Lee,  8S9 ;  spoils 
taken,  389 ;  advance  of  Col.  Jenkins,  890  ;  invasion  of 
Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  890 ;  proclamation  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  890 ;  despatch  to  Gov.  Seymour,  of  New 
York,  390 ;  movements  in  New  York,  890 ;  thanks  of  the 
President  to  Gov.  Seymour,  891 ;  proclamation  of  Gov. 
Curtin,  391 ;  do.  of  Gov.  Parker,  of  New  Jersey,  891 ;  do. 
of  the  governor  of  Maryland,  291 ;  do.  of  the  governor  of 
West  Virginia,  391 ;  do.  of  the  governor  of  Ohio,  392 ; 
movement  of  troops  from  New  York,  892 ;  troops  from 
New  Jersey,  892 ;  appeal  of  Gov.  Curtin  to  tho  people 


of  Philadelphia,  893 ;  State  organizations  in  the  field, 
393  ;  proclamation  of  Gov.  Curtin,  893  ;  troops  from 
other  States,  394;  scenes  at  Harrisburg,  894;  do.  at 
Pittsburg,  394;  do.  at  Baltimore,  894;  movements  of 
Gen.  Hooker,  894;  his  objects,  895;  cavalry  contests, 
895;  Gen,  Pleasanton's  report,  895;  Gen.  Lee's  report 
of  Hooker's  position,  895 ;  orders  to  his  troops,  896 ;  Gen. 
Cooper's  letter  to  Gen.  Lee,  396;  do.  of  Mr.  Davis,  896 ; 
advance  of  the  Confederate  army,  897 ;  advance  toward 
Harrisburg,  897;  do.  York,  897;  order  of  Gen.  Lee,  897; 
Confederates  fall  back,  898;  Gen.  Hooker  resigns  his 
command,  399 ;  Gen.  Meade  assumes  command,  399 ;  im- 
pression upon  the  army,  899 ;  its  advance  toward  Get- 
tysburg, 899;  Meade's  address  before  battle,  399;  Get- 
tysburg, 400;  Gen.  Eeynolds  encounters  the  enemy, 
400 ;  the  battle  of  Wednesday,  400 ;  Gen.  Meade's  posi- 
tion, 401 ;  Gen.  Lee's  position,  401 ;  battle  of  Thursday, 
402 ;  report  of  Gen.  Lee,  408 ;  despatch  of  Gen.  Meade, 
403 ;  battle  of  Friday,  403 ;  despatch  of  Gen.  Meade,  404 ;' 
address  to  his  army,  404 ;  announcement  of  President 
Lincoln,  405;  movements  of  Gen.  Lee,  405;  movements 
of  Pennsylvania  troops,  405  ;  address  of  Gen.  Lee  to  his 
army,  405 ;  pursuit  by  Gen.  Meade,  405,  406 ;  despatches 
of  Gen.  Meade,  406 ;  denied  by  Gen.  Lee,  406 ;  contra- 
dicted by  Gen.  Meade,  406 ;  CoL  Kilpatrick's  report,  408 ; 
capture  of  Vicksburg  announced,  4081;  proclamation  of 
President  Lincoln,  408 ;  address  of  Gen.  Meade  to  citi- 
zens along  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  railroad,  408; 
movements  of  Gen.  Dix,  409. 

Advance  of  Gen.  Morgan,  409;  crosses  the  Cumber- 
land, 409 ;  moves  across  Kentucky,  409  ;  crosses  the 
Ohio,  409 ;  pursuit  by  Gen.  Hobson,  409 ;  movements  in 
Indiana,  410 ;  enters  Ohio,  411 ;  advances  toward  West- 
ern Virginia,  411 ;  skirmishes  at  the  Ohio  Eiver,  411 ; 
despatches  of  Gen.  Shackelford,  412 ;  capture  of  Gen. 
Morgan,  412. 

Operations  of  Gen.  Kosecrans,  452 ;  expedition  of  Gen. 
Jeff.  C.  Davis,  452;  attack  on  Fort  Donelson,  452;  expe- 
dition under  Col.  Colburn,  452 ;  do.  under  Gen.  Sheri- 
dan, 453;  do.  under  Col.  Hall,  453 ;  attack  on  Gen.  Gran- 
ger, 458 ;  movement  on  McMinnsville,  453 ;  expedition 
of  CoL  Streight,  453 ;  instructions  to  Col.  Streight,  453 ; 
by  Gen.  Garfield,  453 ;  movements  of  Col.  Streight,  454 ; 
his  surrender,  454 ;  letter  of  Gen.  Kosecrans  to  Gen.  Hal- 
leck relative  to  the  force  in  his  front,  455 ;  reply  of  Gen. 
Halleck,  455;  answer  of  Gen.  Kosecrans,  455;  move- 
ments commenced  by  Gen.  Kosecrans,  455 ;  movements 
of  his  corps,  456 ;  retreat  of  Gen.  Bragg,  456 ;  its  effect, 
456;  first  object  of  Gen.  Kosecrans,  456 ;  crossing  the 
Tennessee,  457. 

Movement  of  Gen.  Barnside,  457 ;  his  command,  457 ; 
position  of  Gen.  Buckner,  457 ;  advance  of  Gen.  Burn- 
side,  457 ;  reaches  Kingston,  458 ;  enters  Knoxville,  458 ; 
his  reception,  458;  movement  upon  Cumberland  Gap, 
458 ;  other  movements,  458 ;  occupation  of  Chattanooga, 
458 ;  despatch  of  Gen.  Halleck  to  Gen.  Kosecrans,  458 ; 
do.  to  Gen.  Burnside,  459 ;  reply  of  Gen.  Kosecrans,  459 ; 
reports  of  Gens.  Besecrans,  Foster,  and  Meade,  as  to 
movements  of  the  enemy,  459 ;  despatches  of  Gen.  Hal- 
leck, 459 ;  position  of  Gen.  Kosecrans'  forces,  460 ;  his 
advance,  460;  Lafayette,  460;  attack  on  Gen.  Nesrley, 
460 ;  concentration  of  Gen.  Rosecrans,  461 ;  operations 
of  the  Confederate  army,  461 ;  topographical  view,  462 ; 
order  of  Gen.  Bragg  to  advance,  462;  Eharge  of  inca- 
pacity against  Gen.  Bragg,  462 ;  approach  of  the  two  ar- 
mies, 462;  battle  of  Chickamauga,  463  ;  firmness  of  Gen. 
Thomas,  463  ;  he  falls  back,  465;  loss  of  Gen.  Kosecrans, 
465 ;  concentrates  at  Chattanooga,  465 ;  address  of  Gen. 
Kosecrans  to  the  army,  465 ;  forces  sent  to  Gen.  Bose- 
crans,  465;  Hooker's  corps,  465;  Grant  ordered  to  the 


812 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


command,  465 ;  movements  of  Gen.  Hooker,  466 ;  opens 
the  river  below  Chattanooga,  466 ;  supplies  reach  Chatta- 
nooga, 467 ;  movement  of  Gen.  Longstreet  in  East  Ten- 
nessee, 467 ;  plan  of  Gen.  Grant,  467 ;  his  attack  on  Gen. 
Bragg,  467;  his  defeat,  468. 

Movements  of  Gen.  Burnside  in  East  Tennessee,  468; 
advance  of  Gen.  Longstreet,  468 ;  siege  of  Knoxville,  468. 

Movements  of  Gen.  Sherman,  470 ;  diversion  of  Gen. 
Averill  in  "West  Virginia,  470 ;  position  of  the  armies  of 
Gens.  Meade  and  Lee,  470 ;  Meade  falls  back,  470 ;  ad- 
vance of  Gen.  Lee,  470 ;  he  retires,  471 ;  losses  in  caval- 
ry, 471 ;  advance  of  Gen.  Meade,  471 ;  Mine  Run,  471 ; 
movements  in  "West  Virginia,  471 ;  Gen.  Averill's  raid, 
471 ;  operations  in  North  Carolina,  472 ;  do.  In  southeast 
Virginia,  472 ;  Gen.  Foster  sent  to  Charleston,  472. 

Gen.  Gillmore  moves  on  Charleston,  472 ;  attacks  Mor- 
ris Island,  472 ;  his  report,  472 ;  capture  of  a  portion,  472 ; 
fortifications,  473 ;  naval  force,  478 ;  attack  on  Fort  "Wag- 
ner, 474;  repulse,  474;  Gen.  Gillmore's  works  on  Morris 
Island,  475 ;  Swamp  Angel,  475 ;  opens  fire  upon  Fort 
Sumter,  475 ;  report  of  the  enemy  of  the  bombardment, 
476;  report  of  Gen.  Gillmore,  476,  477;  letter  of  Gen. 
Beauregard,  477 ;  reply  of  Gen.  Gillmore,  478 ;  effect  of 
the  shells  fired  at  Charleston,  479 ;  capture  of  Fort  Wag- 
ner, 479 ;  report  of  Gen.  Gillmore,  479 ;  night  assault  upon 
Snmter,  479. 

Movements  of  Gen.  Banks,  479 ;  expedition  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Sabine,  479 ;  its  repulse,  480 ;  capture  of 
Brownsville,  480. 

Movements  in  Missouri,  480 ;  operations  of  Gen.  Mar- 
maduke,  481 ;  retires  to  Arkansas,  481 ;  movement  of 
Gen.  Cabell,  481 ;  Gen.  McNeil,  482 ;  expedition  of  Col. 
Clayton,  482;  advance  of  Gen.  Blunt,  482;  Gen.  Steele's 
movements,  488 ;  capture  of  Little  Bock,  488 ;  Quan- 
trell's  raid,  483 ;  attack  on  Gen.  Blunt,  483. 

Department  of  the  Northwest,  484 ;  operations  against 
the  Indians,  484. 

Eesult  of  the  operations  of  the  year,  484 ;  desolations, 
485 ;  Grant's  order  respecting  slaves,  486. 

Position  of  the  Federal  forces  in  Jan.,  1864, 498 ;  position 
of  the  enemy,  498 ;  congratulatory  address  of  Gen.  Grant 
to  his  soldiers,  498 ;  number  of  Federal  troops  in  the  field, 
498;  number  and  strength  of  the  Confederates,  498,  499 ; 
earliest  movements  of  1864, 499 ;  letter  of  Gen.  Sherman, 
499 ;  his  movement  from  Vicksbnrg,  500 ;  advance  un- 
der Gen.  McPherson,  600 ;  skirmish  at  Big  Black  Eiver, 
500;  preparations  of  the  enemy,  502;  letter  of  Dabney 
Manry,  502 ;  address  of  Gov.  Watts  to  the  people,  602 ; 
force  of  Gen.  Sherman,  502 ;  address  to  his  troops  and 
instructions,  602 ;  reaches  Meridian,  502 ;  destruction  of 
railroads,  502;  returns  to  Vicksbnrg,  502;  failure  of 
Gen.  Smith  to  meet  him,  502;  march  of  Gen.  Smith 
from  Memphis,  508 ;  resistance  of  the  enemy,  503 ;  he  falls 
back,  508;  picture  of  his  march,  508 ;  pursuit  of  the  ene- 
my, 508 ;  successful  retreat,  508 ;  destruction  caused  by 
Gen.  Smith's  forces,  508. 

Expedition  against  Yazoo  City,  508;  results  of  the 
movement,  508. 

March  of  a  force  from  Gen.  Johnston  to  aid  in  oppos- 
ing the  advance  of  Sherman  upon  Meridian,  504;  coun- 
ter movement  on  the  part  of  Gen.  Grant  at  Chattanooga, 
504;  advance  on  Tunnel  Hill,  604;  farther  advance 
nearly  to  Dalton,  504 ;  resistance  of  the  enemy,  504 ; 
Federal  force  fall  back  to  Tunnel  Hill,  604 

Gen.  Gillmore  in  command  of  the  Department  of  the 
South,  504 ;  his  authority,  504 ;  letter  of  President  Lin- 
coln to  him,  504 ;  proposition  of  Gen.  Gillmore  to  the 
War  Department,  604 ;  his  order,  604 ;  advance  of  the 
expedition,  505 ;  Jacksonville,  505 ;  advance  in  the  inte- 
rior, 505 ;  capture  of  property,  505 ;  return,  505  ;  other 


orders  of  Gen.  Gillmore  to  Gen.  Seymour,  50&;  skirmish 
at  Gainseville,  605 ;  plans  of  Gen.  Gillmore,  507 ;  new  ad- 
vance of  Gen.  Seymour,  507;  encounters  the  enemy  at 
Olustee  and  is  defeated,  507 ;  the  retreat,  507 ;  report  of 
the  enemy,-  507 ;  correspondence  between  Gen.  Seymour 
and  Gen.  Finegan,  507 ;  suspension  of  operations  in 
Florida,  508.  • 

Concentration  enforces  at  New  Orleans,  508;  plans  of 
Gen.  Banks,  508 ;  march  of  Gen.  Franklin  for  Alexan- 
dria, 508 ;  assembling  of  a  vast  fleet  at  the  mouth  of  Bed 
Eiver,  508 ;  embarkation  of  a  force  under  Gen.  Smith  to 
unite  with  Gen.  Banks  at  Alexandria,  509 ;  arriva*  at 
Semmesport,  509 ;  rcconnoissance,  509 ;  march  upon  and 
capture  of  Fort  De  Eussy,  509 ;  arrival  at  Alexandria, 
509 ;  withdrawal  of  the  enemy,  509 ;  arrival  of  Gen. 
Banks,  509 ;  advance  upon  and  capture  of  Natchitoches, 
509 ;  cooperation  of  Gen.  Steele  in  Arkansas  expected, 
509 ;  advance  toward  Shreveport,  509  ;  battle  and  repulse 
at  Pleasant  Hill,  510 ;  losses  of  the  campaign,  511 ;  the 
captures,  611 ;  advance  of  Admiral  Porter,  511 ;  arrival 
of  Gen.  Smith,  511;  retreat  continued  to  Alexandria, 
611 ;  dangerous  position  of  the  fleet,  513 ;  extricated  by 
building  a  dam  across  Bed  Biver,  513 ;  how  it  was  done, 
518;  evacuation  of  Alexandria,  514;  city  set  on  fire,  514 ; 
appalling  scenes,  514 ;  retreat  of  the  fleet  and  army  to 
the  Mississippi,  followed  by  the  enemy,  515. 

Advance  of  Gen.  Steele  to  cooperate  with  Gen.  Banks, 
515;  concentration  of  his  force,  515;  force  of  the  enemy, 
515;  advance  of  Gen.  Steele  toward  Washington,  515; 
capture  of  Camden,  515 ;  cooperating  movement  of  CoL 
Clayton,  515 ;  his  despatch,  515 ;  position  of  Gen.  Steele 
after  the  retreat  of  Gen.  Banks,  515;  necessary  to  fall 
back,  515;  operations  of  the  enemy,  515;  Steele's  sup- 
plies cut  off,  515 ;  evacuates  Camden  and  retreats,  516 ; 
battle  at  the  crossing  of  Washita  Biver,  51 6 ;  enemy  re- 
pulsed and  the  crossing  effected,  516;  safe  retreat  to 
Little  Rock,  616;  effects  of  the  withdrawal  of  troops 
from  Vicksbnrg  for  the  Bed  Eiver  expedition,  616 ; 
movements  of  the  Confederate  Gen.  Forrest,  816 ;  ad- 
vance on  the  Federal  posts  in  West  Tennessee  and  Ken- 
tucky, 616;  attack  on  Paducah,  516;  demand  for  its  sur- 
render, 516 ;  reply  of  Col.  Hicks,  617 ;  attack  on  the  forts, 
517;  withdrawal  of  Forrest,  617;  his  report,  617;  attack 
on  Fort  Pillow,  517;  its  garrison,  517;  manner  of  the 
attack,  517;  operations,  517;  demand  for  surrender,  617; 
reply  of  Major  Bradford,  517 ;  assault  by  the  enemy  and 
capture  of  the  fort,  518 ;  report  of  an  investigating  com- 
mittee of  Congress  on  the  scenes  which  followed,  518; 
statement  of  the  Confederate  Lieut-Gen.  8.  D.  Lcc.  519 ; 
report  of  the  enemy,  519;  advance  of  a  force  against 
Columbus,  519 ;  demand  for  its  surrender  and  refusal  of 
Gen.  Buford,  519. 

Operations  in  North  Carolina,  519 ;  capture  of  the  Fed- 
eral post  at  Bachelor's  Creek,  520 ;  advance  toward  BTew- 
bern,  620 ;  destruction  of  the  gunboat  Underwriter,  520; 
report  of  Gen.  Picket,  520 ;  Plymouth,  520 ;  how  de- 
fended, 520 ;  attack  of  the  enemy,  520 ;  destruction  of 
the  gunboats  Southfleld  and  Miami  by  the  Albemarle, 
620;  surrender  of  Plymouth,  520;  announcement  of 
Gen.  Peck,  520 ;  report  of  Gen.  Hoke,  522 ;  order  of  Gen. 
Palmer  relative  to  incendiaries,  522. 

Desultory  operations  in  Virginia,  522 ;  capture  of  trains 
at  New  Creek,  522  ;  headquarters  of  Gen.  Meade,  622  ; 
position  of  Lee's  army,  622;  Gen.  Kilpatrick  starts  for  a 
dash  upon  Eichmond,  622;  contemporaneous  move- 
ments, 522;  advance  of  Kilpatrick,  628;  detachment 
under  Col.  Dahlgren,  523 ;  encounters  the  enemy,  628 ; 
Dahlgren  killed,  523 ;  address  and  orders  published  in 
the  Eichmond  papers,  528. 

Act  of  Congress  creating  a  Lieut-Generalcv,  524 ;  Gen. 


INDEX  OF   CONTENTS. 


813 


Grant  appointed,  524 ;  address  of  the  President  on  pre- 
senting his  commission,  524;  reply  of  Grant,  524;  orders 
transferring  commanders,  524;  order  of  Gen.  Grant,  525; 
order  of  Secretary  of  "War,  reorganizing  army  corps,  525 ; 
•rder  of  Gen.  M.eade,  525;  position  of  Gen.  Grant  with 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  525. 

Gen.  Sherman  assumes  command,  525;  plan  of  the 
•ampaign,  525 ;  his  force,  526 ;  topography  of  Georgia, 
526 ;  Atlanta,  its  position  and  importance,  526 ;  defences, 
526 ;  table  of  railroad  stations,  528 ;  movement  to  com- 
pel Gen.  Johnston  to  evacuate  Dalton,  528 ;  demonstra- 
tion in  Johnston's  front,  52S;  failure  of  the  flanking 
movement,  528;  position  of  Besaca,  528;  next  move- 
ment of  Sherman,  529 ;  evacuation  of  Dalton  by  Gen. 
Johnston,  529;  operations  before  Eesaca,  529;  move- 
ment of  Johnston  to  turn  the  Federal  left  flank,  529 ; 
further  operations  before  Eesaca,  580;  abandoned  by 
Johnston,  530;  movements  in  advance  by  Gen.  Sher- 
man's corps,  530;  Allatoona  Pass,  531 ;  its  position,  531 ; 
held  by  Johnston,  581 ;  movements  of  Sherman,  531 ; 
New  Hope  Church,  531 ;  struggle  for  its  possession,  531 ; 
abandoned  by  Johnston,  582;  results  thus  far,  532 ;  Ken- 
esaw  Mountain,  582 ;  its  importance,  532 ;  force  of  Gen. 
Johnston,  532 ;  order  of  Sherman's  advance,  532 ;  posi- 
tion of  Johnston,  533;  abandons  the  works  on  Lost 
.Mountain,  533 ;  further  operations,  533 ;  statement  of 
Gen.  Sherman,  533 ;  attack  on  Johnston's  position,  534 ; 
its  failure,  534  ;  next  movement  of  Sherman,  584 ;  evac- 
uation of  Kenesaw  by  General  Johnston,  534 ;  Marietta 
occupied  by  Gen.  Sherman,  534 ;  new  position  of  John- 
ston, 534;  attempt  of  Gen.  Sherman  to  turn  his  right 
flank,  535 ;  \retreat  of  Gen.  Johnston,  535 ;  new  move- 
ments of  Sherman,  535 ;  crossing  the  Chattahoochie,  535 ; 
manoeuvres  approaching  Atlanta,  535 ;  Gen.  Johnston's 
turns  his  command  over  to  Gen.  Hood,  536 ;  his  farewell 
address,  536;  Gen.  Hood's  address  on  assuming  com- 
mand, 536 ;  movements  around  Atlanta,  536,  53T ;  bat- 
tles, 538,  539 ;  losses,  539 ;  cooperating  movements  or- 
dered by  General  Sherman  against  the  enemy's  lines  of 
communication,  539 ;  railroads  connecting  Atlanta  with 
the  southwest  cut,  539 ;  destruction  of  the  Georgia  Eail- 
road, 539 ;  Macon,  and  Western  Eailroad  crippled,  539 ; 
movement  of  Gen.  Stoneman  on  Macon,  540 ;  compelled 
to  surrender,  541 ;  raid  against  the  Macon  and  Western 
road,  541 ;  operations  before  Atlanta,  541 ;  failure  to  dis- 
lodge Hood,  541 ;  flanking  movement  of  Gen.  Sherman 
to  the  right,  541 ;  plan  of  Gen.  Sherman  to  move  his 
whole  army  upon  the  communications  of  Atlanta,  542  ; 
his  movements,  542 ;  resistance  of  the  enemy,  543 ;  their 
repulse,  543 ;  Gen.  Sherman  places  himself  between  At- 
lanta and  Gen.  Hardee's  corps,  543;  consternation  at  At- 
lanta, 543 ;  its  evacuation,  543  ;  destruction  of  property, 
543 ;  its  capture  by  Sherman,  544 ;  Federal  losses  in  the 
campaign,  644;  losses  of  the  enemy,  544;  movement  of 
Hood,  544;  Gen.  Wheeler's  raid  upon  Sherman's  line 
of  communication,  544 ;  President  Lincoln's  announce- 
ment of  the  capture  of  Atlanta,  545 ;  Sherman's  address 
to  his  troops,  545;  orders  for  the  departure  of  all  civil- 
ians, 545;  Gen.  Hood's  reply  to  a  proposal  for  a  ten 
days'  truce,  545 ;  also  letter  to  the  Mayor  of  Atlanta,  546 ; 
reply  of  Gen.  Sherman  to  Gen.  Hood,  546 ;  the  truce 
agreed  upon,  546 ;  final  appeal  of  the  civic  authorities  to 
Gen.  Sherman,  547 ;  his  reply  to  the  appeal,  547 ;  another 
announcement,  54S. 

Eeorganization  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  548 ;  con- 
solidation of  divisions  and  arrangement  of  brigades,  548 ; 
assignment  of  general  officers,  54S ;  commanders  of  di- 
visions, 549 ;  officers  relieved,  549 ;  address  of  Gen. 
Pleasanton,  549 ;  do.  of  Gen.  Newton,  549 ;  do.  of  Gen. 
French,  549;  staff  of  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant,  550 ;  Burnside's 


command,  550  ;  Sigel's  command,  550 ;  Gen.  Butler's 
command,  550 ;  tender  of  a  hundred  thousand  men  by 
Western  governors,  550 ;  letter  of  Gov.  Yates  stating  the 
reasons,  550 ;  address  of  the  Governor  of  Indiana,  551 ; 
do.,  Adj. -Gen.  of  Ohio,  551 ;  plans  of  Gen.  Grant,  551 ; 
address  of  Gen.  Meade  to  his  troops,  551 ;  army  breaks 
camp  and  advances,  552 ;  Eappahannock  crossed,  552 ; 
Burnside's  address  to  his  troops,  553 ;  his  corps  acts  as  a 
reserve,  558 ;  purposes  of  Gen.  Grant  in  his  advance, 
553 ;  movement  of  Gen.  Lee,  553 ;  Gen.  Griffin  encoun- 
ters the  enemy,  553 ;  attempt  of  the  enemy  to  press  be- 
tween the  5th  and  2d  corps,  554 ;  advance  of  Gen.  Sedg- 
wick,  554 ;  despatch  of  Gen.  Lee,  554 ;  Burnside  brought 
on  the  field,  554  ;  battle  of  the  next  day,  554,  555 ;  posi- 
tion of  both  armies  at  night,  555 ;  station  of  the  cavalry, 
555 ;  tho  contest  on  the  next  morning,  555 ;  both  armies 
begin  to  withdraw,  555 ;  despatch  of  Gen.  Lee,  555 ;  fight 
of  5th  corps  with  the  enemy  on  the  next  afternoon  near 
Spottsylvania  Court  House,  555 ;  death  of  Gen.  Sedgwick, 
556;  despatches  of  Secretary  Stanton  relative  to  the 
preceding  actions,  556, 557 ;  address  of  President  Lincoln, 
557 ;  excitement  in  the  Northern  States,  557  ;  serenade 
to  President  Lincoln,  557  ;  speech,  557 ;  thanksgiving  ob- 
servance in  the  Northern  States,  557 ;  despatch  of  the 
Secretary  of  War,  557 ;  position  of  Gen.  Grant's  army, 
658 ;  do.  of  the  enemy,  558 ;  renewed  struggle,  558 ;  de- 
spatches of  the  Secretary  of  War,  558 ;  quiet  next  day, 
558  ;  assault  and  captures  by  Gen.  Hancock  early  on  the 
next  morning,  559 ;  battle  all  next  day,  559  ;  losses,  559 ; 
withdrawal  of  the  enemy  on  the  left,  559 ;  congratula- 
tory address  of  Gen.  Meade  to  his  troops,  659 ;  address 
of  Gen.  Lee  to  his  army,  560 ;  despatches  of  the  Secreta- 
ry of  War,  560,  561 ;  reinforcements  to  Gen.  Grant,  560  ; 
disposal  of  the  wounded,  561 ;  strength  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  561. 

Movements  cooperating  with  Gen.  Grant,  561 ;  cav- 
alry raid  sent  by  Gen.  Grant  to  cut  Lee's  communica- 
tions, 561, 562 ;  movements  against  Lynchburg,  562 ;  ad- 
vance of  Gen.  Averill,  662 ;  encounter  with  the  enemy, 
562;  falls  back,  562;  address  of  Gen.  Averill,  562;  ad- 
vance of  Gen.  Crook,  563  ;  repulses  the  enemy,  563 ;  falls 
back,  563 ;  Gen.  Sigel's  movements  in  the  Shenandoah, 
563 ;  defeated  by  Breckinridge,  563 ;  movement  of  Gen. 
Butler  up  the  James  Eiver,  563 ;  despatch  of  Gen.  But- 
ler, 565 ;  attempts  to  cut  the  railroads  to  Petersburg  and 
Eichmond,  565 ;  encounter  with  the  enemy,  565 ;  attack 
en  the  Danville  road,  567 ;  attack  on  the  outer  lines  of 
Fort  Darling,  567 ;  the  contest,  567 ;  Gen.  Butler  retires 
to  his  intrenchments,  568 ;  despatch  of  the  Secretary  of 
War,  568 ;  expedition  of  Gen.  Kautz  against  the  Dan- 
ville Eailroad,  568 ;  occupation  of  the  naval  forces  re- 
moving torpedoes,  569 ;  attack  of  Gen.  Butler  on  Eich- 
mond and  Petersburg  Eailroad,  569. 

Concentration  of  the  enemy  under  Gen.  Lee,  570 ;  at- 
tempt to  turn  the  right  of  Grant's  line,  570 ;  failure,  570 ; 
address  of  Gen.  Meade,  570 ;  despatch  of  the  Secretary 
of  War,  570 ;  new  movement  of  Gen.  Grant  by  the  left, 
570 ;  despatches  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  570 ;  Grant's 
advance  reaches  the  North  Anna  Eiver,  571 ;  position  of 
his  forces,  571 ;  encounter  the  enemy,  571 ;  position  of 
armies  on  the  next  day,  572  ;  new  movement  by  Ger. 
Grant,  572 ;  Pamunkey  crossed,  572 ;  position  of  his 
army,  572 ;  new  position  of  the  enemy,  572 ;  reenforce- 
ments  to  Gen.  Grant  from  Gen.  Butler,  573 ;  conflict  at 
Coal  Harbor,  578 ;  attempt  of  Gen.  Grant  to  push  the 
enemy  across  the  Chickahominy,  575;  its  failure,  575; 
losses,  575 ;  despatches  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  575 ; 
positions  of  the  armies,  576;  intrenchments  of  both 
armies,  576 ;  preparations  of  Gen.  Grant  for  crossing  the 
James,  576 ;  river  crossed,  576. 


814 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


Movement  of  QeD.  Butler  upon  Petersburg,  576 ;  fail- 
ure, 57T ;  Petersburg,  577 ;  another  attack  made  by  the 
18th  corps  a  few  days  later,  577 ;  enemy  reenforced,  577 ; 
contest  before  the  city,  577 ;  arrival  of  other  corps,  577; 
contest  before  Petersburg,  577, 578;  loss,  578 ;  skirmish- 
ing on  the  next  day,  678 ;  quiet,  578 ;  movement  on  the 
Weldon  road,  578;  a  battle,  580;  movement  to  the  left, 
580 ;  demonstration  in  front  of  Burnslde,  580 ;  cavalry 
expedition  of  Gen.  Wilson,  580 ;  hot  weather,  581 ;  con- 
dition of  the  army,  681. 

Second  movement  against  Lynchburg,  581 ;  Sigel  re- 
moved and  Hunter  appointed  to  command,  581 ;  posi- 
tions of  Crook  and  Averill,  581 ;  do.  of  Breckinridge, 
581 ;  force  of  the  enemy,  582 ;  plan  of  Morgan  to  recall 
Bin-bridge,  582;  his  advance  into  Kentucky,  582 ;  return 
of  Burbridge  from  East  Tennessee,  582 ;  orders  of  Gen. 
Hunter,  582;  his  advance,  582;  advance  of  Crook  and 
Averill,  5S3;  junction  with  Hunter,  588;  capture  of 
Staunton  and  Lexington,  583 ;  burning  of  the  Virginia 
Military  Institute,  583 ;  advance  to  the  neighborhood  of 
Lynchburg,  588;  the  city  reenforced,  683;  retreat  of 
Hunter,  533 ;  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  588 ;  despatch  from 
Gen.  Hunter,  583;  suppression  of  the  "West  Virginia 
press,  584;  letter  of  Gen.  Hunter,  584;  reasons  for  his 
retreat  through  West  Virginia,  584 ;  raid  of  Gen.  Sheri- 
dan to  Gordonsville,  684 

Force  detached  by  Lee  to  invade  Maryland,  585 ;  ap- 
pearance at  Martinsburg,  585;  capture  of  Hagerstown, 
Frederick,  &c.,  585;  orders  of  the  commanding  officer, 
585 ;  calls  for  troops,  585 ;  plunder,  587 ;  defeat  of  Gen. 
Wallace,  587 ;  excitement  at  the  North,  587 ;  reenforce- 
ments  sent  from  Grant's  army,  587;  approach  of  the 
enemy  to  Baltimore,  587 ;  destruction  of  railroads  and 
bridges,  587 ;  attack  on  Washington,  5S7 ;  retreat  and 
pursuit  by  Gen.  Wright,  587;  battle  with  Averill,  587; 
results  of  the  invasion,  588 ;  repulse  of  Gen.  Crook,  588 ; 
skirmishes  along  the  Upper  Potomac,  688;  Mosby's 
rangers,  588;  capture  and  burning  of  Chambersburg, 
588 ;  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  589 ;  result  of  all  these  op- 
erations, 589 ;  Sheridan  appointed  to  command  in  the 
Shenandoah  valley,  589;  affairs  at  Petersburg,  589; 
movement  from  Hilton  Head,  589;  movement  from 
Vicksburg,  589. 

Changes  in  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  James, 
589 ;  position  of  this  army,  589 ;  movement  upon  Rich- 
mond, 689 ;  a  feint,  590 ;  preparations  to  explode  a  mine, 
590 ;  plan  of  assault,  690 ;  the  explosion  and  assault,  590 ; 
failure,  591 ;  loss,  591 ;  another  mine  exploded,  591 ;  let- 
ter of  Gen.  Grant  on  the  state  of  affairs,  591 ;  battle  at 
Beams'  Station,  591 ;  order  of  Gen.  Grant  relative  to  de- 
serters, 592 ;  raid  of  the  enemy  on  Gen.  Meade's  left, 
592;  letters  of  Grant  and  Sherman  on  the  draft,  592 ; 
movement  north" of  the  James  to  capture  Eichmond, 
592,  598 ;  loss,  593  ;  movement  at  Hatcher's  Rim,  593  ; 
report  of  Gen.  Grant,  593 ;  do.  of  Gen.  Lee,  593. 

Position  of  the  army  in  and  about  Atlanta,  608 ;  posi- 
tion of  Gen.  Hood,  609 ;  his  force,  609 ;  withdrawal  of 
the  Georgia  militia,  609 ;  tour  of  Jefferson  Davis,  609 ; 
movement  of  Hood,  609 ;  operations  of  Forrest,  609  ; 
movements  of  Sherman,  610  attack  on  Allatoona,  610  ; 
further  operations  of  Hood  in  the  rear  of  Sherman,  610  ; 
Beauregard  in  command,  611 ;  failure  of  Hood  to  Inter- 
rupt the  Federal  communications,  611 ;  plans  of  Sher- 
man, 612;  prepares  to  march  south,  612;  his  force,  612  ; 
order  relative  to  his  march,  613 ;  Gen.  Slocum's  order  to 
his  troops,  613 ;  the  lines  of  railway  in  Georgia,  613,  614  ; 
distribution  of  Sherman's  army,  614 ;  his  order  to  march, 
615 ;  movement  of  Howard,  615 ;  movements  of  the  left 
wing,  615;  views  of  the  enemy  on  the  evacuation  of  At- 
lanta, 615;  appeal  of  Beauregard,  617;  do.  of  the  Geor- 


gia Senators,  617 ;  do.  of  the  Georgia  delegation  at  Eich- 
mond, 618  ;  action  of  Gov.  Brown,  618 ;  Milledgeville, 
618;  advance  of  the  right  wing,  618;  movement  of  the 
left,  618 ;  Ogeechee  Eiver  reached,  619 ;  encounter  with 
Wheeler,  619 ;  demonstration  toward  Augusta,  619 ;  Mil- 
len  reached,  619;  advance  between  the  Ogeechee  and 
Savannah  Eivors,  619 ;  the  right  closing  on  the  rear  of 
Savannah,  620;  scouts  from  Sherman  reach  the  coast, 
620;  Fort  McAllister,  620;  its  reduction,  621 ;  Sher- 
man's despatch  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  621 ;  invest- 
ment of  Savannah,  621 ;  evacuation  by  Gen.  Hardee,  622 ; 
details  of  the  capture,  622  ;  destruction  by  Sherman  in 
Georgia,  622;  occupation  of  Savannah,  623;  order  of 
Gen.  Sherman  for  the  government  of  the  city,  628 ;  pub- 
lic meeting,  623;  resolutions,  624. 

Sheridan  in  command  on  the  upper  Potomac,  624; 
battle  at  Opeqnan  Creek,  624 ;  his  report,  624  ;  his  force, 
626 ;  force  of  the  enemy,  626 ;  attack  on  Fisher's  Hill, 
626;  prisoners,  626;  repulse  of  Averill  at  Brown's  Gap> 
626 ;  Sheridan's  report  of  his  march,  626 ;  burning  of 
buildings  in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  626;  report  of  <t 
spectator*  626 ;  report  of  a  committee  of  citizens,  627  ; 
Sheridan  falls  back  to  Cedar  Eun,  627 ;  sudden  attack 
of  the  enemy,  627 ;  rout  of  the  Federal  troops,  627 ;  arri- 
val of  Sheridan  on  the  field,  627 ;  repulse  of  the  enemy, 
627 ;  pursued  to  Mount  Jackson,  627 ;  losses,  627 ;  Sher- 
idan promoted  to  be  major-general,  627. 

Guerrillas  west  of  Washington,  628;  capture  of  a  rail- 
road train,  628 ;  scenes,  628. 

Missouri  invaded  by  Gen.  Price,  628;  Federal  force  in 
the  department,  628 ;  how  employed,  628 ;  preparations 
of  Gen.  Eosecrans,  629 ;  arrival  of  reenforcements,  629  ; 
State  capital  saved,  629 ;  movement  of  Price  westward, 
629 ;  pursuit  of  Gen.  Pleasanton,  629 ;  contest,  629 ;  losses 
of  the  enemy,  629 ;  retreat  into  Arkansas,  629. 
t  Operations  in  East  Tennessee,  629 ;  movements  of 
Breckinridge,  629 ;  do.  of  Burbridge  and  Stoneman,  629 ; 
destruction  of  saltworks,  630 ;  operations  in  Middle  Ten- 
nessee, 680 ;  destruction  at  Johnsonville,  630 ;  advance 
of  Hood  upon  Nashville,  630 ;  consternation  at  Nashville, 
630;  reenforcements  sent  to  Gen.  Thomas,  680 ;  battle 
before  Nashville,  680 ;  report  of  Gen.  Thomas,  680  ;  en- 
emy retire,  631 ;  pursuit,  631 ;  captures  at  Franklin,  631 ; 
losses  of  Hood,  631 ;  expedition  against  the  Mississippi 
Central  Eailroad,  631 ;  expedition  from  Baton  Eouge, 
631 ;  movement  of  Gen.  Warren  against  the  Weldon 
Eailroad,  631 ;  results  of  the  year,  631 ;  hostilities  with 
the  Western  Indians,  681. 

Continued  operations  through  the  winter,  670 ;  move- 
ments of  Hood,  670;  do.  of  Thomas,  670;  Schofield 
sent  to  the  Atlantic  coast,  670;  Thomas  defends  the 
country  around  Atlanta,  670 ;  reconnoissance  from  East- 
port  toward  Corinth,  670;  captures,  670;  deserters,  670; 
Hood's  forces  march  across  Georgia  to  oppose  Sherman, 
670. 

No  important  movement  by  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac meanwhile,  670 ;  call  for  troops,  670 ;  attack  on  the 
Federal  fleet  in  the  James,  670 ;  report,  670 ;  marching 
orders  issued  to  the  army  before  Petersburg,  670; 
movement  by  the  left,  671 ;  cavalry  reach  Dinwiddie, 
671 ;  the  enemy  driven  beyond  Hatcher's  Eun,  671 ;  rally 
of  the  enemy,  671;  contest  which  ensued,  672;  Lee's 
report,  672 ;  losses,  672 ;  the  advantage  finally  gained, 
672. 

Small  expeditions  in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  672 ;  cap- 
ture of  Gens.  Crook  and  Kelly,  673. 

The  present  field  of  decisive  operations,  678;  three 
States,  673;  Sherman  begins  his  march  through  the 
Carolinas,  673;  movements  of  Gen.  Hatch  against  the 
Charleston  and  Savannah  Railroad,  673 ;  movements  of 


INDEX   OF   CONTEXTS. 


815 


Gen.  Slocum,  673 ;  Sherman's  instructions  to  officers,  673 ; 
a  dvance  of  his  army,  675 ;  opposition  of  Wheeler,  674 ;  his 
letter  to  Howard,  675;  reply  of  Sherman,  676 ;  retreat  of 
the  enemy,  675;  movement  on  Orangeburg,  676;  Edisto 
crossed,  676;  march  upon  Columbia,  S.  C.,  676;  bridge 
opposite  Columbia  reached,  677 ;  Columbia  surrenders, 
677;  report  of  Sherman,  677 ;  burning  of  cotton  by  Hamp- 
ton, 677 ;  burning  of  the  city,  677 ;  troops  which  first  en- 
tered the  city,  678 ;  consequences  of  Sherman's  move- 
ments, 678;  Hardee  evacuates  Charleston,  678;  move- 
ment of  Gen.  Hatch,  678 ;  surrender  of  the  city,  678 ;  re- 
port, 678 ;  property  captured,  678 ;  report  on  the  first  en- 
trance to  the  city,  679 ;  movements  of  Hardee,  679 ;  Sher- 
man continues  his  march,  680 ;  Winnsboro  occupied,  680 ; 
Eocky  Mount,  680 ;  feint  against  Charlotte,  680 ;  destruc- 
tion of  the  railroad,  680 ;  Sherman's  letter  to  Hampton, 
680 ;  Hampton's  reply,  680 ;  repulse  of  Capt.  Duncan,  631 ; 
Cheraw,  681 ;  Chesterfield  occupied,  681 ;  property  cap- 
tured, 681 ;  Fayetteville,  N.  C.,  681 ;  march  upon,  681 ; 
its  occupation,  681 ;  retreat  of  Hardee,  681 ;  report  of 
Sherman  in  his  position,  681 ;  concentration  of  Confeder- 
ate forces  under  Johnston,  681 ;  messengers  of  Sherman, 
682;  success,  682;  movements  of  Schofield,  682;  ad- 
vance upon  Wilmington,  682;  retreat  of  the  enemy, 
682;  occupation  of  the  city,  683;  Schofield  operates 
from  Newbern  against  Goldsboro,  683 ;  its  capture,  683 ; 
further  advance  of  Sherman,  683 ;  movements  of  How- 
ard, 683 ;  do.  of  Kilpatrick,  683 ;  do.  of  Slocum,  683 ;  posi- 
tion of  Hardee,  664 ;  attack,  684 ;  Averysboro,  684 ;  ad- 
vance of  Slocum,  684;  statement  of  Sherman,  684; 
orders  to  Schofield,  684;  attack  by  Johnston,  685;  loss 
at  Bentonsville,  685 ;  Sherman  reaches  Goldsboro,  685 ; 
his  plans,  685. 

Grant's  preparations  for  final  conflict,  686;  move- 
ment of  Sheridan  to  join  Grant,  686 ;  advance  up  the 
Shenandoah,  686;  Staunton  occupied,  686;  escape  of 
Early,  686 ;  expedition  to  Scottsville,  686 ;  burning  of 
bridges,  686;  destruction  of  the  canal,  687;  Sheridan 
arrives  at  City  Point,  687;  takes  a  position  on  the  left 
of  Grant's  army,  687. 

The  line  of  Grant's  army,  687 ;  attack  by  the  enemy 
on  Fort  Steadman,  687 ;  repulse,  68,7 ;  loss,  687;  Meade's 
congratulatory  order,  687 ;  indications  of  the  weakness 
of  Lee,  688 ;  marching  orders  given  to  the  army,  688 ; 
movement  of  the  cavalry,  688 ;  do.  of  the  infantry,  688 ; 
cannonade  at  Petersburg,  688 ;  operations  beyond  Hatch- 
er's Run,  690 ;  repulse  of  Warren's  division,  690 ;  re-en- 
forced and  the  ground  recovered,  690;  battle  of  Five 
Forks,  691 ;  repulse  of  the  enemy,  691 ;  report  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  692;  Lee  orders  the  evacuation  of  Peters- 
burg and  Richmond,  692 ;  surrender  of  Petersburg,  692 ; 
occupation  of  Richmond,  692;  fire,  692;  military  Gov- 
ernor appointed,  693 ;  orders,  693 ;  first  entrance  of  the 
army  into  the  city,  693,  694 ;  further  operations  against 
Gen.  Lee's  army,  694 ;  letters  captured,  694 ;  the  pursuit 
urged,  695;  correspondence  between  Grant  and  Lee, 
696 ;  surrender  of  Lee's  army,  696 ;  paroles  of  the  offi- 
cers and  men,  697;  numbers  surrendered,  697;  salutes 
ordered  by  the  War  Department,  697.  , 

Stoneman's  march  from  East  Tennessee  to  North 
Carolina,  698;  destruction,  698;  Sherman  advances 
from  Goldsboro,  698 ;  hears  the  news  of  Lee's  surrender, 
698 ;  hurries  forward  against  Johnston,  698 ;  letter  from 
Johnston,  698 ;  Sherman's  reply,  S99  ;  interview  between 
Sherman  and  Johnston,  699;  Sherman's  report,  699; 
terms  of  surrender  agreed  upon,  700 ;  rejected  by  the 
War  Department,  700 ;  reasons,  700 ;  Sherman's  report 
of  his  proceedings,  701 ;  correspondence  with  Johnston, 
701,  702 ;  surrender  of  Johnston,  702 ;  farewell  to  his 
army,  702. 


Expedition  of  Wilson  into  Alabama,  703 ;  battle  at 
Plantersville.  703;  Wilson  moves  eastward,  703;  cap- 
tures Selma,  703 ;  Montgomery,  703 ;  and  Macon,  Geo., 
703 ;  his  report,  708. 

Movements  against  Mobile  by  the  army  and  navy, 
703 ;  capture  of  Spanish  Fort,  704 ;  retreat  of  Taylor, 
704 ;  advance  of  Steele  from  Pensacola,  704 ;  occupation 
,of  Mobile,  704 ;  surrender  of  Taylor's  army,  704 ;  surren- 
der of  naval  vessels  and  officers,  705. 

Order  of  Kirby  Smith  in  Texas,  705;  the  last  battle 
of  the  war,  705 ;  surrender  of  Kirby  Smith's  army,  706. 

Military  occupation  of  the  insurrectionary  States 
by  the  Federal  forces  complete,  706 ;  review  of  * 
Grant's  and  Sherman's  armies  at  Washington,  706 ;  dis- 
bandment,  706;  Sherman's  farewell  to  his  army,  706 ; 
Grant's  farewell  to  the  armies,  707 ;  Presidential  order 
relative  to  commercial  intercourse,  707;  prisoners  of 
war,  707 ;  disbandmcnt  of  sanitary  and  Union  organiza- 
tions, 708 ;  capture  of  Mr.  Davis,  709 ;  amnesty  procla- 
mation of  President  Johnson,  710 ;  measures  to  restore 
civil  governments,  710;  provisional  governors,  711; 
officers  of  the  War  Department,  711 ;  officers  of  the 
regular  and  volunteer  armies,  711-715;  officers  of  the 
Navy  Department,  716 ;  rear  admirals  and  commodores 
of  the  navy,  716,  717. 

ARNOLD,  Gen.  LEWIS  G. — Takes  command  of  the  troops  at 
New  Orleans,  204. 

ASBOTH,  Brig.-Gen.  ALEXANDER— Commands  under  Fre- 
mont, 89 ;  commands  a  division  under  Gen.  Curtis,  157. 

ASHBY,  Gen.  TURNER — Attacks  Gen.  Shields,  209  ;  biograph- 
ical notice  of,  730. 

Atlanta — Confederate  iron-clad,  450 ;  capture  of,  450. 

Atlanta,  Ga.— Invested  by  Sherman,  536 ;  battle,  536-541 ; 
siege  raised,  542 ;  evacuated,  543 ;  occupied  by  Slocum, 
544 ;  appeal  of  the  civil  authorities,  547 ;  the  city  to  be 
evacuated  by  the  inhabitants,  547. 

Athens,  Mo.— Skirmish  at,  83. 

Atwater,  schr.  William  C. — Captured  off  Cedar  Keys,  62. 

AUGUR,  Major.-Gen.  CHRISTOPHER  C. — Commands  a  division 
of  Banks'  army,  866;  returns  to  Baton  Rouge,  868; 
marches  to  the  rear  of  Port  Hudson,  869 ;  repels  the  at- 
tack on  Washington,  D.  C.,  587 ;  commands  department 
of  Washington,  655. 

AVERILL,  Brig.-Gen.  WILLIAM  W.— Conflict  near  Kelly's 
Ford,  877 ;  attacks  Jones  at  Rocky  Gap,  471 ;  attack  at 
Leyisburg,  471 ;  raid  into  southwest  Virginia,  471 ;  pur- 
sued by  Early,  Jones,  Fitz  Lee,  Imboden,  &c.,  471 ;  in 
command  in  West  Virginia,  562 ;  advances  on  Wythe- 
ville,  Va.,  562 ;  his  movements,  562,  563 ;  advances  to 
join  Hunter,  583 ;  marches  to  Buchanan,  583 ;  encoun- 
ters the  enemy  at  Darksville,  587 ;  his  movements  near 
Winchester,  588 ;  repulses  Gardner  at  Martinsburg,  624 ; 
repulsed  at  Brown's  Gap,  626. 

AVERILL,  Rev.  JAMES. — Biographical  notice  of,  759. 

Averysboro— The  battle  of,  684. 

ATRES,  Brig.-Gen.  ROMETN  B. — Commands  3d  brigade  of  1st 
division  of  5th  corps,  548 ;  advance  on  Hatcher's  Run, 
671 ;  jroveraents  on  the  right  of  Lee,  C90. 


BACHE,  Lieut.  George  M. — Commands  a  gunboat  of  Porter's 
fleet,  860 ;  report  of  his  attack  on  a  battery  at  Vicks- 
burg,  860. 

BAILEY,  Col.  G.  D.— Biographical  notice  of,  781. 

BAILEY,  Rear-Admiral  THEODORUS — In  the  battle  below 
New  Orleans,  194;  commands  a  division  of  Farragut's 
fleet  below  New  Orleans,  194 ;  opens  fire  on  the  camp 
of  the  Chalamctte  regiment,  195  •  sent  asfiore  at  New 


816 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


Orleans,  196 ;  his  reception,  196 ;  commands  East  Gulf 
squadron,  442 ;  relieved  of  command,  636. 

BAILEY,  Lieut-Col. Constructs  a  dam  across  Bed 

Elver,  513. 

BATED,  Brig. -Gen.  ABSALOM — Commands  a  division  under 
Granger,  453 ;  at  Chickamauga,  462 ;  advances  on  Dai- 
ton,  504 ;  moves  toward  Waynesboro,  619. 

BAKES,  Brlg.-Gen.  E.  D. — Addresses  mass  meeting  In  New 
York,  29 ;  in  command  at  the  battle  of  Ball's  Bluff,  104 ; 
killed  at  Ball's  Bluff,  106 ;  biographical  notice  of,  725. 

BALLOU,  Major  8. — Biographical  notice  of,  721. 

Balls'  Bluff— Its  situation,  102 ;  instructions  of  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan,  102 ;  details  of  the  battle  of,  102-107. 

'Baltimore — Excitement  at  the  arrival  of  Northern  troops, 
80 ;  attack  on  the  Massachusetts  6th,  80 ;  the  scenes,  81, 
82 ;  rallying  of  the  militia,  82 ;  excitement  ceases,  32 ; 
city  occupied  by  Federal  troops,  32 ;  excitement  on  the 
approach  of  the  enemy,  394. 

Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad — First  destruction  of  bridges, 
51 ;  locomotives  and  cars  burned  at  Martinsburg,  61 ; 
remove  cars  on  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  390 ;  railroad 
track  again  torn  up,  585. 

BANKIIE  AD,  Commander — Eeport  of  the  loss  of  the  Monitor, 
443. 

BAKES,  NATHANIEL  P. — Commissioned  as  major-general  of 
volunteers,  54 ;  in  command  on  the  Upper  Potomac,  102 ; 
In  command  near  Darnestown,  Va.,  206 ;  occupies  Harper's 
Ferry  permanently,  208;  marches  up  the  Shenandoah 
valley,  238 ;  ordered  to  fall  back  to  Strasburg  and  for- 
tify, 233 ;  retreats  towards  the  Potomac  before  Jackson, 
234 ;  advances  up  the  Shenandoah,  238 ;  position  of  his 
command,  256-258 ;  fights  at  Cedar  Mountain,  258 ;  mov- 
ing in  the  direction  of  Gainesville,  261 ;  objects  before 
him,  865;  relieves  Gen.  Butler  at  New  Orleans,  205; 
issues  a  proclamation,  205 ;  a  warning  to  the  disorderly, 
206 ;  makes  a  demonstration  toward  Port  Hudson,  366 ; 
1  returns  to  Baton  Eouge,  866;  his  object,  366;  con- 
centrates at  Brashear,  866 ;  advances,  867 ;  occupies 
Opelousas,  867;  report,  867;  his  order  to  organize  a 
Corps  d'Afrique,  368 ;  concentrates  at  Semmesport,  368 ; 
invests  Port  Hudson,  369 ;  report  of  the  conduct  of  ne- 
gro troops,  870  ;  captures  Port  Hudson,  371 ;  expedition 
to  the  month  of  the  Eio  Grande,  480 ;  his  plans,  508 ;  at 
Natchltoches,  509 ;  at  Mansfield  battle-field,  510 ;  retreats 
to  Grand  Ecore  and  Alexandria,  511 ;  relieved  by  Gen. 
Canby,  655. 

Barboursville — Skirmish  at,  67. 

BABKSDALE,  Brig.-Gen.  WILLIAM— Biographical  notice  of,  760. 

BABLOW,  Brig.-Gen.  FEASCIS  C. — Commands  a  brigade  of 
Howard's  corps  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsvllle,  378 ;  at 
the  Wilderness  battle,  554 ;  at  the  Spottsylvania  battle, 
558, 559 ;  on  the  North  Anna,  571 ;  at  Coal  Harbor  battle, 
575 ;  at  Petersburg,  577 ;  near  Jerusalem  road,  578-580. 

BARNES,  Brlg.-Gen.  JAMES — Commands  1st  brigade  1st  di- 
vision 5th  corps,  549. 

BABNETT,  Com.  E.  A. — Biographical  notice  of,  780. 

Barnetfs  Comers,  Miss. — Shirmish  at,  291. 

BAEEET,  Col. In  command  in  Texas,  705 ;  fights  the 

last  battle  of  the  war,  705. 

BABBON,  Com.  S. — Surrenders  Fort  Hatteras,  84. 

BAETLETT,  Brig.-Gen.  J.  J. — Commands  a  brigade  in  Slo- 
cum's  division,  269 ;  coiiunands  2d  brigade  1st  division 
5th  corps,  549. 

BAETOW,  FRANCIS  8. — Biographical  notice  of,  721. 

Baton  Rouge. — Occupation  of,  109;  attacked  by  Confed- 
erates, 200 ;  battle  of,  310. 

BAXTER,  Brlg.-Gen.  HENEY—  Commands  2d  brigade  2d  divi- 
sion 5th  corps,  549. 

BATAED,  Brig.-Gen.  G.  D. — Commands  cavalry  under  Mc- 
Dowell, 238,  289 ;  in  command  near  Culpepper,  258 ;  fol- 


lows the  enemy,  258 ;  skirmishes  at  Cedar  Mountain, 
259 ;  takes  Kappahannock  Station,  302  ;  biographical  no- 
tice of,  742. 

BEATTY,  Brig.-Gen.  SAMUEL — Eesists  an  attack  at  the  Mur- 
freesboro  battle,  299. 

BEAUBEGAED,  Maj.-Gen.  G.  T.— Appointed  provision? J  brig- 
adier-general, 16;  in  command  at  Charleston,  2};  cor- 
respondence with  Confederate  Secretary  of  War  on  de- 
manding surrender  of  Fort  Sumter,  20;  correspondence 
with  Gen.  Anderson,  22;  commands  Confederates  at 
Bull  Bun,  70;  his  plan  of  battle,  70;  address  to  the 
soldiers  at  Manassas,  207;  ordered  to  Tennessee,  207; 
in  command  in  Tennessee,  132 ;  assumes  .command  of 
forces  in  the  southwest,  172;  address  to  his  soldiers, 
172 ;  in  command  of  the  Mississippi  army,  173 ;  plans, 
176;  despatch  of  the  battle  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  178; 
address  to  his  troops,  179 ;  declares  blockade  at  Charles- 
ton raised,  445;  correspondence  with  Gillmore,  474-478; 
reenforces  Lee  at  Bichmond,  569 ;  in  command  at  Pe- 
tersburg, 577 ;  takes  command  of  the  Western  military 
division,  611 ;  his  address,  611 ;  appeal  to  the  people  to 
resist  Sherman,  617 ;  near  the  North  Carolina  line,  678. 

BECK,  Col. Commands  a  brigade  of  Devens1  division 

at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  379. 

BECKHAM,  Col.  FBEDEBICK — Biographical  notice  of,  794. 

BEE,  Brig.-Gen.  BERNARD  E. — Biographical  notice  of,  722. 

BELL,  Bear- Admiral  C.  H.— Commands  in  the  Pacific,  636. 

BELL,  Commodore  H.  H. — Beconnoitres  the  forts  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  192 ;  attempts  to  break  the 
chain  across  the  river,  194 ;  commands  a  division  of  Far- 
ragut's  fleet  in  the  battle  with  the  forts,  194  ;  commands 
West  Gulf  squadron,  442. 

BELL,  Col.  Louis— Commands  a  brigade  at  Fort  Fisher,  645 ; 
biographical  notice  of,  795. 

Belmont— Attack  on,  110 ;  repulse,  110. 

BENDIX,  Col.  Louis — At  Great  Bethel,  57. 

BENEDICT,  Col. Commands  at  Pleasant  Hill,  511. 

BENNING,  Brig.-Gen. Commands  in  Hood's  division, 

463 ;  at  Chickamauga,  463. 

BENTON,  Col. In  command  at  Sabine  Elver,  516. 

Bentorwille,  2f.  C.— Battle  at,  684,  685. 

BEKEET, Mayor  of  Washington,  48 ;  proclamation  to 

the  citizens,  48. 

BEREY,  Brig.-Gen. In  command  under  Gen.  Price,  291 ; 

killed  at  Inka,  291. 

BEERY,  Maj.-Gen.  HIRAM  G.— In  the  battles  before  Eichmond, 
242 ;  commands  a  division  of  Sickles'  corps  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Chancellorsville,  879  ;  at  Gettysburg,  403 ;  biograph- 
ical notice  of,  749. 

Beverly — Captured  by  Gen.  Eosser,  672. 

BIDWELL,  Brig.-Gen.  D.  D.— Killed  at  Cedar  Eun,  627;  bio 
graphical  notice  of,  792. 

Big  Harrison  Creek,  Mo. — Skirmish  at,  89. 

BIRNEY,  Maj.-Gen.  DANIEL  B. — Commands  a  division  of 
Sickles'  corps  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  878 ;  com- 
mands Sickles'  corps,  403  ;  follows  Sedgwick  from  Mad- 
ison Court  House,  522;  commands  8d  division  of  2d 
corps,  549 ;  at  the  Wilderness  battle,  554 ;  at  the  Spottsyl- 
vania battle,  556-559 ;  on  the  North  Anna,  571 ;  at  Pe- 
tersburg, 577 ;  commands  10th  cwps,  589 ;  in  the  move 
against  Eichmond,  592,  598 ;  moves  to  the  left  of  Grant's 
army,  688 ;  biographical  notice  of,  791. 

Black  River,  Mies. — Battle  at,  855. 

BLAIR,  Maj.-Gen.  FRANK  P.,  Jr. — Commands  a  brigade  of 
Steele's  division,  333 ;  lands  in  rear  of  Vicksburg,  833 ; 
commands  a  corps  of  Tennessee  army,  526;  reaches  Ack- 
worth,  582;  at  Little  Kenesaw,  534;  commands  17th 
corps  under  Sherman,  613 ;  moves  to  Beaufort,  678 ;  in 
Sherman's  march  through  the  Carolines,  676. 

BLENKEE,  Brig.-Gen.  Louis— In  command  at  Bull  Eun,  68 ; 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


817 


his  division  sent  to  Gen.  Fremont,  212 ;  commands  the 
left  wing  at  Cross  Keys,  239  ;  biographical  notice  of,  769. 

Blue  Gap,  Fa.— Attack  on  the  enemy  by  Col.  Dunning,  20T. 

Blue  Springs,  Eatt  Tenn. — Conflict  at,  463. 

BLUNT,  Maj.-Gen.  JAMES  G. — Attacks  Marmaduke  at  Cane 
Hill,  162 ;  takes  command  In  the  Indian  territory,  814 ; 
defeats  the  Confederates  at  Maysville,  Ark.,  314 ;  do.  at 
Cane  Hill,  814 ;  do.  at  Prairie  Grove,  814 ;  do.  at  Dup- 
ping  Spring,  314 ;  captures  Van  Buren,  314 ;  in  command 
of  the  department  of  Kansas,  888;  battle  near  Henry 
Springs,  Ark.,  482;  attempt  to  capture,  488;  relieved, 
483. 

BLYTHE,  Brig.-Gen.  J.  E.— Biographical  notice  of,  728. 

Boacs,  Capt.  CHAS.— In  the  battle  below  New  Orleans,  195. 

BOHLEN,  Brig.-Gen.  HENBY— Killed,  260 ;  biographical  no- 
tice of,  732. 

BONHAH,  Brig.-Gen. Arrives  at  Richmond  with  South 

Carolina  troops,  38 ;  in  command  at  Bull  Run,  70. 

Bonita — A  Confederate  privateer,  63. 

BOOMER,  Gen.  G.  B. — Biographical  notice  of,  757. 

Boone  Co.,  Mo. — Camp  of  secessionists  broken  up,  91. 

BOOTH,  Major —In  command  at  Fort  Pillow,  517. 

BORLAND,  Brig.-Gen.  SOLON — Biographical  notice  of,  772. 

BOWEN,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN  S.— In  command  in  Vicksburg,  856 ; 
biographical  notice  o(,  764. 

Bowling  Green — Evacuation  of,  181. 

BOYLE,  Brig.-Gen.  JEEEMIAH  T. — Commands  a  brigade  in 
Buell's  army,  124. 

BEADFOED,  Gov.  A.  W.-^Calls  for  troops  in  Maryland,  267, 
391. 

BEADFOED,  Major  W.  F.— In  command  at  Fort  Pillow,  517. 

BKAGG,  Lieut.-Gen.  BBAXTON— In  command  in  the  south- 
west, 172;  of  2d  corps,  173;  in  command  at  Chattanooga, 
283;  advances  towards  Kentucky,  284;  address  to  the 
Kentuckians,  285 ;  his  position  in  Kentucky,  287 ;  fights 
at  Perryville,  287;  his  spoils,  288;  retreats  from  Ken- 
tucky, 288 ;  his  force  at  Murfreesboro,  296 ;  flanked  by 
Eosecrans,  456;  at  Chattanooga,  456;  his  position  in 
Georgia,  460 ;  charged  with  incapacity,  462 ;  at  Chicka- 
mauga, 463 ;  threatened  by  Grant,  468 ;  defeated,  468. 

BEAINE,  Lieut.  — Captures  the  steamer  Eoanoke,  634. 

BEAMHALL,  Lieut Report  of  the  retreat  from  Balls' 

Bluff,  105, 106. 

BEANCH,  Brig.-Gen.  LAWRENCE  O'BRIEN — Commands  North 
Carolina  troops,  139 ;  in  council  at  Richmond,  246 ;  bio- 
graphical notice  of,  735. 

BBANNON,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  M. — Commands  expedition  to 
Pocotaligo  Bridge,  310;  commands  a  division  in  Mc- 
Cook's  corps,  457 ;  at  Chicamauga,  462. 

Brashear,  La.— Its  situation,  366 ;  captured,  866 ;  recaptured, 
871. 

BEECKINEIDOE,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN  C. — Joins  Southern  Confed- 
eracy, 99  ;  at  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  297 ;  attack  on 
Baton  Rouge,  310 ;  at  Chickamauga,  463  ;  defeats  Sigel, 
663 ;  joins  Lee's  army,  569 ;  at  Coal  Harbor  battle,  575 ; 
commands  the  attack  on  "Washington,  587;  in  command 
under  Early,  626 ;  defeats  Gillem  in  East  Tennessee,  629 ; 
near  Nashville,  630 ;  becomes  a  member  of  the  cabinet 
at  Richmond,  673. 

BREBSE,  Capt  E.  K. — Commands  sailors  and  marines  against 
Fort  Fisher,  644. 

BEEWSTEE,  Brig.-Gen.  W.  R.— Commands  2d  brigade,  4th  di- 
vision 2d  corps,  549.  p 

BBODHEAD,  Col.  T.  F. — Biographical  notice  of,  788. 

BROOKE,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  R. — Commands  4th  brigade,  1st 
division  2d  corps,  549;  march  against  the  Petersburg 
and  Richmond  Railroad,  565;  commands  a  division  of 
18th  corps,  573 ;  at  Coal  Harbor,  573. 

BBOOKS,  Maj.-Gen.  W.  T.  H.— Commands  a  division  in  Sedg- 
wick's  corps  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  379 ;  in 

52 


command  of  the  department  of  Monongahela,  885 ;  com 
mands  10th  corps,  589. 

BBOUGH,  JOHN— Governor  of  Ohio,  550 ;  tenders  militia,  550^ 

BEOWN,  Col.  B.  B.— Biographical  notice  of,  721. 

BEOWN,  C.  B.— Biographical  notice  of,  780. 

BEOWN,  .Brig.-Gen.  E.  B.— Defeats  Cabell  near  Arrow  Bock, 
483 ;  at  Jefferson  City,  629. 

BROWN,  Lieut-Corn. Commands  the  Indianola,  841 ; 

runs  the  batteries  at  Vicksburg,  841 ;  surrenders,  842. 

BBOWN,  Brig.-Gen.  HAEVEY — Takes  command  of  Fort  Pick- 
ens,  100. 

BEOWN,  JOSEPH  E. — Governor  of  Georgia,  609  ;  recalls  the 
militia  sent  to  Gen.  Hood,  609 ;  his  flight  from  Milledge- 
ville,  618. 

Brownsville,  Texas—  Capture  of,  480. 

Brunswick,  Ga.— Occupied  by  a  Federal  force,  149. 

BUCHANA&,  Com. In  command  of  the  gunboat  Callioun, 

855 ;  killed  on  the  Teche  Eiver,  365. 

BUCHANAN,  Rear- Ad. Commands  ram  Tennessee,  646. 

Buckhannon—Qrm.  Wise  routed  at,  61. 

BUCKINGHAM,  Brig. -Gen.  CATHARINUS  P.— Delivers  to  Mc- 
Clellan  the  order  of  his  removal,  862. 

BUCKNER.  Lieut-Gen.  SIMON  B. — In  command  in  Kentucky 
95;  falls  back  to  Fort  Donelson,  127;  surrenders  Fort 
Donelson,  129 ;  at  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  297 ;  in 
East  Tennessee,  462 ;  ordered  to  Lafayette,  462 ;  in  com 
mand  in  East  Tennessee,  457 ;  at  Chickamauga,  463 ;  sur 
renders  to  Canby,  706. 

BUELL,  Maj.-Gen.  DON  CARLOS — In  command  in  Ken 
tucky,  98,120;  movements  of  his  army,  125;  advance 
of  his  army  toward  Nashville,  131;  address  to  the 
troops,  fe2;  ordered  to  make  a  junction  with  Gen. 
Grant,  173 ;  advances  from  Nashville,  178 ;  arrives  with 
his  army  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  177;  takes  part  in  the 
battle,  177 ;  ordered  to  move  toward  Chattanooga  from 
Corinth,  183;  advances  toward  Chattanooga,  283;  falls 
back  toward  Kentucky,  284 ;  advances  from  Louisville 
against  Bragg,  287;  pursues  Bragg  in  Kentucky,  288 
falls  back  and  is  relieved,  289. 

BUFOBD,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN — In  command  under  McDowell 
256;  reports  the  progress  of  Lee,  256;  follows  the  enemy 
258 ;  in  command  under  Stoneman,  380,  881 ;  advances 
to  Culpepper,  3S4;  at  Gettysburg,  400 ;  attacks  Fitz  Lee, 
470  ;  biographical  notice  of,  770. 

BUFOED,  Brig.-Gen.  A. — Demands  the  surrender  of  Fort  Co- 
lumbus, Ky.,  519. 

Bull  Run-^ Federal  force,  67 ;  Confederate  do.,  68 ;  organiza- 
tion of  Federal  force,  68 ;  commanders,  68 ;  order  of  Gen. 
McDowell,  68 ;  advance  of  the  troops,  68 ;  obstructions  at 
Fairfax  Court  House,  68 ;  movements  of  Gen.  McDowell 
and  battle  of  the  first  day,  69 ;  his  orders,  71 ;  battle  of  the 
second  day  and  reports  of  officers,  71-77 ;  rout  of  Gen. 
McDowell,  78 ;  panic,  78 ;  retreat  to  the  heights  opposite 
Washington,  79  ;  second  battle,  262-263. 

Bunker  Hiu^- Skinnisji  at,  67. 

BUEBEIDGE,  Brig.-Gen.  STEPHEN  G. — In  command  in  Ken- 
tucky, 582;  moves  into  Southwestern  Virginia,  582; 
falls  back  to  drive  Morgan  out  of  Kentucky,  582 ;  his  re- 
port, 582 ;  expedition  in  East  Tennessee,  629 ;  captures 
Abingdon,  Va.,  629. 

BUELEY,  BENNET  G. — Organizes  an  expedition  against  John- 
son's Island  on  Lake  Erie,  632'J  seizes  the  steamer  Par- 
sons, 682. 

BUENHAM,  Brig.-Gen.  H. — Commands  8d  brigade  1st  divi- 
sion 6th  corps,  549 ;  biographical  notice  of,  791. 

BURNS,  Brig.-Gen.  WILLIAM  W. — In  the  battles  before  Rich- 
mond, 244. 

BUENSIDE,  Maj.-Gen.  AMBROSE  E. — With  the  Rhode  Island 
battery  joins  Gen.  Patterson,  56;  in  command  at  Bull 
Run,  68 ;  commands  an  expedition  against  North  Caro- 


818 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


Una,  135 ;  his  movements,  136 ;  orders  on  landing  in  North 
Carolina,  136 ;  address  to  the  people  of  North  Carolina, 
138 ;  captures  Newbern,  189 ;  address  to  his  troops,  139  ; 
moves  from  Newport  News,  256;  lands  at  Fredericks- 
burg,  259 ;  evacuates  Fredericksburg,  264 ;  near  Middle- 
town,  Md.,  268 ;  at  South  Mountain,  269 ;  at  Antietam,  271 ; 
crosses  the  Potomac,  801;  appointed  to  command  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  802 ;  address  to  the  army,  803 ; 
moves  to  Fredericksburg,  808,  304 ;  testimony  before  a 
Committee  of  Congress,  805 ;  his  design  about  the  pon- 
toons, 806 ;  attack  on  Fredericksburg,  306 ;  despatch  to 
the  President,  808;  do.  to  Halleck,  808 ;  explains  his  de- 
feat, 808 ;  position  of  his  army,  872 ;  relieved  of  command, 
878 ;  his  order,  873 ;  the  reason,  873 ;  before  the  Commit- 
tee of  Enquiry,  874 ;  his  order  No.  8,  875 ;  testimony  re- 
specting this  order,  876 ;  assumes  command  of  the  De- 
partment of  Ohio,  876;  advances  Into  East  Tennessee, 
457 ;  enthusiastic  reception  at  Knoxville,  458 ;  position 
of  his  army,  458 ;  his  movements  in  East  Tennessee,  468 ; 
relieved  of  command,  470 ;  commands  9th  corps  of  Poto- 
mac army,  550 ;  address  to  his  troops,  553 ;  at  the  "Wilder- 
ness battle,  554 ;  at  Spottsylvania  battle,  555 ;  position  of 
hla  corps,  578 ;  at  Coal  Harbor  battle,  576 ;  at  Petersburg, 
577. 

BOTH,  Coi Commands  a  brigade  of  Devens'  division  at 

the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  379. 

Bute-a-la-Rose — Captured  by  Banks,  367. 

BUTLER,  Maj.-Gen.  BENJ.  F. — Arrives  in  New  York  with 
Massachusetts  troops,  29 ;  occupies  the  Eelay  House  with 
troops,  82 ;  do.  Baltimore,  82 ;  arrives  in  "Washington  with 
his  brigade,  48 ;  at  Newport  News  and  Fortress  Monroe, 
64 ;  orders  an  attack  on  Great  Bethel,  56 ;  commands  mili- 
tary force  against  forts  at  Hatteras  Inlet,  84 ;  commands 
the  military  in  the  expedition  against  .New  Orleans,  190 ; 
takes  possession  of  New  Orleans,  200 ;  address  to  the  in- 
habitants, 200 ;  further  proceedings,  200 ;  proclamation 
relative  to  the  distress  of  the  inhabitants,  201 ;  provisions 
distributed,  202;  military  administration,  202;  orders, 
203 ;  arrests,  203 ;  relieved  by  Gen.  Banks,  205 ;  reports  at 
Washington,  365;  commands  departments  of  Virginia 
and  North  Carolina,  472 ;  movements  against  Petersburg, 
663 ;  his  despatch  to  Gen.  Grant,  565 ;  despatches  relative 
to  his  operations,  567 ;  further  operations,  569 ;  attack  on 
his  position,  569 ;  retires  to  his  intrenchme'nts,  578 ;  makes 
a  demonstration  against  Petersburg,  576;  relieved  by 
Stanton  and  retained  by  Grant,  589 ;  his  canal  on  tho 
James,  591 ;  on  the  expedition  against  Fort  Fisher,  640 ; 
withdraw^  the  troops  from  Fort  Fisher,  642 ;  correspond- 
ence with  Porter  relative  to  Fort  Fisher,  648 ;  relieved 
from  command,  648. 

BUTLER,  Brig. -Gen. Skirmish  at  Mount  Elon,  681 ; 

harasses  Sherman,  681. 

BUTLER,  Eev.  F.  E. — Biographical  notice  of,  750. 

BUTTERFIELD,  Maj.-Gen.  DANIEL — His  brigade  in  the  conflict 
at  Hanover  Court  House,  228. 

C 

CABELL,  Brig.-Gen. Invades  Southwest  Missouri,  483; 

made  prisoner  in  Missouri,  629. 
Cabinet  of  President  Lincoln,  495. 
Calhoun — A  Confederate  steam  privateer,  61 ;  .exploits,  62. 
CAMERON,  Col.  J. — Biographical  notice  of,  722. 
Camp  Atteghany,  Va. — Contest  at,  86. 
Camp  finegan,  Fla.— Attack  on,  605. 
Camp  Jackson  near  St.  Low* — See  Missouri. 
CAMPBELL,  JOHN  A. — Sent  as  a  Peace  Commissioner,  666. 
CAMPBELL,  Col.  J.  CLEVELAND— Biographical  notice  of,  803. 
CAMPBELL,  Lieut-Corn.  M.  C.— Biographical  notice  of,  797. 
Cane  Bill— Battle  at,  162;  second  conflict  at,  814. 


CANBT,  Maj.-Gen.  EDWIN  K.  S.— In  command  at  Fort  Craig, 
New  Mexico,  812;  attacks  Gen.  Sibley,  812;  falls  back, 
813;  further  operations  in  New  Mexico,  813;  organizes 
an  expedition  from  Baton  Kongo,  631;  besieges  Fort 
Gaines,  647 ;  commands  Department  of  West  Mississip- 
pi, 655 ;  commands  against  Mobile,  703 ;  receives  the  sur- 
render of  Taylor,  704. 

CANTWELL,  Col.  J. — Biographical  notice  of,  733. 

Cape  Girardeau — Attack  on,  482. 

CAPHABT,  Col. Commands  a  brigade  of  Sheridan's  cav- 
alry, 686. 

CARLETON,  Brig.-Gen.  JAMES  H. — Commands  in  New  Mexico, 
818 ;  in  command  of  the  department  of  New  Mexico,  885. 

Carondolet— Gunboat  runs  past  the  batteries  at  Island  No. 
10, 165. 

CAKE,  Brig.-Gen.  EUGENE  A. — Commands  a  division  under 
Gen.  Curtis,  156,  157;  at  the  battle  of  Pea  Eidge,  158; 
commands  a  division  in  McClernand's  corps,  855 ;  ordered 
to  pursue  the  enemy,  855 ;  commands  under  Gen.  Steele, 
615. 

CAEE,  Brig.-Gen.  JOSEPH  B. — Reports  to  Hancock,  525 ;  com- 
mands 4th  division  2d  corps,  549 ;  at  the  Wilderness  bat- 
tle, 555. 

Carrick  Ford—BaiUe  at,  67. 

CABBOLL,  Brig.-Gen.  SAMUEL  S. — Commands  the  advance  of 
Gen.  Shields'  force,  239 ;  fights  at  Port  Eepublic,  240 ;  in 
command  near  Port  Eepublic,  240;  commands  3d  bri- 
gade 2d  division  2d  corps,  549 ;  at  the  Wilderness  battles, 
555 ;  at  Spottsylvania  battle,  556. 

CARTER,  Brig.-Gen.  SAMUEL  P. — Commands  an  expedition  to 
cut  the  East  Tennessee  Bailroad,  309 ;  commands  in  East 
Tennessee,  457 ;  address  to  people  of  East  Tennessee,  458 ; 
demands  the  surrender  of  Cape  Girardeau,  482;  com- 
mands a  division  under  Schofield,  683. 

Carthage— Battle  of,  61. 

CASEY,  Maj.-Gen.  SILAS — In  command  near  Washington,  120 
-206;  in  the  battles  before  Eichmond,  242. 

CASWEIX,  Brig.-Gen.  WILLIAM  E.— In  command  in  East  Ten- 
nessee, 59. 

CAWTHOBN,  Col. Biographical  notice  of,  722. 

Cedar  Keys— Expedition  to,  152 ;  boat  expedition  also,  152. 

Cedar  Mountain — Battle  of,  258. 

Cedar  Run—BMle  of,  627. 

CHALMERS,  Maj.-Gen. In  command  in  Alabama,  499; 

attacks  Smith  in  Mississippi,  508 ;  at  the  capture  of  Fort 
Pillow,  517 ;  his  headquarters  captured,  680. 

Chambersburg,  Pa. — Occupied  by  Stuart's  cavalry,  800; 
occupied  by  E<vell,  897;  burned,  588. 

CHAMPION,  CoL  E. — Biographical  notice  of,  764. 

Champion  Hills— Battle  of,  854 

Chancellorsville—  Battle  of,  878,  879. 

Chantilly— Battle  of,  265. 

CHAPLIN,  Brig.-Gen.  S.  G. — Biographical  notice  of,  772. 

CHAPMAN,  Col.  A.  B. — Biographical  notice  of,  776. 

CHARLES,  Col.  E.  C. — Biographical  notice  of,  749. 

diaries  City— Battle  at,  250. 

Charleston,  &  C. — Blockade  with  sunken  vessels,  113, 114 ; 
apprehensions  excited  by  the  ocanpation  of  Beaufort, 
114;  fired  upon  by  Gen.  Gillmore,  479  ;  evacuation  of,  by 
Hardee,  678 ;  occupied  by  Federal  troops,  678 ;  corre- 
spondence relative  to  the  surrender,  679. 

Charlotte,  Jf.  C— Mint  at,  seized,  44. 

Chattanooga— Attacked  by  Gen.  Negley,  1S5;  occupied 
by  Eosecrans,  457 ;  the  battle  of,  under  Grant,  467. 

CHEATHAM,  Maj.-Gen.  William  8.— In  command  in  the 
southwest,  172 ;  at  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  277 ;  at 
Chlckamauga,  463 ;  moves  to  join  Beauregard,  680 ;  at 
Bentonsville,  685. 

Chesapeake — Seized  by  passengers  and  taken  to  Nova  Scotia, 
440 ;  recaptured,  440. 


INDEX  OF  COSTTENTS. 


819 


Chickahominy  Siver—Its  course  and  bridges,  226. 

CmLDS,  Col.  J.  H. — Biographical  notice  of,  736. 

Choctaw  /wcfian^-rTaken  as  prisoners,  868. 

Christian  Commission — Its  organization,  605;  character 
and  duties,  605 ;  branch  organizations  and  agencies,  606  ; 
system  of  work,  606. 

CHTTBCHTLL,  Brig.-Gen. — In  command  at  Fort  Hindman  836 ; 
surrenders,  836 ;  at  Pleasant  Hill  battle,  511. 

CLACK,  F.  H.— Biographical  notice  of,  775. 

Clarence — A  Confederate  privateer,  440. 

CLARK,  Maj.-Gen.  C. — In  command  in  "Western  Tennessee, 
59. 

CLARK,  Capt.  C. — Biographical  notice  of,  728. 

CLARK,  Gov.  H.  T. — Address  to  the  people  of  North  Carolina 
on  the  approach  of  the  Bnrnside  expedition,  188. 

CLAEK,  CoL  J.  C. — Biographical  notice  of,  790. 

CLAYTON,  Brig.-Gen.  POWELL — Commands  an  expedition 
from  Helena,  482;  marches  to  join  Steele,  515;  his  re- 
port, 515. 

CLEBITRN,  Maj.-Gen.  PATRICK — At  Chickamanga,  468;  at 
Atlanta,  537 ;  biographical  notice  of,  794. 

Clifton— Gunboat  captured  at  Sabine  Pass,  480. 

CLEWEET,  Brig.-Gen.  GUSTAVE  B. — Commands  in  the  con- 
test at  Strasbnrg,  238,  239. 

Confederate  States — Movements  to  assemble  a  Congress 
and  organize  a  Confederacy,  18;  delegates  meet  at 
Montgomery,  18 ;  organize,  13 ;  rules  adopted,  14 ;  plan 
'  of  Provisional  Government,  14 ;  its  adoption,  14;  pro- 
ceed to  elect  a  president  and  vice-president,  14;  Ste- 
phens1 speech  on  taking  the  oath  of  office,  15 ;  proceed- 
ings of  Congress,  15 ;  flag  adopted,  15 ;  inauguration  of 
Mr.  Davis,  16;  his  speech,  16 ;  cabinet  officers,  16 ;  other 
acts  of  Congress,  16 ;  draft  and  adoption  of  a  permanent 
Constitution  of  Government,  17, 18;  its  features,  18, 19; 
ports  blockaded  by  the  Federal  fleet,  54 ;  Federal  rev- 
enue cutters  seized,  63;  military  policy,  67;  further 
military  policy,  80 ;  depreciation  of  currency,  81 ;  aspect 
grows  unfavorable,  81 ;  views  of  the  people,  115;  action 
of  the  Government  relative  to  prisoners,  115 ;  feeling  of 
the  people  in  the  beginning  of  1862, 116 ;  concentrate 
forces,  185;  their  military  policy,  207 ;  further  military 
plans,  256 ;  the  demand  for  men,  274 ;  conscription  act, 
274 ;  its  operation,  274 ;  cabinet  of  Davis,  275 ;  finances, 
275 ;  privateering,  275 ;  order  relative  to  proceedings  of 
Federal  commanders,  826;  civil  affairs,  4S6;  finances, 
487;  debt,  487;  agriculture,  487 ;  railroads,  488 ;  crops, 
488 ;  blockade,  489  ;  foreign  relations,  489 ;  emancipa- 
tion, 489  ;  address  to  Christians  throughout  the  world, 
489 ;  inflexibility  of  purpose,  490 ;  plan  of  military  opera- 
tions, 609;  situation  in  1864,  655;  crops,  655;  manufac- 
tures, 656 ;  foreign  relations,  656 ;  finances,  656;  views 
of  the  people,  657 ;  peace  movement,  657. 

Congress,  Confederate — Authorize  all  volunteer  troops  to  be 
accepted,  51 ;  second  meeting,  54 ;  move  the  capital  to 
Richmond,  54;  acts  relative  to  the  army,  412,  418; 
measures  to  keep  up  the  armies,  649,  650 ;  enlistment  of 
negroes,  650 ;  an  act  for  the  purpose  passed,  650 ;  vote, 
650 ;  objections  to  the  measure,  651. 

Congress,  United  States— Appropriations  for  the  war  in  July, 
1861,  80 ;  action  relative  to  iron-clad  ships,  117 ;  act  rela- 
tive to  seizure  of  slaves  by  military  officers,  158 ;  oath 
required  of  public  officers,  319 ;  act  to  admit  West  Vir- 
ginia as  a  State,  820;  appoint  a  committee  of  inquiry 
relative  to  Burnside's  movements,  373;  report,  374 ;  acts 
relative  to  colored  troops,  419  ;  action  relative  to  slaves 
and  free  colored  persons,  667. 

Coal  Harbor — Battle  near,  between  Grant  and  Lee,  575. 

COBB,  Brig.-Gen.  HOWELL — Address  on  taking  the  chair  in 
the  Montgomery  Congress,  13;  speech  at  Atlanta,  55; 
tn  command  under  Gen.  Johnston  at  Richmond,  249 ; 


driven  from  Crampton's  Gap,  Md.,  269 ;  made  a  prisoner 
at  Macon,  708. 

COBB,  Gen.  T.  R.  R.— Biographical  notice  of,  742. 

COCHEANE,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN — Commands  a  brigade  of 
Couch's  division,  267;  commands  a  brigade  In  Frank- 
lin's corps,  874 ;  letter  relative  to  Gen.  Burnside's  plans, 
875. 

COCKE,  Gen.  P.  ST.  GEORGE — Biographical  notice  of,  726. 

COPPEY,  CoL Attacks  Philips  near  Fort  Gibson,  482. 

COKE,  Lieut.  J.  W. — Commands  the  Albemarle,  520. 

COLBUEN,  CoL  JOHN — Commands  an  expedition  in  Tennes- 
see, 452. 

Cole— A  skirmish  at,  60. 

COLEMAN,  Col.  A.  H. — Biographical  notice  of,  736. 

COLLINS,  Capt.  N.— Captures  the  Florida,  649 ;  report,  649. 

COLMAN,  "W.  D. — Biographical  notice  of,  789. 

Colored  troops — (See  Army  II.  S.) 

Columbia,  S.  C. — Captured  by  Sherman,  677. 

Columbus,  Ky. — Fortified  by  Gen.  Polk,  95 ;  evacuation  of, 
181, 162 ;  occupied  by  a  Federal  force,  133, 162. 

Commissioners—  Sent  to  "Washington  by  Mr.  Davis  from 
Montgomery,  20;  their  negotiations  fail,  20. 

Connecticut — Response  to  the  first  call  for  troops,  28 ;  appro- 
priates $2,000,000  to  war  purposes,  51. 

CONNOR,  Brig.-Gen.  PATRICK  E. — In  command  in  Idaho,  484. 

CONOVEB,  Com.  T.  A. — Biographical  notice  of,  791. 

COOKE,  Col. In  command  at  Bull  Run,  70. 

COOK,  Brig.-Gen.  H.  F.— Biographical  notice  of,  768. 

COOPER,  Gen. Defeated  by  Blunt  in  Arkansas,  482. 

COOPEE,  Brig.-Gen.  JAMES — Biographical  notice  of,  748. 

COOPER,  Capt.  T.  C.— Biographical  notice  of,  777. 

CORCORAN,  Brig.-Gen.  MICHAEL — Marches  from  New  York 
with  the  69th  regiment,  30 ;  commands  at  Bull  Run,  79 ; 
taken  prisoner,  79 ;  retained  at  Richmond  as  a  hostage, 
822 ;  biographical  notice  of,  771. 

Corinth— Us  position,  172-180 ;  siege  of,  180-182 ;  evacuation 
of,  182 ;  defence  of,  by  Rosecrans,  292. 

Corps  d?Afrique—  Organized  by  Gen.  Banks,  868,  654. 

Corpus  Christie- Capture  of,  200. 

CORSE,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  M. — Moves  to  Allatoona,  610 ;  sent 
to  Rome  with  reinforcements,  610 ;  burns  public  build- 
ings at  Rome,  614 ;  pushed  forwards  toward  Savannah, 
620 ;  in  Sherman's  march  through  the  Carolinas,  675, 684. 

COITCH,  Maj.-Gen.  DARIUS  N.— In  the  battles  before  Rich- 
mond, 246;  advances  in  Maryland,  267;  commands  2d 
corps'  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  878 ;  in  command 
of  the  department  of  Susquehanna,  885 ;  his  order,  886 ; 
movements  in  Pennsylvania,  405,  588 ;  at  the  battle  near 
Nashville,  630 ;  commands  in  the  advance  on  Goldsboro, 
683. 

COTTTHONOY,  Lieut.  J.— Shipwrecked  and  surrenders,  442. 

COWES,  B.  R.— Adj. -Gen.  of  Ohio,  551 ;  order,  551. 

COWLES,  CoL  D.  S. — Biographical  notice  of,  758. 

Cox,  A.  8.,  M.  D.— Biographical  notice  of,  787. 

Cox,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  D. — In  command  in  "Western  Virginia, 
259 ;  commands  a  division  of  23d  corps,  534 ;  at  Kenesaw, 
534;  commands  23d  corps,  610 ;  moves  to  Rome,  610 ;  at 
the  battle  near  Nashville,  630 ;  supports  the  advance  of 
Terry,  682;  commands  3d  division  of  28d  corps,  682; 
lands  near  Cape  Fear  River,  682. 

COXE,  R.  C. — Biographical  notice  of.  721. 

Crampton's  Gap— Battle  of,  269. 

CRANE,  Lieut-CoL  L.  H.  D.— Biographical  notice  of,  782. 

GRAVEN,  Capt  T.  A.  M.— In  the  battle  below  New  Orleans, 
194;  commands  a  fleet  up  the  Mississippi,  199;  com- 
mands the  Tecumseh,  646 ;  lost,  646;  biographical  notice 
of,  787. 

CRAWFORD,  Brig.-Gen.  SAMUEL  "W. — Commands  a  brigade  in 
Batiks'  corps,  256-253 ;  at  Antietam,  271 ;  commands  3d 
division  of  5th  corps,  548 ;  at  the  "Wilderness  battle,  555  • 


820 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


advance  on  Hatcher's  Kun,  671 ;  at  battles  west  of  Pe- 
tersburg, 690. 

Crawford  Prairie— Battle  at,  162. 

CBITTBNDEN,  Brig. -Gen.  GEOEGE  B.— Commands  at  Webb's 
Cross-roads,  122 ;  address  to  the  people  of  Kentucky, 
122 ;  defeated,  123 ;  commands  reserves  of  A.  S.  John- 
ston's army,  178;  resigns,  328. 

CBITTENDEN,  Brig. -Gen.  THOMAS  L. — Commands  Kentucky 
troops,  95 ;  commands  a  division  In  Buell's  army,  124 ; 
his  movements,  127 ;  in  the  battle  at  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing, 177 ;  commands  a  corps  of  Buell's  army  in  Kentucky, 
287 ;  commands  a  corps  of  Bosecrans'  army,  296 ;  com- 
mands the  21st  corps,  452 ;  occupies  the  road  from 
Dechard,  45C;  his  movements,  457;  movements  of  his 
corps  in  Georgia,  460 ;  ordered  to  Cincinnati,  466 ;  com- 
mands a  division  in  Burnside's  corps,  571. 

CEITTENDEN,  Colonel,  of  Indiana — Brings  troops  into  Ken- 
tucky, 95 ;  captured  by  Forrest,  282. 

CROASDALE,  CoL  8. — Biographical  notice  of,  786. 

CROCKER,  Brig.-Gen.  M.  M.— Commands  a  division  in  Mc- 
Pherson's  corps,  852 ;  fights  near  Jackson,  352 ;  at  Cham- 
pion Hills,  864. 

CROCKER,  Lieut Commands  squadron  to  Sabine  Elver, 

479. 

CROGHAN,  Col.  GEO.  ST.  JOHN— Biographical  notice  of,  726. 

CROOK,  Maj.-Gen.  GEORGE — Attacks  at  Farmington,  Tenn., 
465 ;  in  command  in  "West  yirginia,  562 ;  advances  upon  ^ 
Dublin  Depot,  562 ;  his  movements,  562,  568 ;  advances 
to  join  Hunter,  588 ;  captures  a  train  retiring  from  Ma- 
ryland, 578;  joins  Averill  near  Winchester,  588;  de- 
feated, 588 ;  at  the  conflict  on  Opequan  Creek,  624 ;  at 
Fisher's  Hill,  626 ;  commands  department  of  Western 
Virginia,  655 ;  made  a  prisoner,  678 ;  moves  to  Beams' 
Station,  688 ;  to  Dinwiddie,  CSS ;  in  pursuit  of  Lee's 
army,  694 

CEOSS,  Col.  E.  E.— Biographical  notice  of,  761. 

Cross  Hollows— Contest  at,  162. 

Cross  Keys — Battle  at,  289. 

CROXTON,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  T.— Commands  *  brigade,  631 ; 
in  the  battle  near  Nashville,  631 ;  makes  a  reconnois- 
sance,  670. 

CRUTT,  Brig.-Gen.  CHARLES — Defeated  at  Richmond,  Ky., 
by  Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith,  282 ;  commands  Stanley's  di- 
vision, 504 ;  advances  on  Dalton,  504. 

Cumberland,  Gap—Its  features,  289 ;  surrendered  to  Burn- 
side,  458. 

CtrsiMiNG,  Brig.-Gen.  A. — Biographical  notice  of,  788. 

CURTIN,  Gov.  ANDREW  G.*— Calls  for  troops^  to  resist  inva- 
sion, 266 ;  his  proclamation,  385 ;  calls  for  troops,  891- 
893. 

CURTIS,  Maj.-Gen.  SAMUEL  E. — Commands  in  the  southwest, 
156;  pursues  Gen.  Price,  156;  captures  Fayetteville, 
Ark.,  156 ;  address  to  the  people,  156 ;  his  position  and 
strength  in  Arkansas,  157;  fights  at  Pea  Eidge,  158; 
answer  to  'Gen.  Van  Dorn,  159 ;  moves  to  Keetsville, 
160;  his  further  movements,  160;  expedition  np  the 
Arkansas,  160 ;  his  movements,  814 ;  occupies  Bates- 
ville,  314 ;  in  command  of  the  department  of  Missouri, 
815 ;  in  command  in  Kansas,  681. 

CURTIS,  Lieut.-Col.  J.  B.— Biographical  notice  of,  742. 

CUSHING,  Lieut  W.  B.— Destroys  the  Albemarle  iron-clad, 
638. 

CUSTAR,  Brig.-Gen.  GEORGE  A.— Advances  toward  Char- 
lottesville,  522 ;  meets  the  enemy,  522 ;  on  a  cayalry 
expedition,  562 ;  attacks  the  enemy's  advance  at  Stras- 
burg,  627;  commands  3d  division  under  Sheridan,  686; 
at  the  battles  west  of  Petersburg,  691. 

CUTLER,  Brig.-Gen.  LYSANDEE— Commands  1st  brigade  4th 
division  of  5th  corps,  549 ;  moves  down,  the  Chickahom- 
iny,  576. 


DAHLGREN,  Eear-Admiral  JOHN  A. — Commands  South  At- 
lantic Squadron,  462 ;  at  Ossibaw  Sound,  620 ;  relieved,  636 

DAHLGREN,  Col.  ULRIC — Sent  against  James'  Elver  canal, 
528;  movements,  523;  meets  the  enemy,  523;  orders 
to  his  men,  523  ;  killed,  523 ;  biographical  notice  of,  773. 

Dalton — Eecaptured  by  Hood,  64. 

DALY,  Col. Biographical  notice  of,  788. 

DANA,  Maj.-Gen.  NAPOLEON  J.  3\ — Arrives  at  West  Point 
with  a  part  of  Sedgwick's  division,  222 ;  in  the  battles 
before  Eichmond,  244 ;  in  command  under  Couch,  405 ; 
commands  an  expedition  from  Vicksburg,  631 ;  com- 
mands department  of  Mississippi,  655. 

Dana — A  United  States  schooner,  seized  in  Florida,  6. 

DANIELS,  Brig.-Gen.  JULIUS — Biographical  notice  of,  779. 

DAVIDSON,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  W. — Advances  from  Missouri  to 
join  Gen.  Steele,  483;  commands  an  expedition  from 
Baton  Eouge,  631. 

DA  VIES,  Brig.-Gen.  HENRY  E. — In  command  at  Bull  Eun, 
68 ;  commands  1st  brigade  2d  division  of  cavalry,  562 ; 
on  an  expedition,  562;  at  battles  west  of  Petersburg,  690; 
in  pursuit  of  Lee's  army,  694. 

DAVIS,  Col.  B.  F. — Escapes  with  cavalry  from  Harper's 
Ferry,  270;  killed,  384 ;  biographical  notice  of,  759. 

DAVTB,  Eear-Admiral  CHARLES  H.— Succeeds  Com.  Foote  in 
command  of  the  gunboat  fleet  167 ;  battle  before  Mem- 
phis, 167 ;  takes  possession  of  Memphis,  168 ;  meets  Far- 
ragut  above  Vicksburg,  200 ;  opens  fire  on  the  town  while 
Farragnt's  fleet  pass  the  batteries,  200. 

DAVIS,  JEFFERSON — Chosen  President  of  the  insurrectionary 
States  by  the  Congress  at  Montgomery,  14 ;  inauguration, 
16;  speech,  16;  cabinet,  16;  sends  commissioners  to 
Washington,  20;  negotiations  fail,  20;  sends  a  message 
to  President  Lincoln,  61 ;  reply  of  Gen.  Scott,  61 ;  author- 
izes privateering,  61 ;  reply  to  Governor  Magoffin  of 
Kentucky,  93 ;  message  on  the  surrender  of  Fort  Donel- 
son,  181 ;  message  to  Congress  on  the  battle  of  Pittsburg 
Landing,  178 ;  address  to  the  army,  246 ;  address  to  the 
Confederate  army,  251 ;  message  to  Congress  on  Lee's 
despatches,  268;  letter  to  Governor  Brown  on  conscrip- 
tion, 275 ;  letter  to  Lee  on  the  exchange  of  prisoners' 825 , 
instructions  to  Gen.  Lee,  896 ;  appeal  to  deserters,  413 ; 
letter  to  Stephens  on  a  mission  to  Washington,  489 ;  on 
Lincoln's  message  to  Congress,  490 ;  amnesty  proclama- 
tion, 491;' on  a  tour  of  inspection,  609;  speeches,  609; 
plan  of  military  operations,  609 ;  retires  from  Eichmond, 
694;  his  proclamation  after  leaving  Eichmond,  709 ;  his 
'  capture,  709. 

Davis,  Jeff. — A  Confederate  privateer,  62 ;  her  prizes,  62 ; 
lost  at  St  Augustine,  62. 

DAVIS,  Brig.-Gen.  JEFF.  C. — One  of  the  garrison  of  Sumter, 
21;  marches  for  Springfield,  155;  at  Sugar  Creek,  157; 
at  Pea  Eidge,  158;  moves  against  the  Confederate  ad- 
vance on  Corinth,  292 ;  in  the  battle  at  Corinth,  292 :  at 
the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  297 ;  commands  an  expedi- 
tion, 452 ;  advances  his  division,  455 ;  at  Caperton's  Ferry, 
457;  at  Chickamauga,  462;  advances  on  Dalton,  504; 
commands  a  division  of  Palmer's  corps,  581 ;  moves  to- 
ward Rome,  531 ;  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  534 ;  succeeds 
Palmer  in  command,  541 ;  commands  14th  corps  nnder 
Sherman,  612;  in  Sherman's  march  through  the  Caro- 
lina's, 680;  at  Averysboro  battle,  684 

DAVIS,  Lieut-Col. In  command  under  Kilpatrick,  381 ; 

commands  an  expedition,  881 ;  report,  882. 

DAVIS,  Col.  P.  8.— Biographical  notice  of,  785. 

DEAN,  Col. Biographical  notice  of,  797. 

DEAKING,  Brig.-Gen. Biographical  notice  of,  793. 

DE  COUROEY,  Col. Conflict  with  Eains  near  TazewelL, 

Tenn.,  290. 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


821 


DE  FOBEST,  Col.  O. — Biographical  notice  of,  795. 

DE  HAVEN,  Lieut  EDWIN  J. — Drives  a  blockader  ashore; 
biographical  notice  of;  804. 

DE  JOINVILLE,  Prince— on  the  campaign  against  Richmond, 
211,  219,  241. 

DENNIS,  Brig.-Gen.  ELIAS  8. — Commands  an  expedition 
against  the  Jackson  Railroad,  589. 

Des  Arc,  Ark. — Capture  of,  by  Curtis ;  do.  by  Com.  "Walker, 
338. 

DESHLEB,  Brig.-Gen.  JAS. — Biographical  notice  of,  767. 

DE  TKOBKIAND,  Brig.-Gen.  PHILIP — Advance  on  Hatcher's 
Enn,  671. 

DEVENS,  Brig.-Gen.  CHAELES — At  the  battle  of  Balls'  Bluff, 
103 ;  commands  a  brigade  of  Couch's  division,  267 ;  com- 
mands a  division  of  Howard's  corps  at  the  battle  of  Chan- 
cellorsvile,  379;  driven  by  Jackson,  379;  commands  a 
division  of  the  18th  corps,  573 ;  at  Coal  Harbor,  573. 

DEVIK,  Brig.-Gen.  THOMAS  C. — Commands  a  brigade  of 
Merritt's  division,  686;  commands  an  expedition^  against 
the  James  Eiver  Canal,  686;  encounters  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  689;  at  the  battles  west  of  Petersburg,  691. 

DILL,  Eev.  J.  H. — Biographical  notice  of,  747 

DntMOCK.  Brig.-Gen.  CnA8. — Biographical  notice  of,  768. 

Dix,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN  A. — Addresses  a  mass  meeting  in 
New  York,  29 ;  in  command  at  Baltimore,  113 ;  sends 
troops  to  Accomac  and  Northampton  counties,  Ya.,  113 ; 
address  to  the  inhabitants,  113;  ordered  to  command 
at  Fortress  Monroe,  323 ;  arranges  a  cartel  for  exchange  of 
prisoners,  323;  movements  from  Fortress  Monroe  as 
diversions  against  Lee,  408 ;  commands  Department  of 
the  East,  472;  moves  up  the  York  Eiver,  472;  lands  at 
Whitehouse,  472 ;  object,  472;  bridges  destroyed,  472; 
returns  and  reSnforces  Gen.  Meade,  472. 

Dixie — A  Confederate  privateer,  62 ;  her  prizes,  62. 

DODGE,  Brig.-Gen.  GBENVILLE  M. — Commands  a  corps  of 
Tennessee  army,  526;  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  534;  at 
Atlanta,  537 ;  commands  Department  of  Missouri,  655. 

DOLES,  Brig.-Gen.  G.  R— Biographical  notice  of,  781. 

Donelson*,  Fort— Attacked  by  gunboats,  128 ;  surrendered, 
129 ;  attacked  by  Forrest,  452. 

DOUBLEDAY,  Maj.-Gen.  ABNEE— One  of  the  garrison  of  Sum- 
ter,  21;  commands  1st  corps  at  Gettysburg,  400 ;  posi- 
tion at  Gettysburg,  401. 

DOWNES,  Capt  JOHN — Attacks  Fort  McAllister,  446 ;  at- 
tacks forts  at  Charleston,  447;  captures  the  Atlanta, 
450. 

DBAKE,  Col.  A.  "W.— Biographical  notice  of,  730. 

DEAKE,  Col.  J.  C.— Biographical  notice  of,  781. 

Dranesville,  Fa.— Its  situation,  114 ;  skirmish  at  114 ;  de- 
tails, 114 

DBAYTON,  Capt  PEECIVAL — Attacks  Fort  McAllister,  446; 
attacks  batteries  in  Charleston  harbor,  447; 

DBUMMOND,  Capt Commands  a  cavalry  expedition, 

SSL 

Drury's  Bluff— Attack  on,  by  gunboats,  226 ;  repulsed,  226. 

Dug  Springs,  Mo.— Skirmish  at,  82. 

Drywood,  Mo.— Skirmish  at,  87. 

DUFFIE,  Brig.-Gen.  ALFBED  N. — Commands  a  cavalry  force, 

esa 

DCFFTELD,  Brig.-Gen.— Captiired  by  Forrest,  282. 

DUMONT,  Brig.-Gen.  EBENEZEB — Commands  in  an  expedi- 
tion against  a  camp  near  Philippi,  56;  commands  a 
brigade  in  Buell's  army,  124. 

DUNCAN,  Brig.-Gen.  J.  K. — Eepulsed  at  Mnnfordsville,  Ky., 
284 ;  biographical  notice  of,  769. 

DUNCAN,  Major Pursues  the  Texans  in  New  Mexico, 

312. 

DtrscAN,  Capt Sent  by  Sherman  to  communicate 

with  the  gunboats,  620;  skirmish  at  Mt.  Elon,  6S1. 

DUSCAN,  Com.  J.  M, — Biographical  notice  of,  788. 


DUNHAM,  Col.  C.  L.— Surrenders  Munfordsville,  Ky.,  284. 

DUNNING,  Col. Attacks  the  enemy  at  Blue  Gap,  207. 

DUNNINGTON,  Lieut Attacks  Federal  gunboats,  670. 

DUPONT,  Bear- Admiral  S.  F. — Commands  the  naval  expedi- 
tion against  Port  Eoyal,  108;  its  success,  109;  com- 
mands a  naval  expedition  to  Florida,  147 ;  returns  to 
Port  Eoyal  from  Florida,  150 ;  commands  South  Atlantic 
squadron,  441 ;  denies  the  raising  of  the  blockade  at 
Charleston,  445 ;  report  on  the  attack  on  the  forts  at 
Charleston,  450 ;  biographical  notice  of,  804. 

Dupping  Springs,  Ark.— Conflict  at,  814. 

DUBYEA,  Brig.-Gen.  ABEAM — Commands  a  regiment  at 
Great  Bethel,  57 ;  in  command  at  Catlet's  Station,  235 ; 
panic,  235. 

DUSHANE,  Col.  A.  F.— Biographical  notice  of,  788. 

D'UrussY,  Col. Beoccupiea  Maryland  Heights,  270. 

DUTTON,  Col.  A.  H.— Biographical  notice  of,  782. 

DwoaFs  Bluff,  Ark.— Capture  of,  by  Curtis,  do.  by  Com. 
Walker,  388. 

DWIGHT,  Brig.-Gen.  WILLIAM — Commands  in  Grover's  divi- 
sion, 867;  occupies  Alexandria,  La.,  867;  at  Port  Hud- 
son, 870;  at  Pleasant  Hill  battle,  511. 

DWIGHT,  Lieut-Col.  WILDEE— Biographical  notice  o^  737. 

E 

EAGLB,  Com.  HENBY — Summons  Galveston  to  surrender, 
811. 

EABLY,  Maj.-Gen.  JUBAL — Commands  a  division  of  Lee's 
army,  372;  at  Winchester,  887;  position  of  his  division, 
398 ;  at  Gettysburg,  401 ;  moves  with  Lee,  470 ;  ordered 
to  command  in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  498 ;  commands 
expedition  into  Maryland,  588 ;  retreats  from  Maryland, 
588 ;  in  command  in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  624 ;  posi- 
tion of  his  army,  624 ;  defeated  at  Fisher's  Hill,  626 ; 
retreats,  626 ;  moves  down  the  valley,  627 ;  retreats,  628 ; 
evacuates  Staunton  on  Sheridan's  approach,  686;  loses 
his  baggage,  686.  ' 

Edisto  Man^L,  S.  C.— Occupied  by  Federal  troops,  150. 

Elkhorn—See  Pea  Eidge. 

ELLET,  Col.  CHARLES  J.,  Jr. — Commands  on  the  withdrawal  of 
Com.  Foote,  167 ;  commands  the  ram  fleet,  169 ;  report 
of  proceedings  at  Memphis,  169  ;  biographical  notice  of, 
780. 

ELLET,  Col.  CHAELES  B.— Attempts  to  destroy  the  ram  Ar- 
kansas, 200 ;  commands  the  Queen  of  the  West,  339 ; 
runs  past  the  batteries  at  Vicksburg,  839 ;  proceeds  down 
the  river,  840 ;  second  expedition  down  the  river  with 
the  De  Soto  as  a  tender,  340 ;  operations  up  the  Atcha- 
falaya,  340 ;  captures  New  Era  No.  5,  840 ;  attacks  Fort 
Taylor,  840 ;  loses  the  steamer,  840 ;  escapes,  340 ;  res- 
cued by  the  Indianola,  341;  further  movements,  842; 
burns  Semmesport,  La.,  509 ;  biographical  notice  of,  768. 

ELLIOTT,  Major  G.  M. — Biographical  notice  of,  769. 

ELLIS,  JOHN  W.— Governor  of  North  Carolina,  42 ;  reply  to 
the  call  for  troops,  43 ;  reassembles  the  State  Conven- 
tion, 4& 

ELLSWOETH,  Col.  EPHEAIM  E.— Moves  with  troops  to  Alex- 
andria, 53 ;  killed,  54 ;  biographical  notice  of,  719. 

Emigrant  Aid  Society — Organization  of,  155. 

EMOEY,  Brig.-Gen.  WILLIAM  H.— Commands  a  division  of 
Banks'  army,  866;  advances  from  Brashear,  867;  do. 
toward  Mansfield,  510;  at  Pleasant  Hill,  511 ;  atOpequan, 
624. 

Emmetsburg,  Pa. — Occupied  by  Confederate  cavalry,  800. 

EEICSSON,  JOHN. — Contract  for  iron-clads,  119. 

ESTES,  Capt  — In  command  under  Kilpatrick,  618; 

dashes  into  Waynesboro,  618. 

EUSTIS,  Brig.-Gen.  A.  L.— Commands  4th  brigade  2d  division 
of  6th  corps,  549. 


822 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


EVANS,  Brig.-Gen.  NATHANIEL  G. — Commands  Confederate 
force  at  Ball's  Bluff,  107 ;  reenforces  Pegram,  672. 

EWELL,  Lieut-Gen.  BICHARD — In  command  at  Bull  Eun, 
70;  attacks  Harper's  Ferry,  237;  makes  a  stand  at 
Fisher's  Hill,  238 ;  in  the  battle  at  White  Oak  Swamp, 
250 ;  fights  at  Cedar  Mountain,  258 ;  commands  a  division 
of  Lee's  army,  256-265 ;  makes  an  attack  at  Manassas 
Junction,  261 ;  defeated  near  Manassas,  262 ;  commands 
a  corps  of  Lee's  army,  385 ;  advances  to  Culpepper,  885; 
further  advances,  885;  attacks  Milroy  at  "Winchester, 
3S7;  occupies  Chambersburg,  397;  concentrates  near 
Gettysburg,  898 ;  at  Gettysburg,  400;  moves  with  Lee, 
470 ;  commands  a  corps  of  Lee's  army,  553 ;  at  the  Wil- 
derness battle,  553 ;  at  Spottsylvania  battle,  656-559 ;  at- 
tacks Warren  on  the  Mechanics-vine  road,  573 ;  his  posi- 
tion, 573 ;  made  a  prisoner,  695. 

EWING,  Brig. -Gen.  THOMAS,  Jr. — Defends  Pilot  Knob,  629. 

EWING,  Hon.  A.— Biographical  notice  of,  784. 


FAGAN,  Brig.-Gen.  J.— Kouted  at  Independence,  629 ;  bio- 
graphical notice  of,  798. 

Fair  Oafa— Battle  of,  242. 

FAIBFAX,  Com.  D.  McN. — Attacks  forts  at  Charleston,  447. 

Fairfax  Court  House — Cavalry  skirmish  at,  54 

Falling  Water— Skirmish  at,  61. 

FABNHAM,  Col.  N.  L.— Biographical  notice  of,  724. 

FABNSWOBTH,  Brig.-Gen.  E.  J.— Biographical  notice  of,  762. 

FAP.ON,  JOHN — Biographical  notice  of,  787. 

FABBAGTOT,  Bear- Admiral  DAVID  G. — Commands  the  naval 
expedition  against  New  Orleats,  191 ;  arrives  at  Ship 
Island,  192 ;  his  force,  192 ;  orders  the  fleet  to  pass  the 
forts  below  New  Orleans,  194 ;  letters  to  the  mayor  of 
New  Orleans,  196,  197;  his  further  proceedings,  198; 
passes  the  Vicksburg  batteries  with  his  fleet,  200 ;  con- 
certs an  expedition  up  the  Tazoo,  200  ;  returns  to  New 
Orleans,  200 ;  commands  a  naval  expedition  against  Port 
Hudson,  865 ;  bombards  Port  Hudson,  870 ;  commands 
West  Gulf  squadron,  442 ;  commands  the  attack  on  the 
defences  of  Mobile,  646. 

FABBAN,  Com.  E. — Surrenders  to  Thatcher,  705. 

FABBINGTON,  Lieut.  SAMUEL — Biographical  notice  of,  738. 

Fayette,  Mo. — Skirmish  at,  155. 

Fayetteville,  Ark. — Attack  on,  481. 

Fayettevilie,  N.  C.— Arsenal  at,  surrendered,  50 ;  captured 
by  Sherman,  681. 

FELLOWS,  Col. -Biographical  notice  of,  780. 

Fernandina,  Fla. — Occupied  by  Federal  troops,  147. 

FBBBEBO,  Brig.-Gen.  EDWABD — Commands  a  division  of  the 
9th  corps,  578 ;  at  Petersburg,  678 ;  in  the  assault  at 
Petersburg,  590. 

FILLMOKE,  Major  J.  8.— Biographical  notice  of,  795. 

FINEGAN,  Brig.-Gen.  JOSEPH — In  command  in  Florida,  505  ; 
defeats  Seymour  at  Olustee,  507 ;  correspondence  with 
Seymour,  507. 

FISHES,  H.  N.,  M.  D. — Biographical  notice  of,  747. 

FISHEB,  Col. Biographical  notice  of,  722. 

Fisher's  Hill — Jackson  makes  a  stand,  233 ;  battle  at,  by 
Sheridan,  626 ;  captured,  627. 

FISKK,  Eev.  8. — Biographical  notice  of,  780. 

FITCH,  Colonel — Commands  an  expedition  up  the  White 
Elver,  168. 

Frrcn,  Commander Cooperates  with  gunboats  in  the 

battle  near  Nashville,  631. 

Five  Forks— The  battle  of,  C91. 

FLETCHKB,  Prof.  M.  J. — Biographical  notice  of,  729, 

Florida— Meeting  of  State  Convention,  6 :  ordinance  of  se- 
cession, 6 ;  its  adoption,  6 ;  other  acts  of  the  Conven- 
tion, 6 ;  seizure  of  ports,  6. 


Florida,  a  cruiser — Escapes  from  Mobile,  439;  cruise  of 
439,  440 ;  captured  at  Bahia  by  Capt  Collins,  649. 

FLOYD,  J3rig.-Gen.  JOHN  B.— With  a  force  in  Western  Vir- 
ginia, 85 ;  his  movements,  85-87 ;  escapes  from  Fort 
Donelson,  129 ;  moves  to  Nashville,  131. 

FLITSSEB,  Lieut-Corn.  C.  W. — Commands  an  expedition  to 
Dismal  Swamp,  142;  commands  the  gunboat  Miami, 
520;  killed  in  contest  with  the  Albemarle,  520 ;  biograph- 
ical notice  of,  775. 

FOOTS,  Bear- Admiral  A.  H. — In  command  of  Western  gun- 
boat fleet,  124 ;  bombards  Fort  Henry,  127 ;  attacks  Fort 
Donelson,  128;  makes  a  reconnoissance  at  Columbus, 
162 ;  moves  down  the  Mississippi  with  his  fleet,  165 ; 
battle  on  the  Mississippi  above  Fort  Pillow,  166 ;  retires 
from  command,  167 ;  biographical  notice  of,  759. 

FOBCE,  Brig,-Gen.  MANNING  F. — Commands  a  division,  676 ; 
in  Sherman's  march  through  the  Carolinas,  676. 

FOBD,  Col.  THOMAS  H. — In  command  at  Maryland  Heights, 
270>?  abandons  the  position,  270. 

FOBBEST,  Brig.-Gen. A  commander  of  guerrilla  forces, 

188 ;  operations  in  Tennessee,  188,  1S9 ;  commands  a 
guerrilla  force  282 ;  captures  a  regiment,  282 ;  attacks 
Jackson,  Tenn.,  295 ;  defeated  by  Sweeney,  296 ;  attacks 
Fort  Donelson,  452;  captures  Streight,  454;  attacks 
Smith,  Miss.,  503 ;  expedition  in  West  Tennessee,  516  ; 
attacks  Paducah,  516;  captures  Fort  Pillow,  517 ;  Con- 
gressional report,  518 ;  in  Southwestern  Tennessee,  609 ; 
destroys  Johnsonville,  Tenn.,  630. 

Fort  Abercrombie — Besieged  by  Indians,  817. 

Fort  Caswell — Seizure  of,  44 

Fort  de  Ru&vy— Attacked  by  Admiral  Porter,  368 ;  capture 
of,  509. 

Fort  Fishes — The  attack  on,  641-644 ;  capture  of,  645. 

Fort  Cfaines-^-The  capture  of,  647. 

Fort  Henry— Capture  of,  125. 

Fort  Hindman — On  Arkansas  Point,  surrendered,  886. 

Fort  Jackson — Its  situation,  192 ;  how  defended,  192. 

Fort  Johnson — Seizure  of,  44 

Fort  Macon — Siege  of,  by  Bnrnside's  troops,  141. 

Fort  Mahone— The  capture  of,  691. 

Fort  Morgan — Seized,  9 ;  surrender  of,  647. 

Fort  McAllister— Attack  on,  444-446;  capture  of,  621. 

Fort  Pemberton — The  attack  on,  844 ;  repulsed,  844 

Fort  Pickens— Besieged,  7-10. 

Fort  Pillow— Attacked  by  gunboats,  166 ;  evacuated,  167  • 
capture  of,  517. 

Fort  Pulaski — Efforts  to  cut  off  its  communication  with 
Savannah,  144 ;  batteries  erected,  145 ;   repulse  of  Tat- 
nall,  145 ;  more  batteries  erected,  146 ;  surrender,  147. 
Fort  Sumter.    See  Sittnter. 

Fort  Randolph — On  the  Mississippi,  166 ;  evacuated,  167 ; 
destroyed  by  Gen.  Sherman,  189. 

Fort  Smith— Seizure  of,  42. 

Fort  St.  Philip— Its  situation,  192;  how  defended,  192. 

Fort  Stedman—'Fhs  attack  on,  687. 

Fort  Taylor— Attack  on,  by  the  Queen  of  the  West,  840. 

Fort  Wagner— Its  position  and  strength,  478. 

Fortifications — Eevolution  produced  in  the  science  of  offen- 
sive and  defensive  warfare,  682 ;  powers  of  modern  artil- 
lery, 682 ;  effect  on  Forts  Sumter  and  Morgan,  632 ;  Fort 
McAllister  a  sandwork,  682 ;  Fort  Wagner,  682 ;  Fort 
Fisher,  632;  sand  the  best  material  for  fortifications, 
632 ;  revolving  turrets,  688 ;  modes  of  giving  and  re- 
ceiving battle,  638 ;  use  of  torpedoes  for  coast  defence, 
633. 

FOSTER,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN  G. — One  of  the  garrison  of  Sumter, 
21;  commands  a  division  under  Gen.  Burnside,  135; 
commands  an  expedition  to  Goldsboro,  N.  C.,  809;  in 
command  of  the  department  of  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina,  885 ;  report  of  the  movements  of  Loe's  army, 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


823 


459 ;  assigned  to  command  In  East  Tennessee,  470 ;  takes 
command  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  departments, 
472 ;  transferred  to  department  of  Ohio,  472 ;  moves  to 
Hilton  Head,  472 ;  returns,  472 ;  defends  Newbern,  472 ; 
commands  department  of  the  South,  650 ;  at  Ossibaw 
Sound,  620 ;  report  of  the  capture  of  Savannah,  622 ;  re- 
lieved by  Gen.  Gillmore,  673. 

FOSTER,  Brig.-Gen.  ROBERT  S. — Commands  a  division  of  the 
10th  corps,  580 ;  at  Petersburg,  5SO ;  makes  a  feint 
against  Richmond,  589  ;  commands  division  of  24th 
corps,  691 ;  at  battles  west  of  Petersburg,  691 ;  at  Five 
Forks,  691. 

FOSTER,  Col. In  a  conflict  at  Blue  Springs,  East  Ten- 
nessee, 468. 

Fox,  J.  L,  M.  D.— Biographical  notice  of,  795. 

FRANKLIN,  Maj.-Gen.  WILLIAM  B. — In  command  at  Bull 
Eun,  63 ;  moves  to  West  Point  on  York  Eiver,  220 ;  his 
movements  at  West  Point,  222 ;  in  the  battles  before 
Richmond,  244 ;  near  Jefferson,  Md.,  268 ;  at  Crampton's 
Gap,  269 ;  at  Antietam,  271 ;  commands  the  left  grand 
^  division  under  Burnside,  803 ;  at  the  battle  of  Freder- 
icksburg,  307 ;  makes  an  -advance  at  Fredericksburg, 
372 ;  relieved  of  command  In  the  Potomac  army,  873 ; 
commands  an  expedition  to  Sabine  Eiver,  479  ;  in  com- 
mand under  Banks,  508 ;  moves  to  Alexandria,  508 ;  near 
Mansfield,  510 ;  made  prisoner  near  Baltimore,  587 ;  es- 
capes, 587. 

Frederick,  Md. — Occupied  by  Lee's  forces,  266. 

Fredericksburg,  Fa.— Troops  assemble  at,  89 ;  the  battle 
at,  306,  307 ;  hospitals  at,  for  Grant's  wounded,  561. 

Frederickton,  Mo.— Skirmish  at,  89. 

Freedmen — Effects  of  the  emancipation  proclamation,  492 ; 
colored  troops,  493 ;  freedmen's  camps,  493 ;  leasing 
plantations,  493  ;  mortality,  494 ;  education,  494 ;  relief 
societies,  494 ;  proper  disposition  of,  667 ;  condition  in 
1864,  667;  aid  societies,  667. 

FEEMONT,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN  C. — Commissioned  as  major-gen- 
eral, 54;  takes  command  in  the  West,  60;  advances 
against  Gen.  Price,  88;  despatch  to  Washington  on  the 
surrender  of  Lexington,  88;  instructions  from  the  War 
Department,  89 ;  truce  with  Gen.  Price,  90 ;  superseded, 
90 ;  farewell  to  his  troops,  90 ;  arrival  at  St.  Louis,  90 ; 
orders  the  construction  of  a  gunboat  fleet  for  the  west- 
ern waters,  119 ;  takes  command  of  the  Mountain  De- 
partment, 230;  marches  to  relieve  Gen.  Banks.  232; 
encounters  Jackson's  rear  at  Strasburg,  238 ;  pur- 
sues Jackson  up  the  Shenandoah,  238;  attacks  at 
Fisher's  Hill,  233;  fights  at  Cross  Keys,  239;  resigns, 
254. 

FRENCH,  Maj.-Gen.  WILLIAM  H.— In  the  battles  before  Rich- 
mond, 249 ;  at  Fredcricksburg  battle,  807 ;  ordered  to  re- 
occupy  Harper's  Ferry,  405 ;  attacks  at  Eappahannock 
Station,  471 ;  reports  for  orders,  525 ;  ordered  to  report 
at  Philadelphia,  549 ;  address,  549. 

FRENCH, Sent  by  Hood  to  recapture  Allatoona,  610 ; 

attacks  Allatoona,  610. 

FRIBLEY,  Col. Commands  colored  troops  in  Florida, 

508 ;  killed  at  Olnstee,  508 ;  correspondence  respecting 
his  body,  508;  biographical  notice  ot,  773. 

FBANK,  Col.  P. — Commands  3d  brigade  1st  division  2d  corps, 
549. 

Front  Boyalr- Battle  at,  284. 

FROST,  Gen. Surrenders  to  Gen.  Lyon,  51. 

FRY,  Col.  JAMES  B. — In  the  battle  at  Webb's  Cross  Roads, 
128;  in  command  at  Trenton,  296;  surrenders,  296 ;  pro- 
vost-marshal general,  652. 

FULLER,  Eev.  A.  B. — Biographical  notice  of,  742. 

FULLER,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  W. — Commands  a  division  at  At- 
lanta, 538. 

Fulton,  Mo.— Skirmish  at,  67;  do.,  81.  * 


G 

Galveston,  Texas— Fired,  upon,  88 ;  protest  of  consuls,  83 ; 
capture  of,  311 ;  recaptured,  311. 

GARDNER,  Col.  FRANK— Commands  at  Port  Hudson,  869 ; 
surrenders  Port  Hudson,  871. 

GARDNER,  Lieut. In  command  under  Gen.  Stuart, 

245;  attacks  Gen.  AverilL,  624;  repulsed,  624. 

GARESCHE,  Col.  J.  P. — Biographical  notice  of,  748. 

GARFLELD,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN  H.— In  Kentucky,  121 ;  instruc- 
tions to  Col.  Streight,  454 ;  on  McCook's  staff,  463 ;  at 
Chickamauga,  468. 

GARLAND,  Col.  HUGH — Biographical  notice  of,  794. 

GARLAKD,  Brig.-Gen. Biographical  notice  of,  785. 

GARNETT,  Brig.-Gen.  E.  B. — Biographical  notice  of,  762. 

GARNETT,  Brig-Gen.  R.  S.— Defeated  at  Carrick's  Ford,  67 ; 
killed,  67 ;  biographical  notice  of,  721. 

GAHRARD,  Brig.-Gen.  KENNER — Commands  a  cavalry  divi- 
sion, 531 ;  pushed  forward  to  Allatoona  Pass,  531 ;  com- 
mands a  cavalry  expedition  to  Covington,  Ga.,  539,  540 ; 
at  the  battle  near  Nashville,  630. 

GBARY,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  W. — In  command  on  the  Upper 
Potomac,  102 ;  takes  possession  of  Harper's  Ferry,  208 ; 
occupies  Lee sburg,  209;  In  command  at  Manassas  Gap, 
235 ;  at  Gettysburg,  401 ;  at  Resaca,  530 ;  at  Atlanta, 
536 ;  appointed  military  commander  of  Savannah,  623. 

Georgia — Meeting  of  the  Legislature,  10 ;  proceedings,  10 : 
public  meetings,  10 ;  views  of  the  people,  10 ;  vote  for 
delegates,  10 ;  Convention  assembles,  11 ;  ordinance  of 
secession  adopted,  11 ;  every  member  required  to  sign 
it,  11 ;  refusal  to  submit  it  to  the  people,  11 ;  invaded  by 
Sherman,  618 ;  its  railroad  system,  614 ;  flight  of  the 
Legislature,  617 ;  appeals  to  the  people,  618. 

Georgia — A  Cruiser  captured  by  the  Niagara,  649. 

GETTY,  Brig.-Gen.  GEORGE  W. — In  command  under  Gen. 
Dix,  409 ;  sent  to  Pamnnkey,  409  ;  aids  in  the  capture 
of  a  battery,  442 ;  commands  2d  division  of  6th  corps, 
549 ;  at  the  Wilderness  battle,  554 ;  his  division  attacked, 
688. 

Gettysburg,  Pa,— Battle  of,  400-403. 

GIBBON,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN— Commands  a  brigade  in  Hooker's 
corps,  269 ;  at  South  Mountain,  269 ;  wounded  at  Get- 
tysburg, 403 ;  commands  2d  corps,  404 ;  commands  2d 
division  of  2d  corps,  549 ;  at  the  Wilderness  battle,  554  ; 
at  the  Spottsylvania  battle,  556-559 ;  on  the  North  Anna, 
571;  at  Coal  Harbor  battle,  575;  near  the  Jerusalem 
road,  580 ;  moves  to  the  left  of  Grant's  army,  688. 

GIFFORD,  Capt Report  of  the  destruction  of  the  Dun- 
bar  by  the  cru^r  Alabama,  277. 

GILBERT,  Brig.-Gen.  CHARLES  C. — Commands  a  corps  of 
Buell's  army  in  Kentucky,  287;  commands  a  division 
under  Granger,  453. 

GILBERT,  E.  S. — Biographical  notice  of,  747. 

GILDER,  Rev.  WILLIAM  H. — Biographical  notice  of,  775. 

GILLEM,  Brig.-Gen.  ALVBN  C. — Defeated  in  East  Tennessee 
by  Breckinridge,  629. 

GILLISS,  Capt  J.  M. — Biographical  notice  of,  796. 

GILLMORE,  Maj.-Gen.  Quincy  A. — Report  of  the  fire  upon 
FortPulaski,  147;  defeats  Pegram  near  Somerset,  Ky., 
457;  assigned  to  command  at  Charleston,  472;  his  re- 
port, 472 ;  brings  his  heavy  guns  into  position  to  attack 
the  forts,  474;  his  operations  against  Charleston,  474; 
correspondence  with  Beauregard,  474;  opens  fire  on 
Sumter,  476 ;  despatches,  476 ;  demands  a  surrender  of 
Beauregard,  477 ;  opens  fire  on  Charleston,  477 ;  reply  to 
Beauregard,  478;  sends  an  expedition  to  Florida,  604; 
letter  on  the  Florida  expedition,  504 ;  orders,  504 ;  com- 
mands 10th  corps  in  army  of  the  James,  550;  move- 
ments near  Petersburg,  563 ;  moves  against  Richmond 
and  Danville  Railroad,  567 ;  moves  against  Petersburg, 


824 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


576 ;  relieved  from  command  of  10th  corps,  589 ;  com- 
mands department  of  South  Carolina,  673 ;  reports  the 
evacuation  of  Charleston,  678." 

GILMOBE,  J.  E.— Yisit  to  Eichmond  on  peace,  657 ;  report, 
658. 

GIRARDEY,  Brig.-Gen.  V.  J.  B.— Biographical  notice  of,  788. 

GLADDEN,  Brig.-Gen. Biographical  notice  of,  728. 

GODWIN,  Brig.-Gen.  A.  C. — Biographical  notice  of,  790. 

Goldsbvro,  N.  C.— Captured  by  Gen.  Foster,  309. 

GOLDSBOROTTGH,  Eear- Admiral  L.  M.— Commands  naval  ex- 
pedition against  North  Carolina,  185. 

GORDON,  Brig.-Gen.  GEORGE  H. — Commands  at  West  Point, 
on  York  Eiver,  384. 

GORDON,  Brig.-Gen.  J.  B. — Commands  a  brigade,  555;  at  the 
"Wilderness  battle,  555 ;  at  Hatcher's  Bun,  672 ;  attacks 
Fort  Stedman,  687 ;  biographical  notice  of,  779. 

GORDON,  Commander Expedition  against  Brunswick, 

Geo.,  149. 

GORMAN,  Brig.-Gen. Commands  a  brigade  under  Gen. 

Stone,  102. 

Gosport—Navy  yard  at,  49 ;  vessels  there  in  April,  1861,  49 ; 
excitement  at  Norfolk,  49 ;  buildings  set  on  fire  in  the 
navy  yard,  49 ;  destruction,  50 ;  troops  arrive  at  Norfolk, 
50. 

GOYAN,  Brig.-Gen. Commands  a  brigade  of  Cleburn's 

division,  543. 

Grafton— Occupied  by  Gen.  Kelly,  54;  skirmish  at,  83. 

Grand  Gulf— Attacked  by  Porter's  gunboats,  847;  evacu- 
ated, 348. 

GRANGER,  Maj.-Gen.  GORDON — Commands  cavalry  under 
Gen.  Pope,  at  Corinth,  183;  attacked  by  Van  Dorn,  453 ; 
at  Shelby ville,  456;  at  Chickamauga,  463;  pursues 
Wheeler,  544 ;  at  the  attack  on  the  forts  of  Mobile  Bay, 
647;  commands  13th  army  corps,  655;  in  command 
against  Mobile,  708. 

GRANT,  Lieut-Gen.  ULYSSES  8. — Lands  troops  at  Paducah, 
Ky.,  94 ;  issues  a  proclamation,  95 ;  command  in  the  attack 
on  Belmont,  110 ;  commands  the  military  force  to  operate 
in  Western  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  124 ;  lands  troops 
near  Fort  Henry,  125;  his  army  before  Fort  Donelson, 
128 ;  captures  Fort  Donelson,  129 ;  address  to  his  troops 
on  the  capture  of  Fort  Donelson,  181 ;  headquarters  at 
Memphis,  170 ;  orders,  170 ;  goes  to  Corinth,  170 ;  com- 
mands the  expedition  up  the  Tennessee,  172;  concen- 
trates at  Savannah,  172 ;  advances  to  Pittsburg  Landing, 
178  ;  charges  made  against  him,  179 ;  position  of  his  army 
after  the  occupation  of  Corinth,  188 ;  had  been  put  in 
command  of  the  Department  of  Tennessee  after  Halleck 
retired,  290;  his  plans  against  Iuka^91;  at  luka,  29^; 
at  Corinth,  292 ;  at  Jackson,  292 ;  moves  south,  294 ;  falls 
back  to  Holly  Springs,  296 ;  order  relative  to  the  capture 
of  Holy  Springs,  331 ;  falls  back  to  Holy  Springs,  331 ;  his 
plan  for  the  capture  of  Vicksburg,  881;  arrival  before 
Vicksbnrg,  888 ;  attempts  to  reach  the  rear  of  Vicksburg 
through  Lake  Providence  and  Moon  Lake,  842 ;  moves 
his  army  to  New  Carthage,  345 ;  to  Hard  Times,  347 ; 
crosses  the  Mississippi  with  his  army,  847 ;  despatch  re- 
specting operations  at  Vicksburg,  348 ;  his  despatch  to 
Gen.  Halleck,  851 ;  arrives  at  Jackson,  852 ;  advances 
toward  Vicksburg,  354;  receives  the  surrender  of  Vicks- 
burg, 360 ;  report  of  Sherman's  expedition  from  Vicks- 
bnrg, 863 ;  takes  general  command  east  of  the  Mississip- 
pi, 865 ;  assumes  command  of  the  Departments  of  Ten- 
nessee, Cumberland,  and  Ohio,  465 ;  his  plan,  467 ;  rela- 
tive to  the  freedom  of  the  negroes,  485 ;  address  to  his 
troops  at  Chattanooga,  498 ;  appointed  lieutenant-general, 
624 ;  commission  presented  at  Washington,  524 ;  remarks, 
524  Borders,  524;  officers  of  his  staff,  550;  advance  of  the 
Potomac  army,  552;  his  plans,  551-553;  at  Wilderness, 
654 ;  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  556 ;  moves  by  the 


left,  570;  crosses  the  North  Anna,  571,572;  recrosses, 
472;  position  of  his  army,  572;  moves  toward  the  James 
Eiver,  576;  crosses  the  James  Eiver  with  the  army,  576; 
shells'  Petersburg,  5SO-;  explodes  a  mine  before  Peters- 
burg, 590 ;  on  the  state  of  affairs,  591 ;  order  relative  to 
deserters,  692 ;  report  of  battle  at  Hatcher's  Eun,  593 ; 
position  of  his  army,  687;  prepares  for  new  movements 
by  the  left,  688 ;  his  plans,  688;  pursues  Lee  from  Eich- 
mond, 694,  695;  his  correspondence  with  Lee,  696;  re- 
ceives the  surrender  of  Lee's  army,  696 ;  sent  to  Sher- 
man, 701 ;  farewell  address  to  the  armies,  707. 

GRANT,  Brig.-Gen.  LEWIS  A. — Commands  2d  brigade  2d  divi- 
sion of  6th  corps,  549. 

GRATZ,  CART— Biographical  notice  of,  724. 

GRAVES,  Major Biographical  notice  of,  768. 

Great  JfetfieJ— Battle  at,  56-58. 

GEEATIIOUSE:  Brig.-Gen.  L. — Biographical  notice  of,  786. 

GBEBLE,  Lieut.  J.  T.— Killed  in  battle  at  Big  Bethel,  58 ; 
biographical  notice  of,  720. 

GREEN,  Maj.-Gen.  THOMAS — Eecaptures  Brashear,  871 ;  com 
mands  near  Mansfield  La.,  510;  in  the  battle  at  Mans- 
field, 510;  at  Pleasant  Hill  battle,  511;  biographical 
notice  of,  774. 

GREEN,  Gen.  THOMAS  J. — Biographical  notice  of,  770. 

Greeribriar,  Va. — Battle  at,  86. 

GREENE,  Brig.-Gen.  MARTIN  E. — Killed  at  Vicksburg,  862 ; 
biographical  notice  of,  758. 

GREGG,  Brig.-Gen.  DAVID  McM. — In  command  under  Stone- 
man,  380,  381 ;  commands  a  cavalry  expedition,  881 ;  in 
the  pursuit  of  Lee's  army,  406 ;  moves  to  the  fords  of  the 
Bapidan,  552 ;  advances  to  Chancellorsville,  552 ;  on  a 
cavalry  expedition,  561 ;  reconnoissance  to  Mechanics- 
ville,  572 ;  advance  on  Hatcher's  Eun,  671 ;  at  battles 
west  of  Petersburg,  690. 

GBEGG,  Brig.-Gen.  MAXEY — Biographical  notice  of,  742. 

GREGG,  Brig.-Gen. Officer  in  Confederate  army,  351 ; 

resists  the  advance  of  Logan,  351 ;  biographical  notice  of, 
791. 

GBIEKSON,  Brig.-Gen.  BENJ.  H. — His  raid  through  Mississip- 
pi to  Baton  Eouge,  849,  350  ;  captures  cattle  near  Port 
Hudson,  368 ;  in  command  against  Mobile,  703. 

GRIFFIN,  Brig.-Gen.  CHAELES — At  Bull  Eun,  75;  commands 
1st  division  of  5th  corps.  649 ;  at  the  Wilderness  battle, 
553 ;  moves  down  the  Chickahominy,  576 ;  at  Petersburg, 
577  ;  near  the  Jerusalem  road,  580  ;  advance  on  Hatcher's 
Eun,  671 ;  assailed  by  Bushrod  Johnston,  688;  at  battles 
west  of  Petersburg,  690.  . 

GROVER,  Brig.-Gen.  CUVIBR— In  the  battles  before  Eich- 
mon'd,  246 ;  commands  a  division  of  Banks'  army,  366 ; 
advances  from  Brashear,  367 ;  his  success,  367;  fights  at 
Vermillion  La.,  867 ;  wounded  at  Cedar  Eun,  627. 

GROWLER,  Col.  W.  T.  C.— Biographical  notice  of,  788. 

Gunboats — Fitted  out  by  Confederates  on  the  coast,  63. 

Gwra,  Com.  WILLIAM— Biographical  notice  of,  745. 

H 

HACKE,  Count  II. — Biographical  notice  of,  778. 

HACKLEMANN,  Gen.  P.  A. — Biographical  notice  of,  788. 

Ifagerstown,  Md, — Occupied  by  Lee's  forces,  266 ;  again  oc- 
cupied by  the  enemy,  585. 

ITaines1  Bluffs— Attacked  by  gunboats,  832,  333. 

HALL,  Col.  A.  S. — Commands  an  expedition  in  Tennessee, 
452. 

HALL,  Col.  G.  B.— Biographical  notice  of,  780. 

HALL,  J.  N.— One  of  the  garrison  of  Sumter,  21. 

HALLECK,  Maj.-Gen.  HENRY  W. — Takes  command  of  tho 
Western  Department,  91 ;  orders  issued,  91 ;  letter  to 
Gen.  Hunter  of  thanks  for  troops,  128;  order  on  the 
capture  Of  Fort  Donelson,  131 ;  his  order  for  the  conduct 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS 


825 


of  the  troops,  133 ;  reports  the  capture  of  Fayetteville, 
Ark..  156 ;  reports  the  capture  of  Springfield,  Mo.,  156 ; 
reports  the  battle  at  Pea  Eidgo,  160;  orders  Buell  to  join 
Gen.  Grant,  173 ;  marches  on  Corinth,  179 ;  arrives  at 
Pittsbnrg  Landing  and  takes  command,  179 ;  despatches 
to  Washington,  180-182 ;  appointed  General-in-Chief  at 
"Washington,  183 ;  his  action  relative  to  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  252  ;  reply  to  Gen.  McClellan's  letter,  253 ;  his 
orders  to  Gen.  Pope,  258 ;  instructions  to  Gen.  Pope, 
,  261 ;  letter  ordering  McClellan  to  march,  800 ;  letter  rel- 
ative to  supplies  to  McClellan's  army,  300;  reply  to 
Gen.  Lee's  letters,  827;  on  the  attack  on  "Winchester, 
889 ;  letters  to  Eosecrans,  455-458 ;  to  others,  459 ;  as- 
signed to  duty  at  "Washington,  524. 

HAMILTON,  A.  J.— Provisional  Governor  of  "Texas,  711. 

HAMILTON,  Brig.-Gen.  &CHUYLER — Proposes  a  canal  at  Island 
No.  10, 165;  in  command  under  Eosecrans  in  Missis- 
sippi, 291;  in  the  battle  of  Corinth,  292;  advances  tow- 
ards Holly  Springs,  294. 

Hampton — The  village  burned,  82. 

HAMPTON,  Maj.-Gen.  WADE — Engages  Wilson  near  Coal 
Harbor,  575;  orders  the  cotton  in  Columbia  to  be 
burned,  677 ;  reply  to  Sherman's  letter,  680 ;  makes  a 
dash  on  Spencer's  camp,  681. 

HANCOCK,  Maj.-Gen.  WINFLELD  S. — Commands  a  brigade  in 
Keyes'  corps,  221 ;  on  the  advance  from  Yorktown,  221 ; 
encounters  the  enemy,  221 ;  his  succes,  221 ;  McClellan 
commends  his  troops,  222 ;  presses  the  enemy  in  front 
of  Charlestown,  202 ;  position  at  Gettysburg,  401 ;  wound- 
ed, 403 ;  commands  2d  corps,  549 ;  Moves  to  Ely's  Pond, 
552;  at  the  Wilderness  battle,  553;  at  the  Spottsylvania 
battle,  556;  position  of  his  corps,  572;  at  Coal  Harbor 
battle,  575 ;  at  Petersburg,  577. 

Hanover  Court  House — Battle  at,  228. 

HANSON,  Gen.  E.  W. — Biographical  notice  of,  743. 

HABDEE,  Maj.-Gen.  WILLIAM  J. — Commands  3d  corps  of  A. 
S.  Johnston's  army,  173 ;  commands  a  division  of  Bragg's 
army,  283;  at  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  297;  commands 
a  corps  of  Johnston's  army,  526 ;  encounters  Hooker, 
531;  at  Atlanta,  587;  in  command  at  Savannah,  619; 
evacuates  Savannah,  622 ;  evacuates  Charleston,  678 ;  his 
movements  from  Charleston,  680,  681 ;  at  Averysboro, 
633;  his  design,  684;  retreat,  6S4;  at  Bentonsville,  685. 

HARDENBROOK,  J.  K. — Biographical  notice  of,  784. 

HARDING,  Col.  A.  C.— Defends  Fort  Donelson,  452. 

HARKER,  Brig. -Gen.  C.  G. — Killed  at  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
•  534 ;  biographical  notice  of,  785. 

HARMON,  Col.  O.  F. — Biographical  notice  of,  785. 

HAEXEY,  Brig.-Gen.  WILLIAM  8.— Superseded  by  Gen.  Lyon 
in  Missouri,  54. 

Harper's  Ferry — Troops  assembled  at,  88,  89 ;  hostile 
movements  at,  49;  stores  in  the  armory,  49;  burning 
of  the  public  buildings,  49 ;  machinery  moved  to  Bich- 
mond,  49 ;  Southern  troops  march  for,  52 ;  occupied  by 
Southern  troops  and  bridges  burned,  53 ;  preparations 
for  defence  by  Col.  Miles,  270 ;  surrendered,  270. 

Harriet  Lane,  steamer — Attacks  a  battery  near  Pig  Point, 
66 ;  capture  of,  at  Galveston,  811. 

HARRIS,  ISHAM  G. — Governor  of  Tennessee,  45;  reply  to 
the  call  for  troops,  45 ;  letter  on  the  invasion  of  Ken- 
tucky, 94;  retires  from  Nashville  with  State  archives, 
182 ;  his  proclamation,  188 ;  convenes  the  legislature,  184. 

HA.ERIS,  Gen.  Tnos.  A. — Joins  Gen.  Price,  87. 

Harrisoriburg,  Va. — Battle  near,  under  Fremont,  239. 

Harrhburg,  Penn. — Panic  and  flight  of  the  citizens,  894. 

HABTRANFT,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  F. — Commands  3d  division  of 
9th  corps,  687 ;  repels  attack  on  Fort  Stedman,  687. 

HABTSTTFF,  Maj.-Gen.  GEO.  L. — Joins  Burnside,  457. 

HARTWELL,  Brig.-Gen. Carries  the  rifle-pits  on  Jam«s' 

Island,  67a 


HARWOOD,  Com.  A.  A.— Commands  Potomac  flotilla,  442. 

HASCALL,  Brig.-Gen.  M.  8.— Biographical  notice  of,  789. 

HASBNDUSHEL,  CoL Commands  a  brigade  of  Stecle's 

division  against  Vicksburg,  338. 

HASKELL,  Col.  F.  A.— Biographical  notice  of,  781. 

HATCH,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  P.— Commands  in  Wilson's  cavalry 
corps,  630 ;  evacuates  Pulaski,  Tenn.,  630 ;  near  Poco- 
taligo  bridge,  6?3 ;  evacuates  his  position,  675 ;  in  Sher- 
man's march  through  the  Carolinas,  675. 

Hatcher's  Run— Movement  to,  593;  battle,  593;  movement 
against,  671.  t 

Hatteras  Inletr— Expedition  against  forts  at,  83 ;  naval  force, 
83 ;  military  force,  83 ;  attack  on  the  forts,  84 ;  surrender, 
84 ;  terms  of  capitulation,  84. 

Hawka"  Neat,  Fa.— Contest  at,  85. 

HAT,  Major  JOHN — Made  a  major  for  the  Florida  expedition, 
504. 

HATES,  Brig.-Gen.  A. — Commands  2d  brigade  3d  division  2d 
corps,  549 ;  wounded  at  the  Wilderness  battle,  554 ; 
biographical  notice  of,  776. 

HATS,  Captain In  command  under  Kilpatrick,  618 ; 

dashes  into  Waynesboro,  618. 

HAZAED,  Com.  SAM.  F. — Commands  the  fleet  of  transports 
of  Bnrnside's  expedition,  135. 

HAZEX,  Brig.-Gen,  WILLIAM  B. — Assaults  Fort  McAllister, 
621 ;  captures  Fort  McAllister,  621  ;  in  Sherman's 
march  through  the  Carolinas,  675. 

HEG,  Col.  H.  C.— Biographical  notice  of,  766. 

HEINTZLEMAN,  Maj.-Gen.  SAMUEL  P. — In  command  at  Bull 
Enn,68;  in  command  against  Eichrnond,  212;  com- 
mands before  Williamsburg,  221 ;  before  Eichmond,  241 ; 
reaches  Warrenton  Station,  260 ;  in  command  of  the  De- 
partment of  Washington,  385. 

Helena,  Ark. — Occupied  by  Gen.  Curtis,  160. 

HELM,  Brig.-Gen.  B.  H.— Biographical  notice  of,  767. 

HENRT,  Col. Commands   in   the  Florida  expedition, 

505;   attacks  Camp   Finegan,  505;   other  movements, 
505. 

Henry  Springs,  Ark. — Conflict  near,  482. 

HERBERT,  Brig.-Gen.  L. — Leads  an  assault  on  Vicksburg, 
358.  • 

HEBRON,  Maj.-Gen.  FRANCIS  J. — Battle  at  Cross  Hollows,  Ark, 
162 ;  attacked  at  Crawford  Prairie,  162 ;  fights  at  Dup- 
ping  Springs,  814;  'brings  reenforcements  to  Grant  at 
Vicksburg,  359 ;  moves  to  New  Orleans,  865. 

HETH,  Brig.-Gen.  HENRT — Advance  in  Western  Virginia, 
241 ;  commands  a  division  of  Hill's  corps,  400 ;  at  Get- 
tysburg, 400 ;  moves  with  Lee,  470  ;  attacks  left  of  the 
5th  corps,  592. 

HEWITT,  Major  I.  L. — Biographical  notice  of,  740. 

HECKMAN,  Brig.-Gen.  CHAELES  A. — With  Burnside  in  North 
Carolina,  187 ;  moves  against  Petersburg  Eailroad,  565 ; 
commands  a  brigade  of  Weitzel's  division,  567 ;  attacked 
by  the  enemy,  567 ;  captured,  567. 

Hickman,  Ky. — Occupied  by  Gen.  Polk,  95. 

HICKS,  THOMAS  H. — Governor  of  Maryland,  53 ;  remonstrates 
at  the  occupation  of  Maryland  Heights  by  Southern 
troops,  58. 

HICKS,  Col. Defends  Paducah,  516. 

HIJJDMAN,  Maj.-Gen.  THOMAS  C. — Position  in  Arkansas,  160 ; 
attempt  to  cut  off  Blunts'  reinforcements,  162;  at 
Prairie  Grove,  814;  at  Chickamauga,  463. 

HINCKS,  Brig.-Gen.  E.  W.— Lands  at  City  Point,  563;  at 
Petersburg,  678, 

HILL,  Lieut.-Gen.  A.  P. — In  command  under  Gen.  Johnston, 
247 ;  in  Lee's  army,  265 ;  advances  with  Lee  into  Mary- 
land, 265;  marches  with  Jackson  to  Harper's  Ferry, 
268 ;  at  Fredericksburg  battle,  807 ;  command^  a  divi- 
sion of  Lee's  army,  872 ;  commands  a  corps  of  Lee's 
army,  886 ;  position  of  his  corps,  898 ;  at  Gettysburg,  400 ; 


826 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


ordered  to  move  to  Lafayette,  4C2;  at  Chickamauga, 
463 ;  moves  with  Lee,  470 ;  attacks  at  Bristoe  Station, 
470 ;  attacks  "Washington  N.  C.,  472 ;  moves  to  Nanse- 
mond,  472 ;  commands  a  corps  of  Lee's  army,  563  ;  at 
the  Wilderness  battle,  553;  his  position,  573;  south 
of  Richmond,  577;  at  Petersburg,  5SO;  at  Hatcher's 
Eun,  672 ;  biographical  notice  of,  793. 

HILL,  B.  H. — Senator  at  Richmond  from  Georgia,  617 ;  ap- 
peal to  the  people  to  resist  Sherman,  617. 
HILL,  Maj.-Gen.  D.  H. — In  command  under  Johnston,  241 ; 
commands  a  division  of  Lee's  army,  256,  265 ;  arranges 
a  cartel  for  exchange  of  prisoners,  323 ;  commands  a  divi- 
sion of  Lee's  army,  872 ;  attacks  Fort  Anderson,  442 ;  in 
command  at  Augusta,  675. 
HOBSON,  Brig.-Gen.  EDWARD  H. — Pursues  Morgan  on  his 

raid  In  Indiana  and  Ohio,  409. 

HOKE,  Maj.-Gen. — Commands  a  brigade,  519;  captures 
Plymouth,  N.  0.,  520 ;  his  report,  522 ;  attempts  to  get 
possession  of  Coal  Harbor,  578 ;  repulsed,  573 ;  in  com- 
mand at  Wilmington,  632 ;  evacuates  Wilmington,  683 ; 
at  Bentonsville,  685. 

HOLDEN,  W.  W. — Provisional  Governor  of  N.  Carolina,  711. 
HOLLINS,  Com.  GEO.  N. — Commands  the  privateer  Calhoun, 
61 ;  attacks  Federal  fleet  at  the  month  of  the  Mississippi, 
— fights  with  the  Massachusetts,  101 ;  commands  Confed- 
erate fleet  on  the  Mississippi,  163 ;  battle  on  the  Missis- 
sippi above  Fort  Pillow,  166 ;  battle  before  Memphis, 
167;  commands  naval  force  for  the  defence  of  New  Or- 
leans, 192. 

HOLLOWAT,  Col. Biographical  notice  of,  720. 

Holly  Springs — First  occupied  by  Federal  troops,  310 ;  cap- 
tured by  Van  Dorn,  331 ;  its  effect,  881. 
HOLMES,  Maj.-Gen.  THOMAS'N. — In  command  under  Lee,  251 ; 
evacuates  Little  Rock,  488 ;  in  command  in  Arkansas, 
499. 

HOLMES,  J.  E.— Biographical  notice  of,  751. 
HOOD,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN  B. — Commands  a  division  of  Lee's 
aimy,  872 ;  advances  to  Culpepper,  885 ;  commands  a 
division  of  Longstreet's  corps,  401;  at  Chickamauga, 
463;  commands  a  corps  of  Johnston's  army,  526;  at 
Resaca,  580 ;  encounters  Hooker,  531 ;  takes  command 
of  Johnston's  army,  536;  address,  586,  evacuates  Atlanta, 
543 ;  inarches  to  McDonough",  544 ;  correspondence  with 
Sherman  relative  to  Atlanta,  545,  546 ;  moves  to  destroy 
the  railroad  between  Atlanta  and  Chattanooga,  609  ;  re- 
tires to  Jonesborough,  609 ;  demands  surrender  of  Re- 
saca, Ga.,  610;  in  command  under  Beauregard,  611; 
captures  Dalton,  611 ;  retreats  to  Lafayette,  611 ;  attacks 
Franklin,  Tenn.,  630 ;  advances  on  Nashville,  630 ;  halts 
at  Gadsden,  Alabama,  611 ;  retreats  from  Nashville,  631 ; 
relieved  of  command,  673. 

HOOKER,  Maj.-Gen.  JOSEPH — In  command  south  of  Washing- 
ton, 120,  206 ;  advances  toward  Williamsburg  from  York- 
town,  221 ;  battle,  221 ;  forced  back,  221 ;  in  the  battles 
before  Richmond,  246 ;  on  the  line  of  the  Mannassas  Rail- 
road, 261 ;  encounters  the  enemy  in  the  rear,  261 ;  fights 
near  Manassas,  262 ;  at  South  Mountain,  269 ;  at  Antie- 
tam,  271 ;  commands  the  centre  grand  division  under 
Burnside,  303 ;  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  807 ; 
makes  an  advance,  872 ;  assumes  command  of  the  Poto- 
mac army,  878 ;  his  erder,  873 ;  his  plan  to  attack  Lee, 
877  ;  his  order  before  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  878; 
fights  at  Chancellorsville,  878,  879 ;  retreats,  380 ;  address 
to  his  army  after  the  battle,  882 ;  marches  for  Maryland, 
394;  relieved  of  command,  893 ;  his  order,  899 ;  ordered 
to  Tennessee,  465 ;  arrives  at  Bridgport,  466 ;  his  move- 
ments, 466, 467 ;  commands  a  corps  of  Cumberland  army, 
526;  starts  for  Snake  Creek  Gap,  528;  at  Resaca,  530 ; 
conflict  at  Pumpkin  Vine  Creek,  531;  at  Atlanta,  536; 
resigns  his  command,  541. 


HOPKINS,  Lieut. -Col.  J.  A.  P.— Biographical  notice  of,  794. 

HORNET,  Lieut -Col. Biographical  notice  of,  757. 

Hospitals— Medical  department  of  the  army,  421 ;  first  step 
to  prevent  disease,  421 ;  climate,  421 ;  principles  to  be  ob- 
served in  the  construction  of  hospitals,  421 ;  new  features 
in  the  construction  of  hospitals,  422;  West  Philadelphia 
Hospital,  422 ;  the  Mower  General  Hospital,  423 ;  the  Mc- 
Clellan  Hospital,  424 ;  Hammond  General  Hospital,  424 ; 
Lincoln  General  Hospital,  424 ;  western  hospitals,  424 ; 
alimentation  of  the  soldier,  426 ;  ground  plan  of  the  Ham- 
mond General  Hospital,  426 ;  do.  Lincoln  Hospital,  427 ; 
results  attained,  428 ;  mortality  in  the  British  army,  428 ; 
do.  army  of  the  United  States,  428. 

Housatonic—A.  gunboat  destroyed  by  a  torpedo,  645. 

HOVET,  Brig.-Gen.  A.  P.— Commands  an  expedition  up  the 
White  River,  160 ;  its  failure,  160 ;  commands  an  expedi- 
tion against  the  Mississippi  Central  Railroad,  295 ;  com- 
mands a  brigade  of  Steele's  division  against  Vicksburg, 
833;  fights  at  Champion  Hills,  854. 

HOWAED,  Maj.-Gen.  OLIVEB  0. — In  command  at  Bull  Run, 
68;  at  Fredericksburg  battle,  807;  commands  the  llth 
corps,  877 ;  advances  toward  Kelly's  ford,  877 ;  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Chancellorsville,  878;  position  at  Gettysburg,  401 ; 
at  Chattanooga,  467 ;  commands  a  corps  of  Cumberland 
army,  526 ;  carries  Rockyfaced  Ridge,  528 ;  occupies  Dal- 
ton, 529 ;  at  Resaca,  530 ;  at  Atlanta,  536 ;  assumes  com- 
mand of  the  Army  of  Tennessee,  541 ;  commands  right 
wing  of  Sherman's  army,  613 ;  march  to  Savannah  from 
Atlanta,  615,  &c. ;  despatch  to  Gen.  Foster,  620 ;  in  Sher- 
man's march  through  the  Carolinas,  675 ;  crosses  the  Salke- 
hatchie,  675 ;  advances  toward  Goldsboro,  684 ;  at  Bentons- 
ville battle,  685 ;  in  the  advance  against  Johnston,  698. 

HOWE,  Brig.-Gen.  ALBION  P. — Commands  a  brigade  of 
Couch's  division,  267 ;  commands  a  division  in  Sedgwick's 
corps  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  878 ;  makes  a  re- 
connoissance  below  Fredericksburg,  884. 

HOWELL,  Brig.-Gen.  J.  B. — Biographical  notice  of,  790. 

HUGER,  Maj.-Gen.  BENJAMIN — In  command  at  Norfolk,  226 ; 
summoned  to  Richmond,  226 ;  in  command  under  John- 
ston, 241 ;  an  exchange  of  prisoners,  822. 

HUMPHREYS,  Maj.-Gen.  ANDREW  A. — At  Gettysburg,  403; 
commands  2d  army  corps,  655;  advance  on  Hatcher's 

Run,  en. 

HITNT,  Major  E.  B.— Biographical  notice  of,  768. 

HUNTER,  Maj.-Gen.  DAVTD — In  command  at  Bull  Run,  68 ; 
commands  a  division  in  Missouri,  89 ;  annuls  the  agree- 
ments between  Gens.  Fremont  and  Price,  90;  command- 
ing in  Kansas,  128 ;  in  command  in  South  Carolina,  147 
demands  the  surrender  of  Fort*Pulaski,  147;  terms,  147; 
his  proclamation,  150 ;  his  emancipation  order  at  Hilton 
Head,  272 ;  takes  command  in  place  of  Sigel,  569,  570 ; 
assumes  command  in  West  Virginia,  582;  his  orders, 
582 ;  commands  expedition  against  Lynchburg.  582 ;  halts 
before  Lynchburg,  583;  retires,  583;  arrives  at  Loop 
Creek,  583;  report,  538 ;  imprisons  editor  of  Parkersburg 
Gazette,  584 ;  letter,  584 ;  sent  as  a  Peace  Commissioner, 
666. 

HURLBTJBT,  Maj.-Gen.  STEPHEN  A. — In  command  in  Missouri, 
81 ;  takes  command  at  Memphis,  171 ;  commands  a  divi- 
sion of  Grant's  army,  172 ;  position  at  Shiloh,  173 ;  in 
the  conflict  at  Hatchie  River,  294 ;  in  command  at  Mem- 
phis, 459;  commands  a  corps  under  Sherman  against 
Meridian,  502 ;  commands  department  of  the  Gulf,  655. 


IMBODEN,  Brig.-Gen. Order  to  move  toward  Komney, 

385 ;  attacks  Federal  force  at  Moorfleld,  471. 

Indiana — Response  to  the  first  call  for  troops,  28;  appropri- 
ates $500,000  to  war  purposes.  51. 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


827 


INGKAIIAM,  Coin.  DUNCAN  N. — Attacks  Federal  fleet  at 
Charleston  with  Earns,  444 ;  proclamation,  446. 

IEELANP,  Col.  D.— Biographical  notice  of,  789. 

IBWIN,  CoL  EUGENE — Biographical  notice  of,  758. 

Isabella — Sloop  seized  at  Mobile,  10. 

Island  No.  10— Situation,  162;  assault  on,  163;  evacuation, 
165. 

luka,  Miss.— Battle  of,  291. 

Ivy — A  Confederate  steam  privateer,  62;  her  capture,  62. 


Jackson,  Miss. — Capture  of,  852-354 ;  destruction  of  prop- 
erty, 363. 

JACKSON,  Gov.  CLAIBOENE  F. — Summons  Missouri  troops  to 
the  field,  59 ;  biographical  notice  of,  741. 

JACKSON,  Brig.-Gen.  C.  F. — Biographical  notice  of  743. 

JACKSON,  Brig.-Gen.  J.  S.— Killed  at  Perryville,  Ky.,  287; 
biographical  notice  of,  739. 

JACKSON,  Brig.-Gen.  N.  J.— Commands  a  division,  684;  at 
Averysboro  battle,  684. 

JACKSON,  Dr.  E.  M.  S.— Biographical  notice  of,  796. 

JACKSON,  Maj.-Gen.  THOMAS  J. — In  command  south  of  the 
Potomac,  206 ;  march  from  Winchester,  206;  his  move- 
ments, 20T;  evacuates  Winchester,  209;  advance  upon 
Front  Eoyal,  283;  his  plan,  233;  cuts  up  a  Baltimore 
regiment,  284 ;  further  movements  against  Gen.  Banks, 
234;  address  to  his  troops,  285;  orders  a  retrograde 
movement,  287 ;  his  march,  237 ;  battles  on  his  retreat, 
239 ;  in  force  near  Hanover  Court  House,  246 ;  the  plan 
relative  to  his  movements,  246 ;  reaches  Ashland,  247 ; 
his  movements,  247 ;  at  White  Oak  Swamp,  250  ;  com- 
mands a  division  of  Lee's  army,  256-265 ;  at  Cedar  Moun- 
tain, 258 ;  on  Manassas  Eailroad,  261 ;  in  the  rear  of  Gen. 
Pope,  261 ;  his  position,  262 ;  detached  to  capture  Harper's 
Ferry,  268 ;  captures  Harper's  Ferry,  270 ;  movement  to 
detach  a  portion  of  the  Potomac  army,  803 ;  at  Fredericks- 
burg  battle,  807 ;  leads  the  attack  on  the  right  of  Hooker's 
army  at  Chancellorsville,  878;  wounded,  888 ;  death,  888 ; 
biographical  notice  of,  752. 

JACKSON,  Col. In  the  assault  against  Wagner,  474. 

Jacksonville,  Fla. — Occupied  by  a  Federal  force,  149 ;  Union 
proceedings,  149 ;  naval  operations  at,  152. 

JACQUES,  Col.  JAMES  F.— Visit  to  Eichmond,  657. 

James  Island,  8.  C. — Eeconnoissances  on,  151. 

James  River  Canal— Destruction  by  Sheridan's  troops,  686. 

JAMESON,  Gen.  C.  D.— Biographical  notice  of,  741. 

JAMISON,  David  F. — President  of  the  South  Carolina  seces- 
sion convention,  8. 

JANEWAT,  Col.  H.  H. — Biographical  notice  of,  798. 

Jefferson  City — Advance  of  Federal  troops  toward,  59. 

JENKINS,  Brig.-Gen.  A.  G.— In  command  under  Gen.  J.  E.  B. 
Stuart,  385 ;  takes  possession  of  Chambersburg,  390 ;  op- 
poses Crook,  562;  killed  in  the  Wilderness  battle,  555; 
biographical  notice  of,  776. 

JOHNSON,  ANDBEW — Mobbed  at  Lynchburg,  50 ;  appointed 
provisional  Governor  of  Tennessee,  184 ;  military  Gov- 
ernor of  Tennessee,  185 ;  history,  185 ;  his  appeal  to  the 
people,  185 ;  his  proceedings  as  military  Governor  in  1862, 
186,  187;  orders  an  election  for  members  of  Congress, 
190 ;  other  orders,  190 ;  President  of  the  United  States, 
707 ;  proclamation  relative  to  restrictions,  707 ;  his  am- 
nesty proclamation,  709  ;  measures  to  reorganize  the  in- 
surrectionary States,  710. 

JOHNSON,  Brig.-Gen.  BUSHBOD — Attack  on  Fort  Steadman, 
687;  assaults  Griffin's  division,  688. 

JOHNSON,  JAMES — Provisional  Governor  of  Georgia,  711. 

JOHNSON,  Brig.-Gen.  EDWARD — In  command  at  Camp  Alle- 
ghany,  86 ;  commands  a  division  in  Ewell's  corps,  887, 


898;  at  Gettysburg,  401;  moves  with  Lee,  470;  cap- 
tured at  Spottsylvanla,  559. 

JOHNSON,  Brig.-Gen.  EICHAKD  W.— Commands  a  brigade  in 
BuelPs  army,  124 ;  at  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  297 ; 
advances  his  division,  455 ;  commands  a  divison  of  Mc- 
Cook's  corps,  457 ;  at  Chickamauga,  462 ;  advances  on 
Dalton,  504;  in  the  battle  near  Nashville,  681. 

Johnsonville,  Term,. — Destroyed  by  Forrest,  680. 

JOHNSTON,  Gen.  ALBEBT  S.— Commands  Confederate  troops 
in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  181 ;  associated  with  Beau- 
regard  in  command  in  the  southwest,  172 ;  address  to 
.the  Army  of  Mississippi,  173;  orders  relative  to  the 
commands  in  the  army,  173;  biographical  notice  of, 
728. 

JOHNSTON,  G.  M. — Biographical  notice  of,  729. 

JOHNSTON,  Gen.  JOSEPH  E.— At  the  battle  of  Bull  Bun,  70 ; 
reasons  for  not  advancing  after  the  battle  of  Bull  Eun, 
79 ;  in  command  near  the  Potomac,  120 ;  address  to  his 
soldiers  at  Mannassas,  208 ;  in  command  at  Williams- 
burg,  222 ;  capture  of  his  despatch  to  Jackson,  236 ;  his 
plans  before  Eichmond,  241 ;  severely  wounded  at  Fair 
Oaks,  244 ;  in  command  of  the  Tennessee  Department, 
296 ;  in  command  near  Vicksburg,  852 ;  orders  to  Gen. 
Pemberton,  352;  retires  to  Canton,  863;  in  command 
near  Chattanooga,  504;  commands  army  opposed  to 
Sherman,  526;  reaches  Eesaca,  529;  abandons  Eesaca, 
530 ;  at  Allatoona  Pass,  531 ;  abandons  Lost  Mountain,  533 ; 
evacuates  Kenesaw,  584 ;  falls  back  to  Atlanta,  535 ;  re- 
lieved by  Gen.  Hood,  536 ;  address  to  his  troops,  586 ; 
ordered  to  command  in  South  Carolina,  673  ;  in  com- 
mand at  Bentonsville,  684;  retreat,  698;  letter  to  Sher- 
man, 698;  interview,  699;  terms,  700;  surrenders  his 
army  to  Sherman,  701 ;  order  to  his  troops,  702 ;  fare- 
well address,  702. 

JOHNSTON,  Brig.-Gen.  PRESTON— At  Chickamauga,  468. 

JOHNSTON,  Col. Surrenders  Dalton  to  Hood,  611. 

JOHNSTON,  Col. Biographical  notice  of,  725. 

JONES,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  M.— Killed  at  Wilderness,  554; 
biographical  notice  of,  778. 

JONES,  Col.  J.  E.— Biographical  notice  of,  757. 

JONES,  Maj.-Gen.  SAM. — Surprises  a  Federal  garrison,  468; 
attacked  by  Averill,  471 ;  biographical  notice  of,  776. 

JONES,  Lieut Arrives  at  Harper's  Ferry  with  a  de- 
tachment of  troops,  49 ;  burns  public  buildings  and  re- 
tires to.  Carlisle,  Penn.,  49. 

JONES,  Lieut. -Col.  W.  G.— Biographical  notice  of,  767. 

JONES,  Brig.-Gen.  W.  E. — In  command  at  Bull  Eun,  70 ; 
ordered  to  Staanton,  582 ;  biographical  notice  of,  788. 

JUDAH,  Brig.-Gen.  HENBT  M. — Commands  division  of  23d 
corps,  529 ;  at  Eesaca,  529. 


KATTTZ,  Brig.-Gen.  AUGUST  V.— Moves  against  Weldon  and 
Petersburg  Eailroad,  565;  moves  to  cut  Eichmond  and 
Danville  Eailroad,  567 ;  results  of  his  expedition,  668 ; 
demonstration  against  Petersburg,  576. 

KEABNET,  Maj.-Gen.  PHILIP— Comes  to  the  aid  of  Hooker 
before  Williamsburg,  221 ;  in  the  battles  before  Eich- 
mond, 241 ;  ordered  to  Greenwich,  261 ;  killed  at  Chan- 
tilly,  265 ;  biographical  notice  of,  733. 

Kearsarge — Battle  with  the  Alabama,  648. 

KEIM,  Brig.-Gen.  W.  H.— Biographical  notice  of,  729. 

KEITT,  Col.  LAWEENCE  M. — Biographical  notice  of,  781. 

KELLY,  Brig.-Gen.  BESJ.  F. — Commands  in  a  surprise  attack 
near  Philippi,  56 ;  in  command  on  the  Upper  Potomac, 
120 ;  in  command  at  Grafton,  206 ;  assigned  to  the  rail- 
road district,  230 ;  movements  in  West  Virginia,  471 ; 
occupies  Martinsburg,  588 ;  made  a  prisoner,  673. 

KBLLT,  E.  L.— Biographical  notice  of,  747. 


828 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


Kenesaw  Mountain — Battle  at,  534. 

KENNEDY,  Col.  WM.  D. — Biographical  notice  of,  722. 

KENLY,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  E.— Commands  at  Front  Boyal,  284 ; 
defeat,  234 ;  reports  for  orders,  526. 

Kentucky— Beply  of  the  Governor  to  the  first  call  for  troops, 
23 ;  assumes  neutrality,  91 ;  proclamation  of  Gov.  Ma- 
Eoffin,  92 ;  blockade  of  the  Nashville  and  Louisville  rail- 
road, 92 ;  letter  of  the  Governor  to  President  Lincoln, 
93 ;  do.  to  Mr.  Davis,  93 ;  proceedings  of  the  Legislature, 
94 ;  message  of  the  Governor,  94 ;  further  action  of  the 
Legislature,  95;  military  operations,  96,  97;  military  _ 
positions  in  centre  of  the  State,  97,  98 ;  Provisional  Gov- 
'ernmentof,98;  guerrillas  in,  282;  Legislature  adjourns 
to  Louisville,  282 ;  proclamation  of  the  Governor,  2S3 ; 
the  capital  occupied,  283. 

KEBSHAW,   Brig.-Gen. Of  Law's  division,  463 ;  at 

Chickamanga,  463. 

KEYES,  Brig.-Gen.  ERASMUS  D. — In  command  at  Bull  Eun, 
68;  in  command  near  Washington,  120,  206;  In  com- 
mand against  Bichmond,  212 ;  in  the  battles  before  Bich- 
mond,  241. 

KIDDOO,  CoL Biographical  notice  of,  793. 

KZLPATETCK,  Brig.-Gen.  JUDSON — Takes  possession  of  Lou- 
isa Court  House,  381 ;  his  movements,  881 ;  report, 
881 ;  commands  a  movement  from  West  Point,  884 ;  en- 
counters Col.  Eosser,  895 ;  report  of  flght  at  Falling  Wat- 
ers, 408 ;  moves  on  a  raid  to  Eichmond,  522 ;  destroys  Vir- 
ginia Central  track,  523 ;  moves  to  Ashland,  523 ;  arrives 
at  Williamsburg,  523 ;  transferred  to  cavalry  command  m 
Sherman's  army,  549 ;  wounded  near  Eesaca,  529  ;  makes 
a  cavalry  expedition  in  Georgia,  542;  disperses  Iver- 
son's  force  at  Jonesboro,  615;  ordered  to  demonstrate 
near  Macon,  615 ;  approaches  Milledgeville,  617 ;  at  Mil- 
ledgeville,  618 ;  covers  the  rear,  620 ;  ordered  to  rendez- 
vous near  Boberteville,  678 ;  moves  toward  Aiken,  676 ; 
skirmishes  with  Wheeler,  676 ;  moves  to  Lancaster,  680 ; 
surprised,  681 ;  recovers,  681 ;  at  Averysboro  battle,  683; 
at  Bentonsville,  685 ;  in  the  advance  against  Johnston, 
69a 

KIMBALL,  Brig.-Gen.  NATHAN— Commands  in  Shields'  divis- 
ion, 229 ;  encounters  the  enemy  at  Front  Boyal,  238 ;  at 
Vicksburg,  859. 

KIHBALL,  Col. Commands  a  brigade  at  Port  Hudson, 

870. 

KTMBAIX,  Lieut -Col.  E.  A.— Biographical  notice  of,  748. 

KING,  Brig. -Gen.  ETTFUS— In  command  under  McDowell, 
229;  commands  a  division  in  McDowell's  corps,  259; 
joins  Gen.  Pope  at  Culpepper,  259. 

KINGSBUBY,  Col.  H.  W.— Biographical  notice  of,  736. 

KIKBY,  Brig.-Gen.  E. — Biographical  notice  of,  758. 

KIBK,  Brig.-Gen.  E.  N.— Biographical  notice  of,  745. 

KITCHING,  CoL  J.  H. — Biographical  notice  of,  794. 

KITTEEDGE,  Lieut.  J.  W. — Captures  Corpus  Christi,  200. 

KXIPE,  Brig.-Gen.  JOSEPH  F. — Commands  a  division  of  cav- 
alry, 631 ;  pursues  the  enemy  from  Franklin,  Tenn.,  631. 

Knoamille — Occupied  by  Burnside,  458. 

KOLTZ,  Col.  J.  A. — Biographical  notice  of,  783. 


LAMB,  Col. Engaged  in  defence  of  Fort  FisLsr,  643. 

LAMSON,  Lieut  E.  H. — Captures  a  battery,  442. 

Lancaster,  Penn. — Occupied  by  the  enemy,  897. 

LANDER,  Brig.-Gen.  FBEDEEICK  W. — In  command  on  the 
Upper  Potomac,  102 ;  relieves  Gen.  Kelly  in  West  Vir- 
ginia, 206 ;  his  movements  against  Gen.  Jackson,  207 ; 
his  despatch  to  McClellan,  207 ;  resigns,  207 ;  biographi- 
cal notice  of,  726. 

LANE,  Brig.-Gen.  JAMES  H.— Attacks  the  advance  of  Gen. 
Price,  87 ;  attempts  to  enlist  negroes  in  Kansas,  155. 


LANE,  Brig.-Gen. Commands  in  Hood's  division,  468 ; 

at  Chickamauga,  463. 

LANKAN,  Brig.-Gen.  JACOB  G.— Commands  a  division  of 
Grant's  army,  172  •  commands  a  division  of  Grant's  army 
before  Vicksburg,  859. 

LABNED,  Col.  B.  F.—Biographica.' notice  of,  784. 

Laurel  Hill— Occupied  by  the  Confederates,  65. 

LAWLEK,  Brig.-Gen.  MICHAEL  K.— Commands  a  brigade  of 
Carr's  division  at  Vicksburg,  855. 

Lawrence,  Kansas— Sacked  by  Quantrell,  4S3. 

LEA,  Lieut.  E.— Biographical  notice  of,  745. 

Lebanon,  Mo. — Skirmish  at,  89. 

LEDLIE,  Brig.-Gen.  JAMHS  H. — At  Petersburg,  577,  590,  591. 

LEGGETT,  Brig.-Gen.  MOKTIMEE  D. — Commands  a  division  of 
17th  corps,  587 ;  at  Atlanta,  537, 588. 

LEE,  CTJSTIS. — Made  a  prisoner,  695. 

LEE,  Frrz  HUGH. — Col.  in  command  under  Gen.  Stuart,  245 ; 
attacked  by  Bnford,  470 ;  made  a  prisoner,  472 ;  attacks 
Brig.-Gen.  Wild,  573. 

LEE,  Gen.  EOBEET  E. — Appointed  to  the  chief  command  of 
Virginia  forces,  38;  ordered  to  command  in  Western 
Virginia,  86,  his  military  operations,  86,  87;  in  council 
at  Eichmond,  246;  his  fears,  247;  commands  against  Mc- 
Clellan, 249 ;  advances  toward  Maryland,  256 ;  his  object 
in  the  battle  at  Cedar  Mountain,  258 ;  progress  of  his  ad- 
.  vance,  260 ;  despatch  relative  to  battle  at  Manassas,  263, 
264 ;  advances  into  Maryland,  265 ;  address  to  the  inhab- 
itants, 266;  his  order  found  at  Frederick,  268;  fights  at 
Antietam,  271 ;  withdraws  from  Antietam,  272 ;  position 
of  his  army,  802 ;  concentrates  in  the  rear  of  Fredericks- 
burg,  804;  defends  Fredericksburg,  306,  807;  address  to 
his  troops  after  Fredericksburg  battle,  808 ;  letter  to  Gen. 
Halleck  on  exchange  of  prisoners,  824 ;  do.  to  McClellan, 
825 ;  letter  to  Halleck,  on  the  execution  of  Mumford,  &c., 
826 ;  position  of  his  army  near  Fredericksbnrg,  877 ;  de- 
spatch relative  to  the  Chancellorsville  battle,  379,  880 ; 
address  to  his  army  after  the  battle  at  Chancellorsville, 
382 ;  letter  to  Jackson,  883,  order  on  his  death,  884 ;  his 
plans,  885;  second  advance  to  Maryland,  886,  his  ob- 
ject, 886 ;  report  of  the  capture  of  Martinsburg,  889 ;  at 
Culpepper,  895 ;  his  designs,  895 ;  report  on  the  state  of 
affairs,  895;  order  to  his  army,  896;  instructions  from 
Eichmond,  396 ;  his  reply,  896 ;  crosses  the  Potomac,  897 ; 
his  orders,  898 ;  concentrates  near  Gettysburg,  399  ;  ad- 
dress to  his  troops,  899 ;  at  Gettysburg,  401 ;  his  report, 
403 ;  retreats,  405 ;  address  to  his  troops,  405;  answer  to 
Meade's  despatches,  406;  advances  with  his  army 
against  Meade,  470 ;  falls  back,  471 ;  advances  to  oppose 
the  progress  of  Grant,  553 ;  organization  of  his  army  in 
1864,553;  despatch  relative  to  Wilderness  battle,  554; 
withdraws  toward  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  655; 
further  despatch,  555 ;  address  to  his  army  at  Spottsyl- 
vania Court  House,  560 ;  near  the  North  Anne,  572 ;  on 
the  Mechanicsville  road,  572 ;  report  of  battle  at  Hatch- 
.er'a  Eun,  593;  report  of  the  Hatcher's  Eun  conflict,  672; 
appointed  General-in-Chief,  678 ;  orders  the  evacuation 
of  Eichmond  and  Petersburg,  692;  retreats  from  Eich- 
mond, 694;  correspondence  with  Grant,  695,  696;  sur- 
renders his  army,  696  ;  farewell  address  to  his  army, 
697. 

LEE,  Brig.-Gen.  ALBEET  L. — Commands  cavalry  under  Gen. 
Banks,  509 ;  arrives  at  Alexandria,  La.,  509. 

LEE,  Brig. -Gen.  S.  D.— Attacks  Smith  in  Miss.,  503 ;  state- 
ment of  the  capture  of  Fort  Pillow,  519. 

LEE,  Eear-Admiral  S.  P.— In  the  battle  below  New  Orleans, 
195;  demands  surrender  of  Vicksburg,  199 ;  commands 
North  Atlantic  squadron,  441 ;  commands  Mississippi 
flotilla,  686 ;  relieved  of  command,  636. 

LEE,  W.  H.  F.— At  Gettysburg,  405. 

LEEOY,  Com.— Attacked  by  rams  at  Charleston,  444. 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


829 


LETCHES,  JOHN.— Governor  of  Virginia,  86 ;  reply  to  Gov. 
Pickens,  36;  reply  to  President  Lincoln's  call  for  troops, 
86 ;  proclamation  for  troops  to  resist,  87 ;  further  actions, 
89 ;  calls  out  the  State  militia  to  defend  against  an  inva- 
sion of  Northern  troops,  51 ;  reply  to  Gov.  Hicks'  remon- 
strance on  the  occupation  of  Maryland  Heights,  58. 

Lexington — Surrender  of,  by  Col.  Mulligan,  87. 

Lexington,  Va. — Capture  of,  583. 

Lewis  Cass — Revenue  cutter  seized  at  New  Orleans,  12. 

Lewisburg,  West  Fa.— Conflict  at,  471. 

Liberty — Capture  of  State  troops  at,  61. 

LINCOLN,  ABRAHAM — His  inauguration,  19 ;  issues  a  procla- 
mation calling  for  75,000  men,  27;  issues  a  second. call 
for  troops,  55 ;  makes  no  reply  to  the  message  brought 
by  CoL  Taylor,  61 ;  asks  more  troops  of  Congress  in 
July,  1861,  79 ;  reply  to  Gov.  Magoffln,  of  Kentucky,  93 ; 
order  for  an  advance  of  the  armies  in  1862, 125 ;  order 
relative  to  the  capture  of  Eoanoke  Island,  187 ;  procla- 
mation on  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  179 ;  orders  a 
reorganization  of  the  Potomac  army,  210 ;  other  orders, 
210;  his  letter  to  Gen.  McClellan,  212;  order  creating 
the  Mountain  Department,  216;  arrives  at  Fortress 
Monroe,  225;  marches  upon  Norfolk,  225;  orders  to 
McDowell  to  aid  Gen.  Banks,  229 ;  order  creating  the  army 
of  Virginia,  254 ;  order  for  more  troops,  256 ;  letter  to  Hun- 
ter, 272 ;  recommends  emancipation  with  compensation, 
272 ;  proclamation  relative  to  future  emancipation,  272 ; 
views  of  what  was  needed,  296;  his  emancipation  procla- 
mation, 818;  first  letter  to  Grant,  862 ;  proclamation  rela- 
tive to  drafting  aliens,  882 ;  on  the  court-martial  of  GenT 
Milroy,  8S9 ;  calls  for  one  hundred  thousand  militia  in 
1863,  390 ;  proclamation  of  thanksgiving  on  the  fall  of 
Vicksburg,  408;  despatch  to  Bear- Admiral  Dupont, 
450 ;  order  relative  to  colored  troops  made  prisoners  at 
the  South,  496 ;  letter  to  Gillmore  on  the  Florida  expedi- 
tion, 504 ;  presents  Grant  with  his  commission  as  Lieut.  - 
General,  524;  announces  the  capture  of  Atlanta,  545; 
proclamation  respecting  Grant's  battles,  557;  calls  for 
militia  on  the  third  invasion  of  Maryland,  585 ;  letter  to 
all  "  whom  it  may  concern,"  661 ;  report  of  meeting  com- 
missioners at  Fortress  Monroe,  663;  despatches  from 
Petersburg,  692 ;  biographical  notice  of,  799. 

List  of— Commodores  in  the  navy.  716,  717. 

LITTLE,  Brig.-Gen.  L.  H.— Biographical  notice  of,  737. 

LITTLE  CEOW— An  Indian  Chief,  316 ;  his  hostile  deeds  in  the 
northwest,  816,  817. 

Little  Rock,  Ark.— Arsenal  at,  seizure  of,  41 ;  capture  of, 
483. 

LLOYD,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN— Biographical  notice  of,  777. 

LLOYD,  Lieut-Col. Biographical  notice  of,  780. 

LOGAN,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN  A. — Commands  a  division  of  Mc- 
Pherson's  corps,  347;  reenforces  Osterhaus,  847;  en- 
counters the  enemy,  851 ;  commands  a  corps  of  Tennes- 
see army,  526;  at  Eesaca,  530;  at  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
534;  assumes  command  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee  after 
the  death  of  McPherson,  538;  at  Bentonsville  battle, 
685. 

LONG,  Brig.iGen.  ELI— Commands  a  division  under  Wilson 
703. 

LONGSTBEET,  Maj.-Gen.  JAMES — In  command  at  Bull  Bun,  70 ; 
in  command  under  Johnston,  241 ;  advances  with  Lee 
into  Maryland,  265 ;  at  Fredericksburg  battle,  307 ;  com- 
mands a  corps  of  Lee's  army,  885;  position  of  his  corps, 
894,  898 ;  at  Gettysburg,  400,  401 ;  at  Chickamanga,  463 ; 
advances  to  Knoxville,  467;  his  movements  in  East 
Tennessee,  468 ;  invests  Suffolk,  Va.,  472 ;  joins  Lee's 
army  in  Virginia,  504;  commands  a  corps  of  Lee's  army, 
553 ;  at  the  Wilderness  battle,  553 ;  wounded  in  the 
Wilderness  battle,  555. 

LOSING,  Maj.-Gen.  WILLIAM  W.— In  command  under  Stone- 


wall Jackson,  207;  advances  to  Western  Virginia,  290 ; 
cut  off  from  Vicksburg  by  Grant's  movements,  854 ;  in 
command  at  Canton,  501. 

Louisiana — Extra  session  of  the  Legislature  called,  Jl; 
State  con-vtntion  ordered,  11 ;  appropriation  for  military 
purposes,  12 ;  addresses  of  Wirt  Adams,  12;  activity  of 
secessionists,  12 ;  convention  assembles,  12 ;  ordinance 
of  secession  adopted,  12 ;  aspect  of  New  Orleans,  13 ; 
seizure  of  the  Custom  House  and  Mint,  18. 

Loui&eille  and  Nashville  Railroad — Seizure  ot,  61. 

LOVELL,  Maj.-Gen.  MANSFIELD — BeSnforces  Beauregard  at 
Corinth,  ISO. 

Lovettevitte,  Fa.«Skirmish  at,  88. 

LOWE,  Col.  J.  W.— Biographical  notice  of,  724 

LOWELL,  C.  E.— Biographical  notice  ofc;  792. 

LYNDE,  Major Surrenders  in  New  Mexico,  82. 

LYON,  Brig.-Gen.  NATHANIEL — Demands  surrender  of  Gen. 
Frost  and  troops  near  St.  Louis,  61 ;  scenes  which  fol- 
lowed, 51 ;  supersedes  Gen.  Harney,  54 ;  moves  with 
troops  to  Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  59  ;  address  to  the  people, 
59 ;  fights  at  Carthage,  61 ;  orders  his  command  to  ren- 
dezvous at  Crane's  Creek,  81 ;  his  forces,  81 ;  skirmish  at 
Dug  Springs,  82 ;  killed  at  battle  of  Wils6n's  Creek,  82 ; 
biographical  notice  of,  722. 

LYTLE,  Brig.-Gen.  WILLIAM  H. — In  command  under  Gen. 
Price,  291 ;  killed  at  luka,  291 ;  at  Chickamauga,  463 ; 
biographical  notice  of,  767. 


M 

/ 

MACDONALD,  CoL  E.— Biographical  notice  of,  745. 

MACKENZIE,  Brig.-Gen.  B.  S.— Commands  cavalry  under 
Sheridan,  691 ;  in  the  battles  west  of  Petersburg,  691. 

MACLEAN,  Lieut.-Col.  L.  A.— Biographical  notice  of,  771. 

MAFFTT,  Capt  JOHN  N.— Commands  the  Oreto,  276 ;  cruises 
In  the  Florida,  439,  440. 

MAGOFBTN,  B. — Governor  of  Kentucky,  95 ;  calls  out  State 
troops,  95. 

MAGBTTDEE,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN— Burns  Hampton  village,  82 ; 
in  council  at  Eichmond  246 ;  in  battle,  251 ;  in  command 
in  Texas,  499. 

MAHONE,  Brig.-Gen. Attacks  right  of  the  5th  corps, 

591. 

Malvern  Sill— Battle  at,  251. 

Manassas  Junction — Troops  assemble  at,  89 ;  stores  cap 
tured  at,  261. 

Mansfield,  La.— Battle  of,  510. 

MANSFIELD,  Brig.-Gen.  JOSEPH  K.  F. — Eeport  offerees  Juno 
27,1861,67;  takes  possession  of  Norfolk,  225;  commands 
a  corps  at  Antietam,  271 ;  killed,  271 ;  biographical  notice 
of,  785. 

Marie — A  Confederate  steam  privateer,  62 ;  her  captures,  62. 

MABMADTTKE,  Brig.-Gen. Joins  Gov.  Jackson,  59 ;  at- 
tacked at  Cane  Hill,  162,  814 ;  movements  in  Missouri, 
480-482;  defeated  by  Steele  in  Arkansas,  483;  mado 
prisoner  in  Missouri,  629. 

MABSHALL,  Brig.-Gen.  HITMPHBEY — Commands  a  Confed- 
erate force  in  Kentucky,  121 ;  defeated  at  Paintville,  121 ; 
in  command  under  Kirby  Smith,  285 ;  in  the  assault  at 
Petersburg,  590. 

MAESHALL,  Col.  J.  K.— Biographical  notice  of,  762. 

MAETINDALE,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  H.— Leads  the  advance  on 
Hanover  Court  House,  228 ;  commands  a  division  of  the 
18th  corps,  573;  at  Coal  Harbor,  578;  at  Petersburg, 
578;  commands  temporarily  the  18th  corps,  589. 

Martinsburg— Destruction  of  locomotives  at,  61 ;  skirmish 
at,  61. 

MAEVIN,  WILLIAM— Provisional  Governor  of  Florida,  711. 

Maryland—  Invasion  of,  in  1864,  587. 

Maryland  ffeigMg— Occupied  by  Southern  troops,  58 ;  re- 


830 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


monstrance  of  Governor  Hicks,  53 ;  reply  of  Governor 
Letcher,  53. 

MASON,  JOHN  M. — Captured  in  the  British  steamer  Trent, 
110 ;  how  released,  112. 

Massadiusetts — Response  to  the  first  call  for  troops,  28. 

MASSETT,  Major Biographical  notice  of,  758. 

MATHESON,  Col.  E. — Biographical  notice  of,  786. 

Mathiae  Point — Attack  on,  by  gunboats,  61. 

MAUBY,  Maj.-Gen.  DABNEY — In  command  at  Mobile,  499; 
calls  for  the  citizens  to  defend  Mobile,  502;  in  com- 
mand at  Mobile,  703. 

MAUBY,  Lieut. Captures  Edenton,  N.  C.,  187. 

MAYNADIEB,  Capt  H.  E. — Commands  the  mortar  fleet  on 
the  Mississippi,  162. 

Maywille,  Ark.— Conflict  at,  814. 

MoABTHUR,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN — Commands  a  brigade  at  Cor- 
inth, 292 ;  commands  a  division  of  McPherson's  corps, 
852;  moves  toward  Baymond,  852;  embarks  at  Mem- 
phis for  Vicksbnrg,  33S ;  at  the  battle  near  Nashville,  680. 

McBRiDE,  Brig.-Gen. In  command  at  Batesville,  160. 

MCCALL,  Brig.-Gen.  GEOBGB  A. — In  command  above  Wash- 
yigton,  102;  do.  under  McDowell,  229;  joins  McClellan 
with  his  division,  246. 

McCALL,  Brig.-Gen. Made  a  prisoner  at  Maeon,  708. 

MCCAUSLAND,  Brig.-Gen.  —Opposes  Crook,  562,  563 ; 

sent  to  the  front  of  Staunton,  582. 

McCLKLLAN,  Maj.-Gen.  GEOBGE  B. — Appointed  to  a  com- 
mand by  the  Governor  of  Ohio,  64 ;  proclamation  to  the 
people  in  West  Virginia,  64 ;  address  to  his  troops,  65 ; 
his  instructions,  65 ;  surprises  Confederates  at  Philippi, 
65 ;  marches  against  the  enemy  at  Laurel  Hill,  65 ;  bat- 
tle at  Eich  Mountain,  66 ;  pursuit  of  Pegram,  66 ;  de- 
spatches, 66 ;  routs  Gen.  Garnett,  67 ;  receives  the  sur- 
render of  Col.  Pegram,  67;  address  to  his  army,  67; 
called  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  67 ;  commences  a 
reorganization  of  the  army,  81 ;  orders  to  Gen.  Stone 
near  Balls'  Bluff,  102;  assumes  command  of  the  Federal 
armies,  110 ;  position  and  strength  of  his  army  at  "Wash- 
ington, 120 ;  his  military  plans,  208 ;  despatch  to  Gen. 
Shields,  209 ;  ordered  to  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  210;  address  to  his  soldiers,  210;  testimony 
before  a  court-martial,  214 ;  his  orders  for  the  protection 
of  Washington,  214,  215;  testimony  relative  to  these 
orders,  216 ;  despatches  on  the  action  before  Williams- 
burg,  222;  advances  upon  Eichmond,  226;  despatches, 
227 ;  orders  on  the  Chickahominy,  241 ;  operations  be- 
fore Eichmond,  246 ;  position  of  his  army,  246 ;  address 
to  his  army,  251 ;  letter  to  Gen.  Halleck,  252 ;  ordered  to 
land  his  troops  at  Alexandria,  260;  appointed  to  the 
command  at  Washington,  207 ;  his  orders,  267 ;  advances 
into  Maryland  to  meet  Gen.  Lee,  267,  268 ;  at  Antietam, 
271 ;  his  order  relative  to  the  emancipation  proclamation 
of  President  Lincoln,  299 ;  letter  to  Gen,  Meigs  on  for- 
warding supplies,  801 ;  advance  of  bis  army,  801,  802 ; 
ordered  to  report  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  802 ;  takes  a  fare- 
well of  the  army,  802 ;  resigns  his  commission,  628. 

MoCLEBNAND,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN  A. — Moves  to  the  rear  of  Fort 
Henry,  125 ;  commands  a  division  in  Grant's  army,  127 ; 
charges  the  enemy  at  Fort  Donelson  129 ;  commands  a 
division  of  Grant's  army,  172;  position  at  Shiloh,  178; 
arrives  above  Vlcksburg,  385;  takes  command;  835; 
moves  up  the  Arkansas,  836 ;  orders  an  attack  on  Fort 
Hindman,  836;  returns  to  Vicksburg,  838;  presses  upon 
Port  Gibson,  347;  advances  along  the  Big  Black  Eiver, 
861. 

McCoNiHE,  CoL  JOHN— Biographical  notice  of,  781. 

MoCoox,  Maj.-Gen.  ALEXANDER  MoD. — Commands  a  divis- 
ion of  Gen.  Buell's  army,  124 ;  advances  from  Nashville, 
178 ;  commands  a  corps  of  Buell's  army  in  Kentucky, 
287;  commands  a  corps  of  Kosecrans'  army,  296;  com- 


mands the  20th  corps,  452;  advances,  455;  his  move- 
ments, 457;  movements  of  his  corps  in  Georgia,  460; 
ordered  to  Cincinnati,  466. 

McCooK,  Major  D. — Biographical  notice  of,  764. 

McCooK,  Col.  DAN. — Wounded  at  Kenesaw.  Mountain,  584 ; 
biographical  notice  of,  785. 

McCooK,  Brig.-Gen.  EOBEET  L.— In  the  battle  of  Webb's 
Cross-roads,  123 ;  biographical  notice  of,  731. 

McCoox,  Brig.-Gen.  EDWARD  M. — Attacks  the  enemy,  465, 
cavalry  pursues  Johnston,  539 ;  on  a  cavalry  expedition 
with  Stoneman,-  540,  541;  commands  a  division  under 
Wilson,  703 ;  on  the  expedition  into  Alabama,  708 ;  sent 
to  Florida,  708. 

MoCowN,  Brig.-Gen. In  command  in  Florida,  494. 

McCBELLis,  Col. Destroys  saltpetre  works  near  White 

Eiver,  160. 

MoCuLLOCH,  Brig.-Gen.  BEN — Junction  with  Gen.  Price, 
82;  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,  82;  reinforces  Gen.  Price, 
156;  at  the  battle  of  Elkhorn  or  Pea  Eidge,158;  killed, 
159 ;  biographical  notice  of,  727. 

McCuLLOUGH  Col.  F. — Biographical  notice  of,  732. 

MoDEEMOTT,  Lieut. -Com. Biographical  notice  of,  749. 

MCDONALD,  A.  W. — Biographical  notice  of,  795. 

MCDOWELL,  Maj.-Gen.  IEWIN — Takes  command  of  troops  in 
.  the  vicinity  of  Washington,  54 ;  commands  Federal  force 
aj  battle  of  Bull  Eun,  68;  position  of  his  corps,  213; 
ordered  to  protect  Washington,  216;  his  position,  228; 
correspondence  with  the  President  relative  to  aiding 
•Gen.  Banks,  229 ;  marches  to  aid  Gen.  Banks,  230;  letters 
to  MoClelland,  246 ;  in  command  at  Culpepper,  256 ; 
ordered  to  Gainesville,  261. 

MCELROY,  CoL Biographical  notice  of,  770. 

McGiLVEEY,  Col.  FREEMAN — Biographical  notice  of,  789. 

MclNTOBn,  Brig.-Gen.  J.— At  the  battle  of  Pea  Eidge,  158; 
killed,  159 ;  biographical  notice  of,  727. 

MoKEAN,  Lieut-Corn.  Tnos.  B. — Biographical  notice  of^  747. 

McKEAN,  Brig.-Gcn.  THOMAS  J.— At  the  battle  of  Corinth,  292. 

McKEAN,  Com.  W.  W. — Commands  naval  force  at  Pensacola, 
100;  biographical  notice  of,  803. 

McKiNBTBY,  Brig.-Gen.  JUSTUS — Commands  under  Fremont, 
89. 

MCLEAN,  Col. Commands  a  brigade  of  Devens'  divis- 
ion at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  879. 

MCLAUGHLIN,  Brig.-Gen. Surprised  at  Fort  Stedman, 

687. 

McLAwa,  Maj.-Gen.  LAFAYETTE— Commands  a  division  of 
Lee's  army,  872 ;  advances  to  Culpepper,  885 ;  at  Gettys- 
burg, 401 ;  resists  Hatch  at  Pocotaligo  bridge,  678 ;  at 
Averysboro  battle,  684. 

MCNEIL,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN — In  skirmish  at  Fulton,  81 ;  defeats 
Porter  at  Kirksville,  Mo.,  814 ;  order  relative  to  Allsman 
in  Missouri,  815;  executes  ten  prisoners,  315;  effects, 
827 ;  defends  Cape  Girardeau,  482 ;  commands  the  Army 
of  the  Frontier,  483 ;  at  Eolla,  629. 

MCNEIL,  CoL  fl.  W.— Biographical  notice  of,  736. 

McPHEESON,  Maj.-Gen.  JAMES  B. — Pursues  the  Confederates 
after  the  battle  of  Corinth,  294 ;  commands  a  corps  of 
Grant's  army  at  Vicksburg,  844 ;  marches  to  Bayou  Pi- 
erre, 847,  851 ;  advances  to  Eocky  Springs,  851 ;  toward 
Baymond,  851 ;  fights  near  Baymond,  851 ;  occupies  the 
town,  851 ;  occupies  Jackson,  Miss.,  852  ;  moves  to  Can- 
ton, Miss.,  865;  commands  the  advance  on  Meridian, 
500;  commansd  Department  of  Tennessee,  524;  com- 
mands Army  of  Tennessee,  526;  moves  on  Besaca,  528, 
529;  moves  to  Kingston,.  531;  checked,  531 ;  at  Atlanta, 
535;  killed,  538;  biographical  notice  of,  786. 

MoViCAB,  Lieut.-Col.  D.— Biographical  notice  of,  750. 

MEADE,  Maj.-Gen.  GEO.  G.— Commands  the  5th  corps,  877 ; 
advances  toward  Kelley's  ford,  377;  at  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville,  878 ;  appointed  to  command  the  Potc- 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


831 


mac  army,  398 ;  his  order,  899 ;  position  of  his  army, 
899;  commands  at  Gettysburg,  401;  despatch  of,  403; 
further  despatches,  404 ;  address  to  his  troops,  404 ;  re- 
port of  the  pursuit  of  Lee,  405 ;  despatches,  406 ;  contra- 
dicts Lee's  despatches,  406;  address  to  the  people  of 
Virginia  relative  to  guerrillas,  408 ;  report  of  the  move- 
ments of  Lee's  army,  459 ;  falls  back  at  the  advance  of 
Lee,  4TO ;  advances  to  Mine  Eun,  471 ;  falls  back,  471 ; 
order  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  from  the  "War  Depart- 
ment, 525 ;  address  to  his  army,  551 ;  begins  to  advance, 
552 ;  at  Spottsylvania,  battle,  559  ;  address  to  his  army, 
559 ;  escapes  capture,  560 ;  congratulatory  address  on  the 
repulse  of  the  enemy  from  Fort  Stedman,  687. 

MEAD,  E.  B.— One  of  the  garrison  of  Sumter,  21. 

MEAGHER,  Brig.-Gen.  FRANCIS  H.— In  the  battles  before 
Bichmond,  249. 

MEANS,  Col.  ISAAC  H.— Biographical  notice  of,  783. 

Mechanics-cUte— Battle  of,  247. 

MEIGS,  Lieut  J.  E.— Biographical  notice  of,  791. 

Memphis— Naval  battle  before,  167 ;  surrender  of,  168. 

Meridian — The  capture  of,  502. 

MEEEDETH,  Brig.-Gen.  SOLOMON— Ordered  to  report  at  Cairo, 
549 ;  reports  for  orders,  525. 

Merrimac— Frigate  sunk  at  Gosport  navy  yard,  49. 

MEBEITT,  Brig.-Gen.  WESLEY — On  a  cavalry  expedition,  561 ; 
attacks  the  enemy's  advance  at  Strasburg,  627;  com- 
mands 1st  division  under  Sheridan,  686 ;  moves  to  Beams' 
Station,  683. 

Middle  York  Bridge— Skirmish  at,  61. 

MmoLOTzi,  CoL  GEZA — Biographical  notice  of,  774. 

MILES,  Col.  D.  H. — In  command  at  Bull  Eun,  68 ;  In  com- 
mand at  Harper's  Ferry,  270 ;  mortally  wounded  at  Har- 
per's Ferry,  270 ;  biographical  notice  of,  785. 

MILES,  Brig.-Gen.  NELSON  A. — Commands  1st  brigade  1st  di- 
vision 2d  corps,  549 ;  at  Petersburg,  590. 

Mill  Springs — See  "Webb's  Cross-roads. 

MILLER,  Col.  SILAS— Biographical  notice  of,  787. 

Millikeris  Bend — Attack  on,  by  Confederates,  359 ;  report  of 
Halleck  on  the  behavior  of  colored  troops,  859. 

MILXOE,  W.  H.,  M.  D.— Biographical  notice  of,  731. 

Millcille,  Mo.— Skirmish  at,  67,  81. 

MILROY,  Maj.-Gen.  EOBEKT  H. — Makes  an  attack  at  Camp 
Alleghany,  86 ;  movements  in  "West  Virginia,  280 ;  bat- 
tles, 232 ;  under  Fremont  at  Strasburg,  238 ;  commands 
the  right  at  Cross  Keys,  239 ;  commands  at  Winchester, 
887 ;  opposes  Ewell,  887 ;  retreats  to  Harper's  Ferry,  889 ; 
court-martialled,  889. 

MINTY,  CoL In  command  in  Tennessee,  451, 453 ;  at 

Chickamauga,  461. 

MISENER,  CoL Commands  the  cavalry  at  the  battle  of 

Corinth,  292. 

Mississippi — Action  of  the  Legislature,  7 ;  division  among 
the  people,  7 ;  State  Convention  assembles,  7 ;  ordinance 
of  secession  passed,  7 ;  delegations  from  other  States,  7 ; 
arms  obtained  from  Louisiana,  7 ;  desolation  caused  by 
the  war,  485. 

Mississippi  River — Blockade  of,  commenced,  54;  blockading 
force,  59;  attack  on  the  Federal  fleet  at  the  mouth  of,  101. 

Missouri — Eeply  of  the  Governor  to  the  call  for  troops,  23; 
brigade  of  troops  at  Camp  Jackson  surrender  to  Gen. 
Lyon,  51 ;  scenes  which  followed,  51 ;  Gen.  Lyon  moves 
to  Jefferson  City,  59 ;  concentration  of  troops  in,  60 ;  Fed- 
eral force  on  November  2, 1861, 90 ;  do.  Confederate  force, 
90 ;  military  operations,  91 ;  operations  of  guerrillas,  314, 
815 ;  military  movements  in,  480-433 ;  operations  in,  628, 
629. 

MITCHELL,  Maj.-Gen.  ORMSBY  M. — Commands  a  division  of 
Buell's  army,  124 ;  his  advance,  125 ;  commands  the  ad- 
vance upon  Nashville,  182;  his  address  to  the  troops, 
182;  advances  from  Nashville,  178;  advances  toward 


Alabama,  183 ;  capture  of  Huntsville,  183;  his  situation, 
184;  movements,  184;  ordered  to  Port  Eoyal,  185;  sends 
expedition  to  destroy  Charleston  and  Savannah  Eailroad, 
810 ;  biographical  notice  of,  740. 

MITCHELL,  Brig.-Gen.  Eobert  B. — Attacks  the  enemy  at 
Shelbyville,  ^ 

Mix,  Col.  SIMON  H.— Biographical  notice  of,  784. 

Mobile — Celebrates  the  passage  of  the  secession  ordinance, 
9 ;  names  of  streets  changed,  10 ;  blockaded  by  Federal 
fleet,  54 ;  evacuation  and  occupation  of,  704. 

Monitor — Iron-clad,  loss  of,  443. 

Monroe  Station,  Mo. — Skirmish  at,  81. 

MONROE,  JOHN — Mayor  of  New  Orleans,  197;  answer  to  Ad- 
miral Farragut,  197. 

MONSON,  Brig.-Gen.  MAKLON  D.— Defeated  at  Eichmond, 
Ky.,  by  Gen.  E.  K.  Smith,  282. 

MOORE,  Col. Commands  a  brigade  of  Couch's  division, 

682. 

MORGAN,  Brig.-Gen.  GEORGE  W.— Flanked  by  Kirby  Smith 
in  East  Tennessee,  284;  battle  at  Tazewell,  284 ;  his  ad- 
vance toward  Cumberland  Gap,  289;  the  garrison  sur- 
render to  him,  290 ;  his  supply  trains  cut  off,  290 ;  ho 
withdraws  toward  the  Ohio,  290 ;  commands  a  division 
under  Sherman  against  Vicksburg,  883;  attacks  the 
bluffs,  334 

MORGAN,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  H. — Commander  of  guerrilla  forces, 
188 ;  operations  in  Tennessee,  188,  189 ;  captures  a  bri- 
gade of  Gen.  Dumont's,  189 ;  report  of  his  proceedings, 
190 ;  commands  a  guerrilla  force,  282;  joins  Kirby  Smith 
in  Kentucky,  233 ;  sent  to  cut  Eosecrans'  communication, 
296 ;  raid  in  Kentucky,  Indiana,  and  Ohio,  409-411 ;  cap- 
ture, 412 ;  attacks  Hall  in  Tennessee,  458 ;  despatched  from 
East  Tennessee  to  oppose  the  advance  of  Averill,  562 ; 
makes  a  raid  into  Kentucky,  582 ;  moves  toward  Waynes- 
boro,  619 ;  biographical  notice  of,  789. 

MORGAN,  Col. Commands  a  brigade  at  Port  Hudson, 

870. 

MOHRELL,  Brig.-Gen.  GEORGE  W.— Commands  a  division  in 
Porter's  corps,  227 ;  advances  upon  Hanover  Court  House, 
228;  in  the  battles  before  Eichmond,  246. 

MORRIS,  Lieut  GEORGE  M. — In  command  of  the  Cumberland 
when  sunk,  223. 

MORRIS,  Commodore  HENRY  W. — In  the  battle  below  New 
Orleans,  194;  biographical  notice  of,  765. 

MORRIS,  Brig.-Gen. Surprises  Confederate  camp  near 

Philippi,  56 ;  attacks  Virginia  troops  at  Buchanan,  61 ; 
operations  under  McClellan  in  West  Virginia,  65-67. 

MORRIS,  Brig.-Gen.  WILLIAM  H.— Commands  1st  brigade  3d 
division  6th  corps,  549. 

MORRIS,  Col.  LEWIS  0.— Biographical  notice  of,  782. 

MORRIS,  CoL  ORLANDO  H.— Biographical  notice  of,  782. 

MOSEBY,  Brig.-Gen.  C. — Operations  near  Washington,  390 ; 
his  operations,  583 ;  captures  a  railroad  train,  628. 

MORTON,  OLTVEB  H. — Governor  of  Indiana,  550;  tenders 
militia,  550 ;  address  to  the  people  of  Indiana,  551. 

MOTT,  Brig.-Gen.  GERSHAM — Commands  1st  brigade  4th  di- 
vision 2d  corps,  549 ;  at  the  Spottsylvania  battle,  559 ; 
at  Petersburg,  578 ;  near  the  Jerusalem  road,  580 ;  ad- 
vance on  Hatcher's  Bun,  671. 

MOTJTON,  Maj.-Gen.  Alfred— In  command  under  Gen.  Taylor 
871 ;  recaptures  Brashear,  371 ;  at  Mansfield  battle,  510 ; 
wounded,  510;  biographical  notice  of,  774 
MOWER,  Maj.-Gen.  JOSEPH  A. — In  command  near  luka, 
Miss.,  291 ;  in  command  under  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith,  509 ; 
marches  against  fort  De  Eussy,  509;  at  Pleasant  Hill 
battle,  511 ;  in  Sherman's  march  through  the  Carolinas, 
675;  captures  Eiver's  bridge,  675;  at  Bentonsville  bat- 
tle, 685. 

Mt.  Crawford — Gen.  Hunter's  conflict  at,  583. 
Mt.  Vernon,  Ala. — Arsenal  at,  seized,  49. 


832 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


MULLIGAN,  Col.  JAMES  A. — In  command  of  Lexington,  Mo., 
87;  surrenders  to  Gen.  Price,  87,  88;  killed,  588;  bio- 
graphical notice  of,  786. 

MUMPOBD,  W.  B. — Hung  at  New  Orleans  by  Gen.  Butler, 
204 ;  relative  to  his  execution,  824-326. 

Hunfordsville — Battle  of,  98.  « 

Mwrfreesboro— Battle  of,  297,  298. 

MUBPHY,  Col. Routed  by  a  Confederate  force  at  luka, 

291. 

MUBPHY,  Col.  MATTHEW— Biographical  notice  of,  803. 

N 

Nashville — Evacuation  of,  by  the  enemy,  and  occupation  by 
Federal  troops,  132 ;  scenes  at,  134 ;  battle  between 
Thomas  and  Hood  near,  630. 

Nashville  and,  Louisville  Railroad — Its  blockade,  92. 

Natchez— Surrender  of,  199 ;  fired  upon  by  Porter,  W.  D., 
200. 

Natchitoches — Capture  of,  509. 

NACMAN,  Lieut -Col.  GEOKGE — Biographical  notice  of,  765. 

Naval  Operations+-Ra.tt\&  before  Memphis,  167;  mouths 
of  the  Mississippi,  192 ;  preparations  to  attack  Forts 
Jackson  and  Phillip,  192 ;  attack  commenced,  192 ;  plan 
of  the  attack,  194 ;  bombardment,  194 ;  preparations  to 
pass  the  forts,  194 ;  passing  of  the  forts,  194 ;  conflict, 
195;  approach  to  New  Orleans,  195;  correspondence 
with  the  city  authorities,  196, 197 ;  operations  of  Com. 
Farragut  above  New  Orleans,  198 ;  operations  of  Com. 
Porter  upon  the  forts,  198 ;  their  surrender,  198 ;  Baton 
Rouge,  199 ;  Natchez,  199 ;  Yicksburg,  199 ;  Confederate 
ram  Arkansas,  200 ;  further  movements  before  Baton 
Kouge,  200 ;  Western  flotilla,  200 ;  preparation  of  iron- 
clads, 223;  Merrimac  attacks  the  Federal  fleet  below 
Norfolk,  223 ;  Frigate  Cumberland  destroyed,  223 ;  Con- 
gress burned,  238;  other  frigates  come  to  the  rescue, 
224;  Merrimac  fires  upon  the  Minnesota,  224;  arrival 
of  the  iron-clad  Monitor,  224 ;  her  trip  from  New  York, 
224;  her  battle  with  the  Merrimac,  224 ;  the  latter  re- 
tires, 225;  destroyed,  225;  attack  on  Drury's  Bluff,  226  ; 
attack  on  and  capture  of  the  Harriet  Lane  in  Galveston 
Bay,  811 ;  contest  in  the  bay,  812 ;  flag  of  truce,  812 ; 
Westfield  explodes,  812 ;  officers  killed,  312 ;  others  es- 
cape, 312 ;  gunboats  attack  Haines1  Bluffs,  832 ;  Queen 
of  the  "West  runs  the  batteries  at  Vicksburg,  339 ;  her 
expeditions  and  capture,  840 ;  Indianola,  where  built,  341 ; 
runs  the  batteries  at  Vicksburg,  841 ;  destroyed  by  the 
Webb  and  Queen  of  the  West,  842 ;  loss  of  the  Lancas- 
ter, 845;  the  fleet  at  the  mouths  of  the  Mississippi, 
865;  naval  attack  on  Port  Hudson,  865;  destruction  of 
the  frigate  Mississippi,  866 ;  capture  of  a  battery,  442 ; 
blockader  Kate  driven  ashore,  442;  Hebe  destroyed, 
448;  loss  of  the  Monitor,  443;  attack  on  Fort  McAllis- 
ter, 444 ;  capture  of  the  Princess  Royal,  444 ;  rams  at- 
tack the  Federal  fleet  at  Charleston,  444 ;  loss  of  the 
Smith,  446 ;  another  attack  on  Fort  McAllister,  446 ;  iron- 
clads attack  batteries  in  Charleston  harbor,  447 ;  activity 
of  the  fleet  on  the  James  River,  569  ;  removal  of  torpe- 
does, 569 ;  the  gunboat  Jones  destroyed,  569 ;  six  squad- 
rons in  1864,  686;  blockading,  636;  mouths  of  Cape 
Fear  Eiver,  637;  difficulties  of  cruisers,  637  ;  results  of 
blockade  running,  637 ;  contest  between  the  Albemarle 
and  gunboats,  638 ;  destroyed  by  torpedoes,  638 ;  opera- 
tions on  James  River,  639 ;  preparations  for  an  attack  on 
the  defences  of  Wilmington,  639 ;  squadron  in  readiness, 
640 ;  entrances  to  Cape  Fear  River,  640 ;  defences,  640 ; 
arrival  of  the  fleet,  641 ;  explosion  of  a  powder  vessel, 
641 ;  result,  641 ;  bombardment,  642 ;  troops  land,  642 ; 
withdrawn,  642;  correspondence,  643;  new  military  ex- 
pedition sent  under  Gen.  Terry,  643 ;  bombardment  of 


the  iron-clads,  644 ;  land  attack,  645 ;  surrender  of  the 
fort,  645;  preparations  to  capture  the  defences  of  Mobile, 
646 ;  situation  of  the  defences,  646 ;  arrival  of  the  fleet, 
646 ;  attack  on  Fort  Morgan,  646 ;  capture  of  the  ram 
Tennessee,  647;  capture  of  the  forts,  647;  battle  be- 
tween the  Alabama  and  Kearsage,  647. 

Navy,  Confederate — Fleet  on  the  Mississippi,  163 ;  cruisers, 
275 ;  Sumter,  275 ;  Oreto,  275 ;  the  Alabama,  276 ;  her 
cruise,  276 ;  cruises  of  the  Alabama  and  Florida,  439, 440 ; 
damage  to  Federal  commerce,  440;  attack  on  the  Feder- 
al fleet  by  rams  at  Charleston,  444 ;  raising  the  blockade 
declared,  445 ;  loss  of  the  Atlanta,  450 ;  operations  of  the 
Stonewall,  688 ;  merchant  vessels  destroyed,  633 ;  Ala- 
bama and  Florida  destroyed,  634 ;  Tallahassee,  634 ;  Olus- 
tee,  634 ;  Chickamauga,  634 ;  capture  of  the  steamer 
Roanoke,  684 ;  attack  on  the  gunboats  on  the  James,  670. 

Navy  Department — Its  organization,  716. 

Navy,  United  States — Report  of  the  Secretary,  Dec.  1861, 
116 ;  summary  of  the  vessels  purchased,  117 ;  iron-clads, 
117 ;  action  of  Congress  on,  117 ;  contracts  authorized, 
119 ;  western  gunboat  fleet,  119  ;  mortar-boats,  119 ;  its 
growth,  441 ;  grades  of  the  officers  changed,  441 ;  its 
fleets,  441 ;  seamen,  441 ;  squadrons  in  service,  441 ;  cap- 
ture of  the  Atlanta,  450 ;  Mississippi  flotilla,  451 ;  captures 
by  the  fleets,  451 ;  prizes,  451 ;  manner  of  securing  an 
effective  blockade  of  the  Southern  coast,  634 ;  captures 
at  Wilmington,  685;  fleet  on  the  interior  rivers,  635; 
annual  increase  of  the  navy,  635;  vessels  constructed, 
685 ;  various  classes,  636 ;  iron-clads,  686 ;  officers  of,  716. 

NAZEK,  Lieut.-Col. Biographical  notice  of,  764 

NEGLEY,  Maj.-Gen.  JAMES  8. — Commands  a  brigade  in  Bnell's 
army,  124 ;  makes  an  attack  on  Chattanooga,  185 ;  at  the 
battle  of  Murfreesboro,  298 ;  advances  in  Tennessee,  456 ; 
encounters  the  rear  of  Hardee's  force,  456 ;  encounters 
the  enemy,  460 ;  repulsed,  460 ;  at  Chickamauga,  462. 

NEILL,  Brig.-Gen.  THOMAS  H. — Commands  3d  brigade  of  2d 
division  of  6th  corps,  549. 

NELSON,  Brig.-Gen.  WILLIAM— Establishes  Camp  Dick  Rob- 
inson, in  Kentucky,  93 ;  marches  to  Pikeville,  Ky.,  97 ; 
address  to  his  troops,  97 ;  commands  a  brigade  in  Buell's 
army,  124 ;  advances  from  Nashville,  173 ;  in  the  battle 
of  Pittsburg  Landing,  177 ;  reaches  Richmond,  Ky.,  after 
the  battle,  282 ;  biographical  notice  of,  737. 

Nesho — Company  of  Confederates  captured  at,  61. 

Newbern,  N.  O. — Attack  on,  by  Gen.  Burnside,  189 ;  cap- 
ture, 139. 

New  Iberia,  La.— Capture  of,  867. 

New  Jersey — Response  to  the  first  call  for  troops,  28 ;  appro- 
priates $2,000,000  to  war  purposes,  51 ;  sends  a  brigade 
of  troops  to  Washington,  51. 

New  Madrid — Assaulted  and  captured  by  Gen.  Pope,  163. 

New  Mexico — Surrender  of  Union  forces,  82. 

New  Orleans — Northern  steamers  seized,  51 ;  vessels  seized 
at,  68 ;  capture  of,  196. 

New  Ulm, — Attack  upon  by  the  Indians,  816. 

NEWTON,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN — Commands  a  brigade  in  Slocum's 
division,  269 ;  reports  for  orders,  525 ;  commands  divis- 
ion of  4th  corps,  529 ;  at  Resaca,  529 ;  at  Kenesaw  Moun- 
tain, 584;  at  Atlanta,  536;  ordered  to  report  to  Gen. 
Sherman,  549 ;  address  to  his  troops,  549 ;  address  to  his 
command,  549. 

New  York  City — Excitement  on  the  first  call  for  men,  28 ; 
activity  of  the  military,  28;  7th  regiment  leaves  for 
Washington,  28 ;  arrival  of  the  6th  Massachusetts,  28 ; 
do.  of  the  8th,  29;  meetings  of  public  bodies,  29;  raising 
money,  29 ;  excitement  on  Sunday,  April  21st,  1861,  29, 
80;  departure  of  troops,  29,  30;  sermons  of  tho  clergy, 
80;  more  troops  leave,  80;  action  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  on  the  destruction  caused  by  the  cruiser  Ala- 
bama, 278. 


IXDEX  OF  CONTEXTS. 


833 


New  York— Troops  sent  forward,  892. 

NICKEBSON,  Brig.-Gen.  FBANK  S.— Commands  a  brigade  of 
T.  W.  Sherman's  division,  363;  expedition  from  New 
Orleans,  363. 

Norfolk— Expedition  against,  organized  by  Gen.  Wool,  225 ; 
its  force,  225;  the  advance,  225;  occupies  Norfolk,  225; 
explosion  at  Craney  Island,  225 ;  defences  of  Norfolk, 
225. 

North  Carolina— Reply  of  the  Governor  to  the  call  for 
troops,  40 ;  action  of  the  Legislature,  42 ;  correspondence 
of  the  Governor  with  the  Secretary  of  "War,  disowning 
the  seizure  of  the  forts  in  January,  42 ;  commissioners 
sent  to  Montgomery,  42 ;  action  relative  to  State  conven- 
tion, 42 ;  vote  of  the  State,  43 ;  Convention  assembles, 
44 ;  its  action,  44 ;  ordinance  of  secession  adopted,  44 ; 
members  of  Confederate  Congress,  44 ;  flag  of  the  State, 
44 ;  expedition  against,  under  Gen.  Burnside,  135. 


O 

O'BsiEN,  Lieut  Frrz  J.— Biographical  notice  of,  72a 

O'BsrEN,  CoL  H.  T. — Biographical  notice  of,  763. 

Officers,  Public— Oaih  required  by  Congress  to  take  before 
entering  upon  their  duties,  319. 

OHLENSCHLAGEB,  Dr.  E. — Biographical  notice  of,  791. 

Olustee,  Flo.— Battle  of,  507. 

Opequan  Creek— Sheridan  attacks  Early,  624. 

ORD,  Maj.-Gen.  EDWARD,  O.  C. — In  command  at  Dranesville, 
114;  in  command  under  Grant  in  Miss.,  291 ;  in  the  con- 
flict at  Hatchee  River,  294 ;  moves  to  New  Orleans,  365 ; 
supersedes  Gen.  "Wallace  at  Baltimore,  587;  commands 
18th  corps,  589 ;  moves  against  Kichmond,  592 ;  com- 
mands 24th  army  corps,  655 ;  position  of  the  Army  of  the 
James,  687. 

Ordnance  and  small  Arms — Amount  held  by  the  Govern- 
ment at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  429 ;  Paixhan  guns, 
429;  Rodman,  429;  Dahlgren,  429;  Brooke  guns,  430; 
Parrott  guns,  430;  projectiles,  430;  improvement  in 
small  arms,  430 ;  cartridges,  431 ;  Sharp's  rifle,  432 ;  Mer- 
rill rifle,  432;  Ashcroft  rifle,  432;  Greene  rifle,  432; 
Maynard  rifle,  433  ;  Smith's  breech  loading,  434 ;  Burn- 
side  rifle,  434,  Wesson's  rifle,  434;  Ballard  rifle,  435; 
Colt's  rifle,  436 ;  Spencer  repeating  rifle,  336 ;  Henry's 
repeating  rifle,  437 ;  its  construction,  438 ;  very  effective 
at  short  distances,  438;  incidents  of  its  use,  438;  "Whit- 
worth  rifle,  439 ;  its  construction,  439. 

Oreto. — Confederate  cruiser,  275 ;  arrives  at  Mobile,  275. 

O'RouBKB,  CoL  P.  H.— Biographical  notice  of,  761. 

OSTEEHATTS,  Maj.-Gen.  PETEB  A.— Skirmish  at  Searcy,  Ark. 
814 ;  near  Port  Gibson,  847 ;  commands  15th  corps  under 
Sherman,  613. 

OWEN.  Brig.-Gen.  J.  P. — Commands  2d  brigade  2d  division 
2d  corps,  549. 


Paducah— Attack  on,  by  Forrest,  516. 

PAINE,  Brig.-Gen.  Henry  E.— In  command  at  Port  Hudson, 
370. 

PAINE,  Brig.-Gen.  CHAKI.ES  J. — Commands  a  division  in  the 
attack  on  Fort  Fisher,  640-645. 

PAINE,  Maj.  J.  "W.— Biographical  notice  of,  794. 

Paintville,  Ky.— Battle  near,  121. 

PALMEB,  Brig.-Gen.  I.  N.— In  the  battle  before  Williams- 
burg,  221 ;  in  command  at  Newbern,  522 ;  order  relative 
to  incendiaries,  522. 

PALMEE,  Brig.-Gen.  INNIS  A. — Under  Schofleld  in  North 
Carolina,  683 ;  at  Chickamauga,  462 ;  advances  on  Dalton, 
604 ;  commands  a  corps  of  Cumberland  Army,  526 ;  car- 

53 


ries  Tunnel  Hill,  528 ;  attempts  to  break  the  enemy's 
line,  529 ;  at  Resaca,  530 ;  resigns  his  command,  541. 
PALMEE,  Com.  J.  S. — Takes  possession  of  Baton  Rouge,  199 

lands  at  Natchez,  199. 

PABISEN,  Lieut-CoL  P.  J. — Biographical  notice  of,  736. 
PABKE,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN  G. — Commands  in  North  Carolina, 
135 ;  advances  to  Beaufort,  141 ;  brings  reinforcements 
to  Grant  at  Vicksburg  ;  359 ;  commands  9th  army  corps, 
655. 

PABKEB,  Com.  FOXHALL  A.— Commands  Potomac  flotilla,  636. 
PABKEB,  JOEL — Gov.  of  New  Jersey,  891 ;  calls  for  troops, 

391. 

PARSONS,  LEWIS  E.— Provisional  Gov.  of  Ala.,  717. 
PATE,  Col.  H.  CLAY— Killed  by  Federal  cavalry,  562;  bio- 
graphical notice  of,  793. 
PATTEN,  Maj.  H.  L.— Biographical  notice  of,  790. 

PATTEN,  Brig.-Gen. Biographical  notice  of,  789. 

PATTEBSON,  Maj.-Gen. — Commands  on  the  Upper  Potomac, 
56;  crosses  the  Potomac,  61;  his  position  June  80th, 
1861,  67. 

PATTEESON,  Brig.-Gen.  F.  E. — Biographical  notice  of,  74L 
PAXTON,  Brig.-Gen.  E.  F.— Biographical  notice  of,  749. 
PEABODY,  Col.  E. — Biographical  notice  of,  729. 
Peace  Movements — Mission  of  Stephens,  489 ;  ostensibly  rel- 
ative to  prisoners,  489;  rejected,  489;  amnesty  procla- 
mation, 491 ;  visit  of  Gilmore  and  Jacques  to  Richmond, 
657 ;  correspondence,  657 ;  reports,  658 ;  correspondence 
between  Messrs   Greeley,  Jewett,  Sanders,  Clay,  Hoi- 
combe,  and  President  Lincoln,   659-662;  report  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  of  his  meeting  Commissioners  at  Fortress  Mon- 
roe, 663-666 ;  report  of  the  Commissioners,  666. 
Pea  Mdge— Buttle  of,  158. 

PEAESON,  Rear- Ad.  G.  F. — Commands  in  the  Pacific,  686. 
PECK,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN  G.— In  the  battle  before  Williams- 
burg,  221 ;  defends  Suffolk,  Va.,  472 ;  reports  the  capture 
of  Plymouth,  520. 

FEOBAM,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN — Defeated  by  Gillmore  near  Somer- 
set, Ky.,  457 ;  ordered  near  Lafayette,  462 ;  wounded  at 
Wilderness,  555;  resists  the  Federal  advance,  672;  killed, 
672 ;  biographical  notice  of,  796. 

PEGEAM,  Col.  W.— Defeated  at  Rich  Mountain,  66;  surren- 
ders, 67 ;  biographical  notice  of,  729. 

PEMBEBTON,  Lieut-Gen.  JOHN  C.— Commands  a  Confederate 
force  in  Mississippi,  295, 831 ;  falls  back  to  Granada,  831 ; 
in  command  at  Vicksbnrg,  835;  address  to  his  troops 
after  the  repulse  of  Sherman,  835 ;  surrenders  Vicksburg, 
860. 
PENDEB,  Maj.-Gen.  W.  D. — Commands  a  division  of  Hill's 

corps  at  Gettysburg,  401 ;  biographical  notice  of,  762. 
PENDEEGBAST,  Com.  G.  J. — Biographical  notice  of,  741. 
Pennsylvania— Excitement  on  the  approach  of  Lee's  army, 

266 ;  do.  on  the  invasion  in  1864,  58& 

Pensacola  Bay— Description  of,  99 ;  Fort  Pickens  taken  pos- 
session of  by  Lieut  A.  J.  Slemmer,  99 ;  Fort  Pickens  re- 
enforced,  12-16  April,  99 ;  Wilson's  regiment  stationed  on 
Santa  Rosa  Island,  99,  100 ;  daring  exploits  of  Federal 
troops,  100 ;  attack  on  Wilson's  regiment,  October  8, 100 ; 
bombardment  of  Forts  Barrancas  and  McRae  by  Fort 
Pickens,  and  of  Fort  Pickens  by  the  Confederate  forts 
and  batteries,  100. 

PEBBIN,  Brig.-Gen. Biographical  notice  of,  779. 

PEBBY,  B.  F. — Provisional  Governor  of  South  Carolina,  711. 
PEBBY,  Col.  J.  H.,  D.  D.— Biographical  notice  of,  730. 
Perryville,  Ky.— Battle  of,  287. 
Petersburg — Its  situation,  576;  siege  of,  576,  &c. ;  evacuation 

and  surrender  of,  692. 
Peirel—A.  Confederate  privateer,  61. 
PETTIGBEW,  Brig.-Gen.  J. — In  command  at  Gettysburg,  404; 

makes  a  demonstration  against  Newbern,  472. 
PETTUS,  Brig.-Gen.  J.  J.— Biographical  notice  of,  786. 


834 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


PBELPS,  JOHN  G. — Appointed  Provisional  Governor  of  Arkan- 
sas, 814 

PHELPS,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  W. — Commands  at  Ship  Island, 
190;  his  proclamation,  190;  occupies  the  forts  below 
New  Orleans,  199. 

PHENIX,  Com.  DAWSEN — Biographical  notice  of,  773. 

Philippic—  Confederate  force  surprised  by  Gen.  McClellan, 
65 ;  surprise  of  a  Confederate  camp  near,  55,  56. 

PHILIPS,  Col.  W.  A.— Attacked  near  Fort  Gibson,  Indian 
Territory,  482. 

PICKENS,  FRANCIS  W.,  Governor  of  South  Carolina — On  the 
causes  of  separation,  3 ;  his  cabinet,  5 ;  demands  Bur- 
render  of  Fort  Sumter,  6;  sends  commissioners  to  Wash- 
ington, 5 ;  despatch  to  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  36. 

PICKETT,  Brig.-Gen.  GEORGE  E. — In  command  under  Gen. 
Johnston,  348 ;  commands  a  division  of  Longstreet's  corps 
at  Gettysburg,  401 ;  captures  a  post  at  Bachelor's  Creek, 
N.  C.,  519 ;  report,  520 ;  attacks  Butler's  lines,  578. 

PIERCE,  Gen.  E.  W. — Commands  the  expedition  against  Great 
Bethel,  56. 

PHRPONT,  FBANK  H.— Elected  Governor  of  West  Virginia, 
60, 891 ;  calls  for  troops,  891. 

Pig's  Point — Attack  on  the  battery  at,  by  the  steamer  Har- 
riet Lane,  56. 

PIKE,  Brig.-Gen.  ALBERT— At  the  battle  of  Pea  Eidge,  158. 

PILLOW,  Maj.-Gen.  GIDEON  J. — In  command  in  West  Tennes- 
see, 59 ;  relieves  Belmont,  110 ;  escapes  from  Fort  Doael- 
son,  129 ;  in  command  in  the  southwest,  172. 

Pilot  Knob—  Skirmish  at,  89. 

Pittsburg  Landing,  or  SMloTir— Battle  of,  176,  177;  excite- 
ment on  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  844 

Plantersville,  Ala. — Battle  at,  708. 

Pleasant  ffill— Battle  of,  611. 

PLEASANTON,  Maj.-Gen.  ALFRED — Skirmishes  in  Maryland, 
268;  crosses  the  Potomac,  801,  802;  commands  in  the 
conflict  near  Beverly  Ford,  884 ;  report  of  his  attack  on 
Stuart,  895 ;  ordered  to  report  to  Bosecrans  in  Missouri, 
549;  address  to  his  command,  549;  at  Jefferson  City, 
629. 

PLEABANTS,  Lieut. -Col. Conducts  mining  operations 

before  Petersburg,  590. 

PLTTMMER,  J.  B. — Biographical  notice  of,  751. 

Plymouth,  Jf.  C.— Capture  of,  520. 

Poootaligo  Bridge — Attack  on  by  Sherman's  troops,  678. 

POINDEXTEB,  Col. Operations  in  Missouri,  814  815. 

PoTcomoke  Sound,  Va. — Destruction  of  vessels  at,  83. 

POLIGNAO,  Brig.-Gen. — Commands  Mouton's  division  at 
Pleasant  Hill  battle,  611. 

POLK,  Maj.-Gen.  LEONIDAS — Letter  on  the  invasion  of  Ken- 
tucky, 94 ;  in  command  in  the  southwest,  172 ;  of  1st 
corps,  173 ;  commands  a  division  of  Bragg's  army,  288 ; 
at  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  297 ;  ordered  to  Gordon's 
Mills,  462 ;  at  Chickamauga,  463 ;  in  command  at  Meri- 
dian, 601 ;  commands  a  corps  of  Johnston's  army,  526 ; 
killed,  532;  biographical  notice  of,  7S3. 

POLLARD,  Lieut -CoL— Defeats  Dahlgren,  523. 

POMEROY,  Senator — Organizes  an  Emigrant  Aid  Society,  155. 

POPE,  CoL  C. — Biographical  notice  of,  741. 

POPE,  Brig.-Gen.  HAMILTON — Commands  Kentucky  Home 
Guards,  95. 

POPE,  Capt  JOHN — Commands  squadron  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Mississippi,  101 ;  attacked  by  an  iron-clad  ram,  101 ; 
retreats,  101. 

POPE,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN — In  command  in  Northern  Missouri, 
81;  commands  a  division  under  Gen.  Fremont,  89; 
inarches  upon  New  Madrid,  168;  occupies  Point  Pleas- 
ant, 163 ;  assaults  New  Madrid,  163  ;  crosses  the  Missis- 
sippi with  his  army,  165 ;  captures  the  Confederate  force, 
165;  ordered  to  join  Gen.  Grant,  167;  arrives  at  Pitts- 
trarg  Landing,  179;  pursues  Beaurcgard  retiring  from 


Corinth,  183 ;  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Army  of 
Virginia,  254;  address  to  the  army,  254;  orders,  255; 
position  of  his  army,  255;  takes  the  field,  256;  concen- 
trates at  Culpepper,  256 ;  changes  his  position,  258 ;  at 
.  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  258;  his  baggage  cap- 
tured, 260 ;  his  report,  261 ;  on  the  retreat,  261 ;  with- 
draws his  army  to  the  defences  of  Washington,  265 ; 
ordered  to  command  in  Northwestern  Department, 
817 ;  operations  against  the  Indians,"817 ;  effect  of  his 
action  on  the  exchange  of  prisoners,  825;  ordered  to 
send  troops  to  Tennessee,  460;  his  operations  against 
the  Indiana,  631. 

POETEE,  Kear- Admiral  D.  D.— Comi^ands  the  mortar  fleet 
against  New  Orleans,  191 ;  moves  his  flotilla  to  bombard 
Fort  Jackson,  192 ;  receives  the  surrender  of  forts  be- 
low New  Orleans,  198;  conveys  Sherman  down  the 
Mississippi,  332;  moves  with  the  fleet  up  the  Arkansas, 
836 ;  bombards  Fort  Hindman  at  Arkansas  Point,  336 ; 
his  operations  before  Vicksburg,  842 ;  sends  an  expedi- 
tion to  Cypress  Bayou,  344 ;  runs  the  batteries  of  Vicks- 
burg with  gunboats  and  transports,  346 ;  attacks  Grand 
Gulf,  347;  his  report,  847;  occupies  Grand  Gulf,  848; 
report,  348;  cooperates  with  Grant  at  Haines'  Bluff, 
855 ;  his  report,  855 ;  reports  the  assault  on  Vicksburg, 
358;  his  report  of  operations  before  Vicksburg,  862; 
takes  possession  of  Alexandria,  867 ;  his  report,  367,  368 ; 
commands  Mississippi  flotilla,  442;  collects  a  fleet  on 
Bed  Eiver,  508 ;  fleet  up  the  Bed  Eiver,  511 ;  reports 
the  difficulties  of  his  situation,  513 ;  commands  North 
Atlantic  squadron,  636;  report  of  the  explosion  of  a 
powder  vessel  at  Fort  Fisher,  641;  commands  expedi- 
tion against  Fort  Fisher,  641  ;  bombards  the  fort,  642; 
correspondence  with  Butler  on  Fort  Fisher,  643 ;  second 
expedition  against  Fort  Fisher,  644;  its  success,  645; 
his  fleet  off  Cape  Fear  Eiver,  682. 

PORTER,  Maj.-Gen.  FITZ-JOHN — In  command  at  Bull  Bnn, 
68;  advances  upon  Hanover  Court  House,  227;  in  tho 
battles  before  Eichmond,  244 ;  advance  of  his  divisions 
to  Gen.  Pope,  260;  ordered  to  Washington,  261;  at 
Antietam,  271 ;  moves  along  the  Blue  Eidge,  302. 

PORTER,  Col.  J.  C. — His  operations  in  Missouri,  314 ;  cap  • 
ture  and  treatment  of  Allsman,  815;  movements  in 
Missouri,  481. 

PORTER,  Col.  P.  A. — Biographical  notice  of,  782. 

POBTEE,  Commander  W.  D.— Commands  the  Essex  at  Fort 
Henry,  127 ;  attempts  to  destroy  the  ram  Arkansas,  200 ; 
attacks  near  Baton  Eouge,  200 ;  further  proceedings,  200 ; 
biographical  notice  of,  776. 

Port  Hudson,  Miss.— Strongly  fortified,  810;  military  and 
naval  expedition  against,  365 ;  its  failure,  865 ;  invested 
by  Gen.  Banks,  869 ;  surrendered,  371 ;  terms,  872. 

Port  Eepublicr- Battle  at,  with  Jackson,  240 ;  conflict  with 
Hunter's  troops,  583. 

Port  lioyal  Expedition — Its  object  and  destination,  108 ; 
population  and  productions  of  the  group  of  islands,  108; 
date  of  sailing,  108 ;  vessels  of  the  expedition,  108 ;  com- 
manded by  Com.  S.  F.  Dupont,  108 ;  the  military  forces 
of  the  expedition,  108  ;  commanded  by  Gen.  T.  W.  Sher- 
man, 108;  a  gale  of  wind  scatters  the  ships,  108;  arrival 
at  Port  Eoyal,  108  ;  vessels  enter  the  harbor,  108 ;  a 
storm,  108 ;  the  forts,  108 ;  attack  on  them,  109 ;  the  plan, 
109 ;  captured,  109 ;  loss,  109 ;  results,  109 ;  made  a  mili- 
tary and  naval  station,  143 ;  designs  of  the  enemy,  143. 

POSEY,  Brig.-Gen.  C. — Biographical  notice  of,  769. 

Potomac  River — Light-ship  seized,  52. 

Potosi,  Mo. — Skirmish  at,  88. 

POTTER,  Brig.-Gen.  EDWARD  E.— Operations  near  Charles- 
ton, 67a 

POTTER,  Brig.-Gen.  EGBERT  B.— In  the  assault  at  Pctersburg( 
590,  591. 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


835 


Prairie  Grove,  Ark.— Conflict  at,  814. 

PBATT,  Col.  G.  "W.— Biographical  notice  of,  733. 

PEBBLE,  Commodore  GEO.  H.— Dismissed  from  service,  275. 

PRENTICE,  W.  C. — Biographical  notice  of,  737. 

PBENTISS,  Brig.-Gen. Commands  at  Mount  Zion,  155 ; 

commands  a  division  of  Grant's  army,  173 ;  position  at 
Shiloh,  173. 

Prestonoury,  Ky—  Skirmish  near,  97. 

PRICE,  Brig.-Gen.  ED.— Capture  of,  156. 

PRICE,  Maj.-Gen.  STEELING  E. — In  command  in  Missouri, 
81 ;  junction  with  Gen.  McCulloch,  82 ;  battle  of  Wilson's 
Creek,  82 ;  advances  from  Arkansas,  87 ;  moves  to  Lex- 
ington, 87;  captures  it,  88;  retires  to  Springfield,  88; 
his  original  plans,  89 ;  retreats  before  Fremont,  89 ;  his 
truce  with  Fremont,  90 ;  subsequent  plans,  91 ;  retreats 
from  Missouri,  156;  report  of  his  retreat  from  Missouri, 
156;  operations  in  Arkansas,  157;  in  battle  of  Pea  Ridge, 
158  ;  in  command  at  luka,  291 ;  evacuates  it,  291 ;  joins 
Van  Dora,  292;  activity  in  Missouri,  480-482 ;  in  com- 
mand in  Arkansas,  515;  at  Sabine  Eiver,  516;  invades 
Missouri,  628. 

PRINCE,  Capt.  F.  E. — As  Chief  Engineer,  attempts  to  open 
another  route  below  Vicksburg,  345. 

PRINCE,  Brig.-GeD.  HENBY  H.— Eeports  to  Sedgwick,  525; 
commands  3d"  division  of  6th  corps,  549. 

Prisoner ^Exchange  of. — Early  action  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment, 115 ;  treaty  between  Gens.  Fremont  and  Price,  115 ; 
commissioners  appointed  by  the  Federal  Government  at 
the  close  of  1861,  rejected  at  Bichmofld,  115 ;  message  of 
Mr.  Davis  relative  to  a  communication  sent  to  Washing- 
ton by  Col.  Taylor,  115 ;  position  at  the  close  of  1861, 321 ; 
commissioners  to  Eichmond  appointed,  321 ;  admission 
to  Eichmond  refused,  321 ;  arrangements  for  an  exchange, 
821;  recommendation  to  release  Confederate  prisoners 
from  the  obligations  of  parole,  321 ;  exchange  suspended, 
821 ;  privateersmen,  821 ;  held  as  prisoners  of  war,  321 ; 
exchange  proposed,  821 ;  correspondence,  822 ;  instruc- 
tions of  Confederate  Secretary,  822 ;  exchange  suspended, 
823 ;  Federal  Government  yields,  323 ;  terms  of  exchange 
established,  823,  824 ;  new  complications,  824 ;  corre- 
spondence of  Gens.  Lee  and  Halleck,  824;  orders  to  mili- 
tary commanders  in  Virginia,  325 ;  letter  of  President 
Davis  to  Gen.  Lee,  325 ;  letter  of  Gen.  Lee  to  Gen.  Hal- 
leck, 826;  Confederate  order  relative  to  Gens.  Hunter 
and  Phelps,  326;  do.  relative  to  Gen.  Neil,  327;  message 
of  Davis  to'  the  Congress  at  Eichmond,  495 ;  difficulty 
relative  to  colored  soldiers,  496;  order  of  President  Lin- 
coln, 496 ;  treatment  of  colored  prisoners,  497 ;  number 
of  Confederate  prisoners,  497 ;  attempt  to  liberate  prison- 
ers at  Johnson's  Island,  497 ;  numbers  exchanged,  668 ; 
suspension,  668 ;  appeal  of  prisoners  to  President  Lin- 
coln, 669 ;  their  distress  and  suffering,  669 ;  order  rela- 
tive to,  707. 

Privateers — Fitted  out  in  Southern  ports,  61. 

Prises— Captured  in  1863,  451. 

Provisional  Governors  of  Southern  States,  711. 

Provost  Marshals— Appointment  of,  330 ;  duties  assigned  to 
them,  830. 

PUTNAM,  Brig.-Gen.  HALDIMAND  S. — Advances  on  Morris 
Island  against  Wagner,  474 ;  biographical  notice  of,  763. 

PUTNAM,  W.  L. — Biographical  notice  of,  726. 

PYB,  Col.  E.— Biographical  notice  of,  788. 


QUANTBELL,  Col. Gathers  followers  in  Missouri,  314 ; 

his  operations,  815 ;  sacks  Lawrence,  Kansas,  484 ;  at- 
tacks Gen.  Blunt,  484. 

Queen  of  the  West^- Disabled  before  Memphis,  168 ;  runs 
past  the  batteries  at  Vicksburg,  839;  attempts  to  de- 


stroy the  City  of  Vicksburg,  steamer,  839 ;  further  oper- 
ations, 840 ;  blown  up,  867. 

QriMBY,  Brig.-Gen.  J.  F.— Commands  a  division  in  McPher- 
son's  corps,  344. 

R 

EAINS,  Brig.-Gen.  J.  E. — Commands  in  the  battle  of  Car- 
thage, 61 ;  conflict  near  Tazewell,  290 ;  biographical  notice 
of,  743. 

BAIXS,  Brig.-Gen. Position  in  Arkansas,  160 ;  declares 

martial  law  at  Little  Eock,  814. 

Raleigh — Occupied  by  Sherman,  698. 

E  AM  SAY,  Capt  ALLAN — Biographical  notice  of,  773. 

EAMSEY — Governor  of  Minnesota,  817 ;  reports  destruction 
done  by  the  Indians,  817. 

EAMSEUB,  Maj.-Gen.  STEPHEN  D. — Killed  at  Cedar  Creek, 
627 ;  biographical  notice  of,  793. 

BANDOLPH,  Lieut.-Col. Biographical  notice  of,  778. 

BANSOM,  Brig.-Gen.  T.  E.  G.— At  Mansfield  battle,  510;  bio- 
graphical notice  of,  793. 

EANBOM,  Brig.-Gen.  WATT — Commands  a  division  of  Lee's 
army,  372 ;  commands  an  expedition  into  Maryland,  585 ; 
his  orders,  5S5;  biographical  notice  of,  780. 

BAWZINS,  Brig.-Gen.  J.  A.— Chief  of  staff  to  Grant,  550. 

Raymond,  Miss. — Battle  near,  351. 

BEAD,'  Com.  A.— Biographical  notice  of,  763. 

BEAD,  Lieut.  CHAS.  W. — Commands  Confederate  privateer 
Clarence,  440  ;  transferred  to  the  bark  Tacony,  440 ; 
movements,  440 ;  capture,  440. 

BEAD,  Brig.-Gen.  8.  T.— Biographical  notice  of,  799. 

Bear-Admirals  of  the  Navy,  716. 

EECTOB — Governor  of  Arkansas,  814 ;  flees,  814. 

EEDFIELD,  Col.  JAMES — Biographical  notice  of,  791. 

BEEVE,  Lieut-Col. Surrenders  Federal  troops  in 

Texas,  85. 

EEILLY,  Brig.-Gen.  JAMES  W. — Commands  Cox's  division, 
6S3. 

EENO,  Maj.-Gen.  JESSE  L. — Commands  in  North  Carolina, 
185 ;  moves  toward  Norfolk,  Va.,  141 ;  reenforces  Gen. 
Pope,  259 ;  ordered  to  Greenwich,  261 ;  at  the  battle  of 
South  Mountain,  269 ;  killed,  269. 

EBNSHAW,  Com.  W.  B.— Takes  possession  of  Galveston,  311 ; 
biographical  notice  of,  744. 

Resaca— Battle  at,  529. 

Revenue  Cutters— Seized  by  the  Confederacy,  63. 

BBVEBE,  CoL  P.  J.— Biographical  notice  of,  762. 

Revolutionary  War~-It$  soldiers,  1 ;  battles,  1 ;  command- 
ers, 1. 

EEYNOLDS,  Maj.-Gen.  Jons  F. — In  command  at  Greenbriar, 
86 ;  in  command  at  Dranesville,  114 ;  ordered  to  Gaines- 
ville, 261 ;  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  807 ;  com- 
mands 1st  corps  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  378 ;  at 
Gettysburg,  400 ;  killed,  400;  biographical  notice  of,  760. 

EEYNOLDS,  Maj.-Gen.  JOSEPH  J. — Commands  an  expedition 
In  Tennessee,  453 ;  advances  in  Tennessee,  456 ;  at  Chick- 
amauga,  462;  commands  7th  army  corps,  655;  commands 
Department  of  Arkansas,  655. 

BHIND,  Com.  A.  C. — Attacks  forts  at  Charleston,  447;  sx- 
plodes  a  powder  vessel  at  Fort  Fisher,  641. 

EHODDY,  Brig.-Gen. Captures  Streight,  454 ;  opposes 

Wilson,  708. 

Rliode  Island — Response  to  the  first  call  for  troops,  2S. 

BHODES,  Maj.-Gen.  B.  E. — Attacks  Berry  ville,  387 ;  captures 
Martinsburg,  889  ;  position  of  his  division,  398 ;  at  Gettys- 
burg, 401 ;  moves  with  Lee,  470 ;  commands  in  the  inva- 
sion of  Maryland,  588 ;  biographical  notice  ot,  790. 

EICE,  Brig.-Gen.  JAMES  C. — Commands  2d  brigade  4th  divi- 
sion of  5th  corps,  549;  at  the  Spottsylvania  battle,  55S; 
biographical  notice  of  779 


836 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


RICE,  Brig. -Gen.  8.  A. — Biographical  notice  of,  785. 

RICHARDSON,  Maj.-Gen.  ISRAEL  B.— In  command  at  Bull  Run, 
68 ;  in  the  battles  before  Richmond,  244 ;  wounded  at  An- 
tietam,  271 ;  biographical  notice  of,  740. 

Richmond,  Ky.— Battle  at,  282. 

Richmond,  Fa.— Made  the  seat  of  the  Confederate  Govern- 
ment, 54 ;  railroads  to,  809 ;  evacuation  and  occupation 
of,  692 ;  report  of,  692,  693. 

Rich  Mountain— Battle  at,  66. 

RICKETTS,  Brig.-Gen.  JAMES  B.— At  Bull  Run,  75;  commands 
a  division  in  McDowell's  corps,  256;  in  the  battle  at 
Cedar  Mountain,  258 ;  burns  the  bridge  at  Rappahannock 
Station,  260 ;  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Meade  for  com- 
mand, 549 ;  at  the  Wilderness  battle,  554 ;  at  Coal  Harbor, 
578 ;  at  Monocacy  Junction,  587 ;  wounded  at  Cedar  Run, 
627. 

RIELY,  Col. Biographical  notice  of,  784. 

RINGGOLD,  Lieut-Col.  G.  H.— Biographical  notice  of,  774. 

RINGOLD,  CoL  BENJ.— Biographical  notice  of,  750. 

Rio  Grande — Banks'  expedition  to  the  mouth  of  the,  480. 

Riots  in  Nm.o  fork  and  other  cities — Commencement  of 
the  draft  in  New  York,  414 ;  excitement,  414 ;  disturban- 
ces on  the  first  and  second  days,  414. 415 ;  meeting  of 
Board  of  Aldermen,  416;  call  of  Gen.  Wool,  417;  procla- 
mations of  Gov.  Seymour,  417 ;  effect,  417 ;  murder  of 
Col.  O'Brien,  418 ;  arrival  of  troops,  418 ;  persons  killed, 
418;  damage  to  property,  418  ;  riot  in  Boston,  418;  do. 
in  Portsmouth,  419 ;  disturbances  in  Holmes  County, 
Ohio,  419. 

RIPLEY,  Col.  0.  H.— Biographical  notice  of,  780. 

EIPLET,  Brig.-Gen.  R.  S.— Biographical  notice  of,  766. 

RIVES,  Col.  BENJAMIN  A. — Biographical  notice  of,  728. 

Roanoke  Island,  N.  C.— Capture  of,  187. 

ROBERTS,  CoL  G.  T. — Commands  a  boat  expedition  across 
the  Mississippi,  163  ;  biographical  notice  of,  732. 

ROBHETS,  Col.  G.  W.— Biographical  notice  of,  743. 

ROBERTSON,  Brig.-Gen. — Commands  in  Hood's  division,  463 ; 
at  Chickamanga,  463. 

ROBINSON,  Brig.-Gen.  J.  C. — Commands  2d  division  of  5th 
corps,  549 ;  commands  a  division  at  Gettysburg,  400 ;  at 
the  Wilderness  battle,  553 ;  wounded  near  Spottsylvania 
Court  House,  556. 

ROBINSON,  JAMES  F.— Gov.  of  Ky.,  283 ;  proclamation  on  the 
invasion  of  Kirby  Smith,  283. 

Rocky  Gap,  Fa.— Conflict  at,  471. 

RODGEBS,  Com.  E.  R.  P.— Commands  naval  force  in  the  waters 
of  South  Carolina,  143 ;  expedition  up  the  St.  Mary's,  149. 

RODGBBS,  Com.  GEO.  W.— Attacks  forts  at  Charleston,  447. 

RODGERS,  Com.  JOHN. — Captures  the  Atlanta,  450 ;  attacks 
batteries  in  Charleston  harbor,  447. 

RODMAN,  Brig.-Gen.  ISAAC  P.— At  the  battle  of  South  Moun- 
tain, 269 ;  wounded  at  Antietam,  272 ;  biographical  no- 
tice of,  787. 

RODMAN,  Lieut-Col.  W.  L.— Biographical  notice  of,  758. 

ROGERS,  Col. Biographical  notice  of,  788. 

ROGGEBS,  CHAELES.— Biographical  notice  of,  724 

Romney — Virginia  troops  at,  captured  by  CoL  Walker,  59. 

ROSE,  Col.  E. — Biographical  notice  of,  772. 

ROSBCEANS,  Maj.-Gen.  WILLIAM  8.— At  Rich  Mountain,  6G ; 
operations  in  Western  Virginia,  86;  in  command  in 
Western  Virginia,  120 ;  retires  from  West  Virginia  and 
takes  command  of  Pope's  corps  of  Grant's  army,  230; 
relieves  Gen.  Buell  in  Tennessee,  289 ;  moves  with 
Grant  against  Inka,  291 ;  fights  at  luka,  291 ;  in  com- 
mand at  Corinth,  292;  address  to  his  troops  after  the 
battle  at  Corinth,  294;  proceeds  to  Cincinnati,  294 ;  ad- 
vances to  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  296  ;  fights  at  Muri'rees- 
boro,  297,298;  position  of  his  army,  452;  replies  to 
Halleck's  letters,  455;  begins  to  move  his  army,  455;  his 
plan,  455;  further  replies  to  Halleck,456;  takes  Chatta- 


nooga, 457 ;  line  of  his  army,  460 ;  advances  against  Bragg 
in  Georgia,  460 ;  at  Chickamauga,  462 ;  retreats  to  Chat- 
tanooga, 465 ;  address  to  his  army,  465 ;  relieved  of  com- 
mand, 466 ;  in  command  in  Missouri,  628. 

Ross,  Brig.-Gen.  L.  F.— Commands  the  expedition  through 
the  Cold  Water  to  Fort  Pemberton,  343 ;  repulsed,  844 

ROSSEAIT,  Maj.-Gen.  LOVELL  H. — Takes  command  of  Gen. 
Mitchell's  division  of  Buell's  army,  185 ;  commands  a 
corps  of  Rosecrans'  army,  296 ;  encounters  Wheeler, 
895 ;  advances  in  Tennessee,  456 ;  makes  a  raid  on  rail- 
roads in  Alabama,  539 ;  pursues  Wheeler,  544 ;  at  Mur- 
freesboro,  680. 

ROSSES,  Brig.-Gen. — Captures  Beverly,  672;  opposes  Sher- 
idan's advance,  686. 

ROWAN,  Com.  STEPHEN  C. — Captures  Elizabeth  City,  N.  C., 
187 ;  moves  on  Winton,  137 ;  commands  South  Atlantic 
squadron,  636. 

RTTFFIN,  Col.  THOMAS — Biographical  notice  of,  768. 

RUGER,  Brig.-Gen.  THOMAS  H. — Commands  a  division  of  the 
23d  corps,  683. 

RULISON,  Dr.  W.  H.— Biographical  notice  of,  788. 

RTTNYON,  Brig.-Gen.  THEODOEE — Appointed  to  command 
New  Jersey  troops,  51 ;  in  command  at  Bull  Run,  68. 

RUBSELL,  Brig.-Gen.  D.  A. — Commands  2d  brigade  3d  divis- 
ion 6th  corps,  549 ;  at  Coal  Harbor,  573 ;  killed  at  Ope- 
quan  Creek,  624 ;  biographical  notice  of,  790. 

RTJSSELL,  EARL — Correspondence  with  Mr.  Adams  relative  to 
the  destruction  by  the  Oreto  and  Alabama,  280,  281. 


S 

Sabine  Pass—  Expedition  against,  480 ;  disaster  to  the  fleet, 
480. 

Sachem — A  gunboat  captured  at  Sabine  Pass,  4SO. 

Salem,  Va. — Railroad  destroyed  by  Avcrill,  471. 

Saline  River,  Ark. — Conflict  at,  516. 

Sallie — A  Confederate  privateer,  63 ;  her  prizes,  63. 

SANDERS,  Major  R. — Biographical  notice  of,  789. 

SANDERS,  Brig.-Gen.  W.  P.— Biographical  notice  of,  770. 

SANDERSON,  CoL  J.  P. — Biographical  notice  of,  791. 

Sanitary  and  other  Commissions — Origin,  594 ;  organiza- 
tions, 594;  draft  of  powers  asked  for,  594  ;  objects,  694 ; 
material  of  volunteers,  595 ;  prevention  of  disease,  595 ; 
relief,  595;  first  commission,  595;  tracts  issued,  596; 
committees,  596;  agents,  596;  transportation  of  the 
wounded  soldiers,  596;  different  means  adopted,  596, 
597 ;  railroad  cars,  597 ;  departments  of  work  compre- 
hended, 600 ;  sanitary  inspection,  600 ;  of  general  relief, 
601 ;  of  special  relief,  601 ;  lodges,  601 ;  cars,  602 ;  steam- 
ers, 602;  hospitals,  602;  department  of  field  relief,  602; 
expenditures  and  receipts,  603 ;  Western  Sanitary  Com- 
mission, 603 ;  order  of  Gen.  Fremont,  603 ;  other  commis- 

'  sions,  604;  New  England  Soldiers'  Relief,  604;  the  sani- 
tary aided  by  the  Government,  606;  receipts  and  ex- 
penditures, 607;  summary  of  work  in  1864,  Union  Com- 
mission, 607 ;  object,  607 ;  organizations,  607 ;  officers, 
608;  system  of  work,  608;  results,  COS ;  closing  up,  708. 

SAEGENT,  Lieut-CoL  L.  M.— Biographical  notice  of,  794 

SAUNDEBS,  Col. Commands  an  expedition  in  East 

Tennessee,  457. 

SATTNDERS,  T.  M.— Biographical  notice  of,  772. 

Savannah—  Blockaded  by  Federal  fleet,  54;  invested  by 
Sherman,  621 ;  evacuated,  622. 

Savannah — A  Confederate  privateer,  64 ;  prizes,  64. 

Savage  Station— B&Me  at,  250. 

SAXTON,  Brig.-Gen.  RTJFUS— Orders  the  organization  of  1st 
regiment  of  South  Carolina  volunteers,  155;  defends 
Harper's  Ferry,  287. 

SCAMMON,  Brig.-Gen.  Eliakim  P.— Commences  a  tattle  near 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


837 


Bull  Eun,  261 ;  commands  an  expedition  along  the 
Georgia  line,  607. 

SCHAEFPER,  J.  W.— Biographical  notice  of,  744. 

ScHALL,  CoL  E.— Biographical  notice  of,  782. 

SCHBNCK,  Brig,-Gen.  KOBEBT  C.— Eepulse  at  Vienna,  60; 
in  command  at  Bull  Kun,  63 ;  movements  in  "West  Vir- 
ginia, 230 ;  battles,  232 ;  under  Fremont  at  Strasburg, 
288 ;  commands  the  centre  at  Cross  Keys,  239 ;  resigns, 
254 ;  withdraws  his  resignation,  254 ;  in  command  at 
Baltimore,  885. 

SCHEMMELFENNIG,  Brig.-Gen. — Movements  near  Charleston, 
678. 

SCHNEIDER,  Kev.  JAMES  H. — Biographical  notice  of,  776. 

SCHOEPF,  Brig.-Gen.  ALBIS — Commands  at  Camp  Wild- 
cat, 96;  advances  against  Gen.  Zollicoffer,  122;  com- 
mands a  brigade  in  Buell's  army,  124. 

SCHOFEELD,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN  M. — In  command  In  Missouri, 
814;  his  orders,  814;  commands  the  Army  of  the  Fron- 
tier, 815 ;  in  command  of  the  department  of  Missouri, 
885 ;  ordered  to  send  troops  to  Tennessee,  460 ;  com- 
mands Army  of  Ohio,  526 ;  moves  on  Thomas'  left,  528 ; 
moves  toward  Cassville,  531 ;  carries  first  line  of  works 
at  Lost  Mountain,  533 ;  at  Besaca,  530 ;  moves  to  the 
Chattahoochee,  535;  at  Atlanta,  535;  in  command  at 
Chattanooga,  610;  at  the  battle  near  Nashville,  630; 
defends  Franklin,  Temu,  630 ;  commands  23d  army  corps, 
655;  sent  with  23d  corps  to  the  Atlantic  coast,  670; 
placed  in  command  in  North  Carolina,  673 ;  commands 
department  of  North  Carolina,  682 ;  prepares  to  capture 
Wilmington,  682;  his  movements,  6S2;  at  Goldsboro, 
685^  in  the  advance  against  Johnston,  689. 

SCHTTRZ,  Maj.-Gen.  CARL — Commands  a  division  of  Howard's 
corps  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  379;  routed  by 
Jackson,  379 ;  commanding  llth  corps  at  Gettysburg,  400. 

SCOTT,  Lieut-Gen.  WINFIELD — Eeply  to  the  message 
brought  by  Col.  Taylor,  61 ;  retires  from  active  com- 
mand, 109;  letter  of  resignation,  109 ;  reply  of  President 
Lincoln,  110. 

SBDGWICK,  Maj.-Gen.  JOHN — In  the  battles  before  Bichmond, 
242 ;  at  Antietam,  271 ;  occupies  Bolivar  Heights,  802 ; 
commands  the  6th  corps  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville, 
878 ;  fights  at  Fredericksburg  and  near  Chancellorsville, 
879 ;  at  Gettysburg,  408 ;  attacks  at  Eappahannock  Station, 
471;  advances  from  Madison  Court  House,  522;  com- 
mands 6th  corps  of  Potomac  army,  549 ;  crosses  the  Eapi- 
dan,  552 ;  at  the  Wilderness  battle,  553 ;  at  Spottsylvania 
battle,  555;  killed,  656;  biographical  notice  of,  777. 

SEMITES,  Capt.  BAPHAEL — Commands  the  Snmter,  276 ;  the 
Alabama,  276 ;  vessels  destroyed  by  his  orders,  27&-27S ; 
cruises  in  the  Alabama,  439 ;  commands  the  Alabama, 
648. 

SEMMES,  Brig.-Gen. Biographical  notice  of,  762. 

Semmesport,  La. — Burned  by  Col.  Ellet,  509. 

SERGEANT,  Col.  WM.— Biographical  notice  of,  799. 

SewelFs  Poiwtf— Fight  between  batteries  and  gunboats,  52. 

SEYMOUR,  HORATIO— Governor  of  New  York,  890 ;  replies  to 
calls  for  troops,  891 ;  proclamation  to  New  York  rioters, 
417. 

SEYMOUR,  Brig.-Gen.  TRUMAN— One  of  the  garrison  of  Snm- 
ter, 21;  commands  in  the  Florida  expedition,  505 ;  in- 
structions to,  507;  defeated  at  Olustee,  507;  correspond- 
ence with  Finegan,  507,508;  at  the  Wilderness  battle, 
554;  in  the  battles  west  of  Petersburg,  695. 

BHACKELFORD,  Brig.-Gen. Pursues  and  captures  Mor- 
gan, 409 ;  under  Burnside,  457 ;  at  Cumberland  Gap,  468. 

SHALER,  Brig.-Gen.  A. — Commands  4th  brigade  1st  division 
'  6th  corps,  549 ;  at  the  Wilderness  battle,  555. 

SHAEKEY,  W.  L. — Provisional  Governor  of  Miss.,  711. 

SHAW,  Col.  E.  G. — An  assault  against  Wagner,  474;  biogra- 
phical notice  of,  763. 


SHEPLEY,  Brig.-Gen.  GEORGE  F.— Military  Governor  of  New 
Orleans,  201 ;  appointed  military  Governor  of  Eichmond, 
693;  his  orders,  693. 

SHERIDAN,  Maj.-Gen.  PHILIP  H.— At  the  battle  of  Murfrees- 
boro,  297 ;  commands  an  expedition  in  Tennessee,  458 ; 
advances  with  Eosecrans,  455 ;  at  Salem,  457 ;  at  Chick- 
amauga, 463;  causes  the  "Assembly"  to  be  blown  at 
Chickamauga,  465 ;  takes  command  of  the  cavalry  of  Poto- 
mac army,  549 ;  near  Wilderness,  553  ;  expedition  to  the 
James  Eiver,  572;  moves  to  the  Pamunkey,  572;  re- 
pulses Hoko  at  Coal  Harbor,  573;  attacked  near  the 
White  House,  580 ;  raid  to  the  Virginia  Central  Eailroad, 
584;  his  report,  584;  ordered  to  command  in  the  Shenan- 
doah  valley,  589 }  in  the  feint  upon  Eichmond,  589 ;  po- 
sition of  his  command,  624 ;  attacks  Early,  624 ;  his  report 
624 ;  attacks  Early  at  Fisher's  Hill,  626 ;  his  report,  626 ; 
advances  up  the  valley,  626 ;  report  of  his  march  to  Wood- 
stock, 626 ;  destruction  of  property,  626 ;  report  of  the 
battle  of  Cedar  Eun,  627 ;  promoted  to  a  major-general, 
628 ;  ordered  to  join  Gen.  Grant,  686 ;  his  movements,  636 ; 
report  from  Charlotte sville,  686;  arrives  before  Peters- 
burg, 687 ;  5th  corps  placed  under  his  command,  690 ;  at 
Dinwiddie,  690 ;  at  battles  west  of  Petersburg,  690 ;  oper- 
•  ations  against  Lee's  army,  694 ;  his  despatch  to  Grant, 

694. 

Shenandocth — Her  destructive  cruise,  708. 
SHBRMAN,  Brig.-Gen.  T.  W. — Commands  miliary  force  against 
Port  Eoyal,  108 ;  its  success,  109 ;  in  command  in  South 
Carolina,  120 ;  commands  a  division  of  Grant's  army,  172 ; 
commands  a  division  in  Banks'  army,  868;  expedition 
from  New  Orleans,  868;  marches  to  the]  rear  of  Port 
Hudson,  369. 

SHHRMAN,  Maj.-Gen.  WILLIAM  T. — In  command  at  Bull  Eun, 
68 ;  in  command  in  Kentucky,  93 ;  on  a  reconnoissance  to 
Columbus,  162 ;  takes  command  at  Memphis,  170 ;  orders, 
170 ;  further  orders,  171 ;  takes  the  field  in  December, 
171 ;  position  at  Shiloh,  173 ;  advances  on  Corinth,  179 ; 
causes  Bear  Creek  bridge  to  bo  destroyed,  179 ;  orders 
the  destruction  of  Eandolph,  Tennessee,  189 ;  at  Memphis, 
296;  prepares  an  expedition  against  Vicksburg,  296; 
statement  of  the  importance  of  the  possession  of  the 
Mississippi  Eiver,  331 ;  embarks  at  Memphis  for  Vicks- 
burg, 832 ;  his  plan  to  attack  Vicksburg,  832;  attacks  the 
bluffs,  833,  884;  withdraws,  385;  address  to  his  troops, 
835 ;  advance  against  Arkansas  Point,  836 ;  returns,  838 ; 
makes  a  demonstration  on  Haines'  Bluff,  348;  joins  the 
rest  of  the  army  at  Hawkinson  Ferry,  349 ;  advances  along 
the  Big  Black  Eiver,  351 ;  destroys  railroads  and  bridges 
at  Jackson,  854;  ordered  to  march  toward  Bridgport, 
855 ;  takes  possession  of  Walnut  Hills,  355 ;  moves  in  pur- 
suit of  Johnston,  863 ;  ordered  to  command  Department 
of  Tennessee,  466;  moving  from  Memphis  to  Chatta- 
nooga, 466;  at  Bridgport,  467;  his  movements,  467; 
marches  for  Knoxville,  470;  turns  Longstreet's  flank, 
470;  march  from  Eastport  to  Chattanooga,  486;  letter  to 
commanders  of  military  on  treatment  of  the  inhabitants, 
499 ;  expedition  to  Meridian,  500 ;  address  to  his  troops 
at  Meridian,  502 ;  orders,  502 ;  report  of  destruction  done, 
502;  assigned  to  the  military  division  of  the  Mississippi, 
524 ;  prepares  to  advance  on  Atlanta,  525 ;  commences  his 
advance,  528;  crosses  Oostanaula  Eiver,  530;  at  Kene- 
saw  Mountain,  534 ;  at  Marietta,  534 ;  across  the  Chatta- 
hoochee, 535;  at  Atlanta,  535 ;  destroys  West  Point  Bail- 
road,  542 ;  address  to  his  troops  after  the  capture  of  At- 
lanta, 545;  correspondence  with  Hood  respecting  Atlanta, 
545,  546 ;  makes  a  truce,  546 ;  letter  on  the  removal  of  the 
people,  568 ;  goes  to  the  relief  of  Corse,  610 ;  watches  the 
movements  of  Hood,  610;  takes  measures  to  thwart 
Hood,  610 ;  his  plans,  612 ;  sends  the  4th  and  28d  corps  to 
reenforce  Thomas  in  Tennessee,  612 ;  retains  the  14th, 


838 


INDEX   OF  CONTENTS. 


15th,  16th,  17th,  and  20th  corps,  612;  moves  his  army  to 
Eome,  612 ;  prepares  to  march  to  Savannah,  012 ;  order 
of  march  for  Savannah,  613;  commences  his  march  to 
Savannah,  615;  hj£  order,  615;  at  Milledgeville,  618; 
communicates  with  the  fleet  below  Savannah,  620 ;  de- 
termines to  reduce  Fort  McAllister,  620 ;  orders  to  Gen. 
llazen,  621 ;  despatch  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  621 ;  letter 
to  President  Lincoln  on  the  surrender  of  Savannah,  622 ; 
order  for  the  government  of  Savannah,  623 ;  prepares  to 
march  through  the  Carolinas,  673 ;  his  plans,  678;  begins 
his  march  from  Savannah,  673 ;  reply  to  Wheeler,  676 ; 
enters  Columbia,  677;  his  report,  677;  on  the  burning  of 
Columbia,  677 ;  letter  to  Wade  Hampton,  680 ;  report  of 
his  position,  681 ;  his  movements  near  Bentonsvillft,  634, 
635 ;  arrives  with  his  army  at  Goldsboro,  685 ;  advances 
against  Johnston,  698;  reply  to  Johnston,  698;-  inter- 
view, 699 ;  despatch  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  699 ;  report 
of  interview,  699 ;  terms,  700 ;  report  on  the  terms,  701 ; 
receives  the  surrender  of  Johnston,  701 ;  farewell  to  his 
troops,  706. 

SHIELDS,  Brig. -Gen.  JAMES — Follows  the  retreat  of  Jackson, 
209 ;  falls  back,  209 ;  fights  a  battle  at  Winchester,  209 ; 
ordered  to  join  McDowell,  229;  his  movements,  229; 
pursues  the  enemy  up  the  east  side  of  the  Shenandoah 
valley,  238. 

Ship  Island — Works  on  destroyed,  53 ;  military  operations 
at  in  June,  1861, 101. 

SIBLKT,  Brig. -Gen.  HENRY  H. — Surrenders  to  Col.  Van  Dorn 
in  Texas,  85;  operations  against  the  northwestern  In- 
dians, 316;  campaign  against  the  Indians,  484;  in  com- 
mand against  the  Indians,  631. 

SIBLET,  Brig.-Gen. Marches  against  Fort  Craig,  812. 

SICKLES,  Maj.-Gen.  DANIEL  E. — Commands  a  part  of  Gen. 
Hooker's  division,  120 ;  in  the  battles  before  Eichmond, 
246 ;  east  of  the  Blue  Eidge,  802 ;  commands  the  3d  corps 
at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  878;  at  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg,  401 ;  wounded,  403. 

SIGEL,  Maj.-Gen.  FKANZ — Commands  a  force  at  Carthage, 
61 ;  in  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,  82 ;  commands  under 
Gen.  Fremont,  89 ;  in  command  under  Gen.  Curtis,  156, 
157 ;  at  the  battle  of  Pea  Eidge,  158 ;  position  of  his  com- 
mand, 256 ;  advances  to  Cedar  Mountain,  259 ;  east  of 
the  Blue  Eidge,  802;  commands  the  llth  corps,  803; 
makes  an  advance  at  Fredericksburg,  872;  commands 
department  of  Western  Virginia,  550 ;  advances  upon 
Staunton,  Va.,  562 ;  defeated  by  Breckinridge,  563 ;  re- 
lieved of  his  command,  569 ;  evacuates  Martinsburg,  585 ; 
defeated  at  Leetown,  585. 

SILL,  Brig.-Gen.  J.  W.— Biographical  notice  of,  744. 

Silver  Spring,  D.  C. — Confederate  cavalry  appear  at,  898. 

SLACK,  Brig.-Gen.  JAMES  E. — Takes  command  at  Memphis, 
169 ;  proceedings,  170. 

SLACK,  G.  W.  Y.— Biographical  notice  of,  727. 

SLAUGHTER,  Brig.-Gen.  JAMES  ]J. — Pursues  Col.  Barret,  706. 

Slaves— Questions  raised  in  1862, 152 ;  is  the  negro  a  citizen  ? 
152;  opinion  of  Attorney-General  Bates,  152 ;  his  posi- 
tion in  Massachusetts,  152 ;  proceedings  in  Illinois,  153 ; 
instructions  to  the  marshal  of  the  District  of  Columbia 
relative  to  slaves,  153 ;  order  of  Gen.  Halleck,  153 ;  do. 
of  Gen.  Curtis,  153  ;  do.  of  Gen.  Hunter,  153 ;  do.  of  Gen. 
Williams,  153 ;  instructions  of  Secretary  Stanton  rela- 
tive to  the  slaves,  153 ;  social  experiment  with  the 
negroes,  154;  education,  154;  field  work,  154 ;  organiza- 
tion as  soldiers,  154 ;  letter  of  Gen.  Hunter  in  answer  to 
a  resolution  of  Congress,  154 ;  orders  of  Gen.  Lane,  155 ; 
colonization,  165 ;  removal  to  the  New  England  States 
proposed,  155.  See  Freedmen. 

SLEMMER,  Brig.-Gen.  A.  J.— Occupies  Fort  Pickens,  99. 

SLIDELL,  JOHN— Captured  in  the  British  steamer  Trent,  110; 
how  released,  112. 


SLOCTJM,  Maj.-Gen.  HESBT  W.— Commands  a  division  of 
Franklin's  corps,  2C9;  battle  at  Crampton's  Gap,  »69; 
commands  the  12th  corps,  377 ;  advances  toward  Kelly's 
Ford,  877 ;  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  378 ;  position 
at  Gettysburg,  401 ;  at  Vicksbnrg,  541 ;  succeeds  Gen. 
Hooker  before  Atlanta,  541 ;  on  Chattahoochee,  548 :  seuda 
a  column  into  Atlanta,  543 ;  garrisons  Atlanta,  610 ;  com- 
mands left  wing  of  Sherman's  army,  613 ;  order  to  his 
troops,  613;  commands  20th  corps  under  Sherman,  613 ; 
moves  in  the  direction  of  Augusta,  615;  march  to  Savan- 
nah, 615;  seizes  Hutchinson  Island,  622;  ordered  to 
rendezvous  near  Eobertsville,  673 ;  in  Sherman's  march 
through  the  Carolinas,  675 ;  advances,  675 ;  at  Averys- 
boro  battle,  688 ;  at  Bentonsville  battle,  684,  6So ;  in  the 
advance  against  Johnston,  698. 

SLOCUM,  Col.  J.  S. — Biographical  -notice  of,  722. 

SLOTTGH,  CoL Commands  a  Colorado  regiment,  318 ; 

fights  with  the  Texans,  313. 

SMALL,  EOBEET — Eons  away  with  a  Confederate  gunboat  at 
Charleston,  152. 

SMITH,  Lieut-Col.  A. — Biographical  notice  of,  759. 

SMITH,  Maj.-Gen.  ANDREW  J. — At  the  attack  on  Chickasaw 
Bluffs,  883 ;  commands  a  division  under  Sherman  against 
Vicksburg,  338 ;  remains  at  Vicksburg,  834 ;  embarks  to 
Join  the  fleet  on  Eed  Eiver,  509 ;  near  Mansfield,  510 ;  at 
Pleasant  Hill,  510 ;  at  Cairo,  629 ;  ordered  to  Missouri, 
629 ;  near  Nashville,  630  ;  falls  back,  630 ;  in  command 
against  Mobile,  703. 

SMITH,  Maj.-Gen.  CHAS.  F. — Commands  a  division  in  Grant's 
army,  125;  lands  with  troops  opposite  Fort  Henry,  125 ; 
charges  upon  the  enemy  at  Fort  Donelson,  129 ;  advances 
up  the  Cumberland,  138 ;  biographical  notice  of,  729. 

SMITH,  Lieut -Gen.  E.  KIEBT — Attacks  Negley  near  Chatta- 
nooga, 185;  advances  from  East  Tennessee  into  Ken- 
tucky, 282;  his  division  a  part  of  Braggs'  army,  288; 
address  to  the  Kentuckians,  288;  occupies  the  State 
capital,  283 ;  at  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  297 ;  in  com- 
mand in  Texas,  499 ;  order  to  his  forces  in  Texas,  705 ; 
surrenders  his  army  to  Gen.  Canby,  706. 

SMITH,  Brig.-Gen.  GILES  A. — Commands  a  division  of  17th 
corps,  538 ;  at  Atlanta,  538 ;  commands  a  division  under 
Blair,  676;  in  Sherman's  march  through  the  Carolinas, 
676 ;  commands  a  division  of  14th  corps,  678 ;  on  the  first 
occupation  of  Columbia,  678. 

SMITH,  Brig.-Gen.  GEEEN  C. — Defeats  John  Morgan,  282 ; 
in  command  in  Buell'B  army,  288. 

SMITH,  Maj.-Gen.  G.  W.~-In  command  under  Johnston,  241 ; 
in  command  at  Augusta,  678 ;  made  a  prisoner  at  Macon, 
703. 

SMITH,  Col.  J.  L.  K.— Biographical  notice  of,  739. 

SMITH,  Capt.  MELANCTHON — In  the  battle  below  N.  Orleans, 
194;  commands  in  North  Carolina  Sounds,  638;  com- 
mands Frigate  Mississippi,  865;  her  destruction  before 
Port  Hudson,  365. 

SMITH,  Brig.-Gen.  MORGAN  L. — Commands  a  division  under 
Sherman,  against  Vicksbnrg,  833 ;  wounded  at  Vicksburg, 
833 ;  commands  Logan's  corps  at  Atlanta,  538. 

SMITH,  Brig.-Gen.  P. — Biographical  notice  of,  767. 

SMITH,  Maj.-Gen.  WILLIAM  F.— Commands  a  division  in  Mc- 
Clellan's  army,  in  Keyes'  corps,  220 ;  advances  from  York- 
town,  220 ;  encounters  the  enemy,  221;  in  the  battles  before 
Eichmond,  246 ;  commands  a  division  of  Sumner's  corps, 
271 ;  at  Antietam,  272 ;  at  Fredericksbnrg,  807 ;  under 
Couch,  405;  commands  18th  corps,  650;  movements 
near  Petersburg,  568  ;  moves  against  Danville  Railroad, 
567 ;  reenforces  Gen.  Grant,  578  ;  at  Coal  Harbor  battle, 
675 ;  embarks  at  white  House  for  the  James  Eiver,  576 ; 
at  Petersburg,  577 ;  relieved  from  command,  589. 

SMITH,  Brig. -Gen.  W.  8.— Expedition  to  join  Gen.  Sherman, 
502. 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


839 


SMYTH,  Brig.-Gen.  THOMAS  A.— Commands  2d  brigade  1st 
division  2d  corps,  549 ;  at  Coal  Harbor  battle,  576 ;  ad- 
vance on  Hatcher's  Run,  671 ;  biographical  notice  of,  799. 

SNYDEB,  Capt.  GEO.  "W. — One  of  the  garrison  of  Sumter,  21 ; 
biographical  notice  of,  726. 

SOLOMON,  Brig.-Gen.  FBEDEBIO — In  the  battle  at  Carthage, 
61 ;  commands  an  expedition  into  the  Indian  territory, 
313;  at  Saline  Kiver,  516. 

South  Carolina — Secession  of,  3 ;  meeting  of  the  Convention, 
3 ;  adjourns  to  Charleston,  4 ;  committee  to  draft  a  seces- 
sion ordinance,  4;  resolution  relative  to  State  property, 
4 ;  state  of  affairs,  4 ;  ordinance  of  secession,  5 ;  signing 
the  ordinance,  5 ;  State  oath  of  allegiance,  5 ;  cabinet  of 
Gov.  Pickens,  5;  military  preparations,  5;  situation  of 
the  forts  in  Charleston  harbor,  6 ;  demand  for  their  sur- 
render, 6. 

South  Mountain— Battle  of,  269. 

Spanish  fort— Near  Mobile,  surrender  of,  704. 

SPEAK,  Brig.-Gen. Sent  to  destroy  the  railroad  at  Wil- 
son's Station,  568. 

SPINOLA,  Brig.-Gen.  FRANCIS  8.— Reports  for  orders,  525. 

Spotttylvania  Court  House— Battle  at,  555,  556,  558,  559. 

Springfield,  Mo.— Capture  of,  156. 

St.  Albany  Vt  —  Raid  upon,  by  Confederates  in  Canada,  632. 

St.  Andreics — Boat  expedition  at,  152. 

St.  Charles,  _4r£.— Attack  on  the  fleet  near,  163 ;  captured, 
169, 338. 

St.  Lawrence— Frigate,  captures  the  Petrel,  61. 

St.  Louis — Arms  removed  from  the  arsenal  at,  to  Spring- 
field, Illinois,  51. 

STAFFORD,  L.  A. — Biographical  notice  of,  779. 

STAHEL,  Maj.-Gen.  Jtrmrs  H. — Commands  under  Fremont, 
288 ;  commands  reserves  at  Cross  Keys,  239. 

STANLEY,  EDWARD— Appointed  Provisional  Governor  of 
W.  C.,  143 ;  his  instructions,  143 ;  proceedings,  143. 

STANLEY,  Maj.-Gen.  DAVID  S. — In  command  under  Eose- 
crans  in  Miss.,  291 ;  in  command  under  Rosecrans,  453 ; 
at  Huntsville,  456 ;  at  Resaca,  attacked  by  Johnston,  529 ; 
at  Atlanta,  536 ;  succeed?  Howard  in  command  of  4th 
corps,  641 ;  commands  4th  army  corps,  655. 

BTANNABD,  Brig.-Gen.  George  J.— Commands  a  division  of 
the  10th  corps,  580. 

STANTON,  EDWIN  M.,  Secretary  of  War— Letter  of  thanks  on 
the  battle  of  Mill  Springs,  123 ;  instructions  to  Provisional 
Governor  Stanley,  143 ;  compliments  to  Gen.  Halleck, 
156;  appointed  Secretary  of  War,  208;  despatch  to  Gen. 
Shields,  209 ;  order  to  McDowell  to  protect  Washington, 
216 ;  on  reinforcements  to  McClellan,  227 ;  despatches  to 
Northern  Governors  on  the  advance  of  Jackson  up  the 
Shenandoah  valley,  235;  orders  railroads  to  be  taken 
possession  of,  236 ;  order  to  seize  and  use  property  of  the 
enemy,  325;  this  order  objected  to  by  Mr.  Davis,  825 ; 
despatch  relative  to  Chancellorsville  battle,  882 ;  orders 
telegraph  lines  to  be  taken  possession  of,  383 ;  letters  to 
Gov.  Seymour  of  New  York,  391,  892 ;  order  to  raise 
colored  troops  in  Massachusetts,  420 ;  despatches  relative 
to  battles  at  the  Wilderness,  556 ;  do.  of  Sherman.  556 ; 
others,  557, 558 ;  further  despatches,  560 ;  despatch  relative 
to  Butler's  operations,  568 ;  despatches  relative  to  Grant's 
operations,  570,  571 ;  despatches  of  the  battle  near  Coal 
Harbor,  575 ;  his  despatches,  592 ;  order  on  receiving  the 
news  of  Lee's  surrender,  697 ;  rejects  Sherman's  terms 
to  Johnston,  700. 

STAPLES,  Rev.  N.  A.— Biographical  notice  of,  772. 

Star  of  the  West— Fired  on  at  Charleston,  21. 

STABK,  Brig.-Gen. Biographical  notice  of,  736. 

STBDMAN,  Brig.-Gen.  G.  A. — Biographical  notice  of,  783. 

STEKDMAN,  Maj.-Gen.  James  B. — In  command  at  Chatta- 
nooga, 544;  pursues  Wheeler,  544;  at  the  battle  neur 
Nashville,  630. 


STEELE,  Maj.-Gen.  FREDERICK— Takes  command  at  Helena, 
Ark.,  160 ;  commands  a  division  under  Sherman  against 
Vieksburg,  833;  lands  above  Chickasaw  Bayou,  833; 
moves  to  Helena,  865;  at  Helena,  483;  captures  Little 
Rock,  Ark.,  483;  his  further  movements,  483;  his 
march  from  Little  Rock  to  reenforce  Gen.  Banks  515;  in 
command  at  Pensacola,  704 ;  moves  against  Mobile,  704. 

STEEN  (or  STEIN),  Gen.  A.  E.— Biographical  notice  of,  741. 

STEINWEHR,  Brig.-Gen.  A.  VON — In  command  at  Gettys- 
burg, 401. 

STELLWAOEN,  Capt Attacked  by  rams  at  Charleston, 

444. 

STEMBEL,  Commander Kills  a  Confederate  pilot,  166 ; 

wounded  by  another,  166. 

STEPHENS,  ALEXANDER  H. — Chosen  Vice-President  by  the 
Congress  at  Montgomery,  14;  speech  on  taking  the 
chair,  15 ;  makes  a  convention  between  the  Confederate 
States  and  Virginia,  89 ;  states  result  of  the  action  at 
Sewall's  Point,  52 ;  speech  at  Atlanta,  55 ;  sent  to  For- 
tress Monroe  as  a  Peace  Commissioner,  666. 

STEPHENS,  Commander Commands   a  night  assault 

on  Sumter,  479. 

STEUBEN,  BABON  VON — Biographical  notice  of,  779. 

STEVENS,  Brig.-Gen.  G.  M. — Biographical  notice  of,  786. 

STEVENS,  Maj.-Gen.  ISAAC  I.— In  command  against  Port 
Royal,  108;  in  command  at  Port  Royal,  259;  joins  Gen. 
Pope,  259;  killed  at  Chantilly,  265;  biographical  notice 
of,  734. 

STBVENS,  THADDETTS — Offers  a  bill  in  Congress  to  raise 
colored  troops,  420. 

STEVENS,  Col.  W.  O. — Biographical  notice  of,  751. 

STEVENSON,  Brig.-Gen.  T.  G. — Commands  in  the  9th  corps, 
555 ;  at  the  Wilderness  battle,  555 ;  biographical  notice 
of,  778. 

STEWART,  Brig.-Gen. Commands  a  division  of  Har- 

dee's  corps,  504;  moves  to  reenforce  Gen.  Polk,  504;  at 
Atlanta,  537 ;  attacks  Logan  at  Atlanta,  541. 

STEWART,  Brig.-Gen.  G.  H.— Captured  at  Spottsylvania,  559. 

STEWART,  K.,  M.D. — Biographical  notice  of,  774 

STBWABT,  Lieut.-Col.  W. — Biographical  notice  of,  747. 

Stone  Blockade — At  Charleston  harbor,  113 ;  details,  118 ; 
effects,  114. 

STONE,  Brig.-Gen.  C.  P. — In  command  on  the  Upper  Potomac, 
102 ;  movements  before  the  battle  of  Balls'  Bluff,  102 ; 
orders  to  Col.  Baker  at  Balls'  Bluff,  104, 105 ;  report  of 
battle  of  Balls'  Bluff,  107;  arrives  at  Alexandria,  La.,  509. 

STONE,  Col. Commands  25th  Iowa,  677 ;  receives  the 

surrender  of  Columbia,  677 ;   commands  a  brigade  in 
Sherman's  march  through  the  Carolinas,  677. 

Stone  River — See  Murfreesboro. 

STONE,  W.  M. — Governor  of  Iowa,  550 ;  tenders  militia,  550. 

STONEMAN,  Maj.-Gen.  GEORGE — Leads  the  advance  from 
Torktown,  220 ;  his  movements,  221 ;  expedition  to  the  ' 
fords  of  the  Rapidan,  8J7 ;  crosses  the  Rapidan,  378 ; 
sent  to  cut  Lee's  commumcations,  at  the  battle  of  Chan- 
cellorsville, 878;  his  cavalry  movements  connected 
with  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  380;  pursues  John- 
ston, 530 ;  pushed  forward  to  Allatoona  Pass,  531 ;  com- 
mands a  cavalry  expedition  against  Georgia  Central 
Railroad,  539,  540 ;  compelled  to  surrender,  541 ;  expe- 
dition in  East  Tennessee,  629 ;  commands  an  expedition 
from  East  Tennessee  to  North  Carolina,  696  :  arrives  at 
Boone  Court  House,  696  ;  account  of  his  march,  696. 

STOKER,  GEO.  W. — Biographical  notice  of,  772. 

STOXTGHTON,  Brig.-Gen. — Captured  at  Fairfax  Court  House, 
376. 

Stradburg — Battle  at,  under  Fremont,  238.        . 

STREIGHT,  Col.  ABEL  D. — His  expedition  in  Northern  Georgia, 
458 ;  his  movements,  454 ;  capture.  454 ;  imprisonment, 
454 ;  biographical  notice  ol,  788. 


840 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


STRIBLING,  Com.  CORNELIUS  K. — Commands  East  Gulf  squad- 
ron, 686. 

STBINGHAM,  Bear.-Ad.  SILAS  H. — Commands  naval  force 
against  forts  at  Hatteras  Inlet,  83. 

STRONG,  Brig. -Gen.  GEO.  C.— Advance  on  Morris  Island  against 
Wagner,  474;  wounded,  474,  retires,  474;  biographical 
notice  of,  764. 

STUART,  Gen.  DAVID— Commands  M.  L.  Smith's  division  after 
the  latter  was  wounded,  838. 

STITABT,  Maj.-Gen.  J.  E.  B. — marches  in  the  rear  of  McClel- 
lan's  army,  245;  dashes  upon  Catlett's  Station,  260;  oc- 
cupies Chambersburg,  300 ;  at  Fredericksburg  battle. 
807;  at  Beverly  Ford,  Ta.,  8S4;  at  Culpepper,  385 ;  his 
movements,  898;  commands  a  division  in  Bragg's  army, 
460 ;  moves  with  Lee,  470 ;  commands  cavalry  at  Wilder- 
ness, 553 ;  attacks  the  Federal  cavalry  near  Ashland,  562 ; 
killed,  562  ;  biographical  notice  of,  779. 

Summersmlle — Surprise  of  Col.  Tyler  at,  82. 

SUMXEB,  Maj.-Gen.  EDWIN  V. — Moves  for  Fortress  Monroe, 
212 ;  in  the  battles  before  Richmond,  241 ;  at  Antietam, 
271 ;  commands  the  right  grand  division  under  Burn- 
side,  303 ;  advances  to  Fredericksburg,  803 ;  demands  its 
surrender,  804 ;  correspondence  with  the  Mayor,  804 ; 
at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  807;  relieved  of  com- 
mand in  the  Potomac  army,  373 ;  biographical  notice  of, 
747. 

Sumter— Confederate  cruiser,  275 ;  her  fate,  275. 
*  Sumter,  Fort — Correspondence  between  Secretary  Walker 
and  Gen.  Beauregard  relative  to  demanding  a  surrender 
of  Maj.  Anderson,  20 ;  work  on  the  fort  in  1860,  62 ;  oc- 
cupied by  Maj.  Anderson,  27  ;  strength  of  the  garrison, 
21 ;  Star  of  the  West,  21 ;  proceedings  at  Washington 
relative  to  the  surrender  of  the  fort,  21,  22 ;  surrender 
demanded  by  Gen.  Beauregard,  22 ;  assault  on  the  fort 
commenced,  23 ;  its  siege,  23-25 ;  its  surrender  by  Maj. 
Anderson,  26;  the  force  sent  for  relief,  26;  attacked  by 
iron-clads,  447 ;  fire  opened  upon  by  Gillmore,  476;  night 
assault,  479. 

^       SWEENEY,  Brig.-Gen.  THOMAS  W. — Commands  a  division  at 
'•          Atlanta,  533. 

STKES,  Maj.-Gen.  GEOEGE — Commands  at  Bull  Eun,  68 ;  in 
the  battles  before  Eichmond,  246 ;  commands  the  2d 
division  of  Meade's  corps  at  the  battle  of  Chancellors- 
ville,  878 ;  at  Gettysburg,  401  ;  reports  for  orders,  525 ; 
ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Curtis  in  Kansas,  549. 


TALBOTT,  THEO. — One  of  the  garrison  of  Sumter,  21, 

TALLMADGE,  Capt.  <§•. — Biographical  notice  of,  739. 

TATNALL,  Com. — Commands  Confederate  tleet  at  Port  Koyal, 
109 ;  repulsed  by  gunboats  on  the  Savannah  Eiver,  145. 

TAYLOE,  Col. — Bears  a  message  from  Mr.  Davis  to  the  Fed- 
eral lines,  61 ;  nature  of  thcletter  brought  by  him,  115. 

TAYLOR,  Col.  C.  F.— Biographi<$l  notice  of,  761. 

TAYLOE,  Brig.-Gen.  Z.  B. — Commands  a  brigade  of  Frank- 
lin's division,  261;  advances  from  Alexandria  toward 
Manassas,  261 ;  biographical  notice  of,  734. 

TAYLOB,  Lieut.-Gen.  EICHARD — Commands  in  opposition  to 
Banks  in  Louisiana,  367;  orders  to,  867;  commands  at 
Shreveport,  La.,  5Q9  ;  in  command  at  Mansfield,  La.,  510 ; 
relieves  Gen.  Hood  in  command,  673;  defends  Mobile, 
703 ;  surrenders  his  army  to  Gen.  Canby,  704. 

Tazewell,  Tenn  — Battle  at,  284. 

Tecumseh — An  iron-clad,  sunk  by  a  torpedo,  646. 

Tennessee — Eeply  of  the  Governor  to  the  call  for  troops,  28 ; 
public  sentiment,  44 ;  action  of  the  Legislature,  45 ;  vote 
relative  to  Convention,  45 ;  reply  of  the  Governor  to  the 
call  for  troops,  45 ;  1 2assembling  of  the  Legislature,  46 ; 
enters  into  a  military  league  with  the  Confederate  States, 


46;  declaration  of  Independence,  and  ordinance  of  seces- 
sion, 46 ;  military  preparations,  47 ;  vote  on  the  ordinance 
of  separation,  47 ;  treatment  of  Union  men  in  East  Ten- 
nessee, 48 ;  effect  of  the  call  for  troops  on  the  Northern 
States,  48;  troops  in  the  western  part  of  the  State,  59 ; 
their  commanders,  59. 

Tennessee — A  ram  captured  in  Mobile  Bay,  647. 

TEBEILL,  Gen.  W.  B.— BiographicalTiotice  of,  789. 

TERBY,  Maj.-Gen.  ALFRED  H. — Commands  expedition  to  cut 
Charleston  and  Savannah  Bailroad,  310;  commands  a 
division  of  the  10th  corps,  565 ,  against  Weldon  Eailroad, 
565 ;  reconnoitres  in  front  of  Butler's  position,  577;  com- 
mands 10th  corps,  589 ;  commands  second  expedition 
against  Fort  Fisher,  643;  his  movements,  644,  645;  his 
position  on  the  arrival  of  Schofield,  682 ;  pushes  forward, 
642 ;  secures  the  crossing  of  the  Neuse,  683. 

TERBY,  Col. Killed  at  Munfordsville,  Ky.,  98. 

TEKBEY,  Brig.-Gen.  W.  E.— Biographical  notice  of,  797. 

Texas — Legislature  convened,  88 ;  action  relative  to  a  State 
Convention,  33 ;  vote  of  the  State  for  members  of  th« 
convention,  34 ;  convention  assembles,  84 ;  ordinance  of 
secession  adopted,  34 ;  referred  to  a  vote  of  the  people, 
34 ;  result,  34 ;  Federal  troops  in  Texas. 

THATCHER,  Bear- Ad.  H.  K.— Commands  West  Gulf  squadron, 
636 ;  commands  the  fleet  at  the  capture  of  Mobile,  704 ; 
receives  the  surrender  of  Com.  Farrand,  705. 

THAYEE,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  M. — Commands  a  brigade  of 
Steele's  division  against  Vicksburg,  333 ;  supports  Gen. 
Blair,  834;  in  command  at  Fort  Smith,  515;  marches  to 
join  Steele,  515;  at  Sabine  Eiver,  516. 

THOBTJBN,  CoL  J. — Biographical  notice  of,  792. 

THOMAS,  F.  J.— Biographical  notice  of,  722. 

THOMAS,  Maj.-Gen.  GEO.  H.— Sent  by  Gen.  Bnell  to  attack 
Zollicoffer,  123;  his  success,  123;  commands  a  division 
of  Gen.  Buell's  army,  124 ;  his  movements,  125 ;  commands 
a  corps  of  Eosecrans1  army,  296 ;  at  the  battle  of  Mur- 
freesboro,  297;  commands  the  14th  corps,  452;  advances 
against  Bragg,  456 ;  his  movements,  467 ;  movements  of 
his  corps  in  Georgia,  460 ;  at  Chickamauga,  462 ;  appointed 
to  command  of  Cumberland  dept.,  466 ;  his  movements, 
467 ;  at  Chattanooga,  467 ;  commands  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land, 526;  advances  toward  Tunnel  11111,528;  occupies 
Besaca,  530 ;  moves  toward  Cassville,  581 ;  at  Atlanta,  585; 
in  command  in  Tennessee,  612;  sent  to  Nashville  in 
command,  610;  falls  back  to  Nashville,  630;  defends 
Nashville,  630 ;  report  of  first  day's  battle  near  Nashville, 
630 ;  report  of  the  retreat  of  Gen.  Hood,  631 ;  pursues 
Hood,  670. 

THOMAS,  Col. Biographical  notice  of,  770. 

TIBBALL,  Col. Chief  of  artillery  2d  corps,  549. 

TILGHMAN,  Brig.-Gen.  L. — Surrenders  Fort  Henry,  127; 
commands  at  Fort  Pemberton,  844 ;  repulses  the  attack 
of  gunboats,  344;  killed  at  Vicksburg,  862 ;  biographical 
notice  of,  757. 

TILUNGHAST,  Capt.  O.  II. — Biographical  notice  of,  722. 

TILLMAN,  W. A  colored  steward,  62 ;  recaptures  the 

schooner  J.  G.  Waring,  62. 

TILTON,  Capt. Eeport  of  the  destruction  of  the  Vir- 
ginia by  the  cruiser  Alabama,  277. 

TOD,  DAVID — Governor  of  Ohio,  283 ;  his  proclamation  on  the 
invasion  of  Kentucky,  283 ;  calls  for  troops,  392. 

TOLAND,  Col. Conflict  in  East  Tennessee,  471. 

TOLLES,  Col.  C.  W.— Biographical  notice  of,  793. 

TOMPKINS,  Lieut. makes  a  dash  upon  Fairfax  Court 

House,  54. 

TOMPKINS,  Col.  C.  H.— Chief  of  artillery  6th  corps,  549. 

TONEBU,  Maj. Commands  at  Fayette  skirmish,  155. 

TOEBERT,  Brig.-Gen.  ALFRED  T.  A. — Commands  1st  brigade 
1st  division  6th  corps,  549 ;  reconnoissanec  to  Mechanics- 
ville,  572;  at  Opequan,  624. 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


841 


TOWER,  Capt.  LKVI— Biographical  notice  of,  722. 

TOWNSEND,  CoL At  Great  Bethel,  57. 

TRACY,  Brig. -Gen.  E.  D.— A  Confederate  general  killed  at 
Port  Gibson,  362 ;  biographical  notice  of,  749. 

TREMAINE,  Lieut.-CoL Biographical  notice  of,  796. 

TRENHOLM,  G.  A.— Appointed  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  at 
Eichmond,  656. 

Trent  Steamer— How  employed,  HO ;  passengers,  110;  board- 
ed by  officers  from  the  San  Jacinto,  110 ;  an  officer's  re- 
port, 110 ;  protest  of  Mason  and  Slidell,  111 ;  details,  111 ; 
excitement  produced,  111;  diplomatic  correspondence 
which  ensued,  111,  112. 

Tr&vilian— Conflict  at,  684;  Lee's  account,  584. 

TRTTMBITLL,  Senator  LYMAX-*-On  the  Federal  strength  at  Fort 
Donelson,  128;  on  the  movement  against  Eichmond,  213- 

TUCKER,  Col.  J.  M. — Biographical  notice  of,  731. 

TURNER,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  "W. — Commands  a  division  of  10th 
corps,  565;  against  Weldon  Bailroad,  565,  at  Five  Forks, 
691. 

TURNER,  CoL  THOMAS— Attacks  forts  at  Charleston,  447. 

TiMcaloosa—A.  tender  to  the  Alabama,  439. 

TWIGGS,,  Maj.Gen.  D.  E.— Surrender  of,  in  Texas,  34;  com- 
plete seizure  of  Federal  property,  35 ;  biographical  notice 
of,  735. 

TYLER,  C.  H. — Biographical  notice  of,  803. 

TYLER,  Brig.-Gen.  ERASTUB  B. — In  command  at  Bull  Bun,  68 ; 
fights  at  Port  Eepublic,  240 ;  at  Fredericksburg  battle, 
807;  refuses  to  surrender  Martinsburg,  889;  attacked, 
869 ;  retreats,  889 ;  at  Monocacy  Junction  battle,  587. 

TYRRELL,  Brig.-Gen. Killed  at  Perryville,  Ky.,  287. 

U 

United  States— Posture  of  affairs  in  the  inauguration  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  26 ;  call  for  troops,  27 ;  response  of  the  States, 
28 ;  appropriation  wanted  by  the  "War  and  Navy  Depart- 
ments in  July,  1861,  79 ;  their  position  relative  to  the 
insurrectionary  States,  114 ;  policy  of  the  Government, 
114;  action  relative  to  slave  property,  115;  do.  relative  to 
prisoners,  115 ;  the  foreign  policy,  115 ;  views  of  the  peo- 
ple at  the  beginning  of  1862, 116 ;  report  of  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  116 ;  military  movements  of  the  Govern- 
ment, 256;  proclamation  of  President  Lincoln  relative 
to  future  emancipation,  272;  finances,  273;  commerce, 
273;  forces  in  the  field,  273;  new  campaigns  contem- 
plated, 296;  emancipation  proclamation  of  President 
Lincoln,  818;  action  of  Congress  on  slavery,  819;  oath 
required  of  public  officers,  819 ;  policy  relative  to  ex- 
change of  prisoners,  825;  expenditures  for  arms  and 
munitions  of  war,  429;  hospitals  established  for  the 
armies,  421,  <fcc. ;  ordnance  and  small  arms,— improve- 
ments, 429 ;  progress  of  civil  affairs,  486 ;  President's 
message  on  public  affairs,  490 ;  amnesty  proclamation, 
491 ;  emancipation  and  its  effects,  492 ;  colored  troops, 
493 ;  leasing  plantations,  493 ;  status  of  the  insurrection- 
ary States,  494;  finances,  494;  the  cabinet,  495;  confisca- 
tion, 495 ;  views  of  the  people  on  peace,  657 ;  movements 
relative  to  peace,  657-666;  commerce,  666;  finances, 
666;  debt,  667. 

UPTON,  Brig.-Gen.  EMORY— Commands  2d  brigade  1st  divis- 
ion 6th  corps,  549 ;  commands  a  division  under  Wilson, 
708 ;  on  the  expedition  into  Alabama,  703 ;  sent  to  Au- 
gusta, 703. 


Vateerde,  New  Mexico — Battle  of,  813. 
VAN  BRUNT,  Com.  G.  J.-  -Biographical  notice  of,  770. 
Van  £uren,  Ark. — Capture  of,  814. 

VANCE,  Brig.-Gen. — Chosen  Governor    of    N.  C.  in  1862, 
142 ;  his  message,  142. 


VAN  CLEVE,  Brig.-Gen.  HORATIO  P.  —  In  the  battle  at  Webb's 
Cross-roads,  123;  in  command  in  Buell's  army,  288;  at 
Chickamauga,  462. 

YANDERBILT,  Capt.  G.  W.—  Biographical  notice  of,  771. 

VAN  CORN,  Maj.-Gen.  EARL  —  Eeceives  surrender  of  Federal 
troops  in  Texas,  85;  pursues  Federal  troops  under 
Lieut.-CoL  Eeeve,  35  ;  their  surrender,  35  ;  commands 
the  trans-Mississippi  department,  155;  commands  at 
battle  of  Elkhorn  or  Pea  Eidge,  158,  159;  letter  to  Gen. 
Curtis,  159  ;  marches  for  Corinth,  292  ;  the  battle,  292  ; 
captures  Holly  Springs  by  surprise,  295;  retires  further 
south,  295  ;  commands  in  Tennessee,  452  ;  attacks  Gran- 
ger, 453  ;  biographical  notice  of,  752. 

VAN  EENSELLAER,  Col.  H.  —  Biographical  notice  of,  774. 

VAN  VLECK,  Col.  C.—  Biographical  notice  of,  788. 

VAUGHAN,  Brig.-Gen.—  Defeated  by  Burbridge  in  East  Ten- 
nessee, 629. 

Vermont  —  Appropriates  a  million  dollars  to  war  purposes, 
51. 

Vicksburff  —  Refuses  to  surrender  to  Farragut's  fleet,  199  ; 
bombarded,  200;  fleet  pass  the  batteries,  200;  repass, 
200;  attack  on,  810;  strongly  fortified,  310  ;  arrival  of 
Grant  before,  838;  gunboats  and  transports  run  the 
batteries,  846  ;  invested  in  the  rear,  855  ;  siege  of,  356, 
857  ;  surrender  of,  by  Gen.  Pemberton,  360. 

VIELE,  Brig.-Gen.  EGBERT  S.—  In  command  against  Port 
BoyaL,  108  ;  military  governor  of  Norfolk,  223. 

VIENNA  —  Eepulse  of  Union  troops  at,  60. 

VILLIPIGUE,  Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  B.  —  Biographical  notice  of,  741. 

Virginia  —  Eeply  of  the  Governor  to  tho  call  for  troops, 
28  ;  State  convention  assembles,  36  ;  debate,  36  ;  effect  of 
the  capture  of  Fort  Sumter,  86  ;  ordinance  of  secession 
passed,  36  ;  vote,  87  ;  the  ordinance,  37  ;  Governor  calls 
for  troops,  87  ;  excitement  in  Eichmond,  87  ;  raising  the 
Southern  flag,  87  ;  seizure  of  Northern  steamers,  88  ; 
tenders  of  money  to  the  Governor,  38  ;  surplus  of  troops 
88;  the  State  joins  the  Southern  Confederacy,  88;  con- 
vention therewith,  89;  popular  vote  on  the  secession 
ordinance,  39  ;  arrivals  of  troops  from  the  South,  89  ; 
distributed  in  the  State,  89  ;  militia  called  out  for  de- 
fence  against  Northern  invasion,  51  ;  heights  in,  occupied 
by  troops  from  Washington,  53. 

Virginia  West  —  Public  meeting  of  Union  men,  89  ;  con- 
vention of,  assembles,  51  ;  steps  taken  to  organize  a 
State  Government,  319  ;  act  of  Congress  for  admission, 
320  ;  population  of  the  new  State,  820  ;  officers,  820. 


WADE,  Lieut-Col.  W.—  Biographical  nAice  of,  794 

WADKINS,  Brig.-Gen.  --  Biographical  notice  of,  791. 

WADSWOETH,  Brig.-Gen.  JAMES  S.  —  Commands  a  division  at 
Gettysburg,  400  ;  commands  4th  division  of  5th  corps, 
548  ;  at  the  Wilderness  Battle,  553  ;  killed  in  the  Wilder- 
ness battle,  554  ;  biographical  notice  ot,  777. 

WAINWHIGHT,  Commander  J.  M.  —  Commands  in  the  battle 
below  New  Orleans,  194  ;  commands  the  Harriet  Lane, 
811  ;  killed  at  Galveston,  811  ;  biographical  notice  of, 
745. 

WALCUTT,  Brig.-Gen.  CHARLES  C.  —  In  the  right  wing  of  the 
15th  corps,  615  ;  moves  toward  Griswaldsville,  615. 

WALKE,  Com.  --  Commands  the  Carondelet  at  Fort 
Henry,  127;  runs  past  the  batteries  at  Island  No.  10, 
165. 

WALKER,  Lieut.-Com.  J.  G.  —  Commands  the  gunboat  De 
Kalb,  386  ;  expedition  up  the  White  Eiver,  888  ;  com- 
mands an  expedition  to  Tazoo  City,  856;  his  report, 
356. 

WALKER,  Brig.-Gen.  L.  M.  —  Biographical  notice  ot,  765. 

WALKER,  Maj.-Gen.  WILLIAM  —  Marches  with  Jackson  to 


ISTDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


Ilarpcr's  I\  i-rr,  20S ;  resists  the  advance  of  Logan,  851 ;  . 
comma,  Is  ;i   >  ;vUion  of  Lee's  army,  372 ;  ordered  to 
La,..;,  i  >  aickamauga,  463;    biographical 

noti  -c  of,  7^0. 

WALLACE,  Maj.-Gen.  Lr.w is— Captures  a  body  of  Virginia 
troops  at  Eomney,  59;  commands  a  division  of  Grant's 
army,  1T2;  position  at  Crumps' Landing,  1T6;  in  com- 
mand in  Maryland,  585;  defeated  at  Monocacy  Junction, 
;  7;  takes  command  at  Covington,  Ky.,  283;  declares 
martial  law,  283 ;  commands  a  division  of  Grant's  army, 
12S ;  takes  chief  command  at  Memphis,  170 ;  seizes 
newspaper  offices,  170 ;  superseded  by  Gen.  Ord  at  Balti- 
more, 587. 

WALLACE,  Brig.-Gen.  W.  II.  L.— Charges  at  Fort  Donelson, 
129;  commands  a  division  in  Grant's  army,  173;  posi- 
tion at  Shiloh,  173 ;  biographical  notice  of,  729. 

Wanderer — Yacht  seized  by  a  Federal  crniser,  62. 

Wappoo  Creek,  S.  C. — Attack  on  the  forts  at,  151. 

War  0/1812— Battles  of,  2. 

War  with  Mexico — Battles  of,  2. 

War  Department—  Its  organization,  711. 

WAKD,  Commander  3.  H. — Attacks  batteries  at  Sewell's  Point, 
52 ;  attacks  the  batteries  at  Aquia  Creek  with  gunboats, 
54 ;  killed  at  Mathias1  Point,  61 ;  biographical  notice  of, 
720. 

WABD,  Brig.-Gen.  J.  IL — Commands  1st  brigade  8d  divis- 
ion 2d  corps,  549. 

WAED,  Gen.  "VV.  T. — Commands  a  brigade  in  Buell's  army, 
124 ;  commands  a  division  of  Slocum's  corps,  543 ; 
marches  into  Atlanta,  543 ;  at  Averysboro  battle,  684. 

WARE,  Dr.  E. Biographical  notice  of,  748. 

WAKREN,  Brig.-Gen.  FITZ  HENRY — In  command  in  Missouri, 
481. 

WABEEN,  Maj.-Gen.  G.  K. — Commands  Meade's  rear-guard, 
470;  attacked  by  Hill,  470;  commands  5th  corps,  548; 
advances  to  the  fords  of  the  Rapidan,  552 ;  at  the  "Wilder- 
ness battle,  553 ;  at  Spottsylvania  battle,  555 ;  position 
of  his  command,  572;  attacked,  573;  at  Petersburg,  578; 
commands  an  expedition  against  the  Weldon  Eailroad, 
631 ;  advance  on  Hatcher's  Eun,  671 ;  advances  from 
Hatcher's  Kun,  6SS;  advances  on  the  White  Oak  Boad, 
690;  relieved,  691. 

Warrington,  Fla.—Tho  village  burned,  100. 

WASHBURN,  Brig.-Gen.  C.  C. — In  command  under  Gen.  Ho- 
vey,  295 ;  in  command  at  the  siege  of  Vlckeburg,  859. 

Washington — Communications  with  the  North  restored,  83 ; 
preparations  for  defence,  83 ;  on  the  first  call  for  troops, 
43 :  proclamation  of  the  Mayor,  43 ;  communication  with 
the  North  closed,  48 ;  arrival  of  the  New  York  7th  regi- 
ment, 48 ;  do.  if  a  part  of  a  Ehode  Island  regiment,  48 ; 
do.  of  the  Butler  brigade,  48 ;  more  troops,  49 ;  force  at, 
on  June  27th,  1861,  67 ;  persons  arrested  as  spies,  62 ; 
attacked  on  17th  Street,  587. 

Washington,  Jf.  C. — Capture  of,  by  Burnside's  troops,  141 ; 
skirmish,  142 ;  attacked  by  Confederates,  810. 

WASHINGTON,  Col.  J.  A. — Biographical  notice  of,  725. 

WATKISS,  CoL Captures  a  camp  of  the  enemy,  453. 

WATTS,  T.  II. — Governor  of  Alabama,  502;  appeal  to  the 
people.  502. 

WEAD,  Col.  F.  F.— Biographical  notice  of,  782. 

WEAVER,  Lieut. Commands  gunboat  Winona,  871 ; 

drives  off  Confederates,  371. 

WEAVER,  CLABK  11. — Refuses  to  surrender  Eesaca,  CIO. 

WEBB,  Brig.-Gen.  A.  G. — Commands  1st  brigade  2d  division 
2d  corps,  549  ;  killed  in  the  Wilderness  battle,  655. 

Webb,  W.  II.— Made  a  Confederate  gunboat,  62 ;  destruction 
of,  70S. 

WelVs  Cross-roadt—The  battle  of,  12". 

WEBSTER,  Col.  F. Biographical  notice  of,  7SJ. 

WEBSTER,  GEOBGE— Biographical  notice  of.  739. 


WEED,  Brig.-Gen.  8.  H.— Biographical  notice  of,  761. 

Weehawken — An  iron-clad,  loss  of,  451. 

'WEiGimiAif,  E.  H.— Biographical  notice  of,  724 

WEITZEL,  Maj.-Gen.  GODFREY — Commands  an  expedition  to 
La  Fourche  Parish,  La.,  310 ;  commands  a  brigade  in 
Banks'  army,  366 ;  on  the  Zeehe  Eiver,  366 ;  follows  the 
enemy,  367 ;  commands  an  assault  on  Port  Hudson,  869 ; 
at  Sabine  Pass,  480 ;  commands  a  division  of  18th  corps, 
">65 ;  expedition  agaist  Weldon  Eailroad,  565 ;  commands 
military  expedition  against  Fort  Fisher,  640;  at  Fort 
Fisher,  642;  commands  25th  army  corps,  655;  occupies 
Eichmond,  692 ;  his  orders,  693. 

WELCH,  BENJ. — Biographical  notice  of,  749. 

WELCH,  Brig.-Gen.  BENJ.,  Jr. — Biographical  notice  of,  765. 

WELCH,  CoL  N.  E. — Biographical  notice  of,  791. 

WELD,  Lieut. -Col.  L.  L. — Biographical  notice  of,  796. 

WELLES,  GIDEON — Secretary  of  the  Navy,  despatch  to  Com. 
Foote,  127;  on  the  capture  of  the  Atlanta,  451. 

WELLES,  Col.  G.  D. — Biographical  notice  of,  791. 

WELLS,  Brig.-Gen. Commands  a  brigade  of  Sheridan's 

cavalry,  686. 

WESSELLS,  Brig.-Gen.  HENRY  W. — In  command  at  Plymouth, 
520 ;  surrenders,  520. 

WEST,  CoL Makes  a  demonstration  above  Yorktown, 

565. 

West  Point— Bailroad  destroyed,  542. 

WHABTON,  JAMES  E. — Account  of  Gen.  Hunter's  retreat 
from  Lynchburg,  584. 

WHEATON,  Brig.-Gen.  F. — Commands  1st  brigade  2d  division 
of  6th  corps,  549 ;  supports  Gen.  Crawford,  672. 

WHEELER,  Brig.-Gen. Commands  cavalry  in  Folk's 

corps  at  Murfreesboro,  297;  in  command  of  cavalry, 
499;  opposes  the  advance  on  Dalton,  504;  approaches 
Decatur  in  Sherman's  rear,  538 ;  raid  in  Sherman's  rear, 
544 ;  disputes  the  passage  of  the  Oconee,  618 ;  his  move- 
ments, 619 ;  letter  to  Howard,  675 ;  skirmishes  with  Kil- 
patrick,  675;  obstructs  Sherman's  march  from  Savannah, 
675. 

WHEELEK,  WILLIAM — Biographical  notice  of,  784 

Wheeling— Made  seat  of  Government  of  West  Virginia,  60. 

WHEELOCK,  Brig.-Gen.  C. — Biographical  notice  of,  795. 

WHELAN,  Dr.  WILLIAM— Biographical  notice  of,  803. 

WHIFFLE,  Brig.-Gen.  AMIEL  W. — Commands  a  division  of 
Sickles'  corps  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  878;  killed 
at  Chancellorsville,  880 ;  biographical  notice  of,  751. 

WHITE,  Brig.-Gen.  JULIUS — Ectires  from  Martinsburg  to 
Harper's  Ferry,  270. 

White  Oak  Swamp— Battle  at,  250. 

WHITING,  Maj.-Gen  .W.  H.  C. — In  command  under  Johnston, 
241 ;  captured  at  Fort  Fisher,  645 ;  biographical  notice 
of,  797. 

WIGFALL,  Lotns  T. — Bears  a  white  flag  to  Fort  Sumter,  25. 

WILCOX,  Brig.-Gen.  O.  B. — In  command  at  Bull  Bun,  68 ;  re- 
tained at  Eichmond  as  a  hostage,  322 ;  at  the  battl.-' or 
South  Mountain,  269 ;  in  the  assault  at  Petersburg,  590. 

WILCOX,  Brig.-Gen. Commands  a  brigade  of  Ander- 
son's division  at  Gettysburg,  404 ;  moves  with  Lee.  470. 

WILD,  Brig.-Gen.  EDWAKD  B.— In    command   of  colored 
troops,  563 ;  landed  at  Wilson's  Wharf  on  the  James. 
563;  attacked  at  Wilson's  Wharf,  57a 
Wildcat  Camp,  Ky.— Skirmish  at,  96. 

WILDER,  Brig.-Gen. Defends     Mnnfordsville,  Ky., 

284;  advances  with  Eeynolds'  division,  456  ;  at  Chicka- 
mauga,  463. 
Wildernens— Battle  at  the,  568,  554. 

WILKKS,  Com.  CHARLES— Stops  British  steamer  Trent,  110 
takes  out  of  her  Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell,  Confederate 
Commissioners  to  Europe,  110;  vote  of  thanks  of  the 
Federal  House  of  Congress,  112;  takes  command  of  tha 
Vanderbilt  in  the  West  Indies,  440. 


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